When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them.
All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.
Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language?
Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and
Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs--in our own languages we hear them speaking about God's deeds of power."
All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?" But others sneered and said, "They are filled with new wine."
But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o'clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:
'In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy. And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist. The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord's great and glorious day. Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.'
25 O LORD, how manifold | are your works!*
In wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full | of your creatures.
26 Yonder is the great and wide sea with its living things too man- | y to number,*
creatures both | small and great.
27 There move the ships, and there is | that Leviathan,*
which you have made for the | sport of it.
28 All of them | look to you*
to give them their food | in due season.
29 You give it to them; they | gather it;*
you open your hand, and they are filled | with good things.
30 You hide your face, and | they are terrified;*
you take away their breath, and they die and return | to their dust.
31 You send forth your Spirit, and they | are created;*
and so you renew the face | of the earth.
32 May the glory of the LORD en- | dure forever;*
may the LORD rejoice in | all his works.
33 He looks at the earth | and it trembles;*
he touches the mountains | and they smoke.
34 I will sing to the LORD as long | as I live;*
I will praise my God while I | have my being.
35 May these words | of mine please him;*
I will rejoice | in the LORD.
37 Bless the LORD, | O my soul.*
| Hallelujah!
No one can say "Jesus is Lord" except by the Holy Spirit. [4] Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; [5] and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; [6] and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. [7] To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. [8] To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, [9] to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, [10] to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.
[11] All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses. [12] For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. [13] For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--Jews or Greeks, slaves or free--and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." [20] After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. [21] Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." [22] When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. [23] If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."
On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, "Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, [38] and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, 'Out of the believer's heart shall flow rivers of living water.'" [39] Now he said this about the Spirit, which believers in him were to receive; for as yet there was no Spirit, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, [2] the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. [3] Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. [4] And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. [5] God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.
[6] And God said, "Let there be a dome in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters." [7] So God made the dome and separated the waters that were under the dome from the waters that were above the dome. And it was so. [8] God called the dome Sky. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day.
[9] And God said, "Let the waters under the sky be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear." And it was so. [10] God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good. [11] Then God said, "Let the earth put forth vegetation: plants yielding seed, and fruit trees of every kind on earth that bear fruit with the seed in it." And it was so. [12] The earth brought forth vegetation: plants yielding seed of every kind, and trees of every kind bearing fruit with the seed in it. And God saw that it was good. [13] And there was evening and there was morning, the third day.
[14] And God said, "Let there be lights in the dome of the sky to separate the day from the night; and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years, [15] and let them be lights in the dome of the sky to give light upon the earth." And it was so. [16] God made the two great lights--the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night--and the stars. [17] God set them in the dome of the sky to give light upon the earth, [18] to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. [19] And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day.
[20] And God said, "Let the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the dome of the sky." [21] So God created the great sea monsters and every living creature that moves, of every kind, with which the waters swarm, and every winged bird of every kind. And God saw that it was good. [22] God blessed them, saying, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth." [23] And there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day.
[24] And God said, "Let the earth bring forth living creatures of every kind: cattle and creeping things and wild animals of the earth of every kind." And it was so. [25] God made the wild animals of the earth of every kind, and the cattle of every kind, and everything that creeps upon the ground of every kind. And God saw that it was good. [26] Then God said, "Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth." [27] So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. [28] God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth." [29] God said, "See, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food. [30] And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food." And it was so. [31] God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all their multitude. [2] And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done. [3] So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all the work that he had done in creation. [4] These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created.
1 O | LORD our Lord,*
how exalted is your name in | all the world!
2 Out of the mouths of in- | fants and children*
your majesty is praised a- | bove the heavens.
3 You have set up a stronghold against your | adversaries,*
to quell the enemy and | the avenger.
4 When I consider your heavens, the work | of your fingers,*
the moon and the stars you have set | in their courses,
5 what is man that you should be mind- | ful of him,*
the son of man that you should | seek him out?
6 You have made him but little lower | than the angels;*
you adorn him with glo- | ry and honor;
7 you give him mastery over the works | of your hands;*
you put all things un- | der his feet:
8 all | sheep and oxen,*
even the wild beasts | of the field,
9 the birds of the air, the fish | of the sea,*
and whatsoever walks in the paths | of the sea.
10 O | LORD our Lord,*
how exalted is your name in | all the world!
Finally, brothers and sisters, farewell. Put things in order, listen to my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. [12] Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you. [13] The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.
Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. [17] When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. [18] And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. [19] Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, [20] and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
Thus says the LORD: In a time of favor I have answered you, on a day of salvation I have helped you; I have kept you and given you as a covenant to the people, to establish the land, to apportion the desolate heritages; [9] saying to the prisoners, "Come out," to those who are in darkness, "Show yourselves." They shall feed along the ways, on all the bare heights shall be their pasture; [10] they shall not hunger or thirst, neither scorching wind nor sun shall strike them down, for he who has pity on them will lead them, and by springs of water will guide them. [11] And I will turn all my mountains into a road, and my highways shall be raised up.
[12] Lo, these shall come from far away, and lo, these from the north and from the west, and these from the land of Syene. [13] Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break forth, O mountains, into singing! For the LORD has comforted his people, and will have compassion on his suffering ones. [14] But Zion said, "The LORD has forsaken me, my Lord has forgotten me." [15] Can a woman forget her nursing child, or show no compassion for the child of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. [16] See, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands.
1 O LORD, I | am not proud;*
I have no | haughty looks.
2 I do not occupy myself | with great matters,*
or with things that are too | hard for me.
3 But I still my soul and make it quiet, like a child upon its | mother's breast;*
my soul is quiet- | ed within me.
4 O Israel, wait up- | on the LORD,*
from this time forth for- | evermore.
Think of us in this way, as servants of Christ and stewards of God's mysteries. [2] Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. [3] But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. I do not even judge myself. [4] I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. [5] Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive commendation from God.
"No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. [25] "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? [26] Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? [27] And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? [28] And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, [29] yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. [30] But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you--you of little faith? [31] Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear?' [32] For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. [33] But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. [34] "So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today's trouble is enough for today.
You shall put these words of mine in your heart and soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and fix them as an emblem on your forehead. [19] Teach them to your children, talking about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. [20] Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, [21] so that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land that the LORD swore to your ancestors to give them, as long as the heavens are above the earth.
Deuteronomy 11:26-28 See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse: [27] the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the LORD your God that I am commanding you today; [28] and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn from the way that I am commanding you today, to follow other gods that you have not known.
1 In you, O LORD, have I taken refuge; let me never be | put to shame;*
deliver me | in your righteousness.
2 Incline your | ear to me;*
make haste to de- | liver me.
3 Be my strong rock, a castle to keep me safe,
for you are my crag | and my stronghold;*
for the sake of your name, lead | me and guide me.
4 Take me out of the net that they have secretly | set for me,*
for you are my tow- | er of strength.
5 Into your hands I com- | mend my spirit,*
for you have redeemed me, O LORD, O | God of truth.
19 How great is your goodness, O LORD,
which you have laid up for | those who fear you;*
which you have done in the sight of all for those who put their | trust in you.
20 You hide them in the covert of your presence from those who | slander them;*
you keep them in your shelter from the | strife of tongues.
21 Blessed | be the LORD!*
for he has shown me the wonders of his love in a | besieged city.
22 Yet I said in my alarm, "I have been cut off from the sight | of your eyes."*
Nevertheless, you heard the sound of my entreaty when I cried | out to you.
23 Love the LORD, all you who | worship him;*
the LORD protects the faithful, but repays to the full those | who act haughtily.
24 Be strong and let your | heart take courage,*
all you who wait | for the LORD.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. [17] For in it the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faith; as it is written, "The one who is righteous will live by faith." [22b] For there is no distinction, [23] since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; [24] they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, [25] whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement by his blood, effective through faith. He did this to show his righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over the sins previously committed; [26] it was to prove at the present time that he himself is righteous and that he justifies the one who has faith in Jesus. [27] Then what becomes of boasting? It is excluded. By what law? By that of works? No, but by the law of faith. [28] For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law.
[29] Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, [30] since God is one; and he will justify the circumcised on the ground of faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. [31] Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. [22] On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?' [23] Then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.'
[24] "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. [25] The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. [26] And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. [27] The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell--and great was its fall!" [28] Now when Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astounded at his teaching, [29] for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.
I will return again to my place until they acknowledge their guilt and seek my face. In their distress they will beg my favor:
"Come, let us return to the LORD; for it is he who has torn, and he will heal us; he has struck down, and he will bind us up. [2] After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him. [3] Let us know, let us press on to know the LORD; his appearing is as sure as the dawn; he will come to us like the showers, like the spring rains that water the earth." [4] What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah? Your love is like a morning cloud, like the dew that goes away early. [5] Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets, I have killed them by the words of my mouth, and my judgment goes forth as the light. [6] For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
7 Hear, O my people, and I will speak: "O Israel, I will bear wit- | ness against you;*
for I am | God, your God.
