Study Desk

The sin of Judah is written with an iron stylus.^(a) With a diamond point it is engraved on the tablet of their hearts^(b) and on the horns of their^[a] altars,

while their children remember their altars and their Asherah poles, by the green trees on the high hills—

My mountains in the countryside. I will give up your wealth and all your treasures as plunder because of the sin of your high places^[b] in all your borders.^(c)

You will, on your own, relinquish your inheritance that I gave you. I will make you serve your enemies in a land you do not know,^(d) for you have set My anger on fire;^(e) it will burn forever.

This is what the Lord says: The man who trusts in mankind,^(f) who makes human flesh his strength^(g) and turns his heart from the Lord is cursed.

He will be like a juniper in the Arabah;^(h) he cannot see when good comes but dwells in the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land where no one lives.⁽ⁱ⁾

The man who trusts in the Lord , whose confidence indeed is the Lord , is blessed.^(j)

He will be like a tree planted by water:^(k) it sends its roots out toward a stream, it doesn't fear when heat comes, and its foliage remains green. It will not worry in a year of drought or cease producing fruit.

The heart is more deceitful than anything else, and incurable—who can understand it?^(l)

I, Yahweh, examine the mind, I test the heart^[c](m) to give to each according to his way, according to what his actions deserve.⁽ⁿ⁾

He who makes a fortune unjustly is like a partridge that hatches eggs it didn't lay. In the middle of his days his riches will abandon him, so in the end he will be a fool.^(o)

A throne of glory^(p) on high^(q) from the beginning is the place of our sanctuary.^(r)

Lord , the hope of Israel,^(s) all who abandon You will be put to shame. All who turn away from Me will be written in the dirt, for they have abandoned the Lord , the fountain of living water.^(t)

Heal me, Lord , and I will be healed; save me, and I will be saved, for You are my praise.^(u)

Hear how they keep challenging me,^(v) "Where is the word of the Lord ? Let it come!"

But I have not run away from being Your shepherd, and I have not longed for the fatal day. You know my words were spoken in Your presence.

Don't become a terror to me. You are my refuge^(w) in the day of disaster.

Let my persecutors be put to shame,^(x) but don't let me be put to shame. Let them be terrified, but don't let me be terrified. Bring on them the day of disaster;^(y) shatter them with total^[d] destruction.

This is what the Lord said to me, "Go and stand at the People's Gate, through which the kings of Judah enter and leave, as well as at all the gates of Jerusalem.

Announce to them: Hear the word of the Lord , kings of Judah, all Judah, and all the residents of Jerusalem who enter through these gates.

This is what the Lord says: Watch yourselves; do not pick up a load and bring it in through the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day.^(z)

You must not carry a load out of your houses on the Sabbath day or do any work,^(aa) but you must consecrate the Sabbath day, just as I commanded your ancestors.^(ab)

They wouldn't listen or pay attention but became obstinate,^(ac) not listening or accepting discipline.

"However, if you listen to Me, says the Lord , and do not bring loads through the gates of this city on the Sabbath day and consecrate the Sabbath day and do no work on it,

kings and princes will enter through the gates of this city. They will sit on the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses^(ad) with their officials, the men of Judah, and the residents of Jerusalem. This city will be inhabited forever.

Then people will come from the cities of Judah and from the area around Jerusalem, from the land of Benjamin and from the Judean foothills, from the hill country and from the Negev^(ae) bringing burnt offerings and sacrifice, grain offerings and frankincense, and thank offerings to the house of the Lord .

If you do not listen to Me to consecrate the Sabbath day by not carrying a load while entering the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, I will set fire to its gates,^(af) and it will consume the citadels^(ag) of Jerusalem^(ah) and not be extinguished."^(ai)

This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord :

"Go down at once to the potter's house;^(a) there I will reveal My words to you."

So I went down to the potter's house, and there he was, working away at the wheel.^[a]

But the jar that he was making from the clay became flawed in the potter's hand, so he made it into another jar, as it seemed right for him to do.^(b)

The word of the Lord came to me:

"House of Israel, can I not treat you as this potter treats his clay?"—this is the Lord 's declaration. "Just like clay in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand, house of Israel.^(c)

At one moment I might announce concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will uproot, tear down, and destroy it.^(d)

However, if that nation I have made an announcement about turns from its evil, I will relent concerning the disaster I had planned to do to it.^(e)

At another time I announce that I will build and plant a nation or a kingdom.^(f)

However, if it does what is evil in My sight by not listening to My voice, I will relent concerning the good I had said I would do to it.^(g)

So now, say to the men of Judah and to the residents of Jerusalem: This is what the Lord says: I am about to bring harm to you and make plans against you. Turn now, each from your evil way, and correct your ways and your deeds.^(h)

But they will say, ‘It's hopeless.⁽ⁱ⁾ We will continue to follow our plans, and each of us will continue to act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart.'"

Therefore, this is what the Lord says: Ask among the nations, Who has heard things like these? Virgin Israel has done a most terrible thing.^(j)

Does the snow of Lebanon ever leave the highland crags? Or does cold water flowing from a distance ever fail?

Yet My people have forgotten Me.^(k) They burn incense to false idols that make them stumble in their ways on the ancient roads^(l) and walk on new paths, not the highway.

They have made their land a horror,^(m) a perpetual object of scorn;^[b](n) everyone who passes by it will be horrified^(o) and shake his head.^(p)

I will scatter them before the enemy like the east wind.^(q) I will show them^[c] My back and not My face on the day of their calamity.

Then certain ones said, "Come, let's make plans against Jeremiah,^(r) for instruction will never be lost from the priest,^(s) or counsel from the wise, or an oracle from the prophet.^(t) Come, let's denounce him^[d] and pay no attention to all his words."

Pay attention to me, Lord . Hear what my opponents are saying!^(u)

Should good be repaid with evil? Yet they have dug a pit for me.^(v) Remember how I stood before You to speak good on their behalf, to turn Your anger from them.

Therefore, hand their children over to famine,^(w) and pour the sword's power on them. Let their wives become childless and widowed, their husbands slain by deadly disease,^[e] their young men struck down by the sword in battle.

Let a cry be heard from their houses when You suddenly bring raiders against them, for they have dug a pit to capture me and have hidden snares for my feet.^(x)

But You, Lord , know all their deadly plots against me. Do not wipe out their guilt;^(y) do not blot out their sin before You. Let them be forced to stumble before You; deal with them in the time of Your anger.