Study Desk

Thus Yahweh said to me: "Go and buy for yourself a loincloth of linen and put it on your loins, but you must not place it in water."

Then I went to the Euphrates and I dug, and I took the loincloth from the place where I had hidden it, and look, the loincloth was ruined; it was not good for anything.

This evil people, who refuse to listen to my words, who go in the stubbornness of their hearts, and have gone after other gods, to serve them, and to bow in worship to them, let them be like this loincloth which is not good for anything.

For as the loincloth clings to the loins of a person, so I caused to cling to me all the house of Israel and all the house of Judah,' declares Yahweh, ‘to be for me a people, and a name, and a praise, and a glory, but they would not listen.'

Listen, and pay attention, you must not be haughty, for Yahweh has spoken.

Give glory to Yahweh your God before he brings darkness, and before your feet stumble on the mountains at twilight. And you will hope for light, but he makes it as gloom, he makes it as thick darkness.

"Say to the king and to the queen mother, ‘Take a lower seat, for your beautiful crown has come down from your head.'

And their nobles send their servants for water. They come to the pits, they find no water. They return with their vessels empty. They are ashamed, and they are confounded, and they cover their heads.

For even the doe in the field gives birth and forsakes her young, because there is no green growth.

And wild asses stand on the barren heights, they gasp for breath like the jackals. Their eyes fail because there is no vegetation."

Although our iniquities testify against us, O Yahweh, act for the sake of your name. Yes, our apostasies are many; we have sinned against you.

So Yahweh said to me, "You must not pray for this people, for their happiness.

"And you shall say to them this word, ‘Let my eyes melt with tears night and day, and let them not cease, for with a great wound the virgin daughter of my people is broken, with a very incurable wound.

If I go out into the field, then look, those slain by the sword. And if I enter the city, then look, the sickness of the famine. For both prophet and priest wander around through the land, they do not know what is going on.'"

Have you completely rejected Judah? Or has your soul loathed Zion? Why have you struck us so that there is no healing for us? We hope for peace, but there is no good, and for a time of healing, but look, there is terror.

We know, O Yahweh, our wickedness, the iniquity of our ancestors, for we have sinned against you.

You must not spurn us for the sake of your name, you must not dishonor your glorious throne. Remember us! You must not break your covenant with us.

Are there any among the idols of the nation who cause rain to pour? Or can the heavens give showers? Is it not you, O Yahweh our God? Therefore, we hope in you, for you do all these things.

And then if they say to you, ‘Where shall we go?' Then you shall say to them, ‘Thus says Yahweh, "Those who are destined for the plague, to the plague, and those who are destined for the sword, to the sword, and those who are destined for the famine, to the famine, and those who are destined for the captivity, to the captivity."'

"For who will have compassion on you, O Jerusalem, or who will show sympathy to you, or who will turn aside to ask about your welfare?