# File Name: Holy-Bible---English---Open-English-Bible-US---Aionian-Edition.noia # File Size: 1603738 # File Date: 03/27/2024 23:19:23 # File Purpose: Supporting resource for the Aionian Bible project # File Location: https://resources.AionianBible.org # File Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution No Derivative Works 4.0, 2018-2024 # File Generator: ABCMS (alpha) # File Accuracy: Contact publisher with corrections to file format or content # Publisher Name: Nainoia Inc # Publisher Contact: https://www.AionianBible.org/Publisher # Publisher Mission: https://www.AionianBible.org/Preface # Publisher Website: https://NAINOIA-INC.signedon.net # Publisher Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/AionianBible # Bible Name: Open English Bible, US # Bible Name English: Open English Bible, US # Bible Language: English # Bible Language English: English # Bible Copyright Format: CC Attribution NoDerivatives 4.0, 2018-2024 # Bible Copyright Text: Public Domain # Bible Source: OpenEnglishBible.org # Bible Source Version: 2/21/2024 # Bible Source Link: https://ebible.org/details.php?id=engoebus # Bible Source Year: 2016 # Bible Format: Aionian Glossary annotations to 265 verses # INDEX BOOK CHAPTER VERSE TEXT # # BOOK 008 RUT Ruth Ruth 008 RUT 001 001 In the time when the judges ruled, there was once a famine in the land. A man from Bethlehem in Judah took his wife and two sons to live in the territory of Moab. 008 RUT 001 002 His name was Elimelech and his wife’s was Naomi, and his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. After they had been living in Moab for some time, 008 RUT 001 003 Elimelech died, and Naomi was left with her two sons, 008 RUT 001 004 who married Moabite women named Orpah and Ruth. After they had lived there about ten years, 008 RUT 001 005 Mahlon and Chilion both died, and Naomi was left alone, without husband or sons. 008 RUT 001 006 So she set out with her daughters-in-law to return from the land of Moab, for she had heard that the Lord had remembered his people and given them food. 008 RUT 001 007 As they were setting out together on the journey to Judah, 008 RUT 001 008 Naomi said to her daughters-in-law, “Go, return both of you to the home of your mother. May the Lord be kind to you as you have been kind to the dead and to me. 008 RUT 001 009 The Lord grant that each of you may find peace and happiness in the house of a new husband.” Then she kissed them; but they began to weep aloud 008 RUT 001 010 and said to her, “No, we will return with you to your people.” 008 RUT 001 011 But Naomi said, “Go back, my daughters. Why should you go with me? Can I still bear sons who might become your husbands? 008 RUT 001 012 Go back, my daughters, go your own way, because I am too old to have a husband. Even if I should say, ‘I have hope,’ even if I should have a husband tonight and should bear sons, 008 RUT 001 013 would you wait for them until they were grown up? Would you remain single for them? No, my daughters! My heart grieves for you, for the Lord has sent me adversity.” 008 RUT 001 014 Then they again wept aloud, and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth stayed with her. 008 RUT 001 015 “Look,” said Naomi, “your sister-in-law is going back to her own people and to her own gods. Go along with her!” 008 RUT 001 016 But Ruth answered, “Do not urge me to leave you or to go back. I will go where you go, and I will stay wherever you stay. Your people will be my people, and your God my God; 008 RUT 001 017 I will die where you die, and be buried there. May the Lord bring a curse upon me, if anything but death separate you and me.” 008 RUT 001 018 When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she ceased urging her to return. 008 RUT 001 019 So they journeyed on until they came to Bethlehem. Their arrival stirred the whole town, and the women said, “Can this be Naomi?” 008 RUT 001 020 “Do not call me Naomi,” she said to them, “call me Mara, for the Almighty has given me a bitter lot. 008 RUT 001 021 I had plenty when I left, but the Lord has brought me back empty handed. Why should you call me Naomi, now that the Lord has afflicted me, and the Almighty has brought misfortune on me?” 008 RUT 001 022 So Naomi and Ruth, her Moabite daughter-in-law, returned from Moab. They reached Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest. 008 RUT 002 001 Now Naomi was related through her husband to a very wealthy man of the family of Elimelech named Boaz. 008 RUT 002 002 Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me now go into the fields and gather leftover grain behind anyone who will allow me.” “Go, my daughter,” she replied. 008 RUT 002 003 So she went to glean in the field after the reapers. As it happened, she was in that part of the field which belonged to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech. 008 RUT 002 004 When Boaz came from Bethlehem and said to the reapers, “The Lord be with you,” they answered him, “May the Lord bless you.” 008 RUT 002 005 “Whose girl is this?” Boaz asked his servant who had charge of the reapers. 008 RUT 002 006 The servant who had charge of the reapers replied, “It is the Moabite girl who came back with Naomi from the territory of Moab. 008 RUT 002 007 She asked to be allowed to glean and gather sheaves after the reapers. So she came and has continued to work until now and she has not rested a moment in the field.” 008 RUT 002 008 Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Listen, my daughter. Do not go to glean in another field nor leave this place, but stay here with my girls. 008 RUT 002 009 Watch where the men are reaping and follow the gleaners. I have told the young men not to trouble you. When you are thirsty, go to the jars and drink of that which the young men have drawn.” 008 RUT 002 010 Then she bowed low and said to him, “Why are you so kind to me, to take interest in me when I am just a foreigner?” 008 RUT 002 011 Boaz replied, “I have heard what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, and how you left your father and mother and your native land to come to a people that you did not know before. 008 RUT 002 012 May the Lord repay you for what you have done, and may you be fully rewarded by the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.” 008 RUT 002 013 Then she said, “I trust I may please you, my lord, for you have comforted me and spoken kindly to your servant, although I am not really equal to one of your own servants.” 008 RUT 002 014 At mealtime Boaz said to Ruth, “Come here and eat some of the food and dip your piece of bread in the vinegar.” So she sat beside the reapers, and he passed her some roasted grain. She ate until she was satisfied and had some left. 008 RUT 002 015 When she rose to glean, Boaz gave this order to his young men: “Let her glean even among the sheaves and do not disturb her. 008 RUT 002 016 Also pull out some for her from the bundles and leave for her to glean, and do not find fault with her.” 008 RUT 002 017 So she gleaned in the field until evening, then beat out what she had gleaned. It was about a bushel of barley. 008 RUT 002 018 Then she took it up and went into the town and showed her mother-in-law what she had gleaned. She also brought out and gave her that which she had left from her meal after she had had enough. 008 RUT 002 019 “Where did you glean today, and where did you work?” asked her mother-in-law. “A blessing on him who took notice of you!” So she told her mother-in-law where she had worked. “The name of the man with whom I worked today,” she said, “is Boaz.” 008 RUT 002 020 Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May the blessing of the Lord rest on this man who has not ceased to show his loving-kindness to the living and to the dead. The man,” she added, “is a near relation of ours.” 008 RUT 002 021 “He told me,” Ruth said, “that I must keep near his young men until they have completed all his harvest.” 008 RUT 002 022 Naomi said to Ruth, “It is best, my daughter, that you should go out with his girls because you might not be as safe in another field.” 008 RUT 002 023 So she gleaned with the girls of Boaz until the end of the barley and wheat harvest; but she lived with her mother-in-law. 008 RUT 003 001 One day, Naomi said to Ruth, “My daughter, should I not seek to secure a home for you where you will be happy and prosperous? 008 RUT 003 002 Is not Boaz, with whose girls you have been, a relative of ours? 008 RUT 003 003 Tonight he is going to winnow barley on the threshing-floor. So bathe and anoint yourself and put on your best clothes and go down to the threshing-floor. But do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. 008 RUT 003 004 Then when he lies down, mark the place where he lies. Go in, uncover his feet, lie down, and then he will tell you what to do.” 008 RUT 003 005 “I will do as you say.” Ruth said to her. 008 RUT 003 006 So she went down to the threshing-floor and did just as her mother-in-law told her. 008 RUT 003 007 When Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was in a happy mood, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then Ruth came quietly and uncovered his feet and lay down. 008 RUT 003 008 At midnight the man was startled and turned over, and there was a woman lying at his feet! 008 RUT 003 009 “Who are you?” he said. “I am Ruth your servant,” she answered, “Spread your cloak over your servant, for you are a near relative.” 008 RUT 003 010 He said, “May you be blest by the Lord, my daughter. You have shown me greater favor now than at first, for you have not followed young men, whether poor or rich. 008 RUT 003 011 My daughter, have no fear. I will do for you all that you ask, for the whole town knows that you are a virtuous woman. 008 RUT 003 012 Now it is true that I am a near relative, but there is another man nearer than I. 008 RUT 003 013 Stay here tonight, and then in the morning, if he will perform for you the duty of a kinsman, well, let him do it. But if he will not perform for you the duty of a kinsman, then as surely as the Lord lives, I will do it for you. Lie down until morning.” 008 RUT 003 014 So she lay at his feet until morning, but rose before anyone could recognize her, for Boaz said, “No one must know that a woman came to the threshing-floor.” 008 RUT 003 015 He also said, “Bring the cloak which you have on and hold it.” So she held it while he poured into it six measures of barley and laid it on her shoulders. Then he went into the city. 008 RUT 003 016 When Ruth came to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked, “Is it you, my daughter?” Then Ruth told Naomi all that the man had done for her. 008 RUT 003 017 “He gave me these six measures of barley,” she said, “for he said I should not go to my mother-in-law empty-handed.” 008 RUT 003 018 “Wait quietly, my daughter.” Naomi said, “Until you know how the affair will turn out, for the man will not rest unless he settles it all today.” 008 RUT 004 001 Then Boaz went up to the gate and sat down. Just then the near kinsman of whom Boaz had spoken came along. Boaz said, “Hello, So-and-so (calling him by name), come here and sit down.” So he stopped and sat down. 008 RUT 004 002 Boaz also took ten of the town elders and said, “Sit down here.” So they sat down. 008 RUT 004 003 Then he said to the near relative, “Naomi, who has come back from the country of Moab, is offering for sale the piece of land which belonged to our relative Elimelech, 008 RUT 004 004 and I thought that I would lay the matter before you, suggesting that you buy it in the presence of these men who sit here and of the elders of my people. If you will buy it and so keep it in the possession of the family, do so; but if not; then tell me, so that I may know; for no one but you has the right to buy it, and I am next to you.” “I will buy it,” he said. 008 RUT 004 005 Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the field from Naomi, you must also marry Ruth the Moabite, the widow of the dead, in order to preserve the name of the dead in connection with his inheritance.” 008 RUT 004 006 “I cannot buy it for myself without spoiling my own inheritance,” the near relative said. “You take my right of buying it as a relative, because I cannot do so.” 008 RUT 004 007 Now this used to be the custom in Israel: to make valid anything relating to a matter of redemption or exchange, a man drew off his sandal and gave it to the other man; and this was the way contracts were attested in Israel. 008 RUT 004 008 So when the near relative said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself,” Boaz drew off the man’s sandal. 008 RUT 004 009 Then Boaz said to the elders and to all the people, “You are witnesses at this time that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s and all that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s from Naomi. 008 RUT 004 010 Moreover I have secured Ruth the Moabite, the wife of Mahlon, to be my wife, in order to perpetuate the name of the dead in connection with his inheritance, so that his name will not disappear from among his relatives and from the household where he lived. You are witnesses this day.” 008 RUT 004 011 Then all the people who were at the gate and the elders said, “We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman who is coming into your house like Rachel and Leah, who together built the house of Israel. May you do well in Ephrata, and become famous in Bethlehem. 008 RUT 004 012 From the children whom the Lord will give you by this young woman may your household become like the household of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah.” 008 RUT 004 013 So Boaz married Ruth, and she became his wife; and the Lord gave to her a son. 008 RUT 004 014 Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord who has not left you at this time without a near relative, and may his name be famous in Israel. 008 RUT 004 015 This child will restore your vigor and nourish you in your old age; for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is worth more to you than seven sons, has borne a son to Boaz!” 008 RUT 004 016 So Naomi took the child in her arms and cared for him as if he was her own. 008 RUT 004 017 The women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, “A son is born to Naomi!” They named him Obed. He became the father of Jesse, who was the father of David. 008 RUT 004 018 This is the genealogy of Perez: Perez was the father of Hezron, 008 RUT 004 019 Hezron of Ram, Ram of Amminadab, 008 RUT 004 020 Amminidab of Nashon, Nashon of Salmon, 008 RUT 004 021 Salmon of Boaz, Boaz of Obed, 008 RUT 004 022 Obed of Jesse, Jesse of David. # # BOOK 017 EST Esther Esther 017 EST 001 001 These events happened in the time of Ahasuerus, who ruled over a hundred and twenty-seven provinces from India to Ethiopia 017 EST 001 002 from his royal throne in the fortified palace of Susa. 017 EST 001 003 In the third year of his reign, the king gave a feast for all his officers and courtiers. The commanders of the military forces of Persia and Media, the nobles and provincial rulers were present 017 EST 001 004 while for one hundred and eighty days he showed them the glorious riches of his kingdom and the costliness of his magnificent regalia. 017 EST 001 005 When these days were ended, the king held a banquet for all the people who were present in the royal palace at Susa, high and low alike. It was a seven days’ feast in the enclosed garden of the royal palace. 017 EST 001 006 There were white and violet cotton curtains fastened to silver rings and pillars of marble with cords of fine purple wool and linen. The couches were of gold and silver placed upon a mosaic pavement of alabaster, white marble, mother-of-pearl, and dark stone. 017 EST 001 007 Drink was brought in vessels of gold – which were all different – and the king’s wine was provided with royal liberality. 017 EST 001 008 The drinking was unrestricted, for the king had directed all the officers of his household to let each man do as he pleased. 017 EST 001 009 Queen Vashti also gave a feast for the women in the King Ahasuerus’ royal palace. 017 EST 001 010 On the seventh day, when the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zathar and Carkas, his seven eunuch attendants 017 EST 001 011 to bring Queen Vashti before him with the royal diadem on her head, to show her beauty to the people and the officials, for she was very beautiful. 017 EST 001 012 But Queen Vashti refused to come as the king commanded through the eunuchs. Then the king became very angry and his fury burned within him. 017 EST 001 013 The king turned to the wise men who knew the precedents, for it was his custom to confer with those wise in law. 017 EST 001 014 Those next to him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena and Memucan, seven officials of Persia and Media who had access to the king and were highest in the kingdom. 017 EST 001 015 “Queen Vashti”, the king said, “has failed to obey my royal command – the command of King Ahasuerus conveyed through the eunuchs! What does the law say should be done to her?” 017 EST 001 016 Memucan replied before the king and the officials, “Queen Vashti has done wrong not only to the king but also to all the officials and to all the peoples in all of the king’s provinces. 017 EST 001 017 The refusal of the queen will be reported to all the women with the result that it will make them despise their husbands. They will say, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought in before him, but she did not come!’ 017 EST 001 018 This very day the ladies of Persia and Media who have heard of the refusal of the queen will tell it to all the king’s officials, and there will be contempt and strife! 017 EST 001 019 If it seems best to the king, let him send out a royal edict. Let it be written among the laws of Persia and Media, never to be repealed, that Vashti may never again come before King Ahasuerus. Let the king give her place as queen to another who is more worthy than she. 017 EST 001 020 When the king’s decree which he makes is heard throughout his kingdom – great as it is – the wives of all classes will give honor to their husbands.” 017 EST 001 021 The proposal pleased the king and the officials, and the king did as Memucan advised. 017 EST 001 022 He sent letters to all the provinces, to every province in its own system of writing and to every people in their language, that every man should be master in his own house! 017 EST 002 001 Some time later, when the wrath of King Ahasuerus had subsided, he remembered what Vashti had done and what had been decreed against her. 017 EST 002 002 Then the king’s servants who waited upon him said, “Let beautiful young virgins be sought for the king, 017 EST 002 003 and let the king appoint commissioners to all the provinces of his kingdom to gather them all to Susa the royal residence. Let them be brought into the women’s quarters under the custody of Hegai, the king’s eunuch, who has charge of the women. Then give them what is needed to make them beautiful, 017 EST 002 004 and let the girl who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti.” The proposal pleased the king so he put it into action. 017 EST 002 005 In Susa the royal residence lived a Jew named Mordecai. He was son of Jair, son of Shimei, son of Kish, a Benjamite. 017 EST 002 006 (Kish had been carried away from Jerusalem with the exiles who were deported with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon took captive.) 017 EST 002 007 Mordecai had adopted Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle’s daughter, since she had neither father nor mother. The girl was shapely and beautiful; and after her father and mother died, Mordecai raised her as if she was his own daughter. 017 EST 002 008 When the king’s command and decree were known, many girls were gathered together to Susa the capital under the custody of Hegai. Esther was also taken into the king’s palace and placed under the custody of Hegai, who had charge of the women. 017 EST 002 009 The girl pleased him and gained his favor, so that he quickly gave her the cosmetics she needed to enhance her beauty and her allowance of food and the seven maids selected from the king’s household. He also transferred her and her maids to the best place in the harem. 017 EST 002 010 Esther had not revealed her people nor her family background because Mordecai had ordered her not to. 017 EST 002 011 Every day Mordecai would to walk in front of the courtyard of the harem and ask after Esther’s health and what was happening to her. 017 EST 002 012 The girls were prepared for meeting King Ahasuerus for twelve months: six months being treated with oil of myrrh and six months with perfumes and cosmetics. After the twelve months, 017 EST 002 013 each girl went in to the king. She was allowed to take with her whatever she wished from the women’s quarters, 017 EST 002 014 and would enter the palace in the evening and return the next morning to another part of the harem under the care of the king’s eunuch Shaashgaz who was in charge of concubines. She would not go to the king again unless he desired her and summoned her by name. 017 EST 002 015 When it was the turn of Esther (the girl adopted by Mordecai, daughter of his uncle Abihail) to go in to the king, she only took with her those things that Hegai, the king’s eunuch in charge of the women, had advised her to take. Esther was liked by all who saw her. 017 EST 002 016 Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus in the royal palace in the tenth month, the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign. 017 EST 002 017 And the king loved her more than all the other women, and she became his favorite and won his affection. He placed the royal diadem on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti. 017 EST 002 018 Then the king gave a great feast to all his officials and courtiers in honor of Esther, and he remitted the taxes of the provinces and distributed gifts with royal liberality. 017 EST 002 019 All the time the virgins were assembled again, Mordecai was sitting as an offical at the king’s gate. 017 EST 002 020 Esther had not revealed her people or family background because she still obeyed him as she had when he was bringing her up. 017 EST 002 021 In those days while Mordecai was sitting in the king’s gate, two of the royal court attendants, Bigthan and Teresh, who guarded the entrance of the palace, became enraged and attempted to kill King Ahasuerus. 017 EST 002 022 But Mordecai learned of the conspiracy and disclosed it to Queen Esther, and she told the king on Mordecai’s behalf. 017 EST 002 023 When the affair was investigated and the facts discovered, the conspirators were both hanged on the gallows. The incident was recorded in the presence of the king in the daily record of events. 017 EST 003 001 After these events King Ahasuerus promoted Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him to a place above all the officials who were with him. 017 EST 003 002 All the king’s courtiers who were in the king’s gate used to bow down before Haman, for so the king had commanded, but Mordecai did not bow down nor prostrate himself. 017 EST 003 003 Then the king’s courtiers, who were in the king’s gate, said to Mordecai, “Why do you disobey the king’s command?” 017 EST 003 004 When they had spoken to him day after day without his listening to them, they informed Haman, to see whether Mordecai’s acts would be tolerated, for he had told them that he was a Jew. 017 EST 003 005 When Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow down nor prostrate himself before him, he was furious. 017 EST 003 006 But it seemed to him beneath his dignity to lay hands on Mordecai alone, for they had told him who Mordecai’s people were. Instead Haman sought to destroy all the people of Mordecai, all the Jews throughout the kingdom of Ahasuerus. 017 EST 003 007 In the first month (the month of Nisan) in the twelfth year of the reign of King Ahasuerus, Haman had ‘pur’ (which means ‘lot’) cast before him to determine the best day and best month for his actions. The lot fell on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month – the month of Adar. 017 EST 003 008 So Haman said to King Ahasuerus, “There is a certain people scattered among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom, whose laws differ from those of every other and who do not keep the king’s laws. Therefore it is not right for the king to tolerate them. 017 EST 003 009 If it seems best to the king, let an order be given to destroy them, and I will pay ten thousand silver coins into the royal treasury.” 017 EST 003 010 So the king took off his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews. 017 EST 003 011 “The money is yours,” the king said to Haman, “and the people also to do with them as you wish.” 017 EST 003 012 And so, on the thirteenth day of the first month, the king’s secretaries were summoned and as Haman instructed an edict was issued to the king’s satraps and provincial governors and the rulers of each of the peoples in their own script and their own language. The edict was written in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed with his ring. 017 EST 003 013 Dispatches were sent by couriers to all the king’s provinces, saying: Destroy, kill, put an end to all the Jews, young and old, little children and women, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, and plunder their possessions. 017 EST 003 014 A copy of the edict was to be published as a decree in every province – publicly displayed so that everyone might be ready for that day. 017 EST 003 015 By command of the king the couriers raced off, and the edict was published in Susa itself. Then the king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was in turmoil. 017 EST 004 001 When Mordecai learned all that had been done, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and strewed ashes on his head, and went out into the city and raised a loud and bitter cry of lamentation. 017 EST 004 002 He went as far as the king’s gate, but no one could enter the gate clothed with sackcloth. 017 EST 004 003 In every province, wherever the king’s command and decree went, there was great mourning, fasting, weeping, and wailing among the Jews. Many of them sat in sackcloth and ashes. 017 EST 004 004 When Esther’s maids and attendants told her about Mordecai’s behavior, she was greatly troubled. She sent garments for Mordecai to put on, so that he could take off his sack-cloth, but he would not accept them. 017 EST 004 005 So Esther called Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs whom he had appointed to attend her, and ordered him to go to Mordecai to learn what it all meant and the reason for it. 017 EST 004 006 So Hathach went out to Mordecai, to the city square in front of the king’s gate. 017 EST 004 007 Mordecai told him all that had happened to him and the exact amount of money that Haman had promised to pay into the king’s treasury for the destruction of the Jews. 017 EST 004 008 Also he gave him a copy of the decree to destroy them, that had been published in Susa, to show to Esther for her information. He also told her to go to the king and implore his mercy and to plead with him in behalf of her people. 017 EST 004 009 When Hathach came and told Esther what Mordecai had said, 017 EST 004 010 she instructed Hathach to go and say to Mordecai, 017 EST 004 011 “All the king’s courtiers and the people of the king’s provinces know that for every man or woman who goes to the king into the inner court without being called there is one penalty, death, unless the king holds out the golden sceptre signifying that they may live. It has been thirty days since I have been called to go in to the king.” 017 EST 004 012 When Mordecai was told what Esther had said, 017 EST 004 013 he sent back this reply to Esther, “Don’t imagine that you alone of all the Jews will escape because you belong to the king’s household. 017 EST 004 014 If you persist in remaining silent at this time, relief and deliverance will come to the Jews from another quarter, but you and your family will perish. Who knows? Maybe you have been raised to the throne for a time like this!” 017 EST 004 015 Then Esther sent this message to Mordecai: 017 EST 004 016 “Go, gather all the Jews in Susa and fast for me. Don’t eat nor drink anything for three days and nights. My maids and I will fast as well. Then I will go in to the king, although it is contrary to the law, and if I die, I die.” 017 EST 004 017 Mordecai did everything Esther had directed. 017 EST 005 001 On the third day, Esther put on her regalia and stood in the inner court of the royal palace opposite the king’s house. The king was sitting on his throne in the palace, opposite the entrance. 017 EST 005 002 When he saw Esther the queen standing in the court, she won his favor, and he held out to her the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the top of the sceptre. 017 EST 005 003 Then the king said to her, “What is it, Queen Esther? Whatever your request is, it will be granted, even if it is the half of the kingdom.” 017 EST 005 004 “If it seems best to the king,” Esther said, “let the king and Haman come today to the banquet that I have prepared for him.” 017 EST 005 005 Then the king ordered, “Bring Haman quickly, so that Esther’s wish may be gratified.” So the king and Haman went to the banquet that Esther had prepared. 017 EST 005 006 While they were drinking wine, the king said to Esther, “Whatever your petition is, it will be granted. Your request, it will be done – even if it takes half of my kingdom.” 017 EST 005 007 Esther answered, 017 EST 005 008 “If I have won the king’s favor and if it seems best to the king to grant my petition and to accede to my request, my petition and my request are that the king and Haman come to the banquet which I will prepare for them. Tomorrow I will answer the king’s question as he wishes.” 017 EST 005 009 Haman went out that day joyful and elated, but when he saw Mordecai in the king’s gate and noticed that he neither stood up nor moved for him, he was furiously angry with Mordecai. 017 EST 005 010 Nevertheless Haman restrained himself and went home. He called together his friends and Zeresh his wife 017 EST 005 011 and recounted to them the greatness of his wealth, how many children he had, and all the ways in which the king had honored him, and how he had promoted him above the officials and the royal courtiers. 017 EST 005 012 “What is more,” Haman said, “Queen Esther brought no one in with the king to the banquet which she had prepared except me, and tomorrow also I am invited by her along with the king. 017 EST 005 013 Yet all this does not satisfy me as long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.” 017 EST 005 014 Then Zeresh his wife and all his friends said to him, “Let a gallows seventy-five feet high be erected, and in the morning speak to the king and let Mordecai be hanged on it. Then go merrily with the king to the banquet.” The advice pleased Haman, and so he had the gallows erected. 017 EST 006 001 On that night the king was unable to sleep, so he gave orders to bring the books that recorded memorable deeds, and they were read before the king. 017 EST 006 002 It was found recorded how Mordecai had furnished information regarding Bigthan and Teresh, two of the king’s attendants who guarded the entrance of the palace, who had attempted to kill King Ahasuerus. 017 EST 006 003 “What honor and dignity have been conferred on Mordecai for this?” the king asked. When the king’s pages who waited on him replied “Nothing has been done for him,” 017 EST 006 004 the king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the king’s house to speak to the king about hanging Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him. 017 EST 006 005 So the king’s pages said to him, “Haman is standing there, in the court.” The king said, “Let him enter.” 017 EST 006 006 So Haman entered, and the king said to him, “What should be done for the man whom the king wishes to honor?” Haman said to himself, “Whom besides me could the king wish to honor?” 017 EST 006 007 So he said to the king, “For the man whom the king wishes to honor 017 EST 006 008 let a royal garment be brought, which the king has worn, and the horse on which the king has ridden and on whose head a royal diadem has been placed. 017 EST 006 009 Then let the garment and the horse be placed in charge of one of the king’s noble officials. Let him clothe the man whom the king wishes to honor and let him lead that man on the horse through the city square, proclaiming before him, ‘This is what is done for the man whom the king wishes to honor.’” 017 EST 006 010 Then the king said to Haman, “Make haste and take the garment and the horse, as you have said, and do this to Mordecai the Jew, who sits in the king’s gate. Omit nothing of all you have said.” 017 EST 006 011 So Haman took the garment and the horse and clothed Mordecai, and made him ride through the city square and proclaimed before him, “This is what is done for the man whom the king wishes to honor.” 017 EST 006 012 Mordecai returned to the king’s gate, but Haman hurried to his house, mourning, with his head covered. 017 EST 006 013 Haman recounted to Zeresh his wife and to all his friends everything that had happened to him. Then his wise men and Zeresh his wife said to him, “If Mordecai before whom you have already been humiliated is of the Jewish people, you can do nothing against him but will surely fall before him.” 017 EST 006 014 While they were still talking with him, the king’s attendants came and quickly took Haman to the banquet that Esther had prepared. 017 EST 007 001 So the king and Haman went to drink with Queen Esther. 017 EST 007 002 As they were drinking wine on that second day, the king again said to Esther, “Whatever your petition is, Queen Esther, it will be granted to you. Whatever you request it will be done, even if it takes half of the kingdom.” 017 EST 007 003 Then Queen Esther answered, “Your Majesty, if I have won your favor, and if it seems best to Your Majesty, let my life be given me as my petition, and my people as my request, 017 EST 007 004 for I and my people have been sold to be destroyed, killed, and completely annihilated! If we had been merely sold into slavery I would not have disturbed your peace, because such a fate would not have affected the interests of the king.” 017 EST 007 005 Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther, “Who is he and where is he whose heart has impelled him to do this?” 017 EST 007 006 “A foe, an enemy: this wicked Haman.” Esther answered. Haman shrank in terror before the king and the queen. 017 EST 007 007 In his wrath the king rose from the place where he was drinking wine and went into the palace garden. Haman stayed to beg Queen Esther for his life, for he saw that the king was fully determined to bring calamity upon him. 017 EST 007 008 As the king returned from the palace garden to the banquet hall, Haman had flung himself on Esther’s couch. The king cried, “Is he going to rape my queen while I am present in my own house?” As the king spoke these words, the attendants covered Haman’s face 017 EST 007 009 and Harbonah, one of those who waited on the king, said, “There are the gallows, seventy-five feet high, which Hainan erected for Mordecai, who spoke a good word in behalf of the king, standing in the house of Haman!” The king said “Hang him on them.” 017 EST 007 010 So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the wrath of the king was pacified. 017 EST 008 001 At that time King Ahasuerus gave the property of Haman the Jews’ enemy to Queen Esther. Mordecai was made one of the king’s personal advisers, for Esther had disclosed his relationship to her. 017 EST 008 002 The king also drew off his signet ring, which he had taken from Haman. He gave it to Mordecai, and Esther placed Mordecai in charge of Haman’s property. 017 EST 008 003 Then Esther sought another audience with the king and fell at his feet and with tears begged him to avert the evil planned by Haman the Agagite and to frustrate his designs against the Jews. 017 EST 008 004 The king held out to her the golden sceptre, and she arose and stood before him. 017 EST 008 005 “If it seems best to the king,” she said, “and if I have won his favor and he thinks it right, and if I please him, let written orders be given to revoke the dispatches devised by Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote ordering the destruction of the Jews who are in all the king’s provinces. 017 EST 008 006 For how can I bear to look upon the evil that will come to my people? How can I bear to see their destruction?” 017 EST 008 007 Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, “See, I have given Esther the property of Haman, and they have hanged him on the gallows, because he laid hands upon the Jews. 017 EST 008 008 Now you write on behalf of the Jews, as seems best to you, in the king’s name and seal it with the king’s signet ring. For a document that is written in the king’s name and sealed with the king’s signet ring cannot be revoked.” 017 EST 008 009 On the twenty-third day of the third month (that is the month of Sivan), the king’s secretaries were summoned and as Mordecai instructed an edict was issued to the Jews, to the satraps and provincial governors and the rulers of each of the one hundred twenty-seven provinces from India to Ethiopia in their own script and their own language, and to the Jews in their own script and language. 017 EST 008 010 Mordecai wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus. He sealed it with the king’s signet ring. Dispatches were sent by mounted couriers who rode the swift, noble steeds, bred of the royal studs. 017 EST 008 011 In this way the king permitted the Jews who were in every city to gather together and make a stand for their life, to destroy, to kill, and annihilate all the armed forces of any people or province that might be hostile to them, including their children and women, and to take their goods as plunder 017 EST 008 012 throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus on that thirteenth day of the twelfth month (which is called Adar). 017 EST 008 013 A copy of the edict was to be published as a decree in every province – publicly displayed so that the Jews might be ready for that day and avenge themselves. 017 EST 008 014 So the couriers who rode the swift, noble steeds went out, hastened and impelled by the king’s commands! Meantime the decree had been given out in the royal palace at Susa; 017 EST 008 015 and Mordecai had gone out from the presence of the king in royal garments of violet and white and with a great crown of gold and with a robe of fine linen and purple. The people of Susa shouted and were glad. 017 EST 008 016 To the Jews there came light and gladness and joy and honor. 017 EST 008 017 And in every province and city, wherever the king’s command and decree came, there was gladness and joy among the Jews and a holiday. Many of the peoples of the earth professed to be Jews, for fear of the Jews took possession of them. 017 EST 009 001 Now in the twelfth month (that is the month of Adar), on the thirteenth day, when the king’s command and his decree was about to put into execution, on the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to gain the mastery over them, then the tables were turned so that the Jews had the mastery over those who hated them. 017 EST 009 002 The Jews gathered together in the cities throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, to attack anyone who tried to harm them. No one could withstand them, for the fear of them had fallen on all the peoples. 017 EST 009 003 All the princes of the provinces and the satraps and the governors and they who attended to the king’s business, helped the Jews, because the fear of Mordecai had fallen on them. 017 EST 009 004 For Mordecai was great in the king’s palace, and as his power increased his fame spread throughout all the provinces. 017 EST 009 005 The Jews put all their enemies to the sword and, with slaughter and destruction, they did what they wanted to those who hated them. 017 EST 009 006 In Susa the capital the Jews killed five hundred people. 017 EST 009 007 They killed Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha, 017 EST 009 008 Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha, 017 EST 009 009 Parmashta, Arisia, Aridai, and Vaizatha, 017 EST 009 010 the ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Jews’ enemy; but they did not take any plunder. 017 EST 009 011 On that day the number of those who were slain in Susa was brought before the king, 017 EST 009 012 and the king said to Queen Esther, “The Jews have slain five hundred people in Susa, and the ten sons of Haman. What then have they done in the rest of the king’s provinces! Now what is your petition? It will be granted to you. What is your request? It will be done.” 017 EST 009 013 “If it please the king,” Esther said, “let it be granted to the Jews who are in Susa to do tomorrow also according to this day’s decree. Let the bodies of Haman’s ten sons be hanged on the gallows.” 017 EST 009 014 And the king commanded it to be done. A decree was given out in Susa and they hung the bodies of Haman’s ten sons on the gallows. 017 EST 009 015 The Jews who were in Susa gathered themselves together again on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar. They killed three hundred people in Susa. But they did not take any plunder. 017 EST 009 016 And the other Jews who were in the king’s provinces gathered themselves together and fought for their lives and overcame their enemies. They killed seventy-five thousand who hated them. But they did not take any plunder. 017 EST 009 017 This was on the thirteenth day of Adar. On the fourteenth day of the month Adar the Jews rested and made it a day of feasting and rejoicing. 017 EST 009 018 (But the Jews in Susa gathered on both the thirteenth and fourteenth day – and rested on the fifteenth day of the same month and made it a day of feasting and rejoicing.) 017 EST 009 019 This is why the Jews who live in the country villages keep the fourteenth day of the month of Adar as a day of rejoicing and feasting and a holiday, and a day in which they send gifts of food to each other. 017 EST 009 020 Mordecai had these things recorded. He sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of the King Ahasuerus, both near and far. 017 EST 009 021 He told them to keep the fourteenth day of the month of Adar and also the fifteenth day every year, 017 EST 009 022 as the days on which the Jews had rest from their enemies, and the month which was turned from sorrow to gladness and from mourning into a feast day. They should make them days of feasting and gladness and of sending gifts of food to each other and of gifts to the poor. 017 EST 009 023 So what the Jews had begun to do they adopted as a custom, just as Mordecai had written to them. 017 EST 009 024 For Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted to destroy them. He had cast ‘Pur’, that is the lot, intending to consume them and to destroy them. 017 EST 009 025 But when the matter came before the king, he gave written orders that his wicked plot, which he had planned against the Jews, should come upon his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows. 017 EST 009 026 This is why these days are called Purim, after the word Pur. Therefore because of all the words of this letter, as well as all they had seen, and all they had experienced, 017 EST 009 027 the Jews established and made it a custom for them, for their descendants, and for all who should join them, so that it might not be repealed, that they should continue to observe these two days as feasts each year, 017 EST 009 028 and that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city. And these days of Purim should not pass away from among the Jews nor the remembrance of them disappear among their descendants. 017 EST 009 029 Queen Esther, the daughter of Abihail, gave Mordecai the Jew all authority in writing to confirm this second letter of Purim. 017 EST 009 030 He sent letters to all the Jews, to the hundred and twenty-seven provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, wishing them peace and security, 017 EST 009 031 to confirm these days of Purim in their proper times, to be observed as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther had directed and as the Jews had proscribed for themselves and their descendants, in the matter of the fastings and their cry of lamentation. 017 EST 009 032 And the commands of Esther confirmed these matters of Purim; and it was written in the records. 017 EST 010 001 King Ahasuerus imposed a tribute on the land and the coasts. 017 EST 010 002 All the acts of his power and of his might, and the full account of the greatness of Mordecai to which the king advanced him, are they not recorded in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia? 017 EST 010 003 For Mordecai the Jew was next in rank to King Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and loved by them all. He sought the good of his people and promoted the welfare of their descendants. # # BOOK 019 PSA Psalms Psalms 019 PSA 001 001 Happy are those who do not follow the counsel of the wicked, not halting in ways frequented by sinners, nor taking a seat in a gathering of scoffers. 019 PSA 001 002 But the law of the Lord is their joy, they study it day and night. 019 PSA 001 003 They are like trees planted by runlets of water, yielding fruit in due season, leaves never fading. In all that they do, they prosper. 019 PSA 001 004 Not so fare the wicked, not so; like chaff are they, blown by the wind. 019 PSA 001 005 So the wicked will not stand firm in the judgment, nor sinners appear, when the righteous are gathered. 019 PSA 001 006 For the way of the righteous is dear to the Lord, but the way of the wicked will end in ruin. 019 PSA 002 001 Why this turmoil of nations, this futile plotting of peoples, 019 PSA 002 002 with kings of the earth conspiring, and rulers consulting together, against the Lord and against his anointed, 019 PSA 002 003 to snap their bonds and fling their cords away? 019 PSA 002 004 He whose throne is in heaven laughs, the Lord mocks them. 019 PSA 002 005 Then he speaks to them in his wrath, and in his hot anger confounds them. 019 PSA 002 006 “This my king is installed by me, on Zion my holy mountain.” 019 PSA 002 007 I will tell of the Lord’s decree. He said to me: “You are my son, this day I became your father. 019 PSA 002 008 Only ask, and I make you the heir of the nations, and lord of the world to its utmost bounds. 019 PSA 002 009 You will break them with sceptre of iron, shatter them like pottery.” 019 PSA 002 010 So now, you kings, be wise: be warned, you rulers of earth. 019 PSA 002 011 Serve the Lord in awe, kiss his feet with trembling, 019 PSA 002 012 lest, angry, he hurl you to ruin; for soon will his fury blaze. Happy all who take refuge in him. 019 PSA 003 001 A psalm of David, when he fled from his son Absalom. How many, Lord, are my foes! Those who rise up against me are many. 019 PSA 003 002 Many are those who say of me, “There is no help for him in his God.” (Selah) 019 PSA 003 003 But you, Lord, are shield about me, my glory, who lifts up my head. 019 PSA 003 004 When loudly I call to the Lord, from his holy hill he gives answer. (Selah) 019 PSA 003 005 I laid down and slept: now I wake, for the Lord sustains me. 019 PSA 003 006 I fear not the myriads of people who beset me on every side. 019 PSA 003 007 Arise, Lord: save me, my God, who strikes all my foes on the cheek, and shatters the teeth of the wicked. 019 PSA 003 008 Victory belongs to the Lord: let your blessing descend on your people. (Selah) 019 PSA 004 001 For the leader, with stringed instruments. A psalm of David. Answer my cry, God, my defender. Often from straits you have brought me to spacious places. So now show me your favor and hear my prayer. 019 PSA 004 002 How long, you proud people, will my honor be stained by the slanders you love, and the lies that you follow? (Selah) 019 PSA 004 003 See! The Lord has shown me his wonderful kindness: the Lord hears, when I call to him. 019 PSA 004 004 Sin not in your anger: but speak in your heart on your bed, and be still. (Selah) 019 PSA 004 005 Offer true sacrifice, trust in the Lord. 019 PSA 004 006 Many are longing for fortune to smile. Lift upon us the light of your face. 019 PSA 004 007 You have put in my heart, Lord, a deeper joy than was theirs who had corn and wine in abundance. 019 PSA 004 008 So in peace I will lie down and sleep; for you, Lord, keep me safe. 019 PSA 005 001 For the leader: A psalm of David, to be accompanied by the flute. Hear my words, Lord: give heed to my whisper. 019 PSA 005 002 Attend to my loud cry for help, my king and my God. 019 PSA 005 003 When I pray to you, Lord, in the morning, hear my voice. I make ready for you in the morning, and look for a sign. 019 PSA 005 004 For you are no God who takes pleasure in wickedness: no one of evil can be your guest. 019 PSA 005 005 No braggarts can stand in your presence, you hate all workers of wrong. 019 PSA 005 006 You destroy all speakers of lies, people of blood and deceit you abhor. 019 PSA 005 007 But I, through your kindness abundant, may enter your house, and towards the shrine of your temple may reverently bow. 019 PSA 005 008 Lead me, Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies. Make your way level before me. 019 PSA 005 009 For their mouth is a stranger to truth, their heart is a pit of destruction. Their throat is a wide open grave, their tongue the smooth tongue of the hypocrite. 019 PSA 005 010 Condemn them, God; let their schemes bring them down to the ground. For their numberless crimes thrust them down for playing the rebel against you. 019 PSA 005 011 But let all who take refuge in you ring out their gladness forever. Protect those who love your name, so they may exult in you. 019 PSA 005 012 For you give your blessing, Lord, to the godly, and the shield of your favor protects them. 019 PSA 006 001 For the leader; with instrumental music on the sheminith. A psalm of David. Rebuke me not, Lord, in your anger, punish me not in your wrath. 019 PSA 006 002 Lord, be gracious to me in my weakness. Heal me Lord, for racked is my body; 019 PSA 006 003 all of me utterly racked. Why do you wait so long, Lord? 019 PSA 006 004 Turn, Lord, rescue me; save me, because of your love. 019 PSA 006 005 For in death none can call you to mind; in Sheol who can praise you? (Sheol h7585) 019 PSA 006 006 I am so weary of sighing. All the night I make my bed swim, and wet my couch with my tears. 019 PSA 006 007 My eyes swollen with grief; from weeping caused by my foes. 019 PSA 006 008 Begone, workers of wrong, for the Lord has heard my loud weeping, 019 PSA 006 009 the Lord has heard my entreaty, the Lord accepts my prayer. 019 PSA 006 010 My foes will be stricken with terror, brought to shame and dismay in a moment. 019 PSA 007 001 A Shiggaion of David, which he sang to the Lord about Cush, the Benjamite. Lord my God, I take refuge in you. Deliver me, save me from all who pursue me; 019 PSA 007 002 or like lions they will tear me to pieces, and rend me, past hope of rescue. 019 PSA 007 003 Lord, my God, if my life has been such if my hands have been stained with guilt, 019 PSA 007 004 if friends I paid back with evil, if I plundered my foes without cause, 019 PSA 007 005 may the enemy chase and find me, trample my life to the ground, my honor leave in the dirt! (Selah) 019 PSA 007 006 Arise, Lord, in anger, against my foes rise in fury. Awake for my help: let justice be done. 019 PSA 007 007 Gather the nations about you, and sit on your lofty throne, 019 PSA 007 008 as the Lord, the judge of the peoples. Judge me, Lord, in my innocence and according to my integrity. 019 PSA 007 009 Put an end to the wrong of the wicked, protect the righteous. Searcher of hearts and minds, righteous God. 019 PSA 007 010 God is my shield: he saves the upright in heart. 019 PSA 007 011 God is a just judge, constant in righteous anger. 019 PSA 007 012 He will sharpen his sword without fail, his bow is bent and ready, 019 PSA 007 013 his deadly weapons are ready, his arrows he makes of flame. 019 PSA 007 014 The enemy who conceives evil; pregnant with mischief, giving birth to lies, 019 PSA 007 015 a pit they have made and dug; but into the hole that they made they will fall. 019 PSA 007 016 On their own heads their mischief comes back; on their own skulls their violence comes down. 019 PSA 007 017 I will give thanks to the Lord for his justice, and sing to the name of the Lord Most High. 019 PSA 008 001 For the leader: A psalm of David, to be accompanied by a stringed instrument. Lord our God! How glorious in all the earth is your name! Your praise reaches as high as the heavens, 019 PSA 008 002 from the mouths of children and infants. You have built a fortress against your enemies, to silence the foe and the rebel. 019 PSA 008 003 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set there, 019 PSA 008 004 what are mortals, that you think of them, humans, that you visit them? 019 PSA 008 005 Yet you made them little less than divine, crowned them with glory and majesty, 019 PSA 008 006 made them lord of the works of your hands, put all things under their feet – 019 PSA 008 007 sheep and oxen, all of them; and the wild beasts also: 019 PSA 008 008 birds of the air, and fish of the sea, and all that crosses the paths of the ocean. 019 PSA 008 009 Lord our God! How glorious in all the earth is your name! 019 PSA 009 001 For the leader;’almuth labben. A psalm of David. With all my heart I will praise the Lord, all your wonders I will rehearse. 019 PSA 009 002 I will rejoice and exult in you, singing praise to your name, Most High; 019 PSA 009 003 because backward my foes were turned, they stumbled and perished before you. 019 PSA 009 004 My right and my claim you have upheld, you did sit on the throne as a fair judge, 019 PSA 009 005 rebuking the nations, destroying the wicked, and blotting their name out forever and ever. 019 PSA 009 006 The foe is vanished, ruined forever, their cities destroyed, their memory perished. 019 PSA 009 007 See! The Lord is seated forever on the throne he established for judgment, 019 PSA 009 008 ruling the world with justice, and judging the nations with equity. 019 PSA 009 009 So the Lord proves a haven to the oppressed, a haven in times of trouble. 019 PSA 009 010 Well may they trust you who know your name, for those who seek you, you never abandon. 019 PSA 009 011 Sing praise to the Lord, whose home is in Zion, declare his deeds among the nations. 019 PSA 009 012 As avenger of blood, he keeps them in mind, he does not forget the cry of the wretched. 019 PSA 009 013 Show me favor, Lord, see how my foes afflict me, lift me up from the gates of death; 019 PSA 009 014 so I may, in your help exulting, tell forth your praise at the gates of Zion. 019 PSA 009 015 The nations are sunk in the pit which they made, in the net that they hid, their own foot is entangled. 019 PSA 009 016 The Lord is revealed in the judgment he wrought, the wicked are snared in their own handiwork. (Selah) 019 PSA 009 017 Let the wicked depart to Sheol, all the nations that live forgetful of God. (Sheol h7585) 019 PSA 009 018 For the needy will not be always forgotten, nor the hope of the helpless be lost forever. 019 PSA 009 019 Arise, Lord; don’t let them triumph: before your face let the nations be judged. 019 PSA 009 020 Strike them with fear, Lord: show the nations how frail they are. (Selah) 019 PSA 010 001 Why do you stand, Lord, so far away, hiding yourself in times of trouble? 019 PSA 010 002 The wicked, in their pride, are pursuing the helpless: let them be caught in the schemes they have plotted. 019 PSA 010 003 For the wicked boasts of their wanton greed; the robber despises the Lord, and curses him, 019 PSA 010 004 in wicked pride, thinks: God doesn’t care, God doesn’t call to account. 019 PSA 010 005 Never a season that they do not prosper; your judgments are far above out of their sight: they scoff at their foes. 019 PSA 010 006 Each says in their heart, “I will never be shaken; I will live for all time untouched by misfortune.” 019 PSA 010 007 Their mouths are full of deceit and oppression: under their tongues lurks mischief and wrong. 019 PSA 010 008 Lying in secret in some village ambush, and stealthily watching, they murder the innocent. 019 PSA 010 009 Like a lion that lurks in a secret lair they lurk intending to catch the defenceless; to seize them, to drag them away in their net. 019 PSA 010 010 Their victims are crushed, sink down to the ground. Under their claws the hapless fall. 019 PSA 010 011 The wicked say in their hearts that God has forgotten, has hidden his face, will see nothing. 019 PSA 010 012 Arise, Lord, lift up your hand, do not forget the cry of the wretched. 019 PSA 010 013 Why do the wicked treat God with contempt, and say in their hearts, “God doesn’t care”? 019 PSA 010 014 You have seen the trouble and sorrow; you mark it all, and will take it in hand. The hapless can count on you, helper of orphans. 019 PSA 010 015 Break the arm of the wicked and evil: search out their sin, till no more be found. 019 PSA 010 016 The Lord is king forever and ever: the nations will vanish from his land. 019 PSA 010 017 Lord, you have heard the desire of the humble, inclining your ear, strengthening their hearts, 019 PSA 010 018 rights you have won for the crushed and the orphan, so no one on earth may strike terror again. 019 PSA 011 001 For the leader. Of David. In the Lord I take refuge. How can you tell me to flee like a bird to the mountains? 019 PSA 011 002 “See! The wicked are bending the bow, their arrow is set on the string, to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart. 019 PSA 011 003 In this tearing down of foundations what good can a good person do?” 019 PSA 011 004 The Lord in his holy temple, the Lord in heaven, enthroned. His eyes watch the world, they see everyone. 019 PSA 011 005 The Lord examines the righteous and wicked, and the lover of violence he hates. 019 PSA 011 006 On the wicked he rains coals of fire and brimstone, and their drink will be scorching wind. 019 PSA 011 007 For the Lord is just, and justice he loves; so the upright will see his face. 019 PSA 012 001 For the leader; on the sheminith. A psalm of David. Help, Lord, for the good are all gone, faithful people have vanished. 019 PSA 012 002 One lies to another, speaking empty lies, with flattering lips and false hearts they speak. 019 PSA 012 003 May the Lord cut off all the flattering lips, and the tongue that utters arrogance, 019 PSA 012 004 they declare, “Our tongue is our strength, our allies our lips: who is lord over us?” 019 PSA 012 005 “The poor are despoiled, and the needy are sighing; so now I will act,” the Lord declares “And place them in the safety they long for.” 019 PSA 012 006 The words of the Lord are words that are pure, silver smelted, seven times refined. 019 PSA 012 007 You will keep us, Lord, and guard us from this generation forever, 019 PSA 012 008 in a world where the wicked prowl, and worthless people exalted. 019 PSA 013 001 For the leader. A psalm of David. How long, Lord, will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? 019 PSA 013 002 How long must I nurse grief inside me, and in my heart a daily sorrow? How long are my foes to exult over me? 019 PSA 013 003 Look at me, answer me, Lord my God. Fill my eyes with your light, lest I sleep in death, 019 PSA 013 004 lest my enemies claim to have triumphed, lest my foes rejoice at my downfall. 019 PSA 013 005 But I trust in your kindness: my heart will rejoice in your help. 019 PSA 013 006 I will sing to the Lord who was good to me. 019 PSA 014 001 For the leader. Of David. Fools say in their heart, “There is no God.” Vile, hateful their life is; not one does good. 019 PSA 014 002 From heaven the Lord looks out on humans, to see if any are wise, and care for God. 019 PSA 014 003 But all have turned bad, the taint is on all; not one does good, no, not one. 019 PSA 014 004 Have they learned their lesson, those workers of evil? Who ate up my people, eating, devouring, never calling to the Lord. 019 PSA 014 005 Sore afraid will they be; for God is among those who are righteous, 019 PSA 014 006 you may mock the plans of the poor, but the Lord is their refuge. 019 PSA 014 007 If only help from Zion would come for Israel! When the Lord brings his people a change of fortune, how glad will be Jacob, and Israel how joyful! 019 PSA 015 001 A psalm of David. Lord, who can be guest in your tent? Who may live on your holy mountain? 019 PSA 015 002 The person whose walk is blameless, whose conduct is right, whose words are true and sincere; 019 PSA 015 003 on whose tongue there sits no slander, who will not harm a friend, 019 PSA 015 004 nor cruelly insult a neighbor, who regards with contempt those rejected by God; but honors those who obey the Lord, who keeps an oath, whatever the cost, 019 PSA 015 005 whose money is lent without interest, and never takes a bribe to hurt the innocent. The person who does these things will always stand firm. 019 PSA 016 001 A michtam of David. Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge. 019 PSA 016 002 I said to the Lord, “You are my Lord, my happiness rests in you alone. 019 PSA 016 003 Those who are holy in the land, they, they alone, are the noble ones; all my delight is in them.” 019 PSA 016 004 Those who choose other gods find endless sorrow. In their offerings of blood I will have no part nor take their name on my lips. 019 PSA 016 005 The Lord is my share and my portion, my fate is in your strong hands. 019 PSA 016 006 The boundary lines of my life mark out delightful country, my heritage pleases me well. 019 PSA 016 007 I praise the Lord for his counsel, which so stirs my heart in the night. 019 PSA 016 008 I keep the Lord always in mind: with him at my hand, I can never be moved. 019 PSA 016 009 So my heart is glad, there is joy inside me; and in safety of body I live. 019 PSA 016 010 For you will not give me up to Sheol nor let any who love you see the pit. (Sheol h7585) 019 PSA 016 011 You will show me the path that leads to life, to that fulness of joy which is in your presence, and the pleasures dispensed by your hand evermore. 019 PSA 017 001 A prayer of David. Listen, O Lord, to my innocence; attend to my piercing cry. Give heed to my prayer out of lips unfeigned. 019 PSA 017 002 Let my vindication come from you, your eyes see the truth. 019 PSA 017 003 When you test my heart when you visit at night, and assay me like silver – you can find no evil. I am determined that my mouth should not lie. 019 PSA 017 004 I gave earnest heed to the words of your lips. 019 PSA 017 005 My steps have held fast to the paths of your precepts and in your tracks have my feet never stumbled. 019 PSA 017 006 So I call you, O God, with assurance of answer; bend down your ear to me, hear what I say. 019 PSA 017 007 Show your marvelous love, you who save from enemies those who take refuge at your right hand. 019 PSA 017 008 Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me in the shelter of your wings. 019 PSA 017 009 From wicked people who do me violence, from deadly foes who crowd around me. 019 PSA 017 010 They have closed their hearts to pity, the words of their mouths are haughty. 019 PSA 017 011 Now they dog us at every step, keenly watching, to hurl us to the ground, 019 PSA 017 012 like a lion, longing to tear, like a young lion, lurking in secret. 019 PSA 017 013 Arise, Lord, face them and fell them. By your sword set me free from the wicked, 019 PSA 017 014 by your hand, O Lord, from those – whose portion of life is but of this world. But let your treasured ones have food in plenty may their children be full and their children satisfied. 019 PSA 017 015 In my innocence I will see your face, awake I am filled with a vision of you. 019 PSA 018 001 For the leader. Of David, the servant of the Lord, who recited the words of this song to the Lord after the Lord had saved him from the power of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said: I love you, O Lord, my strength. 019 PSA 018 002 The Lord is my rock, my fortress, deliverer, my God, my rock, where I take refuge, my shield, my defender, my tower. 019 PSA 018 003 Worthy of praise is the Lord whom I call on, he rescues me from all my foes. 019 PSA 018 004 The waves of death broke about me, fearful floods of chaos. 019 PSA 018 005 Sheol threw cords around me, snares of death came to meet me. (Sheol h7585) 019 PSA 018 006 In distress I cried to the Lord, and shouted for help to my God; in his temple he heard my voice, into his ears came my cry. 019 PSA 018 007 Then the earth shook and quaked, mountains trembled to their foundations, and quaked because of his wrath. 019 PSA 018 008 Smoke went up from his nostrils, devouring fire from his mouth, coals were kindled by it. 019 PSA 018 009 Then he bent the sky and came down, thick darkness was under his feet. 019 PSA 018 010 He rode on a cherub and flew, darting on wings of wind, 019 PSA 018 011 with his screen of darkness about him, in thick dark clouds of water. 019 PSA 018 012 At the radiance before him there passed hailstones and coals of fire. 019 PSA 018 013 The Lord thundered from heaven, the Most High uttered his voice. 019 PSA 018 014 He shot his arrows and scattered them, flashed lightnings, and routed them. 019 PSA 018 015 The channels of the sea were revealed, the world was laid bare to its base, at your rebuke, O Lord, at the blast of the breath of your nostrils. 019 PSA 018 016 He stretched from on high, he seized me, drew me up from the mighty waters, 019 PSA 018 017 and saved me from those who hated me – fierce foes, too mighty for me. 019 PSA 018 018 In my day of distress they assailed me, but the Lord proved my support. 019 PSA 018 019 To a spacious place he brought me, and, for love of me, he saved me. 019 PSA 018 020 The Lord repays my innocence, he rewards my cleanness of hands. 019 PSA 018 021 For I kept the ways of the Lord, nor have wickedly strayed from my God. 019 PSA 018 022 His commandments were all before me, his statutes I put not away. 019 PSA 018 023 And I was blameless before him, guarding myself from sin. 019 PSA 018 024 So the Lord repaid my innocence, my cleanness of hands in his sight. 019 PSA 018 025 With the loyal you are loyal, and with the blameless blameless. 019 PSA 018 026 With the pure you show yourself pure, but shrewd with the devious. 019 PSA 018 027 For the lowly people you save, but haughty eyes you abase. 019 PSA 018 028 You are my lamp, Lord, my God who enlightens my darkness. 019 PSA 018 029 With you I can storm a rampart, with my God I can leap a wall. 019 PSA 018 030 As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is pure. He is shield to all who take refuge in him. 019 PSA 018 031 For who is God but the Lord? And who is a rock but our God? 019 PSA 018 032 The God who arms me with strength, who cleared and smoothed my way. 019 PSA 018 033 He made my feet like hinds’ feet, and set me up on the heights. 019 PSA 018 034 He taught my hands how to fight, and my arms how to bend a bronze bow. 019 PSA 018 035 The shield of your help you gave me, your right hand supports me, you stoop down to make me great. 019 PSA 018 036 In your strength I took giant strides, and my feet never slipped. 019 PSA 018 037 So I chased the foe till I caught them, and turned not, till I made an end of them. 019 PSA 018 038 I smashed them, they could not rise, they fell beneath my feet. 019 PSA 018 039 You did arm me with strength for war, you did bow my assailants beneath me. 019 PSA 018 040 You made my foes turn their back to me, and those who did hate me I finished. 019 PSA 018 041 They cried for help, but none saved them; to the Lord, but he answered them not. 019 PSA 018 042 I beat them like dust of the market-place, stamped them like mud of the streets. 019 PSA 018 043 From the strife of the peoples you saved me, you made me head of the nations, peoples I knew not did serve me. 019 PSA 018 044 On the instant they hear, they obey me, foreigners come to me cringing. 019 PSA 018 045 Foreigners lose courage, and come out of their strongholds trembling. 019 PSA 018 046 The Lord is alive! Blest be my rock! Exalted be God, my protector! 019 PSA 018 047 The God who gave me revenge, and brought down nations beneath me, 019 PSA 018 048 who saved me from angry foes, and set me above my assailants, safe from the violent. 019 PSA 018 049 For this I will praise you among the nations, making music, O Lord, to your name: 019 PSA 018 050 for great triumphs he grants to his king, and faithful love he shows his anointed, to David and his seed evermore. 019 PSA 019 001 For the leader. A psalm of David. The heavens declare God’s glory, the sky tells what his hands have done. 019 PSA 019 002 Day tells it to day, night reveals it to night, 019 PSA 019 003 without speaking, without words; without the sound of voices. 019 PSA 019 004 But through all the world their voice carries their words to the ends of the earth. He has pitched a tent for the sun in the sky, 019 PSA 019 005 it comes out like a bridegroom from his bridal chamber, it joyfully runs its course like a hero. 019 PSA 019 006 From one end of the heavens it rises, and around it runs to the other, and nothing hides from its heat. 019 PSA 019 007 The law of the Lord is perfect, renewing life. The decrees of the Lord are trusty, making the simple wise. 019 PSA 019 008 The behests of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart. The command of the Lord is pure, giving light to the eyes. 019 PSA 019 009 The fear of the Lord is clean, it endures forever. The Lord’s judgments are true and right altogether. 019 PSA 019 010 More precious are they than gold – than fine gold in plenty, and sweeter they are than honey, that drops from the comb. 019 PSA 019 011 By them is your servant warned; who keeps them has rich reward. 019 PSA 019 012 Who can know their flaws? Absolve me from those I know not. 019 PSA 019 013 Keep your servant from wilful sins – from falling under their sway: then blameless and clear will I be from great offense. 019 PSA 019 014 May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be pleasing to you, Lord, my rock and redeemer. 019 PSA 020 001 For the leader. A psalm of David. The Lord answer you in the day of distress, the name of the Jacob’s God protect you, 019 PSA 020 002 sending you help from the temple, out of Zion supporting you. 019 PSA 020 003 All your meal-offerings may he remember, your burnt-offerings look on with favor. (Selah) 019 PSA 020 004 May he grant you your heart’s desire, and bring all your plans to pass. 019 PSA 020 005 We will shout then for joy at your victory, and rejoice in the name of our God. May the Lord grant your every request. 019 PSA 020 006 Now I am sure that the Lord will help his anointed. From his temple in heaven he will answer by his mighty triumphant right hand. 019 PSA 020 007 Some in chariots are strong, some in horses; but our strength is the Lord our God. 019 PSA 020 008 They will totter and fall, while we rise and stand firm. 019 PSA 020 009 Give victory, Lord, to the king, and answer us when we call. 019 PSA 021 001 For the leader. A psalm of David. The king rejoices, Lord, in your might, how he exults because of your help! 019 PSA 021 002 You have granted to him his heart’s desire, you have not withheld his lips’ request. (Selah) 019 PSA 021 003 You came to meet him with rich blessings, you set on his head a golden crown. 019 PSA 021 004 He asked you for life, you gave it – many long days, forever and ever. 019 PSA 021 005 Great is his glory because of your help, honor and majesty you lay upon him. 019 PSA 021 006 For you make him most blessed forever, you make him glad with the joy of your presence. 019 PSA 021 007 For the king puts always his trust in the Lord; the Most High, in his love, will preserve him unshaken. 019 PSA 021 008 Your hand will reach all your foes, your right hand, all who hate you. 019 PSA 021 009 You will make them like a furnace of fire, when you appear, Lord. The Lord will swallow them up in his wrath. The fire will devour them. 019 PSA 021 010 You will sweep their offspring from the earth, their children from humanity. 019 PSA 021 011 When they scheme against you and hatch evil plots – they will fail. 019 PSA 021 012 For you aim your bow at their faces, make them turn in flight. 019 PSA 021 013 Be exalted, Lord, in your strength, to your might we shall sing and make music. 019 PSA 022 001 For the leader; set to ‘Deer of the Dawn’. A psalm of David. My God, my God, why have you left me, my rescue so far from the words of my roaring? 019 PSA 022 002 I cry in the day, you do not answer, I cry in the night but find no rest. 019 PSA 022 003 You are the Holy One, throned on the praises of Israel. 019 PSA 022 004 In you our ancestors trusted, they trusted and you delivered them. 019 PSA 022 005 They cried to you, and found safety, in you did they trust and were not put to shame. 019 PSA 022 006 But I am a worm, not a person; insulted by others, despised by the people. 019 PSA 022 007 All who see me mock me, with mouths wide open and wagging heads: 019 PSA 022 008 “He relies on the Lord; let him save him. Let him rescue the one he holds dear!” 019 PSA 022 009 But you drew me from the womb, laid me safely on my mother’s breasts. 019 PSA 022 010 On your care was I cast from my very birth, you are my God from my mother’s womb. 019 PSA 022 011 Be not far from me, for trouble is nigh, and there is none to help. 019 PSA 022 012 I am circled by many bulls, beset by the mighty of Bashan, 019 PSA 022 013 who face me with gaping jaws, like ravening roaring lions. 019 PSA 022 014 Poured out am I like water, and all my bones are loosened. My heart is become like wax, melted within me. 019 PSA 022 015 My palate is dry as a sherd, my tongue sticks to my jaws; in the dust of death you lay me. 019 PSA 022 016 For dogs are round about me, a band of knaves encircles me, gnawing my hands and my feet. 019 PSA 022 017 I can count my bones, every one. As for them, they feast their eyes on me. 019 PSA 022 018 They divide my garments among them, and over my raiment cast lots. 019 PSA 022 019 But you, O Lord, be not far, O my strength, hasten to help me. 019 PSA 022 020 Deliver my life from the sword my life from the power of the dogs. 019 PSA 022 021 Save me from the jaws of the lion, from the horns of the wild oxen help me. 019 PSA 022 022 I will tell of your fame to my kindred, and in the assembly will praise you. 019 PSA 022 023 Praise the Lord, you who fear him. All Jacob’s seed, give him glory. All Israel’s seed, stand in awe of him. 019 PSA 022 024 For he has not despised nor abhorred the sorrow of the sorrowful. He hid not his face from me, but he listened to my cry for help. 019 PSA 022 025 Of you is my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will pay before those who fear him. 019 PSA 022 026 The afflicted will eat to their heart’s desire, and those who seek after the Lord will praise him. Lift up your hearts forever. 019 PSA 022 027 All will call it to mind, to the ends of the earth, and turn to the Lord; and all tribes of the nations will bow down before you. 019 PSA 022 028 For the kingdom belongs to the Lord: he is the Lord of the nations. 019 PSA 022 029 To him will bow down all who sleep in the earth, and before him bend all who go down to the dust, and those who could not preserve their lives. 019 PSA 022 030 My descendants will tell of the Lord to the next generation; 019 PSA 022 031 they will declare his righteousness to people yet to be born: He has done it. 019 PSA 023 001 A psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd: I am never in need. 019 PSA 023 002 He lays me down in green pastures. He gently leads me to waters of rest, 019 PSA 023 003 he refreshes my life. He guides me along paths that are straight, true to his name. 019 PSA 023 004 And when my way lies through a valley of gloom, I fear no evil, for you are with me. Your rod and your staff comfort me. 019 PSA 023 005 You spread a table for me in face of my foes; with oil you anoint my head, and my cup runs over. 019 PSA 023 006 Surely goodness and love will pursue me – all the days of my life. In the house of the Lord I will live through the length of the days. 019 PSA 024 001 Of David. A psalm. The earth is the Lord’s and all that it holds, the world and those who live in it. 019 PSA 024 002 For he founded it on the seas, and on the floods he sustains it. 019 PSA 024 003 Who may ascend the hill of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? 019 PSA 024 004 The clean of hands, the pure of heart, who sets not their heart upon sinful things, nor swears with intent to deceive: 019 PSA 024 005 they win from the Lord a blessing: God is their champion and savior. 019 PSA 024 006 Such must be those who resort to him, and seek the face of the God of Jacob. (Selah) 019 PSA 024 007 Lift high your heads, you gates – Higher, you ancient doors; welcome the glorious king. 019 PSA 024 008 “Who is the glorious king?” “The Lord strong and heroic, the Lord heroic in battle.” 019 PSA 024 009 Lift high your heads, you gates – Higher, you ancient doors; welcome the glorious king. 019 PSA 024 010 “Who is the glorious king?” “The Lord, the God of hosts, he is the glorious king.” (Selah) 019 PSA 025 001 A psalm of David. To you, O Lord, I lift up my heart: all the day I wait for you. 019 PSA 025 002 In you I trust, put me not to shame; let not my foes exult over me. 019 PSA 025 003 None will be shamed who wait for you, but shame will fall upon wanton traitors. 019 PSA 025 004 Make me, O Lord, to know your ways: teach me your paths. 019 PSA 025 005 In your faithfulness guide me and teach me, for you are my God and my savior. 019 PSA 025 006 Remember your pity, O Lord, and your kindness, for they have been ever of old. 019 PSA 025 007 Do not remember the sins of my youth; remember me in kindness, because of your goodness, Lord. 019 PSA 025 008 Good is the Lord and upright, so he teaches sinners the way. 019 PSA 025 009 The humble he guides in the right, he teaches the humble his way. 019 PSA 025 010 All his ways are loving and loyal to those who observe his charges and covenant. 019 PSA 025 011 Be true to your name Lord, forgive my many sins. 019 PSA 025 012 Who then is the person who fears the Lord? He will teach them the way to choose. 019 PSA 025 013 They will live in prosperity, their children will inherit the land. 019 PSA 025 014 The Lord gives guidance to those who fear him, and with his covenant he makes them acquainted. 019 PSA 025 015 My eyes are ever toward the Lord, for out of the net he brings my foot. 019 PSA 025 016 Turn to me with your favor, for I am lonely and crushed 019 PSA 025 017 In my heart are strain and storm; bring me out of my distresses. 019 PSA 025 018 Look on my misery and trouble, and pardon all my sins, 019 PSA 025 019 look on my foes oh, so many! And their cruel hatred towards me. 019 PSA 025 020 Deliver me, keep me, and shame not one who takes refuge in you. 019 PSA 025 021 May integrity and innocence preserve me, for I wait for you, O Lord. 019 PSA 025 022 Redeem Israel, O God, from all its distresses. 019 PSA 026 001 A psalm of David. Defend me, O Lord, for my walk has been blameless; in the Lord have I trusted unswervingly: 019 PSA 026 002 Examine me, Lord, and test me; test my heart and my mind. 019 PSA 026 003 For your love is before my eyes, and your faithfulness governs my way. 019 PSA 026 004 I never sat down with the worthless, nor companied with dissemblers. 019 PSA 026 005 I hate the assembly of knaves, I would never sit down with the wicked; 019 PSA 026 006 but, with hands washed in innocence, I would march round your altar, O Lord, 019 PSA 026 007 singing loud songs of thanks, and telling of all your wonders. 019 PSA 026 008 O Lord, I love your house, the place where your glory lives. 019 PSA 026 009 Do not gather me up with sinners; slay me not with people of blood, 019 PSA 026 010 whose hands are stained with villainy, and whose right hand is filled with bribes. 019 PSA 026 011 But my walk is blameless! O redeem me, be gracious to me. 019 PSA 026 012 My foot stands on even ground, in the choirs I will bless the Lord. 019 PSA 027 001 A psalm of David. The Lord is my light and my savior; whom then should I fear? The Lord protects my life; whom then should I dread? 019 PSA 027 002 When the wicked drew near to assail me and eat up my flesh, it was those who distressed and opposed me who stumbled and fell. 019 PSA 027 003 Though against me a host should encamp, yet my heart would be fearless: though battle should rise up against me, still would I be trustful. 019 PSA 027 004 One thing have I asked of the Lord, and that do I long for – To live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the grace of the Lord and inquire in his temple. 019 PSA 027 005 For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of misfortune. In his sheltering tent he hides me: he lifts me up on a rock. 019 PSA 027 006 And now that my head he has lifted above my encircling foes, I will march round the altar and sacrifice, shouting with joy, in his tent, making music and song to the Lord. 019 PSA 027 007 Hear, O Lord, my loud cry, and graciously answer me. 019 PSA 027 008 My heart has said to you, “Your face, O Lord, I seek.” 019 PSA 027 009 Hide not your face from me, reject not your servant in anger: for you have been my help. Abandon me not, nor forsake me, O God of my help: 019 PSA 027 010 for father and mother have left me; but the Lord will take me up. 019 PSA 027 011 Teach me your way, O Lord: lead me in an even path, because of my enemies. 019 PSA 027 012 Give me not up, O Lord, unto the rage of my foes; for against me have risen false witnesses, breathing out cruelty. 019 PSA 027 013 Firm is the faith I cherish, that I, in the land of the living, will yet see the goodness of God. 019 PSA 027 014 Let your heart be courageous and strong, and wait on the Lord. 019 PSA 028 001 Of David. Unto you, O Lord, do I cry; my rock, be not deaf to me: lest, through holding your peace, I become like those who go down to the pit. 019 PSA 028 002 Hear my loud entreaty, as I cry for help to you, lifting my hands, O Lord, towards your holy chancel. 019 PSA 028 003 Take me not off with the wicked, nor with the workers of wrong, whose speech to their neighbors is friendly, while evil is in their heart. 019 PSA 028 004 Give them as they have done, as their wicked deeds deserve. As their hands have wrought, so give to them: requite to them their deserts. 019 PSA 028 005 They are blind to all that the Lord does, to all that his hands have wrought; and so he will tear them down, to build them up no more. 019 PSA 028 006 Blest be the Lord, who has heard my voice as I plead for mercy. 019 PSA 028 007 The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him. I was helped: so my heart is exultant, and in my song I will praise him. 019 PSA 028 008 The Lord is the strength of his people, the fortress who saves his anointed. 019 PSA 028 009 O save your people, and bless your inheritance. Be their shepherd and carry them forever. 019 PSA 029 001 A psalm of David. Ascribe to the Lord, you heavenly beings, ascribe to the Lord glory and power 019 PSA 029 002 Ascribe to the Lord the glory he manifests: bow to the Lord in holy array. 019 PSA 029 003 The Lord’s voice peals on the waters. The God of glory has thundered. He peals o’er the mighty waters. 019 PSA 029 004 The Lord’s voice sounds with strength, the Lord’s voice sounds with majesty. 019 PSA 029 005 The Lord’s voice breaks the cedars, he breaks the cedars of Lebanon, 019 PSA 029 006 making Lebanon dance like a calf, Sirion like a young wild ox. 019 PSA 029 007 The Lord’s voice hews out flames of fire. 019 PSA 029 008 The Lord’s voice rends the desert, he rends the desert of Kadesh. 019 PSA 029 009 The Lord’s voice whirls the oaks, and strips the forests bare; and all in his temple say “Glory.” 019 PSA 029 010 The Lord was king at the flood, the Lord sits throned forever. 019 PSA 029 011 The Lord gives strength to his people, he blesses his people with peace. 019 PSA 030 001 A psalm of David. A song for the dedication of the Temple. I will extol you, O Lord, because you have lifted me up, and not suffered my foes to rejoice over me. 019 PSA 030 002 I cried to you for help, O Lord my God, and you healed me. 019 PSA 030 003 You have brought me up, Lord, from Sheol, from my way to the pit back to life you have called me. (Sheol h7585) 019 PSA 030 004 Sing praise to the Lord, faithful people; give thanks to his holy name. 019 PSA 030 005 For his anger lasts only a moment, his favor endures for a lifetime. Weeping may lodge for the night, but the morning brings shouts of joy. 019 PSA 030 006 When all went well, I imagined that never should I be shaken. 019 PSA 030 007 For by your favor, O Lord, you had set me on mountains strong: but you hide your face, and I was confounded. 019 PSA 030 008 Then to you, Lord, I cried, to the Lord I begged for mercy, 019 PSA 030 009 “What profit is there in my blood, if I go down to the pit? Can you be praised by dust? Can it tell of your faithfulness? 019 PSA 030 010 Hear, Lord, and show me your favor, Lord be a helper to me.” 019 PSA 030 011 You have turned my mourning to dancing; my sackcloth you have unloosed, and clothed me with joy: 019 PSA 030 012 that unceasingly I should sing your praise, and give thanks to you, Lord my God, forever. 019 PSA 031 001 For the leader. A psalm of David. In you, O Lord, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame. Rescue me in your faithfulness; 019 PSA 031 002 incline to me your ear. Deliver me speedily. Be to me a rock of defence, a fortified house, to save me. 019 PSA 031 003 For my rock and my fortress are you; lead me and guide me so your name will be honored. 019 PSA 031 004 Draw me out of the net they have hid for me, for you yourself are my refuge. 019 PSA 031 005 Into your hand I commend my spirit: you ransom me, Lord, faithful God. 019 PSA 031 006 I hate those devoted to worthless idols; I trust in the Lord. 019 PSA 031 007 I will rejoice and be glad in your love, because you have looked on my misery, and cared for me in my distress. 019 PSA 031 008 You have not given me into the enemy’s hand, you have set my feet in a spacious place. 019 PSA 031 009 Be gracious to me, Lord, for I am distressed; my eye is wasted away with sorrow. 019 PSA 031 010 For my life is consumed with grief, and my years with sighing. My strength is broken with misery, my bones waste away. 019 PSA 031 011 The scorn of all my foes, the butt of my neighbors am I, a terror to my acquaintance. At the sight of me in the street people turn quickly away. 019 PSA 031 012 I am clean forgotten like the dead, am become like a ruined vessel. 019 PSA 031 013 I hear the whispers of many – terror on every side – scheming together against me, plotting to take my life. 019 PSA 031 014 But my trust is in you, Lord. “You are my God,” I say; 019 PSA 031 015 my times are in your hand, save me from the hand of the foes who pursue me. 019 PSA 031 016 Make your face to shine on your servant, save me in your love. 019 PSA 031 017 Put me not, O Lord, to shame, for I have called upon you. Let the wicked be put to shame silent in Sheol. (Sheol h7585) 019 PSA 031 018 Strike the false lips dumb, that speak proudly against the righteous with haughtiness and contempt. 019 PSA 031 019 How great is the goodness you have treasured for those who fear you, and wrought for those who take refuge in you, in plain sight of all! 019 PSA 031 020 In your sheltering wings you hide them from plottings of people, you keep them safe in a bower from the chiding of tongues. 019 PSA 031 021 Blest be the Lord for the wonderful love he has shown me in time of distress. 019 PSA 031 022 For I had said in panic, “I am driven clean out of your sight.” But you heard my plea, when I cried to you for help. 019 PSA 031 023 Love the Lord, all you faithful; the Lord protects the loyal, but repays the haughty in full. 019 PSA 031 024 Let your hearts be courageous and strong, all you who wait on the Lord. 019 PSA 032 001 Of David. A maskil. Happy those whose transgression is pardoned, whose sin is covered. 019 PSA 032 002 Happy are those, free from falseness of spirit, to whom the Lord reckons no debt of guilt. 019 PSA 032 003 When I held my peace, my bones wore away with my endless groaning; 019 PSA 032 004 for day and night did your hand lie heavy upon me. The sap of my life was dried up as with fierce summer-heat. (Selah) 019 PSA 032 005 I began to acknowledge my sin, not concealing my guilt; and the moment I vowed to confess to the Lord my transgression, then you yourself did pardon the guilt of my sin. (Selah) 019 PSA 032 006 For this cause let all who are faithful pray to you in the time of distress; then, when the great waters rush, they will not reach to him. 019 PSA 032 007 For you are my shelter, you protect me from trouble, and surround me with deliverance. (Selah) 019 PSA 032 008 “With my eye steadfastly upon you, I will instruct and teach you The way you should go. 019 PSA 032 009 Do not be like the horse or the mule, that have no understanding, but need bridle and halter to curb them, else they will not come near to you.” 019 PSA 032 010 The godless have many sorrows, but those who trust in the Lord will be compassed about by his kindness. 019 PSA 032 011 Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, you righteous; and ring out your joy, all you upright in heart. 019 PSA 033 001 Shout for joy in the Lord, you righteous: praise for the upright is seemly. 019 PSA 033 002 Give thanks to the Lord on the lyre, play to him on a ten-stringed harp. 019 PSA 033 003 Sing to him a new song, play skilfully and shout merrily. 019 PSA 033 004 For the Lord is straight in his promise; and all that he does is in faithfulness. 019 PSA 033 005 Justice and right he loves; the earth is full of his kindness. 019 PSA 033 006 By his word the heavens were made, all their host by the breath of his mouth. 019 PSA 033 007 He gathers the sea in a bottle, the ocean he puts into store-houses. 019 PSA 033 008 Let the whole world honor the Lord, let all who live on earth be in awe. 019 PSA 033 009 For at his word it came into being, at his command it stood forth. 019 PSA 033 010 The Lord frustrates the designs of the nations, what the peoples have purposed, he brings to nought, 019 PSA 033 011 but the Lord’s own design will stand forever, and what his heart has purposed, through all generations. 019 PSA 033 012 Happy the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for himself as his own. 019 PSA 033 013 The Lord looks down from heaven, he sees all of humanity; 019 PSA 033 014 from where he rules he gazes on all who inhabit the earth. 019 PSA 033 015 He fashions the hearts of them all, and gives heed to all that they do. 019 PSA 033 016 It is not by great armies that kings are victorious, it is not by great strength that a warrior saves himself; 019 PSA 033 017 false hope is the war-horse to usher in victory, for all its great might it can provide no escape. 019 PSA 033 018 See! The eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his kindness; 019 PSA 033 019 to deliver their life from death, and to keep them alive in famine. 019 PSA 033 020 We wait for the Lord: he is our help and our shield. 019 PSA 033 021 For in him our heart is glad, we trust in his holy name. 019 PSA 033 022 Let your kindness, O Lord, be upon us, as is our hope in you. 019 PSA 034 001 Of David, when he feigned madness in the presence of Abimelech, who drove him away, and he left. I will bless the Lord at all times, in my mouth will his praise be forever. 019 PSA 034 002 In the Lord will my heart make her boast, the humble will hear and be glad. 019 PSA 034 003 O magnify the Lord with me and let us extol his name together. 019 PSA 034 004 I sought the Lord, and, in answer, he saved me from all my terrors. 019 PSA 034 005 Look to him and you will be radiant, with faces unashamed. 019 PSA 034 006 Here is one who was crushed, but cried and was heard by the Lord, and brought safe out of every trouble. 019 PSA 034 007 The Lord’s angel encamps about those who fear him, and rescues them. 019 PSA 034 008 O taste and see that the Lord is good, happy those who take refuge in him. 019 PSA 034 009 Fear the Lord, all his people, for they who fear him lack nothing. 019 PSA 034 010 Even young lions may be poor and hungry, but those who seek the Lord will not lack any good thing. 019 PSA 034 011 Come, children, listen to me. I will teach you the fear of the Lord. 019 PSA 034 012 Which of you is desirous of life, loves many and happy days? 019 PSA 034 013 Then guard your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit. 019 PSA 034 014 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. 019 PSA 034 015 The eyes of the Lord are towards the righteous, his ears are towards their cry for help. 019 PSA 034 016 The Lord sets his face against those who do evil, to root their memory out of the earth. 019 PSA 034 017 When righteous cry, they are heard by the Lord, and he saves them from all their distresses. 019 PSA 034 018 The Lord is near to the broken-hearted, he helps those whose spirit is crushed. 019 PSA 034 019 Many misfortunes befall the righteous, but the Lord delivers them out of them all. 019 PSA 034 020 He guards all their bones, none are broken. 019 PSA 034 021 Misfortune will slay the ungodly; those who hate the righteous are doomed. 019 PSA 034 022 The Lord ransoms the life of his servants, and none will be doomed who takes refuge in him. 019 PSA 035 001 Of David. Contend, Lord, with those who contend with me, do battle with those who do battle with me. 019 PSA 035 002 Grasp shield and buckler, and rise up as my help. 019 PSA 035 003 Draw spear and battle-axe, confront those who pursue me. Assure me that you will help me. 019 PSA 035 004 Dishonor and shame be on those who are seeking my life! Defeat and confusion on those who are planning my hurt! 019 PSA 035 005 As chaff before wind may they be, with the Lord’s angel pursuing them. 019 PSA 035 006 Slippery and dark be their way, with his angel thrusting them on. 019 PSA 035 007 For they wantonly hid their net for me, and dug a pit to destroy me. 019 PSA 035 008 Upon them may ruin come unawares; may the net which they hid catch themselves, and into the pit may they fall. 019 PSA 035 009 Then I will exult in the Lord, and be joyful because of his help; 019 PSA 035 010 and all my being will say, “Who, O Lord, is like you, who save the helpless from those too strong for them, the poor and the helpless from those who despoil them?” 019 PSA 035 011 Violent witnesses rise, and ask of me things that I know not. 019 PSA 035 012 Evil for good they requite me, leaving me inwardly comfortless. 019 PSA 035 013 But when they were sick, I put on sackcloth, and chastened myself with fasting. I prayed with head bowed low, 019 PSA 035 014 as if for my friend or my brother. I went about bowed and in mourning, as one who laments his mother. 019 PSA 035 015 When I stumbled, they gleefully gathered, strangers gathered around me, and tore at me without ceasing, 019 PSA 035 016 impiously mocking and mocking, bearing their teeth at me. 019 PSA 035 017 How long, Lord, will you look on? Rescue me from their roaring, my precious life from the lions. 019 PSA 035 018 I will then give you thanks in the great congregation, and praise you before many people. 019 PSA 035 019 Suffer not those to rejoice over me who are falsely my foes, suffer not those who without cause abhor me to wink with the eye. 019 PSA 035 020 For it is not peace that they speak of those who are quiet in the land; but treacherous charges they plot. 019 PSA 035 021 With wide open mouths they shout, “Hurrah! Hurrah! With our own eyes we saw it.” 019 PSA 035 022 But you have seen, too, O Lord, keep not silence, O Lord, be not far from me. 019 PSA 035 023 Bestir you, awake, for my right my God, my Lord, for my cause. 019 PSA 035 024 You are just, Lord: win for me justice, let them not rejoice over me, 019 PSA 035 025 inwardly saying, “Hurrah! The desire of our hearts at last! Now we have swallowed him up.” 019 PSA 035 026 Shame and confusion together on those who rejoice at my hurt! Clothed with shame and dishonor be those who are haughty to me! 019 PSA 035 027 Let such as delight in my cause ring out their gladness, and say evermore, “Great is the Lord whose delight is the well-being of his servant.” 019 PSA 035 028 Then my tongue will tell of your justice, and all the day long of your praise. 019 PSA 036 001 For the leader. Of the servant of the Lord, of David. Sin whispers within the heart of the wicked, who have no dread of God before their eyes. 019 PSA 036 002 It flatters them in their eyes that their sin will not be found out. 019 PSA 036 003 First, their speech becomes wicked and false, they give up acting wisely and well. 019 PSA 036 004 Then they plot deliberate wrong, take their stand on the wicked way, without the least shrinking from evil. 019 PSA 036 005 Your love, O Lord, touches the heavens, your faithfulness reaches the clouds. 019 PSA 036 006 Your justice is like the great mountains, your judgments are like the broad sea. Lord, you save people and animals. 019 PSA 036 007 How precious your love, O God! All may seek shelter in the shadow of your wings. 019 PSA 036 008 They feast on the fat of your house, they drink of your brook of delights. 019 PSA 036 009 For with you is the fountain of life, in the light that is yours we see light. 019 PSA 036 010 O continue your grace to the faithful, your love to the upright in heart. 019 PSA 036 011 Let no arrogant foot tread upon me, no wicked hand drive me to exile. 019 PSA 036 012 There the workers of wrong lie prostrate, thrust down to rise up no more. 019 PSA 037 001 Of David. Be not kindled to wrath at the wicked, nor envious of those who work wrong; 019 PSA 037 002 for, like grass, they will speedily wither, and fade like the green of young grass. 019 PSA 037 003 Trust in the Lord, and do good; remain in the land, and deal faithfully: 019 PSA 037 004 then the Lord will be your delight, he will grant you your heart’s petitions. 019 PSA 037 005 Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act, 019 PSA 037 006 making clear as the light your right, and your just cause clear as the noon-day. 019 PSA 037 007 In silence and patience wait on the Lord. Be not kindled to anger at those who prosper. At those who execute evil devices. 019 PSA 037 008 Desist from anger, abandon wrath: be not kindled to anger it leads but to evil: 019 PSA 037 009 for evildoers will be cut off, but the land will be theirs, who wait on the Lord. 019 PSA 037 010 Yet but a little, and the wicked vanish: look at their place: they are there no more. 019 PSA 037 011 But the humble will have the land, and the rapture of peace in abundance. 019 PSA 037 012 The wicked plots against the righteous, snarls like a wild animal; 019 PSA 037 013 the Lord laughs, for he sees that his day is coming. 019 PSA 037 014 The wicked have drawn the sword, and bent the bow, to fell the poor, to slay those who walk uprightly; 019 PSA 037 015 but their sword will pierce their own heart, and their bows will be broken in pieces. 019 PSA 037 016 Better is the righteous person’s little than the wealth of many wicked. 019 PSA 037 017 For the arms of the wicked will be broken, but the Lord upholds the righteous. 019 PSA 037 018 The Lord watches over the days of the blameless, their heritage will continue forever. 019 PSA 037 019 They will not be shamed in the evil time, in the days of famine they will be satisfied. 019 PSA 037 020 Because the wicked will perish: but the foes of the Lord, like a brand in the oven, will vanish, like smoke they will vanish. 019 PSA 037 021 The wicked must borrow and cannot pay back, but the righteous is lavish and gives. 019 PSA 037 022 For those blest by the Lord inherit the land, while those whom he curses will be cut off. 019 PSA 037 023 The Lord supports the steps of those with whom he is pleased. 019 PSA 037 024 Though they fall, they will not be cast headlong, for the Lord holds their hands. 019 PSA 037 025 Never, from youth to age, have I seen the righteous forsaken, or their children begging bread. 019 PSA 037 026 They are ever lavishly lending, and their children are fountains of blessing. 019 PSA 037 027 Turn away from evil and do good and you will live in the land forever. 019 PSA 037 028 For the Lord loves justice, he does not forsake his friends. The unrighteous will be destroyed forever, and the seed of the wicked will be cut off. 019 PSA 037 029 But the land will belong to the righteous, they will live upon it forever, 019 PSA 037 030 The mouth of the righteous murmurs wisdom, and words of justice are on their tongues. 019 PSA 037 031 The law of their God is in their heart, their steps are never unsteady. 019 PSA 037 032 The wicked watches the righteous, and seeks to put them to death. 019 PSA 037 033 But the Lord leaves them not in their hand: at their trial they will not be held guilty. 019 PSA 037 034 Wait on the Lord, and observe his way: he will lift you to honor the land will be yours, you will feast your eyes on the doom of the wicked. 019 PSA 037 035 I have seen the wicked exultant, lifting themselves like a cedar of Lebanon. 019 PSA 037 036 But the moment I passed, they vanished! I sought for them, but they could not be found. 019 PSA 037 037 Preserve your honor and practise uprightness, for such a person fares well in the end. 019 PSA 037 038 But transgressors will perish together. Cut off are the wicked forever. 019 PSA 037 039 The righteous are saved by the Lord, who in time of distress is their refuge: 019 PSA 037 040 the Lord helps and rescue them, from the wicked he rescues and saves them, because they take refuge in him. 019 PSA 038 001 A Psalm of David. A lament. Reprove me not, Lord, in your anger, and chasten me not in your wrath; 019 PSA 038 002 for your arrows have sunk into me, and your hand lies heavy upon me. 019 PSA 038 003 In my flesh is no soundness because of your anger, no health in my bones, because of my sin. 019 PSA 038 004 For that my guilt is gone over my head: it weighs like a burden too heavy for me. 019 PSA 038 005 My wounds stink and fester, for my foolishness I am tormented. 019 PSA 038 006 Bent and bowed am I utterly, all the day going in mourning. 019 PSA 038 007 My loins are filled with burning, and in my flesh is no soundness. 019 PSA 038 008 I am utterly crushed and numb; I cry louder than lion roars. 019 PSA 038 009 Lord, you know all that I long for, my groans are not hidden from you. 019 PSA 038 010 My heart is throbbing, my strength has failed me. The light of my eyes – even it is gone from me. 019 PSA 038 011 My dear ones and friends keep aloof, and my neighbors stand afar off. 019 PSA 038 012 They who aim at my life lay their snares, they who seek my hurt speak of ruin, nursing treachery all the day long. 019 PSA 038 013 But I turn a deaf ear and hear not; like the dumb I open not my mouth. 019 PSA 038 014 I am like one without hearing, with no arguments in my mouth. 019 PSA 038 015 For my hope, O Lord, is in you. You will answer, O Lord my God, 019 PSA 038 016 when I utter the hope that those who made scorn of my tottering feet may not rejoice over me. 019 PSA 038 017 For I am ready to fall, my pain forsakes me never. 019 PSA 038 018 I acknowledge my guilt, I am anxious because of my sin: 019 PSA 038 019 My wanton assailants are strong, those who wrongfully hate me are many, 019 PSA 038 020 who render me evil for good, and oppose me, because I make good my goal. 019 PSA 038 021 Do not forsake me, O Lord; my God, be not far from me. 019 PSA 038 022 Hasten to help me, O Lord my savior. 019 PSA 039 001 For the leader; for Jeduthun. A psalm of David. I vowed to watch my words, and sin not with my tongue, but to put on my mouth a muzzle, while the wicked were in my presence. 019 PSA 039 002 I was silent and dumb, speechless: but my pain was stirred up. 019 PSA 039 003 My heart grew hot within me; as I mused, the fire was kindled, till at last the words came to my tongue. 019 PSA 039 004 “Teach me, O Lord, my end, and the sum of my days what it is. Let me know how transient I am. 019 PSA 039 005 See! My days you have made but a span, and my life is as nothing before you. It is but as a breath that everyone stands: (Selah) 019 PSA 039 006 it is but in mere semblance we walk to and fro, and all our noise is for nothing. We heap up, and know not who will gather.” 019 PSA 039 007 And now, what wait I for, Lord? My hope is in you. 019 PSA 039 008 From all my transgressions deliver me; make me not the scorn of the fool. 019 PSA 039 009 I am dumb, never opening my mouth, for this is your own doing. 019 PSA 039 010 Remove your stroke from off me: by the might of your hand I am spent. 019 PSA 039 011 When you rebuke someone to punish their sins, you consume, like a moth, what they treasures. Everyone is only a breath. (Selah) 019 PSA 039 012 Hear my prayer, O Lord; attend to my cry for help. Hold not your peace at my tears. For I am but a guest of yours, a stranger visiting, like all my ancestors. 019 PSA 039 013 Look away from me, let me smile again, before I die and am gone. 019 PSA 040 001 For the leader. A psalm of David. For the Lord I waited and waited, till, inclining to me, he heard my cry. 019 PSA 040 002 From the horrible pit he drew me, up out of the miry clay; he set my feet on a rock, and my steps he made firm. 019 PSA 040 003 He put a new song in my mouth, of praise to our God. Many see it, and, filled with awe, put their trust in the Lord. 019 PSA 040 004 Happy the person who has put in the Lord their trust, not looking to false gods or turning to idols. 019 PSA 040 005 With us you have wrought in rich measure, O Lord our God, your marvels and purposes for us – none may compare with you – were I to declare or to tell them, past counting are they. 019 PSA 040 006 In offerings bloody or bloodless you have no delight, but with open ears you have made me. Burnt-offering and offering for sin are not what you ask. 019 PSA 040 007 Then said I, “Here I am, as the roll of the book has enjoined. 019 PSA 040 008 My delight, O God, is to do your will, and your law is within my heart.” 019 PSA 040 009 Well, O Lord, you know that, with lips unrestrained, your righteousness I told in the great congregation, 019 PSA 040 010 not hiding it in my heart. I have told of your steadfast help, from the great congregation I hid not your love and your faithfulness. 019 PSA 040 011 So do not restrain, Lord, your pity from us. Your love and your faithfulness – ever may they be our shield. 019 PSA 040 012 For evils that cannot be numbered have compassed me round. My transgressions have followed me up – I can bear it no more. They are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart has forsaken me. 019 PSA 040 013 O Lord, be pleased to deliver me, haste to my help, O Lord. 019 PSA 040 014 May those who are seeking my life be ashamed and confounded together; may those who delight in my hurt be defeated and brought to dishonor. 019 PSA 040 015 May those who hurrah over me be dumbfounded because of their shame. 019 PSA 040 016 But may all who seek after you rejoice and be glad in you. May all those eager for your aid, say, “Great is the Lord” evermore. 019 PSA 040 017 I am weak and needy, yet the Lord cares for me. You are my help and deliverer; don’t delay, my God. 019 PSA 041 001 For the leader; for Jeduthun. A psalm of David. Happy are those who consider the weak; in the day of misfortune the Lord will deliver them. 019 PSA 041 002 He will keep them safe, happy, and long in the land, and not give them up to the rage of their foes. 019 PSA 041 003 The Lord will sustain them on bed of languishing; tending their sickness, as long as they lie. 019 PSA 041 004 For this cause I say, “Lord, show me your favor; heal me, because I have sinned against you.” 019 PSA 041 005 My enemies speak of me nothing but evil, “When will he die, and his name pass away?” 019 PSA 041 006 When one comes to see me, their words ring hollow; their heart keeps gathering mischief the while; and when they go out, they give it speech. 019 PSA 041 007 In secret they whisper together against me, all those who hate me plot evil against me. 019 PSA 041 008 “Some fatal disease has fastened upon him; and now that he lies, he will rise up no more.” 019 PSA 041 009 My most trusted friend, on whom I relied, who ate of my bread, has turned against me. 019 PSA 041 010 But do you, Lord, graciously raise me up, that I may pay them their due reward. 019 PSA 041 011 By this will I know you delight in me: if my foes may not shout over me in triumph. 019 PSA 041 012 For my innocence you uphold me, and set me forever before your face. 019 PSA 041 013 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting, Amen and Amen. 019 PSA 042 001 For the leader. A maskil of the Korahites. Like the hart which longs for brooks of water, I long for you, God. 019 PSA 042 002 I thirst for God, for my living God. When shall I enter in, and see the face of God? 019 PSA 042 003 My tears have been my food by day and by night; for they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?” 019 PSA 042 004 My heart floods with sorrow, as I call to mind: how I used to pass on with the throng, at their head, to the house of God, with glad shouts and giving of thanks, in the throng who kept festival. 019 PSA 042 005 Why am I downcast? Why this moaning within me? Hope in God; for yet will I praise him, my help, my God. 019 PSA 042 006 I am sunk in my misery; I will therefore call you to mind from the land of Jordan and Hermon, the mountain Mizar. 019 PSA 042 007 Flood is calling to flood at the noise of your cataracts; all your waves and your breakers have passed over me. 019 PSA 042 008 In the day I cry to the Lord to summon his kindness; and the song that I sing in the night is a prayer to the living God. 019 PSA 042 009 I say to God my rock, “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I walk so sadly, so hard pressed by the foe?” 019 PSA 042 010 It pierces me to the heart to hear the enemy’s taunts, as all the day long they say to me, “Where is your God?” 019 PSA 042 011 Why am I downcast? Why this moaning within me? Hope in God; for yet will I praise him, my help, my God. 019 PSA 043 001 Right me, defend my cause against a pitiless people. From the crafty and crooked, O God, deliver me. 019 PSA 043 002 For you are God my protector: why have you cast me off? Why must I walk so sadly, so hard pressed by the foe? 019 PSA 043 003 Send forth your light and your truth, let them be my guides: to your holy hill let them bring me, to the place where you live. 019 PSA 043 004 Then will I go to God’s altar, to God my rejoicing; and with joy on the lyre I will praise you, O God, my God. 019 PSA 043 005 Why am I downcast? Why this moaning within me? Hope in God; for yet will I praise him, my help, my God. 019 PSA 044 001 For the leader. Of the Korahites. A maskil. O God, we have heard with our ears, all our ancestors have told us of the work that you wrought in their day, your wonders in days of old, 019 PSA 044 002 uprooting and crushing the nations, then planting and settling them. For it wasn’t their own sword that won them the land, 019 PSA 044 003 it was not their own arm that brought them the victory. Yours was the hand and the arm, yours was the face that shone on them with favor. 019 PSA 044 004 It was you, my king and my God, that ordained the victories of Jacob. 019 PSA 044 005 Through you we can thrust back our foes, and by your name tread down our assailants: 019 PSA 044 006 for not in my bow do I trust, nor can my sword win me the victory. 019 PSA 044 007 Our victory comes from you, and confusion to those who hate us. 019 PSA 044 008 In God we boast all the day long, and your name will we praise forever. (Selah) 019 PSA 044 009 Yet you have spurned and disgraced us, in not going forth with our armies, 019 PSA 044 010 and in making us flee from the foe, so that those who hated us plundered us. 019 PSA 044 011 You have let us be eaten like sheep, you have scattered us over the world, 019 PSA 044 012 sold your people for a pittance, and getting no gain from their price. 019 PSA 044 013 You have made us the butt of our neighbors, the derision and scorn of all round us. 019 PSA 044 014 O’er the world you have made us a byword, the nations at us shake their heads. 019 PSA 044 015 My disgrace is forever before me, my face is covered with shame, 019 PSA 044 016 at the words of blasphemer and scoffer, at the sight of the foe and the vengeful. 019 PSA 044 017 All this has come upon us, yet we have not forgotten you nor falsely dealt with your covenant. 019 PSA 044 018 Our heart has not turned back, nor our steps declined from your way, 019 PSA 044 019 that you thus should have crushed us down, and covered us over with gloom, in the place where the jackals roam. 019 PSA 044 020 Had we forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a god that was strange, 019 PSA 044 021 would God not have searched this out? For he knows the heart and its secrets. 019 PSA 044 022 But in your cause it is we are killed all the day, and counted as sheep for the slaughter. 019 PSA 044 023 Rouse yourself, why do you sleep Lord? Awake, cast us not off forever. 019 PSA 044 024 Why do you hide your face, forgetting our stress and our misery? 019 PSA 044 025 For we have sunk down to the dust, our bodies cling to the ground. 019 PSA 044 026 Arise, come to our help: for your love’s sake, ransom us. 019 PSA 045 001 For the leader; on shoshannim. Of the Korahites. A maskil. A love song. My heart is astir with beautiful words: I will sing a song, concerning the king, with tongue like the pen of a ready writer. 019 PSA 045 002 Your beauty is more than mortal, grace is shed over your lips: therefore God has blessed you forever. 019 PSA 045 003 Warrior, strap your sword on your thigh. What glory and splendor! 019 PSA 045 004 Good fortune attend you, as forth you ride in the cause of good faith, and as champion of justice. May your arm instruct you in deeds of dread. 019 PSA 045 005 Sharp are your arrows; nations fall under you: pierced to the heart are the foes of the king. 019 PSA 045 006 Your throne shall endure for ever and ever your royal sceptre a sceptre of equity. 019 PSA 045 007 Right you love and wrong you hate: therefore the Lord your God anoints you With oil of gladness above your fellows. 019 PSA 045 008 With myrrh, aloes, and cassia your robes are all fragrant, you are gladdened by music of ivory harps. 019 PSA 045 009 King’s daughters stand ready with jewels for you, at your right hand the queen in gold of Ophir. 019 PSA 045 010 Listen, daughter, and see; and incline your ear: forget your folk and your father’s house. 019 PSA 045 011 And when the king desires your beauty, bow to him, for he is your lord. 019 PSA 045 012 So shall the Tyrians come with gifts, and the richest of people will do you homage. 019 PSA 045 013 The king’s daughter is glorious altogether, with dress of pearls inwrought with gold. 019 PSA 045 014 In many-coloured robes she is led to the king, with the virgin companions she brought in her train. 019 PSA 045 015 The king’s palace they enter with joy and rejoicing. 019 PSA 045 016 May sons of yours take the place of your fathers, whom you will make princes in all the land. 019 PSA 045 017 Your name will I celebrate world without end, so that nations shall praise you for ever and ever. 019 PSA 046 001 For the leader. Of the Korahites, on alamoth. A song. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 019 PSA 046 002 So we have no fear, though earth should change, and the hills totter into the heart of the ocean. 019 PSA 046 003 Let its waters roar and foam, let the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. On our side is the Lord of hosts, our sure defence is the God of Jacob. (Selah) 019 PSA 046 004 A river there is, whose streams make glad God’s city, the home the Most High has hallowed. 019 PSA 046 005 God is within her: she cannot be shaken. God helps her at the turn of the morning. 019 PSA 046 006 Nations roared, kingdoms tottered: he uttered his voice, earth melted away. 019 PSA 046 007 On our side is the Lord of hosts, our sure defence is the God of Jacob. 019 PSA 046 008 Come and see what the Lord has done, working appallingly in the earth. 019 PSA 046 009 He stills wars to the ends of the earth – breaking the bow, snapping the spear, burning the chariots in the fire. 019 PSA 046 010 “Refrain; and know surely that I am God, high over the nations, high over the world.” 019 PSA 046 011 On our side is the Lord of Hosts, our sure defence is the God of Jacob. (Selah) 019 PSA 047 001 For the leader. Of the Korahites. A psalm. Clap your hands, all you peoples: shout to God in ringing cries. 019 PSA 047 002 For the Lord is most high and dread, a great king over all the earth. 019 PSA 047 003 He subdues the peoples under us, the nations under our feet; 019 PSA 047 004 he chooses our heritage for us, the glory of Jacob whom he loves. (Selah) 019 PSA 047 005 God is gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet. 019 PSA 047 006 Sing praise to our God, sing praises: sing praise to our king, sing praises. 019 PSA 047 007 For king of all earth is he: praise God in a skilful song. 019 PSA 047 008 God is king over all the nations, God sits on his holy throne. 019 PSA 047 009 Princes of nations gather with the people of Abraham’s God: for the shields of the earth are God’s; greatly exalted is he. 019 PSA 048 001 A song. A psalm of the Korahites. Great is the Lord and worthy all praise in the city of our God. His holy mountain, 019 PSA 048 002 that rises so fair, is the joy of all the world. Like the mount of the gods is Mount Zion, the city of the great king. 019 PSA 048 003 Once God made himself known as the defence of her palaces. 019 PSA 048 004 For see! A concert of kings passed over the frontier together. 019 PSA 048 005 But one glance, and they were astounded; they hastened away in dismay. 019 PSA 048 006 Trembling took hold of them there, like the pains of a woman in labor. 019 PSA 048 007 They were shattered, as east wind shatters the giant ships in pieces. 019 PSA 048 008 What we heard, we now have seen in the city of the Lord of hosts, the city of our God. God will uphold her forever. (Selah) 019 PSA 048 009 We think, O God, of your love, in the midst of your temple. 019 PSA 048 010 Your fame, O God, like your name, shall extend to the ends of the earth. Victory fills your hand. 019 PSA 048 011 Let mount Zion be glad; let the daughters of Judah rejoice because of your judgments. 019 PSA 048 012 Walk about Zion, go round her; count her towers. 019 PSA 048 013 Set your mind on her ramparts, consider her palaces; that you tell to the next generation 019 PSA 048 014 That such is God, our God he it is who shall guide us for ever and ever. 019 PSA 049 001 For the leader. Of the Korahites. A psalm. Hear this, you peoples all; attend, all you who live in the world 019 PSA 049 002 people of low degree and high, the rich and the poor together. 019 PSA 049 003 My mouth shall utter wisdom, the thoughts of a seeing heart. 019 PSA 049 004 I incline my ear to a proverb, on the lyre I will open my riddle. 019 PSA 049 005 Why should I be afraid in the days of misfortune, when circled by wicked and cunning foes, 019 PSA 049 006 who put their trust in their wealth, and boast of their boundless riches? 019 PSA 049 007 For assuredly no one can ransom themselves, or give to God the price of their life, 019 PSA 049 008 for the ransom of a life is costly, no payment is ever enough, 019 PSA 049 009 to keep them alive for ever and ever, so as never to see the pit at all. 019 PSA 049 010 But see it they will. Even wise people die, the fool and the brutish perish alike, and abandon their wealth to others. 019 PSA 049 011 The grave is their everlasting home, the place they shall live in for ever and ever, though after their own names they called whole lands. 019 PSA 049 012 Despite their wealth, they perish like dumb animals. 019 PSA 049 013 This is the fate of the confident fool, and the end of those who are pleased with their portion. (Selah) 019 PSA 049 014 Like sheep they descend to Sheol with Death for their shepherd; down they go straight to the grave, and their form wastes away in their home below. (Sheol h7585) 019 PSA 049 015 But God will assuredly ransom my life from the hand of Sheol; for he will receive me. (Selah) (Sheol h7585) 019 PSA 049 016 So be not afraid when someone grows rich, when the wealth of their house increases. 019 PSA 049 017 Not a shred of it all can they take when they die, wealth cannot follow them down. 019 PSA 049 018 Though they count themselves happy, when they are alive, and win praise from many for faring so well, 019 PSA 049 019 they must join their ancestors, who see the light nevermore. 019 PSA 049 020 The wealthy are without understanding, they perish like dumb animals. 019 PSA 050 001 A psalm of Asaph. The Lord God has spoken: He summons the earth from sunrise to sunset. 019 PSA 050 002 From Zion, perfection of beauty, God’s glory shines forth. 019 PSA 050 003 Our God comes, he cannot keep silence, devouring fire is before him, and furious tempest around him. 019 PSA 050 004 He summons the heavens above and the earth to judge his people. 019 PSA 050 005 Gather to him his saints by covenant-sacrifice bound to him; 019 PSA 050 006 that the heavens may declare his justice, for a God of justice is he. (Selah) 019 PSA 050 007 “Hear, O my people, and I will speak, and protest to you, O Israel: I am the Lord, your God. 019 PSA 050 008 Not for your sacrifices will I reprove you your burnt-offerings are ever before me 019 PSA 050 009 Not a bullock will I take from your house, nor male goats out of your folds; 019 PSA 050 010 for all beasts of the forest are mine, and the kine on a thousand hills. 019 PSA 050 011 I know all the birds of the air, all that moves on the fields is mine. 019 PSA 050 012 Were I hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and its fulness are mine. 019 PSA 050 013 Am I such as to eat bulls’ flesh, or drink the blood of goats? 019 PSA 050 014 Offer to God a thank-offering, pay the Most High your vows. 019 PSA 050 015 Summon me in the day of distress, I will rescue you, so will you honor me.” 019 PSA 050 016 But to the wicked God says: “What right have you to talk of my statutes, or take my covenant into your mouth 019 PSA 050 017 while you yourself hate correction, and cast my words behind you? 019 PSA 050 018 When you see a thief, you run with them; with adulterers you keep company. 019 PSA 050 019 You let your mouth loose for evil, your tongue contrives deceit. 019 PSA 050 020 You shamefully speak of your kin, and slander your own mother’s son. 019 PSA 050 021 And because I kept silence at this, you did take me for one like yourself. But I will convict you and show you plainly. 019 PSA 050 022 “Now you who forget God, mark this, lest I rend you, past hope of deliverance. 019 PSA 050 023 Those who bring a thank-offering honor me; but to those: who follows my way, I will show the salvation of God.” 019 PSA 051 001 For the leader. A psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet come to him after he had been with Bathsheba. In your kindness, O God, be gracious to me, in your own great pity blot out my transgressions. 019 PSA 051 002 Wash me clean of my guilt, make me pure of my sin. 019 PSA 051 003 For well I know my transgressions, my sin is ever before me. 019 PSA 051 004 Against you, only you, have I sinned, and done that which is wrong in your sight: you therefore are just when you speak, and clear when you utter judgment. 019 PSA 051 005 See! In guilt was I brought to the birth, and in sin did my mother conceive me. 019 PSA 051 006 It’s the innermost truth you desire, give me therefore true wisdom of heart. 019 PSA 051 007 Purge me clean with hyssop, wash me whiter than snow. 019 PSA 051 008 Fill me with joy and gladness, let the bones you have broken rejoice. 019 PSA 051 009 Hide your face from my sins, and blot out my guilt altogether. 019 PSA 051 010 Create me a clean heart, O God, put a new steadfast spirit within me. 019 PSA 051 011 Cast me not forth from your presence, withdraw not your holy spirit. 019 PSA 051 012 Give me back the joy of your help, with a willing spirit sustain me. 019 PSA 051 013 I will teach your ways to transgressors, and sinners shall turn to you. 019 PSA 051 014 Save me from blood, O God, and my tongue shall ring out your faithfulness. 019 PSA 051 015 Open my lips, O Lord, and my mouth shall declare your praise. 019 PSA 051 016 For in sacrifice you have no pleasure, in gifts of burnt-offering no delight. 019 PSA 051 017 The sacrifice pleasing to God is a spirit that is broken; a heart that is crushed, O God, you will not despise. 019 PSA 051 018 Do good in your pleasure to Zion, build the walls of Jerusalem. 019 PSA 051 019 Then will you welcome the due forms of sacrifice, then on your altars shall bullocks be offered. 019 PSA 052 001 For the leader. A maskil of David, when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul that David had gone to Abimelech’s house. Why glory in mischief, you hero? God’s kindness is all the day. 019 PSA 052 002 Engulfing ruin you plot, your tongue like a razor sharpened, you practiser of deceit. 019 PSA 052 003 Evil, not good, you love, and falsehood, not words of truth. (Selah) 019 PSA 052 004 But you love all words that devour, and a tongue that is given to deceit. 019 PSA 052 005 But God, on his part, shall destroy you forever, grasp you and pluck you out of your tent, and root you out of the land of the living. (Selah) 019 PSA 052 006 Smitten with awe at the sight, the righteous shall laugh at you. 019 PSA 052 007 “Look” (they will say) “at the hero who did not make God his stronghold, but trusted in his great wealth and in the strength of his riches.” 019 PSA 052 008 But I am like a fresh olive-tree in the house of God. I trust in the kindness of God for ever and evermore. 019 PSA 052 009 I will render you thanks for ever for what you have done. I will tell how good you are in the presence of those who love you. 019 PSA 053 001 For the leader. On mahalath. A maskil of David. Fools say in their heart, “There is no God.” Vile, hateful their life is; not one does good. 019 PSA 053 002 From heaven God looks out on humans, to see if any are wise, and care for God. 019 PSA 053 003 But all have turned bad, the taint is on all; not one does good, no, not one. 019 PSA 053 004 Have they learned their lesson, those workers of evil? Who ate up my people, eating, devouring, never calling to the Lord. 019 PSA 053 005 Sore afraid will they be, where no fear was; when God scatters the bones of the godless people. They will be put to shame, when God rejects them. 019 PSA 053 006 If only help from Zion would come for Israel! When God brings his people a change of fortune, how glad will be Jacob, and Israel how joyful! 019 PSA 054 001 For the leader. With stringed instruments. A maskil of David, when the Ziphites came and said to Saul, ‘David is in hiding among us’. Save me, O God, by your name, by your power secure for me justice. 019 PSA 054 002 Listen, O God, to my prayer, attend to the words of my mouth. 019 PSA 054 003 For proud men have risen against me, and terrible men seek my life, men who do not set God before them. (Selah) 019 PSA 054 004 But see! God is my helper, the Lord is sustaining my life. 019 PSA 054 005 Let their evil fall back on my foes: cut them off in your faithfulness, Lord. 019 PSA 054 006 Then will I bring you glad sacrifice, praising your gracious name; 019 PSA 054 007 for from all distress you have saved me, and feasted my eyes on my foes. 019 PSA 055 001 For the leader. With stringed instruments. A maskil of David. Listen, God, to my prayer. Don’t hide yourself from my pleading. 019 PSA 055 002 Hear me, and answer; for bitter is my lament. 019 PSA 055 003 I am wild with the noise of the foe, with the clamor of the ungodly; for they hurl disaster upon me, and attack me with fury. 019 PSA 055 004 My heart shudders within me, terrors of deaths press on me, 019 PSA 055 005 fear and trembling attack me, and horror wraps me round. 019 PSA 055 006 O for the wings of a dove: I would fly away and rest. 019 PSA 055 007 I would wander far away, find refuge in the wilderness. (Selah) 019 PSA 055 008 I would find myself a shelter from raging wind and tempest. 019 PSA 055 009 Confuse them, Lord, upset their plans; for I see violence and strife in the city. 019 PSA 055 010 By day and by night they make their rounds on the city walls, while within is crime and trouble, 019 PSA 055 011 within is ruin. Her market-place is never free of deceit and tyranny. 019 PSA 055 012 The taunts were not those of a foe that I could have borne; the disdain was not that of an enemy I could have shunned them: 019 PSA 055 013 but it was you, my equal, my dear and familiar friend. 019 PSA 055 014 We used to be so close, together we walked in God’s house with the crowd. 019 PSA 055 015 May death suddenly take them, may they go down to Sheol alive, for evil lives in their homes and their hearts. (Sheol h7585) 019 PSA 055 016 But I will call on God, the Lord will save me. 019 PSA 055 017 Evening and morning and noon I lament and moan. He will hear my voice; 019 PSA 055 018 though I am attacked by many he will rescue me, unharmed from the war. 019 PSA 055 019 God, who sits on his ancient throne will hear and will humble them, for they never change, they never fear God. (Selah) 019 PSA 055 020 My friend turned against me, betrayed his word. 019 PSA 055 021 His mouth was smoother than butter, but war filled his heart. His words were softer than oil, but sharper than swords. 019 PSA 055 022 Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you. He will never let the righteous be shaken. 019 PSA 055 023 But you, God, will hurl them down to the deepest pit. Bloody and treacherous people will not live out half their days; but I will trust you. 019 PSA 056 001 For the leader. On jonath elem rehokim. Of David. A michtam, when the Philistines seized him in Gath. O God, be gracious to me, for people trample upon me, all the day righting and pressing me. 019 PSA 056 002 All the day enemies trample me; many there be who contend with me bitterly. 019 PSA 056 003 In the day of my terror I trust in you. 019 PSA 056 004 In God I maintain my cause, in God I fearlessly trust. What can flesh do to me? 019 PSA 056 005 They torture me all the day, they ceaselessly plan to hurt me, 019 PSA 056 006 banded together in secret, watching my every step, as those who hope for my death. 019 PSA 056 007 Pay them out for their sin, O God, hurl down the strong in your anger. 019 PSA 056 008 You yourself count my wanderings. Put in your bottle my tears are they not in your book? 019 PSA 056 009 Then shall my foes be turned back in the day that I call. Of this I am sure, because God is for me. 019 PSA 056 010 In God I maintain my cause, in the Lord I maintain my cause. 019 PSA 056 011 In God I fearlessly trust, what can people do to me? 019 PSA 056 012 Your vows are upon me, O God, I will render thank-offerings to you; 019 PSA 056 013 because you have saved me from death, my feet from stumbling, to the end that I walk before God in the light of the living. 019 PSA 057 001 For the leader. Al tashheth. A michtam of David, when he fled from Saul into a cave. Be gracious, O God, be gracious to me, for in you I take shelter. In your sheltering wings I take refuge, till ruin be over past. 019 PSA 057 002 I cry to the Most High God, to the God who accomplishes for me. 019 PSA 057 003 He will send me his succour from heaven, he will thrust away those who would trample me. (Selah) 019 PSA 057 004 In the midst of lions I lie, who devour human prey. Their teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue is a sharpened sword. 019 PSA 057 005 Be exalted, God, o’er the heavens, and your glory o’er all the earth. 019 PSA 057 006 They set a net for my feet, but in it was their own foot caught. Before me they dug a pit, but they fell into it themselves. (Selah) 019 PSA 057 007 My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast. I would sing, I would make music; 019 PSA 057 008 awake, my soul. Awake, harp and lyre; I would wake the dawn. 019 PSA 057 009 I would praise you among the peoples, O Lord, and make music among the nations to you; 019 PSA 057 010 for great to heaven is your love, and your faithfulness to the clouds. 019 PSA 057 011 Be exalted, God, o’er the heavens, and your glory o’er all the earth. 019 PSA 058 001 For the leader. Al tashheth. Of David. A michtam. Do you speak what is right, you gods? With equity judge you your people? 019 PSA 058 002 In the land you practise iniquity – all of you; violence do you dispense with your hands. 019 PSA 058 003 The wicked go astray from the womb liars take the wrong path from their birth. 019 PSA 058 004 Venom have they like the venom of snakes, they are like the deaf adder that stops her ears, 019 PSA 058 005 and refuses to listen to the voice of the charmer, or binder of spells, no matter how cunning. 019 PSA 058 006 O God, break to pieces the teeth in their mouth, tear out the great teeth of the young lions, Lord. 019 PSA 058 007 May they melt away like running water! Like tender grass, cut down may they be! 019 PSA 058 008 Like the snail that dissolves on its crawling path, like the birth untimely which sees not the sunlight. 019 PSA 058 009 Faster than a thorn-fire heats your pots, he will come with his tempest and sweep them away. 019 PSA 058 010 The sight of such vengeance will gladden the righteous; their feet they will wash in the blood of the wicked. 019 PSA 058 011 People will say, “Yes, the just are rewarded: yes, on the earth is a God who is Judge.” 019 PSA 059 001 For the leader. Al tashheth. Of David. A michtam, when Saul sent men to watch his house in order to kill him. Save me, O God, from my enemies; secure me from my assailants. 019 PSA 059 002 Save me from those who do wrong, save me from the bloodthirsty. 019 PSA 059 003 For see! They lay ambush for me, strong men are banded against me not for sin or transgression of mine, for no guilt of mine, O Lord, 019 PSA 059 004 they run and make ready. Awake! Come forth to meet me, and see! 019 PSA 059 005 You, O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, awake! And punish the proud, every one; spare none of the traitors vile. (Selah) 019 PSA 059 006 At evening they come, and, howling like dogs, make their round in the city. 019 PSA 059 007 Look at their venomous mouths, tongues like swords, they think no one hears them. 019 PSA 059 008 But you, Lord, laugh at them, you mock all the insolent. 019 PSA 059 009 My strength, I will sing to you, for God is my sure retreat. 019 PSA 059 010 My God with his love will meet me, and feast my eyes on my foes. 019 PSA 059 011 Slay them not, lest my people forget, let your hosts keep them roaming and wandering. 019 PSA 059 012 In their sinful speech snare them, O Lord; and may they be trapped in their pride, for the curses and lies that they utter. 019 PSA 059 013 In your wrath make a clean end of them, that people, to the ends of the earth, may know that God rules in Jacob. (Selah) 019 PSA 059 014 At evening they come, and, howling like dogs, make their round in the city. 019 PSA 059 015 They roam about for a feast, and snarl, if they get not their fill. 019 PSA 059 016 But I will sing of your might; I will ring out your love in the morning. For to me you have been a sure refuge, a retreat in the day of my trouble. 019 PSA 059 017 My strength, I will sing praise to you, for God is my sure retreat, my faithful God. 019 PSA 060 001 For the leader. On shushan eduth. A michtam of David (for teaching), when he fought with Aram-naharaim and Aram-zobah, and Joab returned and defeated twelve thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt. O God, you have spurned and broken us, routing us in your wrath – restore us! 019 PSA 060 002 You have shaken the land and cleft it; heal its tottering breaches. 019 PSA 060 003 You have made your people drink hardship, and given us wine of reeling. 019 PSA 060 004 You have given those who fear you a banner, a rallying-place from the bow, (Selah) 019 PSA 060 005 for the rescue of your beloved. Save by your right hand and answer us. 019 PSA 060 006 God did solemnly swear: “As victor will I divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth. 019 PSA 060 007 Mine is Gilead, mine is Manasseh, Ephraim is the defence of my head, Judah my sceptre of rule, 019 PSA 060 008 Moab the pot that I wash in, Edom – I cast my shoe over it, I shout o’er Philistia in triumph.” 019 PSA 060 009 O to be brought to the fortified city! O to be led into Edom! 019 PSA 060 010 Have you not spurned us, O God? You do not march forth with our armies. 019 PSA 060 011 Grant us help from the foe, for human help is worthless. 019 PSA 060 012 With God we shall yet do bravely: he himself will tread down our foes. 019 PSA 061 001 For the leader. On stringed instruments. Of David. Hear my cry, O God, be attentive to my prayer. 019 PSA 061 002 From the ends of the earth I call unto you, when my heart is faint: lead me to the rock that is high above me. 019 PSA 061 003 For you are a refuge to me, a strong tower in face of the foe. 019 PSA 061 004 O to be guest in your tent forever, hiding beneath your sheltering wings! (Selah) 019 PSA 061 005 For you, O God, do hear my vows, and grant the desires of those who fear you. 019 PSA 061 006 Add many days to the life of the king; may his years endure throughout all generations. 019 PSA 061 007 In the presence of God be he throned forever; may kindness and faithfulness watch over him. 019 PSA 061 008 And I will sing praise to your name forever, paying my vows day after day. 019 PSA 062 001 For the leader. On jeduthun. A psalm of David. I wait alone in silence for God; From him comes my help. 019 PSA 062 002 Yes, he is my rock, my help, my retreat, I shall not be shaken too sorely. 019 PSA 062 003 How long will you, all of you, batter a man, as one might a leaning wall? 019 PSA 062 004 From his height they are planning to topple him. They take pleasure in falsehood; they bless with their mouth, but inwardly they curse. (Selah) 019 PSA 062 005 I wait alone in silence for God; for from him comes my hope. 019 PSA 062 006 Yes, he is my rock, my help, my retreat, I shall not be shaken too sorely. 019 PSA 062 007 On God rests my honor and safety, in God is my strong rock, my refuge. 019 PSA 062 008 Trust in him, all you people assembled, pour out your heart in his presence; God is a refuge for us. (Selah) 019 PSA 062 009 The lowly are nought but a breath, the lofty are but an illusion: in the balances up they go, they are lighter than breath altogether. 019 PSA 062 010 Trust not in gain of extortion, set no vain hopes in robbery. As for wealth, if it bears fruit, set not your heart upon it. 019 PSA 062 011 One thing God has uttered, two things there are which I heard that power belongs to God, 019 PSA 062 012 and to you, too, O Lord, belongs kindness; for you requite each person according to what they have done. 019 PSA 063 001 A psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, my God, you, you do I seek: my heart thirsts for you, my body faints for you in a parched and waterless land. 019 PSA 063 002 As I in the temple have seen you, beholding your power and your glory, 019 PSA 063 003 for better than life is your kindness: my lips shall utter your praise. 019 PSA 063 004 So, while I live, I will bless you, and lift up my hands in your name. 019 PSA 063 005 As with marrow and fat am I feasted; with joyful lips I will praise you. 019 PSA 063 006 I call you to mind on my bed, and muse on you in the night watches; 019 PSA 063 007 for you have been my help, I joyfully sing in the shadow of your wings. 019 PSA 063 008 I cling close after you, your right hand holds me up. 019 PSA 063 009 But those who seek after my life shall go down to the depths of the earth, 019 PSA 063 010 given o’er to the power of the sword, or as prey for jackals to devour. 019 PSA 063 011 But the king shall rejoice in God: all who own his allegiance will glory. For the mouth of the false shall be stopped. 019 PSA 064 001 For the leader. A psalm of David. Hear, O my God, the voice of my lament: guard my life from the dread of the foe. 019 PSA 064 002 Hide me from villains who secretly plot, from the blustering throng of the workers of evil, 019 PSA 064 003 who have sharpened their tongue like a sword, and aimed bitter words like arrows, 019 PSA 064 004 which from ambush they launch at the blameless, shooting swiftly and unafraid. 019 PSA 064 005 They strengthen their wicked purpose, they tell of the snares they have hidden, they say to themselves, “Who can see?” 019 PSA 064 006 They think out their crimes full cunningly hidden deep in their crafty hearts. 019 PSA 064 007 But God with his arrow will shoot them, swiftly shall they be smitten. 019 PSA 064 008 For their tongue he will bring them to ruin, all will shudder with horror at the sight of them. 019 PSA 064 009 Then every person, touched to awe, as they ponder what God has wrought, will tell the tale of his deeds. 019 PSA 064 010 In the Lord shall the righteous rejoice, in him shall they take refuge; and all the true-hearted shall glory. 019 PSA 065 001 For the leader. A psalm of David. A song. It is seemly to praise you, O God, in Zion, and to you shall the vow be performed in Jerusalem. 019 PSA 065 002 O you who hear prayer, unto you shall all flesh come. 019 PSA 065 003 Our sins are too mighty for us, our transgressions you only can cover them. 019 PSA 065 004 Happy the person who you choose to live beside you in your courts. O may we be filled with the joys of your house, of your holy temple. 019 PSA 065 005 In dread deeds you loyally answer us, O God of our salvation, whom all ends of the earth put their trust in, and islands far away. 019 PSA 065 006 By your strength you establish the hills, you are armed with might; 019 PSA 065 007 you still the roaring of seas, and the turmoil of nations, 019 PSA 065 008 so that those who live at earth’s bounds are awed at your signs: the lands of the sunrise and sunset you make to ring with joy. 019 PSA 065 009 You visit and water the earth; you greatly enrich her with the river of God, which is full of water. You prepare the corn thereof, 019 PSA 065 010 watering her furrows, settling her ridges; you make her soft with showers, and bless what grows thereon. 019 PSA 065 011 You crown the year with your goodness, your chariot tracks drip with fatness. 019 PSA 065 012 The desert pastures are lush, the hills greened with joy. 019 PSA 065 013 The meadows are clothed with flocks, the valleys are covered with corn; they shout to each other and sing. 019 PSA 066 001 For the leader. A song. A psalm. Shout to God, all the earth, 019 PSA 066 002 sing praise to his glorious name, sing his glorious praise. 019 PSA 066 003 Say to God, “How dread are your works, so great is your might that your enemies cringe to you. 019 PSA 066 004 All the earth does homage to you, singing praises to you, singing praise to your name.” (Selah) 019 PSA 066 005 Come and see what God has done, awe-inspiring is he in his works among people. 019 PSA 066 006 He turns the sea into dry land, and people cross the river on foot. Let us therefore rejoice in him, 019 PSA 066 007 the mighty Ruler eternal, whose eyes keep watch on the nations, that no rebel lift up his head. (Selah) 019 PSA 066 008 O bless our God, you peoples; sound aloud his praise, 019 PSA 066 009 who keeps us in life, and keeps our feet from slipping. 019 PSA 066 010 For you, God, have tested us, have tried us, as silver is tried. 019 PSA 066 011 You did bring us into prison, and put chains upon us, 019 PSA 066 012 you did let people ride over our head. We went through fire and through water, but you led us out to a spacious place. 019 PSA 066 013 I will enter your house with burnt-offerings, I will pay to you my vows, 019 PSA 066 014 which my open lips have uttered, arid my mouth has declared in my straits. 019 PSA 066 015 I will offer you offerings of fatlings, with the odour of burning rams, I will sacrifice bullocks with goats. (Selah) 019 PSA 066 016 Come and hear my story all who fear God – of what he has done for me. 019 PSA 066 017 For my mouth had no sooner invoked him than his praise was under my tongue. 019 PSA 066 018 Had I cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would never have listened. 019 PSA 066 019 But assuredly God has listened, and attended to my loud prayer. 019 PSA 066 020 Blessed be God, who turned not aside my prayer, nor withdrew his kindness from me. 019 PSA 067 001 For the leader. On stringed instruments. A psalm. A song. Bless us, O God, with your favor, let the light of your face fall upon us; (Selah) 019 PSA 067 002 that the world may know your way, and all nations your power to save. 019 PSA 067 003 Let the peoples praise you, O God; let the peoples all of them praise you. 019 PSA 067 004 Let the nations ring out their joy; for you govern the peoples with equity, and guide the nations on earth. (Selah) 019 PSA 067 005 Let the peoples praise you, O God, let the peoples, all of them, praise you. 019 PSA 067 006 The earth has yielded her increase by the blessing of God, our God. 019 PSA 067 007 May this blessing of ours win people to him to all the ends of the earth. 019 PSA 068 001 For the leader. Of David. A psalm. A song. God arises, his enemies scatter: they who hate him flee before him. 019 PSA 068 002 As smoke before wind is driven, as wax melts before fire, so before God vanish the wicked. 019 PSA 068 003 But the righteous rejoice in God’s presence, they exult with exceeding joy. 019 PSA 068 004 Sing to God, make music to his name, his name is the Lord, praise him who rides on the clouds, and exult in his presence. 019 PSA 068 005 Father of orphans, defender of widows, is God in his holy abode. 019 PSA 068 006 God brings home the lonely, he leads forth the prisoner to comfort, so that none but the rebel lives cheerless. 019 PSA 068 007 God, when you went in front of your people in your march through the desert, (Selah) 019 PSA 068 008 earth shook, the heavens poured rain at the presence of God, Sinai’s God at the presence of God, Israel’s God. 019 PSA 068 009 Rain in abundance, God, you did sprinkle, restoring the languishing land of your heritage. 019 PSA 068 010 A dwelling therein your people found: in your goodness, O God, you did care for the poor. 019 PSA 068 011 The Lord spoke the glad tidings of victory, a great army of women proclaim it: 019 PSA 068 012 “Kings of armies they flee, they flee, and the housewife divides the spoil: 019 PSA 068 013 dove’s wings covered with silver and pinions with shimmer of gold, 019 PSA 068 014 set with stones, like snow upon Zalmon.” 019 PSA 068 015 A mountain of God is the mountain of Bashan, a mountain of peaks is the mountain of Bashan. 019 PSA 068 016 You high-peaked mountains, why look you askance at the mountain which God has desired for his home whereon the Lord will live forever? 019 PSA 068 017 The chariots of God are twice ten thousand: the Lord came from Sinai, his holy place. 019 PSA 068 018 You did mount the height with trains of your captives, and gifts that you had received from the people. The rebels shall live with the Lord God. 019 PSA 068 019 Blest be the Lord who sustains us daily, the God who is also our savior. (Selah) 019 PSA 068 020 Our God is a God who is savior. The ways of escape from death are known to the Lord God. 019 PSA 068 021 Yes, God will shatter the head of his foes the rough scalp of those who strut on in their sins. 019 PSA 068 022 The Lord said: “I will bring you home from Bashan, home from the depths of the sea, 019 PSA 068 023 that your feet you may bathe in blood, and your dogs lick their share of the foe.” 019 PSA 068 024 In the temple appear God’s triumphal processions, processions in praise of my king and my God, 019 PSA 068 025 with singers in front, and minstrels behind, and maidens with timbrels between them, singing, 019 PSA 068 026 “You of the well-spring of Israel, bless the Lord God in the dance.” 019 PSA 068 027 There, in front, is Benjamin the little, the princes of Judah beside them, the princes of Zebulon, princes of Naphtali. 019 PSA 068 028 God, show your strength, your godlike might, as you did in the past, 019 PSA 068 029 from your temple that crowns Jerusalem. Kings shall bring tribute to you. 019 PSA 068 030 Rebuke the beast of the reed, the herd of bulls, with the calves of the peoples. Trample down the lovers of lies. Scatter the nations whose joy is in war. 019 PSA 068 031 May they come from Egypt with gifts of oil, Ethiopia haste with full hands to God. 019 PSA 068 032 Sing to God, O you kingdoms of earth, make melody to the Lord. (Selah) 019 PSA 068 033 Praise him who rides on the ancient heavens. See! He utters his voice, his mighty voice. 019 PSA 068 034 Ascribe strength to the God over Israel, whose strength and majesty live in the skies. 019 PSA 068 035 Awe-inspiring is God in his holy place, it is Israel’s God who gives strength and might to his people. Blessed be God. 019 PSA 069 001 For the leader. On shoshannim. Of David. Save me, O God; for the waters are threatening my life. 019 PSA 069 002 I am sunk in depths of mire, where ground there is none. I am come into deep deep waters, the flood overwhelms me. 019 PSA 069 003 I am weary of crying, my throat is parched, my eyes are wasted with waiting for God. 019 PSA 069 004 More than the hairs of my head are those who wantonly hate me. More than my bones in number are those who are falsely my foes. That which I never robbed, how am I then to restore? 019 PSA 069 005 O God, you know my folly, my guilt is not hidden from you. 019 PSA 069 006 Through me let not any be shamed, who wait for you, Lord God of hosts. Through me let not those be confounded who seek you, O God of Israel. 019 PSA 069 007 It’s in your cause that I have borne taunts, and my face has been covered with shame; 019 PSA 069 008 I became to my kindred a foreigner, to my mother’s sons a stranger. 019 PSA 069 009 It was zeal for your house that consumed me, and the insults they hurled at you fell upon me. 019 PSA 069 010 When I chastened myself with fasting, they took occasion to taunt me. 019 PSA 069 011 When I put on a garment of sackcloth, they made me the theme of a taunt-song. 019 PSA 069 012 Those who sit in the gate make sport of me in the music of drunken songs. 019 PSA 069 013 But I pray to you, Lord, for a time of favor. In your great love answer me; with your loyal help, save me 019 PSA 069 014 from sinking down in the mire. Lift me out of the deep deep waters, 019 PSA 069 015 that the rushing flood may not drown me, that the deep may not swallow me up, nor the pit close her mouth upon me. 019 PSA 069 016 Answer me, Lord, in your gracious kindness, turn to me in your great compassion. 019 PSA 069 017 Hide not your face from your servant, for I am in trouble; O answer me speedily. 019 PSA 069 018 Draw near to me, redeem me; because of my enemies, ransom me. 019 PSA 069 019 You know how I am insulted; in your sight are all my foes. 019 PSA 069 020 Insult has broken my heart, past cure are my shame and confusion. For pity I looked – there was none! And for comforters, but I found none. 019 PSA 069 021 Poison they gave me for food, and to slake my thirst they gave vinegar. 019 PSA 069 022 May their table, outspread, be a trap to them, and their peace-offerings be a snare. 019 PSA 069 023 May their eyes be darkened and blind, make them shake without ceasing. 019 PSA 069 024 Pour your indignation upon them, let your burning wrath overtake them. 019 PSA 069 025 May their camp be a desolation, in their tents be there none to live. 019 PSA 069 026 For those whom you struck, they persecute, and those whom you wounded, they pain yet more. 019 PSA 069 027 Charge them with sin upon sin, may they not be acquitted by you. 019 PSA 069 028 From the book of life be they blotted, may their names not be written with the righteous. 019 PSA 069 029 Lift me, O God, by your help above my pain and misery. 019 PSA 069 030 Then will I praise God in song and magnify him with thanksgiving, 019 PSA 069 031 which shall please the Lord better than ox, or than bullock with horns and hoofs. 019 PSA 069 032 The oppressed shall rejoice at the sight. You who seek after God, let your heart revive. 019 PSA 069 033 For the Lord listens to the poor, he does not despise his prisoners. 019 PSA 069 034 Let the heavens and the earth sing his praises, the seas, and all creatures that move in them. 019 PSA 069 035 For God will bring help to Zion, and build up the cities of Judah, his people shall live there in possession. 019 PSA 069 036 His servants’ children shall have it for heritage, and those who love him shall live therein. 019 PSA 070 001 For the leader. Of David. For commemoration. Quickly, God, deliver me, hasten to help me, Lord. 019 PSA 070 002 May those who are seeking my life, be ashamed and confounded. 019 PSA 070 003 May those who delight in my hurt be defeated and brought to dishonor. 019 PSA 070 004 But may all who seek after you rejoice and be glad in you. May all who love your salvation say, “Glory to God,” evermore. 019 PSA 070 005 I am weak and needy: make haste, God, to me. You are my help and deliverer; Lord, don’t delay. 019 PSA 071 001 In you, O Lord, I take refuge, let me never be put to shame. 019 PSA 071 002 In your faithfulness save me and rescue me, bend your ear to me and save me. 019 PSA 071 003 Be to me a rock of defence, a fortified house, to save me; for my rock and my fortress are you. 019 PSA 071 004 Save me, my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of the unjust and cruel. 019 PSA 071 005 For you, Lord, are my hope, in whom from my youth I have trusted. 019 PSA 071 006 On you have I leaned from my birth; from my mother’s womb it was you who did draw me. In you is my hope evermore. 019 PSA 071 007 I have been as a wonder to many, for you are my refuge and strength. 019 PSA 071 008 All the day long my mouth is filled with your praise and your glory. 019 PSA 071 009 Cast me not off in the time of old age; when my strength is spent, forsake me not. 019 PSA 071 010 For my foes whisper against me, they who watch me take counsel together; 019 PSA 071 011 “God has left him,” they say: “pursue and seize him, for he is helpless.” 019 PSA 071 012 O God, be not far from me, haste, O my God, to my help. 019 PSA 071 013 Put my foes to shame and dishonor, with insult and shame be they covered. 019 PSA 071 014 But I will never stop hoping, and more and yet more will I praise you. 019 PSA 071 015 All the day long shall my mouth tell your faithfulness and your salvation, though I know not how they may be counted. 019 PSA 071 016 I will tell of the might of the Lord, and your faithfulness praise, you alone. 019 PSA 071 017 You have taught me, O God, from my youth, and till now have I told of your wonders. 019 PSA 071 018 Even in old age and grey hair, O God, do not forsake me. Still would I tell of your might unto all generations to come. 019 PSA 071 019 Your power and your justice, O God, extend as far as the heavens: for great are the things you have done. Who is like you, O God? 019 PSA 071 020 You have caused us to see troubles many, but you will revive us again. From the depths of the earth you will bring me up again. 019 PSA 071 021 You will multiply my greatness, and comfort me again. 019 PSA 071 022 So with harp I will praise you, and your faithfulness, O my God; and make music to you on the lyre, O you Holy One of Israel. 019 PSA 071 023 My lips shall ring out their joy, my mouth shall sing praises to you; all of me, which you have redeemed. 019 PSA 071 024 Yes, all the day long shall my tongue utter your righteousness; for ashamed and confounded are they who were seeking my hurt. 019 PSA 072 001 Of Solomon. Give the king, O God, your own spirit of justice your spirit of right to the son of the king, 019 PSA 072 002 that with right he may judge your people, and your downtrodden ones with justice. 019 PSA 072 003 May the mountains bear weal for the people, and the hills yield fruits of justice. 019 PSA 072 004 The weak may he help to their rights, may he save the sons of the needy and crush the oppressor in pieces. 019 PSA 072 005 May he live as long as the sun, while the moon shines – for ages and ages. 019 PSA 072 006 May he be like the rain on the meadow, like showers that water the earth. 019 PSA 072 007 In his days may justice flourish, and welfare abound, till the moon be no more. 019 PSA 072 008 May he reign from ocean to ocean, from the river to the ends of the earth. 019 PSA 072 009 May his foes bow down before him, his enemies lick the dust. 019 PSA 072 010 May tribute be rendered by kings of the isles and of Tarshish; may gifts be brought by the kings of Sheba and Seba. 019 PSA 072 011 May all kings fall prostrate before him, and all nations yield him their service. 019 PSA 072 012 For he saves the poor when he cries, the helpless and the downtrodden. 019 PSA 072 013 He pities the weak and the poor, he saves the lives of the poor. 019 PSA 072 014 He redeems them from wrong and from violence, for dear is their blood in his sight. 019 PSA 072 015 Long may he live; and may gold of Sheba be given him; prayer, too, be made for him ceaselessly, all the day long may men bless him. 019 PSA 072 016 May the land have abundance of corn, to the tops of the hills may it wave. May the fruit thereof flourish like Lebanon, may men spring from the city like grass of the earth. 019 PSA 072 017 May his name be blessed forever, may his fame endure as the sun. May all nations envy his blessedness, all tribes of the earth call him happy. 019 PSA 072 018 Blest be the Lord God, Israel’s God, who alone does wonders; 019 PSA 072 019 And blest be forever his glorious name. Let all the earth be filled with his glory. Amen and Amen. 019 PSA 072 020 Here end the prayers of David, son of Jesse. 019 PSA 073 001 A psalm of Asaph. Yes, God is good to the upright, the Lord to the pure in heart. 019 PSA 073 002 But my feet were almost gone, my steps had nearly slipped, 019 PSA 073 003 through envy of godless braggarts, when I saw how well they fared. 019 PSA 073 004 For never a pang have they, their body is sound and sleek. 019 PSA 073 005 They have no trouble like mortals, no share in human pain. 019 PSA 073 006 So they wear their pride like a necklace, they put on the garment of wrong, 019 PSA 073 007 their eyes stand out with fatness, their heart swells with riotous fancies. 019 PSA 073 008 Their speech is mocking and evil, condescending and crooked their speech. 019 PSA 073 009 They have set their mouth in the heavens, while their tongue struts about on the earth. 019 PSA 073 010 Small wonder that people resort to them, and drink deep draughts of their lore. 019 PSA 073 011 “How does God know?” they say, “And has the Most High any knowledge?” 019 PSA 073 012 See! These are the godless, with wealth and ease ever increasing. 019 PSA 073 013 Yes, in vain have I kept my heart pure, and washed my hands in innocence; 019 PSA 073 014 for all the day long was I plagued not a morning but I was chastised. 019 PSA 073 015 But to resolve to speak like they do would be treachery to your children. 019 PSA 073 016 So I sought to understand it, but a wearisome task it seemed: 019 PSA 073 017 till I entered the holy world of God and saw clearly their destiny. 019 PSA 073 018 Yes, you set them on slippery places; down to destruction you hurl them. 019 PSA 073 019 One moment and then what a horror of ruin! They are finished and ended in terrors. 019 PSA 073 020 Like a dream, when one wakes, shall they be, whose phantoms the waker despises. 019 PSA 073 021 So my bitterness of mind and the pain that stabbed my heart 019 PSA 073 022 show how dull I was and stupid just like a beast before you. 019 PSA 073 023 But I am always with you, you have hold of my right hand. 019 PSA 073 024 By a plan of yours you guide me and will afterward take me to glory. 019 PSA 073 025 Whom have I in the heavens but you? And on earth there is none I desire beside you. 019 PSA 073 026 Though flesh and heart waste away, yet God is the rock of my heart, yet God is my portion forever. 019 PSA 073 027 For see! Those who are far from you must perish, you destroy all who are false to you. 019 PSA 073 028 But I am happy when close to God; the Lord my God I have made my refuge, that I may recount all the things you have done. 019 PSA 074 001 A maskil of Asaph. Why, O God, have you spurned us forever? Why smokes your wrath against the sheep of your pasture? 019 PSA 074 002 Remember the community you purchased of old to become by redemption the tribe of your heritage, Zion, the mountain you made your home. 019 PSA 074 003 Rouse yourself, visit its ruins complete. In the temple the foe has made havoc of all things. 019 PSA 074 004 Like lions your enemies roared through your house, replacing our symbols by signs of their own, 019 PSA 074 005 hacking, like woodsmen who lift axes on thickets of trees, 019 PSA 074 006 smashing with hatchets and hammers all of its carved work together. 019 PSA 074 007 They have set your temple on fire, to the very ground they have outraged the place where lives your name. 019 PSA 074 008 They have said in their heart, “Let us utterly crush them.” They have burned all the houses of God in the land. 019 PSA 074 009 No symbol of ours do we see any more: no prophet is there any more, none is with us who knows how long. 019 PSA 074 010 How long, O God, is the foe to insult? Shall the enemy spurn your name forever? 019 PSA 074 011 Why, O Lord, do you hold back your hand, why keep your right hand in the folds of your robe? 019 PSA 074 012 Yet God is our king from the ancient days, in the midst of the earth working deeds of salvation. 019 PSA 074 013 It was you who did cleave the sea by your might, and shatter the heads of the ocean monsters. 019 PSA 074 014 It was you who did crush many-headed Leviathan, and give him as food to the beasts of the wilderness. 019 PSA 074 015 It was you who did cleave the fountains and torrents; it was you who did dry the perennial streams. 019 PSA 074 016 Yours is the day; yours, too, is the night, it was you who did establish the sun and the star. 019 PSA 074 017 It was you who did fix all the borders of earth: summer and winter it’s you who have made them. 019 PSA 074 018 Yet, for all this, the foe has insulted you, Lord, and a nation of fools has reviled your name. 019 PSA 074 019 Do not give your dove to the beasts, do not forget your afflicted forever. 019 PSA 074 020 Look to the sleek ones – how full they are: the dark places of earth are the dwellings of violence. 019 PSA 074 021 O let not the downtrodden turn back ashamed: let the poor and the needy sing praise to your name. 019 PSA 074 022 Arise, God, and defend your cause: remember how fools all the day insult you. 019 PSA 074 023 Do not forget the uproar of your enemies, the din of your foes that ascends evermore. 019 PSA 075 001 For the leader; al tashheth. A psalm of Asaph, a song. We praise you, God, we praise you: we would call on your name and declare your wonders. 019 PSA 075 002 “At the time I choose, I will judge fairly. 019 PSA 075 003 Though earth melt and all her inhabitants, it is I who keep steady her pillars.” (Selah) 019 PSA 075 004 I say to the boasters, “Boast not”; to the wicked, “Lift not up your horn: 019 PSA 075 005 lift not your horn on high, speak not boldly against the Rock.” 019 PSA 075 006 For not from east nor west, not from desert nor mountains; 019 PSA 075 007 but God himself is the judge, humbling one and exalting another. 019 PSA 075 008 In the hand of the Lord is a cup foaming wine, richly spiced. Out of this he pours a draught, and all the wicked of earth must drain it down to the dregs. 019 PSA 075 009 But I will rejoice forever, singing praise to the God of Jacob. 019 PSA 075 010 I will hew all the horns of the wicked, but the horns of the just shall be lifted. 019 PSA 076 001 For the leader. With instrumental music. A psalm of Asaph, a song. God has made himself known in Judah, his name is great in Israel. 019 PSA 076 002 His tent is in Salem, his dwelling in Zion. 019 PSA 076 003 There he broke the lightning arrows, shield, sword, and weapons of war. (Selah) 019 PSA 076 004 Terrible is your splendor on the everlasting mountains. 019 PSA 076 005 Despoiled were the stout of heart; in the sleep into which they had fallen, none of the warriors could lift a hand. 019 PSA 076 006 At your rebuke, God of Jacob, sank chariot and horse to sleep. 019 PSA 076 007 Awful are you: who can stand before you, when once you are angry? 019 PSA 076 008 The judgment you gave from heaven frightened the earth into silence, 019 PSA 076 009 when God arose to judgment to save the oppressed of the earth. (Selah) 019 PSA 076 010 The fiercest will praise you, to you will the remnant hold festival. 019 PSA 076 011 Vow and pay to Lord your God, and let all who are round him bring presents. 019 PSA 076 012 He lops off the courage of princes, and with terror fills kings of the earth. 019 PSA 077 001 For the leader. On Jeduthun. Of Asaph, a psalm. Loudly will I lift my cry to God, loudly to God, so he hears to me. 019 PSA 077 002 In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord; in the night I lift my hands in prayer, refusing all comfort. 019 PSA 077 003 When I think of God, I moan; when I muse, my spirit is faint. (Selah) 019 PSA 077 004 When you hold my eyes awake, and I am restless and speechless, 019 PSA 077 005 I think of the days of old, call to mind distant years. 019 PSA 077 006 I commune with my heart in the night, I muse with inquiring spirit. 019 PSA 077 007 “Will the Lord cast us off forever, will he be gracious no more? 019 PSA 077 008 Has his love vanished forever? Is his faithfulness utterly gone? 019 PSA 077 009 Has God forgotten to be gracious, or in anger withheld his compassion?” (Selah) 019 PSA 077 010 Then I said, “This it is that grieves me, that the hand of the Most High has changed.” 019 PSA 077 011 I will think of the deeds of the Lord, and remember your wonders of old. 019 PSA 077 012 I will muse on all you have wrought, and meditate on your deeds. 019 PSA 077 013 Then your way, O God, was majestic: what God was great as our God? 019 PSA 077 014 You were a God who did marvels, you did show your power to the world 019 PSA 077 015 by your arm you rescued your people, the children of Jacob and Joseph. (Selah) 019 PSA 077 016 The waters saw you, O God. The waters saw you and shivered; to their depths they trembled. 019 PSA 077 017 Clouds poured torrents of water, thunder rolled in the sky, your arrows sped to and fro. 019 PSA 077 018 Loud was the roll of your thunder, lightnings lit up the world. Earth quaked and trembled. 019 PSA 077 019 In your way, Lord, through the sea, in your path through the mighty waters, your footsteps were all unseen. 019 PSA 077 020 You did guide your folk like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron. 019 PSA 078 001 A maskil of Asaph. My people, attend to my teaching: bend your ears to the words of my mouth, 019 PSA 078 002 as I open my mouth in a poem on the riddling story of the past. 019 PSA 078 003 What we have heard and known, and what our ancestors have told us, 019 PSA 078 004 we will not hide from their children. We will tell to the next generation the praises and might of the Lord, and the wonders that he has done. 019 PSA 078 005 He set up a testimony in Jacob, a law he appointed in Israel, which he commanded our ancestors to make known to their children, 019 PSA 078 006 that the next generation should know it, that the children yet to be born should arise and tell their children; 019 PSA 078 007 that in God they might put their confidence, and not forget God’s works; but that they might keep his commandments, 019 PSA 078 008 and not be like their ancestors, a generation defiant and stubborn, a generation with heart unsteady, and spirit unfaithful towards God. 019 PSA 078 009 Ephraimites, armed bowmen, turned back in the day of battle. 019 PSA 078 010 They did not keep God’s covenant, they refused to walk in his law. 019 PSA 078 011 They forgot what he had done, and the wonders he had shown them. 019 PSA 078 012 He did wonders before their ancestors in the country of Zoan in Egypt. 019 PSA 078 013 Through the sea which he split he brought them, making waters stand up like a heap; 019 PSA 078 014 he led them by day with a cloud, all the night with a light of fire. 019 PSA 078 015 From the rocks which he split in the wilderness, he gave them to drink as of ocean’s abundance. 019 PSA 078 016 He brought streams out of the rock, and made water run down like rivers. 019 PSA 078 017 Yet they still went on sinning against him, they defied the Most High in the desert. 019 PSA 078 018 They willfully challenged God, demanding the food that they longed for. 019 PSA 078 019 “Is God able,” such was their challenge, “to spread in the desert a table? 019 PSA 078 020 From the rock that he struck there gushed water, and torrents that overflowed; but can he also give bread, or provide his people with meat?” 019 PSA 078 021 When the Lord heard this, he was furious, and fire was kindled on Jacob, anger flared up against Israel. 019 PSA 078 022 For they put no trust in God, no confidence in his help. 019 PSA 078 023 So he summoned the clouds above; and, opening the doors of heaven, 019 PSA 078 024 he rained manna upon them for food, and grain of heaven he gave them. 019 PSA 078 025 Everyone ate the bread of angels; he sent them food to the full. 019 PSA 078 026 He launched the east wind in the heavens, and guided the south by his power. 019 PSA 078 027 He rained meat upon them like dust, winged bird like the sand of the sea. 019 PSA 078 028 In the midst of their camp he dropped it, all around their tents. 019 PSA 078 029 They ate and were more than filled; he had brought them the thing they desired. 019 PSA 078 030 But the thing they desired became loathsome: while their food was still in their mouths, 019 PSA 078 031 the wrath of God rose against them. He slew the stoutest among them, and laid low the young men of Israel. 019 PSA 078 032 Yet for all this they sinned yet more, and refused to believe in his wonders. 019 PSA 078 033 So he ended their days in a breath, and their years in sudden dismay. 019 PSA 078 034 When he slew them, then they sought after him, they turned and sought God with diligence. 019 PSA 078 035 They remembered that God was their rock, and the Most High God their redeemer. 019 PSA 078 036 But they flattered him with their mouth, and lied to him with their tongue. 019 PSA 078 037 Their heart was not steady with him, they were faithless to his covenant. 019 PSA 078 038 But he is full of pity: he pardons sin and destroys not. Often he turns his anger away, without stirring his wrath at all. 019 PSA 078 039 So he remembered that they were but flesh, breath that passes and does not return. 019 PSA 078 040 But how often they rebelled in the desert, and caused him grief in the wilderness, 019 PSA 078 041 tempting God again and again, provoking the Holy One of Israel. 019 PSA 078 042 They did not remember his strength, nor the day he redeemed from the foe, 019 PSA 078 043 how he set his signs in Egypt, in the country of Zoan his wonders. 019 PSA 078 044 He turned their canals into blood, their streams undrinkable. 019 PSA 078 045 He sent forth flies, which devoured them; frogs, too, which destroyed them. 019 PSA 078 046 Their crops he gave to the caterpillar, and the fruits of their toil to the locust. 019 PSA 078 047 He slew their vines with hail, and their sycamore trees with frost. 019 PSA 078 048 He delivered their cattle to the hail, and their flocks to bolts of fire. 019 PSA 078 049 He let loose his hot anger among them, fury and wrath and distress, a band of destroying angels. 019 PSA 078 050 He cleared a path for his anger, did not spare them from death, but gave them over to pestilence. 019 PSA 078 051 He struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, the first fruits of their strength in the tents of Ham. 019 PSA 078 052 He led forth his people like sheep, he was guide to his flock in the desert. 019 PSA 078 053 Securely he led them, and free from fear, while their foes were drowned in the sea. 019 PSA 078 054 To his holy realm he brought them, to the mountain his right hand had purchased. 019 PSA 078 055 He drove out the nations before them, and allotted their land for possession, and their tents for Israel to live in. 019 PSA 078 056 Yet they tempted and angered the Most High God, they did not observe his decrees. 019 PSA 078 057 They drew back, false like their ancestors; they failed like a treacherous bow. 019 PSA 078 058 Their shrines stirred him to anger, their idols moved him to jealousy. 019 PSA 078 059 When God heard of this, he was furious, and he spurned Israel utterly. 019 PSA 078 060 He abandoned his home in Shiloh, the tent he had pitched among people. 019 PSA 078 061 He gave his strength up to captivity, his glory to the hands of the foe. 019 PSA 078 062 He gave his people to the sword, he was furious with his own. 019 PSA 078 063 Fire devoured their young men, and their maidens had no marriage-song. 019 PSA 078 064 Their priests fell by the sword, and their widows could not weep. 019 PSA 078 065 Then the Lord awoke as from sleep, like a warrior flushed with wine; 019 PSA 078 066 and he beat back his foes, putting them to perpetual scorn. 019 PSA 078 067 He disowned the tent of Joseph, he rejected the tribe of Ephraim; 019 PSA 078 068 but he chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion, which he loves. 019 PSA 078 069 And he built like the heights his sanctuary, like the earth which he founded forever. 019 PSA 078 070 And he chose David his servant, taking him from the sheepfolds. 019 PSA 078 071 From the mother-ewes he brought him, to be shepherd to Jacob his people, and to Israel his inheritance. 019 PSA 078 072 With upright heart did he shepherd them, and with skilful hands did he guide them. 019 PSA 079 001 A psalm of Asaph. Heathen, O God, have come into your land, defiling your holy temple, and laying Jerusalem in ruins. 019 PSA 079 002 They have given the bodies of your dead servants to the birds of the air to devour, and the flesh of your faithful to the beasts of the field. 019 PSA 079 003 Round about Jerusalem they have poured out their blood like water; and there was no one to bury them. 019 PSA 079 004 On every side our neighbors revile us and mock us and jeer at us. 019 PSA 079 005 How long will you be angry, O Lord? Will your jealousy burn like fire forever? 019 PSA 079 006 Pour out your wrath on the nations that don’t know you, on the kingdoms that do not call on your name. 019 PSA 079 007 For Jacob they devoured, they have desolated his home. 019 PSA 079 008 Do not remember against us our ancestors’ sins; O meet us soon with your pity, for utterly weak are we. 019 PSA 079 009 Help us, O God our savior, for the renown of your name: for your reputation deliver us and cover over our sins. 019 PSA 079 010 Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?” Let revenge for the outpoured blood of your servants be shown on the heathen before our eyes. 019 PSA 079 011 May the groans of the prisoner come before you; free the children of death by your mighty arm. 019 PSA 079 012 Pay our neighbors back sevenfold for the scorn they have heaped upon you, O Lord. 019 PSA 079 013 Then we, your people, the flock of your pasture, will give thanks to you for evermore, and tell your praise to all generations. 019 PSA 080 001 For the leader. On shoshannim, eduth. Of Asaph, a psalm. Listen, Shepherd of Israel, who leads Joseph like a flock of sheep; from your throne on the cherubs shine forth 019 PSA 080 002 before Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin. Stir up your mighty power, come to our help. 019 PSA 080 003 God, restore us: show us the light of your face, so we may be saved. 019 PSA 080 004 O Lord of hosts, how long is your anger to smoke, despite the prayer of your people? 019 PSA 080 005 You have fed them with bread of tears, you have made them drink tears by the measure. 019 PSA 080 006 The scorn of our neighbors you make us, the laughing-stock of our foes. 019 PSA 080 007 God of hosts, restore us: show us the light of your face, so we may be saved. 019 PSA 080 008 A vine out of Egypt you brought; you did drive out the nations, and plant her; 019 PSA 080 009 in the ground you did clear she struck root, and she filled all the land. 019 PSA 080 010 The shade of her covered the mountains, her branches the cedars of God. 019 PSA 080 011 She sent forth her shoots to the sea, and her branches as far as the River. 019 PSA 080 012 Why have you torn down her fences, and left her to be plucked at by all who pass by, 019 PSA 080 013 to be gnawed by the boar from the forest, and devoured by the beasts of the field? 019 PSA 080 014 O God of hosts, return: look down from heaven and see and visit this vine, and restore her 019 PSA 080 015 the vine which your right hand has planted. 019 PSA 080 016 She is burned with fire and cut down before your stern face they are perishing. 019 PSA 080 017 Support the one you have chosen, the one you have raised for yourself; 019 PSA 080 018 then from you we will never draw back. Preserve us, and we will call on your name. 019 PSA 080 019 Lord, God of hosts, restore us: Show us the light of your face, so we may be saved. 019 PSA 081 001 For the leader. On the gittith. Of Asaph. Sing aloud to God our strength, shout for joy to the God of Jacob. 019 PSA 081 002 Raise a song, sound the timbrel, sweet lyre and harp. 019 PSA 081 003 On the new moon blow the horn, at the full moon, the day of our festival. 019 PSA 081 004 For this is a statute for Israel, a ruling of the God of Jacob, 019 PSA 081 005 a witness he set up in Joseph, when he marched against Egypt’s land, where he heard an unknown voice say: 019 PSA 081 006 “I removed from your shoulder the burden, and freed your hands from the basket. 019 PSA 081 007 At your call of distress I delivered you, from the thundercloud I answered you. At Meribah’s waters I tested you. (Selah) 019 PSA 081 008 “Listen, my people, to my warning, O Israel, if you would but listen! 019 PSA 081 009 There must not be a strange god among you, you must bow to no foreign god. 019 PSA 081 010 I am the Lord your God who brought you up out of Egypt. Open your mouth, that I fill it. 019 PSA 081 011 “But my people did not listen to my voice, Israel would have none of me. 019 PSA 081 012 So to their own hard hearts I left them, to follow their own devices. 019 PSA 081 013 O that my people would listen, that Israel would walk in my ways. 019 PSA 081 014 Soon would I humble their enemies, and turn my hand on their foes. 019 PSA 081 015 Those who hate the Lord would cringe before him in everlasting terror. 019 PSA 081 016 But you would I feed with the richest wheat, and with honey from the rock to your heart’s desire.” 019 PSA 082 001 A psalm of Asaph. God has taken his stand in the divine assembly: in the midst of the gods he holds judgment. 019 PSA 082 002 “How long will you crookedly judge, and favor the wicked? (Selah) 019 PSA 082 003 Do right by the weak and the orphan, acquit the innocent poor. 019 PSA 082 004 Rescue the weak and the needy, save them from the hand of the wicked. 019 PSA 082 005 “They have neither knowledge nor insight, in darkness they walk to and fro, while the earth’s foundations totter. 019 PSA 082 006 It was I who appointed you gods, children of the Most High all of you. 019 PSA 082 007 Yet like mortals you will surely die, you will fall like any prince.” 019 PSA 082 008 Arise, O God, judge the earth, for all nations are yours by inheritance. 019 PSA 083 001 A song, a psalm of Asaph. Do not keep silent, O God: hold not your peace, be not still, God. 019 PSA 083 002 For see! Your enemies roar, those who hate you lift up their heads, 019 PSA 083 003 laying crafty plans for your people, and plotting against those you treasure. 019 PSA 083 004 “Come, let us wipe them out as a nation, so Israel’s name will be mentioned no more.” 019 PSA 083 005 For, conspiring with one accord, they have made a league against you 019 PSA 083 006 Tents of Edom, and Ishmaelites, Moab, and the Hagrites. 019 PSA 083 007 Gebal and Ammon and Amalek, Philistia, with the people of Tyre; 019 PSA 083 008 Syria, too, is confederate, they have strengthened the children of Lot. (Selah) 019 PSA 083 009 Deal with them as you dealt with Midian, with Sisera, with Jabin, at the torrent of Kishon, 019 PSA 083 010 who at Endor were destroyed, and became dung for the field. 019 PSA 083 011 Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb, all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna, 019 PSA 083 012 who said, “Let us take for ourselves the meadows of God.” 019 PSA 083 013 Whirl them, my God, like dust, like stubble before the wind. 019 PSA 083 014 As the fire that kindles the forest, as flame that sets mountains ablaze, 019 PSA 083 015 so with your tempest pursue them, terrify them with your hurricane. 019 PSA 083 016 Make them blush with shame; until they seek your name, O Lord. 019 PSA 083 017 Everlasting shame and confusion, disgrace and destruction be theirs. 019 PSA 083 018 Teach those who you alone are most high over all the earth. 019 PSA 084 001 For the leader. On the gittith. Of the Korahites, a psalm. How dearly loved is the place where you live, Lord of hosts! 019 PSA 084 002 How I long and yearn for the courts of the Lord. Now heart and flesh cry for joy to the living God. 019 PSA 084 003 Even the sparrow has found her a home and the swallow a nest, to lay her young, near your altar, Lord of hosts, my king and my God. 019 PSA 084 004 Happy those who live in your house, praising you evermore. (Selah) 019 PSA 084 005 Happy those whose strength is in you, people with pilgrim hearts. 019 PSA 084 006 As they pass through the valley of tears, they make it a place of fountains, clothed with the blessings of early rain. 019 PSA 084 007 From rampart to rampart on they march, till at last God reveals himself in Zion. 019 PSA 084 008 Lord, God of hosts, hear my prayer, attend, O God of Jacob. (Selah) 019 PSA 084 009 Behold, O God, our defender, and look upon your anointed, 019 PSA 084 010 for better a single day in your courts than a thousand in my own chambers: better stand at the door of the house of my God than live in the tents of ungodliness, 019 PSA 084 011 for the Lord is sun and shield, the Lord gives grace and glory. He withholds no good thing from the life that is blameless. 019 PSA 084 012 Lord of hosts, happy those whose trust is in you. 019 PSA 085 001 For the leader. Of the Korahites, a psalm. Once, Lord, you did favor your land, granting change of fortune to Jacob, 019 PSA 085 002 forgiving the guilt of your people, pardoning all their sin, (Selah) 019 PSA 085 003 withdrawing all your fury, turning from your hot anger. 019 PSA 085 004 Restore us, O God our savior, put away your displeasure against us. 019 PSA 085 005 Will you cherish your anger against us forever, prolonging your wrath to all generations? 019 PSA 085 006 Will you not revive us again, that your people may be glad in you? 019 PSA 085 007 Show us your kindness, O Lord, grant us your salvation. 019 PSA 085 008 Let me hear what God the Lord will speak; for he will speak of peace to his people, to those who love him, and turn their hearts to him. 019 PSA 085 009 Soon those who fear him shall see how he saves, and glory shall live in our land. 019 PSA 085 010 Kindness and loyalty meet; peace and righteousness kiss. 019 PSA 085 011 Loyalty springs from the earth; righteousness looks from the sky. 019 PSA 085 012 The Lord shall give all that is good, our land yielding its increase, 019 PSA 085 013 righteousness marching before him, and peace on the path he treads. 019 PSA 086 001 A prayer of David. Incline your ear, Lord, and answer me, for I am afflicted and needy. 019 PSA 086 002 Guard me, for I am loyal: save your servant, who trusts in you. 019 PSA 086 003 Lord, be gracious to me, for you are my God; I cry to you all the day. 019 PSA 086 004 Gladden the heart of your servant; for to you, Lord, I set my hope. 019 PSA 086 005 For you, Lord, are good and forgiving, rich in love towards all who call on you. 019 PSA 086 006 Listen, O Lord, to my prayer; attend to my plea for mercy. 019 PSA 086 007 In the day of my trouble I call on you, with assurance that you will answer me. 019 PSA 086 008 None of the gods is like you, Lord, nor are any works like yours. 019 PSA 086 009 All the nations you have made will come and bow down before you, giving glory, O Lord, to your name. 019 PSA 086 010 For great are you, and a doer of wonders; you alone are God. 019 PSA 086 011 Teach me, O Lord, your way, that I may walk in your truth: so my heart shall rejoice in your name. 019 PSA 086 012 I will give you thanks, O Lord, with all my heart, my God, I will honor your name forever. 019 PSA 086 013 For great is your love towards me, from the depths of Sheol you have saved me. (Sheol h7585) 019 PSA 086 014 Haughty men have risen up against me, O God, a band of the violent seeking my life, who think nothing of you. 019 PSA 086 015 But you are a God of pity and grace, patient and rich in kindness and faithfulness; turn to me with your grace, O Lord. 019 PSA 086 016 Grant your strength to your servant, and save the child of your handmaid. 019 PSA 086 017 Show me a sign of your favor, which those who hate me may see with confusion, since you, Lord, are my helper and comforter. 019 PSA 087 001 Of the Korahites, a psalm. A song. On the holy mountain stands the city he founded. 019 PSA 087 002 The Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. 019 PSA 087 003 Glorious things he is speaking of you, you city of God. (Selah) 019 PSA 087 004 “Among those who are mine I name Rahab and Babylon, Philistia, Tyre, Ethiopia, their people will say I was born in Zion. 019 PSA 087 005 As for Zion it will be said each and all were born in her.” The Lord will preserve her. 019 PSA 087 006 The Lord will count, when enrolling the peoples, “This one was born there, and that one was born there.” (Selah) 019 PSA 087 007 Singers and dancers alike will say “All my springs are in you.” 019 PSA 088 001 A Song, a psalm of the Korahites. To the leader: according to Mahalath Leannoth. A Maskil of Heman the Ezrahite. O Lord my God, I cry for help in the day-time, in the night my cry is before you; 019 PSA 088 002 let my prayer come into your presence, incline your ear to my cry. 019 PSA 088 003 For I am sated with sorrow, my life draws near to Sheol. (Sheol h7585) 019 PSA 088 004 I am counted with those who go down to the pit; without strength am I. 019 PSA 088 005 My home is among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom you remember no more cut off as they are from your hand. 019 PSA 088 006 In the deepest pit you have put me, in shadows deep and dark. 019 PSA 088 007 Your wrath lies heavy upon me, waves of your anger roll over me. (Selah) 019 PSA 088 008 You have put my friends far from me, you have made them shun me. I am shut in, and cannot escape, 019 PSA 088 009 my eyes are wasted with sorrow. I call on you, Lord, every day, spreading my hands out to you. 019 PSA 088 010 For the dead can you work wonders? Can the shades rise again to praise you? (Selah) 019 PSA 088 011 Can your kindness be told in the grave, your faithfulness in the tomb? 019 PSA 088 012 Can your wonders be known in the darkness, or your help in the land of forgetfulness? 019 PSA 088 013 I cry for help to you, in the morning my prayer comes before you. 019 PSA 088 014 Why, O Lord, do you spurn me, and hide your face from me? 019 PSA 088 015 From my youth I am wretched and dying, I am numbed by the terrors I bear. 019 PSA 088 016 The fires of your wrath have passed over me, your terrors destroy me, 019 PSA 088 017 surging around me forever, hemming me in altogether. 019 PSA 088 018 Those who love me you put far from me; the dark is my only friend. 019 PSA 089 001 A Maskil of Ethan the Ezrahite. I will sing evermore of the love of the Lord, proclaiming to all generations his faithfulness. 019 PSA 089 002 For your love you did promise to build up forever, your faithfulness firm as the heavens themselves. 019 PSA 089 003 “I have made with my chosen a covenant, and sworn to David my servant, 019 PSA 089 004 to establish his seed forever, and to build up his throne to all ages.” (Selah) 019 PSA 089 005 Then the holy assembly in heaven praised your marvelous faithfulness, Lord. 019 PSA 089 006 For who in the skies may compare with the Lord? Who is like the Lord among the gods? 019 PSA 089 007 A God to be feared in the holy assembly, awful and great above all who are round him. 019 PSA 089 008 O Lord God of hosts, who is mighty as you? Your strength and faithfulness, Lord, surround you. 019 PSA 089 009 You are the Lord of the raging sea: when its waves surge, it is you who still them. 019 PSA 089 010 It was you who did pierce and crush Rahab in pieces, and scatter your foes by your mighty arm. 019 PSA 089 011 Yours are the heavens, yours also the earth, the world and its fulness, it’s you who did found them. 019 PSA 089 012 The north and the south, it’s you have created them; Tabor and Hermon shout praise to your name. 019 PSA 089 013 You have an arm with the might of a hero; strong is your hand, high uplifted your right hand. 019 PSA 089 014 Justice and right are the base of your throne, kindness and faithfulness ever attend you. 019 PSA 089 015 Happy the people who know the glad shout, who walk, O Lord, in the light of your face. 019 PSA 089 016 They exult in your name all the day, and your righteousness they extol. 019 PSA 089 017 For you are our strength and our pride. Your favor will lift us to honor. 019 PSA 089 018 For the holy Lord of Israel keeps our defender and king. 019 PSA 089 019 In a vision of old you did speak in this way to the one whom you loved: “A crown I have set on the hero I chose to be over the people 019 PSA 089 020 “I found my servant David, and anointed with holy oil. 019 PSA 089 021 My hand will be with him forever, my arm will give him strength. 019 PSA 089 022 “No enemy will dare to assail him, nor the wicked to oppress him; 019 PSA 089 023 but his foes I will shatter before him, I will strike down those who hate him. 019 PSA 089 024 “My loyal love shall attend him, and I will lift him to honor. 019 PSA 089 025 I will set his hand on the sea, and his right hand on the rivers. 019 PSA 089 026 “As for him, he will call me ‘My father, my God, and my rock of salvation.’ 019 PSA 089 027 And I will make him my firstborn, highest of kings on the earth. 019 PSA 089 028 “My love will I keep for him ever, my covenant with him shall stand fast. 019 PSA 089 029 His line will I make everlasting, and his throne as the days of the heavens. 019 PSA 089 030 “If his children forsake my law, and walk not as I have ordained; 019 PSA 089 031 if they profane my statutes, and do not keep my commandments; 019 PSA 089 032 “I will punish their sin with the rod, their iniquity with scourges. 019 PSA 089 033 But my love will I not take from him, nor will I belie my faithfulness. 019 PSA 089 034 “I will not profane my covenant by changing the word that has passed my lips. 019 PSA 089 035 Once have I solemnly sworn and I would not lie to David, 019 PSA 089 036 “that his line should endure forever, and his throne as the sun before me, 019 PSA 089 037 firm as the moon which for ever and ever is fixed in the sky.” (Selah) 019 PSA 089 038 But you have cast off in contempt, and been furious with your anointed. 019 PSA 089 039 You have spurned the covenant with your servant, and his sacred crown dashed to the ground. 019 PSA 089 040 You have broken down all his walls, and laid his bulwarks in ruins. 019 PSA 089 041 All who pass on their way despoil him, the scorn of his neighbors is he now. 019 PSA 089 042 You have given his foes the victory, and made all his enemies glad. 019 PSA 089 043 You have turned back his sword from the foe, you did not lift him up in the battle. 019 PSA 089 044 The sceptre you took from his hand, and his throne you did hurl to the ground. 019 PSA 089 045 You have shortened the days of his youth, and covered him with shame. (Selah) 019 PSA 089 046 How long, Lord will you hide you forever? How long are the fires of your wrath to burn? 019 PSA 089 047 Remember, Lord, the shortness of life how fleeting you made all people. 019 PSA 089 048 Who can live without seeing death? Who can rescue their life from the clutch of Sheol? (Selah) (Sheol h7585) 019 PSA 089 049 Where, Lord, is your kindness of old, which you in your faithfulness swore to David? 019 PSA 089 050 Remember, O Lord, how your servants are mocked, how I bear in my heart the scorn of all nations 019 PSA 089 051 The scorn which your enemies hurl, O Lord, which they hurl at the footsteps of your anointed. 019 PSA 089 052 Blest be the Lord, for ever and ever. Amen and Amen. 019 PSA 090 001 A prayer of Moses, the man of God. Lord, you have been a home to us one generation after another. 019 PSA 090 002 Before the mountains were born, or the earth and the world were brought forth, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. 019 PSA 090 003 You bring us back to the dust, you summon mortals to return. 019 PSA 090 004 For you see a thousand years as the passing of yesterday, as a watch in the night. 019 PSA 090 005 Your floods sweep them away; they are like a dream, or like grass which sprouts in the morning, 019 PSA 090 006 which blossoms and sprouts in the morning, but by evening is cut and withered. 019 PSA 090 007 For your anger consumes us, the heat of your wrath confounds us. 019 PSA 090 008 Our sins you have set before you, our secrets in the light of your face. 019 PSA 090 009 For through your wrath our days are declining, we bring our years to an end as a sigh. 019 PSA 090 010 The span of our life is seventy years, or, if we are strong, maybe eighty; yet is their breadth but empty toil, for swiftly they go, and we fly away. 019 PSA 090 011 Who lays to heart the power of your anger? Or who stands in reverent awe of your wrath? 019 PSA 090 012 O teach us to count our days so our minds may learn wisdom. 019 PSA 090 013 Return, O Lord; why so long? Relent on your servants. 019 PSA 090 014 Grant us your love to the full in the morning, that all our days we may shout for joy. 019 PSA 090 015 Make us glad for the days you have humbled us, for the evil years we have seen. 019 PSA 090 016 Let your servants see you in action, show your majesty to their children. 019 PSA 090 017 Let the grace of the Lord our God be upon us, uphold what our hands are striving to do. 019 PSA 091 001 You whose home is the shelter of God Most High, whose abode is the shadow of God Almighty, 019 PSA 091 002 can say to the Lord, “My refuge, my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” 019 PSA 091 003 For he saves you from fowler’s snare, from deadly plague, 019 PSA 091 004 he shelters you with his pinions, and under his wings you can hide. His truth will be a shield and buckler. 019 PSA 091 005 You need not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 019 PSA 091 006 nor the plague that stalks in darkness, nor the pestilence raging at noon. 019 PSA 091 007 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand: but it will not draw near to you. 019 PSA 091 008 You will only look on with your eyes, and see how the wicked are punished. 019 PSA 091 009 You have made the Lord your refuge, you have made the Most High your defence. 019 PSA 091 010 You will never be met by misfortune, no plague will come near your tent, 019 PSA 091 011 for he orders his angels to guard you, wherever you go. 019 PSA 091 012 They will carry you with their hands, so you don’t hurt your foot on a stone. 019 PSA 091 013 You will trample down lions and snakes, tread on young lions and cobras. 019 PSA 091 014 “Because of their love for me, I will deliver them, I will protect those who trust my name. 019 PSA 091 015 I will answer their cry and be with them in trouble, bringing them forth into safety and honor. 019 PSA 091 016 I will give them a life of many days, I will show them my salvation.” 019 PSA 092 001 A psalm. A song; for the sabbath day. It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praise to your name, O Most High, 019 PSA 092 002 to declare your love in the morning, and your faithfulness in the night, 019 PSA 092 003 with voice and a ten-stringed harp, with music that throbs on the lyre. 019 PSA 092 004 For you make me glad by your deeds, Lord, at the work of your hands I will ring out my joy. 019 PSA 092 005 How great are your works, O Lord; how deep are your thoughts! 