Matthew 13 Cross References - LEB

¹ On that day Jesus went out of the house and* was sitting by the sea.* ² And large crowds gathered close around him, so that he got into a boat to sit down, and all the crowd was standing on the shore. ³ And he spoke many things to them in parables, saying, "Behold, the sower went out to sow, ⁴ and while he was sowing, _⌊some seed_⌋* fell on the side of the path, and the birds came and* devoured it. ⁵ And other seed fell on the rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and it sprang up at once because it did not have any depth of soil. ⁶ But when* the sun rose it was scorched, and because it did not have enough root, it withered. ⁷ And other seed fell among the thorn plants, and the thorn plants came up and choked it. ⁸ But other seed fell on the good soil and produced grain,* this one a hundred times as much and this one sixty and this one thirty. ⁹ The one who has ears, let him hear!" ¹⁰ And the disciples came up and* said to him, "_⌊Why_⌋* do you speak to them in parables?" ¹¹ And he answered and* said to them, "To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to those people it has not been granted. ¹² For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have an abundance. But whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. ¹³ For this reason I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand, ¹⁴ and with reference to them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says,
"_⌊You will listen carefully_⌋* and will never understand, and _⌊you will look closely_⌋* and will never perceive. ¹⁵ For the heart of this people has become dull, and with their ears they hear with difficulty, and they have shut their eyes, so that they would not see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them."* ¹⁶ But your eyes are blessed because they see, and your ears because they hear. ¹⁷ For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it,* and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it!* ¹⁸ "You, therefore, listen to the parable of the sower: ¹⁹ When* anyone hears the word about the kingdom and does not understand it,* the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is what was sown on the side of the path. ²⁰ And what was sown on the rocky ground—this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy. ²¹ But he does not have a root in himself, but _⌊lasts only a little while_⌋,* and when* affliction or persecution happens because of the word, immediately he falls away. ²² And what was sown into the thorn plants—this is the one who hears the word, and the anxiety of this world* and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word and it becomes unproductive. ²³ But what was sown on the good soil—this is the one who hears the word and understands it,* who indeed bears fruit and produces, this one a hundred times as much, and this one sixty, and this one thirty." ²⁴ He put before them another parable, saying, "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. ²⁵ But while his* people were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed darnel* in the midst of the wheat and went away. ²⁶ So when the _⌊wheat_⌋* sprouted and yielded grain, then the darnel appeared also. ²⁷ So the slaves of the master of the house came and* said to him, 'Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have darnel?' ²⁸ And he said to them, 'An enemy has done this!' So the slaves said to him, 'Then do you want us to go and* gather them?' ²⁹ But he said, "No, lest when you* gather the darnel you uproot the wheat together with it. ³⁰ Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the season of the harvest I will tell the reapers, "First gather the darnel and tie it into bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my storehouse." '" ³¹ He put before them another parable, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man took and* sowed in his field. ³² _⌊It_⌋* is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it is grown it is larger than the garden herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the sky come and nest in its branches." ³³ He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and* put into three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch was leavened." ³⁴ Jesus spoke all these things to the crowds in parables, and he was saying nothing to them without a parable, ³⁵ in order that what was spoken through the prophet would be fulfilled, who said,
"I will open my mouth in parables; I will proclaim what has been hidden since the creation."** ³⁶ Then he left the crowds and* came into the house, and his disciples came to him saying, "Explain the parable of the darnel in the field to us." ³⁷ So he answered and* said, "The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man, ³⁸ and the field is the world. And the good seed—these are the sons of the kingdom, but the darnel are the sons of the evil one. ³⁹ And the enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. ⁴⁰ Thus just as the darnel is gathered and burned* with fire, so it will be at the end of the age. ⁴¹ The Son of Man will send out his angels and they will gather out of his kingdom all the causes of sin and those who do lawless deeds, ⁴² and throw them into the fiery furnace.* In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth! ⁴³ Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.* The one who has ears, let him hear! ⁴⁴ "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, that a man found and* concealed, and in his joy he goes and sells everything that he has and buys that field. ⁴⁵ "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. ⁴⁶ And when he* found one very valuable pearl, he went and* sold everything that he possessed and purchased it. ⁴⁷ "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish* of every kind, ⁴⁸ which when it was filled they pulled to shore and sat down and* collected the good fish* into containers, but the bad they threw out. ⁴⁹ Thus it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out and separate the evil from among the righteous ⁵⁰ and throw them into the fiery furnace.* In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth! ⁵¹ "Have you understood all these things?" They said to him, "Yes." ⁵² And he said to them, "For this reason every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of the house who brings out of his storeroom new things and old things." ⁵³ And it happened that when Jesus had finished these parables he went away from there. ⁵⁴ And he came to his hometown and* began to teach* them in their synagogue, so that they were amazed and said, "From where did this man get this wisdom and these miracles? ⁵⁵ Is not this one the son of the carpenter? Is not his mother called Mary and his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? ⁵⁶ And are not all his sisters with us? From where then did this man get all these things?" ⁵⁷ And they were offended by him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own hometown and in his own household." ⁵⁸ And he did not perform many miracles in that place because of their unbelief.

²⁸ And when he* came into the house, the blind men approached him, and Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They said to him, "Yes, Lord."

¹ On that day Jesus went out of the house and* was sitting by the sea.* ² And large crowds gathered close around him, so that he got into a boat to sit down, and all the crowd was standing on the shore. ³ And he spoke many things to them in parables, saying, "Behold, the sower went out to sow, ⁴ and while he was sowing, _⌊some seed_⌋* fell on the side of the path, and the birds came and* devoured it. ⁵ And other seed fell on the rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and it sprang up at once because it did not have any depth of soil. ⁶ But when* the sun rose it was scorched, and because it did not have enough root, it withered. ⁷ And other seed fell among the thorn plants, and the thorn plants came up and choked it. ⁸ But other seed fell on the good soil and produced grain,* this one a hundred times as much and this one sixty and this one thirty. ⁹ The one who has ears, let him hear!" ¹⁰ And the disciples came up and* said to him, "_⌊Why_⌋* do you speak to them in parables?" ¹¹ And he answered and* said to them, "To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to those people it has not been granted. ¹² For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have an abundance. But whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. ¹³ For this reason I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand, ¹⁴ and with reference to them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says,
"_⌊You will listen carefully_⌋* and will never understand, and _⌊you will look closely_⌋* and will never perceive. ¹⁵ For the heart of this people has become dull, and with their ears they hear with difficulty, and they have shut their eyes, so that they would not see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them."*

³⁶ Then he left the crowds and* came into the house, and his disciples came to him saying, "Explain the parable of the darnel in the field to us."

¹³ And he went out again beside the sea,* and all the crowd was coming to him, and he began to teach* them.

¹ And again he began to teach beside the sea,* and a very large crowd was gathered to him, so that he got into a boat and* sat on the sea, and the whole crowd was at the sea on the land. ² And he began to teach* them many things in parables, and was saying to them in his teaching, ³ "Listen! Behold, the sower went out to sow. ⁴ And it happened that while he was sowing, _⌊some seed_⌋* fell on the side of the path, and the birds came and devoured it. ⁵ And other seed fell on the rocky ground where it did not have much soil, and it sprang up at once, because it did not have any depth of soil. ⁶ And when the sun rose it was scorched, and because it did not have enough root, it withered. ⁷ And other seed fell among the thorn plants, and the thorn plants came up and choked it, and it did not produce grain.* ⁸ And other seed fell on the good soil, and produced grain,* coming up and increasing, and it bore a crop*—one thirty and one sixty and one a hundred times as much.* ⁹ And he said, "Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear!" ¹⁰ And when he was alone, those around him together with the twelve began asking* him about the parables. ¹¹ And he said to them, "To you has been granted the secret of the kingdom of God, but to those who are outside everything is in parables, ¹² so that
'_⌊they may look closely_⌋* and not perceive, and _⌊they may listen carefully_⌋* and not understand, lest they turn and it be forgiven them.'"*

⁴ And while* a large crowd was gathering and they were going to him from town after town, he spoke by means of a parable: ⁵ "The sower went out to sow his seed, and while he was sowing, _⌊some seed_⌋* fell on the side of the path and was trampled under foot, and the birds of the sky devoured it. ⁶ And other seed fell on the rock, and when it* came up, it withered, because it did not have moisture. ⁷ And other seed fell in the midst of the thorn plants, and the thorn plants grew up with it* and* choked it. ⁸ And other seed fell on the good soil, and when it* came up, it produced a hundred times as much grain." As he* said these things, he called out, "The one who has ears to hear, let him hear!" ⁹ And his disciples asked him what this parable meant. ¹⁰ And he said, "To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest they are in parables, so that
'Seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.'*

¹⁰ The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff between his feet, until Shiloh comes. And to him shall be the obedience of nations.

²⁵ And large crowds followed him from Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and from the other side of the Jordan.

³⁰ And large crowds came to him, having with them the mute, blind, lame, crippled,* and many others, and they put them down at his feet, and he healed them.

¹ And again he began to teach beside the sea,* and a very large crowd was gathered to him, so that he got into a boat and* sat on the sea, and the whole crowd was at the sea on the land.

³ And he got into one of the boats, which was Simon's, and* asked him to put out from the land a little. And he sat down and* began to teach* the crowds from the boat.

⁴ And while* a large crowd was gathering and they were going to him from town after town, he spoke by means of a parable: ⁵ "The sower went out to sow his seed, and while he was sowing, _⌊some seed_⌋* fell on the side of the path and was trampled under foot, and the birds of the sky devoured it. ⁶ And other seed fell on the rock, and when it* came up, it withered, because it did not have moisture. ⁷ And other seed fell in the midst of the thorn plants, and the thorn plants grew up with it* and* choked it. ⁸ And other seed fell on the good soil, and when it* came up, it produced a hundred times as much grain." As he* said these things, he called out, "The one who has ears to hear, let him hear!"

⁸ "The trees went certainly, to anoint a king over themselves. And they said to the olive tree, 'Rule over us.' ⁹ And the olive tree replied, 'Should I stop producing my oil, which by me gods and men are honored, to go sway over the trees?' ¹⁰ Then the trees said to the fig tree, 'You, come rule over us.' ¹¹ But the fig tree said to them, 'Should I stop producing my sweetness, and my good crop, to go sway over the trees?' ¹² And the trees said to the vine, 'You, come rule over us.' ¹³ But the vine said to them, 'Should I stop producing my wine that makes the gods and men happy, to go sway over the trees?' ¹⁴ So all the trees said to the thornbush, 'You, come rule over us.' ¹⁵ And the thornbush said to the trees, 'If in good faith* you are anointing me as king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade; if not, may fire go out from the thornbush and devour the cedars of Lebanon.' ¹⁶ "So then, if you have acted in good faith* and sincerity in making Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with Jerub-Baal and his house, and have dealt with him _⌊according to his accomplishments_⌋*— ¹⁷ for my father fought and _⌊risked his life_⌋* for you and delivered you from the hand of Midian; ¹⁸ but today you have risen against the house of my father and killed his sons, seventy men on one stone, and you have made Abimelech, the son of his slave woman, a king over the lords of Shechem, because he is your relative*— ¹⁹ if you have acted in good faith* and sincerity with Jerub-Baal and his house this day, then rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you. ²⁰ But if not, let a fire come out from Abimelech and let it devour the lords of Shechem and Beth-Millo; and let a fire come out from the lords of Shechem, and from Beth-Millo, and let it devour Abimelech."

¹ So Yahweh sent Nathan to David, and he came to him and said, "Two men were in a certain city; one was rich and the other was poor. ² The rich man had very many flocks and herds, ³ but the poor man had nothing except for one small ewe lamb which he had bought. He had nurtured her, and she grew up with him and with his children together. She used to eat from his morsel and drink from his cup, and she used to lie in his lap and became like a daughter for him. ⁴ And a visitor came to the rich man, but he _⌊was reluctant_⌋* to take from his flocks or from his herds to prepare a meal for the traveler when he came to him. So he took the ewe lamb of the poor man and prepared it for the man who had come to him." ⁵ Then _⌊the anger of David was kindled_⌋* against the man, and he said to Nathan, "_⌊As Yahweh lives_⌋,* the man who has done this _⌊deserves to die_⌋!* ⁶ He shall restore the ewe lamb fourfold because he has done this thing, and because he had no pity." ⁷ Then Nathan said to him, "You are the man! Thus says Yahweh the God of Israel: 'I anointed you as king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul.

⁴ I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will _⌊propound_⌋* my riddle on a lyre.

² I will offer* a parable with my mouth. I will pour out riddles from long ago,

¹ Let me sing for my beloved a song of my love concerning his vineyard: _⌊My beloved had a vineyard_⌋* on _⌊a fertile hill_⌋.* ² And he dug it and cleared it of stones, and he planted it with choice vines,* and he built a watchtower in the middle of it, and he even hewed out a wine vat in it, and he waited for it to yield grapes— but it yielded wild grapes. ³ And now, inhabitants of Jerusalem and men* of Judah, judge between me and my vineyard. ⁴ What more was there to do for my vineyard that I have not done in it? Why did I hope for it to yield grapes, and it yielded wild grapes? ⁵ And now let me tell you what I myself am about to do to my vineyard.
I will remove its hedge, and it shall become a devastation. I will break down its wall, and it shall become a trampling. ⁶ And I will make it a wasteland; it shall not be pruned and hoed, and it shall be overgrown with briers* and thornbushes.* And concerning the clouds, I will command _⌊them not to send_⌋* rain down upon it. ⁷ For the vineyard of Yahweh of hosts is the house of Israel, and the man* of Judah is the plantation of his delight. And he waited for justice,* but look! Bloodshed!* For righteousness,* but look! A cry of distress!*

² "Son of man,* tell a riddle and quote a proverb to the house of Israel,

⁴⁹ Then I said, "Ah, Lord Yahweh, they are saying about me, 'Is he not posing a parable?'"

³ And _⌊deliver a proverb_⌋* to _⌊the rebellious house_⌋,* and you must say to them, 'Thus says the Lord Yahweh: "Place the pot! Place it and also pour water into it. ⁴ Gather its pieces to it, every good piece, thigh and shoulder, fill it with choice bones; ⁵ take the choicest of the flock, and also pile the bones* under it; _⌊boil it vigorously_⌋;* indeed,* its bones boiled in the midst of it." '" ⁶ Therefore thus says the Lord Yahweh: "Woe to the city of bloodguilt! A pot that has its rust in it; _⌊its rust did not go out from it_⌋.* Bring it out _⌊piece by piece_⌋;* _⌊one is as good as another_⌋.* ⁷ For her blood was in the midst of her; _⌊she put it on a bare rock_⌋;* she did not pour it on the ground to cover it with dust.* ⁸ To stir up rage, to avenge myself through vengeance, I placed its blood on the barrenness of a rock, _⌊so that it may not be covered_⌋."* ⁹ Therefore thus says the Lord Yahweh: "Woe to the city of bloodguilt! I, even I, will make the pile of wood great! ¹⁰ Pile up the logs; kindle the fire; finish cooking the meat, and mix in the spices, and let the bones be burned.* ¹¹ And _⌊make it stand_⌋* empty upon its burning coals so that it may become hot, and its copper may become molten and be melted in the midst of it,* so that its uncleanness and its rust be consumed. ¹² Through effort she has caused weariness; _⌊its thick rust_⌋* went not out of it. Its rust! Into the fire with its rust! ¹³ In your uncleanness is obscene conduct, because I cleansed you, but you were not clean from your uncleanness; you will not be clean again until _⌊I fully vent my rage_⌋* on you. ¹⁴ I, Yahweh, I have spoken. It is coming, and I did it; I will not disregard, and I will not take pity, and I will not reconsider. According to your ways and according to your deeds they will judge you!"* _⌊declares_⌋* the Lord Yahweh.

