Study Desk

Hear, you mountains, the controversy of the LORD, and you enduring foundations of the earth; for the LORD has a controversy with his people, and he will contend with Israel.

The godly man has perished from the earth, and there is none upright among men; they all lie in wait for blood, and each hunts his brother with a net.

Their hands are upon what is evil, to do it diligently; the prince and the judge ask for a bribe, and the great man utters the evil desire of his soul; thus they weave it together.

for the son treats the father with contempt, the daughter rises up against her mother, the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; a man's enemies are the men of his own house.

I will bear the indignation of the LORD because I have sinned against him, until he pleads my cause and executes judgment for me. He will bring me forth to the light; I shall behold his deliverance.

Who is a God like thee, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger for ever because he delights in steadfast love.

The LORD is a jealous God and avenging, the LORD is avenging and wrathful; the LORD takes vengeance on his adversaries and keeps wrath for his enemies.

The LORD is slow to anger and of great might, and the LORD will by no means clear the guilty. His way is in whirlwind and storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.

Who can stand before his indignation? Who can endure the heat of his anger? His wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken asunder by him.

But with an overflowing flood he will make a full end of his adversaries, and will pursue his enemies into darkness.

What do you plot against the LORD? He will make a full end; he will not take vengeance twice on his foes.

And now I will break his yoke from off you and will burst your bonds asunder."

The shield of his mighty men is red, his soldiers are clothed in scarlet. The chariots flash like flame when mustered in array; the chargers prance.

Where is the lions' den, the cave of the young lions, where the lion brought his prey, where his cubs were, with none to disturb?

The lion tore enough for his whelps and strangled prey for his lionesses; he filled his caves with prey and his dens with torn flesh.

He brings all of them up with a hook, he drags them out with his net, he gathers them in his seine; so he rejoices and exults.

Therefore he sacrifices to his net and burns incense to his seine; for by them he lives in luxury, and his food is rich.

Is he then to keep on emptying his net, and mercilessly slaying nations for ever?

Behold, he whose soul is not upright in him shall fail, but the righteous shall live by his faith.

Moreover, wine is treacherous; the arrogant man shall not abide. His greed is as wide as Sheol; like death he has never enough. He gathers for himself all nations, and collects as his own all peoples."