7 Give up your evil waysand your evil thoughts.Return to the Lord our God.He will be mercifuland forgive your sins.
8 The Lord says:“My thoughts and my waysare not like yours.
9 Just as the heavensare higher than the earth,my thoughts and my waysare higher than yours.
10 “Rain and snow fall from the sky.But they don't returnwithout watering the earththat produces seeds to plantand grain to eat.
11 That's how it is with my words.They don't return to mewithout doing everythingI send them to do.”
12 When you are set free,you will celebrateand travel home in peace.Mountains and hills will singas you pass by,and trees will clap.
13 Cypress and myrtle treeswill grow in fieldsonce covered by thorns.And then those trees will standas a lasting witnessto the glory of the Lord.