1 Peter 5 Cross References - ISV

¹ Be Shepherds of God’s FlockTherefore, as a fellow elder, a witness of the Messiah’s sufferings, and one who shares in the glory to be revealed, I appeal to the elders among you: ² Be shepherds of God’s flock that is among you, watching over it, not because you must but because you want to, and not greedily but eagerly, as God desires. ³ Do not lord it over the people entrusted to you, but be examples to the flock. ⁴ Then, when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the victor’s crown of glory that will never fade away.
⁵ Be Humble and AlertIn a similar way, you young people must submit to the elders. All of you must clothe yourselves with humility for the sake of each other, because: “God opposes the arrogant, but gives grace to the humble.” ⁶ Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, so that at the proper time he may exalt you. ⁷ Throw all your worry on him, because he cares for you. ⁸ Be clear-minded and alert. Your opponent, the devil, is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. ⁹ Resist him and be firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering. ¹⁰ After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you by the Messiah Jesus to his eternal glory, will restore you, establish you, strengthen you, and support you. ¹¹ Power belongs to him forever and ever! Amen.
¹² Final GreetingThrough Silvanus, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written this short letter to encourage you and to testify that this is to be the true grace of God in which you are to stand firm! ¹³ Your sister church in Babylon, chosen along with you, sends you greetings, as does Mark, whom I regard as a son. ¹⁴ Greet one another with a loving kiss. Peace be to all of you who are in the Messiah!

²⁴ You will guide me with your wise advice, and later you will receive me with honor. ²⁵ Whom do I have in heaven but you? I desire nothing on this earth.

⁴⁸ You are witnesses of these things.

²⁶ “When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father— the Spirit of Truth, who comes from the Father—he will testify on my behalf. ²⁷ You will testify also, because you have been with me from the beginning.

⁸ But you’ll receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you’ll be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

²² beginning when he was baptized by John until the day he was taken up from us. Therefore, someone like this must become a witness with us to his resurrection.”

³² “It was this very Jesus whom God raised—and we’re all witnesses of that.

¹⁵ and you killed the source of life, whom God raised from the dead. We are witnesses to that.

³⁰ The God of our ancestors raised Jesus to life after you killed him by hanging him on a tree. ³¹ God has exalted to his right hand this very man as our Leader and Savior in order to extend repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. ³² We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who keep on obeying him.”

³⁹ We are witnesses of everything Jesus did in the land of the Jews, including Jerusalem.
“They hung him on a tree and killed him, ⁴⁰ but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear— ⁴¹ not to all the people, but to us who were chosen by God to be witnesses and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.

³⁰ by sending it through Barnabas and Saul to the elders.

²³ Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church, and with prayer and fasting they entrusted them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

⁴ When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church, the apostles, and the elders, and they reported everything that God had done through them.

⁶ So the apostles and the elders met to look into this claim.

²² The Reply of the ChurchThen the apostles, the elders, and the whole church decided to choose some of their men to send with Paul and Barnabas to Antioch. These were Judas, who was called Barsabbas, and Silas, who were leaders among the brothers. ²³ They wrote this letter for them to deliver: “From: The apostles and the elders, your brothersTo: Their gentile brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. Greetings.

¹⁷ Paul Meets with the Ephesian EldersFrom Miletus he sent messengers to Ephesus to ask the elders of the church to meet with him.

²⁸ Pay attention to yourselves and to the entire flock over which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers to be shepherds of God’s church, which he acquired with his own blood.

¹⁸ The next day, Paul went with us to visit James, and all the elders were present.

¹⁷ Now if we are children, we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with the Messiah—if, in fact, we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
¹⁸ God’s Spirit Helps UsFor I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed to us.

¹ We know that if the earthly tent we live in is torn down, we have a building in heaven that comes from God, an eternal house not built by human hands.

⁸ We are confident, then, and would prefer to be away from this body and to live with the Lord.

¹⁹ I know that this will result in my deliverance through your prayers and the help that comes from the Spirit of Jesus the Messiah.

²¹ For to me, to go on living is the Messiah, and to die is gain. ²² Now if I continue living, fruitful labor is the result, so I do not know which I would prefer. ²³ Indeed, I cannot decide between the two. I have the desire to leave this life and be with the Messiah, for that is far better.

³ For you have died, and your life has been safely guarded by the Messiah in God. ⁴ When the Messiah, who is your life, is revealed, then you, too, will be revealed with him in glory.

¹ Treatment of WidowsNever speak harshly to an older man, but appeal to him as if he were your father. Treat younger men like brothers,

¹⁹ Do not accept an accusation against an elder unless it is supported “by two or three witnesses.”

⁸ The victor’s crown of righteousness is now waiting for me, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on the day that he comes, and not only to me but also to all who eagerly wait for his appearing.

⁵ Qualifications for Leaders in the ChurchThe reason I left you in Crete was to complete what still needed to be done and to appoint elders in every city, as I myself commanded you.

⁹ I prefer to make my appeal on the basis of love. I, Paul, as an old man and now a prisoner of the Messiah Jesus,

³ Our Hope and Joy are in the MessiahBlessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah! Because of his great mercy he has granted us a new birth, resulting in an immortal hope through the resurrection of Jesus, the Messiah, from the dead ⁴ and to an inheritance kept in heaven for you that can’t be destroyed, corrupted, or changed. ⁵ Through faith you are being protected by God’s power for a salvation that is ready to be revealed at the end of this era.

⁷ so that your genuine faith, which is more valuable than gold that perishes when tested by fire, may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus, the Messiah, is revealed.

¹² It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you in regard to the things that have now been announced to you by those who brought you the good news through the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. These are things that even the angels desire to look into.

⁴ Then, when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the victor’s crown of glory that will never fade away.

² Dear friends, we are now God’s children, but what we will be like has not been revealed yet. We know that when the Messiah is revealed, we will be like him, because we will see him as he is.

