Matthew 23 Cross References - NHEB

¹ Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, ² saying, "Upon the seat of Moses the Pharisees and scribes sit. ³ All which they will say unto you, observe and do; but their works do not do, because they say, and do not do. ⁴ For they bind heavy and hard to bear burdens, and lay them on people's shoulders; but they themselves will not lift a finger to help them. ⁵ But all their works they do to be seen by others. They make their tefillin broad and enlarge the fringe of their garments, ⁶ and love the place of honor at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, ⁷ the salutations in the marketplaces, and to be called 'Rabbi' by people. ⁸ But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' for one is your Teacher, and all of you are brothers. ⁹ Call no man on the earth your father, for one is your Father, he who is in heaven. ¹⁰ Neither be called masters, for one is your master, the Christ. ¹¹ But he who is greatest among you will be your servant. ¹² Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. ¹³ "But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites. For you devour the houses of widows, and for show make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation. ¹⁴ "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites. For you shut up the kingdom of heaven in front of people; for you do not enter in yourselves, neither do you allow those who are entering in to enter. ¹⁵ "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites. For you travel around by sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much of a son of hell as yourselves. ¹⁶ "Woe to you, you blind guides, who say, 'Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obligated.' ¹⁷ You blind fools. For which is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctified the gold? ¹⁸ 'Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obligated?' ¹⁹ You blind people. For which is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifies the gift? ²⁰ He therefore who swears by the altar, swears by it, and by everything on it. ²¹ He who swears by the temple, swears by it, and by him who dwells in it. ²² He who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God, and by him who sits on it. ²³ "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites. For you tithe mint, dill, and cumin, and have left undone the weightier matters of the Law: justice, mercy, and faith. But you ought to have done these, and not to have left the other undone. ²⁴ You blind guides, who strain out a gnat, and swallow a camel. ²⁵ "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites. For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but within they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. ²⁶ You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and the plate, so that the outside may become clean also. ²⁷ "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites. For you are like whitened tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but inwardly are full of dead people's bones, and of all uncleanness. ²⁸ Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to people, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. ²⁹ "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites. For you build the tombs of the prophets, and decorate the tombs of the righteous, ³⁰ and say, 'If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.' ³¹ Therefore you testify to yourselves that you are children of those who killed the prophets. ³² Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers. ³³ You serpents, you offspring of vipers, how will you escape the judgment of hell? ³⁴ Therefore, look, I send to you prophets, wise people, and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify; and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city; ³⁵ that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berechiah, whom you killed between the sanctuary and the altar. ³⁶ Truly I tell you, all these things will come upon this generation. ³⁷ "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets, and stones those who are sent to her. How often I would have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you would not. ³⁸ Look, your house is abandoned to you. ³⁹ For I tell you, you will not see me from now on, until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'"

¹⁰ He summoned the crowd, and said to them, "Hear, and understand. ¹¹ That which enters into the mouth does not defile the person; but that which proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the person." ¹² Then the disciples came, and said to him, "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended, when they heard this saying?" ¹³ But he answered, "Every plant which my heavenly Father did not plant will be uprooted. ¹⁴ Leave them alone. They are blind guides of the blind. If the blind guide the blind, both will fall into a pit." ¹⁵ And answering, Peter said to him, "Explain this parable to us." ¹⁶ So he said, "Do you also still not understand? ¹⁷ Do you not understand that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the belly, and then out of the body? ¹⁸ But the things which proceed out of the mouth come out of the heart, and they defile the person. ¹⁹ For out of the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual sins, thefts, false testimony, and blasphemies. ²⁰ These are the things which defile the person; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the person."

¹⁴ And he called the crowd to himself again, and said to them, "Hear me, all of you, and understand.

³⁸ In his teaching he said to them, "Beware of the scribes, who like to walk in long robes, and to get greetings in the marketplaces, ³⁹ and the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts:

¹ Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered together, so much so that they trampled on each other, he began to tell his disciples first of all, "Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

⁵⁷ Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right?

⁴⁵ In the hearing of all the people, he said to his disciples, ⁴⁶ "Beware of the scribes, who like to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts;

⁶ this Ezra went up from Babylon: and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD, the God of Israel, had given; and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God on him.

²⁵ You, Ezra, after the wisdom of your God who is in your hand, appoint magistrates and judges, who may judge all the people who are beyond the River, all such as know the laws of your God; and teach him who doesn't know them.

⁴ Ezra the scribe stood on a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Uriah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchijah, and Hashum, and Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam. ⁵ Ezra opened the scroll in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up: ⁶ and Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. All the people answered, "Amen, Amen," with the lifting up of their hands. They bowed their heads, and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground. ⁷ Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, explained the law to the people, and the people stayed in their place. ⁸ They read in the scroll, in the law of God, distinctly; and they gave the sense, so that they understood the reading.

⁷ For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth; for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.

³⁸ In his teaching he said to them, "Beware of the scribes, who like to walk in long robes, and to get greetings in the marketplaces,

⁴⁶ "Beware of the scribes, who like to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts;

¹⁹ Listen now to my voice. I will give you counsel, and God be with you. You represent the people before God, and bring the causes to God. ²⁰ You shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and shall show them the way in which they must walk, and the work that they must do.

²³ If you will do this thing, and God commands you so, then you will be able to endure, and all of these people also will go to their place in peace."

⁵ Look, I have taught you statutes and ordinances, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that you should do so in the midst of the land where you go in to possess it.

²⁷ Go near, and hear all that the LORD our God shall say to you, and tell us all that the LORD our God speaks to you; and we will hear it, and do it."

⁹ and you shall come to the priests the Levites, and to the judge who shall be in those days: and you shall inquire; and they shall show you the sentence of judgment. ¹⁰ You shall do according to the tenor of the sentence which they shall show you from that place which the LORD shall choose; and you shall observe to do according to all that they shall teach you: ¹¹ according to the tenor of the law which they shall teach you, and according to the judgment which they shall tell you, you shall do; you shall not turn aside from the sentence which they shall show you, to the right hand, nor to the left. ¹² The man who does presumptuously, in not listening to the priest who stands to minister there before the LORD your God, or to the judge, even that man shall die: and you shall put away the evil from Israel.

¹² Also in Judah came the hand of God to give them one heart, to do the commandment of the king and of the leaders by the word of the LORD.

¹⁶ But to the wicked God says, "What right do you have to declare my statutes, that you have taken my covenant on your lips, ¹⁷ seeing you hate instruction, and throw my words behind you? ¹⁸ When you saw a thief, you consented with him, and have participated with adulterers. ¹⁹ "You give your mouth to evil. Your tongue frames deceit. ²⁰ You sit and speak against your brother. You slander your own mother's son.

² "Why do your disciples disobey the Tradition of the Elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread." ³ And he answered them, "Why do you also disobey the commandment of God because of your tradition? ⁴ For God said, 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him be put to death.' ⁵ But you say, 'Whoever may tell his father or his mother, "Whatever help you might otherwise have gotten from me is a gift devoted to God," ⁶ he is not to honor his father or his mother.' You have made the word of God void because of your tradition. ⁷ You hypocrites. Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying, ⁸ 'These people honor me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. ⁹ And in vain do they worship me, teaching instructions that are the commandments of humans.'"

³⁰ And he came to the other, and said the same thing. And he answered and said, 'I go, sir,' but he did not go.

²⁹ But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than people.

¹⁹ and are confident that you yourself are a guide of the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, ²⁰ a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth. ²¹ You therefore who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? ²² You who say that one should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who detest idols, do you rob temples? ²³ You who boast in the law, do you, by disobeying the law, dishonor God? ²⁴ For because of you the name of God is blasphemed among the nations, just as it is written.

