"Farbe it from us that we should rebelagainst the LORDand turnawayfrom followingthe LORDthis day,by buildingan altarfor burntoffering,for grain offeringor for sacrifice,besidesthe altarof the LORDour Godwhichis beforeHis tabernacle."
But he said,"Farbe it from me to dothis.The manin whosepossessionthe cuphas been found,he shall be my slave;but as for you, goup in peaceto your father."
They saidto him, "Whydoes my lordspeaksuch wordsas these?Farbe it from your servantsto dosucha thing.
But Nabothsaidto Ahab,"The LORDforbidme that I should giveyou the inheritanceof my fathers."
"But ifyou sayto me, 'We trustin the LORDour God,'is it not He whosehighplacesand whose altarsHezekiahhas takenaway,and has saidto Judahand to Jerusalem,'You shall worshipbeforethisaltarin Jerusalem'?
Has not the sameHezekiahtakenawayHis highplacesand His altars,and saidto Judahand Jerusalem,"You shall worshipbeforeonealtar,and on it you shall burnincense"?
May it neverbe! For otherwise,howwill Godjudgethe world?
May it neverbe! Howshall we whodiedto sinstilllivein it?
Whatshall we saythen?There is noinjusticewith God,is there? May it neverbe!
then it shall comeabout that the placein whichthe LORDyour Godwill choosefor His nameto dwell,thereyou shall bringallthat I commandyou: your burntofferingsand your sacrifices,your tithesand the contributionof your hand,and allyour choicevotiveofferingswhichyou will vowto the LORD.
"If we have builtus an altarto turnawayfrom followingthe LORD,or ifto offera burntofferingor grain offeringon it, or ifto offersacrificesof peaceofferingson it, may the LORDHimselfrequireit.
"Therefore we said,Let us buildan altar,not for burntofferingor for sacrifice;
"Therefore we said,'It shall also comeabout ifthey say[this] to us or to our generationsin timeto come,then we shall say,"Seethe copyof the altarof the LORDwhichour fathersmade,not for burntofferingor for sacrifice;ratherit is a witnessbetweenus and you."'
So when Phinehasthe priestand the leadersof the congregation,even the headsof the familiesof Israelwho[were] with him, heardthe wordswhichthe sonsof Reubenand the sonsof Gadand the sonsof Manassehspoke,it pleasedthem.
The peopleansweredand said,"Farbe it from us that we should forsakethe LORDto serveothergods;
"Moreover,as for me, farbe it from me that I should sinagainst the LORDby ceasingto prayfor you; but I will instructyou in the goodand rightway.
