Romans Cross References - NSB

¹ Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, appointed (set apart) for the good news of God, ² He promised this long ago through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures. ³ This is about his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who came from the seed of David according to the flesh. ⁴ He was declared to be the Son of God with power through the Spirit of Holiness, by the resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord. ⁵ Through whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, respecting his name. ⁶ You are among those called to Jesus Christ. ⁷ To all who are in Rome, beloved of God and called to be holy ones: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. ⁸ First, I thank my God for all of you through Jesus Christ, for your faith is reported throughout the whole world. ⁹ God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit (whole heart and mind) in the good news of his Son. Without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers. ¹⁰ I pray that I might by the will of God successfully come to you. ¹¹ I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift so that you may be strengthened, ¹² that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. ¹³ I want you to know, brothers, that I was often determined to come to you, but was hindered until now, that I might have some fruit among you as well as the rest of the nations. ¹⁴ I am a debtor both to the Greeks, and to the barbarians, both to the wise, and to the unwise. ¹⁵ I am ready to preach the good news to you in Rome also. ¹⁶ I am not ashamed of the good news; for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who exerts active faith (believes), to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. ¹⁷ It reveals the righteousness of God from faith-to-faith for it is written: »The righteous shall live by faith.« ¹⁸ The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness. ¹⁹ That which is known about God is clear to them, for God revealed it to them. ²⁰ His invisible attributes are clearly seen since the creation of the world. The things made prove His eternal power and divine nature. Mankind has no excuse, ²¹ for when they knew God, they did not glorify him as God. They did not thank him and were vain in their reasoning, for their foolish hearts were darkened. ²² Claiming to be wise, they became fools. ²³ They changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things. ²⁴ God gave them up to uncleanness because of the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves. ²⁵ They changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creation more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. ²⁶ For this cause God gave them up to vile affections for even their women changed the natural use into that which is against nature. ²⁷ Also the men left the natural use of the woman and burned in their lust, one toward another; men with men working that which is obscene. They receive full recompense due for their error. ²⁸ They did not like to retain God in their knowledge, so God gave them over to a reprobate (depraved) mind, to do things that are not fitting. ²⁹ They are filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil mindedness; they are whisperers, ³⁰ backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, ³¹ without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, unforgiving, and unmerciful. ³² They know the judgment of God, that those who commit such things are worthy of death! And yet, they not only do the same, but also approve of those who do them.

¹⁵ »And I will put enmity (hostility) (hatred) between you and the woman, and between your offspring (seed) and hers. He will bruise (overwhelm) (crush) you in the head, and you will bruise (overwhelm) (crush) him in the heel.« (Romans 16:20)

⁵ Jehovah saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become. Every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time.

²¹ Jehovah smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: »Never again will I curse the ground because of man, for the intent of his heart is evil from childhood. I will never again destroy every living creature, as I have done.

⁵ They shouted to Lot: »Where are the men who came to spend the night with you? Bring them out so we can have sex with them!«

³³ Abraham planted a tamarisk tree at Beer-sheba. There he called on the name of Jehovah, the Everlasting God.

³⁰ »It appears that you are going because your heart’s desire is for your father’s house. But why have you taken my gods?«

²² »‘Do not have sexual intercourse with a man as with a woman. It is disgusting.

²² »‘Do not have sexual intercourse with a man as with a woman. It is disgusting. ²³ »‘Do not have sexual intercourse with any animal and become unclean with it. A woman must never offer herself to an animal for sexual intercourse. It is unnatural. ²⁴ »‘Do not become unclean in any of these ways. By these practices all the nations that I am forcing out of your way have become unclean. ²⁵ »‘The land has become unclean. I will punish it for its sins. The land will vomit out those who live in it. ²⁶ »‘Live by my standards, and obey my rules. Neither you nor any foreigner should ever do any of these disgusting things. ²⁷ »‘The people of the land who were there before you did all these disgusting things. As a result, the land has become unclean. ²⁸ »‘If you make the land unclean, it will vomit you out as it has vomited out the people who were there before you.

¹³ »‘When a man has sexual intercourse with another man as with a woman, both men are doing something disgusting and must be put to death. They deserve to die!

²⁴ »‘I am Jehovah your God. I have promised you their land that is rich with milk and honey. I have chosen you to be different from other people. ²⁵ »‘That is why you must make a difference between animals and birds that I have said are clean and unclean. This will keep you from becoming disgusting to me. ²⁶ »‘I am Jehovah, the Holy God. You have been chosen to be my people, and so you must be holy too.

³⁵ When the Ark of the Covenant started out, Moses would say: »ARISE, JEHOVAH; scatter your enemies and put to flight those who hate you!«

⁹ »Is it not enough for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the rest of the congregation of Israel? Jehovah has brought you near to do the work for his tent and stand in front of the community to serve them. ¹⁰ »He brought you and all the other Levites near. But now you demand to be priests.

¹⁵ »Be careful! When God spoke to you from the fire, he was invisible. ¹⁶ »Do not commit the sin of worshiping idols. Do not make idols to be worshiped, whether they are shaped like men, women, ¹⁷ animals on the earth, birds that fly in the air, ¹⁸ or they are like reptiles that creep on the ground, or fish from the water. ¹⁹ »Do not be tempted to bow down and worship the sun or moon or stars (the host or army of the heavens). Jehovah put them there a heritage for all the people under the heavens.

¹⁰ »He destroys everyone who hates him. He never takes long to pay back anyone who hates him.

⁸ Jehovah then set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the Ark of the covenant of Jehovah. They were to stand before Jehovah to serve and pronounce blessings in his name until this day.

⁸ »‘Do not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above, or on the earth below, or that is in the waters beneath the earth:

¹⁸ »If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not listen or obey his father or his mother when they chastise him, ¹⁹ »His father and mother shall seize him, and bring him out to the elders of his city at the gateway of his hometown. ²⁰ »They shall say to the elders of his city: This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious! He will not obey us! He is a glutton and a drunkard. ²¹ »All the men of his city shall stone him to death. In that way you will remove the evil from your midst. All Israel will hear about it and fear.

¹⁶ »‘Cursed is the man who dishonors his father or mother. All the people will say: Amen.

²⁹ that even in bright sunshine you will have to feel your way around like a blind person. You will tell day from night! For the rest of your life, people will beat and rob you. No one will be able to stop them.

¹² »May the beloved of Jehovah dwell in security by him who shields him all the day. He dwells between his shoulders.«

²⁷ »The eternal God is a dwelling place. Underneath are the everlasting arms. He drove out the enemy from before you, and said: ‘Destroy!’

¹⁷ »None of the daughters of the sons of Israel shall be a temple prostitute. ¹⁸ »Do not bring the hire (fee) of a harlot or the wages of a dog into the house of Jehovah your God for any vow offering. Both of these are an abomination to Jehovah your God.

²² They were enjoying themselves when suddenly some sexual perverts from the town surrounded the house and pounded on the door. They said to the old man: Bring out the man who came to your house! We want to have sex with him!

²³ »As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against Jehovah by no longer praying for you. Instead, I will teach you what is good and right for you to do.

¹² »‘I will choose one of your sons to be king when you reach the end of your life and are buried in the tomb of your ancestors. I will make him a strong ruler. ¹³ »‘I will allow no one to take his long lasting kingdom away from him. He will be the one to build a temple for me. ¹⁴ »‘I will be his father. He will be my son. When he does wrong I will correct him just as parents correct children. ¹⁵ »‘I will never put an end to my agreement with him. I put an end to my agreement with Saul when he was king before you. ¹⁶ »‘I will make sure that one of your descendants will be king for a very long time. Your throne will be established from generation to generation.’«

³⁹ King David longed for Absalom once people had consoled him over Amnon’s death.

¹⁵ David grew homesick. He said: »I wish someone would bring me a drink of water from the well by the gate at Bethlehem!«

¹⁸ »‘Jehovah said to him: ‘You were right in wanting to build a temple for me.

¹¹ The king of Israel responded: »It is said, let not the one who puts on his armor boast like the one who takes it off.«

¹⁵ They refused to obey his instructions. They did not keep the covenant he made with their ancestors. They disregarded his warnings. They worshiped worthless idols and became worthless themselves. They followed the customs of the surrounding nations, disobeying Jehovah’s command not to imitate them.

¹⁴ Hezekiah sent a message to Sennacherib at Lachish: »I have done wrong. Stop your attack and I will pay whatever you demand.« The emperor's answer was that Hezekiah should send him ten tons of silver and one ton of gold. ¹⁵ Hezekiah sent him all the silver in the Temple and in the palace treasury. ¹⁶ Hezekiah had the gold from the doors of Jehovah’s Temple and from the doorposts plated by him. He stripped it off and gave it to the king of Assyria. ¹⁷ The king of Assyria sent his commander-in-chief (Tartan), his quartermaster, and his field commander with a large army from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. They stood at the channel for the Upper Pool on the road to the Laundryman's Field. ¹⁸ They sent for the king, and Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah, who was over the house, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah, the son of Asaph, the recorder, came out to them. ¹⁹ The Rabshakeh said to them: »Say to Hezekiah: These are the words of the great king, the king of Assyria: »In what are you placing your hope? ²⁰ »You say you have counsel and [military] strength for war. These are only words. To whom are you looking for support that you rebel against me? ²¹ »You rely on Egypt that broken reed of a staff. If a man leans on it (relies on its power) his hand (strength) will be pierced (wounded) (diminished). So is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who put their faith in him. ²² »If you say to me: We trust in Jehovah our God, is he not the one whose high places and altars have been taken away by Hezekiah. For he told Judah and Jerusalem that worship may only be given before this altar in Jerusalem? ²³ »And now, make an agreement with my master, the king of Assyria, and I will give you two thousand horses, if you are able to put horsemen on them. ²⁴ »How then can you put to shame the least of my master's servants? You put your hope in Egypt for chariots and horsemen: ²⁵ »Have I now come to destroy this place without Jehovah? It was Jehovah who said to me: ‘Go up against this land and make it waste.«’ ²⁶ Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, and Shebna and Joah said to the Rabshakeh (the commander): »Will you kindly make use of the Aramaean language in talking to your servants. We are used to it. Do not use the Jews' language in the hearing of the people on the wall.« ²⁷ He replied: »Do you think you and the king are the only ones the king sent me to say these things? No, I am also talking to the people who are sitting on the wall. They will have to eat their excrement and drink their own urine, just as you will.« ²⁸ The official stood up and shouted in Hebrew: »Listen to what the king of Assyria is telling you! ²⁹ »He warns you: ‘Do not let Hezekiah deceive you. Hezekiah cannot save you.’ ³⁰ »Do not let Hezekiah convince you to rely on Jehovah. Do not think that Jehovah will save you or that he will stop our Assyrian army from capturing you.« ³¹ »Do not listen to Hezekiah. The king of Assyria commands you to come out of the city and surrender. Make peace with me and you will be allowed to eat grapes from your own vines and figs from your own trees, and to drink water from your own wells (cisterns). ³² »The king will resettle you in a country much like your own. There are vineyards to give wine and there is grain for making bread there. It is a land of olives, olive oil, and honey. Do what he commands and you will not die. Do not let Hezekiah fool you into thinking Jehovah will rescue you. ³³ »Did the gods of other nations save their countries from the king of Assyria? ³⁴ »Where are they now? Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah? Did anyone save Samaria? ³⁵ »When did any of the gods of all these countries ever save their country from our king? What makes you think Jehovah can save Jerusalem?« ³⁶ The people kept quiet. They did as King Hezekiah told them. They did not say a word. ³⁷ Then Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah tore their clothes in grief. They reported to the king what the Assyrian official had said.

¹³ The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses. Aaron was set apart, he and his descendants from generation to generation, to consecrate the most holy things, to offer sacrifices before Jehovah, to minister before him and to pronounce blessings in his name as long as they live.

² A prophet, Jehu son of Hanani, went to meet the king. He said to him: »Do you think it is right to help those who are wicked and to take the side of those who hate Jehovah? What you have done has brought Jehovah’s anger upon you.

¹⁹ »‘You say you defeated Edom. Now you have become arrogant enough to look for more fame. Stay home! Why must you invite disaster and your own defeat and take Judah with you?’«

²⁰ »Early the next morning the people went out to the wild country near Tekoa. Before they began Jehoshaphat addressed them with these words: ‘People of Judah and Jerusalem! Put your trust in Jehovah your God. You will stand your ground. Believe what his prophets tell you, and you will succeed.

¹⁹ »Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my advocate is on high.