019 PSA 092 006 The insensitive cannot know, nor can a fool understand, 019 PSA 092 007 that, though the wicked flourish like grass, and evildoers all blossom, they will perish forever. 019 PSA 092 008 But you are exalted forever. 019 PSA 092 009 For see! Your enemies, Lord For see! Your enemies perish, all evildoers are scattered. 019 PSA 092 010 But you lift me to honor, and anoint me afresh with oil. 019 PSA 092 011 My eyes will feast on my foes, and my ears will hear of the doom of the wicked. 019 PSA 092 012 The righteous will sprout like the palm, will grow like a cedar of Lebanon. 019 PSA 092 013 In the house of the Lord are they planted, in the courts of our God they will sprout. 019 PSA 092 014 They will still bear fruit in old age, all sappy and fresh will they be 019 PSA 092 015 So they proclaim the Lord to be just, my rock, in whom is no wrong. 019 PSA 093 001 The Lord has taken his seat on the throne, clothed with majesty, armed with might. Now the world stands firm, to be shaken no more, 019 PSA 093 002 firm stands your throne from all eternity. You are from everlasting. 019 PSA 093 003 The floods, O Lord, have lifted, the floods have lifted their voice, the floods lift up their roar. 019 PSA 093 004 But more grand than the great roaring waters, more grand than the ocean waves, grand on the height stands the Lord. 019 PSA 093 005 What you have ordained is most sure; most sure shall your house stand inviolate, O Lord, for ever and ever. 019 PSA 094 001 Lord, God of vengeance, God of vengeance, shine forth. 019 PSA 094 002 Rise up, judge of the earth, pay back the proud what they deserve. 019 PSA 094 003 Lord, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked exult, 019 PSA 094 004 with their blustering arrogant words, their braggart and wicked speech, 019 PSA 094 005 crushing your people, Lord, and afflicting your heritage, 019 PSA 094 006 murdering widows and strangers, slaying the fatherless? 019 PSA 094 007 They think that the Lord does not see, nor the God of Jacob regard it. 019 PSA 094 008 Take heed, you dullest of people; when will you be wise, you fools? 019 PSA 094 009 Is he deaf, who shaped the ear? Is he blind, who fashioned the eye? 019 PSA 094 010 Can he who trains nations not punish them he who teaches knowledge to people? 019 PSA 094 011 The Lord knows the thoughts of people, that only a breath are they. 019 PSA 094 012 Happy are those whom you chasten, and teach out of your law, 019 PSA 094 013 keeping them calm in the day of misfortune, till a pit be dug for the wicked. 019 PSA 094 014 For the Lord will not leave his people, he will not forsake his inheritance. 019 PSA 094 015 For the righteous shall come to their rights, and all true-hearted people shall follow them. 019 PSA 094 016 Who will rise up for me against those who do evil? Who will stand up for me against workers of wrong? 019 PSA 094 017 Were it not for the help of the Lord, I would soon have gone to the silent grave. 019 PSA 094 018 When I thought that my foot was slipping, your kindness, Lord, held me up. 019 PSA 094 019 When with cares my heart was crowded, your comforts make me glad. 019 PSA 094 020 Can corrupt justice be your ally, framing mischief by statute? 019 PSA 094 021 They assail the life of the righteous, and innocent blood condemn. 019 PSA 094 022 But the Lord is my sure retreat, my God is the rock of my refuge. 019 PSA 094 023 He will bring back their sin upon them, for their wickedness he will destroy them; the Lord our God will destroy them. 019 PSA 095 001 Come! Let us ring out our joy to the Lord, let us merrily shout to our rock of salvation. 019 PSA 095 002 Before his face let us come with thanks, with songs of praise let us shout to him. 019 PSA 095 003 For the Lord is a great God, king above all gods. 019 PSA 095 004 In his hand are the depths of the earth, the heights of the mountains are his. 019 PSA 095 005 The sea is his, for he made it: the dry land was formed by his hands. 019 PSA 095 006 Come! Let us worship and bow on our knees to the Lord our creator. 019 PSA 095 007 For he is our God; and we are the people he tends, the sheep in his care. If only you would heed his voice today: 019 PSA 095 008 “Do not harden your hearts as at Meribah, or at Massah, that day in the desert, 019 PSA 095 009 when your ancestors tempted and tried me, though they had seen my deeds. 019 PSA 095 010 “For forty years I was filled with loathing for that generation, so I said: ‘A people with wandering hearts are they, and ignorant of my ways.’ 019 PSA 095 011 So I solemnly swore to them in my anger, that never would they enter my place of rest.” 019 PSA 096 001 Sing to the Lord a new song, sing to the Lord, all the earth. 019 PSA 096 002 Sing to the Lord, bless his name, from day to day herald his victory. 019 PSA 096 003 Tell his glory among the nations, his wonders among all peoples. 019 PSA 096 004 For great is the Lord and worthy all praise; held in awe, above all gods: 019 PSA 096 005 for all the gods of the nations are idols, but the Lord created the heavens. 019 PSA 096 006 Before him are splendor and majesty, beauty and strength in his holy place. 019 PSA 096 007 Ascribe to the Lord, you tribes of the nations, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. 019 PSA 096 008 Ascribe to the Lord the glory he manifests: bring you an offering, enter his courts. 019 PSA 096 009 Bow to the Lord in holy array: tremble before him, all the earth. 019 PSA 096 010 Say to the nations, “The Lord is king.” The world stands firm to be shaken no more. He will judge the peoples with equity. 019 PSA 096 011 Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice, let the sea and its fulness thunder. 019 PSA 096 012 Let the field, and all that is in it, exult; let the trees of the forest ring out their joy 019 PSA 096 013 before the Lord: for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with justice and the nations with faithfulness. 019 PSA 097 001 The Lord is king, let the earth rejoice: let her many isles be glad. 019 PSA 097 002 Clouds and darkness are round about him, justice and right are the base of his throne. 019 PSA 097 003 Fire goes before him, and blazes around his steps, 019 PSA 097 004 his lightnings illumine the world: the earth quakes at the sight. 019 PSA 097 005 Mountains melt like wax before the Lord of all the earth. 019 PSA 097 006 The heavens proclaim his justice, all nations behold his glory. 019 PSA 097 007 Shamed are all image-worshippers, who make a boast of their idols. All the gods bow before him. 019 PSA 097 008 Zion is glad at the tidings, the towns of Judah rejoice because of your judgments, Lord. 019 PSA 097 009 For you are most high over all the earth, greatly exalted above all gods. 019 PSA 097 010 The Lord loves those who hate evil, he guards the lives of the faithful: from the hand of the wicked he saves them. 019 PSA 097 011 Light arises for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart. 019 PSA 097 012 Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous: give thanks to his holy name. 019 PSA 098 001 A psalm. Sing a new song to the Lord, for he has done wonders; his right hand and holy arm have won him the victory. 019 PSA 098 002 The Lord has made his victory known, and revealed to the eyes of the nations his righteousness. 019 PSA 098 003 Mindful he was of his kindness to Jacob, faithful he was to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God. 019 PSA 098 004 Shout, all the earth, to the Lord: break into cries and music. 019 PSA 098 005 Play on the lyre to the Lord, on the lyre and with loud melody. 019 PSA 098 006 With trumpet and sound of horn, shout before the king. 019 PSA 098 007 Let the sea and its fulness roar, the world and the dwellers upon it. 019 PSA 098 008 Let the streams clap their hands, let the hills shout for gladness together 019 PSA 098 009 before the Lord for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with justice and the nations with equity. 019 PSA 099 001 The Lord is king; let the nations tremble: he is throned upon cherubs; let earth quake. 019 PSA 099 002 The Lord is great in Zion, he is high over all the nations. 019 PSA 099 003 Let them praise your great and terrible name. Holy is he. 019 PSA 099 004 You are a king who loves justice, equity you have established: justice and right you have wrought for Jacob. 019 PSA 099 005 Exalt the Lord our God, bow down at his footstool. Holy is he. 019 PSA 099 006 Among his priests were Moses and Aaron, Samuel among those who called on his name. They called to the Lord, and he gave them answer. 019 PSA 099 007 He spoke to them in the pillar of cloud, they kept his commands and the statute he gave them. 019 PSA 099 008 Lord our God, you gave them answer. A God of forgiveness were you to them, who suffered their deeds to go unpunished. 019 PSA 099 009 Exalt the Lord our God; bow down at his holy mountain. For holy is the Lord our God. 019 PSA 100 001 A psalm of praise. Shout, all the earth, to the Lord. 019 PSA 100 002 Serve the Lord with gladness, approach him with ringing cries. 019 PSA 100 003 Be sure that the Lord alone is God. It is he who has made us, and his we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. 019 PSA 100 004 Enter his gates with thanksgiving, his courts with praise. Give thanks to him, bless his name. 019 PSA 100 005 For the Lord is good, his love is forever, and to all ages endures his faithfulness. 019 PSA 101 001 Of David, a psalm. If kindness and justice I sing, making melody to you, Lord. 019 PSA 101 002 I would look to the way that is blameless, and make it my own. Within my own house I would walk with an innocent heart. 019 PSA 101 003 I would never direct my eyes to a thing that is base. The impulse to stray I abhor it shall not cling to me. 019 PSA 101 004 Far from me be perverseness of heart, or kinship with evil. 019 PSA 101 005 Who slanders their neighbor in secret, I bring them to silence: haughty looks and proud hearts I will not abide. 019 PSA 101 006 I will favor the true in the land, they shall live in my court. Those who walk in a way that is blameless will be my attendant. 019 PSA 101 007 No one will live in my house who practises guile. No one that speaks a lie will abide in my presence. 019 PSA 101 008 Morn by morn I will wholly wipe out all the bad in the land, and cut off from the Lord’s own city all workers of evil. 019 PSA 102 001 The prayer: for a weary and suffering person who pours out their grief to the Lord. Hear my prayer, O Lord; let my cry for help come to you. 019 PSA 102 002 Hide not your face from me in the day of my distress. Incline your ear to me: when I call, answer me speedily. 019 PSA 102 003 For my days pass away like smoke: my bones are burned through as with fire. 019 PSA 102 004 My heart is scorched, withered like grass; I forget to eat my bread. 019 PSA 102 005 By reason of my loud groaning, my flesh clings to my bones. 019 PSA 102 006 Like a desert-owl of the wilderness, like an owl among ruins am I. 019 PSA 102 007 I make my sleepless lament like a bird on the house-top alone. 019 PSA 102 008 All the day wild foes revile me, using my name for a curse. 019 PSA 102 009 For ashes have been my bread, and tears have been mixed with my cup. 019 PSA 102 010 Because of your passionate anger, you did raise me, then hurl me to the ground. 019 PSA 102 011 My days come to an end, shadows lengthen, I wither like grass. 019 PSA 102 012 But you, O Lord, are enthroned forever, your fame endures to all generations. 019 PSA 102 013 You will arise and have pity on Zion; it’s time to be gracious; her hour has come. 019 PSA 102 014 For even her stones are dear to your servants, even the dust of her ruins they look on with love. 019 PSA 102 015 Then the nations will revere the name of the Lord and all the kings of the earth his glory, 019 PSA 102 016 when the Lord shall have built up Zion, and revealed himself in his glory, 019 PSA 102 017 in response to the prayer of the destitute, whose prayer he will not despise. 019 PSA 102 018 Let this be recorded for ages to come, that the Lord may be praised by a people yet unborn. 019 PSA 102 019 For he shall look down from his holy height, from the heavens the Lord will gaze on the earth, 019 PSA 102 020 to hear the groans of the prisoner, to free those who are doomed to die; 019 PSA 102 021 that people may recount the Lord’s fame in Zion, and the praise of him in Jerusalem, 019 PSA 102 022 when the nations are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to worship the Lord. 019 PSA 102 023 He has broken my strength on the way, he has shortened my days. 019 PSA 102 024 I will say, “My God, take me not hence in the midst of my days. “Your years endure age after age. 019 PSA 102 025 Of old you have founded the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. 019 PSA 102 026 They shall perish; but you do stand. They shall all wax old like a garment, and change as a robe you will change them. 019 PSA 102 027 But you are the same, your years are endless. 019 PSA 102 028 The children of your servants abide, evermore shall their seed be before you.” 019 PSA 103 001 Of David. O my soul, bless the Lord; and all that is in me, his holy name. 019 PSA 103 002 O my soul, bless the Lord; and forget not one of his benefits. 019 PSA 103 003 He pardons all your sins, he heals all your diseases. 019 PSA 103 004 He ransoms your life from the pit, he crowns you with kindness and pity. 019 PSA 103 005 He gives you your heart’s desire, renewing your youth like the eagle’s. 019 PSA 103 006 The Lord executes justice – and right for all who are wronged. 019 PSA 103 007 He revealed his ways to Moses, his acts to the children of Israel. 019 PSA 103 008 Full of pity and grace is the Lord, patient, and rich in kindness: 019 PSA 103 009 he will not always chide, nor cherish his anger forever. 019 PSA 103 010 Not after our sins has he dealt with us, nor requited us after our wickedness. 019 PSA 103 011 For high as the heavens o’er the earth is his love over those who fear him. 019 PSA 103 012 Far as is east from the west has he put our transgressions from us. 019 PSA 103 013 As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear him; 019 PSA 103 014 for well he knows our frame, he remembers that we are dust. 019 PSA 103 015 A person’s days are as grass; blossoms like a flower of the meadow. 019 PSA 103 016 At the breath of the wind it is gone, and the place thereof knows it no more. 019 PSA 103 017 But the love of the Lord is eternal, and his kindness to children’s children, 019 PSA 103 018 to those who keep his covenant and mindfully do his behests. 019 PSA 103 019 The Lord has set his throne in the heavens; the whole world is under his sway. 019 PSA 103 020 Bless the Lord, you angels of his, mighty heroes performing his word. 019 PSA 103 021 Bless the Lord, all you his hosts, you servants who do his will. 019 PSA 103 022 Bless the Lord, all you his works, far as his sway extends. O my soul, bless the Lord. 019 PSA 104 001 Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, you are very great, clad in awful splendor, 019 PSA 104 002 covered with robe of light. You stretch out the heavens like the cloth of a tent. 019 PSA 104 003 He lays the beams of his chambers on water. He takes dark clouds for his chariot, and rides on the wings of the wind. 019 PSA 104 004 He takes the winds for his messengers, the fire and the flame for his servants. 019 PSA 104 005 He founded the earth upon pillars, to sustain it unshaken forever. 019 PSA 104 006 With the garment of ocean he covered it, waters towered over the mountains. 019 PSA 104 007 But at your rebuke they fled, scared by the roar of your thunder, 019 PSA 104 008 mountains rose, valleys sank down to the place appointed for them. 019 PSA 104 009 They dared not pass the bounds set for them, or cover the earth any more. 019 PSA 104 010 He sent brooks into the valleys, they meander between the mountains. 019 PSA 104 011 The wild beasts all drink from them, and the wild asses quench their thirst. 019 PSA 104 012 The birds have their home by the banks, and sing in the branches. 019 PSA 104 013 From his chambers above he gives drink to the mountains, and satisfies earth with the vials of heaven. 019 PSA 104 014 He makes grass grow for the cattle, and herbs for people. He brings bread out of the earth; 019 PSA 104 015 wine, to gladden hearts; oil, to make faces shine; bread, to strengthen hearts. 019 PSA 104 016 The trees of the Lord drink their fill the cedars he planted on Lebanon, 019 PSA 104 017 where the little birds build their nest, and the stork whose home is the cypress. 019 PSA 104 018 The high hills are for the wild goats, and the rocks are for coneys to hide in. 019 PSA 104 019 He created the moon to mark seasons, and told the sun when to set. 019 PSA 104 020 You make it dark: night comes, when all the wild beasts creep out. 019 PSA 104 021 Young lions that roar for their prey, seeking their meat from God. 019 PSA 104 022 At sunrise they slink away, and lie down in their dens. 019 PSA 104 023 Then people go forth to their work, and toil till evening. 019 PSA 104 024 How many, O Lord, are your works, all of them made in wisdom! The earth is filled with your creatures. 019 PSA 104 025 And there is the great broad sea, where are countless things in motion, living creatures, both great and small. 019 PSA 104 026 There go the ships, and the Leviathan you made to play there. 019 PSA 104 027 They all look in hope to you, to give them their food in due season. 019 PSA 104 028 And you give with open hand; they gather and eat to their heart’s desire. 019 PSA 104 029 When you hide your face, they are terrified; when you take their breath away, they die and go back to their dust. 019 PSA 104 030 But a breath from your lips creates them, and renews the face of the earth. 019 PSA 104 031 May the glory of the Lord be forever, may the Lord rejoice in his works. 019 PSA 104 032 A glance of his makes the earth tremble, a touch of his makes the hills smoke. 019 PSA 104 033 I will sing to the Lord while I live, I will play to my God while I am. 019 PSA 104 034 May my musing be sweet to him, for I rejoice in the Lord. 019 PSA 104 035 But may sinners be swept from the earth, and the wicked vanish forever. O my soul, bless the Lord. Hallelujah. 019 PSA 105 001 Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name: make known his deeds among the nations. 019 PSA 105 002 Sing to him, make music to him, tell of all his wondrous works. 019 PSA 105 003 Make your boast in his holy name, be glad at heart, you who seek the Lord. 019 PSA 105 004 Seek after the Lord and his strength, seek his face evermore. 019 PSA 105 005 Remember the wonders he did, his portents, the judgments he uttered, 019 PSA 105 006 you who are offspring of Abraham, his servant, the children of Jacob, his chosen ones. 019 PSA 105 007 He is the Lord our God: in all the earth are his judgments. 019 PSA 105 008 He remembers forever his covenant, his promise for a thousand generations 019 PSA 105 009 The covenant he made with Abraham, the oath he swore to Isaac, 019 PSA 105 010 and confirmed as a statute to Jacob, a pact everlasting to Israel 019 PSA 105 011 to give them the land of Canaan as the lot which they should inherit. 019 PSA 105 012 And when they were very few, few and but pilgrims therein, 019 PSA 105 013 wandering from nation to nation, journeying from people to people, 019 PSA 105 014 he allowed no one to oppress them, even punishing kings for their sakes. 019 PSA 105 015 He forbade them to touch his anointed, or do any hurt to his prophets. 019 PSA 105 016 When he called down famine on the land, and cut off the bread which sustained them, 019 PSA 105 017 he sent before them a man, Joseph, who was sold as a slave. 019 PSA 105 018 His feet were galled with fetters, he was laid in chains of iron, 019 PSA 105 019 till the time that his word came to pass, the word of the Lord that had tried him. 019 PSA 105 020 The king sent and freed him, the ruler of nations released him. 019 PSA 105 021 He made him lord of his household, and ruler of all his possessions, 019 PSA 105 022 to admonish his princes at will and instruct his elders in wisdom. 019 PSA 105 023 Thus Israel came into Egypt, Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham. 019 PSA 105 024 His people he made very fruitful, and mightier than their foes. 019 PSA 105 025 He inspired them to hate his people, and to deal with his servants craftily. 019 PSA 105 026 He sent his servant Moses, and Aaron whom he had chosen, 019 PSA 105 027 portents he wrought in Egypt, and signs in the land of Ham. 019 PSA 105 028 Darkness he sent, and it fell: yet they gave no heed to his word. 019 PSA 105 029 He turned their waters into blood, thus causing their fish to die. 019 PSA 105 030 Their land was alive with frogs, swarming even in the royal chambers. 019 PSA 105 031 At his command came flies, and lice in all their borders. 019 PSA 105 032 He gave them hail for rain and fire that flashed through the land, 019 PSA 105 033 smiting their vines and figs, breaking the trees of their border. 019 PSA 105 034 At his command came locusts, young locusts beyond all counting, 019 PSA 105 035 which ate every herb in the land, ate up, too, the fruit of their ground. 019 PSA 105 036 He struck down in their land all the firstborn, the firstlings of all their strength 019 PSA 105 037 Then forth he led Israel with silver and gold, and among his tribes no one was weary. 019 PSA 105 038 Egypt was glad when they left, for terror had fallen upon them. 019 PSA 105 039 He spread out a cloud to screen them, and fire to give light in the night. 019 PSA 105 040 He sent quails at their entreaty, and heavenly bread in abundance. 019 PSA 105 041 He opened the rock; waters gushed: in the desert they ran like a river. 019 PSA 105 042 For he remembered his holy promise to Abraham his servant. 019 PSA 105 043 So he led out his people with joy, his elect with a ringing cry. 019 PSA 105 044 And he gave them the lands of the nations, the fruit of their toil for possession, 019 PSA 105 045 that so they might keep his statutes, and be of his laws observant. Hallelujah. 019 PSA 106 001 Hallelujah! Give thanks to the Lord for his goodness, for his kindness endures forever. 019 PSA 106 002 Who can describe his heroic deeds, or publish all his praise? 019 PSA 106 003 Happy they who act justly, and do righteousness evermore. 019 PSA 106 004 Remember me, Lord, as you remember your people, and visit me with your gracious help. 019 PSA 106 005 May I see the good fortune of your elect, may I share in the joy of your nation, and in the pride of your heritage. 019 PSA 106 006 We, like our fathers, have sinned, we have done perversely and wickedly 019 PSA 106 007 In the land of Egypt our fathers, all heedless of your wonders, and unmindful of your great kindness, at the Red Sea defied the Most High. 019 PSA 106 008 But true to his name he saved them, in order to show his might. 019 PSA 106 009 He rebuked the Red Sea, and it dried; they marched through the depths as through desert, 019 PSA 106 010 saved from the hand of the hostile, redeemed from the hand of the foe. 019 PSA 106 011 The waters covered their enemies: not one of them was left. 019 PSA 106 012 So then they believed in his words, and began to sing his praise. 019 PSA 106 013 But soon they forgot his deeds: they did not wait for his counsel. 019 PSA 106 014 Their greed was ravenous in the desert; they put God to the test in the wilderness. 019 PSA 106 015 He gave them the thing they had asked for, but sent wasting disease among them. 019 PSA 106 016 The camp grew jealous of Moses and of Aaron, holy one of the Lord. 019 PSA 106 017 The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and covered Abiram’s company. 019 PSA 106 018 Fire broke out on their company, flame kindled upon the wicked. 019 PSA 106 019 They made a calf in Horeb, and bowed to the molten image. 019 PSA 106 020 They exchanged their glorious God for the image of ox that eats grass. 019 PSA 106 021 They forgot the God who had saved them by mighty deeds in Egypt 019 PSA 106 022 Wonders in the land of Ham, terrors by the Red Sea. 019 PSA 106 023 So he vowed, and would have destroyed them, but for Moses his elect, who stepped into the breach before him, to divert his deadly wrath. 019 PSA 106 024 They spurned the delightsome land, they refused to believe in his word. 019 PSA 106 025 They grumbled in their tents, would not listen to the voice of the Lord. 019 PSA 106 026 So he swore with uplifted hand to lay them low in the wilderness; 019 PSA 106 027 to disperse their seed among heathen, to scatter them over the world. 019 PSA 106 028 Then they joined them to Baal of Peor, and ate what was offered the dead. 019 PSA 106 029 They provoked him to wrath by their deeds, and plague broke out among them. 019 PSA 106 030 Then Phinehas stood between, and so the plague was stayed; 019 PSA 106 031 and it was counted to him for righteousness unto all generations forever. 019 PSA 106 032 They angered him at the waters of Meribah, through them it went ill with Moses. 019 PSA 106 033 They rebelled against his spirit, and he uttered speech that was rash. 019 PSA 106 034 They did not destroy the nations, as the Lord had commanded them; 019 PSA 106 035 but they mingled with the heathen, and learned to do as they did. 019 PSA 106 036 Their idol gods they worshipped, and they were ensnared by them. 019 PSA 106 037 They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to the demons. 019 PSA 106 038 They poured out innocent blood the blood of their sons and daughters whom they offered to Canaan’s idols, and the land was polluted with blood. 019 PSA 106 039 They became unclean by their works, and adulterous in their deeds. 019 PSA 106 040 Then the Lord’s fury was on his people, filled with horror at his inheritance. 019 PSA 106 041 He delivered them to the heathen, to the sway of those who hated them. 019 PSA 106 042 Their enemies oppressed them, and subdued them under their hand. 019 PSA 106 043 Many a time he saved them, but they rebelled at his counsel, and were brought low by their wrongdoing. 019 PSA 106 044 Yet he looked upon their distress, when he heard their cry. 019 PSA 106 045 He remembered his covenant, and, in his great kindness, relented. 019 PSA 106 046 He caused them to be pitied by all who carried them captive. 019 PSA 106 047 Save us, O Lord our God, and gather us out of the nations, to give thanks to your holy name, and to make our boast of your praise. 019 PSA 106 048 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. And let all the people say “Amen.” Praise the Lord. 019 PSA 107 001 Give thanks to the Lord for his goodness for his kindness endures forever. 019 PSA 107 002 Let this be the song of the ransomed, whom the Lord has redeemed from distress, 019 PSA 107 003 gathering them from all lands, east, west, north, and south. 019 PSA 107 004 In the wastes of the desert some wandered, finding no way to a city inhabited. 019 PSA 107 005 Full of hunger and thirst, their spirit failed. 019 PSA 107 006 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distresses, 019 PSA 107 007 guiding them straight on the way, till they reached an inhabited city. 019 PSA 107 008 Let them thank the Lord for his kindness, for his wonderful deeds for people; 019 PSA 107 009 for the thirsty he satisfies, and the hungry he fills with good things. 019 PSA 107 010 Some sat in darkness and gloom prisoners in irons and misery, 019 PSA 107 011 for rebelling against God’s word, and spurning the Most High’s counsel. 019 PSA 107 012 Their heart was bowed with toil; there was no one to help when they stumbled. 019 PSA 107 013 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distresses. 019 PSA 107 014 Out of darkness and gloom he brought them, and burst their chains. 019 PSA 107 015 Let them praise the Lord for his kindness, for his wonderful deeds for people. 019 PSA 107 016 For he shattered the gates of bronze, and broke bars of iron. 019 PSA 107 017 Some were sick from their wicked ways, and suffering because of their sins. 019 PSA 107 018 All manner of food they hated; they had come to the gates of death. 019 PSA 107 019 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distresses. 019 PSA 107 020 He sent his word and healed them, and delivered their life from the pit. 019 PSA 107 021 Let them praise the Lord for his kindness, for his wonderful deeds for people. 019 PSA 107 022 Let them offer to him thankofferings, and with joy tell what things he has done. 019 PSA 107 023 Some crossed the sea in ships, doing business in great waters. 019 PSA 107 024 They have seen what the Lord can do, and his wonderful deeds on the deep. 019 PSA 107 025 At his command rose a tempest, which lifted the waves on high. 019 PSA 107 026 Up to heaven they went, down to the depths; their courage failed them. 019 PSA 107 027 They staggered and reeled like drunkards; all their skills useless. 019 PSA 107 028 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distresses. 019 PSA 107 029 He stilled the storm to a whisper, and the waves of the sea were hushed. 019 PSA 107 030 They were glad, because it was quiet; they were led to the haven they longed for. 019 PSA 107 031 Let them praise the Lord, for his kindness, for his wonderful deeds for people. 019 PSA 107 032 Where the people assemble, extol him, and praise him in council of elders. 019 PSA 107 033 He turns streams into a wilderness, springs of water into thirsty land, 019 PSA 107 034 fruitful land into a salt waste, because of the sin of the people. 019 PSA 107 035 A desert he makes pools of water, a land of drought into springs of water. 019 PSA 107 036 He settles the hungry therein, they establish a city to live in. 019 PSA 107 037 They sow fields and plant vineyards, which furnish a fruitful yield. 019 PSA 107 038 By his blessing they multiply greatly, and he lets not their cattle decrease. 019 PSA 107 039 Yet when they are bowed and diminished by oppression, misfortune, or sorrow, 019 PSA 107 040 he pours contempt upon princes, and on trackless wastes leads them astray 019 PSA 107 041 He lifts the poor out of misery, and makes families fruitful as flocks. 019 PSA 107 042 At this sight shall the upright be glad, and all wicked mouths shall be stopped. 019 PSA 107 043 Let those who are wise observe this, and consider the love of the Lord 019 PSA 108 001 A song. A psalm of David. My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast. I would sing, I would make music; awake, my soul. 019 PSA 108 002 Awake, harp and lyre; I would wake the dawn. 019 PSA 108 003 I would praise you among the peoples, O Lord; make music among the nations to you. 019 PSA 108 004 For great to heaven is your love, and your faithfulness to the clouds. 019 PSA 108 005 Be exalted, O God, o’er the heavens, and your glory o’er all the earth. 019 PSA 108 006 So those you love may be rescued, save by your right hand and answer us. 019 PSA 108 007 God did solemnly swear: “As victor will I divide Shechem, portion out the valley of Succoth. 019 PSA 108 008 Mine is Gilead, mine is Manasseh, Ephraim is my helmet, Judah my sceptre of rule, 019 PSA 108 009 Moab the pot that I wash in, on Edom I hurl my sandal, I shout o’er Philistia in triumph.” 019 PSA 108 010 O to be brought to the fortified city! O to be led into Edom! 019 PSA 108 011 Have you not spurned us, O God? You do not march forth with our armies. 019 PSA 108 012 Grant us help from the foe, for human help is worthless. 019 PSA 108 013 With God we shall yet do bravely, he himself will tread down our foes. 019 PSA 109 001 For the leader. Of David, a psalm. O God whom I praise, keep not silence; 019 PSA 109 002 for their wicked mouths they have opened against me, they speak to me with tongues that are false, 019 PSA 109 003 they beset me with words of hatred, and fight without cause against me. 019 PSA 109 004 My love they requite with hostility, while for them I lift up my prayer. 019 PSA 109 005 Evil for good they reward me, and hatred for my love. 019 PSA 109 006 “Set over him one who is godless,” they say, “an opponent at his right hand. 019 PSA 109 007 From his trial let him come forth guilty, may his prayer be counted as sin. 019 PSA 109 008 Grant that his days may be few, that his office be seized by another. 019 PSA 109 009 Grant that his children be fatherless, and that his wife be a widow. 019 PSA 109 010 Up and down may his children go begging, expelled from their desolate home. 019 PSA 109 011 May all that he owns be seized by the creditor may strangers plunder the fruits of his toil. 019 PSA 109 012 “May none extend to him kindness, or pity his fatherless children. 019 PSA 109 013 His descendants be doomed to destruction! Blotted out be his name in one generation! 019 PSA 109 014 May his father’s guilt be remembered, and his mother’s sin not blotted out: 019 PSA 109 015 on record always before the Lord, and his memory root from the earth; 019 PSA 109 016 for he gave no thought to show kindness, but pursued the poor and the needy, drove the downhearted to death. 019 PSA 109 017 “May the curses he loved light upon him, may the blessings he loathed be afar. 019 PSA 109 018 Like a garment he clothed him with curses; may they pierce to his inwards like water, and cling to his bones like oil. 019 PSA 109 019 Let them be like the robe he wraps round him, like the belt he wears every day.” 019 PSA 109 020 Be this the reward of my adversaries, of those who speak evil against me. 019 PSA 109 021 But you, Lord my God, be true to your name, deal kindly with me; in your gracious kindness save me. 019 PSA 109 022 For I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me. 019 PSA 109 023 I am gone like a lengthening shadow, I am shaken off like a locust. 019 PSA 109 024 My knees totter from fasting, my flesh is shrivelled and spare. 019 PSA 109 025 They heap insults upon me: when they see me, they shake their head. 019 PSA 109 026 Help me, O Lord my God, and save me in your kindness. 019 PSA 109 027 Teach them that this is your hand, and your own doing, O Lord. 019 PSA 109 028 Let them curse, if only you bless. Put my assailants to shame, and make your servant glad. 019 PSA 109 029 My opponents be clothed with dishonor, and wrapped in a robe of shame. 019 PSA 109 030 I give thanks to you, Lord, with loud voice, I give praise in the midst of the throng; 019 PSA 109 031 for he stands by the poor, at his right hand, to save them from those who condemn them. 019 PSA 110 001 Of David, a psalm. This said the Lord concerning my lord, “Sit at my right hand, till I set your foot on the neck of your foes.” 019 PSA 110 002 On Zion the Lord is wielding your sceptre of might, and charges you to rule over the foes that surround you. 019 PSA 110 003 The day that you march to battle your people will follow you gladly young warriors in holy array, like dew-drops, born of the morning. 019 PSA 110 004 The Lord has sworn and will not repent, “As for you, you are priest for ever as Melchizedek was.” 019 PSA 110 005 By your side will the Lord shatter kings on the day of his wrath. 019 PSA 110 006 He will execute judgment filling the valleys with dead, the broad fields with shattered heads. 019 PSA 110 007 He will drink of the brook by the way, and march onward with uplifted head. 019 PSA 111 001 Hallelujah. I will thank the Lord with all my heart, in the assembled congregation of his people. 019 PSA 111 002 Great are the things that the Lord has done, worthy of study by those who love them. 019 PSA 111 003 Majestic and glorious is his work, and his righteousness abides forever. 019 PSA 111 004 For his marvelous deeds he has won renown; the Lord is gracious and full of compassion. 019 PSA 111 005 Food he gives to those who fear him, always he remembers his covenant. 019 PSA 111 006 His mighty works he has shown to his people, in giving to them the nations for heritage. 019 PSA 111 007 All that he does is faithful and right, all his behests are firm and sure. 019 PSA 111 008 They are established for ever and ever, executed with truth and uprightness. 019 PSA 111 009 To his people he sent redemption, he has appointed his covenant forever. His name is holy and awe-inspiring. 019 PSA 111 010 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom those who keep it are wise indeed. His praise abides for ever and ever. 019 PSA 112 001 Hallelujah. Happy are those who fear the Lord, and greatly delight in his commandments. 019 PSA 112 002 Mighty on earth shall be their seed; a blessing shall rest on the race of the upright. 019 PSA 112 003 Wealth and riches are in their houses, their prosperity stands forever. 019 PSA 112 004 To the upright arises light in the darkness; full of favor and pity and kindness are they. 019 PSA 112 005 It is well with those who show pity and lend, who support all their affairs upon justice. 019 PSA 112 006 For they will never be shaken; the just will be forever remembered. 019 PSA 112 007 They will not be afraid of evil tidings, with steady heart they trust the Lord. 019 PSA 112 008 Their heart is firm and unafraid: they know they will feast their eyes on their enemies. 019 PSA 112 009 With lavish hands they give to the poor, and their prosperity stands forever. They are lifted to heights of triumph and honor. 019 PSA 112 010 The sight of them fills the wicked with anger: grinding their teeth with despair. The hopes of the wicked will come to nothing. 019 PSA 113 001 Hallelujah. Praise the Lord, you his servants, praise the name of the Lord. 019 PSA 113 002 The name of the Lord be blessed from now and for evermore. 019 PSA 113 003 From sunrise to sunset is the name of the Lord to be praised. 019 PSA 113 004 High is the Lord above all nations, above the heavens is his glory. 019 PSA 113 005 Who is like the Lord our God, seated on high? 019 PSA 113 006 He bends down to look at the heavens and earth. 019 PSA 113 007 He raises the weak from the dust, he lifts the poor from the dunghill, 019 PSA 113 008 and sets them beside the princes, even the princes of his people. 019 PSA 113 009 He gives the childless woman a home, and makes her the happy mother of children. Hallelujah. 019 PSA 114 001 When Israel went out of Egypt, Jacob’s house from a barbarous people, 019 PSA 114 002 God chose Judah for himself, Israel became his kingdom. 019 PSA 114 003 The sea saw it, and fled, Jordan river ran backwards. 019 PSA 114 004 Mountains skipped like rams, hills like the young of the flock. 019 PSA 114 005 Why, sea, do you flee? Jordan, why run backwards? 019 PSA 114 006 Mountains, why skip ram-like? Why, hills, like the young of the flock? 019 PSA 114 007 Earth, tremble before the Lord, at the presence of Jacob’s God, 019 PSA 114 008 who turns rocks into pools of water, and flint into fountains of water. 019 PSA 115 001 Not to us, Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for your kindness’ and faithfulness’ sake. 019 PSA 115 002 Why should the heathen say, “Where is now their God?” 019 PSA 115 003 Our God he is in heaven; whatever he wishes, he does. 019 PSA 115 004 Their idols are silver and gold, made by human hands. 019 PSA 115 005 They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see. 019 PSA 115 006 They have ears, but cannot hear; they have noses, but cannot smell. 019 PSA 115 007 They have hands, but cannot feel; they have feet, but cannot walk: no sound comes from their throats. 019 PSA 115 008 Their makers become like them, so do all who trust in them. 019 PSA 115 009 O Israel, trust in the Lord: he is their help and their shield. 019 PSA 115 010 House of Aaron, trust in the Lord: he is their help and their shield. 019 PSA 115 011 You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord he is their help and their shield. 019 PSA 115 012 The Lord, mindful of us, will bless us: he will bless the house of Israel, he will bless the house of Aaron. 019 PSA 115 013 He will bless those who fear the Lord, the small and the great together. 019 PSA 115 014 May the Lord add to your numbers to you and to your children. 019 PSA 115 015 Blessed be you of the Lord, creator of heaven and earth. 019 PSA 115 016 The heavens are the heavens of the Lord, but the earth has he given to people. 019 PSA 115 017 The dead cannot praise the Lord, nor those who go down into silence. 019 PSA 115 018 But we will bless the Lord from now and for evermore. Hallelujah. 019 PSA 116 001 I love the Lord, for he hears my voice, my pleas for mercy. 019 PSA 116 002 For he has inclined his ear to me: I will call upon him as long as I live. 019 PSA 116 003 About me were snares of death, the anguish of Sheol was upon me: distress and sorrow were mine. (Sheol h7585) 019 PSA 116 004 Then I called on the name of the Lord: “I beseech you, O Lord, deliver me.” 019 PSA 116 005 Gracious and just is the Lord, compassionate is our God. 019 PSA 116 006 The Lord preserves the simple; when I was drooping, he saved me. 019 PSA 116 007 Be at peace, my heart, once more, for the Lord has been good to you. 019 PSA 116 008 You have rescued me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling. 019 PSA 116 009 Before the Lord I will walk in the land of the living. 019 PSA 116 010 I held fast my faith, though I said, “Ah me! I am sore afflicted,” 019 PSA 116 011 though in my alarm I said, “Everyone is a liar.” 019 PSA 116 012 What shall I render the Lord for all his bounty to me? 019 PSA 116 013 I will lift up the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord. 019 PSA 116 014 I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people. 019 PSA 116 015 Grave in the eyes of the Lord is the death of his loyal and loved ones. 019 PSA 116 016 Ah, Lord! I am your servant, your servant, child of your handmaid. You have loosened my bonds. 019 PSA 116 017 I will offer to you a thank-offering, and call on the name of the Lord. 019 PSA 116 018 I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people, 019 PSA 116 019 in the courts of the house of the Lord, in the midst of you, O Jerusalem. Hallelujah. 019 PSA 117 001 Praise the Lord, all you nations: laud him, all you peoples. 019 PSA 117 002 For his mighty love is over us: the Lord is faithful forever. Hallelujah. 019 PSA 118 001 Give thanks to the Lord for his goodness, his kindness endures forever. 019 PSA 118 002 Let the house of Israel now say: his kindness endures forever. 019 PSA 118 003 Let the house of Aaron now say: his kindness endures forever. 019 PSA 118 004 Let those who fear the Lord now say: his kindness endures forever. 019 PSA 118 005 Out of straits I called on the Lord, the Lord answered and gave me room. 019 PSA 118 006 The Lord is mine; I am fearless. What can mere people do to me? 019 PSA 118 007 The Lord is mine, as my help: I shall feast my eyes on my foes. 019 PSA 118 008 It is better to hide in the Lord than to trust in mortals. 019 PSA 118 009 It is better to hide in the Lord than to put any trust in princes. 019 PSA 118 010 Everywhere heathen swarmed round me; in the name of the Lord I cut them down. 019 PSA 118 011 They swarmed, swarmed around me; in the name of the Lord I cut them down, 019 PSA 118 012 they swarmed around me like bees, they blazed like a fire of thorns: in the name of the Lord I cut them down. 019 PSA 118 013 Sore they pushed me, to make me fall; but the Lord gave me his help. 019 PSA 118 014 The Lord is my strength and my song, and he is become my salvation. 019 PSA 118 015 Hark! In the tents of the righteous glad cries of victory are ringing. The hand of the Lord has wrought bravely, 019 PSA 118 016 the hand of the Lord is exalted, the hand of the Lord has wrought bravely. 019 PSA 118 017 I shall not die: nay, I shall live, to declare the works of the Lord. 019 PSA 118 018 Though the Lord has chastened me sore, he has not given me over to death. (The Procession arrives at the Temple) 019 PSA 118 019 “Open to me the gates of victory. I would enter therein and give thanks to the Lord.” (The Welcome) 019 PSA 118 020 “This is the gate of the Lord: the righteous may enter therein;” 019 PSA 118 021 I thank you because you have heard me, and are become my salvation. 019 PSA 118 022 The stone which the builders despised is become the head-stone of the corner. 019 PSA 118 023 This has been wrought by the Lord; it is marvelous in our eyes. 019 PSA 118 024 This day is the Lord’s own creation: in it let us joy and be glad. 019 PSA 118 025 O Lord, save us, we pray, O Lord, prosper, we pray. 019 PSA 118 026 Blessed the one who enters in the name of the Lord. From the house of the Lord we bless you. 019 PSA 118 027 The Lord is God, he has given us light. Wreathe the dance with boughs, till they touch the horns of the altar. 019 PSA 118 028 You are my God, I will thank you; O my God, I will exalt you. 019 PSA 118 029 Give thanks to the Lord for his goodness: his kindness endures forever. 019 PSA 119 001 Happy they whose life is blameless, who walk by the law of the Lord. 019 PSA 119 002 Happy they who keep his charges, and seek him with all their hearts; 019 PSA 119 003 who have done no wrong, but walk in his ways. 019 PSA 119 004 You yourself have appointed your precepts to be kept with diligence. 019 PSA 119 005 O to be steadily guided in the keeping of your statutes! 019 PSA 119 006 Then unashamed shall I be, when I look towards all your commandments. 019 PSA 119 007 I will thank you with heart unfeigned, when I learn your righteous judgments. 019 PSA 119 008 I will observe your statutes: O forsake me not utterly. 019 PSA 119 009 How can a young person keep their life pure? By giving heed to your word. 019 PSA 119 010 With all my heart have I sought you, let me not stray from your commandments. 019 PSA 119 011 In my heart have I treasured your word, to keep from sinning against you. 019 PSA 119 012 Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your statutes. 019 PSA 119 013 With my lips have I rehearsed all the judgments of your mouth. 019 PSA 119 014 I delight in the way of your charges, more than in riches of all sorts. 019 PSA 119 015 I will muse upon your precepts, and look to your paths. 019 PSA 119 016 In your statutes I delight, I will not forget your word. 019 PSA 119 017 Grant that your servant may live, and I will observe your word. 019 PSA 119 018 Open my eyes, that I see wondrous things out of your law. 019 PSA 119 019 But a guest am I on the earth: hide not your commandments from me. 019 PSA 119 020 My heart is crushed with longing for your ordinances, at all times. 019 PSA 119 021 You rebuke the proud, the accursed, who wander from your commandments. 019 PSA 119 022 Roll away from me scorn and contempt, for I have observed your charges. 019 PSA 119 023 Though princes sit plotting against me, your servant will muse on your statutes. 019 PSA 119 024 Your charges are my delight, they are my counsellors. 019 PSA 119 025 I lie grovelling in the dust; revive me, as you have promised. 019 PSA 119 026 I told of my ways, you made answer; teach me your statutes. 019 PSA 119 027 Grant me insight into your precepts, and I will muse on your wonders. 019 PSA 119 028 I am overcome with sorrow; raise me up, as you have promised. 019 PSA 119 029 Put the way of falsehood from me, and graciously grant me your law. 019 PSA 119 030 I have chosen the way of fidelity, your ordinances I long for. 019 PSA 119 031 I hold fast to your charges: O put me not, Lord, to shame. 019 PSA 119 032 I will run in the way of your commandments, for you give me room of heart. 019 PSA 119 033 Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes, and I will keep it to the end, 019 PSA 119 034 instruct me to keep your law, and I will observe it with all my heart. 019 PSA 119 035 Guide me in the path of your commandments, for therein do I delight. 019 PSA 119 036 Incline my heart to your charges, and not to greed of gain. 019 PSA 119 037 Turn away my eyes from vain sights, revive me by your word. 019 PSA 119 038 Confirm to your servant the promise which is given to those who fear you. 019 PSA 119 039 Remove the reproach which I dread, because your judgments are good. 019 PSA 119 040 Behold, I long for your precepts. Quicken me in your righteousness. 019 PSA 119 041 Visit me, Lord, with your love and salvation, as you have promised. 019 PSA 119 042 So shall I answer my slanderers, for my trust is in your word. 019 PSA 119 043 Snatch not from my mouth the word of truth, for in your judgments I hope. 019 PSA 119 044 I will keep your law continually, for ever and evermore. 019 PSA 119 045 So shall I walk in wide spaces, for I give my mind to your precepts. 019 PSA 119 046 I will speak of your charge before kings, and will not be ashamed thereof. 019 PSA 119 047 Your commandments are my delight, I love them exceedingly. 019 PSA 119 048 I will lift up my hands to your commandments, and muse upon your statutes. 019 PSA 119 049 Remember your word to your servant, on which you have made me to hope. 019 PSA 119 050 This is my comfort in trouble, that your word gives life to me. 019 PSA 119 051 The arrogant utterly scorn me, but I have not declined from your law. 019 PSA 119 052 When I think of your judgments of old, O Lord, I take to me comfort. 019 PSA 119 053 I am seized with glowing anger at the wicked who forsake your law. 019 PSA 119 054 Your statutes have been to me songs in the house of my pilgrimage. 019 PSA 119 055 I remember your name in the night, O Lord and observe your law. 019 PSA 119 056 My lot has been this, that I have kept your precepts. 019 PSA 119 057 My portion are you, O Lord: I have promised to keep your words. 019 PSA 119 058 I entreat you with all my heart; grant me your promised favor. 019 PSA 119 059 I have thought upon my ways, and turned my feet to your charges. 019 PSA 119 060 I hasted and tarried not to give heed to your commandments. 019 PSA 119 061 Though the godless have wound their cords round me, I have not forgotten your law. 019 PSA 119 062 At midnight I rise to praise you because of your righteous judgments. 019 PSA 119 063 With all those who fear you I company, aid with those who observe your precepts. 019 PSA 119 064 The earth, Lord, is full of your kindness; teach me your Statutes. 019 PSA 119 065 Well have you dealt with your servant, as you have promised, O Lord. 019 PSA 119 066 Teach me discretion and knowledge, for I have believed your commandments. 019 PSA 119 067 Till trouble came I was a wanderer, but now I observe your word. 019 PSA 119 068 You are good and do good; teach me your statutes. 019 PSA 119 069 The proud have forged lies against me, but I keep your precepts with all my heart. 019 PSA 119 070 Their heart is gross like fat, but I delight in your law. 019 PSA 119 071 It was good for me to be humbled, that I should learn your statutes. 019 PSA 119 072 The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold. 019 PSA 119 073 Your hands have made me and fashioned me; make me wise to learn your commandments. 019 PSA 119 074 Those who fear you shall see me with joy, for in your word have I hoped. 019 PSA 119 075 I know, O Lord, that your judgments are right, and in faithfulness you have afflicted me. 019 PSA 119 076 Let your love be a comfort to me, for so have you promised your servant. 019 PSA 119 077 Visit me with your quickening pity, for your law is my delight. 019 PSA 119 078 Put the proud to shame, who have wronged me falsely: I will muse on your precepts. 019 PSA 119 079 Let those turn to me who fear you, that they may learn your charges. 019 PSA 119 080 Let my heart be sound in your statutes, that I may not be put to shame. 019 PSA 119 081 My long for you to rescue me, I put my hope in your word. 019 PSA 119 082 My eyes pine away for your promise: saying, “When will you comfort me?” 019 PSA 119 083 Though shrivelled like wine-skin in smoke, your statutes I have not forgotten. 019 PSA 119 084 How few are the days of your servant! When will you judge those who harass me? 019 PSA 119 085 Proud people have dug for me pits people who do not conform to your law. 019 PSA 119 086 All your commandments are trusty. With falsehood they harass me: help me. 019 PSA 119 087 They had nearly made an end of me, yet I did not forget your precepts. 019 PSA 119 088 Spare me in your kindness, and I will observe the charge of your mouth. 019 PSA 119 089 Forever, O Lord, is your word fixed firmly in the heavens. 019 PSA 119 090 Your truth endures age after age; it is established on earth, and it stands. 019 PSA 119 091 By your appointment they stand this day, for all are your servants. 019 PSA 119 092 Had not your law been my joy, in my misery then had I perished. 019 PSA 119 093 I will never forget your precepts, for through them you have put life in me. 019 PSA 119 094 I am yours, O save me, for I give my mind to your precepts. 019 PSA 119 095 The wicked lay wait to destroy me, but I give heed to your charge. 019 PSA 119 096 I have seen a limit to all things: but your commandment is spacious exceedingly. 019 PSA 119 097 O how I love your law! All the day long I muse on it. 019 PSA 119 098 Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies: for it is mine forever. 019 PSA 119 099 I am prudent above all my teachers, for your charges are my (meditation) 019 PSA 119 100 I have insight more than the aged, because I observe your precepts. 019 PSA 119 101 I refrain my foot from all wicked ways, that I may keep your word. 019 PSA 119 102 I turn not aside from your judgments, for you yourself are my teacher. 019 PSA 119 103 How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! 019 PSA 119 104 Insight I win through your precepts, therefore every false way I hate. 019 PSA 119 105 Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path. 019 PSA 119 106 I have sworn an oath, and will keep it, to observe your righteous judgments. 019 PSA 119 107 I am afflicted sorely: revive me, O Lord, as you said. 019 PSA 119 108 Accept, Lord, my willing praise, and teach me your judgments. 019 PSA 119 109 My life is in ceaseless peril; but I do not forget your law. 019 PSA 119 110 The wicked set traps for me, yet I do not stray from your precepts. 019 PSA 119 111 In your charges are my everlasting inheritance, they are the joy of my heart. 019 PSA 119 112 I am resolved to perform your statutes forever, to the utmost. 019 PSA 119 113 I hate people of divided heart, but your law do I love. 019 PSA 119 114 You are my shelter and shield: in your word do I hope. 019 PSA 119 115 Begone, you wicked people, I will keep the commands of my God. 019 PSA 119 116 Uphold me and spare me, as you have promised: O disappoint me not. 019 PSA 119 117 Hold me up, and I shall be saved: and your statutes shall be my unceasing delight. 019 PSA 119 118 All who swerve from your statutes you spurn: their cunning is in vain. 019 PSA 119 119 All the wicked of earth you count as dross, therefore I love your charges. 019 PSA 119 120 My flesh, for fear of you, shudders, and I stand in awe of your judgments. 019 PSA 119 121 Justice and right have I practised, do not leave me to my oppressors. 019 PSA 119 122 Be your servant’s surety for good, let not the proud oppress me. 019 PSA 119 123 My eyes pine for your salvation, and for your righteous promise. 019 PSA 119 124 Deal in your love with your servant, and teach me your statutes. 019 PSA 119 125 Your servant am I; instruct me, that I may know your charges. 019 PSA 119 126 It is time for the Lord to act: they have violated your law. 019 PSA 119 127 Therefore I love your commandments above gold, above fine gold. 019 PSA 119 128 So by all your precepts I guide me, and every false way I hate. 019 PSA 119 129 Your decrees are wonderful, gladly I keep them. 019 PSA 119 130 When your word is unfolded, light breaks; it imparts to the simple wisdom. 019 PSA 119 131 With open mouth I pant with longing for your commandments. 019 PSA 119 132 Turn to me with your favor, as is just to those who love you. 019 PSA 119 133 Steady my steps by your word, so that sin have no power over me. 019 PSA 119 134 Set me free from those who oppress me, and I shall observe your precepts. 019 PSA 119 135 Shine with your face on your servant, and teach me your statutes. 019 PSA 119 136 My eyes run down with rills of water, because your law is not kept. 019 PSA 119 137 Righteous are you, O Lord, and right are your ordinances. 019 PSA 119 138 The laws you has ordered are just, and trusty exceedingly. 019 PSA 119 139 My jealousy has undone me, that my foes have forgotten your words. 019 PSA 119 140 Your word has been tested well; and your servant loves it. 019 PSA 119 141 I am little and held in contempt, but your precepts I have not forgotten. 019 PSA 119 142 Just is your justice forever, and trusty is your law. 019 PSA 119 143 Stress and strain are upon me, but your commandments are my delight. 019 PSA 119 144 Right are your charges forever, instruct me that I may live. 019 PSA 119 145 With my whole heart I cry; O answer me. I would keep your statutes, O Lord. 019 PSA 119 146 I cry to you: O save me, and I will observe your charges. 019 PSA 119 147 Ere the dawn I cry for your help: in your word do I hope. 019 PSA 119 148 Awake I meet the night-watches, to muse upon your sayings. 019 PSA 119 149 Hear my voice in your kindness: O Lord, by your judgments revive me. 019 PSA 119 150 Near me are wicked tormentors, who are far from thoughts of your law; 019 PSA 119 151 but near, too, are you, O Lord, and all your commandments are trusty. 019 PSA 119 152 Long have I known from your charges that you have founded them for all time. 019 PSA 119 153 Look on my misery, and rescue me; for I do not forget your law. 019 PSA 119 154 Defend my cause and redeem me: revive me, as you have promised. 019 PSA 119 155 Salvation is far from the wicked, for their mind is not in your statutes. 019 PSA 119 156 Great is your pity, O Lord: Revive me, as you have ordained. 019 PSA 119 157 My foes and tormentors are many, but I have not declined from your charges. 019 PSA 119 158 I behold the traitors with loathing, for they do not observe your word. 019 PSA 119 159 Behold how I love your precepts: revive me, O Lord!, in your kindness. 019 PSA 119 160 The sum of your word is truth, all your laws are just and eternal. 019 PSA 119 161 Princes have harassed me wantonly: but my heart stands in awe of your word. 019 PSA 119 162 Over your word I rejoice as one who finds great spoil. 019 PSA 119 163 Falsehood I hate and abhor, but your law do I love. 019 PSA 119 164 Seven times a day do I praise you because of your righteous judgments. 019 PSA 119 165 Right well do they fare who love your law: they go on their way without stumbling. 019 PSA 119 166 I hope for your salvation; O Lord I do your commandments. 019 PSA 119 167 I observe your charges: I love them greatly. 019 PSA 119 168 I observe your precepts and charges: all my ways are before you. 019 PSA 119 169 Let my cry come before you, O Lord: give me insight, as you have promised. 019 PSA 119 170 Let my prayer enter into your presence: deliver me, as you have said. 019 PSA 119 171 My lips shall be fountains of praise, that you teach me your statutes. 019 PSA 119 172 My tongue shall sing of your word, for all your commandments are right. 019 PSA 119 173 Let your hand be ready to help me, for your precepts have been my choice. 019 PSA 119 174 I long, Lord, for your salvation, and your law is my delight. 019 PSA 119 175 Revive me that I may praise you, and let your precepts help me. 019 PSA 119 176 I have strayed like a wandering sheep seek your servant, because I do not forget your commandments. 019 PSA 120 001 A song of ascents. In distress I cried to the Lord, and he answered me. 019 PSA 120 002 “Deliver me, Lord, from the lip that is false and the tongue that is crafty.” 019 PSA 120 003 What shall he give to you, you tongue that is crafty? What yet shall he give to you? 019 PSA 120 004 Arrows of warrior, sharpened, with glowing broom coals together. 019 PSA 120 005 Woe is me that I sojourn in Meshech, that I live by the tents of Kedar. 019 PSA 120 006 Already too long have I dwelt among those who hate peace. 019 PSA 120 007 I am for peace: but when I speak of it, they are for war. 019 PSA 121 001 A song of ascents. I will lift up my eyes to the mountains. O whence shall help for me come? 019 PSA 121 002 From the Lord comes help to me the creator of heaven and earth. 019 PSA 121 003 Your foot he will not let totter: he who guards you will not sleep. 019 PSA 121 004 The guardian of Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. 019 PSA 121 005 The Lord is he who guards you your shelter upon your right hand. 019 PSA 121 006 The sun by day shall not strike you, nor the moon by night. 019 PSA 121 007 From all evil the Lord will guard you, he will guard your life. 019 PSA 121 008 The Lord will guard your going and coming from now and for evermore. 019 PSA 122 001 A song of ascents. Of David. I was glad when they said to me, “We will go to the house of the Lord.” 019 PSA 122 002 Now we are standing, within your gates, O Jerusalem. 019 PSA 122 003 O Jerusalem, built close-packed, like a city without breach or gap, 019 PSA 122 004 to you do the tribes come, the tribes of the Lord, as the law has ordained for Israel, there to give thanks to the Lord. 019 PSA 122 005 There once stood thrones of justice even thrones of the household of David. 019 PSA 122 006 Pray that all may be well with Jerusalem, and well with those who love you, 019 PSA 122 007 well within your ramparts, and well within your palaces. 019 PSA 122 008 For the sake of my brethren and friends, I will wish you now prosperity: 019 PSA 122 009 for the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your good. 019 PSA 123 001 A song of ascents. I Lift up my eyes to you, who are throned in the heavens. 019 PSA 123 002 As the eyes of a servant turn to the hand of his master, or the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, so do our eyes turn to the Lord our God, until he is gracious to us. 019 PSA 123 003 Be gracious, be gracious to us, Lord. Scorn enough, and more, have we borne 019 PSA 123 004 More than enough have we borne of derision from those at their ease, of scorn from those who are haughty. 019 PSA 124 001 A song of ascents. Of David. “Had it not been the Lord who was for us” let Israel say 019 PSA 124 002 “Had it not been the Lord who was for us when enemies rose against us, 019 PSA 124 003 then alive they’d have swallowed us up, when their anger was kindled against us. 019 PSA 124 004 Then the waters would’ve swept us away, and the torrent passed over us clean: 019 PSA 124 005 then most sure would’ve passed over us clean the wild seething waters.” 019 PSA 124 006 Blest be the Lord who has given us not to be torn by their teeth. 019 PSA 124 007 We are like a bird just escaped from the snare of the fowler. The snare is broken, and we are escaped. 019 PSA 124 008 Our help is the name of the Lord, the Creator of heaven and earth. 019 PSA 125 001 A song of ascents. Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, that cannot be moved, but abides forever. 019 PSA 125 002 Round Jerusalem are the mountains, and the Lord is round his people from now and for evermore. 019 PSA 125 003 For he will not suffer the sceptre of wrong to rest on the land allotted to the righteous; else the righteous might put forth their own hand to evil. 019 PSA 125 004 Do good, O Lord, to the good, and to the true-hearted. 019 PSA 125 005 But those who swerve into crooked ways will the Lord lead away with the workers of evil. Peace be upon Israel. 019 PSA 126 001 A song of ascents. When the Lord turned the fortunes of Zion, we were like dreamers. 019 PSA 126 002 Then was our mouth filled with laughter, our tongue with glad shouts; then among the nations they said, “The Lord has dealt greatly with them.” 019 PSA 126 003 The Lord had dealt greatly with us, and we were rejoicing. 019 PSA 126 004 Turn our fortunes, O Lord, as the streams in the Negreb. 019 PSA 126 005 They who sow in tears shall reap with glad shouts. 019 PSA 126 006 Forth they fare, with their burden of seed, and they weep as they go. But home, home, with glad shouts they shall come with their arms full of sheaves. 019 PSA 127 001 A song of ascents. Of Solomon. Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman wakes in vain. 019 PSA 127 002 In vain you rise early, and finish so late, and so eat sorrow’s bread; for he cares for his loved ones in their sleep. 019 PSA 127 003 Children are a gift of the Lord, the fruit of the womb, a reward. 019 PSA 127 004 Like arrows wielded by warriors, are the children of youth. 019 PSA 127 005 Happy the man who has filled his quiver full of them. He will not be ashamed when he speaks with enemies in the gate. 019 PSA 128 001 A song of ascents. Happy all who fear the Lord, who walk in his ways. 019 PSA 128 002 You will eat what your hands have toiled for, and be happy and prosperous! 019 PSA 128 003 Like a fruitful vine shall your wife be in the innermost room of your house: your children, like olive shoots, round about your table. 019 PSA 128 004 See! This is the blessing of the man who fears the Lord. 019 PSA 128 005 The Lord shall bless you from Zion. You will see Jerusalem nourish all the days of your life. 019 PSA 128 006 You will see your children’s children. Peace upon Israel. 019 PSA 129 001 A song of ascents. “Sore have they vexed me from youth” thus let Israel say 019 PSA 129 002 “Sore have they vexed me from youth, but they have not prevailed against me. 019 PSA 129 003 “The ploughers ploughed on my back, they made their furrows long. 019 PSA 129 004 But the Lord, who is righteous, has cut the cords of the wicked.” 019 PSA 129 005 Let all who are haters of Zion be put to shame and defeated. 019 PSA 129 006 May they be as the grass on the house-top, which withers before it shoots up; 019 PSA 129 007 which fills not the arms of the reaper, nor the lap of the binder of sheaves 019 PSA 129 008 whereof no one says as they pass, “The blessing of God be upon you.” In the name of the Lord we bless you. 019 PSA 130 001 A song of ascents. Out of the depths I call to you, Lord. 019 PSA 130 002 Lord, hear my voice: give heed with your ears to my loud plea. 019 PSA 130 003 If you should mark sin, Lord, O Lord, who could stand? 019 PSA 130 004 But with you is forgiveness, that you may be feared. 019 PSA 130 005 I wait for the Lord, I wait for his word, 019 PSA 130 006 I look for the Lord more than watchman for morning, than watchman for morning. 019 PSA 130 007 Israel, hope in the Lord: with the Lord there is love with him plenteous redemption. 019 PSA 130 008 And he redeems Israel from all his iniquities. 019 PSA 131 001 A song of ascents. Of David. O Lord, my heart is not haughty, my eyes are not lofty, I walk not among great things, things too wonderful for me. 019 PSA 131 002 Yes, I have soothed and stilled myself, like a young child on his mother’s lap; like a young child am I. 019 PSA 131 003 O Israel, hope in the Lord from now and for evermore. 019 PSA 132 001 A song of ascents. Remember, O Lord, David all his sufferings, 019 PSA 132 002 the oath that he swore to the Lord, and his vow to the Strong One of Jacob, 019 PSA 132 003 never to enter his tent, never to lie on his bed, 019 PSA 132 004 never to give his eyes sleep or his eyelids slumber, 019 PSA 132 005 till he had found a place for the Lord, for the Strong One of Jacob to live in. 019 PSA 132 006 We heard of it in Ephrathah, in the fields of Jaar we found it. 019 PSA 132 007 We went to the place where he dwelt, we bowed ourselves low at his footstool. 019 PSA 132 008 “Arise, Lord, and enter your resting-place, you and your mighty ark. 019 PSA 132 009 Let your priests wear a garment of righteousness, your faithful shout aloud for joy. 019 PSA 132 010 For the sake of David your servant, do not reject your Anointed.” 019 PSA 132 011 The Lord swore an oath to David an oath that he will not break; “I will set on your throne a prince of your line. 019 PSA 132 012 If your sons keep my covenant and the statutes I teach them, then their sons, too, forever, will sit on your throne.” 019 PSA 132 013 For the choice of the Lord is Zion; she is the home of his heart. 019 PSA 132 014 “This is forever my resting-place, this is the home of my heart. 019 PSA 132 015 I will royally bless her provision, and give bread to her poor in abundance. 019 PSA 132 016 Her priests I will clothe with salvation; her faithful will shout for joy. 019 PSA 132 017 There will I raise up for David a dynasty of power. I have set my anointed a lamp that shall never go out. 019 PSA 132 018 Robes of shame I will put on his foes, but on his head a glittering crown.” 019 PSA 133 001 A song of ascents. Of David. Behold! How good and how pleasant is the dwelling of kindred together! 019 PSA 133 002 Like precious oil on the head that ran down on the beard, the beard of Aaron, running over the collar of his robe: 019 PSA 133 003 like the dew upon Hermon which falls on the mountains of Zion. For there has the Lord ordained blessing – life that is endless. 019 PSA 134 001 A song of ascents. Come, praise the Lord, all you the Lord’s servants, who stand by night in the house of the Lord. 019 PSA 134 002 Lift your hands to the holy place, praise the Lord. 019 PSA 134 003 The Lord who made heaven and earth, bless you from Zion. 019 PSA 135 001 Hallelujah. Praise the name of the Lord. Praise the Lord, you his servants, 019 PSA 135 002 who stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God. 019 PSA 135 003 Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good: Sing praise to his name it is pleasant. 019 PSA 135 004 The Lord for himself chose Jacob, Israel as his own special treasure. 019 PSA 135 005 For I know that the Lord is great, that our Lord is above all gods. 019 PSA 135 006 All that he wills he does in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and in all the abysses. 019 PSA 135 007 Clouds he brings up from the ends of the earth, lightnings he makes for the rain, wind he brings out of his storehouses. 019 PSA 135 008 The firstborn of Egypt he struck, both humans and animals. 019 PSA 135 009 Signs and wonders he sent into your midst, O Egypt, upon Pharaoh and all his servants. 019 PSA 135 010 Many nations he struck, mighty kings he slew 019 PSA 135 011 Sihon, king of the Amorites, Og, king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan. 019 PSA 135 012 He gave their land for possession, possession to Israel his people. 019 PSA 135 013 Your name, O Lord, is forever; your memorial world without end. 019 PSA 135 014 For the Lord secures right for his people, and takes pity upon his servants. 019 PSA 135 015 The idols of heathen are silver made by human hands. 019 PSA 135 016 They have mouths, but cannot speak: they have eyes, but cannot see. 019 PSA 135 017 They have ears, but cannot hear: there is no breath in their mouths. 019 PSA 135 018 Their makers become like them, so do all who trust in them. 019 PSA 135 019 House of Israel, praise the Lord: house of Araon, praise the Lord. 019 PSA 135 020 House of Levi, praise the Lord: you who fear the Lord, praise the Lord. 019 PSA 135 021 Blest be the Lord out of Zion, who lives in Jerusalem. Hallelujah. 019 PSA 136 001 Give thanks to the Lord for his goodness: for his kindness endures forever. 019 PSA 136 002 Give thanks to the God of gods: for his kindness endures forever. 019 PSA 136 003 Give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his kindness endures forever. 019 PSA 136 004 To him who alone does great wonders: for his kindness endures forever. 019 PSA 136 005 Whose wisdom created the heavens: for his kindness endures forever. 019 PSA 136 006 Who spread forth the earth on the waters: for his kindness endures forever. 019 PSA 136 007 Who made great lights: for his kindness endures forever. 019 PSA 136 008 The sun to rule over the day: for his kindness endures forever. 019 PSA 136 009 Moon and stars to rule over the night: for his kindness endures forever. 019 PSA 136 010 Who struck the firstborn of Egypt: for his kindness endures forever. 019 PSA 136 011 And brought Israel out from their midst: for his kindness endures forever. 019 PSA 136 012 With strong hand and outstretched arm: for his kindness endures forever. 019 PSA 136 013 Who cut the Red Sea in pieces: for his kindness endures forever. 019 PSA 136 014 And brought Israel right through the midst: for his kindness endures forever. 019 PSA 136 015 And shook Pharaoh with all his host into the sea for his kindness endures forever. 019 PSA 136 016 Who led his people through the desert: for his kindness endures forever. 019 PSA 136 017 Who struck down great kings: for his kindness endures forever. 019 PSA 136 018 And slew noble kings: for his kindness endures forever. 019 PSA 136 019 Sihon, king of the Amorites: for his kindness endures forever. 019 PSA 136 020 And Og, king of Bashan: for his kindness endures forever. 019 PSA 136 021 Who gave their land for possession: for his kindness endures forever. 019 PSA 136 022 Possession to Israel his servant: for his kindness endures forever. 019 PSA 136 023 Who remembered our low estate: for his kindness endures forever. 019 PSA 136 024 And rescued us from our foes: for his kindness endures forever. 019 PSA 136 025 Who gives to all flesh food: for his kindness endures forever. 019 PSA 136 026 Give thanks to the God of heaven: for his kindness endures forever. 019 PSA 137 001 By the waters of Babylon there we sat, and we wept at the thought of Zion. 019 PSA 137 002 There on the poplars we hung our harps. 019 PSA 137 003 For there our captors called for a song: our tormentors, rejoicing, saying: “Sing us one of the songs of Zion.” 019 PSA 137 004 How can we sing the Lord’s song in the foreigner’s land? 019 PSA 137 005 If I forget you, Jerusalem, may my right hand wither. 019 PSA 137 006 May my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth, if I am unmindful of you, or don’t set Jerusalem above my chief joy. 019 PSA 137 007 Remember the Edomites, Lord, the day of Jerusalem’s fall, when they said, “Lay her bare, lay her bare, right down to her very foundation.” 019 PSA 137 008 Babylon, despoiler, happy are those who pay you back for all you have done to us. 019 PSA 137 009 Happy are they who seize and dash your children against the rocks. 019 PSA 138 001 Of David. I will thank you, O Lord, with all my heart: in the sight of the gods I will sing your praise, 019 PSA 138 002 and prostrate before your holy temple, will praise your name for your constant love, for you have exulted your promise above all. 019 PSA 138 003 When I called you, you answered; you gave me strength, you inspired me. 019 PSA 138 004 All the kings of the earth shall praise you, O Lord, when they shall have heard the words you have uttered; 019 PSA 138 005 and they shall sing of the ways of the Lord, and tell of the Lord’s transcendent glory. 019 PSA 138 006 For, high though the Lord is, he looks on the lowly, and strikes down the haughty from far away. 019 PSA 138 007 Though my way be distressful, yet you preserve me: you lay your hand on my angry foes, and your right hand gives me victory. 019 PSA 138 008 The Lord will accomplish all that which concerns me. Your kindness, O Lord, endures forever. O do not abandon the work of your hands. 019 PSA 139 001 For the leader. Of David, a psalm. O Lord, you search and know me; 019 PSA 139 002 when I sit, when I rise you know it, you perceive my thoughts from afar. 019 PSA 139 003 When I walk, when I lie you sift it, familiar with all my ways. 019 PSA 139 004 There is not a word on my tongue, but see! Lord, you know it all. 019 PSA 139 005 Behind and before you beset me, upon me you lay your hand. 019 PSA 139 006 It’s too wonderful for me to know too lofty I cannot attain it. 019 PSA 139 007 Whither shall I go from your spirit? Or whither shall I flee from your face? 019 PSA 139 008 If I climb up to heaven, you are there: or make Sheol my bed, you are there. (Sheol h7585) 019 PSA 139 009 If I lift up the wings of the morning and fly to the end of the sea, 019 PSA 139 010 there also your hand would grasp me, and your right hand take hold of me. 019 PSA 139 011 If I say, “Let the darkness cover me, and night be the light about me,” 019 PSA 139 012 The dark is not dark for you, but night is as light as the day. 019 PSA 139 013 For you did put me together; in my mother’s womb you did weave me. 019 PSA 139 014 I give you praise for my fashioning so full of awe, so wonderful. Your works are wonderful. You knew me right well; 019 PSA 139 015 my bones were not hidden from you, when I was made in secret, and woven in the depths of the earth. 019 PSA 139 016 Your eyes saw all my days: they stood on your book every one written down, before they were fashioned, while none of them yet was mine. 019 PSA 139 017 But how far, O God, beyond measure are your thoughts! How mighty their sum! 019 PSA 139 018 Should I count, they are more than the sand. When I wake, I am still with you. 019 PSA 139 019 Will you slay the wicked, O God? And remove from me the bloodthirsty, 019 PSA 139 020 who maliciously defy you and take your name in vain. 019 PSA 139 021 Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord? Do I not loathe those who resist you? 019 PSA 139 022 With perfect hatred I hate them, I count them my enemies. 019 PSA 139 023 Search me, O God, know my heart: test me, and know my thoughts, 019 PSA 139 024 and see if guile be in me; and lead me in the way everlasting. 019 PSA 140 001 To the leader. A Psalm of David. Rescue me, Lord, from evil people; from the violent guard me 019 PSA 140 002 from those who plot evil in their heart, and stir up war continually: 019 PSA 140 003 who make their tongue as sharp as a serpent’s, and under whose lips is the poison of adders. (Selah) 019 PSA 140 004 Preserve me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked, from the violent guard me from those who are plotting to trip up my feet. 019 PSA 140 005 The proud have hidden a trap for me, cords they have spread as a net for my feet: snares they have set at the side of my track. (Selah) 019 PSA 140 006 I have said to the Lord, “My God are you; attend, Lord, to my loud plea. 019 PSA 140 007 O Lord my Lord, my savior mighty, you did cover my head in the day of battle. 019 PSA 140 008 Grant not, O Lord, the desires of the wicked; and what they have purposed, promote you not.” (Selah) 019 PSA 140 009 Let them not lift up their heads against me. May the mischief they prate bring themselves to destruction, 019 PSA 140 010 may he rain upon them coals of fire, may he strike them down swiftly, to rise no more, 019 PSA 140 011 no place in the land may there be for the slanderer: may the violent be hunted from sorrow to sorrow. 019 PSA 140 012 I know that the Lord will do right by the weak, and will execute justice for those who are needy. 019 PSA 140 013 Surely the righteous shall praise your name, and they who are upright shall live in your presence. 019 PSA 141 001 A psalm of David. Lord, I call to you: hasten, to me, attend to my voice, when I call to you. 019 PSA 141 002 Let my prayer be presented as incense before you, and my uplifted hands as the evening meal-offering. 019 PSA 141 003 Set, O Lord, a watch on my mouth, put a guard on the door of my lips. 019 PSA 141 004 Incline not my heart to an evil matter, to busy myself in deeds of wickedness, in company with workers of evil: never may I partake of their dainties. 019 PSA 141 005 A wound or reproof from a good person in kindness is oil which my head shall never refuse. In their misfortune my prayer is still with them. 019 PSA 141 006 Abandoned they are to the hands of their judges: they shall learn that my words are true. 019 PSA 141 007 Like stones on a country road cleft and broken so lie our bones scattered for Death to devour. (Sheol h7585) 019 PSA 141 008 But my eyes are turned towards you, O Lord. Do not pour out my life, for in you I take refuge. 019 PSA 141 009 Keep me safe from the trap they have laid for me, from the snares of the workers of trouble. 019 PSA 141 010 Into their own nets let wicked people fall; while I pass by in safety. 019 PSA 142 001 A maskil of David, while he was in the cave, a prayer. Loudly I cry to the Lord: to the Lord plead loudly for mercy, 019 PSA 142 002 I pour my complaint before him, I tell my troubles to him. 019 PSA 142 003 When my spirit is faint within me, my path is known to you. In the way I am wont to walk in, they have hidden a trap for me. 019 PSA 142 004 I look to the right and the left; but not a friend have I. No place of refuge is left me, not a man to care for me. 019 PSA 142 005 So I cry to you, O Lord: I say, “My refuge are you, all I have in the land of the living.” 019 PSA 142 006 Attend to my piercing cry, for very weak am I. Save me from those who pursue me, for they are too strong for me. 019 PSA 142 007 Free me from prison, that I may give thanks to your name, for the righteous are patiently waiting till you show your bounty to me. 019 PSA 143 001 A psalm of David. Listen, O Lord, to my prayer; attend to my plea. In your faithfulness give me answer, and in your righteousness. 019 PSA 143 002 With your servant O enter you not into judgment, for in your sight can no one alive be justified. 019 PSA 143 003 For the enemy persecutes me, crushing my life to the ground, making me live in the darkness, as those who have long been dead. 019 PSA 143 004 My spirit is faint within me, my heart is bewildered within me. 019 PSA 143 005 I remember the days of old, and brood over all you have done, musing on all that your hands have wrought. 019 PSA 143 006 I spread out my hands to you: I thirst for you, like parched earth. (Selah) 019 PSA 143 007 Answer me soon, Lord, because my spirit is spent. Hide not your face from me, else become I like those who go down to the pit. 019 PSA 143 008 Let me learn of your love in the morning, for my trust is in you. Teach me the way I should go: for my heart longs for you. 019 PSA 143 009 Save me, O Lord, from my foes: for to you I have fled for refuge. 019 PSA 143 010 Teach me to do your will, for you yourself are my God. Guide me by your good spirit, O Lord, on a way that is smooth. 019 PSA 143 011 Be true to your name Lord, spare me, bring me out of distress in your faithfulness. 019 PSA 143 012 In your kindness extinguish my enemies, and all those who vex me destroy; for I am your servant. 019 PSA 144 001 Of David. Blest be the Lord my rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for fighting. 019 PSA 144 002 My rock and my fortress, my tower, my deliverer, my shield, behind whom I take refuge, who lays nations low at my feet. 019 PSA 144 003 Lord, what are mortals that you care for them, humans, that you think of them? 019 PSA 144 004 They are like a breath, their days as a shadow that passes. 019 PSA 144 005 Lord, bow your heavens and come down: touch the hills, so that they smoke. 019 PSA 144 006 Flash forth lightning and scatter them, your arrows send forth and confound them. 019 PSA 144 007 Stretch out your hand from on high; pluck me out of the mighty waters, out of the hands of foreigners, 019 PSA 144 008 who speak with the mouth of falsehood, and lift their right hand to swear lies. 019 PSA 144 009 O God, a new song I would sing you, on a ten-stringed harp make you music. 019 PSA 144 010 For to kings you give the victory, and David your servant you save. 019 PSA 144 011 Snatch me from the cruel sword, rescue me from the hand of foreigners, who speak with the mouth of falsehood, and lift their right hand to swear lies. 019 PSA 144 012 May our sons in their youth be as plants well tended: our daughters like cornices carved as in palaces. 019 PSA 144 013 May our barns be bursting with produce of all kinds. In the fields may our sheep bear by thousands and ten thousands. 019 PSA 144 014 May our cattle be fat, our walls unbreached, may no cry of distress ring in our streets. 019 PSA 144 015 Happy the people who fares so well: and so fares the people whose God is the Lord. 019 PSA 145 001 A song of praise. Of David. I will exalt you, my God, O king: I will praise your name for ever and ever. 019 PSA 145 002 I will bless you every day: I will praise your name for ever and ever. 019 PSA 145 003 Great is the Lord and worthy all praise, his greatness is unsearchable. 019 PSA 145 004 One age to another shall praise your deeds, declaring the mighty things you have done. 019 PSA 145 005 Of your glorious majesty they shall tell, and I will muse of your many wonders. 019 PSA 145 006 Of the might of your terrible acts they shall speak, and the tale of your great deeds I will tell. 019 PSA 145 007 The fame of your abundant goodness and righteousness they shall pour forth in song. 019 PSA 145 008 The Lord is full of grace and pity, patient and rich in loving-kindness. 019 PSA 145 009 The Lord is good to all the world, and his pity is over all things that he made. 019 PSA 145 010 All your works give you thanks, O Lord, and you are blessed of those who love you. 019 PSA 145 011 They shall speak of your glorious kingdom, and of your might shall they discourse, 019 PSA 145 012 making known to all his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom. 019 PSA 145 013 Yours is a kingdom that lives through all ages: through all generations extends your dominion. 019 PSA 145 014 The Lord upholds all who fall; he lifts up all who are bowed down. 019 PSA 145 015 The eyes of all look in hope to you, and you give them their food in due season. 019 PSA 145 016 You yourself open your hand, and fill with your favor all things that live. 019 PSA 145 017 The Lord is righteous in all his ways, gracious is he in all that he does. 019 PSA 145 018 The Lord is near to all who call him, to all who call upon him in truth. 019 PSA 145 019 He will fulfil the desires of those who fear him; he will hear their cry for help and save them. 019 PSA 145 020 The Lord is the keeper of all who love him, but all the wicked will he destroy. 019 PSA 145 021 My mouth will utter the praise of the Lord, and all life will bless his holy name for ever and ever. 019 PSA 146 001 My soul, praise the Lord. 019 PSA 146 002 I will praise the Lord, while I live; I will sing to my God, while I am. 019 PSA 146 003 Put not your trust in princes mortals, in whom is no help. 019 PSA 146 004 When their breath goes out, they go back to the dust: on that very day their purposes perish. 019 PSA 146 005 Happy those whose help is the God of Jacob: whose hope is set on the Lord their God, 019 PSA 146 006 the Creator of heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them. He remains eternally loyal. 019 PSA 146 007 For the wronged he executes justice; he gives bread to the hungry; the Lord releases the prisoners. 019 PSA 146 008 The Lord gives sight to the blind: the Lord raises those who are bowed. The Lord loves the righteous. 019 PSA 146 009 The Lord preserves the stranger, upholds the widow and orphan, but the wicked he leads to disaster. 019 PSA 146 010 The Lord shall reign forever, your God, O Zion, to all generations. Hallelujah. 019 PSA 147 001 Hallelujah. It is good to sing praise to our God, for praise is sweet and seemly. 019 PSA 147 002 The Lord builds up Jerusalem, the outcasts of Israel he gathers. 019 PSA 147 003 He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds. 019 PSA 147 004 He counts the numberless stars, he gives names to them all. 019 PSA 147 005 Great is our Lord, rich in power, and measureless is his wisdom. 019 PSA 147 006 The Lord lifts up the down-trodden, the wicked he brings to the ground. 019 PSA 147 007 Sing songs of thanks to the Lord, and play on the lyre to our God. 019 PSA 147 008 For he covers the sky with clouds, he prepares rain for the earth, makes grass to grow on the mountains. 019 PSA 147 009 He gives the cattle their food the young ravens when they cry. 019 PSA 147 010 His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, his joy is not in the speed of a runner; 019 PSA 147 011 but the Lord has his pleasure in those who fear him, in those who wait for his kindness. 019 PSA 147 012 Praise the Lord, then, O Jerusalem: sing praise to your God, O Zion. 019 PSA 147 013 For he strengthens the bars of your gates, and blesses your children within you. 019 PSA 147 014 He brings peace to your borders, and choicest of wheat in abundance. 019 PSA 147 015 He sends his command to the earth: his word runs very swiftly. 019 PSA 147 016 Snow he gives like wool, frost he scatters like ashes. 019 PSA 147 017 He casts forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before his cold? 019 PSA 147 018 He sends forth his word, and melts them: his wind blows the waters flow. 019 PSA 147 019 He declares his word to Jacob, his statutes and judgments to Israel. 019 PSA 147 020 No other nation did he do this for, they know nothing of his judgments. Hallelujah. 019 PSA 148 001 Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise him in the heights. 019 PSA 148 002 Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his hosts. 019 PSA 148 003 Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all stars of light. 019 PSA 148 004 Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens. 019 PSA 148 005 Let them praise the name of the Lord, for at his command they were made. 019 PSA 148 006 And he fixed them for ever and ever by a law which they dare not transgress. 019 PSA 148 007 Praise the Lord from the earth: you depths, with your monsters, all. 019 PSA 148 008 Fire, hail, snow and ice, and stormy wind doing his word. 019 PSA 148 009 All you mountains and hills, all you fruit trees and cedars, 019 PSA 148 010 all you wild beasts and tame, creeping things, birds on the wing. 019 PSA 148 011 All you kings and nations of earth; all you princes and judges of earth: 019 PSA 148 012 young men and maidens together, old men and children together. 019 PSA 148 013 Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted. Over heaven and earth is his glory. 019 PSA 148 014 He has lifted his people to honor. Wherefore this chorus of praise from his saints, from Israel, the people who stand in his fellowship. Hallelujah. 019 PSA 149 001 Hallelujah. Sing to the Lord a new song, sound his praise where the faithful are gathered. 019 PSA 149 002 Let Israel rejoice in its maker, sons of Zion exult in their king. 019 PSA 149 003 Let them praise his name in the dance, making music with lyre and with timbrel. 019 PSA 149 004 For the Lord delights in his people, adorning the humble with victory. 019 PSA 149 005 Let the faithful exult and extol him with glad ringing cries all night long. 019 PSA 149 006 High praises of God in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand: 019 PSA 149 007 on the heathen to execute vengeance, and chastisement sore on the nations, 019 PSA 149 008 binding their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron, 019 PSA 149 009 to execute on them the doom that is written. This is the glory of all his faithful. Hallelujah. 019 PSA 150 001 Hallelujah. Praise God in his holy place. Praise him in the sky, his stronghold. 019 PSA 150 002 Praise him for his deeds of power. Praise him for his boundless greatness. 019 PSA 150 003 Praise him with blast of horn; praise him with harp and lyre. 019 PSA 150 004 Praise him with timbrel and dance; praise him with strings and pipe. 019 PSA 150 005 Praise him with resounding cymbals, praise him with clashing cymbals. 019 PSA 150 006 Let all that has breath praise the Lord. Hallelujah. # # BOOK 028 HOS Hosea Hosea 028 HOS 001 001 The Lord’s message to Hosea son of Beeri during the reigns of Kings Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah of Judah and during the reign of King Jeroboam, son of Joash of Israel. 028 HOS 001 002 When the Lord began to speak through Hosea, he said to him: “Go marry an unfaithful woman who will bear you children by her adultery, for like an adulterous wife the land is unfaithful to the Lord.” 028 HOS 001 003 So he married Gomer, the daughter of Dibliam, and when she conceived and bore him a son, 028 HOS 001 004 the Lord said: “Call him ‘Jezreel,’ for in a little while I will punish the dynasty of Jehu for the blood shed at the valley of Jezreel, I will cause the kingdom of Israel to cease. 028 HOS 001 005 On that day, I will break Israel’s bows and arrows in the valley of Jezreel.” 028 HOS 001 006 When she conceived again and bore a daughter, the Lord said to Hosea: “Call her Lo-Ruhamah – ‘No-Compassion’ for I will no longer have compassion on Israel, certainly not spare them. 028 HOS 001 007 But on Judah I will have compassion, I will deliver them by the Lord their God, but I will not deliver them by bow nor by sword, nor by battle nor by horses nor by horsemen.” 028 HOS 001 008 After she had weaned No-Compassion, and when she conceived and bore a son, he said: 028 HOS 001 009 “Call him Lo-Ammi – ‘Not-My-People’ for you, Israel, are not my people, and I indeed am not your God.” 028 HOS 001 010 Yet the number of the Israelites will be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured or counted, and where they were told, “You are not my people,” they will be called, “children of the living God.” 028 HOS 001 011 The Judeans and the Israelites will join together again, will appoint for themselves one leader, will return to their own land. Great will be the day of Jezreel! 028 HOS 002 001 So call your brothers, My People, and your sisters, Compassion. 028 HOS 002 002 Accuse, accuse your mother: for she is not my wife, and I will not be her husband. Let her put her acts of infidelity out of her sight, and her lovers from between her breasts, 028 HOS 002 003 else I will strip her bare, expose her as she was on the day of her birth, make her like the wilderness, let her become like a parched land, and let her die of thirst. 028 HOS 002 004 And on her children I will have no pity, since they are children of adultery, 028 HOS 002 005 for their mother has become a prostitute, she who conceived them has behaved shamefully. She has said, “I will go after my lovers who gave me my bread and my water, my wool, my flax, my oil, and my drink.” 028 HOS 002 006 That is why I am going to hedge up her ways with thorns, and build a wall about her, so that she cannot find her paths. 028 HOS 002 007 She will pursue her lovers, but will not overtake them. She will seek them, but not find them. In time she will say, “I will go back to my first husband, I was better off then than now.” 028 HOS 002 008 She herself did not know that it was I who gave her the grain, the sweet wine, and the oil, who lavished on her silver and gold – that they used in worshipping Baal! 028 HOS 002 009 So I will take back my grain at the harvest, and my sweet wine in its season. I will withdraw my wool and my flax, given to cover her nakedness; 028 HOS 002 010 and so I will strip her naked before her lovers, and no one shall deliver her out of my hand. 028 HOS 002 011 I will end all her celebrations, her yearly feasts, her new moons, and her sabbaths, all her festivals. 028 HOS 002 012 I will lay waste her vines and her fig trees, of which she says, “These are my wages which my lovers have given me.” I will make them a thicket, and the wild animals will eat them. 028 HOS 002 013 In this way I will punish her for the days of the Baals, in which she made offerings to them, and decked herself with earrings and jewels, and went after her lovers, but forgot me, – declares the Lord. 028 HOS 002 014 So I am going to court her, bring her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her. 028 HOS 002 015 I will give her from there her vineyards, and the valley of Achor as a door of hope. There she will respond as in the days of her youth, as in the days when she came up from the land of Egypt. 028 HOS 002 016 At that time, declares the Lord, you will call me your husband, and will no more call me your master. 028 HOS 002 017 I will remove the name of the Baals from her mouth, their names never again uttered. 028 HOS 002 018 On that day I will make for them a covenant with the wild animals, the birds of the sky, and the creatures that crawl on the earth. I will break the bow and the sword, banish battle from the land, and I will make them lie down in safety. 028 HOS 002 019 I will take you for my wife forever, I will take you for my wife in righteousness, in justice, in kindness, and in mercy. 028 HOS 002 020 I will take you for my wife in faithfulness, and you will know the Lord. 028 HOS 002 021 On that day I will answer – declares the Lord, I will answer the empty skies, and they will answer the dry earth. 028 HOS 002 022 The earth will answer with grain, and new wine and oil, and they will answer Jezreel, 028 HOS 002 023 and I will plant her in the land. I will have compassion to No-Compassion, I will say to Not-My-People, “You are my people,” and they will say, “You are my God.” 028 HOS 003 001 Then the Lord said to me, “Go again, show love to this woman, who is loved by another, who commits adultery. Love her as the Lord loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods, and love the raisin cakes offered to idols. 028 HOS 003 002 So I redeemed her for fifteen pieces of silver and a homer and a lethek of barley. 028 HOS 003 003 And I told her, “You must live with me for many days and you must not sleep around or marry another. And I will do the same for you. 028 HOS 003 004 And like this the Israelites will live for a long time without king and without prince, without sacrifice and without pillar, without ephod and without teraphim. 028 HOS 003 005 Yet afterward the Israelites will return, and seek the Lord their God and their Davidic king, and in the days to come they will turn with awe to the Lord and his goodness. 028 HOS 004 001 Hear the Lord’s message, Israelites, for the Lord has brought charges against the inhabitants of the land, for there is no fidelity, nor true love, nor knowledge of God in the land, 028 HOS 004 002 but cursing, lying, and murder, stealing, committing adultery, and deeds of violence, and acts of bloodshed quickly follow each other. 028 HOS 004 003 Therefore the land mourns, all its inhabitants languish, the wild animals and the birds of the skies, even the fish of the sea are dying. 028 HOS 004 004 Yet let no one bring charges, let none accuse, for your people are like those, who bring charges against a priest. 028 HOS 004 005 You stumble by day, and the prophet stumbles with you by night, and I will destroy your mother. 028 HOS 004 006 My people are being destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge I reject you from being priest to me. Since you have forgotten the teaching of your God, I also will forget your children. 028 HOS 004 007 The more priests there are, the more they sin against me. I will change their dignity to dishonor. 028 HOS 004 008 They feed on the sin offerings of my people, so they hunger after their guilt. 028 HOS 004 009 Thus it comes to be, like people, like priest: I will visit upon each punishment for their ways, and their deeds I will repay them. 028 HOS 004 010 They will eat and not be satisfied, they will sleep around but stay childless, because they have abandoned the Lord to give themselves to 028 HOS 004 011 prostitution. Old and new wine take away the understanding. 028 HOS 004 012 My own people ask counsel of a piece of wood! A stick gives them advice! For a spirit of prostitution has led them astray, they commit adultery against their God. 028 HOS 004 013 On the heights of the mountains they sacrifice, and on the hills they burn incense under oaks and poplars and terebinths, for their shade is so pleasant. Therefore your daughters become cult prostitutes, and your daughters-in-law commit adultery. 028 HOS 004 014 I will not punish your daughters for committing prostitution, nor your daughters-in-law for adultery. Your men visit prostitutes, sacrifice with cult prostitutes. So a people without understanding come to ruin! 028 HOS 004 015 Though you commit adultery, Israel, let not Judah become guilty. Do not go to Gilgal, do not go up to Beth-aven, nor swear an oath, “As the Lord lives.” 028 HOS 004 016 Like a willful heifer, Israel is stubborn. Can the Lord now feed them as he would a lamb in a broad pasture? 028 HOS 004 017 Ephraim is wedded to idols. Leave them alone! 028 HOS 004 018 When their drinking is over they sleep with the cult prostitutes, their rulers love shameful ways. 028 HOS 004 019 A windstorm will wrap them in its wings and they will be ashamed of their sacrifices. 028 HOS 005 001 Hear this, priests! Attend, Israelites! Listen, royal family! For you is the judgment: a snare you have become at Mizpeh, and a net spread out on Tabor, 028 HOS 005 002 the rebels are deep in slaughter, but I will discipline all. 028 HOS 005 003 I know Ephraim, Israel is not hidden from me, for you, Ephraim, have committed prostitution and Israel is defiled. 028 HOS 005 004 Their deeds do not permit them to return to their God. For the spirit of prostitution is within them, they do not know the Lord. 028 HOS 005 005 Israel’s arrogance testifies against them, Israel, even Ephraim, stumble in their sin, and Judah also stumbles with them. 028 HOS 005 006 With their sheep and their cattle they will go to seek the Lord but they will not find him, he has withdrawn from them, 028 HOS 005 007 for they have been untrue to the Lord, their children are strangers. Their new moon festivals will soon destroy them and their fields. 028 HOS 005 008 Blow the trumpet in Gibeah, the clarion in Ramah! Raise the alarm in Beth-aven: we are with you, Benjamin! 028 HOS 005 009 Ephraim will become a desolation in the day of punishment, concerning the tribes of Israel I make known what is certain. 028 HOS 005 010 The princes of Israel have become like thieves who move boundary stones. On them I will pour out my wrath like a flood. 028 HOS 005 011 Ephraim will be oppressed, crushed by judgment, for they are determined to go after vanity. 028 HOS 005 012 So I am like a moth to Ephraim, like rottenness to the house of Judah. 028 HOS 005 013 For when Ephraim saw their sickness and Israel their wound, Ephraim turned to Assyria, to its patron king. But he cannot heal you nor relieve you of your wound. 028 HOS 005 014 For I myself will be like a lion to Ephraim, like a young lion to the house of Judah. I, yes I, will rend and go my way, I will carry off and none will rescue. 028 HOS 005 015 I will return to my place, until in remorse they seek my presence. When they are in distress they will quickly seek me, 028 HOS 006 001 saying, “Come let us return to the Lord, for he has torn us but he will heal us, he has injured us but he will bandage our wounds, 028 HOS 006 002 he will revive in a couple of days, on the third day he will raise us up again, to live in his presence. 028 HOS 006 003 Let us know, let us eagerly seek to know the Lord. His coming is as sure as the sunrise. He will come to us like the winter rain, as the spring rain that waters the earth.” 028 HOS 006 004 What can I make of you, Ephraim! What can I make of you, Judah! Your love is like a morning cloud, like the dew which early goes away. 028 HOS 006 005 That is why I have hewn them by the prophets, I have slain them by the words of my mouth. My judgment is like the light that goes forth, 028 HOS 006 006 for it is love that I delight in and not sacrifice, and knowledge of God and not burnt offerings. 028 HOS 006 007 But they after the manner of men have transgressed the covenant, there they have played me false. 028 HOS 006 008 Gilead is a city of evildoers, tracked with bloody footprints, 028 HOS 006 009 and as bandits lie in wait for a man, so a band of priests murder on the way to Shechem. How terrible is the evil they do! 028 HOS 006 010 In Bethel I have seen a horrible thing. There Ephraim plays the prostitute, Israel is defiled. 028 HOS 006 011 Judah for you also a harvest is set. When I would restore the fortunes of my people, 028 HOS 007 001 when I would heal Israel, then Ephrain’s guilt is revealed, and Samaria’s crimes are seen, how they practise fraud and the thief enters in, while outside bandits plunder. 028 HOS 007 002 But it never crosses their minds that I remember their wickedness. Now their misdeeds surround them, they are always before my face. 028 HOS 007 003 Their wickedness amuses the king, and their lying gladdens the princes, 028 HOS 007 004 since they are all of them adulterers. Their desire to do evil burns like an oven heated by the baker, so hot that he need not stir the fire, from the kneading of the dough, until it rises. 028 HOS 007 005 On our king’s festival day, the princes are flushed with fever from wine. He stretched forth his hand with the contemptuous, 028 HOS 007 006 for like an oven their heart burns with treachery, all night their anger smolders, in the morning it blazes into a flame of fire. 028 HOS 007 007 All of them glow like an oven, they devour their rulers. All their kings have fallen. There is none among them who calls to me. 028 HOS 007 008 Ephraim – he lets himself be mixed among the peoples, Ephraim – he has become a cake unturned. 028 HOS 007 009 Strangers have devoured his strength, but he does not know it. His hair is sprinkled with grey, but he does not notice. 028 HOS 007 010 Israel’s arrogance testifies against them yet they do not return to the Lord their God, and in all this they do not seek him. 028 HOS 007 011 Ephraim is like a simple, silly dove: to Egypt they call, after Assyria they go, 028 HOS 007 012 wherever they turn I will spread my net over them, like birds of the sky I will bring them down, I will catch them when I hear them gathering. 028 HOS 007 013 Woe to them, for they have strayed from me! Destruction to them, for they have been untrue to me. Although it was I who redeemed them, they speak lies about me. 028 HOS 007 014 They have never cried to me with their hearts, but they are always wailing on their beds. They gather to beg for corn and new wine, but they turn away from me. 028 HOS 007 015 Although it was I who trained and strengthened their arms, concerning me they plan only evil. 028 HOS 007 016 They turn away from the Most High. They have become like a bow that swerves. Their princes will fall by the sword, because of the insolence of their tongues. The land of Egypt will mock them. 028 HOS 008 001 Put the horn to your mouth! An eagle swoops down upon the house of the Lord because they have transgressed my covenant, trespassed against my law. 028 HOS 008 002 To me they continually cry, “My God, we Israel, we know you!” 028 HOS 008 003 But Israel has spurned that which is good, so let the foe pursue him. 028 HOS 008 004 They themselves have made kings but without my consent. They have made princes but without my knowledge. Out of their silver and gold, they have made idols to their destruction! 028 HOS 008 005 Your calf idol, O Samaria, is distasteful. My anger is kindled against them. How long will they escape punishment? 028 HOS 008 006 Israel made the thing: a workman made it. It is not a god! Samaria’s calf will become mere splinters. 028 HOS 008 007 They sow the wind and will reap the whirlwind. A shoot which has no stalk, yields no fruit If it should yield, strangers would devour it. 028 HOS 008 008 Israel is devoured. Already it lies discarded among the nations like a worthless pot. 028 HOS 008 009 For by themselves they have gone up to Assyria like a wild donkey which wanders by itself. Ephraim pays for love 028 HOS 008 010 but even if they sell themselves among the nations, I will round them up. Soon the kings and princes will writhe under the burden of tribute! 028 HOS 008 011 For as many altars as Ephraim has erected, they are to him altars for sinning, 028 HOS 008 012 were I to write for him ever so many instructions, they would be regarded as from a stranger. 028 HOS 008 013 The people love sacrifice, and so they offer sacrifices, meat, and so they eat it, although the Lord is not pleased with them, so now he will remember their guilt, and punish their sins. Back to Egypt with them! 028 HOS 008 014 For Israel forgot his Maker and built palaces, and Judah multiplied fortified cities. But I will send fire upon her cities, and it will devour her strongholds. 028 HOS 009 001 Rejoice not too loudly, Israel, like the nations, for you have commited adultery, being untrue to your God. You have loved a prostitute’s wages on every threshing floor. 028 HOS 009 002 Threshing floor and wine vat won’t feed them, the new wine will fail them. 028 HOS 009 003 They will not stay in the Lord’s land, but Ephraim will return to Egypt, and in Assyria they will eat what is unclean. 028 HOS 009 004 They will not pour out libations of wine to the Lord, nor please him with their sacrifices. Their bread will be like the bread of mourners: all who eat it will defile themselves. For their bread will be only for their hunger, it will not come into the Lord’s temple. 028 HOS 009 005 What will you do on the day of the festival? Or on the day of the Lord’s feast? 028 HOS 009 006 Even if they flee from destruction, Egypt will gather them, Memphis will bury them. Nettles will take possession of their treasure of silver, thorns will push into their tents. 028 HOS 009 007 The days of punishment are come, the days of recompense are at hand, as soon the Israelites will know! “The prophet is a fool, the inspired man is raving mad!” It is because of the greatness of your iniquity and the greatness of your hatred. 028 HOS 009 008 Ephraim acts the spy with my God, a prophet finds the snares of a fowler are in all his ways. In the house of his God they lay hostile plots, 028 HOS 009 009 they commit crimes as in the days of Gibeah, God will remember their iniquity. He will punish their sin. 028 HOS 009 010 I found Israel like finding grapes in the wilderness. I saw your ancestors like they were the first fruit on a fig tree, but as soon as they came to Baal-peor, they consecrated themselves to shamefulness, and became as abominable as the object of their love. 028 HOS 009 011 Ephraim – like a bird his glory flies away. There will be no more birth, no more motherhood, no more conception. 028 HOS 009 012 Even though they bring up their children, I will bereave them until not one is left. Woe to them when I turn away from them! 028 HOS 009 013 Ephraim – planted like Tyre in a meadow, But Ephraim too must lead forth their children to slaughter. 028 HOS 009 014 Give them, Lord – what will you give? Give them a miscarrying womb and shrivelled up breasts! 028 HOS 009 015 All their evil began in Gilgal, there I learned to hate them. Because of the evil of their deeds I will drive them out of my house. I will no longer love them, for all their princes are rebels. 028 HOS 009 016 Ephraim is blighted, their root withered. If they do bear children, I will slay the darlings of their womb, 028 HOS 009 017 My God will reject them because they have not listened to him, and they will become wanderers among the nations. 028 HOS 010 001 A luxuriant vine is Israel. He bore fruit lavishly. In proportion to the increase of his fruit he increased altars to idols. In proportion to the beauty of his land he made beautiful the sacred pillars. 028 HOS 010 002 Their heart is false, now they must be punished. God himself will break the necks of their altars, he will destroy their sacred pillars. 028 HOS 010 003 Yes, soon they will be saying, “We have no king, for we have not revered the Lord, and a king, what could he do for us anyway?” 028 HOS 010 004 Speaking words, perjuring themselves, making agreements, and litigation springs up like a poisonous weed in a plowed field. 028 HOS 010 005 The inhabitants of Samaria will tremble with fear for their calf of Beth-aven. Its people will mourn over it, and so will its priests, who had rejoiced for its glory, now departed from it. 028 HOS 010 006 It will be carried off to Assyria as a present to the patron king. Disgrace will Ephraim bear and Israel will be ashamed of its idol. 028 HOS 010 007 As for Samaria, her king will disappear, like foam on the face of the waters. 028 HOS 010 008 And the high places of Aven will be destroyed, the shrines of Israel’s sin, thorns and thistles will grow on their altars, and they will say to the mountains, “Cover us,” and to the hills, “Fall upon us.” 028 HOS 010 009 From the time of Gibeah, Israel has sinned. There they took their stand. Will not war overtake them in Gibeah because of the wicked? 028 HOS 010 010 When I please, I will punish them. Nations will gather against them to chain them for their double crimes. 028 HOS 010 011 Ephraim indeed was a trained heifer that loved to thresh grain, and I myself laid a yoke upon his fair neck, I made Ephraim draw and Judah must plow, Jacob must turn the soil for himself. 028 HOS 010 012 Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruits of love. Break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord, so righteousness may come to you. 028 HOS 010 013 But you have plowed wickedness, iniquity have you reaped. You have eaten the fruit of lies. Because you have trusted in your own path, in the multitude of your warriors, 028 HOS 010 014 the alarm of war will sound in your cities and all your fortresses will be ruined, as Shalman laid in ruins Beth-arbel in the day of battle, when mothers were dashed to pieces over their children. 028 HOS 010 015 Thus will I do to you, Bethel, because of the enormity of your wickedness. When dawn breaks, so will the king of Israel be broken. 028 HOS 011 001 When Israel was young, then I began to love him, and out of Egypt I called my son. 028 HOS 011 002 The more I called them, the further they went away from me. They kept sacrificing to Baals and making offerings to idols. 028 HOS 011 003 Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them up in my arms, but they did not know that I healed them. 028 HOS 011 004 With humane cords I ever drew them, with bands of love. I was to them as one who lifts up the yoke from off their jaws, and bending toward them, I gave them food to eat. 028 HOS 011 005 No! They return to the land of Egypt, Assyria will be their king, for they have refused to return to me. 028 HOS 011 006 Therefore the swords will whirl in their cities, will devour in their fortresses. 028 HOS 011 007 For my people are bent in rebellion against me, even if they call on the Most High he will not raise them. 028 HOS 011 008 How can I give you up, Ephraim! Give you over, Israel! How am I to give you up as Admah! Make you like Zeboim! My heart asserts itself, my sympathies are all aglow. 028 HOS 011 009 I will not carry into effect the fierceness of my anger, I will not turn to destroy Ephraim, for God am I, and not man, holy in the midst of you, therefore I will not consume. 028 HOS 011 010 They will follow after the Lord. Like a lion he will roar, and when he roars his children will come trembling from the west. 028 HOS 011 011 They will come trembling like the birds from Egypt, like doves from the land of Assyria. And I will bring them back to their houses, – declares the Lord. 028 HOS 011 012 Ephraim has encompassed me with falsehood, and the house of Israel with deceit. But Judah still wanders with God faithful to the Holy One. 028 HOS 012 001 Ephraim herds the wind and hunts the sirocco. All day long they heap up falsehood and fraud, make a treaty with Assyria, and sends tribute of olive oil to Egypt. 028 HOS 012 002 The Lord has a charge to bring against Israel, to punish Jacob for his acts, according to his deeds will he requite him, 028 HOS 012 003 In the womb he supplanted his brother, in manhood he wrestled with God, 028 HOS 012 004 He wrestled with the angel and prevailed, he wept and sought his blessing. At Bethel the Lord found him, and there he spoke with us. 028 HOS 012 005 And the Lord is the God of hosts, the Lord is his name! 028 HOS 012 006 So now, by the help of your God, return. Keep true love and justice. Trust in your God without ceasing. 028 HOS 012 007 A merchant uses false scales: They love to defraud. 028 HOS 012 008 Ephraim says, “Yes, I have become rich, I have secured wealth for myself. But despite my gains no one will find a crime I can be convicted of!” 028 HOS 012 009 I am the Lord your God, ever since the land of Egypt. I will make you again dwell in tents, as in days of old. 028 HOS 012 010 I spoke continually by the prophets. It was I who multiplied visions, and spoke in parables through the prophets. 028 HOS 012 011 In Gilead is iniquity, they will come to nothing. In Gilgal they sacrifice bulls, so their altars will be as stone heaps, among the furrows of the field. 028 HOS 012 012 And Jacob fled to the territory of Aram, and Israel worked to earn a wife: for a wife he herded sheep. 028 HOS 012 013 The Lord brought Israel up from Egypt by a prophet, and by a prophet Israel was guarded. 028 HOS 012 014 Ephraim has given bitter provocation. His Lord will leave upon him his guilt of bloodshed, and for his contempt he will repay him. 028 HOS 013 001 When Ephraim used to speak there was trembling; a prince was he in Israel. But he incurred guilt through Baal and died. 028 HOS 013 002 And now they go on sinning. They make for themselves molten gods – idols of silver, skillfully made, wholly the work of smiths. Yet to such they sacrifice! And they who sacrifice kiss calf idols! 028 HOS 013 003 Therefore they shall be like the morning mist, like the dew that early disappears, like the chaff which blows away from the threshing floor, like the smoke from the window. 028 HOS 013 004 Yet it was I, the Lord your God, ever since the land of Egypt, you know no other god but me, nor has there been any savior except me. 028 HOS 013 005 It was I who shepherded you in the wilderness, in the land of burning heat. 028 HOS 013 006 When they were pastured they became full, when they were full their hearts became proud. Therefore they forgot me! 028 HOS 013 007 So now I will be to them like a lion, like a leopard will I lay in wait by the path. 028 HOS 013 008 I will fall upon them like a bear robbed of her cubs, I will tear open their chests, like a lion will devour them, and like a wild beast will tear them in pieces. 028 HOS 013 009 You are destroyed, Israel, by me, your only helper. 028 HOS 013 010 I want to rule you! Where are your princes in your cities, those of whom you demanded, “Give me kings and princes.” 028 HOS 013 011 I give you kings in my anger, and take them away in my wrath. 028 HOS 013 012 Ephrahn’s iniquity is gathered up, his sin is laid by in store. 028 HOS 013 013 The pangs of childbirth come upon him, but he is an unwise child. For this is no time to refuse to leave the womb! 028 HOS 013 014 Should I deliver them from the power of Sheol? Should I redeem them from death? Death, where are your plagues? Sheol, where is your pestilence? Compassion is forever hidden from my eyes. (Sheol h7585) 028 HOS 013 015 Though he is flourishing among his brothers, there will come an east wind, the Lord’s wind, coming up from the wilderness. His fountain will dry up, his spring shall be parched. The wind will strip the treasury, all the precious things. 028 HOS 013 016 Samaria will bear her guilt, for she has rebelled against her God. They will fall by the sword, their children dashed to pieces, their pregnant women ripped open. 028 HOS 014 001 Return, Israel, to the Lord your God, for you have stumbled in your iniquity. 028 HOS 014 002 Take words of repentance with you, and return to the Lord your God. Say to him: Wholly pardon our iniquity, accept that which is good, instead of sacrificing bulls, we offer our praise. 028 HOS 014 003 Assyria will not save us, nor Egyptian warhorses, and we will no more call the work of our hands our gods. For in you orphan Israel finds mercy. 028 HOS 014 004 “I will heal their apostasy, I will love them freely, now that my anger is turned away from them, 028 HOS 014 005 I will be as dew to Israel. He will blossom like the lily, he will plant his roots like the cedars of Lebanon, 028 HOS 014 006 his saplings will spread out, his beauty will be like that of the olive tree, his fragrance like the cedars of Lebanon. 028 HOS 014 007 People will return and dwell in my shade, they will bring life to new grain. They shall sprout like the vine, and their renown will be like that of the wine of Lebanon. 028 HOS 014 008 Ephraim – what have I to do with idols! It is I the Lord who respond to him and look after him. I am like an evergreen cypress, from me is your fruit found. 028 HOS 014 009 Whoever is wise, let him discern these things, prudent, let him perceive them; For the Lord’s ways are straight, and the righteous walk in them, but the wicked stumble in them. # # BOOK 029 JOE Joel Joel 029 JOE 001 001 The Lord’s message that came to Joel, son of Pethuel. 029 JOE 001 002 Hear this, elders, pay attention, all inhabitants of the land. Has anything like this happened in your days, or in the days of your ancestors? 029 JOE 001 003 Recount it to your children; let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the generation that follows. 029 JOE 001 004 That which the cutting locust has left, the swarming locust has eaten, that which the swarming locust has left, the hopping locust has eaten, and that which the hopping locust has left, the destroying locust has eaten. 029 JOE 001 005 Awake, drunkards, and weep, and wail, all drinkers of wine; the new wine is cut off from your mouth. 029 JOE 001 006 For a nation has come up on my land, powerful, and numberless; its teeth are the teeth of a lion, and its jaw-teeth are like those of a lioness. 029 JOE 001 007 It has laid waste my vines, and barked my fig tree; it has peeled and cast it away, bleached are the branches. 029 JOE 001 008 Wail as a bride, clad in sack-cloth, for the husband of her youth. 029 JOE 001 009 Cut off are the cereal and drink-offerings from the house of the Lord; in mourning are the priests, who minister at the Lord’s altar. 029 JOE 001 010 The fields are blasted, the land is in mourning, for ruined is the grain, the new wine fails and the oil is dried up. 029 JOE 001 011 Be dismayed, farmers; wail, vine-dressers. For the wheat and the barley; for the harvest is lost from the fields. 029 JOE 001 012 The vine fails to bear fruit, and the fig tree is drooping; the pomegranate, palm, and apple, all the trees of the field are dried up. The people’s joy withers. 029 JOE 001 013 Put on sackcloth, and beat your breasts, priests; wail, ministers of the altar; come, lie all night in sack-cloth, ministers of God; for cereal-offering and drink-offering are cut off from the house of your God. 029 JOE 001 014 Sanctify a fast, summon an assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the Lord your God, cry to the Lord: 029 JOE 001 015 Alas for the day! Near at hand is the day of the Lord, and as destruction from the Almighty it comes. 029 JOE 001 016 Is not food cut off from before us, gladness and joy from the house of our God? 029 JOE 001 017 The grains shrivel under their hoes, the storehouses are desolate, the barns broken down, for the grain is withered. 029 JOE 001 018 How the herds of cattle bellow in distress, for they have no pasture! The flocks of sheep are forlorn. 029 JOE 001 019 To you, the Lord, I cry. For fire has devoured the pastures of the wilderness, and flame has scorched all the trees of the field. 029 JOE 001 020 The wild animals also look up to you longingly, for the water-courses are dried up, and fire has devoured the pastures of the wilderness. 029 JOE 002 001 Blow a horn in Zion, sound an alarm in my holy mountain, let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the Lord comes, for near is 029 JOE 002 002 the day of darkness and gloom, the day of cloud and thick darkness! Like the light of dawn scattered over the mountains, a people great and powerful; its like has not been from of old, neither will be any more after it, even to the years of coming ages. 029 JOE 002 003 Before them the fire devours, and behind them a flame burns; like the garden of Eden is the land before them, and after them it is a desolate desert, nothing escapes them. 029 JOE 002 004 Their appearance is as the appearance of horses, and like horsemen they charge. 029 JOE 002 005 Like the sound of chariots on the tops of the mountains they leap, like the crackle of flames devouring stubble, like a mighty people preparing for battle. 029 JOE 002 006 Peoples are in anguish before them, all faces grow pale. 029 JOE 002 007 Like mighty men they run, like warriors they mount up a wall, they march each by himself, they break not their ranks, 029 JOE 002 008 none jostles the other. They march each in his path. They fall upon the weapons without breaking. 029 JOE 002 009 They scour the city, they run on the wall. They climb up into the houses. Like a thief they enter the windows. 029 JOE 002 010 Earth trembles before them, the sky quakes, the sun and moon become dark, and the stars withdraw their shining; 029 JOE 002 011 and the Lord utters his voice before his army, for his host is exceedingly great. Mighty is he who performs his word. For great is the day of the Lord, it is terrible, who can endure it? 029 JOE 002 012 But now this is the message of the Lord: Turn to me with all your heart, and with fasting and weeping and mourning, 029 JOE 002 013 rend your hearts and not your garments, and turn to the Lord your God; for he indeed is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and plenteous in love, and relents of the evil. 029 JOE 002 014 Who knows but he will turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind him, a cereal and drink-offering for the Lord your God. 029 JOE 002 015 Blow a horn in Zion, sanctify a fast, summon an assembly, 029 JOE 002 016 gather the people, make holy the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and the infants at the breast. Let the bridegroom come forth from his chamber, and the bride from her bridal tent. 029 JOE 002 017 Between the porch and the altar, let the priests, the ministers of the Lord weep aloud, let them say: Spare, the Lord, your people. Make not your heritage an object of reproach, for the heathen to mock them. Why should it be said among the nations, ‘Where is their God?’ 029 JOE 002 018 Then the Lord became deeply concerned for his land, and took pity upon his people, 029 JOE 002 019 and the Lord answered and said to his people: I will send you grain, wine, and oil. You will be satisfied. I will not make you again an object of scorn among the nations, 029 JOE 002 020 I will remove far from you the northern foe, and I will drive it into a land barren and desolate, its front into the eastern sea, and its rear to the western sea. And from it a stench will arise. He has done great things! 029 JOE 002 021 Fear not, land, exult. Rejoice for the Lord has done great things! 029 JOE 002 022 Fear not, animals of the field. For the pastures of the wilderness are putting forth new grass, for the trees bear their fruit, fig tree and vine yield full harvest. 029 JOE 002 023 Be glad, then, children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God, for he has given you the early rain in just measure, and poured down upon you the winter rain, and sent the latter rain as before. 029 JOE 002 024 The threshing floors will be full of grain, and the vats will overflow with new wine and oil. 029 JOE 002 025 I will repay you for the years which the swarming locust has eaten. The hopping, the destroying, and the cutting locusts, my great army which I sent among you, and my people will never again be put to shame. 029 JOE 002 026 You will eat your food and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt so wonderfully by you, 029 JOE 002 027 and you will know that I am in the midst of Israel, that I am the Lord your God and none else, and my people will never again be put to shame. 029 JOE 002 028 Afterwards, I will pour out my spirit on everyone. Your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams. Your young men will see visions, 029 JOE 002 029 and even on your male and female slaves in those days, I will pour out my spirit. 029 JOE 002 030 And I will show signs in the sky and on earth: Blood and fire and pillars of smoke. 029 JOE 002 031 The sun will be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord. 029 JOE 002 032 But whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be those who escape, even as the Lord has said, and among the fugitives those whom the Lord calls. 029 JOE 003 001 For, in those days and in that time, when I bring back again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, 029 JOE 003 002 I will also gather all the nations and bring them down into the Valley of Jehoshaphat, and there I will enter into judgment with them for my people and my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and divided my land. 029 JOE 003 003 They have cast lots for my people. They have traded boys for prostitutes, and sold girls for wine, and drunk it. 029 JOE 003 004 What are you to me, Tyre and Sidon and all the districts of Philistia? Were you repaying any deed of mine, or were you doing something for me? Quickly will I return your deed upon your heads. 029 JOE 003 005 You who have taken my silver and my gold, and you have brought my goodly jewels into your palaces, 029 JOE 003 006 you have sold the people of Judah and of Jerusalem to the Greeks, so that you might remove them far from their own borders. 029 JOE 003 007 I am about to stir them up from the place to which you have sold them, and I will turn your deeds upon your own head. 029 JOE 003 008 I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hands of the people of Judah, and they will sell them to the Sabeans, to a nation far off, for the Lord has spoken. 029 JOE 003 009 Proclaim this among the nations, sanctify war. Arouse the warriors, let all the fighting men muster and go up. 029 JOE 003 010 Beat your ploughshares into swords, and your pruning-hooks into lances; let the weak say, I, indeed, am strong. 029 JOE 003 011 Bestir yourselves and come, all you nations round about. Quickly gather yourselves together, ask the Lord to bring his warriors. 029 JOE 003 012 Let the nations rouse themselves and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat, for there will I sit to judge all the surrounding nations. 029 JOE 003 013 Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe; go in, tread, for the wine press is full. The vats overflow, for great is their wickedness. 029 JOE 003 014 Noisy multitudes, noisy multitudes in the valley of decision. For near is the Lord’s day in the valley of decision! 029 JOE 003 015 Sun and moon have turned dark, and the stars withdrawn their shining. 029 JOE 003 016 Whenever the Lord roars from Zion and utters his voice from Jerusalem, earth and sky quake; but the Lord is a refuge to his people, and a fortress to the people of Israel. 029 JOE 003 017 And you will know that I am the Lord your God, I who dwells in Zion, my holy mountain, and Jerusalem will be holy, and strangers will not pass through her any more. 029 JOE 003 018 In that day, the mountains will drop sweet wine, the hills will flow with milk, all the channels of Judah will flow with water, a fountain will spring from the house of Judah, and will water the Valley of Shittim. 029 JOE 003 019 Egypt will become a desolation, and Edom a wilderness, because of the violence done to the people of Judah, because they shed innocent blood in their land, 029 JOE 003 020 Judah will remain inhabited forever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation. 029 JOE 003 021 I will avenge their blood which I have not yet avenged. The Lord lives in Zion! # # BOOK 030 AMO Amos Amos 030 AMO 001 001 The message of Amos, one of the sheep breeders of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the reign of King Uzziah of Judah, and in the reign of Jeroboam the son of King Joash of Israel, two years before the earthquake. 030 AMO 001 002 Amos said: Whenever the Lord roars from Zion, and utters his voice from Jerusalem, the pastures of the shepherds dry up, the top of Carmel becomes arid. 030 AMO 001 003 The Lord says: For Damascus’ three crimes – no, four! – I will not rescind my judgment. They have threshed Gilead with threshing instruments of iron. 030 AMO 001 004 Therefore I will send fire on Hazael’s house, it will devour the palaces of Ben-hadad. 030 AMO 001 005 I will break open the gate of Damascus, I will wipe out those who live in the valley of Aven and the sceptered ruler of Beth-Eden. The people of Aram will go into captivity in Kir, says the Lord. 030 AMO 001 006 The Lord says: For Gaza’s three crimes – no, four! – I will not rescind my judgment. They carried away captive a whole nation, sold them as slaves to Edom. 030 AMO 001 007 Therefore I will send fire on the wall of Gaza, and it shall devour her palaces. 030 AMO 001 008 And I will wipe out those who live in Ashdod, and the sceptered ruler of Askelon. I will turn my hand against Ekron, and the remnant of the Philistines will perish, says the Lord. 030 AMO 001 009 The Lord says: For Tyre’s three crimes – no, four! – I will not rescind my judgment. They carried away captive a whole people into exile in Edom, and did not remember the brotherly covenant. 030 AMO 001 010 So I will send fire on the walls of Tyre. It will devour her palaces. 030 AMO 001 011 The Lord says: For Edom’s three crimes – no, four! – I will not rescind my judgment. They pursued their relatives with the sword, stilled their pity, cherished their anger continually, retained their fury forever. 030 AMO 001 012 So I will send a fire into Teman. It will destroy the palaces of Bozrah. 030 AMO 001 013 The Lord says: For Ammonites’ three crimes – no, four! – I will not rescind my judgment. They have ripped open pregnant women in Gilead, in their lust for land. 030 AMO 001 014 So I will kindle a fire on the wall of Rabbah. It will destroy her palaces, with a war-cry in the day of battle, with a tempest in the day of the whirlwind. 030 AMO 001 015 Their king will go into exile, he and his nobles together, says the Lord. 030 AMO 002 001 The Lord says: For Moab’s three crimes – no, four! – I will not rescind my judgment. They have burned to lime the bones of the king of Edom, 030 AMO 002 002 to desecrate the dead. So I will send a fire into Moab. It will devour the palaces of Kirioth, with a war-cry, with the sound of trumpets. 030 AMO 002 003 I will kill the ruler, all his nobles I will slay with him, says the Lord. 030 AMO 002 004 The Lord says: For Judah’s three crimes – no, four! – I will not rescind my judgment. They have rejected the law of the Lord and have not kept his statutes. Instead their false gods their ancestors followed, have led them astray. 030 AMO 002 005 So I will send a fire on Judah. It will devour the palaces of Jerusalem. 030 AMO 002 006 The Lord says: For Israel’s three crimes – no, four! – I will not rescind my judgment. They sell the righteous for money, the needy for a pair of shoes. 030 AMO 002 007 They trample on the head of the poor, push the humble out of the way. Father and son go to the same temple girl, and so profane my holy name. 030 AMO 002 008 They stretch themselves on garments taken in pledges beside every altar, and they drink the wine of those who have been fined in the house of their God. 030 AMO 002 009 It was I who destroyed the Amorites for your sake, whose height was like that of the cedars, as strong as oaks. I destroyed their fruit from above and their roots from below. 030 AMO 002 010 It was I who brought you up from the land of Egypt, led you forty years in the wilderness, brought you here to possess the land of the Amorites. 030 AMO 002 011 I raised up some of your sons to be prophets some of your youths to be Nazirites. Is not this indeed so, Israelites? says the Lord. 030 AMO 002 012 But you made the Nazirites drink wine and banned the prophets from prophesying. 030 AMO 002 013 Listen! It is I who will make you groan in your places, as a wagon groans under its load of grain. 030 AMO 002 014 Then flight will fail the swift, and the strength of the strongest will be useless. The warrior will not save his life, 030 AMO 002 015 the archer will not stand firm, the swift of foot will not escape, the horseman will not save his life. 030 AMO 002 016 The bravest of warriors will flee away naked in that day, says the Lord. 030 AMO 003 001 Listen to this message, Israelites, which the Lord has spoken against you, against the whole nation that I brought out of Egypt: 030 AMO 003 002 You alone have I cared for of all the nations of the world, this is why I will punish you for your crimes. 030 AMO 003 003 Do two walk together unless they agreed to meet? 030 AMO 003 004 Does a lion roar in the forest when there is no prey for him? Does a young lion cry out in his den unless he has caught something? 030 AMO 003 005 Does a bird swoop down into a trap if no bait is set for it? Does a trap spring up from the ground if nothing sets it off? 030 AMO 003 006 Can a trumpet be blown in a city and the people not tremble? Can disaster strike a city and the Lord not have caused it? 030 AMO 003 007 Surely the Lord God does nothing without revealing his purpose to his servants the prophets. 030 AMO 003 008 The lion has roared; who does not fear? The Lord God has spoken; who will not prophesy? 030 AMO 003 009 Proclaim over the palaces in Ashdod, and over the palaces in the land of Egypt: Gather upon the mountain of Samaria, and see the violent turmoil, the acts of oppression in her midst. 030 AMO 003 010 For they do not know how to do right. They are heaping up violence and oppression in their palaces, says the Lord. 030 AMO 003 011 Therefore the Lord God says: An enemy will surround the land, he will strip your strength from you. and your palaces will be looted. 030 AMO 003 012 The Lord says: Just as a shepherd rescues from the jaws of a lion two shinbones or a piece of an ear, so the Israelites living in Sameria will be rescued – with the corner of a couch, and the damask of a divan! 030 AMO 003 013 Listen and testify against the house of Jacob, says the Lord God, the God of hosts. 030 AMO 003 014 On the day when I punish Israel for their crimes, I will also visit in judgment the altars of Bethel, the horns of the altar will be hacked off, and they will fall to the ground. 030 AMO 003 015 I will destroy the winter houses together with the summer houses and the houses of ivory will perish. Many great houses will be swept away, says the Lord. 030 AMO 004 001 Listen to this message, women of Sameria, you well-fed cows of Bashan, who oppress the poor and crush the needy, who say to your husbands, “Bring us another drink!” 030 AMO 004 002 The Lord God has sworn by his holiness: The time is coming when you will be carried away in baskets, your children carried away in fish-baskets, 030 AMO 004 003 and through the breaches in the city wall you will go, thrown out on the garbage dump, says the Lord. 030 AMO 004 004 Come to Bethel and transgress, at Gilgald increase your transgression. Bring your sacrifices in the morning, every third day your tithes! 030 AMO 004 005 Burn some leavened bread as a thank-offering, proclaim aloud your voluntary offerings, for you love to do this, Israelites! says the Lord God. 030 AMO 004 006 But it was I who gave to you empty stomachs in all your cities, and lack of bread in all your towns, yet you have not returned to me, says the Lord. 030 AMO 004 007 It was I who withheld from you the rain, sending rain on one city, while on another I allowed no rain. One field received rain, while a field without rain withered. 030 AMO 004 008 People from two or three cities ranged as far as another city for drinking water, and still they did not have enough, yet you did not return to me, says the Lord. 030 AMO 004 009 I struck you with blight and mildew, I laid waste your gardens and vineyards. The swarming locust devoured your fig and your olive trees, yet you did not return to me, says the Lord. 030 AMO 004 010 I sent plague among you like the plagues of Egypt, I slew your youths with the sword, your horses raided away, I caused the stench of your camps to rise in your nostrils, yet you did not return to me, says the Lord. 030 AMO 004 011 I wrought a destruction among you, as God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. You were like a stick snatched from the fire, yet you did not return to me, says the Lord. 030 AMO 004 012 Therefore this is what I will do to you, Israel, and because I am about to do this to you, prepare to meet your God, Israel. 030 AMO 004 013 He is here! He who forms the mountains, creates the wind, declares to his thoughts to mortals, makes dawn and darkness, treads upon the heights of the earth, the Lord, the God of hosts, is his name! 030 AMO 005 001 Listen to the words of the funeral song I am singing for you, Israel: 030 AMO 005 002 Fallen, no more to rise, is the virgin Israel! Hurled down upon her own soil she lies, with no one to lift her up! 030 AMO 005 003 For the Lord God says this: The city that marches out with a thousand soldiers has only a hundred left, and the one that marches out with a hundred has only ten left. 030 AMO 005 004 For the Lord says this to Israel: Seek me and live, 030 AMO 005 005 But do not seek Bethel, do not enter Gilgal, do not go over to Beer-sheba. For Gilgal will enter exile, and Bethel will go to destruction. 030 AMO 005 006 Seek the Lord and live, or he will cast fire on the house of Joseph, and it will devour and there will be no one to quench it for Bethel. 030 AMO 005 007 You who turn judgment to bitter wormwood, and cast righteousness into the dirt: 030 AMO 005 008 He who made the Pleiades and Orion, who turns deep darkness into dawn, who darkens day again into night, who summons the waters of the sea, and pours them out on the earth’s surface, the Lord is his name! 030 AMO 005 009 He causes destruction to burst over the strong. He brings devastation on the fortress. 030 AMO 005 010 You who hate the arbiters at the city gate, and abhor anyone who speaks the truth: 030 AMO 005 011 Because you trample on the weak, and tax their grain, although you have built houses of hewn stone, you will not live in them, although you have planted charming vineyards, you will not drink their wine. 030 AMO 005 012 For I know how many are your crimes, and how great are your sins! You persecutors of the righteous, takers of bribes! You deny the poor their justice at the city gate. 030 AMO 005 013 It would be wise to keep quiet in such an evil time. 030 AMO 005 014 Seek good and not evil, that you may live, so the Lord, God of hosts, may be with you, as you have claimed he is. 030 AMO 005 015 Hate evil and love good, establish justice at the city gate. Perhaps the Lord, the God of hosts, will be gracious to a surviving remnant of Joseph. 030 AMO 005 016 Therefore the Lord, the God of hosts, says: In all the public squares there will be wailing, in every street the sound of mourning. They will summon the farmers to mourning, and professional mourners to wailing. 030 AMO 005 017 In all vineyards there will be lamenting, when I pass through your midst, says the Lord. 030 AMO 005 018 Fools who long for the day of the Lord! What does the day of the Lord mean to you? It is darkness, and not light. 030 AMO 005 019 It is as when one flees from a lion, and is attacked by a bear, as when one reaches home, leans his hand on the wall, and a snake bites him. 030 AMO 005 020 Won’t the Lord’s day be darkness and not light, murky darkness without a ray of light in it? 030 AMO 005 021 I hate, I despise your feasts, I will not smell the savor of your festivals, 030 AMO 005 022 I will not be pleased with your burnt offerings, your grain offerings, I will not accept the peace offerings of your fattened calves. 030 AMO 005 023 Spare me the noise of your songs, I will not listen to the melody of your lyres. 030 AMO 005 024 But let justice roll on as a flood of waters, and righteousness like an unfailing stream. 030 AMO 005 025 Was it only sacrifices and grain offerings you brought me during the forty years in the wilderness, Israel? 030 AMO 005 026 But now you will lift up your “king” Sikkuth and “star god” Kiyyun, your idols which you have made for yourselves, 030 AMO 005 027 as I drive you into exile beyond Damascus, says the Lord, whose name is the God of hosts. 030 AMO 006 001 Sorrow awaits who are carefree in Zion, overconfident on the mountain of Samaria! The elite of this, the best of nations, on whom the people of Israel rest their hopes! 030 AMO 006 002 You say to the people: Cross over to Calneh and see, go from there to Hamath the great, then go down to Gath of the Philistines: Are they better than these kingdoms? Is their territory larger than yours? 030 AMO 006 003 You push away all thoughts of the evil day, yet have instituted a rule of violence. 030 AMO 006 004 They lie on ivory couches, sprawl on their divans, eat choice lambs from the flock, and fattened calves from the stall. 030 AMO 006 005 They idly sing to the sound of the lyre, thinking themselves songwriters like David, 030 AMO 006 006 they drink bowlfuls of wine, and anoint themselves with the finest of oil. But they do not grieve over the ruin of Joseph. 030 AMO 006 007 Therefore now they must go into exile at the head of the captives, and hushed will be the revelry of the sprawlers. 030 AMO 006 008 The Lord God, the Lord, the God of hosts, has sworn by himself: I abhor the pride of Jacob, I hate his palaces, therefore I will deliver up the city and all that is in it to their enemies. 030 AMO 006 009 If ten people remain in one house, then they will die. 030 AMO 006 010 When the uncle and another member of the family of a dead man come to carry the body out of the house for burial, they will call to someone in a corner of the house, ‘Any more there?’ and he will answer, ‘No’, and then he will add, ‘Be quiet!’ – for the name of the Lord must not be mentioned. 030 AMO 006 011 Look! The Lord is giving the command! He will smash the large house to bits, the small house into fragments. 030 AMO 006 012 Do horses gallop on crags? Does one plow the sea with oxen? Yet you turn justice into poison weed, and the fruit of righteousness into bitter wormwood. 030 AMO 006 013 You who are so proud of capturing Lo-debar, who say, ‘Have we not by our own strength taken Karnaim for ourselves?’ 030 AMO 006 014 I am now raising up against you, Israel, a nation, says the Lord, the God of hosts. They will oppress you, from the entrance of Hamath to the brook of the Arabah. 030 AMO 007 001 This is what the Lord God showed me: he was forming a swarm of locusts, when the late spring grass began to come up after the king’s share had been harvested. 030 AMO 007 002 And when they had finished devouring all the land’s vegetation, I said: “Lord God, forgive, I beg you! How can Jacob survive, for he is so helpless?” 030 AMO 007 003 The Lord relented. This will not happen,” said the Lord. 030 AMO 007 004 This is what he showed me: the Lord God was giving command to execute judgment by fire. It burned up the great deep, and had begun to devour the fields, and I said: 030 AMO 007 005 “Lord God, forgive, I beg you! How can Jacob survive, for he is so helpless?” 030 AMO 007 006 The Lord relented. “This will not happen either,” said the Lord. 030 AMO 007 007 This is what the Lord God showed me: the Lord was standing beside a wall built with a plumb line, with a plumb line in his hand. 030 AMO 007 008 And the Lord said to me, “What do you see, Amos?” And I answered, “A plumb line,” Then the Lord said, “Watch: I am setting a plumb line in the midst of my people Israel, I will no longer overlook their crookedness. 030 AMO 007 009 And the high places of Isaac will be desolate, the sanctuaries of Israel will be laid waste, and I will rise up against the house of Jeroboam with the sword.” 030 AMO 007 010 Then Amaziah, chief priest of Bethel sent this message to King Jeroboam of Israel: “Amos has conspired against you right in the heart of Israel. The country cannot survive all his words. 030 AMO 007 011 Amos has said, ‘Jeroboam will die by the sword, and Israel will be led away captive out of their land.’” 030 AMO 007 012 And Amaziah said to Amos, “Leave, you who see visions, go to the land of Judah. Earn your bread there and prophesy there, 030 AMO 007 013 but don’t prophesy any more at Bethel, for it is the king’s sanctuary, and it is the royal residence.” 030 AMO 007 014 “I am no prophet,” Amos answered Amaziah, “nor trained as one. I am a shepherd and a keeper of sycamores fig trees. 030 AMO 007 015 But the Lord took me away from following the flock, and the Lord said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’ 030 AMO 007 016 Now therefore listen to the Lord’s message: ‘You say not to prophesy against Israel, nor to preach against the house of Isaac. 030 AMO 007 017 But the Lord says: Your wife will become a prostitute in the city, your sons and your daughters will fall by the sword, your land will be divided up, you will die on unclean soil, and Israel will be led away captive out of their land.’” 030 AMO 008 001 The Lord God showed me this: a basket of summer fruit. 030 AMO 008 002 “What do you see, Amos?” he asked. I replied, “A basket of ripe summer fruit.” Then the Lord said to me: The time is ripe for my people Israel, I will no longer overlook their crimes. 030 AMO 008 003 The singing women in the palace will howl on that day, says the Lord: Corpses everywhere, thrown out in silence. 030 AMO 008 004 Listen to this, you who trample on the needy, who oppress the poor of the earth, 030 AMO 008 005 saying: When will the feast of the new moon be over so that we may sell grain? And the sabbath ended so that we may offer wheat for sale? Reducing the measure and increasing the price, cheating with false scales, 030 AMO 008 006 mixing the sweepings in with the wheat. Then we can buy the poor for money, the needy for a pair of shoes. 030 AMO 008 007 Now the Lord has taken an oath by the Pride of Jacob: I will never forget all their deeds! 030 AMO 008 008 Because of this won’t the land quake, and all its inhabitants mourn? Won’t the whole of it rise like the Nile, churn and subside like the Nile in Egypt? 030 AMO 008 009 On that day, says the Lord God, I will make the sun set at noon and darken the earth in broad daylight. 030 AMO 008 010 I will turn your feasts into mourning, all your songs into dirges. I will cause you to dress in sackcloth, every head shaved. I will make you mourn like you have lost your only son, all that happens will end in bitterness. 030 AMO 008 011 The day is coming, says the Lord God, when I will send hunger in the land. Not a famine of bread or thirst for water, but for hearing the message of the Lord. 030 AMO 008 012 Then they will wander from sea to sea, from the north to the east, to seek a message from the Lord, but they will not find it. 030 AMO 008 013 In that day beautiful girls and strong young men will faint from thirst. 030 AMO 008 014 Those who take oaths by the shameful idol of Samaria, who swear, ‘As surely as your God lives, O Dan!’ and, ‘By the sacred way to Beer-sheba!’ – they will fall and never rise again. 030 AMO 009 001 I saw the Lord towering above the altar, and he commanded: Strike the tops of the pillars so that the foundations may shake, bring them down on the heads of the people below. The rest of them I will slay with the sword: no one will get away, no one will escape. 030 AMO 009 002 If they dig down to Sheol, there will my hand take them. If they climb up to the heavens, from there will I bring them down. (Sheol h7585) 030 AMO 009 003 If they hide themselves on the top of Carmel, there will I search them out and take them. If they hide out of my sight at the bottom of the sea, there will I command the sea serpent to bite them. 030 AMO 009 004 If they are taken into captivity by their enemies, there will I command the sword to slay them. I will keep my eye on them but for evil and not for good. 030 AMO 009 005 It is the Lord the God of hosts, who touches the earth and it trembles, all who live on it mourn. The earth rises up like the Nile, and sinks like the Nile of Egypt. 030 AMO 009 006 The one who builds in the heavens, who sets the dome of the sky over the earth, who summons the waters of the sea and pours them out on the face of the earth: the Lord is his name. 030 AMO 009 007 To me, Israelites, you are just like the Cushites, says the Lord. Yes, I brought Israel up out of the land of Egypt, but also the Philistines from Caphtor, and the Arameans from Kir! 030 AMO 009 008 Behold the eyes of the Lord God are on the sinful kingdom: I will destroy it from the face of the earth! But I will not completely destroy the house of Jacob, says the Lord. 030 AMO 009 009 For behold I am about to give the command, and I will shake the house of Israel among all the nations just as one shakes grain in a sieve, but not a pebble shall fall to the ground. 030 AMO 009 010 All the sinners of my people, who deny that disaster will touch or befall them, will die by the sword. 030 AMO 009 011 On that day I will raise up the fallen house of David, I will wall up its gaps and raise up its ruins, I will rebuild it as it was long ago. 030 AMO 009 012 They will possess again the rest of Edom, and all the nations which once you ruled for me, says the Lord, who will do this. 030 AMO 009 013 Listen! The days are coming, says the Lord, when the harvest is too big to reap before it is time to plow, when the grapes cannot be all trod before it is time to sow, when the mountains will run with sweet wine, and every hill will flow with it. 030 AMO 009 014 I will bring back my people Israel, they will rebuild waste cities and inhabit them, plant vineyards and drink their wine, make gardens and eat their fruit. 030 AMO 009 015 I will plant them on their own soil, and they will never again be uprooted from their land which I have given them, says the Lord your God. # # BOOK 031 OBA Obadiah Obadiah 031 OBA 001 001 The vision of Obadiah; what the Lord said about Edom: We have heard a report from the Lord, a messenger has been sent among the nations; Rise up, let us rise against Edom in battle! 031 OBA 001 002 I will make you small among the nations, and despised by all! 031 OBA 001 003 Your proud heart has misled you, you who live in the clefts of the rock, you who build on high your dwelling. You say to yourselves, ‘Who can bring me down to earth?’ 031 OBA 001 004 Though you build high as the eagle, though between the stars you set your nest, from there will I bring you down, says the Lord. 031 OBA 001 005 If thieves had come to you, marauders by night would they not have stolen only as much as they needed? If grape-gatherers had come to you would they not have left some gleanings? 031 OBA 001 006 Descendents of Esau, all your treasures are looted. 031 OBA 001 007 To your border they have driven you, all your allies have betrayed you. Your avowed friends have overpowered you, they have set a trap for you. Where is your wisdom now? 031 OBA 001 008 The Lord says: On that day, I will destroy the wise of Edom, drive wisdom out of Mount Esau. 031 OBA 001 009 Your warriors will be filled with terror, Teman, none will be left alive on Mount Esau. 031 OBA 001 010 Because of the violence done to your relatives, the people of Jacob, shame covers you, you are cut off forever. 031 OBA 001 011 In the day when you stood aloof, in the day when strangers carried away their wealth, and strangers entered into their gates, and over Jerusalem cast lots, you were as one of those strangers. 031 OBA 001 012 You should not have gloated over your relatives, in the day of their misfortune. You should not have exulted over the land of Judah in the day of their destruction. You should not have laughed loudly at their distress. 031 OBA 001 013 You should not have entered in at the gate of my people in the day of their disaster. You should not have gloated over their calamity, in the day of their disaster, nor stretched out your hand after their wealth in the day of their disaster, 031 OBA 001 014 nor stood at the crossroads to cut down their fugitives, nor should you have betrayed their refugees in the day of distress. 031 OBA 001 015 Near at hand is the Lord’s day for all the nations. As you have done so will it be done to you. Your deeds will come back on your own head. 031 OBA 001 016 As you have drunk upon my holy mountain, so all the nations will drink in turn; They will drink deep and be as though they had not been. 031 OBA 001 017 But on Mount Zion some will escape, it will be again holy, and those of the house of Jacob will again enter into their possessions. 031 OBA 001 018 For the house of Jacob will be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, but the house of Esau will become stubble. They will kindle and devour it. Not even one of the house of Esau will escape, for the Lord has spoken. 031 OBA 001 019 They will possess the Negeb and Mount Esau, and the Shephelah of the Philistines. They will possess the territory of Ephraim and Samaria, and Benjamin will possess Gilead. 031 OBA 001 020 The exiles of Israel will possess the land of the Canaanites as far as Zarephath. The captives of Jerusalem who are in Sepharad will possess the cities of the Negreb. 031 OBA 001 021 The rescued will come up on Mount Zion to rule Mount Esau, and the kingdom will belong to the Lord. # # BOOK 032 JON Jonah Jonah 032 JON 001 001 This message from the Lord came to Jonah, the son of Amittai: 032 JON 001 002 “Arise, go to that great city, Nineveh, and preach against it; for their wickedness is known to me.” 032 JON 001 003 But Jonah started to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went aboard to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. 032 JON 001 004 But the Lord made a furious wind blow over the sea, and there was such a great storm that the ship was in danger of breaking to pieces. 032 JON 001 005 The sailors were terrified and each cried for help to his own god. They threw the ship’s cargo into the sea to make the ship lighter. Meanwhile Jonah had gone down into the bottom of the ship and lay fast asleep. 032 JON 001 006 The captain of the ship went and said to him, “How can you sleep? Call on your god; perhaps that god will think of us, so that we may not be lost.” 032 JON 001 007 The sailors said to one another, “Come, let us cast lots to discover on whose account this evil has come upon us.” So they cast lots, and the lot indicated Jonah. 032 JON 001 008 So they said to him, “Are you to blame for this? Tell us, what is your business, and where do you come from? What is your country and to what people do you belong?” 032 JON 001 009 He replied, “I am a Hebrew, and a worshipper of the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.” 032 JON 001 010 Then the men were greatly frightened and said to him, “What have you done?” For they knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them. 032 JON 001 011 Then they said to him, “What should we do to you, to make the sea calm for us?” For the sea grew more and more stormy. 032 JON 001 012 He said to them, “Take me up and throw me into the sea, and the sea will be calm for you, for I know that it is because of me this fierce storm has overtaken you.” 032 JON 001 013 But instead the men rowed hard to get back to the land; they could not, however, for the sea grew more and more stormy ahead. 032 JON 001 014 So they cried to the Lord and said, “We beg you, Lord, we beg you, don’t let us die for this man’s life, and don’t let us be guilty of shedding innocent blood, for you are the Lord; you have done as it pleases you.” 032 JON 001 015 And they took up Jonah, and threw him into the sea; and the sea became calm. 032 JON 001 016 Then the men greatly feared the Lord, and they offered a sacrifice and made vows to him. 032 JON 001 017 But the Lord arranged for a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was inside the fish three days and three nights. 032 JON 002 001 Jonah prayed to the Lord his God, out of the belly of the fish, 032 JON 002 002 and said: I cried out of my distress, to the Lord and he answered me; out of the midst of Sheol I cried aloud, and you heard my voice. (Sheol h7585) 032 JON 002 003 For you cast me into the deep, into heart of the seas, and the great flood rolled about me; all your breakers and your waves passed over me. 032 JON 002 004 Then I said, I am driven out, away from your sight; How will I ever again look towards your holy temple? 032 JON 002 005 The waters surrounded me, the great deep engulfed me, the sea weeds were wrapped about my head. 032 JON 002 006 I went down to the roots of the mountains; the prison of the earth closed over me forever. Yet you brought up my life from destruction, O Lord my God. 032 JON 002 007 As my life slipped away, I remembered the Lord; and my prayer reached you, in your holy temple. 032 JON 002 008 Those who worship worthless idols abandon their own mercy, 032 JON 002 009 but I will sacrifice to you with loud thanksgiving! I will pay that which I have vowed. Salvation is the Lord’s. 032 JON 002 010 And the Lord spoke to the fish, and it threw up Jonah upon the dry land. 032 JON 003 001 This message from the Lord came to Jonah the second time, 032 JON 003 002 “Arise, go to that great city, Nineveh, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you.” 032 JON 003 003 So Jonah started for Nineveh, as the Lord commanded. Now Nineveh was so large a city that it took three days’ journey to cross it. 032 JON 003 004 Jonah began by going a day’s journey into the city, and he proclaimed, “Forty days more and Nineveh shall be overthrown.” 032 JON 003 005 And the people of Nineveh believed God; and they ordered a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them. 032 JON 003 006 And when word came to the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his robe, dressed in sackcloth, and sat in ashes. 032 JON 003 007 And he made this proclamation and published it in Nineveh: “By the decree of the king and his nobles: People, beast, herd, and flock shall not taste anything; let them not eat nor drink water. 032 JON 003 008 Let both people and animals put on sackcloth and let them cry earnestly to God; let them each turn from their evil ways and from the deeds of violence which they are doing. 032 JON 003 009 Who knows? God may relent and avert his fierce anger, so that we may not die.” 032 JON 003 010 When God saw that they turned from their evil course, he relented the evil which he said he would do to them, and did not do it. 032 JON 004 001 But this seemed very wrong to Jonah and he became angry. 032 JON 004 002 He prayed to the Lord and said, “Ah, Lord, wasn’t this what I said when I was still in my own country? That was why I fled at once to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious and merciful God, patient, and loving and ready to forgive. 032 JON 004 003 Therefore, Lord, I beg you, take my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live!” 032 JON 004 004 But the Lord said, “Are you doing right in being angry?” 032 JON 004 005 Then Jonah went out of the city and sat down on the east side, and there made a hut for himself and sat under it, waiting to see what would become of the city. 032 JON 004 006 And the Lord arranged for a bush to grow up over Jonah as a shade for his head to make him comfortable. The bush gave Jonah great pleasure; 032 JON 004 007 but at dawn the next day God arranged for a worm which attacked the bush, so that it wilted. 032 JON 004 008 And when the sun rose, God arranged a hot east wind. And the sun beat upon Jonah’s head, so that he was faint and begged that he might die, saying, “It is better for me to die than to live.” 032 JON 004 009 But God said to Jonah, “Are you doing right in being angry about the bush?” He replied, “I have every right to be as angry as I could possibly be!” 032 JON 004 010 The Lord said, “You care about a bush which has cost you no trouble and which you have not made grow, which came up in a night and wilted in a night. 032 JON 004 011 Should I not care for the great city Nineveh, in which there are one hundred and twenty thousand people who do not know their right hand from their left; and many cattle too?” # # BOOK 033 MIC Micah Micah 033 MIC 001 001 The Lord’s message which came to Micah of Morsheth in the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. The visions he saw about Samaria and Jerusalem. 033 MIC 001 002 Listen, all you peoples! Pay attention, all you inhabitants of the earth! For the Lord God will be a witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple! 033 MIC 001 003 The Lord is coming from his holy place, he descends and treads on the heights of the earth, 033 MIC 001 004 so that the mountains melt beneath like wax in the presence of the fire, and the valleys break apart like water poured down a steep descent. 033 MIC 001 005 All this is because of the crime of Jacob, and for the sin of the house of Israel. What was the crime of Jacob? Was it not Samaria? What is the sin of Judah? Is it not Jerusalem? 033 MIC 001 006 “I will make Samaria a ruin in an open field, and a place where a vineyard is planted, I will hurl down her stones into the valley, and lay bare her foundations. 033 MIC 001 007 “All her images will be shattered, and all her statues will be burned with fire, and all her idols I will lay in ruins. For they were acquired by prostitution, and to prostitution they will return.” 033 MIC 001 008 This is why I will mourn and wail, I will go barefoot and naked, I will howl like the jackals and mourn like the desert owl. 033 MIC 001 009 For the blow that Samaria has received is incurable. It has spread over Judah, it extends even to the gate of my people, even to Jerusalem. 033 MIC 001 010 Don’t tell this in Gath! Don’t even cry – but sit in the dust at Beth-leaphrah. 033 MIC 001 011 Pass by, inhabitants of Shaphir, naked and ashamed! The inhabitants of Zaanan cannot leave their city. Beth-ezel laments and removes its support from you. 033 MIC 001 012 The inhabitants of Maroth wait anxiously for good! But the Lord has sent disaster to the gates of Jerusalem. 033 MIC 001 013 Harness the horse to the chariot, inhabitants of Lachish. You led the daughter of Zion, Jerusalem, into sin, in you are found the crimes of Israel. 033 MIC 001 014 Therefore you must give parting gifts to Moresheth-gath. Beth-achzib will betray the kings of Israel. 033 MIC 001 015 I will hand you to a conqueror, people of Mareshah, the leaders of Israel will hide in Adullam Cave! 033 MIC 001 016 Shave your head in morning for the children you love, until you are bald as vultures, because they have left you for exile. 033 MIC 002 001 Woe to those who lie awake planning evil, who in the light of morning carry out their plan because they have the power to do it. 033 MIC 002 002 They covet fields and seize them, desire houses and take them, they crush householder and his household, people and their possessions. 033 MIC 002 003 Therefore the Lord says: “I am planning disaster from which you cannot save your neck, nor walk proudly because it will be a terrible time. 033 MIC 002 004 On that day they will sing a taunt-song to you, this mocking lament: ‘My people’s estate is being measured for sale, our captors are dividing our fields. We are completely undone.’ 033 MIC 002 005 There will be no one to measure out land for you from the Lord’s community. 033 MIC 002 006 “‘Don’t rant!’ they urge, ‘Of such things one does not prophesy! Shame will not overtake us! 033 MIC 002 007 Is the Lord impatient, or are such things his deeds? Are not his words favorable to the family of Jacob?’ Aren’t my commands good for those who obey them? 033 MIC 002 008 But you, you stand up as a foe against those who are peaceful; you strip the robe from those who pass by quietly, averse to conflict. 033 MIC 002 009 Women of my people you drive out from their happy homes, from their young children you take away my glory forever. 033 MIC 002 010 Rise and begone, for this is no place to rest. Your uncleanness brings destruction, severe destruction. 033 MIC 002 011 If a person walking in wine and falsehood were to say, ‘I will prophesy to you of wine and strong drink,’ then he would be the perfect prophet for this people!” 033 MIC 002 012 “I will assuredly assemble all of Jacob, I will surely gather the survivors of Israel. I will herd them together as sheep in a fold, like a flock in the pasture, and the land will resound with the sounds of multitudes. 033 MIC 002 013 “The one who breaks out goes first. They have broken forth and passed by the gate and through it have they gone out. Their king leads before them, the Lord at their head.” 033 MIC 003 001 I also said: “Listen now, leaders of Jacob, judges of the house of Israel. Is it not your duty to know what is the right? 033 MIC 003 002 Haters of that which is good and lovers of evil! 033 MIC 003 003 “They devour the flesh of my people, and their hide they strip from off them, and break in pieces and serve up their bones, like meat in a pot or the cooking pan! 033 MIC 003 004 “Then they will cry out to the Lord, but he will not pay attention to them. He will hide his face from them at that time because they have committed such crimes.” 033 MIC 003 005 Therefore the Lord says: “To the prophets who lead my people astray, who when they have food between their teeth declare peace, but against one who puts nothing in their mouths, they proclaim an open war! 033 MIC 003 006 “Night will overtake you so that you have no vision, and darkness so that there will be no divination, and the sun will go down on the prophets, and the day shall be dark over them. 033 MIC 003 007 “The seers will be ashamed, and the diviners will turn pale, all of them will cover their mouths. For there will be no answer from God. 033 MIC 003 008 “But I, on the contrary am full of power, and the sense of justice and strength, to make known to Jacob his crime, and to Israel his sin. 033 MIC 003 009 “Hear this, leaders of the house of Jacob, judges of the house of Israel, you who spurn justice, and make all that is straight crooked, 033 MIC 003 010 who build Zion with acts of bloodshed, and Jerusalem with crime. 033 MIC 003 011 “The leaders render judgment for a bribe, and her priests give oracles for a reward, and her prophets divine for silver. Yet they claim to rely on the Lord, ‘The Lord’, they say, ‘is in our midst. Evil cannot overtake us.’ 033 MIC 003 012 “Therefore for your sakes Zion will be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem will become a heap of ruins, and the temple mount a wooded height.” 033 MIC 004 001 In the days to come the mountain of the Lord will be established, the house of our God on the top of the mountain, lifted above the hills. All the nations will flow to it, 033 MIC 004 002 and many peoples will go and say, “Come, let us go up to the Lord’s mount, to the house of the God of Jacob, so that he may instruct us in his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” For from Zion proceeds instruction and the Lord’s word from Jerusalem. 033 MIC 004 003 He will arbitrate between many peoples, and render decisions for numerous nations, They will beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, they will learn war no more. 033 MIC 004 004 They will live each under his vine, and under his fig tree, with none to terrify them. For the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken. 033 MIC 004 005 Each nation trusts in the names of their gods, but we will worship the Lord our God forever. 033 MIC 004 006 “On that day,” says the Lord, “I will assemble the lame. I will gather exiles I punished. 033 MIC 004 007 I will restore the lame as a remnant, the exiles into a great nation. The Lord will rule over them on Mount Zion from that time forever.” 033 MIC 004 008 But you, watchtower for the flock, hill of the daughter of Zion, to you will return your former rule. 033 MIC 004 009 So why do you now cry aloud? Haven’t you any king? Or has your counselor perished, so you writhe in pain like a woman in labor? 033 MIC 004 010 Writhe and scream, daughter of Zion, like a woman in labor! For now you must leave the city and camp in the open field. You will be taken to Babylon, but there will be rescued. There the Lord will save you from the hands of your foes. 033 MIC 004 011 But now many nations gather against you. They say, “Let her be defiled, we will gloat over Zion.” 033 MIC 004 012 But they do not know the thoughts of the Lord. They do not understand his plan, for he has gathered them like sheaves for the threshing floor. 033 MIC 004 013 “Arise, thresh, daughter of Zion. I will make your horns iron, and your hoofs brass, so you might beat in pieces many peoples, and devote to the Lord their spoil, and their wealth to the ruler of all the earth. 033 MIC 005 001 “Now cut yourself in bitter grief, daughter besieged by soldiers. They have set a wall around you. They strike the ruler of Israel, in the face with a rod. 033 MIC 005 002 “Bethlehem in Ephrathah, small among the tribes of Judah, from you will come a king who will rule for me over Israel, whose family line goes back to the distant past.” 033 MIC 005 003 So the Lord will only abandon Israel to its enemies until the woman in labor gives birth. Then the survivors will be reunited with their own people. 033 MIC 005 004 And he will stand and shepherd by the strength of the Lord, In the exalted name of the Lord his God; And they will live in security, for now he will be great, even to the ends of the earth. 033 MIC 005 005 This will be our peace: when Assyria comes into our land and treads on our soil, we will raise up against him seven shepherds, eight leaders of men. 033 MIC 005 006 They will shepherd Assyria with a sword, and the land of Nimrod with bared blades. They will deliver us from Assyria, when they come into our land, and tread within our borders. 033 MIC 005 007 And the survivors of Jacob will be disbursed among the nations, in the midst of many peoples, like dew from the Lord, like showers on the grass, which don’t wait for people to come or linger for mortals. 033 MIC 005 008 And the survivors of Jacob will be disbursed among the nations, in the midst of many peoples, like a lion among the beasts of the forest, like a young lion among the sheep-folds, who, when he passes through, pounces. He savages his prey. There is no rescuer. 033 MIC 005 009 Let your hand triumph over your adversaries, let all your enemies be cut off. 033 MIC 005 010 On that day, says the Lord: “I will slaughter your horses from your midst, and destroy your chariots. 033 MIC 005 011 I will devastate the cities in your land, and tear down your fortresses. 033 MIC 005 012 I will destroy your magic charms, and you will have no soothsayers. 033 MIC 005 013 I will cut down your idols and sacred pillars, and you will not worship any more the work of your hands. 033 MIC 005 014 I will uproot your sacred poles, and destroy your idols. 033 MIC 005 015 In my wrath and my anger I will seek vengeance on the nations that ignore me.” 033 MIC 006 001 Hear now what the Lord is saying: Arise, present your complaint before the mountains, let the hills hear your voice! 033 MIC 006 002 Hear, mountains, the Lord’s accusation, listen, foundations of the earth. For the Lord has a case against his people. He has a dispute with Israel. 033 MIC 006 003 “My people, what have I done to you. How have I displeased you? Answer me! 033 MIC 006 004 For I brought you up from the land of Egypt, from the land of slavery I redeemed you. I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to lead you. 033 MIC 006 005 My people, what did Balak, king of Moab counsel? And how did Balaam, the son of Beor, answer him? Remember now the journey from Shittim to Gilgal, so that you might realize the just deeds of the Lord.” 033 MIC 006 006 With what should I come before the Lord? Bow myself before the God on high? Should I come before him with burnt-offerings, with calves a year old? 033 MIC 006 007 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, With ten thousand streams of oil? Should I give him my firstborn son for my guilt, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 033 MIC 006 008 The Lord has told you what is good, what he demands of you: Only to do justice and love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. 033 MIC 006 009 Listen! The Lord calls to the city! Listen, tribe and assembly of the city! 033 MIC 006 010 “Can I forget the hoarded treasures in the houses of the wicked, and the accursed scant measure? 033 MIC 006 011 Can I leave her unpunished because of evil scales, and the bag of false weights? 033 MIC 006 012 Whose rich people are full of violence, her inhabitants liars, whose tongues speak deceit? 033 MIC 006 013 “But I indeed, have begun to punish you, to lay you in ruins because of your sins. 033 MIC 006 014 You will eat but not be satisfied, your stomach empty within you. You will store up but lose everything, because whatever you save I will give to the sword. 033 MIC 006 015 You will sow but not reap. You will tread the olives but have no oil for rubbing, tread grapes but drink no wine! 033 MIC 006 016 “For you have followed the commands of Omri, and all the practices of the house of Ahab. You have acted in accord with their counsels, so I will give you up to ruin, the city’s inhabitants to derision. The nations will treat you with contempt!” 033 MIC 007 001 Woe, woe is me, for I have become like a field after harvest, like a vineyard after gathering; not a cluster of grapes to eat, not a fig that anyone desires. 033 MIC 007 002 The honest have perished from the land, of the upright among people there is none. All of them lie in wait to shed blood. They hunt one another with the net. 033 MIC 007 003 Their hands know well how to do evil, the officer and judge demands a bribe, the high official decides as he pleases and they conspire to pervert justice. 033 MIC 007 004 The best of them are like a thorn thicket, their most upright like a prickly hedge. The day of their punishment has come, now will be their confusion! 033 MIC 007 005 Do not trust your neighbor, do not rely on a friend. From the wife who lies in your arms guard your tongue. 033 MIC 007 006 For son insults father, daughter rises up against mother, daughter-in-law against mother-in-law, a man’s enemies are the people of his own household. 033 MIC 007 007 But I will look to the Lord, I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me! 033 MIC 007 008 Do not rejoice over me, my enemy. If I have fallen, I will rise. If I sit in darkness, the Lord is my light. 033 MIC 007 009 The anger of the Lord I will bear, for against him have I sinned – until he champions my cause and gives judgment for me. He will bring me into to the light, I will see his justice. 033 MIC 007 010 So my enemy will see, and shame will cover them, they who said, “Where is the Lord your God?” I will look upon them, they will be trampled on like mud in the street! 033 MIC 007 011 It is a day for rebuilding your walls, this day will your boundary will be extended. 033 MIC 007 012 This day they will come to you, from Assyria and the cities of Egypt, and from Egypt even to the Euphrates River, from sea to sea, and from mountain to mountain. 033 MIC 007 013 Though the land has become a desolation because of its inhabitants, because of their deeds. 033 MIC 007 014 Shepherd your flock with your staff, the flock that belong to you, who live alone in the forest, in the midst of meadows; so that they may pasture in Bashon and Gilead as in the days of old, 033 MIC 007 015 as in the days when you came from Egypt, gave us wonders to see. 033 MIC 007 016 Nations will see and be ashamed of all their might; they will put their hands to their mouth, their ears will become deaf, 033 MIC 007 017 they will lick the dust like snakes, like creatures that crawl on the earth; they will come trembling and in terror from their hiding places, in dread and fear. 033 MIC 007 018 Who is a God like you, forgiving iniquity and passing by the rebellion of the remnant of your people? He does not retain his anger forever, but is one who delights in mercy. 033 MIC 007 019 He will tread under foot our iniquity; you will cast into the depths of the sea all our iniquities. 033 MIC 007 020 You will show faithfulness to Jacob, and loving kindness to Abraham, as you have sworn to our ancestors from the days of old. # # BOOK 034 NAH Nahum Nahum 034 NAH 001 001 A message about Nineveh, a vision which came to Nahum from Elkosh. 034 NAH 001 002 The Lord tolerates no rivals. The Lord is vengeful and fierce in wrath. The Lord does not fail to punish his foes; the Lord is vengeful against his enemies. 034 NAH 001 003 The Lord is slow to anger, great in power. The guilty will not escape his punishment. Storm tempest is his path and cloud is the dust of his feet. 034 NAH 001 004 He rebukes the sea and dries it up and makes all the streams run dry. Bashan and Carmel are languishing and the bloom of Lebanon is withered. 034 NAH 001 005 The mountains tremble before him and the hills dissolve. The earth heaves before him, the world and all who live in it. 034 NAH 001 006 Who can stand before his wrath? Who can withstand the heat of his anger? His fierce fury pours forth like fire, he shatters rocks. 034 NAH 001 007 The Lord is good to those who hope in him, a place of refuge in the day of trouble. 034 NAH 001 008 With rushing flood an end he makes of those who rise against him, he drives his enemies into darkness. 034 NAH 001 009 Why do you plot against the Lord? He will end you. He only takes vengeance once. 034 NAH 001 010 Thorns, tangled and drenched, they are consumed like dry stubble. 034 NAH 001 011 Nineveh! From you has arisen one who plots evil against the Lord, a counsellor of wickedness. 034 NAH 001 012 The Lord says: “Though they are many and strong, they will pass away and be gone. Though I have afflicted you, I will afflict you no more, 034 NAH 001 013 and now I will break his yoke from your necks and snap your chains.” 034 NAH 001 014 The Lord has given this command concerning you, Nineveh: “Your name will no longer be remembered. I will destroy every idol and image in the house of your God. I will destroy even your tomb, for you are worthless.” 034 NAH 001 015 Look! On the mountains a messenger bringing good news, announcing peace! “Celebrate the feasts, Judah, fulfill your vows. Never again will these enemies invade your land, they are destroyed!” 034 NAH 002 001 Nineveh! The destroyer has come up against you; mount guard upon the rampart; watch the road; brace yourselves; strengthen your might to the utmost. 034 NAH 002 002 For the Lord is restoring the majesty of Jacob and of Israel, though the devastators have plundered them and destroyed their vines. 034 NAH 002 003 The shields of his warriors are dyed red, his soldiers are clothed in scarlet, his chariots gleam like fire on the day he prepares for battle spears are shaken. 034 NAH 002 004 Chariots rush across the fields, storm through the squares; they flame like torches, they dart like lightening. 034 NAH 002 005 A leader rallies his nobles, they hurl themselves forward. They speed on toward the wall; the storming-shield is set up. 034 NAH 002 006 The water-gates are thrown open, and the palace dissolves in ruins. 034 NAH 002 007 The queen is stripped, she is carried off. Her maids moan like doves, beating upon their breasts. 034 NAH 002 008 Like a pool of water is Nineveh, her waters fast ebbing away. “Stand firm! Stand firm!” someone cries, but no one turns back. 034 NAH 002 009 “Loot the silver, loot the gold, for there is no end to the treasure, the wealth and precious things.” 034 NAH 002 010 Nineveh is empty, desolate, devastated, with faint heart and knocking knee. There is weakness in every limb, and faces grow pale. 034 NAH 002 011 Where now is the den of lions? Where now the lair of their young? Where the lion used to withdraw, with his cubs, with none to disturb them? 034 NAH 002 012 The lion tore enough for his cubs, and strangled prey for his lionesses. He filled his caves with the kill, he filled his lairs with fresh meat. 034 NAH 002 013 “But see, I am against you,” the Lord of hosts declares, “I will burn your chariots in smoke and fire. The sword will devour your young lions. You will never again prey on the land. No more will your messengers be heard.” 034 NAH 003 001 Woe to the bloody city! Full of lies and plunder, without end is the spoil. 034 NAH 003 002 Hear the crack of the whip, hear the rattle of wheels. Galloping horses, jolting chariots. 034 NAH 003 003 Horsemen charging, swords flashing, spears glittering, a multitude of slain, a heap of bodies, no end to the corpses over which people stumble! 034 NAH 003 004 “Because you acted like a whore, bewitching the nations, enticing the peoples, 034 NAH 003 005 I am against you, Nineveh” the Lord of hosts declares. “I will strip your clothes and show the nations your nakedness, and the kingdoms your shame. 034 NAH 003 006 “I will fling loathsome filth at you, and make you an object of contempt, a spectacle, 034 NAH 003 007 so that everyone who sees you will flee from you and say: ‘Nineveh is laid waste, who will mourn for her?’ 034 NAH 003 008 “Are you any better than Thebes, which stood on the banks of the Nile, with waters around as a rampart, whose wall was the sea of waters? 034 NAH 003 009 Her strength was Ethiopia and Egypt. The Libyans were her helpers, and Put with its countless people. 034 NAH 003 010 Yet she was exiled and made captive. On all corners of the streets her infants were dashed to pieces. Lots were cast for her nobles, all her great ones were bound in chains. 034 NAH 003 011 “You too, Nineveh, will be drunk with fear; you too will seek a place of escape from the foe. 034 NAH 003 012 All your fortresses are fig trees with the first ripe figs; if shaken, they fall into the mouth of the eater! 034 NAH 003 013 Your troops are weak as women before your foes; the gates of your land are wide open; your defenses burned down. 034 NAH 003 014 “Draw water for the siege, strengthen your forts. Go to the clay pits and tread the clay; take up the brick moulds. 034 NAH 003 015 There the fire will consume you, the sword will cut you down. Multiply like the locust or a swarm of grasshoppers. 034 NAH 003 016 Increase the numbers of your merchants until they are more than the stars of heaven, 034 NAH 003 017 until your watchmen are locusts, and your scribes like grasshoppers, which swarm in the hedges on a cold day; but when the sun rises they fly away, no one knows where. 034 NAH 003 018 “King of Assyria: your princes slumber, your nobles sleep! Your people are scattered on the mountains with no one to gather them! 034 NAH 003 019 There is no healing for your hurt, your wound is incurable. All who hear of your fate clap their hands in joy, for who has escaped your limitless cruelty?” # # BOOK 035 HAB Habakkuk Habakkuk 035 HAB 001 001 The message seen by the prophet Habakkuk. 035 HAB 001 002 How long, Lord, have I cried out and without you hearing me! I cry to you, “Violence!” but you do not help. 035 HAB 001 003 Why do you make me look upon wickedness and behold trouble? Destruction and violence are before my eyes, and fighting and quarrelling. 035 HAB 001 004 Therefore the law is weak, and justice is never rendered; for the wicked surround the righteous, so that justice is perverted. 035 HAB 001 005 Look at the nations, look well, be shocked and amazed. For I am about to do a work in your days; you will not believe it when it is told. 035 HAB 001 006 For I am about to raise up the Chaldeans, a nation grim and quick of action who sweep over the whole breadth of the earth to seize dwellings not their own. 035 HAB 001 007 They bring fear and terror. They write their own rules. 035 HAB 001 008 Their horses are swifter than leopards, quicker than wolves hunting at dusk. From afar they come swooping down, like an eagle attacking its prey. 035 HAB 001 009 They all come to do violence, a horde like a desert wind, they gather up captives like sand. 035 HAB 001 010 At kings they scoff, and princes are sport to them. They laugh at every fortress, and heap up earth to take it. 035 HAB 001 011 Then they sweep on like the wind, Their strength is their god. 035 HAB 001 012 Are you not eternal, Lord, my holy one, who does not die? Lord you have appointed them to execute judgment, my rock, you have established them to punish. 035 HAB 001 013 Your eyes are too pure to look at evil, you cannot condone iniquity. So why do you regard the treacherous in silence, while the wicked swallows the upright? 035 HAB 001 014 You have made people like the fish of the sea, like reptiles that have no ruler. 035 HAB 001 015 The wicked sweep them all into their nets, and gather them into their drag-nets, and rejoice and celebrate. 035 HAB 001 016 Therefore they sacrifice to their net, and burn offerings to their drag-net; for by their nets are their portions generous, and their food is rich. 035 HAB 001 017 Will they empty their nets continually, slaughter nations unpityingly? 035 HAB 002 001 I will take my stand on my watch-tower, and station myself on a turret. I will watch to see what the Lord will say to me, what answer he will make to my complaint. 035 HAB 002 002 Then the Lord answered me and said: Inscribe the vision plainly on tablets, so that even someone running by could read it. 035 HAB 002 003 Though the vision waits for the time set, it hastens to fulfilment and will not fail; Though it linger long, wait for it. For it surely will come and will not be delayed. 035 HAB 002 004 The strength of the proud fails, but the upright lives by their faithfulness. 035 HAB 002 005 Wealth is treacherous, the arrogant never have enough. They make their desire as wide as Sheol, are like death, unsatisfied, For they gather to themselves all the nations, bring together to themselves all peoples. (Sheol h7585) 035 HAB 002 006 Shouldn’t everyone mock them? sing a taunt-song against them, and say: Woe to the person who amasses what is not theirs, and loads them self down with goods taken in pledge! 035 HAB 002 007 Won’t your creditors suddenly rise, and those who will overthrow you awake, and you become their prey? 035 HAB 002 008 For as you have plundered many peoples, the survivors will prey upon you. You have shed blood and committed violence to the earth, peoples and their cities. 035 HAB 002 009 Woe to you who seeks unjust gain for your dynasty, who sets your nest on high to be safe from the reach of misfortune! 035 HAB 002 010 You have planned only shame for your dynasty. You have destroyed many peoples, and brought guilt upon yourself; 035 HAB 002 011 the stone will cry out from the wall, and the beam from the timber will answer it. 035 HAB 002 012 Woe to the person who builds a city by bloodshed, and founds a town by crime 035 HAB 002 013 while the peoples toil for what fires will consume, and the nations weary themselves for nothing! This the Lord of hosts has said, 035 HAB 002 014 and the earth will be as full of the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the seas are full of water. 035 HAB 002 015 Woe to him who in fury gives drink to his neighbor to make him drunk, and see him naked. 035 HAB 002 016 You are filled with shame, not glory; drink yourself and be uncovered. The cup from the Lord’s hand will pass in turn to you, and shame will cover your glory! 035 HAB 002 017 For the violence done to Lebanon will overwhelm you, the destruction of animals will terrify you, because you shed people’s blood on the earth, destroyed people and their cities. 035 HAB 002 018 What use is an idol? A human made it, a metal image. It cannot speak, it cannot teach truth, Why does its maker trust it? 035 HAB 002 019 Woe to the person who says to a block, awake! to a dumb stone, arise! What can it teach? It may be set with gold and silver, but there is no breath at all within it. 035 HAB 002 020 The Lord is in his holy temple. Let all the earth be silent before him! 035 HAB 003 001 A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet, according to the Shigionoth. 035 HAB 003 002 I have heard, Lord, of your fame, I have seen, Lord, your work; through the years you have make yourself known, in wrath you remember mercy. 035 HAB 003 003 God comes from Teman, and the Holy One from the mountain-land of Paran. (Selah) His glory covers the heavens, and his splendor fills the earth. 035 HAB 003 004 Before him it is like the light, rays he has at his side, where his power is hidden. 035 HAB 003 005 Before him pestilence stalks, after him plague follows. 035 HAB 003 006 He stands, and the earth trembles, he looks, and the nations melt away, and the mountains of old are scattered, the everlasting hills bow down. These are his ways from of old. 035 HAB 003 007 The tents of Cushan are afraid, the curtains of Midian tremble. 035 HAB 003 008 Is your wrath, Lord, with the rivers? Is your anger against the streams? Or your rage against the sea? Is that why you ride on your war-steeds? Why you mount your chariots of victory? 035 HAB 003 009 Why you bare your bow? Why you fill your quiver with shafts? You split the earth with torrents. 035 HAB 003 010 The mountains see you and writhe. The tempest of waters sweeps by. The great deep sends forth its voice, and lifts up its hands. 035 HAB 003 011 The sun forgets to rise. The moon stands still in its place. Your arrows go forth to give light. Your glittering spear is as lightning. 035 HAB 003 012 In rage you stride over the earth. In wrath you trample the nations. 035 HAB 003 013 You go forth to save your people. You go to help your anointed. You crush the head of the wicked nation, laying him bare from thigh to neck. (Selah) 035 HAB 003 014 You pierced his head with his spears, as his champions storm out to scatter us, as they rejoice to devour the poor secretly. 035 HAB 003 015 You tread the sea with your horses, while the mighty waters roar. 035 HAB 003 016 I hear, and my body trembles, and at the sound my lips quiver. My bones begin to decay, and my footsteps totter beneath me, while I long for the day of distress to come upon those who attack us. 035 HAB 003 017 Though the fig tree bears no fruit, and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive harvest fails, and the fields produce no food, though the flock is cut off from the fold, and there is no herd in the stalls, 035 HAB 003 018 yet I will exult in the Lord, and rejoice in the God who saves me. 035 HAB 003 019 The Lord God is my strength; he makes my feet as sure as the feet of deer, and causes me to walk on the heights! To the music director: Use stringed instruments. # # BOOK 036 ZEP Zephaniah Zephaniah 036 ZEP 001 001 The Lord’s message, which came to Zephaniah, son of Cushi, son of Gedaliah, son of Amariah, son of Hezekiah, in the time of Josiah of Judah who was son of Amon. 036 ZEP 001 002 I will utterly destroy everything from off the face of the earth, says the Lord. 036 ZEP 001 003 I will sweep away human and animal, the birds of the sky and the fish of the sea. I will cause the wicked to stumble, and I will cut off humanity from the face of the earth, says the Lord. 036 ZEP 001 004 I will stretch out my hand over Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and I will cut off from this place the last remnant of Baal and the name of the heathen priests, 036 ZEP 001 005 and those who worship on the housetops to the stars in the sky, and those worshippers of the Lord who also pay homage to Milcom, 036 ZEP 001 006 and those who turn back from following the Lord, And those who do not seek the Lord nor strive to find him. 036 ZEP 001 007 Be silent before the Lord God, for near is the day of the Lord, for the Lord has prepared a sacrifice, he has sanctified his guests. 036 ZEP 001 008 On the day of the Lord’s sacrifice: I will punish the officers and the royal princes, and all those who clothe themselves in foreign apparel. 036 ZEP 001 009 On that day: I will punish all who leap over the threshold, who fill the house of their lord with violence and deceit. 036 ZEP 001 010 Listen on that day, says the Lord: A cry will be heard from the Fish Gate, and a wailing from the New Quarter, and a great din from the hills. 036 ZEP 001 011 Those who live in the Mortar wail, for all the traders are silenced, the money counters wiped out. 036 ZEP 001 012 I will search Jerusalem with a lamp, I will punish those who are at ease, who sit comfortably with their wine, who say to themselves, “the Lord brings neither prosperity nor calamity.” 036 ZEP 001 013 Their wealth will become a prey and their houses a desolation. Though they build houses, they will not inhabit them; though they plant vineyards, they will not drink wine from them. 036 ZEP 001 014 Near is the day of the Lord! Near and rapidly approaching! Near is the bitter day of the Lord, and the scream of the warrior. 036 ZEP 001 015 That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of destruction and desolation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness, 036 ZEP 001 016 a day of the trumpet and battle-cry, against the fortified cities and against the high battlements. 036 ZEP 001 017 And I will bring distress upon the people and they will walk as the blind, because they have sinned against the Lord, and their blood will be poured out as dust and their flesh as dung. 036 ZEP 001 018 Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them. For in the day of the wrath of the Lord and in the fire of his fury the whole earth will be consumed. For he will make a speedy end of all the inhabitants of the earth. 036 ZEP 002 001 Be ashamed within yourselves, be ashamed, 036 ZEP 002 002 before you become as the drifting chaff, before the anger of the Lord comes upon you, before the day of the Lord’s wrath comes upon you. 036 ZEP 002 003 Seek the Lord all you meek of the earth, you who obey his law; Seek righteousness, seek meekness; perhaps you may be hidden in the day of the Lord’s wrath. 