Study Desk

Should I not punish these people?" says the Lord. "Should I not make a nation such as this pay for its sins?

"Go up through her grape-fields and destroy, but do not destroy all of them. Cut away her branches, for they are not the Lord's.

For the people of Israel and the people of Judah have not been faithful to Me," says the Lord.

The men who speak for God are only wind. The word is not in them. So let what they say be done to them!'"

Do you not fear Me?' says the Lord. ‘Do you not shake in fear before Me? For I have placed the sand to be on one side of the sea, a lasting wall that it cannot cross. Even if there are waves, they cannot pass. Even if they make much noise, they cannot cross over it.

They do not say in their heart, "Let us fear the Lord our God, Who gives rain in its time, both the fall rain and the spring rain, Who keeps for us the weeks for gathering food."

For sinful men are found among My people. They watch like men lying in wait watching for birds. They set a trap, and they catch men.

They are fat and smooth, and have done many sinful acts. They do not do what is right for those whose parents have died so that they may do well. And they do not help fight for the rights of the poor.

"Run away to be safe, O sons of Benjamin! Run from Jerusalem! Blow the horn in Tekoa, and light a fire in Beth-haccerem. For a sinful power is coming down from the north, that will destroy much.

Make war against her. Rise up, let us go and fight her at noon. It is bad for us, for the day is passing! The shadows of the evening are longer!

For the Lord of All says, "Cut down her trees, and build a battle-wall against Jerusalem. This is the city to be punished. There is nothing but a sinful power that makes hard times for others within her.

As a well keeps its water good for drinking, so Jerusalem keeps going on in her sin. The sounds of those who fight and those who destroy are heard in her. Sickness and sorrow are always before Me.

But I am full of the anger of the Lord. I am tired of holding it in. "Pour it out on the children in the street, and on the young men gathered together. For both husband and wife will be taken, the old and those who have lived a very long time.

"For from the least to the greatest of them, every one is always wanting something. And from the man of God to the religious leader, every one lies to get what he wants.

The Lord says, "Stand by where the roads cross, and look. Ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it. And you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.'

They take hold of bow and spear. They are hard on people and have no pity. Their voice sounds like the sea. They ride on horses, dressed as a man for battle against you, O people of Zion!"

Do not go out into the field, and do not walk on the road. For the one who hates us has a sword. Fear is all around us.

O daughter of my people, dress in cloth made from hair and roll in ashes. Have sorrow as if you lost your only son. Cry with a bitter cry. For all at once the destroyer will come upon us.

The Lord of All, the God of Israel, says, "Change your ways and your works for the better, and I will let you live in this place.

For if you for sure change your ways and what you do for the better, if you are fair as you judge between a man and his neighbor,