And now he says to us,“ Return to me. Then I will return to you,” announces the Lord.

所以你要对以色列人说，万军之耶和华如此说：你们要转向我，我就转向你们。这是万军之耶和华说的。

你要对以色列人说，万军之耶和华如此说：你们要转向我，这是万军之耶和华说的，我就转向你们，这是万军之耶和华说的。

你要对以色列人说，万军之耶和华如此说：你们要转向我，这是万军之耶和华说的，我就转向你们，这是万军之耶和华说的。

因此，你要告诉百姓，万军之耶和华说，‘你们要归向我，我就回到你们那里。这是万军之耶和华说的。

所以，你要对众民说：‘万军之耶和华这样说：你们要转向我（这是万军之耶和华的宣告），我就必转向你们（这是万军之耶和华说的）。

所以你要對以色列人說，萬軍之耶和華如此說：你們要轉向我，我就轉向你們。這是萬軍之耶和華說的。

你要對以色列人說，萬軍之耶和華如此說：你們要轉向我，這是萬軍之耶和華說的，我就轉向你們，這是萬軍之耶和華說的。

你要對以色列人說，萬軍之耶和華如此說：你們要轉向我，這是萬軍之耶和華說的，我就轉向你們，這是萬軍之耶和華說的。

因此，你要告訴百姓，萬軍之耶和華說，『你們要歸向我，我就回到你們那裡。這是萬軍之耶和華說的。

所以，你要對眾民說：‘萬軍之耶和華這樣說：你們要轉向我（這是萬軍之耶和華的宣告），我就必轉向你們（這是萬軍之耶和華說的）。

如今你要對人民說：萬軍之永恆主這麼說：你們要回轉來歸我，我就轉而向你們：這是萬軍之永恆主說的。

因此你要對我的子民說：『萬軍之耶和華如此說：你們當轉向我！』這是萬軍之耶和華的宣告。『我就轉向你們！』這是萬軍之耶和華說的。

故當告民曰、萬軍之耶和華云、爾其返於我、我則返於爾、萬軍之耶和華言之矣、

當告斯民云、萬有之主耶和華曰、爾歸誠於我、我必復加眷顧、我萬有之主耶和華已言之矣、

當告之曰、萬有之主如是云、爾曹歸誠於我、我必復眷顧爾、復眷顧爾原文作歸於爾萬有之主已言之矣、或作爾當告之日萬有之主如是云爾曹歸誠於我此乃萬有之主所言萬有之主曰我必復眷顧爾曹

Therefore tell the people: This is what the Lord Almighty says:‘ Return to me,’ declares the Lord Almighty,‘ and I will return to you,’ says the Lord Almighty.

Therefore say to them, Thus declares the Lord of hosts: Return to me, says the Lord of hosts, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts.

Therefore, say to the people,‘ This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.’

So tell the people,‘ This is what the LORD of Armies says: Return to me— this is the declaration of the LORD of Armies— and I will return to you, says the LORD of Armies.

Therefore say to them,‘ This is what the Lord of armies says:“ Return to Me,” declares the Lord of armies,“ that I may return to you,” says the Lord of armies.

Therefore say to them,‘ Thus says the Lord of hosts:“ Return to Me,” says the Lord of hosts,“ and I will return to you,” says the Lord of hosts.

Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Return unto me, saith Jehovah of hosts, and I will return unto you, saith Jehovah of hosts.

So tell the people: This is what the Lord of Hosts says: Return to Me”— this is the declaration of the Lord of Hosts—“ and I will return to you, says the Lord of Hosts.

Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the LORD of hosts.

Therefore say to the people: The LORD who rules over all says,“ Turn to me,” says the LORD who rules over all,“ and I will turn to you,” says the LORD who rules over all.

Therefore tell them: Yahweh of Armies says:‘ Return to me,’ says Yahweh of Armies,‘ and I will return to you,’ says Yahweh of Armies.

You have turned away from my rules. You have not obeyed them. You have lived that way ever since the days of your people of long ago. Return to me. Then I will return to you,” says the Lord who rules over all.“ But you ask,‘ How can we return?’

People of Israel, return to the Lord. He’s the God you have so strongly opposed.

But after I pull up those nations, I will give my tender love to them again. I will bring all of them back to their own lands. I will take all of them back to their own countries.

Again and again I sent all my servants the prophets to you. They said,‘ Each of you must turn from your evil ways. You must change the way you act. Do not worship other gods. Do not serve them. Then you will live in the land. I gave it to you and your people of long ago.’ But you have not paid any attention. You have not listened to me.

All the things I’ve told you about might happen to you. And you will be in trouble. But later you will return to the Lord your God. You will obey him.The Lord your God is tender and loving. He won’t leave you or destroy you. He won’t forget the covenant he made with your people of long ago. He gave his word when he made it.

Then you will call out to me. You will come and pray to me. And I will listen to you.When you look for me with all your heart, you will find me.I will be found by you,” announces the Lord.“ And I will bring you back from where you were taken as prisoners. I will gather you from all the nations. I will gather you from the places where I have forced you to go,” announces the Lord.“ I will bring you back to the place I sent you away from.”

“ If you, Israel, will return,” announces the Lord,“ then return to me. Put the statues of your gods out of my sight. I hate them. Stop going astray.

Tell them,‘ When sinful people die, it does not give me any joy. But when they turn away from their sins and live, that makes me very happy. And that is just as sure as I am alive,’ announces the Lord and King.‘ So turn away from your sins! Change your evil ways! Why should you die, people of Israel?’

