Take words of repentance with you and return to the Lord. Say to him, ‘Forgive all our iniquity and accept what is good, so that we may repay you with praise from our lips.
you yourselves, as living stones, a spiritual house, are being built to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.
‘But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even raise his eyes to heaven but kept striking his chest and saying, “God, have mercy on me, , a sinner! ”
Let the priests, the Lord’s ministers, weep between the portico and the altar. Let them say, ‘Have pity on your people, Lord, and do not make your inheritance a disgrace, an object of scorn among the nations. Why should it be said among the peoples, “Where is their God? ” ’
David’s conscience troubled him after he had taken a census of the troops. He said to the Lord, ‘I have sinned greatly in what I’ve done. Now, Lord, because I’ve been very foolish, please take away your servant’s guilt.’
But you are a chosen race, ,, a royal priesthood, , a holy nation, , a people for his possession, , so that you may proclaim the praises ,, of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.
If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him? ’
If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him.
So the angel of the Lord said to those standing before him, ‘Take off his filthy clothes! ’ Then he said to him, ‘See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with festive robes.’
Go, proclaim these words to the north, and say, “Return, unfaithful Israel. This is the Lord’s declaration. I will not look on you with anger, for I am unfailing in my love. This is the Lord’s declaration. I will not be angry for ever.