Study Desk

And I will punish her for the days of the Baals,to which she burned incense.She put on her rings and her jewelryand followed her lovers,but she forgot me.

For I will remove the names of the Baalsfrom her mouth;they will no longer be remembered by their names.

On that day I will make a covenant for themwith the wild animals, the birds of the sky,and the creatures that crawl on the ground.I will shatter bow, sword,and weapons of war in the landand will enable the people to rest securely.

I will sow her in the land for myself,and I will have compassionon Lo-ruhamah;I will say to Lo-ammi:You are my people,and he will say, “You are my God.”

So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and five bushels of barley.

For the Israelites must live many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred pillar, and without ephod or household idols.

For this reason the land mourns,and everyone who lives in it languishes,along with the wild animals and the birds of the sky;even the fish of the sea disappear.

But let no one dispute; let no one argue,for my case is against you priests.

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.Because you have rejected knowledge,I will reject you from serving as my priest.Since you have forgotten the law of your God,I will also forget your sons.

They feed on the sin of my people;they have an appetite for their iniquity.

The same judgment will happento both people and priests.I will punish them for their waysand repay them for their deeds.

I will not punish your daughterswhen they act promiscuouslyor your daughters-in-lawwhen they commit adultery,for the men themselves go off with prostitutesand make sacrifices with cult prostitutes.People without discernment are doomed.

For Israel is as obstinate as a stubborn cow.Can the Lord now shepherd themlike a lamb in an open meadow?

Rebels are deeply involved in slaughter;I will be a punishment for all of them.

Their actions do not allow themto return to their God,for a spirit of promiscuity is among them,and they do not know the Lord.

Ephraim is oppressed, crushed in judgment,for he is determined to follow what is worthless.

For I am like a lion to Ephraimand like a young lion to the house of Judah.Yes, I will tear them to pieces and depart.I will carry them off,and no one can rescue them.

I will depart and return to my placeuntil they recognize their guilt and seek my face;they will search for me in their distress.

For I desire faithful love and not sacrifice,the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

Like raiders who wait in ambush for someone,a band of priests murders on the road to Shechem.They commit atrocities.