8 I do not accuse you because | of your sacrifices;*
your offerings are al- | ways before me.
9 I will take no bull-calf | from your stalls,*
nor he-goats out | of your pens;
10 for all the beasts of the for- | est are mine,*
the herds in their thousands up- | on the hills.
11 I know every bird | in the sky,*
and the creatures of the fields are | in my sight.
12 If I were hungry, I | would not tell you,*
for the whole world is mine and all | that is in it.
13 Do you think I eat the | flesh of bulls,*
or drink the | blood of goats?
14 Offer to God a sacrifice | of thanksgiving*
and make good your vows to | the Most High.
15 Call upon me in the | day of trouble;*
I will deliver you, and you shall | honor me."
For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law but through the righteousness of faith. [14] If it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. [15] For the law brings wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there violation.
[16] For this reason it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham (for he is the father of all of us, [17] as it is written, "I have made you the father of many nations")--in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.
[18] Hoping against hope, he believed that he would become "the father of many nations," according to what was said, "So numerous shall your descendants be." [19] He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was already as good as dead (for he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. [20] No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, [21] being fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. [22] Therefore his faith "was reckoned to him as righteousness."
[23] Now the words, "it was reckoned to him," were written not for his sake alone, [24] but for ours also. It will be reckoned to us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, [25] who was handed over to death for our trespasses and was raised for our justification.
As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, "Follow me." And he got up and followed him. [10] And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and were sitting with him and his disciples. [11] When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" [12] But when he heard this, he said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. [13] Go and learn what this means, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners."
While he was saying these things to them, suddenly a leader of the synagogue came in and knelt before him, saying, "My daughter has just died; but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live." [19] And Jesus got up and followed him, with his disciples. [20] Then suddenly a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his cloak, [21] for she said to herself, "If I only touch his cloak, I will be made well." [22] Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, "Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well." And instantly the woman was made well.
[23] When Jesus came to the leader's house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, [24] he said, "Go away; for the girl is not dead but sleeping." And they laughed at him. [25] But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl got up. [26] And the report of this spread throughout that district.
They had journeyed from Rephidim, entered the wilderness of Sinai, and camped in the wilderness; Israel camped there in front of the mountain. [3] Then Moses went up to God; the LORD called to him from the mountain, saying, "Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the Israelites: [4] You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. [5] Now therefore, if you obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession out of all the peoples. Indeed, the whole earth is mine, [6] but you shall be for me a priestly kingdom and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the Israelites." [7] So Moses came, summoned the elders of the people, and set before them all these words that the LORD had commanded him. [8] The people all answered as one: "Everything that the LORD has spoken we will do."
1 Be joyful in the LORD, | all you lands;*
serve the LORD with gladness and come before his presence | with a song.
2 Know this: The LORD him- | self is God;*
he himself has made us, and we are his;
we are his people and the sheep | of his pasture.
3 Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his | courts with praise;*
give thanks to him and call up- | on his name.
4 For the LORD is good; his mercy is | everlasting;*
and his faithfulness endures from | age to age.
Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, [2] through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. [3] And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, [4] and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, [5] and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. [6] For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. [7] Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person--though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. [8] But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.
Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness. [36] When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. [37] Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; [38] therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest."
[10:1] Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness. [2] These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon, also known as Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; [3] Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; [4] Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed him. [5] These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: "Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, [6] but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. [7] As you go, proclaim the good news, 'The kingdom of heaven has come near.' [8] Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment.
[9] Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, [10] no bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for laborers deserve their food. [11] Whatever town or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you leave. [12] As you enter the house, greet it. [13] If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. [14] If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town. [15] Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. [16] "See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. [17] Beware of them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues; [18] and you will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and the Gentiles. [19] When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you at that time; [20] for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. [21] Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; [22] and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. [23] When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next; for truly I tell you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
O LORD, you have enticed me, and I was enticed; you have overpowered me, and you have prevailed. I have become a laughingstock all day long; everyone mocks me. [8] For whenever I speak, I must cry out, I must shout, "Violence and destruction!" For the word of the LORD has become for me a reproach and derision all day long. [9] If I say, "I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name," then within me there is something like a burning fire shut up in my bones; I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot. [10] For I hear many whispering: "Terror is all around! Denounce him! Let us denounce him!" All my close friends are watching for me to stumble. "Perhaps he can be enticed, and we can prevail against him, and take our revenge on him."
[11] But the LORD is with me like a dread warrior; therefore my persecutors will stumble, and they will not prevail. They will be greatly shamed, for they will not succeed. Their eternal dishonor will never be forgotten. [12] O LORD of hosts, you test the righteous, you see the heart and the mind; let me see your retribution upon them, for to you I have committed my cause. [13] Sing to the LORD; praise the LORD! For he has delivered the life of the needy from the hands of evildoers.
8 Surely, for your sake have I suf- | fered reproach,*
and shame has cov- | ered my face.
9 I have become a stranger to | my own kindred,*
an alien to my | mother's children.
10 Zeal for your house has eat- | en me up;*
the scorn of those who scorn you has fall- | en upon me.
11 I humbled my- | self with fasting,*
but that was turned to | my reproach.
12 I put on | sackcloth also,*
and became a by- | word among them.
13 Those who sit at the gate mur- | mur against me,*
and the drunkards make | songs about me.
14 But as for me, this is my | prayer to you,*
at the time you have | set, O LORD:
15 "In your great mer- | cy, O God,*
answer me with your un- | failing help.
16 Save me from the mire; do not | let me sink;*
let me be rescued from those who hate me and out of | the deep waters.
17 Let not the torrent of waters wash over me, neither let the deep swal- | low me up;*
do not let the pit shut its | mouth upon me.
18 Answer me, O LORD, for your | love is kind;*
in your great compassion, | turn to me."
19 Hide not your face | from your servant;*
be swift and answer me, for I am | in distress.
20 Draw near to me | and redeem me;*
because of my enemies de- | liver me.
Should we continue in sin in order that grace may abound? [2] By no means! How can we who died to sin go on living in it? [3] Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? [4] Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. [5] For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
[6] We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. [7] For whoever has died is freed from sin. [8] But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. [9] We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. [10] The death he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. [11] So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
"A disciple is not above the teacher, nor a slave above the master; [25] it is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher, and the slave like the master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household! [26] "So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. [27] What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops. [28] Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. [29] Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. [30] And even the hairs of your head are all counted. [31] So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.
[32] "Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven; [33] but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven. [34] "Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. [35] For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; [36] and one's foes will be members of one's own household. [37] Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; [38] and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. [39] Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.
Then the prophet Jeremiah spoke to the prophet Hananiah in the presence of
the priests and all the people who were standing in the house of the LORD; [6]
and the prophet Jeremiah said, "Amen! May the LORD do so; may the LORD
fulfill the words that you have prophesied, and bring back to this place from
Babylon the vessels of the house of the LORD, and all the exiles. [7] But listen
now to this word that I speak in your hearing and in the hearing of all the
people. [8] The prophets who preceded you and me from ancient times prophesied
war, famine, and pestilence against many countries and great kingdoms. [9] As
for the prophet who prophesies peace, when the word of that prophet comes true,
then it will be known that the LORD has truly sent the prophet."
1 Protect me, O God, for I take ref- | uge in you;*
I have said to the LORD, "You are my Lord, my good a- | bove all
other."
2 All my delight is upon the godly that are | in the land,*
upon those who are noble a- | mong the people.
3 But those who run after | other gods*
shall have their troubles | multiplied.
4 Their libations of blood I | will not offer,*
nor take the names of their gods up- | on my lips.
5 O LORD, you are my portion | and my cup;*
it is you who up- | hold my lot.
6 My boundaries enclose a | pleasant land;*
indeed, I have a | goodly heritage.
7 I will bless the LORD who | gives me counsel;*
my heart teaches me night | after night.
8 I have set the LORD al- | ways before me;*
because he is at my right hand, I | shall not fall.
9 My heart, therefore, is glad, and my spir- | it rejoices;*
my body also shall | rest in hope.
10 For you will not abandon me | to the grave,*
nor let your holy one | see the pit.
11 You will show me the | path of life;*
in your presence there is fullness of joy,
and in your right hand are pleasures for- | evermore.
Therefore, do not let sin exercise dominion in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions. [13] No longer present your members to sin as instruments of wickedness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and present your members to God as instruments of righteousness. [14] For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.
[15] What then? Should we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! [16] Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? [17] But thanks be to God that you, having once been slaves of sin, have become obedient from the heart to the form of teaching to which you were entrusted, [18] and that you, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.