036 ZEP 002 004 For Gaza will be forsaken; Ashkelon a desolation; Ashdod – by noon will they rout her and Ekron be torn up! 036 ZEP 002 005 Woe to those who live by the sea coast, people of the Cherethites! The word of the Lord is against you, Canaan, land of the Philistines! I will destroy you so that you will be without inhabitants, 036 ZEP 002 006 and you will become shepherds’ cots and folds for flocks. 036 ZEP 002 007 The sea coast will belong to the survivors of the house of Judah. They will pasture their flocks there. In the house of Ashkelon they will lie down at evening. The Lord their God will be with them and restore their fortunes. 036 ZEP 002 008 I have heard the taunts of Moab, and the revilings of the Ammonites, how they have taunted my people, and spoken boastfully concerning their border. 036 ZEP 002 009 Therefore as I live, says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Moab will be like Sodom, and the Ammonites like Gomorrah, a pile of nettles and saltpits, and a desolation, forever. The residue of my people will plunder them, and the survivors of my nation will inherit them. 036 ZEP 002 010 This will they have for their pride, because they have taunted and spoken boastfully against the people of the Lord of hosts. 036 ZEP 002 011 The Lord will terrify them; he will reduce all the gods of the earth; then all the peoples of the nations will worship him, each in their own land. 036 ZEP 002 012 You, also, Ethiopians, slain by his sword are you! 036 ZEP 002 013 And he will stretch out his hand against the north and destroy Assyria; And he will make Nineveh a desolation, dry as the wilderness. 036 ZEP 002 014 Herds will lie down in it, every beast of the earth, Desert owl and screech owl will lodge in its capitals. The owl will hoot in the window, the raven on the doorstep, all stripped bare of cedar. 036 ZEP 002 015 This is the exultant city which sat secure. The city who said to herself, I am and there is none else! How has she become a desolation! A lair of beasts! Every passerby hisses at her, shakes their hand. 036 ZEP 003 001 Woe to the rebellious and unclean city of oppression, 036 ZEP 003 002 She has not obeyed the voice, she has not accepted instruction, In the Lord she has not trusted, to her God she has not drawn near. 036 ZEP 003 003 Her rulers in her midst are roaring lions. Her judges are evening wolves, who leave nothing over until the morning, 036 ZEP 003 004 Her prophets are braggarts, faithless men. Her priests profane what is holy and do violence to the law. 036 ZEP 003 005 The Lord is righteous in her midst, he does no wrong, Morning by morning he establishes his decree, Light is not lacking, an oversight is unknown. But the unjust know no shame. 036 ZEP 003 006 “I have cut off nations, their turrets are destroyed; I have laid waste their broad streets, so that none passes over them. Desolate are their cities without people, without inhabitants.” 036 ZEP 003 007 I said: “Surely the city will fear me, she will accept instruction. Nothing will vanish from her eyes that I have impressed upon her; But the more zealously have they made all their deeds corrupt.” 036 ZEP 003 008 Wait for me, is the Lord’s message, until the day when I stand up as a witness, for it is my fixed purpose to gather the nations, to collect the kingdoms, to pour upon them my wrath and my hot anger; for by the fire of my fury will all the earth be consumed. 036 ZEP 003 009 For then I will purify the lips of all peoples, so that they will all call on the Lord’s name, to serve him with one accord. 036 ZEP 003 010 From beyond the rivers of Cush my worshipers will bring me offerings. 036 ZEP 003 011 On that day you will no longer be ashamed of all your deeds by which you rebelled against me. For I will rid you of your proudly arrogant ones, and you will never again be haughty on my holy mountain. 036 ZEP 003 012 But I will leave in your midst a people humble and poor, and the remnant of Israel will trust in the name of the Lord. 036 ZEP 003 013 They will not do evil, nor speak falsehood, and a deceitful tongue will not be found in their mouth; but they will pasture and lie down, and no one will make them afraid. 036 ZEP 003 014 Cry out with joy, daughter of Zion, shout aloud, Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, daughter of Jerusalem. 036 ZEP 003 015 The Lord has put away your adversaries, he has turned away your foes; the Lord is king in your midst, you will fear evil no more. 036 ZEP 003 016 In that day it will be said to Jerusalem: Fear not! Zion, let not your hands grow weak! 036 ZEP 003 017 The Lord your God is in your midst, a victorious hero. He will rejoice over you with joy, he will renew his love, he will exult over you with singing, 036 ZEP 003 018 as on a day of festival. I will take away from you your disgrace, and put away from you your reproach. 036 ZEP 003 019 I will destroy at that time all who afflict you. I will deliver the lame, and gather the outcast, I will make them an object of renown and fame in all the earth. 036 ZEP 003 020 I will do good to you, at the time when I gather you. For I will make you an object of fame and renown among all the peoples of the earth; when I bring back your captivity before your eyes. This says the Lord. # # BOOK 037 HAG Haggai Haggai 037 HAG 001 001 In the second year of Darius the king, on the first day of the sixth month, this message from the Lord came through Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest: 037 HAG 001 002 The Lord of hosts says: The people say that the time has not yet come to rebuild the temple of the Lord. 037 HAG 001 003 Then this message from the Lord came to Haggai the prophet: 037 HAG 001 004 Is it a time for you yourselves to live in your own well-roofed houses, while this temple lies in ruins? 037 HAG 001 005 The Lord of hosts says: Consider your past experiences. 037 HAG 001 006 You sow much, but bring in little; you eat, but you do not have enough; you drink, but are not filled; you clothe yourselves, but not enough to be warm; and those who earn wages, put those wages in a bag with holes. 037 HAG 001 007 The Lord of hosts says: Consider your experiences. 037 HAG 001 008 Go up to the mountains, and bring wood and rebuild the temple; then I will be pleased with it, and I will reveal my glory. The Lord says: 037 HAG 001 009 You looked for much, and it came to little; and when you brought the harvest home, I blew it away. Why? The Lord of hosts says: Because my temple lies in ruins, while you shelter in your own houses. 037 HAG 001 010 The heavens withhold the dew, and the earth withholds its fruit, 037 HAG 001 011 and I have called forth a drought upon the land and upon the mountains, and upon the grain and the new wine and the oil and upon that which the ground brings forth, and upon people and animals, and upon all the labor of your hands. 037 HAG 001 012 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Joshua the son of Jehozadak the high priest, with all the rest of the people, obeyed the command of the Lord their God and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the Lord their God had sent him to them. They showed proper respect for the Lord. 037 HAG 001 013 Haggai, the prophet of the Lord, as the Lord commanded him, told the people: “The Lord says: I am with you.” 037 HAG 001 014 And the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak the high priest, and the spirit of all the rest of the people, so that they came and worked on the temple of the Lord of hosts, their God, 037 HAG 001 015 in the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month. In the second year of Darius the king, 037 HAG 002 001 on the twenty-first day of the seventh month, this message from the Lord came to Haggai the prophet, 037 HAG 002 002 telling him to speak to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua, the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to all the rest of the people: 037 HAG 002 003 Who is left among you that saw this temple in its former glory? And how do you see it now? Doesn’t it seem as though there is nothing there? 037 HAG 002 004 The Lord says: Yet now be strong, Zerubbabel, be strong, Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest, be strong, all you people of the land. The Lord says: Begin the work, for I am with you. The Lord of hosts says: 037 HAG 002 005 When your ancestors left Egypt I made a promise to you, and I am still with you. Do not be afraid! 037 HAG 002 006 The Lord of hosts says: In a little while, I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the land. 037 HAG 002 007 And I will shake all nations, and the precious things of all nations shall come here; and I will fill this temple with glory. The Lord of hosts says: 037 HAG 002 008 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, 037 HAG 002 009 The later glory of this temple shall be greater than the former. The Lord of hosts says: In this place I will grant prosperity. This is the message of the Lord of hosts. 037 HAG 002 010 In the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, this message from the Lord came to Haggai the prophet: 037 HAG 002 011 The Lord of hosts says: “Ask the priests for a ruling: 037 HAG 002 012 ‘If one carries consecrated meat in the fold of his garment, and with that garment touches bread, or stew, or wine, or oil, or any food, will it become holy?’” And the priests answered: “No.” 037 HAG 002 013 Then said Haggai, “If one who is unclean by reason of a dead body touches any of these, will it be unclean?” And the priests answered: “It would be unclean.” 037 HAG 002 014 Haggai replied: “So is this people and so is this nation before me, the Lord declares, and so is every work of their hands; and that which they offer there is unclean. 037 HAG 002 015 Think back from this day, before a stone was laid upon a stone in the temple of the Lord. 037 HAG 002 016 How were you? When you came to a heap of grain expecting twenty measures, there were only ten; when you came to the wine vat to draw out fifty vessels, there were only twenty. 037 HAG 002 017 ‘I struck all the work of your hands with blasting and blight, with mildew and with hail. Yet you didn’t turn to me,’ says the Lord, 037 HAG 002 018 ‘Think back from this day, think! From the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, from the day when the foundations of the temple of the Lord were laid, and consider. 037 HAG 002 019 The seed is in the granary, but the vine and the fig tree and the pomegranate and the olive tree have not yet brought forth fruit. From this day will I bless you.’” 037 HAG 002 020 This message from the Lord came to Haggai a second time on the twenty-fourth day of the month: 037 HAG 002 021 Tell Zerubbabel, governor of Judah: I will shake the heavens and the earth; 037 HAG 002 022 and I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms; and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations; and I will overthrow the chariots, and those who ride in them; and the horses and their riders shall come down, each by the sword of his fellow. 037 HAG 002 023 In that day, the Lord of hosts says, I will take you, Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel, the Lord says, and will make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you, the Lord of hosts says. # # BOOK 038 ZEC Zechariah Zechariah 038 ZEC 001 001 In the eighth month in the second year of Darius, this message of the Lord came to the prophet Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo: 038 ZEC 001 002 The Lord was furious with your ancestors. 038 ZEC 001 003 So tell the people this message of the Lord of hosts: “Return to me,” says the Lord of hosts, “and I will return to you” says the Lord of hosts. 038 ZEC 001 004 “Do not be like your ancestors to whom the former prophets cried, ‘The Lord of hosts says to turn now from your evil ways, and from your evil deeds’. They did not heed nor listen to me,” says the Lord. 038 ZEC 001 005 “Your ancestors, where are they? And the prophets, do they live forever? 038 ZEC 001 006 But did not my words and my statutes with which I charged my servants the prophets overtake your ancestors? And they repented and said, ‘Just as the Lord of hosts planned to do to us, according to our ways, and according to our deeds, so he has dealt with us.’” 038 ZEC 001 007 In the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, which is the month Shebat, in the second year of Darius, this message of the Lord came to the prophet Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo: 038 ZEC 001 008 I saw in the night a man on a red horse, among the myrtle trees that were in the valley-bottom. Behind him there were horses, red, sorrel, and white. 038 ZEC 001 009 Then said I, “My Lord, what are these?” And the messenger who was talking with me said, “I will show you what they are.” 038 ZEC 001 010 And the man who was standing among the myrtle trees answered, “They are those whom the Lord has sent to patrol the earth.” 038 ZEC 001 011 And the riders answered the messenger of the Lord who was standing among the myrtle trees, “We have gone up and down through the world and behold, all the earth is still and at peace.” 038 ZEC 001 012 Then the messenger of the Lord said, “Lord of hosts, how long will you have no pity for Jerusalem and the cities of Judah with which you have been angry for seventy years?” 038 ZEC 001 013 And the Lord answered the messenger who was talking with me with kind and comforting words. 038 ZEC 001 014 So the messenger who was talking with me said to me, “Proclaim now that the Lord of hosts says: I am deeply concerned for Jerusalem. 038 ZEC 001 015 But I am deeply angry with the arrogant, complacent nations. I was only a little angry with Israel but they made the suffering worse. 038 ZEC 001 016 Therefore, says the Lord, I am turning to show mercy to Jerusalem. My temple will be rebuilt in it, says the Lord of hosts, and a measuring line will be stretched over Jerusalem. 038 ZEC 001 017 Proclaim again: Thus says the Lord of hosts: My cities will again overflow with prosperity and the Lord will again comfort Zion and choose Jerusalem.” 038 ZEC 001 018 Now I looked up and saw four horns. 038 ZEC 001 019 I said to the messenger who was talking with me, “What are these?” He answered, “These are the horns which scattered Judah, Israel and Jerusalem.” 038 ZEC 001 020 Then the Lord showed me four smiths. 038 ZEC 001 021 I said, “What are these coming to do?” He answered, “The horns scattered Judah, so that no one dared lift their head. But the smiths have come to terrify them, to crush the horns of the nations which lifted up their horn against the land of Judah to scatter its people.” 038 ZEC 002 001 Then I looked up and saw a man with a measuring line in his hand. 038 ZEC 002 002 I said, “Where are you going?” He replied, “To measure Jerusalem, to see what is its breadth and length.” 038 ZEC 002 003 Then the messenger who talked with me stepped forward, and another messenger went out to meet him, 038 ZEC 002 004 and said to him, “Run and tell to that young man that Jerusalem will be inhabited like a village without walls, because so many people and cattle will live there. 038 ZEC 002 005 For I, says the Lord, will be a wall of fire around her, and I will be the glory in the midst of her. 038 ZEC 002 006 Up! Away! Flee from the land of the north, says the Lord. For I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heavens, says the Lord. 038 ZEC 002 007 Up, escape to Zion, you who live in Babylon. 038 ZEC 002 008 This is what the Lord of hosts says to the nations which plundered you: Whoever touches you touches the apple of my eye. 038 ZEC 002 009 I will raise my hand against them. They will be plunder for their own slaves; and you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me. 038 ZEC 002 010 “Sing and rejoice, daughter of Zion! I am coming, I will live among you, says the Lord. 038 ZEC 002 011 Many nations will join themselves to the Lord in that day, and will be his people, and he will live among you. You will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. 038 ZEC 002 012 The Lord will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land. He will again choose Jerusalem. 038 ZEC 002 013 Be silent, everyone, in the presence of the Lord, because he is coming from his holy dwelling.” 038 ZEC 003 001 Then he showed me Joshua, the high priest, standing before the messenger of the Lord and the Adversary standing at his right hand to accuse him. 038 ZEC 003 002 And the messenger of the Lord said to the Adversary, “May the Lord rebuke you, Adversary! The Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a brand plucked out of the fire?” 038 ZEC 003 003 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments and was standing before the messenger. 038 ZEC 003 004 The messenger said to those who stood before him, “Take off his filthy garments.” Then to Joshua he said, “I have taken your guilt from you and I will clothe you in priestly robes.” 038 ZEC 003 005 And he ordered: “Set a clean turban upon his head.” So they set a clean turban on his head, and clothed him with garments. The messenger of the Lord was standing by. 038 ZEC 003 006 And the messenger of the Lord testified to Joshua: 038 ZEC 003 007 The Lord of hosts says: “If you walk in my ways, and if you will keep my instructions, then you will rule my house and keep my courts and I will give you a place of access among these that stand by. 038 ZEC 003 008 Hear now, Joshua the high priest, you and your associates who sit before me; for they are men who are a sign; for I am going to bring forth my servant the Branch. 038 ZEC 003 009 On the stone that I have set before Joshua, on one stone, are seven facets. I will engrave it,” says the Lord of hosts, “and I will remove the guilt of that land in one day. 038 ZEC 003 010 On that day,” says the Lord of hosts, “you will each invite your neighbor under the vine and under the fig tree.” 038 ZEC 004 001 Then the messenger who talked with me came again and woke me, as someone who is woken from sleep. 038 ZEC 004 002 He said to me, “What do you see?” I said, “I see a candlestick, all of gold, with a bowl on its top, and seven lamps on it. There are seven pipes to each of the lamps, which are on its top, 038 ZEC 004 003 and two olive trees next to it, one on the right side of the bowl, and the other on its left side.” 038 ZEC 004 004 I said to the messenger who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?” 038 ZEC 004 005 Then the messenger who talked with me answered, “Don’t you know what these are?” And I said. “No, my lord.” 038 ZEC 004 006 He said to me, “This is the message of the Lord regarding Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the Lord of hosts, 038 ZEC 004 007 will I make the great mountain before Zerubbabel a plain. He will bring forth the top stones with shoutings of, ‘Grace, grace, to it.’” 038 ZEC 004 008 Moreover this message of the Lord came to me: 038 ZEC 004 009 The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house. His hands will also finish it. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. 038 ZEC 004 010 For who has despised the day of small things? They will rejoice, and will see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. (The seven lamps are the eyes of the Lord that search all around the world.) 038 ZEC 004 011 Again I asked, “What are these two olive trees on the right side of the candlestick and on its left side?” 038 ZEC 004 012 Again, “What are these two branches of the olive trees, which are pouring out the golden oil through the two golden pipes?” 038 ZEC 004 013 He answered me, “Don’t you now what these are?” And I said, “No, my lord.” 038 ZEC 004 014 Then he explained, “They are the two anointed ones who attend the Lord of all the earth.” 038 ZEC 005 001 Then again I looked up and saw a flying scroll. 038 ZEC 005 002 He said to me, “What do you see?” I answered, “I see a flying scroll; twenty cubits long, ten cubits wide.” 038 ZEC 005 003 Then he said to me, “This is the curse that goes over the whole land. Every thief will be banished according to the writing on one side and everyone who lies under oath shall be banished according to the writing on the other side. 038 ZEC 005 004 I have sent it out, says the Lord of hosts, and it will enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of anyone who swears falsely by my name. It will remain in the midst of his house and will consume it with its timber and its stones.” 038 ZEC 005 005 Then the messenger who talked with me came forward, and said to me, “Look up and see what is now coming.” 038 ZEC 005 006 I said. “What is it?” He said, “It is a measuring basket, full of the guilt of the land.” 038 ZEC 005 007 A round leaden cover was lifted up, and there was a woman sitting in the middle of the basket. 038 ZEC 005 008 He said, “This is Wickedness.” He thrust her down into the midst of the basket and he pushed the round leaden cover back on its mouth. 038 ZEC 005 009 Then I looked up and saw two women, and the wind was in their wings. They had wings like the wings of a stork and they lifted up the basket between them. 038 ZEC 005 010 Then I said to the messenger who talked with me, “Where are they taking the basket?” 038 ZEC 005 011 He said to me, “To build her a house in the land of Shinar. When it is prepared, they will rest the basket there.” 038 ZEC 006 001 Again I looked up, and saw four chariots come from between two mountains. The mountains were mountains of bronze. 038 ZEC 006 002 The first chariot had red horses. The second chariot had black horses, 038 ZEC 006 003 the third chariot white horses, and the fourth chariot dappled horses. 038 ZEC 006 004 Then I said to the messenger who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?” 038 ZEC 006 005 The messenger answered me, “These are the four winds of heaven going out after standing before the Lord of all the earth. 038 ZEC 006 006 The black horses are going toward the north country and the white toward the west and the dappled toward the south country.” 038 ZEC 006 007 The strong horses came out, and were impatient to patrol the earth. So he said, “Go, patrol the earth,” and they did so. 038 ZEC 006 008 Then he cried out to me, “The horses that went to the north country will quiet my spirit in the north country.” 038 ZEC 006 009 Now this message of the Lord came to me: 038 ZEC 006 010 Take the gifts from the exiles Heldai, Tobijah and Jedaiah who have come from Babylon and go at once to Josiah the son of Zephaniah. 038 ZEC 006 011 Take their silver and gold and make a crown and set it on the head of the high priest, Joshua son of Jehozadak. 038 ZEC 006 012 Tell him: “Thus says the Lord of hosts: Behold, the man whose name is the Branch. He will branch out from his place and rebuild the temple of the Lord. 038 ZEC 006 013 He will rebuild the temple and will sit and rule upon his throne, receiving the honor due to a king. A priest will stand by his throne and they will work together in peace and harmony. 038 ZEC 006 014 The crown will be a memorial in the temple of the Lord for Heldai and Tobijah and Jedaiah, and Josiah the son of Zephaniah. 038 ZEC 006 015 People from far away will come and build in the temple of the Lord and you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. This will happen if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God.” 038 ZEC 007 001 In the fourth year of the reign of King Darius, on the fourth day of Chislev, the ninth month, the message of the Lord came to Zechariah. 038 ZEC 007 002 The city of Bethel had sent Sharezer and Regem-melech and their men, to entreat the favor of the Lord, 038 ZEC 007 003 and to ask the priests of the house of the Lord of hosts, and the prophets “Should I continue to mourn in the fifth month, separating myself, as I have done for many years?” 038 ZEC 007 004 Then this message of the Lord of hosts came to me: 038 ZEC 007 005 Tell all the people of the land and the priests, “When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and in the seventh month, for these seventy years, did you really fast for me? 038 ZEC 007 006 When you eat and when you drink, do you not eat for yourselves, and drink for yourselves? 038 ZEC 007 007 Wasn’t it this which the Lord proclaimed by the earlier prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and prosperous, and her towns surrounding her and the Negreb and the Shephelah were inhabited?” 038 ZEC 007 008 The Lord gave this message to Zechariah: 038 ZEC 007 009 The Lord of hosts says, execute true judgments. Show kindness and mercy to each other. 038 ZEC 007 010 Do not oppress the widow or the orphan, the resident foreigner or the poor. Let none of you devise evil against another in your hearts. 038 ZEC 007 011 But they refused to listen, and turned a stubborn shoulder, and stopped their ears so they wouldn’t hear. 038 ZEC 007 012 They made their hearts as hard as stone so they wouldn’t accept the teaching and the words that the Lord of hosts had sent by his spirit through the earlier prophets. Great was the anger of the Lord of hosts: 038 ZEC 007 013 I called and they would not hear, so they call and I do not hear, says the Lord of hosts. 038 ZEC 007 014 I scattered them by a whirlwind out among nations unknown to them. The land was left desolate behind them, with no one crossing or returning, for they made the pleasant land a desolation. 038 ZEC 008 001 Now this message of the Lord of hosts came to me: 038 ZEC 008 002 The Lord of hosts says: I passionately care for Zion, and I am fiercely protective of her. 038 ZEC 008 003 The Lord says, I have returned to Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem and Jerusalem will be called, ‘The City of Truth’ and the mountain of the Lord of hosts, ‘The Holy Mountain.’ 038 ZEC 008 004 The Lord of hosts says: Old men and old women will sit again in the squares of Jerusalem, each leaning on a staff because of old age. 038 ZEC 008 005 And the streets of the city will be full of boys, and of girls playing in its squares. 038 ZEC 008 006 The Lord of hosts says: Just because it seems impossible to the remnant of this people in these days, is it also impossible for me? says the Lord of hosts. 038 ZEC 008 007 The Lord of hosts says: I will rescue my people from the land of the east and the land of the west. 038 ZEC 008 008 I will bring them and they will live in Jerusalem, and they will be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and righteousness. 038 ZEC 008 009 The Lord of hosts says: Let your hands be strong, you who hear in these days the words of the prophets spoken when the foundations for the house of the Lord of hosts were laid. 038 ZEC 008 010 For before those days there were no wages for people or animals. No one could go out or return safe from enemies, because I set each against their neighbor. 038 ZEC 008 011 But now I will treat the remnant of the people differently from former days, says the Lord of hosts. 038 ZEC 008 012 Peace will be sown. The vine will bear its fruit and the ground will yield its produce, and the skies will give their dew. I will give the remnant of this people all these things. 038 ZEC 008 013 Just as you were accursed among the nations, house of Judah and house of Israel, so I will save you and you will be a blessing. Do not be afraid, but let your hands be strong. 038 ZEC 008 014 For the Lord of hosts says: As I planned to do evil to you when your ancestors provoked me to anger, says the Lord of hosts, and I did not relent, 038 ZEC 008 015 so again have I planned in these days to do good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. Do not be afraid. 038 ZEC 008 016 These are the things that you should do: Speak the truth to each other. Render peaceful decisions in your gates. 038 ZEC 008 017 Let none of you devise evil in your heart against one another. Do not love perjury. All these are things I hate, says the Lord. 038 ZEC 008 018 And this message of the Lord of hosts came to me: 038 ZEC 008 019 The Lord of hosts says: The fast of the fourth month, and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth, will be festivals of joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts for the house of Judah. Therefore love truth and peace. 038 ZEC 008 020 The Lord of hosts says: Peoples, and the inhabitants of many cities will come, 038 ZEC 008 021 and the inhabitants of one city will go to another, saying, “Let us go speedily to entreat the favor of the Lord, and to seek the Lord of hosts; I will go also.” 038 ZEC 008 022 Many peoples and strong nations will come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, and to entreat the favor of the Lord. 038 ZEC 008 023 The Lord of hosts says: In those days ten people from all languages and nations will take hold of the robe of a Jew, saying, “We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.” 038 ZEC 009 001 An oracle: The message of the Lord concerns the land of Hadrach, it rests upon Damascus. For the capital of Aram belongs to the Lord, as the tribes of Israel do, 038 ZEC 009 002 and also Hamath which borders on it. Tyre and Sidon, for all their wisdom. 038 ZEC 009 003 Tyre built for herself a fortress. Heaped up silver as dust, and gold like the dirt of the streets. 038 ZEC 009 004 But now the Lord will dispossess her, cast down her rampart into the sea. She will be consumed in fire. 038 ZEC 009 005 Ashkelon will see and fear, and Gaza writhe in anguish, Ekron, also for her hope will be put to shame. The king will perish from Gaza, Ashkelon will remain uninhabited. 038 ZEC 009 006 A foreign people will settle in Ashdod, and I will humble the pride of the Philistines. 038 ZEC 009 007 I will take their blood from their mouth, and their abominations from between their teeth. They also will be a remnant for our God, like a clan in Judah, and Ekron will be like the Jebusites. 038 ZEC 009 008 But I will encamp as a guard about my house, so that none will pass through or return, and no oppressor will pass through them again, for now I have seen with my own eyes. 038 ZEC 009 009 Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, daughter of Jerusalem! Look, your king comes to you. Vindicated and victorious is he, humble, and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. 038 ZEC 009 010 He will cut off chariots from Ephraim, and war horses from Jerusalem. The battle bow will be cut off, and he will speak peace to the nations. His rule will be from sea to sea, from the river to the ends of the earth. 038 ZEC 009 011 And you, too – because of your blood covenant, I have set free your prisoners from the waterless pit. 038 ZEC 009 012 To the stronghold will the prisoners of hope return. This day I declare, I will restore double to you. 038 ZEC 009 013 For I have bent Judah to me, like a bow which I have filled with Ephraim like an arrow. I will urge your sons, Zion, against the sons of Greece, I will make you like the sword of a hero. 038 ZEC 009 014 Then the Lord will be seen above them and his arrow will go forth like lightning. The Lord will blow a blast upon a trumpet, and travel on the whirlwinds of the south. 038 ZEC 009 015 The Lord of hosts will defend them. They will devour and tread down the slingstones, they will drink their blood like wine, they will be full like a bowl, like the crevices of the altar. 038 ZEC 009 016 And the Lord their God will save them on that day, as the flock of his people, as the jewel of a crown shining in his land. 038 ZEC 009 017 How good and how beautiful will it be! Corn will make the young men flourish and new wine the young women! 038 ZEC 010 001 Ask from the Lord rain, at the time of spring rain, from the Lord who forms the storm clouds, and the showers of rain he gives to you, and green in the field. 038 ZEC 010 002 But the household gods speak nonsense, and the diviners see lies, and relate idle dreams. In vain they offer comfort, so the people wander like sheep, They suffer because there is no shepherd. 038 ZEC 010 003 My wrath is hot against the shepherds, and on the leaders will I bring punishment. For the Lord cares for his flock, the house of Judah, and will make them his splendid war steeds. 038 ZEC 010 004 From Judah will come the cornerstone and the stay, from them the battle bow, from them goes forth every commander. 038 ZEC 010 005 Together they will trample on warriors, as on the dirt of the streets in battle. They fight, for the Lord is with them, putting the riders on horses to shame. 038 ZEC 010 006 I will make strong the house of Judah, I will bring deliverance to the house of Joseph, I will bring them back for I have compassion on them, they will be as if I had not driven them away. For I am the Lord their God and will answer them. 038 ZEC 010 007 The Ephraimites will be like warriors, their hearts will rejoice as with wine, their children will see and rejoice. Their hearts will exult in the Lord. 038 ZEC 010 008 I will whistle for them, and gather them, and they will be as many as they once were. 038 ZEC 010 009 I will sow them among the peoples, but in distant lands they will remember me, and they will bring up their children and come back. 038 ZEC 010 010 I will bring them home from the land of Egypt, and from Assyria will I gather them. Into the land of Gilead and Lebanon I will bring them, until the land overflows with them. 038 ZEC 010 011 And when they pass through the sea of distress, I will strike down the waves of the sea, and all the deeps of the Nile will be dried up. The pride of Assyria will be brought low and the sceptre of Egypt turned aside. 038 ZEC 010 012 I will make them strong in the Lord, they will walk in his name, says the Lord. 038 ZEC 011 001 Open your doors, Lebanon, so that fire may devour your cedars. 038 ZEC 011 002 Wail, pine-tree, for the cedar is fallen. Wail, oaks of Bashan, for the inaccessible forest has fallen. 038 ZEC 011 003 Listen to the wailing of the shepherds! Their glory is destroyed. Listen to the roaring of young lions! Blasted is the thick forest of the Jordan. 038 ZEC 011 004 The Lord said to me: shepherd the flock destined for slaughter, 038 ZEC 011 005 whose possessors slaughter them, and hold themselves not guilty! The people who sell them say, Blessed be the Lord, for I am rich! And their own shepherds have no compassion for them. 038 ZEC 011 006 I will no longer have pity on the people of this earth, says the Lord. I will turn neighbor against neighbor, and put everyone under the power of a king, and when the land is devastated I will not rescue them. 038 ZEC 011 007 So I shepherded the flock of slaughter for the sheep-merchants. I took two staffs: one I called Mercy and the other I called Union. So I shepherded the sheep. 038 ZEC 011 008 I set aside three of the shepherds in one month; for I was indignant against them, and they also were displeased at me. 038 ZEC 011 009 I said, I will not shepherd you. What is dead, let it die. What is set aside, let it be set aside. And let those who are left devour one another’s flesh. 038 ZEC 011 010 And I took my staff, Mercy, and broke it, so as to break my covenant which I had made with all the peoples. 038 ZEC 011 011 In that day it was broken, and the sheep-merchants who watched me knew that it was the Lord’s message. 038 ZEC 011 012 And I said to them, “If it is good in your sight, give me my wage. If not, don’t.” So they weighed out my wage, thirty pieces of silver. 038 ZEC 011 013 And the Lord said to me, Cast it into the treasury – the precious wage that at which I was valued by them! So I took the thirty pieces of silver and cast them into the house of the Lord, into the treasury. 038 ZEC 011 014 Then I broke my second staff called Union so as to dissolve the brotherhood between Judah and Jerusalem. 038 ZEC 011 015 And the Lord said to me: Take again the implements of a worthless shepherd. 038 ZEC 011 016 For I am about to appoint a shepherd over the land. Those who are thrust down he will not visit. Those who are scattered he will not seek out. The wounded he will not heal, the sick he will not make whole, but the flesh of the fat he will devour and even their hoofs he will tear. 038 ZEC 011 017 Woe to my worthless shepherd, who deserts the flock! May the sword strike his arm and his right eye. May his arm completely wither. And his right eye be blinded. 038 ZEC 012 001 An oracle. This is the message of the Lord about Israel. The Lord who stretches out the heavens, and lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the human spirit within people says: 038 ZEC 012 002 Look! I am about to make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness for all the surrounding peoples. There will be a siege of Jerusalem. 038 ZEC 012 003 On that day that I will make Jerusalem a stone to be lifted up by all the peoples. All who lift it up will surely hurt themselves! And all the nations of the earth will be gathered together against it. 038 ZEC 012 004 On that day, says the Lord, I will strike every horse with panic and its rider with madness. But over the house of Judah I will keep watch, though I strike every horse belonging to the peoples with blindness. 038 ZEC 012 005 And the chieftains of Judah will say to themselves, “The strength of the inhabitants is in the Lord of hosts their God.” 038 ZEC 012 006 In that day I will make the chieftains of Judah like a pan of fire in the woods, like a torch among sheaves, they will devour right and left all the surrounding peoples. But Jerusalem will abide on its own site. 038 ZEC 012 007 And the Lord will first give victory to the tents of Judah, so that the glory of the house of David, and of the inhabitants of Jerusalem be not exalted above Judah. 038 ZEC 012 008 In that day the Lord will protect the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the feeblest among them will in that day be like David, and the house of David like God, like the messenger of the Lord before them. 038 ZEC 012 009 And in that day I will seek to destroy all the nations who have come up against Jerusalem. 038 ZEC 012 010 And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem the spirit of pity and compassion. They will look on him whom they have pierced and they will lament for him as one laments for an only son. They will bitterly grieve for him as one grieves for the firstborn. 038 ZEC 012 011 In that day mourning will be as great in Jerusalem as the mourning for Hadad-rimmon in the plain of Megiddo. 038 ZEC 012 012 And the land will mourn, each family by itself: the family of the house of David by itself, and their wives by themselves, and the family of the house of Nathan by itself, and their wives by themselves, 038 ZEC 012 013 and the family of the house of Levi by itself, and their wives by themselves, the family of the Shimeites by itself, and their wives by themselves, 038 ZEC 012 014 and all the families who are left, each by itself, and their wives by themselves. 038 ZEC 013 001 On that day a fountain will be opened for the house of David, and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness. 038 ZEC 013 002 And it will be on that day, says the Lord of hosts, I will cut off the names of the idols from the land and they will be remembered no more. And the prophets and the unclean spirit I will banish from the land. 038 ZEC 013 003 If any man prophesy any more, his father and his mother who bore him, will say to him, “You will not live, for you speak falsehood in the name of the Lord.” And his father and his mother who bore him will stab him through when he is seized by the prophetic frenzy. 038 ZEC 013 004 And it will be in that day that the prophets will be ashamed, each of his vision, and will not wear the hairy mantle in order to deceive. 038 ZEC 013 005 Each will say, “I am not a prophet, a tiller of the ground am I, for the ground is my possession from my youth.” 038 ZEC 013 006 And they will say to him, “What are these scars on your back?” And he will say, “The scars which I received in the house of my friends.” 038 ZEC 013 007 Awake, sword, against my shepherd, against the man who stands near to me, says the Lord of hosts. I will strike the shepherd so that the sheep may be scattered, I will turn my hand against the little ones. 038 ZEC 013 008 In all the land, says the Lord, two-thirds in it will be cut off and die, but a third will be left in it. 038 ZEC 013 009 I will bring the third into the fire, and melt it as one melts silver, and test it as one tests gold. Then they will call on my name, and I myself will answer them. I will say, “They are my people.” They will say, “The Lord is our God.” 038 ZEC 014 001 A day is coming for the Lord, when your plundered possessions will be divided while you watch. 038 ZEC 014 002 And all the nations will gather to Jerusalem, to fight against it. The city will be taken and the houses plundered and the women raped. Half of the city will go into captivity, and the rest of the people left in the ruins. 038 ZEC 014 003 Then the Lord will go forth and fight against these nations, as once he fought in the day of battle. 038 ZEC 014 004 On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, (which is opposite Jerusalem, on the east). The Mount of Olives will be split into halves, from east to west, by an exceedingly great valley; and half of the mountain will slide northwards and half southwards. 038 ZEC 014 005 You will escape through my valley – the valley between the hills will extend as far as Azel, and you will flee as you fled from before the earthquake, in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. But the Lord your God will come, and all the holy ones with him. 038 ZEC 014 006 And in that day, there will be no heat nor cold nor frost, 038 ZEC 014 007 but it will be constant day – it is known to the Lord – with neither day nor night. Even at evening time there will be light. 038 ZEC 014 008 And on that day living waters will flow from Jerusalem, half of them to the eastern sea and half of them to the western sea; in both summer and winter. 038 ZEC 014 009 The Lord will be king over all the earth. On that day the Lord will be one, and his name one. 038 ZEC 014 010 The land will be changed to plain, from Geba to Rimmon, south of Jerusalem, but Jerusalem will be high and inhabited as it stands, from the Benjamin Gate up to the place of the first gate, and from the Tower of Hananel to the Corner Gate, and as far as the king’s winepresses. 038 ZEC 014 011 Jerusalem will be inhabited, for never again will it be doomed to destruction, and its people will abide in security. 038 ZEC 014 012 This is the plague with which the Lord will strike all the peoples who array themselves against Jerusalem: he will make their flesh rot while they stand on their feet, and their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouth. 038 ZEC 014 013 On that day a great panic sent by the Lord will fall on them. Everyone will seize their neighbours and attack them. 038 ZEC 014 014 Even Judah will fight at Jerusalem, and the wealth of the surrounding nations will be gathered up – gold and silver and piles of clothing. 038 ZEC 014 015 Plague will fall upon the horses, mules, camels, and asses, and on all the animals in all those camps. 038 ZEC 014 016 All who are left of all the nations which fought against Jerusalem will come up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the pilgrim-feast of tabernacles. 038 ZEC 014 017 Whoever of all the peoples of the earth will not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, on them there will be no rain. 038 ZEC 014 018 If the family of Egypt does not go up nor enter in, on them also will come the plague with which the Lord will strike the nations. 038 ZEC 014 019 This will be the punishment for the sin of Egypt and the punishment for the sin of all nations which do not come up to keep the feast of the tabernacles. 038 ZEC 014 020 On that day there will be inscribed upon the bells of the horses, ‘Holy to the Lord’ and the pots in the house of the Lord will be as holy as the sacrificial bowls before the altars. 038 ZEC 014 021 Every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah will be holy to the Lord of hosts and all who sacrifice will come and take of them and cook the sacrifices in them. There will be no more traffickers in the house of the Lord of hosts in that day. # # BOOK 039 MAL Malachi Malachi 039 MAL 001 001 An oracle. The message of the Lord to Israel through Malachi. 039 MAL 001 002 “I have loved you,” says the Lord. “But you ask, ‘How have you shown love to us?’ Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” explains the Lord of hosts, “yet I loved Jacob, 039 MAL 001 003 but hated Esau, and made his mountains a desolation, and transformed his ancestral land into a wilderness. 039 MAL 001 004 When Edom says, ‘We are beaten down, but we will return and rebuild the ruined places’” the Lord of hosts says, “They may build, but I will throw down. They will be called, ‘The border land of wickedness,’ the people against whom the Lord is angry forever. 039 MAL 001 005 Your own eyes will see this, and you will say, ‘the Lord’s greatness reaches beyond the border of Israel.’” 039 MAL 001 006 “A son honors his father and servant their master. If I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is the one who fears me? So says the Lord to you, priests who despise my name. You ask, ‘How have we despised your name?’ 039 MAL 001 007 You offer on my altar bread that is polluted. You ask, ‘How have we polluted it?’ Because you say, ‘The table of the Lord is contemptible.’ 039 MAL 001 008 When you offer the blind animal for sacrifice, ‘It doesn’t matter!’ And when you offer the lame and the sick ‘It doesn’t matter!’ Give an animal like that to your governor; will he be pleased with it? Will he receive you favorably?” says the Lord of hosts. 039 MAL 001 009 Now, plead for the favor of God with such an offering, so that he may be gracious to us. “Would I receive any of you favorably?” says the Lord of hosts. 039 MAL 001 010 “If only one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you could not kindle useless fires on my altar! I have no pleasure in you,” says the Lord of hosts, “Nor will I accept an offering from your hand. 039 MAL 001 011 For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name is great among the nations, and in every place they offer to my name a pure offering. For my name is great among the nations,” says the Lord of hosts. 039 MAL 001 012 “But you profane me when you say, ‘The table of the Lord is polluted, and its food is contemptible.’ 039 MAL 001 013 You say also, ‘How tired we are of all this!’ and you sniff contemptuously at it. You have brought the blind, the lame and the sick as offerings. Should I accept this from your hand?” says the Lord of hosts. 039 MAL 001 014 “Cursed be the cheat, who has in his flock a valuable male, but vows and sacrifices to the Lord a blemished animal! For I am a great king,” says the Lord of hosts, “and my name is feared among the nations.” 039 MAL 002 001 “Now, you priests, this command is for you. 039 MAL 002 002 If you will not hear, and if you do not take it to heart, to give glory to my name,” says the Lord of hosts, “Then I will lay a curse on you. I will turn your blessings into curses. Indeed I have already done so, because you pay no attention. 039 MAL 002 003 I will punish your descendants! I will spread offal upon your faces, even the offal of your pilgrim feasts, you will be discarded. 039 MAL 002 004 You will then know that I have sent this command to you, so that my covenant with Levi may be preserved,” says the Lord of hosts. 039 MAL 002 005 “My covenant with him was to give life and peace. I gave them to him so that he might revere me. He revered me, and stood in awe of my name. 039 MAL 002 006 The true instruction was in his mouth, and injustice was not found in his lips; He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and turned many away from iniquity. 039 MAL 002 007 For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and people should seek the law from his mouth, because he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts. 039 MAL 002 008 “But you have turned aside from that way. You have caused many to stumble in the law. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi,” says the Lord of hosts. 039 MAL 002 009 “So I have I made you contemptible and degraded before all the people, because you have not kept my ways, and have had no respect for me in imparting the law.” 039 MAL 002 010 Don’t we have all one father? Didn’t one God created us? Why do we deal faithlessly with one another, profaning the covenant of our ancestors? 039 MAL 002 011 Judah is treacherous, and abominations are committed in Israel and in Jerusalem because Judah has profaned the holy things loved by the Lord, and has married the daughter of a foreign god. 039 MAL 002 012 May the Lord banish from the community of Jacob anyone who does this, anyone awaking, testifying, and making an offering to the Lord of hosts. 039 MAL 002 013 And you also do this: You cover the altar of the Lord with tears, because he doesn’t accept the offering any more, doesn’t accept it from your hand. 039 MAL 002 014 Yet you ask, “Why?” Because the Lord is testifying against you on behalf of the wife you married when you were young. You have been unfaithful to her, even though she is your companion, and your legal wife. 039 MAL 002 015 Did not the one God make everyone, so that all both flesh and spirit is his? And what does that one God seek but godly children? Therefore keep watch over your spirit, and let none of you deal faithlessly with the wife of your youth. 039 MAL 002 016 “A man who divorces or puts away his wife,” says Lord, the God of Israel, “overwhelms her with cruelty.” The Lord of hosts says: “Keep watch over your spirit, do not be unfaithful.” 039 MAL 002 017 You have wearied the Lord with your words. You ask, “How have we wearied him?” By saying, “Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delights in them.” Or, “Where is the God of justice?” 039 MAL 003 001 “I am about to send my messenger and he will clear a path before me: And the Lord, who you are seeking, will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant who you long for is already coming, says the Lord of hosts. 039 MAL 003 002 But who can endure the day of his coming? And who will stand firm when he appears? He is like a refiner’s fire, and like a launderer’s soap, 039 MAL 003 003 and he will sit as a refiner and purifier. He will purify the descendants of Levi, and refine them like gold and silver, until they are fit to bring offerings to the Lord. 039 MAL 003 004 Then will the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant to the Lord, as in the days of old, and as in former years. 039 MAL 003 005 “I will come to you in judgment. I will be quick to testify against the sorcerers, adulterers, perjurers, those who cheat workers, or widows, or orphans, deny justice to immigrants, and do not fear me,” says the Lord of hosts. 039 MAL 003 006 “For I, the Lord, do not change; and you have not ceased to be descendants of Jacob.” 039 MAL 003 007 “From the days of your ancestors, you have turned aside from my statutes, and you have not kept them. Turn to me and I will turn to you,” says the Lord. “You say, ‘How should we turn?’ 039 MAL 003 008 Can a human rob God? Yet you robbed me. You ask, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In tithes and gifts! 039 MAL 003 009 You – your entire nation – are all cursed, because you rob me. 039 MAL 003 010 “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there is food in my house. Test me in this way. See if I will not open to you the windows of the sky, and pour you out a blessing, until there is more than enough. 039 MAL 003 011 I will rebuke for your sakes the devouring locust and he will not destroy your crops, nor will the vine fail to ripen its fruit in the field, says the Lord of hosts, 039 MAL 003 012 and all nations will call you happy, for you will be a delightful land,” says the Lord of hosts. 039 MAL 003 013 “You have said terrible things about me,” says the Lord. “You ask, ‘What have we said about you?’ 039 MAL 003 014 You have said, ‘It is useless to serve God, and what do we gain from the Lord of hosts by keeping his commands, and walking mournfully in funeral garb before him? 039 MAL 003 015 So now we call the proud happy, evildoers thrive: they dare God and escape unharmed.’” 039 MAL 003 016 Such things those who revered the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord took notice, and a record was written before him of those who revered the Lord and those who keep in mind his name. 039 MAL 003 017 “They will be mine,” says the Lord of hosts, “my special possession on that day that I am preparing. I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him. 039 MAL 003 018 Once again my people will see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between the person who serves God and the person who does not.” 039 MAL 004 001 “The day is coming that will burn like a furnace, and all the proud and all evildoers will be stubble, and the day that is coming will burn them up,” says the Lord of hosts, “leaving neither root nor branch. 039 MAL 004 002 But to you who revere my name there will arise the sun of righteousness with healing in its wings, and you will run free like calves let out from their stall. 039 MAL 004 003 In the day when I act you will tread down the wicked, they will be as ashes under the soles of your feet,” says the Lord of hosts. 039 MAL 004 004 “Remember the law of Moses my servant, statutes and judgments which I gave him at Horeb for all Israel. 039 MAL 004 005 I am about to send to you Elijah the prophet, before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes. 039 MAL 004 006 He will turn fathers’ hearts to their sons and sons’ hearts to their fathers, so that I will not come and strike the earth with judgement.” # # BOOK 040 MAT Matthew Matthew 040 MAT 001 001 A genealogy of Jesus Christ, a descendant of David and Abraham. 040 MAT 001 002 Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac of Jacob, Jacob of Judah and his brothers, 040 MAT 001 003 Judah of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar, Perez of Hezron, Hezron of Aram, 040 MAT 001 004 Aram of Aminadab, Aminadab of Nahshon, Nahshon of Salmon, 040 MAT 001 005 Salmon of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed of Jesse, 040 MAT 001 006 Jesse of David the King. David was the father of Solomon, whose mother was Uriah’s widow, 040 MAT 001 007 Solomon of Rehoboam, Rehoboam of Abijah, Abijah of Asa, 040 MAT 001 008 Asa of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat of Joram, Joram of Uzziah, 040 MAT 001 009 Uzziah of Jotham, Jotham of Ahaz, Ahaz of Hezekiah, 040 MAT 001 010 Hezekiah of Manasseh, Manasseh of Amon, Amon of Josiah, 040 MAT 001 011 Josiah of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the Exile to Babylon. 040 MAT 001 012 After the Exile to Babylon – Jechoniah was the father of Salathiel, Salathiel of Zerubbabel, 040 MAT 001 013 Zerubbabel of Abiud, Abiud of Eliakim, Eliakim of Azor, 040 MAT 001 014 Azor of Zadok, Zadok of Achim, Achim of Eliud, 040 MAT 001 015 Eliud of Eleazar, Eleazar of Matthan, Matthan of Jacob, 040 MAT 001 016 Jacob of Joseph, the husband of Mary, who was the mother of Jesus, who is called ‘Christ’. 040 MAT 001 017 So the whole number of generations from Abraham to David is fourteen; from David to the Exile to Babylon fourteen; and from the Exile to Babylon to the Christ fourteen. 040 MAT 001 018 This is how Jesus Christ was born: His mother Mary was engaged to Joseph, but, before the marriage took place, she found herself to be pregnant by the power of the Holy Spirit. 040 MAT 001 019 Her husband, Joseph, was a just man and, since he did not want to disgrace her publicly, he resolved to put an end to their engagement privately. 040 MAT 001 020 He had been thinking this over, when an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary for your wife, for her child has been conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit. 040 MAT 001 021 She will give birth to a son; name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 040 MAT 001 022 All this happened in fulfillment of these words of the Lord through the prophet, where he says – 040 MAT 001 023 ‘The virgin will conceive and will give birth to a son, and they will give him the name Immanuel’ – a word which means ‘God is with us.’ 040 MAT 001 024 When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord had directed him. 040 MAT 001 025 He made Mary his wife, but they did not sleep together before the birth of her son; and to this son he gave the name Jesus. 040 MAT 002 001 After the birth of Jesus at Bethlehem in Judea, in the reign of King Herod, some astrologers from the East arrived in Jerusalem, asking, 040 MAT 002 002 “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east, and have come to worship him.” 040 MAT 002 003 When King Herod heard of this, he was much troubled, and so too was all Jerusalem. 040 MAT 002 004 He called together all the chief priests and teachers of the Law in the nation, and questioned them as to where the Christ was to be born. 040 MAT 002 005 “At Bethlehem in Judea,” was their answer, “for it is said in the prophet – 040 MAT 002 006 ‘And you, Bethlehem in Judah’s land, are in no way least among the chief cities of Judah, for out of you will come a ruler – who will shepherd my people Israel.’” 040 MAT 002 007 Then Herod secretly sent for the astrologers. He found out from them the time of the appearance of the star. 040 MAT 002 008 Sending them to Bethlehem he said, “Go and make a careful search for the child. When you have found him, bring word back to me, so that I, too, can go and worship him.” 040 MAT 002 009 The astrologers heard what the king had to say, and then continued their journey. The star which they had seen in the east led them on, until it reached and stood over the place where the child was. 040 MAT 002 010 At the sight of the star they were filled with joy. 040 MAT 002 011 Entering the house, they saw the child with his mother, Mary, and fell at his feet and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests, and offered to the child presents of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 040 MAT 002 012 But afterward, having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their own country by another road. 040 MAT 002 013 After they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and seek refuge in Egypt; and stay there until I tell you to return, for Herod is about to search for the child, to put him to death.” 040 MAT 002 014 Joseph woke up, and taking the child and his mother by night, went into Egypt, 040 MAT 002 015 and there he stayed until Herod’s death. This was in fulfillment of these words of the Lord in the prophet, where he says – ‘Out of Egypt I called my Son.’ 040 MAT 002 016 When Herod found out that the astrologers had tricked him, he flew into a rage. He sent and put to death all the boys in Bethlehem and the whole of that region, who were two years old or under, guided by the time which he had learned from the astrologers. 040 MAT 002 017 Then were fulfilled these words spoken in the prophet Jeremiah, where he says – 040 MAT 002 018 ‘A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and mourning loudly; Rachel, weeping for her children, refusing all comfort for they were dead.’ 040 MAT 002 019 But, on the death of Herod, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said, 040 MAT 002 020 “Get up, take the child and his mother, and go into the Land of Israel, for those who sought to take the child’s life are dead.” 040 MAT 002 021 He woke up, and taking the child and his mother, went into the Land of Israel. 040 MAT 002 022 But, hearing that Archelaus had succeeded his father Herod as king of Judea, he was afraid to go back there; and having been warned in a dream, he went into the part of the country called Galilee. 040 MAT 002 023 There he settled in the town of Nazareth, in fulfillment of these words in the prophets – ‘He will be called a Nazarene.’ 040 MAT 003 001 About that time John the Baptist first appeared, proclaiming in the wilderness of Judea: 040 MAT 003 002 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 040 MAT 003 003 John was the one who was spoken of in the prophet Isaiah, where he says – ‘The voice of one crying aloud in the wilderness: “Make ready the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.”’ 040 MAT 003 004 John’s clothes were made of camels’ hair, with a leather strap around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 040 MAT 003 005 At that time Jerusalem, and all Judea, as well as the whole district of the Jordan, went out to him 040 MAT 003 006 and were baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. 040 MAT 003 007 But when John saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to receive his baptism, he said to them, “You children of snakes! Who has prompted you to seek refuge from the coming judgment? 040 MAT 003 008 Let your life, then, prove your repentance; 040 MAT 003 009 and do not think that you can say among yourselves ‘Abraham is our ancestor,’ for I tell you that out of these stones God is able to raise descendants for Abraham! 040 MAT 003 010 Already the axe is lying at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that fails to bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. 040 MAT 003 011 I, indeed, baptize you with water to teach repentance; but he who is coming after me is more powerful than I, and I am not fit even to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 040 MAT 003 012 His winnowing-fan is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing-floor, and store his grain in the barn, but the chaff he will burn with a fire that cannot be put out.” 040 MAT 003 013 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan, to John, to be baptized by him. 040 MAT 003 014 But John tried to prevent him. “I need to be baptized by you,” he said, “so why have you come to me?” 040 MAT 003 015 “This is the way it should be for now,” Jesus answered, “because we should do everything that God requires.” So John agreed. 040 MAT 003 016 After the baptism of Jesus, and just as he came up from the water, the heavens opened, and he saw the Spirit of God coming down like a dove and resting on him, 040 MAT 003 017 and from the heavens there came a voice which said, “This is my dearly loved son, who brings me great joy.” 040 MAT 004 001 Then Jesus was led up into the wilderness by the Spirit to be tempted by the devil. 040 MAT 004 002 And, after he had fasted for forty days and forty nights, he became hungry. 040 MAT 004 003 The Tempter came to him, and said: “If you are God’s Son, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.” 040 MAT 004 004 But Jesus answered, “Scripture says – ‘It is not on bread alone that a person is to live, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” 040 MAT 004 005 Then the devil took him to the Holy City, and, placing him on the parapet of the temple, said to him, 040 MAT 004 006 “If you are God’s Son, throw yourself down, for scripture says – ‘He will give his angels commands about you, and on their hands they will lift you up, so you do not even strike your foot against a stone.’” 040 MAT 004 007 “Scripture also says,” answered Jesus, “‘You must not tempt the Lord your God.’” 040 MAT 004 008 The third time, the devil took Jesus to a very high mountain, and, showing him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor, said to him: 040 MAT 004 009 “All these I will give you, if you will fall at my feet and worship me.” 040 MAT 004 010 Then Jesus said to him, “Go away, Satan! For scripture says – ‘You must worship the Lord your God, and worship him only.’” 040 MAT 004 011 Then the devil left him alone, and angels came and helped him. 040 MAT 004 012 When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he returned to Galilee. 040 MAT 004 013 Afterward, leaving Nazareth, he went and settled at Capernaum, which is by the side of the sea, within the borders of Zebulun and Naphtali; 040 MAT 004 014 in fulfillment of these words in the prophet Isaiah – 040 MAT 004 015 ‘The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the land of the Road by the sea, and beyond the Jordan, with Galilee of the Gentiles – 040 MAT 004 016 The people who were living in darkness have seen a great light, and, for those who were living in the shadow-land of death, a light has dawned!’ 040 MAT 004 017 At that time Jesus began to proclaim – “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 040 MAT 004 018 As Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers – Simon, also known as Peter, and his brother Andrew – casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 040 MAT 004 019 “Come and follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will teach you to fish for people.” 040 MAT 004 020 The two men left their nets at once and followed him. 040 MAT 004 021 Going further on, he saw two other men who were also brothers, James, Zebedee’s son, and his brother John, in their boat with their father, mending their nets. Jesus called them, 040 MAT 004 022 and they at once left their boat and their father, and followed him. 040 MAT 004 023 Jesus went all through Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people; 040 MAT 004 024 and his fame spread all through Syria. They brought to him all who were ill with any form of disease, or who were suffering pain – any who were either possessed by demons, or were lunatic, or paralyzed; and he cured them. 040 MAT 004 025 He was followed by large crowds from Galilee, the district of the Ten Towns, Jerusalem, Judea, and from beyond the Jordan. 040 MAT 005 001 On seeing the crowds of people, Jesus went up the hill; and, when he had taken his seat, his disciples came up to him; 040 MAT 005 002 and he began to teach them, saying: 040 MAT 005 003 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 040 MAT 005 004 Blessed are the mourners, for they will be comforted. 040 MAT 005 005 Blessed are the gentle, for they will inherit the earth. 040 MAT 005 006 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. 040 MAT 005 007 Blessed are the merciful, for they will find mercy. 040 MAT 005 008 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 040 MAT 005 009 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 040 MAT 005 010 Blessed are those who have been persecuted in the cause of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 040 MAT 005 011 “Blessed are you when people insult you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil lies about you because of me. 040 MAT 005 012 Be glad and rejoice, because your reward in heaven will be great; this is the way they persecuted the prophets who lived before you. 040 MAT 005 013 “You are salt for the world. But if salt becomes tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown away, and trampled underfoot. 040 MAT 005 014 It is you who are the light of the world. A town that stands on a hill cannot be hidden. 040 MAT 005 015 People do not light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lamp-stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 040 MAT 005 016 Let your light so shine before the eyes of others so that, seeing your good actions, they will praise your Father who is in heaven. 040 MAT 005 017 “Do not think that I have come to do away with the Law or the prophets; I have not come to do away with them, but to complete them. 040 MAT 005 018 For I tell you, until the heavens and the earth disappear, not even the smallest letter, nor one stroke of a letter, will disappear from the Law until all is done. 040 MAT 005 019 Whoever, therefore, breaks one of these commandments, even the least of them, and teaches others to do so, will be the least esteemed in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps them, and teaches others to do so, will be esteemed great in the kingdom of heaven. 040 MAT 005 020 Indeed I tell you that, unless you obey God’s commands better than of the teachers of the Law, and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 040 MAT 005 021 “You have heard that to our ancestors it was said – ‘You must not commit murder,’ and ‘Whoever commits murder will be brought to trial.’ 040 MAT 005 022 But I say to you that anyone who is angry at their brother or sister will be brought to trial; and whoever insults their brother or sister will be brought before the High Council, while whoever calls them a fool will be in danger of the fires of Gehenna. (Geenna g1067) 040 MAT 005 023 Therefore, when presenting your gift at the altar, if even there you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 040 MAT 005 024 leave your gift there, before the altar, go and be reconciled to them, first, then come and present your gift. 040 MAT 005 025 Be ready to make friends with your opponent, even when you meet them on your way to the court; otherwise they might hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the judicial officer, and you will be thrown into prison. 040 MAT 005 026 I tell you, you will not come out until you have paid the last cent. 040 MAT 005 027 “You have heard that it was said – ‘You must not commit adultery.’ 040 MAT 005 028 But I say to you that anyone who looks at a woman and desires her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 040 MAT 005 029 If your right eye causes you to sin, take it out and throw it away. It would be best for you to lose one part of your body, and not to have the whole of it thrown into Gehenna. (Geenna g1067) 040 MAT 005 030 And, if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It would be best for you to lose one part of your body, and not to have the whole of it go down to Gehenna. (Geenna g1067) 040 MAT 005 031 “It was also said – ‘Let anyone who divorces his wife serve her with a notice of separation.’ 040 MAT 005 032 But I say to you that anyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of some serious sexual sin, leads to her committing adultery; while anyone who marries her after her divorce is guilty of adultery. 040 MAT 005 033 Again, you have heard that our ancestors were told – ‘Do not break your oaths, keep your vows to the Lord.’ 040 MAT 005 034 But I say to you that you must not swear at all, either by heaven, since that is God’s throne, 040 MAT 005 035 or by the earth, since that is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, since that is the city of the Great King. 040 MAT 005 036 Nor should you swear by your head, since you cannot make a single hair either white or black. 040 MAT 005 037 Let your words be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from what is evil. 040 MAT 005 038 “You have heard that it was said – ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 040 MAT 005 039 But I say to you that you must not resist those who wrong you; but, if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other to them also. 040 MAT 005 040 If someone sues you for your shirt, let them have your cloak as well. 040 MAT 005 041 If you are forced to carry a soldier’s pack for one mile, carry it two. 040 MAT 005 042 Give to anyone who asks and, if someone wants to borrow from you, do not turn them away. 040 MAT 005 043 You have heard that it was said – ‘You must love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 040 MAT 005 044 But what I tell you is this: love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, 040 MAT 005 045 so that you may become children of your Father who is in heaven; for he causes his sun to rise on bad and good alike, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. 040 MAT 005 046 For, if you love only those who love you, what reward will you have? Even the tax collectors do this! 040 MAT 005 047 And, if you only welcome your brothers and sisters, what are you doing more than others? Even the Gentiles do this! 040 MAT 005 048 You, then, must become perfect – as your heavenly Father is perfect. 040 MAT 006 001 “Take care not to perform your religious duties in public in order to be seen by others; if you do, your Father who is in heaven has no reward for you. 040 MAT 006 002 Therefore, when you do acts of charity, do not have a trumpet blown in front of you, as hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets so that people will praise them. There, I tell you, is their reward! 040 MAT 006 003 But, when you do acts of charity, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 040 MAT 006 004 so that your charity may be secret; and your Father, who sees what is in secret, will reward you. 040 MAT 006 005 “And, when you pray, you are not to behave as hypocrites do. They like to pray standing in the synagogues and at the corners of the streets, so that people will see them. There, I tell you, is their reward! 040 MAT 006 006 But, when one of you prays, they should go into their own room, shut the door, and pray to their Father who dwells in secret; and their Father, who sees what is secret, will reward them. 040 MAT 006 007 When praying, do not repeat the same words over and over again, as is done by the Gentiles, who think that by using many words they will obtain a hearing. 040 MAT 006 008 Do not imitate them; for God, your Father, knows what you need before you ask him. 040 MAT 006 009 You, therefore, should pray like this – ‘Our Father, who is in heaven, may your name be held holy, 040 MAT 006 010 your kingdom come, your will be done – on earth, as in heaven. 040 MAT 006 011 Give us today the bread that we will need; 040 MAT 006 012 and forgive us our wrongdoings, as we have forgiven those who have wronged us; 040 MAT 006 013 and take us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.’ 040 MAT 006 014 For, if you forgive others their offenses, your heavenly Father will forgive you also; 040 MAT 006 015 but, if you do not forgive others their offenses, not even your Father will forgive your offenses. 040 MAT 006 016 “And, when you fast, do not put on gloomy looks, as hypocrites do who disfigure their faces so that they may be seen by people to be fasting. That, I tell you, is their reward! 040 MAT 006 017 But, when one of you fasts, they should anoint their head and wash their face, 040 MAT 006 018 so that they may not be seen by people to be fasting, but by their Father who dwells in secret; and their Father, who sees what is secret, will reward them. 040 MAT 006 019 “Do not store up treasures for yourselves on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 040 MAT 006 020 But store up treasures for yourselves in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal. 040 MAT 006 021 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 040 MAT 006 022 The lamp of the body is the eye. If your eye is unclouded, your whole body will be lit up; 040 MAT 006 023 but, if your eye is diseased, your whole body will be darkened. And, if the inner light is darkness, how intense must that darkness be! 040 MAT 006 024 No one can serve two masters, for either they will hate one and love the other, or else they will attach themselves to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money. 040 MAT 006 025 “This is why I say to you, Do not be anxious about your life – what you can get to eat or drink, or about your body – what you can get to wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 040 MAT 006 026 Look at the wild birds – they neither sow, nor reap, nor gather into barns; and yet your heavenly Father feeds them! Aren’t you more precious than they? 040 MAT 006 027 But which of you, by being anxious, can prolong their life a single moment? 040 MAT 006 028 And why be anxious about clothing? Study the wild lilies, and how they grow. They neither toil nor spin; 040 MAT 006 029 yet I tell you that even Solomon in all his splendor was not robed like one of these. 040 MAT 006 030 If God so clothes even the grass of the field, which is living today and tomorrow will be thrown into the oven, won’t he much more clothe you, you of little faith? 040 MAT 006 031 Do not then ask anxiously ‘What can we get to eat?’ or ‘What can we get to drink?’ or ‘What can we get to wear?’ 040 MAT 006 032 All these are the things for which the nations are seeking, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 040 MAT 006 033 But first seek his kingdom and the righteousness that he requires, and then all these things will be added for you. 040 MAT 006 034 Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own anxieties. Every day has trouble enough of its own. 040 MAT 007 001 “Do not judge and you will not be judged. 040 MAT 007 002 For, just as you judge others, you will yourselves be judged, and the standard that you use will be used for you. 040 MAT 007 003 Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your friend’s eye, while you pay no attention at all to the plank of wood in yours? 040 MAT 007 004 How will you say to your friend ‘Let me take out the speck from your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own? 040 MAT 007 005 Hypocrite! Take out the plank from your own eye first, and then you will see clearly how to take out the speck from your friend’s. 040 MAT 007 006 “Do not give what is sacred to dogs; they will turn and maul you. Do not throw your pearls before pigs; they will trample them underfoot. 040 MAT 007 007 Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. 040 MAT 007 008 For the person who asks receives, the person who searches finds, and to the door will be opened to the person who knocks. 040 MAT 007 009 Who among you, when their child asks them for bread, will give them a stone, 040 MAT 007 010 or when they ask for a fish, will give them a snake? 040 MAT 007 011 If you, then, wicked though you are, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask him! 040 MAT 007 012 “Do to others whatever you would wish them to do to you; for that is the teaching of both the Law and the prophets. 040 MAT 007 013 Go in by the small gate. The road that leads to destruction is broad and spacious, and many go in by it. 040 MAT 007 014 For the gate is small, and the road narrow, that leads to life, and there are few who find it. 040 MAT 007 015 “Beware of false teachers – people who come to you in the guise of sheep, but at heart they are ravenous wolves. 040 MAT 007 016 By the fruit of their lives you will know them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? 040 MAT 007 017 So, too, every sound tree bears good fruit, while a worthless tree bears bad fruit. 040 MAT 007 018 A sound tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a worthless tree bear good fruit. 040 MAT 007 019 Every tree that fails to bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 040 MAT 007 020 So it is by the fruit of their lives that you will know such people. 040 MAT 007 021 Not everyone who says to me ‘Master! Master!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 040 MAT 007 022 On that day many will say to me ‘Master, Master, was not it in your name that we taught, and in your name that we drove out demons, and in your name that we did many miracles?’ 040 MAT 007 023 And then I will say to them plainly ‘I never knew you. Go from my presence, you who live in sin.’ 040 MAT 007 024 “Everyone, therefore, who listens to this teaching of mine and acts on it may be compared to a prudent person, who built their house on the rock. 040 MAT 007 025 The rain poured down, the rivers rose, the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, for its foundations were on the rock. 040 MAT 007 026 Everyone who listens to this teaching of mine and does not act on it may be compared to a foolish person, who built their house on the sand. 040 MAT 007 027 The rain poured down, the rivers rose, the winds blew and struck against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” 040 MAT 007 028 By the time that Jesus had finished speaking, the crowd was filled with amazement at his teaching. 040 MAT 007 029 For he taught them like one who had authority, and not like their teachers of the Law. 040 MAT 008 001 When Jesus had come down from the hill, great crowds followed him. 040 MAT 008 002 He saw a leper who came up, and bowed to the ground before him, and said, “Master, if only you are willing, you are able to make me clean.” 040 MAT 008 003 Stretching out his hand, Jesus touched him, saying as he did so, “I am willing; become clean.” Instantly he was made clean from his leprosy; 040 MAT 008 004 and then Jesus said to him, “Be careful not to say a word to anyone, but go and show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift directed by Moses, as evidence of your cure.” 040 MAT 008 005 After Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion in the Roman army came up to him, entreating his help. 040 MAT 008 006 “Sir,” he said, “my manservant is lying ill at my house with a stroke of paralysis, and is suffering terribly.” 040 MAT 008 007 “I will come and cure him,” answered Jesus. 040 MAT 008 008 “Sir,” the centurion went on, “I am unworthy to receive you under my roof; but only speak, and my manservant will be cured. 040 MAT 008 009 For I myself am a man under the orders of others, with soldiers under me; and, if I say to one of them ‘Go,’ he goes, and to another ‘Come,’ he comes, and to my slave ‘Do this,’ he does it.” 040 MAT 008 010 Jesus was surprised to hear this, and said to those who were following him, “Never I tell you, in any Israelite have I met with such faith as this! 040 MAT 008 011 Yes, and many will come in from East and West and take their places beside Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven; 040 MAT 008 012 while the heirs to the kingdom will be banished into the darkness outside; there, there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.” 040 MAT 008 013 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go now, and it will be according to your faith.” And the man was cured that very hour. 040 MAT 008 014 When Jesus went into Peter’s house, he saw Peter’s mother-in-law prostrated with fever. 040 MAT 008 015 On his taking her hand, the fever left her, and she rose and began to take care of him. 040 MAT 008 016 In the evening the people brought to Jesus many who were possessed by demons; and he drove out the spirits with a word, and cured all who were ill, 040 MAT 008 017 in fulfillment of these words in the prophet Isaiah – ‘He took our infirmities on himself, and bore the burden of our diseases.’ 040 MAT 008 018 Seeing a crowd around him, Jesus gave orders to go across. 040 MAT 008 019 A teacher of the Law came up to him, and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” 040 MAT 008 020 “Foxes have holes,” answered Jesus, “and wild birds their nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” 040 MAT 008 021 “Master,” said another, who was a disciple, “let me first go and bury my father.” 040 MAT 008 022 But Jesus answered, “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their dead.” 040 MAT 008 023 Then he got into the boat, followed by his disciples. 040 MAT 008 024 Suddenly so great a storm came up on the sea, that the waves broke right over the boat. But Jesus was asleep; 040 MAT 008 025 and the disciples came and roused him. “Master,” they cried, “save us; we are lost!” 040 MAT 008 026 “Why are you so timid?” he said. “You of little faith!” Then Jesus rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and a great calm followed. 040 MAT 008 027 The men were amazed, and exclaimed, “What kind of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!” 040 MAT 008 028 On getting to the other side – the region of the Gadarenes – Jesus met two men who were possessed by demons, coming out of the tombs. They were so violent that no one was able to pass that way. 040 MAT 008 029 Suddenly they shrieked out, “What do you want with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before our time?” 040 MAT 008 030 A long way off, there was a herd of many pigs, feeding; 040 MAT 008 031 and the foul spirits began begging Jesus, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.” 040 MAT 008 032 “Go,” he said. The spirits came out, and entered the pigs; and the whole herd rushed down the steep slope into the sea, and died in the water. 040 MAT 008 033 At this the men who tended them ran away and went to the town, carrying the news of all that had occurred, and of what had happened to the possessed men. 040 MAT 008 034 At the news the whole town went out to meet Jesus, and, when they saw him, they entreated him to go away from their region. 040 MAT 009 001 Afterward Jesus got into a boat, and, crossing over, came to his own city. 040 MAT 009 002 There some people brought to him a paralyzed man on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Courage, child! Your sins are forgiven.” 040 MAT 009 003 Then some of the teachers of the Law said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming!” 040 MAT 009 004 Knowing their thoughts, Jesus exclaimed, “Why do your cherish such wicked thoughts? 040 MAT 009 005 Which, I ask, is the easier? – to say ‘Your sins are forgiven’? Or to say ‘Get up, and walk’? 040 MAT 009 006 But to show you that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins” – then he said to the paralyzed man – “Get up, take up your bed, and return to your home.” 040 MAT 009 007 The man got up and went to his home. 040 MAT 009 008 When the crowd saw this, they were awe-struck, and praised God for giving such power to human beings. 040 MAT 009 009 As Jesus went along, he saw a man, called Matthew, sitting in the tax office, and said to him, “Follow me.” Matthew got up and followed him. 040 MAT 009 010 And, later on, when he was having dinner in the house, a number of tax collectors and outcasts came in and took their places at the table with Jesus and his disciples. 040 MAT 009 011 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat in the company of tax collectors and outcasts?” 040 MAT 009 012 On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not those who are healthy who need a doctor, but those who are ill. 040 MAT 009 013 Go and learn what this means – ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice’; for I did not come to call the religious, but the outcast.” 040 MAT 009 014 Then John’s disciples came to Jesus, and asked, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast while your disciples do not?” 040 MAT 009 015 Jesus answered, “Can the groom’s friends mourn as long as the groom is with them? But the days will come, when the groom will be taken away from them, and they will fast then. 040 MAT 009 016 Nobody ever puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for such a patch tears away from the garment, and a worse tear is made. 040 MAT 009 017 Nor do people put new wine into old wine-skins; for, if they do, the skins burst, and the wine runs out, and the skins are lost; but they put new wine into fresh skins, and so both are preserved.” 040 MAT 009 018 While Jesus was saying this, a synagogue leader came up and bowed to the ground before him. “My daughter,” he said, “has just died; but come and place your hand on her, and she will be restored to life.” 040 MAT 009 019 So Jesus rose and followed him, and his disciples went also. 040 MAT 009 020 But meanwhile a woman, who had been suffering from hemorrhage for twelve years, came up behind and touched the tassel of his cloak. 040 MAT 009 021 “If I only touch his cloak,” she said to herself, “I will get well.” 040 MAT 009 022 Turning and seeing her, Jesus said, “Courage, daughter! Your faith has delivered you.” And at that very moment she became well. 040 MAT 009 023 When Jesus reached the leader’s house, seeing the flute players, and a number of people all in confusion, 040 MAT 009 024 he said, “Go away, the little girl is not dead; she is asleep.” They began to laugh at him; 040 MAT 009 025 but, when the people had been sent out, Jesus went in, and took the little girl’s hand, and she rose. 040 MAT 009 026 The report of this spread through all that part of the country. 040 MAT 009 027 As Jesus was passing on from there, he was followed by two blind men, who kept calling out, “Take pity on us, Son of David!” 040 MAT 009 028 When he had gone indoors, the blind men came up to him; and Jesus asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” “Yes, Master!” they answered. 040 MAT 009 029 Then he touched their eyes, and said, “It will be according to your faith.” 040 MAT 009 030 Then their eyes were opened. Jesus sternly cautioned them. “See that no one knows of it,” he said. 040 MAT 009 031 But the men went out, and spread the news about him through all that part of the country. 040 MAT 009 032 Just as they were going out, some people brought up to Jesus a dumb man who was possessed by a demon; 040 MAT 009 033 and, as soon as the demon had been driven out, the dumb man spoke. The people were astonished at this, and exclaimed, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel!” 040 MAT 009 034 But the Pharisees said, “He drives out the demons by the help of the chief of the demons.” 040 MAT 009 035 Jesus went around all the towns and the villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness. 040 MAT 009 036 But, when he saw the crowds, his heart was moved with compassion for them, because they were distressed and harassed, like sheep without a shepherd; 040 MAT 009 037 and he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant, but the laborers are few. 040 MAT 009 038 Therefore pray to the owner of the harvest to send laborers to gather in his harvest.” 040 MAT 010 001 Calling his twelve Disciples to him, Jesus gave them authority over foul spirits, so that they could drive them out, as well as the power of curing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness. 040 MAT 010 002 The names of the twelve apostles are these, First Simon, also known as Peter, and his brother Andrew; James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 040 MAT 010 003 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax-gather; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 040 MAT 010 004 Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot – the apostle who betrayed him. 040 MAT 010 005 These twelve Jesus sent out as his messengers, after giving them these instructions – “Do not go to the Gentiles, nor enter any Samaritan town, 040 MAT 010 006 but make your way rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 040 MAT 010 007 On your way proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 040 MAT 010 008 Cure the sick, raise the dead, make the lepers clean, drive out demons. You have received free of cost, give free of cost. 040 MAT 010 009 Do not provide yourselves with gold, or silver, or coins in your purses; 040 MAT 010 010 not even with a bag for the journey, or a change of clothes, or sandals, or even a staff; for the worker is worth his food. 040 MAT 010 011 Whatever town or village you visit, find out who is worthy in that place, and remain there until you leave. 040 MAT 010 012 As you enter the house, greet it. 040 MAT 010 013 Then, if the house is worthy, let your blessing rest on it, but, if it is unworthy, let your blessing return on yourselves. 040 MAT 010 014 If no one welcomes you, or listens to what you say, as you leave that house or that town, shake off its dust from your feet. 040 MAT 010 015 I tell you, the doom of the land of Sodom and Gomorrah will be more bearable in the day of judgment than the doom of that town. 040 MAT 010 016 “Remember, I am sending you out as my messengers like sheep among wolves. So be as wise as snakes, and as blameless as doves. 040 MAT 010 017 Be on your guard against others, for they will betray you to courts of law, and scourge you in their synagogues; 040 MAT 010 018 and you will be brought before governors and kings for my sake so that you may witness for me before them and the nations. 040 MAT 010 019 Whenever they betray you, do not be anxious as to how you will speak or what you will say, for what you will say will be given you at the moment; 040 MAT 010 020 for it will not be you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father that speaks within you. 040 MAT 010 021 Brother will betray brother to death, and the father his child; and children will turn against their parents, and cause them to be put to death; 040 MAT 010 022 and you will be hated by everyone because of me. Yet the person who endures to the end will be saved. 040 MAT 010 023 But, when they persecute you in one town, escape to the next; for, I tell you, you will not have come to the end of the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. 040 MAT 010 024 A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 040 MAT 010 025 It is enough for a student to be treated like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household! 040 MAT 010 026 Do not, therefore, be afraid of them. There is nothing concealed which will not be revealed, nor anything hidden which will not become known. 040 MAT 010 027 What I tell you in the dark, say again in the light; and what is whispered in your ear, proclaim on the housetops. 040 MAT 010 028 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body, but are unable to kill the soul; rather be afraid of him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna. (Geenna g1067) 040 MAT 010 029 Are not two sparrows sold for a one copper coin? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father’s knowledge. 040 MAT 010 030 While as for you, even the hairs of your head are numbered. 040 MAT 010 031 Do not, therefore, be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows. 040 MAT 010 032 Everyone, therefore, who will publicly acknowledge me, I, too, will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven; 040 MAT 010 033 but, if anyone publicly disowns me, I, too, will disown him before my Father who is in heaven. 040 MAT 010 034 “Do not imagine that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have come to bring, not peace, but the sword. 040 MAT 010 035 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. 040 MAT 010 036 A person’s enemies will be the members of their own household. 040 MAT 010 037 Anyone who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 040 MAT 010 038 Anyone who does not take their cross and follow in my steps is not worthy of me. 040 MAT 010 039 The person who has found their life will lose it, while the person who, for my sake, has lost their life will find it. 040 MAT 010 040 “Anyone who welcomes you is welcoming me; and anyone who welcomes me is welcoming him who sent me as his messenger. 040 MAT 010 041 The person who welcomes a prophet, because they are a prophet, will receive a prophet’s reward; and anyone who welcomes a good person, because they are a good person, will receive a good person’s reward. 040 MAT 010 042 And, if anyone gives but a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because they are a disciple, I tell you that they will assuredly not lose their reward.” 040 MAT 011 001 After Jesus had finished giving directions to his twelve Disciples, he left that place in order to teach and preach in their towns. 040 MAT 011 002 Now John had heard in prison what the Christ was doing, and he sent a message by his disciples, 040 MAT 011 003 and asked – “Are you ‘the coming one,’ or are we to look for someone else?” 040 MAT 011 004 The answer of Jesus to the question was – “Go and report to John what you hear and see – 040 MAT 011 005 the blind recover their sight and the lame walk, the lepers are made clean and the deaf hear, the dead, too, are raised to life, and the good news is told to the poor. 040 MAT 011 006 Blessed is the person who finds no hindrance in me.” 040 MAT 011 007 While John’s disciples were going back, Jesus began to say to the crowds with reference to John, 040 MAT 011 008 “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed waving in the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man richly dressed? Why, those who wear rich things are to be found in the courts of kings! 040 MAT 011 009 What, then, did you go for? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and far more than a prophet. 040 MAT 011 010 This is the man of whom scripture says – ‘I am sending my messenger ahead of you, and he will prepare your way before you.’ 040 MAT 011 011 I tell you, no one born of a woman has yet appeared who is greater than John the Baptist; and yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 040 MAT 011 012 From the time of John the Baptist to this very hour, the kingdom of heaven has been taken by force, and people using force have been seizing it. 040 MAT 011 013 For the teaching of all the prophets and of the Law continued until the time of John; 040 MAT 011 014 and – if you are ready to accept it – John is himself the Elijah who was destined to come. 040 MAT 011 015 If you have ears, listen. 040 MAT 011 016 But to what will I compare the present generation? It is like little children sitting in the market-places and calling out to their playmates – 040 MAT 011 017 We have played the flute for you, but you have not danced; We have wailed, but you have not mourned. 040 MAT 011 018 For, when John came, neither eating nor drinking, people said ‘He has a demon in him’; 040 MAT 011 019 and now that the Son of Man has come, eating and drinking, they are saying ‘Here is a glutton and a wine-drinker, a friend of tax collectors and outcasts!’ And yet wisdom is vindicated by her actions.” 040 MAT 011 020 Then Jesus began to reproach the towns in which most of his miracles had been done, because they had not repented, 040 MAT 011 021 “Alas for you, Chorazin! Alas for you, Bethsaida! For, if the miracles which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 040 MAT 011 022 Yet, I tell you, the doom of Tyre and Sidon will be more bearable in the day of judgment than yours. 040 MAT 011 023 And you, Capernaum! Will you exalt yourself to heaven? You will be flung down to Hades! For, if the miracles which have been done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have been standing to this day. (Hadēs g86) 040 MAT 011 024 Yet, I tell you, the doom of Sodom will be more bearable in the day of judgment than yours.” 040 MAT 011 025 At that same time Jesus uttered the words, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that, though you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, you have revealed them to the childlike! 040 MAT 011 026 Yes, Father, I thank you that this has seemed good to you. 040 MAT 011 027 Everything has been committed to me by my Father; nor does anyone fully know the Son, except the Father, or fully know the Father, except the Son and those to whom the Son may choose to reveal him. 040 MAT 011 028 Come to me, all you who toil and are burdened, and I will give you rest! 040 MAT 011 029 Take my yoke on you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble, and you will find rest for your souls; 040 MAT 011 030 for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” 040 MAT 012 001 About the same time Jesus walked through the cornfields one Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and began to pick some ears of wheat and eat them. 040 MAT 012 002 But, when the Pharisees saw this, they said, “Look! Your disciples are doing what it is not allowable to do on a Sabbath!” 040 MAT 012 003 “Haven’t you read,” replied Jesus, “what David did, when he and his companions were hungry – 040 MAT 012 004 how he went into the house of God, and how they ate the consecrated bread, through it was not allowable for him or his companions to eat it, but only for the priests? 040 MAT 012 005 And haven’t you read in the law that, on the Sabbath, the priest in the Temple break the Sabbath and yet are not guilty? 040 MAT 012 006 Here, however, I tell you, there is something greater than the Temple! 040 MAT 012 007 Had you learned the meaning of the words – ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned those who are not guilty. 040 MAT 012 008 For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.” 040 MAT 012 009 Passing on, Jesus went into their synagogue, 040 MAT 012 010 and there he saw a man with a withered hand. Some people asked Jesus whether it was allowable to work a cure on the Sabbath – so that they might have a charge to bring against him. 040 MAT 012 011 But Jesus said to them, “Which of you, if he had only one sheep, and that sheep fell into a pit on the Sabbath, would not lay hold of it and pull it out? 040 MAT 012 012 How much more precious a person is than a sheep! Therefore it is allowable to do good on the Sabbath.” 040 MAT 012 013 Then he said to the man. “Stretch out your hand.” The man stretched it out; and it had become as sound as the other. 040 MAT 012 014 On coming out, the Pharisees plotted against Jesus, to put him to death. 040 MAT 012 015 Jesus, however, became aware of it, and went away from that place. A number of people followed him, and he cured them all; 040 MAT 012 016 but he warned them not to make him known, 040 MAT 012 017 in fulfillment of these words in the prophet Isaiah – 040 MAT 012 018 ‘Here is my chosen servant, who I love and who pleases me! I will breathe my spirit on him, and he will announce a time of judgment to the Gentiles. 040 MAT 012 019 He will not contend, nor cry aloud, Neither will anyone hear his voice in the streets; 040 MAT 012 020 a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he has brought the judgment to a victorious issue, 040 MAT 012 021 and on his name will the Gentiles rest their hopes.’ 040 MAT 012 022 Then some people brought to Jesus a possessed man, who was blind and dumb; and he cured him, so that the man who had been dumb both talked and saw. 040 MAT 012 023 At this all the people were astounded. “Is it possible that this is the son of David?” they exclaimed. 040 MAT 012 024 But the Pharisees heard of it and said, “He drives out demons only by the help of Beelzebul the chief of the demons.” 040 MAT 012 025 Jesus, however, was aware of what was passing in their minds, and said to them, “Any kingdom divided against itself becomes a desolation, and any town or household divided against itself will not last. 040 MAT 012 026 So, if Satan drives Satan out, he must be divided against himself; and how, then, can his kingdom last? 040 MAT 012 027 And, if it is by Beelzebul’s help that I drive out demons, by whose help is it that your own sons drive them out? Therefore they will themselves be your judges. 040 MAT 012 028 But, if it is by the help of the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God must already be upon you. 040 MAT 012 029 How, again, can anyone get into a strong man’s house and carry off his goods, without first securing him? Not until then will he plunder his house. 040 MAT 012 030 Anyone who is not with me is against me, and the person who does not help me to gather is scattering. 040 MAT 012 031 Therefore, I tell you, people will be forgiven every sin and slander; but slander against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. 040 MAT 012 032 Whoever speaks against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in the present age, or in the age to come. (aiōn g165) 040 MAT 012 033 “You must assume either that both tree and fruit are good, or that both tree and fruit are worthless; since it is by its fruits that a tree is known. 040 MAT 012 034 You children of snakes! How can you, evil as you are, say anything good? For what fills the heart will rise to the lips. 040 MAT 012 035 A good person, from his good stores, produces good things; while an evil person, from his evil stores, produces evil things. 040 MAT 012 036 I tell you that for every careless thing that people say, they must answer on the ‘day of judgment.’ 040 MAT 012 037 For it is by your words that you will be acquitted, and by your words that you will be condemned.” 040 MAT 012 038 At this point, some teachers of the Law and Pharisees spoke up. “Teacher,” they said, “we want to see some sign from you.” 040 MAT 012 039 “It is a wicked and unfaithful generation,” answered Jesus, “that is asking for a sign, and no sign will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 040 MAT 012 040 For, just as Jonah was inside the sea-monster three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 040 MAT 012 041 At the judgment, the people of Nineveh will stand up with this generation, and will condemn it, because they repented at Jonah’s proclamation; and here is more than a Jonah! 040 MAT 012 042 At the judgment the Queen of the South will rise up with the present generation, and will condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon; and here is more than a Solomon! 040 MAT 012 043 No sooner does a foul spirit leave a person, than it passes through places where there is no water, in search of rest, and does not find it. 040 MAT 012 044 Then it says ‘I will go back to the home which I left’; but, on coming there, it finds it unoccupied, and swept, and put in order. 040 MAT 012 045 Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in, and make their home there; and the last state of that man proves to be worse than the first. So, too, will it be with this wicked generation.” 040 MAT 012 046 While he was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and brothers were standing outside, asking to speak to him. 040 MAT 012 047 Someone told him this, and Jesus replied, 040 MAT 012 048 “Who is my mother? And who are my brothers?” 040 MAT 012 049 Then, stretching out his hands towards his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 040 MAT 012 050 For anyone who does the will of my Father who is in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” 040 MAT 013 001 That same day, when Jesus had left the house and was sitting by the sea, 040 MAT 013 002 such great crowds gathered around him, that he got into a boat, and sat in it, while all the people stood on the beach. 040 MAT 013 003 Then he told them many truths in parables. “The sower,” he began, “went out to sow; and, 040 MAT 013 004 as they were sowing, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 040 MAT 013 005 Some fell on rocky places, where it had not much soil, and, because the soil wasn’t deep, sprang up at once. 040 MAT 013 006 As soon as the sun had risen, it was scorched, and, because their roots were not deep enough, withered away. 040 MAT 013 007 Some, again, fell into the brambles; but the brambles shot up and choked it. 040 MAT 013 008 Some, however, fell on good soil, and yielded a return, sometimes one hundred, sometimes sixty, sometimes thirty fold. 040 MAT 013 009 Let those who have ears hear.” 040 MAT 013 010 Afterward his disciples came to him, and said, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” 040 MAT 013 011 “To you,” answered Jesus, “the knowledge of the hidden truths of the kingdom of heaven has been imparted, but not to those. 040 MAT 013 012 For, to all who have, more will be given, and they will have abundance; but, from all who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. 040 MAT 013 013 That is why I speak to them in parables, because, though they have eyes, they do not see, and though they have ears, they do not hear or understand. 040 MAT 013 014 In them is being fulfilled that prophecy of Isaiah which says – ‘You will hear with your ears without ever understanding, and, though you have eyes, you will see without ever perceiving, 040 MAT 013 015 for the mind of this nation has grown dense, and their ears are dull of hearing, their eyes also have they closed; otherwise some day they might perceive with their eyes, and with their ears they might hear, and in their mind they might understand, and might turn – and I might heal them.’ 040 MAT 013 016 “But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear; 040 MAT 013 017 for I tell you that many prophets and good people have longed for the sight of the things which you are seeing, yet never saw them, and to hear the things which you are hearing, yet never heard them. 040 MAT 013 018 “Listen, then, yourselves to the parable of the sower. 040 MAT 013 019 When anyone hears the message of the kingdom without understanding it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in their mind. This is the person meant by the seed which was sown along the path. 040 MAT 013 020 By the seed which was sown on rocky places is meant the person who hears the message, and at once accepts it joyfully; 040 MAT 013 021 but, as they have no root, they stand for only a short time; and, when trouble or persecution arises because of the message, they fall away at once. 040 MAT 013 022 By the seed which was sown among the brambles is meant the person who hears the message, but the cares of life and the glamour of wealth completely choke the message, so that it gives no return. (aiōn g165) 040 MAT 013 023 But by the seed which was sown on the good ground is meant the person who hears the message and understands it, and really yields a return, sometimes one hundred, sometimes sixty, sometimes thirty fold.” 040 MAT 013 024 Another parable which Jesus told them was this – “The kingdom of heaven is compared to a person who sowed good seed in their field. 040 MAT 013 025 But, while everyone was asleep, their enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. 040 MAT 013 026 So, when the blades of corn shot up, and came into ear, the weeds made their appearance also. 040 MAT 013 027 The owner’s servants came to them, and said ‘Was not it good seed that you sowed in your field? Where, then, do the weeds in it come from?’ 040 MAT 013 028 ‘An enemy has done this,’ was the owner’s answer. ‘Do you wish us, then,’ they asked, ‘to go and gather them together?’ 040 MAT 013 029 ‘No,’ said he, ‘because while you are pulling up the weeds you might uproot the wheat with them. 040 MAT 013 030 Let both grow side by side until harvest; and then I will say to the reapers, Gather the weeds together first, and tie them in bundles for burning; but bring all the wheat into my barn.’” 040 MAT 013 031 Another parable which he told them was this – “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a person took and sowed in his field. 040 MAT 013 032 This seed is smaller than all other seeds, but, when it has grown up, it is larger than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that ‘the wild birds come and roost in its branches.’” 040 MAT 013 033 This was another parable which Jesus related – “The kingdom of heaven is like some yeast which a woman took and covered up in three pecks of flour, until the whole had risen.” 040 MAT 013 034 Of all this Jesus spoke to the crowd in parables; indeed to them he used never to speak at all except in parables, 040 MAT 013 035 in fulfillment of these words in the prophet – ‘I will speak to them in parables; I will utter things kept secret since the foundation of the world.’ 040 MAT 013 036 Then Jesus left the crowd, and went into the house. Presently his disciples came to him, and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.” 040 MAT 013 037 He answered, “The sower of the good seed is the Son of Man. 040 MAT 013 038 The field is the world. By the good seed is meant the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the wicked, 040 MAT 013 039 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest time is the close of the age, and the reapers are angels. (aiōn g165) 040 MAT 013 040 And, just as the weeds are gathered and burnt, so it will be at the close of the age. (aiōn g165) 040 MAT 013 041 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather from his kingdom all that hinders and those who live in sin, 040 MAT 013 042 and will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth. 040 MAT 013 043 Then will the righteous shine, like the sun, in the kingdom of their Father. If you have ears, listen. 040 MAT 013 044 “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field, which a person found and hid again, and then, in their delight, went and sold everything that they had, and bought that field. 040 MAT 013 045 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of choice pearls. 040 MAT 013 046 Finding one of great value, they went and sold everything that they had, and bought it. 040 MAT 013 047 Or again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net which was cast into the sea, and caught fish of all kinds. 040 MAT 013 048 When it was full, they hauled it up on the beach, and sat down and sorted the good fish into baskets, but threw the worthless ones away. 040 MAT 013 049 So will it be at the close of the age. The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous, (aiōn g165) 040 MAT 013 050 and will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth. 040 MAT 013 051 “Have you understood all this?” Jesus asked. “Yes,” they answered. 040 MAT 013 052 Then he added, “So every teacher of the Law, who has received instruction about the kingdom of heaven, is like a householder who produces from his stores things both new and old.” 040 MAT 013 053 When Jesus had finished these parables, he withdrew from that place. 040 MAT 013 054 Going to his own part of the country, he taught the people in their synagogue in such a manner that they were deeply impressed. “Where did he get this wisdom?” they said, “and the miracles? 040 MAT 013 055 Isn’t he the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother called Mary, and his brothers James, and Joseph, and Simon, and Judas? 040 MAT 013 056 And his sisters, too – are not they all living among us? Where, then did he get all this?” 040 MAT 013 057 These things proved a hindrance to their believing in him. But Jesus said, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country and in his own house.” 040 MAT 013 058 He did not work many miracles there, because of their want of faith. 040 MAT 014 001 At that time Prince Herod heard of the fame of Jesus, 040 MAT 014 002 and said to his attendants, “This must be John the Baptist; he must be risen from the dead, and that is why these miraculous powers are active in him.” 040 MAT 014 003 For Herod had arrested John, put him in chains, and shut him up in prison, to please Herodias, the wife of Herod’s brother Philip. 040 MAT 014 004 For John had said to him ‘You have no right to be living with her.’ 040 MAT 014 005 Yet, though Herod wanted to put him to death, he was afraid of the people, because they looked on John as a prophet. 040 MAT 014 006 But, when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before his guests, and so pleased Herod, 040 MAT 014 007 that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. 040 MAT 014 008 Prompted by her mother, the girl said ‘Give me here, on a dish, the head of John the Baptist.’ 040 MAT 014 009 The king was distressed at this; yet, because of his oath and of the guests at his table, he ordered it to be given her. 040 MAT 014 010 He had John beheaded in the prison 040 MAT 014 011 and his head was brought on a dish and given to the girl, and she took it to her mother. 040 MAT 014 012 Then John’s disciples came, and took the body away, and buried it; and went and told Jesus. 040 MAT 014 013 When Jesus heard of it, he left privately in a boat to a lonely spot. The people, however, heard of his going, and followed him in crowds from the towns on foot. 040 MAT 014 014 On getting out of the boat, Jesus saw a great crowd, and his heart was moved at the sight of them; and he cured all the sick among them. 040 MAT 014 015 In the evening the disciples came up to him, and said, “This is a lonely spot, and the day is now far advanced; send the crowds away so that they can go to the villages, and buy themselves food.” 040 MAT 014 016 But Jesus said, “They need not go away, it is for you to give them something to eat.” 040 MAT 014 017 “We have nothing here,” they said, “except five loaves and two fish.” 040 MAT 014 018 “Bring them here to me,” was his reply. 040 MAT 014 019 Jesus ordered the people to take their seats on the grass; and, taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and said the blessing, and, after he had broken the loaves, gave them to his disciples; and they gave them to the crowds. 040 MAT 014 020 Everyone had sufficient to eat, and they picked up enough of the broken pieces that were left to fill twelve baskets. 040 MAT 014 021 The men who ate were about five thousand in number, without counting women and children. 040 MAT 014 022 Immediately afterward Jesus made the disciples get into a boat and cross over in advance of him, while he dismissed the crowds. 040 MAT 014 023 After dismissing the crowds, he went up the hill by himself to pray; and, when evening fell, he was there alone. 040 MAT 014 024 The boat was by this time some miles from shore, laboring in the waves, for the wind was against her. 040 MAT 014 025 Three hours after midnight, however, Jesus came towards the disciples, walking on the water. 040 MAT 014 026 But, when they saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. “It is a ghost,” they exclaimed, and cried out in fear. 040 MAT 014 027 But Jesus at once spoke to them. “Courage!” he said, “It is I; do not be afraid!” 040 MAT 014 028 “Master,” Peter exclaimed, “if it is you, tell me to come to you on the water.” 040 MAT 014 029 Jesus said, “Come.” So Peter got down from the boat, and walked on the water, and went towards Jesus; 040 MAT 014 030 but, when he felt the wind, he was frightened, and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Master! Save me!” 040 MAT 014 031 Instantly Jesus stretched out his hand, and caught hold of him. “You of little faith!” he said, “Why did you falter?” 040 MAT 014 032 When they had got into the boat, the wind dropped. 040 MAT 014 033 But the men in the boat threw themselves on their faces before him, and said, “You are indeed God’s Son.” 040 MAT 014 034 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret. 040 MAT 014 035 But the people of that place, recognizing Jesus, sent out to the whole country around, and brought to him all who were ill, 040 MAT 014 036 begging him merely to let them touch the tassel of his cloak; and all who touched were made perfectly well. 040 MAT 015 001 Then some Pharisees and teachers of the Law came to Jesus, and said, 040 MAT 015 002 “How is it that your disciples break the traditions of our ancestors? For they do not wash their hands when they eat food.” 040 MAT 015 003 His reply was, “How is it that you on your side break God’s commandments out of respect for your own traditions? 040 MAT 015 004 For God said – ‘Honor your father and mother,’ and ‘Anyone who abuses his father or mother shall suffer death,’ 040 MAT 015 005 but you say ‘Whenever anyone says to his father or mother “Whatever of mine might have been of service to you is set apart for God,” 040 MAT 015 006 he is in no way bound to honor his father.’ In this way you have nullified the words of God for the sake of your traditions. 040 MAT 015 007 Hypocrites! It was well said by Isaiah when he prophesied about you – 040 MAT 015 008 ‘This is a people that honor me with their lips, While their hearts are far removed from me; 040 MAT 015 009 but vainly do they worship me, For they teach but human precepts.’” 040 MAT 015 010 Then Jesus called the people to him, and said, “Listen, and mark my words. 040 MAT 015 011 It is not what enters a person’s mouth that defiles them, but what comes out from their mouth – that does defile them!” 040 MAT 015 012 His disciples came up to him, and said, “Do you know that the Pharisees were shocked on hearing what you said?” 040 MAT 015 013 “Every plant,” Jesus replied, “that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up. 040 MAT 015 014 Leave them be; they are but blind guides; and, if one blind person guides another, both of them will fall into a ditch.” 040 MAT 015 015 Peter spoke up, “Explain this saying to us.” 040 MAT 015 016 “What, do even you understand nothing yet?” Jesus exclaimed. 040 MAT 015 017 “Don’t you see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach, and is afterward expelled? 040 MAT 015 018 But the things that come out of the mouth proceed from the heart, and it is these that defile a person; 040 MAT 015 019 for out of the heart proceed evil thoughts – murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, perjury, slander. 040 MAT 015 020 These are the things that defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile a person.” 040 MAT 015 021 On going away from that place, Jesus went to the country around Tyre and Sidon. 040 MAT 015 022 There, a Canaanite woman of that district came out and began calling to Jesus, “Take pity on me, Master, Son of David; my daughter is grievously possessed by a demon.” 040 MAT 015 023 But Jesus did not answer her a word; and his disciples came up and begged him to send her away. “She keeps calling out after us,” they said. 040 MAT 015 024 “I was not sent,” replied Jesus, “to anyone except the lost sheep of Israel.” 040 MAT 015 025 But the woman came, and, bowing to the ground before him, said, “Master, help me.” 040 MAT 015 026 “It is not fair,” replied Jesus, “to take the children’s food and throw it to dogs.” 040 MAT 015 027 “Yes, Master,” she said, “for even dogs do feed on the scraps that fall from their owners’ table.” 040 MAT 015 028 “Your faith is great,” was his reply to the woman, “it will be as you wish!” And her daughter was cured that very hour. 040 MAT 015 029 On leaving that place, Jesus went to the shore of the Sea of Galilee; and then went up the hill, and sat down. 040 MAT 015 030 Great crowds of people came to him, bringing with them those who were lame, crippled, blind, or dumb, and many others. They put them down at his feet, and he cured them; 040 MAT 015 031 and the crowds were astonished, when they saw the dumb talking, the cripples made sound, the lame walking about, and the blind with their sight restored; and they praised the God of Israel. 040 MAT 015 032 Afterward Jesus called his disciples to him, and said, “My heart is moved at the sight of all these people, for they have already been with me three days and they have nothing to eat; and I am unwilling to send them away hungry; they might faint on the way home.” 040 MAT 015 033 “Where can we,” his disciples asked, “in a lonely place find enough bread for such a crowd as this?” 040 MAT 015 034 “How many loaves have you?” said Jesus. “Seven,” they answered, “and a few small fish.” 040 MAT 015 035 Telling the crowd to sit down on the ground, 040 MAT 015 036 Jesus took the seven loaves and the fish, and, after saying the thanksgiving, broke them, and gave them to the disciples; and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 040 MAT 015 037 Everyone had sufficient to eat, and they picked up seven baskets full of the broken pieces left. 040 MAT 015 038 The men who ate were four thousand in number without counting women and children. 040 MAT 015 039 Then, after dismissing the crowds, Jesus got into the boat, and went to the region of Magadan. 040 MAT 016 001 Here the Pharisees and Sadducees came up, and, to test Jesus, requested him to show them some sign from the heavens. 040 MAT 016 002 But Jesus answered, “In the evening you say ‘It will be fine weather, for the sky is as red as fire.’ 040 MAT 016 003 But in the morning you say ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is as red as fire and threatening.’ You learn to read the sky; yet you are unable to read the signs of the times! 040 MAT 016 004 A wicked and unfaithful generation is asking for a sign, but no sign will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” So he left them and went away. 040 MAT 016 005 Now the disciples had crossed to the opposite shore, and had forgotten to take any bread. 040 MAT 016 006 Presently Jesus said to them, “Take care and be on your guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 040 MAT 016 007 But the disciples began talking among themselves about their having brought no bread. 040 MAT 016 008 On noticing this, Jesus said, “Why are you talking among yourselves about your being short of bread, you of little faith? 040 MAT 016 009 Don’t you yet see, nor remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you took away? 040 MAT 016 010 Nor yet the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you took away? 040 MAT 016 011 How is it that you do not see that I was not speaking about bread? Be on your guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 040 MAT 016 012 Then they understood that he had told them to be on their guard, not against the leaven of bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. 040 MAT 016 013 On coming into the region of Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asked his disciples this question – “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 040 MAT 016 014 “Some say John the Baptist,” they answered, “Others, however, say that he is Elijah, while others again say Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” 040 MAT 016 015 “But you,” he said, “who do you say that I am?” 040 MAT 016 016 To this Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 040 MAT 016 017 “Blessed are you, Simon, Son of Jonah,” Jesus replied. “For no human being has revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 040 MAT 016 018 Yes, and I say to you, your name is ‘Peter’ – a Rock, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail over it. (Hadēs g86) 040 MAT 016 019 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be held in heaven to be forbidden, and whatever you allow on earth will be held in heaven to be allowed.” 040 MAT 016 020 Then he charged his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ. 040 MAT 016 021 At that time Jesus Christ began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem, and undergo much suffering at the hands of the elders, and chief priests, and teachers of the Law, and be put to death, and rise on the third day. 040 MAT 016 022 But Peter took Jesus aside, and began to rebuke him. “Master,” he said, “please God that will never be your fate!” 040 MAT 016 023 Jesus, however, turning to Peter, said, “Out of my way, Satan! You are a hindrance to me; for you look at things, not as God does, but as person does.” 040 MAT 016 024 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wishes to walk in my steps, they must renounce self, and take up their cross, and follow me. 040 MAT 016 025 For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, and whoever, for my sake, loses his life will find it. 040 MAT 016 026 What good will it do a person to gain the whole world, if he forfeits his life? Or what will a person give that is of equal value with his life? 040 MAT 016 027 For the Son of Man is to come in his Father’s glory, with his angels, and then he will give to everyone what his actions deserve. 040 MAT 016 028 I tell you, some of those who are standing here will not know death until they have seen the Son of Man coming into his kingdom.” 040 MAT 017 001 Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter, and the brothers James and John, and led them up a high mountain alone. 040 MAT 017 002 There his appearance was transformed before their eyes; his face shown like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 040 MAT 017 003 All at once Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Jesus. 040 MAT 017 004 “Master,” exclaimed Peter, interposing, “it is good to be here; if you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 040 MAT 017 005 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and there was a voice from the cloud that said – “This is my dearly loved son, who brings me great joy; listen to him.” 040 MAT 017 006 The disciples, on hearing this, fell on their faces, greatly afraid. 040 MAT 017 007 But Jesus came and touched them, saying as he did so, “Rise up, and do not be afraid.” 040 MAT 017 008 When they raised their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus himself alone. 040 MAT 017 009 As they were going down the mountain side, Jesus gave them this warning – “Do not speak of this vision to anyone, until the Son of Man has risen from the dead.” 040 MAT 017 010 “How is it,” his disciples asked, “that our teachers of the Law say that Elijah has to come first?” 040 MAT 017 011 “Elijah indeed does come,” Jesus replied, “and will restore everything; 040 MAT 017 012 and I tell you that Elijah has already come, and people have not recognized him, but have treated him just as they pleased. In the same way, too, the Son of Man is destined to undergo suffering at people’s hands.” 040 MAT 017 013 Then the disciples understood that he had spoken to them about John the Baptist. 040 MAT 017 014 When they came to the crowd, a man came up to Jesus, and, kneeling down before him, said, 040 MAT 017 015 “Master, take pity on my son, for he is epileptic and suffers terribly; indeed, he often falls into the fire and into the water; 040 MAT 017 016 I brought him to your disciples, but they could not cure him.” 040 MAT 017 017 “Faithless and perverse generation!” Jesus exclaimed, “how long must I be among you? How long must I have patience with you? Bring the boy here to me.” 040 MAT 017 018 Then Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy; and he was cured from that very hour. 040 MAT 017 019 Afterward the disciples came up to Jesus, and asked him privately, “Why was it that we could not drive it out?” 040 MAT 017 020 “Because you have so little faith!” he answered, “For, I tell you, if your faith were only like a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain ‘Move from this place to that!’ and it would be moved; and nothing would be impossible to you.” 040 MAT 017 022 While Jesus and his disciples were together in Galilee, he said to them, “The Son of Man is destined to be betrayed into human hands, 040 MAT 017 023 and they will put him to death, but on the third day he will rise.” The disciples were greatly distressed. 040 MAT 017 024 After they had reached Capernaum, the collectors of the Temple taz came up to Peter, and said, “Does not your Master pay the Temple tax?” 040 MAT 017 025 “Yes,” answered Peter. But, on going into the house, before he could speak, Jesus said, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do earthly kings take taxes or tribute? From their sons, or from others?” 040 MAT 017 026 “From others,” answered Peter. “Well then,” continued Jesus, “their sons go free. 040 MAT 017 027 Still, so we don’t offend them, go and throw a line into the sea; take the first fish that rises, open its mouth, and you will find in it a piece of money. Take that, and give it to the collectors for both of us.” 040 MAT 018 001 On the same occasion the disciples came to Jesus, and asked him, “Who is really the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 040 MAT 018 002 Jesus called a little child to him, and placed it in the middle of them, and then said, 040 MAT 018 003 “I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven at all. 040 MAT 018 004 Therefore, anyone who will humble themselves like this child – that person will be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 040 MAT 018 005 And anyone who, for the sake of my name, welcomes even one little child like this, is welcoming me. 040 MAT 018 006 But, if anyone puts temptation in the way of one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be best for them to be sunk in the depths of the sea with a great millstone hung around their neck. 040 MAT 018 007 Alas for the world because of such temptations! There cannot but be temptations but sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting! 040 MAT 018 008 “If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off, and throw it away. It would be better for you to enter life maimed or lame, than to have both hands, or both feet, and be thrown into the fire that never goes out. (aiōnios g166) 040 MAT 018 009 If your eye causes you to sin, take it out, and throw it away. It would be better for you to enter the life with only one eye, than to have both eyes and be thrown into the fires of Gehenna. (Geenna g1067) 040 MAT 018 010 Beware of despising one of these little ones, for in heaven, I tell you, their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven. 040 MAT 018 012 “What think you? If a person owns a hundred sheep, and one of them strays, will the person not leave the ninety-nine on the hills, and go and search for the one that is straying? 040 MAT 018 013 And, if they succeed in finding it, I tell you that they rejoice more over that one sheep than over the ninety-nine which did not stray. 040 MAT 018 014 So, too, it is the will of my Father who is in heaven that not one of these little ones should be lost. 040 MAT 018 015 “If your brother or sister does wrong, go to them and convince them of their fault when you are both alone. If they listen to you, you have won them over. 040 MAT 018 016 But, if they do not listen to you, take with you one or two others, so that on the evidence of two or three witnesses, every word may be put beyond dispute. 040 MAT 018 017 If they refuse to listen to them, speak to the church; and, if they also refuse to listen to the church, treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax-gatherer. 040 MAT 018 018 “I tell you, all that you forbid on earth will be held in heaven to be forbidden, and all that you allow on earth will be held in heaven to be allowed. 040 MAT 018 019 Again, I tell you that, if but two of you on earth agree as to what they will pray for, whatever it be, it will be granted them by my Father who is in heaven. 040 MAT 018 020 For where two or three have come together in my name, I am present with them.” 040 MAT 018 021 Then Peter came up, and said to Jesus, “Master, how often am I to forgive someone who wrongs me? As many as seven times?” 040 MAT 018 022 But Jesus answered, “Not seven times, but seventy times seven. 040 MAT 018 023 Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. 040 MAT 018 024 When he had begun to do so, one of them was brought to him who owed him ten thousand bags of gold; 040 MAT 018 025 and, as he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold towards the payment of the debt, together with his wife, and his children, and everything that he had. 040 MAT 018 026 The servant threw himself down on the ground before him and said ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ 040 MAT 018 027 The master was moved with compassion; and he let him go, and forgave him the debt. 040 MAT 018 028 But, on going out, that same servant came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. Seizing him by the throat, he said ‘Pay what you owe me.’ 040 MAT 018 029 His fellow servant threw himself on the ground and begged for mercy. ‘Have patience with me,’ he said, ‘and I will pay you.’ 040 MAT 018 030 But the other would not, but went and put him in prison until he should pay his debt. 040 MAT 018 031 When his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and went to their master and laid the whole matter before him. 040 MAT 018 032 So the master sent for the servant, and said to him ‘You wicked servant! When you begged me for mercy, I forgave you the whole of that debt. 040 MAT 018 033 Shouldn’t you, also, to have shown mercy to your fellow servant, just as I showed mercy to you?’ 040 MAT 018 034 Then his master, in anger, handed him over to the jailers, until he should pay the whole of his debt. 040 MAT 018 035 So, also, will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each one of you forgives his brother or sister from your heart.” 040 MAT 019 001 At the conclusion of this teaching, Jesus withdrew from Galilee, and went into that district of Judea which is on the other side of the Jordan. 040 MAT 019 002 Great crowds followed him, and he cured them there. 040 MAT 019 003 Presently some Pharisees came up to him, and, to test him, said, “Has a man the right to divorce his wife for every cause?” 040 MAT 019 004 “Haven’t you read,” replied Jesus, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ 040 MAT 019 005 and said – ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother, and be united to his wife, and the man and his wife will become one’? 040 MAT 019 006 So that they are no longer two, but one. What God himself, then, has yoked together people must not separate.” 040 MAT 019 007 “Why, then,” they said, “did Moses direct that a man should serve his wife with a notice of separation and divorce her?” 040 MAT 019 008 “Moses, owing to the hardness of your hearts,” answered Jesus, “permitted you to divorce your wives, but that was not so at the beginning. 040 MAT 019 009 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of some serious sexual sin, and marries another woman, is guilty of adultery.” 040 MAT 019 010 “If that,” said the disciples, “is the position of a man with regard to his wife, it is better not to marry.” 040 MAT 019 011 “It is not everyone,” replied Jesus, “who can accept this teaching, but only those who have been enabled to do so. 040 MAT 019 012 Some men are incapable of marriage because they were born that way, or have been made so by other people, while there are others who stay single for the sake of the kingdom of Heaven. Accept this if you can.” 040 MAT 019 013 Then some little children were brought to Jesus, for him to place his hands on them, and pray; but the disciples found fault with those who had brought them. 040 MAT 019 014 Jesus, however, said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for it is to the childlike that the kingdom of heaven belongs.” 040 MAT 019 015 So he placed his hands on them, and then went on his way. 040 MAT 019 016 A man came up to Jesus, and said, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to obtain eternal life?” (aiōnios g166) 040 MAT 019 017 “Why ask me about goodness?” answered Jesus. “There is but One who is good. If you want to enter the life, keep the commandments.” 040 MAT 019 018 “What commandments?” asked the man. “These,” answered Jesus, – “‘You must not kill. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not say what is false about others. 040 MAT 019 019 Honor your father and your mother.’ And ‘You must love your neighbor as you love yourself.’” 040 MAT 019 020 “I have observed all these,” said the young man. “What is still wanting in me?” 040 MAT 019 021 “If you wish to be perfect,” answered Jesus, “go and sell your property, and give to the poor, and you will have wealth in heaven; then come and follow me.” 040 MAT 019 022 On hearing these words, the young man went away distressed, for he had great possessions. 040 MAT 019 023 At this, Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you that a rich person will find it hard to enter the kingdom of heaven! 040 MAT 019 024 I say again, it is easier for a camel to get through a needle’s eye than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven!” 040 MAT 019 025 On hearing this, the disciples exclaimed in great astonishment, “Who then can possibly be saved?” 040 MAT 019 026 But Jesus looked at them, and said, “With people this is impossible, but with God everything is possible.” Then Peter turned and said to Jesus, 040 MAT 019 027 “But we – we left everything, and followed you; what, then, will we have?” 040 MAT 019 028 “I tell you,” answered Jesus, “that at the new creation, when the Son of Man takes his seat on his throne of glory, you who followed me will be seated on twelve thrones, as judges of the twelve tribes of Israel. 040 MAT 019 029 Everyone who has left houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or children, or land, for my sake, will receive many times as much, and will gain eternal life. (aiōnios g166) 040 MAT 019 030 But many who are first now will then be last, and those who are last will be first. 040 MAT 020 001 For the kingdom of heaven is like an employer who went out in the early morning to hire laborers for his vineyards. 040 MAT 020 002 He agreed with the laborers to pay them the standard daily rate of two silver coins, and sent them into his vineyard. 040 MAT 020 003 On going out again, about nine o’clock, he saw some others standing in the marketplace, doing nothing. 040 MAT 020 004 ‘You also may go into my vineyard,’ he said, ‘and I will pay you what is fair.’ 040 MAT 020 005 So they went. Going out again about midday and about three o’clock, he did as before. 040 MAT 020 006 When he went out about five, he found some others standing there, and said to them ‘Why have you been standing here all day long, doing nothing?’ 040 MAT 020 007 ‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered. ‘You also may go into my vineyard,’ he said. 040 MAT 020 008 In the evening the owner of the vineyard said to his steward ‘Call the laborers, and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, and ending with the first.’ 040 MAT 020 009 Now when those who had been hired about five o’clock went up, they received two silver coins each. 040 MAT 020 010 So, when the first went up, they thought that they would receive more, but they also received two silver coins each; 040 MAT 020 011 at which they began to grumble at their employer. 040 MAT 020 012 ‘These last,’ they said, ‘have done only one hour’s work, and yet you have put them on the same footing with us, who have borne the brunt of the day’s work, and the heat.’ 040 MAT 020 013 ‘My friend,’ was his reply to one of them, ‘I am not treating you unfairly. Didn’t you agree with me for two silver coins? 040 MAT 020 014 Take what belongs to you, and go. I choose to give to this last man the same as to you. 040 MAT 020 015 Don’t I have the right to do as I choose with what is mine? Are you envious because I am generous?’ 040 MAT 020 016 So those who are last will be first, and the first last.” 040 MAT 020 017 When Jesus was on the point of going up to Jerusalem, he gathered the twelve disciples around him by themselves, and said to them as they were on their way, 040 MAT 020 018 “Listen! We are going up to Jerusalem; and there the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and teachers of the Law, and they will condemn him to death, 040 MAT 020 019 and give him up to the Gentiles for them to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify; and on the third day he will rise.” 040 MAT 020 020 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to him with her sons, bowing to the ground, and begging a favor. 040 MAT 020 021 “What is it that you want?” he asked. “I want you to say,” she replied, “that in your kingdom these two sons of mine may sit, one on your right, and the other on your left.” 040 MAT 020 022 “You do not know what you are asking,” was Jesus’ answer. “Can you drink the cup that I am to drink?” “Yes,” they exclaimed, “we can.” 040 MAT 020 023 “You will indeed drink my cup,” he said, “but as to a seat at my right and at my left – that is not mine to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” 040 MAT 020 024 On hearing of this, the ten others were very indignant about the two brothers. 040 MAT 020 025 Jesus, however, called the ten to him, and said, “The rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them as you know, and their high officials oppress them. 040 MAT 020 026 Among you it is not so. 040 MAT 020 027 No, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to take the first place among you, must be your slave; 040 MAT 020 028 just as the Son of Man came, not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” 040 MAT 020 029 As they were going out of Jericho, a great crowd followed him. 040 MAT 020 030 Two blind men who were sitting by the roadside, hearing that Jesus was passing, called out, “Take pity on us, Master, Son of David!” 040 MAT 020 031 The crowd told them to be quiet; but the men only called out the louder, “Take pity on us, Master, Son of David!” 040 MAT 020 032 Then Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he said. 040 MAT 020 033 “Master,” they replied, “we want our eyes to be opened.” 040 MAT 020 034 So Jesus, moved with compassion, touched their eyes, and immediately they recovered their sight, and followed him. 040 MAT 021 001 When they had almost reached Jerusalem, having come as far as Bethphage, on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent on two disciples. 040 MAT 021 002 “Go to the village facing you,” he said, “and you will immediately find a donkey tethered, with a foal by her side; untie her, and lead her here for me. 040 MAT 021 003 And, if anyone says anything to you, you are to say this – ‘The Master wants them’; and he will send them at once.” 040 MAT 021 004 This happened in fulfillment of these words in the prophet – 040 MAT 021 005 ‘Say to the people of Zion – “Your King is coming to you, gentle, and riding on a donkey, and on the foal of a beast of burden.”’ 040 MAT 021 006 So the disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. 040 MAT 021 007 They led the donkey and the foal back, and, when they had put their cloaks on them, he seated himself on them. 040 MAT 021 008 The immense crowd of people spread their cloaks in the road, while some cut branches off the trees, and spread them on the road. 040 MAT 021 009 The crowds that led the way, as well as those that followed behind, kept shouting, “God save the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! God save him from on high!” 040 MAT 021 010 When he had entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred, and asked – 040 MAT 021 011 “Who is this?”, to which the crowd replied – “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.” 040 MAT 021 012 Jesus went into the Temple Courts, and drove out all those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers, and the seats of the pigeon-dealers, 040 MAT 021 013 and said to them, “Scripture says ‘My house will be called a house of prayer’; but you are making it a den of robbers.” 040 MAT 021 014 While he was still in the Temple Courts, some blind and some lame people came up to him, and he cured them. 040 MAT 021 015 But, when the chief priests and the teachers of the Law saw the wonderful things that Jesus did, and the boys who were calling out in the Temple Courts “God save the Son of David!”, they were indignant, 040 MAT 021 016 and said to him, “Do you hear what these boys are saying?” “Yes,” answered Jesus, “but did you never read the words – ‘Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings you have called forth perfect praise’?” 040 MAT 021 017 Then he left them, and went out of the city to Bethany, and spent the night there. 040 MAT 021 018 The next morning, in returning to the city, Jesus became hungry; 040 MAT 021 019 and, noticing a solitary fig tree by the roadside, he went up to it, but found nothing on it but leaves. So he said to it, “Never again will fruit be gathered off you.” And suddenly the fruit tree withered up. (aiōn g165) 040 MAT 021 020 When the disciples saw this, they exclaimed in astonishment, “How suddenly the fig tree withered up!” 040 MAT 021 021 “I tell you,” replied Jesus, “if you have faith, without ever a doubt, you will do what not only what has been done to the fig tree, but, even if you should say to this hill ‘Be lifted up and hurled into the sea!’ it would be done. 040 MAT 021 022 And whatever you ask for in your prayers will, if you have faith, be granted you.” 040 MAT 021 023 After Jesus had come into the Temple Courts, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him as he was teaching, and said, “What authority have you to do these things? Who gave you this authority?” 040 MAT 021 024 “I, too,” said Jesus in reply, “will ask you one question; if you will give me an answer to it, then I, also, will tell you what authority I have to act as I do. 040 MAT 021 025 It is about John’s baptism. What was its origin? Divine or human?” But they began arguing among themselves, “If we say ‘divine,’ he will say to us ‘Why then didn’t you believe him?’ 040 MAT 021 026 But if we say ‘human,’ we are afraid of the people, for everyone regards John as a prophet.” 040 MAT 021 027 So the answer they gave Jesus was – “We do not know.” “Then I,” he said, “refuse to tell you what authority I have to do these things. 040 MAT 021 028 What do you think of this? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the elder and said ‘Go and work in the vineyard today my son.’ 040 MAT 021 029 ‘Yes, sir,’ he answered; but he did not go. 040 MAT 021 030 Then the father went to the second son, and said the same. ‘I will not,’ he answered; but afterward he was sorry and went. 040 MAT 021 031 Which of the two sons did as his father wished?” “The second,” they said. “I tell you,” added Jesus, “that tax collectors and prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God before you. 040 MAT 021 032 For when John came to you, walking in the path of righteousness, you did not believe him, but tax collectors and prostitutes did; and yet you, though you saw this, even then were not sorry, nor did you believe him. 040 MAT 021 033 “Listen to another parable. A man, who was an employer, once planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a winepress in it, built a tower, and then let it out to tenants and went abroad. 040 MAT 021 034 When the time for the grape harvest drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants, to receive his share of the produce. 040 MAT 021 035 But the tenants seized his servants, beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. 040 MAT 021 036 A second time the owner sent some servants, a larger number than before, and the tenants treated them in the same way. 040 MAT 021 037 As a last resource he sent his son to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said. 040 MAT 021 038 But the tenants, on seeing his son, said to each other ‘Here is the heir! Come, let us kill him, and get his inheritance.’ 040 MAT 021 039 So they seized him, and threw him outside the vineyard, and killed him. 040 MAT 021 040 Now, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” 040 MAT 021 041 “Miserable wretches!” they exclaimed, “he will put them to a miserable death, and he will let out the vineyard to other tenants, who will pay him his share of the produce at the proper times.” 040 MAT 021 042 Then Jesus added, “Have you never read in the scriptures? – ‘The stone which the builders despised – has now itself become the cornerstone. This cornerstone has come from the Lord, and is marvelous in our eyes.’ 040 MAT 021 043 That, I tell you, is why the kingdom of God will be taken from you, and given to a nation that does produce the fruit of the kingdom. 040 MAT 021 044 Yes, and he who falls on this stone will be dashed to pieces, while anyone on whom it falls – it will scatter him as dust.” 040 MAT 021 045 After listening to these parables, the chief priests and the Pharisees saw that it was about them that he was speaking; 040 MAT 021 046 yet, although eager to arrest him, they were afraid of the crowds, who regarded him as a prophet. 040 MAT 022 001 Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables. 040 MAT 022 002 “The kingdom of heaven,” he said, “may be compared to a king who gave a banquet in honor of his son’s wedding. 040 MAT 022 003 He sent his servants to call those who had been invited to the banquet, but they were unwilling to come. 040 MAT 022 004 A second time he sent some servants, with orders to say to those who had been invited ‘I have prepared my meal, my cattle and fat beasts are killed and everything is ready; come to the banquet.’ 040 MAT 022 005 They, however, took no notice, but went off, one to their farm, another to their business; 040 MAT 022 006 while the rest, seizing his servants, ill-treated them and killed them. 040 MAT 022 007 The king, in anger, sent his troops, put those murderers to death, and set their city on fire. 040 MAT 022 008 Then he said to his servants ‘The banquet is prepared, but those who were invited were not worthy. 040 MAT 022 009 So go to the cross-roads, and invite everyone you find to the banquet.’ 040 MAT 022 010 The servants went out into the roads and collected all the people whom they found, whether bad or good; and the bridal-hall was filled with guests. 040 MAT 022 011 But, when the king went in to see his guests, he noticed there a man who had not put on a wedding-robe. 040 MAT 022 012 So he said to him ‘My friend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding-robe?’ The man was speechless. 040 MAT 022 013 Then the king said to the attendants ‘Tie him hand and foot, and put him out into the darkness outside, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.’ 040 MAT 022 014 For many are called, but few chosen.” 040 MAT 022 015 Then the Pharisees went away and conferred together as to how they might lay a trap for Jesus in the course of conversation. 040 MAT 022 016 They sent their disciples, with the Herodians, to say to him, “Teacher, we know that you are an honest person, and that you teach the way of God honestly, and are not afraid of anyone; for you pay no regard to a person’s position. 040 MAT 022 017 Tell us, then, what you think. Are we right in paying taxes to the Emperor, or not?” 040 MAT 022 018 Perceiving their malice, Jesus answered, “Why are you testing me, you hypocrites? 040 MAT 022 019 Show me the coin with which the tax is paid.” And, when they had brought him a coin, 040 MAT 022 020 he asked, “Whose head and title are these?” 040 MAT 022 021 “The Emperor’s,” they answered, at which he said to them, “Then pay to the Emperor what belongs to the Emperor, and to God what belongs to God.” 040 MAT 022 022 They wondered at his answer, and left him alone and went away. 040 MAT 022 023 That same day some Sadducees came up to Jesus, maintaining that there is no resurrection. Their question was this, – 040 MAT 022 024 “Teacher, Moses said – ‘should a man die without children, the man’s brother will become the husband of the widow, and raise a family for his brother.’ 040 MAT 022 025 Now we had living among us seven brothers; of whom the eldest married and died, and, as he had no family, left his wife for his brother. 040 MAT 022 026 The same thing happened to the second and the third brothers, and indeed to all the seven. 040 MAT 022 027 The woman herself died last of all. 040 MAT 022 028 At the resurrection, then, whose wife will she be out of the seven, all of them having been married to her?” 040 MAT 022 029 “Your mistake,” replied Jesus, “is due to your ignorance of the scriptures, and of the power of God. 040 MAT 022 030 For at the resurrection there is no marrying or being married, but all who rise are as angels in heaven. 040 MAT 022 031 As to the resurrection of the dead, have you not read these words of God – 040 MAT 022 032 ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of dead people, but of living.” 040 MAT 022 033 The crowds, who had been listening to him, were greatly struck with his teaching. 040 MAT 022 034 When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they collected together. 040 MAT 022 035 Then one of them, a Student of the Law, to test him, asked this question – 040 MAT 022 036 “Teacher, what is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 040 MAT 022 037 His answer was, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. 040 MAT 022 038 This is the great first commandment. 040 MAT 022 039 The second, which is like it, is this – You must love your neighbor as you love yourself. 040 MAT 022 040 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the prophets.” 040 MAT 022 041 Before the Pharisees separated, Jesus put this question to them – 040 MAT 022 042 “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?” “David’s,” they said. 040 MAT 022 043 “How is it, then,” Jesus replied, “that David, speaking under inspiration, calls him ‘lord,’ in the passage – 040 MAT 022 044 ‘The Lord said to my Lord: Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies beneath your feet’? 040 MAT 022 045 Since, then, David calls him ‘lord,’ how is he David’s son?” 040 MAT 022 046 No one could say a word in answer; nor did anyone after that day venture to question him further. 040 MAT 023 001 Then Jesus, speaking to the crowds and to his disciples, said, 040 MAT 023 002 “The teachers of the Law and the Pharisees now occupy the chair of Moses. 040 MAT 023 003 Therefore practice and lay to heart everything that they preach but do not practice. 040 MAT 023 004 While they make up heavy loads and pile them on other people’s shoulder’s they decline, themselves, to lift a finger to move them. 040 MAT 023 005 All their actions are done to attract attention. They widen their phylacteries, and increase the size of their tassels, 040 MAT 023 006 and like to have the place of honor at dinner, and the best seats in the synagogues, 040 MAT 023 007 and to be greeted in the markets with respect, and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by everybody. 040 MAT 023 008 But do not allow yourselves to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one teacher, and you yourselves are all brothers and sisters. 040 MAT 023 009 And do not call anyone on the earth your ‘Father,’ for your have only one Father, the heavenly Father. 040 MAT 023 010 Nor must you allow yourselves to be called ‘leaders,’ for you have only one leader, the Christ. 040 MAT 023 011 The person who wants to be the greatest among you must be your servant. 040 MAT 023 012 Whoever exalts themselves will be humbled, and whoever humbles themselves will be exalted. 040 MAT 023 013 But alas for you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees, hypocrites that you are! You turn the key of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you do not go in yourselves, and do not allow those who try to go in to do so. 040 MAT 023 015 Alas for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, hypocrites that you are! You scour land and sea to make a single convert, and, when they are gained, you make them twice as deserving of Gehenna as you are yourselves. (Geenna g1067) 040 MAT 023 016 Alas for you, you blind guides! You say ‘if any swear by the Temple, their oath counts for nothing; but, if anyone swears by the gold of the Temple, their oath is binding them’! 040 MAT 023 017 Fools that you are and blind! Which is the more important? The gold? Or the Temple which has given sacredness to the gold? 040 MAT 023 018 You say, too, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, their oath counts for nothing, but, if anyone swears by the offering placed on it, their oath is binding on them’! 040 MAT 023 019 Blind indeed! Which is the more important? The offering? Or the altar which gives sacredness to the offering? 040 MAT 023 020 Therefore a person, swearing by the altar, swears by it and by all that is on it, 040 MAT 023 021 and a person, swearing by the Temple, swears by it and by him who dwells in it, 040 MAT 023 022 while a person, swearing by heaven, swears by the throne of God, and by him who sits on it. 040 MAT 023 023 Alas for you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees, hypocrites that you are! You pay tithes on mint, fennel, and caraway seed, and have neglected the weightier matters of the Law – justice, mercy, and good faith. These last you ought to have put into practice, without neglecting the first. 040 MAT 023 024 You blind guides, to strain out a gnat and to swallow a camel! 040 MAT 023 025 Alas for you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees, hypocrites that you are! You clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside they are filled with the results of greed and self-indulgence. 040 MAT 023 026 You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the dish, so that the outside may become clean as well. 040 MAT 023 027 Alas for you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees, hypocrites that you are! You are like whitewashed tombs, which indeed look fair outside, while inside they are filled with dead people’s bones and all kinds of filth. 040 MAT 023 028 It is the same with you. Outwardly, and to others, you have the look of religious people, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and sin. 040 MAT 023 029 Alas for you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees, hypocrites that you are! You build the tombs of the prophets, and decorate the monuments of religious people, 040 MAT 023 030 and say ‘Had we been living in the days of our ancestors, we should have taken no part in their murder of the prophets!’ 040 MAT 023 031 By doing this you are furnishing evidence against yourselves that you are true children of the people who murdered the prophets. 040 MAT 023 032 Go on then, finish what your ancestors began! 040 MAT 023 033 You snakes and children of snakes! How can you escape being sentenced to Gehenna? (Geenna g1067) 040 MAT 023 034 That is why I send you prophets, wise people, and teachers of the Law, some of whom you will crucify and kill, and some of whom you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from town to town; 040 MAT 023 035 so that on your heads may fall every drop of innocent blood split on earth, from the blood of innocent Abel down to that of Zechariah, Barachiah’s son, whom you murdered between the Temple and the altar. 040 MAT 023 036 All this, I tell you, will come home to the present generation. 040 MAT 023 037 Jerusalem! Jerusalem! She who slays the prophets and stones the messengers sent to her – Oh, how often have I wished to gather your children around me, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not come! 040 MAT 023 038 Verily, your house is left to you desolate! 040 MAT 023 039 For nevermore, I tell you, will you see me, until you say – ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’” 040 MAT 024 001 Leaving the Temple Courts, Jesus was walking away, when his disciples came up to draw his attention to the Temple buildings. 040 MAT 024 002 “Do you see all these things?” was his answer. “I tell you, not a single stone will be left here on another, which will not be thrown down,” 040 MAT 024 003 so, while Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, his disciples came up to him privately and said, “Tell us when this will be, and what will be the sign of your coming, and of the close of the age.” (aiōn g165) 040 MAT 024 004 Jesus replied to them, “See that no one leads you astray; 040 MAT 024 005 for, many will take my name, and come saying ‘I am the Christ,’ and will lead many astray. 040 MAT 024 006 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars; take care not to be alarmed, for such things must occur; but the end is not yet here. 040 MAT 024 007 For nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 040 MAT 024 008 All this, however, will be but the beginning of the birth pangs! 040 MAT 024 009 When that time comes, they will give you up to persecution, and will put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 040 MAT 024 010 And then many will fall away, and will betray one another, and hate one another. 040 MAT 024 011 Many false prophets, also, will appear and lead many astray; 040 MAT 024 012 and, owing to the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold. 040 MAT 024 013 Yet the person who endures to the end will be saved. 040 MAT 024 014 This good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world as a witness to all nations; and then will come the end. 040 MAT 024 015 As soon, then, as you see ‘the Foul Desecration,’ mentioned by the prophet Daniel, standing in the Holy place,” (the reader must consider what this means) 040 MAT 024 016 “then those of you who are in Judea must take refuge in the mountains; 040 MAT 024 017 and a man on the housetop must not go down to get the things that are in his house; 040 MAT 024 018 nor must one who is on their farm turn back to get his cloak. 040 MAT 024 019 Alas for pregnant women, and for those who are nursing infants in those days! 040 MAT 024 020 Pray, too, that your flight may not take place in winter, nor on a Sabbath; 040 MAT 024 021 for that will be a time of great distress, the like of which has not occurred from the beginning of the world down to the present time – no, nor ever will again. 040 MAT 024 022 Had not those days been limited, not a single soul would escape; but for the sake of God’s people a limit will be put to them. 040 MAT 024 023 At that time, if anyone should say to you ‘Look! Here is the Christ!’ or ‘Here he is!’, do not believe it; 040 MAT 024 024 for false Christs and false prophets will arise, and will display great signs and marvels, so that, were it possible, even God’s people would be led astray. 040 MAT 024 025 Remember, I have told you beforehand. 040 MAT 024 026 Therefore, if people say to you ‘He is in the wilderness!’, do not go out there; or ‘He is in an inner room!’, do not believe it; 040 MAT 024 027 for, just as lightning will start from the east and flash across to the west, so will it be with the coming of the Son of Man. 040 MAT 024 028 Wherever a dead body lies, there will the vultures flock. 040 MAT 024 029 Immediately after the distress of those days, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give her light, the stars will fall from the heavens, and the forces of the heavens will be convulsed. 040 MAT 024 030 Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in the heavens; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn, when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the heavens, with power and great glory; 040 MAT 024 031 and he will send his angels, with a great trumpet, and they will gather his people around him from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. 040 MAT 024 032 “Learn the lesson taught by the fig tree. As soon as its branches are full of sap, and it is bursting into leaf, you know that summer is near. 040 MAT 024 033 And so may you, as soon as you see all these things, know that he is at your doors. 040 MAT 024 034 I tell you, even the present generation will not pass away, until all these things have taken place. 040 MAT 024 035 The heavens and the earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. 040 MAT 024 036 But about that day and hour, no one knows – not even the angels of heaven, not even the Son – but only the Father himself. 040 MAT 024 037 For, just as in the days of Noah, so will it be at the coming of the Son of Man. 040 MAT 024 038 In those days before the flood they went on eating and drinking, marrying and being married, up to the very day on which Noah entered the ark, 040 MAT 024 039 taking not notice until the flood came and swept them one and all away; and so will it be at the coming of the Son of Man. 040 MAT 024 040 At that time, of two men on a farm one will be taken and one left; 040 MAT 024 041 of two women grinding with a hand-mill one will be taken and one left. 040 MAT 024 042 Therefore watch; for you cannot be sure on what day your Master is coming. 040 MAT 024 043 But this you do know, that, had the owner of the house known at what time of night the thief was coming, they would have been on the watch, and would not have allowed their house to be broken into. 040 MAT 024 044 Therefore, you must also prepare, since it is just when you are least expecting him that the Son of Man will come. 040 MAT 024 045 Who, then is that trustworthy, careful servant, who has been placed by their master over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? 040 MAT 024 046 Happy will that servant be whom their master, when he comes home, will find doing this. 040 MAT 024 047 I tell you that their master will put them in charge of the whole of his property. 040 MAT 024 048 But, should the servant be a bad servant, and say to themselves ‘My master is a long time in coming,’ 040 MAT 024 049 and begin to beat their fellow servants, and eat and drink with drunkards, 040 MAT 024 050 that servant’s master will come on a day when they do not expect him, and at an hour of which they are unaware, 040 MAT 024 051 and will flog the servant severely, and assign them their place among the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth. 040 MAT 025 001 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went out to meet the groom. 040 MAT 025 002 Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. 040 MAT 025 003 The foolish ones took their lamps, but took no oil with them; 040 MAT 025 004 while the prudent ones, besides taking their lamps, took oil in their jars. 040 MAT 025 005 As the groom was late in coming, they all became drowsy, and slept. 040 MAT 025 006 But at midnight a shout was raised – ‘The groom is coming! Come out to meet him!’ 040 MAT 025 007 Then all the bridesmaids woke up and trimmed their lamps, 040 MAT 025 008 and the foolish said to the prudent ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ 040 MAT 025 009 But the prudent ones answered ‘No, There may not be enough for you and for us. Go instead to those who sell it, and buy for yourselves.’ 040 MAT 025 010 But while they were on their way to buy it, the groom came; and the bridesmaids who were ready went in with him to the banquet, and the door was shut. 040 MAT 025 011 Afterward the other bridesmaids came. ‘Sir, Sir,’ they said, ‘open the door to us!’ 040 MAT 025 012 But the groom answered ‘I tell you, I do not know you.’ 040 MAT 025 013 Therefore watch, since you know neither the day nor the hour. 040 MAT 025 014 “For it is as though a man, going on his travels, called his servants, and gave his property into their charge. 040 MAT 025 015 He gave five bags of gold to one, two to another, and one bag to a third, in proportion to the ability of each. Then he set out on his travels. 040 MAT 025 016 The servant who had received the five bags of gold went at once and traded with it, and made another five bags. 040 MAT 025 017 So, too, the servant who had received the two bags of gold made another two bags. 040 MAT 025 018 But the servant who had received the one bag went and dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master’s money. 040 MAT 025 019 After a long time the master of those servants returned, and settled accounts with them. 040 MAT 025 020 The servant who had received the five bags of gold came up and brought five bags more. ‘Sir,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold; look, I have made another five bags!’ 040 MAT 025 021 ‘Well done, good, trustworthy servant!’ said his master. ‘You have been trustworthy with a small sum; now I will place a large one in your hands; come and share your master’s joy!’ 040 MAT 025 022 Then the one who had received the two bags of gold came up and said ‘Sir, you entrusted me with two bags pounds; look, I have made another two!’ 040 MAT 025 023 ‘Well done, good, trustworthy servant!’ said his master. ‘You have been trustworthy with a small sum; now I will place a large one in your hands; come and share your master’s joy!’ 040 MAT 025 024 The man who had received the single bag of gold came up, too, and said ‘Sir, I knew that you were a hard man; you reap where you have not sown, and gather up where you have not winnowed; 040 MAT 025 025 and, in my fear, I went and hid your money in the ground; look, here is what belongs to you!’ 040 MAT 025 026 ‘You lazy, worthless servant!’ was his master’s reply. ‘You knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather up where I have not winnowed? 040 MAT 025 027 Then you ought to have placed my money in the hands of bankers, and I, on my return, should have received my money, with interest. 040 MAT 025 028 Therefore,’ he continued, ‘take away from him the one bag of gold, and give it to the one who has the ten bags. 040 MAT 025 029 For, to him who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but, as for him who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away from him. 040 MAT 025 030 As for the useless servant, put him out into the darkness outside, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.’ 040 MAT 025 031 “When the Son of Man has come in his glory and all the angels with him, then he will take his seat on his throne of glory; 040 MAT 025 032 and all the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people – just as a shepherd separates sheep from goats – 040 MAT 025 033 placing the sheep on his right hand, and the goats on his left. 040 MAT 025 034 Then the king will say to those on his right ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, enter into possession of the kingdom prepared for you ever since the beginning of the world. 040 MAT 025 035 For, when I was hungry, you gave me food; when I was thirsty, you gave me drink; when I was a stranger, you took me to your homes; 040 MAT 025 036 when I was naked, you clothed me; when I fell ill, you visited me; and when I was in prison, you came to me.’ 040 MAT 025 037 Then the righteous will answer ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, and feed you? Or thirsty, and give you a drink? 040 MAT 025 038 When did we see you a stranger, and take you to our homes? Or naked, and clothe you? 040 MAT 025 039 When did we see you ill, or in prison, and come to you?’ 040 MAT 025 040 And the king will reply ‘I tell you, as often as you did it to one of these my brothers or sisters, however unimportant they seemed, you did it to me.’ 040 MAT 025 041 Then he will say to those on his left ‘Go from my presence, accursed, into the permanent fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels. (aiōnios g166) 040 MAT 025 042 For, when I was hungry, you gave me no food; when I was thirsty, you gave me no drink; 040 MAT 025 043 when I was a stranger, you did not take me to your homes; when I was naked, you did not clothe me; and, when I was ill and in prison, you did not visit me.’ 040 MAT 025 044 Then they, in their turn, will answer ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or ill, or in prison, and did not supply your wants?’ 040 MAT 025 045 And then he will reply ‘I tell you, as often as you failed to do it to one of these, however unimportant, you failed to do it to me.’ 040 MAT 025 046 And these last will go away into lasting correction, but the righteous into lasting life.” (aiōnios g166) 040 MAT 026 001 When Jesus had finished teaching all of that, he said to his disciples, 040 MAT 026 002 “You know that in two days time the Festival of the Passover will be here; and that the Son of Man is to be given up to be crucified.” 040 MAT 026 003 Then the chief priests and the elders of the people met in the house of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, 040 MAT 026 004 and plotted together to arrest Jesus by stealth and put him to death; 040 MAT 026 005 but they said, “Not during the Festival, or the people may riot.” 040 MAT 026 006 After Jesus had reached Bethany, and while he was in the house of Simon the leper, 040 MAT 026 007 a woman came up to him with an alabaster jar of very costly perfume, and poured the perfume on his head as he sat at the table. 040 MAT 026 008 The disciples were indignant at seeing this. “What is this waste for?” they exclaimed. 040 MAT 026 009 “It could have been sold for a large sum, and the money given to poor people.” 040 MAT 026 010 “Why are you troubling the woman?” Jesus said, when he noticed it. “For this is a beautiful deed that she has done to me. 040 MAT 026 011 You always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. 040 MAT 026 012 In pouring this perfume on my body, she prepares me for my burial. 040 MAT 026 013 I tell you, wherever, in the whole world, this good news is proclaimed, what this woman has done will be told in memory of her.” 040 MAT 026 014 It was then that one of the Twelve, named Judas Iscariot, made his way to the chief priests, 040 MAT 026 015 and said “What are you willing to give me, if I betray Jesus to you?” The Priests counted him out thirty pieces of silver as payment. 040 MAT 026 016 So from that time Judas looked for an opportunity to betray Jesus. 040 MAT 026 017 On the first day of the Festival of the unleavened bread, the disciples came up to Jesus, and said, “Where do you wish us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?” 040 MAT 026 018 “Go into the city to a certain man,” he answered, “and say to him ‘The teacher says – My time is near. I will keep the Passover with my disciples at your house.’” 040 MAT 026 019 The disciples did as Jesus directed them, and prepared the Passover. 040 MAT 026 020 In the evening Jesus took his place with the twelve disciples, 040 MAT 026 021 and, while they were eating, he said, “I tell you that one of you will betray me.” 040 MAT 026 022 In great grief they began to say to him, one by one, “Can it be I, Master?” 040 MAT 026 023 “The one who dipped his bread beside me in the dish,” replied Jesus, “is the one who will betray me. 040 MAT 026 024 True, the Son of Man must go, as scripture says of him, yet alas for that man by whom the Son of Man is being betrayed! For that man it would be better never to have been born!” 040 MAT 026 025 Judas, who was betraying him, turned to him and said, “Can it be I, Rabbi?” “It is,” answered Jesus. 040 MAT 026 026 While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and, after saying the blessing, broke it and, as he gave it to his disciples, said, “Take it and eat it; this is my body.” 040 MAT 026 027 Then he took a cup, and, after saying the thanksgiving, gave it to them, with the words, “Drink from it, all of you; 040 MAT 026 028 for this is my covenant blood, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 040 MAT 026 029 I tell you that I will never, after this, drink of this juice of the grape, until that day when I will drink it new with you in the kingdom of my Father.” 040 MAT 026 030 They then sang a hymn, and went out to the Mount of Olives. 040 MAT 026 031 Then Jesus said to them, “Even you will all fall away from me tonight. Scripture says – ‘I will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ 040 MAT 026 032 But, after I have risen, I will go before you into Galilee.” 040 MAT 026 033 “If everyone else falls away from you,” Peter answered, “I will never fall away!” 040 MAT 026 034 “I tell you,” replied Jesus, “that this very night, before the cock crows, you will disown me three times!” 040 MAT 026 035 “Even if I must die with you,” Peter exclaimed, “I will never disown you!” All the disciples spoke in the same way. 040 MAT 026 036 Then Jesus came with them to a garden called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit down here while I go and pray over there.” 040 MAT 026 037 Taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to show signs of sadness and deep distress of mind. 040 MAT 026 038 “I am sad at heart,” he said, “sad even to death; wait here and watch with me.” 040 MAT 026 039 Going on a little further, he threw himself on his face in prayer. “My Father,” he said, “if it is possible, let me be spared this cup; only, not as I will, but as you will.” 040 MAT 026 040 Then he came to his disciples, and found them asleep. “What!” he said to Peter, “could none of you watch with me for one hour? 040 MAT 026 041 Watch and pray so that you don’t fall into temptation. True, the spirit is eager, but human nature is weak.” 040 MAT 026 042 Again, a second time, he went away, and prayed. “My Father,” he said, “if I cannot be spared this cup, but must drink it, your will be done!” 040 MAT 026 043 And coming back again he found them asleep, for their eyes were heavy. 040 MAT 026 044 So he left them, and went away again, and prayed a third time, again saying the same words. 040 MAT 026 045 Then he came to the disciples, and said, “Sleep on now, and rest yourselves. Look – my time is close at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of wicked people. 040 MAT 026 046 Up, and let us be going. Look! My betrayer is close at hand.” 040 MAT 026 047 And, while he was still speaking, Judas, who was one of the Twelve, came in sight; and with him was a great crowd of people, with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and elders of the people. 040 MAT 026 048 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them. “The man whom I kiss,” he had said, “will be the one; arrest him.” 040 MAT 026 049 So he went up to Jesus at once, and exclaimed, “Welcome, Rabbi!” and kissed him; 040 MAT 026 050 at which Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you have come for.” The men went up, seized Jesus, and arrested him. 040 MAT 026 051 Suddenly one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and striking the high priest’s servant, cut off his ear. 040 MAT 026 052 “Sheathe your sword,” Jesus said, “for all who draw the sword will be put to the sword. 040 MAT 026 053 Do you think that I cannot ask my Father for help, when he would at once send to my aid more than twelve legions of angels? 040 MAT 026 054 But in that case how would the scriptures be fulfilled, which say that this must be?” 040 MAT 026 055 Jesus at the same time said to the crowds, “Have you come out, as if after a robber, with swords and clubs, to take me? I have sat teaching day after day in the Temple Courts, and yet you did not arrest me.” 040 MAT 026 056 The whole of this occurred in fulfillment of the prophetic scriptures. Then the disciples all forsook him and fled. 040 MAT 026 057 Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the teachers of the Law and elders had assembled. 040 MAT 026 058 Peter followed him at a distance as far as the high priest’s courtyard, to see the outcome. 040 MAT 026 059 Meanwhile the chief priests and the whole of the High Council were trying to get such false evidence against Jesus, as would warrant putting him to death, 040 MAT 026 060 but they did not find any, although many came forward with false evidence. Later on, however, two men came forward and said, 040 MAT 026 061 “This man said ‘I am able to destroy the Temple of God, and to build it in three days.’” 040 MAT 026 062 Then the high priest stood up, and said to Jesus, “Have you no answer? What is this evidence which these men are giving against you?” 040 MAT 026 063 But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, “I order you, by the living God, to tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God.” 040 MAT 026 064 “It is true,” Jesus answered, “Moreover I tell you all that hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of the Almighty, and coming on the clouds of the heavens.” 040 MAT 026 065 Then the high priest tore his robes. “This is blasphemy!” he exclaimed. “Why do we want any more witnesses? You have just heard his blasphemy! 040 MAT 026 066 What is your decision?” They answered, “He deserves death.” 040 MAT 026 067 Then they spat in his face, and struck him, while others dealt blows at him, saying as they did so, 040 MAT 026 068 “Now play the prophet for us, you Christ! Who was it that struck you?” 040 MAT 026 069 Peter, meanwhile, was sitting outside in the courtyard; and a maidservant came up to him, and exclaimed, “Why, you were with Jesus the Galilean!” 040 MAT 026 070 But Peter denied it before them all. “I do not know what you mean,” he replied. 040 MAT 026 071 When he had gone out into the gateway, another maid saw him, and said to those who were there, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth!” 040 MAT 026 072 Again he denied it with an oath, “I do not know the man!” 040 MAT 026 073 But soon afterward those who were standing by came up and said to Peter, “You also are certainly one of them; why, even your way of speaking proves it!” 040 MAT 026 074 Then Peter said, “I swear that I do not know the man! May God punish me if I am lying!” At that moment a cock crowed; 040 MAT 026 075 and Peter remembered the words which Jesus had said – ‘Before a cock has crowed, you will disown me three times’; and he went outside, and wept bitterly. 040 MAT 027 001 At daybreak all the chief priests and the elders of the people consulted together against Jesus, to bring about his death. 040 MAT 027 002 They put him in chains and led him away, and gave him up to the Roman Governor, Pilate. 040 MAT 027 003 Then Judas, who betrayed him, seeing that Jesus was condemned, repented of what he had done, and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders. 040 MAT 027 004 “I did wrong in betraying a good man to his death,” he said. “What has that to do with us?” they replied. “You must see to that yourself.” 040 MAT 027 005 Judas flung down the pieces of silver in the Temple, and left; and went away and hanged himself. 040 MAT 027 006 The chief priests took the pieces of silver, but they said, “We must not put them into the Temple treasury, because they are blood-money.” 040 MAT 027 007 So, after consultation, they used it to buy the ‘Potter’s Field’ as a burial ground for foreigners, 040 MAT 027 008 and that is why that field is called the ‘Field of Blood’ to this very day. 040 MAT 027 009 Then it was that these words spoken by the prophet Jeremiah were fulfilled – ‘They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price set on him by the people of Israel, 040 MAT 027 010 and gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.’ 040 MAT 027 011 Meanwhile Jesus was brought before the Roman Governor. “Are you the king of the Jews?” asked the Governor. “It is true,” answered Jesus. 040 MAT 027 012 While charges were being brought against him by the chief priests and elders, Jesus made no reply. 040 MAT 027 013 Then Pilate said to him, “Don’t you hear how many accusations they are making against you?” 040 MAT 027 014 Yet Jesus made no reply – not even a single word; at which the Governor was greatly astonished. 040 MAT 027 015 Now, at the feast, the Governor was accustomed to grant the people the release of any one prisoner whom they might choose. 040 MAT 027 016 At that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. 040 MAT 027 017 So, when the people had collected, Pilate said to them, “Which do you wish me to release for you? Barabbas? Or Jesus who is called ‘Christ’?” 040 MAT 027 018 For he knew that it was out of jealousy that they had given Jesus up to him. 040 MAT 027 019 While he was still on the Bench, his wife sent this message to him – “Do not have anything to do with that good man, for I have been very much troubled today in a dream because of him.” 040 MAT 027 020 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas, and to kill Jesus. 040 MAT 027 021 The Governor, however, said to them, “Which of these two do you wish me to release for you?” “Barabbas,” they answered. 040 MAT 027 022 “What then,” Pilate asked, “should I do with Jesus who is called ‘Christ?’” “Crucify him,” they all replied. 040 MAT 027 023 “Why, what harm has he done?” he asked. But they kept shouting furiously, “Crucify him!” 040 MAT 027 024 When Pilate saw that his efforts were unavailing, but that, on the contrary, a riot was beginning, he took some water, and washed his hands in the sight of the crowd, saying as he did so, “I am not answerable for this bloodshed; you must see to it yourselves.” 040 MAT 027 025 And all the people answered, “His blood be on our heads and on our children’s!” 040 MAT 027 026 Then Pilate released Barabbas to them, but Jesus he had scourged, and gave him up to be crucified. 040 MAT 027 027 After that, the Governor’s soldiers took Jesus with them into the Government house, and gathered the whole garrison around him. 040 MAT 027 028 They stripped him, and put on him a red military cloak, 040 MAT 027 029 and having twisted some thorns into a crown, put it on his head, and a rod in his right hand, and then, going down on their knees before him, they mocked him. “Long life to you, king of the Jews!” they said. 040 MAT 027 030 They spat at him and, taking the rod, kept striking him on the head; 040 MAT 027 031 and, when they had left off mocking him, they took off the military cloak, and put his own clothes on him, and led him away to be crucified. 040 MAT 027 032 As they were on their way out, they came upon a man from Cyrene called Simon, and they compelled him to go with them to carry the cross. 040 MAT 027 033 On reaching a place named Golgotha (a place named from its likeness to a skull), 040 MAT 027 034 they gave him some wine to drink which had been mixed with gall; but after tasting it, Jesus refused to drink it. 040 MAT 027 035 When they had crucified him, they divided his clothes among them by casting lots. 040 MAT 027 036 Then they sat down, and kept watch over him there. 040 MAT 027 037 Above his head they fixed the accusation against him written out – ‘THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.’ 040 MAT 027 038 At the same time two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right, the other on the left. 040 MAT 027 039 The passers-by railed at him, shaking their heads as they said, 040 MAT 027 040 “You who would ‘destroy the Temple and build one in three days,’ save yourself! If you are God’s Son, come down from the cross!” 040 MAT 027 041 In the same way the chief priests, with the Teachers of the Law and elders, said in mockery, 040 MAT 027 042 “He saved others, but he cannot save himself! He is the ‘king of Israel’! Why doesn’t he come down from the cross now, then we will believe in him. 040 MAT 027 043 He has trusted in God; if God wants him, let him deliver him now; for he said ‘I am God’s Son.’” 040 MAT 027 044 Even the robbers, who were crucified with him, insulted him in the same way. 040 MAT 027 045 After midday a darkness came over all the country, lasting until three in the afternoon. 040 MAT 027 046 About three Jesus called out loudly, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabacthani” – that is to say, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ 040 MAT 027 047 Some of those standing by heard this, and said, “The man is calling for Elijah!” 040 MAT 027 048 One of them immediately ran and took a sponge, and, filling it with common wine, put it on the end of a rod, and offered it to him to drink. 040 MAT 027 049 But the rest said, “Wait and let us see if Elijah is coming to save him.” 040 MAT 027 050 But Jesus, uttering another loud cry, gave up his spirit. 040 MAT 027 051 Suddenly the Temple curtain was torn in two from top to bottom, the earth shook, the rocks were torn asunder, 040 MAT 027 052 the tombs opened, and the bodies of many of God’s people who had fallen asleep rose, 040 MAT 027 053 and they, leaving their tombs, went, after the resurrection of Jesus, into the Holy City, and appeared to many people. 040 MAT 027 054 The Roman centurion, and the men with him who were watching Jesus, on seeing the earthquake and all that was happening, became greatly frightened and exclaimed, “This must indeed have been God’s Son!” 040 MAT 027 055 There were many women there, watching from a distance, who had accompanied Jesus from Galilee and had been attending on him. 040 MAT 027 056 Among them were Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons. 040 MAT 027 057 When evening had fallen, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. 040 MAT 027 058 He went to see Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus. Pilate ordered it to be given him. 040 MAT 027 059 So Joseph took the body, and wrapped it in a clean linen sheet, 040 MAT 027 060 and laid it in his newly made tomb which he had cut in the rock; and, before he left, he rolled a great stone against the entrance of the tomb. 040 MAT 027 061 Mary of Magdala and the other Mary remained behind, sitting in front of the grave. 040 MAT 027 062 The next day – that is, the day following the Preparation-day – the chief priests and Pharisees came in a body to Pilate, and said, 040 MAT 027 063 “Sir, we remember that, during his lifetime, that impostor said ‘I will rise after three days.’ 040 MAT 027 064 So order the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise his disciples may come and steal him, and then say to the people ‘He has risen from the dead,’ when the latest imposture will be worse than the first.” 040 MAT 027 065 “You may have a guard,” was Pilate’s reply. “Go and make the tomb as secure as you can.” 040 MAT 027 066 So they went and made the tomb secure, by sealing the stone, in presence of the guard. 040 MAT 028 001 After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary of Magdala and the other Mary had gone to look at the grave, 040 MAT 028 002 when suddenly a great earthquake occurred. For an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled away the stone, and seated himself on it. 040 MAT 028 003 His appearance was as dazzling as lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow; 040 MAT 028 004 and, in their terror of him, the men on guard trembled violently and became like dead men. 040 MAT 028 005 But the angel, addressing the women, said, “You need not be afraid. I know that it is Jesus, who was crucified, for whom you are looking. 040 MAT 028 006 He is not here; for he has risen, as he said he would. Come, and see the place where he was lying; 040 MAT 028 007 and then go quickly and say to his disciples ‘He has risen from the dead, and is going before you into Galilee; there you will see him.’ Remember, I have told you.” 040 MAT 028 008 They left the tomb quickly, in awe and great joy, and ran to tell the news to the disciples. 040 MAT 028 009 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Welcome!” he said. The women went up to him, and clasped his feet, bowing to the ground before him. Then Jesus said to them, 040 MAT 028 010 “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers and sisters to set out for Galilee, and they will see me there.” 040 MAT 028 011 While they were still on their way, some of the guard came into the city, and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. 040 MAT 028 012 So they and the elders met and, after holding a consultation, gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, 040 MAT 028 013 and told them to say that his disciples came in the night, and stole him while they were asleep; 040 MAT 028 014 “And should this matter come before the Governor,” they added, “we will satisfy him, and see that you have nothing to fear.” 040 MAT 028 015 So the soldiers took the money, and did as they were instructed. This story spread widely; the people of Judea still tell it today. 040 MAT 028 016 The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus told them to meet him; 040 MAT 028 017 and, when they saw him, they bowed to the ground before him; although some felt doubtful. 040 MAT 028 018 Then Jesus came up, and spoke to them, saying, “All authority in heaven and on the earth has been given to me. 040 MAT 028 019 Therefore go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, 040 MAT 028 020 and teaching them to lay to heart all the commands that I have given you; and, remember, I myself am with you every day until the close of the age.” (aiōn g165) # # BOOK 041 MAR Mark Mark 041 MAR 001 001 The beginning of the good news about Jesus Christ. 041 MAR 001 002 It is said in the prophet Isaiah – ‘I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way. 041 MAR 001 003 The voice of one crying aloud in the wilderness: “Prepare the road for the Lord, make a straight path for him.”’ 041 MAR 001 004 John the Baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism on repentance, for the forgiveness of sins. 041 MAR 001 005 The whole of Judea, as well as all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, went out to him; and they were baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. 041 MAR 001 006 John wore clothes made of camels’ hair, with a leather strap around his waist, and lived on locusts and wild honey; 041 MAR 001 007 and he proclaimed – “After me is coming someone more powerful than I am, and I am not fit even to stoop down and unfasten his sandals. 041 MAR 001 008 I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” 041 MAR 001 009 Now about that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 041 MAR 001 010 Just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens split open and the Spirit coming down to him like a dove, 041 MAR 001 011 and from the heavens came a voice – “You are my dearly loved son; you bring me great joy.” 041 MAR 001 012 Immediately afterward the Spirit drove Jesus out into the wilderness; 041 MAR 001 013 and he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and among the wild beasts, while the angels helped him. 041 MAR 001 014 After John had been arrested, Jesus went to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God – 041 MAR 001 015 “The time has come, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe the good news.” 041 MAR 001 016 As Jesus was going along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net in the sea, for they were fishermen. 041 MAR 001 017 “Come and follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will teach you to fish for people.” 041 MAR 001 018 They left their nets at once, and followed him. 041 MAR 001 019 Going on a little further, he saw James, Zebedee’s son, and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. 041 MAR 001 020 Jesus called them at once, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the crew, and went after him. 041 MAR 001 021 They walked to Capernaum. On the next Sabbath Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. 041 MAR 001 022 The people were amazed at his teaching, for he taught them like one who had authority, and not like the teachers of the Law. 041 MAR 001 023 Now there was in their synagogue at the time a man under the power of a foul spirit, who called out, 041 MAR 001 024 “What do you want with us, Jesus the Nazarene? