Luke 14 Cross References - LEB

¹ And it happened that when he came to the house of a certain one of the leaders of the Pharisees on a Sabbath to eat _⌊a meal_⌋,* they were watching him closely. ² And behold, a certain man was in front of him, suffering from edema. ³ And Jesus answered and* said to the legal experts and Pharisees, saying, "Is it permitted to heal on the Sabbath, or not?" ⁴ But they remained silent. And he took hold of him* and* healed him, and sent him* away. ⁵ And he said to them, "Who among you, if your* son or your ox falls into a well* on the day of the Sabbath, will not immediately pull him out?" ⁶ And they were not able to make a reply to these things. ⁷ Now he told a parable to those who had been invited when he* noticed how they were choosing for themselves the places of honor, saying to them, ⁸ "When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast,* do not recline at the table in the place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you has been invited by him, ⁹ and the one who invited you _⌊both_⌋* will come and* say to you, 'Give the place to this person,' and then with shame you will begin to take the last place. ¹⁰ But when you are invited, go and* recline at the table in the last place, so that when the one who invited you comes, he will say to you, 'Friend, move up higher.' Then it will be an honor to you in the presence of all those who are reclining at the table with you. ¹¹ For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted." ¹² And he also said to the one who had invited him, "When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or wealthy neighbors, lest they also invite you in return, and repayment come to you. 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." ¹⁵ Now when* one of those reclining at the table with him heard these things, he said to him, "Blessed is _⌊everyone who_⌋* will eat bread in the kingdom of God!" ¹⁶ But he said to him, "A certain man was giving a large banquet and invited many. ¹⁷ And he sent his slave at the hour of the banquet to say to those who have been invited, 'Come, because now it is ready!' ¹⁸ And they all _⌊alike_⌋* began to excuse themselves. The first said to him, 'I have purchased a field, and _⌊I must_⌋* go out to look at it. I ask you, consider me excused.' ¹⁹ And another said, 'I have purchased five yoke of oxen, and I am going to examine them. I ask you, consider me excused.' ²⁰ And another said, 'I have married a wife, and for this reason I am not able to come.' ²¹ And the slave came and* reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and* said to his slave, 'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the city and bring in here the poor and crippled and blind and lame!' ²² And the slave said, 'Sir, what you ordered has been done, and there is still room.' ²³ And the master said to the slave, 'Go out into the highways and hedges and press them* to come in, so that my house will be filled! ²⁴ For I say to you that none of those persons who were invited will taste my banquet!'" ²⁵ Now large crowds were going along with him, and he turned around and* said to them, ²⁶ "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, and furthermore, even his own life, _⌊he cannot be_⌋* my disciple. ²⁷ Whoever does not carry his own cross and _⌊follow_⌋* me _⌊cannot be_⌋* my disciple. ²⁸ For which of you, wanting to build a tower, does not first sit down and* calculate the cost to see if he has enough* _⌊to complete it_⌋?* ²⁹ _⌊Otherwise_⌋* after* he has laid the foundation and is not able to finish it,* all who see it* will begin to ridicule him, ³⁰ saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish!' 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. ³³ In the same way, therefore, every one of you who does not renounce all his own possessions _⌊cannot be_⌋* my disciple. ³⁴ "Now salt is good, but if salt becomes tasteless, with what will it be made salty? ³⁵ It is usable neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; they throw it out. The one who has ears to hear, let him hear!"

³² The wicked watches for the righteous and seeks to kill him.

⁶ And when one comes to see me, he speaks falsely; his heart gathers disaster for itself. He goes out to the street; he speaks.

⁴ They only* plan to thrust him down from his high position; they are pleased with deception. With their mouths* they bless, but _⌊inwardly_⌋* they curse. Selah

⁵ They encourage themselves in the evil matter. They talk of secretly laying snares. They say, "Who will see them?" ⁶ _⌊They carefully plot_⌋* injustices saying, "We have perfected _⌊the perfect plot_⌋!"* Both the _⌊inner thought_⌋* and heart of a man are deep.

⁷ For, like hair in his _⌊throat_⌋,* so it is.* "Eat and drink!" he will say to you, but his heart will not be with you.

²⁰ For the tyrant shall be no more, and the scoffer shall come to an end. And all those lying in wait for evil shall be cut off; ²¹ those who mislead a person into sin with a word and set a trap for the _⌊arbitrator_⌋* in the gate and guide away the righteous by emptiness.

¹⁰ For I hear the rumor of many, "Terror is from all around, denounce him,* yes, let us denounce him!" _⌊All my close friends_⌋* are watchers of my stumbling, saying, "perhaps he can be persuaded, and we can prevail over him, and we can take our revenge on him." ¹¹ But Yahweh is with me like a powerful warrior. _⌊Therefore_⌋* my persecutors will stumble and will not prevail. They will be very ashamed, for they will not achieve success. Their _⌊everlasting insult_⌋* will not be forgotten.

² And they were watching him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath, in order that they could accuse him.

⁷ So the scribes and the Pharisees were watching closely* to see if he would heal on the Sabbath, in order that they could find a reason* to accuse him.

³⁴ The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, 'Behold, a man who is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' ³⁵ And wisdom is vindicated by all her children." ³⁶ Now one of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he entered into the house of the Pharisee and* reclined at the table.

³⁷ And as he was speaking, a Pharisee asked him _⌊to have a meal_⌋* with him, and he went in and* reclined at table.

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_⌋.*

²⁰ And they watched him* closely and* sent spies who pretended they were upright, in order that they could catch him in a statement, so that they could hand him over to the authority and the jurisdiction of the governor.

¹ Now there was a man of the Pharisees _⌊whose name was_⌋* Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.

³⁴ But a certain man stood up in the Sanhedrin,* a Pharisee _⌊named_⌋* Gamaliel, a teacher of the law respected by all the people, and* gave orders to put the men outside for a short time.

¹⁹ For although I* am free from all people, I have enslaved myself to all, in order that I may gain more. ²⁰ I have become like a Jew to the Jews, in order that I may gain the Jews. To those under the law I became as under the law (although I* myself am not under the law) in order that I may gain those under the law. ²¹ To those outside the law I became as outside the law (although I* am not outside the law of God, but subject to the law of Christ) in order that I may gain those outside the law. ²² To the weak I became weak, in order that I may gain the weak. I have become all things to all people, in order that by all means I may save some.

² But when* the Pharisees saw it,* they said to him, "Behold, your disciples are doing what it is not permitted to do on the Sabbath!"

¹⁰ And behold, there was a man who had a withered hand, and they asked him, saying, "Is it permitted to heal on the Sabbath?" in order that they could accuse him.

³⁵ And one of them, a legal expert, put a question to him* to test him:

⁴ And he said to them, "Is it permitted on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?" But they were silent.

⁹ And Jesus said to them, "I ask you whether it is permitted on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save a life or to destroy it?"*

⁴⁴ Woe to you, because you are like unmarked graves, and the people who walk over them* do not know it!* ⁴⁵ And one of the legal experts answered and* said to him, "Teacher, when you* say these things, you insult us also!"

¹⁴ But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, answered and* said to the crowd, "There are six days on which it is necessary to work. Therefore come and* be healed on them, and not on the day of the Sabbath!" ¹⁵ But the Lord answered and said to him, "Hypocrites! Does not each one of you untie his ox or his* donkey from the feeding trough on the Sabbath and lead it* away to water it?* ¹⁶ And this woman, who is a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan bound _⌊eighteen_⌋* long years—is it not necessary that she be released from this bond on the day of the Sabbath?"

²³ If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses would not be broken, are you angry with me because I made a whole man well* on the Sabbath?

²⁵ From where was the baptism of John—from heaven or from men?" And they began to discuss* this* among themselves, saying, "If we say 'From heaven,' he will say to us, 'Why then did you not believe him?' ²⁶ But if we say, 'From men,' we are afraid of the crowd, because they all look upon John as a prophet." ²⁷ And they answered and* said to Jesus, "We do not know." And he said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

⁴⁶ And no one was able to answer him a word, nor did anyone dare from that day on to ask him any more questions.*

⁴ " 'If you come upon the ox of your enemy or his donkey going astray, you will certainly bring it back to him. ⁵ If you see the donkey of your enemy lying down under its burden, you will refrain from abandoning him. You will surely arrange* it with him.

²⁴ This is the explanation, O king, and it is a decree of the Most High that has come upon my lord the king:

¹¹ But he said to them, "What man will there be among you who will have one sheep and if this one fell into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it* out? ¹² Then to what degree is a man worth more than a sheep? So then, it is permitted to do good on the Sabbath."

