2 Corinthians 2 Cross References - LEB

¹ For I have decided this for myself, not to come to you again in sorrow. ² For if I cause you sorrow, then who will make me glad except the one who is caused to be sad by me? ³ And I wrote this very thing in order that when I* came, I would not experience sorrow from those who ought to have made me glad, because I* have confidence about you all, that my joy _⌊belongs to all of you_⌋*. ⁴ For out of great distress and anguish of heart I wrote to you through many tears, not so that you may be caused to be sad, but so that you may know the love that I have especially for you. ⁵ But if anyone has caused sorrow, he has not caused me sorrow, but _⌊to some degree_⌋*—_⌊in order not to say too much_⌋*—to all of you. ⁶ This punishment by the majority is sufficient for such a person. ⁷ So then, you should rather forgive and comfort him, lest somehow this person should be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. ⁸ Therefore I urge you to confirm your love for him. ⁹ Because for this reason also I wrote, in order that I could know your proven character, whether you are obedient in everything. ¹⁰ Now to whomever you forgive anything, I also do; for indeed, whatever I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, it is _⌊for your sake_⌋* in the presence of Christ, ¹¹ in order that we may not be exploited by Satan (for we are not ignorant of his schemes). ¹² Now when I* arrived in Troas for the gospel of Christ and a door was opened for me by the Lord, ¹³ I did not experience rest in my spirit, because* I did not find Titus my brother, but saying farewell to them, I departed for Macedonia. ¹⁴ But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ, and who reveals the fragrance of the knowledge of him through us in every place. ¹⁵ For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, ¹⁶ to those on the one hand an odor from death to death, and to those on the other hand a fragrance from life to life. And who is qualified for these things? ¹⁷ For we are not like the majority who peddle the word of God, but as from pure motives—but as from God—we speak before God in Christ.

²⁹ So from the disciples, _⌊according to their ability to give_⌋,* each one of them determined to send financial aid* for support to the brothers who lived in Judea,

² And after* there was no little strife and debate by Paul and Barnabas against them, they appointed Paul and Barnabas and some others from among them to go up to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem concerning this issue.

³⁷ Now Barnabas wanted to take John who was called Mark along also,

² For I decided not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

²¹ What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love and a spirit of gentleness?

³ For although I* am absent in body but present in spirit, I have already passed judgment on the one who has done this in this way, as if I* were present.

¹⁵ And with this confidence, I was wanting to come to you previously, in order that you may have a second proof of my goodwill, ¹⁶ and through you to go to Macedonia, and to come to you again from Macedonia, and to be sent on my way by you to Judea. ¹⁷ Therefore, when I* was wanting to do this, perhaps then was I making use of vacillation? Or was I deciding what I was deciding according to the flesh, in order that with me my "yes" may be "yes" and my "no" may be "no" at the same time?*

²³ But I call upon God as witness against my life, that in order to* spare you, I did not come again to Corinth.

⁴ For out of great distress and anguish of heart I wrote to you through many tears, not so that you may be caused to be sad, but so that you may know the love that I have especially for you.

⁵ For even when* we arrived in Macedonia, our body had no rest, but we were afflicted in every way—quarrels outside, fears within. ⁶ But God, who comforts the humble, comforted us by the coming of Titus, ⁷ and not only by his coming, but also by the comfort with which he was comforted among you, because he* reported to us your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more. ⁸ For if indeed I grieved you by my letter, I do not regret it. Even if I did regret it (I see* that that letter grieved you, even though for _⌊a short time_⌋*),

²⁰ For I am afraid lest somehow when I* arrive, I will not find you as I want, and I may be found by you as you do not want. I am afraid* lest somehow there will be strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, pride, disorder. ²¹ I am afraid lest when I* come again my God will humiliate me _⌊in your presence_⌋*, and I will grieve over many of those who sinned previously and have not repented because of their impurity and sexual immorality and licentiousness that they have practiced.

¹⁰ Because of this, I am writing these things although I* am absent, in order that when I* am present I may not have to act severely according to the authority that the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down.

¹² When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, make haste to come to me in Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there.

