HeavenzLight

2009-06-28T07:28:00.000-07:00

Philippians 4:4-9 (New International Version)

4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

2009-05-07T06:23:00.000-07:00

Luke 3 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

Luke 3

The Messiah's Herald

1 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, [a] while Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, (A) Herod was tetrarch [b] of Galilee, (B) his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Iturea [c] and Trachonitis, [d] and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, [e] 2 during the high priesthood of Annas (C) and Caiaphas, (D) God's word came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. (E) 3 He went into all the vicinity of the Jordan, (F) preaching a baptism of repentance [f] for the forgiveness of sins, 4 as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah:
A voice of one crying out in the wilderness:

"Prepare the way for the Lord;

make His paths straight!

5 Every valley will be filled,

and every mountain and hill will be made low; [g]

the crooked will become straight,

the rough ways smooth,

6 and everyone [h] will see the salvation of God." (G) (H)

7 He then said to the crowds who came out to be baptized by him, "Brood of vipers! (I) Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Therefore produce fruit consistent with repentance. And don't start saying to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father, (J) ' for I tell you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones! 9 Even now the ax is ready to strike [i] the root of the trees! Therefore every tree that doesn't produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire." (K)

10 "What then should we do?" (L) the crowds were asking him.

11 He replied to them, "The one who has two shirts [j] must share with someone who has none, and the one who has food must do the same." (M)

12 Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they asked him, "Teacher, what should we do?" (N)

13 He told them, "Don't collect any more than what you have been authorized."

14 Some soldiers also questioned him: "What should we do?"

He said to them, "Don't take money from anyone by force or false accusation; be satisfied with your wages."

15 Now the people were waiting expectantly, and all of them were debating in their minds [k] whether John might be the Messiah. (O) 16 John answered them all, (P) "I baptize you with [l] water, but One is coming who is more powerful than I. I am not worthy to untie the strap of His sandals. He will baptize you with [m] the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing shovel (Q) [n] is in His hand to clear His threshing floor and gather the wheat into His barn, but the chaff He will burn up with a fire that never goes out." (R) 18 Then, along with many other exhortations, he proclaimed good news to the people. 19 But Herod the tetrarch, (S) being rebuked by him about Herodias, his brother's wife, and about all the evil things Herod had done, (T) 20 added this to everything else—he locked John up in prison. (U)

The Baptism of Jesus

21 When all the people were baptized, (V) Jesus also was baptized. As He was praying, (W) heaven opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on Him in a physical appearance like a dove. And a voice came from heaven:
You are My beloved Son.

I take delight in You! (X)

The Genealogy of Jesus Christ

23 As He began [His ministry], Jesus was about 30 years old and was thought to be [o] the
son of Joseph, (Y) [son] [p] of Heli,
24 [son] of Matthat, [son] of Levi,
[son] of Melchi, [son] of Jannai,
[son] of Joseph, 25 [son] of Mattathias,
[son] of Amos, [son] of Nahum,
[son] of Esli, [son] of Naggai,

26 [son] of Maath, [son] of Mattathias,
[son] of Semein, [son] of Josech,
[son] of Joda, 27 [son] of Joanan,
[son] of Rhesa, [son] of Zerubbabel, (Z)
[son] of Shealtiel, [son] of Neri,

28 [son] of Melchi, [son] of Addi,
[son] of Cosam, [son] of Elmadam,
[son] of Er, 29 [son] of Joshua,
[son] of Eliezer, [son] of Jorim,
[son] of Matthat, [son] of Levi,

30 [son] of Simeon, [son] of Judah,
[son] of Joseph, [son] of Jonam,
[son] of Eliakim, 31 [son] of Melea,
[son] of Menna, [son] of Mattatha,
[son] of Nathan, [son] of David,

32 [son] of Jesse, (AA) [son] of Obed,
[son] of Boaz, [son] of Salmon, [q]
[son] of Nahshon, 33 [son] of Amminadab,
[son] of Ram, [r] [son] of Hezron,
[son] of Perez, [son] of Judah,

34 [son] of Jacob, [son] of Isaac,
[son] of Abraham, (AB) [son] of Terah,
[son] of Nahor, 35 [son] of Serug,
[son] of Reu, [son] of Peleg,
[son] of Eber, [son] of Shelah,

36 [son] of Cainan, [son] of Arphaxad,
[son] of Shem, [son] of Noah, (AC)
[son] of Lamech, 37 [son] of Methuselah,
[son] of Enoch, [son] of Jared,
[son] of Mahalaleel, [son] of Cainan,

38 [son] of Enos, [son] of Seth,
[son] of Adam, [son] of God.

Footnotes:
Luke 3:1 Emperor who ruled the Roman Empire a.d. 14-37
Luke 3:1 Or ruler
Luke 3:1 A small province northeast of Galilee
Luke 3:1 A small province northeast of Galilee
Luke 3:1 A small Syrian province
Luke 3:3 Or baptism based on repentance
Luke 3:5 Lit be humbled
Luke 3:6 Lit all flesh
Luke 3:9 Lit the ax lies at
Luke 3:11 Lit tunics
Luke 3:15 Or hearts
Luke 3:16 Or in
Luke 3:16 Or in
Luke 3:17 A wooden farm implement used to toss threshed grain into the wind so the lighter chaff would blow away and separate from the heavier grain
Luke 3:23 People did not know about His virgin birth; [Lk 1:26-38]; [Mt 1:18-25]
Luke 3:23 The relationship in some cases may be more distant than a son.
Luke 3:32 Other mss read Sala
Luke 3:33 Other mss read Amminadab, son of Aram, son of Joram; other mss read Amminadab, son of Admin, son of Arni

2009-03-15T05:35:00.001-07:00

Todays Message 3/15/09
Date: Mar 15th, 2009 12:30:57 am - Edit
Mood: alive

Todays Message 3/15/09
2 Timothy 1: 7-9 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
8, Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
9, Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
10, But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

Guide us Lord and give us into your teachings,
Pour your word on us,
Shower us with your divine knowledge Oh Lord,
YOU are our Lord our God,
Jesus your only son to that which your teachings reach us and our sins are forgiven with his blood.

Please feel free to email me anytime with questions about Jesus or if you have any prayer concerns.happy.gif

PrayerPsalm91@aol.com

2009-02-26T11:31:00.001-08:00

Proverbs 10 (The Message)

Proverbs 10

The Wise Sayings of Solomon

An Honest Life Is Immortal

1 Wise son, glad father; stupid son, sad mother.

2 Ill-gotten gain gets you nowhere;
an honest life is immortal.

3 God won't starve an honest soul,
but he frustrates the appetites of the wicked.

4 Sloth makes you poor;
diligence brings wealth.

5 Make hay while the sun shines—that's smart;
go fishing during harvest—that's stupid.

6 Blessings accrue on a good and honest life,
but the mouth of the wicked is a dark cave of abuse.

7 A good and honest life is a blessed memorial;
a wicked life leaves a rotten stench.

8 A wise heart takes orders;
an empty head will come unglued.

9 Honesty lives confident and carefree,
but Shifty is sure to be exposed.

10 An evasive eye is a sign of trouble ahead,
but an open, face-to-face meeting results in peace.

11 The mouth of a good person is a deep, life-giving well,
but the mouth of the wicked is a dark cave of abuse.

12 Hatred starts fights,
but love pulls a quilt over the bickering.

13 You'll find wisdom on the lips of a person of insight,
but the shortsighted needs a slap in the face.

14 The wise accumulate knowledge—a true treasure;
know-it-alls talk too much—a sheer waste.
The Road to Life Is a Disciplined Life

15 The wealth of the rich is their bastion;
the poverty of the indigent is their ruin.

16 The wage of a good person is exuberant life;
an evil person ends up with nothing but sin.

17 The road to life is a disciplined life;
ignore correction and you're lost for good.

18 Liars secretly hoard hatred;
fools openly spread slander.

19 The more talk, the less truth;
the wise measure their words.

20 The speech of a good person is worth waiting for;
the blabber of the wicked is worthless.

21 The talk of a good person is rich fare for many,
but chatterboxes die of an empty heart.
Fear-of-God Expands Your Life

22 God's blessing makes life rich;
nothing we do can improve on God.

23 An empty-head thinks mischief is fun,
but a mindful person relishes wisdom.

24 The nightmares of the wicked come true;
what the good people desire, they get.

25 When the storm is over, there's nothing left of the wicked;
good people, firm on their rock foundation, aren't even fazed.

26 A lazy employee will give you nothing but trouble;
it's vinegar in the mouth, smoke in the eyes.

27 The Fear-of-God expands your life;
a wicked life is a puny life.

28 The aspirations of good people end in celebration;
the ambitions of bad people crash.

29 God is solid backing to a well-lived life,
but he calls into question a shabby performance.

30 Good people last—they can't be moved;
the wicked are here today, gone tomorrow.

31 A good person's mouth is a clear fountain of wisdom;
a foul mouth is a stagnant swamp.

32 The speech of a good person clears the air;
the words of the wicked pollute it.

Genesis 5-7 (New International Version)

2008-12-28T06:40:00.001-08:00

Genesis 5-7 (New International Version)

Genesis 5
From Adam to Noah
1 This is the written account of Adam's line.
When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God. 2 He created them male and female and blessed them. And when they were created, he called them "man. [a] "

3 When Adam had lived 130 years, he had a son in his own likeness, in his own image; and he named him Seth. 4 After Seth was born, Adam lived 800 years and had other sons and daughters. 5 Altogether, Adam lived 930 years, and then he died.

6 When Seth had lived 105 years, he became the father [b] of Enosh. 7 And after he became the father of Enosh, Seth lived 807 years and had other sons and daughters. 8 Altogether, Seth lived 912 years, and then he died.

9 When Enosh had lived 90 years, he became the father of Kenan. 10 And after he became the father of Kenan, Enosh lived 815 years and had other sons and daughters. 11 Altogether, Enosh lived 905 years, and then he died.

12 When Kenan had lived 70 years, he became the father of Mahalalel. 13 And after he became the father of Mahalalel, Kenan lived 840 years and had other sons and daughters. 14 Altogether, Kenan lived 910 years, and then he died.

15 When Mahalalel had lived 65 years, he became the father of Jared. 16 And after he became the father of Jared, Mahalalel lived 830 years and had other sons and daughters. 17 Altogether, Mahalalel lived 895 years, and then he died.

18 When Jared had lived 162 years, he became the father of Enoch. 19 And after he became the father of Enoch, Jared lived 800 years and had other sons and daughters. 20 Altogether, Jared lived 962 years, and then he died.

21 When Enoch had lived 65 years, he became the father of Methuselah. 22 And after he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. 23 Altogether, Enoch lived 365 years. 24 Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.

25 When Methuselah had lived 187 years, he became the father of Lamech. 26 And after he became the father of Lamech, Methuselah lived 782 years and had other sons and daughters. 27 Altogether, Methuselah lived 969 years, and then he died.

28 When Lamech had lived 182 years, he had a son. 29 He named him Noah [c] and said, "He will comfort us in the labor and painful toil of our hands caused by the ground the LORD has cursed." 30 After Noah was born, Lamech lived 595 years and had other sons and daughters. 31 Altogether, Lamech lived 777 years, and then he died.

32 After Noah was 500 years old, he became the father of Shem, Ham and Japheth.
Genesis 6
The Flood
1 When men began to increase in number on the earth and daughters were born to them, 2 the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose. 3 Then the LORD said, "My Spirit will not contend with [d] man forever, for he is mortal [e] ; his days will be a hundred and twenty years."

4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and also afterward—when the sons of God went to the daughters of men and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown.

5 The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. 6 The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain. 7 So the LORD said, "I will wipe mankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth—men and animals, and creatures that move along the ground, and birds of the air—for I am grieved that I have made them." 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.

9 This is the account of Noah.
Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God. 10 Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham and Japheth.

11 Now the earth was corrupt in God's sight and was full of violence. 12 God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways. 13 So God said to Noah, "I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth. 14 So make yourself an ark of cypress [f] wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out. 15 This is how you are to build it: The ark is to be 450 feet long, 75 feet wide and 45 feet high. [g] 16 Make a roof for it and finish [h] the ark to within 18 inches [i] of the top. Put a door in the side of the ark and make lower, middle and upper decks. 17 I am going to bring floodwaters on the earth to destroy all life under the heavens, every creature that has the breath of life in it. Everything on earth will perish. 18 But I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark—you and your sons and your wife and your sons' wives with you. 19 You are to bring into the ark two of all living creatures, male and female, to keep them alive with you. 20 Two of every kind of bird, of every kind of animal and of every kind of creature that moves along the ground will come to you to be kept alive. 21 You are to take every kind of food that is to be eaten and store it away as food for you and for them."

22 Noah did everything just as God commanded him.
Genesis 7

1 The LORD then said to Noah, "Go into the ark, you and your whole family, because I have found you righteous in this generation. 2 Take with you seven [j] of every kind of clean animal, a male and its mate, and two of every kind of unclean animal, a male and its mate, 3 and also seven of every kind of bird, male and female, to keep their various kinds alive throughout the earth. 4 Seven days from now I will send rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights, and I will wipe from the face of the earth every living creature I have made."

5 And Noah did all that the LORD commanded him.

6 Noah was six hundred years old when the floodwaters came on the earth. 7 And Noah and his sons and his wife and his sons' wives entered the ark to escape the waters of the flood. 8 Pairs of clean and unclean animals, of birds and of all creatures that move along the ground, 9 male and female, came to Noah and entered the ark, as God had commanded Noah. 10 And after the seven days the floodwaters came on the earth.

11 In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, on the seventeenth day of the second month—on that day all the springs of the great deep burst forth, and the floodgates of the heavens were opened. 12 And rain fell on the earth forty days and forty nights.

13 On that very day Noah and his sons, Shem, Ham and Japheth, together with his wife and the wives of his three sons, entered the ark. 14 They had with them every wild animal according to its kind, all livestock according to their kinds, every creature that moves along the ground according to its kind and every bird according to its kind, everything with wings. 15 Pairs of all creatures that have the breath of life in them came to Noah and entered the ark. 16 The animals going in were male and female of every living thing, as God had commanded Noah. Then the LORD shut him in.

17 For forty days the flood kept coming on the earth, and as the waters increased they lifted the ark high above the earth. 18 The waters rose and increased greatly on the earth, and the ark floated on the surface of the water. 19 They rose greatly on the earth, and all the high mountains under the entire heavens were covered. 20 The waters rose and covered the mountains to a depth of more than twenty feet. [k] , [l] 21 Every living thing that moved on the earth perished—birds, livestock, wild animals, all the creatures that swarm over the earth, and all mankind. 22 Everything on dry land that had the breath of life in its nostrils died. 23 Every living thing on the face of the earth was wiped out; men and animals and the creatures that move along the ground and the birds of the air were wiped from the earth. Only Noah was left, and those with him in the ark.

24 The waters flooded the earth for a hundred and fifty days.

Footnotes:

1. Genesis 5:2 Hebrew adam
2. Genesis 5:6 Father may mean ancestor ; also in verses 7-26.
3. Genesis 5:29 Noah sounds like the Hebrew for comfort .
4. Genesis 6:3 Or My spirit will not remain in
5. Genesis 6:3 Or corrupt
6. Genesis 6:14 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
7. Genesis 6:15 Hebrew 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide and 30 cubits high (about 140 meters long, 23 meters wide and 13.5 meters high)
8. Genesis 6:16 Or Make an opening for light by finishing
9. Genesis 6:16 Hebrew a cubit (about 0.5 meter)
10. Genesis 7:2 Or seven pairs ; also in verse
11. Genesis 7:20 Hebrew fifteen cubits (about 6.9 meters)
12. Genesis 7:20 Or rose more than twenty feet, and the mountains were covered

Proverbs 1-4 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

2008-12-07T07:16:00.000-08:00

Proverbs 1-4 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

Proverbs 1
The Purpose of Proverbs
1 The proverbs of Solomon (A) son of David, king of Israel:

2 For gaining wisdom and being instructed;
for understanding insightful sayings;

3 for receiving wise instruction
[in] righteousness, justice, and integrity; (B)

4 for teaching shrewdness to the inexperienced, (C) [a]
knowledge and discretion (D) to a young man—

5 a wise man will listen and increase his learning, (E)
and a discerning man will obtain guidance—

6 for understanding a proverb or a parable, [b]
the words of the wise, and their riddles. (F)

7 The fear of the LORD
is the beginning of knowledge; (G)
fools despise wisdom and instruction. (H) [c]

Avoid the Path of the Violent
8 Listen, my son, to your father's instruction,
and don't reject your mother's teaching, (I)

9 for they will be a garland (J) of grace on your head
and a [gold] chain around your neck. (K)

10 My son, if sinners entice you, (L)
don't be persuaded. (M)

11 If they say—"Come with us!
Let's set an ambush (N) and kill someone. [d]
Let's attack some innocent person (O) just for fun! [e]

12 Let's swallow them alive, (P) like Sheol,
still healthy as they go down to the Pit. (Q)

13 We'll find all kinds of valuable property
and fill our houses with plunder. (R)

14 Throw in your lot with us,
and we'll all share our money" [f] —

15 my son, don't travel that road with them (S)
or set foot on their path, (T)

16 because their feet run toward trouble
and they hurry to commit murder. (U) [g]

17 It is foolish to spread a net
where any bird can see it,

18 but they set an ambush to kill themselves; [h]
they attack their own lives.

19 Such are the paths of all who pursue gain dishonestly; (V)
it takes the lives of those who profit from it. [i]

Wisdom's Plea
20 Wisdom calls out in the street;
she raises her voice in the public squares. (W)

21 She cries out above [j] the commotion;
she speaks at the entrance of the city gates:

22 "How long, foolish ones, will you love ignorance?
[How long] will [you] mockers (X) enjoy mocking
and [you] fools hate knowledge? (Y)

23 If you turn to my discipline, (Z) [k]
then I will pour out my spirit on you (AA)
and teach you my words.

24 Since I called out and you refused, (AB)
extended my hand and no one paid attention, (AC)

25 since you neglected all my counsel (AD)
and did not accept my correction,

26 I, in turn, will laugh at your calamity. (AE)
I will mock when terror strikes you,

27 when terror strikes you like a storm
and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,
when trouble and stress overcome you.

28 Then they will call me, but I won't answer;
they will search for me, but won't find me. (AF)

29 Because they hated knowledge,
didn't choose to fear the LORD, (AG)

30 were not interested in my counsel,
and rejected all my correction, (AH)

31 they will eat the fruit of their way (AI)
and be glutted with their own schemes. (AJ)

32 For the waywardness of the inexperienced will kill them, (AK)
and the complacency of fools will destroy them.

33 But whoever listens to me will live securely
and be free from the fear of danger." (AL)
Proverbs 2
Wisdom's Worth
1 My son, if you accept my words (AM)
and store up my commands within you,

2 listening closely [l] to wisdom
and directing your heart to understanding;

3 furthermore, if you call out to insight
and lift your voice to understanding,

4 if you seek it like silver
and search for it like hidden treasure, (AN)

5 then you will understand the fear of the LORD
and discover the knowledge of God.

6 For the LORD gives wisdom;
from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. (AO)

7 He stores up success [m] for the upright;
He is a shield for those who live with integrity (AP)

8 so that He may guard the paths of justice
and protect the way of His loyal followers. (AQ)

9 Then you will understand righteousness, justice,
and integrity—every good path.

10 For wisdom will enter your mind,
and knowledge will delight your heart.

11 Discretion will watch over you,
and understanding will guard you, (AR)

12 rescuing you from the way of evil—
from the one who says perverse things,

13 [from] those who abandon the right paths
to walk in ways of darkness, (AS)

14 [from] those who enjoy doing evil (AT)
and celebrate perversity,

15 whose paths are crooked, (AU)
and whose ways are devious. (AV)

16 It will rescue you from a forbidden woman, (AW)
from a stranger [n] with her flattering talk, (AX)

17 who abandons the companion of her youth (AY)
and forgets the covenant of her God;

18 for her house sinks down to death
and her ways to the land of the departed spirits. (AZ)

19 None return who go to her;
none reach the paths of life. (BA)

20 So follow the way of good people, (BB)
and keep to the paths of the righteous.

21 For the upright will inhabit the land,
and those of integrity will remain in it; (BC)

22 but the wicked will be cut off from the land, (BD)
and the treacherous uprooted from it. (BE)
Proverbs 3
Trust the LORD
1 My son, don't forget my teaching,
but let your heart keep my commands; (BF)

2 for they will bring you
many days, a full life, (BG) [o] and well-being. (BH)

3 Never let loyalty and faithfulness leave you.
Tie them around your neck;
write them on the tablet of your heart. (BI)

4 Then you will find favor and high regard
in the sight of God and man. (BJ)

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, (BK)
and do not rely on your own understanding; (BL)

6 think about Him in all your ways,
and He will guide you on the right paths. (BM)

7 Don't consider yourself to be wise; (BN)
fear the LORD and turn away from evil. (BO)

8 This will be healing for your body (BP) [p]
and strengthening for your bones. (BQ)

9 Honor the LORD with your possessions
and with the first produce of your entire harvest; (BR)

10 then your barns will be completely filled,
and your vats will overflow with new wine. (BS)

11 Do not despise the LORD's instruction, my son,
and do not loathe His discipline; (BT)

12 for the LORD disciplines the one He loves,
just as a father, the son he delights in. (BU)

Wisdom Brings Happiness
13 Happy is a man who finds wisdom (BV)
and who acquires understanding,

14 for she is more profitable than silver,
and her revenue is better than gold. (BW)

15 She is more precious than jewels; (BX)
nothing you desire compares with her. (BY)

16 Long life [q] is in her right hand;
in her left, riches and honor. (BZ)

17 Her ways are pleasant, (CA)
and all her paths, peaceful.

18 She is a tree of life (CB) to those who embrace her,
and those who hold on to her are happy.

19 The LORD founded the earth by wisdom (CC)
and established the heavens by understanding.

20 By His knowledge the watery depths broke open, (CD)
and the clouds dripped with dew. (CE)

21 Maintain [your] competence and discretion.
My son, don't lose sight of them. (CF)

22 They will be life for you (CG) [r]
and adornment [s] for your neck.

23 Then you will go safely on your way;
your foot will not stumble. (CH)

24 When you lie [t] down, you will not be afraid; (CI)
you will lie down, and your sleep will be pleasant.

25 Don't fear sudden danger
or the ruin of the wicked when it comes, (CJ)

26 for the LORD will be your confidence [u]
and will keep your foot from a snare. (CK)

Treat Others Fairly
27 When it is in your power, [v]
don't withhold good (CL) from the one to whom it is due.

28 Don't say to your neighbor, "Go away! Come back later.
I'll give it tomorrow"—when it is there with you. (CM)

29 Don't plan any harm against your neighbor, (CN)
for he trusts you and lives near you.

30 Don't accuse anyone without cause, (CO)
when he has done you no harm.

31 Don't envy a violent man (CP)
or choose any of his ways;

32 for the devious are detestable to the LORD,
but He is a friend [w] to the upright. (CQ)

33 The LORD's curse is on the household of the wicked, (CR)
but He blesses the home of the righteous;

34 He mocks those who mock,
but gives grace to the humble. (CS)

35 The wise will inherit honor,
but He holds up fools to dishonor. [x]
Proverbs 4
A Father's Example
1 Listen, [my] sons, to a father's discipline, (CT)
and pay attention so that you may gain understanding,

2 for I am giving you good instruction. (CU)
Don't abandon my teaching.

3 When I was a son with my father,
tender and precious to my mother,

4 he taught me and said:
"Your heart must hold on to my words.
Keep my commands and live. (CV)

5 Get wisdom, get understanding; (CW)
don't forget or turn away from the words of my mouth.

6 Don't abandon wisdom, and she will watch over you;
love her, (CX) and she will guard you.

7 Wisdom is supreme—so get wisdom.
And whatever else you get, get understanding. (CY)

8 Cherish her, and she will exalt you;
if you embrace her, she will honor you. (CZ)

9 She will place a garland of grace on your head;
she will give you a crown of beauty." (DA)

Two Ways of Life
10 Listen, my son. Accept my words, (DB)
and you will live many years. (DC)

11 I am teaching you the way of wisdom;
I am guiding you on straight paths. (DD)

12 When you walk, your steps will not be hindered; (DE)
when you run, you will not stumble. (DF)

13 Hold on to instruction; don't let go. (DG)
Guard it, for it is your life.

14 Don't set foot on the path of the wicked; (DH)
don't proceed in the way of evil ones.

15 Avoid it; don't travel on it.
Turn away from it, and pass it by.

16 For they can't sleep
unless they have done what is evil;
they are robbed of sleep unless they make someone stumble. (DI)

17 They eat the bread of wickedness
and drink the wine of violence.

18 The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, (DJ)
shining brighter and brighter until midday.

19 But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom; (DK)
they don't know what makes them stumble. (DL)

The Straight Path
20 My son, pay attention to my words;
listen closely to my sayings. (DM)

21 Don't lose sight of them; (DN)
keep them within your heart.

22 For they are life to those who find them,
and health to one's whole body.

23 Guard your heart above all else, [y]
for it is the source of life. (DO)

24 Don't let your mouth speak dishonestly, (DP)
and don't let your lips talk deviously.

25 Let your eyes look forward;
fix your gaze [z] straight ahead. (DQ)

26 Carefully consider the path [aa] for your feet, (DR)
and all your ways will be established.

27 Don't turn to the right or to the left; (DS)
keep your feet away from evil.

Footnotes:

1. Proverbs 1:4 Or simple, or gullible
2. Proverbs 1:6 Or an enigma
3. Proverbs 1:7 This verse states the theme of Pr.
4. Proverbs 1:11 Lit Let's ambush for blood
5. Proverbs 1:11 Lit person for no reason
6. Proverbs 1:14 Lit us; one bag will be for all of us
7. Proverbs 1:16 Lit to shed blood
8. Proverbs 1:18 Lit they ambush for their blood
9. Proverbs 1:19 Lit takes the life of its masters
10. Proverbs 1:21 Lit at the head of
11. Proverbs 1:23 Lit back to my reprimands
12. Proverbs 2:2 Lit you, stretching out your ear
13. Proverbs 2:7 Or resourcefulness
14. Proverbs 2:16 Or foreign woman
15. Proverbs 3:2 Lit days, years of life
16. Proverbs 3:8 Lit navel
17. Proverbs 3:16 Lit Length of days
18. Proverbs 3:22 Or be your throat; Hb nephesh can mean throat, soul, or life.
19. Proverbs 3:22 Or grace
20. Proverbs 3:24 LXX reads sit
21. Proverbs 3:26 Or be at your side
22. Proverbs 3:27 Lit in the power of your hands
23. Proverbs 3:32 Or confidential counsel
24. Proverbs 3:35 Or but haughty fools dishonor, or but fools exalt dishonor
25. Proverbs 4:23 Or heart with all diligence
26. Proverbs 4:25 Lit eyelids
27. Proverbs 4:26 Or Clear a path

Cross references:

