45 Bible Verses about Righteousness

The one who says that he abides in him must live the same way he himself lived.

Nor can the free gift be compared to what came through the man who sinned. For the sentence that followed one man's offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift brought justification, even after many offenses. For if, through one man, death ruled because of that man's offense, how much more will those who receive such overflowing grace and the gift of righteousness rule in life because of one man, Jesus the Messiah!

Through the Spirit by faith we confidently await the fulfillment of our righteous hope,

It is because of God that you are in union with the Messiah Jesus, who for us has become wisdom from God, as well as our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.

Since you know that he is righteous, you also know that everyone who practices righteousness has been fathered by God.

The effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever.

Therefore, make it your habit to confess your sins to one another and to pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father's kingdom. Let the person who has ears listen!"

I once was young and now I am old, but I have not seen a righteous person forsaken or his descendants begging for bread.

The righteous person lives a life of integrity; happy are his children who follow him!

The righteous will flourish like palm trees; they will grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn that grows brighter until the full light of day.

Both of them were righteous before God, having lived blamelessly according to all of the commandments and regulations of the Lord.

Therefore, I always do my best to have a clear conscience before God and people.

The survivors of Israel will not practice lawlessness nor tell lies, nor will a deceitful message be found in their mouths, because they will eat and rest, with no one to cause fear."

and then as a widow for 84 years. She never left the Temple, but continued to worship there night and day with times of fasting and prayer.

He practiced what the LORD considered to be right, following all of the examples set by his ancestor David.

Sow in righteousness in your own interest, reap in gracious love, break up your own unprepared ground; It is now time to inquire of the LORD, until he comes to pour out righteousness for you.

Stand firm, therefore, having fastened the belt of truth around your waist, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

But you, man of God, must flee from all these things. Instead, you must pursue righteousness, godliness, faithfulness, love, endurance, and gentleness.

As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became afraid and said, "For the present you may go. When I get a chance, I will send for you again."

Therefore, your majesty, may my advice be acceptable to you: Stop your sinning, do what's right, and put a stop to your wickedness by showing kindness to the oppressed. Perhaps your tranquility will continue."

Abram believed the LORD, and it was credited to him as righteousness.

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus the Messiah.

And so the Law was our guardian until the Messiah came, so that we might be justified by faith.

That is what some of you were! But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of our Lord Jesus the Messiah and by the Spirit of our God.

Consequently, just as one offense resulted in condemnation for everyone, so one act of righteousness results in justification and life for everyone.

Thick clouds are all around him; righteousness and justice are his throne's foundation.

The LORD is righteous in all of his ways and graciously loving in all of his activities.

LORD God of Israel, you are just: As a result, we remain here today delivered. Look at us! Because of our sin, we cannot stand in your presence as a result of everything that has happened."

God, according to your name, so is your praise to the ends of the earth. Your right hand is filled with righteousness.

With awesome deeds of justice you will answer us, God our Deliverer; you are the confidence for everyone at the ends of the earth, even for those far away overseas.

"I will heartily rejoice in the LORD, my soul will delight in my God; for he has wrapped me in garments of salvation; he has arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, just like a bridegroom, like a priest with a garland, and like a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

I put on righteousness like clothing; my just decisions were like a robe and a turban.

I will clothe its priests with salvation and its godly ones will shout for joy.

Awake, awake! Clothe yourself with strength, O Zion! Put on your beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city, for the uncircumcised and the unclean won't enter you.

So the angel continued to tell those who were standing in his presence, "Remove his filthy clothes." And he told Joshua, "Look how I've removed your iniquity. Now I'm clothing you with fine garments."

You love justice and hate wickedness. That is why God, even your God, has anointed you rather than your companions with the oil of gladness.

He saw that there was no one, and was appalled that there was no one to intervene; so his own arm brought him victory, and his righteous acts upheld him.

"The time is coming," declares the LORD, "when I'll raise up a righteous branch for David. He will be a king who rules wisely, and he will administer justice and righteousness in the land.