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

²⁶ And if one member suffers, all the members suffer together; if a member* is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

¹⁴ just as you have also understood us in part, that we are your reason for boasting, just as you are also ours in the day of our Lord Jesus.

⁸ For if indeed I grieved you by my letter, I do not regret it. Even if I did regret it (I see* that that letter grieved you, even though for _⌊a short time_⌋*),

²⁹ Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is caused to sin, and I do not burn with indignation?

²¹ What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love and a spirit of gentleness?

¹⁵ And with this confidence, I was wanting to come to you previously, in order that you may have a second proof of my goodwill,

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

¹² Consequently, even if I wrote to you, it was not because of the one who did wrong or because of the one who had been wronged, but in order that your diligence _⌊on our behalf_⌋* might be revealed to you before God.

²² And we are sending with them our brother whom we have tested many times in many things that he is diligent, but now much more diligent because of his great confidence in you.

¹¹ I have become a fool! You compelled me, for I ought to have been commended by you, for I am in no way inferior to the preeminent apostles,* even if I am nothing.

²¹ I am afraid lest when I* come again my God will humiliate me _⌊in your presence_⌋*, and I will grieve over many of those who sinned previously and have not repented because of their impurity and sexual immorality and licentiousness that they have practiced.

¹⁰ I have confidence in you in the Lord that you will think nothing different, but the one who is confusing you _⌊will pay the penalty_⌋*, whoever he may be.

⁴ And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are both doing and you will do the things that we are commanding.

²¹ Confident of your obedience, I am writing to you because I* know that you will do even beyond what I say.

¹⁷ " 'You* shall not hate your* brother in your* heart; you* shall surely rebuke your* fellow citizen, so that you* do not incur sin _⌊along with_⌋* him. ¹⁸ You* shall not seek vengeance, and you* shall not harbor a grudge against _⌊your* fellow citizens_⌋;* and you* shall love your* neighbor like yourself; * I am Yahweh.

¹³⁶ Streams of water flow down from my eyes, because people do not heed your law.

⁵ Better a rebuke that is open than a love that is hidden. ⁶ The wounds of a friend mean well, but the kisses of an enemy are profane.

¹⁵ Listen, and pay attention, you must not be haughty, for Yahweh has spoken. ¹⁶ Give glory to Yahweh your God _⌊before_⌋* he brings darkness, and _⌊before_⌋* your feet stumble on the mountains at twilight. And you will hope for light, but he makes it as gloom, he makes it* as thick darkness. ¹⁷ But if you will not listen to it, my inner self* will weep in secret places, because of _⌊the presence of_⌋* your pride. And my eyes* will weep bitterly, and they will melt in tears, because the flock of Yahweh has been taken captive.

⁴¹ And when he approached and* saw the city, he wept over it, ⁴² saying, "If you had known on this day—even you—the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. ⁴³ For days will come upon you and your enemies will put up an embankment* against you, and will surround you and press you hard from all directions. ⁴⁴ And they will raze you to the ground, you and your children within you, and will not leave a stone upon a stone within you, _⌊because_⌋* you did not recognize the time of your visitation."

² that my grief is great and there is constant distress in my heart. ³ For I could wish myself to be accursed from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my fellow countrymen according to the flesh,

⁸ For if indeed I grieved you by my letter, I do not regret it. Even if I did regret it (I see* that that letter grieved you, even though for _⌊a short time_⌋*), ⁹ now I rejoice, not that you were grieved, but that you were grieved to repentance. For you were grieved according to the will of God, so that you suffered loss in no way through us.

² For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy, because I promised you in marriage to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.

¹⁵ But I will spend and be expended most gladly for your lives. If I love you much more, am I to be loved less?

¹⁸ For many live, of whom I spoke about to you many times, but now speak about even weeping, as the enemies of the cross of Christ,

²⁵ A grief to his father is the child of a fool, and bitterness to her who bore him.

¹ It is reported everywhere that there is sexual immorality among you, and sexual immorality of such a kind which does not even exist among the Gentiles, so that someone has the wife of his father. ² And you are inflated with pride, and should you not rather have mourned, so that the one who has done this deed would be removed from your midst? ³ For although I* am absent in body but present in spirit, I have already passed judgment on the one who has done this in this way, as if I* were present. ⁴ In the name of our Lord Jesus, when* you are assembled, and my spirit, together with the power of our Lord Jesus, ⁵ I have decided* to hand over such a person to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, in order that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.

