Luke 18 Cross References - WNT

¹ He also taught them by a parable that they must always pray and never lose heart. ² "In a certain town," He said, "there was a judge who had no fear of God and no respect for man. ³ And in the same town was a widow who repeatedly came and entreated him, saying, "'Give me justice and stop my oppressor.' ⁴ "For a time he would not, but afterwards he said to himself, "'Though I have neither reverence for God nor respect for man, ⁵ yet because she annoys me I will give her justice, to prevent her from constantly coming to pester me.'" ⁶ And the Lord said, "Hear those words of the unjust judge. ⁷ And will not God avenge the wrongs of His own People who cry aloud to Him day and night, although He seems slow in taking action on their behalf? ⁸ Yes, He will soon avenge their wrongs. Yet, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?" ⁹ And to some who relied on themselves as being righteous men, and looked down upon all others, He addressed this parable. ¹⁰ "Two men went up to the Temple to pray," He said; "one being a Pharisee and the other a tax-gatherer. ¹¹ The Pharisee, standing erect, prayed as follows by himself: "'O God, I thank Thee that I am not like other people--I am not a thief nor a cheat nor an adulterer, nor do I even resemble this tax-gatherer. ¹² I fast twice a week. I pay the tithe on all my gains.' ¹³ "But the tax-gatherer, standing far back, would not so much as lift his eyes to Heaven, but kept beating his breast and saying, "'O God, be reconciled to me, sinner that I am.' ¹⁴ "I tell you that this man went home more thoroughly absolved from guilt than the other; for every one who uplifts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be uplifted." ¹⁵ On one occasion people also brought with them their infants, for Him to touch them; but the disciples, noticing this, proceeded to find fault with them. ¹⁶ Jesus however called the infants to Him. "Let the little children come to me," He said; "do not hinder them; for it is to those who are childlike that the Kingdom of God belongs. ¹⁷ I tell you in solemn truth that, whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child will certainly not enter it." ¹⁸ The question was put to Him by a Ruler: "Good Rabbi, what shall I do to inherit the Life of the Ages?" ¹⁹ "Why do you call me good?" replied Jesus; "there is no one good but One, namely God. ²⁰ You know the Commandments: 'DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY;' 'DO NOT MURDER;' 'DO NOT STEAL;' 'DO NOT LIE IN GIVING EVIDENCE;' 'HONOUR THY FATHER AND THY MOTHER.'" ²¹ "All of those," he replied, "I have kept from my youth." ²² On receiving this answer Jesus said to him, "There is still one thing wanting in you. Sell everything you possess and give the money to the poor, and you shall have wealth in Heaven; and then come, follow me." ²³ But on hearing these words he was deeply sorrowful, for he was exceedingly rich. ²⁴ Jesus saw his sorrow, and said, "With how hard a struggle do the possessors of riches ever enter the Kingdom of God! ²⁵ Why, it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God." ²⁶ "Who then can be saved?" exclaimed the hearers. ²⁷ "Things impossible with man," He replied, "are possible with God." ²⁸ Then Peter said, "See, we have given up our homes and have followed you." ²⁹ "I solemnly tell you," replied Jesus, "that there is no one who has left house or wife, or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of God's Kingdom, ³⁰ who shall not certainly receive many times as much in this life, and in the age that is coming the Life of the Ages." ³¹ Then He drew the Twelve to Him and said, "See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything written in the Prophets which refers to the Son of Man will be fulfilled. ³² For He will be given up to the Gentiles, and be mocked, outraged and spit upon. ³³ They will scourge Him and put Him to death, and on the third day He will rise to life again." ³⁴ Nothing of this did they understand. The words were a mystery to them, nor could they see what He meant. ³⁵ As Jesus came near to Jericho, there was a blind man sitting by the way-side begging. ³⁶ He heard a crowd of people going past, and inquired what it all meant. ³⁷ "Jesus the Nazarene is passing by," they told him. ³⁸ Then, at the top of his voice, he cried out, "Jesus, son of David, take pity on me." ³⁹ Those in front reproved him and tried to silence him; but he continued shouting, louder than ever, "Son of David, take pity on me." ⁴⁰ At length Jesus stopped and desired them to bring the man to Him; and when he had come close to Him He asked him, ⁴¹ "What shall I do for you?" "Sir," he replied, "let me recover my sight." ⁴² "Recover your sight," said Jesus: "your faith has cured you." ⁴³ No sooner were the words spoken than the man regained his sight and followed Jesus, giving glory to God; and all the people, seeing it, gave praise to God.

⁵ And He said to them, "Which of you shall have a friend and shall go to him in the middle of the night and say, "'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; ⁶ for a friend of mine has just come to my house from a distance, and I have nothing for him to eat'? ⁷ "And he from indoors shall answer, "'Do not pester me. The door is now barred, and I am here in bed with my children. I cannot get up and give you bread.' ⁸ "I tell you that even if he will not rise and give him the loaves because he is his friend, at any rate because of his persistency he will rouse himself and give him as many as he requires. ⁹ "So I say to you, 'Ask, and what you ask for shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and the door shall be opened to you.'

³⁶ But beware of slumbering; and every moment pray that you may be fully strengthened to escape from all these coming evils, and to take your stand in the presence of the Son of Man."

¹² full of joyful hope, patient under persecution, earnest and persistent in prayer.

¹ Therefore, being engaged in this service and being mindful of the mercy which has been shown us, we are not cowards.

⁹ Let us not abate our courage in doing what is right; for in due time we shall reap a reward, if we do not faint.

¹⁸ Pray with unceasing prayer and entreaty on every fitting occasion in the Spirit, and be always on the alert to seize opportunities for doing so, with unwearied persistence and entreaty on behalf of all God's people,

⁶ Do not be over-anxious about anything, but by prayer and earnest pleading, together with thanksgiving, let your request be unreservedly made known in the presence of God.

² Be earnest and unwearied in prayer, being on the alert in it and in your giving of thanks.

¹² Epaphras, who is one of yourselves, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, sends greetings to you, always wrestling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand firm--Christians of ripe character and of clear conviction as to everything which is God's will.

¹⁷ Be unceasing in prayer.

³ Therefore, if you would escape becoming weary and faint-hearted, compare your own sufferings with those of Him who endured such hostility directed against Him by sinners. ⁴ In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted so as to endanger your lives; ⁵ and you have quite forgotten the encouraging words which are addressed to you as sons, and which say, "MY SON, DO NOT THINK LIGHTLY OF THE LORD'S DISCIPLINE, AND DO NOT FAINT WHEN HE CORRECTS YOU;

⁴ "For a time he would not, but afterwards he said to himself, "'Though I have neither reverence for God nor respect for man,

¹⁴ "THEIR MOUTHS ARE FULL OF CURSING AND BITTERNESS." ¹⁵ "THEIR FEET MOVE SWIFTLY TO SHED BLOOD. ¹⁶ RUIN AND MISERY MARK THEIR PATH; ¹⁷ AND THE WAY TO PEACE THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN." ¹⁸ "THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES."

⁷ And will not God avenge the wrongs of His own People who cry aloud to Him day and night, although He seems slow in taking action on their behalf? ⁸ Yes, He will soon avenge their wrongs. Yet, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?"

³ For judges and magistrates are to be feared not by right-doers but by wrong-doers. You desire--do you not? --to have no reason to fear your ruler. Well, do the thing that is right, and then he will commend you. ⁴ For he is God's servant for your benefit. But if you do what is wrong, be afraid. He does not wear the sword to no purpose: he is God's servant--an administrator to inflict punishment upon evil-doers.

¹⁷ and he debated within himself, saying, "'What am I to do? for I have no place in which to store my crops.'

³ "Then the steward said within himself, "'What am I to do? For my master is taking away the stewardship from me. I am not strong enough for field labour: to beg, I should be ashamed.

¹² For God's Message is full of life and power, and is keener than the sharpest two-edged sword. It pierces even to the severance of soul from spirit, and penetrates between the joints and the marrow, and it can discern the secret thoughts and purposes of the heart. ¹³ And no created thing is able to escape its scrutiny; but everything lies bare and completely exposed before the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.

²³ But He answered her not a word. Then the disciples interposed, and begged Him, saying, "Send her away because she keeps crying behind us."

⁴⁷ Hearing that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out, "Son of David, Jesus, have pity on me." ⁴⁸ Many angrily told him to leave off shouting; but he only cried out all the louder, "Son of David, have pity on me."

⁸ "I tell you that even if he will not rise and give him the loaves because he is his friend, at any rate because of his persistency he will rouse himself and give him as many as he requires.

³⁹ Those in front reproved him and tried to silence him; but he continued shouting, louder than ever, "Son of David, take pity on me."

¹³ The Lord saw her, was moved with pity for her, and said to her, "Do not weep."

¹¹ If you then, imperfect as you are, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in Heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

³⁷ and then being a widow of eighty-four years. She was never absent from the Temple, but worshipped, by day and by night, with fasting and prayer.

