50 Bible Verses about Religion

Peter opened his mouth, and said, I truly perceive that God shows no partiality. In every nation he accepts every person who respects him and does what is right.

Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to care for the fatherless persons and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself without spot from the world.

You, beloved, build yourself up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit. Stay in the love of God! Look (wait) for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ for everlasting life.

Yes, for this very reason you do your part with all diligence. Supply virtue to your faith. Add knowledge to your virtue. Include self-control with your knowledge. Supply patience to your self-control. Your patience should be helped by godliness. Add brotherly kindness to your godliness. And to your brotherly kindness add love. read more.
For if these things are yours and abound in you they will keep you from being inactive or unfruitful regarding the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these qualities is blind, seeing only what is near, having forgotten the cleansing from his old sins.

Teacher what is the greatest commandment in the law? Jesus told him: You shall love Jehovah your God with all your heart (Greek: kardia: feelings, emotions), and with all your being, and with your entire mind (Greek: dianoia: understanding). (Deuteronomy 6:5) This is the greatest and first commandment. read more.
The second like it is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' The law and the prophets are based on these two commandments.

Guard your step when you go to the house of God. It is better to go there and listen than to bring the sacrifices fools bring. Fools are not aware that they do evil.

Samuel said: What is more pleasing to Jehovah, burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Obeying is better than sacrifice. To pay attention is better than the fat of rams.

I desire loving-kindness (mercy), not sacrifice, and knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

since they have to do only with food, drink, and various purification ceremonies. These are all outward rules, which apply only until the time comes to change them for something better.

Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing. Obey the commandments of God.

Then they come to you, as if they are still my people, and they sit down in front of you. They listen to what you say, but they do not do it. They say that they love me, but in their hearts they chase dishonest profits. To them you are nothing more than a singer with a beautiful voice who sings love songs or a musician who plays an instrument. They listen to your words, but they do not do them.

They profess that they know God; but deny him by their works! They are detestable, disobedient, and not approved for any good work.

Not everyone who calls me Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven. He who does the will of my Father in heaven will enter.

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

Why do you call me Lord, and do not do what I tell you to do?

having a form of godliness, but denying its power. Stay away from people like this!

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have left undone the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy and faith. You should do both and leave nothing undone.

If you died with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to ordinances:

These people praise me with their words, said Jehovah, but they never draw near to me in their hearts (deepest thoughts). Their reverence for me comes from the repetitious tradition of men.

They seek me day by day. They delight to know my ways like a nation that has done righteousness and has not forsaken the ordinance of their God. They ask me for justice and delight. They are pleased that God is near.

The Lord answered: You hypocrites! You would untie your ox or your donkey from the stall and take it out to give it water on the Sabbath.

He did not say this because he cared for the poor. He was a thief. He had the moneybox and took away what was put in it.

They do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the unaware.

Jesus perceived their wickedness. He said: Why do you test me, you hypocrites?

You hypocrites, you know how to interpret the face of the earth and the heaven but how is it that you do not know how to interpret this time?

I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up here in Jerusalem as a student of Gamaliel. I received instruction in the Law of our ancestors and was just as zealous for God as are all of you.

Paul wanted to have him travel with him. So he had him circumcised because of the Jews who were in the area. For they knew that his father was a Greek.

Those who heard it glorified God. They said to him: You see brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews who have believed. They are all zealous for the law.

Some of the Pharisees asked: Why do you do what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath day?

I advanced as a Jew beyond many of my own age among my countrymen. I was more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.

Honor Jehovah and serve him sincerely and in truth. Get rid of the gods that your ancestors used to worship in Mesopotamia and in Egypt, and serve only Jehovah.

This way you may approve (test) the things that are excellent (of more value). May you be sincere and without offense (blameless) to others till the day of Christ.

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

This is our pride and testimony of conscience. In holiness and Godly sincerity we behaved ourselves in the world, and more abundantly toward you. It was not by fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God.

For we are not as the many, corrupting the word of God; but sincere and from God. We speak in Christ in the sight of God.

To love him with all the heart, and with all understanding, and with total strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is much more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.

I desire loving-kindness (mercy), not sacrifice, and knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to care for the fatherless persons and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself without spot from the world.

He told you, O lowly man, what is good and what Jehovah requires of you. You should display justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God!

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Respect God, and obey his commandments for this is the whole duty of man.