¹ Greetings from JohnFrom: The Elder
To: The chosen lady and her children, whom I genuinely love, and not only I but also all who know the truth, ² that is present in us and will be with us forever.
³ Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us from God the Father and from Jesus the Messiah, the Father’s Son, in truth and love.
⁴ Living in the TruthI was overjoyed to find some of your children living truthfully, just as the Father has commanded us. ⁵ Dear lady, I am now requesting of you that we all continue to love one another. It is not as though I am writing to give you a new commandment, but one that we have had from the beginning. ⁶ And this is what demonstrates love: that we live according to God’s commandments. Just as you have heard from the beginning what he commanded, you must live by it.
⁷ Reject False TeachersFor many deceivers have gone out into the world. They refuse to acknowledge Jesus the Messiah as having become human. Any such person is a deceiver and an antichrist. ⁸ See to it that you don’t destroy what we have worked for, but that you receive your full reward. ⁹ Everyone who does not remain true to the teaching of the Messiah, but goes beyond it, does not have God. The person who remains true to the teaching of the Messiah has both the Father and the Son. ¹⁰ If anyone comes to you but does not present his teachings, do not receive him into your house or even welcome him, ¹¹ because the one who welcomes him shares in his evil deeds.
¹² Final GreetingAlthough I have a great deal to write to you, I would prefer not to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to come to you and talk face to face, so that our joy may be complete. ¹³ The children of your chosen sister greet you.

¹ Greetings from JohnFrom: The Elder
To: My dear friend Gaius, whom I genuinely love.
² Encouragement for GaiusDear friend, I pray that you are doing well in every way and that you are healthy, just as your soul is healthy. ³ I was overjoyed when some brothers arrived and testified about your truthfulness and how you live according to the truth. ⁴ I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are living according to the truth.
⁵ Dear friend, you are faithful in whatever you do for the brothers, especially when they are strangers. ⁶ They have testified before the church about your love. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. ⁷ After all, they went on their trip for the sake of the Name, accepting no support from gentiles. ⁸ Therefore, we ought to support such people so that we can become genuine helpers with them.
⁹ Criticism of DiotrephesI wrote a letter to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be in charge, will not recognize our authority. ¹⁰ For this reason, when I come I will call attention to what he is doing in spreading false charges against us. And not content with that, he refuses to receive the brothers. He even tries to stop those who want to accept them and throws them out of the church.
¹¹ Praise for DemetriusDear friend, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The person who does what is good is from God. The person who does what is evil has never seen God. ¹² Demetrius has received a good report from everyone, including the truth itself. We, too, can testify to this report, and you know that our testimony is true.
¹³ Final GreetingAlthough I have a great deal to write to you, I would rather not write with pen and ink. ¹⁴ Instead, I hope to see you soon and speak face to face.
May peace be with you! Your friends greet you. Greet each of our friends by name.

⁹ John’s Vision of the MessiahI am John, your brother and partner in the oppression, kingdom, and patience that comes because of Jesus. I was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony about Jesus.

⁷¹ He brought him from birthing sheep to care for Jacob, his people, Israel, his possession. ⁷² David shepherded them with a devoted heart, and led them with skillful hands.

⁸ The LoverIf you don’t know, most beautiful of women, go out after the flock and graze your young goats beside the shepherd’s tents.

⁸ Then I heard the voice of the LORD as he was asking, “Whom will I send? Who will go for us?”
“Here I am!” I replied. “Send me.”

¹¹ Like a shepherd, he tends his flock. He gathers the lambs in his arms, carries them close to his heart, and gently leads the mother sheep.”

¹¹ Meanwhile, the dogs have a mighty appetite— they can never get enough. And as for them, they are the shepherds who lack understanding; they have all turned to their own way, each one to his gain, each and every one.

¹¹ Then they remembered the days of old, of Moses his servant. Where is the one who brought up out of the sea the shepherds of his flock? Where is the one who put his Holy Spirit among them,

¹³ “Indeed, from the least important to the most important, they’re all greedy for dishonest gain. From prophet to priest, they all act deceitfully.

¹⁰ Therefore, I’ll give their wives to others, and their fields to new owners. Indeed, from the least important to the most important, they’re all greedy for dishonest gain. From prophet to priest, they all act deceitfully.

¹⁷ If you don’t listen, I’ll cry secretly because of your pride. My eyes will cry bitterly, flowing tears, because the LORD’s flock has been taken captive.

²⁰ “Look up and see those who are coming from the north. Where is the flock that was given to you— your beautiful sheep?

² “Son of Man, prophesy against Israel’s shepherds. Tell those shepherds, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says:
“Woe to you shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves and not the sheep. Shouldn’t shepherds feed the sheep? ³ You’re eating the best parts, clothing yourselves with the wool, and slaughtering the home-grown sheep without having fed the sheep!

²³ God’s Shepherd: His Servant David“‘Then I’ll install one shepherd for them—my servant David—and he will feed them, will be there for them, and will serve as their shepherd.

³¹ ‘And as for you, my sheep, the flock that I’m pasturing, you are mankind, and I am your God,’ declares the Lord GOD.”

¹¹ Her leaders judge for the money, her priests teach only when they’re paid, and her prophets prophesy for cash. Even so, don’t they all rely on the LORD as they ask, ‘The LORD is among us, is he not? Nothing bad can possibly happen to us!’

⁴ “Then he will take his stand, shepherding by means of the strength of the LORD, by the power of the name of the LORD his God. And they will be firmly established; indeed, from then on he will become great— to the ends of the earth.

¹⁴ Use your rod to shepherd your people, the flock that belongs to you, that lives alone in the forest of Carmel. Let them find pasture in Bashan and Gilead, as they did long ago.

¹⁷ “Woe to the worthless shepherd, who deserts the flock! May the sword strike his arm and his right eye. May his arm wither and his right eye be completely blind.”

¹⁰ Useless Offerings and Useless Altar Fires“Oh, that one of you would shut the Temple doors and not light useless fires on the altar! I’m not pleased with you,” says the LORD of the Heavenly Armies, “and I’ll accept no offerings from you.

³² Stop being afraid, little flock, because your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.

¹⁵ Jesus Speaks with PeterWhen they had finished breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?”
Peter told him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus told him, “Feed my lambs.”
¹⁶ Then he asked him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
Peter told him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus told him, “Take care of my sheep.” ¹⁷ He asked him a third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was deeply hurt that he had asked him a third time, “Do you love me?” So he told him, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you!”
Jesus told him, “Feed my sheep.

²⁶ I therefore declare to you today that I’m not responsible for the blood of any of you, ²⁷ because I never shrank from telling you the whole plan of God. ²⁸ Pay attention to yourselves and to the entire flock over which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers to be shepherds of God’s church, which he acquired with his own blood.

³³ I never desired anyone’s silver, gold, or clothes. ³⁴ You yourselves know that I worked with my own hands to support myself and those who were with me.

¹³ At this Paul replied, “What do you mean by crying and breaking my heart? I’m ready not only to be tied up in Jerusalem but even to die for the name of the Lord Jesus!”

¹⁵ That is why I am so eager to proclaim the gospel to you who live in Rome, too.

⁷ Who ever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat any of its grapes? Or who takes care of a flock and does not drink any of its milk?

