Luke 11 Cross References - NSB

¹ Jesus was praying. When he finished one of his disciples said to him: »Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.« ² He said: »When you pray say, ‘Father holy (sacred) (sanctified) (blessed) (consecrated) is your name. Let your kingdom come. ³ »Give us day-by-day our daily bread. ⁴ »Forgive us our sins. For we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And keep us from temptation.« ⁵ He also said: »Which of you have a friend you would approach at midnight and say lend me three loaves. ⁶ »This is because a friend of mine is visiting and I do not have any food to feed him. ⁷ »You hear a voice from the house say, ‘The door is shut, my children are in bed, do not bother me. I cannot rise and help you.’« ⁸ »I tell you even if he will not rise and give you what you need because he is your friend, he will arise and give you what you need because you keep asking. ⁹ »I say to you: Ask and it will be given you. Seek and you will find. Knock and it will be opened to you. ¹⁰ »Every one who asks receives. Everyone who seeks will find. It will be opened to everyone who knocks. ¹¹ »What father would give his son a stone when he asked for a loaf? What father would give a serpent when his son asked for a fish? ¹² »If he asked for an egg would he give a scorpion? ¹³ »If you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?« ¹⁴ He cast out a demon from a dumb man. When the demon left the man he spoke and the crowds were astonished. ¹⁵ Some of them said: »Beelzebub the prince of the demons casts out demons.« ¹⁶ Others tested him demanding a sign from heaven. ¹⁷ He knew their thoughts. So he told them: »Every kingdom that is divided is destroyed. A house divided against itself falls. ¹⁸ »If Satan is divided against himself how will his kingdom stand? You say I cast out demons with the help of Beelzebub. ¹⁹ »If Beelzebub helps me cast out demons, who helps your sons cast them out? They will be your judges. ²⁰ »If I use the finger (power) (Spirit) (Exodus 31:18) (2 Corinthians 3:3) of God to cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you? ²¹ »When the fully armed strong man guards his own palace, his goods are safe. ²² »When some one stronger comes to him and overpowers him he takes away his armor and steels his possessions. ²³ »He who is not with me is against me. He who does not help me gather actually scatters. ²⁴ »When an unclean spirit leaves a man it passes through desolate places. It seeks rest and finds none. It says, ‘I will return from where I came.’ ²⁵ »When he returns he finds the place swept and adorned. ²⁶ »He then takes seven other spirits more evil than himself and they enter in and dwell. The last condition of that man becomes worse than the first.« ²⁷ As he was talking a woman out of the crowd shouted: »Blessed is the woman who bore you and nursed you.« ²⁸ He replied: »More blessed are those who hear the word of God and obey it.« ²⁹ When the crowd gathered to him, he said: »This generation is evil. It seeks a sign. No sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah. ³⁰ »Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites; the Son of man will be a sign to this generation. ³¹ »The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation. She will condemn them for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the Wisdom of Solomon and one greater than Solomon is here now. ³² »The men of Nineveh shall stand up in the judgment with this generation. They will condemn it for they repented at the preaching of Jonah and someone greater than Jonah is here now. ³³ »No man lights a lamp and puts it in a cellar or under a bushel. He puts it on a table so those who enter may see the light. ³⁴ »The lamp of your body is your eye. When your eye is clear your entire body is full of light. When it is evil your body is full of darkness. ³⁵ »Make sure the light that is in you is not darkness. ³⁶ If your entire body is full of light and has no darkness you will have no part of the dark. Just as a lamp when shinning brightly gives plenty of light.« ³⁷ As he spoke a Pharisee invited him to dine with him. He accepted the invitation and went to eat. ³⁸ The Pharisee wondered about Jesus not bathing before dinner. ³⁹ The Lord said: »You Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the platter. Yet your inward part is full of extortion and wickedness. ⁴⁰ »You foolish ones. Did he that made the outside also make the inside? ⁴¹ »Give that which is within as charity. Then all things are clean for you. ⁴² »Woe to you Pharisees! You tithe mint and rue and every herb, and pass over justice and the love of God. You should have done these but you leave them undone. ⁴³ »Woe to you Pharisees! You love the prominent seats in the synagogues, and the greetings in the marketplaces. ⁴⁴ »Woe to you! You are as the tombs that do not appear and men walk over them and do not know it.« ⁴⁵ One of the lawyers said to him: »Teacher, you also insult us by saying this.« ⁴⁶ Jesus said: »Woe to you lawyers also! For you load men with burdens that are difficult to bear. And you will not even touch the burdens with one of your fingers. ⁴⁷ »Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets, and your fathers killed them. ⁴⁸ »Therefore you are witnesses and consent to the works of your fathers. They killed them and you build their tombs. ⁴⁹ »It is for this reason the wisdom of God said, ‘I send to them prophets and apostles and they will persecute and kill some of them.’ ⁵⁰ »The blood of all the prophets shed from the foundation of the world may be required of this generation. ⁵¹ »This includes the blood of Abel to the blood of Zachariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary. I tell you it will be required of this generation. ⁵² »Woe to you lawyers, for you took away the key of knowledge. You did not enter in yourselves and you hindered those entering.« ⁵³ When he left there the scribes and the Pharisees became hostile with him. They tried to quarrel with him about many things. ⁵⁴ They plotted against him and tried to catch him in something he might say.

¹⁷ You have heard the desire of humble people, O Jehovah. You encourage them. You incline your ear (pay close attention) to them.

¹⁴ May the words from my mouth and the thoughts from my heart be acceptable to you, O Jehovah, my rock and my Redeemer (Purchaser).

¹² He went to the mountain to pray and he continued all night in prayer to God.

¹⁸ After he prayed the disciples went to him. He asked them: »Who do the crowds say that I am?«

²⁸ About eight days after he said these things he took Peter, John and James, and went up into the mountain to pray.

³⁹ He went to the Mount of Olives as was his custom and the disciples also followed him. ⁴⁰ When he arrived he said to them: »Pray that you do not enter into temptation.« ⁴¹ He went a short distance from them and kneeled down and prayed. ⁴² He prayed: »Father if it is your will remove this cup from me, nevertheless not my will, but your will be done.« ⁴³ An angel came to him and gave him strength. ⁴⁴ (possible spurious text) He was in agony and earnestly prayed. His sweat became, as it were great drops of blood falling down upon the ground. ⁴⁵ When he finished his prayer he went to the disciples, and found them sleeping because of their sorrow.

²⁶ Likewise the Spirit also helps our weaknesses. We do not know what we should pray for, as we should. The Spirit [of God] makes intercession with groaning that cannot be spoken. ²⁷ So he who searches the hearts knows what is the inclination (purpose) (mind-set) of the Spirit [of God], because the Spirit makes intercession for the holy ones according to the will of God.

⁷ In the days of his life on earth, when he [Christ] offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears to the one who was able to save him out of death, and was heard because of his godly reverence. (Galatians 1:1) (Psalm 69:13)

² You lust, and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain! You fight and war. You do not have because you do not ask. ³ You ask and do not receive because you ask wrongly (with bad motives) that you may spend it on your pleasures.

²⁰ You, beloved, build yourself up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit.

³ Moses said to Aaron: »This is what Jehovah was speaking about when he said: ‘All who serve me must respect my holiness. I will reveal my glory to my people.’« But Aaron remained silent.