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are – the Holy One of God!” 041 MAR 001 025 But Jesus rebuked the spirit, “Be silent! Come out from him.” 041 MAR 001 026 The foul spirit threw the man into a fit, and with a loud cry came out from him. 041 MAR 001 027 They were all so amazed that they kept asking each other, “What is this? What is this, a new kind of teaching? He gives his commands with authority even to the foul spirits, and they obey him!” 041 MAR 001 028 His fame spread at once in all directions, through the whole region of Galilee. 041 MAR 001 029 As soon as they had left the synagogue, they went to the house of Simon and Andrew, along with James and John. 041 MAR 001 030 Now Simon’s mother-in-law was lying ill with a fever, and they at once told Jesus about her. 041 MAR 001 031 Jesus went up to her and, grasping her hand, raised her up; the fever left her, and she began to take care of them. 041 MAR 001 032 In the evening, after sunset, the people brought to Jesus all who were ill or possessed by demons; 041 MAR 001 033 and the whole city was gathered around the door. 041 MAR 001 034 Jesus cured many who were ill with various diseases, and drove out many demons, and would not permit them to speak, because they knew him to be the Christ. 041 MAR 001 035 In the morning, long before daylight, Jesus got up and went out to a lonely spot, where he began to pray. 041 MAR 001 036 But Simon and his companions went out searching for him; 041 MAR 001 037 and, when they found him, they exclaimed, “Everyone is looking for you!” 041 MAR 001 038 But Jesus said to them, “Let us go somewhere else, into the country towns nearby so that I can make my proclamation in them also; for that was why I came.” 041 MAR 001 039 And he went about making his proclamation in their synagogues all through Galilee, and driving out the demons. 041 MAR 001 040 One day a leper came to Jesus and, falling on his knees, begged him for help. “If only you are willing,” he said, “you are able to make me clean.” 041 MAR 001 041 Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying as he did so, “I am willing; become clean.” 041 MAR 001 042 Instantly the leprosy left the man, and he became clean; 041 MAR 001 043 and then Jesus, after sternly warning him, immediately sent him away, 041 MAR 001 044 and said to him, “Be careful not to say anything to anyone; but go and show yourself to the priest, and make the offerings for your cleansing directed by Moses, as evidence of your cure.” 041 MAR 001 045 The man, however, went away, and began to speak about it publicly, and to spread the story so widely, that Jesus could no longer go openly into a town, but stayed outside in lonely places; and people came to him from every direction. 041 MAR 002 001 Some days later, when Jesus came back to Capernaum, the news spread that he was in a house there; 041 MAR 002 002 and so many people collected together, that after a while there was no room for them even around the door; and he began to tell them his message. 041 MAR 002 003 Some people came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, who was being carried by four of them. 041 MAR 002 004 They were unable to get him near to Jesus, because of the crowd, so they removed the roof above Jesus, and, when they had made an opening, they let down the mat on which the paralyzed man was lying. 041 MAR 002 005 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Child, your sins are forgiven.” 041 MAR 002 006 But some of the teachers of the Law who were sitting there were debating in their minds, 041 MAR 002 007 “Why does this man speak like this? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins except God?” 041 MAR 002 008 Jesus, at once intuitively aware that they were debating with themselves in this way, said to them, “Why are you debating in your minds about this? 041 MAR 002 009 Which is easier? – to say to the paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven’? Or to say ‘Get up, and take up your mat, and walk’? 041 MAR 002 010 But so you may know that the Son of Man has power to forgive sins on earth” – here he said to the paralyzed man – 041 MAR 002 011 “To you I say, Get up, take up your mat, and return to your home.” 041 MAR 002 012 The man got up, and immediately took up his mat, and went out before them all; at which they were amazed, and, as they praised God, they said, “We have never seen anything like this!” 041 MAR 002 013 Jesus went out again to the sea; and all the people came to him, and he taught them. 041 MAR 002 014 As he went along, he saw Levi, the son of Alphaeus, sitting in the tax office, and said to him, “Follow me.” Levi got up and followed him. 041 MAR 002 015 Later on he was in his house having dinner, and a number of tax collectors and outcasts took their places at the table with Jesus and his disciples; for many of them were following him. 041 MAR 002 016 When the teachers of the Law belonging to the party of the Pharisees saw that he was eating in the company of such people, they said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with the tax collectors and outcasts?” 041 MAR 002 017 Hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not those who are healthy who need a doctor, but those who are ill. I did not come to call the religious, but the outcast.” 041 MAR 002 018 Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting, and people came and asked Jesus, “Why is it that John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, while yours do not?” 041 MAR 002 019 Jesus answered, “Can the groom’s friends fast, while the groom is with them? As long as they have the groom with them, they cannot fast. 041 MAR 002 020 But the days will come, when the groom will be taken away from them, and they will fast then – when that day comes.” 041 MAR 002 021 “No one ever sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; if they do, the patch tears away from it – the new from the old – and a worse tear is made. 041 MAR 002 022 And no one ever puts new wine into old wine-skins; if they do, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the skins are lost. But new wine is put into fresh skins.” 041 MAR 002 023 One Sabbath, as Jesus was walking through the cornfields, his disciples began to pick the ears of wheat as they went along. 041 MAR 002 024 “Look!” the Pharisees said to him, “why are they doing what is not allowed on the Sabbath?” 041 MAR 002 025 “Have you never read,” answered Jesus, “what David did when he was in need and hungry, he and his companions – 041 MAR 002 026 how he went into the house of God, in the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the consecrated bread, which only the priests are allowed to eat, and gave some to his comrades as well?” 041 MAR 002 027 Then Jesus added, “The Sabbath was made for people, and not people for the Sabbath; 041 MAR 002 028 so the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.” 041 MAR 003 001 On another occasion Jesus went in to a synagogue, where there was a man whose hand was withered. 041 MAR 003 002 And they watched Jesus closely, to see if he would cure the man on the Sabbath, so that they might have a charge to bring against him. 041 MAR 003 003 “Stand out in the middle,” Jesus said to the man with the withered hand; 041 MAR 003 004 and to the people he said, “Is it allowable to do good at the Sabbath – or harm? To save a life, or destroy it?” 041 MAR 003 005 As they remained silent, Jesus looked around at them in anger, grieving at the hardness of their hearts, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” The man stretched it out; and his hand had become sound. 041 MAR 003 006 Immediately on leaving the synagogue, the Pharisees and the Herodians united in laying a plot against Jesus, to put him to death. 041 MAR 003 007 Then Jesus went away with his disciples to the sea, followed by a great number of people from Galilee. 041 MAR 003 008 A great number, hearing of all that he was doing, came to him from Judea, from Jerusalem, from Edom, from beyond the Jordan, and from the country around Tyre and Sidon. 041 MAR 003 009 So Jesus told his disciples to keep a small boat close by, so that the crowd would not crush him. 041 MAR 003 010 For he had cured many of them, and so people kept crowding around him, so all who were sick might touch him. 041 MAR 003 011 The foul spirits, too, whenever they caught sight of him, flung themselves down before him, and screamed out, “You are the Son of God”! 041 MAR 003 012 But he repeatedly warned them not to make him known. 041 MAR 003 013 Jesus made his way up the hill, and called those whom he wished; and they went to him. 041 MAR 003 014 He appointed twelve – whom he also named ‘apostles’ – so that they might be with him, and that he might send them out as his messengers, to preach, 041 MAR 003 015 and with power to drive out demons. 041 MAR 003 016 So he appointed the Twelve – Peter (which was the name that Jesus gave to Simon), 041 MAR 003 017 James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John (to whom he gave the name of Boanerges, which means the Thunderers), 041 MAR 003 018 Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot, 041 MAR 003 019 and Judas Iscariot, the man who betrayed him. 041 MAR 003 020 Jesus went into a house; and again a crowd collected, so that they were not even able to eat their food. 041 MAR 003 021 When his relatives heard of it, they went to take charge of him, for they said that he was out of his mind. 041 MAR 003 022 The teachers of the Law, who had come down from Jerusalem, said, “He has Beelzebul in him! He drives the demons out by the help of their chief.” 041 MAR 003 023 So Jesus called them to him, and answered them in parables, “How can Satan drive out Satan? 041 MAR 003 024 When a kingdom is divided against itself, it cannot last; 041 MAR 003 025 and when a household is divided against itself, it will not be able to last. 041 MAR 003 026 So, if Satan is in revolt against himself and is divided, he cannot last – his end has come! 041 MAR 003 027 “No man who has broken into a strong man’s house can carry off his goods, without first tying him up; and not until then will he plunder his house. 041 MAR 003 028 I tell you that people will be forgiven everything – their sins, and all the slanders that they utter; 041 MAR 003 029 but whoever slanders the Holy Spirit remains unforgiven to the end; he has to answer for an enduring sin.” (aiōn g165, aiōnios g166) 041 MAR 003 030 This was said in reply to the charge that he had a foul spirit in him. 041 MAR 003 031 His mother and his brothers came, and stood outside, and sent to ask him to come to them. 041 MAR 003 032 There was a crowd sitting around Jesus, and some of them said to him, “Look, your mother and your brothers are outside, asking for you.” 041 MAR 003 033 “Who is my mother? And my brothers?” was his reply. 041 MAR 003 034 Then he looked around on the people sitting in a circle around him, and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 041 MAR 003 035 Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.” 041 MAR 004 001 Jesus again began to teach by the sea; and, as an immense crowd was gathering around him, he got into a boat, and sat in it on the sea, while all the people were on the shore at the water’s edge. 041 MAR 004 002 Then he taught them many truths in parables; and in the course of his teaching he said to them: 041 MAR 004 003 “Listen! The sower went out to sow; 041 MAR 004 004 and presently, as he was sowing, some of the seed fell along the path; and the birds came, and ate it up. 041 MAR 004 005 Some fell on rocky ground, where it had not much soil, and, because the soil wasn’t deep, sprang up at once; 041 MAR 004 006 but, when the sun rose, it was scorched, and, because their roots were not deep enough, withered away. 041 MAR 004 007 Some of the seed fell among brambles; but the brambles shot up and completely choked it, and it yielded no return. 041 MAR 004 008 Some fell into good soil, and, shooting up and growing, yielded a return, amounting to thirty, sixty, and even a hundred fold.” 041 MAR 004 009 And Jesus said, “Let anyone who has ears to hear with hear.” 041 MAR 004 010 Afterward, when he was alone, his followers and the Twelve asked him about his parables; 041 MAR 004 011 and he said, “To you the hidden truth of the kingdom of God has been imparted; but to those who are outside it all teaching takes the form of parables so that – 041 MAR 004 012 ‘Though they have eyes, they may see without perceiving; and though they have ears, they may hear without understanding; otherwise some day they might turn and be forgiven.’” 041 MAR 004 013 “You do not know the meaning of this parable?” he went on, “Then how will you understand all the other parables? 041 MAR 004 014 The sower sows the message. 041 MAR 004 015 The people meant by the seed that falls along the path are these – where the message is sown, but, as soon as they have heard it, Satan immediately comes and carries away the message that has been sown in them. 041 MAR 004 016 So, too, those meant by the seed sown on the rocky places are the people who, when they have heard the message, at once accept it joyfully; 041 MAR 004 017 but, as they have no root, they stand only for a short time; and so, when trouble or persecution arises because of the message, they fall away at once. 041 MAR 004 018 Those meant by the seed sown among the brambles are different; they are the people who hear the message, 041 MAR 004 019 but the cares of life, and the glamour of wealth, and cravings for many other things come in and completely choke the message, so that it gives no return. (aiōn g165) 041 MAR 004 020 But the people meant by the seed sown on the good ground are those who hear the message, and welcome it, and yield a return, thirty, sixty, and even a hundred fold.” 041 MAR 004 021 Jesus said to them, “Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under the couch, instead of being put on the lamp-stand? 041 MAR 004 022 There is nothing hidden that will not come to light and nothing is concealed that will not be brought into the open. 041 MAR 004 023 Let all who have ears to hear with hear. 041 MAR 004 024 “Take care what you listen to,” said Jesus. “The standard you use will be used for you, and more will be added for you. 041 MAR 004 025 For, to those who have, more will be given; while, from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.” 041 MAR 004 026 Jesus also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like – like a man who has scattered seed on the ground, 041 MAR 004 027 and then sleeps by night and rises by day, while the seed is shooting up and growing – he knows not how. 041 MAR 004 028 The ground bears the crop of itself – first the blade, then the ear, and then the full grain in the ear; 041 MAR 004 029 but, as soon as the crop is ready, immediately he puts in the sickle because harvest has come.” 041 MAR 004 030 Jesus also said, “To what can we liken the kingdom of God? 041 MAR 004 031 By what can we illustrate it? Perhaps by the growth of a mustard seed. This seed, when sown in the ground, though it is smaller than all other seeds, 041 MAR 004 032 yet, when sown, shoots up, and becomes larger than any other herb, and puts out great branches, so that even the wild birds can roost in its shelter.” 041 MAR 004 033 With many such parables Jesus used to speak to the people of his message, as far as they were able to receive it; 041 MAR 004 034 and to them he never used to speak except in parables; but in private to his own disciples he explained everything. 041 MAR 004 035 In the evening of the same day, Jesus said to them, “Let us go across.” 041 MAR 004 036 So, leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them, just as he was, in the boat; and there were other boats with him. 041 MAR 004 037 A violent squall came on, and the waves kept dashing into the boat, so that the boat was actually filling. 041 MAR 004 038 Jesus was in the stern asleep on the cushion; and the disciples roused him and cried, “Teacher! Is it nothing to you that we are lost?” 041 MAR 004 039 Jesus rose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Hush! Be still!” Then the wind dropped, and a great calm followed. 041 MAR 004 040 “Why are you so timid?” he exclaimed. “Have you no faith yet?” 041 MAR 004 041 But they were struck with great awe, and said to one another, “Who can this be that even the wind and the sea obey him?” 041 MAR 005 001 They came to the other side of the sea – the region of the Gerasenes; 041 MAR 005 002 and, as soon as Jesus had got out of the boat, he met a man coming out of the tombs, who was under the power of a foul spirit, 041 MAR 005 003 and who made his home in the tombs. No one had ever been able to secure him, even with a chain; 041 MAR 005 004 for, though he had many times been left secured with fetters and chains, he had snapped the chains and broken the fetters to pieces, and no one could master him. 041 MAR 005 005 Night and day alike, he was continually shrieking in the tombs and among the hills, and cutting himself with stones. 041 MAR 005 006 Catching sight of Jesus from a distance, he ran and bowed to the ground before him, 041 MAR 005 007 shrieking out in a loud voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? For God’s sake do not torment me!” 041 MAR 005 008 For Jesus had said, “Come out from the man, you foul spirit.” 041 MAR 005 009 And he asked him, “What is your name?” “My name,” he said, “is Legion, for there are many of us;” 041 MAR 005 010 and he begged Jesus again and again not to send them away out of that country. 041 MAR 005 011 There was a large herd of pigs close by, feeding on the hillside; 041 MAR 005 012 and the spirits begged Jesus, “Send us into the pigs so that we can take possession of them.” 041 MAR 005 013 Jesus gave them leave. They came out, and entered into the pigs; and the herd – about two thousand in number – rushed down the steep slope into the sea and were drowned in the sea. 041 MAR 005 014 Then the men who tended them ran away, and carried the news to the town, and to the country around; and the people went to see what had happened. 041 MAR 005 015 When they came to Jesus, they found the possessed man sitting there, clothed and in his right mind – the man who had had the ‘Legion’ in him – and they were awe-struck. 041 MAR 005 016 Then those who had seen it related to them all that had happened to the possessed man, as well as about the pigs; 041 MAR 005 017 so they began to beg Jesus to leave their region. 041 MAR 005 018 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the possessed man begged him to let him stay with him. 041 MAR 005 019 But Jesus refused. “Go back to your home, to your own people,” he said, “and tell them of all that the Lord has done for you, and how he took pity on you.” 041 MAR 005 020 So the man went, and began to proclaim in the district of the Ten Towns all that Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed. 041 MAR 005 021 By the time Jesus had recrossed in the boat to the opposite shore, a great number of people had gathered to meet him, and were standing by the sea. 041 MAR 005 022 One of the leaders of the synagogue, whose name was Jairus, came and, as soon as he saw Jesus, threw himself at his feet and begged him repeatedly, 041 MAR 005 023 saying, “My little daughter is at death’s door. Please come and place your hands on her so that she may recover and live.” 041 MAR 005 024 So Jesus went with him. A great number of people followed Jesus, and kept pressing around him. 041 MAR 005 025 Meanwhile a woman who for twelve years had suffered from hemorrhage, 041 MAR 005 026 and undergone much at the hands of many doctors, (spending all she had without obtaining any relief, but, on the contrary, growing worse), 041 MAR 005 027 heard about Jesus, came behind in the crowd, and touched his cloak. 041 MAR 005 028 “If I can only touch his clothes,” she said, “I will get well!” 041 MAR 005 029 At once her bleeding stopped, and she felt in herself that she was cured of her affliction. 041 MAR 005 030 Jesus at once became aware of the power that had gone out from him, and, turning around in the crowd, he said, “Who touched my clothes?” 041 MAR 005 031 “You see the people pressing around you,” exclaimed his disciples, “and yet you say ‘Who touched me?’” 041 MAR 005 032 But Jesus looked about to see who had done it. 041 MAR 005 033 Then the woman, in fear and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and threw herself down before him, and told him the whole truth. 041 MAR 005 034 “Daughter,” he said, “your faith has delivered you. Go, and peace be with you; be free from your affliction.” 041 MAR 005 035 Before he had finished speaking, some people from the house of the synagogue leader came and said, “Your daughter is dead! Why should you trouble the teacher further?” 041 MAR 005 036 But Jesus, overhearing what they were saying, said to the synagogue leader, “Do not be afraid; only have faith.” 041 MAR 005 037 And he allowed no one to accompany him, except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. 041 MAR 005 038 Presently they reached the leader’s house, where Jesus saw a scene of confusion – people weeping and wailing incessantly. 041 MAR 005 039 “Why this confusion and weeping?” he said on entering. “The little child is not dead; she is asleep.” 041 MAR 005 040 They began to laugh at him; but he sent them all out, and then, with the child’s father and mother and his companions, went into the room where she was lying. 041 MAR 005 041 Taking her hand, Jesus said to her, “Talitha, koum!” – which means ‘little girl, I am speaking to you – Rise!’ 041 MAR 005 042 The little girl stood up at once, and began to walk about; for she was twelve years old. And, as soon as they saw it, they were overwhelmed with amazement; 041 MAR 005 043 but Jesus repeatedly cautioned them not to let anyone know of it, and told them to give her something to eat. 041 MAR 006 001 On leaving that place, Jesus, followed by his disciples, went to his own part of the country. 041 MAR 006 002 When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue; and the people, as they listened, were deeply impressed. “Where did he get this?” they said, “and what is this wisdom that has been given him? And these miracles which he is doing? 041 MAR 006 003 Isn’t he the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James, and Joses, and Judas, and Simon? And aren’t his sisters, too, living here among us?” This proved a hindrance to their believing in him; 041 MAR 006 004 at which Jesus said, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his home town, and among his own relatives, and in his own home.” 041 MAR 006 005 And he could not work any miracle there, beyond placing his hands on a few infirm persons, and curing them; 041 MAR 006 006 and he wondered at the want of faith shown by the people. Jesus went around the villages, one after another, teaching. 041 MAR 006 007 He called the Twelve to him, and began to send them out as his messengers, two and two, and gave them authority over foul spirits. 041 MAR 006 008 He instructed them to take nothing but a staff for the journey – not even bread, or a bag, or coins in their purse; 041 MAR 006 009 but they were to wear sandals, and not to put on a second coat. 041 MAR 006 010 “Whenever you go to stay at a house,” he said, “remain there until you leave that place; 041 MAR 006 011 and if a place does not welcome you, or listen to you, as you go out of it shake off the dust that is on the soles of your feet, as a protest against them.” 041 MAR 006 012 So they set out, and proclaimed the need of repentance. 041 MAR 006 013 They drove out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were infirm, and cured them. 041 MAR 006 014 Now King Herod heard of Jesus; for his name had become well known. People were saying – “John the Baptizer must have risen from the dead, and that is why these miraculous powers are active in him.” 041 MAR 006 015 Others again said – “He is Elijah,” and others – “He is a prophet, like one of the great prophets.” 041 MAR 006 016 But when Herod heard of him, he said – “The man whom I beheaded – John – he must be risen!” 041 MAR 006 017 For Herod himself had sent and arrested John, and put him in prison, in chains, to please Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, because Herod had married her. 041 MAR 006 018 For John had said to Herod – “You have no right to be living with your brother’s wife.” 041 MAR 006 019 So Herodias was incensed against John, and wanted to put him to death, but was unable to do so, 041 MAR 006 020 because Herod stood in fear of John, knowing him to be an upright and holy man, and protected him. He had listened to John, but still remained much perplexed, and yet he found pleasure in listening to him. 041 MAR 006 021 A suitable opportunity, however, occurred when Herod, on his birthday, gave a dinner to his high officials, and his generals, and the foremost men in Galilee. 041 MAR 006 022 When his daughter – that is, the daughter of Herodias – came in and danced, she delighted Herod and those who were dining with him. “Ask me for whatever you like,” the king said to the girl, “and I will give it to you”; 041 MAR 006 023 and he swore to her that he would give her whatever she asked him – up to half his kingdom. 041 MAR 006 024 The girl went out, and said to her mother “What must I ask for?” “The head of John the Baptizer,” answered her mother. 041 MAR 006 025 So she went in as quickly as possible to the king, and made her request. “I want you,” she said, “to give me at once, on a dish, the head of John the Baptist.” 041 MAR 006 026 The king was much distressed; yet, because of his oath and of the guests at his table, he did not like to refuse her. 041 MAR 006 027 He immediately dispatched one of his bodyguard, with orders to bring John’s head. The man went and beheaded John in the prison, 041 MAR 006 028 and, bringing his head on a dish, gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. 041 MAR 006 029 When John’s disciples heard of it, they came and took his body away, and laid it in a tomb. 041 MAR 006 030 When the apostles came back to Jesus, they told him all that they had done and all that they had taught. 041 MAR 006 031 “Come by yourselves privately to some lonely spot,” he said, “and rest for a while” – for there were so many people coming and going that they had not time even to eat. 041 MAR 006 032 So they set off privately in their boat for a lonely spot. 041 MAR 006 033 Many people saw them going, and recognized them, and from all the towns they flocked together to the place on foot, and got there before them. 041 MAR 006 034 On getting out of the boat, Jesus saw a great crowd, and his heart was moved at the sight of them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. 041 MAR 006 035 When it grew late, his disciples came up to him, and said, “This is a lonely spot, and it is already late. 041 MAR 006 036 Send the people away, so that they may go to the farms and villages around and buy themselves something to eat.” 041 MAR 006 037 But Jesus answered, “It is for you to give them something to eat.” “Are we to go and spend almost a year’s wages on bread,” they asked, “to give them to eat?” 041 MAR 006 038 “How many loaves have you?” he asked, “Go, and see.” When they had found out, they told him, “Five, and two fish.” 041 MAR 006 039 Jesus directed them to make all the people take their seats on the green grass, in parties; 041 MAR 006 040 and they sat down in groups – in hundreds, and in fifties. 041 MAR 006 041 Taking the five loaves and the two fish, Jesus looked up to heaven, and said the blessing; he broke the loaves into pieces, and gave them to his disciples for them to serve out to the people, and he divided the two fish also among them all. 041 MAR 006 042 Everyone had sufficient to eat; 041 MAR 006 043 and they picked up enough broken pieces to fill twelve baskets, as well as some of the fish. 041 MAR 006 044 The people who ate the bread were five thousand in number. 041 MAR 006 045 Immediately afterward Jesus made his disciples get into the boat, and cross over in advance, in the direction of Bethsaida, while he himself was dismissing the crowd. 041 MAR 006 046 After he had taken leave of the people, he went away up the hill to pray. 041 MAR 006 047 When evening fell, the boat was out in the middle of the sea, and Jesus on the shore alone. 041 MAR 006 048 Seeing them laboring at the oars – for the wind was against them – about three hours after midnight Jesus came towards them, walking on the water, intending to join them. 041 MAR 006 049 But, when they saw him walking on the water, they thought it was a ghost, and cried out; 041 MAR 006 050 for all of them saw him, and were terrified. But Jesus at once spoke to them. “Courage!” he said, “it is I; do not be afraid!” 041 MAR 006 051 Then he got into the boat with them, and the wind dropped. The disciples were utterly amazed, 041 MAR 006 052 for they had not understood about the loaves, their minds being slow to learn. 041 MAR 006 053 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret, and moored the boat. 041 MAR 006 054 But they had no sooner left her than the people, recognizing Jesus, 041 MAR 006 055 hurried over the whole countryside, and began to carry about on mats those who were ill, wherever they heard he was. 041 MAR 006 056 So wherever he went – to villages, or towns, or farms – they would lay their sick in the market-places, begging him to let them touch only the tassel of his cloak; and all who touched were made well. 041 MAR 007 001 One day the Pharisees and some of the teachers of the Law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus. 041 MAR 007 002 They had noticed that some of his disciples ate their food with their hands ‘defiled,’ by which they meant unwashed. 041 MAR 007 003 (For the Pharisees, and indeed all strict Jews, will not eat without first scrupulously washing their hands, holding in this to the traditions of their ancestors. 041 MAR 007 004 When they come from market, they will not eat without first sprinkling themselves; and there are many other customs which they have inherited and hold to, such as the ceremonial washing of cups, and jugs, and copper pans). 041 MAR 007 005 So the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law asked Jesus this question – “How is it that your disciples do not follow the traditions of our ancestors, but eat their food with defiled hands?” 041 MAR 007 006 His answer was, “It was well said by Isaiah when he prophesied about you hypocrites in the words – ‘This is a people who honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far removed from me; 041 MAR 007 007 but vainly do they worship me, For they teach but human precepts.’ 041 MAR 007 008 You neglect God’s commandments and hold to human traditions. 041 MAR 007 009 Wisely do you set aside God’s commandments,” he exclaimed, “to keep your own traditions! 041 MAR 007 010 For while Moses said ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and ‘Let anyone who abuses their father or mother suffer death,’ 041 MAR 007 011 you say ‘If a person says to their father or mother “Whatever of mine might have been of service to you is Corban”’ (which means ‘Set apart for God’) – 041 MAR 007 012 why, then you do not allow them to do anything further for their father or mother! 041 MAR 007 013 In this way you nullify the words of God by your traditions, which you hand down; and you do many similar things.” 041 MAR 007 014 Then Jesus called the people to him again, and said, “Listen to me, all of you, and mark my words. 041 MAR 007 015 There is nothing external to a person, which by going into them can defile them; but the things that come out of a person are the things that defile them.” 041 MAR 007 017 When Jesus went indoors, away from the crowd, his disciples began questioning him about this saying. 041 MAR 007 018 “What, do even you understand so little?” exclaimed Jesus. “Don’t you see that there is nothing external to a person, which by going into a person, can defile them, 041 MAR 007 019 because it does not pass into his heart, but into his stomach, and is afterward got rid of?” – in saying this Jesus pronounced all food clean. 041 MAR 007 020 “It is what comes out from a person,” he added, “that defiles them, 041 MAR 007 021 for it is from within, out of the hearts of people, that there come evil thoughts – sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 041 MAR 007 022 greed, wickedness, deceit, indecency, envy, slander, haughtiness, folly; 041 MAR 007 023 all these wicked things come from within, and do defile a person.” 041 MAR 007 024 On leaving that place, Jesus went to the district of Tyre and Sidon. He went into a house, and did not wish anyone to know it, but could not escape notice. 041 MAR 007 025 For a woman, whose little daughter had a foul spirit in her, heard of him immediately, and came and threw herself at his feet – 041 MAR 007 026 the woman was a foreigner, from Syrian Phoenicia – and she begged him to drive the demon out of her daughter. 041 MAR 007 027 “Let the children be satisfied first,” answered Jesus. “For it is not fair to take the children’s food, and throw it to dogs.” 041 MAR 007 028 “Yes, Master,” she replied. “Even the dogs under the table do feed on the children’s crumbs.” 041 MAR 007 029 “For saying that,” he answered, “you may go. The demon has gone out of your daughter.” 041 MAR 007 030 The woman went home, and found the child lying on her bed, and the demon gone. 041 MAR 007 031 On returning from the district of Tyre, Jesus went, by way of Sidon, to the Sea of Galilee, across the district of the Ten Towns. 041 MAR 007 032 Some people brought to him a man who was deaf and almost dumb, and they begged Jesus to place his hand on him. 041 MAR 007 033 Jesus took him aside from the crowd quietly, put his fingers into the man’s ears, and touched his tongue with saliva. 041 MAR 007 034 Then, looking up to heaven, he sighed, and said to the man, “Ephphatha!” which means ‘Be opened.’ 041 MAR 007 035 The man’s ears were opened, the string of his tongue was freed, and he began to talk plainly. 041 MAR 007 036 Jesus insisted on their not telling anyone; but the more he insisted, the more perseveringly they made it known, 041 MAR 007 037 and a profound impression was made on the people. “He has done everything well!” they exclaimed. “He makes even the deaf hear and the dumb speak!” 041 MAR 008 001 About that time, when there was again a great crowd of people who had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him, and said, 041 MAR 008 002 “My heart is moved at the sight of all these people, for they have already been with me three days and they have nothing to eat; 041 MAR 008 003 and if I send them away to their homes hungry, they will break down on the way; and some of them have come a long distance.” 041 MAR 008 004 “Where will it be possible,” his disciples answered, “to get sufficient bread for these people in this lonely place?” 041 MAR 008 005 “How many loaves have you?” he asked. “Seven,” they answered. 041 MAR 008 006 Jesus told the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then he took the seven loaves, and, after saying the thanksgiving, broke them, and gave them to his disciples to serve out; and they served them out to the crowd. 041 MAR 008 007 They had also a few small fish; and, after he had said the blessing, he told the disciples to serve out these as well. 041 MAR 008 008 The people had sufficient to eat, and they picked up seven baskets full of the broken pieces that were left. 041 MAR 008 009 There were about four thousand people. Then Jesus dismissed them. 041 MAR 008 010 Immediately afterward, getting into the boat with his disciples, Jesus went to the district of Dalmanutha. 041 MAR 008 011 Here the Pharisees came out, and began to argue with Jesus, asking him for some sign from the heavens, to test him. 041 MAR 008 012 Sighing deeply, Jesus said, “Why does this generation ask for a sign? I tell you, no sign will be given it.” 041 MAR 008 013 So he left them to themselves, and, getting into the boat again, went away to the opposite shore. 041 MAR 008 014 Now the disciples had forgotten to take any bread with them, one loaf being all that they had in the boat. 041 MAR 008 015 So Jesus gave them this warning. “Take care,” he said, “beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” 041 MAR 008 016 They began talking to one another about their being short of bread; 041 MAR 008 017 and, noticing this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you talking about your being short of bread? Don’t you yet see or understand? Are your minds still so slow or comprehension? 041 MAR 008 018 Though you have eyes, do you not see? And though you have ears, do you not hear? Don’t you remember, 041 MAR 008 019 when I broke up the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets of broken pieces you picked up?” “Twelve,” they said. 041 MAR 008 020 “And when the seven for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of broken pieces did you pick up?” “Seven,” they said. 041 MAR 008 021 “Don’t you understand now?” he repeated. 041 MAR 008 022 They came to Bethsaida. There some people brought a blind man to Jesus, and begged him to touch him. 041 MAR 008 023 Taking the blind man’s hand, Jesus led him to the outskirts of the village, and, when he had put saliva on the man’s eyes, he placed his hands on him, and asked him, “Do you see anything?” 041 MAR 008 024 The man looked up, and said, “I see the people, for, as they walk about, they look to me like trees.” 041 MAR 008 025 Then Jesus again placed his hands on the man’s eyes; and the man saw clearly, his sight was restored, and he saw everything with perfect distinctness. 041 MAR 008 026 Jesus sent him to his home, and said, “Do not go even into the village.” 041 MAR 008 027 Afterward Jesus and his disciples went into the villages around Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples this question – “Who do people say that I am?” 041 MAR 008 028 “John the Baptist,” they answered, “but others say Elijah, while others say one of the prophets.” 041 MAR 008 029 “But you,” he asked, “who do you say that I am?” To this Peter replied, “You are the Christ.” 041 MAR 008 030 At which Jesus charged them not to say this about him to anyone. 041 MAR 008 031 Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo much suffering, and that he must be rejected by the elders, and the chief priests, and the teachers of the Law, and be put to death, and rise again after three days. 041 MAR 008 032 He said all this quite openly. But Peter took Jesus aside, and began to rebuke him. 041 MAR 008 033 Jesus, however, turning around and seeing his disciples, rebuked Peter. “Out of my sight, Satan!” he exclaimed. “For you look at things, not as God does, but as people do.” 041 MAR 008 034 Calling the people and his disciples to him, Jesus said, “If anyone wishes to walk in my steps, they must renounce self, take up their cross, and follow me. 041 MAR 008 035 For whoever wishes to save their life will lose it, and whoever, for my sake and for the sake of the good news, will lose their life will save it. 041 MAR 008 036 What good is it to a person to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? 041 MAR 008 037 For what could a person give that is of equal value with their life? 041 MAR 008 038 Whoever is ashamed of me and of my teaching, in this unfaithful and wicked generation, of them will the Son of Man be ashamed, when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.” 041 MAR 009 001 “I tell you,” he added, “that some of those who are standing here will not know death until they have seen the kingdom of God come in power.” 041 MAR 009 002 Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John, and led them up a high mountain alone by themselves. There his appearance was transformed before their eyes, 041 MAR 009 003 and his clothes became whiter than any launderer in the whole world could bleach them. 041 MAR 009 004 And Elijah appeared to them, in company with Moses; and they were talking with Jesus. 041 MAR 009 005 “Rabbi,” said Peter, interposing, “it is good to be here; let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 041 MAR 009 006 For he did not know what to say, because they were much afraid. 041 MAR 009 007 Then a cloud came down and enveloped them; and from the cloud there came a voice – “This is my dearly loved son; listen to him.” 041 MAR 009 008 And suddenly, on looking around, they saw that there was now no one with them but Jesus alone. 041 MAR 009 009 As they were going down the mountainside, Jesus cautioned them not to relate what they had seen to anyone, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 041 MAR 009 010 They seized on these words and discussed with one another what this ‘rising from the dead’ meant. 041 MAR 009 011 “How is it,” they asked Jesus, “that our teachers of the Law say that Elijah has to come first?” 041 MAR 009 012 “Elijah does indeed come first,” answered Jesus, “and re-establish everything; and does not scripture speak, with regard to the Son of Man, of his undergoing much suffering and being utterly despised? 041 MAR 009 013 But I tell you that Elijah has come, and people have treated him just as they pleased, as scripture says of him.” 041 MAR 009 014 When they came to the other disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and some teachers of the Law arguing with them. 041 MAR 009 015 But, as soon as they saw Jesus, all the people, in great astonishment, ran up and greeted him. 041 MAR 009 016 “What are you arguing about with them?” Jesus asked. 041 MAR 009 017 “Teacher,” answered a man in the crowd, “I brought my son to see you, as he has a spirit in him that makes him mute; 041 MAR 009 018 and, wherever it seizes him, it dashes him down; he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth, and he is pining away. I asked your disciples to drive the spirit out, but they failed.” 041 MAR 009 019 “Faithless generation!” exclaimed Jesus. “How long must I be with you? How long must I have patience with you? Bring the boy to me.” 041 MAR 009 020 They brought him to Jesus; but no sooner did the boy see him than the spirit threw him into convulsions; and he fell on the ground, and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. 041 MAR 009 021 “How long has he been like this?” Jesus asked the boy’s father. 041 MAR 009 022 “From his childhood,” he answered. “It has often thrown him into fire and into water to put an end to his life; but, if you can possibly do anything, take pity on us, and help us!” 041 MAR 009 023 “Why say ‘possibly’?” Jesus replied. “Everything is possible for one who has faith.” 041 MAR 009 024 The boy’s father immediately cried out, “I have faith; help my want of faith!” 041 MAR 009 025 But, when Jesus saw that a crowd was quickly collecting, he rebuked the foul spirit, “Deaf and dumb spirit, it is I who command you. Come out from him and never enter him again.” 041 MAR 009 026 With a loud cry the spirit threw the boy into repeated convulsions, and then came out from him. The boy looked like a corpse, so that most of them said that he was dead. 041 MAR 009 027 But Jesus took his hand, and lifted him; and he stood up. 041 MAR 009 028 When Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” 041 MAR 009 029 “A spirit of this kind,” he said, “can be driven out only by prayer.” 041 MAR 009 030 Leaving that place, Jesus and his disciples went on their way through Galilee; but he did not wish anyone to know it, 041 MAR 009 031 for he was instructing his disciples, and telling them – “The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of his fellow men, and they will put him to death, but, when he has been put to death, he will rise again after three days.” 041 MAR 009 032 But the disciples did not understand his meaning and were afraid to question him. 041 MAR 009 033 They came to Capernaum. When Jesus had gone into the house, he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” 041 MAR 009 034 But they were silent; for on the way they had been arguing with one another which was the greatest. 041 MAR 009 035 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “If anyone wishes to be first, he must be last of all, and servant of all.” 041 MAR 009 036 Then Jesus took a little child, and placed it in the middle of them. Taking it in his arms, he said to them, 041 MAR 009 037 “Anyone who, for the sake of my name, welcomes even a little child like this is welcoming me, and anyone who welcomes me is welcoming not me, but him who sent me as his messenger.” 041 MAR 009 038 “Teacher,” said John, “we saw a man driving out demons by using your name, and we tried to prevent him, because he did not follow us.” 041 MAR 009 039 “None of you must prevent the man,” answered Jesus, “for no one will use my name in working a miracle, and yet find it easy to speak evil of me. 041 MAR 009 040 He who is not against us is for us. 041 MAR 009 041 If anyone gives you a cup of water because you belong to Christ, I tell you, he will assuredly not lose his reward. 041 MAR 009 042 “And, if anyone puts temptation in the way of one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be far better for him if he had been thrown into the sea with a great millstone around his neck. 041 MAR 009 043 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It would be better for you to enter the life maimed, than to have both your hands and go into Gehenna, into the fire that cannot be put out. (Geenna g1067) 041 MAR 009 045 If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It would be better for you to enter the life lame, than to have both your feet and be thrown into Gehenna. (Geenna g1067) 041 MAR 009 047 If your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It would be better for you to enter the kingdom of God with only one eye, than to have both eyes and be thrown into Gehenna, (Geenna g1067) 041 MAR 009 048 where their worm does not die, and the fire is not put out. 041 MAR 009 049 For it is by fire that everyone will be salted. 041 MAR 009 050 Salt is good, but, if the salt should lose its saltiness, what will you use to season it? You must have salt in yourselves, and live at peace with one another.” 041 MAR 010 001 On leaving that place, Jesus went into the district of Judea on the other side of the Jordan. Crowds gathered about him again; and again, as usual, he began teaching them. 041 MAR 010 002 Presently some Pharisees came up and, to test him, asked, “Has a husband the right to divorce his wife?” 041 MAR 010 003 “What direction did Moses give you?” replied Jesus. 041 MAR 010 004 “Moses,” they said, “permitted a man to draw up in writing a notice of separation and divorce his wife.” 041 MAR 010 005 “It was owing to the hardness of your hearts,” said Jesus, “that Moses gave you this direction; 041 MAR 010 006 but, at the beginning of the Creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ 041 MAR 010 007 ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother, 041 MAR 010 008 and the man and his wife will become one;’ so that they are no longer two, but one. 041 MAR 010 009 What God himself, then, has yoked together no one must separate.” 041 MAR 010 010 When they were indoors, the disciples asked him again about this, 041 MAR 010 011 and he said, “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman is guilty of adultery against his wife; 041 MAR 010 012 and, if the woman divorces her husband and marries another man, she is guilty of adultery.” 041 MAR 010 013 Some of the people were bringing little children to Jesus, for him to touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who had brought them. 041 MAR 010 014 When, however, Jesus saw this, he was indignant. “Let the little children come to me,” he said, “do not hinder them; for it is to the childlike that the kingdom of God belongs. 041 MAR 010 015 I tell you, unless a person receives the kingdom of God like a child, they will not enter it at all.” 041 MAR 010 016 Then he embraced the children, and, placing his hands on them, gave them his blessing. 041 MAR 010 017 As Jesus was resuming his journey, a man came running up to him, and threw himself on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to gain eternal life?” (aiōnios g166) 041 MAR 010 018 “Why do you call me good?” answered Jesus. “No one is good but God. 041 MAR 010 019 You know the commandments – ‘Do not kill. Do not commit adultery. Do not steal. Do not say what is false about others. Do not cheat. Honor your father and your mother.’” 041 MAR 010 020 “Teacher,” he replied, “I have observed all these from my childhood.” 041 MAR 010 021 Jesus looked at the man, and his heart went out to him, and he said, “There is still one thing wanting in you; go and sell all that you have, and give to the poor, and you will have wealth in heaven; then come and follow me.” 041 MAR 010 022 But the man’s face clouded at these words, and he went away distressed, for he had great possessions. 041 MAR 010 023 Then Jesus looked around, and said to his disciples, “How hard it will be for people of wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” 041 MAR 010 024 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “My children, how hard a thing it is to enter the kingdom of God! 041 MAR 010 025 It is easier for a camel to get through a needle’s eye, than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 041 MAR 010 026 “Then who can be saved?” they exclaimed in the greatest astonishment. 041 MAR 010 027 Jesus looked at them, and answered, “With people it is impossible, but not with God; for everything is possible with God.” 041 MAR 010 028 “But we,” began Peter, “we left everything and have followed you.” 041 MAR 010 029 “I tell you,” said Jesus, “there is no one who has left house, or brothers, or sisters, or mother, or father, or children, or land, for my sake and for the good news, 041 MAR 010 030 who will not receive a hundred times as much, even now in the present – houses, and brothers, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and land, though not without persecutions – and in the age that is coming, eternal life. (aiōn g165, aiōnios g166) 041 MAR 010 031 But many who are first now will then be last, and the last will be first.” 041 MAR 010 032 They were on the road going up to Jerusalem, with Jesus walking in front of them. The disciples were filled with awe, while those who were following behind were overwhelmed with fear. Gathering the Twelve around him once more, Jesus began to tell them what was about to happen to him. 041 MAR 010 033 “Listen!” he said. “We are going up to Jerusalem; and there the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the Law, and they will condemn him to death, and they will give him up to the Gentiles, 041 MAR 010 034 who will mock him, spit on him, and scourge him, and put him to death; and after three days he will rise again.” 041 MAR 010 035 James and John, the two sons of Zebedee, went to Jesus, and said, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” 041 MAR 010 036 “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. 041 MAR 010 037 “Grant us this,” they answered, “to sit, one on your right, and the other on your left, when you come in glory.” 041 MAR 010 038 “You do not know what you are asking,” Jesus said to them. “Can you drink the cup that I am to drink? Or receive the baptism that I am to receive?” 041 MAR 010 039 “Yes,” they answered, “we can.” “You will indeed drink the cup that I am to drink,” Jesus said, “and receive the baptism that I am to receive, 041 MAR 010 040 but as to a seat at my right or at my left – that is not mine to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” 041 MAR 010 041 On hearing of this, the ten others were at first very indignant about James and John. 041 MAR 010 042 But Jesus called the ten to him, and said, “Those who are regarded as ruling among the Gentiles lord it over them, as you know, and their great men oppress them. 041 MAR 010 043 But among you it is not so. No, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 041 MAR 010 044 and whoever wants to take the first place among you must be the servant of all; 041 MAR 010 045 for even the Son of Man came, not be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” 041 MAR 010 046 They came to Jericho. When Jesus was going out of the town with his disciples and a large crowd, Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. 041 MAR 010 047 Hearing that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to call out, “Jesus, Son of David, take pity on me.” 041 MAR 010 048 Many of the people kept telling him to be quiet; but the man continued to call out all the louder, “Son of David, take pity on me.” 041 MAR 010 049 Then Jesus stopped. “Call him,” he said. So they called the blind man. “Have courage!” they exclaimed. “Get up; he is calling you.” 041 MAR 010 050 The man threw off his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus. 041 MAR 010 051 “What do you want me to do for you?” said Jesus, addressing him. “Rabboni,” the blind man answered, “I want to recover my sight.” 041 MAR 010 052 “You may go,” Jesus said, “Your faith has delivered you.” Immediately he recovered his sight, and began to follow Jesus along the road. 041 MAR 011 001 When they had almost reached Jerusalem, as far as Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent on two of his disciples. 041 MAR 011 002 “Go to the village facing you,” he said, “and, as soon as you get there, you will find a foal tethered, which no one has ever ridden; untie it, and bring it. 041 MAR 011 003 And, if anyone says to you ‘Why are you doing that?’, say ‘The Master wants it, and will be sure to send it back here at once.’” 041 MAR 011 004 The two disciples went, and, finding a foal tethered outside a door in the street, they untied it. 041 MAR 011 005 Some of the bystanders said to them, “What are you doing, untying the foal?” 041 MAR 011 006 And the two disciples answered as Jesus had told them; and they allowed them to go. 041 MAR 011 007 Then they brought the foal to Jesus, and, when they had laid their cloaks on it, he seated himself on it. 041 MAR 011 008 Many of the people spread their cloaks on the road, while some strewed boughs which they had cut from the fields; 041 MAR 011 009 and those who led the way, as well as those who followed, kept shouting, “God save him! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! 041 MAR 011 010 Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! God save him from on high!” 041 MAR 011 011 Jesus entered Jerusalem, and went into the Temple Courts; and, after looking around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve. 041 MAR 011 012 The next day, after they had left Bethany, Jesus became hungry; 041 MAR 011 013 and, noticing a fig tree at a distance in leaf, he went to it to see if by any chance he could find something on it; but, on coming up to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 041 MAR 011 014 So, addressing the tree, he exclaimed, “May no one ever again eat of your fruit!” And his disciples heard what he said. (aiōn g165) 041 MAR 011 015 They came to Jerusalem. Jesus went into the Temple Courts, and began to drive out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers, and the seats of the pigeon-dealers, 041 MAR 011 016 and would not allow anyone to carry anything across the Temple Courts. 041 MAR 011 017 Then he began to teach. “Does not scripture say,” he asked, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.” 041 MAR 011 018 Now the chief priests and the teachers of the Law heard this and began to look for some way of putting Jesus to death; for they were afraid of him, since all the people were greatly impressed by his teaching. 041 MAR 011 019 As soon as evening fell, Jesus and his disciples went out of the city. 041 MAR 011 020 As they passed by early in the morning, they noticed that the fig tree was withered up from the roots. 041 MAR 011 021 Then Peter recalled what had occurred. “Look, Rabbi,” he exclaimed, “the fig tree which you doomed is withered up!” 041 MAR 011 022 “Have faith in God!” replied Jesus. 041 MAR 011 023 “I tell you that if anyone should say to this hill ‘Be lifted up and hurled into the sea!’, without ever a doubt in his mind, but in the faith that what he says will be done, he would find that it would be. 041 MAR 011 024 And therefore I say to you ‘Have faith that whatever you ask for in prayer is already granted you, and you will find that it will be.’ 041 MAR 011 025 “And, whenever you stand up to pray, forgive any grievance that you have against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven also may forgive you your offenses.” 041 MAR 011 027 They came to Jerusalem again. While Jesus was walking about in the Temple Courts, the chief priests, the teachers of the Law, and the elders came up to him. 041 MAR 011 028 “What authority have you to do these things?” they said. “Who gave you the authority to do them?” 041 MAR 011 029 “I will put one question to you,” said Jesus. “Answer me that, and then I will tell you what authority I have to act as I do. 041 MAR 011 030 It is about John’s baptism. Was it of divine or human origin? Answer me that.” 041 MAR 011 031 They began arguing together. “If we say ‘divine,’ he will say ‘Why then didn’t you believe him?’ 041 MAR 011 032 Yet can we say ‘human’?” They were afraid of the people, for everyone regarded John as undoubtedly a prophet. 041 MAR 011 033 So their answer to Jesus was – “We do not know.” “Then I,” replied Jesus, “refuse to tell you what authority I have to do these things.” 041 MAR 012 001 Jesus began to speak to them in parables, “A man once planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a wine-press, built a tower, and then let it out to tenants and went abroad. 041 MAR 012 002 At the proper time he sent a servant to the tenants, to receive from them a share of the produce of the grape harvest; 041 MAR 012 003 but they seized him, and beat him, and sent him away empty-handed. 041 MAR 012 004 A second time the owner sent a servant to them; this man, too, the tenants struck on the head, and insulted. 041 MAR 012 005 He sent another, but him they killed; and so with many others – some they beat and some they killed. 041 MAR 012 006 He had still one son, who was very dear to him; and him he sent to them last of all. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said. 041 MAR 012 007 But those tenants said to one another ‘Here is the heir! Come, let us kill him, and his inheritance will be ours.’ 041 MAR 012 008 So they seized him, and killed him, and threw his body outside the vineyard. 041 MAR 012 009 What will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and put the tenants to death, and he will let the vineyard to others. 041 MAR 012 010 “Have you never read this passage of scripture? – ‘The stone which the builders despised has now itself become the cornerstone; 041 MAR 012 011 this cornerstone has come from the Lord, and is marvelous in our eyes.’” 041 MAR 012 012 After this his enemies were eager to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd; for they saw that it was at them that he had aimed the parable. So they left him alone, and went away. 041 MAR 012 013 Afterward they sent to Jesus some of the Pharisees and Herodians, to set a trap for him in the course of conversation. 041 MAR 012 014 These men came to him and said, “Teacher, we know that you are an honest man, and are not afraid of anyone, for you pay no regard to a person’s position, but teach the way of God honestly; are we right in paying taxes to the Emperor, or not? 041 MAR 012 015 Should we pay, or should we not pay?” Knowing their hypocrisy, Jesus said to them, “Why are you testing me? Bring me a coin to look at.” 041 MAR 012 016 And, when they had brought it, he asked, “Whose head and title are these?” “The Emperor’s,” they said; 041 MAR 012 017 and Jesus replied, “Pay to the Emperor what belongs to the Emperor, and to God what belongs to God.” And they were amazed at him. 041 MAR 012 018 Next came some Sadducees – the men who maintain that there is no resurrection. Their question was this – 041 MAR 012 019 “Teacher, in our scriptures Moses decreed that, should a man’s brother die, leaving a widow but no child, the man should take the widow as his wife, and raise up a family for his brother. 041 MAR 012 020 There were once seven brothers. The eldest married, but died and left no family; 041 MAR 012 021 and the second married his widow, and died without family; and so did the third. 041 MAR 012 022 All the seven died and left no family. The woman herself died last of all. 041 MAR 012 023 At the resurrection whose wife will she be, all seven brothers having had her as their wife?” 041 MAR 012 024 “Is not the reason of your mistake,” answered Jesus, “your ignorance of the scriptures and of the power of God? 041 MAR 012 025 When people rise from the dead, there is no marrying or being married; but they are as angels in heaven. 041 MAR 012 026 “As to the dead, and the fact that they rise, have you never read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the Bush, how God spoke to him saying – ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? 041 MAR 012 027 He is not God of dead people, but of living. You are greatly mistaken.” 041 MAR 012 028 Then came up one of the teachers of the Law who had heard their discussions. Knowing that Jesus had answered them wisely, he asked him this question, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” 041 MAR 012 029 “The most important,” answered Jesus, “is – ‘Hear, Israel; the Lord our God is the one Lord; 041 MAR 012 030 and you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ 041 MAR 012 031 The second is this – ‘You must love your neighbor as you love yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” 041 MAR 012 032 “Wisely answered, teacher!” exclaimed the teacher of the Law. “It is true, as you say, that there is one God, and that there is no other besides him; 041 MAR 012 033 and to love him with all one’s heart, and with all one’s understanding, and with all one’s strength, and to love one’s neighbor as one loves oneself is far beyond all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 041 MAR 012 034 Seeing that he had answered with discernment, Jesus said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” After that no one ventured to question him further. 041 MAR 012 035 While Jesus was teaching in the Temple Courts, he asked, “How is it that the teachers of the Law say that the Christ is to be David’s son? 041 MAR 012 036 David said himself, speaking under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit – ‘The Lord said to my lord: Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies beneath your feet.’ 041 MAR 012 037 David himself calls him ‘lord,’ how comes it, then, that he is to be his son?” The mass of the people listened to Jesus with delight. 041 MAR 012 038 In the course of his teaching, Jesus said, “See that you are on your guard against the teachers of the Law, who delight to walk about in long robes, and to be greeted in the streets with respect, 041 MAR 012 039 and to have the best seats in the synagogues, and places of honor at dinner. 041 MAR 012 040 They are the men who rob widows of their homes, and make a pretense of saying long prayers. Their sentence will be all the heavier.” 041 MAR 012 041 Then Jesus sat down opposite the chests for the Temple offerings, and watched how the people put money into them. Many rich people were putting in large sums; 041 MAR 012 042 but one poor widow came and put in two small coins, worth very little. 041 MAR 012 043 Then, calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “I tell you that this poor widow has put in more than all the others who were putting money into the chests; 041 MAR 012 044 for everyone else put in something from what he had to spare, while she, in her need, put in all she had – everything that she had to live on.” 041 MAR 013 001 As Jesus was walking out of the Temple Courts, one of his disciples said to him, “Teacher, look what fine stones and buildings these are!” 041 MAR 013 002 “Do you see these great buildings?” asked Jesus. “Not a single stone will be left here on another, which will not be thrown down.” 041 MAR 013 003 When Jesus had sat down on the Mount of Olives, facing the Temple, Peter, James, John and Andrew questioned him privately, 041 MAR 013 004 “Tell us when this will be, and what will be the sign when all this is drawing to its close.” 041 MAR 013 005 Then Jesus began, “See that no one leads you astray. 041 MAR 013 006 Many will take my name, and come saying ‘I am He’, and will lead many astray. 041 MAR 013 007 “And, when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; such things must occur; but the end is not yet. 041 MAR 013 008 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. This will be but the beginning of the birth-pangs. 041 MAR 013 009 “See to yourselves! They will betray you to courts of law; and you will be taken to synagogues and beaten; and you will be brought up before governors and kings for my sake, so that you can bear witness before them. 041 MAR 013 010 But the good news must first be proclaimed to every nation. 041 MAR 013 011 Whenever they betray you and hand you over for trial, do not be anxious beforehand as to what you will say, but say whatever is given you at the moment; for it will not be you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. 041 MAR 013 012 Brother will betray brother to death, and the father his child; and children will turn against their parents, and cause them to be put to death; 041 MAR 013 013 and you will be hated by everyone because of me. Yet the person who endures to the end will be saved. 041 MAR 013 014 “As soon, however, as you see ‘the Foul Desecration’ standing where it ought not” (the reader must consider what this means) “then those of you who are in Judea must take refuge in the mountains; 041 MAR 013 015 and a person on the house-top must not go down, or go in to get anything out of their house: 041 MAR 013 016 nor must one who is on their farm turn back to get their cloak. 041 MAR 013 017 And alas for pregnant women, and for those who are nursing infants in those days! 041 MAR 013 018 Pray, too, that this may not occur in winter. 041 MAR 013 019 For those days will be a time of distress, the like of which has not occurred from the beginning of God’s creation until now – and never will again. 041 MAR 013 020 And, had not the Lord put a limit to those days, not a single soul would escape; but, for the sake of God’s own chosen people, he did limit them. 041 MAR 013 021 “And at that time if anyone should say to you ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ ‘Look, there he is!’, do not believe it; 041 MAR 013 022 for false Christs and false prophets will arise, and display signs and marvels, to lead astray, were it possible, even God’s people. 041 MAR 013 023 But see that you are on your guard! I have told you all this beforehand. 041 MAR 013 024 “In those days, after that time of distress, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give her light, 041 MAR 013 025 the stars will be falling from the heavens, and the forces that are in the heavens will be convulsed. 041 MAR 013 026 Then will be seen the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory; 041 MAR 013 027 and then he will send the angels, and gather his people from the four winds, from one end of the world to the other. 041 MAR 013 028 “Learn the lesson taught by the fig tree. As soon as its branches are full of sap, and it is bursting into leaf, you know that summer is near. 041 MAR 013 029 And so may you, as soon as you see these things happening, know that he is at your doors. 041 MAR 013 030 I tell you that even the present generation will not pass away, until all these things have taken place. 041 MAR 013 031 The heavens and the earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. 041 MAR 013 032 “But about that day, or the hour, no one knows – not even the angels in heaven, not even the Son – but only the Father. 041 MAR 013 033 “See that you are on the watch; for you do not know when the time will be. 041 MAR 013 034 It is like a man going on a journey, who leaves his home, puts his servants in charge – each having their special duty – and orders the porter to watch. 041 MAR 013 035 Therefore watch, for you cannot be sure when the Master of the house is coming – whether in the evening, at midnight, at daybreak, or in the morning – 041 MAR 013 036 otherwise he might come suddenly and find you asleep. 041 MAR 013 037 And what I say to you I say to all – Watch!” 041 MAR 014 001 It was now two days before the Festival of the Passover and the unleavened bread. The chief priests and the teachers of the Law were looking for an opportunity to arrest Jesus by stealth, and to put him to death; 041 MAR 014 002 for they said, “Not during the Festival, or the people may riot.” 041 MAR 014 003 When Jesus was still at Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, while he was sitting at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of choice spikenard perfume of great value. She broke the jar, and poured the perfume on his head. 041 MAR 014 004 Some of those who were present said to one another indignantly, “Why has the perfume been wasted like this? 041 MAR 014 005 This perfume could have been sold for more than a year’s wages, and the money given to the poor.” 041 MAR 014 006 “Leave her alone,” said Jesus, as they began to find fault with her, “why are you troubling her? This is a beautiful deed that she has done for me. 041 MAR 014 007 You always have the poor with you, and whenever you wish you can do good to them; but you will not always have me. 041 MAR 014 008 She has done what she could; she has perfumed my body beforehand for my burial. 041 MAR 014 009 And I tell you, wherever, in the whole world, the good news is proclaimed, what this woman has done will be told in memory of her.” 041 MAR 014 010 After this, Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests, to betray Jesus to them. 041 MAR 014 011 They were glad to hear what he said, and promised to pay him. So he began looking for a good opportunity to betray Jesus. 041 MAR 014 012 On the first day of the Festival of the unleavened bread, when it was customary to kill the Passover lambs, his disciples said to Jesus, “Where do you wish us to go and make preparations for your eating the Passover?” 041 MAR 014 013 Jesus sent forward two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and there a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you; follow him; 041 MAR 014 014 and, wherever he goes in, say to the owner of the house ‘The teacher says – Where is my room where I am to eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 041 MAR 014 015 He will himself show you a large upstairs room, set out ready; and there make preparations for us.” 041 MAR 014 016 So the disciples set out and went into the city, and found everything just as Jesus had told them; and they prepared the Passover. 041 MAR 014 017 In the evening he went there with the Twelve, 041 MAR 014 018 and when they had taken their places and were eating, Jesus said, “I tell you that one of you is going to betray me – one who is eating with me.” 041 MAR 014 019 They were grieved at this, and began to say to him, one after another, “Can it be I?” 041 MAR 014 020 “It is one of you Twelve,” said Jesus, “the one who is dipping his bread beside me into the dish. 041 MAR 014 021 True, the Son of Man must go, as scripture says of him, yet alas for that man by whom the Son of Man is being betrayed! For that man it would be better never to have been born!” 041 MAR 014 022 While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and, after saying the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, and said, “Take it; this is my body.” 041 MAR 014 023 Then he took a cup, and, after saying the thanksgiving, gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 041 MAR 014 024 “This is my covenant-blood,” he said, “which is poured out on behalf of many. 041 MAR 014 025 I tell you that I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine, until that day when I will drink it new in the kingdom of God.” 041 MAR 014 026 They then sang a hymn, and went out up the Mount of Olives, 041 MAR 014 027 presently Jesus said to them, “All of you will fall away; for scripture says – ‘I will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ 041 MAR 014 028 Yet, after I have risen, I will go before you into Galilee.” 041 MAR 014 029 “Even if everyone else falls away,” said Peter, “I will not.” 041 MAR 014 030 “I tell you,” answered Jesus, “that you yourself today – yes, this very night – before the cock crows twice, will disown me three times.” 041 MAR 014 031 But Peter vehemently protested, “Even if I must die with you, I will never disown you!” And they all said the same. 041 MAR 014 032 Presently they came to a garden known as Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples “Sit down here while I pray.” 041 MAR 014 033 He took with him Peter, James, and John; and began to show signs of great dismay and deep distress of mind. 041 MAR 014 034 “I am sad at heart,” he said, “sad even to death; wait here, and watch.” 041 MAR 014 035 Going on a little further, he threw himself on the ground, and began to pray that, if it were possible, he might be spared that hour. 041 MAR 014 036 “Abba, Father,” he said, “all things are possible to you; take away this cup from me; yet, not what I will, but what you will.” 041 MAR 014 037 Then he came and found the three apostles asleep. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Couldn’t you watch for one hour? 041 MAR 014 038 Watch and pray,” he said to them all, “so that you may not fall into temptation. True, the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 041 MAR 014 039 Again he went away, and prayed in the same words; 041 MAR 014 040 and coming back again he found them asleep, for their eyes were heavy; and they did not know what to say to him. 041 MAR 014 041 A third time he came, and said to them, “Sleep on now, and rest yourselves. Enough! My time has come. Look, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of wicked people. 041 MAR 014 042 Up, and let us be going. Look! My betrayer is close at hand.” 041 MAR 014 043 And just then, while he was still speaking, Judas, who was one of the Twelve, came up; and with him a crowd of people, with swords and clubs, sent by the chief priests, the teachers of the Law, and the elders. 041 MAR 014 044 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them. “The man whom I kiss,” he had said, “will be the one; arrest him and take him away safely.” 041 MAR 014 045 As soon as Judas came, he went up to Jesus at once, and said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him. 041 MAR 014 046 Then the men seized Jesus, and arrested him. 041 MAR 014 047 One of those who were standing by drew his sword, and struck at the high priest’s servant, and cut off his ear. 041 MAR 014 048 But Jesus spoke up, and said to the men, “Have you come out, as if after a robber, with swords and clubs, to take me? 041 MAR 014 049 I have been among you day after day in the Temple Courts teaching, and yet you did not arrest me; but this is in fulfillment of the scriptures.” 041 MAR 014 050 And all the apostles deserted him and fled. 041 MAR 014 051 One young man did indeed follow him, wrapped only in a linen sheet. They tried to arrest him; 041 MAR 014 052 but he left the sheet in their hands, and fled naked. 041 MAR 014 053 Then they took Jesus to the high priest; and all the chief priests, elders, and the teachers of the Law assembled. 041 MAR 014 054 Peter, who had followed Jesus at a distance into the courtyard of the high priest, was sitting there among the guards, warming himself at the blaze of the fire. 041 MAR 014 055 Meanwhile the chief priest and the whole of the High Council were trying to get such evidence against Jesus as would warrant his being put to death, but they could not find any; 041 MAR 014 056 for, though there were many who gave false evidence against him, yet their evidence did not agree. 041 MAR 014 057 Presently some men stood up, and gave this false evidence against him – 041 MAR 014 058 “We ourselves heard him say ‘I will destroy this Temple made with hands, and in three days build another made without hands.’” 041 MAR 014 059 Yet not even on that point did their evidence agree. 041 MAR 014 060 Then the high priest stood forward, and questioned Jesus. “Have you no answer to make?” he asked. “What is this evidence which these men are giving against you?” 041 MAR 014 061 But Jesus remained silent, and made no answer. A second time the high priest questioned him. “Are you,” he asked, “the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?” 041 MAR 014 062 “I am,” replied Jesus, “and you will all see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of the Almighty, and coming in the clouds of heaven.” 041 MAR 014 063 At this the high priest tore his vestments. “Why do we want any more witnesses?” he exclaimed. 041 MAR 014 064 “You heard his blasphemy? What is your verdict?” They all condemned him, declaring that he deserved death. 041 MAR 014 065 Some of those present began to spit at him, and to blindfold his eyes, and strike him, saying, as they did so, “Now play the prophet!” and even the guards received him with blows. 041 MAR 014 066 While Peter was in the courtyard down below, one of the high priest’s maidservants came up; 041 MAR 014 067 and, seeing Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him, and exclaimed, “Why, you were with Jesus, the Nazarene!” 041 MAR 014 068 But Peter denied it. “I do not know or understand what you mean,” he replied. Then he went out into the porch; 041 MAR 014 069 and there the maidservant, on seeing him, began to say again to the bystanders, “This is one of them!” 041 MAR 014 070 But Peter again denied it. Soon afterward the bystanders again said to him, “You certainly are one of them; why you are a Galilean!” 041 MAR 014 071 But he said to them, “I swear that I do not know the man you are talking about! May God punish me if I am lying!” 041 MAR 014 072 At that moment, for the second time, a cock crowed; and Peter remembered the words that Jesus had said to him – ‘Before a cock has crowed twice, you will disown me three times’; and, as he thought of it, he began to weep. 041 MAR 015 001 As soon as it was daylight, the chief priests, after holding a consultation with elders and teachers of the Law – that is to say, the whole High Council – put Jesus in chains, and took him away, and gave him up to Pilate. 041 MAR 015 002 “Are you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate. “It is true,” replied Jesus. 041 MAR 015 003 Then the chief priests brought a number of charges against him. 041 MAR 015 004 So Pilate questioned Jesus again. “Have you no reply to make?” he asked. “Listen, how many charges they are bringing against you.” 041 MAR 015 005 But Jesus still made no reply whatever; at which Pilate was astonished. 041 MAR 015 006 Now, at the feast, Pilate used to grant the people the release of any one prisoner whom they might ask for. 041 MAR 015 007 A man called Barabbas was in prison, with the rioters who had committed murder during a riot. 041 MAR 015 008 So, when the crowd went up and began to ask Pilate to follow his usual custom, 041 MAR 015 009 he answered, “Do you want me to release the ‘king of the Jews’ for you?” 041 MAR 015 010 For he was aware that it was out of jealousy that the chief priests had given Jesus up to him. 041 MAR 015 011 But the chief priests incited the crowd to get Barabbas released instead. 041 MAR 015 012 Pilate, however, spoke to them again, “What should I do then with the man whom you call the ‘king of the Jews’?” 041 MAR 015 013 Again they shouted, “Crucify him!” 041 MAR 015 014 “Why, what harm has he done?” Pilate kept saying to them. But they shouted furiously, “Crucify him!” 041 MAR 015 015 And Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas to them, and, after scourging Jesus, gave him up to be crucified. 041 MAR 015 016 The soldiers then took Jesus away into the courtyard – that is the Government house – and they called the whole garrison together. 041 MAR 015 017 They dressed him in a purple robe, and, having twisted a crown of thorns, put it on him, 041 MAR 015 018 and then began to salute him. “Long life to you, king of the Jews!” they said. 041 MAR 015 019 And they kept striking him on the head with a rod, spitting at him, and bowing to the ground before him – going down on their knees; 041 MAR 015 020 and, when they had left off mocking him, they took off the purple robe, and put his own clothes on him. 041 MAR 015 021 They led Jesus out to crucify him; and they compelled a passer-by, Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to go with them to carry his cross. 041 MAR 015 022 They brought Jesus to the place which was known as Golgotha – a name which means ‘place of a Skull.’ 041 MAR 015 023 There they offered him drugged wine; but Jesus refused it. 041 MAR 015 024 Then they crucified him, and divided his clothes among them, casting lots for them, to settle what each should take. 041 MAR 015 025 It was nine in the morning when they crucified him. 041 MAR 015 026 The words of the charge against him, written up over his head, read – ‘THE KING OF THE JEWS.’ 041 MAR 015 027 And with him they crucified two robbers, one on the right, and the other on the left. 041 MAR 015 029 The passers-by railed at him, shaking their heads, as they said, “Ah! You who would destroy the Temple and build one in three days, 041 MAR 015 030 come down from the cross and save yourself!” 041 MAR 015 031 In the same way the chief priests, with the teachers of the Law, said to one another in mockery, 041 MAR 015 032 “He saved others, but he cannot save himself! Let the Christ, the ‘king of Israel,’ come down from the cross now so that we can see it and believe.” Even the men who had been crucified with Jesus insulted him. 041 MAR 015 033 At midday, a darkness came over the whole country, lasting until three in the afternoon. 041 MAR 015 034 And, at three, Jesus called out loudly, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabacthani?” which means ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ 041 MAR 015 035 Some of those standing around heard this, and said, “Listen! He is calling for Elijah!” 041 MAR 015 036 And a man ran, and, soaking a sponge in common wine, put it on the end of a rod, and offered it to him to drink, saying as he did so, “Wait and let us see if Elijah is coming to take him down.” 041 MAR 015 037 But Jesus, giving a loud cry, breathed his last. 041 MAR 015 038 The Temple curtain was torn in two from top to bottom. 041 MAR 015 039 The Roman officer, who was standing facing Jesus, on seeing the way in which he breathed his last, exclaimed, “This man must indeed have been God’s son!” 041 MAR 015 040 There were some women also watching from a distance, among them being Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of James the Little and of Joseph, and Salome – 041 MAR 015 041 all of whom used to accompany Jesus when he was in Galilee, and give him support – besides many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem. 041 MAR 015 042 The evening had already fallen, when, as it was the Preparation day – the day before the Sabbath – 041 MAR 015 043 Joseph from Arimathea, a councillor of good position, who was himself living in expectation of the kingdom of God, came and ventured to go in to see Pilate, and to ask for the body of Jesus. 041 MAR 015 044 But Pilate was surprised to hear that he had already died. So he sent for the officer, and asked if he were already dead; 041 MAR 015 045 and, on learning from the officer that it was so, he gave the corpse to Joseph. 041 MAR 015 046 Joseph, having bought a linen sheet, took Jesus down, and wound the sheet around him, and laid him in a tomb which had been cut out of the rock; and then rolled a stone up against the entrance of the tomb. 041 MAR 015 047 Mary of Magdala and Mary, the mother of Joseph, were watching to see where he was laid. 041 MAR 016 001 When the Sabbath was over, Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought some spices, so that they might go and anoint the body of Jesus. 041 MAR 016 002 Very early on the first day of the week they went to the tomb, after sunrise. 041 MAR 016 003 They were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” 041 MAR 016 004 But, on looking up, they saw that the stone had already been rolled back; it was a very large one. 041 MAR 016 005 Going into the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on their right, in a white robe, and they were dismayed; but he said to them, 041 MAR 016 006 “Do not be dismayed; you are looking for Jesus, the Nazarene, who has been crucified; he has risen, he is not here! Look! Here is the place where they laid him. 041 MAR 016 007 But go, and say to his disciples and to Peter ‘He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you.’” 041 MAR 016 008 They went out, and fled from the tomb, for they were trembling and bewildered; and they did not say a word to anyone, for they were frightened. 041 MAR 016 009 (note: The most reliable and earliest manuscripts do not include Mark 16:9-20.) After his rising again, early on the first day of the week, Jesus appeared first of all to Mary of Magdala, from whom he had driven out seven demons. 041 MAR 016 010 She went and told the news to those who had been with him and who were now in sorrow and tears; 041 MAR 016 011 yet even they, when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, did not believe it. 041 MAR 016 012 Afterward, altered in appearance, he made himself known to two of them, as they were walking, on their way into the country. 041 MAR 016 013 They also went and told the rest, but they did not believe even them. 041 MAR 016 014 Later on, he made himself known to the Eleven themselves as they were at a meal, and reproached them with their want of faith and their stubbornness, because they did not believe those who had seen him after he had risen from the dead. 041 MAR 016 015 Then he said to them, “Go into all the world, and proclaim the good news to all creation. 041 MAR 016 016 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who refuses to believe will be condemned. 041 MAR 016 017 Moreover these signs will attend those who believe. In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new languages; 041 MAR 016 018 they will take up snakes in their hands; and, if they drink any poison, it will not hurt them; they will place their hands on sick people and they will recover.” 041 MAR 016 019 So the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and sat at the right hand of God. 041 MAR 016 020 But they set out, and made the proclamation everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the message by the signs which attended it. But all that had been revealed to them they reported briefly to Peter and his companions. Afterward Jesus himself sent them out, from east to west, the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation. # # BOOK 042 LUK Luke Luke 042 LUK 001 001 To his Excellency, Theophilus. Many attempts have been already made to draw up an account of those events which have reached their conclusion among us, 042 LUK 001 002 just as they were reported to us by those who from the beginning were eye-witnesses, and afterward became bearers of the message. 042 LUK 001 003 And, therefore, I also, since I have investigated all these events with great care from their very beginning, have resolved to write a connected history of them for you, 042 LUK 001 004 in order that you may be able to satisfy yourself of the accuracy of the story which you have heard from the lips of others. 042 LUK 001 005 In the reign of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the division called after Abijah. His wife, whose name was Elizabeth, was also a descendant of Aaron. 042 LUK 001 006 They were both righteous people, who lived blameless lives, guiding their steps by all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord. 042 LUK 001 007 But they had no child, Elizabeth being barren; and both of them were advanced in years. 042 LUK 001 008 One day, when Zechariah was officiating as priest before God, during the turn of his division, 042 LUK 001 009 it fell to him by lot, in accordance with the practice among the priests, to go into the Temple of the Lord and burn incense; 042 LUK 001 010 and, as it was the Hour of Incense, the people were all praying outside. 042 LUK 001 011 And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right of the Altar of Incense. 042 LUK 001 012 Zechariah was startled at the sight and was awe-struck. 042 LUK 001 013 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, whom you will call by the name John. 042 LUK 001 014 He will be to you a joy and a delight; and many will rejoice over his birth. 042 LUK 001 015 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; he will not drink any wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit from the very hour of his birth, 042 LUK 001 016 and will reconcile many of the Israelites to the Lord their God. 042 LUK 001 017 He will go before him in the spirit and with the power of Elijah, to reconcile fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, and so make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him.” 042 LUK 001 018 “How can I be sure of this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years.” 042 LUK 001 019 “I am Gabriel,” the angel answered, “who stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 042 LUK 001 020 And now you will be silent and unable to speak until the day when this takes place, because you did not believe what I said, though my words will be fulfilled in due course.” 042 LUK 001 021 Meanwhile the people were watching for Zechariah, wondering at his remaining so long in the Temple. 042 LUK 001 022 When he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision there. But Zechariah kept making signs to them, and remained dumb. 042 LUK 001 023 And, as soon as his term of service was finished, he returned home. 042 LUK 001 024 After this his wife, Elizabeth, became pregnant and lived in seclusion for five months. 042 LUK 001 025 “The Lord has done this for me,” she said, “he has shown me kindness and taken away the public disgrace of childlessness under which I have been living.” 042 LUK 001 026 Six months later the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 042 LUK 001 027 to a maiden there who was engaged to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. Her name was Mary. 042 LUK 001 028 Gabriel came into her presence and greeted her, saying, “You have been shown great favor – the Lord is with you.” 042 LUK 001 029 Mary was much disturbed at his words, and was wondering to herself what such a greeting could mean, 042 LUK 001 030 when the angel spoke again, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 042 LUK 001 031 And now, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will give him the name Jesus. 042 LUK 001 032 The child will be great and will be called ‘Son of the Most High,’ and the Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David, 042 LUK 001 033 and he will reign over the descendants of Jacob for ever; And to his kingdom there will be no end.” (aiōn g165) 042 LUK 001 034 “How can this be?” Mary asked the angel. “For I have no husband.” 042 LUK 001 035 “The Holy Spirit will descend on you,” answered the angel, “and the Power of the Most High will overshadow you; and therefore the child will be called ‘holy,’ and ‘Son of God.’ 042 LUK 001 036 And Elizabeth, your cousin, is herself also expecting a son in her old age; and it is now the sixth month with her, though she is called barren; 042 LUK 001 037 for no promise from God will fail to be fulfilled.” 042 LUK 001 038 “I am the servant of the Lord,” exclaimed Mary. “Let it be with me as you have said.” Then the angel left her. 042 LUK 001 039 Soon after this Mary set out, and made her way quickly into the hill-country, to a town in Judah; 042 LUK 001 040 and there she went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. 042 LUK 001 041 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child moved within her, and Elizabeth herself was filled with the Holy Spirit, 042 LUK 001 042 and cried aloud, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is your unborn child! 042 LUK 001 043 But how have I this honor, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 042 LUK 001 044 For, as soon as your greeting reached my ears, the child moved within me with delight! 042 LUK 001 045 Happy indeed is she who believed that the promise which she received from the Lord would be fulfilled.” 042 LUK 001 046 And Mary said: “My soul exalts the Lord, 042 LUK 001 047 and my spirit delights in God my Savior, 042 LUK 001 048 for he has looked with favor on his humble servant girl. From now on all generations will call me blessed! 042 LUK 001 049 “For the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. 042 LUK 001 050 He has mercy on those who revere him in every generation. 042 LUK 001 051 “Mighty are the deeds of his arm! He has scattered the self-satisfied proud, 042 LUK 001 052 he has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and he uplifts the humble, 042 LUK 001 053 he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. 042 LUK 001 054 “He has stretched out his hand to his servant Israel, ever mindful of his mercy, 042 LUK 001 055 as he promised to our ancestors, to Abraham and his descendants for ever.” (aiōn g165) 042 LUK 001 056 Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months, and then returned to her home. 042 LUK 001 057 When Elizabeth’s time came, she gave birth to a son; 042 LUK 001 058 and her neighbors and relatives, hearing of the great goodness of the Lord to her, came to share her joy. 042 LUK 001 059 A week later they met to circumcise the child, and were about to call him Zechariah after his father, 042 LUK 001 060 when his mother spoke up, “No, he is to be called John.” 042 LUK 001 061 “You have no relation of that name!” they exclaimed; 042 LUK 001 062 and they made signs to the child’s father, to find out what he wished the child to be called. 042 LUK 001 063 Asking for a writing tablet, he wrote the words – ‘His name is John.’ Everyone was surprised 042 LUK 001 064 and immediately Zechariah recovered his voice and the use of his tongue, and began to bless God. 042 LUK 001 065 All their neighbors were awe-struck at this, and throughout the hill-country of Judea the whole story was much talked about. 042 LUK 001 066 All who heard it kept it in mind, asking one another – “What can this child be destined to become?” For the Power of the Lord was with him. 042 LUK 001 067 Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit, and, speaking under inspiration, said: 042 LUK 001 068 “Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, who has visited his people and wrought their deliverance, 042 LUK 001 069 and has raised up for us the strength of our salvation in the house of his servant David – 042 LUK 001 070 as he promised by the lips of his holy prophets of old – (aiōn g165) 042 LUK 001 071 salvation from our enemies and from the hands of all who hate us, 042 LUK 001 072 showing mercy to our ancestors, and mindful of his sacred covenant. 042 LUK 001 073 This was the oath which he swore to our ancestor Abraham – 042 LUK 001 074 that we should be rescued from the hands of our enemies, 042 LUK 001 075 and should serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness, in his presence all our days. 042 LUK 001 076 And you, child, will be called prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to make ready his way, 042 LUK 001 077 to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, 042 LUK 001 078 through the tender mercy of our God, whereby the dawn will break on us from heaven, 042 LUK 001 079 to give light to those who live in darkness and the shadow of death, and guide our feet into the way of peace.” 042 LUK 001 080 The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he lived in the wilds until the time came for his appearance before Israel. 042 LUK 002 001 About that time an edict was issued by the Emperor Augustus that a census should be taken of the whole Empire. 042 LUK 002 002 (This was the first census taken while Quirinius was Governor of Syria). 042 LUK 002 003 And everyone went to his own town to be registered. 042 LUK 002 004 Among others Joseph went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem, the town of David, in Judea – because he belonged to the family and house of David – 042 LUK 002 005 to be registered with Mary, his engaged wife, who was about to become a mother. 042 LUK 002 006 While they were there her time came, 042 LUK 002 007 and she gave birth to her first child, a son. And because there was no room for them in the inn, she swathed him around and laid him in a manger. 042 LUK 002 008 In that same countryside were shepherds out in the open fields, watching their flocks that night, 042 LUK 002 009 when an angel of the Lord suddenly stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were seized with fear. 042 LUK 002 010 “Have no fear,” the angel said. “For I bring you good news of a great joy in store for all the nation. 042 LUK 002 011 This day there has been born to you, in the town of David, a Savior, who is Christ and Lord. 042 LUK 002 012 And this will be the sign for you. You will find the infant swathed, and lying in a manger.” 042 LUK 002 013 Then suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly Host, praising God, and singing – 042 LUK 002 014 “glory to God on high, and on earth peace among those in whom he finds pleasure.” 042 LUK 002 015 Now, when the angels had left them and gone back to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go at once to Bethlehem, and see this thing that has happened, of which the Lord has told us.” 042 LUK 002 016 So they went quickly, and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in a manger; 042 LUK 002 017 and, when they saw it, they told of all that had been said to them about this child. 042 LUK 002 018 All who heard the shepherds were astonished at their story, 042 LUK 002 019 while Mary treasured in her heart all that they said, and thought about it often. 042 LUK 002 020 And the shepherds went back, giving glory and praise to God for all that they had heard and seen. It had all happened as they had been told. 042 LUK 002 021 Eight days after the birth of the child, when it was time to circumcise him, he received the name Jesus – the name given him by the angel before his conception. 042 LUK 002 022 When the period of purification of mother and child, required by the Law of Moses, came to an end, his parents took the child up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, 042 LUK 002 023 in compliance with the Law of the Lord that every firstborn male will be dedicated to the Lord, 042 LUK 002 024 and also to offer the sacrifice required by the Law of the Lord – a pair of turtle-doves or two young pigeons. 042 LUK 002 025 There was at that time in Jerusalem a man named Simeon, a righteous and devout man, who lived in constant expectation of Israel’s consulation, and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. 042 LUK 002 026 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not die until he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 042 LUK 002 027 Moved by the Spirit, Simeon came into the Temple Courts, and, when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the Law, 042 LUK 002 028 Simeon himself took the child in his arms, and blessed God, and said: 042 LUK 002 029 “Now, Lord, you will let your servant go, according to your word, in peace, 042 LUK 002 030 for my eyes have seen the salvation 042 LUK 002 031 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations – 042 LUK 002 032 a light to bring light to the Gentiles, and to be the glory of your people Israel.” 042 LUK 002 033 While the child’s father and mother were wondering at what was said about him, 042 LUK 002 034 Simeon gave them his blessing, and said to Mary, the child’s mother, “This child is appointed to be the cause of the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign much spoken against – 042 LUK 002 035 Yes, the sword will pierce your own heart – and so the thoughts in many minds will be disclosed.” 042 LUK 002 036 There was also a prophet named Hannah, a daughter of Phanuel and of the tribe of Asher. She was far advanced in years, having lived with her husband for seven years after marriage, 042 LUK 002 037 and then a widow, until she had reached the age of eighty-four. She never left the Temple Courts, but, fasting and praying, worshiped God night and day. 042 LUK 002 038 At that moment she came up, and began publicly to thank God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the deliverance of Jerusalem. 042 LUK 002 039 When the child’s parents had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. 042 LUK 002 040 The child grew and became strong and wise, and the blessing of God was on him. 042 LUK 002 041 Every year the child’s parents used to go to Jerusalem at the Passover Festival. 042 LUK 002 042 When Jesus was twelve years old, they went according to custom to Jerusalem, 042 LUK 002 043 and had finished their visit; but, when they started to return, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, without their knowing it. 042 LUK 002 044 Thinking that he was with their fellow travelers, they went one day’s journey before searching for him among their relatives and acquaintances; 042 LUK 002 045 and then, as they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching everywhere for him. 042 LUK 002 046 It was not until the third day that they found him in the Temple Courts, sitting among the teachers, now listening to them, now asking them questions. 042 LUK 002 047 All who listened to him marveled at his intelligence and his answers. 042 LUK 002 048 His parents were amazed when they saw him, and his mother said to him, “My child, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” 042 LUK 002 049 “What made you search for me?” he answered. “Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?” 042 LUK 002 050 His parents did not understand what he meant. 042 LUK 002 051 However he went down with them to Nazareth, and submitted himself to their control; and his mother treasured all that was said in her heart. 042 LUK 002 052 And Jesus grew in wisdom as he grew in years, and gained the blessing of God and people. 042 LUK 003 001 In the fifteenth year of the reign of the Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod ruler of Galilee, his brother Philip ruler of the territory comprising Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, 042 LUK 003 002 and when Annas and Caiaphas were high priests, a command from God came to John, the son of Zechariah, while he was in the wilderness. 042 LUK 003 003 And John went through the whole district of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance, for the forgiveness of sins. 042 LUK 003 004 This was in fulfillment of what is said in the writings of the prophet Isaiah – ‘The voice of one crying aloud in the wilderness: “Make ready the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 042 LUK 003 005 Every chasm will be filled, every mountain and hill will be leveled. The winding ways will be straightened, the rough roads made smooth, 042 LUK 003 006 and everyone will see the salvation of God.”’ 042 LUK 003 007 And John said to the crowds that went to be baptized by him, “You children of snakes! Who has prompted you to seek refuge from the coming judgment? 042 LUK 003 008 Let your lives, then, prove your repentance; and do not begin to say among yourselves ‘Abraham is our ancestor,’ for I tell you that out of these stones God is able to raise descendants for Abraham! 042 LUK 003 009 Already, indeed, the axe is lying at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that fails to bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” 042 LUK 003 010 “What are we to do then?” the people asked. 042 LUK 003 011 “Let anyone who has two coats,” answered John, “share with the person who has none; and anyone who has food do the same.” 042 LUK 003 012 Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and said to John, “Teacher, what are we to do?” 042 LUK 003 013 “Do not collect more than you have authority to demand,” John answered. 042 LUK 003 014 And when some soldiers on active service asked “And we – what are we to do?” he said, “Never use violence, or exact anything by false accusation; and be content with your pay.” 042 LUK 003 015 Then, while the people were in suspense, and were all debating with themselves whether John could be the Christ, 042 LUK 003 016 John, addressing them all, said, “I, indeed, baptize you with water; but there is coming one more powerful than I, and I am not fit even to unfasten his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 042 LUK 003 017 His winnowing-fan is in his hand so that he may clear his threshing-floor, and store the grain in his barn, but the chaff he will burn with a fire that cannot be put out.” 042 LUK 003 018 And so with many different appeals John told his good news to the people. 042 LUK 003 019 But when John rebuked Herod the ruler, for Herodia his brother’s wife, and for all the evil things that he had done, 042 LUK 003 020 Herod crowned them all by shutting John up in prison. 042 LUK 003 021 Now after the baptism of all the people, and when Jesus had been baptized and was still praying, the heavens opened, 042 LUK 003 022 and the Holy Spirit came down on him in the form of a dove, and from the heavens came a voice – “You are my dearly loved son; you bring me great joy.” 042 LUK 003 023 When beginning his work, Jesus was about thirty years old. He was regarded as the son of Joseph, whose ancestors were – Eli, 042 LUK 003 024 Mattith, Levi, Melchiah, Janna, Joseph, 042 LUK 003 025 Mattithiah, Amos, Nahum, Azaliah, Nogah, 042 LUK 003 026 Mattith, Mattithiah, Shimei, Joseph, Josheh, 042 LUK 003 027 Johanan, Rhesa, Zerubbabel, Salathiel, Neriah, 042 LUK 003 028 Melchiah, Addi, Cosam, Elmodam, Er, 042 LUK 003 029 Joshua, Eliezer, Joram, Mattith, Levi, 042 LUK 003 030 Simeon, Judah, Joseph, Jonam, Eliakim, 042 LUK 003 031 Meleah, Menan, Mattithiah, Nathan, David, 042 LUK 003 032 Jesse, Obed, Boaz, Salah, Nahshon, 042 LUK 003 033 Aminadab, Arni, Hezron, Perez, Judah, 042 LUK 003 034 Jacob, Isaac, Abraham, Terah, Nahor, 042 LUK 003 035 Serug, Reu, Peleg, Eber, Shelah, 042 LUK 003 036 Kenan, Arpachshad, Shem, Noah, Lamech, 042 LUK 003 037 Methuselah, Enoch, Jared, Mahalalel, Kenan, 042 LUK 003 038 Enosh, Seth, son of Adam, and Adam, son of God. 042 LUK 004 001 On returning from the Jordan, full of the Holy Spirit, Jesus was led by the power of the Spirit through the wilderness for forty days, tempted by the devil. 042 LUK 004 002 All that time he ate nothing; and, when it was over, he became hungry. 042 LUK 004 003 So the devil said to him, “If you are God’s Son, tell this stone to become a loaf of bread.” 042 LUK 004 004 And Jesus answered him, “Scripture says – ‘It is not on bread alone that a person is to live.’” 042 LUK 004 005 And the devil led Jesus up, and showing him in a single moment all the kingdoms of the earth, said to him, 042 LUK 004 006 “I will give you all this power, and the splendor of them; for it has been given into my hands and I give it to whom I wish. 042 LUK 004 007 If you worship me, it will all be yours.” 042 LUK 004 008 And Jesus answered him, “Scripture says – ‘You should worship the Lord your God, and worship him only.’” 042 LUK 004 009 The devil next led him into Jerusalem, and, placing him on the parapet of the Temple, said, “If you are God’s Son throw yourself down from here, 042 LUK 004 010 for scripture says – ‘He will give his angels commands about you, to guard you safely,’ 042 LUK 004 011 And ‘On their hands they will lift you up, otherwise you might strike your foot against a stone.’” 042 LUK 004 012 But Jesus answered him, “It is said – ‘You must not tempt the Lord your God.’” 042 LUK 004 013 When he had tried every kind of temptation, the devil left Jesus, until another opportunity. 042 LUK 004 014 Moved by the power of the Spirit, Jesus returned to Galilee. Reports about him spread through all that region; 042 LUK 004 015 and he began to teach in their synagogues, and was honored by everyone. 042 LUK 004 016 Coming to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, Jesus, as was his custom, went on the Sabbath into the synagogue, and stood up to read the scriptures. 042 LUK 004 017 He was given the book of the prophet Isaiah; and Jesus opened the book and found the place where it says – 042 LUK 004 018 ‘The Spirit of the Lord is on me, for he has consecrated me to bring good news to the poor, he has sent me to proclaim release to captives and restoration of sight to the blind, to set the oppressed at liberty, 042 LUK 004 019 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.’ 042 LUK 004 020 Then, closing the book and returning it to the attendant, he sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him, 042 LUK 004 021 and Jesus began, “This very day this passage has been fulfilled in your hearing.” 042 LUK 004 022 All who were present spoke well of him, and were astonished at the beautiful words that fell from his lips. “Isn’t Joseph’s son?” they asked. 042 LUK 004 023 “Doubtless,” said Jesus, “you will remind me of the saying – ‘Doctor, cure yourself;’ and you will say ‘Do here in your own country all that we have heard that has been done at Capernaum.’ 042 LUK 004 024 I tell you,” he continued, “that no prophet is acceptable in his own country. 042 LUK 004 025 There were, doubtless, many widows in Israel in Elijah’s days, when the heavens were closed for three years and six months, and a severe famine prevailed throughout the country; 042 LUK 004 026 and yet it was not to one of them that Elijah was sent, but to a widow at Zarephath in Sidonia. 042 LUK 004 027 And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, yet it was not one of them who was made clean, but Naaman the Syrian.” 042 LUK 004 028 All the people in the synagogue, as they listened to this, became enraged. 042 LUK 004 029 Starting up, they drove Jesus out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town stood, intending to hurl him down. 042 LUK 004 030 But he passed through the middle of the crowd and went on his way. 042 LUK 004 031 Then Jesus went down to Capernaum, a city in Galilee. On the Sabbath he taught the people. 042 LUK 004 032 They were amazed at his teaching, because his words were spoken with authority. 042 LUK 004 033 In the synagogue there was a man with the spirit of a foul demon in him, who called out loudly, 042 LUK 004 034 “Stop! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are – the Holy One of God!” 042 LUK 004 035 But Jesus rebuked the demon. “Be silent! Come out from him,” he said. The demon flung the man down in the middle of the people, and then came out from him, without causing him further harm. 042 LUK 004 036 And they were all lost in amazement, and kept saying to one another, “What words are these? For he gives his commands to the foul spirits with a marvelous authority, and they come out.” 042 LUK 004 037 And rumors about Jesus traveled through every place in the region. 042 LUK 004 038 On leaving the synagogue, Jesus went into Simon’s house. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a severe attack of fever, and they asked Jesus to cure her. 042 LUK 004 039 Bending over her, he rebuked the fever; the fever left her, and she immediately got up and began to take care of them. 042 LUK 004 040 At sunset, all who had friends suffering from various diseases took them to Jesus; and he placed his hands on everyone of them and cured them. 042 LUK 004 041 And even demons came out from many people, screaming ‘You are the Son of God.’ Jesus rebuked them, and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ. 042 LUK 004 042 At daybreak, Jesus went out and walked to a lonely spot. But crowds of people began to look for him; and they came to where he was and tried to detain him and prevent his leaving them. 042 LUK 004 043 Jesus, however, said to them, “I must take the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns too, for that was why I was sent.” 042 LUK 004 044 And he continued to make his proclamation in the synagogues of Judea. 042 LUK 005 001 Once, when the people were pressing around Jesus as they listened to God’s message, he happened to be standing by the shore of the Lake of Gennesaret, and saw two boats close to the shore. 042 LUK 005 002 The fishermen had gone away from them and were washing the nets. 042 LUK 005 003 So, getting into one of the boats, which belonged to Simon, Jesus asked him to push off a little way from the shore, and then sat down and taught the people from the boat. 042 LUK 005 004 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Push off into deep water, and throw out your nets for a haul.” 042 LUK 005 005 “We have been hard at work all night, Sir,” answered Simon, “and have not caught anything, but, at your bidding, I will throw out the nets.” 042 LUK 005 006 They did so, and enclosed such a great shoal of fish that their nets began to break. 042 LUK 005 007 So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them; and they came and filled both the boats so full of fish that they were almost sinking. 042 LUK 005 008 When Simon Peter saw this, he threw himself down at Jesus’ knees, exclaiming, “Master, leave me, for I am a sinful man!” 042 LUK 005 009 For he and all who were with him were lost in amazement at the haul of fish which they had made; 042 LUK 005 010 and so, too, were James and John, Zebedee’s sons, who were Simon’s partners. “Do not be afraid,” Jesus said to Simon, “from today you will catch people.” 042 LUK 005 011 And, when they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything, and followed him. 042 LUK 005 012 On one occasion Jesus was staying in a town, when he saw a man who was covered with leprosy. When the leper saw Jesus, he threw himself on his face and implored his help, “Master, if only you are willing, you are able to make me clean.” 042 LUK 005 013 Stretching out his hand, Jesus touched him, saying as he did so, “I am willing; become clean.” Instantly the leprosy left the man; 042 LUK 005 014 and then Jesus impressed on him that he was not to say a word to anyone, “but,” he added, “set out and show yourself to the priest, and make the offerings for your cleansing, in the manner directed by Moses, as evidence of your cure.” 042 LUK 005 015 However, the story about Jesus spread all the more, and great crowds came together to listen to him, and to be cured of their illnesses; 042 LUK 005 016 but Jesus used to withdraw to lonely places and pray. 042 LUK 005 017 On one of those days, when Jesus was teaching, some Pharisees and Doctors of the Law were sitting near by. (They had come from all the villages in Galilee and Judea, and from Jerusalem; and the power of the Lord was on Jesus, so that he could work cures.) 042 LUK 005 018 And there some men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed. They tried to get him in and lay him before Jesus; 042 LUK 005 019 but, finding no way of getting him in owing to the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him through the tiles, with his pallet, into the middle of the people and in front of Jesus. 042 LUK 005 020 When he saw their faith, Jesus said, “Friend, your sins have been forgiven you.” 042 LUK 005 021 The teachers of the Law and the Pharisees began debating about this. “Who is this man who speaks so blasphemously?” they asked. “Who can forgive sins except God?” 042 LUK 005 022 When Jesus became aware of the way in which they were debating, he turned to them and exclaimed, “What are you debating with yourselves? 042 LUK 005 023 Which is the easier? – to say ‘Your sins have been forgiven you’? Or to say ‘Get up, and walk’? 042 LUK 005 024 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins” – he spoke to the paralyzed man – “To you I say, Get up, and take up your pallet, and go to your home.” 042 LUK 005 025 Instantly the man stood up before their eyes, took up what he had been lying on, and went to his home, praising God. 042 LUK 005 026 The people, one and all, were lost in amazement, and praised God; and in great awe they said, “We have seen marvelous things today!” 042 LUK 005 027 After this, Jesus went out; and he noticed a tax-gatherer, named Levi, sitting in the tax office, and said to him, “Follow me.” 042 LUK 005 028 Levi left everything and got up and followed him. 042 LUK 005 029 And Levi gave a great banquet at his house, in honor of Jesus; and a large number of tax collectors and others were having dinner with them. 042 LUK 005 030 The Pharisees and the teachers of the Law belonging to their party complained of this to the disciples of Jesus. 042 LUK 005 031 In answer Jesus said, “It is not those who are well who need a doctor, but those who are ill. 042 LUK 005 032 I have not come to call the religious, but the outcast, to repent.” 042 LUK 005 033 “John’s disciples,” they said to Jesus, “Often fast and say prayers, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, while yours are eating and drinking!” 042 LUK 005 034 But Jesus answered them, “Can you make the groom’s friends fast while the groom is with them? 042 LUK 005 035 But the days will come – a time when the groom will be taken away from them; and they will fast then, when those days come.” 042 LUK 005 036 Then, as an illustration, Jesus said to them, “No one ever tears a piece from a new garment and puts it on an old one; for, if they do, they will not only tear the new garment, but the piece from the new one will not match the old. 042 LUK 005 037 And no one puts new wine into old wine-skins; for, if they do, the new wine will burst the skins, and the wine itself will run out, and the skins be lost. 042 LUK 005 038 But new wine must be put into fresh skins. 042 LUK 005 039 No one after drinking old wine wishes for new. ‘No,’ they say, ‘the old is excellent.’” 042 LUK 006 001 One Sabbath Jesus was walking through cornfields, and his disciples were picking the ears of wheat, and rubbing them in their hands, and eating them. 042 LUK 006 002 “Why are you doing what it is not allowable to do on the Sabbath?” asked some of the Pharisees. 042 LUK 006 003 Jesus’ answer was, “Haven’t you read even of what David did, when he was hungry, he and his companions – 042 LUK 006 004 That he went into the house of God, and took the consecrated bread and ate it, and gave some to his companions, though only the priests are allowed to eat it?” 042 LUK 006 005 Then Jesus added, “The Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.” 042 LUK 006 006 On another Sabbath Jesus went into the synagogue and taught; and there was a man there whose right hand was withered. 042 LUK 006 007 The teachers of the Law and the Pharisees watched Jesus closely, to see if he would work cures on the Sabbath, so that they might find a charge to bring against him. 042 LUK 006 008 Jesus, however, knew what was in the their minds, and said to the man whose hand was withered, “Stand up and come out into the middle.” The man stood up; 042 LUK 006 009 and Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it allowable to do good on the Sabbath – or harm? To save a life, or let it perish?” 042 LUK 006 010 Then, looking around at them all, he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” The man did so; and his hand had become sound. 042 LUK 006 011 But the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees were mad with rage, and consulted together what they could do to Jesus. 042 LUK 006 012 Now about that time, Jesus went out, up the hill, to pray, and spent the whole night in prayer to God. 042 LUK 006 013 When day came, he summoned his disciples, and chose twelve of them, whom he also named ‘apostles.’ 042 LUK 006 014 They were Simon (whom Jesus also named Peter), and his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, 042 LUK 006 015 Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon known as the Zealot, 042 LUK 006 016 Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who proved a traitor. 042 LUK 006 017 Afterward Jesus came down the hill with them and took his stand on a level place. With him were a large crowd of his disciples, and great numbers of people from the whole of Judea, Jerusalem, and the coast district of Tyre and Sidon, 042 LUK 006 018 who had come to hear him and to be restored to health. Those, too, who were troubled with foul spirits were cured; 042 LUK 006 019 and everyone in the crowd was trying to touch him, because a power went out from him which restored them all. 042 LUK 006 020 Then, raising his eyes and looking at his disciples, Jesus said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 042 LUK 006 021 Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. 042 LUK 006 022 Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they expel you from among them, and insult you, and reject your name as an evil thing – because of the Son of Man. 042 LUK 006 023 Then indeed you may be glad and dance for joy, for be sure that your reward in heaven will be great; for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets. 042 LUK 006 024 But alas for you who are rich, for you have had your comforts in full. 042 LUK 006 025 Alas for you who are sated now, for you will hunger. Alas for you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. 042 LUK 006 026 Alas for you when everyone speaks well of you; for this is what their ancestors did to the false prophets. 042 LUK 006 027 But to you who hear I say – love your enemies, show kindness to those who hate you, 042 LUK 006 028 bless those who curse you, pray for those who insult you. 042 LUK 006 029 When someone gives one of you a blow on the cheek, offer the other cheek as well; and, when anyone takes away your cloak, do not keep back your coat either. 042 LUK 006 030 Give to everyone who asks of you; and, when anyone takes away what is yours, do not demand its return. 042 LUK 006 031 Do to others as you wish them to do to you. 042 LUK 006 032 If you love only those who love you, what thanks will be due to you? Why, even the outcast love those who love them! 042 LUK 006 033 For, if you show kindness only to those who show kindness to you, what thanks will be due to you? Even the outcast do that! 042 LUK 006 034 If you lend only to those from whom you expect to get something, what thanks will be due to you? Even the outcast lend to the outcast in the hope of getting as much in return! 042 LUK 006 035 But love your enemies, and show them kindness, and lend to them, never despairing. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the thankless and the bad. 042 LUK 006 036 Learn to be merciful – even as your Father is merciful. 042 LUK 006 037 Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 042 LUK 006 038 Give, and others will give to you. A generous measure, pressed and shaken down, and running over, will they pour into your lap; for the standard you use will be the standard used for you.” 042 LUK 006 039 Then, speaking in parables, Jesus said, “Can one blind person guide another? Will they not both fall into a ditch? 042 LUK 006 040 A student is not above their teacher; yet every finished student will be like their teacher. 042 LUK 006 041 And why do you look at the speck of sawdust in someone’s eye, while you pay no attention at all to the plank of wood in your own? 042 LUK 006 042 How can you say to your friend ‘Friend, let me take out the speck in your eye,’ while you yourself do not see the plank in your own? Hypocrite! Take out the plank from your own eye first, and then you will see clearly how to take out the speck in your friend’s. 042 LUK 006 043 There is no such thing as a good tree bearing worthless fruit, or, on the other hand, a worthless tree bearing good fruit. 042 LUK 006 044 For every tree is known by its own fruit. People do not gather figs off thorn bushes, nor pick a bunch of grapes off a bramble. 042 LUK 006 045 A good person, from the good stores of their heart, brings out what is good; while a bad person, from their bad stores, brings out what is bad. For what fills someone’s heart will rise to their lips. 042 LUK 006 046 Why do you call me ‘Master! Master!’ and yet fail to do what I tell you? 042 LUK 006 047 Everyone who comes to me and listens to my teaching and acts on it – I will show you to whom they may be compared. 042 LUK 006 048 They may be compared to a person building a house, who dug, and went deep, and laid the foundation on the rock. Then, when a flood came, the river swept down on that house, but had no power to shake it, because it had been built well. 042 LUK 006 049 But those who have listened and not acted on what they have heard may be compared to a person who built a house on the ground without any foundation. The river swept down on it, and the house immediately collapsed; and great was the crash that followed.” 042 LUK 007 001 When Jesus had brought to a conclusion all that he had then had to say to the people, he entered Capernaum. 042 LUK 007 002 A centurion in the Roman army had a slave whom he valued, and who was seriously ill – almost at the point of death. 042 LUK 007 003 And, hearing about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to him, with the request that he would come and save his slave’s life. 042 LUK 007 004 When they found Jesus, they earnestly implored him to do so. “He deserves the favor from you,” they said, 042 LUK 007 005 “For he is devoted to our nation, and himself built our synagogue for us.” 042 LUK 007 006 So Jesus went with them. But, when he was no great distance from the house, the centurion sent some friends with the message – “Do not trouble yourself, Sir; for I am unworthy to receive you under my roof. 042 LUK 007 007 That was why I did not even venture to come to you myself; but speak, and let my manservant be cured. 042 LUK 007 008 For I myself am a man under the orders of others, with soldiers under me; and if I say to one of them ‘Go,’ he goes, and to another ‘Come,’ he comes, and to my slave ‘Do this,’ he does it.” 042 LUK 007 009 Jesus was surprised to hear these words from him; and, turning to the crowd which was following him, he said, “I tell you, nowhere in Israel have I met with such faith as this!” 042 LUK 007 010 And, when the messengers returned to the house, they found the slave recovered. 042 LUK 007 011 Shortly after, Jesus went to a town called Nain, his disciples and a great crowd going with him. 042 LUK 007 012 Just as he approached the gate of the town, there was a dead man being carried out for burial – an only son, and his mother was a widow. A large number of the people of the town were with her. 042 LUK 007 013 When he saw her, the Master was moved with compassion for her, and he said to her, “Do not weep.” 042 LUK 007 014 Then he went up and touched the bier, and the bearers stopped; and Jesus said, “Young man, I am speaking to you – Rise!” 042 LUK 007 015 The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus restored him to his mother. 042 LUK 007 016 Everyone was awe-struck and began praising God. “A great prophet has arisen among us,” they said. “God has visited his people.” 042 LUK 007 017 And this story about Jesus spread all through Judea, and in the neighboring countries as well. 042 LUK 007 018 All these events were reported to John by his disciples. 042 LUK 007 019 So he summoned two of them, and sent them to the Master to ask – “Are you ‘the coming one,’ or are we to look for someone else?” 042 LUK 007 020 When these men found Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you to ask – Are you ‘the coming one,’ or are we to look for somebody else?” 042 LUK 007 021 At that very time Jesus had cured many people of diseases, afflictions, and wicked spirits, and had given many blind people their sight. 042 LUK 007 022 So his answer to the question was, “Go and report to John what you have witnessed and heard – the blind recover their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are made clean, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, the good news is told to the poor. 042 LUK 007 023 And blessed is the person who finds no hindrance in me.” 042 LUK 007 024 When John’s messengers had left, Jesus, speaking to the crowds, began to say with reference to John, 042 LUK 007 025 “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed waving in the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in rich clothing? Why, those who are accustomed to fine clothes and luxury live in royal palaces. 042 LUK 007 026 What then did you go to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and far more than a prophet. 042 LUK 007 027 This is the man of whom scripture says – ‘I am sending my messenger ahead of you, and he will prepare your way before you.’ 042 LUK 007 028 There is, I tell you, no one born of a woman who is greater than John; and yet the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” 042 LUK 007 029 (All the people, when they heard this, and even the tax collectors, having accepted John’s baptism, acknowledged the justice of God. 042 LUK 007 030 But the Pharisees and the students of the Law, having rejected John’s baptism, frustrated God’s purpose in regard to them.) 042 LUK 007 031 “To what then,” Jesus continued, “should I compare the people of the present generation? What are they like? 042 LUK 007 032 They are like some little children who are sitting in the marketplace and calling out to one another – ‘We have played the flute for you, but you have not danced; We have wailed, but you have not wept!’ 042 LUK 007 033 For now that John the Baptist has come, not eating bread or drinking wine, you are saying ‘He has a demon in him’; 042 LUK 007 034 and now that the Son of Man has come, eating and drinking, you are saying ‘Here is a glutton and a wine-drinker, a friend of tax collectors and outcasts.’ 042 LUK 007 035 And yet wisdom is vindicated by all her children.” 042 LUK 007 036 One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to dine with him, so Jesus went to his house and took his place at the table. 042 LUK 007 037 Just then a woman, who was an outcast in the town, having heard that Jesus was eating in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster jar of perfume, 042 LUK 007 038 and placed herself behind Jesus, near his feet, weeping. Then she began to make his feet wet with her tears, and she dried them with the hair of her head, repeatedly kissing his feet and anointing them with the perfume. 042 LUK 007 039 When the Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this, he said to himself, “Had this man been ‘the prophet,’ he would have known who, and what sort of woman, this is who is touching him, and that she is an outcast.” 042 LUK 007 040 But, addressing him, Jesus said, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” “Pray do so, teacher,” Simon answered; and Jesus began, 042 LUK 007 041 “There were two people who were in debt to a moneylender; one owed five hundred silver coins, and the other fifty. 042 LUK 007 042 As they were unable to pay, he forgave them both. Which of them, do you think, will love him the more?” 042 LUK 007 043 “I suppose,” answered Simon, “it will be the man to whom he forgave the greater debt.” “You are right,” said Jesus, 042 LUK 007 044 and then, turning to the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house – you gave me no water for my feet, but she has made my feet wet with her tears and dried them with her hair. 042 LUK 007 045 You did not give me one kiss, but she, from the moment I came in, has not ceased to kiss my feet. 042 LUK 007 046 You did not anoint even my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with perfume. 042 LUK 007 047 So I tell you, her great love shows that her sins, many as they are, have been pardoned. One who is pardoned little loves little.” 042 LUK 007 048 Then he said to the woman, “Your sins have been pardoned.” 042 LUK 007 049 The other guests began to say to one another, “Who is this man who even pardons sins?” 042 LUK 007 050 But Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has delivered you; go, and peace be with you.” 042 LUK 008 001 Shortly afterward, Jesus went on a journey through the towns and villages, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. With him went the Twelve, 042 LUK 008 002 as well as some women who had been cured of wicked spirits and of infirmities. They were Mary, known as Mary of Magdala (from whom seven demons had been expelled), 042 LUK 008 003 and Joanna (the wife of Herod’s steward, Chuza), and Susannah, and many others – all of whom provided for Jesus and his apostles out of their own resources. 042 LUK 008 004 Once, when a great crowd was collecting, and, when the people of town after town were flocking to Jesus, he spoke to them in the form of a parable, 042 LUK 008 005 “The sower went out to sow his seed; and, as he was sowing, some of the seed fell along the path and was trodden on; and the wild birds ate it up. 042 LUK 008 006 Other seed fell on rock, and, as soon as it began to grow, because it had no moisture, it withered away. 042 LUK 008 007 Other seed fell in the middle of brambles, but the brambles grew up with it and choked it entirely. 042 LUK 008 008 Other seed fell into rich soil, and grew, and gave a hundredfold return.” After saying this, Jesus cried aloud, “Let those who have ears to hear with hear.” 042 LUK 008 009 His disciples asked Jesus the meaning of this parable. 042 LUK 008 010 “To you,” he said, “the knowledge of the hidden truths of the kingdom of God has been imparted, but to others in parables only, so that though they have eyes they may not see, and though they have ears, they may not understand. 042 LUK 008 011 This is the parable – The seed is God’s message. 042 LUK 008 012 By the seed which fell along the path are meant those who hear the message; but then comes the devil and carries away the message from their minds, to prevent their believing it and being saved. 042 LUK 008 013 By the seed which fell on the rock are meant those who, as soon as they hear the message, welcome it joyfully; but they have no root, and believe it only for a time, and, when the time of temptation comes, they draw back. 042 LUK 008 014 By that which fell among the brambles are meant those who hear the message, but who, as they go on their way, are completely choked by this world’s cares and wealth and pleasures, and bring nothing to perfection. 042 LUK 008 015 But by that in the good ground are meant those who, having heard the message, keep it in the good, rich soil of their hearts, and patiently yield a return. 042 LUK 008 016 “No one sets light to a lamp and then covers it with a bowl or puts it underneath a couch, but they put it on a lamp-stand, so that anyone who comes in may see the light. 042 LUK 008 017 Nothing is hidden which will not be brought into the light of day, not ever kept hidden which will not some day become known and come into the light of day. 042 LUK 008 018 Take care, then, how you listen. For, to all those who have, more will be given; while, from all those who have nothing, even what they seem to have will be taken away.” 042 LUK 008 019 Presently Jesus’ mother and brothers came where he was, but they were not able to join him because of the crowd. 042 LUK 008 020 So word was brought to him – ‘Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.’ 042 LUK 008 021 His reply, spoken to them all, was, “My mother and my brothers are those who listen to God’s teaching and do what it says.” 042 LUK 008 022 One day about that time, Jesus got into a boat with his disciples and said to them, “Let us go across the lake.” 042 LUK 008 023 So they put off. While they were sailing, Jesus fell asleep. A squall swept down on the lake, and their boat was filling and they were in danger. 042 LUK 008 024 So the disciples came and roused him. “Sir, Sir,” they cried, “we are lost!” Jesus rose and rebuked the wind and the rushing waves, and they fell, and a calm followed. 042 LUK 008 025 “Where is your faith?” he exclaimed. But in great awe and amazement they said to one another, “Who can this be, who commands even the winds and the waves, and they obey him?” 042 LUK 008 026 They reached the region of the Gerasenes, which is on the opposite side to Galilee, 042 LUK 008 027 and, on getting ashore, Jesus met a man, who had demons in him, coming out of the town. For a long time this man had worn no clothing, and he had not lived in a house, but in the tombs. 042 LUK 008 028 Catching sight of Jesus, he shrieked out and threw himself down before him, and in a loud voice exclaimed, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you not to torment me.” 042 LUK 008 029 For Jesus was commanding the foul spirit to come out of the man. On many occasions it had seized him, and, even when secured with chains and fetters, and watched, he would break through anything that bound him, and be driven by the demon into the wilds. 042 LUK 008 030 “What is your name?” Jesus asked. “Legion,” he answered (for many demons had taken possession of him); 042 LUK 008 031 and the demons begged Jesus not to order them away into the bottomless pit. (Abyssos g12) 042 LUK 008 032 There was a herd of many pigs close by feeding on the hill-side; and the demons begged Jesus to give them leave to enter into them. Jesus gave them leave. 042 LUK 008 033 They came out from the man and took possession of the pigs; and the herd rushed down the steep slope into the lake and were drowned. 042 LUK 008 034 When the men who tended them saw what had happened, they ran away, and carried the news to the town, and to the country around. 042 LUK 008 035 The people went out to see what had happened, and, when they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting, clothed and in his right mind, at Jesus’ feet; and they were awe-struck. 042 LUK 008 036 Those who had seen it told them how the possessed man had been delivered. 042 LUK 008 037 Then all the people in the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, for they were terrified. Jesus got into a boat and returned. 042 LUK 008 038 The man from whom the demons had gone out begged Jesus to let him be with him; but Jesus sent him away. 042 LUK 008 039 “Go back to your home,” he said, “and relate the story of all that God has done for you.” So the man went through the whole town and proclaimed, as he went, all that Jesus had done for him. 042 LUK 008 040 On his return, Jesus was welcomed by the people; for everyone was looking out for him. 042 LUK 008 041 And a man named Jairus, who was a synagogue leader, came to Jesus, and threw himself at Jesus’ feet, with entreaties that he would come to his house, 042 LUK 008 042 because his only daughter, who was about twelve years old, was dying. As Jesus was going, the people were pressing closely around him. 042 LUK 008 043 And a woman, who had suffered from hemorrhage for twelve years, and whom no one could cure, 042 LUK 008 044 came up behind and touched the tassel of his cloak. Instantly the hemorrhage ceased. 042 LUK 008 045 “Who touched me?” Jesus asked; and, while everyone was denying having done so, Peter exclaimed, “Why, Sir, the people are crowding around you and pressing against you!” 042 LUK 008 046 “Somebody touched me,” said Jesus, “for I felt that power had gone out from me.” 042 LUK 008 047 Then the woman, when she saw that she was discovered, came forward trembling, and threw herself down before him; and, in the presence of all the people, she told him her reason for touching him, and that she had been cured instantly. 042 LUK 008 048 “Daughter,” he said, “your faith has delivered you. Go, and peace be with you.” 042 LUK 008 049 Before he had finished speaking, someone came from the house of the synagogue leader and said, “Your daughter is dead! Do not trouble the teacher further.” 042 LUK 008 050 But Jesus, hearing this, spoke to the leader, “Do not be afraid; only have faith, and she will yet be delivered.” 042 LUK 008 051 When he reached the house, he did not allow anyone to go in with him, except Peter, John, and James, and the child’s father and mother. 042 LUK 008 052 And everyone was weeping and mourning for her. “Do not weep,” Jesus said, “she is not dead; she is asleep.” 042 LUK 008 053 They began to laugh at him, for they knew that she was dead. 042 LUK 008 054 But, taking her by the hand, Jesus said in a loud voice, “Child, rise!” 042 LUK 008 055 The child’s spirit returned to her, and she instantly stood up; and Jesus ordered them to give her something to eat. 042 LUK 008 056 Her parents were amazed, but Jesus impressed on them that they were not to tell anyone what had happened. 042 LUK 009 001 Jesus called the Twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all demons, as well as to cure diseases. 042 LUK 009 002 He sent them out as his messengers, to proclaim the kingdom of God, and to work cures. 042 LUK 009 003 “Do not,” he said to them, “take anything for your journey; not even a staff, or a bag, or bread, or any silver, or a change of clothes with you. 042 LUK 009 004 Whatever house you go to stay in, remain there, and leave from that place. 042 LUK 009 005 If people do not welcome you, as you leave that town, shake even the dust off your feet, as a protest against them.” 042 LUK 009 006 Then they set out and went from village to village, telling the good news and curing people everywhere. 042 LUK 009 007 Herod the ruler heard of all that was happening, and was perplexed, because it was said by some that John must be risen from the dead. 042 LUK 009 008 Some again said that Elijah had appeared, and others that one of the old prophets had risen again. 042 LUK 009 009 But Herod himself said, “John I beheaded; but who is this of whom I hear such things?” And he endeavored to see him. 042 LUK 009 010 When the apostles returned, they related to Jesus all that they had done. Then Jesus went privately to a town called Bethsaida, taking the apostles with him. 042 LUK 009 011 But the people recognized him and followed him in crowds; and Jesus welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, while he cured those who were in need of help. 042 LUK 009 012 The day was drawing to a close, when the twelve came up to him, and said, “Send the crowd away, so that they may make their way to the villages and farms around about, and find themselves lodgings and provisions, for we are in a lonely spot here.” 042 LUK 009 013 But Jesus said, “It is for you to give them something to eat.” “We have not more than five loaves and two fish,” they answered. “Unless indeed we are to go and buy food for all these people.” 042 LUK 009 014 (For the men among them were about five thousand.) “Get them seated in companies,” was his reply, “about fifty in each.” 042 LUK 009 015 This they did, and got all the people seated. 042 LUK 009 016 Taking the five loaves and the two fish, Jesus looked up to heaven and said the blessing over them. Then he broke them in pieces, and gave them to his disciples to set before the people. 042 LUK 009 017 Everyone had sufficient to eat, and what was left of the broken pieces was picked up – twelve baskets. 042 LUK 009 018 Afterward, when Jesus was alone, praying, his disciples joined him, and he asked them this question – “Who do the people say that I am?” 042 LUK 009 019 “John the Baptist,” was their answer. “Others, however, say that you are Elijah, while others say that one of the old prophets has risen again.” 042 LUK 009 020 “But you,” he went on, “who do you say that I am?” And to this Peter answered, “The Christ of God.” 042 LUK 009 021 Jesus, however, strictly charged them not to say this to anyone; 042 LUK 009 022 he told them that the Son of Man must undergo much suffering, and be rejected by the elders, and chief priests, and teachers of the Law, and be put to death, and rise on the third day. 042 LUK 009 023 And to all present he said, “If any one wishes to walk in my steps, they must renounce self, and take up their cross daily, and follow me. 042 LUK 009 024 For whoever wishes to save their life will lose it, and whoever, for my sake, loses his life – that person will save it. 042 LUK 009 025 What good does it do someone if, when they has gained the whole world, they has lost or forfeited themselves? 042 LUK 009 026 Whoever is ashamed of me and of my teaching, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them, when he comes in his glory and the glory of the father and of the holy angels. 042 LUK 009 027 Indeed, I tell you, some who are standing before me will not know death, until they have seen the kingdom of God.” 042 LUK 009 028 About eight days after speaking these words, Jesus went up the mountain to pray, taking with him Peter, John, and James. 042 LUK 009 029 As he was praying, the aspect of his face was changed, and his clothing became a dazzling white. 042 LUK 009 030 And all at once two men were talking with Jesus; they were Moses and Elijah, 042 LUK 009 031 who appeared in a glorified state, and spoke of his departure, which was destined to take place at Jerusalem. 042 LUK 009 032 Peter and his companions had been overpowered by sleep but, suddenly becoming wide awake, they saw Jesus glorified and the two men who were standing beside him. 042 LUK 009 033 And, as Moses and Elijah were passing away from Jesus, Peter exclaimed, “Sir, it is good to be here; let us make three tents, one for you, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He did not know what he was saying; 042 LUK 009 034 and, while he was speaking, a cloud came down and enveloped them; and they were afraid, as they passed into the cloud; 042 LUK 009 035 and from the cloud came a voice which said – “This is my Son, the Chosen One; him you must hear.” 042 LUK 009 036 And, as the voice ceased, Jesus was found alone. The apostles kept silence, and told no one about any of the things that they had seen. 042 LUK 009 037 The next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met Jesus. 042 LUK 009 038 And just then a man in the crowd shouted out, “Teacher, I entreat you to look at my son, for he is my only child; 042 LUK 009 039 all at once a spirit will seize him, suddenly shriek out, and throw him into convulsions until he foams, and will leave him only when he is utterly exhausted. 042 LUK 009 040 I entreated your disciples to drive the spirit out, but they could not.” 042 LUK 009 041 “Faithless and perverse generation!” Jesus exclaimed, “How long must I be with you and have patience with you? Lead your son here.” 042 LUK 009 042 While the boy was coming up to Jesus, the demon dashed him down and threw him into convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the foul spirit, and cured the boy, and gave him back to his father. 042 LUK 009 043 And all present were struck with awe at the majesty of God. In the midst of the general astonishment at all that Jesus was doing, he said to his disciples, 042 LUK 009 044 “Listen carefully to my words. For the Son of Man is destined to be betrayed into the hands of his fellow men.” 042 LUK 009 045 But the disciples did not understand the meaning of this; it had been concealed from them so that they did not see it, and they were afraid to question him as to what he meant. 042 LUK 009 046 A discussion arose among the disciples as to which of them was the greatest; 042 LUK 009 047 and Jesus, knowing of the discussion that was occupying their thoughts, took hold of a little child, and placed it beside him, 042 LUK 009 048 and then said to them, “Anyone who, for the sake of my name, welcomes even this little child is welcoming me; and anyone who welcomes me is welcoming him who sent me as his messenger. For whoever is least among you all – that person is great.” 042 LUK 009 049 John said, “Sir, we saw a man driving out demons by using your name, and we tried to prevent him, because he does not follow you with us.” 042 LUK 009 050 “None of you must prevent him,” Jesus said to John, “whoever is not against you is for you.” 042 LUK 009 051 As the days before his being taken up to heaven were growing few, Jesus set his face resolutely in the direction of Jerusalem; and he sent on messengers in advance. 042 LUK 009 052 On their way, they went into a Samaritan village to make preparations for him, 042 LUK 009 053 but the people there did not welcome him, because his face was set in the direction of Jerusalem. 042 LUK 009 054 When James and John saw this, they said, “Master, do you wish us to call for fire to come down from the heavens and consume them?” 042 LUK 009 055 But Jesus turned and rebuked them. 042 LUK 009 056 And they made their way to another village. 042 LUK 009 057 And, while they were on their way, a man said to Jesus, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 042 LUK 009 058 “Foxes have holes,” he replied, “and wild birds their nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” 042 LUK 009 059 To another man Jesus said, “Follow me.” “Let me first go and bury my father,” said the man. 042 LUK 009 060 But Jesus said, “Leave the dead to bury their dead; but go yourself and carry far and wide the news of the kingdom of God.” 042 LUK 009 061 “Master,” said another, “I will follow you; but first let me say goodbye to my family.” 042 LUK 009 062 But Jesus answered, “No one who looks back, after putting their hand to the plow, is fitted for the kingdom of God.” 042 LUK 010 001 After this, the Master appointed seventy-two other disciples, and sent them on as his messengers, two and two, in advance, to every town and place that he was himself intending to visit. 042 LUK 010 002 “The harvest,” he said, “is abundant, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray to the owner of the harvest to send laborers to gather in his harvest. 042 LUK 010 003 Now, go. Remember, I am sending you out as my messengers like lambs among wolves. 042 LUK 010 004 Do not take a purse with you, or a bag, or sandals; and do not stop to greet anyone on your journey. 042 LUK 010 005 Whatever house you go to stay at, begin by praying for a blessing on it. 042 LUK 010 006 Then, if anyone there is deserving of a blessing, your blessing will rest on him; but if not, it will come back on yourselves. 042 LUK 010 007 Remain at that same house, and eat and drink whatever they offer you; for the worker is worth their wages. Do not keep changing from one house to another. 042 LUK 010 008 Whatever town you visit, if the people welcome you, eat what is set before you; 042 LUK 010 009 cure the sick there, and tell people that the kingdom of God is close at hand. 042 LUK 010 010 But, whatever town you go to visit, if the people do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say 042 LUK 010 011 ‘We wipe off the dust of your town which has clung to Our feet; still, be assured that the kingdom of God is close at Hand.’ 042 LUK 010 012 I tell you that the doom of Sodom will be more bearable on that day than the doom of that town. 042 LUK 010 013 Alas for you, Chorazin! Alas for you, Bethsaida! For, if the miracles which have been done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have sat in sackcloth and ashes and repented long ago. 042 LUK 010 014 Yet the doom of Tyre and Sidon will be more bearable at the judgment than yours. 042 LUK 010 015 And you, Capernaum! Will you exalt yourself to heaven? You will be flung down to Hades. (Hadēs g86) 042 LUK 010 016 Anyone who listens to you is listening to me, and anyone who rejects you is rejecting me; while the person who rejects me is rejecting him who sent me as his messenger.” 042 LUK 010 017 When the seventy-two returned, they exclaimed joyfully, “Master, even the demons submit to us when we use your name.” 042 LUK 010 018 And Jesus replied, “I have had visions of Satan, fallen, like lightning from the heavens. 042 LUK 010 019 Remember, I have given you the power to trample on snakes and scorpions, and to meet all the strength of the Enemy. Nothing will ever harm you in any way. 042 LUK 010 020 Yet do not rejoice in the fact that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names have been enrolled in heaven.” 042 LUK 010 021 At that same time, moved to exultation by the Holy Spirit, Jesus said: “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that, though you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, you have revealed them to the childlike! Yes, Father, I thank you that this has seemed good to you. 042 LUK 010 022 Everything has been committed to me by my Father; nor does anyone know who the Son is, except the Father, or who the Father is, except the Son and those to whom the Son may choose to reveal him.” 042 LUK 010 023 Then, turning to his disciples, Jesus said to them alone, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you are seeing; 042 LUK 010 024 for, I tell you, many prophets and kings wished for the sight of the things which you are seeing, yet never heard them.” 042 LUK 010 025 Just then a student of the Law came forward to test Jesus further. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do if I am to gain eternal life?” (aiōnios g166) 042 LUK 010 026 “What is said in the Law?” answered Jesus. “What do you read there?” 042 LUK 010 027 His reply was – “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as you love yourself.” 042 LUK 010 028 “You have answered right,” said Jesus, “Do that, and you will live.” 042 LUK 010 029 But the man, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 042 LUK 010 030 To which Jesus replied, “A man was once going down from Jerusalem to Jericho when he fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him of everything, and beat him, and went away leaving him half dead. 042 LUK 010 031 As it chanced, a priest was going down by that road. He saw the man, but passed by on the opposite side. 042 LUK 010 032 A Levite, too, did the same; he came up to the spot, but, when he saw the man, passed by on the opposite side. 042 LUK 010 033 But a Samaritan, traveling that way, came upon the man, and, when he saw him, he was moved with compassion. 042 LUK 010 034 He went to him and bound up his wounds, dressing them with oil and wine, and then put him on his own mule, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 042 LUK 010 035 The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Take care of him,’ he said, ‘and whatever more you may spend I will myself repay you on my way back.’ 042 LUK 010 036 Now which, do you think, of these three men,” asked Jesus, “proved himself a neighbor to the man who fell into the robbers’ hands?” 042 LUK 010 037 “The one that took pity on him,” was the answer; at which Jesus said, “Go and do the same yourself.” 042 LUK 010 038 As they continued their journey, Jesus came to a village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him to her house. 042 LUK 010 039 She had a sister called Mary, who seated herself at the Master’s feet, and listened to his teaching; 042 LUK 010 040 but Martha was distracted by the many preparations that she was making. So she went up to Jesus and said, “Master, do you approve of my sister’s leaving me to make preparations alone? Tell her to help me.” 042 LUK 010 041 “Martha, Martha,” replied the Master, “you are anxious and trouble yourself about many things; 042 LUK 010 042 but only a few are necessary, or rather one. Mary has chosen the good part, and it will not be taken away from her.” 042 LUK 011 001 One day Jesus was at a certain place praying, and, when he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Master, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” 042 LUK 011 002 “When you pray,” Jesus answered, “say – ‘Father, may your name be held holy, your kingdom come. 042 LUK 011 003 Give us each day the bread that we will need; 042 LUK 011 004 and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who wrongs us; and take us not into temptation.’” 042 LUK 011 005 Jesus also said to them, “Suppose that one of you who has a friend were to go to him in the middle of the night and say ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, 042 LUK 011 006 for a friend of mine has arrived at my house after a journey, and I have nothing to offer him;’ 042 LUK 011 007 And suppose that the other should answer from inside ‘Do not trouble me; the door is already fastened, and my children and I are in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything’; 042 LUK 011 008 I tell you that, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is a friend, yet because of his persistence he will rouse himself and give him what he wants. 042 LUK 011 009 “And so I say to you – Ask, and your prayer will be granted, search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. 042 LUK 011 010 For the person who asks receives, everyone who searches finds, and to the person who knocks the door will be opened. 042 LUK 011 011 What father among you, if his son asks him for a fish, will give him a snake instead, 042 LUK 011 012 or, if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 042 LUK 011 013 If you, then, naturally wicked though you are, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” 042 LUK 011 014 Once Jesus was driving out a mute demon, and, when the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke. The people were amazed at this; 042 LUK 011 015 but some of them said, “He drives out demons by the help of Beelzebul, the chief of the demons”; 042 LUK 011 016 while others, to test him, asked him for some sign from the heavens. 042 LUK 011 017 Jesus himself, however, was aware of what they were thinking, and said to them, “Any kingdom wholly divided against itself becomes a desolation; and a divided house falls. 042 LUK 011 018 So, too, if Satan is wholly divided against himself, how can his kingdom last? Yet you say that I drive out demons by the help of Beelzebul. 042 LUK 011 019 But, if it is by Beelzebul’s help that I drive out demons, by whose help is it that your own sons drive them out? Therefore they will themselves be your judges. 042 LUK 011 020 But, if it is by the hand of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God must already be upon you. 042 LUK 011 021 When a strong man is keeping guard, fully armed, over his own mansion, his property is in safety; 042 LUK 011 022 but, when one still stronger has attacked and overpowered him, he takes away all the weapons on which the other had relied, and divides his spoil. 042 LUK 011 023 Whoever is not with me is against me, and the person who does not help me to gather is scattering. 042 LUK 011 024 No sooner does a foul spirit leave someone, than it passes through places where there is no water, in search of rest; and finding none, it says ‘I will go back to the home which I left’; 042 LUK 011 025 but, on coming there, it finds it unoccupied, swept, and put in order. 042 LUK 011 026 Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in, and make their home there; and the last state of that person proves to be worse than the first.” 042 LUK 011 027 As Jesus was saying this, a woman in the crowd, raising her voice, exclaimed, “Happy was the mother who bore you and nursed you!” 042 LUK 011 028 But Jesus replied, “Rather, happy are those who listen to God’s message and keep it.” 042 LUK 011 029 As the crowds increased, Jesus began to speak, “This generation is a wicked generation. It is asking a sign, but no sign will be given it except the sign of Jonah. 042 LUK 011 030 For, as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. 042 LUK 011 031 At the judgment the Queen of the South will rise up with the people of this generation, and will condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon; and here is more than a Solomon! 042 LUK 011 032 At the judgment the men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation, and will condemn it, because they repented at Jonah’s proclamation; and here is more than a Jonah! 042 LUK 011 033 No one lights a lamp, and then puts it in the cellar or under a basket, but he puts it on the lamp-stand, so that anyone who comes in may see the light. 042 LUK 011 034 The lamp of the body is your eye. When your eye is unclouded, your whole body, also, is lit up; but, as soon as your eye is diseased, your body, also, is darkened. 042 LUK 011 035 Take care, therefore, that the inner light is not darkness. 042 LUK 011 036 If, then, your whole body is lit up, and no corner of it darkened, the whole will be lit up, just as when a lamp gives you light by its brilliance.” 042 LUK 011 037 As Jesus finished speaking, a Pharisee asked him to breakfast with him, and Jesus went in and took his place at the table. 042 LUK 011 038 The Pharisee noticed, to his astonishment, that Jesus omitted the ceremonial washing before breakfast. 042 LUK 011 039 But the Master said to him, “You Pharisees do, it is true, clean the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside you yourselves are filled with greed and wickedness. 042 LUK 011 040 Fools! Did not the maker of the outside make the inside too? 042 LUK 011 041 Only give away what is in them in charity, and at once you have the whole clean. 042 LUK 011 042 But alas for you Pharisees! You pay tithes on mint, rue, and herbs of all kinds, and pass over justice and love to God. These last you ought to have put into practice without neglecting the first. 042 LUK 011 043 Alas for you Pharisees! You delight to have the front seat in the synagogues, and to be greeted in the markets with respect. 042 LUK 011 044 Alas for you! You are like unsuspected graves, over which men walk unawares.” 042 LUK 011 045 Here one of the students of the Law interrupted him by saying, “Teacher, when you say this, you are insulting us also.” 042 LUK 011 046 But Jesus went on, “Alas for you, too, you students of the Law! You load people with loads that are too heavy to carry, but do not, yourselves, touch them with one of your fingers. 042 LUK 011 047 Alas for you! You build the monuments of the prophets whom your ancestors killed. 042 LUK 011 048 You are actually witnesses to your ancestors’ acts and show your approval of them, because, while they killed the prophets, you build tombs for them. 042 LUK 011 049 That is why the wisdom of God said – ‘I will send to them prophets and apostles, 042 LUK 011 050 some of whom they will persecute and kill, in order that the blood of all the prophets that has been spilt since the creation of the world may be exacted from this generation – 042 LUK 011 051 from the blood of Abel down to the blood of Zechariah, who was slain between the altar and the house of God.’ Yes, I tell you, it will be exacted from this generation. 042 LUK 011 052 Alas for you students of the Law! You have taken away the key of the door of knowledge. You have not gone in yourselves and you have hindered those who try to go in.” 042 LUK 011 053 When Jesus left the house, the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees began to press him hard and question him closely on many subjects, 042 LUK 011 054 laying traps for him, so as to seize on anything that he might say. 042 LUK 012 001 Meanwhile the people had gathered in thousands, so that they trod on one another, when Jesus, addressing himself to his disciples, began by saying to them, “Be on your guard against the leaven – that is, the hypocrisy – of the Pharisees. 042 LUK 012 002 There is nothing, however covered up, which will not be uncovered, nor anything kept secret which will not become known. 042 LUK 012 003 So all that you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear, within closed doors, will be proclaimed on the housetops. 042 LUK 012 004 To you who are my friends I say, Do not be afraid of those who kill the body, but after that can do no more. 042 LUK 012 005 I will show you of whom you should be afraid. Be afraid of him who, after killing you, has the power to fling you into Gehenna. Yes, I say, be afraid of him. (Geenna g1067) 042 LUK 012 006 Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? Yet not one of them has escaped God’s notice. 042 LUK 012 007 No, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows. 042 LUK 012 008 Everyone, I tell you, who publicly acknowledges me, the Son of Man, also, will acknowledge before God’s angels; 042 LUK 012 009 but the person who publicly disowns me will be altogether disowned before God’s angels. 042 LUK 012 010 Everyone who will say anything against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but for the person who slanders the Holy Spirit there will be no forgiveness. 042 LUK 012 011 Whenever they take you before the synagogue Courts or the magistrates or other authorities, do not be anxious as to how you will defend yourselves, or what your defense will be, or what you will say; 042 LUK 012 012 for the Holy Spirit will show you at the moment what you ought to say.” 042 LUK 012 013 “Teacher,” a man in the crowd said to Jesus, “tell my brother to share the property with me.” 042 LUK 012 014 But Jesus said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or an arbiter between you?” 042 LUK 012 015 And then he added, “Take care to keep yourselves free from every form of covetousness; for even in the height of their prosperity a person’s true life does not depend on what they have.” 042 LUK 012 016 Then Jesus told them this parable – “There was once a rich man whose land was very fertile; 042 LUK 012 017 and he began to ask himself ‘What will I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops? 042 LUK 012 018 This is what I will do,’ he said; ‘I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and store all my grain and my goods in them; 042 LUK 012 019 and I will say to myself, Now you have plenty of good things put by for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.’ 042 LUK 012 020 But God said to the man ‘Fool! This very night your life is being demanded; and as for all you have prepared – who will have it?’ 042 LUK 012 021 So it is with those who lay by wealth for themselves and are not rich to the glory of God.” 042 LUK 012 022 And Jesus said to his disciples, “That is why I say to you, Do not be anxious about the life here – what you can get to eat; or about your body – what you can get to wear. 042 LUK 012 023 For life is more than food, and the body than its clothes. 042 LUK 012 024 Think of the ravens – they neither sow nor reap; they have neither storehouse nor barn; and yet God feeds them! And how much more precious are you than birds! 042 LUK 012 025 But which of you, by being anxious, can prolong your life a moment? 042 LUK 012 026 And, if you cannot do even the smallest thing, why be anxious about other things? 042 LUK 012 027 Think of the lilies, and how they grow. They neither toil nor spin; yet, I tell you, even Solomon in all his splendor was not robed like one of these. 042 LUK 012 028 If, even in the field, God so clothes the grass which is living today and tomorrow will be thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, you of little faith! 042 LUK 012 029 And you – do not be always seeking what you can get to eat or what you can get to drink; and do not waver. 042 LUK 012 030 These are the things for which all the nations of the world are seeking, and your Father knows that you need them. 042 LUK 012 031 No, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added for you. 042 LUK 012 032 So do not be afraid, my little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 042 LUK 012 033 “Sell what belongs to you, and give in charity. Make yourselves purses that will not wear out – an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near, or moth works ruin. 042 LUK 012 034 For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be. 042 LUK 012 035 Make yourselves ready, with your lamps alight; 042 LUK 012 036 and be like servants who are waiting for their Master’s return from his wedding, so that, when he comes and knocks, they may open the door for him at once. 042 LUK 012 037 Happy are those servants whom, on his return, the Master will find watching. I tell you that he will make himself ready, and have them take their places at the table, and will come and serve them. 042 LUK 012 038 Whether it is late at night, or in the early morning that he comes, if he finds all as it should be, then happy are they. 042 LUK 012 039 This you do know, that, had the owner of the house known at what time the thief was coming, he would have been on the watch, and would not have let his house be broken into. 042 LUK 012 040 You must also prepare, for when you are least expecting him the Son of Man will come.” 042 LUK 012 041 “Master,” said Peter, “are you telling this parable with reference to us or to everyone?” 042 LUK 012 042 “Who, then,” replied the Master, “is that trustworthy steward, the careful man, who will be placed by his master over his establishment, to give them their rations at the proper time? 042 LUK 012 043 Happy will that servant be whom his master, when he comes home, will find doing this. 042 LUK 012 044 His master, I tell you, will put him in charge of the whole of his property. 042 LUK 012 045 But should that servant say to himself ‘My master is a long time coming,’ and begin to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, 042 LUK 012 046 that servant’s master will come on a day when he does not expect him, and at an hour of which he is unaware, and will flog him severely and assign him his place among the untrustworthy. 042 LUK 012 047 The servant who knows his master’s wishes and yet does not prepare and act accordingly will receive many lashes; 042 LUK 012 048 while one who does not know his master’s wishes, but acts so as to deserve a flogging, will receive but few. From everyone to whom much has been given much will be expected, and from the man to whom much has been entrusted the more will be demanded. 042 LUK 012 049 I came to cast fire on the earth; and what more can I wish, if it is already kindled? 042 LUK 012 050 There is a baptism that I must undergo, and how great is my distress until it is over! 042 LUK 012 051 Do you think that I am here to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but to cause division. 042 LUK 012 052 For from this time, if there are five people in a house, they will be divided, three against two, and two against three. 042 LUK 012 053 Father will be opposed to son and son to father, mother to daughter and daughter to mother, mother-in-law to her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law to her mother-in-law.” 042 LUK 012 054 And to the people Jesus said, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once ‘There is a storm coming,’ and come it does. 042 LUK 012 055 And when you see that the wind is in the south, you say ‘It will be burning hot,’ and so it proves. 042 LUK 012 056 Hypocrites! You know how to judge of the earth and the sky; how is it, then, that you cannot judge of this time? 042 LUK 012 057 Why don’t you yourselves decide what is right? 042 LUK 012 058 When, for instance, you are going with your opponent before a magistrate, on your way to the court do your best to be quit of him; otherwise he might drag you before the judge, then the judge will hand you over to the bailiff of the court, and the bailiff throw you into prison. 042 LUK 012 059 You will not, I tell you, come out until you have paid the very last cent.” 042 LUK 013 001 Just at that time some people had come to tell Jesus about the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices. 042 LUK 013 002 “Do you suppose,” replied Jesus, “that, because these Galileans have suffered in this way, they were worse sinners than any other Galileans? 042 LUK 013 003 No, I tell you; but, unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. 042 LUK 013 004 Or those eighteen men at Siloam on whom the tower fell, killing them all, do you suppose that they were worse offenders than any other inhabitants of Jerusalem? 042 LUK 013 005 No, I tell you; but, unless you repent, you will all perish in the same manner.” 042 LUK 013 006 And Jesus told them this parable – “A man, who had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, came to look for fruit on it, but could not find any. 042 LUK 013 007 So he said to his gardener ‘Three years now I have come to look for fruit on this fig tree, without finding any! Cut it down. Why should it rob the soil?’ 042 LUK 013 008 ‘Leave it this one year more, Sir,’ the man answered, ‘until I have dug around it and manured it. 042 LUK 013 009 Then, if it bears in future, well and good; but if not, you can have it cut down.’” 042 LUK 013 010 Jesus was teaching on a Sabbath in one of the synagogues, 042 LUK 013 011 and he saw before him a woman who for eighteen years had suffered from weakness owing to her having an evil spirit in her. She was bent double, and was wholly unable to raise herself. 042 LUK 013 012 When Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said, “Woman, you are released from your weakness.” 042 LUK 013 013 He placed his hands on her, and she was instantly made straight, and began to praise God. 042 LUK 013 014 But the synagogue leader, indignant that Jesus had worked the cure on the Sabbath, intervened and said to the people, “There are six days on which work ought to be done; come to be cured on one of those, and not on the Sabbath.” 042 LUK 013 015 “You hypocrites!” the Master answered him. “Does not everyone of you let your ox or your donkey loose from its manger, and take it out to drink, on the Sabbath? 042 LUK 013 016 But this woman, a daughter of Abraham, who has been kept in bondage by Satan for now eighteen years, ought not she to have been released from her bondage on the Sabbath?” 042 LUK 013 017 As he said this, his opponents all felt ashamed; but all the people rejoiced to see all the wonderful things that he was doing. 042 LUK 013 018 So Jesus said, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what can I liken it? 042 LUK 013 019 It is like a mustard seed which a man took and put in his garden. The seed grew and became a tree, and the wild birds roosted in its branches.” 042 LUK 013 020 And again Jesus said, “To what can I liken the kingdom of God? 042 LUK 013 021 It is like some yeast which a woman took and covered in three pecks of flour, until the whole had risen.” 042 LUK 013 022 Jesus went through towns and villages, teaching as he went, and making his way towards Jerusalem. 042 LUK 013 023 “Master,” someone asked, “are there but few in the path of salvation?” And Jesus answered, 042 LUK 013 024 “Strive to go in by the narrow door. Many, I tell you, will seek to go in, but they will not be able, 042 LUK 013 025 when once the master of the house has got up and shut the door, while you begin to say, as you stand outside and knock, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’ His answer will be – ‘I do not know where you come from.’ 042 LUK 013 026 Then you will begin to say ‘We have eaten and drunk in your presence, and you have taught in our streets,’ and his reply will be – 042 LUK 013 027 ‘I do not know where you come from. Leave my presence, all you who are living in wickedness.’ 042 LUK 013 028 There, there will be weeping and grinding of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, while you yourselves are being driven outside. 042 LUK 013 029 People will come from East and West, and from North and South, and take their places at the banquet in the kingdom of God. 042 LUK 013 030 There are some who are last now who will then be first, and some who are first now who will then be last!” 042 LUK 013 031 Just then some Pharisees came up to Jesus and said, “Go away and leave this place, for Herod wants to kill you.” 042 LUK 013 032 But Jesus answered, “Go and say to that fox ‘Look you, I am driving out demons and will be completing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will have done.’ 042 LUK 013 033 But today and tomorrow and the day after I must go on my way, because it cannot be that a prophet should meet his end outside Jerusalem. 042 LUK 013 034 Jerusalem! Jerusalem! You who slays the prophets and stones the messengers sent to you – Oh, how often have I wished to gather your children around me, as a hen takes her brood under her wings, and you would not come! 042 LUK 013 035 Verily your house is left to you desolate! And never, I tell you, will you see me, until you say – ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.’” 042 LUK 014 001 On one occasion, as Jesus was going, on a Sabbath into the house of one of the leading Pharisees to dine, they were watching him closely. 042 LUK 014 002 There he saw before him a man who was suffering from dropsy. 042 LUK 014 003 “Is it allowable,” said Jesus, addressing the students of the Law and the Pharisees, “to work a cure on the Sabbath, or is it not?” 042 LUK 014 004 They remained silent. Jesus took hold of the man and cured him, and sent him away. 042 LUK 014 005 And he said to them, “Which of you, finding that your son or your ox has fallen into a well, will not immediately pull them out on the Sabbath day?” 042 LUK 014 006 And they could not make any answer to that. 042 LUK 014 007 Observing that the guests were choosing the best places for themselves, Jesus told them this parable – 042 LUK 014 008 “When you are invited by anyone to a wedding banquet, do not seat yourself in the best place. Someone of higher rank might have been invited by your host; 042 LUK 014 009 and the host who invited you both will come and say to you ‘Make room for this person,’ and then you will begin in confusion to take the lowest place. 042 LUK 014 010 No, when you are invited, go and take the lowest place, so that, when the host who has invited you comes, he may say to you ‘Friend, come higher up’; and then you will be honored in the eyes of all your fellow guests. 042 LUK 014 011 For everyone who exalts themselves will be humbled, and everyone who humbles themselves will be exalted.” 042 LUK 014 012 Then Jesus went on to say to the man who had invited him, “When you give a breakfast or a dinner, do not ask your friends, or your brothers or sisters, or your relatives, or rich neighbors, because they might invite you in return, and so you should be repaid. 042 LUK 014 013 No, when you entertain, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; 042 LUK 014 014 and then you will be happy indeed, since they cannot reward you; for you will be rewarded at the resurrection of the just.” 042 LUK 014 015 One of the guests heard what he said and exclaimed, “Happy will be the person who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!” 042 LUK 014 016 But Jesus said to him, “A man was once giving a great dinner. He invited many people, 042 LUK 014 017 and sent his servant, when it was time for the dinner, to say to those who had been invited ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ 042 LUK 014 018 They all with one accord began to ask to be excused. The first said to the servant ‘I have bought a field and am obliged to go and look at it. I must ask you to consider me excused.’ 042 LUK 014 019 The next said ‘I have bought five pairs of bullocks, and I am on my way to try them. I must ask you to consider me excused’; 042 LUK 014 020 while the next said ‘I am just married, and for that reason I am unable to come.’ 042 LUK 014 021 On his return the servant told his master all these answers. Then in anger the owner of the house said to his servant ‘Go out at once into the streets and alleys of the town, and bring in here the poor, and the crippled, and the blind, and the lame.’ 042 LUK 014 022 Presently the servant said ‘Sir, your order has been carried out, and still there is room.’ 042 LUK 014 023 ‘Go out,’ the master said, ‘into the roads and hedgerows, and make people come in, so that my house may be filled; 042 LUK 014 024 for I tell you all that not one of those people who were invited will taste my dinner.’” 042 LUK 014 025 One day, when great crowds of people were walking with Jesus, he turned and said to them, 042 LUK 014 026 “If any one comes to me and does not hate their father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brothers, and sisters, yes and even their life, he can be no disciple of mine. 042 LUK 014 027 Whoever does not carry their own cross, and walk in my steps, can be no disciple of mine. 042 LUK 014 028 Why, which of you, when you want to build a tower, does not first sit down and reckon the cost, to see if you have enough to complete it? – 042 LUK 014 029 Otherwise, if you have laid the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will laugh at you, 042 LUK 014 030 and say ‘Here is a person who began to build and was not able to finish!’ 042 LUK 014 031 Or what king, when he is setting out to fight another king, does not first sit down and consider if with ten thousand men he is able to meet one who is coming against him with twenty thousand? 042 LUK 014 032 And if he cannot, then, while the other is still at a distance, he sends envoys and asks for terms of peace. 042 LUK 014 033 And so with everyone of you who does not bid farewell to all you have – you cannot be a disciple of mine. 042 LUK 014 034 Yes, salt is good; but, if the salt itself should lose its strength, what will be used to season it? 042 LUK 014 035 It is not fit either for the land or for the manure heap. People throw it away. Let those who have ears to hear with hear!” 042 LUK 015 001 The tax collectors and the outcasts were all drawing near to Jesus to listen to him; 042 LUK 015 002 but the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law found fault. “This man always welcomes outcasts, and takes meals with them!” they complained. 042 LUK 015 003 So Jesus told them this parable – 042 LUK 015 004 “Who among you who has a hundred sheep, and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine out in the open country, and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 042 LUK 015 005 And, when he has found it, he puts in on his shoulders rejoicing; 042 LUK 015 006 and, on reaching home, he calls his friends and his neighbors together, and says ‘Come and rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.’ 042 LUK 015 007 So, I tell you, there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one outcast who repents, than over ninety-nine religious people, who have no need to repent. 042 LUK 015 008 Or again, what woman who has ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, and sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? 042 LUK 015 009 And, when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, and says ‘Come and rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I lost.’ 042 LUK 015 010 So, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of God’s angels over one outcast who repents.” 042 LUK 015 011 Then Jesus continued, “A man had two sons; 042 LUK 015 012 and the younger of them said to his father ‘Father, give me my share of the inheritance.’ So the father divided the property between them. 042 LUK 015 013 A few days later the younger son got together all that he had, and went away into a distant land; and there he squandered his inheritance by leading a dissolute life. 042 LUK 015 014 After he has spent all that he had, there was a severe famine through all that country, and he began to be in actual want. 042 LUK 015 015 So he went and engaged himself to one of the people of that country, who sent him into his fields to tend pigs. 042 LUK 015 016 He even longed to satisfy his hunger with the bean-pods on which the pigs were feeding; and no one gave him anything. 042 LUK 015 017 But, when he came to himself, he said ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more bread than they can eat, while here am I starving to death! 042 LUK 015 018 I will get up and go to my father, and say to him “Father, I sinned against heaven and against you; 042 LUK 015 019 I am no longer fit to be called your son; make me one of your hired servants.”’ 042 LUK 015 020 And he got up and went to his father. But, while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was deeply moved; he ran and threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. 042 LUK 015 021 ‘Father,’ the son said, ‘I sinned against heaven and against you; I am no longer fit to be called your son; make me one of your hired servants.’ 042 LUK 015 022 But the father turned to his servants and said ‘Be quick and fetch a robe – the very best – and put it on him; give him a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet; 042 LUK 015 023 and bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry; 042 LUK 015 024 for here is my son who was dead, and is alive again, was lost, and is found.’ So they began making merry. 042 LUK 015 025 Meanwhile the elder son was out in the fields; but, on coming home, when he got near the house, he heard music and dancing, 042 LUK 015 026 and he called one of the servants and asked what it all meant. 042 LUK 015 027 ‘Your brother has come back,’ the servant told him, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has him back safe and sound.’ 042 LUK 015 028 This made him angry, and he would not go in. But his father came out and begged him to do so. 042 LUK 015 029 ‘No,’ he said to his father, ‘look at all the years I have been serving you, without ever once disobeying you, and yet you have never given me even a young goat, so that I might have a party with my friends. 042 LUK 015 030 But, no sooner has this son of yours come, who has eaten up your property in the company of prostitutes, than you have killed the fattened calf for him.’ 042 LUK 015 031 ‘Child,’ the father answered, ‘you are always with me, and everything that I have is yours. 042 LUK 015 032 We could but make merry and rejoice, for here is your brother who was dead, and is alive; who was lost, and is found.’” 042 LUK 016 001 Jesus said to his disciples, “There was a rich man who had a steward; and this steward was maliciously accused to him of wasting his estate. 042 LUK 016 002 So the master called him and said ‘What is this that I hear about you? Give in your accounts, for you cannot act as steward any longer.’ 042 LUK 016 003 ‘What am I to do,’ the steward asked himself, ‘now that my master is taking the steward’s place away from me? I have not strength to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. 042 LUK 016 004 I know what I will do, so that, as soon as I am turned out of my stewardship, people may welcome me into their homes.’ 042 LUK 016 005 One by one he called up his master’s debtors. ‘How much do you owe my master?’ he asked of the first. 042 LUK 016 006 ‘Four hundred and forty gallons of oil,’ answered the man. ‘Here is your agreement,’ he said; ‘sit down at once and make it two hundred and twenty.’ 042 LUK 016 007 And you, the steward said to the next, ‘how much do you owe?’ ‘Seventy quarters of wheat,’ he replied. ‘Here is your agreement,’ the steward said; ‘make it fifty-six.’ 042 LUK 016 008 His master complimented this dishonest steward on the shrewdness of his action. And indeed men of the world are shrewder in dealing with their fellow men than those who have the light. (aiōn g165) 042 LUK 016 009 And I say to you ‘Win friends for yourselves with your dishonest money,’ so that, when it comes to an end, there may be a welcome for you into the Eternal Home. (aiōnios g166) 042 LUK 016 010 The person who is trustworthy in the smallest matter is trustworthy in a great one also; and the person who is dishonest in the smallest matter is dishonest in a great one also. 042 LUK 016 011 So, if you have proved untrustworthy with the dishonest money, who will trust you with the true? 042 LUK 016 012 And, if you have proved untrustworthy with what does not belong to us, who will give you what is really our own? 042 LUK 016 013 No servant can serve two masters, for, either they will hate one and love the other, or else they will attach themselves to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” 042 LUK 016 014 All this was said within hearing of the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, and they began to sneer at Jesus. 042 LUK 016 015 “You,” said Jesus, “are the ones who justify themselves before the world, but God can read your hearts; and what is highly esteemed among people may be an abomination in the sight of God. 042 LUK 016 016 The Law and the prophets sufficed until the time of John. Since then the good news of the kingdom of God has been told, and everybody has been forcing their way into it. 042 LUK 016 017 It would be easier for the heavens and the earth to disappear than for one stroke of a letter in the Law to be lost. 042 LUK 016 018 Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman is an adulterer, and the man who marries a divorced woman is an adulterer. 042 LUK 016 019 There was once a rich man, who dressed in purple robes and fine linen, and feasted every day in great splendor. 042 LUK 016 020 Near his gateway there had been laid a beggar named Lazarus, who was covered with sores, 042 LUK 016 021 and who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. 042 LUK 016 022 After a time the beggar died, and was taken by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. 042 LUK 016 023 In Hades he looked up in his torment, and saw Abraham at a distance and Lazarus at his side. (Hadēs g86) 042 LUK 016 024 So he called out ‘Pity me, Father Abraham, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering agony in this flame.’ 042 LUK 016 025 ‘Child,’ answered Abraham, ‘remember that you in your lifetime received what you thought desirable, just as Lazarus received what was not desirable; but now he has his consolation here, while you are suffering agony. 042 LUK 016 026 And not only that, but between you and us there lies a great chasm, so that those who wish to pass from here to you cannot, nor can they cross from there to us.’ 042 LUK 016 027 ‘Then, Father,’ he said, ‘I beg you to send Lazarus to my father’s house – 042 LUK 016 028 For I have five brothers to warn them, so that they may not come to this place of torture also.’ 042 LUK 016 029 ‘They have the writings of Moses and the prophets,’ replied Abraham; ‘let them listen to them.’ 042 LUK 016 030 ‘But, Father Abraham,’ he urged, ‘if someone from the dead were to go to them, they would repent.’ 042 LUK 016 031 ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets,’ answered Abraham, ‘they will not be persuaded, even if someone were to rise from the dead.’” 042 LUK 017 001 Jesus said to his disciples, “It is inevitable that there should be temptations but sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting! 042 LUK 017 002 It would be better for them if they had been flung into the sea with a millstone around their neck, rather than that they should cause even one of these little ones to stumble. 042 LUK 017 003 Be on your guard! If your brother or sister does wrong, rebuke them; but if they repent, forgive them. 042 LUK 017 004 Even if they wrong you seven times a day, but turns to you every time and says ‘I am sorry,’ you must forgive them.” 042 LUK 017 005 “Give us more faith,” said the apostles to the Master; 042 LUK 017 006 but the Master said, “If your faith were only like a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you. 042 LUK 017 007 Which of you, if he had a servant ploughing, or tending the sheep, would say to him, when he came in from the fields, ‘Come at once and take your place at the table,’ 042 LUK 017 008 Instead of saying ‘Prepare my dinner, and then make yourself ready and serve me while I am eating and drinking, and after that you will eat and drink yourself’? 042 LUK 017 009 Does he feel grateful to his servant for doing what he is told? 042 LUK 017 010 And so with you – when you have done all that you have been told, still say ‘We are but useless servants; we have done no more than we ought to have done.’” 042 LUK 017 011 On the way to Jerusalem Jesus passed between Samaria and Galilee. 042 LUK 017 012 As he was entering a village, ten lepers met him. 042 LUK 017 013 Standing still, some distance off, they called out loudly, “Jesus! Sir! Pity us!” 042 LUK 017 014 When Jesus saw them, he said, “Go and show yourselves to the priest.” And, as they were on their way, they were made clean. 042 LUK 017 015 One of them, finding he was cured, came back, praising God loudly, 042 LUK 017 016 and threw himself on his face at Jesus’ feet, thanking him for what he had done; and this man was a Samaritan. 042 LUK 017 017 “Were not all the ten made clean? exclaimed Jesus. But the nine – where are they? 042 LUK 017 018 Were there none to come back and praise God except this foreigner? 042 LUK 017 019 Get up,” he said to him, “and go on your way. Your faith has delivered you.” 042 LUK 017 020 Being once asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was to come, Jesus answered, “The kingdom of God does not come in a way that can be seen, 042 LUK 017 021 nor will people say ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There it is!’; for the kingdom of God is within you! 042 LUK 017 022 The day will come,” he said to his disciples, “when you will long to see but one of the days of the Son of Man, and will not see it. 042 LUK 017 023 People will say to you ‘There he is!’ Or ‘Here he is!’ Do not go and follow them. 042 LUK 017 024 For, just as lightning will lighten and flare from one side of the heavens to the other, so will it be with the Son of Man. 042 LUK 017 025 But first he must undergo much suffering, and he must be rejected by the present generation. 042 LUK 017 026 As it was in the days of Noah, so will it be again in the days of the Son of Man. 042 LUK 017 027 They were eating and drinking and marrying and being married, up to the very day on which Noah entered the ark, and then the flood came and destroyed them all. 042 LUK 017 028 So, too, in the days of Lot. People were eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting, building; 042 LUK 017 029 but, on the very day on which Lot came out of Sodom, it rained fire and sulfur from the skies and destroyed them all. 042 LUK 017 030 It will be the same on the day on which the Son of Man reveals himself. 042 LUK 017 031 On that day, if a person is on their house-top and their goods in the house, they must not go down to get them; nor again must one who is on the farm turn back. 042 LUK 017 032 Remember Lot’s wife. 042 LUK 017 033 Whoever is eager to get the most out of their life will lose it; but whoever will lose it will preserve it. 042 LUK 017 034 On that night, I tell you, of two people on the same bed, one will be taken and the other left; 042 LUK 017 035 of two women grinding grain together, one will be taken and the other left.” 042 LUK 017 037 “Where will it be, Master?” asked the disciples. “Where there is a body,” said Jesus, “there will the vultures flock.” 042 LUK 018 001 Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and never despair. 042 LUK 018 002 “There was,” he said, “in a certain town a judge, who had no fear of God nor regard for people. 042 LUK 018 003 In the same town there was a widow who went to him again and again, and said ‘Grant me justice against my opponent.’ 042 LUK 018 004 For a time the judge refused, but afterward he said to himself ‘Although I am without fear of God or regard for people, 042 LUK 018 005 yet, as this widow is so troublesome, I will grant her justice, to stop her from plaguing me with her endless visits.’” 042 LUK 018 006 Then the Master added, “Listen to what this iniquitous judge says! 042 LUK 018 007 And God – won’t he see that his own people, who cry to him night and day, have justice done them – though he holds his hand? 042 LUK 018 008 He will, I tell you, give them justice soon enough! Yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” 042 LUK 018 009 Another time, speaking to people who were satisfied that they were religious, and who regarded everyone else with scorn, Jesus told this parable – 042 LUK 018 010 “Two men went up into the Temple Courts to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax-gatherer. 042 LUK 018 011 The Pharisee stood forward and began praying to himself in this way – ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men – thieves, rogues, adulterers – or even like this tax-gatherer. 042 LUK 018 012 I fast twice a week, and give a tenth of everything I get to God.’ 042 LUK 018 013 Meanwhile the tax-gatherer stood at a distance, not venturing even to raise his eyes to heaven, but he kept striking his breast and saying ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ 042 LUK 018 014 This man, I tell you, went home pardoned, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, while everyone who humbles himself will be exalted.” 