1. Proverbs 1:1 : 1Kg 4:32; Pr 10:1; 25:1; Ec 12:9;
2. Proverbs 1:3 : Pr 2:9;
3. Proverbs 1:4 : Pr 8:5;
4. Proverbs 1:4 : Pr 2:11; 3:21;
5. Proverbs 1:5 : Pr 9:9; 16:21; 23;
6. Proverbs 1:6 : Num 12:8; Jdg 14:12; Ps 49:4; Hab 2:6;
7. Proverbs 1:7 : Jb 28:28; Ps 111:10; Pr 9:10; 15:33;
8. Proverbs 1:7 : Eph 5:17;
9. Proverbs 1:8 : Pr 6:20; 31:1;
10. Proverbs 1:9 : Pr 4:9;
11. Proverbs 1:9 : Gn 41:42; Pr 6:21; Dn 5:29;
12. Proverbs 1:10 : Pr 16:29;
13. Proverbs 1:10 : Ps 141:4;
14. Proverbs 1:11 : Pr 12:6; Jr 5:26;
15. Proverbs 1:11 : Ps 10:8;
16. Proverbs 1:12 : Ps 124:3;
17. Proverbs 1:12 : Ps 28:1;
18. Proverbs 1:13 : Pr 24:4;
19. Proverbs 1:15 : Ps 1:1; Pr 4:14;
20. Proverbs 1:15 : Ps 119:101; Pr 16:19;
21. Proverbs 1:16 : Pr 6:17-18; Is 59:7; Rm 3:15;
22. Proverbs 1:19 : Pr 15:27; Ezk 22:27; Hab 2:6-12;
23. Proverbs 1:20 : Pr 8:1-3; 9:3;
24. Proverbs 1:22 : Ps 1:1;
25. Proverbs 1:22 : Jb 21:14; Pr 1:29; 5:12;
26. Proverbs 1:23 : Pr 3:11; 15:5;, 31-32;
27. Proverbs 1:23 : Jl 2:28;
28. Proverbs 1:24 : Is 65:12; 66:4; Jr 7:13; Zch 7:11;
29. Proverbs 1:24 : Is 65:2; Rm 10:21;
30. Proverbs 1:25 : Ps 107:11; Lk 7:30;
31. Proverbs 1:26 : Ps 2:4;
32. Proverbs 1:28 : 1Sm 8:18;
33. Proverbs 1:29 : Pr 1:7;
34. Proverbs 1:30 : Pr 5:12; 15:5;
35. Proverbs 1:31 : Jr 6:19;
36. Proverbs 1:31 : Pr 14:14; 28:19;
37. Proverbs 1:32 : Jr 2:19;
38. Proverbs 1:33 : Ps 112:7-8; Pr 3:24-26;
39. Proverbs 2:1 : Pr 4:10;
40. Proverbs 2:4 : Jb 3:21; Mt 13:44;
41. Proverbs 2:6 : Jb 32:8;
42. Proverbs 2:7 : Ps 84:11; Pr 10:9; 20:7; 28:18; 30:5;
43. Proverbs 2:8 : 1Sm 2:9; Ps 66:9;
44. Proverbs 2:11 : Pr 4:6; 6:22;
45. Proverbs 2:13 : Ps 82:5; Pr 15:19; 16:17; Jn 3:19;, 20;
46. Proverbs 2:14 : Pr 10:23;
47. Proverbs 2:15 : Ps 125:5; Pr 21:8;
48. Proverbs 2:15 : Pr 3:32; 14:2;
49. Proverbs 2:16 : Pr 9:13-18;
50. Proverbs 2:16 : Pr 5:3;, 20; 6:24; 7:5;, 21; 23:27;
51. Proverbs 2:17 : Mal 2:14-15;
52. Proverbs 2:18 : Pr 7:27; 9:18; 21:16;
53. Proverbs 2:19 : Ps 16:11; Pr 5:6; 7:5;, 21-27; 23:27-28; Ec 7:26;
54. Proverbs 2:20 : Heb 6:12;
55. Proverbs 2:21 : Pr 10:30; Mt 5:5-6;
56. Proverbs 2:22 : Ps 37:38;
57. Proverbs 2:22 : Dt 28:63; Ps 52:5;
58. Proverbs 3:1 : Dt 30:16;
59. Proverbs 3:2 : Ps 91:16; Pr 3:16; 4:10; 9:11; 10:27;
60. Proverbs 3:2 : Pr 4:1-4; 6:20-23; 7:1-3;
61. Proverbs 3:3 : Pr 1:9; 6:21; 7:3; 2Co 3:3;
62. Proverbs 3:4 : Dt 4:6; 1Sm 2:26; Lk 2:52; Rm 14:18;
63. Proverbs 3:5 : Ps 37:3;, 5;
64. Proverbs 3:5 : Jr 9:23;
65. Proverbs 3:6 : Pr 11:5;
66. Proverbs 3:7 : Pr 26:5;, 12; 28:11;, 26; Rm 12:16;
67. Proverbs 3:7 : Jb 1:1; 28:28; Ps 37:27; Pr 16:6;
68. Proverbs 3:8 : Pr 4:22;
69. Proverbs 3:8 : Jb 21:24;
70. Proverbs 3:9 : Ex 23:19; Lv 23:9-14; Dt 26:2;
71. Proverbs 3:10 : Dt 28:8; Mal 3:10;
72. Proverbs 3:11 : Pr 5:11-13; 15:5;, 31-33;
73. Proverbs 3:12 : Dt 8:5; Jb 5:17-18; Pr 13:24; Heb 12:5-7;
74. Proverbs 3:13 : Pr 8:32;, 34;
75. Proverbs 3:14 : Jb 28:15-19; Pr 8:10;, 19; 16:16; 22:1;
76. Proverbs 3:15 : Jb 28:18;
77. Proverbs 3:15 : Pr 8:11; 20:15;
78. Proverbs 3:16 : Pr 8:18; 21:21; 22:4;
79. Proverbs 3:17 : Mt 11:19;
80. Proverbs 3:18 : Gn 2:9; Pr 11:30; 13:12; 15:4; Rv 2:7;
81. Proverbs 3:19 : Ps 104:24; Pr 8:27;
82. Proverbs 3:20 : Gn 7:11;
83. Proverbs 3:20 : Dt 33:28; Jb 36:28;
84. Proverbs 3:21 : Pr 4:21;
85. Proverbs 3:22 : Pr 4:22;
86. Proverbs 3:23 : Ps 91:12; Pr 4:12;
87. Proverbs 3:24 : Jb 11:19; Ps 3:5; Pr 6:22;
88. Proverbs 3:25 : Jb 5:21; Ps 91:5; 1Pt 3:14;
89. Proverbs 3:26 : 1Sm 2:9;
90. Proverbs 3:27 : Gl 6:10;
91. Proverbs 3:28 : Lv 19:13; Dt 24:15;
92. Proverbs 3:29 : Pr 6:14; 14:22;
93. Proverbs 3:30 : Pr 24:28; Rm 12:18;
94. Proverbs 3:31 : Ps 37:1; Pr 23:17; 24:1;, 19;
95. Proverbs 3:32 : Ps 25:14; Pr 11:20; 12:22; 15:8-9;
96. Proverbs 3:33 : Zch 5:3-4; Mal 2:2;
97. Proverbs 3:34 : Jms 4:6; 1Pt 5:5;
98. Proverbs 4:1 : Ps 34:11; Pr 1:8;
99. Proverbs 4:2 : Jb 11:4;
100. Proverbs 4:4 : Pr 3:1-2; 6:20-23; 7:1-2;
101. Proverbs 4:5 : Pr 16:16;
102. Proverbs 4:6 : 2Th 4:10;
103. Proverbs 4:7 : Pr 16:16;
104. Proverbs 4:8 : 1Sm 2:30;
105. Proverbs 4:9 : Pr 1:9; 16:31;
106. Proverbs 4:10 : Pr 2:1;
107. Proverbs 4:10 : Pr 3:2;
108. Proverbs 4:11 : 1Sm 12:23;
109. Proverbs 4:12 : Jb 18:7; Ps 18:36;
110. Proverbs 4:12 : Pr 3:23;
111. Proverbs 4:13 : Pr 3:18;
112. Proverbs 4:14 : Ps 1:1; Pr 1:15;
113. Proverbs 4:16 : Ps 36:4; Mic 2:1;
114. Proverbs 4:18 : 2Sm 23:4;
115. Proverbs 4:19 : Is 59:9-10; Jr 23:12; Jn 12:35;
116. Proverbs 4:19 : Pr 24:16; Jn 11:10;
117. Proverbs 4:20 : Pr 5:1;
118. Proverbs 4:21 : Pr 3:21;
119. Proverbs 4:23 : Mt 15:19; Mk 7:18-23;
120. Proverbs 4:24 : Pr 6:12;
121. Proverbs 4:25 : Heb 12:2;
122. Proverbs 4:26 : Pr 5:6;, 21; Heb 12:13;
123. Proverbs 4:27 : Dt 5:32-33; 28:13-14; Jos 1:7; 23:6; 1Kg 15:5;

Ecclesiastes 1-7 (Amplified Bible

2008-09-10T13:18:00.000-07:00

Ecclesiastes 1-7 (Amplified Bible)
Amplified Bible (AMP)

Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
[AMP at Lockman] [The Lockman Foundation] [Amplified at Zondervan] [Zondervan]

Ecclesiastes 1
1THE WORDS of the Preacher, the son of David and king in Jerusalem.

2Vapor of vapors and futility of futilities, says the Preacher. Vapor of vapors and futility of futilities! All is vanity (emptiness, falsity, and vainglory).(A)

3What profit does man have left from all his toil at which he toils [a]under the sun? [Is life worth living?]

4One generation goes and another generation comes, but the earth remains forever.(B)

5The sun also rises and the sun goes down, and hastens to the place where it rises.

6The wind goes to the south and circles about to the north; it circles and circles about continually, and on its circuit the wind returns again.(C)

7All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full. To the place from which the rivers come, to there and from there they return again.

8All things are weary with toil and all words are feeble; man cannot utter it. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.(D)

9The thing that has been--it is what will be again, and that which has been done is that which will be done again; and there is nothing new under the sun.

10Is there a thing of which it may be said, See, this is new? It has already been, in the vast ages of time [recorded or unrecorded] which were before us.

11There is no remembrance of former happenings or men, neither will there be any remembrance of happenings of generations that are to come by those who are to come after them.

12I, the Preacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem.

13And I applied myself by heart and mind to seek and search out by [human] [b]wisdom all human activity under heaven. It is a miserable business which [c]God has given to the sons of man with which to busy themselves.

14I have seen all the works that are done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity, a striving after the wind and a feeding on wind.

15What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is defective and lacking cannot be counted.

16I entered into counsel with my own mind, saying, Behold, I have acquired great [human] wisdom, yes, more than all who have been over Jerusalem before me; and my mind has had great experience of [moral] wisdom and [scientific] knowledge.

17And I gave my mind to know [practical] wisdom and to discern [the character of] madness and folly [in which men seem to find satisfaction]; I perceived that this also is a searching after wind and a feeding on it.(E)

18For in much [human] wisdom is much vexation, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.

Ecclesiastes 2
1I SAID in my mind, Come now, I will prove you with mirth and test you with pleasure; so have a good time [enjoy pleasure]. But this also was vanity (emptiness, falsity, and futility)!(F)

2I said of laughter, It is mad, and of pleasure, What does it accomplish?

3I searched in my mind how to cheer my body with wine--yet at the same time having my mind hold its course and guide me with [human] wisdom--and how to lay hold of folly, till I might see what was good for the sons of men to do under heaven all the days of their lives.

4I made great works; I built myself houses, I planted vineyards.

5I made for myself gardens and orchards and I planted in them all kinds of fruit trees.

6I made for myself pools of water from which to water the forest and make the trees bud.

7I bought menservants and maidservants and had servants born in my house. Also I had great possessions of herds and flocks, more than any who had been before me in Jerusalem.

8I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and of the provinces. I got for myself men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men--[d]concubines very many.(G)

9So I became great and increased more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me and stood by me.

10And whatever my eyes desired I kept not from them; I withheld not my heart from any pleasure, for my heart rejoiced in all my labor, and this was my portion and reward for all my toil.

11Then I looked on all that my hands had done and the labor I had spent in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after the wind and a feeding on it, and there was no profit under the sun.(H)

12So I turned to consider [human] wisdom and madness and folly; for what can the man do who succeeds the king? Nothing but what has been done already.

13Then I saw that even [human] wisdom [that brings sorrow] is better than [the pleasures of] folly as far as light is better than darkness.

14The wise man's eyes are in his head, but the fool walks in darkness; and yet I perceived that [in the end] one event happens to them both.(I)

15Then said I in my heart, As it happens to the fool, so it will happen even to me. And of what use is it then for me to be more wise? Then I said in my heart, This also is vanity (emptiness, vainglory, and futility)!

16For of the wise man, the same as of the fool, there is no permanent remembrance, since in the days to come all will be long forgotten. And how does the wise man die? Even as the fool!

17So I hated life, because what is done under the sun was grievous to me; for all is vanity and a striving after the wind and a feeding on it.

18And I hated all my labor in which I had toiled under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to the man who will succeed me.(J)

19And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have dominion over all my labor in which I have toiled and in which I have shown myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity (emptiness, falsity, and futility)!

20So I turned around and gave my heart up to despair over all the labor of my efforts under the sun.

21For here is a man whose labor is with wisdom and knowledge and skill; yet to a man who has not toiled for it he must leave it all as his portion. This also is vanity (emptiness, falsity, and futility) and a great evil!

22For what has a man left from all his labor and from the striving and vexation of his heart in which he has toiled under the sun?

23For all his days are but pain and sorrow, and his work is a vexation and grief; his mind takes no rest even at night. This is also vanity (emptiness, falsity, and futility)!

24There is nothing better for a man than that he should eat and drink and make himself enjoy good in his labor. Even this, I have seen, is from the hand of God.

25For who can eat or who can have enjoyment any more than I can--[e]apart from Him ?

26For to the person who pleases Him God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy; but to the sinner He gives the work of gathering and heaping up, that he may give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a striving after the wind and a feeding on it.

Ecclesiastes 3
1TO EVERYTHING there is a season, and a time for every matter or purpose under heaven:

2A time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to pluck up what is planted,(K)

3A time to kill and a time to heal, a time to break down and a time to build up,

4A time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,

5A time to cast away stones and a time to gather stones together, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

6A time to get and a time to lose, a time to keep and a time to cast away,

7A time to rend and a time to sew, a time to keep silence and a time to speak,(L)

8A time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.(M)

9What profit remains for the worker from his toil?

10I have seen the painful labor and exertion and miserable business which God has given to the sons of men with which to exercise and busy themselves.

11He has made everything beautiful in its time. He also has planted eternity in men's hearts and minds [a divinely implanted sense of a purpose working through the ages which nothing under the sun but God alone can satisfy], yet so that men cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.

12I know that there is nothing better for them than to be glad and to get and do good as long as they live;

13And also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor--it is the gift of God.

14I know that whatever God does, it endures forever; nothing can be added to it nor anything taken from it. And God does it so that men will [reverently] fear Him [revere and worship Him, knowing that He is].(N)

15That which is now already has been, and that which is to be already has been; and God seeks that which has passed by [so that history repeats itself ].

16Moreover, I saw under the sun that in the place of justice there was wickedness, and that in the place of righteousness wickedness was there also.

17I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time [appointed] for every matter and purpose and for every work.

18I said in my heart regarding the subject of the sons of men, God is trying (separating and sifting) them, that they may see that by themselves [under the sun, without God] they are but like beasts.

19For that which befalls the sons of men befalls beasts; even [in the end] one thing befalls them both. As the one dies, so dies the other. Yes, they all have one breath and spirit, so that a [f]man has no preeminence over a beast; for all is vanity (emptiness, falsity, and futility)!

20All go to one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.

21Who knows the spirit of man, whether it goes upward, and the spirit of the beast, whether it goes downward to the earth?

22So I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his own works, for that is his portion. For who shall bring him back to see what will happen after he is gone?

Ecclesiastes 4
1THEN I returned and considered all the oppressions that are practiced under the sun: And I beheld the tears of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors was power, but they [too] had no comforter.

2So I praised and thought more fortunate those who have been long dead than the living, who are still alive.

3But better than them both [I thought] is he who has not yet been born, who has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.

4Then I saw that all painful effort in labor and all skill in work comes from man's rivalry with his neighbor. This is also vanity, a vain striving after the wind and a feeding on it.

5The fool folds his hands together and eats his own flesh [destroying himself by indolence].

6Better is a handful with quietness than both hands full with painful effort, a vain striving after the wind and a feeding on it.

7Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun [in one of its peculiar forms].

8Here is one alone--no one with him; he neither has child nor brother. Yet there is no end to all his labor, neither is his eye satisfied with riches, neither does he ask, For whom do I labor and deprive myself of good? This is also vanity (emptiness, falsity, and futility); yes, it is a painful effort and an unhappy business.(O)

9Two are better than one, because they have a good [more satisfying] reward for their labor;

10For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!

11Again, if two lie down together, then they have warmth; but how can one be warm alone?

12And though a man might prevail against him who is alone, two will withstand him. A threefold cord is not quickly broken.

13Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who [g]no longer knows how to receive counsel (friendly reproof and warning)--

14Even though [the youth] comes out of prison to reign, while the other, born a king, becomes needy.

15I saw all the living who walk under the sun with the youth who was to stand up in the king's stead.

16There was no end to all the people; he was over all of them. Yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity (emptiness, falsity, vainglory) and a striving after the wind and a feeding on it.

Ecclesiastes 5
1KEEP YOUR foot [give your mind to what you are doing] when you go [as Jacob to sacred Bethel] to the house of God. For to draw near to hear and obey is better than to give the sacrifice of fools [carelessly, irreverently] too ignorant to know that they are doing evil.(P)

2Be not rash with your mouth, and let not your heart be hasty to utter a word before God. For God is in heaven, and you are on earth; therefore let your words be few.

3For a dream comes with much business and painful effort, and a fool's voice with many words.

4When you vow a vow or make a pledge to God, do not put off paying it; for God has no pleasure in fools (those who witlessly mock Him). Pay what you vow.(Q)

5It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.(R)

6Do not allow your mouth to cause your body to sin, and do not say before the messenger [the priest] that it was an error or mistake. Why should God be [made] angry at your voice and destroy the work of your hands?(S)

7For in a multitude of dreams there is futility and worthlessness, and ruin in a flood of words. But [reverently] fear God [revere and worship Him, knowing that He is].

8If you see the oppression of the poor and the violent taking away of justice and righteousness in the state or province, do not marvel at the matter. [Be sure that there are those who will attend to it] for a higher [official] than the high is observing, and higher ones are over them.

9Moreover, the profit of the earth is for all; the king himself is served by the field and in all, a king is an advantage to a land with cultivated fields.

10He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver, nor he who loves abundance with gain. This also is vanity (emptiness, falsity, and futility)!

11When goods increase, they who eat them increase also. And what gain is there to their owner except to see them with his eyes?

12The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the fullness of the rich will not let him sleep.

13There is a serious and severe evil which I have seen under the sun: riches were kept by their owner to his hurt.

14But those riches are lost in a bad venture; and he becomes the father of a son, and there is nothing in his hand [with which to support the child].

15As [the man] came forth from his mother's womb, so he will go again, naked as he came; and he will take away nothing for all his labor which he can carry in his hand.

16And this also is a serious and severe evil--that in all points as he came, so shall he go; and what gain has he who labors for the wind?(T)

17All his days also he eats in darkness [cheerlessly, with no sweetness and light in them], and much sorrow and sickness and wrath are his.

18Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is for one to eat and drink, and to find enjoyment in all the labor in which he labors under the sun all the days which God gives him--for this is his [allotted] part.(U)

19Also, every man to whom God has given riches and possessions, and the power to enjoy them and to accept his appointed lot and to rejoice in his toil--this is the gift of God [to him].

20For he shall not much remember [seriously] the days of his life, because God [Himself] answers and corresponds to the joy of his heart [the tranquillity of God is mirrored in him].

Ecclesiastes 6
1THERE IS an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it lies heavily upon men:

2A man to whom God has given riches, possessions, and honor, so that he lacks nothing for his soul of all that he might desire, yet God does not give him the power or capacity to enjoy them [things which are gifts from God], but a stranger [in whom he has no interest succeeds him and] consumes and enjoys them. This is vanity (emptiness, falsity, and futility); it is a sore affliction!(V)

3If a man begets a hundred children and lives many years so that the days of his years are many, but his life is not filled with good, and also he is given no burial [honors nor is laid to rest in the sepulcher of his fathers], I say that [he who had] an untimely birth [resulting in death] is better off than he,(W)

4For [the untimely one] comes in futility and goes into darkness, and in darkness his name is covered.

5Moreover, he has not seen the sun nor had any knowledge, yet he [the stillborn child] has rest rather than he [who is aware of all that he has missed and all that he would not have had to suffer].

6Even though he lives a thousand years twice over and yet has seen no good and experienced no enjoyment--do not all go to one place [the place of the dead]?

7All the labor of man is for his mouth [for self-preservation and enjoyment], and yet his desire is not satisfied.(X)

8For what advantage has the wise man over the fool [being worldly-wise is not the secret to happiness]? What advantage has the poor man who has learned how to walk before the living [publicly, with men's eyes upon him; being poor is not the secret to happiness either]?

9Better is the sight of the eyes [the enjoyment of what is available to one] than the cravings of wandering desire. This is also vanity (emptiness, falsity, and futility) and a striving after the wind and a feeding on it!

10Whatever [man] is, he has been named that long ago, and it is known that it is man [h][Adam]; nor can he contend with Him who is mightier than he [whether God or death].

11Seeing that there are [all these and] many other things and words that increase the emptiness, falsity, vainglory, and futility [of living], what profit and what outcome is there for man?

12For who [[i]limited to human wisdom] knows what is good for man in his life, all the days of his vain life which he spends as a shadow [going through the motions but accomplishing nothing]? For who can tell a man what will happen [to his work, his treasure, his plans] under the sun after he is gone?

Ecclesiastes 7
1A GOOD name is better than precious perfume, and the day of death better than the day of one's birth.

2It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to heart.

3Sorrow is better than laughter, for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better and gains gladness.(Y)

4The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth and sensual joy.

5It is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise than to hear the song of fools.

6For like the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool. This also is vanity (emptiness, falsity, and futility)!

7Surely oppression and extortion make a wise man foolish, and a bribe destroys the understanding and judgment.

8Better is the end of a thing than the beginning of it, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

9Do not be quick in spirit to be angry or vexed, for anger and vexation lodge in the bosom of fools.(Z)

10Do not say, Why were the old days better than these? For it is not wise or because of wisdom that you ask this.

11Wisdom is as good as an inheritance, yes, more excellent it is for those [the living] who see the sun.

12For wisdom is a defense even as money is a defense, but the excellency of knowledge is that wisdom shields and preserves the life of him who has it.

13Consider the work of God: who can make straight what He has made crooked?

14In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider that God has made the one side by side with the other, so that man may not find out anything that shall be after him.

15I have seen everything in the days of my vanity (my emptiness, falsity, vainglory, and futility): there is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in [spite of] his evildoing.

16Be not [morbidly exacting and externally] righteous overmuch, neither strive to make yourself [pretentiously appear] overwise--why should you [get puffed up and] destroy yourself [with presumptuous self-sufficiency]?

17[Although all have sinned] be not wicked overmuch or willfully, neither be foolish--why should you die before your time?

18It is good that you should take hold of this and from that withdraw not your hand; for he who [reverently] fears and worships God will come forth from them all.

19[True] wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers or valiant generals who are in the city.(AA)

20Surely there is not a righteous man upon earth who does good and never sins.(AB)

21Do not give heed to everything that is said, lest you hear your servant cursing you--

22For often your own heart knows that you have likewise cursed others.

23All this have I tried and proved by wisdom. I said, I will be wise [independently of God]--but it was far from me.

24That which is is far off, and that which is deep is very deep--who can find it out [true wisdom independent of the fear of God]?(AC)

25I turned about [penitent] and my heart was set to know and to search out and to seek [true] wisdom and the reason of things, and to know that wickedness is folly and that foolishness is madness [and what had led me into such wickedness and madness].

26And I found that [of all sinful follies none has been so ruinous in seducing one away from God as idolatrous women] more bitter than death is the woman whose heart is snares and nets and whose hands are bands. Whoever pleases God shall escape from her, but the sinner shall be taken by her.

27Behold, this I have found, says the Preacher, while weighing one thing after another to find out the right estimate [and the reason]--

28Which I am still seeking but have not found--one upright man among a thousand have I found, but an upright woman among all those [one thousand in my harem] have I not found.(AD)

29Behold, this is the only [reason for it that] I have found: God made man upright, but they [men and women] have sought out many devices [for evil].

Footnotes:

1. Ecclesiastes 1:3 Ecclesiastes is the book of the natural man whose interests are confined to the unstable, vanishing pleasures and empty satisfactions of those who live merely "under the sun." The natural man is not aware that all the affirmative answers to life are to be found in Him Who is above, not "under," the sun. The natural man grovels in the dust and finds only earthworms, while the spiritual man may soar on wings like eagles (Isa. 40:31) above all that is futile and disappointing, and may live in the consciousness of God's companionship, favor, and incomparable, everlasting rewards.
2. Ecclesiastes 1:13 The "Wisdom" of Proverbs is not the "wisdom" of Ecclesiastes. The former is Godlike, the latter is usually human.
3. Ecclesiastes 1:13 Throughout this book not once is the Supreme Being recognized as "Lord" [of lords and King of kings]. The word used to designate Him is invariably the one that may be applied to God or to idols--"Elohim," the God recognized "under the sun." The wisdom which is thus limited can end only in "a miserable business" and in vexation of spirit until it finds "the wisdom that is from above" (James 3:17 KJV), "the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory" (I Cor. 2:7 KJV).
4. Ecclesiastes 2:8 Solomon's reign began under most promising conditions: he "loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of David his father.. . All Israel... feared the king [Solomon], for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment" (I Kings 3:3, 28 KJV). But soon his own "wisdom" alone was guiding him. He openly affronted God by taking many wives, including even heathen women. They seduced him into tolerating and even practicing idolatry (I Kings 11:1ff.).
5. Ecclesiastes 2:25 According to The Septuagint (Greek translation of the Old Testament) and The Syriac reading: Jesus recognized the unprecedented glory which Solomon's human wisdom had brought him, but He said that Solomon arrayed in all of it was not equal in glory to one tiny lily of the field--which God's wisdom had made (Matt. 6:29).
6. Ecclesiastes 3:19 Does the Bible really teach that "a man has no preeminence over a beast"? No! The Bible only records that the book of Ecclesiastes says it. Then why is this book in the Bible? Can it possibly be called inspired by God when it makes such "under the sun" pronouncements, some only partially true, others entirely false? Here is the tested answer: "Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching ... reproof... correction, for instruction... in righteousness." (II Tim. 3:16 ASV.) The divine purpose in including Ecclesiastes in the Bible is obvious. It gives a startling picture of how fatal it is for even the wisest of men to substitute man's "wisdom" for God's wisdom, and to attempt to live by it. Solomon's reign began with God, gold, and glory. It ended with bafflement, brass, and bewildered acceptance of man's having "no preeminence over a beast"!--man, who was made "in the image and likeness of God" (Gen. 1:27) and "but little lower than God [or heavenly beings]"! (Ps. 8:5.)
7. Ecclesiastes 4:13 "Christianity calls upon us to make our old age into an aspect of youth. There is to be no old age in the sense of spiritual exhaustion or moral decrepitude or misanthropic isolation; old age is to be equivalent to increase of kingliness and bounty and holy influence." "The path of the righteous is as the dawning light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day" (Prov. 4:18 ASV).
8. Ecclesiastes 6:10 The Hebrew "Adam" means man, of the ground. The very name witnesses to his frailty.
9. Ecclesiastes 6:12 How impressive throughout Ecclesiastes is the evidence that, while Solomon is doing his utmost to prove that life is futile and not worth living, the Holy Spirit is using him to show that these conclusions are the tragic effect of living "under the sun"--ignoring the Lord, dwelling away from God the Father, oblivious of the Holy Spirit--and yet face to face with the mysteries of life and nature!

Cross references:

1. Ecclesiastes 1:2 : Rom 8:20
2. Ecclesiastes 1:4 : Ps 119:90
3. Ecclesiastes 1:6 : John 3:8
4. Ecclesiastes 1:8 : Prov 27:20
5. Ecclesiastes 1:17 : I Thess 5:21
6. Ecclesiastes 2:1 : Luke 12:19, 20
7. Ecclesiastes 2:8 : I Kings 9:28; 10:10, 14, 21
8. Ecclesiastes 2:11 : Matt 16:26
9. Ecclesiastes 2:14 : Prov 17:24
10. Ecclesiastes 2:18 : Ps 49:10
11. Ecclesiastes 3:2 : Heb 9:27
12. Ecclesiastes 3:7 : Amos 5:13
13. Ecclesiastes 3:8 : Luke 14:26
14. Ecclesiastes 3:14 : Ps 19:9; James 1:17
15. Ecclesiastes 4:8 : Prov 27:20; I John 2:16
16. Ecclesiastes 5:1 : Gen 35:1-4; Exod 3:5
17. Ecclesiastes 5:4 : Ps 50:14; 66:13, 14; 76:11
18. Ecclesiastes 5:5 : Prov 20:25; Acts 5:4
19. Ecclesiastes 5:6 : Mal 2:7
20. Ecclesiastes 5:16 : I Tim 6:6
21. Ecclesiastes 5:18 : I Tim 6:17
22. Ecclesiastes 6:2 : Luke 12:20
23. Ecclesiastes 6:3 : Job 3:16
24. Ecclesiastes 6:7 : Prov 16:26
25. Ecclesiastes 7:3 : II Cor 7:10
26. Ecclesiastes 7:9 : James 1:19, 20
27. Ecclesiastes 7:19 : Ps 127:1; II Tim 3:15
28. Ecclesiastes 7:20 : Isa 53:6; Rom 3:23
29. Ecclesiastes 7:24 : Job 28:12-28; I Cor 2:9-16
30. Ecclesiastes 7:28 : I Kings 11:3

2008-07-31T08:03:00.001-07:00

John 1 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)

Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
[NIV at IBS] [International Bible Society] [NIV at Zondervan] [Zondervan]

John 1
The Word Became Flesh
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning.

3Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood[a] it.

