Study Desk

My people will return weeping, praying as I lead them back. I will guide them to streams of water, on a smooth road where they will not stumble. I am like a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my oldest son."

King Zedekiah had imprisoned me there and had accused me of announcing that the Lord had said, "I am going to let the king of Babylonia capture this city,

"I am the Lord , the God of all people. Nothing is too difficult for me.

I am going to give this city over to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia and his army; they will capture it

I am going to gather the people from all the countries where I have scattered them in my anger and fury, and I am going to bring them back to this place and let them live here in safety.

"Just as I have brought this disaster on these people, so I am going to give them all the good things that I have promised.

Some will fight against the Babylonians, who will fill the houses with the corpses of those whom I am going to strike down in my anger and fury. I have turned away from this city because of the evil things that its people have done.

Just a few days ago you changed your minds and did what pleased me. All of you agreed to set all Israelites free, and you made a covenant in my presence, in the Temple where I am worshiped.

Then I gave Baruch the following instructions: "I am no longer allowed to go into the Temple.

I was also telling them that the Lord had said, "I am going to give the city to the Babylonian army, and they will capture it."

On another occasion King Zedekiah had me brought to him at the third entrance to the Temple, and he said, "I am going to ask you a question, and I want you to tell me the whole truth."

But the king answered, "I am afraid of our own people who have deserted to the Babylonians. I may be handed over to them and tortured."

to tell Ebedmelech the Ethiopian that the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, had said, "Just as I said I would, I am going to bring upon this city destruction and not prosperity. And when this happens, you will be there to see it.

Now, I am taking the chains off your wrists and setting you free. If you want to go to Babylonia with me, you may do so, and I will take care of you. But if you don't want to go, you don't have to. You have the whole country to choose from, and you may go wherever you wish."

Stop being afraid of the king of Babylonia. I am with you, and I will rescue you from his power.

Because I am merciful, I will make him have mercy on you and let you go back home. I, the Lord , have spoken.'

All the people who are determined to go and live in Egypt will die either in war or of starvation or disease. Not one of them will survive, not one will escape the disaster that I am going to bring on them.'

Then tell them that I, the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, am going to bring my servant King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia to this place, and he will put his throne over these stones that you buried, and will spread the royal tent over them.

you are saying, ‘I give up! The Lord has added sorrow to my troubles. I am worn out from groaning, and I can't find any rest!'

"But I, the Lord , am tearing down what I have built and pulling up what I have planted. I will do this to the entire earth.