Whoeveris wise,let him understandthesethings;[Whoever] is discerning,let him knowthem. For the waysof the LORDare right,And the righteouswill walkin them, But transgressorswill stumblein them.
"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?"
"Nevertheless the righteouswill holdto his way,And he who has cleanhandswill growstrongerand stronger.
Whois wise?Let him giveheedto thesethings,And considerthe lovingkindnessesof the LORD.
ThereforeI esteemrightall[Your] preceptsconcerning everything,I hateeveryfalse~way.Pe.
I know,O LORD,that Your judgmentsare righteous,And that in faithfulnessYou have afflictedme.
How blessedis the manwhose strengthis in You, In whose heartare the highways[to Zion]!
They gofrom strengthto strength,[Every one of them] appearsbeforeGodin Zion.
The wayof the LORDis a strongholdto the upright,But ruinto the workersof iniquity.
The wisein heartwill be calledunderstanding,And sweetnessof speechincreasespersuasiveness.
But the pathof the righteousis like the lightof dawn,That shinesbrighterand brighteruntilthe fullday.
But transgressorsand sinnerswill be crushedtogether,And those who forsakethe LORDwill cometo an end.
He will not haveregardfor the altars,the workof his hands,Norwill he lookto that whichhis fingershave made,Even the Asherimand incensestands.
The wayof the righteousis smooth;O UprightOne,makethe pathof the righteouslevel.
Then you will callupon Me and comeand prayto Me, and I will listento you.
Whois the wisemanthat may understandthis?And [who is] he to whomthe mouthof the LORDhas spoken,that he may declareit? Whyis the landruined,laidwastelike a desert,sothat noonepassesthrough?
"When they comethere,they will removeallits detestablethingsand allits abominationsfrom it.
"Yet you say,The wayof the Lordis not right.'Hearnow,O houseof Israel!Is My waynot right?Is it not your waysthat are not right?
"Then I will sprinklecleanwateron you, and you will be clean;I will cleanseyou from allyour filthinessand from allyour idols.
"Manywill be purged,purifiedand refined,but the wickedwill actwickedly;and noneof the wickedwill understand,but those who haveinsightwill understand.
The LORDis righteouswithinher; He will donoinjustice.EverymorningHe bringsHis justiceto light;He does not fail.But the unjustknowsnoshame.
"I will strengthenthe houseof Judah,And I will savethe houseof Joseph,And I will bringthem back,BecauseI havehadcompassionon them; And they will be as thoughI had not rejectedthem, For I am the LORDtheir Godand I will answerthem.
"The Sonof Mancameeatingand drinking,and they say,'Behold,a gluttonousmanand a drunkard,a friendof tax collectorsand sinners!'Yetwisdomis vindicatedby her deeds."
And Simeonblessedthem and saidto MaryHis mother,"Behold,this[Child] is appointedfor the falland riseof manyin Israel,and for a signto be opposed--
"Blessedis he whodoes not takeoffense at Me."
"IfI had not doneamongthem the workswhichno oneelsedid,they would not havesin;but nowthey have bothseenand hatedMe and My Fatheras well.
ThereforePilatesaidto Him, "SoYou are a king?"Jesusanswered,"You say[correctly] that I ama king.For thisI have been born,and for thisI have comeinto the world,to testifyto the truth.Everyonewho is of the truthhearsMy voice."
"He who is of Godhearsthe wordsof God;for thisreasonyou do not hear[them], becauseyou are not of God."
And Jesussaid,"For judgmentI cameinto thisworld,sothat thosewho do not seemay see,and that thosewho seemay becomeblind."
and said,"You who are fullof alldeceitand fraud,you sonof the devil,you enemyof allrighteousness,will you not ceaseto make crookedthe straightwaysof the Lord?
So then,the Lawis holy,and the commandmentis holyand righteousand good.
"The Rock!His workis perfect,For allHis waysare just;A Godof faithfulnessand withoutinjustice,Righteousand uprightis He.
And they sangthe songof Moses,the bond-servantof God,and the songof the Lamb,saying,"Greatand marvelousare Your works,O LordGod,the Almighty;Righteousand true are Your ways,Kingof the nations!
