I publicly proclaim bold promises. I do not whisper obscurities in some dark corner. I would not have told the people of Israel to seek me if I could not be found. I, the Lord, speak only what is true and declare only what is right.

我没有在隐密黑暗之地说话；我没有对雅各的后裔说：你们寻求我是徒然的。我耶和华所讲的是公义，所说的是正直。”

我不在隐密黑暗之地说话，也没有对雅各的后裔说，‘你们寻求我是徒然的’，我—耶和华所讲的是公义，所说的是正直。”

我不在隐密黑暗之地说话，也没有对雅各的后裔说，‘你们寻求我是徒然的’，我—耶和华所讲的是公义，所说的是正直。”

我没有在隐秘处暗暗地说话，我没有对雅各的后裔说，‘你们找不到我。’我耶和华宣扬真理，传讲正义。

我没有在隐密处、在黑暗之地说过话；我没有对雅各的后裔说过：‘你们寻求我是徒然的。’我耶和华讲说公义，宣扬正直。

我没有在隐秘处、没有在黑暗之地说话，也没有对雅各的后裔说：‘你们在空虚中寻找我吧！’我耶和华讲说公义，宣告正直。

我沒有在隱密黑暗之地說話；我沒有對雅各的後裔說：你們尋求我是徒然的。我－耶和華所講的是公義，所說的是正直。

我不在隱密黑暗之地說話，也沒有對雅各的後裔說，『你們尋求我是徒然的』，我－耶和華所講的是公義，所說的是正直。」

我不在隱密黑暗之地說話，也沒有對雅各的後裔說，『你們尋求我是徒然的』，我－耶和華所講的是公義，所說的是正直。」

我沒有在隱秘處暗暗地說話，我沒有對雅各的後裔說，『你們找不到我。』我耶和華宣揚真理，傳講正義。

我沒有在隱密處、在黑暗之地說過話；我沒有對雅各的後裔說過：‘你們尋求我是徒然的。’我耶和華講說公義，宣揚正直。

我不是在隱密處、在黑暗之地的所在說話的；我並不是對雅各的後裔說：「你們要空空虛虛以尋求我」呀；我永恆主是講義理，是宣揚正直的。

我沒有在隱祕處、沒有在黑暗之地說話，也沒有對雅各的後裔說：『你們在空虛中尋找我吧！』我耶和華講說公義，宣告正直。

我未嘗言於隱密幽暗之處、未嘗謂雅各子孫曰、爾尋求我、乃徒然也、我耶和華言公義、宣中正、

凡我有命、不秘藏於幽密、我豈使雅各子孫、徒然求予哉、我耶和華出言仁義、真實無妄。

我宣命、未嘗在隱秘處、在幽暗地、未曾謂雅各裔曰、爾求我徒然、我乃主、所言者乃仁義、所告者乃誠實、

I have not spoken in secret, from somewhere in a land of darkness; I have not said to Jacob’s descendants,‘ Seek me in vain.’ I, the Lord, speak the truth; I declare what is right.

I have not spoken in secret. I have not spoken from a dark place. I have not said to Jacob’s people,‘ It is useless to look for me.’ I am the Lord. I always speak the truth. I always say what is right.

I did not speak in secret, in a land of darkness; I did not say to the offspring of Jacob,‘ Seek me in vain.’ I the Lord speak the truth; I declare what is right.

I have not spoken in secret, somewhere in a land of darkness. I did not say to the descendants of Jacob: Seek me in a wasteland. I am the LORD, who speaks righteously, who declares what is right.

I have not spoken in secret, In some dark land; I did not say to the offspring of Jacob,‘ Seek Me in a wasteland’; I, the Lord, speak righteousness, Declaring things that are right.

I have not spoken in secret, In a dark place of the earth; I did not say to the seed of Jacob,‘ Seek Me in vain’; I, the Lord, speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.

I have not spoken in secret, in a place of the land of darkness; I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I, Jehovah, speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.

I have not spoken in secret, somewhere in a land of darkness. I did not say to the descendants of Jacob: Seek Me in a wasteland. I, Yahweh, speak truthfully; I say what is right.

I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.

I have not spoken in secret, in some hidden place. I did not tell Jacob’s descendants,‘ Seek me in vain!’ I am the LORD, the one who speaks honestly, who makes reliable announcements.

I have not spoken in secret, in a place of the land of darkness. I didn’t say to the offspring of Jacob,‘ Seek me in vain.’ I, Yahweh, speak righteousness. I declare things that are right.

Come closer, and listen to this. From the beginning I have told you plainly what would happen.” And now the Sovereign Lord and his Spirit have sent me with this message.

Now this is what the Lord says to the family of Israel:“ Come back to me and live!

God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?Listen, I received a command to bless; God has blessed, and I cannot reverse it!

If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.I will be found by you,” says the Lord.“ I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land.”

On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds,“ Anyone who is thirsty may come to me!Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare,‘ Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’”( When he said“ living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)

When you lift up your hands in prayer, I will not look. Though you offer many prayers, I will not listen, for your hands are covered with the blood of innocent victims.

