Study Desk

But no longer refer to the burden of the Lord, for each man’s word becomes his burden and you pervert the words of the living God, the Lord of Armies, our God.

I will keep my eyes on them for their good and will return them to this land. I will build them up and not demolish them; I will plant them and not uproot them.

“But as for the bad figs, so bad they are inedible, this is what the Lord says: In this way I will deal with King Zedekiah of Judah, his officials, and the remnant of Jerusalem—those remaining in this land or living in the land of Egypt.

I will make them an object of horror and a disaster to all the kingdoms of the earth, an example for disgrace, scorn, ridicule, and cursing, wherever I have banished them.

I am going to send for all the families of the north’—this is the Lord’s declaration—‘and send for my servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and I will bring them against this land, against its residents, and against all these surrounding nations, and I will completely destroy them and make them an example of horror and scorn, and ruins forever.

This whole land will become a desolate ruin, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon for seventy years.

When the seventy years are completed, I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation’—this is the Lord’s declaration—‘the land of the Chaldeans, for their iniquity, and I will make it a ruin forever.

For many nations and great kings will enslave them, and I will repay them according to their deeds and the work of their hands.’”

Jerusalem and the other cities of Judah, its kings and its officials, to make them a desolate ruin, an example for scorn and cursing—as it is today;

For I am already bringing disaster on the city that bears my name, so how could you possibly go unpunished? You will not go unpunished, for I am summoning a sword against all the inhabitants of the earth. This is the declaration of the Lord of Armies.’

“As for you, you are to prophesy all these things to them, and say to them:

The tumult reaches to the ends of the earthbecause the Lord brings a case against the nations.He enters into judgment with all people.As for the wicked, he hands them over to the sword—

Flight will be impossible for the shepherds,and escape, for the leaders of the flock.

Hear the sound of the shepherds’ cry,the wail of the leaders of the flock,for the Lord is destroying their pasture.

He has left his den like a lion,for their land has become a desolationbecause of the sword of the oppressor,because of his burning anger.

I will make this temple like Shiloh. I will make this city an example for cursing for all the nations of the earth.’”

As for me, here I am in your hands; do to me what you think is good and right.

But know for certain that if you put me to death, you will bring innocent blood on yourselves, on this city, and on its residents, for it is certain the Lord has sent me to speak all these things directly to you.”

Then the officials and all the people told the priests and prophets, “This man doesn’t deserve the death sentence, for he has spoken to us in the name of the Lord our God!”

Did King Hezekiah of Judah and all the people of Judah put him to death? Did not the king fear the Lord and plead for the Lord’s favor, and did not the Lord relent concerning the disaster he had pronounced against them? We are about to bring a terrible disaster on ourselves!”