Study Desk

It will be made a wasteland, parched and desolate before me; the whole land will be laid waste because there is no one who cares.

They will sow wheat but reap thorns; they will wear themselves out but gain nothing. So bear the shame of your harvest because of the LORD's fierce anger."

But if you do not listen, I will weep in secret because of your pride; my eyes will weep bitterly, overflowing with tears, because the LORD's flock will be taken captive.

And if you ask yourself, "Why has this happened to me?"- it is because of your many sins that your skirts have been torn off and your body mistreated.

This is your lot, the portion I have decreed for you," declares the LORD , "because you have forgotten me and trusted in false gods.

The ground is cracked because there is no rain in the land; the farmers are dismayed and cover their heads.

Even the doe in the field deserts her newborn fawn because there is no grass.

And the people they are prophesying to will be thrown out into the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and sword. There will be no one to bury them or their wives, their sons or their daughters. I will pour out on them the calamity they deserve.

I will make them abhorrent to all the kingdoms of the earth because of what Manasseh son of Hezekiah king of Judah did in Jerusalem.

Your wealth and your treasures I will give as plunder, without charge, because of all your sins throughout your country.

I never sat in the company of revelers, never made merry with them; I sat alone because your hand was on me and you had filled me with indignation.

For this is what the LORD says: "Do not enter a house where there is a funeral meal; do not go to mourn or show sympathy, because I have withdrawn my blessing, my love and my pity from this people," declares the LORD .

then say to them, 'It is because your fathers forsook me,' declares the LORD , 'and followed other gods and served and worshiped them. They forsook me and did not keep my law.

I will repay them double for their wickedness and their sin, because they have defiled my land with the lifeless forms of their vile images and have filled my inheritance with their detestable idols."

My mountain in the land and your wealth and all your treasures I will give away as plunder, together with your high places, because of sin throughout your country.

O LORD , the hope of Israel, all who forsake you will be put to shame. Those who turn away from you will be written in the dust because they have forsaken the LORD , the spring of living water.

I will devastate this city and make it an object of scorn; all who pass by will be appalled and will scoff because of all its wounds.

"This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: 'Listen! I am going to bring on this city and the villages around it every disaster I pronounced against them, because they were stiff-necked and would not listen to my words.' "

"Inquire now of the LORD for us because Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon is attacking us. Perhaps the LORD will perform wonders for us as in times past so that he will withdraw from us."

O house of David, this is what the LORD says: " 'Administer justice every morning; rescue from the hand of his oppressor the one who has been robbed, or my wrath will break out and burn like fire because of the evil you have done- burn with no one to quench it.