¹⁵ But the Lord answered and said to him, "Hypocrites! Does not each one of you untie his ox or his* donkey from the feeding trough on the Sabbath and lead it* away to water it?*

¹⁷ And when* he said these things, all those who opposed him were humiliated, and the whole crowd was rejoicing at all the splendid things that were being done by him.

²⁶ And they were not able to catch him** in a statement in the sight of the people, and astonished at his answer, they became silent.

⁴⁰ For they no longer dared to ask him anything.

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

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

¹² And Samson said to them, "Let me tell you a riddle. If you can fully explain it to me within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, I will give to you thirty linen garments and thirty festal garments.

¹ Does not wisdom call, and understanding raise its voice?

² "Son of man,* tell a riddle and quote a proverb to the house of Israel,

³⁴ Jesus spoke all these things to the crowds in parables, and he was saying nothing to them without a parable,

⁶ And they love the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues

³⁸ And in his teaching he said, "Beware of the scribes, who like walking around in long robes and greetings in the marketplaces ³⁹ and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets,

⁴³ Woe to you, Pharisees, because you love the best seat in the synagogues and the greetings in the marketplaces!

⁴⁶ "Beware of the scribes, who like walking around in long robes and who love greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets,

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!"

³ Do nothing according to selfish ambition or according to empty conceit, but in humility considering one another better than yourselves,

⁹ I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes, who wants to be first among them, does not acknowledge us.

⁶ Do not promote yourself before the king, and in the place of the great ones do not stand. ⁷ For it is better that he say to you, "Ascend here," than he humble you before a noble. What your eyes have seen,

⁶ And Haman came, and the king said to him, "What is to be done for the man whom the king wishes to honor?" And Haman thought to himself, "Whom would the king wish to honor more than me?" ⁷ So Haman said to the king, "For a man whom the king wishes to honor, ⁸ let them bring _⌊royal clothing_⌋* with which the king has clothed himself, and a horse that the king has ridden, and on whose head a royal head-dress has been given. ⁹ And let the clothing and the horse be given _⌊to the man_⌋* by the officials of the king's nobles; let them cloth the man whom the king wishes to honor, and let him ride on his horse through the public square of the city, and let them proclaim before him, 'Thus, it will be done for the man whom the king wishes to honor.'" ¹⁰ Then the king said to Haman, "Quickly, take the clothing and the horse, just as you have said, and do so to Mordecai the Jew who sits at the gate of the king; you must not leave out anything from what you have said." ¹¹ So Haman took the clothing and the horse, and he clothed Mordecai and let him ride through the public square of the city; and he proclaimed before him, "Thus, it is done to the man whom the king wishes to honor." ¹² Then Mordecai returned to the gate of the king, and Haman rushed to his house mournful and with his head covered.

³⁵ They will inherit the honor of the wise, but stubborn fools, disgrace.

² Pride comes, then disgrace comes, but wisdom is with the humble.

¹⁸ Before destruction comes pride, and before a fall, a haughty spirit.*

² "Son of man,* say to the leader of Tyre, 'Thus says the Lord Yahweh:
"Because your heart was haughty, and you said, 'I am a god; I sit in the seat of the gods, I sit in the heart of the seas!' But* you are a human, not a god, and you gave your heart to be like the heart of a god. ³ Look, are you wiser than Daniel, so that _⌊no secret_⌋* is hidden from you? ⁴ By your wisdom and by your understanding you have gained for yourself wealth, and you have amassed gold and silver in your treasuries. ⁵ By the abundance of your wisdom in your trading you have increased your wealth and your heart was proud in* your wealth." '" ⁶ Therefore thus says the Lord Yahweh:
"Because of your regarding your _⌊mind_⌋* like the _⌊mind_⌋* of a god, ⁷ therefore look! I am bringing strangers over you, the most ruthless of the peoples, and they will draw their swords against the beauty* of your wisdom, and they will defile your splendor. ⁸ They will thrust you down to the pit, and you will die _⌊a violent death_⌋* in the heart of the seas. ⁹ _⌊Will you indeed still say_⌋* "I am a god!" before the face of your killers?* And in fact you are a human* and not a god in the hand of _⌊those who pierce you_⌋.* ¹⁰ You will die the death of the uncircumcised by the hand of strangers,
for _⌊I myself_⌋* have spoken!" _⌊declares_⌋* the Lord Yahweh.

³⁰ And the king answered and said, "Is this not the great Babylon which I have built as a royal palace by the strength of my own power, and for the glory of my own majesty?" ³¹ While the words were still in the mouth of the king, a voice from heaven came, saying, 'To you, King Nebuchadnezzar, it is declared that the kingdom has departed from you, ³² and you will be driven away from _⌊human society_⌋* and your dwelling will be with the animals* of the field and they will cause you to graze the grass like oxen, and seven times will pass over you, until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdom of humankind and that he gives it to whom he wills.' ³³ _⌊Immediately_⌋* the word was fulfilled _⌊concerning_⌋* Nebuchadnezzar, and he was expelled from _⌊human society_⌋* and he ate grass like oxen, and his body was bathed with the dew of heaven until his hair was like the hair of an eagle and his nails grew like a bird's claws. ³⁴ "But at the end of _⌊that period_⌋,* I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up my eyes to heaven, and then my reason returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and _⌊the one who lives forever_⌋* I praised and I honored.
"For his sovereignty is an everlasting sovereignty, and his kingdom continues from generation to generation.

¹⁷ Samuel said, "Even though you are small in your own eyes, are you not the head of the tribes of Israel? Yahweh has anointed you as king over Israel.

³³ Fear of Yahweh is the instruction of the wise, and before honor comes humility.

¹⁴ And the children of those who oppressed you shall come to you bending low, and all those who treated you disrespectfully shall bow down at the soles of your feet. And they shall call you the city of Yahweh, Zion of the holy one of Israel.

⁹ Behold, I am causing those of the synagogue of Satan, the ones who call themselves Jews and are not, but are lying—behold, I will make them _⌊come_⌋* and kneel down before your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you.

²⁹ When they are humiliated, _⌊you say_⌋,* 'It is pride,' for* he saves _⌊the humble_⌋.*

¹⁰ Adorn* yourself with pride and dignity, and clothe yourself with splendor. ¹¹ Pour out the overflowing of your anger, and look at all the proud, and humble them. ¹² Look at all the proud, humble them, and tread down the wicked _⌊where they stand_⌋.*

²⁷ For you deliver humble people, but haughty eyes you humiliate.

⁶ Though Yahweh is high, yet he sees the lowly, but the proud he perceives* at a distance.

¹² In the presence of destruction, the heart* of a man will be haughty, but in the presence of honor, humble.

²³ The pride of a person will bring him humiliation, and the lowly of spirit will obtain honor.

¹¹ The _⌊haughty eyes_⌋* of humanity will* be brought low, and the pride of everyone will be humbled, and Yahweh alone will be exalted on that day.

¹⁷ And the haughtiness of the people shall be humbled, and the pride of everyone shall be brought low, and Yahweh alone will be exalted on that day.

¹⁵ For thus says the high and lofty one who resides forever, and whose name is holy:
"I reside in a high and holy place, and with the _⌊contrite_⌋* and humble of spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the _⌊contrite_⌋.*

¹² And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

⁵¹ He has done a mighty deed with his arm; he has dispersed the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.

¹⁴ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than that one! For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted."

⁶ But he gives greater grace. Therefore it says,
"God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble."*

¹⁰ Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

⁵ In the same way, younger men, be subject to the elders, and all of you clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

²⁰ The poor is disliked even by his neighbor, but the lovers of the rich are many.

¹⁶ He who oppresses the poor in order to enrich himself, or gives to the rich, _⌊will come to poverty_⌋.*

⁵ "Say to all the people of the land and to the priests: 'When you fasted and lamented in the fifth and seventh months for these seventy years, did you really fast for me? ⁶ And when you eat and drink, are you not eating and drinking for yourselves? ⁷ Are not these the words that Yahweh proclaimed _⌊through_⌋* the former prophets, when Jerusalem and _⌊its surrounding towns_⌋* were inhabited and at ease, and the Negev* and the Shephelah* were inhabited?'"

⁴⁶ For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not the tax collectors 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. ² Therefore whenever you practice charitable giving, do not sound a trumpet in front of you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, in order that they may be praised by people. Truly I say to you, they have received their reward in full! ³ But you, when you* practice charitable giving, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, ⁴ in order that your charitable giving may be in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

¹⁶ "Whenever you fast, do not be sullen like the hypocrites, for they make their faces unrecognizable in order that they may be seen fasting by people. Truly I say to you, they have received their reward in full! ¹⁷ But when* you are fasting, _⌊put olive oil on your head_⌋* and wash your face ¹⁸ so that you will not be seen by people as fasting, but to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

⁵³ He has filled those who are hungry with good things, and those who are rich he has sent away empty-handed.

