but let them be covered with sackcloth, both man and animal, and let them cry mightily to God. Yes, let them turn everyone from his evil way, and from the violence that is in his hands.
Isn't this the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke?
Their webs shall not become garments, neither shall they cover themselves with their works: their works are works of iniquity, and the act of violence is in their hands.
Now therefore, speak to the men of Yehudah, and to the inhabitants of Yerushalayim, saying, Thus says the LORD: Behold, I frame evil against you, and devise a device against you: return you now everyone from his evil way, and amend your ways and your doings.
saying, Return you now everyone from his evil way, and from the evil of your doings, and dwell in the land that the LORD has given to you and to your fathers, from of old and even forevermore;
It may be they will listen, and turn every man from his evil way; that I may repent me of the evil which I purpose to do to them because of the evil of their doings.
It may be that the house of Yehudah will hear all the evil which I purpose to do to them; that they may return every man from his evil way; that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin.
Tell them, As I live, says the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn you, turn you from your evil ways; for why will you die, house of Yisra'el?
Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you, and break off your sins by righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; if there may be a lengthening of your tranquillity.
Sanctify a fast. Call a solemn assembly. Gather the elders, and all the inhabitants of the land, to the house of the LORD, your God, and cry to the LORD.
Therefore they cried to the LORD, and said, *We beg you, LORD, we beg you, let us not perish for this man's life, and don't lay on us innocent blood; for you, LORD, have done as it pleased you.*
So the shipmaster came to him, and said to him, *What do you mean, sleeper? Arise, call on your God! Maybe your God will notice us, so that we won't perish.*
but declared first to them of Damascus, at Yerushalayim, and throughout all the country of Yehudah, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, doing works worthy of repentance.