Pureand undefiledreligionin the sightof [our] Godand Fatheris this:to visitorphansand widowsin their distress,[and] to keeponeselfunstainedby the world.
Aleph. How blessedare those whose wayis blameless,Who walkin the lawof the LORD.
The LORDprotectsthe strangers;He supportsthe fatherlessand the widow,But He thwartsthe wayof the wicked.
A fatherof the fatherlessand a judgefor the widows,Is Godin His holyhabitation.
Your rulersare rebelsAnd companionsof thieves;Everyonelovesa bribeAnd chasesafter rewards.They do not defendthe orphan,Nordoes the widow'spleacomebeforethem.
"Whoeverspeaksa wordagainstthe Sonof Man,it shall be forgivenhim; but whoeverspeaksagainstthe HolySpirit,it shall not be forgivenhim, eitherin thisageorin the [age] to come.
"Blessedare the purein heart,for they shall seeGod.
They were bothrighteousin the sightof God,walkingblamelesslyin allthe commandmentsand requirementsof the Lord.
And do not be conformedto thisworld,but be transformedby the renewingof your mind,sothat you may provewhatthe willof Godis, that which is goodand acceptableand perfect.
for [it is] not the hearersof the Law[who] are justbeforeGod,but the doersof the Lawwill be justified.
who gaveHimselffor our sinssothat He might rescueus from thispresentevilage,accordingto the willof our Godand Father,
Nowthat no oneis justifiedby the LawbeforeGodis evident;for, "THE RIGHTEOUS MANSHALL LIVEBY FAITH."
For in ChristJesusneithercircumcisionnoruncircumcisionmeansanything,but faithworkingthroughlove.
But may it neverbe that I would boast,exceptin the crossof our LordJesusChrist,throughwhichthe worldhas been crucifiedto me, and I to the world.
in whichyou formerlywalkedaccordingto the courseof thisworld,accordingto the princeof the powerof the air,of the spiritthat is nowworkingin the sonsof disobedience.
"The Levite,becausehe hasnoportionor inheritanceamongyou, and the alien,the orphanand the widowwhoare in your town,shall comeand eatand be satisfied,in orderthat the LORDyour Godmay blessyou in allthe workof your handwhichyou do.
But the goalof our instructionis lovefrom a pureheartand a goodconscienceand a sincerefaith.
but ifanywidowhaschildrenorgrandchildren,they must firstlearnto practice pietyin regard to their ownfamilyand to make some returnto their parents;for thisis acceptablein the sightof God.
instructingus to denyungodlinessand worldlydesiresand to livesensibly,righteouslyand godlyin the presentage,
But the wisdomfrom aboveis firstpure,thenpeaceable,gentle,reasonable,fullof mercyand goodfruits,unwavering,without hypocrisy.
With it we bless[our] Lordand Father,and with it we cursemen,who have been madein the likenessof God;
You adulteresses,do you not knowthat friendshipwith the worldis hostilitytoward God?Thereforewhoeverwishesto be a friendof the worldmakeshimself an enemyof God.
For by theseHe has grantedto us His preciousand magnificentpromises,sothat by them you may becomepartakersof [the] divinenature,having escapedthe corruptionthat is in the worldby lust.
For if,after they have escapedthe defilementsof the worldby the knowledgeof the Lordand SaviorJesusChrist,they are againentangledin them and are overcome,the laststate has becomeworsefor them than the first.
Therefore,beloved,since you lookfor these things,be diligentto be foundby Him in peace,spotlessand blameless,
We knowthat noonewho is bornof Godsins;but He who was bornof Godkeepshim, and the evil onedoes not touchhim.
