GREED

My son, walk not thou in the way with them;

Refrain thy foot from their path:

For their feet run to evil,

And make haste to shed blood.

Surely in vain the net is spread

In the sight of any bird.

And they lay wait for their own blood;

They lurk privily for their own lives.

So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain;

Which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.

 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; 

 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. 

 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 

 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. 

 Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?  

 And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him. 

 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 

 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.  

 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 

 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.  

 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 

 for I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 

 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. 

 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 

 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. 

 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. 

 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;  

 because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.  

 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 

 because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 

 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,  

 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 

 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 

 who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 

 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 

 and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. 

 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 

 being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 

 backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 

 without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 

 who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. 

 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.  

 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 

 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 

 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.  

 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. 

 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. 

 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 

 and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. 

 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 

 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.  

 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. 

 And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house. 

 distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. 

 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. 

  Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. 

 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 

 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: 

 that thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly. 

 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 

 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.  

 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. 

 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. 

 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 

 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.  

 Give us this day our daily bread. 

 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.  

 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. 

 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 

 but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. 

 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 

 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, 

 saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: 

 all therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. 

 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. 

 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, 

 and love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, 

 and greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. 

 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. 

 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. 

 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. 

 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.  

 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. 

 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. 

 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. 

 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.  

 Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor! 

 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold? 

 And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty. 

 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift? 

 Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon. 

 And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein. 

 And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon. 

 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. 

 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. 

 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. 

 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.  

 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. 

 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. 

 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, 

 and say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.  

 Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets. 

 Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers. 

 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? 

 Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: 

 that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.  

 Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation. 

 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, 

I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside;

It shall not cleave to me.

A froward heart shall depart from me:

I will not know a wicked person.

Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour,

Him will I cut off:

Him that hath an high look

And a proud heart will not I suffer.

Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful

Of the land, that they may dwell with me:

He that walketh in a perfect way,

He shall serve me.

He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house:

He that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight.

I will early destroy all the wicked of the land; That I may cut off

All wicked doers from the city of the LORD.

Blessed are the undefiled in the way,

Who walk in the law of the LORD.

He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow:

But a prating fool shall fall.

The just man walketh in his integrity:

His children are blessed after him.

 and shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: 

 but with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. 

 And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins. 

 Judge not, that ye be not judged. 

 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. 

 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?  

 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? 

 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye. 

 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? 

 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person. 

 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door. 

 Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous. 

 That which is altogether just shalt thou follow, that thou mayest live, and inherit the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. 

When I shall receive the congregation

I will judge uprightly.

 A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. 

 Therefore hath the LORD watched upon the evil, and brought it upon us: for the LORD our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth: for we obeyed not his voice. 

 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. 

 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. 

 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?  

 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? 

 and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. 

 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.  

 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,