And as he reasoned concerning righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go your way for now; when I have a convenient season, I will call for you.
And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he tore his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.
Because your heart was tender, and you have humbled yourself before the LORD, when you heard what I spoke against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and have torn your clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard you, says the LORD.
Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives, and those that are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord, and of those that tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law.
Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together to Jerusalem within three days. It was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month; and all the people sat in the street of the house of God, trembling because of this matter, and for the heavy rain.
Rejoice, O young man, in your youth; and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth, and walk in the ways of your heart, and in the sight of your eyes: but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.
If you see the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, do not marvel at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regards it; and there is one higher than they.
Come now, and let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
And in mercy shall the throne be established: and he shall sit upon it in truth in the tabernacle of David, judging, and seeking justice, and hastening righteousness.
For I the LORD love justice, I hate robbery as a burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.
For all those things has my hand made, and all those things have been, says the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembles at my word.
Thus says the LORD; Execute justice and righteousness, and deliver him who is plundered out of the hand of the oppressor: and do no wrong, do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, nor the widow, neither shed innocent blood in this place.
Now it came to pass, when they had heard all the words, they were afraid both one and another, and said to Baruch, We will surely tell the king of all these words.
Thus says the Lord GOD; Let it suffice for you, O princes of Israel: remove violence and robbery, and execute justice and righteousness, take away your exactions from my people, says the Lord GOD.
Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you, and break off your sins by righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; perhaps there may be a lengthening of your tranquility.
Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he comes and rains righteousness upon you.
Shall horses run upon the rock? will one plow there with oxen? for you have turned justice into bitterness, and the fruit of righteousness into hemlock:
When I heard, my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice: rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble: when he comes up to the people, he will invade them with his troops.
And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what will you have me to do? And the Lord said to him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told you what you must do.
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Therefore judge nothing before the time until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make known the intentions of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise from God.
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; so that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to what he has done, whether it is good or bad.
(For he says, I have heard you in a time that is accepted, and in the day of salvation have I helped you: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
In this the children of God are made known, and the children of the devil: whoever does not do righteousness is not of God, neither he that does not love his brother.
Now therefore stand still, that I may reason with you before the LORD concerning all the righteous deeds of the LORD, which he did to you and to your fathers.