¹ Let every person be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist are appointed by God.

⁵ holding a form of godliness, but having denied the power thereof. Turn away from these, also.

¹⁶ They profess that they know God, but by their works they deny him, being abominable, disobedient, and unfit for any good work.

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

²³ "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites. For you tithe mint, dill, and cumin, and have left undone the weightier matters of the Law: justice, mercy, and faith. But you ought to have done these, and not to have left the other undone.

⁴⁶ He said, "Woe to you Law scholars also. For you load people with burdens that are difficult to carry, and you yourselves won't even lift one finger to help carry those burdens.

¹⁰ Now therefore why do you tempt God, that you should put a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

²⁸ For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay no greater burden on you than these necessary things:

¹³ For even they who receive circumcision do not keep the law themselves, but they desire to have you circumcised, that they may boast in your flesh.

²⁴ But to you I say, to the rest who are in Thyatira, as many as do not have this teaching, who do not know what some call 'the deep things of Satan,' to you I say, I am not putting any other burden on you.

⁹ It shall be for a sign to you on your hand, and for a memorial between your eyes, that the law of the LORD may be in your mouth; for with a strong hand the LORD has brought you out of Egypt.

³⁸ "Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them that they should make themselves fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put on the fringe of each border a cord of blue: ³⁹ and it shall be to you for a fringe, that you may look on it, and remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them; and that you not follow after your own heart and your own eyes, after which you use to play the prostitute;

⁸ You shall bind them for a sign on your hand, and they shall be for symbols between your eyes.

¹⁸ Therefore you shall lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul; and you shall bind them for a sign on your hand, and they shall be for symbols between your eyes.

¹² You shall make yourselves fringes on the four borders of your cloak, with which you cover yourself.

¹⁶ He said, "Come with me, and see my zeal for the LORD." So he made him ride in his chariot.

³ Do not let kindness and truth forsake you. Bind them around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart.

²¹ Bind them continually on your heart. Tie them around your neck. ²² When you walk, it will lead you. When you sleep, it will watch over you. When you awake, it will talk with you. ²³ For the commandment is a lamp, and the Law is light. Reproofs of instruction are the way of life,

¹ "Be careful that you do not do your righteousness before people, to be seen by them, or else you have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. ² Therefore when you practice charitable giving, do not sound a trumpet before yourself, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may get glory from people. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. ³ But when you practice charitable giving, do not let your left hand know what your right hand does, ⁴ so that your charitable giving may be in secret, then your Father who sees in secret will reward you. ⁵ "And when you pray, you are not to be as the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I tell you, they have received their reward. ⁶ But you, when you pray, enter into your inner chamber, and having shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. ⁷ And in praying, do not use vain repetitions, as the unbelievers do; for they think that they will be heard for their much speaking. ⁸ Therefore do not be like them, for your Father knows what things you need, before you ask him. ⁹ Therefore, you should pray this way: 'Our Father in heaven, holy be your name. ¹⁰ Let your Kingdom come. Let your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. ¹¹ Give us today our daily bread. ¹² And forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors. ¹³ And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.' ¹⁴ "For if you forgive people their wrongdoing, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. ¹⁵ But if you do not forgive people, neither will your Father forgive your wrongdoing. ¹⁶ "Moreover when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with sad faces. For they disfigure their faces, that they may be seen by people to be fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward.

²⁰ And look, a woman who had an issue of blood for twelve years came behind him, and touched the fringe of his garment;

¹⁵ He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of people, but God knows your hearts. For that which is exalted among people is an abomination in the sight of God.

⁴⁷ who devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers: these will receive greater condemnation."

⁴⁴ How can you believe, who receive glory from one another, and you do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?

¹⁸ He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory, but he who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.

⁴³ for they loved praise from people more than praise from God.

¹⁵ Some indeed proclaim Christ even out of envy and strife, and some also out of good will.

³ doing nothing through rivalry or through conceit, but in humility, each counting others better than himself; ⁴ he who opposes and exalts himself against all that is called God or that is worshiped; so that he sits in the temple of God, setting himself up as God.

⁶ Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king, or claim a place among great men; ⁷ for it is better that it be said to you, "Come up here," than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince, whom your eyes have seen.

²¹ He said to her, "What do you want?" She said to him, "Command that these, my two sons, may sit, one on your right hand, and one on your left hand, in your Kingdom."

⁴³ Woe to you Pharisees. For you love the best seats in the synagogues, and the greetings in the marketplaces. ⁴⁴ Woe to you. For you are like hidden graves, and the people who walk over them do not know it." ⁴⁵ One of the Law scholars answered him, "Teacher, in saying this you insult us also." ⁴⁶ He said, "Woe to you Law scholars also. For you load people with burdens that are difficult to carry, and you yourselves won't even lift one finger to help carry those burdens. ⁴⁷ Woe to you. For you build the tombs of the prophets, and your fathers killed them. ⁴⁸ So you are witnesses and consent to the works of your fathers. For they killed them, and you build their tombs. ⁴⁹ Therefore also the wisdom of God said, 'I will send to them prophets and apostles; and some of them they will kill and persecute, ⁵⁰ that the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation; ⁵¹ from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary.' Yes, I tell you, it will be required of this generation. ⁵² Woe to you Law scholars. For you took away the key of knowledge. You did not enter in yourselves, and those who were entering in, you hindered." ⁵³ And when he left there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to oppose him bitterly, and to provoke him to speak about many things; ⁵⁴ lying in wait for him, seeking to catch him in something he might say, that they might accuse him.

⁷ He spoke a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the best seats, and said to them, ⁸ "When you are invited by anyone to a marriage feast, do not sit in the best seat, since perhaps someone more honorable than you might be invited by him, ⁹ and he who invited both of you would come and tell you, 'Make room for this person.' Then you would begin, with shame, to take the lowest place. ¹⁰ But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes, he may tell you, 'Friend, move up higher.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with you. ¹¹ For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted."

⁴⁶ "Beware of the scribes, who like to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts; ⁴⁷ who devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers: these will receive greater condemnation."

¹⁰ In love of the brothers be tenderly affectionate one to another; outdo one another in showing honor;

¹ My brothers, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ of glory with partiality. ² For if someone with a gold ring, in fine clothing, comes into your synagogue, and a poor person in filthy clothing also comes in; ³ and you pay special attention to the one who wears the fine clothing, and say, "Sit here in a good place;" but you tell the poor person, "Stand there," or "Sit by my footstool." ⁴ Have you not discriminated among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?

⁹ I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not accept what we say.

⁸ But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' for one is your Teacher, and all of you are brothers.

⁵ Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."

⁵¹ Jesus asked him, "What do you want me to do for you?" The blind man said to him, "Rabboni, that I may see again."

³⁸ And Jesus turned and saw them following, and said to them, "What are you looking for?" They said to him, "Rabbi" (which translated means Teacher), "where are you staying?"

⁴⁹ Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God. You are King of Israel."

² This man came to him at night, and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do, unless God is with him."

²⁶ And they came to John, and said to him, "Rabbi, he who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified, look, he is baptizing, and everyone is coming to him."

²⁵ When they found him on the other side of the sea, they asked him, "Rabbi, when did you come here?"

¹⁶ Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned and said to him in Hebrew, "Rabboni." which is to say, "Teacher."

²⁵ It is enough for the disciple that he be like his teacher, and the servant like his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more those of his household.

⁵ While he was still speaking, look, a bright cloud overshadowed them. And look, a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to him."

