'Says the Lord' in the Bible

‘Thus says the Lord God, “In the first month, on the first of the month, you shall take a young bull without blemish and cleanse the sanctuary.

‘Thus says the Lord God, “The gate of the inner court facing east shall be shut the six working days; but it shall be opened on the sabbath day and opened on the day of the new moon.

‘Thus says the Lord God, “If the prince gives a gift out of his inheritance to any of his sons, it shall belong to his sons; it is their possession by inheritance.

Thus says the Lord God, “This shall be the boundary by which you shall divide the land for an inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel; Joseph shall have two portions.

Thus says the Lord,“For three transgressions of Damascus and for fourI will not revoke its punishment,Because they threshed Gilead with implements of sharp iron.

“I will also break the gate bar of Damascus,And cut off the inhabitant from the valley of Aven,And him who holds the scepter, from Beth-eden;So the people of Aram will go exiled to Kir,”Says the Lord.

Thus says the Lord,“For three transgressions of Gaza and for fourI will not revoke its punishment,Because they deported an entire populationTo deliver it up to Edom.

“I will also cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod,And him who holds the scepter, from Ashkelon;I will even unleash My power upon Ekron,And the remnant of the Philistines will perish,”Says the Lord God.

Thus says the Lord,“For three transgressions of Tyre and for fourI will not revoke its punishment,Because they delivered up an entire population to EdomAnd did not remember the covenant of brotherhood.

Thus says the Lord,“For three transgressions of Edom and for fourI will not revoke its punishment,Because he pursued his brother with the sword,While he stifled his compassion;His anger also tore continually,And he maintained his fury forever.

Thus says the Lord,“For three transgressions of the sons of Ammon and for fourI will not revoke its punishment,Because they ripped open the pregnant women of GileadIn order to enlarge their borders.

“Their king will go into exile,He and his princes together,” says the Lord.

Thus says the Lord,“For three transgressions of Moab and for fourI will not revoke its punishment,Because he burned the bones of the king of Edom to lime.

“I will also cut off the judge from her midstAnd slay all her princes with him,” says the Lord.

Thus says the Lord,“For three transgressions of Judah and for fourI will not revoke its punishment,Because they rejected the law of the LordAnd have not kept His statutes;Their lies also have led them astray,Those after which their fathers walked.

Thus says the Lord,“For three transgressions of Israel and for fourI will not revoke its punishment,Because they sell the righteous for moneyAnd the needy for a pair of sandals.

Therefore, thus says the Lord God,“An enemy, even one surrounding the land,Will pull down your strength from youAnd your citadels will be looted.”

Thus says the Lord,“Just as the shepherd snatches from the lion’s mouth a couple of legs or a piece of an ear,So will the sons of Israel dwelling in Samaria be snatched away—With the corner of a bed and the cover of a couch!

For thus says the Lord God,“The city which goes forth a thousand strongWill have a hundred left,And the one which goes forth a hundred strongWill have ten left to the house of Israel.”

For thus says the Lord to the house of Israel,“Seek Me that you may live.

Therefore thus says the Lord God of hosts, the Lord,“There is wailing in all the plazas,And in all the streets they say, ‘Alas! Alas!’They also call the farmer to mourningAnd professional mourners to lamentation.

“And in all the vineyards there is wailing,Because I will pass through the midst of you,” says the Lord.

Therefore, I will make you go into exile beyond Damascus,” says the Lord, whose name is the God of hosts.

Therefore, thus says the Lord, ‘Your wife will become a harlot in the city, your sons and your daughters will fall by the sword, your land will be parceled up by a measuring line and you yourself will die upon unclean soil. Moreover, Israel will certainly go from its land into exile.’”

“I will also plant them on their land,And they will not again be rooted out from their landWhich I have given them,”Says the Lord your God.

