2 Corinthians 7 Cross References - VIN

¹ Since we have these promises, dear friends, let's cleanse ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit by becoming mature in our holy fear of God. ² Make room for us in your hearts. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one. ³ I am not saying this to condemn you, for [as] I said before, you have such a place in our hearts that we would live or die with you. ⁴ Great is my confidence in you; great is my pride in you; I am filled with encouragement; in all our troubles my joy overflows. ⁵ For even when we came into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turnconflicts on the outside and fears within. ⁶ But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, ⁷ and not only by his arrival, but also by the comfort he had received from you. He told us about your longing, your mourning, and your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced all the more. ⁸ For even if I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret itfor I see that my letter hurt you, though only for a little while ⁹ And now I rejoice, not because you were made sorrowful, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you felt the sorrow that God had intended, and so were not harmed in any way by us. ¹⁰ Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation without regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. ¹¹ For behold what this very thing, godly sorrow, has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what zeal, what readiness to see justice done! At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter. ¹² So, although I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of the person who did the wrong, nor for the one who was wronged, but so that you could realize before God how devoted to us you are. ¹³ On account of this, we are encouraged. In addition to our own encouragement, we were even more delighted by the joy of Titus. For his spirit has been refreshed by all of you. ¹⁴ For if I have boasted to him about you, I was not put to shame; but just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting before Titus has proved true. ¹⁵ And his affection for you is even greater when he remembers that you were all obedient as you welcomed him with fear and trembling. ¹⁶ I am so glad that I have complete confidence in you.

⁹ He told them: »Faithfully serve the LORD!

⁹ The fear of the LORD is clean, standing forever. The judgments of the LORD are true; they are altogether righteous.

¹⁰ Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

⁹ BET How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.

¹³ The fear of the LORD is to hate evil. I hate: pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth.

⁶ Through kindness and truth is iniquity atoned for; and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.

⁹ Who can say, "I have made my heart pure. I am clean and without sin?"

¹² A generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet are not washed from their filthiness.

¹⁶ "Wash yourselves! Become clean! Get your evil deeds out of my sight. Stop doing evil.

⁷ Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

¹⁴ "O Jerusalem, wash the evil from your heart so that you may be saved. How long will your wicked thoughts lodge within you?

²⁷ I see your adulteries and your neighings - the intrigue of your whoredom and your abominations on the hills in the fields! Woe to you, O Yeru Shalem! Purify you not yourselves? Until when?

³⁰ Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, each one according to his ways, says the Sovereign LORD. Return and turn yourselves from all your transgressions, so iniquity will not be your ruin. ³¹ Cast away from you all your sins by which you have sinned; and make you a new heart and a new spirit; for why will you die, O house of Israel? ³² For I have no pleasure in the death of the dying," declares the Sovereign LORD. "And so repent and live!"

²⁵ I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your filthiness, and from all your idols. ²⁶ I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you: I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and give you a heart of flesh:

⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

⁴⁸ Be perfect, therefore, as your Heavenly Father is perfect.

³³ Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad; for a tree is known by its fruit.

²⁵ Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. ²⁶ Blind Pharisee, first wash clean the inside of the cup or dish, and then the outside will be clean also.

³⁹ But the Lord said to him, "Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. ⁴⁰ You foolish ones! Did not he who made the outside make the inside also?

³¹ Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria experienced a time of peace. It grew in strength and numbers, living in the fear of the Lord and the encouragement of the Holy Spirit.

²⁰ The Law was given so that the trespass would increase; but where sin increased, grace increased all the more,

²⁰ you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body.

²⁰ For all the promises of God are “Yes” in Christ. And so through Him, our “Amen” is spoken to the glory of God.

¹⁷ Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you. ¹⁸ "I will be a Father to you, and you will be My sons and daughters, says the LORD Almighty."

³ We all lived among them at one time in the cravings of our flesh, indulging its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature children of wrath.

¹² in order to fit his people for the work of service, for building the body of Christ, ¹³ until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, as we mature to the full measure of the stature of Christ.

¹² Not that I have already obtained this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. ¹³ Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have laid hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal for the prize, to which God has called me upward in Christ Jesus. ¹⁵ Therefore let all of us who are mature believers cherish these thoughts; and if in any respect you think differently, that also God will make clear to you.

¹³ so as to strengthen your hearts and make them blameless in holiness before our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones. [Amen.]

⁷ For God did not call us to be impure, but to be holy.

²³ Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

¹¹ For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, ¹² It trains us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and Godly lives in this present age, ¹³ Looking for the blessed hope, the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ; ¹⁴ who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, zealous for good deeds.

¹ Therefore, while the promise of entering His rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be deemed to have fallen short of it.

