The LORD has brought forth our righteousness: come, and let us declare in Zion the work of the LORD our God.
Friends, the word above rendered “declare” is the Hebrew word caphar, meaning “to score with a mark as a tally or record, i.e. (by implication) to inscribe, and also to enumerate; intensively, to recount, i.e. celebrate.” It’s the same word rendered “told” in Habakkuk 1:5, which is later quoted by Paul and recorded by Luke in Acts 13:41. As we’ve seen, in this latter use, Paul adds the word “man” in telling of the one he has just described, who is sent to declare what the people are marvelously wondering at and warned not to miss.
Friends, the LORD has made and sent me for this moment. He molded me by His hand into a resolutely vigilant man, acquainted with affliction and sorrow, toughened in the trials and tribulations of life. He did it as planned, for His people, so we endure the attacks, the reviling and mocking of friend and foe, that come in response to saying the words He would speak, write, through us.
Now, once again, I offer myself to the same, for the mission. This is my lot in life, the baptism, the cup accepted. The title tells us we all have to do the same, not preaching ourselves or our goodness. But rather that Christ is risen, in Spirit and truth, in us preaching the salvation to the world. This is the truth, One God, Christ in us, come to save the world through those who confess He is risen. I confess He is alive in me, and will rise in any receiving His word as the word of God. Those acknowledging His glory, confessing he has done a marvelous work “in our eyes,” can boldly say we are “in the presence of the LORD Jesus Christ at His coming.”
As we know, this last quote is from 1 Thessalonians 2, coming just after Paul recounted the same understanding to those who’ve received his word as the word of God, as it is. He then tells of the resistance of those not yet aware of this reality, which he later, in 1 Thessalonians 4, speaks of as the sleeping who the LORD will come to awaken. He tells of when they hear the voice of the LORD, the awakening shout of the archangel, when we will all together be “caught up” to him in heaven.
As we’ve seen, heaven is the firmament, the LORD’s exposition, through us, separating the word of God from the words of men. The word of God is His understanding, the treasure of heaven held above in the cloud, where the elements of understanding are reassembled and sent to earth as the latter rain.
This is the hand of the LORD, reaching down through those He sends in His name, “pulling” us from the fires. As we know, the word “pulling” is referring to Jude 1:23, where it’s translated from the same word, harpazo, rendered “caught up” in 1 Thessalonians 4:17. As we’ve seen, Jude speaks of the event as changing out of the garments “spotted” by the flesh. As we understand, “spotted” refers to hazards below the surface. The change (chaliyphah and allasso) is speaking of the reversal of the reversal of perceptions of good and evil.
We’ve also seen this change, the conclusion in our resurrection, described by Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:54 as “when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.”
Friends, it is for this cause we are sent, and Christ in us, in the sons of man, must be lifted up. As we know, these the heavenly things that are only understood when we accept (believe) the words the LORD is speaking, declares, here on earth. In the title verse, Jeremiah 51:10, this declaration is spoken of, and in verse 12 we are told it is the “standard” lifted upon the wall of Babylon. As we know, the wall tells of what is protecting Babylon, which is its hold over information, keeping out anything not in agreement with its confusion.
The “standard” is the Hebrew word nec, which is the word rendered “pole,” in Number 21:8 & 9, upon which the brazen serpent is lifted up. As we know, The LORD, in John 3:14 & 15, says, “as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.”
In Number 21, as in 1 Thessalonians 2, these men are like serpents whose words were causing people to perish. The son of man is lifted as the brazen serpent to counteract their confusion, reversing the darkness by His fiery light, and any who look to him aren’t destroyed. As we know, the LORD says, in John 3:19, the only condemnation is by choice, the decision (krisis) to reject the light and remain in the darkness that is destroying.
John 3
10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Are you a master [teacher] of Israel, and know not these things?
11 Truly, truly, I say unto you, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and you receive not our witness.
12 If I have told you earthly things, and you believe not, how shall you believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
13 And no man has ascended up to heaven [rises in understanding – see verse 27 & 31 below], but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15 That whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believes on him is not condemned: but he that believes not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19 And this is the condemnation [krisis], that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For every one that does evil hates the light, neither comes to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21 But he that does truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
22 After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized.
23 And John also was baptizing in Aenon [‘ayin – the eye, seeing, turned to a fountain, of understanding] near to Salim [near to peace – that comes from understanding], because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized [immersed in the deep that is below the surface of God’s word].