The vision of Obadiah.Thus says the Lord God concerning Edom—We have heard a report from the Lord,And an envoy has been sent among the nations saying,“Arise and let us go against her for battle”—

Therefore thus says the Lord,“Behold, I am planning against this family a calamityFrom which you cannot remove your necks;And you will not walk haughtily,For it will be an evil time.

Thus says the Lord concerning the prophets who lead my people astray;When they have something to bite with their teeth,They cry, “Peace,”But against him who puts nothing in their mouthsThey declare holy war.

Thus says the Lord,“Though they are at full strength and likewise many,Even so, they will be cut off and pass away.Though I have afflicted you,I will afflict you no longer.

“At that time I will bring you in,Even at the time when I gather you together;Indeed, I will give you renown and praiseAmong all the peoples of the earth,When I restore your fortunes before your eyes,”Says the Lord.

“Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘This people says, “The time has not come, even the time for the house of the Lord to be rebuilt.”’”

Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts, “Consider your ways!

Thus says the Lord of hosts, “Consider your ways!

Go up to the mountains, bring wood and rebuild the temple, that I may be pleased with it and be glorified,” says the Lord.

For thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘Once more in a little while, I am going to shake the heavens and the earth, the sea also and the dry land.

I will shake all the nations; and they will come with the wealth of all nations, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the Lord of hosts.

‘The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘and in this place I will give peace,’ declares the Lord of hosts.”

“Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘Ask now the priests for a ruling:

Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, “Return to Me,” declares the Lord of hosts, “that I may return to you,” says the Lord of hosts.

“Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets proclaimed, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, “Return now from your evil ways and from your evil deeds.”’ But they did not listen or give heed to Me,” declares the Lord.

So the angel who was speaking with me said to me, “Proclaim, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, “I am exceedingly jealous for Jerusalem and Zion.

Therefore thus says the Lord, “I will return to Jerusalem with compassion; My house will be built in it,” declares the Lord of hosts, “and a measuring line will be stretched over Jerusalem.”’

Again, proclaim, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, “My cities will again overflow with prosperity, and the Lord will again comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem.”’”

For thus says the Lord of hosts, “After glory He has sent me against the nations which plunder you, for he who touches you, touches the apple of His eye.

“Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘If you will walk in My ways and if you will perform My service, then you will also govern My house and also have charge of My courts, and I will grant you free access among these who are standing here.

Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel saying, ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts.

Then say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, “Behold, a man whose name is Branch, for He will branch out from where He is; and He will build the temple of the Lord.

And just as He called and they would not listen, so they called and I would not listen,” says the Lord of hosts;

“Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘I am exceedingly jealous for Zion, yes, with great wrath I am jealous for her.’

Thus says the Lord, ‘I will return to Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth, and the mountain of the Lord of hosts will be called the Holy Mountain.’

Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘Old men and old women will again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each man with his staff in his hand because of age.

Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘If it is too difficult in the sight of the remnant of this people in those days, will it also be too difficult in My sight?’ declares the Lord of hosts.

Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘Behold, I am going to save My people from the land of the east and from the land of the west;

“Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘Let your hands be strong, you who are listening in these days to these words from the mouth of the prophets, those who spoke in the day that the foundation of the house of the Lord of hosts was laid, to the end that the temple might be built.

“For thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘Just as I purposed to do harm to you when your fathers provoked Me to wrath,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘and I have not relented,

“Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘The fast of the fourth, the fast of the fifth, the fast of the seventh and the fast of the tenth months will become joy, gladness, and cheerful feasts for the house of Judah; so love truth and peace.’

“Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘It will yet be that peoples will come, even the inhabitants of many cities.

Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘In those days ten men from all the nations will grasp the garment of a Jew, saying, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”’”

Thus says the Lord my God, “Pasture the flock doomed to slaughter.

“I have loved you,” says the Lord. But you say, “How have You loved us?” “Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I have loved Jacob;

Though Edom says, “We have been beaten down, but we will return and build up the ruins”; thus says the Lord of hosts, “They may build, but I will tear down; and men will call them the wicked territory, and the people toward whom the Lord is indignant forever.”

