Scripture Reading

Amos.5,Rom.4.1-Rom.4.15,Ps.86.1-Ps.86.10

Amos.5

Amos.5.1

Hear ye this word which I take up against you, even a lamentation, O house of Israel.

Amos.5.1

Listen to this, family of Israel, this Message I'm sending in bold print, this tragic warning:

Amos.5.1

Hear this word, O house of Israel, this lament I take up concerning you:

Amos.5.1

Hear this word which I take up against you, a lamentation, O house of Israel:

Amos.5.1

Listen, you people of Israel! Listen to this funeral song I am singing:

Amos.5.2

The virgin of Israel is fallen; she shall no more rise: she is forsaken upon her land; there is none to raise her up.

Amos.5.2

"Virgin Israel has fallen flat on her face. She'll never stand up again. She's been left where she's fallen. No one offers to help her up."

Amos.5.2

"Fallen is Virgin Israel, never to rise again, deserted in her own land, with no one to lift her up."

Amos.5.2

The virgin of Israel has fallen; She will rise no more. She lies forsaken on her land; There is no one to raise her up.

Amos.5.2

"The virgin Israel has fallen, never to rise again! She lies forsaken on the ground, with none to raise her up."

Amos.5.3

For thus saith the Lord GOD; The city that went out by a thousand shall leave an hundred, and that which went forth by an hundred shall leave ten, to the house of Israel.

Amos.5.3

This is the Message, GOD's Word: "The city that marches out with a thousand will end up with a hundred. The city that marches out with a hundred will end up with ten. Oh, family of Israel!"

Amos.5.3

This is what the Sovereign LORD says: "The city that marches out a thousand strong for Israel will have only a hundred left; the town that marches out a hundred strong will have only ten left."

Amos.5.3

For thus says the Lord GOD: "The city that goes out by a thousand Shall have a hundred left, And that which goes out by a hundred Shall have ten left to the house of Israel."

Amos.5.3

The Sovereign LORD says: "When one of your cities sends a thousand men to battle, only a hundred will return. When a town sends a hundred, only ten will come back alive."

Amos.5.4

For thus saith the LORD unto the house of Israel, Seek ye me, and ye shall live:

Amos.5.4

GOD's Message to the family of Israel: "Seek me and live.

Amos.5.4

This is what the LORD says to the house of Israel: "Seek me and live;

Amos.5.4

For thus says the LORD to the house of Israel: "Seek Me and live;

Amos.5.4

Now this is what the LORD says to the family of Israel: "Come back to me and live!

Amos.5.5

But seek not Bethel, nor enter into Gilgal, and pass not to Beersheba: for Gilgal shall surely go into captivity, and Bethel shall come to nought.

Amos.5.5

Don't fool around at those shrines of Bethel, Don't waste time taking trips to Gilgal, and don't bother going down to Beer-sheba. Gilgal is here today and gone tomorrow and Bethel is all show, no substance."

Amos.5.5

do not seek Bethel, do not go to Gilgal, do not journey to Beersheba. For Gilgal will surely go into exile, and Bethel will be reduced to nothing. "

Amos.5.5

But do not seek Bethel, Nor enter Gilgal, Nor pass over to Beersheba; For Gilgal shall surely go into captivity, And Bethel shall come to nothing.

Amos.5.5

Don't go to worship the idols of Bethel, Gilgal, or Beersheba. For the people of Gilgal will be dragged off into exile, and the people of Bethel will come to nothing."

Amos.5.6

Seek the LORD, and ye shall live; lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and devour it, and there be none to quench it in Bethel.

Amos.5.6

So seek GOD and live! You don't want to end up with nothing to show for your life But a pile of ashes, a house burned to the ground. For God will send just such a fire, and the firefighters will show up too late.

Amos.5.6

Seek the LORD and live, or he will sweep through the house of Joseph like a fire; it will devour, and Bethel will have no one to quench it.

Amos.5.6

Seek the LORD and live, Lest He break out like fire in the house of Joseph, And devour it, With no one to quench it in Bethel--

Amos.5.6

Come back to the LORD and live! If you don't, he will roar through Israel like a fire, devouring you completely. Your gods in Bethel certainly won't be able to quench the flames!

Amos.5.7

Ye who turn judgment to wormwood, and leave off righteousness in the earth,

Amos.5.7

Woe to you who turn justice to vinegar and stomp righteousness into the mud.