¹⁶ For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast about, for this obligation has been entrusted to me. How terrible it would be for me if I didn’t preach the gospel! ¹⁷ For if I preach voluntarily, I get a reward, but if I am unwilling to do it, I am still entrusted with that obligation.

¹⁴ Now I’m ready to visit you for a third time, and I will not bother you for help. I do not want your things, but rather you yourselves. Children should not have to support their parents, but parents their children. ¹⁵ I will be very glad to spend my money and myself for you. Do you love me less because I love you so much?

³ He must not drink excessively or be a violent person, but instead be gentle. He must not be argumentative or love money.

⁸ Ministers, too, must be serious. They must not be two-faced, addicted to wine, or greedy for money.

⁷ Because an overseer is God’s servant manager, he must be blameless. He must not be arrogant or irritable. He must not drink too much, be a violent person, or make money in shameful ways.

¹¹ They must be silenced, because they are the kind of people who ruin whole families by teaching what they should not teach in order to make money in a shameful way.

¹⁴ He gave himself for us to set us free from every wrong and to cleanse us so that we could be his special people who are enthusiastic about doing good deeds.

¹ Concentrate on Doing What is GoodRemind believers to submit to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, and to be ready to do any honorable kind of work.

¹⁴ Yet I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that your good deed might not be something forced, but voluntary.

¹⁵ See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up and causes you trouble, or many of you will become defiled.

³ In their greed they will exploit you with deceptive words. The ancient verdict against them is still in force, and their destruction is not delayed.

¹² cargo of gold, silver, gems, pearls, fine linen, purple cloth, silk, scarlet cloth, all kinds of scented wood, all articles made of ivory, all articles made of very costly wood, bronze, iron, marble, ¹³ cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, olive oil, flour, wheat, cattle, sheep, horses, chariots, and slaves (that is, human souls)—

⁹ For the LORD’s portion is his people; Jacob is his allotted portion.

¹² How blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he has chosen as his own inheritance.

² Remember your community, whom you purchased long ago, the tribe whom you redeemed for your possession. Remember Mount Zion, where you live.

⁴ You haven’t strengthened the weak, treated the sick, set broken bones, regathered the scattered, or looked for the lost. Instead, you’ve dominated them with brutal force and ruthlessness.

²⁵ But Jesus called the disciples and said, “You know that the rulers of the unbelievers lord it over them and their superiors act like tyrants over them. ²⁶ That’s not the way it should be among you. Instead, whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant,

⁸ “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ because you have only one teacher, and all of you are brothers. ⁹ And don’t call anyone on earth ‘Father,’ because you have only one Father, the one in heaven. ¹⁰ Nor are you to be called ‘Teachers,’ because you have only one teacher, the Messiah!

⁴² Jesus called his disciples and told them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers among the unbelievers lord it over them, and their superiors act like tyrants over them. ⁴³ That’s not the way it should be among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, ⁴⁴ and whoever wants to be first among you must be a slave to everyone, ⁴⁵ because even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many people.”

²⁴ An Argument about GreatnessNow an argument sprang up among them as to which one of them was to be regarded as the greatest. ²⁵ But he told them, “The kings of the unbelievers lord it over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called benefactors. ²⁶ But you are not to do so. On the contrary, the greatest among you should become like the youngest, and the one who leads should become like the one who serves. ²⁷ Because who is greater, the one who sits at the table, or the one who serves? It is the one at the table, isn’t it? But I’m among you as one who serves.

⁵ Who is Apollos, anyhow? Or who is Paul? They’re merely servants through whom you came to believe, as the Lord gave to each of us his task.

⁹ For we are God’s co-workers. You are God’s farmland and God’s building.

¹¹ In the Lord, however, woman is not independent of man, nor is man of woman.

²⁴ It is not that we are trying to rule over your faith, but rather to work with you for your joy, because you have been standing firm in the faith.

⁵ For we do not preach ourselves, but rather Jesus the Messiah as Lord, and ourselves as merely your servants for Jesus’ sake.

¹⁷ True and False TeachersJoin together in imitating me, brothers, and pay close attention to those who live by the example we have set for you.

⁹ Likewise, keep practicing these things: what you have learned, received, heard, and seen in me. Then the God of peace will be with you.

⁵ for the gospel we brought did not come to you in words only, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit, and with deep conviction. Indeed, you know what kind of people we proved to be while we were with you, acting on your behalf.
⁶ You became imitators of us and of the Lord. In spite of a great deal of suffering, you welcomed the word with the joy that the Holy Spirit produces.

⁹ It is not as though we did not have that right, but we wanted to give you an example to follow.

¹² Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young, but be an example for other believers in your speech, behavior, love, faithfulness, and purity.

⁷ Always set an example for others by doing good actions. Teach with integrity and dignity.

⁹ But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people to be his very own and to proclaim the wonderful deeds of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

⁹ Criticism of DiotrephesI wrote a letter to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be in charge, will not recognize our authority. ¹⁰ For this reason, when I come I will call attention to what he is doing in spreading false charges against us. And not content with that, he refuses to receive the brothers. He even tries to stop those who want to accept them and throws them out of the church.

¹ A Davidic Psalm.
The LORD Shepherds His People The LORD is the one who is shepherding me; I lack nothing.

²⁴ David’s Rule as King“‘“My servant King David will be there for them, and one shepherd will be appointed for them. They will live according to my decrees, keep my regulations, and practice them.

³ Those who manifest wisdom will shine like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who turn many to righteousness will shine like the stars for ever and ever.

⁷ “Arise, sword, against my shepherd, against the mighty one who is related to me,” declares the LORD of the Heavenly Armies. “Strike the shepherd, the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn against the insignificant ones.

³¹ The Judgment of the Nations“When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels are with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. ³² All the nations will be assembled in front of him, and he will cull them out, one from another, like a shepherd separates sheep from goats. ³³ He will put the sheep on his right but the goats on his left.
³⁴ “Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who have been blessed by my Father! Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world, ³⁵ because I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger, and you welcomed me. ³⁶ I was naked, and you clothed me. I was sick, and you took care of me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’
³⁷ “Then the righteous will say to him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and give you something to eat, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸ When did we see you as a stranger and welcome you, or see you naked and clothe you? ³⁹ When did we see you sick or in prison, and visit you?’
⁴⁰ The king will answer them, ‘I tell all of you with certainty, since you did it for one of the least important of these brothers of mine, you did it for me.’
⁴¹ “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Get away from me, you who are accursed, into the eternal fire that has been prepared for the devil and his angels! ⁴² Here’s why: I was hungry, and you gave me nothing to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me nothing to drink. ⁴³ I was a stranger, and you didn’t welcome me. I was naked, and you didn’t clothe me. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’
⁴⁴ “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or as a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and didn’t help you?’
⁴⁵ Then he will say to them, ‘I tell all of you with certainty, since you didn’t do it for one of the least important of these, you didn’t do it for me.’ ⁴⁶ These people will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.”

