Study Desk

Some false prophets are telling lies to the Lord's people. This is what the Lord says about them: "These prophets are led by their stomachs. They promise peace for those who give them food, but they promise war to those who do not give them food.

But the Lord 's Spirit has filled me with power, goodness, and strength. So I can tell Jacob about his crimes, and so I can tell Israel about his sins!

All the people from other nations follow their own gods, but we will follow the Lord our God forever and ever!

The Lord says, "Jerusalem was hurt and crippled. She was thrown away. She was hurt and punished, but I will bring her back to me.

"The people of that ‘crippled' city will be the only ones left alive. They were forced to leave, but I will make them into a strong nation." The Lord will be their king. He will rule from Mount Zion forever.

Cry out, you people of Jerusalem, and feel the pain, as if you were giving birth. You must go out of the city and live in the fields. You will go away to Babylon, but you will also be saved from that place. The Lord will come and rescue you there. He will take you away from your enemies.

They have their plans, but they don't know what the Lord is planning. He brought them here for a special purpose. They will be crushed like grain on a threshing floor.

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, are the smallest town in Judah. Your family is almost too small to count, but the "Ruler of Israel" will come from you to rule for me. His beginnings are from ancient times, from long, long ago.

He will bring a time of peace. Yes, the Assyrian army will come into our country and march through our land. But we have plenty of leaders we can send against them.

But those from Jacob who are still living and scattered among the nations will be like dew from the Lord that does not depend on anyone. They will be like rain on the grass that does not wait for anyone.

Those from Jacob who are still living are scattered among the nations. But they will be like a lion among the animals in the forest. They will be like a young lion among flocks of sheep. If the lion passes through, he goes where he wants to go. If he attacks an animal, no one can save it. The survivors will be like that.

Some nations will not listen to me, but I will show my anger and get my revenge."

You will eat, but you will not become full. You will still be hungry and empty. You will try to bring people to safety, but people with swords will kill the people you rescued.

You will plant your seeds, but you will not gather food. You will try to squeeze oil from your olives, but you will not get any oil. You will crush your grapes, but you will not get enough juice to have wine to drink.

I have fallen, but enemy, don't laugh at me! I will get up again. I sit in darkness now, but the Lord will be a light for me.

I sinned against the Lord , so he was angry with me. But he will argue my case for me in court. He will do what is right for me. Then he will bring me out into the light, and I will see that he is right.

My enemy said to me, "Where is the Lord your God?" But my enemy will see this, and she will be ashamed. At that time I will laugh at her. People will walk over her, like mud in the streets.

The Lord is patient, but he is also very powerful! The Lord will punish the guilty; he will not let them go free. He will use whirlwinds and storms to show his power. People walk on the dusty ground, but he walks on the clouds.

But he will completely destroy his enemies. He will wash them away like a flood and chase them into the darkness.

This is what the Lord said: "The people of Assyria are at full strength. They have many soldiers, but they will all be cut down. They will all be finished. My people, I made you suffer, but I will make you suffer no more.