²³ »‘You may use a bull or a sheep with a deformity or one that is stunted in growth as a freewill offering. However, it will not be accepted for a vow.

⁴³ »Listen to him and give him his desire. Let all the peoples of the earth know about your name. Let them worship you as your people Israel, and that they may see that this house which I have built is truly named by your name.

¹⁹ »Rescue us from Assyria's control, O Jehovah our God, so that all the kingdoms on earth will know that you alone are Jehovah God.«

⁶ He prayed aloud: »O Jehovah, God of our ancestors, you rule in heaven over all the nations of the world. You are powerful and mighty. No one can oppose you.

⁴ Jehovah is in his holy temple. Jehovah’s throne is in heaven. His eyes see. They examine the sons of men.

¹¹ Be exalted, O God, above the heavens. Let your glory be over all the earth.

¹⁸ Blessed be Jehovah God, the God of Israel, who alone does miracles. ¹⁹ Blessed be to his glorious name forever. May the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and amen!

²⁰ Bless Jehovah you angels of his, you who excel in strength, who obey his command, and listen to the voice of his Word.

⁵ Be exalted, O God, above the heavens: and your glory above all the earth.

² Do not be in a hurry to talk. Do not be eager to speak in the presence of God. Since God is in heaven and you are on earth, limit the number of your words.

² In the last days the mountain of the house of Jehovah will be established as the highest of the mountains and exalted above the hills. All the nations will stream to it. ³ Then many people will come and say: »Let us go to the mountain of Jehovah, to the House of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways so that we may live by them.« The law will go out from Zion. The word of Jehovah will go out from Jerusalem. ⁴ Then he will judge disputes between nations and settle matters between many people. They will beat (hammer) their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nations will not fight against each other, and they will not learn war anymore. ⁵ Come, descendants of Jacob, let us live in the light of Jehovah.

² Above him were seraphs, each with six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. ³ They called to one another: »Holy, holy, holy is Jehovah of Hosts. All the earth is full of his glory.«

¹⁶ You are our Father. Even though Abraham does not know us and Israel does not pay attention to us, O Jehovah, you are our Father. Your name is our Defender From Everlasting.

²³ »I will reveal the holiness of my great name, which has been dishonored by the nations. It is the name that you have dishonored among them. Then the nations will know that I am Jehovah. This is because I will reveal my holiness among you as they watch,’ declares the Lord Jehovah.

²⁸ »There is a God in heaven that reveals secrets. He made known to king Nebuchadnezzar what will be in days to come. Your dream and visions are these:

⁴⁴ »In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed. Its sovereignty will not be entrusted to another people. It will break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms and it will stand forever!

¹⁸ ‘»The holy ones of the Most High will receive the kingdom. They will possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.’

²⁷ ‘»The kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the people who are the holy ones of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom! All dominions (legal authorities) will serve and obey him.’

² »Return to Jehovah and say to him: ‘Take away all iniquity and receive us graciously, that we may present the fruit (young bulls) of our lips.’ (Hebrews 13:15)

¹⁴ »The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of Jehovah, as the waters cover the sea.

² »Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.«

¹⁶ »Likewise, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

⁶ »Go to your room and close the door. Privately pray to your Father. When your Father sees you he will reward you. ⁷ »Large quantities of meaningless words and repetition are not acceptable in prayer. The pagans think their gods will hear long and repetitious prayers. ⁸ »Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. ⁹ »‘Our Father in heaven, holy is your name. (Exodus 6:3) (Psalm 83:18) (Isaiah 42:8; 54:5; 63:16; 64:8) ¹⁰ »‘Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:33) (Daniel 2:44) (Revelation 11:15) (Psalm 37:10,29) (Acts 24:15) ¹¹ »‘Give us this day our daily bread. (Matthew 6:34) (1 Timothy 6:8) (Proverbs 30:8) (Psalm 37:25) ¹² »‘Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. (Matthew 18:21) (Mark 11:25) (Luke 11:4) ¹³ »‘And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil (the wicked one).’ (Psalm 82:4) (Psalm 97:10) (Matthew 13:19) (John 17:15) (1 John 5:19) ¹⁴ »If you forgive others their sins, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. ¹⁵ »If you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.

³² »I will tell my heavenly Father about everyone who confesses me (witnesses to others about me) before men.

⁹ »Heal the sick that are there and say to them, the kingdom of God is near you. ¹⁰ »If they do not receive you in their city go into their streets and, ¹¹ »Shake off the dust that clings to your feet, from that city, so they may know that the kingdom of God came near.

⁷ To all who are in Rome, beloved of God and called to be holy ones: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

¹⁵ For you have not received a spirit of bondage again causing fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Father, Father! (Chaldee: Abba, meaning father).

³ Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

² May you have grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

⁴ He (Jesus) gave himself for our sins that he might deliver us out of this present evil age. This is according to the will of our God and Father.

² Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

² Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

²⁰ Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

² to the holy ones and faithful brothers in Christ that live in Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

¹ Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the congregation of the Thessalonians united with God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.

³ We continually remember your work of faith, labor of love, and patience, and your hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father.

¹¹ May God our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you. ¹² And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you. ¹³ May he resolutely strengthen your hearts without blame in holiness before God, our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his holy ones.

¹ Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy to the people of the congregation in Thessalonica, who belong to God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: ² May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.

¹⁶ Now may our Lord Jesus Christ and God our Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting comfort and good hope by grace,

¹⁵ The seventh angel blew his trumpet. There were great voices in heaven, saying: »The kingdom of the world has become our God’s, and his Christ will rule as king forever and ever.«

⁴ »Who will not reverence you, Jehovah, and glorify your name, for only you are holy. All nations will come and worship you. Your righteous judgments are clearly apparent.«

⁶ And I heard as it were the voice of a large number of people, and as the sound of many waters, and as the sound of mighty thunder, saying: »Praise Jehovah! For Jehovah our God, the Almighty, reigns. (Psalm 106:48)

⁴ I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. I also saw the people who were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image. They had not received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands. They lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

¹⁵ When the children of Israel saw, they said to one another: »What is this?« For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them: »This is the bread Jehovah has given you to eat.« ¹⁶ This is what Jehovah has commanded: »Each man should gather according to what he can eat. You shall take two quarts for each person in your tent.« ¹⁷ The sons of Israel did this. Some gathered much and some little. ¹⁸ They measured it. Those who gathered much did not have too much. Some who gathered less did not have too little. Each had gathered just what he needed. ¹⁹ Moses said: »No one is to keep any of it for tomorrow.« ²⁰ Some of them did not listen to Moses and saved part of it. The next morning it was full of worms and smelled rotten. Moses was angry with them. ²¹ Every morning each one gathered as much as he needed. When the sun grew hot, what was left on the ground melted. ²² The sixth day they gathered twice as much food, four quarts for each person. All the leaders of the congregation came and told Moses about it. (Mark 15:42)

⁸ Remove far from me vanity and lies. Give me neither poverty nor riches. Feed me with food necessary for me.

¹⁶ This man will dwell on the heights. His refuge will be the mountain fortress. His bread will be supplied, and he will have water.

¹¹ »‘Give us this day our daily bread. (Matthew 6:34) (1 Timothy 6:8) (Proverbs 30:8) (Psalm 37:25)

³⁴ »Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have its own worries. Sufficient for each day is its own badness.

