925 verses about Desires

As for me, I have not hurried from being a shepherd after you. I haven’t desired the woeful day. You know. That which came out of my lips was before your face.

But they say, ‘It is in vain; for we will walk after our own plans, and we will each follow the stubbornness of his evil heart.’”

But your eyes and your heart are only for your covetousness, for shedding innocent blood, for oppression, and for doing violence.”

But to the land to which their soul longs to return, there they will not return.”

Now therefore know certainly that you will die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence in the place where you desire to go to live there.”

so that none of the remnant of Judah, who have gone into the land of Egypt to live there, will escape or be left to return into the land of Judah, to which they have a desire to return to dwell there; for no one will return except those who will escape.’”

Do you seek great things for yourself? Don’t seek them; for, behold, I will bring evil on all flesh,’ says Yahweh; ‘but I will let you escape with your life wherever you go.’”

“From on high has he sent fire into my bones, and it prevails against them. He has spread a net for my feet. He has turned me back. He has made me desolate and I faint all day long.

But as for them whose heart walks after the heart of their detestable things and their abominations, I will bring their way on their own heads,’ says the Lord Yahweh.”

You have played the prostitute also with the Assyrians, because you were insatiable; yes, you have played the prostitute with them, and yet you weren’t satisfied.

He knew their palaces, and laid waste their cities. The land was desolate, with its fullness, because of the noise of his roaring.

who were clothed with blue, governors and rulers, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding on horses.

She gave herself as a prostitute to them, all of them the choicest men of Assyria. She defiled herself with the idols of whoever she lusted after.

“Her sister Oholibah saw this, yet she was more corrupt in her lusting than she, and in her prostitution which was more depraved than the prostitution of her sister.

She lusted after the Assyrians, governors and rulers, her neighbors, clothed most gorgeously, horsemen riding on horses, all of them desirable young men.

As soon as she saw them, she lusted after them and sent messengers to them into Chaldea.

Yet she multiplied her prostitution, remembering the days of her youth, in which she had played the prostitute in the land of Egypt.

She lusted after their lovers, whose flesh is as the flesh of donkeys, and whose issue is like the issue of horses.

Thus you called to memory the lewdness of your youth, in the caressing of your nipples by the Egyptians because of your youthful breasts.

“Furthermore you sisters have sent for men who come from far away, to whom a messenger was sent, and behold, they came; for whom you washed yourself, painted your eyes, decorated yourself with ornaments,

“Son of man, behold, I will take away from you the desire of your eyes with a stroke: yet you shall neither mourn nor weep, neither shall your tears run down.

‘Speak to the house of Israel, “Thus says the Lord Yahweh: ‘Behold, I will profane my sanctuary, the pride of your power, the desire of your eyes, and that which your soul pities; and your sons and your daughters whom you have left behind will fall by the sword.

“You, son of man, shouldn’t it be in the day when I take from them their strength, the joy of their glory, the desire of their eyes, and that whereupon they set their heart, their sons and their daughters,

and tell it, ‘Thus says the Lord Yahweh: “Behold, I am against you, Mount Seir, and I will stretch out my hand against you. I will make you a desolation and an astonishment.

Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost. We are completely cut off.’

But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king’s dainties, nor with the wine which he drank. Therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would appoint him a time, and he would show the king the interpretation.

that they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his companions would not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.

He won’t regard the gods of his fathers, or the desire of women, or regard any god; for he will magnify himself above all.

For their mother has played the prostitute. She who conceived them has done shamefully; for she said, ‘I will go after my lovers, who give me my bread and my water, my wool and my flax, my oil and my drink.’

She will follow after her lovers, but she won’t overtake them; and she will seek them, but won’t find them. Then she will say, ‘I will go and return to my first husband; for then was it better with me than now.’

They will eat, and not have enough. They will play the prostitute, and will not increase; because they have abandoned giving to Yahweh.

For I desire mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

When it is my desire, I will chastise them; and the nations will be gathered against them, when they are bound to their two transgressions.

“Woe to you who desire the day of Yahweh! Why do you long for the day of Yahweh? It is darkness, and not light.

Misery is mine! Indeed, I am like one who gathers the summer fruits, as gleanings of the vineyard: There is no cluster of grapes to eat. My soul desires to eat the early fig.

Their hands are on that which is evil to do it diligently. The ruler and judge ask for a bribe; and the powerful man dictates the evil desire of his soul. Thus they conspire together.

Yet the land will be desolate because of those who dwell therein, for the fruit of their doings.

Yes, moreover, wine is treacherous. A haughty man who doesn’t stay at home, who enlarges his desire as Sheol, and he is like death, and can’t be satisfied, but gathers to himself all nations, and heaps to himself all peoples.

When you eat, and when you drink, don’t you eat for yourselves, and drink for yourselves?

“Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me; and the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, behold, he comes!” says Yahweh of Armies.

And now, O Lord, I take not this my sister for lust, but in truth. Command that I may find mercy and grow old with her.”

Judith came in and sat down, and Holofernes’ heart was ravished with her. His soul was moved, and he exceedingly desired her company. He was watching for a time to deceive her, from the day that he had seen her.

