Study Desk

Now the ^(C1)Spirit lifted me up and brought me to the east gate of the LORD'S house which faced eastward. And behold, there were twenty-five men at the entrance of the gate, and among them I saw Jaazaniah son of Azzur and ^(C2)Pelatiah son of Benaiah, leaders of the people.

Then He said to me, "Son of man, these are the men who devise wrongdoing and ^(C1)give evil advice in this city,

who say, 'The time is not near to build houses. ^(F1)This ^(C1)city is the pot and we are the meat.'

"Therefore, ^(C1)prophesy against them, prophesy, son of man!"

Then the Spirit of the LORD fell upon me, and He said to me, "Say, 'This is what the LORD says: "This is how you think, house of Israel, for ^(C1)I know ^(F1)your ^(C2)thoughts.

"You have ^(C1)multiplied your slain in this city, and filled its streets with ^(F1)them."

'Therefore, this is what the Lord ^(F1)GOD says: "Your ^(C1)slain whom you have laid in the midst of ^(F2)the city are the meat and this city is the pot; but ^(F3)I will ^(C2)bring you out of it.

"You have ^(C1)feared a sword; so I will ^(C2)bring a sword upon you," the Lord GOD declares.

"And I will bring you out of the midst of ^(F1)the city, and hand you over to ^(C1)strangers, and ^(C2)execute judgments against you.

"You will ^(C1)fall by the sword. I will judge you to the ^(C2)border of Israel; so you shall know that I am the LORD.

"This city will ^(C1)not be a pot for you, nor will you be meat in the midst of it; I will judge you to the border of Israel.

"So you will know that I am the LORD; for you have not walked in My statutes, nor have you ^(C1)executed My ordinances, but you have acted in accordance with the ordinances of the ^(C2)nations around you."'"

Now it came about, as I prophesied, that ^(C1)Pelatiah son of Benaiah died. Then I fell on my face and cried out with a loud voice, and said, "^(C2)Oh, Lord GOD! Will You bring the remnant of Israel to a complete destruction?"