'Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth [is] Mine.

'And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These [are] the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel."

" For you [are] a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth.

"For you [are] a holy people to the LORD your God, and the LORD has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples who [are] on the face of the earth.

"and that He will set you high above all nations which He has made, in praise, in name, and in honor, and that you may be a holy people to the LORD your God, just as He has spoken."

In that day "HOLINESS TO THE LORD" shall be [engraved] on the bells of the horses. The pots in the LORD's house shall be like the bowls before the altar.

Yes, every pot in Jerusalem and Judah shall be holiness to the LORD of hosts. Everyone who sacrifices shall come and take them and cook in them. In that day there shall no longer be a Canaanite in the house of the LORD of hosts.

just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,

But you [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

" You shall not delay [to offer] the first of your ripe produce and your juices. The firstborn of your sons you shall give to Me.

"and the Feast of Harvest, the firstfruits of your labors which you have sown in the field; and the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you have gathered in [the fruit of] your labors from the field.

"All the best of the oil, all the best of the new wine and the grain, their firstfruits which they offer to the LORD, I have given them to you.

Woe to you [who are] at ease in Zion, And trust in Mount Samaria, Notable persons in the chief nation, To whom the house of Israel comes!

For if the firstfruit [is] holy, the lump [is] also [holy;] and if the root [is] holy, so [are] the branches.

Likewise [greet] the church that is in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia to Christ.

Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.

These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from [among] men, [being] firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.

Thus says the LORD: "Against all My evil neighbors who touch the inheritance which I have caused My people Israel to inherit -- behold, I will pluck them out of their land and pluck out the house of Judah from among them.

All who found them have devoured them; And their adversaries said, 'We have not offended, Because they have sinned against the LORD, the habitation of justice, The LORD, the hope of their fathers.'

"Then you shall say to Pharaoh, 'Thus says the LORD: "Israel [is] My son, My firstborn.

"So I say to you, let My son go that he may serve Me. But if you refuse to let him go, indeed I will kill your son, your firstborn." ' "

I would soon subdue their enemies, And turn My hand against their adversaries.

The haters of the LORD would pretend submission to Him, But their fate would endure forever.

He permitted no one to do them wrong; Yes, He rebuked kings for their sakes,

[Saying,] "Do not touch My anointed ones, And do My prophets no harm."

He turned their heart to hate His people, To deal craftily with His servants.

They performed His signs among them, And wonders in the land of Ham.

He turned their waters into blood, And killed their fish.

He spoke, and there came swarms of flies, [And] lice in all their territory.

He struck their vines also, and their fig trees, And splintered the trees of their territory.

And ate up all the vegetation in their land, And devoured the fruit of their ground.

"Behold, all those who were incensed against you Shall be ashamed and disgraced; They shall be as nothing, And those who strive with you shall perish.

I was angry with My people; I have profaned My inheritance, And given them into your hand. You showed them no mercy; On the elderly you laid your yoke very heavily.

Tell your children about it, [Let] your children [tell] their children, And their children another generation.

He has laid waste My vine, And ruined My fig tree; He has stripped it bare and thrown [it] away; Its branches are made white.

Lament like a virgin girded with sackcloth For the husband of her youth.

I am exceedingly angry with the nations at ease; For I was a little angry, And they helped -- [but] with evil [intent."]

For thus says the LORD of hosts: "He sent Me after glory, to the nations which plunder you; for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye.

"Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples, when they lay siege against Judah and Jerusalem.

"In that day," says the LORD, "I will strike every horse with confusion, and its rider with madness; I will open My eyes on the house of Judah, and will strike every horse of the peoples with blindness.

Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?"

And he said, "Who are You, Lord?" Then the Lord said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It [is] hard for you to kick against the goads."