Thousands of people in the crowd were gathered together so much that they bumped into one another. He said to his disciples: First of all, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

They profess that they know God; but deny him by their works! They are detestable, disobedient, and not approved for any good work.

through the hypocrisy of men that speak lies, branded in their own conscience as with a hot iron.

You appear righteous to men. However, inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

Just as he thinks in his heart: Eat and drink, he says to you. But his heart is not with you.

Now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and poor fundamental things? Do you want to slave for them all over again?

When they come from the marketplace they wash themselves before they eat. They follow many other rules. They wash their cups, and brass pots, and other vessels.

Why do you test God by placing a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, one that our fathers were not able to bear?

Christ liberated us for freedom (moral liberty). Stand fast therefore, and do not become entangled again in a yoke of bondage.

If you died with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to ordinances:

He has not left himself without witness. For he did good and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.

Ask the animals and they will teach you, or the birds of the air and they will tell you. Speak to the earth and it will teach you, or let the fish of the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of Jehovah has done this? read more.
In his hand are the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind. Does not the ear test words as the tongue tastes food? Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding? To God belong wisdom and power. Counsel and understanding are his. What he tears down cannot be rebuilt. The man he imprisons cannot be released. If he holds back the waters, there is drought. If he lets them loose, they devastate the land. To him belong strength and victory. Both deceived and deceivers are his.

However no one says: 'Where is God my Maker, who gives strength in the night?' Who teaches us more than the animals of the earth, and makes us wiser than the birds of the air? They cry out, but he does not answer, because of the pride of evildoers.

([Psalm of David]) The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky displays what his hands have made. Day to day declares speech. Night to night shows knowledge. It is done without talking, without words, without their voices being heard. read more.
Yet, their measuring line (rule) has gone out into the entire world, their message to the ends of the earth. He has set up a tent in the heavens for the sun. It comes out of its chamber like a bridegroom. Like a champion, it is eager to run its course. It rises from one end of the heavens. It circles around to the other. Nothing is hidden from its heat.

As I passed along, and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: To An Unknown God. What you worship as unknown, this I will proclaim to you. The God that made the world and all things in it is the Lord of heaven and earth. He does not live in temples made with hands. Men's hands do not serve him as if he needed anything. He gives life and breath to all. read more.
From one person he made every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth. He determined their appointed seasons, and the bounds of their habitation. God did this so man could seek him and might find him. He is not far from each one of us. In him we live, and move, and have our existence. Your own poets have said: For we are also his offspring.

I saw that they did not walk uprightly according to the truth of the good news. Therefore I said to Cephas, in front of them all: If you, being a Jew, live as the nations do and not as the Jews, why do you compel the people of the nations to live like the Jews?

You then who teach another, do you teach yourself? You who preach not to steal, do you steal?

Jehovah said to Abram: Leave your country, your people, and your father's household, and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you. I will make your name great. You will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you. I will curse whoever curses you. All the people on earth will be blessed through you. read more.
So Abram left, just as Jehovah told him. Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Haran. He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Haran. They set out for the land of Canaan and soon arrived there. Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the great (oak) tree of Moreh at Shechem. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. Jehovah appeared to Abram and said: I will give this land to your offspring (seed). He built an altar there to Jehovah, who had appeared to him. From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent. Bethel was on the west and Ai on the east. He built an altar to Jehovah and called on the name of Jehovah.

The men left there and went toward Sodom. Abraham still stood before Jehovah. Abraham came near and said: Will you destroy the righteous with the wicked? Suppose there were fifty righteous within the city. Would you also destroy the place and not spare it because the righteous people are there? read more.
Surely you would not do that! Would you slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked? Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? Jehovah said: If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, I will spare the entire place for their sakes. Then Abraham answered and said: Indeed now, I who am only dust and ashes have taken it upon myself to speak to Jehovah: Suppose there were five less than the fifty righteous. Would you destroy the entire city for lack of five? So He (God) said: If I find there forty-five, I will not destroy it. Abraham spoke again: Suppose there should be forty found there? God replied: I will not do it for the sake of forty. Abraham then said: Do not be angry, and let me speak. Suppose thirty should be found there? God replied: I will not do it if I find thirty there. Abraham then said: Indeed now, I have taken it upon myself to speak to Jehovah: Suppose twenty should be found there? God replied: I will not destroy it for the sake of twenty. Abraham again queried: Please do not be angry as I speak once more: Suppose ten should be found there? God said: I will not destroy it for the sake of ten. Jehovah went his way as soon as he finished speaking with Abraham. Abraham returned to his place.

