The LORD says to his people, "Do what is just and right, for soon I will save you.

I will bless those who always observe the Sabbath and do not misuse it. I will bless those who do nothing evil."

Happy are those who reject the advice of evil people, who do not follow the example of sinners or join those who have no use for God.

They are like trees that grow beside a stream, that bear fruit at the right time, and whose leaves do not dry up. They succeed in everything they do.

LORD, who may enter your Temple? Who may worship on Zion, your sacred hill?

Those who obey God in everything and always do what is right, whose words are true and sincere,

Those who are pure in act and in thought, who do not worship idols or make false promises.

The LORD will bless them and save them; God will declare them innocent.

Declare me innocent, O LORD, because I do what is right and trust you completely.

Examine me and test me, LORD; judge my desires and thoughts.

Happy are those who obey his commands, who always do what is right.

He doesn't worship the idols of the Israelites or eat the sacrifices offered at forbidden shrines. He doesn't seduce another man's wife

He refuses to do evil and doesn't lend money for profit. He keeps my laws and obeys my commands. He will not die because of his father's sins, but he will certainly live.

They taught what was right, not what was wrong. They lived in harmony with me; they not only did what was right themselves, but they also helped many others to stop doing evil.

They both lived good lives in God's sight and obeyed fully all the Lord's laws and commands.

Some people keep on doing good, and seek glory, honor, and immortal life; to them God will give eternal life.

For God has revealed his grace for the salvation of all people.

That grace instructs us to give up ungodly living and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this world,

Let no one deceive you, my children! Whoever does what is right is righteous, just as Christ is righteous.

and decided to act. I denounced the leaders and officials of the people and told them, "You are oppressing your own relatives!" I called a public assembly to deal with the problem

Then I said, "What you are doing is wrong! You ought to obey God and do what's right. Then you would not give our enemies, the Gentiles, any reason to ridicule us.

Cancel all the debts they owe you---money or grain or wine or olive oil. And give them back their fields, vineyards, olive groves, and houses right now!"

Then I took off the sash I was wearing around my waist and shook it out. "This is how God will shake any of you who don't keep your promise," I said. "God will take away your houses and everything you own, and will leave you with nothing." Everyone who was present said, "Amen!" and praised the LORD. And the leaders kept their promise.

When any of my servants complained against me, I would listen and treat them fairly.

The same God who created me created my servants also.

or let orphans go hungry while I ate.

When I found someone in need, too poor to buy clothes,

If I have ever cheated an orphan, knowing I could win in court,

Because I fear God's punishment, I could never do such a thing.

or taken pride in my wealth.

Some tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, "Teacher, what are we to do?"

Some soldiers also asked him, "What about us? What are we to do?" He said to them, "Don't take money from anyone by force or accuse anyone falsely. Be content with your pay."

Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Listen, sir! I will give half my belongings to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I will pay back four times as much."

You have not paid any wages to those who work in your fields. Listen to their complaints! The cries of those who gather in your crops have reached the ears of God, the Lord Almighty.

"Do not deny justice to a poor person when he appears in court.

Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe makes people blind to what is right and ruins the cause of those who are innocent.

Moses became angry and said to the LORD, "Do not accept any offerings these men bring. I have not wronged any of them; I have not even taken one of their donkeys."

They are not to be unjust or show partiality in their judgments; and they are not to accept bribes, for gifts blind the eyes even of wise and honest men, and cause them to give wrong decisions.

Here I am. If I have done anything wrong, accuse me now in the presence of the LORD and the king he has chosen. Have I taken anybody's cow or anybody's donkey? Have I cheated or oppressed anyone? Have I accepted a bribe from anyone? If I have done any of these things, I will pay back what I have taken."

"Evildoers live among my people; they lie in wait like those who lay nets to catch birds, but they have set their traps to catch people.

why they are fat and well fed. There is no limit to their evil deeds. They do not give orphans their rights or show justice to the oppressed.

They are all experts at doing evil. Officials and judges ask for bribes. The influential people tell them what they want, and so they scheme together.

Even the best and most honest of them are as worthless as weeds. The day has come when God will punish the people, as he warned them through their watchmen, the prophets. Now they are in confusion.

and asked, "What will you give me if I betray Jesus to you?" They counted out thirty silver coins and gave them to him.

Simon saw that the Spirit had been given to the believers when the apostles placed their hands on them. So he offered money to Peter and John,

But Peter answered him, "May you and your money go to hell, for thinking that you can buy God's gift with money!

Repent, then, of this evil plan of yours, and pray to the Lord that he will forgive you for thinking such a thing as this.

They want to look for nothing but the chance to commit adultery; their appetite for sin is never satisfied. They lead weak people into a trap. Their hearts are trained to be greedy. They are under God's curse!

and was rebuked for his sin. His donkey spoke with a human voice and stopped the prophet's insane action.

They said to him, "This is your chance! The LORD has told you that he would put your enemy in your power and you could do to him whatever you wanted to." David crept over and cut off a piece of Saul's robe without Saul's knowing it.

and he said to his men, "May the LORD keep me from doing any harm to my master, whom the LORD chose as king! I must not harm him in the least, because he is the king chosen by the LORD!"

Abishai said to David, "God has put your enemy in your power tonight. Now let me plunge his own spear through him and pin him to the ground with just one blow---I won't have to strike twice!"

By the living LORD," David continued, "I know that the LORD himself will kill Saul, either when his time comes to die a natural death or when he dies in battle.

I have never been glad when my enemies suffered, or pleased when they met with disaster;

All those who work for me know that I have always welcomed strangers.

I do not keep company with worthless people; I have nothing to do with hypocrites.

LORD, I wash my hands to show that I am innocent and march in worship around your altar.

Do not destroy me with the sinners; spare me from the fate of murderers---

As for me, I do what is right; be merciful to me and save me!

Then Johanan said privately to him, "Let me go and kill Ishmael, and no one will know who did it. Why should he be allowed to murder you? That would cause all the Jews who have gathered around you to be scattered, and it would bring disaster on all the people who are left in Judah."

But Gedaliah answered, "Don't do it! What you are saying about Ishmael is not true!"

Have nothing to do with the worthless things that people do, things that belong to the darkness. Instead, bring them out to the light.

And when all things are brought out to the light, then their true nature is clearly revealed;

Keep me from paying attention to what is worthless; be good to me, as you have promised.