¹⁰ Neither be called masters, for one is your master, the Christ.

⁴⁹ Immediately he came to Jesus, and said, "Greetings, Rabbi." and kissed him.

³² but I prayed for you, that your faith would not fail. You, when once you have turned again, establish your brothers."

¹³ You call me, 'Teacher' and 'Lord.' You say so correctly, for so I am. ¹⁴ If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.

⁹ For to this end Christ died, and lived again, that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living. ¹⁰ But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.

¹² Now I mean this, that each one of you says, "I follow Paul," "I follow Apollos," "I follow Cephas," and, "I follow Christ." ¹³ Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized into the name of Paul?

³ for you are still fleshly. For insofar as there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and living by human standards? ⁴ For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not merely human? ⁵ What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, and each as the Lord gave to him.

²⁴ Not that we rule over your faith, but are fellow workers with you for your joy. For you stand firm in faith.

⁵ For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your slaves because of Jesus.

¹⁵ from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,

¹ Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our brother, ² to the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

¹ Let not many of you be teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive heavier judgment.

³ neither as lording it over those entrusted to you, but making yourselves examples to the flock.

⁹ I John, your brother and fellow-partner with you in persecution, Kingdom, and patient endurance in Jesus, was on the island that is called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.

¹⁰ I fell down before his feet to worship him. He said to me, "Look. Do not do it. I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers who hold the testimony of Jesus. Worship God, for the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy."

⁹ He said to me, "See you do not do it. I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers, the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God."

¹² Elisha saw it, and he cried, "My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen." He saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and tore them in two pieces.

²¹ The king of Israel said to Elisha, when he saw them, "My father, shall I strike them? Shall I strike them?"

¹⁴ Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness of which he died: and Joash the king of Israel came down to him, and wept over him, and said, "My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen."

²¹ Please do not let me respect any man's person, neither will I give flattering titles to any man. ²² For I do not know how to give flattering titles; or else my Maker would soon take me away.

⁶ "A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If I am a father, then where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is the respect due me? says the LORD of hosts to you, priests, who despise my name. You say, 'How have we despised your name?'

⁸ Therefore do not be like them, for your Father knows what things you need, before you ask him. ⁹ Therefore, you should pray this way: 'Our Father in heaven, holy be your name.

³² For the unbelievers seek after all these things, for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

¹¹ If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him.

¹ "Brothers and fathers, listen to the defense which I now make to you."

¹⁴ For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are children of God. ¹⁵ For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, "Abba. Father." ¹⁶ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God; ¹⁷ and if children, then heirs; heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ; if indeed we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified with him.

¹⁵ For though you have ten thousand tutors in Christ, yet not many fathers. For in Christ Jesus, I became your father through the Good News.

¹⁸ "And I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters," says the Lord of hosts.

¹ Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father; the younger men as brothers; ² the older women as mothers; the younger as sisters, in all purity.

⁹ Furthermore, we had earthly fathers who disciplined us, and we paid them respect. Should we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live?

¹ See what kind of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God; and we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know him.

²⁶ It will not be so among you, but whoever desires to become great among you must be your servant. ²⁷ And whoever desires to be first among you must be your slave,

⁴³ But it will not be so among you, but whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant. ⁴⁴ And whoever wants to be first among you must be slave of all.

²⁶ But not so with you. But one who is the greater among you, let him become as the younger, and one who is governing, as one who serves. ²⁷ For who is greater, one who sits at the table, or one who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? But I am in the midst of you as one who serves.

¹⁴ If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. ¹⁵ For I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.

¹⁹ For though I was free from all, I brought myself under bondage to all, that I might gain the more.

²³ Are they servants of Christ? (I speak as one beside himself) I am more so; in labors more abundantly, in prisons more abundantly, in stripes above measure, in deaths often.

¹³ For you, brothers, were called for freedom. Only do not use your freedom for gain to the flesh, but through love be servants to one another.

⁵ Have this in your mind, which was also in Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, ⁷ but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men. ⁸ And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, yes, the death of the cross.

²⁹ When they cast down, you shall say, 'be lifted up.' And he will save the humble.

⁶ For though the LORD is high, yet he looks after the lowly; but the proud, he knows from afar.

³³ The fear of the LORD teaches wisdom. Before honor is humility.

¹⁸ Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. ¹⁹ It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor, than to divide the plunder with the proud.

²³ A man's pride brings him low, but one of lowly spirit gains honor.

¹⁵ For thus says the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also who is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite.

³⁷ Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven; for all his works are truth, and his ways justice; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble."

³ "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

⁴ Whoever therefore humbles himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

⁵¹ He has shown strength with his arm. He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. ⁵² He has put down princes from their thrones. And has exalted the lowly.

¹¹ For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted."

¹⁴ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."

⁶ But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

⁵ Likewise, you younger ones, be subject to the elder. Yes, all of you clothe yourselves with humility, towards one another; for God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

¹⁴ Therefore the LORD will cut off from Israel head and tail, palm branch and reed, in one day. ¹⁵ The elder and the honorable man is the head, and the prophet who teaches lies is the tail.

¹⁴ The sinners in Zion are afraid. Trembling has seized the godless ones. Who among us can live with the devouring fire? Who among us can live with everlasting burning?

¹⁷ Woe to the worthless shepherd who leaves the flock. The sword will be on his arm, and on his right eye. His arm will be completely withered, and his right eye will be totally blinded."

³¹ Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Truly I tell you that the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering into the Kingdom of God before you. ³² For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. When you saw it, you did not even repent afterward, that you might believe him.

¹³ "But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites. For you devour the houses of widows, and for show make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation. ¹⁴ "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites. For you shut up the kingdom of heaven in front of people; for you do not enter in yourselves, neither do you allow those who are entering in to enter. ¹⁵ "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites. For you travel around by sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much of a son of hell as yourselves.

²⁵ "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites. For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but within they are full of extortion and self-indulgence.

²⁷ "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites. For you are like whitened tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but inwardly are full of dead people's bones, and of all uncleanness.

²⁹ "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites. For you build the tombs of the prophets, and decorate the tombs of the righteous,

⁴³ Woe to you Pharisees. For you love the best seats in the synagogues, and the greetings in the marketplaces. ⁴⁴ Woe to you. For you are like hidden graves, and the people who walk over them do not know it."

⁵² Woe to you Law scholars. For you took away the key of knowledge. You did not enter in yourselves, and those who were entering in, you hindered."

⁴⁶ The officers answered, "No man ever spoke like this man." ⁴⁷ The Pharisees therefore answered them, "You are not also led astray, are you? ⁴⁸ Have any of the rulers believed in him, or of the Pharisees? ⁴⁹ But this crowd that does not know the Law is accursed." ⁵⁰ Nicodemus (he who came to him before, being one of them) said to them, ⁵¹ "Does our Law judge a man, unless it first hears from him personally and knows what he does?" ⁵² They answered him, "Are you also from Galilee? Search, and see that no prophet comes from Galilee."

²² His parents said these things because they feared the Jewish leaders; for the Jewish leaders had already agreed that if anyone would confess him as the Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue.

²⁴ So they called the man who was blind a second time, and said to him, "Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner."

³⁴ They answered him, "You were altogether born in sins, and do you teach us?" They threw him out.

¹⁷ But so this does not spread any further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they do not speak to anyone in this name." ¹⁸ They called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.

²⁸ saying, "Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this man's blood on us."

⁴⁰ They agreed with him. Summoning the apostles, they beat them and commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

¹ Saul was consenting to his death. A great persecution arose against the church which was in Jerusalem in that day. They were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except for the apostles.

⁸ But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn aside the proconsul from the faith.

