If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar and his word is not in us.

Dear friends, if our conscience does not condemn us, we have confidence in the presence of God,

Jephthah sent messengers to the Ammonite king, saying, “Why have you come against me to attack my land?”

Another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going out to examine them. Please excuse me.’

When he saw the angel who was destroying the people, David said to the Lord, “Look, it is I who have sinned and done this evil thing! As for these sheep – what have they done? Attack me and my family.”

Having heard everything, I have reached this conclusion: Fear God and keep his commandments, because this is the whole duty of man.

Against you – you above all – I have sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. So you are just when you confront me; you are right when you condemn me.

The people cry out, “We have heard reports about them! We have become helpless with fear! Anguish grips us, agony like that of a woman giving birth to a baby!

You must pay attention to the exhortations of my servants the prophets. I have sent them to you over and over again. But you have not paid any attention to them.

Lord, you have always been fair whenever I have complained to you. However, I would like to speak with you about the disposition of justice. Why are wicked people successful? Why do all dishonest people have such easy lives?

“I will punish them in four different ways: I will have war kill them. I will have dogs drag off their dead bodies. I will have birds and wild beasts devour and destroy their corpses.

Hear this, you peoples of the earth: ‘Take note! I am about to bring disaster on these people. It will come as punishment for their scheming. For they have paid no attention to what I have said, and they have rejected my law.

“But these things you have concealed in your heart; I know that this is with you:

For you have said, ‘My teaching is flawless, and I am pure in your sight.’

May the arrogant be humiliated, for they have slandered me! But I meditate on your precepts.

We are pursued – they are breathing down our necks; we are weary and have no rest.

But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release Barabbas instead.

I am not worthy of all the faithful love you have shown your servant. With only my walking stick I crossed the Jordan, but now I have become two camps.

The Lord spoke to Aaron, “You will have no inheritance in their land, nor will you have any portion of property among them – I am your portion and your inheritance among the Israelites.

But Hannah replied, “That’s not the way it is, my lord! I am under a great deal of stress. I have drunk neither wine nor beer. Rather, I have poured out my soul to the Lord.