He has toldyou, O man,whatis good;And whatdoes the LORDrequireof you But to dojustice,to lovekindness,And to walkhumblywith your God?
"For I have chosenhim, sothat he may commandhis childrenand his householdafterhim to keepthe wayof the LORDby doingrighteousnessand justice,sothat the LORDmay bringupon AbrahamwhatHe has spokenabouthim."
Then Enochwalkedwith Godthreehundredyearsafterhe becamethe fatherof Methuselah,and he had[other] sonsand daughters.
Neverthelesssomemenof Asher,Manassehand Zebulunhumbledthemselves and cameto Jerusalem.
However, Hezekiahhumbledthe prideof his heart,both he and the inhabitantsof Jerusalem,so that the wrathof the LORDdid not comeon them in the daysof Hezekiah.
His prayeralso and [how God] was entreatedby him, and allhis sin,his unfaithfulness,and the siteson whichhe builthighplacesand erectedthe Asherimand the carvedimages,beforehe humbledhimself, behold,they are writtenin the recordsof the Hozai.
Moreover, he did not humblehimself beforethe LORDas his fatherManassehhad done,but Amonmultipliedguilt.
"Becauseyour heartwas tenderand you humbledyourselfbeforeGodwhen you heardHis wordsagainstthisplaceand againstits inhabitants,and [because] you humbledyourselfbeforeMe, toreyour clothesand weptbeforeMe, I trulyhave heardyou," declaresthe LORD.
"Then You camedownon MountSinai,And spokewith them from heaven;You gavethem justordinancesand true laws,Goodstatutesand commandments.
I will singof lovingkindnessand justice,To You, O LORD,I will singpraises.
Lightarisesin the darknessfor the upright;[He is] graciousand compassionateand righteous.
He has givenfreelyto the poor,His righteousnessenduresforever;His hornwill be exaltedin honor.
Alldaylong he is graciousand lends,And his descendantsare a blessing.
But as for me, the nearnessof Godis my good;I have madethe LordGODmy refuge,That I may tellof allYour works.
To dorighteousnessand justiceIs desiredby the LORDmorethansacrifice.
The conclusion,when allhas been heard,[is]: fearGodand keepHis commandments,becausethis[applies to] everyperson.
Thussaysthe LORD,"Preservejusticeand dorighteousness,For My salvationis aboutto comeAnd My righteousnessto be revealed.
For thussaysthe highand exaltedOne Who livesforever,whose nameis Holy,"I dwell[on] a highand holyplace, And [also] with the contriteand lowlyof spiritIn order to revivethe spiritof the lowlyAnd to revivethe heartof the contrite.
"For My handmadeallthesethings,Thus allthesethingscameinto being,"declaresthe LORD."But to thisoneI will look,To him whois humbleand contriteof spirit,and whotremblesat My word.
"He pledthe causeof the afflictedand needy;Thenit was well.Is not that what it means to knowMe?" Declaresthe LORD.
Thussaysthe LORD,"Dojusticeand righteousness,and deliverthe one who has been robbedfrom the powerof [his] oppressor.Also do not mistreat[or] doviolenceto the stranger,the orphan,or the widow;and do not shedinnocentbloodin thisplace.
Thussaysthe LORD,"Let not a wisemanboastof his wisdom,and let not the mightymanboastof his might,let not a richmanboastof his riches;
[It is] goodthat he waitssilentlyFor the salvationof the LORD.
so that you may rememberand be ashamedand neveropenyour mouthanymorebecauseof your humiliation,when I have forgivenyou for allthat you have done,"the LordGODdeclares.
"But when I sayto the wicked,'You will surelydie,'and he turnsfrom his sinand practicesjusticeand righteousness,
"NowI, Nebuchadnezzar,praise,exaltand honorthe Kingof heaven,for allHis worksare true and His waysjust,and He is ableto humblethose whowalkin pride."
Therefore, returnto your God,Observekindnessand justice,And waitfor your Godcontinually.
For I delightin loyaltyratherthansacrifice,And in the knowledgeof Godratherthanburntofferings.
I alsowas actingwith hostilityagainstthem, to bringthem into the landof their enemies--oriftheir uncircumcisedheartbecomeshumbledso that they thenmakeamendsfor their iniquity,
"But let justicerolldownlike watersAnd righteousnesslike an ever-flowingstream.
The voiceof the LORDwill callto the city--And it is soundwisdomto fearYour name:"Hear,O tribe.Whohas appointedits time?
Seekthe LORD,Allyou humbleof the earthWhohave carriedout His ordinances;Seekrighteousness,seekhumility.Perhapsyou will be hiddenIn the dayof the LORD'Sanger.
"Thushas the LORDof hostssaid,Dispensetrue~justiceand practicekindnessand compassioneachto his brother;
"Blessedare the poorin spirit,for theirsis the kingdomof heaven.
"Blessedare the merciful,for they shall receive mercy.
but [only] onethingis necessary,for Maryhas chosenthe goodpart,whichshall not be taken awayfrom her."
"But woeto you Pharisees!For you pay titheof mintand rueand every[kind of] garden herb,and [yet] disregardjusticeand the loveof God;but these are the thingsyou shouldhave donewithoutneglectingthe others.
But He saidto him, "Man,whoappointedMe a judgeorarbitratoroveryou?"
"Be merciful,justas your Fatheris merciful.
But ifI dothe very thingI do not want[to do], I agreewith the Law, [confessing] that the Lawis good.
On the contrary,whoare you, Oman,who answers backto God?The thing moldedwill not sayto the molder,"Whydid you makeme like this,"will it?
For howdo you know,O wife,whetheryou will saveyour husband?Orhowdo you know,O husband,whetheryou will saveyour wife?
Be kindto one another,tender-hearted,forgivingeach other,justas Godin Christalsohas forgivenyou.
"You shall therefore obeythe LORDyour God,and doHis commandmentsand His statuteswhichI commandyou today."
"See,I have setbeforeyou todaylifeand prosperity,and deathand adversity;
So,as those who have been chosenof God,holyand beloved,puton a heartof compassion,kindness,humility,gentlenessand patience;
Nowmay our LordJesusChristHimselfand Godour Father,who has lovedus and givenus eternalcomfortand goodhopeby grace,
But are you willingto recognize,you foolishfellow,that faithwithoutworksis useless?
"Now,therefore, fearthe LORDand serveHim in sincerityand truth;and putawaythe godswhichyour fathersservedbeyondthe Riverand in Egypt,and servethe LORD.
To sumup, allof you be harmonious,sympathetic,brotherly,kindhearted,and humble in spirit;
"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.
Samuelsaid,"Has the LORDas much delightin burntofferingsand sacrificesAs in obeyingthe voiceof the LORD?Behold,to obeyis betterthansacrifice,[And] to heedthanthe fatof rams.