²⁷ »Do not work for food that perishes but for food that offers everlasting life. The Son of man will give you this food. The Father, even God, has set his seal upon him.« ²⁸ They asked: »What must we do, that we may work the works of God?« ²⁹ Jesus answered: »This is the work of God, that you have an active faith in the one whom he has sent.« ³⁰ They asked: »What do you offer for a sign (miracle) that we may see and believe you? What work will you do? ³¹ »Our fathers ate manna in the wilderness. It is written, ‘He gave them bread out of heaven to eat.’« ³² Jesus responded: »I speak the truth! It was not Moses who gave you the bread out of heaven. My Father gives you the true bread out of heaven. ³³ »For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven. It gives life to the world.«

¹⁶ »May the being who rescued me from all evil bless these boys! May they be called by my name and by the names of my grandfather Abraham and my father Isaac. May they have many children on the earth.«

³⁴ Listen to them in heaven. Forgive the sins of your people and bring them back to the land that you gave to their ancestors.

³⁶ listen to them in heaven. Forgive the sins of the king and of the people of Israel, and teach them to do what is right. Then, O Jehovah, send rain on this land of yours, which you gave to your people as a permanent possession.

¹¹ O Jehovah, for the sake of your name pardon my guilt, because it is great.

¹⁸ Look at my misery and suffering, and forgive all my sins.

¹ ([Psalm of David]) Blessed is the person whose transgression is forgiven and whose sin is pardoned. ² Blessed is the person whom Jehovah no longer accuses of sin and who has no deceitful thoughts. ³ When I kept silent about my sins, my body wasted away and I groaned all day long. ⁴ Day and night your hand lay heavily on me. My strength drained in the summer heat. ⁵ I confessed my sins to you, and I did not cover up my guilt. I decided to confess them to you, O Jehovah. Then you forgave all my sins.

¹ ([[Psalm of David] when the prophet Nathan came to him after David's adultery with Bathsheba:]) Have mercy on me, O God, in keeping with your loving-kindness. According to your unlimited compassion, wipe out my transgressions. ² Wash me thoroughly from my perversity (iniquity) (guilt), and cleanse me from my sin. ³ I admit my transgressions. My sin is always in front of me.

⁷ Jehovah will protect you from all evil. He will protect (preserve) you.

³ If You, Jehovah, should record our sins, O Jehovah, who could stand? ⁴ But there is forgiveness with you, that you may be reverenced.

²⁵ »I alone am the one who is going to wipe away your rebellious actions for my own sake. I will not remember your sins anymore. ²⁶ »Remind me of what happened. Let us argue our case together. State your case so that you can prove you are right.

¹⁹ »O Jehovah, hear; O Jehovah, forgive; O Jehovah, pay attention and act! Do not delay for your own sake, O my God! Because your city and your people are called by your name.«

²⁵ Then Jesus prayed: »I thank you, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth. You have hidden these things from the wise and understanding, and have revealed them to children. (Acts 2:36) ²⁶ »Yes, Father, for it was very pleasing in your sight.

³⁵ »My heavenly Father will treat you like that if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.«

⁴¹ »Watch and pray continually that you do not enter into temptation!«

¹³ »Those on the rock are those who receive the word with joy. These have no root. They believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away.

⁴⁶ He said: »Why do you sleep? Arise and pray that you do not enter into temptation.«

¹⁵ »I do not pray that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.

¹³ No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to man. God is faithful and he will not allow you to be tempted beyond your limits. He will make a way out, that you will be able to endure it.

⁷ I was given a painful physical ailment that will keep me from being puffed up with pride because of the many wonderful things I saw. It acts as Satan's messenger to beat me and keep me from being proud. ⁸ Three times I prayed to God about this and asked him to take it away.

³¹ Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and screaming, and abusive speech, be put away (removed) (expiated) from you, along with all malice. ³² You should be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, even as God also forgave you through (by means of) Christ.

¹³ Tolerate (endure) (suffer) (put up with) one another, and forgive each other. If any man has a complaint against anyone, forgive them, even as God forgave you.

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

¹⁸ The Lord will deliver me from every evil work. He will save me to his heavenly kingdom. To him is the glory forever and ever. Amen.

¹³ For judgment is without mercy to him who shows no mercy. And mercy triumphs over judgment.

⁸ If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰ If we say we have not sinned we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

¹⁰ »'Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil (false accuser) (Devil) is about to throw you into prison, that you may be tested. You will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful even if you must die, and I will give you the crown of life.

¹⁰ »'Because you have kept the word of my patience (endurance), I also will keep you from the hour of testing. This will come upon the whole world to test (scrutinize) (discipline) (examine) those who dwell on the earth.

¹ He spoke an illustration to them emphasizing the need to pray and not become tired: ² »There was a judge in a city that did not fear God and had no respect for man. ³ »There was a widow in that same city. She went to him asking for legal protection from her adversary. ⁴ »At first he refused. Then he thought about it and he said to himself, I do not fear God and have little respect for man. ⁵ »However this widow bothers me. For this reason I will avenge her. If she keeps coming to me she will wear me out.« ⁶ The Lord continued: »Pay attention to what the unrighteous judge said.« ⁷ »Should God avenge his chosen that cry to him day and night, and yet he is longsuffering over them? ⁸ »I say to you, that he will avenge them quickly. Nevertheless, will the Son of man find faith on the earth when he comes?»

¹⁰ »While they were away, the bridegroom came. They that were ready went in with him to the marriage feast and the door was shut.

⁶ Jesus went with them. As he approached the house, the centurion sent friends to him saying, »Lord do not trouble yourself. I am not worthy that you should come under my roof.

²⁵ »The master of the house will close the door. You stand outside and knock on the door and say: ‘Open the door for us, sir!’ He will answer: ‘I do not know where you come from!’

¹⁷ Let no one trouble me. I bear the marks of Jesus branded on my body.

²⁶ He said to him: »Let me go now, for the dawn is near.« But Jacob said: »I will not let you go till you have given me your blessing.«

²² A woman of Canaan came crying and saying: »Have pity on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is greatly troubled with an unclean spirit.« ²³ He did not answer her. His disciples said to him: »Send her away; she keeps shouting at us.« ²⁴ He answered: »I was sent only to the wandering sheep of the house of Israel.« ²⁵ She bowed down before him and asked for help. ²⁶ He said: »It is not right to take the children’s bread and give it to the dogs.« ²⁷ She said: »Yes, Lord; but even the dogs take the scraps from under their masters’ table.« ²⁸ »O woman,« Jesus replied, »your faith is great! Let your desire be done.« And her daughter was made well from that hour.

³⁰ Now I beg you, brothers, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in your prayers to God for me.

⁸ Three times I prayed to God about this and asked him to take it away.

¹ Let me tell you how hard I worked for you, for the people in Laodicea, and for all others who do not personally know me.

¹² Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always striving for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God.

⁴ I have asked one thing from Jehovah. This I will seek: to live in the house of Jehovah all the days of my life, to look at Jehovah’s beauty and search for an answer in his temple.

⁸ You said: »Seek my face (look for me) (my presence).« My heart said to you, »O Jehovah, I will look for you.«

⁴ I went to Jehovah for help. He answered me and rescued me from all my fears.

¹⁰ Young lions go hungry and may starve, but those who seek Jehovah’s help have all the good things they need.

¹⁵ »Call on me in times of trouble. I will rescue you, and you will honor me.«

³ Praise his holy name! Let the heart of those rejoice who seek Jehovah. ⁴ Seek Jehovah and seek his strength. Seek his presence constantly!

