Luke 12 Cross References - LEB

¹ During _⌊this time_⌋* when* a crowd of many thousands had gathered together, so that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, "Beware for yourselves of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. ² But nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, and secret that will not be made known. ³ Therefore everything that you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what _⌊you have whispered_⌋* in the inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops. ⁴ "And I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after these things do not have anything more to do. ⁵ But I will show you whom you should fear: fear the one who has authority, after the killing, to throw you* into hell! Yes, I tell you, fear this one! ⁶ Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten in the sight of God. ⁷ But even the hairs of your head are all numbered! Do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. ⁸ "And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before people, the Son of Man also will acknowledge him before the angels of God, ⁹ but the one who denies me before people will be denied before the angels of God. ¹⁰ And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him, but to the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven. ¹¹ But when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious how or what you should speak in your own defense or what you should say, ¹² for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that same hour what it is necessary to say." ¹³ Now someone from the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me!" ¹⁴ But he said to him, "Man, who made me a judge or an arbitrator over you?" ¹⁵ And he said to them, "Watch out and guard yourselves from all greediness, because not even when someone has an abundance _⌊does_⌋* his life consist of his possessions." ¹⁶ And he told a parable to them, saying, "The land of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. ¹⁷ And he reasoned to himself, saying, 'What should I do? For I do not have anywhere I can gather in my crops.' ¹⁸ And he said, 'I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and I will gather in there all my grain and possessions. ¹⁹ And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many possessions stored up for many years. Relax, eat, drink, celebrate!" ' ²⁰ But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your life* is demanded from you, and the things which you have prepared—whose will they be?' ²¹ So is the one who stores up treasure for himself, and who is not rich toward God!" ²² And he said to his disciples, "For this reason I tell you, do not be anxious for your* life, what you will eat, or for your* body, what you will wear. ²³ For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. ²⁴ Consider the ravens, that they neither sow nor reap; to them there is neither storeroom nor barn, and God feeds them. How much more are you worth than the birds? ²⁵ And which of you by* being anxious is able to add an hour* to his life span? ²⁶ If then you are not even able to do a very little thing, why are you anxious about the rest? ²⁷ Consider the lilies, how they grow: they do not toil or spin, but I say to you, not even Solomon in all his glory was dressed like one of these. ²⁸ But if God clothes the grass in the field in this way, although it* is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he do so for* you, you of little faith? ²⁹ And you, do not consider what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not be anxious. ³⁰ For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need these things. ³¹ But seek his kingdom and these things will be added to you. ³² "Do not be afraid, little flock, because your Father is well pleased to give you the kingdom. ³³ Sell your possessions and give charitable gifts. Make for yourselves money bags that do not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven* where thief does not approach or moth destroy. ³⁴ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. ³⁵ "_⌊You must be prepared for action_⌋* and your* lamps burning. ³⁶ And you, be like people who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast,* so that when he* comes back and knocks, they can open the door* for him immediately. ³⁷ Blessed are those slaves whom the master will find on the alert when he returns! Truly I say to you that he will dress himself for service and have them recline at the table and will come by and* serve them. ³⁸ Even if he should come back in the second or in the third watch of the night and find them* like this, blessed are they! ³⁹ But understand this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. ⁴⁰ You also must be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not think he will come."* ⁴¹ And Peter said, "Lord, are you telling this parable for us, or also for everyone?" ⁴² And the Lord said, "Who then is the faithful wise manager whom the master will put in charge over his servants to give them* their* food allowance at the right time? ⁴³ Blessed is that slave whom his master will find so doing when he* comes back. ⁴⁴ Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions. ⁴⁵ But if that slave should say _⌊to himself_⌋,* 'My master is taking a long time to return,' and he begins to beat the male slaves and the female slaves and to eat and drink and get drunk, ⁴⁶ the master of that slave will come on a day that he does not expect and at an hour that he does not know, and will cut him in two and assign his place with the unbelievers. ⁴⁷ And that slave who knew the will of his master and did not prepare or do according to his will _⌊will be given a severe beating_⌋.* ⁴⁸ But the one who did not know and did things deserving blows _⌊will be given a light beating_⌋.* And from everyone to whom much has been given, much will be demanded, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will ask him for even more. ⁴⁹ "I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish that it had been kindled already! ⁵⁰ But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how I am distressed until it is accomplished! ⁵¹ Do you think that I have come to grant peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! ⁵² For from now on there will be five in one household, divided three against two and two against three. ⁵³ They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law." ⁵⁴ And he also said to the crowds, "When you see a cloud coming up in the west, you say at once, 'A rainstorm is coming,' and so it happens. ⁵⁵ And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, 'There will be burning heat,' and it happens. ⁵⁶ Hypocrites! You know how to evaluate the appearance of the earth and the sky, but how is it you do not know how to evaluate this present time? ⁵⁷ And why do you not also judge for yourselves what is right? ⁵⁸ For as you are going with your accuser before the magistrate, make an effort to come to a settlement with him on the way, so that he will not drag you to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the bailiff, and the bailiff will throw you into prison. ⁵⁹ I tell you, you will never get out of there until you have paid back even the last cent!"*

¹⁷ Then the king appointed the officer he was depending on over the gate, but the people trampled him and he died, according to that which the man of God had said which he spoke when the king came down to him.

⁵ that the rejoicing of the wicked is _⌊short_⌋,* and the joy of the godless _⌊lasts only a moment_⌋?*

⁸ for what is the hope of the godless when he cuts them off, when God takes away his life?

¹³ And the godless of heart cherish anger; they do not cry for help when he binds them.

¹⁴ Sinners are afraid in Zion; trembling has seized the godless: "Who of us can _⌊live_⌋* with devouring fire? Who of us can _⌊live_⌋* with everlasting consuming hearths?"

⁶ And Jesus said to them, "Watch out for and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees!" ⁷ So they were discussing this* among themselves, saying, "It is because we did not take bread." ⁸ But knowing this,* Jesus said, "Why are you discussing among yourselves that you did not take bread,* you of little faith? ⁹ Do you not yet understand or do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you took up? ¹⁰ Or the seven loaves for the four thousand and how many baskets you took up? ¹¹ How do you not understand that I did not speak to you about bread? But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees!" ¹² Then they understood that he did not say to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

¹⁵ And he ordered them, saying, "Watch out! Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod!" ¹⁶ And they began to discuss with one another that they had no bread. ¹⁷ And knowing this,* he said to them, "Why are you discussing that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Have your hearts been hardened? ¹⁸ Although you* have eyes, do you not see? And although you* have ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember? ¹⁹ When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand how many baskets full of broken pieces did you pick up?" They said to him, "Twelve." ²⁰ "When I also* broke* the seven loaves* for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you pick up?" And they said to him, "Seven." ²¹ And he said to them, "Do you not yet understand?"

¹ Now it happened that while the crowd was pressing around him and hearing the word of God, he was standing beside the lake of Gennesaret,*

¹⁵ But the report about him spread even more, and large crowds were gathering to hear him* and to be healed of their illnesses.

¹⁷ And he came down with them and* stood on a level place, and a large crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all of Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast district of Tyre and Sidon,

⁴⁴ Woe to you, because you are like unmarked graves, and the people who walk over them* do not know it!*

⁵⁶ Hypocrites! You know how to evaluate the appearance of the earth and the sky, but how is it you do not know how to evaluate this present time?

²⁰ And when* they heard this,* they began to glorify* God. And they said to him, "You see, brother, how many ten thousands there are among the Jews who have believed, and they are all zealous adherents of the law.

⁷ Clean out the old leaven in order that you may be a new batch of dough, just as you are unleavened. For Christ our Passover has been sacrificed. ⁸ So then, let us celebrate the feast, not with the old leaven or with the leaven of wickedness and sinfulness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

³ For I passed on to you _⌊as of first importance_⌋* what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures,

¹⁷ But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, obedient, full of mercy and good fruits, nonjudgmental, without hypocrisy,

¹ Therefore, ridding yourselves of all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander,

¹⁴ For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.

²⁶ "Therefore do not be afraid of them, because nothing is hidden that will not be revealed, and nothing secret that will not become known. ²⁷ What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light, and what you hear in your ear, proclaim on the housetops. ²⁸ And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul, but instead be afraid of the one who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. ²⁹ Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?* And one of them will not fall to the ground _⌊without the knowledge and consent_⌋* of your Father. ³⁰ And even the hairs of your head are all numbered! ³¹ Therefore do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. ³² "Therefore everyone who acknowledges me before people, I also will acknowledge him before my Father who is in heaven. ³³ But whoever denies me before people, I also will deny him before my Father who is in heaven.

²² For nothing is secret except so that it may be revealed, nor has become hidden except so that it will come to light.

¹⁷ For nothing is secret that will not become evident, and nothing hidden that will never be known and come to light.

¹⁶ on the day when God judges the secret things of people, according to my gospel, through* Christ Jesus.

⁵ Therefore do not judge anything before the time, until the Lord should come, who will both enlighten the hidden things of darkness and will reveal the counsels of hearts, and then praise will come to each one from God.

¹⁰ For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, in order that each one may receive back the things through the body according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

¹¹ And I saw a great white throne and the one who was seated on it, _⌊from whose presence_⌋* earth and heaven fled, and a place was not found for them. ¹² And I saw the dead—the great and the small—standing before the throne, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the book of life, and the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to their deeds.

¹⁴ _⌊At dusk_⌋* the murderer rises; he kills the needy and the poor, and in the night he is like a* thief. ¹⁵ And the eye of the adulterer waits for dusk, saying, _⌊'No eye will see me,'_⌋* and he places a covering on his face.

¹² The wise man wins favor by the words of his mouth, but the fool is devoured by his own lips. ¹³ He begins by saying what is foolish and ends by uttering what is wicked delusion.

²⁰ Do not curse the king even in your thoughts, and do not curse the rich even in your own bedroom, for a bird of the sky may carry your voice; a winged messenger may repeat your words.

²⁷ What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light, and what you hear in your ear, proclaim on the housetops.

³⁶ But I tell you that every worthless word that they speak, people will give an account for it on the day of judgment!

¹⁴ And Enoch, the seventh from Adam, also prophesied about* these people, saying, "Behold, the Lord came with tens of thousands of his holy ones ¹⁵ to execute judgment against all, and to convict all the ungodly* concerning all their ungodly deeds that they have committed in an ungodly way, and concerning all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.

¹ I have come to my garden, my sister bride, I have gathered my myrrh with my spice, I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey, I have drunk my wine with my milk! Eat, O friends! _⌊Drink and become drunk with love_⌋!*

¹⁶ _⌊His mouth_⌋* is sweet, and he is altogether desirable. This is my beloved; this is my friend, _⌊O young women of Jerusalem_⌋.*

⁸ But* you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, you, the _⌊offspring_⌋* of Abraham my _⌊friend_⌋,*

⁷ Listen to me, you who know righteousness, people who have my teaching in their heart; you must not fear the reproach of men, or be terrified because of their abuse. ⁸ For a moth will eat them like garments; a moth will devour* them like wool, but* my righteousness will be forever, and my salvation for _⌊generation after generation_⌋.*" ⁹ Awake! Awake; put on strength, O arm of Yahweh! Awake as in days of long ago, the generations of a long time back! Are you not the one who cut Rahab in pieces, the one who pierced the sea-dragon? ¹⁰ Are you not the one who dried up the sea, the waters of the great deep, the one who _⌊made_⌋* the depths of the sea a way for those who are redeemed to cross over? ¹¹ So* the redeemed ones of Yahweh shall return, and they shall come to Zion with singing, and everlasting joy shall be on their heads.* Joy and gladness shall _⌊appear_⌋;* sorrow and sighing shall flee away! ¹² "I, I am he who comforts you; who are you that* you are afraid of man? He dies! And of the son of humankind? He is _⌊sacrificed_⌋* as grass! ¹³ And you have forgotten Yahweh, your maker, who stretched out the heavens, and founded the earth. And you tremble continually, all day, because of the wrath of the oppressor when he _⌊takes aim_⌋* to destroy. But* where is the wrath of the oppressor?

⁸ _⌊Do not be afraid of them_⌋,* for I am with you to deliver you," _⌊declares_⌋* Yahweh.

¹⁷ But you, you must gird your loins, and stand, and speak to them all that I command you. _⌊Do not be afraid of them_⌋,* or I will shatter you _⌊before_⌋* them.

¹⁴ But as for me, look, I am in your hand, do to me what is good and right in your eyes. ¹⁵ Only you must certainly know that if you put me to death, you will bring on yourselves innocent blood, and on this city and on its inhabitants, for _⌊truly_⌋* Yahweh sent me to you to speak all these words in your ears."

⁶ And you, son of man,* you must not be afraid of them, and you must not be afraid of their words, because* briers and thorns are with you, and you are sitting among scorpions. You must not be afraid of their words, and you must not be dismayed because of their _⌊looks_⌋,* for they are a rebellious house.

¹⁶ Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego answered and said to the king, Nebuchadnezzar, "We have no need on this matter _⌊to present a defense to you_⌋.* ¹⁷ _⌊If it is so_⌋,* our God, whom we serve, is able to rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire. And from your hand, O king, let him rescue us.

²⁸ And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul, but instead be afraid of the one who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

¹⁴ You are my friends if you do what I command you. ¹⁵ No longer do I call you slaves, because the slave does not know what his master is doing. But I have called you friends, because everything that I have heard from my Father I have revealed to you.

¹³ Now when they* saw the boldness of Peter and John, and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were astonished, and recognized them, that they had been with Jesus.

²⁴ But I consider my* life as worth _⌊nothing_⌋* to myself, in order to finish my mission and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

²⁸ and not letting yourselves be intimidated in anything by your opponents, which is a sign of destruction to them, but of your salvation, and this from God,

²³ And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "And Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness,"* and he was called God's friend.

¹⁴ But even if you might suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not be afraid of their intimidation or be disturbed,*

¹⁰ Do not be afraid of the things which you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison so that you may be tested, and you will experience affliction ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

¹⁷ The wicked shall turn back to Sheol, all the nations forgetting God,

²⁶ In the fear of Yahweh, there is confidence of strength, and for his children, there will be refuge.

²² Do you not revere me?" _⌊declares_⌋* Yahweh, "Do you not tremble _⌊before me_⌋?* For I have placed the sand as a boundary for the sea, _⌊as an everlasting limit_⌋,* and it cannot pass over it, and they rise and fall loudly, but they cannot prevail, and its waves roar, but they cannot pass over it.

⁷ Who would not revere you, O king of the nations? For you it is fitting. For among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms,* there is none like you.

²² But I say to you that everyone who is angry at his brother will be subject to judgment, and whoever says to his brother, 'Stupid fool!'* will be subject to the council, and whoever says, 'Obstinate fool!'* will be subject to fiery hell.

⁴¹ Then he will also say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you accursed ones, into the eternal fire that has been prepared for the devil and his angels!

⁴⁶ And these will depart into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

²³ But you, watch out! I have told you everything ahead of time!

⁶ not to transgress and to exploit his brother in the matter, because the Lord is the one who avenges concerning all these things, just as also we told you beforehand and testified solemnly.

³¹ It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

⁴ For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but held them captive in Tartarus with chains of darkness and handed them over to be kept for judgment,

⁷ saying with a loud voice, "Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship the one who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and the springs of water!"

⁴ Who would never fear, Lord, and glorify your name? For only you are holy, because all the nations* will come and worship before you, because your righteous deeds have been revealed."

¹⁴ And Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death—the lake of fire.

¹⁰ because every animal of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. ¹¹ I know every bird of the mountains, and every moving creature in the field is mine.

⁵ Who is like Yahweh our God, who is enthroned on high,* ⁶ who _⌊condescends to look at_⌋* what is in the heavens and in the earth?

¹⁵ The eyes of all look hopefully to you, and you give them their food in due time, ¹⁶ opening your hand, and satisfying the desire of every living creature.

⁹ He gives to the animal its food, and to the young ravens that cry.

²⁹ Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?* And one of them will not fall to the ground _⌊without the knowledge and consent_⌋* of your Father.

²⁴ Consider the ravens, that they neither sow nor reap; to them there is neither storeroom nor barn, and God feeds them. How much more are you worth than the birds?

²⁷ Consider the lilies, how they grow: they do not toil or spin, but I say to you, not even Solomon in all his glory was dressed like one of these.