¹² For what is it to me to judge those outside? Should you not judge those inside? ¹³ But those outside God will judge. Remove the evil person _⌊from among yourselves_⌋*.

¹² I ask you, brothers, become like me, because I also have become like you. You have done me no wrong!

¹¹ For behold how much diligence this very thing, being grieved according to the will of God, has brought about in you: what defense of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! In everything you have demonstrated yourselves to be innocent in this matter.

²⁰ Reprove those who sin in the presence of all, in order that the rest also may experience fear.

¹⁹ I am one of the faithful representatives of Israel. You are seeking to destroy a city and a mother in Israel. Why do you want to swallow the inheritance of Yahweh?" ²⁰ Then Joab answered and said, "Far be it, far be it from me that I should swallow or I should destroy.

⁹ You will make them like your fiery furnace at the time of your appearance. Yahweh will swallow them in his wrath and fire will consume them.

¹ For the music director, according to The Silent Dove of Distant Lands. Of David. A miktam. When the Philistines seized him in Gath.*
Be gracious to me, O God, because humankind has trampled me; fighting all the day he oppresses me. ² My enemies* trample all day, because many are attacking me proudly.

³ He will send from heaven and save me; he will reproach the one who tramples me. Selah God will send his loyal love and his faithfulness.

³ then they would have swallowed us alive, when their anger was kindled against us.

¹² Like Sheol,* we will swallow them alive and whole, _⌊like those who descend to the pit_⌋.*

²² A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a downcast spirit will dry out bones.

⁷ And these also stagger because of wine and stagger because of strong drink; priest and prophet stagger because of strong drink; they are confused* because of wine. They stagger because of strong drink; they err in vision. They stagger in the rendering of a decision,

⁵⁴ But whenever this perishable body puts on incorruptibility and this mortal body puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will take place:
"Death is swallowed up in victory.

⁴ For indeed we who are in this tent groan, being burdened _⌊for this reason, that_⌋* we do not want to be unclothed, but to be clothed, in order that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.

¹⁰ For grief according to the will of God brings about a repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted, but worldly grief brings about death.

¹ Brothers, even if a person is caught in some trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a person in a spirit of humility, looking out for yourself, lest you also be tempted. ² Carry the burdens of one another, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

³² Become* kind toward one another, compassionate, forgiving one another, just as also God in Christ has forgiven you.

²⁷ For indeed he was sick, coming near to death, but God had mercy on him and not on him only, but also on me, so that I would not have grief upon grief.

¹³ putting up with one another and forgiving one another. If anyone should have a complaint against anyone, just as also the Lord forgave you, thus also you do the same.

¹³ Now we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who have fallen asleep, so that you will not grieve as also the rest, who have no hope.

⁶ But we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from every brother who lives irresponsibly and not according to the tradition that they received from us.

¹⁴ But if anyone does not obey our message through this letter, take note not to associate with him, in order that he may be put to shame. ¹⁵ And do not consider him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

¹² Therefore strengthen your slackened hands and your weakened knees, ¹³ and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame will not be dislocated, but rather be healed. ¹⁴ Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord. ¹⁵ Take care that no one falls short of the grace of God; that no one growing up like a root of bitterness causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;

¹³ For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not let your freedom become an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

¹⁰ So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who belong to the household of faith.

²² And have mercy on those who doubt, ²³ and save others by* snatching them from the fire, and have mercy on others with fear, hating even the tunic stained by the flesh.

⁴ And Yahweh said to Moses, "Look, I am going to rain down for you bread from the heavens, and the people will go out and gather enough for the day on its day; in that way I will test them: Will they go according to my law or not?

² And you shall remember all of the way that Yahweh your God led you during these forty years in the desert in order to humble you and to test you to know what is in your heart, whether you would diligently keep his commandments or not.

