Study Desk

Because they did not listen when I spoke, I did not answer when they prayed.

"I have longed to help Jerusalem because of my deep love for her people, a love which has made me angry with her enemies.

In those days ten foreigners will come to one Jew and say, ‘We want to share in your destiny, because we have heard that God is with you.'"

The Lord says, "Because of my covenant with you that was sealed by the blood of sacrifices, I will set your people free— free from the waterless pit of exile.

People consult idols and fortunetellers, but the answers they get are lies and nonsense. Some interpret dreams, but only mislead you; the comfort they give is useless. So the people wander about like lost sheep. They are in trouble because they have no leader.

The people of Judah will be victorious like soldiers who trample their enemies in the mud of the streets. They will fight because the Lord is with them, and they will defeat even the enemy cavalry.

The people of Israel will be strong like soldiers, happy like those who have been drinking wine. Their descendants will remember this victory and be glad because of what the Lord has done.

Then if anyone still insists on prophesying, his own father and mother will tell him that he must be put to death, because he claimed to speak the Lord 's word, but spoke lies instead. When he prophesies, his own father and mother will stab him to death.

You must honor me by what you do. If you will not listen to what I say, then I will bring a curse on you. I will put a curse on the things you receive for your support. In fact, I have already put a curse on them, because you do not take my command seriously.

It is the duty of priests to teach the true knowledge of God. People should go to them to learn my will, because they are the messengers of the Lord Almighty.

So I, in turn, will make the people of Israel despise you because you do not obey my will, and when you teach my people, you do not treat everyone alike."

This is another thing you do. You drown the Lord 's altar with tears, weeping and wailing because he no longer accepts the offerings you bring him.

You ask why he no longer accepts them. It is because he knows you have broken your promise to the wife you married when you were young. She was your partner, and you have broken your promise to her, although you promised before God that you would be faithful to her.

A curse is on all of you because the whole nation is cheating me.

Then the people of all nations will call you happy, because your land will be a good place to live.

She will have a son, and you will name him Jesus—because he will save his people from their sins."

and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother, and go back to the land of Israel, because those who tried to kill the child are dead."

"Turn away from your sins," he said, "because the Kingdom of heaven is near!"

From that time Jesus began to preach his message: "Turn away from your sins, because the Kingdom of heaven is near!"

"Happy are those who are persecuted because they do what God requires; the Kingdom of heaven belongs to them!