You can try to wash away your guilt with a strong detergent. You can use as much soap as you want. But the stain of your guilt is still there for me to see,” ¹  says the Lord God. ² 

Over and over again ¹  the Lord has sent ²  his servants the prophets to you. But you have not listened or paid attention. ³ 

“But you, his son ¹  Belshazzar, have not humbled yourself, ²  although you knew all this.

For this reason I speak to them in parables: Although they see they do not see, and although they hear they do not hear nor do they understand.

Although it grieved the king, ¹  because of his oath and the dinner guests he commanded it to be given.

so that although they look they may look but not see, and although they hear they may hear but not understand, so they may not repent and be forgiven.” ¹ 

Although it grieved the king deeply, ¹  he did not want to reject her request because of his oath and his guests.

Righteous Father, even if the world does not know you, I know you, and these men ¹  know that you sent me.

So Saul got up from the ground, but although his eyes were open, ¹  he could see nothing. ²  Leading him by the hand, his companions ³  brought him into Damascus.

But now ¹  apart from the law the righteousness of God (which is attested by the law and the prophets) ²  has been disclosed –

But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, but ¹  the Spirit is your life ²  because of righteousness.

But what if God, willing to demonstrate his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience the objects ¹  of wrath ²  prepared for destruction? ³ 

If after all there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords),

To me – less than the least of all the saints ¹  – this grace was given, ²  to proclaim to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ

And you were at one time strangers and enemies in your ¹  minds ²  as expressed through ³  your evil deeds,

And those of the sons of Levi who receive the priestly office ¹  have authorization according to the law to collect a tithe from the people, that is, from their fellow countrymen, ²  although they too are descendants of Abraham. ³ 

Look at ships too: Though they are so large and driven by harsh winds, they are steered by a tiny rudder wherever the pilot’s inclination directs.

and said, “If now I have found favor in your sight, O Lord, let my Lord ¹  go among us, for we ²  are a stiff-necked people; pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for your inheritance.”

But when I leave you, the Lord’s spirit will carry you away so I can’t find you. ¹  If I go tell Ahab I’ve seen you, he won’t be able to find you and he will kill me. ²  That would not be fair, ³  because your servant has been a loyal follower of ⁴  the Lord from my youth.

And you, Zion, city doomed to destruction, ¹  you accomplish nothing ²  by wearing a beautiful dress, ³  decking yourself out in jewels of gold, and putting on eye shadow! ⁴  You are making yourself beautiful for nothing. Your lovers spurn you. They want to kill you. ⁵