And he had a choice and handsome son whose name [was] Saul. [There was] not a more handsome person than he among the children of Israel. From his shoulders upward [he was] taller than any of the people.

So they ran and brought him from there; and when he stood among the people, he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward.

And Samuel said to all the people, "Do you see him whom the LORD has chosen, that [there is] no one like him among all the people?" So all the people shouted and said, "Long live the king!"

Now in all Israel there was no one who was praised as much as Absalom for his good looks. From the sole of his foot to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him.

He does not delight in the strength of the horse; He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man.

The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear Him, In those who hope in His mercy.

Charm [is] deceitful and beauty [is] passing, But a woman [who] fears the LORD, she shall be praised.

Do You have eyes of flesh? Or do You see as man sees?

" For My thoughts [are] not your thoughts, Nor [are] your ways My ways," says the LORD.

"For [as] the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.

And He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

Coming to Him [as to] a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God [and] precious,

rather [let it be] the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible [beauty] of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.

"Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment."

Do you look at things according to the outward appearance? If anyone is convinced in himself that he is Christ's, let him again consider this in himself, that just as he [is] Christ's, even so we [are] Christ's.

"For [his] letters," they say, "[are] weighty and powerful, but [his] bodily presence [is] weak, and [his] speech contemptible."

"then hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and forgive, and act, and give to everyone according to all his ways, whose heart You know (for You alone know the hearts of all the sons of men),

" As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever.

"For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of [those] whose heart [is] loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars."

Oh, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, But establish the just; For the righteous God tests the hearts and minds.

You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off.

Hell and Destruction [are] before the LORD; So how much more the hearts of the sons of men.

All the ways of a man [are] pure in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs the spirits.

But, O LORD of hosts, You who judge righteously, Testing the mind and the heart, Let me see Your vengeance on them, For to You I have revealed my cause.

I, the LORD, search the heart, [I] test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings.

But, O LORD of hosts, You who test the righteous, [And] see the mind and heart, Let me see Your vengeance on them; For I have pleaded my cause before You.

And they prayed and said, "You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen

And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things [are] naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we [must give] account.

"I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.