¹⁴ »They say to God: ‘Leave us alone! We do not desire to know your ways.’ ¹⁵ »Who is the Almighty that we should serve him? And what do we gain if we pray to him?

²⁶ if I have looked at the sun when it shone, or the moon moving in splendor, ²⁷ and my heart has been secretly enticed, and my mouth has kissed my hand, ²⁸ this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges, for I would have denied God above.

³ When I look at your heavens, the creation of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have set in place,

³ The wicked person boasts about his selfish desires. He blesses the covetous, which Jehovah abhors.

⁷ I will proclaim the decree of Jehovah: He said to me: »You are my Son. Today I have become your Father. (I have begotten you.)

¹ ([Psalm of David]) The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky displays what his hands have made. ² Day to day declares speech. Night to night shows knowledge. ³ It is done without talking, without words, without their voices being heard. ⁴ Yet, their measuring line (rule) has gone out into the entire world, their message to the ends of the earth. He has set up a tent in the heavens for the sun. ⁵ It comes out of its chamber like a bridegroom. Like a champion, it is eager to run its course. ⁶ It rises from one end of the heavens. It circles around to the other. Nothing is hidden from its heat.

⁶ The heavens were made by the word of Jehovah, and by the breath of his mouth their entire host. ⁷ He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap. He puts the ocean depth in his storehouses. ⁸ Let all the earth reverence Jehovah. Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. ⁹ He spoke and it was done! He commanded and it stood fast.

⁷ All who hate me whisper together (gossip) against me; against me they devise my hurt, saying:

⁶ They trust their riches and brag about their abundant wealth.

¹⁵ All day long my mouth will tell of your righteousness and of your salvation. I do not know the number. ¹⁶ I will come with the mighty deeds of Jehovah God. I will make mention of your righteousness, yours alone.

¹⁹ Blessed be to his glorious name forever. May the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and amen!

⁹ »I announced the good news of righteousness in the great congregation. I will not close my lips. You know that, O Jehovah. ¹⁰ »I have not hidden your righteousness deep in my heart. I have been outspoken about your faithfulness and your salvation. I have not hidden your mercy and your truth from the great congregation.«

¹⁸ »When you see a thief, you make friends with him. You keep company with people who commit adultery.

²³ »Whoever offers thanks as a sacrifice honors me. I will let everyone who continues in my way see the salvation that comes from God.«

¹ ([Psalm of David]) Why do you brag about the evil you have done, O mighty man? The loving kindness of God endures continually!

⁵ So that your loved ones may be delivered, save with your right hand, and answer us.

⁹ All the nations that you have made will bow in your presence, Jehovah. They will honor (glorify) you.

³⁶ His descendants will last forever. His throne will be in my presence like the sun. ³⁷ It shall be established forever like the moon. It will be like a faithful witness in heaven.

² Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and its inhabitants, you are God from everlasting to everlasting.

⁴ They utter speech. They speak arrogantly. All troublemakers brag about themselves.

¹¹ »My people did not listen to my voice. Israel did not obey me. ¹² »Therefore I gave them over to their stubborn hearts. They walked in their own counsel.

¹² »Therefore I gave them over to their stubborn hearts. They walked in their own counsel.

¹⁵ »Those who hate Jehovah would pretend obedience (submission) to him. Their time of punishment would be long lasting.

⁷ All those who serve graven images are put to shame. Those who boast themselves in idols and all God-like ones bow down before Him.

⁸ O Jehovah our God, you answered them. You were a forgiving God to them, and an avenger of their evil deeds.

⁵ You established the earth upon its foundations, so that it will not be unstable forever.

³¹ Let the glory of Jehovah endure forever. May Jehovah find joy in his works.

²⁰ They traded their glorious God for the statue of a bull that eats grass.

³⁹ They became filthy because of what they did. They behaved like prostitutes.

² Jehovah will extend your powerful scepter from Zion. He will say: »Rule in the midst of your enemies.«

⁴⁶ I will also speak of your laws before kings and will not be ashamed.

⁵ They have mouths, but they cannot speak. They have eyes, but they cannot see. ⁶ They have ears, but they cannot hear. They have noses, but they cannot smell. ⁷ They have hands, but they cannot feel. They have feet, but they cannot walk. They cannot even make a sound with their throats. ⁸ Those who make idols end up like them. So does everyone who trusts them.

⁹⁰ Your faithfulness is throughout all generations. You established the earth, and it stands.

¹⁵ The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of man's hands. ¹⁶ They have mouths, but they do not speak. They have eyes, but they do not see. ¹⁷ They have ears, but they do not hear. There is no breath in their mouths. ¹⁸ Those who make them will be like them, everyone who trusts in them.

¹ ([Psalm of David]) I will praise you, my God and King! I will consecrate your name forever and ever. ² Every day I will bless you. I will praise your name forever and ever.

²² »How long, you simple (stupid) (foolish) ones, will you love simplicity (foolishness) (stupidity)? The scoffers delight in scoffing. Fools hate knowledge!

²⁹ »You have no use for knowledge and you refuse to respect Jehovah.

¹² You say: »How I have hated instruction! My heart despised reproof. ¹³ »I did not obey the voice of my teachers. I did not listen to my instructors!

³⁶ »But he who sins against me wrongs himself. All who hate me love death.«

¹³ For you formed my inward parts. You wove me in my mother's womb.

⁸ Praise him lightning and hail, snow and fog, strong winds that obey his commands. ⁹ Praise him mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedar trees. ¹⁰ Praise him you wild animals and all domestic animals, crawling animals and birds. ¹¹ Praise him you kings of the earth and its people, officials and all judges on the earth. ¹² Praise him you young men and women, old and young together.

⁷ Respect for Jehovah (YHWH) is the beginning of knowledge (truth) (understanding) (wisdom). Fools despise wisdom and instruction.

⁵ »O you simple ones, understand wisdom and, you fools, be of an understanding heart.

¹⁶ Is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom? He has no sense!

² A fool (stupid person) does not like understanding when revealing his thoughts.

¹⁴ He who falsely boasts of a gift is like clouds and wind without rain.

²³ The north wind drives away rain. So does an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.

²⁸ A perverse man sows discord. A whisperer separates good friends.

¹² See a man wise in his own conceit? »There is more hope for a fool than for him.«

²⁰ Without wood the fire goes out. Without a talebearer strife ceases.

¹⁷ The eye that mocks his father, and rejects obedience to his mother, the ravens of the valley pick it out, and the young eagles eat it.

²⁹ »You see! I have found only this, that God made man upright. But they have sought out many devices (schemes) (reasonings).«

¹ (The Beloved) »I came to my garden, my sister, my spouse. I gathered my myrrh with my spice. I ate my honeycomb with my honey and drank my wine with my milk. Eat, O friends; drink, yes, drink abundantly, O beloved.«

⁸ I heard the voice of Jehovah. He said: »Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?« And I said: »Here I am. Send me!«

⁶ In days to come Jacob will take root, Israel will bud and blossom and fill the entire world with fruit.

¹¹ When its twigs are dry, they are broken off and women come and make fires with them. For they have no understanding (discernment). Their Maker has no compassion on them, and their Creator shows them no favor.

⁸ The highways are deserted, no travelers are on the roads. The treaty is broken and its witnesses are despised. No one is respected.

⁶ For unto us a child is born. Unto us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. He will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.

⁶ For unto us a child is born. Unto us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. He will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. ⁷ Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of Jehovah of Hosts will accomplish this.

⁴ »Trust in Jehovah forever, for Jah, Jehovah, is the Rock eternal.

⁸ There will be a highway there, called: »The Road of Holiness.« No sinner will ever travel that road. No fools will mislead those who follow it.

⁹ All who make idols are nothing. The things they treasure are worthless. Those who would speak up for them are blind. They are shamefully ignorant. ¹⁰ Who shapes a god and casts a useless and good for nothing idol. ¹¹ He and his kind will be put to shame. Craftsmen are merely men. Let them all come together and take their stand for they will be brought down to terror and infamy. ¹² The blacksmith takes a tool and works with it in the coals. He shapes an idol with hammers; he forges it with the might of his arm. He gets hungry and loses his strength. He drinks no water and grows faint. ¹³ The carpenter measures with a line and makes an outline with a red chalk marker. He roughs it out with chisels and marks it with a compass. He shapes it in the form of man in all his glory, that it may dwell in a shrine.

¹³ The carpenter measures with a line and makes an outline with a red chalk marker. He roughs it out with chisels and marks it with a compass. He shapes it in the form of man in all his glory, that it may dwell in a shrine. ¹⁴ He cut down cedars, or cypress or oak. He let it grow among the trees of the forest, or planted a pine, and the rain made it grow. ¹⁵ It is man’s fuel for burning so he takes some to warm himself. He kindles a fire and bakes bread. But he also fashions a god and worships it. Yes he makes an idol and bows down to it. ¹⁶ Half of the wood they burn in the fire. Over this half they roast meat that they can eat until they are full. They also warm themselves and say: We are warm. We can see the fire! ¹⁷ But the rest of the wood they make into gods, carved statues. They bow to them and worship them. They pray to them and say: »Rescue us, because you are our gods.« ¹⁸ They do not know or understand anything. Their eyes are plastered shut and cannot see. Their minds are closed and therefore they cannot understand. ¹⁹ No one stops to think. No one has enough knowledge or understanding to say: »I burned half of the wood in the fire. I also baked bread over its coals. I roasted meat and ate it. Now I am making the rest of the wood into a disgusting thing and bowing to a block of wood.« ²⁰ They eat ashes because they are deceived. Their own misguided minds lead them astray. They cannot rescue themselves or ask themselves: »Is what I hold in my right hand a false god?«

²⁰ They eat ashes because they are deceived. Their own misguided minds lead them astray. They cannot rescue themselves or ask themselves: »Is what I hold in my right hand a false god?«

¹ Listen to this, you islands! Pay attention you people far away. Jehovah chose me long before I was born. He recorded my name while I was in my mother’s womb.

¹ THIS IS THE PEOPHESY ABOUT THE MESSIAH. Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm (power) of Jehovah been revealed?

¹⁸ To whom, then, will you compare God? What image will you compare him to?

²⁶ »Lift your eyes and look to the heavens. Who created all these? The being that brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name created all these! Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.

¹⁰ »You felt sure of yourself in your evil. You thought that no one could see you. Your wisdom and knowledge led you astray. Then you said to yourself: ‘I am God! There is no one else like me.’

² »Darkness now covers the earth! Thick darkness overwhelms the nations. But Jehovah shines for you. His glory appears to you.

⁵ »Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you were born, I set you apart for my holy purpose. I appointed you to be a prophet to the nations.«

⁵ Jehovah says: »What bad thing (injustice) did your fathers find in me that they went so far away from me? They followed worthless idols and became worthless (lead astray) themselves.

¹¹ »Has any nation ever exchanged gods? Their gods are not really gods. Yet my people have exchanged their glory for something that does not help them.

²² »My people are fools. They do not know me. They are stupid people. They do not understand. They are experts in doing wrong, and they do not know how to do good.«

²¹ »‘Hear this, you stupid and senseless people! You have eyes, but you cannot see. You have ears, but you cannot hear.’«

³⁰ They call them rejected silver, for Jehovah has rejected them.

⁸ »How can you say you are wise and that you have Jehovah’s Laws? The scribes have used their pens to spread falsehoods. ⁹ »Wise people are put to shame, confused, and trapped. They have rejected the word of Jehovah. They do not really have any wisdom.

⁶ »You live in the middle of deceit. Through deceit they refuse to know me,« says Jehovah.

³ The people’s customs are erroneous and empty. It is wood cut from the forest. It is the work of the hands of a craftsman with a cutting tool. ⁴ »They decorate it with silver and with gold. They fasten it with nails and with hammers so that it will not tip over. ⁵ »They are like scarecrows in cucumber fields. They cannot speak. They must be carried, for they cannot walk! Do not fear them! For they can do no harm and they can do no good.« ⁶ There is none like you, O Jehovah. You are great and your name is powerful. ⁷ Who would not respect you, O King of the nations? It is your right! There is none like you among all the wise men of the nations. ⁸ They are very stupid and foolish. They teach vanity to a tree. Their idol is wood!

¹⁰ Jehovah is the true (faithful) (right) God! He is the living God and the everlasting king. The earth quakes at his wrath. The nations cannot endure his indignation. ¹¹ You will say to the idolaters: »The gods that did not make the heavens and the earth will perish from the earth and from under the heavens.« ¹² He who made the earth by his power, and established the world by his wisdom; also stretched out the heavens by his understanding. ¹³ He speaks, and the water in the sky produces a storm. He makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth. He makes lightning flash with the rain. He brings wind out of his storehouses. ¹⁴ Every man is stupid lacking knowledge. Every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols. His molten images are deceitful. There is no breath in them.