¹⁶ the one _⌊feeding you_⌋* manna in the desert, food that your ancestors* did not know, in order to humble you and in order to test you so that he could do good to you _⌊in the future_⌋.*

³ you must not listen to the words of that prophet or to that dreamer, for Yahweh your God _⌊is testing you to know whether you love_⌋* Yahweh your God with all of your heart and with all of your inner self.*

¹² Consequently, even if I wrote to you, it was not because of the one who did wrong or because of the one who had been wronged, but in order that your diligence _⌊on our behalf_⌋* might be revealed to you before God. ¹³ Because of this we have been encouraged, and in addition to our encouragement, we rejoiced much more over the joy of Titus, because his spirit had been refreshed by all of you. ¹⁴ For if I have boasted anything to him about you, I have not been put to shame, but as I have spoken everything to you in truth, thus also our boasting to Titus _⌊has proven to be true_⌋*. ¹⁵ And his affection for you is all the more when he* remembers the obedience of all of you as you welcomed him with fear and trembling.

²⁴ Therefore show to them the proof of your love and our boasting about you _⌊openly before_⌋* the churches.

⁶ And _⌊we are ready_⌋* to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is completed.

¹² Therefore my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

²² But you know his proven character, that like a child with a father he served with me for the gospel.

¹⁴ But if anyone does not obey our message through this letter, take note not to associate with him, in order that he may be put to shame.

¹⁸ "Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you release on earth will be released in heaven.

²³ If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them. If you retain the sins* of any, they are retained."

⁴ In the name of our Lord Jesus, when* you are assembled, and my spirit, together with the power of our Lord Jesus,

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

¹ Then Satan* stood against Israel and urged David to count Israel. ² So David said to Joab and to the commanders of the nation, "Go, count Israel from Beersheba to Dan and bring a report to me that I might know their number."

¹¹ But,* on the other hand, stretch out* your hand and touch _⌊all that belongs to him_⌋* and see _⌊whether_⌋* he will _⌊curse_⌋* you to your face."

³ So* Yahweh _⌊asked_⌋* Satan,* "Have you _⌊considered_⌋* my servant Job? Indeed,* there is no one like him on the earth—a blameless man and upright and God-fearing and turning away from evil. And still he persists in his blamelessness _⌊even though_⌋* you incited me against him to destroy him for nothing."

⁵ But stretch out* your hand and touch his bones and his flesh, and see _⌊whether_⌋* he will _⌊curse_⌋* you to your face."*

⁹ Then* his wife said to him, "Are you still persisting in your blamelessness? _⌊Curse_⌋* God and die."

¹ And he showed me Joshua the high priest standing _⌊before_⌋* the angel of Yahweh; and Satan* was standing on his right to accuse him. ² But Yahweh said to Satan,* "Yahweh rebukes you, O Satan!* Yahweh who has chosen Jerusalem rebukes you! Is this not a stick snatched from the fire?" ³ And Joshua was clothed in filthy garments and was standing _⌊before_⌋* the angel. ⁴ And he answered and said to the ones standing _⌊before_⌋* him, saying, "Remove the filthy garments from him." And he said to him, "See, I have taken away your guilt* from you, and will clothe you with rich garments."

¹⁰ Then Jesus said to him, "Go away, Satan, for it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God and serve only him.'"*

³¹ "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded to sift you like wheat,

² And as* a dinner was taking place, when* the devil had already put into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot that he should betray him,

²⁵ to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to depart to his own place."

⁵ Do not defraud one another, except perhaps by agreement, for a time, in order that you may devote yourselves to prayer, and then you should be _⌊together_⌋* again, lest Satan tempt you because of your lack of self control.

⁴ among whom the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, so that they would not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

³ But I am afraid lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds may be led astray from the sincerity and the purity of devotion to Christ.

¹⁴ And no wonder, for Satan himself disguises himself as an angel of light.

¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the stratagems of the devil, ¹² because our struggle is not against blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

²⁵ correcting those who are opposed with gentleness, seeing whether perhaps God may grant them repentance to a knowledge of the truth,

⁸ Be sober; be on the alert. Your adversary the devil walks around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.

²⁴ But I say to you, to the rest who are in Thyatira, all those who do not hold this teaching, who have not known the deep things of Satan, as they say, I do not put upon you any other burden.

