Absalom said, “If you don’t want to go, then please let my brother Amnon go with me.”
Jeremiah 9:7 - Easy To Read Version So, the Lord All-Powerful says:\par “A worker heats metal in a fire\par to test if it is pure.\par I will test the people of Judah like that.\par I have no other choice.\par My people have sinned.\par Tuilleadh leaganachaKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, Behold, I will melt them, and try them; for how shall I do for the daughter of my people? Amplified Bible - Classic Edition Therefore thus says the Lord of hosts: Behold, I will melt them [by the process of affliction to remove the dross] and test them, for how else should I deal with the daughter of My people? American Standard Version (1901) Therefore thus saith Jehovah of hosts, Behold, I will melt them, and try them; for how else should I do, because of the daughter of my people? Common English Bible Therefore, the LORD of heavenly forces proclaims: I’m going to refine and test them, for what else can I do with my people? Catholic Public Domain Version Because of this, thus says the Lord of hosts: "Behold, I will refine them, and I will test them. For what else can I do before the face of the daughter of my people? Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts: Behold, I will melt and try them. For what else shall I do before the daughter of my people? |
Absalom said, “If you don’t want to go, then please let my brother Amnon go with me.”
The Lord, the God of their ancestors, {\cf2\super [454]} sent prophets again and again to warn his people. The Lord did this because he felt sorry for them and for his temple. The Lord didn’t want to destroy them or his temple.
My enemies are really smooth talkers;\par they talk about peace,\par but they are really planning wars.\par Their words are as slick as oil,\par but those words cut like a knife.\par
My soul, wait patiently for God \{to save me\}!\par God is my only hope.\par
People use lye {\cf2\super [13]} to clean silver. \{In the same way,\} I will clean all your wrongs away. I will take all the worthless things out from you.
“Look, I will make you pure.\par People use a hot fire to make silver pure.\par But I will make you pure\par by giving you troubles.\par
Your hands are dirty; they are covered with blood. Your fingers are covered with guilt. You tell lies with your mouth. Your tongue says evil things.
\{God says,\}\par “You know that Ephraim {\cf2\super [255]} is my dear son.\par I love that child.\par Yes, I often criticized Ephraim,\par but I still think about him.\par I love him very much.\par And I really do want to comfort him.”\par This message is from the Lord.\par
The Lord says,\} “Walk the streets of Jerusalem. Look around and think about these things. Search the public squares of the city. See if you can find one good person, one person that does honest things, one that searches for the truth. If you find one good person, I will forgive Jerusalem!
“Jeremiah, I (the Lord) made you\par like a worker that tests metals.\par You will test my people\par and watch how they live.\par
People of Israel, listen to the Lord’s message! The Lord will tell his argument against the people that live in this country. “People in this country don’t really know God. The people are not true and loyal to God.
Then I will test those survivors. I will give them many troubles. The troubles will be like the fire a man uses to prove silver is pure. I will test them the way a person tests gold. Then they will call to me for help, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘You are my people.’ And they will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’”
He will make the Levites {\cf2\super [17]} clean. {\cf2\super [18]} He will make them pure, like silver is made pure—with fire! He will make them pure like gold and silver. Then they will bring gifts to the Lord—and they will do those things the right way.
Why do these troubles happen? To prove that your faith is pure (true). This purity of faith is worth more than gold. Gold can be proved to be pure by fire, but gold will ruin. The purity of your faith will bring you praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ appears (comes).
My friends, don’t be surprised at the painful things that you are now suffering. Those things are testing your faith. Don’t think that something strange is happening to you.