³² "And if you love those who love you, what kind of credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them! ³³ And if* you do good to those who do good to you, what kind of credit is that to you? Even the sinners do the same! ³⁴ And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive back, what kind of credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, so that they may get back an equal amount! ³⁵ But love your enemies, and do good, and lend expecting back nothing, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. ³⁶ Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful!*

¹ My brothers, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with partiality. ² For if someone* enters into your assembly* in fine clothing with a gold ring on his finger, and a poor person in filthy clothing also enters, ³ and you look favorably on the one wearing the fine clothing and you say, "Be seated here in a good place," and to the poor person you say, "You stand or be seated there* by my footstool," ⁴ have you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 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? ⁶ But you have dishonored the poor! Are not the rich exploiting you and they themselves dragging you into the courts?

²⁹ And so the Levite may come, because there is no plot of ground for him or an inheritance with you, and the alien also may come and the orphan and the widow that are in your _⌊towns_⌋,* and _⌊they may eat their fill_⌋,* so that Yahweh your God may bless you in all of the work of your hand that you undertake."

¹¹ And you shall rejoice before Yahweh your God, you and your son and your daughter and your slave and your slave woman and the Levite that is in your _⌊towns_⌋* and the alien and the orphan and the widow who are in your midst in the place that Yahweh your God will choose to let his name dwell there.

¹⁴ and you shall rejoice at your feast, you and your son and your daughter and your slave and your slave woman and the Levite and the orphan and the widow that are in your _⌊towns_⌋.*

¹² "When you are finished _⌊giving a tithe_⌋,* all of the tithe of your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, then you shall give to the Levite, to the alien, to the orphan, and to the widow, so that they may eat in your towns and they may be satisfied. ¹³ And you shall say _⌊before_⌋* Yahweh your God, 'I have removed the sacred portion from the* house and, moreover, I have given it to the Levite and to the alien and to the orphan and to the widow according to all your commandment that you commanded me; I have not transgressed any of your commandments, and I have not forgotten any of them.

¹⁹ Then he distributed to all the people, to all the multitude of Israel, from man to woman, to each: one ring-shaped piece of bread, one cake of dates, and one cake of raisins; and all the people went each to his house.

²⁴ for Hezekiah the king of Judah had _⌊provided_⌋* one thousand bulls and seven thousand sheep for the assembly, and the princes _⌊provided_⌋* one thousand bulls and ten thousand sheep for the assembly. And many priests consecrated themselves.

¹⁰ Then he said to them, "Go, eat festive food and drink sweet drinks, and send a share to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our lord. Do not be grieved because the joy of Yahweh is your refuge."

¹² All of the people went to eat, to drink, to send a share, and to have great joy because they understood the words that they had made known to them.

¹³ The blessing of the wretched came upon me, and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.

¹⁵ "I was eyes to the blind, and I was feet to the lame. ¹⁶ I was a father to the poor, and I investigated _⌊the stranger's_⌋* legal dispute.

¹⁶ "If I have withheld the desire of the poor from them, or* I have caused the widow's eyes to fail, ¹⁷ or I have eaten my morsel _⌊alone_⌋,* and the orphan has not eaten from it ¹⁸ (for from my childhood he* _⌊grew up with_⌋* me like a father, and from my mother's womb I guided her*), ¹⁹ if I have seen the one who perishes because of no clothing or* that there is no covering for the poor, ²⁰ if his loins have not blessed me, or* by means of my sheep's fleece he has warmed himself,

⁹ Honor Yahweh from your substance,* and from the firstfruits of all that will come to you, ¹⁰ and your barns shall be full of plenty, and your vats shall burst with new wine.

³¹ He who oppresses the poor insults him who made him, but he who has mercy on the poor honors him.

⁶ Give strong drink to him who is perishing, and wine to those _⌊in bitter distress_⌋.* ⁷ He will drink and forget his poverty, and his misery he will not remember any more.

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_⌋.*

¹⁰ if* you offer your soul to the hungry, and you satisfy the appetite of the afflicted, then* your light shall rise in the darkness, and your darkness will be like noon.

¹⁴ And as he* got out, he saw the large crowd and had compassion on them and healed their sick. ¹⁵ Now when it* was evening, the disciples came to him saying, "The place is desolate and the hour _⌊is late_⌋.* Release the crowds so that they can go away into the villages and* purchase food for themselves." ¹⁶ But Jesus said to them, "They do not _⌊need_⌋* to go away. You give them something* to eat." ¹⁷ And they said to him, "We do not have anything* here except five loaves and two fish." ¹⁸ So he said, "Bring them here to me." ¹⁹ And he commanded the crowds to recline for a meal on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and* looking up to heaven, he gave thanks. And after* breaking them,* he gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples gave them* to the crowds. ²⁰ And they all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. ²¹ Now those who ate were about five thousand men, in addition to women and children.

³² And Jesus summoned his disciples and* said, "I have compassion on the crowd, because they have remained with me three days already and do not have anything to eat, and I do not want to send them away hungry lest they give out on the way." ³³ And the disciples said to him, "Where in this desolate place _⌊can we get_⌋* so much bread that such a great crowd could be satisfied?" ³⁴ And Jesus said to them, "How many loaves do you have?" So they said, "Seven, and a few little fish." ³⁵ And commanding the crowd to recline for a meal on the ground, ³⁶ he took the seven loaves and the fish and after he* had given thanks, he broke them* and began giving* them* to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. ³⁷ And they all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up what was left over of the broken pieces, seven baskets full. ³⁸ Now those who ate were four thousand men, in addition to women and children. ³⁹ And after he* sent away the crowds, he got into the boat and went to the region of Magadan.

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_⌋.*

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

²¹ And the slave came and* reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and* said to his slave, 'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the city and bring in here the poor and crippled and blind and lame!'

⁴⁴ And all who believed were in the same place, and had everything in common. 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.

³⁹ So Peter got up and* accompanied them. When he* arrived, they brought him* up to the upstairs room, and all the widows came to him, weeping and showing him* tunics and other clothing that Dorcas used to make while she* was with them.

¹³ contributing to the needs of the saints, pursuing hospitality. ¹⁴ Bless those who persecute,* bless and do not curse them. ¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. ¹⁶ Think the same thing toward one another; _⌊do not think arrogantly_⌋*, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise _⌊in your own sight_⌋*.

² Therefore the overseer must be irreproachable, the husband of one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, skillful in teaching,

¹⁰ being well-attested by good works, if she has brought up children, if she has shown hospitality, if she has washed the feet of the saints, if she has helped those who are oppressed, if she has devoted herself to every good work.

⁸ but hospitable, loving what is good, prudent, just, devout, self-controlled,

⁷ For I have great joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.

² Do not neglect hospitality, because through this some have received angels as guests without knowing it.

¹⁷ He who lends to Yahweh is he who is kind to the poor, and his benefits he will repay to him.

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_⌋.*

⁴ in order that your charitable giving may be in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

⁴¹ The one who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and the one who receives a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive a righteous person's reward. ⁴² And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water to drink in the name of a disciple, truly I say to you, he will never lose his reward."

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! ³⁵ For I was hungry and you gave me something* to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something* to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me as a guest, ³⁶ I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you cared for me, I was in prison and you came to me.' ³⁷ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you,* or thirsty and give you something* to drink? ³⁸ And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you* as a guest, or naked and clothe you?* ³⁹ And when did we see you sick or in prison and come to you?' ⁴⁰ And the king will answer and* say to them, 'Truly I say to you, in as much as you did it* to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it* to me.'

³⁵ but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage, ³⁶ for they are not even able to die any longer, because they are like the angels and are sons of God, because they* are sons of the resurrection.

²⁹ and they will come out—those who have done good things to a resurrection of life, but those who have practiced evil things to a resurrection of judgment.

¹⁵ having a hope in God which these men also themselves await: that there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.

¹⁸ But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; _⌊I am well supplied_⌋* because* I received from Epaphroditus _⌊what you had sent_⌋*, a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God. ¹⁹ And my God will fulfill your every need according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

⁴ And I saw thrones, and they sat down on them, and authority to judge was granted to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of the testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God, and who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and did not receive the mark on their* forehead and on their hand, and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. ⁵ (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed.) This is the first resurrection.

¹¹ But I say to you that many will come from east and west and _⌊be seated at the banquet_⌋* with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.

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.

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.

²⁹ And they will come from east and west, and from north and south, and will recline at the table in the kingdom of God.

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.

