BUT IN VAINDO THEY WORSHIPME, TEACHINGAS DOCTRINESTHE PRECEPTSOF MEN.'
Then the Lordsaid,"Becausethispeopledrawnearwith their wordsAnd honorMe with their lipservice,But they removetheir heartsfarfrom Me, And their reverencefor Me consistsof traditionlearned[by rote],
"You have said,It is vainto serveGod;and whatprofitis it that we have keptHis charge,and that we have walkedin mourningbeforethe LORDof hosts?
BUT IN VAINDO THEY WORSHIPME, TEACHINGAS DOCTRINESTHE PRECEPTSOF MEN.'"
"And when you are praying,do not use meaningless repetitionas the Gentilesdo, for they supposethat they will be heardfor their many words.
and ifChristhas not been raised,thenour preachingis vain,your faithalsois vain.
Therefore,my belovedbrethren,be steadfast,immovable,alwaysaboundingin the workof the Lord,knowingthat your toilis not [in] vainin the Lord.
"WhateverI commandyou, you shall be carefulto do;you shall not addto nortakeawayfrom it.
(whichall[refer] [to] things destined to perishwith use)--in accordancewith the commandmentsand teachingsof men?
But avoidfoolishcontroversiesand genealogiesand strifeand disputesabout the Law,for they are unprofitableand worthless.
Ifanyonethinkshimself to be religious,and yet does not bridlehis tonguebut deceiveshis [own] heart,this man'sreligionis worthless.
But are you willingto recognize,you foolishfellow,that faithwithoutworksis useless?
I testifyto everyonewho hearsthe wordsof the prophecyof thisbook:ifanyoneaddsto them, Godwill addto him the plagueswhich are writtenin thisbook;
"You must not turnaside,for [then you would go] afterfutilethingswhichcan not profitor deliver,becausethey are futile.
