But he is a Jewwhois one inwardly;and circumcisionis that which is of the heart,by the Spirit,not by the letter;and his praiseis not from men,but from God.
"Since I know,O my God,that You trythe heartand delightin uprightness,I, in the integrityof my heart,have willinglyofferedallthese[things]; so nowwith joyI have seenYour people,who are presenthere,make[their] offeringswillinglyto You.
The King'sdaughteris allgloriouswithin;Her clothingis interwovenwith gold.
Washyour heartfrom evil,O Jerusalem,That you may be saved.Howlongwill your wickedthoughtsLodgewithinyou?
"Circumciseyourselves to the LORDAnd removethe foreskinsof your heart,Menof Judahand inhabitantsof Jerusalem,OrelseMy wrathwill goforthlike fireAnd burnwith noneto quenchit, Becauseof the evilof your deeds."
"Behold,the daysare coming,"declaresthe LORD,"that I will punishallwho are circumcisedand yet uncircumcised--
But the Lordsaidto him, "Nowyou Phariseescleanthe outsideof the cupand of the platter;but insideof you, you are fullof robberyand wickedness.
norwill they say,'Look,here[it is]!' or,'There[it is]!' For behold,the kingdomof Godis in your midst."
for they lovedthe approvalof menratherthanthe approvalof God.
"But an houris coming,and nowis, whenthe true worshiperswill worshipthe Fatherin spiritand truth;for such peoplethe Fatherseeksto be His worshipers.
"Howcanyou believe,when you receivegloryfrom one anotherand you do not seekthe glorythat is from the [one and] onlyGod?
for the kingdomof Godis not eatingand drinking,but righteousnessand peaceand joyin the HolySpirit.
And he who is physicallyuncircumcised,if he keepsthe Law,will he not judgeyou whothoughhaving the letter[of the Law] and circumcisionare a transgressorof the Law?
Thenwhatadvantagehas the Jew?Orwhatis the benefitof circumcision?
But nowwe have been releasedfrom the Law,having diedto that by whichwe were bound,sothat we servein newnessof the Spiritand not in oldnessof the letter.
Thereforedo not go on passing judgmentbeforethe time,[but wait] untilthe Lordcomeswhowill bothbring to lightthe things hiddenin the darknessand disclosethe motivesof [men's] hearts;and theneach man'spraisewill cometo him from God.
Circumcisionis nothing,and uncircumcisionis nothing,but [what matters is] the keepingof the commandmentsof God.
For it is not he who commendshimselfthat is approved,but he whomthe Lordcommends.
whoalsomade us adequate[as] servantsof a newcovenant,not of the letterbut of the Spirit;for the letterkills,but the Spiritgives life.
"So circumciseyour heart,and stiffenyour necknolonger.
"Moreover the LORDyour Godwill circumciseyour heartand the heartof your descendants,to lovethe LORDyour Godwith allyour heartand with allyour soul,sothat you may live.
for we are the [true] circumcision,who worshipin the Spiritof Godand gloryin ChristJesusand putnoconfidencein the flesh,
but justas we have been approvedby Godto be entrustedwith the gospel,sowe speak,not as pleasingmen,but Godwho examinesour hearts.
but [let it be] the hiddenpersonof the heart,with the imperishable qualityof a gentleand quietspirit,whichis preciousin the sightof God.
But the LORDsaidto Samuel,"Do not lookat his appearanceor at the heightof his stature,becauseI have rejectedhim; for God[sees] not as mansees,for manlooksat the outwardappearance,but the LORDlooksat the heart."
