Study Desk

"I permitted Myself to be sought by those who did not ask for Me; I permitted Myself to be found by those who did not seek Me. I said, 'Here am I, here am I,' To a nation which did not call on My name.

I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name.

"I have spread out My hands all day long to a rebellious people, Who walk in the way which is not good, following their own thoughts,

I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts;

A people who continually provoke Me to My face, Offering sacrifices in gardens and burning incense on bricks;

A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick;

Who sit among graves and spend the night in secret places; Who eat pig's flesh, And the broth of unclean meat is in their pots.

Which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments, which eat swine's flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels;

"Who say, 'Keep to yourself, do not come near me, For I am holier than you!' These are smoke in My nostrils, A fire that burns all the day.

Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day.

"Behold, it is written before Me: I will not keep silent, but I will repay; I will even repay into their laps,

Behold, it is written before me: I will not keep silence, but will recompense, even recompense into their bosom,

Both your own wrongdoings and the wrongdoings of your fathers together," says the LORD. "Because they have burned incense on the mountains And scorned Me on the hills, Therefore I will measure their former work into their laps."

Your iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers together, saith the Lord , which have burned incense upon the mountains, and blasphemed me upon the hills: therefore will I measure their former work into their bosom.