Amos.5.7

You who turn justice into bitterness and cast righteousness to the ground

Amos.5.7

You who turn justice to wormwood, And lay righteousness to rest in the earth!"

Amos.5.7

You wicked people! You twist justice, making it a bitter pill for the poor and oppressed. Righteousness and fair play are meaningless fictions to you.

Amos.5.8

Seek him that maketh the seven stars and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night: that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The LORD is his name:

Amos.5.8

Do you realize where you are? You're in a cosmos star-flung with constellations by God, A world God wakes up each morning and puts to bed each night. God dips water from the ocean and gives the land a drink. GOD, God-revealed, does all this.

Amos.5.8

(he who made the Pleiades and Orion, who turns blackness into dawn and darkens day into night, who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out over the face of the land- the LORD is his name-

Amos.5.8

He made the Pleiades and Orion; He turns the shadow of death into morning And makes the day dark as night; He calls for the waters of the sea And pours them out on the face of the earth; The LORD is His name.

Amos.5.8

It is the LORD who created the stars, the Pleiades and Orion. It is he who turns darkness into morning and day into night. It is he who draws up water from the oceans and pours it down as rain on the land. The LORD is his name!

Amos.5.9

That strengtheneth the spoiled against the strong, so that the spoiled shall come against the fortress.

Amos.5.9

And he can destroy it as easily as make it. He can turn this vast wonder into total waste.

Amos.5.9

he flashes destruction on the stronghold and brings the fortified city to ruin),

Amos.5.9

He rains ruin upon the strong, So that fury comes upon the fortress.

Amos.5.9

With blinding speed and power he destroys the strong, crushing all their defenses.

Amos.5.10

They hate him that rebuketh in the gate, and they abhor him that speaketh uprightly.

Amos.5.10

People hate this kind of talk. Raw truth is never popular.

Amos.5.10

you hate the one who reproves in court and despise him who tells the truth.

Amos.5.10

They hate the one who rebukes in the gate, And they abhor the one who speaks uprightly.

Amos.5.10

How you hate honest judges! How you despise people who tell the truth!

Amos.5.11

Forasmuch therefore as your treading is upon the poor, and ye take from him burdens of wheat: ye have built houses of hewn stone, but ye shall not dwell in them; ye have planted pleasant vineyards, but ye shall not drink wine of them.

Amos.5.11

But here it is, bluntly spoken: Because you run roughshod over the poor and take the bread right out of their mouths, You're never going to move into the luxury homes you have built. You're never going to drink wine from the expensive vineyards you've planted.

Amos.5.11

You trample on the poor and force him to give you grain. Therefore, though you have built stone mansions, you will not live in them; though you have planted lush vineyards, you will not drink their wine.

Amos.5.11

Therefore, because you tread down the poor And take grain taxes from him, Though you have built houses of hewn stone, Yet you shall not dwell in them; You have planted pleasant vineyards, But you shall not drink wine from them.

Amos.5.11

You trample the poor and steal what little they have through taxes and unfair rent. Therefore, you will never live in the beautiful stone houses you are building. You will never drink wine from the lush vineyards you are planting.

Amos.5.12

For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins: they afflict the just, they take a bribe, and they turn aside the poor in the gate from their right.

Amos.5.12

I know precisely the extent of your violations, the enormity of your sins. Appalling! You bully right-living people, taking bribes right and left and kicking the poor when they're down.

Amos.5.12

For I know how many are your offenses and how great your sins. You oppress the righteous and take bribes and you deprive the poor of justice in the courts.

Amos.5.12

For I know your manifold transgressions And your mighty sins: Afflicting the just and taking bribes; Diverting the poor from justice at the gate.

Amos.5.12

For I know the vast number of your sins and rebellions. You oppress good people by taking bribes and deprive the poor of justice in the courts.

Amos.5.13

Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time; for it is an evil time.

Amos.5.13

Justice is a lost cause. Evil is epidemic. Decent people throw up their hands. Protest and rebuke are useless, a waste of breath.

Amos.5.13

Therefore the prudent man keeps quiet in such times, for the times are evil.

Amos.5.13

Therefore the prudent keep silent at that time, For it is an evil time.

Amos.5.13

So those who are wise will keep quiet, for it is an evil time.

Amos.5.14

Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live: and so the LORD, the God of hosts, shall be with you, as ye have spoken.

Amos.5.14

Seek good and not evil--and live! You talk about GOD, the God-of-the-Angel-Armies, being your best friend. Well, live like it, and maybe it will happen.

