Rather

What if my father touches me? Then I would be revealed to him as a deceiver, and I would bring upon myself a curse rather than a blessing.”

Rather, you must tear down their altars, smash their sacred stones, and chop down their Asherah poles.

When the LORD your God has driven them out before you, do not say in your heart, “Because of my righteousness the LORD has brought me in to possess this land.” Rather, the LORD is driving out these nations before you because of their wickedness.

Rather, let it be a witness between us and you and the generations to come, that we will worship the LORD in His presence with our burnt offerings, sacrifices, and peace offerings.’ Then in the future, your descendants cannot say to ours, ‘You have no share in the LORD!’

So Gideon took ten of his servants and did as the LORD had told him. But because he was too afraid of his father’s household and the men of the city, he did it by night rather than in the daytime.

Rather, pull out for her some stalks from the bundles and leave them for her to gather. Do not rebuke her.”

…but he sought the God of his father and walked by His commandments rather than the practices of Israel.

Then Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria came to Ahaz but afflicted him rather than strengthening him.

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,

For better is one day in Your courts than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.

Receive my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold.

Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.

Rather, Baruch son of Neriah is inciting you against us to deliver us into the hands of the Chaldeans, so that they may put us to death or exile us to Babylon!”

Say to them: ‘As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked should turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?’

Nebuchadnezzar declared, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent His angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him. They violated the king’s command and risked their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.

For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

“I was not a prophet,” Amos replied, “nor was I the son of a prophet; rather, I was a herdsman and a tender of sycamore-fig trees.

Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.

But He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”

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.”

And this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness rather than the Light because their deeds were evil.

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

But Peter and the other apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men.

They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is forever worthy of praise! Amen.

Rather, as it is written: “Those who were not told about Him will see, and those who have not heard will understand.”

Rather, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him.”

And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have been stricken with grief and have removed from your fellowship the man who did this?

The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means that you are thoroughly defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?

The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means that you are thoroughly defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?

If others have this right to your support, shouldn’t we have it all the more? But we did not exercise this right. Instead, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.

But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this to suggest that something be done for me. Indeed, I would rather die than let anyone nullify my boast.

I wish that all of you could speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets so that the church may be edified.

But in the church, I would rather speak five coherent words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.

We are not commending ourselves to you again. Instead, we are giving you an occasion to be proud of us, so that you can answer those who take pride in appearances rather than in the heart.

Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships, and calamities;

So even though I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who did wrong or the one who was harmed, but rather that your earnestness on our behalf would be made clear to you in the sight of God.

For even if I boast somewhat excessively about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than tearing you down, I will not be ashamed.

Rather, “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”

I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.

But now that you know God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you are turning back to those weak and worthless principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?

For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love.

Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk, or crude joking, which are out of character, but rather thanksgiving.

Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, which are based on human tradition and the spiritual forces of the world rather than on Christ.

…or devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculation rather than the stewardship of God’s work, which is by faith.

…traitorous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,

He chose to suffer oppression with God’s people rather than to experience the fleeting enjoyment of sin.

Make straight paths for your feet, so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.