Drawnearto Godand He will draw nearto you. Cleanseyour hands,you sinners;and purifyyour hearts,you double-minded.
The LORDis nearto allwho callupon Him, To allwhocallupon Him in truth.
let us draw nearwith a sincereheartin full assuranceof faith,having our heartssprinkled[clean] from an evilconscienceand our bodieswashedwith purewater.
"From the daysof your fathersyou have turnedasidefrom My statutesand have not kept[them]. Returnto Me, and I will returnto you," saysthe LORDof hosts."But you say,'Howshall we return?'
"Therefore sayto them, 'Thussaysthe LORDof hosts,"Returnto Me," declaresthe LORDof hosts,"that I may returnto you," saysthe LORDof hosts.
and he wentout to meetAsaand saidto him, "Listento me, Asa,and allJudahand Benjamin:the LORDis with you when you are with Him. And ifyou seekHim, He will let you findHim; but ifyou forsakeHim, He will forsakeyou.
Washyour heartfrom evil,O Jerusalem,That you may be saved.Howlongwill your wickedthoughtsLodgewithinyou?
And everyonewho hasthishope[fixed] on Him purifieshimself,justas He is pure.
Createin me a cleanheart,O God,And renewa steadfastspiritwithinme.
(for the Lawmadenothingperfect),and on the other handthere is a bringingin of a betterhope,throughwhichwe draw nearto God.
Therefore,havingthesepromises,beloved,let us cleanseourselvesfrom alldefilementof fleshand spirit,perfectingholinessin the fearof God.
"Castawayfrom you allyour transgressionswhichyou have committedand makeyourselves a newheartand a newspirit!For whywill you die,O houseof Israel?
But as for me, the nearnessof Godis my good;I have madethe LordGODmy refuge,That I may tellof allYour works.
"As for you, my sonSolomon,knowthe Godof your father,and serveHim with a wholeheartand a willingmind;for the LORDsearchesallhearts,and understandseveryintentof the thoughts.Ifyou seekHim, He will let you findHim; but ifyou forsakeHim, He will rejectyou forever.
Correspondingto that, baptismnowsavesyou-- not the removalof dirtfrom the flesh,but an appealto Godfor a goodconscience--throughthe resurrectionof JesusChrist,
"Nevertheless the righteouswill holdto his way,And he who has cleanhandswill growstrongerand stronger.
"Eithermakethe treegoodand its fruitgood,ormakethe treebadand its fruitbad;for the treeis knownby its fruit.
ThereforeI wantthe menin everyplaceto pray,liftingup holyhands,withoutwrathand dissension.
Then the Lordsaid,"Becausethispeopledrawnearwith their wordsAnd honorMe with their lipservice,But they removetheir heartsfarfrom Me, And their reverencefor Me consistsof traditionlearned[by rote],
He who has cleanhandsand a pureheart,Whohas not liftedup his soulto falsehoodAnd has not sworndeceitfully.
Since you have in obedienceto the truthpurifiedyour soulsfor a sincerelove of the brethren,ferventlyloveone anotherfrom the heart,
The LORDhas rewardedme according to my righteousness;According to the cleannessof my handsHe has recompensedme.
[being] a double-mindedman,unstablein allhis ways.
I shall washmy handsin innocence,And I will goaboutYour altar,O LORD,
and He madenodistinctionbetweenus and them, cleansingtheir heartsby faith.
Abrahamcamenearand said,"Will You indeedsweepawaythe righteouswith the wicked?
Althoughthere is noviolencein my hands,And my prayeris pure.
"Whydo Your disciplesbreak the traditionof the elders?For they do not washtheir handswhenthey eatbread."
In that timeit will be saidto thispeopleand to Jerusalem,"A scorchingwindfrom the bareheightsin the wildernessin the directionof the daughterof My people--not to winnowand not to cleanse,
"IfI should washmyself with snowAnd cleansemy handswith lye,
Anyonewho is foundwill be thrustthrough,And anyonewho is capturedwill fallby the sword.
Surelyin vainI have keptmy heartpureAnd washedmy handsin innocence;
When Pilatesawthat he was accomplishingnothing,but ratherthat a riotwas starting,he tookwaterand washedhis handsin frontof the crowd,saying,"I aminnocentof this Man'sblood;see[to that] yourselves."
And Saulbuiltan altarto the LORD;it was the firstaltarthat he builtto the LORD.
I hatethose whoare double-minded,But I loveYour law.
"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.
But the wisdomfrom aboveis firstpure,thenpeaceable,gentle,reasonable,fullof mercyand goodfruits,unwavering,without hypocrisy.
You drewnearwhenI calledon You; You said,"Do not fear!"
