Study Desk

Why, O LORD , do you make us wander from your ways and harden our hearts so we do not revere you? Return for the sake of your servants, the tribes that are your inheritance.

This is what the LORD says: "As when juice is still found in a cluster of grapes and men say, 'Don't destroy it, there is yet some good in it,' so will I do in behalf of my servants; I will not destroy them all.

Whoever invokes a blessing in the land will do so by the God of truth; he who takes an oath in the land will swear by the God of truth. For the past troubles will be forgotten and hidden from my eyes.

No longer will they build houses and others live in them, or plant and others eat. For as the days of a tree, so will be the days of my people; my chosen ones will long enjoy the works of their hands.

Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?" declares the LORD . "This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.

so I also will choose harsh treatment for them and will bring upon them what they dread. For when I called, no one answered, when I spoke, no one listened. They did evil in my sight and chose what displeases me."

As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem."

"As the new heavens and the new earth that I make will endure before me," declares the LORD , "so will your name and descendants endure.

This is what the LORD says: "What fault did your fathers find in me, that they strayed so far from me? They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves.

"As a thief is disgraced when he is caught, so the house of Israel is disgraced- they, their kings and their officials, their priests and their prophets.

Why do you go about so much, changing your ways? You will be disappointed by Egypt as you were by Assyria.

Because Israel's immorality mattered so little to her, she defiled the land and committed adultery with stone and wood.

But like a woman unfaithful to her husband, so you have been unfaithful to me, O house of Israel," declares the LORD .

So put on sackcloth, lament and wail, for the fierce anger of the LORD has not turned away from us.

So I will go to the leaders and speak to them; surely they know the way of the LORD , the requirements of their God." But with one accord they too had broken off the yoke and torn off the bonds.

The prophets are but wind and the word is not in them; so let what they say be done to them."

And when the people ask, 'Why has the LORD our God done all this to us?' you will tell them, 'As you have forsaken me and served foreign gods in your own land, so now you will serve foreigners in a land not your own.'

I will destroy the Daughter of Zion, so beautiful and delicate.

So arise, let us attack at night and destroy her fortresses!"

As a well pours out its water, so she pours out her wickedness. Violence and destruction resound in her; her sickness and wounds are ever before me.