¹⁷ I know, my God, ^(A)that you test the heart and ^(B)have pleasure in uprightness. In the uprightness of my heart I have freely offered all these things, and now I have seen your people, who are present here, offering freely and joyously to you.

David's Charge to Solomon

⁹ “And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a ^(A)whole heart and with a willing mind, ^(B)for the Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. ^(C)If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever.

¹² For ^(A)the word of God is living and ^(B)active, ^(C)sharper than any ^(D)two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and ^(E)discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

⁷ For I have derived much joy and ^(A)comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints ^(B)have been refreshed through you.

¹⁰ You are witnesses, and ^(A)God also, ^(B)how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers.

Paul's Change of Plans

¹² For our boast is this, ^(A)the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity^[a] and ^(B)godly sincerity, ^(C)not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you.

⁴⁷ Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, ^(A)an Israelite indeed, ^(B)in whom there is no deceit!”