⁵ In my distress I called to Jehovah; he answered me and set me free.

¹ (The Shulamite) »By night on my bed I sought the one I love. I sought him, but I did not find him. ² »I will rise now, and go about the city in the streets. I will seek the one I love in the streets and broad ways. I sought him, but I did not find him. ³ »The watchmen who go about the city found me. I said to them: ‘Did you see the one I love?’ ⁴ »Shortly after I passed by them, I found the one I love. I held him, and would not let him go, until I brought him to my mother's house, and into the chamber of her that conceived me.’«

⁶ »I opened to my beloved; but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone. My heart jumped when he spoke. I sought him, but I could not find him. I called him, but he did not answer.

¹⁹ »I have not spoken in secret, from somewhere in a land of darkness. I have not said to Jacob’s descendants: Seek me in vain. I, Jehovah, speak the truth; I declare what is right.

⁶ Seek Jehovah while he may be found. Call on him while he is near. ⁷ Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to Jehovah, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

¹² ‘Then you will call to me. You will come and pray to me and I will hear you.

³ ‘Call to me and I will answer you. I will tell you grand and impressive things, things you do not know.’«

³ I looked to Jehovah God to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting and sackcloth and ashes.

⁴ Jehovah said to the house of Israel: »Seek me and you will live! ⁵ »Do not seek Bethel, nor enter into Gilgal. Do not pass to Beersheba. For Gilgal will surely go into captivity (exile), and Bethel will come to nothing. ⁶ »Seek Jehovah, and you will live. Lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and it will devour, and there will be none to quench it in Bethel.

²⁹ »I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was dressed like these.

⁷ »Ask and it will be given you. Seek and you will find. Knock and it will be opened for you. ⁸ »Everyone who asks receives. Everyone who seeks finds, and everyone who knocks will have it opened. ⁹ »Who among you, who would give his son a stone when he asks him for bread? ¹⁰ »Who will give him a serpent when he asks for a fish? ¹¹ »Even though you are a sinner, you know how to give good gifts to your children. Think how much more your Father in heaven gives good things to those who ask him!

²² »You will receive the things you ask for in prayer when you have faith.«

³¹ »Which of the two pleased his father?« They replied: »The first.« Jesus said to them: »I tell you, tax collectors and prostitutes will go into the kingdom of God before you.«

²⁴ »I tell you, believe that you receive what you pray for and you shall have it.

³⁷ »What I say to you I say to all, be on the watch (be vigilant) (stay awake) (be circumspect) (attentive and ready)!«

²⁴ »Strive to go in through the narrow door. Many people will try to go in and will not be able. ²⁵ »The master of the house will close the door. You stand outside and knock on the door and say: ‘Open the door for us, sir!’ He will answer: ‘I do not know where you come from!’

⁴⁵ Philip found Nathanael, and said to him: »We have found the person Moses and the prophets wrote about in the Law and God’s word. It is Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.« ⁴⁶ And Nathanael said to him: »Could any good thing come out of Nazareth?« Philip said: »Come and see.« ⁴⁷ Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him. He said: »Look an Israelite indeed. There is no deceit in him!« ⁴⁸ Nathanael asked: »How do you know me?« Jesus answered: »I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.« ⁴⁹ Nathanael answered: »Rabbi you are the Son of God. You are King of Israel.«

¹⁰ Jesus answered: »If you know the gift of God and who asked you for a drink, you would have asked him to give you living water.«

¹³ »Whatever you ask in my name, I will do. That way the Father may be glorified because of the Son.

⁷ »If you remain with me, and my words remain with you, ask whatever you will, and it will be done for you.

¹⁶ »You did not choose me. I chose you and appointed you. You should go and bear fruit and your fruit should remain. Whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.

²³ »You will ask me for nothing then. Truly I say to you, if you ask anything of the Father, he will give it to you in my name. ²⁴ »Until now you have not asked a single thing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be made full.

⁴ He looked at him and was afraid. »What is it, Lord?« He replied. The angel said: »God hears your prayers and sees your gifts of mercy. ⁵ »Send men to Joppa to bring back Simon, whose surname is Peter: ⁶ »He is staying with a tanner named Simon whose house is by the sea.«

⁷ [He offers] everlasting life for those who search for incorruptible glory and honor by enduring in good works.

² For he said: At an acceptable time I listened to you. In a day of salvation I helped you. Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation!

⁸ Three times I prayed to God about this and asked him to take it away. ⁹ He told me: »My grace is sufficient for you for my strength is made perfect in weakness.« Most gladly therefore, I would rather glory in my infirmities (frailities), that the power of Christ may rest upon me (cover me like a tent) (descend upon me) (abide with me). (Isaiah 40:29-31)

¹⁶ Let us approach the throne of grace (loving-kindness) with confidence, that we may receive mercy, and find grace for help in time of need.

⁶ Without faith it is impossible to please God. He who comes to God must believe that he is and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom let him ask of God. He gives to all generously and without reproach and it will be given to him.

¹⁵ The prayer of faith will save the sick person. God will raise him up; and if he committed sins, it will be forgiven him.

²² Whatever we ask we receive from Him because we obey His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.

¹⁴ This is the confidence that we have toward him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. ¹⁵ If we know that he hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions (requests) that we have asked of him.

²⁴ »'But to the rest of you in Thyatira, all who do not hold on to Jezebel's teaching, who have not learned what are called the «deep things of Satan," I will not burden you with anything else.

²² When I was panic-stricken, I said: I have been cut off from your sight. But you heard my pleas for mercy when I cried out to you for help.

⁸ Even when I send up a cry for help, he shuts out my prayer.

¹⁸ I said: »My strength is cut off, and my hope from Jehovah.«

⁵⁴ Waters were flowing over my head; I said: »I am cut off.« ⁵⁵ I called out your name in prayer, O Jehovah, out of the lowest prison. ⁵⁶ My voice came to you, »Do not shut your ear to my relief, to my cry!« ⁵⁷ You came near in the day when I offered my prayer to you. You said: »Have no fear.« ⁵⁸ O Jehovah, you have taken up my cause. You made my life safe.

² He said: »I called to Jehovah because of my affliction. And he answered me! Out of the belly of the grave I cried and you heard my voice. ³ »For you threw me into the deep, in the heart of the seas. The current was all around me. All your waves, your huge breakers passed over me! ⁴ »And I said: I have been cast out of your sight. Yet I will look again toward your Holy Temple. ⁵ »The waters encompassed me and threatened my life. The deep sea surrounded me. The sea weeds were wrapped about my head. ⁶ »I went down to the bottom of the mountains! The earth with its bars closed upon me for a very long time. Yet you have brought my life up from the pit, O Jehovah my God? ⁷ »My life was leaving me and I remembered Jehovah! My prayer came to you, into your Holy Temple. ⁸ »They that regard lying vanities forsake their own mercy.

¹ He spoke an illustration to them emphasizing the need to pray and not become tired:

³ You ask and do not receive because you ask wrongly (with bad motives) that you may spend it on your pleasures.

¹¹ As you know, those who have endured are called blessed. You have heard of the patience (perseverance) (endurance) of Job, and have seen the outcome Jehovah provided, how he was very tender with his affection and mercy. (Psalm 103:8)

¹⁵ Can a woman forget her nursing child? Will she have no compassion on the child from her womb? Although mothers forget, I will not forget you.

