50 Bible Verses about Religion

Then Peter opened his mouth and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons; but in every nation he that fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him.

The pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their tribulation and to keep thyself unspotted from this world.

But ye, beloved, building up yourselves upon your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, unto eternal life,

Ye also, giving all diligence to the same, show forth virtue in your faith; and in virtue, knowledge; and in knowledge, temperance; and in temperance, patience; and in patience, fear of God; and in fear of God, brotherly love; and in brotherly love, charity. read more.
For if these things are in you and abound, they shall not let you be idle nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacks these things is blind and walks feeling the way with his hand, having forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. read more.
And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Watch thy feet when thou goest to the house of God and draw near with more willingness to hear than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know how to do what God wants.

And Samuel said, Does the LORD have as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in hearing the voice of the LORD? Behold, to hear is better than sacrifice and to hearken than the fat of rams.

For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

but in foods and drinks and different washings and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of correction.

Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing but the keeping of the commandments of God.

And they shall come unto thee as the people come, and they shall be before thee, my people, and they shall hear thy words, but they shall not do them; for with their mouth they flatter, but their heart goes after their covetousness. And, behold, thou art unto them as a singer of love songs, one that has a good voice and can sing well: and they shall hear thy words, but they will not do them.

They profess that they know God, but in works they deny him, being abominable and rebellious and reprobate unto every good work.

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of the heavens, but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in the heavens.

Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.

And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

having the appearance of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin and have omitted that which is more important of the law: judgment, mercy, and faith; these were expedient for ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

For if ye are dead with the Christ to the elements of the world, why, as though living unto the world, do ye decree rites,

Therefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people sacrifice unto me and honour me with their lips, but have removed their heart far from me, and their worship with which they honour me was taught by the commandment of men:

That they seek me daily and want to know my ways, as people that do righteousness and have not forsaken the rights of their God: they ask me of the rights of righteousness and desire to approach God.

The Lord then answered him and said, Thou hypocrite, does not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall and lead it away to drink?

This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief and had the bag and would take from what was put therein.

For they that are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly and by smooth words and blessings deceive the hearts of the simple.

But Jesus perceived their wickedness and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?

Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?

I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel and taught according to the truth of the law of the fathers, zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.

Paul desired to have him go forth with him and took and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those quarters, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.

And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all zealous of the law;

And certain of the Pharisees said unto them, Why do ye that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days?

And profited in Judaism above many of my equals in my own nation, being exceedingly more zealous of the traditions of my fathers.

Now therefore fear the LORD and serve him in perfection and in truth and put away from among you the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the river and in Egypt, and serve ye the LORD.

that ye may approve the best, that ye may be sincere and without offense until the day of Christ,

therefore let us celebrate the feast, not in the old leaven, neither in the leaven of malice and wickedness, but in the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with carnal wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world and more abundantly towards you.

For we are not as many, false merchandisers of the word of God, but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.

and to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the soul and with all the strength and to love his neighbour as himself is more than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices.

For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

The pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their tribulation and to keep thyself unspotted from this world.

He has declared unto thee, O man, what is good and what the LORD requires of thee: only to do right judgment, and to love mercy, and to humble thyself to walk with thy God.

The conclusion of the entire sermon is heard: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole happiness of man.

In the meantime, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

They profess that they know God, but in works they deny him, being abominable and rebellious and reprobate unto every good work.

that in hypocrisy shall speak lies; having their conscience seared as with a hot iron;

Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

for as he thinks in his soul, so is he; Eat and drink, he shall say unto thee, but his heart is not with thee.

But now, having known God, or rather being known of God, how do ye turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, in which ye desire again to be in slavery?

And when they come from the market, unless they wash, they eat not. And there are many other things which they took upon themselves to hold such as the washing of cups and pots, brasen vessels and of tables.)

Now therefore why tempt ye God, putting a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

Stand fast therefore in the liberty with which Christ has made us free and do not be entangled again with the yoke of slavery.

For if ye are dead with the Christ to the elements of the world, why, as though living unto the world, do ye decree rites,

Nevertheless he did not leave himself without witness, in that he did good and gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.