[19] I am speaking in human terms because of your natural limitations. For
just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to greater and
greater iniquity, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness for
sanctification. [20] When you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to
righteousness. [21] So what advantage did you then get from the things of which
you now are ashamed? The end of those things is death. [22] But now that you
have been freed from sin and enslaved to God, the advantage you get is
sanctification. The end is eternal life. [23] For the wages of sin is death, but
the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
"Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the
one who sent me. [41] Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will
receive a prophet's reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name
of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous; [42] and whoever
gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a
disciple--truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward."
Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter
Jerusalem! Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble
and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. [10] He will cut off
the chariot from Ephraim and the war horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow
shall be cut off, and he shall command peace to the nations; his dominion shall
be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth. [11] As for you
also, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will set your prisoners
free from the waterless pit. [12] Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of
hope; today I declare that I will restore to you double.
8 The LORD is gracious and full | of compassion,*
slow to anger and | of great kindness.
9 The LORD is loving to | everyone*
and his compassion is over | all his works.
10 All your works praise | you, O LORD,*
and your faithful | servants bless you.
11 They make known the glory | of your kingdom*
and speak | of your power;
12 that the peoples may know | of your power*
and the glorious splendor | of your kingdom.
13 Your kingdom is an ever- | lasting kingdom;*
your dominion endures through- | out all ages.
14 The LORD is faithful in | all his words*
and merciful in | all his deeds.
15 The LORD upholds all | those who fall;*
he lifts up those who | are bowed down.
I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. [16] Now if I do what I do not want, I agree that the law is good. [17] But in fact it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me. [18] For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot do it. [19] For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do.
[20] Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I that do
it, but sin that dwells within me. [21] So I find it to be a law that when I
want to do what is good, evil lies close at hand. [22] For I delight in the law
of God in my inmost self, [23] but I see in my members another law at war with
the law of my mind, making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my
members. [24] Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of
death? [25] Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my
mind I am a slave to the law of God, but with my flesh I am a slave to the law
of sin.
"But to what will I compare this generation? It is like
children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to one another, [17] 'We played
the flute for you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not mourn.'
[18] For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon';
[19] the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look, a glutton and
a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' Yet wisdom is vindicated by
her deeds."
At that time Jesus said, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have
revealed them to infants; [26] yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.
[27] All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the
Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to
whom the Son chooses to reveal him. [28] "Come to me, all you that are
weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. [29] Take my
yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you
will find rest for your souls. [30] For my yoke is easy, and my burden is
light."
For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not
return there until they have watered the earth, making it bring forth and
sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, [11] so shall my word
be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall
accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
[12] For you shall go out in joy, and be led back in peace; the mountains and
the hills before you shall burst into song, and all the trees of the field shall
clap their hands. [13] Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead
of the brier shall come up the myrtle; and it shall be to the LORD for a
memorial, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.
1 You are to be praised, O | God, in Zion;*
to you shall vows be performed | in Jerusalem.
2 To you that hear prayer shall | all flesh come,*
because of | their transgressions.
3 Our sins are stron- | ger than we are,*
but you will | blot them out.
4 Happy are they whom you choose and draw to your | courts to dwell there!*
They will be satisfied by the beauty of your house,
by the holiness | of your temple.
5 Awesome things will you show us in your righteousness, O God of | our
salvation,*
O Hope of all the ends of the earth and of the seas that are | far away.
6 You make fast the mountains | by your power;*
they are girded | about with might.
7 You still the roaring | of the seas,*
the roaring of their waves, and the clamor | of the peoples.
8 Those who dwell at the ends of the earth will tremble at your | marvelous
signs;*
you make the dawn and the dusk to | sing for joy.
9 You visit the earth and water it abundantly; you make it | very plenteous;*
the river of God is | full of water.
10 You pre- | pare the grain,*
for so you provide | for the earth.
11 You drench the furrows and smooth | out the ridges;*
with heavy rain you soften the ground and | bless its increase.
12 You crown the year | with your goodness,*
and your paths over- | flow with plenty.
13 May the fields of the wilderness be | rich for grazing,*
and the hills be | clothed with joy.
14 May the meadows cover themselves with flocks,
and the valleys cloak them- | selves with grain;*
let them shout for | joy and sing.
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. [2] For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. [3] For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do: by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and to deal with sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, [4] so that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
[5] For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on
the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their
minds on the things of the Spirit. [6] To set the mind on the flesh is death,
but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. [7] For this reason the
mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God's
law--indeed it cannot, [8] and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. [9]
But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God
dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to
him. [10] But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the
Spirit is life because of righteousness. [11] If the Spirit of him who raised
Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give
life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you.
That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the
sea. [2] Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat
there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. [3] And he told them many
things in parables, saying: "Listen! A sower went out to sow. [4] And as he
sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. [5]
Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they
sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. [6] But when the sun rose,
they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. [7] Other
seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. [8] Other seeds
fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some
thirty. [9] Let anyone with ears listen!"
"Hear then the parable of the sower. [19] When anyone hears the word of the
kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is
sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. [20] As for what was sown
on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it
with joy; [21] yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and
when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person
immediately falls away. [22] As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one
who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the
word, and it yields nothing. [23] But as for what was sown on good soil, this is
the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and
yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another
thirty."
Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, the
LORD of hosts: I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god. [7]
Who is like me? Let them proclaim it, let them declare and set it forth before
me. Who has announced from of old the things to come? Let them tell us what is
yet to be. [8] Do not fear, or be afraid; have I not told you from of old and
declared it? You are my witnesses! Is there any god besides me? There is no
other rock; I know not one.
11 Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk | in your truth;*
knit my heart to you that I may | fear your name.
12 I will thank you, O LORD my God, with | all my heart,*
and glorify your name for- | evermore.
13 For great is your | love toward me;*
you have delivered me from the neth- | ermost pit.
14 The arrogant rise up against me, O God,
and a band of violent men | seeks my life;*
they have not set you be- | fore their eyes.
15 But you, O LORD, are gracious and full | of compassion,*
slow to anger, and full of kind- | ness and truth.
16 Turn to me and have mer- | cy upon me;*
give your strength to your servant; and save the child | of your handmaid.
17 Show me a sign of your favor,
so that those who hate me may see it and | be ashamed;*
because you, O LORD, have helped me and com- | forted me.
So then, brothers and sisters, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh-- [13] for if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. [14] For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. [15] For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, "Abba! Father!" [16] it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, [17] and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ--if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
[18] I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. [19] For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; [20] for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope [21] that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. [22] We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; [23] and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.
[24] For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? [25] But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
He put before them another parable: "The kingdom of
heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; [25] but
while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and
then went away. [26] So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds
appeared as well. [27] And the slaves of the householder came and said to him,
'Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds
come from?' [28] He answered, 'An enemy has done this.' The slaves said to him,
'Then do you want us to go and gather them?' [29] But he replied, 'No; for in
gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. [30] Let both of
them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the
reapers, Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but
gather the wheat into my barn.'"
Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples approached
him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field."
[37] He answered, "The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; [38]
the field is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom; the
weeds are the children of the evil one, [39] and the enemy who sowed them is the
devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. [40] Just
as the weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of
the age. [41] The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of
his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, [42] and they will throw them
into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
[43] Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.
Let anyone with ears listen!
At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, "Ask what I should give you." [6] And Solomon said, "You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant my father David, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you; and you have kept for him this great and steadfast love, and have given him a son to sit on his throne today.
[7] And now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David, although I am only a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. [8] And your servant is in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a great people, so numerous they cannot be numbered or counted. [9] Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil; for who can govern this your great people?" [10] It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this.
[11] God said to him, "Because you have asked this, and
have not asked for yourself long life or riches, or for the life of your
enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right,
[12] I now do according to your word. Indeed I give you a wise and discerning
mind; no one like you has been before you and no one like you shall arise after
you.
129 Your de- | crees are wonderful;*
therefore I obey them with | all my heart.
130 When your word goes forth | it gives light;*
it gives understanding | to the simple.
131 I open my | mouth and pant;*
I long for | your commandments.
132 Turn to | me in mercy,*
as you always do to those who | love your name.
133 Steady my footsteps | in your word;*
let no iniquity have dominion | over me.
134 Rescue me from those | who oppress me,*
and I will keep | your commandments.
135 Let your countenance shine up- | on your servant*
and teach | me your statutes.
136 My eyes shed | streams of tears,*
because people do not | keep your law.
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. [27] And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. [28] We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.
[29] For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family. [30] And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.
[31] What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? [32] He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? [33] Who will bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. [34] Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. [35] Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? [36] As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered."
[37] No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through
him who loved us. [38] For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor
angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, [39] nor
height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate
us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
He put before them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven
is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; [32] it is the
smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs
and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its
branches." [33] He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven
is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until
all of it was leavened."