⁹ »Who among you, who would give his son a stone when he asks him for bread?

⁶ »Son of man, do not be afraid of them or the things they say. Do not be afraid, even though thorns and thistles are around you and you live among scorpions. Do not let the things they say frighten you. Do not be terrified in their presence even though they are rebellious people.

¹⁹ »Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall in any way hurt you.

¹⁰ Their tails were like scorpions' tails, for there were stings in their tails. They had power to hurt men five months.

⁵ Jehovah saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become. Every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. ⁶ Jehovah was grieved that he had made man on the earth. His heart was grieved with pain.

²¹ Jehovah smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: »Never again will I curse the ground because of man, for the intent of his heart is evil from childhood. I will never again destroy every living creature, as I have done.

¹⁴ »What is man, that he could be pure? Or he who is born of woman, that he could be righteous? ¹⁵ »If God places no trust in his holy ones, if even the heavens are not pure in his eyes, ¹⁶ how much less man, who is vile and corrupt, who drinks up evil like water!

⁵ Indeed, I was born in perversity (mischief) (evil). I was a sinner when my mother conceived me.

²³ »Listen when I reprove you. I will pour out my spirit on you. I will make my words known to you.

³ »‘I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground. I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring. I will give blessing to your descendants. ⁴ »‘They will spring up like grass in a meadow, like poplar trees by flowing streams.

²⁷ »I will put my Spirit in you. I will enable you to live by my Laws, and you will obey my rules.

²⁸ »In the last days I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh. Your sons and your daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams. Your young men will see visions! (Ac 2:17; Isa 44:3)

⁴⁵ »You will then act as true children of your Father in heaven. He gives sunlight to both evil and good people. He sends rain for the just and the unjust.

¹⁴ »If you forgive others their sins, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

³⁰ »If God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, won’t he care for you even more? You of little faith!

³² »All people go in search of these things. Your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

¹¹ »Even though you are a sinner, you know how to give good gifts to your children. Think how much more your Father in heaven gives good things to those who ask him!

² He said: »When you pray say, ‘Father holy (sacred) (sanctified) (blessed) (consecrated) is your name. Let your kingdom come.

³⁰ »This son of yours wasted all your property on prostitutes. When he comes home you kill the prize calf for him! ³¹ »The father answered, »My son, you are always here. And everything I have is yours! ³² »‘We had to celebrate and be happy. Your brother was dead. Now he is alive! He was lost and now he has been found!’«

⁵ Jesus responded: »I tell you truth, except a man be born of water and the spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God! ⁶ »That which is born from the flesh is flesh and that which is born from the Spirit is spirit.

³⁷ On the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and shouted in a loud voice: »If any man thirst let him come to me and drink. ³⁸ »Rivers of living water will flow from the innermost being of the man who believes in me. This is according to the scriptures.« ³⁹ He spoke this by the Spirit. Those who believed in him were to receive the Spirit. The Spirit was not yet given because Jesus was not yet glorified.

³⁸ Then Peter said: »Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

⁹ Much more, now justified by his blood, we will be saved from the wrath of God through him. ¹⁰ While we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son. Being reconciled, we will be saved by his life.

¹⁷ It was by the transgression of the one that death ruled as king through that one. Even more so shall those who receive the abundance of grace, and of the gift of righteousness, rule as kings in life by the one, Jesus Christ.

¹⁸ I know that good does not live in my human nature. For even though the desire to do good is in me, I am not able to do it.

³² He that did not spare his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, will he not with him freely give us all things?

⁹ For if the ministry of condemnation has glory then the ministry of righteousness would exceed in glory. ¹⁰ Even what was glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the greater glory. ¹¹ If that which passes away was with glory, that which remains is even more glorious.

³ For we also once were foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.

⁹ Furthermore, we have had fathers of our flesh that corrected us, and we gave them respect. Shall we not much more be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? ¹⁰ They disciplined us for a few days for their own pleasure. He disciplines for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.

³² Next, a dumb man possessed with a demon was brought to him. ³³ When the demon was cast out, the dumb man spoke. The crowd marveled, saying: »We have never seen anything like this in Israel!« ³⁴ The Pharisees complained: »He casts out demons with the help of the ruler of the demons.«

²² Someone possessed with a demon, blind and dumb was brought to him. He healed him and the dumb man spoke and could see. ²³ The crowds were amazed, and said: »Can this be the son of David?« ²⁴ When the Pharisees heard it, they said: »This man casts out demons by Beelzebub, the prince of the demons.«

³² They brought a deaf man with an impediment in his speech to him and asked him to lay his hands on him. ³³ Jesus took him aside from the crowd privately, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat, and touched his tongue. ³⁴ Looking up to heaven he sighed and said to him: »Ephphatha, that is, be opened.« ³⁵ His ears were opened. His tongue was freed and he spoke plainly. ³⁶ Jesus told them not to tell anyone. The more he told them not to talk the more they talked. ³⁷ They were beside themselves with amazement saying: He makes even the deaf hear and the dumb speak.

³⁴ The Pharisees complained: »He casts out demons with the help of the ruler of the demons.«

²⁵ »It is enough for the disciple (student) that he is like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they called the master of the house Beelzebub (Satan), others of the household could also be called the same!

²⁴ When the Pharisees heard it, they said: »This man casts out demons by Beelzebub, the prince of the demons.« ²⁵ Knowing their thoughts, he said to them: »Every kingdom divided against itself is destroyed. Every city or house divided against itself will not stand. ²⁶ »If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How will his kingdom stand? ²⁷ »If I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Let them be your judges. ²⁸ »But if I cast out demons by God’s Spirit, then the kingdom of God has come to you. ²⁹ »How can one enter into the house of a strong man and steal his things, except he first tie up the strong man? Then he can rob his house. ³⁰ »He that is not with me is against me. And he that does not gather with me, scatters.

²² Scribes that came down from Jerusalem said: »He has Beelzebub. He casts out demons by the prince of the demons.« ²³ Jesus called them to him and spoke to them in illustrations. He asked: »How could Satan cast out Satan? ²⁴ »When a kingdom is divided against itself that kingdom cannot stand. ²⁵ »When a house is divided against itself it will not be able to stand. ²⁶ »If Satan has risen up against himself, he is divided, cannot stand and will come to an end. ²⁷ »No one can enter into the house of the strong man and steal his property unless he first captures the strong man. Then he will steal his property. ²⁸ »I tell you sins will be forgiven of the sons of men, and their evil talk will be forgiven. ²⁹ »But whoever speaks evil and defames Holy Spirit will not be forgiven but is guilty of an eternal sin.« ³⁰ They exclaimed: »He has an unclean spirit!«

¹⁸ »If Satan is divided against himself how will his kingdom stand? You say I cast out demons with the help of Beelzebub. ¹⁹ »If Beelzebub helps me cast out demons, who helps your sons cast them out? They will be your judges.

²⁰ The crowd answered: »You have a demon! Who seeks to kill you?«

⁴⁸ The Jews answered: »Do we not speak correctly that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?«

⁵² The Jews said to him: »Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham and the prophets died. And you say if a man obeys my word he will never taste of death.

²⁰ Many of them said: »He has a demon and is mad. Why listen to him?«

³⁸ Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying: »Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.« ³⁹ He answered them: »An evil and adulterous generation seeks a sign. No sign will be given but the sign of Jonah the prophet.

