The proportion of Muslims who agreed (79 per cent) was higher than for Christians themselves (70 per cent).
The ComRes poll for the BBC appeared to contradict calls by some politicians to remove faith from the public arena.
Hindus (74 per cent) also gave more support than Christians to a
strong role in public life for the UK’s traditional, Christian religious
values.
The results suggested that people of different religions would rather
there is some kind of faith-based framework to life in Britain, even if
it is not based on their own religion.
Several years ago the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Westminster,
Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, warned that Christianity was “all but
vanquished” as the guiding principle for Britain’s moral framework.
But, according to the poll, 91 per cent of Muslims agreed that
religion “has an important role to play in public life” while 73 per
cent of Christians also agreed.
Atheists have recently stepped up their campaign against the role of
religion in public life, including using advertisements on the sides of
buses.
But the poll suggested that, even with baptisms, church weddings and
attendance at Sunday church services declining, people are unwilling for
secularism to replace religion completely.
The poll also found that only 54 per cent of Christians and 52 per
cent of Muslims agreed that the media reported their religion
accurately.
VANITY OF VANITIES
Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the
Lord is to be praised.
Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways.
And you, O desolate one, what do you mean that you dress in
scarlet, that you adorn yourself with ornaments of gold, that you
enlarge your eyes with paint? In vain you beautify yourself. Your lovers
despise you; they seek your life.
But the
Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the
Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the
Lord looks on the heart.”
For while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value
in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the
life to come.
He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity.
Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what
you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had
expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after
wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.
“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in
order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your
Father who is in heaven. “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no
trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the
streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they
have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let
your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving
may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love
to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they
may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their
reward. ...
Romans 12:2
ESV / 32 helpful votes
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the
renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will
of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires
of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and
the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed
to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if
you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of
the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,
idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries,
dissensions, divisions, ...
A man to whom God gives wealth, possessions, and honor, so that he
lacks nothing of all that he desires, yet God does not give him power to
enjoy them, but a stranger enjoys them. This is vanity; it is a
grievous evil.
James 1:26
ESV / 21 helpful votes
If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but
deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless.
Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good
for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not
benefited those devoted to them.
For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and
forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?
For who knows what is good for man while he lives the few days of
his vain life, which he passes like a shadow? For who can tell man what
will be after him under the sun?
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving
yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is
like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he
looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But
the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and
perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be
blessed in his doing. If anyone thinks he is religious and does not
bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is
worthless. ...
Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to
quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers.
Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality,
impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
For, speaking loud boasts of folly, they entice by sensual passions
of the flesh those who are barely escaping from those who live in
error.
Romans 12:1
ESV / 13 helpful votes
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to
present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God,
which is your spiritual worship.
Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges.
For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you,
the judge, practice the very same things. We know that the judgment of
God rightly falls on those who practice such things. Do you suppose, O
man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them
yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you presume on
the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing
that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?
For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge
and joy, but to the sinner he has given the business of gathering and
collecting, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and
a striving after wind.
Psalm 127:2
ESV / 12 helpful votes
It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating
the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.
James 2:14
ESV / 11 helpful votes
What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?
John 8:32
ESV / 11 helpful votes
And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Mark 10:19
ESV / 11 helpful votes
You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery,
Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your
father and mother.’”
“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you
pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be
measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye,
but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say
to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is
the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your
own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your
brother's eye.
Because sometimes a person who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge
and skill must leave everything to be enjoyed by someone who did not
toil for it. This also is vanity and a great evil.
Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense.
Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things.
Titus 3:9
ESV / 10 helpful votes
But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and
quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.
Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any
two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of
joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the
heart.
O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent
babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,”
Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer
walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds.
Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.
Psalm 39:6
ESV / 9 helpful votes
Surely a man goes about as a shadow! Surely for nothing they are in
turmoil; man heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather!
Job 4:8
ESV / 9 helpful votes
As I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same.
Desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either
what they are saying or the things about which they make confident
assertions.
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Behold, I am against those who prophesy lying dreams, declares the
Lord,
and who tell them and lead my people astray by their lies and their
recklessness, when I did not send them or charge them. So they do not
profit this people at all, declares the
Lord.
Knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from
your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold,
Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion,
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be
put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another,
tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality,
impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits
of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies,
and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those
who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the
offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. And
he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all
of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of
her poverty put in all she had to live on.”
Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes
and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat, so practice and observe whatever
they tell you—but not what they do. For they preach, but do not
practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on
people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them
with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For
they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, ...
For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father
will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their
trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in
order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your
Father who is in heaven. “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no
trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the
streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they
have received their reward.
Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you
in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight
of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into
judgment. Remove vexation from your heart, and put away pain from your
body, for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.
Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.
Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity, and the rod of his fury will fail.
Psalm 26:4
ESV / 7 helpful votes
I do not sit with men of falsehood, nor do I consort with hypocrites.
When Jehu came to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it. And she painted her
eyes and adorned her head and looked out of the window.
Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks
against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law
and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the
law but a judge. There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to
save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?
Complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love,
being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or
conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the
interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in
Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count
equality with God a thing to be grasped, ...
Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit
within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were
bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
And again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.”
Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you
despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of
God; for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow
to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” So then each of us will
give an account of himself to God.
“Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and
love greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues
and the places of honor at feasts, who devour widows' houses and for a
pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”
Luke 16:13
ESV / 6 helpful votes
No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one
and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the
other. You cannot serve God and money.”
“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell
you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is
in heaven.
But my people have forgotten me; they make offerings to false gods;
they made them stumble in their ways, in the ancient roads, and to walk
into side roads, not the highway,
“Behold, you trust in deceptive words to no avail.
One person who has no other, either son or brother, yet there is no
end to all his toil, and his eyes are never satisfied with riches, so
that he never asks, “For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of
pleasure?” This also is vanity and an unhappy business.
Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to
strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Remember
those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who
are mistreated, since you also are in the body.
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is
through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and
pierced themselves with many pangs.
Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate
hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one
another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each
other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above
all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect
harmony.
For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral
or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance
in the kingdom of Christ and God.
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in
love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering
and sacrifice to God. But sexual immorality and all impurity or
covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among
saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking,
which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you
may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or
who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the
kingdom of Christ and God. ...
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner
worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility
and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager
to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one
body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs
to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ...
Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are
spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on
yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so
fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he
is nothing, he deceives himself.
Acts 4:25
ESV / 5 helpful votes
Who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by
the Holy Spirit, “‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in
vain?
Luke 6:38
ESV / 5 helpful votes
Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down,
shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the
measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with
him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be
gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another
as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the
sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to
those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit
the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was
hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was
a stranger and you welcomed me, ...
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but
inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits.
Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every
healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A
healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good
fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown
into the fire. ...
“And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles
do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words.
O
Lord, my strength and my stronghold, my
refuge in the day of trouble, to you shall the nations come from the
ends of the earth and say: “Our fathers have inherited nothing but lies,
worthless things in which there is no profit.
They have sown wheat and have reaped thorns; they have tired
themselves out but profit nothing. They shall be ashamed of their
harvests because of the fierce anger of the
Lord.”
They are both stupid and foolish; the instruction of idols is but wood!
Thus says the
Lord: “What wrong did your fathers find in me that they went far from me, and went after worthlessness, and became worthless?
When you cry out, let your collection of idols deliver you! The
wind will carry them off, a breath will take them away. But he who takes
refuge in me shall possess the land and shall inherit my holy mountain.
I will declare your righteousness and your deeds, but they will not profit you.
Who fashions a god or casts an idol that is profitable for nothing?
All who fashion idols are nothing, and the things they delight in
do not profit. Their witnesses neither see nor know, that they may be
put to shame.
Bring no more vain offerings; incense is an abomination to me. New
moon and Sabbath and the calling of convocations— I cannot endure
iniquity and solemn assembly.
Remove vexation from your heart, and put away pain from your body, for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.
Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man's
envy of his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself.” But behold, this also was vanity.
Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor
riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me,
The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a snare of death.
Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow.
Psalm 24:4
ESV / 5 helpful votes
He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his
soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully.
Psalm 12:2
ESV / 5 helpful votes
Everyone utters lies to his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak.
Psalm 4:2
ESV / 5 helpful votes
O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame? How long will you love vain words and seek after lies? Selah
Psalm 2:1
ESV / 5 helpful votes
Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?