⁴⁵ But the army said to Saul, "Must Jonathan die, who accomplished this great victory in Israel? Far from it! As Yahweh lives, not a hair from his head will fall to the ground, for he has worked with God this day." So the army ransomed Jonathan and he did not die.

¹¹ Then she said, "Please may the king remember Yahweh your God, _⌊to prevent the increase of blood avengers who kill_⌋,* so that they not wipe out my son." He said, "_⌊As Yahweh lives_⌋,* surely not one hair shall fall from your son to the ground."

¹¹ who teaches us more than the animals of the earth and makes us wiser than the birds of the heavens?'

⁶ You make him over the works of your hands; all things you have placed under his feet:

³ For I am Yahweh, your God, the holy one of Israel, your savior. I give you Egypt as ransom, Cush and Seba in place of you. ⁴ Because you are precious in my eyes, you are honored, and I myself love you, and I give people in place of you, and nations in place of your life.

²⁶ Consider the birds of the sky, that they do not sow or reap or gather produce into barns, and your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth more than they are?

³⁰ And even the hairs of your head are all numbered! ³¹ Therefore do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

¹² Then to what degree is a man worth more than a sheep? So then, it is permitted to do good on the Sabbath."

¹⁸ Even a hair of your head will never perish!

³⁴ Therefore I urge you to take some food, for this is necessary for your preservation. For not a hair from your head will be lost."

³⁰ Therefore,' _⌊declares_⌋* Yahweh the God of Israel, 'though I solemnly said that your house and the house of your ancestor* would walk before me forever, but now,' _⌊declares_⌋* Yahweh, 'far be it from me, for those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me, I will treat with contempt!

⁴⁶ And I will speak of your testimonies before kings, and will not be ashamed.

³¹ Now when the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. ³² And all the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate them from one another like a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. ³³ And he will place the sheep on his right and the goats on the left. ³⁴ Then the king will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world!

¹⁰ In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

⁹ that* if you confess with your mouth "Jesus is Lord" and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For with the heart one believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth one confesses, resulting in salvation.

¹² if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us;

²³ Everyone who denies the Son does not have the Father either; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also.

²⁴ Now to the one who is able to protect you from stumbling and make you to stand before his glory blameless* with exultation, ²⁵ to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority before all time and now and for all eternity. Amen.

¹³ 'I know where you live, where the throne of Satan is. And you hold fast to my name and did not deny your* faith in me, even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan lives.

⁴ But you have a few _⌊people_⌋* in Sardis who have not defiled their clothing, and they will walk with me in white, because they are worthy. ⁵ The one who conquers in this way will be dressed in white clothing, and I will never erase his name from the book of life, and I will declare his name before my Father and before his angels.

²³ And then _⌊I will say to them plainly_⌋,* 'I never knew you. Depart from me, you who practice lawlessness!'

³³ But whoever denies me before people, I also will deny him before my Father who is in heaven.

¹² But he answered and* said, 'Truly I say to you, I do not know you!'

³¹ Now when the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.

³⁸ For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."

²⁶ For whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of this person when he comes in his glory and the glory* of the Father and of the holy angels.

²⁶ Then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets!' ²⁷ And he will reply, saying to you, 'I do not know where you are from! Go away from me, all you _⌊evildoers_⌋!'*

¹³ The God of Abraham and of Isaac* and of Jacob,* the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over and denied in the presence of Pilate, after* he had decided to release him.* ¹⁴ But you denied the Holy and Righteous One and demanded that a man—a murderer—be granted to you.

²⁸ And now, little children, remain in him, so that whenever he is revealed we may have confidence and not be put to shame before him at his coming.

⁸ 'I know your works (behold, I have put before you an opened door that no one is able to shut*) that you have a little strength, and have kept my word, and did not deny my name.

³¹ For this reason I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven! ³² And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him. But whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him either in this age or in the coming one!

²⁸ "Truly I say to you that all the sins and the blasphemies will be forgiven the sons of men, however much they blaspheme. ²⁹ But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit does not have forgiveness _⌊forever_⌋,* but is guilty of an eternal sin"— ³⁰ because they were saying, "He has an unclean spirit."

³⁴ But Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."* And they cast lots to divide his clothes.

¹³ although I* was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, but I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief,

⁴ For it is impossible concerning those who have once been enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and become sharers of the Holy Spirit, ⁵ and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the coming age, ⁶ and having fallen away, to renew them again to repentance, because they* have crucified again for themselves the Son of God and held him up to contempt. ⁷ For ground that drinks the rain that comes often upon it, and brings forth vegetation usable to those people _⌊for whose sake_⌋* it is also cultivated, shares a blessing from God. ⁸ But if it* produces thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to a curse, whose end is for burning.

²⁶ For if* we keep on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, ²⁷ but a certain fearful expectation of judgment and a fury of fire that is about to consume the adversaries. ²⁸ Anyone who rejected the law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. ²⁹ How much worse punishment do you think the person will be considered worthy of who treats with disdain the Son of God and who considers ordinary the blood of the covenant by which he was made holy and who insults the Spirit of grace? ³⁰ For we know the one who said,
"Vengeance is mine, I will repay,"*
and again,
"The Lord will judge his people."* ³¹ It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

¹⁶ If anyone should see his brother sinning a sin not leading to death, he should ask, and he will grant life to him, to those who sin not leading to death. (There is a sin leading to death; I do not say that he should ask about that.

¹⁷ But beware of people, because they will hand you over to councils, and they will flog you in their synagogues. ¹⁸ And you will be brought before both governors and kings because of me, for a witness to them and to the Gentiles. ¹⁹ But whenever they hand you over, do not be anxious how to speak* or what you should say, for what you should say will be given to you at that hour. ²⁰ For you are not the ones who are speaking, but the Spirit of your Father who is speaking through you.

³⁴ For this reason, behold, I am sending to you prophets and wise men and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will flog in your synagogues and will pursue from town to town,

⁹ "But you, watch out for yourselves! They will hand you over to councils and you will be beaten in the synagogues and will have to stand before governors and kings because of me, for a witness to them. ¹⁰ And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all the nations.* ¹¹ And when they arrest you and* hand you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you should say, but whatever is given to you at that hour, say this. For you are not the ones who are speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

²² And he said to his disciples, "For this reason I tell you, do not be anxious for your* life, what you will eat, or for your* body, what you will wear.

¹² "But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you,* handing you* over to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before* kings and governors because of my name. ¹³ This will turn out to you for a time of witness. ¹⁴ _⌊Therefore make up your minds_⌋* not to prepare in advance to speak in your own defense,

⁵ And it happened that on the next day, their rulers and elders and scribes came together in Jerusalem, ⁶ and Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all those who were from the high priest's family. ⁷ And they made them stand in their* midst and* began to ask,* "By what power or by what name did you do this?"

²⁷ And when they* had brought them, they made them* stand in the Sanhedrin,* and the high priest put a question to them, ²⁸ saying, "_⌊We strictly commanded_⌋* you* not to teach in this name? And behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching! And you are intending to bring upon us the blood of this man!" ²⁹ But Peter and the apostles answered and* said, "It is necessary to obey God rather than men! ³⁰ The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you killed by* hanging him* on a tree. ³¹ This one God has exalted to his right hand as Leader and Savior to grant repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. ³² And we are witnesses of these things, and so is* the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him."

⁹ But some of those from the Synagogue of the Freedmen (_⌊as it was called_⌋),* both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia,* stood up and* disputed with Stephen. ¹⁰ And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. ¹¹ Then they secretly instigated men who said, "We have heard him speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God!" ¹² And they incited the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came up and* seized him and brought him* to the Sanhedrin.* ¹³ And they put forward false witnesses who said, "This man does not stop speaking words against the holy place* and the law! ¹⁴ For we have heard him saying that this Nazarene Jesus will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses handed down to us." ¹⁵ And as they* looked intently at him, all those who were sitting in the Sanhedrin* saw his face was like the face of an angel.

¹¹ And Yahweh said to him, "Who gave a mouth to humankind, or who makes mute or deaf or sighted or blind? Is it not I, Yahweh?

²⁰ For you are not the ones who are speaking, but the Spirit of your Father who is speaking through you.

¹⁵ for I will give you a mouth and wisdom that all your opponents will not be able to resist or contradict.

⁸ Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders,

¹⁰ And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.

² So he said, "Men—brothers and fathers—listen: The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he* was in Mesopotamia, before he settled in Haran, ³ and said to him, 'Go out from your land and from your relatives and come to the land that I will show you.' ⁴ Then he went out from the land of the Chaldeans and* settled in Haran. And from there, after his father died, he caused him to move to this land in which you now live. ⁵ And he did not give him an inheritance in it—not even a footstep*—and he promised to give it* to him for his possession, and to his descendants after him, _⌊although he did not have_⌋** a child. ⁶ But God spoke like this: 'His descendants will be foreigners in a foreign land, and they will enslave them and mistreat them* four hundred years, ⁷ and the nation _⌊that_⌋* they will serve as slaves, I will judge,' God said, 'and after these things they will come out* and will worship me in this place.'* ⁸ And he gave him the covenant of circumcision, and so he became the father of Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day, and Isaac did so with* Jacob, and Jacob did so with* the twelve patriarchs. ⁹ And the patriarchs, because they* were jealous of Joseph, sold him* into Egypt. And God was with him, ¹⁰ and rescued him from all his afflictions and granted him favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And he appointed him ruler over Egypt and all* his household. ¹¹ And a famine came over all Egypt and Canaan and great affliction, and our fathers could not find food. ¹² So when* Jacob heard there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first. ¹³ And on the second visit* Joseph was made known to his brothers, and the family of Joseph became known to Pharaoh. ¹⁴ So Joseph sent and* summoned his father Jacob and all his* relatives, seventy-five persons in all. ¹⁵ And Jacob went down to Egypt and died, he and our fathers. ¹⁶ And they were brought back to Shechem and buried in the tomb that Abraham had bought for a sum of silver from the sons of Hamor in Shechem. ¹⁷ "But as the time of the promise that God had made to Abraham was drawing near, the people increased and multiplied in Egypt ¹⁸ until another king arose over Egypt who did not know Joseph. ¹⁹ This man deceitfully took advantage of our* people and* mistreated our ancestors, _⌊causing them to abandon their infants_⌋* so that they would not be kept alive. ²⁰ At this time Moses was born, and he was beautiful to God. _⌊He_⌋* was brought up for three months in his* father's house, ²¹ and when* he was abandoned, the daughter of Pharaoh took him up and brought him up _⌊as her own son_⌋.* ²² And Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was powerful in his words and deeds. ²³ "But when _⌊he was forty years old_⌋,* it entered in his heart to visit his brothers, the sons of Israel. ²⁴ And when he* saw one of them being unjustly harmed, he defended him* and _⌊avenged_⌋* the one who had been oppressed by* striking down the Egyptian. ²⁵ And he thought his* brothers would understand that God was granting deliverance to them by his hand, but they did not understand. ²⁶ And on the following day, he made an appearance to them while they* were fighting and was attempting to reconcile* them in peace, saying, 'Men and brothers, why are you doing wrong to one another?' ²⁷ But the one who was doing wrong to his* neighbor pushed him aside, saying, 'Who appointed you a ruler and a judge over us? ²⁸ You do not want to do away with me _⌊the same way_⌋* you did away with the Egyptian yesterday, do you?'* ²⁹ And at this statement, Moses fled and became a foreigner in the land of Midian, where he became the father of two sons. ³⁰ "And when* forty years had been completed, an angel appeared to him in the desert of Mount Sinai in the flame of a burning bush. ³¹ And when* Moses saw it,* he was astonished at the sight, and when* he approached to look at it,* the voice of the Lord came: ³² 'I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob!'* So Moses began trembling and* did not dare to look at it.* ³³ And the Lord said to him, 'Untie the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground. ³⁴ _⌊I have certainly seen_⌋* the mistreatment of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their groaning, and I have come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send you to Egypt.'* ³⁵ This Moses whom they had repudiated, saying, 'Who appointed you a ruler and a judge?'*—this man God sent as both ruler and redeemer with _⌊the help_⌋* of the angel who appeared to him in the bush. ³⁶ This man led them out, performing wonders and signs in the land of Egypt and at the Red Sea and in the wilderness for forty years. ³⁷ "This is the Moses who said to the sons of Israel, 'God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers.'* ³⁸ This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him at Mount Sinai, and who with our fathers received living oracles to give to us, ³⁹ to whom our fathers were not willing to become obedient, but rejected him* and turned back in their hearts to Egypt, ⁴⁰ saying to Aaron, 'Make us gods who will go on before us! For this Moses, who led us out from the land of Egypt—we do not know what has happened to him!'* ⁴¹ And they manufactured a calf in those days, and offered up a sacrifice to the idol, and began rejoicing* in the works of their hands. ⁴² But God turned away and gave them over to worship the host of heaven, just as it is written in the book of the prophets:
'You did not bring offerings and sacrifices to me for forty years in the wilderness, did you,* house of Israel? ⁴³ And you took along the tabernacle* of Moloch and the star of the god* Rephan, the images that you made, to worship them, and I will deport you beyond Babylon!'* ⁴⁴ The tabernacle of the testimony _⌊belonged_⌋* to our fathers in the wilderness, just as the one who spoke to Moses directed him* to make it according to the design that he had seen, ⁴⁵ and which, after* receiving it* in turn, our fathers brought in with Joshua _⌊when they dispossessed the_⌋* nations that God drove out from the presence of our fathers, until the days of David, ⁴⁶ who found favor in the sight of God and asked to find a habitation for the God of Jacob.* ⁴⁷ But Solomon built a house for him. ⁴⁸ But the Most High does not live in houses* made by human hands, just as the prophet says, ⁴⁹ 'Heaven is my throne and earth is the footstool for my feet. What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord, or what is the place of my rest? ⁵⁰ Did not my hand make all these things?'* ⁵¹ "You stiff-necked people and uncircumcised in hearts and in your* ears! You constantly resist the Holy Spirit! As your fathers did, so also do you! ⁵² Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand about the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become, ⁵³ you who received the law by directions of angels and have not observed it!"

⁵⁵ But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked intently into heaven and* saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.

¹ So Agrippa said to Paul, "It is permitted for you to speak for yourself." Then Paul extended his* hand and* began to defend himself:* ² "Concerning all the things of which I am accused by the Jews, King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate that before you I am about to defend myself today, ³ because* you are especially acquainted with both all the customs and controversial questions with respect to the Jews. Therefore I beg you* to listen to me with patience. ⁴ "Now all the Jews know my manner of life from my youth, that had taken place from the beginning among my own people* and in Jerusalem, ⁵ having known me for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that in accordance with the strictest party of our religion I lived as a Pharisee. ⁶ And now I stand here on trial on the basis of hope in the promise made by God to our fathers, ⁷ to which our twelve tribes hope to attain as they earnestly serve him* night and day. Concerning this hope I am being accused by the Jews, O king! ⁸ Why is it thought incredible by you people* that God raises the dead? ⁹ Indeed, I myself thought it was necessary to do many things opposed to the name of Jesus the Nazarene, ¹⁰ which I also did in Jerusalem, and not only did I lock up many of the saints in prison, having received authority from the chief priests, but also when* they were being executed, I cast my vote* against them.* ¹¹ And throughout all the synagogues I punished them often and* tried to force* them* to blaspheme, and because I* was enraged at them beyond measure, I was pursuing them* even as far as to foreign cities. ¹² In _⌊this activity_⌋* I was traveling to Damascus with the authority and full power of the chief priests. ¹³ In the middle of the day along the road, O king, I saw a light from heaven, more than the brightness of the sun, shining around me and those who were traveling with me. ¹⁴ And when* we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Aramaic language, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads!' ¹⁵ So I said, 'Who are you, Lord?' And the Lord said, 'I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. ¹⁶ But get up and stand on your feet, because for this reason I have appeared to you, to appoint you a servant and witness both to the things in which you saw me and to the things in which I will appear to you, ¹⁷ rescuing you from the people and from the Gentiles to whom I am sending you, ¹⁸ to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified by faith in me.' ¹⁹ "Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, ²⁰ but to those in Damascus first, and in Jerusalem and all the region of Judea and to the Gentiles, I proclaimed that they should repent and turn to God, doing deeds worthy of repentance. ²¹ On account of these things the Jews seized me in* the temple courts* and* were attempting to kill me.* ²² Therefore I have experienced help from God until this day, and* I stand here testifying to both small and great, saying nothing except what both the prophets and Moses have said were going to happen, ²³ that the Christ* was to suffer and that as the first of the resurrection from the dead, he was going to proclaim light both to the people and to the Gentiles." ²⁴ And as* he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, "You are out of your mind, Paul! Your* great learning _⌊is driving_⌋* you _⌊insane_⌋!"* ²⁵ But Paul said, "I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but am speaking words of truth and rationality. ²⁶ For the king knows about these things, to whom also I am speaking freely, for I am not convinced that these things in any way have escaped* his notice, because this _⌊was_⌋* not _⌊done_⌋* in a corner. ²⁷ Do you believe the prophets, King Agrippa? I know that you believe." ²⁸ But Agrippa said to Paul, "In a short time are you persuading me to become a Christian?"* ²⁹ And Paul replied, "I pray to God, whether in a short time or in a long time, not only you but also all those who are listening to me today may become such people as I also am, except for these bonds!" ³⁰ Both the king and the governor got up, and Bernice and those who were sitting with them. ³¹ And as they* were going out, they were talking to one another, saying, "This man is not doing anything deserving death or imprisonment." ³² And Agrippa said to Festus, "This man could have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar."