They said,‘ Each of you must turn from your evil ways and practices. Then you can stay in the land forever. It’s the land the Lord gave you and your people of long ago.

The Lord announces to his people,“ Return to me with all your heart. There is still time. Do not eat any food. Weep and mourn.”

Then the Lord will answer,“ My people always wander away from me. But I will put an end to that. My anger has turned away from them. Now I will love them freely.

You and your children will return to the Lord your God. You will obey him with all your heart and with all your soul. That will be according to everything I’m commanding you today.When all that happens, the Lord your God will bless you with great success again. He will be very kind to you. He’ll bring you back from all the nations where he scattered you.Suppose you have been forced to go away to the farthest land on earth. The Lord your God will bring you back even from there.He will bring you to the land that belonged to your people of long ago. You will take it over. He’ll make you better off than your people were. He’ll cause there to be more of you than there were of them.The Lord your God will keep you from being stubborn. He’ll do the same thing for your children and their children. Then you will love him with all your heart and with all your soul. And you will live.The Lord your God will put all these curses on your enemies. They hated you and hunted you down.You will obey the Lord again. You will obey all his commands that I’m giving you today.Then the Lord your God will give you great success in everything you do. You will have many children. Your livestock will have many little ones. Your crops will do very well. The Lord will take delight in you again. He’ll give you success. That’s what he did for your people of long ago.But you must obey the Lord your God. You must keep his commands and rules. They are written in this Book of the Law. You must turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

A person who is still alive shouldn’t blame God when God punishes them for their sins.Let’s take a good look at the way we’re living. Let’s return to the Lord.Let’s lift up our hands to God in heaven. Let’s pray to him with all our hearts.

“ You have not been faithful,” says the Lord.“ Return to me. I will heal you. Then you will not turn away from me anymore.”“ Yes,” the people say.“ We will come to you. You are the Lord our God.

Go. Announce this message to the people in the north. Tell them,“‘ Israel, you have not been faithful,’ announces the Lord.‘ Return to me. Then I will do good things for you again. That’s because I am faithful,’ announces the Lord.‘ I will not be angry with you forever.Admit that you are guilty of doing what is wrong. You have refused to obey me. I am the Lord your God. You have committed adultery with other gods. You worshiped them under every green tree. And you have not obeyed me,’ ” announces the Lord.“ You people have not been faithful,” announces the Lord.“ Return to me. I am your husband. I will choose one of you from each town. I will choose two from each territory. And I will bring you to the city of Zion.

“ Then the people were enjoying peace and rest again. That’s when they did what you did not want them to do. Then you handed them over to their enemies. So their enemies ruled over them. When they cried out to you again, you heard them from heaven. You loved them very much. So you saved them time after time.

Messengers went all through Israel and Judah. They carried letters from the king and his officials. The king had ordered them to do that. The letters said,“ People of Israel, return to the Lord. He is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel. Return to him. Then he will return to you who are left in the land. You have escaped from the power of the kings of Assyria.Don’t be like your parents and the rest of your people. They weren’t faithful to the Lord, the God of their people. That’s why he punished them. He made them look so bad that everyone was shocked when they saw them. You can see it for yourselves.Don’t be stubborn. Don’t be as your people were. Obey the Lord. Come to his temple. He has set it apart to himself forever. Serve the Lord your God. Then he’ll stop being angry with you.Suppose you return to the Lord. Then those who captured your relatives and children will be kind to them. In fact, your relatives and children will come back to this land. The Lord your God is kind and tender. He won’t turn away from you if you return to him.”

But suppose your people change their ways in the land where they are held as prisoners. They turn away from their sins. They beg you to help them in the land of those who won the battle over them. They say,‘ We have sinned. We’ve done what is wrong. We’ve done what is evil.’And they turn back to you with all their heart and soul. Suppose it happens in the land of their enemies who took them away as prisoners. There they pray to you toward the land you gave their people long ago. They pray toward the city you have chosen. And they pray toward the temple I’ve built for your Name.

Israel, return to the Lord your God. Your sins have destroyed you!

But when they were in trouble, they turned to the Lord, the God of Israel. When they did, they found him.

Turn to the Lord before it’s too late. Call out to him while he’s still ready to help you.Let those who are evil stop doing evil things. And let them quit thinking evil thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord. The Lord will show them his tender love. Let them turn to our God. He is always ready to forgive.

The people say,“ Come. Let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces. But he will heal us. He has wounded us. But he’ll bandage our wounds.

Once again you will show loving concern for us. You will completely wipe out the evil things we’ve done. You will throw all our sins into the bottom of the sea.You will be faithful to Jacob’s people. You will show your love to Abraham’s children. You will do what you promised to do for our people. You made that promise long ago.

Come near to God, and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners. Make your hearts pure, you who can’t make up your minds.Be full of sorrow. Cry and weep. Change your laughter to mourning. Change your joy to sadness.Be humble in front of the Lord. And he will lift you up.

I will get up and go back to my father. I will say to him,“ Father, I have sinned against heaven. And I have sinned against you.I am no longer fit to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” ’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.“ The son said to him,‘ Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer fit to be called your son.’“ But the father said to his servants,‘ Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.

“ I have heard the groans of Ephraim’s people. They say,‘ You corrected us like a calf you were training. And we have been trained. Bring us back to you, and we will come back. You are the Lord our God.After we wandered away from you, we turned away from our sins. After we learned our lesson, we beat our chests in sorrow. We were full of shame. What we did when we were young brought dishonor on us.’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.