Then I saw heaven standing open, and there was a white horse! Its rider is named Faithful and True. He administers justice and wages war righteously.

Righteousness will be the sash around his loins, and faithfulness the belt around his waist."

A person doesn't gain security by wickedness, but the righteous won't be uprooted.

Cast on the LORD whatever he sends your way, and he will sustain you. He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.

The one who lives with integrity, who does righteous deeds, and who speaks truth to himself.

The righteous will never be overthrown, but the wicked will never inhabit the land.

he will sit refining and purifying silver, purifying the descendants of Levi, refining them like gold and silver. Then they'll bring a righteous offering to the LORD.

Then you will be pleased with right sacrifices, with burnt offerings, and with whole burnt offerings. Then they will offer bulls on your altar. To the Director: A Davidic instruction about Doeg, the Edomite, when he went to Saul and told him, "David went to the house of Abimelech."

They will call the nations to the mountain, and there they will offer righteous sacrifices, for they'll draw from the abundance of the sea and from the hidden treasures of the sand."

Offer sacrifices that are righteous, and put your confidence in the LORD.

but with righteousness he will judge the needy, and decide with equity for earth's poor. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and the wicked will be killed with the breath of his lips.

because he has set a day when he is going to judge the world with justice through a man whom he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead."

Then I saw heaven standing open, and there was a white horse! Its rider is named Faithful and True. He administers justice and wages war righteously.

May he rule your people with right decisions and your oppressed ones with justice.

For the Lord watches the righteous, and he pays attention to their prayers. But the Lord opposes those who do wrong."

The LORD looks on the righteous, and he listens to their cries.

He won't stop looking at righteous people; he seats them on thrones with kings forever, and they are exalted.

The LORD won't cause the righteous to hunger, but he will reject what the wicked crave.

Both of them were righteous before God, having lived blamelessly according to all of the commandments and regulations of the Lord.

For Moses writes about the righteousness that comes from the Law as follows: "The person who obeys these things will find life by them."

But he delights in the LORD's instruction, and meditates in his instruction day and night.

It will be credited as righteousness for us, if we're careful to obey the entire Law in the presence of the LORD our God, as he commanded.'"

God made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that God's righteousness would be produced in us.

no weapon that is forged against you will be effective. This is the heritage of the LORD's servants, and their righteousness from me," says the LORD.

One will say of me, "Only in the LORD are victories and might.' All who raged against him will come to him and will be put to shame.

"Then justice will live in the wilderness, and righteousness will dwell in the fertile field.

"Shout, you skies above, and you clouds, and let righteousness stream down. I am the one who says to the earth, "Let salvation blossom, and let righteousness sprout forth.'

For just as the soil brings forth its shoots, and as a garden makes what is sown within it spring up, so the LORD God will make righteousness and praise spring up before all the nations for Zion's sake." "And I won't remain silent, and for Jerusalem's sake I won't stay quiet, until her vindication shines out like brightness, and her salvation like a burning torch.

He gives generously to the poor; his righteousness endures forever; his horn is exalted in honor.

As it is written, "He scatters everywhere and gives to the poor; his righteousness lasts forever."

Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.

For the Lord watches the righteous, and he pays attention to their prayers. But the Lord opposes those who do wrong."

The LORD hears those who cry out, and he delivers them from all their distress.

The LORD is far away from the wicked, but he hears the prayers of the righteous.

"Twas not for deeds that we had done, but by his steadfast love alone, he saved us through a second birth, renewed us by the Spirit's work,

For by such grace you have been saved through faith. This does not come from you; it is the gift of God and not the result of actions, to put a stop to all boasting.

He saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our own accomplishments, but according to his own purpose and the grace that was given to us in the Messiah Jesus before time began.

As a result, you will be held accountable for all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of the righteous Abel to the blood of Berechiah's son Zechariah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar.

Do not be like Cain, who was from the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because what he was doing was evil and his brother's actions were righteous.

