Study Desk

for look, the days are coming”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“when I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel and Judah,” says the Lord. “I will restore them to the land I gave to their ancestors and they will possess it.”

How awful that day will be!There will be no other like it!It will be a time of trouble for Jacob,but he will be saved out of it.

They will serve the Lord their Godand David their king,whom I will raise up for them.

As for you, my servant Jacob,do not be afraid—

For I will be with you—

For this is what the Lord says:

You have no defender for your case.There is no remedy for your sores,and no healing for you.

All your lovers have forgotten you;they no longer look for you,for I have struck you as an enemy would,with the discipline of someone cruel,because of your enormous guiltand your innumerable sins.

Jacob’s leader will be one of them;his ruler will issue from him.I will invite him to me, and he will approach me,for who would otherwise risk his life to approach me?

For there will be a day when watchmen will call outin the hill country of Ephraim,“Come, let’s go up to Zion,to the Lord our God!”

For this is what the Lord says:

They will come weeping,but I will bring them back with consolation.I will lead them to wadis filled with water,by a smooth way where they will not stumble,for I am Israel’s Father,and Ephraim is my firstborn.

for the Lord has ransomed Jacoband redeemed him from the power of one stronger than he.”

They will come and shout for joy on the heights of Zion;they will be radiant with joybecause of the Lord’s goodness,because of the grain, the new wine, the fresh oil,and because of the young of the flocks and herds.Their life will be like an irrigated garden,and they will no longer grow weak from hunger.

There is hope for your future—

I have surely heard Ephraim moaning,“You disciplined me, and I have been disciplinedlike an untrained calf.Take me back, so that I can return,for you, Lord, are my God.

Isn’t Ephraim a precious son to me,a delightful child?Whenever I speak against him,I certainly still think about him.Therefore, my inner being yearns for him;I will truly have compassion on him.

Set up road markers for yourself;establish signposts!Keep the highway in mind,the way you have traveled.Return, Virgin Israel!Return to these cities of yours.

How long will you turn here and there,faithless daughter?For the Lord creates something new in the land—a female will shelter a man.

for I satisfy the thirsty person and feed all those who are weak.”