None of them
can by any means
redeem his brother,
nor give
to God a ransom
for him:
(For
the redemption
of their soul
is precious,
and it
ceaseth for ever:)
Except the LORD
build the house,
they labour
in vain that build it:
except the LORD
keep the city,
the watchman
waketh but in vain.
It is vain
for you
to rise up early,
to sit up late,
to eat the bread
of sorrows:
for so
he giveth his beloved sleep.
I have seen all
the works
that are done
under the sun;
and,
behold,
all is vanity
and vexation
of spirit.
Put me
in remembrance:
let us
plead together:
declare thou,
that thou
mayest be justified.
I will declare
thy righteousness,
and thy works;
for they
shall not profit thee.
But
we are all
as an unclean thing,
and all
our righteousnesses
are as filthy rags;
and
we all do fade
as a leaf;
and our iniquities,
like the wind,
have taken us away.
They shall cast their silver
in the streets,
and their gold
shall be removed:
their silver
and their gold
shall not be able
to deliver them
in the day
of the wrath
of the LORD:
they shall not satisfy
their souls,
neither fill
their bowels:
because
it is the stumblingblock
of their iniquity.
Therefore,
thou son of man,
say
unto the children
of thy people,
The righteousness
of the righteous
shall not deliver him
in the day
of his transgression:
as for the wickedness
of the wicked,
he shall not fall thereby
in the day
that he
turneth from his wickedness;
neither shall
the righteous
be able
to live
for his righteousness
in the day
that he sinneth.
When
I shall say
to the righteous,
that he
shall surely live;
if he
trust
to his own righteousness,
and commit
iniquity,
all his righteousnesses
shall not be remembered;
but for his iniquity
that
he hath committed,
he shall die
for it.
Again,
when
I say
unto the wicked,
Thou shalt surely die;
if he
turn
from his sin,
and do
that which
is lawful
and right;
If the wicked
restore the pledge,
give again that
he had robbed,
walk
in the statutes
of life,
without committing iniquity;
he shall surely live,
he shall not die.
None of his sins that
he hath committed
shall be mentioned unto him:
he hath done
that which
is lawful
and right;
he shall surely live.
Yet the children
of thy people say,
The way
of the Lord
is not equal:
but
as for them,
their way is not equal.
When the righteous
turneth from his righteousness,
and committeth iniquity,
he shall even die
thereby.
But
if the wicked turn
from his wickedness,
and do
that which
is lawful
and right,
he shall live thereby.
O my God,
incline thine ear,
and hear;
open thine eyes,
and behold
our desolations,
and the city
which is called
by thy name:
for we
do not present
our supplications
before thee
for our righteousnesses,
but for thy great mercies.
For I
say unto you,
That except
your righteousness
shall exceed
the righteousness
of the scribes
and Pharisees,
ye shall in no
case
enter
into the kingdom
of heaven.
But which of you,
having a servant plowing
or feeding cattle,
will say
unto him by and by,
when he
is come
from the field,
Go and sit down
to meat?
And will not
rather say unto him,
Make ready
wherewith
I may sup,
and gird thyself,
and serve me,
till I
have eaten
and drunken;
and afterward
thou shalt eat
and drink?
Doth
he thank
that servant
because
he did
the things
that were commanded him?
I trow not.
So likewise ye,
when ye
shall have done all
those things which
are commanded you,
say,
We are unprofitable servants:
we have done
that which
was our duty to do.
And
he spake this parable
unto certain which
trusted
in themselves
that
they were righteous,
and despised
others:
Two men
went up
into the temple
to pray;
the one a Pharisee,
and the other
a publican.
The Pharisee
stood and prayed thus
with himself,
God,
I thank thee,
that I
am not
as other men are,
extortioners,
unjust,
adulterers,
or even as this publican.
I fast twice
in the week,
I give
tithes of all
that I possess.
And the publican,
standing afar off,
would not lift
up so much as
his eyes
unto heaven,
but smote upon his breast,
saying,
God be merciful
to me a sinner.
I tell you,
this man
went down
to his house
justified rather than
the other:
for every one
that exalteth himself
shall be abased;
and he
that humbleth himself
shall be exalted.
And by him all
that believe
are justified
from all things,
from which
ye could not be justified
by the law
of Moses.
Therefore by the deeds
of the law
there shall no flesh
be justified
in his sight:
for by the law
is the knowledge
of sin.