¹³ If you then, with all your human frailty, know how to give your children gifts that are good for them, how much more certainly will your Father who is in Heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"

³³ Who shall impeach those whom God has chosen? God declares them free from guilt.

¹² Clothe yourselves therefore, as God's own people holy and dearly loved, with tender-heartedness, kindness, lowliness of mind, meekness, long-suffering;

¹⁰ while night and day, with intense earnestness, we pray that we may see your faces, and may bring to perfection whatever may be still lacking in your faith?

⁶ A plain token of God's righteous judgement, I say, since it is a righteous thing for Him to requite with affliction those who are now afflicting you;

⁵ A widow who is really in need, friendless and desolate, has her hopes fixed on God, and continues at her supplications and prayers, night and day;

³ I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience--as my forefathers did--that night and day I unceasingly remember you in my prayers,

¹ Paul, a bondservant of God and an Apostle of Jesus Christ for building up the faith of God's own people and spreading a full knowledge of the truths of religion,

³⁵ Therefore do not cast from you your confident hope, for it will receive a vast reward. ³⁶ For you stand in need of patient endurance, so that, as the result of having done the will of God, you may receive the promised blessing. ³⁷ For there is still but a short time and then "THE COMING ONE WILL COME AND WILL NOT DELAY.

⁹ The Lord is not slow in fulfilling His promise, in the sense in which some men speak of slowness. But He bears patiently with you, His desire being that no one should perish but that all should come to repentance.

¹⁰ And now in loud voices they cried out, saying, "How long, O Sovereign Lord, the holy One and the true, dost Thou delay judgment and the taking of vengeance upon the inhabitants of the earth for our blood?"

¹⁵ For this reason they stand before the very throne of God, and render Him service, day after day and night after night, in His sanctuary, and He who is sitting upon the throne will shelter them in His tent.

²⁰ Rejoice over her, O Heaven, and you saints and Apostles and Prophets; for God has taken vengeance upon her because of you."

⁹ "At that time they will deliver you up to punishment and will put you to death; and you will be objects of hatred to all the nations because you are called by my name. ¹⁰ Then WILL MANY STUMBLE AND FALL, and they will betray one another and hate one another. ¹¹ Many false prophets will rise up and lead multitudes astray; ¹² and because of the prevalent disregard of God's law the love of the great majority will grow cold; ¹³ but those who stand firm to the End shall be saved.

²⁴ For there will rise up false Christs and false prophets, displaying wonderful signs and prodigies, so as to deceive, were it possible, even God's own People.

²⁶ "And as it was in the time of Noah, so will it also be in the time of the Son of Man. ²⁷ Men were eating and drinking, taking wives and giving wives, up to the very day on which Noah entered the Ark, and the Deluge came and destroyed them all. ²⁸ The same was true in the time of Lot: they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building; ²⁹ but on the day that Lot left Sodom, God rained fire and brimstone from the sky and destroyed them all. ³⁰ Exactly so will it be on the day that the veil is lifted from the Son of Man.

¹ But as to times and dates it is unnecessary that anything be written to you. ² For you yourselves know perfectly well that the day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night. ³ While they are saying "Peace and safety!" then in a moment destruction falls upon them, like birth-pains on a woman who is with child; and escape there is none.

²³ Let us hold firmly to an unflinching avowal of our hope, for He is faithful who gave us the promises. ²⁴ And let us bestow thought on one another with a view to arousing one another to brotherly love and right conduct; ²⁵ not neglecting--as some habitually do--to meet together, but encouraging one another, and doing this all the more since you can see the day of Christ approaching. ²⁶ For if we wilfully persist in sin after having received the full knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains in reserve any other sacrifice for sins.

¹ Come, you rich men, weep aloud and howl for your sorrows which will soon be upon you. ² Your treasures have rotted, and your piles of clothing are moth-eaten; ³ your gold and your silver have become covered with rust, and the rust on them will give evidence against you, and will eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded up wealth in these last days. ⁴ I tell you that the pay of the labourers who have gathered in your crops--pay which you are keeping back--is calling out against you; and the outcries of those who have been your reapers have entered into the ears of the Lord of the armies of Heaven. ⁵ Here on earth you have lived self-indulgent and profligate lives. You have stupefied yourselves with gross feeding; but a day of slaughter has come. ⁶ You have condemned--you have murdered-- the righteous man: he offers no resistance. ⁷ Be patient therefore, brethren, until the Coming of the Lord. Notice how eagerly a farmer waits for a valuable crop! He is patient over it till it has received the early and the later rain. ⁸ So you also must be patient: keeping up your courage; for the Coming of the Lord is now close at hand.

³ Thirsting for riches, they will trade on you with their canting talk. From of old their judgement has been working itself out, and their destruction has not been slumbering.

⁸ But there is one thing, dear friends, which you must not forget. With the Lord one day resembles a thousand years and a thousand years resemble one day. ⁹ The Lord is not slow in fulfilling His promise, in the sense in which some men speak of slowness. But He bears patiently with you, His desire being that no one should perish but that all should come to repentance.

³⁹ Noticing this, the Pharisee, His host, said to himself, "This man, if he were really a Prophet, would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching him--and would know that she is an immoral woman."

²⁹ But he, desiring to justify himself, said, "But what is meant by my 'fellow man'?"

² and this led the Pharisees and the Scribes indignantly to complain, saying, "He gives a welcome to notorious sinners, and joins them at their meals!"

²⁹ "'All these years,' replied the son, 'I have been slaving for you, and I have never at any time disobeyed any of your orders, and yet you have never given me so much as a kid, for me to enjoy myself with my friends; ³⁰ but now that this son of yours is come who has eaten up your property among his bad women, you have killed the fat calf for him.'

¹⁵ "You are they," He said to them, "who boast of their own goodness before men, but God sees your hearts; for that which holds a proud position among men is detestable in God's sight.

¹¹ The Pharisee, standing erect, prayed as follows by himself: "'O God, I thank Thee that I am not like other people--I am not a thief nor a cheat nor an adulterer, nor do I even resemble this tax-gatherer.

⁷ When they all saw this, they began to complain with indignation. "He has gone in to be the guest of a notorious sinner!" they said.

⁴⁷ "Are *you* deluded too?" replied the Pharisees; ⁴⁸ "has any one of the Rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him? ⁴⁹ But this rabble who understand nothing about the Law are accursed!"

⁴⁸ "Are we not right," answered the Jews, "in saying that you are a Samaritan and are possessed by a demon?"

²⁸ Then they railed at him, and said, "You are that man's disciple, but we are disciples of Moses.

³⁴ "You," they replied, "were wholly begotten and born in sin, and do *you* teach *us*?" And they put him out of the synagogue.

²¹ "'Go,' He replied; 'I will send you as an Apostle to nations far away.'"

⁹ Once, apart from Law, I was alive, but when the Commandment came, sin sprang into life, and I died;

³¹ while the descendants of Israel, who were in pursuit of a Law that could give righteousness, have not arrived at one. ³² And why? Because they were pursuing a righteousness which should arise not from faith, but from what they regarded as merit. They stuck their foot against the stone which lay in their way;

³ Ignorant of the righteousness which God provides and building their hopes upon a righteousness of their own, they have refused submission to God's righteousness.

¹⁰ But you, why do you find fault with your brother? Or you, why do you look down upon your brother? We shall all stand before God to be judged;

⁴ although I myself might have some excuse for confidence in outward ceremonies. If any one else claims a right to trust in them, far more may I: ⁵ circumcised, as I was, on the eighth day, a member of the race of Israel and of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew sprung from Hebrews; as to the Law a Pharisee; ⁶ as to zeal, a persecutor of the Church; as to the righteousness which comes through Law, blameless.

³¹ Which of the two did as his father desired?" "The first," they said. "I solemnly tell you,' replied Jesus, "that the tax-gatherers and the notorious sinners are entering the Kingdom of God in front of you. ³² For John came to you observing all sorts of ritual, and you put no faith in him: the tax-gatherers and the notorious sinners did put faith in him, and you, though you saw this example set you, were not even afterwards sorry so as to believe him.

⁹ it fell to his lot--according to the custom of the priesthood--to go into the Sanctuary of the Lord and burn the incense; ¹⁰ and the whole multitude of the people were outside praying, at the hour of incense.

²⁹ And all the people, including the tax-gatherers, when they listened to him upheld the righteousness of God, by being baptized with John's baptism. ³⁰ But the Pharisees and expounders of the Law have frustrated God's purpose as to their own lives, by refusing to be baptized.

⁴⁶ "It is written," He said, "'AND MY HOUSE SHALL BE THE HOUSE OF PRAYER,' but you have made it A ROBBERS' CAVE."

