Study Desk

They were very stubborn and would not obey the law. The Lord All-Powerful used his Spirit and sent messages to his people through the prophets. But the people would not listen, so the Lord All-Powerful became very angry.

So the Lord All-Powerful said, "I called to them, and they did not answer. So now, if they call to me, I will not answer.

The Lord All-Powerful says, "I have a very strong love for Mount Zion. I love her so much that I became angry when she was not faithful to me."

The Lord All-Powerful says, "Old men and women will again be seen in the public places in Jerusalem. People will live so long that they will need their walking sticks.

The Lord All-Powerful says, "The survivors will think it is wonderful, and so will I!"

People began using the names Israel and Judah in their curses. But I will save Israel and Judah, and their names will become a blessing. So don't be afraid. Be strong!"

The Lord All-Powerful says, "Your ancestors made me angry, so I decided to destroy them. I decided not to change my mind." This is what the Lord All-Powerful said.

"But now I have changed my mind. And in the same way I have decided to be good to Jerusalem and to the people of Judah. So don't be afraid!

This message is also against the city of Hamath near Damascus. And this message is against Tyre and Sidon, even though those people have been so wise and skillful.

Tyre is built like a fort. The people there have collected so much silver that it is like dust, and gold is as common as clay.

Jerusalem, we used blood to seal your agreement, so I am setting your people free from that empty hole in the ground.

People use their little statues and magic to learn what will happen in the future, but that is useless. They see visions and tell about their dreams, but it is nothing but worthless lies. So the people are like sheep wandering here and there crying for help, but there is no shepherd to lead them.

Lebanon, open your gates so that the fire will come and burn your cedar trees.

So I took care of the sheep that had been raised to be killed—those poor sheep. I found two sticks. I called one stick Favor, and I called the other stick Union. Then I began caring for the sheep.

So that day the agreement was finished, and those poor sheep watching me knew that this message was from the Lord .

Then I said, "If you want to pay me, pay me. If not, don't!" So they paid me 30 pieces of silver.

Then the Lord told me, "So that's how much they think I'm worth. Throw that large amount of money into the Temple treasury." So I took the 30 pieces of silver and threw them into the treasury at the Lord 's Temple.

The Lord will save the people of Judah first, so the people in Jerusalem will not be able to brag too much. David's family and the other people who live in Jerusalem will not be able to brag that they are better than the other people in Judah.

Whoever continues to prophesy will be punished. Even their parents, their own mother and father, will say to them, ‘You have spoken lies in the name of the Lord , so you must die!' Their own mother and father will stab them for prophesying.

The Lord All-Powerful said, "Children honor their fathers. Servants honor their masters. I am your Father, so why don't you honor me? I am your master, so why don't you respect me? You priests don't respect my name. "But you say, ‘What have we done that shows we don't respect your name?'