Study Desk

"For their officials are at Zoan And their ambassadors arrive at Hanes.

For this is a rebellious people, false sons, Sons who refuse to listen To the instruction of the LORD;

For this is what the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said: "In repentance and rest you will be saved, In quietness and trust is your strength." But you were not willing,

And you said, "No, for we will flee on horses!" Therefore you shall flee! "And we will ride on swift horses!" Therefore those who pursue you shall be swift.

Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you, And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; How blessed are all those who long for Him.

For, you people in Zion, inhabitant in Jerusalem, you will weep no longer. He will certainly be gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when He hears it, He will answer you.

Then He will give you rain for your seed which you will sow in the ground, and bread from the yield of the ground, and it will be rich and plentiful; on that day your livestock will graze in a wide pasture.

For at the voice of the LORD Assyria will be terrified, When He strikes with the rod.

For Topheth has long been ready, Indeed, it has been prepared for the king. He has made it deep and large, A pyre of fire with plenty of wood; The breath of the LORD, like a torrent of brimstone, sets it afire.

Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help And rely on horses, And trust in chariots because they are many And in horsemen because they are very strong, But they do not look to the Holy One of Israel, nor seek the LORD!

For this is what the LORD says to me: "As the lion or the young lion growls over his prey, Against which a band of shepherds is called out, And he will not be terrified at their voice nor disturbed at their noise, So will the LORD of armies come down to wage war on Mount Zion and on its hill."

For on that day every person will reject his silver idols and his gold idols, which your hands have made for you as a sin.

For a fool speaks nonsense, And his heart inclines toward wickedness: To practice ungodliness and to speak error against the LORD, To keep the hungry person unsatisfied And to withhold drink from the thirsty.

As for a rogue, his weapons are evil; He devises wicked schemes To destroy the poor with slander, Even though the needy one speaks what is right.

Within a year and a few days You will be troubled, you complacent daughters; For the vintage is ended, And the fruit gathering will not come.

Beat your breasts for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine,

For the land of my people in which thorns and briars will come up; Indeed, for all the joyful houses and for the jubilant city.

For the palace has been neglected, the populated city abandoned. Hill and watch-tower have become caves forever, A delight for wild donkeys, a pasture for flocks,

LORD, be gracious to us; we have waited for You. Be their strength every morning, Our salvation also in the time of distress.

The LORD is exalted, for He dwells on high; He has filled Zion with justice and righteousness.