Study Desk

"For we are slaves; yet in our bondage our God has not abandoned us, but has extended favor to us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us reviving to erect the house of our God, to restore its ruins, and to give us a wall in Judah and Jerusalem.

Shecaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, said to Ezra, "We have been unfaithful to our God and have married foreign women from the peoples of the land; yet now there is hope for Israel in spite of this.

However, the officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing; nor had I as yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, or the rest who were doing the work.

And so in Judah it was said: "The strength of the burden bearers is failing, Yet there is much rubble; And we ourselves are unable To rebuild the wall."

"And now our flesh is like the flesh of our brothers, our children like their children. Yet behold, we are forcing our sons and our daughters to be slaves, and some of our daughters are forced into bondage already, and we are helpless because our fields and vineyards belong to others."

Now that which was prepared for each day was one ox and six choice sheep; also birds were prepared for me, and every ten days all sorts of wine were provided in abundance. Yet for all this I did not request the governor's food allowance, because the forced labor was heavy on this people.

And admonished them in order to turn them back to Your Law. Yet they acted arrogantly and did not listen to Your commandments but sinned against Your ordinances, Which, if a person follows them, then he will live by them. And they turned a stubborn shoulder and stiffened their neck, and would not listen.

"However, You remained patient with them for many years, And admonished them by Your Spirit through Your prophets, Yet they would not listen. Therefore You handed them over to the peoples of the lands.

"Did your fathers not do the same, so that our God brought on us and on this city all this trouble? Yet you are adding to the wrath against Israel by profaning the Sabbath."

"Did Solomon the king of Israel not sin regarding these things? Yet among the many nations there was no king like him, and he was loved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel; yet the foreign women caused even him to sin.

"Yet all of this does not satisfy me every time I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate."

'Is their tent-cord not pulled out within them? They die, yet without wisdom.'

"Though your beginning was insignificant, Yet your end will increase greatly.

"While it is still green and not cut down, Yet it withers before any other plant.

"He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, And your lips with joyful shouting.

'According to Your knowledge I am indeed not guilty, Yet there is no one to save me from Your hand.

'Your hands fashioned and made me altogether, Yet would You destroy me?

'Remember that You have made me as clay; Yet would You turn me into dust again?

'Yet You have concealed these things in Your heart; I know that this is within You:

"Yet as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, And at the last, He will take His stand on the earth.