Study Desk

"How can you say, ‘I am clean. I have not gone after the false gods of Baal'? Look at what you did in the valley! Know what you have done! You are like a wild young camel wanting to mate.

you say, ‘I am not guilty. For sure He has turned His anger away from me.' See, I will punish you because you say, ‘I have not sinned.'

Lift up a flag toward Zion! Run to a safe place, do not stand still. For I am bringing much trouble from the north that will destroy much.

My soul, my soul! I am in pain! O, my heart! My heart is beating so hard! It cannot be quiet, for I hear the sound of the horn, telling of the coming war.

I heard a cry as of a woman in pain, as if she were giving birth to her first child. It was the cry of the people of Zion, working hard to breathe, holding out hands, and saying, "O, it is bad for me! I am losing strength in front of those who want to kill me."

So the Lord, the God of All, says, "Because you have said this, I am making My words in your mouth a fire and I am making these people wood so they will be burned up.

See, I am bringing a nation that is far away against you, O people of Israel," says the Lord. "It is a strong nation and an old nation, a nation whose language you do not know. You cannot understand what they say.

But I am full of the anger of the Lord. I am tired of holding it in. "Pour it out on the children in the street, and on the young men gathered together. For both husband and wife will be taken, the old and those who have lived a very long time.

Hear, O earth. See, I am bringing much trouble upon these people. It is the fruit of their plans, because they have not listened to My words. And they have turned away from My law.

So the Lord says, "See, I am laying things in front of these people, and they will fall over them. Fathers and sons will fall together, and neighbor and friend will die."

"For see, I am sending the worst of snakes against you, poison snakes which cannot be stopped. And they will bite you," says the Lord.

I am hurt because my people are hurt. I am filled with sorrow, and fear has taken hold of me.

But let him who speaks with pride speak about this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who shows loving-kindness and does what is fair and right and good on earth. For I find joy in these things," says the Lord.

For the Lord says, "See, I am throwing out the people of the land at this time. And I will trouble them, that they may feel it."

It is bad for me because I am hurt! My sore cannot be healed. But I said, "For sure this sickness is mine, and I must suffer with it."

So the Lord says, "See, I am bringing much trouble on them. They will not be able to get away from it. Even when they cry to Me, I will not listen to them.

So the Lord of All says, "See, I am about to punish them! The young men will die by the sword. And their sons and daughters will die from hunger.

This is what the Lord says about all My sinful neighbors who take the gift I have given to My people Israel: "See, I am about to pull them up by the roots from their land. And I will pull up the people of Judah by the roots from among them.

then tell them, ‘The Lord says, "I am about to fill all the people of this land, the kings who sit on David's throne, the religious leaders, the men of God, and all the people of Jerusalem with too much drink.

You have turned away from Me," says the Lord. "You keep going back into sin. So I will put out My hand against you and destroy you. I am tired of having pity on you!