Do not be stiff-necked,(A) as your ancestors were; submit to the Lord. Come to his sanctuary, which he has consecrated forever. Serve the Lord your God, so that his fierce anger(B) will turn away from you.

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10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;(A)
    I will be exalted(B) among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth.”

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Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!(A)
    So great is your power
    that your enemies cringe(B) before you.

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18 The Lord is near(A) to all who call on him,(B)
    to all who call on him in truth.

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Israel Unrepentant

“Come, let us return(A) to the Lord.
He has torn us to pieces(B)
    but he will heal us;(C)
he has injured us
    but he will bind up our wounds.(D)
After two days he will revive us;(E)
    on the third day(F) he will restore(G) us,
    that we may live in his presence.

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29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,(A) for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.(B)

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Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.(A)

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11 It is written:

“‘As surely as I live,’(A) says the Lord,
‘every knee will bow before me;
    every tongue will acknowledge God.’”[a](B)

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 14:11 Isaiah 45:23

Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits(A) and live!(B)

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But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt,(A) because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded(B) and unstable(C) in all they do.

Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position.(D) 10 But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower.(E) 11 For the sun rises with scorching heat(F) and withers(G) the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed.(H) In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.

12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial(I) because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life(J) that the Lord has promised to those who love him.(K)

13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own(L) evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin;(M) and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.(N)

16 Don’t be deceived,(O) my dear brothers and sisters.(P) 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above,(Q) coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights,(R) who does not change(S) like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth(T) through the word of truth,(U) that we might be a kind of firstfruits(V) of all he created.

Listening and Doing

19 My dear brothers and sisters,(W) take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak(X) and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger(Y) does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of(Z) all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you,(AA) which can save you.

22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.(AB) 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom,(AC) and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.(AD)

26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues(AE) deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after(AF) orphans and widows(AG) in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.(AH)

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