They have no understanding, but I find pleasure in your law.

"But my people stubbornly refused to listen. They closed their minds

Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to listen to my message.

You are the children of your father, the Devil, and you want to follow your father's desires. From the very beginning he was a murderer and has never been on the side of truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he is only doing what is natural to him, because he is a liar and the father of all lies.

With a loud cry the Council members covered their ears with their hands. Then they all rushed at him at once,

They will turn away from listening to the truth and give their attention to legends.

There is much we have to say about this matter, but it is hard to explain to you, because you are so slow to understand.

The LORD has made you drowsy, ready to fall into a deep sleep. The prophets should be the eyes of the people, but God has blindfolded them.

If you give it to someone who can't read and ask him to read it to you, he will answer that he doesn't know how.

It makes as much sense as eating ashes. His foolish ideas have so misled him that he is beyond help. He won't admit to himself that the idol he holds in his hand is not a god at all.

and use every kind of wicked deceit on those who will perish. They will perish because they did not welcome and love the truth so as to be saved.

And so God sends the power of error to work in them so that they believe what is false.

Repent, then, and turn to God, so that he will forgive your sins. If you do,

who is gentle as you correct your opponents, for it may be that God will give them the opportunity to repent and come to know the truth.

And then they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the Devil, who had caught them and made them obey his will.

For how can those who abandon their faith be brought back to repent again? They were once in God's light; they tasted heaven's gift and received their share of the Holy Spirit;

And then they abandoned their faith! It is impossible to bring them back to repent again, because they are again crucifying the Son of God and exposing him to public shame.

"I have seen how they acted, but I will heal them. I will lead them and help them, and I will comfort those who mourn.

Return, all of you who have turned away from the LORD; he will heal you and make you faithful. You say, "Yes, we are coming to the LORD because he is our God.

LORD, heal me and I will be completely well; rescue me and I will be perfectly safe. You are the one I praise!

But I will heal this city and its people and restore them to health. I will show them abundant peace and security.

The LORD says, "I will bring my people back to me. I will love them with all my heart; no longer am I angry with them.

But for you who obey me, my saving power will rise on you like the sun and bring healing like the sun's rays. You will be as free and happy as calves let out of a stall.

so that, 'They may look and look, yet not see; they may listen and listen, yet not understand. For if they did, they would turn to God, and he would forgive them.' "

and flowing down the middle of the city's street. On each side of the river was the tree of life, which bears fruit twelve times a year, once each month; and its leaves are for the healing of the nations.