¹ The Pharisees and Sadducees tested Jesus by asking him to show them a sign from heaven. ² He said to them, »At nightfall you say the weather will be good, for the sky is red. ³ »And in the morning, the weather will be bad today for the sky is red and angry. You are able to see the face of heaven, but not the signs of the time. ⁴ »An evil and false generation is searching after a sign. However, no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah.« Then he left them.

¹¹ The Pharisees came to question him. They were testing him and seeking a sign from heaven. ¹² He sighed deeply in his spirit and said: »Why does this generation seek a sign? I tell you truly no sign will be given to this generation.«

³⁰ They asked: »What do you offer for a sign (miracle) that we may see and believe you? What work will you do?

²² Indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom.

¹⁶ When all Israel saw that the king refused to listen to them, the people answered the king: »What share do we have in David’s kingdom? We will not receive an inheritance from Jesse’s son. Everyone to his own tent, Israel! Now look after your own house, David!« So all Israel went home to their tents. ¹⁷ Rehoboam ruled the Israelites who lived in the cities of Judah. ¹⁸ King Rehoboam sent Hadoram to the Israelites. He was in charge of forced labor, but they stoned him to death. So King Rehoboam got on his chariot as fast as he could and fled to Jerusalem. ¹⁹ Israel has rebelled against David’s dynasty to this day.

¹⁶ The Israelites fled from Judah’s army. God handed them over to Judah. ¹⁷ Abijah and his men defeated them decisively. Five hundred thousand of the best men of Israel were killed.

²⁰ They slice off what is on the right hand, but they will still be hungry. In the end they will even eat the flesh of their own arms (offspring) (turn upon themselves). ²¹ Manasseh will feed on Ephraim, Ephraim will feed on Manasseh, and both will devour Judah. But even then Jehovah’s anger will not be satisfied. His hand is still poised to unleash his power.

² »I will stir up Egyptian against Egyptian. Brother will fight against brother, neighbor against neighbor, city against city, kingdom against kingdom. ³ »The Egyptians will become discouraged. I will bring their plans to nothing. They will consult the idols and the spirits of the dead, the mediums and the spiritists.

⁴ Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said: »Why are your thoughts evil?

²⁵ Knowing their thoughts, he said to them: »Every kingdom divided against itself is destroyed. Every city or house divided against itself will not stand. ²⁶ »If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How will his kingdom stand? ²⁷ »If I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Let them be your judges. ²⁸ »But if I cast out demons by God’s Spirit, then the kingdom of God has come to you. ²⁹ »How can one enter into the house of a strong man and steal his things, except he first tie up the strong man? Then he can rob his house.

²³ Jesus called them to him and spoke to them in illustrations. He asked: »How could Satan cast out Satan? ²⁴ »When a kingdom is divided against itself that kingdom cannot stand. ²⁵ »When a house is divided against itself it will not be able to stand. ²⁶ »If Satan has risen up against himself, he is divided, cannot stand and will come to an end. ²⁷ »No one can enter into the house of the strong man and steal his property unless he first captures the strong man. Then he will steal his property.

²⁵ He did not need evidence about men for he knew what was in man.

²³ »'I will kill her children with deadly plague. Then all the congregations will know that I am the one who searches hearts and minds. I will reward each of you for what you have done.

¹⁰ »Go away, Satan!« demanded Jesus. »It is written, »It is Jehovah your God you must worship, and it is to him alone you must render sacred service.’« (Deuteronomy 6:13-15)

²⁶ »If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How will his kingdom stand?

³¹ »Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men. But the blasphemy against God’s Spirit will not be forgiven. ³² »Whoever speaks a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him. But whoever speaks against Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this age, nor in that which is to come. ³³ »Either make the tree good, and its fruit good, or make the tree corrupt, and its fruit corrupt. The fruit a tree produces provides its reputation. ³⁴ »You offspring of vipers. How can you who are evil speak good things? Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

¹⁵ Some of them said: »Beelzebub the prince of the demons casts out demons.«

⁵ The tongue also is a little member. It boasts great things. Consider how great a forest fire a small fire kindles! ⁶ The tongue is like fire, the place of iniquity among our members. It defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of our life. It is set ablaze like the ever-burning fires in the Valley of Hinnom (Greek: Gehenna: symbolic of total destruction). ⁷ Every kind of beast and bird, of creeping things and things in the sea, is tamed, and has been tamed by mankind. ⁸ But no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil. It is full of deadly poison.

⁶ »Your own mouth condemns you, not mine! Your own lips testify against you.

²⁷ »If I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Let them be your judges. ²⁸ »But if I cast out demons by God’s Spirit, then the kingdom of God has come to you.

⁴¹ »The men of Nineveh will stand up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it. After all, they repented at the preaching of Jonah. Yet someone greater than Jonah is here. ⁴² »The queen of the south will rise up in the judgment with this generation, and condemn it. She came from the ends of the earth to hear the Wisdom of Solomon. Someone greater than Solomon is here!

⁴⁹ John said: »Master we saw some one casting out demons in your name. So we prevented him from doing this because he does not follow us.«

³¹ »The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation. She will condemn them for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the Wisdom of Solomon and one greater than Solomon is here now. ³² »The men of Nineveh shall stand up in the judgment with this generation. They will condemn it for they repented at the preaching of Jonah and someone greater than Jonah is here now.

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

¹⁹ We know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those under the law. Every mouth may be stopped and the entire world may become liable to God for punishment.

¹⁹ The magicians said to the king: »It is the finger of God!« (God has done this!) But the king was stubborn. Just as Jehovah predicted, the king would not listen to Moses and Aaron.

²⁸ »But if I cast out demons by God’s Spirit, then the kingdom of God has come to you.

⁹ »Heal the sick that are there and say to them, the kingdom of God is near you.

¹¹ »Shake off the dust that clings to your feet, from that city, so they may know that the kingdom of God came near.

²⁵ »I know all of you and have preached the kingdom with you. But you will not see me again.

²³ So they set a date with Paul. A large number of them came that day to the place where Paul was staying. From morning till night he explained his message about the Kingdom of God to them. He tried to convince them about Jesus by quoting from the Law of Moses and the writings of the prophets. ²⁴ Some of them were convinced by his words, but others did not believe. ²⁵ So they left, disagreeing among themselves, after Paul had said this one thing: »How well the Holy Spirit spoke through the prophet Isaiah to your ancestors!« ²⁶ He said, »Go and say to this people, ‘You will listen and listen, but not understand. You will look and look, but not see. ²⁷ ‘»These people have closed their mind and are hard of hearing. They have shut their eyes so that their eyes never see. Their ears never hear. Their minds never understand. They never turn to me for healing.’ ²⁸ »You need to know that God has sent his salvation to people who are not Jews. They will listen.«

⁵ All of this proves that God’s judgment is just, and as a result, you will become worthy of his Kingdom, for which you are suffering.

²⁹ »How can one enter into the house of a strong man and steal his things, except he first tie up the strong man? Then he can rob his house.

²⁷ »No one can enter into the house of the strong man and steal his property unless he first captures the strong man. Then he will steal his property.

¹⁵ »And I will put enmity (hostility) (hatred) between you and the woman, and between your offspring (seed) and hers. He will bruise (overwhelm) (crush) you in the head, and you will bruise (overwhelm) (crush) him in the heel.« (Romans 16:20)

¹ In that day Jehovah will punish with his sword, his fierce, great and powerful sword. He will slay Leviathan the fleeing, coiling serpent, the monster of the sea.