²³ and to the church of the firstborn, who are enrolled in heaven; and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of righteous men made perfect;

²⁸ Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and offer to God acceptable worship with reverence and awe,

⁸ Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double minded.

²² Since you have purified your souls by obedience to the truth, so that you have a genuine love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from a pure heart.

¹¹ Dear friends, I urge you as foreigners and temporary residents to abstain from fleshly desires which wage war against your soul,

¹⁰ And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen and establish you.

⁴ Through these he has given us his precious and wonderful promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, seeing that you have escaped the corruption that is in the world caused by evil desires. ⁵ For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; ⁶ and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; ⁷ and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. ⁸ For if you possess these qualities and continue to grow in them, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁷ But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.

⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

³ And everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.

¹⁵ Moses was very angry, and said to the LORD, "Do not respect their offering: I have not taken one donkey from them, neither have I hurt one of them."

³ Here I am. Witness against me before the LORD, and before his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Whose donkey have I taken? Whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed? Of whose hand have I taken a bribe to make me blind my eyes? I will restore it to you.” ⁴ They said, "You haven't cheated us or oppressed us, and you haven't taken anything from anyone's hand."

¹⁴ And if anyone will not welcome you or heed your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town.

⁴⁰ He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives the One who sent Me.

⁸ If you enter a town and they welcome you, eat whatever is set before you.

³³ I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.

¹⁸ For such as these are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.

¹² And this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in relation to you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God—not in worldly wisdom, but in the grace of God.

² But we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

³ We put no stumbling block in anyone's path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. ⁴ Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships, and calamities; ⁵ in beatings, imprisonments, and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights, and hunger; ⁶ in purity, knowledge, patience, and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; ⁷ in truthful speech and in the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left;

¹² We are not holding back [our affections] from you, but you are holding back your affections [from us]. ¹³ Now in a fair exchangeI speak as to my childrenopen wide your hearts also.

⁹ And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed. I have kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so.

¹⁶ I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool. But if you do, then receive me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little.

¹⁴ See, I am ready to come to you a third time, and I will not be a burden, because I am not seeking your possessions, but you yourselves. For children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. ¹⁵ And for the sake of your souls, I will most gladly spend my money and myself. If I love you more, will you love me less? ¹⁶ Be that as it may, I was not a burden to you; but crafty as I am, I caught you by trickery. ¹⁷ Did I make gain of you through any of those whom I sent to you? ¹⁸ I urged Titus to visit you, and I sent our brother with him. Did Titus exploit you in any way? Did we not walk in the same spirit and follow in the same footsteps?

²⁹ Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him,

¹⁰ My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you greetings, as does Mark the cousin of Barnabas. You have already received instructions about him: If he comes to you, welcome him.

³ For our appeal to you does not spring from deceit, impure motives, or trickery. ⁴ Instead, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, not in order to please men but God, who examines our hearts. ⁵ For, as you know, we never used flattery nor a pretext for greed God is witness ⁶ or to seek glory from men (whether from you or from others) —as apostles of Christ we could have been ‘heavy’,

¹⁰ You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous, and blameless our conduct was among you who believed.

⁷ For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, ⁸ nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. Instead, in labor and toil, we worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you. ⁹ We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves an example for you to follow.

¹² So receive him, who is my very heart

¹⁷ So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me.

¹⁰ If any one comes to you and does not bring this Teaching, do not receive him into your house or welcome him;

⁸ We therefore ought to welcome such, so that we may work together for the Truth. ⁹ I wrote to the church: but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not accept us. ¹⁰ So if I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, gossiping against us with evil words. And not satisfied with that, he refuses himself to welcome the brethren, and also stops those who want to welcome them and puts them out of the church.

¹⁶ Ruth said, “Don't urge me to leave you, and to return from following you, for where you go, I will go; and where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people, and your God my God. ¹⁷ Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts you and me.

¹⁴ I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you as my beloved children. ¹⁵ Even if you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.

⁴ For I wrote you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you. ⁵ So, if anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has all of you, to some extent—not to be too ‘heavy’.

² You yourselves are our letter, inscribed on our hearts, known and read by everyone.

¹¹ We have spoken freely to you, O Corinthians, and our hearts have been wide open to you. ¹² We are not holding back [our affections] from you, but you are holding back your affections [from us].

¹² So, although I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of the person who did the wrong, nor for the one who was wronged, but so that you could realize before God how devoted to us you are.

¹¹ Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!

¹⁵ And for the sake of your souls, I will most gladly spend my money and myself. If I love you more, will you love me less?

¹⁰ This is why I write these things while absent, so that when I am present I will not need to be severe in my use of the authority that the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.

