And after all this, Judah, Israel's unfaithful sister, only pretended to return to me; she was not sincere. I, the LORD, have spoken."

I, the LORD, search the minds and test the hearts of people. I treat each of them according to the way they live, according to what they do."

Foreigners bow before me; when they hear me, they obey.

on account of their sins. Our faults defeat us, but you forgive them.

"Mortal man," he said, "these men have given their hearts to idols and are letting idols lead them into sin. Do they think I will give them an answer?

"Now speak to them and tell them what I, the Sovereign LORD, am saying to them: Each of you Israelites who have given your heart to idols and let them lead you into sin and who then come to consult a prophet, will get an answer from me---the answer that your many idols deserve!

So my people crowd in to hear what you have to say, but they don't do what you tell them to do. Loving words are on their lips, but they continue their greedy ways.

The Pharisees went off and made a plan to trap Jesus with questions.

Tell us, then, what do you think? Is it against our Law to pay taxes to the Roman Emperor, or not?"

Do not deceive yourselves; no one makes a fool of God. You will reap exactly what you plant.

They became holy when they were presented at the LORD's altar. So take the fire pans of these who were put to death for their sin, beat them into thin plates, and make a covering for the altar. It will be a warning to the people of Israel."

Do not deceive yourselves by just listening to his word; instead, put it into practice.