Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. | In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents. |
Turn at my rebuke; Surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you. | Come and listen to my counsel. I’ll share my heart with you and make you wise. |
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The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart— These, O God, You will not despise. | The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God. |
Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand! | Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near. |
Let us search out and examine our ways, And turn back to the Lord. | Instead, let us test and examine our ways. Let us turn back to the Lord. |
And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ | But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ |
Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it. | When God saw what they had done and how they had put a stop to their evil ways, he changed his mind and did not carry out the destruction he had threatened. |