⁸ God is my witness how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. ⁹ And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and profound insight,

⁸ We cared so deeply that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our own lives as well. That is how beloved you have become to us.

⁴¹ The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.

³ Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;

⁴ I always thank my God for you because of the grace He has given you in Christ Jesus.

⁴ who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

¹⁴ as you have already understood us in part, so that you may boast of us just as we will boast of you in the day of our Lord Jesus.

¹⁴ But thanks be to God, who always leads us triumphantly as captives in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him.

¹² Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold.

¹⁰ sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything. ¹¹ We have spoken freely to you, O Corinthians, and our hearts have been wide open to you.

⁶ But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, ⁷ and not only by his arrival, but also by the comfort he had received from you. He told us about your longing, your mourning, and your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced all the more.

²⁴ Wherefore show unto them the proof of your love, and of the rejoicing that we have of you, that the congregations may see it.

² For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting to the Macedonians that since last year you in Achaia were prepared to give. And your zeal has stirred most of them to do likewise. ³ But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove empty, but that you will be prepared, just as I said. ⁴ lest if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, wenot to say anything about you would be ashamed of having been so confident.

¹ Now by the mildness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am humble when face to face with you, but bold when away. ² I beg you that when I come, I may not need to be as bold as I expect toward those who presume that we live according to the flesh.

²¹ To my shame, I must say that we were too weak for that! But whatever anyone else dares to boast aboutI am speaking as a foolI also dare to boast about.

¹⁹ Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, divine utterance may be given me, so that I will boldly make known the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰ for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it fearlessly, as I should.

²⁰ I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have complete boldness, so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.

¹⁷ But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.

²⁴ Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions for the sake of His body, which is the church.

² Rather, in spite of having already suffered and been insulted in Philippi, as you know, we made bold in our God to speak to you the Gospel of God, in the face of strong opposition.

¹⁹ For what is our hope, our joy, our crown of rejoicing in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? Is it not even you?

⁷ So, brothers, through all of our distress and persecution, we were encouraged over you because of your faith, ⁸ for now I can really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord. ⁹ How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy that we have in God's presence because of you?

² Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds,

⁹ The dove, however, could find no place to set its feet because there was water over all the surface of the earth. It returned to Noah in the ark. He reached out his hand and held the dove and brought it back to himself in the ark.

²⁵ Outside the sword will bereave, and in the rooms, terror on both young man and virgin, the nursing infant with the gray-haired man.

¹¹ "Terrors startle him on every side and chase him at his heels.

¹² "The peoples will be burned as if to lime. Like thorn bushes they will be set ablaze.

²⁵ Do not go out into the field. Do not walk on the road. The enemy has a sword and terror is on every side.

¹⁸ My comfort in my sadness! my heart is faint in me!

¹⁰ Indeed, I hear many people whispering, "Terror on every side. Denounce him, let's denounce him!" All my close friends watch my steps and say, "Perhaps he will be deceived, and we can prevail against him and take vengeance on him."

³ 'You said, "Woe is me now. For the LORD has added sorrow to my pain; I am weary with my groaning, and I find no rest."'"

²⁸ Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

¹ When the uproar had ended, Paul sent for the disciples. After he had encouraged them, he said goodbye to them and left for Macedonia.

³¹ I face death every day, brothers, as surely as I boast about you in Christ Jesus our Lord.

⁵ After I go through Macedonia, however, I will come to you; for I will be going through Macedonia.

¹⁶ I planned to visit you on my way to Macedonia and to come back to you from Macedonia, and then to have you send me on my way to Judea. ¹⁷ When I was planning this, did I do it lightly? Or do I make my plans in a fleshly manner so that in the same breath I say, "Yes, Yes" and "No, No"?

³ I wrote as I did so that on my arrival I would not be saddened by those who ought to make me rejoice. I had confidence in all of you, that you would share my joy.

⁹ My purpose in writing you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything.

¹³ I had no peace of mind because I did not find my brother Titus [there]. So, I said “good-bye” to them and went on to Macedonia.

⁸ We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; ⁹ persecuted but not abandoned, struck down but not destroyed. ¹⁰ We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. ¹¹ For we who are alive are always consigned to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our mortal bodies. ¹² So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

²³ Are they servants of Christ? (I speak as one beside himself.) I am more so: in labors more abundantly, in prisons more abundantly, in stripes above measure, and in deaths often. ²⁴ Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. ²⁵ Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked. I spent a night and a day in the open sea. ²⁶ I have been on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, in danger from robbers, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles, in danger in the city, in danger in the wilderness, in danger at sea, and in danger from false brethren; ²⁷ in labor and toil and often without sleep, in hunger and thirst and often without food, in cold and exposure. ²⁸ Besides everything else, I have a daily burden because of my anxiety about all the churches. ²⁹ Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I do not inwardly burn? ³⁰ If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.

