Study Desk

The LORD determined to lay in ruins The [city] wall of the Daughter of Zion. He has stretched out a line, He has not stopped His hand from destroying. He has caused the rampart and the wall to lament (mourn in grief); They have languished together.

The LORD has done what He planned; He has accomplished His word Which He commanded from days of old. He has demolished without sparing, And He has caused the enemy to rejoice over you; He has exalted the power of your enemies.

I am [Jeremiah] the man who has seen affliction Because of the rod of His wrath.

Surely He has turned His hand against me Repeatedly all the day.

He has bent His bow And set me as a target for the arrow.

He has caused the arrows of His quiver To enter my inner parts.

It is because of the LORD'S lovingkindnesses that we are not consumed, Because His [tender] compassions never fail.

It is good for a man that he should bear The yoke [of godly discipline] in his youth.

Let him sit alone [in hope] and keep quiet, Because God has laid it on him [for his benefit].

Let him put his mouth in the dust [in recognition of his unworthiness]; There may yet be hope.

Let him give his cheek to the one who strikes him; Let him be filled with reproach.

For if He causes grief, Then He will have compassion According to His abundant lovingkindness and tender mercy.

For He does not afflict willingly and from His heart Or grieve the children of men.

To trample and crush under His feet All the prisoners of the land,

To defraud a man in his lawsuit— The Lord does not approve of these things.

Why should any living mortal, or any man, Complain [of punishment] in view of his sins?

The LORD has fulfilled His wrath; He has poured out His fierce anger And has kindled a fire in Zion That has consumed her foundations.

The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the LORD [our king], Was captured in their snares, He of whom we had said, "Under his shadow We shall live among the nations."

Now upward, from that which appeared to be His waist, I saw something like glowing metal that looked like it was filled with fire all around it; and downward, from that which appeared to be His waist, I saw something like fire; and there was a brightness and a remarkable radiance [like a halo] around Him.

Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard a great rushing sound behind me, "Blessed be the glory of the LORD in His place [above the expanse]."