The Lord tells the people of Judah,“ Stand where the roads cross, and look around. Ask where the old paths are. Ask for the good path, and walk on it. Then your hearts will find rest in me. But you said,‘ We won’t walk on it.’

耶和华如此说：“你们当站在路上察看，访问古道，哪是善道，便行在其间；这样，你们心里必得安息。他们却说：‘我们不行在其间。’

耶和华如此说：“你们当站在路边察看，寻访古老的路，哪里是完善的道路，就行走在其上；这样，你们自己必找到安息。他们却说：‘我们不走。’

耶和华如此说：“你们当站在路边察看，寻访古老的路，哪里是完善的道路，就行走在其上；这样，你们自己必找到安息。他们却说：‘我们不走。’

耶和华说：“你们要站在路口观望，寻访古道，找到正路并行在其上，便会得到心灵的安宁。”但你们却说：“我们拒绝这样做。”

耶和华这样说：“你们要站在路上察看，寻访远古的路径，看哪一条是美善的路，就走在其中；这样，你们心里就必得安息。他们却说：‘我们不走在其中。’

耶和華如此說：你們當站在路上察看，訪問古道，哪是善道，便行在其間；這樣，你們心裏必得安息。他們卻說：我們不行在其間。

耶和華如此說：「你們當站在路邊察看，尋訪古老的路，哪裏是完善的道路，就行走在其上；這樣，你們自己必找到安息。他們卻說：『我們不走。』

耶和華如此說：「你們當站在路邊察看，尋訪古老的路，哪裏是完善的道路，就行走在其上；這樣，你們自己必找到安息。他們卻說：『我們不走。』

耶和華說：「你們要站在路口觀望，尋訪古道，找到正路並行在其上，便會得到心靈的安寧。」但你們卻說：「我們拒絕這樣做。」

耶和華這樣說：“你們要站在路上察看，尋訪遠古的路徑，看哪一條是美善的路，就走在其中；這樣，你們心裡就必得安息。他們卻說：‘我們不走在其中。’

永恆主這麼說：『你們要站在路上察看，訪問往古的路徑，哪一條是好的路，你們便在那上頭行；這樣、你們就得安然。但他們卻說：「我們不在那上頭行。」

耶和華曰、爾宜立道中而觀、訪其古道之善者而行之、如是、則心獲安、惟彼曰、我弗由之、

耶和華曰、當立道旁、訪其舊途、正直者履之、可得平康、人曰、余不欲正直是履。

主曾如是云、爾曹當立道旁以觀、訪其舊途、何為善道則行之、如是可得平康、惟彼云、我儕不欲行、

This is what the Lord says:“ Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said,‘ We will not walk in it.’

Thus says the Lord:“ Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said,‘ We will not walk in it.’

This is what the Lord says:“ Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls. But you reply,‘ No, that’s not the road we want!’

This is what the LORD says: Stand by the roadways and look. Ask about the ancient paths,“ Which is the way to what is good?” Then take it and find rest for yourselves. But they protested,“ We won’t!”

This is what the Lord says:“ Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, Where the good way is, and walk in it; Then you will find a resting place for your souls. But they said,‘ We will not walk in it.’

Thus says the Lord:“ Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls. But they said,‘ We will not walk in it.’

Thus saith Jehovah, Stand ye in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way; and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls: but they said, We will not walk therein.

This is what the Lord says: Stand by the roadways and look. Ask about the ancient paths: Which is the way to what is good? Then take it and find rest for yourselves. But they protested,“ We won’t!”

Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where[ is] the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk[ therein].

The LORD said to his people:“ You are standing at the crossroads. So consider your path. Ask where the old, reliable paths are. Ask where the path is that leads to blessing and follow it. If you do, you will find rest for your souls.” But they said,“ We will not follow it!”

Yahweh says,“ Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths,‘ Where is the good way?’ and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But they said,‘ We will not walk in it.’

But my people have forgotten me. They burn incense to worthless gods. Their gods made them trip and fall as they walked on the old paths. They made them use side roads instead of roads that were built up.

Remember the days of long ago. Think about what the Lord did through those many years. Ask your father. He will tell you. Ask your elders. They’ll explain it to you.

You will hear your Teacher’s voice behind you. You will hear it whether you turn to the right or the left. It will say,“ Here is the path I want you to take. So walk on it.”

