Seekthe LORDwhile He may be found;Callupon Him while He is near.
"As for you, my sonSolomon,knowthe Godof your father,and serveHim with a wholeheartand a willingmind;for the LORDsearchesallhearts,and understandseveryintentof the thoughts.Ifyou seekHim, He will let you findHim; but ifyou forsakeHim, He will rejectyou forever.
"But thereis [some] goodin you, for you have removedthe Asherothfrom the landand you have setyour heartto seekGod."
Shecaniahthe sonof Jehiel,one of the sonsof Elam,saidto Ezra,"We have beenunfaithfulto our Godand have marriedforeignwomenfrom the peoplesof the land;yet nowthereis hopefor Israelin spiteof this.
"Ifyou would seekGodAnd implorethe compassionof the Almighty,
The LORDhas lookeddownfrom heavenupon the sonsof menTo seeif thereare anywho understand,Who seekafter God.
The LORDis nearto allwho callupon Him, To allwhocallupon Him in truth.
And He has liftedup a hornfor His people,Praisefor allHis godlyones;[Even] for the sonsof Israel,a peoplenearto Him. Praisethe LORD!
[When You said], "SeekMy face,"my heartsaidto You, "Your face,O LORD,I shall seek."
Therefore,let everyonewho is godlyprayto You in a timewhen You may be found;Surelyin a floodof greatwatersthey will not reachhim.
Manyare the afflictionsof the righteous,But the LORDdelivershim out of them all.
We givethanksto You, O God,we givethanks,For Your nameis near;Men declareYour wondrousworks.
For He is our God,And we are the peopleof His pastureand the sheepof His hand.Today,ifyou would hearHis voice,
"I lovethose who loveme; And those who diligentlyseekme will findme.
Cryaloudand shoutfor joy,O inhabitantof Zion,For greatin your midstis the HolyOneof Israel.
At nightmy soullongsfor You, Indeed,my spiritwithinme seeksYou diligently;For whenthe earthexperiences Your judgmentsThe inhabitantsof the worldlearnrighteousness.
"I have not spokenin secret,In somedarkland;I did not sayto the offspringof Jacob,SeekMe in a wasteplace;I, the LORD,speakrighteousness,Declaringthingsthat are upright.
"Turnto Me and be saved,allthe endsof the earth;For I am God,and thereis noother.
"I bringnearMy righteousness,it is not faroff; And My salvationwill not delay.And I will grantsalvationin Zion,[And] My gloryfor Israel.
Thussaysthe LORD,"In a favorabletimeI have answeredYou, And in a dayof salvationI have helpedYou; And I will keepYou and giveYou for a covenantof the people,To restorethe land,to make [them] inheritthe desolateheritages;
"Thenyou will call,and the LORDwill answer;You will cry,and He will say,'HereI am.' Ifyou removethe yokefrom your midst,The pointingof the fingerand speakingwickedness,
"Sharonwill be a pasturelandfor flocks,And the valleyof Achora restingplacefor herds,For My peoplewhoseekMe.
"It will also cometo passthat beforethey call,I will answer;and while they are stillspeaking,I will hear.
saying,Turnnoweveryonefrom his evilwayand from the evilof your deeds,and dwellon the landwhichthe LORDhas givento you and your forefathersforeverand ever;
Callto Me and I will answeryou, and I will tellyou greatand mightythings,which you do not know.'
"Thereforesayto the houseof Israel,'Thussaysthe LordGOD,"Repentand turnawayfrom your idolsand turnyour facesawayfrom allyour abominations.
"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?'
And He saidto me, "Sonof man,doyou seewhatthey are doing,the greatabominationswhichthe houseof Israelare committinghere,so that I would be farfrom My sanctuary?But yetyou will seestillgreaterabominations."
Therefore,O king,may my advicebe pleasingto you: breakawaynow from your sinsby [doing] righteousnessand from your iniquitiesby showingmercyto [the] poor,in casethere may be a prolongingof your prosperity.'
Sowwith a view to righteousness,Reapin accordancewith kindness;Breakup your fallowground,For it is timeto seekthe LORDUntilHe comesto rainrighteousnesson you.
"Seekthe LORDthat you may live,OrHe will breakforthlike a fire,O houseof Joseph,And it will consumewith noneto quench[it] for Bethel,
"But both manand beastmust be coveredwith sackcloth;and let men callon Godearnestlythat eachmay turnfrom his wickedwayand from the violencewhichis in his hands.
"Make friendsquicklywith your opponentat lawwhileyou are with him on the way,sothat your opponentmay not handyou over to the judge,and the judgeto the officer,and you be throwninto prison.
"Oncethe head of the housegetsup and shutsthe door,and you beginto standoutsideand knockon the door,saying,Lord,openup to us!' thenHe will answerand sayto you, 'I do not knowwhereyou are from.'
ThenHe saidagainto them, "I goaway,and you will seekMe, and will diein your sin;whereI am going,you cannotcome."
ThereforeI askyou not to lose heartat my tribulationson your behalf,for they are your glory.
"But from thereyou will seekthe LORDyour God,and you will find[Him] ifyou searchfor Him with allyour heartand allyour soul.
"For whatgreatnationis there that has a godso nearto it as is the LORDour Godwheneverwe callon Him?
howwill we escapeif we neglectso greata salvation?Afterit was at the firstspokenthroughthe Lord,it was confirmedto us by thosewho heard,
But encourageone anotherdayafterday,as longas it is [still] called"Today,"sothat noneof you will be hardenedby the deceitfulnessof sin.