Amos.5.14

Seek good, not evil, that you may live. Then the LORD God Almighty will be with you, just as you say he is.

Amos.5.14

Seek good and not evil, That you may live; So the LORD God of hosts will be with you, As you have spoken.

Amos.5.14

Do what is good and run from evil--that you may live! Then the LORD God Almighty will truly be your helper, just as you have claimed he is.

Amos.5.15

Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph.

Amos.5.15

Hate evil and love good, then work it out in the public square. Maybe GOD, the God-of-the-Angel-Armies, will notice your remnant and be gracious.

Amos.5.15

Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts. Perhaps the LORD God Almighty will have mercy on the remnant of Joseph.

Amos.5.15

Hate evil, love good; Establish justice in the gate. It may be that the LORD God of hosts Will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.

Amos.5.15

Hate evil and love what is good; remodel your courts into true halls of justice. Perhaps even yet the LORD God Almighty will have mercy on his people who remain.

Amos.5.16

Therefore the LORD, the God of hosts, the Lord, saith thus; Wailing shall be in all streets; and they shall say in all the highways, Alas! alas! and they shall call the husbandman to mourning, and such as are skilful of lamentation to wailing.

Amos.5.16

Now again, my Master's Message, GOD, God-of-the-Angel-Armies: "Go out into the streets and lament loudly! Fill the malls and shops with cries of doom! Weep loudly, "Not me! Not us, Not now!' Empty offices, stores, factories, workplaces. Enlist everyone in the general lament.

Amos.5.16

Therefore this is what the Lord, the LORD God Almighty, says: "There will be wailing in all the streets and cries of anguish in every public square. The farmers will be summoned to weep and the mourners to wail.

Amos.5.16

Therefore the LORD God of hosts, the Lord, says this: "There shall be wailing in all streets, And they shall say in all the highways, "Alas! Alas!' They shall call the farmer to mourning, And skillful lamenters to wailing.

Amos.5.16

Therefore, this is what the Lord, the LORD God Almighty, says: "There will be crying in all the public squares and in every street. Call for the farmers to weep with you, and summon professional mourners to wail and lament.

Amos.5.17

And in all vineyards shall be wailing: for I will pass through thee, saith the LORD.

Amos.5.17

I want to hear it loud and clear when I make my visit." GOD's Decree.

Amos.5.17

There will be wailing in all the vineyards, for I will pass through your midst," says the LORD.

Amos.5.17

In all vineyards there shall be wailing, For I will pass through you," Says the LORD.

Amos.5.17

There will be wailing in every vineyard, for I will pass through and destroy them all. I, the LORD, have spoken!"

Amos.5.18

Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end is it for you? the day of the LORD is darkness, and not light.

Amos.5.18

Woe to all of you who want GOD's Judgment Day! Why would you want to see GOD, want him to come? When GOD comes, it will be bad news before it's good news, the worst of times, not the best of times.

Amos.5.18

Woe to you who long for the day of the LORD! Why do you long for the day of the LORD? That day will be darkness, not light.

Amos.5.18

Woe to you who desire the day of the LORD! For what good is the day of the LORD to you? It will be darkness, and not light.

Amos.5.18

How terrible it will be for you who say, "If only the day of the LORD were here! For then the LORD would rescue us from all our enemies." But you have no idea what you are wishing for. That day will not bring light and prosperity, but darkness and disaster.

Amos.5.19

As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him.

Amos.5.19

Here's what it's like: A man runs from a lion right into the jaws of a bear. A woman goes home after a hard day's work and is raped by a neighbor.

Amos.5.19

It will be as though a man fled from a lion only to meet a bear, as though he entered his house and rested his hand on the wall only to have a snake bite him.

Amos.5.19

It will be as though a man fled from a lion, And a bear met him! Or as though he went into the house, Leaned his hand on the wall, And a serpent bit him!

Amos.5.19

In that day you will be like a man who runs from a lion--only to meet a bear. After escaping the bear, he leans his hand against a wall in his house--and is bitten by a snake.

Amos.5.20

Shall not the day of the LORD be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?

Amos.5.20

At GOD's coming we face hard reality, not fantasy--a black cloud with no silver lining.

Amos.5.20

Will not the day of the LORD be darkness, not light- pitch-dark, without a ray of brightness?

Amos.5.20

Is not the day of the LORD darkness, and not light? Is it not very dark, with no brightness in it?

Amos.5.20

Yes, the day of the LORD will be a dark and hopeless day, without a ray of joy or hope.

