Study Desk

"Or at another moment I might speak concerning a nation or concerning a kingdom to build up or to plant it;

"So now, speak to the men of Judah and against the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, 'This is what the LORD says: "Behold, I am forming a disaster against you and devising a plan against you. Now turn back, each of you from his evil way, and correct your ways and your deeds!"'

"Therefore this is what the LORD says: 'Just ask among the nations, Who ever heard anything like this? The virgin of Israel Has done a most appalling thing.

'Does the snow of Lebanon leave the rock of the open country alone? Or is the cold flowing water from a foreign land ever dried up?

'For My people have forgotten Me, They burn incense to worthless gods. And they have stumbled in their ways, In the ancient roads, To walk on paths, Not on a highway,

To make their land a desolation, An object of perpetual hissing; Everyone who passes by it will be astonished And shake his head.

Should good be repaid with evil? For they have dug a pit for me. Remember how I stood before You To speak good in their behalf, So as to turn Your wrath away from them.

May a cry be heard from their houses When You suddenly bring raiders upon them; For they have dug a pit to capture me And hidden snares for my feet.

This is what the LORD says: "Go and buy a potter's earthenware jar, and take some of the elders of the people and some of the senior priests.

and say, 'Hear the word of the LORD, you kings of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem. This is what the LORD of armies, the God of Israel says: "Behold I am going to bring a disaster upon this place, at which the ears of everyone that hears of it will tingle.

and have built the high places of Baal to burn their sons in the fire as burnt offerings to Baal, a thing which I did not command nor speak of, nor did it ever enter My mind;

and say to them, 'This is what the LORD of armies says: "To the same extent I will break this people and this city, just as one breaks a potter's vessel, which cannot again be repaired; and they will bury their dead in Topheth, because there is no other place for burial.

"For this is what the LORD says: 'Behold, I am going to make you a horror to yourself and to all your friends; and while your eyes look on, they will fall by the sword of their enemies. So I will hand all Judah over to the king of Babylon, and he will take them away as exiles to Babylon and will kill them with the sword.

LORD, You persuaded me and I let myself be persuaded; You have overcome me and prevailed. I have become a laughingstock all day long; Everyone mocks me.

But if I say, "I will not remember Him Nor speak anymore in His name," Then in my heart it becomes like a burning fire Shut up in my bones; And I am tired of holding it in, And I cannot endure it.

But the LORD is with me like a powerful champion; Therefore my persecutors will stumble and not prevail. They will be put to great shame because they have failed, An everlasting disgrace that will not be forgotten.

Cursed be the man who brought the news To my father, saying, "A boy has been born to you!" And made him very happy.

"And I Myself will make war against you with an outstretched hand and a mighty arm, and in anger, wrath, and great indignation.

"I will also strike the inhabitants of this city, both the people and the animals; they will die of a great plague.

"But I will punish you according to the results of your deeds," declares the LORD, "And I will kindle a fire in its forest So that it may devour all its surroundings."'"