Study Desk

^(C1)Righteous are You, LORD, when I plead my case with You; Nevertheless I would ^(C2)discuss matters of justice with You: Why has the ^(C3)way of the wicked prospered? Why are all those who ^(C4)deal in treachery at ease?

You have ^(C1)planted them, they have also taken root; They grow, they have also produced fruit. You are ^(C2)near ^(F1)to their lips But far from their ^(F2)mind.

But You ^(C1)know me, LORD; You see me And ^(C2)examine my heart's attitude toward You. Drag them off like sheep for the slaughter, And ^(F1)set them apart for a ^(C3)day of slaughter!

How long is the ^(C1)land to mourn, And the ^(C2)vegetation of the ^(F1)countryside to dry up? Due to the ^(C3)wickedness of those who live in it, ^(C4)Animals and birds have been snatched away, Because people have said, "He will not see our final ^(C5)end."

"If you have run with infantrymen and they have tired you out, How can you compete with horses? If you fall down in a land of peace, How will you do in the ^(C1)thicket by the Jordan?

-"For even your ^(C1)brothers and the household of your father, Even they have dealt treacherously with you, Even they have called aloud after you. Do not believe them, though they say ^(C2)nice things to you."

"I have ^(C1)forsaken My house, I have abandoned My inheritance; I have handed the ^(C2)beloved of My soul Over to her enemies.

-"My inheritance has become to Me Like a lion in the forest; She has ^(F1)(C1)roared against Me; Therefore I have come to ^(C2)hate her.

-"Is My inheritance like a speckled bird of prey to Me? Are the ^(C1)birds of prey against her on every side? Go, gather all the ^(C2)animals of the field, Bring them to devour!

-"Many ^(C1)shepherds have ruined My ^(C2)vineyard, They have ^(C3)trampled down My field; They have made My ^(C4)pleasant field A desolate wilderness.

-"^(F1)It has been made a desolation; Desolate, it ^(C1)mourns ^(F2)before Me; The ^(C2)whole land has been made desolate, Because no one ^(C3)takes it to heart.

-"On all the ^(F1)(C1)bare heights in the wilderness Destroyers have come, For the ^(C2)sword of the LORD is devouring From one end of the land even to the ^(F2)other; There is ^(C3)no peace for ^(F3)anyone.

-"They have ^(C1)sown wheat but have harvested thorns, They have ^(C2)strained themselves ^(F1)to no profit. So be ashamed of your ^(C3)produce Because of the ^(C4)fierce anger of the LORD."

This is what the LORD says concerning all My ^(C1)wicked neighbors who ^(C2)do harm to the inheritance with which I have endowed My people Israel: "Behold, I am going to drive them out of their land, and I will ^(C3)drive the house of Judah out from among them.

"And it will come about that after I have driven them out, I will ^(C1)again have compassion on them; and I will ^(C2)bring them back, each one to his inheritance and each one to his land.

"Then, if they will really ^(C1)learn the ways of My people, to ^(C2)swear by My name, 'As the LORD lives,' just as they taught My people to ^(C3)swear by Baal, they will be ^(C4)built up in the midst of My people.

"But if they do not listen, then I will ^(C1)drive out that nation, drive it out and destroy it," declares the LORD.