11     there is no one who understands;
    there is no one who seeks God.

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God looks down from heaven(A)
    on all mankind
to see if there are any who understand,(B)
    any who seek God.(C)

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The Lord looks down from heaven(A)
    on all mankind
to see if there are any who understand,(B)
    any who seek God.(C)
All have turned away,(D) all have become corrupt;(E)
    there is no one who does good,(F)
    not even one.(G)

Do all these evildoers know nothing?(H)

They devour my people(I) as though eating bread;
    they never call on the Lord.(J)

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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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Judgment and Salvation

65 “I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me;
    I was found by those who did not seek me.(A)
To a nation(B) that did not call on my name,(C)
    I said, ‘Here am I, here am I.’

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20 We know also that the Son of God has come(A) and has given us understanding,(B) so that we may know him who is true.(C) And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.(D)

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The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God;(A) it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.

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28 Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over(A) to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done.

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22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools(A)

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19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom(A) and does not understand it, the evil one(B) comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path.

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13 This is why I speak to them in parables:

“Though seeing, they do not see;
    though hearing, they do not hear or understand.(A)

14 In them is fulfilled(B) the prophecy of Isaiah:

“‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
    you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.

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10 Israel’s arrogance testifies against him,(A)
    but despite all this
he does not return(B) to the Lord his God
    or search(C) for him.

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    my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.(A)

“Because you have rejected knowledge,
    I also reject you as my priests;
because you have ignored the law(B) of your God,
    I also will ignore your children.

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22 “My people are fools;(A)
    they do not know me.(B)
They are senseless children;
    they have no understanding.(C)
They are skilled in doing evil;(D)
    they know not how to do good.”(E)

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Woe to Those Who Rely on Egypt

31 Woe(A) to those who go down to Egypt(B) for help,
    who rely on horses,(C)
who trust in the multitude of their chariots(D)
    and in the great strength of their horsemen,
but do not look to the Holy One(E) of Israel,
    or seek help from the Lord.(F)

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11 When its twigs are dry, they are broken off(A)
    and women come and make fires(B) with them.
For this is a people without understanding;(C)
    so their Maker has no compassion on them,
    and their Creator(D) shows them no favor.(E)

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29 since they hated knowledge
    and did not choose to fear the Lord.(A)
30 Since they would not accept my advice
    and spurned my rebuke,(B)

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22 “How long will you who are simple(A) love your simple ways?
    How long will mockers delight in mockery
    and fools hate(B) knowledge?

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The fear of the Lord(A) is the beginning of knowledge,
    but fools[a] despise wisdom(B) and instruction.(C)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 1:7 The Hebrew words rendered fool in Proverbs, and often elsewhere in the Old Testament, denote a person who is morally deficient.

Take notice, you senseless ones(A) among the people;
    you fools, when will you become wise?

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Do all these evildoers know nothing?

They devour my people as though eating bread;
    they never call on God.

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15 Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him?
    What would we gain by praying to him?’(A)
16 But their prosperity is not in their own hands,
    so I stand aloof from the plans of the wicked.(B)

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