Furthermore,we hadearthlyfathersto disciplineus, and we respectedthem; shall we not muchratherbe subjectto the Fatherof spirits,and live?
In whosehandis the lifeof everylivingthing,And the breathof allmankind?
"Honoryour fatherand your mother,that your daysmay be prolongedin the landwhichthe LORDyour Godgivesyou.
The eyethat mocksa fatherAnd scornsa mother,The ravensof the valleywill pickit out, And the youngeagleswill eatit.
then the dustwill returnto the earthas it was, and the spiritwill returnto Godwhogaveit.
"O Lord,by [these] things [men] live,And in allthese is the lifeof my spirit;O restoreme to healthand let me live!
ThussaysGodthe LORD,Who createdthe heavensand stretchedthem out, Who spreadout the earthand its offspring,Who givesbreathto the peopleon it And spiritto those who walkin it,
"Woeto him who saysto a father,'Whatare you begetting?'Or to a woman,'To whatare you givingbirth?'"
"For I will not contendforever,Norwill I alwaysbe angry;For the spiritwould growfaintbeforeMe, And the breath[of those whom] I have made.
"They have treatedfatherand motherlightlywithin you. The alienthey have oppressedin your midst;the fatherlessand the widowthey have wrongedin you.
Everyoneof you shall reverencehis motherand his father,and you shall keepMy sabbaths;I am the LORDyour God.
The burdenof the wordof the LORDconcerningIsrael.[Thus] declaresthe LORDwho stretchesout the heavens,laysthe foundationof the earth,and formsthe spiritof manwithinhim,
"'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?'
But they fellon their facesand said,"O God,Godof the spiritsof allflesh,when onemansins,will You be angrywith the entirecongregation?"
"May the LORD,the Godof the spiritsof allflesh,appointa manoverthe congregation,
saying,"In a certaincitytherewas a judgewho did not fearGodand did not respectman.
"For a whilehe was unwilling;but afterwardhe saidto himself,'EventhoughI do not fearGodnorrespectman,
"That which is bornof the fleshis flesh,and that which is bornof the Spiritis spirit.
"And so,because he was a prophetand knewthat GODHAD SWORNTO HIM WITH AN OATHTO SEAT[one] OF HIS DESCENDANTSON HIS THRONE,
concerningHis Son,who was bornof a descendantof Davidaccordingto the flesh,
For I could wishthat I myselfwere accursed,[separated] from Christfor the sakeof my brethren,my kinsmenaccordingto the flesh,
whoseare the fathers,and from whomis the Christaccordingto the flesh,who is overall,Godblessedforever.Amen.
Cursedis he who dishonorshis fatheror mother.'And allthe peopleshall say,'Amen.'
Humbleyourselves in the presenceof the Lord,and He will exaltyou.
Submitthereforeto God.Resistthe deviland he will fleefrom you.
Thereforehumbleyourselves underthe mightyhandof God,that He may exaltyou at the proper time,
And he saidto me, "Thesewordsare faithfuland true";and the Lord,the Godof the spiritsof the prophets,sentHis angelto showto His bond-servantsthe things whichmustsoontake place.