²⁴ »Can the prey be taken from the strong man? Can the captives be rescued from the tyrant?« ²⁵ Certainly Jehovah says: »The captives of the strong man will be taken away. The prey of the tyrant will be rescued. I will contend with the one who grapples with you and I will save your sons.

¹² Therefore I will give him a portion among the great. He will divide the spoils with the strong. This is because he poured out his life unto death. He was numbered with the transgressors. He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

¹ Who is this coming from Bozrah in Edom with his clothes stained bright red? Who is this dressed in splendor, going forward with great strength? It is I, Jehovah! I am coming to announce my victory. I am powerful enough to save you! ² Why are your clothes red and your garments like those who trample grapes in a winepress? ³ »I have trampled alone in the winepress. No one was with me. In my anger I trampled on people. In my wrath I stomped on them. Their blood splattered my clothes so all my clothing has been stained. ⁴ »The day of vengeance was in my heart. The year for my reclaiming you has come.

¹⁵ He disarmed the rulers and authorities! He made a public display of them triumphing over them.

⁸ He who sins is of the devil. For the devil sinned from the beginning. To this end the Son of God was made known (manifested), that he might destroy the works of the devil.

⁴ You are of God, my little children. You have overcome them because he that is in you is greater than he that is in the world.

¹ I saw an angel come down from heaven. He had the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. ² He seized the dragon, the old serpent that is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. ³ He hurled him into the bottomless pit, and shut it and sealed it over him. He could not deceive the nations anymore till the thousand years ended. After that he must be let loose for a little while.

³⁰ »He that is not with me is against me. And he that does not gather with me, scatters.

⁴⁰ »For whoever is not against us is on our side.

⁵⁰ Jesus said: »Do not forbid him for he that is not against you is for you.«

¹⁵ »'I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were cold or hot. ¹⁶ »'Because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.

³⁷ »Look I will place wool on the threshing floor where we thresh the wheat. If in the morning there is dew only on the wool but not on the ground, I will know that you are going to use me to rescue Israel.« ³⁸ That is what happened. When Gideon got up early the next morning, he squeezed the wool and wrung enough dew out of it to fill a bowl with water. ³⁹ Then Gideon said to God: »Do not be angry with me. Allow me to speak just once more. Please let me make one more test with the wool. This time let the wool be dry, and the ground wet.« ⁴⁰ That night God did it. The next morning the wool was dry, but the ground was wet with dew.

⁷ Jehovah asked him: »What have you been doing?« Satan answered: »I have been walking here and there and roaming around the earth.«

² Jehovah asked Satan: »Where have you come from? Satan replied to Jehovah: From wandering all over the earth.«

¹ ([[Psalm of David] in the wilderness of Judah:]) O God, you are my God. At dawn I search for you. I thirst for you. My body longs for you in a dry, parched land where there is no water.

¹⁶ They do not sleep unless they have done evil. Their sleep is taken away unless they make someone fall.

¹ The desert will rejoice, and flowers will bloom in the wastelands. ² The desert will sing and shout for joy! It will be beautiful like the Lebanon Mountains. It will be fertile as the fields of Carmel and Sharon. Everyone will see Jehovah’s splendor. They will see his greatness and power.

⁷ The parched ground will become a lake, and dry land will be filled with springs. Marsh grass and reeds will grow where jackals used to live.

¹⁷ »The poor and needy search for water, but there is none! Their tongues are parched with thirst. But I Jehovah will answer them. I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them. ¹⁸ »I will make rivers flow on barren heights, and springs within the valleys. I will turn the desert into pools of water, and the parched ground into springs. ¹⁹ »I will put the cedar and the acacia, the myrtle and the olive in the desert. I will set pines in the wasteland, the fir and the cypress together.

³ »‘I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground. I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring. I will give blessing to your descendants.

²² »There is no peace for the wicked,« says Jehovah.

²⁰ But the wicked are like the troubled and restless sea, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. ²¹ My God has said: »There is no peace for the wicked.«

⁸ He said: »This water flows through the land to the east, down into the Jordan Valley, and into the Dead Sea. When the water flows into the Dead Sea, it will replace the salt water there with fresh water. ⁹ »Wherever the river flows, there will be many fish and animals. The river will make the water in the Dead Sea fresh. Wherever the river flows, it will bring life. ¹⁰ »From En Gedi to En Eglaim people will be standing on the shore of the sea with their fishing nets spread out. As many kinds of fish will be there as there are in the Mediterranean Sea. ¹¹ »But the water in the swamps and marshes will not become fresh. It will remain salty.

⁴³ »When an unclean spirit goes out of a man it passes through the desert seeking rest. It does not find it. ⁴⁴ »It tries to return to the place from where it came. It finds it empty, swept, and fixed up. ⁴⁵ »Then it takes along seven other spirits more evil than itself. They enter in and dwell there. The last state of that man becomes worse than the first. It will also be like this with this evil generation.«

¹⁰ He earnestly implored him not to send the spirits away out of the country.

²⁵ When Jesus saw the people he ordered the unclean spirit to come out of him. He commanded the spirit that caused the loss of voice and hearing to leave and never return to him.

² You once walked according to the course of this world, according to the ruler of the power (authority and jurisdiction) of the air, the spirit that is now active in the sons of disobedience.

⁸ Be sober, be watchful: your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion walks about, seeking whom he may devour (consume).

¹⁷ After the death of Jehoiada the priest, the leaders of Judah went to Joash and talked him into doing what they wanted. ¹⁸ The people of Judah stopped worshiping in the Temple of Jehovah God. They started worshiping idols and the symbols of the goddess Asherah. These sinful things made Jehovah God angry with the people of Judah and Jerusalem, ¹⁹ However he still sent prophets who warned them to turn back to him. The people refused to listen. ²⁰ God’s Spirit spoke to Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest. Zechariah told everyone that God was saying: »Why are you disobeying me and my Laws? This will only bring punishment! You have deserted me, so now I will desert you.« ²¹ They plotted against Zechariah. Then they followed the king’s order and stoned him to death in the courtyard of Jehovah’s Temple. ²² King Joash forgot that Zechariah’s father had always been a loyal friend. So when the people of Judah plotted to kill Zechariah, Joash joined them and gave orders for them to stone him to death in the courtyard of the Temple. As Zechariah was dying, he said: »I pray that Jehovah will see this and punish all of you.«

³ The words of his mouth are wickedness and deceit and he ceased to be wise and do good.

¹¹ »My people did not listen to my voice. Israel did not obey me. ¹² »Therefore I gave them over to their stubborn hearts. They walked in their own counsel.

⁵ Jehovah will lead those who turn away from their crooked ways with the workers of iniquity. Israel will have peace.

⁹ The evil (lawless) one will come with the power of Satan and perform all kinds of false signs and wonders. ¹⁰ He will use every kind of wicked deceit on those who will perish. They will perish because they did not welcome and love the truth so as to be saved. ¹¹ So God dispatches the power of deceit (error) to work in them so that they are allowed to believe what is false. ¹² Then everyone who did not believe the truth, but was delighted with wickedness, will be condemned.

