Study Desk

"You have observed correctly," said the LORD, "for I am watching over My word to accomplish it."

For I am about to summon all the clans and kingdoms of the north," declares the LORD. "Their kings will come and set up their thrones at the entrance to Jerusalem's gates. They will attack all her surrounding walls and all the other cities of Judah.

They will fight against you but never overcome you, since I am with you to rescue you," declares the LORD.

"How can you say, 'I am not defiled; I have not run after the Baals'? Look at your behavior in the valley; acknowledge what you have done. You are a swift young she-camel galloping here and there,

you say, 'I am innocent. Surely His anger will turn from me.' But I will certainly judge you, because you say, 'I have not sinned.'

Go, proclaim this message toward the north: 'Return, O faithless Israel,' declares the LORD. 'I will no longer look on you with anger, for I am merciful,' declares the LORD. 'I will not be angry forever.

"Return, O faithless children," declares the LORD, "for I am your master, and I will take you-one from a city and two from a family-and bring you to Zion.

Raise a signal flag toward Zion. Seek refuge! Do not delay! For I am bringing disaster from the north, and terrible destruction.

Behold, I am bringing a distant nation against you, O house of Israel," declares the LORD. "It is an established nation, an ancient nation, a nation whose language you do not know and whose speech you do not understand.

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, and on the young men gathered together. For both husband and wife will be captured, the old and the very old.

Hear, O earth! I am bringing disaster on this people, the fruit of their own schemes, for they have paid no attention to My word and have rejected My instruction.

But am I the one they are provoking? declares the LORD. Is it not themselves they spite, to their own shame?

For the brokenness of the daughter of my people I am crushed. I mourn; horror has gripped me.

But let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, who exercises loving devotion, justice and righteousness on the earth-for I delight in these things," declares the LORD.

Therefore this is what the LORD says: I am about to bring upon them a disaster that they cannot escape. They will cry out to Me, but I will not listen to them.

This is what the LORD says: "As for all My evil neighbors who attack the inheritance that I bequeathed to My people Israel, I am about to uproot them from their land, and I will uproot the house of Judah from among them.

then you are to tell them that this is what the LORD says: 'I am going to fill with drunkenness all who live in this land-the kings who sit on David's throne, the priests, the prophets, and all the people of Jerusalem.

You have forsaken Me, declares the LORD. You have turned your back, so I have stretched out My hand against you to destroy you; I am weary of showing compassion.

Then I will make you a wall to this people, a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you to save you and deliver you. declares the LORD.

For this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: I am going to remove from this place, before your very eyes and in your days, the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of the groom and the bride.