But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the heavens, and they shall show thee; or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee; the fishes of the sea shall declare it unto thee also. What thing of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD made them? read more.
In his hand is the soul of every living thing and the spirit of all flesh of man. Certainly the ear proves words and the mouth tastes foods. With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days intelligence. With him is wisdom and strength; he has counsel and intelligence. Behold, he shall break down, and it shall not be built again; he shall shut up a man, and no one shall be able to open unto him. Behold, he shall withhold the waters, and they shall dry up; also he shall send them forth, and they shall destroy the earth. With him is strength and existence; he who errs and he who leads astray are his.

But no one shall say, Where is God my maker, who gives songs in the night; who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth and makes us wiser than the fowls of heaven? There they shall cry, but he shall give no answer because of the pride of those that are evil.

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows the work of his hands. One day provides a word for the next day, and one night declares wisdom unto the next night. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. read more.
Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tabernacle for the sun, which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber and rejoices as a strong man to run a race. His going forth is from the end of the heavens, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.

For as I passed by and beheld your sanctuaries, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him I declare unto you. The God that made the world and all the things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he gives to all life and breath and all things read more.
and has made of one blood all the lineage of men to dwell on all the face of the earth and has determined the seasons (which he has limited) and the bounds of their habitation; that they should seek the Lord, if in any manner they might reach out to touch him and find him though he is not far from each one of us; for in him we live and move and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also of his lineage.

But when I saw that they did not walk uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, dost live after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why dost thou compel the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?

Thou, therefore, who teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? Thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?

But the LORD had said unto Abram, Depart out of thy country and from thy nature and from thy father's house unto a land that I will show thee; and I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing. And I will bless those that bless thee and curse those that curse thee, and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. read more.
So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him, and Lot went with him, and Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed out of Haran. And Abram took Sarai, his wife, and Lot, his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came. And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land. And the LORD appeared unto Abram and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land, and there he built an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him. And he went from there unto a mountain on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west and Hai on the east; and there he built an altar unto the LORD and called upon the name of the LORD.

And the men turned their faces from there and went toward Sodom; but Abraham stood yet before the LORD. And Abraham drew near and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? Peradventure there are fifty righteous within the city; wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are in it? read more.
That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked and that the righteous should be treated as the wicked that are far from thee. Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? And the LORD said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes. And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, who am but dust and ashes; peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And he said, If I find there forty-five, I will not destroy it. And he spoke unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And he said, I will not do it for forty's sake. And he said unto him, Oh let not the Lord now be angry if I shall speak; peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do it if I find thirty there. And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord; peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for twenty's sake. And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once; peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten's sake. And the LORD went away as soon as he had left communing with Abraham; and Abraham returned unto his place.

And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David if this people go up to sacrifice in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem; for the heart of this people shall turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboam, king of Judah, and they shall kill me and go again to Rehoboam, king of Judah. And having taken counsel, the king made two calves of gold and said unto the people, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem; behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. read more.
And he set the one in Bethel and the other he put in Dan. And this became an occasion for sin, for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan. And he made a house of high places and made priests of the lowest of the people, who were not of the sons of Levi. Then Jeroboam ordained a solemnity in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like unto the solemnity that was celebrated in Judah; and he sacrificed upon the altar. So did he in Bethel, sacrificing unto the calves that he had made. He also ordered in Bethel the priests of the high places which he had made. So he sacrificed upon the altar which he had made in Bethel on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, the month which he had devised of his own heart, and made a feast unto the sons of Israel; and he climbed up on the altar to burn incense.

And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel gathered unto him out of all their borders. For the Levites left their suburbs and their possessions and came to Judah and Jerusalem, for Jeroboam and his sons had cast them off from executing the priest's office unto the LORD. And he ordained himself priests for the high places and for the demons and for the calves which he had made.

And why dost thou behold the mote that is in thy brother's eye but dost not consider the beam that is in thine own eye?

therefore, whatever they bid you to observe, observe it and do it, but do not act according to their works, for they say and do not do it.

Now therefore send and gather to me all Israel unto Mount Carmel, and the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal, and the four hundred prophets of the groves, who eat at Jezebel's table.

And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel gathered unto him out of all their borders. For the Levites left their suburbs and their possessions and came to Judah and Jerusalem, for Jeroboam and his sons had cast them off from executing the priest's office unto the LORD. And he ordained himself priests for the high places and for the demons and for the calves which he had made.

