Study Desk

Load your things on your shoulder while they watch, and carry the load out in the dark. Cover your face so that you cannot see the land. For I have made you as something special for the people of Israel to see."

Tell them, ‘I am something special for you to see. As I have done, so it will be done to them. They will be taken to another land and held there.'

The leader among them will load his things on his shoulder in the dark and go out. A hole will be dug through the wall for him to go through. He will cover his face so that he cannot see the land with his eyes.

Then tell the people of the land, ‘This is what the Lord God says about the people of Jerusalem in the land of Israel: "They will be afraid as they eat their bread, and drink their water in fear. For their land will lay waste because of the fighting of all who live in it.

For there will be no more false dreams or good sounding words that do not come true.

For I the Lord will speak, and whatever I say will be done. It will no longer be held back. For in your days, O sinful people, I will speak the word and do it,' says the Lord God."

"Son of man, the people of Israel are saying, ‘The special dream he sees will not come to pass for many years. He is speaking of times far in the future.'

The Lord God says, "It is bad for the foolish people who tell what is going to happen by following their own spirit and have seen nothing.

There are no more people of Israel who speak false words to Jerusalem in My name, and who see dreams of peace for her when there is no peace,' says the Lord God.

and tell them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: "It is bad for the women who sew objects with secret powers to wear on their arms, and make coverings for the heads to trap people. Will you go after the lives of My people, but save the lives of others for yourselves?

You have used Me in a sinful way among My people for hands full of barley and for pieces of bread. You have killed people who should not die, and have kept others alive who should not live, by your lying to My people who listen to lies."'"

that I may again have the hearts of the people of Israel who have left Me for their false gods."'

"So tell the people of Israel, ‘The Lord God says, "Be sorry for your sins and turn away from your false gods. Turn your faces away from all your sinful ways.

For even if these three men, Noah, Daniel and Job, were in this country, they would save only their own lives by being right and good," says the Lord God.

"For the Lord God says, ‘How much worse will it be when I send my four worst punishments against Jerusalem! I will send the sword, hunger, wild animals, and disease, to take away man and animal from it!

It will help you when you see how they act. Then you will know that there was a good reason for everything I did,' says the Lord God."

If it has been put into the fire to burn, and the fire has burned up both of its ends, and the center of it is black from the fire, can it then be used for anything?

See, if it is not used for anything while it is whole, how much less can it ever be used for anything when the fire has burned it up and it has turned black!

No one looked with pity on you or did any of these things for you out of loving-kindness. Instead you were thrown out into the open field, for you were hated on the day you were born.

Then I passed by you and saw that you were old enough for love. So I spread my clothing over you and covered your body. I gave you my promise and made an agreement with you so that you became Mine," says the Lord God.