¹¹ “I’m the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

²⁵ Everyone who enters an athletic contest practices self-control in everything. They do it to win a wreath that withers away, but we run to win a prize that never fades.

⁷ and to give us who are afflicted relief when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels ⁸ in blazing fire. He will take revenge on those who do not know God and on those who refuse to obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. ⁹ Such people will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction by being separated from the Lord’s presence and from his glorious power ¹⁰ when he comes to be glorified by his saints and to be regarded with wonder on that day by all who have believed—including you, because you believed our testimony.

²⁰ Now may the God of peace, who by the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, the Great Shepherd of the sheep,

¹² Trial and TemptationHow blessed is the man who endures temptation! When he has passed the test, he will receive the victor’s crown of life that God has promised to those who keep on loving him.

⁴ and to an inheritance kept in heaven for you that can’t be destroyed, corrupted, or changed.

²⁵ You were “like sheep that kept going astray,” but now you have returned to the shepherd and overseer of your souls.

² Be shepherds of God’s flock that is among you, watching over it, not because you must but because you want to, and not greedily but eagerly, as God desires.

⁷ Look! He is coming in the clouds. Every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of him.So be it! Amen.

¹⁰ Don’t be afraid of what you are going to suffer. Look! The devil is going to throw some of you into prison so that you may be tested. For ten days you will undergo suffering. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the victor’s crown of life.

¹¹ I am coming soon! Hold on to what you have so that no one takes your victor’s crown.

¹¹ The Vision of the White Throne JudgmentThen I saw a large, white throne and the one who was sitting on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and no place was found for them. ¹² I saw the dead, both unimportant and important, standing in front of the throne, and books were open. Another book was opened—the Book of Life. The dead were judged according to their actions, as recorded in the books.

³² “Rise in the presence of the aged and honor the elderly face-to-face.
“Fear your God. I am the LORD.

⁴¹ “And now may the LORD God arise, to your place of rest, you, and the ark of your power! Let your priests, LORD God, be clothed with salvation, and cause your godly ones to find their joy in what is good.

²⁹ “For when they’re humbled, you may respond; ‘It’s their pride!’ but he delivers the humble.

¹⁴ I put on righteousness like clothing; my just decisions were like a robe and a turban.

⁹ May your priests be clothed with righteousness and may your godly ones shout for joy.

¹⁶ I will clothe its priests with salvation and its godly ones will shout for joy.

³⁴ Though God scoffs at scoffers, he gives grace to the humble.

¹⁵ “For this is what the high and lofty One says, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “He lives in the height and in holiness, and also with the one who is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite.

¹⁰ Rejoicing in God’s Deliverance“I will heartily rejoice in the LORD, my soul will delight in my God; for he has wrapped me in garments of salvation; he has arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, just like a bridegroom, like a priest with a garland, and like a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

² All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came into being,” declares the LORD. “But this is the one to whom I will look favorably: to the one who is humble and contrite in spirit, and who trembles at my message.

¹⁰ Be devoted to each other with mutual affection. Excel at showing respect for each other.

¹⁴ Instead, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus, the Messiah, and do not obey your flesh and its desires.

²¹ and you will submit to one another out of reverence for the Messiah.

³ Do not act out of selfish ambition or conceit, but with humility think of others as being better than yourselves.

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

¹⁷ Continue to follow and be submissive to your leaders, since they are watching over your souls as those who will have to give a word of explanation. By doing this, you will be letting them carry out their duties joyfully, and not with grief, for that would be harmful for you.

⁶ But he gives all the more grace. And so he says, “God opposes the arrogant but gives grace to the humble.”

³ Your beauty should not be an external one, consisting of braided hair or the wearing of gold ornaments and dresses. ⁴ Instead, it should be the inner disposition of the heart, consisting in the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which God values greatly.

¹ Good Managers of God’s GraceTherefore, since the Messiah suffered in a mortal body, you, too, must arm yourselves with the same determination, because the person who has suffered in a mortal body has stopped sinning,

⁵ They will give an account to the one who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

¹⁹ I know that the king of Egypt won’t allow you to go unless compelled to do so by force,

³ Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and told him, “This is what the LORD God of the Hebrews says: ‘How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me? Let my people go, so they may serve me.

¹¹ But Moses implored the LORD his God: “LORD, why are you angry with your people whom you brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and a show of force?

⁴¹ causing me to oppose them and take them to the land of their enemies so that the uncircumcised foreskin of their hearts can be humbled and so that they accept the punishment of their iniquity—

³⁵ To me belong vengeance and recompense. In due time their feet will slip, because their time of calamity is near and the things prepared for them draw near.

²⁹ “Have you noticed that Ahab has humbled himself in my presence? Because he has humbled himself in my presence, I will not bring his evil to harvest during his lifetime, but I will bring evil to his household during his son’s lifetime.”

¹⁹ because your heart was sensitive, and you humbled yourself in the LORD’s presence when you heard what I had to say against this place and against its inhabitants—that they would become a desolation and a curse—and you have torn your clothes and cried out before me, be assured that I have truly heard you,’ declares the LORD.

⁶ In response, the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves and declared, “The LORD is righteous.”
⁷ When the LORD observed that they had humbled themselves, the LORD spoke to Shemaiah, “They have humbled themselves, so I won’t destroy them. Instead, I’ll grant them some deliverance by not pouring out my indignation on Jerusalem, using Shishak to do it.

¹² After he had humbled himself, the LORD stopped being angry with him, and did not destroy Rehoboam completely. Furthermore, conditions became good in Judah.

¹¹ Nevertheless, a few men from Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun humbled themselves and traveled to Jerusalem.

²⁶ But Hezekiah humbled himself while he was arrogant in heart, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem joined him in this. As a result, the LORD’s wrath did not come upon them during Hezekiah’s lifetime.

¹² But when he was in trouble, he sought the face of the LORD his God, humbled himself magnificently before the God of his ancestors,

¹⁹ His prayer, how God was moved by him, all of his sin and unfaithfulness, and a record of the sites where he constructed high places, erected Asherim and carved images before he humbled himself are written in the Acts of the Seers.