He that says, I have known him, and does not keep his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

Out of the same mouth proceeds blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.

And Jacob went out from Beersheba and went toward Haran. And he found a certain place and slept there all night because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place and put them for his pillows and lay down in that place to sleep. And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven; and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. read more.
And, behold, the LORD stood above it and said, I AM the God of Abraham, thy father, and the God of Isaac; the land upon which thou dost lie, to thee will I give it and to thy seed; and thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt multiply to the west and to the east and to the Aquilon and to the Negev; and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. And, behold, I am with thee and will keep thee in all places where thou goest and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of. And Jacob awakened out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place, and I knew it not. And he was afraid and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. And Jacob rose up early in the morning and took the stone that he had put for his pillows and set it up for a pillar and poured oil upon the top of it. And he called the name of that place Bethel, since the name of that city was called Luz at first. And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go and will give me bread to eat and clothing to put on so that I come again to my father's house in peace, then shall the LORD be my God; and this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house; and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth part unto thee.

And Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. And when the man saw that he did not prevail against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was disjointed as he wrestled with him. And he said, Let me go, for the day breaks. And he said, I will not let thee go except thou bless me. read more.
And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. And he said, Thy name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for thou hast fought with God and with men, and hast prevailed. And Jacob asked him and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Why dost thou ask after my name? And he blessed him there. And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel; for I have seen God face to face, and my soul was saved. And as he passed over Penuel, the sun rose upon him, and he limped upon his thigh. Therefore the sons of Israel do not eat of the sinew which shrank, which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day, because he touched the hollow of Jacob's thigh in the sinew that shrank.

And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it; and Hezekiah went up into the house of the LORD and spread it before the LORD. And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD, saying, O LORD God of Israel, who dwellest above the cherubim, thou alone art the God unto all the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast made heaven and earth. Incline, O LORD, thy ear and hear; open, O LORD, thine eyes and see and hear the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to reproach the living God. read more.
Of a truth, O LORD, the kings of Assyria have destroyed the Gentiles and their lands and have cast their gods into the fire, for they were not gods, but the work of men's hands, wood or stone; therefore, they have destroyed them. Now, therefore, O LORD our God, I beseech thee, save us now out of his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou alone art the LORD God.

And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David, his father, did. He removed the high places and broke the images and cut down the groves and broke in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made; for unto those days, the sons of Israel burned incense to it; and he called it Nehushtan. He trusted in the LORD God of Israel; so that neither after him nor before was there any like him among all the kings of Judah. read more.
For he cleaved unto the LORD and did not depart from following him, but kept his commandments which the LORD commanded Moses. And the LORD was with him, and he prospered in all things in which he went forth; and he rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him.

And the Angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush; and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. Then Moses said, I will now turn aside and see this great vision, why the bush is not burnt. And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. read more.
And he said, Do not come near; take off thy shoes from thy feet, for the place upon which thou dost stand is holy ground. Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Then Moses covered his face, for he was afraid to look upon God. And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows; and I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land unto a good and broad land, unto a land flowing with milk and honey, unto the places of the Canaanite and the Hittite and the Amorite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite. Therefore, behold, the cry of the sons of Israel has now come before me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh that thou may bring forth my people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt. Then Moses said unto God, Who am I that I should go unto Pharaoh and that I should bring forth the sons of Israel out of Egypt? And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain. And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the sons of Israel and say unto them, The God of your fathers has sent me unto you, and if they say to me, What is his name? What shall I say unto them? And God answered unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM. And he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the sons of Israel: I AM (YHWH) has sent me unto you. And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the sons of Israel: The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me unto you. This is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all ages. Go and gather the elders of Israel together and say unto them, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared unto me, saying, I have surely visited you and seen that which is done to you in Egypt, and I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanite and the Hittite and the Amorite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite unto a land flowing with milk and honey. And they shall hearken to thy voice, and thou shalt come, thou and the elders of Israel, unto the king of Egypt, and ye shall say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews has found us; therefore, we shall now go three days' journey into the wilderness that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God. For I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go except by a mighty hand. But I will stretch out my hand and smite Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in the midst thereof, and after that he will let you go. And I will give this people grace in the eyes of the Egyptians, and it shall come to pass, that, when ye go, ye shall not go empty; but every woman shall demand of her neighbour and of her that sojourns in her house, vessels of silver and vessels of gold and clothing; and ye shall put them upon your sons and upon your daughters, and ye shall spoil Egypt.

