Study Desk

"For behold, I have made you small among the nations,Despised among men.

As for the terror of you,The arrogance of your heart has deceived you,O you who dwell in the clefts of the rock,Who seize the height of the hill.Though you make your nest as high as an eagle's,I will bring you down from there," declares Yahweh.

Behold, one will come up like a lion from the thickets of the Jordan against an enduring pasture; for in an instant I will make him run away from it, and whoever is chosen I shall appoint over it. For who is like Me, and who will summon Me into court? And who then is the shepherd who can stand against Me?"

Concerning Damascus."Hamath and Arpad are put to shame,For they have heard a bad report;They are melting away.There is anxiety by the sea,It cannot be quieted.

They will take away their tents and their flocks;They will carry off for themselvesTheir tent curtains, all their goods, and their camels,And they will call out to one another, ‘Terror on every side!'

Run away, flee earnestly! Inhabit the depths,O inhabitants of Hazor," declares Yahweh;"For Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has taken counsel against youAnd purposed a purpose against you.

Their camels will become plunder,And their many cattle for spoil,And I will scatter to all the winds those who cut the corners of their hair;And I will bring their disaster from every side," declares Yahweh.

For a nation has come up against her out of the north; it will make her land an object of horror, and there will be no inhabitant in it. Both man and beast have wandered off; they have gone away!

They will ask for the way to Zion—turning their faces in its direction and saying, ‘Come!'—in order that they may join themselves to Yahweh in an everlasting covenant that will not be forgotten.

For behold, I am going to arouse and bring up against BabylonAn assembly of great nations from the land of the north,And they will arrange their battle lines against her;From there she will be taken captive.Their arrows will be like a warrior who makes one childlessWho does not return empty‑handed.

Arrange your battle lines against Babylon on every side,All you who bend the bow;Shoot at her, do not be sparing with your arrows,For she has sinned against Yahweh.

In those days and at that time,' declares Yahweh, ‘search will be made for the iniquity of Israel, but there will be none; and for the sins of Judah, but they will not be found; for I will pardon those whom I leave as a remnant.'

I set a snare for you, and you were also caught, O Babylon,But you yourself did not know;You have been found and also seizedBecause you have engaged in conflict with Yahweh."

Yahweh has opened His armoryAnd has brought forth the weapons of His indignation,For it is a work of Lord Yahweh of hostsIn the land of the Chaldeans.

Put all her young bulls to the sword;Let them go down to the slaughter!Woe be upon them, for their day has come,The time of their punishment.

There is a sound of those who flee and escape from the land of Babylon,To declare in Zion the vengeance of Yahweh our God,Vengeance for His temple.

"Summon many against Babylon,All those who bend the bow:Encamp against her on every side,Let there be no escape.Repay her according to her work;According to all that she has done, so do to her;For she has become arrogant against Yahweh,Against the Holy One of Israel.

"Behold, I am against you, O arrogant one,"Declares Lord Yahweh of hosts,"For your day has come,The time when I will punish you.

A drought on her waters, and they will be dried up!For it is a land of graven images,And they are mad over terrifying idols.

They seize their bow and javelin;They are cruel and have no compassion.Their voice roars like the sea;And they ride on horses,Arranged like a man for the battleAgainst you, O daughter of Babylon.