Study Desk

"Because you have said, ‘The Lord has raised up prophets for us in Babylon,'

For he has sent to us in Babylon, saying, "Your exile will be long; build houses and live in them, and plant gardens and eat their produce."'"

therefore thus says the Lord : Behold, I will punish Shemaiah of Nehelam and his descendants. He shall not have anyone living among this people, and he shall not see the good that I will do to my people, declares the Lord , for he has spoken rebellion against the Lord .'"

For behold, days are coming, declares the Lord , when I will restore the fortunes of my people, Israel and Judah, says the Lord , and I will bring them back to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall take possession of it."

Alas! That day is so great there is none like it; it is a time of distress for Jacob; yet he shall be saved out of it.

But they shall serve the Lord their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them.

"Then fear not, O Jacob my servant, declares the Lord , nor be dismayed, O Israel; for behold, I will save you from far away, and your offspring from the land of their captivity. Jacob shall return and have quiet and ease, and none shall make him afraid.

For I am with you to save you, declares the Lord ; I will make a full end of all the nations among whom I scattered you, but of you I will not make a full end. I will discipline you in just measure, and I will by no means leave you unpunished.

"For thus says the Lord : Your hurt is incurable, and your wound is grievous.

There is none to uphold your cause, no medicine for your wound, no healing for you.

All your lovers have forgotten you; they care nothing for you; for I have dealt you the blow of an enemy, the punishment of a merciless foe, because your guilt is great, because your sins are flagrant.

For I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal, declares the Lord , because they have called you an outcast: ‘It is Zion, for whom no one cares!'

Their prince shall be one of themselves; their ruler shall come out from their midst; I will make him draw near, and he shall approach me, for who would dare of himself to approach me? declares the Lord .

Thus says the Lord : "The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness; when Israel sought for rest,

For there shall be a day when watchmen will call in the hill country of Ephraim: ‘Arise, and let us go up to Zion, to the Lord our God.'"

For thus says the Lord : "Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob, and raise shouts for the chief of the nations; proclaim, give praise, and say, ‘O Lord , save your people, the remnant of Israel.'

With weeping they shall come, and with pleas for mercy I will lead them back, I will make them walk by brooks of water, in a straight path in which they shall not stumble, for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.

For the Lord has ransomed Jacob and has redeemed him from hands too strong for him.

Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old shall be merry. I will turn their mourning into joy; I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow.

Thus says the Lord : "A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more."