Study Desk

"This is what the LORD of armies says: 'Behold, I am going to break the bow of Elam, The finest of their might.

"For behold, I am going to rouse and bring up against Babylon A contingent of great nations from the land of the north, And they will draw up their battle lines against her; From there she will be taken captive. Their arrows will be like an expert warrior Who does not return empty-handed.

"Therefore this is what the LORD of armies, the God of Israel says: 'Behold, I am going to punish the king of Babylon and his land, just as I punished the king of Assyria.

"Behold, I am against you, arrogant one," Declares the Lord GOD of armies, "For your day has come, The time when I will punish you.

This is what the LORD says: "Behold, I am going to stir up The spirit of a destroyer against Babylon And against the inhabitants of Leb-kamai.

"Behold, I am against you, mountain of destruction That destroys the whole earth," declares the LORD, "And I will stretch out My hand against you, And roll you down from the rocky cliffs, And I will make you a burnt out mountain.

Therefore this is what the LORD says: "Behold, I am going to plead your case And take vengeance for you; And I will dry up her sea And make her fountain dry.

and say, 'Just so shall Babylon sink down and not rise again, because of the disaster that I am going to bring upon her; and they will become exhausted.'" To this point are the words of Jeremiah.

All her people groan, seeking bread; They have given their treasures for food To restore their lives. "See, LORD, and look, For I am despised."

"The yoke of my wrongdoings is bound; By His hand they are woven together. They have come upon my neck; He has made my strength fail. The Lord has handed me over To those against whom I am not able to stand.

"See, LORD, for I am in distress; My spirit is greatly troubled; My heart is overturned within me, For I have been very rebellious. In the street the sword has made women childless; In the house it is like death.

I am the man who has seen misery Because of the rod of His wrath.

Waters flowed over my head; I said, "I am cut off!"

Look at their sitting and their rising; I am their mocking song.

Then He said to me, "Son of man, I am sending you to the sons of Israel, to a rebellious people who have rebelled against Me; they and their fathers have revolted against Me to this very day.

"So I am sending you to those who are impudent and obstinate children, and you shall say to them, 'This is what the Lord GOD says:'

"Now you, son of man, listen to what I am speaking to you; do not be rebellious like that rebellious house. Open your mouth wide and eat what I am giving you."

And He said to me, "Son of man, feed your stomach and fill your body with this scroll which I am giving you." Then I ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth.

Moreover, He said to me, "Son of man, behold, I am going to break the staff of bread in Jerusalem, and they will eat bread by weight and with anxiety, and drink water by measure and in horror,

therefore, this is what the Lord GOD says: 'Behold, I, even I, am against you, and I will execute judgments among you in the sight of the nations.