¹⁴ Every man is stupid lacking knowledge. Every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols. His molten images are deceitful. There is no breath in them. ¹⁵ They are worthless, a work of mockery. In the time of their punishment they will perish.

²⁵ »This is your fate, the destiny I have planned for you,« proclaims Jehovah. »You have forgotten me and trusted in false gods.

¹⁹ Jehovah is my strength and my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble. Nations come to you from the most distant parts of the world and say: Our ancestors have inherited lies, worthless and unprofitable gods.

²⁹ »My message is like a fire and like a hammer that breaks rocks in pieces.

¹⁵ »At that time I will choose as king a righteous descendant of David. That king will do what is right and just throughout the land. ¹⁶ »The people of Judah and of Jerusalem will be rescued and will live in safety. The city will be called Jehovah is Our Righteousness.’« ¹⁷ »I Jehovah promise that there will always be a descendant of David to be king of Israel

²⁶ then I would reject the descendants of Jacob and David my servant. And I would not take from his descendants rulers over the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. But I will restore their prosperity and will show them love and compassion.’«

⁵ »The days are coming,« declares Jehovah, »when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch. He will reign as king and act wisely and do justice and righteousness in the land. ⁶ »In His days Judah will be saved. Israel will dwell securely. This is his name by which he will be called, Jehovah Is Our Righteousness.

¹⁰ So I entered and looked, and behold, every form of creeping things and beasts and detestable things. There were all the idols of the house of Israel. They were carved on the wall all around.

⁷ »‘»People in you hate their fathers and mothers. They oppress foreigners in you. They oppress orphans and widows in you.«’«

⁸ »She did not know that I gave her the grain, the new wine and oil, and multiplied her silver and gold, which they used for Baal.

⁶ My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you! You will not be a priest to me since you have forgotten the Law of your God. Therefore, I will forget your children.

¹⁷ Ephraim is joined to idols. Leave him alone. ¹⁸ Their drink (wheat beer) has become sour. They play the harlot continually. Her rulers dearly love shame.

³ »They make kings happy with the wicked things they do. They make officials happy with the lies they tell.

⁴ Jehovah continued: »I will not withdraw punishment for the many transgressions of Judah. For they have rejected the Law of Jehovah! They have not kept his statutes. Their lies have led them astray, those after which their fathers walked.

¹¹ »In that day I will raise up the fallen tabernacle of David and close up the breaches. I will raise up its ruins and rebuild it as in the days of old.

¹⁵ He brings them all up with the hook. He gathers them away in his net. He gladly gathers them and rejoices. ¹⁶ He offers sacrifices and burns incense to his fishing net. For it is through this their catch is great and the food is plentiful.

⁴ »Behold, he is proud. He is not righteous. The righteous will live by faith.

¹⁸ »What is an idol worth after the carver is done? It is merely a false god. Why trust a speechless image made by human hands from wood or metal?

¹¹ »Where ever the sun rises and sets my name will be great among the people of the nations. Incense will be offered to my name everywhere. It will be a pure offering! For my name will be great among the nations,« said Jehovah of Hosts.

¹⁴ »The cheater who sacrifices a worthless animal to me will be cursed. For he has in his flock a good animal that he promised to give me! I am a great King,« Jehovah of Hosts declares. »People of all nations will respect my name!«

¹ The list of ancestors of Jesus Christ, descendant of David and Abraham:

⁶ Jesse the father of King David. David and Uriah’s wife Bath-sheba were the father and mother of Solomon.

¹⁶ Jacob was the father of Joseph, who was the husband of Mary. Mary was the mother of Jesus, who is called Christ (the Anointed).

²⁰ Joseph had this in mind when God’s angel appeared to him in a dream. The angel said to him: »Joseph, descendant of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. She is pregnant by Holy Spirit. ²¹ »She will give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus (»Jehovah (YHWH) is salvation«), because he will save his people from their sins.« ²² All this happened so that what God spoke through the prophet came true: ²³ »The virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel,« which means: »God (God-like one) is with us.« (John 1:18)

¹⁶ »Likewise, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

⁴⁵ »You will then act as true children of your Father in heaven. He gives sunlight to both evil and good people. He sends rain for the just and the unjust.

⁸ »Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. ⁹ »‘Our Father in heaven, holy is your name. (Exodus 6:3) (Psalm 83:18) (Isaiah 42:8; 54:5; 63:16; 64:8)

²³ »But if your eye is wicked, your body will be in darkness. If that light in you is really darkness, how great a darkness it must be. ²⁴ »You cannot serve two masters. You will hate one and love the other. You will be loyal to one master and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money (wealth) (material possessions).

²⁷ Jesus left that place and walked along the road. Two blind men followed him. They shouted: »Have mercy on us, Son of David!«

³⁸ »Pray that the Lord of the harvest will send out workers into his harvest.«

¹⁷ Then a voice from heaven said: »This is my Son whom I love and whom I have approved.«

³⁷ »He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me. He who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

²⁵ Then Jesus prayed: »I thank you, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth. You have hidden these things from the wise and understanding, and have revealed them to children. (Acts 2:36)

²³ The crowds were amazed, and said: »Can this be the son of David?«

⁴ »God said, ‘Honor your father and mother.’ ‘He who says evil of father or mother will be put to death.’

¹⁴ »Let them be. They are blind guides. If a blind man guides another blind man, they will fall in a hole together.«

¹⁶ He replied: »Are you, like them, without wisdom?

⁴² »What do you think of the Christ? Whose son is he?« They said: »The son of David.« ⁴³ He said: »How then does David, directed by Spirit, call him Lord, saying, ⁴⁴ »‘Jehovah said to my Lord, »Sit on my right hand until I put your enemies beneath your feet.«’ (Psalm 110:1) ⁴⁵ »If David called him ‘Lord,’ how is he his son?«

¹⁴ »The good news of the kingdom will be preached in the entire world for a witness to all the nations and then the end will come.

⁴³ He trusts in God. Let him save him now if he wants him. After all he said: »I am the Son of God.«

²² A woman of Canaan came crying and saying: »Have pity on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is greatly troubled with an unclean spirit.«

²¹ From that time forward Jesus made it clear to his disciples how he would have to go to Jerusalem. He told them he would undergo much at the hands of the authorities, including the chief priests and scribes. He let them know he would be put to death. The third day he would come back from the dead.

⁶³ Jesus said nothing. The high priest said to him: »I put you on oath, by the living God, that you will tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.«

¹ The beginning of the good news about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

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

⁸ »She did what she could! She anointed my body beforehand for burying.

¹⁰ Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went away to the chief priests, that he might betray Jesus to them. ¹¹ They were glad to hear it and promised to give him money. He looked for ways how he might conveniently deliver Jesus to them.

¹⁵ He said to them, »Go into the entire world, and preach the good news to the whole creation. ¹⁶ »He who believes and is baptized will be saved. He who does not believe will be condemned.

³¹ »You will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son. You will call his name Jesus. ³² »He will be great. He will be called the Son of the Most High. Jehovah God will give him the throne of his father David. (Isaiah 11:1-10) ³³ »He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will not end.«

³⁵ The angel replied: »Holy Spirit would come to you and the power of the Most High will envelope you. Because of this the newborn will be called the Son of God.«

⁶⁹ »He raised up a horn of salvation (power of deliverance) for us in the house of his servant David ⁷⁰ »He spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from ages past.

¹ In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that a census should be taken of all the inhabited earth.

⁴ Joseph came from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea to be counted and taxed. He went to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David. ⁵ He registered himself with Mary, who was engaged to him. She was about to become a mother. ⁶ While they were there the time came for Mary to give birth.

¹⁰ The angel spoke to them: »Do not be afraid. Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy to all the people. ¹¹ »Christ (Messiah) the Lord, a Savior, is born this day in the city of David.

²⁶ »If any man is ashamed of my teachings, and of me the Son of man will be ashamed of that person. This will happen when he comes in his own glory, and the glory of the Father, and of the holy angels.

²¹ In that same hour he rejoiced in Holy Spirit and said: »I thank you Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you did hide these things from the wise and the understanding and revealed them to babes. Father, it is pleasing in your sight.

⁴⁸ »Therefore you are witnesses and consent to the works of your fathers. They killed them and you build their tombs.

⁴⁶ the master of that servant will come when he does not expect. He will come in an hour that he does not know. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers. ⁴⁷ »The unfaithful servant who knew what his master wanted and did not do it will be beaten.

¹⁵ When he was healed, one of them came back and praised God in a loud voice. ¹⁶ He fell on his face at Jesus feet and thanked him. He was a Samaritan. ¹⁷ Jesus answered: »Were all ten cleansed? Where are the nine? ¹⁸ »Were the others not willing to return with this foreigner to give glory to God?

¹ He spoke an illustration to them emphasizing the need to pray and not become tired:

³¹ He took the twelve to Jerusalem so that the Son of man will accomplish all the things that are written through the prophets: ³² »He will be delivered up to the people of the nations, and will be mocked, and shamefully treated, and spit upon. ³³ »They will beat and kill him. The third day he will rise.«

¹⁶ »Parent, brothers and sisters and friends will turn you over and cause you to be put to death.

²⁶ »Did the Christ need to suffer these things and enter into his glory?« ²⁷ He explained to them all the Scriptures about the things concerning him. He spoke about Moses and all the prophets.

⁹ The true light, which gives light to every man, came into the world. (Isaiah 49:6)

¹⁴ The Word [Jesus] became flesh (a human being) and lived with us. We saw the glory of the only begotten son from the Father. He was full of loving-kindness and truth.

¹⁶ Out of the fullness of his undeserved kindness he gives us one blessing after another.

¹⁸ No man has ever seen God. The only begotten God-like one who is closest to the Father (in the bosom of the Father) tells us about him. (Psalm 8:5)

³⁴ »I have seen, and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.«

⁴⁹ Nathanael answered: »Rabbi you are the Son of God. You are King of Israel.«

⁸ »Draw some out,« he said, »and take it to the master of the feast.« So they drew some out.

¹⁸ The Jews asked him: »What sign would you show us seeing that you do these things? ¹⁹ Jesus replied: »Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.« ²⁰ The Jews responded: »It took forty-six years to build this temple and you will raise it up in three days?« ²¹ But he spoke of the temple of his body.

¹⁶ »For God loved the world so much, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever has an active faith in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. ¹⁷ »God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world. Instead the world should be saved through him. ¹⁸ »He who has an active faith in him is not judged. He who does not have an active faith has been judged already for he has not had faith in the name of the only begotten Son of God. ¹⁹ »This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world. People loved the darkness rather than the light for their works were evil.

¹⁹ »This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world. People loved the darkness rather than the light for their works were evil. ²⁰ »Every one who does evil hates the light. He does not come to the light because his works would be reproved. ²¹ »He who practices the truth comes to the light. His works are made known that they are from God.«

³⁵ »The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. ³⁶ »He who puts active faith in the Son has everlasting life. He who disobeys* the Son will not see life for the wrath of God remains upon him.« (*Greek: apeitheo: willfully disobey, not having faith)

³⁶ »He who puts active faith in the Son has everlasting life. He who disobeys* the Son will not see life for the wrath of God remains upon him.« (*Greek: apeitheo: willfully disobey, not having faith)

²³ »But the hour comes and now is when the true worshippers shall worship the Father with spirit and truth. The Father seeks such people to worship him. ²⁴ »God is a Spirit. They who worship him must worship him with spirit and truth.«

³⁴ Jesus said: »My food is to do the will of him that sent me. To finish his work!

³⁶ »He who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for life eternal. Both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together.

²⁵ »Truly I tell you, the hour is coming when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear (listen) (understand) will live.

⁷ »The world has no reason to hate you. But it hates me because I testify that its works are evil.

³⁵ The Jews said among themselves: »Where will this man go that we shall not find him? Will he go to the Dispersion among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks?

⁴² »Do the Scriptures say that the Christ comes from the seed of David and from Bethlehem, the village where David was?«

³⁰ »The Father and I are one (united in purpose).«

³⁶ »do you say to the one whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, you blaspheme? And this because I said, I am the Son of God. (Psalm 82:1, 6) (John 1:34; 5:18) (Luke 1:35)

²⁴ »Truly I tell you unless a grain of wheat falls to the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies it bears much fruit.

²⁶ »If you want to serve me follow me! My servant will be where I am and the Father will honor my servant.