6There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. 7He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. 8He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 9The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.[b]

10He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13children born not of natural descent,[c] nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

14The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only,[d] who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

15John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' " 16From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. 17For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only,[e][f]who is at the Father's side, has made him known.
John the Baptist Denies Being the Christ
19Now this was John's testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. 20He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, "I am not the Christ.[g]"

21They asked him, "Then who are you? Are you Elijah?"
He said, "I am not."
"Are you the Prophet?"
He answered, "No."

22Finally they said, "Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?"

23John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, "I am the voice of one calling in the desert, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.' "[h]

24Now some Pharisees who had been sent 25questioned him, "Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?"

26"I baptize with[i] water," John replied, "but among you stands one you do not know. 27He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie."

28This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
Jesus the Lamb of God
29The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30This is the one I meant when I said, 'A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' 31I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel."

32Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. 33I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' 34I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God."
Jesus' First Disciples
35The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, "Look, the Lamb of God!"

37When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 38Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, "What do you want?"
They said, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?"

39"Come," he replied, "and you will see."
So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him. It was about the tenth hour.

40Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. 41The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, "We have found the Messiah" (that is, the Christ). 42And he brought him to Jesus.
Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas" (which, when translated, is Peter[j]).
Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael
43The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, "Follow me."

44Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. 45Philip found Nathanael and told him, "We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."

46"Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?" Nathanael asked.
"Come and see," said Philip.

47When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, "Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false."

48"How do you know me?" Nathanael asked.
Jesus answered, "I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you."

49Then Nathanael declared, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel."

50Jesus said, "You believe[k] because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You shall see greater things than that." 51He then added, "I tell you[l] the truth, you[m] shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."

Footnotes:

1. John 1:5 Or darkness, and the darkness has not overcome
2. John 1:9 Or This was the true light that gives light to every man who comes into the world
3. John 1:13 Greek of bloods
4. John 1:14 Or the Only Begotten
5. John 1:18 Or the Only Begotten
6. John 1:18 Some manuscripts but the only (or only begotten) Son
7. John 1:20 Or Messiah. "The Christ" (Greek) and "the Messiah" (Hebrew) both mean "the Anointed One"; also in verse 25.
8. John 1:23 Isaiah 40:3
9. John 1:26 Or in; also in verses 31 and 33
10. John 1:42 Both Cephas (Aramaic) and Peter (Greek) mean rock.
11. John 1:50 Or Do you believe ...?
12. John 1:51 The Greek is plural.
13. John 1:51 The Greek is plural.

Our God is an ever present comrade no matter where in the world we go,
He is our beginning and our end if we choose to follow him,
He is our creator and loves us without end.

2008-06-24T20:29:00.000-07:00

Galatians 1 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.
[Holman Christian Standard Bible] [Broadman Holman]

Galatians 1
Greeting
1 Paul, (A) an apostle—not from men or by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father (B) who raised Him from the dead (C) — 2 and all the brothers who are with me:

To the churches of Galatia. (D) [a]

3 Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord [b] Jesus Christ, 4 who gave Himself for our sins (E) to rescue us from this present evil age, (F) according to the will of our God and Father, (G) 5 to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

No Other Gospel
6 I am amazed that you are so quickly turning away from Him who called (H) you by the grace of Christ, [and are turning] to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another [gospel], (I) but there are some (J) who are troubling you and want to change the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel (K) from heaven should preach to you a gospel other than what we have preached to you, (L) a curse be on him! [c] 9 As we have said before, I now say again: if anyone preaches to you a gospel contrary to what you received, (M) a curse be on him! [d]

10 For am I now trying to win the favor of people, or God? (N) Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of Christ.

Paul Defends His Apostleship
11 Now I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel preached by me is not based on a human point of view. [e] 12 For I did not receive it from a human source and I was not taught it, but it came by a revelation (O) from Jesus Christ. (P)

13 For you have heard about my former way of life (Q) in Judaism: (R) I persecuted (S) God's church to an extreme degree and tried to destroy it; 14 and I advanced in Judaism beyond many contemporaries among my people, because I was extremely zealous for the traditions of my ancestors. (T) 15 But when God, who from my mother's womb set me apart and called (U) me by His grace, was pleased 16 to reveal His Son (V) in me, so that I could preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone. [f] 17 I did not go up to Jerusalem (W) to those who had become apostles (X) before me; instead I went to Arabia (Y) and came back to Damascus. (Z)

18 Then after three years I did go up to Jerusalem (AA) to get to know Cephas, (AB) [g] and I stayed with him 15 days. 19 But I didn't see any of the other apostles except James, (AC) the Lord's brother. 20 Now in what I write to you, I'm not lying. God is my witness. [h]

21 Afterwards, I went to the regions of Syria (AD) and Cilicia. (AE) 22 I remained personally unknown to the Judean churches in Christ; 23 they simply kept hearing: "He who formerly persecuted (AF) us now preaches the faith (AG) he once tried to destroy." 24 And they glorified God because of me.

Footnotes:

1. Galatians 1:2 A Roman province in what is now Turkey
2. Galatians 1:3 Other mss read God our Father and the Lord
3. Galatians 1:8 Or you, let him be condemned, or you, let him be condemned to hell; Gk anathema
4. Galatians 1:9 Or received, let him be condemned, or received, let him be condemned to hell; Gk anathema
5. Galatians 1:11 Lit not according to man
6. Galatians 1:16 Lit flesh and blood
7. Galatians 1:18 Other mss read Peter
8. Galatians 1:20 Lit Behold, before God

Cross references:

1. Galatians 1:1 : Ac 13:9;
2. Galatians 1:1 : Mt 5:16; 6:1; 11:27; Jn 8:42;
3. Galatians 1:1 : Ac 9:6; 20:24; 22:10-21; 26:16;
4. Galatians 1:2 : Ac 16:6; 18:23; 1Co 16:1; 2Tm 4:10; 1Pt 1:1;
5. Galatians 1:4 : Rm 6:23; Ti 2:14;
6. Galatians 1:4 : Mt 20:28; Rm 4:25; 1Co 15:3; Gl 2:20;
7. Galatians 1:4 : Php 4:20; 1Th 1:3; 3:11; 13; Heb 10:7; 1Pt 3:17; Rv 10:7;
8. Galatians 1:6 : Col 3:15; 1Pt 1:15;
9. Galatians 1:7 : Ac 4:12; 1Co 3:11;
10. Galatians 1:7 : Jude 4;
11. Galatians 1:8 : Gn 16:7; Mt 13:49; Lk 1:11; Ac 5:19; Rv 14:6;
12. Galatians 1:8 : Rm 15:20;
13. Galatians 1:9 : Jude 3;
14. Galatians 1:10 : 1Th 2:4;
15. Galatians 1:12 : 1Pt 4:13;
16. Galatians 1:12 : 1Co 11:23; 15:3;
17. Galatians 1:13 : 2Pt 3:11;
18. Galatians 1:13 : Ac 8:1-9:2; 26:4; Php 3:5-6;
19. Galatians 1:13 : Php 3:6; 2Tm 3:12;
20. Galatians 1:14 : Mk 7:3;
21. Galatians 1:15 : Mt 24:22; Col 3:15;
22. Galatians 1:16 : Jn 5:19; Heb 1:2;
23. Galatians 1:17 : Mt 23:37; Ac 8:1;
24. Galatians 1:17 : Jude 17;
25. Galatians 1:17 : Is 21:13; Jr 25:24; Ezk 27:21; Gl 4:25;
26. Galatians 1:17 : 2Sm 8:5;
27. Galatians 1:18 : Ac 9:26;
28. Galatians 1:18 : Jn 1:42;
29. Galatians 1:19 : Jude 1;
30. Galatians 1:21 : Num 23:7; Lk 2:2;
31. Galatians 1:21 : Ac 9:30; 11:25-26;
32. Galatians 1:23 : Ac 8:1-3;
33. Galatians 1:23 : Jude 3;

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2008-05-13T09:14:00.000-07:00

Acts 1-6 (King James Version)
King James Version (KJV)

Public Domain
[A Public Domain Bible] [KJV at Zondervan] [Zondervan]

Acts 1

1The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,

2Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:

3To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:

4And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.

5For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

6When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

7And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

8But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

9And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

10And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;

11Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

12Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey.

13And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.

14These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

15And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)

16Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.

17For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.

18Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.

19And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood.

20For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take.

21Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,

22Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.

23And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.

24And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,

25That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.

26And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
Acts 2

1And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

2And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

3And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

4And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

5And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.

6Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.

7And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?

8And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?

9Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,

10Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,

11Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

12And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?

13Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.

14But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:

15For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.

16But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;

17And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

18And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:

19And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:

20The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord come:

21And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

22Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:

23Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:

24Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.

25For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:

26Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:

27Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

28Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.

29Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.

30Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;

31He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.

32This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.

33Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.

34For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,

35Until I make thy foes thy footstool.

36Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

37Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

38Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

39For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call.

40And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.

41Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

42And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

43And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.

44And all that believed were together, and had all things common;

45And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

46And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

47Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Acts 3

1Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.

2And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;

3Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.

4And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.

5And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.

6Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

7And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

8And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

9And all the people saw him walking and praising God:

10And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.

11And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering.

12And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?

13The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.

14But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;

15And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.

16And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

17And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.

18But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.

19Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.

20And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:

21Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.

22For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.

23And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.

24Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.

25Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.

26Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.
Acts 4

1And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them,

2Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

3And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.

4Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.

5And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes,

6And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.

7And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?

8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,

9If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;

10Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.

11This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.

12Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

13Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

14And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.

15But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,

16Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it.

17But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.

18And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.

19But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.

20For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.

21So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done.

22For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed.

23And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.

24And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:

25Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?

26The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.

27For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,

28For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.

29And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,

30By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.

31And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

32And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.

33And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.

34Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,

35And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

36And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,

37Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
Acts 5

1But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,

2And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet.

3But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?

4Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

5And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.

6And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.

7And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.

8And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.

9Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.

10Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.

11And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.

12And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch.

13And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.

14And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)

15Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.

16There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.

17Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,

18And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.

19But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,

20Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.

21And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.

22But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned and told,

23Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within.

24Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow.

25Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.

26Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.

27And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,

28Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.

29Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

30The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.

31Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

32And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

33When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.

34Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space;

35And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men.

36For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought.

37After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed.

38And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:

39But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.

40And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

41And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

42And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
Acts 6

1And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.

2Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.

3Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

4But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

5And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:

6Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.

7And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

8And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.

9Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.

10And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.

11Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.

12And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,

13And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:

14For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.

15And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.

Psalm 27 (King James Version)
King James Version (KJV)

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[A Public Domain Bible] [KJV at Zondervan] [Zondervan]

Psalm 27

1The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

2When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.

3Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.

4One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.

5For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.

6And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.

7Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.

8When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.

9Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.

10When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.

11Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.

12Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.

13I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

14Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

Psalm 33-35 (King James Version)

King James Version (KJV)

Public Domain
[A Public Domain Bible] [KJV at Zondervan] [Zondervan]

Psalm 33

1Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.

2Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.

3Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.

4For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.

5He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.

6By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.

7He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses.

8Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.

9For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.

10The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect.

11The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.

12Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.

13The LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men.

14From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth.

15He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works.

16There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.

17An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength.

18Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;

19To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.

20Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield.

21For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.

22Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.
Psalm 34

1I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

2My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.

3O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.

4I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

5They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.

6This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.

7The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.

8O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

9O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.

10The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.

11Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

12What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?

13Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.

14Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

15The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.

16The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

17The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.

18The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

19Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.

20He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.

21Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.

22The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.
Psalm 35

1Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.

2Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help.

3Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.

4Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt.

5Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase them.

6Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the LORD persecute them.

7For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have digged for my soul.

8Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall.

9And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation.

10All my bones shall say, LORD, who is like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him?

11False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not.

12They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul.

13But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.

14I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother.

15But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not:

16With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth.

17Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions.

18I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people.

19Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause.

20For they speak not peace: but they devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the land.

21Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me, and said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it.

22This thou hast seen, O LORD: keep not silence: O Lord, be not far from me.

23Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment, even unto my cause, my God and my Lord.

24Judge me, O LORD my God, according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me.

25Let them not say in their hearts, Ah, so would we have it: let them not say, We have swallowed him up.

26Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at mine hurt: let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that magnify themselves against me.

27Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.

28And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long.

2008-05-06T01:53:00.001-07:00

2008-04-10T15:01:00.001-07:00

Hebrews 1-5 (King James Version)
King James Version (KJV)

Public Domain
[A Public Domain Bible] [KJV at Zondervan] [Zondervan]

Hebrews 1

1God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

2Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

3Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:

4Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

5For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?

6And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.

7And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.

8But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

9Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

10And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:

11They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment;

12And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.

13But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?

14Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
Hebrews 2

1Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.

2For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;

3How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;

4God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?

5For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.

6But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man that thou visitest him?

7Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:

8Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.

9But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

10For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

11For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,

12Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.

13And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.

14Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

15And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

16For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.

17Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

18For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
Hebrews 3

1Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;

2Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house.

3For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house.

4For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.

5And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after;

6But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

7Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice,

8Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:

9When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.

10Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.

11So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)

12Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

13But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

14For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;

15While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.

16For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.

17But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?

18And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?

19So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
Hebrews 4

1Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.

2For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

3For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

4For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.

5And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.

6Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:

7Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

8For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.

9There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

10For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

11Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

12For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

13Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

14Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

15For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

16Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 5

1For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:

2Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.

3And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.

4And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.

5So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.

6As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

7Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;

8Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;

9And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

10Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.

11Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.

12For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

13For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

14But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

2008-03-26T12:14:00.001-07:00

Ecclesiastes 1-6 (King James Version)
King James Version (KJV)

Public Domain
[A Public Domain Bible] [KJV at Zondervan] [Zondervan]

Ecclesiastes 1

1The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.

2Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

3What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?

4One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.

5The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.

6The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits.

7All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.

8All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.

9The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

10Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.

11There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.

12I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

13And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.

14I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

15That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.

16I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.

17And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.

18For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.
Ecclesiastes 2

1I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity.

2I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it?

3I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life.

4I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards:

5I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits:

6I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees:

7I got me servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me:

8I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts.

9So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.

10And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.

11Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.

12And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what can the man do that cometh after the king? even that which hath been already done.

13Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.

14The wise man's eyes are in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event happeneth to them all.

15Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also is vanity.

16For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise man? as the fool.

17Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

18Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me.

19And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity.

20Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun.

21For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.

22For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun?

23For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.

24There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.

25For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I?

26For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
Ecclesiastes 3

1To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

2A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

3A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

4A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

5A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

6A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

7A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

8A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

9What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?

10I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.

11He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.

12I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.

13And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.

14I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.

15That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.

16And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there.

17I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.

18I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.

19For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity.

20All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.

21Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?

22Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?
Ecclesiastes 4

1So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.

2Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive.

3Yea, better is he than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

4Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

5The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.

6Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.

7Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.

8There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.

9Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.

10For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.

11Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?

12And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

13Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.

14For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor.

15I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead.

16There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
Ecclesiastes 5

1Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil.

2Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.

3For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool's voice is known by multitude of words.

4When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.

5Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.

6Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?

7For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God.

8If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they.

9Moreover the profit of the earth is for all: the king himself is served by the field.

10He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.

11When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes?

12The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.

13There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt.

14But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand.

15As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.

16And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind?

17All his days also he eateth in darkness, and he hath much sorrow and wrath with his sickness.

18Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion.

19Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God.

20For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth him in the joy of his heart.
Ecclesiastes 6

1There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men:

2A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and it is an evil disease.

3If a man beget an hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years be many, and his soul be not filled with good, and also that he have no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he.

4For he cometh in with vanity, and departeth in darkness, and his name shall be covered with darkness.

5Moreover he hath not seen the sun, nor known any thing: this hath more rest than the other.

6Yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, yet hath he seen no good: do not all go to one place?

7All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.

8For what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living?

9Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

10That which hath been is named already, and it is known that it is man: neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he.

11Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better?

12For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?

Revelation 1-11 (Amplified Bible)

2008-03-10T20:28:00.001-07:00

Revelation 1-11 (Amplified Bible)
Amplified Bible (AMP)

Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
[AMP at Lockman] [The Lockman Foundation] [Amplified at Zondervan] [Zondervan]

Revelation 1
1[THIS IS] the revelation of Jesus Christ [His unveiling of the divine mysteries]. God gave it to Him to disclose and make known to His bond servants certain things which must shortly and speedily come to pass [a]in their entirety. And He sent and communicated it through His angel (messenger) to His bond servant John,

2Who has testified to and vouched for all that he saw [[b]in his visions], the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.

3Blessed (happy, [c]to be envied) is the man who reads aloud [in the assemblies] the word of this prophecy; and blessed (happy, [d]to be envied) are those who hear [it read] and who keep themselves true to the things which are written in it [heeding them and laying them to heart], for the time [for them to be fulfilled] is near.

4John to the seven assemblies (churches) that are in Asia: May grace (God's unmerited favor) be granted to you and spiritual peace ([e]the peace of Christ's kingdom) from Him Who is and Who was and Who is to come, and from the seven Spirits [[f]the sevenfold Holy Spirit] before His throne,(A)

5And from Jesus Christ the faithful and trustworthy Witness, the Firstborn of the dead [first to be brought back to life] and the Prince (Ruler) of the kings of the earth. To Him Who [g]ever loves us and has [h]once [for all] loosed and freed us from our sins by His own blood,(B)

6And formed us into a kingdom (a royal race), priests to His God and Father--to Him be the glory and the power and the majesty and the dominion throughout the ages and forever and ever. Amen (so be it).(C)

7Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth shall gaze upon Him and beat their breasts and mourn and lament over Him. Even so [must it be]. Amen (so be it).(D)

8I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, says the Lord God, He Who is and Who was and Who is to come, the Almighty (the Ruler of all).(E)

9I, John, your brother and companion (sharer and participator) with you in the tribulation and kingdom and patient endurance [which are] in Jesus Christ, was on the isle called Patmos, [banished] on account of [my witnessing to] the Word of God and the testimony (the proof, the evidence) for Jesus Christ.

10I was in the Spirit [rapt in His power] on the Lord's Day, and I heard behind me a great voice like the calling of a [i]war trumpet,

11Saying, I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last. Write promptly what you see (your vision) in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia--to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.

12Then I turned to see [whose was] the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands,

13And in the midst of the lampstands [One] like a Son of Man, clothed with a robe which reached to His feet and with a girdle of gold about His breast.(F)

14His head and His hair were white like white wool, [as white] as snow, and His eyes [flashed] like a flame of fire.(G)

15His feet glowed like burnished (bright) bronze as it is refined in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters.(H)

16In His right hand He held seven stars, and from His mouth there came forth a sharp two-edged sword, and His face was like the sun shining in full power at midday.(I)

17When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as if dead. But He laid His right hand on me and said, Do not be afraid! I am the First and the Last,(J)

18And the Ever-living One [I am living in the eternity of the eternities]. I died, but see, I am alive forevermore; and I possess the keys of death and Hades (the realm of the dead).

19Write therefore the things you see, what they are [and signify] and what is to take place hereafter.

20As to the hidden meaning (the mystery) of the seven stars which you saw on My right hand and the seven lampstands of gold: the seven stars are the seven angels (messengers) of the seven assemblies (churches) and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

Revelation 2
1TO THE angel (messenger) of the assembly (church) in Ephesus write: These are the words of Him Who holds the seven stars [which are the messengers of the seven churches] in His right hand, Who goes about among the seven golden lampstands [which are the seven churches]:

2I know your industry and activities, laborious toil and trouble, and your patient endurance, and how you cannot tolerate wicked [men] and have tested and critically appraised those who call [themselves] apostles (special messengers of Christ) and yet are not, and have found them to be impostors and liars.

3I know you are enduring patiently and are bearing up for My name's sake, and you have not fainted or become exhausted or grown weary.

4But I have this [one charge to make] against you: that you have left (abandoned) the love that you had at first [you have deserted Me, your first love].

5Remember then from what heights you have fallen. Repent (change the inner man to meet God's will) and do the works you did previously [when first you knew the Lord], or else I will visit you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you change your mind and repent.

6Yet you have this [in your favor and to your credit]: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans [what they are doing as corrupters of the people], which I Myself also detest.

7He who is able to hear, let him listen to and give heed to what the Spirit says to the assemblies (churches). To him who overcomes (is victorious), I will grant to eat [of the fruit] of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.(K)

8And to the angel (messenger) of the assembly (church) in Smyrna write: These are the words of the First and the Last, Who died and came to life again:(L)

9I know your affliction and distress and pressing trouble and your poverty--but you are rich! and how you are abused and reviled and slandered by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

10Fear nothing that you are about to suffer. [Dismiss your dread and your fears!] Behold, the devil is indeed about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested and proved and critically appraised, and for ten days you will have affliction. Be loyally faithful unto death [even if you must die for it], and I will give you the crown of life.(M)

11He who is able to hear, let him listen to and heed what the Spirit says to the assemblies (churches). He who overcomes (is victorious) shall in no way be injured by the second death.

12Then to the angel (messenger) of the assembly (church) in Pergamum write: These are the words of Him Who has and wields the sharp two-edged sword:

13I know where you live--a place where Satan sits enthroned. [Yet] you are clinging to and holding fast My name, and you did not deny My faith, even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed (martyred) in your midst--where Satan dwells.

14Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: you have some people there who are clinging to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to set a trap and a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, [to entice them] to eat food that had been sacrificed to idols and to practice lewdness [giving themselves up to sexual vice].(N)

15You also have some who in a similar way are clinging to the teaching of the Nicolaitans [those corrupters of the people] which thing I hate.

16Repent [then]! Or else I will come to you quickly and fight against them with the sword of My mouth.

17He who is able to hear, let him listen to and heed what the Spirit says to the assemblies (churches). To him who overcomes (conquers), I will give to eat of the manna that is hidden, and I will give him a white stone with a new name engraved on the stone, which no one knows or understands except he who receives it.(O)

18And to the angel (messenger) of the assembly (church) in Thyatira write: These are the words of the Son of God, Who has eyes that flash like a flame of fire, and Whose feet glow like bright and burnished and white-hot bronze:(P)

19I know your record and what you are doing, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your recent works are more numerous and greater than your first ones.

20But I have this against you: that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess [claiming to be inspired], and who is teaching and leading astray my servants and beguiling them into practicing sexual vice and eating food sacrificed to idols. [I Kings 16:31; II Kings 9:22, 30.]

21I gave her time to repent, but she has no desire to repent of her immorality [symbolic of idolatry] and refuses to do so.

22Take note: I will throw her on a bed [[j]of anguish], and those who commit adultery with her [her paramours] I will bring down to [k]pressing distress and severe affliction, unless they turn away their minds from conduct [such as] hers and repent of [l]their doings.

23And I will strike her children (her proper followers) dead [thoroughly exterminating them]. And all the assemblies (churches) shall recognize and understand that I am He Who searches minds (the thoughts, feelings, and purposes) and the [inmost] hearts, and I will give to each of you [the reward for what you have done] as your work deserves.(Q)

24But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not explored and known the depths of Satan, as they say--I tell you that I do not lay upon you any other [fresh] burden:

25Only hold fast to what you have until I come.

26And he who overcomes (is victorious) and who obeys My commands to the [very] end [doing the works that please Me], I will give him authority and power over the nations;

27And he shall rule them with a sceptre (rod) of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, and [his power over them shall be] like that which I Myself have received from My Father;(R)

28And I will give him the Morning Star.

29He who is able to hear, let him listen to and heed what the [Holy] Spirit says to the assemblies (churches).

Revelation 3
1AND TO the angel (messenger) of the assembly (church) in Sardis write: These are the words of Him Who has the seven Spirits of God [[m]the sevenfold Holy Spirit] and the seven stars: I know your record and what you are doing; you are supposed to be alive, but [in reality] you are dead.

2Rouse yourselves and keep awake, and strengthen and invigorate what remains and is on the point of dying; for I have not found a thing that you have done [any work of yours] meeting the requirements of My God or perfect in His sight.

3So call to mind the lessons you received and heard; continually lay them to heart and obey them, and repent. In case you will not rouse yourselves and keep awake and watch, I will come upon you like a thief, and you will not know or suspect at what hour I will come.

4Yet you still have a few [persons'] names in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes, and they shall walk with Me in white, because they are worthy and deserving.

5Thus shall he who conquers (is victorious) be clad in white garments, and I will not erase or blot out his name from the Book of Life; I will acknowledge him [as Mine] and I will confess his name openly before My Father and before His angels.(S)

6He who is able to hear, let him listen to and heed what the [Holy] Spirit says to the assemblies (churches).

7And to the angel (messenger) of the assembly (church) in Philadelphia write: These are the words of the Holy One, the True One, He Who has the key of David, Who opens and no one shall shut, Who shuts and no one shall open:(T)

8I know your [record of] works and what you are doing. See! I have set before you a door wide open which no one is able to shut; I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept My Word and guarded My message and have not renounced or denied My name.

9Take note! I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say they are Jews and are not, but lie--behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet and learn and acknowledge that I have loved you.(U)

10Because you have guarded and kept My word of patient endurance [have held fast the [n]lesson of My patience with the [o]expectant endurance that I give you], I also will keep you [safe] from the hour of trial (testing) which is coming on the whole world to try those who dwell upon the earth.

11I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one may rob you and deprive you of your crown.

12He who overcomes (is victorious), I will make him a pillar in the sanctuary of My God; he shall never be put out of it or go out of it, and I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which descends from My God out of heaven, and My own new name.(V)

13He who can hear, let him listen to and heed what the Spirit says to the assemblies (churches).

14And to the angel (messenger) of the assembly (church) in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the trusty and faithful and true Witness, the Origin and Beginning and Author of God's creation:(W)

15I know your [record of] works and what you are doing; you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were cold or hot!

16So, because you are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of My mouth!

17For you say, I am rich; I have prospered and grown wealthy, and I am in need of nothing; and you do not realize and understand that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.(X)

18Therefore I counsel you to purchase from Me gold refined and tested by fire, that you may be [truly] wealthy, and white clothes to clothe you and to keep the shame of your nudity from being seen, and salve to put on your eyes, that you may see.

19Those whom I [dearly and tenderly] love, I tell their faults and convict and convince and reprove and chasten [I discipline and instruct them]. So be enthusiastic and in earnest and burning with zeal and repent [changing your mind and attitude].(Y)

20Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears and listens to and heeds My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will eat with him, and he [will eat] with Me.

21He who overcomes (is victorious), I will grant him to sit beside Me on My throne, as I Myself overcame (was victorious) and sat down beside My Father on His throne.

22He who is able to hear, let him listen to and heed what the [Holy] Spirit says to the assemblies (churches).

Revelation 4
1AFTER THIS I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice which I had heard addressing me like [the calling of] a [p]war trumpet said, Come up here, and I will show you what must take place in the future.

2At once I came under the [Holy] Spirit's power, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with One seated on the throne!(Z)

3And He Who sat there appeared like [the crystalline brightness of] jasper and [the fiery] sardius, and encircling the throne there was a halo that looked like [a rainbow of] emerald.(AA)

4Twenty-four other thrones surrounded the throne, and seated on these thrones were twenty-four elders ([q]the members of the heavenly Sanhedrin), arrayed in white clothing, with crowns of gold upon their heads.

5Out from the throne came flashes of lightning and rumblings and peals of thunder, and in front of the throne seven blazing torches burned, which are the seven Spirits of God [[r]the sevenfold Holy Spirit];

6And in front of the throne there was also what looked like a transparent glassy sea, as if of crystal. And around the throne, in the center at each side of the throne, were four living creatures (beings) who were full of eyes in front and behind [with intelligence as to what is before and at the rear of them].(AB)

7The first living creature (being) was like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature had the face of a man, and the fourth living creature [was] like a flying eagle.(AC)

8And the four living creatures, individually having six wings, were full of eyes all over and within [underneath their wings]; and day and night they never stop saying, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty (Omnipotent), Who was and Who is and Who is to come.(AD)

9And whenever the living creatures offer glory and honor and thanksgiving to Him Who sits on the throne, Who lives forever and ever (through the eternities of the eternities),(AE)

10The twenty-four elders ([s]the members of the heavenly Sanhedrin) fall prostrate before Him Who is sitting on the throne, and they worship Him Who lives forever and ever; and they throw down their crowns before the throne, crying out,

11Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive the glory and the honor and dominion, for You created all things; by Your will they were [brought into being] and were created.(AF)

Revelation 5
1AND I saw lying on the [t]open hand of Him Who was seated on the throne a scroll (book) written within and on the back, closed and sealed with seven seals;(AG)

2And I saw a strong angel announcing in a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the scroll? And [who is entitled and deserves and is morally fit] to break its seals?

3And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth [in the realm of the dead, Hades] was able to open the scroll or to take a [single] look at its contents.

4And I wept audibly and bitterly because no one was found fit to open the scroll or to inspect it.

