For He does not afflictwillinglyOr grievethe sonsof men.
"The Almighty--we cannotfindHim; He is exaltedin powerAnd He will not doviolenceto justiceand abundantrighteousness.
BeforeI was afflictedI wentastray,But nowI keepYour word.
It is goodfor me that I was afflicted,That I may learnYour statutes.
For the LORDwill riseup as [at] MountPerazim,He will be stirredup as in the valleyof Gibeon,To doHis task,His unusualtask,And to workHis work,His extraordinarywork.
To crushunderHis feetAllthe prisonersof the land,
"For I havenopleasurein the deathof anyone who dies,"declaresthe LordGOD."Therefore, repentand live."
"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?'