Amos.5.21

I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies.

Amos.5.21

"I can't stand your religious meetings. I'm fed up with your conferences and conventions.

Amos.5.21

"I hate, I despise your religious feasts; I cannot stand your assemblies.

Amos.5.21

"I hate, I despise your feast days, And I do not savor your sacred assemblies.

Amos.5.21

"I hate all your show and pretense--the hypocrisy of your religious festivals and solemn assemblies.

Amos.5.22

Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts.

Amos.5.22

I want nothing to do with your religion projects, your pretentious slogans and goals. I'm sick of your fund-raising schemes, your public relations and image making.

Amos.5.22

Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them.

Amos.5.22

Though you offer Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them, Nor will I regard your fattened peace offerings.

Amos.5.22

I will not accept your burnt offerings and grain offerings. I won't even notice all your choice peace offerings.

Amos.5.23

Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols.

Amos.5.23

I've had all I can take of your noisy ego-music. When was the last time you sang to me?

Amos.5.23

Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps.

Amos.5.23

Take away from Me the noise of your songs, For I will not hear the melody of your stringed instruments.

Amos.5.23

Away with your hymns of praise! They are only noise to my ears. I will not listen to your music, no matter how lovely it is.

Amos.5.24

But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.

Amos.5.24

Do you know what I want? I want justice--oceans of it. I want fairness--rivers of it. That's what I want. That's all I want.

Amos.5.24

But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!

Amos.5.24

But let justice run down like water, And righteousness like a mighty stream.

Amos.5.24

Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice, a river of righteous living that will never run dry.

Amos.5.25

Have ye offered unto me sacrifices and offerings in the wilderness forty years, O house of Israel?

Amos.5.25

"Didn't you, dear family of Israel, worship me faithfully for forty years in the wilderness, bringing the sacrifices and offerings I commanded?

Amos.5.25

"Did you bring me sacrifices and offerings forty years in the desert, O house of Israel?

Amos.5.25

"Did you offer Me sacrifices and offerings In the wilderness forty years, O house of Israel?

Amos.5.25

"Was it to me you were bringing sacrifices and offerings during the forty years in the wilderness, Israel?

Amos.5.26

But ye have borne the tabernacle of your Moloch and Chiun your images, the star of your god, which ye made to yourselves.

Amos.5.26

How is it you've stooped to dragging gimcrack statues of your so-called rulers around, hauling the cheap images of all your star-gods here and there?

Amos.5.26

You have lifted up the shrine of your king, the pedestal of your idols, the star of your god - which you made for yourselves.

Amos.5.26

You also carried Sikkuth your king And Chiun, your idols, The star of your gods, Which you made for yourselves.

Amos.5.26

No, your real interest was in your pagan gods--Sakkuth your king god and Kaiwan your star god--the images you yourselves made.

Amos.5.27

Therefore will I cause you to go into captivity beyond Damascus, saith the LORD, whose name is The God of hosts.

Amos.5.27

Since you like them so much, you can take them with you when I drive you into exile beyond Damascus." GOD's Message, God-of-the-Angel-Armies.

Amos.5.27

Therefore I will send you into exile beyond Damascus," says the LORD, whose name is God Almighty.

Amos.5.27

Therefore I will send you into captivity beyond Damascus," Says the LORD, whose name is the God of hosts.

Amos.5.27

So I will send you into exile, to a land east of Damascus," says the LORD, whose name is God Almighty.

Rom.4.1-Rom.4.15

Rom.4.1

What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?

Rom.4.1

So how do we fit what we know of Abraham, our first father in the faith, into this new way of looking at things?

Rom.4.1

What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, discovered in this matter?

Rom.4.1

What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh?

Rom.4.1

Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation. What were his experiences concerning this question of being saved by faith?

Rom.4.2

For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.

Rom.4.2

If Abraham, by what he did for God, got God to approve him, he could certainly have taken credit for it. But the story we're given is a God-story, not an Abraham-story.

Rom.4.2

If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about--but not before God.

Rom.4.2

For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.

Rom.4.2

Was it because of his good deeds that God accepted him? If so, he would have had something to boast about. But from God's point of view Abraham had no basis at all for pride.

Rom.4.3

For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

Rom.4.3

What we read in Scripture is, "Abraham entered into what God was doing for him, and that was the turning point. He trusted God to set him right instead of trying to be right on his own."

Rom.4.3

What does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."

Rom.4.3

For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness."

