"But an houris coming,and nowis, whenthe true worshiperswill worshipthe Fatherin spiritand truth;for such peoplethe Fatherseeksto be His worshipers.
"Since I know,O my God,that You trythe heartand delightin uprightness,I, in the integrityof my heart,have willinglyofferedallthese[things]; so nowwith joyI have seenYour people,who are presenthere,make[their] offeringswillinglyto You.
The LORDfavorsthose who fearHim, Those who waitfor His lovingkindness.
Heara justcause,O LORD,giveheedto my cry;Giveearto my prayer,which is not from deceitfullips.
How blessedis the manto whom the LORDdoes not imputeiniquity,And in whose spiritthereis nodeceit!
Behold,You desiretruthin the innermostbeing,And in the hiddenpartYou will make me knowwisdom.
The sacrificeof the wickedis an abominationto the LORD,But the prayerof the uprightis His delight.
"O my dove,in the cleftsof the rock,In the secretplaceof the steeppathway,Let me seeyour form,Let me hearyour voice;For your voiceis sweet,And your formis lovely."
Now in that daythe remnantof Israel,and those of the houseof Jacobwhohave escaped,will neveragainrelyon the one who struckthem, but will trulyrelyon the LORD,the HolyOneof Israel.
Then the Lordsaid,"Becausethispeopledrawnearwith their wordsAnd honorMe with their lipservice,But they removetheir heartsfarfrom Me, And their reverencefor Me consistsof traditionlearned[by rote],
"The peoplewhomI formedfor Myself Will declareMy praise.
"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.
"Yetin spite of allthisher treacheroussisterJudahdid not returnto Me with allher heart,but ratherin deception,"declaresthe LORD.
And you will swear,'As the LORDlives,'In truth,in justiceand in righteousness;Then the nationswill blessthemselves in Him, And in Him they will glory."
"I searchedfor a manamongthem who would buildup the walland standin the gapbeforeMe for the land,sothat I would not destroyit; but I foundnoone.
For the Lawwas giventhroughMoses;graceand truthwere realizedthroughJesusChrist.
And Jesusansweredthem, saying,"The hourhas comefor the Sonof Manto be glorified.
"They will makeyou outcasts from the synagogue,but an houris comingfor everyonewho killsyou to thinkthat he is offeringserviceto God.
"Behold,an houris coming,and has [already] come,for you to be scattered,eachto his own[home], and to leaveMe alone;and [yet] I amnot alone,becausethe Fatheris with Me.
Jesussaidto her, "Woman,believeMe, an houris comingwhenneitherin thismountainnorin Jerusalemwill you worshipthe Father.
"Truly,truly,I sayto you, an houris comingand nowis, whenthe deadwill hearthe voiceof the Sonof God,and thosewho hearwill live.
"Do not marvelat this;for an houris coming,in whichallwhoare in the tombswill hearHis voice,
For God,whomI servein my spiritin the [preaching of the] gospelof His Son,is my witness[as to] howunceasinglyI makementionof you,
For you have not receiveda spiritof slaveryleadingto fearagain,but you have receiveda spiritof adoption as sonsby whichwe cryout, "Abba!Father!"
In the same waythe Spiritalsohelpsour weakness;for we do not knowhowto prayas we should,but the SpiritHimselfintercedesfor [us] with groaningstoo deep for words;
Becauseyou are sons,Godhas sent forththe Spiritof His Soninto our hearts,crying,"Abba!Father!"
With allprayerand petitionprayat alltimesin the Spirit,and with thisin view,be on the alertwith allperseveranceand petitionfor allthe saints,
for we are the [true] circumcision,who worshipin the Spiritof Godand gloryin ChristJesusand putnoconfidencein the flesh,
"Now,therefore, fearthe LORDand serveHim in sincerityand truth;and putawaythe godswhichyour fathersservedbeyondthe Riverand in Egypt,and servethe LORD.
But you are A CHOSENRACE,A royalPRIESTHOOD,A HOLYNATION,A PEOPLEFOR [God's] OWN POSSESSION,sothat you may proclaimthe excellenciesof Him who has calledyou out of darknessinto His marvelouslight;
"Onlyfearthe LORDand serveHim in truthwith allyour heart;for considerwhatgreatthingsHe has donefor you.