¹⁴ »If the Teacher and Lord washed your feet you should wash one another’s feet. ¹⁵ »I have given you an example. You should also do as I have done to you. ¹⁶ »Truly I tell you, a servant is not greater than his master. Neither is one that is sent greater than he that sent him.

¹⁵ »I no longer call you servants for the servant does not know what the lord does. I have called you friends; for all things that I heard from my Father, I have made known to you. ¹⁶ »You did not choose me. I chose you and appointed you. You should go and bear fruit and your fruit should remain. Whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.

²⁰ »Remember the word I said to you. A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they obeyed my word, they will obey yours also.

²² »If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin. Now they have no excuse for their sin! ²³ »He who hates me hates my Father also. ²⁴ »If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would have no sin. They have seen and hated both my Father and me.

¹⁷ Jesus said: »Do not touch me for I am not yet ascended to the Father. Go to my brothers, and say to them, I ascend to my Father and you’re Father, and my God and your God.« (Revelation 3:12)

²⁸ Thomas answered: »My Lord and my God!« (John 1:18; 10:36; 20:17)

³¹ These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. By believing you may have life in his name.

²⁵ »Which of these men should assume this ministry and apostleship from which Judas fell away, that he might go to his own place.«

²⁴ »God resurrected him, loosing the pains of death. This is because it was not possible that he should be held fast by it.

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

³² »God resurrected Jesus and we all witnessed this!

¹³ »The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his Son Jesus. You handed him over to Pilate. When he was determined to let him go you denied him.

¹⁵ »You killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead. We witnessed this!

²⁶ »God raised up his servant and sent him to you first. He sent him to bless you and to turn every one of you from your wicked ways.«

¹⁰ »Let it be known to you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you impaled and whom God raised from the dead, even by him this man stands before you healed. ¹¹ »This is the stone that was rejected by you builders. It became the chief corner stone. ¹² »There is no salvation in anyone else. For there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.«

⁴² »God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven. It is written in the book of the prophets: O you house of Israel, have you offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness?

⁵⁹ They stoned Stephen. He called out: »Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!« ⁶⁰ He kneeled down and cried with a loud voice: »Jehovah, do not charge this sin against them.« After saying this he fell asleep in death.

¹ Saul agreed to his death. There was at that time a great persecution against the congregation at Jerusalem. All but the apostles were scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria.

¹⁵ Peter and John prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit. ¹⁶ They were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus but had not yet received the Spirit. ¹⁷ So they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. ¹⁸ When Simon saw the Holy Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money. ¹⁹ Simon said: »Give me this power that on whomever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Spirit.«

³⁶ On their way, they came to a body of water and the eunuch said, »See, here is water. What prevents me from getting baptized?«

¹⁵ The Lord said to him: »Be on your way. This man is a chosen vessel to bear my name to the people of the nations, and kings and the children of Israel.

²⁰ He preached in the synagogues immediately. He preached Christ the Son of God.

³⁰ »The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you killed. You hanged him on a stake. ³¹ »God exalted him to his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. ³² »We are witnesses of these things. The Holy Spirit, which God gave to those who obey him, also witnessed.«

³⁶ »Sometime ago Theudas claimed to be somebody. About four hundred men joined and obeyed him. He was killed and they finally dispersed.

⁷ The word of God increased. The number of the disciples greatly multiplied in Jerusalem. Even a great number of priests became obedient to the faith.

⁴³ »All the prophets testify that through his name whoever believes in him will receive forgiveness of sins.«

²³ When he arrived he saw the grace of God and was glad. He exhorted them all to remain true to the Lord as their only purpose of heart.

²⁸ One of them was named Agabus. He indicated through the Spirit that a great famine was about to come on the entire earth. He said it would come to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.

¹⁶ »In the past he let all nations to walk in their own ways.

¹⁶ »In the past he let all nations to walk in their own ways. ¹⁷ »He has not left himself without witness. For he did good and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.«

²⁷ The congregation gathered and reported all God had done with them how he had opened the door of faith to the nations.

¹² The crowd kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul. They declared the miracles and wonders God performed through them among the people of the nations.

¹⁴ »Simeon declared how God first visited the nations to take out of them a people for his name.

²³ They wrote letters as follows: »The apostles, elders and brothers send greeting to the brothers who are of the nations in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia.

⁵ The congregations were made stronger in the faith and grew in numbers every day. ⁶ The Holy Spirit did not let them preach the message in the province of Asia. So they traveled through the region of Phrygia and Galatia. ⁷ When they reached the border of Mysia, they tried to go into the province of Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them.

²³ »As I passed along, and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: »To An Unknown God.« What you worship as unknown, this I will proclaim to you.

²³ »As I passed along, and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: »To An Unknown God.« What you worship as unknown, this I will proclaim to you. ²⁴ »The God that made the world and all things in it is the Lord of heaven and earth. He does not live in temples made with hands. ²⁵ »Men’s hands do not serve him as if he needed anything. He gives life and breath to all. ²⁶ »From one person he made every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth. He determined their appointed seasons, and the bounds of their habitation. ²⁷ »God did this so man could seek him and might find him. He is not far from each one of us. ²⁸ »In him we live, and move, and have our existence. Your own poets have said: For we are also his offspring. ²⁹ »Being then the offspring of God, we should not think that the divine being is like gold, or silver, or stone, a device made by man’s design or skill.

²⁹ »Being then the offspring of God, we should not think that the divine being is like gold, or silver, or stone, a device made by man’s design or skill. ³⁰ »God overlooked the times of ignorance; but now he commands men everywhere to repent. ³¹ »He has established a day (time) in which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man [Jesus] whom he has ordained. Of that he gives proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.« (John 5:22) (Isaiah 2:4) (Acts 10:42) ³² Some mocked when they heard about the resurrection of the dead. Yet others said: »We will hear you again concerning this«.

²¹ »I will return again to you if it is God’s will,« Paul said. Then he set sail from Ephesus.

⁶ Paul laid his hands on them and Holy Spirit came upon them. They spoke with tongues and prophesied.

²¹ After this ended Paul was directed in the spirit to go to Jerusalem after he passed through Macedonia and Achaia. He said: »After I have been there, I must also see Rome.«

²⁴ »I do not consider my life of any account. It is not dear to me so that I may finish the race, and I may accomplish the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus, to preach the good news of the grace of God.

¹³ Why do you weep and break my heart? Paul answered: »For I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.« ¹⁴ He would not be dissuaded. So we ceased, saying: The will of God be done!

¹⁹ After Paul greeted them he reported in detail what God had done among the nations through his ministry.

⁴⁰ The commander gave permission so Paul stood on the stairs, motioned to the people. When there was silence he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, saying:

¹ »Men, brothers and fathers, hear my defense to you now.«

⁷ »I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me: ‘Saul, Saul! Why do you persecute me?’

¹³ »He came and stood by me, and said: ‘Brother Saul, see again!’ At that very moment I saw again and looked at him. ¹⁴ »He said: ‘The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will. You are to see his righteous servant, and to hear him speak with his own voice. ¹⁵ ‘You will be a witness for him to tell everyone what you have seen and heard.

²⁰ ‘»When your witness Stephen was put to death, I was there, approving of his murder and taking care of the coats of his murderers.’« ²¹ »The Lord said: ‘Go! I will send you far away to the people of the nations.’

¹ Agrippa said to Paul, »You are permitted to speak for yourself.« Then Paul stretched out his arm and began his defense,

⁶ »Now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers.

¹⁴ »We all fell to the ground. I heard a voice speaking to me. It said in the Hebrew tongue: ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ (You only hurt yourself.)

¹⁶ »Stand up on your feet. I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of these things that you have seen, and of those things I will show to you. ¹⁷ »I will rescue you from the people and the nations. I am sending you to them. ¹⁸ »To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God. They may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

¹⁸ »To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God. They may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

¹ When it was determined that we should sail to Italy, they delivered Paul and other prisoners to a man named Julius, a centurion of the band of Augustus. ² We entered a ship at Adramyttium and set sail. We intended to sail by the coasts of Asia. Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica was with us. ³ The next day we landed at Sidon. Julius treated Paul in a kind way and gave him liberty to go to his friends to refresh himself. ⁴ When we set sail from there we sailed under the shelter of Cyprus, because the winds were contrary. ⁵ When we sailed over the sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia. ⁶ There the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing to Italy. He put us on it. ⁷ We sailed slowly for many days and had problems arriving off Cnidus. The wind did not allow us to hold our course. So we sailed to the downwind part of Crete near Salmone. ⁸ It was difficult to move along the coast. We came to a place called Fair Havens near the town of Lasea. ⁹ Much time had been lost and sailing was now dangerous. Because the fast was over Paul admonished them, ¹⁰ »Men, I see that our voyage from here on will be dangerous. There will be great damage to the cargo and to the ship, and loss of life as well.« ¹¹ But the army officer was convinced by what the captain and the owner of the ship said, and not by what Paul said. ¹² It was not a good harbor in which to spend the winter. Nearly everyone was in favor of putting out to sea and trying to reach Phoenix in order to spend the winter there. Phoenix is a harbor in Crete that faces southwest and northwest. ¹³ A gentle wind from the south began to blow. The men thought they could accomplish their plan. So they pulled up the anchor and sailed as close as possible along the coast of Crete. ¹⁴ Soon a very strong northeast wind blew down from the island. ¹⁵ It hit the ship and it was impossible to keep the ship headed into the wind. We gave up trying and let it be carried along by the wind. ¹⁶ We had shelter when we passed to the south of the little island of Cauda. There, with some difficulty we managed to make the ship’s boat secure.

⁵ Peter was kept in prison. Prayer was made without ceasing by the congregation to God for him.

² As they ministered to God, and fasted, the Holy Spirit said: »Set Barnabas and Saul apart for the work I have called them.« ³ After they fasted and prayed, they laid their hands on them and sent them away. ⁴ Being sent by Holy Spirit, they went to Seleucia. From there they sailed to Cyprus.

⁹ Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, set his eyes on him,

²² »When he removed him, he made David their king. He testified about him when he said: I found David the son of Jesse is a man after my own heart. He will do my will. ²³ »God brought the Savior Jesus to Israel from this man’s descendants.

³³ »God has fulfilled this promise to their children by resurrecting Jesus. Just as it is written in the second psalm: You are my Son, today I have become your father. (Psalms 2:7) ³⁴ »He raised him up from the dead, never to decay. It is stated in these words: I will give you the sure blessings promised David. (Isaiah 55:3) ³⁵ »He said in another psalm: You will not allow your Holy One to see decay. (Ps 16:10)

¹⁴ »This I confess to you that according to The Way, which they call a sect, I serve the God of our fathers. I believe all the things written in the law and the prophets.

²⁴ A few days later Felix arrived with Drusilla his wife, who was a Jewess. He sent for Paul and listened to him concerning faith in Christ. ²⁵ He reasoned about righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come. Felix trembled, and answered: »Go your way for now. When I have time I will send for you.«

¹⁷ They pulled it aboard and then fastened some ropes tight around the ship. They were afraid that they might run into the sandbanks (quicksand) off the coast of Libya, so they lowered the sail and allowed the ship be carried by the wind. ¹⁸ The violent storm continued. The next day they began to throw some of the ship’s cargo overboard. ¹⁹ The following day they threw part of the ship’s equipment overboard. ²⁰ The sun and stars did not appear for many days. No small tempest pressed upon us. All hope of our being saved was taken away. ²¹ After they spent a long time without eating Paul stood up and said: »Sirs, you should listen to me. You should not have put out to sea from Crete to sustain this damage and loss. ²² »I urge you to be of good cheer for none of you will lose your life, only the ship. ²³ »Last night an angel of the God of whom I serve stood beside me.

²³ »Last night an angel of the God of whom I serve stood beside me. ²⁴ »He said, »Paul, do not be afraid. You must stand before Caessar and God has graciously given you the lives of you and all who sail with you. ²⁵ »Be of good cheer. I believe God. It will happen just as he spoke to me. ²⁶ »But we must run aground on some island.« ²⁷ On the fourteenth night we were driven to and fro in the sea of Adria. About midnight the sailors surmised that they were drawing near to some land. ²⁸ They sounded and found twenty fathoms. After a little space they sounded again and found fifteen fathoms.

² The natives there were very friendly to us. It started to rain and was cold, so they built a fire and made us all welcome.

⁴ The natives saw the snake hanging on Paul’s hand and said to one another: »This man must be a murderer, but Fate will not let him live, even though he escaped from the sea.«

³ This is about his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who came from the seed of David according to the flesh.

⁵ Through whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, respecting his name. ⁶ You are among those called to Jesus Christ.

