and yetHe did not leaveHimselfwithout witness,in that He did goodand gaveyou rainsfrom heavenand fruitfulseasons,satisfyingyour heartswith foodand gladness."
Now it happened[after] manydaysthat the wordof the LORDcameto Elijahin the thirdyear,saying,"Go,showyourself to Ahab,and I will sendrainon the faceof the earth."
"They capturedfortifiedcitiesand a fertileland.They tookpossessionof housesfullof everygoodthing,Hewncisterns,vineyards,olivegroves,Fruittreesin abundance.So they ate,were filledand grewfat,And reveledin Your greatgoodness.
"For by these He judgespeoples;He givesfoodin abundance.
"For to the snowHe says,'Fallon the earth,'And to the downpourand the rain,'Be strong.'
"He givesrainon the earthAnd sendswateron the fields,
The LORDis goodto all,And His merciesare overallHis works.
You have putgladnessin my heart,Morethanwhentheir grainand newwineabound.
Whydo you boastin evil,O mightyman?The lovingkindnessof God[endures] alldaylong.
Instead, there is gaietyand gladness,Killingof cattleand slaughteringof sheep,Eatingof meatand drinkingof wine:"Let us eatand drink,for tomorrowwe may die."
Do you not know?Have you not heard?Has it not been declaredto you from the beginning?Have you not understoodfrom the foundationsof the earth?
"I will layit waste;It will not be prunedor hoed,But briarsand thornswill comeup. I will also chargethe cloudsto rainnorainon it."
Are thereanyamong the idolsof the nationswho giverain?Orcan the heavensgrantshowers?Is it not You, O LORDour God?Therefore we hopein You, For You are the one who has doneallthesethings.
They do not sayin their heart,"Let us nowfearthe LORDour God,Who givesrainin its season,Both the autumnrainand the springrain,Who keepsfor us The appointedweeksof the harvest."
"I will makethem and the placesaroundMy hilla blessing.And I will cause showersto comedownin their season;they will be showersof blessing.
So rejoice,O sonsof Zion,And be gladin the LORDyour God;For He has givenyou the earlyrainfor [your] vindication.And He has poureddownfor you the rain,The earlyand latterrainas before.
then I shall giveyou rainsin their season,so that the landwill yieldits produceand the treesof the fieldwill beartheir fruit.
sothat you may be sonsof your Fatherwhois in heaven;for He causesHis sunto riseon [the] eviland [the] good,and sends rainon [the] righteousand [the] unrighteous.
"But loveyour enemies,and do good,and lend,expectingnothingin return;and your rewardwill be great,and you will be sonsof the Most High;for He Himselfis kindto ungratefuland evil[men].
[Even] sayingthese things,with difficultythey restrainedthe crowdsfrom offering sacrificeto them.
and He madefrom one[man] everynationof mankindto liveon allthe faceof the earth,having determined[their] appointedtimesand the boundariesof their habitation,
that He will givethe rainfor your landin its season,the earlyand laterain,that you may gatherin your grainand your newwineand your oil.
"The LORDwill openfor you His goodstorehouse,the heavens,to giverainto your landin its seasonand to blessallthe workof your hand;and you shall lendto manynations,but you shall not borrow.
Instructthosewho are richin thispresentworldnot to be conceitedorto fix their hopeon the uncertaintyof riches,but on God,who richlysuppliesus with all thingsto enjoy.