"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone
found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that
field. [45] "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of
fine pearls; [46] on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that
he had and bought it. [47] "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that
was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; [48] when it was full,
they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the
bad. [49] So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and
separate the evil from the righteous [50] and throw them into the furnace of
fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. [51] "Have you
understood all this?" They answered, "Yes."
[52] And he said to them, "Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old."
Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you that have
no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without
price. [2] Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your
labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and eat what is
good, and delight yourselves in rich food. [3] Incline your ear, and come to me;
listen, so that you may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my
steadfast, sure love for David. [4] See, I made him a witness to the peoples, a
leader and commander for the peoples. [5] See, you shall call nations that you
do not know, and nations that do not know you shall run to you, because of the
LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you.
8 The LORD is gracious and full | of compassion,*
slow to anger and | of great kindness.
9 The LORD is loving to | everyone*
and his compassion is over | all his works.
15 The LORD upholds all | those who fall;*
he lifts up those who | are bowed down.
16 The eyes of all wait upon | you, O LORD,*
and you give them their food | in due season.
17 You open | wide your hand*
and satisfy the needs of every | living creature.
18 The LORD is righteous in | all his ways*
and loving in | all his works.
19 The LORD is near to those who call | upon him,*
to all who call up- | on him faithfully.
20 He fulfills the desire of | those who fear him;*
he hears their | cry and helps them.
21 The LORD preserves all | those who love him,*
but he destroys | all the wicked.
22 My mouth shall speak the praise | of the LORD;*
let all flesh bless his holy name forev- | er and ever.
I am speaking the truth in Christ--I am not lying; my conscience
confirms it by the Holy Spirit-- [2] I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish
in my heart. [3] For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from
Christ for the sake of my own people, my kindred according to the flesh. [4]
They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants,
the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; [5] to them belong the
patriarchs, and from them, according to the flesh, comes the Messiah, who is
over all, God blessed forever. Amen.
Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. [14] When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick. [15] When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves." [16] Jesus said to them, "They need not go away; you give them something to eat." [17] They replied, "We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish." [18] And he said, "Bring them here to me."
[19] Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. [20] And all ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. [21] And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.
At that place he came to a cave, and spent the night there. Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" [10] He answered, "I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away."
[11] He said, "Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by." Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; [12] and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence.
[13] When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then there came a voice to him that said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" [14] He answered, "I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away."
[15] Then the LORD said to him, "Go, return on your way to
the wilderness of Damascus; when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael as king
over Aram. [16] Also you shall anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel;
and you shall anoint Elisha son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah as prophet in your
place. [17] Whoever escapes from the sword of Hazael, Jehu shall kill; and
whoever escapes from the sword of Jehu, Elisha shall kill. [18] Yet I will leave
seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every
mouth that has not kissed him."
8 I will listen to what the LORD | God is saying,*
for he is speaking peace to his faithful people
and to those who turn their | hearts to him.
9 Truly, his salvation is very near to | those who fear him,*
that his glory may dwell | in our land.
10 Mercy and truth have | met together;*
righteousness and peace have | kissed each other.
11 Truth shall spring up | from the earth,*
and righteousness shall look | down from heaven.
12 The LORD will indeed | grant prosperity,*
and our land will | yield its increase.
13 Righteousness shall | go before him,*
and peace shall be a pathway | for his feet.
Moses writes concerning the righteousness that comes from the law, that "the person who does these things will live by them." [6] But the righteousness that comes from faith says, "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?'" (that is, to bring Christ down) [7] "or 'Who will descend into the abyss?'" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). [8] But what does it say? "The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); [9] because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
[10] For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. [11] The scripture says, "No one who believes in him will be put to shame." [12] For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. [13] For, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."
[14] But how are they to call on one in whom they have not
believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And
how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? [15] And how are they to
proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the
feet of those who bring good news!"
Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. [23] And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, [24] but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. [25] And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea.
[26] But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out in fear. [27] But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, "Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid." [28] Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." [29] He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. [30] But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" [31] Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"
[32] When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. [33] And
those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of
God."
Thus says the LORD: Maintain justice, and do what is right, for soon my
salvation will come, and my deliverance be revealed. And the foreigners
who join themselves to the LORD, to minister to him, to love the name of the
LORD, and to be his servants, all who keep the sabbath, and do not profane it,
and hold fast my covenant-- [7] these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make
them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices
will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for
all peoples. [8] Thus says the Lord GOD, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, I
will gather others to them besides those already gathered.
1 May God be merciful to | us and bless us,*
show us the light of his countenance, and | come to us.
2 Let your ways be known | upon earth,*
your saving health a- | mong all nations.
3 Let the peoples praise | you, O God;*
let all the | peoples praise you.
4 Let the nations be glad and | sing for joy,*
for you judge the peoples with equity and guide all the nations | upon earth.
5 Let the peoples praise | you, O God;*
let all the | peoples praise you.
6 The earth has brought | forth her increase;*
may God, our own God, give | us his blessing.
7 May God give | us his blessing,*
and may all the ends of the earth stand in | awe of him.
I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! I myself am an
Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. [2] God
has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. For the gifts and the calling of
God are irrevocable. [30] Just as you were once disobedient to God but have now
received mercy because of their disobedience, [31] so they have now been
disobedient in order that, by the mercy shown to you, they too may now receive
mercy. [32] For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may be
merciful to all.
Then he called the crowd to him and said to them, "Listen and understand: [11] it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles." [12] Then the disciples approached and said to him, "Do you know that the Pharisees took offense when they heard what you said?" [13] He answered, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. [14] Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if one blind person guides another, both will fall into a pit." [15] But Peter said to him, "Explain this parable to us." [16] Then he said, "Are you also still without understanding? [17] Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth enters the stomach, and goes out into the sewer? [18] But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this is what defiles. [19] For out of the heart come evil intentions, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander. [20] These are what defile a person, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile."
[21] Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon.
[22] Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting,
"Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a
demon." [23] But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and
urged him, saying, "Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us."
[24] He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of
Israel." [25] But she came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help
me." [26] He answered, "It is not fair to take the children's food and
throw it to the dogs." [27] She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs
eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." [28] Then Jesus
answered her, "Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you
wish." And her daughter was healed instantly.
Listen to me, you that pursue righteousness, you that seek the LORD. Look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the quarry from which you were dug. [2] Look to Abraham your father and to Sarah who bore you; for he was but one when I called him, but I blessed him and made him many. [3] For the LORD will comfort Zion; he will comfort all her waste places, and will make her wilderness like Eden, her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the voice of song.
[4] Listen to me, my people, and give heed to me, my nation; for
a teaching will go out from me, and my justice for a light to the peoples. [5] I
will bring near my deliverance swiftly, my salvation has gone out and my arms
will rule the peoples; the coastlands wait for me, and for my arm they hope. [6]
Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look at the earth beneath; for the heavens
will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment, and those who
live on it will die like gnats; but my salvation will be forever, and my
deliverance will never be ended.
1 I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with | my whole heart;*
before the gods I will | sing your praise.
2 I will bow down toward your holy temple and | praise your name,*
because of your | love and faithfulness;
3 for you have glori- | fied your name*
and your word a- | bove all things.
4 When I called, you | answered me;*
you increased my | strength within me.
5 All the kings of the earth will praise | you, O LORD,*
when they have heard the words | of your mouth.
6 They will sing of the ways | of the LORD,*
that great is the glory | of the LORD.
7 Though the LORD be high, he cares | for the lowly;*
he perceives the haughty | from afar.
8 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you | keep me safe;*
you stretch forth your hand against the fury of my enemies;
your right | hand shall save me.
9 The LORD will make good his pur- | pose for me;*
O LORD, your love endures forever; do not abandon the works | of your hands.
I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. [2] Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God--what is good and acceptable and perfect.
[3] For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not
to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with
sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.
[4] For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the
same function, [5] so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually
we are members one of another. [6] We have gifts that differ according to the
grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; [7] ministry, in
ministering; the teacher, in teaching; [8] the exhorter, in exhortation; the
giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in
cheerfulness.
Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" [14] And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." [15] He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" [16] Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God."
[17] And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon son of
Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in
heaven. [18] And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my
church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. [19] I will give you
the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound
in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." [20]
Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the
Messiah.
O LORD, you know; remember me and visit me, and bring down retribution for me on my persecutors. In your forbearance do not take me away; know that on your account I suffer insult. [16] Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart; for I am called by your name, O LORD, God of hosts. [17] I did not sit in the company of merrymakers, nor did I rejoice; under the weight of your hand I sat alone, for you had filled me with indignation. [18] Why is my pain unceasing, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Truly, you are to me like a deceitful brook, like waters that fail.
[19] Therefore thus says the LORD: If you turn back, I will take
you back, and you shall stand before me. If you utter what is precious, and not
what is worthless, you shall serve as my mouth. It is they who will turn to you,
not you who will turn to them. [20] And I will make you to this people a
fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you, but they shall not
prevail over you, for I am with you to save you and deliver you, says the LORD.
