Study Desk

A harvest is also appointed for you, Judah.When I return my people from captivity,

For they—their hearts like an oven—draw him into their oven.Their anger smolders all night;in the morning it blazes like a flaming fire.

Israel’s arrogance testifies against them,yet they do not return to the Lord their God,and for all this, they do not seek him.

Woe to them, for they fled from me;destruction to them, for they rebelled against me!Though I want to redeem them,they speak lies against me.

They do not cry to me from their hearts;rather, they wail on their beds.They slash themselves for grain and new wine;they turn away from me.

They turn, but not to what is above;they are like a faulty bow.Their leaders will fall by the swordbecause of their insolent tongue.They will be ridiculed for this in the land of Egypt.

They have installed kings,but not through me.They have appointed leaders,but without my approval.They make their silver and goldinto idols for themselvesfor their own destruction.

For this thing is from Israel—a craftsman made it, and it is not God.The calf of Samaria will be smashed to bits!

For they have gone up to Assyrialike a wild donkey going off on its own.Ephraim has paid for love.

When Ephraim multiplied his altars for sin,they became his altars for sinning.

Though I were to write out for himten thousand points of my instruction,they would be regarded as something strange.

They will not pour outtheir wine offerings to the Lord,and their sacrifices will not please him.Their food will be like the bread of mourners;all who eat it become defiled.For their bread will be for their appetites alone;it will not enter the house of the Lord.

For even if they flee from devastation,Egypt will gather them, and Memphis will bury them.Thistles will take possession of their precious silver;thorns will invade their tents.

All their evil appears at Gilgal,for there I began to hate them.I will drive them from my housebecause of their evil, wicked actions.I will no longer love them;all their leaders are rebellious.

In fact, they are now saying,“We have no king!For we do not fear the Lord.What can a king do for us?”

Sow righteousness for yourselvesand reap faithful love;break up your unplowed ground.It is time to seek the Lorduntil he comes and sends righteousnesson you like the rain.

But Ephraim thinks,“How rich I have become;I made it all myself.In all my earnings,no one can find any iniquity in methat I can be punished for!”

Jacob fled to the territory of Aram.Israel worked to earn a wife;he tended flocks for a wife.

Ephraim has provoked bitter anger,so his Lord will leave his bloodguilt on himand repay him for his contempt.

I will heal their apostasy;I will freely love them,for my anger will have turned from him.