042 LUK 018 015 Some of the people were bringing even their babies to Jesus, for him to touch them; but, when the disciples saw it, they began to find fault with those who had brought them. 042 LUK 018 016 Jesus, however, called the little children to him. “Let the little children come to me,” he said, “and do not hinder them, for it is to the childlike that the kingdom of God belongs. 042 LUK 018 017 I tell you, unless a man receives the kingdom of God like a child, he will not enter it at all.” 042 LUK 018 018 And one of the leaders asked Jesus this question – “Good teacher, what must I do if I am to gain eternal life?” (aiōnios g166) 042 LUK 018 019 “Why do you call me good?” answered Jesus. “No one is good but God. 042 LUK 018 020 You know the commandments – Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not say what is false about others, Honor your father and your mother.” 042 LUK 018 021 “I have observed all these,” he replied, “from childhood.” 042 LUK 018 022 Hearing this, Jesus said to him, “There is one thing still lacking in you; sell everything that you have, and distribute to the poor, and you will have wealth in heaven; then come and follow me.” 042 LUK 018 023 But the man became greatly distressed on hearing this, for he was extremely rich. 042 LUK 018 024 Seeing this, Jesus said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the wealthy to enter the kingdom of God! 042 LUK 018 025 It is easier, indeed, for a camel to get through a needle’s eye than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God!” 042 LUK 018 026 “Then who can be saved?” asked those who heard this. 042 LUK 018 027 But Jesus said, “What is impossible with people is possible with God.” 042 LUK 018 028 “But we,” said Peter, “we left what belonged to us and followed you.” 042 LUK 018 029 “I tell you,” he answered, “that there is no one who has left house, or wife, or brothers, or parents, or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 042 LUK 018 030 who will not receive many times as much in the present, and in the age that is coming eternal life.” (aiōn g165, aiōnios g166) 042 LUK 018 031 Gathering the Twelve around him, Jesus said to them, “Listen! We are going up to Jerusalem; and there everything that is written in the prophets will be done to the Son of Man. 042 LUK 018 032 For he will be given up to the Gentiles, mocked, insulted and spat on; 042 LUK 018 033 they will scourge him, and then put him to death; and on the third day he will rise again.” 042 LUK 018 034 The apostles did not comprehend any of this. His meaning was unintelligible to them and they did not understand what he was saying. 042 LUK 018 035 As Jesus was getting near Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside, begging. 042 LUK 018 036 Hearing a crowd going by, the man asked what was the matter; 042 LUK 018 037 and, when people told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing, 042 LUK 018 038 he shouted out, “Jesus, Son of David, take pity on me!” 042 LUK 018 039 Those who were in front kept telling him to be quiet, but he continued to call out the louder, “Son of David, take pity on me!” 042 LUK 018 040 Then Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. And, when he had come close up to him, Jesus asked him, 042 LUK 018 041 “What do you want me to do for you?” “Master,” he said, “I want to recover my sight.” 042 LUK 018 042 And Jesus said, “Recover your sight, your faith has delivered you.” 042 LUK 018 043 Instantly he recovered his sight, and began to follow Jesus, praising God. And all the people, on seeing it, gave glory to God. 042 LUK 019 001 Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. 042 LUK 019 002 There was a man there, known by the name of Zacchaeus, who was a senior tax collector and a rich man. 042 LUK 019 003 He tried to see what Jesus was like; but, being short, he was unable to do so because of the crowd. 042 LUK 019 004 So he ran on ahead and climbed into a mulberry tree to see Jesus, for he knew that he must pass that way. 042 LUK 019 005 When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, be quick and come down, for I must stop at your house today.” 042 LUK 019 006 So Zacchaeus got down quickly, and joyfully welcomed him. 042 LUK 019 007 On seeing this, everyone began to complain, “He has gone to stay with a man who is an outcast.” 042 LUK 019 008 But Zacchaeus stood forward and said to the Master, “Listen, Master! I will give half my property to the poor, and, if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will give him back four times as much.” 042 LUK 019 009 “Salvation has come to this house today,” answered Jesus, “for even this man is a son of Abraham. 042 LUK 019 010 The Son of Man has come to search for those who are lost and to save them.” 042 LUK 019 011 As the people were listening to this, Jesus went on to tell them a parable. He did so because he was near Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God was going to be proclaimed at once. 042 LUK 019 012 He said, “A nobleman once went to a distant country to receive his appointment to a kingdom and then return. 042 LUK 019 013 He called ten of his servants and gave them ten pounds of silver each, and told them to trade with them during his absence. 042 LUK 019 014 But his subjects hated him and sent envoys after him to say ‘We will not have this man as our king.’ 042 LUK 019 015 On his return, after having been appointed king, he directed that the servants to whom he had given his money should be summoned, so that he might learn what amount of trade they had done. 042 LUK 019 016 The first came up, and said ‘Sir, your ten pounds have made a hundred.’ 042 LUK 019 017 ‘Well done, good servant!’ exclaimed the master. ‘As you have proved trustworthy in a very small matter, I appoint you governor over ten towns.’ 042 LUK 019 018 When the second came, he said ‘Your ten pounds, Sir, have produced fifty.’ 042 LUK 019 019 So the master said to him ‘And you I appoint over five towns.’ 042 LUK 019 020 Another servant also came and said ‘Sir, here are your ten pounds; I have kept them put away in a handkerchief. 042 LUK 019 021 For I was afraid of you, because you are a stern man. You take what you have not planted, and reap what you have not sown.’ 042 LUK 019 022 The master answered ‘Out of your own mouth I judge you, you worthless servant. You knew that I am a stern man, that I take what I have not planted, and reap what I have not sown? 042 LUK 019 023 Then why didn’t you put my money into a bank? And I, on my return, could have claimed it with interest. 042 LUK 019 024 Take away from him the ten pounds,’ he said to those standing by, ‘and give them to the one who has the hundred.’ 042 LUK 019 025 ‘But, Sir,’ they said, ‘he has a hundred pounds already!’ 042 LUK 019 026 ‘I tell you,’ he answered, ‘that, to him who has, more will be given, but, from him who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away. 042 LUK 019 027 But as for my enemies, these men who would not have me as their king, bring them here and put them to death in my presence.’” 042 LUK 019 028 After saying this, Jesus went on in front, going up to Jerusalem. 042 LUK 019 029 It was when Jesus had almost reached Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, that he sent on two of the disciples. 042 LUK 019 030 “Go to the village facing us,” he said, “and, when you get there, you will find a foal tethered, which no one has yet ridden; untie it and lead it here. 042 LUK 019 031 And, if anybody asks you ‘Why are you untying it?’, you are to say this – ‘The Master wants it.’” 042 LUK 019 032 So the two who were sent went and found it as Jesus had told them. 042 LUK 019 033 While they were untying the foal, the owners asked them – “Why are you untying the foal?” 042 LUK 019 034 And the two disciples answered – “The Master wants it.” 042 LUK 019 035 Then they led it back to Jesus, and threw their cloaks on the foal and put Jesus on it. 042 LUK 019 036 As he went along, the people kept spreading their cloaks in the road. 042 LUK 019 037 When he had almost reached the place where the road led down the Mount of Olives, everyone of the many disciples began in their joy to praise God loudly for all the miracles that they had seen: 042 LUK 019 038 “Blessed is He who comes – our king – in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory on high.” 042 LUK 019 039 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, restrain your disciples.” 042 LUK 019 040 But Jesus answered, “I tell you that if they are silent, the stones will call out.” 042 LUK 019 041 When he drew near, on seeing the city, he wept over it, and said, 042 LUK 019 042 “If only you had known, while yet there was time – even you – the things that make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your sight. 042 LUK 019 043 For a time is coming when your enemies will surround you with earthworks, and encircle you, and hem you in on all sides; 042 LUK 019 044 they will trample you down and your children within you, and they will not leave in you one stone on another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.” 042 LUK 019 045 Jesus went into the Temple Courts and began to drive out those who were selling, 042 LUK 019 046 saying as he did so, “Scripture says – ‘My house will be a house of prayer’; but you have made it a den of robbers.” 042 LUK 019 047 Jesus continued to teach each day in the Temple Courts; but the chief priests and teachers of the Law were eager to take his life, and so also were the leaders of the people. 042 LUK 019 048 Yet they could not see what to do, for the people all hung on his words. 042 LUK 020 001 On one of these days, when Jesus was teaching the people in the Temple Courts and telling the good news, the chief priests and the teachers of the Law, joined by the elders, confronted him, 042 LUK 020 002 and addressing him, said, “Tell us what authority you have to do these things. Who is it who has given you this authority?” 042 LUK 020 003 “I, too,” said Jesus in reply, “will ask you one question. Give me an answer to it. 042 LUK 020 004 It is about John’s baptism – was it of divine or of human origin?” 042 LUK 020 005 But they began arguing together, “If we say ‘divine,’ he will say ‘Why didn’t you believe him?’ 042 LUK 020 006 But, if we say ‘human,’ the people will all stone us, for they are persuaded that John was a prophet.” 042 LUK 020 007 So they answered that they did not know its origin. 042 LUK 020 008 “Then I,” said Jesus, “refuse to tell you what authority I have to do these things.” 042 LUK 020 009 But Jesus began to tell the people this parable – “A man once planted a vineyard, and then let it out to tenants, and went abroad for a long while. 042 LUK 020 010 At the proper time he sent a servant to the tenants, so that they could give him a share of the produce of the vineyard. The tenants, however, beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 042 LUK 020 011 The owner afterward sent another servant; but the tenants beat and insulted this man too, and sent him away empty-handed. 042 LUK 020 012 He sent a third; but they wounded this man also, and threw him outside. 042 LUK 020 013 ‘What should I do?’ said the owner of the vineyard. ‘I will send my son, who is very dear to me. Perhaps they will respect him.’ 042 LUK 020 014 But, on seeing him, the tenants consulted with one another. ‘Here is the heir!’ they said. ‘Let us kill him, and then the inheritance will become ours.’ 042 LUK 020 015 So they threw him outside the vineyard and killed him. Now what will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 042 LUK 020 016 He will come and put those tenants to death, and will let the vineyard to others.” “Heaven forbid!” they exclaimed when they heard it. 042 LUK 020 017 But Jesus looked at them and said, “What then is the meaning of this passage? – ‘The stone which the builders despised has now itself become the cornerstone.’ 042 LUK 020 018 Everyone who falls on that stone will be dashed to pieces, while anyone on whom it falls – it will scatter him as dust.” 042 LUK 020 019 After this the teachers of the Law and the chief priest were eager to lay hands on Jesus then and there, but they were afraid of the people; for they saw that it was at them that he had aimed this parable. 042 LUK 020 020 Having watched their opportunity, they afterward sent some spies, who pretended to be good men, to catch Jesus in the course of conversation, and so enable them to give him up to the Governor’s jurisdiction and authority. 042 LUK 020 021 These spies asked Jesus a question. They said, “Teacher, we know that you are right in what you say and teach, and that you do not take any account of a person’s position, but teach the way of God honestly; 042 LUK 020 022 are we right in paying tribute to the Emperor or not?” 042 LUK 020 023 Seeing through their deceitfulness, Jesus said to them, 042 LUK 020 024 “Show me a coin. Whose head and title are on it?” 042 LUK 020 025 “The Emperor’s,” they said; and Jesus replied, “Well then, pay to the Emperor what belongs to the Emperor, and to God what belongs to God.” 042 LUK 020 026 They could not object to this answer before the people; and, in their wonder at his reply, they held their tongues. 042 LUK 020 027 Presently there came up some Sadducees, who maintain that there is no resurrection. Their question was this – 042 LUK 020 028 “Teacher, Moses laid down for us in his writings that – ‘Should a man’s married brother die, and should he be childless, the man should take the widow as his wife, and raise up a family for his brother.’ 042 LUK 020 029 Well, there were once seven brothers; of whom the eldest, after taking a wife, died childless. 042 LUK 020 030 The second and third brothers both took her as their wife; 042 LUK 020 031 and so, too, did all seven – dying without children. 042 LUK 020 032 The woman herself was the last to die. 042 LUK 020 033 About the woman, then – at the resurrection, whose wife is she to be, all seven brothers having had her as their wife?” 042 LUK 020 034 “The men and women of this world,” said Jesus, “marry and are given in marriage; (aiōn g165) 042 LUK 020 035 but, for those who are thought worthy to attain to that other world and the resurrection from the dead, there is no marrying or being married, (aiōn g165) 042 LUK 020 036 nor indeed can they die again, for they are like angels and, having shared in the resurrection, they are God’s children. 042 LUK 020 037 As to the fact that the dead rise, even Moses indicated that, in the passage about the Bush, when he calls the Lord – ‘The God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ 042 LUK 020 038 Now he is not God of dead people, but of living. For in his sight all are alive.” 042 LUK 020 039 “Well said, teacher!” exclaimed some of the teachers of the Law, 042 LUK 020 040 for they did not venture to question him any further. 042 LUK 020 041 But Jesus said to them, “How is it that people say that the Christ is to be David’s son? 042 LUK 020 042 For David, in the book of Psalms, says himself – ‘The Lord said to my lord: Sit at my right hand, 042 LUK 020 043 until I put your enemies as a stool for your feet.’ 042 LUK 020 044 David, then, calls him ‘lord,’ so how is he David’s son?” 042 LUK 020 045 While all the people were listening, Jesus said to the disciples, 042 LUK 020 046 “Be on your guard against the teachers of the Law, who delight to walk about in long robes, and like to be greeted in the streets with respect, and to have the best seats in the synagogues, and places of honor at dinner. 042 LUK 020 047 These are the men who rob widows of their houses, and make a pretense of saying long prayers. Their sentence will be all the heavier.” 042 LUK 021 001 Looking up, Jesus saw the rich people putting their gifts into the chests for the Temple offerings. 042 LUK 021 002 He saw, too, a widow in poor circumstances putting two small coins into them. 042 LUK 021 003 “I tell you”, he said “that this poor widow has put in more than all the others; 042 LUK 021 004 for everyone else here put in something from what he had to spare, while she, in her need, has put in all she had to live on.” 042 LUK 021 005 When some of them spoke about the Temple being decorated with beautiful stones and offerings, Jesus said, 042 LUK 021 006 “As for these things that you are looking at, a time is coming when not one stone will be left on another here. Every one will be thrown down.” 042 LUK 021 007 So the disciples questioned Jesus, “But, teacher, when will this happen? And what sign will there be when this is near?” 042 LUK 021 008 And Jesus said, “See that you are not led astray; for many will take my name, and come saying ‘I am He,’ and ‘The time is close at hand.’ Do not follow them. 042 LUK 021 009 And, when you hear of wars and disturbances, do not be terrified, for these things must occur first; but the end will not be at once.” 042 LUK 021 010 Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, 042 LUK 021 011 and there will be great earthquakes, and plagues and famines in various places, and there will be terrible appearances and signs in the heavens. 042 LUK 021 012 Before all this, they will lay hands on you and persecute you, and they will betray you to synagogues and put you in prison, when you will be brought before kings and governors for the sake of my name. 042 LUK 021 013 Then will be your opportunity of witnessing for me. 042 LUK 021 014 Make up your minds, therefore, not to prepare your defense; 042 LUK 021 015 for I will myself give you words, and a wisdom which all your opponents together will be unable to resist or defy. 042 LUK 021 016 You will be betrayed even by your parents and brothers and sisters and relatives and friends, and they will cause some of you to be put to death, 042 LUK 021 017 and you will be hated by everyone because of me my name. 042 LUK 021 018 Yet not a single hair of your heads will be lost! 042 LUK 021 019 By your endurance you will win yourselves life. 042 LUK 021 020 As soon, however, as you see Jerusalem surrounded by armed camps, then you may know that the hour of her desecration is at hand. 042 LUK 021 021 Then those of you who are in Judea must take refuge in the mountains, those who are in Jerusalem must leave at once, and those who are in the country places must not go into it. 042 LUK 021 022 For these are to be the days of vengeance, when all that scripture says will be fulfilled. 042 LUK 021 023 Alas for pregnant women, and for those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great suffering in the land, and anger against this people. 042 LUK 021 024 They will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be taken prisoners to every land, and Jerusalem will be under the heel of the Gentiles, until their day is over – as it will be. 042 LUK 021 025 There will be signs, too, in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth despair among the nations, in their dismay at the roar of the sea and the surge. 042 LUK 021 026 People’s hearts will fail them through dread of what is coming upon the world; for the forces of the heavens will be convulsed. 042 LUK 021 027 Then will be seen the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 042 LUK 021 028 And, when these things begin to occur, look upwards and lift your heads, for your deliverance will be at hand.” 042 LUK 021 029 Then he taught them a lesson, saying – “Look at the fig tree and all the other trees. 042 LUK 021 030 As soon as they shoot, you know, as you look at them, without being told, that summer is near. 042 LUK 021 031 And so may you, as soon as you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. 042 LUK 021 032 I tell you that even the present generation will not pass away until all has taken place. 042 LUK 021 033 The heavens and the earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. 042 LUK 021 034 Be on your guard or your minds will become dulled by debauches or drunkenness or the anxieties of life, and ‘that day’ will close on you suddenly like a trap. 042 LUK 021 035 For it will come on all who are living upon the face of the whole earth. 042 LUK 021 036 Be on the watch at all times, and pray that you may have strength to escape all that is destined to happen, and to stand in the presence of the Son of Man.” 042 LUK 021 037 During the days, Jesus continued to teach in the Temple Courts, but he went out and spent the nights on the hill called the ‘Mount of Olives.’ 042 LUK 021 038 And all the people would get up early in the morning and come to listen to him in the Temple Courts. 042 LUK 022 001 The feast of the unleavened bread, known as the Passover, was near. 042 LUK 022 002 The chief priest and the teachers of the Law were looking for an opportunity of destroying Jesus, for they were afraid of the people. 042 LUK 022 003 Now Satan took possession of Judas, who was known as Iscariot, and who belonged to the Twelve; 042 LUK 022 004 and he went and discussed with the chief priests and officers in charge at the Temple the best way of betraying Jesus to them. 042 LUK 022 005 They were glad of this, and agreed to pay him. 042 LUK 022 006 So Judas assented, and looked for an opportunity to betray Jesus to them, in the absence of a crowd. 042 LUK 022 007 When the day of the Festival of the unleavened bread came, on which the Passover lambs had to be killed, 042 LUK 022 008 Jesus sent forward Peter and John, saying to them, “Go and make preparations for our eating the Passover.” 042 LUK 022 009 “Where do you wish us to make preparations?” they asked. 042 LUK 022 010 “Listen,” he answered, “when you have reached the city, a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you; follow him into whatever house he enters; 042 LUK 022 011 and you will say to the owner of the house ‘The teacher says to you – Where is the room where I am to eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 042 LUK 022 012 The man will show you a large upstairs room, set out; there make preparations.” 042 LUK 022 013 So Peter and John went on, and found everything just as Jesus had told them, and they prepared the Passover. 042 LUK 022 014 When the time came, Jesus took his place at the table, and the apostles with him. 042 LUK 022 015 “I have most earnestly wished,” he said, “to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 042 LUK 022 016 For I tell you that I will not eat it again, until it has had its fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” 042 LUK 022 017 Then, on receiving a cup, after saying the thanksgiving, he said, “Take this and share it among you. 042 LUK 022 018 For I tell you that I will not, after today, drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God has come.” 042 LUK 022 019 Then Jesus took some bread, and, after saying the thanksgiving, broke it and gave to them, with the words, “This is my body. 042 LUK 022 021 Yet see! The hand of the man who is betraying me is beside me on the table! 042 LUK 022 022 True, the Son of Man is passing, by the way ordained for him, yet alas for that man by whom he is being betrayed!” 042 LUK 022 023 Then they began questioning one another which of them it could be who was going to do this. 042 LUK 022 024 And a dispute arose among them as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. 042 LUK 022 025 Jesus, however, said, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their oppressors are styled ‘Benefactors.’ 042 LUK 022 026 But with you it must not be so. No, let the greatest among you become like the youngest, and him who leads like him who serves. 042 LUK 022 027 Which is the greater – the master at the table or his servant? Is not it the master at the table? Yet I myself am among you as one who serves. 042 LUK 022 028 You are the men who have stood by me in my trials; 042 LUK 022 029 and, just as my Father has assigned me a kingdom, I assign you places, 042 LUK 022 030 so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and be seated on twelve thrones as judges of the twelve tribes of Israel. 042 LUK 022 031 Simon! Simon! listen. Satan demanded leave to sift you all like wheat, 042 LUK 022 032 but I prayed for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. And you, when you have returned to me, are to strengthen the others.” 042 LUK 022 033 “Master,” said Peter, “with you I am ready to go both to prison and to death.” 042 LUK 022 034 “I tell you, Peter,” replied Jesus, “the cock will not crow today until you have disowned all knowledge of me three times.” 042 LUK 022 035 Then he said to them all, “When I sent you out as my messengers, without either purse, or bag, or sandals, were you in need of anything?” “No; nothing,” they answered. 042 LUK 022 036 “Now, however,” he said, “he who has a purse must take it and his bag as well; and he who has not must sell his cloak and buy a sword. 042 LUK 022 037 For, I tell you, that passage of scripture must be fulfilled in me, which says – ‘He was counted among the godless’; indeed all that refers to me is finding its fulfillment.” 042 LUK 022 038 “Master,” they exclaimed, “look, here are two swords!” “Enough!” said Jesus. 042 LUK 022 039 Jesus then went out, and made his way as usual to the Mount of Olives, followed by his disciples. 042 LUK 022 040 And, when he reached the spot, he said to them, “Pray that you may not fall into temptation.” 042 LUK 022 041 Then he withdrew about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and began to pray. 042 LUK 022 042 “Father,” he said, “if it is your pleasure, spare me this cup; only, not my will but your be done.” 042 LUK 022 043 Presently there appeared to him an angel from heaven, who strengthened him. 042 LUK 022 044 And, as his anguish became intense, he prayed still more earnestly, while his sweat was like great drops of blood falling on the ground. 042 LUK 022 045 Then he rose from praying, and came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow. 042 LUK 022 046 “Why are you asleep?” he asked them. “Rise and pray so that you don’t fall into temptation.” 042 LUK 022 047 While he was still speaking, a crowd appeared in sight, led by the man called Judas, who was one of the Twelve. Judas approached Jesus, to kiss him; 042 LUK 022 048 at which Jesus said to him, “Judas, is it by a kiss that you betray the Son of Man?” 042 LUK 022 049 But when those who were around Jesus saw what was going to happen, they exclaimed, “Master, should we use our swords?” 042 LUK 022 050 And one of them struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his right ear; 042 LUK 022 051 at which Jesus said, “Let me at least do this”; and, touching his ear, he healed the wound. 042 LUK 022 052 Then, turning to the chief priests and officers in charge at the Temple and the elders, who had come for him, he said, “Have you come out, as if after a robber, with swords and clubs? 042 LUK 022 053 When I was with you day after day in the Temple Courts, you did not lay hands on me; but now your time has come, and the power of darkness.” 042 LUK 022 054 Those who had taken Jesus prisoner took him away into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. 042 LUK 022 055 But, when they had lit a fire in the centre of the courtyard and had all sat down there, Peter seated himself in the middle of them. 042 LUK 022 056 Presently a maidservant saw him sitting near the blaze of the fire. She looked carefully at him and said, “Why, this man was one of his companions!” 042 LUK 022 057 But Peter denied it. “I do not know him,” he replied. 042 LUK 022 058 A little while afterward someone else – a man – saw him and said, “Why, you are one of them!” “No,” Peter said, “I am not.” 042 LUK 022 059 About an hour later another man declared positively, “This man also was certainly with him. Why, he is a Galilean!” 042 LUK 022 060 But Peter said, “I do not know what you are speaking about.” Instantly, while he was still speaking, a cock crowed. 042 LUK 022 061 And the Master turned and looked at Peter; and Peter remembered the words that the Master had said to him – “Before a cock has crowed today, you will disown me three times”; 042 LUK 022 062 and he went outside and wept bitterly. 042 LUK 022 063 The men who held Jesus kept making sport of him and beating him. 042 LUK 022 064 They blindfolded him and then questioned him. “Now play the prophet,” they said. “Who was it that struck you?” 042 LUK 022 065 And they heaped many other insults on him. 042 LUK 022 066 At daybreak the assembly of the elders of the people met – both the chief priests and the teachers of the Law – and took Jesus before their High Council. 042 LUK 022 067 “If you are the Christ,” they said, “tell us so.” “If I tell you,” replied Jesus, “you will not believe me; 042 LUK 022 068 and, if I question you, you will not answer. 042 LUK 022 069 But from this hour the Son of Man will be seated on the right hand of God Almighty.” 042 LUK 022 070 “Are you, then, the Son of God?” they all asked. “It is true,” answered Jesus, “I am.” 042 LUK 022 071 At this they exclaimed, “Why do we want any more evidence? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips!” 042 LUK 023 001 Then they all rose in a body and led Jesus before Pilate. 042 LUK 023 002 And they began to accuse him, “This is a man whom we found misleading our people, preventing them from paying taxes to the Emperor, and giving out that he himself is ‘Christ, a king.’” 042 LUK 023 003 “Are you the king of the Jews?” Pilate asked him. “It is true,” replied Jesus. 042 LUK 023 004 But Pilate, turning to the chief priests and the people, said, “I do not see anything to find fault with in this man.” 042 LUK 023 005 But they insisted, “He is stirring up the people by his teaching all through Judea; he began with Galilee and has now come here.” 042 LUK 023 006 Hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean; 042 LUK 023 007 and, having satisfied himself that Jesus came under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who also was at Jerusalem at the time. 042 LUK 023 008 When Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly pleased, for he had been wanting to see him for a long time, having heard a great deal about him; and he was hoping to see some sign given by him. 042 LUK 023 009 So he questioned him at some length, but Jesus made no reply. 042 LUK 023 010 Meanwhile the chief priests and the teachers of the Law stood by and vehemently accused him. 042 LUK 023 011 And Herod, with his soldiers, treated Jesus with scorn; he mocked him by throwing a gorgeous robe around him, and then sent him back to Pilate. 042 LUK 023 012 And Herod and Pilate became friends that very day, for before that there had been ill-will between them. 042 LUK 023 013 So Pilate summoned the chief priests, and the leading men, and the people, 042 LUK 023 014 and said to them, “You brought this man before me charged with misleading the people; and yet, for my part, though I examined him before you, I did not find this man to blame for any of the things of which you accuse him; 042 LUK 023 015 nor did Herod either; for he has sent him back to us. And, as a fact, he has not done anything deserving death; 042 LUK 023 016 so I will have him scourged, and then release him.” 042 LUK 023 018 But they began to shout as one man, “Kill this fellow, but release Barabbas for us.” 042 LUK 023 019 (Barabbas was a man who had been put in prison for a riot that had broken out in the city and for murder.) 042 LUK 023 020 Pilate, however, wanting to release Jesus, called to them again; 042 LUK 023 021 but they kept calling out, “Crucify, crucify him!” 042 LUK 023 022 “Why, what harm has this man done?” Pilate said to them for the third time. “I have found nothing in him for which he could be condemned to death. So I will have him scourged, and then release him.” 042 LUK 023 023 But they persisted in loudly demanding his crucifixion; and their clamor gained the day. 042 LUK 023 024 Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. 042 LUK 023 025 He released the man who had been put in prison for riot and murder, as they demanded, and gave Jesus up to be dealt with as they pleased. 042 LUK 023 026 And, as they were leading Jesus away, they laid hold of Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and they put the cross on his shoulders, for him to carry it behind Jesus. 042 LUK 023 027 There was a great crowd of people following him, many being women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him. 042 LUK 023 028 So Jesus turned and said to them, “Women of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 042 LUK 023 029 A time, I tell you, is coming, when it will be said – ‘Happy are the women who are barren, and those who have never borne children or nursed them!’ 042 LUK 023 030 At that time people will begin to say to the mountains ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills ‘Cover us.’ 042 LUK 023 031 If what you see is done while the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?” 042 LUK 023 032 There were two others also, criminals, led out to be executed with Jesus. 042 LUK 023 033 When they had reached the place called ‘The Skull,’ there they crucified Jesus and the criminals, one on the right, and one on the left. 042 LUK 023 034 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; they do not know what they are doing.” His clothes they divided among them by casting lots. 042 LUK 023 035 Meanwhile the people stood looking on. Even the leading men said with a sneer, “He saved others, let him save himself, if he is God’s Christ, his chosen one.” 042 LUK 023 036 The soldiers, too, came up in mockery, bringing him common wine, 042 LUK 023 037 and saying as they did so, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” 042 LUK 023 038 Above him were the words – ‘THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.’ 042 LUK 023 039 One of the criminals who were hanging beside Jesus railed at him. “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us,” he said. 042 LUK 023 040 But the other rebuked him. “Haven’t you,” he said, “any fear of God, now that you are under the same sentence? 042 LUK 023 041 And we justly so, for we are only reaping our deserts, but this man has not done anything wrong. 042 LUK 023 042 Jesus,” he went on, “do not forget me when you have come to your kingdom.” 042 LUK 023 043 And Jesus answered, “I tell you, this very day you will be with me in Paradise.” 042 LUK 023 044 It was nearly midday, when a darkness came over the whole country, lasting until three in the afternoon, 042 LUK 023 045 the sun being eclipsed; and the Temple curtain was torn down the middle. 042 LUK 023 046 Then Jesus, with a loud cry, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” And with these words he expired. 042 LUK 023 047 The Roman centurion, on seeing what had happened, praised God, exclaiming, “This must have been a good man!” 042 LUK 023 048 All the people who had collected to see the sight watched what occurred, and then went home beating their breasts. 042 LUK 023 049 All the friends of Jesus had been standing at a distance, with the women who accompanied him from Galilee, watching all this. 042 LUK 023 050 Now there was a man of the name of Joseph, who was a member of the Council, and who bore a good and upright character. 042 LUK 023 051 (This man had not assented to the decision and action of the Council.) He belonged to Arimathea, a town in Judea, and lived in expectation of the kingdom of God. 042 LUK 023 052 He now went to see Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus; 042 LUK 023 053 and, when he had taken it down, he wrapped it in a linen sheet, and laid him in a tomb cut out of stone, in which no one had yet been buried. 042 LUK 023 054 It was the Preparation day, and just before the Sabbath began. 042 LUK 023 055 The women who had accompanied Jesus from Galilee followed, and saw the tomb and how the body of Jesus was laid, 042 LUK 023 056 and then went home, and prepared spices and perfumes. During the Sabbath they rested, as directed by the commandment. 042 LUK 024 001 But very early on the first day of the week they went to the tomb, taking with them the spices that they had prepared. 042 LUK 024 002 They found that the stone had been rolled away from the tomb; 042 LUK 024 003 and, on going into it, they could not find the body. 042 LUK 024 004 While they were at a loss to account for this, all at once two men stood beside them, in dazzling clothing. 042 LUK 024 005 But, when in their fear the women bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why are you looking among the dead for him who is living? 042 LUK 024 006 Remember how he spoke to you before he left Galilee – 042 LUK 024 007 How he said that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of wicked men, and be crucified, and rise again on the third day.” 042 LUK 024 008 Then they remembered the words of Jesus, 042 LUK 024 009 and, on returning from the tomb, they told all this to the Eleven and to all the rest. 042 LUK 024 010 There were Mary of Magdala, and Joanna, and Mary, the mother of James. The other women, too, spoke about this to the apostles. 042 LUK 024 011 What they said seemed to the apostles mere nonsense, and they did not believe them. 042 LUK 024 013 It happened that very day that two of the disciples were going to a village called Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem, 042 LUK 024 014 talking together, as they went, about all that had just taken place. 042 LUK 024 015 While they were talking about these things and discussing them, Jesus himself came up and went on their way with them; 042 LUK 024 016 but their eyes were blinded so that they could not recognize him. 042 LUK 024 017 “What is this that you are saying to each other as you walk along?” Jesus asked. They stopped, with sad looks on their faces, 042 LUK 024 018 and then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, said to Jesus, “Are you staying by yourself at Jerusalem, that you have not heard of the things that have happened there within the last few days?” 042 LUK 024 019 “What things do you mean?” asked Jesus. “Why, about Jesus of Nazareth,” they answered, “who, in the eyes of God and all the people, was a prophet, whose power was felt in both his words and actions; 042 LUK 024 020 and how the chief priests and our leading men gave him up to be sentenced to death, and afterward crucified him. 042 LUK 024 021 But we were hoping that he was the Destined Deliverer of Israel; yes, and besides all this, it is now three days since these things occurred. 042 LUK 024 022 And what is more, some of the women among us have greatly astonished us. They went to the tomb at daybreak 042 LUK 024 023 And, not finding the body of Jesus there, came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels who told them that he was alive. 042 LUK 024 024 So some of our number went to the tomb and found everything just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.” 042 LUK 024 025 Then Jesus said to them, “Foolish men, slow to accept all that the prophets have said! 042 LUK 024 026 Was not the Christ bound to undergo this suffering before entering into his glory?” 042 LUK 024 027 Then, beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he explained to them all through the scriptures the passages that referred to himself. 042 LUK 024 028 When they got near the village to which they were walking, Jesus appeared to be going further; 042 LUK 024 029 but they pressed him not to do so. “Stay with us,” they said, “for it is getting towards evening, and the sun in already low.” So Jesus went in to stay with them. 042 LUK 024 030 After he had taken his place at the table with them, he took the bread and said the blessing, and broke it, and gave it to them. 042 LUK 024 031 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him; but he disappeared from their sight. 042 LUK 024 032 “How our hearts glowed,” the disciples said to each other, “while he was talking to us on the road, and when he explained the scriptures to us!” 042 LUK 024 033 Then they immediately got up and returned to Jerusalem, where they found the Eleven and their companions all together, 042 LUK 024 034 who told them that the Master had really risen, and had appeared to Simon. 042 LUK 024 035 So they also related what had happened during their walk, and how they had recognized Jesus at the breaking of the bread. 042 LUK 024 036 While they were still talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them. 042 LUK 024 037 In their terror and alarm they thought they saw a ghost, 042 LUK 024 038 but Jesus said to them, “Why are you so startled? And why do doubts arise in your minds? 042 LUK 024 039 Look at my hands and my feet, and you will know that it is I. Feel me, and look at me, for a ghost has not flesh and bones, as you see that I have.” 042 LUK 024 041 While they were still unable to believe it all, overcome with joy, and were wondering if it were true, Jesus said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 042 LUK 024 042 They handed him a piece of broiled fish, 042 LUK 024 043 and he took it and ate it before their eyes. 042 LUK 024 044 “This is what I told you,” he said, “when I was still with you – that everything that had been written about me in the Law of Moses, the prophets, and the Psalms, must be fulfilled.” 042 LUK 024 045 Then he enabled them to understand the meaning of the scriptures, saying to them, 042 LUK 024 046 “Scripture says that the Christ will suffer, and that he will rise again from the dead on the third day, 042 LUK 024 047 and that repentance for forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed on his authority to all the nations – beginning at Jerusalem. 042 LUK 024 048 You yourselves are to be witnesses to all this. 042 LUK 024 049 And now I am myself about to send you that which my Father has promised. But you must remain in the city until you have been invested with power from above.” 042 LUK 024 050 After this, Jesus led them out as far as Bethany, and there raised his hands and blessed them. 042 LUK 024 051 As he was in the act of blessing them, he left them. 042 LUK 024 052 They returned to Jerusalem full of joy; 042 LUK 024 053 and they were constantly in the Temple Courts, blessing God. # # BOOK 043 JOH John John 043 JOH 001 001 In the beginning the Word was; and the Word was with God; and the Word was God. 043 JOH 001 002 He was in the beginning with God; 043 JOH 001 003 through him all things came into being, and nothing came into being apart from him. 043 JOH 001 004 That which came into being in him was life; and the life was the light of humanity; 043 JOH 001 005 and the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness never overpowered it. 043 JOH 001 006 There appeared a man sent from God, whose name was John; 043 JOH 001 007 he came as a witness – to bear witness to the light so that through him everyone might believe. 043 JOH 001 008 He was not the light, but he came to bear witness to the light. 043 JOH 001 009 That was the true light which enlightens everyone coming into the world. 043 JOH 001 010 He was in the world; and through him the world came into being – yet the world did not know him. 043 JOH 001 011 He came to his own – yet his own did not receive him. 043 JOH 001 012 But to all who did receive him he gave power to become children of God – to those who believe in his name. 043 JOH 001 013 For not to natural conception, nor to human instincts, nor to human will did they owe the new life, but to God. 043 JOH 001 014 And the Word became human, and lived among us, (We saw his glory – the glory of the Only Son sent from the Father), full of love and truth. 043 JOH 001 015 (John bears witness to him; he cried aloud – for it was he who spoke – “He who is coming after me is now before me, for he was ever first”); 043 JOH 001 016 out of his fullness we have all received gift after gift of love; 043 JOH 001 017 for the Law was given through Moses, love and truth came through Jesus Christ. 043 JOH 001 018 No one has ever yet seen God; God the only Son, who is ever with the Father – he has revealed him. 043 JOH 001 019 When the religious authorities in Jerusalem sent some Priests and Levites to ask John – “Who are you?”, 043 JOH 001 020 he told them clearly and simply, “I am not the Christ.” 043 JOH 001 021 “What then?” they asked. “Are you Elijah?” “No,” he said, “I am not.” “Are you ‘the prophet’?” He answered, “No.” 043 JOH 001 022 “Who then are you?” they continued. “Tell us so that we have an answer to give to those who have sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 043 JOH 001 023 “I,” he answered, “am – ‘The voice of one crying aloud in the wilderness: make a straight road for the Lord’, as the prophet Isaiah said.” 043 JOH 001 024 These men had been sent from the Pharisees; 043 JOH 001 025 and their next question was, “Why then do you baptize, if you are not the Christ or Elijah or ‘the prophet’?” 043 JOH 001 026 John’s answer was – “I baptize with water, but among you stands one whom you do not know; 043 JOH 001 027 he is coming after me, yet I am not worthy even to unfasten his sandal.” 043 JOH 001 028 This happened at Bethany, across the Jordan, where John was baptizing. 043 JOH 001 029 The next day John saw Jesus coming towards him, and exclaimed, “Here is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 043 JOH 001 030 I was talking about him when I said ‘After me there is coming a man who ranks ahead of me, because before I was born he already was.’ 043 JOH 001 031 I did not know who he was, but I have come baptizing with water to make him known to Israel.” 043 JOH 001 032 John also said: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven like a dove and rest on him. 043 JOH 001 033 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water, he said to me ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him – he it is who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 043 JOH 001 034 This I have seen myself, and I have declared my belief that he is the Son of God.” 043 JOH 001 035 The next day, when John was standing with two of his disciples, 043 JOH 001 036 he looked at Jesus as he passed and exclaimed, “There is the Lamb of God!” 043 JOH 001 037 The two disciples heard him say this, and followed Jesus. 043 JOH 001 038 But Jesus turned around, and saw them following. “What are you looking for?” he asked. “Rabbi,” they answered (or, as we should say, ‘Teacher’), “where are you staying?” 043 JOH 001 039 “Come, and you will see,” he replied. So they went, and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him. It was then about four in the afternoon. 043 JOH 001 040 One of the two, who heard what John said and followed Jesus, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 043 JOH 001 041 He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah!” (a word which means ‘Christ,’ or ‘Consecrated’.) 043 JOH 001 042 Then he brought him to Jesus. Looking straight at him, Jesus said, “You are Simon, the son of John; you will be called Cephas” (which means ‘Peter,’ or ‘Rock’). 043 JOH 001 043 The following day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. He found Philip, and said to him, “Follow me.” 043 JOH 001 044 Philip was from Bethsaida, the same town as Andrew and Peter. 043 JOH 001 045 He found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses wrote in the Law, and of whom the prophets also wrote – Jesus of Nazareth, Joseph’s son!” 043 JOH 001 046 “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” asked Nathanael. “Come and see,” replied Philip. 043 JOH 001 047 When Jesus saw Nathanael coming towards him, he said, “Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is no deceit!” 043 JOH 001 048 “How do you know me?” asked Nathanael. “Even before Philip called you,” replied Jesus, “when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” 043 JOH 001 049 “Rabbi,” Nathanael exclaimed, “you are the Son of God, you are king of Israel!” 043 JOH 001 050 “Do you believe in me,” asked Jesus, “because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than those! 043 JOH 001 051 In truth I tell you,” he added, “you will all see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” 043 JOH 002 001 Two days after this there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and Jesus’ mother was there. 043 JOH 002 002 Jesus himself, too, with his disciples, was invited to the wedding. 043 JOH 002 003 And, when the wine ran short, his mother said to him, “They have no wine left.” 043 JOH 002 004 “What do you want with me?” answered Jesus. “My time has not come yet.” 043 JOH 002 005 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” 043 JOH 002 006 There were standing there six stone water-jars, in accordance with the Jewish rule of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 043 JOH 002 007 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the water-jars with water.” 043 JOH 002 008 And, when they had filled them to the brim, he added, “Now take some out, and carry it to the Master of the feast.” The servants did so. 043 JOH 002 009 And, when the Master of the feast had tasted the water which had now become wine, not knowing where it had come from – although the servants who had taken out the water knew – 043 JOH 002 010 He called the groom and said to him, “Everyone puts good wine on the table first, and inferior wine afterward, when his guests have drunk freely; but you have kept back the good wine till now!” 043 JOH 002 011 This, the first sign of his mission, Jesus gave at Cana in Galilee, and by it revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him. 043 JOH 002 012 After this, Jesus went down to Capernaum – he, his mother, his brothers, and his disciples; but they stayed there only a few days. 043 JOH 002 013 Then, as the Jewish Passover was near, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 043 JOH 002 014 In the Temple Courts he found people who were selling bullocks, sheep, and pigeons, and the money changers at their counters. 043 JOH 002 015 So he made a whip of cords, and drove them all out of the Temple Courts, and the sheep and bullocks as well; he scattered the money of the money changers, and overturned their tables, 043 JOH 002 016 and said to the pigeon-dealers, “Take these things away. Do not turn my Father’s house into a market house.” 043 JOH 002 017 His disciples remembered that scripture said – ‘Passion for your house will consume me.’ 043 JOH 002 018 Then some of the religious authorities asked Jesus, “What sign are you going to show us, since you act in this way?” 043 JOH 002 019 “Destroy this temple,” was his answer, “and I will raise it in three days.” 043 JOH 002 020 “This Temple,” the authorities replied, “has been forty-six years in building, and are you going to ‘raise it in three days’?” 043 JOH 002 021 But Jesus was speaking of his body as a temple. 043 JOH 002 022 Afterward, when he had risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the passage of scripture, and the words which Jesus had spoken. 043 JOH 002 023 While Jesus was in Jerusalem, during the Passover Festival, many came to trust in him, when they saw the signs of his mission that he was giving. 043 JOH 002 024 But Jesus did not put himself in their power because he knew what was in their hearts. 043 JOH 002 025 He did not need anyone to tell him about people because he could read what was in them. 043 JOH 003 001 Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, who was a leading man among his people. 043 JOH 003 002 This man came to Jesus by night, and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God; for no one could give such signs as you are giving, unless God were with him.” 043 JOH 003 003 “In truth I tell you,” exclaimed Jesus, “unless a person is reborn, they cannot see the kingdom of God.” 043 JOH 003 004 “How can a person,” asked Nicodemus, “be born when they are old? Can they be born a second time?” 043 JOH 003 005 “In truth I tell you,” answered Jesus, “unless a person owes their birth to water and Spirit, they cannot enter the kingdom of God. 043 JOH 003 006 All that owes its birth to human nature is human, and all that owes its birth to the Spirit is spiritual. 043 JOH 003 007 Do not wonder at my telling you that you all need to be reborn. 043 JOH 003 008 The wind blows wherever it wants, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from, or where it goes; it is the same with everyone who owes his birth to the Spirit.” 043 JOH 003 009 “How can that be?” asked Nicodemus. 043 JOH 003 010 “What! You a teacher of Israel,” exclaimed Jesus, “and yet do not understand this! 043 JOH 003 011 In truth I tell you that we speak of what we know, and state what we have seen; and yet you do not accept our statements. 043 JOH 003 012 If, when I tell you earthly things, you do not believe me, how will you believe me when I tell you of heavenly things? 043 JOH 003 013 No one has ascended to heaven, except him who descended from heaven – the Son of Man himself. 043 JOH 003 014 And, as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up; 043 JOH 003 015 so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” (aiōnios g166) 043 JOH 003 016 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not be lost, but have eternal life. (aiōnios g166) 043 JOH 003 017 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but so that the world might be saved through him. 043 JOH 003 018 The person who believes in him escapes condemnation, while the person who does not believe in him is already condemned, because they have not believed in the only Son of God. 043 JOH 003 019 The ground of their condemnation is this, that though the light has come into the world, people preferred the darkness to the light, because their actions were wicked. 043 JOH 003 020 For the person who lives an evil life hates the light, and will not come to it, fearing that their actions will be exposed; 043 JOH 003 021 but the person who lives by the truth comes into the light, so it can be clearly seen that God is in all they do. 043 JOH 003 022 After this, Jesus went with his disciples into the country parts of Judea; and there he stayed with them, and baptized. 043 JOH 003 023 John, also, was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there were many streams there; and people were constantly coming and being baptized. 043 JOH 003 024 (For John had not yet been imprisoned). 043 JOH 003 025 Now a discussion arose between some of John’s disciples and a fellow Jew on the subject of purification; 043 JOH 003 026 and the disciples came to John and said, “Rabbi, the man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan, and to whom you have yourself borne testimony – he, also, is baptizing, and everybody is going to him.” 043 JOH 003 027 John’s answer was – “A person can gain nothing but what is given them from heaven. 043 JOH 003 028 You are yourselves witnesses that I said ‘I am not the Christ,’ but ‘I have been sent before him as a messenger.’ 043 JOH 003 029 It is the groom who has the bride; but the groom’s friend, who stands by and listens to him, is filled with joy when he hears the groom’s voice. This joy I have felt to the full. 043 JOH 003 030 He must become greater, and I less.” 043 JOH 003 031 He who comes from above is above all others; but a child of earth is earthly, and his teaching is earthly, too. He who comes from heaven is above all others. 043 JOH 003 032 He states what he has seen and what he heard, and yet no one accepts his statement. 043 JOH 003 033 They who did accept his statement confirm the fact that God is true. 043 JOH 003 034 For he whom God sent as his messenger gives us God’s own teaching, for God does not limit the gift of the Spirit. 043 JOH 003 035 The Father loves his Son, and has put everything in his hands. 043 JOH 003 036 The person who believes in the Son has eternal life, while a person who rejects the Son will not even see that life, but remains under God’s displeasure. (aiōnios g166) 043 JOH 004 001 Now, when the Master heard that the Pharisees had been told that he was making and baptizing more disciples than John 043 JOH 004 002 (Though it was not Jesus himself, but his disciples, who baptized), 043 JOH 004 003 he left Judea, and set out again for Galilee. 043 JOH 004 004 He had to pass through Samaria, 043 JOH 004 005 and, on his way, he came to a Samaritan town called Shechem, near the plot of land that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 043 JOH 004 006 Jacob’s Spring was there, and Jesus, being tired after his journey, sat down beside the spring, just as he was. It was then about midday. 043 JOH 004 007 A woman of Samaria came to draw water; and Jesus said to her – “Give me some to drink,” 043 JOH 004 008 For his disciples had gone into the town to buy food. 043 JOH 004 009 “How is it,” replied the Samaritan woman, “that you who are a Jew ask for water from a Samaritan woman like me?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans). 043 JOH 004 010 “If you knew of the gift of God,” replied Jesus, “and who it is that is saying to you ‘Give me some water,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” 043 JOH 004 011 “You have no bucket, Sir, and the well is deep,” she said. “Where did you get that ‘living water?’ 043 JOH 004 012 Surely you are not greater than our ancestor Jacob who gave us the well, and used to drink from it himself, and his sons, and his cattle!” 043 JOH 004 013 “All who drink of this water,” replied Jesus, “will be thirsty again; 043 JOH 004 014 but whoever once drinks of the water that I will give him will never thirst any more; but the water that I will give him will become a spring welling up within him – a source of eternal life.” (aiōn g165, aiōnios g166) 043 JOH 004 015 “Give me this water, Sir,” said the woman, “so that I may not be thirsty, nor have to come all the way here to draw water.” 043 JOH 004 016 “Go and call your husband,” said Jesus, “and then come back.” 043 JOH 004 017 “I have no husband,” answered the woman. “You are right in saying ‘I have no husband,’” replied Jesus, 043 JOH 004 018 “For you have had five husbands, and the man with whom you are now living is not your husband; in saying that, you have spoken the truth.” 043 JOH 004 019 “I see, Sir, that you are a prophet!” exclaimed the woman. 043 JOH 004 020 “It was on this mountain that our ancestors worshiped; and yet you Jews say that the proper place for worship is in Jerusalem.” 043 JOH 004 021 “Believe me,” replied Jesus, “a time is coming when it will be neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem that you will worship the Father. 043 JOH 004 022 You Samaritans do not know what you worship; we know what we worship, for salvation comes from the Jews. 043 JOH 004 023 But a time is coming, indeed it is already here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father spiritually and truly; for such are the worshipers that the Father desires. 043 JOH 004 024 God is Spirit; and those who worship him must worship spiritually and truly.” 043 JOH 004 025 “I know,” answered the woman, “that the Messiah, who is called the Christ, is coming; when once he has come, he will tell us everything.” 043 JOH 004 026 “I am he,” Jesus said to her, “I who am speaking to you.” 043 JOH 004 027 At this moment his disciples came up, and were surprised to find him talking with a woman; but none of them asked ‘What do you want?’ or ‘Why are you talking with her?’ 043 JOH 004 028 So the woman, leaving her pitcher, went back to the town, and said to the people, 043 JOH 004 029 “Come and see someone who has told me everything that I have done. Can he be the Christ?” 043 JOH 004 030 And the people left the town and went to see Jesus. 043 JOH 004 031 Meanwhile the disciples kept saying to him, “Take something to eat, Rabbi.” 043 JOH 004 032 “I have food to eat,” he answered, “of which you know nothing.” 043 JOH 004 033 “Can anyone have brought him anything to eat?” the disciples said to one another. 043 JOH 004 034 “My food,” replied Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me, and to complete his work. 043 JOH 004 035 Don’t you say that it still wants four months to harvest? Why, look up, and see how white the fields are for harvest! 043 JOH 004 036 Already the reaper is receiving wages and gathering in sheaves for eternal life, so that sower and reaper rejoice together. (aiōnios g166) 043 JOH 004 037 For here the proverb holds good – ‘One sows, another reaps.’ 043 JOH 004 038 I have sent you to reap that on which you have spent no labor; others have labored, and you have reaped the results of their labor.” 043 JOH 004 039 Many from that town came to believe in Jesus – Samaritans though they were – because the woman had said, ‘He has told me everything that I have done.’ 043 JOH 004 040 And, when these Samaritans had come to Jesus, they begged him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. 043 JOH 004 041 But far more came to believe in him because of what he said himself, 043 JOH 004 042 and they said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you say that we believe in him, for we have heard him ourselves and know that he really is the Savior of the world.” 043 JOH 004 043 After these two days Jesus went on to Galilee; 043 JOH 004 044 for he himself declared that ‘a prophet is not honored in his own country.’ 043 JOH 004 045 When he entered Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, for they had seen all that he did at Jerusalem during the Festival, at which they also had been present. 043 JOH 004 046 So Jesus came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. Now there was one of the king’s officers whose son was lying ill at Capernaum. 043 JOH 004 047 When this man heard that Jesus had returned from Judea to Galilee, he went to him, and begged him to come down and cure his son; for he was at the point of death. 043 JOH 004 048 Jesus answered, “Unless you all see signs and wonders, you will not believe.” 043 JOH 004 049 “Sir,” said the officer, “come down before my child dies.” And Jesus answered, “Go, your son is living.” 043 JOH 004 050 The man believed what Jesus said to him, and went; 043 JOH 004 051 and, while he was on his way down, his servants met him, and told him that his child was living. 043 JOH 004 052 So he asked them at what time the boy began to get better. “It was yesterday, about one o’clock,” they said, “that the fever left him.” 043 JOH 004 053 By this the father knew that it was at the very time when Jesus had said to him ‘Your son is living’; and he himself, with all his household, believed in Jesus. 043 JOH 004 054 This was the second occasion on which Jesus gave a sign of his mission on coming from Judea to Galilee. 043 JOH 005 001 Sometime after this there was a Jewish Festival; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 043 JOH 005 002 There is in Jerusalem, near the sheep-gate, a bath with five colonnades around it. It is called in Hebrew ‘Bethesda.’ 043 JOH 005 003 In these colonnades a large number of sick people were lying – blind, lame, and crippled. 043 JOH 005 005 One man who was there had been crippled for thirty-eight years. 043 JOH 005 006 Jesus saw the man lying there, and, finding that he had been in this state a long time, said to him, “Do you wish to be cured?” 043 JOH 005 007 “I have no one, Sir,” the sick man answered, “to put me into the bath when there is a troubling of the water, and, while I am getting to it, someone else steps down before me.” 043 JOH 005 008 “Stand up,” said Jesus, “take up your mat, and walk.” 043 JOH 005 009 The man was cured immediately, and took up his mat and began walking. 043 JOH 005 010 Now it was the Sabbath. So the religious authorities said to the man who had been cured, “This is the Sabbath; you must not carry your mat.” 043 JOH 005 011 “The man who cured me,” he answered, “said to me ‘Take up your mat and walk.’” 043 JOH 005 012 “Who was it,” they asked, “that said to you ‘Take up your mat and walk’?” 043 JOH 005 013 But the man who had been restored did not know who it was; for Jesus had moved away, because there was a crowd there. 043 JOH 005 014 Afterward Jesus found the man in the Temple Courts, and said to him, “You are cured now; do not sin again, or something worse may happen to you.” 043 JOH 005 015 The man went away, and told the authorities that it was Jesus who had cured him. 043 JOH 005 016 And that was why they began to persecute Jesus – because he did things of this kind on the Sabbath. 043 JOH 005 017 But Jesus replied, “My Father works to this very hour, and I work also.” 043 JOH 005 018 This made the authorities all the more eager to kill him, because not only was he doing away with the Sabbath, but he actually called God his own Father – putting himself on an equality with God. 043 JOH 005 019 So Jesus made this further reply, “In truth I tell you, the Son can do nothing of himself; he does only what he sees the Father doing; whatever the Father does, the Son does also. 043 JOH 005 020 For the Father loves his Son, and shows him everything that he is doing; and he will show him still greater things – so that you will be filled with wonder. 043 JOH 005 021 For, just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he pleases. 043 JOH 005 022 The Father himself does not judge any one, but has entrusted the work of judging entirely to his Son, 043 JOH 005 023 so that everyone may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. The person who does not honour the Son fails to honour the Father who sent him. 043 JOH 005 024 In truth I tell you that the person who listens to my message and believes him who sent me, has eternal life, and does not come under condemnation, but has already passed out of death into life. (aiōnios g166) 043 JOH 005 025 In truth I tell you that a time is coming, indeed it is already here, when the dead will listen to the voice of the Son of God, and when those who listen will live. 043 JOH 005 026 For, just as the Father has inherent life within him, so also he has granted to the Son to have inherent life within him; 043 JOH 005 027 and, because he is Son of Man, he has also given him authority to act as judge. 043 JOH 005 028 Do not wonder at this; for the time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice, 043 JOH 005 029 and will come out – those who have done good rising to life, and those who have lived evil lives rising for condemnation. 043 JOH 005 030 I can do nothing of myself; I judge as I am taught; and the judgment that I give is just, because my aim is not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me. 043 JOH 005 031 “If I bear testimony to myself, my testimony is not trustworthy; 043 JOH 005 032 it is another who bears testimony to me, and I know that the testimony which he bears to me is trustworthy. 043 JOH 005 033 You have yourselves sent to John, and he has testified to the truth. 043 JOH 005 034 But the testimony which I receive is not from people; I am saying this for your salvation. 043 JOH 005 035 He was the Lamp that was burning and shining, and you were ready to rejoice, for a time, in his light. 043 JOH 005 036 But the testimony which I have is of greater weight than John’s; for the work that the Father has given me to carry out – the work that I am doing – is in itself proof that the Father has sent me as his messenger. 043 JOH 005 037 The Father who has sent me has himself borne testimony to me. You have neither listened to his voice, not seen his form; 043 JOH 005 038 and you have not taken his message home to your hearts, because you do not believe him whom he sent as his messenger. 043 JOH 005 039 You search the scriptures, because you think that you find in them immortal life; and, though it is those scriptures that bear testimony to me, (aiōnios g166) 043 JOH 005 040 you refuse to come to me to have life. 043 JOH 005 041 “I do not receive honor from people, 043 JOH 005 042 but I know this of you, that you have not the love of God in your hearts. 043 JOH 005 043 I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not receive me; if another comes in his own name, you will receive him. 043 JOH 005 044 How can you believe in me, when you receive honor from one another and do not desire the honor which comes from the only God? 043 JOH 005 045 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father; your accuser is Moses, on whom you have been resting your hopes. 043 JOH 005 046 For, had you believed Moses, you would have believed me, for it was of me that Moses wrote; 043 JOH 005 047 but, if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my teaching?” 043 JOH 006 001 After this, Jesus crossed the Sea of Galilee – otherwise called the Lake of Tiberias. 043 JOH 006 002 A great crowd of people, however, followed him, because they saw the signs of his mission in his work among those who were sick. 043 JOH 006 003 Jesus went up the hill, and sat down there with his disciples. 043 JOH 006 004 It was near the time of the Jewish Festival of the Passover. 043 JOH 006 005 Looking up, and noticing that a great crowd was coming towards him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?” 043 JOH 006 006 He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he meant to do. 043 JOH 006 007 “Even if we spent a years’ wages on bread,” answered Philip, “it would not be enough for each of them to have a little.” 043 JOH 006 008 “There is a boy here,” said Andrew, another of his disciples, Simon Peter’s brother, 043 JOH 006 009 “Who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what is that for so many?” 043 JOH 006 010 “Make the people sit down,” said Jesus. It was a grassy spot; so the people, who numbered about five thousand, sat down, 043 JOH 006 011 and then Jesus took the loaves, and, after saying the thanksgiving, distributed them to those who were sitting down; and the same with the fish, giving the people as much as they wanted. 043 JOH 006 012 When they were satisfied, Jesus said to his disciples, “Collect the broken pieces that are left, so that nothing may be wasted.” 043 JOH 006 013 The disciples did so, and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves, which were left after all had eaten. 043 JOH 006 014 When the people saw the signs which Jesus gave, they said, “This is certainly the prophet who was to come into the world.” 043 JOH 006 015 But Jesus, having discovered that they were intending to come and carry him off to make him king, went again up the hill, quite alone. 043 JOH 006 016 When evening fell, his disciples went down to the sea, 043 JOH 006 017 and, getting into a boat, began to cross to Capernaum. By this time darkness had set in, and Jesus had not yet come back to them; 043 JOH 006 018 the sea, too, was getting rough, for a strong wind was blowing. 043 JOH 006 019 When they had rowed three or four miles, they caught sight of him walking on the water and approaching the boat, and they were frightened. 043 JOH 006 020 But Jesus said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid!” 043 JOH 006 021 And after this they were glad to take him into the boat; and the boat at once arrived off the shore, for which they had been making. 043 JOH 006 022 The people who remained on the other side of the sea had seen that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not gone into it with his disciples, but that they had left without him. 043 JOH 006 023 Some boats, however, had come from Tiberias, from near the spot where they had eaten the bread after the Master had said the thanksgiving. 043 JOH 006 024 So, on the next day, when the people saw that Jesus was not there, or his disciples either, they themselves got into the boats, and went to Capernaum to look for him. 043 JOH 006 025 And, when they found him on the other side of the sea, they said, “When did you get here, Rabbi?” 043 JOH 006 026 “In truth I tell you,” answered Jesus, “it is not because of the signs which you saw that you are looking for me, but because you had the bread to eat and were satisfied. 043 JOH 006 027 Work, not for the food that perishes, but for the food that lasts for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you; for on him the Father – God himself – has set the seal of his approval.” (aiōnios g166) 043 JOH 006 028 “How,” they asked, “are we to do the work that God wants us to do?” 043 JOH 006 029 “The work that God wants you to do,” answered Jesus, “is to believe in him whom God sent as his messenger.” 043 JOH 006 030 “What sign, then,” they asked, “are you giving, which we may see, and so believe you? What is the work that you are doing? 043 JOH 006 031 Our ancestors had the manna to eat in the desert; as scripture says – ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” 043 JOH 006 032 “In truth I tell you,” replied Jesus, “Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but my Father does give you the true bread from heaven; 043 JOH 006 033 for the bread that God gives is that which comes down from heaven, and gives life to the world.” 043 JOH 006 034 “Master,” they exclaimed, “give us that bread always!” 043 JOH 006 035 “I am the life-giving bread,” Jesus said to them, “whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never thirst again. 043 JOH 006 036 But, as I have said already, you have seen me, and yet you do not believe in me. 043 JOH 006 037 All those whom the Father gives me will come to me; and no one who comes to me will I ever turn away. 043 JOH 006 038 For I have come down from heaven, to do, not my own will, but the will of him who sent me; 043 JOH 006 039 and his will is this – that I should not lose one of all those whom he has given me, but should raise them up at the Last day. 043 JOH 006 040 For it is the will of my Father that everyone who sees the Son, and believes in him, should have immortal life; and I myself will raise him up at the Last day.” (aiōnios g166) 043 JOH 006 041 The people began murmuring against Jesus for saying – ‘I am the bread which came down from heaven.’ 043 JOH 006 042 “Is not this Jesus, Joseph’s son,” they asked, “whose father and mother we know? How is it that he now says that he has come down from heaven?” 043 JOH 006 043 “Do not murmur among yourselves,” said Jesus in reply. 043 JOH 006 044 “No one can come to me, unless the Father who sent me draws him to me; and I will raise him up at the Last day. 043 JOH 006 045 It is said in the prophets – ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who is taught by the Father and learns from him comes to me. 043 JOH 006 046 Not that anyone has seen the Father, except him who is from God – he has seen the Father. 043 JOH 006 047 In truth I tell you, the person who believes in me has eternal life. (aiōnios g166) 043 JOH 006 048 I am the life-giving bread. 043 JOH 006 049 Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, and yet died. 043 JOH 006 050 The bread that comes down from heaven is such that whoever eats of it will never die. 043 JOH 006 051 I am the living bread that has come down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, they will live for ever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” (aiōn g165) 043 JOH 006 052 They began disputing with one another, “How is it possible for this man to give us his flesh to eat?” 043 JOH 006 053 “In truth I tell you,” answered Jesus, “unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man, and drink his blood, you have not life within you. 043 JOH 006 054 Everyone who takes my flesh for their food, and drinks my blood, has eternal life; and I will raise them up at the Last day. (aiōnios g166) 043 JOH 006 055 For my flesh is true food, and my blood true drink. 043 JOH 006 056 Everyone who takes my flesh for their food, and drinks my blood, remains united to me, and I to them. 043 JOH 006 057 As the living Father sent me as his messenger, and as I live because the Father lives, so the person who takes me for their food will live because I live. 043 JOH 006 058 That is the bread which has come down from heaven – not such as your ancestors ate, and yet died; the person who takes this bread for their food will live for ever.” (aiōn g165) 043 JOH 006 059 All this Jesus said in a synagogue, when he was teaching in Capernaum. 043 JOH 006 060 On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is harsh doctrine! Who can bear to listen to it?” 043 JOH 006 061 But Jesus, aware that his disciples were murmuring about it, said to them, 043 JOH 006 062 “Is this a hindrance to you? What, then, if you should see the Son of Man ascending where he was before? 043 JOH 006 063 It is the Spirit that gives life; human strength achieves nothing. In the teaching that I have been giving you there is Spirit and there is life. 043 JOH 006 064 Yet there are some of you who do not believe in me.” For Jesus knew from the first who they were that did not believe in him, and who it was that would betray him; 043 JOH 006 065 and he added, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me, unless enabled by the Father.” 043 JOH 006 066 After this many of his disciples drew back, and did not go about with him any longer. 043 JOH 006 067 So Jesus said to the Twelve, “Do you also wish to leave me?” 043 JOH 006 068 But Simon Peter answered, “Master, to whom would we go? Eternal life is in your teaching; (aiōnios g166) 043 JOH 006 069 and we have learned to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.” 043 JOH 006 070 “Didn’t I myself choose you to be the Twelve?” replied Jesus, “and yet, even of you, one is playing the devil’s part.” 043 JOH 006 071 He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who was about to betray him, though he was one of the Twelve. 043 JOH 007 001 After this, Jesus went about in Galilee, for he would not do so in Judea, because the religious authorities (in Jerusalem) were eager to put him to death. 043 JOH 007 002 When the Jewish Festival of Tabernacles was near, 043 JOH 007 003 his brothers said to him, “Leave this part of the country, and go into Judea, so that your disciples, as well as we, may see the work that you are doing. 043 JOH 007 004 For no one does a thing privately, if they are seeking to be widely known. Since you do these things, you should show yourself publicly to the world.” 043 JOH 007 005 For even his brothers did not believe in him. 043 JOH 007 006 “My time,” answered Jesus, “is not come yet, but your time is always here. 043 JOH 007 007 The world cannot hate you, but it does hate me, because I testify that its ways are evil. 043 JOH 007 008 Go yourselves up to the Festival; I am not going to this Festival yet, because my time has not yet come.” 043 JOH 007 009 After telling them this, he stayed on in Galilee. 043 JOH 007 010 But, when his brothers had gone up to the Festival, Jesus also went up – not publicly, but privately. 043 JOH 007 011 The authorities were looking for him at the Festival and asking ‘Where is he?’; 043 JOH 007 012 and there were many whispers about him among the people, some saying ‘He is a good man;’ others, ‘No! He is leading the people astray.’ 043 JOH 007 013 No one, however, spoke freely about him, because they were afraid of the authorities. 043 JOH 007 014 About the middle of the Festival week, Jesus went up into the Temple Courts, and began teaching. 043 JOH 007 015 The authorities were astonished. “How has this man got his learning,” they asked, “when he has never studied?” 043 JOH 007 016 So, in reply, Jesus said, “My teaching is not my own; it is his who sent me. 043 JOH 007 017 If anyone has the will to do God’s will, they will find out whether my teaching is from God, or whether I speak on my own authority. 043 JOH 007 018 The person who speaks on their own authority seeks honor for themselves; but the one who seeks the honor of him who sent him is sincere, and there is nothing false in him. 043 JOH 007 019 Was not it Moses who gave you the Law? Yet not one of you obeys it! Why are you seeking to put me to death?” 043 JOH 007 020 “You must be possessed by a demon!” the people exclaimed. “Who is seeking to put you to death?” 043 JOH 007 021 “There was one thing I did,” replied Jesus, “at which you are all still wondering. 043 JOH 007 022 But that is why Moses has instituted circumcision among you – not, indeed, that it began with him, but with our ancestors – and that is why you circumcise even on a Sabbath. 043 JOH 007 023 When a man receives circumcision on a Sabbath to prevent the Law of Moses from being broken, how can you be angry with me for making a man sound and well on a Sabbath? 043 JOH 007 024 Do not judge by appearances; judge justly.” 043 JOH 007 025 At this some of the people of Jerusalem exclaimed, “Is not this the man who they are seeking to put to death? 043 JOH 007 026 Yet here he is, speaking out boldly, and they say nothing to him! Is it possible that our leading men have really discovered that he is the Christ? 043 JOH 007 027 Yet we know where this man is from; but, when the Christ comes, no one will be able to tell where he is from.” 043 JOH 007 028 Therefore, Jesus, as he was teaching in the Temple Courts, raised his voice and said, “Yes; you know me and you know where I am from. Yet I have not come on my own authority, but he who sent me may be trusted; and him you do not know. 043 JOH 007 029 I do know him, for it is from him that I have come, and he sent me as his messenger.” 043 JOH 007 030 So they sought to arrest him; but no one touched him, for his time was not come yet. 043 JOH 007 031 Many of the people, however, believed in him. “When the Christ comes,” they said, “will he give more signs of his mission than this man has given?” 043 JOH 007 032 The Pharisees heard the people whispering about him in this way, and so the chief priests and the Pharisees sent officers to arrest him; 043 JOH 007 033 at which Jesus said, “I will be with you but a little longer, and then I am going to him who sent me. 043 JOH 007 034 You will look for me, and you will not find me; and you will not be able to come where I will be.” 043 JOH 007 035 “Where is this man going,” the people asked one another, “that we would not find him? Will he go to our countrymen abroad, and teach foreigners? 043 JOH 007 036 What does he mean by saying ‘You will look for me, and you will not find me; and you will not be able to come where I will be’?” 043 JOH 007 037 On the last and greatest day of the Festival, Jesus, who was standing by, exclaimed, “If anyone is thirsty, they should come to me and drink. 043 JOH 007 038 From the heart of those who believe in me will flow, as is said in scripture, rivers of living water.” 043 JOH 007 039 (By this he meant the Spirit, which those who had believed in him were to receive; for the Spirit had not yet come, because Jesus had not yet been exalted.) 043 JOH 007 040 Some of the people, when they heard these words, said, “This is certainly the Prophet!”; 043 JOH 007 041 others said, “the Christ!”; but some asked, “What! Does the Christ come from Galilee? 043 JOH 007 042 Is not it said in scripture that it is of the descendants of David, and from Bethlehem, the village to which David belonged, that the Christ is to come?” 043 JOH 007 043 So there was a sharp division among the people because of Jesus. 043 JOH 007 044 Some of them wanted to arrest him, and yet no one touched him. 043 JOH 007 045 When the officers returned to the chief priests and Pharisees, they were asked, “Why have you not brought him?” 043 JOH 007 046 “No one ever spoke as he speaks!” they answered. 043 JOH 007 047 “What! Have you been led astray too?” the Pharisees replied. 043 JOH 007 048 “Have any of our leading men believed in him, or any of the Pharisees? 043 JOH 007 049 As for these people who do not know the Law – they are cursed!” 043 JOH 007 050 But one of their number, Nicodemus, who before this had been to see Jesus, said to them, 043 JOH 007 051 “Does our Law pass judgment on a person without first giving them a hearing, and finding out what they have been doing?” 043 JOH 007 052 “Are you also from Galilee?” they retorted. “Search, and you will find that no prophet is to arise in Galilee!” 043 JOH 007 053 And everyone went home 043 JOH 008 001 except Jesus, who went to the Mount of Olives. 043 JOH 008 002 But he went again into the Temple Courts early in the morning, and all the people came to him; and he sat down and taught them. 043 JOH 008 003 Presently, however, the Teachers of the Law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placed her in the middle of the Court, 043 JOH 008 004 and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was found in the act of adultery. 043 JOH 008 005 Now Moses, in the Law, commanded us to stone such women to death; what do you say?” 043 JOH 008 006 They said this to test him, in order to have a charge to bring against him. But Jesus stooped down, and wrote on the ground with his finger. 043 JOH 008 007 However, as they continued asking him, he raised himself, and said, “Let the person among you who has never done wrong throw the first stone at her.” 043 JOH 008 008 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. 043 JOH 008 009 When they heard that, they went out one by one, beginning with the eldest; and Jesus was left alone with the woman in the middle of the Court. 043 JOH 008 010 Raising himself, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?” 043 JOH 008 011 “No one, Sir,” she answered. “Neither do I condemn you,” said Jesus “go, and do not sin again.” 043 JOH 008 012 Jesus again addressed the people. “I am the light of the world,” he said. “The person who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” 043 JOH 008 013 “You are bearing testimony to yourself!” exclaimed the Pharisees, “your testimony is not trustworthy.” 043 JOH 008 014 “Even if I bear testimony to myself,” answered Jesus, “my testimony is trustworthy; for I know where I came from, and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from, nor where I am going. 043 JOH 008 015 You judge by appearances; I judge no one. 043 JOH 008 016 Yet, even if I were to judge, my judgment would be trustworthy; because I am not alone, but the Father who sent me is with me. 043 JOH 008 017 Why, in your own Law it is said that the testimony of two persons is trustworthy. 043 JOH 008 018 I, who bear testimony to myself, am one, and the Father who sent me also bears testimony to me.” 043 JOH 008 019 “Where is your father, then?” they asked. “You know neither me nor my Father,” replied Jesus. “If you had known me, you would have also known my Father.” 043 JOH 008 020 These statements Jesus made in the Treasury, while teaching in the Temple Courts. Yet no one arrested him, for his time had not then come. 043 JOH 008 021 Jesus again spoke to the people. “I am going away,” he said, “and you will look for me, but you will die in your sin; you cannot come where I am going.” 043 JOH 008 022 “Is he going to kill himself,” the people exclaimed, “that he says – ‘You cannot go where I am going’?” 043 JOH 008 023 “You,” added Jesus, “are from below, I am from above; you are of this present world, I am not; 043 JOH 008 024 and so I told you that you would die in your sins, for, unless you believe that I am what I am, you will die in your sins.” 043 JOH 008 025 “Who are you?” they asked. “Why ask exactly what I have been telling you?” said Jesus. 043 JOH 008 026 “I have still much that concerns you to speak of and to pass judgment on; yet he who sent me may be trusted, and I speak to the world only of the things which I have heard from him.” 043 JOH 008 027 They did not understand that he meant the Father. 043 JOH 008 028 So Jesus added, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will understand that I am what I am, and that I do nothing of myself, but that I say just what the Father has taught me. 043 JOH 008 029 Moreover, he who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone; for I always do what pleases him.” 043 JOH 008 030 While he was speaking in this way, many came to believe in him. 043 JOH 008 031 So Jesus went on to say to those who had believed him, “If you remain constant to my message, you are truly my disciples; 043 JOH 008 032 and you will find out the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 043 JOH 008 033 “We are descendants of Abraham,” was their answer, “and have never yet been in slavery to anyone. What do you mean by saying ‘you will be set free’?” 043 JOH 008 034 “In truth I tell you,” replied Jesus, “everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 043 JOH 008 035 And a slave does not remain in the home always; but a son remains always. (aiōn g165) 043 JOH 008 036 If, then, the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed! 043 JOH 008 037 I know that you are descendants of Abraham; yet you are seeking to put me to death, because my message finds no place in your hearts. 043 JOH 008 038 I tell you what I have myself seen in the presence of my Father; and you, in the same way, do what you have learned from your father.” 043 JOH 008 039 “Our father is Abraham,” was their answer. “If you are Abraham’s children,” replied Jesus, “do what Abraham did. 043 JOH 008 040 But, as it is, you are seeking to put me to death – a man who has told you the truth as he heard it from God. Abraham did not act in that way. 043 JOH 008 041 You are doing what your own father does.” “We are not bastards,” they said, “we have one Father – God himself.” 043 JOH 008 042 “If God were your Father,” Jesus replied, “you would have loved me, for I came out from God, and now am here; and I have not come of myself, but he sent me as his messenger. 043 JOH 008 043 How is it that you do not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to listen to my message. 043 JOH 008 044 As for you, you are children of your father the devil, and you are determined to do what your father loves to do. He was a murderer from the first, and did not stand by the truth, because there is no truth in him. Whenever he lies, he does what is natural to him; because he is a liar, and the father of lying. 043 JOH 008 045 But, as for me, it is because I speak the truth to you that you do not believe me. 043 JOH 008 046 Which of you can convict me of sin? Why then don’t you believe me, if I am speaking truth? 043 JOH 008 047 The person who comes from God listens to God’s teaching; the reason why you do not listen is because you do not come from God.” 043 JOH 008 048 “Aren’t we right, after all,” replied the people, “in saying that you are a Samaritan, and are possessed by a demon?” 043 JOH 008 049 “I am not possessed by a demon,” Jesus answered, “but I am honoring my Father; and yet you dishonor me. 043 JOH 008 050 Not that I am seeking honor for myself; there is one who is seeking my honor, and he decides. 043 JOH 008 051 In truth I tell you, if anyone lays my message to heart, he will never really die.” (aiōn g165) 043 JOH 008 052 “Now we are sure that you are possessed by a demon,” the people replied. “Abraham died, and so did the prophets; and yet you say ‘If anyone lays my message to heart, they will never know death.’ (aiōn g165) 043 JOH 008 053 Are you greater than our ancestor Abraham, who died? And the prophets died too. Whom do you make yourself out to be?” 043 JOH 008 054 “If I do honor to myself,” answered Jesus, “such honor counts for nothing. It is my Father who does me honor – and you say that he is your God; 043 JOH 008 055 and yet you have not learned to know him; but I know him; and, if I were to say that I do not know him, I should be a liar like you; but I do know him, and I lay his message to heart. 043 JOH 008 056 Your ancestor Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day; and he did see it, and was glad.” 043 JOH 008 057 “You are not fifty years old yet,” the people exclaimed, “and have you seen Abraham?” 043 JOH 008 058 “In truth I tell you,” replied Jesus, “before Abraham existed I was.” 043 JOH 008 059 At this they took up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid himself, and left the Temple Courts. 043 JOH 009 001 As Jesus passed by, he saw a man who had been blind from his birth. 043 JOH 009 002 “Rabbi,” asked his disciples, “who was it that sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 043 JOH 009 003 “Neither the man nor the parents,” replied Jesus, “but he was born blind so that the work of God should be made plain in him. 043 JOH 009 004 We must do the work of him who sent me, while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. 043 JOH 009 005 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 043 JOH 009 006 Saying this, Jesus spat on the ground, made some paste with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. 043 JOH 009 007 “Go,” he said, “and wash your eyes in the Bath of Siloam” (a word which means ‘messenger’). So the man went and washed his eyes, and returned able to see. 043 JOH 009 008 His neighbors, and those who had formerly known him by sight as a beggar, exclaimed, “Is not this the man who used to sit and beg?” 043 JOH 009 009 “Yes,” some said, “it is”; while others said, “No, but he is like him.” The man himself said, “I am he.” 043 JOH 009 010 “How did you get your sight, then?” they asked. 043 JOH 009 011 “The man whom they call Jesus,” he answered, “made a paste, and anointed my eyes, and said to me ‘Go to Siloam and wash your eyes.’ So I went and washed my eyes, and gained my sight.” 043 JOH 009 012 “Where is he?” they asked. “I do not know,” he answered. 043 JOH 009 013 They took the man, who had been blind, to the Pharisees. 043 JOH 009 014 Now it was a Sabbath when Jesus made the paste and gave him his sight. 043 JOH 009 015 So the Pharisees also questioned the man as to how he had gained his sight. “He put a paste on my eyes,” he answered, “and I washed them, and I can see.” 043 JOH 009 016 “The man cannot be from God,” said some of the Pharisees, “for he does not keep the Sabbath.” “How is it possible,” retorted others, “for a bad man to give signs like this?” 043 JOH 009 017 So there was a difference of opinion among them, and they again questioned the man. “What do you yourself say about him, for it is to you that he has given sight?” 043 JOH 009 018 The religious authorities, however, refused to believe that he had been blind and had gained his sight, until they had called his parents and questioned them. 043 JOH 009 019 “Is this your son,” they asked, “who you say was born blind? If so, how is it that he can see now?” 043 JOH 009 020 “We know that this is our son,” answered the parents, “and that he was born blind; 043 JOH 009 021 but how it is that he can see now we do not know; nor do we know who it was that gave him his sight. Ask him – he is old enough – he will tell you about himself.” 043 JOH 009 022 His parents spoke in this way because they were afraid of the authorities; for the authorities had already agreed that, if anyone should acknowledge Jesus as the Christ, he should be expelled from their synagogues. 043 JOH 009 023 This was why his parents said ‘He is old enough; ask him.’ 043 JOH 009 024 So the authorities again called the man who had been blind, and said to him, “Give God the praise; we know that this is a bad man.” 043 JOH 009 025 “I know nothing about his being a bad man,” he replied. “One thing I do know, that although I was blind, now I can see.” 043 JOH 009 026 “What did he do to you?” they asked. “How did he give you your sight?” 043 JOH 009 027 “I told you just now,” he answered, “and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Surely you also do not want to become his disciples?” 043 JOH 009 028 “You are his disciple,” they retorted scornfully. “But we are disciples of Moses. 043 JOH 009 029 We know that God spoke to Moses; but, as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.” 043 JOH 009 030 “Well,” the man replied, “this is very strange; you do not know where he comes from, and yet he has given me my sight! 043 JOH 009 031 We know that God never listens to bad people, but, when a person is god-fearing and does God’s will, God listens to them. 043 JOH 009 032 Since the world began, such a thing was never heard of as anyone’s giving sight to a person born blind. (aiōn g165) 043 JOH 009 033 If this man had not been from God, he could not have done anything at all.” 043 JOH 009 034 “You,” they retorted, “were born totally depraved; and are you trying to teach us?” So they expelled him. 043 JOH 009 035 Jesus heard of their having put him out; and, when he had found the man, he asked, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 043 JOH 009 036 “Tell me who he is, Sir,” he replied, “so that I may believe in him.” 043 JOH 009 037 “Not only have you seen him,” said Jesus, “but it is he who is now speaking to you.” 043 JOH 009 038 “Then, Sir, I do believe,” said the man, bowing to the ground before him; 043 JOH 009 039 and Jesus added, “It was to put people to the test that I came into this world, in order that those that cannot see should see, and that those that can see should become blind.” 043 JOH 009 040 Hearing this, some of the Pharisees who were with him said, “Then are we blind too?” 043 JOH 009 041 “If you had been blind,” replied Jesus, “you would have had no sin to answer for; but, as it is, you say ‘We can see,’ and so your sin remains. 043 JOH 010 001 In truth I tell you, whoever does not go into the sheepfold through the door, but climbs up at some other place, that person is a thief and a robber; 043 JOH 010 002 but the person who goes in through the door is shepherd to the sheep. 043 JOH 010 003 For him the watchman opens the door; and the sheep listen to his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out. 043 JOH 010 004 When he has brought them all out, he walks in front of them, and his sheep follow him, because they know his voice. 043 JOH 010 005 They will not follow a stranger, but will run away from him; because they do not know a stranger’s voice.” 043 JOH 010 006 This was the allegory that Jesus told them, but they did not understand of what he was speaking. 043 JOH 010 007 So he continued, “In truth I tell you, I am the door for the sheep. 043 JOH 010 008 All who came before me were thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not listen to them. 043 JOH 010 009 I am the door; he who goes in through me will be safe, and he will go in and out and find pasture. 043 JOH 010 010 The thief comes only to steal, to kill, and to destroy; I have come so that they may have life, and may have it in greater fullness. 043 JOH 010 011 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep. 043 JOH 010 012 The hired man who is not a shepherd, and who does not own the sheep, when he sees a wolf coming, leaves them and runs away; then the wolf seizes them, and scatters the flock. 043 JOH 010 013 He does this because he is only a hired man and does not care about the sheep. 043 JOH 010 014 I am the good shepherd; and I know my sheep, and my sheep know me – 043 JOH 010 015 Just as the Father knows me and I know the Father – and I lay down my life for the sheep. 043 JOH 010 016 I have other sheep besides, which do not belong to this fold; I must lead them also, and they will listen to my voice; and they will become one flock under one shepherd. 043 JOH 010 017 This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life – to receive it again. 043 JOH 010 018 No one took it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to receive it again. This is the command which I received from my Father.” 043 JOH 010 019 In consequence of these words a difference of opinion again arose among the people. 043 JOH 010 020 Many of them said, “He is possessed by a demon and is mad; why do you listen to him?” 043 JOH 010 021 Others said, “This is not the teaching of one who is possessed by a demon. Can a demon give sight to the blind?” 043 JOH 010 022 Soon after this the Festival of the Rededication was held at Jerusalem. 043 JOH 010 023 It was winter; and Jesus was walking in the Temple Courts, in the Colonnade of Solomon, 043 JOH 010 024 when the people gathered around him, and said, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us so frankly.” 043 JOH 010 025 “I have told you so,” replied Jesus, “and you do not believe me. The work that I am doing in my Father’s name bears testimony to me. 043 JOH 010 026 But you do not believe me, because you are not of my flock. 043 JOH 010 027 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me; 043 JOH 010 028 and I give them eternal life, and they will not be lost; nor will anyone snatch them out of my hands. (aiōn g165, aiōnios g166) 043 JOH 010 029 What my Father has entrusted to me is more than all else; and no one can snatch anything out of the Father’s hands. 043 JOH 010 030 The Father and I are one.” 043 JOH 010 031 Some of the people again brought stones to throw at him; 043 JOH 010 032 and seeing this, Jesus said, “I have done before your eyes many good actions, inspired by the Father; for which of them would you stone me?” 043 JOH 010 033 “It is not for any good action that we would stone you,” they answered, “but for blasphemy; and because you, who are only a man, make yourself out to be God.” 043 JOH 010 034 “Are there not,” replied Jesus, “these words in your Law – ‘I said, You are gods’? 043 JOH 010 035 If those to whom God’s word were addressed were said to be ‘gods’ – and scripture cannot be set aside – 043 JOH 010 036 do you say of one whom the Father has consecrated and sent as his messenger to the world ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said ‘I am God’s Son’? 043 JOH 010 037 If I am not doing the work that my Father is doing, do not believe me; 043 JOH 010 038 if I am doing it, even though you do not believe me, believe what that work shows; so that you may understand, and understand more and more clearly, that the Father is in union with me, and I with the Father.” 043 JOH 010 039 The authorities again sought to arrest him; but he escaped their hands. 043 JOH 010 040 Then Jesus again crossed the Jordan to the place where John used to baptize at first, and stayed there some time, during which many people came to see him. 043 JOH 010 041 “John gave no sign of his mission,” they said. “But everything that he said about this man was true.” 043 JOH 010 042 And many learned to believe in Jesus there. 043 JOH 011 001 Now a man named Lazarus, of Bethany, was lying ill; he belonged to the same village as Mary and her sister Martha. 043 JOH 011 002 This Mary, whose brother Lazarus was ill, was the Mary who anointed the Master with perfume, and wiped his feet with her hair. 043 JOH 011 003 The sisters, therefore, sent this message to Jesus – ‘Master, your friend is ill’; 043 JOH 011 004 and, when Jesus heard it, he said, “This illness is not to end in death, but is to redound to the honor of God, in order that the Son of God may be honored through it.” 043 JOH 011 005 Jesus loved Martha and her sister, and Lazarus. 043 JOH 011 006 Yet, when he heard of the illness of Lazarus, he still stayed two days in the place where he was. 043 JOH 011 007 Then, after that, he said to his disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” 043 JOH 011 008 “Rabbi,” they replied, “the authorities there were but just now seeking to stone you; and are you going there again?” 043 JOH 011 009 “Are not there twelve hours in the day?” answered Jesus. “If someone walks about in the daytime, they don’t stumble, because they can see the light of the sun; 043 JOH 011 010 but, if they walk about at night, they stumble, because they have not the light.” 043 JOH 011 011 And, when he had said this, he added, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going so that I may wake him.” 043 JOH 011 012 “If he has fallen asleep, Master, he will get well,” said the disciples. 043 JOH 011 013 But Jesus meant that he was dead; they, however, supposed that he was speaking of natural sleep. 043 JOH 011 014 Then he said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead; 043 JOH 011 015 and I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may learn to believe in me. But let us go to him.” 043 JOH 011 016 At this, Thomas, who was called ‘The Twin,’ said to his fellow disciples, “Let us go too, so that we may die with him.” 043 JOH 011 017 When Jesus reached the place, he found that Lazarus had been four days in the tomb already. 043 JOH 011 018 Bethany being only about two miles from Jerusalem, 043 JOH 011 019 a number of the people had come there to comfort Martha and Mary because of their brother’s death. 043 JOH 011 020 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him; but Mary sat quietly at home. 043 JOH 011 021 “Master,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 043 JOH 011 022 Even now, I know that God will grant you whatever you ask him.” 043 JOH 011 023 “Your brother will rise to life,” said Jesus. 043 JOH 011 024 “I know that he will,” replied Martha, “in the resurrection at the Last day.” 043 JOH 011 025 “I am the resurrection and the life,” said Jesus. “He who believes in me will live, though he die; 043 JOH 011 026 and he who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (aiōn g165) 043 JOH 011 027 “Yes Master,” she answered. “I have learned to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.” 043 JOH 011 028 After saying this, Martha went and called her sister Mary, and whispered, “The teacher is here, and is asking for you.” 043 JOH 011 029 As soon as Mary heard that, she got up quickly, and went to meet him. 043 JOH 011 030 Jesus had not then come into the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. 043 JOH 011 031 So the people, who were in the house with Mary, comforting her, when they saw her get up quickly and go out, followed her, thinking that she was going to the tomb to weep there. 043 JOH 011 032 When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she threw herself at his feet. “Master,” she exclaimed, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died!” 043 JOH 011 033 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the people who had come with her weeping also, he groaned deeply, and was greatly distressed. 043 JOH 011 034 “Where have you buried him?” he asked. “Come and see, Master,” they answered. 043 JOH 011 035 Jesus burst into tears. 043 JOH 011 036 “How he must have loved him!” the people exclaimed; 043 JOH 011 037 but some of them said, “Could not this man, who gave sight to the blind man, have also prevented Lazarus from dying?” 043 JOH 011 038 Again groaning inwardly, Jesus came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against the mouth of it. 043 JOH 011 039 “Move the stone away,” said Jesus. “Master,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time the smell must be offensive, for this is the fourth day since his death.” 043 JOH 011 040 “Didn’t I tell you,” replied Jesus, “that, if you would believe in me, you should see the glory of God?” 043 JOH 011 041 So they moved the stone away; and Jesus, with uplifted eyes, said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard my prayer; 043 JOH 011 042 I know that you always hear me; but I say this for the sake of the people standing near, so that they may believe that you has sent me as your messenger.” 043 JOH 011 043 Then, after saying this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus! Come out!” 043 JOH 011 044 The dead man came out, wrapped hand and foot in a winding-sheet; his face, too, had been wrapped in a cloth. “Set him free,” said Jesus, “and let him go.” 043 JOH 011 045 In consequence of this, many of the people, who had come to visit Mary and had seen what Jesus did, put their faith in him. 043 JOH 011 046 Some of them, however, went to the Pharisees, and told them what he had done. 043 JOH 011 047 The chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the High Council, and said, “What are we to do, now that this man is giving so many signs? 043 JOH 011 048 If we allow him to continue as we are doing, everyone will believe in him; and the Romans will come and will take from us both our Temple and our nation.” 043 JOH 011 049 One of them, however, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, 043 JOH 011 050 “You are utterly mistaken. You do not consider that it is better for you that one person should die for the people, rather than the whole nation should be destroyed.” 043 JOH 011 051 Now he did not say this of his own accord; but, as high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus was to die for the nation – 043 JOH 011 052 And not for the nation only, but also that he might unite in one body the children of God now scattered far and wide. 043 JOH 011 053 So from that day they plotted to put Jesus to death. 043 JOH 011 054 In consequence of this, Jesus did not go about publicly among the people any more, but left and went into the country bordering on the wilderness, to a town called Ephraim, where he stayed with his disciples. 043 JOH 011 055 But the Jewish Festival of the Passover was near; and many people had gone up from the country to Jerusalem, for their purification, before the Festival began. 043 JOH 011 056 So they looked for Jesus there, and said to one another, as they stood in the Temple Courts, “What do you think? Do you think he will come to the Festival?” 043 JOH 011 057 The chief priests and the Pharisees had already issued orders that, if anyone learned where Jesus was, he should give information, so that they might arrest him. 043 JOH 012 001 Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead, was living. 043 JOH 012 002 There a supper was given in his honor at which Martha waited, while Lazarus was one of those present at the table. 043 JOH 012 003 So Mary took a pound of choice spikenard perfume of great value, and anointed the feet of Jesus with it, and then wiped them with her hair. The whole house was filled with the scent of the perfume. 043 JOH 012 004 One of the disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was about to betray Jesus, asked, 043 JOH 012 005 “Why was not this perfume sold for a year’s wages, and the money given to poor people?” 043 JOH 012 006 He said this, not because he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and, being in charge of the purse, used to take what was put in it. 043 JOH 012 007 “Leave her alone,” said Jesus, “so that she may keep it until the day when my body is being prepared for burial. 043 JOH 012 008 The poor you always have with you, but you will not always have me.” 043 JOH 012 009 Now great numbers of people found out that Jesus was at Bethany; and they came there, not only because of him, but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 043 JOH 012 010 The chief priests, however, plotted to put Lazarus, as well as Jesus, to death, 043 JOH 012 011 because it was owing to him that many of the people had left them, and were becoming believers in Jesus. 043 JOH 012 012 On the following day great numbers of people who had come to the Festival, hearing that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem, took palm branches, 043 JOH 012 013 and went out to meet him, shouting as they went, “God save him! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord – the king of Israel!” 043 JOH 012 014 Having found a young donkey, Jesus seated himself on it, in accordance with the passage of scripture – 043 JOH 012 015 ‘Fear not, people of Zion. Your king is coming to you, sitting on the foal of a donkey.’ 043 JOH 012 016 His disciples did not understand all this at first; but, when Jesus had been exalted, then they remembered that these things had been said of him in scripture, and that they had done these things for him. 043 JOH 012 017 Meanwhile the people who were with him, when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead, were telling what they had seen. 043 JOH 012 018 This, indeed, was why the crowd met him – because people had heard that he had given this sign of his mission. 043 JOH 012 019 So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are gaining nothing! Why, all the world has run after him!” 043 JOH 012 020 Among those who were going up to worship at the Festival were some Greeks, 043 JOH 012 021 who went to Philip of Bethsaida in Galilee, and said, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 043 JOH 012 022 Philip went and told Andrew, and then together they went and told Jesus. 043 JOH 012 023 This was his reply – “The time has come for the Son of Man to be exalted. 043 JOH 012 024 In truth I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains solitary; but, if it dies, it becomes fruitful. 043 JOH 012 025 A person who loves their life loses it; while someone who hates their life in the present world will preserve it for eternal life. (aiōnios g166) 043 JOH 012 026 If someone is ready to serve me, let them follow me; and where I am, there my servant will be also. If a person is ready to serve me, my Father will honor them. 043 JOH 012 027 Now I am distressed at heart and what can I say? Father, bring me safe through this hour – yet it was for this reason that I came to this hour – 043 JOH 012 028 Father, honor your own name.” At this there came a voice from heaven, which said, “I have already honored it, and I will honor it again.” 043 JOH 012 029 The crowd of bystanders, who heard the sound, said that it was thundering. Others said, “An angel has been speaking to him.” 043 JOH 012 030 “It was not for my sake that the voice came,” said Jesus, “but for yours. 043 JOH 012 031 Now this world is on its trial. Now the Spirit that is ruling this world will be driven out; 043 JOH 012 032 and I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 043 JOH 012 033 By these words he indicated what death he was destined to die. 043 JOH 012 034 “We,” replied the people, “have learned from the Law that the Christ is to remain for ever; how is it, then, that you say that the Son of Man must be ‘lifted up’ Who is this ‘Son of Man’?” (aiōn g165) 043 JOH 012 035 “Only a little while longer,” answered Jesus, “will you have the light among you. Travel on while you have the light, so that darkness may not overtake you; he who travels in the darkness does not know where he is going. 043 JOH 012 036 While you still have the light, believe in the light, so that you may be children of light.” After he had said this, Jesus went away, and hid himself from them. 043 JOH 012 037 But, though Jesus had given so many signs of his mission before their eyes, they still did not believe in him, 043 JOH 012 038 in fulfillment of the words of the prophet Isaiah, where he says – ‘Lord, who has believed our teaching? And to whom has the might of the Lord been revealed?’ 043 JOH 012 039 The reason why they were unable to believe is given by Isaiah elsewhere, in these words – 043 JOH 012 040 ‘He has blinded their eyes, and blunted their mind, so that they should not see with their eyes, and perceive with their mind, and turn – And I should heal them.’ 043 JOH 012 041 Isaiah said this, because he saw Christ’s glory; and it was of him that he spoke. 043 JOH 012 042 Yet for all this, even among the leading men there were many who came to believe in Jesus; but, because of the Pharisees, they did not acknowledge it, because they were afraid that they should be expelled from their synagogues; 043 JOH 012 043 for they valued honor from people more than honor from God. 043 JOH 012 044 But Jesus had proclaimed, “He who believes in me believes, not in me, but in him who sent me; 043 JOH 012 045 and he who sees me sees him who sent me. 043 JOH 012 046 I have come as a light into the world, so that no one who believes in me should remain in the darkness. 043 JOH 012 047 When anyone hears my teaching and pays no heed to it, I am not his judge; for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. 043 JOH 012 048 He who rejects me, and disregards my teaching, has a judge already – the message which I have delivered will itself be his judge at the Last day. 043 JOH 012 049 For I have not delivered it on my own authority; but the Father, who sent me, has himself given me his command as to what I should say, and what message I should deliver. 043 JOH 012 050 And I know that eternal life lies in keeping his command. Therefore, whatever I say, I say only what the Father has taught me.” (aiōnios g166) 043 JOH 013 001 Before the Passover Festival began, Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave the world and go to the Father. He had loved those who were his own in the world, and he loved them to the last. 043 JOH 013 002 The devil had already put the thought of betraying Jesus into the mind of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon; 043 JOH 013 003 and at supper, Jesus – although knowing that the Father had put everything into his hands, and that he had come from God, and was to return to God – 043 JOH 013 004 rose from his place, and, taking off his upper garments, tied a towel around his waist. 043 JOH 013 005 He then poured some water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel which was tied around him. 043 JOH 013 006 When he came to Simon Peter, Peter said, “You, Master! Are you going to wash my feet?” 043 JOH 013 007 “You do not understand now what I am doing,” replied Jesus, “but you will learn by and by.” 043 JOH 013 008 “You will never wash my feet!” exclaimed Peter. “Unless I wash you,” answered Jesus, “you have nothing in common with me.” (aiōn g165) 043 JOH 013 009 “Then, Master, not my feet only,” exclaimed Simon Peter, “but also my hands and my head.” 043 JOH 013 010 “He who has bathed,” replied Jesus, “has no need to wash, unless it be his feet, but is altogether clean; and you,” he said to the disciples, “are clean, yet not all of you.” 043 JOH 013 011 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said ‘You are not all clean.’ 043 JOH 013 012 When he had washed their feet, and had put on his upper garments and taken his place, he spoke to them again. “Do you understand what I have been doing to you?” he asked. 043 JOH 013 013 “You yourselves call me ‘the teacher’ and ‘the Master’, and you are right, for I am both. 043 JOH 013 014 If I, then – ‘the Master’ and ‘the teacher’ – have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet; 043 JOH 013 015 for I have given you an example, so that you may do just as I have done to you. 043 JOH 013 016 In truth I tell you, a servant is not greater than their master, neither is a messenger greater than the one who sends them. 043 JOH 013 017 Now that you know these things, happy are you if you do them. 043 JOH 013 018 I am not speaking about all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but this is in fulfillment of the words of scripture – ‘He that is eating my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ 043 JOH 013 019 For the future I will tell you of things before they take place, so that, when they take place, you may believe that I am what I am. 043 JOH 013 020 In truth I tell you, the one who receives anyone that I send receives me; and the person who receives me receives him who sent me.” 043 JOH 013 021 After saying this, Jesus was much troubled, and said solemnly, “In truth I tell you that it is one of you who will betray me.” 043 JOH 013 022 The disciples looked at one another, wondering whom he meant. 043 JOH 013 023 Next to Jesus, in the place on his right hand, was one of his disciples, whom he loved. 043 JOH 013 024 So Simon Peter made signs to that disciple, and whispered, “Tell me who it is that he means.” 043 JOH 013 025 Being in this position, that disciple leant back on Jesus’ shoulder, and asked him, “Who is it, Master?” 043 JOH 013 026 “It is the one,” answered Jesus, “to whom I will give a piece of bread after dipping it in the dish.” And, when Jesus had dipped the bread, he took it and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot; 043 JOH 013 027 and it was then, after he had received it, that Satan took possession of him. So Jesus said to him, “Do at once what you are going to do.” 043 JOH 013 028 But no one at the table understood why he said this to Judas. 043 JOH 013 029 Some thought that, as Judas kept the purse, Jesus meant that he was to buy some things needed for the Festival, or to give something to the poor. 043 JOH 013 030 After taking the piece of bread, Judas went out immediately; and it was night. 043 JOH 013 031 When Judas had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been exalted, and God has been exalted through him; 043 JOH 013 032 and God will exalt him with himself – yes, he will exalt him forthwith. 043 JOH 013 033 My children, I am to be with you but a little while longer. You will look for me; and what I said to the people – ‘You cannot come where I am going’ – I now say to you. 043 JOH 013 034 I give you a new commandment – love one another; love one another as I have loved you. 043 JOH 013 035 It is by this that everyone will recognize you as my disciples – by your loving one another.” 043 JOH 013 036 “Where are you going, Master?” asked Peter. “I am going where you cannot now follow me,” answered Jesus, “but you will follow me later.” 043 JOH 013 037 “Why cannot I follow you now, Master?” asked Peter. “I will lay down my life for you.” 043 JOH 013 038 “Will you lay down your life for me?” replied Jesus. “In truth I tell you, the cock will not crow until you have disowned me three times. 043 JOH 014 001 Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 043 JOH 014 002 In my Father’s home there are many dwellings. If it had not been so, I should have told you, for I am going to prepare a place for you. 043 JOH 014 003 And, since I go and prepare a place for you, I will return and take you to be with me, so that you may be where I am; 043 JOH 014 004 and you know the way to the place where I am going.” 043 JOH 014 005 “We do not know where you are going, Master,” said Thomas. “So how can we know the way?” 043 JOH 014 006 Jesus answered, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one ever comes to the Father except through me. 043 JOH 014 007 If you had recognized me, you would have known my Father also; for the future you will recognize him, indeed you have already seen him.” 043 JOH 014 008 “Master, show us the Father,” said Philip, “and we will be satisfied.” 043 JOH 014 009 “Have I been all this time among you,” said Jesus, “and yet you, Philip, have not recognized me? The person who has seen me has seen the Father, how can you say, then, ‘Show us the Father’? 043 JOH 014 010 Don’t you believe that I am in union with the Father, and the Father with me? In giving you my teaching I am not speaking on my own authority; but the Father himself, always in union with me, does his own work. 043 JOH 014 011 Believe me,” he said to them all, “when I say that I am in union with the Father and the Father with me, or else believe me because of the work itself. 043 JOH 014 012 In truth I tell you, the person who believes in me will themselves do the work that I am doing; and they will do greater work still, because I am going to the Father. 043 JOH 014 013 Whatever you ask, in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be honored in the Son. 043 JOH 014 014 If you ask anything, in my name, I will do it. 043 JOH 014 015 If you love me, you will lay my commands to heart, 043 JOH 014 016 and I will ask the Father, and he will give you another helper, to be with you always – the Spirit of truth. (aiōn g165) 043 JOH 014 017 The world cannot receive this Spirit, because it does not see him or recognize him, but you recognize him, because he is always with you, and is within you. 043 JOH 014 018 I will not leave you bereaved; I will come to you. 043 JOH 014 019 In a little while the world will see me no more, but you will still see me; because I am living, you will be living also. 043 JOH 014 020 At that time you will recognize that I am in union with the Father, and you with me, and I with you. 043 JOH 014 021 It is they who have my commands and lays them to heart who loves me; and the person who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them, and will reveal myself to them.” 043 JOH 014 022 “What has happened, Master,” said Judas (not Judas Iscariot), “that you are going to reveal yourself to us, and not to the world?” 043 JOH 014 023 “Whoever loves me,” Jesus answered, “will lay my message to heart; and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 043 JOH 014 024 The person who does not love me will not lay my message to heart; and the message to which you are listening is not my own, but comes from the Father who sent me. 043 JOH 014 025 I have told you all this while still with you, 043 JOH 014 026 but the helper – the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name – will teach you all things, and will recall to your minds all that I have said to you. 043 JOH 014 027 Peace be with you! My own peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, or dismayed. 043 JOH 014 028 You heard me say that I was going away and would return to you. Had you loved me, you would have been glad that I was going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. 043 JOH 014 029 And this I have told you now before it happens, so that, when it does happen, you may still believe in me. 043 JOH 014 030 I will not talk with you much more, for the Spirit that is ruling the world is coming. He has nothing in common with me; 043 JOH 014 031 but he is coming so that the world may see that I love the Father, and that I do as the Father commanded me. Come, let us be going. 043 JOH 015 001 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine-grower. 043 JOH 015 002 Any unfruitful branch in me he takes away, and he cleanses every fruitful branch, so that it may bear more fruit. 043 JOH 015 003 You are already clean because of the message that I have given you. 043 JOH 015 004 Remain united to me, and I will remain united to you. As a branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it remains united to the vine; no more can you, unless you remain united to me. 043 JOH 015 005 I am the vine, you are the branches. If you remains united to me, while I remain united to you – you bear fruit plentifully; for you can do nothing apart from me. 043 JOH 015 006 If anyone does not remain united to me, they are thrown away, as a branch would be, and withers up. Such branches are collected and thrown into the fire, and are burnt. 043 JOH 015 007 If you remain united to me, and my teaching remains in your hearts, ask whatever you wish, and it will be yours. 043 JOH 015 008 It is by your bearing fruit plentifully, and so showing yourselves my disciples, that my Father is honored. 043 JOH 015 009 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you; remain in my love. 043 JOH 015 010 If you lay my commands to heart, you will remain in my love; just as I have laid the Father’s commands to heart and remain in his love. 043 JOH 015 011 I have told you all this so that my own joy may be yours, and that your joy may be complete. 043 JOH 015 012 This is my command – love one another, as I have loved you. 043 JOH 015 013 No one can give greater proof of love than by laying down their life for their friends. 043 JOH 015 014 And you are my friends, if you do what I command you. 043 JOH 015 015 I no longer call you ‘servants,’ because a servant does not know what their master is doing; but I have given you the name of ‘friends,’ because I made known to you everything that I learned from my Father. 043 JOH 015 016 It wasn’t you who chose me, but I who chose you, and I appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that should remain, so that the Father might grant you whatever you ask in my name. 043 JOH 015 017 I am giving you these commands that you may love one another. 043 JOH 015 018 If the world hates you, you know that it has first hated me. 043 JOH 015 019 If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own. Because you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world – that is why the world hates you. 043 JOH 015 020 Remember what I said to you – ‘A servant is not greater than their master.’ If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have laid my message to heart, they will lay yours to heart also. 043 JOH 015 021 But they will do all this to you, because you believe in my name, for they do not know him who sent me. 043 JOH 015 022 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have had no sin to answer for; but as it is, they have no excuse for their sin. 043 JOH 015 023 The person who hates me hates my Father also. 043 JOH 015 024 If I had not done among them such work as no one else ever did, they would have had no sin to answer for; but, as it is, they have both seen and hated both me and my Father. 043 JOH 015 025 And so is fulfilled what is said in their Law – ‘They hated me without cause.’ 043 JOH 015 026 But, when the helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father – the Spirit of truth, who comes from the Father – will bear testimony to me; 043 JOH 015 027 yes, and you also are to bear testimony, because you have been with me from the first. 043 JOH 016 001 “I have spoken to you in this way so that you may not falter. 043 JOH 016 002 They will expel you from their synagogues; indeed the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think that they are making an offering to God. 043 JOH 016 003 They will do this, because they have not learned to know the Father, or even me. 043 JOH 016 004 But I have spoken to you of these things so that, when the time for them comes, you may remember that I told you about them myself. 043 JOH 016 005 I did not tell you all this at first, because I was with you. But now I am to return to him who sent me; and yet not one of you asks me – ‘Where are you going?’ 043 JOH 016 006 Although your hearts are full of sorrow at all that I have been saying to you. 043 JOH 016 007 Yet I am only telling you the truth; it is for your good that I should go away. For otherwise the helper will never come to you, but, if I leave you, I will send him to you. 043 JOH 016 008 And he, when he comes, will bring conviction to the world as to sin, and as to righteousness, and as to judgment; 043 JOH 016 009 as to sin, for people do not believe in me; 043 JOH 016 010 as to righteousness, for I am going to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 043 JOH 016 011 as to judgment, for the Spirit that is ruling this world has been condemned. 043 JOH 016 012 I have still much to say to you, but you cannot bear it now. 043 JOH 016 013 Yet when he – The Spirit of truth – comes, he will guide you into all truth; for he will not speak on his own authority, but he will speak of all that he hears; and he will tell you of the things that are to come. 043 JOH 016 014 He will honor me; because he will take of what is mine, and will tell it to you. 043 JOH 016 015 Everything that the Father has is mine; that is why I said that he takes of what is mine, and will tell it to you. 043 JOH 016 016 In a little while you will no longer see me; and then in a little while you will see me indeed.” 043 JOH 016 017 At this some of his disciples said to one another, “What does he mean by saying to us ‘In a little while you will not see me, and then in a little while you will see me indeed’; and by saying ‘Because I am going to the Father’? 043 JOH 016 018 What does he mean by ‘In a little while’?” they said. “We do not know what he is speaking about.” 043 JOH 016 019 Jesus saw that they were wanting to ask him a question, and said, “Are you trying to find out from one another what I meant by saying ‘In a little while you will not see me; and then in a little while you will see me indeed’? 043 JOH 016 020 In truth I tell you that you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice; you will suffer pain, but your pain will turn to joy. 043 JOH 016 021 A woman in labor is in pain because her time has come; but no sooner is the child born, than she forgets her trouble in her joy that a child has been born into the world. 043 JOH 016 022 You, in the same way, are sorry now; but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will rob you of your joy. 043 JOH 016 023 And at that time you will not ask me anything; in truth I tell you, if you ask the Father for anything, he will grant it to you in my name. 043 JOH 016 024 So far you have not asked for anything, in my name; ask, and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete. 043 JOH 016 025 I have spoken to you of all this in figures; a time is coming, however, when I will not speak any longer to you in figures, but will tell you about the Father plainly. 043 JOH 016 026 You will ask, at that time, in my name; and I do not say that I will intercede with the Father for you; 043 JOH 016 027 for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me, and have believed that I came from the Father. 043 JOH 016 028 I came out from the Father, and have come into the world; and now I am to leave the world, and go to the Father.” 043 JOH 016 029 “At last,” exclaimed the disciples, “you are using plain words and not speaking in figures at all. 043 JOH 016 030 Now we are sure that you know everything, and need not wait for anyone to question you. This makes us believe that you did come from God.” 043 JOH 016 031 “Do you believe that already?” Jesus answered. 043 JOH 016 032 “Listen! A time is coming – indeed it has already come – when you are to be scattered, each going his own way, and to leave me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. 043 JOH 016 033 I have spoken to you in this way, so that in me you may find peace. In the world you will find trouble; yet, take courage! I have conquered the world.” 043 JOH 017 001 After saying this, Jesus raised his eyes heavenwards, and said: “Father, the hour has come; honor your Son, so that your Son may honor you; 043 JOH 017 002 even as you gave him power over all humanity, so that he should give eternal life to everyone you have given him. (aiōnios g166) 043 JOH 017 003 And the eternal life is this – to know you the one true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent as your messenger. (aiōnios g166) 043 JOH 017 004 I have honored you on earth by completing the work which you have given me to do; 043 JOH 017 005 and now do you honor me, Father, at your own side, with the honor which I had at your side before the world began. 043 JOH 017 006 I have revealed you to those whom you gave me from the world; they were your own, and you gave them to me; and they have laid your message to heart. 043 JOH 017 007 They recognize now that everything that you gave me was from you; 043 JOH 017 008 for I have given them the teaching which you gave me, and they received it, and clearly understood that I came from you, and they believed that you have sent me as your messenger. 043 JOH 017 009 I intercede for them; I am not interceding for the world, but for those whom you have given me, for they are your own – 043 JOH 017 010 All that is mine is yours, and all that is yours is mine – and I am honored in them. 043 JOH 017 011 Now I am to be in this world no longer, but they are still to be in the world, and I am to come to you. Holy Father, keep them by that revelation of your name which you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are. 043 JOH 017 012 While I was with them, I kept them by that revelation, and I have guarded them; and not one of them has been lost, except that lost soul – in fulfillment of scripture. 043 JOH 017 013 But now I am to come to you; and I am speaking like this, while still in the world, so that they may have my own joy, in all its fullness, in their hearts. 043 JOH 017 014 I have given them your message; and the world hated them, because they do not belong to the world, even as I do not belong to the world. 043 JOH 017 015 I do not ask you to take them out of the world, but to keep them from evil. 043 JOH 017 016 They do not belong to the world, even as I do not belong to the world. 043 JOH 017 017 Consecrate them by the truth; your message is truth. 043 JOH 017 018 Just as you have sent me as your messenger to the world, so I send them as my messengers to the world. 043 JOH 017 019 And it is for their sakes that I am consecrating myself, so that they also may be truly consecrated. 043 JOH 017 020 But it is not only for them that I am interceding, but also for those who believe in me through their message, 043 JOH 017 021 that they all may be one – that as you, Father, are in union with us – and so the world may believe that you have sent me as your messenger. 043 JOH 017 022 I have given them the honor which you have given me, so that they may be one as we are one – 043 JOH 017 023 I in union with them and you with me – so that they may be perfected in their union, and so that the world may know that you have sent me as your messenger, and that you have loved them as you have loved me. 043 JOH 017 024 Father, my desire for all those whom you have given me is that they may be with me where I am, so that they may see the honor which you have given me; for you did love me before the beginning of the world. 043 JOH 017 025 Righteous Father, though the world did not know you, I knew you; and these people knew that you have sent me as your messenger. 043 JOH 017 026 I have made you known to them, and will do so still; that the love that you have had for me may be in their hearts, and that I may be in them also.” 043 JOH 018 001 When Jesus had said this, he went out with his disciples and crossed the Kidron ravine to a place where there was a garden, into which he and his disciples went. 043 JOH 018 002 The place was well known to Judas, the betrayer, for Jesus and his disciples had often met there. 043 JOH 018 003 So Judas, who had obtained the soldiers of the Roman garrison, and some guards from the chief priests and the Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. 043 JOH 018 004 Jesus, aware of all that was coming upon him, went to meet them, and said to them, “For whom are you looking?” 043 JOH 018 005 “Jesus of Nazareth,” was their answer. “I am he,” said Jesus. (Judas, the betrayer, was also standing with them.) 043 JOH 018 006 When Jesus said ‘I am he,’ they drew back and fell to the ground. 043 JOH 018 007 So he again asked for whom they were looking, and they answered, “Jesus of Nazareth.” 043 JOH 018 008 “I have already told you that I am he,” replied Jesus, “so, if it is for me that you are looking, let these people go.” 043 JOH 018 009 This was in fulfillment of his words – ‘Of those whom you have given me I have not lost one.’ 043 JOH 018 010 At this, Simon Peter, who had a sword with him, drew it, and struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus. 043 JOH 018 011 But Jesus said to Peter, “Sheathe your sword. Should I not drink the cup which the Father has given me?” 043 JOH 018 012 So the soldiers of the garrison, with their commanding officer and the Jewish guards, arrested Jesus and bound him, 043 JOH 018 013 and took him first of all to Annas. Annas was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. 043 JOH 018 014 It was Caiaphas who had counseled the religious authorities, that it was best that one person should die for the people. 043 JOH 018 015 Meanwhile Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. That disciple, being well-known to the high priest, went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard, 043 JOH 018 016 while Peter stood outside by the door. Presently the other disciple – the one well-known to the high priest – went out and spoke to the portress, and brought Peter in. 043 JOH 018 017 So the maidservant said to Peter, “Aren’t you also one of this man’s disciples?” “No, I am not,” he said. 043 JOH 018 018 The servants and guards were standing around a charcoal fire (which they had made because it was cold), and were warming themselves. Peter, too, was with them, standing and warming himself. 043 JOH 018 019 The high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching. 043 JOH 018 020 “For my part,” answered Jesus, “I have spoken to all the world openly. I always taught in some synagogue, or in the Temple Courts, places where everyone assembles, and I never spoke of anything in secret. 043 JOH 018 021 Why question me? Question those who have listened to me as to what I have spoken about to them. They must know what I said.” 043 JOH 018 022 When Jesus said this, one of the guards, who was standing near, gave him a blow with his hand. “Do you answer the high priest like that?” he exclaimed. 043 JOH 018 023 “If I said anything wrong, give evidence about it,” replied Jesus, “but if not, why do you strike me?” 043 JOH 018 024 Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest. 043 JOH 018 025 Meanwhile Simon Peter was standing there, warming himself; so they said to him, “Aren’t you also one of his disciples?” Peter denied it. “No, I am not,” he said. 043 JOH 018 026 One of the high priest’s servants, a relation of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, exclaimed, “Didn’t I myself see you with him in the garden?” 043 JOH 018 027 Peter again denied it; and at that moment a cock crowed. 043 JOH 018 028 From Caiaphas they took Jesus to the Government house. It was early in the morning. But they did not enter the Government house themselves, otherwise they might become defiled, and so be unable to eat the Passover. 043 JOH 018 029 Therefore Pilate came outside to speak to them. “What charge do you bring against this man?” he asked. 043 JOH 018 030 “If he had not been a criminal, we should not have given him up to you,” they answered. 043 JOH 018 031 “Take him yourselves,” said Pilate, “and try him by your own Law.” “We have no power to put anyone to death,” the authorities replied – 043 JOH 018 032 in fulfillment of what Jesus had said when indicating the death that he was destined to die. 043 JOH 018 033 After that, Pilate went into the Government house again, and calling Jesus up, asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” 043 JOH 018 034 “Do you ask me that yourself?” replied Jesus, “or did others say it to you about me?” 043 JOH 018 035 “Do you take me for a Jew?” was Pilate’s answer. “It is your own nation and the chief priests who have given you up to me. What have you done?” 043 JOH 018 036 “My kingly power,” replied Jesus, “is not due to this world. If it had been so, my servants would be doing their utmost to prevent my being given up to the authorities; but my kingly power is not from the world.” 043 JOH 018 037 “So you are a king after all!” exclaimed Pilate. “Yes, it is true I am a king,” answered Jesus. “I was born for this, I have come into the world for this – to bear testimony to the truth. Everyone who is on the side of truth listens to my voice.” 043 JOH 018 038 “What is truth?” exclaimed Pilate. After saying this, he went out to the crowd again, and said, “For my part, I find nothing with which he can be charged. 043 JOH 018 039 It is, however, the custom for me to grant you the release of one man at the Passover Festival. Do you wish for the release of the king of the Jews?” 043 JOH 018 040 “No, not this man,” they shouted again, “but Barabbas!” This Barabbas was a robber. 043 JOH 019 001 After that, Pilate had Jesus scourged. 043 JOH 019 002 The soldiers made a crown with some thorns and put it on his head and threw a purple robe around him. 043 JOH 019 003 They kept coming up to him and saying, “Long live the king of the Jews!” and they gave him blow after blow with their hands. 043 JOH 019 004 Pilate again came outside, and said to the people, “Look! I am bringing him out to you, so that you may know that I find nothing with which he can be charged.” 043 JOH 019 005 Then Jesus came outside, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe; and Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!” 043 JOH 019 006 When the chief priests and the guards saw him, they shouted, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” “Take him yourselves and crucify him,” said Pilate. “For my part, I find nothing with which he can be charged.” 043 JOH 019 007 “But we,” replied the crowd, “have a Law, under which he deserves death for making himself out to be the Son of God.” 043 JOH 019 008 When Pilate heard what they said, he became still more alarmed; 043 JOH 019 009 and, going into the Government house again, he said to Jesus, “Where do you come from?” 043 JOH 019 010 But Jesus made no reply. So Pilate said to him, “Do you refuse to speak to me? Don’t you know that I have power to release you, and have power to crucify you?” 043 JOH 019 011 “You would have no power over me at all,” answered Jesus, “if it had not been given you from above; and, therefore, the man who betrayed me to you is guilty of the greater sin.” 043 JOH 019 012 This made Pilate anxious to release him; but the crowd shouted, “If you release that man, you are no friend of the Emperor! Anyone who makes himself out to be a king is setting himself against the Emperor!” 043 JOH 019 013 On hearing what they said, Pilate brought Jesus out, and took his seat on the Bench at a place called ‘The Stone Pavement’ – in Hebrew ‘Gabbatha.’ 043 JOH 019 014 It was the Passover Preparation day, and about noon. Then he said to the crowd, “Here is your king!” 043 JOH 019 015 At that the people shouted, “Kill him! Kill him! Crucify him!” “What! Should I crucify your king?” exclaimed Pilate. “We have no king but the Emperor,” replied the chief priests; 043 JOH 019 016 so Pilate gave Jesus up to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus; 043 JOH 019 017 and he went out, carrying his cross himself, to the place which is named from a skull, or, in Hebrew, Golgotha. 043 JOH 019 018 There they crucified him, and two others with him – one on each side, and Jesus between them. 043 JOH 019 019 Pilate also had these words written and put up over the cross – ‘JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.’ 043 JOH 019 020 These words were read by many people, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and they were written in Hebrew, Latin and Greek. 043 JOH 019 021 The chief priests said to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The king of the Jews’, but write what the man said – ‘I am the king of the Jews.’” 043 JOH 019 022 But Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.” 043 JOH 019 023 When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four shares – a share for each soldier – and they took the coat also. The coat had no seam, being woven in one piece from top to bottom. 043 JOH 019 024 So they said to one another, “Do not let us tear it, but let us cast lots for it, to see who will have it.” This was in fulfillment of the words of scripture – ‘They shared my clothes among them, and over my clothing they cast lots.’ That was what the soldiers did. 043 JOH 019 025 Meanwhile near the cross of Jesus were standing his mother and his mother’s sister, as well as Mary the wife of Clopas and Mary of Magdala. 043 JOH 019 026 When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved, standing near, he said to his mother, “There is your son.” 043 JOH 019 027 Then he said to that disciple, “There is your mother.” And from that very hour the disciple took her to live in his house. 043 JOH 019 028 Afterward, knowing that everything was now finished, Jesus said, in fulfillment of the words of scripture, “I am thirsty.” 043 JOH 019 029 There was a bowl standing there full of common wine; so they put a sponge soaked in the wine on the end of a hyssop-stalk, and held it up to his mouth. 043 JOH 019 030 When Jesus had received the wine, he exclaimed, “All is finished!” Then, bowing his head, he resigned his spirit to God. 043 JOH 019 031 It was the Preparation day, and so, to prevent the bodies from remaining on the crosses during the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a great day), the Jews asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies removed. 043 JOH 019 032 Accordingly the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man, and then those of the other who had been crucified with Jesus; 043 JOH 019 033 but, on coming to him, when they saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 043 JOH 019 034 One of the soldiers, however, pierced his side with a spear, and blood and water immediately flowed from it. 043 JOH 019 035 This is the statement of one who actually saw it – and his statement may be relied on, and he knows that he is speaking the truth – and it is given in order that you also may be convinced. 043 JOH 019 036 For all this happened in fulfillment of the words of scripture – ‘Not one of its bones will be broken.’ 043 JOH 019 037 And there is another passage which says – ‘They will look on him whom they pierced.’ 043 JOH 019 038 After this, Joseph of Arimathea, a disciple of Jesus – but a secret one, owing to his fear of the religious authorities – begged Pilate’s permission to remove the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him leave; so Joseph went and removed the body. 043 JOH 019 039 Nicodemus, too – the man who had formerly visited Jesus by night – came with a roll of myrrh and aloes, weighing nearly a hundred pounds. 043 JOH 019 040 They took the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen with the spices, according to the Jewish mode of burial. 043 JOH 019 041 At the place where Jesus had been crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a newly made tomb in which no one had ever been laid. 043 JOH 019 042 And so, because of its being the Preparation day, and as the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there. 043 JOH 020 001 On the first day of the week, early in the morning, while it was still dark, Mary of Magdala went to the tomb, and saw that the stone had been removed. 043 JOH 020 002 So she came running to Simon Peter, and to that other disciple who was Jesus’ friend, and said to them, “They have taken away the Master out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him!” 043 JOH 020 003 So, Peter started off with that other disciple, and they went to the tomb. 043 JOH 020 004 The two began running together; but the other disciple ran faster than Peter, and reached the tomb first. 043 JOH 020 005 Stooping down, he saw the linen wrappings lying there, but did not go in. 043 JOH 020 006 Presently Simon Peter came following behind him, and went into the tomb; and he looked at the linen wrappings lying there, 043 JOH 020 007 and the cloth which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the wrappings, but rolled up on one side, separately. 043 JOH 020 008 Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, went inside too, and he saw for himself and was convinced. 043 JOH 020 009 For they did not then understand the passage of scripture which says that Jesus must rise again from the dead. 043 JOH 020 010 The disciples then returned to their companions. 043 JOH 020 011 Meanwhile Mary was standing close outside the tomb, weeping. Still weeping, she leant forward into the tomb, 043 JOH 020 012 and perceived two angels clothed in white sitting there, where the body of Jesus had been lying, one where the head and the other where the feet had been. 043 JOH 020 013 “Why are you weeping?” asked the angels. “They have taken my Master away,” she answered, “and I do not know where they have laid him.” 043 JOH 020 014 After saying this, she turned around, and looked at Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 043 JOH 020 015 “Why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” he asked. Supposing him to be the gardener, Mary answered, “If it was you, Sir, who carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away myself.” 043 JOH 020 016 “Mary!” said Jesus. She turned around, and exclaimed in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (or, as we should say, ‘teacher’). 043 JOH 020 017 “Do not hold me,” Jesus said, “for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers, and tell them that I am ascending to him who is my Father and their Father, my God and their God.” 043 JOH 020 018 Mary of Magdala went and told the disciples that she had seen the Master, and that he had said this to her. 043 JOH 020 019 In the evening of the same day – the first day of the week – after the doors of the room, in which the disciples were, had been shut because they were afraid of the religious authorities, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you”; 043 JOH 020 020 after which he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were filled with joy when they saw the Master. 043 JOH 020 021 Again Jesus said to them, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me as his messenger, so I am sending you.” 043 JOH 020 022 After saying this, he breathed on them, and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit; 043 JOH 020 023 if you remit anyone’s sins, they have been remitted; and, if you retain them, they have been retained.” 043 JOH 020 024 But Thomas, one of the Twelve, called ‘The Twin,’ was not with them when Jesus came; 043 JOH 020 025 so the rest of the disciples said to him, “We have seen the Master!” “Unless I see the marks of the nails in his hands,” he exclaimed, “and put my finger into the marks, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.” 043 JOH 020 026 A week later the disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. After the doors had been shut, Jesus came and stood among them, and said, “Peace be with you.” 043 JOH 020 027 Then he said to Thomas, “Place your finger here, and look at my hands; and place your hand here, and put it into my side; and do not refuse to believe, but believe.” 043 JOH 020 028 And Thomas exclaimed, “My Master, and my God!” 043 JOH 020 029 “Is it because you have seen me that you have believed?” said Jesus. “Blessed are they who have not seen, and yet have believed!” 043 JOH 020 030 There were many other signs of his mission that Jesus gave in presence of the disciples, which are not recorded in this book; 043 JOH 020 031 but these have been recorded so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God – and that, through your belief in his name, you may have life. 043 JOH 021 001 Later on, Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias. 043 JOH 021 002 It was in this way, – Simon Peter, Thomas, who was called ‘The Twin,’ Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, Zebedee’s sons, and two other disciples of Jesus, were together, when Simon Peter said, 043 JOH 021 003 “I am going fishing.” “We will come with you,” said the others. They went out and got into the boat, but caught nothing that night. 043 JOH 021 004 Just as day was breaking, Jesus came and stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was he. 043 JOH 021 005 “My children,” he said, “have you anything to eat?” “No,” they answered. 043 JOH 021 006 “Cast your net to the right of the boat,” he said, “and you will find fish.” So they cast the net, and now they could not haul it in because of the quantity of fish. 043 JOH 021 007 The disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Master!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Master, he fastened his coat around him (for he had taken it off), and threw himself into the sea. 043 JOH 021 008 But the rest of the disciples came in the boat (for they were only about a hundred yards from shore), dragging the net full of fish. 043 JOH 021 009 When they had come ashore, they found a charcoal fire ready, with some fish already on it, and some bread as well. 043 JOH 021 010 “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught,” said Jesus. 043 JOH 021 011 So Simon Peter got into the boat and hauled the net ashore full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three of them; and yet, although there were so many, the net had not been torn. 043 JOH 021 012 “Come and have breakfast.”, Jesus said. None of the disciples dared ask him who he was, because they knew it was the Master. 043 JOH 021 013 Jesus went and took the bread and gave it to them, and the fish too. 043 JOH 021 014 This was the third time that Jesus showed himself to the disciples after he had risen from the dead. 043 JOH 021 015 When breakfast was over, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than the others?” “Yes, Master,” he answered, “you know that I am your friend.” “Feed my lambs,” said Jesus. 043 JOH 021 016 Then, a second time, Jesus asked, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Master,” he answered, “you know that I am your friend.” “Tend my sheep,” said Jesus. 043 JOH 021 017 The third time, Jesus said to him, “Simon, son of John, are you my friend?” Peter was hurt at his third question being ‘Are you my friend?’; and exclaimed, “Master, you know everything! You can tell that I am your friend.” “Feed my sheep,” said Jesus. 043 JOH 021 018 “In truth I tell you,” he continued, “when you were young, you used to put on your own clothes, and walk wherever you wished; but, when you have grown old, you will have to stretch out your hands, while someone else puts on your clothes, and takes you where you do not wish.” 043 JOH 021 019 Jesus said this to show the death by which Peter was to honor God, and then he added, “Follow me.” 043 JOH 021 020 Peter turned around, and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following – the one who at the supper leant back on the Master’s shoulder, and asked him who it was who would betray him. 043 JOH 021 021 Seeing him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, what about this man?” 043 JOH 021 022 “If it is my will that he should wait until I come,” answered Jesus, “what has that to do with you? Follow me yourself.” 043 JOH 021 023 So the report spread among his followers that that disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say that he was not to die, but said “If it is my will that he should wait until I come, what has that to do with you?” 043 JOH 021 024 It is this disciple who states these things, and who recorded them; and we know that his statement is true. 043 JOH 021 025 There are many other things which Jesus did; but, if every one of them were to be recorded in detail, I suppose that even the world itself would not hold the books that would be written. # # BOOK 044 ACT Acts Acts 044 ACT 001 001 The first account which I drew up, Theophilus, dealt with all that Jesus did and taught from the very first, 044 ACT 001 002 down to that day on which he was taken up to heaven, after he had, by the help of the Holy Spirit, given instructions to the apostles whom he had chosen. 044 ACT 001 003 With abundant proofs, he showed himself to them, still living, after his death; appearing to them from time to time during forty days, and speaking of all that related to the kingdom of God. 044 ACT 001 004 And once, when he had gathered them together, he charged them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the fulfillment of the Father’s promise – “that promise,” he said, “of which you have heard me speak; 044 ACT 001 005 for, while John baptized with water, you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit before many days have passed.” 044 ACT 001 006 So, when the apostles had met together, they asked Jesus this question – “Master, is this the time when you intend to re-establish the kingdom for Israel?” 044 ACT 001 007 His answer was, “It is not for you to know times or hours, for the Father has reserved these for his own decision; 044 ACT 001 008 but you will receive power, when the Holy Spirit will have descended on you, and will be witnesses for me not only in Jerusalem, but throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 044 ACT 001 009 No sooner had Jesus said this than he was caught up before their eyes, and a cloud received him from their sight. 044 ACT 001 010 While they were still gazing up into the heavens, as he went, suddenly two men, clothed in white, stood beside them, 044 ACT 001 011 and said, “People of Galilee, why are you standing here looking up into the heavens? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into the heavens, will come in the same way in which you have seen him go into the heavens.” 044 ACT 001 012 Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called Olivet, which is about three quarters of a mile from the city. 044 ACT 001 013 When they reached Jerusalem, they went to the upstairs room, where they were staying. There were there Peter, John, James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James. 044 ACT 001 014 They all united in devoting themselves to prayer, and so did some women, and Mary, the mother of Jesus, and his brothers. 044 ACT 001 015 About this time, at a meeting of the Lord’s followers, when there were about a hundred and twenty present, Peter rose to speak. 044 ACT 001 016 “Friends,” he said, “it was necessary that the prediction of scripture should be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit made by the lips of David about Judas, who acted as guide to the men who arrested Jesus, 044 ACT 001 017 for he was one of our number and had his part allotted him in this work of ours.” 044 ACT 001 018 (This man had bought a piece of land with the price of his treachery; and, falling heavily, his body had burst open, and all his bowels protruded. 044 ACT 001 019 This became known to everyone living in Jerusalem, so that the field came to be called, in their language, ‘Akeldama,’ which means the ‘Field of Blood.’) 044 ACT 001 020 “For in the book of Psalms,” Peter continued, “it is said – ‘Let his home become desolate, and let no one live in it’; and also – ‘His office let another take.’ 044 ACT 001 021 Therefore, from among the men who have been with us all the time that Jesus, our Master, went in and out among us – 044 ACT 001 022 from his baptism by John down to that day on which he was taken from us – someone must be found to join us as a witness of his resurrection.” 044 ACT 001 023 So they put forward two men, Joseph called Barsabbas, whose other name was Justus, and Matthias; 044 ACT 001 024 and they offered this prayer – “Lord, who reads all hearts, show which of these two men you have chosen 044 ACT 001 025 to take the place in this apostolic work, which Judas has abandoned, to go to his proper place.” 044 ACT 001 026 Then they drew lots between them; and, the lot having fallen to Matthias, he was added to the number of the eleven apostles. 044 ACT 002 001 In the course of the Festival at the close of the Harvest the disciples had all met together, 044 ACT 002 002 when suddenly there came from the heavens a noise like a strong wind rushing by; it filled the whole house in which they were sitting. 044 ACT 002 003 Then there appeared tongues of what seemed to be flame, separating, so that one settled on each of them; 044 ACT 002 004 and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in different languages as the Spirit prompted their utterances. 044 ACT 002 005 Now there were then staying in Jerusalem religious Jews from every country in the world; 044 ACT 002 006 and, when this sound was heard, numbers of people collected, in the greatest excitement, because each of them heard the disciples speaking in his own language. 044 ACT 002 007 They were utterly amazed, and kept asking in astonishment, “What! Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans? 044 ACT 002 008 Then how is it that we each of us hear them in our own language? 044 ACT 002 009 Some of us are Parthians, some Medes, some Elamites; and some of us live in Mesopotamia, in Judea and Cappadocia, in Pontus and Roman Asia, 044 ACT 002 010 in Phrygia and Pamphylia, in Egypt and the districts of Libya adjoining Cyrene; some of us are visitors from Rome, 044 ACT 002 011 either Jews by birth or converts, and some are Cretans and Arabians – yet we all alike hear them speaking in our own languages of the great things that God has done.” 044 ACT 002 012 They were all utterly amazed and bewildered. “What does it mean?” they asked one another. 044 ACT 002 013 But there were some who said with a sneer, “They have had too much new wine.” 044 ACT 002 014 Then Peter, surrounded by the eleven other apostles, stood up, and, raising his voice, addressed the crowd. “People of Judea,” he began, “and all you who are staying in Jerusalem, let me tell you what this means. Mark well my words. 044 ACT 002 015 These people are not drunk, as you suppose; for it is only now nine in the morning! No! 044 ACT 002 016 This is what is spoken of in the prophet Joel – 044 ACT 002 017 ‘It will come about in the last days,’ God says, ‘That I will pour out my Spirit on all humanity; your sons and your daughters will become prophets, your young men will see visions, and your old men dream dreams; 044 ACT 002 018 yes, even on the slaves – for they are mine – both men and women, I will in those days pour out my Spirit, and they will become prophets; 044 ACT 002 019 and I will show wonders in the heavens above, and signs on the earth below – blood and fire and mist of smoke; 044 ACT 002 020 the sun will become darkness, and the moon blood-red, before the day of the Lord comes – that great and awful day. 044 ACT 002 021 Then will everyone who invokes the name of the Lord be saved.’ 044 ACT 002 022 People of Israel, listen to what I am saying. Jesus of Nazareth, a man whose mission from God to you was proved by miracles, wonders, and signs, which God showed among you through him, as you know full well – 044 ACT 002 023 he, I say, in accordance with God’s definite plan and with his previous knowledge, was betrayed, and you, by the hands of lawless men, nailed him to a cross and put him to death. 044 ACT 002 024 But God released him from the pangs of death and raised him to life, it being impossible for death to retain its hold on him. 044 ACT 002 025 Indeed he was the one David was referring to when he said – ‘I have had the Lord ever before my eyes, for he stands at my right hand, so that I should not be disquieted. 044 ACT 002 026 Therefore my heart was cheered, and my tongue told its delight; yes, even my body, too, will rest in hope; 044 ACT 002 027 For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, nor surrender me, your holy one, to undergo corruption. (Hadēs g86) 044 ACT 002 028 You have shown me the path to life, you will fill me with gladness in your presence.’ 044 ACT 002 029 Friends, I can speak to you the more confidently about the patriarch David, because he is dead and buried, and his tomb is here among us to this very day. 044 ACT 002 030 David, then, prophet as he was, knowing that God had solemnly sworn to him to set one of his descendants on his throne, looked into the future, 044 ACT 002 031 and referred to the resurrection of the Christ when he said that he had not been abandoned to Hades, nor had his body undergone corruption. (Hadēs g86) 044 ACT 002 032 It was this Jesus, whom God raised to life; and of that we are ourselves all witnesses. 044 ACT 002 033 And now that he has been exalted to the right hand of God, and has received from the Father the promised gift of the Holy Spirit, he has begun to pour out that gift, as you yourselves now see and hear. 044 ACT 002 034 It was not David who went up into heaven; for he himself says – ‘The Lord said to my master, “Sit on my right hand, 044 ACT 002 035 Until I put your enemies as a footstool under your feet.”’ 044 ACT 002 036 So let the whole nation of Israel know beyond all doubt, that God has made him both Lord and Christ – this Jesus whom you crucified.” 044 ACT 002 037 When the people heard this, they were conscience-smitten, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Friends, what can we do?” 044 ACT 002 038 “Repent,” answered Peter, “and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 044 ACT 002 039 For the promise is for you and for your children, and also for all those now far away, who may be called by the Lord our God.” 044 ACT 002 040 Peter spoke to them for a long time using many other arguments and pleaded with them – “Save yourselves from the perverse spirit of this age.” 044 ACT 002 041 So those who accepted his teaching were baptized, and about three thousand people joined the disciples on that day alone. 044 ACT 002 042 They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the Common life of the church, to the breaking of the bread and to the Prayers. 044 ACT 002 043 A deep impression was made on everyone, and many wonders and signs were done at the hands of the apostles. 044 ACT 002 044 All who became believers in Christ held everything for the common use; 044 ACT 002 045 they sold their property and their goods, and shared the proceeds among them all, according to their individual needs. 044 ACT 002 046 Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the Temple Courts, and to the breaking of bread at their homes, while they partook of their food in simple-hearted gladness, praising God, and winning the goodwill of all the people. 044 ACT 002 047 And the Lord daily added to their company those who were in the path of salvation. 044 ACT 003 001 One day, as Peter and John were going up into the Temple Courts for the three o’clock Prayers, 044 ACT 003 002 a man, who had been lame from his birth, was being carried by. This man used to be set down every day at the gate of the Temple called ‘the Beautiful Gate,’ to beg of those who went in. 044 ACT 003 003 Seeing Peter and John on the point of entering, he asked them to give him something. 044 ACT 003 004 Peter fixed his eyes on him, and so did John, and then Peter said, “Look at us.” 044 ACT 003 005 The man was all attention, expecting to get something from them; 044 ACT 003 006 but Peter added, “I have no gold or silver, but I give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk.” 044 ACT 003 007 Grasping the lame man by the right hand, Peter lifted him up. Instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong, 044 ACT 003 008 and, leaping up, he stood and began to walk about, and then went with them into the Temple Courts, walking, and leaping, and praising God. 044 ACT 003 009 All the people saw him walking about and praising God; 044 ACT 003 010 and, when they recognized him as the man who used to sit begging at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple, they were utterly astonished and amazed at what had happened to him. 044 ACT 003 011 While the man still clung to Peter and John, the people all quickly gathered around them in the Colonnade named after Solomon, in the greatest astonishment. 044 ACT 003 012 On seeing this, Peter said to the people, “People of Israel, why are you surprised at this? And why do you stare at us, as though we, by any power or piety of our own, had enabled this man to walk? 044 ACT 003 013 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our ancestors, has done honor to his servant Jesus – him whom you gave up and disowned before Pilate, when he had decided to set him free. 044 ACT 003 014 You, I say, disowned the holy and righteous one, and asked for the release of a murderer! 044 ACT 003 015 The guide to life you put to death! But God raised him from the dead – and of that we are ourselves witnesses. 044 ACT 003 016 And it is by faith in the name of Jesus, that this man, whom you all see and know, has – by his name – been made strong. Yes, it is the faith inspired by Jesus that has made this complete cure of the man, before the eyes of you all. 044 ACT 003 017 And yet, my friends, I know that you acted as you did from ignorance, and your rulers also. 044 ACT 003 018 But it was in this way that God fulfilled all that he had long ago foretold, as to the sufferings of his Christ, by the lips of all the prophets. 044 ACT 003 019 Therefore, repent and turn so that your sins may be wiped away; so that happier times may come from the Lord himself, 044 ACT 003 020 and so that he may send you, in Jesus, your long-appointed Christ. 044 ACT 003 021 But heaven must be his home, until the days of the Universal Restoration, of which God has spoken by the lips of his holy prophets from the very first. (aiōn g165) 044 ACT 003 022 Moses himself said – ‘The Lord your God will raise up from among yourselves a prophet, as he raised me. To him you will listen whenever he speaks to you. 044 ACT 003 023 And it will be that should anyone among the people not listen to that prophet, he will be utterly destroyed.’ 044 ACT 003 024 Yes, and all the prophets from Samuel onwards, and all their successors who had a message to deliver, told of these days. 044 ACT 003 025 You yourselves are the heirs of the prophets, and heirs, too, of the covenant which God made with your ancestors, when he said to Abraham – ‘In your descendants will all the nations of the earth be blessed.’ 044 ACT 003 026 For you, first, God raised up his servant, and sent him to bless you, by turning each one of you from his wicked ways.” 044 ACT 004 001 While Peter and John were still speaking to the people, the chief priest, with the officer in charge at the Temple and the Sadducees, came up to them, 044 ACT 004 002 much annoyed because they were teaching the people, and because, through Jesus, they were preaching the resurrection from the dead. 044 ACT 004 003 They arrested the apostles and, as it was already evening, had them placed in custody until the next day. 044 ACT 004 004 Many, however, of those who had heard the apostles’ message became believers in Christ, the number of the men alone amounting to about five thousand. 044 ACT 004 005 The next day, a meeting of the leaders of the people, the elders, and the teachers of the Law was held in Jerusalem. 044 ACT 004 006 There were present Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and all who were of High-Priestly rank. 044 ACT 004 007 They had Peter and John brought before them, and questioned them. “By what power,” they asked, “Or in whose name have men like you done this thing?” 044 ACT 004 008 Then, Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said, “Leaders of the people and elders, 044 ACT 004 009 since we are on our trial today for a kind act done to a helpless man, and are asked in what way the man here before you has been cured, 044 ACT 004 010 let me tell you all and all the people of Israel, that it is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified and whom God raised from the dead – it is, I say, by his name that this man stands here before you lame no longer. 044 ACT 004 011 Jesus is ‘the stone which, scorned by you the builders, has yet become the corner stone.’ 044 ACT 004 012 And salvation is in him alone; for there is no other name in the whole world, given to people, to which we must look for our salvation.” 044 ACT 004 013 When the Council saw how boldly Peter and John spoke, and found that they were uneducated men of humble station, they were surprised, and realized that they had been companions of Jesus. 044 ACT 004 014 But, when they looked at the man who had been healed, standing there with them, they had nothing to say. 044 ACT 004 015 So they ordered them out of court, and then began consulting together. 044 ACT 004 016 “What are we to do to these men?” they asked one another. “That a remarkable sign has been given through them is obvious to everyone living in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 044 ACT 004 017 But, to prevent this thing from spreading further among the people, let us warn them not to speak in this name any more to anyone whatever.” 044 ACT 004 018 So they called the apostles in, and ordered them not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. 044 ACT 004 019 But Peter and John replied, “Whether it is right, in the sight of God, to listen to you rather than to him – judge for yourselves, 044 ACT 004 020 for we cannot help speaking of what we have seen and heard.” 044 ACT 004 021 However, after further warnings, the Council set them at liberty, not seeing any safe way of punishing them, because of the people, for they were all praising God for what had occurred; 044 ACT 004 022 for the man who was the subject of this miraculous cure was more than forty years old. 044 ACT 004 023 After they had been set at liberty, the apostles went to their friends and told them what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 044 ACT 004 024 All who heard their story, moved by a common impulse, raised their voices to God in prayer: “Sovereign Lord, it is you who has made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything that is in them, 044 ACT 004 025 and who, by the lips of our ancestor, your servant David, who spoke under the influence of the Holy Spirit, have said – ‘Why did the nations rage, and the peoples form vain designs? 044 ACT 004 026 The kings of the earth set their array, and its rulers gathered together, against the Lord and against his Christ.’ 044 ACT 004 027 There have indeed gathered together in this city against your holy servant Jesus, whom you has consecrated the Christ, not Herod and Pontius Pilate only, but the nations and the people of Israel besides – 044 ACT 004 028 yet only to do what you, by your power and of your own will, did long ago destine to be done. 044 ACT 004 029 Now, therefore, Lord, mark their threats, and enable your servants, with all fearlessness, to tell your message, 044 ACT 004 030 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and cause signs and wonders to take place through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 044 ACT 004 031 When their prayer was ended, the place in which they were assembled was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to tell God’s message fearlessly. 044 ACT 004 032 The whole body of those who had become believers in Christ were of one heart and mind. Not one of them claimed any of his goods as his own, but everything was held for the common use. 044 ACT 004 033 The apostles continued with great power to bear their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s blessing rested on them all abundantly. 044 ACT 004 034 Nor was there anyone in need among them, for all who were owners of land or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the sales 044 ACT 004 035 and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and then everyone received a share in proportion to his wants. 044 ACT 004 036 A Levite of Cyprian birth, named Joseph, (who had received from the apostles the additional name of ‘Barnabas’ – which means ‘The Consoler,’) 044 ACT 004 037 Sold a farm that belonged to him, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 044 ACT 005 001 There was, however, a man named Ananias, who, with his wife Sapphira, sold some property, 044 ACT 005 002 and, with her connivance, kept back some of the proceeds. He brought only a part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 044 ACT 005 003 “Ananias,” Peter exclaimed, “how is it that Satan has so taken possession of your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit, and kept back a part of the money paid for the land? 044 ACT 005 004 While it was unsold, was not it your own? And after it was sold, was not the money at your own disposal? How did you come to think of such a thing? You have lied, not to people, but to God!” 044 ACT 005 005 As Ananias heard these words, he fell down and expired; and everyone who heard of it was appalled. 044 ACT 005 006 The young men got up, and, winding the body in a sheet, carried it out and buried it. 044 ACT 005 007 After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 044 ACT 005 008 “Is it true,” Peter asked, addressing her, “that you sold your land for such a sum?” “Yes,” she answered, “we did.” 044 ACT 005 009 Then Peter said, “How did you come to agree to provoke the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The footsteps of those who have buried your husband are at the door; and they will carry you out too.” 044 ACT 005 010 Instantly Sapphira fell down at Peter’s feet and expired. On coming in, the young men found her dead; so they carried her out and buried her by her husband’s side. 044 ACT 005 011 The whole church and all who heard of these events were appalled. 044 ACT 005 012 Many signs and wonders continued to occur among the people, through the instrumentality of the apostles, whose custom it was to meet all together in the Colonnade of Solomon; 044 ACT 005 013 but of the rest no one ventured to join them. On the other hand, the people were full of their praise, 044 ACT 005 014 and still larger numbers, both of men and women, as they became believers in the Lord, were added to their number. 044 ACT 005 015 The consequence was that people would bring out their sick even into the streets, and lay them on mattresses and mats, in the hope that, as Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on someone of them. 044 ACT 005 016 Besides this, the inhabitants of the towns around Jerusalem flocked into the city, bringing with them their sick and those who were troubled by foul spirits; and they were cured everyone. 044 ACT 005 017 At this the high priest was roused to action, and he and all his supporters (who formed the party of the Sadducees), moved by jealousy, 044 ACT 005 018 arrested the apostles, and had them placed in custody. 044 ACT 005 019 An angel of the Lord, however, opened the prison doors at night and led them out. 044 ACT 005 020 “Go,” he said, “and stand in the Temple Courts, and tell the people the whole message of this new life.” 044 ACT 005 021 When they heard this, they went at daybreak into the Temple Courts, and began to teach. The high priest and his party, on their arrival, summoned the High Council, including all the leaders of the people among the Israelites, and sent to the jail to fetch the apostles. 044 ACT 005 022 But, when the officers got there, they did not find them in the prison; so they returned and reported that, 044 ACT 005 023 while they had found the goal barred securely and the guards posted at the doors, yet, on opening them, they had not found anyone inside. 044 ACT 005 024 When the officer in charge at the Temple and the chief priests heard their story, they were perplexed about the apostles and as to what all this would lead to. 044 ACT 005 025 Presently, however, someone came and told them, that the men whom they had put in prison were actually standing in the Temple Courts, teaching the people. 044 ACT 005 026 Then, the officer went with his men and fetched the apostles – without using violence, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people – 044 ACT 005 027 and then brought them before the Council. The high priest demanded an explanation from them. 044 ACT 005 028 “We gave you strict orders,” he said, “not to teach in this name. Yet you have actually flooded Jerusalem with your teaching, and you want to make us responsible for the death of this man.” 044 ACT 005 029 To this Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than people. 044 ACT 005 030 The God of our ancestors raised Jesus, whom you put to death by hanging him on a cross. 044 ACT 005 031 It is this Jesus whom God has exalted to his right hand, to be a guide and a Savior, to give Israel repentance and forgiveness of sins. 044 ACT 005 032 And we are witness to the truth of this, and so is the Holy Spirit – the gift of God to those who obey him.” 044 ACT 005 033 The members of the Council became frantic with rage on hearing this, and were for putting the apostles to death. 044 ACT 005 034 But Gamaliel, a Pharisee, who was a Doctor of the Law and who was held in universal respect, rose in the Council, and directed that the men should be taken out of court for a little while. 044 ACT 005 035 He then said, “People of Israel, take care as to what you intend to do with these men. 044 ACT 005 036 For not long ago Theudas appeared, professing to be somebody, and was joined by a body of some four hundred men. But he was killed; and all his followers scattered and dwindled away. 044 ACT 005 037 After him, Judas the Galilean appeared at the time of the census, and induced people to follow him; yet he, too, perished and all his followers were dispersed. 044 ACT 005 038 And, in this present case, my advice to you is not to interfere with these men, but to leave them alone, for, if their designs and their work are merely of human origin, they will come to an end; 044 ACT 005 039 but, if they are of divine origin, you will be powerless to put an end to them – or else you may find yourselves fighting against God!” 044 ACT 005 040 The Council followed his advice, and, calling the apostles in, had them flogged, and then, after cautioning them not to speak in the name of Jesus, set them free. 044 ACT 005 041 But the apostles left the Council, rejoicing that they had been thought worthy to suffer disgrace for that name; 044 ACT 005 042 and never for a single day, either in the Temple Courts or in private houses, did they cease to teach, or to tell the good news of Jesus, the Christ. 044 ACT 006 001 About this time, when the number of the disciples was constantly increasing, complaints were made by the Greek speaking Jews against the Aramaic speaking Jews, that their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution. 044 ACT 006 002 The Twelve, therefore, called together the general body of the disciples and said to them, “It is not well for us to see to the distribution at the tables and neglect God’s message. 044 ACT 006 003 Therefore, friends, look for seven men of reputation among yourselves, wise and spiritually-minded men, and we will appoint them to attend to this matter; 044 ACT 006 004 while we, for our part, will devote ourselves to prayer, and to the delivery of the message.” 044 ACT 006 005 This proposal was unanimously agreed to; and the disciples chose Stephen – a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit – and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas of Antioch, a former convert to Judaism; 044 ACT 006 006 and they brought these men to the apostles, who, after praying, placed their hands on them. 044 ACT 006 007 So God’s message spread, and the number of the disciples continued to increase rapidly in Jerusalem, and a large body of the priests accepted the faith. 044 ACT 006 008 Meanwhile Stephen, divinely helped and strengthened, was showing great wonders and signs among the people. 044 ACT 006 009 But some members of the Synagogue of the Freed Slaves (as it was called), Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and Visitors from Cilicia and Roman Asia, were roused to action and began disputing with Stephen; 044 ACT 006 010 yet they were quite unable to withstand the wisdom and the inspiration with which he spoke. 044 ACT 006 011 Then they induced some men to assert that they had heard Stephen saying blasphemous things against Moses, and against God; 044 ACT 006 012 and they stirred up the people, as well as the elders and the teachers of the Law, and set on Stephen, and arrested him, and brought him before the High Council. 044 ACT 006 013 There they produced witnesses who gave false evidence. “This man,” they said, “is incessantly saying things against this holy place and the Law; 044 ACT 006 014 indeed, we have heard him declare that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place, and change the customs handed down to us by Moses.” 044 ACT 006 015 The eyes of all the members of the Council were riveted on Stephen, and they saw his face looking like the face of an angel. 044 ACT 007 001 Then the high priest asked, “Is this true?” 044 ACT 007 002 Stephen replied, “Brothers and fathers, hear what I have to say. God, who manifests himself in the glory, appeared to our ancestor Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, and before he settled in Haran, and said to him – 044 ACT 007 003 ‘Leave your country and your people, and come into the country that I will show you.’ 044 ACT 007 004 And so Abraham left the country of the Chaldaeans and settled in Haran; and from there, after his father’s death, God caused him to migrate into this country, in which you are now living. 044 ACT 007 005 God did not at that time give him any part of it, not even a foot of ground. But he promised to give him possession of it and his descendants after him, though at that time he had no child. 044 ACT 007 006 God’s words were these – ‘Abraham’s descendants will live in a foreign country, where they will be enslaved and ill-treated for four hundred years. 044 ACT 007 007 But I myself will judge the nation, to which they will be enslaved,’ God said, ‘and after that they will leave the country and worship me in this place.’ 044 ACT 007 008 Then God made with Abraham the covenant of circumcision; and under it Abraham became the father of Isaac, and circumcised him when he was eight days old; and Isaac became the father of Jacob; and Jacob of the Twelve Patriarchs. 044 ACT 007 009 The Patriarchs, out of jealousy, sold Joseph into slavery in Egypt; but God was with him, 044 ACT 007 010 and delivered him out of all his troubles, and enabled him to win favor and show wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who appointed him Governor of Egypt and of his whole household. 044 ACT 007 011 Then a famine spread over the whole of Egypt and Canaan, causing great distress, and our ancestors could find no food. 044 ACT 007 012 Hearing, however, that there was corn in Egypt, Jacob sent our ancestors there on their first visit. 044 ACT 007 013 In the course of their second visit, Joseph revealed himself to his brothers, and his family became known to Pharaoh. 044 ACT 007 014 Then Joseph sent an urgent invitation to his father Jacob and to his relatives, seventy-five persons in all; 044 ACT 007 015 and so Jacob went down into Egypt. There he died, and our ancestors also, 044 ACT 007 016 and their bodies were removed to Shechem, and laid in the tomb which Abraham had bought for a sum of money from the sons of Hamor in Shechem. 044 ACT 007 017 As the time drew near for the fulfillment of the promise which God had made to Abraham, the people increased largely in numbers in Egypt, 044 ACT 007 018 until a new king, who knew nothing of Joseph, came to the throne. 044 ACT 007 019 This king acted deceitfully towards our people and ill-treated our ancestors, making them abandon their own infants, so that they should not be reared. 044 ACT 007 020 It was just at this time that Moses was born. He was an exceedingly beautiful child, and for three months was brought up in his own father’s house; 044 ACT 007 021 and, when he was abandoned, the daughter of Pharaoh found him and brought him up as her own son. 044 ACT 007 022 So Moses was educated in all the learning of the Egyptians, and proved his ability both by his words and actions. 044 ACT 007 023 When he was in his fortieth year, he resolved to visit his fellow Israelites; 044 ACT 007 024 and, seeing an Israelite ill-treated, he defended him, and avenged the man, who was being wronged, by striking down the Egyptian. 044 ACT 007 025 He thought his own people would understand that God was using him to save them; but they failed to do so. 044 ACT 007 026 The next day he again appeared on the scene, when some of them were fighting, and tried to make peace between them. ‘Men,’ he said, ‘you are brothers; how is it that you are ill-treating one another?’ 044 ACT 007 027 But the man who was ill-treating his fellow workman pushed Moses aside saying – ‘Who made you a ruler and judge over us? 044 ACT 007 028 Do you mean to make away with me as you did yesterday with that Egyptian?’ 044 ACT 007 029 At these words Moses took to flight, and became an exile in Midian; and there he had two sons born to him. 044 ACT 007 030 Forty years had passed when there appeared to him, in the desert of Mount Sinai, an angel in a flame of fire in a bush. 044 ACT 007 031 When Moses saw it, he was astonished at the vision; but on his going nearer to look at it more closely, the voice of the Lord was heard to say – 044 ACT 007 032 ‘I am the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.’ Moses trembled, and did not dare to look. 044 ACT 007 033 Then the Lord said to him – ‘Take your sandals off your feet, for the spot where you are standing is holy ground. 044 ACT 007 034 I have seen the oppression of my people who are in Egypt, and heard their groans, and I have come down to deliver them. Come now and I will send you into Egypt.’ 044 ACT 007 035 This same Moses, whom they had disowned with the words – ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’ was the man whom God sent to be both a ruler and a deliverer, under the guidance of the angel that had appeared to him in the bush. 044 ACT 007 036 He it was who led them out, after he had shown wonders and signs in Egypt, in the Red Sea, and in the desert during forty years. 044 ACT 007 037 This was the Moses who said to the people of Israel – ‘God will raise up for you, from among yourselves, a prophet, as he raised up me.’ 044 ACT 007 038 He, too, it was who was present at the assembly in the desert, with the angel who talked to him on Mount Sinai, and with our ancestors, and who received living truths to impart to you. 044 ACT 007 039 Yet our ancestors refused him obedience; more than that, they rejected him, and in their hearts turned back to Egypt, 044 ACT 007 040 while they said to Aaron – ‘Make us Gods who will lead the way for us, since, as for this Moses who has brought us out of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ 044 ACT 007 041 That was the time when they made the calf and offered sacrifice to their idol, and held festivities in honor of their own handiwork! 044 ACT 007 042 So God turned from them and left them to the worship of the Starry Host, as is written in the book of the prophets – ‘Did you offer victims and sacrifices to me, house of Israel, all those forty years in the desert? 044 ACT 007 043 You took with you the tent where Moloch is worshiped and the star of the god Rephan – the images which you had made to worship. Therefore I will exile you beyond Babylon.’ 044 ACT 007 044 Our ancestors had the tent where they worshiped God in the desert, constructed, just as he who spoke to Moses had directed him to make it, after the model which he had seen. 044 ACT 007 045 This tent, which was handed down to them, was brought into this country by our ancestors who accompanied Joshua (at the conquest of the nations that God drove out before their advance), and remained here until the time of David. 044 ACT 007 046 David found favor with God, and prayed that he might provide the God of Jacob with a place to reside. 044 ACT 007 047 But it was Solomon who built a house for God. 044 ACT 007 048 Yet it is not in buildings made by hands that the Most High dwells. As the prophet says – 044 ACT 007 049 ‘The heavens are a throne for me, and the earth a stool for my feet. What manner of house will you build me, asks the Lord, or what place is there where I may rest? 044 ACT 007 050 Was it not my hand that made all these things?’ 044 ACT 007 051 Stubborn people, heathen in heart and ears, you are for ever resisting the Holy Spirit; your ancestors did it, and you are doing it still. 044 ACT 007 052 Which of the prophets escaped persecution at their hands? They killed those who foretold the coming of the righteous one; of whom you, in your turn, have now become the betrayers and murderers – 044 ACT 007 053 you who received the Law as transmitted by angels and yet failed to keep it.” 044 ACT 007 054 As they listened to this, the Council grew frantic with rage, and gnashed their teeth at Stephen. 044 ACT 007 055 He, filled as he was with the Holy Spirit, fixed his eyes intently on the heavens, and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at God’s right hand. 044 ACT 007 056 “Look,” he exclaimed, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at God’s right hand!” 044 ACT 007 057 At this, with a loud shout, they stopped their ears and all rushed on him, forced him outside the city, 044 ACT 007 058 and began to stone him, the witnesses laying their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. 044 ACT 007 059 And they stoned Stephen, while he cried to the Lord, “Lord Jesus! Receive my spirit!” 044 ACT 007 060 Falling on his knees, he called out loudly, “Lord! Do not charge them with this sin;” and with these words he fell asleep. 044 ACT 008 001 Saul approved of his being put to death. On that very day a great persecution broke out against the church which was in Jerusalem; and its members, with the exception of the apostles, were all scattered over the districts of Judea and Samaria. 044 ACT 008 002 Some religious men buried Stephen, with loud lamentations for him. 044 ACT 008 003 But Saul began to devastate the church; he entered house after house, dragged out men and women alike, and threw them into prison. 044 ACT 008 004 Now those who were scattered in different directions went from place to place proclaiming the good news. 044 ACT 008 005 Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and there began to preach the Christ. 044 ACT 008 006 The people, one and all, listened attentively to what Philip told them, when they heard of, and saw, the miracles which he was working. 044 ACT 008 007 For there were many instances of people with foul spirits, where the spirits, with loud screams, came out of them; and many who were paralyzed or lame were cured, 044 ACT 008 008 so that there was great rejoicing throughout that city. 044 ACT 008 009 There was staying in the city a man named Simon, who had been practicing magic there and mystifying the Samaritan people, giving himself out to be some great being. 044 ACT 008 010 Everyone, high and low, paid attention to him. ‘This man,’ they used to say, ‘must be that power of God which people call “The Great Power.”’ 