²³ except that he never humbled himself to the LORD like his father Manasseh had done. In fact, Amon multiplied his own guilt

¹² He practiced what the LORD his God considered to be evil and never humbled himself before Jeremiah the prophet who spoke for the LORD.

²² “Indeed, God is exalted in his power. Who is like him as a teacher?

¹⁰ I will cut down the strength of the wicked, but the strength of the righteous will be lifted up.

¹³ Your arm is strong; your hand is mighty; indeed, your right hand is victorious.

¹⁶ In your name they rejoice all day long; they exult in your justice. ¹⁷ For you are their strength’s grandeur; by your favor you exalted our power.

²³ A person’s pride will bring about his downfall, but the humble in spirit will gain honor.

¹¹ The haughty looks of mankind will be brought low, the lofty pride of human beings will be humbled, and the LORD alone will be exalted at that time.

⁴ Every valley will be lifted up, and every mountain and hill will be lowered; the rough ground will become level, and the mountain ridges made a plain.

¹⁸ Say to the king and the queen mother, “Come take a lowly seat, because your beautiful crowns have fallen off your heads.”

¹⁰ To this day they haven’t humbled themselves, they haven’t shown reverence for the LORD, and they haven’t lived according to my Law and my statutes that I set before them and before their ancestors.’

²¹ The fugitives of his troops will die by the sword, and the survivors will be scattered to the four winds. Then you’ll know that I, the LORD, have spoken.”

⁶ “And now, Son of Man, you are to start groaning until you’re sick to your stomach. You are to groan bitterly right in front of them.

²² “But you, Belshazzar, his grandson, haven’t humbled yourself, even though you knew all of this.

⁸ He has made it clear to you, mortal man, what is good and what the LORD is requiring from you— to act with justice, to treasure the LORD’s gracious love, and to walk humbly in the company of your God.

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

⁵² He pulled powerful rulers from their thrones and lifted up humble people.

¹¹ Because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the person who humbles himself will be exalted.”

¹⁴ I tell you, this man, rather than the other one, went down to his home justified, because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the person who humbles himself will be exalted.”

⁶ For at just the right time, while we were still powerless, the Messiah died for the ungodly.

²² or you’ll provoke the Lord to jealousy, won’t you? Are we stronger than he is?

⁶ He gave himself as a ransom for everyone, the testimony at the proper time.

³ At the right time he revealed his message through the proclamation that was entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior.

⁹ A brother of humble means should rejoice in his having been exalted, ¹⁰ and a rich person in his having been humbled, because he will fade away like a wild flower.

¹⁰ Humble yourselves in the Lord’s presence, and he will exalt you.

¹⁰ As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord.

¹⁰ Deeply distressed, she prayed to the LORD and wept bitterly. ¹¹ Hannah made a vow: “LORD of the Heavenly Armies, if you just look at the misery of your maid servant, remember me, and don’t forget your maid servant. If you give your maid servant a son, then I’ll give him to the LORD for all the days of his life, and a razor is never to touch his head.”
¹² As she continued to pray in the LORD’s presence, Eli was watching her mouth. ¹³ Hannah was praying inwardly. Her lips were quivering, and her voice could not be heard. So Eli thought she was drunk. ¹⁴ Eli told her, “How long will you stay drunk? Put away your wine!”
¹⁵ “No, sir!” Hannah replied. “I’m a deeply troubled woman. I’ve drunk neither wine nor beer. I’ve been pouring out my soul in the LORD’s presence. ¹⁶ Don’t consider your maid servant a worthless woman. Rather, all this time I’ve been speaking because I’m very anxious and distressed.”
¹⁷ “Go in peace,” Eli answered. “May the God of Israel grant the request you have asked of him.”
¹⁸ She said, “Let your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then she went on her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.

⁶ David was in great danger because all the people were bitter because of their sons and daughters, and they were talking about stoning him. But David found strength in the LORD his God.

¹³ I believe that I will see the LORD’s goodness in the land of the living. ¹⁴ Wait on the LORD. Be courageous, and he will strengthen your heart. Wait on the LORD!

¹⁵ The LORD looks on the righteous, and he listens to their cries.

⁵ Commit your way to the LORD; Trust him, and he will act.

²² Cast on the LORD whatever he sends your way, and he will sustain you. He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.

³ On days when I am afraid, I put my trust in you. ⁴ In God, whose word I praise, in God I put my trust. I will not fear what mortal man can do to me.

⁴ I look to my right and observe— no one is concerned about me. There is nowhere I can go for refuge, and no one cares for me. ⁵ So I cry to you, Lord, declaring, “You are my refuge, my only possession while I am on this earth.”

²⁵ Stop Worrying
“That’s why I’m telling you to stop worrying about your life—what you will eat or what you will drink—or about your body—what you will wear. Life is more than food, isn’t it, and the body more than clothing? ²⁶ Look at the birds in the sky. They don’t plant or harvest or gather food into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. You are more valuable than they are, aren’t you?

³³ But first be concerned about God’s kingdom and his righteousness, and all of these things will be provided for you as well. ³⁴ So never worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

³⁸ But Jesus was in the back of the boat, asleep on a cushion. So they woke him up and asked him, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to die?”

¹¹ When people bring you before synagogue leaders, rulers, or authorities, don’t worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, ¹² because at that time the Holy Spirit will teach you what you are to say.”

²² Stop Worrying
Then Jesus told his disciples, “That’s why I’m telling you to stop worrying about your life—what you will eat—or about your body—what you will wear,

³⁰ because it is the unbelievers who are concerned about all these things. Surely your Father knows that you need them! ³¹ Instead, be concerned about his kingdom, and these things will be provided for you as well. ³² Stop being afraid, little flock, because your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.

¹³ because he’s a hired worker, and the sheep don’t matter to him.

⁶ Never worry about anything. Instead, in every situation let your petitions be made known to God through prayers and requests, with thanksgiving.

⁵ Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have, for God has said, “I will never leave you or abandon you.” ⁶ Hence we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?”

⁵ Then Samson went down in the direction of Timnah with his father and mother and arrived as far as the vineyards of Timnah. And—surprise!—a young lion came roaring at him!

⁶ Esther replied, “An adversary and an enemy—it’s this wicked Haman!” So Haman was terrified before the king and the queen.

⁶ Satan’s First Attack on JobOne day, divine beings presented themselves to the LORD, and Satan accompanied them. ⁷ The LORD asked Satan, “Where have you come from?”
In response, Satan answered the LORD, “From wandering all over the earth and walking back and forth throughout it.”

