Thereforethussaysthe LORDof hosts,"Behold,I will refinethem and assaythem; For what[else] can I do,becauseof the daughterof My people?
"I will also turnMy handagainstyou, And will smeltaway your drossas with lyeAnd will removeallyour alloy.
"He will sitas a smelterand purifierof silver,and He will purifythe sonsof Leviand refinethem like goldand silver,so that they may presentto the LORDofferingsin righteousness.
"I have madeyou an assayer[and] a testeramong My people,That you may knowand assaytheir way."
"Behold,I have refinedyou, but not as silver;I have testedyou in the furnaceof affliction.
"And I will bringthe thirdpartthrough the fire,Refinethem as silveris refined,And testthem as goldis tested.They will callon My name,And I will answerthem; I will say,They are My people,'And they will say,'The LORDis my God.'"
Beloved,do not be surprisedat the fiery ordealamongyou, which comesupon you for your testing,as thoughsome strange thingwere happeningto you;
sothat the proofof your faith,[being] more preciousthan goldwhich is perishable,even thoughtestedby fire,may be foundto resultin praiseand gloryand honorat the revelationof JesusChrist;
"Is EphraimMy dearson?Is he a delightfulchild?Indeed,as oftenas I have spokenagainst him, I certainly[still] rememberhim; ThereforeMy heartyearnsfor him; I will surelyhavemercyon him," declaresthe LORD.
The LORD,the Godof their fathers,sent[word] to them againand againby His messengers,becauseHe hadcompassionon His peopleand on His dwellingplace;
Then Absalomsaid,"If not, pleaselet my brotherAmnongowith us." And the kingsaidto him, "Whyshould he gowith you?"
Castyour burdenupon the LORDand He will sustainyou; He will neverallowthe righteousto be shaken.
My soul,waitin silencefor Godonly,For my hopeis from Him.
Sharparrowsof the warrior,With the [burning] coalsof the broomtree.
For your handsare defiledwith bloodAnd your fingerswith iniquity;Your lipshave spokenfalsehood,Your tonguemutterswickedness.
"Roamto and frothrough the streetsof Jerusalem,And looknowand takenote.And seekin her opensquares,Ifyou can finda man,Ifthereis one who doesjustice,who seekstruth,Then I will pardonher.
Listento the wordof the LORD,O sonsof Israel,For the LORDhas a caseagainstthe inhabitantsof the land,Becausethereis nofaithfulnessor kindnessOr knowledgeof Godin the land.