He thought to himself: The way things are my people will go to Jerusalem and offer sacrifices to Jehovah at the Temple there. They will transfer their allegiance to King Rehoboam of Judah and will kill me. After asking for advice, the king made two golden calves. He said: You have been worshiping in Jerusalem long enough. Israel, here are your gods who brought you out of Egypt. read more.
He placed one in Bethel and the other in Dan. This became Israel's sin, worshiping the golden calves. The people went as far as Dan to worship the one calf. Jeroboam built worship sites on hilltops. He appointed men who were not descended from Levi to be priests. Jeroboam appointed a festival on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, just like the festival in Judah. He went to the altar in Bethel to sacrifice to the calves he had made. He appointed priests from the illegal worship sites to serve in Bethel. He went to his altar in Bethel to burn an offering on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, the festival he invented for the Israelites.

The priests and Levites in every region of Israel aligned with Rehoboam. The priests abandoned their land and property and went to Judah and Jerusalem because Jeroboam and his descendants rejected them as Jehovah's priests. As an alternative, Jeroboam appointed his own priests for the illegal worship sites and the goat and calf statues he had made as idols.

Why do you see the speck in your brother's eye? Do you not consider the beam in your own eye?

Obey everything they teach you, but do not follow their example. They say one thing and do something else.

Now gather all Israel together before me at Mount Carmel. Also gather the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal who get their food at Jezebel's table.

The priests and Levites in every region of Israel aligned with Rehoboam. The priests abandoned their land and property and went to Judah and Jerusalem because Jeroboam and his descendants rejected them as Jehovah's priests. As an alternative, Jeroboam appointed his own priests for the illegal worship sites and the goat and calf statues he had made as idols.

He who says: I know him, and does not obey his commandments is a liar! The truth is not in him.

Blessing and cursing come out of the same mouth! My brothers, these things should not be.

Jacob left Beer-sheba and traveled toward Haran. As soon as the sun went down he stopped for the night. He took one of the stones from that place, put it under his head, and lay down there. He had a dream in which he saw a stairway set up on the earth with its top reaching up to heaven. He saw the angels of God going up and coming down on it. read more.
Jehovah was standing above the stairway. He proclaimed: I am Jehovah, the God of your grandfather Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give the land on which you are lying to you and your descendants. Your descendants will be like the dust on the earth. You will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. Every family on earth will be blessed through you and through your descendants. Remember, I am with you. I will watch over you wherever you go. I will also bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I do what I have promised you. Jacob woke up from his sleep and said: Truly, Jehovah is in this place, and I did not know it! He was filled with reverence. He said: This is an awesome place! Certainly, this is the house of God and the gateway to the heavens! Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had under his head. He set it up as a marker and poured oil on top of it. He named that place Bethel (House of God). Previously, the name of the city was Luz. Jacob made a vow. He said: If God will be with me and will watch over me on my trip and give me food to eat and clothes to wear, and if I return safely to my father's home, then Jehovah will be my God. This stone I placed as a marker will be the house of God. I will certainly give you a tenth of everything you give me.

Then Jacob was by himself. A man was fighting with him till dawn. The man saw that he was not able to overcome Jacob. He gave him a blow in the hollow part of his thigh, so that his leg was damaged. He said to him: Let me go now, for the dawn is near. But Jacob said: I will not let you go till you have given me your blessing. read more.
Then he asked: What is your name? And he said, Jacob. The man said: Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel (He Struggles With God), because you have struggled with God and with men and you have won. Jacob said: Please tell me your name. The man answered: Why do you ask for my name? Then he blessed Jacob there. Jacob named that place Peniel (Face of God), because he said: I have seen God face to face, yet my life was saved. The sun rose as he passed Penuel. He was limping because of his thigh. Therefore, even today the people of Israel do not eat the muscle of the thigh (the sinew) attached to the hip socket. This is because God touched the socket of Jacob's thigh at the muscle.