²⁰ For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you what I wish you to be, and you may not find me what you wish me to be; I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder. ²¹ I am afraid that when I come again, my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of their acts of impurity, sexual immorality, and debauchery.

¹¹ I fear for you, lest somehow I have vainly labored toward you.

¹⁹ My children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, ²⁰ how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you.

⁵ For this reason, when I could endure it no longer, I also sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter might have tempted you, and our labor would be in vain.

¹ In that day you will say: "I will praise you, O LORD. Although you were angry with me, your anger has turned away and you have comforted me.

¹² "I, even I, am the one who comforts you. Who are you that you fear mortal men? The sons of men are like grass!

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

¹⁸ I have seen his ways, and will heal him. I will also lead him, and restore comforts to him and to his mourners.

¹ The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me; because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the humble. He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to those who are bound; ² to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn;

¹³ The virgins will rejoice with dancing together with young men and old men. For I'll turn their mourning into joy, and I'll comfort them and give them gladness instead of sorrow.

⁴ Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

¹⁶ And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, to be with you forever

⁵ Now may the God of endurance and encouragement grant you harmony with one another in Christ Jesus,

¹⁷ I am glad that Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus have arrived, because they have supplied what was lacking from you. ¹⁸ For they refreshed my spirit and yours: therefore observe ye such.

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, ⁴ who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

¹³ I had no peace of mind because I did not find my brother Titus [there]. So, I said “good-bye” to them and went on to Macedonia. ¹⁴ But thanks be to God, who always leads us triumphantly as captives in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him.

¹³ On account of this, we are encouraged. In addition to our own encouragement, we were even more delighted by the joy of Titus. For his spirit has been refreshed by all of you.

¹ Therefore if you have any encouragement in Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and compassion,

² We sent Timothy, our brother and God’s fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith,

⁶ But Timothy has just now returned from visiting you and has told us the good news about your faith and love. He also told us that you always have fond memories of us and want to see us, just as we want to see you. ⁷ So, brothers, through all of our distress and persecution, we were encouraged over you because of your faith,

¹⁶ May our Lord Jesus, the Messiah himself, and may God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, ¹⁷ encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good word and work.

² Beloved, I pray that you may be in good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. ³ Because it gave me great joy when some brothers came and testified to the truth about you, how you are walking in Truth. ⁴ I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

⁴ Because the angel of the LORD said these things to all of the Israelites, the people wept out loud, ⁵ They called that place Bochim: and they sacrificed there to the LORD.

¹ For the music director; with stringed instruments, on the Sheminith. A psalm of David. O LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger, and do not discipline me in your wrath. ² Be merciful to me, the LORD, for I am faint. O LORD, heal me, for my bones are in agony. ³ I am in anguish. How long, O LORD, how long? ⁴ Return, O LORD, and deliver me. Save me because of your unfailing love. ⁵ No one remembers you when he is dead. Who praises you from the grave? ⁶ I am worn out from groaning. All night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears.

⁵ For His anger is only a moment; in His favor is life. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.

⁹ Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in distress. My eye wastes away with grief, [yea], my soul and my body. ¹⁰ For my life is spent with sorrow, my years with sighing. My strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones waste away. ¹¹ Because of all my adversaries I have become utterly contemptible to my neighbors, a horror to my acquaintances. Those who saw me on the street fled from me.

¹⁸ Yes, I confess my iniquity. I am anxious because of my sin.

¹ To the Director: A Davidic Psalm. When the prophet Nathan came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.. Have mercy, God, according to your gracious love, according to your unlimited compassion, erase my transgressions.

⁵ Those who sow in tears will reap in joy. ⁶ He who goes out weeping, carrying seed for sowing, will certainly come again with joy, carrying his sheaves.

⁵ Let the righteous strike me, it is kindness; let him reprove me, it is like oil on the head; don't let my head refuse it; Yet my prayer is always against evil deeds.

⁸ Don't rebuke a mocker or he will hate you. Rebuke a wise person, and he will love you. ⁹ Counsel a wise man, and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man, and he will add to his learning.

¹⁸ “I have surely heard Ephraim grieving thus, 'You have chastised me, and I was chastised, as an untrained calf. Turn me, and I will be turned; for you are the LORD my God. ¹⁹ Indeed, after I turned away, then I repented. And after I came to understand, I slapped my forehead. I was both ashamed and humiliated because I bear the disgrace of my youth.'" ²⁰ "Is Ephraim my dear son? Is he a darling child? Indeed, as often as I've spoken about him, I surely still remember him. Therefore I deeply yearn for him. I'll surely have great compassion on him," declares the LORD.

