Study Desk

Better have been the pierced of a sword Than the pierced of famine, For these flow away, pierced through, Without the increase of the field.

The hands of merciful women have boiled their own children, They have been for food to them, In the destruction of the daughter of my people.

`Turn aside -- unclean,' they called to them, `Turn aside, turn aside, touch not,' For they fled -- yea, they have wandered, They have said among nations: `They do not add to sojourn.'

While we exist -- consumed are our eyes for our vain help, In our watch-tower we have watched for a nation [that] saveth not.

They have hunted our steps from going in our broad-places, Near hath been our end, fulfilled our days, For come hath our end.

Swifter have been our pursuers, Than the eagles of the heavens, On the mountains they have burned [after] us, In the wilderness they have laid wait for us.

Our water for money we have drunk, Our wood for a price doth come.

For our neck we have been pursued, We have laboured -- there hath been no rest for us.

Fallen hath the crown [from] our head, Wo [is] now to us, for we have sinned.

For this hath our heart been sick, For these have our eyes been dim.

For the mount of Zion -- that is desolate, Foxes have gone up on it.

Why for ever dost Thou forget us? Thou forsakest us for length of days!

For hast Thou utterly rejected us? Thou hast been wroth against us -- exceedingly?

Whither the spirit is to go, they go, thither the spirit [is] to go, and the wheels are lifted up over-against them, for a living spirit [is] in the wheels.

In their going, they go; and in their standing, they stand; and in their being lifted up from off the earth, lifted up are the wheels over-against them; for a living spirit [is] in the wheels.

and they -- whether they hear, or whether they forbear, for a rebellious house they [are] -- have known that a prophet hath been in their midst.

`And thou, son of man, thou art not afraid of them, yea, of their words thou art not afraid, for briers and thorns are with thee, and near scorpions thou art dwelling, of their words thou art not afraid, and of their faces thou art not affrighted, for they [are] a rebellious house,

And thou hast spoken My words unto them, whether they hear or whether they forbear, for they [are] rebellious.

And He saith unto me, `Son of man, thy belly thou dost feed, and thy bowels thou dost fill with this roll that I am giving unto thee;' and I eat it, and it is in my mouth as honey for sweetness.

For, not unto a people deep of lip and heavy of tongue [art] thou sent -- unto the house of Israel;