Study Desk

You are so clever at finding lovers that you could give lessons to a prostitute.

you claim to be innocent, and you want me to stop being angry with you. So I'll take you to court, and we'll see who is right.

So I, the Lord , refused to let the spring rains fall. But just like a prostitute, you still have no shame for what you have done.

I knew that the kingdom of Israel had been unfaithful and committed many sins, yet I still hoped she might come back to me. But she didn't, so I divorced her and sent her away. Her sister, the kingdom of Judah, saw what happened, but she wasn't worried in the least, and I watched her become unfaithful like her sister.

Jeremiah, shout toward the north: Israel, I am your Lord — come back to me! You were unfaithful and made me furious, but I am merciful, and so I will forgive you.

People of Jerusalem and Judah, don't be so stubborn! Your hearts have become hard, like unplowed ground where thornbushes grow.

I said, "You are the Lord God. So why have you fooled everyone, especially the people of Jerusalem? Why did you promise peace, when a knife is at our throats?"

The Lord said, "Tell the nations that my people have rebelled against me. And so an army will come from far away to surround Jerusalem and the towns of Judah. I, the Lord , have spoken.

The people have rebelled and rejected the Lord too many times. So enemies will attack like lions from the forest or wolves from the desert. Those enemies will watch the towns of Judah, and like leopards they will tear to pieces whoever goes outside.

They tell these lies in my name, so now they will be killed in war or starve to death.

You need to be punished, and so I will take revenge.

They should be ashamed of their disgusting sins, but they don't even blush. And so, when I punish Judah, they will end up on the ground, dead like everyone else. I, the Lord , have spoken.

So I tell all nations on earth, "Watch what I will do!

So I will put stumbling blocks in your path, and everyone will die, including parents and children, neighbors and friends.

and attacks without warning. So mourn, my people, as though your only child had died. Wear clothes made of sackcloth and roll in the ash pile."

but my people are too wicked to be made pure, and so I have rejected them.

And then you come into my temple and worship me! Do you think I will protect you so that you can go on sinning?

Go to Shiloh, where my sacred tent once stood. Take a look at what I did there. My people Israel sinned, and so I destroyed Shiloh!

The Lord told me to say to the people of Judah: I am the Lord All-Powerful, the God of Israel, but I won't accept sacrifices from you. So don't even bother bringing them to me. You might as well just cook the meat for yourselves.

So you must say to them: People of Judah, I am the Lord your God, but you have refused to obey me, and you didn't change when I punished you. And now, you no longer even pretend to be faithful to me.