Then they got rid of the false gods that were among them. They served the Lord. And he couldn’t stand to see Israel suffer anymore.

以色列人就除掉他们中间的外邦神，侍奉耶和华。耶和华因以色列人受的苦难，就心中担忧。

以色列人就除掉他们中间的外邦神明，事奉耶和华。耶和华因以色列所受的苦难而心里焦急。

以色列人就除掉他们中间的外邦神明，事奉耶和华。耶和华因以色列所受的苦难而心里焦急。

以色列人除掉了他们的外邦神像，转而事奉耶和华。耶和华不忍再看以色列人受苦。

以色列人就从他们中间除去外族人的神，事奉耶和华；耶和华的心因以色列人所受的患难，就很着急。

以色列人就除掉他們中間的外邦神，事奉耶和華。耶和華因以色列人受的苦難，就心中擔憂。

以色列人就除掉他們中間的外邦神明，事奉耶和華。耶和華因以色列所受的苦難而心裏焦急。

以色列人就除掉他們中間的外邦神明，事奉耶和華。耶和華因以色列所受的苦難而心裏焦急。

以色列人除掉了他們的外邦神像，轉而事奉耶和華。耶和華不忍再看以色列人受苦。

以色列人就從他們中間除去外族人的神，事奉耶和華；耶和華的心因以色列人所受的患難，就很著急。

以色列人就從他們中間除掉外族人的神，而事奉永恆主；因以色列人所遭遇的患難，永恆主的心就很着急。

遂去其中異族之神、而事耶和華、耶和華因其困苦、中心愀然、

遂去他上帝、事耶和華。耶和華見以色列族困苦、則中心愀然。

遂從其中除外邦之神、而奉事主、主因以色列人困苦已極、中心不忍、

Then they got rid of the foreign gods among them and served the Lord. And he could bear Israel’s misery no longer.

So they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the Lord, and he became impatient over the misery of Israel.

Then the Israelites put aside their foreign gods and served the Lord. And he was grieved by their misery.

So they got rid of the foreign gods among them and worshiped the LORD, and he became weary of Israel’s misery.

So they removed the foreign gods from among them and served the Lord; and He could no longer endure the misery of Israel.

So they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the Lord. And His soul could no longer endure the misery of Israel.

And they put away the foreign gods from among them, and served Jehovah; and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.

So they got rid of the foreign gods among them and worshiped the Lord, and He became weary of Israel’s misery.

And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the LORD: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.

They threw away the foreign gods they owned and worshiped the LORD. Finally the LORD grew tired of seeing Israel suffer so much.

They put away the foreign gods from among them and served Yahweh; and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.

When they suffered, he suffered with them. He sent his angel to save them. He set them free because he is loving and kind. He lifted them up and carried them. He did it again and again in days long ago.

Yet he heard them when they cried out. He paid special attention to their suffering.Because they were his people, he remembered his covenant. Because of his great love, he felt sorry for them.

We have a high priest who can feel it when we are weak and hurting. We have a high priest who has been tempted in every way, just as we are. But he did not sin.

The Lord continues,“ People of Ephraim, how can I give you up? Israel, how can I hand you over to your enemies? Can I destroy you as I did the town of Admah? Can I treat you like Zeboyim? My heart is stirred inside me. It is filled with pity for you.

Israel, return to the Lord your God. Your sins have destroyed you!Tell the Lord you are turning away from your sins. Return to him. Say to him,“ Forgive us for all our sins. Please be kind to us. Welcome us back to you. Then our lips will offer you our praise.Assyria can’t save us. We won’t trust in our war horses. Our own hands have made statues of gods. But we will never call them our gods again. We are like children whose fathers have died. But you show us your tender love.”

Asa heard that prophecy. He paid attention to the words of Azariah the prophet, the son of Oded. So Asa became bolder than ever. He removed the statues of gods from the whole land of Judah and Benjamin. He also removed them from the towns he had captured in the hills of Ephraim. He did it because the Lord hated those gods. Asa repaired the altar of the Lord. It was in front of the porch of the Lord’ s temple.

Ephraim will have nothing more to do with other gods. I will answer the prayers of my people. I will take good care of them. I will be like a healthy juniper tree to them. All the fruit they bear will come from me.”

He approached Jerusalem. When he saw the city, he began to weep.

“ Now then,” said Joshua,“ throw away the statues of the gods that are among you. People from other lands serve those gods. Give yourselves completely to the Lord. He is the God of Israel.”

Manasseh got rid of the false gods. He removed the statue of one of those gods from the Lord’ s temple. He also removed all the altars he had built on the temple hill and in Jerusalem. He threw them out of the city.

Suppose I announce that something will happen to a nation or kingdom. Suppose I announce that it will be pulled up by the roots. And I announce that it will be torn down and destroyed.But suppose the nation I warned turns away from its sins. Then I will not do what I said I would. I will not bring trouble on it as I had planned.

Aren’t the people of Ephraim my dear children? Aren’t they the children I take delight in? I often speak against them. But I still remember them. So my heart longs for them. I love them with a tender love,” announces the Lord.

The Lord will come to the aid of his people. He’ll show tender love to those who serve him. He will know when their strength is gone. He’ll see that no one at all is left.

That is why I was angry with them. I said,‘ Their hearts are always going astray. They have not known my ways.’

The Lord was very sad that he had made human beings on the earth. His heart was filled with pain.

“ Where have you put him?” he asked.“ Come and see, Lord,” they replied.

Be kind and tender to one another. Forgive one another, just as God forgave you because of what Christ has done.

“ So I will judge you Israelites. I will judge each of you in keeping with what you have done,” announces the Lord and King.“ Turn away from your sins! Turn away from all the evil things you have done. Then sin will not bring you down.Get rid of all the evil things you have done. Let me give you a new heart and a new spirit. Then you will be faithful to me. Why should you die, people of Israel?When anyone dies, it does not give me any joy,” announces the Lord and King.“ So turn away from your sins. Then you will live!

But they make themselves humble in my sight. They pray and look to me. And they turn from their evil ways. Then I will listen to them from heaven. I will forgive their sin. And I will heal their land. After all, they are my people.

So he got up and went to his father.“ While the son was still a long way off, his father saw him. He was filled with tender love for his son. He ran to him. He threw his arms around him and kissed him.