Hezekiah read the letters from the messengers. Then he went to Jehovah's Temple and shared them with Jehovah. He prayed: Jehovah of Hosts, God of Israel, you are enthroned above the angels. You alone are God of all the kingdoms of the earth. You made heaven and earth. Turn your ear (listen) (pay attention) to me, O Jehovah, and listen. Open your eyes, Jehovah, and see. Listen to the message Sennacherib sent to defy the living God. read more.
It is true Jehovah. The kings of Assyria have devastated nations. They threw the gods from these countries into fires because these gods are not real gods. They are only wooden and stone statues made by human hands. So the Assyrians have destroyed them. Rescue us from Assyria's control, O Jehovah our God, so that all the kingdoms on earth will know that you alone are Jehovah God.

He did what was right in the eyes of Jehovah as David his father had done. He removed the high places. He broke the stone pillars to bits, and cut down the Asherah poles. The brass snake that Moses had made was crushed to powder at his command, because in those days the children of Israel had offerings burned before it, and he gave it the name Nehushtan. Hezekiah had faith in Jehovah, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah who were before him. read more.
For his heart was fixed on Jehovah. He did not turn from his ways. Hezekiah obeyed Jehovah's commandments that Jehovah gave to Moses. Jehovah was with Hezekiah. He did well in everything he did. He took up arms against the king of Assyria and was his servant no longer.

There the angel of Jehovah appeared to him in a flame of fire coming from the middle of a bush. Moses saw that the bush was on fire but that it was not burning up. This is strange, he thought. Why is the bush not burning up? I will go closer and see. Jehovah saw that Moses came closer. He called to him from the middle of the bush: Moses! Moses! Moses answered: Yes, here I am. read more.
God said: Do not come any closer. Take off your sandals, because you are standing on holy ground. I am the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Moses covered his face, because he was afraid to look at God. Jehovah said: I have seen how my people are suffering as slaves in Egypt. I have heard them beg for my help because of the way they are being mistreated. I feel sorry for them. I have come down to rescue them from the Egyptians. I will bring my people out of Egypt into a country where there is good land, rich with milk and honey. I will give them the land where the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites now live. My people have begged for my help. I have seen how cruel the Egyptians are to them. Now go to Pharaoh! I am sending you to lead my people out of his country. But Moses said: Who am I to go to Pharaoh and lead your people out of Egypt? God said: I will be with you! This shall be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God at this mountain. Then Moses said to God: Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel. I will say to them: 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you.' Now they may ask me: 'What is His name?' What shall I say to them?' God then said to Moses: [I exist and] I WILL BE WHO I WILL BE. You shall say to the sons of Israel: I WILL BE, has sent me to you.' (Hebrew: hayah, I was, I am, I will be gives evidence of God's eternal existence) God, further said to Moses: You shall say to the sons of Israel: 'JEHOVAH, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.' (JEHOVAH) THIS IS MY NAME FOREVER! This is my memorial-name to all generations. Go and gather the elders of Israel together and say to them: JEHOVAH, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, has appeared to me. He said: I am indeed concerned about you and what has been done to you in Egypt. So I said: 'I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanite and the Hittite and the Amorite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite, to a land flowing with milk and honey.' They will listen to what you say. You with the elders of Israel will approach the king of Egypt. You will say to him: 'Jehovah the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. So now, please, let us go a three days journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to Jehovah our God.' I know that the king of Egypt will not permit you to go, except under compulsion. So I will stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all my wonders that I will do in it's midst. After that he will let you go. I will grant this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. When you go you will not go empty handed. But every woman shall ask of her neighbor and the woman who lives in her house, articles of silver and articles of gold, and clothing. You will put them on your sons and daughters. Thus you will plunder the Egyptians.

Jehovah blessed Jehoshaphat because he followed the example of his father's early life and did not worship Baal. He served his father's God. He obeyed God's commandments, and did not act the way the kings of Israel did. Jehovah gave Jehoshaphat firm control over the kingdom of Judah. The people brought him gifts, so that he became wealthy and highly honored. read more.
His heart was devoted to the ways of Jehovah. He destroyed all the pagan places of worship and the symbols of the goddess Asherah in Judah. In the third year of his reign he sent out the following officials to teach in the cities of Judah: Benhail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah. With them were the Levites Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, Tob Adonijah, and the priests Elishama and Jehoram. They taught in Judah. They had the Book of Torah (the Law) (Jehovah's Teachings) with them when they taught the people in all the cities of Judah.

By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain. Through this he was commended as righteous. God testified about his gifts. Thus through faith he still speaks even though he is dead.