Rom.4.3

For the Scriptures tell us, "Abraham believed God, so God declared him to be righteous."

Rom.4.4

Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

Rom.4.4

If you're a hard worker and do a good job, you deserve your pay; we don't call your wages a gift.

Rom.4.4

Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation.

Rom.4.4

Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt.

Rom.4.4

When people work, their wages are not a gift. Workers earn what they receive.

Rom.4.5

But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Rom.4.5

But if you see that the job is too big for you, that it's something only God can do, and you trust him to do it--you could never do it for yourself no matter how hard and long you worked--well, that trusting-him--to-do-it is what gets you set right with God, by God. Sheer gift.

Rom.4.5

However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness.

Rom.4.5

But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness,

Rom.4.5

But people are declared righteous because of their faith, not because of their work.

Rom.4.6

Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,

Rom.4.6

David confirms this way of looking at it, saying that the one who trusts God to do the putting-everything-right without insisting on having a say in it is one fortunate man:

Rom.4.6

David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

Rom.4.6

just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works:

Rom.4.6

King David spoke of this, describing the happiness of an undeserving sinner who is declared to be righteous:

Rom.4.7

Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.

Rom.4.7

Fortunate those whose crimes are carted off, whose sins are wiped clean from the slate.

Rom.4.7

"Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.

Rom.4.7

"Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, And whose sins are covered;

Rom.4.7

"Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight.

Rom.4.8

Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

Rom.4.8

Fortunate the person against whom the Lord does not keep score.

Rom.4.8

Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him."

Rom.4.8

Blessed is the man to whom the LORD shall not impute sin."

Rom.4.8

Yes, what joy for those whose sin is no longer counted against them by the Lord."

Rom.4.9

Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.

Rom.4.9

Do you think for a minute that this blessing is only pronounced over those of us who keep our religious ways and are circumcised? Or do you think it possible that the blessing could be given to those who never even heard of our ways, who were never brought up in the disciplines of God? We all agree, don't we, that it was by embracing what God did for him that Abraham was declared fit before God?

Rom.4.9

Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham's faith was credited to him as righteousness.

Rom.4.9

Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness.

Rom.4.9

Now then, is this blessing only for the Jews, or is it for Gentiles, too? Well, what about Abraham? We have been saying he was declared righteous by God because of his faith.

Rom.4.10

How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.

Rom.4.10

Now think: Was that declaration made before or after he was marked by the covenant rite of circumcision? That's right, before he was marked.

Rom.4.10

Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before!

Rom.4.10

How then was it accounted? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised.

Rom.4.10

But how did his faith help him? Was he declared righteous only after he had been circumcised, or was it before he was circumcised? The answer is that God accepted him first, and then he was circumcised later!

Rom.4.11

And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:

Rom.4.11

That means that he underwent circumcision as evidence and confirmation of what God had done long before to bring him into this acceptable standing with himself, an act of God he had embraced with his whole life.

Rom.4.11

And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them.

Rom.4.11

And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also,

Rom.4.11

The circumcision ceremony was a sign that Abraham already had faith and that God had already accepted him and declared him to be righteous--even before he was circumcised. So Abraham is the spiritual father of those who have faith but have not been circumcised. They are made right with God by faith.

Rom.4.12

And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.

Rom.4.12

And it means further that Abraham is father of all people who embrace what God does for them while they are still on the "outs" with God, as yet unidentified as God's, in an "uncircumcised" condition. It is precisely these people in this condition who are called "set right by God and with God"! Abraham is also, of course, father of those who have undergone the religious rite of circumcision not just because of the ritual but because they were willing to live in the risky faith-embrace of God's action for them, the way Abraham lived long before he was marked by circumcision.

Rom.4.12

And he is also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

Rom.4.12

and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith which our father Abraham had while still uncircumcised.

Rom.4.12

And Abraham is also the spiritual father of those who have been circumcised, but only if they have the same kind of faith Abraham had before he was circumcised.

Rom.4.13

For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

Rom.4.13

That famous promise God gave Abraham--that he and his children would possess the earth--was not given because of something Abraham did or would do. It was based on God's decision to put everything together for him, which Abraham then entered when he believed.

Rom.4.13

It was not through law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.

Rom.4.13

For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

Rom.4.13

It is clear, then, that God's promise to give the whole earth to Abraham and his descendants was not based on obedience to God's law, but on the new relationship with God that comes by faith.

Rom.4.14

For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:

Rom.4.14

If those who get what God gives them only get it by doing everything they are told to do and filling out all the right forms properly signed, that eliminates personal trust completely and turns the promise into an ironclad contract! That's not a holy promise; that's a business deal.

