Study Desk

"Then I will pay back to you in full for the yearsThat the swarming locust has consumed,The creeping locust, the stripping locust, and the gnawing locust,My great military force which I sent among you.

And it will be that everyone who calls on the name of YahwehWill be delivered;For on Mount Zion and in JerusalemThere will be those who escape,As Yahweh has said,Even among the survivors whom Yahweh calls.

"For behold, in those days and at that time,When I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem,

They have also cast lots for My people,Traded a boy for a harlot,And sold a girl for wine that they may drink.

Also I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the sons of Judah, and they will sell them to the Sabeans, to a distant nation," for Yahweh has spoken.

Call out this message among the nations:Set yourselves apart for a war; rouse the mighty men!Let all the men of war approach, let them come up!

Let the nations be roused upAnd come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat,For there I will sit to judgeAll the surrounding nations.

Send in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe.Come, tread, for the wine press is full;The vats overflow, for their evil is great.

Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision!For the day of Yahweh is near in the valley of decision.

And Yahweh roars from ZionAnd gives forth His voice from Jerusalem,And the heavens and the earth quake.But Yahweh is a refuge for His peopleAnd a strong defense to the sons of Israel.

Thus says Yahweh,"For three transgressions of Damascus and for fourI will not turn back its punishmentBecause they threshed Gilead with implements of sharp iron.

Thus says Yahweh,"For three transgressions of Gaza and for fourI will not turn back its punishmentBecause they took away into exile the whole community of exilesTo deliver it up to Edom.

Thus says Yahweh,"For three transgressions of Tyre and for fourI will not turn back its punishmentBecause they delivered up the whole community of exiles to EdomAnd did not remember the covenant of brotherhood.

Thus says Yahweh,"For three transgressions of Edom and for fourI will not turn back its punishmentBecause he pursued his brother with the swordWhile he corrupted his compassion;And his anger also tore continually,And he kept his wrath forever.

Thus says Yahweh,"For three transgressions of the sons of Ammon and for fourI will not turn back its punishmentBecause they ripped open the pregnant women of GileadIn order to enlarge their borders.

Thus says Yahweh,"For three transgressions of Moab and for fourI will not turn back its punishmentBecause he burned the bones of the king of Edom to lime.

Thus says Yahweh,"For three transgressions of Judah and for fourI will not turn back its punishmentBecause they rejected the law of YahwehAnd have not kept His statutes;Their falsehood also has led them astray,That which their fathers walked after.

Thus says Yahweh,"For three transgressions of Israel and for fourI will not turn back its punishmentBecause they sell the righteous for moneyAnd the needy for a pair of sandals.

"You only have I known among all the families of the earth;Therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities."

"For on the day that I punish Israel's transgressions,I will also punish the altars of Bethel;The horns of the altar will be cut in pieces,And they will fall to the ground.