044 ACT 008 011 And they paid attention to him because they had for a long time been mystified by his magic arts. 044 ACT 008 012 However, when they came to believe Philip, as he told them the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 044 ACT 008 013 Even Simon believed, and after his baptism attached himself to Philip, and was in his turn mystified at seeing signs and great miracles constantly occurring. 044 ACT 008 014 When the apostles at Jerusalem heard that the Samaritans had welcomed God’s message, they sent Peter and John to them; 044 ACT 008 015 and they, on their arrival, prayed that the Samaritans might receive the Holy Spirit. 044 ACT 008 016 (As yet the Spirit had not descended on any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus). 044 ACT 008 017 Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. 044 ACT 008 018 When Simon saw that it was through the placing of the apostles’ hands on them that the Spirit was given, he brought them a sum of money and said, 044 ACT 008 019 “Give me also this power of yours, so that, if I place my hands on anyone, he may receive the Holy Spirit.” 044 ACT 008 020 “A curse on you and on your silver,” Peter exclaimed, “for thinking that God’s free gift can be bought with money! 044 ACT 008 021 You have no share or part in our message, for your heart is not right with God. 044 ACT 008 022 Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord, that, if possible, you may be forgiven for such a thought; 044 ACT 008 023 for I see that you have fallen into the bitterness of envy and the fetters of sin.” 044 ACT 008 024 “Pray to the Lord for me, all of you,” Simon answered, “so that none of the things you have spoken of may happen to me.” 044 ACT 008 025 Peter and John, having borne their testimony and delivered the Lord’s message, returned to Jerusalem, telling the good news, as they went, in many Samaritan villages. 044 ACT 008 026 Meanwhile an angel of the Lord had said to Philip, “Set out on a journey southwards, along the road that runs down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (It is now deserted). 044 ACT 008 027 So Philip set out on a journey; and on his way he came on an official of high rank, in the service of Candace, Queen of the Abyssinians. He was her treasurer, and had been to Jerusalem to worship, 044 ACT 008 028 and was now on his way home, sitting in his carriage and reading the prophet Isaiah. 044 ACT 008 029 The Spirit said to Philip, “Go up to the carriage over there and keep close to it.” 044 ACT 008 030 So Philip ran up, and he heard the Abyssinian reading the prophet Isaiah. “Do you understand what you are reading?” he asked. 044 ACT 008 031 “How can I,” the other answered, “unless someone will explain it to me?” and he invited Philip to get up and sit by his side. 044 ACT 008 032 The passage of scripture which he was reading was this – ‘Like a sheep, he was led away to slaughter, and as a lamb is dumb in the hands of its shearer, so he refrains from opening his lips. 044 ACT 008 033 He was humiliated and justice was denied him. Who will tell the story of his generation? For his life is cut off from earth.’ 044 ACT 008 034 “Now,” said the Treasurer, addressing Philip, “tell me, of whom is the prophet speaking? Of himself, or of someone else?” 044 ACT 008 035 Then Philip began, and, taking this passage as his text, told him the good news about Jesus. 044 ACT 008 036 Presently, as they were going along the road, they came to some water, and the Treasurer exclaimed, “Look! Here is water; what is to prevent my being baptized?” 044 ACT 008 038 So he ordered the carriage to stop, and they went down into the water – both Philip and the Treasurer – and Philip baptized him. 044 ACT 008 039 But, when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, and the Treasurer saw no more of him; for he continued his journey with a joyful heart. 044 ACT 008 040 But Philip was found at Ashdod, and, as he went on his way, he told the good news in all the towns through which he passed, until he came to Caesarea. 044 ACT 009 001 Meanwhile Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, 044 ACT 009 002 and asked him to give him letters to the Jewish congregations at Damascus, authorizing him, if he found there any supporters of the Way, whether men or women, to have them put in chains and brought to Jerusalem. 044 ACT 009 003 While on his journey, as he was nearing Damascus, suddenly a light from the heavens flashed around him. 044 ACT 009 004 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him – “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 044 ACT 009 005 “Who are you, Lord?” he asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” the voice answered; 044 ACT 009 006 “Yet stand up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 044 ACT 009 007 The men traveling with Saul were meanwhile standing speechless; they heard the sound of the voice, but saw no one. 044 ACT 009 008 When Saul got up from the ground, though his eyes were open, he could see nothing. So his men led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus; 044 ACT 009 009 and for three days he was unable to see, and took nothing either to eat or to drink. 044 ACT 009 010 Now there was at Damascus a disciple named Ananias, to whom, in a vision, the Lord said, “Ananias.” “Yes, Lord,” he answered. 044 ACT 009 011 “Go at once,” said the Lord, “to the Straight Street, and ask at Judas’s house for a man named Saul, from Tarsus. He is at this moment praying, 044 ACT 009 012 and he has seen, in a vision, a man named Ananias coming in and placing his hands on him, so that he may recover his sight.” 044 ACT 009 013 “Lord,” exclaimed Ananias, “I have heard from many people about this man – how much harm he has done at Jerusalem to your people there. 044 ACT 009 014 And, here, too, he holds authority from the chief priests to put in chains all those who invoke your name.” 044 ACT 009 015 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is my chosen instrument to uphold my name before the Gentiles and their kings, and the people of Israel. 044 ACT 009 016 I will myself show him all that he has to suffer for my name.” 044 ACT 009 017 So Ananias went, entered the house, and, placing his hands on Saul, said, “Saul, my brother, I have been sent by the Lord – by Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here – so that you may recover your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 044 ACT 009 018 Instantly it seemed as if a film fell from Saul’s eyes, and his sight was restored. Then he got up and was baptized, 044 ACT 009 019 and, after he had taken food, he felt his strength return. Saul stayed for some days with the disciples who were at Damascus, 044 ACT 009 020 and at once began in the synagogues to proclaim Jesus as the Son of God. 044 ACT 009 021 All who heard him were amazed. “Is not this,” they asked, “the man who worked havoc in Jerusalem among those that invoke this name, and who had also come here for the express purpose of having such persons put in chains and taken before the chief priests?” 044 ACT 009 022 Saul’s influence, however, kept steadily increasing, and he confounded the Jewish people who lived in Damascus by the proofs that he gave that Jesus was the Christ. 044 ACT 009 023 After some time some of them laid a plot to kill Saul, 044 ACT 009 024 but it became known to him. They even watched the gates day and night, to kill him; 044 ACT 009 025 but his disciples let him down by night through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket. 044 ACT 009 026 On his arrival in Jerusalem, Saul attempted to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, as they did not believe that he was really a disciple. 044 ACT 009 027 Barnabas, however, taking him by the hand, brought him to the apostles, and told them the whole story of how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord, and how the Lord had talked to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken out fearlessly in the name of Jesus. 044 ACT 009 028 After that, Saul remained in Jerusalem, in close contact with the apostles; and he spoke fearlessly in the name of the Lord, 044 ACT 009 029 talking and arguing with the Jews of foreign birth, who, however, made attempts to kill him. 044 ACT 009 030 But, when the followers found this out, they took him down to Caesarea, and sent him on his way to Tarsus. 044 ACT 009 031 And so it came about that the church, throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, enjoyed peace and became firmly established; and, ordering its life by respect for the Lord and the help of the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers. 044 ACT 009 032 Peter, while traveling from place to place throughout the country, went down to visit the people of Christ living at Lydda. 044 ACT 009 033 There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years with paralysis. 044 ACT 009 034 “Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ cures you. Get up, and make your bed.” Aeneas got up at once; 044 ACT 009 035 and all the inhabitants of Lydda and of the Plain of Sharon saw him, and came over to the Lord’s side. 044 ACT 009 036 At Joppa there lived a disciple whose name was Tabitha, which is in Greek ‘Dorcas’ – a Gazelle. Her life was spent in doing kind and charitable actions. 044 ACT 009 037 Just at that time she was taken ill, and died; and they had washed her body and laid it out in an upstairs room. 044 ACT 009 038 Joppa was near Lydda, and the disciples, having heard that Peter was at Lydda, sent two men with the request that he come to them without delay. 044 ACT 009 039 Peter returned with them at once. On his arrival, he was taken upstairs, and all the widows came around him in tears, showing the coats and other clothing which Dorcas had made while she was among them. 044 ACT 009 040 But Peter sent everybody out of the room, and knelt down and prayed. Then, turning to the body, he said, “Tabitha! Stand up.” She opened her eyes, and, seeing Peter, sat up. 044 ACT 009 041 Giving her his hand, Peter raised her up, and, calling in the widows and others of Christ’s people, presented her to them alive. 044 ACT 009 042 This became known all through Joppa, and numbers of people came to believe in the Lord. 044 ACT 009 043 And Peter stayed some days at Joppa with a tanner named Simon. 044 ACT 010 001 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in the regiment known as the ‘Italian Regiment,’ 044 ACT 010 002 A religious man and one who reverenced God, with all his household. He was liberal in his charities to the people, and prayed to God constantly. 044 ACT 010 003 One afternoon, about three o’clock, he distinctly saw in a vision an angel from God come to him, and call him by name. 044 ACT 010 004 Cornelius fixed his eyes on him and, in great alarm, said, “What is it, Lord?” “Your prayers and your charities,” the angel answered, “have been an acceptable offering to God. 044 ACT 010 005 And now, send messengers to Joppa and fetch a man called Simon, who is also known as Peter. 044 ACT 010 006 He is lodging with a tanner named Simon, who has a house near the sea.” 044 ACT 010 007 When the angel, who had spoken to him, had gone, Cornelius called two servants and a religious soldier, who was one of his constant attendants, 044 ACT 010 008 and, after telling them the whole story, sent them to Joppa. 044 ACT 010 009 On the next day, while these men were on their way, just as they were nearing the town, Peter went up on the housetop about midday to pray. 044 ACT 010 010 He became hungry and wanted something to eat; but while it was being prepared, he fell into a trance, 044 ACT 010 011 and saw that the heavens were open, and that something like a great sail was descending, let down by its four corners towards the earth. 044 ACT 010 012 In it were all kinds of quadrupeds, reptiles, and birds. 044 ACT 010 013 Then he was aware of a voice which said – “Stand up, Peter, kill something, and eat.” 044 ACT 010 014 “No, Lord, I cannot,” answered Peter, “for I have never eaten anything defiled and unclean.” 044 ACT 010 015 Again he was aware of a voice which said – “What God has pronounced clean, do not regard as defiled.” 044 ACT 010 016 This happened three times, and then suddenly it was all taken up into the heavens. 044 ACT 010 017 While Peter was still perplexed as to the meaning of the vision that he had seen, the men sent by Cornelius, having enquired the way to Simon’s house, came up to the gate, 044 ACT 010 018 and called out and asked if the Simon, who was also known as Peter, was lodging there. 044 ACT 010 019 Peter was still pondering over the vision, when the Spirit said to him, “There are two men looking for you at this moment. 044 ACT 010 020 Go down at once and do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.” 044 ACT 010 021 Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the person you are looking for. What is your reason for coming?” 044 ACT 010 022 The men replied, “Our centurion, Cornelius, a pious man who reverences God and is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, has been instructed by a holy angel to send for you to his house, and to listen to what you have to say.” 044 ACT 010 023 So Peter invited them in and entertained them. The next day he lost no time in setting out with them, accompanied by some of the Lord’s followers from Joppa; 044 ACT 010 024 and the day following he entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them, and had invited his relatives and intimate friends to meet them. 044 ACT 010 025 So, when Peter entered the city, Cornelius met him, and, throwing himself at Peter’s feet, bowed to the ground. 044 ACT 010 026 Peter, however, lifted him up, saying as he did so, “Stand up, I am only human like yourself.” 044 ACT 010 027 Talking with him as he went, Peter entered the house, where he found a large gathering of people, to whom he said, 044 ACT 010 028 “You are doubtless aware that it is forbidden for a Jew to be intimate with a foreigner, or even to enter his house; and yet God has shown me that I ought not to call anyone defiled or unclean. 044 ACT 010 029 That was why I came, when I was sent for, without raising any objection. And now I ask your reason for sending for me.” 044 ACT 010 030 “Just three days ago this very hour,” Cornelius said, “I was in my house, saying the Afternoon Prayers, when a man in dazzling clothing suddenly stood before me. 044 ACT 010 031 ‘Cornelius,’ he said, ‘your prayer has been heard, and your charities have been accepted, by God. 044 ACT 010 032 Therefore send to Joppa, and invite the Simon, who is also known as Peter, to come here. He is lodging in the house of Simon the tanner, near the sea.’ 044 ACT 010 033 Accordingly I sent to you at once, and you have been so good as to come. And now we are all here in the presence of God, to listen to all that you have been instructed by the Lord to say.” 044 ACT 010 034 Then Peter began. “I see, beyond all doubt,” he said, “that God does not show partiality, 044 ACT 010 035 but that in every nation he who reverences him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 044 ACT 010 036 God has sent his message to the Israelites and told them, through Jesus Christ, the good news of peace – and Jesus is Lord of all! 044 ACT 010 037 You yourselves know the story which spread through all Judea, how, beginning form Galilee, after the baptism which John proclaimed – 044 ACT 010 038 the story, I mean, of Jesus of Nazareth, and how God consecrated him his Christ by enduing him with the Holy Spirit and with power; and how he went about doing good and curing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. 044 ACT 010 039 We are ourselves, too, witnesses to all that he did in Judea and in Jerusalem; yet they put him to death by hanging him on a cross! 044 ACT 010 040 This Jesus God raised on the third day, and enabled him to appear, 044 ACT 010 041 not indeed to everyone, but to witnesses chosen beforehand by God – to us, who ate and drank with him after his resurrection from the dead. 044 ACT 010 042 Further, God charged us to proclaim to the people, and solemnly affirm, that it is Jesus who has been appointed by God judge of the living and the dead. 044 ACT 010 043 To him it is that all the prophets bear witness, when they say that everyone who believes in him receives through his name forgiveness of sins.” 044 ACT 010 044 Before Peter had finished saying these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all who were listening to the message. 044 ACT 010 045 Those converts from Judaism, who had come with Peter, were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been bestowed even on the Gentiles; 044 ACT 010 046 for they heard them speaking in different languages and extolling God. At this Peter asked, 044 ACT 010 047 “Can anyone refuse the water for the baptism of these people, now that they have received the Holy Spirit as we did ourselves?” 044 ACT 010 048 And he directed that they should be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ; after which they asked him to stay there a few days longer. 044 ACT 011 001 The apostles and the followers throughout Judea heard that even the Gentiles had welcomed God’s message. 044 ACT 011 002 But, when Peter went up to Jerusalem, those who were converts from Judaism began to attack him, 044 ACT 011 003 on the ground that he had visited people who were not circumcised, and had taken meals with them. 044 ACT 011 004 So Peter began to relate the facts to them as they had occurred. 044 ACT 011 005 “I was in the town of Joppa,” he said, “and was praying; and, while in a trance, I saw a vision. There was something like a great sail descending, let down by its four corners out of the heavens; and it came right down to me. 044 ACT 011 006 Looking intently at it, I began to distinguish quadrupeds, wild beasts, reptiles, and birds; 044 ACT 011 007 and I also heard a voice saying to me – ‘Stand up, Peter, kill something and eat.’ 044 ACT 011 008 ‘No, Lord, I cannot,’ I answered, ‘for nothing defiled or unclean has ever passed my lips.’ 044 ACT 011 009 Then a second time there came a voice from the heavens. ‘What God has pronounced clean’, it said, ‘you must not call defiled.’ 044 ACT 011 010 This happened three times, and then all was drawn up again into the heavens. 044 ACT 011 011 At that moment three men, who had been sent from Caesarea to see me, came up to the house in which we were. 044 ACT 011 012 The Spirit told me to go with them without hesitation. These six companions also went with me. And, when we came into the man’s house, 044 ACT 011 013 he told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house, and how the angel had said to him – ‘Send to Joppa and fetch the Simon, who is also known as Peter; 044 ACT 011 014 for he will tell you truths, which will prove the means of salvation to you and all your household.’ 044 ACT 011 015 I had but just begun to speak,” continued Peter, “when the Holy Spirit fell on them, exactly as on us at the first; 044 ACT 011 016 and I recalled the saying of the Master – ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 044 ACT 011 017 Since then, God had given them the very same gift as he gave us when we became believers in Jesus Christ the Master – who was I that I could thwart God?” 044 ACT 011 018 On hearing this statement, they said no more, but broke out into praise of God. “So even to the Gentiles,” they exclaimed, “God has granted the repentance which leads to life!” 044 ACT 011 019 Now those who had been scattered in different directions, in consequence of the persecution that followed the death of Stephen, went as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, telling the message – but only to Jews. 044 ACT 011 020 Some of them, however, who were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, on coming to Antioch, addressed themselves also to the Jews of foreign birth, telling them the good news about that Lord Jesus. 044 ACT 011 021 The power of the Lord was with them, so that a great number who had learned to believe came over to the Lord’s side. 044 ACT 011 022 The news about them reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 044 ACT 011 023 On coming there he saw to his great joy these tokens of the loving kindness of God, and encouraged them all to make up their minds to be faithful to the Lord – 044 ACT 011 024 For Barnabas was a good man and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith – and a large number of people took their stand on the Lord’s side. 044 ACT 011 025 Afterward Barnabas left for Tarsus to look for Saul; 044 ACT 011 026 and, when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And so it came about that, for a whole year, they attended the meetings of the church there, and taught a large number of people; and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called ‘Christians.’ 044 ACT 011 027 During this time, some prophets came to Antioch from Jerusalem. 044 ACT 011 028 One of them, named Agabus, came forward and, under the influence of the Spirit, foretold a great famine that was to spread over all the world – a famine which occurred in the reign of Claudius. 044 ACT 011 029 So the disciples, without exception, determined, in proportion to their means, to send something to help the followers living in Judea. 044 ACT 011 030 And this they did, sending it to the church elders by Barnabas and Saul. 044 ACT 012 001 It was at that time that King Herod began to ill-treat some of the members of the church. 044 ACT 012 002 He had James, the brother of John, beheaded; 044 ACT 012 003 and, when he saw that the Jews were pleased with this, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. (This was during the Festival of the unleavened bread.) 044 ACT 012 004 After seizing Peter, Herod put him in prison, and entrusted him to the keeping of four Guards of four soldiers each, intending, after the Passover, to bring him up before the people. 044 ACT 012 005 So Peter was kept in prison, but meanwhile the prayers of the church were being earnestly offered to God on his behalf. 044 ACT 012 006 Just when Herod was intending to bring him before the people, on that very night Peter was asleep between two soldiers, chained to them both, while there were sentries in front of the door, guarding the prison. 044 ACT 012 007 Suddenly an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the cell. The angel struck Peter on the side, and roused him with the words, “Get up quickly.” 044 ACT 012 008 The chains dropped from his wrists, and then the angel said, “Put on your belt and sandals.” When Peter had done so, the angel added, “Throw your cloak around you and follow me.” 044 ACT 012 009 Peter followed him out, not knowing that what was happening under the angel’s guidance was real, but thinking that he was seeing a vision. 044 ACT 012 010 Passing the first Guard, and then the second, they came to the iron gate leading into the city, which opened to them of itself; and, when they had passed through that, and had walked along one street, all at once the angel left him. 044 ACT 012 011 Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know beyond all doubt that the Lord has sent his angel, and has rescued me from Herod’s hands and from all that the Jewish people have been expecting.” 044 ACT 012 012 As soon as he realized what had happened, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was also known as Mark, where a number of people were gathered together, praying. 044 ACT 012 013 On his knocking at the door in the gate, a maidservant, named Rhoda, came to answer it. 044 ACT 012 014 She recognized Peter’s voice, but in her joy left the gate unopened, and ran in, and told them that Peter was standing outside. 044 ACT 012 015 “You are mad!” they exclaimed. But, when she persisted that it was so, they said, “It must be his spirit!” 044 ACT 012 016 Meanwhile Peter went on knocking, and, when they opened the gate and saw him, they were amazed. 044 ACT 012 017 Peter signed to them with his hand to be silent, and then told them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison, adding, “Tell James and the others all this.” Then he left the house, and went away to another place. 044 ACT 012 018 In the morning there was a great stir among the soldiers – what could have become of Peter! 044 ACT 012 019 And, when Herod had made further search for him and failed to find him, he closely questioned the Guard, and ordered them away to execution. Then he went down from Judea to stay at Caesarea. 044 ACT 012 020 It happened that Herod was deeply offended with the people of Tyre and Sidon, but they went in a body to him, and, having succeeded in winning over Blastus, the Chamberlain, they begged Herod for a reconciliation, because their country was dependent on the king’s for its food supply. 044 ACT 012 021 On an appointed day Herod, wearing his state robes, seated himself on his throne, and delivered an oration. 044 ACT 012 022 The people kept shouting, “It is the voice of God, and not of a person!” 044 ACT 012 023 Instantly an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give God the glory; and he was attacked with worms, and died. 044 ACT 012 024 Meanwhile the Lord’s message kept extending, and spreading far and wide. 044 ACT 012 025 When Barnabas and Saul had carried out their mission, they returned to Jerusalem, and took with them John, who was also known as Mark. 044 ACT 013 001 Among the members of the church at Antioch there were several prophets and teachers – Barnabas, Simeon who was known by the name of ‘Black’, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen, foster-brother of Prince Herod, and Saul. 044 ACT 013 002 While they were engaged in the worship of the Lord and were fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul, for the work to which I have called them.” 044 ACT 013 003 Accordingly, after fasting and prayer, they placed their hands on them and dismissed them. 044 ACT 013 004 Barnabas and Saul, sent on this mission, as they were, by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia, and from there sailed to Cyprus. 044 ACT 013 005 On reaching Salamis, they began to tell the message of God in the Jewish synagogues; and they had John with them as an assistant. 044 ACT 013 006 After passing through the whole island, they reached Paphos, where they found an astrologer who pretended to be a prophet – a Jew by birth, whose name was Barjoshua. 044 ACT 013 007 He was at the court of the Governor, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence, who sent for Barnabas and Saul and asked to be told God’s message. 044 ACT 013 008 But Elymas, the astrologer (for that is the meaning of the word), opposed them, eager to divert the Governor’s attention from the faith. 044 ACT 013 009 However, Saul (who is the same as Paul), full of the Holy Spirit, fixed his eyes on him and said, 044 ACT 013 010 “You incarnation of deceit and all fraud! You son of the devil! You opponent of all that is good! Will you never cease to divert the straight paths of the Lord? Listen! 044 ACT 013 011 The hand of the Lord is on you even now, and you will be blind for a time and unable to see the sun.” Immediately a mist and darkness fell on him, and he went feeling about for someone to guide him. 044 ACT 013 012 When the Governor saw what had happened, he became a believer in Christ, being greatly impressed by the teaching about the Lord. 044 ACT 013 013 After this, Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and went to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them and returned to Jerusalem. 044 ACT 013 014 The others went on from Perga and arrived at Antioch in Pisidia. There they went into the synagogue on the Sabbath and took their seats. 044 ACT 013 015 After the reading of the Law and the prophets, the synagogue leader sent them this message – “Friends, if you have any helpful words to address to the people, now is the time to speak.” 044 ACT 013 016 So Paul rose and, motioning with his hand, said: “People of Israel and all here who worship God, hear what I have to say. 044 ACT 013 017 The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors, and during their stay in Egypt increased the prosperity of the people, and then with uplifted arm brought them out from that land. 044 ACT 013 018 For about forty years he bore with them in the desert; 044 ACT 013 019 then, after destroying seven heathen nations in Canaan, he allotted their land to this people – 044 ACT 013 020 For about four hundred and fifty years. In later times he gave them Judges, of whom the prophet Samuel was the last. 044 ACT 013 021 And, when they demanded a king, God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, who reigned for forty years. 044 ACT 013 022 After removing him, he raised David to the throne, and bore this testimony to him – ‘In David, the son of Jesse, I have found a man after my own heart, who will carry out all my purposes.’ 044 ACT 013 023 It was from this man’s descendants that God, in accordance with his promise, gave Israel a Savior – Jesus; 044 ACT 013 024 John having first proclaimed, before the appearance of Jesus, a baptism on repentance for all the people of Israel. 044 ACT 013 025 As John was drawing towards the end of his career, he said ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not the Christ. But there is “one coming” after me, whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.’ 044 ACT 013 026 Brothers and sisters, descendants of Abraham, and all those among you who worship God, it was to us that the message of this salvation was sent. 044 ACT 013 027 The people of Jerusalem and their leaders, failing to recognize Jesus, and not understanding the utterances of the prophets that are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him. 044 ACT 013 028 They found no ground at all for putting him to death, and yet demanded his execution from Pilate; 044 ACT 013 029 and, after carrying out everything written about him, they took Jesus down from the cross, and laid him in a tomb. 044 ACT 013 030 But God raised him from the dead; 044 ACT 013 031 and he appeared for many days to those who had gone up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, and who are now witnesses for him to the people. 044 ACT 013 032 We also have good news to tell you, about the promise made to our ancestors – 044 ACT 013 033 That our children have had this promise completely fulfilled to them by God, by his raising Jesus. That is just what is said in the second Psalm – ‘You are my Son; this day I have become your Father.’ 044 ACT 013 034 As to his raising Jesus from the dead, never again to return to corruption, this is what is said – ‘I will give to you the sacred promises made to David;’ 044 ACT 013 035 And, therefore, in another Psalm it is said – ‘You will not give up the Holy One to undergo corruption.’ 044 ACT 013 036 David, after obediently doing God’s will in his own time, fell asleep and was laid by the side of his ancestors, and did undergo corruption; 044 ACT 013 037 but Jesus, whom God raised from the dead, did not undergo corruption. 044 ACT 013 038 I would, therefore, like you to know, friends, that through Jesus forgiveness of sins is being proclaimed to you, 044 ACT 013 039 and that, in union with him, everyone who believes in him is absolved from every sin from which under the Law of Moses you could not be absolved. 044 ACT 013 040 Beware, therefore, that what is said in the prophets does not come true of you – 044 ACT 013 041 ‘Look, you despisers, and wonder, and perish; for I am doing a deed in your days – a deed which, though told you in full, you will never believe’.” 044 ACT 013 042 As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people begged for a repetition of this teaching on the next Sabbath. 044 ACT 013 043 After the congregation had dispersed, many of the Jews, and of the converts who joined in their worship, followed Paul and Barnabas, who talked with them and urged them to continue to rely on the loving kindness of God. 044 ACT 013 044 On the following Sabbath, almost all the city gathered to hear God’s message. 044 ACT 013 045 But the sight of the crowds of people filled the minds of the Jews with jealousy, and they kept contradicting Paul’s statements in violent language. 044 ACT 013 046 Then Paul and Barnabas spoke out fearlessly, and said: “It was necessary that the message of God should be told to you first; but, since you reject it and reckon yourselves not worthy of the eternal life – we turn to the Gentiles! (aiōnios g166) 044 ACT 013 047 For this is the Lord’s command to us – ‘I have destined you for a light to the Gentiles, a means of salvation to the ends of the earth’.” 044 ACT 013 048 On hearing this, the Gentiles were glad and extolled God’s message; and all those who had been enrolled for eternal life became believers in Christ; (aiōnios g166) 044 ACT 013 049 and the Lord’s message was carried throughout that district. 044 ACT 013 050 But the Jews incited the women of high social standing who worshiped with them, and the leading men of the town, and started a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their region. 044 ACT 013 051 They, however, shook the dust off their feet in protest, 044 ACT 013 052 and went to Iconium, leaving the disciples full of joy and of the Holy Spirit. 044 ACT 014 001 The same thing occurred in Iconium, where Paul and Barnabas went into the Jewish synagogue, and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed in Christ. 044 ACT 014 002 But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the Gentiles, and poisoned their minds against the Lord’s followers. 044 ACT 014 003 Therefore Paul and Barnabas spent a long time there, and spoke out fearlessly, relying on the Lord, who confirmed the message of his love by permitting signs and wonders to take place at their hands. 044 ACT 014 004 But the townspeople were divided, some siding with the Jews, some with the apostles; 044 ACT 014 005 and, when there was an attempt on the part of both Gentiles and Jews, with their leaders, to resort to violence and to stone them, 044 ACT 014 006 the apostles heard of it, and took refuge in Lystra and Derbe, towns in Lycaonia, and in the district around, 044 ACT 014 007 and there they continued to tell the good news. 044 ACT 014 008 In the streets of Lystra there used to sit a man who had no power in his feet; he had been lame from his birth, and had never walked. 044 ACT 014 009 This man was listening to Paul speaking, when Paul, looking intently at him, and seeing that he had the faith to be healed, 044 ACT 014 010 said loudly, “Stand upright on your feet.” The man leaped up, and began walking about, 044 ACT 014 011 and the crowd, seeing what Paul had done, called out in the Lycaonian language, “The Gods have come down to us in human form.” 044 ACT 014 012 So they called Barnabas ‘Zeus,’ and Paul ‘Hermes,’ because he took the lead in speaking; 044 ACT 014 013 and the priest of Zeus-beyond-the-Walls, accompanied by the crowd, brought bullocks and garlands to the gates, with the intention of offering sacrifices. 044 ACT 014 014 But, when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd. “Friends, why are you doing this?” they shouted. 044 ACT 014 015 “We are only people like yourselves, and we have come with the good news that you should turn away from these follies to a living God, who made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything that is in them. 044 ACT 014 016 In bygone times he permitted all the nations to go their own ways. 044 ACT 014 017 Yet he has not failed to give you, in the good he does, some revelation of himself – sending you from heaven rain and fruitful seasons, and gladdening your hearts with plenty and good cheer.” 044 ACT 014 018 Even with this appeal they could hardly restrain the people from offering sacrifice to them. 044 ACT 014 019 Presently, however, there came some Jews from Antioch, and Iconium who, after they had won over the people, stoned Paul, and dragged him out of the town, thinking him to be dead. 044 ACT 014 020 But, when the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the town; the next day he went with Barnabas to Derbe. 044 ACT 014 021 After telling the good news throughout that town, and making a number of converts, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, 044 ACT 014 022 reassuring the minds of the disciples, urging them to remain true to the faith, and showing that it is only through many troubles that we can enter the kingdom of God. 044 ACT 014 023 They also appointed elders for them in every church, and, after prayer and fasting, commended them to the Lord in whom they had learned to believe. 044 ACT 014 024 Paul and Barnabas then went through Pisidia, and came into Pamphylia, 044 ACT 014 025 and, after telling the message at Perga, went down to Attaleia. 044 ACT 014 026 From there they sailed to Antioch – the place where they had been committed to the gracious care of God for the work which they had now finished. 044 ACT 014 027 After their arrival, they gathered the church together, and gave an account of all that God had helped them to do, and especially how he had opened to the Gentiles the door of faith; 044 ACT 014 028 and at Antioch they stayed with the disciples for a considerable time. 044 ACT 015 001 But certain persons came down from Judea, and began to teach the Lord’s followers that, unless they were circumcised, in accordance with the custom required by Moses, they could not be saved. 044 ACT 015 002 This gave rise to a serious dispute, and much discussion, between Paul and Barnabas and these people, and it was therefore settled that Paul and Barnabas and others of their number should go up to Jerusalem, to consult the apostles and church elders about the matter under discussion. 044 ACT 015 003 The church, therefore, sent them on their journey, and they made their way through Phoenicia and Samaria, telling the story of the conversion of the Gentiles, to the great joy of all the followers. 044 ACT 015 004 On their arrival at Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church, as well as by the apostles and the elders, and gave an account of all that God had helped them to do. 044 ACT 015 005 Some of the Pharisees’ party, however, who had become believers in Christ, came forward and declared that they were bound to circumcise converts and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses. 044 ACT 015 006 The apostles and the church elders held a meeting to consider this question. 044 ACT 015 007 After much discussion, Peter rose and said: “You, my friends, know well that long ago God singled me out – that through my lips the Gentiles should hear the message of the good news, and become believers in Christ. 044 ACT 015 008 Now God, who reads all hearts, declared his acceptance of the Gentiles, by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us. 044 ACT 015 009 He made no distinction between them and us, when he purified their hearts by their faith. 044 ACT 015 010 Why, then, do you now provoke God, by putting on the necks of these disciples a yoke which neither our ancestors nor we were able to bear? 044 ACT 015 011 No, it is through the loving kindness of the Lord Jesus that we, just as they do, believe that we have been saved.” 044 ACT 015 012 Every voice in the assembly was hushed, as they listened to Barnabas and Paul, while they gave an account of all the signs and wonders which God had shown among the Gentiles through them. 044 ACT 015 013 After they had finished speaking, James addressed the Council. “Friends,” he began, “hear what I have to say. 044 ACT 015 014 Simon has described the manner in which God first visited the Gentiles, in order to take from among them a people to bear his name. 044 ACT 015 015 And that is in harmony with the words of the prophets, where they say – 044 ACT 015 016 ‘After this I will return; and I will rebuild the house of David which has fallen – its ruins I will rebuild, and will set it up once more; 044 ACT 015 017 that so the rest of mankind may earnestly seek the Lord – even all the Gentiles on whom my name has been bestowed, 044 ACT 015 018 says the Lord, as he does these things, known from long ago.’ (aiōn g165) 044 ACT 015 019 In my judgment, therefore, we should not add to the difficulties of those Gentiles who are turning to God, 044 ACT 015 020 but we should write to them to abstain from food that has been polluted by being sacrificed to idols, from impurity, from eating the flesh of strangled animals, and from blood. 044 ACT 015 021 For in every town, for generations past, there have been those who preach Moses, read as he is in the synagogues every Sabbath.” 044 ACT 015 022 It was then decided by the apostles and the elders, with the assent of the whole church, to choose some of their number, and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. Those chosen were Judas (called Barsabas) and Silas, who were leaders among the community. 044 ACT 015 023 They were bearers of the following letter – ‘The apostles, and the followers who are the church elders, send their greetings to the followers of the Lord of Gentile birth in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. 044 ACT 015 024 As we had heard that some of our number had upset you by their assertions, and unsettled your minds – without instructions from us – 044 ACT 015 025 We met and decided to choose certain men and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul, 044 ACT 015 026 who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ. 044 ACT 015 027 We are accordingly sending Judas and Silas, and they will tell you by word of mouth what we are now writing. 044 ACT 015 028 We have, therefore, decided, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to lay no further burden on you beyond these necessary conditions – 044 ACT 015 029 That you abstain from food offered to idols, from blood, from eating the flesh of strangled animals, and from impurity. If you guard yourselves against such things, it will be well with you. Farewell.’ 044 ACT 015 030 So the bearers of this letter were sent on their way, and went down to Antioch. There they called a meeting of all the followers, 044 ACT 015 031 and delivered the letter, the reading of which caused great rejoicing by its encouraging contents. 044 ACT 015 032 Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, further encouraged the them by many an address, and strengthened their faith. 044 ACT 015 033 After some stay, they were dismissed with kind farewells from the followers, and returned to those who had sent them. 044 ACT 015 035 Paul and Barnabas, however, remained in Antioch, where they taught and, with the help of many others, told the good news of the Lord’s message. 044 ACT 015 036 Some time after this, Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the Lord’s followers in every town in which we have told the Lord’s message, and see how they are prospering.” 044 ACT 015 037 Barnabas wished to take with them John, whose other name was Mark; 044 ACT 015 038 but Paul felt that they ought not to take with them the man who had deserted them in Pamphylia, and had not gone on with them to their work. 044 ACT 015 039 This caused such unpleasant feeling between them that they parted ways, Barnabas taking Mark and sailing for Cyprus, 044 ACT 015 040 while Paul chose Silas for his companion and, after he had been committed by the followers to the gracious care of the Lord, 044 ACT 015 041 started on his journey and went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches in the faith. 044 ACT 016 001 Among other places Paul went to Derbe and Lystra. At the latter place they found a disciple, named Timothy, whose mother was a Jewish woman who was a believer, while his father was a Greek, 044 ACT 016 002 and who was well spoken of by the followers of the Lord in Lystra and Iconium. 044 ACT 016 003 Wishing to take this man with him on his journey, Paul caused him to be circumcised out of consideration for the Jews in that region, for they all knew that his father had been a Greek. 044 ACT 016 004 As they traveled from town to town, they gave the followers the decisions which had been reached by the apostles and church elders at Jerusalem, for them to observe. 044 ACT 016 005 So the churches grew stronger in the faith, and increased in numbers from day to day. 044 ACT 016 006 They next went through the Phrygian district of Galatia, but were restrained by the Holy Spirit from delivering the message in Roman Asia. 044 ACT 016 007 When they reached the borders of Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them. 044 ACT 016 008 Passing through Mysia, they went down to Troas; 044 ACT 016 009 and there one night Paul saw a vision. A Macedonian was standing and appealing to him – ‘Come over to Macedonia and help us.’ 044 ACT 016 010 So, immediately after Paul had seen the vision, we looked for an opportunity to cross over to Macedonia, concluding that God had summoned us to tell the good news to the people there. 044 ACT 016 011 Accordingly we set sail from Troas, and ran before the wind to Samothrace, reaching Neapolis the next day. 044 ACT 016 012 From there we made our way to Philippi, which is the principal city of that part of Macedonia, and also a Roman Settlement. In that city we spent several days. 044 ACT 016 013 On the Sabbath we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there would be a place of prayer; and we sat down and talked to the women who were gathered there. 044 ACT 016 014 Among them was a woman, named Lydia, belonging to Thyatira, a dealer in purple cloth, who was accustomed to join in the worship of God. The Lord touched this woman’s heart, so that she gave attention to the message delivered by Paul, 044 ACT 016 015 and, when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us to become her guests. “Since you have shown your conviction,” she said, “that I really am a believer in the Lord, come and stay in my house.” And she insisted on our doing so. 044 ACT 016 016 One day, as we were on our way to the place of prayer, we were met by a girl possessed by a divining spirit, who made large profits for her masters by fortune-telling. 044 ACT 016 017 This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, calling, “These men are servants of the most high God, and they are bringing you news of a way to salvation.” 044 ACT 016 018 She had been doing this for several days, when Paul, much vexed, turned and said to the spirit within her, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to leave her.” That very moment the spirit left her. 044 ACT 016 019 When her masters saw that there was no hope of further profit from her, they seized Paul and Silas, dragged them into the public square to the authorities, 044 ACT 016 020 and took them before the Magistrates. “These men are causing a great disturbance in our town,” they complained; 044 ACT 016 021 “They are Jews, and they are teaching customs which it is not right for us, as Romans, to sanction or adopt.” 044 ACT 016 022 The mob rose as one person against them, and the Magistrates stripped them of their clothing and ordered them to be beaten with rods. 044 ACT 016 023 After beating them severely, the Magistrates put them in prison, with orders to the jailer to keep them in safe custody. 044 ACT 016 024 On receiving so strict an order, the Governor put them into the inner cell, and secured their feet in the stocks. 044 ACT 016 025 About midnight, while Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and while the prisoners were listening to them, 044 ACT 016 026 suddenly there was an earthquake of such violence that the jail was shaken to its foundations; all the doors flew open, and all the prisoners’ chains were loosened. 044 ACT 016 027 Roused from his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, the Governor drew his sword intending to kill himself, in the belief that the prisoners had escaped. 044 ACT 016 028 But Paul called our loudly, “Do not harm yourself; we are all here.” 044 ACT 016 029 Calling for a light, the Governor rushed in, and flung himself trembling at the feet of Paul and Silas. 044 ACT 016 030 Then he led them out, and said, “What must I do to be saved?” 044 ACT 016 031 “Believe in Jesus, our Lord,” they replied, “and you will be saved, you and your household too.” 044 ACT 016 032 Then they spoke to him of God’s message, and to all his household as well. 044 ACT 016 033 And that very hour of the night he took them and washed their wounds, and he himself and everyone belonging to him were baptized without delay. 044 ACT 016 034 Afterward he took them up to his house and set before them something to eat, rejoicing that he, with all his household, had come to believe in God. 044 ACT 016 035 In the morning the Magistrates sent the guards with an order for the men to be discharged. 044 ACT 016 036 The jailer told Paul of his instructions. “The Magistrates have sent an order for your discharge,” he said, “so you had better leave the place at once and go quietly away.” 044 ACT 016 037 But Paul’s answer to them was, “They have flogged us in public without trial, though we are Roman citizens, and they have put us in prison, and now they are for sending us out secretly! No, indeed! Let them come and take us out themselves.” 044 ACT 016 038 The guards reported his words to the Magistrates, who, on hearing that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, were alarmed, 044 ACT 016 039 and went to the prison, and did their best to conciliate them. Then they took them out, and begged them to leave the city. 044 ACT 016 040 When Paul and Silas left the prison, they went to Lydia’s house, and, after they had seen the Lord’s followers, and encouraged them, they left the place. 044 ACT 017 001 After passing through Amphipolis and Apollonia, Paul and Silas came to Thessalonica. Here the Jews had a synagogue; 044 ACT 017 002 and, following his usual custom, Paul joined them, and for three Sabbaths addressed them, drawing his arguments from the scriptures. 044 ACT 017 003 He laid before them and explained that the Christ must undergo suffering and rise from the dead; and “It is this man,” he declared, “who is the Christ – this Jesus about whom I am telling you.” 044 ACT 017 004 Some of the people were convinced, and threw in their lot with Paul and Silas, as did also a large body of Greeks who were accustomed to join in the Jewish services, and a great number of leading women. 044 ACT 017 005 But the Jewish leaders, becoming jealous, engaged some worthless fellows from the streets, and, getting a mob together, kept the city in an uproar. They attacked Jason’s house, with the intention of bringing Paul and Silas before the Popular Assembly; 044 ACT 017 006 and, not finding them there, they proceeded to drag Jason and some of the Lord’s followers before the city magistrates, shouting out, “These men, who have turned the world upside down, have now come here, 044 ACT 017 007 and have been harbored by Jason! They are all defying the decrees of the Emperor. They say that someone else is king – a man called Jesus!” 044 ACT 017 008 On hearing this, the people and the city magistrates were much concerned; 044 ACT 017 009 and, before letting them go, they took bail from Jason and the others. 044 ACT 017 010 That very night the followers sent Paul and Silas off to Beroea; and on reaching that place, they went to the Jewish synagogue. 044 ACT 017 011 These Jews of Beroea were better disposed than those in Thessalonica, for they welcomed the message with great readiness, and daily examined the scriptures to see if what was said was true. 044 ACT 017 012 As a consequence, many of them became believers in Christ, besides a considerable number of Greek women of position, and of men also. 044 ACT 017 013 But, when the Jewish leaders in Thessalonica found out that God’s message had been delivered by Paul at Beroea, they came there too, exciting and disturbing the minds of the people. 044 ACT 017 014 The followers immediately arranged for Paul to go away to the coast, but both Silas and Timothy stayed behind in Beroea. 044 ACT 017 015 The friends who escorted Paul took him as far as Athens, and, after receiving a message for Silas and Timothy to join him as quickly as possible, they started on their return. 044 ACT 017 016 While Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his heart was stirred at seeing the whole city full of idols. 044 ACT 017 017 So he argued in the synagogue with the Jews and with those who joined in their worship, as well as daily in the public Square with those who happened to be there. 044 ACT 017 018 Among others, some Epicurean and Stoic Philosophers joined issue with him. Some asked “What is this prater wanting to make out?”, while others said “He seems to be a preacher of foreign Deities.” (This was because he was telling the good news about Jesus and the resurrection). 044 ACT 017 019 So they laid hold of him and took him to the Court of Areopagus. “May we hear,” they asked, “what new teaching this is which you are giving? 044 ACT 017 020 For you are bringing some strange things to our notice, and we should like to know what they mean.” 044 ACT 017 021 (All Athenians and the foreigners staying in the city found no time for anything else but telling, or listening to, the last new thing.) 044 ACT 017 022 So Paul took his stand in the middle of the Court, and said – “People of Athens, on every hand I see signs of your being very devout. 044 ACT 017 023 For as I was going about, looking at your sacred shrines, I came upon an altar with this inscription – ‘To an Unknown God.’ What, therefore, you worship in ignorance, that I am now proclaiming to you. 044 ACT 017 024 The God who made the world and all things that are in it – he, Lord as he is of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by hands, 044 ACT 017 025 neither do human hands minister to his wants, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives, to all, life, and breath, and all things. 044 ACT 017 026 He made all races of the earth’s surface – fixing a time for their rise and fall, and the limits of their settlements – 044 ACT 017 027 That they might search for God, if by any means they might feel their way to him and find him. And yet he is not really far from any one of us; 044 ACT 017 028 for in him we live and move and are. To use the words of some of your own poets – ‘His offspring, too, are we.’ 044 ACT 017 029 Therefore, as the offspring of God, we must not think that the Deity has any resemblance to anything made of gold, or silver, or stone – a work of human art and imagination. 044 ACT 017 030 True, God looked with indulgence on the days of people’s ignorance, but now he is announcing to everyone everywhere the need for repentance, 044 ACT 017 031 because he has fixed a day on which he intends to judge the world with justice, by a man whom he has appointed – and of this he has given all people a pledge by raising this man from the dead.” 044 ACT 017 032 On hearing of a resurrection of the dead, some began jeering, but others said that they wanted to hear what he had to say about that another time. 044 ACT 017 033 And so Paul left the Court. 044 ACT 017 034 There were, however, some people who joined him, and became believers in Christ. Among them were Dionysius, a member of the Court of Areopagus, a woman named Damaris, and several others. 044 ACT 018 001 On leaving Athens, Paul next went to Corinth. 044 ACT 018 002 There he met a Jew of the name of Aquila, from Pontus, who, with his wife Priscilla, had lately come from Italy, in consequence of the order which had been issued by the Emperor Claudius for all Jews to leave Rome. Paul paid them a visit, 044 ACT 018 003 and, since their trade was the same as his, he stayed and worked with them – their trade was tent-making. 044 ACT 018 004 Every Sabbath Paul gave addresses in the synagogue, trying to convince both Jews and Greeks. 044 ACT 018 005 But, when Silas and Timothy had come down from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself entirely to delivering the message, earnestly maintaining before the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. 044 ACT 018 006 However, as they set themselves against him and became abusive, Paul shook his clothes in protest and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads. My conscience is clear. From this time forward I will go to the Gentiles.” 044 ACT 018 007 So he left, and went to the house of a certain Titius Justus, who had been accustomed to join in the worship of God, and whose house was next door to the synagogue. 044 ACT 018 008 Crispus, the synagogue leader, came to believe in the Lord, and so did all his household; and many of the Corinthians, as they listened to Paul, became believers in Christ and were baptized. 044 ACT 018 009 One night the Lord said to Paul, in a vision, “Have no fear, but continue to speak, and refuse to be silenced; 044 ACT 018 010 for I am with you, and no one will do you harm, for I have many people in this city.” 044 ACT 018 011 So he settled there for a year and a half, and taught God’s message among the people. 044 ACT 018 012 While Gallio was governor of Greece, some of the Jewish leaders made a combined attack on Paul, and brought him before the Governor’s Bench, 044 ACT 018 013 charging him with persuading people to worship God in a way forbidden by the Law. 044 ACT 018 014 Just as Paul was on the point of speaking, Gallio said to them, “If this were a case of misdemeanor or some serious crime, there would be some reason for my listening patiently to you; 044 ACT 018 015 but, since it is a dispute about words, and names, and your own Law, you must see to it yourselves. I do not choose to be a judge in such matters.” 044 ACT 018 016 Saying this, he drove them back from the Bench. 044 ACT 018 017 Then they all set on Sosthenes, the synagogue leader, and beat him in front of the Bench, but Gallio did not trouble himself about any of these things. 044 ACT 018 018 Paul remained there some time after this, and then took leave of the followers, and sailed to Syria with Priscilla and Aquila, but not before his head had been shaved at Cenchreae, because he was under a vow. 044 ACT 018 019 They put into Ephesus, and there Paul, leaving his companions, went into the synagogue and addressed the Jews. 044 ACT 018 020 When they asked him to prolong his stay, he declined, saying however, 044 ACT 018 021 as he took his leave, “I will come back again to you, please God,” and then set sail from Ephesus. 044 ACT 018 022 On reaching Caesarea, he went up to Jerusalem and exchanged greetings with the church, and then went down to Antioch. 044 ACT 018 023 After making some stay in Antioch, he set out on a tour through the Phrygian district of Galatia, strengthening the faith of all the disciples as he went. 044 ACT 018 024 Meanwhile there had come to Ephesus an Alexandrian Jew, named Apollos, an eloquent man, who was well-versed in the scriptures. 044 ACT 018 025 He had been well-instructed in the Way of the Lord, and with burning zeal he spoke of, and taught carefully, the facts about Jesus, though he knew of no baptism but John’s. 044 ACT 018 026 This man began to speak out fearlessly in the synagogue; and when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him home and explained the Way of God to him more carefully still. 044 ACT 018 027 When he wanted to cross to Greece, the followers furthered his plans, and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. On his arrival he proved of great assistance to those who had, through the loving kindness of God, become believers in Christ, 044 ACT 018 028 for he vigorously confuted the Jews, publicly proving by the scriptures that Jesus was the Christ. 044 ACT 019 001 While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland districts of Roman Asia, and went to Ephesus. There he found some disciples, of whom he asked, 044 ACT 019 002 “Did you, when you became believers in Christ, receive the Holy Spirit?” “No,” they answered, “we did not even hear that there was a Holy Spirit.” 044 ACT 019 003 “What then was your baptism?” Paul asked. 044 ACT 019 004 “John’s baptism was a baptism on repentance,” rejoined Paul, “and John told the people (speaking of the ‘one coming’ after him) that they should believe in him – that is in Jesus.” 044 ACT 019 005 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, 044 ACT 019 006 and, after Paul had placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit descended on them, and they began to speak in other languages and to preach. 044 ACT 019 007 There were about twelve of them in all. 044 ACT 019 008 Paul went to the synagogue there, and for three months spoke out fearlessly, giving addresses and trying to convince his hearers, about the kingdom of God. 044 ACT 019 009 Some of them, however, hardened their hearts and refused to believe, denouncing the Way before the people. So Paul left them and withdrew his disciples, and gave daily addresses in the lecture-hall of Tyrannus. 044 ACT 019 010 This went on for two years, so that all who lived in Roman Asia, Jews and Greeks alike, heard the Lord’s message. 044 ACT 019 011 God did miracles of no ordinary kind by Paul’s hands; 044 ACT 019 012 so that people would carry home to the sick handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his body, and their diseases would leave them and the wicked spirits go out of them. 044 ACT 019 013 An attempt was made by some itinerant Jews, who were exorcists, to use the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had wicked spirits in them. “I order you,” they would say, “by the Jesus, whom Paul preaches.” 044 ACT 019 014 The seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this; 044 ACT 019 015 but the wicked spirit answered them, “Jesus I acknowledge, and Paul I know, but you – who are you?” 044 ACT 019 016 Then the man, in whom this wicked spirit was, sprang on them, mastered both of them, and so completely overpowered them, that they fled out of the house, stripped of their clothes, and wounded. 044 ACT 019 017 This incident came to the knowledge of all the Jews and Greeks living at Ephesus; they were all awe-struck, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in the highest honor. 044 ACT 019 018 Many, too, of those who had become believers in Christ came with a full confession of their practices; 044 ACT 019 019 while a number of people, who had practiced magic, collected their books and burnt them publicly; and on reckoning up the price of these, they found it amounted to fifty thousand silver coins. 044 ACT 019 020 So irresistibly did the Lord’s message spread and prevail. 044 ACT 019 021 Sometime after these events Paul resolved to go through Macedonia and Greece, and then make his way to Jerusalem. “And after I have been there,” he said, “I must visit Rome also.” 044 ACT 019 022 So he sent to Macedonia two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, while he himself stayed for some time longer in Roman Asia. 044 ACT 019 023 Just about that time a great disturbance arose about the Way. 044 ACT 019 024 A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver models of the shrine of Artemis, and so gave a great deal of work to the artisans, 044 ACT 019 025 got these men together, as well as the workmen engaged in similar occupations, and said: “Men, you know that our prosperity depends on this work, 044 ACT 019 026 and you see and hear that not only at Ephesus, but in almost the whole of Roman Asia, this Paul has convinced and won over great numbers of people, by his assertion that those Gods which are made by hands are not Gods at all. 044 ACT 019 027 So that not only is this business of ours likely to fall into discredit, but there is the further danger that the Temple of the great Goddess Artemis will be thought nothing of, and that she herself will be deprived of her splendor – though all Roman Asia and the whole world worship her.” 044 ACT 019 028 When they heard this, the men were greatly enraged, and began shouting – “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” 044 ACT 019 029 The commotion spread through the whole city, and the people rushed together into the amphitheater, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, two Macedonians who were Paul’s traveling companions. 044 ACT 019 030 Paul wished to go into the amphitheater and face the people, but the disciples would not let him, 044 ACT 019 031 while some of the chief religious officials of the province, who were friendly to him, sent repeated entreaties to him not to trust himself inside. 044 ACT 019 032 Meanwhile some were shouting one thing and some another, for the Assembly was all in confusion, most of those present not even knowing why they had met. 044 ACT 019 033 But some of the crowd prompted Alexander, whom several of the Jewish leaders had pushed to the front, and he waved his hand to show that he wanted to speak in their defense to the people. 044 ACT 019 034 However, when they recognized him as a Jew, one cry broke from them all, and they continued shouting for two hours – “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” 044 ACT 019 035 When the Recorder had succeeded in quieting the crowd, he said, “People of Ephesus, who is there, I ask you, who needs to be told that this city of Ephesus is the Warden of the Temple of the great Artemis, and of the statue which fell down from Zeus? 044 ACT 019 036 As these are undeniable facts, you ought to keep calm and do nothing rash; 044 ACT 019 037 for you have brought these men here, though they are neither robbers of Temples nor blasphemers of our Goddess. 044 ACT 019 038 If, however, Demetrius and the artisans who are acting with him have a charge to make against anyone, there are court days and there are Magistrates; let both parties take legal proceedings. 044 ACT 019 039 But if you want anything more, it will have to be settled in the regular Assembly. 044 ACT 019 040 For I tell you that we are in danger of being proceeded against for today’s riot, there being nothing to account for it; and in that case we will be at a loss to give any reason for this disorderly gathering.” 044 ACT 019 041 With these words he dismissed the Assembly. 044 ACT 020 001 When the uproar had ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and, with encouraging words, bade them goodbye, and started on his journey to Macedonia. 044 ACT 020 002 After going through those districts and speaking many encouraging words to the disciples, he went into Greece, where he stayed three months. 044 ACT 020 003 He was about to sail to Syria, when he learned that a plot had been laid against him by several of the Jewish leaders; so he decided to return by way of Macedonia. 044 ACT 020 004 He was accompanied by Sopater the son of Pyrrhus, of Beroea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy, as well as by Tychicus and Trophimus of Roman Asia. 044 ACT 020 005 These people went to Troas and waited for us there; 044 ACT 020 006 while we ourselves sailed from Philippi after the Passover, and joined them five days later at Troas, where we stayed for a week. 044 ACT 020 007 On the first day of the week, when we had met for the breaking of bread, Paul, who was intending to leave the next day, began to address those who were present, and prolonged his address until midnight. 044 ACT 020 008 There were a good many lamps in the upstairs room, where we had met; 044 ACT 020 009 and a young man named Eutychus, sitting at the window, was gradually overcome with great drowsiness, as Paul continued his address. At last, quite overpowered by his drowsiness, he fell from the third story to the ground, and was picked up for dead. 044 ACT 020 010 But Paul went down, threw himself on him, and put his arms around him. “Do not be alarmed,” he said, “he is still alive.” 044 ACT 020 011 Then he went upstairs; and, after breaking and partaking of the bread, he talked with them at great length until daybreak, and then left. 044 ACT 020 012 Meanwhile they had taken the lad away alive, and were greatly comforted. 044 ACT 020 013 We started first, went on board ship, and sailed for Assos, intending to take Paul on board there. This was by his own arrangement, as he intended to go by land himself. 044 ACT 020 014 So, when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and went on to Mitylene. 044 ACT 020 015 The day after we had sailed from there, we arrived off Chios, touched at Samos the following day, and the next day reached Miletus; 044 ACT 020 016 for Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so as to avoid spending much time in Roman Asia. He was making haste to reach Jerusalem, if possible, by the Festival at the close of the Harvest. 044 ACT 020 017 From Miletus, however, he sent to Ephesus and invited the church elders to meet him; 044 ACT 020 018 and, when they came, he said to them, “You know well the life that I always led among you from the very first day that I set foot in Roman Asia, 044 ACT 020 019 serving the Lord, as I did, in all humility, amid the tears and trials which fell to my lot through the plots of some of the Jewish leaders. 044 ACT 020 020 I never shrank from telling you anything that could be helpful to you, or from teaching you both in public and in private. 044 ACT 020 021 I earnestly pointed both Jews and Greeks to the repentance that leads to God, and to faith in Jesus, our Lord. 044 ACT 020 022 And now, under spiritual constraint, I am here on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there, 044 ACT 020 023 except that in town after town the Holy Spirit plainly declares to me that imprisonment and troubles await me. 044 ACT 020 024 But I count my life of no value to myself, if only I may complete the course marked out for me, and the task that was allotted me by the Lord Jesus – which was to declare the good news of the love of God. 044 ACT 020 025 And now, I tell you, I know that none of you will ever see my face again – you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom. 044 ACT 020 026 Therefore I declare to you this day, that my conscience is clear in regard to the fate of any of you, 044 ACT 020 027 for I have not shrunk from announcing the whole purpose of God regarding you. 044 ACT 020 028 Be watchful over yourselves, and over the whole flock, of which the Holy Spirit has placed you in charge, to shepherd the church of God, which he won for himself at the cost of his life. 044 ACT 020 029 I know that, after my departure, merciless wolves will get in among you, who will not spare the flock; 044 ACT 020 030 and from among yourselves, too, people will arise, who will teach perversions of truth, so as to draw away the disciples after them. 044 ACT 020 031 Therefore, be on your guard, remembering how for three years, night and day, I never ceased, even with tears, to warn each one of you. 044 ACT 020 032 And now I commend you to the Lord and to the message of his love – a message which has the power to build up your characters, and to give you your place among all those who have become Christ’s people. 044 ACT 020 033 I have never coveted anyone’s gold or silver or clothing. 044 ACT 020 034 You, yourselves, know that these hands of mine provided not only for my own wants, but for my companions also. 044 ACT 020 035 I left nothing undone to show you that, laboring as I labored, you ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said himself – ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” 044 ACT 020 036 When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down and prayed with them all. 044 ACT 020 037 All were in tears; and throwing their arms around Paul’s neck, they kissed him again and again, 044 ACT 020 038 grieving most of all over what he had said – that they would never see his face again. Then they escorted him to the ship. 044 ACT 021 001 When we had torn ourselves away and had set sail, we ran before the wind to Cos; the next day we came to Rhodes, and from there to Patara, 044 ACT 021 002 where we found a ship crossing to Phoenicia, and went on board and set sail. 044 ACT 021 003 After sighting Cyprus and leaving it on the left, we sailed to Syria, and put into Tyre, where the ship was to discharge her cargo. 044 ACT 021 004 There we found the disciples and stayed a week with them. Speaking under the influence of the Spirit, they warned Paul not to set foot in Jerusalem. 044 ACT 021 005 However, when we had come to the end of our visit, we went on our way, all the disciples with their wives and children escorting us out of the city. We knelt down on the beach, and prayed, 044 ACT 021 006 and then said goodbye to one another; after which we went on board, and they returned home. 044 ACT 021 007 After we had made the run from Tyre, we landed at Ptolemais, and exchanged greetings with the followers there, and spent a day with them. 044 ACT 021 008 The next day we left, and reached Caesarea, where we went to the house of Philip, the missionary, who was one of the Seven, and stayed with him. 044 ACT 021 009 He had four unmarried daughters, who had the gift of prophecy. 044 ACT 021 010 During our visit, which lasted several days, a prophet, named Agabus, came down from Judea. 044 ACT 021 011 He came to see us, and, taking Paul’s belt, and binding his own feet and hands with it, said, “This is what the Holy Spirit says – ‘The man to whom this belt belongs will be bound like this by the religious authorities in Jerusalem, and they will give him up to the Gentiles’.” 044 ACT 021 012 When we heard that, we and the people of the place began to entreat Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. 044 ACT 021 013 It was then that Paul made the reply, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart like this? For my part, I am ready not only to be bound, but even to suffer death at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” 044 ACT 021 014 So, as he would not be persuaded, we said no more to him, only adding – “The Lord’s will be done.” 044 ACT 021 015 At the end of our visit, we made our preparations, and started on our way up to Jerusalem. 044 ACT 021 016 Some of the disciples from Caesarea went with us, and brought Mnason with them, a Cypriot disciple of long standing, with whom we were to stay. 044 ACT 021 017 On our arrival at Jerusalem, the followers of the Lord there gave us a hearty welcome; 044 ACT 021 018 and the next day Paul went with us to see James, and all the church elders were present. 044 ACT 021 019 After greeting them, Paul related in detail all that God had done among the Gentiles through his efforts; 044 ACT 021 020 and, when they had heard it, they began praising God, and said to Paul: “You see, brother, that those of our people who have become believers in Christ may be numbered by tens of thousands, and they are all naturally earnest in upholding the Jewish Law. 044 ACT 021 021 Now they have heard it said about you, that you teach all of our people in foreign countries to forsake Moses, for you tell them not to circumcise their children or even to observe Jewish customs. 044 ACT 021 022 Well now, as they are certain to hear of your arrival, do what we are going to suggest. 044 ACT 021 023 We have four men here, who have of their own accord put themselves under a vow. 044 ACT 021 024 Join these men, share their purification, and bear their expenses, so that they may shave their heads; and then all will see that there is no truth in what they have been told about you, but that, on the contrary, you yourself rule your life in obedience to the Jewish Law. 044 ACT 021 025 As to the Gentiles who have become believers in Christ, we have sent our decision that they should avoid food offered to idols, and blood, and the flesh of strangled animals, and impurity.” 044 ACT 021 026 Paul joined the men, and the next day shared their purification, and went into the Temple, and gave notice of the expiration of the period of purification when the usual offering should have been made on behalf of each of them. 044 ACT 021 027 But, just as the seven days were drawing to a close, some of the Jewish people from Roman Asia caught sight of Paul in the Temple, and caused great excitement among all the people present, by seizing Paul and shouting, 044 ACT 021 028 “People of Israel! Help! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people, our Law, and this place; and, what is more, he has actually brought Greeks into the Temple and defiled this sacred place.” 044 ACT 021 029 (For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in Paul’s company in the city, and were under the belief that Paul had taken him into the Temple.) 044 ACT 021 030 The whole city was stirred, and the people quickly collected, seized Paul, and dragged him out of the Temple, when the doors were immediately shut. 044 ACT 021 031 They were bent on killing him, when it was reported to the officer commanding the garrison, that all Jerusalem was in commotion. 044 ACT 021 032 He instantly got together some officers and soldiers, and charged down on the crowd, who, when they saw the commanding officer and his soldiers, stopped beating Paul. 044 ACT 021 033 Then he went up to Paul, arrested him, ordered him to be doubly chained, and proceeded to inquire who he was, and what he had been doing. 044 ACT 021 034 Some of the crowd said one thing, and some another; and, as he could get no definite reply because of the uproar, he ordered Paul to be taken into the barracks. 044 ACT 021 035 When Paul reached the steps, he was actually being carried by the soldiers, owing to the violence of the mob; 044 ACT 021 036 for the people were following in a mass, shouting out, “Kill him!” 044 ACT 021 037 Just as he was about to be taken into the Fort, Paul said to the commanding officer, “May I speak to you?” “Do you know Greek?” asked the commanding officer. 044 ACT 021 038 “Aren’t you, then, the Egyptian who some time ago raised an insurrection and led the four thousand Bandits out into the wilderness?” 044 ACT 021 039 “No,” said Paul, “I am a Jew of Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of a city of some note. I beg you to give me permission to speak to the people.” 044 ACT 021 040 The commanding officer gave his permission, and Paul, standing on the steps, made signs with his hand to the people, and, when comparative silence had been obtained, he said to them in Hebrew: 044 ACT 022 001 “Brothers and fathers, listen to the defense which I am about to make.” 044 ACT 022 002 When they heard that he was speaking to them in Hebrew, they were still more quiet; and Paul went on: 044 ACT 022 003 “I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, but I was brought up in this city under the teaching of Gamaliel, and educated in accordance with the strict system of our ancestral Law. I was as zealous in God’s service as any of you who are here today. 044 ACT 022 004 In my persecution of this Way I did not stop even at the taking of life. I put in chains, and imprisoned, men and women alike – 044 ACT 022 005 And to that the high priest himself and all the council of elders can testify. For I had letters of introduction from them to our fellow Jews at Damascus, and I was on my way to that place, to bring those whom I might find there prisoners to Jerusalem for punishment. 044 ACT 022 006 While I was still on my way, just as I was getting close to Damascus, about midday, suddenly there flashed from the heavens a great light all around me. 044 ACT 022 007 I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ 044 ACT 022 008 ‘Who are you, Lord?’ I replied. Then the voice said ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth whom you are persecuting.’ 044 ACT 022 009 The men with me saw the light, but did not hear the speaker’s voice. 044 ACT 022 010 Then I said ‘What am I to do, Lord?’ ‘Get up and go into Damascus,’ The Lord said to me, ‘and there you will be told all that you have been appointed to do.’ 044 ACT 022 011 In consequence of that dazzling light I could not see, but my companions held me by the hand, until I reached Damascus. 044 ACT 022 012 There a man named Ananias, a strict observer of our Law, well spoken of by all the Jewish inhabitants, came to see me. 044 ACT 022 013 Standing close to me, he said ‘Saul, my brother, recover your sight.’ And then and there I recovered my sight and looked up at him. 044 ACT 022 014 Then he said ‘The God of our ancestors has appointed you to learn his will, and to see the righteous one, and to hear words from his lips; 044 ACT 022 015 for you will be a witness for him to all the world of what you have just seen and heard. 044 ACT 022 016 And now why wait any longer, Be baptized at once, wash away your sins, and invoke his name.’ 044 ACT 022 017 After my return to Jerusalem, while I was praying one day in the Temple, I fell into a trance, 044 ACT 022 018 and saw Jesus saying to me ‘Make haste and leave Jerusalem at once, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’ 044 ACT 022 019 ‘Lord,’ I answered, ‘these people know that I used to imprison and scourge, in synagogue after synagogue, those who believed in you; 044 ACT 022 020 and, when the blood of your martyr, Stephen, was being shed, I was myself standing by, approving of his death, and took charge of the clothes of those who were murdering him.’ 044 ACT 022 021 But Jesus said to me ‘Go; for I will send you to the Gentiles far away’.” 044 ACT 022 022 Up to this point the people had been listening to Paul, but at these words they called out, “Kill him! A fellow like this ought not to have been allowed to live!” 044 ACT 022 023 As they were shouting, tearing off their clothes, and throwing dust in the air, 044 ACT 022 024 the commanding officer ordered Paul to be taken into the Fort, and directed that he should be examined under the lash so that he might find out the reason for their outcry against him. 044 ACT 022 025 But just as they had tied him up to be scourged, Paul said to the centurion standing near, “Is it legal for you to scourge a Roman citizen, unconvicted?” 044 ACT 022 026 On hearing this, the centurion went and reported it to the commanding officer. “Do you know what you are doing?” he said. “This man is a Roman citizen.” 044 ACT 022 027 So the commanding officer went up to Paul and said, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” “Yes,” replied Paul. 044 ACT 022 028 “I had to pay a heavy price for my position as citizen,” said the officer. “I am one by birth,” rejoined Paul. 044 ACT 022 029 The men who were to have examined Paul immediately drew back, and the officer, finding that Paul was a Roman citizen, was alarmed at having put him in chains. 044 ACT 022 030 On the next day the commanding officer, wishing to find out the real reason why Paul was denounced by the Jewish leaders, had his chains taken off, and directed the chief priests and the whole of the High Council to assemble, and then took Paul down and brought him before them. 044 ACT 023 001 Paul fixed his eyes on the Council, and began: “Brothers, for my part, I have always ordered my life before God, with a clear conscience, up to this very day.” 044 ACT 023 002 At this, the high priest Ananias ordered the men standing near to strike him on the mouth; 044 ACT 023 003 Paul turned to him and said: “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! Are you sitting there to try me in accordance with law, and yet, in defiance of law, order me to be struck?” 044 ACT 023 004 The people standing near said to Paul, “Do you know that you are insulting God’s high priest?” 044 ACT 023 005 “I did not know, brothers, that it was the high priest,” said Paul, “for scripture says – ‘Of the ruler of your people you should speak no ill’.” 044 ACT 023 006 Noticing that some of those present were Sadducees and others Pharisees, Paul called out in the Council, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee and a son of Pharisees. It is on the question of hope for the dead and of their resurrection that I am on my trial.” 044 ACT 023 007 As soon as he said this, a dispute arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees; and there was a sharp division of opinion among those present. 044 ACT 023 008 (For Sadducees say there is no such thing as a resurrection, and that there is neither angel nor spirit, while Pharisees believe in both.) 044 ACT 023 009 So a great uproar ensued, and some of the Teachers of the Law belonging to the Pharisees’ party stood up and hotly protested, “We find nothing whatever wrong in this man. Suppose a spirit did speak to him, or an angel…” 044 ACT 023 010 The dispute was becoming so violent, that the commanding officer, fearing that Paul would be torn in pieces between them, ordered the Guard to go down and rescue him from them, and take him into the Fort. 044 ACT 023 011 That night the Lord came and stood by Paul, and said, “Courage! You have borne witness for me in Jerusalem and you must bear witness in Rome also.” 044 ACT 023 012 In the morning some Jewish men combined together, and took an oath that they would not eat or drink until they had killed Paul. 044 ACT 023 013 There were more than forty in the plot; 044 ACT 023 014 and they went to the chief priests and the elders, and said, “We have taken a solemn oath not to touch food until we have killed Paul. 044 ACT 023 015 So we want you now, with the consent of the Council, to suggest to the commanding officer that he should bring Paul down before you, as though you intended to go more fully into his case; but, before he comes here, we will be ready to make away with him.” 044 ACT 023 016 However, the son of Paul’s sister, hearing of the plot, went to the Fort, and on being admitted, told Paul about it. 044 ACT 023 017 Paul called one of the garrison centurion and asked him to take the lad to the commanding officer, as he had something to tell him. 044 ACT 023 018 The centurion went with the lad to the commanding officer, and said, “The prisoner Paul called me and asked me to bring this lad to you, as he has something to tell you.” 044 ACT 023 019 The commanding officer took the lad by the hand, and, stepping aside, asked what it was he had to tell him. 044 ACT 023 020 “Some men have agreed,” answered the lad, “to ask you to bring Paul down before the Council tomorrow, on the plea of your making further inquiry into his case. 044 ACT 023 021 But do not let them persuade you, for more than forty of them are lying in wait for him, who have taken an oath that they will not eat or drink, until they have made away with him; and they are at this very moment in readiness, counting on your promise.” 044 ACT 023 022 The commanding officer then dismissed the lad, cautioning him not to mention to anybody that he had given him that information. 044 ACT 023 023 Then he called two Captains, and ordered them to have two hundred soldiers ready to go to Caesarea, as well as seventy troopers and two hundred lancers, by nine o’clock that night, 044 ACT 023 024 and to have horses ready for Paul to ride, so that they might take him safely to Felix, the Governor. 044 ACT 023 025 He also wrote a letter along these lines: 044 ACT 023 026 ‘Claudius Lysias sends his compliments to His Excellency Felix the Governor. 044 ACT 023 027 The man whom I send with this had been seized by some Jews, and was on the point of being killed by them, when I came upon them with the force under my command, and rescued him, as I learned that he was a Roman citizen. 044 ACT 023 028 Wanting to know exactly the ground of the charges they made against him, I brought him before their Council, 044 ACT 023 029 when I found that their charges were connected with questions of their own Law, and that there was nothing alleged involving either death or imprisonment. 044 ACT 023 030 Having, however, information of a plot against the man, which was about to be put into execution, I am sending him to you at once, and I have also directed his accusers to prosecute him before you.’ 044 ACT 023 031 The soldiers, in accordance with their orders, took charge of Paul and conducted him by night to Antipatris; 044 ACT 023 032 and on the next day, leaving the troopers to go on with him, they returned to the Fort. 044 ACT 023 033 On arriving at Caesarea, the troopers delivered the letter to the Governor, and brought Paul before him. 044 ACT 023 034 As soon as Felix had read the letter, he enquired to what province Paul belonged, and, learning that he came from Cilicia, he said, 044 ACT 023 035 “I will hear all you have to say as soon as your accusers have arrived.” And he ordered Paul to be kept under guard in Herod’s Government house. 044 ACT 024 001 Five days afterward the high priest Ananias came down with some of the elders and a barrister named Tertullus. They laid an information with the Governor against Paul; 044 ACT 024 002 and, when the hearing came on, Tertullus began his speech for the prosecution. 044 ACT 024 003 “We owe it to your Excellency,” he said, “that we are enjoying profound peace, and we owe it to your foresight that this nation is constantly securing reforms – advantages which we very gratefully accept at all times and places. 044 ACT 024 004 But – not to be tedious – I beg you, with your accustomed fairness, to listen to a brief statement of our case. 044 ACT 024 005 We have found this man a public pest; he is one who stirs up disputes among our people all the world over, and is a ringleader of the Nazarene heretics. 044 ACT 024 006 He even attempted to desecrate the Temple itself, but we caught him; 044 ACT 024 008 and you will be able, by examining him on all these points, to satisfy yourself as to the charges which we are bringing against him.” 044 ACT 024 009 The Jewish crowd also joined in the attack and bore out his statements. 044 ACT 024 010 On a sign from the Governor, Paul made this reply: “Knowing, as I do, for how many years you have acted as judge to this nation, it is with confidence that I undertake my own defense. 044 ACT 024 011 For you can easily verify that it is not more than twelve days ago that I went up to worship at Jerusalem, 044 ACT 024 012 where my prosecutors never found me holding discussions with anyone, or causing a crowd to collect – either in the Temple, or in the synagogues, or about the city; 044 ACT 024 013 and they cannot establish the charges which they are now making against me. 044 ACT 024 014 This, however, I do acknowledge to you, that it is as a believer in the Way which they call heretical, that I worship the God of my ancestors. At the same time, I believe everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the prophets; 044 ACT 024 015 and I have a hope that rests in God – a hope which they also cherish – that there will one day be a resurrection of good and bad alike. 044 ACT 024 016 This being so, I strive at all times to keep my conscience clear before both God and people. 044 ACT 024 017 After some years’ absence I had come to bring charitable gifts to my nation, and to make offerings; 044 ACT 024 018 and it was while engaged in this that they found me in the Temple, after completing a period of purification, but not with any crowd or disorder. 044 ACT 024 019 There were, however, some Jews from Roman Asia who ought to have been here before you, and to have made any charge that they may have against me – 044 ACT 024 020 Or else let my opponents here say what they found wrong in me when I was before the Council, 044 ACT 024 021 except as to the one sentence that I shouted out as I stood among them – ‘It is about the resurrection of the dead that I am on my trial before you today’.” 044 ACT 024 022 Felix, however, adjourned the case – though he had a fairly accurate knowledge of all that concerned the Way – with the promise, “When Lysias, the commanding officer, comes down, I will give my decision in your case.” 044 ACT 024 023 So he gave orders to the centurion in charge of Paul to keep him in custody, but to relax the regulations, and not to prevent any of his personal friends from attending to his wants. 044 ACT 024 024 Some days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and, sending for Paul, listened to what he had to say about faith in Christ Jesus. 044 ACT 024 025 But, while Paul was speaking at length about righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became terrified, and interrupted him – “Go for the present, but, when I find an opportunity, I will send for you again.” 044 ACT 024 026 He was hoping, too, for a bribe from Paul, and so he used to send for him frequently and talk with him. 044 ACT 024 027 But, after the lapse of two years, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus; and, wishing to gain popularity with the Jewish leaders, he left Paul a prisoner. 044 ACT 025 001 Three days after Festus had arrived in his province, he left Caesarea and went up to Jerusalem. 044 ACT 025 002 There the chief priests and the leading men among the Jews laid an information before him against Paul, 044 ACT 025 003 and asked a favor of him, to Paul’s injury – to have Paul brought to Jerusalem. All the while they were plotting to make away with him on the road. 044 ACT 025 004 But Festus answered that Paul was in prison at Caesarea, and that he himself would be leaving for that place shortly. 044 ACT 025 005 “So let the influential men among you,” he said, “go down with me, and if there is anything amiss in the man, charge him formally with it.” 044 ACT 025 006 After staying among them some eight or ten days, Festus went down to Caesarea. The next day he took his seat on the Bench, and ordered Paul to be brought before him. 044 ACT 025 007 On Paul’s appearance, the Jewish leaders who had come down from Jerusalem surrounded him, and made many serious charges, which they failed to establish. 044 ACT 025 008 Paul’s answer to the charge was – ‘I have not committed any offense against the Jewish Law, or the Temple, or the Emperor.’ 044 ACT 025 009 But, as Festus wished to gain popularity with the Jews, he interrupted Paul with the question, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and be tried on these charges before me there?” 044 ACT 025 010 “No,” replied Paul, “I am standing at the Emperor’s court, where I ought to be tried. I have not wronged the Jews, as you yourself are well aware. 044 ACT 025 011 If, however, I am breaking the law and have committed any offense deserving death, I do not ask to escape the penalty; but, if there is nothing in the accusations of these people, no one has the power to give me up to them. I appeal to the Emperor.” 044 ACT 025 012 Festus, after conferring with his Council, answered, “You have appealed to the Emperor; to the Emperor you will go.” 044 ACT 025 013 Some days later King Agrippa and Bernice came down to Caesarea, and paid a visit of congratulation to Festus; 044 ACT 025 014 and, as they were staying there for several days, Festus laid Paul’s case before the king. “There is a man here,” he said, “left a prisoner by Felix, 044 ACT 025 015 about whom, when I came to Jerusalem, the Jewish chief priest and the elders laid an information, demanding judgment against him. 044 ACT 025 016 My answer to them was, that it was not the practice of Romans to give up anyone to their accusers until the accused had met them face to face, and had also had an opportunity of answering the charges brought against them. 044 ACT 025 017 So they met here, and without loss of time I took my seat on the Bench the very next day, and ordered the man to be brought before me. 044 ACT 025 018 But, when his accusers came forward, they brought no charge of wrongdoing such as I had expected; 044 ACT 025 019 but I found that there were certain questions in dispute between them about their own religion, and about some dead man called Jesus, whom Paul declared to be alive. 044 ACT 025 020 And, as I was at a loss how to enquire into questions of this kind, I asked Paul if he were willing to go up to Jerusalem, and be put on trial there. 044 ACT 025 021 Paul, however, appealed to have his case reserved for the consideration of his August Majesty, so I ordered him to be detained in custody, until I could send him to the Emperor.” 044 ACT 025 022 “I should like to hear this man myself,” Agrippa said to Festus. “You will hear him tomorrow,” Festus answered. 044 ACT 025 023 So the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice had come in full state and had entered the Audience Chamber, with the superior officers and the principal people of the city, by the order of Festus Paul was brought before them. 044 ACT 025 024 Then Festus said, “King Agrippa, and all here present, you see before you the man about whom the whole Jewish people have applied to me, both at Jerusalem and here, loudly asserting that he ought not to be allowed to live. 044 ACT 025 025 I found, however, that he had not done anything deserving death; so, as he had himself appealed to his August Majesty, I decided to send him. 044 ACT 025 026 But I have nothing definite to write about him to my Imperial Master; and for that reason I have brought him before you all, and especially before you, King Agrippa, that, after examining him, I may have something to write. 044 ACT 025 027 For it seems to me absurd to send a prisoner, without at the same time stating the charges made against him.” 044 ACT 026 001 Turning to Paul, Agrippa said, “You are at liberty to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and began his defense. 044 ACT 026 002 “I have been congratulating myself, King Agrippa,” he said, “that it is before you that I have to make my defense today, with regard to all the charges brought against me by my own people, 044 ACT 026 003 especially as you are so well-versed in all the customs and questions of the Jewish world. I beg you therefore to give me a patient hearing. 044 ACT 026 004 My life, then, from youth upwards, was passed, from the very first, among my own nation, and in Jerusalem, and is within the knowledge of all Jews; 044 ACT 026 005 and they have always known – if they choose to give evidence – that, in accordance with the very strictest form of our religion, I lived a true Pharisee. 044 ACT 026 006 Even now, it is because of my hope in the promise given by God to our ancestors that I stand here on my trial – 044 ACT 026 007 A promise which our twelve tribes, by earnest service night and day, hope to see fulfilled. It is for this hope, your Majesty, that I am accused – and by Jews themselves! 044 ACT 026 008 Why do you all hold it incredible that God should raise the dead? 044 ACT 026 009 I myself, it is true, once thought it my duty to oppose in every way the name of Jesus of Nazareth; 044 ACT 026 010 and I actually did so at Jerusalem. Acting on the authority of the chief priests, I myself threw many of the people of Christ into prison, and, when it was proposed to put them to death, I gave my vote for it. 044 ACT 026 011 Time after time, in every synagogue, I tried by punishments to force them to blaspheme. So frantic was I against them, that I pursued them even to towns beyond our borders. 044 ACT 026 012 It was while I was traveling to Damascus on an errand of this kind, entrusted with full powers by the chief priests, 044 ACT 026 013 that at midday, your Majesty, I saw right in my path, coming from the heavens, a light brighter than the glare of the sun, which shone all around me and those traveling with me. 044 ACT 026 014 We all fell to the ground, and then I heard a voice saying to me in Hebrew – ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? By kicking against the goad you are punishing yourself.’ 044 ACT 026 015 ‘Who are you, Lord?’ I asked. And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting; 044 ACT 026 016 but get up and stand upright; for I have appeared to you in order to appoint you a servant and a witness of those revelations of me which you have already had, and of those in which I will yet appear to you, 044 ACT 026 017 since I am choosing you out from your own people and from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, 044 ACT 026 018 to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God; so that they may receive pardon for their sins, and a place among those who have become God’s people, by faith in me.’ 044 ACT 026 019 After that, King Agrippa, I did not fail to obey the heavenly vision; 044 ACT 026 020 on the contrary, first to those at Damascus and Jerusalem, and then through the whole of Judea, and to the Gentiles as well, I began to preach repentance and conversion to God, and a life befitting that repentance. 044 ACT 026 021 This is why some men seized me in the Temple, and made attempts on my life. 044 ACT 026 022 However I have received help from God to this very day, and so stand here, and bear my testimony to high and low alike – without adding a word to what the prophets, as well as Moses, declared should happen – 044 ACT 026 023 That the Christ must suffer, and that, by rising from the dead, he was destined to be the first to bring news of light, not only to our nation, but also to the Gentiles.” 044 ACT 026 024 While Paul was making this defense, Festus called out loudly, “You are mad, Paul; your great learning is driving you mad.” 044 ACT 026 025 “I am not mad, your Excellency,” he replied. “On the contrary, the statements that I am making are true and sober. 044 ACT 026 026 Indeed, the king knows about these matters, so I speak before him without constraint. I am sure that there is nothing whatever of what I have been telling him that has escaped his attention; for all this has not been done in a corner. 044 ACT 026 027 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.” 044 ACT 026 028 But Agrippa said to Paul, “You are soon trying to make a Christian of me!” 044 ACT 026 029 “Whether it is soon or late,” answered Paul, “I pray to God that not only you, but all who are listening to me, might today become just what I am myself – except for these chains!” 044 ACT 026 030 Then the king rose, with the Governor and Bernice and those who had been sitting with them, 044 ACT 026 031 and, after retiring, discussed the case among themselves. “There is nothing,” they said, “deserving death or imprisonment in this man’s conduct”; 044 ACT 026 032 and, speaking to Festus, Agrippa added, “The man might have been discharged, if he had not appealed to the Emperor.” 044 ACT 027 001 As it was decided that we were to sail to Italy, Paul and some other prisoners were put in charge of a centurion of the Augustan Guard, named Julius. 044 ACT 027 002 We went on board a ship from Adramyttium, which was on the point of sailing to the ports along the coast of Roman Asia, and put to sea. Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, went with us. 044 ACT 027 003 The next day we put in to Sidon, where Julius treated Paul in a friendly manner, and allowed him to go to see his friends and receive their hospitality. 044 ACT 027 004 Putting to sea again, we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the wind was against us; 044 ACT 027 005 and, after crossing the sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we reached Myra in Lycia. 044 ACT 027 006 There the Roman officer found an Alexandrian ship on her way to Italy, and put us on board of her. 044 ACT 027 007 For several days our progress was slow, and it was only with difficulty that we arrived off Cnidus. As the wind was still unfavorable when we came off Cape Salmone, we sailed under the lee of Crete, 044 ACT 027 008 and with difficulty, by keeping close in shore, we reached a place called ‘Fair Havens,’ near which was the town of Lasea. 044 ACT 027 009 This had taken a considerable time, and sailing was already dangerous, for the Fast was already over; and so Paul gave this warning. 044 ACT 027 010 “My friends,” he said, “I see that this voyage will be attended with injury and much damage, not only to the cargo and the ship, but to our own lives also.” 044 ACT 027 011 The Roman officer, however, was more influenced by the captain and the owner than by what was said by Paul. 044 ACT 027 012 And, as the harbor was not a suitable one to winter in, the majority were in favor of continuing the voyage, in hope of being able to reach Phoenix, and winter there. Phoenix was a Cretan harbor, open to the north-east and south-east. 044 ACT 027 013 So, when a light wind sprang up from the south, thinking that they had found their opportunity, they weighed anchor and kept along the coast of Crete, close in shore. 044 ACT 027 014 But shortly afterward a hurricane came down on us off the land – a north-easter, as it is called. 044 ACT 027 015 The ship was caught by it and was unable to keep her head to the wind, so we had to give way and let her drive before it. 044 ACT 027 016 Running under the lee of a small island called Cauda, we only just managed to secure the ship’s boat, 044 ACT 027 017 and, after hoisting it on board, the men frapped the ship. But, afraid of being driven on to the Syrtis Sands, they lowered the yard, and then drifted. 044 ACT 027 018 So violently were we tossed about by the storm, that the next day they began throwing the cargo overboard, 044 ACT 027 019 and, on the following day, threw out the ship’s tackle with their own hands. 044 ACT 027 020 As neither sun nor stars were visible for several days, and, as the gale still continued severe, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned. 044 ACT 027 021 It was then, when they had gone a long time without food, that Paul came forward, and said, “My friends, you should have listened to me, and not have sailed from Crete and so incurred this injury and damage. 044 ACT 027 022 Yet, even as things are, I beg you not to lose courage, for there will not be a single life lost among you – only the ship. 044 ACT 027 023 For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong, and whom I serve, stood by me, and said – 044 ACT 027 024 ‘Have no fear, Paul; you must appear before the Emperor, and God himself has given you the lives of all your fellow voyagers.’ 044 ACT 027 025 Therefore, courage, my friends! For I believe God, that everything will happen exactly as I have been told. 044 ACT 027 026 We will, however, have to be driven on some island.” 044 ACT 027 027 It was now the fourteenth night of the storm, and we were drifting about in the Adriatic Sea, when, about midnight, the sailors began to suspect that they were drawing near land. 044 ACT 027 028 So they took soundings, and found twenty fathoms of water. After waiting a little, they took soundings again, and found fifteen fathoms. 044 ACT 027 029 Then, as they were afraid of our being driven on some rocky coast, they let go four anchors from the stern, and longed for daylight. 044 ACT 027 030 The sailors wanted to leave the ship, and had lowered the boat, on pretense of running out anchors from the bows, 044 ACT 027 031 when Paul said to the Roman officer and his men, “Unless the sailors remain on board, you cannot be saved.” 044 ACT 027 032 So the soldiers cut the ropes which held the boat, and let her drift away. 044 ACT 027 033 In the interval before daybreak Paul kept urging them all to take something to eat. “It is a fortnight today,” he said, “that, owing to your anxiety, you have gone without food, taking nothing. 044 ACT 027 034 So I beg you to take something to eat; your safety depends on it, for not one of you will lose even a hair of his head.” 044 ACT 027 035 With these words he took some bread, and, after saying the thanksgiving to God before them all, broke it in pieces, and began to eat; 044 ACT 027 036 and the men all felt cheered and had something to eat themselves. 044 ACT 027 037 There were about seventy-six of us on board, all told. 044 ACT 027 038 After satisfying their hunger, they further lightened the ship by throwing the grain into the sea. 044 ACT 027 039 When daylight came, they could not make out what land it was, but, observing a creek in which there was a beach, they consulted as to whether they could run the ship safely into it. 044 ACT 027 040 Then they cast off, and abandoned the anchors, and at the same time unlashed the gear of the steering oars, hoisted the foresail to the wind, and made for the beach. 044 ACT 027 041 They got, however, into a kind of channel, and there ran the ship aground. The bows stuck fast and could not be moved, while the stern began breaking up under the strain. 044 ACT 027 042 The advice of the soldiers was that the prisoners should be killed, so that none of them could swim away and make their escape. 044 ACT 027 043 But the Roman officer, anxious to save Paul, prevented their carrying out their intention, and ordered that those who could swim should be the first to jump into the sea and try to reach the shore; 044 ACT 027 044 and that the rest should follow, some on planks, and others on different pieces of the ship. In these various ways everyone managed to get safely ashore. 044 ACT 028 001 When we were all safe, we found that the island was called Malta. 044 ACT 028 002 The island’s people showed us marked kindness, for they lit a fire and took us all under shelter, because it had come on to rain and was cold. 044 ACT 028 003 Paul had gathered a quantity of dry sticks and laid them on the fire, when a poisonous snake, driven out by the heat, fastened on his hand. 044 ACT 028 004 When the islanders saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “Evidently this man is a murderer, for though he has been saved from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.” 044 ACT 028 005 However, Paul shook the creature off into the fire and took no harm. 044 ACT 028 006 The islanders were expecting inflammation to set in, or that he would suddenly fall dead; but, after waiting for a long time, and seeing that there was nothing amiss with him, they changed their minds and said that he was a God. 044 ACT 028 007 In that region there was an estate belonging to the Governor of the island, whose name was Publius. He took us up to his house, and for three days entertained us most courteously. 044 ACT 028 008 It happened that the father of Publius was lying ill of fever and dysentery. So Paul went to see him; and, after praying, he placed his hands on him and cured him. 044 ACT 028 009 After this, all the people in the island who had any illness came to Paul, and were cured. 044 ACT 028 010 They also presented us with many gifts, and when we set sail they put supplies of necessaries on board. 044 ACT 028 011 After three months, we set sail in a ship that had wintered in the island. She was an Alexandrian vessel, and had the Twin sons of Zeus for her figure-head. 044 ACT 028 012 We put in at Syracuse and stayed there three days, 044 ACT 028 013 and from there we worked to windward and so got to Rhegium. A day later a south wind sprang up and took us to Puteoli in two days. 044 ACT 028 014 There we found some of the Lord’s followers, and were urged to stay a week with them; after which we went on to Rome. 044 ACT 028 015 The followers there had heard about us, and came out as far as the Market of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. At sight of them Paul thanked God and was much cheered. 044 ACT 028 016 On our reaching Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, except for the soldier who was in charge of him. 044 ACT 028 017 Three days after our arrival, Paul invited the leading Jews to meet him; and, when they came, he said, “Brothers, although I had done nothing hostile to the interests of our nation or to our ancestral customs, yet I was sent from Jerusalem as a prisoner, and handed over to the Romans. 044 ACT 028 018 The Romans, when they had examined me, were ready to release me, because there was nothing in my conduct deserving death. 044 ACT 028 019 But, as the Jewish leaders opposed my release, I was compelled to appeal to the Emperor – not, indeed, that I had any charge to make against my own nation. 044 ACT 028 020 This, then, is my reason for urging you to come to see me and talk with me; because it is for the sake of the hope of Israel that I am here in chains.” 044 ACT 028 021 “We,” was their reply, “have not had any letter about you from Judea, nor have any of our fellow Jews come and reported or said anything bad about you. 044 ACT 028 022 But we will be glad to hear from you what your views are, for, with regard to this sect, we are well aware that it is spoken against on all sides.” 044 ACT 028 023 They then fixed a day with him, and came to the place where he was staying, in even larger numbers, when Paul proceeded to lay the subject before them. He bore his testimony to the kingdom of God, and tried to convince them about Jesus, by arguments drawn from the Law of Moses and from the prophets – speaking from morning until evening. 044 ACT 028 024 Some were inclined to accept what he said; others, however, rejected it. 044 ACT 028 025 So, as they disagreed among themselves, they began to disperse, Paul adding only – “True, indeed, was the declaration made by the Holy Spirit, through the prophet Isaiah to your ancestors – 044 ACT 028 026 Go to this nation and say: You will hear with your ears without ever understanding, and, though you have eyes, you will see without ever perceiving. 044 ACT 028 027 For the mind of this nation has grown dense, and their ears are dull of hearing, their eyes also have they closed; otherwise some day they might see with their eyes, and with their ears they might hear, and in their mind they might understand, and might turn – and I might heal them. 044 ACT 028 028 Understand, then, that this salvation of God was sent for the Gentiles; and they will listen.” 044 ACT 028 030 For two whole years Paul stayed in a house which he rented for himself, welcoming all who came to see him, 044 ACT 028 031 proclaiming the kingdom of God, and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ, with perfect fearlessness, unhindered. # # BOOK 045 ROM Romans Romans 045 ROM 001 001 From Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, who has been called to become an apostle, and has been set apart to tell God’s good news. 045 ROM 001 002 This good news God promised long ago through his prophets in the sacred scriptures, 045 ROM 001 003 concerning his Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord; who, as to his human nature, was descended from David, 045 ROM 001 004 but, as to the spirit of holiness within him, was miraculously designated Son of God by his resurrection from the dead. 045 ROM 001 005 Through him we received the gift of the apostolic office, to win submission to the faith among all nations for the glory of his name. 045 ROM 001 006 And among these nations are you – you who have been called to belong to Jesus Christ. 045 ROM 001 007 To all in Rome who are dear to God and have been called to become Christ’s people, may God, our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ bless you and give you peace. 045 ROM 001 008 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, because the report of your faith is spreading throughout the world. 045 ROM 001 009 God, to whom I offer the worship of my soul as I tell the goodness of his Son, is my witness how constantly I mention you when I pray, 045 ROM 001 010 asking that, if he be willing, I may some day at last find the way open to visit you. 045 ROM 001 011 For I long to see you, in order to impart to you some spiritual gift and so give you fresh strength – 045 ROM 001 012 or rather that both you and I may find encouragement in each other’s faith. 045 ROM 001 013 I want you to know, my friends, that I have many times intended coming to see you – but until now I have been prevented – that I might find among you some fruit of my labors, as I have already among the other nations. 045 ROM 001 014 I have a duty to both the Greek and the barbarian, to both the cultured and the ignorant. 045 ROM 001 015 And so, for my part, I am ready to tell the good news to you also who are in Rome. 045 ROM 001 016 For I am not ashamed of the good news; it is the power of God which brings salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first, but also to the Greek. 045 ROM 001 017 For in it there is a revelation of the divine righteousness resulting from faith and leading on to faith; as scripture says – ‘Through faith the righteous will find life.’ 045 ROM 001 018 So, too, there is a revelation from heaven of the divine wrath against every form of ungodliness and wickedness on the part of those people who, by their wicked lives, are stifling the truth. 045 ROM 001 019 This is so, because what can be known about God is plain to them; for God himself has made it plain. 045 ROM 001 020 For ever since the creation of the universe God’s invisible attributes – his everlasting power and divinity – are to be seen and studied in his works, so that people have no excuse; (aïdios g126) 045 ROM 001 021 because, although they learned to know God, yet they did not offer him as God either praise or thanksgiving. Their speculations about him proved futile, and their undiscerning minds were darkened. 045 ROM 001 022 Professing to be wise, they showed themselves fools; 045 ROM 001 023 and they transformed the glory of the immortal God into the likeness of mortal humans, and of birds, and beasts, and reptiles. 045 ROM 001 024 Therefore God abandoned them to impurity, letting them follow the cravings of their hearts, until they dishonored their own bodies; 045 ROM 001 025 for they had substituted a lie for the truth about God, and had reverenced and worshiped created things more than the Creator, who is to be praised for ever. Amen. (aiōn g165) 045 ROM 001 026 That, I say, is why God abandoned them to degrading passions. Even the women among them perverted the natural use of their bodies to the unnatural; 045 ROM 001 027 while the men, disregarding that for which women were intended by nature, were consumed with passion for one another. Men indulged in vile practices with men, and incurred in their own persons the inevitable penalty for their perverseness. 045 ROM 001 028 Then, as they would not keep God before their minds, God abandoned them to depraved thoughts, so that they did all kinds of shameful things. 045 ROM 001 029 They reveled in every form of wickedness, evil, greed, vice. Their lives were full of envy, murder, quarreling, treachery, malice. 045 ROM 001 030 They became back-biters, slanderers, impious, insolent, boastful. They devised new sins. They disobeyed their parents. 045 ROM 001 031 They were undiscerning, untrustworthy, without natural affection or pity. 045 ROM 001 032 Well aware of God’s decree, that those who do such things deserve to die, not only are they guilty of them themselves, but they even applaud those who do them. 045 ROM 002 001 Therefore you have nothing to say in your own defense, whoever you are who set yourself up as a judge. In judging others you condemn yourself, for you who set yourself up as a judge do the very same things. 045 ROM 002 002 And we know that God’s judgment falls unerringly on those who do them. 045 ROM 002 003 You who judge those that do such things and yet are yourself guilty of them – do you suppose that you of all people will escape God’s judgment? 045 ROM 002 004 Or do you think lightly of his abundant kindness, patience, and forbearance, not realizing that his kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? 045 ROM 002 005 Hard-hearted and impenitent as you are, you are storing up for yourself wrath on the day of wrath, when God’s justice as a judge will be revealed; 045 ROM 002 006 for he will give to everyone what their actions deserve. 045 ROM 002 007 To those who, by perseverance in doing good, aim at glory, honor, and all that is imperishable, he will give immortal life; (aiōnios g166) 045 ROM 002 008 while as to those who are factious, and disobedient to truth but obedient to evil, wrath and anger, distress and despair, 045 ROM 002 009 will fall on every human being who persists in wrongdoing – on the Jew first, but also on the Greek. 045 ROM 002 010 But there will be glory, honor, and peace for everyone who does right – for the Jew first, but also for the Greek, 045 ROM 002 011 since God shows no partiality. 045 ROM 002 012 All who, when they sin, are without Law will also perish without Law; while all who, when they sin, are under Law, will be judged as being under Law. 045 ROM 002 013 It is not those who hear the words of a Law that are righteous before God, but it is those who obey it that will be pronounced righteous. 045 ROM 002 014 When Gentiles, who have no Law, do instinctively what the Law requires, they, though they have no Law, are a Law to themselves; 045 ROM 002 015 for they show the demands of the Law written on their hearts; their consciences corroborating it, while in their thoughts they argue either in self-accusation or, it may be, in self-defense – 045 ROM 002 016 on the day when God passes judgment on people’s inmost lives, as the good news that I tell declares that he will do through Christ Jesus. 045 ROM 002 017 But, perhaps, you bear the name of ‘Jew,’ and are relying on Law, and boast of belonging to God, and understand his will, 045 ROM 002 018 and, having been carefully instructed from the Law, have learned to appreciate the finer moral distinctions. 045 ROM 002 019 Perhaps you are confident that you are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in the dark, an instructor of the unintelligent, 045 ROM 002 020 and a teacher of the childish, because in the Law you possess the outline of all knowledge and truth. 045 ROM 002 021 Why, then, you teacher of others, don’t you teach yourself? Do you preach against stealing, and yet steal? 045 ROM 002 022 Do you forbid adultery, and yet commit adultery? Do you loathe idols, and yet plunder temples? 045 ROM 002 023 Boasting, as you do, of your Law, do you dishonor God by breaking the Law? 045 ROM 002 024 For, as scripture says – ‘The Gentiles insult God’s name because of you’! 045 ROM 002 025 Circumcision has its value, if you are obeying the Law. But, if you are a breaker of the Law, your circumcision is no better than uncircumcision. 045 ROM 002 026 If, then, an uncircumcised man pays regard to the requirements of the Law, won’t he, although not circumcised, be regarded by God as if he were? 045 ROM 002 027 Indeed, the person who, owing to his birth, remains uncircumcised, and yet scrupulously obeys the Law, will condemn you, who, for all your written Law and your circumcision, are yet a breaker of the Law. 045 ROM 002 028 For a man who is only a Jew outwardly is not a real Jew; nor is outward bodily circumcision real circumcision. The real Jew is the person who is a Jew in soul; 045 ROM 002 029 and the real circumcision is the circumcision of the heart, a spiritual and not a literal thing. Such a person wins praise from God, though not from people. 045 ROM 003 001 What is the advantage, then, of being a Jew? Or what is the good of circumcision? 045 ROM 003 002 Great in every way. First of all, because the Jews were entrusted with God’s utterances. 045 ROM 003 003 What follows then? Some, no doubt, showed a want of faith; but will their want of faith make God break faith? Heaven forbid! 045 ROM 003 004 God must prove true, though everyone prove a liar! As scripture says of God – ‘That you may be pronounced righteous in what you say, and gain your cause when people would judge you.’ 045 ROM 003 005 But what if our wrongdoing makes God’s righteousness all the clearer? Will God be wrong in inflicting punishment? (I can but speak as a person.) Heaven forbid! 045 ROM 003 006 Otherwise how can God judge the world? 045 ROM 003 007 But, if my falsehood redounds to the glory of God, by making his truthfulness more apparent, why am I like others, still condemned as a sinner? 045 ROM 003 008 Why should we not say – as some people slanderously assert that we do say – ‘Let us do evil that good may come’? The condemnation of such people is indeed just! 045 ROM 003 009 What follows, then? Are we Jews in any way superior to others? Not at all. Our indictment against both Jews and Greeks was that all alike were in subjection to sin. 045 ROM 003 010 As scripture says – ‘There is not even one who is righteous, 045 ROM 003 011 not one who understands, not one who is searching for God! 045 ROM 003 012 They have all gone astray; they have one and all become depraved; there is no one who is doing good – no, not one!’ 045 ROM 003 013 ‘Their throats are like opened graves; they deceive with their tongues.’ ‘The venom of snakes lies behind their lips,’ 045 ROM 003 014 ‘And their mouths are full of bitter curses.’ 045 ROM 003 015 ‘Swift are their feet to shed blood. 045 ROM 003 016 Distress and trouble dog their steps, 045 ROM 003 017 and the path of peace they do not know.’ 045 ROM 003 018 ‘The fear of God is not before their eyes.’ 045 ROM 003 019 Now we know that everything said in the Law is addressed to those who are under its authority, in order that every mouth may be closed, and to bring the whole world under God’s judgment. 045 ROM 003 020 For no human being will be pronounced righteous before God as the result of obedience to Law; for it is Law that shows what sin is. 045 ROM 003 021 But now, quite apart from Law, the divine righteousness stands revealed, and to it the Law and the prophets bear witness – 045 ROM 003 022 the divine righteousness which is bestowed, through faith in Jesus Christ, on all, without distinction, who believe in him. 045 ROM 003 023 For all have sinned, and all fall short of God’s glorious ideal, 045 ROM 003 024 but, in his loving kindness, are being freely pronounced righteous through the deliverance found in Christ Jesus. 045 ROM 003 025 For God set him before the world, to be, by the shedding of his blood, a means of reconciliation through faith. And this God did to prove his righteousness, and because, in his forbearance, he had passed over the sins that people had previously committed; 045 ROM 003 026 as a proof, I repeat, at the present time, of his own righteousness, that he might be righteous in our eyes, and might pronounce righteous the person who takes their stand on faith in Jesus. 045 ROM 003 027 What, then, becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what sort of Law? A Law requiring obedience? No, a Law requiring faith. 045 ROM 003 028 For we conclude that a person is pronounced righteous on the ground of faith, quite apart from obedience to Law. 045 ROM 003 029 Or can it be that God is the God only of the Jews? Isn’t he also the God of the Gentiles? 045 ROM 003 030 Yes, of the Gentiles also, since there is only one God, and he will pronounce those who are circumcised righteous as the result of faith, and also those who are uncircumcised on their showing the same faith. 045 ROM 003 031 Do we, then, use this faith to abolish Law? Heaven forbid! No, we establish Law. 045 ROM 004 001 What then, it may be asked, are we to say about Abraham, the ancestor of our nation? 045 ROM 004 002 If he was pronounced righteous as the result of obedience, then he has something to boast of. Yes, but not before God. 045 ROM 004 003 For what are the words of scripture? ‘Abraham had faith in God, and his faith was regarded by God as righteousness.’ 045 ROM 004 004 Now wages are regarded as due to the person who works, not as a favor, but as a debt; 045 ROM 004 005 while, as for the person who does not rely on their obedience, but has faith in him who can pronounce the godless righteous, their faith is regarded by God as righteousness. 045 ROM 004 006 In precisely the same way David speaks of the blessing pronounced on the person who is regarded by God as righteous apart from actions – 045 ROM 004 007 ‘Blessed are those whose wrongdoings have been forgiven and over whose sins a veil has been drawn! 045 ROM 004 008 Blessed the man whom the Lord will never regard as sinful!’ 045 ROM 004 009 Is this blessing, then, pronounced on the circumcised only or on the uncircumcised as well? We say that – ‘Abraham’s faith was regarded by God as righteousness.’ 045 ROM 004 010 Under what circumstances, then, did this take place? After his circumcision or before it? 045 ROM 004 011 Not after, but before. And it was as a sign of this that he received the rite of circumcision – to show the righteousness due to the faith of an uncircumcised man – in order that he might be the father of all who have faith in God even when uncircumcised, so that they also may be regarded by God as righteous; 045 ROM 004 012 as well as father of the circumcised – to those who are not only circumcised, but who also follow our father Abraham in that faith which he had while still uncircumcised. 045 ROM 004 013 For the promise that he should inherit the world did not come to Abraham or his descendants through Law, but through the righteousness due to faith. 045 ROM 004 014 If those who take their stand on Law are to inherit the world, then faith is robbed of its meaning and the promise comes to nothing! 045 ROM 004 015 Law entails punishment; but, where no Law exists, no breach of it is possible. 045 ROM 004 016 That is why everything is made to depend on faith: so that everything may be God’s gift, and in order that the fulfillment of the promise may be made certain for all Abraham’s descendants – not only for those who take their stand on the Law, but also for those who take their stand on the faith of Abraham. (He is the father of us all; 045 ROM 004 017 as scripture says – ‘I have made you the father of many nations.’) And this they do in the sight of that God in whom Abraham had faith, and who gives life to the dead, and speaks of what does not yet exist as if it did. 045 ROM 004 018 With no ground for hope, Abraham, sustained by hope, put faith in God; in order that, in fulfillment of the words – ‘So many will your descendants be,’ he might become ‘the father of many nations.’ 045 ROM 004 019 Though he was nearly a hundred years old, yet his faith did not fail him, even when he thought of his own body, then utterly worn out, and remembered that Sarah was past bearing children. 045 ROM 004 020 He was not led by want of faith to doubt God’s promise. 045 ROM 004 021 On the contrary, his faith gave him strength; and he praised God, in the firm conviction that what God has promised he is also able to carry out. 045 ROM 004 022 And therefore his faith ‘was regarded as righteousness.’ 045 ROM 004 023 Now these words – ‘it was regarded as righteousness’ – were not written with reference to Abraham only; 045 ROM 004 024 but also with reference to us. Our faith, too, will be regarded by God in the same light, if we have faith in him who raised Jesus, our Lord, from the dead; 045 ROM 004 025 for Jesus was given up to death to atone for our offenses, and was raised to life that we might be pronounced righteous. 045 ROM 005 001 Therefore, having been pronounced righteous as the result of faith, let us enjoy peace with God through Jesus Christ, our Lord. 045 ROM 005 002 It is through him that, by reason of our faith, we have obtained admission to that place in God’s favor in which we now stand. So let us exult in our hope of attaining God’s glorious ideal. 045 ROM 005 003 And not only that, but let us also exult in our troubles; 045 ROM 005 004 for we know that trouble develops endurance, and endurance strength of character, and strength of character hope, 045 ROM 005 005 and that hope never disappoints. For the love of God has filled our hearts through the Holy Spirit which was given us; 045 ROM 005 006 seeing that, while we were still powerless, Christ, in God’s good time, died on behalf of the godless. 045 ROM 005 007 Even for an upright person scarcely anyone will die. For a really good person perhaps someone might even dare to die. 045 ROM 005 008 But God puts his love for us beyond all doubt by the fact that Christ died on our behalf while we were still sinners. 045 ROM 005 009 Much more, then, now that we have been pronounced righteous by virtue of the shedding of his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath of God. 045 ROM 005 010 For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, much more, now that we have become reconciled, will we be saved by virtue of Christ’s life. 045 ROM 005 011 And not only that, but we exult in God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, through whom we have now obtained this reconciliation. 045 ROM 005 012 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and through sin came death; so, also, death spread to all humanity, because every person has sinned. 045 ROM 005 013 Even before the time of the Law there was sin in the world; but sin cannot be charged against someone where no Law exists. 045 ROM 005 014 Yet, from Adam to Moses, death reigned even over those whose sin was not a breach of a law, as Adam’s was. And Adam foreshadows the one to come. 045 ROM 005 015 But there is a contrast between Adam’s offense and God’s gracious gift. For, if by reason of the offense of the one man the whole human race died, far more were the loving kindness of God, and the gift given in the loving kindness of the one man, Jesus Christ, lavished on the whole human race. 045 ROM 005 016 There is a contrast, too, between the gift and the results of the one man’s sin. The judgment, which followed on the one man’s sin, resulted in condemnation, but God’s gracious gift, which followed on many offenses, resulted in a decree of righteousness. 045 ROM 005 017 For if, by reason of the offense of the one man, death reigned through that one man, far more will those, on whom God’s loving kindness and his gift of righteousness are lavished, find life, and reign through the one man, Jesus Christ. 045 ROM 005 018 Briefly then, just as a single offense resulted for all humanity in condemnation, so, too, a single decree of righteousness resulted for all humanity in that declaration of righteousness which brings life. 045 ROM 005 019 For, as through the disobedience of the one man the whole human race was rendered sinful, so, too, through the obedience of the one, the whole human race will be rendered righteous. 045 ROM 005 020 Law was introduced in order that offenses might be multiplied. But, where sins were multiplied, the loving kindness of God was lavished the more, 045 ROM 005 021 in order that, just as sin had reigned in the realm of death, so, too, might loving-kindness reign through righteousness, and result in eternal life, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. (aiōnios g166) 045 ROM 006 001 What are we to say, then? Are we to continue to sin, in order that God’s loving kindness may be multiplied? 045 ROM 006 002 Heaven forbid! We became dead to sin, so how can we go on living in it? 045 ROM 006 003 Or can it be that you do not know that all of us, who were baptized into union with Christ Jesus, in our baptism shared his death? 045 ROM 006 004 Consequently, through sharing his death in our baptism, we were buried with him; so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by a manifestation of the Father’s power, so we also may live a new life. 045 ROM 006 005 If we have become united with him by the act symbolic of his death, surely we will also become united with him by the act symbolic of his resurrection. 045 ROM 006 006 We recognize the truth that our old self was crucified with Christ, in order that the body, the stronghold of sin, might be rendered powerless, so that we should no longer be slaves to sin. 045 ROM 006 007 For the man who has so died has been pronounced righteous and released from sin. 045 ROM 006 008 And our belief is, that, as we have shared Christ’s death, we will also share his life. 045 ROM 006 009 We know, indeed, that Christ, having once risen from the dead, will not die again. Death has power over him no longer. 045 ROM 006 010 For the death that he died was a death to sin, once and for all. But the life that he now lives, he lives for God. 045 ROM 006 011 So let it be with you – regard yourselves as dead to sin, but as living for God, through union with Christ Jesus. 045 ROM 006 012 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal bodies and compel you to obey its cravings. 045 ROM 006 013 Do not offer any part of your bodies to sin, in the cause of unrighteousness, but once for all offer yourselves to God (as those who, though once dead, now have life), and devote every part of your bodies to the cause of righteousness. 045 ROM 006 014 For sin will not lord it over you. You are living under the reign, not of Law, but of love. 045 ROM 006 015 What follows, then? Are we to sin because we are living under the reign of love and not of Law? Heaven forbid! 045 ROM 006 016 Surely you know that when you offer yourselves as servants, to obey anyone, you are the servants of the person whom you obey, whether the service be a service to sin which leads to death, or a service to duty which leads to righteousness. 045 ROM 006 017 God be thanked that, though you were once servants of sin, yet you learned to give hearty obedience to that form of doctrine under which you were placed. 045 ROM 006 018 Set free from the control of sin, you became servants to righteousness. 045 ROM 006 019 I can but speak as people do because of the weakness of your earthly nature. Once you offered every part of your bodies to the service of impurity, and of wickedness, which leads to further wickedness. Now, in the same way, offer them to the service of righteousness, which leads to holiness. 045 ROM 006 020 While you were still servants of sin, you were free as regards righteousness. 045 ROM 006 021 But what were the fruits that you reaped from those things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of such things is death. 045 ROM 006 022 But now that you have been set free from the control of sin, and have become servants to God, the fruit that you reap is an ever increasing holiness, and the end eternal life. (aiōnios g166) 045 ROM 006 023 The wages of sin are death, but the gift of God is eternal life, through union with Christ Jesus, our Lord. (aiōnios g166) 045 ROM 007 001 Surely, friends, you know (for I am speaking to people who know what Law means) that Law has power over a person only as long as they lives. 045 ROM 007 002 For example, by law a married woman is bound to her husband while he is living; but, if her husband dies, she is set free from the law that bound her to him. 045 ROM 007 003 If, then, during her husband’s lifetime, she unites herself to another man, she will be called an adulteress; but, if her husband dies, the law has no further hold on her, nor, if she unites herself to another man, is she an adulteress. 045 ROM 007 004 And so with you, my friends; as far as the Law was concerned, you underwent death in the crucified body of the Christ, so that you might be united to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that our lives might bear fruit for God. 045 ROM 007 005 When we were living merely earthly lives, our sinful passions, aroused by the Law, were active in every part of our bodies, with the result that our lives bore fruit for death. 045 ROM 007 006 But now we are set free from the Law, because we are dead to that which once kept us under restraint; and so we serve under new, spiritual conditions, and not under old, written regulations. 045 ROM 007 007 What are we to say, then? That Law and sin are the same thing? Heaven forbid! On the contrary, I should not have learned what sin is, had not it been for Law. If the Law did not say ‘You must not covet,’ I should not know what it is to covet. 045 ROM 007 008 But sin took advantage of the commandment to arouse in me every form of covetousness, for where there is no consciousness of Law sin shows no sign of life. 045 ROM 007 009 There was a time when I myself, unconscious of Law, was alive; but when the commandment was brought home to me, sin sprang into life, while I died! 045 ROM 007 010 The commandment that should have meant life I found to result in death! 045 ROM 007 011 Sin took advantage of the commandment to deceive me, and used it to bring about my death. 045 ROM 007 012 And so the Law is holy, and each commandment is also holy, and just, and good. 045 ROM 007 013 Did, then, a thing, which in itself was good, involve death in my case? Heaven forbid! It was sin that involved death; so that, by its use of what I regarded as good to bring about my death, its true nature might appear; and in this way the commandment showed how intensely sinful sin is. 045 ROM 007 014 We know that the Law is spiritual, but I am earthly – sold into slavery to sin. 045 ROM 007 015 I do not understand my own actions. For I am so far from habitually doing what I want to do, that I find myself doing the thing that I hate. 045 ROM 007 016 But when I do what I want not to do, I am admitting that the Law is right. 045 ROM 007 017 This being so, the action is no longer my own, but is done by the sin which is within me. 045 ROM 007 018 I know that there is nothing good in me – I mean in my earthly nature. For, although it is easy for me to want to do right, to act rightly is not easy. 045 ROM 007 019 I fail to do the good thing that I want to do, but the bad thing that I want not to do – that I habitually do. 045 ROM 007 020 But, when I do the thing that I want not to do, the action is no longer my own, but is done by the sin which is within me. 045 ROM 007 021 This, then, is the law that I find – when I want to do right, wrong presents itself! 045 ROM 007 022 At heart I delight in the Law of God; 045 ROM 007 023 but throughout my body I see a different law, one which is in conflict with the law accepted by my reason, and which endeavors to make me a prisoner to that law of sin which exists throughout my body. 045 ROM 007 024 Miserable man that I am! Who will deliver me from the body that is bringing me to this death? 045 ROM 007 025 Thank God, there is deliverance through Jesus Christ, our Lord! Well then, for myself, with my reason I serve the Law of God, but with my earthly nature the Law of sin. 045 ROM 008 001 There is, therefore, now no condemnation for those who are in union with Christ Jesus; 045 ROM 008 002 for through your union with Christ Jesus, the Law of the life-giving Spirit has set you free from the Law of sin and death. 045 ROM 008 003 What Law could not do, in so far as our earthly nature weakened its action, God did, by sending his own Son, with a nature resembling our sinful nature, to atone for sin. He condemned sin in that earthly nature, 045 ROM 008 004 so that the requirements of the Law might be satisfied in us who live now in obedience, not to our earthly nature, but to the Spirit. 045 ROM 008 005 They who follow their earthly nature are earthly-minded, while they who follow the Spirit are spiritually minded. 045 ROM 008 006 To be earthly-minded means death, to be spiritually minded means life and peace; 045 ROM 008 007 because to be earthly-minded is to be an enemy to God, for such a mind does not submit to the Law of God, nor indeed can it do so. 045 ROM 008 008 They who are earthly cannot please God. 045 ROM 008 009 You, however, are not earthly but spiritual, since the Spirit of God lives within you. Unless a person has the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ; 045 ROM 008 010 but, if Christ is within you, then, though the body is dead as a consequence of sin, the spirit is life as a consequence of righteousness. 045 ROM 008 011 And, if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead lives within you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will give life even to your mortal bodies, through his Spirit living within you. 045 ROM 008 012 So then, friends, we owe nothing to our earthly nature, that we should live in obedience to it. 045 ROM 008 013 If you live in obedience to your earthly nature, you will inevitably die; but if, by the power of the Spirit, you put an end to the evil habits of the body, you will live. 045 ROM 008 014 All who are guided by the Spirit of God are children of God. 045 ROM 008 015 For you did not receive the spirit of a slave, to fill you once more with fear, but the spirit of a child by adoption, which leads us to cry ‘Abba, our Father.’ 045 ROM 008 016 The Spirit himself unites with our spirits in bearing witness to our being God’s children, 045 ROM 008 017 and if children, then heirs – heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ, since we share Christ’s sufferings in order that we may also share his glory. 045 ROM 008 018 I do not count the sufferings of our present life worthy of mention when compared with the glory that is to be revealed and bestowed on us. 045 ROM 008 019 All nature awaits with eager expectation the appearing of the sons of God. 045 ROM 008 020 For nature was made subject to imperfection – not by its own choice, but owing to him who made it so – 045 ROM 008 021 yet not without the hope that some day nature, also, will be set free from enslavement to decay, and will attain to the freedom which will mark the glory of the children of God. 045 ROM 008 022 We know, indeed, that all nature alike has been groaning in the pains of labor to this very hour. 045 ROM 008 023 And not nature only; but we ourselves also, though we have already a first gift of the Spirit – we ourselves are inwardly groaning, while we eagerly await our full adoption as sons – the redemption of our bodies. 045 ROM 008 024 By our hope we were saved. But the thing hoped for is no longer an object of hope when it is before our eyes; for who hopes for what is before his eyes? 045 ROM 008 025 But when we hope for what is not before our eyes, then we wait for it with patience. 045 ROM 008 026 So, also, the Spirit supports us in our weakness. We do not even know how to pray as we should; but the Spirit himself pleads for us in sighs that can find no utterance. 045 ROM 008 027 Yet he who searches all our hearts knows what the Spirit’s meaning is, because the pleadings of the Spirit for Christ’s people are in accordance with his will. 045 ROM 008 028 But we do know that God causes all things to work together for the good of those who love him – those who have received the call in accordance with his purpose. 045 ROM 008 029 For those whom God chose from the first he also destined from the first to be transformed into likeness to his Son, so that his Son might be the eldest among many brothers and sisters. 045 ROM 008 030 And those whom God destined for this he also called; and those whom he called he also pronounced righteous; and those whom he pronounced righteous he also brought to glory. 045 ROM 008 031 What are we to say, then, in the light of all this? If God is on our side, who can there be against us? 045 ROM 008 032 God did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up on behalf of us all; will he not, then, with him, freely give us all things? 045 ROM 008 033 Who will bring a charge against any of God’s people? He who pronounces them righteous is God! 045 ROM 008 034 Who is there to condemn them? He who died for us is Christ Jesus! – or, rather, it was he who was raised from the dead, and who is now at God’s right hand and is even pleading on our behalf! 045 ROM 008 035 Who is there to separate us from the love of the Christ? Will trouble, or difficulty, or persecution, or hunger, or nakedness, or danger, or the sword? 045 ROM 008 036 Scripture says – ‘For your sake we are being killed all the day long, We are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.’ 045 ROM 008 037 Yet amid all these things we more than conquer through him who loved us! 045 ROM 008 038 For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor archangels, nor the present, nor the future, nor any powers, 045 ROM 008 039 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God revealed in Christ Jesus, our Lord! 045 ROM 009 001 I am speaking the truth as one in union with Christ; it is no lie; and my conscience, enlightened by the Holy Spirit, 045 ROM 009 002 bears me out when I say that there is a great weight of sorrow on me and that my heart is never free from pain. 045 ROM 009 003 I could wish that I were myself accursed and severed from the Christ, for the sake of my people – my own flesh and blood. 045 ROM 009 004 For they are Israelites, and theirs are the adoption as children, the visible presence, the covenants, the revealed Law, the Temple worship, and the promises. 045 ROM 009 005 They are descended from the patriarchs, and, as far as his human nature was concerned, from them came the Christ – he who is supreme over all things, God for ever blessed. Amen. (aiōn g165) 045 ROM 009 006 Not that God’s Word has failed. For it is not all who are descended from Israel who are true Israelites; 045 ROM 009 007 nor, because they are Abraham’s descendants, are they all his children; but – ‘It is Isaac’s children who will be called your descendants.’ 045 ROM 009 008 This means that it is not the children born in the course of nature who are God’s children, but it is the children born in fulfillment of the promise who are to be regarded as Abraham’s descendants. 045 ROM 009 009 For these words are the words of a promise – ‘About this time I will come, and Sarah will have a son.’ 045 ROM 009 010 Nor is that all. There is also the case of Rebecca, when she was about to bear children to our ancestor Isaac. 045 ROM 009 011 For in order that the purpose of God, working through selection, might not fail – a selection depending, not on obedience, but on his call – Rebecca was told, before her children were born and before they had done anything either right or wrong, 045 ROM 009 012 that the elder would be a servant to the younger. 045 ROM 009 013 The words of scripture are – ‘I loved Jacob, but I hated Esau.’ 045 ROM 009 014 What are we to say, then? Is God guilty of injustice? Heaven forbid! 045 ROM 009 015 For his words to Moses are – ‘I will take pity on whom I take pity, and be merciful to whom I am merciful.’ 045 ROM 009 016 So, then, all depends, not on human wishes or human efforts, but on God’s mercy. 045 ROM 009 017 In scripture, again, it is said to Pharaoh – ‘It was for this purpose that I raised you to the throne, to show my power by my dealings with you, and to make my name known throughout the world.’ 045 ROM 009 018 So, then, where God wills, he takes pity, and where he wills, he hardens the heart. 045 ROM 009 019 Perhaps you will say to me – ‘How can anyone still be blamed? For who withstands his purpose?’ 045 ROM 009 020 I might rather ask ‘Who are you who are arguing with God?’ Does a thing which a person has moulded say to the person who has moulded it ‘Why did you make me like this?’ 045 ROM 009 021 Has not the potter absolute power over their clay, so that out of the same lump they make one thing for better, and another for common, use? 045 ROM 009 022 And what if God, intending to reveal his displeasure and make his power known, bore most patiently with the objects of his displeasure, though they were fit only to be destroyed, 045 ROM 009 023 so as to make known his surpassing glory in dealing with the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared beforehand for glory, 045 ROM 009 024 and whom he called – even us – not only from among the Jews but from among the Gentiles also! 045 ROM 009 025 This, indeed, is what he says in the book of Hosea – ‘Those who were not my people, I will call my people, and those who were unloved I will love. 045 ROM 009 026 And in the place where it was said to them – “You are not my people”, they will be called sons of the living God.’ 045 ROM 009 027 And Isaiah cries aloud over Israel – ‘Though the sons of Israel are like the sand of the sea in number, only a remnant of them will escape! 045 ROM 009 028 For the Lord will execute his sentence on the world, fully and without delay.’ 045 ROM 009 029 It is as Isaiah foretold – ‘Had not the Lord of Hosts spared some few of our people to us, we should have become like Sodom and been made to resemble Gomorrah.’ 045 ROM 009 030 What are we to say, then? Why, that Gentiles, who were not in search of righteousness, secured it – a righteousness which was the result of faith; 045 ROM 009 031 while Israel, which was in search of a Law which would ensure righteousness, failed to discover one. 045 ROM 009 032 And why? Because they looked to obedience, and not to faith, to secure it. They stumbled over the stumbling-block. 045 ROM 009 033 As scripture says – ‘See, I place a stumbling-block in Zion – a rock which will prove a hindrance; and he who believes in him will have no cause for shame.’ 045 ROM 010 001 My friends, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for my people is for their salvation. 045 ROM 010 002 I can testify that they are zealous for the honor of God; but they are not guided by true insight, 045 ROM 010 003 for, in their ignorance of the divine righteousness, and in their eagerness to set up a righteousness of their own, they refused to accept with submission the divine righteousness. 045 ROM 010 004 For Christ has brought Law to an end, so that righteousness may be obtained by everyone who believes in him. 045 ROM 010 005 For Moses writes that, as for the righteousness which results from Law, those who practice it will find life through it. 045 ROM 010 006 But the righteousness which results from faith finds expression in these words: ‘Do not say to yourself “Who will go up into heaven?”’ (which means to bring Christ down) 045 ROM 010 007 ‘or “Who will go down into the depths below?”’ (which means to bring Christ up from the dead). (Abyssos g12) 045 ROM 010 008 No, but what does it say? ‘The message is near you, on your lips and in your heart’ (which means ‘The message of faith’ which we proclaim). 045 ROM 010 009 For, if with your lips you acknowledge the truth of the message that JESUS IS LORD, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 045 ROM 010 010 For with their hearts people believe and so attain to righteousness, while with their lips they make their profession of faith and so find salvation. 045 ROM 010 011 As the passage of scripture says – ‘No one who believes in him will have any cause for shame.’ 045 ROM 010 012 For no distinction is made between the Jew and the Greek, for all have the same Lord, and he is bountiful to all who invoke him. 045 ROM 010 013 For everyone who invokes the name of the Lord will be saved. 045 ROM 010 014 But how, it may be asked, are they to invoke one in whom they have not learned to believe? And how are they to believe in one whose words they have not heard? And how are they to hear his words unless someone proclaims him? 045 ROM 010 015 And how is anyone to proclaim him unless they are sent as his messengers? As scripture says – ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’ 045 ROM 010 016 Still, it may be said, everyone did not give heed to the good news. No, for Isaiah asks – ‘Lord, who has believed our teaching?’ 045 ROM 010 017 And so we gather, faith is a result of teaching, and the teaching comes in the message of Christ. 045 ROM 010 018 But I ask ‘Is it possible that people have never heard?’ No, indeed, for – ‘Their voices spread through all the earth, and their message to the ends of the world.’ 045 ROM 010 019 But again I ask ‘Did not the people of Israel understand?’ First there is Moses, who says – ‘I, the Lord, will stir you to rivalry with a nation which is no nation; against an undiscerning nation I will arouse your anger.’ 045 ROM 010 020 And Isaiah says boldly – ‘I was found by those who were not seeking me; I made myself known to those who were not inquiring of me.’ 045 ROM 010 021 But of the people of Israel he says – ‘All day long I have stretched out my hands to a people who disobey and contradict.’ 045 ROM 011 001 I ask, then, ‘Has God rejected his people?’ Heaven forbid! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 045 ROM 011 002 God has not rejected his people, whom he chose from the first. Have you forgotten the words of scripture in the story of Elijah – how he appeals to God against Israel? 045 ROM 011 003 ‘Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have pulled down your altars, and I only am left; and now they are eager to take my life.’ 045 ROM 011 004 But what was the divine response? ‘I have kept for myself seven thousand who have never bowed the knee to Baal.’ 045 ROM 011 005 And so in our own time, too, there is to be found a remnant of our nation selected by God in love. 045 ROM 011 006 But if in love, then it is not as a result of obedience. Otherwise love would cease to be love. 045 ROM 011 007 What follows from this? Why, that Israel as a nation failed to secure what it was seeking, while those whom God selected did secure it. 045 ROM 011 008 The rest grew callous; as scripture says – ‘God has given them a deadness of mind – eyes that are not to see and ears that are not to hear – and it is so to this very day.’ 045 ROM 011 009 David, too, says – ‘May their feasts prove a snare and a trap to them – a hindrance and a retribution; 045 ROM 011 010 may their eyes be darkened, so that they cannot see; and do you always make their backs to bend.’ 045 ROM 011 011 I ask then – ‘Was their stumbling to result in their fall?’ Heaven forbid! On the contrary, through their falling away salvation has reached the Gentiles, to stir the rivalry of Israel. 045 ROM 011 012 And, if their falling away has enriched the world, and their failure has enriched the Gentiles, how much more will result from their full restoration! 045 ROM 011 013 But I am speaking to you who were Gentiles. 045 ROM 011 014 Being myself an apostle to the Gentiles, I exalt my office, in the hope that I may stir my countrymen to rivalry, and so save some of them. 045 ROM 011 015 For, if their being cast aside has meant the reconciliation of the world, what will their reception mean, but life from the dead? 045 ROM 011 016 If the first handful of dough is holy, so is the whole mass, and if the root is holy, so are the branches. 045 ROM 011 017 Some, however, of the branches were broken off, and you, who were only a wild olive, were grafted in among them, and came to share with them the root which is the source of the richness of the cultivated olive. 045 ROM 011 018 Yet do not exult over the other branches. But, if you do exult over them, remember that you do not support the root, but that the root supports you. 045 ROM 011 019 But branches, you will say, were broken off, so that I might be grafted in. 045 ROM 011 020 True, it was because of their want of faith that they were broken off, and it is because of your faith that you are standing. Do not think too highly of yourself, but beware. 045 ROM 011 021 For, if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. 045 ROM 011 022 See, then, both the goodness and the severity of God – his severity towards those who fell, and his goodness towards you, provided that you continue to confide in that goodness; otherwise you, also, will be cut off. 045 ROM 011 023 And they, too, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in; for God has it in his power to graft them in again. 045 ROM 011 024 If you were cut off from your natural stock – a wild olive – and were grafted, contrary to the course of nature, on a good olive, much more will they – the natural branches – be grafted back into their parent tree. 045 ROM 011 025 My friends, so that you don’t think too highly of yourselves, I want you to recognize the truth, hitherto hidden, that the callousness which has come over Israel is only partial, and will continue only until the whole Gentile world has been gathered in. 045 ROM 011 026 And then all Israel will be saved. As scripture says – ‘From Zion will come the Deliverer; he will banish ungodliness from Jacob. 045 ROM 011 027 And they will see the fulfillment of my covenant, when I have taken away their sins.’ 045 ROM 011 028 From the standpoint of the good news, the Jews are God’s enemies for your sake; but from the standpoint of God’s selection, they are dear to him for the sake of the patriarchs. 045 ROM 011 029 For God never regrets his gifts or his call. 045 ROM 011 030 Just as you at one time were disobedient to him, but have now found mercy in the day of their disobedience; 045 ROM 011 031 so, too, they have now become disobedient in your day of mercy, in order that they also in their turn may now find mercy. 045 ROM 011 032 For God has given all alike over to disobedience, that to all alike he may show mercy. (eleēsē g1653) 045 ROM 011 033 Oh! The unfathomable wisdom and knowledge of God! How inscrutable are his judgments, how untraceable his ways! Yes – 045 ROM 011 034 ho has ever comprehended the mind of the Lord? Who has ever become his counsellor? 045 ROM 011 035 Or who has first given to him, so that he may claim a reward? 045 ROM 011 036 For all things are from him, through him, and for him. And to him be all glory for ever and ever! Amen. (aiōn g165) 045 ROM 012 001 I entreat you, then, friends, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, for this is your rational worship. 045 ROM 012 002 Do not conform to the fashion of this world; but be transformed by the complete change that has come over your minds, so that you may discern what God’s will is – all that is good, acceptable, and perfect. (aiōn g165) 045 ROM 012 003 In fulfillment of the charge with which I have been entrusted, I tell every one of you not to think more highly of themselves than they ought to think, but to think until they learn to think soberly – in accordance with the measure of faith that God has allotted to each. 045 ROM 012 004 For, just as in the human body there is a union of many parts, and each part has its own function, 045 ROM 012 005 so we, by our union in Christ, many though we are, form but one body, and individually we are related one to another as its parts. 045 ROM 012 006 Since our gifts differ in accordance with the particular charge entrusted to us, if our gift is to preach, let our preaching correspond to our faith; 045 ROM 012 007 if it is to minister to others, let us devote ourselves to our ministry; the teacher to their teaching, 045 ROM 012 008 the counselor to their counsel. Let the person who gives in charity do so with a generous heart; let the person who is in authority exercise due diligence; let the person who shows kindness do so in a cheerful spirit. 045 ROM 012 009 Let your love be sincere. Hate the wrong; cling to the right. 045 ROM 012 010 In the love of the community of the Lord’s followers, be affectionate to one another; in showing respect, set an example of deference to one another; 045 ROM 012 011 never flagging in zeal; fervent in spirit; serving the Master; 045 ROM 012 012 rejoicing in your hope; steadfast under persecution; persevering in prayer; 045 ROM 012 013 relieving the wants of Christ’s people; devoted to hospitality. 045 ROM 012 014 Bless your persecutors – bless and never curse. 045 ROM 012 015 Rejoice with those who are rejoicing, and weep with those who are weeping. 045 ROM 012 016 Let the same spirit of sympathy animate you all, not a spirit of pride; enjoy the company of ordinary people. Do not think too highly of yourselves. 045 ROM 012 017 Never return injury for injury. Aim at doing what everyone will recognize as honorable. 045 ROM 012 018 If it is possible, as far as rests with you, live peaceably with everyone. 045 ROM 012 019 Never avenge yourselves, dear friends, but make way for the wrath of God; for scripture declares – ‘“It is for me to avenge, I will requite,” says the Lord.’ 045 ROM 012 020 Rather – ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him to drink. By doing this you will heap coals of fire on his head.’ 045 ROM 012 021 Never be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good. 045 ROM 013 001 Let everyone obey the supreme authorities. For no authority exists except by the will of God, and the existing authorities have been appointed by God. 045 ROM 013 002 Therefore the one who sets themself against the authorities is resisting God’s appointment, and those who resist will bring a judgment on themselves. 045 ROM 013 003 A good action has nothing to fear from rulers; a bad action has. Do you want to have no reason to fear the authorities? Then do what is good, and you will win their praise. 045 ROM 013 004 For they are God’s servants appointed for your good. But, if you do what is wrong, you may well be afraid; for the sword they carry is not without meaning! They are God’s servants to inflict his punishments on those who do wrong. 045 ROM 013 005 You are bound, therefore, to obey, not only through fear of God’s punishments, but also as a matter of conscience. 045 ROM 013 006 This, too, is the reason for your paying taxes; for the officials are God’s officers, devoting themselves to this special work. 045 ROM 013 007 In all cases pay what is due from you – tribute where tribute is due, taxes where taxes are due, respect where respect is due, and honor where honor is due. 045 ROM 013 008 Owe nothing to anyone except love; for they who love their neighbor have satisfied the Law. 045 ROM 013 009 The commandments, ‘You must not commit adultery, you must not kill, you must not steal, you must not covet,’ and whatever other commandment there is, are all summed up in the words – ‘You must love your neighbor as you love yourself.’ 045 ROM 013 010 Love never wrongs a neighbor. Therefore love fully satisfies the Law. 045 ROM 013 011 This I say, because you know the crisis that we have reached, for the time has already come for you to rouse yourselves from sleep; our salvation is nearer now than when we accepted the faith. 045 ROM 013 012 The night is almost gone; the day is near. Therefore let us be done with the deeds of darkness, and arm ourselves with the weapons of light. 045 ROM 013 013 Being in the light of day, let us live becomingly, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lust and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. 045 ROM 013 014 No! Arm yourselves with the spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ, and spend no thought on your earthly nature, to satisfy its cravings. 045 ROM 014 001 As for those whose faith is weak, always receive them as friends, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on their scruples. 045 ROM 014 002 One person’s faith permits them to eat food of all kinds, while another whose faith is weak eats only vegetable food. 045 ROM 014 003 The person who eats meat must not despise the person who abstains from it; nor must the person who abstains from eating meat pass judgment on the one who eats it, for God himself has received them. 045 ROM 014 004 Who are you, that you should pass judgment on the servant of another? Their standing or falling concerns their own master. And stand they will, for their Master can enable them to stand. 045 ROM 014 005 Again, one person considers some days to be more sacred than others, while another considers all days to be alike. Everyone ought to be fully convinced in their own mind. 045 ROM 014 006 The person who observes a day, observes it to the Master’s honor. They, again, who eat meat eat it to the Master’s honor, for they give thanks to God; while the person who abstains from it abstains from it to the Master’s honor, and also gives thanks to God. 045 ROM 014 007 There is not one of us whose life concerns ourselves alone, and not one of us whose death concerns ourself alone; 045 ROM 014 008 for, if we live, our life is for the Master, and, if we die, our death is for the Master. Whether, then, we live or die we belong to the Master. 045 ROM 014 009 The purpose for which Christ died and came back to life was this – that he might be Lord over both the dead and the living. 045 ROM 014 010 I would ask the one ‘Why do you judge other followers of the Lord?’ And I would ask the other ‘Why do you despise them?’ For we will all stand before the court of God. 045 ROM 014 011 For scripture says – ‘“As surely as I live,” says the Lord, “every knee will bend before me and every tongue will praise God.”’ 045 ROM 014 012 So, then, each one of us will have to render account of himself to God. 045 ROM 014 013 Let us, then, cease to judge one another. Rather let this be your resolve – never to place a stumbling-block or an obstacle in the way of a fellow follower of the Lord. 045 ROM 014 014 Through my union with the Lord Jesus, I know and am persuaded that nothing is defiling in itself. A thing is ‘defiling’ only to the person who holds it to be so. 045 ROM 014 015 If, for the sake of what you eat, you wound your fellow follower’s feelings, your life has ceased to be ruled by love. Do not, by what you eat, ruin someone for whom Christ died! 045 ROM 014 016 Do not let what is right for you become a matter of reproach. 045 ROM 014 017 For the kingdom of God does not consist of eating and drinking, but of righteousness and peace and gladness through the presence of the Holy Spirit. 045 ROM 014 018 The person who serves the Christ in this way pleases God, and wins the approval of their fellows. 045 ROM 014 019 Therefore our efforts should be directed towards all that makes for peace and the mutual building up of character. 045 ROM 014 020 Do not undo God’s work for the sake of what you eat. Though everything is ‘clean,’ yet, if a person eats so as to put a stumbling-block in the way of others, they do wrong. 045 ROM 014 021 The right course is to abstain from meat or wine or, indeed, anything that is a stumbling-block to your fellow follower of the Lord. 045 ROM 014 022 As for yourself – keep this conviction of yours to yourself, as in the presence of God. Happy the person who never has to condemn themselves in regard to something they think right! 045 ROM 014 023 The person, however, who has misgivings stands condemned if they still eat, because their doing so is not the result of faith. And anything not done as the result of faith is a sin. 045 ROM 015 001 We, the strong, ought to take on our own shoulders the weaknesses of those who are not strong, and not merely to please ourselves. 045 ROM 015 002 Let each of us please our neighbor for our neighbor’s good, to help in the building up of their character. 045 ROM 015 003 Even the Christ did not please himself! On the contrary, as scripture says of him – ‘The reproaches of those who were reproaching you fell upon me.’ 045 ROM 015 004 Whatever was written in the scriptures in days gone by was written for our instruction, so that, through patient endurance, and through the encouragement drawn from the scriptures, we might hold fast to our hope. 045 ROM 015 005 And may God, the giver of this patience and this encouragement, grant you to be united in sympathy in Christ, 045 ROM 015 006 so that with one heart and one voice you may praise the God and Father of Jesus Christ, our Lord. 045 ROM 015 007 Therefore always receive one another as friends, just as the Christ himself received us, to the glory of God. 045 ROM 015 008 For I tell you that Christ, in vindication of God’s truthfulness, has become a minister of the covenant of circumcision, so that he may fulfill the promises made to our ancestors, 045 ROM 015 009 and that the Gentiles also may praise God for his mercy. As scripture says – ‘Therefore will I make acknowledgment to you among the Gentiles and sing in honor of your name.’ 045 ROM 015 010 And again it says – ‘Rejoice, you Gentiles, with God’s people.’ 045 ROM 015 011 And yet again – ‘Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all Peoples sing his praises.’ 045 ROM 015 012 Again, Isaiah says – ‘There will be a Scion of the house of Jesse, One who is to arise to rule the Gentiles; on him will the Gentiles rest their hopes.’ 045 ROM 015 013 May God, who inspires our hope, grant you perfect happiness and peace in your faith, until you are filled with this hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. 045 ROM 015 014 I am persuaded, my friends – yes, I Paul, with regard to you – that you are yourselves full of kindness, furnished with all Christian learning, and well able to give advice to one another. 045 ROM 015 015 But in parts of this letter I have expressed myself somewhat boldly – by way of refreshing your memories – 045 ROM 015 016 because of the charge with which God has entrusted me, that I should be an assistant of Christ Jesus to go to the Gentiles – that I should act as a priest of God’s good news, so that the offering up of the Gentiles may be an acceptable sacrifice, consecrated by the Holy Spirit. 045 ROM 015 017 It is, then, through my union with Christ Jesus that I have a proud confidence in my work for God. 045 ROM 015 018 For I will not dare to speak of anything but what Christ has done through me to win the obedience of the Gentiles – 045 ROM 015 019 by my words and actions, through the power displayed in signs and marvels, and through the power of the Holy Spirit. And so, starting from Jerusalem and going as far as Illyria, I have told in full the good news of the Christ; 045 ROM 015 020 yet always with the ambition to tell the good news where Christ’s name had not previously been heard, so as to avoid building on another’s foundations. 045 ROM 015 021 But as scripture says – ‘They to whom he had never been proclaimed will see; and they who have never heard will understand!’ 045 ROM 015 022 That is why I have so often been prevented from coming to you. 045 ROM 015 023 But now there are no further openings for me in these parts, and I have for several years been longing to come to you whenever I may be going to Spain. 045 ROM 015 024 For my hope is to visit you on my journey, and then to be sent on my way by you, after I have first partly satisfied myself by seeing something of you. 045 ROM 015 025 Just now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem, to take help to Christ’s people there. 045 ROM 015 026 For Macedonia and Greece have been glad to make a collection for the poor among Christ’s people at Jerusalem. 045 ROM 015 027 Yes, they were glad to do so; and indeed it is a duty which they owe to them. For the Gentile converts who have shared their spiritual blessings are in duty bound to minister to them in the things of this world. 045 ROM 015 028 When I have settled this matter, and have secured for the poor at Jerusalem the enjoyment of these benefits, I will go, by way of you, to Spain. 045 ROM 015 029 And I know that, when I come to you, it will be with a full measure of blessing from Christ. 045 ROM 015 030 I beg you, then, friends, by Jesus Christ, our Lord, and by the love inspired by the Spirit, to join me in earnest prayer to God on my behalf. 045 ROM 015 031 Pray that I may be rescued from those in Judea who reject the faith, and that the help which I am taking to Jerusalem may prove acceptable to Christ’s people; 045 ROM 015 032 so that, God willing, I may be able to come to you with a joyful heart, and enjoy some rest among you. 045 ROM 015 033 May God, the giver of peace, be with you all. Amen. 045 ROM 016 001 I commend to your care our sister, Phoebe, who is a minister of the church at Cenchreae; 045 ROM 016 002 and I ask you to give her a Christian welcome – one worthy of Christ’s people – and to aid her in any matter in which she may need your assistance. She has proved herself a staunch friend and protector and to many others. 045 ROM 016 003 Give my greeting to Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in the cause of Christ Jesus, 045 ROM 016 004 who risked their own lives to save mine. It is not I alone who thank them, but all the churches among the Gentiles thank them also. 045 ROM 016 005 Give my greeting, also, to the church that meets at their house, as well as to my dear friend Epaenetus, one of the first in Roman Asia to believe in Christ; 045 ROM 016 006 to Mary, who worked hard for you; 045 ROM 016 007 to Andronicus and Junia, fellow Jews and once my fellow prisoners, who are people of note among the apostles, and who became Christians before I did; 045 ROM 016 008 to my dear Christian friend Ampliatus; 045 ROM 016 009 to Urban, our fellow worker in the cause of Christ, and to my dear friend Stachys; 045 ROM 016 010 to that tried and true Christian Apelles; to the household of Aristobulus; 045 ROM 016 011 to my countryman Herodion; to the Christians in the household of Narcissus; 045 ROM 016 012 to Tryphaena and Tryphosa, who have worked hard for the Master; to my dear friend Persis, for she has done much hard work for the Master; 045 ROM 016 013 to that eminent Christian, Rufus, and to his mother, who has been a mother to me also; 045 ROM 016 014 to Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and our friends with them; 045 ROM 016 015 also to Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and to all Christ’s people who are with them. 045 ROM 016 016 Greet one another with a sacred kiss. All the churches of the Christ send you greetings. 045 ROM 016 017 I beg you, friends, to be on your guard against people who, by disregarding the teaching which you received, cause divisions and create difficulties; dissociate yourselves from them. 045 ROM 016 018 For such persons are not serving Christ, our Master, but are slaves to their own appetites; and, by their smooth words and flattery, they deceive simple-minded people. 045 ROM 016 019 Everyone has heard of your ready obedience. It is true that I am very happy about you, but I want you to be well versed in all that is good, and innocent of all that is bad. 045 ROM 016 020 And God, the giver of peace, will before long crush Satan under your feet. May the blessing of Jesus, our Lord, be with you. 045 ROM 016 021 Timothy, my fellow worker, sends you his greetings, and Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my countrymen, send theirs. 045 ROM 016 022 I Tertius, who am writing this letter, send you my Christian greeting. 045 ROM 016 023 My host Gaius, who extends his hospitality to the whole church, sends you his greeting; and Erastus, the city treasurer, and Quartus, our dear friend, add theirs. 045 ROM 016 025 Now to him who is able to strengthen you, as promised in the good news entrusted to me and in the proclamation of Jesus Christ, in accordance with the revelation of that hidden purpose, which in past ages was kept secret but now has been revealed (aiōnios g166) 045 ROM 016 026 and, in obedience to the command of the immortal God, made known through the writings of the prophets to all nations, to secure submission to the faith – (aiōnios g166) 045 ROM 016 027 to him, I say, the wise and only God, be ascribed, through Jesus Christ, all glory for ever and ever. Amen. (aiōn g165) # # BOOK 046 1CO 1 Corinthians 1 Corinthians 046 1CO 001 001 To the church of God in Corinth, to those who have been consecrated by union with Christ Jesus and called to become his people, and also to all, wherever they may be, who invoke the name of our Lord Jesus Christ – their Master and ours, 046 1CO 001 002 from Paul, who has been called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and from Sosthenes, our fellow follower of the Lord. 046 1CO 001 003 May God, our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ bless you and give you peace. 046 1CO 001 004 I always thank God for you. I thank him for the blessing bestowed on you in Christ Jesus. 046 1CO 001 005 For through union with him you were enriched in every way – in your power to preach, and in your knowledge of the truth; 046 1CO 001 006 and so became yourselves a confirmation of my testimony to the Christ. 046 1CO 001 007 There is no gift in which you are deficient, while waiting for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. 046 1CO 001 008 And God himself will strengthen you to the end, so that at the day of our Lord Jesus Christ you may be found blameless. 046 1CO 001 009 God will not fail you, and it is he who called you into communion with his Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. 046 1CO 001 010 But I appeal to you, my friends, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to agree in what you profess, and not to allow divisions to exist among you, but to be united – of one mind and of one opinion. 046 1CO 001 011 For I have been informed, my friends, by the members of Chloe’s household, that party feeling exists among you. 046 1CO 001 012 I mean this: that every one of you says either ‘I follow Paul,’ or ‘I Apollos,’ or ‘I Cephas,’ or ‘I Christ.’ 046 1CO 001 013 You have torn the Christ in pieces! Was it Paul who was crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 046 1CO 001 014 I am thankful that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, 046 1CO 001 015 so that no one can say that you were baptized in my name. 046 1CO 001 016 I baptized also the household of Stephanas. I do not know that I baptized anyone else. 046 1CO 001 017 My mission from Christ was not to baptize, but to tell the good news; not, however, in the language of philosophy, in case the cross of the Christ should be robbed of its meaning. 046 1CO 001 018 The message of the cross is indeed mere folly to those who are on the path to ruin, but to us who are on the path of salvation it is the power of God. 046 1CO 001 019 For scripture says – ‘I will bring the philosophy of the philosophers to naught, and the shrewdness of the shrewd I will bring to nothing.’ 046 1CO 001 020 Where is the philosopher? Where the teacher of the Law? Where the disputant of today? Has not God shown the world’s philosophy to be folly? (aiōn g165) 046 1CO 001 021 For since the world, in God’s wisdom, did not by its philosophy learn to know God, God saw fit, by the ‘folly’ of our proclamation, to save those who believe in Christ! 046 1CO 001 022 While Jews ask for miraculous signs, and Greeks study philosophy, 046 1CO 001 023 we are proclaiming Christ crucified! – to the Jews an obstacle, to the Gentiles mere folly, 046 1CO 001 024 but to those who have received the call, whether Jews or Greeks, Christ, the power of God and the wisdom of God! 046 1CO 001 025 For God’s ‘folly’ is wiser than people, and God’s ‘weakness’ is stronger than people. 046 1CO 001 026 Look at the facts of your call, friends. There are not many among you who are wise, as people reckon wisdom, not many who are influential, not many who are high-born; 046 1CO 001 027 but God chose what the world counts foolish to put its wise to shame, and God chose what the world counts weak to put its strong to shame, 046 1CO 001 028 and God chose what the world counts poor and insignificant – things that to it are unreal – to bring its ‘realities’ to nothing, 046 1CO 001 029 so that in his presence no one should boast. 046 1CO 001 030 But you, by your union with Christ Jesus, belong to God; and Christ, by God’s will, became not only our wisdom, but also our righteousness, holiness, and deliverance, 046 1CO 001 031 so that – in the words of scripture – ‘Whoever boasts should boast of the Lord!’ 046 1CO 002 001 For my own part, friends, when I came to you, it was with no display of eloquence or philosophy that I came to tell the hidden purpose of God; 046 1CO 002 002 for I had determined that, while with you, I would forget everything except Jesus Christ – and him crucified! 046 1CO 002 003 Indeed, when I came among you, I was weak, and full of fears, and in great anxiety. 046 1CO 002 004 My message and my proclamation were not delivered in the persuasive language of philosophy, but were accompanied by the manifestation of spiritual power, 046 1CO 002 005 so that your faith should be based, not on the human wisdom, but on the power of God. 046 1CO 002 006 Yet there is a philosophy that we teach to those whose faith is matured, but it is not the philosophy of today, or of the leaders of today – whose downfall is at hand. (aiōn g165) 046 1CO 002 007 No, it is a divine philosophy that we teach, one concerned with the hidden purpose of God – that long hidden philosophy which God, before time began, destined for our glory. (aiōn g165) 046 1CO 002 008 This philosophy is clearly not known to any of the leaders of today, since, had they known it, they would never have crucified our glorious Lord! (aiōn g165) 046 1CO 002 009 It is what scripture speaks of as – ‘What eye never saw, nor ear ever heard, what never entered people’s minds – all these things God has prepared for those who love him.’ 046 1CO 002 010 Yet to us God revealed it through his Spirit; for the Spirit fathoms all things, even the inmost depths of God’s being. 046 1CO 002 011 For what person is there who knows what a person is, except the person’s own spirit within them? So, also, no one comprehends what God is, except the Spirit of God. 046 1CO 002 012 And as for us, it is not the spirit of the world that we have received, but the Spirit that comes from God, so that we may realize the blessings given to us by him. 046 1CO 002 013 And we speak of these gifts, not in language taught by human philosophy, but in language taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things in spiritual words. 046 1CO 002 014 The merely intellectual person rejects the teaching of the Spirit of God; for to them it is mere folly; they cannot grasp it, because it is to be understood only by spiritual insight. 046 1CO 002 015 But the person with spiritual insight is able to understand everything, although they themselves are understood by no one. 046 1CO 002 016 For who has so comprehended the mind of the Lord as to be able to instruct him? We, however, have the mind of Christ. 046 1CO 003 001 But I, my friends, could not speak to you as people with spiritual insight, but only as worldly-minded – mere infants in the faith of Christ. 046 1CO 003 002 I fed you with milk, not with solid food, for you were not then able to take it. No, and even now you are not able; you are still worldly. 046 1CO 003 003 While there exist among you jealousy and party feeling, is it not true that you are worldly, and are acting merely as other people do? 046 1CO 003 004 When one says ‘I follow Paul,’ and another ‘I follow Apollos,’ aren’t you like other people? 046 1CO 003 005 What, I ask, is Apollos? Or what is Paul? Servants through whom you were led to accept the faith; and that only as the Lord helped each of you. 046 1CO 003 006 I planted, and Apollos watered, but it was God who caused the growth. 046 1CO 003 007 Therefore neither the one who plants, nor the one who waters, counts for anything, but only God who causes the growth. 046 1CO 003 008 In this the person who plants and the person who waters are one; yet each will receive their own reward in proportion to their own labor. 046 1CO 003 009 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s harvest field, God’s building. 046 1CO 003 010 In fulfillment of the charge which God had entrusted to me, I laid the foundation like a skillful master; but someone else is now building on it. Let everyone take care how they build; 046 1CO 003 011 for no one can lay any other foundation than the one already laid – Jesus Christ. 046 1CO 003 012 Whatever is used by those who build on this foundation, whether gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw, 046 1CO 003 013 the quality of each man’s work will become known, for the day will make it plain; because that day is to be ushered in with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of every man’s work. 046 1CO 003 014 If anyone’s work, which they have built on that foundation, still remains, they will gain a reward. 046 1CO 003 015 If anyone’s work is burnt up, they will suffer loss; though they themselves will escape, but only as one who has passed through fire. 046 1CO 003 016 Don’t you know that you are God’s Temple, and that God’s Spirit has his home in you? 046 1CO 003 017 If any one destroys the Temple of God, God will destroy them; for the Temple of God is sacred, and so also are you. 046 1CO 003 018 Let no one deceive himself. If any one among you imagines that, as regards this world, they are wise, they should become a ‘fool,’ that they may become wise. (aiōn g165) 046 1CO 003 019 For in God’s sight this world’s wisdom is folly. Scripture tells of – ‘One who catches the wise in their own craftiness,’ 046 1CO 003 020 And it says again – ‘The Lord sees how fruitless are the deliberations of the wise.’ 046 1CO 003 021 Therefore let no one boast about people; for all things are yours – 046 1CO 003 022 whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or the present, or the future – all things are yours! 046 1CO 003 023 But you are Christ’s and Christ is God’s. 046 1CO 004 001 Let people look on us as Christ’s servants, and as stewards of the hidden truths of God. 046 1CO 004 002 Now what we look for in stewards is that they should be trustworthy. 046 1CO 004 003 But it weighs very little with me that I am judged by you or by any human tribunal. No, I do not even judge myself; 046 1CO 004 004 for, though I am conscious of nothing against myself, that does not prove me innocent. It is the Lord who is my judge. 046 1CO 004 005 Therefore do not pass judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes. He will throw light on what is now dark and obscure, and will reveal the motives in people’s minds; and then everyone will receive due praise from God. 046 1CO 004 006 All this, friends, I have, for your sakes, applied to Apollos and myself, so that, from our example, you may learn to observe the precept – ‘Keep to what is written,’ that none of you may speak boastfully of one teacher to the disparagement of another. 046 1CO 004 007 For who makes any one of you superior to others? And what have you that was not given you? But if you received it as a gift, why do you boast as if you had not? 046 1CO 004 008 Are you all so soon satisfied? Are you so soon rich? Have you begun to reign without us? Would indeed that you had, so that we also might reign with you! 046 1CO 004 009 For, as it seems to me, God has exhibited us, the apostles, last of all, as people doomed to death. We are made a spectacle to the universe, both to angels and to people! 046 1CO 004 010 We, for Christ’s sake, are fools, but you, by your union with Christ, are people of discernment. We are weak, but you are strong. You are honored, but we are despised. 046 1CO 004 011 To this very hour we go hungry, thirsty, and naked; we are beaten; we are homeless; 046 1CO 004 012 we work hard, toiling with our own hands. We meet abuse with blessings, we meet persecution with endurance, 046 1CO 004 013 we meet slander with gentle appeals. We have been treated as the scum of the earth, the vilest of the vile, to this very hour. 046 1CO 004 014 It is with no wish to shame you that I am writing like this; but to warn you as my own dear children. 046 1CO 004 015 Though you may have thousands of instructors in the faith of Christ, yet you have not many fathers. It was I who, through union with Christ Jesus, became your father by means of the good news. 046 1CO 004 016 Therefore I entreat you – Follow my example. 046 1CO 004 017 This is my reason for sending Timothy to you. He is my own dear faithful child in the Master’s service, and he will remind you of my methods of teaching the faith of Christ Jesus – methods which I follow everywhere in every church. 046 1CO 004 018 Some, I hear, are puffed up with pride, thinking that I am not coming to you. 046 1CO 004 019 But come to you I will, and that soon, if it please the Lord; and then I will find out, not what words these people use who are so puffed up, but what power they possess; 046 1CO 004 020 for the kingdom of God is based, not on words, but on power. 046 1CO 004 021 What do you wish? Am I to come to you with a rod, or in a loving and gentle spirit? 046 1CO 005 001 There is a wide-spread report respecting a case of immorality among you, and that, too, of a kind that does not occur even among the Gentiles – a man, I hear, is living with his father’s wife! 046 1CO 005 002 Instead of grieving over it and taking steps for the expulsion of the man who has done this thing, is it possible that you are still puffed up? 046 1CO 005 003 For I myself, though absent in body, have been present with you in spirit, and in the name of our Lord Jesus I have already passed judgment, just as if I had been present, on the man who has acted in this way. 046 1CO 005 004 I have decided – having been present in spirit at your meetings, when the power of the Lord Jesus was with us – 046 1CO 005 005 to deliver such a man as this over to Satan, that what is sensual in him may be destroyed, so that his spirit may be saved at the day of the Lord. 046 1CO 005 006 Your boasting is unseemly. Don’t you know that even a little yeast leavens all the dough? 046 1CO 005 007 Get rid entirely of the old leaven, so that you may be like new dough – free from leaven, as in truth you are. For our passover lamb is already sacrificed – Christ himself; 046 1CO 005 008 therefore let us keep our festival, not with the leaven of former days, nor with the leaven of vice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 046 1CO 005 009 I told you, in my letter, not to associate with immoral people – 046 1CO 005 010 not, of course, meaning people of the world who are in immoral, or who are covetous and grasping, or who worship idols; for then you would have to leave the world altogether. 046 1CO 005 011 But, as things are, I say that you are not to associate with anyone who, although a follower of Christ in name, is immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or abusive, or a drunkard, or grasping – no, not even to sit down to eat with such people. 046 1CO 005 012 What have I to do with judging those outside the church? Is it not for you to judge those who are within the church, 046 1CO 005 013 while God judges those who are outside? Put away the wicked from among you. 046 1CO 006 001 Can it be that, when one of you has a dispute with another, they dare to have their case tried before the heathen, instead of before Christ’s people? 046 1CO 006 002 Don’t you know that Christ’s people will try the world? And if the world is to be tried by you, are you unfit to try the most trivial cases? 046 1CO 006 003 Don’t you know that we are to try angels – to say nothing of the affairs of this life? 046 1CO 006 004 Why, then, if you have cases relating to the affairs of this life, do you set to try them those who carry no weight with the church? To your shame I ask it. 046 1CO 006 005 Can it be that there is not one among you wise enough to decide between two of their fellow followers? 046 1CO 006 006 Must a follower sue a fellow follower? In front of unbelievers? 046 1CO 006 007 To begin with, it is undoubtedly a loss to you to have lawsuits with one another. Why not rather let yourselves be wronged? Why not rather let yourselves be cheated? 046 1CO 006 008 Instead of this, you wrong and cheat others yourselves – yes, even other followers! 046 1CO 006 009 Don’t you know that wrongdoers will have no share in God’s kingdom? Do not be deceived. No one who is immoral, or an idolater, or an adulterer, or licentious, or a sexual pervert, 046 1CO 006 010 or a thief, or covetous, or a drunkard, or abusive, or grasping, will have any share in God’s kingdom. 046 1CO 006 011 Such some of you used to be; but you washed yourselves clean. You became Christ’s people! You were pronounced righteous through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and through the Spirit of our God! 046 1CO 006 012 Everything is allowable for me! Yes, but everything is not profitable. Everything is allowable for me! Yes, but for my part, I will not let myself be enslaved by anything. 046 1CO 006 013 Food exists for the stomach, and the stomach for food; but God will put an end to both the one and the other. The body, however, exists, not for immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body; 046 1CO 006 014 and, as God has raised the Lord, so he will raise us up also by the exercise of his power. 046 1CO 006 015 Don’t you know that your bodies are Christ’s members? Am I, then, to take the members that belong to the Christ and make them the members of a prostitute? Heaven forbid! 046 1CO 006 016 Or don’t you know that a man who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body (for ‘the two,’ it is said, ‘will become one’); 046 1CO 006 017 while a man who is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit? 046 1CO 006 018 Shun all immorality. Every other sin that people commit is something outside the body; but an immoral person sins against their own body. 046 1CO 006 019 Again, don’t you know that your body is a shrine of the Holy Spirit that is within you – the Spirit which you have from God? 046 1CO 006 020 Moreover, you are not your own masters; you were bought, and the price was paid. Therefore, honor God in your bodies. 046 1CO 007 001 With reference to the subjects about which you wrote to me: It is good for a man to remain single. 046 1CO 007 002 But, owing to the prevalence of immorality, I advise every man to have his own wife, and every woman her husband. 046 1CO 007 003 A husband should give his wife her due, and a wife her husband. 046 1CO 007 004 It is not the wife, but the husband, who exercises power over her body; and so, too, it is not the husband, but the wife, who exercises power over his body. 046 1CO 007 005 Do not deprive each other of what is due – unless it is only for a time and by mutual consent, so that your minds may be free for prayer until you again live as man and wife – otherwise Satan might take advantage of your want of self-control and tempt you. 046 1CO 007 006 I say this, however, as a concession, not as a command. 046 1CO 007 007 I should wish everyone to be just what I am myself. But everyone has his own gift from God – one in one way, and one in another. 046 1CO 007 008 My advice, then, to those who are not married, and to widows, is this: It would be good for them to remain as I am myself. 