Study Desk

But You know me, O Lord. You see me. And You test how my heart is with You. Take them off like sheep to be killed. Set them apart for the day of killing.

How long will the land be filled with sorrow? How long will the grass of every field dry up? For the sin of those who live in it, animals and birds have been taken away, because men have said, "He will not see what happens to us."

This is what the Lord says about all My sinful neighbors who take the gift I have given to My people Israel: "See, I am about to pull them up by the roots from their land. And I will pull up the people of Judah by the roots from among them.

"Look up and see those who are coming from the north. Where is the flock that was given to you, your beautiful sheep?

Then I said, "O Lord God, the ones who speak in Your name are telling them, ‘You will not see the sword and you will not go hungry. But I will give you lasting peace in this place.'"

If I go out to the country, I see those killed by the sword! Or if I go into the city, I see diseases because of hunger! For both the man who speaks for God and the religious leader have gone around and around in the land they do not know.'"

And you have sinned even more than your fathers before you. For see, each one of you is following the strong-will of his own sinful heart instead of listening to Me.

"See, I am going to send for many fishermen," says the Lord, "and they will fish for them. After this I will send for many men who hunt. And they will hunt them from every mountain and every hill, and out of the holes in the rocks.

For I see all their ways. They are not hidden from My face, and their sin is not hidden from My eyes.

For he will be like a bush in the desert and will not see when good comes. He will live in dry wastes in the desert, in a land of salt where no other people live.

So now speak to the men of Judah and the people of Jerusalem. Tell them, ‘The Lord says, "See, I am making trouble for you and making a plan against you. So each of you turn from your sinful way. Change your ways and your works."'

Say, ‘Hear the Word of the Lord, O kings of Judah and people of Jerusalem. The Lord of All, the God of Israel, says, "See, I am about to bring much trouble to this place. The ears of everyone that hears of it will hurt.

So see, the days are coming," says the Lord, "when this place will no longer be called Topheth or the valley of BenHinnom. Instead it will be called the Valley of Killing.

"The Lord of All, the God of Israel, says, ‘See, I am about to bring to this city and to all its towns all the trouble that I have spoken about, because they have made their necks hard and would not listen to My Words.'"

For the Lord says, ‘See, I am going to make you a fear to yourself and to all your friends. They will fall by the sword of those who hate them while you look on. I will give all Judah into the hand of the king of Babylon. And he will carry them away in chains to Babylon and will kill them with the sword.

O Lord of All, You test those who are right and good. You see the mind and the heart. Let me see You punish them, for I have given my cause to You.

Why was I ever born to see trouble and sorrow, and spend my days in shame?

‘The Lord God of Israel says, "See, I will turn against you the objects of war you are using to fight with against the king of Babylon and the Babylonians who are gathered outside the wall to shut you in. And I will bring them into the center of this city.

"Also tell the people, ‘The Lord says, "See, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.

"See, I am against you, O you who live in the valley, O rock of the plain," says the Lord, "you who say, ‘Who will come down against us? Or who will come into our houses?'