The wicked stalks the righteous person, seeking to kill him,

I am the vine, you are the branches. The one who abides in me while I abide in him produces much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, for those who have been trained by it, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace.

But now that you have been freed from sin and have become God's slaves, the benefit you reap is sanctification, and the result is eternal life.

Now he who supplies seed to the farmer and bread to eat will also supply you with seed and multiply it and enlarge the harvest that results from your righteousness.

having been filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus the Messiah so that God will be glorified and praised.

But about the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, and the scepter of your kingdom is a righteous scepter.

Your throne, God, exists forever and ever, and the scepter of your kingdom is a righteous scepter.

"Look, a king will reign in righteousness, and rulers will rule with justice.

For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the Law, but through the righteousness produced by faith.

Abram believed the LORD, and it was credited to him as righteousness.

Now does this blessedness come to the circumcised alone, or also to the uncircumcised? For we say, "Abraham's faith was credited to him as righteousness."

Afterward he received the mark of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. Therefore, he is the ancestor of all who believe while uncircumcised, in order that righteousness may be credited to them.

nor did he doubt God's promise out of a lack of faith. Instead, his faith became stronger and he gave glory to God,

"What is mankind, that he can be blameless? Or does being born of a woman mean he'll be in the right?

As it is written, "Not even one person is righteous.

All have turned away, together they have become corrupt; no one practices what is good, not even one.

but wrath and fury for those who in their selfish pride refuse to believe the truth and practice wickedness instead.

Then all who have not believed the truth but have taken pleasure in unrighteousness will be condemned.

For if, through one man, death ruled because of that man's offense, how much more will those who receive such overflowing grace and the gift of righteousness rule in life because of one man, Jesus the Messiah! Consequently, just as one offense resulted in condemnation for everyone, so one act of righteousness results in justification and life for everyone. For just as through one man's disobedience many people were made sinners, so also through one man's obedience many people will be made righteous.

By God's will we have been sanctified once and for all through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus, the Messiah. Day after day every priest stands and repeatedly offers the same sacrifices that can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, "he sat down at the right hand of God." read more.
Since that time, he has been waiting for his enemies to be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

having been filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus the Messiah so that God will be glorified and praised.

for the fruit that the light produces consists of every form of goodness, righteousness, and truth.

"That's why I'm telling you to stop worrying about your life what you will eat or what you will drink or about your body what you will wear. Life is more than food, isn't it, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky. They don't plant or harvest or gather food into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. You are more valuable than they are, aren't you? Can any of you add a single hour to the length of your life by worrying? read more.
And why do you worry about clothes? Consider the lilies in the field and how they grow. They don't work or spin yarn, but I tell you that not even Solomon in all of his splendor was clothed like one of them. Now if that is the way God clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and thrown into an oven tomorrow, won't he clothe you much better you who have little faith? "So don't ever worry by saying, "What are we going to eat?' or "What are we going to drink?' or "What are we going to wear?' because it is the unbelievers who are eager for all those things. Surely your heavenly Father knows that you need all of them! But first be concerned about God's kingdom and his righteousness, and all of these things will be provided for you as well.

A righteous person eats to his heart's content, but the stomach of the wicked remains hungry.

But you, man of God, must flee from all these things. Instead, you must pursue righteousness, godliness, faithfulness, love, endurance, and gentleness.

Flee from youthful passions. Instead, pursue righteousness, faithfulness, love, and peace together with those who call on the Lord with a pure heart.

I do not misapply God's grace, for if righteousness comes about by doing what the Law requires, then the Messiah died for nothing.

So is the Law in conflict with the promises of God? Of course not! For if a law had been given that could give us life, then certainly righteousness would come through the Law.

Genuine righteousness leads to life, but whoever pursues evil will die.

In the pathway to righteousness there is life, and in that lifestyle there is no death.

The plans of the righteous are just, but the advice of the wicked is deceitful.