But
now the righteousness
of God
without the law
is manifested,
being witnessed
by the law
and the prophets;
Even
the righteousness
of God
which is by faith
of Jesus Christ
unto all
and upon all
them that believe:
for there is no difference:
For all have sinned,
and come short
of the glory
of God;
Being justified freely
by his grace
through the redemption
that is
in Christ Jesus:
Whom God
hath
set forth
to be a propitiation
through faith
in his blood,
to declare
his righteousness
for the remission
of sins
that are past,
through the forbearance
of God;
To declare,
I say,
at this time
his righteousness:
that he
might be just,
and the justifier
of him which believeth
in Jesus.
Where is boasting then?
It is excluded.
By what law?
of works?
Nay:
but by the law
of faith.
Therefore we
conclude
that a man
is justified
by faith
without the deeds
of the law.
Is he
the God
of the Jews only?
is he not
also of the Gentiles?
Yes,
of the Gentiles also:
Seeing
it is one God,
which shall justify
the circumcision
by faith,
and uncircumcision
through faith.
What shall
we say
then that Abraham
our father,
as pertaining
to the flesh,
hath found?
For if Abraham
were justified
by works,
he hath whereof
to glory;
but not before God.
For what
saith the scripture?
Abraham believed God,
and it
was counted
unto him
for righteousness.
Now to him that
worketh
is
the reward
not reckoned
of grace,
but of debt.
But to him
that worketh not,
but believeth
on him that
justifieth the ungodly,
his faith
is counted
for righteousness.
Even as David
also describeth
the blessedness
of the man,
unto whom God
imputeth righteousness
without works,
Saying,
Blessed
are
they whose iniquities
are forgiven,
and whose sins
are covered.
For what
the law
could not do,
in that
it was weak
through the flesh,
God sending
his own Son
in the likeness
of sinful flesh,
and for sin,
condemned
sin
in the flesh:
So then it
is not
of him that willeth,
nor of him that runneth,
but of God
that sheweth mercy.
But Israel,
which followed
after the law
of righteousness,
hath not attained
to the law
of righteousness.
Wherefore?
Because
they sought it
not by faith,
but as it
were by the works
of the law.
For they stumbled
at that stumblingstone;
And if by grace,
then is
it no more
of works:
otherwise
grace
is no more grace.
But
if it
be of works,
then it
is no more grace:
otherwise
work
is no more work.
Though I
speak
with the tongues
of men
and of angels,
and have not
charity,
I am become
as sounding brass,
or a tinkling cymbal.
And
though I
have the gift
of prophecy,
and understand
all mysteries,
and all knowledge;
and
though I
have all faith,
so that
I could remove
mountains,
and have not
charity,
I am nothing.
And
though I
bestow all
my goods
to feed
the poor,
and
though I
give my body
to be burned,
and have not
charity,
it profiteth me
nothing.
Knowing that a man
is not justified
by the works
of the law,
but by the faith
of Jesus Christ,
even
we have believed
in Jesus Christ,
that we
might be justified by the faith
of Christ,
and
not by the works
of the law:
for by the works
of the law
shall no flesh
be justified.
For I
through the law
am dead
to the law,
that I
might live
unto God.
I do not frustrate
the grace
of God:
for if righteousness come
by the law,
then Christ
is dead
in vain.
For as many
as are of the works
of the law
are under the curse:
for it
is written,
Cursed
is
every one
that continueth not
in all
things which
are written
in the book
of the law
to do them.
But that no man
is justified
by the law
in the sight
of God,
it is evident:
for, The
just shall live
by faith.
And the law
is not of faith:
but,
The man
that doeth them
shall live in them.
Is the law
then against the promises
of God?
God forbid:
for if
there had been
a law
given which
could have given life,
verily righteousness
should have been
by the law.
But now,
after that
ye have known God,
or rather are known
of God,
how turn
ye again to the weak
and beggarly elements,
whereunto
ye desire again
to be
in bondage?
Ye observe days,
and months,
and times,
and years.
I am afraid
of you,
lest
I have bestowed
upon you
labour
in vain.
Behold,
I Paul
say unto you,
that if
ye be circumcised,
Christ
shall profit
you nothing.
Christ
is become
of no effect
unto you,
whosoever of you
are justified
by the law;
ye are fallen
from grace.
For in Jesus Christ neither
circumcision
availeth any thing,
nor uncircumcision;
but faith which
worketh by love.
But
if ye
be led
of the Spirit,
ye are not
under the law.
For in Christ Jesus neither
circumcision
availeth any thing,
nor uncircumcision,
but a new creature.
For by
grace
are ye
saved
through faith;
and
that not of yourselves:
it is the gift
of God:
For we
are the circumcision,
which worship God
in the spirit,
and rejoice
in Christ Jesus,
and have no confidence
in the flesh.
Though I
might also have confidence
in the flesh.
