Study Desk

It is bad for me, my mother, that you have given birth to me! I am a man of trouble and fighting to all the land. No one owes money to me, and I do not owe money to others, yet every one curses me.

O Lord, You understand. Remember me and visit me. And punish those who make it hard for me. Do not take me away, for You are slow to be angry. Know that because of You I suffer and am put to shame.

Then I will make you like a strong wall of brass to these people. Even if they fight against you, they will not get power over you. For I am with you to save you and bring you out of trouble," says the Lord.

For the Lord of All, the God of Israel, says, "Before your eyes and in your time, I am going to bring an end to the voice of joy, the voice of happiness, the voice of the man to be married and the voice of the bride in this place.

"See, I am going to send for many fishermen," says the Lord, "and they will fish for them. After this I will send for many men who hunt. And they will hunt them from every mountain and every hill, and out of the holes in the rocks.

"So I am going to make them know. This time I will make them know My power and My strength. And they will know that My name is the Lord."

So now speak to the men of Judah and the people of Jerusalem. Tell them, ‘The Lord says, "See, I am making trouble for you and making a plan against you. So each of you turn from your sinful way. Change your ways and your works."'

Say, ‘Hear the Word of the Lord, O kings of Judah and people of Jerusalem. The Lord of All, the God of Israel, says, "See, I am about to bring much trouble to this place. The ears of everyone that hears of it will hurt.

"The Lord of All, the God of Israel, says, ‘See, I am about to bring to this city and to all its towns all the trouble that I have spoken about, because they have made their necks hard and would not listen to My Words.'"

For the Lord says, ‘See, I am going to make you a fear to yourself and to all your friends. They will fall by the sword of those who hate them while you look on. I will give all Judah into the hand of the king of Babylon. And he will carry them away in chains to Babylon and will kill them with the sword.

But if I say, "I will not remember Him or speak any more in His name," then in my heart it is like a burning fire shut up in my bones. I am tired of holding it in, and I cannot do that.

"See, I am against you, O you who live in the valley, O rock of the plain," says the Lord, "you who say, ‘Who will come down against us? Or who will come into our houses?'

The Lord God of Israel says this about the shepherds who are caring for My people, "You have made My flock go everywhere and have driven them away, and have not cared for them. See, I am about to punish you for your sinful things you have done," says the Lord.

"Am I a God Who is near," says the Lord, "and not a God Who is far away?

So I am against those who tell what is going to happen in the future," says the Lord, "who steal My words from each other.

See, I am against these men," says the Lord, "who use their tongues and say, ‘This is what the Lord says.'

I am against those who have told false dreams," says the Lord, "and have led My people the wrong way by their lies and foolish words of pride. I did not send them or tell them what to say, so they do not help these people at all," says the Lord.

And I will give them a heart to know Me, for I am the Lord. They will be My people and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with their whole heart.'

See, I am beginning to make trouble in this city which is called by My name. And will you not be punished? You will not be free from punishment, for I am bringing a sword against all the people of the earth," says the Lord of All.'

But as for me, see, I am in your hands. Do with me what is good and right in your eyes.