² The LORD asked Satan, “Where have you come from?”
In response, Satan told the LORD, “From wandering all over the earth and walking back and forth throughout it.”

²¹ Young lions roar for prey, seeking their food from God.

⁶ Appoint an evil person over him; may an accuser stand at his right side.

¹² The king’s anger is like the roaring of a lion, but his goodwill is like dew on the grass.

² A king’s anger is like a lion’s roar; anyone who angers him forfeits his life.

²⁹ With a roar like a lion, they snarl, and like young lions, they growl; they seize their prey and then carry it off, with no one to rescue. ³⁰ They will roar over it at that time, like the sea waves roar. If one surveys the land, watch out! There’s darkness and distress; even the daylight is darkened by its clouds.

¹² The Fall of the Day Star“How you have fallen from heaven, Day Star, son of the Dawn! How you have been thrown down to earth, you who laid low the nation! ¹³ You said in your heart, ‘I’ll ascend to heaven, above the stars of God. I’ll erect my throne; I’ll sit on the Mount of Assembly in the far reaches of the north;

⁸ The Servant’s VindicationThe one who vindicates me is near. Who, then, will bring a charge against me? Let’s face each other! Who has a case against me? Let him confront me!

¹⁵ Young lions roar at him, they cry out loudly. They have made his land into a wasteland, and his cities are destroyed so they are without inhabitants.

³⁸ They’ll roar together like young lions; they’ll growl like lion cubs.

⁷ He raped the women, devastating their towns. The land was made desolate, and all the while the land was filled with the sound of his roaring.

²⁵ There’s a conspiracy of prophets within her, and like a roaring lion tearing its prey, they’ve devoured people, and confiscated treasures, and taken precious things. They’ve added to the population of widows within her.

²⁴ Then the king gave orders to bring those men who had tried to have Daniel devoured, and they threw them, their children, and their wives into the lions’ pit. They had not reached the floor of the pit before the lions had overtaken them and crushed all their bones.

¹⁰ They will go after the LORD, who will roar like a lion; and when he roars, the children will come trembling from the west.

⁸ I will confront them like a bear deprived of her cubs; I will tear open their ribs. I will devour them like a lion— the wild beasts will rip them apart.

¹⁶ “The LORD will roar from Zion, and shout from Jerusalem. The heavens and the earth will shake, but the LORD will be the refuge of his people, and the strength of the people of Israel.”

² He said, “From Zion the LORD roars, and from Jerusalem he shouts aloud. The shepherds’ pastures will languish, and Carmel’s summit will wither.”

⁴ Will a lion roar in the forest without having found its prey? Will a young lion cry from its den without having caught anything?

⁸ A lion has roared! Who will not fear? The Lord GOD has spoken! Who will not prophesy?

¹ The Vision of the High PriestThen I saw Joshua the High Priest standing in the presence of the angel of the LORD, with Satan standing at his right to oppose him.

³ Hear the wailing of the shepherds, for the magnificence of the forest is ruined! Hear the roar of the lions, for the Jordan’s arrogance is ruined!

¹ Jesus is Tempted by Satan
After this, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

¹¹ So the devil left him, and angels came and began ministering to him.

³⁹ The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels.

⁴² “So keep on watching, because you don’t know on what day your Lord is coming.

⁴⁸ “But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master has been delayed,’ ⁴⁹ and begins to beat his fellow servants and eat and drink with the drunks, ⁵⁰ that servant’s master will come on a day when he doesn’t expect him and at an hour that he doesn’t know.

⁴¹ “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Get away from me, you who are accursed, into the eternal fire that has been prepared for the devil and his angels!

⁴⁵ But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time to come back,’ and begins to beat the other servants and to eat, drink, and get drunk, ⁴⁶ the master of that servant will come on a day when he doesn’t expect him and at an hour that he doesn’t know. Then his master will punish him severely and assign him a place with unfaithful people.

³⁴ Be Alert“Constantly be on your guard so that your hearts will not be loaded down with self-indulgence, drunkenness, and the worries of this life, or that day will take you by surprise

³⁶ So be alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place and to take your stand in the presence of the Son of Man.”

³¹ Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial
“Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has asked permission to sift all of you like wheat,

⁴⁴ You belong to your father the devil, and you want to carry out the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning and has never stood for truth, since there is no truth in him. Whenever he tells a lie, he speaks in character, because he is a liar and the father of lies.

¹¹ Live in the Light of the Messiah’s ReturnThis is necessary because you know the times—it’s already time for you to wake up from sleep, because our salvation is nearer now than when we became believers. ¹² The night is almost over, and the day is near. Let’s therefore put aside the actions of darkness and put on the armor of light. ¹³ Let’s behave decently, as people who live in the light of day. No wild parties, drunkenness, sexual immorality, promiscuity, quarreling, or jealousy!

²⁷ and do not give the devil an opportunity to work.

¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the devil’s strategies.

⁶ Therefore, let’s not fall asleep like others do, but let’s stay awake and be sober. ⁷ For people who go to sleep, go to sleep at night; and people who get drunk, get drunk at night. ⁸ But since we belong to the day, let’s be sober. We must put on the breastplate of faith and love, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.

⁹ Women, for their part, should display their beauty by dressing modestly and decently in appropriate clothes, not with elaborate hairstyles or by wearing gold, pearls, or expensive clothes,

¹⁵ even though she will be saved through the birth of the Child, if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, along with good judgment.

² Therefore, an elder must be blameless, the husband of one wife, stable, sensible, respectable, hospitable to strangers, and teachable.

¹¹ Their wives must also be serious. They must not be gossips, but instead be stable and trustworthy in everything.

¹⁷ However, the Lord stood by me and gave me strength so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the gentiles could hear it. I was rescued out of a lion’s mouth.

⁸ Instead, he must be hospitable to strangers, must appreciate what is good, and be sensible, honest, moral, and self-controlled.

² Older men are to be sober, serious, sensible, and sound in faith, love, and endurance.

⁴ They should encourage the younger women to love their husbands, to love their children,

⁶ Likewise, encourage the younger men to be sensible.

¹² It trains us to renounce ungodly living and worldly passions so that we might live sensible, honest, and godly lives in the present age

⁷ Therefore, submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will run away from you.

¹³ Be HolyTherefore, prepare your minds for action, keep a clear head, and set your hope completely on the grace to be given you when Jesus, the Messiah, is revealed.

⁷ Because everything will soon come to an end, be sensible and clear-headed, so you can pray.

