Study Desk

People will stagger from sea to sea and wander from north to east, searching for the word of the Lord , but they will not find it.

Though they are driven into exile by their enemies, there I will command the sword to slay them. "I will keep my eye on them for harm and not for good."

he builds his lofty palace in the heavens and sets its foundation on the earth; he calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out over the face of the land— the Lord is his name.

"For I will give the command, and I will shake the people of Israel among all the nations as grain is shaken in a sieve, and not a pebble will reach the ground.

The vision of Obadiah. This is what the Sovereign Lord says about Edom— We have heard a message from the Lord : An envoy was sent to the nations to say, "Rise, let us go against her for battle"—

All your allies will force you to the border; your friends will deceive and overpower you; those who eat your bread will set a trap for you, but you will not detect it.

On the day you stood aloof while strangers carried off his wealth and foreigners entered his gates and cast lots for Jerusalem, you were like one of them.

"The day of the Lord is near for all nations. As you have done, it will be done to you; your deeds will return upon your own head.

But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord .

Then the sailors said to each other, "Come, let us cast lots to find out who is responsible for this calamity." They cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah.

So they asked him, "Tell us, who is responsible for making all this trouble for us? What kind of work do you do? Where do you come from? What is your country? From what people are you?"

The sea was getting rougher and rougher. So they asked him, "What should we do to you to make the sea calm down for us?"

Instead, the men did their best to row back to land. But they could not, for the sea grew even wilder than before.

Then they cried out to the Lord , "Please, Lord , do not let us die for taking this man's life. Do not hold us accountable for killing an innocent man, for you, Lord , have done as you pleased."

He said: "In my distress I called to the Lord , and he answered me. From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help, and you listened to my cry.

"Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God's love for them.

Now, Lord , take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live."

But the Lord replied, "Is it right for you to be angry?"

Then the Lord God provided a leafy plant and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the plant.

When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah's head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, "It would be better for me to die than to live."