For I am consciousof nothingagainst myself,yetI am not by thisacquitted;but the one who examinesme is the Lord.
"Whatis man,that he should be pure,Or he who is bornof a woman,that he should be righteous?
"Howthen can a manbe justwith God?Or howcan he be cleanwho is bornof woman?
"I holdfastmy righteousnessand will not letit go.My heartdoes not reproachanyof my days.
"Behold,I am insignificant;whatcan I replyto You? I laymy handon my mouth.
"ThoughI am righteous,my mouthwill condemnme; Though I am guiltless,He will declareme guilty.
IfYou, LORD,should markiniquities,O Lord,whocould stand?
And do not enterinto judgmentwith Your servant,For in Your sightnomanlivingis righteous.
Whocan discern[his] errors?Acquitme of hidden[faults].
My footstandson a levelplace;In the congregationsI shall blessthe LORD.
And the heavensdeclareHis righteousness,For GodHimselfis judge.Selah.
Everyman'swayis rightin his own eyes,But the LORDweighsthe hearts.
Manyseekthe ruler'sfavor,But justicefor man[comes] from the LORD.
He saidto him the thirdtime,"Simon,[son] of John,do you loveMe?" Peterwas grievedbecauseHe saidto him the third time,"Do you loveMe?" And he saidto Him, "Lord,You knowall things;You knowthat I loveYou." Jesussaidto him, "TendMy sheep.
Paul,looking intentlyat the Council,said,"Brethren,I have lived my lifewith a perfectlygoodconsciencebefore Godup to thisday."
for [it is] not the hearersof the Law[who] are justbeforeGod,but the doersof the Lawwill be justified.
For ifAbrahamwas justifiedby works,he hassomething to boast about,but not beforeGod.
But to me it is a very small thingthat I may be examinedby you, orby [any] humancourt;in fact,I do not evenexaminemyself.
Thereforedo not go on passing judgmentbeforethe time,[but wait] untilthe Lordcomeswhowill bothbring to lightthe things hiddenin the darknessand disclosethe motivesof [men's] hearts;and theneach man'spraisewill cometo him from God.
For our proud confidenceis this:the testimonyof our conscience,that in holinessand godlysincerity,not in fleshlywisdombut in the graceof God,we have conductedourselves in the world,and especiallytowardyou.
For we mustallappearbeforethe judgment seatof Christ,sothat each onemay be recompensedfor his deeds in the body,accordingto whathe has done,whethergoodorbad.
