He will encourage fathers and their children to return to me,<n id="1" /> so that I will not come and strike the earth with judgment.&#8221;<n id="2" />p>

<t /><p class="bodytext">&#8220;Since, I, the <sc>Lordsc>, do not go back on my promises,<n id="1" /> you, sons of Jacob, have not perished.

He will act like a refiner and purifier of silver and will cleanse the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then they will offer the <sc>Lordsc> a proper offering.

<t /><p class="bodytext">&#8220;A son naturally honors his father and a slave respects<n id="1" /> his master. If I am your<n id="2" /> father, where is my honor? If I am your master, where is my respect? The <sc>Lordsc> who rules over all asks you this, you priests who make light of my name! But you reply, &#8216;How have we made light of your name?&#8217;

&#8220;They will belong to me,&#8221; says the <sc>Lordsc> who rules over all, &#8220;in the day when I prepare my own special property.<n id="1" /> I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him.