Study Desk

I will punish them when I please. And the nations will be gathered against them when they are punished for their many sins.

Plant what is right and good for yourselves. Gather the fruit of lasting love. Break up your ground that has not been plowed. For it is time to look for the Lord, until He comes and pours His saving power on you.

My people are always turning from Me. Even when those who speak for the Lord call them to the Most High, no one honors Him.

I will not do anything in My burning anger. I will not destroy Ephraim again. For I am God and not man. I am the Holy One among you, and I will not come in anger.

The Lord has a cause against Judah, and will punish Jacob for his ways. He will make him pay for what he has done.

He fought with the angel and won. He cried and begged for His favor. He met God at Bethel, and God spoke with him there.

So return to your God. Show kindness and do what is fair, and wait for your God all the time.

One who buys and sells and who lies about the weight of things loves to make it hard for others.

Ephraim has said, "I have become rich. I have found riches for myself. With all my riches they will not find any sin in me."

I have spoken to the men who speak for Me. I have given many special dreams. And I gave picture-stories through the men who speak for Me."

Is there sin in Gilead? For sure its people are of no worth. In Gilgal they kill bulls in worship. Their altars are like the many stones laid beside a plowed field.

Jacob ran away to the land of Aram. There he worked for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep.

By a man who spoke for Him, the Lord brought Israel from Egypt. And by a man who spoke for Him, the Lord cared for him.

And now they sin more and more. They make false gods for themselves. Their able workmen make them out of silver. And they say, "Let the men who give gifts in worship kiss the calf-gods!"

"I am the Lord your God Who brought you out of Egypt. You were not to know any god but Me, for there is no one who can save you but Me.

I cared for you in the desert, in the land where there was no water.

Samaria will suffer for her guilt, for she has not wanted to obey her God. They will be killed by the sword. Their little ones will be crushed in pieces. And their women who are soon to give birth will be torn open."

Return to the Lord your God, O Israel, for you have fallen because of your sin.

Assyria will not save us. We will not ride on horses. And we will never say again, ‘Our god,' to what we have made with our hands. For those who have no father find loving-kindness in You."

"I will bring My people back to Me. I will not hold back My love from them, for I am no longer angry with them.