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." ²⁸ So they said to him, "What shall we do that we can accomplish the works of God?" ²⁹ Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God: that you believe in the one whom that one sent." ³⁰ So they said to him, "Then what sign will you perform, so that we can see it* and believe you? What will you do? ³¹ Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, just as it is written, 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'* ³² Then Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly I say to you, Moses did not give you bread from heaven, but my Father is giving you the true bread from heaven! ³³ For the bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." ³⁴ So they said to him, "Sir, always give us this bread!" ³⁵ Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. The one who comes to me will never be hungry, and the one who believes in me will never be thirsty again. ³⁶ But I said to you that you have seen me and do not believe. ³⁷ Everyone whom the Father gives to me will come to me, and the one who comes to me I will never throw out, ³⁸ because I have come down from heaven not that I should do my will, but the will of the one who sent me. ³⁹ Now this is the will of the one who sent me: that everyone whom he has given me, I would not lose any of them,* but raise them* up on the last day. ⁴⁰ For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks at the Son and believes in him would have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day." ⁴¹ Now the Jews began to grumble* about him because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven," ⁴² and they were saying, "Is this one not Jesus the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, 'I have come down from heaven'?" ⁴³ Jesus answered and said to them, "Do not grumble _⌊among yourselves_⌋!* ⁴⁴ No one is able to come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up on the last day. ⁴⁵ It is written in the prophets, 'And they will all be taught by God.'* Everyone who hears from the Father and learns comes to me. ⁴⁶ (Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God—this one has seen the Father.)* ⁴⁷ Truly, truly I say to you, the one who believes has eternal life. ⁴⁸ I am the bread of life. ⁴⁹ Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness and they died. ⁵⁰ This is the bread that comes down from heaven so that someone may eat from it and not die. ⁵¹ I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats from this bread, he will live _⌊forever_⌋.* And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh." ⁵² So the Jews began to quarrel* _⌊among themselves_⌋,* saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" ⁵³ Then Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life in yourselves! ⁵⁴ The one who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. ⁵⁵ For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. ⁵⁶ The one who eats* my flesh and drinks my blood resides in me and I in him. ⁵⁷ Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so also the one who eats* me—that one will live because of me. ⁵⁸ This is the bread that came down from heaven, not as the fathers ate and died. The one who eats* this bread will live _⌊forever_⌋."* ⁵⁹ He said these things while* teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.

⁹ And he said to me, "Write: Blessed are those who are invited to the banquet of the wedding celebration of the Lamb!" And he said to me, "These are the true words of God."

¹ Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn her seven pillars. ² She has slaughtered her slaughtering, mixed her wine, and also set her table.

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_⌋!*

⁶ And on this mountain Yahweh of hosts will make for all peoples a _⌊rich feast_⌋,* a feast of aged wines, fat filled with marrow, filtered aged wine. ⁷ And on this mountain he will _⌊destroy_⌋* the face of the shroud, the shroud over all peoples, and the woven covering over all nations.

¹ "Ho! Everyone thirsty, come to the waters! And whoever has no money, come, buy and eat, and come, buy without money, wine and milk without price! ² Why do you weigh out money for what is not food, and your labor for _⌊what cannot satisfy_⌋?* Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, and let your soul take pleasure in _⌊rich_⌋* food. ³ Extend your ear, and come to me! Listen so that* your soul may live, and I will _⌊make_⌋* an everlasting covenant with* you, the enduring proofs of _⌊the mercies shown to_⌋* David. ⁴ Look! I made* him a witness to the peoples, a leader and a commander for the peoples. ⁵ Look! You shall call a nation that you do not know, and a nation that does not know you shall run to you, because of Yahweh your God, and the holy one of Israel, for he has glorified you." ⁶ Seek Yahweh _⌊while he lets himself be found_⌋;* call him _⌊while he is_⌋* near. ⁷ Let the wicked forsake his way, and the man of sin his thoughts. And let him return to Yahweh, that* he may take pity on him, and to our God, for he will _⌊forgive manifold_⌋.*

¹² And they will come, and they will sing for joy on the height of Zion, and they will be radiant over the goodness of Yahweh, over the grain, and over the wine, and over the olive oil, and over the young ones of the flock, and over the cattle. And their life will become like a well-watered garden, and they will never languish again." ¹³ "Then the young woman will rejoice in the dancing in a ring, and the young men and the old men together. And I will turn their mourning to jubilation, and I will comfort them, and I will gladden them from their sorrow. ¹⁴ And I will saturate the appetite of the priests with fatness, and my people will be satisfied with my goodness," _⌊declares_⌋* Yahweh.

⁷ And the people of Ephraim will be like a warrior, and their heart will be glad as with wine. And their children will see and rejoice; their heart will shout in exultation in Yahweh.

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."

¹⁵ And he said to them, "Go* into all the world and* preach the gospel to all creation. ¹⁶ The one who believes and is baptized will be saved, but the one who refuses to believe will be condemned.

¹⁶ But he said to him, "A certain man was giving a large banquet and invited many. ¹⁷ And he sent his slave at the hour of the banquet to say to those who have been invited, 'Come, because now it is ready!' ¹⁸ And they all _⌊alike_⌋* began to excuse themselves. The first said to him, 'I have purchased a field, and _⌊I must_⌋* go out to look at it. I ask you, consider me excused.' ¹⁹ And another said, 'I have purchased five yoke of oxen, and I am going to examine them. I ask you, consider me excused.' ²⁰ And another said, 'I have married a wife, and for this reason I am not able to come.' ²¹ And the slave came and* reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and* said to his slave, 'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the city and bring in here the poor and crippled and blind and lame!' ²² And the slave said, 'Sir, what you ordered has been done, and there is still room.' ²³ And the master said to the slave, 'Go out into the highways and hedges and press them* to come in, so that my house will be filled! ²⁴ For I say to you that none of those persons who were invited will taste my banquet!'"

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.

¹⁷ And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And the one who hears, let him say, "Come!" And the one who is thirsty, let him come. The one who wants, let him take the water of life freely.*

¹ Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn her seven pillars. ² She has slaughtered her slaughtering, mixed her wine, and also set her table. ³ She has sent her servant girls,* she calls upon the wings of the high places of town, ⁴ "Whoever is simple, let him turn here." As for the one who lacks _⌊sense_⌋,* she says to him, ⁵ "Come, eat with my bread; drink with the wine I have mixed.

¹ Now in those days John the Baptist came preaching in the Judean wilderness ² and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near!" ³ For this is the one who was spoken about by the prophet Isaiah, saying,
"The voice of one crying out in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.'"* ⁴ Now John himself had his clothing made from camel's hair and a belt made of leather around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. ⁵ Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the district around the Jordan were going out to him, ⁶ and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they* confessed their sins. ⁷ But when he* saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "Offspring of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? ⁸ Therefore produce fruit worthy of repentance! ⁹ And do not think to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as father.' For I say to you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones! 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."

¹ And summoning his twelve disciples, he gave them authority over unclean spirits, so that they could expel them* and could heal every* disease and every* sickness. ² Now these are the names of the twelve apostles: first Simon who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, James* the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, ³ Philip, and Bartholomew, Thomas, and Matthew the tax collector, James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, ⁴ Simon the Zealot,* and Judas Iscariot—the one who also betrayed him.

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.* ²⁸ Come to me, all of you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke on you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

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!" '

⁴ as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah,
"The voice of one crying out in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight! ⁵ Every valley will be filled, and every mountain and hill will be leveled, and the crooked will become straight, and the rough road will become* smooth, ⁶ and all flesh will see the salvation of God.'"*

¹ And summoning the twelve, he gave them power and authority over all the demons and to cure diseases, ² and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. ³ And he said to them, "Take along nothing for the journey—neither a staff, nor a traveler's bag, nor bread, nor money, nor to have two tunics apiece. ⁴ And into whatever house you enter, stay there and depart from there. ⁵ And as for all those who do not welcome you—when you* depart from that town, shake off the dust from your feet for a testimony against them."

¹ And after these things, the Lord also* appointed seventy-two others and sent them out two by two before _⌊him_⌋* into every town and place where he was about to go. ² And he said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore ask the Lord of the harvest that he send out workers into his harvest. ³ Go! Behold, I am sending you out like lambs in the midst of wolves! ⁴ Do not carry a money bag or a traveler's bag or sandals, and greet no one along the road. ⁵ And into whatever house you enter, first say, "Peace be to this household!" ⁶ And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on him. But if not, it will return to you. 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, ⁹ and heal the sick in it, and say to them, "The kingdom of God has come near to you." ¹⁰ But into whatever town you enter and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and* say, ¹¹ "Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you! Nevertheless know this: that the kingdom of God has come near!"* ¹² I tell you that it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town!

³⁷ Now on the last day of the feast—the great day—Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me, and let him drink,

³⁸ And Peter said* to them, "Repent and be baptized, each one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹ For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all those who are far away, as many as the Lord our God calls to himself."

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!"

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!

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, ³⁹ by this one everyone who believes is justified!