¹⁵ who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and did not please God, and are hostile to all people; ¹⁶ forbidding us to speak to those who are not Jewish that they may be saved; to fill up their sins always. But wrath has come on them to the uttermost.

⁸ Even as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so do these also oppose the truth; people corrupted in mind, disapproved concerning the faith.

¹⁵ of whom you also must beware; for he greatly opposed our words.

²² "You shall not take advantage of any widow or fatherless child. ²³ If you take advantage of them at all, and they cry at all to me, I will surely hear their cry; ²⁴ and my wrath will grow hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.

⁹ You have sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.

¹⁶ "If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail, ¹⁷ or have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless has not eaten of it ¹⁸ (no, from my youth he grew up with me as with a father, her have I guided from my mother's womb); ¹⁹ if I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or that the needy had no covering; ²⁰ if his heart hasn't blessed me, if he hasn't been warmed with my sheep's fleece;

²⁴ But I tell you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom, on the day of judgment, than for you."

³³ You serpents, you offspring of vipers, how will you escape the judgment of hell? ³⁴ Therefore, look, I send to you prophets, wise people, and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify; and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city; ³⁵ that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berechiah, whom you killed between the sanctuary and the altar. ³⁶ Truly I tell you, all these things will come upon this generation.

⁴⁰ those who devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation."

⁴⁸ but he who did not know, and did things worthy of stripes, will be beaten with few stripes. To whomever much is given, of him will much be required; and to whom much was entrusted, of him more will be asked.

⁴⁷ who devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers: these will receive greater condemnation."

⁶ For among them are those who crawl into households and take captive weak-willed women weighed down with sins, led away by various passions and pleasures,

¹⁰ For there are many rebellious people, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, ¹¹ whose mouths must be silenced; who are upsetting whole families, teaching things which they should not, for the sake of dishonest gain.

³ In covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words: whose sentence now from of old does not linger, and their destruction is not asleep.

¹⁴ having eyes full of adultery, and insatiable for sin, enticing unstable people, having a heart trained in greed. Children under a curse. ¹⁵ Forsaking the right way they went astray, having followed the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness.

¹⁷ In every province, and in every city, wherever the king's commandment and his decree came, the Jews had gladness, joy, a feast, and a good day. Many from among the peoples of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews was fallen on them.

²² But I tell you, that everyone who is angry with his brother without a cause will be liable to judgment; and whoever will say to his brother, 'Raqa,' will be in danger of the council; and whoever will say, 'You fool,' will be in danger of the fire of hell.

²⁹ And if your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away from you.[note: Hyperbole, or Semitic idiom, meaning to stop doing a sin] For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.

⁴⁴ You are of your father, the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks on his own; for he is a liar, and its father.

¹⁰ Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the parts of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,

⁵ And these words pleased the whole gathering. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch;

¹⁰ and said, "Full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?

⁴³ Now when the synagogue broke up, many of the Jews and of the devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas; who, speaking to them, urged them to continue in the grace of God.

² But the disbelieving Jews stirred up and embittered the souls of the non-Jewish people against the brothers.

¹⁹ But some Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul, and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead.

⁵ But the Jews, being moved with jealousy, took along some wicked men from the marketplace, and gathering a crowd, set the city in an uproar. Assaulting the house of Jason, they sought to bring them out to the people. ⁶ When they did not find them, they dragged Jason and certain brothers before the rulers of the city, crying, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here also,

¹³ But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was proclaimed by Paul at Beroea also, they came there likewise, inciting and disturbing the crowds.

¹⁷ They zealously seek you, but for no good purpose; they desire to alienate you, that you may be zealous for them.

¹² As many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh, they compel you to be circumcised; only that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.

³ among whom we also all once lived in the lust of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.

¹⁰ His watchmen are blind, they are all without knowledge; they are all mute dogs, they can't bark; dreaming, lying down, loving to slumber. ¹¹ Yes, the dogs are greedy, they can never have enough; and these are shepherds who can't understand: they have all turned to their own way, each one to his gain, from every quarter.

³³ "Again you have heard that it was said to them of old time, 'Do not make false vows, but fulfill your vows to the Lord.' ³⁴ But I tell you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God; ³⁵ nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.

⁵ But you say, 'Whoever may tell his father or his mother, "Whatever help you might otherwise have gotten from me is a gift devoted to God," ⁶ he is not to honor his father or his mother.' You have made the word of God void because of your tradition.

¹⁴ Leave them alone. They are blind guides of the blind. If the blind guide the blind, both will fall into a pit."

¹⁷ You blind fools. For which is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctified the gold?

¹⁹ You blind people. For which is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifies the gift?

²⁴ You blind guides, who strain out a gnat, and swallow a camel.

²⁶ You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and the plate, so that the outside may become clean also.

¹⁰ For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother;' and, 'Anyone who speaks evil of father or mother, let him be put to death.' ¹¹ But you say, 'If anyone tells his father or mother, "Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban, that is to say, given to God;"' ¹² then you no longer allow him to do anything for his father or his mother, ¹³ making void the word of God by your tradition, which you have handed down. You do many things like this."

³⁹ Jesus said, "I came into this world for judgment, that those who do not see may see; and that those who see may become blind." ⁴⁰ Those of the Pharisees who were with him heard these things, and said to him, "Are we also blind?" ⁴¹ Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no sin; but since you say, 'We see,' your sin remains.

³ Yes, I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.

¹² But above all things, my brothers, do not swear, neither by heaven, nor by the earth, nor by any other oath; but let your "yes" be "yes," and your "no," "no;" so that you do not fall under judgment.

²⁶ You shall use it to anoint the Tent of Meeting, the ark of the testimony, ²⁷ the table and all its articles, the lampstand and its accessories, the altar of incense, ²⁸ the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the basin with its base. ²⁹ You shall sanctify them, that they may be most holy. Whatever touches them shall be holy.

³⁸ even the censers of these sinners against their own lives; and let them be made beaten plates for a covering of the altar: for they offered them before the LORD; therefore they are holy; and they shall be a sign to the children of Israel." ³⁹ Eleazar the priest took the bronze censers, which those who were burnt had offered; and they beat them out for a covering of the altar,

⁸ Consider, you senseless among the people; you fools, when will you be wise?

³⁷ Seven days you shall make atonement for the altar, and sanctify it: and the altar shall be most holy; whatever touches the altar shall be holy.

²⁹ You shall sanctify them, that they may be most holy. Whatever touches them shall be holy.

¹³ I have surely built you a house of habitation, a place for you to dwell in forever."

²⁷ But will God in very deed dwell on the earth? Look, heaven and the heaven of heavens can't contain you; how much less this house that I have built.

² But I have built you a house of habitation, and a place for you to dwell in forever."

² The priests could not enter into the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD filled the LORD's house.

⁸ LORD, I love the habitation of your house, the place where your glory dwells.

¹³ For the LORD has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his dwelling. ¹⁴ "This is my resting place forever. Here I will live, for I have desired it.

²² in whom you also are built together for a habitation of God in the Spirit.

⁹ For in him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form,

⁴ The LORD is in his holy temple. The LORD is on his throne in heaven. His eyes look upon the poor. His eyes examine the descendants of Adam.

¹ Thus says the LORD, "Heaven is my throne, and earth is the footstool of my feet. Where then is the house you could build for me? And where then is the place of my rest?

³⁴ But I tell you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God;

⁴⁹ 'Heaven is my throne, and the earth a footstool for my feet. What kind of house will you build me?' says the Lord; 'or what is the place of my rest?

