Study Desk

They say, ‘Keep to yourself,don’t come near me, for I am too holy for you!’These practices are smoke in my nostrils,a fire that burns all day long.

Then be glad and rejoice foreverin what I am creating;for I will create Jerusalem to be a joyand its people to be a delight.

But I protested, “Oh no, Lord God! Look, I don’t know how to speak since I am only a youth.”

Indeed, I am about to summon all the clans and kingdoms of the north.”

Today, I am the one who has made you a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the population.

They will fight against you but never prevail over you, since I am with you to rescue you.”

How can you protest, “I am not defiled;I have not followed the Baals”?Look at your behavior in the valley;acknowledge what you have done.You are a swift young cameltwisting and turning on her way,

you claim, “I am innocent.His anger is sure to turn away from me.”But I will certainly judge youbecause you have said, “I have not sinned.”

“‘Return, you faithless children—this is the Lord’s declaration—for I am your master, and I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion.

Lift up a signal flag toward Zion.Run for cover! Don’t stand still!For I am bringing disaster from the north—a crushing blow.

I am about to bring a nationfrom far away against you,house of Israel.

But I am full of the Lord’s wrath;I am tired of holding it back.Pour it out on the children in the street,on the gathering of young men as well.For both husband and wife will be captured,the old with the very old.

Listen, earth!I am about to bring disaster on these people,the fruit of their own plotting,for they have paid no attention to my words.They have rejected my instruction.

Therefore, this is what the Lord says:I am going to place stumbling blocks before these people;fathers and sons together will stumble over them;friends and neighbors will also perish.

Indeed, I am about to send snakes among you,poisonous vipers that cannot be charmed.They will bite you.

I am broken by the brokennessof my dear people.I mourn; horror has taken hold of me.

Therefore, this is what the Lord of Armies, the God of Israel, says: “I am about to feed this people wormwood and give them poisonous water to drink.

But the one who boasts should boast in this:that he understands and knows me—that I am the Lord, showing faithful love,justice, and righteousness on the earth,for I delight in these things.

Woe to me because of my brokenness—I am severely wounded!I exclaimed, “This is my intense suffering,but I must bear it.”

“Therefore, this is what the Lord says: I am about to bring on them disaster that they cannot escape. They will cry out to me, but I will not hear them.