The LORDwas sorrythat He had mademanon the earth,and He was grievedin His heart.
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."
When the angelstretchedout his handtoward Jerusalemto destroyit, the LORDrelentedfrom the calamityand saidto the angelwho destroyedthe people,"It is enough!Nowrelaxyour hand!"And the angelof the LORDwas by the threshingfloorof Araunahthe Jebusite.
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.
The LORDhas swornand will not changeHis mind,"You are a priestforeverAccordingto the orderof Melchizedek."
I beholdthe treacherousand loathe[them], Becausethey do not keepYour word.
Howoftenthey rebelledagainst Him in the wildernessAnd grievedHim in the desert!
"Ohthat My peoplewould listento Me, That Israelwould walkin My ways!
"For fortyyearsI loathed[that] generation,And saidthey are a peoplewho errin their heart,And they do not knowMy ways.
So the LORDchangedHis mindaboutthe harmwhichHe saidHe would doto His people.
"Ifonlyyou had paidattentionto My commandments!Then your well-beingwould have beenlike a river,And your righteousnesslike the wavesof the sea.
But they rebelledAnd grievedHis HolySpirit;Therefore He turnedHimself to become their enemy,He foughtagainst them.
"At one momentI might speakconcerninga nationor concerninga kingdomto uproot,to pulldown,or to destroy[it];
"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."
"Sayto them, 'As I live!'declaresthe LordGOD,'I takenopleasurein the deathof the wicked,but ratherthat the wickedturnfrom his wayand live.Turnback,turnbackfrom your evilways!Whythen will you die,O houseof Israel?'
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.
When Godsawtheir deeds,that they turnedfrom their wickedway,then Godrelentedconcerningthe calamitywhichHe had declaredHe would bringupon them. And He did not do[it].
"For I, the LORD,do not change;therefore you, O sonsof Jacob,are not consumed.
"Godis not a man,that He should lie,Nora sonof man,that He should repent;Has He said,and will He not doit? Or has He spoken,and will He not makeit good?
for the giftsand the callingof Godare irrevocable.
Do not grievethe HolySpiritof God,by whomyou were sealedfor the dayof redemption.
"Wouldthat they were wise,that they understoodthis,That they would discerntheir future!
"For the LORDwill vindicateHis people,And will havecompassionon His servants,WhenHe seesthat [their] strengthis gone,And thereis none[remaining], bondor free.
Ohthat they hadsucha heartin them, that they would fearMe and keepallMy commandmentsalways,that it may be wellwith them and with their sonsforever!
"THEREFOREI WAS ANGRYWITH THISGENERATION,AND SAID,'THEY ALWAYSGO ASTRAYIN THEIR HEART,AND THEY DID NOT KNOWMY WAYS';
And with whomwas He angryfor fortyyears?Was it not with thosewhosinned,whosebodiesfellin the wilderness?
Everygoodthing givenand everyperfectgiftis from above,coming downfrom the Fatherof lights,with whomthereis novariationorshiftingshadow.
"I regretthat I have madeSaulking,for he has turnedbackfrom followingMe and has not carriedout My commands."And Samuelwas distressedand criedout to the LORDallnight.
"Alsothe Gloryof Israelwill not lieor changeHis mind;for He is not a manthat He should changeHis mind."
Samueldidnot seeSaulagainuntilthe dayof his death;for SamuelgrievedoverSaul.And the LORDregrettedthat He had madeSaulkingoverIsrael.