[21] I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked, and redeem you from the
grasp of the ruthless.
1 Give judgment for me, O LORD, for I have lived | with
integrity;*
I have trusted in the Lord and | have not faltered.
2 Test me, O | LORD, and try me;*
examine my heart | and my mind.
3 For your love is be- | fore my eyes;*
I have walked faith- | fully with you.
4 I have not sat | with the worthless,*
nor do I consort with | the deceitful.
5 I have hated the company of | evildoers;*
I will not sit down | with the wicked.
6 I will wash my hands in inno- | cence, O LORD,*
that I may go in procession | round your altar,
7 singing aloud a song | of thanksgiving*
and recounting all your won- | derful deeds.
8 LORD, I love the house in | which you dwell*
and the place where your glo- | ry abides.
Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; [10] love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. [11] Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. [12] Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. [13] Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers. [14] Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. [15] Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. [16] Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. [17] Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. [18] If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
[19] Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the
wrath of God; for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the
Lord." [20] No, "if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are
thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning
coals on their heads." [21] Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil
with good.
From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. [22] And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, "God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you." [23] But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things."
[24] Then Jesus told his disciples, "If any want to become
my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
[25] For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose
their life for my sake will find it. [26] For what will it profit them if they
gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return
for their life? [27] "For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the
glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done.
[28] Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death
before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."
So you, mortal, I have made a sentinel for the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. [8] If I say to the wicked, "O wicked ones, you shall surely die," and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from their ways, the wicked shall die in their iniquity, but their blood I will require at your hand. [9] But if you warn the wicked to turn from their ways, and they do not turn from their ways, the wicked shall die in their iniquity, but you will have saved your life.
[10] Now you, mortal, say to the house of Israel, Thus you have
said: "Our transgressions and our sins weigh upon us, and we waste away
because of them; how then can we live?" [11] Say to them, As I live, says
the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked
turn from their ways and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways; for why
will you die, O house of Israel?
33 Teach me, O LORD, the way | of your statutes,*
and I shall keep it | to the end.
34 Give me understanding, and I shall | keep your law;*
I shall keep it with | all my heart.
35 Make me go in the path of | your commandments,*
for that is | my desire.
36 Incline my heart to | your decrees*
and not to | unjust gain.
37 Turn my eyes from watching | what is worthless;*
give me life | in your ways.
38 Fulfill your promise | to your servant,*
which you make to | those who fear you.
39 Turn away the reproach | which I dread,*
because your judg- | ments are good.
40 Behold, I long for | your commandments;*
in your righteousness pre- | serve my life.
Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. [9] The commandments, "You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not covet"; and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, "Love your neighbor as yourself." [10] Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.
[11] Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the
moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when
we became believers; [12] the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then
lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; [13] let us live
honorably as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and
licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. [14] Instead, put on the Lord
Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
"If another member of the church sins against you, go and
point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you,
you have regained that one. [16] But if you are not listened to, take one or two
others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of
two or three witnesses. [17] If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to
the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a
one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. [18] Truly I tell you, whatever
you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will
be loosed in heaven. [19] Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth
about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. [20] For
where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them."
Realizing that their father was dead, Joseph's brothers said, "What if Joseph still bears a grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the wrong that we did to him?" [16] So they approached Joseph, saying, "Your father gave this instruction before he died, [17] 'Say to Joseph: I beg you, forgive the crime of your brothers and the wrong they did in harming you.' Now therefore please forgive the crime of the servants of the God of your father." Joseph wept when they spoke to him. [18] Then his brothers also wept, fell down before him, and said, "We are here as your slaves." [19] But Joseph said to them, "Do not be afraid! Am I in the place of God? [20] Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today. [21] So have no fear; I myself will provide for you and your little ones." In this way he reassured them, speaking kindly to them.
1 Bless the LORD, | O my soul,*
and all that is within me, bless his | holy name.
2 Bless the LORD, | O my soul,*
and forget not | all his benefits.
3 He forgives | all your sins*
and heals all | your infirmities;
4 he redeems your life | from the grave*
and crowns you with mercy and | lovingkindness;
5 he satisfies you | with good things,*
and your youth is renewed | like an eagle's.
6 The LORD ex- | ecutes righteousness*
and judgment for all who | are oppressed.
7 He made his ways | known to Moses*
and his works to the chil- | dren of Israel.
8 The LORD is full of compas- | sion and mercy,*
slow to anger and | of great kindness.
9 He will not al- | ways accuse us,*
nor will he keep his an- | ger forever.
10 He has not dealt with us according | to our sins,*
nor rewarded us according | to our wickedness.
11 For as the heavens are high | above the earth,*
so is his mercy great upon | those who fear him.
12 As far as the east is | from the west,*
so far has he removed our | sins from us.
13 As a father cares | for his children,*
so does the LORD care for | those who fear him.
Welcome those who are weak in faith, but not for the purpose of quarreling over opinions. [2] Some believe in eating anything, while the weak eat only vegetables. [3] Those who eat must not despise those who abstain, and those who abstain must not pass judgment on those who eat; for God has welcomed them. [4] Who are you to pass judgment on servants of another? It is before their own lord that they stand or fall. And they will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make them stand.
[5] Some judge one day to be better than another, while others judge all days to be alike. Let all be fully convinced in their own minds. [6] Those who observe the day, observe it in honor of the Lord. Also those who eat, eat in honor of the Lord, since they give thanks to God; while those who abstain, abstain in honor of the Lord and give thanks to God.
[7] We do not live to ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves.
[8] If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then,
whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's. [9] For to this end Christ
died and lived again, so that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.
[10] Why do you pass judgment on your brother or sister? Or you, why do you
despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat
of God. [11] For it is written, "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall
bow to me, and every tongue shall give praise to God." [12] So then, each
of us will be accountable to God.
Then Peter came and said to him, "Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?" [22] Jesus said to him, "Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.
[23] "For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. [24] When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him; [25] and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be made. [26] So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.' [27] And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt.
[28] But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his
fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he
said, 'Pay what you owe.' [29] Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with
him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you.' [30] But he refused; then he
went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt. [31] When his fellow
slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and
reported to their lord all that had taken place. [32] Then his lord summoned him
and said to him, 'You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you
pleaded with me. [33] Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I
had mercy on you?' [34] And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured
until he would pay his entire debt. [35] So my heavenly Father will also do to
every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your
heart."
When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do it. [4:1] But this was very displeasing to Jonah, and he became angry. [2] He prayed to the LORD and said, "O LORD! Is not this what I said while I was still in my own country? That is why I fled to Tarshish at the beginning; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and ready to relent from punishing. [3] And now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live."
[4] And the LORD said, "Is it right for you to be angry?" [5] Then Jonah went out of the city and sat down east of the city, and made a booth for himself there. He sat under it in the shade, waiting to see what would become of the city. [6] The LORD God appointed a bush, and made it come up over Jonah, to give shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort; so Jonah was very happy about the bush.
[7] But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the bush, so that it withered. [8] When the sun rose, God prepared a sultry east wind, and the sun beat down on the head of Jonah so that he was faint and asked that he might die. He said, "It is better for me to die than to live." [9] But God said to Jonah, "Is it right for you to be angry about the bush?" And he said, "Yes, angry enough to die."
[10] Then the LORD said, "You are concerned about the bush,
for which you did not labor and which you did not grow; it came into being in a
night and perished in a night. [11] And should I not be concerned about Nineveh,
that great city, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand
persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also many
animals?"
1 I will exalt you, O | God my King,*
and bless your name forev- | er and ever.
2 Every day | will I bless you*
and praise your name forev- | er and ever.
3 Great is the LORD and greatly | to be praised;*
there is no end | to his greatness.
4 One generation shall praise your works | to another*
and shall de- | clare your power.
5 I will ponder the glorious splendor | of your majesty*
and all your | marvelous works.
6 They shall speak of the might of your | wondrous acts,*
and I will tell | of your greatness.
7 They shall publish the remembrance of | your great goodness;*
they shall sing of your | righteous deeds.
8 The LORD is gracious and full | of compassion,*
slow to anger and | of great kindness.
For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain. [22] If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which I prefer. [23] I am hard pressed between the two: my desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better; [24] but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you.
[25] Since I am convinced of this, I know that I will remain and
continue with all of you for your progress and joy in faith, [26] so that I may
share abundantly in your boasting in Christ Jesus when I come to you again. [27]
Only, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that,
whether I come and see you or am absent and hear about you, I will know that you
are standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the
faith of the gospel, [28] and are in no way intimidated by your opponents. For
them this is evidence of their destruction, but of your salvation. And this is
God's doing. [29] For he has graciously granted you the privilege not only of
believing in Christ, but of suffering for him as well-- [30] since you are
having the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.