⁹ And the great dragon was thrown down, the ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world. He was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. ¹⁰ And I heard a loud voice in heaven saying,
"Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, because the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, the one who accuses them before our God day and night. ¹¹ And they conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives until death.

⁸ And all those who live on the earth will worship him, _⌊everyone whose name is not written_⌋* from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slaughtered.

²⁷ And when they* arrived and called the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that he had opened a door of faith for the Gentiles.*

⁸ So going through Mysia, they went down to Troas.

¹ Now after the turmoil had ceased, Paul summoned* the disciples, and after* encouraging them,* he said farewell and* departed to travel to Macedonia. ² And after he* had gone through those regions and encouraged them _⌊at length_⌋,* he came to Greece ³ and stayed* three months. Because* a plot was made against him by the Jews as he* was about to set sail for Syria, he came to a decision to return through Macedonia. ⁴ And Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, and Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, and Gaius from Derbe, and Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus from Asia, were accompanying him. ⁵ And these had gone on ahead and* were waiting for us in Troas. ⁶ And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread and came to them at Troas within five days, where we stayed seven days.

⁸ Now there were quite a few lamps in the upstairs room where we were gathered.

¹ Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,

⁹ for a great and effective door has opened for me, and there are many opponents.

³ praying at the same time for us also, that God may open for us a door of the message, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which also _⌊I am a prisoner_⌋*,

⁷ "And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:
"This is what the holy one, the true one, the one who has the key of David, the one who opens and no one can shut, and who shuts and no one can open, says: ⁸ 'I know your works (behold, I have put before you an opened door that no one is able to shut*) that you have a little strength, and have kept my word, and did not deny my name.

¹ Now after the turmoil had ceased, Paul summoned* the disciples, and after* encouraging them,* he said farewell and* departed to travel to Macedonia. ² And after he* had gone through those regions and encouraged them _⌊at length_⌋,* he came to Greece

⁵ For even when* we arrived in Macedonia, our body had no rest, but we were afflicted in every way—quarrels outside, fears within. ⁶ But God, who comforts the humble, comforted us by the coming of Titus,

¹³ Because of this we have been encouraged, and in addition to our encouragement, we rejoiced much more over the joy of Titus, because his spirit had been refreshed by all of you.

⁶ So we urged Titus that, just as he had previously begun it, thus he would also complete for you this act of grace.

¹⁶ But thanks be to God, who has put in the heart of Titus the same devotion _⌊on your behalf_⌋*,

²³ If there is a question concerning Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for you. If there is a question concerning our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ.

¹⁸ I urged Titus to go, and I sent the brother with him. Titus did not take advantage of you, did he?* Did we not conduct ourselves in the same spirit?* Did we not walk in the same footsteps?*

¹ Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking along Titus also.

³ But not even Titus who was with me, although* he was a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised.

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

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

⁴⁷ Save us, O Yahweh our God, and gather us from the nations, so that we may give thanks to your holy name and boast in your praise.

¹⁴ And he has raised high a horn for his people, praise for all his faithful— for the children of Israel, a people close to him. Praise Yah.*

³ As fragrance, _⌊your perfumes_⌋* are _⌊delightful_⌋;* your name is poured out _⌊perfume_⌋;* therefore young women love you.

¹⁷ But thanks be to God that you were slaves of sin, but you have obeyed from the heart the pattern of teaching to which you were entrusted,

³⁷ No, but in all these things we prevail completely through the one who loved us.

¹⁹ by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit,* so that from Jerusalem and traveling around as far as Illyricum I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.

³⁷ And what you sow is not the body which it will become, but you sow the bare seed, whether perhaps of wheat or of some of the rest.

¹¹ while* you also join in helping _⌊on our behalf_⌋* by prayer, so that thanks may be given _⌊on our behalf_⌋* by many persons for this gracious gift given to us through the help of many.

¹⁵ For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, ¹⁶ to those on the one hand an odor from death to death, and to those on the other hand a fragrance from life to life. And who is qualified for these things?

¹⁵ Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

² and live in love, just as also Christ loved us, and gave himself for us an offering and sacrifice to God for a fragrant smell.*

²⁰ giving thanks always for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to the God and Father,

¹⁸ But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; _⌊I am well supplied_⌋* because* I received from Epaphroditus _⌊what you had sent_⌋*, a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God.