But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn (firstlings) of his flock. Jehovah looked with favor on Abel and his offering. He did not look with favor on Cain and his offering. So Cain became very angry, and his face was downcast (he had a bad attitude). Jehovah said to Cain: Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? read more.
If you do what is right, will not your attitude improve? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door. It desires to have you, but you must master it. While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.

This is what Hezekiah did throughout Judah. He did what was good and right and true to Jehovah his God.

Give my son Solomon a wholehearted desire to obey everything that you command and to build the Temple for which I have made these preparations.

This amounted to one-fifth of an ounce per person, for everyone counted who was at least twenty years old. There were six hundred and three thousand five hundred and fifty people.

Jehovah again spoke to Moses: When you take a census of the people of Israel, each man is to pay me a price for his life. This to insure that no disaster will come on him while the census is being taken. Everyone included in the census must pay the required amount of money. It should be weighed according to the official standard. Everyone must pay this as an offering to me. read more.
Every man being counted in the census who is twenty years old or older is to pay me this amount. The rich man is not to pay more. The poor man is not to pay less, when they pay this amount for their lives. Collect this money from the people of Israel and spend it for the upkeep of the tent of meeting. This tax will be the payment for their lives. I will remember to protect them.

Jabez cried out to the God of Israel: Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain. And God granted his request.

You know my father David could not build a Temple for the worship of Jehovah due to the constant wars he had to fight. There were enemies in countries all around him. First Jehovah had to give him victory over all his enemies. Jehovah my God has given me peace on all my borders. I have no enemies, and there is no danger of attack. Jehovah promised my father David: 'Your son, whom I will make king after you, will build a Temple for me. I have decided to build that Temple for the worship of Jehovah my God.'

David pleaded with God for the child. He fasted and lay on the ground all night.

But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them learn first to show righteousness towards their own family, and to repay their parents: for this is acceptable in the sight of God.

If a brother or sister is without clothes and in lack of daily food, and one of you says to them: Go in peace, be warmed and filled; and yet you do not give them food and clothing, what good is it?

Have no fear Zechariah, said the angel, for God has heard your prayer. Your wife Elisabeth will have a son and his name will be John.

His father Zechariah was filled with Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying, Blessed be Jehovah, the God of Israel. He has visited his people and brought them redemption. (Psalm 72:18) He raised up a horn of salvation (power of deliverance) for us in the house of his servant David read more.
He spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from ages past. He provided salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us. He shows mercy towards our fathers and remembers his holy covenant. It was the oath he spoke to Abraham our father. He gave us deliverance out of the hand of our enemies so we could serve him without fear. May we serve in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. Your child will be called the prophet of the Most High. You will go in advance of Jehovah God to make his ways ready. (Malachi 3:1) To give knowledge of salvation to his people in the remission of their sins. A rising of light will visit us from on high because of the tender mercy of our God. The light will shine on them who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. It will guide our feet into the way of peace.

After all this you say: 'I am innocent. God will turn his anger from me. For I have not sinned.'

[Verse not found in oldest manuscripts.]

I am mindful of your sincere faith, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well.

Lord, have mercy on my son. He has mental problems and is in great pain. He frequently falls into the fire and into the water.

Abraham said to God: If only Ishmael might live under your blessing!

This time Hannah did not go. She told her husband: As soon as the child is weaned, I will take him to the Temple of Jehovah, where he will stay all his life.

I am mindful of your sincere faith, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well.

He said: Come with me and see how I am on fire with zeal for Jehovah's cause. So he made him go with him in his chariot. When Jehu arrived at Samaria, he put to death all those of Ahab's family who were still in Samaria. There were no more of them, as Jehovah had said to Elijah. Jehu assembled all the people and said to them: Ahab was Baal's servant in a small way, but Jehu will be his servant on a great scale. read more.
Now send for all the prophets of Baal, all his servants and priests, to come to me. Let no one stay away for I have a great offering to make to Baal. Anyone who is not present will be put to death. Jehu did this with deceit. It was his purpose to destroy the servants of Baal. Jehu said: Let there be a special holy meeting for the worship of Baal. So a public statement was made. Jehu sent through all Israel; and all the servants of Baal came, not one kept away. They entered the house of Baal. It was full from one end to the other end. Jehu said to the keeper of the robes: Get out robes for all the servants of Baal. So he got out robes for them. Jehu, with Jehonadab, the son of Rechab, went into the house of Baal. He said to the servants of Baal: Make a search with care, to see that no servant of Jehovah is with you, but only servants of Baal. They went in to make offerings and burned offerings. Jehu put eighty men outside. He told them: If any man whom I give into your hands escapes, he who lets him go will forfeit his own life for that life. As soon as he finished offering the burned offering Jehu said to the armed men and the captains: Go in and put them to death! Do not let one come out! So they put them to the sword. Pulling the images to the ground, they went into the holy place of the house of Baal. They removed the image of Asherah from the house of Baal and burned it. The altar of Baal was pulled down and the house of Baal was broken up and made an unclean place, as it is to this day. Jehu put an end to the worship of Baal in Israel. But Jehu did not keep himself from all the sins of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, and the evil he made Israel do. The gold calves were still worshiped in Bethel and in Dan. Jehovah said to Jehu: You have done well by doing what is right in my eyes. You carried out my purpose for the family of Ahab. Therefore your sons will be kings of Israel to the fourth generation.

