Study Desk

"‘The people in Jerusalem have done many bad things. I am angry with them. I have turned against them, so I will kill many people there. The Babylonian army will come to fight against Jerusalem. There will be many dead bodies in the houses in Jerusalem.

Then Jerusalem will be a wonderful place. The people will be happy. People from other nations will praise it when they hear about the good things happening there. They will hear about the good things I am doing for Jerusalem.'

Maybe the people of Judah will hear what I am planning to do to them and will stop doing bad things. If they will do that, I will forgive them for the terrible sins they have committed."

Then Jeremiah said to Baruch, "I cannot go to the Lord 's Temple. I am not allowed to go there.

Jeremiah said to Irijah, "That is not true! I am not leaving to join the Babylonians." But Irijah refused to listen to Jeremiah. And Irijah arrested Jeremiah and took him to the royal officials of Jerusalem.

Then King Zedekiah sent someone to get Jeremiah the prophet. He had Jeremiah brought to the third entrance to the Temple of the Lord . Then the king said, "Jeremiah, I am going to ask you something. Don't hide anything from me, but tell me everything honestly."

But King Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, "But I am afraid of the men of Judah who have already gone over to the side of the Babylonian army. I am afraid that the soldiers will give me to those men, and they will treat me badly and hurt me."

But now, Jeremiah, I will set you free. I am taking the chains off your wrists. If you want to, come with me to Babylon, and I will take good care of you. But if you don't want to come with me, then don't come. Look, the whole country is open to you. Go anywhere you want.

‘If you will stay in Judah, I will make you strong—I will not destroy you. I will plant you, and I will not pull you up. I will do this because I am sad about the terrible things that I made happen to you.

Now you are afraid of the king of Babylon. But don't be afraid of him. Don't be afraid of the king of Babylon,' says the Lord , ‘because I am with you. I will save you. I will rescue you. He will not get his hands on you.

I am watching over the people of Judah, but I am not watching over them to take care of them. I am watching over them to bring them harm. The people of Judah who live in Egypt will die from hunger or be killed in war until they are completely destroyed.

‘Baruch, you have said, "It is very bad for me. The Lord has given me sorrow along with my pain. I am very tired. I am worn out because of my suffering. I cannot find rest."

This is what the Lord says. "Jacob, my servant, do not be afraid. I am with you. I sent you away to many different places. But I will not destroy you completely. But I will destroy all those nations. You must be punished for the bad things you did. So I will not let you escape your punishment. I will discipline you, but I will be fair."

"I am very sad for Moab. My heart cries like the sad sound of a flute playing a funeral song. I am sad for the people from Kir Hareseth. Their money and riches have all been taken away.

"Sometimes a lion will come from the thick bushes near the Jordan River. And it will go into the fields where people put their sheep and cattle. I am like that lion. I will go to Edom. And I will frighten the people and make them run away. None of their young men will stop me. No one is like me. No one will challenge me. None of their leaders will stand up against me."

I will break Elam to pieces while their enemies are watching. I will break Elam in front of the people who want to kill them. I will bring terrible troubles to them. I will show them how angry I am." This message is from the Lord . "I will send a sword to chase Elam. The sword will chase them until I have killed them all.

I will show Elam that I am in control, and I will destroy its king and his officials." This message is from the Lord .

The Lord says, "At that time people will try hard to find Israel's guilt, but there will be no guilt. People will try to find Judah's sins, but no sins will be found. That is because I am saving a few survivors from Israel and Judah. And I am forgiving them for all their sins."

"Babylon, you are too proud, and I am against you," says the Lord God All-Powerful. "I am against you, and the time has come for you to be punished.

Jerusalem's skirts were dirty. She gave no thought to what would become of her. Her fall was amazing. She had no one to comfort her. She says, " Lord , see how I am hurt! See how my enemy thinks he is so great!"