¹⁴ from men by your hand, O Yahweh, from men of this world. Their share is in _⌊this life_⌋,* and you fill their stomach with your treasure. They are satisfied with children. They bequeath their excess to their children.

³¹ And they come to you _⌊as people do_⌋,* and they sit _⌊before you_⌋,* and my people hear your words, and they do not do them, for they are showing* passion in their mouth, but their heart is going after ill-gotten gain.

⁴⁵ The good person out of the good treasury of his heart brings forth good, and the evil person out of his* evil treasury* brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

¹⁸ Now Simon, when he* saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, offered them money, ¹⁹ saying, "Give to me also this power, so that whomever I place my* hands on may receive the Holy Spirit!"

⁵ constant wrangling by people of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who consider godliness to be a means of gain.

¹⁴ And he said, "Who _⌊appointed you as a commander_⌋* and a judge over us? Are you intending to kill me like you killed the Egyptian?" And Moses was afraid, and he said, "Surely the matter has become known."

⁸ He has told you, O mortal, what is good, and what does Yahweh ask from you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

²⁰ And when he* saw their faith, he said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven you."

⁵⁸ And after a short time another person saw him and* said, "You also are one of them!" But Peter said, "Man, I am not!"

¹⁵ Then Jesus, because he* knew that they were about to come and seize him in order to make him* king, withdrew again up the mountain by himself alone.

¹¹ And she said, "No one, Lord." So Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you. Go, and* sin no more."*

³⁵ Pilate replied, "I am not a Jew, am I?* Your people and the chief priests handed you over to me! What have you done?" ³⁶ Jesus replied, "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews. But now my kingdom is not from here."

¹ Therefore you are without excuse, O man, every one of you who passes judgment. For in that which you pass judgment on someone else, you condemn yourself, for you who are passing judgment are doing the same things.

³ But do you think this, O man who passes judgment on those who do such things, and who does the same things, that you will escape the judgment of God?

²⁰ On the contrary, O man, who are you who answers back to God? Will what is molded say to the one who molded it, "Why did you make me like this"?*

²¹ I saw among the spoil a beautiful robe from Shinar,* two hundred shekels of silver, and one bar of gold that weighed fifty shekels; I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, and the silver is under it."

⁴ Then* Satan* answered him and said, "Skin for skin! All that _⌊that_⌋* man has he will give for his life.

²⁴ "If I have made gold my trust, or* I have called fine gold my security, ²⁵ if I have rejoiced because my wealth was great or* because my hand found a fortune,

³ for the wicked boasts about the desire of his _⌊heart_⌋,* and the one greedy for gain curses and treats Yahweh with contempt.

¹⁶ The little belonging to the righteous is better than the wealth of many wicked.

¹⁰ Do not trust in extortion, and do not put vain confidence in robbery. If wealth increases, do not set your heart on it.

³⁶ Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to dishonest gain. ³⁷ Turn away my eyes from looking at what is worthless; revive me in your ways.

¹⁶ Better is little with the fear of Yahweh than great treasure and trouble with it.*

¹⁶ Getting wisdom: _⌊how much_⌋* better than gold! And getting understanding: it is chosen _⌊over_⌋* silver.

⁴ Do not tire in order to become rich; out of your understanding, may you desist. ⁵ Your eyes will _⌊alight_⌋* on it, but there is nothing to it, for suddenly it will make for itself wings like an eagle and it will be exhausted in the heavens.

¹⁶ A ruler who lacks understanding is* a cruel oppressor, but those who hate unjust gain will have long* days.

⁶ Better is one handful with peace than two fists full with toil and chasing wind. ⁷ I turned again and saw another vanity under the sun. ⁸ Sometimes a man is all alone with no companion; he also has neither son nor brother. Yet there is no end to all his toil, and his eye is not satisfied with wealth. He laments, "For whom am I toiling and depriving _⌊myself_⌋* of pleasure?" This also is vanity—it is an unhappy business!

¹⁰ Whoever loves money is not satisfied with money, and whoever loves wealth is not satisfied with profit. This also is vanity! ¹¹ When prosperity increases, those who consume it increase. _⌊So its owner gains nothing, except to see his wealth before it is spent_⌋.* ¹² The sleep of the laborer is pleasant, whether he eats little or much, but the wealth of the rich man does not allow him to rest. ¹³ There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun: wealth _⌊hoarded_⌋* by its owner to his harm. ¹⁴ That wealth was lost in a bad venture. Although he has borne a child, _⌊he has nothing to leave to him_⌋.* ¹⁵ Just as he came from his mother's womb naked, _⌊he will depart_⌋* just as he came; he will take nothing with him for his toil. ¹⁶ This also is a grievous illness. Exactly as he came, so he will go. What profit does he gain for all his toil for the wind?

¹³ "For from the smallest of them to the greatest of them, _⌊everyone_⌋* makes profit for unlawful gain. And from the prophet to the priest, _⌊everyone_⌋* practices deceit.

¹⁷ "But there is nothing in your eyes and your heart _⌊except_⌋* your unlawful gain, and on shedding the blood of the innocent, and on committing oppression and extortion." ¹⁸ _⌊Therefore_⌋* thus says Yahweh concerning Jehoiakim, the son of Josiah, the king of Judah:
"They will not lament for him, 'Alas, my brother,' or 'Alas, sister.' They will not lament for him, 'Alas, lord,' or 'alas, his majesty.'

² They covet fields and seize them, and houses, and they take them away. They oppress a man and his house; a man and his inheritance.

⁹ Woe to him who obtains profit from evil gain for his house, to set his nest on high, to be saved from the hand of misfortune!

²⁵ "For this reason I say to you, do not be anxious for your life, what you will eat,* and not for your body, what you will wear. Is your life not more than food and your body more than clothing? ²⁶ Consider the birds of the sky, that they do not sow or reap or gather produce into barns, and your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth more than they are?

²² adulteries, acts of greed, malicious deeds, deceit, licentiousness, _⌊envy_⌋,* abusive speech, pride, foolishness.

¹⁴ And the seed that fell into the thorn plants—these are the ones who hear and as they* go along are choked by the worries and riches and pleasures of life, and they do not bear fruit to maturity.

¹⁴ Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him.

³⁴ "But take care for yourselves, lest your hearts are weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of daily life, and that day come upon you suddenly

¹⁰ By no means did I mean the sexually immoral people of this world or the greedy people and swindlers or idolaters, since then you would have to depart out of the world. ¹¹ But now I have written to you not to associate with any so-called brother, if he is a sexually immoral person or a greedy person or an idolater or an abusive person or a drunkard or a swindler—with such a person not even to eat.

¹⁰ nor thieves, nor greedy persons, not drunkards, not abusive persons, not swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

³ But sexual immorality, and all uncleanness, or greediness, must not even be named among you (as is fitting for saints), ⁴ and obscenity, and foolish talk, or coarse jesting (which are not proper), but rather thanksgiving. ⁵ For this you know _⌊for certain_⌋*, that every sexually immoral person, or unclean person, or greedy person (who is an idolater), does not have an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

⁵ Therefore put to death _⌊what is earthly in you_⌋*: sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustful passion, evil desire, and greediness, which is idolatry,

⁶ But godliness with contentment is a great means of gain. ⁷ For we have brought nothing into the world, so that neither can we bring anything out. ⁸ But if we* have food and clothing, with these things we will be content. ⁹ But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and a trap and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge those people into ruin and destruction. ¹⁰ For the love of money is a root of all evil, by which some, because they* desire it, have gone astray from the faith and have pierced themselves with many pains.

² for people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, arrogant, slanderers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,

⁵ Your lifestyle must be free from the love of money, being content with what you have. For he himself has said, "I will never desert you, and I will never abandon you."*

³ And in greediness they will exploit you with false words, whose condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

¹⁴ having eyes full of desire for an adulteress and unceasing from sin, enticing unstable persons, and* having hearts trained for greediness. Accursed children!

¹² And Isaac sowed in that land and reaped in that same year a hundredfold, and Yahweh blessed him. ¹³ And the man _⌊became wealthier and wealthier_⌋* until he was exceedingly wealthy. ¹⁴ And he possessed sheep and cattle and many servants, so that the Philistines envied him.

⁴⁷ And the land produced a plenty in the seven years of abundance. ⁴⁸ And he gathered all the food of the seven years which occurred in the land of Egypt. And he stored the food in the cities. The food of the field that surrounded each city he stored in its midst. ⁴⁹ And Joseph piled up grain like the sand of the sea in great abundance until he stopped counting it, for _⌊it could not be counted_⌋.*

⁶ The tents of the destroyers are at peace, and there is security for those who provoke God, for those whom God brings into his hand.*

³ because I envied the boastful when I saw the well-being* of the wicked.

¹² See, these are the wicked, and they increase wealth, ever carefree.

⁸ But she did not know that it was I who gave her grain, new wine, and oil, and who gave her silver in abundance, and gold which they made into a Baal.

⁴⁵ in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven, because he causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust.

¹⁷ And yet he did not leave himself without witness by* doing good, giving you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying you* with food and your hearts with gladness."

² Divide your share in seven or in eight, for you do not know what disaster will happen on the earth.

⁷ Is it not to break your bread for the hungry? You must bring _⌊home_⌋* the poor, the homeless. When you see the naked, you must cover him, and you must not hide yourself from your _⌊relatives_⌋.*

⁴² Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

¹¹ And he answered and* said to them, "The one who has two tunics must share with the one who does not have one,* and the one who has food must do likewise."

²⁵ And behold, a certain legal expert stood up to test him, saying, "Teacher, what must I do so that I will inherit eternal life?"

⁴¹ But give as charitable giving the things that are within, and behold, everything is clean for you.

²⁹ And you, do not consider what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not be anxious.

³³ Sell your possessions and give charitable gifts. Make for yourselves money bags that do not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven* where thief does not approach or moth destroy.

¹³ But whenever you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, ¹⁴ and you will be blessed, because they are not able to repay you. For it will be paid back to you at the resurrection of the righteous."

³ And the manager said to himself, 'What should I do, because my master is taking away the management from me? I am not strong enough to dig; I am ashamed to beg.

⁹ And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it runs out they will welcome you into the eternal dwellings.

²² And when he* heard this,* Jesus said to him, "_⌊You still lack one thing_⌋:* Sell all that you have, and distribute the proceeds* to the poor—and you will have treasure in heaven—and come, follow me."

¹⁷ And he said to him, 'Well done, good slave! Because you have been faithful in a very small thing, _⌊have authority_⌋* over ten cities.'

³⁷ Now when they* heard this,* they were pierced to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "What should we do, men and brothers?"

³⁰ And he brought them outside and* said, "Sirs, what must I do so that I can be saved?"

¹³ contributing to the needs of the saints, pursuing hospitality.

⁶ Now the point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. ⁷ Each one should give as he has decided in his heart, not _⌊reluctantly_⌋* or from compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸ And God is able to cause all grace to abound to you, so that in everything at all times, because you* have enough of everything, you may overflow in every good work. ⁹ Just as it is written,
"He scattered widely, he gave to the poor; his righteousness remains _⌊forever_⌋*."* ¹⁰ Now the one who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will provide and multiply your seed, and will cause the harvest of your righteousness to grow, ¹¹ being made rich in every way for all generosity, which is producing through us thanksgiving to God, ¹² because the service of this ministry is not only supplying the needs of the saints, but also is overflowing through many expressions of thanksgiving to God. ¹³ Through the proven character of this service they will glorify God because of the submission of your confession to the gospel of Christ and the generosity of your participation toward them and toward everyone, ¹⁴ and they are longing for you in their prayers for you, because of the surpassing grace of God to you. ¹⁵ Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

¹⁷ Command those who are rich in this present age not to be proud and not to put their hope in the uncertainty of riches, but in God, who provides us all things richly for enjoyment,

¹⁶ We have come to know love by this: that _⌊he_⌋* laid down his life on behalf of us, and we ought to lay down our lives on behalf of the brothers.

²¹ So is the one who stores up treasure for himself, and who is not rich toward God!"

⁴ And he was not willing for a time, but after these things he said to himself, 'Even if I do not fear God or respect people,

⁶ And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unrighteous judge is saying!

¹⁵ This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.

¹⁵ Instead you should say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that."

¹¹ and houses full of all sorts of good things* that you did not fill, and hewn cisterns that you did not hew, vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant, and _⌊you have eaten your fill_⌋,* ¹² then take care for yourself, so that you do not forget Yahweh, who brought you out from the land of Egypt from the house of slavery.

¹² lest when you have eaten and you are satisfied and you have built good houses and you live in them, ¹³ and your herds and your flocks have multiplied, and _⌊you have accumulated silver and gold_⌋,* and all that _⌊you have_⌋* has multiplied, ¹⁴ then your heart _⌊becomes proud_⌋* and you forget Yahweh your God, _⌊the one who brought you out_⌋* from the land of Egypt, from the house of slavery,

¹ "A human being born of a woman is short of days and full of troubles.*

¹¹ They send out their little ones like the flock, and their children dance around. ¹² They _⌊sing_⌋* to the tambourine and lyre, and they rejoice to the sound of the long flute. ¹³ They spend their days in prosperity, and in peace they go down to Sheol.

⁵ Why should I fear in _⌊times of calamity_⌋,* when iniquity surrounds me at my heels, ⁶ those who trust their wealth and boast about the abundance of their riches? ⁷ Surely a man cannot redeem a brother. He cannot give to God his ransom ⁸ (since* the redemption price for their life is costly and it always fails), ⁹ so that he may stay alive forever and not see the pit. ¹⁰ For he sees that the wise die, together with the fool and brute they perish, and leave their wealth to the next generation. ¹¹ Within them they think their houses are forever, their dwelling places from generation to generation. They _⌊name_⌋* their lands by their own names. ¹² But man cannot continue in his pomp. He is like the beasts that perish. ¹³ This is the journey* of those who have foolish confidence, and those after them who accept their sayings. Selah

¹⁸ Though he congratulated his soul while he was living —and people will praise you when you do well for yourself—

⁵ but God will pull you down forever. He will snatch you and tear you away from your tent, and he will uproot you from the land of the living. Selah ⁶ And the righteous will see and fear, and will laugh at him, saying, ⁷ "Look, the man who would not make God his refuge, but he trusted in the greatness of his wealth; he took refuge in his destructiveness."

¹¹ The wealth of the rich is _⌊his strong city_⌋,* and like a wall, it is high in his imagination.

⁵ Your eyes will _⌊alight_⌋* on it, but there is nothing to it, for suddenly it will make for itself wings like an eagle and it will be exhausted in the heavens.

¹ Do not boast _⌊about tomorrow_⌋,* for you do not know what the day will bring.

⁹ Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth! Follow the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes— but know that God will bring you into judgment for all these things.

⁸ Ah! Those who _⌊join_⌋* house with house, they join field together with field until _⌊there is no place_⌋* and you are caused to dwell alone in the midst of the land.

¹¹ Ah! Those who rise early in the morning, they pursue strong drink. Those who linger in the evening, wine inflames them.

¹³ But look! Joy and gladness, the killing of oxen* and the slaughtering of sheep, the eating of meat and the drinking of wine! "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!"