"For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. [2] After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. [3] When he went out about nine o'clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace; [4] and he said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.' So they went. [5] When he went out again about noon and about three o'clock, he did the same. [6] And about five o'clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, 'Why are you standing here idle all day?' [7] They said to him, 'Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard.'
[8] When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, 'Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.' [9] When those hired about five o'clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage. [10] Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage. [11] And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, [12] saying, 'These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.'
[13] But he replied to one of them, 'Friend, I am doing you no
wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? [14] Take what
belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you.
[15] Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you
envious because I am generous?' [16] So the last will be first, and the first
will be last."
The word of the LORD came to me: [2] What do you mean by
repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, "The parents have
eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge"? [3] As I
live, says the Lord GOD, this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel.
[4] Know that all lives are mine; the life of the parent as well as the life of
the child is mine: it is only the person who sins that shall die.
[25] Yet you say, "The way of the Lord is unfair." Hear now, O house
of Israel: Is my way unfair? Is it not your ways that are unfair? [26] When the
righteous turn away from their righteousness and commit iniquity, they shall die
for it; for the iniquity that they have committed they shall die. [27] Again,
when the wicked turn away from the wickedness they have committed and do what is
lawful and right, they shall save their life.
[28] Because they considered and turned away from all the transgressions that they had committed, they shall surely live; they shall not die. [29] Yet the house of Israel says, "The way of the Lord is unfair." O house of Israel, are my ways unfair? Is it not your ways that are unfair?
[30] Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, all of you
according to your ways, says the Lord GOD. Repent and turn from all your
transgressions; otherwise iniquity will be your ruin. [31] Cast away from you
all the transgressions that you have committed against me, and get yourselves a
new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? [32] For I have
no pleasure in the death of anyone, says the Lord GOD. Turn, then, and live.
1 To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul; my God, I put my | trust in
you;*
let me not be humiliated, nor let my enemies triumph | over me.
2 Let none who look to you be | put to shame;*
let the treacherous be disappointed | in their schemes.
3 Show me your | ways, O LORD,*
and teach | me your paths.
4 Lead me in your | truth and teach me,*
for you are the God of my salvation; in you have I trusted all | the day long.
5 Remember, O LORD, your compas- | sion and love,*
for they are from | everlasting.
6 Remember not the sins of my youth and | my transgressions;*
remember me according to your love
and for the sake of your good- | ness, O LORD.
7 Gracious and upright | is the LORD;*
therefore he teaches sinners | in his way.
8 He guides the humble in | doing right*
and teaches his way | to the lowly.
If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, [2] make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. [3] Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. [4] Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.
[5] Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, [6] who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, [7] but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, [8] he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death-- even death on a cross.
[9] Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, [10] so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, [11] and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
[12] Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me,
not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own
salvation with fear and trembling; [13] for it is God who is at work in you,
enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
When he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, "By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?" [24] Jesus said to them, "I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. [25] Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?" And they argued with one another, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say to us, 'Why then did you not believe him?' [26] But if we say, 'Of human origin,' we are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet."
[27] So they answered Jesus, "We do not know." And he
said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these
things. [28] "What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first
and said, 'Son, go and work in the vineyard today.' [29] He answered, 'I will
not'; but later he changed his mind and went. [30] The father went to the second
and said the same; and he answered, 'I go, sir'; but he did not go. [31] Which
of the two did the will of his father?" They said, "The first."
Jesus said to them, "Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the
prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. [32] For John came
to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax
collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did
not change your minds and believe him.
Let me sing for my beloved my love-song concerning his vineyard: My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill. [2] He dug it and cleared it of stones, and planted it with choice vines; he built a watchtower in the midst of it, and hewed out a wine vat in it; he expected it to yield grapes, but it yielded wild grapes.
[3] And now, inhabitants of Jerusalem and people of Judah, judge
between me and my vineyard. [4] What more was there to do for my vineyard that I
have not done in it? When I expected it to yield grapes, why did it yield wild
grapes? [5] And now I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard. I will remove
its hedge, and it shall be devoured; I will break down its wall, and it shall be
trampled down. [6] I will make it a waste; it shall not be pruned or hoed, and
it shall be overgrown with briers and thorns; I will also command the clouds
that they rain no rain upon it. [7] For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the
house of Israel, and the people of Judah are his pleasant planting; he expected
justice, but saw bloodshed; righteousness, but heard a cry!
1 Do not fret yourself because of | evildoers;*
do not be jealous of those | who do wrong.
2 For they shall soon wither | like the grass,*
and like the green grass | fade away.
3 Put your trust in the LORD | and do good;*
dwell in the land and feed | on its riches.
4 Take delight | in the LORD,*
and he shall give you your | heart's desire.
5 Commit your way to the LORD and put your | trust in him,*
and he will bring | it to pass.
6 He will make your righteousness as clear | as the light*
and your just dealing | as the noonday.
7 Be still be- | fore the LORD*
and wait patient- | ly for him.
8 Do not fret yourself over the | one who prospers,*
the one who succeeds in | evil schemes.
9 Refrain from anger, leave | rage alone;*
do not fret yourself; it leads on- | ly to evil.
10 For evildoers shall | be cut off,*
but those who wait upon the LORD shall pos- | sess the land.
If anyone else has reason to be confident in the flesh, I have more: [5] circumcised on the eighth day, a member of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; [6] as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.
[7] Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. [8] More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ [9] and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith.
[10] I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, [11] if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead. [12] Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.
[13] Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, [14] I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.
"Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenants and went to another country. [34] When the harvest time had come, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his produce. [35] But the tenants seized his slaves and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. [36] Again he sent other slaves, more than the first; and they treated them in the same way. [37] Finally he sent his son to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.' [38] But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, 'This is the heir; come, let us kill him and get his inheritance." [39] So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him.
[40] Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?" [41] They said to him, "He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the harvest time." [42] Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the scriptures: 'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord's doing, and it is amazing in our eyes'?
[43] Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that produces the fruits of the kingdom. [44] The one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and it will crush anyone on whom it falls." [45] When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they realized that he was speaking about them. [46] They wanted to arrest him, but they feared the crowds, because they regarded him as a prophet.
O LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you, I will praise your name; for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure. [2] For you have made the city a heap, the fortified city a ruin; the palace of aliens is a city no more, it will never be rebuilt. [3] Therefore strong peoples will glorify you; cities of ruthless nations will fear you.
[4] For you have been a refuge to the poor, a refuge to the needy in their distress, a shelter from the rainstorm and a shade from the heat. When the blast of the ruthless was like a winter rainstorm, [5] the noise of aliens like heat in a dry place, you subdued the heat with the shade of clouds; the song of the ruthless was stilled.
[6] On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wines, of rich food filled with marrow, of well-aged wines strained clear. [7] And he will destroy on this mountain the shroud that is cast over all peoples, the sheet that is spread over all nations; he will swallow up death forever. [8] Then the Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from all faces, and the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken. [9] It will be said on that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, so that he might save us. This is the LORD for whom we have waited; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.
1 The LORD | is my shepherd;*
I shall not | be in want.
2 He makes me lie down | in green pastures*
and leads me be- | side still waters.
3 He re- | vives my soul*
and guides me along right pathways | for his name's sake.
4 Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall | fear no
evil;*
for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they | comfort me.
5 You spread a table before me in the presence of those who | trouble me;*
you have anointed my head with oil, and my cup is | running over.
6 Surely your goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days | of my life,*
and I will dwell in the house of the | LORD forever.
Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved. [2] I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. [3] Yes, and I ask you also, my loyal companion, help these women, for they have struggled beside me in the work of the gospel, together with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.
[4] Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. [5] Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. [6] Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. [7] And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
[8] Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable,
whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is
commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of
praise, think about these things. [9] Keep on doing the things that you have
learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with
you.
Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying: [2] "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. [3] He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. [4] Again he sent other slaves, saying, 'Tell those who have been invited: Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet.' [5] But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, [6] while the rest seized his slaves, mistreated them, and killed them.
[7] The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. [8] Then he said to his slaves, 'The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. [9] Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.' [10] Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests.
[11] "But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe, [12] and he said to him, 'Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?' And he was speechless. [13] Then the king said to the attendants, 'Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' [14] For many are called, but few are chosen."
Thus says the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped to subdue nations before him and strip kings of their robes, to open doors before him-- and the gates shall not be closed: [2] I will go before you and level the mountains, I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut through the bars of iron, [3] I will give you the treasures of darkness and riches hidden in secret places, so that you may know that it is I, the LORD, the God of Israel, who call you by your name.
[4] For the sake of my servant Jacob, and Israel my chosen, I call you by your name, I surname you, though you do not know me. [5] I am the LORD, and there is no other; besides me there is no god. I arm you, though you do not know me, [6] so that they may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is no one besides me; I am the LORD, and there is no other. [7] I form light and create darkness, I make weal and create woe; I the LORD do all these things.