5Then one of the elders [[u]of the heavenly Sanhedrin] said to me, Stop weeping! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root (Source) of David, has won (has overcome and conquered)! He can open the scroll and break its seven seals!(AH)

6And there between the throne and the four living creatures (beings) and among the elders [[v]of the heavenly Sanhedrin] I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God [[w]the sevenfold Holy Spirit] Who have been sent [on duty far and wide] into all the earth.(AI)

7He then went and took the scroll from the right hand of Him Who sat on the throne.

8And when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders [[x]of the heavenly Sanhedrin] prostrated themselves before the Lamb. Each was holding a harp (lute or guitar), and they had golden bowls full of incense (fragrant spices and gums for burning), which are the prayers of God's people (the saints).

9And [now] they sing a new song, saying, You are worthy to take the scroll and to break the seals that are on it, for You were slain (sacrificed), and with Your blood You purchased men unto God from every tribe and language and people and nation.(AJ)

10And You have made them a kingdom (royal race) and priests to our God, and they shall reign [as kings] over the earth!(AK)

11Then I looked, and I heard the voices of many angels on every side of the throne and of the living creatures and the elders [[y]of the heavenly Sanhedrin], and they numbered ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands,(AL)

12Saying in a loud voice, Deserving is the Lamb, Who was sacrificed, to receive all the power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and majesty (glory, splendor) and blessing!

13And I heard every created thing in heaven and on earth and under the earth [in Hades, the place of departed spirits] and on the sea and all that is in it, crying out together, To Him Who is seated on the throne and to the Lamb be ascribed the blessing and the honor and the majesty (glory, splendor) and the power (might and dominion) forever and ever (through the eternities of the eternities)!(AM)

14Then the four living creatures (beings) said, Amen (so be it)! And the elders [[z]of the heavenly Sanhedrin] prostrated themselves and worshiped Him Who lives forever and ever.

Revelation 6
1THEN I saw as the Lamb broke open one of the seven seals, and as if in a voice of thunder I heard one of the four living creatures call out, Come!

2And I looked, and saw there a white horse whose rider carried a bow. And a crown was given him, and he rode forth conquering and to conquer.(AN)

3And when He broke the second seal, I heard the second living creature call out, Come!

4And another horse came out, flaming red. And its rider was empowered to take the peace from the earth, so that men slaughtered one another; and he was given a huge sword.

5When He broke open the third seal, I heard the third living creature call out, Come and look ! And I saw, and behold, a black horse, and in his hand the rider had a pair of scales (a balance).

6And I heard what seemed to be a voice from the midst of the four living creatures, saying, A quart of wheat for a denarius [a whole day's wages], and three quarts of barley for a denarius; but do not harm the oil and the wine! [II Kings 6:25.]

7When the Lamb broke open the fourth seal, I heard the fourth living creature call out, Come!

8So I looked, and behold, an ashy pale horse [[aa]black and blue as if made so by bruising], and its rider's name was Death, and Hades (the realm of the dead) followed him closely. And they were given authority and power over a fourth part of the earth to kill with the sword and with famine and with plague (pestilence, disease) and with wild beasts of the earth.(AO)

9When the Lamb broke open the fifth seal, I saw at the foot of the altar the souls of those whose lives had been sacrificed for [adhering to] the Word of God and for the testimony they had borne.

10They cried in a loud voice, O [Sovereign] Lord, holy and true, how long now before You will sit in judgment and avenge our blood upon those who dwell on the earth?(AP)

11Then they were each given a [ab]long and flowing and festive white robe and told to rest and wait patiently a little while longer, until the number should be complete of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed as they themselves had been.

12When He [the Lamb] broke open the sixth seal, I looked, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun grew black as sackcloth of hair, [the full disc of] the moon became like blood.(AQ)

13And the stars of the sky dropped to the earth like a fig tree shedding its unripe fruit out of season when shaken by a strong wind.(AR)

14And the [ac]sky rolled up like a scroll and vanished, and every mountain and island was dislodged from its place.

15Then the kings of the earth and their noblemen and their magnates and their military chiefs and the wealthy and the strong and [everyone, whether] slave or free hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains,(AS)

16And they called to the mountains and the rocks, Fall on (before) us and hide us from the face of Him Who sits on the throne and from the [ad]deep-seated indignation and wrath of the Lamb.(AT)

17For the great day of His wrath (vengeance, retribution, indignation) has come, and who is able to stand before it?(AU)

Revelation 7
1AFTER THIS I saw four angels stationed at the four corners of the earth, [ae]firmly holding back the four winds of the earth so that no wind should blow on the earth or sea or upon any tree.(AV)

2Then I saw a second angel coming up from the east (the rising of the sun) and carrying the seal of the living God. And with a loud voice he called out to the four angels who had been given authority and power to injure earth and sea,

3Saying, Harm neither the earth nor the sea nor the trees, until we have sealed the bond servants of our God upon their foreheads.(AW)

4And [then] I heard how many were sealed (marked) out of every tribe of the sons of Israel: there were 144,000.

5Twelve thousand were sealed (marked) out of the tribe of Judah, 12,000 of the tribe of Reuben, 12,000 of the tribe of Gad,

6Twelve thousand of the tribe of Asher, 12,000 of the tribe of Naphtali, 12,000 of the tribe of Manasseh,

7Twelve thousand of the tribe of Simeon, 12,000 of the tribe of Levi, 12,000 of the tribe of Issachar,

8Twelve thousand of the tribe of Zebulun, 12,000 of the tribe of Joseph, 12,000 of the tribe of Benjamin.

9After this I looked and a vast host appeared which no one could count, [gathered out] of every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages. These stood before the throne and before the Lamb; they were attired in white robes, with palm branches in their hands.

10In loud voice they cried, saying, [Our] salvation is due to our God, Who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb [to Them we owe our deliverance]!

11And all the angels were standing round the throne and round the elders [[af]of the heavenly Sanhedrin] and the four living creatures, and they fell prostrate before the throne and worshiped God.

12Amen! (So be it!) they cried. Blessing and glory and majesty and splendor and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and might [be ascribed] to our God to the ages and ages (forever and ever, throughout the eternities of the eternities)! Amen! (So be it!)

13Then, addressing me, one of the elders [[ag]of the heavenly Sanhedrin] said, Who are these [people] clothed in the long white robes? And from where have they come?

14I replied, Sir, you know. And he said to me, These are they who have come out of the great tribulation (persecution), and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.(AX)

15For this reason they are [now] before the [very] throne of God and serve Him day and night in His sanctuary (temple); and He Who is sitting upon the throne will protect and spread His tabernacle over and shelter them with His presence.

16They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun smite them, nor any [ah]scorching heat.(AY)

17For the Lamb Who is in the midst of the throne will be their Shepherd, and He will guide them to the springs of the waters of life; and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.(AZ)

Revelation 8
1WHEN HE [the Lamb] broke open the seventh seal, there was silence for about half an hour in heaven.

2Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets.

3And another angel came and stood over the altar. He had a golden censer, and he was given very much incense (fragrant spices and gums which exhale perfume when burned), that he might mingle it with the prayers of all the people of God (the saints) upon the golden altar before the throne.(BA)

4And the smoke of the incense (the perfume) arose in the presence of God, with the prayers of the people of God (the saints), from the hand of the angel.

5So the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and cast it upon the earth. Then there followed peals of thunder and loud rumblings and blasts and noises, and flashes of lightning and an earthquake.(BB)

6Then the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to sound them.

7The first angel blew [his] trumpet, and there was a storm of hail and fire mingled with blood cast upon the earth. And a third part of the earth was burned up and a third of the trees was burned up and all the green grass was burned up.(BC)

8The second angel blew [his] trumpet, and something resembling a great mountain, blazing with fire, was hurled into the sea.(BD)

9And a third of the sea was turned to blood, a third of the living creatures in the sea perished, and a third of the ships were destroyed.

10The third angel blew [his] trumpet, and a huge star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it dropped on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water--

11And the name of the star is Wormwood. A third part of the waters was changed into wormwood, and many people died from using the water, because it had become bitter.

12Then the fourth angel blew [his] trumpet, and a third of the sun was smitten, and a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that [the light of] a third of them was darkened, and a third of the daylight [itself] was withdrawn, and likewise a third [of the light] of the night was kept from shining.

13Then I [looked and I] saw a solitary eagle flying in midheaven, and as it flew I heard it crying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, because of the rest of the trumpet blasts which the three angels are about to sound!

Revelation 9
1THEN THE fifth angel blew [his] trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth; and to the angel was given the key [ai]of the shaft of the Abyss (the bottomless pit).

2He opened the [aj]long shaft of the Abyss (the bottomless pit), and smoke like the smoke of a huge furnace puffed out of the [ak]long shaft, so that the sun and the atmosphere were darkened by the smoke from the long shaft.(BE)

3Then out of the smoke locusts came forth on the earth, and such power was granted them as the power the earth's scorpions have.(BF)

4They were told not to injure the herbage of the earth nor any green thing nor any tree, but only [to attack] such human beings as do not have the seal (mark) of God on their foreheads.(BG)

5They were not permitted to kill them, but to torment (distress, vex) them for five months; and the pain caused them was like the torture of a scorpion when it stings a person.

6And in those days people will seek death and will not find it; and they will yearn to die, but death evades and flees from them.(BH)

7The locusts resembled horses equipped for battle. On their heads was something like golden crowns. Their faces resembled the faces of people.(BI)

8They had hair like the hair of women, and their teeth were like lions' teeth.(BJ)

9Their breastplates (scales) resembled breastplates made of iron, and the [whirring] noise made by their wings was like the roar of a vast number of horse-drawn chariots going at full speed into battle.(BK)

10They have tails like scorpions, and they have stings, and in their tails lies their ability to hurt men for [the] five months.

11Over them as king they have the angel of the Abyss (of the bottomless pit). In Hebrew his name is Abaddon [destruction], but in Greek he is called Apollyon [destroyer].

12The first woe (calamity) has passed; behold, two others are yet to follow.

13Then the sixth angel blew [his] trumpet, and from the four horns of the golden altar which stands before God I heard a solitary voice,

14Saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, Liberate the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.

15So the four angels who had been in readiness for that hour in the appointed day, month, and year were liberated to destroy a third of mankind.

16The number of their troops of cavalry was twice ten thousand times ten thousand (200,000,000); I heard what their number was.

17And in [my] vision the horses and their riders appeared to me like this: the riders wore breastplates the color of fiery red and sapphire blue and sulphur (brimstone) yellow. The heads of the horses looked like lions' heads, and from their mouths there poured fire and smoke and sulphur (brimstone).

18A third of mankind was killed by these three plagues--by the fire and the smoke and the sulphur (brimstone) that poured from the mouths of the horses.

19For the power of the horses to do harm is in their mouths and also in their tails. Their tails are like serpents, for they have heads, and it is by means of them that they wound people.

20And the rest of humanity who were not killed by these plagues even then did not repent of [the worship of] the works of their [own] hands, so as to cease paying homage to the demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor move.(BL)

21And they did not repent of their murders or their practice of magic (sorceries) or their sexual vice or their thefts.

Revelation 10
1THEN I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, robed in a cloud, with a [halo like a] rainbow over his head; his face was like the sun, and his feet (legs) were like columns of fire.

2He had a little book (scroll) open in his hand. He set his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land,

3And he shouted with a loud voice like the roaring of a lion; and when he had shouted, the seven thunders gave voice and uttered their message in distinct words.

4And when the seven thunders had spoken (sounded), I was going to write [it down], but I heard a voice from heaven saying, Seal up what the seven thunders have said! Do not write it down!

5Then the [mighty] angel whom I had seen stationed on sea and land raised his right hand to heaven (the [al]sky),(BM)

6And swore in the name of (by) Him Who lives forever and ever, Who created the heavens ([am]sky) and all they contain, and the earth and all that it contains, and the sea and all that it contains. [He swore] that no more time should intervene and there should be no more waiting or delay,

7But that when the days come when the trumpet call of the seventh angel is about to be sounded, then God's mystery (His secret design, His hidden purpose), as He had announced the glad tidings to His servants the prophets, should be fulfilled (accomplished, completed).(BN)

8Then the voice that I heard from heaven spoke again to me, saying, Go and take the little book (scroll) which is open on the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.

9So I went up to the angel and asked him to give me the little book. And he said to me, Take it and eat it. It will embitter your stomach, though in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.(BO)

10So I took the little book from the angel's hand and ate and swallowed it; it was as sweet as honey in my mouth, but once I had swallowed it, my stomach was embittered.

11Then they said to me, You are to make a fresh prophecy concerning many peoples and races and nations and languages and kings.(BP)

Revelation 11
1A REED [as a measuring rod] was then given to me, [shaped] like a staff, and I was told: Rise up and measure the sanctuary of God and the altar [of incense], and [number] those who worship there.(BQ)

2But leave out of your measuring the court outside the sanctuary of God; omit that, for it is given over to the Gentiles (the nations), and they will trample the holy city underfoot for 42 months (three and one-half years).(BR)

3And I will grant the power of prophecy to My two witnesses for 1,260 (42 months; three and one-half years), dressed in sackcloth.

4These [witnesses] are the two olive trees and the two lampstands which stand before the Lord of the earth.(BS)

5And if anyone attempts to injure them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes their enemies; if anyone should attempt to harm them, thus he is doomed to be slain. [II Kings 1:10; Jer. 5:14.]

6These [two witnesses] have power to shut up the sky, so that no rain may fall during the days of their prophesying (their [an]prediction of events relating to Christ's kingdom and its speedy triumph); and they also have power to turn the waters into blood and to smite and scourge the earth with all manner of plagues as often as they choose.(BT)

7But when they have finished their testimony and their evidence is all in, the beast (monster) that comes up out of the Abyss (bottomless pit) will wage war on them, and conquer them and kill them.(BU)

8And their dead bodies [will lie exposed] in the open street ([ao]a public square) of the great city which is in a spiritual sense called [by the mystical and allegorical names of] Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified.(BV)

9For three and a half days men from the races and tribes and languages and nations will gaze at their dead bodies and will not allow them to be put in a tomb.

10And those who dwell on the earth will gloat and exult over them and rejoice exceedingly, taking their ease and sending presents [in congratulation] to one another, because these two prophets had been such a vexation and trouble and torment to all the dwellers on the earth.

11But after three and a half days, by God's gift the breath of life again entered into them, and they rose up on their feet, and great dread and terror fell on those who watched them.(BW)

12Then [the two witnesses] heard a strong voice from heaven calling to them, Come up here! And before the very eyes of their enemies they ascended into heaven in a cloud. [II Kings 2:11.]

13And at that [very] hour there was a tremendous earthquake and one tenth of the city was destroyed (fell); seven thousand people perished in the earthquake, and those who remained were filled with dread and terror and were awe-struck, and they glorified the God of heaven.

14The second woe (calamity) has passed; now the third woe is speedily to come.

15The seventh angel then blew [his] trumpet, and there were mighty voices in heaven, shouting, The dominion (kingdom, sovereignty, rule) of the world has now come into the possession and become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ (the Messiah), and He shall reign forever and ever (for the eternities of the eternities)!(BX)

16Then the twenty-four elders [of [ap]the heavenly Sanhedrin], who sit on their thrones before God, prostrated themselves before Him and worshiped,

17Exclaiming, To You we give thanks, Lord God Omnipotent, [the One] Who is and [ever] was, for assuming the high sovereignty and the great power that are Yours and for beginning to reign.

18And the heathen (the nations) raged, but Your wrath (retribution, indignation) came, the time when the dead will be judged and Your servants the prophets and saints rewarded--and those who revere (fear) Your name, both low and high and small and great--and [the time] for destroying the corrupters of the earth.(BY)

19Then the sanctuary of God in heaven was thrown open, and the ark of His covenant was seen standing inside in His sanctuary; and there were flashes of lightning, loud rumblings (blasts, mutterings), peals of thunder, an earthquake, and a terrific hailstorm. [I Kings 8:1-6.]

Footnotes:

1. Revelation 1:1 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament.
2. Revelation 1:2 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament.
3. Revelation 1:3 Alexander Souter, Pocket Lexicon of the Greek New Testament.
4. Revelation 1:3 Alexander Souter, Pocket Lexicon of the Greek New Testament.
5. Revelation 1:4 G. Abbott-Smith, Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament.
6. Revelation 1:4 Richard of St. Victor, cited by Richard Trench, Synonyms of the New Testament.
7. Revelation 1:5 Charles B. Williams, The New Testament: A Translation in the Language of the People: "ever" and "once" captures the idea of ongoing and completed action contained within the Greek present and aorist (past) verb tenses used here.
8. Revelation 1:5 Charles B. Williams, The New Testament: A Translation in the Language of the People: "ever" and "once" captures the idea of ongoing and completed action contained within the Greek present and aorist (past) verb tenses used here.
9. Revelation 1:10 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
10. Revelation 2:22 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
11. Revelation 2:22 Literal translation.
12. Revelation 2:22 Many ancient manuscripts so read.
13. Revelation 3:1 Richard of St. Victor, cited by Richard Trench, Synonyms of the New Testament.
14. Revelation 3:10 Joseph Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: The Greek, which we translate "of patient endurance," paints a picture of "a patient, steadfast waiting" for someone or something.
15. Revelation 3:10 Joseph Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: The Greek, which we translate "of patient endurance," paints a picture of "a patient, steadfast waiting" for someone or something.
16. Revelation 4:1 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
17. Revelation 4:4 George R. Berry, Greek-English New Testament Lexicon.
18. Revelation 4:5 Richard of St. Victor, cited by Richard Trench, Synonyms of the New Testament.
19. Revelation 4:10 George R. Berry, Greek-English New Testament Lexicon.
20. Revelation 5:1 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
21. Revelation 5:5 George R. Berry, Greek-English New Testament Lexicon.
22. Revelation 5:6 George R. Berry, Greek-English New Testament Lexicon.
23. Revelation 5:6 Richard of St. Victor, cited by Richard Trench, Synonyms of the New Testament.
24. Revelation 5:8 George R. Berry, Greek-English New Testament Lexicon.
25. Revelation 5:11 George R. Berry, Greek-English New Testament Lexicon.
26. Revelation 5:14 George R. Berry, Greek-English New Testament Lexicon.
27. Revelation 6:8 A description of the livid, ashen, discolored appearance of the dead; it symbolizes death and pestilence.
28. Revelation 6:11 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
29. Revelation 6:14 James Moulton and George Milligan, The Vocabulary of the Greek Testament.
30. Revelation 6:16 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
31. Revelation 7:1 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
32. Revelation 7:11 George R. Berry, Greek-English New Testament Lexicon.
33. Revelation 7:13 George R. Berry, Greek-English New Testament Lexicon.
34. Revelation 7:16 George R. Berry, Greek-English New Testament Lexicon.
35. Revelation 9:1 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
36. Revelation 9:2 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
37. Revelation 9:2 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
38. Revelation 10:5 G. Abbott-Smith, Manual Greek Lexicon.
39. Revelation 10:6 G. Abbott-Smith, Manual Greek Lexicon.
40. Revelation 11:6 Joseph Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon.
41. Revelation 11:8 Alexander Souter, Pocket Lexicon.
42. Revelation 11:16 George R. Berry, Greek-English New Testament Lexicon.

Cross references:

1. Revelation 1:4 : Isa 11:2
2. Revelation 1:5 : Ps 89:27
3. Revelation 1:6 : Exod 19:6; Isa 61:6
4. Revelation 1:7 : Dan 7:13; Zech 12:10
5. Revelation 1:8 : Isa 9:6
6. Revelation 1:13 : Dan 7:13; 10:5
7. Revelation 1:14 : Dan 7:9
8. Revelation 1:15 : Dan 10:6
9. Revelation 1:16 : Exod 34:29
10. Revelation 1:17 : Isa 44:6
11. Revelation 2:7 : Gen 2:9; 3:24
12. Revelation 2:8 : Isa 44:6
13. Revelation 2:10 : Rev 3:10, 11
14. Revelation 2:14 : Num 25:1, 2; 31:16
15. Revelation 2:17 : Ps 78:24; Isa 62:2
16. Revelation 2:18 : Dan 10:6
17. Revelation 2:23 : Ps 62:12; Jer 17:10
18. Revelation 2:27 : Ps 2:8, 9
19. Revelation 3:5 : Ps 69:28; Dan 12:1
20. Revelation 3:7 : Isa 22:22
21. Revelation 3:9 : Isa 43:4; 49:23; 60:14
22. Revelation 3:12 : Isa 62:2; Ezek 48:35
23. Revelation 3:14 : Isa 55:4; Prov 8:22
24. Revelation 3:17 : Hos 12:8
25. Revelation 3:19 : Prov 3:12
26. Revelation 4:2 : Ezek 1:26
27. Revelation 4:3 : Ezek 1:28
28. Revelation 4:6 : Ezek 1:5, 18
29. Revelation 4:7 : Ezek 1:10
30. Revelation 4:8 : Isa 6:1-3
31. Revelation 4:9 : Ps 47:8
32. Revelation 4:11 : Ps 19:1
33. Revelation 5:1 : Isa 29:11; Ezek 2:9, 10; Dan 12:4
34. Revelation 5:5 : Gen 49:9, 10; Isa 11:1, 10; Rev 22:16
35. Revelation 5:6 : Isa 53:7; Zech 3:8, 9; 4:10
36. Revelation 5:9 : Ps 33:3
37. Revelation 5:10 : Exod 19:6; Isa 61:6
38. Revelation 5:11 : Dan 7:10
39. Revelation 5:13 : Dan 7:13, 14
40. Revelation 6:2 : Ps 45:4, 5; Zech 1:8; 6:1-3
41. Revelation 6:8 : Ezek 5:12; Hos 13:14
42. Revelation 6:10 : Gen 4:10; Ps 79:5; Zech 1:12
43. Revelation 6:12 : Joel 2:10, 31
44. Revelation 6:13 : Isa 34:4
45. Revelation 6:15 : Isa 2:10
46. Revelation 6:16 : Isa 2:19-21; Hos 10:8
47. Revelation 6:17 : Joel 2:11; Mal 3:2
48. Revelation 7:1 : Zech 6:5
49. Revelation 7:3 : Ezek 9:4
50. Revelation 7:14 : Gen 49:11; Dan 12:1
51. Revelation 7:16 : Isa 49:10; Ps 121:6
52. Revelation 7:17 : Ps 23:2; Isa 25:8; Ezek 34:23
53. Revelation 8:3 : Ps 141:2
54. Revelation 8:5 : Lev 16:12; Ezek 10:2
55. Revelation 8:7 : Exod 9:23-25
56. Revelation 8:8 : Jer 51:25
57. Revelation 9:2 : Gen 19:28; Exod 19:18; Joel 2:10
58. Revelation 9:3 : Exod 10:12-15
59. Revelation 9:4 : Ezek 9:4
60. Revelation 9:6 : Job 3:21
61. Revelation 9:7 : Joel 2:4
62. Revelation 9:8 : Joel 1:6
63. Revelation 9:9 : Joel 2:5
64. Revelation 9:20 : Ps 115:4-7; 135:15-17; Isa 17:8
65. Revelation 10:5 : Deut 32:40; Dan 12:6, 7
66. Revelation 10:7 : Dan 12:6, 7
67. Revelation 10:9 : Ezek 2:8, 9; 3:1-3
68. Revelation 10:11 : Jer 1:10
69. Revelation 11:1 : Ezek 40:3
70. Revelation 11:2 : Isa 63:18; Zech 12:3
71. Revelation 11:4 : Zech 4:3, 11-14
72. Revelation 11:6 : Exod 7:17, 19; I Kings 17:1
73. Revelation 11:7 : Dan 7:3, 7, 21
74. Revelation 11:8 : Isa 1:9
75. Revelation 11:11 : Ezek 37:5, 10
76. Revelation 11:15 : Ps 22:28; Dan 7:13, 14, 27
77. Revelation 11:18 : Ps 2:1

Revelation 1-5 (Amplified Bible)

2008-02-16T06:10:00.000-08:00

Revelation 1-5 (Amplified Bible)
Amplified Bible (AMP)

Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
[AMP at Lockman] [The Lockman Foundation] [Amplified at Zondervan] [Zondervan]

Revelation 1
1[THIS IS] the revelation of Jesus Christ [His unveiling of the divine mysteries]. God gave it to Him to disclose and make known to His bond servants certain things which must shortly and speedily come to pass [a]in their entirety. And He sent and communicated it through His angel (messenger) to His bond servant John,

2Who has testified to and vouched for all that he saw [[b]in his visions], the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.

3Blessed (happy, [c]to be envied) is the man who reads aloud [in the assemblies] the word of this prophecy; and blessed (happy, [d]to be envied) are those who hear [it read] and who keep themselves true to the things which are written in it [heeding them and laying them to heart], for the time [for them to be fulfilled] is near.

4John to the seven assemblies (churches) that are in Asia: May grace (God's unmerited favor) be granted to you and spiritual peace ([e]the peace of Christ's kingdom) from Him Who is and Who was and Who is to come, and from the seven Spirits [[f]the sevenfold Holy Spirit] before His throne,(A)

5And from Jesus Christ the faithful and trustworthy Witness, the Firstborn of the dead [first to be brought back to life] and the Prince (Ruler) of the kings of the earth. To Him Who [g]ever loves us and has [h]once [for all] loosed and freed us from our sins by His own blood,(B)

6And formed us into a kingdom (a royal race), priests to His God and Father--to Him be the glory and the power and the majesty and the dominion throughout the ages and forever and ever. Amen (so be it).(C)

7Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth shall gaze upon Him and beat their breasts and mourn and lament over Him. Even so [must it be]. Amen (so be it).(D)

8I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, says the Lord God, He Who is and Who was and Who is to come, the Almighty (the Ruler of all).(E)

9I, John, your brother and companion (sharer and participator) with you in the tribulation and kingdom and patient endurance [which are] in Jesus Christ, was on the isle called Patmos, [banished] on account of [my witnessing to] the Word of God and the testimony (the proof, the evidence) for Jesus Christ.

10I was in the Spirit [rapt in His power] on the Lord's Day, and I heard behind me a great voice like the calling of a [i]war trumpet,

11Saying, I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last. Write promptly what you see (your vision) in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia--to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.

12Then I turned to see [whose was] the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands,

13And in the midst of the lampstands [One] like a Son of Man, clothed with a robe which reached to His feet and with a girdle of gold about His breast.(F)

14His head and His hair were white like white wool, [as white] as snow, and His eyes [flashed] like a flame of fire.(G)

15His feet glowed like burnished (bright) bronze as it is refined in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters.(H)

16In His right hand He held seven stars, and from His mouth there came forth a sharp two-edged sword, and His face was like the sun shining in full power at midday.(I)

17When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as if dead. But He laid His right hand on me and said, Do not be afraid! I am the First and the Last,(J)

18And the Ever-living One [I am living in the eternity of the eternities]. I died, but see, I am alive forevermore; and I possess the keys of death and Hades (the realm of the dead).

19Write therefore the things you see, what they are [and signify] and what is to take place hereafter.

20As to the hidden meaning (the mystery) of the seven stars which you saw on My right hand and the seven lampstands of gold: the seven stars are the seven angels (messengers) of the seven assemblies (churches) and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

Revelation 2
1TO THE angel (messenger) of the assembly (church) in Ephesus write: These are the words of Him Who holds the seven stars [which are the messengers of the seven churches] in His right hand, Who goes about among the seven golden lampstands [which are the seven churches]:

2I know your industry and activities, laborious toil and trouble, and your patient endurance, and how you cannot tolerate wicked [men] and have tested and critically appraised those who call [themselves] apostles (special messengers of Christ) and yet are not, and have found them to be impostors and liars.

3I know you are enduring patiently and are bearing up for My name's sake, and you have not fainted or become exhausted or grown weary.

4But I have this [one charge to make] against you: that you have left (abandoned) the love that you had at first [you have deserted Me, your first love].

5Remember then from what heights you have fallen. Repent (change the inner man to meet God's will) and do the works you did previously [when first you knew the Lord], or else I will visit you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you change your mind and repent.

6Yet you have this [in your favor and to your credit]: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans [what they are doing as corrupters of the people], which I Myself also detest.

7He who is able to hear, let him listen to and give heed to what the Spirit says to the assemblies (churches). To him who overcomes (is victorious), I will grant to eat [of the fruit] of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.(K)

8And to the angel (messenger) of the assembly (church) in Smyrna write: These are the words of the First and the Last, Who died and came to life again:(L)

9I know your affliction and distress and pressing trouble and your poverty--but you are rich! and how you are abused and reviled and slandered by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

10Fear nothing that you are about to suffer. [Dismiss your dread and your fears!] Behold, the devil is indeed about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested and proved and critically appraised, and for ten days you will have affliction. Be loyally faithful unto death [even if you must die for it], and I will give you the crown of life.(M)

11He who is able to hear, let him listen to and heed what the Spirit says to the assemblies (churches). He who overcomes (is victorious) shall in no way be injured by the second death.