⁴ In that day they will raise a proverb against you, and will wail a bitter wailing, saying, "We are utterly ruined; he exchanges the portion of my people. How he removes it from me; he apportions our field to an apostate."

⁶ Shall not all of these take up a taunt against him, with ridicule and riddles against him, saying, 'Woe to him who heaps up what is not his'? For how long? And, 'Woe to him who makes himself heavy with pledges'?

¹⁰ And the disciples came up and* said to him, "_⌊Why_⌋* do you speak to them in parables?" ¹¹ And he answered and* said to them, "To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to those people it has not been granted. ¹² For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have an abundance. But whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. ¹³ For this reason I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand,

³⁴ Jesus spoke all these things to the crowds in parables, and he was saying nothing to them without a parable, ³⁵ in order that what was spoken through the prophet would be fulfilled, who said,
"I will open my mouth in parables; I will proclaim what has been hidden since the creation."**

⁵³ And it happened that when Jesus had finished these parables he went away from there.

¹ And continuing, Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying,

³² "Now learn the parable from the fig tree: Whenever its branch has already become tender and puts forth its* leaves, you know that summer is near.

²³ And he called them to himself and* was speaking to them in parables, "How can Satan expel Satan?

² And he began to teach* them many things in parables, and was saying to them in his teaching, ³ "Listen! Behold, the sower went out to sow. ⁴ And it happened that while he was sowing, _⌊some seed_⌋* fell on the side of the path, and the birds came and devoured it. ⁵ And other seed fell on the rocky ground where it did not have much soil, and it sprang up at once, because it did not have any depth of soil. ⁶ And when the sun rose it was scorched, and because it did not have enough root, it withered. ⁷ And other seed fell among the thorn plants, and the thorn plants came up and choked it, and it did not produce grain.* ⁸ And other seed fell on the good soil, and produced grain,* coming up and increasing, and it bore a crop*—one thirty and one sixty and one a hundred times as much.* ⁹ And he said, "Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear!"

¹³ And he said to them, "Do you not understand this parable? And how will you understand all the parables?

³³ And with many parables such as these he was speaking the word to them, as they were able to hear it.*

¹ And he began to speak to them in parables: "A man planted a vineyard, and put a fence around it, and dug a trough for the winepress, and built a watchtower, and leased it to tenant farmers, and went on a journey.

¹² And they were seeking to arrest him, and they were afraid of the crowd, because they knew that he had told the parable with reference to them. And they left him and* went away.

¹⁰ And he said, "To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest they are in parables, so that
'Seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.'*

⁴¹ And Peter said, "Lord, are you telling this parable for us, or also for everyone?"

³ So he told them this parable, saying, ⁴ "What man of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the grassland and go after the one that was lost until he finds it? ⁵ And when he* has found it,* he places it* on his shoulders, rejoicing. ⁶ And when he* returns to his* home, he calls together his* friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost!' ⁷ I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.

²⁵ "I have said these things to you in figurative sayings. An hour is coming when I will speak to you in figurative sayings no longer, but I will tell you plainly about the Father.

¹⁸ "You, therefore, listen to the parable of the sower: ¹⁹ When* anyone hears the word about the kingdom and does not understand it,* the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is what was sown on the side of the path.

¹⁹ And I will give to them one heart, and a new spirit I will give* in their inner parts. And I will remove their* heart of stone from their body, and I will give to them a heart of flesh,

²⁶ And I will give a new heart to you, and a new spirit I will give* into your inner parts, and I will remove the* heart of stone from your flesh, and I will give to you a heart of flesh.

¹² Do horses run on rocks, or does one plow the sea with oxen?* But you have turned justice into poison and the fruit of righteousness into wormwood!

¹² _⌊They made their hearts adamant_⌋* in order not to hear the law* and the words that Yahweh of hosts had sent by his spirit through* the former prophets; therefore great wrath came from Yahweh of hosts.

²⁰ And what was sown on the rocky ground—this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy.

¹⁰ They shall not be hungry or thirsty, and heat and sun shall not strike them, for he who takes pity on them will lead them, and he will guide them to springs of water.

²⁶ And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. ²⁷ And the rain came down and the rivers came and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it collapsed, and its fall was great."

²¹ But he does not have a root in himself, but _⌊lasts only a little while_⌋,* and when* affliction or persecution happens because of the word, immediately he falls away.

¹³ And those on the rock are those who receive the word with joy when they hear it,* and these do not have enough root, who believe for a time and in a time of testing fall away.

¹⁷ that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith (you having been firmly rooted and established in love),

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.

⁷ firmly rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding with thankfulness.

¹¹ For the sun rises with its burning heat and dries up the grass, and its flower falls off, and the beauty of its appearance is lost. So also the rich person in his pursuits* will wither away. ¹² Blessed is the person* who endures testing, because when he* is approved he will receive the crown of life that he* has promised to those who love him.

¹⁶ They will not be hungry any longer or be thirsty any longer, nor will the sun ever beat down on them, nor any heat,*

¹⁸ And thorns and thistles shall sprout for you, and you shall eat the plants of the field.

³ For thus says Yahweh to the men* of Judah and to Jerusalem, "Break up for yourselves prepared virgin soil, and you must not sow among thornbushes. ⁴ Circumcise yourselves to Yahweh, and remove the foreskins of your hearts,* men* of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, lest my wrath goes forth like the fire and burns, and there is no one who extinguishes it,* because of the evil of your deeds."

²² And what was sown into the thorn plants—this is the one who hears the word, and the anxiety of this world* and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word and it becomes unproductive.

¹⁸ And others are the ones sown among the thorn plants—these are the ones who hear the word, ¹⁹ and the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and* choke the word and it becomes unproductive.

¹² And Isaac sowed in that land and reaped in that same year a hundredfold, and Yahweh blessed him.

²³ But what was sown on the good soil—this is the one who hears the word and understands it,* who indeed bears fruit and produces, this one a hundred times as much, and this one sixty, and this one thirty."

¹⁵ But the seed on the good soil—these are the ones who, after* hearing the word, hold fast to it* with a noble and good heart, and bear fruit with patient endurance.

⁸ My Father is glorified by this: that you bear much fruit, and prove to be my disciples.

¹⁸ For I know that good does not live in me, that is, in my flesh. For the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not.

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self control. Against such things there is no law.

¹¹ having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.

¹⁵ The one who has ears, let him hear!

¹⁶ But your eyes are blessed because they see, and your ears because they hear.

⁹ And he said, "Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear!"

²³ If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!"

¹⁴ And summoning the crowd again, he said to them, "Listen to me, all of you, and understand: ¹⁵ There is nothing outside of a person that is able to defile him by* going into him. But the things that go out of a person are the things that defile a person."*

⁷ The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers, I will grant to him to eat from the tree of life which is in the paradise of God.'

¹¹ The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will never be harmed by the second death.'

¹⁷ The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers, I will give to him some of the hidden manna, and I will give to him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written, that no one knows except the one who receives it.'

²⁹ The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'

⁶ The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'

¹³ The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'

²² The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'"

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. ⁹ If anyone has an ear, let him hear!

¹⁰ And when he was alone, those around him together with the twelve began asking* him about the parables.

³³ And with many parables such as these he was speaking the word to them, as they were able to hear it.* ³⁴ And he did not speak to them without a parable, but in private he explained everything to his own disciples.

⁸ Good and right is Yahweh; therefore he instructs sinners in the way. ⁹ He causes the humble to walk in justice, and teaches the humble his way.

¹⁴ Intimate fellowship with Yahweh is for those who fear him, and he makes known his covenant to them.

¹⁰ For Yahweh has poured out upon you a spirit of deep sleep, and he has shut your eyes, the prophets, and he has covered your heads, the seers.

⁸ And a highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called the way of holiness. The unclean shall not travel through it, but* it is for them, he who walks on the way; and fools shall not wander about.

²⁵ At that time Jesus answered and* said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent, and have revealed them to young children.* ²⁶ Yes, Father, for to do so _⌊was your gracious will_⌋.*

¹⁷ And Jesus answered and* said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this* to you, but my Father who is in heaven.

¹¹ But he said to them, "Not everyone can accept this saying but those to whom it has been given.

¹¹ And he said to them, "To you has been granted the secret of the kingdom of God, but to those who are outside everything is in parables,

³⁹ And _⌊she had_⌋* a sister named Mary, who also sat at the feet of Jesus* and* was listening to his teaching. ⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted with much preparation, so she approached and* said, "Lord, is it not a concern to you that my sister has left me alone to make preparations? Then tell her that she should help me!" ⁴¹ But the Lord answered and* said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things! ⁴² But few things are necessary, or only one thing,* for Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her."

⁶⁵ And he said, "Because of this I said to you that no one can come to me unless it has been granted to him by the Father."

¹⁷ If anyone wants to do his will, he will know about my* teaching, whether it is from God or I am speaking from myself.

¹⁴ And a certain woman _⌊named_⌋* Lydia from the city of Thyatira, a merchant dealing in purple cloth who showed reverence for God, was listening. The Lord opened _⌊her_⌋* heart to pay attention to what was being said by Paul.

¹¹ Now these were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica. _⌊They_⌋* accepted the message with all eagerness, examining the scriptures every day to see if these things were so. ¹² Therefore many of them believed, and not a few of the prominent Greek women and men.

⁷ but we speak the hidden wisdom of God in a mystery, which God predestined before the ages for our glory,

⁹ But just as it is written,
"Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and have not entered into the heart of man, all that* God has prepared for those who love him."* ¹⁰ For* to us God has revealed them through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God.

¹⁴ But the natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he is not able to understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

¹ Thus let a person consider us as servants of Christ and stewards of God's mysteries.

⁷ For who concedes you superiority? And what do you have that you did not receive? But if indeed you received it, why do you boast as if you* did not receive it?

² And if I have the gift of prophecy and I know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so that I can remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.

⁵¹ Behold, I tell you a mystery: we will not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed,

⁹ making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he purposed in him,

¹⁸ (the eyes of your hearts having been enlightened), so that you may know what is the hope of his calling, what are the riches of the glory of his inheritance among the saints,

³ According to* revelation the mystery was made known to me, just as I wrote beforehand in brief, ⁴ so that you may be able when you read* to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ ⁵ (which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit): ⁶ that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, and fellow members of the body, and fellow sharers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel, ⁷ of which I became a servant, according to the gift of God's grace given to me, according to the working of his power. ⁸ To me, the least of all the saints, was given this grace: to proclaim the good news of the fathomless riches of Christ to the Gentiles, ⁹ and to enlighten everyone as to what is the administration of the mystery hidden from the ages by God, who created all things,

³² (This mystery is great, but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.)

¹⁹ and for me, that a word may be given to me at the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,

²⁶ the mystery which has been hidden from the ages and from the generations, but has now been revealed to his saints, ²⁷ to whom God wanted to make known what is the glorious wealth of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory,

² so that their hearts may be encouraged, united in love and into all the wealth of the full assurance of insight into the knowledge of the mystery of God, Christ,

⁹ holding the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience,

¹⁶ And most certainly, great is the mystery of godliness:
Who was revealed in the flesh, was vindicated by* the Spirit, was seen by angels, was proclaimed among the Gentiles*, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.

⁵ Now if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask for it from God, who gives to all without reservation and not reproaching, and it will be given to him.

¹⁶ Do not be deceived, my dear brothers. ¹⁷ Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of change. ¹⁸ By his* will he gave birth to us through the message of truth, so that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

²⁰ And you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know.

²⁷ And as for you, the anointing which you received from him remains in you, and you do not have need that anyone teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you reside* in him.

⁴³ For this reason, I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and will be given to a people* who produce its fruits.

²⁹ For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.

²⁴ And he said to them, "Take care what you hear! With the measure by which you measure out, it will be measured out to you, and will be added to you. ²⁵ For whoever has, more will be given to him, and whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him."

⁹ What* will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the tenant farmers and give the vineyard to others.

¹⁸ Therefore consider how you listen, for whoever has, to him more will be given, and whoever does not have, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away from him."

²⁶ For whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of this person when he comes in his glory and the glory* of the Father and of the holy angels.

⁴² But few things are necessary, or only one thing,* for Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her."

²⁰ But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your life* is demanded from you, and the things which you have prepared—whose will they be?' ²¹ So is the one who stores up treasure for himself, and who is not rich toward God!"

² And he summoned him and* said to him, 'What is this I hear about you? Give the account of your management, because you can no longer manage.'

²⁵ But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that you received your good things during your life, and Lazarus likewise bad things. But now he is comforted here, but you are suffering pain.

²⁴ And to the bystanders he said, 'Take away from him the mina and give it* to the one who has the ten minas!' ²⁵ And they said to him, 'Sir, he has ten minas.' ²⁶ 'I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given. But from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.

² Every branch that does not bear fruit in me, he removes it, and every branch that bears fruit, he prunes it in order that it may bear more fruit. ³ You are already clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. ⁴ Remain in me, and I in you. Just as the branch is not able to bear fruit from itself unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you, unless you remain in me. ⁵ "I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him—this one bears much fruit, for apart from me you are not able to do anything.

⁵ Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent and do _⌊the works you did at first_⌋*. But if you do not, I am coming to you, and I will remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.

¹⁵ 'I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were cold or hot! ¹⁶ Thus, because you are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold, I am about to vomit you out of my mouth!

³ that is, the great trials that your eyes saw, and those great signs and wonders. ⁴ But Yahweh has not given to you a heart to understand, or eyes to see, or ears to hear, even _⌊to this day_⌋.*

¹⁸ Deaf people, listen! And blind people, look to see! ¹⁹ Who is blind but my servant or* deaf like my messenger whom I sent? Who is blind like the one who is repaid or* blind like the servant of Yahweh? ²⁰ You see many things, but* you do not observe. His ears are open, but* he does not hear.

¹⁸ They do not know, and they do not understand, for their eyes are besmeared _⌊so that they cannot see_⌋,* their _⌊minds_⌋* _⌊so that they have no insight_⌋.*

²¹ 'Hear this please, O foolish and _⌊senseless_⌋* people, _⌊who have eyes_⌋* but do not see, _⌊who have ears_⌋* but do not hear.'

² "Son of man,* you are dwelling in the midst of the house of rebellion _⌊who has eyes to see and they do not see_⌋;* _⌊they have ears to hear_⌋,* and they do not hear, for they are a house of rebellion.

¹⁷ And knowing this,* he said to them, "Why are you discussing that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Have your hearts been hardened? ¹⁸ Although you* have eyes, do you not see? And although you* have ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember?

¹⁹ And this is the judgment: that the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light, because their deeds were evil. ²⁰ For everyone who practices evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds be exposed.

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!" ⁴⁰ Some of the Pharisees who were with him heard these things and said to him, "We are not also blind, are we?"* ⁴¹ Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now you say, 'We see,' your sin remains.

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.

⁹ And he said, "Go and say to this people,
'Keep on listening and do not comprehend! And keep on looking and do not understand!' ¹⁰ Make the heart of this people insensitive, and make its ears unresponsive, and shut its eyes so that it may not look with its eyes and listen with its ears and comprehend with its mind and turn back, and it may be healed for him."