¹ One day Peter and John were going up to the Temple for the hour of prayer--the ninth hour--and, just then,

⁶ Noticing, however, that the Sanhedrin consisted partly of Sadducees and partly of Pharisees, he called out loudly among them, "Brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees. It is because of my hope of a resurrection of the dead that I am on my trial." ⁷ These words of his caused an angry dispute between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly took different sides. ⁸ For the Sadducees maintain that there is no resurrection, and neither angel nor spirit; but the Pharisees acknowledge the existence of both.

⁵ For they all know me of old--if they would but testify to the fact--how, being an adherent of the strictest sect of our religion, my life was that of a Pharisee.

⁵ circumcised, as I was, on the eighth day, a member of the race of Israel and of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew sprung from Hebrews; as to the Law a Pharisee;

⁷ But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he exclaimed, "O vipers' brood, who has warned you to flee from the coming wrath? ⁸ Therefore let your lives prove your change of heart; ⁹ and do not imagine that you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our forefather,' for I tell you that God can raise up descendants for Abraham from these stones. ¹⁰ And already the axe is lying at the root of the trees, so that every tree which does not produce good fruit will quickly be hewn down and thrown into the fire.

⁵ "And when praying, you must not be like the hypocrites. They are fond of standing and praying in the synagogues or at the corners of the wider streets, in order that men may see them. I solemnly tell you that they already have their reward.

¹⁸ "Which Commandments?" he asked. Jesus answered, "'THOU SHALT NOT KILL;' 'THOU SHALT NOT COMMIT ADULTERY;' 'THOU SHALT NOT STEAL;' 'THOU SHALT NOT LIE IN GIVING EVIDENCE;' ¹⁹ 'HONOUR THY FATHER AND THY MOTHER'; AND 'THOU SHALT LOVE THY FELLOW MAN AS MUCH AS THYSELF.'" ²⁰ "All of these," said the young man, "I have carefully kept. What do I still lack?"

²⁵ But whenever you stand praying, if you have a grievance against any one, forgive it, so that your Father in Heaven may also forgive you your offences."

⁴⁷ who swallow up the property of widows and mask their wickedness by making long prayers. They will be punished far more severely than others."

⁷ Why, who gives you your superiority, my brother? Or what have you that you did not receive? And if you really did receive it, why boast as if this were not so? ⁸ Every one of you already has all that heart can desire; already you have grown rich; without waiting for us, you have ascended your thrones! Yes indeed, would to God that you had ascended your thrones, that we also might reign with you!

⁹ For I am the least of the Apostles, and am not fit to be called an Apostle--because I persecuted the Church of God. ¹⁰ But what I am I am by the grace of God, and His grace bestowed upon me did not prove ineffectual. But I labored more strenuously than all the rest--yet it was not I, but God's grace working with me.

¹⁰ All who are depending upon their own obedience to the Law are under a curse, for it is written, "CURSED IS EVERY ONE WHO DOES NOT REMAIN FAITHFUL TO ALL THE PRECEPTS OF THE LAW, AND PRACTISE THEM."

⁶ as to zeal, a persecutor of the Church; as to the righteousness which comes through Law, blameless.

¹² I am thankful to Him who made me strong--even Christ Jesus our Lord--because He has judged me to be faithful and has put me into His service, ¹³ though I was previously a blasphemer and a persecutor and had been insolent in outrage. Yet mercy was shown me, because I had acted ignorantly, not having as yet believed; ¹⁴ and the grace of our Lord came to me in overflowing fulness, conferring faith on me and the love which is in Christ Jesus. ¹⁵ Faithful is the saying, and deserving of universal acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; among whom I stand foremost. ¹⁶ But mercy was shown me in order that in me as the foremost of sinners Christ Jesus might display the fulness of His long-suffering patience as an example to encourage those who would afterwards be resting their faith on Him with a view to the Life of the Ages.

⁹ But if you are making distinctions between one man and another, you are guilty of sin, and are convicted by the Law as offenders. ¹⁰ A man who has kept the Law as a whole, but has failed to keep some one command, has become guilty of violating all. ¹¹ For He who said, "DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY," also said, "DO NOT COMMIT MURDER," and if you are a murderer, although not an adulterer, you have become an offender against the Law. ¹² Speak and act as those should who are expecting to be judged by the Law of freedom.

¹⁷ You say, I am rich, and have wealth stored up, and I stand in need of nothing; and you do not know that if there is a wretched creature it is *you* --pitiable, poor, blind, naked.

¹ "But beware of doing your good actions in the sight of men, in order to attract their gaze; if you do, there is no reward for you with your Father who is in Heaven.

¹⁶ "When any of you fast, never assume gloomy looks as the hypocrites do; for they disfigure their faces in order that it may be evident to men that they are fasting. I solemnly tell you that they already have their reward.

¹⁴ At that time John's disciples came and asked Jesus, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not?"

⁷ Hypocrites! well did Isaiah prophesy of you, ⁸ "'THIS IS A PEOPLE WHO HONOUR ME WITH THEIR LIPS, WHILE THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME; ⁹ BUT IT IS IN VAIN THEY WORSHIP ME, WHILE THEY LAY DOWN PRECEPTS WHICH ARE MERE HUMAN RULES.'"

²³ "Alas for you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for you pay the tithe on mint, dill, and cumin, while you have neglected the weightier requirements of the Law--just judgement, mercy, and faithful dealing. These things you ought to have done, and yet you ought not to have left the others undone. ²⁴ You blind guides, straining out the gnat while you gulp down the camel!

⁴² "But alas for you Pharisees! for you pay tithes on your mint and rue and every kind of garden vegetable, and are indifferent to justice and the love of God. These are the things you ought to have attended to, while not neglecting the others.

¹⁰ So you also, when you have obeyed all the orders given you, must say, "'There is no merit in our service: what we have done is only what we were in duty bound to do.'"

²⁷ Where then is there room for your boasting? It is for ever shut out. On what principle? On the ground of merit? No, but on the ground of faith.

¹ Brethren, the longing of my heart, and my prayer to God, on behalf of my countrymen is for their salvation. ² For I bear witness that they possess an enthusiasm for God, but it is an unenlightened enthusiasm. ³ Ignorant of the righteousness which God provides and building their hopes upon a righteousness of their own, they have refused submission to God's righteousness.

²⁹ to prevent any mortal man from boasting in the presence of God.

¹⁴ and how in devotion to Judaism I outstripped many men of my own age among my people, being far more zealous than they on behalf of the traditions of my forefathers.

⁹ so that it may be impossible for any one to boast.

⁸ Train yourself in godliness. Exercise for the body is not useless, but godliness is useful in every respect, possessing, as it does, the promise of Life now and of the Life which is soon coming.

¹³ But go and learn what this means, 'IT IS MERCY THAT I DESIRE, NOT SACRIFICE'; for I did not come to appeal to the righteous, but to sinners."

⁸ When Simon Peter saw this, he fell down at the knees of Jesus, and exclaimed, "Master, leave my boat, for I am a sinful man."

⁶ Then Jesus went with them. But when He was not far from the house, the Captain sent friends to Him with the message: "Sir, do not trouble to come. I am not worthy of having you come under my roof; ⁷ and therefore I did not deem myself worthy to come to you. Only speak the word, and let my young man be cured.

¹⁸ I will rise and go to my father, and will say to him, Father, I have sinned against Heaven and before you: ¹⁹ I no longer deserve to be called a son of yours: treat me as one of your hired men.' ²⁰ "So he rose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and pitied him, and ran and threw his arms round his neck and kissed him tenderly. ²¹ "'Father,' cried the son, 'I have sinned against Heaven and before you: no longer do I deserve to be called a son of yours.'

¹² And as He entered a certain village, ten men met Him who were lepers and stood at a distance.

⁴⁰ But the other, answering, reproved him. "Do you also not fear God," he said, "when you are actually suffering the same punishment? ⁴¹ And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving due requital for what we have done. But He has done nothing amiss." ⁴² And he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come in your Kingdom." ⁴³ "I tell you in solemn truth," replied Jesus, "that this very day you shall be with me in Paradise."

⁴⁸ And all the crowds that had come together to this sight, after seeing all that had occurred, returned to the city beating their breasts.

³⁷ Stung to the heart by these words, they said to Peter and the rest of the Apostles, "Brethren, what are we to do?"

⁸ But God gives proof of His love to us in Christ's dying for us while we were still sinners.

²⁰ Now Law was brought in later on, so that transgression might increase. But where sin increased, grace has overflowed; ²¹ in order that as sin has exercised kingly sway in inflicting death, so grace, too, may exercise kingly sway in bestowing a righteousness which results in the Life of the Ages through Jesus Christ our Lord.

¹¹ For mark the effects of this very thing--your having sorrowed with a godly sorrow--what earnestness it has called forth in you, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing affection, what jealousy, what meting out of justice! You have completely wiped away reproach from yourselves in the matter.

¹⁵ Faithful is the saying, and deserving of universal acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; among whom I stand foremost.

¹⁶ Therefore let us come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our times of need.