⁷⁵ Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.

⁴⁴ And being in agony, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground.

²³ When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts;

¹² that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith.

³ I wrote as I did so that on my arrival I would not be saddened by those who ought to make me rejoice. I had confidence in all of you, that you would share my joy. ⁴ For I wrote you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.

² Here indeed we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling,

¹⁰ Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation without regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. ¹¹ For behold what this very thing, godly sorrow, has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what zeal, what readiness to see justice done! At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.

¹⁶ But thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same devotion I have for you.

⁵ For although I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit, and I delight to see your orderly condition and firm faith in Christ.

⁶ But Timothy has just now returned from visiting you and has told us the good news about your faith and love. He also told us that you always have fond memories of us and want to see us, just as we want to see you.

⁸ for now I can really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord.

¹ We must pay closer attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.

⁹ Grieve, mourn, and weep. Turn your laughter to mourning, and your joy to gloom. ¹⁰ Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will raise you up.

¹⁷ Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years.

⁴ I was overjoyed to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father has commanded us.

³ Beloved, although I made every effort to write you about the salvation we share, I felt it necessary to write and urge you to contend earnestly for the faith entrusted once for all to the saints.

²² Moses returned to the LORD, and said, "Lord, why have you brought trouble on this people? Why is it that you have sent me? ²³ For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble on this people. You have not rescued your people at all!”

⁷ O LORD, you have deceived me, and I was deceived: you are stronger than I, and have prevailed: I am in derision daily, everyone mocks me. ⁸ Each time I speak, I cry aloud. I proclaim violence and destruction! For me the word of the LORD has resulted in reproach and derision all day long. ⁹ If I say, I will not make mention of him, or speak any more in his name, then there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones. I am weary with holding it in. I can’t.

³² though he causes grief, his compassion abounds according to his gracious love.

²¹ And, while they were eating, he said: "I tell you that one of you will betray me." ²² They were deeply grieved and began to ask Him one after another, “Surely not I, Lord?”

⁶¹ And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.” ⁶² And he went outside and wept bitterly.

⁶ But because I have said these things to you, grief has filled your heart.

¹⁷ He said to him the third time: Simon, son of John, do you love me? Peter was grieved because he asked him a third time: Do you love me? And he said to him: Lord, you know all things. You know that I love you. Jesus said to him: Feed my sheep.

² For if I grieve you, who is left to cheer me but those whom I have grieved? ³ I wrote as I did so that on my arrival I would not be saddened by those who ought to make me rejoice. I had confidence in all of you, that you would share my joy. ⁴ For I wrote you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you. ⁵ So, if anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has all of you, to some extent—not to be too ‘heavy’. ⁶ The punishment imposed on him by the majority is sufficient for him. ⁷ So instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. ⁸ I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him. ⁹ My purpose in writing you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything. ¹⁰ If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And if I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven it in the presence of Christ for your sake, ¹¹ in order that Satan should not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.

⁶ But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus,

¹¹ For behold what this very thing, godly sorrow, has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what zeal, what readiness to see justice done! At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.

⁹ Furthermore, we have all had earthly fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them. Should we not much more submit to the Father of our spirits and live? ¹⁰ Our fathers disciplined us for a short time as they thought best, but God disciplines us for our good, so that we may share in His holiness. ¹¹ No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields a peaceful harvest of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

¹⁹ Those I love, I rebuke and discipline. Therefore be earnest and repent.

³ Sorrow is better than laughter, because the heart is made better through trouble.

⁹ He said, “Go, and tell this people, ‘You hear indeed, but don’t understand. You see indeed, but don’t perceive.’ ¹⁰ Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes, lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn, and be healed. ¹¹ Then I said: "How long, O LORD? And He answered: "Until the cities are laid waste and without inhabitant, until the houses are deserted and the land is utterly desolate.

¹⁰ I will pour on the house of David, and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplication; and they will look to Me whom they have pierced; and they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for his only son, and will grieve bitterly for him, as one grieves for his firstborn.

⁷ I tell you that in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

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

¹⁷ "Then he came to his senses and said, 'How many of my father's hired men have more food than they can eat, and here I am starving to death! ¹⁸ I will get up and go back to my father and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. ¹⁹ I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants."' ²⁰ So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still in the distance, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. ²¹ then the son said to him, father, I have sinned against heaven, and against you, I am no longer worthy to be called your son. ²² But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. ²³ Bring the fatted calf and kill it. Let us feast and celebrate. ²⁴ For this son of mine was dead and is alive again! He was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate.

