Study Desk

Ephraim, as I have seen, Is planted in a pasture like Tyre; But Ephraim is going to bring out his children for slaughter.

Israel is a luxuriant vine; He produces fruit for himself. The more his fruit, The more altars he made; The richer his land, The better he made the memorial stones.

They will walk after the LORD, He will roar like a lion; Indeed He will roar, And His sons will come trembling from the west.

The LORD also has a case against Judah, And will punish Jacob according to his ways; He will repay him according to his deeds.

In the womb he took his brother by the heel, And in his mature strength he contended with God.

Yes, he wrestled with the angel and prevailed; He wept and implored His favor. He found Him at Bethel, And there He spoke with us,

And the LORD, the God of armies, The LORD is His name.

Ephraim has provoked God to bitter anger; So his Lord will leave his guilt for bloodshed on him And bring his disgrace back to him.

The guilt of Ephraim is wrapped up; His sin is stored up.

Though he flourishes among the reeds, An east wind will come, The wind of the LORD coming up from the wilderness; And his fountain will become dry And his spring will dry up; It will plunder his treasury of every precious article.

His shoots will sprout, His majesty will be like the olive tree, And his fragrance like the cedars of Lebanon.

Those who live in his shadow Will again raise grain, And they will blossom like the vine. His fame will be like the wine of Lebanon.

They do not crowd each other, Every warrior of them marches in his path; When they burst through the defenses, They do not break ranks.

The LORD utters His voice before His army; His camp is indeed very great, For mighty is one who carries out His word. The day of the LORD is indeed great and very awesome, And who can endure it?

Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, Assemble the elders, Gather the children and the nursing infants. Have the groom come out of his room And the bride out of her bridal chamber.

Then the LORD will be zealous for His land, And will have compassion for His people.

The LORD will answer and say to His people, "Behold, I am going to send you grain, new wine, and oil, And you will be satisfied in full with them; And I will never again make you a disgrace among the nations.

The LORD roars from Zion And utters His voice from Jerusalem, And the heavens and the earth quake. But the LORD is a refuge for His people, And a stronghold for the sons of Israel.

And he said, "The LORD roars from Zion, And from Jerusalem He utters His voice; And the shepherds' pasture grounds mourn, And the summit of Carmel dries up."

This is what the LORD says: "For three offenses of Edom, and for four, I will not revoke its punishment, Because he pursued his brother with the sword And stifled his compassion; His anger also tore continually, And he maintained his fury forever.