12Then to the angel (messenger) of the assembly (church) in Pergamum write: These are the words of Him Who has and wields the sharp two-edged sword:

13I know where you live--a place where Satan sits enthroned. [Yet] you are clinging to and holding fast My name, and you did not deny My faith, even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed (martyred) in your midst--where Satan dwells.

14Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: you have some people there who are clinging to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to set a trap and a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, [to entice them] to eat food that had been sacrificed to idols and to practice lewdness [giving themselves up to sexual vice].(N)

15You also have some who in a similar way are clinging to the teaching of the Nicolaitans [those corrupters of the people] which thing I hate.

16Repent [then]! Or else I will come to you quickly and fight against them with the sword of My mouth.

17He who is able to hear, let him listen to and heed what the Spirit says to the assemblies (churches). To him who overcomes (conquers), I will give to eat of the manna that is hidden, and I will give him a white stone with a new name engraved on the stone, which no one knows or understands except he who receives it.(O)

18And to the angel (messenger) of the assembly (church) in Thyatira write: These are the words of the Son of God, Who has eyes that flash like a flame of fire, and Whose feet glow like bright and burnished and white-hot bronze:(P)

19I know your record and what you are doing, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your recent works are more numerous and greater than your first ones.

20But I have this against you: that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess [claiming to be inspired], and who is teaching and leading astray my servants and beguiling them into practicing sexual vice and eating food sacrificed to idols. [I Kings 16:31; II Kings 9:22, 30.]

21I gave her time to repent, but she has no desire to repent of her immorality [symbolic of idolatry] and refuses to do so.

22Take note: I will throw her on a bed [[j]of anguish], and those who commit adultery with her [her paramours] I will bring down to [k]pressing distress and severe affliction, unless they turn away their minds from conduct [such as] hers and repent of [l]their doings.

23And I will strike her children (her proper followers) dead [thoroughly exterminating them]. And all the assemblies (churches) shall recognize and understand that I am He Who searches minds (the thoughts, feelings, and purposes) and the [inmost] hearts, and I will give to each of you [the reward for what you have done] as your work deserves.(Q)

24But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not explored and known the depths of Satan, as they say--I tell you that I do not lay upon you any other [fresh] burden:

25Only hold fast to what you have until I come.

26And he who overcomes (is victorious) and who obeys My commands to the [very] end [doing the works that please Me], I will give him authority and power over the nations;

27And he shall rule them with a sceptre (rod) of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, and [his power over them shall be] like that which I Myself have received from My Father;(R)

28And I will give him the Morning Star.

29He who is able to hear, let him listen to and heed what the [Holy] Spirit says to the assemblies (churches).

Revelation 3
1AND TO the angel (messenger) of the assembly (church) in Sardis write: These are the words of Him Who has the seven Spirits of God [[m]the sevenfold Holy Spirit] and the seven stars: I know your record and what you are doing; you are supposed to be alive, but [in reality] you are dead.

2Rouse yourselves and keep awake, and strengthen and invigorate what remains and is on the point of dying; for I have not found a thing that you have done [any work of yours] meeting the requirements of My God or perfect in His sight.

3So call to mind the lessons you received and heard; continually lay them to heart and obey them, and repent. In case you will not rouse yourselves and keep awake and watch, I will come upon you like a thief, and you will not know or suspect at what hour I will come.

4Yet you still have a few [persons'] names in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes, and they shall walk with Me in white, because they are worthy and deserving.

5Thus shall he who conquers (is victorious) be clad in white garments, and I will not erase or blot out his name from the Book of Life; I will acknowledge him [as Mine] and I will confess his name openly before My Father and before His angels.(S)

6He who is able to hear, let him listen to and heed what the [Holy] Spirit says to the assemblies (churches).

7And to the angel (messenger) of the assembly (church) in Philadelphia write: These are the words of the Holy One, the True One, He Who has the key of David, Who opens and no one shall shut, Who shuts and no one shall open:(T)

8I know your [record of] works and what you are doing. See! I have set before you a door wide open which no one is able to shut; I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept My Word and guarded My message and have not renounced or denied My name.

9Take note! I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say they are Jews and are not, but lie--behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet and learn and acknowledge that I have loved you.(U)

10Because you have guarded and kept My word of patient endurance [have held fast the [n]lesson of My patience with the [o]expectant endurance that I give you], I also will keep you [safe] from the hour of trial (testing) which is coming on the whole world to try those who dwell upon the earth.

11I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one may rob you and deprive you of your crown.

12He who overcomes (is victorious), I will make him a pillar in the sanctuary of My God; he shall never be put out of it or go out of it, and I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which descends from My God out of heaven, and My own new name.(V)

13He who can hear, let him listen to and heed what the Spirit says to the assemblies (churches).

14And to the angel (messenger) of the assembly (church) in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the trusty and faithful and true Witness, the Origin and Beginning and Author of God's creation:(W)

15I know your [record of] works and what you are doing; you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were cold or hot!

16So, because you are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of My mouth!

17For you say, I am rich; I have prospered and grown wealthy, and I am in need of nothing; and you do not realize and understand that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.(X)

18Therefore I counsel you to purchase from Me gold refined and tested by fire, that you may be [truly] wealthy, and white clothes to clothe you and to keep the shame of your nudity from being seen, and salve to put on your eyes, that you may see.

19Those whom I [dearly and tenderly] love, I tell their faults and convict and convince and reprove and chasten [I discipline and instruct them]. So be enthusiastic and in earnest and burning with zeal and repent [changing your mind and attitude].(Y)

20Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears and listens to and heeds My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will eat with him, and he [will eat] with Me.

21He who overcomes (is victorious), I will grant him to sit beside Me on My throne, as I Myself overcame (was victorious) and sat down beside My Father on His throne.

22He who is able to hear, let him listen to and heed what the [Holy] Spirit says to the assemblies (churches).

Revelation 4
1AFTER THIS I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice which I had heard addressing me like [the calling of] a [p]war trumpet said, Come up here, and I will show you what must take place in the future.

2At once I came under the [Holy] Spirit's power, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with One seated on the throne!(Z)

3And He Who sat there appeared like [the crystalline brightness of] jasper and [the fiery] sardius, and encircling the throne there was a halo that looked like [a rainbow of] emerald.(AA)

4Twenty-four other thrones surrounded the throne, and seated on these thrones were twenty-four elders ([q]the members of the heavenly Sanhedrin), arrayed in white clothing, with crowns of gold upon their heads.

5Out from the throne came flashes of lightning and rumblings and peals of thunder, and in front of the throne seven blazing torches burned, which are the seven Spirits of God [[r]the sevenfold Holy Spirit];

6And in front of the throne there was also what looked like a transparent glassy sea, as if of crystal. And around the throne, in the center at each side of the throne, were four living creatures (beings) who were full of eyes in front and behind [with intelligence as to what is before and at the rear of them].(AB)

7The first living creature (being) was like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature had the face of a man, and the fourth living creature [was] like a flying eagle.(AC)

8And the four living creatures, individually having six wings, were full of eyes all over and within [underneath their wings]; and day and night they never stop saying, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty (Omnipotent), Who was and Who is and Who is to come.(AD)

9And whenever the living creatures offer glory and honor and thanksgiving to Him Who sits on the throne, Who lives forever and ever (through the eternities of the eternities),(AE)

10The twenty-four elders ([s]the members of the heavenly Sanhedrin) fall prostrate before Him Who is sitting on the throne, and they worship Him Who lives forever and ever; and they throw down their crowns before the throne, crying out,

11Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive the glory and the honor and dominion, for You created all things; by Your will they were [brought into being] and were created.(AF)

Revelation 5
1AND I saw lying on the [t]open hand of Him Who was seated on the throne a scroll (book) written within and on the back, closed and sealed with seven seals;(AG)

2And I saw a strong angel announcing in a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the scroll? And [who is entitled and deserves and is morally fit] to break its seals?

3And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth [in the realm of the dead, Hades] was able to open the scroll or to take a [single] look at its contents.

4And I wept audibly and bitterly because no one was found fit to open the scroll or to inspect it.

5Then one of the elders [[u]of the heavenly Sanhedrin] said to me, Stop weeping! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root (Source) of David, has won (has overcome and conquered)! He can open the scroll and break its seven seals!(AH)

6And there between the throne and the four living creatures (beings) and among the elders [[v]of the heavenly Sanhedrin] I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God [[w]the sevenfold Holy Spirit] Who have been sent [on duty far and wide] into all the earth.(AI)

7He then went and took the scroll from the right hand of Him Who sat on the throne.

8And when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders [[x]of the heavenly Sanhedrin] prostrated themselves before the Lamb. Each was holding a harp (lute or guitar), and they had golden bowls full of incense (fragrant spices and gums for burning), which are the prayers of God's people (the saints).

9And [now] they sing a new song, saying, You are worthy to take the scroll and to break the seals that are on it, for You were slain (sacrificed), and with Your blood You purchased men unto God from every tribe and language and people and nation.(AJ)

10And You have made them a kingdom (royal race) and priests to our God, and they shall reign [as kings] over the earth!(AK)

11Then I looked, and I heard the voices of many angels on every side of the throne and of the living creatures and the elders [[y]of the heavenly Sanhedrin], and they numbered ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands,(AL)

12Saying in a loud voice, Deserving is the Lamb, Who was sacrificed, to receive all the power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and majesty (glory, splendor) and blessing!

13And I heard every created thing in heaven and on earth and under the earth [in Hades, the place of departed spirits] and on the sea and all that is in it, crying out together, To Him Who is seated on the throne and to the Lamb be ascribed the blessing and the honor and the majesty (glory, splendor) and the power (might and dominion) forever and ever (through the eternities of the eternities)!(AM)

14Then the four living creatures (beings) said, Amen (so be it)! And the elders [[z]of the heavenly Sanhedrin] prostrated themselves and worshiped Him Who lives forever and ever.

Footnotes:

1. Revelation 1:1 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament.
2. Revelation 1:2 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament.
3. Revelation 1:3 Alexander Souter, Pocket Lexicon of the Greek New Testament.
4. Revelation 1:3 Alexander Souter, Pocket Lexicon of the Greek New Testament.
5. Revelation 1:4 G. Abbott-Smith, Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament.
6. Revelation 1:4 Richard of St. Victor, cited by Richard Trench, Synonyms of the New Testament.
7. Revelation 1:5 Charles B. Williams, The New Testament: A Translation in the Language of the People: "ever" and "once" captures the idea of ongoing and completed action contained within the Greek present and aorist (past) verb tenses used here.
8. Revelation 1:5 Charles B. Williams, The New Testament: A Translation in the Language of the People: "ever" and "once" captures the idea of ongoing and completed action contained within the Greek present and aorist (past) verb tenses used here.
9. Revelation 1:10 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
10. Revelation 2:22 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
11. Revelation 2:22 Literal translation.
12. Revelation 2:22 Many ancient manuscripts so read.
13. Revelation 3:1 Richard of St. Victor, cited by Richard Trench, Synonyms of the New Testament.
14. Revelation 3:10 Joseph Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: The Greek, which we translate "of patient endurance," paints a picture of "a patient, steadfast waiting" for someone or something.
15. Revelation 3:10 Joseph Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: The Greek, which we translate "of patient endurance," paints a picture of "a patient, steadfast waiting" for someone or something.
16. Revelation 4:1 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
17. Revelation 4:4 George R. Berry, Greek-English New Testament Lexicon.
18. Revelation 4:5 Richard of St. Victor, cited by Richard Trench, Synonyms of the New Testament.
19. Revelation 4:10 George R. Berry, Greek-English New Testament Lexicon.
20. Revelation 5:1 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
21. Revelation 5:5 George R. Berry, Greek-English New Testament Lexicon.
22. Revelation 5:6 George R. Berry, Greek-English New Testament Lexicon.
23. Revelation 5:6 Richard of St. Victor, cited by Richard Trench, Synonyms of the New Testament.
24. Revelation 5:8 George R. Berry, Greek-English New Testament Lexicon.
25. Revelation 5:11 George R. Berry, Greek-English New Testament Lexicon.
26. Revelation 5:14 George R. Berry, Greek-English New Testament Lexicon.

Cross references:

1. Revelation 1:4 : Isa 11:2
2. Revelation 1:5 : Ps 89:27
3. Revelation 1:6 : Exod 19:6; Isa 61:6
4. Revelation 1:7 : Dan 7:13; Zech 12:10
5. Revelation 1:8 : Isa 9:6
6. Revelation 1:13 : Dan 7:13; 10:5
7. Revelation 1:14 : Dan 7:9
8. Revelation 1:15 : Dan 10:6
9. Revelation 1:16 : Exod 34:29
10. Revelation 1:17 : Isa 44:6
11. Revelation 2:7 : Gen 2:9; 3:24
12. Revelation 2:8 : Isa 44:6
13. Revelation 2:10 : Rev 3:10, 11
14. Revelation 2:14 : Num 25:1, 2; 31:16
15. Revelation 2:17 : Ps 78:24; Isa 62:2
16. Revelation 2:18 : Dan 10:6
17. Revelation 2:23 : Ps 62:12; Jer 17:10
18. Revelation 2:27 : Ps 2:8, 9
19. Revelation 3:5 : Ps 69:28; Dan 12:1
20. Revelation 3:7 : Isa 22:22
21. Revelation 3:9 : Isa 43:4; 49:23; 60:14
22. Revelation 3:12 : Isa 62:2; Ezek 48:35
23. Revelation 3:14 : Isa 55:4; Prov 8:22
24. Revelation 3:17 : Hos 12:8
25. Revelation 3:19 : Prov 3:12
26. Revelation 4:2 : Ezek 1:26
27. Revelation 4:3 : Ezek 1:28
28. Revelation 4:6 : Ezek 1:5, 18
29. Revelation 4:7 : Ezek 1:10
30. Revelation 4:8 : Isa 6:1-3
31. Revelation 4:9 : Ps 47:8
32. Revelation 4:11 : Ps 19:1
33. Revelation 5:1 : Isa 29:11; Ezek 2:9, 10; Dan 12:4
34. Revelation 5:5 : Gen 49:9, 10; Isa 11:1, 10; Rev 22:16
35. Revelation 5:6 : Isa 53:7; Zech 3:8, 9; 4:10
36. Revelation 5:9 : Ps 33:3
37. Revelation 5:10 : Exod 19:6; Isa 61:6
38. Revelation 5:11 : Dan 7:10
39. Revelation 5:13 : Dan 7:13, 14

2008-01-25T19:05:00.001-08:00

Psalm 91-94 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)

Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
[NIV at IBS] [International Bible Society] [NIV at Zondervan] [Zondervan]

Psalm 91

1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. [a]

2 I will say [b] of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust."

3 Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare
and from the deadly pestilence.

4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,

6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.

7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.

8 You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.

9 If you make the Most High your dwelling—
even the LORD, who is my refuge-

10 then no harm will befall you,
no disaster will come near your tent.

11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;

12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

14 "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.

16 With long life will I satisfy him
and show him my salvation."
Psalm 92
A psalm. A song. For the Sabbath day.
1 It is good to praise the LORD
and make music to your name, O Most High,

2 to proclaim your love in the morning
and your faithfulness at night,

3 to the music of the ten-stringed lyre
and the melody of the harp.

4 For you make me glad by your deeds, O LORD;
I sing for joy at the works of your hands.

5 How great are your works, O LORD,
how profound your thoughts!

6 The senseless man does not know,
fools do not understand,

7 that though the wicked spring up like grass
and all evildoers flourish,
they will be forever destroyed.

8 But you, O LORD, are exalted forever.

9 For surely your enemies, O LORD,
surely your enemies will perish;
all evildoers will be scattered.

10 You have exalted my horn [c] like that of a wild ox;
fine oils have been poured upon me.

11 My eyes have seen the defeat of my adversaries;
my ears have heard the rout of my wicked foes.

12 The righteous will flourish like a palm tree,
they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;

13 planted in the house of the LORD,
they will flourish in the courts of our God.

14 They will still bear fruit in old age,
they will stay fresh and green,

15 proclaiming, "The LORD is upright;
he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him."
Psalm 93

1 The LORD reigns, he is robed in majesty;
the LORD is robed in majesty
and is armed with strength.
The world is firmly established;
it cannot be moved.

2 Your throne was established long ago;
you are from all eternity.

3 The seas have lifted up, O LORD,
the seas have lifted up their voice;
the seas have lifted up their pounding waves.

4 Mightier than the thunder of the great waters,
mightier than the breakers of the sea—
the LORD on high is mighty.

5 Your statutes stand firm;
holiness adorns your house
for endless days, O LORD.
Psalm 94

1 O LORD, the God who avenges,
O God who avenges, shine forth.

2 Rise up, O Judge of the earth;
pay back to the proud what they deserve.

3 How long will the wicked, O LORD,
how long will the wicked be jubilant?

4 They pour out arrogant words;
all the evildoers are full of boasting.

5 They crush your people, O LORD;
they oppress your inheritance.

6 They slay the widow and the alien;
they murder the fatherless.

7 They say, "The LORD does not see;
the God of Jacob pays no heed."

8 Take heed, you senseless ones among the people;
you fools, when will you become wise?

9 Does he who implanted the ear not hear?
Does he who formed the eye not see?

10 Does he who disciplines nations not punish?
Does he who teaches man lack knowledge?

11 The LORD knows the thoughts of man;
he knows that they are futile.

12 Blessed is the man you discipline, O LORD,
the man you teach from your law;

13 you grant him relief from days of trouble,
till a pit is dug for the wicked.

14 For the LORD will not reject his people;
he will never forsake his inheritance.

15 Judgment will again be founded on righteousness,
and all the upright in heart will follow it.

16 Who will rise up for me against the wicked?
Who will take a stand for me against evildoers?

17 Unless the LORD had given me help,
I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death.

18 When I said, "My foot is slipping,"
your love, O LORD, supported me.

19 When anxiety was great within me,
your consolation brought joy to my soul.

20 Can a corrupt throne be allied with you—
one that brings on misery by its decrees?

21 They band together against the righteous
and condemn the innocent to death.

22 But the LORD has become my fortress,
and my God the rock in whom I take refuge.

23 He will repay them for their sins
and destroy them for their wickedness;
the LORD our God will destroy them.

Footnotes:

1. Psalm 91:1 Hebrew Shaddai
2. Psalm 91:2 Or He says
3. Psalm 92:10 Horn here symbolizes strength.

2007-12-04T15:12:00.001-08:00

John 13 (King James Version)

2007-12-04T15:04:00.000-08:00

John 13 (King James Version)

King James Version (KJV)

Public Domain

John 13

1Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.

2And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him;

3Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;

4He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.

5After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.

6Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?

7Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.

8Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.

9Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.

10Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.

11For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.

12So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?

13Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.

14If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.

15For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

16Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.

17If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

18I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.

19Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he.

20Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.

21When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.

22Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake.

23Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.

24Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake.

25He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it?

26Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.

27And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.

28Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him.

29For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor.

30He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.

31Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him.

32If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him.

33Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you.

34A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

35By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

36Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards.

37Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake.

38Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice.

Ecclesiastes 1 with Matthew Henry's Commentary

2007-11-04T10:53:00.000-08:00

ECCLESIASTES 1
1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
2 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
3 What profit hath a man of all his labor which he taketh under the sun?
4 One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth forever.
5 The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.
6 The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits.
7 All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.
8 All things are full of labor; man cannot utter it : the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
9 The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.
10 Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.
11 There is no remembrance of former things ; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.
12 I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
13 And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.
14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
15 That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.
16 I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.
17 And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.
18 For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.
ECCLESIASTES 1

* Solomon shows that all human things are vain. (1-3) Man's toil
and want of satisfaction. (4-8) There is nothing new. (9-11) The
vexation in pursuit of knowledge. (12-18)

#1-3 Much is to be learned by comparing one part of Scripture
with another. We here behold Solomon returning from the broken
and empty cisterns of the world, to the Fountain of living
water; recording his own folly and shame, the bitterness of his
disappointment, and the lessons he had learned. Those that have
taken warning to turn and live, should warn others not to go on
and die. He does not merely say all things are vain, but that
they are vanity. VANITY OF VANITIES, ALL IS VANITY. This is the
text of the preacher's sermon, of which in this book he never
loses sight. If this world, in its present state, were all, it
would not be worth living for; and the wealth and pleasure of
this world, if we had ever so much, are not enough to make us
happy. What profit has a man of all his labour? All he gets by
it will not supply the wants of the soul, nor satisfy its
desires; will not atone for the sins of the soul, nor hinder the
loss of it: what profit will the wealth of the world be to the
soul in death, in judgment, or in the everlasting state?

#4-8 All things change, and never rest. Man, after all his
labour, is no nearer finding rest than the sun, the wind, or the
current of the river. His soul will find no rest, if he has it
not from God. The senses are soon tired, yet still craving what
is untried.

#9-11 Men's hearts and their corruptions are the same now as in
former times; their desires, and pursuits, and complaints, still
the same. This should take us from expecting happiness in the
creature, and quicken us to seek eternal blessings. How many
things and persons in Solomon's day were thought very great, yet
there is no remembrance of them now!

#12-18 Solomon tried all things, and found them vanity. He found
his searches after knowledge weariness, not only to the flesh,
but to the mind. The more he saw of the works done under the
sun, the more he saw their vanity; and the sight often vexed his
spirit. He could neither gain that satisfaction to himself, nor
do that good to others, which he expected. Even the pursuit of
knowledge and wisdom discovered man's wickedness and misery; so
that the more he knew, the more he saw cause to lament and
mourn. Let us learn to hate and fear sin, the cause of all this
vanity and misery; to value Christ; to seek rest in the
knowledge, love, and service of the Saviour.

Romans 7-12 (King James Version)

2007-09-17T03:49:00.000-07:00

Romans 7-12 (King James Version)
King James Version (KJV)

Public Domain
[A Public Domain Bible] [KJV at Zondervan] [Zondervan]

Romans 7

1Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?

2For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.

3So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.

4Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

5For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.

6But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

7What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.

8But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.

9For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.

10And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.

11For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.

12Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.

13Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.

14For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.

15For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.

16If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.

17Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

18For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

19For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.

20Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

21I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

22For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:

23But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

24O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

25I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
Romans 8

1There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

2For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

3For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

4That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

5For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

6For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

7Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

8So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

9But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

10And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

11But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

12Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.

13For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

14For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

15For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

16The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

17And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

18For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

19For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

20For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,

21Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

22For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

23And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

24For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

25But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

26Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

27And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

28And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

29For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

30Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

31What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

32He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

33Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.

34Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

36As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

37Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

38For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

39Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 9

1I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,

2That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.

3For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:

4Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;

5Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.

6Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:

7Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.

8That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.

9For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sarah shall have a son.

10And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac;

11(For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)

12It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.

13As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.

14What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.

15For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

16So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

17For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.

18Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.

19Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?

20Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?

21Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

22What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:

23And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,

24Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?

25As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.

26And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.

27Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:

28For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.

29And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha.

30What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.

31But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.

32Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;

33As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
Romans 10

1Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.

2For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

3For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

4For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

5For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.

6But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)

7Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)

8But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;

9That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

11For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

12For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

13For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

14How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

15And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

16But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?

17So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

18But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.

19But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.

20But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.

21But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.
Romans 11

1I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

2God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel saying,

3Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.

4But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.

5Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

6And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

7What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.

8(According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.

9And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:

10Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.

11I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.

12Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?

13For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:

14If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.

15For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?

16For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.

17And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;

18Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.

19Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in.

20Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:

21For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.

22Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again.

24For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?

25For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

26And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

27For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

28As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the father's sakes.

29For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

30For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:

31Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.

32For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

33O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

34For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?

35Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?

36For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
Romans 12

1I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

2And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

3For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

4For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:

5So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

6Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;

7Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;

8Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

9Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

10Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

11Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

12Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

13Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.

14Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.

15Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

16Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

17Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.

18If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

19Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

20Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.

21Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

2007-09-04T15:16:00.000-07:00

John 1-4 (New International Version)

2007-08-18T09:01:00.000-07:00

John 1-4 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)

Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society

John 1
The Word Became Flesh
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning.

3Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood[a] it.

6There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. 7He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. 8He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 9The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.[b]

10He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13children born not of natural descent,[c] nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

14The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only,[d] who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

15John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' " 16From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. 17For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only,[e][f]who is at the Father's side, has made him known.
John the Baptist Denies Being the Christ
19Now this was John's testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. 20He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, "I am not the Christ.[g]"

21They asked him, "Then who are you? Are you Elijah?"
He said, "I am not."
"Are you the Prophet?"
He answered, "No."

22Finally they said, "Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?"

23John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, "I am the voice of one calling in the desert, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.' "[h]

24Now some Pharisees who had been sent 25questioned him, "Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?"

26"I baptize with[i] water," John replied, "but among you stands one you do not know. 27He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie."

28This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
Jesus the Lamb of God
29The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30This is the one I meant when I said, 'A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' 31I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel."

32Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. 33I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' 34I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God."
Jesus' First Disciples
35The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, "Look, the Lamb of God!"

37When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 38Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, "What do you want?"
They said, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?"

39"Come," he replied, "and you will see."
So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him. It was about the tenth hour.

40Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. 41The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, "We have found the Messiah" (that is, the Christ). 42And he brought him to Jesus.
Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas" (which, when translated, is Peter[j]).
Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael
43The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, "Follow me."

44Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. 45Philip found Nathanael and told him, "We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."

46"Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?" Nathanael asked.
"Come and see," said Philip.

47When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, "Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false."

48"How do you know me?" Nathanael asked.
Jesus answered, "I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you."

49Then Nathanael declared, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel."

50Jesus said, "You believe[k] because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You shall see greater things than that." 51He then added, "I tell you[l] the truth, you[m] shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."
John 2
Jesus Changes Water to Wine
1On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, 2and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine."

4"Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied, "My time has not yet come."

5His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."

6Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.[n]

7Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim.

8Then he told them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet."

They did so, 9and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10and said, "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now."

11This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.
Jesus Clears the Temple
12After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days.

13When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. 15So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16To those who sold doves he said, "Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!"

17His disciples remembered that it is written: "Zeal for your house will consume me."[o]

18Then the Jews demanded of him, "What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?"

19Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days."

20The Jews replied, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?" 21But the temple he had spoken of was his body. 22After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the Scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.

23Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many people saw the miraculous signs he was doing and believed in his name.[p] 24But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men. 25He did not need man's testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man.
John 3
Jesus Teaches Nicodemus
1Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him."

3In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.[q]"

4"How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!"

5Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit[r] gives birth to spirit. 7You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You[s] must be born again.' 8The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."

9"How can this be?" Nicodemus asked.

10"You are Israel's teacher," said Jesus, "and do you not understand these things? 11I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man.[t] 14Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.[u]

16"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,[v] that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.[w] 19This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."[x]
John the Baptist's Testimony About Jesus
22After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized. 23Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were constantly coming to be baptized. 24(This was before John was put in prison.) 25An argument developed between some of John's disciples and a certain Jew[y] over the matter of ceremonial washing. 26They came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—well, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him."

27To this John replied, "A man can receive only what is given him from heaven. 28You yourselves can testify that I said, 'I am not the Christ[z] but am sent ahead of him.' 29The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. 30He must become greater; I must become less.

31"The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all. 32He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. 33The man who has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. 34For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God[aa] gives the Spirit without limit. 35The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. 36Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him."[ab]
John 4
Jesus Talks With a Samaritan Woman
1The Pharisees heard that Jesus was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John, 2although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. 3When the Lord learned of this, he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee.

4Now he had to go through Samaria. 5So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6Jacob's well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour.

7When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, "Will you give me a drink?" 8(His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)

9The Samaritan woman said to him, "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?" (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.[ac])

10Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water."

11"Sir," the woman said, "you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his flocks and herds?"

13Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

15The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water so that I won't get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water."

16He told her, "Go, call your husband and come back."

17"I have no husband," she replied.

Jesus said to her, "You are right when you say you have no husband. 18The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true."

19"Sir," the woman said, "I can see that you are a prophet. 20Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem."

21Jesus declared, "Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."

25The woman said, "I know that Messiah" (called Christ) "is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us."

26Then Jesus declared, "I who speak to you am he."
The Disciples Rejoin Jesus
27Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, "What do you want?" or "Why are you talking with her?"

28Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, 29"Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ[ad]?" 30They came out of the town and made their way toward him.

31Meanwhile his disciples urged him, "Rabbi, eat something."

32But he said to them, "I have food to eat that you know nothing about."

33Then his disciples said to each other, "Could someone have brought him food?"

34"My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. 35Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. 36Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. 37Thus the saying 'One sows and another reaps' is true. 38I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor."
Many Samaritans Believe
39Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, "He told me everything I ever did." 40So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. 41And because of his words many more became believers.

42They said to the woman, "We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world."
Jesus Heals the Official's Son
43After the two days he left for Galilee. 44(Now Jesus himself had pointed out that a prophet has no honor in his own country.) 45When he arrived in Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him. They had seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, for they also had been there.

46Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. 47When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death.

48"Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders," Jesus told him, "you will never believe."