³² But it was fitting to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

²¹ I testified to both Jews and Greeks about repentance to God and faith in our Lord Jesus.

¹⁶ To the one we are the aroma of death to death; and to the other the aroma of life to life. And who is equal to such a calling?

⁸ For even if I boast somewhat excessively about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than tearing you down, I will not be ashamed. ⁹ I do not want to seem to be trying to frighten you by my letters. ¹⁰ For some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but his physical presence is unimpressive, and his speaking is of no account.”

⁸ For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. ⁹ In fact, we rejoice when we are weak but you are strong, and our prayer is for your perfection. ¹⁰ This is why I write these things while absent, so that when I am present I will not need to be severe in my use of the authority that the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.

¹³ Cain said to the LORD: "My punishment is more than I can bear. ¹⁴ "You are driving me from the land today. I will be hidden from your presence. I will be a restless (homeless) wanderer on the earth. And whoever finds me will kill me." ¹⁵ the LORD replied to him: "If anyone kills Cain, he will suffer vengeance seven times over." Then the LORD put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him.

¹ When Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister. She said to Jacob, "Give me children, or else I will die."

⁶ David was greatly distressed, for the men spoke of stoning him because they were grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.

¹³ David said to Nathan: "I have sinned against the LORD." Nathan replied: "the LORD has taken away your sin. You will not die.

⁴ He said to him, "Why, son of the king, are you so sad from day to day? Won't you tell me?" Amnon said to him, "I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister."

²³ When Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his donkey, and arose, and went home, to his city, and set his house in order, and hanged himself; and he died, and was buried in the tomb of his father.

⁴⁷ yet if they shall think within themselves in the land where they are carried captives, and repent, and pray to You in the land of their captors saying, We have sinned and have done perversely, we have done wickedly, ⁴⁸ and return to you with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their enemies who captured them; and pray to you toward the land you gave their fathers - the city you chose and the house I built for your name: ⁴⁹ then in heaven, the place where you live, hear their prayer for mercy. Do what is right for them. ⁵⁰ »Forgive your people, who have sinned against you. Forgive all their wrongs when they rebelled against you. Cause those who captured them to have mercy on them.

⁴ Ahab returned to his house bitter and angry because Naboth the Jezreelite said to him: "I will not give you the heritage of my fathers." Stretching himself on the bed with his face turned away, he would not eat.

²⁷ "He comes to men and says: 'I sinned, and perverted what was right, but I did not get what I deserved.' ²⁸ "He redeemed me from going down to the pit, and I will live to enjoy the light.

¹³ A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but an aching heart breaks the spirit.

¹⁵ All the days of the afflicted are evil; but a cheerful heart is a continual feast.

²² A cheerful heart makes good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

¹⁴ A man's spirit will sustain him in sickness, but a crushed spirit, who can bear?

⁹ They'll come crying, and I'll lead them as they pray for mercy. I'll make them walk by streams of water, along a straight path on which they won't stumble. For I am Israel's father, and Ephraim is my firstborn."

¹⁶ And if their survivors will escape, they will be on the mountains, like the doves of the valley, all of them groaning, each because of his guilt.

²⁷ Again, when a wicked man turns away from his wickedness that he has committed and does what is lawful and right, he will save his soul alive. ²⁸ Because he considers and turns away from all his transgressions that he has committed, he will surely live. He will not die. ²⁹ But the house of Israel says, The way of the Lord is not fair. Are My ways not fair, O house of Israel? Is it not your ways that are not fair? ³⁰ Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, each one according to his ways, says the Sovereign LORD. Return and turn yourselves from all your transgressions, so iniquity will not be your ruin.

⁸ but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth and cry mightily unto God; and let each one turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands.

¹⁰ And when God saw their works, how they turned from their wicked ways, he repented on the evil which he said he would do unto them, and did it not.

⁹ And the Lord said to Jonah, Have you any right to be angry about the vine? And he said, I have a right to be truly angry.

²⁸ “But what do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’ ²⁹ ‘I will not,’ he replied. But later he changed his mind and went. ³⁰ Then the father went to the other son and told him the same thing. He replied, 'I will, sir,' but he didn't go. ³¹ Which of the two did what his father wanted?" They said, "The second one." Jesus said to them, "I tell you, the tax-collectors and prostitutes are going into the Kingdom of God ahead of you. ³² For John came to you in a righteous way and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.

⁴ "I have sinned," he said, "in betraying innocent blood!" "What is that to us?" they answered; "you must see to that." ⁵ So Judas threw the silver into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.

¹³ But the tax-collector stood at a distance and would not even lift his eyes to heaven, but continued to beat his breast, and say, 'O God, have mercy on me, a sinner!'

