"Ifyou then,beingevil,know howto givegoodgiftsto your children,how muchmorewill your Fatherwho is in heavengivewhat is goodto thosewho askHim!
Then the LORDsawthat the wickednessof manwas greaton the earth,and that everyintentof the thoughtsof his heartwas onlyevilcontinually.
The LORDsmelledthe soothingaroma;and the LORDsaidto Himself,"I will neveragaincursethe groundon accountof man,for the intentof man'sheartis evilfrom his youth;and I will neveragaindestroyeverylivingthing,as I have done.
"And yetthiswas insignificantin Your eyes,O LordGOD,for You have spokenalsoof the houseof Your servantconcerning the distantfuture.And thisis the customof man,O LordGOD.
Howmuchlessone who is detestableand corrupt,Man,who drinksiniquitylike water!
For the LORDGodis a sunand shield;The LORDgivesgraceand glory;Nogoodthingdoes He withholdfrom those who walkuprightly.
Indeed,the LORDwill givewhatis good,And our landwill yieldits produce.
But You, O Lord,are a Godmercifuland gracious,Slowto angerand abundantin lovingkindnessand truth.
For You, Lord,are good,and readyto forgive,And abundantin lovingkindnessto allwho callupon You.
"Can a womanforgether nursingchildAnd havenocompassionon the sonof her womb?Eventhesemay forget,but I will not forgetyou.
I shall makementionof the lovingkindnessesof the LORD,the praisesof the LORD,Accordingto allthat the LORDhas grantedus, And the greatgoodnesstoward the houseof Israel,WhichHe has grantedthem according to His compassionAnd according to the abundanceof His lovingkindnesses.
"The heartis moredeceitfulthanallelse And is desperatelysick;Whocan understandit?
Behold,daysare coming,'declaresthe LORD,when I will fulfillthe goodwordwhichI have spokenconcerningthe houseof Israeland the houseof Judah.
Takewordswith you and returnto the LORD.Sayto Him, "Takeaway alliniquityAnd receive[us] graciously,That we may presentthe fruitof our lips.
Whois a GodlikeYou, who pardonsiniquityAnd passesoverthe rebelliousactof the remnantof His possession?He does not retainHis angerforever,BecauseHe delightsin unchanginglove.
"'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?'
"Do not call[anyone] on earthyour father;for Oneis your Father,He who is in heaven.
"Orifhe asksfor a fish,he will not givehim a snake,will he?
"For Godsolovedthe world,that He gaveHis only begottenSon,that whoeverbelievesin Him shall not perish,but haveeternallife.
Nowwe knowthat whateverthe Lawsays,it speaksto thosewho are underthe Law,sothat everymouthmay be closedand allthe worldmay becomeaccountableto God;
Whatthen?Are we betterthan they? Not at all;for we have already chargedthat bothJewsand Greeksare allundersin;
He whodid not spareHis ownSon,but deliveredHim over for us all,howwill He not alsowith Him freely giveus all things?
But the Scripturehas shutup everyoneundersin,sothat the promiseby faithin JesusChristmight be givento thosewho believe.
Everygoodthing givenand everyperfectgiftis from above,coming downfrom the Fatherof lights,with whomthereis novariationorshiftingshadow.
Seehow greata lovethe Fatherhas bestowedon us, that we would be calledchildrenof God;and [such] we are. For thisreasonthe worlddoes not knowus, becauseit did not knowHim.
In thisis love,not that we lovedGod,but that He lovedus and sentHis Son[to be] the propitiationfor our sins.
