The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him, ¹  a glutton and a drunk, a friend of tax collectors ²  and sinners!’ ³  But wisdom is vindicated ⁴  by her deeds.” ⁵ 

Having suffered, he will reflect on his work, he will be satisfied when he understands what he has done. ¹  “My servant ²  will acquit many, ³  for he carried their sins. ⁴ 

See now, ¹  I have prepared ²  my ³  case; ⁴  I know that I am right. ⁵ 

How then can a human being be righteous before God? How can one born of a woman be pure? ¹ 

I will never ¹  declare that you three ²  are in the right; until I die, I will not set aside my integrity!

Do not sit in judgment on ¹  your servant, for no one alive is innocent before you. ² 

Listen from heaven and make a just decision about your servants’ claims. Condemn the guilty party, declare the other innocent, and give both of them what they deserve. ¹ 

listen from heaven and make a just decision about your servants’ claims. Condemn the guilty party, declare the other innocent, and give both of them what they deserve. ¹ 

(For someone who has died has been freed from sin.) ¹ 

For ¹  we are in danger of being charged with rioting ²  today, since there is no cause we can give to explain ³  this disorderly gathering.” ⁴ 

All nations gather together, the peoples assemble. Who among them announced this? Who predicted earlier events for us? ¹  Let them produce their witnesses to testify they were right; let them listen and affirm, ‘It is true.’

Samaria has not committed half the sins you have; you have done more abominable deeds than they did. ¹  You have made your sisters appear righteous with all the abominable things you have done.

And we all agree, ¹  our religion contains amazing revelation: ²  He ³  was revealed in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, ⁴  seen by angels, proclaimed among Gentiles, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.

So now, bear your disgrace, because you have given your sisters reason to justify their behavior. ¹  Because the sins you have committed were more abominable than those of your sisters; they have become more righteous than you. So now, be ashamed and bear the disgrace of making your sisters appear righteous.

Therefore do not let what you consider good ¹  be spoken of as evil.

Remind me of what happened! Let’s debate! You, prove to me that you are right! ¹ 

(Now ¹  all the people who heard this, even the tax collectors, ²  acknowledged ³  God’s justice, because they had been baptized ⁴  with John’s baptism.

For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not acquitted because of this. The one who judges me is the Lord.

Then Abimelech asked ¹  Abraham, “What prompted you to do this thing?” ² 

Samson said to them, ¹  “This time I am justified in doing the Philistines harm!” ²