² Immediately I was in the Spirit; and look, there was a throne set in heaven, and one sitting on the throne. ³ And the one who sat there looked like a jasper stone and a sardius. There was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald to look at.

³⁰ "'All the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the trees, is the LORD's. It is holy to the LORD.

²² Samuel said, "Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Look, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.

³ To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

¹⁵ Shall you reign, because you strive to excel in cedar? Did not your father eat and drink, and do justice and righteousness? Then it was well with him. ¹⁶ He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well. Wasn't this to know me?' says the LORD.

⁶ For I desire mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

⁸ He has shown you, O man, what is good. What does the LORD require of you, but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?

¹⁹ Therefore, whoever will break one of these least commandments, and teach others to do so, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever will do and teach them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. ²⁰ For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, there is no way you will enter into the kingdom of heaven.

¹³ But you go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,' for I came not to call the righteous, but sinners."

⁷ But if you had known what this means, 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the innocent.

³⁷ He said to him, "'You are to love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' ³⁸ This is the great and first commandment. ³⁹ A second likewise is this, 'You are to love your neighbor as yourself.' ⁴⁰ The whole Law and the Prophets depend on these two commandments."

⁴² But woe to you Pharisees. For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, but you bypass justice and the love of God. You ought to have done these, and not to have left the other undone.

¹² I fast twice a week. I give tithes of all that I get.'

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

⁴ Or how will you tell your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye;' and look, the log is in your own eye?

² "Why do your disciples disobey the Tradition of the Elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread." ³ And he answered them, "Why do you also disobey the commandment of God because of your tradition? ⁴ For God said, 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him be put to death.'

²⁴ Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich person to enter into the Kingdom of God."

¹⁶ "Woe to you, you blind guides, who say, 'Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obligated.'

⁶ The chief priests took the pieces of silver, and said, "It's not lawful to put them into the treasury, since it is the price of blood." ⁷ They took counsel, and bought the potter's field with them, to bury strangers in. ⁸ Therefore that field was called "The Field of Blood" to this day.

⁷ The scribes and the Pharisees watched him, to see whether he would heal on the Sabbath, that they might find an accusation against him. ⁸ But he knew their thoughts; and he said to the man who had the withered hand, "Rise up, and stand in the middle." He arose and stood. ⁹ Then Jesus said to them, "I ask you, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good, or to do harm? To save a life, or to destroy it?" ¹⁰ He looked around at them all, and said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He did, and his hand was restored.

²⁸ They led Jesus therefore from Caiaphas into the Praetorium. It was early, and they themselves did not enter into the Praetorium, that they might not be defiled, but might eat the Passover.

⁴⁰ Then they shouted again, saying, "Not this man, but Barabbas." Now Barabbas was a robber.

⁷ They also reel with wine, and stagger with strong drink. The priest and the prophet reel with strong drink. They are swallowed up by wine. They stagger with strong drink. They err in vision. They stumble in judgment. ⁸ For all tables are completely full of filthy vomit and filthiness.

⁴ They do not eat when they come from the marketplace unless they wash. And there are many other things which they have received and hold to, the washing of cups and pitchers and copper vessels and dining couches.) ⁵ The Pharisees and the scribes asked him, "Why do your disciples not walk according to the Tradition of the Elders, but eat their bread with unwashed hands?" ⁶ He said to them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, 'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. ⁷ And in vain do they worship me, teaching instructions that are the commandments of humans.' ⁸ "For you set aside the commandment of God, and hold tightly to human tradition." ⁹ He said to them, "Full well do you reject the commandment of God, that you may establish your tradition.

³⁹ The Lord said to him, "Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the platter, but your inward part is full of extortion and wickedness. ⁴⁰ You foolish ones, did not he who made the outside make the inside also?

⁷ let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

¹⁴ Jerusalem, wash your heart from wickedness, that you may be saved. How long shall your evil thoughts lodge within you?

²⁷ I have seen your abominations, even your adulteries, and your neighing, the lewdness of your prostitution, on the hills in the field. Woe to you, Jerusalem. You will not be made clean; how long shall it yet be?'"

³¹ Cast away from you all your transgressions, in which you have transgressed; and make yourself a new heart and a new spirit: for why will you die, house of Israel?

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

⁴⁵ The good person out of the good treasure of his heart brings out that which is good, and the evil person out of the evil treasure brings out that which is evil, for out of the abundance of the heart, his mouth speaks.

¹ Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

²² let us draw near with a true heart in fullness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and having our body washed with pure water,

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

¹⁶ "Whoever in the open field touches one who is slain with a sword, or a dead body, or a bone of a man, or a grave, shall be unclean seven days.

¹ "Cry aloud, do not spare, lift up your voice like a trumpet, and declare to my people their disobedience, and to the house of Jacob their sins. ² Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways: as a nation that did righteousness, and did not forsake the ordinance of their God, they ask of me righteous judgments; they delight to draw near to God.

⁴⁴ Woe to you. For you are like hidden graves, and the people who walk over them do not know it."

³ Then Paul said to him, "God will strike you, you whitewashed wall. Do you sit to judge me according to the Law, and command me to be struck contrary to the law?"

⁷ But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For humans do not see as God sees, for humans look at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart."

⁶ Look, you desire truth in the inward parts. You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

⁹ The heart is deceitful above all things, and it is exceedingly corrupt: who can know it? ¹⁰ I, the LORD, search the mind, I try the heart, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.

³⁴ You offspring of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. ³⁵ The good person out of his good treasure brings out good things, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings out evil things.

⁵ But all their works they do to be seen by others. They make their tefillin broad and enlarge the fringe of their garments,

²¹ For from within, out of a person's heart, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, sexual sins, murders, thefts, ²² covetings, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, and foolishness. ²³ All these evil things come from within, and defile the man."

¹² For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and is able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart. ¹³ There is no creature that is hidden from his sight, but all things are naked and laid open before the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

⁴⁷ Woe to you. For you build the tombs of the prophets, and your fathers killed them. ⁴⁸ So you are witnesses and consent to the works of your fathers. For they killed them, and you build their tombs.

²⁹ "Brothers, I may tell you freely of the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.

¹⁵ The LORD, the God of their fathers, sent to them by his messengers, rising up early and sending, because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place:

³⁰ "I have struck your children in vain. They received no correction. Your own sword has devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.

³⁵ The tenants took his servants, beat one, killed another, and stoned another. ³⁶ Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they treated them the same way.

³⁴ Therefore, look, I send to you prophets, wise people, and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify; and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city; ³⁵ that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berechiah, whom you killed between the sanctuary and the altar.

²² Joshua said to the people, "You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen you the LORD, to serve him." They said, "We are witnesses."

⁵ For your iniquity teaches your mouth, and you choose the language of the crafty. ⁶ Your own mouth condemns you, and not I. Yes, your own lips testify against you.

⁸ Their own tongues shall ruin them. All who see them will shake their heads.

²² "He said to him, 'Out of your own mouth will I judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I am an exacting man, taking up that which I did not lay down, and reaping that which I did not sow.

⁵¹ "You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so you do. ⁵² Which of the prophets did not your fathers persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, of whom you have now become betrayers and murderers.

¹⁶ In the fourth generation they will come here again, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete."

¹⁴ "Look, you have risen up in your fathers' place, an increase of sinful men, to augment yet the fierce anger of the LORD toward Israel.

