"As I seehim from the topof the rocks,And I lookat him from the hills;Behold,a people[who] dwellsapart,And will not be reckonedamong the nations.
"For they have takensomeof their daughters[as wives] for themselves and for their sons,so that the holyracehas intermingledwith the peoplesof the lands;indeed, the handsof the princesand the rulershave beenforemostin thisunfaithfulness."
Then Hamansaidto KingAhasuerus,"Thereis a certainpeoplescatteredand dispersedamongthe peoplesin allthe provincesof your kingdom;their lawsare differentfrom [those] of all[other] peopleand they do not observethe king'slaws,so it is not in the king'sinterestto let them remain.
"For howthencan it be knownthat I have foundfavorin Your sight,I and Your people?Is it not by Your goingwith us, so that we, I and Your people,may be distinguishedfrom allthe [other] peoplewhoare upon the faceof the earth?"
"O JacobMy servant,do not fear,"declaresthe LORD,"For I am with you. For I will makea fullendof allthe nationsWhereI have drivenyou, Yet I will not makea fullendof you; But I will correctyou properlyAnd by nomeansleaveyou unpunished."
"Arise,goup againsta nationwhich is at ease,Which livessecurely,"declaresthe LORD."It has nogatesor bars;They dwellalone.
"For behold,I am commanding,And I will shakethe houseof Israelamong allnationsAs [grain] is shakenin a sieve,But not a kernelwill fallto the ground.
ShepherdYour peoplewith Your scepter,The flockof Your possessionWhich dwellsby itselfin the woodland,In the midstof a fruitfulfield.Let them feedin Bashanand GileadAs in the daysof old.
"Therefore,COMEOUT FROM THEIR MIDSTAND BE SEPARATE,"saysthe Lord."AND DO NOT TOUCHWHAT IS UNCLEAN;And I will welcomeyou.
"When the MostHighgavethe nationstheir inheritance,When He separatedthe sonsof man,He setthe boundariesof the peoplesAccording to the numberof the sonsof Israel.
"So Israeldwellsin security,The fountainof Jacobsecluded,In a landof grainand newwine;His heavensalsodropdowndew.
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;