49The royal official said, "Sir, come down before my child dies."

50Jesus replied, "You may go. Your son will live."
The man took Jesus at his word and departed. 51While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. 52When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, "The fever left him yesterday at the seventh hour."

53Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, "Your son will live." So he and all his household believed.

54This was the second miraculous sign that Jesus performed, having come from Judea to Galilee.

Footnotes:
John 1:5 Or darkness, and the darkness has not overcome
John 1:9 Or This was the true light that gives light to every man who comes into the world
John 1:13 Greek of bloods
John 1:14 Or the Only Begotten
John 1:18 Or the Only Begotten
John 1:18 Some manuscripts but the only (or only begotten) Son
John 1:20 Or Messiah. "The Christ" (Greek) and "the Messiah" (Hebrew) both mean "the Anointed One"; also in verse 25.
John 1:23 Isaiah 40:3
John 1:26 Or in; also in verses 31 and 33
John 1:42 Both Cephas (Aramaic) and Peter (Greek) mean rock.
John 1:50 Or Do you believe ...?
John 1:51 The Greek is plural.
John 1:51 The Greek is plural.
John 2:6 Greek two to three metretes (probably about 75 to 115 liters)
John 2:17 Psalm 69:9
John 2:23 Or and believed in him
John 3:3 Or born from above; also in verse 7
John 3:6 Or but spirit
John 3:7 The Greek is plural.
John 3:13 Some manuscripts Man, who is in heaven
John 3:15 Or believes may have eternal life in him
John 3:16 Or his only begotten Son
John 3:18 Or God's only begotten Son
John 3:21 Some interpreters end the quotation after verse 15.
John 3:25 Some manuscripts and certain Jews
John 3:28 Or Messiah
John 3:34 Greek he
John 3:36 Some interpreters end the quotation after verse 30.
John 4:9 Or do not use dishes Samaritans have used
John 4:29 Or Messiah

Ecclesiastes 3 (New International Version)

2007-07-29T13:46:00.001-07:00

Ecclesiastes 3 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)

Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society

Ecclesiastes 3
A Time for Everything
1 There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:

2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,

3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,

4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,

5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,

7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,

8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

9 What does the worker gain from his toil? 10 I have seen the burden God has laid on men. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. 13 That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God. 14 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him.

15 Whatever is has already been,
and what will be has been before;
and God will call the past to account. [a]

16 And I saw something else under the sun:
In the place of judgment—wickedness was there,
in the place of justice—wickedness was there.

17 I thought in my heart,
"God will bring to judgment
both the righteous and the wicked,
for there will be a time for every activity,
a time for every deed."

18 I also thought, "As for men, God tests them so that they may see that they are like the animals. 19 Man's fate is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath [b] ; man has no advantage over the animal. Everything is meaningless. 20 All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return. 21 Who knows if the spirit of man rises upward and if the spirit of the animal [c] goes down into the earth?"

22 So I saw that there is nothing better for a man than to enjoy his work, because that is his lot. For who can bring him to see what will happen after him?

Footnotes:
Ecclesiastes 3:15 Or God calls back the past
Ecclesiastes 3:19 Or spirit
Ecclesiastes 3:21 Or Who knows the spirit of man, which rises upward, or the spirit of the animal, which

Hebrews 6-10 (New International Version)

2007-07-16T04:44:00.000-07:00

Hebrews 6-10 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)

Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society

Hebrews 6

1Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death,[a] and of faith in God, 2instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3And God permitting, we will do so.

4It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, 6if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because[b]to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.

7Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. 8But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.

9Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are confident of better things in your case—things that accompany salvation. 10God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. 11We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. 12We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
The Certainty of God's Promise
13When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, 14saying, "I will surely bless you and give you many descendants."[c] 15And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.

16Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. 17Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. 18God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. 19We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.
Hebrews 7
Melchizedek the Priest
1This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, 2and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, his name means "king of righteousness"; then also, "king of Salem" means "king of peace." 3Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God he remains a priest forever.

4Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder! 5Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people—that is, their brothers—even though their brothers are descended from Abraham. 6This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7And without doubt the lesser person is blessed by the greater. 8In the one case, the tenth is collected by men who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living. 9One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, 10because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor.
Jesus Like Melchizedek
11If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the law was given to the people), why was there still need for another priest to come—one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? 12For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must also be a change of the law. 13He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. 14For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. 15And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, 16one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. 17For it is declared:
"You are a priest forever,
in the order of Melchizedek."[d]

18The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless 19(for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.

20And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, 21but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him:
"The Lord has sworn
and will not change his mind:
'You are a priest forever.' "[e] 22Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.

23Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; 24but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. 25Therefore he is able to save completely[f] those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

26Such a high priest meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. 27Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. 28For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.
Hebrews 8
The High Priest of a New Covenant
1The point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, 2and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by man.

3Every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices, and so it was necessary for this one also to have something to offer. 4If he were on earth, he would not be a priest, for there are already men who offer the gifts prescribed by the law. 5They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: "See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain."[g] 6But the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, and it is founded on better promises.

7For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another. 8But God found fault with the people and said[h]:
"The time is coming, declares the Lord,
when I will make a new covenant
with the house of Israel
and with the house of Judah.
9It will not be like the covenant
I made with their forefathers
when I took them by the hand
to lead them out of Egypt,
because they did not remain faithful to my covenant,
and I turned away from them, declares the Lord.
10This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel
after that time, declares the Lord.
I will put my laws in their minds
and write them on their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
11No longer will a man teach his neighbor,
or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,'
because they will all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest.
12For I will forgive their wickedness
and will remember their sins no more."[i]

13By calling this covenant "new," he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear.
Hebrews 9
Worship in the Earthly Tabernacle
1Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary. 2A tabernacle was set up. In its first room were the lampstand, the table and the consecrated bread; this was called the Holy Place. 3Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place, 4which had the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. This ark contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron's staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. 5Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory, overshadowing the atonement cover.[j] But we cannot discuss these things in detail now.

6When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly into the outer room to carry on their ministry. 7But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. 8The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still standing. 9This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. 10They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings—external regulations applying until the time of the new order.
The Blood of Christ
11When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here,[k] he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation. 12He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. 13The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. 14How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death,[l] so that we may serve the living God!

15For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.

16In the case of a will,[m] it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, 17because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living. 18This is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood. 19When Moses had proclaimed every commandment of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves, together with water, scarlet wool and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people. 20He said, "This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep."[n] 21In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies. 22In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

23It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's presence. 25Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. 26Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
Hebrews 10
Christ's Sacrifice Once for All
1The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. 2If it could, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. 3But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins, 4because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

5Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said:
"Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,
but a body you prepared for me;
6with burnt offerings and sin offerings
you were not pleased.
7Then I said, 'Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll—
I have come to do your will, O God.' "[o] 8First he said, "Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them" (although the law required them to be made). 9Then he said, "Here I am, I have come to do your will." He sets aside the first to establish the second. 10And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

11Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. 13Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, 14because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.

15The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says:
16"This is the covenant I will make with them
after that time, says the Lord.
I will put my laws in their hearts,
and I will write them on their minds."[p] 17Then he adds:
"Their sins and lawless acts
I will remember no more."[q] 18And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin. 19Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

26If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. 28Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30For we know him who said, "It is mine to avenge; I will repay,"[r] and again, "The Lord will judge his people."[s] 31It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

32Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering. 33Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. 34You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.

35So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. 36You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. 37For in just a very little while,
"He who is coming will come and will not delay.
38But my righteous one[t] will live by faith.
And if he shrinks back,
I will not be pleased with him."[u] 39But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.

Footnotes:
Hebrews 6:1 Or from useless rituals
Hebrews 6:6 Or repentance while
Hebrews 6:14 Gen. 22:17
Hebrews 7:17 Psalm 110:4
Hebrews 7:21 Psalm 110:4
Hebrews 7:25 Or forever
Hebrews 8:5 Exodus 25:40
Hebrews 8:8 Some manuscripts may be translated fault and said to the people.
Hebrews 8:12 Jer. 31:31-34
Hebrews 9:5 Traditionally the mercy seat
Hebrews 9:11 Some early manuscripts are to come
Hebrews 9:14 Or from useless rituals
Hebrews 9:16 Same Greek word as covenant; also in verse 17
Hebrews 9:20 Exodus 24:8
Hebrews 10:7 Psalm 40:6-8 (see Septuagint)
Hebrews 10:16 Jer. 31:33
Hebrews 10:17 Jer. 31:34
Hebrews 10:30 Deut. 32:35
Hebrews 10:30 Deut. 32:36; Psalm 135:14
Hebrews 10:38 One early manuscript But the righteous
Hebrews 10:38 Hab. 2:3,4

2007-05-23T14:24:00.000-07:00

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John 3 (King James Version)

2007-05-23T14:06:00.000-07:00

John 3 (King James Version)
King James Version (KJV)

Public Domain

John 3

1There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:

2The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

3Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

4Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?

5Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

6That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

7Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

8The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

9Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?

10Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?

11Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.

12If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?

13And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

15That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

18He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

19And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

20For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

21But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

22After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized.

23And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.

24For John was not yet cast into prison.

25Then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying.

26And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him.

27John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.

28Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.

29He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.

30He must increase, but I must decrease.

31He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.

32And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony.

33He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.

34For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.

35The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.

36He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

Psalm 13 (New Living Translation) Biblestudy:)

2007-05-12T06:02:00.000-07:00

Psalm 13 (New Living Translation)
New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers.

Psalm 13
For the choir director: A psalm of David.
1 O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever?
How long will you look the other way?
2 How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul,
with sorrow in my heart every day?
How long will my enemy have the upper hand?

3 Turn and answer me, O Lord my God!
Restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die.
4 Don’t let my enemies gloat, saying, “We have defeated him!”
Don’t let them rejoice at my downfall.

5 But I trust in your unfailing love.
I will rejoice because you have rescued me.
6 I will sing to the Lord
because he is good to me.

http://www.westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/articles/psalms/psalms_13.html

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Psalm 13, “How Long? How Long?”: Feeling Abandoned
Introduction:

Psalm 13 is another psalm composed by David. There has been a movement of greater intensity from Psalm 10 through Psalm 12. This psalm continues to strengthen the intensity of David’s crying out to the Lord for help and relief. In Psalm 12 we saw David feeling that he is alone, such that all the faithful and godly had disappeared. But if it was not bad enough that David felt that all the godly had abandoned him, now we read that David also feels that God has abandoned him. We must notice and accept that David does feel abandoned by God. Sometimes we may leave people with the impression that they will never feel this way once they become a disciple of Jesus. But this is clearly not the case. As we noted in a previous psalm, there are times when God feels distant, and David felt those times. So what can we do when we feel abandoned by God? Let us consider what David says in Psalm 13.
How Long? (13:1-2)
Prolonged struggle and feelings of abandonment

The first thing we must notice as we read this psalm is the repetition of the statement, “How long?” David asks how long God will forget, how long God will hide His face, how long he must wrestle with his thoughts and sorrows, and how long his enemies will triumph. Four times David cries out to the Lord, “How long?” We are left with the understanding that whatever David is crying out about has been going on for quite a long time. The length of David’s suffering has been so long that David asks if God is going to forget him forever. We have all been in such times of despair when it is difficult to even remember when better times existed in our lives. The feelings of loss and abandonment are so great that one is unable to see when the end will come. It is important that we recognize that this is the nature of trials. Very rarely are we able to see when the trial will end. Even worse, we are unable to see what the final outcome will be from the trial. This is the type of emotion upon which David expresses these words. When we consider the life of David, being a man after God’s own heart, it is easy for us to only recall the positive things that happened in David’s life. Yet we cannot forget the suffering, trials, and traumas that David endured. He lost a son because of his sins. He was chased for his life by Saul and by his own son Absalom. Things were not all “good times” in the life of David. David became a man after God’s own heart, in part, because of how he handled the suffering and trials he encountered. Therefore, though one of our spiritual heroes of the Old Testament, let us see the agony David is in when he cries out, “Will you forget me forever?”
Appears God’s blessings have vanished

David goes further and says, “How long will you hide your face from me?” This is more of an idiomatic expression used in the scriptures to speak about the blessings of God. God seems so far removed that it seems that God is no longer blessing David. The protection, refuge, and safety of the Lord seems to have been taken away. This expression also communicates being in “good graces.” To be facing someone shows love and favor, while hiding the face indicates a turned back, implying rejection. This is a common feeling that most experience. When things go wrong or trouble comes, many times we say the very words, “Where is God?” What happened to the Lord watching over us? This is the type of language David uses. Why is God hiding His face from me?
Dark thoughts and lost in sorrow

Not only is David dealing with the feeling of abandonment toward God, but he is also wrestling with his own flood of emotions. David says that he wrestles with his thoughts and has sorrow in his heart every day. David simply describes the depths of his despair. David declares to the Lord that his emotions are eating him up inside. David is fighting the negative thoughts that are in his mind. How many times we must wrestle with our emotions when we are suffering or in the midst of trial! Our minds may tell us to give up, to give in, and tell us things that are not truthful. This battle has already been expressed by David. David knows in reality that God has not left him, as we will notice later in the psalm. So there is a battle being waged with what David knows to be accurate and what he feels. David feels abandoned by God and out of His favor. Therefore, David is wrestling with what he knows versus these feelings because of the suffering he is in the midst of. David describes the depths of his despair even further when he points out that he feels sorrow in his heart every day. The suffering is so significant that every day that goes by he feels the weight and burden of sorrows in his heart. David is standing in the valley of despair, looking for a way up and out. Let us not downplay the great sorrow he feels.
Triumphal enemies

David also asks the Lord how long his enemies will triumph over him. It seems that when things are going bad, there are plenty of others to pile on the pain. It always seems that there are people ready to kick someone while he is down. David expresses that feeling as the enemies continue to rule and triumph over David. I believe we can relate to this feeling also. We can feel like that just as when we think we are about to get up off the ground, another enemy comes along and puts us back down. Our sphere of enemies mainly comes from the spiritual warfare we are engaged in. The enemies are the forces of evil that we must fight against. We must be prepared, understanding that if we want to be godly, we will have a fight on our hands and we will have many enemies.
David’s Prayer (13:3-4)
Look on me

The first thing David does is turn to God in prayer. This psalm is really a petition to the Lord about what he is enduring. We have made mention of this before, yet it is so important that we see it brought out again in this psalm: The first thing to do is pray. No matter what situation may come upon us, the first thing every person must do is pray. In verse 3 David says “look on me.” Literally, David is asking God to turn His face, see what is happening, and give David regard and consideration. It is strange to me that this is often the last thing we may do when we feel abandoned by God. Many times, when in such a sorrowful situation, we bemoan that we feel that God has turned His back on us. Yet, that is not what we are to do. Notice that David tells God he feels this way and asks God to look at him again. Instead of throwing in the towel and giving up on God, we need to turn to God and tell Him to give us consideration and regard. Why would we feel that we could not tell God to look at us and pay attention to us? Yet we will throw our hands in the air and say that God does not care. Do not do that. Instead, call out to God. Tell Him to look upon us.
Answer

David not only asks God to look upon him and give him consideration, but also asks God to give an answer to what he is asking. Sometimes we wonder why we have not received an answer to our prayers. We have many things to consider that the scriptures tell us concerning unanswered prayer, such as asking selfishly or not according to God’s will. But there is another thing that we must ask ourselves. Have we asked God to answer? We may respond that we would not have asked if we did not want an answer. But that is not necessarily true. Sometimes prayer is used to appease the conscience or to tell others that we prayed, therefore justifying in our minds that we can take matters into our own hands. But prayer is not simply about asking God for something, but also asking God to answer our request according to His will. This means that we have a heart that is truly ready to accept any answer the Lord gives. How often we only accept God’s answers to prayer if the answers match what we want! But to truly want an answer from God means that we are ready to accept the “no” answers from the Lord.
Give light to my eyes

Many times in the scriptures this phrase refers to spiritual knowledge and enlightenment. However, that does not seem to be the idea in this passage. I believe there are two concepts that are being pictured. First, this seems to refer to making David whole again. Instead of being lost in death, David desires light to be given to his eyes, thus being made alive again. David no longer wants to be in the misery he is in, feeling that he is at the point of death. Second, and I believe more important, is the idea that David can see things the way God sees them. When we look at what we are suffering through our own eyes, things simply do not make sense. We do not understand why we endure the things that we go through. We need to ask the Lord to open our eyes so that we can see God working in the situation. We need our eyes to be enlightened so that we see life the way God sees life. Instead of having a carnal, fleshly, physical view of life, let our eyes look at life with the spiritual eyes of the Lord.
Give no room for the enemies

David does not want the enemies to be able to think that they can overcome a servant of the Lord. David makes his appeal based upon the name of the Lord, as many in the scriptures have done in the past. The name of the Lord is given reason for scorn if the wicked are able to triumph over the righteous. Therefore, David asks that he overcome the enemies for the Lord’s sake. Moses made a similar argument to the Lord. When the Lord was about to wipe out the nation of Israel and create a new people through Moses, Moses argued that the name of the Lord would be ridiculed if all the people died in the wilderness. I do not believe this is an argument we tend to use with the Lord, but it was a point that many of God’s people made before. Let the righteous be victorious over the wicked. We are trying to be righteous, so do not let my enemies triumph and rejoice over my fall.
Hope For Tomorrow (13:5-6)
Trust in God’s unfailing love

David now changes gears in the last two verses and describes the hope that he has in the Lord. Despite all that we have noticed in this psalm concerning David’s despair, David still has hope. Why does David still have hope? How does David still have hope? Let us notice what David says to these things. David points out that these things are a matter of faith in God. David has put his trust in the Lord. How can David trust in the Lord? Is David exhibiting blind faith? Not at all. David says that he trusts in the Lord’s unfailing love. God says that He loves the righteous (Psalm 146:8). Combine this knowledge with the fact that God’s love is unfailing. God’s love does not quit toward us. There is no point at which God does not love us. There is no boundary or line that can be crossed at which point God will stop loving us. Further, since God’s love is unfailing, He never lets us down. He is always there and meets every need perfectly. Even in our sins, God continues to love us. How do we know this? We know this because God has already proven His love for us by sending His Son to die while we were in our sins (Romans 5:8). If God would show this much love when we were completely helpless, hopeless, and lost, why would we doubt the love of God now that we are trying to serve Him? We have reason to trust in the Lord and have hope for tomorrow because of the Lord’s unfailing love. God will not let you down when you put your full trust in Him.
Rejoice in God’s salvation

The next reason that David has hope in the Lord taking care of the situation, knowing the Lord has not abandoned him, is because of the Lord’s salvation. There is reason to rejoice today and in the future because no matter what we are experiencing, our salvation is secure. Though we may be going through the pits of despair and abyss of sorrow, we know that our salvation is secure and we can rejoice. God says, “Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Shall affliction or anguish or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: Because of you we are being put to death all day long; we are counted like sheep to be slaughtered. No, in all these things we are more than victorious through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created things will have the power to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord!” (Romans 8:35-39). I believe Paul was making the same point. Consider what Paul says they were enduring! He sums up their suffering by saying they were being put to death all day long and were like sheep counted for the slaughter. In all our suffering we cannot say we are suffering to this extent. Yet, even if we were, we could rejoice in our salvation because it cannot be taken away from us. Nothing will separate us from the love of God that offers us salvation.
Sing in God’s goodness

Finally, David says that he will sing to the Lord for He has been good to him. The NKJV says that David will sing to the Lord “because He has dealt bountifully with me.” The bountiful goodness of God has overflowed toward us. Though David had expressed earlier in the psalm that the Lord’s face had been hidden from him, meaning that the blessings of God had been removed, David now recognizes that this is not the case. How can we know that God has not turned His face from us? How can we know that God will bless us? I believe the answer is simple and it is the same reason David could know that God would remain with him: because God has done so in the past. Notice that David speaks in the past tense. God has been good to him. God has dealt bountifully with me. God has done far more for us than we usually can remember. If God has done these things in the past, why would He not continue? He loves His children and His love is unfailing. Why would we doubt that God would not continue to take care of us? We need to sing about the goodness of God. God has given us more than we can imagine and treated us far better than we deserve. When we feel abandoned, let us turn to God in prayer. Then let us know that God’s love is unfailing toward us. He will not turn away from us. Let us rejoice in the salvation we have in the Lord because no matter what happens to us, our salvation cannot be taken away. Finally, let us sing to the Lord for He has been good to you and me.

Lesson adapted from sermon by Brent Kercheville

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Luke 5-9 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

2007-05-04T15:15:00.000-07:00

Luke 5-9 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.

Luke 5
The First Disciples
1 As the crowd was pressing in on Jesus to hear God's word, (A) He was standing by Lake Gennesaret. (B) [a] 2 He saw two boats at the edge of the lake; [b] the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. 3 He got into one of the boats, (C) which belonged to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from the land. Then He sat down and was teaching the crowds from the boat.

4 When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, "Put out into deep water and let down [c] your nets for a catch." (D)

5 "Master," (E) Simon replied, "we've worked hard all night long and caught nothing! But at Your word, I'll let down the nets." [d]

6 When they did this, they caught a great number of fish, and their nets [e] began to tear. 7 So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them; they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, because I'm a sinful man, Lord!" 9 For he and all those with him were amazed [f] at the catch of fish they took, 10 and so were James and John, Zebedee's sons, who were Simon's partners.

"Don't be afraid," (F) Jesus told Simon. "From now on you will be catching people!" (G) 11 Then they brought the boats to land, left everything, and followed Him. (H)

Cleansing a Leper
12 While He was in one of the towns, a man was there who had a serious skin disease all over him. (I) He saw Jesus, fell facedown, and begged Him: "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean." [g]

13 Reaching out His hand, He touched him, saying, "I am willing; be made clean," and immediately the disease left him. 14 Then He ordered him to tell no one: "But go and show yourself to the priest, and offer what Moses prescribed for your cleansing as a testimony to them."

15 But the news [h] about Him spread even more, and large crowds would come together to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses. 16 Yet He often withdrew to deserted places and prayed. (J)

The Son of Man Forgives and Heals
17 On one of those days while He was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law (K) were sitting there who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea, and also from Jerusalem. And the Lord's power to heal was in Him. (L) 18 Just then some men came, (M) carrying on a stretcher a man who was paralyzed. They tried to bring him in and set him down before Him. 19 Since they could not find a way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on the stretcher through the roof tiles into the middle of the crowd before Jesus.

20 Seeing their faith He said, "Friend, [i] your sins are forgiven you."

21 Then the scribes and the Pharisees (N) began to reason: "Who is this man who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?" (O)

22 But perceiving their thoughts, Jesus replied to them, "Why are you reasoning this in your hearts? [j] 23 Which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'? 24 But so you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"—He told the paralyzed man, "I tell you: get up, pick up your stretcher, and go home."

25 Immediately he got up before them, picked up what he had been lying on, and went home glorifying God. 26 Then everyone was astounded, and they were giving glory to God. And they were filled with awe (P) and said, "We have seen incredible things today!"

The Call of Levi
27 After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax office, (Q) and He said to him, "Follow Me!" 28 So, leaving everything behind, he got up and began to follow Him.

Dining with Sinners
29 Then Levi hosted a grand banquet for Him at his house. Now there was a large crowd of tax collectors and others who were guests [k] with them. (R) 30 But the Pharisees and their scribes (S) were complaining to His disciples, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?"

31 Jesus replied to them, "The healthy don't need a doctor, but the sick do. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

A Question about Fasting
33 Then they said to Him, "John's disciples fast often and say prayers, and those of the Pharisees do the same, but Yours eat and drink." [l]

34 Jesus said to them, "You can't make the wedding guests [m] fast while the groom is with them, can you? 35 But the days will come (T) when the groom will be taken away from them—then they will fast in those days."

36 He also told them a parable: "No one tears a patch from a new garment and puts it on an old garment. Otherwise, not only will he tear the new, but also the piece from the new garment will not match the old. 37 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins, it will spill, and the skins will be ruined. 38 But new wine should be put into fresh wineskins. [n] 39 And no one, after drinking old wine, wants new, because he says, 'The old is better.' " [o]
Luke 6
Lord of the Sabbath
1 On a Sabbath, [p] He passed through the grainfields. (U) His disciples were picking heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands, and eating them. 2 But some of the Pharisees said, "Why are you doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?"

3 Jesus answered them, "Haven't you read what David and those who were with him did when he was hungry— 4 how he entered the house of God, and took and ate the sacred bread, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat? (V) He even gave some to those who were with him." (W) 5 Then He told them, "The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath."

The Man with the Paralyzed Hand
6 On another Sabbath (X) He entered the synagogue and was teaching. A man was there whose right hand was paralyzed. 7 The scribes and Pharisees were watching Him closely, (Y) to see if He would heal on the Sabbath, so that they could find a charge against Him. (Z) 8 But He knew their thoughts (AA) and told the man with the paralyzed hand, "Get up and stand here." [q] So he got up and stood there. 9 Then Jesus said to them, "I ask you: is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?" (AB) 10 After looking around at them all, (AC) He told him, "Stretch out your hand." (AD) He did so, and his hand was restored. [r] 11 They, however, were filled with rage and started discussing with one another what they might do to Jesus.

The 12 Apostles
12 During those days He went out to the mountain to pray (AE) and spent all night in prayer to God. 13 When daylight came, He summoned His disciples, (AF) and He chose 12 of them&md;He also named them apostles: (AG)

14 Simon, whom He also named Peter,
and Andrew his brother;
James and John;
Philip and Bartholomew;

15 Matthew and Thomas; (AH)
James the son of Alphaeus,
and Simon called the Zealot;

16 Judas the son of James,
and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

Teaching and Healing
17 After coming down with them, He stood on a level place with a large crowd of His disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon. (AI) 18 They came to hear Him and to be healed of their diseases; and those tormented by unclean spirits were made well. 19 The whole crowd was trying to touch Him, (AJ) because power was coming out from Him and healing them all. (AK)

The Beatitudes
20 Then looking up at [s] His disciples, He said: (AL)

Blessed are you who are poor,

because the kingdom of God is yours.

21 Blessed are you who are hungry now,

because you will be filled.

Blessed are you who weep now,

because you will laugh.

22 Blessed are you when people hate you,

when they exclude you, (AM) insult you,

and slander your name as evil, (AN)

because of the Son of Man. (AO)

23 "Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! Take note—your reward is great in heaven, because this is the way their ancestors used to treat the prophets. (AP)

Woe to the Self-Satisfied
24 But woe to you who are rich,

because you have received your comfort.

25 Woe to you who are full now,

because you will be hungry.

Woe to you [t] who are laughing now,

because you will mourn and weep.

26 Woe to you [u]

when all people speak well of you,

because this is the way their ancestors

used to treat the false prophets. (AQ)

Love Your Enemies
27 "But I say to you who listen: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. (AR) 29 If anyone hits you on the cheek, (AS) offer the other also. And if anyone takes away your coat, don't hold back your shirt either. 30 Give to everyone who asks from you, and from one who takes away your things, don't ask for them back. 31 Just as you want others to do for you, do the same for them. (AT) 32 If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. (AU) 33 If you do [what is] good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? (AV) Even sinners lend to sinners to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do [what is] good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. (AW) For He is gracious to the ungrateful and evil. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. (AX)

Do Not Judge
37 "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. (AY) Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. (AZ) 38 Give, and it will be given to you; a good measure&md;pressed down, shaken together, and running over&md;will be poured into your lap. (BA) For with the measure you use, [v] it will be measured back to you." (BB)

39 He also told them a parable: "Can the blind guide the blind? Won't they both fall into a pit? (BC) 40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher. (BD)

41 "Why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but don't notice the log in your own eye? 42 Or how can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself don't see the log in your eye? Hypocrite! First take the log out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck in your brother's eye.

A Tree and Its Fruit
43 "A good tree doesn't produce bad fruit; on the other hand, a bad tree doesn't produce good fruit. (BE) 44 For each tree is known by its own fruit. Figs aren't gathered from thornbushes, or grapes picked from a bramble bush. 45 A good man produces good out of the good storeroom of his heart. An evil man produces evil out of the evil storeroom, for his mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart.

The Two Foundations
46 "Why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and don't do the things I say? (BF) 47 I will show you what someone is like who comes to Me, hears My words, and acts on them: (BG) 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug deep [w] and laid the foundation on the rock. When the flood came, the river crashed against that house and couldn't shake it, because it was well built. 49 But the one who hears and does not act is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The river crashed against it, and immediately it collapsed. And the destruction of that house was great!" (BH)
Luke 7
A Centurion's Faith
1 When He had concluded all His sayings in the hearing of the people, He entered Capernaum. (BI) 2 A centurion's slave, who was highly valued by him, was sick and about to die. 3 When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to Him, requesting Him to come and save the life of his slave. 4 When they reached Jesus, they pleaded with Him earnestly, saying, "He is worthy for You to grant this, 5 because he loves our nation and has built us a synagogue." (BJ) 6 Jesus went with them, and when He was not far from [x] the house, the centurion sent friends to tell Him, "Lord, don't trouble Yourself, since I am not worthy to have You come under my roof. 7 That is why I didn't even consider myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be cured. (BK) [y] 8 For I too am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under my command. [z] I say to this one, 'Go!' and he goes; and to another, 'Come!' and he comes; and to my slave, 'Do this!' and he does it."

