1
6He gave us tongues for speaking,
eyes for seeing,
and minds for thinking
and for making choices.
7
*
11The Lord gave to our ancestors
laws that bring knowledge
and life,
12and his agreement with them
will last forever.
13Our ancestors saw
the glorious power of the Lord
and heard his mighty voice
14warning them about injustice
and commanding them how
to treat each other.
The Lord Is Watching15The Lord watches us and knows
our every deed.
16Most people do wrong
from an early age
and have a cruel heart
that they cannot change.
17The Lord placed rulers
over all the nations,
but he himself rules Israel.
18He raised our people Israel
as his own first-born child,
with loving care,
but also with discipline.
19He can see our actions
as easily as we see the sun.
20That's the reason
we can't hide our sins—
he can see them all.
21But he knows what we are like,
and so he shows mercy
and never deserts us.
22The Lord values
our gifts to the poor
as much as we value fine jewelry
or a most prized possession.
23Later, he will punish the wicked
as they deserve,
24but he accepts all those
who turn from sinning,
and he encourages everyone
whose hope is slipping away.
Return to the Lord25 Jr 3.12. Stop sinning and return
to the Lord;
your punishment will be less
if you pray to him.
26So turn back to the Lord
and hate what he hates.
27 Ps 6.5; Is 38.18; Ba 2.17,18. Only the living
can thank the Lord—
no one in the world of the dead
can praise him;
28they no longer exist
and cannot offer thanks.
But those who are alive
and healthy
can still sing praises to him.
29The Lord will show great mercy
and forgive all of your sins
if you turn back to him.
30But we cannot live forever;
we are human and find it hard
to turn to God.
31If a thick dark cloud can hide
the bright rays of the sun,
then evil can just as easily
darken our minds.
32We are merely dust and ashes,
but God commands the armies
of the highest heaven.
Who We AreWhat We EelieveWhat We Do
2025 by iamachristian.org,Inc All rights reserved.