¹² so that
'_⌊they may look closely_⌋* and not perceive, and _⌊they may listen carefully_⌋* and not understand, lest they turn and it be forgiven them.'"*

³⁹ For this reason they were not able to believe, because again Isaiah said, ⁴⁰ "He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, lest they see with their* eyes and understand with their* hearts and turn, and I heal them."*

²⁵ So being in disagreement with one another, they began to leave after* Paul made one statement: "The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through the prophet Isaiah to your fathers, ²⁶ saying,
'Go to this people and say, "_⌊You will keep on hearing_⌋* and will never understand, and _⌊you will keep on seeing_⌋* and will never perceive. ²⁷ For the heart of this people has become dull, and with their* ears they hear with difficulty, and they have shut their eyes, lest they see with their* eyes, and hear with their* ears, and understand with their* heart, and turn, and I would heal them." '*

⁸ just as it is written,
"God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that do not see and ears that do not hear, until this very day."* ⁹ And David says,
"Let their table become a snare and a trap, and a cause for stumbling and a retribution to them; ¹⁰ let their eyes be darkened so that they do not see, and cause their backs to bend _⌊continually_⌋*."*

¹⁴ But their minds were hardened. For until this very day, the same veil remains upon the reading of the old covenant, not being uncovered, because it is done away with in Christ.

⁷⁰ Their heart is insensitive like fat;* As for me, I take delight in your law.

¹⁰ Make the heart of this people insensitive, and make its ears unresponsive, and shut its eyes so that it may not look with its eyes and listen with its ears and comprehend with its mind and turn back, and it may be healed for him."

¹⁰ For Yahweh has poured out upon you a spirit of deep sleep, and he has shut your eyes, the prophets, and he has covered your heads, the seers. ¹¹ And the vision of all this has become for you like the words of a sealed document. When they give it to one who knows the* document, saying, "_⌊Read_⌋* this now!" He says, "I am not able, for it is sealed." ¹² And if the document is given to one who does not _⌊know how to read_⌋,* saying, "_⌊Read_⌋* this now!" he says, "I do not _⌊know how to read_⌋."*

²⁰ He feeds on ashes; a _⌊deceived mind_⌋* misleads him. And he cannot save _⌊himself_⌋,* and he cannot say, "Is this not an illusion in my right hand?"

¹⁸ I have seen his ways, but* I will heal him; and I will lead him and give him and his mourners comfort as a recompense,

²² Return, O apostate* children, I will heal your backsliding. 'Look, we come to you, for you are Yahweh our God.

¹⁴ Heal me, O Yahweh, and I will be healed, save me, and I will be saved, for you are my praise.

⁶ Look, I am going to bring healing and health to it, and I will heal them, and I will reveal to them abundance of peace and reliability.

⁴ I will heal their disloyalty;* I will love them freely because my anger has turned back from them.*

¹¹ But they refused to listen, and turned* a stubborn shoulder and _⌊stopped their ears from listening_⌋.*

² But for you who revere* my name, the sun of righteousness will rise, with healing in its wings, and you will go out and leap like _⌊fattened calves_⌋.*

⁴³ _⌊Why_⌋* do you not understand my way of speaking? Because you are not able to listen to my message. ⁴⁴ You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father! That one was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand firm in the truth, because truth is not in him. Whenever he speaks the lie, he speaks from his own nature,* because he is a liar and the father _⌊of lies_⌋.*

¹⁹ Therefore repent and turn back, so that your sins may be blotted out,

⁵⁷ But crying out with a loud voice, they stopped their ears and rushed at him with one purpose.

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. ¹¹ And because of this, God sends them _⌊a powerful delusion_⌋* so that they will believe the lie,

²⁵ correcting those who are opposed with gentleness, seeing whether perhaps God may grant them repentance to a knowledge of the truth, ²⁶ and they will come to their senses again and escape from the trap of the devil, being held captive by him to do his will.

⁴ and they will turn away from the hearing of the truth, but will turn to myths.

¹¹ Concerning this* _⌊we have much to say and it is difficult to explain_⌋*, since you have become sluggish in hearing.

⁴ For it is impossible concerning those who have once been enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and become sharers of the Holy Spirit, ⁵ and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the coming age, ⁶ and having fallen away, to renew them again to repentance, because they* have crucified again for themselves the Son of God and held him up to contempt.

² in the middle of its street, and _⌊on both sides of the river_⌋* is the tree of life, producing twelve fruits—yielding its fruit according to every month—and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.

³ "Blessed are the poor in spirit, because theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ Blessed are the ones who mourn, because they will be comforted. ⁵ Blessed are the meek, because they will inherit the earth. ⁶ Blessed are the ones who hunger and thirst for righteousness, because they will be satisfied. ⁷ Blessed are the merciful, because they will be shown mercy. ⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart, because they will see God. ⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers, because they will be called sons of God. ¹⁰ Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, because theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ¹¹ Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things against you, lying on account of me.

²⁹ "Now dismiss your slave in peace, Lord, according to your word. ³⁰ For my eyes have seen your salvation

²³ And turning to the disciples, he said privately, "Blessed are the eyes that see the things which you see! ²⁴ For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see the things which you see, and did not see them,* and to hear the things which you hear, and did not hear them."*

²⁹ Jesus said to him, "Because you have seen me, have you believed? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed."

¹⁸ to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'

⁶ For God who said, "Light will shine out of darkness,"* is the one who has shined in our hearts for the enlightenment of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.*

¹⁷ that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, _⌊the glorious Father_⌋*,* may give you a spirit of wisdom* and revelation in the knowledge of him ¹⁸ (the eyes of your hearts having been enlightened), so that you may know what is the hope of his calling, what are the riches of the glory of his inheritance among the saints,

²⁴ For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see the things which you see, and did not see them,* and to hear the things which you hear, and did not hear them."*

⁵⁶ Abraham your father rejoiced that he would see my day, and he saw it* and was glad."

⁵ (which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit): ⁶ that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, and fellow members of the body, and fellow sharers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel,

¹³ These all died in faith without receiving the promises, but seeing them from a distance and welcoming them, and admitting that they were strangers and temporary residents on the earth.

³⁹ And although they* all were approved* through their faith, they did not receive what was promised, ⁴⁰ because* God had provided something better for us, so that they would not be made perfect without us.

¹⁰ Concerning this* salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace meant for you sought and made careful inquiry, ¹¹ investigating for what person or which time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he* testified beforehand to the sufferings with reference to Christ and the glories after these things, ¹² to whom it was revealed that they were serving not themselves but you with reference to the same things which now have been announced to you through those who proclaimed the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, _⌊things into which_⌋* angels desire to look.

¹¹ And he answered and* said to them, "To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to those people it has not been granted. ¹² For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have an abundance. But whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.

¹³ And he said to them, "Do you not understand this parable? And how will you understand all the parables? ¹⁴ The sower sows the word. ¹⁵ And these are the ones beside the path where the word is sown, and whenever they hear it,* immediately Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. ¹⁶ And these are like* the ones sown on the rocky ground, who whenever they hear the word immediately receive it with joy. ¹⁷ And they have no root in themselves, but are temporary. Then when* affliction or persecution comes because of the word, immediately they fall away. ¹⁸ And others are the ones sown among the thorn plants—these are the ones who hear the word, ¹⁹ and the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and* choke the word and it becomes unproductive. ²⁰ And those are the ones sown on the good soil, who hear the word and receive it* and bear fruit—one thirty and one sixty and one a hundred times as much."*

¹¹ Now the parable means this: the seed is the word of God, ¹² and those beside the path are the ones who have heard. Then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they may not believe and* be saved. ¹³ And those on the rock are those who receive the word with joy when they hear it,* and these do not have enough root, who believe for a time and in a time of testing fall away. ¹⁴ And the seed that fell into the thorn plants—these are the ones who hear and as they* go along are choked by the worries and riches and pleasures of life, and they do not bear fruit to maturity. ¹⁵ But the seed on the good soil—these are the ones who, after* hearing the word, hold fast to it* with a noble and good heart, and bear fruit with patient endurance.

⁷ Fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge; wisdom and instruction, fools despise.

²⁰ Wisdom calls out in the streets, in the squares she raises her voice. ²¹ On a _⌊busy corner_⌋* she cries out, at the entrances of the gates in the city, she speaks her sayings: ²² "_⌊How long_⌋,* O simple ones, will you love simplicity? And how long will scoffers delight in their scoffing, and fools hate knowledge?

¹ My child, if you will receive* my sayings, and hide my commands with you, ² in order to incline your ear toward wisdom, then you shall apply your heart to understanding. ³ For if you cry out for understanding,* if you lift* your voice for insight, ⁴ if you seek her like silver and search her out _⌊like treasure_⌋,* ⁵ then you will understand the fear of Yahweh, and the knowledge of God you will find. ⁶ For Yahweh will give wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

¹⁶ Why is this? A price in the hand of a fool, in order to buy wisdom where* there is no _⌊sense_⌋.*

¹ He who is selfish seeks a craving;* against all sound judgment he shows contempt. ² A fool will not take pleasure in understanding, but in expressing his heart.*

²³ And he went around through all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and every sickness among the people.

³⁷ But let your statement be 'Yes, yes; no, no,' and anything beyond these is from the evil one.*

³⁸ and the field is the world. And the good seed—these are the sons of the kingdom, but the darnel are the sons of the evil one.

¹⁵ And these are the ones beside the path where the word is sown, and whenever they hear it,* immediately Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.

² and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.

⁹ and heal the sick in it, and say to them, "The kingdom of God has come near to you."

⁴³ _⌊Why_⌋* do you not understand my way of speaking? Because you are not able to listen to my message.

³⁸ Pilate said to him, "What is truth?"
And when he* had said this, he went out again to the Jews and said to them, "I find no basis for an accusation against him.

³² Now when they* heard about the resurrection of the dead, some scoffed, but others said, "We will hear you about this again also."

¹⁵ But if it is questions concerning a word and names and _⌊your own law_⌋,* see to it* yourselves! I do not wish to be a judge of these things."

²⁵ "And now behold, I know that all of you, among whom I went about proclaiming the kingdom, will see my face no more.

²⁵ And while* he was discussing about righteousness and self control and the judgment that is to come, Felix became afraid and* replied, "Go away for the present, and when I* have an opportunity, I will summon you." ²⁶ At the same time he was also hoping that money would be given to him by Paul. For this reason also he sent for him as often as possible and* talked with him.

¹⁹ but they had some issues with him concerning their own religion, and concerning a certain Jesus, who was dead, whom Paul claimed to be alive. ²⁰ And because* I was at a loss with regard to the investigation concerning these things, I asked if he was willing to go to Jerusalem and to be judged there concerning these things.

³¹ And as they* were going out, they were talking to one another, saying, "This man is not doing anything deserving death or imprisonment." ³² And Agrippa said to Festus, "This man could have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar."

²³ And when they* had set a day with him, many more came to him at his lodging place, to whom he was explaining from early in the morning until evening, testifying about the kingdom of God and attempting to convince* them about Jesus from both the law of Moses and the prophets.

²⁸ And just as they did not see fit _⌊to recognize God_⌋*, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do the things that are not proper,

⁸ but to those who act from selfish ambition and who disobey the truth, but who obey unrighteousness, wrath and anger.

¹⁷ For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

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. ³ But if indeed our gospel is veiled, it is veiled among those who are perishing,

⁸ To me, the least of all the saints, was given this grace: to proclaim the good news of the fathomless riches of Christ to the Gentiles,

¹² in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth, but delighted in unrighteousness.

¹ Because of this, it is all the more necessary that we pay attention to the things we have heard, lest we drift away.

¹³ I am writing to you, fathers, because* you have known the One who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because* you have conquered the evil one. ¹⁴ I have written to you, children, because* you have known the Father. I have written to you, fathers, because* you have known the One who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because* you are strong, and the word of God resides in you, and you have conquered the evil one.

¹² not as Cain, who was of the evil one and violently murdered his brother. And _⌊for what reason_⌋* did he violently murder him? Because his deeds were evil and the deeds of his brother were righteous.

¹⁸ We know that everyone who is fathered by God does not sin, but the one fathered by God, he protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.

²⁰ And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, in order that we may know the one who is true, and we are in the one who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. This one is the true God and eternal life.

¹³ But Saul said, "No one will be put to death on this day, because _⌊today_⌋* Yahweh has provided deliverance in Israel." ¹⁴ Then Samuel said to the people, "Come, let us go to Gilgal, and let us renew the kingship there." ¹⁵ So all the people went to Gilgal and they made Saul king there before Yahweh in Gilgal. They sacrificed fellowship offerings there before Yahweh. Then Saul rejoiced there greatly along with all the men of Israel.

² And Joash did what was right in the eyes of Yahweh all the days of Jehoiada the priest.

⁶ So the king called Jehoiada the chief, and he said to him, "Why have you not required the Levites to bring from Judah and Jerusalem the tax of Moses, the servant of Yahweh, and of the assembly of Israel for the tent of the testimony?"

¹⁴ And when they had finished, they brought the remainder of the money before the king and Jehoiada, and they used it for objects for the house of Yahweh, objects for the service and the burnt offerings, dishes, and objects of gold and silver. And they were offering burnt offerings in the house of Yahweh regularly, all the days of Jehoiada.

³⁴ When he killed some of them, then they sought him, and repented and earnestly sought God. ³⁵ And they remembered that God was their rock, and God Most High their redeemer. ³⁶ But they enticed him with their mouth and lied to him with their tongue. ³⁷ For their heart was not steadfast with him, nor were they faithful to his covenant.

¹² Then they believed his words; they sang his praise. ¹³ They quickly forgot his works; they did not wait for his counsel.

² Yet* they seek me day by day, and they desire the knowledge of my ways like a nation that _⌊practiced_⌋* righteousness, and had not forsaken the judgment of its God; they ask me for _⌊righteous judgments_⌋,* they desire the closeness of God.

³¹ And they come to you _⌊as people do_⌋,* and they sit _⌊before you_⌋,* and my people hear your words, and they do not do them, for they are showing* passion in their mouth, but their heart is going after ill-gotten gain. ³² Now, look! You are to them like _⌊a sensual song_⌋,* beautiful of voice and _⌊played well on an instrument_⌋,* and they hear your words, _⌊but they are not doing them_⌋.*

⁵ And other seed fell on the rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and it sprang up at once because it did not have any depth of soil. ⁶ But when* the sun rose it was scorched, and because it did not have enough root, it withered.

¹⁶ And these are like* the ones sown on the rocky ground, who whenever they hear the word immediately receive it with joy. ¹⁷ And they have no root in themselves, but are temporary. Then when* affliction or persecution comes because of the word, immediately they fall away.

²⁰ For Herod was afraid of John, because he* knew him to be a righteous and holy man and protected him. And when he* listened to him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he listened to him gladly.

³⁵ That one was the lamp which was burning and shining, and you wanted to rejoice for an hour in his light.

¹³ And Simon himself also believed, and after he* was baptized he was _⌊keeping close company with_⌋* Philip. And when he* saw the signs and great miracles that were taking place, he was astonished.

¹⁴ And you did not despise or disdain what was a trial for you in my flesh, but you welcomed me like an angel of God, like Christ Jesus. ¹⁵ So where is your blessing? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me!

²⁸ "If you* say, 'How will we persecute him?' And 'The root of the trouble is found' in me,*

⁸ for what is the hope of the godless when he cuts them off, when God takes away his life? ⁹ Will God hear his cry of distress when distress comes upon him? ¹⁰ Or, in Shaddai will he find delight? Will he call upon God at all times?

³ The words of his mouth are wickedness and deceit. He has ceased to have insight and to do good.

