but sanctifyChristas Lordin your hearts,always[being] readyto make a defenseto everyonewho asksyou to give an accountfor the hopethat is in you, yetwith gentlenessand reverence;
I will also speakof Your testimoniesbeforekingsAnd shall not be ashamed.
The heartof the righteouspondershow to answer,But the mouthof the wickedpoursout evilthings.
To make you knowthe certaintyof the wordsof truthThat you may correctlyanswerhim who sentyou?
"Comenow,and let us reasontogether," Saysthe LORD,"Thoughyour sinsare as scarlet,They will be as whiteas snow;Thoughthey are redlike crimson,They will be like wool.
But whenhe seeshis children,the workof My hands,in his midst,They will sanctifyMy name;Indeed, they will sanctifythe HolyOneof JacobAnd will standin aweof the Godof Israel.
"Presentyour case,"the LORDsays."Bringforwardyour strong[arguments]," The Kingof Jacobsays.
But the LORDof hostswill be exaltedin judgment,And the holyGodwill showHimself holyin righteousness.
"You are not to say,[It is] a conspiracy!'In regard to allthat thispeoplecalla conspiracy,And you are not to fearwhatthey fearor be in dreadof [it].
But the LORDsaidto Mosesand Aaron,"Becauseyou have not believedMe, to treatMe as holyin the sightof the sonsof Israel,thereforeyou shall not bringthisassemblyinto the landwhichI have giventhem."
for in the wildernessof Zin,during the strifeof the congregation,you rebelledagainstMy commandto treatMe as holybeforetheir eyesat the water."(Theseare the watersof Meribahof Kadeshin the wildernessof Zin.)
But Paulsaid,"I ama Jewof Tarsusin Cilicia,a citizenof noinsignificantcity;and I begyou, allowme to speakto the people."
But as he was discussingrighteousness,self-controland the judgmentto come,Felixbecamefrightenedand said,"Go awayfor the present,and when I findtimeI will summonyou."
ifindeedyou continuein the faithfirmly establishedand steadfast,and not moved awayfrom the hopeof the gospelthat you have heard,which was proclaimedin allcreationunderheaven,and of whichI, Paul,was madea minister.
to whomGodwilledto make knownwhatis the richesof the gloryof thismysteryamongthe Gentiles,whichis Christin you, the hopeof glory.
becauseof the hopelaidup for you in heaven,of whichyou previously heardin the wordof truth,the gospel
Let your speechalwaysbe with grace,[as though] seasonedwith salt,so that you will knowhowyou shouldrespondto eachperson.
in the hopeof eternallife,whichGod,who cannot lie,promisedlong agesago,
but Christ[was faithful] as a SonoverHis house--whosehousewe are, ifwe hold fastour confidenceand the boastof our hopefirmuntilthe end.
Thereforeleavingthe elementaryteachingabout the Christ,let us presson to maturity,not layingagaina foundationof repentancefrom deadworksand of faithtowardGod,
Ifyou addressas Fatherthe One who impartiallyjudgesaccordingto each one'swork,conductyourselves in fearduring the timeof your stay[on earth];
as they observeyour chasteand respectfulbehavior.
but [let it be] the hiddenpersonof the heart,with the imperishable qualityof a gentleand quietspirit,whichis preciousin the sightof God.
"So now,takeyour stand,that I may pleadwith you beforethe LORDconcerningallthe righteousactsof the LORDwhichHe didfor you and your fathers.