⁸ And Ephraim said, "Surely, I am rich, I gained* wealth for myself; in all my toil they have not found guilt in me that is sin.

³ You that put off the day of disaster and bring near a reign of violence! ⁴ Alas for those who lie on beds of ivory and lounge on their couches, and those eating young rams from the sheep and goats, and bull-calves from the middle of the animal stall. ⁵ Alas for those who sing to the tune of the harp; like David they improvise on instruments of music. ⁶ Alas for those who drink from sprinkling bowls of wine and anoint themselves with the best of olive oils and are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph.

¹⁶ Therefore he sacrifices to his fishnet and makes offerings to his dragnet, for by them _⌊he makes a good living_⌋* and his food is rich.

¹⁹ "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and consuming insect* destroy and where thieves break in and steal, ²⁰ but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor consuming insect* destroy and where thieves do not break in or steal. ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

¹⁹ "Now a certain man was rich, and dressed in purple cloth and fine linen, feasting sumptuously every day.

³² If according to a human perspective I fought wild beasts at Ephesus, what benefit is it to me? If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.*

¹⁹ whose end is destruction, whose God is the stomach, and whose glory is in their shame, the ones who think on earthly things.

⁶ But the one who lives for sensual pleasure is dead even though she* lives.

⁴ traitors, reckless, conceited, loving pleasure rather than loving God,

¹³ Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will travel to such and such a city and spend a year there, and carry on business and make a profit," ¹⁴ you who do not know _⌊what will happen tomorrow_⌋*, _⌊what your life will be like_⌋*. For you are a smoky vapor that appears for a short time and then disappears. ¹⁵ Instead you should say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that."

¹ Come now, you rich people, weep and cry aloud over the miseries that are coming upon you! ² Your wealth has rotted, and your clothing has become moth-eaten. ³ Your gold and silver have become corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you, and it will consume your flesh like fire. You have stored up treasure in the last days.

⁵ You have lived self-indulgently on the earth* and have lived luxuriously. You have fattened your hearts in the day of slaughter.

³ For the time that has passed was sufficient _⌊to do what the Gentiles desire to do_⌋*, having lived in licentiousness, evil desires, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties, and wanton idolatries,

⁷ As much as she glorified herself and lived in luxury, give to her so much torment and mourning, because in her heart she said, 'I sit as a queen, and am not a widow, and I will never see mourning!'

⁹ And Moses said to Aaron, "Say to all the community of the _⌊Israelites_⌋,* 'Come near before Yahweh because he has heard your grumblings.'" ¹⁰ And at the moment of Aaron's speaking to all the community of the _⌊Israelites_⌋,* they turned to the desert, _⌊and just then_⌋* the glory of Yahweh appeared in the cloud.

³⁶ Then Abigail went to Nabal, and look, _⌊he was holding a feast_⌋* in his house like the feast of the king. _⌊Nabal was enjoying himself_⌋,* and he was very drunk, so she did not tell him a thing, _⌊nothing at all_⌋,* until the light of morning. ³⁷ _⌊And then_⌋* in the morning when the wine had gone out of Nabal, his wife told him these words. Then his heart died _⌊within him_⌋,* and he became like a stone. ³⁸ _⌊And then_⌋,* about ten days later, Yahweh struck Nabal and he died.

²⁸ Absalom commanded his servants, saying, "Please watch. At the moment the heart of Amnon is _⌊tipsy_⌋* with wine, then I shall say to you, 'Strike Amnon down,' and you shall kill him! Don't be afraid. Is it not I myself who has commanded you? Be courageous and be _⌊valiant!_⌋* ²⁹ So Absalom's servants did to Amnon just as Absalom commanded, and all the sons of the king got up, and each mounted his mule and fled.

⁹ His servant Zimri the commander of half of the chariots conspired against him. Now he had been in Tirzah drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza who was over the palace in Tirzah. ¹⁰ Zimri came and struck him down and killed him in the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah and became king in his place.

¹¹ And Haman recounted to them the splendor of his wealth and the number of his sons and all the ways that the king had honored him and promoted him above the officials and king's servants.

¹ On that day King Ahasuerus gave Queen Esther the house of Haman, the enemy of the Jews; and Mordecai came before the king, for Esther had told what he was to her. ² And the king removed his signet ring that he had taken away from Haman, and he gave it to Mordecai. So Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.

²⁰ Because he has not known satisfaction in his stomach, _⌊he lets nothing escape that he desires_⌋.* ²¹ _⌊There is nothing left after he has eaten_⌋;* therefore his prosperity will not endure. ²² In the fullness of his excess _⌊he will be in distress_⌋;* all of misery's power will come upon him. ²³ _⌊When his stomach fills up_⌋,* God will send _⌊his burning anger_⌋* upon him, and he will let it rain down upon him* as his food.

¹⁶ If he heaps up silver like the dust and fashions clothing like the clay, ¹⁷ he makes it ready, and the righteous will wear it, and the innocent will divide the silver.

⁶ Surely a man walks about as a mere _⌊shadow_⌋;* surely in vain they bustle about. He heaps up possessions but does not know who will gather them in.

¹⁷ because when he dies he will not take away any of it. His wealth will not follow down after him. ¹⁸ Though he congratulated his soul while he was living —and people will praise you when you do well for yourself— ¹⁹ it* will go to the generation of his fathers. Never will they see light.

¹⁹ How they become a desolation in a moment! They come to a complete end by terrors.

³⁰ They had not yet turned aside from their craving, while their food was still in their mouth,

⁴ Wealth does not profit on the day of wrath, but righteousness will deliver from death.

⁸ He who augments his wealth with interest and with usury gathers it for him who is kind to the poor.

¹⁸ So I hated all my toil with which I have toiled under the sun, for I must leave it behind to someone who will be after me. ¹⁹ And who knows whether he will be wise or foolish? Yet he will exercise control of all the fruit of my toil with which I toiled wisely under the sun. This also is vanity! ²⁰ So _⌊I began to despair_⌋* of all the toil with which I toiled under the sun. ²¹ For although a person may toil with great wisdom and skill, he must leave his reward to someone who has not toiled for it. This also is vanity and a great calamity. ²² For what does a person receive for all his toil and in the longing of his heart with which he toils under the sun?

¹¹ Like a partridge that hatches eggs it did not lay is one who amasses wealth without justice. In the middle of his days it will leave him, and at his end he will prove to be a fool."

¹ Belshazzar the king made a great festival for a thousand of his lords,* and _⌊in the presence of_⌋* the thousand lords he was drinking wine.* ² _⌊When he tasted the wine_⌋,* Belshazzar commanded that they bring the vessels of gold and silver that Nebuchadnezzar his _⌊predecessor_⌋* had taken from the temple that was in Jerusalem, so that the king and his lords,* his wives and his concubines may drink from them. ³ Then they brought in the vessels of gold that they took from the temple, the house of God that was in Jerusalem, and the king and his lords,* his wives and his concubines drank from them. ⁴ They drank the wine and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood and stone.* ⁵ _⌊Immediately_⌋* _⌊human fingers_⌋* appeared and they wrote _⌊opposite_⌋* the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the palace of the king, and the king was watching* the palm of the hand that was writing. ⁶ Then his face changed and his thoughts terrified him, and _⌊his hip joints gave way_⌋* and _⌊his knees knocked together_⌋.*

²⁵ "Now this was the writing that was inscribed: 'Mene, Mene, Tekel and Parsin.' ²⁶ "This is the explanation of the matter:* 'Mene'—God has numbered your kingdom and brought an end to it. ²⁷ " 'Tekel'—you have been weighed on scales and you have been found wanting.* ²⁸ " 'Peres'—your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and Persians.'" ²⁹ Then Belshazzar commanded, and they clothed Daniel with purple and placed a necklace of gold around his neck, and they made a proclamation concerning him that he would be the third ruler in authority in the kingdom. ³⁰ _⌊That same night_⌋* Belshazzar, the Chaldean king, was killed.

¹⁰ For like entangled thorns, and like their drink which is drunk, they will be consumed like fully dry chaff.

⁴⁸ But if that evil slave should say _⌊to himself_⌋,* 'My master is staying away for a long time,' ⁴⁹ and he begins to beat his fellow slaves and eats and drinks with drunkards, ⁵⁰ the master of that slave will come on a day that he does not expect and at an hour that he does not know, ⁵¹ and will cut him in two and assign his place with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth!

⁴⁰ Fools! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also?

²² Now it happened that the poor man died, and he was carried away by the angels to _⌊Abraham's side_⌋.* And the rich man also died and was buried. ²³ And in Hades he lifted up his eyes as he* was in torment and* saw Abraham from a distance, and Lazarus _⌊at his side_⌋.*

³ Whenever they say "Peace and security," then sudden destruction will overtake them like the birth pains of _⌊a pregnant woman_⌋*, and they will not possibly escape.

⁷ For we have brought nothing into the world, so that neither can we bring anything out.

¹⁴ you who do not know _⌊what will happen tomorrow_⌋*, _⌊what your life will be like_⌋*. For you are a smoky vapor that appears for a short time and then disappears.

¹ Israel is a luxuriant vine;* he yields fruit for himself. The more his fruit increased, the more he made numerous altars. The more his land prospered, the more he* improved* his stone pillars.

¹⁹ "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and consuming insect* destroy and where thieves break in and steal, ²⁰ but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor consuming insect* destroy and where thieves do not break in or steal.

²⁴ "But woe to you who are rich, because you have received your comfort.

¹¹ If then you have not been faithful with unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?*

⁵ But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart, you are storing up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and of the revelation of the righteous judgment of God,

¹⁰ as grieving, but always rejoicing, as poor, but making many rich, as having nothing, and possessing everything.

¹⁸ to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous, sharing freely, ¹⁹ storing up for themselves a good foundation for the future, in order that they may take hold of what is truly life.

⁵ Listen, my dear brothers! Did not God choose the poor of the world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him?

⁹ 'I know your affliction and poverty (but you are rich), and the slander of those _⌊who call themselves Jews_⌋* and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

²⁵ "For this reason I say to you, do not be anxious for your life, what you will eat,* and not for your body, what you will wear. Is your life not more than food and your body more than clothing? ²⁶ Consider the birds of the sky, that they do not sow or reap or gather produce into barns, and your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth more than they are? ²⁷ And who among you, by* being anxious, is able to add one hour* to his life span? ²⁸ And why are you anxious about clothing? Observe the lilies of the field, how they grow: they do not toil or spin, ²⁹ but I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory was dressed like one of these. ³⁰ But if God dresses the grass of the field in this way, although it* is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not do so much more for you, you of little faith? ³¹ Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear?,' ³² for the pagans seek after all these things. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. ³³ But seek first his kingdom and righteousness,* and all these things will be added to you. ³⁴ Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow, because tomorrow will be anxious for itself. _⌊Each day has enough trouble of its own._⌋*

³² But I want you to be free from care. The unmarried person cares for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord.

⁶ Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

¹⁷ And after bringing them outside one said, "Flee for your life; do not look behind you, and do not stand anywhere in the plain. Flee to the mountains lest you be destroyed."

¹² So* Yahweh said to Satan,* "Look, _⌊all that belongs to him_⌋* is in your _⌊power_⌋.* Only do not stretch out your hand _⌊against_⌋* him." So* Satan* went out from Yahweh's _⌊presence_⌋.*

⁶ So* Yahweh said to Satan,* "_⌊All right_⌋,* he is in your _⌊power_⌋.* Only spare his life."

⁸ The ransom of the life of a man is his wealth, but the poor does not receive a threat.

¹⁸ And because* we were violently battered by the storm, on the next day _⌊they began_⌋* jettisoning the cargo,* ¹⁹ and on the third day they threw overboard the gear of the ship with their own hands.

³⁸ And when they* had eaten their fill of food, they lightened the ship by* throwing the wheat* into the sea.

¹ Elijah the Tishbite from Tishbe of Gilead said to Ahab, "_⌊As Yahweh lives_⌋,* the God of Israel before whom I stand, there shall surely not be dew nor rain these years _⌊except by my command_⌋."* ² Then the word of Yahweh came to him, saying, ³ "Go from this place and turn to the east; you must hide yourself in the Wadi* Kerith _⌊which faces the Jordan_⌋.* ⁴ It shall be that you shall drink from the wadi,* and I have commanded the crows to sustain you there." ⁵ So he went and did according to the word of Yahweh. He went and stayed in the Wadi* Kerith _⌊which faces the Jordan_⌋.* ⁶ The crows were bringing bread and meat in the morning for him and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the wadi.*

⁴¹ Who prepares for the crow its prey, when its young ones cry to God for help, and they wander around _⌊for lack of food_⌋?*

³¹ Therefore do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

²⁶ And although he* was deeply grieved, the king, because of his* oaths and _⌊dinner guests_⌋,* did not want to refuse her.

⁷ But even the hairs of your head are all numbered! Do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

³⁰ For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need these things. ³¹ But seek his kingdom and these things will be added to you. ³² "Do not be afraid, little flock, because your Father is well pleased to give you the kingdom.

³⁶ And do not swear by your head, because you are not able to make one hair white or black.

²⁷ And who among you, by* being anxious, is able to add one hour* to his life span?

³ And he was seeking to see Jesus—who he was—and he was not able to as a result of the crowd, because he was short in stature.

¹³ Consider the work of God. For who is able to make straight what he made crooked?

⁷ casting all your cares on him, because _⌊he cares_⌋* for you.

¹ Now the queen of Sheba had heard of the fame of Solomon regarding the name of Yahweh, and she came to test him with hard questions. ² So she came to Jerusalem with very great wealth; with camels carrying spices, very much gold, and precious stones. She came to Solomon, and she spoke to him all that was on her heart. ³ _⌊Solomon answered all of her questions_⌋;* there was not a thing hidden from the king which he could not explain to her. ⁴ When the queen of Sheba observed all the wisdom of Solomon and the house which he had built, ⁵ the food of his table, the seat of his servants, the _⌊manner_⌋* of his servants and their clothing, his cupbearers, and his burnt offerings which he offered in the house of Yahweh, _⌊she was breathless_⌋.* ⁶ Then she said to the king, "The report which I heard in my land was true concerning your accomplishments and your wisdom. ⁷ I had not believed the report to be true until I came and my eyes had seen, and behold! The half had not been told to me. _⌊Your wisdom and prosperity surpass_⌋* the report that I had heard. ⁸ Happy are your men and happy are these your servants who stand before you continually hearing your wisdom. ⁹ May Yahweh your God be blessed, who has delighted in you to set you on the throne of Israel, because of the love of Yahweh for Israel forever, and he has made you king to execute justice and righteousness." ¹⁰ Then she gave the king a hundred and twenty talents of gold, abundant spices, and precious stones. Spices as these did not come again in such abundance as that which the queen of Sheba brought to King Solomon. ¹¹ Moreover, the fleet of ships of Hiram which carried the gold from Ophir also brought from Ophir abundant amounts of almug wood and precious stones. ¹² The king made a raised structure for the house of Yahweh and for the house of the king out of the almug wood, as well as lyres and harps for the singers. This much almug wood has not come nor been seen again up to this day. ¹³ King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all of her desire that she asked, besides that which _⌊King Solomon freely offered her_⌋.* Then she turned and went to her land with her servants.

¹ Now the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, and she came to Jerusalem to test Solomon with hard questions, with much wealth and camels, bearing spices and much gold and precious stones. And she came to Solomon and told him all that was _⌊on her mind_⌋.* ² And Solomon _⌊answered all her questions_⌋.* Not a word was hidden from Solomon that he did not answer for her. ³ When the queen of Sheba saw the wisdom of Solomon and the house he had built, ⁴ and the food of his table, and the position of his officers, the duty of his servants and their clothing, his cupbearers and their clothing, and his burnt offerings that he offered at the house of Yahweh, there was no longer any breath* in her. ⁵ And she said to the king, "The word which I heard in my land concerning your words and your wisdom is true, ⁶ but I did not believe their words until I came and saw with my own eyes. And behold, half the greatness of your wisdom was not reported to me; you surpass the rumors that I had heard. ⁷ Blessed are your men, and blessed are these your servants who stand before you regularly and hear your wisdom! ⁸ Blessed be Yahweh your God who took delight in you, to put you on his throne as king for Yahweh your God! Because your God loved Israel, he established him forever and has put you over them as king to do justice and righteousness!" ⁹ And she gave to the king one hundred and twenty talents of gold and a very great amount of spices and precious stones. And there were no spices such as those that the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon. ¹⁰ Moreover the servants of Hiram and the servants of Solomon who brought gold from Ophir brought algum wood and precious stones. ¹¹ And the king made steps for the house of Yahweh and the house of the king, and lyres and harps for the singers from the algum wood. And there was not seen anything like them before in the land of Judah. ¹² Now King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba every desired thing she asked, besides what she had brought to the king. Then she turned and went to her land, she and her servants.

