"From the daysof your fathersyou have turnedasidefrom My statutesand have not kept[them]. Returnto Me, and I will returnto you," saysthe LORDof hosts."But you say,'Howshall we return?'
"But they becamedisobedientand rebelledagainst You, And castYour lawbehindtheir backsAnd killedYour prophetswhohad admonishedthem So that they might returnto You, And they committedgreatblasphemies.
"I have spreadout My handsalldaylong to a rebelliouspeople,Who walk[in] the waywhich is not good,followingtheir own thoughts,
"Then you are to sayto them, '[It is] becauseyour forefathershave forsakenMe,' declaresthe LORD,'and have followedothergodsand servedthem and boweddownto them; but Me they have forsakenand have not keptMy law.
You too have doneevil,[even] morethanyour forefathers;for behold,you are eachonewalkingaccordingto the stubbornnessof his own evilheart,withoutlisteningto Me.
"Return,O faithlesssons,I will healyour faithlessness.""Behold,we cometo You; For You are the LORDour God.
"Sincethe daythat your fatherscameout of the landof Egyptuntilthisday,I have sentyou allMy servantsthe prophets,dailyrisingearlyand sending[them].
"Yet they did not listento Me or inclinetheir ear,but stiffenedtheir neck;they did moreevilthantheir fathers.
Then He saidto me, "Sonof man,I am sendingyou to the sonsof Israel,to a rebelliouspeoplewhohave rebelledagainst Me; they and their fathershave transgressedagainst Me to thisveryday.
"But the houseof Israelrebelledagainst Me in the wilderness.They did not walkin My statutesand they rejectedMy ordinances,by which,if a manobservesthem, he will live;and My sabbathsthey greatlyprofaned.Then I resolvedto pourout My wrathon them in the wilderness,to annihilatethem.
"But the childrenrebelledagainst Me; they did not walkin My statutes,norwere they carefulto observeMy ordinances,by which,[if] a manobservesthem, he will live;they profanedMy sabbaths.So I resolvedto pourout My wrathon them, to accomplishMy angeragainst them in the wilderness.
"When I had broughtthem into the landwhichI sworeto giveto them, then they saweveryhighhilland everyleafytree,and they offeredtheretheir sacrificesand therethey presentedthe provocationof their offering.Therealso they madetheir soothingaromaand therethey pouredout their drinkofferings.
"But they rebelledagainst Me and were not willingto listento Me; they did not castawaythe detestablethingsof their eyes,nordid they forsakethe idolsof Egypt.Then I resolvedto pourout My wrathon them, to accomplishMy angeragainst them in the midstof the landof Egypt.
Return,O Israel,to the LORDyour God,For you have stumbledbecause of your iniquity.
"Therefore sayto them, 'Thussaysthe LORDof hosts,"Returnto Me," declaresthe LORDof hosts,"that I may returnto you," saysthe LORDof hosts.
"'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?'
"Your wordshave beenarrogantagainstMe," saysthe LORD."Yet you say,'Whathave we spokenagainstYou?'
"Woeto you, scribesand Pharisees,hypocrites!For you are likewhitewashedtombswhichon the outsideappearbeautiful,but insidethey are fullof dead men'sbonesand alluncleanness.
"And he would have gladlyfilledhis stomachwith the podsthat the swinewere eating,and no onewas giving[anything] to him.
But as for IsraelHe says,"ALLTHE DAYLONG I HAVE STRETCHEDOUT MY HANDSTO A DISOBEDIENTAND OBSTINATEPEOPLE."
For not knowingabout God'srighteousnessand seekingto establishtheir own,they did not subjectthemselves to the righteousnessof God.
I was oncealiveapartfrom the Law;but when the commandmentcame,sinbecame aliveand I died;
"For when I bringthem into the landflowingwith milkand honey,whichI sworeto their fathers,and they have eatenand are satisfiedand becomeprosperous,then they will turnto othergodsand servethem, and spurnMe and breakMy covenant.
Drawnearto Godand He will draw nearto you. Cleanseyour hands,you sinners;and purifyyour hearts,you double-minded.