¹² BECAUSE I WILL BE MERCIFUL TO THEIR WRONGDOINGS, AND THEIR SINS I WILL REMEMBER NO LONGER.'"

⁸ If we claim to be already free from sin, we lead ourselves astray and the truth has no place in our hearts. ⁹ If we confess our sins, He is so faithful and just that He forgives us our sins and cleanses us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰ If we deny that we have sinned, we make Him a liar, and His Message has no place in our hearts.

³ "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for to them belongs the Kingdom of the Heavens.

¹² and one who exalts himself shall be abased, while one who abases himself shall be exalted.

⁵² He has cast monarchs down from their thrones, And exalted men of low estate.

²⁴ But to prove to you that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins" --Turning to the paralytic He said, "I bid you, Rise, take up your bed, and go home." ²⁵ Instantly he stood up in their presence, took up the mattress on which he had been lying, and went away to his home, giving glory to God.

⁴⁷ This is the reason why I tell you that her sins, her many sins, are forgiven--because she has loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little." ⁴⁸ And He said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." ⁴⁹ Then the other guests began to say to themselves, "Who can this man be who even forgives sins?" ⁵⁰ But He said to the woman, "Your faith has cured you: go, and be at peace."

¹¹ For whoever uplifts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be uplifted.

²⁰ For on the ground of obedience to Law no man living will be declared righteous before Him. Law simply brings a sure knowledge of sin.

⁵ whereas in the case of a man who pleads no actions of his own, but simply believes in Him who declares the ungodly free from guilt, his faith is placed to his credit as righteousness.

¹ Standing then acquitted as the result of faith, let us enjoy peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

¹⁶ know that it is not through obedience to Law that a man can be declared free from guilt, but only through faith in Jesus Christ. We have therefore believed in Christ Jesus, for the purpose of being declared free from guilt, through faith in Christ and not through obedience to Law. For through obedience to Law no human being shall be declared free from guilt.

²¹ Was it, or was it not, because of his actions that he was declared to be righteous as the result of his having offered up his son Isaac upon the altar? ²² You notice that his faith was co-operating with his actions, and that by his actions his faith was perfected; ²³ and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND HIS FAITH WAS PLACED TO HIS CREDIT AS RIGHTEOUSNESS," and he received the name of 'God's friend.' ²⁴ You all see that it is because of actions that a man is pronounced righteous, and not simply because of faith. ²⁵ In the same way also was not the notorious sinner Rahab declared to be righteous because of her actions when she welcomed the spies and hurriedly helped them to escape another way?

⁶ But He gives more abundant grace, as is implied in His saying, "GOD SETS HIMSELF AGAINST THE HAUGHTY, BUT TO THE LOWLY HE GIVES GRACE."

¹⁰ Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.

⁵ In the same way you younger men must submit to your elders; and all of you must gird yourselves with humility towards one another, for God sets Himself against the proud, but gives grace to the humble. ⁶ Humble yourselves therefore beneath the mighty hand of God, so that at the right time He may set you on high.

¹³ Then young children were brought to Him for Him to put His hands on them and pray; but the disciples interfered. ¹⁴ Jesus however said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them; for it is to those who are childlike that the Kingdom of the Heavens belongs." ¹⁵ So He laid His hands upon them and went away.

¹³ One day people were bringing young children to Jesus for Him to touch them, but the disciples interfered. ¹⁴ Jesus, however, on seeing this, was moved to indignation, and said to them, "Let the little children come to me: do not hinder them; for to those who are childlike the Kingdom of God belongs. ¹⁵ In solemn truth I tell you that no one who does not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child will by any possibility enter it." ¹⁶ Then He took them in His arms and blessed them lovingly, one by one, laying His hands upon them.

⁴⁹ "Rabbi," replied John, "we have seen a man making use of your name to expel demons; and we forbad him, because he does not come with us." ⁵⁰ "Do not forbid him," said Jesus, "for he who is not against you is on your side."

⁵⁴ When the disciples James and John saw this, they said, "Master, do you wish us to order fire to come down from Heaven and consume them?"

³ said, "In solemn truth I tell you that unless you turn and become like little children, you will in no case be admitted into the Kingdom of the Heavens. ⁴ Whoever therefore shall humble himself as this young child, he it is who is superior to others in the Kingdom of the Heavens.

³⁹ For to you belongs the promise, and to your children, and to all who are far off, whoever the Lord our God may call."

¹⁴ For, in such cases, the unbelieving husband has become--and is--holy through union with a Christian woman, and the unbelieving wife is holy through union with a Christian brother. Otherwise your children would be unholy, but in reality they have a place among God's people.

²⁰ Brethren, do not prove yourselves to be children in your minds. As regards evil, indeed, be utter babes, but as regards your minds prove yourselves to be men of ripe years.

² Thirst, like newly-born infants, for pure milk for the soul, that by it you may grow up to salvation;

³ said, "In solemn truth I tell you that unless you turn and become like little children, you will in no case be admitted into the Kingdom of the Heavens.

¹⁵ In solemn truth I tell you that no one who does not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child will by any possibility enter it."

¹⁴ And, since you delight in obedience, do not shape your lives by the cravings which used to dominate you in the time of your ignorance,

¹⁶ "Teacher," said one man, coming up to Him, "what that is good shall I do in order to win the Life of the Ages?" ¹⁷ "Why do you ask me," He replied, "about what is good? There is only One who is truly good. But if you desire to enter into Life, keep the Commandments." ¹⁸ "Which Commandments?" he asked. Jesus answered, "'THOU SHALT NOT KILL;' 'THOU SHALT NOT COMMIT ADULTERY;' 'THOU SHALT NOT STEAL;' 'THOU SHALT NOT LIE IN GIVING EVIDENCE;' ¹⁹ 'HONOUR THY FATHER AND THY MOTHER'; AND 'THOU SHALT LOVE THY FELLOW MAN AS MUCH AS THYSELF.'" ²⁰ "All of these," said the young man, "I have carefully kept. What do I still lack?" ²¹ "If you desire to be perfect," replied Jesus, "go and sell all that you have, and give to the poor, and you shall have wealth in Heaven; and come, follow me." ²² On hearing those words the young man went away much cast down; for he had much property. ²³ So Jesus said to His disciples, "I solemnly tell you that it is with difficulty that a rich man will enter the Kingdom of the Heavens. ²⁴ Yes, I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God." ²⁵ These words utterly amazed the disciples, and they asked, "Who then can be saved?" ²⁶ Jesus looked at them and said, "With men this is impossible, but with God everything is possible." ²⁷ Then Peter said to Jesus, "See, *we* have forsaken everything and followed you; what then will be *our* reward?" ²⁸ "I solemnly tell you," replied Jesus, "that in the New Creation, when the Son of Man has taken His seat on His glorious throne, all of you who have followed me shall also sit on twelve thrones and judge the twelve tribes of Israel. ²⁹ And whoever has forsaken houses, or brothers or sisters, or father or mother, or children or lands, for my sake, shall receive many times as much and shall have as his inheritance the Life of the Ages. ³⁰ "But many who are now first will be last, and many who are now last will be first.

¹⁷ As He went out to resume His journey, there came a man running up to Him, who knelt at His feet and asked, "Good Rabbi, what am I to do in order to inherit the Life of the Ages?" ¹⁸ "Why do you call me good?" asked Jesus in reply; "there is no one truly good except One--that is, God. ¹⁹ You know the Commandments-- 'DO NOT MURDER;' 'DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY;' 'DO NOT STEAL;' 'DO NOT LIE IN GIVING EVIDENCE;' 'DO NOT DEFRAUD;' 'HONOUR THY FATHER AND THY MOTHER.'" ²⁰ "Rabbi," he replied, "all these Commandments I have carefully obeyed from my youth." ²¹ Then Jesus looked at him and loved him, and said, "One thing is lacking in you: go, sell all you possess and give the proceeds to the poor, and you shall have riches in Heaven; and come and be a follower of mine." ²² At these words his brow darkened, and he went away sad; for he was possessed of great wealth. ²³ Then looking round on His disciples Jesus said, "With how hard a struggle will the possessors of riches enter the Kingdom of God!" ²⁴ The disciples were amazed at His words. Jesus, however, said again, "Children, how hard a struggle is it for those who trust in riches to enter the Kingdom of God! ²⁵ It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God." ²⁶ They were astonished beyond measure, and said to one another, "Who then *can* be saved?" ²⁷ Jesus looking on them said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God; for everything is possible with God." ²⁸ "Remember," said Peter to Him, "that we forsook everything and have become your followers." ²⁹ "In solemn truth I tell you," replied Jesus, "that there is no one who has forsaken house or brothers or sisters, or mother or father, or children or lands, for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, ³⁰ but will receive a hundred times as much now in this present life--houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, lands--and persecution with them--and in the coming age the Life of the Ages. ³¹ But many who are now first will be last, and the last, first."

⁴⁶ "And why do you all call me 'Master, Master' and yet not do what I tell you?

