Study Desk

For the wealthy of the city are full of violence,and its residents speak lies;the tongues in their mouths are deceitful.

You will eat but not be satisfied,for there will be hunger within you.What you acquire, you cannot save,and what you do save,I will give to the sword.

How sad for me!

But I will look to the Lord;I will wait for the God of my salvation.My God will hear me.

Because I have sinned against him,I must endure the Lord’s rageuntil he champions my causeand establishes justice for me.He will bring me into the light;I will see his salvation.

A day will come for rebuilding your walls;on that day your boundary will be extended.

I will perform miracles for themas in the days of your exodusfrom the land of Egypt.

The Lord is good,a stronghold in a day of distress;he cares for those who take refuge in him.

For they will be consumedlike entangled thorns,like the drink of a drunkardand like straw that is fully dry.

For I will now break off his yoke from youand tear off your shackles.

For the Lord will restore the majesty of Jacob,yes, the majesty of Israel,though ravagers have ravaged themand ruined their vine branches.

The lion mauled whatever its cubs neededand strangled prey for its lionesses.It filled up its dens with the kill,and its lairs with mauled prey.

Yet she became an exile;she went into captivity.Her children were also dashed to piecesat the head of every street.They cast lots for her dignitaries,and all her nobles were bound in chains.

Draw water for the siege;strengthen your fortresses.Step into the clay and tread the mortar;take hold of the brick-mold!

There is no remedy for your injury;your wound is severe.All who hear the news about youwill clap their hands because of you,for who has not experiencedyour constant cruelty?

How long, Lord, must I call for helpand you do not listenor cry out to you about violenceand you do not save?

Look at the nations and observe—be utterly astounded!For I am doing something in your daysthat you will not believewhen you hear about it.

That is why they sacrifice to their dragnetand burn incense to their fishing net,for by these things their portion is richand their food plentiful.

For the vision is yet for the appointed time;it testifies about the end and will not lie.Though it delays, wait for it,since it will certainly come and not be late.

Moreover, wine betrays;an arrogant man is never at rest.He enlarges his appetite like Sheol,and like Death he is never satisfied.He gathers all the nations to himself;he collects all the peoples for himself.