"Have you not just nowcalledto Me, 'My Father,You are the friendof my youth?
Howcan a youngmankeephis waypure?By keeping[it] according to Your word.
For suchis God,Our Godforeverand ever;He will guideus untildeath.
O God,You have taughtme from my youth,And I stilldeclareYour wondrousdeeds.
For You are my hope;O LordGOD,[You are] my confidencefrom my youth.
To giveprudenceto the naive,To the youthknowledgeand discretion,
That leavesthe companionof her youthAnd forgetsthe covenantof her God;
"Goand proclaimin the earsof Jerusalem,saying,'Thussaysthe LORD,"I rememberconcerning you the devotionof your youth,The loveof your betrothals,Your followingafterMe in the wilderness,Through a landnot sown.
Who sayto a tree,'You are my father,'And to a stone,'You gaveme birth.'For they have turned[their] backto Me, And not [their] face;But in the timeof their troublethey will say,'Ariseand saveus.'
"Then I said,'HowI would setyou among My sonsAnd giveyou a pleasantland,The mostbeautifulinheritanceof the nations!'And I said,'You shall callMe, My Father,And not turnawayfrom followingMe.'
"Howlongwill you gohereand there,O faithlessdaughter?For the LORDhas createda newthingin the earth--A womanwill encompassa man."
"With weepingthey will come,And by supplicationI will leadthem; I will make them walkby streamsof waters,On a straightpathin which they will not stumble;For I ama fatherto Israel,And Ephraimis My firstborn."
"Then I will giveher her vineyardsfrom there,And the valleyof Achoras a doorof hope.And she will singthereas in the daysof her youth,As in the daywhen she cameup from the landof Egypt.
"'A sonhonors[his] father,and a servanthis master.Then ifI am a father,whereis My honor?And ifI am a master,whereis My respect?'saysthe LORDof hoststo you, O priestswho despiseMy name.But you say,'Howhave we despisedYour name?'
"Yet you say,'For whatreason?'Becausethe LORDhas been a witnessbetweenyou and the wifeof your youth,against whomyou have dealttreacherously,though she is your companionand your wifeby covenant.
