Study Desk

"Be joyful with Jerusalem and rejoice for her, all you who love her; Be exceedingly glad with her, all you who mourn over her,

For this is what the LORD says: "Behold, I extend peace to her like a river, And the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream; And you will be nursed, you will be carried on the hip and rocked back and forth on the knees.

For behold, the LORD will come in fire, And His chariots like the whirlwind, To render His anger with fury, And His rebuke with flames of fire.

For the LORD will execute judgment by fire And by His sword on humanity, And those put to death by the LORD will be many.

"For I know their works and their thoughts; the time is coming to gather all the nations and tongues. And they shall come and see My glory.

"For just as the new heavens and the new earth, Which I make, will endure before Me," declares the LORD, "So will your descendants and your name endure.

"Then they will go out and look At the corpses of the people Who have rebelled against Me. For their worm will not die And their fire will not be extinguished; And they will be an abhorrence to all mankind."

"Do not be afraid of them, For I am with you to save you," declares the LORD.

Then the LORD said to me, "You have seen well, for I am watching over My word to perform it."

"For, behold, I am calling all the families of the kingdoms of the north," declares the LORD; "and they will come and place, each one of them, his throne at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem, and against all its walls around, and against all the cities of Judah.

"And they will fight against you but they will not overcome you, for I am with you to save you," declares the LORD.

"For cross to the coastlands of Kittim and see, And send to Kedar and observe closely, And see if there has been anything like this!

"Has a nation changed gods, When they were not gods? But My people have exchanged their glory For that which is of no benefit.

"For My people have committed two evils: They have abandoned Me, The fountain of living waters, To carve out for themselves cisterns, Broken cisterns That do not hold water.

"Your own wickedness will correct you, And your apostasies will punish you; Know therefore and see that it is evil and bitter For you to abandon the LORD your God, And the fear of Me is not in you," declares the Lord GOD of armies.

"For long ago I broke your yoke And tore off your restraints; But you said, 'I will not serve!' For on every high hill And under every leafy tree You have lain down as a prostitute.

"Keep your feet from being bare, And your throat from thirst; But you said, 'It is hopeless! No! For I have loved strangers, And I will walk after them.'

Who say to a tree, 'You are my father,' And to a stone, 'You gave me birth.' For they have turned their backs to Me, And not their faces; But in the time of their trouble they will say, 'Arise and save us!'

"But where are your gods Which you made for yourself? Let them arise, if they can save you In the time of your trouble! For as many as the number of your cities Are your gods, Judah.

"Can a virgin forget her jewelry, Or a bride her attire? Yet My people have forgotten Me For days without number.