⁹ God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit (whole heart and mind) in the good news of his Son. Without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers.

¹⁶ I am not ashamed of the good news; for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who exerts active faith (believes), to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

¹⁸ The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness. ¹⁹ That which is known about God is clear to them, for God revealed it to them. ²⁰ His invisible attributes are clearly seen since the creation of the world. The things made prove His eternal power and divine nature. Mankind has no excuse,

²⁰ His invisible attributes are clearly seen since the creation of the world. The things made prove His eternal power and divine nature. Mankind has no excuse, ²¹ for when they knew God, they did not glorify him as God. They did not thank him and were vain in their reasoning, for their foolish hearts were darkened.

²¹ for when they knew God, they did not glorify him as God. They did not thank him and were vain in their reasoning, for their foolish hearts were darkened. ²² Claiming to be wise, they became fools. ²³ They changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things.

²³ They changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things. ²⁴ God gave them up to uncleanness because of the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves.

²⁴ God gave them up to uncleanness because of the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves. ²⁵ They changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creation more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. ²⁶ For this cause God gave them up to vile affections for even their women changed the natural use into that which is against nature.

²⁶ For this cause God gave them up to vile affections for even their women changed the natural use into that which is against nature. ²⁷ Also the men left the natural use of the woman and burned in their lust, one toward another; men with men working that which is obscene. They receive full recompense due for their error. ²⁸ They did not like to retain God in their knowledge, so God gave them over to a reprobate (depraved) mind, to do things that are not fitting.

²⁸ They did not like to retain God in their knowledge, so God gave them over to a reprobate (depraved) mind, to do things that are not fitting.

³² They know the judgment of God, that those who commit such things are worthy of death! And yet, they not only do the same, but also approve of those who do them.

¹ You who judge have no excuse. For when you judge another you condemn yourself. After all you do the same things.

¹ You who judge have no excuse. For when you judge another you condemn yourself. After all you do the same things. ² We are sure that the judgment of God, according to truth, is against those who commit such things. ³ What do you reason O man? When you judge these things, and you also do them, do you think that you will escape the judgment of God?

³ What do you reason O man? When you judge these things, and you also do them, do you think that you will escape the judgment of God? ⁴ Do you despise the riches of his goodness, forbearance, and long-suffering? Do you not know that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? ⁵ Thanks to your stubborn and unrepentant heart, you store up wrath for yourself, in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God.

⁹ [There will be] tribulation and distress on every person who works evil, for the Jew first and for the Greek.

¹⁵ They show the work of the law written in their hearts. Their conscience also bears witness, and their thoughts accuse or excuse them.

¹⁵ They show the work of the law written in their hearts. Their conscience also bears witness, and their thoughts accuse or excuse them. ¹⁶ This is in the day when God will judge the secrets of men, according to my good news, by Jesus Christ. ¹⁷ If you are a Jew in name and are resting on the law and taking glory in God,

¹⁷ If you are a Jew in name and are resting on the law and taking glory in God, ¹⁸ you know his will. You approve the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law. ¹⁹ And you have confidence that you are a leader of the blind, a light to those in darkness. ²⁰ You are an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge and of truth in the law. ²¹ You then who teach another, do you teach yourself? You who preach not to steal, do you steal? ²² You who say man should not commit adultery do you commit adultery? You who abhors idols do you rob temples? ²³ You who boast in the law do you by transgression of the law dishonor God?

²³ You who boast in the law do you by transgression of the law dishonor God?

² Much in every way. First they were entrusted with the oracles of God. ³ For what? If some have not believed, will their unbelief make the faith of God of no effect?

¹⁰ The Scriptures say: »There is no one who is righteous, ¹¹ »There is no one who has insight. No one seeks God!

¹² Let no sin rule in your mortal body, that you should obey the lustful desires. ¹³ Also do not present your members to sin as instruments of unrighteousness. Present yourselves to God, as alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness for God.

¹⁷ But thanks to God, that you were the servants of sin yet you became obedient from the heart to the teachings delivered to you.

²¹ You are now ashamed of the fruit you had at that time. For the results of these things is death.

² The law of the Spirit gives us life through (with) (because of) Christ Jesus. It has set me free from the law of sin and death. ³ God did what the Law could not do, because human nature was weak. He sent his own son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering and do away with sin. So he condemned sin in sinful human nature.

⁷ This is because the mind of the flesh is hostile toward God. It is not subject to the law of God for it cannot be. ⁸ Those influenced by the sinful flesh cannot please God.

¹² So then, brothers we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to flesh (human nature),

²⁸ We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose. ²⁹ Those he first recognized, he ordained in advance that they be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

²⁹ Those he first recognized, he ordained in advance that they be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. ³⁰ He ordained in advance the ones he called. He declared righteous the ones he called. He also glorified those he declared righteous.

³⁰ He ordained in advance the ones he called. He declared righteous the ones he called. He also glorified those he declared righteous. ³¹ What shall we then say about these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? ³² He that did not spare his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, will he not with him freely give us all things?

³⁹ Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Ephesians 6:12)

¹ I tell the truth in Christ. I do not lie! My conscience bears witness with me in Holy Spirit.

⁵ The forefathers belong to them from whom came the Christ according to the flesh. God who is over all is blessed forever. Amen.

²⁴ We are the ones he has also called, not only from among the Jews, but also from among the nations. ²⁵ He says also in Hosea: »Those who are not my people I will call my people. And she who is not loved I will call loved.«

³⁰ What shall we say? The nations did not pursue righteousness. Yet they have attained to righteousness, the righteousness that is based on the principle of faith.

¹⁷ So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word about Christ.

¹⁰ »Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back always.« (Psalm 69:23)

¹³ I speak to you people of the nations. For I am the apostle to the nations and I glorify (honor) (praise) (celebrate) my ministry.

²⁵ I do not want you to be ignorant of this secret, lest you should be wise in your own conceits (estimation). Blindness has happened to Israel, until the fullness of the nations comes in.

³ I say through the grace given to me that every man among you should not think more highly of himself than he ought to think. But to think soberly, just as God has dealt to every man the measure of faith.

¹⁶ Be of the same mind as others. Do not think lofty things but be led along by lowly things. Do not be wise in your own conceit (self-love) (vanity) (estimation).

¹⁸ When it is possible, be peaceable with all men.

¹⁸ They do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the unaware. ¹⁹ Your obedience has come to our attention abroad. I am glad therefore on your behalf. Yet I would have you wise to that which is good and simple concerning evil.

²⁵ Now to him that is of power to establish you according to my good news, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the secret, which was kept secret since the world began. ²⁶ It is now made known by the Scriptures of the prophets according to the commandment of the everlasting God. It is made known to all nations for the obedience of faith.

¹ This letter is from Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother. ² To the congregation of God at Corinth. To you, who are sanctified in Christ Jesus. You who are called to be holy ones, with all whom in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. He is both their Lord and ours. ³ Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. ⁴ I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God that is given you by Jesus Christ.

⁴ I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God that is given you by Jesus Christ. ⁵ He enriches you in every way, in all speaking, and in all knowledge. ⁶ The testimony of Christ was confirmed (verified) (established) in you. ⁷ You do not lack spiritual gifts as you wait for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁸ He will also confirm (establish) you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

⁹ God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

¹⁸ For the preaching of the stake is foolishness to those who perish. It is the power of God to us who are saved. ¹⁹ It is written: »I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.« (Isaiah 29:14)

¹⁹ It is written: »I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.« (Isaiah 29:14)

¹⁹ It is written: »I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.« (Isaiah 29:14) ²⁰ Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

²⁰ Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

²⁰ Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? ²¹ This is the wisdom of God that the world through its wisdom did not come to know God. God was well pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.

²¹ This is the wisdom of God that the world through its wisdom did not come to know God. God was well pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.

²¹ This is the wisdom of God that the world through its wisdom did not come to know God. God was well pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. ²² Indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom.

²² Indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom. ²³ We preach Christ impaled. It is a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the nations! ²⁴ To those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, it is Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

² I decided not to know anything among you, except Jesus Christ and his death on the torture stake.

⁴ My speech and my preaching were not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,

¹³ We speak these things, not in the words that man's wisdom teaches. But we speak them with the words the Holy Spirit teaches comparing spiritual things with spiritual things.

²¹ But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets.

²⁷ Where is the boasting? It is excluded. Is it by law? Is it by works? No, it is by a principle of faith.

²⁹ Or is God the God of the Jews only? Is he not the God of the nations also? Yes, of the nations also.

¹¹ He received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith that he had while he was not circumcised. That way he could be the father of all those who believe, though they are not circumcised, that righteousness might be counted to them.

¹⁵ The law produces wrath (violent passion) (indignation). But where there is no law there is no sin.

¹ We are justified (acquitted) (made righteous) by faith. And we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁶ While we were yet weak, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

⁹ Much more, now justified by his blood, we will be saved from the wrath of God through him.

⁸ Owe no man any thing but to love one another. He that loves another has fulfilled (obeyed) the law.

⁹ That the nations might glorify God for his mercy as it is written: »For this cause I will confess you to the people of the nations, and sing to your name.«

¹⁵ Nevertheless, brothers, I have written more boldly to you on some points, keeping you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me from God, ¹⁶ That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the nations, ministering the good news of God, that the offering of these nations might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

¹⁶ That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the nations, ministering the good news of God, that the offering of these nations might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

¹⁸ I will not dare to speak of any of those things that Christ has not accomplished through me. I will lead the nations to obey God in word and deed.

¹⁸ I will not dare to speak of any of those things that Christ has not accomplished through me. I will lead the nations to obey God in word and deed. ¹⁹ Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God. From Jerusalem, and round about Illyricum, I have fully preached the good news of Christ.

¹⁹ Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God. From Jerusalem, and round about Illyricum, I have fully preached the good news of Christ.

¹⁹ Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God. From Jerusalem, and round about Illyricum, I have fully preached the good news of Christ. ²⁰ I have strived to preach the good news, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man’s foundation:

²⁰ I have strived to preach the good news, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man’s foundation:

²² For which cause also I have been much hindered from coming to you.

²² For which cause also I have been much hindered from coming to you. ²³ I have no more places to go in these parts, and have a great desire these many years to come to you.

²³ I have no more places to go in these parts, and have a great desire these many years to come to you.

²³ I have no more places to go in these parts, and have a great desire these many years to come to you. ²⁴ When I take my journey to Spain, I will come to you. I trust to see you in my journey, and to be escorted on my way by you, after I have been satisfied with your company.

²⁴ When I take my journey to Spain, I will come to you. I trust to see you in my journey, and to be escorted on my way by you, after I have been satisfied with your company.

²⁴ When I take my journey to Spain, I will come to you. I trust to see you in my journey, and to be escorted on my way by you, after I have been satisfied with your company. ²⁵ Now I go to Jerusalem to minister to the holy ones. ²⁶ It pleased those of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor holy ones in Jerusalem. ²⁷ It pleased them to do so and they are debtors for this. If the nations have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in physical things. ²⁸ After I have performed this and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come to you in Spain. ²⁹ I am sure that, when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of the good news of Christ. ³⁰ Now I beg you, brothers, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in your prayers to God for me. ³¹ That I may be delivered from those who do not believe in Judea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted by the holy ones. ³² That I may come to you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed.

³² That I may come to you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed.

¹⁸ Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.

¹⁸ Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. ¹⁹ For the wisdom of this age is foolishness with God. It is written: »He catches the wise in their own craftiness (deception).« (Job 5:13)

¹⁹ But I will come to you shortly, if God wills, and I will get to know what the proud ones do and not what they say, but their power.

⁹ Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither fornicators, nor people who worship idols, nor adulterers, nor male prostitutes, nor homosexuals,

¹³ Foods are for the belly, and the belly for foods, but God will destroy both of them. Now the body is not for fornication but for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body.

¹⁸ Flee from fornication! Every sin that a man does is outside his body. But he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.

¹ Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord?

¹ Concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be without knowledge.

¹ Concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be without knowledge. ² You know that you were of the nations, carried away and led by mute idols.

² You know that you were of the nations, carried away and led by mute idols. ³ I want you to understand that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed. And no person can say, »Jesus is the Lord,« except by the Holy Spirit. ⁴ There are different gifts, but the same Spirit. ⁵ There are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. ⁶ And there are different operations, but it is the same God who works in all. ⁷ The manifestation (expression) of the Spirit is given to everyone for a beneficial purpose. ⁸ For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; ⁹ To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the one Spirit; ¹⁰ To another the workings of miracles and to another prophesy. To another discerning of spirits; to another different kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues. ¹¹ But in all these the same Spirit works, making a distribution to each one as he (God) wills.