24 For John was not yet cast into prison.
25 Then there arose a question between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purifying. [The purifying John later writes of in 1 John 3:1 thru 3, saying “Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knows us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that has this hope in him purifies himself, even as he is pure.]
26 And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with you beyond Jordan, to whom you barest witness, behold, the same baptizes, and all men come to him.
27 John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.
28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.
29 He that has the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.
30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
31 He that comes from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaks of the earth: he that comes from heaven is above all.
32 And what he has seen and heard, that he testifies; and no man receives his testimony.
33 He that has received his testimony has set to his seal that God is true.
34 For he whom God has sent speaks the words of God: for God gives not the Spirit by measure unto him.
35 The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand.
36 He that believes on the Son has everlasting life: and he that believes not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides on him.
Hebrews 12
25 See that you refuse not him that speaks. For if they escaped not who refused him that spoke on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaks from heaven [from the place of full understanding]:
26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he has promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven [see Haggai 2:6 & 7].
27 And this word, Yet once more, signifies the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
29 For our God is a consuming fire.
Haggai 2
3 Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? and how do you see it now? is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing?
4 Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel [those born again, by coming out of confusion, out of Babylon], says the LORD; and be strong, O Joshua [Jesus – Jehovah’s salvation personified in us], son of Josedech [born from Jehovah’s righteousness], the high priest; and be strong, all you people of the land, says the LORD, and work: for I am with you, says the LORD of hosts:
5 According to the word that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt, so my spirit remains among you: fear you not.
6 For thus says the LORD of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land;
7 And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, says the LORD of hosts.
8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the LORD of hosts.
9 The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, says the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, says the LORD of hosts.
1 Thessalonians 2
1 For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain:
2 But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as you know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.
3 For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:
4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which tries our hearts.
5 For neither at any time used we flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak of covetousness; God is witness:
6 Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.
7 But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherishes her children:
8 So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because you were dear unto us.
9 For you remember, brethren, our labor and travail: for laboring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.
10 You are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and un-blamably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:
11 As you know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father does his children,
12 That you would walk worthy of God, who has called you unto his kingdom and glory.
13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when you received the word of God which you heard of us, you received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually works also in you that believe.
14 For you, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for you also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:
15 Who both killed the LORD Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men:
16 Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins always: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.
17 But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored the more abundantly to see your face with great desire.
18 Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.
19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even you in the presence of our LORD Jesus Christ at his coming?
1 Thessalonians 4
13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that you sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the LORD, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the LORD shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the LORD himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up [harpazo – pulling us from the fire to Himself] together with them in the clouds, to meet the LORD in the air [aer – away from blinding smoke of the prince of the power of the air, to His clear, pure, air where we see Him clearly]: and so shall we ever be with the LORD.
18 Wherefore comfort [Paraclete – by His Spirit in us, leading into all truth] one another with these words.
The Greek word above, in 1 Thessalonians 2:1, telling of this “entrance” is eisodos, (eis hodos), actually meaning the mode or means of entering, as in the road taking us to the point.
It is first used in Acts 13:24 to tell of John preaching the baptism of repentance, before the LORD’s “coming.” In this light, we see it as speaking of the baptism of repentance being the road taking us to the LORD’s presence, which is our goal.
Acts 13
24 When John had first preached before his coming [eisodos] the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.
25 And as John fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think you that I am? I am not he. But, behold, there comes one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose.
26 Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you fears God, to you is the word of this salvation sent.
27 For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every Sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him.
28 And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain.
29 And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulcher.
30 But God raised him from the dead:
31 And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people.
32 And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers,
33 God has fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he has raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, You are my Son, this day have I begotten you.
Eisodos is used in Hebrews 10:19 to tell of our “entering” the Holy of Holies, into the presence of God.
Hebrews 10
12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
14 For by one offering he has perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,
16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the LORD, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter [eisodos] into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
20 By a new and living way, which he has consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
21 And having a high priest over the house of God;
22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
Numbers 21
7 Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against you; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.