¹⁹ Repent therefore, and turn again, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,

¹⁸ When they heard this, their objections were put to rest, and they glorified God, saying, “So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life.”

²¹ I am afraid that when I come again, my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of their acts of impurity, sexual immorality, and debauchery.

²⁵ He must gently reprove those who oppose him, in the hope that God may grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth. ²⁶ And that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

¹⁷ For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected. He could find no ground for repentance, though he sought the blessing with tears.

⁶ When he caught up with them, he repeated these words to them. ⁷ And they said to him, Why does my lord say such words as these? far be it from your servants to do such a thing:

⁵ David flew into a rage at the man and told Nathan, "As the LORD lives, the man who did this deserves to die! ⁶ He shall restore the ewe fourfold, because he did this thing, and had no pity. ⁷ Nathan said to David, "You are the man. This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul.

⁶ And when I heard their cry, and these words, I was very angry. ⁷ I thought over this in my heart, and then I quarreled with the nobles and the prefects. I said to them, "You yourselves are taking interest from your own brother!" So I called the great assembly against them, ⁸ And I said to them, We after our ability have redeemed our brothers the Jews, which were sold to the heathen; and will you even sell your brothers? or shall they be sold to us? Then held they their peace, and found nothing to answer. ⁹ So I said, "What you're doing isn't right! Shouldn't you live in the fear of our God to avoid shame from our foreign enemies? ¹⁰ Also, I and my brothers and my servants are lending them money and grain. Please stop taking this interest. ¹¹ So today please restore to them their fields, vineyards, olive orchards, and homes, along with the one percent interest charge that you've assessed them on the grain, wine, and oil." ¹² So they said, "We will restore it and will not request anything more. So we will do as you say." Then I called the priests and made them take an oath to do this promise. ¹³ Shaking out the folds of my robe, I said: "So, may God send out from his house and his work every man who does not keep this agreement. Even so let him be sent out and made as nothing." All the people said: "Amen!" They praised the LORD. The people did as they said.

²⁵ So I quarreled with them and cursed them and beat some of their men and pulled out their hair. I made them take an oath by God: "Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons or for yourselves.

⁶ Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes."

¹¹ Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

¹³ But when they were sick, I wore sackcloth. I humbled myself with fasting. My prayer returned unanswered.

⁹ O Lord, all my longing is before you, and my sighing is not hidden from you.

¹ For the music director. A maskil of the sons of Korah. As a deer longs for streams of water, so my soul longs for you, O God.

⁹ Zeal for your house consumes me, and the mockeries of those who insult you fall on me.

¹³⁹ My zeal wears me out, because my enemies ignore your words.

⁶ My soul longs for the Lord more than watchmen long for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.

¹⁹ He fulfilleth the desire of them that fear him; he heareth their cry, and saveth them.

¹⁶ A wise man fears, and shuns evil, but the fool is hotheaded and reckless.

¹⁴ Blessed is the man who always fears; but one who hardens his heart falls into trouble.

⁶ Place me like a seal upon your heart, Like a seal upon your arm, For love is strong as death, Its jealousy hard as the unseen, Its burning coals as burning coals of fire, The blaze of Yah."

⁸ Yes, the LORD, walking in the way of your Laws, we wait for you. Your name and your fame are the desire of our hearts.

² And my hand has made all these things, and all these came to be," declares the LORD, "but I look to this one: to the humble and the contrite of spirit and the one frightened at my word.

¹⁴ When the king heard this, he was greatly upset, because he was determined to make every effort to save Daniel before the sun set.

¹⁰ I will pour on the house of David, and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplication; and they will look to Me whom they have pierced; and they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for his only son, and will grieve bitterly for him, as one grieves for his firstborn. ¹¹ In that day the mourning in Jerusalem shall be great, like the mourning of Hadad-rimmon in the valley of Megiddo. ¹² The land will mourn, every family apart; the family of the house of David apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart; ¹³ the family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart; the family of Shimei apart, and their wives apart; ¹⁴ And all the other families by themselves, and their wives by themselves.

²⁹ If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. ³⁰ And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to depart into hell.

⁵ And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man: Stretch out your hand. He stretched it out, and his hand was restored.

⁴³ If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, to the fire that shall never be quenched.

⁴⁵ And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell.

⁴⁷ And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, ⁴⁸ 'where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.'

¹⁷ His disciples remembered that it is written, "Zeal for your house will consume me."

¹⁶ While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply disturbed in his spirit to see that the city was full of idols.

²⁰ That is correct: They were broken off because of unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid.

¹⁸ For whoever serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.

² And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have been stricken with grief and removed from your fellowship the man who did this?

¹³ God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.”

