“If you say, ‘How shall we persecute him?’
And ‘What pretext for a case against him can we find?’

Nevertheless, God has found a pretext to attack me; he considers me his enemy.

The lips of the wise broadcast knowledge,
but not so the heart of fools.

He who [willfully] separates himself [from God and man] seeks his own desire,
He quarrels against all sound wisdom.

Then the presidents and the satraps sought to find a pretext against Daniel with respect to the kingdom; but they could not find any pretext or fault; inasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.

Then said these men, We shall not find any pretext against this Daniel, unless we find it against him touching the law of his God.

But alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you eat up the houses of widows, and for a pretext make long prayers. For this reason, you shall receive the greater condemnation.

But he went out and began to tell every one and to publish it broadcast, so that Jesus could no longer enter any town openly; but he had to remain outside in lonely places, and people kept coming to him from every quarter.

who devour the houses of widows, and as a pretext make long prayers. These shall receive a severer judgment.

who devour the houses of widows, and as a pretext make long prayers. These shall receive a severer judgment.

if I had not come and spoken to them, they were not having sin; but now pretext they have not for their sin.

Then they with many additional threatenings dismissed them, finding no pretext how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for what had been done.

Now then, you and the Council must notify the tribune to bring him down to you on the pretext that you want to look into his case more carefully, but before he arrives we'll be ready to kill him."

the Jews, said he, have agreed to desire you would send Paul down to-morrow to the council, under the pretext of examining him more strictly.

But the sailors wishing to flee out of the ship, and having let down the boat into the sea under pretext of being about to carry out anchors from the prow,

And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;

(As Scripture says--'He scattered broadcast, he gave to the poor; His righteousness continues for ever.'

for, brethren, you have been called to liberty. only abuse not this freedom as a pretext to vice, but in offices of love be as servants one to another.

What is it then? at any rate, in every way, whether in pretext or in truth, Christ is announced; and in this I rejoice, yea, also I will rejoice;

For we have not at any time been among you with flattering discourse, even as ye know, nor with a pretext for covetousness, God is witness;

Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover or pretext for evil, but [use it and live] as bond-servants of God.