Hearts will be Softened

Hearken and hear this, O house of Jacob,
who are called by the name of Israel,
and are come forth out of the waters of Judah,
(or out of the waters of baptism ),

Who swear by the name of the Lord,
and make mention of the God of Israel,
yet they swear not in truth nor in righteousness.

Nevertheless, they call themselves of the holy city,
but they do not stay themselves upon the God of Israel,
who is the Lord of Hosts;
yea, the Lord of Hosts is his name.

Behold, I have declared the former things from the beginning;
and they went forth out of my mouth, and I showed them.
I did show them suddenly.

And I did it because I knew that thou art obstinate,
and thy neck is an iron sinew,
and thy brow brass;

And I have even from the beginning declared to thee;
before it came to pass I showed them thee;

And I showed them for fear lest thou shouldst say—
mine idol hath done them,
and my graven image,
and my molten image hath commanded them.

Thou hast seen and heard all this;
and will ye not declare them?

And that I have showed thee new things from this time,
even hidden things,
and thou didst not know them.

They are created now, and not from the beginning,
even before the day when thou heardest them not
they were declared unto thee,
lest thou shouldst say—“Behold I knew them.”

Yea, and thou heardest not;
yea, thou knewest not;

Yea, from that time thine ear was not opened;
for I knew that thou wouldst deal very treacherously,
and wast called a transgressor from the womb.

Nevertheless, for my name’s sake will I defer mine anger,
and for my praise will I refrain from thee,
that I cut thee not off.

For, behold, I have refined thee,
I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.

For mine own sake, yea, for mine own sake will I do this,
for I will not suffer my name to be polluted,
and I will not give my glory unto another.