¹⁸ And all these things are from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ, and who has given us the ministry of reconciliation,

¹² to whom he has said,
"This is rest; give rest to the weary; and this is repose"; yet* they were not willing to hear. ¹³ And to them the word of Yahweh will be
blah-blah upon blah-blah blah-blah upon blah-blah gah-gah upon gah-gah gah-gah upon gah-gah,* a little here, a little there, so that they may go and stumble backward and be broken and ensnared and captured.

¹¹ And the vision of all this has become for you like the words of a sealed document. When they give it to one who knows the* document, saying, "_⌊Read_⌋* this now!" He says, "I am not able, for it is sealed." ¹² And if the document is given to one who does not _⌊know how to read_⌋,* saying, "_⌊Read_⌋* this now!" he says, "I do not _⌊know how to read_⌋."*

⁴ Then I said, "They are just simple people, they are foolish, for they know not the way of Yahweh, the law* of their God. ⁵ Let me go to the great, and let me speak with them, for they know the way of Yahweh, the law* of their God." However, they together have broken the yoke, they have torn to pieces the bonds.

¹⁰ To whom shall I speak and admonish, that they may hear? Look, their ears are _⌊closed_⌋,* and they are not able to listen attentively. Look, the word of Yahweh is to them an object of scorn, they do not delight in it.

¹⁶ Thus says Yahweh: "Stand at the roads and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the way of the good is, and walk in it, and find rest for your inner selves.* But they said, 'We will not walk in it.'* ¹⁷ And I raised up watchmen over you: 'Listen attentively to the sound of a horn.' But they said, 'We will not listen attentively.'

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.*

³⁸ For as in the days* before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered into the ark. ³⁹ And they did not know anything* until the deluge came and swept them* all away. So also the coming of the Son of Man will be.

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.

²⁶ And just as it was in the days of Noah, so also it will be in the days of the Son of Man— ²⁷ they were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage, until the day Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. ²⁸ Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot—they were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building. ²⁹ But on the day that Lot went out from Sodom, it rained fire and sulphur from heaven and destroyed them all. ³⁰ It will be _⌊just the same_⌋* on the day that the Son of Man is revealed. ³¹ On that day, whoever is on the housetop and his goods are in the house must not come down to take them away. And likewise the one who is in the field must not turn back

²⁴ And Jesus took notice of him* and* said, "How _⌊difficult it is for_⌋* those who possess wealth to enter into the kingdom of God!

⁴ The baptism of John—was it from heaven or from men? ⁵ And they discussed this* with one another, saying, "If we say 'From heaven,' he will say, 'Why did you not believe him?'

¹¹ He came to his own things, and his own people did not receive him.

⁴⁰ And you are not willing to come to me so that you may have life.

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!

⁵ Now when both Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul began to be occupied with* the message, solemnly testifying to the Jews that the Christ* was Jesus. ⁶ And when* they resisted and reviled him,* he shook out his* clothes and* said to them, "Your blood be on your own heads! I am guiltless! From now on I will go to the Gentiles!"

²⁵ So being in disagreement with one another, they began to leave after* Paul made one statement: "The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through the prophet Isaiah to your fathers, ²⁶ saying,
'Go to this people and say, "_⌊You will keep on hearing_⌋* and will never understand, and _⌊you will keep on seeing_⌋* and will never perceive. ²⁷ For the heart of this people has become dull, and with their* ears they hear with difficulty, and they have shut their eyes, lest they see with their* eyes, and hear with their* ears, and understand with their* heart, and turn, and I would heal them." '*

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.

⁴ and they will turn away from the hearing of the truth, but will turn to myths.

¹⁰ For Demas deserted me, because he* loved the present age, and went to Thessalonica. Crescens went to Galatia; Titus went to Dalmatia.

¹⁶ that no one be a sexually immoral or totally worldly person like Esau, who for one meal traded his own birthright.

¹⁵ Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him, ¹⁶ because everything that is in the world—the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the arrogance of material possessions—is not from the Father, but is from the world.

⁵ "When* a man takes a new wife he shall not go out with the army, and _⌊he shall not be obligated with anything_⌋;* he shall be free from obligation, _⌊to stay at home_⌋* for one year, and he shall bring joy to his wife that he took.

²⁶ "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, and furthermore, even his own life, _⌊he cannot be_⌋* my disciple. ²⁷ Whoever does not carry his own cross and _⌊follow_⌋* me _⌊cannot be_⌋* my disciple. ²⁸ For which of you, wanting to build a tower, does not first sit down and* calculate the cost to see if he has enough* _⌊to complete it_⌋?*

²⁹ And he said to them, "Truly I say to you that there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children on account of the kingdom of God, ³⁰ who will not receive many times more in this time and in the age to come, eternal life."

²⁹ But I say this, brothers: the time is shortened, that from now on even those who have wives should be as if they do not have wives, ³⁰ and those who weep as if they do not weep, and those who rejoice as if they do not rejoice, and those who buy as if they do not possess, ³¹ and those who make use of the world as if they do not make full use of it. For the present form of this world is passing away.

³³ But the one who is married cares for the things of the world, how he may please his wife,

⁸ He raises up the poor from the dust. From the ash heap he lifts up the needy, to cause them to sit with noble people and to cause them to inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth belong to Yahweh and he has set the inhabited world on them.

¹² So David's young men turned on their way and returned and came and told him according to all these words.

¹² Kiss the Son lest he be angry and you perish on the way, for his anger burns quickly. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

⁷ For my loins are full of burning, and there is no soundness in my flesh.

⁷ He raises the helpless from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap, ⁸ to seat them with princes, with the princes of his people.

²⁰ Wisdom calls out in the streets, in the squares she raises her voice. ²¹ On a _⌊busy corner_⌋* she cries out, at the entrances of the gates in the city, she speaks her sayings: ²² "_⌊How long_⌋,* O simple ones, will you love simplicity? And how long will scoffers delight in their scoffing, and fools hate knowledge? ²³ May you turn to my argument!* Behold, I shall pour out my spirit upon you; I will make my words known to you. ²⁴ Because I called out and you refused me, I stretched out my hand, yet there is none who heeds. ²⁵ You have ignored all my counsel, and my reproof you are not willing to accept.

² _⌊Atop the heights_⌋* beside the road, at the crossroads she stands. ³ Beside gates, before towns, at the entrance of doors, she cries out: ⁴ "To you, O _⌊people_⌋,* I call, and my cry is to the children of humankind.

³ She has sent her servant girls,* she calls upon the wings of the high places of town, ⁴ "Whoever is simple, let him turn here." As for the one who lacks _⌊sense_⌋,* she says to him,

²³ Your riggings hang slack; they do not hold the base of their mast firm, they do not spread out the sail. Then the prey of spoil in abundance will be divided; the lame will take plunder.

⁶ Then the lame shall leap like the deer, and the tongue of the dumb shall sing for joy, for waters shall break forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert.

¹ "Roam about through the streets of Jerusalem, and look please, and take note, and search at its public squares, if you can find a person who does justice, who seeks honesty, so that I may forgive it.

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.*

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.

⁵ the blind receive sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised, and the poor have good news announced to them.*

²⁸ Come to me, all of you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.

¹² Then the disciples came and* said to him, "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they* heard this saying?"

³¹ So when* his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were extremely distressed, and went and* reported to their master everything that had happened.

²⁸ "Now what do you think? A man had two sons. He approached* the first and* said, 'Son, go work in the vineyard today.' ²⁹ And he answered and* said, 'I do not want to!' But later he changed his mind and* went. ³⁰ And he approached the second* and* said the same thing. So he answered and* said, 'I will, sir,' and he did not go. ³¹ Which of the two did the will of his* father?" They said, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Truly I say to you that the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going ahead of you into the kingdom of God!

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.

²² And he answered and* said to them, "Go and* tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear;* the dead are raised, the poor have good news announced to them.* ²³ And whoever is not offended by me is blessed."

¹⁰ And when they* returned, the apostles described to him all that they had done. And he took them along and* withdrew privately to a town called Bethsaida.

¹³ But whenever you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind,

²⁴ For I say to you that none of those persons who were invited will taste my banquet!'"

⁴⁷ and repentance and the forgiveness* of sins would be proclaimed in his name to all the nations,* beginning from Jerusalem.

³⁹ Now from that town many of the Samaritans believed in him because of the word of the woman who testified, "He told me everything that I have done." ⁴⁰ So when the Samaritans came to him, they began asking* him to stay with them. And he stayed there two days. ⁴¹ And many more believed because of his word, ⁴² And they were saying to the woman, "No longer because of _⌊what you said_⌋* do we believe, for we ourselves have heard, and we know that this one is truly the Savior of the world!"

