Malachi 3:14

Set a watch, Yahweh, before my mouth. Keep the door of my lips.

You shall seek me, and find me, when you search for me with all your heart.

For we all stumble in many things. Anyone who doesn’t stumble in word is a perfect person, able to bridle the whole body also.

Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but only what is good for building others up as the need may be, that it may give grace to those who hear.

For, “He who would love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.

Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking lies.

But you be strong, and don’t let your hands be slack; for your work will be rewarded.”

“If you will return, Israel,” says Yahweh, “if you will return to me, and if you will put away your abominations out of my sight; then you will not be removed;

Therefore turn to your God. Keep kindness and justice, and wait continually for your God.

They tell God, ‘Depart from us, for we don’t want to know about your ways.

‘Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and you don’t see? Why have we afflicted our soul, and you don’t notice?’ “Behold, in the day of your fast you find pleasure, and oppress all your laborers.

“Moab has been at ease from his youth, and he has settled on his lees, and has not been emptied from vessel to vessel, neither has he gone into captivity: therefore his taste remains in him, and his scent is not changed.

For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits his own self?

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.

They gathered together to Mizpah, and drew water, and poured it out before Yahweh, and fasted on that day, and said there, “We have sinned against Yahweh.” Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpah.

I will wash my hands in innocence, so I will go about your altar, Yahweh,

Put away from yourself a perverse mouth. Put corrupt lips far from you.

Even in laughter the heart may be sorrowful, and mirth may end in heaviness.

Then he said to me, “Son of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in his rooms of imagery? For they say, ‘Yahweh doesn’t see us. Yahweh has forsaken the land.’ ”

Woe to those who are at ease in Zion, and to those who are secure on the mountain of Samaria, the notable men of the chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel come!

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Woe to you, you who are full now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.

But be doers of the word, and not only hearers, deluding your own selves.

May it be far from you to do things like that, to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be like the wicked. May that be far from you. Shouldn’t the Judge of all the earth do right?”

“It shall be a statute to you forever: in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict your souls, and shall do no kind of work, whether native-born or a stranger who lives as a foreigner among you;

Satan answered Yahweh, and said, “Skin for skin. Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life.

What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What profit should we have, if we pray to him?’

“Can a man be profitable to God? Surely he who is wise is profitable to himself.

Break the arm of the wicked. As for the evil man, seek out his wickedness until you find none.

for when he dies he will carry nothing away. His glory won’t descend after him.

Oh let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you will judge the peoples with equity, and govern the nations on earth.

The mouth of the righteous produces wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut off.

Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than he who is perverse in his lips and is a fool.

Tell the righteous “Good!” For they shall eat the fruit of their deeds.

The Lord said, “Because this people draws near with their mouth and honors me with their lips, but they have removed their heart far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment of men which has been taught;

Yet you have not called on me, Jacob; but you have been weary of me, Israel.

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.’

My people, what have I done to you? How have I burdened you? Answer me!

You say also, ‘Behold, what a weariness it is!’ and you have sniffed at it”, says Yahweh of Armies; “and you have brought that which was taken by violence, the lame, and the sick; thus you bring the offering. Should I accept this at your hand?” says Yahweh.

Therefore when you do merciful deeds, don’t sound a trumpet before yourself, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may get glory from men. Most certainly I tell you, they have received their reward.

In praying, don’t use vain repetitions, as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their much speaking.

For what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his life? Or what will a man give in exchange for his life?

John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting, and they came and asked him, “Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples don’t fast?”

Be careful therefore how you hear. For whoever has, to him will be given; and whoever doesn’t have, from him will be taken away even that which he thinks he has.”

What fruit then did you have at that time in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.

Don’t be deceived. God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

nor filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not appropriate, but rather giving of thanks.

(all of which perish with use), according to the precepts and doctrines of men?

And whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord, and not for men,

Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

not paying attention to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn away from the truth.

After these things Yahweh’s word came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Don’t be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”

All the elders of that city which is nearest to the slain man shall wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the valley.

Also delight yourself in Yahweh, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

God presides in the great assembly. He judges among the gods.

He who guards his mouth guards his soul. One who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.

Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles.

Bring no more vain offerings. Incense is an abomination to me. New moons, Sabbaths, and convocations: I can’t stand evil assemblies.

They will know that I am Yahweh when I have set a fire in Egypt, and all her helpers are destroyed.

They are all hot as an oven, and devour their judges. All their kings have fallen. There is no one among them who calls to me.

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.”

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?’

Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Then John’s disciples came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples don’t fast?”

Then Peter answered, “Behold, we have left everything, and followed you. What then will we have?”

For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world, and forfeit his life?

but one thing is needed. Mary has chosen the good part, which will not be taken away from her.”

When a south wind blows, you say, ‘There will be a scorching heat,’ and it happens.

The beggar died, and he was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died, and was buried.

and not to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which cause disputes, rather than God’s stewardship, which is in faith—

Beware, brothers, lest perhaps there might be in any one of you an evil heart of unbelief, in falling away from the living God;

Without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing to him, for he who comes to God must believe that he exists, and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him.

Don’t be carried away by various and strange teachings, for it is good that the heart be established by grace, not by food, through which those who were so occupied were not benefited.

For the sun arises with the scorching wind and withers the grass, and the flower in it falls, and the beauty of its appearance perishes. So the rich man will also fade away in his pursuits.

Indeed, we put bits into the horses’ mouths so that they may obey us, and we guide their whole body.

Esau said, “Behold, I am about to die. What good is the birthright to me?”

Let heavier work be laid on the men, that they may labor in it. Don’t let them pay any attention to lying words.”

Moses said to Yahweh, “Why have you treated your servant so badly? Why haven’t I found favor in your sight, that you lay the burden of all this people on me?

Then his wife said to him, “Do you still maintain your integrity? Renounce God, and die.”

who said to God, ‘Depart from us;’ and, ‘What can the Almighty do for us?’

For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.’

that you ask, ‘What advantage will it be to you? What profit will I have, more than if I had sinned?’

so that men shall say, “Most certainly there is a reward for the righteous. Most certainly there is a God who judges the earth.”

Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocence,

“Yet even now,” says Yahweh, “turn to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning.”

“Moreover when you fast, don’t be like the hypocrites, with sad faces. For they disfigure their faces, that they may be seen by men to be fasting. Most certainly I tell you, they have received their reward.

And in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrine rules made by men.’ ”

saying, ‘These last have spent one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat!’

But they worship me in vain, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’

But he answered his father, ‘Behold, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed a commandment of yours, but you never gave me a goat, that I might celebrate with my friends.

Then what advantage does the Jew have? Or what is the profit of circumcision?

If anyone among you thinks himself to be religious while he doesn’t bridle his tongue, but deceives his heart, this man’s religion is worthless.

Lament, mourn, and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to gloom.