"Indeed,asknowconcerning the formerdayswhichwere beforeyou, sincethe daythat Godcreatedmanon the earth,and [inquire] from one endof the heavensto the other.Has [anything] been donelike thisgreatthing,orhas [anything] been heardlikeit?
Godcreatedmanin His own image,in the imageof GodHe createdhim; maleand femaleHe createdthem.
"And whatonenationon the earthis like Your peopleIsrael,whomGodwentto redeemfor Himself as a peopleand to makea namefor Himself, and to doa greatthingfor You and awesomethingsfor Your land,beforeYour peoplewhomYou have redeemedfor Yourself from Egypt,[from] nationsand their gods?
"Pleaseinquireof pastgenerations,And considerthe thingssearchedout by their fathers.
O God,we have heardwith our ears,Our fathershave toldus The workthat You didin their days,In the daysof old.
Then God said,"Behold,I am going to makea covenant.Beforeallyour peopleI will performmiracleswhichhave not been producedin allthe earthnoramong anyof the nations;and allthe peopleamongwhomyou live will seethe workingof the LORD,for it is a fearfulthingthat I am going to performwith you.
"It is I who madethe earth,and createdmanupon it. I stretchedout the heavenswith My handsAnd I ordainedalltheir host.
Hearthis,O elders,And listen,allinhabitantsof the land.Has [anything like] thishappenedin your daysOrin your fathers'days?
"You onlyhave I chosenamongallthe familiesof the earth;ThereforeI will punishyou for allyour iniquities."
"And He will send forthHis angelswith A GREATTRUMPETand THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHERHis electfrom the fourwinds,from one endof the skyto the other.
"And thenHe will send forththe angels,and will gather togetherHis electfrom the fourwinds,from the farthestendof the earthto the farthest endof heaven.
"Moreover, the LORDwill scatteryou among allpeoples,from one endof the earthto the other endof the earth;and thereyou shall serveothergods,woodand stone,whichyou or your fathershave not known.
"Ifyour outcastsare at the endsof the earth,from therethe LORDyour Godwill gatheryou, and from thereHe will bringyou back.
"Rememberthe daysof old,Considerthe yearsof allgenerations.Askyour father,and he will informyou, Your elders,and they will tellyou.
"Blessedare you, O Israel;Whois likeyou, a peoplesavedby the LORD,Who is the shieldof your helpAnd the swordof your majesty!So your enemieswill cringebefore you, And you will treadupon their highplaces."
"For whatgreatnationis there that has a godso nearto it as is the LORDour Godwheneverwe callon Him?