The desire of the righteous is to seek good, but the hope of the wicked results in wrath.

Let the lying lips be made still, especially those who speak arrogantly against the righteous with pride and contempt.

Those who passed by kept insulting him, shaking their heads, and saying, "You who were going to destroy the sanctuary and rebuild it in three days save yourself! If you're the Son of God, come down from the cross!" In the same way the high priests, along with the scribes and elders, were also making fun of him. They kept saying, read more.
"He saved others but can't save himself! He is the king of Israel. Let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God. Let God rescue him, if he wants to do so now. After all, he said, "I am the Son of God.'" In a similar way, the bandits who were being crucified with him kept insulting him.

Kings detest wrongdoing, for through righteousness the throne is established.

Purge the wicked from the king's presence, and his throne will be established in righteousness.

The righteousness of the innocent creates a level path, but the wicked fall by their wickedness.

Righteousness protects the blameless, but wickedness brings down the sinner.

"Listen to me, you hard-hearted, you who are far removed from righteousness:

Those who pursue wickedness draw near; they remain far from your instruction.

Therefore, God will not justify any human being by means of the actions prescribed by the Law, for through the Law comes the full knowledge of sin.

But Israel, who pursued righteousness based on the Law, did not achieve the Law. Why not? Because they did not pursue it on the basis of faith, but as if it were based on achievements. They stumbled over the stone that causes people to stumble.

Evil people earn deceptive wages, but those who plant righteousness are truly rewarded.

"Tell the righteous that things will go well, because they will enjoy the fruit of their actions."

A righteous person will have many troubles, but the LORD will deliver him from them all.

The righteous person is delivered from trouble; it comes upon the wicked instead.

As for the saints that are in the land, they are noble, and all my delight is in them.

The righteous person is cautious with respect to his neighbor, but the lifestyle of the wicked leads them astray.

The intimate counsel of the LORD is for those who fear him so they may know his covenant.

Indeed, a perverse man is utterly disgusting to the LORD, but he takes the upright into his confidence.

the LORD gives sight to the blind. The LORD lifts up those who are weighed down. The LORD loves the righteous.

The lifestyle of the wicked is detestable to the LORD, but he loves those who ardently pursue righteousness.

The righteous house is itself a great treasure, but within the revenue of the wicked calamity is at work.

Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.

If favor is shown to the wicked, they don't learn righteousness; even in a land of uprightness they act perversely and do not perceive the majesty of the LORD.

He delivered them many times, but they demonstrated rebellion by their evil plans; therefore they sunk deep in their sins.

Far be it from you to do such a thing to kill the righteous along with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike! The Judge of all the earth will do what is right, won't he?"

Therefore the wicked will not escape judgment, nor will sinners have a place in the assembly of the righteous. For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will be destroyed.

In his time Judah will be delivered and Israel will dwell in safety. This is the name by which he will be known: "The LORD Our Righteousness.'

A mighty king who loves justice, you have established fairness. You have exercised justice and righteousness over Jacob.

to provide for those who grieve in Zion to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, a mantle of praise instead of a spirit of despair." "Then people will call them "Oaks of Righteousness", "The Planting of the LORD", in order to display his splendor.

Then your people will all be righteous; They'll possess the land forever. They are the shoot that the LORD planted, the works of his hands, so that I might be glorified.

Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?

And since you have been freed from sin, you have become slaves of righteousness.

"He himself bore our sins" in his body on the tree, so that we might die to those sins and live righteously. "By his wounds you have been healed."

It trains us to renounce ungodly living and worldly passions so that we might live sensible, honest, and godly lives in the present age

Afterward he received the mark of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. Therefore, he is the ancestor of all who believe while uncircumcised, in order that righteousness may be credited to them.

This is why "it was credited to him as righteousness."

You love justice and hate wickedness. That is why God, even your God, has anointed you rather than your companions with the oil of gladness.

You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. That is why God, your God, anointed you rather than your companions with the oil of gladness."