⁴⁷ Then the Pharisees replied to them, "You have not also been deceived, have you?* ⁴⁸ _⌊None_⌋* of the rulers or of the Pharisees have believed in him, have they?* ⁴⁹ But this crowd who does not know the law is accursed!"

³⁹ And Jesus said,* "For judgment I have come into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind!"

⁴ Now those who had been scattered went about proclaiming the good news of the word. ⁵ And Philip came down to the city of Samaria and* began proclaiming* the Christ* to them. ⁶ And the crowds with one mind were paying attention to what was being said by Philip, as they heard him* and saw the signs that he was performing. ⁷ For many of those who had unclean spirits, they were coming out of them,* crying out with a loud voice, and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed.

³ how will we escape if we* neglect so great a salvation which had its beginning when it* was spoken through the Lord and was confirmed to us by those who heard,

²⁵ Watch out that you do not refuse the one who is speaking! For if those did not escape when they* refused the one who warned them on earth, much less will we escape,* if we* reject the one who warns from heaven, ²⁶ whose voice shook the earth at that time, but now he has promised, saying,
"Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also heaven."*

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.

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?

¹ And I saw another great and marvelous sign in heaven: seven angels having seven plagues that are the last ones, because with them the wrath of God is completed. ² And I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had conquered the beast and his image and the number of his name were standing by* the glassy sea, holding harps from God. ³ And they were singing the song of Moses, the slave of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying:
"Great and marvelous are your works, Lord God All-Powerful; righteous and true are your ways, King of the ages!* 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." ⁵ And after these things I looked, and the temple, the tent of the testimony in heaven, was opened, ⁶ and the seven angels who had the seven plagues came out from the temple, dressed in clean, bright linen garments, and girded with golden belts around their* chests. ⁷ And one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who lives _⌊forever and ever_⌋*, ⁸ and the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one was able to enter into the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.

¹⁵ And out of his mouth came a sharp sword, so that with it he could strike the nations. And he will shepherd them with an iron rod,* and he stomps the winepress of the wine of the furious wrath of God, the All-Powerful.

⁶ Yahweh does deeds of justice and judgments for all who are oppressed,

⁷ O Israel, wait* for Yahweh. For with Yahweh there is loyal love, and with him there is abundant redemption.

² In my Father's house there are many dwelling places; but if not, I would have told you, because* I am going away to prepare a place for you.

¹ I produced the former account, O Theophilus, about all _⌊that_⌋* Jesus began to do and to teach, ² until the day he was taken up, after he* had given orders through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen, ³ to whom he also presented himself alive after he suffered, with many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking the things about the kingdom of God. ⁴ And while he* was with* them,* he commanded them, "Do not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for what was promised by the Father, which you heard about from me. ⁵ For John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit _⌊not many days from now_⌋."* ⁶ So when* they had come together, they began asking* him, saying, "Lord, is it at this time you are restoring the kingdom to Israel?" ⁷ But he said to them, "It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has set by his own authority. ⁸ But you will receive power when* the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the farthest part of the earth." ⁹ And after he* had said these things, while* they were watching, he was taken up, and a cloud received him from their sight.

⁸ To me, the least of all the saints, was given this grace: to proclaim the good news of the fathomless riches of Christ to the Gentiles,

⁹ because in him all the fullness of deity dwells bodily,

⁵ For there is one God and one mediator between God and human beings, the man Christ Jesus, ⁶ who gave himself a ransom for all, the testimony at the proper time,

² and he* is the propitiation* for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

⁴ And I heard the number of the ones who were sealed, one hundred forty-four thousand sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel: ⁵ from the tribe of Judah, twelve thousand sealed,
from the tribe of Reuben, twelve thousand,
from the tribe of Gad, twelve thousand, ⁶ from the tribe of Asher, twelve thousand,
from the tribe of Naphtali, twelve thousand,
from the tribe of Manasseh, twelve thousand, ⁷ from the tribe of Simeon,* twelve thousand,
from the tribe of Levi, twelve thousand,
from the tribe of Issachar, twelve thousand, ⁸ from the tribe of Zebulun, twelve thousand,
from the tribe of Joseph, twelve thousand,
from the tribe of Benjamin, twelve thousand were sealed. ⁹ After these things I looked, and behold, a great crowd that no one was able to number, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, dressed in white robes and with palm branches in their hands.

² And he said, "Behold, my lords, please turn aside into the house of your servant and spend the night and wash your feet. Then you can rise early and go on your way." And they said, "No, but we will spend the night in the square." ³ But _⌊he urged them strongly_⌋,* and they turned aside with him and came into his house. And he made a meal for them and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.

³ He has remembered his loyal love and his faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation* of our God.

³ Your people _⌊will volunteer_⌋* in the day of your power.* In holy splendor, from the womb of the dawn, you will have the dew of your youth.*

¹⁰ And this shall happen on that day:
the nations shall inquire of the root of Jesse, which shall be standing as a signal to the peoples, and his resting place shall be glorious.

²⁴ On that day, Israel will be the third with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth, ²⁵ whom Yahweh of hosts blessed, saying, "May Egypt my people be blessed, and Assyria, the work of my hands, and my inheritance, Israel."

¹³ And this shall happen:
on that day, a great trumpet will be blown,
and those who were lost in the land of Assyria will come, and those who were scattered in the land of Egypt,
and they will bow down to Yahweh on the _⌊holy mountain_⌋* at Jerusalem.

⁵ And now Yahweh says, who formed me from the womb as a servant for him, to bring Jacob back to him, and that Israel might not* be gathered, for* I am honored in the eyes of Yahweh, and my God has become my strength. ⁶ And he says, "It is trivial _⌊for you to be_⌋* a servant for me,
to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel. I will give you as a light to the nations, to be my salvation to the end of the earth."

¹⁹ And I will set a sign among them, and I will send survivors from them to the nations: Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, who draw the bow; Tubal and Javan, the faraway coastlands that have not heard of my fame, and have not seen my glory.
And they shall declare my glory among the nations, ²⁰ and bring all your countrymen* from all the nations as an offering to Yahweh on horses and chariots* and in litters and on mules and camels, to* _⌊my holy mountain_⌋,* Jerusalem," says Yahweh, "just as the sons of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel to the house of Yahweh.

⁸ _⌊And then_⌋* on that day, living waters will flow out from Jerusalem, half of them to the eastern sea,* and the other half to the western sea;* it will happen both in the summer and in the winter. ⁹ And Yahweh will be king over all the earth; on that day Yahweh will be one and his name one.

¹¹ From the rising of the sun to its setting, my name is great among the nations, and in every place incense is being presented to my name, and a pure offering. For my name is great among the nations," says Yahweh of hosts.

⁴³ For this reason, I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and will be given to a people* who produce its fruits.

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_⌋.*

¹⁹ Therefore, go* and* make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you all the days until the end of the age."

²⁹ And they urged him strongly, saying, "Stay with us, because it is getting toward evening, and by this time the day is far spent." And he went in to stay with them.

¹⁵ But the Lord said to him, "Go, because this man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before Gentiles* and kings and the sons of Israel.

⁴⁴ While* Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all those who were listening to the message. ⁴⁵ And those believers from the circumcision who had accompanied Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles, ⁴⁶ for they heard them speaking in tongues and glorifying God. Then Peter said, ⁴⁷ "Surely no one can withhold the water for these people to be baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit as we also did!" ⁴⁸ So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay for several days.

¹⁸ And when they* heard these things, they became silent* and praised God, saying, "Then God has granted the repentance leading to life to the Gentiles also!" ¹⁹ Now those who had been scattered because of the persecution that took place over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, proclaiming the message to no one except Jews alone. ²⁰ But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they* came to Antioch, began to speak* to the Hellenists* also, proclaiming the good news about the Lord Jesus. ²¹ And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord.

⁴⁷ For so the Lord has commanded us:
'I have appointed you _⌊to be_⌋* a light for the Gentiles, _⌊that you would bring_⌋* salvation to the end of the earth.'* ⁴⁸ And when* the Gentiles heard this,* they began to rejoice* and to glorify the word of the Lord. And all those who were designated for eternal life believed.

¹⁵ And after she was baptized, and her household, she urged us,* saying, "If you consider me to be a believer in the Lord, come to my house and* stay." And she prevailed upon us.

⁶ And when* they resisted and reviled him,* he shook out his* clothes and* said to them, "Your blood be on your own heads! I am guiltless! From now on I will go to the Gentiles!"

²¹ And he said to me, 'Go, because I will send you far away to the Gentiles!'" ²² Now they were listening to him until this word, and they raised their voices, saying, "Away with such a man from the earth! For it is not fitting for him to live!"

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.

²⁸ Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles. They also will listen!"*

¹⁸ But I say, they have not heard, have they?* On the contrary,
"Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the inhabited world."*

¹³ Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Therefore, inasmuch as I am apostle to the Gentiles, I promote my ministry, ¹⁴ if somehow I may provoke my people to jealousy and save some of them.

