Abrahamcamenearand said,"Will You indeedsweepawaythe righteouswith the wicked?
But they fellon their facesand said,"O God,Godof the spiritsof allflesh,when onemansins,will You be angrywith the entirecongregation?"
Then Davidspoketo the LORDwhen he sawthe angelwho was strikingdownthe people,and said,"Behold,it is I who have sinned,and it is I who have donewrong;but thesesheep,whathave they done?Pleaselet Your handbe against me and against my father'shouse."
Now Abimelechhad not comenearher; and he said,"Lord,will You slaya nation,even[though] blameless?
let us draw nearwith a sincereheartin full assuranceof faith,having our heartssprinkled[clean] from an evilconscienceand our bodieswashedwith purewater.
"Shall one who hatesjusticerule?And will you condemnthe righteousmightyOne,
"Farbe it from You to dosucha thing,to slaythe righteouswith the wicked,so that the righteousand the wickedare [treated] alike. Farbe it from You! Shall not the Judgeof allthe earthdealjustly?"
Their leadershall be one of them, And their rulershall comeforthfrom their midst;And I will bringhim nearand he shall approachMe; For whowould dareto riskhis lifeto approachMe?' declaresthe LORD.
But as for me, the nearnessof Godis my good;I have madethe LordGODmy refuge,That I may tellof allYour works.
"Does Godpervertjustice?Ordoes the Almightypervertwhatis right?
Elijahwas a manwith a nature likeours,and he prayedearnestlythat it would not rain,and it did not rainon the earthfor threeyearsand sixmonths.
Therefore,confessyour sinsto oneanother,and prayfor one anothersothat you may be healed.The effectiveprayerof a righteous mancanaccomplishmuch.
"Supposethereare fiftyrighteouswithinthe city;will You indeedsweep[it] awayand not sparethe placefor the sakeof the fiftyrighteouswhoare in it?
"Keepfarfrom a false charge,and do not killthe innocentor the righteous,for I will not acquitthe guilty.