If you are not willing to serve him, decide today whom you will serve, the gods your ancestors worshiped in Mesopotamia or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are now living. As for my family and me, we will serve Jehovah.'

Enoch walked with God. Then he was no more, because God took (moved) him away.

Sarah said: God brought me laughter. Everyone who hears about this will laugh on account of me.

He thought to himself: The way things are my people will go to Jerusalem and offer sacrifices to Jehovah at the Temple there. They will transfer their allegiance to King Rehoboam of Judah and will kill me. After asking for advice, the king made two golden calves. He said: You have been worshiping in Jerusalem long enough. Israel, here are your gods who brought you out of Egypt. read more.
He placed one in Bethel and the other in Dan. This became Israel's sin, worshiping the golden calves. The people went as far as Dan to worship the one calf. Jeroboam built worship sites on hilltops. He appointed men who were not descended from Levi to be priests. Jeroboam appointed a festival on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, just like the festival in Judah. He went to the altar in Bethel to sacrifice to the calves he had made. He appointed priests from the illegal worship sites to serve in Bethel. He went to his altar in Bethel to burn an offering on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, the festival he invented for the Israelites.

This is the ACCOUNT OF NOAH. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time. He walked with God.

They seek me day by day. They delight to know my ways like a nation that has done righteousness and has not forsaken the ordinance of their God. They ask me for justice and delight. They are pleased that God is near.

They say: 'Keep away! Do not come near me, for I am too sacred for you! Such people are smoke in my nostrils, a fire that keeps burning all day.'

Do not pray like the hypocrites! They want everyone to see them in the houses of worship and on the street corners. I assure you they have been paid in full.

Daniel knew that the decree was signed. He went into his house. His windows were open in his chamber toward Jerusalem. He kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, like he did before.

Their rock is not like our rock! Their enemies know that their own gods are weak, not mighty like Israel's God. Their vine is like the vine of Sodom. Their fields are like Gomorrah. Their grapes are grapes of anger. Their clusters are bitter. Their wine is the poison of serpents, and the cruel venom of asps (cobras).

That very hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds. Then he and all his family were baptized.

Her sister Mary sat at the Lord's feet and heard his word.

When she and her household were baptized she came to us saying, If you judge me to be faithful to God, come to my house, and stay there. She absolutely insisted that we come.

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

They profess that they know God; but deny him by their works! They are detestable, disobedient, and not approved for any good work.

You who judge have no excuse. For when you judge another you condemn yourself. After all you do the same things.

Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher was a very old prophetess. She had been a widow eighty-four years. She never left the temple. She worshipped and fasted with supplications day and night.

There was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout. He was waiting for God to save Israel. God's Holy Spirit was working in him. Holy Spirit revealed to him that he would not die before he saw the Christ of God. Under the power of the spirit he came to the temple. The parents brought in the child Jesus, that they obey the custom of the law. read more.
He received him into his arms, and blessed God, and said: Let your servant depart according to your word in peace. My eyes have seen your salvation. That which you prepared before the peoples. It is a light of revelation to the nations, and the glory of your people Israel. Jesus' father and mother were amazed at the things that were spoken concerning him. Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother: This child is set for the falling and the rising of many in Israel and for a sign that is spoken against. A sword will pierce through your mind that the thoughts of many hearts will be disclosed.

Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez. She said: I gave birth to him in pain. Jabez cried out to the God of Israel: Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain. And God granted his request.

A man named Ananias was in that city. He is a religious man who obeyed our Law and was highly respected by all the Jews living there.

