Study Desk

I raised up some of your sons for prophets, And some of your young men for Nazirites. Isn't this true, You children of Israel?" says Yahweh.

"You only have I chosen of all the families of the earth. Therefore I will punish you for all of your sins."

Can a bird fall in a trap on the earth, Where no snare is set for him? Does a snare spring up from the ground, When there is nothing to catch?

"For in the day that I visit the transgressions of Israel on him, I will also visit the altars of Bethel; And the horns of the altar will be cut off, And fall to the ground.

Offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving of that which is leavened, And proclaim free will offerings and brag about them: For this pleases you, you children of Israel," says the Lord Yahweh.

For, behold, he who forms the mountains, And creates the wind, And declares to man what is his thought; Who makes the morning darkness, And treads on the high places of the Earth: Yahweh, the God of hosts, is his name."

Listen to this word which I take up for a lamentation over you, O house of Israel.

For thus says the Lord Yahweh: "The city that went forth a thousand shall have a hundred left, And that which went forth one hundred shall have ten left to the house of Israel."

For thus says Yahweh to the house of Israel: "Seek me, and you will live;

But don't seek Bethel, Nor enter into Gilgal, And don't pass to Beersheba: For Gilgal shall surely go into captivity, And Bethel shall come to nothing.

Seek him who made the Pleiades and Orion, And turns the shadow of death into the morning, And makes the day dark with night; Who calls for the waters of the sea, And pours them out on the surface of the earth, Yahweh is his name,

For I know how many your offenses, And how great are your sins-- You who afflict the just, Who take a bribe, And who turn aside the needy in the courts.

Therefore he who is prudent shall keep silence in such a time; For it is an evil time.

In all vineyards there will be wailing; For I will pass through the midst of you," says Yahweh.

"Woe to you who desire the day of Yahweh! Why do you long for the day of Yahweh? It is darkness, And not light.

Yes, you have borne the tent of your king and the shrine of your images, the star of your god, which you made for yourselves.

Who strum on the strings of a harp; Who invent for themselves instruments of music, like David;

Who drink wine in bowls, And anoint themselves with the best oils; But they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.

"For, behold, Yahweh commands, and the great house will be smashed to pieces, And the little house into bits.

You who rejoice in a thing of nothing, who say, 'Haven't we taken for ourselves horns by our own strength?'