Study Desk

For I solemnly warned your fathers in the day that I brought them up from the land of Egypt, even to this day, rising up early and warning, saying, "Listen to My voice."

For your gods are the number of your cities, O Judah; and the number of the streets of Jerusalem are the altars you have set up to the shameful thing, altars to burn incense to Baal.

"But as for you, do not pray for this people, nor lift up a cry of lamentation or prayer for them; for I will not listen when they call to Me because of their calamity.

But, O Yahweh of hosts, who judges righteously,Who tests the insides and the heart,Let me see Your vengeance on them,For to You have I revealed my case.

and a remnant will not be left to them, for I will bring calamity on the men of Anathoth—the year of their punishment."

But You, O Yahweh, You know me;You see me;And You test my heart's attitude toward You.Drag them off like sheep for the slaughterAnd set them apart for a day of carnage!

For even your brothers and the household of your father,Even they have dealt treacherously with you,Even they have called aloud after you.Do not believe them, although they may say nice things to you."

On all the bare heights in the wildernessDestroyers have come,For a sword of Yahweh is devouringFrom one end of the land even to the other;There is no peace for any flesh.

For as the belt clings to the loins of a man, so I made the whole household of Israel and the whole household of Judah cling to Me,' declares Yahweh, ‘that they might be for Me a people, for a name, for praise, and for beauty; but they did not listen.'

Then you shall say to them, ‘Thus says Yahweh, "Behold, I am about to fill all the inhabitants of this land—the kings that sit for David on his throne, the priests, the prophets, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem—with drunkenness!

Listen and give ear, do not be haughty,For Yahweh has spoken.

Give glory to Yahweh your God,Before He brings darknessAnd before your feet stumbleOn the dusky mountains;And while you are hoping for light,He makes it into the shadow of deathAnd turns it into dense gloom.

But if you will not listen to it,My soul will cry in secret for such pride;And my eyes will bitterly weepAnd flow down with tearsBecause the flock of Yahweh has been taken captive.

Say to the king and the queen mother,"Take a lowly seat,For your beautiful crownHas come down from your head."

As for your adulteries and your lustful neighings,The lewdness of your prostitutionOn the hills in the field,I have seen your detestable things.Woe to you, O Jerusalem!How long will you not cleanse yourself?"

Their mighty ones have sent their underlings for water;They have come to the trenches and found no water.They have returned with their vessels empty;They have been put to shame and dishonored,And they cover their heads.

Because the ground is dismayed,For there has been no rain on the land,The farmers have been put to shame;They have covered their heads.

For even the doe in the field has given birth only to forsake her youngBecause there is no grass.

The wild donkeys stand on the bare heights;They pant for air like jackals;Their eyes failFor there is no vegetation.

Although our iniquities answer against us,O Yahweh, act for Your name's sake!Truly our acts of faithlessness have been many;We have sinned against You.