²⁵ Then an expounder of the Law stood up to test Him with a question. "Rabbi," he asked, "what shall I do to inherit the Life of the Ages?" ²⁶ "Go to the Law," said Jesus; "what is written there? how does it read?" ²⁷ "'THOU SHALT LOVE THE LORD THY GOD,'" he replied, "'WITH THY WHOLE HEART, THY WHOLE SOUL, THY WHOLE STRENGTH, AND THY WHOLE MIND; AND THY FELLOW MAN AS MUCH AS THYSELF.'" ²⁸ "A right answer," said Jesus; "do that, and you shall live."

¹³ You call me 'The Rabbi' and 'The Master,' and rightly so, for such I am. ¹⁴ If I then, your Master and Rabbi, have washed your feet, it is also your duty to wash one another's feet. ¹⁵ For I have set you an example in order that you may do what I have done to you.

³⁰ and, bringing them out of the prison, he exclaimed, "O sirs, what must I do to be saved?"

³⁵ The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for this reason your holy offspring will be called 'the Son of God.'

¹⁶ And, beyond controversy, great is the mystery of our religion-- that Christ appeared in human form, and His claims justified by the Spirit, was seen by angels and proclaimed among Gentile nations, was believed on in the world, and received up again into glory.

²⁶ Moreover we needed just such a High Priest as this--holy, guileless, undefiled, far removed from sinful men and exalted above the heavens;

¹⁷ Every gift which is good, and every perfect boon, is from above, and comes down from the Father, who is the source of all Light. In Him there is no variation nor the slightest suggestion of change.

¹⁷ "Why do you ask me," He replied, "about what is good? There is only One who is truly good. But if you desire to enter into Life, keep the Commandments." ¹⁸ "Which Commandments?" he asked. Jesus answered, "'THOU SHALT NOT KILL;' 'THOU SHALT NOT COMMIT ADULTERY;' 'THOU SHALT NOT STEAL;' 'THOU SHALT NOT LIE IN GIVING EVIDENCE;' ¹⁹ 'HONOUR THY FATHER AND THY MOTHER'; AND 'THOU SHALT LOVE THY FELLOW MAN AS MUCH AS THYSELF.'"

¹⁸ "Why do you call me good?" asked Jesus in reply; "there is no one truly good except One--that is, God. ¹⁹ You know the Commandments-- 'DO NOT MURDER;' 'DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY;' 'DO NOT STEAL;' 'DO NOT LIE IN GIVING EVIDENCE;' 'DO NOT DEFRAUD;' 'HONOUR THY FATHER AND THY MOTHER.'"

⁷ What follows? Is the Law itself a sinful thing? No, indeed; on the contrary, unless I had been taught by the Law, I should have known nothing of sin as sin. For instance, I should not have known what covetousness is, if the Law had not repeatedly said, "THOU SHALT NOT COVET." ⁸ Sin took advantage of this, and by means of the Commandment stirred up within me every kind of coveting; for apart from Law sin would be dead. ⁹ Once, apart from Law, I was alive, but when the Commandment came, sin sprang into life, and I died; ¹⁰ and, as it turned out, the very Commandment which was to bring me life, brought me death. ¹¹ For sin seized the advantage, and by means of the Commandment it completely deceived me, and also put me to death.

⁹ For the precepts, "THOU SHALT NOT COMMIT ADULTERY," "THOU SHALT DO NO MURDER," "THOU SHALT NOT STEAL," "THOU SHALT NOT COVET," and all other precepts, are summed up in this one command, "THOU SHALT LOVE THY FELLOW MAN AS MUCH AS THOU LOVEST THYSELF."

¹⁰ All who are depending upon their own obedience to the Law are under a curse, for it is written, "CURSED IS EVERY ONE WHO DOES NOT REMAIN FAITHFUL TO ALL THE PRECEPTS OF THE LAW, AND PRACTISE THEM." ¹¹ It is evident, too, that no one can find acceptance with God simply by obeying the Law, because "THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL LIVE BY FAITH," ¹² and the Law has nothing to do with faith. It teaches that "HE WHO DOES THESE THINGS SHALL LIVE BY DOING THEM." ¹³ Christ has purchased our freedom from the curse of the Law by becoming accursed for us--because "CURSED IS EVERY ONE WHO IS HANGED UPON A TREE."

² "HONOUR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER" --this is the first Commandment which has a promise added to it--

²⁰ Children be obedient to your parents in everything; for that is right for Christians.

⁸ If, however, you are keeping the Law as supreme, in obedience to the Commandment which says "YOU ARE TO LOVE YOUR FELLOW MAN JUST AS YOU LOVE YOURSELF," you are acting rightly. ⁹ But if you are making distinctions between one man and another, you are guilty of sin, and are convicted by the Law as offenders. ¹⁰ A man who has kept the Law as a whole, but has failed to keep some one command, has become guilty of violating all. ¹¹ For He who said, "DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY," also said, "DO NOT COMMIT MURDER," and if you are a murderer, although not an adulterer, you have become an offender against the Law.

²⁰ "All of these," said the young man, "I have carefully kept. What do I still lack?" ²¹ "If you desire to be perfect," replied Jesus, "go and sell all that you have, and give to the poor, and you shall have wealth in Heaven; and come, follow me."

²⁰ "Rabbi," he replied, "all these Commandments I have carefully obeyed from my youth." ²¹ Then Jesus looked at him and loved him, and said, "One thing is lacking in you: go, sell all you possess and give the proceeds to the poor, and you shall have riches in Heaven; and come and be a follower of mine."

⁷ I tell you that in the same way there will be rejoicing in Heaven over one repentant sinner--more rejoicing than over ninety-nine blameless persons who have no need of repentance.

²⁹ "'All these years,' replied the son, 'I have been slaving for you, and I have never at any time disobeyed any of your orders, and yet you have never given me so much as a kid, for me to enjoy myself with my friends;

¹¹ The Pharisee, standing erect, prayed as follows by himself: "'O God, I thank Thee that I am not like other people--I am not a thief nor a cheat nor an adulterer, nor do I even resemble this tax-gatherer. ¹² I fast twice a week. I pay the tithe on all my gains.'

¹⁹ "Do not lay up stores of wealth for yourselves on earth, where the moth and wear-and-tear destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ But amass wealth for yourselves in Heaven, where neither the moth nor wear-and-tear destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal.

²¹ "If you desire to be perfect," replied Jesus, "go and sell all that you have, and give to the poor, and you shall have wealth in Heaven; and come, follow me."

²⁷ Then Peter said to Jesus, "See, *we* have forsaken everything and followed you; what then will be *our* reward?" ²⁸ "I solemnly tell you," replied Jesus, "that in the New Creation, when the Son of Man has taken His seat on His glorious throne, all of you who have followed me shall also sit on twelve thrones and judge the twelve tribes of Israel.

²³ And He said to all, "If any one is desirous of following me, let him ignore self and take up his cross day by day, and so be my follower.

⁵⁷ And, as they proceeded on their way, a man came to Him and said, "I will follow you wherever you go." ⁵⁸ "The foxes have holes," said Jesus, "and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head." ⁵⁹ "Follow me," He said to another. "Master," the man replied, "allow me first to go and bury my father." ⁶⁰ "Leave the dead," Jesus rejoined, "to bury their own dead; but you must go and announce far and wide the coming of the Kingdom of God." ⁶¹ "Master," said yet another, "I will follow you; but allow me first to go and say good-bye to my friends at home." ⁶² Jesus answered him, "No one who has put his hand to the plough, and then looks behind him, is fit for the Kingdom of God.

⁴² and yet only one thing is really necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion and she shall not be deprived of it."

³³ Sell your possessions and give alms. Provide yourselves with purses that will never wear out, a treasure inexhaustible in Heaven, where no thief can come nor moth consume.

⁹ "But I charge you, so to use the wealth which is ever tempting to dishonesty as to win friends who, when it fails, shall welcome you to the tents that never perish.

⁴⁴ And all the believers kept together, and had everything in common. ⁴⁵ They sold their lands and other property, and distributed the proceeds among all, according to every one's necessities.

³⁴ And, in fact, there was not a needy man among them, for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the money which they realised, ³⁵ and gave it to the Apostles, and distribution was made to every one according to his wants. ³⁶ In this way Joseph, whom the Apostles gave the name of Bar-nabas--signifying 'Son of Encouragement' --a Levite, a native of Cyprus, ³⁷ sold a farm which he had, and brought the money and gave it to the Apostles.

¹³ Brethren, I do not imagine that I have yet laid hold of it. But this one thing I do--forgetting everything which is past and stretching forward to what lies in front of me,

¹⁸ They must be beneficent, rich in noble deeds, open-handed and liberal; ¹⁹ storing up for themselves that which shall be a solid foundation for the future, that they may lay hold of the Life which is life indeed.

⁸ But there is one thing, dear friends, which you must not forget. With the Lord one day resembles a thousand years and a thousand years resemble one day.