If any other man
thinketh that
he hath whereof
he might trust
in the flesh,
I more:
Circumcised
the eighth day,
of the stock
of Israel,
of the tribe
of Benjamin,
an Hebrew
of the Hebrews;
as touching the law,
a Pharisee;
Concerning zeal,
persecuting
the church;
touching
the righteousness
which is in the law,
blameless.
But
what things
were gain to me,
those I
counted loss
for Christ.
Yea doubtless,
and
I count all things
but loss
for the excellency
of the knowledge
of Christ Jesus my Lord:
for whom
I have suffered
the loss
of all things,
and do count them
but dung,
that I
may win Christ,
And
be found in him,
not having mine own righteousness,
which is of the law,
but
that which
is through the faith
of Christ,
the righteousness which
is of God
by faith:
Wherefore
if ye
be dead
with Christ
from the rudiments
of the world,
why,
as though living
in the world,
are
ye subject to ordinances,
(Touch not;
taste not;
handle not;
Which all are
to perish
with the using;)
after the commandments
and doctrines
of men?
Which things
have indeed
a shew
of wisdom
in will worship,
and humility,
and neglecting
of the body:
not in any honour
to the satisfying
of the flesh.
Who hath saved us,
and called us
with an holy calling,
not according to our works,
but
according to
his own purpose
and grace,
which was given us
in Christ Jesus
before the world began,
But after that
the kindness
and love
of God our Saviour
toward man appeared,
Not by works
of righteousness
which we
have done,
but according to
his mercy
he saved us,
by the washing
of regeneration,
and renewing
of the Holy Ghost;
For we
which have believed
do enter
into rest,
as he said,
As I
have sworn
in my wrath,
if they
shall enter
into my rest:
although the works
were finished from the foundation
of the world.
For he
spake in a certain place
of the seventh day
on this wise,
And God
did rest
the seventh day
from all his works.
And
in this place again,
If they
shall enter
into my rest.
Seeing therefore
it remaineth
that some must enter
therein,
and they
to whom it
was first preached
entered not in
because
of unbelief:
Again,
he limiteth
a certain day,
saying in David,
To day,
after so long a time;
as it is said,
To day
if ye
will hear
his voice,
harden not
your hearts.
For if Jesus
had given them rest,
then would
he not afterward have spoken
of another day.
There remaineth therefore a rest
to the people
of God.
For he
that is entered
into his rest,
he also hath ceased
from his own works,
as God did from his.
Therefore leaving the principles
of the doctrine
of Christ,
let us
go on
unto perfection;
not laying again the foundation
of repentance
from dead works,
and of faith
toward God,
Of the doctrine
of baptisms,
and
of laying on
of hands,
and
of resurrection
of the dead,
and
of eternal judgment.
Then verily
the first covenant
had also ordinances
of divine service,
and a worldly sanctuary.
For there was
a tabernacle made;
the first,
wherein was
the candlestick,
and the table,
and the shewbread;
which is called
the sanctuary.
And
after the second veil,
the tabernacle which
is called the Holiest
of all;
Which had
the golden censer,
and the ark
of the covenant overlaid round about
with gold,
wherein was
the golden
pot that
had manna,
and Aaron's rod
that budded,
and the tables
of the covenant;
And over it
the cherubims
of glory
shadowing
the mercyseat;
of which
we cannot now speak
particularly.
Now
when these things
were thus ordained,
the priests
went always
into the first tabernacle,
accomplishing the service
of God.
But into the second
went the high priest alone
once every year,
not without blood,
which he
offered
for himself,
and
for the errors
of the people:
The Holy Ghost this signifying,
that the way
into the holiest
of all was not
yet made manifest,
while as the first tabernacle
was yet standing:
Which was a figure
for the time
then present,
in which
were offered both gifts
and sacrifices,
that could not make him
that did
the service perfect,
as pertaining
to the conscience;
Which stood only
in meats
and drinks,
and divers washings,
and carnal ordinances,
imposed on them
until the time
of reformation.
But Christ
being come
an high priest
of good things
to come,
by a greater
and more perfect tabernacle,
not made
with hands,
that is to say,
not of
this building;
Neither by the blood of goats
and calves,
but by his own
blood
he entered in
once into the holy place,
having obtained
eternal redemption
for us.
For if
the blood
of bulls
and of goats,
and the ashes
of an heifer
sprinkling
the unclean,
sanctifieth to the purifying
of the flesh:
How much more
shall the blood
of Christ,
who through the eternal Spirit
offered himself
without spot
to God,
purge your conscience
from dead works
to serve
the living God?
For whosoever
shall keep
the whole law,
and yet offend
in one point,
he is guilty
of all.
For he
that said,
Do not commit adultery,
said also,
Do not kill.
Now
if thou
commit no adultery,
yet if thou kill,
thou art become
a transgressor
of the law.