The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom,
and before honor is humility.
By humility and the fear of the Lord
are riches, and honor, and life.
For thus says the High and Lofty One
who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:
I dwell in the high and holy place
and also with him who is of a contrite and humble spirit,
to revive the spirit of the humble,
and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
For My hand made all those things,
thus all those things have come to be,
says the Lord.
But to this man I will look,
even to him who is poor and of a contrite spirit,
and trembles at My word.
It shall not be so among you. Whoever would be great among you, let him serve you,
and whoever would be first among you, let him be your slave,
even as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many.”
For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
But He gives more grace. For this reason it says:
“God resists the proud,
but gives grace to the humble.”
Therefore submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Grieve and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to dejection.
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.