¹¹ Therefore if I do not know the meaning of what someone is saying I will be a foreigner to him that speaks. And he that speaks will be a foreigner to me too.

¹⁴ For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding (mind) is unfruitful. ¹⁵ What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding (Greek: nous: mind) also. I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding (mind) also. ¹⁶ When you bless with the spirit, how will the audience of the unlearned say Amen at your giving of thanks, seeing he does not understand what you said?

²³ If therefore the whole congregation comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and the unlearned, or unbelievers, come there will they not say that you are out of your mind? ²⁴ But if all proclaim God’s Word and an unbeliever comes there he is convinced by all.

²⁴ But if all proclaim God’s Word and an unbeliever comes there he is convinced by all. ²⁵ The secrets of his heart are made known. So falling down on his face he will worship God, and report, »God is truly among you.«

² You will be saved through the good news if you hold fast to the word I preached to you. That way you will not believe in vain.

⁸ And last of all I also saw him, as of one with an untimely birth. ⁹ I am the least of the apostles and do not deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the people of God. ¹⁰ By the divine influence of God I am what I am. His grace was not given to me in vain for I labored more than all of them. Yet it was not I. It was the divine influence and favor of God in me.

¹⁰ By the divine influence of God I am what I am. His grace was not given to me in vain for I labored more than all of them. Yet it was not I. It was the divine influence and favor of God in me.

¹⁵ In this confidence I was willing to come to you first that you might have a second benefit. ¹⁶ To pass by you to Macedonia, and again from Macedonia to come to you, and to be helped by you on my journey to Judea.

²¹ He who establishes us with you in Christ, and anointed us, is God.

²³ But I call God for a witness against me. To spare you I did not come to Corinth.

¹ I decided this for myself that I would not come again to you with sorrow. ² For if I make you sad, who then makes me glad? It is the same one whom I made sad. ³ I wrote this very thing that when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice. I have confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.

¹² Now when I came to Troas for the good news of Christ, and when a door was opened to me in the Lord,

¹⁴ Thanks to God, who always leads us in triumph (triumphal procession) in Christ. He makes known through us the sweet aroma of his knowledge in every place.

¹⁴ Thanks to God, who always leads us in triumph (triumphal procession) in Christ. He makes known through us the sweet aroma of his knowledge in every place. ¹⁵ For we are a sweet aroma of Christ to God. We are an aroma for those who are saved and those who perish. ¹⁶ To the one an aroma of death leading to death and to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is sufficient for these things?

⁵ We are not adequate by ourselves to account for anything. Our adequacy is from God. ⁶ He also made us sufficient as ministers of a new covenant. This is a covenant not of the letter, but of the Spirit: for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

⁴ The god of this age (world) (religious, social, political, and economic arrangement) has blinded the minds of unbelievers that the light of the good news of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not shine on them.

⁴ The god of this age (world) (religious, social, political, and economic arrangement) has blinded the minds of unbelievers that the light of the good news of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not shine on them. ⁵ We do not preach about ourselves, but about Christ Jesus as Lord. We are your servants for Jesus' sake.

⁵ We do not preach about ourselves, but about Christ Jesus as Lord. We are your servants for Jesus' sake. ⁶ God said: Light will shine out of darkness. He shined in our hearts. He gave the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face (presence) ((person) of Jesus Christ.

⁴ Great is my confidence in you. Great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort. I overflow with joy in our entire affliction. ⁵ When we came to Macedonia our flesh had no relief, but we were afflicted on every side, fighting on the outside and fears on the inside. ⁶ Nevertheless he who comforts the lowly, even God, comforted us by the coming of Titus. ⁷ This is not by his coming only, but also by the comfort he brought from you. He told us about your longing, your mourning, and your zeal for me so that I rejoiced yet more.

¹³ Therefore we have been comforted in your comfort. We enjoyed our comfort the more exceedingly for the joy of Titus, because all of you have refreshed his mental disposition.

² If I am not an apostle to others, I most certainly am to you, for you are the seal (stamp) (proof) of my apostleship in the Lord.

¹² If others are partakers of the right over you, should we also partake? Nevertheless we have not used this power! We suffer all things, lest we should hinder the good news of Christ.

¹⁶ Though I preach the good news I do not brag about it. Preaching the good news is my duty (obligation) and I must do it! It would be terrible if I did not preach the good news!

¹⁶ Though I preach the good news I do not brag about it. Preaching the good news is my duty (obligation) and I must do it! It would be terrible if I did not preach the good news! ¹⁷ For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward. But if I do it against my will, I am just performing the trust of the good news committed to me.

¹⁷ For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward. But if I do it against my will, I am just performing the trust of the good news committed to me.

¹⁷ For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward. But if I do it against my will, I am just performing the trust of the good news committed to me. ¹⁸ What is my reward then? When I preach the good news, I may offer the good news of Christ without charge. That is way I do not abuse my power in the good news.

¹⁸ What is my reward then? When I preach the good news, I may offer the good news of Christ without charge. That is way I do not abuse my power in the good news.

¹⁸ What is my reward then? When I preach the good news, I may offer the good news of Christ without charge. That is way I do not abuse my power in the good news. ¹⁹ For, though I am free from all persons, yet I have made myself a servant to all, that I might gain more. ²⁰ To the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews. To those under the Law, as under the Law, that I might gain those under the Law. ²¹ To those without Law I became like those without Law that I might gain them. I am not without law to God, but under the law to (toward) (of) Christ. ²² To the weak I became as the weak, that I might gain the weak. I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. ²³ And this I do for the sake of the good news that I might be a partaker of it with others.

¹ Brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant about how all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea.

³⁴ Wake up to righteousness and do not sin. Some do not have knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.

²³ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is with you.

¹ Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the congregation of God at Corinth, with all the holy ones throughout Achaia:

¹ Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the congregation of God at Corinth, with all the holy ones throughout Achaia: ² May you have grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

⁸ We do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning our affliction that began in Asia. We were weighed down exceedingly, beyond our power, so much that we despaired even of life.

¹² For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a man has, not according to what he does not have.

¹³ The proof of this ministry is that they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the good news of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men. ¹⁴ They pray for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you.

⁴ The weapons we use in our fight are not of the flesh but God's powerful weapons, which we use to destroy strongholds. We destroy false arguments.

⁴ The weapons we use in our fight are not of the flesh but God's powerful weapons, which we use to destroy strongholds. We destroy false arguments. ⁵ We cast down imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God. We bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.

⁵ We cast down imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God. We bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.

⁵ We cast down imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God. We bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. ⁶ We are ready to punish all disobedience, when your obedience is complete.

¹² For we are not bold to number or compare ourselves with certain of them that commend themselves. But they measure themselves by themselves, and compare themselves with themselves. They are without understanding. ¹³ But we will not boast beyond our measure, but according to the measure of the province that God apportioned to us as a measure, to reach even to you. ¹⁴ For we are not overstretching ourselves though we did not reach to you. We reached out to you with the good news of Christ. ¹⁵ We did not boast beyond our assignment in other men's labors. Having hope that, as your faith grows, we shall be made great among you according to our territory for further abundance.

¹⁵ We did not boast beyond our assignment in other men's labors. Having hope that, as your faith grows, we shall be made great among you according to our territory for further abundance. ¹⁶ Let us preach the good news to the parts beyond you. Let us not boast in someone else’s territory in concerning things ready for our hand.

⁴ If someone comes and preaches another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or if you receive a different spirit, which you did not receive, or a different good news, which you did not accept, you do well to put up with him. ⁵ For I do not consider myself inferior to the super apostles.

¹⁰ As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me from doing this boasting in the regions of Achaia. ¹¹ Why? Is it because I do not love you? God knows I do!

¹⁹ You being wise tolerate the foolish.

⁸ The one who made Peter an apostle to the Jewish people (who are circumcised) also made me an apostle to the people of the nations (who are not circumcised). ⁹ When they saw the grace that was given to me, James, Cephas (Peter) and John, they who were known to be pillars, gave to Barnabas and me the right hand of fellowship. We were to go to the nations and they were to go to the people who are circumcised.

² I want to learn this from you. Did you receive the Spirit by doing the works of the law, or by having faith in what you heard? ³ Are you so foolish? After starting in the Spirit, are you now made perfect (mature) in the flesh? ⁴ Did you suffer so many things in vain? Does it have no purpose? ⁵ He that provides the Spirit, and works miracles among you, does he do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?

¹¹ The fact that the Law justifies no man before God is evident. The righteous will live by faith.

⁴ When the full time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,

¹⁸ The grace (Greek: charis, divine favor, loving-kindness) of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit (Greek: pneuma, mental outlook, attitude), brothers. Amen.

¹ Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, to the holy ones who are at Ephesus and the faithful in Christ Jesus: ² Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

⁶ This is to the praise of the glory of his kindness, with which he freely honored us, the loved ones.

¹¹ We were assigned as heirs predetermined according to his purpose. He works all things according to his direction and will. ¹² We who were first to hope in Christ should serve to the praise of his glory. ¹³ You have heard the word of the truth in Christ. It is the good news about your salvation. You also believed and were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.

¹⁵ For this cause I also, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus that is among you, and the love you show all the holy ones. ¹⁶ I continually give thanks for you in my prayers. ¹⁷ May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give you a spirit (mental disposition) of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him. ¹⁸ Have the eyes of your heart enlightened, that you may know the hope of his calling, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the holy ones, ¹⁹ and what the exceeding greatness of his power is toward us who believe, according to the operation of his mighty strength.

¹⁹ and what the exceeding greatness of his power is toward us who believe, according to the operation of his mighty strength. ²⁰ He operated in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and made him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly places. ²¹ It is far above all governments and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. ²² He (God) put all things in subjection under his feet, and made him head over all things to the congregation, ²³ which is his body, the fullness of him who fills (accomplishes) (completes) all in all.

² You have heard of the stewardship of God’s loving kindness that was given to me with you in view. ³ The secret was made known to me by revelation, just as I wrote before in few words. ⁴ When you read this you can understand my insight into the secret of Christ. ⁵ It was not made known to other generations of the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.

⁵ It was not made known to other generations of the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. ⁶ The Gentiles are fellow-heirs, and fellow-members of the body, and fellow-partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the good news.

⁶ The Gentiles are fellow-heirs, and fellow-members of the body, and fellow-partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the good news. ⁷ I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace that was given me according to the working of his power.

⁷ I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace that was given me according to the working of his power. ⁸ To me, the very least of all the holy ones, was given grace (loving divine influence) to preach to the people of the nations the untraceable riches of Christ. ⁹ To make all men see what is the administration of the secret which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things.

¹⁴ For this cause I bow my knees to the Father. ¹⁵ Every family in heaven and on earth obtains its name from him. ¹⁶ That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that you may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inward man. ¹⁷ May Christ dwell in your hearts through faith to the end that you will be rooted and grounded in love. ¹⁸ May you be able to comprehend with all the holy ones the breadth and length and height and depth. ¹⁹ And may you know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge. May you be filled with all the fullness of God. ²⁰ Now to him that is able to do far more abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us. ²¹ Glory be to him in the congregation and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

²¹ Glory be to him in the congregation and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

⁵ There is one Lord, one faith, and one baptism.

⁸ Therefore it says: »When he ascended on high, he led captives, and gave gifts to men (anthropos: human beings).« ⁹ (Now this, He ascended, what is it but that he also descended into the lower parts of the earth? ¹⁰ He that descended is the same also that ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) ¹¹ He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, shepherds and teachers.

¹¹ He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, shepherds and teachers. ¹² This is for the perfecting (equipping) (preparing) of the holy ones, for the work of ministering, for the building up of the body of Christ:

¹⁷ This I say therefore, and testify (affirm) in the Lord, that you no longer walk as the nations also walk, in the vanity (futility) (depravity) of their mind (thinking). ¹⁸ They are darkened (blinded) (obscured) in their understanding, alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their heart.

¹⁸ They are darkened (blinded) (obscured) in their understanding, alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their heart. ¹⁹ They are past feeling. They have given themselves over to loose conduct, to work all uncleanness with greediness (a lust for more).

¹⁹ They are past feeling. They have given themselves over to loose conduct, to work all uncleanness with greediness (a lust for more).

⁴ Nor should there be filthiness, nor foolish talking, or jesting, which are not befitting but rather giving of thanks.

⁶ Let no one deceive you with empty words. It is because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

¹² For the things that are done by them in secret is a shame even to speak about.

¹⁵ Be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise. ¹⁶ Make the most of your time (redeem or ransom back time), because the days are evil. ¹⁷ Do not be foolish, but understand (perceive) what the will of Jehovah is.