⁸ The person who practices sin belongs to the evil one, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason that the Son of God was revealed was to destroy what the devil has been doing. ⁹ No one who has been born from God practices sin, because God’s seed abides in him. Indeed, he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born from God. ¹⁰ This is how God’s children and the devil’s children are distinguished. No person who fails to practice righteousness and to love his brother is from God.

⁹ The huge dragon was hurled down. That ancient serpent, called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world, was hurled down to the earth, along with its angels.

¹² So be glad, heavens, and those who live in them! How terrible it is for the earth and the sea, because the Devil has come down to you, filled with rage, knowing that his time is short!”

² He captured the dragon, that ancient serpent, also known as the devil and Satan, and tied him up for a thousand years.

¹⁰ and the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet were. They will be tortured day and night forever and ever.

³ The devil told him, “Since you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become a loaf of bread.”
⁴ Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘One must not live on bread alone, but on every word of God.’”
⁵ The devil also took him to a high place and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in an instant. ⁶ He told Jesus, “I will give you all this authority, along with their glory, because it has been given to me, and I give it to anyone I please. ⁷ So if you will worship me, all this will be yours.”
⁸ But Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’”
⁹ The devil also took him into Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the Temple. He told Jesus, “Since you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, ¹⁰ because it is written, ‘God will put his angels in charge of you to watch over you carefully. ¹¹ With their hands they will hold you up, so that you will never hit your foot against a rock.’”
¹² Jesus answered him, “It has been said, ‘You must not tempt the Lord your God.’”

³² but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail. When you have come back, you must strengthen your brothers.”

³³ I have told you this so that through me you may have peace. In the world you’ll have trouble, but be courageous—I’ve overcome the world!”

²² strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to continue in the faith. “We must endure many hardships,” they said, “to get into the kingdom of God.”

¹³ No temptation has overtaken you that is unusual for human beings. But God is faithful, and he will not allow you to be tempted beyond your strength. Instead, along with the temptation he will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to endure it.

¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the devil’s strategies. ¹² For our struggle is not against human opponents, but against rulers, authorities, cosmic powers in the darkness around us, and evil spiritual forces in the heavenly realm. ¹³ For this reason, take up the whole armor of God so that you may be able to take a stand whenever evil comes. And when you have done everything you could, you will be able to stand firm.

¹⁶ In addition to having clothed yourselves with these things, having taken up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to put out all the flaming arrows of the evil one,

⁵ For although I am physically absent, I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see how stable you are and how firm your faith in the Messiah is.

¹⁵ who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, who have persecuted us, and who please neither God nor any group of people, ¹⁶ as they try to keep us from telling the gentiles how they can be saved. As a result, they are constantly adding to the number of sins they have committed. However, wrath has overtaken them at last!

³ so that no one would be shaken by these persecutions, for which you are aware that we were destined.

¹² Fight the good fight for the faith. Keep holding on to eternal life, to which you were called and about which you gave a good testimony in front of many witnesses.

¹² Indeed, all who want to live a godly life in union with the Messiah Jesus will be persecuted.

⁷ I have fought the good fight. I have completed the race. I have kept the faith.

³³ Through faith they conquered kingdoms, administered justice, received promises, shut the mouths of lions,

⁶ You greatly rejoice in this, even though you have to suffer various kinds of trials for a little while,

²¹ This is, in fact, what you were called to do, because: The Messiah also suffered for you and left an example for you to follow in his steps.

¹⁴ But even if you should suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. “Never be afraid of their threats, and never get upset.

¹³ Instead, because you are participating in the sufferings of the Messiah, keep on rejoicing, so that you may be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed.

¹¹ Each of them was given a white robe. They were told to rest a little longer until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers was completed, who would be killed as they themselves had been.

¹⁴ I told him, “Sir, you know.”
Then he told me, “These are the people who are coming out of the terrible suffering. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the lamb.

⁶ The LORD passed in front of him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and filled with gracious love and truth. ⁷ He graciously loves thousands, and forgives iniquity, transgression, and sin. But he does not leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of the ancestors on their children, and on their children’s children to the third and fourth generation.”

⁵ Indeed you, Lord, are kind and forgiving, overflowing with gracious love to everyone who calls on you.

¹⁵ But you, Lord, are a compassionate God, merciful and patient, with unending gracious love and faithfulness.

⁷ Though I walk straight into trouble, you preserve my life, stretching out your hand to fight the vehemence of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me.

¹⁸ Who is like God?Is there any God like you, forgiving iniquity, passing over transgressions by the survivors who are your heritage? He is not angry forever, because he delights in gracious love. ¹⁹ He will again show us compassion; he will subdue our iniquities. You will hurl all their sins into the deepest sea.

⁶ “I will fortify the house of Judah, and the house of Joseph I will save. I will surely bring them back, because I care about them. They will be as if I had never cast them away. Since I am the LORD their God, I will answer them.

¹² “I will strengthen them in the LORD, and they will march here and there in his name,” declares the LORD.

²⁰ Now the Law crept in so that the offense would increase. But where sin increased, grace increased even more, ²¹ so that, just as sin ruled by bringing death, so also grace might rule by bringing justification that results in eternal life through Jesus the Messiah, our Lord.

²⁸ And we know that for those who love God, that is, for those who are called according to his purpose, all things are working together for good.
²⁹ For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that the Son might be the firstborn among many brothers. ³⁰ And those whom he predestined, he also called; and those whom he called, he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.

¹¹ Yet before their children had been born or had done anything good or bad (so that God’s plan of election might continue to operate

²⁴ including us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but from the gentiles as well?

⁵ Now may God, the source of endurance and encouragement, allow you to live in harmony with each other as you follow the Messiah Jesus,

¹³ Now may God, the source of hope, fill you with all joy and peace as you believe, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

²⁵ Final DoxologyNow to the one who is able to strengthen you with my gospel and the message that I preach about Jesus, the Messiah, by revealing the secret that was kept hidden from long ago

⁹ Faithful is the God by whom you were called into fellowship with his Son Jesus the Messiah, our Lord.

¹⁷ This light, temporary nature of our suffering is producing for us an everlasting weight of glory, far beyond any comparison,

¹¹ Final Greetings and BenedictionFinally, brothers, goodbye. Keep on growing to maturity. Keep listening to my appeals. Continue agreeing with each other and living in peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.

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

²² he has now reconciled by the death of his physical body, so that he may present you holy, blameless, and without fault before him. ²³ However, you must remain firmly established and steadfast in the faith, without being moved from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

⁷ For you have been rooted in him and are being built up and strengthened in the faith, just as you were taught, while you continue to be thankful.

¹² We comforted and encouraged you, urging you to live in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.

