Study Desk

All her carved images will be smashed to pieces;all her wages will be burned in the fire,and I will destroy all her idols.Since she collected the wages of a prostitute,they will be used again for a prostitute.

For her wound is incurableand has reached even Judah;it has approached my people’s city gate,as far as Jerusalem.

Though the residents of Marothanxiously wait for something good,disaster has come from the Lordto the gate of Jerusalem.

Harness the horses to the chariot,you residents of Lachish.This was the beginning of sin for Daughter Zionbecause Israel’s acts of rebellion can be traced to you.

Shave yourselves bald and cut off your hairin sorrow for your precious children;make yourselves as bald as an eagle,for they have been taken from you into exile.

Get up and leave,for this is not your place of restbecause defilement brings destruction—a grievous destruction!

If a man comesand utters empty lies —“I will preach to you about wine and beer” —he would be just the preacher for this people!

You eat the flesh of my peopleafter you strip their skin from themand break their bones.You chop them uplike flesh for the cooking pot,like meat in a cauldron.”

Therefore, it will be night for you—without visions;it will grow dark for you—without divination.The sun will set on these prophets,and the daylight will turn black over them.

As for me, however, I am filled with powerby the Spirit of the Lord,with justice and courage,to proclaim to Jacob his rebellionand to Israel his sin.

Her leaders issue rulings for a bribe,her priests teach for payment,and her prophets practice divination for silver.Yet they lean on the Lord, saying,“Isn’t the Lord among us?No disaster will overtake us.”

and many nations will come and say,“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,to the house of the God of Jacob.He will teach us about his waysso we may walk in his paths.”For instruction will go out of Zionand the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

He will settle disputes among many peoplesand provide arbitration for strong nationsthat are far away.They will beat their swords into plowsand their spears into pruning knives.Nation will not take up the sword against nation,and they will never again train for war.

And you, watchtower for the flock,fortified hill of Daughter Zion,the former rule will come to you;sovereignty will come to Daughter Jerusalem.

Writhe and cry out, Daughter Zion,like a woman in labor,for now you will leave the cityand camp in the open fields.You will go to Babylon;there you will be rescued;there the Lord will redeem youfrom the grasp of your enemies!

Rise and thresh, Daughter Zion,for I will make your horns ironand your hooves bronzeso you can crush many peoples.Then you will set apart their plunderfor the Lord,their wealth for the Lord of the whole earth.

Bethlehem Ephrathah,you are small among the clans of Judah;one will come from youto be ruler over Israel for me.His origin is from antiquity,from ancient times.

He will stand and shepherd themin the strength of the Lord,in the majestic name of the Lord his God.They will live securely,for then his greatness will extendto the ends of the earth.

Then the remnant of Jacobwill be among many peopleslike dew from the Lord,like showers on the grass,which do not wait for anyoneor linger for mankind.

Would the Lord be pleased with thousands of ramsor with ten thousand streams of oil?Should I give my firstborn for my transgression,the offspring of my body for my own sin?