⁹ and that the Gentiles may glorify God for his mercy, just as it is written,
"Because of this, I will praise you among the Gentiles, and I will sing praise to your name."* ¹⁰ And again it says,
"Rejoice, Gentiles, with his people."* ¹¹ And again,
"Praise the Lord, all the Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise him."* ¹² And again Isaiah says,
"The root of Jesse will come, even the one who rises to rule over the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles will put their hope."*

¹⁹ For although I* am free from all people, I have enslaved myself to all, in order that I may gain more. ²⁰ I have become like a Jew to the Jews, in order that I may gain the Jews. To those under the law I became as under the law (although I* myself am not under the law) in order that I may gain those under the law. ²¹ To those outside the law I became as outside the law (although I* am not outside the law of God, but subject to the law of Christ) in order that I may gain those outside the law. ²² To the weak I became weak, in order that I may gain the weak. I have become all things to all people, in order that by all means I may save some. ²³ I do all this for the sake of the gospel, in order that I may become a participant with it.

¹¹ Therefore, because we* know the fear of the Lord, we are attempting to persuade people, but we are revealed to God, and I hope to be revealed in your consciences.

²⁰ Therefore we are ambassadors on behalf of Christ, as if* God were imploring you through us. We beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

¹ Now because we* are fellow workers, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain.

¹¹ Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, the so-called uncircumcision by the so-called circumcision in the flesh, made by hands, ¹² that you were at that time apart from Christ, alienated from the citizenship of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, not having hope, and without God in the world. ¹³ But now in Christ Jesus you, the ones who once were far away, have become near by the blood of Christ. ¹⁴ For he himself is our peace, who made both one and broke down the dividing wall of the partition, the enmity, in his flesh, ¹⁵ invalidating the law of commandments in ordinances, in order that he might create the two in himself into one new man, thus* making peace, ¹⁶ and might reconcile both in one body to God through the cross, killing the enmity in himself.* ¹⁷ And coming, he proclaimed the good news of peace to you who were far away and peace to the ones who were near, ¹⁸ because through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. ¹⁹ Consequently, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens of the saints and members of the household of God, ²⁰ built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,* ²¹ in whom the whole building, joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, ²² in whom you also are built up together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.*

²³ if indeed you remain in the faith, established and steadfast and not shifted away from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.

²⁸ whom we proclaim, by* admonishing every person* and teaching every person* with all wisdom, in order that we may present every person* mature in Christ,

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

²⁴ Because I called out and you refused me, I stretched out my hand, yet there is none who heeds. ²⁵ You have ignored all my counsel, and my reproof you are not willing to accept. ²⁶ I will also laugh at your calamity;* I will mock when panic* comes upon you. ²⁷ When your panic comes like a storm, and your calamity arrives like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you, ²⁸ then they will call* me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but not find me. ²⁹ Since they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of Yahweh, ³⁰ they were not willing to accept my counsel, they despised all my reproof. ³¹ They shall eat from the fruit of their way, and they shall be sated from their own schemes, ³² for the waywardness of the simple ones will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them.

⁸ Then he said to his slaves, 'The wedding celebration is ready, but those who had been invited were not worthy.

³⁸ Behold, your house has been left to you desolate! ³⁹ For I tell you, you will never see me from now on until you say,
'Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!'"*

¹⁹ And this is the judgment: that the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light, because their deeds were evil.

³⁶ The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who disobeys the Son will not see life—but the wrath of God remains on him.*

²¹ So he said to them again, "I am going away, and you will seek me and will die in your sin. Where I am going you cannot come!"

²⁴ Thus I said to you that you will die in your sins. For if you do not believe that I am he, you will die in your sins."

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 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.

²⁴ So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and came to Capernaum seeking Jesus. ²⁵ And when they* found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you get here?" ²⁶ Jesus replied to them and said, "Truly, truly I say to you, you seek me not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were satisfied! 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."

³⁰ Then he also went in to Rachel, and he loved Rachel more than Leah. And he served with him yet another seven years. ³¹ When Yahweh saw that Leah was unloved he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren.

⁶ "If your brother, the son of your mother or your son or your daughter _⌊or your wife whom you embrace_⌋* or _⌊your intimate friend_⌋* in secrecy _⌊says_⌋,* 'Let us go and let us serve other gods!' gods that you and your ancestors* have not known, ⁷ from among the gods of the people who are around you, _⌊those near you or those far from you_⌋,* from one end of the earth and up to the other end of the earth, ⁸ you must not give in to him, and you shall not listen to him, and your eye shall not take pity on him, and you shall not have compassion, and you shall not cover up* for him.

¹⁵ "If a man has two wives, and the one is loved and the other one is disliked and the one loved and the one that is disliked have borne for him sons, if it happens that the firstborn son _⌊belongs to the one that is disliked_⌋,*

⁹ The one saying of his father and of his mother, 'I have not regarded them,' and his brothers he did not acknowledge, and his children* he did not know, but rather they observed your word, and your covenant they kept.

¹⁵ So* my inner self* will choose* strangling— death more than my _⌊existence_⌋.* ¹⁶ I loathe my life; I would not live forever; depart from me, for my days are a breath.

²⁵ Whom do I have in the heavens except you? And with you I have no other desire on earth. ²⁶ My flesh and heart failed, but God is the _⌊strength_⌋* of my heart and my reward forever.

¹⁷ So I hated life because the work done under the sun is grievous to me. For everything is vanity and chasing wind! 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!

² "I have loved you," says Yahweh, but you say, "How have you loved us?" "Is Esau not Jacob's brother?" _⌊declares_⌋* Yahweh. "I have loved Jacob, ³ but Esau I have hated. I have made his* mountain ranges a desolation, and given his inheritance to the jackals of the desert."

³⁷ The one who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and the one who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

²⁵ The one who loves his life loses it, and the one who hates his life in this world preserves it for eternal life.

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.

¹³ just as it is written, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated."*

⁸ _⌊More than that_⌋*, I even consider all things to be loss because of the surpassing greatness of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for the sake of whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and consider them* dung, in order that I may gain Christ

¹¹ And they conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives until death.

³⁸ And whoever does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.

²¹ But he does not have a root in himself, but _⌊lasts only a little while_⌋,* and when* affliction or persecution happens because of the word, immediately he falls away.

²⁴ Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone wants to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. ²⁵ For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life on account of me will find it. ²⁶ For what will a person be benefited if he gains the whole world but forfeits his life? Or what will a person give in exchange for his life?

³⁴ And summoning the crowd together with his disciples, he said to them, "If anyone wants to come* after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. ³⁵ For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life on account of me and of the gospel will save it. ³⁶ For what does it benefit a person to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? ³⁷ For what can a person give in exchange for his life?

²¹ And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "You lack one thing: Go, sell all that you have, and give the proceeds* to the poor—and you will have treasure in heaven—and come, follow me."

²¹ And they forced a certain man who was passing by, Simon of Cyrene (the father of Alexander and Rufus), who was coming from the country, to carry his cross.

²³ And he said to them all, "If anyone wants to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross every day and follow me. ²⁴ For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life on account of me, this person will save it. ²⁵ For what is a person benefited if he* gains the whole world but loses or forfeits himself?

¹⁷ and carrying for himself the cross, he went out to the place called The Place of a Skull (which is called Golgotha in Aramaic),

²² strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them* to continue in the faith and saying,* "Through many persecutions* it is necessary for us to enter into the kingdom of God."

¹² for which reason also I suffer these things. But I am not ashamed, because I know in whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted until that day.

¹² And indeed, all those who want to live in a godly manner in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

⁴ And they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower whose top reaches to the heavens. And let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered over the face of the whole earth." ⁵ Then* Yahweh came down to see the city and the tower that _⌊humankind_⌋* was building. ⁶ And Yahweh said, "Behold, _⌊they are one people with one language_⌋,* and _⌊this is only the beginning of what they will do_⌋.* So* now nothing that they intend to do will be impossible for them. ⁷ Come, let us go down and confuse their language there, so that they will not understand _⌊each other's language_⌋."* ⁸ So Yahweh scattered them from there over the face of the whole earth, and they stopped building the city. ⁹ Therefore its name was called Babel, for there Yahweh confused the language of the whole earth, and there Yahweh scattered them over the face of the whole earth.

¹⁹ But Joshua said to the people, "You cannot serve Yahweh, for he is a holy and jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. ²⁰ If you forsake Yahweh and serve foreign gods, he will turn and bring disaster to you; he will destroy you after he has done good to you." ²¹ And the people said to Joshua, "No, we will serve Yahweh." ²² And Joshua said to the people, "You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen for yourselves to serve Yahweh." And they said, "We are witnesses." ²³ He said, "Remove the foreign gods that are in your midst, and incline your hearts to Yahweh the God of Israel." ²⁴ And the people said to Joshua, "We will serve Yahweh our God, and we will listen to his voice."

