Study Desk

They insist on turning away from me. They will cry out because of the yoke that is on them, but no one will lift it from them.

May those who are wise understand what is written here, and may they take it to heart. The Lord 's ways are right, and righteous people live by following them, but sinners stumble and fall because they ignore them.

There is no grain or wine to offer in the Temple; the priests mourn because they have no offerings for the Lord .

The fields are bare; the ground mourns because the grain is destroyed, the grapes are dried up, and the olive trees are withered.

Grieve, you farmers; cry, you that take care of the vineyards, because the wheat, the barley, yes all the crops are destroyed.

The cattle are bellowing in distress because there is no pasture for them; the flocks of sheep also suffer.

I cry out to you, Lord , because the pastures and trees are dried up, as though a fire had burned them.

Even the wild animals cry out to you because the streams have become dry.

I will remove the locust army that came from the north and will drive some of them into the desert. Their front ranks will be driven into the Dead Sea, their rear ranks into the Mediterranean. Their dead bodies will stink. I will destroy them because of all they have done to you.

"Fields, don't be afraid, but be joyful and glad because of all the Lord has done for you.

"Egypt will become a desert, and Edom a ruined waste, because they attacked the land of Judah and killed its innocent people.

"So then, people of Israel, I am going to punish you. And because I am going to do this, get ready to face my judgment!"

There will be wailing in all the vineyards. All this will take place because I am coming to punish you." The Lord has spoken.

But now, because you have worshiped images of Sakkuth, your king god, and of Kaiwan, your star god, you will have to carry those images

"Because you robbed and killed your relatives, the descendants of Jacob, you will be destroyed and dishonored forever.

All this will happen because the people of Israel have sinned and rebelled against God. Who is to blame for Israel's rebellion? Samaria, the capital city itself Who is guilty of idolatry in Judah? Jerusalem itself

Then Micah said, "Because of this I will mourn and lament. To show my sorrow, I will walk around barefoot and naked. I will howl like a jackal and wail like an ostrich.

The people of Maroth anxiously wait for relief, because the Lord has brought disaster close to Jerusalem.

People of Judah, cut off your hair in mourning for the children you love. Make yourselves as bald as vultures, because your children will be taken away from you into exile.

"Prophets, your day is almost over; the sun is going down on you. Because you mislead my people, you will have no more prophetic visions, and you will not be able to predict anything."