Isaiah 5:20

But Yahweh said to Samuel, “Don’t look on his face, or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for I don’t see as man sees. For man looks at the outward appearance, but Yahweh looks at the heart.”

In covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words: whose sentence now from of old doesn’t linger, and their destruction will not slumber.

Beloved, don’t believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

For there are certain men who crept in secretly, even those who were long ago written about for this condemnation: ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into indecency, and denying our only Master, God, and Lord, Jesus Christ.

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves.

Do horses run on the rocky crags? Does one plow there with oxen? But you have turned justice into poison, and the fruit of righteousness into bitterness;

This was because of the false brothers secretly brought in, who stole in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage,

All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but Yahweh weighs the motives.

Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to Yahweh: they shall certainly not be unpunished.

He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination to Yahweh.

“Your words have been stout against me,” says Yahweh. “Yet you say, ‘What have we spoken against you?’

I tell you that even so there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance.

He spoke also this parable to certain people who were convinced of their own righteousness, and who despised all others.

For being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, they didn’t subject themselves to the righteousness of God.

For there also must be factions among you, that those who are approved may be revealed among you.

whose end is destruction, whose god is the belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who think about earthly things.

“Keep far from a false charge, and don’t kill the innocent and righteous; for I will not justify the wicked.

They change the night into day, saying ‘The light is near’ in the presence of darkness.

Also to punish the righteous is not good, nor to flog officials for their integrity.

who acquit the guilty for a bribe, but deny justice for the innocent!

You have bought me no sweet cane with money, nor have you filled me with the fat of your sacrifices, but you have burdened me with your sins. You have wearied me with your iniquities.

You are righteous, Yahweh, when I contend with you; yet I would like to reason the cause with you. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why are they all at ease who deal very treacherously?

Many false prophets will arise, and will lead many astray.

for you were bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

For the time will come when they will not listen to the sound doctrine, but having itching ears, will heap up for themselves teachers after their own lusts,

but in the hidden person of the heart, in the incorruptible adornment of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.

and saying, “Where is the promise of his coming? For, from the day that the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.”

“Why do the wicked live, become old, yes, and grow mighty in power?

They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.

It is time to act, Yahweh, for they break your law.

People curse someone who withholds grain, but blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.

To be partial to the faces of the wicked is not good, nor to deprive the innocent of justice.

Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but Yahweh weighs the hearts.

There is a vanity which is done on the earth, that there are righteous men to whom it happens according to the work of the wicked. Again, there are wicked men to whom it happens according to the work of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity.

The fool will no longer be called noble, nor the scoundrel be highly respected.

“I, Yahweh, search the mind. I try the heart, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.”

Then he said to me, “The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of perversion; for they say, ‘Yahweh has forsaken the land, and Yahweh doesn’t see.’

“Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not equal.’ Hear now, house of Israel: Is my way not equal? Aren’t your ways unequal?

They make promises, swearing falsely in making covenants. Therefore judgment springs up like poisonous weeds in the furrows of the field.

“For, behold, the day comes, it burns as a furnace; and all the proud, and all who work wickedness, will be stubble; and the day that comes will burn them up,” says Yahweh of Armies, “that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.

But whoever denies me before men, I will also deny him before my Father who is in heaven.

I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Don’t judge according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment.”

Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each man will get his praise from God.

Be careful that you don’t let anyone rob you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the elements of the world, and not after Christ.

Likewise, you younger ones, be subject to the elder. Yes, all of you clothe yourselves with humility, to subject yourselves to one another; for “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

“I know your works, oppression, and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews, and they are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

“I know your works and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. You hold firmly to my name, and didn’t deny my faith in the days of Antipas my witness, my faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.

“I know your works (behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one can shut), that you have a little power, and kept my word, and didn’t deny my name.

Terror and dread falls on them. By the greatness of your arm they are as still as a stone, until your people pass over, Yahweh, until the people you have purchased pass over.

Therefore the people quarreled with Moses, and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test Yahweh?”

If there is a controversy between men, and they come to judgment and the judges judge them, then they shall justify the righteous and condemn the wicked.

I know also, my God, that you try the heart, and have pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things. Now I have seen with joy your people, who are present here, offer willingly to you.

then hear from heaven, act, and judge your servants, bringing retribution to the wicked, to bring his way on his own head; and justifying the righteous, to give him according to his righteousness.

Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous; their minds and hearts are searched by the righteous God.

There are six things which Yahweh hates; yes, seven which are an abomination to him:

Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.

Woe to those who are mighty to drink wine, and champions at mixing strong drink;

Woe to those who deeply hide their counsel from Yahweh, and whose deeds are in the dark, and who say, “Who sees us?” and “Who knows us?”

Justice is turned away backward, and righteousness stands far away; for truth has fallen in the street, and uprightness can’t enter.

Thus Yahweh could no longer bear it, because of the evil of your doings, and because of the abominations which you have committed. Therefore your land has become a desolation, and an astonishment, and a curse, without inhabitant, as it is today.

But let justice roll on like rivers, and righteousness like a mighty stream.

Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails; for the wicked surround the righteous; therefore justice comes out perverted.

those who have turned back from following Yahweh, and those who haven’t sought Yahweh nor inquired after him.

It will happen at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and I will punish the men who are settled on their dregs, who say in their heart, “Yahweh will not do good, neither will he do evil.”

Yet you say, ‘Why?’ Because Yahweh has been witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have dealt treacherously, though she is your companion, and the wife of your covenant.

You have wearied Yahweh with your words. Yet you say, ‘How have we wearied him?’ In that you say, ‘Everyone who does evil is good in Yahweh’s sight, and he delights in them;’ or ‘Where is the God of justice?’

Jesus said to him, “Again, it is written, ‘You shall not test the Lord, your God.’ ”

but while people slept, his enemy came and sowed darnel weeds also among the wheat, and went away.

So my heavenly Father will also do to you, if you don’t each forgive your brother from your hearts for his misdeeds.”

But they do all their works to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad, enlarge the fringes of their garments,

Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

But he, desiring to justify himself, asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?”

The Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the platter, but your inward part is full of extortion and wickedness.

He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts. For that which is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

“Most certainly, I tell you, one who doesn’t enter by the door into the sheep fold, but climbs up some other way, is a thief and a robber.

for they loved men’s praise more than God’s praise.

God, who knows the heart, testified about them, giving them the Holy Spirit, just like he did to us.

idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, divisions, heresies,

Let no one rob you of your prize by self-abasement and worshiping of the angels, dwelling in the things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,

But the Spirit says expressly that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons,

whom, not having known, you love. In him, though now you don’t see him, yet believing, you rejoice greatly with joy that is unspeakable and full of glory,

But false prophets also arose among the people, as false teachers will also be among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, denying even the Master who bought them, bringing on themselves swift destruction.

These things I have written to you concerning those who would lead you astray.

They said to you, “In the last time there will be mockers, walking after their own ungodly lusts.”

They sang a new song, saying, “You are worthy to take the book and to open its seals: for you were killed, and bought us for God with your blood out of every tribe, language, people, and nation,

“When a man or woman has a plague on the head or on the beard,

He who says to the wicked, “You are righteous,” peoples will curse him, and nations will abhor him—

They will not drink wine with a song. Strong drink will be bitter to those who drink it.

You who turn justice to wormwood, and cast down righteousness to the earth:

Now we call the proud happy; yes, those who work wickedness are built up; yes, they tempt God, and escape.’