Study Desk

Then the Lord said to me, "You have seen well, for I am watching over my word to perform it."

For now I am calling all the tribes of the kingdoms of the north, says the Lord ; and they shall come and all of them shall set their thrones at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem, against all its surrounding walls and against all the cities of Judah.

They will fight against you; but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, says the Lord , to deliver you.

How can you say, "I am not defiled, I have not gone after the Baals"? Look at your way in the valley; know what you have done— a restive young camel interlacing her tracks,

you say, "I am innocent; surely his anger has turned from me." Now I am bringing you to judgment for saying, "I have not sinned."

Go, and proclaim these words toward the north, and say: Return, faithless Israel, says the Lord . I will not look on you in anger, for I am merciful, says the Lord ; I will not be angry forever.

Return, O faithless children, says the Lord , for I am your master; I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion.

Raise a standard toward Zion, flee for safety, do not delay, for I am bringing evil from the north, and a great destruction.

For I heard a cry as of a woman in labor, anguish as of one bringing forth her first child, the cry of daughter Zion gasping for breath, stretching out her hands, "Woe is me! I am fainting before killers!"

Therefore thus says the Lord , the God of hosts: Because they have spoken this word, I am now making my words in your mouth a fire, and this people wood, and the fire shall devour them.

I am going to bring upon you a nation from far away, O house of Israel, says the Lord . It is an enduring nation, it is an ancient nation, a nation whose language you do not know, nor can you understand what they say.

But I am full of the wrath of the Lord ; I am weary of holding it in. Pour it out on the children in the street, and on the gatherings of young men as well; both husband and wife shall be taken, the old folk and the very aged.

Hear, O earth; I am going to bring disaster on this people, the fruit of their schemes, because they have not given heed to my words; and as for my teaching, they have rejected it.

Therefore thus says the Lord : See, I am laying before this people stumbling blocks against which they shall stumble; parents and children together, neighbor and friend shall perish.

Has this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your sight? You know, I too am watching, says the Lord .

See, I am letting snakes loose among you, adders that cannot be charmed, and they shall bite you, says the Lord .

For the hurt of my poor people I am hurt, I mourn, and dismay has taken hold of me.

Therefore thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: I am feeding this people with wormwood, and giving them poisonous water to drink.

but let those who boast boast in this, that they understand and know me, that I am the Lord ; I act with steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth, for in these things I delight, says the Lord .

For thus says the Lord : I am going to sling out the inhabitants of the land at this time, and I will bring distress on them, so that they shall feel it.