Study Desk

For Adonai has poured over you a spirit of lethargy; he has closed your eyes (that is, the prophets) and covered your heads (that is, the seers).

For you this whole prophetic vision has become like the message in a sealed-up scroll. When one gives it to someone who can read and says, "Please read this," he answers, "I can't, because it's sealed."

for the tyrant is now nothing, the scoffer is finished, and all alert to do evil are cut off —

those whose words make a man out to be a sinner, those who set traps for the arbitrator at the city gate, and those who groundlessly deny justice to the one in the right.

For Egypt's help is worthless, pointless; so I call her "Arrogance Doing Nothing."

Now go, inscribe it on a tablet, write it for them in a scroll, so that on the final day it will be a witness forever and ever.

For this is a rebellious people; they are lying children, children who refuse to hear the Torah of Adonai .

this sin will become for you a crack bulging out high on a wall, showing signs it is ready to fall; then suddenly, all at once, it breaks."

He will break it like a clay pot, ruthlessly shattering it into pieces so tiny not even a potsherd remains for taking fire from the fireplace or scooping water from the cistern.

For this is what Adonai Elohim , the Holy One of Isra'el, says: "Returning and resting is what will save you; calmness and confidence will make you strong — but you want none of this!

Yet Adonai is just waiting to show you favor, he will have pity on you from on high; for Adonai is a God of justice; happy are all who wait for him!

Then he will give you rain for the seed you use to sow your land; and the food that comes from the ground will be rich and abundant. When that day comes, your cattle will graze in spacious pastures.

For Adonai 's voice will terrify Ashur, as with his scepter he strikes them down.

For the Tofet fire pit has long been ready, prepared for the king, made large and deep, with plenty of wood and blazing with fire; like a stream of sulfur, Adonai 's breath sets it aflame.

For here is what Adonai says to me: "As a lion or lion cub growls at its prey and isn't frightened away by the shouts of hordes of shepherds called out against him — their voices do not upset him — so likewise Adonai -Tzva'ot will descend to fight on Mount Tziyon, on its hill.

For on that day everyone will discard his idols of silver and idols of gold, which you made for yourselves with your own sinful hands.

for the mean person will speak meanness, his heart planning evil, so that he can act godlessly, spreading error concerning Adonai , as he lets the hungry go on starving and deprives the thirsty of drink.

Beat your breasts in mourning for the pleasant fields and fruitful vines,

for the land of my people, producing thorns and briars, for all the happy homes in the joyful city.

For the palace will be abandoned, the crowded city deserted, ‘Ofel and fortress wastelands forever, a delight for wild donkeys and a pasture for flocks —