²⁵ so that there should be no division in the body, but that its members should have mutual concern for one another.

⁶ The punishment imposed on him by the majority is sufficient for him.

⁴ Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships, and calamities;

¹ Since we have these promises, dear friends, let's cleanse ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit by becoming mature in our holy fear of God.

⁷ and not only by his arrival, but also by the comfort he had received from you. He told us about your longing, your mourning, and your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced all the more.

⁹ And now I rejoice, not because you were made sorrowful, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you felt the sorrow that God had intended, and so were not harmed in any way by us.

² For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting to the Macedonians that since last year you in Achaia were prepared to give. And your zeal has stirred most of them to do likewise.

⁷ Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong—not that we will appear to have stood the test, but that you will do what is right, even if we appear to have failed.

²⁶ In your anger, do not sin! Do not let the sun set while you remain angry.

¹¹ Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.

¹² Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.

²¹ I charge you, in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, doing nothing out of favoritism. ²² Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others; keep yourself pure.

¹⁵ Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

⁸ This teaching is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.

¹⁵ See that no one misses the grace of God; that no bitter root spring up to cause trouble and defile many. ¹⁶ See to it that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal.

¹⁷ Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives in reverent fear during your temporary stay on earth.

² Like newborn infants, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,

²³ save others by snatching them from the fire; and to still others, show mercy tempered with fear, hating even the clothing stained by the flesh.

¹ It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and of a kind that does not occur even among pagans: a man has his father's wife. ² And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have been stricken with grief and removed from your fellowship the man who did this?

¹⁷ For we are not like so many others, who peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as men sent from God.

⁸ For even if I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret itfor I see that my letter hurt you, though only for a little while

²⁸ Besides everything else, I have a daily burden because of my anxiety about all the churches.

⁵ For if a man does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?

¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.

³² so that by God's will I may come to you with joy, and together with you be refreshed.

²⁶ If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

⁵ It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no account of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not rejoice with evil, but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ endures all, trusts all, hopes all, abides all:

¹³ Be on the alert. Stand firm in the faith. Be men of courage. Be strong.

¹⁵ And his affection for you is even greater when he remembers that you were all obedient as you welcomed him with fear and trembling.

²⁸ Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may rejoice and I may have less anxiety.

¹⁶ May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorous, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chain;

²⁰ Yes, brother, let me have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.

⁸ Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble in spirit.

¹⁸ But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.” ¹⁹ For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was proclaimed among you by me and Silvanus and Timothy, was not “Yes” and “No,” but in Him it has always been “Yes.” ²⁰ For all the promises of God are “Yes” in Christ. And so through Him, our “Amen” is spoken to the glory of God.

⁴ Great is my confidence in you; great is my pride in you; I am filled with encouragement; in all our troubles my joy overflows.

⁸ For even if I boast somewhat excessively about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than tearing you down, I will not be ashamed.

⁴ That is why we boast among God’s churches about your perseverance and faith in the face of all the persecution and affliction you are enduring.

³⁰ Joseph hurried, for his heart yearned over his brother; and he sought a place to weep. He entered into his room, and wept there.

²⁶ But the woman, whose child was alive, said to the king; (for her bowels were moved upon her child) I beseech thee, my lord, give her the child alive, and do not kill it. But the other said: Let it be neither mine nor thine; but divide it.

⁴ Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel was gathered to me, because of the sin of those who had been exiled. And I remained dumb until the evening sacrifice.

⁹ So within the three days all the men of Judah and Benjamin convened in Jerusalem; it was in the ninth month on the twentieth day of the month. All the people were sitting in the square of the House of the One, Elohim, quivering on account of the matter and because of the downpours.

⁶ "When I think of it I am dismayed, and trembling seizes my flesh.

¹²⁰ My flesh trembles for fear of you. I am afraid of your judgments.

⁴ My beloved thrust his hand in through the latch opening. My heart pounded for him.

¹ ¶ When Ephraim spoke everyone feared, he was exalted in Israel; but he was found guilty in Baal and died.

²⁹ The jailer called for lights. He rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.

¹² We are not holding back [our affections] from you, but you are holding back your affections [from us].

⁵ We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ, ⁶ And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, as soon as your obedience is complete.

⁵ Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear and sincerity of heart, just as you would show to Christ.

⁸ God is my witness how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

¹² Therefore, as God's chosen ones, holy and loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.

¹⁴ If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of that person and do not associate with him, so that he may be ashamed.

¹⁷ If anyone with earthly possessions sees his brother in need, but withholds his compassion from him, how can the love of God abide in him?

⁴ We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do what we command.

⁸ Hence, although in Christ I would feel quite free to order you to do your duty,

²¹ Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.