Saint Stephen of Hungary

11And the sons of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and they served the Baals. 12And they abandoned the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had led them away from the land of Egypt. And they followed foreign gods and the gods of the peoples who were living around them, and they adored them. And they provoked the Lord to wrath, 13forsaking him, and serving Baal and Ashtaroth. 14And the Lord, having become angry against Israel, delivered them into the hands of plunderers, who seized them and sold them to the enemies that were living on all sides. Neither were they able to withstand their adversaries. 15Instead, wherever they wanted to go, the hand of the Lord was upon them, just as he said and just as he swore to them. And they were greatly afflicted. 16And the Lord raised up judges, who would free them from the hands of their oppressors. But they were not willing to listen to them. 17Fornicating with foreign gods and adoring them, they quickly deserted the way along which their fathers had advanced. And having heard the commandments of the Lord, they did all things to the contrary. 18And while the Lord was raising up the judges, in their days, he was moved to mercy, and he listened to the groaning of the afflicted, and he freed them from the slaughter of their oppressors. 19But after a judge had died, they turned back, and they were doing much worse things than their fathers had done, following strange gods, serving them, and adoring them. They did not abandon their pursuits and their very stubborn way, by which they were accustomed to walk.

34They did not destroy the nations, about which the Lord had spoken to them.

35And they were mixed among the Gentiles. And they learned their works,

36and they served their graven images, and it became a scandal to them.

37And they sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons.

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39and was contaminated with their works. And they fornicated according to their own inventions.

40And the Lord became furiously angry with his people, and he abhorred his inheritance.

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43Many times, he delivered them. Yet they provoked him with their counsel, and they were brought low by their iniquities.

44And he saw that they were in tribulation, and he heard their prayer.

16And behold, someone approached and said to him, “Good Teacher, what good should I do, so that I may have eternal life?” 17And he said to him: “Why do you question me about what is good? One is good: God. But if you wish to enter into life, observe the commandments.” 18He said to him, “Which?” And Jesus said: “You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not give false testimony. 19Honor your father and your mother. And, you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 20The young man said to him: “All these I have kept from my childhood. What is still lacking for me?” 21Jesus said to him: “If you are willing to be perfect, go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and then you will have treasure in heaven. And come, follow me.” 22And when the young man had heard this word, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.