⁶ And I said, "What is it?" And he said, "This is the ephah basket that is appearing." And he said moreover, "This is their iniquity throughout the land." ⁷ And look, a lead cover was raised up, and there was a woman sitting in the basket. ⁸ And he said, "This is Wickedness;" and he threw her down into the midst of the ephah basket; and he placed the lead cover over its mouth. ⁹ Then lifted I up my eyes, and saw, and look, there were two women, and the wind was in their wings. Now they had wings like the wings of a stork, and they lifted up the ephah basket between earth and the sky. ¹⁰ Then said I to the angel who talked with me, "Where are these carrying the ephah basket?" ¹¹ He said to me, "To build her a house in the land of Shinar. When it is prepared, she will be set there in her own place."

¹⁶ forbidding us to speak to those who are not Jewish that they may be saved; to fill up their sins always. But wrath has come on them to the uttermost.

¹⁵ I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will bruise your head, and you will bruise his heel."

³ The wicked go astray from the womb. They are wayward as soon as they are born, speaking lies. ⁴ Their poison is like the poison of a serpent; like a deaf viper that stops its ear, ⁵ which doesn't listen to the voice of charmers, no matter how skillful the charmer may be.

³ "But draw near here, you sons of the sorceress, offspring of an adulterer and a prostitute. ⁴ Against whom are you mocking? Against whom do you make a wide mouth, and stick out your tongue? Aren't you children of rebellion, offspring of liars,

⁷ But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his baptism he said to them, "You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

³⁴ You offspring of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.

³⁴ When the season for the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants, to receive his fruit. ³⁵ The tenants took his servants, beat one, killed another, and stoned another.

⁷ He said therefore to the crowds who went out to be baptized by him, "You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

³ But I am afraid that somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve in his craftiness, so your minds might be corrupted from the sincerity and purity that is in Christ.

³ how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation—which at the first having been spoken through the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard;

²⁹ How much worse punishment, do you think, will he be judged worthy of, who has trodden under foot the Son of God, and has counted the blood of the covenant with which he was sanctified an unholy thing, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?

²⁵ See that you do not refuse him who speaks. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned on the earth, how much more will we not escape who turn away from him who warns from heaven,

⁹ The great serpent was thrown down, the ancient serpent, he who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

¹⁵ The LORD, the God of their fathers, sent to them by his messengers, rising up early and sending, because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place: ¹⁶ but they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and scoffed at his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, until there was no remedy.

³⁰ The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he who plucks that life is wise.

¹⁶ "Look, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be cunning as snakes and innocent as doves. ¹⁷ But beware of people: for they will deliver you up to councils, and in their synagogues they will scourge you.

²³ But when they persecute you in one city, flee to the other. And if they persecute you in the other, flee to the next. For truly I tell you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

⁵² And he said to them, "Therefore, every scribe who has been made a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like a man who is a householder, who brings out of his treasure new and old things."

¹⁹ Therefore go, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to obey all things that I commanded you. And look, I am with you every day, even to the end of the age."

⁴⁹ Therefore also the wisdom of God said, 'I will send to them prophets and apostles; and some of them they will kill and persecute, ⁵⁰ that the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation; ⁵¹ from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary.' Yes, I tell you, it will be required of this generation.

⁴⁷ and that repentance leading to forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

² They will put you out of the synagogues, but an hour is coming when whoever kills you will think that he is offering a service to God.

²¹ Jesus therefore said to them again, "Peace be to you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you."

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

⁵⁸ They threw him out of the city, and stoned him. The witnesses placed their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. ⁵⁹ They stoned Stephen as he called out, saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."

¹ But Saul, still breathing threats and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, ² and asked for letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

²⁷ Now in these days, prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.

² He killed James, the brother of John, with the sword.

¹ Now in the church that was at Antioch there were some prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen the foster brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

³² Judas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, encouraged the brothers with many words, and strengthened them.

¹⁹ I said, 'Lord, they themselves know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue those who believed in you. ²⁰ When the blood of Stephen, your witness, was shed, I also was standing by, and guarding the cloaks of those who killed him.'

⁶ We speak wisdom, however, among those who are mature, but a wisdom not of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are passing away.

¹⁰ According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one be careful how he builds on it.

³ Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by God's Spirit says, "Jesus is accursed." No one can say, "Jesus is Lord," but by the Holy Spirit. ⁴ Now there are various kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. ⁵ There are various kinds of service, and the same Lord. ⁶ There are various kinds of workings, but the same God, who works all things in all. ⁷ But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the profit of all. ⁸ For to one is given through the Spirit the word of wisdom, and to another the word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit; ⁹ to another faith, by the same Spirit; and to another gifts of healings, by the one Spirit; ¹⁰ and to another workings of miracles; and to another prophecy; and to another discernings of spirits; to another different kinds of tongues; and to another the interpretation of tongues. ¹¹ But the one and the same Spirit works all of these, distributing to each one separately as he desires.

²⁴ Five times from the Jews I received forty stripes minus one. ²⁵ Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I suffered shipwreck. I have been a night and a day in the deep.

⁸ Therefore he says, "When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts to people." ⁹ Now this, "He ascended," what is it but that he also descended into the lower parts of the earth? ¹⁰ He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things. ¹¹ He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; ¹² for the perfecting of the saints, to the work of serving, to the building up of the body of Christ;

²⁸ whom we proclaim, admonishing everyone and teaching everyone all wisdom, that we may present everyone perfect in Christ Jesus;

³⁷ They were stoned, they were sawed apart, they were put to the test, they were killed with the sword. They went around in sheepskins and in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, mistreated

¹⁰ Those who dwell on the earth rejoice over them, and they will be glad. They will give gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.

⁸ Cain said to Abel, his brother, "Let's go into the field." It happened when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel, his brother, and killed him.

⁵ And surely I will require a reckoning for your lifeblood; from every animal I will require it, and from humans. From every human being I will require it for the life of his fellow human being. ⁶ Whoever takes a human life, by a human will his life be taken, for God made humankind in his own image.

³³ "'So you shall not pollute the land in which you are: for blood, it pollutes the land; and no expiation can be made for the land for the blood that is shed in it, but by the blood of him who shed it.

⁷ and they shall answer and say, "Our hands have not shed this blood, neither have our eyes seen it. ⁸ Forgive, LORD, your people Israel, whom you have redeemed, and do not allow innocent blood in the midst of your people Israel." The blood shall be forgiven them.

¹⁶ Moreover Manasseh shed innocent blood very much, until he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another; besides his sin with which he made Judah to sin, in doing that which was evil in the sight of the LORD.

⁴ and also for the innocent blood that he shed; for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood: and the LORD would not pardon.

²⁰ The Spirit of God came on Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest; and he stood above the people, and said to them, "Thus says God, 'Why do you disobey the commandments of the LORD, so that you can't prosper? Because you have forsaken the LORD, he has also forsaken you.'" ²¹ They conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of the house of the LORD. ²² Thus Joash the king did not remember the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but killed his son. When he died, he said, "May the LORD look at it, and repay it."

²¹ For, look, the LORD comes forth out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity. The earth also will disclose her blood, and will no longer cover her slain.

³⁴ Also the blood of the souls of the innocent poor is found in your skirts. You did not find them breaking in; but it is because of all these things.

¹⁵ Only know for certain that, if you put me to death, you will bring innocent blood on yourselves, and on this city, and on its inhabitants; for of a truth the LORD has sent me to you to speak all these words in your ears."

²³ and they fetched forth Uriah out of Egypt, and brought him to Jehoiakim the king, who killed him with the sword, and cast his dead body into the graves of the common people."

¹³ It is because of the sins of her prophets, and the iniquities of her priests, that have shed the blood of the just in the midst of her. ¹⁴ They wander as blind men in the streets, they are polluted with blood, so that men can't touch their garments.