³ A person will not be established by wickedness, but the root of the righteous will not be moved.

¹² The wicked covets the proceeds of evil, but the root of the righteous _⌊bears fruit_⌋.*

⁴ What will I do with you, O Ephraim? What will I do with you, O Judah? Your love is like a morning cloud, like the dew that goes away early in the morning.

¹⁰ Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, because theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ¹¹ Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things against you, lying on account of me. ¹² Rejoice and be glad, because your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you.

²² On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and expel demons in your name, and perform many miracles in your name?' ²³ And then _⌊I will say to them plainly_⌋,* 'I never knew you. Depart from me, you who practice lawlessness!'

²² and you will be hated by everyone because of my name. But the one who endures to the end—this one will be saved.

³⁷ The one who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and the one who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. ³⁸ And whoever does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. ³⁹ The one who finds his life will lose it, and the one who loses his life because of me will find it.

⁶ And whoever is not offended by me is blessed."

⁶ But when* the sun rose it was scorched, and because it did not have enough root, it withered.

⁵⁷ And they were offended by him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own hometown and in his own household."

²⁴ Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone wants to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. ²⁵ For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life on account of me will find it. ²⁶ For what will a person be benefited if he gains the whole world but forfeits his life? Or what will a person give in exchange for his life?

⁹ "Then they will hand you over to persecution and will kill you, and you will be hated by all the nations* because of my name. ¹⁰ And then many will be led into sin and will betray one another and will hate one another,

¹³ But the one who endures to the end—this person will be saved.

³¹ Then Jesus said to them, "You will all fall away because of me during this night, for it is written,
'I will strike the shepherd and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'*

³³ But Peter answered and* said to him, "If they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away!"

¹⁷ And they have no root in themselves, but are temporary. Then when* affliction or persecution comes because of the word, immediately they fall away.

³⁴ And summoning the crowd together with his disciples, he said to them, "If anyone wants to come* after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. ³⁵ For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life on account of me and of the gospel will save it. ³⁶ For what does it benefit a person to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?

¹² And brother will hand over brother to death, and a father his* child, and children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. ¹³ And you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end—this one will be saved.

²³ And he said to them all, "If anyone wants to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross every day and follow me. ²⁴ For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life on account of me, this person will save it. ²⁵ For what is a person benefited if he* gains the whole world but loses or forfeits himself?

²⁶ "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, and furthermore, even his own life, _⌊he cannot be_⌋* my disciple. ²⁷ Whoever does not carry his own cross and _⌊follow_⌋* me _⌊cannot be_⌋* my disciple. ²⁸ For which of you, wanting to build a tower, does not first sit down and* calculate the cost to see if he has enough* _⌊to complete it_⌋?* ²⁹ _⌊Otherwise_⌋* after* he has laid the foundation and is not able to finish it,* all who see it* will begin to ridicule him, ³⁰ saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish!' ³¹ Or what king, going out to engage another king in battle, does not sit down first and* deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand. ³² But if not, while* the other is still far away, he sends an ambassador and* asks _⌊for terms of_⌋* peace. ³³ In the same way, therefore, every one of you who does not renounce all his own possessions _⌊cannot be_⌋* my disciple.

¹² "But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you,* handing you* over to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before* kings and governors because of my name. ¹³ This will turn out to you for a time of witness. ¹⁴ _⌊Therefore make up your minds_⌋* not to prepare in advance to speak in your own defense, ¹⁵ for I will give you a mouth and wisdom that all your opponents will not be able to resist or contradict. ¹⁶ And you will be handed over even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and they will put to death some of you. ¹⁷ And you will be hated by all because of my name. ¹⁸ Even a hair of your head will never perish!

²⁶ Jesus replied to them and said, "Truly, truly I say to you, you seek me not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were satisfied!

⁶¹ But Jesus, because he* knew within himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, "Does this cause you to be offended? ⁶² Then what if you see the Son of Man ascending where he was before? ⁶³ The Spirit is the one who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. ⁶⁴ But there are some of you who do not believe." (For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) ⁶⁵ And he said, "Because of this I said to you that no one can come to me unless it has been granted to him by the Father."

⁷⁰ Jesus replied to them, "Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is the devil?" ⁷¹ (Now he was speaking about Judas son of Simon Iscariot, because this one—one of the twelve—was going to betray him.)

²⁵ The one who loves his life loses it, and the one who hates his life in this world preserves it for eternal life. ²⁶ If anyone serves me, he must follow me, and where I am, there my servant will be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

⁵ "I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him—this one bears much fruit, for apart from me you are not able to do anything. ⁶ If anyone does not remain in me, he is thrown out as a branch, and dries up, and they gather them and throw them* into the fire, and they are burned. ⁷ If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you.

²¹ _⌊You have no_⌋* part or share in this matter, because your heart is not right before God. ²² Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and ask the Lord if perhaps the intent of your heart may be forgiven you!" ²³ For I see you are in _⌊a state of bitter envy_⌋* and _⌊bound by unrighteousness_⌋."*

⁷ to those who, by perseverance in good work, seek glory and honor and immortality, eternal life,

⁶ For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but faith working through love.

¹² As many as are wanting to make a good showing in the flesh, these are attempting to compel* you to be circumcised, only so that they will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.

¹⁵ For neither is circumcision anything nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.

⁶ convinced of this same thing, that the one who began a good work in you will finish it* until the day of Christ Jesus,

¹⁵ You know this, that all those in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes.

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

³⁵ Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has great reward. ³⁶ For you have need of endurance, in order that after you* have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. ³⁷ For yet
"a very, very little while, and the one who is coming will come and will not delay. ³⁸ But my righteous one will live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul is not well pleased with him."* ³⁹ But we are not among those who shrink back to destruction, but among those who have faith to the preservation of our souls.

⁵ who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time,

⁸ For if* these things are yours and are increasing, this does not make you useless or unproductive in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ For the one for whom these things are not present is blind, being nearsighted, _⌊having forgotten the cleansing_⌋* of his former sins.

¹⁹ They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us. But they went out*, in order that it might be shown that all of them are not of us. ²⁰ And you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know.

¹³ 'I know where you live, where the throne of Satan is. And you hold fast to my name and did not deny your* faith in me, even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan lives.

¹⁰ And Lot lifted up his eyes and saw the whole plain of the Jordan, that all of it was well-watered land—this was before Yahweh destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah—like the garden of Yahweh, like the land of Egypt _⌊in the direction of_⌋* Zoar. ¹¹ So* Lot chose for himself all the plain of the Jordan. And Lot journeyed from the east, and so they separated _⌊from each other_⌋.* ¹² Abram settled in the land of Canaan, and Lot settled in the cities of the plain. And he pitched his tent toward Sodom. ¹³ Now the men of Sodom _⌊were extremely wicked sinners against Yahweh_⌋.*

²⁰ And Achan answered Joshua and said, "It is true. I have sinned against Yahweh the God of Israel, and this is what I did: ²¹ I saw among the spoil a beautiful robe from Shinar,* two hundred shekels of silver, and one bar of gold that weighed fifty shekels; I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, and the silver is under it."

²⁰ But Gehazi the servant of Elisha, the man of God, thought, "Look, my master has refrained from taking what this Aramean Naaman brought from his hand. _⌊As Yahweh lives_⌋,* I will certainly run after him, and I will accept something from him." ²¹ So Gehazi pursued after Naaman. When Naaman saw someone running after him, he jumped off his chariot to meet him and asked him, "Is it peace?" ²² He said, "Peace. My master has sent me saying, 'Look, _⌊just now_⌋* two servants from the hill country of Ephraim came to me, from the sons of the prophets. Please give them a talent of silver and two sets of clothing.'" ²³ Then Naaman said, "Be prepared to accept two talents." So he urged him and tied up two talents of silver in two bags, with two sets of clothing and gave it to two of his servants and they carried it before him. ²⁴ When he came to the citadel, he took them from their hand and put them in the house, then sent away the men so that they went. ²⁵ When he went and stood by his master, Elisha asked him, "From where have you come, Gehazi?" And he said, "Your servant has not gone _⌊anywhere_⌋."* ²⁶ Then he said to him, "Did not my heart go with you as the man turned from on his chariot to meet you? Is it time to take silver, clothes, olive orchards, vineyards, sheep, oxen, male slaves, and female slaves? ²⁷ The skin disease of Naaman shall cling to you and to your offspring forever." Then he went out from before him having a skin disease like the snow.

⁷ "Look, the man who would not make God his refuge, but he trusted in the greatness of his wealth; he took refuge in his destructiveness."

¹⁰ Do not trust in extortion, and do not put vain confidence in robbery. If wealth increases, do not set your heart on it.

²⁸ He who trusts in his wealth is he who will fall, but like a green leaf the righteous will flourish.

⁵ Your eyes will _⌊alight_⌋* on it, but there is nothing to it, for suddenly it will make for itself wings like an eagle and it will be exhausted in the heavens.

⁸ Sometimes a man is all alone with no companion; he also has neither son nor brother. Yet there is no end to all his toil, and his eye is not satisfied with wealth. He laments, "For whom am I toiling and depriving _⌊myself_⌋* of pleasure?" This also is vanity—it is an unhappy business!

¹⁰ Whoever loves money is not satisfied with money, and whoever loves wealth is not satisfied with profit. This also is vanity! ¹¹ When prosperity increases, those who consume it increase. _⌊So its owner gains nothing, except to see his wealth before it is spent_⌋.*

¹³ There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun: wealth _⌊hoarded_⌋* by its owner to his harm. ¹⁴ That wealth was lost in a bad venture. Although he has borne a child, _⌊he has nothing to leave to him_⌋.*

³ For thus says Yahweh to the men* of Judah and to Jerusalem, "Break up for yourselves prepared virgin soil, and you must not sow among thornbushes.

²⁴ "No one is able to serve two masters. For either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You are not able to serve God and money.* ²⁵ "For this reason I say to you, do not be anxious for your life, what you will eat,* and not for your body, what you will wear. Is your life not more than food and your body more than clothing?

⁷ And other seed fell among the thorn plants, and the thorn plants came up and choked it.

¹⁶ And behold, someone came up to him and* said, "Teacher, what good thing must I do so that I will have eternal life?" ¹⁷ And he said to him, "Why are you asking me about what is good? There is one who is good. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments!" ¹⁸ He said to him, "Which ones?" And Jesus said, "Do not commit murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, ¹⁹ honor your* father and your* mother, and love your neighbor as yourself." ²⁰ The young man said to him, "All these I have observed. What do I still lack?" ²¹ Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give the proceeds* to the poor—and you will have treasure in heaven—and come, follow me." ²² But when* the young man heard the statement, he went away sorrowful, because he was one who had many possessions. ²³ And Jesus said to his disciples, "Truly I say to you that with difficulty a rich person will enter into the kingdom of heaven! ²⁴ And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than a rich person into* the kingdom of God."

²³ And Jesus looked around and* said to his disciples, "How _⌊difficult it is for_⌋* those who possess wealth to enter into the kingdom of God!" ²⁴ And the disciples were astounded at his words. But Jesus answered and* said to them again, "Children, how difficult it is to enter into the kingdom of God! ²⁵ It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter into the kingdom of God."

¹⁴ And the seed that fell into the thorn plants—these are the ones who hear and as they* go along are choked by the worries and riches and pleasures of life, and they do not bear fruit to maturity.

¹⁵ And he said to them, "Watch out and guard yourselves from all greediness, because not even when someone has an abundance _⌊does_⌋* his life consist of his possessions."

²¹ So is the one who stores up treasure for himself, and who is not rich toward God!"

²⁹ And you, do not consider what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not be anxious. ³⁰ For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need these things.

¹⁶ But he said to him, "A certain man was giving a large banquet and invited many. ¹⁷ And he sent his slave at the hour of the banquet to say to those who have been invited, 'Come, because now it is ready!' ¹⁸ And they all _⌊alike_⌋* began to excuse themselves. The first said to him, 'I have purchased a field, and _⌊I must_⌋* go out to look at it. I ask you, consider me excused.' ¹⁹ And another said, 'I have purchased five yoke of oxen, and I am going to examine them. I ask you, consider me excused.' ²⁰ And another said, 'I have married a wife, and for this reason I am not able to come.' ²¹ And the slave came and* reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and* said to his slave, 'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the city and bring in here the poor and crippled and blind and lame!' ²² And the slave said, 'Sir, what you ordered has been done, and there is still room.' ²³ And the master said to the slave, 'Go out into the highways and hedges and press them* to come in, so that my house will be filled! ²⁴ For I say to you that none of those persons who were invited will taste my banquet!'"

²⁴ And Jesus took notice of him* and* said, "How _⌊difficult it is for_⌋* those who possess wealth to enter into the kingdom of God! ²⁵ For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter into the kingdom of God.

³⁴ "But take care for yourselves, lest your hearts are weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of daily life, and that day come upon you suddenly

¹ Now a certain man _⌊named_⌋* Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, ² and he kept back for himself some of the proceeds, and his* wife was aware of it.* And he brought a certain part and* placed it* at the feet of the apostles. ³ But Peter said, "Ananias, for what reason has Satan filled your heart, that you lied to the Holy Spirit and kept back for yourself some of the proceeds of the piece of land? ⁴ When it* remained to you, did it not remain yours? And when it* was sold, was it at your disposal? How is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to people, but to God!" ⁵ And when* Ananias heard these words, he fell down and* died. And great fear came on all those who heard about it.* ⁶ So the young men stood up, wrapped him up, and carried him* out and* buried him.* ⁷ And it happened that there was an interval of about three hours, and his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. ⁸ And Peter said to her, "Tell me whether you both* were paid this much for the piece of land." And she said, "Yes, this much." ⁹ So Peter said to her, "How is it that it was agreed by you two* to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out!" ¹⁰ And immediately she fell down at his feet and died. So when* the young men came in, they found her dead, and carried her* out and* buried her* with her husband. ¹¹ And great fear came on the whole church and on all who heard about these things.

¹⁸ Now Simon, when he* saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, offered them money,

⁹ But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and a trap and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge those people into ruin and destruction. ¹⁰ For the love of money is a root of all evil, by which some, because they* desire it, have gone astray from the faith and have pierced themselves with many pains.

¹⁷ Command those who are rich in this present age not to be proud and not to put their hope in the uncertainty of riches, but in God, who provides us all things richly for enjoyment,

¹⁴ having eyes full of desire for an adulteress and unceasing from sin, enticing unstable persons, and* having hearts trained for greediness. Accursed children! ¹⁵ By* leaving the straight path, they have gone astray, because they* followed the way of Balaam the son of Bosor,* who loved the wages of unrighteousness,

¹⁵ Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him, ¹⁶ because everything that is in the world—the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the arrogance of material possessions—is not from the Father, but is from the world.

¹¹ Woe to them! For they have traveled in the way of Cain, and have given themselves up to the error of Balaam for gain, and have perished* in the rebellion of Korah. ¹² These are the ones feasting together without reverence, hidden reefs at your love feasts, caring for themselves, waterless clouds carried away by winds, late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, uprooted,

¹ Blessed is the man who does not walk in the advice of the wicked; nor does he stand in the way of sinners; nor does he sit in the assembly of mockers. ² Instead, in the law of Yahweh is his delight, and on his law he meditates day and night. ³ And so, he is like a tree planted by streams of water that gives its fruit in its season; its leaf also does not wither. Therefore all that he does prospers.

¹³ Planted in the house* of Yahweh, they will flourish in the courts of our God. ¹⁴ They will still prosper in old age. They will be fat and luxuriant,* ¹⁵ to declare that Yahweh is upright. He is my rock, and there is no injustice* in him.

