The smell of the burning offering pleased God, and he said: Never again will I punish the earth for the sinful things its people do. All of them have evil thoughts from the time they are young, but I will never destroy everything that breathes, as I did this time.
Look around! You will see your people coming home. As surely as I live, I, the LORD, promise that your city with its people will be as lovely as a bride wearing her jewellery.”
to the LORD your God, who defends you and says, “I have taken from your hands the cup filled with my anger that made you drunk. You will never be forced to drink it again.
Look closely at the sky! Stare at the earth. The sky will vanish like smoke; the earth will wear out like clothes. Everyone on this earth will die like flies. But my victory will last; my saving power never ends.
Can you measure the heavens? Can you explore the depths of the earth? That's how hard it would be for me to reject Israel for ever, even though they have sinned. I, the LORD, have spoken.