8 And the LORD said unto Moses, Make you a fiery [see Luke 12:49 below] serpent, and set it upon a pole [nec – a banner/standard the people will see and know the way]: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looks upon it, shall live.
9 And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole [nec], and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.
10 And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in Oboth [water-skins – as familiar spirts – where the words of the known dead are heard calling man toward death].
11 And they journeyed from Oboth [they left the words of death], and pitched at Ijeabarim [where all who passed by could see the ruin caused by the corrupt and ignorant words, the venom of serpents], in the wilderness which is before Moab [as these men’s word are seen as the gates of hell, and passing through them we enter the light, understanding the moment and the new day], toward the sun-rising.
12 From thence they removed, and pitched in the valley of Zared [the place of exuberant growth – the advance of God’s people into his next unlimited state/age].
13 From thence they removed, and pitched on the other side of Arnon [brawling river – the place of the final battle when the waters overcome and finish the enemies], which is in the wilderness that comes out of the coasts of the Amorites [those speaking and exalting their word above this word of God]: for Arnon is the border of Moab [these are the gates of hell we must pass through], between Moab and the Amorites.
14 Wherefore it is said in the book of the wars of the LORD, What he did in the Red sea [cuwphah – when we reach the expected end], and in the brooks of Arnon [when these men’s words and God’s word clash and these men are destroyed],
15 And at the stream of the brooks that goes down to the dwelling of Ar [the place of this fountain of the LORD’s word, which breaks down the gate holding God’s people in hell], and lies upon the border of Moab.
16 And from thence they went to Beer [and the people went to the well, the fountain of God here springing up]: that is the well whereof the LORD spoke unto Moses, Gather the people together, and I will give them water [this word of God, which I have reserved to myself, for the salvation of God’s people].
17 Then Israel sang this song, Spring up [be lifted up, O Word of God], O well; sing you unto it:
18 The princes digged the well, the nobles of the people digged it, by the direction of the lawgiver, with their staves.
Luke 12
49 I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?
50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!
51 Suppose you that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:
52 For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.
53 The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
54 And he said also to the people, When you see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway you say, There comes a shower; and so it is.
55 And when you see the south wind blow, you say, There will be heat; and it comes to pass.
56 You hypocrites, you can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that you do not discern this time?
57 Yea, and why even of yourselves judge you not what is right?
Jeremiah 1
4 Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
5 Before I formed you in the belly I knew you; and before you came forth out of the womb I sanctified you, and I ordained you a prophet unto the nations.
6 Then said I, Ah, LORD God! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.
7 But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for you shall go to all that I shall send you, and whatsoever I command you you shall speak.
8 Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with you to deliver you, saith the LORD.
9 Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in your mouth.
10 See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.
11 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what seest you? And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree.
12 Then said the LORD unto me, You have well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it.
13 And the word of the LORD came unto me the second time, saying, What see you? And I said, I see a seething pot; and the face thereof is toward the north.
14 Then the LORD said unto me, Out of the north an evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land.
15 For, lo, I will call all the families of the kingdoms of the north, says the LORD; and they shall come, and they shall set every one his throne at the entering of the gates of Jerusalem, and against all the walls thereof round about, and against all the cities of Judah.
16 And I will utter my judgments against them touching all their wickedness, who have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, and worshipped the works of their own hands.
17 You therefore gird up your loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command you: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound you before them.
18 For, behold, I have made you this day a defensed city, and an iron pillar, and brazen walls against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against the princes thereof, against the priests thereof, and against the people of the land.
19 And they shall fight against you; but they shall not prevail against you; for I am with you, says the LORD, to deliver you.
Jeremiah 51
9 We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed: forsake her, and let us go every one into his own country: for her judgment reaches unto heaven, and is lifted up even to the skies.
10 The LORD has brought forth our righteousness: come, and let us declare [caphar] in Zion the work of the LORD our God.
11 Make bright the arrows; gather the shields: the LORD has raised up the spirit of the kings of the Medes: for his device is against Babylon, to destroy it; because it is the vengeance of the LORD, the vengeance of his temple.
12 Set up the standard [nec – the pole upon which Moses raised the brazen serpent, as the son of man must be lifted] upon the walls of Babylon, make the watch strong, set up the watchmen, prepare [kuwn – perfect] the ambushes: for the LORD has both devised and done that which he spoke against the inhabitants of Babylon.
