Study Desk

O daughters of Jerusalem, I adjure you, if you find my beloved, tell him I am sick with love.

I am a wall and my breasts are like towers. So I have become in his eyes like one who brings peace.

"What is your multitude of sacrifices to Me?" says the LORD. "I am full from the burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed cattle; I take no delight in the blood of bulls, of lambs and goats.

I hate your New Moons and your appointed feasts; they have become a burden to Me; I am weary of bearing them.

On that day he will cry aloud: "I am not a healer. I have no food or clothing in my house. Do not make me leader of the people!"

Now I will tell you what I am about to do to My vineyard: I will take away its hedge, and it will be consumed; I will tear down its wall, and it will be trampled.

Then I said, "Woe is me, for I am ruined, because I am a man of unclean lips dwelling among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of Hosts."

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? Who will go for Us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"

Here am I, and the children the LORD has given me to be signs and symbols in Israel from the LORD of Hosts, who dwells on Mount Zion.

For he says: "By the strength of my hand I have done this, and by my wisdom, for I am clever. I have removed the boundaries of nations and plundered their treasures; like a mighty one I subdued their rulers.

The princes of Zoan are mere fools; Pharaoh's wise counselors give senseless advice. How can you say to Pharaoh, "I am one of the wise, a son of eastern kings"?

Therefore my body is filled with anguish. Pain grips me, like the pains of a woman in labor. I am bewildered to hear, I am dismayed to see.

From the ends of the earth we hear singing: "Glory to the Righteous One." But I said, "I am wasting away! I am wasting away! Woe is me." The treacherous betray; the treacherous deal in treachery.

I, the LORD, am its keeper; I water it continually. I guard it night and day so no one can disturb it.

I am not angry. If only thorns and briers confronted Me, I would march and trample them, I would burn them to the ground.

And no resident of Zion will say, "I am sick." The people who dwell there will be forgiven their iniquity.

I chirp like a swallow or crane; I moan like a dove. My eyes grow weak as I look upward. O Lord, I am oppressed; be my security.

Who has performed this and carried it out, calling forth the generations from the beginning? I, the LORD-the first and the last-I am He."

Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My right hand of righteousness.

For I am the LORD your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you: "Do not fear, I will help you."