Billboards incorrectly quote scripture

Dear Editor,

God's word is sadly misquoted on five billboards in Nevada. The incorrect wording of 2 Chronicles 7:14 found on these billboards is as follows: "If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray I will heal their land."

This wording has greatly diminished the message God has intended for 2 Chronicles 7:14 because of its incorrectness.

Here is how the verse should read. Compare the two; notice the difference.

"If my people, which are called by my name shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."

An extremely important part is missing from these billboard messages, thus diminishing the true biblical meaning. Missing is this: " ... and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways ... and will forgive their sin ..." The repentance part "and turn from their wicked ways" is a key to God forgiving sins which clears the way to heal the land. I do not see how God will bless this expensive effort to inform and bless this community when his word is misquoted. The Bible teaches that "Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it ..." Deuteronomy 4:2.

2 Chronicles 7:14 is a promise from God that must be precisely stated and followed to receive the blessing. Its current wording is a waste of funds.

Being incorrect, blessings cannot be expected. I encourage, therefore, replacing the wrongly worded verse with the correct one. Further, it is misleading those who read it to believe that repentance is unnecessary to gain a national or personal blessing. Repentance, as found in the phrase "and turn from their wicked ways," is the key to gaining a healed land.

I applaud the effort to reach the community, but it must be done correctly.

Respectfully,

Gray Clark