Study Desk

O Hope of Israel,Its Savior in time of distress,Why are You like a sojourner in the landOr like a traveler who has pitched his tent to lodge for the night?

So Yahweh said to me, "Do not pray for the good of this people.

The people also to whom they are prophesying will be thrown out into the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and the sword; and there will be no one to bury them—neither them, nor their wives, nor their sons, nor their daughters—for I will pour out their own evil on them.

And you will say this word to them,‘Let my eyes flow down with tears night and day,And let them not cease,For the virgin daughter of my people has been shattered with a mighty shattering,With a sorely sick wound.

If I go out to the field,Behold, those slain with the sword!Or if I enter the city,Behold, diseases of famine!For both prophet and priestHave gone around as merchants in the land that they do not know.'"

Have You completely rejected Judah?Or have You loathed Zion?Why have You stricken us so that there is no healing for us?We hoped for peace, but there was no good;And for a time of healing, but behold, terror!

We know our wickedness, O Yahweh,The iniquity of our fathers, for we have sinned against You.

Do not despise us, for Your own name's sake;Do not disgrace the throne of Your glory;Remember and do not break Your covenant with us.

Are there any among the idols of the nations who give rain?Or can the heavens give showers?Is it not You, O Yahweh our God?Therefore we hope in You,For You are the one who has done all these things.

And it will be that when they say to you, ‘Where should we go?' then you are to tell them, ‘Thus says Yahweh:"Those destined for death, to death;And those destined for the sword, to the sword;And those destined for famine, to famine;And those destined for captivity, to captivity."'

I will give them over to be an example of terror among all the kingdoms of the earth because of Manasseh, the son of Hezekiah, the king of Judah, for what he did in Jerusalem.

Yahweh said, "Surely I will set you free for purposes of good;Surely I will cause the enemy to intercede with youIn a time of disaster and a time of distress.

Your wealth and your treasuresI will give for plunder without cost,Even for all your sinsAnd within all your borders.

Then I will cause your enemies to pass it overInto a land you do not know,For a fire has been kindled in My anger;It will burn upon you."

You who know, O Yahweh,Remember me, take notice of me,And take vengeance for me on my persecutors.Do not, in view of Your patience, take me away;Know that for Your sake I endure reproach.

Your words were found, and I ate them,And Your words became for me joy and gladness in my heart,For I have been called by Your name,O Yahweh God of hosts.

I did not sit in the circle of merrymakers,Nor did I exult.Because of Your hand upon me I sat alone,For You filled me with indignation.

Therefore thus says Yahweh,"If you return, then I will cause you to return—Before Me you will stand;And if you extract the precious from the worthless,You will become My mouthpiece.They for their part may turn to you,But as for you, you must not turn to them.

Then I will make you to this peopleA fortified wall of bronze;And they will fight against you,But they will not prevail against you,For I am with you to save youAnd deliver you," declares Yahweh.

"You shall not take a wife for yourself nor have sons or daughters in this place."