Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

And my people are bent to backsliding from me: though they called them to the most High, none at all would exalt {him}. {none...: Heb. together they exalted not}

The fining pot {is} for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.

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?

But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he {is} like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:

Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: {yet} surely my judgment {is} with the LORD, and my work with my God. {my work: or, my reward}

In thy filthiness {is} lewdness: because I have purged thee, and thou wast not purged, thou shalt not be purged from thy filthiness any more, till I have caused my fury to rest upon thee.

And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It {is} my people: and they shall say, The LORD {is} my God.

That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

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?

What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?

And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin: {purely: Heb. according to pureness}

Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? {then} may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil. {accustomed: Heb. taught}

But I will punish you according to the fruit of your doings, saith the LORD: and I will kindle a fire in the forest thereof, and it shall devour all things round about it. {punish: Heb. visit upon}

Son of man, say unto her, Thou {art} the land that is not cleansed, nor rained upon in the day of indignation.

Wherefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe to the bloody city, to the pot whose scum {is} therein, and whose scum is not gone out of it! bring it out piece by piece; let no lot fall upon it.

Shall horses run upon the rock? will {one} plow {there} with oxen? for ye have turned judgment into gall, and the fruit of righteousness into hemlock:

And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory. {scorched: or, burned}

In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction: your own sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.

But thou shalt say unto them, This {is} a nation that obeyeth not the voice of the LORD their God, nor receiveth correction: truth is perished, and is cut off from their mouth. {correction: or, instruction}