but have walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and caused Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to be unfaithful [to God] as the house of Ahab was unfaithful, and you have also murdered your brothers, your father’s house (your own family), who were better than you,

Like the cattle that go down into the valley [to find better pasture and rest], The Spirit of the Lord gave them rest. So You led Your people [O Lord] To make for Yourself a beautiful and glorious name [preparing the way for the acknowledgment of Your name by all nations].

Now then, say to the men of Judah and to the citizens of Jerusalem, ‘Thus says the Lord, “Behold, I am shaping a disaster and working out a plan against you. Turn back, each of you from his evil way; correct your habits and change your actions for the better.”’

“Therefore I was angered with this generation, And I said, ‘They always go astray in their heart, And they did not know My ways [nor become progressively better and more intimately acquainted with them]’;

Better Things for You

But, beloved, even though we speak to you in this way, we are convinced of better things concerning you, and of things that accompany salvation.

For it would have been better for them not to have [personally] known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to have turned back from the holy commandment [verbally] handed on to them.