Rom.4.14

For if those who live by law are heirs, faith has no value and the promise is worthless,

Rom.4.14

For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect,

Rom.4.14

So if you claim that God's promise is for those who obey God's law and think they are "good enough" in God's sight, then you are saying that faith is useless. And in that case, the promise is also meaningless.

Rom.4.15

Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.

Rom.4.15

A contract drawn up by a hard-nosed lawyer and with plenty of fine print only makes sure that you will never be able to collect. But if there is no contract in the first place, simply a promise--and God's promise at that--you can't break it.

Rom.4.15

because law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression.

Rom.4.15

because the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression.

Rom.4.15

But the law brings punishment on those who try to obey it. (The only way to avoid breaking the law is to have no law to break!)

Ps.86.1-Ps.86.10

Ps.86.1

Bow down thine ear, O LORD, hear me: for I am poor and needy.

Ps.86.1

Bend an ear, GOD; answer me. I'm one miserable wretch!

Ps.86.1

Hear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.

Ps.86.1

Bow down Your ear, O LORD, hear me; For I am poor and needy.

Ps.86.1

Bend down, O LORD, and hear my prayer; answer me, for I need your help.

Ps.86.2

Preserve my soul; for I am holy: O thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee.

Ps.86.2

Keep me safe--haven't I lived a good life? Help your servant--I'm depending on you!

Ps.86.2

Guard my life, for I am devoted to you. You are my God; save your servant who trusts in you.

Ps.86.2

Preserve my life, for I am holy; You are my God; Save Your servant who trusts in You!

Ps.86.2

Protect me, for I am devoted to you. Save me, for I serve you and trust you. You are my God.

Ps.86.3

Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily.

Ps.86.3

You're my God; have mercy on me. I count on you from morning to night.

Ps.86.3

Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I call to you all day long.

Ps.86.3

Be merciful to me, O Lord, For I cry to You all day long.

Ps.86.3

Be merciful, O Lord, for I am calling on you constantly.

Ps.86.4

Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.

Ps.86.4

Give your servant a happy life; I put myself in your hands!

Ps.86.4

Bring joy to your servant, for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.

Ps.86.4

Rejoice the soul of Your servant, For to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.

Ps.86.4

Give me happiness, O Lord, for my life depends on you.

Ps.86.5

For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.

Ps.86.5

You're well-known as good and forgiving, bighearted to all who ask for help.

Ps.86.5

You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you.

Ps.86.5

For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.

Ps.86.5

O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask your aid.

Ps.86.6

Give ear, O LORD, unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications.

Ps.86.6

Pay attention, GOD, to my prayer; bend down and listen to my cry for help.

Ps.86.6

Hear my prayer, O LORD; listen to my cry for mercy.

Ps.86.6

Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer; And attend to the voice of my supplications.

Ps.86.6

Listen closely to my prayer, O LORD; hear my urgent cry.

Ps.86.7

In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.

Ps.86.7

Every time I'm in trouble I call on you, confident that you'll answer.

Ps.86.7

In the day of my trouble I will call to you, for you will answer me.

Ps.86.7

In the day of my trouble I will call upon You, For You will answer me.

Ps.86.7

I will call to you whenever trouble strikes, and you will answer me.

Ps.86.8

Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto thy works.

Ps.86.8

There's no one quite like you among the gods, O Lord, and nothing to compare with your works.

Ps.86.8

Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord; no deeds can compare with yours.

Ps.86.8

Among the gods there is none like You, O Lord; Nor are there any works like Your works.

Ps.86.8

Nowhere among the pagan gods is there a god like you, O Lord. There are no other miracles like yours.

Ps.86.9

All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name.

Ps.86.9

All the nations you made are on their way, ready to give honor to you, O Lord, Ready to put your beauty on display,

Ps.86.9

All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, O Lord; they will bring glory to your name.

Ps.86.9

All nations whom You have made Shall come and worship before You, O Lord, And shall glorify Your name.

Ps.86.9

All the nations--and you made each one--will come and bow before you, Lord; they will praise your great and holy name.

Ps.86.10

For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone.

Ps.86.10

parading your greatness, And the great things you do--God, you're the one, there's no one but you!

Ps.86.10

For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God.

Ps.86.10

For You are great, and do wondrous things; You alone are God.

Ps.86.10

For you are great and perform great miracles. You alone are God.