"Listento Me, you who knowrighteousness,A peoplein whose heartis My law;Do not fearthe reproachof man,Norbe dismayedat their revilings.
The lawof his Godis in his heart;His stepsdo not slip.
"Blessedare you when[people] insultyou and persecuteyou, and falselysayall kindsof evilagainstyou becauseof Me.
"And you, sonof man,neitherfearthem norfeartheir words,thoughthistlesand thornsare with you and you siton scorpions;neitherfeartheir wordsnorbe dismayedat their presence,for they are a rebellioushouse.
Ifyou are reviledfor the nameof Christ,you are blessed,becausethe Spiritof gloryand of Godrestson you.
"Listento me, you who pursuerighteousness,Who seekthe LORD:Lookto the rockfrom which you were hewnAnd to the quarryfrom which you were dug.
In [all] this,they are surprisedthat you do not runwith [them] into the sameexcessesof dissipation,and they malign[you];
More thanthat, I countallthingsto be lossin viewof the surpassing valueof knowingChristJesusmy Lord,for whomI have suffered the lossof all things,and countthem but rubbishsothat I may gainChrist,
being manifestedthat you are a letterof Christ,caredfor by us, writtennot with inkbut with the Spiritof the livingGod,not on tabletsof stonebut on tabletsof humanhearts.
Sothey went on their wayfrom the presenceof the Council,rejoicingthat they had been considered worthyto suffershamefor [His] name.
"Now, girdup your loinsand arise,and speakto them allwhichI commandyou. Do not be dismayedbeforethem, orI will dismayyou beforethem.
I delightto doYour will,O my God;Your Lawis withinmy heart."
"THISIS THE COVENANTTHAT I WILL MAKEWITH THEM AFTERTHOSEDAYS,SAYSTHE LORD:I WILL PUTMY LAWSUPON THEIR HEART,AND ON THEIR MINDI WILL WRITETHEM," [He then says],
that I may knowHim and the powerof His resurrectionand the fellowshipof His sufferings,being conformedto His death;
"Blessedare you whenmenhateyou, and ostracizeyou, and insultyou, and scornyour nameas evil,for the sakeof the Sonof Man.
"Do not fearthosewho killthe bodybut are unableto killthe soul;but ratherfearHim who is ableto destroybothsouland bodyin hell.
He will swallowup deathfor alltime,And the LordGODwill wipetearsawayfrom allfaces,And He will removethe reproachof His peoplefrom allthe earth;For the LORDhas spoken.
For the LORDis our judge,The LORDis our lawgiver,The LORDis our king;He will saveus--
"Fearnot, for you will not be putto shame;And do not feelhumiliated,for you will not be disgraced;But you will forgetthe shameof your youth,And the reproachof your widowhoodyou will remembernomore.
"Thesewords,whichI am commandingyou today,shall be on your heart.
Isaiahsaidto them, "Thusyou shall sayto your master,'Thussaysthe LORD,"Do not be afraidbecauseof the wordsthat you have heard,with whichthe servantsof the kingof Assyriahave blasphemedMe.
