Study Desk

"Therefore hear this now, you who are given to pleasures, Who dwell securely, Who say in your heart, "I am, and there is no one else besides me; I shall not sit as a widow, Nor shall I know the loss of children';

But these two things shall come to you In a moment, in one day: The loss of children, and widowhood. They shall come upon you in their fullness Because of the multitude of your sorceries, For the great abundance of your enchantments.

The children you will have, After you have lost the others, Will say again in your ears, "The place is too small for me; Give me a place where I may dwell.'

Then you will say in your heart, "Who has begotten these for me, Since I have lost my children and am desolate, A captive, and wandering to and fro? And who has brought these up? There I was, left alone; But these, where were they?"'

But thus says the LORD: "Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, And the prey of the terrible be delivered; For I will contend with him who contends with you, And I will save your children.

"Sing, O barren, You who have not borne! Break forth into singing, and cry aloud, You who have not labored with child! For more are the children of the desolate Than the children of the married woman," says the LORD.

All your children shall be taught by the LORD, And great shall be the peace of your children.

Whom do you ridicule? Against whom do you make a wide mouth And stick out the tongue? Are you not children of transgression, Offspring of falsehood,

Inflaming yourselves with gods under every green tree, Slaying the children in the valleys, Under the clefts of the rocks?

For He said, "Surely they are My people, Children who will not lie." So He became their Savior.

They shall not labor in vain, Nor bring forth children for trouble; For they shall be the descendants of the blessed of the LORD, And their offspring with them.

Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion was in labor, She gave birth to her children.

Then they shall bring all your brethren for an offering to the LORD out of all nations, on horses and in chariots and in litters, on mules and on camels, to My holy mountain Jerusalem," says the LORD, "as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD.

"Therefore I will yet bring charges against you," says the LORD, "And against your children's children I will bring charges.

"In vain I have chastened your children; They received no correction. Your sword has devoured your prophets Like a destroying lion.

"Return, O backsliding children," says the LORD; "for I am married to you. I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion.

"But I said: "How can I put you among the children And give you a pleasant land, A beautiful heritage of the hosts of nations?' "And I said: "You shall call Me, "My Father," And not turn away from Me.'

A voice was heard on the desolate heights, Weeping and supplications of the children of Israel. For they have perverted their way; They have forgotten the LORD their God.

"Return, you backsliding children, And I will heal your backslidings." "Indeed we do come to You, For You are the LORD our God.

"For My people are foolish, They have not known Me. They are silly children, And they have no understanding. They are wise to do evil, But to do good they have no knowledge."