The LORDchangedHis mindaboutthis."It shall not be," saidthe LORD.
The LORDsaid,"I will blotout manwhomI have createdfrom the faceof the land,from manto animalsto creepingthingsand to birdsof the sky;for I amsorrythat I have madethem."
And Godsentan angelto Jerusalemto destroyit; but as he was about to destroy[it], the LORDsawand was sorryoverthe calamity,and saidto the destroyingangel,"It is enough;nowrelaxyour hand."And the angelof the LORDwas standingby the threshingfloorof Ornanthe Jebusite.
And He rememberedHis covenantfor their sake, And relentedaccording to the greatnessof His lovingkindness.
But He, being compassionate,forgave[their] iniquityand did not destroy[them]; And oftenHe restrainedHis angerAnd did not arouseallHis wrath.
Do return,O LORD;howlong[will it be]? And be sorryfor Your servants.
So the LORDchangedHis mindaboutthe harmwhichHe saidHe would doto His people.
"Did Hezekiahkingof Judahand allJudahputhim to death?Did he not fearthe LORDand entreatthe favorof the LORD,and the LORDchangedHis mindaboutthe misfortunewhichHe had pronouncedagainstthem? But we are committinga greatevilagainstourselves."
Ifyou will indeedstayin thisland,then I will buildyou up and not tearyou down,and I will plantyou and not uprootyou; for I will relentconcerningthe calamitythat I have inflictedon you.
Howcan I giveyou up, O Ephraim?How can I surrenderyou, O Israel?Howcan I makeyou like Admah?How can I treatyou like Zeboiim?My heartis turnedoverwithinMe, AllMy compassionsare kindled.
And rendyour heartand not your garments."Now returnto the LORDyour God,For He is graciousand compassionate,Slowto anger,aboundingin lovingkindnessAnd relentingof evil.
Whoknowswhether He will [not] turnand relentAnd leavea blessingbehindHim, [Even] a grain offeringand a drinkofferingFor the LORDyour God?
Hateevil,lovegood,And establishjusticein the gate!Perhapsthe LORDGodof hostsMay be graciousto the remnantof Joseph.
The LORDchangedHis mindaboutthis."Thistooshall not be," saidthe LordGOD.
When Godsawtheir deeds,that they turnedfrom their wickedway,then Godrelentedconcerningthe calamitywhichHe had declaredHe would bringupon them. And He did not do[it].
"For the LORDwill vindicateHis people,And will havecompassionon His servants,WhenHe seesthat [their] strengthis gone,And thereis none[remaining], bondor free.
Therefore,confessyour sinsto oneanother,and prayfor one anothersothat you may be healed.The effectiveprayerof a righteous mancanaccomplishmuch.
