Be (Or Show Oneself) Just

Judah recognized the items and said, “She is more righteous than I, since I did not give her to my son Shelah.” And he did not have relations with her again.

“What can we say to my lord?” Judah replied. “How can we plead? How can we justify ourselves? God has exposed the iniquity of your servants. We are now my lord’s slaves—both we and the one who was found with the cup.”

Stay far away from a false accusation. Do not kill the innocent or the just, for I will not acquit the guilty.

If there is a dispute between men, they are to go to court to be judged, so that the innocent may be acquitted and the guilty condemned.

And he would add, “If only someone would appoint me judge in the land, then everyone with a grievance or dispute could come to me, and I would give him justice.”

then may You hear from heaven and act. May You judge Your servants, condemning the wicked man by bringing down on his own head what he has done, and justifying the righteous man by rewarding him according to his righteousness.

then may You hear from heaven and act. May You judge Your servants, condemning the wicked man by bringing down on his own head what he has done, and justifying the righteous man by rewarding him according to his righteousness.

‘Can a mortal be more righteous than God, or a man more pure than his Maker?

“Yes, I know that it is so, but how can a mortal be righteous before God?

For even if I were right, I could not answer. I could only beg my Judge for mercy.

Even if I were righteous, my mouth would condemn me; if I were blameless, it would declare me guilty.

If I am guilty, woe to me! And even if I am righteous, I cannot lift my head. I am full of shame and aware of my affliction.

“Should this stream of words go unanswered and such a speaker be vindicated?

See now, I have prepared my case; I know that I will be vindicated.

What is man, that he should be pure, or one born of woman, that he should be righteous?

Does it delight the Almighty that you are righteous? Does He profit if your ways are blameless?

How then can a man be just before God? How can one born of woman be pure?

I will never say that you are right; I will maintain my integrity until I die.

This kindled the anger of Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram. He burned with anger against Job for justifying himself rather than God,

Behold, you are not right in this matter. I will answer you, for God is greater than man.

But if you have something to say, answer me; speak up, for I would like to vindicate you.

For Job has declared, ‘I am righteous, yet God has deprived me of justice.

If you are righteous, what do you give Him, or what does He receive from your hand?

Would you really annul My justice? Would you condemn Me to justify yourself?

They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.

Surely You desire truth in the inmost being; You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; uphold the rights of the afflicted and oppressed.

Do not bring Your servant into judgment, for no one alive is righteous before You.

Acquitting the guilty and condemning the righteous—both are detestable to the LORD.

who acquit the guilty for a bribe and deprive the innocent of justice.

All the nations gather together and the peoples assemble. Who among them can declare this, and proclaim to us the former things? Let them present their witnesses to vindicate them, so that others may hear and say, “It is true.”

Remind Me, let us argue the matter together. State your case, so that you may be vindicated.

In the LORD all descendants of Israel will be justified and will exult.

The One who vindicates Me is near. Who will dare to contend with Me? Let us confront each other! Who has a case against Me? Let him approach Me!

After the anguish of His soul, He will see the light of life and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant will justify many, and He will bear their iniquities.

And the LORD said to me, “Faithless Israel has shown herself more righteous than unfaithful Judah.

Furthermore, Samaria did not commit half the sins you did. You have multiplied your abominations beyond theirs, and all the abominations you have committed have made your sisters appear righteous.

So now you must bear your disgrace, since you have brought justification for your sisters. For they appear more righteous than you, because your sins were more vile than theirs. So you too must bear your shame and disgrace, since you have made your sisters appear righteous.

He said to me, “It will take 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary will be properly restored.”

Then the wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever and ever.

“Let it be so now,” Jesus replied. “It is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness in this way.” Then John permitted Him.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

“Be careful not to perform your righteous acts before men to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.

For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.

Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and was unwilling to disgrace her publicly, he resolved to divorce her quietly.

that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward.

For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.

Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.

So will it be at the end of the age: The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous

‘You also go into my vineyard,’ he said, ‘and I will pay you whatever is right.’