Little children, don't let anyone deceive you. The person who practices righteousness is righteous, just as the Messiah is righteous.

Since you know that he is righteous, you also know that everyone who practices righteousness has been fathered by God.

Then you will be pleased with right sacrifices, with burnt offerings, and with whole burnt offerings. Then they will offer bulls on your altar. To the Director: A Davidic instruction about Doeg, the Edomite, when he went to Saul and told him, "David went to the house of Abimelech."

Offer sacrifices that are righteous, and put your confidence in the LORD.

I put on righteousness like clothing; my just decisions were like a robe and a turban.

"When the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. He asked him, "Friend, how did you get in here without wedding clothes?' But the man was speechless. Then the king told his servants, "Tie his hands and feet, and throw him into the darkness outside!' In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, read more.
because many are invited, but few are chosen."

Jesus also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves, thinking they were righteous, but who looked down on everyone else:

For they are ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God while they try to establish their own, and they have not submitted to God's means to attain righteousness.

Therefore, make it your habit to confess your sins to one another and to pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

Won't God grant his chosen people justice when they cry out to him day and night? Is he slow to help them?

The words from his mouth are vain and deceptive. He has abandoned behaving wisely and doing good.

Those of you who are making justice taste bitter, and who have thrown righteousness to the ground:

Come back to your senses as you should, and stop sinning! For some of you I say this to your shame don't fully know God.

Come back to your senses as you should, and stop sinning! For some of you I say this to your shame don't fully know God.

It is because of God that you are in union with the Messiah Jesus, who for us has become wisdom from God, as well as our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.

It will be credited as righteousness for us, if we're careful to obey the entire Law in the presence of the LORD our God, as he commanded.'"

Let him pray to God and he will accept him; he will appear before him with joyful shouts!"

Lining each side of the river banks, all sorts of species of fruit trees will be growing. Their leaves will never wither and their fruit will never fail. They will bear fruit every month, because the water that nourishes them will be flowing from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food and their leaves will contain substances that promote healing."

Between the city street and the river, the tree of life was visible from each side. It produced twelve kinds of fruit, each month having its own fruit. The leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.

Stop becoming unevenly yoked with unbelievers. What partnership can righteousness have with lawlessness? What fellowship can light have with darkness?

truthful speech, and divine power; through the weapons of righteousness in the right and left hands;

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.

As for my zeal, I was a persecutor of the church. As far as righteousness in the Law is concerned, I was blameless. But whatever things were assets to me, these I now consider a loss for the sake of the Messiah. What is more, I continue to consider all these things to be a loss for the sake of what is far more valuable, knowing the Messiah Jesus, my Lord. It is because of him that I have experienced the loss of all those things. Indeed, I consider them rubbish in order to gain the Messiah

The one who walks righteously and has spoken sincere words, who rejects gain from extortion and waves his hand, rejecting bribes, who blocks his ears from hearing plots of murder and shuts his eyes against seeing evil this is the one who will live on the heights; his refuge will be a mountain fortress. His food will be supplied, and his water will be guaranteed.

On the contrary, it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the LORD is dispossessing them before you to confirm what the LORD promised by an oath to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

"You are not to be unjust in deciding a case. You are not to show partiality to the poor or honor the great. Instead, decide the case of your neighbor with righteousness."

Whoever pursues righteousness and gracious love finds life, righteousness, and honor.

What the wicked fears will come about, but the longing of the righteous will be granted.

The person who trusts in his wealth will fall, but the righteous will flourish like green leaves.

The LORD dealt with me according to my righteousness, rewarding me according to the degree of my innocence,

Planted in the LORD's Temple, they will flourish in the courtyard of our God. They will still bear fruit even in old age; they will be luxuriant and green.

Stand firm, therefore, having fastened the belt of truth around your waist, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

and to clothe yourselves with the new nature, which was created according to God's image in righteousness and true holiness.

Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is obtained by following a righteous path.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

Righteousness makes a nation great, but sin diminishes any people.

