Study Desk

For this is what the LORD says to the house of Israel: "^(C1)Seek Me ^(C2)so that you may live.

-"But do not ^(F1)resort to ^(C1)Bethel And do not come to ^(C2)Gilgal, Nor cross over to ^(C3)Beersheba; For Gilgal will certainly go into captivity And Bethel will ^(F2)come to nothing.

-"^(C1)Seek the LORD so that you may live, Or He will break through like a ^(C2)fire, ^(F1)house of Joseph, And it will consume with no one to extinguish it for Bethel,

For those who turn ^(C1)justice into wormwood, And ^(F1)throw righteousness to the earth."

He who made the ^(C1)Pleiades and Orion, And ^(C2)changes deep darkness into morning, ^(F1)Who also ^(C3)darkens day into night, Who ^(C4)calls for the waters of the sea And pours them out on the surface of the earth, The ^(C5)LORD is His name.

It is He who ^(C1)makes destruction flash upon the strong, So that ^(C2)destruction comes upon the fortress.

They hate him who ^(C1)rebukes in the ^(F1)gate, And they ^(C2)despise him who speaks with integrity.

Therefore because you impose heavy ^(F1)rent on the poor And take a tribute of grain from them, Though you have built ^(C1)houses of cut stone, Yet you will not live in them; You have planted beautiful vineyards, yet you will ^(C2)not drink their wine.

For I know your offenses are many and your sins are great, You who are ^(C1)hostile to the righteous and accept bribes, And ^(F1)turn away the poor from justice at the ^(F2)gate.

Therefore at ^(F1)such a time the prudent person ^(C1)keeps quiet, because it is an evil time.

Seek good and not evil, so that you may live; And so may the LORD God of armies be with you, ^(C1)Just as you have said!

^(C1)Hate evil, love good, And establish justice in the ^(F1)gate! Perhaps the LORD God of armies ^(C2)Will be gracious to the ^(C3)remnant of Joseph.