²⁷ Prepare your work in the street and get it ready for yourself in the field; afterward, then* you shall build your house.

²⁰ And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."

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.

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." ²³ He said to them, "You will indeed drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine* to grant, but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father."

³³ In the same way, therefore, every one of you who does not renounce all his own possessions _⌊cannot be_⌋* my disciple.

¹³ Then Paul replied, "What are you doing weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be tied up, but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus!"

⁴ for indeed when we were with you we told you beforehand that we were about to be afflicted, just as indeed it happened, and you know. ⁵ Because of this, I also, when I* could endure it no longer, sent in order to know your faith, lest somehow the tempter tempted you and our labor should be in vain.

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.

²⁷ And the rain came down and the rivers came and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it collapsed, and its fall was great."

³ Then when* Judas, the one who had betrayed him, saw that he had been condemned, he regretted what he had done* and* returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and elders, ⁴ saying, "I have sinned by* betraying innocent blood!" But they said, "What is that to us? You see to it!"* ⁵ And throwing the silver coins into the temple he departed. And he went away and* hanged himself. ⁶ But the chief priests took the silver coins and* said, "It is not permitted to put them into the temple treasury, because it is _⌊blood money_⌋."* ⁷ And after* taking counsel, they purchased _⌊with_⌋* them the Potter's Field, for a burial place for strangers. ⁸ (For this reason that field has been called the Field of Blood until today.)

¹⁸ (Now this man acquired a field for the wages of his wickedness, and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his intestines spilled out. ¹⁹ And it became known to all who live in Jerusalem, so that that field was called in their own language* "Akeldama," that is, "Field of Blood.")

¹¹ For no one is able to lay another foundation than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. ¹² Now if anyone builds upon the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, grass, straw, ¹³ the work of each one will become evident. For the day will reveal it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the work of each one, of what sort it is. ¹⁴ If anyone's work that he has built upon it remains, he will receive a reward.

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.

¹¹ And we desire each one of you to demonstrate the same diligence for the full assurance of your hope until the end,

³⁸ But my righteous one will live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul is not well pleased with him."*

¹⁹ promising them freedom although they* themselves are slaves of depravity. For to whatever someone succumbs, by this he is also* enslaved. ²⁰ For if, after they* have escaped from the defilements of the world through the knowledge of the Lord* and Savior Jesus Christ, and they are again entangled in these things and succumb to them, the last state has become worse for them than the first. ²¹ For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than having known it, to turn back from the holy commandment that had been delivered to them. ²² The statement of the true proverb has happened to them, "A dog returns to its own vomit,"* and "A sow, after* washing herself, returns* to wallowing in the mud."*

⁸ Watch yourselves that you do not lose what we have worked for, but receive a full reward.

¹¹ The king of Israel answered and said, "Tell him, 'Let not him who girds on his armor boast as one who takes off his armor.'"

²⁰ You think only a word of lips, 'I have advice and power for the war.' Now, on whom do you trust that you have rebelled against me? ²¹ Now, look! You _⌊rely_⌋* on the staff of this broken reed, on Egypt, which when a man leans on it, it goes into his hand and pierces it! So is Pharaoh the king of Egypt for all who are trusting on him! ²² But if you say to me, 'On Yahweh our God we trust,' is it not he whose high places and altars Hezekiah removed, and he had said to Judah and to Jerusalem, 'In the presence of this altar you shall bow down only in Jerusalem?'

¹⁸ A plan* will be established by advice, and with guidance make war.

⁸ do not hastily bring out to court, for* what will you do at its end, when your neighbor puts you to shame?

³¹ Then his servants said to him, "Please now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are kings of mercy. Let us now put sackcloth on around our waists and ropes on our heads. Then let us go out to the king of Israel. Perhaps _⌊he will let you live_⌋."* ³² So they tied sackcloth around their waists and ropes on their heads. Then they went to the king of Israel and said, "Your servant Ben-Hadad says, 'Please let me live.'" And he said, "Is my brother still alive?" ³³ The men took this as a good omen and they quickly accepted it as true from him, and they said, "Your brother Ben-Hadad lives." So he said, "Go, get him." Ben-Hadad came out to him, and Ahab pulled him up on the chariot. ³⁴ Ben-Hadad said to him, "The cities which my father took from your father I shall return. You may set up streets with stalls for yourself in Damascus just as my father set up in Samaria." Then Ahab said, "_⌊On these terms_⌋* I will let you go," So he made a covenant with him and let him go.

⁴ But they were very afraid, and they said, "Look, two kings could not stand before him; how can we stand?" ⁵ So whoever was over the house, and whoever was over the city, and the elders and the guardians sent to Jehu, saying, "We are your servants; all that you say to us, we shall do. We shall not make anyone a king. Do what is good in your eyes."

⁹ Or do you have an arm like God, and can you thunder with a voice like his?

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.

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.

²⁰ Now he was very angry with the Tyrians and Sidonians. So they came to him with one purpose, and after* persuading Blastus, _⌊the king's chamberlain_⌋,* they asked for peace, because their country was supported with food from the king's country.

⁶ But he gives greater grace. Therefore it says,
"God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble."* ⁷ Therefore subject yourselves to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you. ⁸ Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded! ⁹ Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your* joy to gloominess. ¹⁰ Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

¹¹ And after they* brought their* boats to the land, they left everything and* followed him.

²⁸ And leaving everything behind, he got up and* began to follow* him.

²⁶ "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, and furthermore, even his own life, _⌊he cannot be_⌋* my disciple.

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." ²³ But when he* heard these things he became very sad, because he was extremely wealthy.

²⁸ And Peter said, "Behold, we have left _⌊all that is ours_⌋* and* followed you."

¹ Now a certain man _⌊named_⌋* Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, ² and he kept back for himself some of the proceeds, and his* wife was aware of it.* And he brought a certain part and* placed it* at the feet of the apostles. ³ But Peter said, "Ananias, for what reason has Satan filled your heart, that you lied to the Holy Spirit and kept back for yourself some of the proceeds of the piece of land? ⁴ When it* remained to you, did it not remain yours? And when it* was sold, was it at your disposal? How is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to people, but to God!" ⁵ And when* Ananias heard these words, he fell down and* died. And great fear came on all those who heard about it.*

¹⁹ saying, "Give to me also this power, so that whomever I place my* hands on may receive the Holy Spirit!" ²⁰ But Peter said to him, "May your silver _⌊be destroyed along with you_⌋,* because you thought _⌊you could acquire_⌋* the gift of God by means of money! ²¹ _⌊You have no_⌋* part or share in this matter, because your heart is not right before God. ²² Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and ask the Lord if perhaps the intent of your heart may be forgiven you!"

⁷ But whatever things were gain to me, these things I have considered loss because of Christ. ⁸ _⌊More than that_⌋*, I even consider all things to be loss because of the surpassing greatness of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for the sake of whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and consider them* dung, in order that I may gain Christ

¹³ "You are the salt of the earth. But if salt becomes tasteless, by what will it be made salty? It is good for nothing any longer except to be thrown outside and* trampled under foot by people.

⁴⁹ For everyone will be salted with fire. ⁵⁰ Salt is good, but if the salt becomes deprived of its salt content, by what can you make it salty? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with one another."

⁶ Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how it is necessary for you to answer each one.

⁴ while* God was testifying at the same time by signs and wonders and various miracles and distributions of the Holy Spirit according to his will. ⁵ For he did not subject to angels the world to come, about which we are speaking. ⁶ But someone testified somewhere, saying,
"What is man, that you remember him, or the son of man, that you care for him? ⁷ You made him for a short time lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor;* ⁸ you subjected all things under his feet.*
For in subjecting all things,* he left nothing that was not subject to him. But now we do not yet see all things subjected to him,

¹⁵ The one who has ears, let him hear!

⁹ The one who has ears, let him hear!"

⁸ And other seed fell on the good soil, and when it* came up, it produced a hundred times as much grain." As he* said these things, he called out, "The one who has ears to hear, let him hear!"

⁴⁴ "_⌊You take these words to heart_⌋,* for the Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men."

⁶ If anyone does not remain in me, he is thrown out as a branch, and dries up, and they gather them and throw them* into the fire, and they are burned.

⁷ The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers, I will grant to him to eat from the tree of life which is in the paradise of God.'

¹¹ The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will never be harmed by the second death.'

¹⁷ The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers, I will give to him some of the hidden manna, and I will give to him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written, that no one knows except the one who receives it.'

²⁹ The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'