They were both of them upright before God, blamelessly obeying all the Lord's precepts and ordinances.

It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous [which is to seek and submit to the will of God]—in order to make ready a people [perfectly] prepared [spiritually and morally] for the Lord.”

He did powerfully with His arm, He scattered abroad the proud in the thought of their heart,

And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea.

And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

(as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male that opens the womb shall be called holy [set apart and dedicated] to the Lord)”

Now there was a man in Jerusalem of the name of Symeon, an upright and God-fearing man, who was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

And the fame of him spread abroad throughout all places of the country round about.

he went therefore aboard one of the vessels, which was Simon's, and desired him to bear away a little from land. then he sat down, and preached to the people from the ship.

But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities.

And he kept himself apart in the wildernesses, and gave himself to prayer.

I have come, not to get the upright, but sinners, so that they may be turned from their sins.

And looking toward His disciples, He began speaking: “Blessed [spiritually prosperous, happy, to be admired] are you who are poor [in spirit, those devoid of spiritual arrogance, those who regard themselves as insignificant], for the kingdom of God is yours [both now and forever].

Blessed [joyful, nourished by God’s goodness] are you who hunger now [for righteousness, actively seeking right standing with God], for you will be [completely] satisfied. Blessed [forgiven, refreshed by God’s grace] are you who weep now [over your sins and repent], for you will laugh [when the burden of sin is lifted].

Blessed [morally courageous and spiritually alive with life-joy in God’s goodness] are you when people hate you, and exclude you [from their fellowship], and insult you, and scorn your name as evil because of [your association with] the Son of Man.

The [intrinsically] good man produces what is good and honorable and moral out of the good treasure [stored] in his heart; and the [intrinsically] evil man produces what is wicked and depraved out of the evil [in his heart]; for his mouth speaks from the overflow of his heart.

And this report concerning him went abroad into all Judea and all the neighboring region.

Blessed [joyful, spiritually favored] is he who does not take offense at Me.”

And that in the good ground: These are they, who in an upright and good heart, having heard the word, do retain it, and bear fruit in continuance.

For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.

[Finally] they arrived at the district of the Gerasenes, which is opposite [i.e., across the lake from the province of] Galilee. [Note: Matt. 8:28 says 'Gadara.' Geresa and Gadara were two towns about twelve miles apart in the same region east of Lake Galilee].

For Jesus was commanding the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For the unclean spirit had often seized the man. He was kept under guard, and bound with chains and fetters. Breaking the bands apart, he was driven by the demon into the desert.

And the apostles, when they were returned, declared unto him what things they had done. And he took them, and withdrew apart to a city called Bethsaida.

And it came to pass, as he was praying apart, the disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying, Who do the multitudes say that I am?

But he said unto him, Leave the dead to bury their own dead; but go thou and publish abroad the kingdom of God.

And He turned towards His disciples and said to them apart, "Blessed are the eyes which see what you see!

Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever is not gathering with me is scattering abroad.

the lord of that servant will come in a day when he does not expect, and at an hour when he does not know. And he will cut him apart, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.

And there was a woman who for eighteen years had had an illness caused by a spirit (demon). She was bent double, and could not straighten up at all.

and he laid on her his hands, and presently she was set upright, and was glorifying God.

and you will be blessed because they cannot repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous (the just, the upright).”

I tell you, in just that way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinful person who repents, than over ninety-nine upright people who do not need any repentance.

'And not many days after, having gathered all together, the younger son went abroad to a far country, and there he scattered his substance, living riotously;

So He said to them, “You are the ones who declare yourselves just and upright in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts [your thoughts, your desires, your secrets]; for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God.

He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves and were confident that they were righteous [posing outwardly as upright and in right standing with God], and who viewed others with contempt:

"The Pharisee stood apart and thus began to pray by himself. "'O God, I thank thee that I am not like the rest of men, extortioners, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax gatherer;

I tell you, this man went to his home justified [forgiven of the guilt of sin and placed in right standing with God] rather than the other man; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself [forsaking self-righteous pride] will be exalted.”

"A nobleman," he said, "went abroad to obtain royal power for himself and then return.

And he began to speak unto the people this simile: 'A certain man planted a vineyard, and gave it out to husbandmen, and went abroad for a long time,

So they watched [for a chance to trap] Him. They sent spies who pretended to be upright and sincere, in order that they might catch Him in some statement [that they could distort and use against Him], so that they could turn Him over to the control and authority of [Pilate] the governor.

And when these things begin to happen, stand upright, and lift up your heads, because your redemption approaches.

And by day he was teaching in the temple, and by night, going out, he remained abroad on the mountain called the mount of Olives;

And he agreed, and began looking for a favorable opportunity to betray him to them apart from the crowd.

There was an inscription above Him [i.e., on the upright portion of the cross], stating, "This is the king of the Jews."

[because] [the light] of the sun failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn apart [down] the middle.

Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he began praising and honoring God, saying, “Certainly this Man was innocent.”

A man named Joseph, who was a member of the Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court), a good and honorable man