And the LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he walked in the first ways of his father David and sought not unto the Baalim but sought the LORD God of his father and walked in his commandments, and not after the doings of Israel. Therefore, the LORD confirmed the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought Jehoshaphat presents, and he had riches and glory in abundance. read more.
And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the LORD, and he took away the high places and groves out of Judah. Also in the third year of his reign he sent his princes, Benhail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethaneel, and Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah. And with them he sent the Levites, Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tobadonijah, Levites, and with them Elishama and Jehoram, priests. And they taught in Judah and had the book of the law of the LORD with them and went about throughout all the cities of Judah and taught the people.

By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts, and by it he being dead yet speaks.

And Abel, he also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD looked upon Abel and his present, but he did not look upon Cain and his present. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. Then the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? read more.
If thou doest good, it shall certainly be accepted; and if thou doest not good, sin lies at the door. And his desire shall be unto thee, but thou must rule over him. And Cain talked with Abel his brother, and it came to pass when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and slew him.

And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah and wrought that which was good and right and true before the LORD his God.

Likewise, give unto Solomon, my son, a perfect heart, to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies, and thy statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace, for which I have made provision.

A half per head, that is, half a shekel, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, for every one that went to be numbered, from twenty years old and upward, which were six hundred and three thousand five hundred and fifty.

And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying, When thou takest the number of the sons of Israel after the sum of them, each one shall give a ransom for his soul unto the LORD, when thou dost number them, that there be no mortality in them because of numbering them. This shall be given by every one that passes among those that are numbered: half a shekel after the shekel of the sanctuary (a shekel is twenty gerahs); a half shekel shall be the offering to the LORD. read more.
Anyone that passes among those that are numbered, from twenty years old and above, shall give the offering unto the LORD. The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel, when they give the offering unto the LORD to make reconciliation for your souls. And thou shalt take the reconciliation money of the sons of Israel and shalt appoint it for the service of the tabernacle of the testimony, and it shall be a memorial unto the sons of Israel before the LORD to reconcile your souls.

And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou would bless me indeed and enlarge my border and that thy hand might be with me and that thou would deliver me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.

Thou knowest how David, my father, could not build a house unto the name of the LORD his God, for the wars which were about him on every side, until the LORD put his enemies under the soles of his feet. Now the LORD my God has given me rest on every side so that there is neither adversary nor evil encounter. And, therefore, I have determined to build a house unto the name of the LORD my God as the LORD spoke unto David, my father, saying, Thy son, whom I will set upon thy throne in thy place, he shall build a house unto my name.

David, therefore, besought God for the child, and David fasted and went in and lay all night upon the earth.

But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let those learn first to govern their house in piety and to recompense their parents, for this is honest and pleasing before God.

If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says unto them, Depart in peace; be ye warmed and filled; but ye do not give them those things which are needful for the body; what shall it profit them?

But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias, for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and made redemption for his people And has raised up a horn of saving health for us in the house of his servant David, read more.
as he spoke by the mouth of the saints who from the beginning were his prophets; salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all that hate us; to fulfill mercy unto our fathers and remembering his holy covenant of the oath which he made to our father Abraham, that he would grant unto us, that without fear delivered out of the hand of our enemies, we might serve him in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life. And thou, child, shalt be called prophet of the Most High, for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways, giving knowledge of saving health unto his people for the remission of their sins through the bowels of mercy of our God, whereby the dayspring from on high has visited us to give light to those that dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death, to direct our feet into the way of peace.

Yet thou didst say, Because I am innocent, surely his anger shall turn from me. Behold, I will enter into judgment with thee because thou hast said, I did not sin.

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses and for a pretence make long prayer; therefore, ye shall receive the greater judgment.

when I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois and thy mother Eunice, and I am persuaded that in thee also.

Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is lunatic and suffers miserably; for many times he has fallen into the fire and often into the water.

And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee!

But Hannah did not go up, for she said unto her husband, I will not go up until the child is weaned, and then I will bring him that he may be presented before the LORD and abide there for ever.

when I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois and thy mother Eunice, and I am persuaded that in thee also.