9 Jesus heard this and was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following Him, He said, "I tell you, I have not found so great a faith even in Israel!" 10 When those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave in good health.

A Widow's Son Raised to Life
11 Soon afterwards He was on His way to a town called Nain. His disciples and a large crowd were traveling with Him. 12 Just as He neared the gate of the town, a dead man was being carried out. He was his mother's only son, and she was a widow. (BL) A large crowd from the city was also with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her (BM) and said, "Don't cry." 14 Then He came up and touched the open coffin, [aa] and the pallbearers stopped. And He said, "Young man, I tell you, get up!" (BN)

15 The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. (BO) 16 Then fear [ab] came over everyone, (BP) and they glorified God, (BQ) saying, "A great prophet has risen among us," (BR) and "God has visited [ac] His people." (BS) 17 This report about Him went throughout Judea and all the vicinity.

In Praise of John the Baptist
18 Then John's disciples told him about all these things. (BT) So John summoned two of his disciples 19 and sent them to the Lord, asking, "Are You the One (BU) who is to come, or should we look for someone else?"

20 When the men reached Him, they said, "John the Baptist sent us to ask You, 'Are You the One who is to come, or should we look for someone else?' "

21 At that time Jesus healed many people of diseases, (BV) plagues, and evil spirits, (BW) and He granted sight to many blind people. (BX) 22 He replied to them, "Go and report to John the things you have seen and heard: The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with skin diseases are healed, [ad] the deaf hear, (BY) the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news preached to them. (BZ) 23 And anyone who is not offended because of Me is blessed." 24 After John's messengers left, He began to speak to the crowds about John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind? 25 What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft robes? Look, those who are splendidly dressed [ae] and live in luxury are in royal palaces. 26 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? (CA) Yes, I tell you, and far more than a prophet. 27 This is the one it is written about:

Look, I am sending My messenger

ahead of You; [af]

he will prepare Your way before You. (CB) (CC)

28 I tell you, among those born of women no one is greater than John, [ag] but the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he."

29 (And when all the people, including the tax collectors, heard this, they acknowledged God's way of righteousness, [ah] because they had been baptized with John's baptism. (CD) 30 But since the Pharisees and experts in the law (CE) had not been baptized by him, they rejected the plan of God for themselves. (CF) )

An Unresponsive Generation
31 "To what then should I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to each other:

We played the flute for you,

but you didn't dance;

we sang a lament,

but you didn't weep!

33 For John the Baptist did not come eating bread or drinking wine, (CG) and you say, 'He has a demon!' 34 The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, 'Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners! (CH) ' 35 Yet wisdom is vindicated [ai] by all her children."

Much Forgiveness, Much Love
36 Then one of the Pharisees invited Him to eat with him. He entered the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. (CI) 37 And a woman in the town who was a sinner found out that Jesus was reclining at the table in the Pharisee's house. (CJ) She brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil 38 and stood behind Him at His feet, weeping, and began to wash His feet with her tears. She wiped His feet with the hair of her head, kissing them and anointing them with the fragrant oil. (CK)

39 When the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, "This man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what kind of woman this is who is touching Him—she's a sinner!" (CL)

40 Jesus replied to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you."

"Teacher," he said, "say it."

41 "A creditor had two debtors. One owed 500 denarii, (CM) and the other 50. 42 Since they could not pay it back, (CN) he graciously forgave them both. So, which of them will love him more?"

43 Simon answered, "I suppose the one he forgave more."

"You have judged correctly," He told him. 44 Turning to the woman, He said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, (CO) but she, with her tears, has washed My feet and wiped them with her hair. 45 You gave Me no kiss, (CP) but she hasn't stopped kissing My feet since I came in. 46 You didn't anoint My head with oil, (CQ) but she has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. 47 Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; that's why [aj] she loved much. But the one who is forgiven little, loves little." 48 Then He said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." (CR)

49 Those who were at the table with Him began to say among themselves, "Who is this man who even forgives sins?" (CS)

50 And He said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you. (CT) Go in peace." (CU)
Luke 8
Many Women Support Christ's Work
1 Soon afterwards He was traveling from one town and village to another, (CV) preaching and telling the good news of the kingdom of God. (CW) The Twelve were with Him, 2 and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: (CX) Mary, called Magdalene (seven demons had come out (CY) of her); 3 Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward; Susanna; and many others who were supporting them from their possessions.

The Parable of the Sower
4 As a large crowd was gathering, and people were flocking to Him from every town, He said in a parable: (CZ) 5 "A sower went out to sow his seed. As he was sowing, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the sky ate it up. 6 Other seed fell on the rock; when it sprang up, it withered, since it lacked moisture. 7 Other seed fell among thorns; the thorns sprang up with it and choked it. 8 Still other seed fell on good ground; when it sprang up, it produced a crop: 100 times [what was sown]." (DA) As He said this, He called out, "Anyone who has ears to hear should listen!" (DB)

Why Jesus Used Parables
9 Then His disciples asked Him, "What does this parable mean?" (DC) 10 So He said, "The secrets [ak] of the kingdom of God have been given for you (DD) to know, but to the rest it is in parables, so that

Looking they may not see,

and hearing they may not understand. (DE) (DF)

The Parable of the Sower Explained
11 "This is the meaning of the parable: (DG) [al] The seed is the word of God. (DH) 12 The seeds along the path are those who have heard. Then the Devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 And the seeds on the rock are those who, when they hear, welcome the word with joy. Having no root, these believe for a while and depart in a time of testing. (DI) 14 As for the seed that fell among thorns, these are the ones who, when they have heard, go on their way and are choked with worries, riches, and pleasures of life, (DJ) and produce no mature fruit. 15 But the seed in the good ground—these are the ones who, [am] having heard the word with an honest and good heart, hold on to it and by enduring, (DK) bear fruit.

Using Your Light
16 "No one, after lighting a lamp, (DL) covers it with a basket or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a lampstand so that those who come in may see the light. (DM) 17 For nothing is concealed that won't be revealed, and nothing hidden that won't be made known and come to light. (DN) 18 Therefore, take care how you listen. For whoever has, more will be given to him; (DO) and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken away from him."

True Relationships
19 Then His mother and brothers (DP) came to Him, (DQ) but they could not meet with Him because of the crowd. 20 He was told, "Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see You."

21 But He replied to them, "My mother and My brothers are those who hear and do the word of God." (DR)

Wind and Wave Obey the Master
22 One day He and His disciples got into a boat, (DS) and He told them, "Let's cross over to the other side of the lake." (DT) So they set out, 23 and as they were sailing He fell asleep. Then a fierce windstorm came down on the lake; they were being swamped and were in danger. 24 They came and woke Him up, saying, "Master, Master, we're going to die!" Then He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waves. So they ceased, and there was a calm. (DU) 25 He said to them, "Where is your faith?"

They were fearful and amazed, asking one another, "Who can this be? (DV) [an] He commands even the winds and the waves, and they obey Him!"

Demons Driven Out by the Master
26 Then they sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, (DW) [ao] which is opposite Galilee. 27 When He got out on land, a demon-possessed man from the town met Him. For a long time he had worn no clothes and did not stay in a house but in the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out, (DX) fell down before Him, and said in a loud voice, "What do You have to do with me, (DY) [ap] Jesus, You Son of the Most High God? (DZ) I beg You, don't torment me!" 29 For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and although he was guarded, bound by chains and shackles, he would snap the restraints and be driven by the demon into deserted places.

30 "What is your name?" Jesus asked him.

"Legion," (EA) he said—because many demons had entered him. 31 And they begged Him not to banish them to the abyss. (EB)

32 A large herd of pigs was there, feeding on the hillside. The demons begged Him to permit them to enter the pigs, and He gave them permission. 33 The demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned. 34 When the men who tended them saw what had happened, they ran off and reported it in the town and in the countryside. 35 Then people went out to see what had happened. They came to Jesus and found the man the demons had departed from, sitting at Jesus' feet, (EC) dressed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. 36 Meanwhile the eyewitnesses reported to them how the demon-possessed man was delivered. (ED) 37 Then all the people of the Gerasene region [aq] asked Him to leave them, (EE) because they were gripped by great fear. So getting into the boat, He returned.

38 The man from whom the demons had departed kept begging Him to be with Him. But He sent him away and said, 39 "Go back to your home, and tell all that God has done for you." And off he went, proclaiming throughout the town all that Jesus had done for him.

A Girl Restored and a Woman Healed
40 When Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed Him, (EF) for they were all expecting Him. (EG) 41 Just then, a man named Jairus came. He was a leader of the synagogue. (EH) He fell down at Jesus' feet and pleaded with Him to come to his house, 42 because he had an only daughter (EI) about 12 years old, and she was at death's door. [ar]

While He was going, the crowds were nearly crushing Him. (EJ) 43 A woman suffering from bleeding (EK) for 12 years, (EL) who had spent all she had on doctors [as] yet could not be healed by any, 44 approached from behind and touched the tassel of His robe. (EM) Instantly her bleeding stopped.

45 "Who touched Me?" Jesus asked.

When they all denied it, Peter [at] said, "Master, (EN) the crowds are hemming You in and pressing against You." [au]

46 "Somebody did touch Me," said Jesus. "I know that power has gone out from Me." (EO) 47 When the woman saw that she was discovered, [av] she came trembling and fell down before Him. In the presence of all the people, she declared the reason she had touched Him and how she was instantly cured. 48 "Daughter," He said to her, "your faith has made you well. [aw] Go in peace." (EP)

49 While He was still speaking, (EQ) someone came from the synagogue leader's [house], saying, "Your daughter is dead. Don't bother (ER) the Teacher (ES) anymore."

50 When Jesus heard it, He answered him, "Don't be afraid. Only believe, and she will be made well." 51 After He came to the house, He let no one enter with Him except Peter, John, James, (ET) and the child's father and mother. 52 Everyone was crying (EU) and mourning for her. (EV) But He said, "Stop crying, for she is not dead but asleep." (EW)

53 They started laughing at Him, because they knew she was dead. 54 So He [ax] took her by the hand (EX) and called out, "Child, get up!" (EY) 55 Her spirit returned, (EZ) and she got up at once. Then He gave orders that she be given something to eat. 56 Her parents were astounded, but He instructed them to tell no one what had happened. (FA)
Luke 9
Commissioning the Twelve
1 Summoning the Twelve, (FB) He gave them power and authority over all the demons, and [power] to heal [ay] diseases. (FC) 2 Then He sent them to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. (FD)

3 "Take nothing for the road," (FE) He told them, "no walking stick, (FF) no traveling bag, no bread, no money; and don't take an extra shirt. 4 Whatever house you enter, stay there and leave from there. 5 If they do not welcome you, when you leave that town, shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them." (FG) 6 So they went out and traveled from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing everywhere.

Herod's Desire to See Jesus
7 Herod the tetrarch (FH) heard about everything that was going on. (FI) He was perplexed, because some said that John had been raised from the dead, 8 some that Elijah had appeared, (FJ) and others that one of the ancient prophets had risen. (FK) 9 "I beheaded John," Herod said, "but who is this I hear such things about?" And he wanted to see Him. (FL)

Feeding 5,000
10 When the apostles returned, (FM) they reported to Jesus all that they had done. (FN) He took them along and withdrew privately to a [az] town called Bethsaida. (FO) 11 When the crowds found out, they followed Him. He welcomed them, (FP) spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and cured [ba] those who needed healing.

12 Late in the day, (FQ) [bb] the Twelve approached and said to Him, "Send the crowd away, (FR) so they can go into the surrounding villages and countryside to find food and lodging, because we are in a deserted place here."

13 "You give them something to eat," He told them.

"We have no more than five loaves (FS) and two fish," they said, "unless we go and buy food for all these people." 14 (For about 5,000 men were there.)

Then He told His disciples, "Have them sit down [bc] in groups of about 50 each." 15 They did so, and had them all sit down. 16 Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, (FT) He blessed and broke them. (FU) He kept giving them to the disciples to set before the crowd. 17 Everyone ate and was filled. Then they picked up [bd] 12 baskets of leftover pieces.

Peter's Confession of the Messiah
18 While He was praying in private (FV) and His disciples were with Him, He asked them, "Who do the crowds say that I am?"

19 They answered, "John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, that one of the ancient prophets has come back." (FW) [be]

20 "But you," He asked them, "who do you say that I am?"

Peter answered, "God's Messiah!" (FX)

His Death and Resurrection Predicted
21 But He strictly warned and instructed them to tell this to no one, (FY) 22 saying, (FZ) "The Son of Man (GA) must suffer many things (GB) and be rejected (GC) by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, (GD) be killed, and be raised the third day." (GE)

Take Up Your Cross
23 Then He said to [them] all, "If anyone wants to come with [bf] Me, he must deny himself, (GF) take up his cross daily, [bg] and follow Me. (GG) 24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of Me will save it. (GH) 25 What is a man benefited if he gains the whole world, yet loses or forfeits himself? (GI) 26 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, (GJ) the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory (GK) and that of the Father and the holy angels. (GL) 27 I tell you the truth: there are some standing here who will not taste death (GM) until they see the kingdom of God." (GN)

The Transfiguration
28 About eight days after these words, (GO) He took along Peter, John, and James, (GP) and went up on the mountain to pray. (GQ) 29 As He was praying, the appearance of His face changed, (GR) and His clothes became dazzling white. (GS) 30 Suddenly, two men were talking with Him—Moses and Elijah. 31 They appeared in glory and were speaking of His death, [bh] which He was about to accomplish in Jerusalem.

32 Peter and those with him were in a deep sleep, (GT) [bi] and when they became fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men who were standing with Him. 33 As the two men were departing from Him, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, (GU) it's good for us to be here! Let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah"—not knowing what he said. (GV)

34 While he was saying this, a cloud appeared and overshadowed (GW) them. They became afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 Then a voice came from the cloud, (GX) saying:

This is My Son, (GY) the Chosen One; (GZ) [bj]

listen to Him! (HA)

36 After the voice had spoken, only Jesus was found. They kept silent, and in those days told no one what they had seen.

The Power of Faith over a Demon
37 The next day, (HB) when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met Him. 38 Just then a man from the crowd cried out, "Teacher, I beg You to look at my son, because he's my only [child]. (HC) 39 Often a spirit seizes him; suddenly he shrieks, and it throws him into convulsions until he foams at the mouth; [bk] wounding [bl] him, it hardly ever leaves him. 40 I begged Your disciples to drive it out, but they couldn't." (HD)

41 Jesus replied, "You unbelieving and rebellious [bm] generation! (HE) How long will I be with you and put up with you? (HF) Bring your son here."

42 As the boy was still approaching, the demon knocked him down and threw him into severe convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, cured the boy, (HG) and gave him back to his father. (HH) 43 And they were all astonished at the greatness of God. (HI)

The Second Prediction of His Death
While everyone was amazed at all the things He was doing, (HJ) He told His disciples, 44 "Let these words sink in: [bn] the Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men." (HK)

45 But they did not understand this statement; (HL) it was concealed from them so that they could not grasp it, (HM) and they were afraid to ask Him about it. [bo]

Who Is the Greatest?
46 Then an argument started among them about who would be the greatest of them. (HN) 47 But Jesus, knowing the thoughts of their hearts, (HO) took a little child and had him stand next to Him. 48 He told them, "Whoever welcomes [bp] this little child in My name welcomes Me. And whoever welcomes Me welcomes Him who sent Me. (HP) For whoever is least among you—this one is great." (HQ)

In His Name
49 John responded, (HR) "Master, we saw someone driving out demons in Your name, (HS) and we tried to stop him because he does not follow us." (HT)

50 "Don't stop him," Jesus told him, "because whoever is not against you is for you." (HU) [bq]

The Journey to Jerusalem
51 When the days were coming to a close for Him to be taken up, (HV) [br] He determined (HW) [bs] to journey to Jerusalem. (HX) 52 He sent messengers ahead of Him, (HY) and on the way they entered a village of the Samaritans (HZ) to make preparations for Him. 53 But they did not welcome Him, because He determined to journey to Jerusalem. (IA) 54 When the disciples James and John saw this, they said, "Lord, do You want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?" (IB) [bt]

55 But He turned and rebuked them, [bu] 56 and they went to another village.

Following Jesus
57 As they were traveling on the road someone said to Him, (IC) "I will follow You wherever You go!"

58 Jesus told him, "Foxes have dens, and birds of the sky [bv] have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head." 59 Then He said to another, "Follow Me."

"Lord," he said, "first let me go bury my father." [bw]

60 But He told him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and spread the news of the kingdom of God." (ID)

61 Another also said, "I will follow You, Lord, but first let me go and say good-bye to those at my house." (IE)

62 But Jesus said to him, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."

Footnotes:
Luke 5:1 = Sea of Galilee
Luke 5:2 Lit boats standing by the lake
Luke 5:4 Lit and you (Gk pl) let down
Luke 5:5 Other mss read net (Gk sg)
Luke 5:6 Other mss read net (Gk sg)
Luke 5:9 Or For amazement had seized him and all those with him
Luke 5:12 In these verses, clean includes healing, ceremonial purification, return to fellowship with people, and worship in the temple; [Lv 14:1-32].
Luke 5:15 Lit the word
Luke 5:20 Lit Man
Luke 5:22 Or minds
Luke 5:29 Lit were reclining (at the table); at important meals the custom was to recline on a mat at a low table and lean on the left elbow.
Luke 5:33 Other mss read "Why do John's . . . drink?" (as a question)
Luke 5:34 Or the friends of the groom; lit sons of the bridal chamber
Luke 5:38 Other mss add And so both are preserved.
Luke 5:39 Other mss read is good
Luke 6:1 Other mss read a second-first Sabbath; perhaps a special Sabbath
Luke 6:8 Lit stand in the middle
Luke 6:10 Other mss add as sound as the other
Luke 6:20 Lit Then lifting up His eyes to
Luke 6:25 Other mss omit to you
Luke 6:26 Other mss omit to you
Luke 6:38 Lit you measure
Luke 6:48 Lit dug and went deep
Luke 7:6 Lit and He already was not far from
Luke 7:7 Other mss read and let my servant be cured
Luke 7:8 Lit under me
Luke 7:14 Or the bier
Luke 7:16 Or awe
Luke 7:16 Or come to help
Luke 7:22 Lit cleansed
Luke 7:25 Or who have glorious robes
Luke 7:27 Lit messenger before Your face
Luke 7:28 Other mss read women is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist
Luke 7:29 Lit they justified God
Luke 7:35 Or wisdom is declared right
Luke 7:47 Her love shows that she has been forgiven
Luke 8:10 The Gk word mysteria does not mean "mysteries" in the Eng sense; it means what we can know only by divine revelation.
Luke 8:11 Lit But this is the parable:
Luke 8:15 Or these are the kind who
Luke 8:25 Lit Who then is this?
Luke 8:26 Other mss read the Gadarenes
Luke 8:28 Lit What to me and to You
Luke 8:37 Other mss read the Gadarenes
Luke 8:42 Lit she was dying
Luke 8:43 Other mss omit who had spent all she had on doctors
Luke 8:45 Other mss add and those with him
Luke 8:45 Other mss add and You say, &ls;Who touched Me?'
Luke 8:47 Lit she had not escaped notice
Luke 8:48 Or has saved you
Luke 8:54 Other mss add having put them all outside
Luke 9:1 In this passage, different Gk words are translated as heal. In Eng, "to heal" or "to cure" are synonyms with little distinction in meaning. Technically, we do not heal or cure diseases. People are healed or cured from diseases.
Luke 9:10 Other mss add deserted place near a
Luke 9:11 Or healed; in this passage, different Gk words are translated as heal. In Eng, "to heal" or "to cure" are synonyms with little distinction in meaning. Technically, we do not heal or cure diseases. People are healed or cured from diseases.
Luke 9:12 Lit When the day began to decline
Luke 9:14 Lit them recline
Luke 9:17 Lit Then were picked up by them
Luke 9:19 Lit has risen
Luke 9:23 Lit come after
Luke 9:23 Other mss omit daily
Luke 9:31 Or departure; Gk exodus
Luke 9:32 Lit were weighed down with sleep
Luke 9:35 Other mss read the Beloved
Luke 9:39 Lit convulsions with foam
Luke 9:39 Or bruising, or mauling
Luke 9:41 Or corrupt, or perverted, or twisted; [Dt 32:5]
Luke 9:44 Lit Put these words in your ears
Luke 9:45 Lit about this statement
Luke 9:48 Or receives throughout the verse
Luke 9:50 Other mss read against us is for us
Luke 9:51 His ascension
Luke 9:51 Lit He stiffened His face to go; [Is 50:7]
Luke 9:54 Other mss add as Elijah also did
Luke 9:55 Other mss add and said, "You don't know what kind of spirit you belong to. 56 For the Son of Man did not come to destroy people's lives but to save them."
Luke 9:58 Wild birds, as opposed to domestic birds
Luke 9:59 Not necessarily meaning his father was already dead

Cross references:
Luke 5:1 : Mt 4:18-22; Mk 1:16-20; Jn 1:40-42;
Luke 5:1 : Num 34:11; Dt 3:17; Jos 12:3; 13:27; Mt 4:18;
Luke 5:3 : Mt 13:2; Mk 3:9-10; 4:1;
Luke 5:4 : Jn 21:3-6;
Luke 5:5 : Lk 8:24; 9:33;, 49; 17:13;
Luke 5:10 : Mt 14:27;
Luke 5:10 : 2Tm 2:26;
Luke 5:11 : Mt 4:20;, 22; 19:29; Mk 1:18;, 20; Lk 5:28;
Luke 5:12 : Mt 8:2-4; Mk 1:40-44;
Luke 5:16 : Mt 14:23; Mk 1:35; Lk 6:12;
Luke 5:17 : Ac 5:34; 1Tm 1:7;
Luke 5:17 : Mk 5:30; Lk 6:19; 8:46;
Luke 5:18 : Mt 9:2-8; Mk 2:3-12;
Luke 5:21 : Mt 23:2; Lk 11:53; Jn 8:3;
Luke 5:21 : Is 43:25;
Luke 5:26 : Lk 1:65; 7:16;
Luke 5:27 : Mt 9:9-17; Mk 2:14-22;
Luke 5:29 : Lk 15:1;
Luke 5:30 : Mk 2:16; Ac 23:9;
Luke 5:35 : 1Sm 2:31; Ps 37:13; Ec 2:16; 12:1; Lk 17:22;
Luke 6:1 : Mt 12:1-8; Mk 2:23-28;
Luke 6:4 : Ex 25:30; Lv 24:5-9;
Luke 6:4 : 1Sm 21:6;
Luke 6:6 : Mt 12:9-14; Mk 3:1-6;
Luke 6:7 : Mk 3:2; Lk 14:1; 20:20;
Luke 6:7 : Jn 8:6;
Luke 6:8 : Mt 9:4;
Luke 6:9 : Lk 14:3;
Luke 6:10 : Mk 3:5;
Luke 6:10 : 1Kg 13:4;
Luke 6:12 : Mt 14:23; Lk 5:16; 9:18;, 28;
Luke 6:13 : Mt 10:2-4; Mk 3:16-19; Ac 1:13;
Luke 6:13 : Mk 6:30;
Luke 6:15 : Mt 9:9;
Luke 6:17 : Mt 11:21;
Luke 6:19 : Mt 9:21; 14:36; Mk 3:10;
Luke 6:19 : Lk 5:17;
Luke 6:20 : Mt 5:3-12;
Luke 6:22 : Jn 9:22; 16:2;
Luke 6:22 : Heb 11:26; 1Pt 4:14;
Luke 6:22 : Jn 15:21;
Luke 6:23 : Neh 9:26; Ezk 2:1-7; Ac 7:52;
Luke 6:26 : Jr 5:12-13; 6:13-15; Mic 2:11;
Luke 6:28 : Mt 5:44;
Luke 6:29 : Mt 5:39-42;
Luke 6:31 : Mt 7:12;
Luke 6:32 : Mt 5:46;
Luke 6:34 : Pr 19:17; Mt 5:42; Lk 14:12-14;
Luke 6:35 : Mt 5:45; Lk 1:32;
Luke 6:36 : Mt 5:7;, 48; Jms 5:11;
Luke 6:37 : Mt 7:1-5;
Luke 6:37 : Mt 6:14; 18:23-35; Lk 23:16; Ac 3:13;
Luke 6:38 : Ps 79:12; Is 65:6-7; Jr 32:18;
Luke 6:38 : Mk 4:24;
Luke 6:39 : Mt 15:14;
Luke 6:40 : Mt 10:24; Jn 13:16; 15:20;
Luke 6:43 : Mt 7:16;, 18;, 20; 12:33-35;
Luke 6:46 : Mal 1:6; Mt 7:21;
Luke 6:47 : Mt 7:24-27;
Luke 6:49 : Ezk 13:10-16;
Luke 7:1 : Mt 8:5-13;
Luke 7:5 : Ac 10:22;
Luke 7:7 : Ps 107:20; Mt 8:16;
Luke 7:12 : Jdg 11:34; Lk 8:42; 9:38; Heb 11:17;
Luke 7:13 : Mt 20:34;
Luke 7:14 : Mt 11:5; Mk 5:41; Lk 7:22; 8:54; Jn 11:43; Ac 9:40;
Luke 7:15 : 1Kg 17:23; 2Kg 4:36;
Luke 7:16 : Lk 5:26;
Luke 7:16 : Mt 5:16; Lk 2:20; 13:13; 23:47; Ac 4:21; 11:18;
Luke 7:16 : Dt 18:15; Mt 21:11; Lk 7:39; Jn 7:40;
Luke 7:16 : Lk 1:68;
Luke 7:18 : Mt 11:2-19;
Luke 7:19 : Jn 4:25; 6:14; 11:27; Rm 5:14; Heb 10:37;
Luke 7:21 : Mt 4:23;
Luke 7:21 : Mk 1:34;
Luke 7:21 : Mt 9:30; 12:22; Mk 8:25; Lk 18:42; Jn 9:7;
Luke 7:22 : Is 29:18; 35:5-6;
Luke 7:22 : Is 61:1; Lk 4:18;
Luke 7:26 : Mt 14:5; Lk 1:76; 20:6;
Luke 7:27 : Mal 3:1; Mt 11:10; Mk 1:2; Lk 1:17;
Luke 7:27 : Mal 3:1;
Luke 7:29 : Mt 21:32; Lk 3:12; Ac 18:25; 19:3;
Luke 7:30 : Mt 22:35; Lk 10:25; 11:45-46;, 52; 14:3;
Luke 7:30 : Mt 21:25;, 32; 23:13; Mk 7:9;
Luke 7:33 : Lk 1:15;
Luke 7:34 : Mt 9:10-11; Lk 15:2; 19:7;
Luke 7:36 : Lk 11:37; 14:1;
Luke 7:37 : Mt 26:6-13; Mk 14:3-9; Jn 12:1-8;
Luke 7:38 : Jn 11:2;
Luke 7:39 : Lk 7:16; Jn 4:19;
Luke 7:41 : Mt 18:28; Mk 6:37;
Luke 7:42 : Mt 18:25;
Luke 7:44 : Gn 18:4; 19:2; 43:24; Jdg 19:21; 1Tm 5:10;
Luke 7:45 : 2Sm 15:5; 19:39; 20:9;
Luke 7:46 : 2Sm 12:20; Ps 23:5; Ec 9:8; Dn 10:3;
Luke 7:48 : Mt 9:2; Mk 2:5; Lk 5:20; Jms 5:15; 1Jn 2:12;
Luke 7:49 : Lk 5:21;
Luke 7:50 : Mt 9:22; Mk 10:52; Lk 17:19; 18:42;
Luke 7:50 : 1Sm 1:17; Mk 5:34; Lk 8:48;
Luke 8:1 : Mk 6:6;
Luke 8:1 : Mt 4:23; Lk 4:43;
Luke 8:2 : Mt 27:55; Mk 15:40-41; Lk 23:49;, 55; Ac 1:14;
Luke 8:2 : Mt 27:56;, 61; 28:1; Mk 16:9; Lk 24:10; Jn 19:25; 20:1;, 18;
Luke 8:4 : Mt 13:3-9; Mk 4:3-9;
Luke 8:8 : Gn 26:12;
Luke 8:8 : Mt 11:15; Lk 14:34;
Luke 8:9 : Mt 13:10-11; Mk 4:10-11;
Luke 8:10 : Mt 19:11;
Luke 8:10 : Is 6:9;
Luke 8:10 : Is 6:9;
Luke 8:11 : Mt 13:18-23; Mk 4:13-20;
Luke 8:11 : Lk 8:21; 11:28; Ac 18:11; Jms 1:21; 1Pt 1:23;
Luke 8:13 : Ezk 33:31-32; Gl 1:6;
Luke 8:14 : Mt 6:25;
Luke 8:15 : Heb 10:36; Jms 5:7;
Luke 8:16 : Mt 5:15-16; Lk 11:33;
Luke 8:16 : Mk 4:21-25;
Luke 8:17 : Mt 10:26; Lk 12:2; 1Tm 5:25;
Luke 8:18 : Mt 13:12;
Luke 8:19 : Mt 13:55; Mk 6:3; Jn 2:12; 7:3;, 5;, 10; Ac 1:14; 1Co 9:5; Gl 1:19;
Luke 8:19 : Mt 12:46-50; Mk 3:31-35;
Luke 8:21 : Lk 11:28; Jms 1:22;
Luke 8:22 : Mt 8:23-27; Mk 4:36-41; Jn 6:16-21;
Luke 8:22 : Lk 5:1;
Luke 8:24 : Ps 65:7; 104:7; Mt 14:32; Mk 6:51; Lk 4:39;
Luke 8:25 : Mt 21:10; Lk 1:66; 5:21; 7:49; 9:9;
Luke 8:26 : Mt 8:28-34; Mk 5:1-20;
Luke 8:28 : Lk 4:33-34; Ac 8:7;
Luke 8:28 : Jn 2:4;
Luke 8:28 : Gn 14:18; Ps 57:2; Dn 3:26; Lk 1:32; Ac 16:17;
Luke 8:30 : Mt 26:53;
Luke 8:31 : Ps 140:10; Rm 10:7; Rv 9:1-2;, 11; 11:7; 17:8; 20:1;, 3;
Luke 8:35 : Lk 8:41; 10:39;
Luke 8:36 : Mt 4:24;
Luke 8:37 : 1Kg 17:18; Lk 5:8; Ac 16:39;
Luke 8:40 : Lk 9:11;
Luke 8:40 : Mt 9:18-19; Mk 5:21-24;
Luke 8:41 : Lk 13:14; Ac 13:15; 18:8;, 17;
Luke 8:42 : Lk 7:12;
Luke 8:42 : Mk 3:9;
Luke 8:43 : Lv 15:25;
Luke 8:43 : Mt 9:20-22; Mk 5:25-34;
Luke 8:44 : Num 15:38-39; Dt 22:12; Mt 14:36; 23:5;
Luke 8:45 : Lk 5:5;
Luke 8:46 : Lk 5:17; 6:19; Ac 10:38;
Luke 8:48 : Lk 7:50;
Luke 8:49 : Mt 9:23-26; Mk 5:35-43;
Luke 8:49 : Lk 7:6;
Luke 8:49 : Jn 11:28;
Luke 8:51 : Mk 3:17; 14:33; Lk 9:28;
Luke 8:52 : Lk 7:13;
Luke 8:52 : Mt 11:17; Lk 23:27;
Luke 8:52 : Jn 11:4;, 11; Ac 20:10;
Luke 8:54 : Mk 1:31;
Luke 8:54 : Mt 11:5; Lk 7:14;, 22; Jn 11:43;
Luke 8:55 : Jdg 15:19; 1Sm 30:12;
Luke 8:56 : Mt 8:4;
Luke 9:1 : Lk 6:12-16;
Luke 9:1 : Mt 10:1; Mk 3:13-15; 6:7;
Luke 9:2 : Mt 10:5;, 7-8; Lk 4:43; 9:11;, 60; 10:1;, 9;
Luke 9:3 : Mt 10:9-15; Mk 6:8-11; Lk 10:4-12; 22:35;
Luke 9:3 : Mk 6:8;
Luke 9:5 : Neh 5:13; Ac 13:51; 18:6;
Luke 9:7 : Lk 3:1;, 19; 13:31; 23:7; Ac 13:1;
Luke 9:7 : Mt 14:1-2; Mk 6:14-16;
Luke 9:8 : Mt 11:14; 16:14; 17:3-4;, 10-12; Lk 1:17; 4:26;
Luke 9:8 : Mk 6:15;
Luke 9:9 : Lk 23:8;
Luke 9:10 : Mt 14:13-21; Mk 6:32-44; Jn 6:5-13;
Luke 9:10 : Mk 6:30;
Luke 9:10 : Mt 11:21; Mk 8:22; Jn 1:44; 12:21;
Luke 9:11 : Lk 8:40;
Luke 9:12 : Lk 24:29;
Luke 9:12 : Mt 15:23;
Luke 9:13 : Mt 16:9; Mk 8:19;
Luke 9:16 : Mk 7:34; Jn 11:41; 17:1;
Luke 9:16 : Mt 26:26; Mk 8:7; 14:22; Lk 24:30;
Luke 9:18 : Mt 16:13-16; Mk 8:27-29;
Luke 9:19 : Lk 9:7-8;
Luke 9:20 : Mt 1:17; Lk 23:35; Ac 3:18; Rv 12:10;
Luke 9:21 : Mt 12:16; 16:20; Mk 7:36; 8:30; 9:9; Lk 5:14; 8:56;
Luke 9:22 : Mt 16:21-28; Mk 8:31-9:1;
Luke 9:22 : Lk 13:33; 18:31;