⁶ that has come to you, just as also in all the world it is bearing fruit and increasing, just as also among you from the day you heard about and understood the grace of God in truth,

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

¹⁵ When he* had disarmed the rulers and the authorities, he made a display of them in public, triumphing over them by it.*

⁹ For what thanks can we repay to God concerning you, because of all the joy with which we rejoice because of you before our God,

¹² saying,
"Amen! Praise and glory, and wisdom and thanksgiving, and honor and power and strength be to our God _⌊forever and ever_⌋*. Amen!"

²¹ And Yahweh smelled the soothing fragrance, and Yahweh said _⌊to himself_⌋,* "_⌊Never again will I curse_⌋* the ground for the sake of humankind, because the inclination of the heart of humankind is evil from his youth. _⌊Nor will I ever again destroy_⌋* all life as I have done.

¹⁸ And you will turn into smoke on the altar all of the ram; it is a burnt offering for Yahweh; it is a smell of appeasement, an offering by fire for Yahweh.

²⁵ And you will take them from their hand and turn them to smoke on the altar beside the burnt offering as a fragrance of appeasement before Yahweh; it is an offering made by fire before Yahweh.

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

⁴¹ I will accept you as _⌊a fragrant incense offering_⌋* when I bring you out from the peoples and I gather you from the lands to which you were scattered, and I will show myself holy among you before the eyes of the nations.

¹⁸ For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

³ But if indeed our gospel is veiled, it is veiled among those who are perishing, ⁴ among whom the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, so that they would not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

¹⁰ and with every unrighteous deception against those who are perishing, in place of which they did not accept the love of the truth, so that they would be saved.

³⁴ And Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, "Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed*—

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

⁴⁵ But when* the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy, and began contradicting what was being said by Paul by* reviling him.* ⁴⁶ Both Paul and Barnabas spoke boldly and* said, "It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you, since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life! Behold, we are turning to the Gentiles! ⁴⁷ For so the Lord has commanded us:
'I have appointed you _⌊to be_⌋* a light for the Gentiles, _⌊that you would bring_⌋* salvation to the end of the earth.'*

²⁶ Therefore I testify to you on this very day that I am guiltless of the blood of all of you,* ²⁷ for I did not shrink from proclaiming to you the whole purpose of God.

¹⁰ But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me has not been in vain, but I labored even more than all of them, and not I, but the grace of God with me.

⁵ Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, ⁶ who also makes us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit, for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

⁷ Therefore the honor is for you who believe, but for those who refuse to believe,
"The stone that the builders rejected, this one has become _⌊the cornerstone_⌋*," ⁸ and
"A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense,"*
who stumble because they* disobey the word to which also they were consigned.

³¹ The prophets prophesy _⌊falsely_⌋,* and the priests rule _⌊by their own authority_⌋,* and my people love it* so much. But what will you do _⌊when the end comes_⌋?*

²⁷ who plan to make my people forget my name by their dreams that they tell each one to his neighbor, just as their ancestors* forgot my name through Baal? ²⁸ The prophet who has with him a dream, let him tell the dream. But the prophet* who has my word with him, let him speak my word faithfully. _⌊What is straw compared to wheat_⌋?"* _⌊declares_⌋* Yahweh. ²⁹ "Is not my word like fire?" _⌊declares_⌋* Yahweh, "and like a blacksmith's hammer that breaks a rock into pieces? ³⁰ "_⌊Therefore_⌋* look, I am against the prophets," _⌊declares_⌋* Yahweh, "who steal my words each one from his neighbor. ³¹ Look, I am against the prophets," _⌊declares_⌋* Yahweh, "who take their tongues* and declare as prophets, 'Yahweh _⌊declares_⌋.'* ³² Look, I am against those who prophesy dreams of lies,"* _⌊declares_⌋* Yahweh, "and tell them, and they caused my people to err through their lies, and in their recklessness, when I myself have not sent them nor commanded them, so they profit not this people at all," _⌊declares_⌋* Yahweh.

²⁴ For false messiahs and false prophets will appear, and will produce great signs and wonders in order to deceive, if possible, even the elect.

