Such was, or must have been the origin of society and of law, which gave new fetters to the weak and new power to the rich; irretrievably destroyed natural liberty, fixed forever the laws of property and inequality; changed an artful usurpation into an irrevocable right; and for the benefit of a few ambitious individuals subjects the rest of mankind to perpetual labor, servitude, and misery.

jean jacques rousseau, second discourse, p.125

For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. For they could not endure the order that was given,"If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned." Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, "I tremble with fear." But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

hebrews 12:18-24

A. The Lord dealt with me according to my righteousness;

according to the cleanness of my hands he rewarded me.

B. For I have kept the ways of the Lord,

and have not wickedly departed from my God.

C. For all his rules were before me,

and his statutes I did not put away from me.

B'. I was blameless before him,

and I kept myself from my guilt.

A'. So the Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness,

according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.

psalm 18:20-24 2