and the Scripturewas fulfilledwhich says,"AND ABRAHAMBELIEVEDGOD,AND IT WAS RECKONEDTO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS,"and he was calledthe friendof God.
Then he believedin the LORD;and He reckonedit to him as righteousness.
and Azariahthe sonof Nathan[was] overthe deputies;and Zabudthe sonof Nathan,a priest,[was] the king'sfriend;
"Did You not, O our God,driveout the inhabitantsof thislandbeforeYour peopleIsraeland giveit to the descendantsof AbrahamYour friendforever?
"O that a manmight pleadwith GodAs a manwith his neighbor!
Thus the LORDused to speakto Mosesfaceto face,justas a manspeaksto his friend.When Moses returnedto the camp,his servantJoshua,the sonof Nun,a youngman,would not departfrom the tent.
"But you, Israel,My servant,JacobwhomI have chosen,Descendantof AbrahamMy friend,
"Have you not evenreadthisScripture:THE STONEWHICHTHE BUILDERSREJECTED,THISBECAMETHE CHIEFCORNER[stone];
They crucifiedtworobberswith Him, oneon His rightand oneon His left.
And He beganto sayto them, "TodaythisScripturehas been fulfilledin your hearing."
"Brethren,the Scripturehadto be fulfilled,whichthe HolySpiritforetoldby the mouthof DavidconcerningJudas,who becamea guideto thosewho arrestedJesus.
Godhas not rejectedHis peoplewhomHe foreknew.Ordo you not knowwhatthe Scripturesaysin [the passage about] Elijah,howhe pleadswith GodagainstIsrael?
For the Scripturesaysto Pharaoh,"FOR THISVERYPURPOSE I RAISEDYOU UP, TO DEMONSTRATEMY POWERIN YOU, AND THAT MY NAMEMIGHT BE PROCLAIMEDTHROUGHOUTTHE WHOLEEARTH."
But the Scripturehas shutup everyoneundersin,sothat the promiseby faithin JesusChristmight be givento thosewho believe.
Even soAbrahamBELIEVEDGOD,AND IT WAS RECKONEDTO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.
AllScriptureis inspired by Godand profitablefor teaching,for reproof,for correction,for trainingin righteousness;
You seethat a manis justifiedby worksand not by faithalone.
For [this] is containedin Scripture:"BEHOLD,I LAYIN ZIONA CHOICESTONE,A PRECIOUSCORNER[stone], AND HE WHO BELIEVESIN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED."