¹ In the eighth month, in the second year of Daryavesh, the word of the LORD came to Zechariah the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo, the prophet, saying,

⁵¹ from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary.' Yes, I tell you, it will be required of this generation.

⁴ By faith, Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he was attested as righteous, God testifying with respect to his gifts; and though he died he still speaks through it.

²⁴ to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better than that of Abel.

¹¹ For this is the message which you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another; ¹² unlike Cain, who was of the evil one, and killed his brother. Why did he kill him? Because his works were evil, and his brother's righteous.

²⁴ In her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all who have been slain on the earth."

²¹ The word of the LORD came to me, saying, ²² "Son of man, what is this proverb that you have in the land of Israel, saying, 'The days are prolonged, and every vision fails?' ²³ Tell them therefore, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: I will make this proverb to cease, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel'; but tell them, 'The days are at hand, and the fulfillment of every vision. ²⁴ For there shall be no more any false vision nor flattering divination within the house of Israel. ²⁵ For I am the LORD; I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall be performed; it shall be no more deferred: for in your days, rebellious house, will I speak the word, and will perform it,' says the Lord GOD." ²⁶ Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying, ²⁷ "Son of man, look, they of the house of Israel say, 'The vision that he sees is for many day to come, and he prophesies of times that are far off.' ²⁸ Therefore tell them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: None of my words shall be deferred any more, but the word which I shall speak shall be performed, says the Lord GOD.'"

³⁴ Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away, until all these things are accomplished.

³⁰ Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things happen. ³¹ Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

³² Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things are accomplished. ³³ Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will by no means pass away.

¹¹ As an eagle that stirs up her nest, that flutters over her young, he spread abroad his wings, he took them, he bore them on his feathers. ¹² The LORD alone led him. There was no foreign god with him.

¹² May the LORD repay your work, and a full reward be given you from the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge."

²⁶ "Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against you, and cast your law behind their back, and killed your prophets that testified against them to turn them again to you, and they committed awful blasphemies.

⁸ Keep me as the apple of your eye. Hide me under the shadow of your wings,

⁷ How precious is your loving kindness, God. The descendants of Adam take refuge under the shadow of your wings.

¹ [For the Chief Musician. To the tune of "Do Not Destroy." A poem by David, when he fled from Saul, in the cave.] Be merciful to me, God, be merciful to me, for my soul takes refuge in you. Yes, in the shadow of your wings, I will take refuge, until disaster has passed.

⁷ For you have been my help. I will rejoice in the shadow of your wings.

⁸ "Hear, my people, and I will testify to you, Israel, if you would listen to me. ⁹ There shall be no strange god in you, neither shall you worship any foreign god. ¹⁰ I am the LORD, your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. ¹¹ But my people did not listen to my voice. Israel desired none of me.

⁴ He will cover you with his feathers. Under his wings you will take refuge. His truth is an encompassing shield.

²⁴ Because I have called, and you have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no one has paid attention; ²⁵ but you have ignored all my counsel, and wanted none of my reproof; ²⁶ I also will laugh at your disaster. I will mock when calamity overtakes you; ²⁷ when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when your disaster comes on like a whirlwind; when distress and anguish come on you. ²⁸ Then will they call on me, but I will not answer. They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me; ²⁹ because they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD. ³⁰ They wanted none of my counsel. They despised all my reproof. ³¹ Therefore they will eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own schemes.

² Why, when I came, was there no man? When I called, was there none to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it can't redeem? or have I no power to deliver? Look, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish stink, because there is no water, and die for thirst.

⁸ Be instructed, Jerusalem, lest my soul be alienated from you; lest I make you a desolation, a land not inhabited."

¹⁶ Thus says the LORD, "Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, 'Where is the good way?' and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls." But they said, "We will not walk in it." ¹⁷ "I set watchmen over you, saying, 'Listen to the sound of the trumpet.'" But they said, "We will not listen."

⁷ For I earnestly protested to your fathers in the day that I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, even to this day, rising early and protesting, saying, Obey my voice. ⁸ Yet they did not obey, nor turn their ear, but walked everyone in the stubbornness of their evil heart: therefore I brought on them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do, but they did not do them.'"

³ "From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, even to this day, these twenty-three years, the word of the LORD has come to me, and I have spoken to you, rising up early and speaking; but you have not listened. ⁴ The LORD has sent to you all his servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them (but you have not listened, nor inclined your ear to hear) ⁵ saying, 'Return now everyone from his evil way, and from the evil of your doings, and dwell in the land that the LORD has given to you and to your fathers, from of old and even forevermore; ⁶ and do not go after other gods to serve them or worship them, and do not provoke me to anger with the work of your hands; and I will do you no harm. ⁷ Yet you have not listened to me,' says the LORD; 'that you may provoke me to anger with the work of your hands to your own hurt.'

¹⁵ I have sent also to you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, 'Return now every man from his evil way, and amend your doings, and do not go after other gods to serve them, and you shall dwell in the land which I have given to you and to your fathers': but you have not inclined your ear, nor listened to me.

⁹ and said to them, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, to whom you sent me to present your petition before him: ¹⁰ 'If you will still live in this land, then will I build you, and not pull you down, and I will plant you, and not pluck you up; for I grieve over the distress that I have brought on you. ¹¹ Do not be afraid of the king of Babylon, of whom you are afraid; do not be afraid of him, says the LORD: for I am with you to save you, and to deliver you from his hand. ¹² I will grant you mercy, that he may have mercy on you, and cause you to return to your own land.' ¹³ But if you say, 'We will not dwell in this land'; so that you do not obey the voice of the LORD your God,

⁴ However I sent to you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, 'Oh, do not do this abominable thing that I hate.'

² As I called them, the farther they went from me. They sacrificed to the Baals, and burned incense to engraved images.

⁷ My people are determined to turn from me. Though they call to the Most High, he certainly won't exalt them.

⁴ Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets proclaimed, saying: Thus says the LORD of hosts, 'Return now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings;' but they did not hear, nor listen to me, says the LORD.

¹² Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

³ and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the marriage feast, but they would not come.

⁶ and the rest grabbed his servants, and treated them shamefully, and killed them.

³⁰ and say, 'If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.'

³ They took him, beat him, and sent him away empty. ⁴ Again, he sent another servant to them; and they wounded him in the head, and treated him shamefully. ⁵ And he sent another; and they killed him; and many others, beating some, and killing some. ⁶ He had one left, a beloved son, he sent him last to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.'

³⁴ "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that kills the prophets, and stones those who are sent to her. How often I wanted to gather your children together, like a hen gathers her own brood under her wings, and you refused. ³⁵ Look, your house is abandoned to you. And I tell you, you will not see me until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'"

¹⁷ And he sent his servant at the hour for supper to tell those who were invited, 'Come, for everything is ready now.' ¹⁸ They all as one began to make excuses. "The first said to him, 'I have bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please have me excused.' ¹⁹ "Another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I must go try them out. Please have me excused.' ²⁰ "Another said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.'

²⁸ But he was angry, and would not go in. Therefore his father came out, and pleaded with him.

