Now hear this, you heads of the house of Jacob, and rulers of the house of Israel, you who abhor justice and pervert all equity,

Hear this, O house of Jacob, who are called by the name of Israel, and have come forth out of the waters of Judah; who swear by the name of Jehovah and make mention of the God of Israel (but not in truth nor in righteousness;

for they name themselves as being of the holy city, and rest themselves on the God of Israel; Jehovah of Hosts is His name):

Cry aloud, do not spare; lift up your voice like a shofar, and declare to My people their transgression, and to the house of Jacob their sins.

Hear the Word of Jehovah, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel.

Therefore bring forth fruits worthy of repentance,

They answered and said to Him, Abraham is our father. Jesus said to them, If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham.

For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh;

but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.

Moreover, it is not as though the Word of God has fallen away. For not all those of Israel are Israel,

That is, those who are the children of flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are accounted as seed.

And not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even by our father Isaac

it was said to her, The elder shall serve the younger.

having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away.

And Jehovah said to Moses, Is the hand of Jehovah shortened? Now you shall see whether My word shall come to pass unto you or not.

Why, when I came, was no one here? I called and no one answered. Is My hand shortened at all so that it cannot redeem? Or have I no power to deliver? Behold, at My rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness; their fish stink, because there is no water, and die of thirst.

Behold, Jehovah's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor is His ear heavy, that it cannot hear.

But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you, that He will not hear.

Then he answered and spoke to me, saying, This is the Word of Jehovah to Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says Jehovah of Hosts.

You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections.

The Law of Jehovah is perfect, converting the soul; the Testimony of Jehovah is sure, making wise the simple.

The fear of Jehovah is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of Jehovah are true and altogether just,

And Your servant is warned by them; in keeping them there is great reward.

Their heart has been as fat without feeling, but I delight in Your Law.

It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your Statutes.

Unless Your Law had been my delight, I should then have perished in my affliction.

I will never forget Your Precepts, for by them You have given me life.

I have more understanding than all my teachers, for Your Testimonies are my meditation.

I have restrained my feet from every evil way, that I may keep Your Word.

How sweet are Your Words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

Your Words were found, and I ate them; and Your Word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; for I am called by Your name, O Jehovah the God of Hosts.

Has then that which is good become death to me? Let it not be! But sin, that it might appear to be sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful.

He who walks uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart;

For Jehovah God is a sun and shield; Jehovah will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk in integrity.

He lays up sound wisdom for the upright; a shield to those who walk in integrity,

He who walks in integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways shall be found out.

The way of Jehovah is a refuge to the upright, but destruction to doers of iniquity.

He who walks in his uprightness fears Jehovah, but he who is perverse in his ways despises Him.

Whoever walks in integrity shall be delivered; but he who is perverse in his ways shall fall at once.

Who is wise and discerns these things? Who is discerning and knows them? For the ways of Jehovah are right, and the righteous shall walk in them; but transgressors shall stumble in them.