For ask now of the days that are past, which were before thee, since the day that God created man upon the earth, and {ask} from the one side of heaven unto the other, whether there hath been {any such thing} as this great thing {is}, or hath been heard like it?

What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit {is there} of circumcision?

For what nation {is there so} great, who {hath} God {so} nigh unto them, as the LORD our God {is} in all {things that} we call upon him {for}?

But ye {are} a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: {peculiar: or, purchased} {praises: or, virtues}

That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

For ye were sometimes darkness, but now {are ye} light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.

King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.

Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: {a very...: Heb. the horn of the son of oil}

Where {there is} no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy {is} he. {perish: or, is made naked}

To open their eyes, {and} to turn {them} from darkness to light, and {from} the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country:

Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.

And what one nation in the earth {is} like thy people, {even} like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to himself, and to make him a name, and to do for you great things and terrible, for thy land, before thy people, which thou redeemedst to thee from Egypt, {from} the nations and their gods?

And he said, Behold, I make a covenant: before all thy people I will do marvels, such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation: and all the people among which thou {art} shall see the work of the LORD: for it {is} a terrible thing that I will do with thee.

For as the girdle cleaveth to the loins of a man, so have I caused to cleave unto me the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah, saith the LORD; that they might be unto me for a people, and for a name, and for a praise, and for a glory: but they would not hear.

I have caused thee to multiply as the bud of the field, and thou hast increased and waxen great, and thou art come to excellent ornaments: {thy} breasts are fashioned, and thine hair is grown, whereas thou {wast} naked and bare. {caused...: Heb. made thee a million} {excellent...: Heb. ornament of ornaments}

For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. {devotions: or, gods that ye worship}

For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? {is it} not in that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that {are} upon the face of the earth.

Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in {their} heart; and they have not known my ways.

And what one nation in the earth {is} like thy people Israel, whom God went to redeem {to be} his own people, to make thee a name of greatness and terribleness, by driving out nations from before thy people, whom thou hast redeemed out of Egypt?

Hearken unto me, my people; and give ear unto me, O my nation: for a law shall proceed from me, and I will make my judgment to rest for a light of the people.