⁵ may the wise hear and increase learning, and the one who understands gain direction,* ⁶ to understand a proverb and an expression, words of wisdom and their riddles.

³¹ Throw _⌊away from yourselves_⌋* all of your transgressions that you committed,* and make _⌊for yourselves_⌋* a new heart and new spirit, and so why will you die, house of Israel?

⁸ Therefore produce fruit worthy of repentance!

¹⁰ Already now the ax is positioned at the root of the trees; therefore every tree not producing good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

³³ "Either make the tree good and its fruit is good, or make the tree bad and its fruit is bad, for the tree is known by its fruit.

⁸ But other seed fell on the good soil and produced grain,* this one a hundred times as much and this one sixty and this one thirty.

²⁰ And those are the ones sown on the good soil, who hear the word and receive it* and bear fruit—one thirty and one sixty and one a hundred times as much."*

¹⁵ Truly I say to you, whoever does not welcome the kingdom of God like a young child will never enter into it."

⁴³ "For there is no good tree that produces bad fruit, nor on the other hand a bad tree that produces good fruit, ⁴⁴ for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thorn plants, nor are grapes harvested from thorn bushes.

⁹ And if indeed it produces fruit in the coming year, so much the better,* but if not, you can cut it down.'"

¹¹ He came to his own things, and his own people did not receive him. ¹² But as many as received him—to those who believe in his name—he gave to them authority to become children of God, ¹³ who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of a husband, but of God.

⁴⁷ The one who is from God listens to the words of God. Because of this you do not listen—because you are not of God."

²⁶ But you do not believe, because you are not of my sheep! ²⁷ My sheep listen to my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

¹ "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. ² Every branch that does not bear fruit in me, he removes it, and every branch that bears fruit, he prunes it in order that it may bear more fruit. ³ You are already clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. ⁴ Remain in me, and I in you. Just as the branch is not able to bear fruit from itself unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you, unless you remain in me. ⁵ "I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him—this one bears much fruit, for apart from me you are not able to do anything. ⁶ If anyone does not remain in me, he is thrown out as a branch, and dries up, and they gather them and throw them* into the fire, and they are burned. ⁷ If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you. ⁸ My Father is glorified by this: that you bear much fruit, and prove to be my disciples.

¹⁶ You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and your fruit should remain, in order that whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.

⁷ Now they understand that all the things that* you have given me are from you, ⁸ because the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they received them* and know truly that I have come from you, and they have believed that you have sent me.

¹¹ Now these were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica. _⌊They_⌋* accepted the message with all eagerness, examining the scriptures every day to see if these things were so.

¹ Now we make known to you, brothers, the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, ² that with a great ordeal of affliction, the abundance of their joy and the extreme depth of their poverty have overflowed to the wealth of their generosity.

¹⁰ Now the one who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will provide and multiply your seed, and will cause the harvest of your righteousness to grow,

¹⁷ Not that I seek the gift, but I seek for the profit that increases to your account.

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,

¹⁰ so that you may live in a manner worthy of the Lord, _⌊to please him in all respects_⌋*, bearing fruit in every good deed and increasing in the knowledge of God,

¹ Finally therefore, brothers, we ask you and appeal to you in the Lord Jesus that, just as you have received from us how it is necessary for you to live and to please God, just as indeed you are living, that you progress even more.

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.

¹³ But we ought to give thanks to God always concerning you, brothers dearly loved by the Lord, because God has chosen you as first fruits for salvation by the sanctification of the Spirit and faith in the truth, ¹⁴ for which purpose he called* you through our gospel for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

² _⌊For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us_⌋*, just as those also did, but the message _⌊they heard_⌋* did not benefit them, because they* were not united with those who heard it in faith.

⁷ For ground that drinks the rain that comes often upon it, and brings forth vegetation usable to those people _⌊for whose sake_⌋* it is also cultivated, shares a blessing from God.

¹⁰ For this is the covenant that I will decree with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I am putting my laws in their minds and I will write them on their hearts, and I will be _⌊their_⌋* God and they will be _⌊my_⌋* people.

¹⁵ Therefore through him let us offer up a sacrifice of praise _⌊continually_⌋* to God, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name. ¹⁶ And do not neglect doing good and generosity, for God is pleased with such sacrifices.

²¹ Therefore, putting aside all moral uncleanness and wicked excess, welcome* with humility the implanted message which is able to save your souls. ²² But be doers of the message and not hearers only,* deceiving yourselves,

¹ Therefore, ridding yourselves of all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, ² like newborn infants long for the unadulterated spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up to salvation,

⁵ and for this same reason, and by* applying all diligence, supply with your faith excellence of character, and with excellence of character, knowledge, ⁶ and with knowledge, self-control, and with self-control, patient endurance, and with patient endurance, godliness, ⁷ and with godliness, brotherly love, and with brotherly love, love. ⁸ For if* these things are yours and are increasing, this does not make you useless or unproductive in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

¹⁸ But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

¹² And Samson said to them, "Let me tell you a riddle. If you can fully explain it to me within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, I will give to you thirty linen garments and thirty festal garments. ¹³ But if you are unable to explain it to me, you must give me thirty linen garments and thirty festal garments." So they said to him, "Tell your riddle; let us hear it."

¹⁰ For it is blah-blah upon blah-blah, blah-blah upon blah-blah, gah-gah upon gah-gah, gah-gah upon gah-gah,* a little here, a little there.

¹³ And to them the word of Yahweh will be
blah-blah upon blah-blah blah-blah upon blah-blah gah-gah upon gah-gah gah-gah upon gah-gah,* a little here, a little there, so that they may go and stumble backward and be broken and ensnared and captured.

² and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near!"

¹⁹ When* anyone hears the word about the kingdom and does not understand it,* the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is what was sown on the side of the path.

³¹ He put before them another parable, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man took and* sowed in his field.

³³ He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and* put into three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch was leavened."

³⁷ So he answered and* said, "The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man,

⁴⁴ "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, that a man found and* concealed, and in his joy he goes and sells everything that he has and buys that field. ⁴⁵ "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls.

⁴⁷ "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish* of every kind,

²³ "For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man—a king—who wanted to settle accounts with his slaves.

¹ "For the kingdom of heaven is like a man—the master of the house—who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.

³³ "Listen to another parable: There was a man—a master of a house—who planted a vineyard, and put a fence around it, and dug a winepress in it, and built a watchtower, and leased it to tenant farmers, and went on a journey.

² "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man—a king—who gave a wedding celebration for his son.

¹ "Then the kingdom of heaven may be compared to ten virgins who took their lamps and* went out to meet the bridegroom.

²⁶ And he said, "The kingdom of God is like this: like a man scatters seed on the ground. ²⁷ And he sleeps and gets up, night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows—_⌊he does not know how_⌋.* ²⁸ By itself the soil produces a crop: first the grass, then the head of grain, then the full grain in the head. ²⁹ But when the crop permits, he sends in the sickle right away, because the harvest has come." ³⁰ And he said, "With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or by what parable can we present it?

¹⁸ Therefore he said, "What is the kingdom of God like, and to what shall I compare it?

²⁰ And again he said, "To what shall I compare the kingdom of God?

⁵ because of the hope reserved for you in heaven, which you have heard about beforehand in the word of truth, the gospel,

²³ because you* have been born again, not from perishable seed but imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.

⁹ All wild animals in the field, come, to devour,* all wild animals in the forest! ¹⁰ His watchmen are blind, none of them know. They are all dumb dogs; they are unable to bark, panting, lying down, loving to slumber.

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

⁵ And when* the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.*

³⁰ And from among you yourselves men will arise, speaking _⌊perversions of the truth_⌋* in order to draw away the disciples after them. ³¹ Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for three years I did not stop warning each one of you* with tears.

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.

⁴ Now this was because of the false brothers secretly brought in, who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, in order that they might enslave us,

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. ⁵ But you, be self-controlled in all things, bear hardship patiently, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

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;

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

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.

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.

¹⁴ And he deceives those who live on the earth because of the signs that it has been granted to him to perform on behalf of the beast, telling those who live on the earth to make an image to the beast who has the wound of the sword and yet lived.

²⁶ And he said, "The kingdom of God is like this: like a man scatters seed on the ground. ²⁷ And he sleeps and gets up, night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows—_⌊he does not know how_⌋.* ²⁸ By itself the soil produces a crop: first the grass, then the head of grain, then the full grain in the head. ²⁹ But when the crop permits, he sends in the sickle right away, because the harvest has come."

¹⁷ Now I exhort you, brothers, to look out for those who cause dissensions and temptations contrary to the teaching which you learned, and stay away from them.

¹¹ For it has been made clear to me concerning you, my brothers, by _⌊Chloe's people_⌋*, that there are quarrels among you. ¹² But I say this, that each of you is saying, "I am with Paul," and "I am with Apollos," and "I am with Cephas," and "I am with Christ." ¹³ Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he?* Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

⁵ Therefore, what is Apollos and what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, and to each as the Lord gave. ⁶ I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing it to grow. ⁷ So then, neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who is causing it to grow. ⁸ Now the one who plants and the one who waters are one, but each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. ⁹ For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building.

²⁸ and whom God has appointed in the church: first, apostles, second, prophets, third, teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, administrations, kinds of tongues. ²⁹ Not all are apostles, are they?* Not all are prophets, are they?* Not all are teachers, are they?* Not all are workers of miracles, are they?*

¹² Now if Christ is preached as raised up from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? ¹³ But if there is no resurrection of the dead, Christ has not been raised either. ¹⁴ But if Christ has not been raised, then* our preaching is in vain, and your faith is in vain. ¹⁵ And also we are found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if after all, then, the dead are not raised. ¹⁶ For if the dead are not raised, Christ has not been raised either. ¹⁷ But if Christ has not been raised, your faith is empty; you are still in your sins. ¹⁸ And as a further result, those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. ¹⁹ If _⌊we have put our hope_⌋* in Christ in this life only, we are of all people most pitiable. ²⁰ But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. ²¹ For since through a man came death, also through a man came the resurrection of the dead. ²² For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. ²³ But each in his own group: Christ the first fruits, then those who are Christ's at his coming, ²⁴ then the end, when he hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when he has abolished all rule and all authority and power. ²⁵ For it is necessary for him to reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. ²⁶ The last enemy to be abolished is death. ²⁷ For "he subjected all things under his feet."* But when it says "all things" are subjected, it is clear that the one who subjected all things to him is not included. ²⁸ But whenever all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will be subjected* to the one who subjected all things to him, in order that God may be all in all. ²⁹ Otherwise, why do they do it, those who are being baptized on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why indeed are they being baptized on behalf of them? ³⁰ And why are we in danger every hour? ³¹ I die every day—yes indeed, by my boasting in you,* which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord! ³² If according to a human perspective I fought wild beasts at Ephesus, what benefit is it to me? If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.* ³³ Do not be deceived! "Bad company corrupts good morals."* ³⁴ Sober up correctly and _⌊stop sinning_⌋*, for some have no knowledge of God—I say this to your shame.

¹⁰ But if Timothy comes, see that he is with you without cause to fear, for he is carrying out the Lord's work, as I also am.

¹⁸ And all these things are from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ, and who has given us the ministry of reconciliation, ¹⁹ namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 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 Now because we* are fellow workers, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain.

⁴ but commending ourselves as servants of God in every way, in much endurance, in afflictions, in distresses, in difficulties,

¹ O foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as having been crucified? ² I want only to learn this from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? ³ Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now trying to be made complete by the flesh?

¹¹ And he himself gave some as apostles and some as prophets and some as evangelists and some as pastors and teachers ¹² for the equipping of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for building up the body of Christ,

¹⁵ This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. ¹⁶ For where there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there is disorder and every evil practice.

⁴ Adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

⁴⁹ And John answered and* said, "Master, we saw someone expelling demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him, because he does not follow in company with us." ⁵⁰ But Jesus said to him, "Do not prevent him,* because whoever is not against you is for you." ⁵¹ Now it happened that when the days were approaching _⌊for him to be taken up_⌋,* he set his* face to go to Jerusalem. ⁵² And he sent messengers before _⌊him_⌋,* and they went and* entered into a village of the Samaritans in order to prepare for him. ⁵³ And they did not welcome him because _⌊he was determined to go_⌋* to Jerusalem. ⁵⁴ Now when* the disciples James and John saw it,* they said, "Lord, do you want us to call fire to come down from heaven and consume them?"

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. ⁶ Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole batch of dough? ⁷ Clean out the old leaven in order that you may be a new batch of dough, just as you are unleavened. For Christ our Passover has been sacrificed.

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).

¹⁴ And we urge you, brothers, admonish the disorderly, console the discouraged, help the sick, be patient toward all people.

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.

²⁹ Should a man arise to pursue you and to seek your life, may the life of my lord be wrapped in the pouch* of the living with Yahweh your God. But as for the life of your enemy, he will sling it from within* the pocket of the sling!

¹⁰ For the fortified city is solitary, a settlement deserted and forsaken, like the wilderness; the calf grazes there, lies down there and destroys its branches. ¹¹ _⌊When its branches are dry_⌋,* they are broken; women are coming and setting light to it.
For it is not a people of understanding;
therefore his maker will not have compassion on him, and his creator will not show him favor.

⁴ Look! It is given to the fire as fuel. The fire will consume two of its ends, and its middle will be charred. Is it useful for anything? ⁵ Look! _⌊When it is in perfect condition_⌋,* it will not be used for anything, _⌊how much less_⌋* _⌊when the fire has consumed it_⌋* and it is charred; and then can it be used again for anything? ⁶ Therefore thus says the Lord Yahweh: _⌊Just like_⌋* the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest* which I gave to the fire for fuel, so I have given the inhabitants of Jerusalem. ⁷ And I will set my face against them. From the fire they may_⌊escape_⌋,* but the fire will yet consume them, and they will know that I am Yahweh _⌊when I set my face against them_⌋.*

¹⁸ You will return and see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between the one who serves God and the one who does not serve him.

¹² His winnowing shovel is in his hand, and he will clean out his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the storehouse, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."

³⁹ And the enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. ⁴⁰ Thus just as the darnel is gathered and burned* with fire, so it will be at the end of the age. ⁴¹ The Son of Man will send out his angels and they will gather out of his kingdom all the causes of sin and those who do lawless deeds, ⁴² and throw them into the fiery furnace.* In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth! ⁴³ Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.* The one who has ears, let him hear!

¹⁰ And those slaves went out into the roads and* gathered everyone whom they found, both evil and good, and the wedding celebration was filled _⌊with dinner guests_⌋.* ¹¹ But when* the king came in to see the _⌊dinner guests_⌋,* he saw a man there not dressed in wedding clothes. ¹² And he said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here, not having wedding clothes?' But _⌊he could say nothing_⌋.* ¹³ Then the king said to the servants, 'Tie him up _⌊hand and foot_⌋* and* throw him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth!' ¹⁴ For many are called but few are chosen."

⁶ But in the middle of the night there was a shout, 'Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!' ⁷ Then all those virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. ⁸ And the foolish ones said to the wise ones, 'Give us some of your olive oil, because our lamps are going out!' ⁹ But the wise ones answered saying, "Certainly there will never be enough for us and for you! Go instead to those who sell olive oil* and buy some* for yourselves.' ¹⁰ But while* they had gone away to buy it* the bridegroom arrived, and those who were ready went inside with him to the wedding celebration, and the door was shut. ¹¹ And later the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, lord, open the door* for us!' ¹² But he answered and* said, 'Truly I say to you, I do not know you!' ¹³ Therefore be on the alert, because you do not know the day or the hour!