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Zionz Lioness's Chat Room Now Open:)

2007-04-26T13:29:00.000-07:00

Please feel free to come by at any time to chat or pray or leave a prayer request:)

God Bless you:)

Psalms Chapter 33

2007-04-24T08:54:00.000-07:00

Psalms Chapter 33

1 Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous, praise is comely for the upright.
2 Give thanks unto the LORD with harp, sing praises unto Him with the psaltery of ten strings.
3 Sing unto Him a new song; play skilfully amid shouts of joy.
4 For the word of the LORD is upright; and all His work is done in faithfulness.
5 He loveth righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the lovingkindness of the LORD.
6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.
7 He gathereth the waters of the sea together as a heap; He layeth up the deeps in storehouses.
8 Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.
9 For He spoke, and it was; He commanded, and it stood.
10 The LORD bringeth the counsel of the nations to nought; He maketh the thoughts of the peoples to be of no effect.
11 The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of His heart to all generations.
12 Happy is the nation whose God is the LORD; the people whom He hath chosen for His own inheritance.
13 The LORD looketh from heaven; He beholdeth all the sons of men;
14 From the place of His habitation He looketh intently upon all the inhabitants of the earth;
15 He that fashioneth the hearts of them all, that considereth all their doings.
16 A king is not saved by the multitude of a host; a mighty man is not delivered by great strength.
17 A horse is a vain thing for safety; neither doth it afford escape by its great strength.
18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is toward them that fear Him, toward them that wait for His mercy;
19 To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.
20 Our soul hath waited for the LORD; He is our help and our shield.
21 For in Him doth our heart rejoice, because we have trusted in His holy name.
22 Let Thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we have waited for Thee. {P}

Philippians 1-4 (Amplified Bible)

2007-04-21T20:55:00.000-07:00

Philippians 1-4 (Amplified Bible)
Amplified Bible (AMP)

Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation

Philippians 1
1PAUL AND Timothy, bond servants of Christ Jesus (the Messiah), to all the saints (God's consecrated people) in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the bishops (overseers) and deacons (assistants):

2Grace (favor and blessing) to you and [heart] peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah).

3I thank my God in all my remembrance of you.

4In every prayer of mine I always make my entreaty and petition for you all with joy (delight).

5[I thank my God] for your fellowship (your [a]sympathetic cooperation and contributions and partnership) in advancing the good news (the Gospel) from the first day [you heard it] until now.

6And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.

7It is right and appropriate for me to have this confidence and feel this way about you all, because [b]you have me in your heart and I hold you in my heart as partakers and sharers, one and all with me, of grace (God's unmerited favor and spiritual blessing). [This is true] both when I am shut up in prison and when I am out in the defense and confirmation of the good news (the Gospel).

8For God is my witness how I long for and [c]pursue you all with love, in the tender mercy of Christ Jesus [Himself]!

9And this I pray: that your love may abound yet more and more and extend to its fullest development in knowledge and all keen insight [that your love may [d]display itself in greater depth of acquaintance and more comprehensive discernment],

10So that you may surely learn to sense what is vital, and approve and prize what is excellent and of real value [recognizing the highest and the best, and distinguishing the moral differences], and that you may be untainted and pure and unerring and blameless [so that with hearts sincere and certain and unsullied, you may approach] the day of Christ [not stumbling nor causing others to stumble].

11May you abound in and be filled with the fruits of righteousness (of right standing with God and right doing) which come through Jesus Christ (the Anointed One), to the honor and praise of God [[e]that His glory may be both manifested and recognized].

12Now I want you to know and continue to rest assured, brethren, that what [has happened] to me [this imprisonment] has actually only served to advance and give a renewed impetus to the [spreading of the] good news (the Gospel).

13So much is this a fact that throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest [here] my imprisonment has become generally known to be in Christ [that I am a prisoner in His service and for Him].

14And [also] most of the brethren have derived fresh confidence in the Lord because of my chains and are much more bold to speak and publish fearlessly the Word of God [acting with more freedom and indifference to the consequences].

15Some, it is true, [actually] preach Christ (the Messiah) [for no better reason than] out of envy and rivalry (party spirit), but others are doing so out of a loyal spirit and goodwill.

16[f]The latter [proclaim Christ] out of love, because they recognize and know that I am [providentially] put here for the defense of the good news (the Gospel).

17[g]But the former preach Christ out of a party spirit, insincerely [out of no pure motive, but thinking to annoy me], supposing they are making my bondage more bitter and my chains more galling.

18But what does it matter, so long as either way, whether in pretense [for personal ends] or in all honesty [for the furtherance of the Truth], Christ is being proclaimed? And in that I [now] rejoice, yes, and I shall rejoice [hereafter] also.

19For I am well assured and indeed know that through your prayers and a [h]bountiful supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ (the Messiah) this will turn out for my preservation (for the spiritual health and [i]welfare of my own soul) and avail toward the saving work of the Gospel.

20This is in keeping with my own eager desire and persistent expectation and hope, that I shall not disgrace myself nor be put to shame in anything; but that with the utmost freedom of speech and unfailing courage, now as always heretofore, Christ (the Messiah) will be magnified and get glory and praise in this body of mine and be boldly exalted in my person, whether through (by) life or through (by) death.

21For me to live is Christ [His life in me], and to die is gain [the gain of the glory of eternity].

22If, however, it is to be life in the flesh and I am to live on here, that means fruitful service for me; so I can say nothing as to my personal preference [I cannot choose],

23But I am hard pressed between the two. My yearning desire is to depart (to be free of this world, to set forth) and be with Christ, for that is far, far better;

24But to remain in my body is more needful and essential for your sake.

25Since I am convinced of this, I know that I shall remain and stay by you all, to promote your progress and joy in believing,

26So that in me you may have abundant cause for exultation and glorying in Christ Jesus, through my coming to you again.

27Only be sure as citizens so to conduct yourselves [that] your manner of life [will be] worthy of the good news (the Gospel) of Christ, so that whether I [do] come and see you or am absent, I may hear this of you: that you are standing firm in united spirit and purpose, striving side by side and contending with a single mind for the faith of the glad tidings (the Gospel).

28And do not [for a moment] be frightened or intimidated in anything by your opponents and adversaries, for such [constancy and fearlessness] will be a clear sign (proof and seal) to them of [their impending] destruction, but [a sure token and evidence] of your deliverance and salvation, and that from God.

29For you have been granted [the privilege] for Christ's sake not only to believe in (adhere to, rely on, and trust in) Him, but also to suffer in His behalf.

30So you are engaged in the same conflict which you saw me [wage] and which you now hear to be mine [still].

Philippians 2
1SO BY whatever [appeal to you there is in our mutual dwelling in Christ, by whatever] strengthening and consoling and encouraging [our relationship] in Him [affords], by whatever persuasive [j]incentive there is in love, by whatever participation in the [Holy] Spirit [we share], and by whatever depth of affection and compassionate sympathy,

2Fill up and complete my joy by living in harmony and being of the same mind and one in purpose, having the same love, being in full accord and of one harmonious mind and intention.

3Do nothing from factional motives [through contentiousness, strife, selfishness, or for unworthy ends] or prompted by conceit and empty arrogance. Instead, in the true spirit of humility (lowliness of mind) let each regard the others as better than and superior to himself [thinking more highly of one another than you do of yourselves].

4Let each of you esteem and look upon and be concerned for not [merely] his own interests, but also each for the interests of others.

5Let this same attitude and purpose and [humble] mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus: [Let Him be your example in humility:]

6Who, although being essentially one with God and in the form of God [[k]possessing the fullness of the attributes which make God God], did not [l]think this equality with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped [m]or retained,

7But stripped Himself [of all privileges and [n]rightful dignity], so as to assume the guise of a servant (slave), in that He became like men and was born a human being.

8And after He had appeared in human form, He abased and humbled Himself [still further] and carried His obedience to the extreme of death, even the death of the cross!

9Therefore [because He stooped so low] God has highly exalted Him and has [o]freely bestowed on Him the name that is above every name,

10That in (at) the name of Jesus every knee [p]should (must) bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11And every tongue [[q]frankly and openly] confess and acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

12Therefore, my dear ones, as you have always obeyed [my suggestions], so now, not only [with the enthusiasm you would show] in my presence but much more because I am absent, work out (cultivate, carry out to the goal, and fully complete) your own salvation with reverence and awe and trembling (self-distrust, [r]with serious caution, tenderness of conscience, watchfulness against temptation, timidly shrinking from whatever might offend God and discredit the name of Christ).

13[Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while [s]effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and [t]delight.

14Do all things without grumbling and faultfinding and complaining [[u]against God] and [v]questioning and doubting [among yourselves],

15That you may show yourselves to be blameless and guiltless, innocent and uncontaminated, children of God without blemish (faultless, unrebukable) in the midst of a crooked and wicked generation [spiritually perverted and perverse], among whom you are seen as bright lights (stars or beacons shining out clearly) in the [dark] world,

16Holding out [to it] and offering [to all men] the Word of Life, so that in the day of Christ I may have something of which exultantly to rejoice and glory in that I did not run my race in vain or spend my labor to no purpose.

17Even if [my lifeblood] must be poured out as a libation on the sacrificial offering of your faith [to God], still I am glad [to do it] and [w]congratulate you all on [your share in] it.

18And you also in like manner be glad and [x]congratulate me on [my share in] it.

19But I hope and trust in the Lord Jesus soon to send Timothy to you, so that I may also be encouraged and cheered by learning news of you.

20For I have no one like him [no one of so kindred a spirit] who will be so genuinely interested in your welfare and devoted to your interests.

21For the others all seek [to advance] their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ (the Messiah).

22But Timothy's tested worth you know, how as a son with his father he has toiled with me zealously in [serving and helping to advance] the good news (the Gospel).

23I hope therefore to send him promptly, just as soon as I know how my case is going to turn out.

24But [really] I am confident and fully trusting in the Lord that shortly I myself shall come to you also.

25However, I thought it necessary to send Epaphroditus [back] to you. [He has been] my brother and companion in labor and my fellow soldier, as well as [having come as] your special messenger (apostle) and minister to my need.

26For he has been [homesick] longing for you all and has been distressed because you had heard that he was ill.

27He certainly was ill [too], near to death. But God had compassion on him, and not only on him but also on me, lest I should have sorrow [over him] [y]coming upon sorrow.

28So I have sent him the more willingly and eagerly, that you may be gladdened at seeing him again, and that I may be the less disquieted.

29Welcome him [home] then in the Lord with all joy, and honor and highly appreciate men like him,

30For it was through working for Christ that he came so near death, risking his [very] life to complete the deficiencies in your service to me [which distance prevented you yourselves from rendering].

Philippians 3
1FOR THE rest, my brethren, delight yourselves in the Lord and continue to rejoice that you are in Him. To keep writing to you [over and over] of the same things is not irksome to me, and it is [a precaution] for your safety.

2Look out for those dogs [Judaizers, legalists], look out for those mischief-makers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh.

3For we [Christians] are the true circumcision, who worship God in spirit and by the Spirit of God and exult and glory and pride ourselves in Jesus Christ, and put no confidence or dependence [on what we are] in the flesh and on outward privileges and physical advantages and external appearances--

4Though for myself I have [at least grounds] to rely on the flesh. If any other man considers that he has or seems to have reason to rely on the flesh and his physical and outward advantages, I have still more!

5Circumcised when I was eight days old, of the race of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew [and the son] of Hebrews; as to the observance of the Law I was of [the party of] the Pharisees,

6As to my zeal, I was a persecutor of the church, and by the Law's standard of righteousness (supposed justice, uprightness, and right standing with God) I was proven to be blameless and no fault was found with me.

7But whatever former things I had that might have been gains to me, I have come to consider as [[z]one combined] loss for Christ's sake.

8Yes, furthermore, I count everything as loss compared to the possession of the priceless privilege (the overwhelming preciousness, the surpassing worth, and supreme advantage) of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord and of progressively becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him [of perceiving and recognizing and understanding Him more fully and clearly]. For His sake I have lost everything and consider it all to be mere rubbish (refuse, dregs), in order that I may win (gain) Christ (the Anointed One),

9And that I may [actually] be found and known as in Him, not having any [self-achieved] righteousness that can be called my own, based on my obedience to the Law's demands (ritualistic uprightness and supposed right standing with God thus acquired), but possessing that [genuine righteousness] which comes through faith in Christ (the Anointed One), the [truly] right standing with God, which comes from God by [saving] faith.

10[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [[aa]which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope]

11That if possible I may attain to the [[ab]spiritual and moral] resurrection [that lifts me] out from among the dead [even while in the body].

12Not that I have now attained [this ideal], or have already been made perfect, but I press on to lay hold of (grasp) and make my own, that for which Christ Jesus (the Messiah) has laid hold of me and made me His own.

13I do not consider, brethren, that I have captured and made it my own [yet]; but one thing I do [it is my one aspiration]: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,

14I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward.

15So let those [of us] who are spiritually mature and full-grown have this mind and hold these convictions; and if in any respect you have a different attitude of mind, God will make that clear to you also.

16Only let us hold true to what we have already attained and walk and order our lives by that.

17Brethren, together follow my example and observe those who live after the pattern we have set for you.

18For there are many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, who walk (live) as enemies of the cross of Christ (the Anointed One).

19They are doomed and their [ac]fate is eternal misery (perdition); their god is their stomach (their appetites, their sensuality) and they glory in their shame, [ad]siding with earthly things and being of their party.

20But we are citizens of the state (commonwealth, homeland) which is in heaven, and from it also we [ae]earnestly and patiently await [the coming of] the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) [as] Savior,

21Who will [af]transform and fashion anew the body of our humiliation to conform to and be like the body of His glory and majesty, by exerting that power which enables Him even to subject everything to Himself.

Philippians 4
1THEREFORE, MY brethren, whom I love and yearn to see, my delight and crown (wreath of victory), thus stand firm in the Lord, my beloved.

2I entreat and advise Euodia and I entreat and advise Syntyche to agree and to work in harmony in the Lord.

3And I exhort you too, [my] genuine yokefellow, help these [two women to keep on cooperating], for they have toiled along with me in [the spreading of] the good news (the Gospel), as have Clement and the rest of my fellow workers whose names are in the Book of Life.

4Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, gladden yourselves in Him]; again I say, Rejoice!(A)

5Let all men know and perceive and recognize your unselfishness (your considerateness, your forbearing spirit). The Lord is near [He is [ag]coming soon].

6Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition ([ah]definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.

7And God's peace [shall be yours, that [ai]tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall [aj]garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

8For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them].

9Practice what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and model your way of living on it, and the God of peace (of [ak]untroubled, undisturbed well-being) will be with you.

10I was made very happy in the Lord that now you have revived your interest in my welfare after so long a time; you were indeed thinking of me, but you had no opportunity to show it.

11Not that I am implying that I was in any personal want, for I have learned how to be [al] content (satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or disquieted) in whatever state I am.

12I know how to be abased and live humbly in straitened circumstances, and I know also how to enjoy plenty and live in abundance. I have learned in any and all circumstances the secret of facing every situation, whether well-fed or going hungry, having a sufficiency and enough to spare or going without and being in want.

13I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who [am]infuses inner strength into me; I am [an]self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency].

14But it was right and commendable and noble of you to contribute for my needs and to share my difficulties with me.

15And you Philippians yourselves well know that in the early days of the Gospel ministry, when I left Macedonia, no church (assembly) entered into partnership with me and opened up [a debit and credit] account in giving and receiving except you only.

16For even in Thessalonica you sent [me contributions] for my needs, not only once but a second time.

17Not that I seek or am eager for [your] gift, but I do seek and am eager for the fruit which increases to your credit [the harvest of blessing that is accumulating to your account].

18But I have [your full payment] and more; I have everything I need and am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent me. [They are the] fragrant odor of an offering and sacrifice which God welcomes and in which He delights.

19And my God will liberally supply ([ao]fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

20To our God and Father be glory forever and ever (through the endless eternities of the eternities). Amen (so be it).

21Remember me to every saint (every born-again believer) in Christ Jesus. The brethren (my [ap]associates) who are with me greet you.

22All the saints (God's consecrated ones here) wish to be remembered to you, especially those of Caesar's household.

23The grace (spiritual favor and blessing) of the Lord Jesus Christ (the Anointed One) be with your spirit. Amen (so be it).

Footnotes:
Philippians 1:5 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament.
Philippians 1:7 Alternate translation.
Philippians 1:8 Joseph Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament.
Philippians 1:9 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament.
Philippians 1:11 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament.
Philippians 1:16 The order of verses 16 and 17 is that of the most ancient manuscripts; the King James Version has them reversed.
Philippians 1:17 The order of verses 16 and 17 is that of the most ancient manuscripts; the King James Version has them reversed.
Philippians 1:19 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
Philippians 1:19 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
Philippians 2:1 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
Philippians 2:6 B.B. Warfield, Biblical Doctrines.
Philippians 2:6 Joseph Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon.
Philippians 2:6 Joseph Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon.
Philippians 2:7 George R. Berry, Greek-English New Testament Lexicon.
Philippians 2:9 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
Philippians 2:10 "Should" is the past tense of "shall," implying authority or compulsion.
Philippians 2:11 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
Philippians 2:12 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
Philippians 2:13 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
Philippians 2:13 Alexander Souter, Pocket Lexicon of the Greek New Testament.
Philippians 2:14 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
Philippians 2:14 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
Philippians 2:17 Joseph P. Lightfoot, Saint Paul's Epistle to the Philippians and James Moulton and George Milligan, The Vocabulary of the Greek Testament.
Philippians 2:18 Joseph P. Lightfoot, Saint Paul's Epistle to the Philippians and James Moulton and George Milligan, The Vocabulary of the Greek Testament.
Philippians 2:27 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
Philippians 3:7 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies: His "gains" are plural, but they are all counted as one combined "loss" (singular).
Philippians 3:10 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
Philippians 3:11 Charles B. Williams, The New Testament: A Translation in the Language of the People: A spiritual, moral resurrection--not the final, physical one, which will be the climax.
Philippians 3:19 Joseph Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon.
Philippians 3:19 Joseph Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon.
Philippians 3:20 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
Philippians 3:21 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
Philippians 4:5 Joseph Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon.
Philippians 4:6 Joseph Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon.
Philippians 4:7 Joseph Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon.
Philippians 4:7 William Gurnall, cited by Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
Philippians 4:9 Hermann Cremer, Biblico-Theological Lexicon of New Testament Greek.
Philippians 4:11 Literal translation: "self-sufficient."
Philippians 4:13 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
Philippians 4:13 Note that in Phil. 4:11, the Greek autarkas, translated "content," is literally "self-sufficient."
Philippians 4:19 Joseph Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon.
Philippians 4:21 Alexander Souter, Pocket Lexicon.

Cross references:
Philippians 4:4 : Ps 37:4

Exodus 12 The Passover

2007-04-11T19:44:00.000-07:00

Exodus 12
The Passover
1 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt, 2 "This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year. 3 Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb [a] for his family, one for each household. 4 If any household is too small for a whole lamb, they must share one with their nearest neighbor, having taken into account the number of people there are. You are to determine the amount of lamb needed in accordance with what each person will eat. 5 The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats. 6 Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the people of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight. 7 Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs. 8 That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast. 9 Do not eat the meat raw or cooked in water, but roast it over the fire—head, legs and inner parts. 10 Do not leave any of it till morning; if some is left till morning, you must burn it. 11 This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the LORD's Passover.

12 "On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn—both men and animals—and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD. 13 The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.

14 "This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the LORD -a lasting ordinance. 15 For seven days you are to eat bread made without yeast. On the first day remove the yeast from your houses, for whoever eats anything with yeast in it from the first day through the seventh must be cut off from Israel. 16 On the first day hold a sacred assembly, and another one on the seventh day. Do no work at all on these days, except to prepare food for everyone to eat—that is all you may do.

17 "Celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread, because it was on this very day that I brought your divisions out of Egypt. Celebrate this day as a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. 18 In the first month you are to eat bread made without yeast, from the evening of the fourteenth day until the evening of the twenty-first day. 19 For seven days no yeast is to be found in your houses. And whoever eats anything with yeast in it must be cut off from the community of Israel, whether he is an alien or native-born. 20 Eat nothing made with yeast. Wherever you live, you must eat unleavened bread."

21 Then Moses summoned all the elders of Israel and said to them, "Go at once and select the animals for your families and slaughter the Passover lamb. 22 Take a bunch of hyssop, dip it into the blood in the basin and put some of the blood on the top and on both sides of the doorframe. Not one of you shall go out the door of his house until morning. 23 When the LORD goes through the land to strike down the Egyptians, he will see the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe and will pass over that doorway, and he will not permit the destroyer to enter your houses and strike you down.

24 "Obey these instructions as a lasting ordinance for you and your descendants. 25 When you enter the land that the LORD will give you as he promised, observe this ceremony. 26 And when your children ask you, 'What does this ceremony mean to you?' 27 then tell them, 'It is the Passover sacrifice to the LORD, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when he struck down the Egyptians.' " Then the people bowed down and worshiped. 28 The Israelites did just what the LORD commanded Moses and Aaron.

29 At midnight the LORD struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat on the throne, to the firstborn of the prisoner, who was in the dungeon, and the firstborn of all the livestock as well. 30 Pharaoh and all his officials and all the Egyptians got up during the night, and there was loud wailing in Egypt, for there was not a house without someone dead.
The Exodus
31 During the night Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, "Up! Leave my people, you and the Israelites! Go, worship the LORD as you have requested. 32 Take your flocks and herds, as you have said, and go. And also bless me."

33 The Egyptians urged the people to hurry and leave the country. "For otherwise," they said, "we will all die!" 34 So the people took their dough before the yeast was added, and carried it on their shoulders in kneading troughs wrapped in clothing. 35 The Israelites did as Moses instructed and asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold and for clothing. 36 The LORD had made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people, and they gave them what they asked for; so they plundered the Egyptians.

37 The Israelites journeyed from Rameses to Succoth. There were about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children. 38 Many other people went up with them, as well as large droves of livestock, both flocks and herds. 39 With the dough they had brought from Egypt, they baked cakes of unleavened bread. The dough was without yeast because they had been driven out of Egypt and did not have time to prepare food for themselves.

40 Now the length of time the Israelite people lived in Egypt [b] was 430 years. 41 At the end of the 430 years, to the very day, all the LORD's divisions left Egypt. 42 Because the LORD kept vigil that night to bring them out of Egypt, on this night all the Israelites are to keep vigil to honor the LORD for the generations to come.
Passover Restrictions
43 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "These are the regulations for the Passover:
"No foreigner is to eat of it. 44 Any slave you have bought may eat of it after you have circumcised him, 45 but a temporary resident and a hired worker may not eat of it.

46 "It must be eaten inside one house; take none of the meat outside the house. Do not break any of the bones. 47 The whole community of Israel must celebrate it.

48 "An alien living among you who wants to celebrate the LORD's Passover must have all the males in his household circumcised; then he may take part like one born in the land. No uncircumcised male may eat of it. 49 The same law applies to the native-born and to the alien living among you."

50 All the Israelites did just what the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron. 51 And on that very day the LORD brought the Israelites out of Egypt by their divisions.

Footnotes:
Exodus 12:3 The Hebrew word can mean lamb or kid ; also in verse 4.
Exodus 12:40 Masoretic Text; Samaritan Pentateuch and Septuagint Egypt and Canaan

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Genesis 5-7 (New International Version)

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John 13 (King James Version)

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Exodus 12 The Passover