All of us have become like one who is unclean,(A)
    and all our righteous(B) acts are like filthy rags;
we all shrivel up like a leaf,(C)
    and like the wind our sins sweep us away.(D)

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18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[a](A) For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 7:18 Or my flesh

24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?(A)

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Made Alive in Christ

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,(A) in which you used to live(B) when you followed the ways of this world(C) and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air,(D) the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.(E)

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Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel.

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17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’(A) But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.(B) 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire,(C) so you can become rich; and white clothes(D) to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness;(E) and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

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We all, like sheep, have gone astray,(A)
    each of us has turned to our own way;(B)
and the Lord has laid on him
    the iniquity(C) of us all.

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At one time(A) we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.

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My ears had heard of you(A)
    but now my eyes have seen you.(B)
Therefore I despise myself(C)
    and repent(D) in dust and ashes.”(E)

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How then can a mortal be righteous before God?
    How can one born of woman be pure?(A)

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Who can bring what is pure(A) from the impure?(B)
    No one!(C)

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and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law,(A) but that which is through faith in[a] Christ—the righteousness(B) that comes from God on the basis of faith.(C)

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Footnotes

  1. Philippians 3:9 Or through the faithfulness of

14 “What are mortals, that they could be pure,
    or those born of woman,(A) that they could be righteous?(B)
15 If God places no trust in his holy ones,(C)
    if even the heavens are not pure in his eyes,(D)
16 how much less mortals, who are vile and corrupt,(E)
    who drink up evil(F) like water!(G)

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12 Listen(A) to me, you stubborn-hearted,(B)
    you who are now far from my righteousness.(C)

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Yet you sweep people away(A) in the sleep of death—
    they are like the new grass of the morning:
In the morning it springs up new,
    but by evening it is dry and withered.(B)

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Surely I was sinful(A) at birth,(B)
    sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

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13 Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes(A)—who are they, and where did they come from?”

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12 I will expose your righteousness and your works,(A)
    and they will not benefit you.
13 When you cry out(B) for help,
    let your collection of idols save(C) you!
The wind will carry all of them off,
    a mere breath will blow(D) them away.
But whoever takes refuge(E) in me
    will inherit the land(F)
    and possess my holy mountain.”(G)

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A voice says, “Cry out.”
    And I said, “What shall I cry?”

“All people are like grass,(A)
    and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field.
The grass withers(B) and the flowers fall,
    because the breath(C) of the Lord blows(D) on them.
    Surely the people are grass.
The grass withers and the flowers(E) fall,
    but the word(F) of our God endures(G) forever.(H)

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“Woe(A) to me!” I cried. “I am ruined!(B) For I am a man of unclean lips,(C) and I live among a people of unclean lips,(D) and my eyes have seen(E) the King,(F) the Lord Almighty.”(G)

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19 A whirlwind(A) will sweep them away,
    and their sacrifices will bring them shame.(B)

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Stubborn Israel

48 “Listen to this, you descendants of Jacob,
    you who are called by the name of Israel(A)
    and come from the line of Judah,(B)
you who take oaths(C) in the name of the Lord(D)
    and invoke(E) the God of Israel—
    but not in truth(F) or righteousness—

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Not so the wicked!
    They are like chaff(A)
    that the wind blows away.

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“I am unworthy(A)—how can I reply to you?
    I put my hand over my mouth.(B)

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10 But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower.(A) 11 For the sun rises with scorching heat(B) and withers(C) the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed.(D) In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.

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