If you had done the right thing, you would be smiling; but because you have done evil, sin is crouching at your door. It wants to rule you, but you must overcome it."

"What shall I give you as a pledge?" he asked. She answered, "Your seal with its cord and the walking stick you are carrying." He gave them to her. Then they had intercourse, and she became pregnant.

Judah sent his friend Hirah to take the goat and get back from the woman the articles he had pledged, but Hirah could not find her.

He returned to Judah and said, "I couldn't find her. The men of the place said that there had never been a prostitute there."

"I have sinned," Saul replied. "But at least show me respect in front of the leaders of my people and all of Israel. Go back with me so that I can worship the LORD your God."

Evil tastes so good to them that they keep some in their mouths to enjoy its flavor.

But in their stomachs the food turns bitter, as bitter as any poison could be.

You will never succeed in life if you try to hide your sins. Confess them and give them up; then God will show mercy to you.

The Lord said, "These people claim to worship me, but their words are meaningless, and their hearts are somewhere else. Their religion is nothing but human rules and traditions, which they have simply memorized.

But he denied it in front of them all. "I don't know what you are talking about," he answered,

Again Peter denied it and answered, "I swear that I don't know that man!"

Then Peter said, "I swear that I am telling the truth! May God punish me if I am not! I do not know that man!" Just then a rooster crowed,