Study Desk

"How beautiful and how delightful you are, My love, with all your delights!

"Who is this coming up from the wilderness, Leaning on her beloved?" The Bride "Beneath the apple tree I awakened you; There your mother went into labor with you, There she was in labor and gave birth to you.

"If she is a wall, We will build on her a battlement of silver; But if she is a door, We will barricade her with planks of cedar."

Oh, sinful nation, People weighed down with guilt, Offspring of evildoers, Sons who act corruptly! They have abandoned the LORD, They have despised the Holy One of Israel, They have turned away from Him.

From the sole of the foot even to the head There is nothing healthy in it, Only bruises, slashes, and raw wounds; Not pressed out nor bandaged, Nor softened with oil.

Your land is desolate, Your cities are burned with fire; As for your fields, strangers are devouring them in front of you; It is desolation, as overthrown by strangers.

"So when you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; Yes, even though you offer many prayers, I will not be listening. Your hands are covered with blood.

Your silver has become waste matter, Your drink diluted with water.

"I will also turn My hand against you, And smelt away your impurities as with lye; And I will remove all your slag.

Zion will be redeemed with justice And her repentant ones with righteousness.

For You have abandoned Your people, the house of Jacob, Because they are filled with influences from the east, And they are soothsayers like the Philistines. They also strike bargains with the children of foreigners.

Their land has also been filled with silver and gold And there is no end to their treasures; Their land has also been filled with horses, And there is no end to their chariots.

Their land has also been filled with idols; They worship the work of their hands, That which their fingers have made.

The LORD enters into judgment with the elders and leaders of His people, "It is you who have devoured the vineyard; The goods stolen from the poor are in your houses.

Moreover, the LORD said, "Because the daughters of Zion are haughty And walk with heads held high and seductive eyes, And go along with mincing steps And jingle the anklets on their feet,

The Lord will afflict the scalp of the daughters of Zion with scabs, And the LORD will make their foreheads bare."

He dug it all around, cleared it of stones, And planted it with the choicest vine. And He built a tower in the middle of it, And also carved out a wine vat in it; Then He expected it to produce good grapes, But it produced only worthless ones.

Therefore My people go into exile for their lack of knowledge; And their nobles are famished, And their multitude is parched with thirst.

Woe to those who drag wrongdoing with the cords of deceit, And sin as if with cart ropes;

He will also lift up a flag to the distant nation, And whistle for it from the ends of the earth; And behold, it will come with speed swiftly.