Study Desk

Therefore say: Thus says the Lord God : Though I removed them far away among the nations, and though I scattered them among the countries, yet I have been a sanctuary to them for a little while in the countries where they have gone.

But as for those whose heart goes after their detestable things and their abominations, I will bring their deeds upon their own heads, says the Lord God .

for they are a rebellious house. Therefore, mortal, prepare for yourself an exile's baggage, and go into exile by day in their sight; you shall go like an exile from your place to another place in their sight. Perhaps they will understand, though they are a rebellious house.

You shall bring out your baggage by day in their sight, as baggage for exile; and you shall go out yourself at evening in their sight, as those do who go into exile.

In their sight you shall lift the baggage on your shoulder, and carry it out in the dark; you shall cover your face, so that you may not see the land; for I have made you a sign for the house of Israel.

I did just as I was commanded. I brought out my baggage by day, as baggage for exile, and in the evening I dug through the wall with my own hands; I brought it out in the dark, carrying it on my shoulder in their sight.

Say, "I am a sign for you: as I have done, so shall it be done to them; they shall go into exile, into captivity."

For there shall no longer be any false vision or flattering divination within the house of Israel.

Mortal, the house of Israel is saying, "The vision that he sees is for many years ahead; he prophesies for distant times."

Thus says the Lord God , Alas for the senseless prophets who follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!

You have not gone up into the breaches, or repaired a wall for the house of Israel, so that it might stand in battle on the day of the Lord .

They have envisioned falsehood and lying divination; they say, "Says the Lord ," when the Lord has not sent them, and yet they wait for the fulfillment of their word!

the prophets of Israel who prophesied concerning Jerusalem and saw visions of peace for it, when there was no peace, says the Lord God .

As for you, mortal, set your face against the daughters of your people, who prophesy out of their own imagination; prophesy against them

and say, Thus says the Lord God : Woe to the women who sew bands on all wrists, and make veils for the heads of persons of every height, in the hunt for human lives! Will you hunt down lives among my people, and maintain your own lives?

You have profaned me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, putting to death persons who should not die and keeping alive persons who should not live, by your lies to my people, who listen to lies.

For any of those of the house of Israel, or of the aliens who reside in Israel, who separate themselves from me, taking their idols into their hearts and placing their iniquity as a stumbling block before them, and yet come to a prophet to inquire of me by him, I the Lord will answer them myself.

For thus says the Lord God : How much more when I send upon Jerusalem my four deadly acts of judgment, sword, famine, wild animals, and pestilence, to cut off humans and animals from it!

Yet, survivors shall be left in it, sons and daughters who will be brought out; they will come out to you. When you see their ways and their deeds, you will be consoled for the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, for all that I have brought upon it.

It is put in the fire for fuel; when the fire has consumed both ends of it and the middle of it is charred, is it useful for anything?