³² And all the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate them from one another like a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

⁴¹ Then he will also say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you accursed ones, into the eternal fire that has been prepared for the devil and his angels!

¹⁷ His winnowing shovel is in his hand, to clean out his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his storehouse, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."

⁶ If anyone does not remain in me, he is thrown out as a branch, and dries up, and they gather them and throw them* into the fire, and they are burned.

⁵ Therefore do not judge anything before the time, until the Lord should come, who will both enlighten the hidden things of darkness and will reveal the counsels of hearts, and then praise will come to each one from God.

²⁴ The sins of some people are evident, preceding them to judgment, but for some also they follow after them.

²⁴ He put before them another parable, saying, "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field.

²⁰ And he said to them, "Because of your little faith. For truly I say to you, if you have faith like a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you."*

³⁰ And he said, "With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or by what parable can we present it? ³¹ It is like a mustard seed that when sown on the ground, although it* is the smallest of all the seeds that are on the ground, ³² but when it is sown it grows up and becomes the largest of all the garden herbs, and sends out large branches so that the birds of the sky are able to nest in its shade."

¹⁸ Therefore he said, "What is the kingdom of God like, and to what shall I compare it? ¹⁹ It is like a mustard seed that a man took and* sowed in his own garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the sky nested in its branches."

⁶ So the Lord said, "If you have faith like a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you.

¹¹ Now while* they were listening to these things, he went on and* told a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and they thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately.

⁹ And he began to tell the people this parable: "A man* planted a vineyard, and leased it to tenant farmers, and went on a journey for a long time.

¹⁶ May there be an abundance of grain in the land even on the top of the mountains. May his crop* sway like the trees of Lebanon, and may those from the city blossom like the grass of the earth. ¹⁷ May his name endure forever. May his name increase _⌊as long as the sun shines_⌋,* and let them be blessed in him. Let all nations call him blessed. ¹⁸ Blessed be Yahweh God, the God of Israel, who alone does wonderful things. ¹⁹ And blessed be his glorious name forever, and may the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and Amen.

¹² Along them the birds of the heavens abide. From among the branches they _⌊sing_⌋.*

² And it shall happen in the future of the days the mountain of the house* of Yahweh shall be established; it will be among the highest* of the mountains, and it shall be raised from the hills. All of the nations shall travel to him; ³ many peoples shall come. And they shall say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of Yahweh, to the house* of the God of Jacob, and may he teach us part of his ways, and let us walk in his paths." For instruction shall go out from Zion, and the word of Yahweh from Jerusalem. ⁴ He shall judge between the nations and he shall arbitrate for many peoples. They shall beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks. A nation shall not lift up a sword against a nation, and they shall not learn war again.

²³ On the height of the mountain of Israel I will plant it, and it will carry* branches,* and it will bear fruit, and _⌊it will become a noble cedar_⌋,* and all of the birds of all wings* will dwell under it in the shade of its branches. ²⁴ And all of the trees of the field will know that I, Yahweh, I will bring low a high tree, and I will exalt a low, fresh tree, and I will make a dry tree flourish. I, Yahweh, I have spoken, and I will do it.'"

⁶ In its branches all the birds* of the heaven* made their nest, and under its branches all the animals* of the field gave birth, and in its shadow all the many nations lived.

¹ And he brought me back to the doorway of the temple and, look! There was water coming out from under the threshold of the temple eastward, because the face of the temple was eastwards; and the water was coming down from under the south side of the temple, from south of the altar. ² And he brought me out by the way of the north gate and he led me around by the _⌊way leading to the outside of the outer gate_⌋* by way of the gate facing east, and look, there was water trickling from the south side. ³ As the man went eastward a measuring line was in his hand, and he measured a thousand _⌊cubits_⌋.* And he led me through on into the water; it was _⌊ankle deep_⌋.* ⁴ And he measured a thousand cubits,* and he brought me over into the waters and it was _⌊knee deep_⌋.* And he measured a thousand cubits,* and he brought me over into the waters and it was _⌊waist deep_⌋.* ⁵ And he measured a thousand cubits,* and it became a stream that I was not able to cross, because the water rose, _⌊waters a person could swim in_⌋,* and became a stream that could not be crossed.

³⁴ You were looking on _⌊until_⌋* a stone was chiseled out*—that not by hands—and it struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay, and it broke them in pieces. ³⁵ Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold _⌊all at once_⌋* broke into pieces* and they became like chaff from the summer threshing floor, and the wind carried them away and any trace of them could not be found. But the stone that struck the statue became a great mountain and it filled the whole earth.

⁴⁴ And _⌊in the day of those kings_⌋,* the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will _⌊never_⌋* be destroyed, and the kingdom will not be left for another nation,* and it will bring an end to all these kingdoms, but it will stand _⌊forever_⌋.* ⁴⁵ _⌊Inasmuch as_⌋* you saw that a stone from the mountain was chiseled out* but not by hands, and that it crushed the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold, thereby the great God made known to the king what will be _⌊in the future_⌋,* and the dream is certain and its explanation trustworthy."

¹² Its foliage was beautiful, and its fruit abundant, and in it was provision for all. Under it the animals* of the field sought shade, and in its branches the birds of heaven* nested, and from it all the living beings were fed.

¹ And it will be that at the end of those days, the mountain of Yahweh will be established as the highest of the mountains, and it will be lifted up above the hills, and people will stream to it. ² And many nations will come and say, "Come! Let us go up to the mountain of Yahweh, and to the _⌊temple_⌋* of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways, and that we may walk in his paths," for the law will go out from Zion, and the word of Yahweh from Jerusalem. ³ And he will judge between many peoples and will arbitrate for strong nations far away; and they will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; nation will not lift up a sword against a nation, and they will no longer learn war.

¹⁰ For whoever has despised the day of small things will rejoice and will see the _⌊plumb line_⌋* in the hand of Zerubbabel."
These seven are the eyes of Yahweh which are ranging _⌊throughout the whole earth_⌋.*

²⁰ Thus says Yahweh of hosts: 'It will happen again that nations and the inhabitants of many cities will come. ²¹ And the inhabitants of one city will go to another city, saying, "Let us go immediately to entreat _⌊the favor of_⌋* Yahweh, to seek Yahweh of hosts—I also will go!" ²² And many peoples and powerful* nations will come to seek Yahweh of hosts in Jerusalem, and to entreat _⌊the favor of_⌋* Yahweh.' ²³ Thus says Yahweh of hosts: 'In those days ten men from _⌊all the nations of every language_⌋* will take hold of the hem of a Judean man,* saying, "Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you!" '"

⁷ There shall be continuous day—it is known to Yahweh—not day and not night; and at evening time there will be light. ⁸ _⌊And then_⌋* on that day, living waters will flow out from Jerusalem, half of them to the eastern sea,* and the other half to the western sea;* it will happen both in the summer and in the winter. ⁹ And Yahweh will be king over all the earth; on that day Yahweh will be one and his name one. ¹⁰ All the land will be transformed into a desert plateau* from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem. But it* will rise up high and it will stay* in its place from the Gate of Benjamin to the place of the former gate, up to the Corner Gate and from the Tower of Hananel to the king's winepresses.

¹⁵ And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the brothers (and it was a crowd of persons of about one hundred twenty at the same place) and* said,

²⁰ And when* they heard this,* they began to glorify* God. And they said to him, "You see, brother, how many ten thousands there are among the Jews who have believed, and they are all zealous adherents of the law.

¹⁸ For I will not dare to speak about anything except that which Christ has accomplished through me, resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed, 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.

¹⁵ And the seventh angel blew the trumpet, and there was a loud voice in heaven saying,
"The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign _⌊forever and ever_⌋*."

⁶ Then* Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah, and he said, "Quickly—make three seahs of fine flour for kneading and make bread cakes!"

⁹ But* the righteous holds on to his way, and _⌊he who has clean hands_⌋* increases in strength.

¹⁸ But the path of the righteous ones is like the light of dawn, leading and shining until the day _⌊is full_⌋.*

³ Let us know, let us press on to know Yahweh; his rising is sure like the dawn. He will come like the showers to us, like the spring rain that waters the earth.

²⁰ And if the Lord had not shortened the days, _⌊no human being would be saved_⌋.* But for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he has shortened the days. ²¹ It is like yeast that a woman took and* hid in* three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch was leavened."

² Every branch that does not bear fruit in me, he removes it, and every branch that bears fruit, he prunes it in order that it may bear more fruit.

¹² I still have many things to say to you, but you are not able to bear them* now. ¹³ But when he—the Spirit of truth—comes, he will guide you into all the truth. For he will not speak from himself, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will proclaim to you the things to come.

⁹ A little leaven leavens the whole batch of dough.

⁹ And this I pray: that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment,

¹³ For the one at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure, is God. ¹⁴ Do all things without grumbling and disputing, ¹⁵ in order that you may become blameless and innocent, children of God without fault* in the midst of a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine as stars in the world,*

²³ Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your spirit and soul and body be kept complete, blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴ The one who calls you is faithful, who also will do this.

¹³ For this reason I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand,

⁹ Look! the former things have come, and I declare new things. I _⌊announce_⌋* them to you before they sprout up."

⁷ Surely my Lord does not do anything unless he has revealed his secret to his servants the prophets.

¹⁴ and with reference to them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says,
"_⌊You will listen carefully_⌋* and will never understand, and _⌊you will look closely_⌋* and will never perceive.

⁴ Now this took place so that what was spoken through the prophet would be fulfilled, saying, ⁵ "Say to the daughter of Zion, 'Behold, your king is coming to you, humble and mounted on a donkey, and* on a colt, the foal of a pack animal.'"*

³⁴ Then the king will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world!

¹⁴ But it will be more bearable for Tyre and for Sidon in the judgment than for you!

²⁴ "Father, those whom you have given to me—I want that those also may be with me where I am, in order that they may see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.

¹⁸ known from of old.'*

⁵ (which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit):

⁹ and to enlighten everyone as to what is the administration of the mystery hidden from the ages by God, who created all things,

²⁵ of which I became a minister, according to God's stewardship which was given to me for you, to complete the word of God, ²⁶ the mystery which has been hidden from the ages and from the generations, but has now been revealed to his saints,

⁹ who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace that was given to us in Christ Jesus _⌊before time began_⌋*, ¹⁰ but has now been disclosed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ,* who has abolished death and brought to light life and immortality through the gospel,

² in the hope of eternal life which God, who does not lie, promised before eternal ages, ³ but at the proper time has disclosed his message in the proclamation with which I was entrusted according to the command of God our Savior,

¹ Although* God spoke long ago in many parts* and in many ways to the fathers by the prophets,

²⁰ who was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has been revealed in these last times for you ²¹ who through him are believing in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

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.

⁸ The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is going to come up from the abyss, and he is going to destruction. And those who live on the earth, whose names are not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, will be astonished when they* see the beast that was, and is not, and will be present.

¹ On that day Jesus went out of the house and* was sitting by the sea.*

¹¹ And he answered and* said to them, "To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to those people it has not been granted.

²² And immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, while he sent away the crowds.

¹⁵ But Peter answered and* said to him, "Explain this parable to us." ¹⁶ But he said, "Are you also still without understanding?

³⁹ And after he* sent away the crowds, he got into the boat and went to the region of Magadan.

³⁴ And he did not speak to them without a parable, but in private he explained everything to his own disciples.

⁴⁵ And immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he himself dismissed the crowd.

¹⁷ And when he entered into the house away from the crowd, his disciples asked him about the parable.

⁹ Now there were about four thousand. And he sent them away.

¹⁷ So some of his disciples said to one another, "What is this that he is saying to us, 'A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me,' and 'Because I am going away to the Father'?" ¹⁸ So they kept on saying, "What is this that he is saying, 'A little while'? We do not understand what he is speaking about!" ¹⁹ Jesus knew that they were wanting to ask him, and he said to them, "Are you deliberating with one another about this—that I said, 'A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me'? ²⁰ Truly, truly I say to you, that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will become sorrowful, but your sorrow will change to joy.

²⁰ And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."

⁴⁰ "The one who receives you receives me, and the one who receives me receives the one who sent me.

²⁷ So the slaves of the master of the house came and* said to him, 'Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have darnel?'

⁴¹ The Son of Man will send out his angels and they will gather out of his kingdom all the causes of sin and those who do lawless deeds,

¹³ Now when* Jesus came to the region of Caesarea _⌊Philippi_⌋,* he began asking* his disciples, saying, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" ¹⁴ And they said, _⌊Some_⌋* say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." ¹⁵ He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" ¹⁶ And Simon Peter answered and* said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God!"

¹⁶ The one who listens to you listens to me, and the one who rejects you rejects me. But the one who rejects me rejects the one who sent me."

²⁰ Truly, truly I say to you, the one who receives anyone I send receives me, and the one who receives me receives the one who sent me."

²¹ So Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you. As the Father has sent me, I also send you."

⁸ But you will receive power when* the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the farthest part of the earth."

¹⁸ For I will not dare to speak about anything except that which Christ has accomplished through me, resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed,

⁵ Therefore, what is Apollos and what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, and to each as the Lord gave. ⁶ I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing it to grow. ⁷ So then, neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who is causing it to grow.

³ how will we escape if we* neglect so great a salvation which had its beginning when it* was spoken through the Lord and was confirmed to us by those who heard,

¹⁵ And I will put hostility between you and between the woman, and between your offspring* and between her offspring;* he will strike you on the head, and you will strike him on the heel."

³⁰ Descendants* will serve him. Regarding the Lord, it will be told to the next generation.

¹⁰ Yet* Yahweh was pleased to crush him; he _⌊made him sick_⌋.* If she* places* his life a guilt offering,* he will see offspring. He will prolong days, and the will of Yahweh will succeed in his hand.

²³ I will sow her for myself in the land; I will have pity on Lo-ruhama;* I will say to Lo-ammi,* "You are my people," and he himself will say, "you are my God."

⁸ I will whistle to them and gather them, for I have redeemed them, and they will become numerous as they have been numerous before. ⁹ Though I sow* them among the nations, in the distant places they will remember me, and they will stay alive with their children, and they will return.

¹⁴ And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed in the whole inhabited earth for a testimony to all the nations,* and then the end will come.

¹⁸ And Jesus approached and* spoke to them, saying, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore, go* and* make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you all the days until the end of the age."

¹⁵ And he said to them, "Go* into all the world and* preach the gospel to all creation. ¹⁶ The one who believes and is baptized will be saved, but the one who refuses to believe will be condemned. ¹⁷ And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will expel demons, they will speak in new tongues, ¹⁸ they will pick up* snakes.* And if they drink any deadly poison it will never hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick and _⌊they will get_⌋* well." ¹⁹ Then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. ²⁰ And they went out and* proclaimed everywhere, while* the Lord was working together with them* and confirming the message through the accompanying signs.

⁴⁷ and repentance and the forgiveness* of sins would be proclaimed in his name to all the nations,* beginning from Jerusalem.

⁴⁴ You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father! That one was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand firm in the truth, because truth is not in him. Whenever he speaks the lie, he speaks from his own nature,* because he is a liar and the father _⌊of lies_⌋.*

²⁴ Truly, truly I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and* dies, it remains by itself alone. But if it dies, it bears much fruit.

¹⁰ and* said, "O you who are full of all deceit and of all unscrupulousness, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness! Will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord!

¹⁷ and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer together with him so that we may also be glorified together with him.