Lining each side of the river banks, all sorts of species of fruit trees will be growing. Their leaves will never wither and their fruit will never fail. They will bear fruit every month, because the water that nourishes them will be flowing from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food and their leaves will contain substances that promote healing."

But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the person who hears the word, understands it, and produces a crop that yields 100, 60, or 30 times what was sown."

The wicked flee, though no one pursues, but the righteous are bold like a lion.

In the future, you'll be able to verify my honesty because, when you come to check what I've earned, if you find a goat that's not speckled or spotted or a sheep that's not black, then it will have been stolen by me."

Who can count the dust of Jacob? Who can number the dust of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and may I end up like him."

The victor's crown of righteousness is now waiting for me, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on the day that he comes, and not only to me but also to all who eagerly wait for his appearing.

Through the Spirit by faith we confidently await the fulfillment of our righteous hope,

Through faith they conquered kingdoms, administered justice, received promises, shut the mouths of lions,

seek the LORD, all you humble people of the land, who do what he commands. Seek righteousness! Seek humility! Maybe you will be protected in the Day of the LORD's anger."

for the fruit that the light produces consists of every form of goodness, righteousness, and truth.

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, for those who have been trained by it, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace.

"How blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, because the kingdom from heaven belongs to them!

But even if you should suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. "Never be afraid of their threats, and never get upset.

By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain did, and by faith he was declared to be righteous, since God himself accepted his offerings. And by faith he continues to speak, even though he is dead.

But other seeds fell on good soil and produced a crop, some 100, some 60, and some 30 times what was sown.

"I will heartily rejoice in the LORD, my soul will delight in my God; for he has wrapped me in garments of salvation; he has arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, just like a bridegroom, like a priest with a garland, and like a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

He put on righteousness like a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head; he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and wrapped himself in fury like a cloak.

He saw that there was no one, and was appalled that there was no one to intervene; so his own arm brought him victory, and his righteous acts upheld him.

But Jesus answered him, "Let it be this way for now, because this is the proper way for us to fulfill all righteousness."

The effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever.

The effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever.

For God's kingdom does not consist of food and drink, but of righteousness, peace, and joy produced by the Holy Spirit.

I once was young and now I am old, but I have not seen a righteous person forsaken or his descendants begging for bread.

He will never be shaken; the one who is just will always be remembered.

and if he did not spare the ancient world but protected Noah, a righteous preacher, along with seven others when he brought the flood on the world of ungodly people;

May your priests be clothed with righteousness and may your godly ones shout for joy.

"How blessed are those who are hungry and thirsty for righteousness, because it is they who will be satisfied!

Those who manifest wisdom will shine like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who turn many to righteousness will shine like the stars for ever and ever.

How happy are those who enforce justice, who live righteously all the time.

Therefore, your majesty, may my advice be acceptable to you: Stop your sinning, do what's right, and put a stop to your wickedness by showing kindness to the oppressed. Perhaps your tranquility will continue."

Sow in righteousness in your own interest, reap in gracious love, break up your own unprepared ground; It is now time to inquire of the LORD, until he comes to pour out righteousness for you.

"Listen to this, house of Jacob, you who are called by the name of Israel, and who have come forth from Judah's loins; you who swear oaths in the name of the LORD and invoke the God of Israel but not in truth, nor in good faith.

Evil will kill the wicked; those who hate the righteous will be held guilty.

What can we say, then? Gentiles, who were not pursuing righteousness, have attained righteousness, a righteousness that comes through faith.

For when you were slaves of sin, you were "free" as far as righteousness was concerned.

This is how God's children and the Devil's children are distinguished. No person who fails to practice righteousness and to love his brother is from God.

I am speaking in simple terms because of the frailty of your human nature. Just as you once offered the parts of your body as slaves to impurity and to greater and greater disobedience, so now, in the same way, you must offer the parts of your body as slaves to righteousness that leads to sanctification.

All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like a filthy rag; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind, our iniquities sweep us away.