They despised his statutes and his covenant that he made with their
fathers and the warnings that he gave them. They went after false idols
and became false, and they followed the nations that were around them,
concerning whom the
Lord had commanded them that they should not do like them.
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth
was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep.
And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God
said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the
light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. God
called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was
evening and there was morning, the first day. ...
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear,
slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the
righteousness of God.
Let brotherly love continue.
But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness,
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker
who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now
you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene
talk from your mouth.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable,
whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is
commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of
praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and
heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will
be with you.
For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with
tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction,
their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set
on earthly things.
Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.
Complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.
Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you,
which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being
saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you
believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I
also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the
Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in
accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to
the twelve. ...
We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of
the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his
neighbor for his good, to build him up.
As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.
Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to
wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first
believed. The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast
off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us walk
properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual
immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on
the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify
its desires.
Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who
loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall
not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You
shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word:
“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a
neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there
is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been
instituted by God.
Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is
honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you,
live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it
to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will
repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed
him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you
will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but
overcome evil with good.
For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give
thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their
foolish hearts were darkened.
Acts 20:35
ESV / 4 helpful votes
In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we
must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he
himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as
I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people
will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
The woman said to him, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. Our
fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is
the place where people ought to worship.” Jesus said to her, “Woman,
believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in
Jerusalem will you worship the Father.
John 3:17
ESV / 4 helpful votes
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,
but in order that the world might be saved through him.
Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and
if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in
the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must
forgive him.”
“One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and
one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If
then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will
entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in
that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own?
Luke 16:2
ESV / 4 helpful votes
And he called him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about
you? Turn in the account of your management, for you can no longer be
manager.’
Luke 6:31
ESV / 4 helpful votes
And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.
But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of
the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority
over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great
among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you
must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to
serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and
hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for
those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is
in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and
sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love
you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the
same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than
others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? ...
Our eyes failed, ever watching vainly for help; in our watching we watched for a nation which could not save.
Then I said in my heart, “What happens to the fool will happen to
me also. Why then have I been so very wise?” And I said in my heart that
this also is vanity.
And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my
heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and
this was my reward for all my toil.
I made great works. I built houses and planted vineyards for
myself. I made myself gardens and parks, and planted in them all kinds
of fruit trees. I made myself pools from which to water the forest of
growing trees. I bought male and female slaves, and had slaves who were
born in my house. I had also great possessions of herds and flocks, more
than any who had been before me in Jerusalem. I also gathered for
myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I got
singers, both men and women, and many concubines, the delight of the
children of man. ...
I searched with my heart how to cheer my body with wine—my heart
still guiding me with wisdom—and how to lay hold on folly, till I might
see what was good for the children of man to do under heaven during the
few days of their life.
Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit, but righteousness delivers from death.
I hate the double-minded, but I love your law.
The
Lord—knows the thoughts of man, that they are but a breath.
So he made their days vanish like a breath, and their years in terror.
Psalm 62:9
ESV / 4 helpful votes
Those of low estate are but a breath; those of high estate are a
delusion; in the balances they go up; they are together lighter than a
breath.
Oh, grant us help against the foe, for vain is the salvation of man!
When you discipline a man with rebukes for sin, you consume like a
moth what is dear to him; surely all mankind is a mere breath! Selah
Psalm 39:5
ESV / 4 helpful votes
Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime
is as nothing before you. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath!
Selah
Psalm 36:4
ESV / 4 helpful votes
He plots trouble while on his bed; he sets himself in a way that is not good; he does not reject evil.
Psalm 31:6
ESV / 4 helpful votes
I hate those who pay regard to worthless idols, but I trust in the
Lord.
Psalm 10:7
ESV / 4 helpful votes
His mouth is filled with cursing and deceit and oppression; under his tongue are mischief and iniquity.
Job 21:15
ESV / 4 helpful votes
What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what profit do we get if we pray to him?’
Job 11:11
ESV / 4 helpful votes
For he knows worthless men; when he sees iniquity, will he not consider it?
Job 7:16
ESV / 4 helpful votes
I loathe my life; I would not live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are a breath.
“You shall not take the name of the
Lord your God in vain, for the
Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.
I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book:
if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in
this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this
prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the
holy city, which are described in this book.
What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does
not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is
poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them,
“Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things
needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it
does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith and I
have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show
you my faith by my works. ...