The father knew that it was the same hour in which Jesus said: Your son lives. He and his entire household believed.

He found his brother Simon first. He said to him: We have found the Messiah (Christ).

He was a devout man who respected God with his entire household. He gave many gifts of mercy to the people and prayed to God always.

Why do you call me Lord, and do not do what I tell you to do?

A man receives circumcision on the Sabbath. That way the Law of Moses may not be broken. Are you angry with me, because I made an entire man whole on the Sabbath?

After he taught the people he went to Capernaum. A centurion's servant, who was highly regarded by him, was sick and at the point of death. When he heard about him he contacted Jesus through the Jewish elders. He asked him to come and save his servant. read more.
They came to Jesus and earnestly pleaded with him saying: He is worthy and you should do this for him. He loves our nation and he also built our synagogue for us. Jesus went with them. As he approached the house, the centurion sent friends to him saying, Lord do not trouble yourself. I am not worthy that you should come under my roof. I am also not worthy to come to you. Just say the word, and my servant will be healed. I also am a man with much authority. I am in charge of soldiers and say to this one go and he goes and to another I say come and he comes. I tell my servant to do this and he does it. Jesus heard this and marveled at him. He turned to the crowd and said, I tell you I find no greater faith in Israel. When the messengers returned to the house they found the servant in good health.

Then the commissioners and the governors sought to find a charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom. They could find no charge, nor error, nor fault, for he was faithful. These men said: We shall not find any charge against Daniel, unless we find it against him in the Law of his God. Then these commissioners and governors assembled before the king, and said: King Darius, may you live for a very long time. read more.
All the governors of the kingdom, the deputies and the governors, the counselors consulted together to establish a royal statute. They made a strong decree, that whoever prays to any god or man for thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be thrown into the den of lions. Now, O king, establish the decree by signing the document. That it will not be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be altered. King Darius signed the document for the decree. Daniel knew that the decree was signed. He went into his house. His windows were open in his chamber toward Jerusalem. He kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, like he did before. These men assembled together. They found Daniel making petition and supplication before his God. They approached the king about his decree: Did you sign a decree stating that every man that shall make petition to any god or man within thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be thrown into the den of lions? The king answered: The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which may not be altered. Then they said: Daniel, who is of the children of the captivity of Judah, does not show you respect, O king, nor the decree that you signed. He offers his prayer three times a day. Then the king, when he heard these words, was very displeased with himself. He was determined that Daniel not be delivered to him; and he labored all day to rescue him. Then these men assembled before the king and said: Know, O king that it is a law of the Medes and Persians, that no decree or statute that the king establishes may be changed. Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and threw him into the den of lions. The king spoke to Daniel: Your God whom you serve will deliver you. A stone was placed over the mouth of the den. The king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel. The king went to his palace and did not eat. He refused musical entertainment and he could not sleep. He arose very early in the morning, and went in haste to the den of lions. He came near to the den and cried with a lamentable voice to Daniel: O Daniel, servant of the living God, did the God you serve deliver you from the lion? Daniel said to the king: O king, may you live for a very long time. My God sent his angel, and shut the lions' mouths. They did not hurt me. I was found innocent before him. I have done no wrong before you, O king.

Return to your house and declare the great things God has done for you. He went throughout the whole city telling the great things Jesus had done for him.

Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him. He said: Look an Israelite indeed. There is no deceit in him!

He sent me and is with me. He has not left me alone. I always do the things that are pleasing to him!

There was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout. He was waiting for God to save Israel. God's Holy Spirit was working in him.

She had been a widow eighty-four years. She never left the temple. She worshipped and fasted with supplications day and night.

The woman was a Greek Syrophoenician by race. She wanted him to drive out the demon out of her daughter.

When Elisabeth heard the greeting from Mary, the babe leaped in her womb. Elisabeth was filled with Holy Spirit.

Mary said: My life magnifies Jehovah my God. (1 Samuel 2:1)

Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat a meal with Moses' father-in-law before God.

The morning after each feast, Job would get up early to offer sacrifices for each of his children in order to purify them. He always did this because he thought that one of them might have sinned by insulting God unintentionally.

I am mindful of your sincere faith, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well.

A man named Job lived in Uz. He was a man of integrity! He was decent, he respected God, and he stayed away from evil.

The morning after each feast, Job would get up early to offer sacrifices for each of his children in order to purify them. He always did this because he thought that one of them might have sinned by insulting God unintentionally.