Suppose you could grind a foolish person in a mill. Suppose you could grind them as you would grind grain with a tool. Even then you could not remove their foolishness from them.
Arameans from the east have opened their mouths and swallowed up Israel. So have Philistines from the west. Even then, the Lord is still angry. His hand is still raised against them.
So I have held back the showers. I have kept the spring rains from falling. But you still have the bold face of a prostitute. You refuse to blush with shame.
“I will set these people free from the power of the grave. I will save them from death. Death, where are your plagues? Grave, where is your power to destroy? “I will no longer pity Ephraim.
“Do not be like your people of long ago. The earlier prophets gave them my message. I said, ‘Stop doing what is evil. Turn away from your sinful practices.’ But they would not listen to me. They would not pay any attention,” announces the Lord.