"Yet they seekMe dayby dayand delightto knowMy ways,As a nationthat has donerighteousnessAnd has not forsakenthe ordinanceof their God.They askMe [for] justdecisions,They delightin the nearnessof God.
I will meditateon Your preceptsAnd regardYour ways.
You are near,O LORD,And allYour commandmentsare truth.
They almostdestroyedme on earth,But as for me, I did not forsakeYour precepts.
The sacrificeof the wickedis an abominationto the LORD,But the prayerof the uprightis His delight.
But transgressorsand sinnerswill be crushedtogether,And those who forsakethe LORDwill cometo an end.
Alas,sinfulnation,Peopleweigheddownwith iniquity,Offspringof evildoers,Sonswho actcorruptly!They have abandonedthe LORD,They have despisedthe HolyOneof Israel,They have turnedawayfrom Him.
Then the Lordsaid,"Becausethispeopledrawnearwith their wordsAnd honorMe with their lipservice,But they removetheir heartsfarfrom Me, And their reverencefor Me consistsof traditionlearned[by rote],
You have seenmanythings,but you do not observe[them]; [Your] earsare open,but nonehears.
"I will declareyour righteousnessand your deeds,But they will not profityou.
"But comehere,you sonsof a sorceress,Offspringof an adultererand a prostitute.
Transgressingand denyingthe LORD,And turningawayfrom our God,Speakingoppressionand revolt,Conceiving[in] and utteringfrom the heartlyingwords.
and saidto Jeremiahthe prophet,"Pleaselet our petitioncomebeforeyou, and prayfor us to the LORDyour God,[that is] for allthisremnant;becausewe are left[but] a fewout of many,as your own eyes[now] seeus,
For you have [only] deceivedyourselves;for it is you who sentme to the LORDyour God,saying,"Prayfor us to the LORDour God;and whateverthe LORDour Godsays,tellus so,and we will doit."
then comeand standbeforeMe in thishouse,whichis calledby My name,and say,'We are delivered!'--that you may doalltheseabominations?
"Will you steal,murder,and commitadulteryand swearfalsely,and offersacrificesto Baaland walkafterothergodsthat you have not known,
"Sonof man,speakto the eldersof Israeland sayto them, 'Thussaysthe LordGOD,"Do you cometo inquireof Me? As I live,"declaresthe LordGOD,"I will not be inquiredof by you."'
Alas,you who are longingfor the dayof the LORD,For whatpurpose[will] the dayof the LORD[be] to you? It [will be] darknessand not light;
They cameand saidto Him, "Teacher,we knowthat You are truthfuland deferto no one;for You are not partialto any,but teachthe wayof Godin truth.Is it lawfulto paya poll-taxto Caesar,ornot?
for Herodwas afraidof John,knowingthat he was a righteousand holyman,and he kept him safe.And when he heardhim, he was veryperplexed;but he used to enjoylisteningto him.
"He was the lampthat was burningand was shiningand you were willingto rejoicefor a whilein his light.
They professto knowGod,but by [their] deedsthey deny[Him], beingdetestableand disobedientand worthlessfor anygooddeed.
Drawnearto Godand He will draw nearto you. Cleanseyour hands,you sinners;and purifyyour hearts,you double-minded.
