CHAPTER 62.
John, the harbinger, again visits Jerusalem. Speaks to the people. Promises to meet them at Gilgal in seven days. Goes to Bethany and attends a feast.
Next day John went again into the temple courts and said,
2 Prepare, O Israel, prepare to meet your king.
3 The chief priests and the scribes would know the meaning of his words; they said,
4 Bold man, what is the purport of this message that you bring to Israel? If you be seer and prophet, tell us plainly who has sent you here?
5 And John replied, I am the voice of one who cries out in the wilderness, Prepare the way, make straight the paths, for, lo, the Prince of Peace will come to rule in love.
6 Your prophet Malachi wrote down the words of God:
7 And I will send Elijah unto you before the retribution day shall come, to turn again the hearts of men to God and if they will not turn, lo, I will smite them with a curse.
8 You men of Israel; you know your sins. As I passed by I saw a wounded bird prone in your streets, and men of every class were beating it with clubs; and then I saw that Justice was its name.