²⁸ And why are you anxious about clothing? Observe the lilies of the field, how they grow: they do not toil or spin, ²⁹ but I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory was dressed like one of these. ³⁰ But if God dresses the grass of the field in this way, although it* is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not do so much more for you, you of little faith?

¹⁰ but the rich person in his humiliation, because he will pass away like a flower of the grass. ¹¹ For the sun rises with its burning heat and dries up the grass, and its flower falls off, and the beauty of its appearance is lost. So also the rich person in his pursuits* will wither away.

⁶ A voice is saying, "Call!" And he said, "What shall I call?" All _⌊humankind_⌋* are grass, and all his loyalty is like the flowers of the field.

³⁰ But if God dresses the grass of the field in this way, although it* is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not do so much more for you, you of little faith?

²⁶ And he said to them, "Why are you fearful, you of little faith?" Then he got up and* rebuked the winds and the sea and there was a great calm.

³¹ And immediately Jesus extended his* hand and* caught him and said to him, "You of little faith! Why did you doubt?"

⁸ But knowing this,* Jesus said, "Why are you discussing among yourselves that you did not take bread,* you of little faith?

¹⁷ And Jesus answered and* said, "O unbelieving and perverse generation! _⌊How long_⌋* will I be with you? _⌊How long_⌋* must I put up with you? Bring him here to me!"

²⁰ And he said to them, "Because of your little faith. For truly I say to you, if you have faith like a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you."*

²⁵ And he said to them, "Where is your faith?" But they were afraid and* were astonished, saying to one another, "Who then is this, that he commands even the winds and the water and they obey him?"

²⁴ For
"all flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flower of the grass. The grass withers and the flower falls off,

³¹ Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear?,'

⁷ And remain in the same house, eating and drinking _⌊whatever they provide_⌋,* for the worker is worthy of his pay. Do not move from house to house. ⁸ And into whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat _⌊whatever is_⌋* set before you,

³⁵ And he said to them, "When I sent you out without a money bag and a traveler's bag and sandals, you did not lack anything, did you?"* And they said, "Nothing."

⁴⁷ And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing that is remarkable? Do not the Gentiles also do the same?

¹ "And take care not to practice your righteousness before people to be seen by them; _⌊otherwise_⌋* you have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

⁸ Therefore do not be like them, for your Father knows _⌊what you need_⌋* before you ask him.

³² for the pagans seek after all these things. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

¹⁴ In the same way it is not the will _⌊of_⌋* your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones perish.

³² "Do not be afraid, little flock, because your Father is well pleased to give you the kingdom.

¹⁷ Jesus said to her, "Do not touch me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, and my God and your God.'"

¹⁷ This therefore I say and testify in the Lord, that you no longer walk as the Gentiles walk: in the futility of their mind,

⁵ not in lustful passion, just as also the Gentiles who do not know God;

² in order to live the remaining time in the flesh no longer for human desires, but for the will of God. ³ For the time that has passed was sufficient _⌊to do what the Gentiles desire to do_⌋*, having lived in licentiousness, evil desires, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties, and wanton idolatries, ⁴ with respect to which they are surprised when* you do not run with them into the same flood of dissipation, and so they* revile you.

¹¹ And God said to him, "Because you have asked this thing and you did not ask for yourself _⌊a long life_⌋* and you did not ask riches for yourself and you did not ask for the life of your enemies, but you have asked for yourself _⌊the ability to make wise judgments_⌋;* ¹² behold, I do hereby do according to your word. I hereby give you a wise and discerning heart; there was no one like you before you, nor afterwards will one like you arise. ¹³ Too, what you have not asked I give to you: both riches and honor, so that no man among the kings will be like you all of your days.

⁹ Fear Yahweh, you his saints,* for there is no lack for those who fear him.

³ Trust Yahweh and do good. Abide in the land and feed on faithfulness.*

¹⁹ They will not be put to shame in distressing times,* and in the days of famine they will be satisfied.

²⁵ I was a youth, but I am now old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children _⌊begging for_⌋* bread.

¹¹ Because Yahweh God is a sun and a shield; Yahweh gives grace and honor. He does not withhold good from those who walk blamelessly.

¹⁶ That one will live on the heights; the fortresses of rocks will be his refuge. His food will be given; his waters* will endure.

³³ But seek first his kingdom and righteousness,* and all these things will be added to you.

⁴² But few things are necessary, or only one thing,* for Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her."

²⁷ Do not work for the food that perishes, but the food that remains to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For God the Father has set his seal on this one."

³¹ What then shall we say about these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

⁸ For the training of the body is _⌊somewhat_⌋* profitable, but godliness is profitable for everything, because it* holds promise for the present life and for the life to come.

⁷ Tell me, you whom my _⌊heart_⌋* loves, where do you pasture your flock, where do your sheep lie down at the noon? _⌊For why should I be like_⌋* one who is veiled* beside the flocks of your companions? ⁸ If you do not know, O fairest among women, follow _⌊the tracks_⌋* of the flock, and pasture your little lambs* beside the tents of the shepherds.

¹¹ He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arm, and he will carry them in his bosom; he will lead those who nurse.

¹⁴ You must not fear, O worm of Jacob; people of Israel, I myself, I will help you," _⌊declares_⌋* Yahweh, "and your redeemer is the holy one of Israel.

⁶ All of us have wandered about like sheep; we each have turned to his own way; and Yahweh let fall on him the iniquity of us all.

¹⁹ Then I thought, 'How I would set you among the children, and I would give you a land of desire, an inheritance of the glory of the hosts of nations.' And I thought, 'You would call me, "My father," and you would not turn back from _⌊behind_⌋* me.'

¹⁵ "Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inside are ravenous wolves.

²⁵ At that time Jesus answered and* said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent, and have revealed them to young children.* ²⁶ Yes, Father, for to do so _⌊was your gracious will_⌋.* ²⁷ All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and _⌊anyone to whom_⌋* the Son wants to reveal him.*

²⁷ But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Have courage, I am he! Do not be afraid!"

¹² What do you think? If _⌊a certain man has_⌋* a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go and* look for the one that wandered away? ¹³ And if he happens to find it, truly I say to you that he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that did not wander away. ¹⁴ In the same way it is not the will _⌊of_⌋* your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones perish.

¹⁶ Thus the last will be first and the first last."

³⁴ Then the king will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world!

²¹ At that same time he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to young children. Yes, Father, for this was pleasing before you.

²⁶ But you do not believe, because you are not of my sheep! ²⁷ My sheep listen to my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. ²⁸ And I give them eternal life, and they will never perish _⌊forever_⌋,* and no one will seize them out of my hand. ²⁹ My Father, who has given them* to me, is greater than all, and no one can seize them* from the Father's hand. ³⁰ The Father and I are one."

³⁶ Jesus replied, "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews. But now my kingdom is not from here."

¹⁵ Now when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs!" ¹⁶ He said to him again a second time, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." He said to him, "Shepherd my sheep!" ¹⁷ He said to him a third time, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was distressed because he said to him a third time, "Do you love me?" and he said to him, "Lord, you know everything! You know that I love you!" Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep!

²³ For the compensation due sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

²⁸ And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose, ²⁹ because those whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he should be the firstborn among many brothers. ³⁰ And those whom he predestined, these he also called, and those whom he called, these he also justified, and those whom he justified, these he also glorified. ³¹ What then shall we say about these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? ³² Indeed, he who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all, how will he not also, together with him, freely give us all things?

⁵ having predestined us to adoption through Jesus Christ to himself according to the good pleasure of his will, ⁶ to the praise of the glory of his grace that he bestowed on us in the beloved, ⁷ in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace, ⁸ that he caused to abound to us in all wisdom and insight, ⁹ making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he purposed in him,

¹³ For the one at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure, is God.

⁵ a proof of the righteous judgment of God, so that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, on behalf of which also you are suffering,

¹¹ for which purpose we also pray always for you, that you may be considered worthy of the calling of our God, and he might fulfill every desire for goodness and work of faith with power,*

²⁸ Therefore, since we* are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us be thankful, through which let us serve God acceptably, with awe and reverence.

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ into an inheritance imperishable and undefiled and unfading, reserved in heaven for you ⁵ who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time,

¹¹ For in this way entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly supplied for you.

⁶ and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father—to him be the glory and the power _⌊forever and ever_⌋*. Amen.

⁵ And night will not exist any longer, and they will not have need of the light of a lamp and the light* of the sun, because the Lord God will give light to them, and they will reign _⌊forever and ever_⌋*.

⁶ You have sown much but have harvested little. You have eaten without being satisfied; _⌊you have drunk without being satiated_⌋;* you have worn clothes without being warm; the one who earns wages puts it in _⌊a pouch with holes_⌋.'*

²¹ Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give the proceeds* to the poor—and you will have treasure in heaven—and come, follow me."

⁶ (Now he said this not because _⌊he was concerned_⌋* about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having the money box, he used to steal what was put into it.)*

⁴⁵ And they began selling* their* possessions and property, and distributing these things to all, to the degree that anyone had need.

³⁴ For there was not even anyone needy among them, because all those who were owners of plots of land or houses were selling them* and* bringing the proceeds of the things that were sold ³⁵ and placing them* at the feet of the apostles. And it was being distributed to each as anyone had need.

² that with a great ordeal of affliction, the abundance of their joy and the extreme depth of their poverty have overflowed to the wealth of their generosity.

¹⁷ Command those who are rich in this present age not to be proud and not to put their hope in the uncertainty of riches, but in God, who provides us all things richly for enjoyment,

²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

²⁰ For our commonwealth exists in heaven, from which also we eagerly await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

¹ Therefore, if you have been raised together with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. ² Set your mind on the things above, not on the things on earth. ³ For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

⁴⁶ but the hand of Yahweh was on Elijah; he girded up his loins and ran before Ahab as one comes to Jezreel.

¹⁷ She girds her waist in strength, and makes her arms strong.

²⁷ None is weary, and none among him stumbles; none slumbers and none sleeps. And no loincloth on his waist is opened, and no thong of his sandals is drawn away.

⁵ And righteousness shall be the belt around his waist, and faithfulness the belt around his loins.

¹⁶ In the same way let your light shine before people, so that they can see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

¹ "Then the kingdom of heaven may be compared to ten virgins who took their lamps and* went out to meet the bridegroom.

⁴ But the wise ones took olive oil in flasks with their lamps. ⁵ And when* the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.* ⁶ But in the middle of the night there was a shout, 'Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!' ⁷ Then all those virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. ⁸ And the foolish ones said to the wise ones, 'Give us some of your olive oil, because our lamps are going out!' ⁹ But the wise ones answered saying, "Certainly there will never be enough for us and for you! Go instead to those who sell olive oil* and buy some* for yourselves.' ¹⁰ But while* they had gone away to buy it* the bridegroom arrived, and those who were ready went inside with him to the wedding celebration, and the door was shut.

¹⁴ Stand therefore, girding your waist with truth, and putting on the breastplate of righteousness,

¹⁵ in order that you may become blameless and innocent, children of God without fault* in the midst of a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine as stars in the world,*

¹³ Therefore, _⌊when you have prepared your minds for action_⌋* by* being self-controlled, put your hope completely in the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

¹⁸ I wait for your salvation, O Yahweh.

⁵ I myself arose to open to my beloved; my hands dripped with myrrh, my fingers with liquid myrrh upon the handles of the bolt. ⁶ I opened myself to my beloved, but my beloved had turned and gone;* my heart sank* when he turned away.* I sought him, but I did not find him; I called him, but he did not answer me.

⁴ And since ancient times they have not heard, have not listened, no eye has seen a God except you; he _⌊acts_⌋* for the one who waits for him.

²⁵ Yahweh is good to those who wait on him, to the person that seeks him. ²⁶ It is good to wait in silence for the salvation of Yahweh.

¹ And continuing, Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying, ² "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man—a king—who gave a wedding celebration for his son. ³ And he sent his slaves to summon those who had been invited to the wedding celebration, and they did not want to come. ⁴ Again he sent other slaves, saying, 'Tell those who have been invited, "Behold, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fattened cattle have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding celebration!" ' ⁵ But they paid no attention and* went away—this one to his own field, that one to his business. ⁶ And the others, seizing his slaves, mistreated them* and killed them.* ⁷ And the king was angry and sent his troops and* destroyed those murderers and burned their city. ⁸ Then he said to his slaves, 'The wedding celebration is ready, but those who had been invited were not worthy. ⁹ Therefore, go out to the places where the roads exit the city and invite to the wedding celebration as many people as you find.' ¹⁰ And those slaves went out into the roads and* gathered everyone whom they found, both evil and good, and the wedding celebration was filled _⌊with dinner guests_⌋.* ¹¹ But when* the king came in to see the _⌊dinner guests_⌋,* he saw a man there not dressed in wedding clothes. ¹² And he said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here, not having wedding clothes?' But _⌊he could say nothing_⌋.* ¹³ Then the king said to the servants, 'Tie him up _⌊hand and foot_⌋* and* throw him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth!' ¹⁴ For many are called but few are chosen."

⁴² Therefore be on the alert, because you do not know what day your Lord is coming! ⁴³ But understand this: that if the master of the house had known what watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. ⁴⁴ For this reason you also must be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not think he will come.*

¹ "Then the kingdom of heaven may be compared to ten virgins who took their lamps and* went out to meet the bridegroom. ² Now five of them were foolish and five were wise. ³ For when* the foolish ones took their lamps, they did not take olive oil with them. ⁴ But the wise ones took olive oil in flasks with their lamps. ⁵ And when* the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.* ⁶ But in the middle of the night there was a shout, 'Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!' ⁷ Then all those virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. ⁸ And the foolish ones said to the wise ones, 'Give us some of your olive oil, because our lamps are going out!' ⁹ But the wise ones answered saying, "Certainly there will never be enough for us and for you! Go instead to those who sell olive oil* and buy some* for yourselves.' ¹⁰ But while* they had gone away to buy it* the bridegroom arrived, and those who were ready went inside with him to the wedding celebration, and the door was shut. ¹¹ And later the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, lord, open the door* for us!' ¹² But he answered and* said, 'Truly I say to you, I do not know you!' ¹³ Therefore be on the alert, because you do not know the day or the hour!

³⁴ It is like a man away on a journey, who left his house and gave his slaves authority—to each one his work—and to the doorkeeper he gave orders that he should be on the alert. ³⁵ Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or early in the morning— ³⁶ lest he arrive suddenly and* find you sleeping. ³⁷ And what I say to you, I say to everyone: Be on the alert!"

²⁵ And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem _⌊whose name was_⌋* Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. ²⁶ And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he would see the Lord's Christ.* ²⁷ And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus so that they could do for him according to what was customary under the law, ²⁸ he took him in his* arms and praised God and said, ²⁹ "Now dismiss your slave in peace, Lord, according to your word. ³⁰ For my eyes have seen your salvation

⁷ Therefore be patient, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the soil, being patient concerning it until it receives the early and late rains. ⁸ You also be patient. Strengthen your hearts, because the coming of the Lord is near.

¹³ But I consider it right, for as long as I am in this habitation, to stir you up by a reminder, ¹⁴ because I* know that the removal of my habitation is imminent, as indeed our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. ¹⁵ And I will also make every effort that you are able at any time, after my departure, _⌊to recall these things to mind_⌋*.

²⁰ But you, dear friends, by* building yourselves up in your most holy faith, by* praying in the Holy Spirit, ²¹ keep yourselves in the love of God, looking forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.

²⁰ Behold, I stand at the door and knock! If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, indeed I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with me.

⁵ For as a young man marries a virgin, so shall your sons marry you, and as is the joy of the bridegroom over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.

⁴¹ And I will rejoice over them to do good to them, and I will plant them in this land in faithfulness with all my heart, and with all my inner self."*

¹⁷ Yahweh your God is in your midst; a mighty warrior who saves. He shall rejoice over you with joy; he renews* you in his love; he will exult over you with singing.