046 1CO 007 009 But, if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to be consumed with passion. 046 1CO 007 010 To those who are married my direction is – yet it is not mine, but the Master’s – that a woman is not to leave her husband 046 1CO 007 011 (If she has done so, she should remain as she is, or else be reconciled to her husband) and also that a man is not to divorce his wife. 046 1CO 007 012 To all others I say – I, not the Master – If a follower of the Lord is married to a woman, who is an unbeliever but willing to live with him, he should not divorce her; 046 1CO 007 013 and a woman who is married to a man, who is an unbeliever but willing to live with her, should not divorce her husband. 046 1CO 007 014 For, through his wife, the husband who is an unbeliever has become associated with Christ’s people; and the wife who is an unbeliever has become associated with Christ’s people through the Lord’s follower whom she has married. Otherwise your children would be ‘defiled,’ but, as it is, they belong to Christ’s people. 046 1CO 007 015 However, if the unbeliever wishes to be separated, let them be so. Under such circumstances neither is bound; God has called you to live in peace. 046 1CO 007 016 How can you tell, wife, whether you may not save your husband? And how can you tell, husband, whether you may not save your wife? 046 1CO 007 017 In any case, a person should continue to live in the condition which the Lord has allotted to them, and in which they were when God called them. This is the rule that I lay down in every church. 046 1CO 007 018 Was a man already circumcised when he was called? Then he should not efface his circumcision. Has a man been called when uncircumcised? Then he should not be circumcised. 046 1CO 007 019 Circumcision is nothing; the want of it is nothing; but to keep the commands of God is everything. 046 1CO 007 020 Let everyone remain in that condition of life in which they were when the call came to them. 046 1CO 007 021 Were you a slave when you were called? Do not let that trouble you. No, even if you are able to gain your freedom, still do your best. 046 1CO 007 022 For the person who was a slave when they were called to the master’s service is the Master’s freedman; so, too, the person who was free when called is Christ’s slave. 046 1CO 007 023 You were bought, and the price was paid. Do not let yourselves become slaves to people. 046 1CO 007 024 Friends, let everyone remain in the condition in which they were when they were called, in close communion with God. 046 1CO 007 025 With regard to unmarried women, I have no command from the Master to give you, but I tell you my opinion, and the Master in his mercy has made me worthy to be trusted. 046 1CO 007 026 I think, then, that, in view of the time of suffering that has now come upon us, what I have already said is best – that a man should remain as he is. 046 1CO 007 027 Are you married to a wife? Then do not seek to be separated. Are you separated from a wife? Then do not seek for a wife. 046 1CO 007 028 Still, if you should marry, that is not wrong; nor, if a young woman marries, is that wrong. But those who marry will have much trouble to bear, and my wish is to spare you. 046 1CO 007 029 What I mean, friends, is this – the time is short. Meanwhile, let those who have wives live as if they had none, 046 1CO 007 030 those who are weeping as if not weeping, those who are rejoicing as if not rejoicing, those who buy as if not possessing, 046 1CO 007 031 and those who use the good things of the world as using them sparingly; for this world as we see it is passing away. 046 1CO 007 032 I want you to be free from anxiety. The unmarried man is anxious about the Master’s cause, desiring to please him; 046 1CO 007 033 while the married man is anxious about worldly matters, desiring to please his wife; 046 1CO 007 034 and so his interests are divided. Again, the unmarried woman, whether she is old or young, is anxious about the Master’s cause, striving to be pure both in body and in spirit, while the married woman is anxious about worldly matters, desiring to please her husband. 046 1CO 007 035 I say this for your own benefit, not with any intention of putting a halter around your necks, but in order to secure for the Master seemly and constant devotion, free from all distraction. 046 1CO 007 036 If, however, a father thinks that he is not acting fairly by his unmarried daughter, when she is past her youth, and if under these circumstances her marriage ought to take place, he should act as he thinks right. He is doing nothing wrong – let the marriage take place. 046 1CO 007 037 On the other hand, a father, who has definitely made up his mind, and is under no compulsion, but is free to carry out his own wishes, and who has come to the decision, in his own mind, to keep his unmarried daughter at home will be doing right. 046 1CO 007 038 In short, the one who consents to his daughter’s marriage is doing right, and yet the other will be doing better. 046 1CO 007 039 A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives; but, if the husband should pass to his rest, the widow is free to marry anyone she wishes, provided he is a believer. 046 1CO 007 040 Yet she will be happier if she remains as she is – in my opinion, for I think that I also have the Spirit of God. 046 1CO 008 001 With reference to food that has been offered in sacrifice to idols – We are aware that all of us have knowledge! Knowledge breeds conceit, while love builds up character. 046 1CO 008 002 If someone thinks that they know anything, they have not yet reached that knowledge which they ought to have reached. 046 1CO 008 003 On the other hand, if a person loves God, they are known by God. 046 1CO 008 004 With reference, then, to eating food that has been offered to idols – we are aware that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no God but one. 046 1CO 008 005 Even supposing that there are so-called ‘gods’ either in heaven or on earth – and there are many such ‘gods’ and ‘lords’ – 046 1CO 008 006 Yet for us there is only one God, the Father, from whom all things come (and for him we live), and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things come (and through him we live). 046 1CO 008 007 Still, it is not everyone that has this knowledge. Some people, because of their association with idols, continued down to the present time, eat the food as food offered to an idol; and their consciences, while still weak, are dulled. 046 1CO 008 008 What we eat, however, will not bring us nearer to God. We lose nothing by not eating this food, and we gain nothing by eating it. 046 1CO 008 009 But take care that this right of yours does not become in any way a stumbling-block to the weak. 046 1CO 008 010 For if someone should see you who possess this knowledge, feasting in an idol’s temple, will not their conscience, if they are weak, become so hardened that they, too, will eat food offered to idols? 046 1CO 008 011 And so, through this knowledge of yours, the weak person is ruined – someone for whose sake Christ died! 046 1CO 008 012 In this way, by sinning against your fellow followers of the Lord and injuring their consciences, while still weak, you sin against Christ. 046 1CO 008 013 Therefore, if what I eat makes a follower of the Lord fall, rather than make them fall, I will never eat meat again. (aiōn g165) 046 1CO 009 001 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen our Lord Jesus? Aren’t you yourselves my work achieved in union with the Lord? 046 1CO 009 002 If I am not an apostle to others, yet at least I am to you; for you are the seal that stamps me as an apostle in union with the Lord. 046 1CO 009 003 The defense that I make to my critics is this: 046 1CO 009 004 Haven’t we a right to food and drink? 046 1CO 009 005 Haven’t we a right to take a wife with us, if she is a Christian, as the other apostles and the Master’s brothers and Cephas all do? 046 1CO 009 006 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to give up working for our bread? 046 1CO 009 007 Does anyone ever serve as a soldier at his own expense? Does anyone plant a vineyard and not eat its produce? Or does anyone look after a herd and not drink the milk? 046 1CO 009 008 Am I, in all this, speaking only from the human standpoint? Does not the Law also say the same? 046 1CO 009 009 For in the Law of Moses it is said – ‘You should not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.’ Is it the bullocks that God is thinking of? 046 1CO 009 010 Or is not is said entirely for our sakes? Surely it was written for our sakes, for the plowman ought not to plow, nor the thrasher to thrash, without expecting a share of the grain. 046 1CO 009 011 Since we, then, sowed spiritual seed for you, is it too much that we should reap from you an earthly harvest? 046 1CO 009 012 If others share in this right over you, don’t we even more? Still we did not avail ourselves of this right. No, we endure anything rather than impede the progress of the good news of the Christ. 046 1CO 009 013 Don’t you know that those who do the work of the Temple live on what comes from the Temple, and that those who serve at the altar share the offerings with the altar? 046 1CO 009 014 So, too, the Master has appointed that those who tell the good news should get their living from the good news. 046 1CO 009 015 I, however, have not availed myself of any of these rights. I am not saying this to secure such an arrangement for myself; indeed, I would far rather die – Nobody will make my boast a vain one! 046 1CO 009 016 If I proclaim the good news, I have nothing to boast of, for I am compelled to do so. Woe is me if I do not share it! 046 1CO 009 017 If I do this work willingly, I have a reward; but, if unwillingly, I have been charged to perform a duty. 046 1CO 009 018 What is my reward, then? To present the good news free of all cost, and so make but a sparing use of the rights which it gives me. 046 1CO 009 019 Although I was entirely free, yet, to win as many converts as possible, I made myself everyone’s slave. 046 1CO 009 020 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win Jews. To those who are subject to Law I became like a man subject to Law – though I was not myself subject to Law – to win those who are subject to Law. 046 1CO 009 021 To those who have no Law I became like a man who has no Law – not that I am free from God’s Law; no, for I am under Christ’s Law – to win those who have no law. 046 1CO 009 022 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so as at all costs to save some. 046 1CO 009 023 And I do everything for the sake of the good news, so that with them I may share in its blessings. 046 1CO 009 024 Don’t you know that on a racecourse, though all run, yet only one wins the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. 046 1CO 009 025 Every athlete exercises self-restraint in everything; they, indeed, for a crown that fades, we for one that is unfading. 046 1CO 009 026 I, therefore, do not run aimlessly. I do not box like a man hitting the air. 046 1CO 009 027 No, I bruise my body and make it my slave, so that I, who have called others to the contest, will not myself be rejected. 046 1CO 010 001 I want you to bear in mind, friends, that all our ancestors were beneath the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 046 1CO 010 002 that in the cloud and in the sea they all underwent baptism as followers of Moses; 046 1CO 010 003 and that they all ate the same supernatural food, 046 1CO 010 004 and all drank the same supernatural water, for they used to drink from a supernatural rock which followed them, and that rock was the Christ. 046 1CO 010 005 Yet with most of them God was displeased; for they were struck down in the desert. 046 1CO 010 006 Now these things happened as warnings to us, to teach us not to long for evil things as our ancestors longed. 046 1CO 010 007 Do not become idolaters, as some of them became. Scripture says – ‘The people sat down to eat and drink, and stood up to dance.’ 046 1CO 010 008 Nor let us act immorally, as some of them acted, with the result that twenty-three thousand of them fell dead in a single day. 046 1CO 010 009 Nor let us try the patience of the Lord too far, as some of them tried it, with the result that they were, one after another, destroyed by snakes. 046 1CO 010 010 And do not murmur, as some of them murmured, and so were destroyed by the angel of death. 046 1CO 010 011 These things happened to them by way of warning, and were recorded to serve as a caution to us, in whose days the close of the ages has come. (aiōn g165) 046 1CO 010 012 Therefore let the person who thinks that they stand take care that they do not fall. 046 1CO 010 013 No temptation has come upon you that is not common to all humanity. God will not fail you, and he will not allow you to be tempted beyond your strength; but, when he sends the temptation, he will also provide the way of escape, so that you may have strength to endure. 046 1CO 010 014 Therefore, my dear friends, shun the worship of idols. 046 1CO 010 015 I speak to you as man of discernment; form your own judgment about what I am saying. 046 1CO 010 016 In the cup of blessing which we bless, is not there a sharing in the blood of the Christ? And in the bread which we break, is not there a sharing in the body of the Christ? 046 1CO 010 017 The bread is one, and we, though many, are one body; for we all partake of that one bread. 046 1CO 010 018 Look at the people of Israel. Do not those who eat the sacrifices share with the altar? 046 1CO 010 019 What do I mean? That an offering made to an idol, or the idol itself, is anything? 046 1CO 010 020 No; what I say is that the sacrifices offered by the Gentiles are offered to demons and to a being who is no God, and I do not want you to share with demons. 046 1CO 010 021 You cannot drink both the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake at the table of the Lord and at the table of demons. 046 1CO 010 022 Or are we to rouse the jealousy of the Lord? Are we stronger than he? 046 1CO 010 023 Everything is allowable! Yes, but everything is not profitable. Everything is allowable! Yes, but everything does not build up character. 046 1CO 010 024 A person must not study their own interests, but the interests of others. 046 1CO 010 025 Eat anything that is sold in the market, without making inquiries to satisfy your scruples; 046 1CO 010 026 for the earth, with all that is in it, belongs to the Lord. 046 1CO 010 027 If an unbeliever invites you to his house and you consent to go, eat anything that is put before you, without making inquiries to satisfy your scruples. 046 1CO 010 028 But, if anyone should say to you ‘This has been offered in sacrifice to an idol,’ then, for the sake of the speaker and his scruples, do not eat it. 046 1CO 010 029 I do not say your scruples, but his. For why should the freedom that I claim be condemned by the scruples of another? 046 1CO 010 030 If, for my part, I take the food thankfully, why should I be abused for eating that for which I give thanks? 046 1CO 010 031 Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do everything to the honor of God. 046 1CO 010 032 Do not cause offense either to Jews or Greeks or to the church of God; 046 1CO 010 033 for I, also, try to please everybody in everything, not seeking my own advantage, but do what is best for others, so that they may be saved. 046 1CO 011 001 Imitate me, as I myself imitate Christ. 046 1CO 011 002 I praise you, indeed, because you never forget me, and are keeping my injunctions in mind, exactly as I laid them on you. 046 1CO 011 003 But I am anxious that you should understand that the Christ is the head of every man, that man is the head of woman, and that God is the head of the Christ. 046 1CO 011 004 Any man who keeps his head covered, when praying or preaching in public, dishonors him who is his head; 046 1CO 011 005 while any woman, who prays or preaches in public bare-headed, dishonors him who is her head; for that is to make herself like one of the shameless women who shave their heads. 046 1CO 011 006 Indeed, if a woman does not keep her head covered, she may as well cut her hair short. But, since to cut her hair short, or shave it off, marks her as one of the shameless women, she should keep her head covered. 046 1CO 011 007 A man ought not to have his head covered, for he has been from the beginning the likeness of God and the reflection of his glory, but woman is the reflection of man’s glory. 046 1CO 011 008 For it was not man who was taken from woman, but woman who was taken from man. 046 1CO 011 009 Besides, man was not created for the sake of woman, but woman for the sake of man. 046 1CO 011 010 And, therefore, a woman ought to wear on her head a symbol of her subjection, because of the presence of the angels. 046 1CO 011 011 Still, when in union with the Lord, woman is not independent of man, or man of woman; 046 1CO 011 012 for just as woman came from man, so man comes by means of woman; and all things come from God. 046 1CO 011 013 Judge for yourselves. Is it fitting that a woman should pray to God in public with her head uncovered? 046 1CO 011 014 Does not nature herself teach us that, while for a man to wear his hair long is degrading to him, 046 1CO 011 015 a woman’s long hair is her glory? Her hair has been given her to serve as a covering. 046 1CO 011 016 If, however, anyone still thinks it right to contest the point – well, we have no such custom, nor have the churches of God. 046 1CO 011 017 In giving directions on the next subject, I cannot praise you; because your meetings do more harm than good. 046 1CO 011 018 To begin with, I am told that when you meet together as a church there are divisions among you. In part I believe this, 046 1CO 011 019 indeed, there must be parties among you, so that the people of real worth become known. 046 1CO 011 020 When you meet together, as I understand, it is not possible to eat the Lord’s Supper; 046 1CO 011 021 for, as you eat, each of you tries to secure his own supper first, with the result that one has too little to eat, and another has too much to drink! 046 1CO 011 022 Have you no houses in which you can eat and drink? Or are you trying to show your contempt for the church of God, and to humiliate the poor? What can I say to you? Should I praise you? In this matter I cannot praise you. 046 1CO 011 023 For I myself received from the Lord the account which I have in turn given to you – how the Lord Jesus, on the very night of his betrayal, took some bread, 046 1CO 011 024 and, after saying the thanksgiving, broke it and said “This is my own body given on your behalf. Do this in memory of me.” 046 1CO 011 025 And in the same way with the cup, after supper, saying “This cup is the new covenant made by my blood. Do this, whenever you drink it, in memory of me.” 046 1CO 011 026 For whenever you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death – until he comes. 046 1CO 011 027 Therefore, whoever eats the bread, or drinks the Lord’s cup, in an irreverent spirit, will have to answer for an offense against the Lord’s body and blood. 046 1CO 011 028 Let everyone look into their own heart, and only then eat of the bread and drink from the cup. 046 1CO 011 029 For the person who eats and drinks brings a judgment on themselves by their eating and drinking, when they do not discern the body. 046 1CO 011 030 That is why so many among you are weak and ill, and why some are sleeping. 046 1CO 011 031 But, if we judged ourselves rightly, we should not be judged. 046 1CO 011 032 Yet, in being judged by the Lord, we are undergoing discipline, so that we may not have judgment passed on us with the rest of the world. 046 1CO 011 033 Therefore, my friends, when you meet together to eat the Supper, wait for one another. 046 1CO 011 034 If anyone is hungry, they should eat at home, so that your meetings may not bring a judgment on you. The other details I will settle when I come. 046 1CO 012 001 In the next place, friends, I do not want you to be ignorant about spiritual gifts. 046 1CO 012 002 You know that there was a time when you were Gentiles, going astray after idols that could not speak, just as you happened to be led. 046 1CO 012 003 Therefore I tell you plainly that no one who speaks under the influence of the Spirit of God says ‘JESUS IS ACCURSED,’ and that no one can say ‘JESUS IS LORD,’ except under the influence of the Holy Spirit. 046 1CO 012 004 Gifts differ, but the Spirit is the same; 046 1CO 012 005 ways of serving differ, yet the Master is the same; 046 1CO 012 006 results differ, yet the God who brings about every result is in every case the same. 046 1CO 012 007 To each of us there is given spiritual illumination for the general good. 046 1CO 012 008 To one is given the power to speak with wisdom through the Spirit; to another the power to speak with knowledge, due to the same Spirit; 046 1CO 012 009 to another faith by the same Spirit; to another power to cure diseases by the one Spirit; to another supernatural powers; 046 1CO 012 010 to another the gift of preaching; to another the gift of distinguishing between true and false inspiration; to another varieties of the gift of ‘tongues’; to another the power to interpret ‘tongues.’ 046 1CO 012 011 All these result from one and the same Spirit, who distributes his gifts to each individually as he wills. 046 1CO 012 012 For just as the human body is one whole, and yet has many parts, and all its parts, many though they are, form but one body, so it is with the Christ; 046 1CO 012 013 for it was by one Spirit that we were all baptized to form one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free, and were all imbued with one Spirit. 046 1CO 012 014 The human body, I repeat, consists not of one part, but of many. 046 1CO 012 015 If the foot says ‘Since I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,’ it does not because of that cease to belong to the body. 046 1CO 012 016 Or if the ear says ‘Since I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,’ it does not because of that cease to belong to the body. 046 1CO 012 017 If all the body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If it were all hearing, where would the sense of smell be? 046 1CO 012 018 But in fact God has placed each individual part just where he thought fit in the body. 046 1CO 012 019 If, however, they all made up only one part, where would the body be? 046 1CO 012 020 But in fact, although it has many parts, there is only one body. 046 1CO 012 021 The eye cannot say to the hand ‘I do not need you,’ nor, again, the head to the feet ‘I do not need you.’ 046 1CO 012 022 No! Those parts of the body that seem naturally the weaker are indispensable; 046 1CO 012 023 and those parts which we deem less honorable we surround with special honor; and our ungraceful parts receive a special grace which our graceful parts do not require. 046 1CO 012 024 Yes, God has so constructed the body – by giving a special honor to the part that lacks it – 046 1CO 012 025 As to secure that there should be no disunion in the body, but that the parts should show the same care for one another. 046 1CO 012 026 If one part suffers, all the others suffer with it, and if one part has honor done to it, all the others share its joy. 046 1CO 012 027 Together you are the body of Christ, and individually its parts. 046 1CO 012 028 In the church God has appointed, first, apostles, secondly preachers, thirdly teachers; then he has given supernatural powers, then power to cure diseases, aptness for helping others, capacity to govern, varieties of the gift of ‘tongues.’ 046 1CO 012 029 Can everyone be an apostle? Can everyone be a preacher? Can everyone be a teacher? Can everyone have supernatural powers? 046 1CO 012 030 Can everyone have power to cure diseases? Can everyone speak in ‘tongues’? Can everyone interpret them? 046 1CO 012 031 Strive for the greater gifts. Yet I can still show you a way beyond all comparison the best. 046 1CO 013 001 Though I speak in the ‘tongues’ of people, or even of angels, yet have not love, I have become mere echoing brass, or a clanging cymbal! 046 1CO 013 002 Even though I have the gift of preaching, and fathom all hidden truths and all the depths of knowledge; even though I have such faith as might move mountains, yet have not love, I am nothing! 046 1CO 013 003 Even though I dole my substance to the poor, even though I sacrifice my body in order to boast, yet have not love, it avails me nothing! 046 1CO 013 004 Love is long-suffering, and kind; love is never envious, never boastful, never conceited, never behaves unbecomingly; 046 1CO 013 005 love is never self-seeking, never provoked, never reckons up her wrongs; 046 1CO 013 006 love never rejoices at evil, but rejoices in the triumph of truth; 046 1CO 013 007 love bears with all things, ever trustful, ever hopeful, ever patient. 046 1CO 013 008 Love never fails. But, whether it be the gift of preaching, it will end; whether it be the gift of ‘tongues,’ it will cease; whether it be knowledge, it, too, will vanish. 046 1CO 013 009 For our knowledge is incomplete, and our preaching is incomplete, 046 1CO 013 010 but, when the perfect has come, that which is incomplete will end. 046 1CO 013 011 When I was a child, I talked as a child, I felt as a child, I reasoned as a child; now that I am a man, I have done with childish ways. 046 1CO 013 012 As yet we see, in a mirror, dimly, but then – face to face! As yet my knowledge is incomplete, but then I will know in full, as I have been fully known. 046 1CO 013 013 Meanwhile faith, hope, and love endure – these three, but the greatest of these is love. 046 1CO 014 001 Seek this love earnestly, and strive for spiritual gifts, above all for the gift of preaching. 046 1CO 014 002 The person who, when speaking, uses the gift of ‘tongues’ is speaking, not to people, but to God, for no one understands them; yet in spirit they are speaking of hidden truths. 046 1CO 014 003 But those who preach are speaking to their fellow men and women words that will build up faith, and give them comfort and encouragement. 046 1CO 014 004 Those who, when speaking, use the gift of ‘tongues’ builds up their own faith, while those who preach build up the faith of the church. 046 1CO 014 005 Now I want you all to speak in ‘tongues,’ but much more I wish that you should preach. A preacher is worth more than one who speaks in ‘tongues,’ unless they interprets their words, so that the faith of the church may be built up. 046 1CO 014 006 This being so, friends, what good will I do you, if I come to you and speak in ‘tongues,’ unless my words convey some revelation, or knowledge, or take the form of preaching or teaching? 046 1CO 014 007 Even with inanimate things, such as a flute or a harp, though they produce sounds, yet unless the notes are quite distinct, how can the tune played on the flute or the harp be recognized? 046 1CO 014 008 If the bugle sounds a doubtful call, who will prepare for battle? 046 1CO 014 009 And so with you; unless, in using the gift of ‘tongues,’ you utter intelligible words, how can what you say be understood? You will be speaking to the winds! 046 1CO 014 010 There are, for instance, a certain number of different languages in the world, and not one of them fails to convey meaning. 046 1CO 014 011 If, however, I do not happen to know the language, I will be a foreigner to those who speak it, and they will be foreigners to me. 046 1CO 014 012 And so with you; since you are striving for spiritual gifts, be eager to excel in such as will build up the faith of the church. 046 1CO 014 013 Therefore anyone who, when speaking, uses the gift of ‘tongues’ should pray for ability to interpret them. 046 1CO 014 014 If, when praying, I use the gift of ‘tongues,’ my spirit indeed prays, but my mind is a blank. 046 1CO 014 015 What, then, is my conclusion? Simply this – I will pray with my spirit, but with my mind as well; I will sing with my spirit, but with my mind as well. 046 1CO 014 016 If you bless God with your spirit only, how can people in the congregation who are without your gift say ‘Amen’ to your thanksgiving? They do not know what you are saying! 046 1CO 014 017 Your thanksgiving may be excellent, but the other is not helped by it. 046 1CO 014 018 Thank God, I use the gift of ‘tongues’ more than any of you. 046 1CO 014 019 But at a meeting of the church I would rather speak five words with my mind, and so teach others, than ten thousand words when using the gift of ‘tongues.’ 046 1CO 014 020 My friends, do not show yourselves children in understanding. In wickedness be infants, but in understanding show yourselves adults. 046 1CO 014 021 It is said in the Law – ‘In strange tongues and by the lips of strangers will I speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.’ 046 1CO 014 022 Therefore the gift of the ‘tongues’ is intended as a sign, not for those who believe in Christ, but for those who do not, while the gift of preaching is intended as a sign, not for those who do not believe in Christ, but for those who do. 046 1CO 014 023 So, when the whole church meets, if all present use the gift of ‘tongues,’ and some people who are without the gift, or who are unbelievers, come in, will not they say that you are mad? 046 1CO 014 024 While, if all those present use the gift of preaching, and an unbeliever, or someone without the gift, comes in, they are convinced of their sinfulness by them all, they are called to account by them all; 046 1CO 014 025 the secrets of their heart are revealed, and then, throwing themselves on their face, they will worship God, and declare ‘God is indeed among you!’ 046 1CO 014 026 What do I suggest, then, friends? Whenever you meet for worship, each of you comes, either with a hymn, or a lesson, or a revelation, or the gift of ‘tongues,’ or the interpretation of them; let everything be directed to the building up of faith. 046 1CO 014 027 If any of you use the gift of ‘tongues,’ not more than two, or at the most three, should do so – each speaking in his turn – and someone should interpret them. 046 1CO 014 028 If there is no one able to interpret what is said, they should remain silent at the meeting of the church, and speak to themselves and to God. 046 1CO 014 029 Of preachers two or three should speak, and the rest should weigh well what is said. 046 1CO 014 030 But, if some revelation is made to another person as he sits there, the first speaker should stop. 046 1CO 014 031 For you can all preach in turn, so that all may learn some lesson and all receive encouragement. 046 1CO 014 032 (The spirit that moves the preachers is within the preachers’ control; 046 1CO 014 033 for God is not a God of disorder, but of peace.) This custom prevails in all the churches of Christ’s people. 046 1CO 014 034 At the meetings of the church married women should remain silent, for they are not allowed to speak in public; they should take a subordinate place, as the Law itself directs. 046 1CO 014 035 If they want information on any point, they should ask their husbands about it at home; for it is unbecoming for a married woman to speak at a meeting of the church. 046 1CO 014 036 What! Did God’s message to the world originate with you? Or did it find its way to none but you? 046 1CO 014 037 If anyone thinks that he has the gift of preaching or any other spiritual gift, he should recognize that what I am now saying to you is a command from the Lord. 046 1CO 014 038 Anyone who ignores it may be ignored. 046 1CO 014 039 Therefore, my friends, strive for the gift of preaching, and yet do not forbid speaking in ‘tongues.’ 046 1CO 014 040 Let everything be done in a proper and orderly manner. 046 1CO 015 001 Next, friends, I would like to remind you of the good news which I told you, and which you received – the good news on which you have taken your stand, 046 1CO 015 002 and by means of which you are being saved. I would like to remind you of the words that I used in telling it to you, since you are still holding fast to it, and since it was not in vain that you became believers in Christ. 046 1CO 015 003 For at the very beginning of my teaching I gave you the account which I had myself received – that Christ died for our sins (as the scriptures had foretold), 046 1CO 015 004 that he was buried, that on the third day he was raised (as the scriptures had foretold), 046 1CO 015 005 and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. 046 1CO 015 006 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have gone to their rest. 046 1CO 015 007 After that, he appeared to James, and then to all the apostles. 046 1CO 015 008 Last of all, he appeared even to me, who am, as it were, a miscarried baby – born untimely. 046 1CO 015 009 For I am the least of the apostles, I who am unworthy of the name of ‘apostle,’ because I persecuted the church of God. 046 1CO 015 010 But it is through the love of God that I am what I am, and the love that he showed me has not been wasted. No, I have toiled harder than any of them, and yet it was not I, but the love of God working with me. 046 1CO 015 011 Whether, then, it was I or whether it was they, this we proclaim, and this you believed. 046 1CO 015 012 Now, if it is proclaimed of Christ that he has been raised from the dead, how is it that some of you say that there is no such thing as a resurrection of the dead? 046 1CO 015 013 But, if there is no such thing as a resurrection of the dead, then even Christ has not been raised; 046 1CO 015 014 and, if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation is without meaning, and our faith without meaning also! 046 1CO 015 015 Yes, and we are being proved to have borne false testimony about God; for we testified of God that he raised the Christ, whom he did not raise, if, indeed, the dead do not rise! 046 1CO 015 016 For, if the dead do not rise, then even Christ himself has not been raised, 046 1CO 015 017 and, if Christ has not been raised, your faith is folly – your sins are on you still! 046 1CO 015 018 Yes, and they, who have passed to their rest in union with Christ, perished! 046 1CO 015 019 If all that we have done has been to place our hope in Christ for this life, then we of all people are the most to be pitied. 046 1CO 015 020 But, in truth, Christ has been raised from the dead, the first-fruits of those who are at rest. 046 1CO 015 021 For, since through a man there is death, so, too, through a man there is a resurrection of the dead. 046 1CO 015 022 For, as through union with Adam all die, so through union with the Christ will all be made to live. 046 1CO 015 023 But each in their proper order – Christ the first-fruits; afterward, at his coming, those who belong to the Christ. 046 1CO 015 024 Then will come the end – when he surrenders the kingdom to his God and Father, having overthrown all other rule and all other authority and power. 046 1CO 015 025 For he must reign until God ‘has put all his enemies under his feet.’ 046 1CO 015 026 The last enemy to be overthrown is death; 046 1CO 015 027 for God has placed all things under Christ’s feet. (But, when it is said that all things have been placed under Christ, it is plain that God is excepted who placed everything under him.) 046 1CO 015 028 And, when everything has been placed under him, the Son will place himself under God who placed everything under him, so that God may be all in all! 046 1CO 015 029 Again, what good will they be doing who are baptized on behalf of the dead? If it is true that the dead do not rise, why are people baptized on their behalf? 046 1CO 015 030 Why, too, do we risk our lives every hour? 046 1CO 015 031 Daily I face death – I swear it, friends, by the pride in you that I feel through my union with Christ Jesus, our Lord. 046 1CO 015 032 If with only human hopes I had fought in the arena at Ephesus, what should I have gained by it? If the dead do not rise, then let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we will die! 046 1CO 015 033 Do not be deceived. ‘Good character is marred by evil company.’ 046 1CO 015 034 Wake up to a righteous life, and cease to sin. There are some who have no true knowledge of God. I speak in this way to shame you. 046 1CO 015 035 Someone, however, may ask ‘How do the dead rise? And in what body will they come?’ 046 1CO 015 036 You foolish person! The seed you yourself sow does not come to life, unless it dies! 046 1CO 015 037 And when you sow, you sow not the body that will be, but a mere grain – perhaps of wheat, or something else. 046 1CO 015 038 God gives it the body that he pleases – to each seed its special body. 046 1CO 015 039 All forms of life are not the same; there is one for people, another for beasts, another for birds, and another for fish. 046 1CO 015 040 There are heavenly bodies, and earthly bodies; but the beauty of the heavenly bodies is not the beauty of the earthly. 046 1CO 015 041 There is a beauty of the sun, and a beauty of the moon, and a beauty of the stars; for even star differs from star in beauty. 046 1CO 015 042 It is the same with the resurrection of the dead. Sown a mortal body, it rises immortal; sown disfigured, it rises beautiful; 046 1CO 015 043 sown weak, it rises strong; sown a human body, it rises a spiritual body. 046 1CO 015 044 As surely as there is a human body, there is also a spiritual body. 046 1CO 015 045 That is what is meant by the words – ‘Adam, the first man, became a human being’; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 046 1CO 015 046 That which comes first is not the spiritual, but the human; afterward comes the spiritual; 046 1CO 015 047 the first man was from the dust of the earth; the second man from heaven. 046 1CO 015 048 Those who are of the dust are like him who came from the dust; and those who are of heaven are like him who came from heaven. 046 1CO 015 049 And as we have borne the likeness of him who came from the dust, so let us bear the likeness of him who came from heaven. 046 1CO 015 050 This I say, friends – Flesh and blood can have no share in the kingdom of God, nor can the perishable share the imperishable. 046 1CO 015 051 Listen, I will tell you God’s hidden purpose! We will not all have passed to our rest, but we will all be transformed – in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, 046 1CO 015 052 at the last trumpet-call; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will rise immortal, and we, also, will be transformed. 046 1CO 015 053 For this perishable body of ours must put on an imperishable form, and this dying body a deathless form. 046 1CO 015 054 And, when this dying body has put on its deathless form, then indeed will the words of scripture come true – 046 1CO 015 055 ‘death has been swallowed up in victory! Where, Death, is your victory? Where, death, is your sting?’ (Hadēs g86) 046 1CO 015 056 It is sin that gives death its sting, and it is the Law that gives sin its power. 046 1CO 015 057 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. 046 1CO 015 058 Therefore, my dear friends, stand firm, unshaken, always diligent in the Lord’s work, for you know that, in union with him, your toil is not in vain. 046 1CO 016 001 With reference to the collection for Christ’s people, I want you to follow the instructions that I gave to the churches in Galatia. 046 1CO 016 002 On the first day of every week each of you should put by what he can afford, so that no collections need be made after I have come. 046 1CO 016 003 On my arrival, I will send any persons, whom you may authorize by letter, to carry your gift to Jerusalem; 046 1CO 016 004 and, if it appears to be worth while for me to go also, they will go with me. 046 1CO 016 005 I will come to you as soon as I have been through Macedonia – for I am going through Macedonia – 046 1CO 016 006 And I will probably make some stay with you or, perhaps, remain for the winter, so that you may yourselves send me on my way, wherever I may be going. 046 1CO 016 007 I do not propose to pay you a visit in passing now, for I hope to stay with you for some time, if the Lord permits. 046 1CO 016 008 I intend, however, staying at Ephesus until the Festival at the close of the Harvest; 046 1CO 016 009 for a great opening for active work has presented itself, and there are many opponents. 046 1CO 016 010 If Timothy comes, take care that he has no cause for feeling anxious while he is with you. He is doing the Master’s work no less than I am. 046 1CO 016 011 No one, therefore, should slight him. See him safely on his way to me, for I am expecting him with some of our friends. 046 1CO 016 012 As for our friend Apollos, I have often urged him to go to you with the others. He has, however, been very unwilling to do so as yet; but he will go as soon as he finds a good opportunity. 046 1CO 016 013 Be watchful; stand firm in your faith; be brave; be strong. 046 1CO 016 014 Let everything you do be done in a loving spirit. 046 1CO 016 015 I have another request to make of you, friends. You remember Stephanas and his household, and that they were the first-fruits gathered in from Greece, and set themselves to serve Christ’s people. 046 1CO 016 016 I want you, on your part, to show deference to such people as these, as well as to every fellow laborer and earnest worker. 046 1CO 016 017 I am glad Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus have come, for they have made up for your absence; 046 1CO 016 018 they have cheered my heart, and your hearts also. Recognize the worth of such people as these. 046 1CO 016 019 The churches in Roman Asia send you their greetings. Aquila and Prisca and the church that meets at their house send you many Christian greetings. 046 1CO 016 020 All of the Lord’s followers send you greetings. Greet one another with a sacred kiss. 046 1CO 016 021 I, Paul, add this greeting in my own handwriting. 046 1CO 016 022 Accursed be anyone who has no love for the Lord. THE LORD IS COMING. 046 1CO 016 023 May the blessing of the Lord Jesus be with you. 046 1CO 016 024 My love to all of you who are in union with Christ Jesus. # # BOOK 047 2CO 2 Corinthians 2 Corinthians 047 2CO 001 001 To the church of God in Corinth, and to all Christ’s people throughout Greece, from Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, by the will of God, and from Timothy, who is also a follower. 047 2CO 001 002 May God, our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ bless you and give you peace. 047 2CO 001 003 Blessed is the God and Father of Jesus Christ our Lord, the all-merciful Father, the God ever ready to console, 047 2CO 001 004 who consoles us in all our troubles, so that we may be able to console those who are in any trouble with the consolation that we ourselves receive from him. 047 2CO 001 005 It is true that we have our full share of the sufferings of the Christ, but through the Christ we have also our full share of consolation. 047 2CO 001 006 If we meet with trouble, it is for the sake of your consolation and salvation; and, if we find consolation, it is for the sake of the consolation that you will experience when you are called to endure the sufferings that we ourselves are enduring; 047 2CO 001 007 and our hope for you remains unshaken. We know that, as you are sharing our sufferings, you will also share our consolation. 047 2CO 001 008 We want you, friends, to know that, in the troubles which befell us in Roman Asia, we were burdened altogether beyond our strength, so much so that we even despaired of life. 047 2CO 001 009 Indeed, we had the presentiment that we must die, so that we might rely, not on ourselves, but on God who raises the dead. 047 2CO 001 010 And from so imminent a death God delivered us, and will deliver us again; for in him we have placed our hopes of future deliverance, while you, also, help us by your prayers. 047 2CO 001 011 And then many lips will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us in answer to many prayers. 047 2CO 001 012 Indeed, our main ground for satisfaction is this – Our conscience tells us that our conduct in the world, and still more in our relations with you, was marked by a purity of motive and a sincerity that were inspired by God, and was based, not on worldly policy, but on the help of God. 047 2CO 001 013 We never write anything to you other than what you will acknowledge to the very end – 047 2CO 001 014 And, indeed, you have already partly acknowledged it about us – that you have a right to be proud of us, as we will be proud of you, on the day of our Lord Jesus. 047 2CO 001 015 With this conviction in my mind, I planned to come to see you first, so that your pleasure might be doubled – 047 2CO 001 016 To visit you both on my way to Macedonia, and to come to you again on my return from Macedonia, and then to get you to send me on my way into Judea. 047 2CO 001 017 As this was my plan, where, pray, did I show any fickleness of purpose? Or do you think that my plans are formed on mere impulse, so that in the same breath I say ‘Yes’ and ‘No’? 047 2CO 001 018 As God is true, the message that we brought you does not waver between ‘Yes’ and ‘No’! 047 2CO 001 019 The Son of God, Christ Jesus, whom we – Silas, Timothy, and I – proclaimed among you, never wavered between ‘Yes’ and ‘No.’ With him it has always been ‘Yes.’ 047 2CO 001 020 For, many as were the promises of God, in Christ is the ‘Yes’ that fulfills them. Therefore, through Christ again, let the ‘Amen’ rise, through us, to the glory of God. 047 2CO 001 021 God who brings us, with you, into close union with Christ, and who consecrated us, 047 2CO 001 022 also set his seal on us, and gave us his Spirit in our hearts as a pledge of future blessings. 047 2CO 001 023 But, as my life will answer for it, I call God to witness that it was to spare you that I deferred my visit to Corinth. 047 2CO 001 024 I do not mean that we are to dictate to you with regard to your faith; on the contrary, we work with you for your true happiness; indeed, it is through your faith that you are standing firm. 047 2CO 002 001 For my own sake, as well, I decided not to pay you another painful visit. 047 2CO 002 002 If it is I who cause you pain, why, who is there to cheer me, except the person whom I am paining? 047 2CO 002 003 So I wrote as I did because I was afraid that if I had come, I should have been pained by those who ought to have made me glad; for I felt sure that it was true of you all that my joy was in every case yours also. 047 2CO 002 004 I wrote to you in sore trouble and distress of heart and with many tears, not to give you pain, but to let you see how intense a love I have for you. 047 2CO 002 005 Now whoever has caused the pain has not so much pained me, as he has, to some extent – not to be too severe – pained every one of you. 047 2CO 002 006 The man to whom I refer has been sufficiently punished by the penalty inflicted by the majority of you; 047 2CO 002 007 so that now you must take the opposite course, and forgive and encourage him, or else he may be overwhelmed by the intensity of his pain. 047 2CO 002 008 So I entreat you to assure him of your love. 047 2CO 002 009 I had this further object, also, in what I wrote – to find out whether you might be relied on to be obedient in everything. 047 2CO 002 010 Anyone you forgive, I forgive them, too. Indeed, for my part, whatever I have forgiven (if I have had to forgive anything), I have forgiven for your sakes, in the presence of Christ, 047 2CO 002 011 so as to prevent Satan from taking advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices. 047 2CO 002 012 When I went to the district around Troas to tell the good news of the Christ, even though there was an opening for serving the Master, 047 2CO 002 013 I could get no peace of mind because I failed to find Titus, my friend; so I took leave of the people there, and went on to Macedonia. 047 2CO 002 014 All thanks to God, who, through our union with the Christ, leads us in one continual triumph, and uses us to spread the sweet perfume of the knowledge of him in every place. 047 2CO 002 015 For we are the fragrance of Christ ascending to God – both among those who are in the path of salvation and among those who are in the path to ruin. 047 2CO 002 016 To the latter we are a stench which arises from death and tells of death; to the former a fragrance which arises from life and tells of life. But who is equal to such a task? 047 2CO 002 017 Unlike many people, we are not in the habit of making profit out of God’s message; but in all sincerity, and bearing God’s commission, we speak before him in union with Christ. 047 2CO 003 001 Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or are we like some who need letters of commendation to you, or from you? 047 2CO 003 002 You yourselves are our letter – a letter written on our hearts, and one which everybody can read and understand. 047 2CO 003 003 All can see that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, a letter written, not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone, but on tablets of human hearts. 047 2CO 003 004 This, then, is the confidence in regard to God that we have gained through the Christ. 047 2CO 003 005 I do not mean that we are fit to form any judgment by ourselves, as if on our own authority; 047 2CO 003 006 our fitness comes from God, who himself made us fit to be assistants of a new covenant, of which the substance is, not a written Law, but a Spirit. For the written Law means death, but the Spirit gives life. 047 2CO 003 007 If the system of religion which involved death, embodied in a written Law and engraved on stones, began amid such glory, that the Israelites were unable to gaze at the face of Moses because of its glory, though it was but a passing glory, 047 2CO 003 008 will not the religion that confers the Spirit have still greater glory? 047 2CO 003 009 For, if there was a glory in the religion that involved condemnation, far greater is the glory of the religion that confers righteousness! 047 2CO 003 010 Indeed, that which then had glory has lost its glory, because of the glory which surpasses it. 047 2CO 003 011 And, if that which was to pass away was attended with glory, far more will that which is to endure be surrounded with glory! 047 2CO 003 012 With such a hope as this, we speak with all plainness; 047 2CO 003 013 unlike Moses, who covered his face with a veil, to prevent the Israelites from gazing at the disappearance of what was passing away. 047 2CO 003 014 But their minds were slow to learn. Indeed, to this very day, at the public reading of the old covenant, the same veil remains; only for those who are in union with Christ does it pass away. 047 2CO 003 015 But, even to this day, whenever Moses is read, a veil lies on their hearts. 047 2CO 003 016 Yet, whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. 047 2CO 003 017 And the Lord is the Spirit, and, where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 047 2CO 003 018 And all of us, with faces from which the veil is lifted, seeing, as if reflected in a mirror, the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into his likeness, from glory to glory, as it is given by the Lord, the Spirit. 047 2CO 004 001 Therefore, since it is by God’s mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart. 047 2CO 004 002 No, we have renounced the secrecy prompted by shame, refusing to adopt crafty ways, or to tamper with God’s message, and commending ourselves to everyone’s conscience, in the sight of God, by our exhibition of the truth. 047 2CO 004 003 And, even if the good news that we bring is veiled, it is veiled only in the case of those who are on the path to ruin – 047 2CO 004 004 people whose minds have been blinded by the God of this age, unbelievers as they are, so that the light from the good news of the glory of the Christ, who is the incarnation of God, should not shine for them. (aiōn g165) 047 2CO 004 005 (For it is not ourselves that we proclaim, but Christ Jesus, as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.) 047 2CO 004 006 Indeed, the same God who said ‘Out of darkness light will shine,’ has shone in on our hearts, so that we should bring out into the light the knowledge of the glory of God, seen in the face of Christ. 047 2CO 004 007 This treasure we have in these earthen vessels, so that its all-prevailing power may be seen to come from God, and not to be our own. 047 2CO 004 008 Though hard pressed on every side, we are never hemmed in; though perplexed, never driven to despair; 047 2CO 004 009 though pursued, never abandoned; though struck down, never killed! 047 2CO 004 010 We always bear on our bodies the marks of the death that Jesus died, so that the life also of Jesus may be exhibited in our bodies. 047 2CO 004 011 Indeed, we who still live are continually being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life also of Jesus may be exhibited in our mortal nature. 047 2CO 004 012 And so, while death is at work within us, life is at work within you. 047 2CO 004 013 But, in the same spirit of faith as that expressed in the words – ‘I believed, and therefore I spoke,’ we, also believe, and therefore speak. 047 2CO 004 014 For we know that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with him, and will bring us, with you, into his presence. 047 2CO 004 015 For all this is for your sakes, so that the loving kindness of God, spreading from heart to heart, may cause yet more hearts to overflow with thanksgiving, to his glory. 047 2CO 004 016 Therefore, as I said, we do not lose heart. No, even though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 047 2CO 004 017 The light burden of our momentary trouble is preparing for us a weight of imperishable glory, beyond all measure. (aiōnios g166) 047 2CO 004 018 We, all the while, gaze not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is transient, but what is unseen is imperishable. (aiōnios g166) 047 2CO 005 001 For we know that if our tent – that earthly body which is now our home – is taken down, we have a house of God’s building, a home not made by hands, imperishable, in heaven. (aiōnios g166) 047 2CO 005 002 Even while in our present body we sigh, longing to put over it our heavenly house, 047 2CO 005 003 sure that, when we have put it on, we will never be found naked. 047 2CO 005 004 For we who are in this tent sigh under our burden, unwilling to take it off, yet wishing to put our heavenly body over it, so that all that is mortal may be absorbed in life. 047 2CO 005 005 And he who has prepared us for this change is God, who has also given us his Spirit as a pledge. 047 2CO 005 006 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, while our home is in the body, we are absent from our home with the Lord. 047 2CO 005 007 For we guide our lives by faith, and not by what we see. 047 2CO 005 008 And in this confidence we would gladly leave our home in the body, and make our home with the Lord. 047 2CO 005 009 Therefore, whether in our home or absent from our home, our one ambition is to please him. 047 2CO 005 010 For at the court of the Christ we must all appear in our true characters, so that each may reap the results of the life which he has lived in the body, in accordance with his actions – whether good or worthless. 047 2CO 005 011 Therefore, because we know the fear inspired by the Lord, it is true that we are trying to win people over, but our motives are plain to God; and I hope that in your inmost hearts they are plain to you also. 047 2CO 005 012 We are not “commending ourselves” again to you, but rather are giving you cause for pride in us, so that you may have an answer ready for those who pride themselves on appearances and not on character. 047 2CO 005 013 For, if we were “beside ourselves,” it was in God’s service! If we are not in our senses, it is in yours! 047 2CO 005 014 It is the love of the Christ which compels us, when we reflect that, as one died for all, therefore all died; 047 2CO 005 015 and that he died for all, so that the living should no longer live for themselves, but for him who died and rose for them. 047 2CO 005 016 For ourselves, then, from this time forward, we refuse to regard anyone from the world’s standpoint. Even if we once thought of Christ from the standpoint of the world, yet now we do so no longer. 047 2CO 005 017 Therefore, if anyone is in union with Christ, he is a new being! His old life has passed away; a new life has begun! 047 2CO 005 018 But all this is the work of God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and gave us the ministry of reconciliation – 047 2CO 005 019 To proclaim that God, in Christ, was reconciling the world to himself, not reckoning people’s offenses against them, and that he had entrusted us with the message of this reconciliation. 047 2CO 005 020 It is, then, on Christ’s behalf that we are acting as ambassadors, God, as it were, appealing to you through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf – Be reconciled to God. 047 2CO 005 021 For our sake God made Christ, who was innocent of sin, one with our sinfulness, so that in him we might be made one with the righteousness of God. 047 2CO 006 001 Therefore, as God’s fellow workers, we also appeal to you not to receive his loving kindness in vain. 047 2CO 006 002 For he says – ‘At the time for acceptance I listened to you, and on the day of deliverance I helped you.’ Now is the time for acceptance! Now is the day of deliverance! 047 2CO 006 003 Never do we put an obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry. 047 2CO 006 004 No, we are trying to commend ourselves under all circumstances, as God’s assistants should – in many an hour of endurance, in troubles, in hardships, in difficulties, 047 2CO 006 005 in floggings, in imprisonments, in riots, in toils, in sleepless nights, in hunger; 047 2CO 006 006 by purity, by knowledge, by patience, by kindliness, by holiness of spirit, by unfeigned love; 047 2CO 006 007 by the message of truth, and by the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; 047 2CO 006 008 amid honor and disrepute, amid slander and praise; regarded as deceivers, yet proved to be true; 047 2CO 006 009 as unknown, yet well-known; as at death’s door, yet, see, we are living; as chastised, yet not killed; 047 2CO 006 010 as saddened, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet enriching many; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things! 047 2CO 006 011 We have been speaking freely to you, dear friends in Corinth; we have opened our heart; 047 2CO 006 012 there is room there for you, yet there is not room, in your love, for us. 047 2CO 006 013 Can you not in return – I appeal to you as I should to children – open your hearts to us? 047 2CO 006 014 Do not enter into inconsistent relations with those who reject the faith. For what partnership can there be between righteousness and lawlessness? Or what has light to do with darkness? 047 2CO 006 015 What harmony can there be between Christ and Belial? Or what can those who accept the faith have in common with those who reject it? 047 2CO 006 016 What agreement can there be between a temple of God and idols? And we are a temple of the living God. That is what God meant when he said – ‘I will live among them, and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they will be my people. 047 2CO 006 017 Therefore “Come out from among the nations, and separate yourselves from them,” says the Lord, “And touch nothing impure; and I will welcome you; 047 2CO 006 018 and I will be a father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters,” says the Lord, the Ruler of all.’ 047 2CO 007 001 With these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that pollutes either body or spirit, and, in deepest respect for God, aim at perfect holiness. 047 2CO 007 002 Make room for us in your hearts. In no instance have we ever wronged, or harmed, or taken advantage of, anyone. 047 2CO 007 003 I am not saying this to condemn you. Indeed, I have already said that you are in our heart, to live and die together. 047 2CO 007 004 I have the utmost confidence in you; I am always boasting about you. I am full of encouragement and, in spite of all our troubles, my heart is overflowing with happiness. 047 2CO 007 005 Ever since we reached Macedonia, we have had no rest in body or mind; on every side there have been troubles – conflicts without, anxieties within. 047 2CO 007 006 But God, who encourages the downcast, has encouraged us by the arrival of Titus. 047 2CO 007 007 And it is not only by his arrival that we are encouraged, but also by the encouragement which he received from you; for he tells us of your strong affection, your penitence, and your zeal on my behalf – so that I am happier still. 047 2CO 007 008 For, though I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Even if I were inclined to regret it – for I see that my letter did cause you sorrow though only for a time – 047 2CO 007 009 I am glad now; not because of the sorrow it caused you, but because your sorrow brought you to repentance. For it was God’s will that you should feel sorrow, in order that you should not suffer loss in any way at our hands. 047 2CO 007 010 For, when sorrow is in accordance with God’s will, it results in a repentance leading to salvation, and which will never be regretted. The sure result of the sorrow that the world knows is death. 047 2CO 007 011 For see what results that other sorrow – sorrow in accordance with God’s will – has had in your case. What earnestness it produced! What explanations! What strong feeling! What alarm! What longing! What eagerness! What readiness to punish! You have proved yourselves altogether free from guilt in that matter. 047 2CO 007 012 So, then, even though I did write to you, it was not for the sake of the wrongdoer, or of the man who was wronged, but to make you conscious, in the sight of God, of your own earnest care for us. And it is this that has encouraged us. 047 2CO 007 013 In addition to the encouragement that this gave us, we were made far happier still by the happiness of Titus for his heart has been cheered by you all. 047 2CO 007 014 Although I have been boasting a little to him about you, you did not put me to shame; but, just as every thing we had said to you was true, so our boasting to Titus about you has also proved to be the truth. 047 2CO 007 015 And his affection for you is all the greater, as he remembers the deference that you all showed him, and recalls how you received him with anxious care. 047 2CO 007 016 I am glad that I can feel perfect confidence in you. 047 2CO 008 001 We want to remind you, friends, of the love that God has shown to the churches in Macedonia – 047 2CO 008 002 How, tired though they were by many a trouble, their overflowing happiness, and even their deep poverty, resulted in a flood of generosity. 047 2CO 008 003 I can bear witness that to the full extent of their power, and even beyond their power, spontaneously, 047 2CO 008 004 and with many an appeal to us for permission, they showed their love, and contributed their share towards the fund for their fellow Christians. 047 2CO 008 005 And that, not only in the way we had expected; but first they gave themselves to the Lord, and to us also, in accordance with God’s will. 047 2CO 008 006 And this led us to beg Titus, that since he had started the work for you, he should also see to the completion of this expression of your love. 047 2CO 008 007 And, remembering how you excel in everything – in faith, in teaching, in knowledge, in unfailing earnestness, and in the affection that we have awakened in you – I ask you to excel also in this expression of your love. 047 2CO 008 008 I am not laying a command on you, but I am making use of the earnestness shown by others to test the genuineness of your affection. 047 2CO 008 009 For you do not forget the loving kindness of our Lord Jesus Christ – how that for your sakes, although he was rich, he became poor, so that you also might become rich through his poverty. 047 2CO 008 010 I am only making suggestions on this matter; for this is the best course for you, since you were a year before others, not only in taking action, but also in showing your readiness to do so. 047 2CO 008 011 And now I want you to complete the work, so that its completion may correspond with your willing readiness – in proportion, of course, to your means. 047 2CO 008 012 For, where there is willingness, a person’s gift is valued by its comparison with what they have, and not with what they do not have. 047 2CO 008 013 For our object is not to give relief to others and bring distress on you. It is a matter of a fair balance. 047 2CO 008 014 On this occasion what you can spare will supply what they need, at another time what they can spare may supply your need, and so things will be equal. 047 2CO 008 015 As scripture says – ‘Those who had much had nothing over, and those who had little did not lack!’ 047 2CO 008 016 I thank God for inspiring Titus with the same keen interest in your welfare that I have; 047 2CO 008 017 for Titus has responded to my appeals and, in his great earnestness, is starting to go to you of his own accord. 047 2CO 008 018 We are sending with him one of the Lord’s followers whose fame in the service of the good news has spread through all the churches; 047 2CO 008 019 and not only that, but he has been elected by the churches to accompany us on our journey, in connexion with this expression of your love, which we are personally administering to the honor of the Lord, and to show our deep interest. 047 2CO 008 020 What we are specially guarding against is that any fault should be found with us in regard to our administration of this charitable fund; 047 2CO 008 021 for we are trying to make arrangements which will be right, not only in the eyes of the Lord, but also in the eyes of people. 047 2CO 008 022 We are also sending with them another of our friends, whose earnestness we have many a time proved in many ways, and whom we now find made even more earnest by his great confidence in you. 047 2CO 008 023 If I must say anything about Titus, he is my intimate companion, and he shares my work for you; if it is our friends, they are delegates of the churches, an honor to Christ. 047 2CO 008 024 Show them, therefore – so that the churches may see it – the proof of your affection, and the ground for our boasting to them about you. 047 2CO 009 001 With reference, indeed, to the fund for your fellow Christians, it is quite superfluous for me to say anything to you. 047 2CO 009 002 I know, of course, your willingness to help, and I am always boasting of it to the Macedonians. I tell them that you in Greece have been ready for a year past; and it was really your zeal that stimulated most of them. 047 2CO 009 003 So my reason for sending our friends is to prevent what we said about you from proving, in this particular matter, an empty boast, and to enable you to be as well prepared as I have been saying that you are. 047 2CO 009 004 Otherwise, if any Macedonians were to come with me, and find you unprepared, we – to say nothing of you – should feel ashamed of our present confidence. 047 2CO 009 005 Therefore I think it necessary to beg the friends to go to you in advance, and to complete the arrangements for the gift, which you have already promised, so that it may be ready, as a gift, before I come, and not look as if it were being given under pressure. 047 2CO 009 006 Remember the saying – ‘Scanty sowing, scanty harvest; plentiful sowing, plentiful harvest.’ 047 2CO 009 007 Let everyone give as he has determined before hand, not grudgingly or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver. 047 2CO 009 008 God has power to shower all kinds of blessings on you, so that, having, under all circumstances and on all occasions, all that you can need, you may be able to shower all kinds of benefits on others. 047 2CO 009 009 (As scripture says – ‘He shared freely, he gave to the poor; his righteousness continues for ever.’ (aiōn g165) 047 2CO 009 010 And he who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for eating, will supply you with seed, and cause it to increase, and will multiply the fruits of your righteousness). 047 2CO 009 011 Rich in all things yourselves, you will be able to show liberality to all, which, with our help, will cause thanksgiving to be offered to God. 047 2CO 009 012 For the rendering of a public service such as this, not only relieves the needs of your fellow Christians, but also results in the offering to God of many a thanksgiving. 047 2CO 009 013 Through the evidence afforded by the service rendered, you cause people to praise God for your fidelity to your profession of faith in the good news of the Christ, as well as for the liberality of your contributions for them and for all others. 047 2CO 009 014 And they also, in their prayers for you, express their longing to see you, because of the surpassing love of God displayed toward you. 047 2CO 009 015 All thanks to God for his inestimable gift! 047 2CO 010 001 Now, I, Paul, make a personal appeal to you by the meekness and gentleness of the Christ – I who, “in your presence, am humble in my bearing towards you, but, when absent, am bold in my language to you” – 047 2CO 010 002 I implore you not to drive me to “show my boldness,” when I do come, by the confident tone which I expect to have to adopt towards some of you, who are expecting to find us influenced in our conduct by earthly motives. 047 2CO 010 003 For, though we live an earthly life, we do not wage an earthly war. 047 2CO 010 004 The weapons for our warfare are not earthly, but, under God, are powerful enough to pull down strongholds. 047 2CO 010 005 We are engaged in confuting arguments and pulling down every barrier raised against the knowledge of God. We are taking captive every hostile thought, to bring it into submission to the Christ, 047 2CO 010 006 and are fully prepared to punish every act of rebellion, when once your submission is complete. 047 2CO 010 007 You look at the outward appearance of things! Let anyone, who is confident that he belongs to Christ, reflect, for himself, again on the fact – that we belong to Christ no less than he does. 047 2CO 010 008 Even if I boast extravagantly about our authority – which the Lord gave us for building up your faith and not for overthrowing it – still I have no reason to be ashamed. 047 2CO 010 009 I say this so that it doesn’t seem as if I am trying to overawe you by my letters. 047 2CO 010 010 For people say “His letters are impressive and vigorous, but his personal appearance is insignificant and his speaking contemptible.” 047 2CO 010 011 Let such a person be assured of this – that our words in our letters show us to be, when absent, just what our deeds will show us to be, when present. 047 2CO 010 012 We have not indeed the audacity to class or compare ourselves with some of those who indulge in self-commendation! But, when such persons measure themselves by themselves, and compare themselves with themselves, they show a want of wisdom. 047 2CO 010 013 We, however, will not give way to unlimited boasting, but will confine ourselves to the limits of the sphere to which God limited us, when he permitted us to come as far as Corinth. 047 2CO 010 014 For it is not the case, as it would be if we were not in the habit of coming to you, that we are exceeding our bounds! Why, we were the very first to reach you with the good news of the Christ! 047 2CO 010 015 Our boasting, therefore, is not unlimited, nor does it extend to the labors of others; but our hope is that, as your faith grows, our influence among you may be very greatly increased – though still confined to our sphere – 047 2CO 010 016 So that we will be able to tell the good news in the districts beyond you, without trespassing on the sphere assigned to others, or boasting of what has been already done. 047 2CO 010 017 Let anyone who boasts make their boast of the Lord. 047 2CO 010 018 For it is not those who commend themselves that stand the test, but those who are commended by the Lord. 047 2CO 011 001 I could wish that you would tolerate a little folly in me! But indeed you do tolerate me. 047 2CO 011 002 I am jealous over you with the jealousy of God. For I promised you in marriage as a pure bride, to one husband – the Christ. 047 2CO 011 003 Yet I fear that it may turn out that, just as the snake by his craftiness deceived Eve, so your minds may have lost the loyalty and purity due from you to the Christ. 047 2CO 011 004 For, if some newcomer is proclaiming a Jesus other than him whom we proclaimed, or if you are receiving a Spirit different from the Spirit which you received, or a good news different from that which you welcomed, then you are marvelously tolerant! 047 2CO 011 005 I do not regard myself as in any way inferior to the most eminent apostles! 047 2CO 011 006 Though I am no trained orator, yet I am not without knowledge; indeed we made this perfectly clear to you in every way. 047 2CO 011 007 Perhaps you say that I did wrong in humbling myself that you might be exalted – I mean because I told you God’s good news without payment. 047 2CO 011 008 I robbed other churches by taking pay from them, so that I might serve you! 047 2CO 011 009 And, when I was with you in need, I did not become a burden to any of you; for our friends, on coming from Macedonia, supplied my needs. I kept myself, and will keep myself from being an expense to you in any way. 047 2CO 011 010 As surely as I know anything of the truth of Christ, this boast, as far as I am concerned, will not be stopped in any part of Greece. 047 2CO 011 011 Why? Because I do not love you? God knows that I do! 047 2CO 011 012 What I am doing now I will continue to do in order to cut away the ground from under those who are wishing for some ground for attacking me, so that as regards the thing of which they boast they may appear in their true characters, just as we do. 047 2CO 011 013 Such people are false apostles, treacherous workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ! 047 2CO 011 014 And no wonder; for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 047 2CO 011 015 It is not surprising, therefore, if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. But their end will be in accordance with their actions. 047 2CO 011 016 I say again – Let no one think me a fool! Yet, if you do, at least welcome me as you would a fool, so that I, too may indulge in a little boasting. 047 2CO 011 017 When I speak like this, I am not speaking as the Master would, but as a fool might, in boasting so confidently. 047 2CO 011 018 As so many are boasting of earthly things, I, too, will boast. 047 2CO 011 019 For all your cleverness, you tolerate fools willingly enough! 047 2CO 011 020 You tolerate a person even when they enslave you, when they plunder you, when they get you into their power, when they put on airs of superiority, when they strike you in the face! 047 2CO 011 021 I admit, to my shame, that we have been weak. But whatever the subject on which others are not afraid to boast – though it is foolish to say so – I am not afraid either! 047 2CO 011 022 Are they Hebrews? So am I! Are they Israelites? So am I! Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I! 047 2CO 011 023 Are they ‘Servants of Christ’? Though it is madness to talk like this, I am more so than they! I have had more of toil, more of imprisonment! I have been flogged times without number. I have been often at death’s door. 047 2CO 011 024 Five times I received at the hands of my own people forty lashes, all but one. 047 2CO 011 025 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. I have spent a whole day and night in the deep. 047 2CO 011 026 My journeys have been many. I have been through dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my own people, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in towns, dangers in the country, dangers on the sea, dangers among people pretending to be followers of the Lord. 047 2CO 011 027 I have been through toil and hardship. I have passed many a sleepless night; I have endured hunger and thirst; I have often been without food; I have known cold and nakedness. 047 2CO 011 028 And, not to speak of other things, there is my daily burden of anxiety about all the churches. 047 2CO 011 029 Who is weak without my being weak? Who is led astray without my burning with indignation? 047 2CO 011 030 If I must boast, I will boast of things which show my weakness! 047 2CO 011 031 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus – he who is for ever blessed – knows that I am speaking the truth. (aiōn g165) 047 2CO 011 032 When I was in Damascus, the Governor under King Aretas had the gates of that city guarded, so as to arrest me, 047 2CO 011 033 but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and so escaped his hands. 047 2CO 012 001 I must boast! It is unprofitable; but I will pass to visions and revelations given by the Lord. 047 2CO 012 002 I know a man in union with Christ, who, fourteen years ago – whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows – was caught up (this man of whom I am speaking) to the third heaven. 047 2CO 012 003 And I know that this man – whether in the body or separated from the body I do not know; God knows – 047 2CO 012 004 Was caught up into Paradise, and heard unspeakable things of which no human being may tell. 047 2CO 012 005 About such a man I will boast, but about myself I will not boast except as regards my weaknesses. 047 2CO 012 006 Yet if I choose to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will be speaking no more than the truth. But I refrain, in case anyone should credit me with more than he can see in me or hear from me, and because of the marvelous character of the revelations. 047 2CO 012 007 It was for this reason, and to prevent my thinking too highly of myself, that a thorn was sent to pierce my flesh – an instrument of Satan to discipline me – so that I should not think too highly of myself. 047 2CO 012 008 About this I three times entreated the Lord, praying that it might leave me. 047 2CO 012 009 But his reply has been – ‘My help is enough for you; for my strength attains its perfection in the midst of weakness.’ Most gladly, then, will I boast all the more of my weaknesses, so that the strength of the Christ may overshadow me. 047 2CO 012 010 That is why I delight in weakness, ill treatment, hardship, persecution, and difficulties, when borne for Christ. For, when I am weak, then it is that I am strong! 047 2CO 012 011 I have been “playing the fool!” It is you who drove me to it. For it is you who ought to have been commending me! Although I am nobody, in no respect did I prove inferior to the most eminent apostles. 047 2CO 012 012 The marks of the true apostle were exhibited among you in constant endurance, as well as by signs, by marvels, and by miracles. 047 2CO 012 013 In what respect, I ask, were you treated worse than the other churches, unless it was that, for my part, I refused to become a burden to you? Forgive me the wrong I did to you! 047 2CO 012 014 Remember, this is the third time that I have made every preparation to come to see you, and I will refuse to be a burden to you; I want, not your money, but you. It is not the duty of children to put by for their parents, but of parents to put by for their children. 047 2CO 012 015 For my part, I will most gladly spend, and be spent, for your welfare. Can it be that the more intensely I love you the less I am to be loved? 047 2CO 012 016 You will admit that I was not a burden to you but you say that I was “crafty” and caught you “by a trick”! 047 2CO 012 017 Do you assert that I took advantage of you through any of those whom I have sent to you? 047 2CO 012 018 I urged Titus to go, and I sent another follower with him. Did Titus take any advantage of you? Didn’t we live in the same Spirit, and tread in the same footsteps? 047 2CO 012 019 Have you all this time been fancying that it is to you that we are making our defense? No, it is in the sight of God, and in union with Christ, that we are speaking. And all this, dear friends, is to build up your characters; 047 2CO 012 020 for I am afraid that perhaps, when I come, I may find that you are not what I want you to be, and, on the other hand, that you may find that I am what you do not want me to be. I am afraid that I may find quarreling, jealousy, ill feeling, rivalry, slandering, backbiting, self-assertion, and disorder. 047 2CO 012 021 I am afraid that, on my next visit, my God may humble me in regard to you, and that I may have to mourn over many who have long been sinning, and have not repented of the impurity, immorality, and sensuality, in which they have indulged. 047 2CO 013 001 For the third time I am coming to see you. By the word of two or three witnesses each statement will be established. 047 2CO 013 002 I have said it, and I say it again before I come, just as if I were with you on my second visit, though for the moment absent, I say to those who have been long sinning, as well as to all others – that if I come again, I will spare no one. 047 2CO 013 003 And that will be the proof, which you are looking for, that the Christ speaks through me. There is no weakness in his dealings with you. No, he shows his power among you. 047 2CO 013 004 For though his crucifixion was due to weakness, his life is due to the power of God. And we, also, are weak in his weakness, but with him we will live for you through the power of God. 047 2CO 013 005 Put yourselves to the test, to see whether you are holding to the faith. Examine yourselves. Surely you recognize this fact about yourselves – that Jesus Christ is in you! Unless indeed you cannot stand the test! 047 2CO 013 006 But I hope that you will recognize that we can stand the test. 047 2CO 013 007 We pray to God that you may do nothing wrong, not that we may be seen to stand the test, but that you may do what is right, even though we may seem not to stand the test. 047 2CO 013 008 We have no power at all against the truth, but we have power in the service of the truth. 047 2CO 013 009 We are glad when we are weak, if you are strong. And what we pray for is that you may become perfect. 047 2CO 013 010 This is my reason for writing as I am now doing, while I am away from you, so that, when I am with you, I may not act harshly in the exercise of the authority which the Lord gave me – and gave me for building up and not for pulling down. 047 2CO 013 011 And now, friends, goodbye. Aim at perfection; take courage; agree together; live in peace. And then God, the source of all love and peace, will be with you. 047 2CO 013 012 Greet one another with a sacred kiss. 047 2CO 013 013 All Christ’s people here send you their greetings. 047 2CO 013 014 May the blessing of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion with the Holy Spirit, be with you all. # # BOOK 048 GAL Galatians Galatians 048 GAL 001 001 To the churches in Galatia, from Paul, an apostle whose commission is not from any human authority and is given, not by human beings, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead; 048 GAL 001 002 and from all the followers of the Lord here. 048 GAL 001 003 May God, our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ, bless you and give you peace. 048 GAL 001 004 For Christ, to rescue us from this present wicked age, gave himself for our sins, in accordance with the will of our God and Father, (aiōn g165) 048 GAL 001 005 to whom be ascribed all glory for ever and ever. Amen. (aiōn g165) 048 GAL 001 006 I am astonished at your so soon deserting him, who called you through the love of Christ, for a different ‘good news,’ 048 GAL 001 007 which is really no good news at all. But then, I know that there are people who are harassing you, and who want to pervert the good news of the Christ. 048 GAL 001 008 Yet even if we – or if an angel from heaven were to tell you any other ‘good news’ than that which we told you, may he be accursed! 048 GAL 001 009 We have said it before, and I repeat it now – If anyone tells you a ‘good news’ other than that which you received, may he be accursed! 048 GAL 001 010 Is this, I ask, trying to conciliate people, or God? Am I seeking to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I should not be a servant of Christ. 048 GAL 001 011 I remind you, friends, that the good news which I told is no mere human invention. 048 GAL 001 012 I, at least, did not receive it from any human being, nor was I taught it, but it came to me through a revelation made by Jesus Christ. 048 GAL 001 013 You heard, no doubt, of my conduct when I was devoted to Judaism – how I persecuted the church of God to an extent beyond belief, and tried to destroy it, 048 GAL 001 014 and how, in my devotion to Judaism, I surpassed many of my contemporaries among my own people in my intense earnestness in upholding the traditions of my ancestors. 048 GAL 001 015 But when God, who had set me apart even before my birth, and who called me by his love, 048 GAL 001 016 saw fit to reveal his Son in me, so that I might tell the good news of him among the Gentiles, then at once, instead of consulting any human being, 048 GAL 001 017 or even going up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before me, I went to Arabia, and came back again to Damascus. 048 GAL 001 018 Three years afterward I went up to Jerusalem to make the acquaintance of Peter, and I stayed a fortnight with him. 048 GAL 001 019 I did not, however, see any other apostle, except James, the Master’s brother. 048 GAL 001 020 (As to what I am now writing to you, I call God to witness that I am speaking the truth). 048 GAL 001 021 Afterward I went to the districts of Syria and Cilicia. 048 GAL 001 022 But I was still unknown even by sight to the Christian churches in Judea; 048 GAL 001 023 all that they had heard was – ‘The man who once persecuted us is now telling the good news of the faith of which he once tried to destroy.’ 048 GAL 001 024 And they praised God for my sake. 048 GAL 002 001 Fourteen years afterward I went up to Jerusalem again with Barnabas, and I took Titus also with me. 048 GAL 002 002 It was in obedience to a revelation that I went; and I laid before the apostles the good news that I am proclaiming among the Gentiles. I did this privately before those who are thought highly of because I was afraid that I might possibly be taking, or might have already taken, a course which would prove useless. 048 GAL 002 003 Yet even my companion, Titus, though a Greek, was not compelled to be circumcised. 048 GAL 002 004 But, because of those who pretended to be followers who had stolen in, the intruders who had crept in to spy on the liberty which we have through union with Christ Jesus, in order to bring us back to slavery – 048 GAL 002 005 Why, we did not for a moment yield submission to them, so that the truth of the good news might be yours always! 048 GAL 002 006 Of those who are thought somewhat highly of – what they once were makes no difference to me; God does not recognize human distinctions – those, I say, who are thought highly of added nothing to my message. 048 GAL 002 007 On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted with the good news for the Gentiles, just as Peter had been for the Jews. 048 GAL 002 008 For he who gave Peter power for his mission to the Jews gave me, also, power to go to the Gentiles. 048 GAL 002 009 Recognizing the charge entrusted to me, James, Peter, and John, who were regarded as pillars of the church, openly acknowledged Barnabas and me as fellow workers, agreeing that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews. 048 GAL 002 010 Only we were to remember the poor – the thing I was myself anxious to do. 048 GAL 002 011 But, when Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face; for he stood self-condemned. 048 GAL 002 012 Before certain persons came from James, he had been in the habit of eating with the Gentile converts; but, when they came, he began to withdraw and hold aloof, because he was afraid of offending those who still held to circumcision. 048 GAL 002 013 The rest of the Jewish converts were guilty of the same hypocrisy, so that even Barnabas was led away by it. 048 GAL 002 014 But, when I saw that they were not dealing straightforwardly with the truth of the good news, I said to Peter, before them all, “If you, who were born a Jew, adopt Gentile customs, instead of Jewish, why are you trying to compel the Gentile converts to adopt Jewish customs?” 048 GAL 002 015 We, though we are Jews by birth and not sinners of Gentile origin, know that no one is pronounced righteous as the result of obedience to Law, but only through faith in Christ Jesus. 048 GAL 002 016 So we placed our faith in Christ Jesus, in order that we might be pronounced righteous, as the result of faith in Christ, and not of obedience to Law; for such obedience will not result in even one soul’s being pronounced righteous. 048 GAL 002 017 If, while seeking to be pronounced righteous through union with Christ, we were ourselves seen to be sinners, would that make Christ an agent of sin? Heaven forbid! 048 GAL 002 018 For, if I rebuild the things that I pulled down, I prove myself to have done wrong. 048 GAL 002 019 I, indeed, through Law became dead to Law, in order to live for God. 048 GAL 002 020 I have been crucified with Christ. So it is no longer I that live, but it is Christ who lives in me; and, as for my present earthly life, I am living it by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 048 GAL 002 021 I do not reject the love of God. If righteousness comes through Law, then there was no need for Christ to die! 048 GAL 003 001 Foolish Galatians! Who has been enchanting you – you before whose eyes Jesus Christ was depicted on the cross? 048 GAL 003 002 Here is the one thing that I want to find out from you – Did you receive the Spirit as the result of obedience to Law, or of your having listened with faith? 048 GAL 003 003 Can you be so foolish? After beginning with what is spiritual, do you now end with what is external? 048 GAL 003 004 Did you go through so much to no purpose? – if indeed it really was to no purpose! 048 GAL 003 005 He who supplies you abundantly with his Spirit and endows you with such powers – does he do this as the result of obedience to Law? Or as the result of your having listened with faith? 048 GAL 003 006 It is just as it was with Abraham – he had faith in God, and his faith was regarded by God as righteousness. 048 GAL 003 007 You see, then, that those whose lives are based on faith are the sons of Abraham. 048 GAL 003 008 And scripture, foreseeing that God would pronounce the Gentiles righteous as the result of faith, foretold the good news to Abraham in the words – ‘Through you all the Gentiles will be blessed.’ 048 GAL 003 009 And, therefore, those whose lives are based on faith share the blessings bestowed on the faith of Abraham. 048 GAL 003 010 All who rely on obedience to Law are under a curse, for scripture says – ‘Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all that is written in the book of the Law, and do it.’ 048 GAL 003 011 Again, it is evident that no one is pronounced righteous before God through Law, for we read – ‘Through faith the righteous will find life.’ 048 GAL 003 012 But the Law is not based on faith; no, its words are – ‘Those who practice these precepts will find life through them.’ 048 GAL 003 013 Christ ransomed us from the curse pronounced in the Law, by taking the curse on himself for us, for scripture says – ‘Cursed is anyone who is hanged on a tree.’ 048 GAL 003 014 And this he did that the blessing given to Abraham might be extended to the Gentiles through their union with Jesus Christ; that so, through our faith, we also might receive the promised gift of the Spirit. 048 GAL 003 015 To take an illustration, friends, from daily life – No one sets aside even an agreement between two people, when once it has been confirmed, nor do they add conditions to it. 048 GAL 003 016 Now it was to Abraham that the promises were made, ‘and to his offspring.’ It was not said ‘to his offsprings,’ as if many persons were meant, but the words were ‘to your offspring,’ showing that one person was meant – and that was Christ. 048 GAL 003 017 My point is this – An agreement already confirmed by God cannot be canceled by the Law, which came four hundred and thirty years later, so as to cause the promise to be set aside. 048 GAL 003 018 If our heritage is the result of Law, then it has ceased to be the result of a promise. Yet God conferred it on Abraham by a promise. 048 GAL 003 019 What, then, you ask, was the use of the Law? It was a later addition, to make people conscious of their wrongdoings, and intended to last only until the coming of that offspring to whom the promise had been made; and it was delivered through angels by a mediator. 048 GAL 003 020 Now mediation implies more than one person, but God is one only. 048 GAL 003 021 Does that set the Law in opposition to God’s promises? Heaven forbid! For, if a Law had been given capable of bestowing life, then righteousness would have actually owed its existence to Law. 048 GAL 003 022 But the words of scripture represent the whole world as being in bondage to sin, so that the promised blessing, dependent, as it is, on faith in Jesus Christ, may be given to those who have faith in him. 048 GAL 003 023 Before the coming of faith, we were kept under the guard of the Law, in bondage, awaiting the faith that was destined to be revealed. 048 GAL 003 024 Thus the Law has proved a guide to lead us to Christ, in order that we may be pronounced righteous as the result of faith. 048 GAL 003 025 But now that faith has come we no longer need a guide. 048 GAL 003 026 For you are all sons of God, through your faith in Christ Jesus. 048 GAL 003 027 For all of you who were baptized into union with Christ clothed yourselves with Christ. 048 GAL 003 028 All distinctions between Jew and Greek, slave and free, male and female, have vanished; for in union with Christ Jesus you are all one. 048 GAL 003 029 And, since you belong to Christ, it follows that you are Abraham’s offspring and, under the promise, sharers in the inheritance. 048 GAL 004 001 My point is this – as long as the heir is under age, there is no difference between him and a slave, though he is master of the whole estate. 048 GAL 004 002 He is subject to the control of guardians and stewards, during the period for which his father has power to appoint them. 048 GAL 004 003 And so is it with us; when we were under age, as it were, we were slaves to the puerile teaching of this world; 048 GAL 004 004 but, when the full time came, God sent his Son – born a woman’s child, born subject to Law – 048 GAL 004 005 to ransom those who were subject to Law, so that we might take our position as sons. 048 GAL 004 006 And it is because you are sons that God sent into our hearts the Spirit of his Son, with the cry – ‘Abba, our Father.’ 048 GAL 004 007 You, therefore, are no longer a slave, but a son; and, if a son, then an heir also, by God’s appointment. 048 GAL 004 008 Yet formerly, in your ignorance of God, you became slaves to ‘gods’ which were no gods. 048 GAL 004 009 But now that you have found God – or, rather, have been found by him – how is it that you are turning back to that poor and feeble puerile teaching, to which yet once again you are wanting to become slaves? 048 GAL 004 010 You are scrupulous in keeping days and months and seasons and years! 048 GAL 004 011 You make me fear that the labor which I have spent on you may have been wasted. 048 GAL 004 012 I entreat you, friends, to become like me, as I became like you. You have never done me any wrong. 048 GAL 004 013 You remember that it was owing to bodily infirmity that on the first occasion I told you the good news. 048 GAL 004 014 And as for what must have tried you in my condition, it did not inspire you with scorn or disgust, but you welcomed me as if I had been an angel of God – or Christ Jesus himself! 048 GAL 004 015 What has become then, of your blessings? For I can bear witness that, had it been possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me! 048 GAL 004 016 Am I to think, then, that I have become your enemy by telling you the truth? 048 GAL 004 017 Certain people are seeking your favor, but with no honorable object. No, indeed, they want to isolate you, so that you will have to seek their favor. 048 GAL 004 018 It is always honorable to have your favor sought in an honorable cause, and not only when I am with you, my dear children – 048 GAL 004 019 you for whom I am again enduring a mother’s pains, until a likeness to Christ will have been formed in you. 048 GAL 004 020 But I could wish to be with you now and speak in a different tone, for I am perplexed about you. 048 GAL 004 021 Tell me, you who want to be still subject to Law – Why don’t you listen to the Law? 048 GAL 004 022 Scripture says that Abraham had two sons, one the child of the slave-woman and the other the child of the free woman. 048 GAL 004 023 But the child of the slave-woman was born in the course of nature, while the child of the free woman was born in fulfillment of a promise. 048 GAL 004 024 This story may be taken as an allegory. The women stand for two covenants. One covenant, given from Mount Sinai, produces a race of slaves and is represented by Hagar. 048 GAL 004 025 Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia, and represents the Jerusalem of today, for she and her children are in slavery. 048 GAL 004 026 But the Jerusalem above is free, and she it is who is our mother. 048 GAL 004 027 For scripture says – ‘Rejoice, you barren one, who have never given birth, break into shouts, you who are never in labor, for many are the children of her who is desolate – yes, more than of her who has a husband.’ 048 GAL 004 028 As for ourselves, friends, we, like Isaac, are children born in fulfillment of a promise. 048 GAL 004 029 Yet at that time the child born in the course of nature persecuted the child born by the power of the Spirit; and it is the same now. 048 GAL 004 030 But what does the passage of scripture say? ‘Send away the slave-woman and her son; for the slave’s son will not be coheir with the son of the free woman.’ 048 GAL 004 031 And so, friends, we are not children of a slave, but of her who is free. 048 GAL 005 001 It is for freedom that Christ set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not again be held under the yoke of slavery. 048 GAL 005 002 Understand that I, Paul, myself tell you that if you allow yourselves to be circumcised, Christ will avail you nothing. 048 GAL 005 003 I again declare to everyone who receives circumcision, that he binds himself to obey the whole Law. 048 GAL 005 004 You have severed yourselves from Christ – you who are seeking to be pronounced righteous through Law; you have fallen away from love. 048 GAL 005 005 For we, by the help of the Spirit, are eagerly waiting for the fulfillment of our hope – that we may be pronounced righteous as the result of faith. 048 GAL 005 006 If we are in union with Christ Jesus, neither is circumcision nor the omission of it anything, but faith, working through love, is everything. 048 GAL 005 007 You were once making good progress! Who has hindered you from obeying the truth? 048 GAL 005 008 The persuasion brought to bear on you does not come from him who calls you. 048 GAL 005 009 A little yeast leavens all the dough. 048 GAL 005 010 I, through my union with the Lord, am persuaded that you will learn to think with me. But the man who is disturbing your minds will have to bear his punishment, whoever he may be. 048 GAL 005 011 If I, friends, am still proclaiming circumcision, why am I still persecuted? It seems that the cross has ceased to be an obstacle! 048 GAL 005 012 I could even wish that the people who are unsettling you would go further still and mutilate themselves. 048 GAL 005 013 Remember, friends, to you the call came to give you freedom. Only, do not make your freedom an opportunity for self-indulgence but serve one another in a loving spirit. 048 GAL 005 014 Indeed, the whole Law has been summed up in this one precept – ‘You must love your neighbor as you love yourself.’ 048 GAL 005 015 But, if you are continually wounding and preying on one another, take care that you are not destroyed by one another. 048 GAL 005 016 This is what I have to say – Let your steps be guided by the Spirit, and then you will never gratify the cravings of your earthly nature. 048 GAL 005 017 For these cravings of our earthly nature conflict with the Spirit, and the Spirit with our earthly nature – they are two contrary principles – so that you cannot do what you wish. 048 GAL 005 018 But, if you follow the guidance of the Spirit, you are not subject to Law. 048 GAL 005 019 The sins of our earthly nature are unmistakable. They are sins like these – sexual immorality, impurity, indecency, 048 GAL 005 020 idolatry, sorcery, quarrels, strife, jealousy, outbursts of passion, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 048 GAL 005 021 feelings of envy, drunkenness, revelry, and the like. And I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who indulge in such things will have no place in the kingdom of God. 048 GAL 005 022 But the fruit produced by the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindliness, generosity, trustfulness, gentleness, self-control. 048 GAL 005 023 Against such things there is no law! 048 GAL 005 024 And those who belong to Jesus, the Christ, have already crucified their earthly nature, with its passions and its cravings. 048 GAL 005 025 Since our life is due to the Spirit, let us rule our conduct also by the Spirit. 048 GAL 005 026 Do not let us grow vain, and provoke or envy one another. 048 GAL 006 001 My friends, even if someone should be caught committing a sin, you who are spiritually minded should, in a gentle spirit, help them to recover themselves, taking care that you yourselves are not tempted. 048 GAL 006 002 Bear one another’s burdens, and so carry out the Law of the Christ. 048 GAL 006 003 If a person imagines themselves to be somebody, when they are really nobody, they deceive themselves. 048 GAL 006 004 Let everyone test their own work, and then their cause for satisfaction will be in themselves and not in a comparison with their neighbor; 048 GAL 006 005 for everyone must bear their own load. 048 GAL 006 006 The person, however, who is being instructed in the message ought always to share their blessings with their teacher. 048 GAL 006 007 Do not be deceived. God cannot be mocked. What a person sows that they will reap. 048 GAL 006 008 For the person who sows the field of their earthly nature will from that earthly nature reap corruption; while the one who sows the field of the spirit will from that spirit reap eternal life. (aiōnios g166) 048 GAL 006 009 Let us never tire of doing right, for at the proper season we will reap our harvest, if we do not grow weary. 048 GAL 006 010 Therefore, I say, as the opportunity occurs, let us treat everyone with kindness, and especially members of the household of the faith. 048 GAL 006 011 See in what large letters I am writing with my own hand. 048 GAL 006 012 The people who are trying to compel you to be circumcised are the people who wish to appear to advantage in regard to outward observances. They do it only to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Jesus, the Christ 048 GAL 006 013 Even these men who are circumcised do not themselves keep the Law; yet they want you to be circumcised, so that they may boast of your observance of the rite. 048 GAL 006 014 But, for my part, may I never boast of anything except the cross of Jesus Christ, our Master, through whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 048 GAL 006 015 For neither is circumcision nor the omission of it anything; but a new nature is everything. 048 GAL 006 016 May all who rule their conduct by this principle find peace and mercy – they who are the Israel of God. 048 GAL 006 017 For the future let no one trouble me; for I bear the marks of Jesus branded on my body. 048 GAL 006 018 May the blessing of Jesus Christ, our Lord, rest on your souls, friends. Amen. # # BOOK 049 EPH Ephesians Ephesians 049 EPH 001 001 To Christ’s people at Ephesus who are faithful to him, from Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, by the will of God. 049 EPH 001 002 May God, our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ bless you and give you peace. 049 EPH 001 003 Blessed is the God and Father of Jesus Christ, our Lord, who has blessed us on high with every spiritual blessing, in Christ. 049 EPH 001 004 For he chose us in our union with Christ before the creation of the universe, so that we might be holy and blameless in his sight, living in the spirit of love. 049 EPH 001 005 From the first he destined us, in his goodwill towards us, to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ, 049 EPH 001 006 and so to enhance that glorious manifestation of his loving kindness which he gave us in the one he loves; 049 EPH 001 007 for in him, and through the shedding of his blood, we have found redemption in the pardon of our offenses. 049 EPH 001 008 All this accords with the loving kindness which God lavished on us, accompanied by countless gifts of wisdom and discernment, 049 EPH 001 009 when he made known to us his hidden purpose. And it also accords with the goodwill which God purposed to exhibit in Christ, 049 EPH 001 010 in view of that divine order which was to mark the completion of the ages, when he should make everything, both in heaven and on earth, center in him. 049 EPH 001 011 In him, I say, for by our union with him we became God’s heritage, having from the first been destined for this in the intention of him who, in all that happens, is carrying out his own fixed purpose; 049 EPH 001 012 that we should enhance his glory – we who have been the first to rest our hopes on the Christ. 049 EPH 001 013 And you, too, by your union with him, after you had heard the message of the truth, the good news of your salvation – you believed in him and were sealed as his by receiving the holy Spirit, which he had promised. 049 EPH 001 014 And the Spirit is a pledge of our future heritage, foreshadowing the full redemption of God’s own people – to enhance his glory. 049 EPH 001 015 And therefore I, ever since I heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which prevails among you, and of your confidence in all Christ’s people, 049 EPH 001 016 have never omitted to thank God on your behalf, whenever I make mention of you in my prayers. 049 EPH 001 017 My prayer is that the God of Jesus Christ our Lord, the all-glorious Father, may inspire you with wisdom and true insight through a fuller knowledge of himself; 049 EPH 001 018 that your minds may be so enlightened that you may realize the hope given by God’s call, the wealth of the glory of his heritage among Christ’s people, 049 EPH 001 019 and the transcendent greatness of the power which he is able to exercise in dealing with us who believe in him. 049 EPH 001 020 The same mighty power was exerted on the Christ, when he raised the Christ from the dead and ‘caused him to sit at his right hand’ on high, exalting him above all angels and archangels of every rank, 049 EPH 001 021 and above every name that can be named, whether in the present age, or in the age to come. (aiōn g165) 049 EPH 001 022 And God placed all things under Christ’s feet, and gave him to the church as its supreme head; 049 EPH 001 023 for the church is Christ’s body, and is filled by him who fills all things everywhere with his presence. 049 EPH 002 001 You yourselves were once dead because of your offenses and sins. 049 EPH 002 002 For at one time you lived in sin, following the ways of the world, in subjection to the Ruler of the powers of the air – the Spirit who is still at work among the disobedient. (aiōn g165) 049 EPH 002 003 And it was among them that we all once lived our lives, indulging the cravings of our earthly nature, and carrying out the desires prompted by that earthly nature and by our own thoughts. Our nature exposed us to the divine wrath, like the rest of humanity. 049 EPH 002 004 Yet God, in his abundant compassion, and because of the great love with which he loved us, 049 EPH 002 005 even though we were dead because of our offenses, gave life to us in giving life to the Christ. (By God’s loving kindness you have been saved.) 049 EPH 002 006 And, through our union with Christ Jesus, God raised us with him, and caused us to sit with him on high, 049 EPH 002 007 in order that, by his goodness to us in Christ Jesus, he might display in the ages to come the boundless wealth of his loving kindness. (aiōn g165) 049 EPH 002 008 For it is by God’s loving kindness that you have been saved, through your faith. It is not due to yourselves; the gift is God’s. 049 EPH 002 009 It is not due to obedience to Law, so that no one can boast. 049 EPH 002 010 For we are God’s handiwork, created, by our union with Christ Jesus, for the good actions in doing which God had pre-arranged that we should spend our lives. 049 EPH 002 011 Remember, therefore, that you were once Gentiles yourselves, as your bodies showed; you were called ‘the Uncircumcised’ by those who were called ‘the Circumcised’ – circumcised only by human hands! 049 EPH 002 012 Remember that you were at that time far from Christ; you were shut out from the citizenship of Israel; you were strangers to the covenants founded on God’s promise; you were in the world without hope and without God. 049 EPH 002 013 But now, through your union with Christ Jesus, you who once were far off have, by the shedding of the blood of the Christ, been brought near. 049 EPH 002 014 He it is who is our peace. He made the two divisions of humanity one, broke down the barrier that separated them, 049 EPH 002 015 and in his human nature put an end to the cause of enmity between them – the Law with its injunctions and ordinances – in order to create, through union with himself, from Jew and Gentile, one new humanity and so make peace. 049 EPH 002 016 And when, on the cross, he had destroyed their mutual enmity, he sought by means of his cross to reconcile them both to God, united in one body. 049 EPH 002 017 He came with the good news of peace for you who were far off, and of peace for those who were near; 049 EPH 002 018 for it is through him that we, the Jews and the Gentiles, united in the one Spirit, are now able to approach the Father. 049 EPH 002 019 It follows, then, that you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but are fellow citizens with Christ’s people and members of God’s household. 049 EPH 002 020 You have been built up on the foundation laid by the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone. 049 EPH 002 021 United in him, every part of the building, closely joined together, will grow into a temple, consecrated by its union with the Lord. 049 EPH 002 022 And, through union in him, you also are being built up together, to be a place where God lives through the Spirit. 049 EPH 003 001 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Jesus, the Christ, for the sake of you Gentiles – 049 EPH 003 002 For you have heard, I suppose, of the responsible charge with which God entrusted me for your benefit, 049 EPH 003 003 and also that it was by direct revelation that the hidden purpose of God was made known to me, as I have already briefly told you. 049 EPH 003 004 And, by reading what I have written, you will be able to judge how far I understand this hidden purpose of God in Christ. 049 EPH 003 005 In former generations it was not made known to humanity, as fully as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to the apostles and prophets among Christ’s people – 049 EPH 003 006 That, by union with Christ Jesus and through the good news, the Gentiles are coheirs with us and members of one body, and that they share with us in God’s Promise. 049 EPH 003 007 Of this good news I become an assistant, in virtue of the charge with which God entrusted me in the exercise of his power – 049 EPH 003 008 Yes, to me, who am less than the least of all Christ’s people, was this charge entrusted! – to tell the Gentiles the good news of the boundless wealth to be found in the Christ, 049 EPH 003 009 and to make clear what is God’s way of working out that hidden purpose which from the first has been concealed in the mind of the Creator of all things; (aiōn g165) 049 EPH 003 010 so that now to the archangels and to all the powers on high should be made known, through the church, the all-embracing wisdom of God, 049 EPH 003 011 in accordance with that purpose which runs through all the ages and which he has now accomplished in Jesus, the Christ, our Master. (aiōn g165) 049 EPH 003 012 And in union with him, and through our trust in him, we find courage to approach God with confidence. 049 EPH 003 013 Therefore I beg you not to be disheartened at the sufferings that I am undergoing for your sakes; for they redound to your honor. 049 EPH 003 014 For this reason, then, I kneel before the Father – 049 EPH 003 015 from whom all ‘fatherhood’ in heaven and on earth derives its name – 049 EPH 003 016 and pray that, in proportion to the wealth of his glory, he will strengthen you with his power by breathing his Spirit into your inmost soul, 049 EPH 003 017 so that the Christ, through your faith, may make his home within your hearts in love; and I pray that you, now firmly rooted and established, may, with all Christ’s people, 049 EPH 003 018 have the power to comprehend in all its width and length and height and depth, 049 EPH 003 019 and to understand – though it surpasses all understanding – the love of the Christ; and so be filled with all the fullness of God. 049 EPH 003 020 To him who, through his power which is at work within us, is able to do far more than anything that we can ask or conceive – 049 EPH 003 021 to him be all glory through the church and through Christ Jesus, for all generations, age after age. Amen. (aiōn g165) 049 EPH 004 001 I beg you, then – I who am a prisoner in the Master’s cause – to live lives worthy of the call that you have received; 049 EPH 004 002 always humble and gentle, patient, bearing lovingly with one another, 049 EPH 004 003 and striving to maintain in the bond of peace the unity given by the Spirit. 049 EPH 004 004 There is but one body and one Spirit, just as there was but one hope set before you when you received your call. 049 EPH 004 005 There is but one Lord, one faith, one baptism. 049 EPH 004 006 There is but one God and Father of all – the God who is over all, pervades all, and is in all. 049 EPH 004 007 Everyone of us, however, has been entrusted with some charge, each in accordance with the extent of the gift of the Christ. 049 EPH 004 008 That is why it is said – ‘When he went up on high, he led his captives into captivity. And gave gifts to humanity.’ 049 EPH 004 009 Now surely this ‘going up’ must imply that he had already gone down into the world beneath. 049 EPH 004 010 He who went down is the same as he who went up – up beyond the highest heaven, so that he might fill all things with his presence. 049 EPH 004 011 And he it is who gave to the church apostles, prophets, missionaries, pastors, and teachers, 049 EPH 004 012 to fit his people for the work of the ministry, for the building up of the body of the Christ. 049 EPH 004 013 And this will continue, until we all attain to that unity which is given by faith and by a fuller knowledge of the Son of God; until we reach maturity – the full standard of the perfection of the Christ. 049 EPH 004 014 Then we will no longer be like infants, tossed backward and forward, blown about by every breath of human teaching and by people’s trickery and craftiness; 049 EPH 004 015 but holding the truth in a spirit of love, we will grow into complete union with him who is our head – Christ himself. 049 EPH 004 016 For from him the whole body, closely joined and knit together by the contact of every part with the source of its life, derives its power to grow, in proportion to the vigour of each individual part; and so is being built up in a spirit of love. 049 EPH 004 017 This, then, as one in union with the Lord, I implore: Do not continue to live such purposeless lives as the Gentiles live, 049 EPH 004 018 with their powers of discernment darkened, cut off from the life of God, owing to the ignorance that prevails among them and to the hardness of their hearts. 049 EPH 004 019 Lost to all sense of shame, they have abandoned themselves to licentiousness, in order to practice every kind of impurity without restraint. 049 EPH 004 020 But far different is the lesson you learned from the Christ – if, that is, you really listened to him, 049 EPH 004 021 and through union with him were taught the truth, as it is to be found in Jesus. 049 EPH 004 022 For you learned with regard to your former way of living that you must cast off your old nature, which, yielding to deluding passions, grows corrupt; 049 EPH 004 023 that the spirit of your minds must be constantly renewed; 049 EPH 004 024 and that you must clothe yourselves in that new nature which was created to resemble God, with the righteousness and holiness springing from the truth. 049 EPH 004 025 Since, therefore, you have cast off what is false, you must every one of you speak the truth to your neighbors. For we are united to one another like the parts of a body. 049 EPH 004 026 Be angry, yet do not sin. Do not let the sun go down on your anger; 049 EPH 004 027 and give no opportunity to the devil. 049 EPH 004 028 Let the person who steals steal no longer, but rather they should toil with their hands at honest work, so that they may have something to share with anyone in need. 049 EPH 004 029 Never let any foul word pass your lips, but only such good words as the occasion demands, so that they may be a help to those who hear them. 049 EPH 004 030 And do not grieve God’s Holy Spirit; for it was through that Spirit that God sealed you as his, against the day of redemption. 049 EPH 004 031 Let all bitterness, passion, anger, brawling, and abusive language be banished from among you, as well as all malice. 049 EPH 004 032 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, ready to forgive one another, just as God, in Christ, forgave you. 049 EPH 005 001 Therefore imitate God, as his dear children, 049 EPH 005 002 and live a life of love, following the example of the Christ, who loved you and gave himself for you as an offering and a sacrifice to God, that should be fragrant and acceptable. 049 EPH 005 003 As for sexual immorality and every kind of impurity, or greed, do not let them even be mentioned among you, as befits Christ’s people, 049 EPH 005 004 nor shameful conduct, nor foolish talk or jesting, for they are wholly out of place among you; but rather thanksgiving. 049 EPH 005 005 For of this you may be sure – that no one who is unchaste or impure or greedy of gain (for to be greedy of gain is idolatry) has any place awaiting him in the kingdom of the Christ and God. 049 EPH 005 006 Do not let anyone deceive you with specious arguments. Those are the sins that bring down the wrath of God on the disobedient. 049 EPH 005 007 Therefore have nothing to do with such people. 049 EPH 005 008 For, although you were once in darkness, now, by your union with the Lord, you are in the light. Live as children of light – 049 EPH 005 009 for the outcome of life in the light may be seen in every form of goodness, righteousness, and sincerity – 049 EPH 005 010 always trying to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. 049 EPH 005 011 Take no part in deeds of darkness, from which no good can come; on the contrary, expose them. 049 EPH 005 012 It is degrading even to speak of the things continually done by them in secret. 049 EPH 005 013 All such actions, when exposed, have their true character made manifest by the light. 049 EPH 005 014 For everything that has its true character made manifest is clear as light. And that is why it is said – ‘Sleeper, awake! Arise from the dead, and the Christ will give you light!’ 049 EPH 005 015 Take great care, then, how you live – not unwisely but wisely, 049 EPH 005 016 making the most of every opportunity; for these are evil days. 049 EPH 005 017 Therefore do not grow thoughtless, but try to understand what the Lord’s will is. 049 EPH 005 018 Do not drink wine to excess, for that leads to profligacy; but seek to be filled with the Spirit of God, and speak to one another in psalms and hymns and sacred songs. 049 EPH 005 019 Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord. 049 EPH 005 020 Always give thanks for everything to our God and Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 049 EPH 005 021 Submit to one another because you honor and respect Christ. 049 EPH 005 022 Wives should submit to their husbands as submitting to the Lord. 049 EPH 005 023 For a man is the head of his wife, as the Christ is the head of the church – being indeed himself the Savior of his body. 049 EPH 005 024 But as the church submits to the Christ, so also should wives submit to their husbands in everything. 049 EPH 005 025 Husbands, love your wives, just as the Christ loved the church, and gave himself for her, 049 EPH 005 026 to make her holy, after purifying her by the washing with the water, according to his promise; 049 EPH 005 027 so that he might himself bring the church, in all her beauty, into his own presence, with no spot or wrinkle or blemish of any kind, but that she might be holy and faultless. 049 EPH 005 028 That is how husbands ought to love their wives – as if they were their own bodies. A man who loves his wife is really loving himself; 049 EPH 005 029 for no one ever yet hated his own body. But everyone feeds his body and cares for it, just as the Christ for the church; 049 EPH 005 030 for we are members of his body. 049 EPH 005 031 For this cause a man will leave his father and mother, and be united to his wife; and the man and his wife will become one. 049 EPH 005 032 In this there is a profound truth – I am speaking of Christ and his church. 049 EPH 005 033 However, for you individually, let each love his wife as if she were himself; and the wife be careful to respect her husband. 049 EPH 006 001 Children, obey your parents, as children of the Lord; for that is but right. 049 EPH 006 002 ‘Honor your father and mother’ – this is the first Commandment with a promise – 049 EPH 006 003 ‘so that you may prosper and have a long life on earth.’ 049 EPH 006 004 And fathers, do not irritate your children, but bring them up with Christian discipline and instruction. 049 EPH 006 005 Slaves, obey your earthly masters, with anxious care, giving them ungrudging service, as if obeying the Christ; 049 EPH 006 006 not only when their eyes are on you, as if you had merely to please people, but as slaves of Christ, who are trying to carry out the will of God. 049 EPH 006 007 Give your service heartily and cheerfully, as working for the Master and not for people; 049 EPH 006 008 for you know that everyone will be rewarded by the Master for any honest work that he has done, whether he is a slave or free. 049 EPH 006 009 And masters, treat your slaves in the same spirit. Give up threatening them; for you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that before him there is no distinction of rank. 049 EPH 006 010 For the future, find strength in your union with the Lord, and in the power which comes from his might. 049 EPH 006 011 Put on the full armor of God, so that you may be able to stand your ground against the stratagems of the devil. 049 EPH 006 012 For ours is no struggle against enemies of flesh and blood, but against all the various powers of evil that hold sway in the darkness around us, against the spirits of wickedness on high. (aiōn g165) 049 EPH 006 013 Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that when the evil day comes, you may be able to withstand the attack, and, having fought to the end, still to stand your ground. 049 EPH 006 014 Stand your ground, then, with truth for your belt, and with righteousness for your breastplate, 049 EPH 006 015 and with the readiness to serve the good news of peace as shoes for your feet. 049 EPH 006 016 At every onslaught take up faith for your shield; for with it you will be able to extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one. 049 EPH 006 017 And receive the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit – which is the message of God – always with prayer and supplication. 049 EPH 006 018 Pray in spirit at all times. Be intent on this, with unwearying perseverance and supplication for all Christ’s people – 049 EPH 006 019 and on my behalf also, so that when I begin to speak, words may be given me, so that I may fearlessly make known the inmost truth of the good news, 049 EPH 006 020 on behalf of which I am an ambassador – in chains! Pray that, in telling it, I may speak fearlessly as I ought. 049 EPH 006 021 To enable you, as well as others, to know all that concerns me and what I am doing, Tychicus, our dear friend and faithful helper in the Master’s cause, will tell you everything. 049 EPH 006 022 I am sending him to you on purpose that you may learn all about us, and that he may cheer your hearts. 049 EPH 006 023 May God, the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ give every follower peace, and love linked with faith. 049 EPH 006 024 May God’s blessing be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love. # # BOOK 050 PHI Philippians Philippians 050 PHI 001 001 To all Christ’s people at Philippi, with the supervisors and assistants, from Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus. 050 PHI 001 002 May God, our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ bless you, and give you peace. 050 PHI 001 003 Every recollection that I have of you is a cause of thanksgiving to God, 050 PHI 001 004 always, in every prayer that I offer for you all – my prayers are full of joy – 050 PHI 001 005 because of the share that you have had in spreading the good news, from the first day that you received it until now. 050 PHI 001 006 For of this I am confident, that he who began a good work in you will complete it in readiness for the day of Jesus Christ. 050 PHI 001 007 And, indeed, I am justified in feeling like this about you all; because you have a warm place in my heart – you who all, both in my imprisonment and in the work of defending and establishing the good news, shared my privilege with me. 050 PHI 001 008 God will bear me witness how I yearn for you all with the tenderness of Christ Jesus. 050 PHI 001 009 And what I pray for is this – that your love may grow yet stronger and stronger, with increasing knowledge and all discernment, 050 PHI 001 010 until you are able to appreciate all moral distinctions. And I pray, too, that you may be kept pure and blameless against the day of Christ, 050 PHI 001 011 bearing a rich harvest of that righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. 050 PHI 001 012 Friends, I want you to realize that what has happened to me has actually served to forward the good news. 050 PHI 001 013 It has even become evident, not only to all the imperial guard, but to everyone else, that it is for Christ’s sake that I am in chains. 050 PHI 001 014 And besides this, most of our fellow followers have gained confidence in the Lord through my chains, and now venture with far greater freedom to speak of God’s message fearlessly. 050 PHI 001 015 It is true that some do proclaim the Christ out of jealousy and opposition, but there are others who proclaim him from goodwill. 050 PHI 001 016 The latter do it from love for me, knowing that I have been appointed to plead the cause of the good news. 050 PHI 001 017 The former spread the news of the Christ in a factious spirit, and not sincerely, thinking to add to the pain of my chains. 050 PHI 001 018 But what of that? Only that in some way or other, either with assumed or with real earnestness, Christ is being made known; and at that I rejoice. 050 PHI 001 019 Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that, through your prayers and through a rich supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, all this will make for my salvation. 050 PHI 001 020 And this will fulfill my earnest expectation and hope that I will have no cause for shame, but that, with unfailing courage, now as before, Christ will be honored in my body, whether by my life or by my death, 050 PHI 001 021 for to me life is Christ, and death is gain. 050 PHI 001 022 But what if the life here in the body – if this brings me fruit from my labors? Then which to choose I cannot tell! I am sorely perplexed either way! 050 PHI 001 023 My own desire is to depart and be with Christ, for this would be far better. 050 PHI 001 024 But, for your sakes, it may be more needful that I should still remain here in the body. 050 PHI 001 025 Yes, I am confident that this is so, and therefore I am sure that I will stay, and stay near you all, to promote your progress and joy in the faith; 050 PHI 001 026 so that, when you once more have me among you, you, in your union with Christ Jesus, may find in me fresh cause for exultation. 050 PHI 001 027 Under all circumstances let your lives be worthy of the good news of the Christ: so that, whether I come and see you, or whether I hear of your affairs at a distance, I may know that you are standing firm, animated by one spirit, and joining with one heart in a common struggle for the faith taught by the good news, 050 PHI 001 028 without ever shrinking from your opponents. To them this will be a sign of their destruction and of your salvation – a sign from God. 050 PHI 001 029 For, on behalf of Christ, you have had the privilege granted you, not only of trusting in him, but also of suffering on his behalf. 050 PHI 001 030 You will be engaged in the same hard struggle as that which you once saw me waging, and which you hear that I am waging still. 050 PHI 002 001 If, then, any encouragement comes through union with Christ, if there is any persuasive power in love, if there is any communion with the Spirit, if there is any tenderness or pity, 050 PHI 002 002 I entreat you to make my happiness complete – live together animated by the same spirit and in mutual love, one in heart, animated by one Spirit. 050 PHI 002 003 Nothing should be done out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility lift others up above yourselves, 050 PHI 002 004 considering not only your own interests but also the interests of others. 050 PHI 002 005 Let the spirit of Christ Jesus be yours also. 050 PHI 002 006 Though the divine nature was his from the beginning, yet he did not look on equality with God as above all things to be clung to, 050 PHI 002 007 but impoverished himself by taking the nature of a servant and becoming like one of us; 050 PHI 002 008 he appeared among us as a man, and still further humbled himself by submitting even to death – to death on a cross! 050 PHI 002 009 And that is why God raised him to the very highest place, and gave him the name which stands above all other names, 050 PHI 002 010 so that in adoration of the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven, on earth, and under the earth, 050 PHI 002 011 and that every tongue should acknowledge JESUS CHRIST as LORD – to the glory of God the Father. 050 PHI 002 012 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always been obedient in the past, so now work out your own salvation with anxious care, not only when I am with you, but all the more now that I am absent. 050 PHI 002 013 Remember it is God who, in his kindness, is at work within you, enabling you both to will and to work. 050 PHI 002 014 In all that you do, avoid murmuring and dissension, 050 PHI 002 015 so as to prove yourselves blameless and innocent – faultless children of God, in the midst of an evil-disposed and perverse generation, in which you are seen shining like stars in a dark world, 050 PHI 002 016 offering to them the message of life; and then I will be able at the day of Christ to boast that I did not run my course for nothing, or toil for nothing. 050 PHI 002 017 And yet, even if, when your faith is offered as a sacrifice to God, my lifeblood must be poured out in addition, still I will rejoice and share the joy of you all; 050 PHI 002 018 and you must also rejoice and share my joy. 050 PHI 002 019 I hope, however, as one who trusts in the Lord Jesus, to send Timothy to you before long, so that I may myself be cheered by receiving news of you. 050 PHI 002 020 For I have no one but him to send – no one of kindred spirit who would take the same genuine interest in your welfare. 050 PHI 002 021 They are all pursuing their own aims and not those of Christ Jesus. 050 PHI 002 022 But you know what Timothy has proved himself to be, and how, like a child working for his father, he worked hard with me in spreading the good news. 050 PHI 002 023 It is Timothy, then, whom I hope to send, just as soon as I find out what is going to happen to me here. 050 PHI 002 024 And I am confident, as one who trusts in the Lord Jesus, that before long I myself will follow. 050 PHI 002 025 Still I think it necessary to send Epaphroditus to you now, for he is my dear friend, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, and he was also your messenger to help me in my need. 050 PHI 002 026 For he has been longing to see you all, and has been distressed because you heard of his illness. 050 PHI 002 027 And I can assure you that his illness very nearly proved fatal. But God had pity on him, and not on him only but also on me, so that I might not have sorrow on sorrow. 050 PHI 002 028 I am all the more ready, therefore, to send him, so that the sight of him may revive your spirits and my own sorrow be lightened. 050 PHI 002 029 Give him, then, the heartiest of Christian welcomes, and hold such people in great honor. 050 PHI 002 030 For it was owing to his devotion to the Master’s work that he was at the point of death, having risked his own life in the effort to supply what was wanting in the help that you sent me. 050 PHI 003 001 In conclusion, my friends, may all joy be yours in your union with the Lord. To repeat what I have already written does not weary me, and is the safe course for you. 050 PHI 003 002 Beware of those dogs! Beware of those mischievous workers! Beware of the men who mutilate themselves! 050 PHI 003 003 For it is we who are the circumcised – we whose worship is prompted by the Spirit of God, who exult in Christ Jesus, and who do not rely on external privileges; 050 PHI 003 004 though I, if anyone, have cause to rely even on them. If anyone thinks he can rely on external privileges, far more can I! 050 PHI 003 005 I was circumcised when eight days old; I am an Israelite by birth, and of the tribe of Benjamin; I am a Hebrew, and the child of Hebrews. As to the Law, I was a Pharisee; 050 PHI 003 006 as to zeal, I was a persecutor of the church; as to such righteousness as is due to Law, I proved myself blameless. 050 PHI 003 007 But all the things which I once held to be gains I have now, for the Christ’s sake, come to count as loss. 050 PHI 003 008 More than that, I count everything as loss, for the sake of the exceeding value of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. And for his sake I have lost everything, and count it as rubbish, if I may but gain Christ and be found in union with him; 050 PHI 003 009 any righteousness that I have being, not the righteousness that results from Law, but the righteousness which comes through faith in Christ – the righteousness which is derived from God and is founded on faith. 050 PHI 003 010 Then indeed I will know Christ, and the power of his resurrection, and all that it means to share his sufferings, 050 PHI 003 011 in the hope that, if I become like him in death, I may possibly attain to the resurrection from the dead. 050 PHI 003 012 Not that I have already laid hold of it, or that I am already made perfect. But I press on, in the hope of actually laying hold of that for which indeed I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. 050 PHI 003 013 For I, friends, do not regard myself as having yet laid hold of it. But this one thing I do – forgetting what lies behind, and straining every nerve for that which lies in front, 050 PHI 003 014 I press on to the goal, to gain the prize of that heavenward call which God gave me through Christ Jesus. 050 PHI 003 015 Let all of us, then, whose faith is mature, think this way. Then, if on any matter you think otherwise, God will make that also plain to you. 050 PHI 003 016 Only we are bound to order our lives by what we have already attained. 050 PHI 003 017 My friends, unite in following my example, and fix your eyes on those who are living by the pattern which we have set you. 050 PHI 003 018 For there are many – of whom I have often told you, and now tell you even with tears – who are living in enmity to the cross of the Christ. 050 PHI 003 019 The end of such people is ruin; for their appetites are their God, and they glory in their shame; their minds are given up to earthly things. 050 PHI 003 020 But we are citizens of heaven, and from heaven we expect a savior to come, the Lord Jesus Christ. 050 PHI 003 021 By the exercise of his power to bring everything into subjection to himself, he will make our humble bodies like his glorious body. 050 PHI 004 001 So then, my dear friends, whom I am longing to see – you who are my joy and my crown, stand fast in union with the Lord, dear friends. 050 PHI 004 002 I entreat Euodia, and I entreat Syntyche, to live in harmony, in union with the Lord; 050 PHI 004 003 yes, and I ask you, my true comrade, to help them, remembering that they toiled by my side in spreading the good news; and so, too, did Clement and my other fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. 050 PHI 004 004 All joy be yours at all times in your union with the Lord. Again I repeat – All joy be yours. 050 PHI 004 005 Let your forbearing spirit be plain to everyone. The Lord is near. 050 PHI 004 006 Do not be anxious about anything; but under all circumstances, by prayer and entreaty joined with thanksgiving, make your needs known to God. 050 PHI 004 007 Then the peace of God, which is beyond all human understanding, will stand guard over your hearts and thoughts, through your union with Christ Jesus. 050 PHI 004 008 In conclusion, friends, whenever you find things that are true or honorable, righteous or pure, lovable or praiseworthy, or if virtue and honor have any meaning, let them fill your thoughts. 050 PHI 004 009 All that you learned and received and heard and saw in me put into practice continually; and then God, the giver of peace, will be with you. 050 PHI 004 010 It was a matter of great joy to me, as one in union with the Lord, that at length your interest in me had revived. The interest indeed you had, but not the opportunity. 050 PHI 004 011 Do not think that I am saying this under the pressure of want. For I, however I am placed, have learned to be independent of circumstances. 050 PHI 004 012 I know how to face humble circumstances, and I know how to face prosperity. Into all and every human experience I have been initiated – into plenty and hunger, into prosperity and want. 050 PHI 004 013 I can do everything through the strength of the one who makes me strong! 050 PHI 004 014 Yet you have acted nobly in sharing my troubles. 050 PHI 004 015 And you at Philippi know, as well as I, that in the early days of the good news – at the time when I had just left Macedonia – no church, with the one exception of yourselves, had anything to do with me as far as giving and receiving are concerned. 050 PHI 004 016 Indeed, even while I was still in Thessalonica, you sent more than once to relieve my wants. 050 PHI 004 017 It is not that I am anxious for your gifts, but I am anxious to see the abundant return that will be placed to your account. I have enough of everything, and to spare. 050 PHI 004 018 My wants are fully satisfied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts which you sent me – the sweet fragrance of a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. 050 PHI 004 019 And my God, out of the greatness of his wealth, will, in glory, fully satisfy your every need, through your union with Christ Jesus. 050 PHI 004 020 To him, our God and Father, be ascribed all glory for every and ever. Amen. (aiōn g165) 050 PHI 004 021 Give my greeting to everyone of the people of Christ Jesus. The Lord’s followers who are with me send your their greetings. 050 PHI 004 022 All Christ’s people here, and especially those who belong to the Emperor’s household, send theirs. 050 PHI 004 023 May the blessing of the Lord Jesus Christ rest on your souls. # # BOOK 051 COL Colossians Colossians 051 COL 001 001 From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, by the will of God, and from Timothy, also a follower of the Lord. 051 COL 001 002 To Christ’s people at Colossae – the followers who are faithful to him: May God, our Father, bless you and give you peace. 051 COL 001 003 Whenever we pray we never fail to thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for you, 051 COL 001 004 now that we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all his people, 051 COL 001 005 because of the hope which is kept safe for you in heaven. Of this hope you heard long ago in the true message of the good news which reached you, 051 COL 001 006 bearing fruit and growing, as it does, through all the world, just as it did among you from the very day that you heard of God’s loving kindness, and understood what that loving kindness really is. 051 COL 001 007 It is just what you learned from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who, as a minister of the Christ, faithfully represents us, 051 COL 001 008 and who told us of the love with which the Spirit has inspired you. 051 COL 001 009 And therefore we, from the very day that we heard this, have never ceased praying for you, or asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of the will of God, which comes through all true spiritual wisdom and insight. 051 COL 001 010 Then you will live lives worthy of the Master, and so please God in every way. Your lives will be fruitful in every kind of good action, and grow into a fuller knowledge of God; 051 COL 001 011 you will be made strong at all points with a strength worthy of the power manifested in his glory – strong to endure with patience, and even with gladness, whatever may happen to you; 051 COL 001 012 and you will give thanks to the Father who made you fit to share the lot which awaits Christ’s people in the realms of light. 051 COL 001 013 For God has rescued us from the tyranny of darkness, and has removed us into the kingdom of his Son, who is the embodiment of his love, 051 COL 001 014 and through whom we have found deliverance in the forgiveness of our sins. 051 COL 001 015 For Christ is the incarnation of the invisible God – firstborn and head of all creation; 051 COL 001 016 for in him was created all that is in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible – angels and archangels and all the powers of heaven. 051 COL 001 017 All has been created through him and for him. He was before all things, and all things unite in him; 051 COL 001 018 and he is the head of the church, which is his body. The firstborn from the dead, he is to the church the source of its life, that he, in all things, may stand first. 051 COL 001 019 For it pleased the Father that in him the divine nature in all its fulness should live, 051 COL 001 020 and through him to reconcile all things to himself (making peace by the shedding of Christ’s blood offered on the cross) – whether on earth or in heaven. 051 COL 001 021 And it pleased God that you, once estranged from him and hostile towards him in your thoughts, intent only on wickedness – 051 COL 001 022 but now he has reconciled you to himself by the sacrifice of Christ’s earthly body in death – it has pleased God that you should stand in his presence holy, pure, and blameless, 051 COL 001 023 if only you remain true to your faith, firm and immovable, never abandoning the hope held out in the good news to which you listened, which has been proclaimed among all created things under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made an assistant. 051 COL 001 024 Now at last I can rejoice in my sufferings on your behalf, and in my own person I supplement the afflictions endured by the Christ, for the sake of his body, the church; 051 COL 001 025 of which I myself became a minister in virtue of the office with which God entrusted me for your benefit, to declare the message of God in all its fulness – 051 COL 001 026 that truth which has been hidden from former ages and generations. But now it has been revealed to God’s people, (aiōn g165) 051 COL 001 027 to whom it was his pleasure to make known the surpassing glory of that hidden truth when proclaimed among the Gentiles – ‘Christ among you! Your hope of glory!’ 051 COL 001 028 This is the Christ whom we proclaim, warning everyone, and instructing everyone, with all the wisdom that we possess, in the hope of bringing everyone into God’s presence perfected by union with Christ. 051 COL 001 029 It is for that I toil, struggling with all the energy which he inspires and which works powerfully within me. 051 COL 002 001 I want you to know in how great a struggle I am engaged for you and for Christ’s people at Laodicea, and for all who have not yet seen me; 051 COL 002 002 in the hope that they, being bound to one another by love, and keeping in view the full blessedness of a firm conviction, may be encouraged to strive for a perfect knowledge of God’s hidden truth, 051 COL 002 003 even Christ himself, in whom all treasures of wisdom and knowledge lie hidden. 051 COL 002 004 I say this to prevent anyone from deceiving you by plausible arguments. 051 COL 002 005 It is true that I am not with you in person, but I am with you in spirit, and am glad to see the good order and the unbroken front resulting from your faith in Christ. 051 COL 002 006 Since, therefore, you have received Jesus, the Christ, as your Lord, live your lives in union with him – 051 COL 002 007 rooted in him, building up your characters through union with him, growing stronger through your faith, as you were taught, overflowing with faith and thanksgiving. 051 COL 002 008 Take care that there is not someone who will carry you away by his ‘philosophy’ – a hollow sham! – following, as it does, mere human traditions, and dealing with puerile questions of this world, and not with Christ. 051 COL 002 009 For in Christ the Godhead in all its fulness dwells incarnate; 051 COL 002 010 and, by your union with him, you also are filled with it. He is the head of all archangels and powers of heaven. 051 COL 002 011 By your union with him you received a circumcision that was not performed by human hands, when you threw off the tyranny of the earthly body, and received the circumcision of the Christ. 051 COL 002 012 For in baptism you were buried with Christ; and in baptism you were also raised to life with him, through your faith in the omnipotence of God, who raised him from the dead. 051 COL 002 013 And to you, who once were dead, by reason of your sins and your uncircumcised nature – to you God gave life in giving life to Christ! He pardoned all our sins! 051 COL 002 014 He canceled the bond which stood against us – the bond that consisted of ordinances – and which was directly hostile to us! He has taken it out of our way by nailing it to the cross! 051 COL 002 015 He rid himself of all the powers of evil, and held them up to open contempt, when he celebrated his triumph over them on the cross! 051 COL 002 016 Do not, then, allow anyone to take you to task on questions of eating or drinking, or in the matter of annual or monthly or weekly festivals. 051 COL 002 017 These things are only the shadow of what is to come; the substance is in the Christ. 051 COL 002 018 Do not let anyone defraud you of the reality by affecting delight in so-called ‘humility’ and angel-worship. Such a person busies themselves with their visions, and without reason are rendered conceited by their merely human intellect. 051 COL 002 019 They fail to maintain union with the head, to whom it is due that the whole body, nourished and knit together by the contact and connexion of every part, grows with a divine growth. 051 COL 002 020 Since, with Christ, you became dead to the puerile teaching of this world, why do you submit, as if you still belonged to the world, 051 COL 002 021 to such ordinances as ‘Do not handle, or taste, or touch’? 051 COL 002 022 For all the things referred to in them cease to exist when used. You are following mere human directions and instructions. 051 COL 002 023 Such prohibitions appear reasonable where there is a desire for self-imposed service, and so-called ‘humility,’ and harsh treatment of the body, but are of no real value against the indulgence of our earthly nature. 051 COL 003 001 Since, therefore, you were raised to life with the Christ, seek for the things that are above; for it is there that the Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 051 COL 003 002 Fix your thoughts on the things that are above, not on those that are on earth. 051 COL 003 003 For you died, and your life now lies hidden, with the Christ, in God. 051 COL 003 004 When the Christ, who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 051 COL 003 005 Therefore destroy all that is earthly in you – immorality, uncleanness, passions, evil desires, and that greed which is idolatry. 051 COL 003 006 These are the things because of which the wrath of God comes, 051 COL 003 007 and to which you, like others, once devoted your lives, when you lived for them. 051 COL 003 008 You, however, must now lay aside all such things – anger, passion, malice, slander, abuse. 051 COL 003 009 Never lie to one another. Get rid of your old self and its habits, 051 COL 003 010 and clothe yourselves with that new self, which, as it gains in knowledge, is being constantly renewed in resemblance to him who made it. 051 COL 003 011 In that new life there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all! – and in all! 051 COL 003 012 Therefore, as God’s people, consecrated and dear to him, clothe yourselves with tenderness of heart, kindliness, humility, gentleness, forbearance; 051 COL 003 013 bearing with one another, and, when there is any ground for complaint, forgiving one another freely. As the Master freely forgave you, so you must forgive one another. 051 COL 003 014 Over all these virtues put on love; for that is the belt which makes all complete. 051 COL 003 015 Let the peace that the Christ gives decide all doubts within your hearts; for you also were called to the enjoyment of peace as members of one body. And show yourselves thankful. 051 COL 003 016 Let the message of the Christ be alive in your minds in all its wealth, bringing all wisdom with it. Teach and admonish one another with psalms, and hymns, and sacred songs, full of the loving kindness of God, lifting your hearts in song to him. 051 COL 003 017 And, whatever you say or do, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus; and through him offer thanksgiving to God the father. 051 COL 003 018 Wives, submit to your husbands, as befits those who belong to the Lord. 051 COL 003 019 Husbands, love your wives, and never treat them harshly. 051 COL 003 020 Children, always obey your parents; for that is pleasant to see in those who belong to the Lord. 051 COL 003 021 Fathers, never irritate your children, otherwise they might become disheartened. 051 COL 003 022 Slaves, always obey your earthly masters, not only when their eyes are on you, as if you had but to please people alone, but giving them ungrudging service, in your respect for the Master. 051 COL 003 023 Whatever you do, do it with all your heart, as if working for the Master and not for people, 051 COL 003 024 since you know that it is from the Master that you will receive the inheritance which will be your reward. You are serving Christ, the Master. 051 COL 003 025 Those who do wrong will reap the wrong they have done; and there will be no partiality. 051 COL 004 001 Masters, do what is right and fair by your slaves, for you know that you also have a Master – in heaven. 051 COL 004 002 Devote yourselves to prayer. Give your whole mind to it, and also offer thanksgiving; 051 COL 004 003 and at the same time pray for us, so that God may give us an opening for our message, so that we may speak of the truths hidden in the Christ – the truths for which I am in chains! 051 COL 004 004 Then I will make them known, as I ought to do. 051 COL 004 005 Show tact in your behavior to the outside world, making the most of every opportunity. 051 COL 004 006 Let your conversation always be kindly, but not bland, season it, as it were, with salt; be aware in each case of the answer you should be giving. 051 COL 004 007 Our dear friend, Tychicus, will tell you all about me. He is a faithful minister, and a fellow servant in the Master’s cause. 051 COL 004 008 I send him to you expressly that you may learn our circumstances, and that he may give you encouragement. 051 COL 004 009 With him will be Onesimus, our dear faithful friend, who is one of yourselves. They will tell you all that is going on here. 051 COL 004 010 My fellow prisoner, Aristarchus, sends you his greeting, and Barnabas’s cousin, Mark, sends his. (You have received directions about him. If he comes to you, make him welcome.) 051 COL 004 011 Joshua, who is called Justus, also sends his greeting. These are the only converts from Judaism who have worked with me for the kingdom of God; I have found them a great comfort. 051 COL 004 012 Epaphras, who is one of yourselves, sends you his greeting. He is a servant of Christ Jesus, and is always most earnest in your behalf in his prayers, praying that you may stand firm, with a matured faith and with a sure conviction of all that is in accordance with God’s will. 051 COL 004 013 I can bear testimony to the deep interest he takes in you, as well as in the followers at Laodicea and at Hierapolis. 051 COL 004 014 Luke, our dear doctor, sends you his greeting, and Demas sends his. 051 COL 004 015 Give my greeting to the followers at Laodicea, and to Nymphe, and to the church that meets at her house. 051 COL 004 016 And when this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read before the church at Laodicea, and that you yourselves read the letter which will be forwarded from there. 051 COL 004 017 Give this message to Archippus – ‘Take care to discharge to the best of your ability the office to which you were appointed in the Master’s cause.’ 051 COL 004 018 I, Paul, add this greeting in my own handwriting. Remember these chains of mine. God’s blessing be with you. # # BOOK 052 1TH 1 Thessalonians 1 Thessalonians 052 1TH 001 001 To the Thessalonian church in union with God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, from Paul, Silas, and Timothy. May God bless you and give you peace. 052 1TH 001 002 We always mention you in our prayers and thank God for you all; 052 1TH 001 003 recalling continually before our God and Father the efforts that have resulted from your faith, the toil prompted by your love, and the patient endurance sustained by your hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 052 1TH 001 004 Friends, whom God loves, we know that he has chosen you, 052 1TH 001 005 because the good news that we brought came home to you, not merely as so many words, but with a power and a fulness of conviction due to the Holy Spirit. For you know the life that we lived among you for your good. 052 1TH 001 006 And you yourselves began to follow, not only our example, but the Master’s also; and, in spite of much suffering, you welcomed the message with a joy inspired by the Holy Spirit, 052 1TH 001 007 and so became a pattern to all who believed in Christ throughout Macedonia and Greece. 052 1TH 001 008 For it was from you that the Lord’s message resounded throughout Macedonia and Greece; and, more than that, your faith in God has become known far and wide; so that there is no need for us to say another word. 052 1TH 001 009 Indeed, in speaking about us, the people themselves tell of the reception you gave us, and how, turning to God from your idols, you became servants of the true and living God, 052 1TH 001 010 and are now awaiting the return from heaven of his Son whom he raised from the dead – Jesus, our deliverer from the coming wrath. 052 1TH 002 001 Yes, friends, you yourselves know that your reception of us was not without result. 052 1TH 002 002 For, although we had experienced suffering and ill treatment, as you know, at Philippi, we had the courage, by the help of our God, to tell you God’s good news in spite of great opposition. 052 1TH 002 003 Our appeal to you was not based on a delusion, nor was it made from unworthy motives, or with any intention of misleading you. 052 1TH 002 004 But, having been found worthy by God to be entrusted with the good news, therefore we tell it; with a view to please, not people, but God who proves our hearts. 052 1TH 002 005 Never at any time, as you know, did we use the language of flattery, or make false professions in order to hide selfish aims. God will bear witness to that. 052 1TH 002 006 Nor did we seek to win honor from people, whether from you or from others, although, as apostles of Christ, we might have burdened you with our support. 052 1TH 002 007 But we lived among you with the simplicity of a child; we were like a woman nursing her own children. 052 1TH 002 008 In our strong affection for you, that seemed to us the best way of sharing with you, not only God’s good news, but our lives as well – so dear had you become to us. 052 1TH 002 009 You will not have forgotten, friends, our labor and toil. Night and day we used to work at our trades, so as not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you God’s good news. 052 1TH 002 010 You will bear witness, and God also, that our relations with you who believed in Christ were pure, and upright, and beyond reproach. 052 1TH 002 011 Indeed, you know that, like a father with his own children, we used to encourage and comfort every one of you, and solemnly plead with you; 052 1TH 002 012 so that you should make your daily lives worthy of God who is calling you into the glory of his kingdom. 052 1TH 002 013 This, too, is a reason why we, on our part, are continually thanking God – because, in receiving the teaching that you had from us, you accepted it, not as the teaching of humans, but as what it really is – the teaching of God, which is even now doing its work within you who believe in Christ. 052 1TH 002 014 For you, friends, began to follow the example of the churches of God in Judea which are in union with Jesus Christ; you, in your turn, suffering at the hands of your fellow citizens, in the same way as those churches did at the hands of their people – 052 1TH 002 015 who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and persecuted us also. They do not try to please God, and they are enemies to all humanity, 052 1TH 002 016 for they try to prevent us from speaking to the Gentiles with a view to their salvation, and so are always filling up the measure of their iniquity. But the wrath of God has come upon them to the full! 052 1TH 002 017 As for ourselves, friends, our having been bereaved of you even for a short time – though in body only, and not in spirit – made us all the more eager to see your faces again; and the longing to do so was strong on us. 052 1TH 002 018 That was why we made up our minds to go and see you – at least I, Paul, did, more than once – but Satan put difficulties in our way. 052 1TH 002 019 For what hope or joy will be ours, or what crown will we have to boast of, in the presence of our Lord Jesus, at his coming, if it isn’t you? 052 1TH 002 020 You are our pride and our delight! 052 1TH 003 001 And so, as we could bear it no longer, we made up our minds to remain behind alone at Athens, 052 1TH 003 002 and sent Timothy, our dear friend and God’s minister of the good news of the Christ, to strengthen you, and to encourage you in your faith, 052 1TH 003 003 so that none of you should be shaken by the troubles through which you are passing. You yourselves know that we are destined to meet with such things. 052 1TH 003 004 For, even while we were with you, we warned you beforehand that we were certain to encounter trouble. And so it proved, as you know. 052 1TH 003 005 Therefore, since I could no longer endure the uncertainty, I sent to make inquiries about your faith, fearing that the Tempter had tempted you, and that our toil might prove to have been in vain. 052 1TH 003 006 But, when Timothy recently returned to us from you with good news of your faith and love, and told us how kindly you think of us – always longing, he said, to see us, just as we are longing to see you – 052 1TH 003 007 on hearing this, we felt encouraged about you, friends, in the midst of all our difficulties and troubles, by your faith. 052 1TH 003 008 For it is new life to us to know that you are holding fast to the Lord. 052 1TH 003 009 How can we thank God enough for all the happiness that you are giving us in the sight of our God? 052 1TH 003 010 Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you face to face, and make good any deficiency in your faith. 052 1TH 003 011 May our God and Father himself, and Jesus, our Lord, make the way plain for us to come to you. 052 1TH 003 012 And for you, may the Lord fill you to overflowing with love for one another and for everyone, just as we are filled with love for you; 052 1TH 003 013 and so make your hearts strong, and your lives pure beyond reproach, in the sight of our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus, with all his Holy Ones. 052 1TH 004 001 Further, friends, we beg and urge you in the name of our Lord Jesus to carry out more fully than ever – as indeed you are already doing – all that you have heard from us as to what your daily life must be, if it is to please God. 052 1TH 004 002 For you have not forgotten the directions that we gave you on the authority of our Lord Jesus. 052 1TH 004 003 For this is God’s purpose – that you should be pure; abstaining from all immorality; 052 1TH 004 004 each of you learning to gain control over your own body, in a way that is holy and honorable, 052 1TH 004 005 and not for the mere gratification of your passions, like the Gentiles who know nothing of God; 052 1TH 004 006 none of you overreaching or taking advantage of their fellow follower of the Lord in such matters. The Lord takes vengeance on all who do such things, as we have already warned you and solemnly declared. 052 1TH 004 007 For God does not call us to an impure life, but demands holiness. 052 1TH 004 008 Therefore the person who disregards this warning disregards, not people, but God who gives you his Holy Spirit. 052 1TH 004 009 As to love for each other there is no need to write to you; for you have yourselves been taught by God to love one another; 052 1TH 004 010 and indeed you do act in this spirit towards all his people throughout Macedonia. Yet, friends, we beg you to do even more. 052 1TH 004 011 Make it your ambition to live quietly, and to attend to your own business, and to work with your hands, as we directed you; 052 1TH 004 012 so that your conduct may win respect from those outside the church, and that you may not want for anything. 052 1TH 004 013 We don’t want you to be ignorant, friends, about those who have passed to their rest. We don’t want you to grieve like other people who have no hope. 052 1TH 004 014 For, as we believe that Jesus died and rose again, so also we believe that God will bring, with Jesus, those who through him have passed to their rest. 052 1TH 004 015 This we tell you on the authority of the Lord – that those of us who are still living at the coming of the Lord will not anticipate those who have passed to their rest. 052 1TH 004 016 For, with a loud summons, with the shout of an archangel, and with the trumpet-call of God, the Lord himself will come down from heaven. 052 1TH 004 017 Then those who died in union with Christ will rise first; and afterward we who are still living will be caught up in the clouds, with them, to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be for ever with the Lord. 052 1TH 004 018 Therefore, comfort one another with what I have told you. 052 1TH 005 001 But as to the times and the moments, there is no need, friends, for anyone to write to you. 052 1TH 005 002 You yourselves know well that the day of the Lord will come just as a thief comes in the night. 052 1TH 005 003 When people are saying ‘All is quiet and safe,’ it is then that, like birth pains on a pregnant woman, ruin comes suddenly upon them, and there will be no escape! 052 1TH 005 004 You, however, friends, are not in darkness, that the daylight should take you by surprise as if you were thieves. 052 1TH 005 005 For you all are children of light and children of the day. We have nothing to do with night, or darkness. 052 1TH 005 006 Therefore let us not sleep as others do. No, let us be watchful and self-controlled. 052 1TH 005 007 It is at night that people sleep, and at night that drunkards get drunk. 052 1TH 005 008 But let us, who belong to the day, control ourselves, and put on faith and love as a breast plate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 052 1TH 005 009 For God destined us, not for wrath, but to win salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, 052 1TH 005 010 that, whether we are still watching or have fallen asleep, we may live with him. 052 1TH 005 011 Therefore encourage one another, and try to build up one another’s characters, as indeed you are doing. 052 1TH 005 012 We beg you, friends, to value those who toil among you, and are your leaders in the Lord’s service, and give you counsel. 052 1TH 005 013 Hold them in the very greatest esteem and affection for the sake of their work. Live at peace with one another. 052 1TH 005 014 We entreat you also, friends – warn the disorderly, comfort the faint-hearted, give a helping hand to the weak, and be patient with everyone. 052 1TH 005 015 Take care that none of you ever pays back wrong for wrong, but always follow the kindest course with one another and with everyone. 052 1TH 005 016 Always be joyful; 052 1TH 005 017 never cease to pray; 052 1TH 005 018 under all circumstances give thanks to God. For this is his will for you as made known in Christ Jesus. 052 1TH 005 019 Do not quench the Spirit; 052 1TH 005 020 do not make light of preaching. 052 1TH 005 021 Bring everything to the test; cling to what is good; 052 1TH 005 022 shun every form of evil. 052 1TH 005 023 May God himself, the giver of peace, make you altogether holy; and may your spirits, souls, and bodies be kept altogether faultless until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 052 1TH 005 024 He who calls you will not fail you; he will complete his work. 052 1TH 005 025 Friends, pray for us. 052 1TH 005 026 Greet all the Lord’s followers with a sacred kiss. 052 1TH 005 027 I order you in the Lord’s name to have this letter read to all the brethren. 052 1TH 005 028 May the blessing of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. # # BOOK 053 2TH 2 Thessalonians 2 Thessalonians 053 2TH 001 001 To the Thessalonian church in union with God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, From Paul, Silas, and Timothy. 053 2TH 001 002 May God, the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ bless you and give you peace. 053 2TH 001 003 Friends, it is our duty always to thank God about you, as is but right, considering the wonderful growth of your faith, and because, without exception, your love for one another is continually increasing. 053 2TH 001 004 So much is this the case that we ourselves speak with pride, before the churches of God, of the patience and faith which you have shown, in spite of all the persecutions and troubles that you are enduring. 053 2TH 001 005 These persecutions will vindicate the justice of God’s judgment, and will result in your being reckoned worthy of God’s kingdom, for the sake of which you are now suffering; 053 2TH 001 006 since God deems it just to inflict suffering on those who are now inflicting suffering on you, 053 2TH 001 007 and to give relief to you who are suffering, as well as to us, at the appearing of the Lord Jesus from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire. 053 2TH 001 008 Then he will inflict punishment on those who refuse to know God, and on those who turn a deaf ear to the good news of Jesus, our Lord. 053 2TH 001 009 They will pay the penalty of unutterable ruin – banished from the presence of the Lord and from the glorious manifestation of his might, (aiōnios g166) 053 2TH 001 010 when he comes to be honored in his people, and to be revered in all who have learned to believe in him (for you also believed our testimony) – as he will be on that day. 053 2TH 001 011 With this in view, our constant prayer for you is that our God may count you worthy of the call that you have received, and by his power make perfect your delight in all goodness and the efforts that have resulted from your faith. 053 2TH 001 012 Then, in the loving kindness of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ, will the name of Jesus, our Lord, be honored in you, and you in him. 053 2TH 002 001 As to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our being gathered to meet him, we beg you, friends, 053 2TH 002 002 not lightly to let your minds become unsettled or disturbed by any revelation, or by any message or letter purporting to come from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord is come. 053 2TH 002 003 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way. For it will not come before the final rebellion against God, when lawlessness is revealed in human form, headed for destruction. 053 2TH 002 004 He is the adversary of everything that is spoken of as a god or as an object of worship, enthroning himself in God’s Temple claiming to be God! 053 2TH 002 005 Don’t you remember how, when I was with you, I used to speak to you of all this? 053 2TH 002 006 And you know now what the restraining influence is which prevents his appearing before his appointed time. 053 2TH 002 007 Wickedness, indeed, is already at work in secret, but only until he who at present restrains it is removed out of the way. 053 2TH 002 008 Then the lawless person will be revealed, but the Lord Jesus will destroy him with the breath of his mouth, annihilate him by the splendor of his coming. 053 2TH 002 009 When the lawless person comes, there will be great activity on the part of Satan, in the form of all kinds of deceptive miracles, signs, and marvels, as well as of wicked attempts to delude – 053 2TH 002 010 to the ruin of those who are on the path to destruction, because they have never received and loved the truth to their own salvation. 053 2TH 002 011 That is why God places them under the influence of a delusion, to cause them to believe a lie; 053 2TH 002 012 so that sentence may be passed on all those who refuse to believe the truth, but delight in wickedness. 053 2TH 002 013 But, friends, whom the Lord loves, it is our duty always to thank God about you, for, from the first, God chose you for salvation through the purifying influence of the Spirit, and your belief in the truth. 053 2TH 002 014 To this you were called by the good news which we brought you, to attain to the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 053 2TH 002 015 Stand firm then, friends, and hold fast to the truths that we taught you, whether by word or by letter. 053 2TH 002 016 And may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and, in his loving kindness, gave us unfailing consolation and good ground for hope, (aiōnios g166) 053 2TH 002 017 console your hearts, and strengthen you to do and to say all that is right. 053 2TH 003 001 In conclusion, friends, pray for us – pray that the Lord’s message may spread rapidly, and be received everywhere with honor, as it was among you; 053 2TH 003 002 and that we may be preserved from wrong-headed and wicked people – for it is not everyone who believes in Christ. 053 2TH 003 003 But the Lord will not fail you. He will give you strength, and guard you from evil. 053 2TH 003 004 Yes, and the confidence that our union with the Lord enables us to place in you leads us to believe that you are doing, and will do, what we direct you. 053 2TH 003 005 May the Lord bring you to the love of God, and to the patience of the Christ. 053 2TH 003 006 We beg you, friends, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, to avoid any follower who is living an ill-ordered life, which is not in agreement with the teaching that you received from us. 053 2TH 003 007 For you know well that you ought to follow our example. When we were with you, our life was not ill-ordered, 053 2TH 003 008 nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it. Night and day, laboring and toiling, we used to work at our trades, so as not to be a burden on any of you. 053 2TH 003 009 This was not because we had not a right to receive support, but our object was to give you a pattern for you to copy. 053 2TH 003 010 Indeed, when we were with you, the rule we laid down was – ‘Whoever does not choose to work will not get to eat.’ 053 2TH 003 011 We hear that there are among you people who are living ill-ordered lives, and who, instead of attending to their own business, are mere busybodies. 053 2TH 003 012 All such people we beg, and implore, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, to attend quietly to their business, and earn their own living. 053 2TH 003 013 You, friends, must not grow weary of doing what is right. 053 2TH 003 014 If anyone disregards what we have said in this letter, take note of them and avoid their company, so that they may feel ashamed. 053 2TH 003 015 Yet do not think of them as an enemy, but caution them as you would a brother or sister. 053 2TH 003 016 May the Lord, from whom all peace comes, himself give you his peace at all times and in all ways. May he be with you all. 053 2TH 003 017 I, Paul, add this greeting in my own handwriting. It is my signature to every letter. This is how I write. 053 2TH 003 018 May the blessing of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. # # BOOK 054 1TI 1 Timothy 1 Timothy 054 1TI 001 001 From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the appointment of God, our Savior, and Christ Jesus, our hope. 054 1TI 001 002 To Timothy, my true child in the faith: May God, the Father, and Christ Jesus, our Lord, bless you, and be merciful to you, and give you peace. 054 1TI 001 003 I beg you, as I did when I was on my way into Macedonia, to remain at Ephesus; so that you may instruct certain people there not to teach new and strange doctrines, 054 1TI 001 004 nor to devote their attention to legends and interminable genealogies, which tend to give rise to argument rather than to further that divine plan which is revealed in the faith. 054 1TI 001 005 The object of all instruction is to call forth that love which comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and a sincere faith. 054 1TI 001 006 And it is because they have not aimed at these things that the attention of certain people has been diverted to unprofitable subjects. 054 1TI 001 007 They want to be teachers of the Law, and yet do not understand either the words they use, or the subjects on which they speak so confidently. 054 1TI 001 008 We know, of course, that the Law is excellent, when used legitimately, 054 1TI 001 009 by one who recognizes that laws were not made for good people, but for the lawless and disorderly, for irreligious and wicked people, for those who are irreverent and profane, for those who ill-treat their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 054 1TI 001 010 for the immoral, for perverts, for slave traders, for liars, for perjurers, and for whatever else is opposed to sound Christian teaching – 054 1TI 001 011 as is taught in the glorious good news of the ever-blessed God, with which I was entrusted. 054 1TI 001 012 I am thankful to Christ Jesus, our Lord, who has been my strength, for showing that he thought me worthy of trust by appointing me to his ministry, 054 1TI 001 013 though I once used to blaspheme, and to persecute, and to insult. Yet mercy was shown me, because I acted in ignorance, while still an unbeliever; 054 1TI 001 014 and the loving kindness of our Lord was boundless, and filled me with that faith and love which come from union with Christ Jesus. 054 1TI 001 015 How true the saying is, and worthy of the fullest acceptance, that ‘Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners’! And there is no greater sinner than I! 054 1TI 001 016 Yet mercy was shown me for the express purpose that Christ Jesus might exhibit in my case, beyond all others, his exhaustless patience, as an example for those who were afterward to believe on him and attain eternal life. (aiōnios g166) 054 1TI 001 017 To the eternal King, ever-living, invisible, the one God, be ascribed honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. (aiōn g165) 054 1TI 001 018 This, then, is the charge that I lay on you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with what was predicted of you – Fight the good fight in the spirit of those predictions, 054 1TI 001 019 with faith, and with a clear conscience; and it is because they have thrust this aside, that, as regards the faith, some have wrecked their lives. 054 1TI 001 020 Hymenaeus and Alexander are instances – the men whom I delivered over to Satan so that they might be taught not to blaspheme. 054 1TI 002 001 First of all, then, I ask that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings should be offered for everyone, 054 1TI 002 002 especially for kings and all who are in high positions, in order that we may lead a quiet and peaceful life in a deeply religious and reverent spirit. 054 1TI 002 003 This will be good and acceptable in the eyes of God, our Savior, 054 1TI 002 004 whose will is that everyone should be saved, and attain to a full knowledge of the truth. 054 1TI 002 005 There is but one God, and one mediator between God and humanity – the human, Christ Jesus, 054 1TI 002 006 who gave himself as a ransom on behalf of all. This must be our testimony, as opportunities present themselves; 054 1TI 002 007 and it was for this that I was myself appointed a herald and an apostle (I am telling the simple truth and no lie) – a teacher of the Gentiles in the faith and truth. 054 1TI 002 008 My desire, then, is that it should be the custom everywhere for the men to lead the prayers, with hands reverently uplifted, avoiding heated controversy. 054 1TI 002 009 I also desire that women should adorn themselves with appropriate dress, worn quietly and modestly, and not with wreaths or gold ornaments for the hair, or pearls, or costly clothing, 054 1TI 002 010 but – as is proper for women who profess to be religious – with good actions. 054 1TI 002 011 They must learn, listening quietly to their teachers and showing them all deference. 054 1TI 002 012 I do not consent to them becoming teachers, or exercising authority over men; they ought to not make a fuss. 054 1TI 002 013 Adam was formed first, not Eve. 054 1TI 002 014 And it was not Adam who was deceived; it was the woman who was entirely deceived and fell into sin. 054 1TI 002 015 But she will be saved by the birth of a child, if they never abandon faith, love, or holiness, and behave with modesty. 054 1TI 003 001 How true is this saying: ‘To aspire to be to be a supervisor in the church is to be ambitious for a noble task.’ 054 1TI 003 002 The supervisor should be of blameless character; a faithful partner; living a temperate, discreet, and well-ordered life; hospitable, and a skillful teacher, 054 1TI 003 003 not addicted to drink or brawling, but of a forbearing and peaceable disposition, and not a lover of money; 054 1TI 003 004 they should provide for their own household well, and their children should kept under control and be well-behaved. 054 1TI 003 005 If someone does not know how to provide for their own household, how can they take charge of the church of God? 054 1TI 003 006 The supervisor should not be a recent convert, or they might become blinded by pride and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 054 1TI 003 007 They should also be well spoken of by outsiders, so that they may not incur censure and so fall into the devil’s trap. 054 1TI 003 008 So, too, assistants should be serious and straightforward, not given to taking much drink or to questionable money-making, 054 1TI 003 009 but people who hold the deep truths of the faith and have a clear conscience. 054 1TI 003 010 They should be tested first, and only appointed to their office if no objection is raised against them. 054 1TI 003 011 It should be the same with the women in this office. They should be serious, not gossips, sober, and trustworthy in all respects. 054 1TI 003 012 Assistants should be faithful partners who manage their children and their households well. 054 1TI 003 013 Those who have filled that post with honor gain for themselves an honorable position, as well as great confidence through the faith that they place in Christ Jesus. 054 1TI 003 014 I am writing this to you, though I hope that I will come to see you before long; 054 1TI 003 015 but in case I should be delayed, I want you to know what your conduct ought to be in the household of God, which is the church of the living God – the pillar and stay of the truth. 054 1TI 003 016 Yes, and undeniably wonderful are the deep truths of our religion; for – ‘He was revealed in our nature, pronounced righteous in spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, taken up into glory.’ 054 1TI 004 001 But the Spirit distinctly says that in later times there will be some who will fall away from the faith, and devote their attention to misleading spirits, and to the teaching of demons, 054 1TI 004 002 who will make use of the hypocrisy of lying teachers. These people’s consciences are seared, 054 1TI 004 003 and they discourage marriage and enjoin abstinence from certain kinds of food; though God created these foods to be enjoyed thankfully by those who hold the faith and have attained a full knowledge of the truth. 054 1TI 004 004 Everything created by God is good, and there in nothing that need be rejected – provided only that it is received thankfully; 054 1TI 004 005 for it is consecrated by God’s blessing and by prayer. 054 1TI 004 006 Put all this before the followers, and you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, sustained by the precepts of the faith and of that good teaching by which you have guided your life. 054 1TI 004 007 As for profane legends and old wives’ tales, leave them alone. Train yourself to lead a religious life; 054 1TI 004 008 for while the training of the body is of service in some respects, religion is of service in all, carrying with it, as it does, a promise of life both here and hereafter. 054 1TI 004 009 How true that saying is and worthy of the fullest acceptance! 054 1TI 004 010 With that aim we toil and struggle, for we have set our hopes on the living God, who is the Savior of all, and especially of those who hold the faith. 054 1TI 004 011 Remember these things in your teaching. 054 1TI 004 012 Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young, but, by your conversation, your conduct, your love, your faith, and your purity, be an example to those who hold the faith. 054 1TI 004 013 Until I come, apply yourself to public reading, preaching, and teaching. 054 1TI 004 014 Do not neglect the divine gift within you, which was given you, amid many a prediction, when the hands of the church elders were laid on your head. 054 1TI 004 015 Practice these things, devote yourself to them, so that your progress may be plain to everyone. 054 1TI 004 016 Look to yourself as well as to your teaching. Persevere in this, for your doing so will mean salvation for yourself as well as for your hearers. 054 1TI 005 001 Do not reprimand an older man, but plead with him as if he were your father. Treat the young men as brothers, 054 1TI 005 002 the older women as mothers, and the younger women as sisters – with all purity. 054 1TI 005 003 Show consideration for widows – I mean those who are really widowed. 054 1TI 005 004 But, if a widow has children or grandchildren, they should learn to show proper regard for the members of their own family first, and to make some return to their parents; for that is pleasing in God’s sight. 054 1TI 005 005 As for the woman who is really widowed and left quite alone, her hopes are fixed on God, and she devotes herself to prayers and supplications night and day. 054 1TI 005 006 But the life of a widow who is devoted to pleasure is a living death. 054 1TI 005 007 Those are the points you should teach, so that there may be no call for your censure. 054 1TI 005 008 Anyone who fails to provide for their own relatives, and especially for those under their own roof, has disowned the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever. 054 1TI 005 009 A widow, when her name is added to the list, should not be less than sixty years old; she should have been a faithful wife, 054 1TI 005 010 and be well spoken of for her kind actions. She should have brought up children, have shown hospitality to strangers, have washed the feet of her fellow Christians, have relieved those who were in distress, and devoted herself to every kind of good action. 054 1TI 005 011 But you should exclude the younger widows from the list; for, when they grow restive under the yoke of the Christ, they want to marry, 054 1TI 005 012 and so they bring condemnation on themselves for having broken their previous promise. 054 1TI 005 013 And not only that, but they learn to be idle as they go about from house to house. Nor are they merely idle, but they also become gossips and busybodies, and talk of what they ought not. 054 1TI 005 014 Therefore I advise young widows to marry, bear children, and attend to their homes, and so avoid giving the enemy an opportunity for scandal. 054 1TI 005 015 There are some who have already left us, to follow Satan. 054 1TI 005 016 Any Christian woman, who has relatives who are widows, ought to relieve them and not allow them to become a burden to the church, so that the church may relieve those widows who are really widowed. 054 1TI 005 017 Those church elders who fill their office well should be held deserving of especial consideration, particularly those whose work lies in preaching and teaching. 054 1TI 005 018 The words of scripture are – ‘You should not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain.’ and again – ‘The worker is worth their wages.’ 054 1TI 005 019 Do not entertain a charge against an church elder, unless it is supported by two or three witnesses; 054 1TI 005 020 but rebuke offenders publicly, so that others may take warning. 054 1TI 005 021 I charge you solemnly, before God and Christ Jesus and the chosen angels, to carry out these directions, unswayed by prejudice, never acting with partiality. 054 1TI 005 022 Never ordain anyone hastily, and take no part in the wrongdoing of others. Keep your life pure. 054 1TI 005 023 Do not continue to drink water only, but take a little wine because of the weakness of your stomach, and your frequent ailments. 054 1TI 005 024 There are some people whose sins are conspicuous and lead on to judgment, while there are others whose sins dog their steps. 054 1TI 005 025 In the same way noble deeds become conspicuous, and those which are otherwise cannot be concealed. 054 1TI 006 001 All who are in the position of slaves should regard their masters as deserving of the greatest respect, so that the name of God, and our teaching, may not be maligned. 054 1TI 006 002 Those who have Christian masters should not think less of them because they are also followers of Christ, but on the contrary they should serve them all the better, because those who are to benefit by their good work are dear to them as their fellow Christians. 054 1TI 006 003 Anyone who teaches otherwise, and refuses their assent to sound instruction – the instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ – and to the teaching of religion, 054 1TI 006 004 is puffed up with conceit, not really knowing anything, but having a morbid craving for discussions and arguments. Such things only give rise to envy, quarreling, recriminations, base suspicions, 054 1TI 006 005 and incessant wrangling on the part of these corrupt-minded people who have lost all hold on the truth, and who think of religion only as a source of gain. 054 1TI 006 006 Of course religion is a great source of gain – when combined with contentment! 054 1TI 006 007 For we brought nothing into the world, because we cannot even carry anything out of it. 054 1TI 006 008 So, with food and shelter, we will be content. 054 1TI 006 009 Those who want to be rich fall into the net of temptation, and become the prey of many foolish and harmful ambitions, which plunge people into destruction and ruin. 054 1TI 006 010 Love of money is a source of all kinds of evil; and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith, and have been pierced to the heart by many a regret. 054 1TI 006 011 But you must, servant of God, avoid all this. Aim at righteousness, piety, faith, love, endurance, gentleness. 054 1TI 006 012 Run the great race of the faith, and win the eternal life. It was for this that you received the call, and, in the presence of many witnesses, made the great profession of faith. (aiōnios g166) 054 1TI 006 013 I beg you, as in the sight of God, the source of all life, and of Christ Jesus who before Pontius Pilate made the great profession of faith – 054 1TI 006 014 I implore you to keep his command free from stain or reproach, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. 054 1TI 006 015 This will be brought about in his own time by the one ever-blessed Potentate, the king of all kings and Lord of all lords, 054 1TI 006 016 who alone is possessed of immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or ever can see – to whom be ascribed honor and power for ever. Amen. (aiōnios g166) 054 1TI 006 017 Teach those who are wealthy in this life not to pride themselves, or fix their hopes, on so uncertain a thing as wealth, but on God, who gives us a wealth of enjoyment on every side. (aiōn g165) 054 1TI 006 018 Teach them to show kindness, to exhibit a wealth of good actions, to be open-handed and generous, 054 1TI 006 019 storing up for themselves what in the future will prove to be a good foundation, so that they may gain the only true life. (aiōnios g166) 054 1TI 006 020 Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Avoid the profane prattle and contradictions of what some miscall ‘theology,’ 054 1TI 006 021 for there are those who, while asserting their proficiency in it, have yet, as regards the faith, gone altogether astray. God bless you all. # # BOOK 055 2TI 2 Timothy 2 Timothy 055 2TI 001 001 From Paul who, by the will of God, is an apostle of Christ Jesus, charged to proclaim the life that comes from union with Christ Jesus, 055 2TI 001 002 to Timothy, my dear child: may God, the Father, and Christ Jesus, our Lord, bless you, and be merciful to you, and give you peace. 055 2TI 001 003 I am thankful to God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, when I remember you, as I never fail to do, in my prayers – night and day alike, 055 2TI 001 004 as I think of your tears, longing to see you, that my happiness may be completed, 055 2TI 001 005 now that I have been reminded of the sincere faith that you have shown. That faith was seen first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and is now, I am convinced, in you also. 055 2TI 001 006 And that is my reason for reminding you to stir into flame that gift of God, which is yours through your ordination at my hands. 055 2TI 001 007 For the Spirit which God gave us was not a spirit of cowardice, but a spirit of power, love, and self-control. 055 2TI 001 008 Do not, therefore, be ashamed of the testimony which we have to bear to our Lord, or of me imprisoned for his sake; but join with me in suffering for the good news, as far as God enables you. 055 2TI 001 009 It was God who saved us, and from him we received our solemn call – not as a reward for anything that we had done, but in fulfillment of his own loving purpose. For that love was extended to us, through Christ Jesus, before time began, (aiōnios g166) 055 2TI 001 010 and has now been made apparent through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus; who has made an end of death, and has brought life and immortality to light by that good news, 055 2TI 001 011 of which I was myself appointed a herald, apostle, and teacher. 055 2TI 001 012 That is why I am undergoing these sufferings; yet I feel no shame, for I know in whom I have put my faith, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day. 055 2TI 001 013 Keep before you, as an example of sound teaching, all that you learnt from me as you listened with that faith and love which come from union with Christ Jesus. 055 2TI 001 014 Guard by the help of the Holy Spirit, who is within us, the glorious trust that has been committed to you. 055 2TI 001 015 You know, of course, that all our friends in Roman Asia turned their backs on me, including Phygellus and Hermogenes. 055 2TI 001 016 May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus; for he often cheered me and was not ashamed of my chains. 055 2TI 001 017 On the contrary, when he arrived in Rome, he sought eagerly for me until he found me. 055 2TI 001 018 The Lord grant that he may find mercy at the hands of the Lord on that day. The many services that he rendered at Ephesus you have the best means of knowing. 055 2TI 002 001 You must, then, my child, find strength in the help which comes from the union with Christ Jesus; 055 2TI 002 002 and what you learnt from me, in the presence of many listeners, entrust to reliable people, who will be able in their turn to teach others. 055 2TI 002 003 Share hardships with me, as a true soldier of Christ Jesus. 055 2TI 002 004 A soldier on active service, to please his superior officer, always avoids entangling himself in the affairs of ordinary life. 055 2TI 002 005 No athlete is ever awarded the wreath of victory unless they have kept the rules. 055 2TI 002 006 The laborer who does the work should be the first to receive a share of the fruits of the earth. 055 2TI 002 007 Reflect on what I say; the Lord will always help you to understand. 055 2TI 002 008 Keep before your mind Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David, as told in the good news entrusted to me; 055 2TI 002 009 in the service of which I am suffering hardships, even to being put in fetters as a criminal. But the message of God is not fettered; 055 2TI 002 010 and that is why I submit to anything for the sake of God’s people: so that they also may obtain the salvation which comes from union with Christ Jesus, and imperishable glory. (aiōnios g166) 055 2TI 002 011 How true this saying is – ‘If we have shared his death, we will also share his life. 055 2TI 002 012 If we continue to endure, we will also share his throne. If we should ever disown him, he, too, will disown us. 055 2TI 002 013 If we lose our trust, he is still to be trusted, for he cannot be false to himself!’ 055 2TI 002 014 Remind people of all this; tell them solemnly, as in the sight of God, to avoid controversy, a useless thing and the ruin of those who listen to it. 055 2TI 002 015 Do your utmost to show yourself true to God, a worker with no reason to be ashamed, accurate in delivering the message of the truth. 055 2TI 002 016 Avoid profane prattle. Those who indulge in it only get deeper into irreligious ways, 055 2TI 002 017 and their teaching will spread like a cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are instances of this. 055 2TI 002 018 They have gone completely astray as regards the truth; they say that a resurrection has already taken place, and so upset some people’s faith. 055 2TI 002 019 Yet God’s firm foundation still stands unmoved, and it bears this inscription – ‘THE LORD KNOWS THOSE WHO ARE HIS’; and this – ‘LET ALL THOSE WHO USE THE NAME OF THE LORD TURN AWAY FROM WICKEDNESS.’ 055 2TI 002 020 Now in a large house there are not only things of gold and silver, but also others of wood and earthenware, some for better and some for common use. 055 2TI 002 021 If, then, a person has escaped from the pollution of such errors as I have mentioned, they will be like a thing kept for better use, set apart, serviceable to its owner, ready for any good purpose. 