So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of
liberty. For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy.
Mercy triumphs over judgment.
James 2:8
ESV / 3 helpful votes
If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture,
“You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.
James 2:1
ESV / 3 helpful votes
My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.
Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are
above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the
truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.
Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that
will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the
flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the
Spirit reap eternal life.
For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do
not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Look: I, Paul, say to you that if
you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. I
testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated
to keep the whole law. You are severed from Christ, you who would be
justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. For through the
Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of
righteousness. ...
And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught
by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.
Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us
use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our
serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in
his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who
leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Acts 17:11
ESV / 3 helpful votes
Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they
received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to
see if these things were so.
And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their
voices, saying in Lycaonian, “The gods have come down to us in the
likeness of men!” Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because
he was the chief speaker. And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at
the entrance to the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates and
wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds. But when the apostles
Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their garments and rushed out
into the crowd, crying out, “Men, why are you doing these things? We
also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that
you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the
heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.
Acts 14:1
ESV / 3 helpful votes
Now at Iconium they entered together into the Jewish synagogue and
spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks
believed.
Acts 2:38
ESV / 3 helpful votes
And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in
the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will
receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
John 10:10
ESV / 3 helpful votes
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
John 8:1-8
ESV / 3 helpful votes
But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning he came
again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and
taught them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been
caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him,
“Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the
Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” ...
When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and
did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the
water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom and said to
him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk
freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.”
This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and
manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.
John 2:9
ESV / 3 helpful votes
When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and
did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the
water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom
John 2:3-6
ESV / 3 helpful votes
When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have
no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with
me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do
whatever he tells you.” Now there were six stone water jars there for
the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons.
John 1:8
ESV / 3 helpful votes
He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
John 1:5-7
ESV / 3 helpful votes
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome
it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a
witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through
him.
He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that
they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up
into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I
am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like
this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I
get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up
his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to
me, a sinner!’ ...
Luke 11:13
ESV / 3 helpful votes
If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your
children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to
those who ask him!”
And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying,
“Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him,
“What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” And he answered, “You
shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul
and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as
yourself.” And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this,
and you will live.”
One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into
the Pharisee's house and took his place at the table. And behold, a
woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was
reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask
of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to
wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and
kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the
Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man
were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is
who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” And Jesus answering said to
him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it,
Teacher.” ...
“If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For
even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who
do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the
same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what
credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the
same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting
nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons
of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be
merciful, even as your Father is merciful. ...
Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher,
what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Collect no more than you are
authorized to do.” Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what shall we do?”
And he said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by
false accusation, and be content with your wages.”
Mark 12:31
ESV / 3 helpful votes
The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one
another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which
commandment is the most important of all?” Jesus answered, “The most
important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And
you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your
soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is
this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other
commandment greater than these.”
And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one
another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which
commandment is the most important of all?” Jesus answered, “The most
important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And
you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your
soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’
Mark 11:25
ESV / 3 helpful votes
And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything
against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive
you your trespasses.”
And he said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another
commits adultery against her, and if she divorces her husband and
marries another, she commits adultery.”
Mark 9:35
ESV / 3 helpful votes
And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If
anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”
Mark 9:1
ESV / 3 helpful votes
And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing
here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it
has come with power.”
And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For
from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual
immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit,
sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness.
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like
whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full
of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly
appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and
lawlessness.
But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees,
they gathered together. And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question
to test him. “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And
he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart
and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and
first commandment. ...
Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her
sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. And he said
to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of
mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your
kingdom.” Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you
able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are
able.” He said to them, “You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right
hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom
it has been prepared by my Father.” And when the ten heard it, they were
indignant at the two brothers. ...
Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my
brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?”
Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times
seven. “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who
wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to settle,
one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. And since he
could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and
children and all that he had, and payment to be made. ...
But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this
defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder,
adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.
You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said:
“‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me;
in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of
men.’”
And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax
collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his
disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples,
“Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” But when he
heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but
those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and
not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom
of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in
your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in
your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart
from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What
shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after
all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these
things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about
tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the
day is its own trouble.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and
hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for
those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is
in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and
sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth
for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But
if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And
if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as
well.
Job 11:12
ESV / 3 helpful votes
But a stupid man will get understanding when a wild donkey's colt is born a man!
