Study Desk

Alas! For that day is great, there is none like it. And it is a time of distress for Jacob, yet from it he will be delivered.

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

But you must not fear, my servant Jacob,' declares Yahweh, ‘and you must not be dismayed, Israel, for look, I am going to save you from far, and your offspring from the land of their captivity. And Jacob will return, and he will be at rest, and he will be at ease, and there will be no one who makes him afraid.

For I am with you,' declares Yahweh, ‘to save you. For I will make a complete destruction of all the nations to which I scattered you, but you I will not make a complete destruction. And I will chastise you to the measure, and I will not leave you entirely unpunished.'

For thus says Yahweh, ‘Your injury is incurable, your wound is overcome by sickness.

There is no one who pleads your cause, for your boil there is no healing for you.

All your lovers have forgotten you, they do not care for you. I have struck you with the blow of an enemy, the punishment of the cruel, because of the greatness of your guilt, your sins are numerous.

For I will present healing to you, and I will heal you of your wounds,' declares Yahweh. ‘Because they have called you an outcast, saying, "It is Zion, there is no one who cares for her."'

And their noble will be from them, and their ruler will come out from their midst. And I will bring him near and he will approach me. For who is he that would pledge his heart to approach me?' declares Yahweh.

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

For thus says Yahweh, "Sing for joy for Jacob with gladness, and shout out for the head of the nations. Proclaim, praise, and say, ‘Save, O Yahweh, your people, the remnant of Israel.'

With weeping they will come, and with pleas for mercy I will bring them; I will let them walk by streams of water in a straight path. They will not stumble in it, for I have become to Israel a father, and Ephraim, he is my firstborn."

For Yahweh has ransomed Jacob, and he has redeemed him from the hand of the person stronger than he.

And they will come, and they will sing for joy on the height of Zion, and they will be radiant over the goodness of Yahweh, over the grain, and over the wine, and over the olive oil, and over the young ones of the flock, and over the cattle. And their life will become like a well-watered garden, and they will never languish again."

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

Thus says Yahweh: "Restrain your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears, for there is a reward for your work," declares Yahweh, "and they will return from the land of the enemy.

And there is hope for your future," declares Yahweh, "and your children will return to their territory.

Indeed I heard Ephraim pitying themselves, ‘You disciplined me, and I was disciplined, like a calf that is not trained. Bring me back and let me return, for you are Yahweh my God.

For after my turning back I repented, and after coming to understand I struck my thigh. I was ashamed and also humiliated, because I bore the disgrace of my youth.'

Is Ephraim my dear son, or the child of my delight? For as often as I have earnestly spoken against him, I still remember him. Therefore my bowels are turbulent for him, surely I will have compassion on him," declares Yahweh.