The LORDteststhe righteousand the wicked,And the one who lovesviolenceHis soulhates.
Now it cameabout afterthesethings,that GodtestedAbraham,and saidto him, "Abraham!"And he said,"HereI am."
For the wickedboastsof his heart'sdesire,And the greedymancurses[and] spurnsthe LORD.
O LORD,You have searchedme and known[me].
You have triedmy heart;You have visited[me] by night;You have testedme and You findnothing;I have purposedthat my mouthwill not transgress.
Your handwill findout allyour enemies;Your righthandwill findout those who hateyou.
Examineme, O LORD,and tryme; Testmy mindand my heart.
You destroythose who speakfalsehood;The LORDabhorsthe manof bloodshedand deceit.
Olet the evilof the wickedcometo an end,but establishthe righteous;For the righteousGodtriesthe heartsand minds.
"My inheritancehas becometo Me Like a lionin the forest;She has roaredagainstMe; ThereforeI have come to hateher.
Yet, O LORDof hosts,You who testthe righteous,Who seethe mindand the heart;Let me seeYour vengeanceon them; For to You I have setforthmy cause.
Then I annihilatedthe threeshepherdsin onemonth,for my soulwas impatientwith them, and their soulalsowas wearyof me.
"And I will bringthe thirdpartthrough the fire,Refinethem as silveris refined,And testthem as goldis tested.They will callon My name,And I will answerthem; I will say,They are My people,'And they will say,'The LORDis my God.'"
"He will sitas a smelterand purifierof silver,and He will purifythe sonsof Leviand refinethem like goldand silver,so that they may presentto the LORDofferingsin righteousness.
Blessedis a manwhoperseveresunder trial;for once he has beenapproved,he will receivethe crownof lifewhich[the Lord] has promisedto thosewho loveHim.
sothat the proofof your faith,[being] more preciousthan goldwhich is perishable,even thoughtestedby fire,may be foundto resultin praiseand gloryand honorat the revelationof JesusChrist;
Beloved,do not be surprisedat the fiery ordealamongyou, which comesupon you for your testing,as thoughsome strange thingwere happeningto you;
