Study Desk

All your people will be righteous;they will possess the land forever;they are the branch I planted,the work of my hands,so that I may be glorified.

For as the earth produces its growth,and as a garden enables what is sown to spring up,so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praiseto spring up before all the nations.

For as a young man marries a young woman,so your sons will marry you;and as a groom rejoices over his bride,so your God will rejoice over you.

I looked, but there was no one to help,and I was amazed that no one assisted;so my arm accomplished victory for me,and my wrath assisted me.

and led them through the depthslike a horse in the wilderness,so that they did not stumble.

Why, Lord, do you make us stray from your ways?You harden our hearts so we do not fear you.Return, because of your servants,the tribes of your heritage.

just as fire kindles brushwood,and fire boils water—to make your name known to your enemies,so that nations will tremble at your presence!

My hand made all these things,and so they all came into being.

So I will choose their punishment,and I will bring on them what they dreadbecause I called and no one answered;I spoke and they did not listen;they did what was evil in my sightand chose what I did not delight in.

so that you may nurse and be satisfiedfrom her comforting breastand drink deeply and delight yourselvesfrom her glorious breasts.

As a mother comforts her son,so I will comfort you,and you will be comforted in Jerusalem.

This is what the Lord says:What fault did your fathers find in methat they went so far from me,followed worthless idols,and became worthless themselves?

Like the shame of a thief when he is caught,so the house of Israel has been put to shame.They, their kings, their officials,their priests, and their prophets

However, as a woman may betray her lover,so you have betrayed me, house of Israel.

Wash the evil from your heart, Jerusalem,so that you will be delivered.How long will you harbormalicious thoughts?

When people ask, ‘For what offense has the Lord our God done all these things to us?’ You will respond to them, ‘Just as you abandoned me and served foreign gods in your land, so will you serve strangers in a land that is not yours.’

Like a cage full of birds,so their houses are full of deceit.Therefore they have grown powerful and rich.

They have become fat and sleek.They have also excelled in evil matters.They have not taken up cases,such as the case of the fatherless, so they might prosper,and they have not defended the rights of the needy.

As a well gushes out its water,so she pours out her evil.Violence and destruction resound in her.Sickness and wounds keep coming to my attention.

Who can I speak to and give such a warningthat they will listen?Look, their ear is uncircumcised,so they cannot pay attention.See, the word of the Lord has become contemptible to them—they find no pleasure in it.