²² On hearing those words the young man went away much cast down; for he had much property.

²² At these words his brow darkened, and he went away sad; for he was possessed of great wealth.

¹⁴ That which fell among the thorns means those who have heard, but as they go on their way, the Message is stifled by the anxieties, wealth and gaieties of time, and they yield nothing in perfection.

¹⁵ And to the people He said, "Take care, be on your guard against all covetousness, for no one's life consists in the superabundance of his possessions."

⁸ Zacchaeus however stood up, and addressing the Lord said, "Here and now, Master, I give half my property to the poor, and if I have unjustly exacted money from any man, I pledge myself to repay to him four times the amount."

³⁴ "But take heed to yourselves, lest your souls be weighed down with self-indulgence and drunkenness or the anxieties of this life, and that day come upon you, suddenly, like a falling trap;

⁵ For be well assured that no fornicator or immoral person and no money-grubber--or in other words idol-worshipper--has any share awaiting him in the Kingdom of Christ and of God.

⁸ Nay, I even reckon all things as pure loss because of the priceless privilege of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. And for His sake I have suffered the loss of everything, and reckon it all as mere refuse, in order that I may win Christ and be found in union with Him,

⁵ Therefore put to death your earthward inclinations--fornication, impurity, sensual passion, unholy desire, and all greed, for that is a form of idolatry.

¹⁵ Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If any one loves the world, there is no love in his heart for the Father.

²³ So Jesus said to His disciples, "I solemnly tell you that it is with difficulty that a rich man will enter the Kingdom of the Heavens. ²⁴ Yes, I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God." ²⁵ These words utterly amazed the disciples, and they asked, "Who then can be saved?"

²⁶ Then the King, though intensely sorry, yet for the sake of his oaths, and of his guests, would not break faith with her.

²³ Then looking round on His disciples Jesus said, "With how hard a struggle will the possessors of riches enter the Kingdom of God!" ²⁴ The disciples were amazed at His words. Jesus, however, said again, "Children, how hard a struggle is it for those who trust in riches to enter the Kingdom of God! ²⁵ It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God." ²⁶ They were astonished beyond measure, and said to one another, "Who then *can* be saved?" ²⁷ Jesus looking on them said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God; for everything is possible with God."

²⁶ For consider, brethren, God's call to you. Not many who are wise with merely human wisdom, not many of position and influence, not many of noble birth have been called. ²⁷ But God has chosen the things which the world regards as foolish, in order to put its wise men to shame; and God has chosen the things which the world regards as destitute of influence, in order to put its powerful things to shame;

⁹ Now I rejoice, not in your grief, but because the grief led to repentance; for you sorrowed with a godly sorrow, which prevented you from receiving injury from us in any respect. ¹⁰ For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, a repentance not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world finally produces death.

⁹ But people who are determined to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many unwise and pernicious ways which sink mankind in destruction and ruin. ¹⁰ For from love of money all sorts of evils arise; and some have so hankered after money as to be led astray from the faith and be pierced through with countless sorrows.

⁵ Listen, my dearly-loved brethren. Has not God chosen those whom the world regards as poor to be rich in faith and heirs of the Kingdom which He has promised to those that love Him? ⁶ But *you* have put dishonour upon the poor man. Yet is it not the rich who grind you down? Are not they the very people who drag you into the Law courts? -- ⁷ and the very people who speak evil of the noble Name by which you are called?

¹ Come, you rich men, weep aloud and howl for your sorrows which will soon be upon you. ² Your treasures have rotted, and your piles of clothing are moth-eaten; ³ your gold and your silver have become covered with rust, and the rust on them will give evidence against you, and will eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded up wealth in these last days. ⁴ I tell you that the pay of the labourers who have gathered in your crops--pay which you are keeping back--is calling out against you; and the outcries of those who have been your reapers have entered into the ears of the Lord of the armies of Heaven. ⁵ Here on earth you have lived self-indulgent and profligate lives. You have stupefied yourselves with gross feeding; but a day of slaughter has come. ⁶ You have condemned--you have murdered-- the righteous man: he offers no resistance.

²⁴ You blind guides, straining out the gnat while you gulp down the camel!

²³ when some one asked Him, "Sir, are there but few who are to be saved?"

²⁶ Jesus looked at them and said, "With men this is impossible, but with God everything is possible."

³⁷ For no promise from God will be impossible of fulfilment."

¹⁹ and what the transcendent greatness of His power in us believers as seen in the working of His infinite might ²⁰ when He displayed it in Christ by raising Him from the dead and seating Him at His own right hand in the heavenly realms,

⁴ But God, being rich in mercy, because of the intense love which He bestowed on us, ⁵ caused us, dead though we were through our offences, to live with Christ--it is by grace that you have been saved-- ⁶ raised us with Him from the dead, and enthroned us with Him in the heavenly realms as being in Christ Jesus, ⁷ in order that, by His goodness to us in Christ Jesus, He might display in the Ages to come the transcendent riches of His grace. ⁸ For it is by grace that you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves. It is God's gift, and is not on the ground of merit-- ⁹ so that it may be impossible for any one to boast. ¹⁰ For we are God's own handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for good works which He has pre-destined us to practise.

¹⁹ And He said to them, "Come and follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." ²⁰ So they immediately left their nets and followed Him. As He went further on, ²¹ He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zabdi and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zabdi mending their nets; and He called them. ²² And they at once left the boat and their father, and followed Him.

⁹ Passing on thence Jesus saw a man called Matthew sitting at the Toll Office, and said to him, "Follow me." And he arose, and followed Him.

²⁷ Then Peter said to Jesus, "See, *we* have forsaken everything and followed you; what then will be *our* reward?"

²⁸ "Remember," said Peter to Him, "that we forsook everything and have become your followers."

¹¹ Then, after bringing their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him.

⁷ Yet all that was gain to me--for Christ's sake I have reckoned it loss.

³⁷ Any one who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and any one who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; ³⁸ and any one who does not take up his cross and follow where I lead is not worthy of me. ³⁹ To save your life is to lose it, and to lose your life for my sake is to save it.

²⁶ "If any one is coming to me who does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes and his own life also, he cannot be a disciple of mine. ²⁷ No one who does not carry his own cross and come after me can be a disciple of mine. ²⁸ "Which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not sit down first and calculate the cost, asking if he has the means to finish it? --

³² And whoever shall speak against the Son of Man may obtain forgiveness; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, neither in this nor in the coming age shall he obtain forgiveness."

³¹ But make His Kingdom the object of your pursuit, and these things shall be given you in addition. ³² "Dismiss your fears, little flock: your Father finds a pleasure in giving you the Kingdom.

²¹ At that time, then, what benefit did you get from conduct which you now regard with shame? Why, such things finally result in death. ²² But now that you have been set free from the tyranny of Sin, and have become the bondservants of God, you have your reward in being made holy, and you have the Life of the Ages as the final result. ²³ For the wages paid by Sin are death; but God's free gift is the Life of the Ages bestowed upon us in Christ Jesus our Lord.

⁶ And godliness *is* gain, when associated with contentment;

⁵ Your lives should be untainted by love for money. Be content with what you have; for God Himself has said, "I WILL NEVER, NEVER LET GO YOUR HAND: I WILL NEVER NEVER FORSAKE YOU." ⁶ So that we fearlessly say, "THE LORD IS MY HELPER; I WILL NOT BE AFRAID: WHAT CAN MAN DO TO ME?"

¹⁰ Dismiss your fears concerning all that you are about to suffer. I tell you that the Devil is about to throw some of you into prison that you may be put to the test, and for ten days you will have to endure persecution. Be faithful to the End, even if you have to die, and then I will give you the victor's Wreath of Life.

¹⁷ "'Let all who have ears give heed to what the Spirit is saying to the Churches. He who overcomes--to him I will give some of the hidden Manna, and a white stone; and--written upon the stone and known only to him who receives it-- a new name.'

²¹ "'To him who overcomes I will give the privilege of sitting down with Me on My throne, as I also have overcome and have sat down with My Father on His throne.

²¹ From this time Jesus began to explain to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer much cruelty from the Elders and the High Priests and the Scribes, and be put to death, and on the third day be raised to life again.

²² As they were travelling about in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men; ²³ they will put Him to death, but on the third day He will be raised to life again." And they were exceedingly distressed.

¹⁷ Jesus was now going up to Jerusalem, and He took the twelve disciples aside by themselves, and on the way He said to them, ¹⁸ "We are going up to Jerusalem, and there the Son of Man will be betrayed to the High Priests and Scribes. They will condemn Him to death, ¹⁹ and hand Him over to the Gentiles to be made sport of and scourged and crucified; and on the third day He will be raised to life."

⁹ The number fed were about 4,000. Then He sent them away,

³⁰ And He strictly forbad them to tell this about Him to any one. ³¹ And now for the first time He told them, "The Son of Man must endure much suffering, and be rejected by the Elders and the High Priests and the Scribes, and be put to death, and after two days rise to life."

