All whoare underthe yokeas slavesare to regardtheir ownmastersas worthyof allhonorsothat the nameof Godand [our] doctrinewill not be spoken against.
Then the angelof the LORDsaidto her, "Returnto your mistress,and submityourself to her authority."
He said,"O LORD,the Godof my masterAbraham,pleasegrantme successtoday,and showlovingkindnessto my masterAbraham.
Abrahamsaidto his servant,the oldestof his household,who hadchargeof allthat he owned, "Pleaseplaceyour handundermy thigh,
He said,"Blessedbe the LORD,the Godof my masterAbraham,whohas not forsakenHis lovingkindnessand His truthtowardmy master;as for me, the LORDhas guidedme in the wayto the houseof my master'sbrothers."
"However,becauseby thisdeedyou have givenoccasion to the enemiesof the LORDto blaspheme,the childalsothat is bornto you shall surelydie."
Then his servantscamenearand spoketo him and said,"My father,had the prophettoldyou [to do some] greatthing,would you not have done[it]? Howmuchmore[then], whenhe saysto you, 'Wash,and be clean'?"
Then the Levites,Jeshua,Kadmiel,Bani,Hashabneiah,Sherebiah,Hodiah,Shebaniah[and] Pethahiah,said,"Arise,blessthe LORDyour Godforeverand ever!O may Your gloriousnamebe blessedAnd exaltedaboveallblessingand praise!
"I was angrywith My people,I profanedMy heritageAnd gavethem into your hand.You did not showmercyto them, On the agedyou madeyour yokeveryheavy.
"Nowtherefore, whatdo I have here,"declaresthe LORD,"seeing that My peoplehave been takenaway withoutcause?"[Again] the LORDdeclares,"Those who ruleover them howl,and My nameis continuallyblasphemedalldaylong.
"Is thisnot the fastwhich I choose,To loosenthe bondsof wickedness,To undothe bandsof the yoke,And to letthe oppressedgofreeAnd breakeveryyoke?
"When they cameto the nationswherethey went,they profanedMy holyname,because it was saidof them, 'Theseare the peopleof the LORD;yet they have comeout of His land.'
"I will vindicatethe holinessof My greatnamewhich has been profanedamong the nations,whichyou have profanedin their midst.Then the nationswill knowthat I am the LORD,"declaresthe LordGOD,"when I proveMyself holyamong you in their sight.
"'A sonhonors[his] father,and a servanthis master.Then ifI am a father,whereis My honor?And ifI am a master,whereis My respect?'saysthe LORDof hoststo you, O priestswho despiseMy name.But you say,'Howhave we despisedYour name?'
"For My yokeis easyand My burdenis light."
"But whatdid you goout to see?A prophet?Yes,I tellyou, and one who is morethan a prophet.
He saidto His disciples,"It is inevitablethat stumbling blockscome,but woeto him throughwhomthey come!
They said,"Cornelius,a centurion,a righteousand God-fearingmanwell spokenof by the entirenationof the Jews,was [divinely] directedby a holyangelto sendfor you [to come] to his houseand heara messagefrom you."
Whenthe angelwho was speakingto him had left,he summonedtwoof his servantsand a devoutsoldierof thosewho were his personal attendants,
"Nowthereforewhydo you putGodto the testby placingupon the neckof the disciplesa yokewhichneitherour fathersnorwe have been ableto bear?
For "THE NAMEOF GODIS BLASPHEMEDAMONGTHE GENTILESBECAUSEOF YOU," justas it is written.
Giveno offenseeitherto Jewsorto Greeksorto the churchof God;
It was for freedomthat Christset us free;thereforekeep standing firmand do not be subjectagainto a yokeof slavery.
therefore you shall serveyour enemieswhomthe LORDwill sendagainst you, in hunger,in thirst,in nakedness,and in the lackof allthings;and He will putan ironyokeon your neckuntilHe has destroyedyou.
Therefore,I wantyounger[widows] to get married,bear children,keep house,[and] givethe enemynooccasionfor reproach;
[to be] sensible,pure,workers at home,kind,being subjectto their ownhusbands,sothat the wordof Godwill not be dishonored.
Keepyour behaviorexcellentamongthe Gentiles,sothat in the thing in whichthey slanderyou as evildoers,they may becauseof your gooddeeds,as they observe[them], glorifyGodin the dayof visitation.
and keepa goodconsciencesothat in the thing in whichyou are slandered,thosewho revileyour goodbehaviorin Christwill be put to shame.
