Study Desk

and for the land of my people in which thorns and thistles will come up. Yes, be sorry for all the houses of joy, and for the happy city,

because the king's house will be empty. The city full of people will be left empty. The hill and the watch-tower will become a place for wild animals forever, a happy place for wild donkeys, a field for flocks.

It is bad for you, O destroyer, you who were not destroyed yourself! You cannot be trusted, but others have trusted you. As soon as you finish destroying, you will be destroyed. As soon as you stop lying, others will lie to you.

O Lord, be kind to us. We have waited for You. Be our strength every morning. Save us in the time of trouble.

The Lord is honored, for He lives on high. He has filled Zion with what is right and fair and good.

He will be for you what is sure and faithful for your times, with much saving power, wisdom and learning. The fear of the Lord is worth much.

The roads are empty. The traveler does not travel. He has broken the agreement. He has hated the cities. He does not care for man.

He who walks with God, and whose words are good and honest, he who will not take money received from wrong-doing, and will not receive money given in secret for wrong-doing, he who stops his ears from hearing about killing, and shuts his eyes from looking at what is sinful,

he will have a place on high. His safe place will be a rock that cannot be taken over. He will be given food and will have water for sure.

But there the Lord in His great power will be for us. It will be a place of rivers and wide waterways, where no rowboats can go, and where no powerful ships can pass.

For the Lord is our judge. The Lord is our law-giver. The Lord is our king. He will save us.

For the Lord's anger is against all the nations. And His anger is against all their armies. He has destroyed all of them. He has given them over to be killed.

For My sword has drunk its fill in heaven. See, it will come down to punish Edom. It will come down upon the people whom I have given over to be destroyed.

The sword of the Lord is covered with blood. It is filled with fat, with the blood of lambs and goats, and with the fat of the kidneys of rams. For the Lord has a killing in Bozrah, and much killing in the land of Edom.

For the Lord has a day when He will punish, a year when He pays back which will help Zion.

But the pelican and hedgehog will have it for their own. The owl and raven will live in it. The Lord will make it into an empty waste land.

Thorns will grow in its strong towers. Thistles will grow in cities where battles were fought. It will be a place for wild dogs, and a home for ostriches.

Look in the book of the Lord, and read: Not one of these will be missing. None will be without its mate. For the mouth of the Lord has said so, and His Spirit has gathered them.

Say to those whose heart is afraid, "Have strength of heart, and do not be afraid. See, your God will come ready to punish. He will come to make sinners pay for their sins, but He will save you."

Then those who cannot walk will jump like a deer. And the tongue of those who cannot speak will call out for joy. For waters will break out in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.