Study Desk

They will not work in vain, and their children will not be doomed to misfortune. For they are people blessed by the Lord , and their children, too, will be blessed.

I will send them great trouble— all the things they feared. For when I called, they did not answer. When I spoke, they did not listen. They deliberately sinned before my very eyes and chose to do what they know I despise."

Hear this message from the Lord , all you who tremble at his words: "Your own people hate you and throw you out for being loyal to my name. ‘Let the Lord be honored!' they scoff. ‘Be joyful in him!' But they will be put to shame.

"Rejoice with Jerusalem! Be glad with her, all you who love her and all you who mourn for her.

And as they go out, they will see the dead bodies of those who have rebelled against me. For the worms that devour them will never die, and the fire that burns them will never go out. All who pass by will view them with utter horror."

"O Sovereign Lord ," I said, "I can't speak for you! I'm too young!"

The Lord replied, "Don't say, ‘I'm too young,' for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you.

And don't be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the Lord , have spoken!"

"Yes," the Lord said, "for terror from the north will boil out on the people of this land.

I will pronounce judgment on my people for all their evil— for deserting me and burning incense to other gods. Yes, they worship idols made with their own hands!

"Get up and prepare for action. Go out and tell them everything I tell you to say. Do not be afraid of them, or I will make you look foolish in front of them.

For see, today I have made you strong like a fortified city that cannot be captured, like an iron pillar or a bronze wall. You will stand against the whole land— the kings, officials, priests, and people of Judah.

They will fight you, but they will fail. For I am with you, and I will take care of you. I, the Lord , have spoken!"

Has any nation ever traded its gods for new ones, even though they are not gods at all? Yet my people have exchanged their glorious God for worthless idols!

"For my people have done two evil things: They have abandoned me— the fountain of living water. And they have dug for themselves cracked cisterns that can hold no water at all!

"You say, ‘That's not true! I haven't worshiped the images of Baal!' But how can you say that? Go and look in any valley in the land! Face the awful sins you have done. You are like a restless female camel desperately searching for a mate.

You are like a wild donkey, sniffing the wind at mating time. Who can restrain her lust? Those who desire her don't need to search, for she goes running to them!

But why not call on these gods you have made? When trouble comes, let them save you if they can! For you have as many gods as there are towns in Judah.

Does a young woman forget her jewelry, or a bride her wedding dress? Yet for years on end my people have forgotten me.

First here, then there— you flit from one ally to another asking for help. But your new friends in Egypt will let you down, just as Assyria did before.