"They will be Mine," saysthe LORDof hosts,"on the daythat I prepare[My] own possession,and I will sparethem as a manspareshis own sonwho serveshim."
And I commandedthe Levitesthat they should purifythemselves and comeas gatekeepersto sanctifythe sabbathday.[For] thisalsorememberme, O my God,and havecompassionon me according to the greatnessof Your lovingkindness.
He will blessthose who fearthe LORD,The smalltogetherwith the great.
For the LORDhas chosenJacobfor Himself, Israelfor His own possession.
Nowthen, ifyou will indeedobeyMy voiceand keepMy covenant,then you shall be My own possessionamongallthe peoples,for allthe earthis Mine;
"But now,ifYou will, forgivetheir sin--and ifnot, pleaseblotme out from Your bookwhichYou have written!"
"My belovedis mine, and I am his; He pastures[his flock] among the lilies.
In that daythe Branchof the LORDwill be beautifuland glorious,and the fruitof the earth[will be] the prideand the adornmentof the survivorsof Israel.
But now,thussaysthe LORD,your Creator,O Jacob,And He who formedyou, O Israel,"Do not fear,for I have redeemedyou; I have calledyou by name;you are Mine!
"The peoplewhomI formedfor Myself Will declareMy praise.
"Is EphraimMy dearson?Is he a delightfulchild?Indeed,as oftenas I have spokenagainst him, I certainly[still] rememberhim; ThereforeMy heartyearnsfor him; I will surelyhavemercyon him," declaresthe LORD.
"But thisis the covenantwhichI will makewith the houseof Israelafterthosedays,"declaresthe LORD,"I will putMy lawwithinthem and on their heartI will writeit; and I will be their God,and they shall be My people.
"Then I passedby you and sawyou, and behold,you were at the timefor love;so I spreadMy skirtoveryou and coveredyour nakedness.I also sworeto you and enteredinto a covenantwith you so that you becameMine," declaresthe LordGOD.
Beforethe decreetakeseffect--The daypasseslike the chaff--Beforethe burningangerof the LORDcomesupon you, Beforethe dayof the LORD'Sangercomesupon you.
"And I will bringthe thirdpartthrough the fire,Refinethem as silveris refined,And testthem as goldis tested.They will callon My name,And I will answerthem; I will say,They are My people,'And they will say,'The LORDis my God.'"
"'A sonhonors[his] father,and a servanthis master.Then ifI am a father,whereis My honor?And ifI am a master,whereis My respect?'saysthe LORDof hoststo you, O priestswho despiseMy name.But you say,'Howhave we despisedYour name?'
"You will treaddownthe wicked,for they will be ashesunderthe solesof your feeton the daywhichI am preparing,"saysthe LORDof hosts.
"Thenthe Kingwill sayto thoseon His right,'Come,you who are blessedof My Father,inheritthe kingdompreparedfor you from the foundationof the world.
"Father,I desirethat they also,whomYou have givenMe, be with Me whereI am,sothat they may seeMy glorywhichYou have givenMe, for You lovedMe beforethe foundationof the world.
He whodid not spareHis ownSon,but deliveredHim over for us all,howwill He not alsowith Him freely giveus all things?
But eachin his ownorder:Christthe first fruits,afterthat thosewhoare Christ'sat His coming,
For you have been boughtwith a price:thereforeglorifyGodin your body.
"And I will be a fatherto you, And you shall be sonsand daughtersto Me," Saysthe LordAlmighty.
Nowthosewho belong to ChristJesushave crucifiedthe fleshwith its passionsand desires.
"For you are a holypeopleto the LORDyour God,and the LORDhas chosenyou to be a peoplefor His own possessionout of allthe peopleswhoare on the faceof the earth.
"For you are a holypeopleto the LORDyour God;the LORDyour Godhas chosenyou to be a peoplefor His own possessionout of allthe peopleswhoare on the faceof the earth.
whogaveHimselffor us to redeemus from everylawless deed,and to purifyfor Himselfa peoplefor His ownpossession,zealousfor gooddeeds.
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;
