It is by his deedsthat a laddistinguisheshimself Ifhis conductis pureand right.
For in the eighthyearof his reignwhile he was stilla youth,he beganto seekthe Godof his fatherDavid;and in the twelfthyearhe beganto purgeJudahand Jerusalemof the highplaces,the Asherim,the carvedimagesand the moltenimages.
Behold,I was broughtforthin iniquity,And in sinmy motherconceivedme.
The wickedare estrangedfrom the womb;These who speakliesgoastrayfrom birth.
The hearingearand the seeingeye,The LORDhas madebothof them.
The wayof a guiltymanis crooked,But as for the pure,his conductis upright.
Foolishnessis boundup in the heartof a child;The rodof disciplinewill removeit farfrom him.
"You will knowthem by their fruits.Grapesare not gatheredfrom thorn[bushes] norfigsfrom thistles,are they?
"For he will be greatin the sightof the Lord;and he will drinknowineorliquor,and he will be filledwith the HolySpiritwhile yetin his mother'swomb.
Allwho heardthem keptthem in mind,saying,"Whatthenwill thischild[turn out to] be?" For the handof the Lordwas certainlywith him.