In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous.

And so upon you will come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.

Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink?

And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

While Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him this message: “Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered terribly in a dream today because of Him.”

The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at this glutton and drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is vindicated by her actions.”

On hearing this, Jesus told them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man. When he heard John’s words, he was greatly perplexed; yet he listened to him gladly.

in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our lives.

Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and decrees of the Lord.

And he will go on before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

Now there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

And why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right?

and you will be blessed. Since they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

I tell you that in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous ones who do not need to repent.

To some who trusted in their own righteousness and viewed others with contempt, He also told this parable:

So they watched Him closely and sent spies who pretended to be sincere. They were hoping to catch Him in His words in order to hand Him over to the rule and authority of the governor.

When the centurion saw what had happened, he gave glory to God, saying, “Surely this was a righteous man.”

Now there was a Council member named Joseph, a good and righteous man,

I tell you, this man, rather than the Pharisee, went home justified. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

But wisdom is vindicated by all her children.”

But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

So He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is prized among men is detestable before God.

And when He comes, He will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment:

in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see Me;

I can do nothing by Myself; I judge only as I hear. And My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.

Stop judging by outward appearances, and start judging justly.”

Righteous Father, although the world has not known You, I know You, and they know that You sent Me.

but welcomes those from every nation who fear Him and do what is right.

and said, “O child of the devil and enemy of all righteousness, you are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery! Will you never stop perverting the straight ways of the Lord?

For He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the Man He has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising Him from the dead.”

As Paul expounded on righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became frightened and said, “You may go for now. When I find the time, I will call for you.”

You rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you.

But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to listen to you rather than God.

Which of the prophets did your fathers fail to persecute? They even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One. And now you are His betrayers and murderers—

“Cornelius the centurion has sent us,” they said. “He is a righteous and God-fearing man with a good reputation among the whole Jewish nation. A holy angel instructed him to request your presence in his home so he could hear a message from you.”

Then he said, ‘The God of our fathers has appointed you to know His will and to see the Righteous One and to hear His voice.

and I have the same hope in God that they themselves cherish, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.

When the islanders saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “Surely this man is a murderer. Although he was saved from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.”

For the gospel reveals the righteousness of God that comes by faith from start to finish, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

But if our unrighteousness highlights the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unjust to inflict His wrath on us? I am speaking in human terms.

But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, as attested by the Law and the Prophets.

And this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no distinction,

God presented Him as an atoning sacrifice in His blood through faith, in order to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had passed over the sins committed beforehand.

He did this to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and to justify the one who has faith in Jesus.

For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

However, to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness.

And David speaks likewise of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

Is this blessing only on the circumcised, or also on the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness.

And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but are not circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them.

For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world was not given through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.

This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.”

For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!

so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Do not present the parts of your body to sin as instruments of wickedness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and present the parts of your body to Him as instruments of righteousness.

Do you not know that when you offer yourselves as obedient slaves, you are slaves to the one you obey, whether you are slaves to sin leading to death, or to obedience leading to righteousness?

You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to escalating wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness.

For when you were slaves to sin, you were free of obligation to righteousness.

But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness.

What then will we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith;

but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it.

Because they were ignorant of God’s righteousness and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.

For Christ is the end of the law, to bring righteousness to everyone who believes.

For concerning the righteousness that is by the law, Moses writes: “The man who does these things will live by them.”

But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down)

For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved.

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.

For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but it is the doers of the law who will be declared righteous.

As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one.

Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.

For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.

So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous, and good.

Therefore no one will be justified in His sight by works of the law. For the law merely brings awareness of sin.

and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the law.

since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith.

If Abraham was indeed justified by works, he had something to boast about, but not before God.

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

Therefore, since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from wrath through Him!

And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified.

Certainly not! Let God be true and every man a liar. As it is written: “So that You may be proved right when You speak and victorious when You judge.”

It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God: our righteousness, holiness, and redemption.

