Study Desk

I appointed sentinels to direct them: ‘Listen for the sound of the shofar.' But they said, ‘We will not listen.'

Hear, oh earth! I am going to bring disaster on this people; it is the consequence of their own way of thinking; for they pay no attention to my words; and as for my Torah, they reject it.

They will take hold of bow and spear; they are cruel; they have no compassion: their noise as they ride on horses is like the roaring sea; and they are equipped for battle against you, daughter of Tziyon.

Don't go into the countryside, don't walk out on the road; for the sword of the enemy is spreading terror in every direction.

Daughter of my people, put on sackcloth, roll in ashes, mourn as if for an only son, wail most bitterly; for suddenly the destroyer will come upon us.

The bellows blast away; and though the lead is consumed by the fire, in vain has the smelter refined, for the wicked have not been separated.

Do you regard this house, which bears my name, as a cave for bandits? I can see for myself what's going on," says Adonai .

"So you, [Yirmeyahu,] don't pray for this people! Don't cry, pray or intercede on their behalf with me; because I won't listen to you.

The children gather the wood, the fathers light the fire, and the women knead the dough to make cakes for the queen of heaven; and, just to provoke me, they pour out drink offerings to other gods!

For I didn't speak to your ancestors or give them orders concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices when I brought them out of the land of Egypt.

Rather, what I did order them was this: ‘Pay attention to what I say. Then I will be your God, and you will be my people. In everything, live according to the way that I order you, so that things will go well for you.'

Cut off your hair, and throw it away, take up a lament on the bare hills, for Adonai has rejected and abandoned the generation that rouses his anger.'

"For the people of Y'hudah have done what is evil from my perspective," says Adonai ; "they have set up their detestable things in the house which bears my name, to defile it.

The corpses of this people will become food for the birds in the air and the wild animals; no one will frighten them away.

"‘Therefore I will give their wives to others, and their fields to those who take them over; for from the least to the greatest, all are greedy for gains; prophets and cohanim alike all practice fraud —

"Why are we sitting still? Assemble! Let's enter the fortified cities and meet our doom there! For Adonai our God has doomed us; he has given us bitter water to drink, because we have sinned against Adonai .

When we look for peace, nothing good comes; when we seek a time of healing, instead there is terror."

From Dan can be heard the snorting of his horses; when his stallions neigh, the whole land trembles. For they come devouring the land and all in it, the city and those who dwell there.

They bend their tongues, their ‘bow' of falsehood, and hold sway in the land, but not for truth. For they go from evil to evil, and me they do not know," says Adonai .

Everyone, be on guard against your neighbor, don't trust even a brother; for every brother is out to trick you, and every neighbor goes around gossiping.