15:2 Whoever lives a blameless life, 1
does what is right,
and speaks honestly. 2
119:44 Then I will keep 3 your law continually
now and for all time. 4
64:5 You assist 5 those who delight in doing what is right, 6
who observe your commandments. 7
Look, you were angry because we violated them continually.
How then can we be saved? 8
18:21 “But if the wicked person turns from all the sin he has committed and observes all my statutes and does what is just and right, he will surely live; he will not die. 18:22 None of the sins he has committed will be held 9 against him; because of the righteousness he has done, he will live.
1:74 that we, being rescued from the hand of our 10 enemies,
may serve him without fear, 11
1:75 in holiness and righteousness 12 before him for as long as we live. 13
22:14 Blessed are those who wash their robes so they can have access 20 to the tree of life and can enter into the city by the gates.
1 tn Heb “one who walks blamelessly.”
2 tn Heb “one who speaks truth in his heart”; or “one who speaks truth [that is] in his heart.” This apparently refers to formulating a truthful statement in one’s mind and then honestly revealing that statement in one’s speech.
3 tn The cohortative verbal form with vav (ו) conjunctive indicates purpose/result after the negated jussive (see v. 43).
4 tn Or “forever and ever.”
5 tn Heb “meet [with kindness].”
6 tn Heb “the one who rejoices and does righteousness.”
7 tn Heb “in your ways they remember you.”
8 tc The Hebrew text reads literally, “look, you were angry and we sinned against them continually [or perhaps, “in ancient times”] and we were delivered.” The statement makes little sense as it stands. The first vav [ו] consecutive (“and we sinned”) must introduce an explanatory clause here (see Num 1:48 and Isa 39:1 for other examples of this relatively rare use of the vav [ו] consecutive). The final verb (if rendered positively) makes no sense in this context – God’s anger at their sin resulted in judgment, not deliverance. One of the alternatives involves an emendation to וַנִּרְשָׁע (vannirsha’, “and we were evil”; LXX, NRSV, TEV). The Vulgate and the Qumran scroll 1QIsaa support the MT reading. One can either accept an emendation or cast the statement as a question (as above).
9 tn Heb “remembered.”
10 tc Many important early
11 tn This phrase in Greek is actually thrown forward to the front of the verse to give it emphasis.
12 sn The phrases that we…might serve him…in holiness and righteousness from Luke 1:74-75 well summarize a basic goal for a believer in the eyes of Luke. Salvation frees us up to serve God without fear through a life full of ethical integrity.
13 tn Grk “all our days.”
14 tn BDAG 329 s.v. ἐν 9.a, “ἐν τούτῳ πιστεύομεν this is the reason why we believe Jn 16:30; cp. Ac 24:16.”
15 tn BDAG 224 s.v. διά 2.a, “διὰ παντός…always, continually, constantly…Ac 2:25 (Ps 15:8); 10:2; 24:16.” However, the positioning of the adverb “always” in the English translation is difficult; the position used is one of the least awkward.
16 tn BDAG 125 s.v. ἀπρόσκοπος 1 has “ἀ. συνείδησις a clear conscience Ac 24:16.”
17 tn Grk “men,” but this is a generic use (Paul does not have only males in view).
18 tn Or “not become discouraged,” “not lose heart” (L&N 25.288).
19 tn Or “if we do not become extremely weary,” “if we do not give out,” “if we do not faint from exhaustion” (L&N 23.79).
20 tn Grk “so that there will be to them authority over the tree of life.”