Study Desk

Tell them, ‘I am an example for all of you. What I have done will happen to you.' You will be forced to go to a faraway country as prisoners.

Then they will know that I am the Lord . They will know that I scattered them among the nations. They will know that I forced them to go to other countries.

"But I will let a few of the people live. They will not die from the disease, hunger, and war. I will let them live so that they can tell other people about the terrible things they did against me. Then they will know that I am the Lord ."

Many people live in your cities now, but those cities will be ruined. Your whole country will be destroyed! Then you will know that I am the Lord .'"

That's because I am the Lord , and if I say something will happen, it will happen! I will not wait any longer. Those troubles are coming soon—in your own lifetime. Hear me, you people who always refuse to obey! When I say something, I make it happen." This is what the Lord God said.

So now, the Lord God really will speak. He says, "You told lies. You saw visions that were not true. So now I am against you!" This is what the Lord God said.

"I will punish those prophets whose visions are false and who lie about the future. I will remove them from my people. Their names will not be in the list of the family of Israel. They will never again come to the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord God !

The Lord God says, "I am angry and I will send a storm against you. I am angry and I will send a strong rain. I am angry and I will make hail fall from the sky and completely destroy you!

You put plaster on the wall, but I will destroy the whole wall. I will pull it to the ground. The wall will fall on you, and then you will know that I am the Lord .

You make them think I am not important. You turn them against me for a few handfuls of barley and a few scraps of bread. You tell lies to my people. They love to listen to lies. You kill those who should live, and you let people live who should die.

And I will tear up those scarves and save my people from your power. They will escape from your trap, and you will know that I am the Lord .

So you will not see any more useless visions or do any more magic. I will save my people from your power, and you will know that I am the Lord .'"

I will turn against them and destroy them. They will be an example to others. People will laugh at them. I will remove them from my people. Then you will know that I am the Lord !

Some of the people will escape from that country. They will bring their sons and daughters and come to you for help. Then you will see how bad those people really are, and you will feel better about all the troubles that I am bringing to Jerusalem.

"I will punish those people. But some of them will be like the sticks that don't burn completely. They will be punished, but they will not be destroyed completely. You will see that I punished them, and you will know that I am the Lord !

So I am bringing all of your lovers together. I will bring all the men you loved and all the men you hated. I will bring them all together and let them see you naked. They will see you completely naked.

I am the Lord God . As I live, I swear that your sister Sodom and her daughters never did as many bad things as you and your daughters.

So I will make my agreement with you, and you will know that I am the Lord .

and I will destroy his army. I will destroy his best soldiers and scatter them to the wind. Then you will know that I am the Lord and that I told you these things."

"Then the other trees will know that I, the Lord , make tall trees fall to the ground, and I make small trees grow tall. I make green trees become dry, and I make dry trees become green. I am the Lord . If I say that I will do something, then I will do it!"