³² They were still on the road going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them; they were full of wonder, and some, though they followed, did so with fear. Then, once more calling to Him the Twelve, He began to tell them what was about to happen to Him. ³³ "See," He said, "we are going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be betrayed to the High Priests and the Scribes. They will condemn Him to death, and will hand Him over to the Gentiles; ³⁴ they will insult Him in cruel sport, spit on Him, scourge Him, and put Him to death; but on the third day He will rise to life again."

²² and He said, "The Son of Man must suffer much cruelty, be rejected by the Elders and High Priests and Scribes, and be put to death, and on the third day be raised to life again."

⁵¹ Now when the time drew near for Him to be received up again into Heaven, He proceeded with fixed purpose towards Jerusalem, and sent messengers before Him.

⁶ He is not here. He has come back to life. Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee, ⁷ when He told you that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again."

⁴⁴ And He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you--that everything must be fulfilled that is written in the Law of Moses and in the Prophets and the Psalms concerning me." ⁴⁵ Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, ⁴⁶ and He said, "Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and on the third day rise again from among the dead;

⁶⁷ Then they spat in His face, and struck Him--some with the fist, some with the open hand--

² and binding Him they led Him away and handed Him over to Pilate the Governor.

²⁸ Stripping off His garments, they put on Him a general's short crimson cloak. ²⁹ They twisted a wreath of thorny twigs and put it on His head, and they put a sceptre of cane in His right hand, and kneeling to Him they shouted in mockery, "Long live the King of the Jews!" ³⁰ Then they spat upon Him, and taking the cane they repeatedly struck Him on the head with it.

⁶⁵ Thereupon some began to spit on Him, and to blindfold Him, while striking Him with their fists and crying, "Prove that you are a prophet." The officers too struck Him with open hands as they took Him in charge.

¹ At earliest dawn, after the High Priests had held a consultation with the Elders and Scribes, they and the entire Sanhedrin bound Jesus and took Him away and handed Him over to Pilate.

¹⁷ they arrayed Him in crimson, placed on His head a wreath of thorny twigs which they had twisted, ¹⁸ and went on to salute Him with shouts of "Long live the King of the Jews." ¹⁹ Then they began to beat Him on the head with a cane, to spit on Him, and to do Him homage on bended knees. ²⁰ At last, having finished their sport, they took the robe off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him out to crucify Him.

⁶³ Meanwhile the men who held Jesus in custody repeatedly beat Him in cruel sport, ⁶⁴ or blindfolded Him, and then challenged Him. "Prove to us," they said, "that you are a prophet, by telling us who it was that struck you." ⁶⁵ And they said many other insulting things to Him.

¹ Then the whole assembly rose and brought Him to Pilate, and began to accuse Him.

¹¹ Then, laughing to scorn the claims of Jesus, Herod (and his soldiers with him) made sport of Him, dressed Him in a gorgeous costume, and sent Him back to Pilate.

³⁵ and the people stood looking on. The Rulers, too, repeatedly uttered their bitter taunts. "This fellow," they said, "saved others: let him save himself, if he is God's Anointed, the Chosen One."

²² Upon His saying this, one of the officers standing by struck Him with his open hand, asking Him as he did so, "Is that the way you answer the High Priest?"

²⁸ So they brought Jesus from Caiaphas's house to the Praetorium. It was the early morning, and they would not enter the Praetorium themselves for fear of defilement, and in order that they might be able to eat the Passover.

³⁰ "If the man were not a criminal," they replied, "we would not have handed him over to you."

³⁵ "Am I a Jew?" exclaimed Pilate; "it is your own nation and the High Priests who have handed you over to me. What have you done?"

¹ Then Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him. ² And the soldiers, twisting twigs of thorn into a wreath, put it on His head, and threw round Him a crimson cloak. ³ Then they began to march up to Him, saying in a mocking voice, "Hail King of the Jews!" And they struck Him with the palms of their hands. ⁴ Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews, "See, I am bringing him out to you to let you clearly understand that I find no crime in him." ⁵ So Jesus came out, wearing the wreath of thorns and the crimson cloak. And Pilate said to them, "See, there is the man."

²³ delivered up through God's settled purpose and foreknowledge--you by the hands of Gentiles have nailed to a cross and have put to death.

¹³ The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our forefathers, has conferred this honour on His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and disowned in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to let Him go.

⁶³ "Sir," they said, "we recollect that during his lifetime that impostor pretended that after two days he was to rise to life again.

⁷ when He told you that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again."

²¹ But we were hoping that it was He who was about to ransom Israel. Yes, and moreover it was the day before yesterday that these things happened.

³ For I repeated to you the all-important fact which also I had been taught, that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures; ⁴ that He was buried; that He rose to life again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,

³² They, however, did not understand what He meant, and were afraid to question Him.

⁵⁰ But they did not understand the significance of these words.

⁴⁵ But they did not understand His meaning: it was veiled from them that they might not perceive it, and they were afraid to ask Him about it.

²⁵ "O dull-witted men," He replied, "with minds so slow to believe all that the Prophets have spoken!

⁴⁵ Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,

⁶ Jesus spoke to them in this figurative language, but they did not understand what He meant.

¹⁶ The meaning of this His disciples did not understand at the time; but after Jesus was glorified they recollected that this was written about Him, and that they had done this to Him.

¹ "These things I have spoken to you in order to clear stumbling-blocks out of your path. ² You will be excluded from the synagogues; nay more, the time is coming when any one who has murdered one of you will suppose he is offering service to God. ³ And they will do these things because they have failed to recognize the Father and to discover who I am. ⁴ But I have spoken these things to you in order that when the time for their accomplishment comes you may remember them, and may recollect that I told you. I did not, however, tell you all this at first, because I was still with you. ⁵ But now I an returning to Him who sent me; and not one of you asks me where I am going. ⁶ But grief has filled your hearts because I have said all this to you. ⁷ "Yet it is the truth that I am telling you--it is to your advantage that I go away. For unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. ⁸ And He, when He comes, will convict the world in respect of sin, of righteousness, and of judgement; -- ⁹ of sin, because they do not believe in me; ¹⁰ of righteousness, because I am going to the Father, and you will no longer see me; ¹¹ of judgement, because the Prince of this world is under sentence. ¹² "I have much more to say to you, but you are unable at present to bear the burden of it. ¹³ But when He has come--the Spirit of Truth--He will guide you into all the truth. For He will not speak as Himself originating what He says, but all that He hears He will speak, and He will make known the future to you. ¹⁴ He will glorify me, because He will take of what is mine and will make it known to you. ¹⁵ Everything that the Father has is mine; that is why I said that the Spirit of Truth takes of what is mine and will make it known to you. ¹⁶ "A little while and you see me no more, and again a little while and you shall see me." ¹⁷ Some of His disciples therefore said to one another, "What does this mean which He is telling us, 'A little while and you do not see me, and again a little while and you shall see me,' and 'Because I am going to the Father'?" ¹⁸ So they asked one another repeatedly, "What can that 'little while' mean which He speaks of? We do not understand His words." ¹⁹ Jesus perceived that they wanted to ask Him, and He said, "Is this what you are questioning one another about--my saying, 'A little while and you do not see me, and again a little while and you shall see me'?

²⁹ As they were leaving Jericho, an immense crowd following Him, ³⁰ two blind men sitting by the roadside heard that it was Jesus who was passing by, and cried aloud, "Sir, Son of David, pity us." ³¹ The people angrily tried to silence them, but they cried all the louder. "O Sir, Son of David, pity us," they said. ³² So Jesus stood still and called to them. "What shall I do for you?" He asked. ³³ "Sir, let our eyes be opened," they replied. ³⁴ Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes, and immediately they regained their sight and followed Him.

⁴⁶ They came to Jericho; and as He was leaving that town--Himself and His disciples and a great crowd--Bartimaeus (the son of Timaeus), a blind beggar, was sitting by the way-side. ⁴⁷ Hearing that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out, "Son of David, Jesus, have pity on me." ⁴⁸ Many angrily told him to leave off shouting; but he only cried out all the louder, "Son of David, have pity on me." ⁴⁹ Then Jesus stood still. "Call him," He said. So they called the blind man. "Cheer up," they said; "rise, he is calling you." ⁵⁰ The man flung away his outer garment, sprang to his feet, and came to Jesus. ⁵¹ "What shall I do for you?" said Jesus. "Rabboni," replied the blind man, "let me recover my sight." ⁵² "Go," said Jesus, "your faith has cured you." Instantly he regained his sight, and followed Him along the road.

²⁰ while at his outer door there lay a beggar, Lazarus by name, ²¹ covered with sores and longing to make a full meal off the scraps flung on the floor from the rich man's table. Nay, the dogs, too, used to come and lick his sores.

¹ So He entered Jericho and was passing through the town.

⁸ His neighbours, therefore, and the other people to whom he had been a familiar object because he was a beggar, began asking, "Is not this the man who used to sit and beg?"