And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

For if the ministry of condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry of righteousness!

God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

in truthful speech and in the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left;

Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership can righteousness have with wickedness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?

As it is written: “He has scattered abroad His gifts to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.”

Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your store of seed and will increase the harvest of your righteousness.

It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their actions.

I do not set aside the grace of God. For if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing.

So also, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

Is the law, then, opposed to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come from the law.

But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the hope of righteousness.

Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because, “The righteous will live by faith.”

know that a man is not justified by works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.

But if, while we seek to be justified in Christ, we ourselves are found to be sinners, does that make Christ a minister of sin? Certainly not!

The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and foretold the gospel to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.”

So the law became our guardian to lead us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

You who are trying to be justified by the law have been severed from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.

and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth.

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness arrayed,

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

as to zeal, persecuting the church; as to righteousness in the law, faultless.

and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God on the basis of faith.

It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart. For in my chains and in my defense and confirmation of the gospel, you are all partners in grace with me.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things.

Masters, supply your slaves with what is right and fair, since you know that you also have a Master in heaven.

All this is clear evidence of God’s righteous judgment. And so you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering.

After all, it is only right for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you,

But you, O man of God, flee from these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.

We realize that law is not enacted for the righteous, but for the lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinful, for the unholy and profane, for killers of father or mother, for murderers,

By common confession, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was proclaimed among the nations, was believed in throughout the world, was taken up in glory.

Flee from youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, together with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

From now on there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but to all who crave His appearing.

He saved us, not by the righteous deeds we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.

Instead, he must be hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined.

so that, having been justified by His grace, we would become heirs with the hope of eternal life.

You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You above Your companions with the oil of joy.”

For everyone who lives on milk is still an infant, inexperienced in the message of righteousness.

and Abraham apportioned to him a tenth of everything. First, his name means “king of righteousness.” Then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.”

By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in godly fear built an ark to save his family. By faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions,

No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields a harvest of righteousness and peace to those who have been trained by it.

But My righteous one will live by faith; and if he shrinks back, I will take no pleasure in him.”

By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous when God gave approval to his gifts. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.

in joyful assembly, to the congregation of the firstborn, enrolled in heaven. You have come to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,

But about the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever, and justice is the scepter of Your kingdom.

for man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness that God desires.

And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called a friend of God.

Peacemakers who sow in peace reap the fruit of righteousness.

You have condemned and murdered the righteous, who did not resist you.

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail.

Was not our father Abraham justified by what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?

As you can see, a man is justified by his deeds and not by faith alone.

In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute justified by her actions when she welcomed the spies and sent them off on another route?

He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. “By His stripes you are healed.”

But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear; do not be shaken.”

For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are inclined to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit,

And, “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”

Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:

if He did not spare the ancient world when He brought the flood on its ungodly people, but preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, among the eight;

It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than to have known it and then to turn away from the holy commandment passed on to them.

But in keeping with God’s promise, we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.

I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of my body,

and if He rescued Lot, a righteous man distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless

(for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)—

If you know that He is righteous, you also know that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of Him.

Little children, let no one deceive you: The one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as Christ is righteous.

By this the children of God are distinguished from the children of the devil: Anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is anyone who does not love his brother.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate before the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.

Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did Cain slay him? Because his own deeds were evil, while those of his brother were righteous.

Then I saw heaven standing open, and there before me was a white horse. And its rider is called Faithful and True. With righteousness He judges and wages war.

Let the unrighteous continue to be unrighteous, and the vile continue to be vile; let the righteous continue to practice righteousness, and the holy continue to be holy.”

and they sang the song of God’s servant Moses and of the Lamb: “Great and wonderful are Your works, O Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the nations!

And I heard the angel of the waters say: “Righteous are You, O Holy One, who is and was, because You have brought these judgments.

And I heard the altar reply: “Yes, Lord God Almighty, true and just are Your judgments.”

For His judgments are true and just. He has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality. He has avenged the blood of His servants that was poured out by her hand.”