Her sandal ravished his eye. Her beauty took his soul prisoner. The scimitar passed through his neck.

Many desired her, and no man knew her all the days of her life, from the day that Manasses her husband died and was gathered to his people.

This banquet was not according to the appointed law; but as the king desired to have it. He charged the stewards to perform his will and that of the company.

Then the servants of the king said, “Let chaste, beautiful young virgins be sought for the king.

And then the lady goes in to the king. The officer that he commands to do so will bring her to come in with him from the women’s apartment to the king’s chamber.

And the king said, What do you desire, Esther? and what is your request? ask even to the half of my kingdom, and it shall be your.

And at the banquet the king said to Esther, What is your request , queen Esther? speak , and you shall have all that you require.

And she said, My request and my petition are :

But these things please me not, while I see Mordecai the Jew in the court.

And the king said to Esther at the banquet on the second day, What is it, queen Esther? and what is your request, and what is your petition? and it shall be done for you, to the half of my kingdom.

Come therefore and let us enjoy the good things that now are; And let us use the creation with all our soul as youth’s possession.

Let us fill ourselves with costly wine and perfumes; And let no flower of spring pass us by:

Let us crown ourselves with rosebuds, before they be withered:

(For the bewitching of naughtiness bedimmeth the things which are good, And the giddy whirl of desire perverteth an innocent mind.)

Set your desire therefore on my words; Long for them, and you⌃ will be trained by their discipline.

She forestalleth those who desire to know her, making herself first known.

For her true beginning is desire of discipline; And the care for discipline is love of her;

So then desire of wisdom promoteth to a kingdom.

I preferred her before sceptres and thrones, And riches I esteemed nothing in comparison of her.

Her I loved and sought out from my youth, And I sought to take her for my bride, And I became enamoured of her beauty.

But if riches are a desired possession in life, What is richer than wisdom, which works all things?

For a corruptible body weighs down the soul, And the earthy frame lies heavy on a mind that is full of cares.

But yet for these men there is but small blame, For they too perhaps do but go astray While they are seeking God and desiring to find him.

For that vessel the hunger for gains devised, And a craftsman, even wisdom, built it;

The sight whereof leads fools into lust: Their desire is for the breathless form of a dead image.

Lovers of evil things, and worthy of such hopes as these, Are both those who do, and those who desire, and those who worship.

Neither, as seen beside other creatures, are they beautiful, so that one should desire them, But they have escaped both the praise of God and his blessing.

Instead of which punishment, you, bestowing benefits on your people, Preparedst quails for food, Food of rare taste, to satisfy the desire of their appetite;

To the end that your enemies, desiring food, Might for the hideousness of the creatures sent among them Loathe even the necessary appetite; But these, your people, having for a short space suffered lack, Might even partake of food of rare taste.

For your nature manifested your sweetness toward your children; While that bread, ministering to the desire of the eater, Tempered itself according to every man’s choice.

Therefore at that time also, converting itself into all forms, It ministered to your all-nourishing bounty, According to the desire of those who made supplication;

But afterwards they saw also a new race of birds, When, led on by desire, they asked for luxurious dainties;

She will fill all her house with desirable things, And her garners with her produce.

If you desire wisdom, keep the commandments, And the Lord will give her to you freely:

Follow not your own mind and your strength, To walk in the desires of your heart;

Go not to meet a woman that playeth the harlot, Lest haply you fall into her snares.

Use not the company of a woman that is a singer, Lest haply you be caught by her attempts.

Gaze not on a maid, lest haply you be trapped in her penalties.

Give not your soul to harlots, That you lose not your inheritance.

Turn away your eye from a comely woman, And gaze not on another’s beauty: By the beauty of a woman many have been led astray; And herewith love is kindled as a fire.

Sit not at all with a woman that has a husband; And revel not with her at the wine; Lest haply your soul turn away to her, And with your spirit you slide into destruction.

A covetous man’s eye is not satisfied with his portion; And wicked injustice dries up his soul.

Defraud not yourself of a good day; And don’t let the portion of a good desire pass you by.

He that pries in at her windows Shall also hearken at her doors.

If you will, you shall keep the commandments; And to perform faithfulness is of your own good pleasure.

Before man is life and death; And whichever he likes, it shall be given him.

Desire not a multitude of unprofitable children, Neither delight in ungodly sons.

What is brighter than the sun? yet this fails: And an evil man will think on flesh and blood.

Go not after your lusts; And refrain yourself from your appetites.

If you give fully to your soul the delight of her desire, She will make you the laughing stock of your enemies.

Make not merry in much luxury; Neither be tied to the expense thereof.

Wine and women will make men of understanding to fall away: And he that cleaves to harlots will be the more reckless.

And if for lack of power he be hindered from sinning, If he find opportunity, he will do mischief.

As is the lust of an eunuch to deflower a virgin; So is he that executes judgements with violence.

And turn away concupiscense from me.

Let not greediness and chambering overtake me; And give me not over to a shameless mind.

Two sorts of men multiply sins, And the third will bring wrath: A hot mind, as a burning fire, will not be quenched till it be consumed: A fornicator in the body of his flesh will never cease till he has burned out the fire.