O Ephraim,whatmorehave I to do with idols?It is I who answerand lookafter you. I am like a luxuriantcypress;From Me comesyour fruit.
Teachme what I do not see;IfI have doneiniquity,I will not doit again'?
Everygoodthing givenand everyperfectgiftis from above,coming downfrom the Fatherof lights,with whomthereis novariationorshiftingshadow.
"Sohe gotup and cameto his father.But while he was stilla long wayoff,his fathersawhim and felt compassion[for him], and ranand embracedhim and kissedhim.
"Insteadof the thornbushthe cypresswill comeup, And insteadof the nettlethe myrtlewill comeup, And it will be a memorialto the LORD,For an everlastingsignwhich will not be cutoff."
"I will putthe cedarin the wilderness,The acaciaand the myrtleand the olivetree;I will placethe juniperin the desertTogetherwith the boxtreeand the cypress,
For they themselvesreportaboutus what kindof a receptionwe hadwith you, and howyou turnedto Godfrom idolsto servea livingand true God,
for it is Godwho is at workin you, bothto willand to workfor [His] good pleasure.
(for the fruitof the Light[consists] in allgoodnessand righteousnessand truth),
For of His fullnesswe have allreceived,and graceupon grace.
"The gloryof Lebanonwill cometo you, The juniper,the boxtreeand the cypresstogether,To beautifythe placeof My sanctuary;And I shall makethe placeof My feetglorious.
"He will singto menand say,I have sinnedand pervertedwhatis right,And it is not properfor me.
I can doall thingsthroughHim who strengthensme.
having been filledwith the fruitof righteousnesswhich [comes] throughJesusChrist,to the gloryand praiseof God.
"On the highmountainof IsraelI will plantit, that it may bringforthboughsand bearfruitand becomea statelycedar.And birdsof everykindwill nestunderit; they will nestin the shadeof its branches.
"Then I will sprinklecleanwateron you, and you will be clean;I will cleanseyou from allyour filthinessand from allyour idols.
