And the Master of all things Himself spoke of repentance with an oath: "For as I live, says the Lord, I do not desire the death of the sinner so much as his repentance"; and He added a gracious resolve:
"Repent, O house of Israel, from your iniquity. Say to the sons of My people: Though your sins reach from the earth to heaven, and though they be redder than scarlet and blacker than sackcloth, yet if you turn to Me with your whole heart and say, Father, I will hear you as a holy people."
And in another place He speaks thus: "Wash yourselves and be clean; put away the wickedness from your souls out of My sight; cease from your evil deeds, learn to do good, seek out justice, deliver the wronged, give judgment for the orphan and do right by the widow; and come, let us reason together, says the Lord: and though your sins be as crimson, I will make them white as snow; and though they be like scarlet, I will make them white as wool. And if you are willing and obey Me, you shall eat the good things of the land; but if you are unwilling and do not obey Me, the sword shall devour you; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken these things."