“‘A son honors his father, and a servant his master. Then if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is My respect?’ says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests who despise My name. But you say, ‘How have we despised Your name?’

But when you present the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? And when you present the lame and sick, is it not evil? Why not offer it to your governor? Would he be pleased with you? Or would he receive you kindly?” says the Lord of hosts.

“But now will you not entreat God’s favor, that He may be gracious to us? With such an offering on your part, will He receive any of you kindly?” says the Lord of hosts.

“Oh that there were one among you who would shut the gates, that you might not uselessly kindle fire on My altar! I am not pleased with you,” says the Lord of hosts, “nor will I accept an offering from you.

For from the rising of the sun even to its setting, My name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense is going to be offered to My name, and a grain offering that is pure; for My name will be great among the nations,” says the Lord of hosts.

You also say, ‘My, how tiresome it is!’ And you disdainfully sniff at it,” says the Lord of hosts, “and you bring what was taken by robbery and what is lame or sick; so you bring the offering! Should I receive that from your hand?” says the Lord.

“But cursed be the swindler who has a male in his flock and vows it, but sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord, for I am a great King,” says the Lord of hosts, “and My name is feared among the nations.”

If you do not listen, and if you do not take it to heart to give honor to My name,” says the Lord of hosts, “then I will send the curse upon you and I will curse your blessings; and indeed, I have cursed them already, because you are not taking it to heart.

Then you will know that I have sent this commandment to you, that My covenant may continue with Levi,” says the Lord of hosts.

But as for you, you have turned aside from the way; you have caused many to stumble by the instruction; you have corrupted the covenant of Levi,” says the Lord of hosts.

For I hate divorce,” says the Lord, the God of Israel, “and him who covers his garment with wrong,” says the Lord of hosts. “So take heed to your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously.”

“Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming,” says the Lord of hosts.

“Then I will draw near to you for judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers and against the adulterers and against those who swear falsely, and against those who oppress the wage earner in his wages, the widow and the orphan, and those who turn aside the alien and do not fear Me,” says the Lord of hosts.

“From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from My statutes and have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord of hosts. “But you say, ‘How shall we return?’

Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.

Then I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of the ground; nor will your vine in the field cast its grapes,” says the Lord of hosts.

“All the nations will call you blessed, for you shall be a delightful land,” says the Lord of hosts.

“Your words have been arrogant against Me,” says the Lord. “Yet you say, ‘What have we spoken against You?’

“They will be Mine,” says the Lord of hosts, “on the day that I prepare My own possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him.”

“For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and every evildoer will be chaff; and the day that is coming will set them ablaze,” says the Lord of hosts, “so that it will leave them neither root nor branch.”

You will tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day which I am preparing,” says the Lord of hosts.

‘Heaven is My throne,And earth is the footstool of My feet;What kind of house will you build for Me?’ says the Lord,‘Or what place is there for My repose?

Says the Lord, who makes these things known from long ago.

Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.

For it is written,“As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me,And every tongue shall give praise to God.”

In the Law it is written, “By men of strange tongues and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people, and even so they will not listen to Me,” says the Lord.

“Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate,” says the Lord.“And do not touch what is unclean;And I will welcome you.

“And I will be a father to you,And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,”Says the Lord Almighty.

For finding fault with them, He says,“Behold, days are coming, says the Lord,When I will effect a new covenantWith the house of Israel and with the house of Judah;

Not like the covenant which I made with their fathersOn the day when I took them by the handTo lead them out of the land of Egypt;For they did not continue in My covenant,And I did not care for them, says the Lord.

“For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of IsraelAfter those days, says the Lord:I will put My laws into their minds,And I will write them on their hearts.And I will be their God,And they shall be My people.

“This is the covenant that I will make with themAfter those days, says the Lord:I will put My laws upon their heart,And on their mind I will write them,”He then says,

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”