²⁰ how I did not shrink from proclaiming to you anything that would be profitable, and from teaching you in public and from house to house,

²⁷ for I did not shrink from proclaiming to you the whole purpose of God.

⁸ So then, let us celebrate the feast, not with the old leaven or with the leaven of wickedness and sinfulness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

¹² For our reason for boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you, in holiness* and purity of motive from God, not* in merely human wisdom, but by the grace of God.

² but we have renounced shameful hidden things, not behaving with craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but with the open proclamation of the truth commending ourselves to every person's conscience before God.

¹³ For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. ¹⁴ And no wonder, for Satan himself disguises himself as an angel of light. ¹⁵ Therefore it is not a great thing if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.

¹⁹ having faith and a good conscience, which some, because they* have rejected these, have suffered shipwreck concerning their faith, ²⁰ among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, in order that they may be taught not to blaspheme.

¹ Now the Spirit explicitly says that in the last times some will depart from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, ² by the hypocrisy of liars, who are seared in their own conscience, ³ who forbid marrying and insist on abstaining from foods that God created for sharing in with thankfulness by those who believe and who know the truth,

⁶ The farmer who works hard must be the first to receive a share of the crops. ⁷ Consider what I am saying, for the Lord will grant you understanding in all these things. ⁸ Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David according to my gospel, ⁹ in connection with which I suffer misfortune to the point of _⌊imprisonment_⌋* as a criminal, but the word of God is not bound. ¹⁰ Because of this, I endure all things for the sake of the chosen, in order that they also may obtain salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. ¹¹ The saying is trustworthy:
For if we died with him, we will also live with him; ¹² if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; ¹³ if we are unfaithful, he remains faithful—_⌊he cannot deny himself_⌋*.* ¹⁴ Remind people of these things, solemnly urging them before the Lord* not to dispute about words. This is in no way beneficial and leads to the ruin of the hearers. ¹⁵ Make every effort to present yourself approved to God, a worker having no need to be ashamed, guiding the word of truth along a straight path. ¹⁶ But avoid pointless chatter, for it will progress to greater ungodliness, ¹⁷ and their message _⌊will spread_⌋* like gangrene, among whom are Hymenaeus and Philetus, ¹⁸ who have deviated concerning the truth by* saying the resurrection has already taken place, and they are upsetting the faith of some.

³ For there will be a time when they will not put up with sound teaching, but in accordance with their own desires, they will accumulate for themselves teachers, _⌊because they have an insatiable curiosity_⌋*, ⁴ and they will turn away from the hearing of the truth, but will turn to myths.

¹¹ whom it is necessary to silence, whoever are ruining whole families by* teaching things which must not be taught for the sake of dishonest gain.

²⁷ By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the anger of the king, for he persevered as if he* saw the invisible one.

¹ But there were also false prophets among the people, as there will be false teachers among you also, who will bring in _⌊destructive heresies_⌋*, even denying the Master who bought them, thus* bringing on themselves swift destruction. ² And many will follow their licentious ways, because of whom the way of truth will be reviled. ³ And in greediness they will exploit you with false words, whose condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

¹ Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to determine if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

⁷ For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess Jesus Christ* coming in the flesh. This person is the deceiver and the antichrist! ⁸ Watch yourselves that you do not lose what we have worked for, but receive a full reward. ⁹ Everyone who goes too far and does not remain in the teaching of Christ does not have God. The one who remains in the teaching—this person has both the Father and the Son. ¹⁰ If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house and do not speak a greeting to him, ¹¹ because the one who speaks a greeting to him shares in his evil deeds.

⁴ For certain men* have slipped in stealthily, who were designated long ago for this condemnation, ungodly ones, who change the grace of our God into licentiousness and who deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ.

¹⁴ But I have a few things against you: that you have there those who hold fast to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat food sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality. ¹⁵ So likewise you also have those who hold fast to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.

²⁰ But I have against you that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, the one who calls herself a prophetess, and teaches and deceives my slaves to commit sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols.

⁹ And the great dragon was thrown down, the ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world. He was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

²⁰ And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs before him, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who had worshiped his image. The two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulphur.