Then the elders of his city must summon him and speak to him. If he persists, saying, “I don’t want to marry her,”

But the men ¹  of Manasseh were unable to conquer these cities; the Canaanites managed ²  to remain in those areas.

eternal life to those who by perseverance in good works seek glory and honor and immortality,

Those guilty of sin ¹  must be rebuked ²  before all, ³  as a warning to the rest. ⁴ 

For I solemnly warned your ancestors to obey me. ¹  I warned them again and again, ²  ever since I delivered them out of Egypt until this very day.

Over and over again ¹  the Lord has sent ²  his servants the prophets to you. But you have not listened or paid attention. ³ 

And even they – if they do not continue in their unbelief – will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.

The Israelites followed in the sinful ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat and did not repudiate ¹  them.

I am also aware ¹  that you have persisted steadfastly, ²  endured much for the sake of my name, and have not grown weary.

The Lord God of their ancestors ¹  continually warned them through his messengers, ²  for he felt compassion for his people and his dwelling place.

From the time your ancestors departed the land of Egypt until now, ¹  I sent my servants the prophets to you again and again, ²  day after day. ³ 

They have turned away from me instead of turning to me. ¹  I tried over and over again ²  to instruct them, but they did not listen and respond to correction. ³ 

I sent my servants the prophets to you people over and over ¹  again warning you not to do this disgusting thing I hate. ² 

When they persisted in asking him, he stood up straight ¹  and replied, ²  “Whoever among you is guiltless ³  may be the first to throw a stone at her.”

I tell you, even though the man inside ¹  will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of the first man’s ²  sheer persistence ³  he will get up and give him whatever he needs.

You also have done all these things, says the Lord, and I have spoken to you over and over again. ¹  But you have not listened! You have refused to respond when I called you to repent! ² 

For they have not paid attention to what I said to them through my servants the prophets whom I sent to them over and over again,’ ¹  says the Lord. ²  ‘And you exiles ³  have not paid any attention to them either,’ says the Lord. ⁴ 

But they ¹  pay no attention; instead they observe their earlier practices.

Will you keep to the old path ¹  that evil men have walked –

(because they said, “He has an unclean spirit” ¹ ).