Study Desk

O LORD, do not thy eyes look for truth? Thou hast smitten them, but they felt no anguish; thou hast consumed them, but they refused to take correction. They have made their faces harder than rock; they have refused to repent.

Then I said, "These are only the poor, they have no sense; for they do not know the way of the LORD, the law of their God.

I will go to the great, and will speak to them; for they know the way of the LORD, the law of their God." But they all alike had broken the yoke, they had burst the bonds.

They were well-fed lusty stallions, each neighing for his neighbor's wife.

Shall I not punish them for these things? says the LORD; and shall I not avenge myself on a nation such as this?

"Go up through her vine-rows and destroy, but make not a full end; strip away her branches, for they are not the LORD's.

For the house of Israel and the house of Judah have been utterly faithless to me, says the LORD.

Do you not fear me? says the LORD; Do you not tremble before me? I placed the sand as the bound for the sea, a perpetual barrier which it cannot pass; though the waves toss, they cannot prevail, though they roar, they cannot pass over it.

They do not say in their hearts, 'Let us fear the LORD our God, who gives the rain in its season, the autumn rain and the spring rain, and keeps for us the weeks appointed for the harvest.'

For wicked men are found among my people; they lurk like fowlers lying in wait. They set a trap; they catch men.

Shall I not punish them for these things? says the LORD, and shall I not avenge myself on a nation such as this?"

Flee for safety, O people of Benjamin, from the midst of Jerusalem! Blow the trumpet in Teko'a, and raise a signal on Beth-hacche'rem; for evil looms out of the north, and great destruction.

"Prepare war against her; up, and let us attack at noon!" "Woe to us, for the day declines, for the shadows of evening lengthen!"

For thus says the LORD of hosts: "Hew down her trees; cast up a siege mound against Jerusalem. This is the city which must be punished; there is nothing but oppression within her.

Their houses shall be turned over to others, their fields and wives together; for I will stretch out my hand against the inhabitants of the land," says the LORD.

"For from the least to the greatest of them, every one is greedy for unjust gain; and from prophet to priest, every one deals falsely.

Thus says the LORD: "Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, 'We will not walk in it.'

Hear, O earth; behold, I am bringing evil upon this people, the fruit of their devices, because they have not given heed to my words; and as for my law, they have rejected it.

They lay hold on bow and spear, they are cruel and have no mercy, the sound of them is like the roaring sea; they ride upon horses, set in array as a man for battle, against you, O daughter of Zion!"

Go not forth into the field, nor walk on the road; for the enemy has a sword, terror is on every side.