²⁰ Always give thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father.

²² But you know of his proven worth. It was like a son with his father that he served with me to further the good news.

²⁶ He longed to see you and was worried because you had heard that he was sick.

³ We are those with true circumcision who worship by the Spirit of God. We glory in Christ Jesus, and put no confidence in the flesh.

⁶ as touching zeal, persecuting the church; as touching the righteousness which is in the law, found blameless. ⁷ Things that offered gain to me I count a loss for Christ.

⁹ I want to be united with him. I no longer want a righteousness of my own that is gained by obeying the law. The righteousness from God is by faith in Christ.

¹ Therefore, my beloved brothers I long to see you. You are my joy and crown. In this way stand firm in the Lord, my beloved.

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

¹³ I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

¹⁷ Not that I seek the gift but I seek the fruit that adds to your account.

²⁰ Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

²³ The grace (Greek: charis: divine influence) of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit (Greek: pneuma: mental disposition).

¹ Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our brother, ² to the holy ones and faithful brothers in Christ that live in Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father. ³ We always pray for you, and thank God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for you.

⁵ This is because of the hope reserved for you in heaven. You heard about this hope from the word of truth, the good news. ⁶ It came to you even as it did. Everywhere in the entire world it bears fruit and it increases in you also, since the day you heard and knew the grace (loving-kindness) of God in truth.

⁶ It came to you even as it did. Everywhere in the entire world it bears fruit and it increases in you also, since the day you heard and knew the grace (loving-kindness) of God in truth.

⁹ Since the day we heard about you, we have not ceased to pray and make request for you. We pray for you to be filled with the [intimate accurate] knowledge (discernment) (recognition) of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding. (Philippians 1:9) (John 17:3) ¹⁰ Walk worthily of God, fully pleasing him. Bear fruit in every good work, and increase in the knowledge (Greek: epignosis: full discernment, recognition) of God. ¹¹ God will strengthen you with all power, according to the might of his glory, to all patience and longsuffering with joy. ¹² Give thanks to the Father, who made us partakers of the inheritance of the holy ones in the light. ¹³ He rescued us from the power of darkness, and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of his love (the Son he dearly loves).

¹³ He rescued us from the power of darkness, and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of his love (the Son he dearly loves). ¹⁴ We have in him our redemption and the forgiveness of our sins.

³¹ The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed forever knows I do not lie.

⁸ Three times I prayed to God about this and asked him to take it away. ⁹ He told me: »My grace is sufficient for you for my strength is made perfect in weakness.« Most gladly therefore, I would rather glory in my infirmities (frailities), that the power of Christ may rest upon me (cover me like a tent) (descend upon me) (abide with me). (Isaiah 40:29-31) ¹⁰ Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then I am strong. ¹¹ I have become a fool in boasting. You have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended about you: for in nothing am I inferior to the most prominent apostles, though I am nothing.

²⁰ I am afraid that I may come and find you different from what I want you to be, and that you may find me different from what you want me to be. I fear that there may be rivalry, jealousy, hot tempers, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorderly conduct.

⁴ Though he was impaled through weakness, yet he lives by the power of God. We are weak through him also, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you. ⁵ Examine yourselves, whether you are in the faith. Prove your own selves. Do you not know this about yourselves that Jesus Christ is with you, unless you are disqualified? ⁶ I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified. ⁷ Now I pray to God that you do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that you should do that which is honest, though we may seem disqualified.

¹⁴ The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the intimate sharing of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.

¹ From Paul, who is an apostle not from men nor through men but through Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead.

³ Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁴ He (Jesus) gave himself for our sins that he might deliver us out of this present evil age. This is according to the will of our God and Father.

⁶ I am amazed that you so quickly turned away from the One who called you by the grace of Christ. You turned to different good news. ⁷ Yet this is not another good news. But there are some who trouble (agitate) you, and they would pervert the good news of Christ.

¹⁰ Do I now seek the favor of men, or of God? Am I striving to please men? If I were still pleasing men, I would not be a servant of Christ. ¹¹ For I make known to you brothers that the good news that was preached by me is not according to man. ¹² I did not receive it from man. I was not taught it! It came to me through revelation from Jesus Christ. ¹³ You heard about the way I lived as a Jew. How I persecuted the congregation of God beyond measure. In fact I tried to destroy it! ¹⁴ I advanced as a Jew beyond many of my own age among my countrymen. I was more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers. ¹⁵ It pleased God to separate me even from my mother’s womb and call me through his grace.

¹⁵ It pleased God to separate me even from my mother’s womb and call me through his grace. ¹⁶ He revealed his Son to me that I might preach him among the nations. I do not confer with flesh and blood (human beings).

¹⁶ He revealed his Son to me that I might preach him among the nations. I do not confer with flesh and blood (human beings). ¹⁷ I did not go to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before I was. I went away to Arabia and again I returned to Damascus.

²⁰ What I write is true. God knows I do not lie.

¹⁸ With prayer and supplication pray at all times in the Spirit. Watch with all perseverance and supplication for all the holy ones.

²³ Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

¹ Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all the holy ones in union with Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and ministerial servants:

³ I thank my God for all my memories of you. ⁴ I always offer prayer filled with joy for you,

⁸ God is my witness, how I long for you all in the tender mercies of Christ Jesus.

⁸ God is my witness, how I long for you all in the tender mercies of Christ Jesus. ⁹ I pray that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment. ¹⁰ This way you may approve (test) the things that are excellent (of more value). May you be sincere and without offense (blameless) to others till the day of Christ. ¹¹ Be filled with the fruits of righteousness through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God. (John 15:5) (Galatians 5:22, 23)

¹¹ Be filled with the fruits of righteousness through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God. (John 15:5) (Galatians 5:22, 23)

¹¹ and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

¹⁵ He is the image (likeness) (representation) of the invisible God. He is the firstborn (Greek: prototokos: childbirth, offspring) of all creation.

¹⁵ He is the image (likeness) (representation) of the invisible God. He is the firstborn (Greek: prototokos: childbirth, offspring) of all creation.

²¹ You were in the past alienated and enemies because your minds were on your evil works.

²⁵ God gave me this stewardship to perform for your good. He has made me a servant of the congregation. It is for the task of fully proclaiming the word of God.

²⁸ We preach Christ to everyone. With all possible wisdom we warn and teach them in order to bring each one to God as a mature individual in union with Christ. ²⁹ I work hard to get this done. I use the mighty strength Christ supplies. It is at work in me.

⁹ The fullness of divine nature lives in Christ’s bodily form. (Greek: theotes: essence and nature of God) (Only the Son of God could have divine attributes, the inherited qualities from the Father)

⁶ Because of such things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

¹¹ There is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondman, freeman; but Christ is all and in all. ¹² As God’s chosen, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness (humility), meekness (mildness), and long-suffering (patience).

¹⁵ Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts. You were called in one body for this purpose. You be thankful.

¹ Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the congregation of the Thessalonians united with God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace. ² We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers. ³ We continually remember your work of faith, labor of love, and patience, and your hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father.

⁵ We preached the good news to you, not in words only but with power from Holy Spirit and with conviction of its truth. You know how we lived when we were with you. It was for your own good. ⁶ You imitated the Lord and us, even though you suffered much affliction. Yet you received the word with the joy that comes from the Holy Spirit.

⁸ For not only did the message about God go out from you throughout Macedonia and Achaia, but the news about your faith in God has gone everywhere. There is nothing that we need to say.

⁸ For not only did the message about God go out from you throughout Macedonia and Achaia, but the news about your faith in God has gone everywhere. There is nothing that we need to say. ⁹ All those people speak about how you received us when we visited you, and how you turned away from idols to God, to serve the true and living God,

⁹ All those people speak about how you received us when we visited you, and how you turned away from idols to God, to serve the true and living God,

⁹ All those people speak about how you received us when we visited you, and how you turned away from idols to God, to serve the true and living God, ¹⁰ and to wait for his Son to come from heaven, his Son Jesus, whom he raised from death and who rescues us from God’s anger (indignation) that is to come.

¹⁰ and to wait for his Son to come from heaven, his Son Jesus, whom he raised from death and who rescues us from God’s anger (indignation) that is to come.

² After we suffered and were mistreated in Philippi, we had the boldness (confidence) in our God to speak the good news of God to you amid much opposition.

⁵ You know very well that we did not come to you with flattering talk (praise for selfish gain). We did not use words to cover up greed (insatiable desire for wealth). God is our witness! ⁶ We did not try to get praise from anyone, either from you or from others, even though as apostles of Christ we could have made demands on you. ⁷ But we were gentle when we were with you, like a mother taking care of her children. ⁸ Having much affection for you, we were well pleased to impart the good news of God to you and also to share our lives with you. You have become very dear to us. ⁹ You may remember, brothers, our labor and hardship. We worked day and night that we would not burden any of you when we preached the good news of God to you. ¹⁰ You and God are witnesses, how devoutly and righteously, without blame, we behaved toward you who believe!

¹² You should walk worthily of God, who called you into his own kingdom and glory. ¹³ For this purpose we also thank God without ceasing, that, when you received from us the word of the message, even the word of God, you accepted it, not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which also works in you who believe.

¹³ For this purpose we also thank God without ceasing, that, when you received from us the word of the message, even the word of God, you accepted it, not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which also works in you who believe. ¹⁴ You brothers became imitators of the congregations of God that are in Judea in Christ Jesus. You also suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews.

¹⁷ But we have been taken away from you for a short while. We have been taken away in person, not in spirit. We are all the more eager with great desire to see you. ¹⁸ We wanted to come to you. I, Paul, wanted to more than once and yet Satan hindered us.

¹⁸ We wanted to come to you. I, Paul, wanted to more than once and yet Satan hindered us. ¹⁹ Who is our hope, or joy, or crown of exultation? Is it not you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus, at his coming? ²⁰ For you are our glory and joy!

² So we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s fellow worker in the good news of Christ. He came to strengthen and encourage you concerning your faith.

⁷ Brothers, your faith has comforted us. In all our trouble and suffering we are encouraged. ⁸ Now we live, if you (persevere) stand fast in the Lord. ⁹ What thanks can we render to God for you and for all the joy we have for your sakes before our God? ¹⁰ Night and day we pray exceedingly that we might see you in person, and might perfect (restore) (repair) that which is lacking in your faith.

¹⁰ Night and day we pray exceedingly that we might see you in person, and might perfect (restore) (repair) that which is lacking in your faith.

¹⁰ Night and day we pray exceedingly that we might see you in person, and might perfect (restore) (repair) that which is lacking in your faith. ¹¹ May God our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you.

¹¹ May God our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you. ¹² And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you. ¹³ May he resolutely strengthen your hearts without blame in holiness before God, our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his holy ones.

¹³ May he resolutely strengthen your hearts without blame in holiness before God, our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his holy ones.

⁴ Every one of you should know how to possess his own vessel in holiness and honor, ⁵ not in the lust of sexual desire like the nations who do not know God.

⁷ For God has not called us to uncleanness, but to holiness.

¹³ I do not want you to be ignorant brothers, concerning those who are asleep (in death). You do not need to sorrow like others who have no hope.

¹⁷ Pray without ceasing.

²⁸ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

⁸ They will render vengeance to those who do not know God, and to those who do not obey the good news of our Lord Jesus.

⁴ He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god and object of worship. As a result, he seats himself in the sanctuary of God and declares (promotes) himself to be like God. (Ezekiel 28:2)

⁷ The secret of evil (lawlessness) is even now at work. But there is one who restrains the evil till he is taken out of the way.

¹⁰ He will use every kind of wicked deceit on those who will perish. They will perish because they did not welcome and love the truth so as to be saved.

¹⁰ He will use every kind of wicked deceit on those who will perish. They will perish because they did not welcome and love the truth so as to be saved. ¹¹ So God dispatches the power of deceit (error) to work in them so that they are allowed to believe what is false. ¹² Then everyone who did not believe the truth, but was delighted with wickedness, will be condemned. ¹³ We always have to thank God for you, brothers. Jehovah loves you and we thank God that in the beginning he chose you to be saved through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. ¹⁴ It was for this he called you through our good news. This is so you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

¹⁴ It was for this he called you through our good news. This is so you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

¹⁶ Now may our Lord Jesus Christ and God our Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting comfort and good hope by grace, ¹⁷ comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good word and work.

¹⁷ comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good word and work.

¹ The Spirit explicitly says that some will fall away from the faith (truth) in later times. Spirits and doctrines of demons will seduce them, ² through the hypocrisy of men that speak lies, branded in their own conscience as with a hot iron.

