Study Desk

And the people who survive will ask, "Why did the Lord our God do such terrible things to us?" Then tell them: I am the Lord , but you abandoned me and worshiped other gods in your own land. Now you will be slaves in a foreign country.

Look at the terrible things going on in this country. I am shocked!

I am the Lord All-Powerful, and I will command these armies to chop down trees and build a ramp up to the walls of Jerusalem. People of Jerusalem, I must punish you for your injustice.

The Lord told me to say to the people of Judah: I am the Lord All-Powerful, the God of Israel, but I won't accept sacrifices from you. So don't even bother bringing them to me. You might as well just cook the meat for yourselves.

So you must say to them: People of Judah, I am the Lord your God, but you have refused to obey me, and you didn't change when I punished you. And now, you no longer even pretend to be faithful to me.

When I am finished with your land, there will be deathly silence in the empty ruins of Jerusalem and the towns of Judah—no happy voices, no sounds of parties or wedding celebrations.

My people are crushed, and so is my heart. I am horrified and mourn.

The Lord replied: Lies come from the mouths of my people, like arrows from a bow. With each dishonest deed their power increases, and not one of them will admit that I am God.

Everyone takes advantage of everyone else, and no one will admit that I am God.

I heard the Lord reply, "When I am finished, Jerusalem and the towns of Judah will be piles of ruins where only jackals live."

The Lord God told me to say to the people of Judah and Jerusalem: I, the Lord , am warning you that I will put a curse on anyone who doesn't keep the agreement I made with Israel. So pay attention to what it says.

I am the Lord All-Powerful. You people of Judah were like a tree that I had planted, but you have made me angry by offering sacrifices to Baal, just as the northern kingdom did. And now I'm going to pull you up by the roots.

And when I am finished, no one from their families will be left alive.

They once taught my people to worship Baal. But if they admit I am the only true God, and if they let my people teach them how to worship me, these nations will also become my people.

The people of Judah are evil and stubborn. So instead of listening to me, they do whatever they want and even worship other gods. When I am finished with these people, they will be good for nothing, just like this pair of shorts.

Then say to them: I am the Lord , and what I'm going to do will make everyone in Judah and Jerusalem appear to be full of wine. And the worst ones will be the kings of David's family and the priests and the prophets.

My people, you abandoned me and walked away. I am tired of showing mercy; that's why I'll destroy you

I am badly injured and in constant pain. Are you going to disappoint me, like a stream that goes dry in the heat of summer?

because I am making you strong, like a bronze wall. They are evil and violent, but when they attack,

But for now, I am sending enemies who will catch you like fish and hunt you down like wild animals in the hills and the caves.