And he said, Come with me, and thou shalt see my zeal for the LORD. So they had him ride in his chariot. And when he came to Samaria, he slew all that had remained of Ahab in Samaria, until he had completely destroyed him, according to the word of the LORD which he had spoken to Elijah. And Jehu gathered all the people together and said unto them, Ahab served Baal a little but Jehu shall serve him much. read more.
Now, therefore, call unto me all the prophets of Baal, all his servants, and all his priests; let no one be lacking, for I have a great sacrifice to do to Baal; whoever is lacking shall not live. But Jehu did it in subtilty to the intent that he might destroy those that served Baal. And Jehu said, Sanctify a solemn assembly for Baal. And they proclaimed it. And Jehu sent through all Israel, and all the worshippers of Baal came, so that there was no one lacking that did not come. And they came into the house of Baal, and the house of Baal was full from one end to another. And he said to the one that was over the vestry, Bring forth vestments for all those that served Baal. And he brought them forth vestments. And Jehu went with Jehonadab the son of Rechab, into the house of Baal and said unto the servants of Baal, Search and make sure that none of the slaves of the LORD are here with you, but only the servants of Baal. And when they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings, Jehu put eighty men outside and said, Whoever leaves alive any of the men whom I have brought into your hands, his life shall be for that of the other. And after they had finished offering the burnt offering, Jehu said to those of his guard and to the captains, Go in, and slay them; let none escape. And they smote them with the edge of the sword, and the guard and the captains left them where they fell and went to the city of the house of Baal, and they removed the images out of the house of Baal and burned them. And they broke down the image of Baal and broke down the house of Baal and made it a latrine unto this day. Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel. However with all this, Jehu did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, who made Israel sin with the golden calves that were in Bethel and in Dan. And the LORD said unto Jehu, Because thou hast done well in executing that which is right in my eyes and hast done unto the house of Ahab according to all that was in my heart, thy sons shall sit on the throne of Israel unto the fourth generation.

And if it seems evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the river or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.

Then Sarah said, God has made me to laugh so that all that hear will laugh with me.

And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David if this people go up to sacrifice in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem; for the heart of this people shall turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboam, king of Judah, and they shall kill me and go again to Rehoboam, king of Judah. And having taken counsel, the king made two calves of gold and said unto the people, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem; behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. read more.
And he set the one in Bethel and the other he put in Dan. And this became an occasion for sin, for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan. And he made a house of high places and made priests of the lowest of the people, who were not of the sons of Levi. Then Jeroboam ordained a solemnity in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like unto the solemnity that was celebrated in Judah; and he sacrificed upon the altar. So did he in Bethel, sacrificing unto the calves that he had made. He also ordered in Bethel the priests of the high places which he had made. So he sacrificed upon the altar which he had made in Bethel on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, the month which he had devised of his own heart, and made a feast unto the sons of Israel; and he climbed up on the altar to burn incense.

These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.

That they seek me daily and want to know my ways, as people that do righteousness and have not forsaken the rights of their God: they ask me of the rights of righteousness and desire to approach God.

who say, Stand by thyself, do not come near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burns all the day.

And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They already have their reward.

Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he entered into his house; and with the windows open toward Jerusalem in his dining chamber, he knelt three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God as he was used to doing before.

For their strong one is not as our strong One, and even our enemies are judges of this. Therefore, their vine is of the vine of Sodom and of the fields of Gomorrah; their grapes are grapes of gall, their clusters are very bitter. Their wine is the poison of dragons and the cruel venom of asps.

And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.

And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus' feet and heard his word.

And when she was baptized, with her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and abide there. And she constrained us.

For he was a good man and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith, and many people were added unto the Lord.

They profess that they know God, but in works they deny him, being abominable and rebellious and reprobate unto every good work.

Therefore, thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest; for in that which thou dost judge another, thou dost condemn thyself; for thou that judgest others doest the same things.

And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser; she was of a great age and had lived with her husband seven years from her virginity, and she was a widow eighty-four years, who departed not from the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers.