13 O you that dwells upon many waters, abundant in treasures, your end is come, and the measure of your covetousness.
14 The LORD of hosts has sworn by himself, saying, Surely I will fill you with men, as with caterpillars; and they shall lift up a shout against you.
15 He has made the earth by his power, he has established [kuwn – perfected] the world by his wisdom, and has stretched out the heaven by his understanding.
16 When he utters his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens; and he causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth: he makes lightning with rain, and brings forth the wind out of his treasures. [These are speaking of when the LORD, as now, sends His word from heaven, and His Spirit moves upon them producing understanding. The following verse tells of the words of men as foundationless confusion in which there is no life-giving power.]
17 Every man is brutish by his knowledge; every founder is confounded by the graven image: for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them.
18 They are vanity [worthless], the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish.
19 The portion of Jacob is not like them; for he is the former of all things: and Israel is the rod of his inheritance: the LORD of hosts is his name.
20 You are my battle axe and weapons of war: for with you will I break in pieces the nations, and with you will I destroy kingdoms;
21 And with you will I break in pieces the horse and his rider; and with you will I break in pieces the chariot and his rider;
22 With you also will I break in pieces man and woman; and with you will I break in pieces old and young; and with you will I break in pieces the young man and the maid;
23 I will also break in pieces with you the shepherd and his flock; and with you will I break in pieces the husbandman and his yoke of oxen; and with you will I break in pieces captains and rulers.
24 And I will render unto Babylon and to all the inhabitants of Chaldea [the confusion and those who use their worthless words to intentionally produce it] all their evil that they have done in Zion in your sight, says the LORD.
25 Behold, I am against you, O destroying mountain, says the LORD, which destroy all the earth: and I will stretch out mine hand upon you, and roll you down from the rocks, and will make you a burnt mountain.
26 And they shall not take of you a stone for a corner, nor a stone for foundations; but you shall be desolate forever, says the LORD.
27 Set you up a standard [nec – raise up the brazen serpent, the son of man] in the land, blow the trumpet among the nations, prepare the nations against her, call together against her the kingdoms of Ararat [to reverse the curse], Minni [to this rightly divided word of God], and Ashchenaz [that shall be as fire scatter upon the land] appoint a captain against her; cause the horses to come up as the rough caterpillars.
Habakkuk 1
5 Behold you among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvelously: for I will work a work in your days which you will not believe, though it be told [capgar] you [though a man, as the mouth of God, declares it to you].
6 For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwelling-places that are not theirs.
7 They are terrible and dreadful: their judgment and their dignity shall proceed of themselves [their corrupt conscience that alters and reverses good and evil].
8 Their horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves: and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from far; they shall fly as the eagle that hastes to eat.
9 They shall come all for violence: their faces shall sup up as the east wind, and they shall gather the captivity as the sand.
10 And they shall scoff at the kings, and the princes shall be a scorn unto them: they shall deride every strong hold; for they shall heap dust, and take it.
11 Then shall his mind change, and he shall pass over, and offend, imputing this his power unto his god.
12 Are you not from everlasting, O LORD my God, mine Holy One? we shall not die. O LORD, you have ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, you have established them for correction.
Acts 13
32 And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers,
33 God has fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he has raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, You are my Son, this day have I begotten you.
34 And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David.
35 Wherefore he says also in another psalm, You shall not suffer your Holy One to see corruption.
36 For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:
37 But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption.
38 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man [the incorruptible God in him speaking] is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:
39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.
40 Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets;
41 Behold, you despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which you shall in no wise believe, though a man declares it unto you.
Psalms 34
1 I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
3 O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.
4 I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
5 They looked unto him, and were lightened [nahar – and were given understand that brought them to Him]: and their faces were not ashamed [and they saw Him face to face, which is the expected end].
6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the LORD encamps round about them that fear him, and delivers them.
8 O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusts in him.
9 O fear the LORD, you his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.
10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.
11 Come, you children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
12 What man is he that desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking guile [deception].
14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.
16 The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
17 The righteous cry, and the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saves such as be of a contrite spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivers him out of them all.
20 He keeps all his bones: not one of them is broken.
21 Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.
22 The LORD redeems the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.
