Study Desk

Then the Lord showed me something else and asked, "What do you see now?" I answered, "I see a pot of boiling water in the north, and it's about to spill out toward us."

you claim to be innocent, and you want me to stop being angry with you. So I'll take you to court, and we'll see who is right.

I see the enemy defeating us time after time, leaving everything in ruins. Even my own home is destroyed in a moment.

How long will I see enemy flags and hear their trumpets?

Do you see what the people of Judah are doing in their towns and in the streets of Jerusalem?

Don't follow the customs of those nations who become frightened when they see something strange happen in the sky.

How long will the ground be dry and the pasturelands parched? The birds and animals are dead and gone. And all of this happened because the people are so sinful. They even brag, "God can't see the sins we commit."

Every field I see lies barren, and no one cares.

Jerusalem, you were so proud of ruling the people of Judah. But where are they now? Look north, and you will see your enemies approaching.

So I'll rip off your clothes and leave you naked and ashamed for everyone to see. You are doomed! Will you ever be worthy to worship me again?

Our terrible sins may demand that we be punished. But if you rescue us, Lord , everyone will see how great you are.

In the fields I see the bodies of those killed in battle. And in the towns I see crowds dying of hunger. But the prophets and priests go about their business, without understanding what has happened."

You can see how I suffer insult after insult, all because of you, Lord . Don't be so patient with my enemies; take revenge on them before they kill me.

I can see everything you are doing, even if you try to hide your sins from me.

You will be afraid, and you will bring fear to your friends as well. You will see enemies kill them in battle. Then I will have the king of Babylonia take everyone in Judah prisoner, killing some and dragging the rest away to Babylonia.

The Lord sent me to the palace of the king of Judah to speak to the king, his officials, and everyone else who was there. The Lord told me to say: I am the Lord , so pay attention! You have been allowing people to cheat, rob, and take advantage of widows, orphans, and foreigners who live here. Innocent people have become victims of violence, and some of them have even been killed. But now I command you to do what is right and see that justice is done. Rescue everyone who has suffered from injustice.

"Jeremiah," the Lord asked, "what do you see?" "Figs," I said. "Some are very good, but the others are too rotten to eat."

The Lord All-Powerful says: You can see disaster spreading from far across the earth, from nation to nation like a horrible storm.

Now you are saying we will have peace. We will just have to wait and see if that is really what the Lord has said.

He has even talked you into disobeying me. So I will punish Shemaiah. He and his descendants won't live to see the good things I will do for my people. I, the Lord , have spoken.