As soon as Judas arrived, he went up to Jesus and said, "Teacher!" and kissed him.

All of them lie to one another; they deceive each other with flattery.

"With our words we get what we want. We will say what we wish, and no one can stop us."

His words were smoother than cream, but there was hatred in his heart; his words were as soothing as oil, but they cut like sharp swords.

Save me, LORD, from liars and deceivers.

Insincere talk that hides what you are really thinking is like a fine glaze on a cheap clay pot.

They may sound fine, but don't believe him, because his heart is filled to the brim with hate.

and said to me, "Please do what we ask you! Pray to the LORD our God for us. Pray for all of us who have survived. Once there were many of us; but now only a few of us are left, as you can see.

Pray that the LORD our God will show us the way we should go and what we should do."

that you are making a fatal mistake. You asked me to pray to the LORD our God for you, and you promised that you would do everything that he commands.

Those who speak on their own authority are trying to gain glory for themselves. But he who wants glory for the one who sent him is honest, and there is nothing false in him.

For if I were to make you sad, who would be left to cheer me up? Only the very persons I had made sad.

We are not like so many others, who handle God's message as if it were cheap merchandise; but because God has sent us, we speak with sincerity in his presence, as servants of Christ.

God in his mercy has given us this work to do, and so we do not become discouraged.

We know what it means to fear the Lord, and so we try to persuade others. God knows us completely, and I hope that in your hearts you know me as well.

Instead, we always speak as God wants us to, because he has judged us worthy to be entrusted with the Good News. We do not try to please people, but to please God, who tests our motives.

They showed greater loyalty to you Than to parents, brothers, or children. They obeyed your commands And were faithful to your covenant.

They will teach your people to obey your Law; They will offer sacrifices on your altar.

But Micaiah answered, "By the living LORD I will say what my God tells me to!"

But their insults cannot hurt me because the Sovereign LORD gives me help. I brace myself to endure them. I know that I will not be disgraced,

The Sovereign LORD himself defends me--- who, then, can prove me guilty? All my accusers will disappear; they will vanish like moth-eaten cloth.

To this the LORD replied, "If you return, I will take you back, and you will be my servant again. If instead of talking nonsense you proclaim a worthwhile message, you will be my prophet again. The people will come back to you, and you will not need to go to them.

I will rescue you from the power of wicked and violent people. I, the LORD, have spoken."

"But you, mortal man, must not be afraid of them or of anything they say. They will defy and despise you; it will be like living among scorpions. Still, don't be afraid of those rebels or of anything they say.

You will tell them whatever I tell you to say, whether they listen or not. Remember what rebels they are.

But as for me, the LORD fills me with his spirit and power, and gives me a sense of justice and the courage to tell the people of Israel what their sins are.

No longer, then, do we judge anyone by human standards. Even if at one time we judged Christ according to human standards, we no longer do so.

Does this sound as if I am trying to win human approval? No indeed! What I want is God's approval! Am I trying to be popular with people? If I were still trying to do so, I would not be a servant of Christ.

But those who seemed to be the leaders---I say this because it makes no difference to me what they were; God does not judge by outward appearances---those leaders, I say, made no new suggestions to me.

But when Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him in public, because he was clearly wrong.

The other Jewish believers also started acting like cowards along with Peter; and even Barnabas was swept along by their cowardly action.

Do not follow the majority when they do wrong or when they give testimony that perverts justice.

"If you happen to see your enemy's cow or donkey running loose, take it back to him.

"Do not deny justice to a poor person when he appears in court.

They are not to be unjust or show partiality in their judgments; and they are not to accept bribes, for gifts blind the eyes even of wise and honest men, and cause them to give wrong decisions.

Honor the LORD and act carefully, because the LORD our God does not tolerate fraud or partiality or the taking of bribes."

"We want Your Majesty to know that the Jews who came here from your other territories have settled in Jerusalem and are rebuilding that evil and rebellious city. They have begun to rebuild the walls and will soon finish them.

Your Majesty, if this city is rebuilt and its walls are completed, the people will stop paying taxes, and your royal revenues will decrease.

What the land produces goes to the kings that you put over us because we sinned. They do as they please with us and our livestock, and we are in deep distress!"

"Of course," Peter answered. When Peter went into the house, Jesus spoke up first, "Simon, what is your opinion? Who pays duties or taxes to the kings of this world? The citizens of the country or the foreigners?"

But we don't want to offend these people. So go to the lake and drop in a line. Pull up the first fish you hook, and in its mouth you will find a coin worth enough for my Temple tax and yours. Take it and pay them our taxes."

Tell us, then, what do you think? Is it against our Law to pay taxes to the Roman Emperor, or not?"

Tell us, is it against our Law for us to pay taxes to the Roman Emperor, or not?"

where they began to accuse him: "We caught this man misleading our people, telling them not to pay taxes to the Emperor and claiming that he himself is the Messiah, a king."

That is also why you pay taxes, because the authorities are working for God when they fulfill their duties.