You are doomed! You are unable to break free from your sins.

You say, "Let the LORD hurry up and do what he says he will, so that we can see it. Let Israel's holy God carry out his plans; let's see what he has in mind."

You boast that you have made a treaty with death and reached an agreement with the world of the dead. You are certain that disaster will spare you when it comes, because you depend on lies and deceit to keep you safe.

Justice will be the measuring line for the foundation, and honesty will be its plumb line." Hailstorms will sweep away all the lies you depend on, and floods will destroy your security.

The LORD has spoken: "Those who rule Judah are doomed because they rebel against me. They follow plans that I did not make, and sign treaties against my will, piling one sin on another.

And yet you ask, "What does God know? He is hidden by clouds---how can he judge us?"

You think the thick clouds keep him from seeing, as he walks on the dome of the sky.

The wicked say to themselves, "God doesn't care! He has closed his eyes and will never see me!"

How can the wicked despise God and say to themselves, "He will not punish me"?

They encourage each other in their evil plots; they talk about where they will place their traps. "No one can see them," they say.

They make evil plans and say, "We have planned a perfect crime." The human heart and mind are a mystery.

LORD, you have examined me and you know me.

You see me, whether I am working or resting; you know all my actions.

You are all around me on every side; you protect me with your power.

Where could I go to escape from you? Where could I get away from your presence?

No one can hide where I cannot see them. Do you not know that I am everywhere in heaven and on earth?

God asked me, "Mortal man, do you see what the Israelite leaders are doing in secret? They are all worshiping in a room full of images. Their excuse is: 'The LORD doesn't see us! He has abandoned the country.' "

God answered, "The people of Israel and Judah are guilty of terrible sins. They have committed murder all over the land and have filled Jerusalem with crime. They say that I, the LORD, have abandoned their country and that I don't see them.

"At that time I will take a lamp and search Jerusalem. I will punish the people who are self-satisfied and confident, who say to themselves, 'The LORD never does anything, one way or the other.'

I will also kill her followers, and then all the churches will know that I am the one who knows everyone's thoughts and wishes. I will repay each of you according to what you have done.

There are those who reject the light; they don't understand it or go where it leads.

The adulterer waits for twilight to come; he covers his face so that no one can see him.

They fear the light of day, but darkness holds no terror for them.

There is no darkness dark enough to hide a sinner from God.

As thousands of people crowded together, so that they were stepping on each other, Jesus said first to his disciples, "Be on guard against the yeast of the Pharisees---I mean their hypocrisy.

So then, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in broad daylight, and whatever you have whispered in private in a closed room will be shouted from the housetops.

This is how the judgment works: the light has come into the world, but people love the darkness rather than the light, because their deeds are evil.

So you should not pass judgment on anyone before the right time comes. Final judgment must wait until the Lord comes; he will bring to light the dark secrets and expose the hidden purposes of people's minds. And then all will receive from God the praise they deserve.

We put aside all secret and shameful deeds; we do not act with deceit, nor do we falsify the word of God. In the full light of truth we live in God's sight and try to commend ourselves to everyone's good conscience.

"You felt sure of yourself in your evil; you thought that no one could see you. Your wisdom and knowledge led you astray, and you said to yourself, 'I am God--- there is no one else like me.'

Listen to their insults and threats. Their tongues are like swords in their mouths, yet they think that no one hears them.

They say, "God will not know; the Most High will not find out."

They say, "The LORD does not see us; the God of Israel does not notice."

God made our ears---can't he hear? He made our eyes---can't he see?

You have tired the LORD out with your talk. But you ask, "How have we tired him?" By saying, "The LORD Almighty thinks all evildoers are good; in fact he likes them." Or by asking, "Where is the God who is supposed to be just?"