Heathen Idols Contrasted with the Lord.

115 (A)Not to us, O Lord, not to us,
But (B)to Your name give glory
Because of Your lovingkindness, because of Your [a]truth.
(C)Why should the nations say,
(D)Where, now, is their God?”
But our (E)God is in the heavens;
He (F)does whatever He pleases.
Their (G)idols are silver and gold,
The (H)work of man’s hands.
They have mouths, but they (I)cannot speak;
They have eyes, but they cannot see;
They have ears, but they cannot hear;
They have noses, but they cannot smell;
[b]They have hands, but they cannot feel;
[c]They have feet, but they cannot walk;
They cannot make a sound with their throat.
(J)Those who make them [d]will become like them,
Everyone who trusts in them.

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 115:1 Or faithfulness
  2. Psalm 115:7 Lit Their hands
  3. Psalm 115:7 Lit Their feet
  4. Psalm 115:8 Or are like them

17 (A)For the Lord your God is the God of gods and the (B)Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God (C)who does not show partiality nor (D)take a bribe. 18 He executes justice for (E)the orphan and the widow, and shows His love for the alien by giving him food and clothing. 19 (F)So show your love for the alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt. 20 You shall fear the Lord your God; you shall serve Him and (G)cling to Him, and (H)you shall swear by His name. 21 He is (I)your praise and He is your God, who has done these great and awesome things for you which your eyes have seen. 22 (J)Your fathers went down to Egypt seventy persons in all, (K)and now the Lord your God has made you as numerous as the stars of heaven.

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The Psalmist’s Profession of Uprightness.

A Psalm of David.

101 I will (A)sing of lovingkindness and [a]justice,
To You, O Lord, I will sing praises.

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 101:1 Or judgment

God Has Had Enough

10 Hear (A)the word of the Lord,
You rulers of (B)Sodom;
Give ear to the instruction of our God,
You people of Gomorrah.
11 (C)What are your multiplied sacrifices to Me?”
Says the Lord.
“I [a]have had enough of burnt offerings of rams
And the fat of fed cattle;
And I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls, lambs or goats.
12 “When you come (D)to appear before Me,
Who requires [b]of you this trampling of My courts?
13 “Bring your worthless offerings no longer,
(E)Incense is an abomination to Me.
(F)New moon and sabbath, the (G)calling of assemblies—
I cannot (H)endure iniquity and the solemn assembly.
14 “I hate your new moon festivals and your (I)appointed feasts,
They have become a burden to Me;
I am (J)weary of bearing them.
15 “So when you (K)spread out your hands in prayer,
(L)I will hide My eyes from you;
Yes, even though you (M)multiply prayers,
I will not listen.
(N)Your hands are [c]covered with blood.

16 (O)Wash yourselves, (P)make yourselves clean;
(Q)Remove the evil of your deeds from My sight.
(R)Cease to do evil,
17 Learn to do good;
(S)Seek justice,
Reprove the ruthless,
[d](T)Defend the orphan,
Plead for the widow.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 1:11 Or am sated with
  2. Isaiah 1:12 Lit of your hand
  3. Isaiah 1:15 Lit full of
  4. Isaiah 1:17 Or Vindicate the fatherless

Observances of Fasts

58 (A)Cry loudly, do not hold back;
Raise your voice like a trumpet,
And declare to My people their (B)transgression
And to the house of Jacob their sins.
“Yet they (C)seek Me day by day and delight to know My ways,
As a nation that has done (D)righteousness
And (E)has not forsaken the ordinance of their God.
They ask Me for just decisions,
They delight (F)in the nearness of God.
‘Why have we (G)fasted and You do not see?
Why have we humbled ourselves and You do not [a]notice?’
Behold, on the (H)day of your fast you find your desire,
And drive hard all your workers.
“Behold, you fast for contention and (I)strife and to strike with a wicked fist.
You do not fast like you do today to (J)make your voice heard on high.
“Is it a fast like this which I choose, a day for a man to humble himself?
Is it for bowing [b]one’s head like a reed
And for spreading out (K)sackcloth and ashes as a bed?
Will you call this a fast, even an (L)acceptable day to the Lord?
“Is this not the fast which I choose,
To (M)loosen the bonds of wickedness,
To undo the bands of the yoke,
And to (N)let the oppressed go free
And (O)break every yoke?
“Is it not to (P)divide your bread [c]with the hungry
And (Q)bring the homeless poor into the house;
When you see the (R)naked, to cover him;
And not to (S)hide yourself from your own flesh?
“Then your (T)light will break out like the dawn,
And your (U)recovery will speedily spring forth;
And your (V)righteousness will go before you;
The glory of the (W)Lord will be your rear guard.
“Then you will (X)call, and the Lord will answer;
You will cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’
If you (Y)remove the yoke from your midst,
The [d](Z)pointing of the finger and (AA)speaking wickedness,
10 And if you [e](AB)give yourself to the hungry
And satisfy the [f]desire of the afflicted,
Then your (AC)light will rise in darkness
And your gloom will become like midday.
11 “And the (AD)Lord will continually guide you,
And (AE)satisfy your [g]desire in scorched places,
And (AF)give strength to your bones;
And you will be like a (AG)watered garden,
And like a (AH)spring of water whose waters do not [h]fail.
12 “Those from among you will (AI)rebuild the ancient ruins;
You will (AJ)raise up the age-old foundations;
And you will be called the repairer of the (AK)breach,
The restorer of the [i]streets in which to dwell.

Keeping the Sabbath

13 “If because of the sabbath, you (AL)turn your foot
From doing your own pleasure on My holy day,
And call the sabbath a (AM)delight, the holy day of the Lord honorable,
And honor it, desisting from your (AN)own ways,
From seeking your own pleasure
And (AO)speaking your own word,
14 Then you will take (AP)delight in the Lord,
And I will make you ride (AQ)on the heights of the earth;
And I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father,
For the (AR)mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 58:3 Lit know
  2. Isaiah 58:5 Lit his
  3. Isaiah 58:7 Lit for
  4. Isaiah 58:9 Lit sending out
  5. Isaiah 58:10 Lit furnish
  6. Isaiah 58:10 Or soul
  7. Isaiah 58:11 Or soul
  8. Isaiah 58:11 Or deceive
  9. Isaiah 58:12 Lit paths

38 (A)In His teaching He was saying: “Beware of the scribes who like to walk around in long robes, and like (B)respectful greetings in the market places, 39 and chief seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets, 40 (C)who devour widows’ houses, and for appearance’s sake offer long prayers; these will receive greater condemnation.”

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