And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he should see the Christ of the Lord. And he came by the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, read more.
then he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, Lord, now let thy slave depart in peace, according to thy word, for mine eyes have seen thy saving health, which thou hast prepared before the face of all the peoples: a light to be revealed unto the Gentiles and the glory of thy people Israel. And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him. And Simeon blessed them and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel and for a sign which shall be spoken against (yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

And Jabez was more honoured than his brethren, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I gave birth to him with sorrow. And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou would bless me indeed and enlarge my border and that thy hand might be with me and that thou would deliver me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.

And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good witness of all the Jews who dwelt there,

So the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said unto him, Thy son lives; and he believed, and his whole house.

He first found his own brother Simon and said unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.

a devout man and one that feared God with all his house, who gave many alms to the people and prayed to God always.

And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

If a man on the sabbath day receives circumcision without the law of Moses being broken, are ye angry at me because I have made a man entirely whole on the sabbath day?

Now when he had ended all his words in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum. And a certain centurion's slave, who was dear unto him, was sick and ready to die. And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and free his slave. read more.
And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he is worthy that this should be done for him, for he loves our nation and he has built us a synagogue. Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself, for I am not worthy that thou should enter under my roof; therefore neither did I think myself worthy to come unto thee but say the word, and my slave shall be healed. For I also am a man set under authority, having soldiers under me, and I say unto one, Go, and he goes; and to another, Come, and he comes; and to my slave, Do this, and he does it. When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him and turned about and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you that not even in Israel have I found such great faith. And those that had been sent, returning to the house, found the slave that had been sick whole.

Then the presidents and governors looked for occasions against Daniel on behalf of the kingdom, but they could find no occasion or fault because he was faithful, and no vice nor fault was found in him. Then these men said, We shall never find any occasion against this Daniel except we find it against him in the law of his God. Then these governors and presidents assembled together before the king and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever. read more.
All the presidents of the kingdom, magistrates, governors, great ones, and captains have agreed in common accord to promote a royal decree and to confirm it that whoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, except of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. Now, O king, confirm the decree and sign the writing that it not be moved, according to the law of Media and of Persia, which does not change. Therefore King Darius signed the writing and the decree. Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he entered into his house; and with the windows open toward Jerusalem in his dining chamber, he knelt three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God as he was used to doing before. Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. Then they went and spoke before the king concerning the royal decree; Hast thou not confirmed a decree that whoever shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Media and Persia, which does not change. Then they answered and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the sons of the captivity of the Jews, has not regarded thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast confirmed, but makes his petition three times a day. When the king, heard the matter, it weighed very heavy upon him, and he set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured until the going down of the sun to deliver him. Then those men assembled near the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that this is the law of Media and of Persia: No decree nor statute which the king has confirmed may be moved. Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king, speaking unto Daniel, said, Thy God whom thou servest continually, may he deliver thee. And a stone was brought and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signet ring of his princes that the agreement concerning Daniel might not be changed. Then the king went to his palace and lay down without eating; neither were instruments of music brought before him, and his sleep fled from him. Therefore, the king arose very early in the morning at dawn and went in haste unto the den of lions. And when he came to the den, he cried loudly with a sad voice unto Daniel; and the king, in speaking to Daniel said, Daniel, servant of the living God, has thy God, whom thou servest continually, been able to deliver thee from the lions? Then Daniel said unto the king, O king, live for ever. My God has sent his angel, who shut the lions' mouths, that they do me no evil because before him righteousness was found in me; and even before thee, O king, I have done no corruption.

Return to thine own house and tell what great things God has done unto thee. And he went, preaching throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done unto him.

Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him and said of him, Behold a true Israelite, in whom is no guile!

And he that sent me is with me: the Father has not left me alone, for I always do those things that please him.

And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

and she was a widow eighty-four years, who departed not from the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers.

the woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation, and she besought him that he would cast forth the demon out of her daughter.

And it came to pass that when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit;

Then Mary said, My soul magnifies the Lord,

And Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, took burnt offerings and sacrifices for God; and Aaron came, and all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses' father-in-law before God.

And it was so, when the days of their banquets were over, that Job sent and sanctified them and rose up early in the morning and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned and blasphemed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.

when I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois and thy mother Eunice, and I am persuaded that in thee also.

There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God and departed from evil.

And it was so, when the days of their banquets were over, that Job sent and sanctified them and rose up early in the morning and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned and blasphemed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.