¹⁴ But his citizens hated him, and sent an envoy after him, saying, 'We do not want this man to reign over us.' ¹⁵ "It happened when he had come back again, having received the kingdom, that he commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by conducting business. ¹⁶ The first came before him, saying, 'Lord, your mina has made ten more minas.' ¹⁷ "And he said to him, 'Well done, good servant. Because you were faithful with very little, you will have authority over ten cities.' ¹⁸ "The second came, saying, 'Your mina, Lord, has made five minas.' ¹⁹ "So he said to him, 'And you are to be over five cities.' ²⁰ Another came, saying, 'Lord, look, your mina, which I kept laid away in a handkerchief, ²¹ for I feared you, because you are an exacting man. You take up that which you did not lay down, and reap that which you did not sow.' ²² "He said to him, 'Out of your own mouth will I judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I am an exacting man, taking up that which I did not lay down, and reaping that which I did not sow. ²³ Then why did you not deposit my money in the bank, and at my coming, I might have earned interest on it?' ²⁴ He said to those who stood by, 'Take the mina away from him, and give it to him who has the ten minas.' ²⁵ "They said to him, 'Lord, he has ten minas.' ²⁶ 'For I tell you that to everyone who has, will more be given; but from him who does not have, even that which he has will be taken away. ²⁷ But bring those enemies of mine who did not want me to reign over them here, and kill them before me.'" ²⁸ Having said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. ²⁹ It happened, when he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mountain that is called Olivet, he sent two of the disciples, ³⁰ saying, "Go your way into the village on the other side, in which, as you enter, you will find a colt tied, whereon no one ever yet sat. Untie it, and bring it. ³¹ If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' say to him: 'Because the Lord needs it.'" ³² Those who were sent went away, and found things just as he had told them. ³³ As they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, "Why are you untying the colt?" ³⁴ They said, "Because the Lord needs it." ³⁵ They brought it to Jesus. They threw their cloaks on the colt, and set Jesus on them. ³⁶ As he went, they spread their cloaks in the way. ³⁷ As he was now getting near, at the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works which they had seen, ³⁸ saying, "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest." ³⁹ Some of the Pharisees from the crowd said to him, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples." ⁴⁰ He answered them, "I tell you that if these were silent, the stones would cry out." ⁴¹ When he drew near, he saw the city and wept over it, ⁴² saying, "If you, even you, had known today the things that make for peace. But now, they are hidden from your eyes. ⁴³ For the days will come on you, when your enemies will throw up a barricade against you, surround you, hem you in on every side, ⁴⁴ and will dash you and your children within you to the ground. They will not leave in you one stone on another, because you did not know the time of your visitation."

¹¹ He sent yet another servant, and they also beat him, and treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty. ¹² He sent yet a third, and they also wounded him, and threw him out. ¹³ The lord of the vineyard said, 'What am I to do? I will send my beloved son. It may be that they will respect him.' ¹⁴ "But when the farmers saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, 'This is the heir. Let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.'

¹⁵ who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and did not please God, and are hostile to all people;

⁷ When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them, and kill them. ⁸ Their dead bodies will be in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified.

⁶ I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. When I saw her, I wondered with great amazement.

⁷ then will I cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them; and this house, which I have made holy for my name, will I cast out of my sight; and Israel shall be a proverb and a byword among all peoples.

²⁰ then I will pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have made holy for my name, I will cast out of my sight, and I will make it a proverb and a byword among all peoples. ²¹ And this house, which is exalted, will become a heap of ruins. Everyone who passes by it will be astonished, and will say, 'Why has the LORD done this to this land, and to this house?'

²⁴ Pour out your indignation on them. Let the fierceness of your anger overtake them.

¹⁰ Your holy cities have become a wilderness, Zion has become like a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation. ¹¹ Our holy and our beautiful house, where our fathers praised you, is burned with fire; and all our pleasant places are laid waste. ¹² Will you refrain yourself for these things, LORD? Will you hold your peace, and afflict us very severely?

⁹ Will you steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense to Baal, and walk after other gods that you have not known, ¹⁰ and come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, "We are delivered"; that you may do all these abominations? ¹¹ Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Look, I, even I, have seen it, says the LORD. ¹² But go now to my place which was in Shiloh, where I caused my name to dwell at the first, and see what I did to it for the wickedness of my people Israel. ¹³ Now, because you have done all these works, says the LORD, and I spoke to you, rising up early and speaking, but you did not hear; and I called you, but you did not answer: ¹⁴ therefore I will do to the house which is called by my name, in which you trust, and to the place which I gave to you and to your fathers, as I did to Shiloh.

⁵ But if you will not hear these words, I swear by myself, says the LORD, that this house shall become a desolation."

²⁶ After the sixty-two weeks the Messiah shall be cut off, and shall have nothing. And the people of a ruler who shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and his end shall come with a flood, and until the end there shall be war; desolations are decreed.

¹ Open your doors, Lebanon, that the fire may devour your cedars. ² Wail, fir tree, for the cedar has fallen, because the stately ones are destroyed. Wail, you oaks of Bashan, for the strong forest has come down.

⁶ For I will no more pity the inhabitants of the land," says the LORD; "but, look, I will deliver the men everyone into his neighbor's hand, and into the hand of his king. They will strike the land, and out of their hand I will not deliver them."

¹ Look, a day of the LORD comes, when your spoil will be divided in your midst. ² For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city will be taken, the houses rifled, and the women ravished. Half of the city will go out into captivity, and the rest of the people will not be cut off from the city.

² But answering, he said to them, "Do you not see all of these things? Truly I tell you, there will not be left here one stone on another, that will not be thrown down."

¹⁴ But when you see the abomination of desolation, standing where it ought not (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains,

³⁵ Look, your house is abandoned to you. And I tell you, you will not see me until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'"

⁶ "As for these things which you see, the days will come, in which there will not be left here one stone on another that will not be thrown down."

²⁰ "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near.

²⁴ And they will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive into all the nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled down by non-Jewish people until the times are fulfilled. And there will be times of the non-Jewish people.

¹³ and set up false witnesses who said, "This man never stops speaking blasphemous words against this holy place and the Law. ¹⁴ For we have heard him say that this Jesus the Nazorean will destroy this place, and will change the customs which Moses delivered to us."

²⁶ Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. We have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.

⁹ You who tell good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who tell good news to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with strength. Lift it up. Do not be afraid. Say to the cities of Judah, "Look, your God." ¹⁰ Look, the LORD will come as a mighty one, and his arm will rule for him. Look, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. ¹¹ He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will gather the lambs in his arm, and carry them in his bosom. He will gently lead those who have their young.

⁴ For the children of Israel shall abide many days without king, and without prince, and without sacrifice, and without sacred stone, and without ephod or idols.

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

⁹ The crowds who went before him, and who followed kept shouting, "Hosanna to the son of David. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest."

²⁶ It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. ²⁷ He came in the Spirit into the temple. When the parents brought in the child, Jesus, that they might do concerning him according to the requirement of the Law, ²⁸ then he received him into his arms, and blessed God, and said, ²⁹ "Now you are releasing your servant, Lord, according to your word, in peace; ³⁰ for my eyes have seen your salvation,

²² "All things have been delivered to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is, except the Father, and who the Father is, except the Son, and he to whomever the Son desires to reveal him." ²³ Turning to the disciples, he said privately, "Blessed are the eyes which see the things that you see,

²² He said to the disciples, "The days will come, when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it.

²¹ Jesus said therefore again to them, "I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sins. Where I go, you cannot come."

²⁴ I said therefore to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am he, you will die in your sins."

⁵⁶ Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day. He saw it, and was glad."

⁹ Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you all this time, and still you do not know me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father?'

¹⁹ Yet a little while, and the world will see me no more; but you will see me. Because I live, you will live also.

²⁵ For I do not desire you to be ignorant, brothers, of this mystery, so that you won't be wise in your own conceits, that a partial hardening has happened to Israel, until the fullness of the non-Jews has come in,

¹⁴ But their minds were hardened, for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains, because in Christ it passes away. ¹⁵ But to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. ¹⁶ But whenever one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. ¹⁷ Now the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. ¹⁸ But we all, with unveiled face looking as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord, the Spirit.