for it is Godwho is at workin you, bothto willand to workfor [His] good pleasure.
that He may inclineour heartsto Himself, to walkin allHis waysand to keepHis commandmentsand His statutesand His ordinances,whichHe commandedour fathers.
The handof Godwas alsoon Judahto givethem oneheartto dowhatthe kingand the princescommandedby the wordof the LORD.
Now in the firstyearof Cyruskingof Persia,in order to fulfillthe wordof the LORDby the mouthof Jeremiah,the LORDstirredup the spiritof Cyruskingof Persia,so that he senta proclamationthroughout allhis kingdom,and also[put it] in writing,saying:
Then the headsof fathers'[households] of Judahand Benjaminand the priestsand the Levitesarose,even everyonewhose spiritGodhad stirredto goup and rebuildthe houseof the LORDwhichis in Jerusalem.
Blessedbe the LORD,the Godof our fathers,whohas put[such a thing] as thisin the king'sheart,to adornthe houseof the LORDwhichis in Jerusalem,
Then the kingsaidto me, "Whatwould you request?"So I prayedto the Godof heaven.
"Behold,Goddoesalltheseoftentimeswith men,
Your peoplewill volunteerfreelyin the dayof Your power;In holyarray,from the wombof the dawn,Your youthare to You [as] the dew.
Inclinemy heartto Your testimoniesAnd not to [dishonest] gain.
Do not inclinemy heartto any evilthing,To practicedeedsof wickednessWith menwho doiniquity;And do not let me eatof their delicacies.
The king'sheartis [like] channelsof waterin the handof the LORD;He turnsit whereverHe wishes.
LORD,You will establishpeacefor us, SinceYou have alsoperformedfor us allour works.
"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.
"They shall be My people,and I will be their God;
"Do not be afraid,littleflock,for your Fatherhas chosen gladlyto giveyou the kingdom.
"Gloryto Godin the highest,And on earthpeaceamongmenwith whom He is pleased."
Johnansweredand said,"A mancanreceivenothingunlessit has beengivenhim from heaven.
"It is writtenin the prophets,AND THEY SHALL ALLBE TAUGHTOF GOD.'Everyonewho has heardand learnedfrom the Father,comesto Me.
And He was saying,"For thisreasonI have saidto you, that no onecancometo Me unlessit has beengrantedhim from the Father."
And the handof the Lordwas with them, and a largenumberwho believedturnedto the Lord.
For throughthe gracegivento me I sayto everyoneamongyou not to think more highlyof himself thanhe oughtto think;but to thinksoas to have sound judgment,as Godhas allottedto eacha measureof faith.
for though [the twins] were not yetbornand had not doneanythinggoodorbad,sothat God'spurposeaccordingto [His] choicewould stand,not becauseof worksbut becauseof Him who calls,
So thenit [does] not [depend] on the man who willsorthe man who runs,but on Godwho has mercy.
There are varietiesof effects,but the sameGodwho worksallthings in all[persons].
But by the graceof GodI amwhatI am,and His gracetowardme did not provevain;but I laboredeven morethan allof them, yetnot I, but the graceof Godwith me.
Not that we are adequatein ourselvesto consideranythingas [coming] from ourselves,but our adequacyis from God,
alsowe have obtained an inheritance,having been predestinedaccordingto His purposewho worksall thingsafterthe counselof His will,
He predestinedus to adoption as sonsthroughJesusChristto Himself,accordingto the kind intentionof His will,
He made knownto us the mysteryof His will, accordingto His kind intentionwhichHe purposedin Him
For by graceyou have been savedthroughfaith;and that not of yourselves,[it is] the giftof God;
To thisendalsowe prayfor you always,that our Godwill count you worthyof your calling,and fulfilleverydesirefor goodnessand the workof faithwith power,
who has savedus and calledus with a holycalling,not accordingto our works,but accordingto His ownpurposeand gracewhich was grantedus in ChristJesusfrom alleternity,
equipyou in everygood thingto doHis will,workingin us that which is pleasingin His sight,throughJesusChrist,to whom[be] the gloryforeverand ever.Amen.
Blessedbe the Godand Fatherof our LordJesusChrist,who accordingto His greatmercyhas caused us to be born againto a livinghopethroughthe resurrectionof JesusChristfrom the dead,