¹⁴ With this purpose in mind, he called you through our proclamation of the gospel so that you would obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah.

¹⁷ encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good action and word.

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

⁹ He saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our own accomplishments, but according to his own purpose and the grace that was given to us in the Messiah Jesus before time began.

¹⁰ For that reason, I endure everything for the sake of those who have been chosen so that they, too, may receive the salvation that is in the Messiah Jesus, along with eternal glory.

¹⁵ The Messiah is the Mediator of a New CovenantThis is why the Messiah is the mediator of a new covenant; so that those who are called may receive the eternal inheritance promised them, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the offenses committed under the first covenant.

²⁰ Now may the God of peace, who by the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, the Great Shepherd of the sheep, ²¹ equip you with everything good to do his will, accomplishing in us what pleases him through Jesus, the Messiah. To him be glory forever and ever! Amen.

⁶ You greatly rejoice in this, even though you have to suffer various kinds of trials for a little while, ⁷ so that your genuine faith, which is more valuable than gold that perishes when tested by fire, may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus, the Messiah, is revealed.

¹⁵ Instead, be holy in every aspect of your life, just as the one who called you is holy.

¹¹ Whoever speaks must speak God’s words. Whoever serves must serve with the strength that God supplies, so that in every way God may be glorified through Jesus, the Messiah. Glory and power belong to him forever and ever! Amen.

³ We are Called to Holy LivingHis divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the full knowledge of the one who called us by his own glory and excellence.

²⁵ The message that the Son himself declared to us is eternal life.

²⁴ Final PrayerNow to the one who is able to keep you from falling and to make you stand joyful and faultless in his glorious presence,

³⁶ For all things are from him, by him, and for him. Glory belongs to him forever! Amen.

⁶ and has made us a kingdom, priests for his God and Father, be glory and power forever and ever! Amen.

¹³ I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, and on the sea, and everything that is in them, saying, “To the one who sits on the throne and to the lamb be praise, honor, glory, and power forever and ever!”

²¹ When Peter saw him, he said, “Lord, what about him?”

²³ When he arrived, he rejoiced to see what the grace of God had done, and with hearty determination he kept encouraging all of them to remain faithful to the Lord,

²⁴ But I don’t place any value on my life, if only I can finish my race and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.

² Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace by which we have been established, and we boast because of our hope in God’s glory.

¹ The Resurrection of the MessiahNow I’m making known to you, brothers, the gospel that I proclaimed to you, which you accepted, on which you have taken your stand,

¹⁹ For God’s Son, Jesus the Messiah, who was preached among you by us—by me, Silvanus, and Timothy—was not “Yes” and “No.” But with him it is always “Yes.”

⁸ But even if we or an angel from heaven should proclaim to you a gospel contrary to what we proclaimed to you, let that person be condemned! ⁹ What we have told you in the past I am now telling you again: If anyone proclaims to you a gospel contrary to what you received, let that person be condemned!

³ and how this secret was made known to me through a revelation, just as I wrote about briefly in the past.

²¹ Final GreetingSo that you may know what has happened to me and how I am doing, Tychicus, our dear brother and a faithful minister in service to the Lord, will tell you everything.

⁷ You learned about this gospel from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of the Messiah on your behalf.

⁷ Greetings from Paul and His Fellow WorkersTychicus will tell you everything that has happened to me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister, and a fellow servant in the Lord.

⁹ He is coming with Onesimus, that faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will tell you everything that is happening here.

¹ GreetingsFrom: Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy.
To: The church of the Thessalonians in union with God the Father and the Lord Jesus, the Messiah.
May grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus, the Messiah, be yours!

¹ GreetingsFrom: Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy.
To: The church of the Thessalonians in union with God our Father and the Lord Jesus, the Messiah.

²² Final GreetingI urge you, brothers, to listen patiently to my encouraging message, for I have written you a short letter.

¹² Therefore, I intend to keep on reminding you about these things, even though you already know them and are firmly established in the truth that you now have.

¹⁵ They have left the straight path and wandered off to follow the path of Bosor’s son Balaam, who loved the reward he got for doing wrong.

⁹ If we accept human testimony, God’s testimony is greater, because it is the testimony of God and because he has testified about his Son. ¹⁰ The person who believes in the Son of God believes this testimony personally. The person who does not believe God has made him a liar by not believing the testimony that he has given about his Son.

¹² Demetrius has received a good report from everyone, including the truth itself. We, too, can testify to this report, and you know that our testimony is true.

³ Warning about False TeachersDear friends, although I was eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I found it necessary to write to you and urge you to continue your vigorous defense of the faith that was passed down to the saints once and for all.

⁴ I will mention Rahab and Babylon among those who acknowledge me— including Philistia, Tyre, and Ethiopia— “This one was born there,” they say.

¹² When Peter realized what had happened, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was also called Mark, where a large number of people had gathered and were praying.

²⁵ When Barnabas and Saul had fulfilled their mission, they returned to Jerusalem, bringing with them John who was also called Mark.

¹³ The children of your chosen sister greet you.

⁵ On her forehead was written a secret name:
BABYLON THE GREAT,
THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES
AND DETESTABLE THINGS OF THE EARTH

² He cried out in a powerful voice, “Fallen! Babylon the Great has fallen! She has become a home for demons. She is a prison for every unclean spirit, a prison for every unclean bird, and a prison for every unclean and hated beast.

²⁷ I’m leaving you at peace. I’m giving you my own peace. I’m not giving it to you as the world gives. So don’t let your hearts be troubled, and don’t be afraid.

¹⁹ Jesus Appears to the Disciples
It was the evening of the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Jesus came and stood among them. He told them, “Peace be with you.”

²⁶ A week later, his disciples were again inside, and Thomas was with them. Even though the doors were shut, Jesus came, stood among them, and said, “Peace be with you.”

⁷ To: Everyone in Rome, loved by God and called to be holy.
May grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus, the Messiah, be yours!

¹ The Spirit Gives LifeTherefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in union with the Messiah Jesus.

¹⁶ Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of the Messiah greet you.

³⁰ It is because of God that you are in union with the Messiah Jesus, who for us has become wisdom from God, as well as our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.

²⁰ All the brothers greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss.

¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in the Messiah, he is a new creation. Old things have disappeared, and—look!—all things have become new!

¹² Greet one another with a holy kiss.

²³ May peace and love, with faith, be with the brothers, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus, the Messiah!

²⁶ Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.

² the people chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father through the sanctifying action of the Spirit to be obedient to Jesus, the Messiah, and to be sprinkled with his blood.
May grace and peace be yours in abundance!