⁴² Therefore be on the alert, because you do not know what day your Lord is coming!

⁴⁵ "Who then is the faithful and wise slave whom the master has put in charge of his household slaves to give them their* food at the right time? ⁴⁶ Blessed is that slave whom his master will find so doing when he* comes back. ⁴⁷ Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions.

²⁰ And the one who had received the five talents came up and* brought five more talents, saying, 'Master, you handed over to me five talents. See, I have gained five more talents!' ²¹ His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge over many things. Enter into the joy of your master!' ²² And the one who had the two talents also came up and* said, 'Master, you handed over to me two talents. See, I have gained two talents more!' ²³ His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge over many things. Enter into the joy of your master!'

⁴³ Blessed is that slave whom his master will find so doing when he* comes back.

⁸ Will he not rather say to him, 'Prepare something that I may eat, and dress yourself to serve me while I eat and drink, and after these things you will eat and drink.'

³⁶ But be alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to happen, and to stand before the Son of Man."

²⁶ If anyone serves me, he must follow me, and where I am, there my servant will be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

⁴ he got up from the dinner and took off his* outer clothing, and taking a towel, tied it* around himself. ⁵ Then he poured water into the washbasin and began to wash the feet of the disciples, and to wipe them* dry with the towel _⌊which he had tied around himself_⌋.*

⁹ But just as it is written,
"Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and have not entered into the heart of man, all that* God has prepared for those who love him."*

²¹ For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain.

²³ But I am hard pressed _⌊between the two options_⌋*, having the desire to depart and to be with Christ, _⌊for this is very much better_⌋*.

⁷ I have fought the good fight, I have completed the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸ Finally, the crown of righteousness is reserved for me, that the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but also to all who have loved his appearing.

¹ Therefore I, your fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and* also a sharer of the glory that is going to be revealed, exhort the elders among you: ² shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not by compulsion but willingly, in accordance with God, and not greedily but eagerly, ³ and not as lording it over _⌊those under your care_⌋*, but being examples for the flock. ⁴ And when* the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

¹⁴ Therefore, dear friends, because you* are waiting for these things, make every effort to be found at peace, spotless and unblemished in him.

²¹ The one who conquers, I will grant to him to sit down with me on my throne, as I also have conquered and have sat down with my Father on his throne.

¹⁷ because the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and will lead them to springs of living waters, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."*

³ And they were singing something like a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders, and no one was able to learn the song except the one hundred forty-four thousand who had been bought from the earth. ⁴ These are those who have not been defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These were bought from humanity as first fruits to God and to the Lamb,

¹³ And I heard a voice from heaven saying, "Write:
'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!'"
"Yes," says the Spirit, "in order that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow after them."

⁶ But in the middle of the night there was a shout, 'Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!'

⁴ But you, brothers, are not in the darkness, so that the day should catch you like a thief, ⁵ for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.

¹⁹ "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and consuming insect* destroy and where thieves break in and steal,

² for you yourselves well know that the day of the Lord is coming in the same way as a thief in the night. ³ Whenever they say "Peace and security," then sudden destruction will overtake them like the birth pains of _⌊a pregnant woman_⌋*, and they will not possibly escape.

¹⁰ But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will disappear with a rushing noise, and the celestial bodies will be destroyed by* being burned up, and the earth and the deeds done on it will be disclosed.

³ Therefore remember how you have received and heard, and observe it, and repent. If therefore you are not on the alert, I will come like a thief, and you will never know at what hour I will come against you.

¹⁵ (Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who is on the alert and who keeps his clothing, so that he does not walk around naked and they see his shamefulness!)

⁴⁴ For this reason you also must be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not think he will come.*

¹³ Therefore be on the alert, because you do not know the day or the hour!

³³ Watch out! Be alert, because you do not know when the time is! ³⁴ It is like a man away on a journey, who left his house and gave his slaves authority—to each one his work—and to the doorkeeper he gave orders that he should be on the alert. ³⁵ Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or early in the morning— ³⁶ lest he arrive suddenly and* find you sleeping.

³⁴ "But take care for yourselves, lest your hearts are weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of daily life, and that day come upon you suddenly ³⁵ like a trap. For it will come upon all who reside on the face of the whole earth. ³⁶ But be alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to happen, and to stand before the Son of Man."

¹¹ And do this because you* know the time, that it is already the hour for you to wake up from sleep. For our salvation is nearer now than when we believed.

¹⁴ But put on the Lord Jesus Christ and do not make provision for the desires of the flesh.

⁶ So then, we must not sleep like the rest, but must be on the alert and be self-controlled.

¹² while* waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by* being burned up and the celestial bodies will melt as they* are consumed by heat! ¹³ But according to his promise, we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness resides. ¹⁴ Therefore, dear friends, because you* are waiting for these things, make every effort to be found at peace, spotless and unblemished in him.

⁷ Let us rejoice and be glad and give him the glory, because the wedding celebration of the Lamb has come, and his bride has prepared herself.

³⁷ And what I say to you, I say to everyone: Be on the alert!"

³⁷ And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, "Simon, are you sleeping? Were you not able to stay awake one hour?

⁷ Now the end of all things draws near. Therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for your prayers.

⁸ Be sober; be on the alert. Your adversary the devil walks around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.

²³ Joy belongs to a man with answers in his mouth, and a word in its time, how good it is!

⁴ The Lord Yahweh has given me the tongue of a pupil, to know how to help the weary with a word. He awakens _⌊morning by morning_⌋,* awakens an ear for me to listen as do the pupils.

⁴ And I will raise up over them shepherds, and they will shepherd them, and they will no longer fear, and they will not be dismayed, and they will not be missing," _⌊declares_⌋* Yahweh.

³ The fat you eat, and you clothe yourself with the wool; the well-nourished animals you slaughter, but you do not feed the flock.

⁵² And he said to them, "For this reason every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of the house who brings out of his storeroom new things and old things."

⁸ And when* evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, 'Call the workers and pay them their* wages, beginning from the last up to the first.'

⁴⁵ "Who then is the faithful and wise slave whom the master has put in charge of his household slaves to give them their* food at the right time? ⁴⁶ Blessed is that slave whom his master will find so doing when he* comes back.

¹³ And when* the Lord saw her, he had compassion for her and said to her, "Do not weep!"

¹ And he also said to the disciples, "A certain man was rich, who had a manager. And charges were brought to him that this person was squandering his possessions. ² And he summoned him and* said to him, 'What is this I hear about you? Give the account of your management, because you can no longer manage.' ³ And the manager said to himself, 'What should I do, because my master is taking away the management from me? I am not strong enough to dig; I am ashamed to beg. ⁴ I know what I should do, so that when I am removed from the management they will welcome me into their homes!' ⁵ And he summoned each one of his own master's debtors and* said to the first, 'How much do you owe my master?' ⁶ And he said, 'A hundred measures of olive oil.' So he said to him, 'Take your promissory note and sit down quickly and* write fifty.' ⁷ Then he said to another, 'And how much do you owe?' And he said, 'A hundred measures of wheat.' He said to him, 'Take your promissory note and write eighty.' ⁸ And the master praised the dishonest manager, because he had acted shrewdly. For the sons of this age are shrewder than the sons of light with regard to their own generation.* ⁹ And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it runs out they will welcome you into the eternal dwellings. ¹⁰ "The one who is faithful in very little is also faithful in much, and the one who is dishonest in very little is also dishonest in much. ¹¹ If then you have not been faithful with unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?* ¹² And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to another, who will give you your own? ¹³ No domestic slave is able to serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and will despise the other. You are not able to serve God and money." ¹⁴ Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him. ¹⁵ And he said to them, "You are the ones who justify themselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts! For what is considered exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God. ¹⁶ "The law and the prophets were until John; from that time on the kingdom of God has been proclaimed, and everyone is urgently pressed* into it. ¹⁷ But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one stroke of a letter of the law to become invalid. ¹⁸ "Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and the one who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery. ¹⁹ "Now a certain man was rich, and dressed in purple cloth and fine linen, feasting sumptuously every day. ²⁰ And a certain poor man _⌊named_⌋* Lazarus, covered with sores, lay at his gate, ²¹ and was longing to be filled with what fell from the table of the rich man. But even the dogs came and* licked his sores. ²² Now it happened that the poor man died, and he was carried away by the angels to _⌊Abraham's side_⌋.* And the rich man also died and was buried. ²³ And in Hades he lifted up his eyes as he* was in torment and* saw Abraham from a distance, and Lazarus _⌊at his side_⌋.* ²⁴ And he called out and* said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he could dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am suffering pain in this flame!' ²⁵ But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that you received your good things during your life, and Lazarus likewise bad things. But now he is comforted here, but you are suffering pain. ²⁶ And in addition to all these things, a great chasm has been established between us and you, so that those who want to cross over from here to you are not able to do so,* nor can they cross over from there to us.' ²⁷ So he said, 'Then I ask you, father, that you send him to my father's house, ²⁸ for I have five brothers, so that he could warn them, in order that they also should not come to this place of torment!' ²⁹ But Abraham said, 'They have Moses and the prophets; they must listen to them.' ³⁰ And he said, 'No, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent!' ³¹ But he said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone rises from the dead.'"

¹⁵ And it happened that when he returned after* receiving the kingdom, he ordered these slaves to whom he had given the money to be summoned to him, so that he could know what they had gained by trading. ¹⁶ So the first arrived, saying, 'Sir, your mina has made ten minas more!' ¹⁷ And he said to him, 'Well done, good slave! Because you have been faithful in a very small thing, _⌊have authority_⌋* over ten cities.' ¹⁸ And the second came, saying, 'Sir, your mina has made five minas.' ¹⁹ So he said to this one also, 'And you be over five cities.'

²⁸ Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock among which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as overseers, to shepherd the church of God which he obtained through the blood of his own Son.*

¹ Thus let a person consider us as servants of Christ and stewards of God's mysteries. ² In this case, moreover, it is sought in stewards that one be found faithful.

¹⁵ But if I am delayed, I am writing* in order that you may know how one must conduct oneself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and mainstay* of the truth.

¹⁷ The elders who lead well must be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor by speaking and teaching.

² preach the word, be ready in season and out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all patience and instruction.

⁷ For it is necessary for the overseer to be blameless as God's steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not violent, not greedy for dishonest gain,

⁵ And Moses was faithful in all his house as a servant, for a testimony to the things that would be spoken,

⁷ Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you; _⌊considering the outcome of their way of life_⌋*, imitate their faith.

¹⁷ Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account, so that they can do this with joy and not with groaning, for this would be unprofitable for you.

¹⁰ Just as each one has received a gift, use it for serving one another, as good stewards of the varied grace of God.

² And many from those sleeping _⌊in the dusty ground_⌋* will awake, some to _⌊everlasting life_⌋* and some to disgrace and _⌊everlasting contempt_⌋.* ³ But the ones having insight will shine like the brightness of the expanse, and the ones providing justice for the many* will be like the stars _⌊forever and ever_⌋.*

⁴⁷ Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions.

²⁹ and I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred on me, ³⁰ that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

¹⁸ I advise you to buy from me gold refined by fire, in order that you may become rich, and white clothing, in order that you may be clothed and the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed, and eye salve to smear on your eyes, in order that you may see.

¹⁰ His watchmen are blind, none of them know. They are all dumb dogs; they are unable to bark, panting, lying down, loving to slumber. ¹¹ And the dogs _⌊have a greedy appetite_⌋;* they _⌊are never satisfied_⌋.* And they are the shepherds! They do not have* understanding. They all turn to their own way, each one for his own gain, _⌊every one of them_⌋.* ¹² "Come, let me take wine, and let us carouse with intoxicating drink, and tomorrow will be like today, _⌊very great indeed_⌋."*

⁶ Look! It is written before me: I will not be silent, but I will repay; and I will repay in* the fold of their garment

² Then Pashhur struck Jeremiah the prophet and put him in the stocks that were in the upper Gate of Benjamin, which was by the temple of Yahweh.

²² "Son of man,* what is this proverb _⌊you people have_⌋* about the land of Israel, _⌊saying_⌋,* '_⌊The days are prolonged_⌋,* and every vision has come to nothing.'

²⁷ "Son of man,* look! The house of Israel is saying, 'The vision that he is seeing is for many days from now, and for distant times he is prophesying.' ²⁸ Therefore say to them, 'Thus says the Lord Yahweh: "None of my words will be prolonged any longer that I speak as a word, and it will be fulfilled!" '" _⌊declares_⌋* the Lord Yahweh.

³ The fat you eat, and you clothe yourself with the wool; the well-nourished animals you slaughter, but you do not feed the flock. ⁴ The weak you have not strengthened, and the sick you have not healed, and _⌊with respect to_⌋* the hurt* you have not bound them up, and you have not brought back the scattered, and you have not sought the lost, but rather you ruled over them with force* and with ruthlessness.

⁸ "_⌊As I live_⌋,"* _⌊declares_⌋* the Lord Yahweh, "_⌊Surely_⌋* because my flock have become as plunder, and my flock became as food to* all the animals* of the field, since there was not a shepherd, since my shepherds have not sought my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and they fed not my flock,'"

⁶ And the others, seizing his slaves, mistreated them* and killed them.*

⁴⁸ But if that evil slave should say _⌊to himself_⌋,* 'My master is staying away for a long time,' ⁴⁹ and he begins to beat his fellow slaves and eats and drinks with drunkards, ⁵⁰ the master of that slave will come on a day that he does not expect and at an hour that he does not know,

¹⁸ For such people do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own stomach, and by smooth speech and flattery they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.

²⁰ For you put up with it if someone enslaves you, if someone devours you, if someone takes advantage of you, if someone is presumptious toward you, if someone strikes you in the face.

¹⁸ For many live, of whom I spoke about to you many times, but now speak about even weeping, as the enemies of the cross of Christ, ¹⁹ whose end is destruction, whose God is the stomach, and whose glory is in their shame, the ones who think on earthly things.

⁷ For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night.

³ And in greediness they will exploit you with false words, whose condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep. ⁴ For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but held them captive in Tartarus with chains of darkness and handed them over to be kept for judgment,

¹³ being harmed as the wages of unrighteousness. Considering reveling in the daytime a pleasure, they are stains and blemishes, carousing in their deceitful pleasures when they* feast together with you,

¹⁹ promising them freedom although they* themselves are slaves of depravity. For to whatever someone succumbs, by this he is also* enslaved.

⁹ I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes, who wants to be first among them, does not acknowledge us. ¹⁰ Therefore, if I come, I will call attention to _⌊the deeds he is doing_⌋*, disparaging us with evil words. And not being content with these, he does not receive the brothers himself, and he hinders those wanting to do so and throws them out of the church.

¹² These are the ones feasting together without reverence, hidden reefs at your love feasts, caring for themselves, waterless clouds carried away by winds, late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, uprooted, ¹³ wild waves of the sea foaming up their own shameful deeds, wandering stars, for whom the deep gloom of darkness has been reserved for eternity.

⁷ And it was given to him to make war with the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given to him over every tribe and people and language and nation. ⁸ And all those who live on the earth will worship him, _⌊everyone whose name is not written_⌋* from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slaughtered. ⁹ If anyone has an ear, let him hear! ¹⁰ If anyone is going into captivity, into captivity he goes. If anyone is to be killed by the sword, by the sword he is to be killed.
Here is the patient endurance and the faith of the saints.

¹⁵ And it was given to him to put breath into the image of the beast, in order that the image of the beast both spoke and caused that all those, unless they worshiped the image of the beast, should be killed. ¹⁶ And he causes all people, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free and the slave, that they give them a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, ¹⁷ and that no one was able to buy or to sell except the one who had the mark—the name of the beast or the number of his name.

⁶ because they have poured out the blood of the saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink; they are deserving!"

⁵ And on her forehead a name was written, a mystery: "Babylon the great, the mother of prostitutes and of the detestable things of the earth." ⁶ And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the witnesses to Jesus.
And _⌊I was greatly astonished when I saw her_⌋*.

⁷ As much as she glorified herself and lived in luxury, give to her so much torment and mourning, because in her heart she said, 'I sit as a queen, and am not a widow, and I will never see mourning!' ⁸ Because of this her plagues will come in one day— death and mourning and famine— and she will be burned up with fire, because the Lord God who passes judgment on her is powerful!"