² Do not despise your believing masters, because they are brothers. Serve them, because they who partake of the benefit are believing and beloved. Teach and exhort these things.

¹⁶ Only God has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light. No man has seen him, nor can see him. To him be honor and power forever. Amen.

² to Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. ³ I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience as my forefathers did, that without ceasing, I remember you in my prayers, day and night. ⁴ I greatly desire to see you, being mindful of your tears, for this will fill me with joy.

⁸ Do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me his prisoner. Join me in suffering for the good news according to the power of God. ⁹ God has saved us and called us with a holy calling. This is not according to our works, but according to his purpose and grace that was granted us in Christ Jesus, from all eternity.

¹¹ I was appointed to be a messenger of this good news, an apostle, and a teacher. ¹² It is for this reason that I suffer these things. But I am still full of confidence, because I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to keep safe until that day what he has entrusted to me.

¹⁶ The Lord grants mercy to the house of Onesiphorus: for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chains.

⁸ Remember that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead. He is a descendant of David, according to my good news.

¹⁰ For this reason I endure all things for the sake of the chosen, so that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory.

²⁰ Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor. ²¹ If anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. ²² Flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, with those who call on the Lord with a clean heart.

² For men will be lovers of their own selves, covetous (lovers of money), arrogant, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful (ungrateful), unholy, ³ unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, despisers of those who are good, ⁴ traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

⁸ And even as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also withstand the truth. Men corrupted in mind, rejected concerning the faith,

²² Prepare a lodging for me. I hope that through your prayers I shall be given to you.

²⁵ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is with your spirit (mental disposition) (attitude). Amen.

¹ Holy brothers, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Jesus.

³ But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.

¹⁶ Now may the Lord of peace always grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all!

¹⁸ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

¹ Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the commandment of God our Savior, and Christ Jesus our hope, ² to Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

¹⁰ It is for fornicators, for abusers of themselves with men, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and everything else that is contrary to the sound teaching. ¹¹ Sound teaching (doctrine) is according to the good news of the glory of the blessed (happy) God. This was committed to my trust.

¹¹ Sound teaching (doctrine) is according to the good news of the glory of the blessed (happy) God. This was committed to my trust. ¹² I thank him that enabled me and counted me faithful, appointing me to his service, Christ Jesus our Lord.

¹⁵ Faithful is the saying, and worthy of acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am foremost. ¹⁶ For this I obtained mercy, which in me as the foremost sinner Jesus Christ might show his long-suffering. This is for an example to those who should later believe in him for eternal life. ¹⁷ Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

⁷ Because of this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle. What I say is true, not false, and I am a teacher of the nations in the true faith.

¹⁶ The secret of godliness is great and it is without controversy. ‘He (Jesus Christ) was manifested (revealed) in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, and seen by angels. He preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, and received up in glory.’

¹⁷ But the Lord stood by me, and strengthened me; that through me the message might be fully proclaimed, and that all the people of the nations might hear. I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion (Satan the Devil) (great danger) (1 Peter 5:8) (Psalm 22:21) (1 Thessalonians 2:18).

²² The Lord be with your spirit (mental disposition) (attitude). Grace be with you.

¹ Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's chosen ones, and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness. ² It is in hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before times eternal.

⁴ To Titus, my true child sharing a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

¹⁶ They profess that they know God; but deny him by their works! They are detestable, disobedient, and not approved for any good work.

³ For we also once were foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.

³ Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ⁴ I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers.

⁸ I have all boldness in Christ to tell you what is appropriate.

¹² The Word of God is alive and active and sharper than any two-edged sword. (Ephesians 6:17) It separates the physical person from the spiritual person, of both joints and marrow. And it can discern (judge) the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (John 12:48)

⁴ No one takes this honor upon himself. He is called by God, even as Aaron was. ⁵ Also Christ did not glorify himself to be made a high priest. It was God who said to him: »You are my Son; I today have become your father.« ⁶ As he said in another place:« You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.«

⁹ Being made perfect, he became the source (cause) (channel) (conduit) (pathway) (facilitator) of eternal salvation to all who obey him. (Psalm 3:8)

²⁶ Such a high priest as this was suitable for us. He is holy, harmless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and higher than the heavens.

¹⁴ The blood of Christ did even more. Through the eternal Spirit he offered himself without blemish to God and cleansed your conscience from dead works. Now we can serve (worship) the living God.

³⁸ »My righteous people will live by faith. If any of them turn back, I will not be pleased with them.«

⁶ Without faith it is impossible to please God. He who comes to God must believe that he is and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. ⁷ By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not seen as yet, moved with godly respect. He prepared an ark to save his house. By his faith he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that is according to faith.

²⁷ By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the anger of the king. He endured, by seeing him who is invisible.

⁹ Do not be carried away by varied (different) and strange teachings. It is good that the heart is established by grace and not by food. Those who are occupied by them are not benefited.

¹⁵ Let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God through him [Jesus], that is, the fruit of lips that make confession (give thanks and offer praise) to his name.

¹⁹ I exhort you the more exceedingly to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.

¹ This letter is from James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. Greetings to the twelve tribes that are scattered.

¹⁵ You should say, »If God wills, we should both live, and do this or that.« ¹⁶ You glory in your conceit. Such glory is evil.

¹ Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the chosen ones who are temporary residents scattered in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. ² You who are chosen and foreknown by God the Father. You have been sanctified by the Spirit to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with his blood. Grace and peace be greatly increased to you.

¹¹ searching what time or what manner of time the spirit of Christ that was in them did point to, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glories that should follow them.

¹⁵ Be holy in all your conduct, just as the one who called you is holy.

¹⁸ Know that you were redeemed from your futile way of life inherited from your fathers. [The redemption] was not with corruptible things like silver or gold,

⁵ You also as living stones are built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

⁹ You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a people for God’s own possession, that you may show the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

⁹ You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a people for God’s own possession, that you may show the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. ¹⁰ In time past you were no people, but now you are the people of God. You had not then received, but now have received mercy (compassion) (divine kindness).

¹⁰ Brothers, be more diligent to make your calling and election (choosing) sure. If you do (practice) (exercise) (apply) these things, you will never stumble!

¹² I will always be ready to remind you of these things. Even though you know them, and are established in the truth that is present with you.

²¹ For no prophecy ever came by the will of man! Men spoke from God, being moved by the Holy Spirit.

¹⁸ For, uttering arrogant words of vanity, they entice in the desires (lusts) of the flesh, by sensuality (lasciviousness), those who are just escaping from the ones who live in error.

⁵ For this they willfully forget, that there were heavens from of old, and an earth compacted out of water and amidst water, by the word of God,

¹⁷ You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, avoid being carried away with the error of the wicked and falling from your own steadfastness. ¹⁸ Grow in the unmerited favor and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

³ We declare to you what we have seen and heard. This way you may have fellowship with us. Yes, and our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ!

⁵ The tongue also is a little member. It boasts great things. Consider how great a forest fire a small fire kindles!

¹⁷ But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable (yielding), full of mercy and good fruits, without discord (partiality), without hypocrisy. ¹⁸ And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.

²¹ For this you were called because Christ also suffered for you. He left you an example (a copy for imitation) (a model) that you should follow in his steps.

³ You have spent enough time in the past doing what unbelievers like to do. Your lives were spent in indecency, lusts, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and the disgusting worship of idols (false gods).

¹¹ If any man speaks, speak as it were utterances of God. If any man ministers, minister with the strength which God supplies! May God be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. The glory and dominion belong to God forever and ever. Amen.

¹⁶ If a man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in this name.

¹⁰ After you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will perfect, establish, and strengthen you.

¹² By Silvanus, our faithful brother, as I account him, I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast.

¹ Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained a precious faith with us in the righteousness of our God, and of our Savior Jesus Christ: ² Grace to you and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord! ³ His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness. This is through the knowledge of him that called us by his own glory and virtue (excellence).

¹⁵ Do not love the world or the things in the world. If any one loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶ The entire world, the desire of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of material wealth, is not from the Father, but is from the world.

¹ Observe the love the Father gave to us that we should be called the children of God. That is what we are! For this reason the world does not know us. This is because it did not know him.

⁸ He who sins is of the devil. For the devil sinned from the beginning. To this end the Son of God was made known (manifested), that he might destroy the works of the devil.

²³ This is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another. He gave us this commandment!

² Here is how you know the Spirit of God, every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ came in the flesh is from God. ³ Every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist that you heard was coming and now it is already in the world.

⁹ The love of God was made known through us. God sent his only-begotten Son into the world that we might live through him. ¹⁰ In this is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation (atonement) (sacrificial payment) for our sins.

¹⁵ Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives with him, and he with God.

¹⁶ These murmur, complain, and walk after their lusts, they speak arrogantly, flattering people to gain advantage.

¹ THE REVELATION GOD GAVE TO JESUS CHRIST, so that he could tell his servants the things that must soon take place. Christ then sent his angel to communicate the symbolic message to his servant John.

⁴ John, to the seven congregations in Asia: May you have grace and peace from him who is, and who was, and who is to come; and from the seven Spirits who are before his throne; ⁵ And from Jesus Christ, who is the Faithful Witness, and the firstborn from the dead, and the Ruler of the kings of the earth. To the one who loves us and released us from our sins by his blood.

¹⁸ »I am alive! I was dead and, behold, I am alive forever, Amen. I have the keys of death and the grave.

¹ »To the angel of the congregation of Ephesus write: The one who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lamp stands, says:

⁸ »To the angel of the congregation in Smyrna write: This is the message from the one who is the 'First and the Last', who died and came to life again.

¹² »To the angel of the congregation in Pergamum write: These are the words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword:

¹⁸ »To the angel of the congregation in Thyatira write: This is the message from the Son of God, whose eyes blaze like fire, whose feet shine like polished brass.

²⁹ »'He who can hear let him hear what the Spirit says to the congregations.'«

⁷ »To the angel of the congregation in Philadelphia write: He says these things. He who is holy, he who is true, he who has the key of David, he who opens and no man shuts, and shuts and no man opens.

¹⁴ »'To the angel of the congregation in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation says this:

²² »'He who can hear let him hear what the Spirit says to the congregations.'«

⁷ He spoke in a loud voice: »Respect God, and give him glory! The hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.«

⁴ »Who will not reverence you, Jehovah, and glorify your name, for only you are holy. All nations will come and worship you. Your righteous judgments are clearly apparent.«

¹⁴ »They will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome (conquer) them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings. Those who are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.«

¹⁰ I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me: »Do not do that. I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers. You have the witness from Jesus: worship God! For the witness from Jesus is the spirit (mind-set) of prophecy.«

⁶ Then he said to me: »These sayings are faithful and true. Jehovah the God of the holy prophets sent his angel to show his servants the things that must shortly be done.

¹ Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God. Whoever loves him that causes the birth also loves him that is born.

⁵ Who is the one who conquers (overcomes) (prevails over) the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

⁹ If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater. The witness of God is this, that he gave witness concerning his Son. ¹⁰ He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in him. He who does not believe God made him a liar because he does not believe the testimony God gives concerning his Son.

¹⁰ He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in him. He who does not believe God made him a liar because he does not believe the testimony God gives concerning his Son. ¹¹ The testimony is this that God gave us everlasting life and this life is in his Son.

¹¹ The testimony is this that God gave us everlasting life and this life is in his Son. ¹² He who has the Son has the life. He who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.

¹² He who has the Son has the life. He who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. ¹³ I wrote these things so you who believe in the name of the Son of God may know you have everlasting life.

²⁰ We know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding. We know him that is true for we are in him who is true, [and] in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and everlasting life.

³ In truth and love, God the Father and Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father send you grace, mercy and peace. ⁴ I rejoice greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, even as we received commandment from the Father.

⁷ For many deceivers have gone into the world. They do not confess that Jesus Christ came in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist.

³ For I rejoiced greatly when brothers came and witnessed about the truth that is in you and that you walk in truth. ⁴ I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in the truth.

¹ Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to those who are called, beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ:

¹ Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to those who are called, beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ: ² Mercy, peace and love be multiplied to you. ³ Beloved, I diligently wrote you about our common salvation. I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the holy ones.

⁷ Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them are an example for they, in like manner with these surrendered to fornication and went after flesh for unnatural use. They received justice by ever burning fire.

¹⁰ These men speak abusively about things they do not know. What they understand naturally, like the creatures without reason, they corrupt themselves.

²⁰ The rest of the men who were not killed by these plagues did not repent of the works of their hands. They did not stop worshipping demons, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk.

⁹ He said to me: »Do not do that, for I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and of those who obey the words of this book: worship God.«

²¹ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.