1 Sing to the LORD | a new song;*
sing to the LORD, all | the whole earth.
2 Sing to the LORD and | bless his name;*
proclaim the good news of his salvation from | day to day.
3 Declare his glory a- | mong the nations*
and his wonders a- | mong all peoples.
4 For great is the LORD and greatly | to be praised;*
he is more to be feared | than all gods.
5 As for all the gods of the nations, they | are but idols;*
but it is the LORD who | made the heavens.
6 Oh, the majesty and magnificence | of his presence!*
Oh, the power and the splendor of his | sanctuary!
7 Ascribe to the LORD, you families | of the peoples;*
ascribe to the LORD hon- | or and power.
8 Ascribe to the LORD the honor | due his name;*
bring offerings and come in- | to his courts.
9 Worship the LORD in the beau- | ty of holiness;*
let the whole earth trem- | ble before him.
10 Tell it out among the nations: "The | LORD is king!*
He has made the world so firm that it cannot be moved;
he will judge the peo- | ples with equity."
11 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad;
let the sea thunder and all | that is in it;*
let the field be joyful and all that | is therein.
12 Then shall all the trees of the wood shout for joy
before the LORD | when he comes,*
when he comes to | judge the earth.
13 He will judge the | world with righteousness*
and the peoples | with his truth.
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace. [2] We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers, constantly [3] remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. [4] For we know, brothers and sisters beloved by God, that he has chosen you, [5] because our message of the gospel came to you not in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of persons we proved to be among you for your sake.
[6] And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for in spite of persecution you received the word with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit, [7] so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. [8] For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith in God has become known, so that we have no need to speak about it.
[9] For the people of those regions report about us what kind of
welcome we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols, to serve a
living and true God, [10] and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised
from the dead--Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath that is coming.
Then the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap him in what he said. [16] So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality. [17] Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?"
[18] But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, "Why are you
putting me to the test, you hypocrites? [19] Show me the coin used for the
tax." And they brought him a denarius. [20] Then he said to them,
"Whose head is this, and whose title?" [21] They answered, "The
emperor's." Then he said to them, "Give therefore to the emperor the
things that are the emperor's, and to God the things that are God's." [22]
When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away.
The LORD spoke to Moses, saying: [2] Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them: You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.
[15] You shall not render an unjust judgment; you shall not be
partial to the poor or defer to the great: with justice you shall judge your
neighbor.
[16] You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not
profit by the blood of your neighbor: I am the LORD.
[17] You shall not hate in your heart anyone of your kin; you shall reprove your
neighbor, or you will incur guilt yourself.
[18] You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people,
but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.
1 Happy are they who have not walked in the counsel | of the
wicked,*
nor lingered in the way of sinners, nor sat in the seats | of the scornful!
2 Their delight is in the law | of the LORD,*
and they meditate on his law | day and night.
3 They are like trees planted by streams of water,
bearing fruit in due season, with leaves that | do not wither;*
everything they | do shall prosper.
4 It is not so | with the wicked;*
they are like chaff which the wind | blows away.
5 Therefore the wicked shall not stand upright when | judgment comes,*
nor the sinner in the council | of the righteous.
6 For the LORD knows the way | of the righteous,*
but the way of the wick- | ed is doomed.
You yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our coming to you was not in vain, [2] but though we had already suffered and been shamefully mistreated at Philippi, as you know, we had courage in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in spite of great opposition. [3] For our appeal does not spring from deceit or impure motives or trickery, [4] but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the message of the gospel, even so we speak, not to please mortals, but to please God who tests our hearts.
[5] As you know and as God is our witness, we never came with
words of flattery or with a pretext for greed; [6] nor did we seek praise from
mortals, whether from you or from others, [7] though we might have made demands
as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, like a nurse tenderly
caring for her own children. [8] So deeply do we care for you that we are
determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves,
because you have become very dear to us.
When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, [35] and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. [36] "Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?" [37] He said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' [38] This is the greatest and first commandment. [39] And a second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' [40] On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."
[41] Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them this question: [42] "What do you think of the Messiah? Whose son is he?" They said to him, "The son of David." [43] He said to them, "How is it then that David by the Spirit calls him Lord, saying, [44] 'The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet"'? [45] If David thus calls him Lord, how can he be his son?" [46] No one was able to give him an answer, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.
Thus says the LORD concerning the prophets who lead my people astray, who cry "Peace" when they have something to eat, but declare war against those who put nothing into their mouths. [6] Therefore it shall be night to you, without vision, and darkness to you, without revelation. The sun shall go down upon the prophets, and the day shall be black over them; [7] the seers shall be disgraced, and the diviners put to shame; they shall all cover their lips, for there is no answer from God.
[8] But as for me, I am filled with power, with the spirit of the LORD, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin. [9] Hear this, you rulers of the house of Jacob and chiefs of the house of Israel, who abhor justice and pervert all equity, [10] who build Zion with blood and Jerusalem with wrong! [11] Its rulers give judgment for a bribe, its priests teach for a price, its prophets give oracles for money; yet they lean upon the LORD and say, "Surely the LORD is with us! No harm shall come upon us."
[12] Therefore because of you Zion shall be plowed as a field; Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins, and the mountain of the house a wooded height.
1 Give judgment for me, O God, and defend my cause against an un- | godly people;*
deliver me from the deceitful | and the wicked.
2 For you are the God of my strength; why have you put | me from you,*
and why do I go so heavily while the enemy op- | presses me?
3 Send out your light and your truth, that | they may lead me,*
and bring me to your holy hill and | to your dwelling;
4 that I may go to the altar of God, to the God of my | joy and gladness;*
and on the harp I will give thanks to you, O | God my God.
5 Why are you so full of heaviness, | O my soul?*
And why are you so disquiet- | ed within me?
6 Put your | trust in God;*
for I will yet give thanks to him,
who is the help of my countenance | and my God.
You remember our labor and toil, brothers and sisters; we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. [10] You are witnesses, and God also, how pure, upright, and blameless our conduct was toward you believers.
[11] As you know, we dealt with each one of you like a father with his children, [12] urging and encouraging you and pleading that you lead a life worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory. [13] We also constantly give thanks to God for this, that when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word but as what it really is, God's word, which is also at work in you believers.
Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, [2] "The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat; [3] therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach. [4] They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them. [5] They do all their deeds to be seen by others; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long. [6] They love to have the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues, [7] and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have people call them rabbi.
[8] But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all students. [9] And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father--the one in heaven. [10] Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah. [11] The greatest among you will be your servant. [12] All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.
The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. [32] It will not be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt--a covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, says the LORD. [33] But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. [34] No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, "Know the LORD," for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the LORD; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more.
1 God is our ref- | uge and strength,*
a very present | help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the | earth be moved,*
and though the mountains be toppled into the depths | of the sea;
3 though its waters | rage and foam,*
and though the mountains tremble | at its tumult.
4 The LORD of | hosts is with us;*
the God of Jacob | is our stronghold.
5 There is a river whose streams make glad the cit- | y of God,*
the holy habitation of | the Most High.
6 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be | overthrown;*
God shall help her at the | break of day.
7 The nations make much ado, and the king- | doms are shaken;*
God has spoken, and the earth shall | melt away.
8 The LORD of | hosts is with us;*
the God of Jacob | is our stronghold.
9 Come now and look upon the works | of the LORD,*
what awesome things he has | done on earth.
10 It is he who makes war to cease in | all the world;*
he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear, and burns the | shields with fire.
11 "Be still, then, and know that | I am God;*
I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted | in the earth."
12 The LORD of | hosts is with us;*
the God of Jacob | is our stronghold.
Now we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. [20] For "no human being will be justified in his sight" by deeds prescribed by the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin. [21] But now, apart from law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed, and is attested by the law and the prophets, [22] the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction, [23] since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; [24] they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, [25] whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement by his blood, effective through faith. He did this to show his righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over the sins previously committed; [26] it was to prove at the present time that he himself is righteous and that he justifies the one who has faith in Jesus. [27] Then what becomes of boasting? It is excluded. By what law? By that of works? No, but by the law of faith. [28] For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law.
Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; [32] and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." [33] They answered him, "We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, 'You will be made free'?" [34] Jesus answered them, "Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. [35] The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there forever. [36] So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.
After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one
could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages,
standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm
branches in their hands.
They cried out in a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who
is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!" And all the angels stood around
the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on
their faces before the throne and worshiped God, singing, "Amen! Blessing
and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our
God forever and ever! Amen."
Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, "Who are these, robed in
white, and where have they come from?"
