Study Desk

in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look through the windows are dimmed,

they are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and desire fails, because man is going to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets—

Do not gaze at me because I am dark, because the sun has looked upon me. My mother's sons were angry with me; they made me keeper of the vineyards, but my own vineyard I have not kept!

For you have rejected your people, the house of Jacob, because they are full of things from the east and of fortune-tellers like the Philistines, and they strike hands with the children of foreigners.

For Jerusalem has stumbled, and Judah has fallen, because their speech and their deeds are against the Lord , defying his glorious presence.

The Lord said: Because the daughters of Zion are haughty and walk with outstretched necks, glancing wantonly with their eyes, mincing along as they go, tinkling with their feet,

And say to him, ‘Be careful, be quiet, do not fear, and do not let your heart be faint because of these two smoldering stumps of firebrands, at the fierce anger of Rezin and Syria and the son of Remaliah.

Because Syria, with Ephraim and the son of Remaliah, has devised evil against you, saying,

and because of the abundance of milk that they give, he will eat curds, for everyone who is left in the land will eat curds and honey.

"Because this people has refused the waters of Shiloah that flow gently, and rejoice over Rezin and the son of Remaliah,

To the teaching and to the testimony! If they will not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn.

And in that day his burden will depart from your shoulder, and his yoke from your neck; and the yoke will be broken because of the fat."

You will not be joined with them in burial, because you have destroyed your land, you have slain your people. "May the offspring of evildoers nevermore be named!

Prepare slaughter for his sons because of the guilt of their fathers, lest they rise and possess the earth, and fill the face of the world with cities."

An oracle concerning Moab. Because Ar of Moab is laid waste in a night, Moab is undone; because Kir of Moab is laid waste in a night, Moab is undone.

In that day their strong cities will be like the deserted places of the wooded heights and the hilltops, which they deserted because of the children of Israel, and there will be desolation.

And the land of Judah will become a terror to the Egyptians. Everyone to whom it is mentioned will fear because of the purpose that the Lord of hosts has purposed against them.

It will be a sign and a witness to the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt. When they cry to the Lord because of oppressors, he will send them a savior and defender, and deliver them.

Then they shall be dismayed and ashamed because of Cush their hope and of Egypt their boast.

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.