Study Desk

My people who have been crushedon the threshing floor,I have declared to youwhat I have heard from the Lord of Armies,the God of Israel.

The remaining Kedarite archers will be few in number.” For the Lord, the God of Israel, has spoken.

For the Lord God of Armieshad a day of tumult, trampling, and confusionin the Valley of Vision—people shouting and crying to the mountains;

On that day the Lord God of Armiescalled for weeping, for wailing, for shaven heads,and for the wearing of sackcloth.

The Lord of Armies has directly revealed to me:“This iniquity will not be wiped out for you people as long as you live.”The Lord God of Armies has spoken.

The Lord God of Armies said: “Go to Shebna, that steward who is in charge of the palace, and say to him:

Therefore, in the east honor the Lord!In the coasts and islands of the westhonor the name of the Lord,the God of Israel.

Lord, you are my God;

he will destroy death forever.The Lord God will wipe away the tearsfrom every faceand remove his people’s disgracefrom the whole earth,for the Lord has spoken.

On that day it will be said,“Look, this is our God;we have waited for him, and he has saved us.This is the Lord; we have waited for him.Let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.”

Lord our God, lords other than you have owned us,but we remember your name alone.

Therefore the Lord God said:“Look, I have laid a stone in Zion,a tested stone,a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation;the one who believes will be unshakable.

So now, do not scoff,or your shackles will become stronger.Indeed, I have heard from the Lord God of Armiesa decree of destruction for the whole land.

His God teaches him order;he instructs him.

For when he sees his children,the work of my hands within his nation,they will honor my name,they will honor the Holy One of Jacoband stand in awe of the God of Israel.

For the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, has said:“You will be delivered by returning and resting;your strength will lie in quiet confidence.But you are not willing.”

Egyptians are men, not God;their horses are flesh, not spirit.When the Lord raises his hand to strike,the helper will stumbleand the one who is helped will fall;both will perish together.

It will blossom abundantlyand will also rejoice with joy and singing.The glory of Lebanon will be given to it,the splendor of Carmel and Sharon.They will see the glory of the Lord,the splendor of our God.

Say to the cowardly:“Be strong; do not fear!Here is your God; vengeance is coming.God’s retribution is coming; he will save you.”

Suppose you say to me, ‘We rely on the Lord our God.’ Isn’t he the one whose high places and altars Hezekiah has removed, saying to Judah and Jerusalem, ‘You are to worship at this altar’?