I said to him, "Sir, you are the one that knows." Then he said to me,
"These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed
their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. For this reason they
are before the throne of God, and worship him day and night within his temple,
and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them. They will hunger no
more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat;
for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will
guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear
from their eyes."
1 I will bless the LORD | at all times;*
his praise shall ever be | in my mouth.
2 I will glory | in the LORD;*
let the humble hear | and rejoice.
3 Proclaim with me the greatness | of the LORD;*
let us exalt his | name together.
4 I sought the Lord, and he | answered me*
and delivered me out of | all my terror.
5 Look upon him | and be radiant,*
and let not your faces | be ashamed.
6 I called in my affliction, and | the Lord heard me*
and saved me from | all my troubles.
7 The angel of the LORD encompasses | those who fear him,*
and he will de- | liver them.
8 Taste and see that the | LORD is good;*
happy are they who | trust in him!
9 Fear the LORD, you that | are his saints,*
for those who fear | him lack nothing.
10 The young lions lack and | suffer hunger,*
but those who seek the LORD lack nothing | that is good.
22 The LORD ransoms the life | of his servants,*
and none will be punished who | trust in him.
See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called
children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us
is that it did not know him.
Beloved, we are God's children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed.
What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will
see him as he is. And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as
he is pure.
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he
sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them,
saying:
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will
be filled.
"Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs
is the kingdom of heaven.
"Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all
kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way
they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Alas for you who desire the day of the LORD! Why do you want the day of the LORD? It is darkness, not light; [19] as if someone fled from a lion, and was met by a bear; or went into the house and rested a hand against the wall, and was bitten by a snake. [20] Is not the day of the LORD darkness, not light, and gloom with no brightness in it?
[21] I hate, I despise your festivals, and I take no delight in
your solemn assemblies. [22] Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and
grain offerings, I will not accept them; and the offerings of well-being of your
fatted animals I will not look upon. [23] Take away from me the noise of your
songs; I will not listen to the melody of your harps. [24] But let justice roll
down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.
1 Be pleased, O God, to de- | liver me;*
O LORD, make | haste to help me.
2 Let those who seek my life be ashamed and altogeth- | er dismayed;*
let those who take pleasure in my misfortune draw back and be disgraced.
3 Let those who say to me "Aha!" and gloat over | me
turn back,*
because they | are ashamed.
4 Let all who seek you rejoice and be | glad in you;*
let those who love your salvation say forever, "Great | is the LORD!"
5 But as for me, I am | poor and needy;*
come to me speedi- | ly, O God.
6 You are my helper and | my deliverer;*
O LORD, | do not tarry.
But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters,
about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no
hope. [14] For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through
Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died. [15] For this we declare to
you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the
coming of the Lord, will by no means precede those who have died. [16] For the
Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel's call and with the
sound of God's trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will
rise first. [17] Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the
clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with
the Lord forever. [18] Therefore encourage one another with these words.
"Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. [2] Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. [3] When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; [4] but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. [5] As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. [6] But at midnight there was a shout, 'Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.'
[7] Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps.
[8] The foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are
going out.' [9] But the wise replied, 'No! there will not be enough for you and
for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.' [10] And
while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went
with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. [11] Later the other
bridesmaids came also, saying, 'Lord, lord, open to us.' [12] But he replied,
'Truly I tell you, I do not know you.' [13] Keep awake therefore, for you know
neither the day nor the hour.
Be silent before the Lord GOD! For the day of the LORD is at hand; the LORD has prepared a sacrifice, he has consecrated his guests. [12] At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and I will punish the people who rest complacently on their dregs, those who say in their hearts, "The LORD will not do good, nor will he do harm." [13] Their wealth shall be plundered, and their houses laid waste. Though they build houses, they shall not inhabit them; though they plant vineyards, they shall not drink wine from them.
[14] The great day of the LORD is near, near and hastening fast;
the sound of the day of the LORD is bitter, the warrior cries aloud there. [15]
That day will be a day of wrath, a day of distress and anguish, a day of ruin
and devastation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick
darkness, [16] a day of trumpet blast and battle cry against the fortified
cities and against the lofty battlements. [17] I will bring such distress upon
people that they shall walk like the blind; because they have sinned against the
LORD, their blood shall be poured out like dust, and their flesh like dung. [18]
Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the
Lord's wrath; in the fire of his passion the whole earth shall be consumed; for
a full, a terrible end he will make of all the inhabitants of the earth.
1 Lord, you have | been our refuge*
from one generation | to another.
2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or the land and the | earth were
born,*
from age to age | you are God.
3 You turn us back to the | dust and say,*
"Go back, O | child of earth."
4 For a thousand years in your sight are like yesterday when | it is past*
and like a watch | in the night.
5 You sweep us away | like a dream;*
we fade away suddenly | like the grass.
6 In the morning it is | green and flourishes;*
in the evening it is dried | up and withered.
7 For we consume away in | your displeasure;*
we are afraid because of your wrathful | indignation.
8 Our iniquities you have | set before you,*
and our secret sins in the light | of your countenance.
9 When you are angry, all our | days are gone;*
we bring our years to an end | like a sigh.
10 The span of our life is seventy years, perhaps in strength | even eighty;*
yet the sum of them is but labor and sorrow,
for they pass away quickly and | we are gone.
11 Who regards the power | of your wrath?*
Who rightly fears your | indignation?
12 So teach us to num- | ber our days,*
that we may apply our | hearts to wisdom.
Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anything written to you. [2] For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. [3] When they say, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction will come upon them, as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and there will be no escape! [4] But you, beloved, are not in darkness, for that day to surprise you like a thief; [5] for you are all children of light and children of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness.
[6] So then let us not fall asleep as others do, but let us keep
awake and be sober; [7] for those who sleep sleep at night, and those who are
drunk get drunk at night. [8] But since we belong to the day, let us be sober,
and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of
salvation. [9] For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation
through our Lord Jesus Christ, [10] who died for us, so that whether we are
awake or asleep we may live with him. [11] Therefore encourage one another and
build up each other, as indeed you are doing.
"For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; [15] to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. [16] The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. [17] In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. [18] But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.
[19] After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. [20] Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, 'Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.' [21] His master said to him, 'Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.' [22] And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, 'Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.' [23] His master said to him, 'Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.'
[24] Then the one who had received the one talent also came
forward, saying, 'Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you
did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; [25] so I was afraid,
and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.' [26]
But his master replied, 'You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I
reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? [27] Then you
ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have
received what was my own with interest. [28] So take the talent from him, and
give it to the one with the ten talents. [29] For to all those who have, more
will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing,
even what they have will be taken away. [30] As for this worthless slave, throw
him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
For thus says the Lord GOD: I myself will search for my sheep,
and will seek them out. [12] As shepherds seek out their flocks when they are
among their scattered sheep, so I will seek out my sheep. I will rescue them
from all the places to which they have been scattered on a day of clouds and
thick darkness. [13] I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from
the countries, and will bring them into their own land; and I will feed them on
the mountains of Israel, by the watercourses, and in all the inhabited parts of
the land. [14] I will feed them with good pasture, and the mountain heights of
Israel shall be their pasture; there they shall lie down in good grazing land,
and they shall feed on rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. [15] I myself
will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will make them lie down, says the Lord
GOD. [16] I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will
bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, but the fat and the strong
I will destroy. I will feed them with justice.
[20] Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD to them: I myself will judge between the
fat sheep and the lean sheep. [21] Because you pushed with flank and shoulder,
and butted at all the weak animals with your horns until you scattered them far
and wide, [22] I will save my flock, and they shall no longer be ravaged; and I
will judge between sheep and sheep. [23] I will set up over them one shepherd,
my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their
shepherd. [24] And I, the LORD, will be their God, and my servant David shall be
prince among them; I, the LORD, have spoken.
1 Come, let us sing | to the LORD;*
let us shout for joy to the rock of | our salvation.
2 Let us come before his presence | with thanksgiving*
and raise a loud shout to | him with psalms.
3 For the LORD | is a great God,*
and a great King | above all gods.
4 In his hand are the caverns | of the earth,*
and the heights of the hills | are his also.
5 The sea is his, | for he made it,*
and his hands have molded | the dry land.
6 Come, let us bow down and | bend the knee,*
and kneel before the | LORD our Maker.
7 For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep | of his
hand.*
I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason [16] I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. [17] I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, [18] so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, [19] and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power.
[20] God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, [21] far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. [22] And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, [23] which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. [32] All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, [33] and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. [34] Then the king will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; [35] for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, [36] I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.'
[37] Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? [38] And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? [39] And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?' [40] And the king will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.'
[41] Then he will say to those at his left hand, 'You that are
accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his
angels; [42] for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you
gave me nothing to drink, [43] I was a stranger and you did not welcome me,
naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit
me.' [44] Then they also will answer, 'Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry
or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of
you?' [45] Then he will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did not do
it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.' [46] And these will
go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."