Such people may seek you and worship in your presence, O God of Jacob. Interlude

And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong— you want only what will give you pleasure.

“ You have said terrible things about me,” says the Lord.“ But you say,‘ What do you mean? What have we said against you?’“ You have said,‘ What’s the use of serving God? What have we gained by obeying his commands or by trying to show the Lord of Heaven’s Armies that we are sorry for our sins?

The Lord’s promises are pure, like silver refined in a furnace, purified seven times over.

The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living.Reverence for the Lord is pure, lasting forever. The laws of the Lord are true; each one is fair.They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb.

Every word of God proves true. He is a shield to all who come to him for protection.

Jesus replied,“ Everyone knows what I teach. I have preached regularly in the synagogues and the Temple, where the people gather. I have not spoken in secret.

The Lord detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but he delights in the prayers of the upright.

All he does is just and good, and all his commandments are trustworthy.They are forever true, to be obeyed faithfully and with integrity.

Someone may say to you,“ Let’s ask the mediums and those who consult the spirits of the dead. With their whisperings and mutterings, they will tell us what to do.” But shouldn’t people ask God for guidance? Should the living seek guidance from the dead?

Listen as Wisdom calls out! Hear as understanding raises her voice!On the hilltop along the road, she takes her stand at the crossroads.By the gates at the entrance to the town, on the road leading in, she cries aloud,“ I call to you, to all of you! I raise my voice to all people.

“ This command I am giving you today is not too difficult for you, and it is not beyond your reach.It is not kept in heaven, so distant that you must ask,‘ Who will go up to heaven and bring it down so we can hear it and obey?’It is not kept beyond the sea, so far away that you must ask,‘ Who will cross the sea to bring it to us so we can hear it and obey?’No, the message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart so that you can obey it.

“ The Lord our God has secrets known to no one. We are not accountable for them, but we and our children are accountable forever for all that he has revealed to us, so that we may obey all the terms of these instructions.

Who is this who comes from Edom, from the city of Bozrah, with his clothing stained red? Who is this in royal robes, marching in his great strength?“ It is I, the Lord, announcing your salvation! It is I, the Lord, who has the power to save!”

and he went out to meet King Asa as he was returning from the battle.“ Listen to me, Asa!” he shouted.“ Listen, all you people of Judah and Benjamin! The Lord will stay with you as long as you stay with him! Whenever you seek him, you will find him. But if you abandon him, he will abandon you.

I have sworn by my own name; I have spoken the truth, and I will never go back on my word: Every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will declare allegiance to me.”

For I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to accompany us and protect us from enemies along the way. After all, we had told the king,“ Our God’s hand of protection is on all who worship him, but his fierce anger rages against those who abandon him.”

The humble will see their God at work and be glad. Let all who seek God’s help be encouraged.

“ So now, with God as our witness, and in the sight of all Israel— the Lord’s assembly— I give you this charge. Be careful to obey all the commands of the Lord your God, so that you may continue to possess this good land and leave it to your children as a permanent inheritance.

And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.At that time there were devout Jews from every nation living in Jerusalem.When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers.They were completely amazed.“ How can this be?” they exclaimed.“ These people are all from Galilee,and yet we hear them speaking in our own native languages!

She calls to the crowds along the main street, to those gathered in front of the city gate:

“ Shout with the voice of a trumpet blast. Shout aloud! Don’t be timid. Tell my people Israel of their sins!Yet they act so pious! They come to the Temple every day and seem delighted to learn all about me. They act like a righteous nation that would never abandon the laws of its God. They ask me to take action on their behalf, pretending they want to be near me.‘ We have fasted before you!’ they say.‘ Why aren’t you impressed? We have been very hard on ourselves, and you don’t even notice it!’“ I will tell you why!” I respond.“ It’s because you are fasting to please yourselves. Even while you fast, you keep oppressing your workers.

O Lord, you are righteous, and your regulations are fair.Your laws are perfect and completely trustworthy.

But I keep praying to you, Lord, hoping this time you will show me favor. In your unfailing love, O God, answer my prayer with your sure salvation.

While Jesus was teaching in the Temple, he called out,“ Yes, you know me, and you know where I come from. But I’m not here on my own. The one who sent me is true, and you don’t know him.

He is the Rock; his deeds are perfect. Everything he does is just and fair. He is a faithful God who does no wrong; how just and upright he is!

But here he is, speaking in public, and they say nothing to him. Could our leaders possibly believe that he is the Messiah?

Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you.

Listen to me! For I have important things to tell you. Everything I say is right,

‘ These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.Their worship is a farce, for they teach man made ideas as commands from God.’”

Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near.Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously.

Gather the nations together! Assemble the peoples of the world! Which of their idols has ever foretold such things? Which can predict what will happen tomorrow? Where are the witnesses of such predictions? Who can verify that they spoke the truth?“ But you are my witnesses, O Israel!” says the Lord.“ You are my servant. You have been chosen to know me, believe in me, and understand that I alone am God. There is no other God— there never has been, and there never will be.