The rules that you have given are completely fair and right.

Long ago I learned about your instructions; you made them to last forever.

Remember that as long as heaven and earth last, not the least point nor the smallest detail of the Law will be done away with---not until the end of all things.

For through the living and eternal word of God you have been born again as the children of a parent who is immortal, not mortal.

but the word of the Lord remains forever." This word is the Good News that was proclaimed to you.

Explain your law to me, and I will obey it; I will keep it with all my heart.

Give me wisdom and knowledge, because I trust in your commands.

You created me, and you keep me safe; give me understanding, so that I may learn your laws.

Let my cry for help reach you, LORD! Give me understanding, as you have promised.

The God who said, "Out of darkness the light shall shine!" is the same God who made his light shine in our hearts, to bring us the knowledge of God's glory shining in the face of Christ.

We know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we know the true God. We live in union with the true God---in union with his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and this is eternal life.

My children, keep yourselves safe from false gods!

A good person's words will benefit many people, but you can kill yourself with stupidity.

So he told me to go and give the people this message: "No matter how much you listen, you will not understand. No matter how much you look, you will not know what is happening."

Then he said to me, "Make the minds of these people dull, their ears deaf, and their eyes blind, so that they cannot see or hear or understand. If they did, they might turn to me and be healed."

The branches of the trees are withered and broken, and women gather them for firewood. Because the people have understood nothing, God their Creator will not pity them or show them any mercy.

The LORD says, "My people are stupid; they don't know me. They are like foolish children; they have no understanding. They are experts at doing what is evil, but failures at doing what is good."

Many people will be purified. Those who are wicked will not understand but will go on being wicked; only those who are wise will understand.

My people are doomed because they do not acknowledge me. You priests have refused to acknowledge me and have rejected my teaching, and so I reject you and will not acknowledge your sons as my priests.

Those who hear the message about the Kingdom but do not understand it are like the seeds that fell along the path. The Evil One comes and snatches away what was sown in them.

And eternal life means to know you, the only true God, and to know Jesus Christ, whom you sent.