² some men were carrying there one who had been lame from birth, whom they were wont to place every day close to the Beautiful Gate (as it was called) of the Temple, for him to beg from the people as they went in.

¹⁰ When He thus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was thrown into commotion, every one inquiring, "Who is this?" ¹¹ "This is Jesus, the Prophet, from Nazareth in Galilee," replied the crowds.

²⁶ Then he called one of the lads to him and asked what all this meant.

²³ and went and settled in a town called Nazareth, in order that these words spoken through the Prophets might be fulfilled, "HE SHALL BE CALLED A NAZARENE."

¹ After some days He entered Capernaum again, and it soon became known that He was at home; ² and such numbers of people came together that there was no longer room for them even round the door. He was speaking His Message to them, ³ when there came a party of people bringing a paralytic--four men carrying him.

⁵¹ Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was always obedient to them; but His mother carefully treasured up all these incidents in her memory.

⁴⁵ Then Philip found Nathanael, and said to him, "We have found him about whom Moses in the Law wrote, as well as the Prophets--Jesus, the son of Joseph, a man of Nazareth."

³⁵ "Yet a little while," He replied, "the light is among you. Be faithful to the light that you have, for fear darkness should overtake you; for a man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. ³⁶ In the degree that you have light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light." Jesus said this, and went away and hid Himself from them.

¹⁹ And Pilate wrote a notice and had it fastened to the top of the cross. It ran thus: JESUS THE NAZARENE, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

²² "Listen, Israelites, to what I say. Jesus, the Nazarene, a man accredited to you from God by miracles and marvels and signs which God did among you through Him, as you yourselves know, Him--

¹⁰ be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that through the name of Jesus the Anointed, the Nazarene, whom *you* crucified, but whom *God* has raised from among the dead-- through that name this man stands here before you in perfect health.

² For He says, "AT A TIME OF WELCOME I HAVE LISTENED TO YOU, AND ON A DAY OF SALVATION I HAVE SUCCOURED YOU." Now is the time of loving welcome! Now is the day of salvation!

²⁷ As Jesus passed on, two blind men followed Him, shouting and saying, "Pity us, Son of David."

²³ And the crowds of people were all filled with amazement and said, "Can this be the Son of David?"

²² Here a Canaanitish woman of the district came out and persistently cried out, "Sir, Son of David, pity me; my daughter is cruelly harassed by a demon."

⁹ and the multitudes--some of the people preceding Him and some following--sang aloud, "GOD SAVE THE SON OF DAVID! BLESSINGS ON HIM WHO COMES IN THE LORD'S NAME! GOD IN THE HIGHEST HEAVENS SAVE HIM!"

¹⁵ But when the High Priests and the Scribes saw the wonderful things that He had done and the children who were crying aloud in the Temple, "GOD SAVE THE SON OF DAVID," they were filled with indignation.

⁴² "What think you about the Christ," He said, "whose son is He?" "David's," they replied. ⁴³ "How then," He asked, "does David, taught by the Spirit, call Him Lord, when he says, ⁴⁴ "'THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD, SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND UNTIL I HAVE PUT THY FOES BENEATH THY FEET'? ⁴⁵ "If therefore David calls Him Lord, how can He be his son?"

³ who, as regards His human descent, belonged to the posterity of David,

¹⁶ "I Jesus have sent My angel for him solemnly to declare these things to you among the Churches. I am the Root and the offspring of David, the bright Morning Star.

⁷ "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.

⁴⁰ Then He came to the disciples and found them asleep, and He said to Peter, "Alas, none of you could keep awake with me for even a single hour! ⁴¹ Keep awake, and pray that you may not enter into temptation: the spirit is right willing, but the body is frail." ⁴² Again a second time He went away and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it is impossible for this cup to pass without my drinking it, Thy will be done." ⁴³ He came and again found them asleep, for they were very tired. ⁴⁴ So He left them, and went away once more and prayed a third time, again using the same words.

⁴⁹ While He was still speaking, some one came to the Warden of the Synagogue from his house and said, "Your daughter is dead; trouble the Rabbi no further."

⁸ "I tell you that even if he will not rise and give him the loaves because he is his friend, at any rate because of his persistency he will rouse himself and give him as many as he requires. ⁹ "So I say to you, 'Ask, and what you ask for shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and the door shall be opened to you.' ¹⁰ For every one who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, the door shall be opened.

⁵² "Alas for you expounders of the Law! for you have taken away the key of knowledge: you yourselves have not entered, and those who wanted to enter you have hindered."

¹ He also taught them by a parable that they must always pray and never lose heart.

¹⁵ On one occasion people also brought with them their infants, for Him to touch them; but the disciples, noticing this, proceeded to find fault with them.

³⁸ Then, at the top of his voice, he cried out, "Jesus, son of David, take pity on me."

³⁹ Thereupon some of the Pharisees in the crowd appealed to Him, saying, "Rabbi, reprove your disciples."

⁸ As for this, three times have I besought the Lord to rid me of him;

²¹ "What is it you desire?" He asked. "Command," she replied, "that these my two sons may sit one at your right hand and one at your left in your Kingdom." ²² "None of you know what you are asking for," said Jesus; "can you drink out of the cup from which I am about to drink?" "We can," they replied.

²⁵ But if we hope for something which we do not see, then we eagerly and patiently wait for it.

³ So Jesus put out His hand and touched him, and said, "I am willing: be cleansed." Instantly he was cleansed from his leprosy;

²² And Jesus turned and saw her, and said, "Take courage, daughter; your faith has cured you." And the woman was restored to health from that moment.

²⁸ "O woman," replied Jesus, "great is your faith: be it done to you as you desire." And from that moment her daughter was restored to health.

⁵⁰ But He said to the woman, "Your faith has cured you: go, and be at peace."

⁴⁸ "Daughter," said He, "your faith has cured you; go, and be at peace."

¹⁹ And He said to him, "Rise and go: your faith has cured you."

⁸ And the crowds were awe-struck when they saw it, and ascribed the glory to God who had entrusted such power to a man.

²⁸ And when He had gone indoors, they came to Him. "Do you believe that I can do this?" He asked them. "Yes, Sir," they replied. ²⁹ So He touched their eyes and said, "According to your faith let it be to you." ³⁰ Then their eyes were opened. And assuming a stern tone Jesus said to them, "Be careful to let no one know."

⁵ "blind eyes receive sight, and cripples walk; lepers are cleansed, and deaf ears hear; the dead are raised to life, and the poor have the Good News proclaimed to them;

¹⁴ And the blind and the lame came to Him in the Temple, and He cured them.

³⁹ Then standing over her He rebuked the fever, and it left her; and she at once rose and waited on them.

²⁶ Amazement seized them all. "Glory to God!" was the abiding feeling. Yet fear flashed through their minds and they said, "We have seen strange things to-day."

¹⁷ When He had said this, all His opponents were ashamed, while the whole multitude was delighted at the many glorious things continually done by Him.

¹⁵ One of them, seeing that he was cured, came back, adoring and praising God in a loud voice, ¹⁶ and he threw himself at the feet of Jesus, thanking Him. He was a Samaritan. ¹⁷ "Were not all ten made clean?" Jesus asked; "but where are the nine? ¹⁸ Have none been found to come back and give glory to God except this foreigner?"

³⁷ And when He was now getting near Jerusalem, and descending the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began in their joy to praise God in loud voices for all the mighty deeds they had witnessed.

⁵ When I am in the world, I am the Light of the world." ⁶ After thus speaking, He spat on the ground, and then, kneading the dust and spittle into clay, He smeared the clay over the man's eyes and said to him, ⁷ "Go and wash in the pool of Siloam" --the name means 'Sent.' So he went and washed his eyes, and returned able to see.

³⁹ "I came into this world," said Jesus, "to judge men, that those who do not see may see, and that those who do see may become blind." ⁴⁰ These words were heard by those of the Pharisees who were present, and they asked Him, "Are *we* also blind?"

²¹ The Court added further threats and then let them go, being quite unable to find any way of punishing them on account of the people, because all gave God the glory for the thing that had happened.

¹⁸ This statement of Peter's silenced his opponents. They extolled the goodness of God, and said, "So, then, to the Gentiles also God has given the repentance which leads to Life."

¹⁸ that they may turn from darkness to light and from the obedience to Satan to God, in order to receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified through faith in Me.'

²⁴ And they gave glory to God on my account.

¹⁰ when He comes on that day to be glorified in His people and to be wondered at among all who have believed, including you--because you believed the testimony which we brought for your acceptance. ¹¹ It is with this view also that we continually pray to our God for you, asking that He will count you worthy of His call, and by His mighty power fully gratify your every desire for what is truly good and make your work of faith complete; ¹² in order that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and that you may be glorified in Him--so wonderful is the grace of our God and of the Lord Jesus Christ!

⁹ But you are a chosen race, a priesthood of kingly lineage, a holy nation, a people belonging specially to God, that you may make known the perfections of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light.