¹⁸ But I say, they have not heard, have they?* On the contrary,
"Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the inhabited world."*

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, ¹⁹ whose end is destruction, whose God is the stomach, and whose glory is in their shame, the ones who think on earthly things.

¹⁸ By his* will he gave birth to us through the message of truth, so that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

⁵ Listen, my dear brothers! Did not God choose the poor of the world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him?

² Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that whenever he is revealed we will be like him, because we will see him just as he is.

⁸ The one who practices sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. For this reason the Son of God was revealed: in order to destroy the works of the devil. ⁹ Everyone who is fathered by God does not practice sin, because his seed resides in him, and he is not able to sin, because he has been fathered by God. ¹⁰ By this the children of God and the children of the devil are evident: everyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, namely, the one who does not love his brother.

⁶ And I saw another angel flying _⌊directly overhead_⌋*, having an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who reside on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and language and people,

¹⁰ A stream of fire issued forth and flowed _⌊from his presence_⌋;* thousands upon thousands served him and ten thousand upon ten thousand stood before him. The judge sat, and the books were opened.

¹³ Send forth the sickle, for the harvest is ripe! Go tread, for the winepress is full! The vats overflow, because their evil is great!

²⁵ But while his* people were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed darnel* in the midst of the wheat and went away.

²⁸ And he said to them, 'An enemy has done this!' So the slaves said to him, 'Then do you want us to go and* gather them?'

⁴⁹ Thus it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out and separate the evil from among the righteous

³ And as* he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came up to him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?"

³¹ Now when the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.

²⁰ teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you all the days until the end of the age."

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.

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.

² in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the ruler of the authority of the air, the spirit now working in the sons of disobedience,

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.

⁷ and to you who are being afflicted, rest with us at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with his powerful angels, ⁸ with burning flame* giving punishment to those who do not know God and who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus, ⁹ who will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his strength, ¹⁰ whenever he should come to be glorified on that day by his saints and to be marveled at by all who believe, because our testimony was believed among you,

⁸ and then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will slay with the breath of his mouth, and wipe out by the appearance of his coming, ⁹ whose coming is in accordance with the working of Satan, with all power and signs and lying wonders,

²⁶ since it would have been necessary for him to suffer many times from the foundation of the world, but now he has appeared once at the end of the ages for the removal of sin by the sacrifice of himself.

¹⁴ And Enoch, the seventh from Adam, also prophesied about* these people, saying, "Behold, the Lord came with tens of thousands of his holy ones

¹⁵ And another angel came out of the temple, crying out with a loud voice to the one seated on the cloud, "Send out your sickle and reap, because the hour to reap has come, because the harvest of the earth is ripe!" ¹⁶ And the one seated on the cloud swung his sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped. ¹⁷ And another angel came out of the temple that is in heaven; he also had a sharp sickle. ¹⁸ And another angel who had authority over the fire went out from the altar, and he called out with a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle, saying, "Send out your sharp sickle and harvest the clusters of grapes from the vine of the earth, because its grapes are at their prime!" ¹⁹ And the angel swung his sickle into the earth and harvested the vine of the earth, and threw the grapes* into the great winepress of the wrath of God.

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.

² And he seized the dragon—the ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan—and bound him for a thousand years, ³ and threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it above him, in order that he could not deceive the nations again until the thousand years are completed. After these things it is necessary for him to be released for a short time.

⁷ And when the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison ⁸ and he will go out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to assemble them for battle, _⌊whose number_⌋* is like the sand of the sea. ⁹ And they went up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the fortified camp of the saints and the beloved city, and fire came down from heaven and consumed them. ¹⁰ And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulphur, where the beast and the false prophet also are, and they will be tormented day and night _⌊forever and ever_⌋*.

³ "I will destroy humanity and beast; I will destroy the birds of the sky and the fish of the sea, and the stumbling blocks* with the wicked. And I will cut off humankind from the face of the earth"—a declaration of Yahweh.

⁷ Woe to the world because of causes for stumbling, for it is a necessity that causes for stumbling come; nevertheless, woe to the person through whom the cause for stumbling comes.

³¹ And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect together from the four winds, from one end of heaven* to the other end of it.

²⁷ And then he will send out the angels, and will gather the* elect together from the four winds, from the end of the earth to the end of heaven.

²⁶ Then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets!' ²⁷ And he will reply, saying to you, 'I do not know where you are from! Go away from me, all you _⌊evildoers_⌋!'*

⁸ but to those who act from selfish ambition and who disobey the truth, but who obey unrighteousness, wrath and anger. ⁹ There will be affliction and distress for every _⌊human being_⌋* who does evil, of the Jew first and of the Greek,

¹⁶ on the day when God judges the secret things of people, according to my gospel, through* Christ Jesus.

¹⁷ Now I exhort you, brothers, to look out for those who cause dissensions and temptations contrary to the teaching which you learned, and stay away from them. ¹⁸ For such people do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own stomach, and by smooth speech and flattery they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.

⁶ And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says,
"And let all the angels of God worship him."* ⁷ And concerning the angels he says,
"The one who makes his angels winds, and his servants a flame of fire,"*

¹⁴ Are they not all spirits engaged in special service, sent on assignment for the sake of those who are going to inherit salvation?

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.

¹¹ And I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and of the living creatures and of the elders, and their number was ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands times thousands, ¹² saying with a loud voice,
"Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!"

²⁷ And every unclean thing and one who practices* detestable things and falsehood will never enter into it, except those who are written in the book of life of the Lamb.

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.

⁶ And _⌊whoever_⌋* does not fall down and worship will be thrown _⌊immediately_⌋* into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire."

¹⁵ Now if you are ready so that _⌊when_⌋* you hear the sound of the horn, the flute, the lyre, the trigon, the harp and the drum and all kinds of music, you fall down and you worship the statue that I have made, that will be good. But if you do not worship it, _⌊immediately_⌋* you will be thrown into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire, and _⌊who is the god_⌋* who* will rescue you from my hands?" ¹⁶ Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego answered and said to the king, Nebuchadnezzar, "We have no need on this matter _⌊to present a defense to you_⌋.* ¹⁷ _⌊If it is so_⌋,* our God, whom we serve, is able to rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire. And from your hand, O king, let him rescue us.

²¹ Then these men were bound with their garments, their trousers and their turbans and their other clothing, and they were thrown into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire. ²² _⌊Therefore_⌋* _⌊because_⌋* the word of the king was severe and the furnace was exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed these men who lifted up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.

¹² But the sons of the kingdom will be thrown out into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth!"

⁵⁰ and throw them into the fiery furnace.* In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth!

¹³ Then the king said to the servants, 'Tie him up _⌊hand and foot_⌋* and* throw him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth!'

⁴³ And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off! It is better for you to enter into life crippled than, having two hands, to go into hell—into the unquenchable fire!*

⁴⁵ And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off! It is better for you to enter into life lame than, having two feet, to be thrown into hell!*

⁴⁷ And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out! It is better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye than, having two eyes, to be thrown into hell, ⁴⁸ 'where their worm does not die and the fire is not extinguished.'* ⁴⁹ For everyone will be salted with fire.

²⁸ In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but yourselves thrown outside!

²³ And in Hades he lifted up his eyes as he* was in torment and* saw Abraham from a distance, and Lazarus _⌊at his side_⌋.* ²⁴ And he called out and* said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he could dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am suffering pain in this flame!'

² And he opened the shaft of the abyss, and smoke went up from the shaft like smoke from a great furnace, and the sun and the air were darkened by the smoke from the shaft.

¹⁰ he himself also will drink of the wine of the anger of God that has been mixed full strength in the cup of his wrath, and will be tortured with fire and sulphur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.

¹⁰ And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulphur, where the beast and the false prophet also are, and they will be tormented day and night _⌊forever and ever_⌋*.

¹⁴ And Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death—the lake of fire. ¹⁵ And if anyone was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

⁸ But as for the cowards and unbelievers and detestable persons and murderers and sexually immoral people and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their share is in the lake that burns with fire and sulphur, which is the second death.

³ But the ones having insight will shine like the brightness of the expanse, and the ones providing justice for the many* will be like the stars _⌊forever and ever_⌋.*

³⁶ I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you cared for me, I was in prison and you came to me.'

²⁹ But I tell you, from now on I will never drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in the kingdom of my Father."

³² "Do not be afraid, little flock, because your Father is well pleased to give you the kingdom.

²⁹ and I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred on me,

⁴¹ There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars, for star differs from star in glory. ⁴² Thus also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruptibility. ⁴³ It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. ⁴⁴ It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. ⁴⁵ Thus also it is written, "The first man, Adam, became a living soul";* the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. ⁴⁶ But the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. ⁴⁷ The first man is from the earth, made of earth; the second man is from heaven. ⁴⁸ As the one who is made of earth, so also are those who are made of earth, and as the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly. ⁴⁹ And just as we have borne the image of the one who is made of earth, we will also bear the image of the heavenly. ⁵⁰ But I say this, brothers, that flesh and blood is not able to inherit the kingdom of God, nor can corruption inherit incorruptibility. ⁵¹ Behold, I tell you a mystery: we will not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed, ⁵² in a moment, in the blink of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. ⁵³ For it is necessary for this perishable body to put on incorruptibility, and this mortal body to put on immortality. 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.

⁵⁸ So then, my dear brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, because you* know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

³ And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,
"Behold, the dwelling of God is with humanity, and he will take up residence with them, and they will be his people and God himself will be with them.* ⁴ And he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death will not exist any longer, and* mourning or wailing or pain will not exist any longer. The former things* have passed away." ⁵ And the one seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new!" And he said, "Write, because these words are faithful and true."

²² And I did not see a temple in it, for the Lord God All-Powerful is its temple, and the Lamb. ²³ And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon, that they shine on it, for the glory of God illuminates it, and its lamp is the Lamb.

² in order to incline your ear toward wisdom, then you shall apply your heart to understanding. ³ For if you cry out for understanding,* if you lift* your voice for insight, ⁴ if you seek her like silver and search her out _⌊like treasure_⌋,* ⁵ then you will understand the fear of Yahweh, and the knowledge of God you will find.

¹⁶ Getting wisdom: _⌊how much_⌋* better than gold! And getting understanding: it is chosen _⌊over_⌋* silver.

¹ He who is selfish seeks a craving;* against all sound judgment he shows contempt.

²³ Buy truth and do not sell it, wisdom and instruction and understanding.

¹ "Ho! Everyone thirsty, come to the waters! And whoever has no money, come, buy and eat, and come, buy without money, wine and milk without price!

²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

²¹ Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give the proceeds* to the poor—and you will have treasure in heaven—and come, follow me."

²⁷ Then Peter answered and* said to him, "Behold, we have left everything and followed you. What then will there be for us?"

²⁹ And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife* or children or fields on account of my name will receive a hundred times as much, and will inherit eternal life.

³³ In the same way, therefore, every one of you who does not renounce all his own possessions _⌊cannot be_⌋* my disciple.

²³ But when he* heard these things he became very sad, because he was extremely wealthy. ²⁴ And Jesus took notice of him* and* said, "How _⌊difficult it is for_⌋* those who possess wealth to enter into the kingdom of God!

⁶ And he came down quickly and welcomed him joyfully. ⁷ And when they* saw it,* they all began to complain,* saying, "He has gone in to find lodging with a man who is a sinner!" ⁸ And Zacchaeus stopped and* said to the Lord, "Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I am giving to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone, I am paying it* back four times as much!"

³⁵ Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. The one who comes to me will never be hungry, and the one who believes in me will never be thirsty again.

⁴⁴ And all who believed were in the same place, and had everything in common. ⁴⁵ And they began selling* their* possessions and property, and distributing these things to all, to the degree that anyone had need. ⁴⁶ And every day, devoting themselves to meeting* with one purpose in the temple courts* and breaking bread from house to house, they were eating their food with joy and simplicity of heart, ⁴⁷ praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding every day to the total of those who were being saved.

³² Now the group of those who believed were one heart and soul, and no one said anything of what belonged to him was his own, but all things were theirs in common. ³³ And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was on them all. ³⁴ For there was not even anyone needy among them, because all those who were owners of plots of land or houses were selling them* and* bringing the proceeds of the things that were sold ³⁵ and placing them* at the feet of the apostles. And it was being distributed to each as anyone had need.

⁴ For whatever was written beforehand was written for our instruction, in order that through patient endurance and through the encouragement of the scriptures we may have hope.

⁷ But whatever things were gain to me, these things I have considered loss because of Christ. ⁸ _⌊More than that_⌋*, I even consider all things to be loss because of the surpassing greatness of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for the sake of whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and consider them* dung, in order that I may gain Christ ⁹ and may be found in him, not having my righteousness which is from the law, but which is through faith in Christ,* the righteousness from God on the basis of faith,*

³ in whom all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden.

³ For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ, who is your life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.

¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another with all wisdom, with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God,

³⁴ For you both sympathized with the prisoners and put up with the seizure of your belongings with joy because you* knew that you yourselves had a better and permanent possession.

²⁴ By faith Moses, when he* was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, ²⁵ choosing instead to be mistreated with the people of God rather than to experience the transitory enjoyment of sin, ²⁶ considering _⌊reproach endured for the sake of Christ_⌋* greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.

¹⁸ I advise you to buy from me gold refined by fire, in order that you may become rich, and white clothing, in order that you may be clothed and the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed, and eye salve to smear on your eyes, in order that you may see.

¹⁸ Black corals and crystal will not be mentioned, and wisdom's price is more than red corals.

⁶ Many are saying, "Who will show us something good?" Lift up over* us the light of your face, O Yahweh. ⁷ You have put gladness in my heart more than _⌊when_⌋* their grain and their wine abound.

⁶ Surely a man walks about as a mere _⌊shadow_⌋;* surely in vain they bustle about. He heaps up possessions but does not know who will gather them in. ⁷ And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is for you.

¹³ Happy is _⌊the one_⌋* who finds wisdom, and one who obtains understanding. ¹⁴ For her* income is better than the income of silver, and her revenue than that of gold. ¹⁵ She is more precious than rubies, and all your desires shall not compare with her. ¹⁶ Length of days is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. ¹⁷ Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. ¹⁸ She is a tree of life for those who seize her; those who take hold of her are considered happy.

¹⁰ Take my teaching and not silver; may you choose knowledge rather than choice gold. ¹¹ For wisdom is better than jewels, and all desires shall not compare with her.

¹⁸ Fortune and glory are with me, enduring wealth and righteousness. ¹⁹ My fruit is better than gold,* even refined gold, and my yield than choice silver. ²⁰ In the way of righteousness I walk, in the midst of paths of justice,

² I said of laughter, "It is folly!" and of pleasure, "_⌊What does it accomplish?_⌋"* ³ I also _⌊explored_⌋* _⌊the effects of indulging my flesh_⌋* with wine. My mind guiding me with wisdom, _⌊I investigated_⌋* folly so that I might discover what is good under heaven* for _⌊humans_⌋* to do _⌊during the days of their lives_⌋.* ⁴ _⌊I accomplished great things_⌋.* I built for myself houses; I planted for myself vineyards. ⁵ I made for myself gardens and parks, and I planted all sorts of fruit trees in them. ⁶ I made for myself pools of water from which to irrigate a grove of flourishing trees. ⁷ I acquired male slaves and female slaves, as well as children born in my house. I also had livestock, cattle, and flocks more than anyone who was before me in Jerusalem. ⁸ I also gathered to myself silver and gold—the royal and provincial treasuries. I acquired for myself male and female singers, as well as the delight of _⌊men_⌋,* _⌊voluptuous concubines_⌋.* ⁹ Thus, _⌊I accomplished far more_⌋* than anyone who was before me in Jerusalem—indeed, my wisdom stood by me. ¹⁰ I neither withheld anything from my eyes that they desired, nor did I deprive any pleasure from my heart. My heart rejoiced in all my toil, for this was my reward from all my toil. ¹¹ Yet when I considered* all the effort which I expended and the toil with which I toiled to do, then behold, "Everything is vanity and chasing wind! There is nothing profitable under the sun!" ¹² Next, I considered wisdom, as well as delusion and folly. What can anyone do who will come after the king that has not already been done?