“ Come to me, all you who are tired and are carrying heavy loads. I will give you rest.Become my servants and learn from me. I am gentle and free of pride. You will find rest for your souls.

I also gave them another command. I said,‘ Obey me. Then I will be your God. And you will be my people. Live the way I command you to live. Then things will go well with you.’

“ Remember the law my servant Moses gave you. Remember the rules and laws I gave him at Mount Horeb. They were for the whole nation of Israel.

“ We won’t listen to the message you have spoken to us in the Lord’ s name!

You received Christ Jesus as Lord. So keep on living your lives in him.

When you felt secure, I warned you. But you said,‘ I won’t listen!’ You have acted like that ever since you were young. You have not obeyed me.

“ Abraham replied,‘ They have the teachings of Moses and the Prophets. Let your brothers listen to them.’

But they will reply,‘ It’s no use. We will continue to do what we’ve already planned. All of us will do what our stubborn and evil hearts want us to do.’ ”

Then Jesus told them,“ You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light. Do this before darkness catches up with you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going.

People of Jacob, come. Let us live the way the Lord has taught us to.

Do you believe Moses? Then you should believe me. He wrote about me.But you do not believe what he wrote. So how are you going to believe what I say?”

Follow what the Lord taught you and said to you through me. People who don’t speak in keeping with these words will have no hope in the morning.

He said to his people,“ I am offering you a resting place. Let those who are tired rest.” He continued,“ I am offering you a place of peace and quiet.” But they wouldn’t listen.

We don’t want you to slow down. Instead, be like those who have faith and are patient. They will receive what God promised.

That is what the people of long ago were praised for.We have faith. So we understand that everything was made when God commanded it. That’s why we believe that what we see was not made out of what could be seen.Abel had faith. So he brought to God a better offering than Cain did. Because of his faith Abel was praised as a godly man. God said good things about his offerings. Because of his faith Abel still speaks. He speaks even though he is dead.Enoch had faith. So he was taken from this life. He didn’t die.“ He couldn’t be found, because God had taken him away.”( Genesis 5:24) Before God took him, Enoch was praised as one who pleased God.Without faith it is impossible to please God. Those who come to God must believe that he exists. And they must believe that he rewards those who look to him.Noah had faith. So he built an ark to save his family. He built it because of his great respect for God. God had warned him about things that could not yet be seen. Because of his faith Noah showed the world that it was guilty. Because of his faith he was considered right with God.Abraham had faith. So he obeyed God. God called him to go to a place he would later receive as his own. So he went. He did it even though he didn’t know where he was going.Because of his faith he made his home in the land God had promised him. Abraham was like an outsider in a strange country. He lived there in tents. So did Isaac and Jacob. They received the same promise he did.Abraham was looking forward to the city that has foundations. He was waiting for the city that God planned and built.And Sarah had faith. So God made it possible for her to become a mother. She became a mother even though she was too old to have children. But Sarah believed that the God who made the promise was faithful.Abraham was past the time when he could have children. But many children came from that one man. They were as many as the stars in the sky. They were as many as the grains of sand on the seashore. No one could count them.All these people were still living by faith when they died. They didn’t receive the things God had promised. They only saw them and welcomed them from a long way off. They openly said that they were outsiders and strangers on earth.People who say things like that show that they are looking for a country of their own.What if they had been thinking of the country they had left? Then they could have returned to it.Instead, they longed for a better country. They wanted a heavenly one. So God is pleased when they call him their God. In fact, he has prepared a city for them.Abraham had faith. So when God tested him, Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice. Abraham had held on tightly to the promises. But he was about to offer his one and only son.God had said to him,“ Your family line will continue through Isaac.”( Genesis 21:12) Even so, Abraham was going to offer him up.Abraham did this, because he believed that God could even raise the dead. In a way, he did receive Isaac back from death.Isaac had faith. So he blessed Jacob and Esau. He told them what was ahead for them.Jacob had faith. So he blessed each of Joseph’s sons. He blessed them when he was dying. Because of his faith he worshiped God. Jacob worshiped as he leaned on the top of his walking stick.Joseph had faith. So he spoke to the people of Israel about how they would leave Egypt someday. When his death was near, he spoke about where to bury his bones.Moses’ parents had faith. So they hid him for three months after he was born. They saw he was a special child. They were not afraid of the king’s command.Moses had faith. So he refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. That happened after he had grown up.He chose to be treated badly together with the people of God. He chose not to enjoy sin’s pleasures. They only last for a short time.He suffered shame because of Christ. He thought it had great value. Moses considered it better than the riches of Egypt. He was looking ahead to his reward.Because of his faith, Moses left Egypt. It wasn’t because he was afraid of the king’s anger. He didn’t let anything stop him. That’s because he saw the God who can’t be seen.Because of his faith, Moses was the first to keep the Passover Feast. He commanded the people of Israel to sprinkle blood on their doorways. He did it so that the destroying angel would not touch their oldest sons.The people of Israel had faith. So they passed through the Red Sea. They went through it as if it were dry land. The Egyptians tried to do it also. But they drowned.Israel’s army had faith. So the walls of Jericho fell down. It happened after they had marched around the city for seven days.Rahab, the prostitute, had faith. So she welcomed the spies. That’s why she wasn’t killed with those who didn’t obey God.What more can I say? I don’t have time to tell about all the others. I don’t have time to talk about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah. I don’t have time to tell about David and Samuel and the prophets.Because of their faith they took over kingdoms. They ruled fairly. They received the blessings God had promised. They shut the mouths of lions.They put out great fires. They escaped being killed by swords. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became powerful in battle. They beat back armies from other countries.Women received back their dead. The dead were raised to life again. There were others who were made to suffer greatly. But they refused to be set free. They did this so that after death they would be raised to an even better life.Some were made fun of and even whipped. Some were held by chains. Some were put in prison.Some were killed with stones. Some were sawed in two. Some were killed by swords. They went around wearing the skins of sheep and goats. They were poor. They were attacked. They were treated badly.The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains. They lived in caves. They lived in holes in the ground.All these people were praised because they had faith. But none of them received what God had promised.That’s because God had planned something better for us. So they would only be made perfect together with us.A huge cloud of witnesses is all around us. So let us throw off everything that stands in our way. Let us throw off any sin that holds on to us so tightly. And let us keep on running the race marked out for us.

The Berean Jews were very glad to receive Paul’s message. They studied the Scriptures carefully every day. They wanted to see if what Paul said was true. So they were more noble than the Thessalonian Jews.

Now you know these things. So you will be blessed if you do them.

“ What do you think about this? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said,‘ Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’“‘ I will not,’ the son answered. But later he changed his mind and went.“ Then the father went to the other son. He said the same thing. The son answered,‘ I will, sir.’ But he did not go.“ Which of the two sons did what his father wanted?”“ The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them,“ What I’m about to tell you is true. Tax collectors and prostitutes will enter the kingdom of God ahead of you.John came to show you the right way to live. And you did not believe him. But the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. You saw this. But even then you did not turn away from your sins and believe him.

You study the Scriptures carefully. You study them because you think they will give you eternal life. The Scriptures you study are a witness about me.

What should we say about these things? What did Abraham, the father of our people, discover about being right with God?Did he become right with God because of something he did? If so, he could brag about it. But he couldn’t brag to God.What do we find in Scripture? It says,“ Abraham believed God. God accepted Abraham’s faith, and so his faith made him right with God.”( Genesis 15:6)When a person works, their pay is not considered a gift. It is owed to them.But things are different with God. He makes ungodly people right with himself. If people trust in him, their faith is accepted even though they do not work. Their faith makes them right with God.King David says the same thing. He tells us how blessed people are when God makes them right with himself. They are blessed because they don’t have to do anything in return. David says,

Do not run after other gods until your sandals are worn out and your throat is dry. But you said,‘ It’s no use! I love those gods. I must go after them.’

“ King Solomon, I love you. So tell me where you take care of your flock. Tell me where you rest your sheep at noon. Why should I have to act like a prostitute near the flocks of your friends?”“ You are the most beautiful woman of all. Don’t you know where to find the king? Follow the tracks the sheep make. Take care of your young goats near the tents of the shepherds.”

And Abraham is also the father of those who are circumcised and believe. So just being circumcised is not enough. Those who are circumcised must also follow the steps of our father Abraham. He had faith before he was circumcised.