²⁴ And in her was found the blood of prophets and saints and all those who had been slaughtered on the earth.

²⁹ This is a wicked human being's portion from God and the inheritance of his decree from God."*

⁵ Yahweh tests the righteous, but the wicked and the lover of violence his soul hates.

⁹ For evildoers will be cut off, but those who wait for Yahweh— they will possess the land.

¹⁴ For Yahweh will not abandon his people, nor forsake his inheritance.

²² On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and expel demons in your name, and perform many miracles in your name?' ²³ And then _⌊I will say to them plainly_⌋,* 'I never knew you. Depart from me, you who practice lawlessness!'

⁴¹ The Son of Man will send out his angels and they will gather out of his kingdom all the causes of sin and those who do lawless deeds, ⁴² and throw them into the fiery furnace.* In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth!

⁴⁹ Thus it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out and separate the evil from among the righteous ⁵⁰ and throw them into the fiery furnace.* In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth!

⁵¹ and will cut him in two and assign his place with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth!

¹⁹ And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many possessions stored up for many years. Relax, eat, drink, celebrate!" ' ²⁰ But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your life* is demanded from you, and the things which you have prepared—whose will they be?'

⁴⁰ You also must be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not think he will come."*

³⁰ But the one _⌊who acts presumptuously_⌋* from among the native or alien blasphemes against Yahweh, and that person must be cut off from the midst of the people. ³¹ Because he despised the word of Yahweh and broke his command, that person will be surely cut off and bear the guilt.'"

² then it will happen if the guilty one _⌊deserves beating_⌋,* then the judge shall make him lie, and he shall beat him _⌊before him_⌋,* _⌊according to_⌋* _⌊the prescribed number of lashes proportionate to the offense_⌋.* ³ He may beat him with forty lashes, and he shall not do more than these, so that he will not beat more in addition to these many blows,* and your countryman* would be* degraded before your eyes.

²² Nevertheless I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and for Sidon on the day of judgment than for you! ²³ And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades! For if the miracles done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until today. ²⁴ Nevertheless I tell you that it will be more bearable for the region of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you!"

¹² I tell you that it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town! ¹³ Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes! ¹⁴ But it will be more bearable for Tyre and for Sidon in the judgment than for you! ¹⁵ And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? No! You will be brought down to Hades!

⁴¹ Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now you say, 'We see,' your sin remains.

⁴⁸ The one who rejects me and does not accept my words has one who judges him; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.

²² If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin. But now they do not have a valid excuse for their sin. ²³ The one who hates me hates my Father also. ²⁴ If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not have sin. But now they have both seen and hated both me and my Father.

¹¹ Jesus replied to him, "You would not have any authority over me unless it was given to you from above. For this reason the one who handed me over to you has greater sin."

³⁰ Therefore although* God has overlooked the times of ignorance, he now commands all people everywhere to repent,

¹⁵ For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, ¹⁶ to those on the one hand an odor from death to death, and to those on the other hand a fragrance from life to life. And who is qualified for these things?

¹⁷ Therefore, to the one who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

⁸ But he refused and said to his master's wife, "Look, my master _⌊does not worry about_⌋* what is in the house, and everything he owns he has put in my hand. ⁹ He has no greater authority in this house than me, and he has not withheld anything from me except you, since you are his wife. Now how could I do this great wickedness and sin against God?" ¹⁰ And it happened that as she spoke to Joseph _⌊day after day_⌋,* he did not heed her to lie beside her or to be with her. ¹¹ _⌊But one particular day_⌋* he came into the house to do his work and none of the men of the house were there in the house, ¹² she seized him by his garment and said, "Lie with me!" And he left his garment in her hand and fled, and he went outside. ¹³ And it happened that when she saw that he left his garment in her hand and fled outside, ¹⁴ she called to the men of her house and said to them, "Look! He* brought a Hebrew man to us to mock us! He came to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice. ¹⁵ And when he heard me, that I raised my voice and called out, he left his garment beside me and fled, and he went outside." ¹⁶ Then she put his garment beside her until his master came to his house. ¹⁷ Then she spoke to him according to these words, saying, "The Hebrew slave that you brought to us came to me to make fun of me. ¹⁸ And it happened that as I raised my voice and called out, he left his garment beside me and fled outside." ¹⁹ And when his master heard the words of his wife that she spoke to him, "_⌊This is what your servant did to me_⌋,"* _⌊he became very angry_⌋.* ²⁰ And Joseph's master took him and put him into prison, the place that the king's prisoners were confined. And he was there in prison. ²¹ And Yahweh was with Joseph, and showed loyal love to him, and gave him favor in the eyes of the chief of the prison. ²² And the chief of the prison put all the prisoners that were in the prison into the hand of Joseph. And everything that was done there, he was the one who did it. ²³ The chief of the prison _⌊did not worry about_⌋* anything in his* hand, since Yahweh was with him. And whatever he did Yahweh made it successful.

¹⁷ "If* a person* when he sins _⌊violates_⌋* one from all of Yahweh's commands that should not _⌊be violated_⌋,* but* he did not know, then* he is guilty and he shall bear his guilt.

²⁹ For the native among the _⌊Israelites_⌋* and the alien that dwells in their midst, there will be one law for anyone who commits an unintentional wrong. ³⁰ But the one _⌊who acts presumptuously_⌋* from among the native or alien blasphemes against Yahweh, and that person must be cut off from the midst of the people.

¹² For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have an abundance. But whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.

¹⁴ For it is like a man going on a journey. He summoned his own slaves and handed over his property to them. ¹⁵ And to one he gave five talents, and to another two, and to another one, to each one according to his own ability, and he went on a journey immediately. ¹⁶ The one who had received the five talents went out and* traded with them and gained five more. ¹⁷ In the same way the one who had the two gained two more. ¹⁸ But the one who had received the one went away and* dug up the ground and hid his master's money. ¹⁹ Now after a long time, the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. ²⁰ And the one who had received the five talents came up and* brought five more talents, saying, 'Master, you handed over to me five talents. See, I have gained five more talents!' ²¹ His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge over many things. Enter into the joy of your master!' ²² And the one who had the two talents also came up and* said, 'Master, you handed over to me two talents. See, I have gained two talents more!' ²³ His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge over many things. Enter into the joy of your master!' ²⁴ And the one who had received the one talent came up also and* said, 'Master, because I* knew you, that you are a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering from where you did not scatter seed.* ²⁵ And because I* was afraid, I went away and* hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours!' ²⁶ But his master answered and* said to him, 'Evil and lazy slave! You knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather from where I did not scatter seed.* ²⁷ Then you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and when I* returned I would have gotten back what was mine with interest! ²⁸ Therefore take the talent from him and give it* to the one who has the ten talents. ²⁹ For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.

² And he summoned him and* said to him, 'What is this I hear about you? Give the account of your management, because you can no longer manage.'

¹⁰ "The one who is faithful in very little is also faithful in much, and the one who is dishonest in very little is also dishonest in much. ¹¹ If then you have not been faithful with unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?* ¹² And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to another, who will give you your own?

²² If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin. But now they do not have a valid excuse for their sin.

¹² For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. ¹³ For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be declared righteous.* ¹⁴ For whenever the Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature the things of the law, these, although they* do not have the law, are a law to themselves, ¹⁵ who show the work of the law written on their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts one after another accusing or even defending them ¹⁶ on the day when God judges the secret things of people, according to my gospel, through* Christ Jesus.

¹⁷ For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward, but if I do so unwillingly, I have been entrusted with a stewardship. ¹⁸ What then is my reward? That when I* proclaim the gospel, I may offer the gospel free of charge, in order not to make full use of my right in the gospel.

¹¹ according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God that I was entrusted with.

²⁰ O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Turn away from pointless empty talk and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge,

³ but at the proper time has disclosed his message in the proclamation with which I was entrusted according to the command of God our Savior,

¹ Not many should become teachers, my brothers, because you* know that we will receive a greater judgment.*

⁴ But he shall judge the poor with righteousness, and he shall decide for the needy of the earth with rectitude. And he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and he shall kill the wicked person with the breath of his lips.

³⁰ And I will _⌊set_⌋* wonders in the heavens, and on earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. ³¹ The sun will be changed to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of Yahweh.

² And who can endure the day of his coming? And who is the one who can stand _⌊when he appears_⌋?* For he is like a refiner's fire, like launderers' alkali.* ³ He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the children of Levi, and he will refine them like gold and like silver, and they will present to Yahweh offerings* in righteousness.

¹ * "For look! The day is about to come, burning like an oven, and all the arrogant and every _⌊evildoer_⌋* will be stubble. The coming day will consume* them," says Yahweh of hosts. "It will not leave behind for them root or branch.

¹⁰ Already now the ax is positioned at the root of the trees; therefore every tree not producing good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ¹¹ I baptize you with water for repentance, but the one who comes after me is more powerful than I am, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. ¹² His winnowing shovel is in his hand, and he will clean out his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the storehouse, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."

⁵³ And when* he departed from there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to be terribly hostile, and to question him closely about many things, ⁵⁴ plotting to catch him with reference to something _⌊he might say_⌋.*

⁵¹ Do you think that I have come to grant peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! ⁵² For from now on there will be five in one household, divided three against two and two against three.

³¹ At that same hour some Pharisees came up and* said to him, "Go out and depart from here, because Herod wants to kill you!" ³² And he said to them, "Go and* tell that fox, 'Behold, I am expelling demons and performing healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will complete my work.'* ³³ Nevertheless, it is necessary for me to be on the way today and tomorrow and on the next day, because it is not possible for a prophet to perish outside Jerusalem.

³⁹ And some of the Pharisees from the crowd said to him, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!" ⁴⁰ And he answered and* said, "I tell you that* if these keep silent, the stones will cry out!"

⁴ It is necessary for us to do the deeds of the one who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work!

⁸ The disciples said to him, "Rabbi, the Jews were seeking just now to stone you, and are you going there again?" ⁹ Jesus replied, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks around in the daylight, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. ¹⁰ But if anyone walks around in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.

¹⁷ So the crowd who was with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead were continuing to testify. ¹⁸ Because of this also the crowd went to meet him, for they had heard that he had performed this sign. ¹⁹ So the Pharisees said to one another, "You see that you are accomplishing nothing! Behold, the world has gone after him."

⁸ 'I delight to do your will, O my God, and your law is _⌊deep within me_⌋.'"*

¹⁷ And as* Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples by themselves and said to them on the way, ¹⁸ "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death, ¹⁹ and will hand him over to the Gentiles to mock him* and flog him* and crucify him,* and on the third day he will be raised." ²⁰ Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and* kneeling down she asked* something from him. ²¹ And he said to her, "What do you want?" She said to him, "Say that these two sons of mine may sit one at your right hand and one at your left in your kingdom." ²² But Jesus answered and* said, "You do not know what you are asking! Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?" They said to him, "We are able."

³² Now they were on the road going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going on ahead of them. And they were astounded, but those who were following him* were afraid. And taking aside the twelve again, he began to tell them the things that were about to happen to him: ³³ "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles. ³⁴ And they will mock him and spit on him and flog him and kill him,* and after three days he will rise." ³⁵ And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and* said to him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask you." ³⁶ And he said to them, "What do you want that I do* for you?" ³⁷ So they said to him, "Grant to us that we may sit one at your right hand and one at your left in your glory." ³⁸ But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking! Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?"

³⁴ Jesus said to them, "My food is that I do the will of the one who sent me and complete his work.

⁶ So Jesus said to them, "My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready. ⁷ The world cannot hate you, but it hates me, because I am testifying about it, that its deeds are evil. ⁸ You go up to the feast. I am not* going up to this feast, because my time is not yet completed.*

¹⁰ But when his brothers had gone up to the feast, then he also went up, not openly, but (as it were) in secret.

³⁹ So they were seeking again to seize him, and he departed out of their hand. ⁴⁰ And he went away again on the other side of the Jordan, to the place where John was baptizing at an earlier time, and he stayed there. ⁴¹ And many came to him and began to say,* "John performed no sign, but everything John said about this man was true!"

²⁷ "Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, deliver me from this hour'? But for this reason I have come to this hour! ²⁸ Father, glorify your name!" Then a voice came from heaven, "I have both glorified it,* and I will glorify it* again."

¹¹ So Jesus said to Peter, "Put the sword into its* sheath! The cup that the Father has given me—shall I not drink it?"

³⁰ Then when he had received the sour wine, Jesus said, "It is completed,"* and bowing his* head, he gave up his* spirit.

²² "And now behold, bound by the Spirit I am traveling to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me _⌊there_⌋,*

⁷ And I shepherded the flock* doomed to slaughter, even* the afflicted* of the flock.* I took two staffs, one I called Kindness, and the other I called Unity, and I shepherded the flock.* ⁸ And I got rid of three shepherds in one month, for _⌊I grew impatient_⌋* with them, and _⌊they also became tired of me_⌋.*

¹⁰ And I took my staff Kindness and broke it, to break my covenant that I _⌊had made_⌋* with all the peoples. ¹¹ And it was broken on that day. Then the afflicted* of the flock,* the ones who were watching me, knew that it was the word of Yahweh.

¹⁴ Then I broke my second staff Unity to break the family ties between Judah and Israel.

³⁴ "Do not think that I have come to bring peace on the earth! I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. ³⁵ For I have come to turn a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. ³⁶ And the enemies of a man will be the members of his household.*

⁷ For nation will rise up against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.* ⁸ But all these things are the beginning of birth pains. ⁹ "Then they will hand you over to persecution and will kill you, and you will be hated by all the nations* because of my name. ¹⁰ And then many will be led into sin and will betray one another and will hate one another,

⁴⁹ "I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish that it had been kindled already!

⁹ Even _⌊my close friend_⌋,* whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.

⁵ Do not put faith in a friend; put no trust in a close friend. Guard the doorways of your mouth from the one who lies in your lap. ⁶ For a son treats a father with contempt; a daughter rises up against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; the enemies of a man are the men of his own house.

⁴¹ Others were saying, "This man is the Christ!" But others were saying, "No, for the Christ does not come from Galilee, does he?* ⁴² Has not the scripture said that the Christ comes from the descendants of David, and from Bethlehem, the village where David was?" ⁴³ So there was a division in the crowd because of him.

¹⁶ So some of the Pharisees were saying, "This man is not from God, because he does not observe the Sabbath!" Others* were saying, "How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?" And there was a division among them.

¹⁹ Again there was a division among the Jews because of these words. ²⁰ And many of them were saying, "He has a demon and is out of his mind! Why do you listen to him?" ²¹ Others were saying, "These are not the words of one who is possessed by a demon! A demon is not able to open the eyes of the blind, is it?"*

¹⁸ If the world hates you, you know that it has hated me before it hated* you. ¹⁹ If you were of the world, the world would love its own. But because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, for this reason the world hates you. ²⁰ Remember the word that I said to you: 'A slave is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will keep yours also. ²¹ But they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know the one who sent me.

² _⌊They will expel you from the synagogue_⌋,* but an hour is coming that everyone who kills you will think they are offering service to God.

⁴³ And after* the synagogue had broken up, many of the Jews and the devout* proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who were speaking to them and* were persuading them to continue in the grace of God. ⁴⁴ And on the coming Sabbath, nearly the whole city came together to hear the word of the Lord. ⁴⁵ But when* the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy, and began contradicting what was being said by Paul by* reviling him.* ⁴⁶ Both Paul and Barnabas spoke boldly and* said, "It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you, since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life! Behold, we are turning to the Gentiles!

¹ Now it happened that in Iconium they entered _⌊together_⌋* into the synagogue of the Jews and spoke in such a way that a large number of both Jews and Greeks believed. ² But the Jews who were disobedient stirred up and _⌊poisoned the minds_⌋* of the Gentiles against the brothers. ³ So they stayed there* for a considerable time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who testified to the message of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be performed through their hands. ⁴ But the population of the city was divided, and _⌊some_⌋* were with the Jews _⌊and some_⌋* with the apostles.

²⁴ And some were convinced by* what was said, but others refused to believe.

⁶ For a son treats a father with contempt; a daughter rises up against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; the enemies of a man are the men of his own house.

