O Ephraim,whatmorehave I to do with idols?It is I who answerand lookafter you. I am like a luxuriantcypress;From Me comesyour fruit.
"He will singto menand say,I have sinnedand pervertedwhatis right,And it is not properfor me.
Teachme what I do not see;IfI have doneiniquity,I will not doit again'?
"I will putthe cedarin the wilderness,The acaciaand the myrtleand the olivetree;I will placethe juniperin the desertTogetherwith the boxtreeand the cypress,
"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."
"The gloryof Lebanonwill cometo you, The juniper,the boxtreeand the cypresstogether,To beautifythe placeof My sanctuary;And I shall makethe placeof My feetglorious.
"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.
"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.
For of His fullnesswe have allreceived,and graceupon grace.
(for the fruitof the Light[consists] in allgoodnessand righteousnessand truth),
having been filledwith the fruitof righteousnesswhich [comes] throughJesusChrist,to the gloryand praiseof God.
for it is Godwho is at workin you, bothto willand to workfor [His] good pleasure.
I can doall thingsthroughHim who strengthensme.
For they themselvesreportaboutus what kindof a receptionwe hadwith you, and howyou turnedto Godfrom idolsto servea livingand true God,
Everygoodthing givenand everyperfectgiftis from above,coming downfrom the Fatherof lights,with whomthereis novariationorshiftingshadow.