055 2TI 002 022 Flee from the passions of youth, but pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, in the company of those who, with a pure heart, invoke the Lord. 055 2TI 002 023 Shun foolish and ignorant discussions, for you know that they only breed quarrels; 055 2TI 002 024 and a servant of the Lord should never quarrel. They ought, on the contrary, to be courteous to everyone, skillful teachers, and forbearing. 055 2TI 002 025 They should instruct their opponents in a gentle spirit; for, possibly, God may give those opponents a repentance that will lead to a fuller knowledge of truth, 055 2TI 002 026 and they may yet come to a sober mind, and escape from the devil’s net, when captured by the Lord’s servant to do the will of God. 055 2TI 003 001 Be sure of this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 055 2TI 003 002 People will be selfish, mercenary, boastful, haughty, and blasphemous; disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, impure, 055 2TI 003 003 incapable of affection, merciless, slanderous, wanting in self-control, brutal, careless of the right, 055 2TI 003 004 treacherous, reckless, and puffed up with pride; they will love pleasure more than they love God; 055 2TI 003 005 and while they retain the outward form of religion, they will not allow it to influence them. Turn your back on such people as these. 055 2TI 003 006 For among them are to be found those who creep into homes and captivate weak women – women who, loaded with sins, and slaves to all kinds of passions, 055 2TI 003 007 are always learning, and yet never able to attain to a real knowledge of the truth. 055 2TI 003 008 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so do these people, in their turn, oppose the truth. Their minds are corrupted, and, as regards the faith, they are utterly worthless. 055 2TI 003 009 They will not, however, make further progress; for their wicked folly will be plain to everyone, just as the folly Jannes and Jambres was. 055 2TI 003 010 But you, Timothy, were a close observer of my teaching, my conduct, my purposes, my faith, my forbearance, my love, and my patient endurance, 055 2TI 003 011 as well as of my persecutions, and of the sufferings which I met with at Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. You know what persecutions I underwent; and yet the Lord brought me safe out of all! 055 2TI 003 012 Yes, and all who aim at living a religious life in union with Christ Jesus will have to suffer persecution; 055 2TI 003 013 but wicked people and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving others and deceived themselves. 055 2TI 003 014 You, however, must stand by what you learnt and accepted as true. You know who they were from whom you learnt it; 055 2TI 003 015 and that, from your childhood, you have known the sacred writings, which can give you the wisdom that, through belief in Christ Jesus, leads to salvation. 055 2TI 003 016 All scripture is God-breathed: helpful for teaching, for refuting error, for giving guidance, and for training others in righteousness; 055 2TI 003 017 so that God’s people may be capable and equipped for good work of every kind. 055 2TI 004 001 I solemnly charge you – in the sight of God and of Christ Jesus, who will one day judge the living and the dead – I charge you by his appearing and by his kingdom: 055 2TI 004 002 Proclaim the message, be ready in season and out of season, convince, rebuke, encourage, never failing to instruct with forbearance. 055 2TI 004 003 For a time will come when people will not tolerate sound teaching. They will follow their own wishes, and, in their itching for novelty, procure themselves a crowd of teachers. 055 2TI 004 004 They will turn a deaf ear to the truth, and give their attention to legends instead. 055 2TI 004 005 But you, Timothy, must always be temperate. Face hardships; do the work of a missionary; discharge all the duties of your office. 055 2TI 004 006 As for me, my life blood is already being poured out; the time of my departure is close at hand. 055 2TI 004 007 I have run the great race; I have finished the course; I have kept the faith. 055 2TI 004 008 And now the crown of righteousness awaits me, which the Lord, the just judge, will give me on that day – and not only to me, but to all who have loved his appearing. 055 2TI 004 009 Do your utmost to come to me soon, 055 2TI 004 010 for Demas, in his love for the world, has deserted me. He has gone to Thessalonica, Crescens to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. (aiōn g165) 055 2TI 004 011 There is no one but Luke with me. Pick up Mark on your way, and bring him with you, for he is useful to me in my work. 055 2TI 004 012 I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus. 055 2TI 004 013 Bring with you, when you come, the cloak which I left at Troas with Carpus, and the books, especially the parchments. 055 2TI 004 014 Alexander, the coppersmith, showed much ill feeling towards me. The Lord will give him what his actions deserve. 055 2TI 004 015 You must also be on your guard against him, for he is strongly opposed to our teaching. 055 2TI 004 016 At my first trial no one stood by me. They all deserted me. May it never be counted against them! 055 2TI 004 017 But the Lord came to my help and strengthened me, in order that, through me, the proclamation should be made so widely that all the Gentiles should hear it; and I was rescued out of the lion’s mouth. 055 2TI 004 018 The Lord will rescue me from all evil, and bring me safe into his Heavenly kingdom. All glory to him for ever and ever! Amen. (aiōn g165) 055 2TI 004 019 Give my greeting to Prisca and Aquila, and to the household of Onesiphorus. 055 2TI 004 020 Erastus remained at Corinth, and I left Thophimus ill at Miletus. 055 2TI 004 021 Do your utmost to come before winter. Eubulus, Pudens, Linus and Claudia send you their greetings, and so do the rest of the Lord’s followers. 055 2TI 004 022 May the Lord be with your soul. God bless you all. # # BOOK 056 TIT Titus Titus 056 TIT 001 001 From Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, on behalf of the faith of God’s chosen people, and their knowledge of that truth which makes for godliness 056 TIT 001 002 – and is based on the hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began, (aiōnios g166) 056 TIT 001 003 and has revealed at his own time in his message, with the preaching of which I was entrusted by the command of God our Savior. 056 TIT 001 004 To Titus, my true child in our shared faith: May God, the Father, and Christ Jesus, our Savior, bless you and give you peace. 056 TIT 001 005 My reason for leaving you in Crete was that you might put in order what had been left unfinished, and appoint church elders in the various towns, as I myself directed you. 056 TIT 001 006 They are to be of irreproachable character, faithful to their partners, whose children are believers in Christ and have never been open to the charge of being wild or unruly. 056 TIT 001 007 For a supervisor, as God’s steward, ought to be of blameless character – not arrogant or quick-tempered, not given to drunkeness, violence or shady money-making. 056 TIT 001 008 Instead, they should be hospitable, love what is good, self-controlled, upright, people of holy life and disciplined, 056 TIT 001 009 holding firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught – so that they may be able to encourage others by sound teaching, as well as to refute those who contradict it. 056 TIT 001 010 For there are many undisciplined persons who lead others astray with their nonsense, especially those of the group advocating the necessity of circumcision. 056 TIT 001 011 They need to be kept quiet as they disrupt whole households by teaching what they ought not to teach, simply to make shameful financial gain. 056 TIT 001 012 It was a Cretan – one of their own prophets – who said: ‘Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, and lazy gluttons.’ This statement is true. 056 TIT 001 013 Therefore rebuke them sharply, so that they may be sound in the faith, 056 TIT 001 014 and may pay no attention to Jewish legends, or to the directions of those who turn their backs on the truth. 056 TIT 001 015 To those whose minds are pure, all things are ritually pure, but to those whose minds are tainted and unbelieving nothing is pure, as their minds and consciences are alike polluted. 056 TIT 001 016 They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable and disobedient and useless for any good work. 056 TIT 002 001 You however, should speak of such subjects as properly have a place in sound teaching. 056 TIT 002 002 Teach that the older men should be soberly clear minded, dignified and self-controlled – sound in faith, love, and patient endurance. 056 TIT 002 003 So, too, that the older women should live reverent lives, not slanderers, not slaves to excessive drinking. 056 TIT 002 004 They should teach what is good, so as to train the younger women to love their husbands and children, 056 TIT 002 005 and to be self-controlled, pure-minded, to be watching over their home, to be kind, respecting the authority of their husbands, so that no one will speak badly of God’s message. 056 TIT 002 006 In the same way with the younger men – encourage them to be self-controlled. 056 TIT 002 007 In all things, set an example of doing good. In your teaching, show integrity and seriousness – 056 TIT 002 008 let the instruction that you give be sound and above reproach, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed when they fail to find anything bad to say about us. 056 TIT 002 009 Tell slaves to respect their owner’s authority in all circumstances, and to try their best to please them. 056 TIT 002 010 Teach them not to contradict or to pilfer, but to show such praiseworthy fidelity in everything, as to recommend the teaching about God our Savior by all that they do. 056 TIT 002 011 For the loving kindness of God has been revealed, bringing salvation for all, 056 TIT 002 012 leading us to renounce ungodliness and worldly desires, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives here in this present age, (aiōn g165) 056 TIT 002 013 while awaiting our blessed hope – the appearing in glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus. 056 TIT 002 014 For he gave himself on our behalf, to deliver us from all wickedness, and to purify for himself a people who should be truly his own and eager to do good. 056 TIT 002 015 Tell them of all this, and encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone belittle you. 056 TIT 003 001 Remind them to respect and obey the rulers and authorities, to be ready for every kind of good work, to slander no one, to avoid quarreling, 056 TIT 003 002 to be reasonable, and under all circumstances to show a gentle spirit with all. 056 TIT 003 003 There was a time when we ourselves were foolish, disobedient, misled, enslaved to all kinds of desires and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hating ourselves and hating one another. 056 TIT 003 004 But, when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for humanity appeared, he saved us, 056 TIT 003 005 not as the result of any righteous actions that we had done, but due to his mercy. He saved us though the washing of rebirth and renewal by the power of the Holy Spirit, 056 TIT 003 006 which he poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior – 056 TIT 003 007 so that, having been put right with God through his grace, we become heirs to the hope of eternal life. (aiōnios g166) 056 TIT 003 008 This saying is trustworthy! And it is on these subjects that I want you to lay special emphasis, so that those who have learned to trust in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing good. Such subjects are excellent in themselves, and of benefit to all. 056 TIT 003 009 But have nothing to do with foolish controversies, or with genealogies, or with quarrels, or fights about the Law. They are useless and futile. 056 TIT 003 010 If someone is causing divisions among you then, after giving them a second warning, excuse yourself from them. 056 TIT 003 011 You can be sure that such a person has forsaken the truth and is in the wrong. They stand self-condemned. 056 TIT 003 012 As soon as I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, join me as quickly as possible at Nicopolis, for I have arranged to spend the winter there. 056 TIT 003 013 Do your best to help Zenas, the teacher of the Law, and Apollos, on their way, and see that they want for nothing. 056 TIT 003 014 Let all our people learn to devote themselves to doing good, so as to meet the most pressing needs, and that their lives may not be unfruitful. 056 TIT 003 015 All who are with me here send you their greeting. Give my greeting to our friends in the faith. God bless you all. # # BOOK 057 PHM Philemon Philemon 057 PHM 001 001 From Paul, now a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and from Timothy, a fellow follower of the Lord. 057 PHM 001 002 To our dear friend and fellow worker Philemon, to our sister Apphia, to our fellow soldier Archippus; and to the church that meets at Philemon’s house; 057 PHM 001 003 may God, our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ bless you and give you peace. 057 PHM 001 004 I always mention you in my prayers and thank God for you, 057 PHM 001 005 because I hear of the love and the faith which you show, not only to the Lord Jesus, but also to all his people; 057 PHM 001 006 and I pray that your participation in the faith may result in action, as you come to a fuller realization of everything that is good and Christlike in us. 057 PHM 001 007 I have indeed found great joy and encouragement in your love, knowing, as I do, how the hearts of Christ’s people have been cheered, friend, by you. 057 PHM 001 008 And so, though my union with Christ enables me, with all confidence, to dictate the course that you should adopt, 057 PHM 001 009 yet the claims of love make me prefer to plead with you – yes, even me, Paul, though I am an ambassador for Christ Jesus and, now a prisoner for him as well. 057 PHM 001 010 I plead with you for this child of mine, Onesimus, to whom, in my prison, I have become a father. 057 PHM 001 011 Once he was of little service to you, but now he has become of great service, not only to you, but to me as well; 057 PHM 001 012 and I am sending him back to you with this letter – though it is like tearing out of my heart. 057 PHM 001 013 For my own sake I should like to keep him with me, so that, while I am in prison for the good news, he might attend to my wants on your behalf. 057 PHM 001 014 But I do not wish to do anything without your consent, because I want your generosity to be voluntary and not, as it were, compulsory. 057 PHM 001 015 It may be that he was separated from you for an hour, for this reason, so that you might have him back for ever, (aiōnios g166) 057 PHM 001 016 no longer as a slave, but as something better – a dearly loved friend and follower of the Lord, especially dear to me, and how much more so to you, not only as a person, but as your fellow Christian! 057 PHM 001 017 If, then, you count me your friend, receive him as you would me. 057 PHM 001 018 If he has caused you any loss, or owes you anything, charge it to me. 057 PHM 001 019 I, Paul, put my own hand to it – I will repay you myself. I say nothing about your owing me your self. 057 PHM 001 020 Yes, friend, let me gain something from you because of your union with the Lord. Cheer my heart by your Christlike spirit. 057 PHM 001 021 Even as I write, I have such confidence in your compliance with my wishes, that I am sure that you will do even more than I am asking. 057 PHM 001 022 Please also get a lodging ready for me, for I hope that I will be given back to you all in answer to your prayers. 057 PHM 001 023 Epaphras, who is my fellow prisoner for Christ Jesus, sends you his greeting; 057 PHM 001 024 and Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers, send theirs. 057 PHM 001 025 May the blessing of the Lord Jesus Christ rest on your souls. # # BOOK 058 HEB Hebrews Hebrews 058 HEB 001 001 God, who, of old, at many times and in many ways, spoke to our ancestors, by the prophets, 058 HEB 001 002 has in these latter days spoken to us by the Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. (aiōn g165) 058 HEB 001 003 For he is the radiance of the glory of God and the expression of his being, upholding all creation by the power of his word; and, when he had made an expiation for the sins of humanity, he took his seat at the right hand of God’s Majesty on high, 058 HEB 001 004 having shown himself as much greater than the angels as the name that he has inherited surpasses theirs. 058 HEB 001 005 For to which of the angels did God ever say – ‘You are my Son; this day I have become your Father’? or again – ‘I will be to him a Father, and he will be to me a Son’? 058 HEB 001 006 And again, when God brought the firstborn into the world, he said – ‘Let all the angels of God bow down before him.’ 058 HEB 001 007 Speaking of the angels, he said – ‘He makes the winds his angels and the flames of fire his servants’; 058 HEB 001 008 while of the Son he said – ‘God is your throne for ever and ever; the scepter of his kingdom is the scepter of Justice; (aiōn g165) 058 HEB 001 009 You love righteousness and hates iniquity; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the festal oil more abundantly than your peers.’ 058 HEB 001 010 Again – ‘You, Lord, in the beginning did lay the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. 058 HEB 001 011 They will perish, but you remain; as a garment they will all grow old; 058 HEB 001 012 As a mantle you will fold them up, and as a garment they will be changed, but you are the same, and your years will know no end.’ 058 HEB 001 013 To which of the angels has God ever said – ‘Sit you at my right hand until I put your enemies as a stool for your feet’? 058 HEB 001 014 Are not all the angels spirits in the service of God, sent out to minister for the sake of those who are destined to obtain salvation? 058 HEB 002 001 Therefore we must give still more heed to what we were taught, so we do not drift away. 058 HEB 002 002 For, if the message which was delivered by angels had its authority confirmed, so that every offense against it, or neglect of it, met with a fitting requital, 058 HEB 002 003 how can we, of all people, expect to escape, if we disregard so great a salvation? It was the Master who at the outset spoke of this salvation, and its authority was confirmed for us by those who heard him, 058 HEB 002 004 while God himself added his testimony to it by signs, and marvels, and many different miracles, as well as by imparting the Holy Spirit as he saw fit. 058 HEB 002 005 God has not given to angels the control of that future world of which we are speaking! 058 HEB 002 006 No; a writer has declared somewhere – ‘What are mere mortals that you should remember them? Or human beings that you should care for them? 058 HEB 002 007 You have made them, for a while, lower than angels; with glory and honor you have crowned them; you have set them over all that your hands have made; 058 HEB 002 008 you have placed all things beneath their feet.’ This ‘placing of everything’ under humanity means that there was nothing which was not placed under them. As yet, however, we do not see everything placed under humanity. 058 HEB 002 009 What our eyes do see is Jesus, who was made for a while lower than angels, now, because of his sufferings and death, crowned with glory and honor; so that his tasting the bitterness of death should, in God’s loving kindness, be on behalf of all humanity. 058 HEB 002 010 It was, indeed, fitting that God, for whom and through whom all things exist, should, when leading many children to glory, make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering. 058 HEB 002 011 For he who purifies, and those whom he purifies, all spring from One; and therefore he is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters. 058 HEB 002 012 He says – ‘I will tell of your name to my brothers and sisters, in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.’ 058 HEB 002 013 And again – ‘As for me, I will put my trust in God.’ And yet again – ‘See, here am I and the children whom God gave me.’ 058 HEB 002 014 Therefore, since human nature is the common heritage of the children, Jesus also shared it, in order that by death he might render powerless him whose power lies in death – that is, the devil – 058 HEB 002 015 and so might deliver all those who, from fear of death, had all their lives been living in slavery. 058 HEB 002 016 It was not, surely, to the help of the angels that Jesus came, but to the help of the descendants of Abraham. 058 HEB 002 017 And consequently it was necessary that he should in all points be made like his brothers and sisters, in order that he might prove a merciful as well as a faithful high priest in humanity’s relations with God, for the purpose of expiating the sins of his people. 058 HEB 002 018 The fact that he himself suffered under temptation enables him to help those who are tempted. 058 HEB 003 001 Therefore, my Christian friends, you who, all alike, have received the call from heaven, fix your attention on Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our religion. 058 HEB 003 002 See how faithful he was to the God who appointed him, as Moses was in the whole house of God. 058 HEB 003 003 He has been deemed worthy of far higher honor than Moses, just as the founder of the house is held in greater regard than the house itself. 058 HEB 003 004 For every house has its founder, and the founder of the universe is God. 058 HEB 003 005 While the faithful service of Moses in the whole house of God was that of a servant, whose duty was to bear testimony to a message still to come, 058 HEB 003 006 the faithfulness of Christ was that of a son set over the house of God. And we are his house – if only we retain, unshaken to the end, the courage and confidence inspired by our hope. 058 HEB 003 007 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says – ‘If today you hear God’s voice, 058 HEB 003 008 harden not your hearts, as when Israel provoked me on the day when they tried my patience in the desert, 058 HEB 003 009 Where your ancestors tried my forbearance, and saw my mighty deeds for forty years. 058 HEB 003 010 Therefore I was sorely vexed with that generation, and I said – “Their hearts are always straying; they have never learned my ways”; 058 HEB 003 011 While in my wrath I swore – “They will never enter upon my rest.”’ 058 HEB 003 012 Be careful, friends, that there is never found in anyone of you a wicked and faithless heart, shown by that person separating themselves from the living God. 058 HEB 003 013 Rather encourage one another daily – while there is a today – to prevent anyone among you from being hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 058 HEB 003 014 For we now all share in the Christ, if indeed we retain, unshaken to the end, the confidence that we had at the first. 058 HEB 003 015 To use the words of scripture – ‘If today you hear God’s voice, harden not your hearts, as when Israel provoked me.’ 058 HEB 003 016 Who were they who heard God speak and yet provoked him? Were not they all those who left Egypt under the leadership of Moses? 058 HEB 003 017 And with whom was it that God was sorely vexed for forty years? Was not it with those who had sinned, and who fell dead in the desert? 058 HEB 003 018 And who were they to whom God swore that they should not enter upon his rest, if not those who had proved faithless? 058 HEB 003 019 We see, then, that they failed to enter upon it because of their want of faith. 058 HEB 004 001 We must, therefore, be very careful, though there is a promise still standing that we will enter upon God’s rest, that none of you even appear to have missed it. 058 HEB 004 002 For we have had the good news told us just as they had. But the message which they heard did them no good, since they did not share the faith of those who were attentive to it. 058 HEB 004 003 Upon that rest we who have believed are now entering. As God has said – ‘In my wrath I swore – “They will never enter upon my rest;”’ Although God’s work was finished at the creation of the world; 058 HEB 004 004 for, in a passage referring to the seventh day, you will find these words – ‘God rested on the seventh day after all his work.’ 058 HEB 004 005 On the other hand, we read in that passage – ‘They will never enter upon my rest.’ 058 HEB 004 006 Since, then, there is still a promise that some will enter upon this rest, and since those who were first told the good news did not enter upon it, because of their disbelief, 058 HEB 004 007 again God fixed a day. ‘Today,’ he said, speaking after a long interval through the mouth of David, in the passage already quoted – ‘If today you hear God’s voice harden not your hearts.’ 058 HEB 004 008 Now if Joshua had given ‘rest’ to the people, God would not have spoken of another and later day. 058 HEB 004 009 There is, then, a Sabbath rest still awaiting God’s people. 058 HEB 004 010 For the person who enters upon God’s rest do themselves rest after their work, just as God did. 058 HEB 004 011 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter upon that rest, so that none of us fall through such disbelief as that of which we have had an example. 058 HEB 004 012 God’s message is a living and active power, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing its way until it penetrates soul and spirit – not the joints only but the marrow – and detecting the inmost thoughts and purposes of the mind. 058 HEB 004 013 There is no created thing that can hide itself from the sight of God. Everything is exposed and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we have to give account. 058 HEB 004 014 We have, then, in Jesus, the Son of God, a great high priest who has passed into the highest heaven; let us, therefore, hold fast to the faith which we have professed. 058 HEB 004 015 Our high priest is not one unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has in every way been tempted, exactly as we have been, but without sinning. 058 HEB 004 016 Therefore, let us draw near boldly to the throne of love, to find pity and love for the hour of need. 058 HEB 005 001 Every high priest, taken from among the people, is appointed as their representative in their relations with God, to offer both gifts and sacrifices in expiation of sins. 058 HEB 005 002 And he is able to sympathize with the ignorant and deluded, since he is himself subject to weakness, 058 HEB 005 003 and is therefore bound to offer sacrifices for sins, not only for the people, but equally so for himself. 058 HEB 005 004 Nor does anyone take that high office on themselves, until they have been called to do so by God, as Aaron was. 058 HEB 005 005 In the same way, even the Christ did not take the honor of the high priesthood on himself, but he was appointed by him who said to him – ‘You are my Son; this day I have become your Father’; 058 HEB 005 006 and on another occasion also – ‘You are a priest for all time of the order of Melchizedek.’ (aiōn g165) 058 HEB 005 007 Jesus, in the days of his earthly life, offered prayers and supplications, with earnest cries and with tears, to him who was able to save him from death; and he was heard because of his devout submission. 058 HEB 005 008 Son though he was, he learned obedience from his sufferings; 058 HEB 005 009 and, being made perfect, he became to all those who obey him the source of eternal salvation, (aiōnios g166) 058 HEB 005 010 while God himself pronounced him a high priest of the order of Melchizedek. 058 HEB 005 011 Now on this subject I have much to say, but it is difficult to explain it to you, because you have shown yourselves so slow to learn. 058 HEB 005 012 For whereas, considering the time that has elapsed, you ought to be teaching others, you still need someone to teach you the alphabet of the divine revelation, and need again to be fed with milk instead of with ‘solid food.’ 058 HEB 005 013 For everyone who still has to take milk knows nothing of the teaching of righteousness; they are a mere infant. 058 HEB 005 014 But solid food is for Christians of mature faith – those whose faculties have been trained by practice to distinguish right from wrong. 058 HEB 006 001 Therefore, let us leave behind the elementary teaching about the Christ and press on to perfection, not always laying over again a foundation of repentance for a lifeless formality, of faith in God – 058 HEB 006 002 teaching concerning baptisms and the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead and a final judgment. (aiōnios g166) 058 HEB 006 003 Yes and, with God’s help, we will. 058 HEB 006 004 For if those who were once for all brought into the light, and learned to appreciate the gift from heaven, and came to share in the Holy Spirit, 058 HEB 006 005 and learned to appreciate the beauty of the divine message, and the new powers of the coming age – (aiōn g165) 058 HEB 006 006 if those, I say, fell away, it would be impossible to bring them again to repentance; they would be crucifying the Son of God over again for themselves, and exposing him to open contempt. 058 HEB 006 007 Ground that drinks in the showers that from time to time fall on it, and produces vegetation useful to those for whom it is tilled, receives a blessing from God; 058 HEB 006 008 but, if it bears thorns and thistles, it is regarded as worthless, it is in danger of being cursed, and its end will be the fire. 058 HEB 006 009 But about you, dear friends, even though we speak in this way, we are confident of better things – of things that point to your salvation. 058 HEB 006 010 For God is not unjust; he will not forget the work that you did, and the love that you showed for his name, in sending help to your fellow Christians – as you are still doing. 058 HEB 006 011 But our great desire is that every one of you should be equally earnest to attain to a full conviction that our hope will be fulfilled, and that you should keep that hope to the end. 058 HEB 006 012 Then you will not show yourselves slow to learn, but you will copy those who, through faith and patience, are now entering upon the enjoyment of God’s promises. 058 HEB 006 013 When God gave his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater by whom he could swear, he swore by himself. 058 HEB 006 014 His words were – ‘I will assuredly bless you and increase your numbers.’ 058 HEB 006 015 And so, after patiently waiting, Abraham obtained the fulfillment of God’s promise. 058 HEB 006 016 People, of course, swear by what is greater than themselves, and with them an oath is accepted as putting a matter beyond all dispute. 058 HEB 006 017 And therefore God, in his desire to show, with unmistakable plainness, to those who were to enter on the enjoyment of what he had promised, the unchangeableness of his purpose, bound himself with an oath. 058 HEB 006 018 For he intended us to find great encouragement in these two unchangeable things, which make it impossible for God to prove false – we, I mean, who fled for safety where we might lay hold on the hope set before us. 058 HEB 006 019 This hope is an anchor for our souls, secure and strong, and it reaches into the sanctuary that lies behind the curtain, 058 HEB 006 020 where Jesus, our forerunner, has entered on our behalf, after being made for all time a high priest of the order of Melchizedek. (aiōn g165) 058 HEB 007 001 It was this Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and gave him his blessing; 058 HEB 007 002 and it was to him that Abraham allotted a tithe of all the spoil. The meaning of his name is ‘king of righteousness,’ and besides that, he was also king of Salem, which means ‘king of peace.’ 058 HEB 007 003 There is no record of his father, or mother, or lineage, nor again of any beginning of his days, or end of his life. In this he resembles the Son of God, and stands before us as a priest whose priesthood is continuous. 058 HEB 007 004 Consider, then the importance of this Melchizedek, to whom even the patriarch Abraham himself gave a tithe of the choicest spoils. 058 HEB 007 005 Those descendants of Levi, who are from time to time appointed to the priesthood, are directed to collect tithes from the people in accordance with the Law – that is from their own kindred, although they also are descended from Abraham. 058 HEB 007 006 But Melchizedek, although not of this lineage, received tithes from Abraham, and gave his blessing to the man who had God’s promises. 058 HEB 007 007 Now no one can dispute that it is the superior who blesses the inferior. 058 HEB 007 008 In the one case the tithes are received by people who are mortal; in the other case by one about whom there is the statement that his life still continues. 058 HEB 007 009 Moreover, in a sense, even Levi, who is the receiver of the tithes, has, through Abraham, paid tithes; 058 HEB 007 010 for Levi was still in the body of his ancestor when Melchizedek met Abraham. 058 HEB 007 011 If, then, perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood – and it was under this priesthood that the people received the Law – why was it still necessary that a priest of a different order should appear, a priest of the order of Melchizedek and not of the order of Aaron? 058 HEB 007 012 With the change of the priesthood a change of the Law became a necessity. 058 HEB 007 013 And he of whom all this is said belonged to quite a different tribe, no member of which has ever served at the altar. 058 HEB 007 014 For it is plain that our Lord had sprung from the tribe of Judah, though of that tribe Moses said nothing about their being priests. 058 HEB 007 015 All this becomes even yet plainer when we remember that a new priest has appeared, resembling Melchizedek, 058 HEB 007 016 and that he was appointed, not under a Law regulating only earthly matters, but by virtue of a life beyond the reach of death; 058 HEB 007 017 for that is the meaning of the declaration – ‘You are for all time a priest of the order of Melchizedek.’ (aiōn g165) 058 HEB 007 018 On the one hand, we have the abolition of a previous regulation as being both inefficient and useless 058 HEB 007 019 (for the Law never brought anything to perfection); and, on the other hand, we have the introduction of a better hope, which enables us to draw near to God. 058 HEB 007 020 Then again, the appointment of this new priest was ratified by an oath, which is not so with the Levitical priests, 058 HEB 007 021 but his appointment was ratified by an oath, when God said to him – ‘The Lord has sworn, and will not change, “You are a priest for all time.”’ (aiōn g165) 058 HEB 007 022 And the oath shows the corresponding superiority of the covenant of which Jesus is appointed the surety. 058 HEB 007 023 Again, new Levitical priests are continually being appointed, because death prevents their remaining in office; 058 HEB 007 024 but Jesus remains for all time, and therefore the priesthood that he holds will never pass to another. (aiōn g165) 058 HEB 007 025 And that is why he is able to save perfectly those who come to God through him, living for ever, as he does, to intercede of their behalf. 058 HEB 007 026 This was the high priest that we needed – holy, innocent, spotless, withdrawn from sinners, exalted above the highest heaven, 058 HEB 007 027 one who has no need to offer sacrifices daily as those high priests have, first for their own sins, and then for those of the people. For this he did once and for all, when he offered himself as the sacrifice. 058 HEB 007 028 The Law appoints as high priests men who are weak, but the words of God’s oath, which was later than the Law, name the Son as, for all time, the perfect priest. (aiōn g165) 058 HEB 008 001 To sum up what I have been saying: Such is the high priest that we have, one who has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God’s Majesty in heaven, 058 HEB 008 002 where he serves in the sanctuary, in that true tent set up by the Lord and not by man. 058 HEB 008 003 Every high priest is appointed for the purpose of offering gifts and sacrifices to God; it follows, therefore, that this high priest must have some offering to make. 058 HEB 008 004 If he were, however, still on earth, he would not even be a priest, since there are already priests who offer the gifts as the Law directs. 058 HEB 008 005 (These priests, it is true, are engaged in a service which is only a copy and shadow of the heavenly realities, as is shown by the directions given to Moses when he was about to construct the tent. ‘Look to it,’ are the words, ‘that you make every part in accordance with the pattern shown you on the mountain.’) 058 HEB 008 006 But Jesus, as we see, has obtained a ministry as far excelling theirs, as the covenant of which he is the intermediary, based, as it is, on better promises, excels the former covenant. 058 HEB 008 007 If that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion for a second. 058 HEB 008 008 But, finding fault with the people, God says – ‘“A time is coming,” says the Lord, “When I will ratify a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah – 058 HEB 008 009 Not such a covenant as I made with their ancestors on the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt. For they did not abide by their covenant with me, and therefore I disregarded them,” says the Lord. 058 HEB 008 010 “This is the covenant that I will make with the people of Israel after those days,” says the Lord. “I will impress my laws on their minds, and will inscribe them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they will be my people. 058 HEB 008 011 There will be no need for anyone to instruct their fellow citizen, or for a person to say to their relatives ‘Learn to know the Lord’; for everyone will know me, from the lowest to the highest. 058 HEB 008 012 For I will be merciful to their wrongdoings, and I will no longer remember their sins.”’ 058 HEB 008 013 By speaking of a new covenant, God at once renders the former covenant obsolete; and whatever becomes obsolete and loses its force is virtually annulled. 058 HEB 009 001 It is true that even the first covenant had its regulations for divine worship, and its sanctuary – though only a material one. 058 HEB 009 002 For a tent was constructed, with an outer part which contained the stand for the lamps, and the table, and the consecrated bread. This is called the sanctuary. 058 HEB 009 003 The part of the tent behind the second curtain is called the inner sanctuary. 058 HEB 009 004 In it is the gold incense-altar, and the ark containing the covenant, completely covered with gold. In the ark is a gold casket containing the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets on which the covenant was written; 058 HEB 009 005 while above it, and overshadowing the cover on which atonement was made, are the cherubim of the presence. Now is not the time to discuss these things in detail. 058 HEB 009 006 Such, then, was the arrangement of the tent. Into the outer part priests are constantly going, in the discharge of their sacred duties; 058 HEB 009 007 but into the inner only the high priest goes, and that but once a year, and never without taking the blood of a victim, which he offers on his own behalf, and on behalf of the errors of the people. 058 HEB 009 008 By this the Holy Spirit is teaching that the way into the sanctuary was hidden, as long as the outer part of the tent still remained. 058 HEB 009 009 For that was only a type, to continue down to the present time; and, in keeping with it, both gifts and sacrifices are offered, though incapable of satisfying the conscience of the worshiper; 058 HEB 009 010 the whole system being concerned only with food and drink and various ablutions – external ceremonials imposed until the coming of the new order. 058 HEB 009 011 But, when Christ came, he appeared as high priest of that better system which was established; and he entered through that nobler and more perfect tent, not made by human hands – that is to say, not a part of this present creation. 058 HEB 009 012 Nor was it with the blood of goats and calves, but with his own blood, that he entered, once and for all, into the sanctuary, and obtained our eternal deliverance. (aiōnios g166) 058 HEB 009 013 For, if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of the ashes of a heifer, purify those who have been defiled (as far as ceremonial purification goes), 058 HEB 009 014 how much more will the blood of the Christ, who, through his eternal Spirit, offered himself up to God, as a victim without blemish, purify our consciences from a lifeless formality, and fit us for the service of the living God! (aiōnios g166) 058 HEB 009 015 And that is why he is the intermediary of a new covenant; in order that, as a death has taken place to effect a deliverance from the offenses committed under the first covenant, those who have received the call may obtain the eternal inheritance promised to them. (aiōnios g166) 058 HEB 009 016 Whenever such a covenant as a will is in question, the death of the testator must of necessity be alleged. 058 HEB 009 017 For such a covenant takes effect only on death, it does not come into force as long as the testator is alive. 058 HEB 009 018 This explains why even the first covenant was not ratified without the shedding of blood. 058 HEB 009 019 For, when every command had been announced to all the people by Moses in accordance with the Law, he took the blood of the calves and of the goats, with water, scarlet wool, and a bunch of hyssop, and sprinkled even the book of the Law, as well as all the people, 058 HEB 009 020 saying, as he did so – “This is the blood that renders valid the covenant which God has commanded to be made with you.” 058 HEB 009 021 And in the same way he also sprinkled with the blood the tent and all the things that were used in public worship. 058 HEB 009 022 Indeed, under the Law, almost everything is purified with blood; and, unless blood is shed, no forgiveness is to be obtained. 058 HEB 009 023 While, then, it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly realities to be purified by such means as these, the heavenly realities themselves required better sacrifices. 058 HEB 009 024 For it was not into a sanctuary made by human hands, which merely foreshadowed the true one, that Christ entered, but into heaven itself, so that he might now appear in the presence of God on our behalf. 058 HEB 009 025 Nor yet was it to offer himself may times, as year after year the high priest entered the sanctuary with an offering of blood – but not his own blood; 058 HEB 009 026 for then Christ would have had to undergo death many times since the creation of the world. But now, once and for all, at the close of the age, he has appeared, in order to abolish sin by the sacrifice of himself. (aiōn g165) 058 HEB 009 027 And, as it is ordained for people to die but once (death being followed by judgment), 058 HEB 009 028 so it is with the Christ. He was offered up once and for all, to bear away the sins of many; and the second time he will appear – but without any burden of sin – to those who are waiting for him, to bring salvation. 058 HEB 010 001 The Law, though able to foreshadow the better system which was coming, never had its actual substance. Its priests, with those sacrifices which they offer continuously year after year, can never make those who come to worship perfect. 058 HEB 010 002 Otherwise, would not the offering of these sacrifices have been abandoned, as the worshipers, having been once purified, would have had their consciences clear from sins? 058 HEB 010 003 But, on the contrary, these sacrifices recall their sins to mind year after year. 058 HEB 010 004 For the blood of bulls and goats is powerless to remove sins. 058 HEB 010 005 That is why, when he was coming into the world, the Christ declared – ‘Sacrifice and offering you do not desire, but you provide for me a body; 058 HEB 010 006 You take no pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin. 058 HEB 010 007 So I said, “See, I have come” (as is written of me in the pages of the book), “To do your will, God.”’ 058 HEB 010 008 First come the words – ‘You do not desire, nor do you take pleasure in, sacrifices, offerings, burnt offerings, and sacrifices for sin’ (offerings regularly made under the Law), 058 HEB 010 009 and then there is added – ‘See, I have come to do your will.’ The former sacrifices are set aside to be replaced by the latter. 058 HEB 010 010 And it is in the fulfillment of the will of God that we have been purified by the sacrifice, once and for all, of the body of Jesus Christ. 058 HEB 010 011 Every other priest stands day after day at his ministrations, and offers the same sacrifices over and over again – sacrifices that can never take sins away. 058 HEB 010 012 But, this priest, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins, which should serve for all time, ‘took his seat at the right hand of God,’ 058 HEB 010 013 and has since then been waiting ‘for his enemies to be put as a stool for his feet.’ 058 HEB 010 014 By a single offering he has made perfect for all time those who are being purified. 058 HEB 010 015 We have also the testimony of the Holy Spirit. For, after saying – 058 HEB 010 016 ‘“This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days,” says the Lord; “I will impress my laws on their hearts, and will inscribe them on their minds,”’ 058 HEB 010 017 then we have – ‘And their sins and their iniquities I will no longer remember.’ 058 HEB 010 018 And, when these are forgiven, there is no further need of an offering for sin. 058 HEB 010 019 Therefore, friends, since we may enter the sanctuary with confidence, in virtue of the blood of Jesus, 058 HEB 010 020 by the way which he inaugurated for us – a new and living way, a way through the sanctuary curtain (that is, his human nature); 058 HEB 010 021 and, since we have in him ‘a great priest set over the house of God,’ 058 HEB 010 022 let us draw near to God in all sincerity of heart and in perfect faith, with our hearts purified by the sprinkled blood from all consciousness of wrong, and with our bodies washed with pure water. 058 HEB 010 023 Let us maintain the confession of our hope unshaken, for he who has given us his promise will not fail us. 058 HEB 010 024 Let us vie with one another in a rivalry of love and noble actions. 058 HEB 010 025 And let us not, as some do, cease to meet together; but, on the contrary, let us encourage one another, and all the more, now that you see the day drawing near. 058 HEB 010 026 Remember, if we sin willfully after we have gained a full knowledge of the truth, there can be no further sacrifice for sin; 058 HEB 010 027 there is only a fearful anticipation of judgment, and a burning indignation which will destroy all opponents. 058 HEB 010 028 When someone disregarded the Law of Moses, they were, on the evidence of two or three witnesses, put to death without pity. 058 HEB 010 029 How much worse then, think you, will be the punishment deserved by those who have trampled underfoot the Son of God, who have treated the blood that rendered the covenant valid – the blood by which they were purified – as if it were not holy, and who have outraged the Spirit of love? 058 HEB 010 030 We know who it was that said – ‘It is for me to avenge, I will requite’; and again – ‘The Lord will judge his people.’ 058 HEB 010 031 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. 058 HEB 010 032 Call to mind those early days in which, after you had received the light, you patiently underwent a long and painful conflict. 058 HEB 010 033 Sometimes, in consequence of the taunts and injuries heaped on you, you became a public spectacle; and sometimes you suffered through having shown yourselves to be the friends of people who were in the same position in which you had been. 058 HEB 010 034 For you not only sympathised with those who were in prison, but you even took the confiscation of your possessions joyfully, knowing, as you did, that you had in yourselves a greater possession and a lasting one. 058 HEB 010 035 Do not, therefore, abandon the confidence that you have gained, for it has a great reward awaiting it. 058 HEB 010 036 You still have need of patient endurance, in order that, when you have done God’s will, you may obtain the fulfillment of his promise. 058 HEB 010 037 ‘For there is indeed but a very little while before he who is coming will have come, without delay; 058 HEB 010 038 and through faith the righteous will find life, but, if anyone draws back, my heart can find no pleasure in them.’ 058 HEB 010 039 But we do not belong to those who draw back, to their ruin, but to those who have faith, to the saving of their souls. 058 HEB 011 001 Faith is the realization of things hoped for – the proof of things not seen. 058 HEB 011 002 And it was for faith that the people of old were renowned. 058 HEB 011 003 Faith enables us to perceive that the universe was created at the bidding of God – so that we know that what we see was not made out of visible things. (aiōn g165) 058 HEB 011 004 Faith made the sacrifice which Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain’s, and won him renown as a righteous man, God himself establishing his renown by accepting his gifts; and it is by the example of his faith that Abel, though dead, still speaks. 058 HEB 011 005 Faith led to Enoch’s removal from earth, so that he might not experience death. ‘He could not be found because God had removed him.’ For, before his removal, he was renowned as having pleased God; 058 HEB 011 006 but without faith it is impossible to please him, for he who comes to God must believe that God exists, and that he rewards those who seek for him. 058 HEB 011 007 It was faith that enabled Noah, after he had received the divine warning about what could not then be foreseen, to build, in reverent obedience, an ark in which to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world, and became possessed of that righteousness which follows on faith. 058 HEB 011 008 It was faith that enabled Abraham to obey the call that he received, and to set out for the place which he was afterward to obtain as his own; and he set out not knowing where he was going. 058 HEB 011 009 It was faith that made him go to live as an emigrant in the promised land – as in a strange country – living there in tents with Isaac and Jacob, who shared the promise with him. 058 HEB 011 010 For he was looking for the city with the sure foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 058 HEB 011 011 Again, it was faith that enabled Sarah to conceive (though she was past the age for childbearing), because she felt sure that he who had given her the promise would not fail her. 058 HEB 011 012 And so from one man – and that when his powers were dead – there sprang a people as numerous ‘as the stars in the heavens or the countless grains of sand on the shore.’ 058 HEB 011 013 All these died sustained by faith. They did not obtain the promised blessings, but they saw them from a distance and welcomed the sight, and they acknowledged themselves to be only foreigners and strangers on the earth. 058 HEB 011 014 Those who speak like this show plainly that they are seeking their homeland. 058 HEB 011 015 If they had been thinking of the land that they had left, they could have found opportunities to return. 058 HEB 011 016 But no, they were longing for a better, a heavenly, land! And therefore God was not ashamed to be called their God; indeed he had already prepared them a city. 058 HEB 011 017 It was faith that enabled Abraham, when put to the test, to offer Isaac as a sacrifice – he who had received the promises offering up his only son, 058 HEB 011 018 of whom it had been said – ‘It is through Isaac that there will be descendants to bear your name.’ 058 HEB 011 019 For he argued that God was even able to raise a man from the dead – and indeed, figuratively speaking, Abraham did receive Isaac back from the dead. 058 HEB 011 020 It was faith that enabled Isaac to bless Jacob and Esau, even with regard to the future. 058 HEB 011 021 Faith enabled Jacob, when dying, to give his blessing to each of the sons of Joseph, and ‘to bow himself in worship as he leant on the top of his staff.’ 058 HEB 011 022 Faith caused Joseph, when his end was near, to speak of the future migration of the Israelites, and to give instructions with regard to his bones. 058 HEB 011 023 Faith caused the parents of Moses to hide the child for three months after his birth, for they saw that he was a beautiful child; and they would not respect the king’s order. 058 HEB 011 024 It was faith that caused Moses, when he was grown up, to refuse the title of ‘son of a daughter of Pharaoh.’ 058 HEB 011 025 He preferred sharing the hardships of God’s people to enjoying the short-lived pleasures of sin. 058 HEB 011 026 For he counted ‘the reproaches that are heaped on the Christ’ of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, looking forward, as he did, to the reward awaiting him. 058 HEB 011 027 Faith caused him to leave Egypt, though undaunted by the king’s anger, for he was strengthened in his endurance by the vision of the invisible God. 058 HEB 011 028 Faith led him to institute the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that the Destroyer might not touch the eldest children of the Israelites. 058 HEB 011 029 Faith enabled the people to cross the Red Sea, as if it had been dry land, while the Egyptians, when they attempted to do so, were drowned. 058 HEB 011 030 Faith caused the walls of Jericho to fall after being encircled for seven days. 058 HEB 011 031 Faith saved Rahab, the prostitute, from perishing with the unbelievers, after she had entertained the spies with friendliness. 058 HEB 011 032 Need I add anything more? Time would fail me if I attempted to relate the stories of Gideon, Barak, Samson, and Jephthah, and those of David, Samuel, and the prophets. 058 HEB 011 033 By their faith they subdued kingdoms, ruled righteously, gained the fulfillment of God’s promises, shut the mouths of lions, 058 HEB 011 034 quelled the fury of the flames, escaped the edge of the sword, found strength in the hour of weakness, displayed their prowess in war, and routed hostile armies. 058 HEB 011 035 Women received back their dead raised to life. Some were tortured on the wheel, and refused release in order that they might rise to a better life. 058 HEB 011 036 Others had to face taunts and blows, and even chains and imprisonment. 058 HEB 011 037 They were stoned to death, they were tortured, they were swan asunder, they were put to the sword; they wandered about clothed in the skins of sheep or goats, destitute, persecuted, ill-used – 058 HEB 011 038 people of whom the world was not worthy – roaming in lonely places, and on the mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. 058 HEB 011 039 Yet, though they all won renown by their faith, they did not obtain the final fulfillment of God’s promise; 058 HEB 011 040 since God had in view some better thing for us, so that they would only reach perfection together with us. 058 HEB 012 001 Seeing, therefore, that there is on every side of us such a throng of witnesses, let us also lay aside everything that hinders us, and the sin that clings about us, and run with patient endurance the race that lies before us, 058 HEB 012 002 our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfect example of our faith, who, for the joy that lay before him, endured the cross, heedless of its shame, and now ‘has taken his seat at the right hand’ of the throne of God. 058 HEB 012 003 Weigh well the example of him who had to endure such opposition from ‘people who were sinning against themselves,’ so that you should not grow weary or faint-hearted. 058 HEB 012 004 You have not yet, in your struggle with sin, resisted to the death; 058 HEB 012 005 and you have forgotten the encouraging words which are addressed to you as God’s children – ‘My child, think not lightly of the Lord’s discipline, do not despond when he rebukes you; 058 HEB 012 006 For it is him whom he loves that he disciplines, and he chastises every child whom he acknowledges.’ 058 HEB 012 007 It is for your discipline that you have to endure all this. God is dealing with you as his children. For where is there a child whom his father does not discipline? 058 HEB 012 008 If you are left without that discipline, in which all children share, it shows that you are bastards, and not true children. 058 HEB 012 009 Further, when our earthly fathers disciplined us, we respected them. Should we not, then, much rather yield submission to the Father of souls, and live? 058 HEB 012 010 Our fathers disciplined us for only a short time and as seemed best to them; but God disciplines us for our true good, to enable us to share his holiness. 058 HEB 012 011 No discipline is pleasant at the time; on the contrary, it is painful. But afterward its fruit is seen in the peacefulness of a righteous life which is the lot of those who have been trained under it. 058 HEB 012 012 Therefore ‘lift again the down-dropped hands and straighten the weakened knees; 058 HEB 012 013 make straight paths for your feet,’ so that the lame limb may not be put out of joint, but rather be cured. 058 HEB 012 014 Try earnestly to live at peace with everyone, and to attain to that purity without which no one will see the Lord. 058 HEB 012 015 Take care that no one fails to use the loving help of God, ‘that no bitterness is allowed to take root and spring up, and cause trouble,’ and so poison the whole community. 058 HEB 012 016 Take care that no one becomes immoral, or irreligious like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. 058 HEB 012 017 For you know that even afterward, when he wished to claim his father’s blessing, he was rejected – for he never found an opportunity to repair his error – though he begged for the blessing with tears. 058 HEB 012 018 It is not to tangible ‘flaming fire’ that you have drawn near, nor to ‘gloom, and darkness, and storm, 058 HEB 012 019 and the blast of a trumpet, and an audible voice.’ Those who heard that voice entreated that they might hear no more, 058 HEB 012 020 for they could not bear to think of the command – ‘If even an animal touches the mountain, it is to be stoned to death;’ 058 HEB 012 021 and so fearful was the sight that Moses said – ‘I tremble with fear.’ 058 HEB 012 022 No, but it is to Mount Zion that you have drawn near, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to countless hosts of angels, 058 HEB 012 023 to the festal gathering and assemblage of God’s firstborn whose names are enrolled in heaven, to God the judge of all people, to the spirits of the righteous who have attained perfection, 058 HEB 012 024 to Jesus, the intermediary of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that tells of better things than the blood of Abel. 058 HEB 012 025 Beware how you refuse to hear him who is speaking. For, if the Israelites did not escape punishment, when they refused to listen to him who taught them on earth the divine will, far worse will it be for us, if we turn away from him who is teaching us from heaven. 058 HEB 012 026 Then his voice shook the earth, but now his declaration is – ‘Still once more I will cause not only the earth to tremble, but also the heavens.’ 058 HEB 012 027 And those words ‘still once more’ indicate the passing away of all that is shaken – that is, of all created things – in order that only what is unshaken may remain. 058 HEB 012 028 Therefore, let us, who have received a kingdom that cannot be shaken, be thankful, and so offer acceptable worship to God, with awe and the deepest respect. 058 HEB 012 029 For our God is ‘a consuming fire.’ 058 HEB 013 001 Let your love for the Lord’s followers continue. 058 HEB 013 002 Do not neglect to show hospitality; for, through being hospitable, people have all unawares entertained angels. 058 HEB 013 003 Remember the prisoners, as if you were their fellow prisoners, and the oppressed, not forgetting that you also are still in the body. 058 HEB 013 004 Let marriage be honored by all and the married life be pure; for God will judge those who are immoral and those who commit adultery. 058 HEB 013 005 Do not let your conduct be ruled by the love of money. Be content with what you have, for God himself has said – ‘I will never forsake you, nor will I ever abandon you.’ 058 HEB 013 006 Therefore we may say with confidence – ‘The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What can mere people do to me?’ 058 HEB 013 007 Do not forget your leaders, who told you God’s message. Recall the close of their lives, and imitate their faith. 058 HEB 013 008 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today – yes, and for ever! (aiōn g165) 058 HEB 013 009 Do not let yourselves be carried away by the various novel forms of teaching. It is better to rely for spiritual strength on the divine help, than on regulations regarding food; for those whose lives are guided by such regulations have not found them of service. 058 HEB 013 010 We are not without an altar; but it is one at which those who still worship in the tent have no right to eat. 058 HEB 013 011 The bodies of those animals whose blood is brought by the high priest into the sanctuary, as an offering for sin, are burnt outside the camp. 058 HEB 013 012 And so Jesus, also, to purify the people by his own blood, suffered outside the gate. 058 HEB 013 013 Therefore let us go out to him ‘outside the camp,’ bearing the same reproaches as he; 058 HEB 013 014 for here we have no permanent city, but are looking for the city that is to be. 058 HEB 013 015 Through him let us offer, as our sacrifice, continual praise to God – an offering from lips that glorify his name. 058 HEB 013 016 Never forget to do kindly acts and to share what you have with others, for such sacrifices are acceptable to God. 058 HEB 013 017 Obey your leaders, and submit to their control, for they are watching over your souls, since they will have to render an account, so that they may do it with joy, and not in sorrow. That would not be to your advantage. 058 HEB 013 018 Pray for us, for we are sure that our consciences are clear, since our wish is to be occupied with what is good. 058 HEB 013 019 And I the more earnestly ask for your prayers, so that I may be restored to you the sooner. 058 HEB 013 020 May God, the source of all peace, who brought back from the dead him who, ‘by virtue of the blood that rendered valid the unchangeable covenant, is the great shepherd of God’s Sheep,’ Jesus, our Lord – (aiōnios g166) 058 HEB 013 021 may God make you perfect in everything that is good, so that you may be able to do his will. May he bring out in us all that is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be all glory for ever and ever. Amen. (aiōn g165) 058 HEB 013 022 I beg you, friends, to bear with these words of advice. For I have written only very briefly to you. 058 HEB 013 023 You will be glad to hear that our friend, Timothy, has been set free. If he comes here soon, we will visit you together. 058 HEB 013 024 Give our greeting to all your leaders, and to all Christ’s people. Our friends from Italy send their greetings to you. 058 HEB 013 025 May God bless you all. # # BOOK 059 JAM James James 059 JAM 001 001 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, greets the twelve tribes that are living abroad. 059 JAM 001 002 My friends, whatever trials you may face from time to time, always regard them as a reason for rejoicing, 059 JAM 001 003 knowing, as you do, that the testing of your faith develops endurance. 059 JAM 001 004 And let endurance do its work perfectly, so that you may be altogether perfect, and in no respect lacking. 059 JAM 001 005 If any one of you lacks wisdom, they should ask wisdom from the God who gives freely to everyone without reproach, and it will be given to them. 059 JAM 001 006 But they should ask with confidence, never doubting; for the person who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven here and there at the mercy of the wind – 059 JAM 001 007 Such a person must not expect that they will receive anything from the Lord, 059 JAM 001 008 vacillating as they are, irresolute at every turn. 059 JAM 001 009 Let a follower in humble circumstances be proud of their exalted position, 059 JAM 001 010 but a rich follower of their humiliation; for the rich will pass away like a wild flower. 059 JAM 001 011 As the sun rises, and the hot wind blows, the plant withers, its flower fades, and all its beauty is gone. So is it with the rich. In the midst of their pursuits they will wither away. 059 JAM 001 012 Blessed is the person who remains firm under temptation, for, when they have stood the test, they will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love him. 059 JAM 001 013 Let no one say, when they are tempted, “It is God who is tempting me!” For God, who cannot be tempted to do wrong, does not himself tempt anyone. 059 JAM 001 014 A man is in every case tempted by their own passions – allured and enticed by them. 059 JAM 001 015 Then passion conceives and gives birth to sin, and sin, on reaching maturity, brings forth death. 059 JAM 001 016 Do not be deceived, my dear friends. 059 JAM 001 017 Every good thing given us, and every perfect gift, is from above, and comes down to us from the Father of the lights in the heavens, who is himself never subject to change or to eclipse. 059 JAM 001 018 Because he so willed, he gave us life, through the message of the truth, so that we should be, as it were, a kind of first fruits of his creation. 059 JAM 001 019 Mark this, my dear friends – Let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry; 059 JAM 001 020 for human anger does not forward the righteous purpose of God. 059 JAM 001 021 Therefore, get rid of all filthiness and whatever wickedness still remains, and in a humble spirit receive that message which has been planted in your hearts and is able to save your souls. 059 JAM 001 022 Put that message into practice, and do not merely listen to it – deceiving yourselves. 059 JAM 001 023 For, when anyone listens to it and does not practice it, they are like a person looking at their own face in a mirror. 059 JAM 001 024 They look at themselves, then go on their way, 059 JAM 001 025 but the person who looks carefully into the perfect Law, the Law of freedom, and continues to do so, not listening to it and then forgetting it, but putting it into practice – that person will be blessed in what they do. 059 JAM 001 026 When a person appears to be religious, yet does not bridle their tongue, but imposes on their own conscience, that person’s religious observances are valueless. 059 JAM 001 027 That religious observance which is pure and spotless in the eyes of God our Father is this – to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself uncontaminated by the world. 059 JAM 002 001 My friends, are you really trying to combine faith in Jesus Christ, our glorified Lord, with discrimination? 059 JAM 002 002 Suppose a visitor should enter your synagogue, with gold rings and in grand clothes, and suppose a poor man should come in also, in shabby clothes, 059 JAM 002 003 and you show more respect to the visitor who is wearing grand clothes, and say – “There is a good seat for you here,” but to the poor man – “You must stand; or sit down there by my footstool,” 059 JAM 002 004 Haven’t you made distinctions among yourselves, and used evil standards of judgement? 059 JAM 002 005 Listen, my dear friends. Has not God chosen those who are poor in the things of this world to be rich through their faith, and to possess the kingdom which he has promised to those who love him? 059 JAM 002 006 But you – you insult the poor man! Isn’t it the rich who oppress you? Isn’t it they who drag you into law courts? 059 JAM 002 007 Isn’t it they who malign that honorable name spoken over you at your baptism? 059 JAM 002 008 If you keep the royal law which runs – ‘You must love your neighbor as you love yourself,’ you are doing right; 059 JAM 002 009 but, if you discriminate, you commit a sin, and stand convicted by that same law of being offenders against it. 059 JAM 002 010 For a person who has laid the Law, as a whole, to heart, but has failed in one particular, is accountable for breaking all its provisions. 059 JAM 002 011 He who said ‘You must not commit adultery’ also said ‘You must not murder.’ If, then, you commit murder but not adultery, you are still an offender against the Law. 059 JAM 002 012 Therefore, speak and act as people who are to be judged by the ‘Law of freedom.’ 059 JAM 002 013 For there will be justice without mercy for the person who has not acted mercifully. Mercy triumphs over Justice. 059 JAM 002 014 My friends, what good is it if someone claims that they have faith, but they do not prove it by actions? Can such faith save them? 059 JAM 002 015 Suppose some brother or sister should be in need of clothes and of daily bread, 059 JAM 002 016 and one of you says to them – “Go, and peace be with you; keep warm and eat well!” and yet you do not actually give them the necessities of life, what good would it be to them? 059 JAM 002 017 In just the same way faith, if not followed by actions, is, by itself, a lifeless thing. 059 JAM 002 018 Someone, indeed, may say – “You are a man of faith, and I am a man of action.” “Then show me your faith,” I reply, “apart from any actions, and I will show you my faith by my actions.” 059 JAM 002 019 It is a part of your faith, is it not, that there is one God? Good; yet even the demons have that faith, and tremble at the thought. 059 JAM 002 020 Now do you really want to understand, fool, how it is that faith without actions leads to nothing? 059 JAM 002 021 Look at our ancestor, Abraham. Was he not justified by his actions after he had offered his son, Isaac, on the altar? 059 JAM 002 022 You see how, in his case, faith and actions went together; that his faith was perfected as the result of his actions; 059 JAM 002 023 and that in this way the words of scripture came true – “Abraham believed God, and that was regarded by God as righteousness,” and “He was called the friend of God.” 059 JAM 002 024 You see, then, that a person is justified by actions, and not by faith alone. 059 JAM 002 025 Wasn’t it the same with the prostitute, Rahab? Was she not justified by her actions, after she had welcomed the messengers and helped them escape by another road? 059 JAM 002 026 Just as a body is dead without a spirit, so faith is dead without actions. 059 JAM 003 001 Not many of you should become teachers, my friends, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly than others. 059 JAM 003 002 We often make mistakes, every one of us. Anyone who does not make mistakes when speaking is indeed a perfect person, able to bridle their whole body as well. 059 JAM 003 003 When we put bits into horses’ mouths to make them obey us, we change their course the rest of their bodies. 059 JAM 003 004 Again, think of ships. Large as they are, and even when driven by fierce winds, they are guided by a very small rudder and steered in whatever direction the man at the helm may determine. 059 JAM 003 005 So is it with the tongue. Small as it is, it is a great boaster. Think how a tiny spark may set the largest forest ablaze! 059 JAM 003 006 And the tongue is like a spark. It is a world of unrighteousness among the parts of our body. It contaminates the whole body; it sets the whole course of our existence on fire, and is itself set on fire by the flames of Gehenna. (Geenna g1067) 059 JAM 003 007 For while all kinds of animals, birds and reptiles and sea creatures can be tamed and have been tamed by humans, 059 JAM 003 008 no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless plague! It is charged with deadly poison! 059 JAM 003 009 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made ‘in God’s likeness.’ 059 JAM 003 010 From the very same mouth come blessings and curses! My friends, it is not right that this should be so. 059 JAM 003 011 Does a spring give both good and bad water from the same source? 059 JAM 003 012 Can a fig tree, my friends, bear olives? Or a vine bear figs? No, nor can a brackish well give good water. 059 JAM 003 013 Who among you claims to be wise and intelligent? They should show that their actions are the outcome of a good life lived in the humility of true wisdom. 059 JAM 003 014 But if you harbor bitter envy and a spirit of rivalry in your hearts, do not boast or deny the truth. 059 JAM 003 015 That is not the wisdom which comes from above; no, it is earthly, animalistic, demonic. 059 JAM 003 016 For where envy and rivalry exist, there you will also find disorder and all kinds of bad, worthless actions. 059 JAM 003 017 But the wisdom from above is, before everything else, pure; then peace-loving, gentle, open to conviction, rich in compassion and good deeds, and free from partiality and insincerity. 059 JAM 003 018 Justice is the harvest peacemakers will reap from seeds sown in a spirit of peace. 059 JAM 004 001 What is the cause of the fighting and quarreling that goes on among you? Isn’t it to be found in the desires which are always at war within you? 059 JAM 004 002 You crave, yet do not have, so you commit murder, so You covet, yet cannot gain your end. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask. 059 JAM 004 003 You ask, yet do not receive, because you ask for a wrong purpose – to spend what you get on your pleasures. 059 JAM 004 004 Unfaithful people! Don’t you know that to be friends with the world means to be at enmity with God? Therefore whoever chooses to be friends with the world makes himself an enemy to God. 059 JAM 004 005 Do you suppose scripture means nothing when it says, ‘Envy results from the longings of the spirit which God has implanted within you?’ 059 JAM 004 006 But he gives us greater grace; and that is why it says, – ‘God opposes the haughty, but gives grace to the humble.’ 059 JAM 004 007 Therefore submit to God. Stand up to the devil, and he will flee from you. 059 JAM 004 008 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Make your hands clean, you sinners; and your hearts pure, you vacillators! 059 JAM 004 009 Grieve, mourn, and lament! Let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your happiness to gloom! 059 JAM 004 010 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. 059 JAM 004 011 Do not disparage one another, friends. The person who disparages others, or passes judgment on them, disparages the Law and passes judgment on the Law. But, if you pass judgment on the Law, you are not obeying it, but judging it. 059 JAM 004 012 There is only one lawgiver and judge – he who has the power both to save and to destroy. So then who are you to pass judgment on your neighbor? 059 JAM 004 013 Listen to me, you who say ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a town and spend a year there, doing business and making money,’ 059 JAM 004 014 yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow! For you are but a puff of smoke that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 059 JAM 004 015 Instead you should say ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.’ 059 JAM 004 016 But as it is, you are boasting presumptuously! All such boasting is wicked. 059 JAM 004 017 The person, then, who knows what is right but fails to do it – that is sin in them. 059 JAM 005 001 Listen to me, you rich people, weep and wail for the miseries that are coming upon you! 059 JAM 005 002 Your riches have wasted away, and your clothes have become moth-eaten. 059 JAM 005 003 Your gold and silver are rusted; and the rust on them will be evidence against you, and will eat into your flesh. It was fire, so to speak, that you stored up for yourselves in these last days. 059 JAM 005 004 Listen! The wages you have held back from the laborers who mowed your fields are crying out against you, and the outcries of your harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of Hosts! 059 JAM 005 005 You have lived on earth a life of extravagance and luxury; you have indulged your fancies in a time of bloodshed. 059 JAM 005 006 You have condemned, you have murdered, the righteous one! Must not God be opposed to you? 059 JAM 005 007 Be patient, then, friends, until the coming of the Lord. Even the farmer has to wait for the precious fruit of the earth, watching over it patiently, until it has had the spring and summer rains. 059 JAM 005 008 And you must be patient also, and not be discouraged; for the Lord’s coming is near. 059 JAM 005 009 Do not make complaints against one another, friends, or judgment will be passed on you. The judge is already standing at the door! 059 JAM 005 010 Friends, as an example of the patient endurance of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 059 JAM 005 011 We count those who displayed such endurance blessed! You have heard, too, of Job’s endurance, and have seen what the Lord’s purpose was, for ‘the Lord is full of pity and compassion.’ 059 JAM 005 012 Above all things, my friends, never take an oath, either by heaven, or by earth, or by anything else. Let your ‘Yes’ suffice for yes, and ‘No’ for no, so that you may escape condemnation. 059 JAM 005 013 If anyone of you is in trouble, they should pray; if anyone is happy, they should sing hymns. 059 JAM 005 014 If anyone of you is ill, they should send for the church elders, and let them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. 059 JAM 005 015 The prayer offered in faith will save the person who is sick, and the Lord will raise them from their bed; and if they have committed sins, they will be forgiven. 059 JAM 005 016 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be cured. Great is the power of a good person’s fervent prayer. 059 JAM 005 017 Elijah was only human like ourselves, but, when he prayed fervently that it might not rain, no rain fell on the land for three and a half years. 059 JAM 005 018 And, when he prayed again, the clouds brought rain, and the land bore crops. 059 JAM 005 019 My friends, should one of you be led astray from the truth, and someone bring them back again, 059 JAM 005 020 be sure that the person who brings a sinner back from their mistaken ways will save that person’s soul from death, and will cover a multitude of sins. # # BOOK 060 1PE 1 Peter 1 Peter 060 1PE 001 001 To the people of God who are living abroad, dispersed throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Roman Asia, and Bithynia, 060 1PE 001 002 and who were chosen in accordance with the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the consecration of the Spirit, to learn obedience, and to be purified by the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ, from Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ. May blessing and peace be yours in ever increasing measure. 060 1PE 001 003 Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has, in his great mercy, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 060 1PE 001 004 given us the new life of undying hope, that promises an inheritance, imperishable, stainless, unfading, which has been reserved for you in heaven – 060 1PE 001 005 for you who, through faith, are being guarded by the power of God, awaiting a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last days. 060 1PE 001 006 At the thought of this you are full of exultation, though (if it has been necessary) you have suffered for the moment somewhat from various trials; 060 1PE 001 007 that the genuineness of your faith – a thing far more precious than gold, which is perishable, yet has to be tested by fire – may win praise and glory and honor at the appearing of Jesus Christ. 060 1PE 001 008 Though you have never seen him, yet you love him; though you do not even now see him, yet you believe in him, and exalt with a triumphant happiness too great for words, 060 1PE 001 009 as you receive the reward of your faith in the salvation of your souls! 060 1PE 001 010 It was this salvation that the prophets, who spoke long ago of the blessing intended for you, sought, and strove to comprehend; 060 1PE 001 011 as they strove to discern what that time could be, to which the Spirit of Christ within them was pointing, when foretelling the sufferings that Christ would have to endure, and the glories that would follow. 060 1PE 001 012 And it was revealed to them that it was not for themselves, but for you, that they were acting as Ministers of the truths which have now been told to you, by those who, with the help of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, have brought you the good news – truths into which even angels long to look. 060 1PE 001 013 Therefore concentrate your minds, with the strictest self-control, and fix your hopes on the blessing that is coming for you at the appearing of Jesus Christ. 060 1PE 001 014 Be like obedient children; do not let your lives be shaped by the passions which once swayed you in the days of your ignorance, 060 1PE 001 015 but in your whole life show yourselves to be holy, after the pattern of the Holy One from whom you received your call. 060 1PE 001 016 For scripture says – ‘You will be holy, because I am holy.’ 060 1PE 001 017 And since you call on him as ‘Father,’ who judges everyone impartially by what he has done, let respectful awe be the spirit of your lives during the time of your stay on earth. 060 1PE 001 018 For you know that it was not by perishable things, such as silver and gold, that you were ransomed from the aimless way of living which was handed down to you from your ancestors, 060 1PE 001 019 but by precious blood, as it were of a lamb, unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. 060 1PE 001 020 Destined for this before the beginning of the world, he has been revealed in these last days for your sakes, 060 1PE 001 021 who, through him, are faithful to God who raised him from the dead and gave him honor, so that your faith and hope are now in God. 060 1PE 001 022 Now that, by your obedience to the truth, you have purified your lives, so that there is growing up among you a genuine affection, love one another earnestly with all your hearts; 060 1PE 001 023 since your new life has come, not from perishable, but imperishable, seed, through the message of the Everliving God. (aiōn g165) 060 1PE 001 024 For – ‘All earthly life is but as grass, and all its splendor as the flower of grass. The grass fades, its flower falls, 060 1PE 001 025 but the teaching of the Lord remains for ever.’ And that is the teaching of the good news which has been told to you. (aiōn g165) 060 1PE 002 001 Now that you have done with all malice, all deceitfulness, insincerity, jealous feelings, and all backbiting, 060 1PE 002 002 like newly born infants, crave pure spiritual milk, so that you may be enabled by it to grow until you attain salvation – 060 1PE 002 003 since ‘you have found by experience that the Lord is kind.’ 060 1PE 002 004 Come to him, then, as to a living stone, rejected, indeed, by men, but in God’s eyes choice and precious; 060 1PE 002 005 and, as living stones, form yourselves into a spiritual house, to be a consecrated priesthood, for the offering of spiritual sacrifices that will be acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 060 1PE 002 006 For there is a passage of scripture that runs – ‘See, I am placing in Zion a choice and precious cornerstone; and those who believe in him will have no cause for shame.’ 060 1PE 002 007 It is to you, then, who believe in him that he is precious, but to those who do not believe he is ‘a stone which, though rejected by the builders, has now itself become the corner-stone,’ 060 1PE 002 008 and ‘a stumbling-block, and a rock which will prove a hindrance.’ They stumble because they do not accept the message. This was the fate destined for them. 060 1PE 002 009 But you are ‘a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a consecrated nation, God’s own people,’ entrusted with the proclamation of the goodness of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 060 1PE 002 010 Once you were ‘not a people,’ but now you are ‘God’s people’; once you ‘had not found mercy,’ but now you ‘have found mercy.’ 060 1PE 002 011 Dear friends, I beg you, as pilgrims and strangers on earth, to refrain from indulging the cravings of your earthly nature, for they make war on the soul. 060 1PE 002 012 Let your daily life among the Gentiles be so upright, that, whenever they malign you as evildoers, they may learn, as they watch, from the uprightness of your conduct, to praise God ‘at the time when he will visit them.’ 060 1PE 002 013 Submit to all human institutions for the Lord’s sake, alike to the emperor as the supreme authority, 060 1PE 002 014 and to governors as sent by him to punish evildoers and to commend those who do right. 060 1PE 002 015 For God’s will is this – that you should silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing what is right. 060 1PE 002 016 Act as free people, yet not using your freedom as those do who make it a cloak for wickedness, but as Servants of God. 060 1PE 002 017 Show honor to everyone, love the Lord’s followers, ‘revere God, honor the emperor.’ 060 1PE 002 018 Those of you who are domestic servants should always be submissive and respectful to their masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are arbitrary. 060 1PE 002 019 For this wins God’s approval when, because conscious of God’s presence, a person who is suffering unjustly bears their troubles patiently. 060 1PE 002 020 What credit can you claim when, after doing wrong, you take your punishment for it patiently? But, on the other hand, if, after doing right, you take your sufferings patiently, that does win the approval of God. 060 1PE 002 021 For it was to this that you were called! For Christ, too, suffered – on your behalf – and left you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 060 1PE 002 022 He ‘never sinned, nor was anything deceitful ever heard from his lips.’ 060 1PE 002 023 He was abused, but he did not answer with abuse; he suffered, but he did not threaten; he entrusted himself to him whose judgments are just. 060 1PE 002 024 And he ‘himself carried our sins’ in his own body to the cross, so that we might die to our sins, and live for righteousness. ‘His bruising was your healing.’ 060 1PE 002 025 Once you were straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls. 060 1PE 003 001 Again, you married women should submit to your husbands, so that if any of them reject the message, they may, apart from the message, be won over, by the conduct of their wives, 060 1PE 003 002 as they see your pure, reverent conduct. 060 1PE 003 003 Yours should be, not the external adornment of the arrangement of the hair, the wearing of jewelry, or the putting on of dresses, 060 1PE 003 004 but the inner life with the imperishable beauty of a quiet and gentle spirit; for this is very precious in God’s sight. 060 1PE 003 005 It was by this that the holy women of old, who rested their hopes on God, adorned themselves; submitting to their husbands, 060 1PE 003 006 as Sarah did, who obeyed Abraham, and called him master. And you are her true children, as long as you live good lives, and let nothing terrify you. 060 1PE 003 007 Again, those of you who are married men should live considerately with their wives, showing due regard to their sex, as physically weaker than their own, and not forgetting that they share with you in the gift of life. Then you will be able to pray without hindrance. 060 1PE 003 008 Lastly, you should all be united, sympathetic, full of love for each other, kind-hearted, humble-minded; 060 1PE 003 009 never returning evil for evil, or abuse for abuse, but, on the contrary, blessing. It was to this that you were called – to obtain a blessing! 060 1PE 003 010 ‘The person who wants to enjoy life and see happy days – they should keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful words, 060 1PE 003 011 they should turn from evil and do good, They should seek for peace and follow after it; 060 1PE 003 012 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their prayers, but the face of the Lord is set against those who do wrong.’ 060 1PE 003 013 Who, indeed, is there to harm you, if you prove yourselves to be eager for what is good? 060 1PE 003 014 Even if you should suffer for righteousness, count yourselves blessed! ‘Do not let people terrify you, or allow yourselves to be dismayed.’ 060 1PE 003 015 Revere the Christ as Lord in your hearts; always ready to give an answer to anyone who asks your reason for the hope that you cherish, but giving it with courtesy and respect, 060 1PE 003 016 and keeping your consciences clear, so that, whenever you are maligned, those who vilify your good and Christian conduct may be put to shame. 060 1PE 003 017 It is better that you should suffer, if that should be God’s will, for doing right, than for doing wrong. 060 1PE 003 018 For Christ himself died to atone for sins once for all – the good on behalf of the bad – that he might bring you to God; his body being put to death, but his spirit entering on new life. 060 1PE 003 019 And it was then that he went and preached to the imprisoned spirits, 060 1PE 003 020 who once were disobedient, at the time when God patiently waited, in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared; in which some few lives, eight in all, were saved by means of water. 060 1PE 003 021 And baptism, which this foreshadowed, now saves you – not the mere cleansing of the body, but the search of a clear conscience after God – through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 060 1PE 003 022 who has gone into heaven, and is at God’s right hand, where angels and archangels and the powers of heaven now yield submission to him. 060 1PE 004 001 Since, then, Christ suffered in body, arm yourselves with the same resolve as he; for he who has suffered in body has ceased to sin, 060 1PE 004 002 and so will live the rest of his earthly life guided, not by human passions, but by the will of God. 060 1PE 004 003 Surely in the past you have spent time enough living as the Gentiles delight to live. For your path has lain among scenes of debauchery, licentiousness, drunkenness, revelry, hard-drinking, and profane idolatry. 060 1PE 004 004 And, because you do not run to the same extremes of profligacy as others, they are astonished, and malign you. 060 1PE 004 005 But they will have to answer for their conduct to him who is ready to judge both the living and the dead. 060 1PE 004 006 For that was why the good news was told to the dead also – that, after they have been judged in the body, as people are judged, they might live in the spirit, as God lives. 060 1PE 004 007 But the end of all things is near. Therefore exercise self-restraint and be calm, so that you may be able to pray. 060 1PE 004 008 Above all things, let your love for one another be earnest, for ‘Love throws a veil over countless sins.’ 060 1PE 004 009 Never grudge hospitality to one another. 060 1PE 004 010 Whatever the gift that each has received, use it in the service of others, as good stewards of the varied bounty of God. 060 1PE 004 011 When anyone speaks, they should speak as one who is delivering the oracles of God. When anyone is endeavoring to serve others, they should do so in reliance on the strength which God supplies; so that in everything God may be honored through Jesus Christ – to whom be ascribed all honor and might for ever and ever. Amen. (aiōn g165) 060 1PE 004 012 Dear friends, do not be astonished at the trial of fire that you are passing through, to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 060 1PE 004 013 No, the more you share the sufferings of the Christ, the more may you rejoice, that, when the time comes for the manifestation of his glory, you may rejoice and exult. 060 1PE 004 014 If you are insulted for bearing the name of Christ, count yourselves blessed; because the divine glory and the Spirit of God are resting on you. 060 1PE 004 015 I need hardly say that no one among you must suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or a criminal, or for interfering in matters which do not concern Christians. 060 1PE 004 016 But, if someone suffers as a Christian, they should not be ashamed of it; they should bring honor to God even though they bear that name. 060 1PE 004 017 For the time has come for judgment to begin with the house of God; and, if it begins with us, what will be the end of those who reject God’s good news? 060 1PE 004 018 If ‘a good person is saved only with difficulty, what will become of the godless and the sinful?’ 060 1PE 004 019 Therefore, I say, let those who suffer, because God wills it so, commit their lives into the hands of a faithful Creator, and persevere in doing right. 060 1PE 005 001 As for the older ones among you, who are elders in the church, I, their fellow elder, and a witness to the sufferings of the Christ, who will also share in the glory that is to be revealed – 060 1PE 005 002 I beg you to be true shepherds of the flock of God among you, not because you are compelled, but of your own free will; not from a base love of gain, but with a ready spirit; 060 1PE 005 003 not as lords of your charges, but as examples to your flock. 060 1PE 005 004 Then, when the chief shepherd appears, you will win the crown of glory that never fades. 060 1PE 005 005 Again, you younger ones should show deference to the older. And all of you should put on the badge of humility in mutual service, for ‘God is opposed to the proud, but gives his help to the humble.’ 060 1PE 005 006 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in his good time, 060 1PE 005 007 laying all your anxieties on him, for he makes you his care. 060 1PE 005 008 Exercise self-control, be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, like a roaring lion, is prowling about, eager to devour you. 060 1PE 005 009 Stand firm against him, strong in your faith; knowing, as you do, that the sufferings which you are undergoing are being endured to the full by the Lord’s followers throughout the world. 060 1PE 005 010 God, from whom all help comes, and who called you, by your union with Christ, into his eternal glory, will, when you have suffered for a little while, himself perfect, establish, strengthen you. (aiōnios g166) 060 1PE 005 011 To him be ascribed dominion for ever. Amen. (aiōn g165) 060 1PE 005 012 I have been writing to you briefly by the hand of Silas, our true-hearted friend (for so I regard him), to encourage you, and to bear my testimony that in what I have written is to be found the true love of God. On that take your stand. 060 1PE 005 013 Your sister church in ‘Babylon’ sends you greeting, and so does Mark, who is as a son to me. 060 1PE 005 014 Greet one another with the kiss of love. May God give his peace to you all in your union with Christ. # # BOOK 061 2PE 2 Peter 2 Peter 061 2PE 001 001 To those to whom, through the justice of our God and Savior Jesus Christ, there has been granted faith equally privileged with our own, from Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ. 061 2PE 001 002 May blessing and peace be yours in ever increasing measure, as you advance in the knowledge of God and of Jesus, our Lord. 061 2PE 001 003 For his divine power has given us everything that is needful for a life of piety, as we advance in the knowledge of him who called us by a glorious manifestation of his goodness. 061 2PE 001 004 For it was through this that he gave us what we prize as the greatest of his promises, that through them you might participate in the divine nature, now that you have fled from the corruption in the world, resulting from human passions. 061 2PE 001 005 Yes, and for this reason do your best to supplement your faith by goodness, goodness by knowledge, 061 2PE 001 006 knowledge by self-control, self-control by endurance, endurance by piety, 061 2PE 001 007 piety by mutual affection, and mutual affection by love. 061 2PE 001 008 For, when these virtues are yours, in increasing measure, they prevent your being indifferent to, or destitute of, a fuller knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 061 2PE 001 009 Surely the person who has not these virtues is shortsighted even to blindness, and has chosen to forget that they have been purified from their sins of the past! 061 2PE 001 010 Therefore, friends, do your best to put God’s call and selection of you beyond all doubt; for, if you do this, you will never fall. 061 2PE 001 011 For in this way you will be given a triumphant admission into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. (aiōnios g166) 061 2PE 001 012 I will, therefore, always be ready to remind you of all this, even though you know it and are firmly established in the truth that you now hold. 061 2PE 001 013 But I think it my duty, as long as I live in this ‘tent,’ to rouse you by awakening memories of the past; 061 2PE 001 014 for I know that the time for this ‘tent’ of mine to be put away is soon coming, as our Lord Jesus Christ himself assured me. 061 2PE 001 015 So I will do my best to enable you, at any time after my departure, to call these truths to mind. 061 2PE 001 016 For we were not following cleverly devised stories when we told you of the coming in power of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eye-witnesses of his majesty. 061 2PE 001 017 For he received honor and glory from God the Father, when from the glory of the Divine Majesty there were borne to his ears words such as these – ‘This is my dearly loved son, who brings me great joy.’ 061 2PE 001 018 These were the words that we heard, borne to our ears from heaven, when we were with him on that sacred mountain. 061 2PE 001 019 And still stronger is the assurance that we have in the teaching of the prophets; to which you will do well to pay attention (as if it were a lamp shining in a gloomy place), until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 061 2PE 001 020 But first be assured of this: There is no prophetic teaching found in scripture that can be interpreted by a person’s unaided reason; 061 2PE 001 021 for no prophetic teaching ever came in the old days at the mere wish of people, but people, moved by the Holy Spirit, spoke direct from God. 061 2PE 002 001 But there were false prophets also in the nation, just as there will be false teachers among you, people who will secretly introduce ruinous divisions, disowning even the Lord who bought them, and bringing speedy ruin on themselves. 061 2PE 002 002 There will be many, too, who will follow their licentious courses, and cause the way of the truth to be maligned. 061 2PE 002 003 In their covetousness they will try to make you a source of profit by their fabrications; but for a long time past their sentence has not been standing idle, nor their ruin slumbering. 061 2PE 002 004 Remember, God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them down to Tartarus, and consigned them to caverns of darkness, to be kept under guard for judgment. (Tartaroō g5020) 061 2PE 002 005 Nor did he spare the world of old; though he preserved Noah, the preacher of righteousness, and seven others, when he brought a flood on the godless world. 061 2PE 002 006 He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and reduced them to ashes, holding them up as a warning to the godless of what was in store for them; 061 2PE 002 007 but he rescued righteous Lot, whose heart was vexed by the wanton licentiousness of his neighbors; 061 2PE 002 008 for, seeing and hearing what he did, as he lived his righteous life among them, day after day, Lot’s righteous soul was tortured by their wicked doings. 061 2PE 002 009 The Lord, therefore, knows how to deliver the pious from temptation, and to keep the wicked, who are even now suffering punishment, in readiness for ‘the day of judgment’ – 061 2PE 002 010 especially those who, following the promptings of their lower nature, indulge their polluting passions and despise all control. Audacious and self-willed, they feel no awe of the celestial beings, maligning them, 061 2PE 002 011 even where angels, though excelling them in strength and power, do not bring against them a malignant charge before the Lord. 061 2PE 002 012 These people, however, like animals without reason, intended by nature to be caught and killed – these people, I say, malign those of whom they know nothing, and will assuredly perish through their own corruption, 061 2PE 002 013 suffering themselves, as the penalty for the suffering that they have inflicted. They think that pleasure consists in the self-indulgence of the moment. They are a stain and a disgrace, indulging, as they do, in their wanton revelry, even while joining you at your feasts. 061 2PE 002 014 They have eyes only for adulteresses, eyes never tired of sin; they entice weak souls; their minds are trained to covet; they live under a curse. 061 2PE 002 015 Leaving the straight road, they have gone astray and followed in the steps of Balaam, the son of Beor, who set his heart on the reward for wrongdoing, 061 2PE 002 016 but was rebuked for his offense. A dumb animal spoke with a human voice, and checked the prophet’s madness. 061 2PE 002 017 These people are like springs without water, or mists driven before a gale; and for them the blackest darkness has been reserved. 061 2PE 002 018 With boastful and foolish talk, they appeal to the passions of people’s lower nature, and, by their profligacy, entice those who are just escaping from the people who live such misguided lives. 061 2PE 002 019 They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves to corrupt habits; for a person is the slave of anything to which they give way. 061 2PE 002 020 If, after having escaped the polluting influences of the world, through knowing our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, people are again entangled in them, and give way to them, their last state has become worse than their first. 061 2PE 002 021 It would, indeed, have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after knowing it, to turn away from the holy command delivered to them. 061 2PE 002 022 In their case is seen the truth of the proverb – ‘A dog returns to what it has vomited’ and ‘A sow after washing to her wallowing-place in the mud.’ 061 2PE 003 001 This, dear friends, is my second letter to you. In both of them I have tried, by appealing to your remembrance, to arouse your better feelings. 061 2PE 003 002 I want you to recall what was foretold by the holy prophets, as well as the command of our Lord and Savior given to you through your apostles. 061 2PE 003 003 First be assured of this, that, as the age draws to an end, scoffers, led by their own passions, 061 2PE 003 004 will come and ask scoffingly – ‘Where is his promised coming? Ever since our ancestors passed to their rest, everything remains just as it was when the world was first created!’ 061 2PE 003 005 For they willfully shut their eyes to the fact that long ago the heavens existed; and the earth, also – formed out of water and by the action of water, by the fiat of God; 061 2PE 003 006 and that by the same means the world which then existed was destroyed in a deluge of water. 061 2PE 003 007 But the present heavens and earth, by the same fiat, have been reserved for fire, and are being kept for the day of the judgment and destruction of the godless. 061 2PE 003 008 But you, dear friends, must never shut your eyes to the fact that, to the Lord, one day is the same as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 061 2PE 003 009 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise, as some count slowness; but he is forbearing with you, as it is not his will that any of you should perish, but that all should be brought to repentance. 061 2PE 003 010 The day of the Lord will come like a thief; and on that day the heavens will pass away with a crash, the elements will be burnt up and dissolved, and the earth and all that is in it will be disclosed. 061 2PE 003 011 Now, since all these things are in the process of dissolution, think what you yourselves ought to be – what holy and pious lives you ought to lead, 061 2PE 003 012 while you wait for the coming of the day of God and strive to make it come soon. At its coming the heavens will be dissolved in fire, and the elements melted by heat, 061 2PE 003 013 but we look for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness will have its home, in fulfillment of the promise of God. 061 2PE 003 014 Therefore, dear friends, in expectation of these things, make every effort to be found by him spotless, blameless, and at peace. 061 2PE 003 015 Regard our Lord’s forbearance as your one hope of salvation. This is what our dear friend Paul wrote to you, with the wisdom that God gave him. 061 2PE 003 016 It is the same in all his letters, when he speaks in them about these subjects. There are some things in them difficult to understand, which untaught and weak people distort, just as they do all other writings, to their own ruin. 061 2PE 003 017 You must, therefore, dear friends, now that you know this beforehand, be on your guard against being led away by the errors of reckless people, and so lapsing from your present steadfastness; 061 2PE 003 018 and advance in the love and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. All glory be to him now and for ever. (aiōn g165) # # BOOK 062 1JO 1 John 1 John 062 1JO 001 001 We write to you about the Word of life, which has been in existence from the beginning. We write of what we have heard, of what we have seen with our eyes, of what we watched reverently and touched with our hands. 062 1JO 001 002 That life was made visible, and we have seen it. We bear our testimony to it, and tell you of that eternal life which was with the Father and was made visible to us. (aiōnios g166) 062 1JO 001 003 It is of what we have seen and heard that we now tell you, so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 062 1JO 001 004 We are writing all this to you that our joy may be complete. 062 1JO 001 005 This is the message which we have heard from him and announce to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. 062 1JO 001 006 If we say that we have fellowship with him and yet continue to walk in the darkness, our words and our lives are a lie. 062 1JO 001 007 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. 062 1JO 001 008 If we say, “we have no sin,” then we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 062 1JO 001 009 If we confess our sins, he is just and may be trusted to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all wrongdoing. 062 1JO 001 010 If we say that we haven’t sinned, we make God a liar, and his Word is not in us. 062 1JO 002 001 My children, I am writing to you to keep you from sinning. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father – Jesus Christ, the righteous. 062 1JO 002 002 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only, but the sins of the whole world. 062 1JO 002 003 It is by keeping God’s commands that we can be sure we know him. 062 1JO 002 004 Whoever says “I know him,” but does not keep his commands, is a liar. The truth has no place in them. 062 1JO 002 005 But the person who keeps God’s word, in them the love of God has indeed reached its perfection. This is how we can be sure we are in him: 062 1JO 002 006 whoever claims to live in him should live just as Jesus did. 062 1JO 002 007 Dear friends, it is no new command that I am writing to you, but an old command, which you have had from the beginning. That old command is the message you have already heard. 062 1JO 002 008 Yet, in a way, it is a new command that I am writing to you – which is shown true in Christ’s life and in yours – for the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. 062 1JO 002 009 The person who says that they are in the light, and yet hates others, is still in the darkness. 062 1JO 002 010 The person who loves others is always in the light, and there is nothing within them to cause them to stumble. 062 1JO 002 011 The person who hates is in the dark. They stumble along in the darkness; they do not know where they are going because the darkness blinds them. 062 1JO 002 012 Little children, I am writing to you because your sins have been forgiven for Christ’s sake. 062 1JO 002 013 Parents, I am writing to you because you have come to know him who has been from the beginning. Young people, I am writing to you because you have conquered the evil one. Children, I write to you because you have come to know the Father. 062 1JO 002 014 Parents, I write to you because you have learned to know him who has been from the beginning. Young people, I write to you because you are strong, and God’s message is always in your hearts, and you have conquered the evil one. 062 1JO 002 015 Do not love the world or what the world can offer. When anyone loves the world, there is no love for the Father in them. 062 1JO 002 016 For all that the world can offer – the desires for physical pleasure, the enticements to the eye, the arrogance of wealth – belongs, not to the Father, but to the world. 062 1JO 002 017 And the world, and all that it gratifies, is passing away, but they who do God’s will remain for ever. (aiōn g165) 062 1JO 002 018 My children, it is the last hour. You were told that an antichrist was coming; and many antichrists have already arisen. This is why we know that this is the last hour. 062 1JO 002 019 These people come from our ranks, but they were never truly part of us – if they had been then they would have stayed with us. They left so it would be clear that none of them really belonged to us. 062 1JO 002 020 You, however, have been annointed by the Holy One. You all know the truth. 062 1JO 002 021 I am not writing to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie can come from the truth. 062 1JO 002 022 Who is a liar, if not the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? That person is the antichrist – one who rejects the Father and the Son. 062 1JO 002 023 No one who rejects the Son has the Father; to acknowledge the Son is to have the Father also. 062 1JO 002 024 As for you, you must let what you have heard from the beginning continue to live in you. If what you heard from the beginning dwells in you, you will remain both in the Son and the Father. 062 1JO 002 025 And this is what he himself promised us – eternal life! (aiōnios g166) 062 1JO 002 026 In writing this to you, I have in mind those who are trying to mislead you. 062 1JO 002 027 As for you, the anointing which you received from him remains with you. You do not need anyone to teach you. His anointing teaches you about everything. What it teaches you is true, it is not a lie. Do what it has taught you: abide in him. 062 1JO 002 028 Yes, my children, remain in him, so that when he appears our confidence doesn’t fail us, and we are not ashamed to meet him at his coming. 062 1JO 002 029 Since you know he is righteous, you realize that everyone who does what is right is his child. 062 1JO 003 001 See what great love the Father has lavished on us: he lets us be called God’s children! For that is what we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it has not learned to know him. 062 1JO 003 002 Dear friends, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is that, when it is revealed, we will be like him, because we will see him as he is. 062 1JO 003 003 And just as he is pure, everyone who has this hope, makes and keeps themselves pure. 062 1JO 003 004 Everyone who lives sinfully is living in violation of God’s law. Sin is lawlessness. 062 1JO 003 005 You know that Christ appeared to take away our sins and that there is no sin in him. 062 1JO 003 006 No one who lives in him continues to sin; the sinner has not seen or known him. 062 1JO 003 007 My children, don’t let anyone mislead you. The person who does what is right is righteous, just as Christ is righteous. 062 1JO 003 008 The person who lives in sin is a child of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. To undo the devil’s work is the reason the Son of God appeared. 062 1JO 003 009 No child of God sins, because God’s nature dwells in them. They can’t live in sin, because they are God’s children. 062 1JO 003 010 By this it is made clear who are the children of God and who are the devil’s: anyone who doesn’t do what is right or doesn’t love others is not a child of God. 062 1JO 003 011 For this is the message we heard from the beginning: we are to love one another. 062 1JO 003 012 We must not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. Why did he kill him? Because his actions were evil, and his brother’s were righteous. 062 1JO 003 013 Do not be suprised, friends, if the world hates you. 062 1JO 003 014 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love each other. The person who does not love remains in a state of death. 062 1JO 003 015 The person who hates another is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life dwelling within them. (aiōnios g166) 062 1JO 003 016 This is how we know what love is: Christ gave his life for us. So we should lay down our own lives for each other. 062 1JO 003 017 If anyone has material possessions, and sees one of our own in need, but closes their heart against that person, how can it be said that the love of God is within them? 062 1JO 003 018 My children, our love must not be mere words or talk. It must be true and show itself in actions. 062 1JO 003 019 This is how we will know we belong to the truth and reassure ourselves in God’s presence: 062 1JO 003 020 though our conscience condemns us, God is greater than our conscience and knows everything. 062 1JO 003 021 Dear friends, if our conscience does not condemn us, then we approach God with confidence, 062 1JO 003 022 and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we are keeping his commands, and are doing what pleases him. 062 1JO 003 023 His command is that we should believe in his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, as Christ commanded us. 062 1JO 003 024 The person who keeps his commands dwells in God and God dwells in them. And we are sure he lives in us because of the Spirit he has given us. 062 1JO 004 001 Dear friends, do not trust every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 062 1JO 004 002 This is the way to recognize the Spirit of God: those who acknowledge Jesus Christ as come in the flesh have God’s Spirit, 062 1JO 004 003 while a spirit that doesn’t acknowledge Jesus isn’t from God. Instead it is the spirit of the antichrist; you have heard that it was coming, and it is now already in the world! 062 1JO 004 004 You, my children, come from God, and you have successfully resisted such people as these, because he who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 062 1JO 004 005 Those people belong to the world and therefore they speak as the world speaks, and the world listens to them. 062 1JO 004 006 We come from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; the person who does not come from God does not listen to us. This is how we distinguish the spirit of truth and the spirit of deception. 062 1JO 004 007 Dear friends, let us love one another, because love comes from God and everyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. 062 1JO 004 008 Those who do not love know nothing of God, for God is love. 062 1JO 004 009 This is how God showed his love among us: he sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 062 1JO 004 010 This is what love is: it is not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 062 1JO 004 011 Dear friends, since God loved us in this way, we should love one another. 062 1JO 004 012 No one has ever seen God, but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love reaches perfection within us. 062 1JO 004 013 We know that we live in him, and he lives in us, because he has given us a measure of his Spirit. 062 1JO 004 014 Moreover, we have seen for ourselves and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. 062 1JO 004 015 Whoever acknowledges that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, God lives in them, and they live in God. 062 1JO 004 016 And so we have come to know and believe the love which God has for us. God is love; and whoever lives in love lives in God, and God lives in them. 062 1JO 004 017 This is the way love has reached its perfection among us, so that we may have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like Christ. 062 1JO 004 018 There is no fear in love; perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment. So anyone who is afraid has not reached perfection in love. 062 1JO 004 019 We love, because God first loved us. 062 1JO 004 020 If someone says ‘I love God,’ and yet hates others, they are a liar. For the person who does not love their brother or sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 062 1JO 004 021 Indeed, we have this command from Christ: Those who love God must also love each other. 062 1JO 005 001 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is a child of God, and everyone who loves a parent loves his child. 062 1JO 005 002 By this we know that we love God’s children – when we love God and carry out his commands. 062 1JO 005 003 For to love God is to do what he commands and his commands are not a burden, 062 1JO 005 004 for whatever is born of God overcomes the world. What is the victory by which the world is overcome? Our faith! 062 1JO 005 005 Who can overcome the world but the person who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 062 1JO 005 006 Jesus Christ, the one who came by water and blood – not by water only but by water and blood – and the Spirit testifies to this because the Spirit is truth. 062 1JO 005 007 Indeed three testify: 062 1JO 005 008 the Spirit, the water, and the blood, and these three agree. 062 1JO 005 009 We accept human testimony, surely God’s testimony is even stronger! And God’s testimony is the testimony he has given about his Son. 062 1JO 005 010 The person who believes in the Son of God has that testimony within them. The person who does not believe God has made God a liar, by not believing the testimony God has given about his Son. 062 1JO 005 011 And this is that testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. (aiōnios g166) 062 1JO 005 012 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever who doesn’t have God’s Son does not have life. 062 1JO 005 013 I have written these things to you who believe in the name of God’s Son, so that you may know that you have eternal life. (aiōnios g166) 062 1JO 005 014 We can approach him with this confidence, that whenever we ask anything that is in accordance with his will, he listens to us. 062 1JO 005 015 And if we know he hears us – whatever we ask – we know also that what we ask for is ours. 062 1JO 005 016 If anyone sees one of our people committing some sin that is not a sin leading to death, they should ask, and God will give them life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that you should pray about that. 062 1JO 005 017 All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death. 062 1JO 005 018 We know that those who have been born of God do not keep sinning. God protects his children and the evil one cannot get hold of them. 062 1JO 005 019 We know that we are God’s children, though the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. 062 1JO 005 020 We also know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know the true God – and we are in him who is true, by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. (aiōnios g166) 062 1JO 005 021 My children, guard yourselves against false ideas of God. # # BOOK 063 2JO 2 John 2 John 063 2JO 001 001 From the elder, to the lady chosen by God and her children. I truly love you all, and I am not the only one but all who know the truth love you as well. 063 2JO 001 002 We love you for the sake of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever. (aiōn g165) 063 2JO 001 003 Grace, mercy, and peace will be ours – the gift of God, the Father, and of Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son – in truth and love. 063 2JO 001 004 It was a great joy to me to find the lives of some of your children guided by the truth, in obedience to the command that we received from the Father. 063 2JO 001 005 And now I implore you, dear lady, let us love one another This is not a new command I am writing to you. It is the command we have had from the beginning. – Let us love one another. 063 2JO 001 006 And this is love – to live in obedience to the Father’s commands. This is the command as you learned from the beginning, to live a life of love. 063 2JO 001 007 I say this because many deceivers have gone out into the world – men who do not acknowledge that Jesus Christ came in flesh and blood. Any such person is a deceiver and antichrist. 063 2JO 001 008 Take care so that you do not what we have worked for but instead receive your full reward. 063 2JO 001 009 Anyone who goes beyond and fails to live inside of the teaching of Christ does not have God. The person who lives inside that teaching – they have both the Father and the Son. 063 2JO 001 010 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive them into your house or even welcome them; 063 2JO 001 011 because the person who welcomes them is sharing with them in his evil work. 063 2JO 001 012 Though I have many other things to tell you, I would rather not use paper and ink. Instead I hope to come and see you, and to speak with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete. 063 2JO 001 013 The children of your sister, who is chosen by God, send you their greetings. # # BOOK 064 3JO 3 John 3 John 064 3JO 001 001 From the elder to his dear friend Gaius, whom he sincerely loves. 064 3JO 001 002 Dear friend, I pray that all may be well with you and that you may have good health – I know that all is well with your soul. 064 3JO 001 003 For it was a great joy to me, when some followers of the Lord came and testified to your fidelity to the truth. I know that your own life is guided by the truth. 064 3JO 001 004 Nothing gives me greater pleasure than to hear from time to time that the lives of my children are guided by the truth. 064 3JO 001 005 Dear friend, you are faithful in all the things you do for other followers – even when they are strangers to you. 064 3JO 001 006 They themselves have testified before the church to your love. You will do well to help them on their way in a manner worthy of the service of God. 064 3JO 001 007 For it was on behalf of Christ’s name that they set out, not accepting even one thing from the Gentiles. 064 3JO 001 008 Therefore, we should support people like them, and so take our share in their work for the truth. 064 3JO 001 009 I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes (who loves to be the leader among them) doesn’t welcome us. 064 3JO 001 010 So if I come, I will bring up his actions in telling wicked nonsense about us. Not content with that, he not only refuses to personally welcome our friends who are followers, but actually stops those who would, and expels them from the church. 064 3JO 001 011 Dear friend, do not follow a bad example, but a good one. The person who does what is good is from God; the person who does what is bad has never seen God. 064 3JO 001 012 Everyone has always had a good word for Demetrius, and the truth itself speaks for him. Yes, and we also add our good word, and you know that what we say is true. 064 3JO 001 013 I have many things to tell you, but I would rather not use pen and ink. 064 3JO 001 014 I hope to see you soon, and then we will speak face to face. Peace be with you. The friends here send you their greetings. Greet each one of our friends. # # BOOK 065 JUD Jude Jude 065 JUD 001 001 To those who, having received the call, have been loved by God the Father and protected by Jesus Christ, From Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ, and the brother of James. 065 JUD 001 002 May mercy, peace, and love be yours in ever increasing measure. 065 JUD 001 003 Dear friends, while I was making every effort to write to you about our common salvation, I felt that I must write to you at once to encourage you to fight in defense of the faith that has once for all been entrusted to the keeping of Christ’s people. 065 JUD 001 004 For there have crept in among you certain godless people, whose sentence has long since been pronounced, and who make the mercy of God an excuse for profligacy, and disown our only lord and master, Jesus Christ. 065 JUD 001 005 Now I want to remind you – but you already know it all – that, though the Lord delivered the people from Egypt, yet he afterward destroyed those who refused to believe in him; 065 JUD 001 006 and that even those angels, who did not keep to their appointed spheres, but left their proper homes, have been kept by him for the judgment of the great day in everlasting chains and black darkness. (aïdios g126) 065 JUD 001 007 Like Sodom and Gomorrah and the towns near them, which gave themselves up to fornication, and fell into unnatural vice, these angels now stand out as a warning, undergoing, as they are, punishment in eternal fire. (aiōnios g166) 065 JUD 001 008 Yet in the same way these people, too, cherishing vain dreams, pollute our human nature, reject control, and malign the celestial beings. 065 JUD 001 009 Yet even Michael, the archangel, when, in his dispute with the devil, he was arguing about the body of Moses, did not venture to charge him with maligning, but said merely ‘The Lord rebuke you!’ 065 JUD 001 010 But these people malign whatever they do not understand; while they use such things as they know by instinct (like the animals that have no reason) for their own corruption. 065 JUD 001 011 Alas for them! They walk in the steps of Cain; led astray by Balaam’s love of gain, they plunge into sin, and meet their ruin through rebellion like Korah. 065 JUD 001 012 These are the people who are blots on your ‘love-feasts,’ when they feast together and provide without scruple for themselves alone. They are clouds without rain, driven before the winds; they are leafless trees without a vestige of fruit, dead through and through, torn up by the roots; 065 JUD 001 013 they are wild sea waves, foaming with their own shame; they are ‘wandering stars,’ for which the blackest darkness has been reserved for ever. (aiōn g165) 065 JUD 001 014 To these people, as to others, Enoch, the seventh in descent from Adam, declared – ‘See! The Lord has come with his hosts of holy ones around him, 065 JUD 001 015 to execute judgment on all people, and to convict all godless people of all their godless acts, which in their ungodliness they have committed, and of all the harsh words which they have spoken against him, godless sinners that they are!’ 065 JUD 001 016 These people are always murmuring, and complaining of their lot; they follow where their passions lead them; they have arrogant words on their lips; and they flatter others for the sake of what they can get from them. 065 JUD 001 017 But you should, dear friends, recall what was foretold by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; 065 JUD 001 018 how they used to say to you – ‘As time draws to an end, there will be scoffers, who will be led by their godless passions.’ 065 JUD 001 019 These are the people – animal and unspiritual – who cause divisions. 065 JUD 001 020 But you must, dear friends, build up your characters on the foundation of your most holy faith, pray under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, 065 JUD 001 021 and keep within the love of God, while waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, to bring you to eternal life. (aiōnios g166) 065 JUD 001 022 To some show pity, because they are in doubt. ‘Drag them out of the fire,’ and save them. 065 JUD 001 023 To others show pity, but with caution, hating the clothing polluted by their touch. 065 JUD 001 024 To him who is able to guard you from falling, and to bring you into his glorious presence, blameless and rejoicing – 065 JUD 001 025 to the one God, our Savior, be ascribed, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, glory, majesty, power, and dominion, as it was before time began, is now, and will be for all time to come. Amen. (aiōn g165) # # BOOK 066 REV Revelation Revelation 066 REV 001 001 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him to make known to his servants, concerning what must shortly take place, and which he sent and revealed by his angel to his servant John, 066 REV 001 002 who testified to the message of God and to the testimony to Jesus Christ, omitting nothing of what he had seen. 066 REV 001 003 Blessed is the one who reads, and blessed are they who listen to, the words of this prophecy, and lay to heart what is here written; for the time is near. 066 REV 001 004 From John, to the seven churches which are in Roman Asia. Blessing and peace be yours from him who is, and who was, and who will be, and from the seven spirits that are before his throne, 066 REV 001 005 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the Ruler of all the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his own blood – 066 REV 001 006 and he made us a kingdom of priests in the service of God, his Father! – to him be ascribed glory and dominion for ever. Amen. (aiōn g165) 066 REV 001 007 He is coming among the clouds! Every eye will see him, even those who pierced him and all the nations of the earth will mourn over him. So will it be. Amen. 066 REV 001 008 ‘I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord, the God who is, and who was, and who will be, the Almighty. 066 REV 001 009 I, John, who am your brother, and who share with you in the suffering and kingship and endurance of Jesus, found myself on the island called Patmos, for the sake of the message of God and the testimony to Jesus. 066 REV 001 010 I fell into a trance on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, like the blast of a trumpet. 066 REV 001 011 It said – ‘Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamus, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.’ 066 REV 001 012 I turned to see what voice it was that spoke to me; and when I turned, I saw seven golden lamps, 066 REV 001 013 and in the midst of the lamps one like a man, in a robe reaching to his feet, and with a golden sash across his breast. 066 REV 001 014 The hair of his head was as white as wool, as white as snow; his eyes were like flaming fire; 066 REV 001 015 and his feet were like brass as when molten in a furnace; his voice was like the sound of many streams, 066 REV 001 016 in his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun in the fulness of its power. 066 REV 001 017 And, when I saw him, I fell at his feet like one dead. He laid his hand on me and said – ‘Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last, 066 REV 001 018 the Everliving. I died, and I am alive for ever and ever. And I hold the keys of death and of Hades. (aiōn g165, Hadēs g86) 066 REV 001 019 Therefore write of what you have seen and of what is happening now and of what is about to take place – 066 REV 001 020 the mystic meaning of the seven stars which you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lamps. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lamps are the seven churches. 066 REV 002 001 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, and walks among the seven golden lamps: 066 REV 002 002 I know your life, your toil and endurance, and I know that you cannot tolerate evildoers. I know, too, how you tested those who declare that they are apostles, though they are not, and how you proved them false. 066 REV 002 003 You possess endurance, and have borne much for my name, and have never grown weary. 066 REV 002 004 But this I have against you – You have abandoned your first love. 066 REV 002 005 Therefore remember from what you have fallen, and repent, and live the life that you lived before; or else, I will come and remove your Lamp from its place, unless you repent. 066 REV 002 006 But this is in your favor – You hate the life lived by the Nikolaitans, and I also hate it. 066 REV 002 007 Anyone with ears should hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches. To him who conquers – to him I will give the right to eat the fruit of the Tree of life, which stands in the Paradise of God. 066 REV 002 008 “To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died, but is restored to life: 066 REV 002 009 I know your persecution and your poverty – yet you are rich! I know, too, the slander that comes from those who declare that they are God’s people, though they are not, but are a congregation of Satan. 066 REV 002 010 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil is about to throw some of you into prison so that you may be tempted, and may undergo persecution for ten days. Be faithful even to death, and I will give you the Crown of life. 066 REV 002 011 Let those who have ears hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches. Those who conquer will suffer no hurt from the Second Death. 066 REV 002 012 “To the angel of the church in Pergamus write: These are the words of him who holds the sharp two-edged sword: 066 REV 002 013 I know where you live, where the throne of Satan stands. And yet you hold to my name, and you did not disown my faith even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death among you where Satan dwells. 066 REV 002 014 Yet I have a few things against you – You have among you those who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put temptations in the way of the Israelites, so that they should eat idol-offerings and commit licentious acts. 066 REV 002 015 Again you have among you those who hold in the same way to the teaching of the Nikolaitans. 066 REV 002 016 Therefore repent, or else, I will come quickly and contend with such people with words that will cut like a sword. 066 REV 002 017 Let those who have ears hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches. To those who conquer – to them I will give a share of the mystic manna, and I will give them a white stone; and on the stone will be inscribed a new name, which no one knows except the person who receives it. 066 REV 002 018 “To the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like flaming fire, and whose feet are like brass: 066 REV 002 019 I know your life, your love, faith, service, and endurance; and I know that your life of late has been better than it was at first. 066 REV 002 020 Yet I have this against you – You tolerate the woman Jezebel, who declares that she is a prophet, and misleads my servants by her teaching, until they commit licentious acts and eat idol-offerings. 066 REV 002 021 I gave her time to repent, but she is determined not to turn from her licentiousness. 066 REV 002 022 Therefore I am laying her on a bed of sickness, and bringing great suffering on those who are unfaithful with her, unless they repent and turn from a life like hers. 066 REV 002 023 I will also put her children to death; and all the churches will learn that I am he who looks into people’s hearts and souls; and I will give to each one of you what their life deserves. 066 REV 002 024 But I say to the rest of you at Thyatira – all who do not accept such teaching, whose who did not learn the secrets of Satan, as people call them – I am not laying on you any further burden; 066 REV 002 025 only hold fast to what you have received, until I come. 066 REV 002 026 To those who conquer and are careful to live my life to the end – to them I will give authority over the nations, 066 REV 002 027 and they will rule them with an iron rod, as when earthen vessels are broken in pieces (as I myself have received from my Father) 066 REV 002 028 and I will give them the morning star. 066 REV 002 029 Let those who have ears hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches. 066 REV 003 001 “To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars; – I know your life, and that people say of you that you are living, though you are dead. 066 REV 003 002 Be on the watch, and strengthen what still survives, though once it was all but dead; for I have not found your life perfect in the eyes of my God. 066 REV 003 003 Therefore remember what you have received and heard, and lay it to heart and repent. Unless you are on the watch, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I am coming to you. 066 REV 003 004 Yet there are some few among you at Sardis who did not soil their robes; they will walk with me, robed in white, for they are worthy. 066 REV 003 005 Those who conquer will be clothed in these white robes, and I will not strike their name out of the book of life; but I will own them before my Father, and before his angels. 066 REV 003 006 Let those who have ears hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches. 066 REV 003 007 “To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the Key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and shuts and no one opens: 066 REV 003 008 I know your life (see, I have set a door open before you which no one is able to shut), I know that, though you have but little strength, you kept my teaching in mind, and did not disown my name. 066 REV 003 009 Listen, I give some of the congregation of Satan, the people who declare that they are God’s people, though they are not, but are lying – I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and they will learn that I loved you. 066 REV 003 010 Because you kept in mind the story of my endurance, I will keep you in the hour of trial that is about to come on the whole world, the hour that will test all who are living on earth. 066 REV 003 011 I will come quickly. Hold to what you have received so that no one may take your crown. 066 REV 003 012 Those who conquer – I will make them a pillar in the Temple of my God; and never more will they leave it; and I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the New Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God, and I will write on them my new name. 066 REV 003 013 Let those who have ears hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches. 066 REV 003 014 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Unchanging One, the witness faithful and true, the beginning of the Creation of God: 066 REV 003 015 I know your life; I know that you are neither cold nor hot. If only you were either cold or hot! 066 REV 003 016 But now, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 066 REV 003 017 You say ‘I am rich and have grown rich, and I want for nothing,’ and you do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, naked! 066 REV 003 018 Therefore I counsel you to buy from me gold which has been refined by fire so that you may grow rich; and white robes, so that you may be clothed and your shameful nakedness be hidden; and ointment to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. 066 REV 003 019 All whom I love I rebuke and discipline. Therefore be in earnest and repent. 066 REV 003 020 I am standing at the door and knocking! If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will go in, and will feast with them, and they will feast with me. 066 REV 003 021 To those who conquer – to them I will give the right to sit beside me on my throne, as I, when I conquered, took my seat beside my Father on his throne. 066 REV 003 022 Let those who have ears hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches.” 066 REV 004 001 After this, in my vision, I saw an open door in the heavens, and the first voice that I heard was like the blast of a trumpet speaking to me. It said – ‘Come up here and I will show you what must take place.’ 066 REV 004 002 Immediately after this I fell into a trance. There stood a throne in heaven, and on the throne was One seated. 066 REV 004 003 He who was seated on it was in appearance like a jasper and a sardius; and around the throne there was a rainbow of the color of an emerald. 066 REV 004 004 And around the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and on these I saw twenty-four elders sitting clothed in white robes; and on their heads they had crowns of gold. 066 REV 004 005 Out from the throne come flashes of lightning, cries, and peals of thunder! There are seven torches burning in front of the throne, which are the seven spirits of God; 066 REV 004 006 and in front of the throne is what seemed to be a sea of glass, resembling crystal, while within the space before the throne and around the throne are four creatures full of eyes in front and behind. 066 REV 004 007 The first creature is like a lion, the second creature like a calf, the third creature has a face like a man’s, and the fourth creature is like an eagle on the wing. 066 REV 004 008 These four creatures have each of them six wings, and all around, and within, they are full of eyes; and day and night they never cease to say – ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord, our God, the Almighty, who was, and who is, and who will be.’ 066 REV 004 009 And, whenever these creatures give praise and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, to him who lives for ever and ever, (aiōn g165) 066 REV 004 010 the twenty-four elders prostrate themselves before him who is seated on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever, and throw down their crowns before the throne, saying – (aiōn g165) 066 REV 004 011 ‘Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive all praise, and honor, and power, for you did create all things, and at your bidding they came into being and were created.’ 066 REV 005 001 Then I saw at the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a book, with writing inside and out, and sealed with seven seals; 066 REV 005 002 and I saw a mighty angel who was proclaiming in a loud voice – ‘Who is worthy to open the book and break its seals?’ 066 REV 005 003 But no one either in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the book or look within it. 066 REV 005 004 At this I wept long, because no one could be found who was worthy to open the book or look within it. 066 REV 005 005 But one of the elders said to me – ‘Do not weep. The Lion conquered – the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Scion of David – and can therefore open the book with its seven seals.’ 066 REV 005 006 Then, within the space between the throne and the four creatures, and in the midst of the elders, I saw, standing, a Lamb, which seemed to have been sacrificed. It had seven horns and seven eyes. (These eyes are the seven spirits of God, and they are sent into all the world.) 066 REV 005 007 The Lamb came forward; and he has taken the book from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. 066 REV 005 008 And, when he had taken the book, the four creatures and the twenty-four elders prostrated themselves before the Lamb, each of them holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense. (These are the prayers of Christ’s people.) 066 REV 005 009 And they are singing a new song – ‘You are worthy to take the book and break its seals, for you were sacrificed, and with your blood you did buy for God people of every tribe, and language, and people, and nation, 066 REV 005 010 and did make them a kingdom of priests in the service of our God, and they are reigning on the earth.’ 066 REV 005 011 Then, in my vision, I heard the voices of many angels around the throne, and of the creatures, and of the elders. In number they were ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands, 066 REV 005 012 and they cried in a loud voice – ‘Worthy is the Lamb that was sacrificed to receive all power, and wealth, and wisdom, and might, and honor, and praise, and blessing.’ 066 REV 005 013 And I heard every created thing in the air, and on the earth, and under the earth, and on the sea, and all that is in them crying – ‘To him who is seated on the throne and to the Lamb be ascribed all blessing, and honor, and praise, and dominion for ever and ever.’ (aiōn g165) 066 REV 005 014 And the four creatures said ‘Amen,’ and the elders prostrated themselves and worshiped. 066 REV 006 001 Then I saw the Lamb break one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four creatures crying with a voice like thunder – ‘Come.’ 066 REV 006 002 And in my vision I saw a white horse. Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he went out conquering and to conquer. 066 REV 006 003 When the Lamb broke the second seal, I heard the second creature crying – ‘Come.’ 066 REV 006 004 Then there went out another horse, a red horse, and to its rider was given the power to deprive the earth of peace, so that people should kill one another; and he was given a great sword. 066 REV 006 005 When the Lamb broke the third seal, I heard the third creature crying – ‘Come.’ And in my vision I saw a black horse. Its rider held scales in his hand. 066 REV 006 006 And I heard what seemed to be a voice, coming from among the four creatures, crying – ‘A quart of wheat for a silver coin, and three quarts of barley for a silver coin! But do not harm the oil and the wine.’ 066 REV 006 007 When the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth creature crying – ‘Come.’ 066 REV 006 008 And in my vision I saw a grey horse. His rider’s name was Death, and Hades rode behind him; and power was given them over the fourth part of the earth, so that they might destroy with sword and famine and death, and by means of the wild Beasts of the earth. (Hadēs g86) 066 REV 006 009 When the Lamb opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been killed for the sake of God’s message and for the testimony which they had borne. 066 REV 006 010 They cried in a loud voice – ‘How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, before you will give judgment and avenge our blood on all who are living on the earth?’ 066 REV 006 011 Then to each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to rest yet a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and of their friends in Christ’s service who were about to be put to death, as they had been, should be complete. 066 REV 006 012 And I saw the Lamb break the sixth seal, and then there was a great earthquake. The sun became black, like sackcloth, and the moon, which was at its full, like blood. 066 REV 006 013 The stars of the heavens fell to the earth, as when a fig tree, shaken by a strong wind, drops its unripe fruit. 066 REV 006 014 The heavens disappeared like a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved from its place. 066 REV 006 015 Then all the kings of the earth, and the princes, and the generals, and the rich, and the powerful, and every slave and free person, hid themselves in the caves and under the rocks of the mountains; 066 REV 006 016 and they are crying to the mountains and the rocks – ‘Fall on us, and hide us from the eyes of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, 066 REV 006 017 for the great day of their wrath is come, and who can stand to meet it?’ 066 REV 007 001 After this, I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, restraining the four winds of the earth, so that no wind should blow over the earth, or over the sea, or against any tree. 066 REV 007 002 And, in the east, I saw another angel, ascending, holding the seal of the living God; and he cried in a loud voice to the four angels, to whom there had been given power to harm the earth and the sea – 066 REV 007 003 ‘Do not harm the earth, or the sea, or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.’ 066 REV 007 004 I heard, too, the number of those who had been sealed. It was one hundred and forty-four thousand; and they were from every tribe of the Israelites. 066 REV 007 005 From the tribe of Judah twelve thousand were sealed, from the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand, from the tribe of Gad twelve thousand, 066 REV 007 006 from the tribe of Asher twelve thousand, from the tribe of Napthali twelve thousand, from the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand, 066 REV 007 007 from the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand, from the tribe of Levi twelve thousand, from the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand, 066 REV 007 008 from the tribe of Zebulon twelve thousand, from the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand, from the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand were sealed. 066 REV 007 009 After this, in my vision, I saw a vast throng which no one could number, of people from every nation and of all tribes, and peoples, and languages. They stood in front of the throne and in front of the Lamb, robed in white, holding palm branches in their hands. 066 REV 007 010 And they are crying in a loud voice – ‘Salvation be ascribed to our God who is seated on his throne and to the Lamb.’ 066 REV 007 011 And all the angels were standing around the throne and the elders and the four creatures, and they prostrated themselves on their faces in front of the throne and worshiped God, 066 REV 007 012 saying – ‘Amen. Blessing and praise, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might be ascribed to our God for ever and ever. Amen.’ (aiōn g165) 066 REV 007 013 Then one of the elders turned to me and said ‘Who are these who are robed in white? And where did they come from?’ 066 REV 007 014 ‘My Lord,’ I answered, ‘it is you who know.’ ‘These,’ he said, ‘are they who come through the Great Persecution; they washed their robes white in the blood of the Lamb. 066 REV 007 015 And therefore it is that they are before the throne of God, and are serving him day and night in his Temple; and he who is seated on the throne will shelter them. 066 REV 007 016 Never again will they be hungry, never again will they be thirsty, nor will the sun smite them, nor any scorching heat; 066 REV 007 017 for the Lamb that stands in the space before the throne will be their shepherd, and will lead them to life-giving springs of water; and God will wipe away all tears from their eyes.’ 066 REV 008 001 As soon as the Lamb had broken the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for, it might be, half an hour. 066 REV 008 002 Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. 066 REV 008 003 Next, another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer in his hand; and a great quantity of incense was given to him, to mingle with the prayers of all Christ’s people on the golden altar before the throne. 066 REV 008 004 The smoke of the incense ascended, with the prayers of Christ’s people, from the hand of the angel before God. 066 REV 008 005 Then the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it down on the earth; and there followed peals of thunder, cries, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake. 066 REV 008 006 Then the seven angels holding the seven trumpets prepared to blow their blasts. 066 REV 008 007 The first blew; and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it fell on the earth. A third part of the earth was burnt up, and a third of the trees, and every blade of grass. 066 REV 008 008 Then the second angel blew; and what appeared to be a great mountain, burning, was hurled into the sea. A third of the sea became blood, 066 REV 008 009 and a third part of all created things that are in the sea – that is, of all living things – died, and a third of the ships was destroyed. 066 REV 008 010 Then the third angel blew; and there fell from the heavens a great star, burning like a torch. It fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs. 066 REV 008 011 (The star is called ‘Wormwood.’) A third of the water became bitter as wormwood, and so bitter was the water that many died from drinking it. 066 REV 008 012 Then the fourth angel blew; and a third of the sun and a third of the moon and a third of the stars were blasted, so that a third of them was eclipsed, and for a third part of the day there was no light, and at night it was the same. 066 REV 008 013 And, in my vision, I heard an eagle flying in mid-heaven and crying in a loud voice – ‘Woe, woe, woe for all who live on the earth, at the other trumpet-blasts of the three angels who have yet to blow.’ 066 REV 009 001 Then the fifth angel blew; and I saw a star that had fallen on the earth from the heavens, and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. (Abyssos g12) 066 REV 009 002 He opened the bottomless pit, and from the pit rose a smoke like the smoke of a great furnace. The sun and the air grew dark because of the smoke from the pit. (Abyssos g12) 066 REV 009 003 Out of the smoke locusts descended on the earth, and they received the same power as that possessed by scorpions. 066 REV 009 004 They were told not to harm the grass, or any plant, or any tree, but only those who have not the seal of God on their foreheads. 066 REV 009 005 Yet they were not allowed to kill them, but it was ordered that those men should be tortured for five months. Their torture was like the torture caused by a scorpion when it stings a person. 066 REV 009 006 In those days people will seek Death and will not find it; They will long to die, but Death flees from them. 066 REV 009 007 In appearance the locusts were like horses equipped for battle. On their heads there were what appeared to be crowns that shone like gold, their faces resembled human faces, 066 REV 009 008 and they had hair like the hair of a woman, their teeth were like lions’ teeth, 066 REV 009 009 and they had what seemed to be iron breastplates, while the noise of their wings was like the noise of chariots drawn by many horses, galloping into battle. 066 REV 009 010 They have tails like scorpions, and stings, and in their tails lies their power to harm people for five months. 066 REV 009 011 They have as their king the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name, in Hebrew, is ‘Abaddon,’ while, in Greek, his name is ‘Apollyon’ (the Destroyer). (Abyssos g12) 066 REV 009 012 The first Woe has passed; and still there are two Woes to follow! 066 REV 009 013 Then the sixth angel blew; and I heard a voice proceeding from the corners of the golden altar that stood before God. 066 REV 009 014 It spoke to the sixth angel – the angel with the trumpet – and said ‘Let loose the four angels that are in chains at the great river Euphrates.’ 066 REV 009 015 Then the four angels, that were held in readiness for that hour and day and month and year, were let loose, to destroy a third of mankind. 066 REV 009 016 The number of the hosts of cavalry was ten thousand times ten thousand, twice told; I heard their number. 066 REV 009 017 And this is what the horses and their riders appeared to be like in my vision: They had breastplates of fire, blood-red and sulphurous, and the heads of the horses were like lions’ heads, while out of their mouths issue fire, and smoke, and sulfur. 066 REV 009 018 Through these three curses a third of humanity perished – because of the fire, and the smoke, and the sulfur that issued from their mouths; 066 REV 009 019 for the power of the horses lies in their mouths and in their tails. For their tails are like snakes, with heads, and it is with them that they do harm. 066 REV 009 020 But those who were left of humanity, who had not perished through these curses, did not repent and turn away from what their own hands had made; they would not abandon the worship of demons, and of idols made of gold or silver or brass or stone or wood, which can neither see, nor hear, nor walk; 066 REV 009 021 and they did not repent of their murders, or their sorceries, or their licentiousness, or their thefts. 066 REV 010 001 Then I saw another mighty angel, descending from heaven. His robe was a cloud; over his head was the rainbow; his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire; 066 REV 010 002 in his hand he held a little book open. He set his right foot on the sea, and his left on the land; 066 REV 010 003 and he cried in a loud voice like the roaring of a lion. At his cry the seven peals of thunder spoke, each with its own voice. 066 REV 010 004 And, when they spoke, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven say – ‘Keep secret what the seven peals of thunder said, and do not write it down.’ 066 REV 010 005 Then the angel, whom I had seen standing on the sea and on the land, raised his right hand to the heavens, 066 REV 010 006 and swore by him who lives for ever and ever, who created the heavens and all that is in them, and the earth and all that is in it, and the sea and all that is in it, that time should cease to be. (aiōn g165) 066 REV 010 007 Moreover at the time when the seventh angel will speak, when he is ready to blow his blast, then the hidden purposes of God, of which he told the good news to his servants, the prophets, are at once fulfilled. 066 REV 010 008 Then came the voice which I had heard from heaven. It spoke to me again, and said – ‘Go and take the book that is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the land.’ 066 REV 010 009 So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little book. And he said ‘Take it, and eat it. It will be bitter to your stomach, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.’ 066 REV 010 010 I took the little book out of the angel’s hand and ate it, and, while in my mouth, it was like the sweetest honey; but, when I had eaten it, it was bitter to my stomach. 066 REV 010 011 And I was told – ‘You must prophesy again about men of many peoples, and nations, and languages, and about many kings.’ 066 REV 011 001 Then I was given a measure like a rod, and a voice said to me – ‘Go and measure the Temple of God and the altar, and count the worshiper there. 066 REV 011 002 But omit the court outside the Temple, and do not measure that, for it has been given up to the nations; and the holy City will be under their heel for forty-two months. 066 REV 011 003 Then I will give permission to my Two Witnesses, and for those twelve hundred and sixty days they will continue teaching, clothed in sackcloth.’ 066 REV 011 004 These men are represented by the two olive trees and the two lamps that stand before the Lord of the earth. 066 REV 011 005 When anyone wishes to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and consumes their enemies; and whoever wishes to harm them will, in this way, inevitably perish. 066 REV 011 006 These men have the power to close the heavens, so that no rain may fall during the time that they are teaching; and they have power to turn the streams into blood, and to smite the land with any curse, whenever they will. 066 REV 011 007 As soon as they have completed their testimony, the wild Beast that ascends from the bottomless pit will make war on them and conquer and kill them. (Abyssos g12) 066 REV 011 008 Their dead bodies will lie in the streets of the great city, which is mystically spoken of as ‘Sodom’ and ‘Egypt,’ where their Master was crucified. 066 REV 011 009 People of all nations, and tribes, and languages, and races look at their dead bodies for three days and a half, and do not allow them to be laid in a grave. 066 REV 011 010 Those who live on the earth rejoice over them and are merry, and they will send presents to one another, because these two prophets brought torments on those who live on the earth. 066 REV 011 011 After three days and a half the life-giving breath of God entered these men, and they stood up on their feet, and a great terror took possession of those who were watching them. 066 REV 011 012 The two men heard a loud voice from heaven which said to them – ‘Come up here,’ and they went up to heaven in the cloud, while their enemies watched them. 066 REV 011 013 At that very time a great earthquake occurred. A tenth part of the city fell, and seven thousand people perished in the earthquake. Those who escaped were much terrified, and praised the God of heaven. 066 REV 011 014 The second Woe has passed; and there is a third Woe soon to follow! 066 REV 011 015 Then the seventh angel blew; and loud voices were heard in heaven saying – ‘The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.’ (aiōn g165) 066 REV 011 016 At this the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, prostrated themselves on their faces and worshiped him, 066 REV 011 017 saying – ‘We thank you, Lord, our God, the Almighty, who is and who was, that you have assumed your great power and reigned. 066 REV 011 018 The nations were enraged, and your wrath fell on them; the time came for the dead to be judged, and for you to give the reward to your servants the prophets, and to the people of Christ, and to those who honor your name – the high and the low alike – and to destroy those who are destroying the earth.’ 066 REV 011 019 Then the Temple of God in heaven was opened, and the ark containing his covenant was seen in his Temple; and there followed flashes of lightning, cries, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and a great storm of hail. 066 REV 012 001 Then a great portent was seen in the heavens – a woman whose robe was the sun, and who had the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. 066 REV 012 002 She was pregnant; and she is crying out in the pain and agony of childbirth. 066 REV 012 003 Another portent also was seen in the heavens There was a great red Dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven diadems. 066 REV 012 004 His tail draws after it a third of the stars in the heavens, and it hurled them down on the earth. The Dragon is standing in front of the woman who is about to give birth to the child, so that he may devour it as soon as it is born. 066 REV 012 005 The woman gave birth to a son, a male child, who is destined to rule all the nations with an iron rod; and her child was at once caught up to God on his throne. 066 REV 012 006 But the woman fled into the wilderness, where there is a place prepared for her by God, to be tended there for twelve hundred and sixty days. 066 REV 012 007 Then a battle took place in the heavens. Michael and his angels fought with the Dragon. But though the Dragon, with his angels, fought, 066 REV 012 008 he did not prevail; and there was no place left for them any longer in the heavens. 066 REV 012 009 Then the great Dragon, the primeval snake, known as the ‘devil’ and ‘Satan,’ who deceives all the world, was hurled down to the earth, and his angels were hurled down with him. 066 REV 012 010 And I heard a loud voice in heaven which said – ‘Now has begun the day of the salvation, and Power, and Dominion of our God, and the Rule of his Christ; for the Accuser of our people has been hurled down, he who has been accusing them before our God day and night. 066 REV 012 011 Their victory was due to the blood of the Lamb, and to the message to which they bore their testimony. In their love of life they shrank not from death. 066 REV 012 012 Therefore, be glad, heaven, and all who live in heaven! Alas for the earth and for the sea, for the devil has gone down to you in great fury, knowing that he has but little time.’ 066 REV 012 013 When the Dragon saw that he was hurled down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. 066 REV 012 014 But to the woman were given the two wings of the great eagle, so that she might fly to her place in the wilderness, where she is being tended for one year, and for two years, and for half a year in safety from the snake. 066 REV 012 015 Then the snake poured water from its mouth after the woman, like a river, so that it might sweep her away. 066 REV 012 016 But Earth came to her help, and opened her mouth and drank up the river which the Dragon had poured out of its mouth. 066 REV 012 017 The Dragon was enraged at the woman, and went to fight with the rest of her offspring – those who lay to heart the commands of God and bear their testimony to Jesus; 066 REV 013 001 and he took his stand on the sea-shore. Then I saw, rising out of the sea, a wild Beast with ten horns and seven heads. On its horns were ten diadems, and on its heads were blasphemous names. 066 REV 013 002 The Beast that I saw was like a leopard; but its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth like the mouth of a lion. The Dragon gave it his power and his throne, and wide dominion. 066 REV 013 003 One of its heads seemed to me to have been mortally wounded, but its deadly wound had been healed. The whole earth followed the Beast, wondering; 066 REV 013 004 and men worshiped the Dragon, because he had given his dominion to the Beast; while, as they worshiped the Beast, they said – ‘Who can compare with the Beast? And who can fight with it?’ 066 REV 013 005 The Beast was given a mouth that spoke proudly and blasphemously, and it was empowered to work its will for forty-two months. 066 REV 013 006 It opened its mouth only to blaspheme God, to blaspheme his name and his tent – those who live in his tent in heaven. 066 REV 013 007 It had been permitted to fight with Christ’s people and to conquer them, and it had received power over men of every tribe, and people, and language, and nation. 066 REV 013 008 All who are living on earth will worship it – all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life, the Lamb that has been sacrificed from the foundation of the world. 066 REV 013 009 Let those who have ears hear. 066 REV 013 010 Whoever is destined for captivity goes into captivity. Whoever will kill with the sword must inevitably be killed with the sword. (Here there is need for endurance and faith on the part of Christ’s people.) 066 REV 013 011 Then I saw, rising out of the earth, another wild Beast. It had two horns like those of a lamb, and its voice was like a dragon’s. 066 REV 013 012 It exercises all the authority of the first Beast under its eyes; and it makes the earth and all who are living on it worship that first Beast, whose mortal wound was healed. 066 REV 013 013 It performs great marvels, even causing fire to fall from the heavens to the earth, before people’s eyes; 066 REV 013 014 and in consequence of the marvels which it was allowed to perform under the eyes of the Beast, it is able to deceive all who are living on the earth. It tells those who live on the earth to make a statue in honor of the Beast, who, despite the wound from the sword, yet lived. 066 REV 013 015 It was permitted to breathe life into the image of the Beast, so that the image of the Beast might speak; and it was also permitted to cause all who refused to worship the image of the Beast to be put to death. 066 REV 013 016 High and low, rich and poor, free and enslaved – it causes a brand to be put on the right hand or on the forehead of every one of them, 066 REV 013 017 so that no one is able to buy or sell, except those that bear this brand – either the name of the Beast or the number indicated by the letters of his name. 066 REV 013 018 (Here there is need for discernment.) The person with ability can compute the number of the Beast; for the number indicates a person’s name. Its number is six hundred and sixty-six. 066 REV 014 001 Then, in my vision, I saw the Lamb standing on Mount Zion. With him were a hundred and forty-four thousand, with his name and the name of his Father written on their foreheads. 066 REV 014 002 And I heard a sound from heaven, like the sound of many waters, and like the sound of a loud peal of thunder; the sound that I heard was like the music of harpers playing on their harps. 066 REV 014 003 They are singing what seems to be a new song, before the throne, and before the four creatures and the elders; and no one was able to learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who had been redeemed from earth. 066 REV 014 004 These are the men who never defiled themselves in their intercourse with women; they are as pure as virgins. These are the men who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were redeemed as the first-fruits of mankind for God and for the Lamb. 066 REV 014 005 No lie was ever heard on their lips. They are beyond reach of blame. 066 REV 014 006 Then I saw another angel, flying in mid-heaven. He had the good news, decreed from eternity, to announce to those who live on the earth – to men of every nation, and tribe, and language, and people; (aiōnios g166) 066 REV 014 007 and he cried in a loud voice – ‘Reverence God, and give him praise (for the hour of his judgment has come) and worship him who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all springs of water.’ 066 REV 014 008 Then a second angel followed, crying – ‘She has fallen! She has fallen – Babylon the Great, who has made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her licentiousness!’ 066 REV 014 009 Then a third angel followed them, crying in a loud voice – ‘Whoever worships the Beast and its image, and receives its brand on his forehead or on his hand, 066 REV 014 010 that person will drink the maddening wine of God that has been poured unmixed into the cup of his wrath, and they will be tortured with fire and sulfur before the eyes of the holy angels and before the eyes of the Lamb. 066 REV 014 011 The smoke from their torture rises for ever and ever, and they have no rest day nor night – those who worship the Beast and its image, and all who are branded with its name.’ (aiōn g165) 066 REV 014 012 (Here there is need for endurance on the part of Christ’s people – those who lay to heart the commands of God and the faith of Jesus.) 066 REV 014 013 Then I heard a voice from heaven saying ‘Write: “Blessed are the dead who from this hour die in union with the Lord.”’ “Yes,” answers the Spirit, “that they may rest from their toil. Their good deeds go with them.” 066 REV 014 014 Then, in my vision, I saw a white cloud, and on the cloud there was sitting one like a man. On his head he had a crown of gold, and in his hand a sharp sickle. 066 REV 014 015 Then another angel came out from the Temple, crying in a loud voice to him who was sitting on the cloud – ‘Take your sickle and reap, for the time to reap has come; the Harvest of Earth is ready.’ 066 REV 014 016 He who was sitting on the cloud brought his sickle down on the earth, and the Harvest of Earth was reaped. 066 REV 014 017 Then another angel came out of the Temple in heaven; he, also, had a sharp sickle. 066 REV 014 018 Then another angel came out of the altar; he had power over fire, and he called in a loud voice to the angel that had the sharp sickle – ‘Take your sharp sickle, and gather the bunches from the vine of Earth, for its grapes are ripe.’ 066 REV 014 019 The angel brought his sickle down on the earth and gathered the fruit of the vine of Earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 066 REV 014 020 The grapes were trodden in the press outside the city; and blood came out of the press, rising as high as the bridles of the horses for a distance of two hundred miles. 066 REV 015 001 Then I saw another portent in the heavens – a great and marvelous portent – seven angels with the seven last curses; because with them the wrath of God is ended. 066 REV 015 002 Then I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mixed with fire; and, standing by this sea of glass, holding the harps of God, I saw those who had come victorious out of the conflict with the Beast and its image and the number that formed its name. 066 REV 015 003 They are singing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb – ‘Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord, our God, the Almighty. Righteous and true are your ways, eternal King. 066 REV 015 004 Who will not honor and praise your name, Lord? You alone are holy! All nations will come and worship before you, for your judgments have become manifest.’ 066 REV 015 005 After this I saw that the inmost shrine of the tent of testimony in heaven was opened, 066 REV 015 006 and out of it came the seven angels with the seven curses. They were adorned with precious stones, pure and bright, and had golden girdles around their breasts. 066 REV 015 007 One of the four creatures gave the seven angels seven golden bowls, filled with the wrath of God who lives for ever and ever. (aiōn g165) 066 REV 015 008 The Temple was filled with smoke from the glory and majesty of God; and no one could enter the Temple, until the seven curses inflicted by the seven angels were at an end. 066 REV 016 001 Then I heard a loud voice, which came from the Temple, saying to the seven angels – ‘Go and empty the seven bowls of the wrath of God on the earth.’ 066 REV 016 002 The first angel went and emptied his bowl on the earth; and it turned to loathsome and painful sores on all who bore the brand of the Beast and who worshiped its image. 066 REV 016 003 Then the second angel emptied his bowl on the sea; and it turned to blood like the blood of a corpse, and every living thing died – everything in the sea. 066 REV 016 004 Then the third angel emptied his bowl on the rivers and springs of water; and it turned to blood. 066 REV 016 005 And I heard the angel of the Waters saying – ‘Righteous are you, you who is and who is, the Holy One, in inflicting this judgment; 066 REV 016 006 for men shed the blood of Christ’s people and of the prophets, and you have given them blood to drink. It is what they deserve.’ 066 REV 016 007 And I heard the response from the altar – ‘Yes, Lord, our God, the Almighty, true and righteous are they judgments.’ 066 REV 016 008 Then the fourth angel emptied his bowl on the sun; and he was permitted to scorch men with fire; 066 REV 016 009 and men were scorched by the intense heat. They blasphemed the name of God who controlled these curses, yet they did not repent and give him praise. 066 REV 016 010 Then the fifth angel emptied his bowl on the throne of the Beast; and darkness fell on its kingdom. Men gnawed their tongues for pain, 066 REV 016 011 and blasphemed the God of heaven, because of their pains and because of their sores; yet they did not repent of what they had done. 066 REV 016 012 Then the sixth angel emptied his bowl on the great river Euphrates; and the water in the river was dried up, so that the road for the kings of the East might be made ready. 066 REV 016 013 And I saw three foul spirits, like frogs, come from the mouth of the Dragon and from the mouth of the Beast and from the mouth of the false prophet. 066 REV 016 014 They are the spirits of demons, and perform marvels; they go to kings all over the world, to collect them for the battle on the great day of Almighty God. 066 REV 016 015 (‘I am coming like a thief! Happy will he be who is on the watch, and keeps his clothing at hand, so that he will not have to walk about unclothed and let men see his nakedness.’) 066 REV 016 016 And the spirits collected the kings at the place called in Hebrew ‘Har-Magedon.’ 066 REV 016 017 Then the seventh angel emptied his bowl on the air. (A loud voice came from the throne in the Temple; it said ‘All is over.’) 066 REV 016 018 There followed flashes of lightning, cries, and peals of thunder; and there was a great earthquake, such as had not occurred since man began to be on the earth – none so great; 066 REV 016 019 and the great city was torn in three, and the cities of the nation fell, and God remembered Babylon the Great, and gave her the maddening wine-cup of his wrath; 066 REV 016 020 and every island vanished, and the mountains disappeared. 066 REV 016 021 Great hailstones, a pound in weight, are falling on men from the heavens. And men blasphemed God because of the curse of the hail, for it was a very terrible curse. 066 REV 017 001 Then one of the seven angels who held the seven bowls came and spoke to me. ‘Come here,’ he said, ‘and I will show you the sentence passed on that Great Harlot who is seated at the meeting of many waters, 066 REV 017 002 and with whom all the kings of the earth have had licentious intercourse; while all who live on the earth have been make drunk by the wine of her licentiousness.’ 066 REV 017 003 And he bore me away in a trance to a lonely place, and I saw a woman seated on a scarlet Beast, which was covered with blasphemous names; it had seven heads and ten horns. 066 REV 017 004 The woman was clothed in purple and scarlet, and glittering with gold ornaments, precious stones, and pearls. In her hand she held a gold cup, full of idolatrous abominations, and the unclean fruits of her licentiousness; 066 REV 017 005 while on her forehead there was written this mystic name – ‘BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF ALL IDOLATROUS ABOMINATIONS ON EARTH.’ 066 REV 017 006 And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of Christ’s people and with the blood of the martyrs for Jesus. When I saw her, I was amazed beyond measure; 066 REV 017 007 but the angel said to me – ‘Why were you amazed? I will tell you the mystic meaning of the vision of this woman, and of the Beast, with the seven heads and ten horns, that carries her. 066 REV 017 008 The Beast that you saw was, but is not, and is about to rise out of the bottomless pit, and is on its way to destruction. Those who are living on earth will be amazed – those whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world – when they see that the Beast was, but is not, and yet will come.’ (Abyssos g12) 066 REV 017 009 (Here there is need for the discerning mind.) The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated. 066 REV 017 010 They are also seven kings; of whom five have fallen and one remains, while one is not yet come. When he comes, he must stay for a little while. 066 REV 017 011 So must the Beast that was, but is not. He counts as an eighth king, although he is one of the seven, and is on his way to destruction. 066 REV 017 012 The ten horns that you saw are ten kings, who have not yet received their kingdoms, but for an hour they receive the authority of kings, together with the Beast. 066 REV 017 013 These kings are of one mind in surrendering their power and authority to the Beast. 066 REV 017 014 They will fight with the Lamb, but the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings; so, too, will those with him who have received the call and are chosen and faithful. 066 REV 017 015 And the angel said to me – ‘The waters that you saw, where the Harlot is seated, are throngs of people and men of all nations and languages. 066 REV 017 016 The ten horns that you saw, and the Beast – they will hate the Harlot, and cause her to become deserted and strip her bare; they will eat her flesh and utterly consume her with fire. 066 REV 017 017 For God has put it into their minds to carry out his purpose, in carrying out their common purpose and surrendering their kingdoms to the Beast, until God’s decrees will be executed. 066 REV 017 018 As for the woman whom you saw, she is the great city that holds sway over all the kings of the earth.’ 066 REV 018 001 After this I saw another angel, descending from heaven, invested with great authority; and the earth was illuminated by his splendor. 066 REV 018 002 With a mighty voice he cried – “She has fallen! She has fallen – Babylon the Great! She has become an abode of demons, a stronghold of every wicked spirit, a stronghold of every foul and hateful bird. 066 REV 018 003 For, after drinking the maddening wine of her licentiousness, all the nations have fallen; while all the kings of the earth have had licentious intercourse with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown rich through the excess of her luxury.” 066 REV 018 004 Then I heard another voice from heaven saying – “Come out of her, my people, so that you may not participate in her sins, and that you may not suffer from the curses inflicted on her. 066 REV 018 005 For her sins are heaped up to the heavens, and God has not forgotten her misdeeds. 066 REV 018 006 Pay her back the treatment with which she has treated you; yes, repay twice over what her actions deserve; in the cup which she mixed for you, mix for her as much again; 066 REV 018 007 for her self-glorification and her luxury, give her now an equal measure of torture and misery. In her heart she says ‘I sit here a queen; no widow am I; I will never know misery.’ 066 REV 018 008 Therefore in one day will these curses strike her – death, misery, and famine, and she will be utterly consumed by fire; for mighty is the Lord God who condemned her.” 066 REV 018 009 All the kings of the earth who had licentious intercourse with her and shared her luxury will weep and lament over her, when they see the smoke from the burning city, 066 REV 018 010 while they stand at a distance, horrified at her torture, and cry – “Alas! Alas! Great city! Mighty city of Babylon! In a single hour your judgment fell.” 066 REV 018 011 And the merchants of the earth weep and wail over her, because no longer does anyone buy their cargoes – 066 REV 018 012 their cargoes of gold, or silver, or precious stones, or pearls, or fine linen, or purple robes, or silk, or scarlet cloth; nor their many scented woods; nor their many articles of ivory; nor their many articles of choicest wood, or brass, or iron, or marble; 066 REV 018 013 nor their cinnamon, or spice, or incense, or perfumes, or frankincense, or wine, or oil, or fine flour, or wheat, or cattle, or sheep; nor their horses, or chariots, or slaves; nor the bodies and souls of people. 066 REV 018 014 The fruit that your soul craved is no longer within your reach, and all dainties and luxuries are lost to you, never to be found again. 066 REV 018 015 The merchants who sold these things, and grew rich by her, will stand at a distance weeping and wailing, horrified at her torture, and crying – 066 REV 018 016 “Alas! Alas! Great city! City clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet cloth! City adorned with gold ornaments, and precious stones, and pearls! 066 REV 018 017 In a single hour your vast wealth vanished.” Every ship’s captain and all who sail to any port, and sailors, and all who get their living from the sea, stood at a distance, 066 REV 018 018 and seeing the smoke from the burning city, cried – “What city can compare with the Great city?” 066 REV 018 019 They threw dust on their heads, and, as they wept and wailed, they cried – “Alas! Alas! Great city! All who have ships on the sea grew rich through her magnificence. In a single hour it has vanished.” 066 REV 018 020 Rejoice over her, heaven, and people of Christ, and apostles, and prophets, for God has avenged you on her! 066 REV 018 021 Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and threw it into the sea, crying – “So will Babylon, the great city, be violently overthrown, never more to be seen. 066 REV 018 022 No more will the music of harpers, or minstrels, or flute players, or trumpeters be heard in you, no more will any worker, skilled in any art, be found in you; no more will the sound of a mill be heard in you; 066 REV 018 023 no more will the light of a lamp shine in you; no more will the voices of groom and bride be heard in you. Your merchants were the great men of the earth, for all the nations were deceived by your magical charms.” 066 REV 018 024 Yes, and in her was to be found the blood of the prophets and of Christ’s people, and of all who have been put to death on the earth. 066 REV 019 001 After this, I heard what seemed to be a great shout from a vast throng in heaven, crying – ‘Hallelujah! To our God belong salvation, and glory, and Power, 066 REV 019 002 for true and righteous are his judgments. For he has passed judgment on the Great Harlot who was corrupting the earth by her licentiousness, and he has taken vengeance on her for the blood of his servants.’ 066 REV 019 003 Again they cried – ‘Hallelujah!’ And the smoke from her ruins rises for ever and ever. (aiōn g165) 066 REV 019 004 Then the twenty-four elders and the Four creatures prostrated themselves and worshiped God who was seated on the throne, crying – ‘Amen, Hallelujah!’; 066 REV 019 005 and from the throne there came a voice which said – ‘Praise our God all you who serve him, You who worship him, both high and low.’ 066 REV 019 006 Then I heard what seemed to be the shout of a vast throng, like the sound of many waters, and like the sound of loud peals of thunder, crying – ‘Hallelujah! For the Lord is king, our God, the Almighty. 066 REV 019 007 Let us rejoice and exalt; and we will pay him honor, for the hour for the Marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready. 066 REV 019 008 And to her it has been granted to robe herself in fine linen, white and pure, for that linen is the good deeds of the people of Christ.’ 066 REV 019 009 Then a voice said to me ‘Write – “Blessed are those who have been summoned to the marriage feast of the Lamb.”’ And the voice said – ‘These words of God are true.’ 066 REV 019 010 I prostrated myself at the feet of him who spoke to worship him, but he said to me – ‘No! I am your fellow servant, and the fellow servant of your brothers and sisters who bear their testimony to Jesus. Worship God. For to bear testimony to Jesus needs the inspiration of the prophets.’ 066 REV 019 011 Then I saw that heaven lay open. There appears a white horse; its rider is called ‘Faithful’ and ‘True’; righteously does he judge and make war. 066 REV 019 012 His eyes are flaming fires; on his head there are many diadems, and he bears a name, written, which no one knows but himself; 066 REV 019 013 he has been clothed in a garment sprinkled with blood; and the name by which he is called is ‘The Word of God.’ 066 REV 019 014 The armies of heaven followed him, mounted on white horses and clothed in fine linen, white and pure. 066 REV 019 015 From his mouth comes a sharp sword, with which to smite the nations; and he will rule them with an iron rod. He treads the grapes in the press of the maddening wine of the wrath of Almighty God; 066 REV 019 016 and on his robe and on his thigh he has this name written – ‘KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.’ 066 REV 019 017 Then I saw an angel standing on the sun. He cried in a loud voice to all the birds that fly in mid-heaven – ‘Gather and come to the great feast of God, 066 REV 019 018 to eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of commanders, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all free and enslaved, and of high and low.’ 066 REV 019 019 Then I saw the Beast and the kings of the earth and their armies, gathered together to fight with him who sat on the horse and with his army. 066 REV 019 020 The Beast was captured, and with him was taken the false prophet, who performed the marvels before the eyes of the Beast, with which he deceived those who had received the brand of the Beast and those who worshiped his image. Alive, they were thrown, both of them, into the lake of fire – of burning sulfur. (Limnē Pyr g3041 g4442) 066 REV 019 021 The rest were killed by the sword which came out of the mouth of him who rode on the horse; and all the birds fed on their flesh. 066 REV 020 001 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, with the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. (Abyssos g12) 066 REV 020 002 He seized the Dragon, the primeval snake (who is the ‘devil’ or ‘Satan’), and bound him in chains for a thousand years. 066 REV 020 003 He flung him into the bottomless pit and locked it, and set his seal on it; that he should not deceive the nations any more, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be let loose for a while. (Abyssos g12) 066 REV 020 004 Then I saw thrones, and to those who took their seats on them authority was given to act as judges. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of the testimony to Jesus and because of the message of God, for they had refused to worship the Beast or its image, and had not received the brand on their foreheads and on their hands. They were restored to life, and they reigned with the Christ for a thousand years. 066 REV 020 005 (The rest of the dead were not restored to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. 066 REV 020 006 Blessed and holy will he be who shares in that first resurrection. The second Death has no power over them; but they will be priests of God, and the Christ, and they will reign with him for the thousand years. 066 REV 020 007 When the thousand years are ended, Satan will be let loose from his prison, 066 REV 020 008 and he will come out to deceive the nations that live in the four corners of the earth – Gog and Magog. He will come to gather them together for battle; and their number will be as great as the sand on the sea-shore. 066 REV 020 009 They went up over the breadth of the whole earth, and surrounded the camp of Christ’s people and the city that he loves. Then fire fell from the heavens and consumed them; 066 REV 020 010 and the devil, their deceiver, was hurled into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the Beast and the false prophet already were, and they will be tortured day and night for ever and ever. (aiōn g165, Limnē Pyr g3041 g4442) 066 REV 020 011 Then I saw a great white throne, and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence; no place was left for them. 066 REV 020 012 And I saw the dead, high and low, standing before the throne; and books were opened. Then another book was opened, the book of life; and the dead were judged, according to their actions, by what was written in the books. 066 REV 020 013 The sea gave up its dead, and Death and Hades gave up their dead; and they were judged, one by one, each according to his actions. (Hadēs g86) 066 REV 020 014 Then Death and Hades were hurled into the lake of fire. This is the Second Death – the lake of fire; (Hadēs g86, Limnē Pyr g3041 g4442) 066 REV 020 015 and all whose names were not found written in the book of life were hurled into the lake of fire. (Limnē Pyr g3041 g4442) 066 REV 021 001 Then I saw new heavens and a new earth. The former heavens and the former earth had passed away; and the sea has ceased to be. 066 REV 021 002 And I saw the Holy City, Jerusalem, descending new out of heaven from God, like a bride adorned in readiness for her husband. 066 REV 021 003 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, which said – ‘See! The tent of God is set up among people. God will live among them, and they will be his Peoples, and God himself will be among them, 066 REV 021 004 and he will wipe away all tears from their eyes. There will be no more death, nor will there be any more grief or crying or pain. The old order has passed away.’ 066 REV 021 005 And he who was seated on the throne said – ‘See, I make all things new!’ And he said – ‘Write this, for these words may be trusted and are true.’ 066 REV 021 006 And he said to me – ‘They are fulfilled. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the End. To those who thirst I will give of the spring of the water of life, freely. 066 REV 021 007 Those who conquer will enter into possession of these things, and I will be their God, and they will be my children. 066 REV 021 008 But as for cowards, unbelievers, the degraded, murderers, the impure, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars – their place will be in the burning lake of fire and sulfur. That is the Second Death.’ (Limnē Pyr g3041 g4442) 066 REV 021 009 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls, and were laden with the seven last curses, came and spoke to me. ‘Come here,’ he said, ‘and I will show you the Bride, the Wife of the Lamb.’ 066 REV 021 010 He carried me away in a trance to a great high mountain, and showed me Jerusalem, the Holy City, descending out of heaven from God, filled with the glory of God. 066 REV 021 011 Its brilliance was like a precious stone, like a jasper, transparent as crystal. 066 REV 021 012 It had a great high wall, in which were twelve gates; and at these gates there were twelve angels, and there were names inscribed on the gates, the names of the twelve tribes of the Israelites. 066 REV 021 013 There were three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west. 066 REV 021 014 The wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, on which were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 066 REV 021 015 And the angel who was speaking to me had as a measure a gold rod, with which to measure the city and its gates and its wall. 066 REV 021 016 The city is square; the length and the breadth are the same. The angel measured with his rod; it was twelve hundred miles; its length, and breadth, and height are equal. 066 REV 021 017 Then he measured the wall; it was two hundred and eighty-eight feet, as people measure, that is as the angel measured. 066 REV 021 018 The material of the wall of the city was jasper, and the city was built of pure gold, which shone like clear glass. 066 REV 021 019 The foundations of the wall of the city were ornamented with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation stone was a jasper; the second a sapphire; the third a chalcedony; the fourth an emerald; 066 REV 021 020 the fifth a sardonyx; the sixth a carnelian; the seventh a chrysolite; the eighth a beryl; the ninth a topaz; the tenth a chrysoprase; the eleventh a hyacinth; and the twelfth an amethyst. 066 REV 021 021 The twelve gates were made of twelve pearls, each gate of one pearl. The street of the city was of pure gold, transparent as glass. 066 REV 021 022 And I saw no Temple there, for the Lord, our God, the Almighty, and the Lamb are its Temple. 066 REV 021 023 The city has no need of the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God illuminated it, and its Lamp was the Lamb. 066 REV 021 024 The nations walk by the light of it; and the kings of the earth bring their glory into it. 066 REV 021 025 Its gates will never be shut by day, and there will be no night there. 066 REV 021 026 And people will bring the glory and honor of the nations into it. 066 REV 021 027 Never will any unhallowed thing enter it, nor they whose life is shameful and false, but only those whose names have been written in the Lamb’s book of life. 066 REV 022 001 And the angel showed me a river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, issuing from the throne of God and of the Lamb, 066 REV 022 002 in the middle of the street of the city. On each side of the river was a Tree of life which bore twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 066 REV 022 003 Every thing that is accursed will cease to be. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be within it, and his servants will worship him; 066 REV 022 004 they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 066 REV 022 005 Night will cease to be. They have no need of the light of a lamp, nor have they the light of the sun; for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign for ever and ever. (aiōn g165) 066 REV 022 006 Then the angel said to me – “These words may be trusted and are true. The Lord, the God that inspires the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants what must quickly take place; 066 REV 022 007 and they said ‘I will come quickly.’ Blessed will he be who lays to heart the words of the prophecy contained in this book.” 066 REV 022 008 It was I, John, who heard and saw these things; and, when I heard and saw them, I prostrated myself in worship at the feet of the angel that showed them to me. 066 REV 022 009 But he said to me – “Forbear; I am your fellow servant, and the fellow servant of your fellow prophets, and of all who lay to heart the words in this book. Worship God.” 066 REV 022 010 Then the angel said to me – “Do not keep secret the words of the prophecy contained in this book; for the time is near. 066 REV 022 011 Let the wrongdoer continue to do wrong; the filthy-minded continue to be filthy; the righteous continue to act righteously; and the holy-minded continue to be holy.” 066 REV 022 012 (‘I will come quickly. I bring my rewards with me, to give to each what their actions deserve. 066 REV 022 013 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the beginning and the End.’) 066 REV 022 014 Blessed will they be who wash their robes! They will have the right to approach the Tree of life, and may enter the city by the gates. 066 REV 022 015 Outside will be the filthy, the sorcerers, the impure, the murderers, the idolaters, and all who love the false and live it. 066 REV 022 016 ‘I, Jesus, sent my angel to bear testimony to you about these things before the churches. I am the Scion and the Offspring of David, the bright star of the Morning.’ 066 REV 022 017 ‘Come,’ say the Spirit and the Bride; and all who hear, say ‘Come.’ All who thirst, come; anyone who wants, take the water of life freely. 066 REV 022 018 I declare to all who hear the words of the prophecy contained in this book – ‘If anyone adds to it, God will add to his troubles the curses described in this book; 066 REV 022 019 and if anyone takes away any of the words in the book containing this prophecy, God will take away his share in the Tree of life, and in the Holy City – as described in this book.’ 066 REV 022 020 He whose testimony this is says – ‘Assuredly I will come quickly.’ ‘Amen, come, Lord Jesus.’ 066 REV 022 021 May the blessing of the Lord Jesus Christ, be with his people.