² _⌊And then_⌋,* on that day,' _⌊declares_⌋* Yahweh of hosts, 'I will cut off the names of the idols from the land, and they will no longer be remembered; and also the prophets and the spirit of uncleanness I will banish from the land. ³ _⌊And then_⌋,* if anyone prophesies again, his father and his mother who bore him will say to him, "You shall not live, because you have spoken a lie in the name of Yahweh!" And his father and his mother who bore him will pierce him through when he prophesies. ⁴ _⌊And then_⌋* on that day, each of the prophets will be ashamed because of his vision when he was prophesying, and they will not put on a cloak of hair in order to deceive, ⁵ but he will say, "I am not a prophet; I am a tiller of the soil, for a man has acquired me since my youth."* ⁶ And someone* shall say to him, "What are these wounds _⌊between your arms_⌋?"* and he will say, "Those I have received* in the house of the ones who love me." '"

²¹ "And brother will hand over brother to death, and a father his children, and children will rise up against parents and have them put to death, ²² and you will be hated by everyone because of my name. But the one who endures to the end—this one will be saved.

¹⁰ And then many will be led into sin and will betray one another and will hate one another,

⁴⁴ It happened that at the seventh time, he said, "Look, there is a small cloud, as the hand of a man, coming up from the sea." Then Elijah said, "Go up, say to Ahab, 'Harness your horses and go down, lest the rain stop you.'" ⁴⁵ _⌊In no time_⌋* the heavens grew black with clouds and wind, and there was heavy rain. Ahab rode and he went to Jezreel,

² So he answered and* said to them, "When* evening comes you say, 'It will be fair weather because the sky is red,' ³ and early in the morning, 'Today it will be stormy weather, because the sky is red and* darkening.' You know how to evaluate correctly the appearance of the sky, but you are not able to evaluate* the signs of the times. ⁴ An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, and a sign will not be given to it except the sign of Jonah!" And he left them and* went away.

¹⁷ You whose garments are hot, when the earth is being still because of the south wind,

¹² saying, 'These last people worked one hour and you made them equal to us who have endured the burden of the day and the burning heat!'

³² And from the men of Issachar: _⌊men who were skilled in understanding the times_⌋* to know what Israel should do. Their chiefs were two hundred, and all their kinsmen were under their command.

²⁴ "Seventy weeks is decreed for your people and _⌊for your holy city_⌋,* to put an end to the transgression and to seal up sin* and to make atonement for guilt and to bring in everlasting righteousness and to seal vision and prophet and to anoint _⌊the most holy place_⌋.* ²⁵ And you must know and you must understand* that from the time of the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem until an anointed* one—a leader—will be _⌊seven weeks and sixty-two weeks_⌋;* it will be restored and will be built with streets and a moat, but _⌊in a time of oppression_⌋.* ²⁶ "And after the sixty and two weeks an anointed one* shall be cut off, and _⌊he shall have nothing_⌋,* and the people of the coming leader will destroy the city and the sanctuary,* and its end will be with the flood and on to the end there shall be war; these desolations are determined.

⁷ I will shake all the nations so that the treasure of all the nations will come, and I will fill this house* with glory,' says Yahweh of hosts.

¹ "Look! I am going to send my messenger,* and he will prepare* the way _⌊before me_⌋.* And the Lord whom you are seeking will come suddenly to his temple, and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you are taking pleasure—look!—he is about to come," says Yahweh of hosts.

² But for you who revere* my name, the sun of righteousness will rise, with healing in its wings, and you will go out and leap like _⌊fattened calves_⌋.*

²⁵ At that time Jesus answered and* said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent, and have revealed them to young children.*

³ and early in the morning, 'Today it will be stormy weather, because the sky is red and* darkening.' You know how to evaluate correctly the appearance of the sky, but you are not able to evaluate* the signs of the times.

³² "Now learn the parable from the fig tree: Whenever its branch has already become tender and puts forth its* leaves, you know that summer is near. ³³ So also you, when you see all these things, know* that he is near, at the door.

⁴² saying, "If you had known on this day—even you—the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. ⁴³ For days will come upon you and your enemies will put up an embankment* against you, and will surround you and press you hard from all directions. ⁴⁴ And they will raze you to the ground, you and your children within you, and will not leave a stone upon a stone within you, _⌊because_⌋* you did not recognize the time of your visitation."

²⁴ And indeed, all the prophets from Samuel and all those who followed him* have spoken about and proclaimed these days. ²⁵ You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God ordained with your fathers, saying to Abraham, 'And in your offspring all the nations of the earth will be blessed.'* ²⁶ God, after he* had raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning each of you back from your wickedness!"

⁴ But when the fullness of time came, God sent out his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,

²⁹ If only they were wise, they would understand this; they would discern _⌊for themselves their end_⌋.*

¹⁰ And summoning the crowd, he said to them, "Hear and understand: ¹¹ It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth—this defiles a person." ¹² Then the disciples came and* said to him, "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they* heard this saying?" ¹³ And he answered and* said, "Every plant that my heavenly Father did not plant will be uprooted. ¹⁴ Let* them! They are blind guides of the blind. And if the blind guide the blind, both will fall into a pit."

²¹ And Jesus answered and* said to them, "Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will do not only what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, 'Be lifted up and thrown into the sea," it will happen!

³² For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did believe him. And when* you saw it,* you did not even change your minds later so as to believe in him.

³⁰ When they put out foliage,* now you see for yourselves and* know that by this time the summer is near.

²⁴ Do not judge according to outward appearance, but judge according to righteous judgment!"

⁴⁰ And with many other words he solemnly urged and exhorted them, saying, "Be saved from this crooked generation!"

²⁶ "Men and brothers, sons of the family of Abraham and those among you who fear God—to us the message of this salvation has been sent! ²⁷ For those who live in Jerusalem and their rulers, because they* did not recognize this one, and the voices of the prophets that are read on every Sabbath, fulfilled them* by* condemning him.* ²⁸ And although they* found no charge worthy of death, they asked Pilate that he be executed. ²⁹ And when they had carried out all the things that were written about him, they took him* down from the tree and* placed him* in a tomb. ³⁰ But God raised him from the dead, ³¹ who appeared for many days to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem—who are now his witnesses to the people. ³² And we proclaim the good news to you: that the promise that was made to the fathers, ³³ this promise* God has fulfilled to our children* by* raising Jesus, as it is also written in the second psalm,
'You are my Son; today I have fathered you.'* ³⁴ But that he has raised him from the dead, no more going to return to decay, he has spoken in this way: 'I will give you the reliable divine decrees of David.'* ³⁵ Therefore he also says in another psalm,*
'You will not permit your Holy One to experience decay.'* ³⁶ For David, after* serving the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and _⌊was buried with_⌋* his fathers, and experienced decay. ³⁷ But he whom God raised up did not experience decay. ³⁸ "Therefore let it be known to you, men and brothers, that through this one forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and from all the things from which you were not able to be justified by the law of Moses,

¹⁴ And does not nature itself teach you that a man, if he wears long hair, it is a dishonor to him?

³ Then Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother, to the land of Seir, the territory of Edom. ⁴ And he instructed them, saying, "Thus you must say to my lord, to Esau, 'Thus says your servant Jacob, I have dwelled as an alien with Laban, and I have remained there until now. ⁵ And I have acquired cattle, male donkeys, flocks, and male and female slaves, and I have sent to tell my lord, to find favor in your eyes.'" ⁶ And the messengers returned to Jacob and said, "We came to your brother, to Esau, and he is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him." ⁷ Then Jacob was very frightened and distressed. So he divided the people, flocks, cattle, and camels that were with him into two companies. ⁸ And he thought, "If Esau comes to one company and destroys it, the remaining company will be able to escape." ⁹ Then Jacob said, "O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, O Yahweh, who said to me, 'Return to your land and to your family, and I will deal well with you.' ¹⁰ _⌊I am not worthy_⌋* of all the loyal love and all the faithfulness that you have shown* your servant, for with only my staff I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two camps. ¹¹ Please rescue me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau, for I fear him, lest he come and attack mother and children alike. ¹² Now you yourself said, 'I will surely deal well with you and make your offspring as the sand of the sea that cannot be counted for abundance.'" ¹³ And he lodged there that night. Then he took _⌊from what he had with him_⌋* a gift for Esau his brother: ¹⁴ two hundred female goats, twenty male goats, two hundred ewes, twenty rams, ¹⁵ thirty milk camels with their young, forty cows, ten bulls, twenty female donkeys, and ten male donkeys. ¹⁶ And he put them under the hand of his servants, _⌊herd by herd_⌋,* and said to his servants, "Cross on ahead before me, and put some distance _⌊between herds_⌋.* ¹⁷ And he instructed the foremost, saying, "When Esau my brother comes upon you and asks you, saying, 'Whose are you and where are you going? To whom do these animals belong ahead of you?' ¹⁸ Then you must say, 'To your servant, to Jacob. It is a gift sent to my lord, to Esau. Now behold, he is also coming after us.'" ¹⁹ And he also instructed the second servant and the third, and everyone else who was behind the herds, saying, "You must speak to Esau according to this word when you find him. ²⁰ And moreover, you shall say, 'Look, your servant Jacob is behind us.'" For he thought, "_⌊Let me appease him_⌋* with the gift going before me, and afterward I will see his face. Perhaps he will _⌊show me favor_⌋."* ²¹ So the gift passed on before him, but he himself spent that night in the camp. ²² That night he arose and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven children and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. ²³ And he took them and sent them across the stream. Then he sent across all his possessions. ²⁴ And Jacob remained alone, and a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the dawn. ²⁵ And when he* saw that he could not prevail against him, he struck his hip socket, so that Jacob's hip socket was sprained as he wrestled with him. ²⁶ Then he* said, "Let me go, for dawn is breaking." But he answered, "I will not let you go unless you bless me." ²⁷ Then he said to him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Jacob." ²⁸ And he said, "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel,* for you have struggled with God and with men and have prevailed."

¹⁸ Then Abigail _⌊quickly took_⌋* two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five prepared sheep, five seahs of roasted grain, a hundred raisin cakes, and two hundred fig cakes, and she put them on the donkeys. ¹⁹ Then she said to her servants, "Go ahead before me; look, I am coming after you," but she did not tell her husband Nabal. ²⁰ _⌊And then_⌋,* as she was riding on the donkey and was going down the ravine of the mountain, David and his men were coming down to meet her, and she met them. ²¹ Now David had said, "Surely _⌊in vain_⌋* I guarded all that this fellow had in the desert. And nothing was missed of all that was his, but he returned evil against me in place of good! ²² _⌊May God severely punish the enemies of David_⌋* and again do thus if I leave behind _⌊anything that is his_⌋* until the morning, not even _⌊one male_⌋!"* ²³ When Abigail saw David, she hurried and got down from the donkey and fell on her face before _⌊David's anger_⌋,* and she bowed down to the ground. ²⁴ She fell at his feet and said, "On me, my lord, be the guilt! Please let your female servant speak _⌊to you personally_⌋!* Hear the words of your female servant! ²⁵ Please do not let my lord set his heart against _⌊this worthless man_⌋,* Nabal; for as his name, so is he. Nabal is his name, and stupidity is with him! But I, your female servant, did not see the young men* of my lord whom you sent. ²⁶ So then, my lord, _⌊as Yahweh lives and as your soul lives_⌋,* since Yahweh restrained you from bloodguilt _⌊by taking matters into your own hand_⌋,* so then, may your enemies be like Nabal, even _⌊those who seek to do my lord harm_⌋.* ²⁷ So then, this gift which your female servant has brought to my lord, may it be given to the young men _⌊who follow my lord_⌋.* ²⁸ Please forgive the transgression of your female servant, because Yahweh will certainly make a lasting house* for my lord, because my lord is fighting the battles of Yahweh, and evil will not be found in you _⌊as long as you live_⌋.* ²⁹ Should a man arise to pursue you and to seek your life, may the life of my lord be wrapped in the pouch* of the living with Yahweh your God. But as for the life of your enemy, he will sling it from within* the pocket of the sling! ³⁰ _⌊And then_⌋* when Yahweh has done for my lord according to all the good that he has spoken concerning you, and has appointed you as leader over Israel, ³¹ then this will not be an obstacle for you or a stumbling block of conscience for my lord either by the shedding of blood without cause or by _⌊my lord taking matters into his own hands_⌋.* And when Yahweh does good to my lord, then remember your female servant." ³² Then David said to Abigail, "Blessed be Yahweh the God of Israel who has sent you this day to meet me! ³³ And blessed be your discretion, and blessed be you who have prevented me this day from bloodguilt and from delivering myself by my own hand. ³⁴ But _⌊as Yahweh lives_⌋,* the God of Israel who has prevented me from harming you, if you had not hurried and come to meet me, surely there would not have been _⌊one male_⌋* left alive for Nabal by the light of morning!" ³⁵ Then David took from her hand what she had brought for him, and he said to her, "Go up to your house in peace. See, I have listened to your voice, and I have _⌊granted your request_⌋."*

²¹ "Please reconcile yourself with him, and be at peace; _⌊in this way_⌋,* good will come to you.

⁷ There an upright person could reason with him, and I would be acquitted forever by my judge.

¹⁷ But* you are obsessed with the judgment of the wicked; judgment and justice take hold of you. ¹⁸ Yes,* it is wrath, so that it will not incite you into mockery; and do not let the ransom's greatness turn you aside.

⁶ Therefore let all the faithful pray to you at the time for finding you. Surely at the flood of many waters they will not reach him.

²² Now consider this, you who forget God, lest I tear you apart, and there will be none to deliver.

¹ My child, if you have pledged to your neighbor, if you have bound _⌊yourself_⌋* to the stranger, ² if you are snared by the sayings of your mouth, if you are caught by the sayings of your mouth, ³ do this, then, my child, and save yourself, for you have come into _⌊the palm of your neighbor's hand_⌋:* Go, humble yourself, plead with your neighbor. ⁴ Do not give sleep to your eyes, or slumber to your eyelids. ⁵ Save yourself like a gazelle from a hand, or like a bird from the hand of a fowler.

⁸ do not hastily bring out to court, for* what will you do at its end, when your neighbor puts you to shame? ⁹ Argue your argument with your neighbor himself, the secret of another do not disclose,

⁶ Seek Yahweh _⌊while he lets himself be found_⌋;* call him _⌊while he is_⌋* near.

²³ Therefore if you present your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, ²⁴ leave your gift there before the altar and first go be reconciled to your brother, and then come and* present your gift. ²⁵ _⌊Settle the case quickly with your accuser_⌋* while you are with him on the way, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. ²⁶ Truly I say to you, you will never come out of there until you have paid back the last penny!

³⁰ But he did not want to, but rather he went and* threw him into prison until he would repay what was owed.

²⁴ "Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able to, ²⁵ when once the master of the house has gotten up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock on the door, saying, 'Lord, open the door* for us!' And he will answer and* say to you, 'I do not know where you are from!' ²⁶ Then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets!' ²⁷ And he will reply, saying to you, 'I do not know where you are from! Go away from me, all you _⌊evildoers_⌋!'* ²⁸ In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but yourselves thrown outside!

³¹ Or what king, going out to engage another king in battle, does not sit down first and* deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand. ³² But if not, while* the other is still far away, he sends an ambassador and* asks _⌊for terms of_⌋* peace.

² For he says,
"At the acceptable time I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you."*
Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation!

⁷ Therefore, just as the Holy Spirit says,
"Today, if you hear his voice, ⁸ do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, in the day of testing in the wilderness, ⁹ where your fathers tested me by trial and saw my works ¹⁰ for forty years. Therefore I was angry with this generation, and I said, 'They always go astray in their heart, and they do not know my ways.' ¹¹ As I swore in my anger, '_⌊They will never enter_⌋* into my rest.'"* ¹² Watch out, brothers, lest there be in some of you an evil, unbelieving heart, with the result that you fall away* from the living God. ¹³ But encourage one another _⌊day by day_⌋*, as long as it is called "today," so that _⌊none of you become hardened_⌋* by the deception of sin.

¹⁹ in which also he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison,

⁷ And when the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison

³⁴ And because he* was angry, his master handed him over to the merciless jailers* until he would repay everything that was owed.

⁴² And one poor widow came and* put in two small copper coins* (that is, a penny).*

²⁶ And in addition to all these things, a great chasm has been established between us and you, so that those who want to cross over from here to you are not able to do so,* nor can they cross over from there to us.'

³ We ought to give thanks to God always concerning you, brothers, just as it is fitting, because your faith is flourishing and the love of each one of you all toward one another is increasing