⁸ "Vanity of vanity!" says the Teacher.* "Everything is vanity!"

¹³ Now that all has been heard, here is the final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.

²⁶ For what will a person be benefited if he gains the whole world but forfeits his life? Or what will a person give in exchange for his life?

⁵ But they paid no attention and* went away—this one to his own field, that one to his business.

⁴ if you seek her like silver and search her out _⌊like treasure_⌋,*

⁶ and he will be the security of your times, an abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge.
The fear of Yahweh is his treasure.

⁴⁴ "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, that a man found and* concealed, and in his joy he goes and sells everything that he has and buys that field.

²⁸ Peter began to say to him, "Behold, we have left everything and followed you." ²⁹ Jesus said, "Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields on account of me and on account of the gospel ³⁰ _⌊who will not_⌋* receive a hundred times as much now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and fields, together with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life. ³¹ But many who are first will be last, and the last first."

²⁸ And Peter said, "Behold, we have left _⌊all that is ours_⌋* and* followed you." ²⁹ And he said to them, "Truly I say to you that there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children on account of the kingdom of God, ³⁰ who will not receive many times more in this time and in the age to come, eternal life."

²⁴ But I consider my* life as worth _⌊nothing_⌋* to myself, in order to finish my mission and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

²¹ So then, let no one boast in people. For all things are yours, ²² whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come, all things are yours, ²³ and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's.

¹⁴ But as for me, may it never be that I boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

¹¹ And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. ¹² The one who has the Son has the life; the one who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.

²¹ And the twelve gates are twelve pearls, each one of the gates was from a single pearl. And the street of the city is pure gold, like transparent glass.

¹⁹ And he said to them, "_⌊Follow me_⌋* and I will make you fishers of people."

²⁶ So when the _⌊wheat_⌋* sprouted and yielded grain, then the darnel appeared also. ²⁷ So the slaves of the master of the house came and* said to him, 'Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have darnel?' ²⁸ And he said to them, 'An enemy has done this!' So the slaves said to him, 'Then do you want us to go and* gather them?' ²⁹ But he said, "No, lest when you* gather the darnel you uproot the wheat together with it. ³⁰ Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the season of the harvest I will tell the reapers, "First gather the darnel and tie it into bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my storehouse." '"

⁹ Therefore, go out to the places where the roads exit the city and invite to the wedding celebration as many people as you find.' ¹⁰ And those slaves went out into the roads and* gathered everyone whom they found, both evil and good, and the wedding celebration was filled _⌊with dinner guests_⌋.*

¹ "Then the kingdom of heaven may be compared to ten virgins who took their lamps and* went out to meet the bridegroom. ² Now five of them were foolish and five were wise. ³ For when* the foolish ones took their lamps, they did not take olive oil with them. ⁴ But the wise ones took olive oil in flasks with their lamps.

¹⁷ And Jesus said to them, "_⌊Follow_⌋* me and I will make you become fishers of people."

¹⁰ and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were business partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid! From now on you will be catching people!"

²¹ And the slave came and* reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and* said to his slave, 'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the city and bring in here the poor and crippled and blind and lame!' ²² And the slave said, 'Sir, what you ordered has been done, and there is still room.' ²³ And the master said to the slave, 'Go out into the highways and hedges and press them* to come in, so that my house will be filled!

¹ Now a certain man _⌊named_⌋* Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, ² and he kept back for himself some of the proceeds, and his* wife was aware of it.* And he brought a certain part and* placed it* at the feet of the apostles. ³ But Peter said, "Ananias, for what reason has Satan filled your heart, that you lied to the Holy Spirit and kept back for yourself some of the proceeds of the piece of land? ⁴ When it* remained to you, did it not remain yours? And when it* was sold, was it at your disposal? How is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to people, but to God!" ⁵ And when* Ananias heard these words, he fell down and* died. And great fear came on all those who heard about it.* ⁶ So the young men stood up, wrapped him up, and carried him* out and* buried him.* ⁷ And it happened that there was an interval of about three hours, and his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. ⁸ And Peter said to her, "Tell me whether you both* were paid this much for the piece of land." And she said, "Yes, this much." ⁹ So Peter said to her, "How is it that it was agreed by you two* to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out!" ¹⁰ And immediately she fell down at his feet and died. So when* the young men came in, they found her dead, and carried her* out and* buried her* with her husband.

¹⁸ Now Simon, when he* saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, offered them money, ¹⁹ saying, "Give to me also this power, so that whomever I place my* hands on may receive the Holy Spirit!" ²⁰ But Peter said to him, "May your silver _⌊be destroyed along with you_⌋,* because you thought _⌊you could acquire_⌋* the gift of God by means of money! ²¹ _⌊You have no_⌋* part or share in this matter, because your heart is not right before God. ²² Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and ask the Lord if perhaps the intent of your heart may be forgiven you!"

³⁰ And from among you yourselves men will arise, speaking _⌊perversions of the truth_⌋* in order to draw away the disciples after them.

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. ⁶ Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole batch of dough?

¹ For I do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all went through the sea, ² and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, ³ and all ate the same spiritual food, ⁴ and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ. ⁵ But God was not pleased with the majority of them, for they were struck down in the desert. ⁶ Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we should not be desirers of evil things, just as those also desired them, ⁷ and not become idolaters, as some of them did, just as it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink, and stood up to play,"* ⁸ nor commit sexual immorality, as some of them committed sexual immorality, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day, ⁹ nor put Christ to the test, as some of them tested him, and were destroyed by snakes, ¹⁰ nor grumble, just as some of them grumbled, and were destroyed by the destroyer. ¹¹ Now these things happened to those people as an example, but are written for our instruction, on whom the ends of the ages have come. ¹² Therefore, the one who thinks that he stands must watch out lest he fall.

¹⁹ For indeed it is necessary that there be factions among you, in order that those who are approved may become evident among you.

²⁶ I have been on journeys many times, in dangers from rivers, in dangers from robbers, in dangers from my own people, in dangers from the Gentiles, in dangers in the city, in dangers in the wilderness, in dangers at sea, in dangers because of false brothers,

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.

² for people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, arrogant, slanderers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, ³ hardhearted, irreconcilable, slanderous, without self-control, savage, with no interest for what is good, ⁴ traitors, reckless, conceited, loving pleasure rather than loving God, ⁵ maintaining a form of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid these people.

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.

⁹ holding fast to the faithful message according to the teaching, in order that he may be able both to exhort with sound instruction and to reprove those who speak against it. ¹⁰ For there are many rebellious people, idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, 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.

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.

¹³ being harmed as the wages of unrighteousness. Considering reveling in the daytime a pleasure, they are stains and blemishes, carousing in their deceitful pleasures when they* feast together with you, ¹⁴ having eyes full of desire for an adulteress and unceasing from sin, enticing unstable persons, and* having hearts trained for greediness. Accursed children! ¹⁵ By* leaving the straight path, they have gone astray, because they* followed the way of Balaam the son of Bosor,* who loved the wages of unrighteousness, ¹⁶ but received a rebuke for his own lawlessness: a speechless donkey, speaking with a human voice, restrained _⌊the prophet's madness_⌋*. ¹⁷ These people are waterless springs and mists driven by a hurricane, for whom the gloom of darkness has been reserved. ¹⁸ _⌊For by speaking high-sounding but empty words_⌋*, they entice with desires of the flesh and with licentiousness those who are scarcely escaping from those who live in error, ¹⁹ promising them freedom although they* themselves are slaves of depravity. For to whatever someone succumbs, by this he is also* enslaved. ²⁰ For if, after they* have escaped from the defilements of the world through the knowledge of the Lord* and Savior Jesus Christ, and they are again entangled in these things and succumb to them, the last state has become worse for them than the first. ²¹ For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than having known it, to turn back from the holy commandment that had been delivered to them. ²² The statement of the true proverb has happened to them, "A dog returns to its own vomit,"* and "A sow, after* washing herself, returns* to wallowing in the mud."*

¹⁸ Children, it is the last hour, and just as you have heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have arisen, by which we know that it is the last hour. ¹⁹ They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us. But they went out*, in order that it might be shown that all of them are not of us.

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. ² By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses Jesus Christ* has come in the flesh is from God, ³ and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God, and this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world. ⁴ You are from God, little children, and have conquered them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. ⁵ They are from the world; _⌊therefore_⌋* they speak from the world and the world listens to them. ⁶ We are from God. The one who knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of deceit.

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. ⁵ Now I want to remind you, although you know everything once and for all,* that Jesus,* having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, the second time destroyed those who did not believe.

¹ "And to the angel of the church in Sardis write:
"This is what the one who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars says: 'I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, and you are dead.

¹⁵ 'I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were cold or hot! ¹⁶ Thus, because you are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold, I am about to vomit you out of my mouth! ¹⁷ Because you are saying, "I am rich, and have become rich, and I have need of nothing," and you do not know that you are wretched and pitiable and poor and blind and naked,

³⁰ Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the season of the harvest I will tell the reapers, "First gather the darnel and tie it into bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my storehouse." '"

⁵ And when* the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.* ⁶ But in the middle of the night there was a shout, 'Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!' ⁷ Then all those virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. ⁸ And the foolish ones said to the wise ones, 'Give us some of your olive oil, because our lamps are going out!' ⁹ But the wise ones answered saying, "Certainly there will never be enough for us and for you! Go instead to those who sell olive oil* and buy some* for yourselves.' ¹⁰ But while* they had gone away to buy it* the bridegroom arrived, and those who were ready went inside with him to the wedding celebration, and the door was shut. ¹¹ And later the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, lord, open the door* for us!' ¹² But he answered and* said, 'Truly I say to you, I do not know you!'

¹⁹ Now after a long time, the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. ²⁰ And the one who had received the five talents came up and* brought five more talents, saying, 'Master, you handed over to me five talents. See, I have gained five more talents!' ²¹ His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge over many things. Enter into the joy of your master!' ²² And the one who had the two talents also came up and* said, 'Master, you handed over to me two talents. See, I have gained two talents more!' ²³ His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge over many things. Enter into the joy of your master!' ²⁴ And the one who had received the one talent came up also and* said, 'Master, because I* knew you, that you are a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering from where you did not scatter seed.* ²⁵ And because I* was afraid, I went away and* hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours!' ²⁶ But his master answered and* said to him, 'Evil and lazy slave! You knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather from where I did not scatter seed.* ²⁷ Then you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and when I* returned I would have gotten back what was mine with interest! ²⁸ Therefore take the talent from him and give it* to the one who has the ten talents. ²⁹ For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. ³⁰ And throw the worthless slave into the outer darkness—in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth!' ³¹ Now when the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. ³² And all the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate them from one another like a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. ³³ And he will place the sheep on his right and the goats on the left.

¹² And I saw the dead—the great and the small—standing before the throne, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the book of life, and the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to their deeds. ¹³ And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and each one was judged according to their deeds.

⁴² and throw them into the fiery furnace.* In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth!

⁵⁰ the master of that slave will come on a day that he does not expect and at an hour that he does not know, ⁵¹ and will cut him in two and assign his place with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth!

²⁷ And he will reply, saying to you, 'I do not know where you are from! Go away from me, all you _⌊evildoers_⌋!'* ²⁸ In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but yourselves thrown outside!

¹⁰ he himself also will drink of the wine of the anger of God that has been mixed full strength in the cup of his wrath, and will be tortured with fire and sulphur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. ¹¹ And the smoke of their torture went up _⌊forever and ever_⌋*, and those who worshiped the beast and his image did not have rest day and night, _⌊along with anyone who received_⌋* the mark of his name.

¹⁰ And the fifth poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became darkened, and they began chewing their tongues because of the pain. ¹¹ And they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pain and because of their sores, and they did not repent of their deeds.

¹⁷ Do you not understand that everything that enters into the mouth goes into the stomach and is evacuated into the latrine?

¹¹ How do you not understand that I did not speak to you about bread? But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees!"

¹⁵ "So when you see the abomination of desolation* spoken about by the prophet Daniel standing in the holy place" (let the one who reads understand),

¹⁸ And he said to them, "So are you also without understanding? Do you not understand that everything that is outside that goes into a person is not able to defile him?

⁴⁴ "_⌊You take these words to heart_⌋,* for the Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men." ⁴⁵ But they did not understand this statement, and it was concealed from them so that they could not understand it. And they were afraid to ask him about this statement.

³⁰ So Philip ran up to it* and* heard him reading aloud Isaiah the prophet and said, "So then, do you understand what you are reading?" ³¹ And he said, "So how could I, unless someone will guide me?" And he invited Philip to come up and* sit with him.

⁶ this Ezra went up from Babylonia. He was a scribe skilled in the law of Moses, which Yahweh the God of Israel gave. The king granted him all his requests, for the hand of Yahweh was upon him.

¹⁰ For Ezra had set his heart to seek the law of Yahweh, to do it, and to teach the regulations and judgments in Israel.

²¹ "I, even I, King Artaxerxes, issue forth a decree to all the treasurers who are in the province Beyond the River. Whatever the priest Ezra, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, may ask of you, let it be done with diligence,

²⁰ Choice silver is a tongue of righteousness, a heart* of wickedness is _⌊of little worth_⌋.* ²¹ Lips of righteousness feed many, but fools _⌊die for lack of sense_⌋.*

³⁰ The fruit of righteousness is a tree of life, and he who captures souls* is wise.

⁷ The lips of the wise will spread knowledge, but the heart* of fools, not so.

²⁰ He who is attentive to a matter will find goodness, and he who trusts in Yahweh, his own happiness. ²¹ The wise of heart* is called perceptive, but he who is pleasant of lips will increase persuasiveness. ²² A fountain of life is wisdom for its owner,* but the instruction* of fools is folly. ²³ The heart* of the wise will make his mouth judicious, and upon his lips, it* will add persuasiveness. ²⁴ Pleasant sayings are a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and healing to the bones.

⁴ Deep waters are words of the mouth of a man; a gushing stream is a fountain of wisdom.

¹⁷ Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise; you shall apply your heart* to my teaching. ¹⁸ For it is pleasant if you guard them _⌊within you_⌋;* together they will be ready upon your lips.

⁹ The Teacher* was full of wisdom, and he taught the people with knowledge. He carefully considered many proverbs and carefully arranged them. ¹⁰ The Teacher* sought to find delightful words,* and he wrote* what is upright—truthful words. ¹¹ The words of the wise are like cattle goads; the collections of the sages are like pricks inflicted by one shepherd.*

¹³ The mandrakes give off their fragrance, and _⌊over our doorway is every kind of delicious fruit_⌋;* both _⌊fresh and dried fruit I have stored up_⌋* for you, O my beloved.

³⁵ The good person from his* good treasury brings out good things, and the evil person from his* evil treasury brings out evil things.

³⁴ For this reason, behold, I am sending to you prophets and wise men and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will flog in your synagogues and will pursue from town to town,

⁴⁹ For this reason also the wisdom of God said, 'I will send to them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and persecute,'