¹⁰ This is primarily for those who indulge the flesh in its corrupt desires and despise authority. Daring, self-willed, they do not tremble at glorious ones but speak abusively. ¹¹ Angels, though greater in might and power, do not bring an accusation of abusive judgment against them before Jehovah. ¹² But these are creatures without reason. They were born mere animals to be taken and destroyed! They speak abusively in matters of which they are ignorant. They suffer destruction in their own course of destruction. ¹³ They suffer wrong as their reward for wrongdoing. They are men that count it pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions while they feast with you. ¹⁴ They have eyes full of adultery that cannot cease from sin! They entice unsteady persons. Their hearts are full of covetousness. They are children of cursing. ¹⁵ They went astray, forsaking the right way. They followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of wrongdoing. ¹⁶ He was rebuked for his own transgression. A beast of burden spoke with a man's voice and restrained (hindered) the madness of the prophet. ¹⁷ These are springs without water, and mists driven by a storm, for whom the gloom of darkness has been reserved. ¹⁸ For, uttering arrogant words of vanity, they entice in the desires (lusts) of the flesh, by sensuality (lasciviousness), those who are just escaping from the ones who live in error. ¹⁹ They promise them freedom, while they are bondservants of corruption. A man is brought into bondage by one and enslaved by another.

⁸ In like manner these men also in their dreams defile the flesh, reject authority and speak evil of glorious ones. ⁹ Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil disputed about the body of Moses. He did not speak evil judgment against him in abusive terms, but said: »Jehovah rebukes you.« (Zechariah 3:2) ¹⁰ These men speak abusively about things they do not know. What they understand naturally, like the creatures without reason, they corrupt themselves. ¹¹ Woe to them! They went in the way of Cain, and ran riotously in the error of Balaam for hire, and perished in the rebellious talk of Korah. ¹² These men are hidden rocks in your love feasts when they feast (entertain) with you. They are shepherds that without fear feed themselves. They are clouds without water, carried along by winds. They are autumn leaves without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots. ¹³ They are wild waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame. They are wandering stars, for which the black darkness has been reserved forever.

⁶ »The same for those who have turned back from following Jehovah, and those who have not sought Jehovah or inquired of Him.«

⁴⁵ »Then it takes along seven other spirits more evil than itself. They enter in and dwell there. The last state of that man becomes worse than the first. It will also be like this with this evil generation.«

¹⁵ »Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You travel on both sea and land to make one convert. When this happens, you make him twice as deserving of destruction in the trash fires of the valley of Hinnom (Greek: Gehenna).

¹⁴ Later Jesus found him in the temple and told him: »Now that you are healed do not sin anymore and avoid worse things happening to you.«

⁴ Those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, ⁵ and have tasted the good Word of God, and the powers of the age to come, ⁶ if they shall fall away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance. This is because they personally impale the Son of God again, and expose him to public shame. ⁷ The earth that drinks in the rain that comes upon it, and brings forth vegetation for those by whom it was cultivated, receives blessing from God. ⁸ That which bears thorns and briars is rejected, and is near to being cursed. It ends up being burned.

²⁶ If we continue to (practice) (deliberately persist in) sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins. ²⁷ But there remains a certain fearful expectation of judgment and a fiery indignation, which will devour God’s enemies. ²⁸ He that despised Moses’ Law died without mercy under two or three witnesses. ²⁹ What about those who despise the Son of God? Those who treat as a cheap thing the blood of God’s covenant that purified them from sin? Those who insult the Spirit of grace? Think how much worse the punishment they deserve will be! ³⁰ We know who said: »Vengeance is mine; I will repay«; and who also said, »Jehovah will judge his people.« (Deuteronomy 32:35) ³¹ It is a dreadful (terrible) thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

²⁰ After they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled and overcome; the last state is worse with them than the first. ²¹ For it were better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after knowing it, to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. ²² It happened to them according to the true proverb: »The dog returns to his own vomit, and the sow that had washed to wallowing in the mire.«

¹⁶ If any man see his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he will ask, and God will give him life for them that sin not leading to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I do not say that he should make request concerning this.

²⁸ Gabriel appeared to her and said: »Greetings highly favored one. God is with you.«

⁴² She shouted loudly: »Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!«

⁴⁸ »He has looked on the low position of his servant. All generations from now on will call me blessed.

²⁹ »The days are coming when they will say blessed are the barren those without children and the breasts that never nursed.

¹ Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of the scornful mockers. ² But his delight is in the law of Jehovah (YHWH), and on his law he meditates (ponders) (speaks softly with deep thought) (studies) (contemplates) day and night. ³ He is like a tree planted by streams of water. It yields its fruit in season and its leaves do not wither. Whatever he does prospers.

¹ Praise Jehovah! Blessed is the person who respects Jehovah and is happy to obey his commandments.

¹ Blessed are those whose way is blameless. They walk in the law of Jehovah. ² Blessed are those who obey his written word. They seek him with all their heart. ³ They also do no unrighteousness. They walk in his ways. ⁴ You have ordained your precepts that we should keep them diligently. ⁵ Oh that my ways may be established to keep your statutes! ⁶ I will not be ashamed when I look upon all your commandments.

¹ Blessed are all who reverence Jehovah and live his way.

¹⁷ This is what Jehovah your Defender (Redeemer), the Holy One of Israel, says: »I am Jehovah your God. I teach you what is best for you. I lead you where you should go. ¹⁸ »If only you had listened to my commandments! Your peace would be like a river that never runs dry. Your righteousness would be like waves on the sea.

²¹ »Not everyone who calls me Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven. He who does the will of my Father in heaven will enter. ²² »Many will say to me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ ²³ »I will say to them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you workers of evil.’ ²⁴ »Everyone who hears my words, and does them is like a wise man that builds his house on a rock. ²⁵ »The rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house; and it did not fall. It was built on a solid rock foundation.

⁴⁸ But he answered: »Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?« ⁴⁹ He stretched out his hand towards his disciples, and said: »Behold, my mother and my brothers! ⁵⁰ »For everyone who does the will of my Father who is in heaven is my brother, and sister, and mother.«

⁴⁷ »Every one who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you to whom he is like. ⁴⁸ »He is like a man building a house. He dug and laid a deep foundation upon the rock. A flood sent a stream of water against the house and could not shake it because it was well built.

²¹ He answered, »My mother and my brother are these who hear the word of God, and do it.«

¹⁷ »If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.

²¹ Therefore get rid of all filthiness and wickedness. Receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save you. ²² Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, who deceive themselves. ²³ For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man looking at his natural face in a mirror. ²⁴ He sees himself, and goes away, and immediately forgets what manner of man he was. ²⁵ But he who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and so continues, being not a hearer who forgets but a doer who works, this man will be blessed in what he does.

²¹ Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us we have confidence toward God. ²² Whatever we ask we receive from Him because we obey His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight. ²³ This is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another. He gave us this commandment! ²⁴ The one who obeys God's commandments lives in God, and God lives in (with) Him. We know that He lives in (with) us by the Spirit He gave us.

¹⁴ »'Blessed are those who obey his commandments. They have the right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates of the city.

³ »But come here, you sons of the witch, you offspring of the adulterer and the prostitute! ⁴ With whom are you effeminate (self-indulgent)? With whom do you open wide your mouth and offer your tongue? Are you not children of transgression, offspring of falsehood and deceit?

⁷ He saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism. »You offspring of vipers,« he said, »who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

³⁸ Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying: »Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.« ³⁹ He answered them: »An evil and adulterous generation seeks a sign. No sign will be given but the sign of Jonah the prophet. ⁴⁰ »Just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the huge fish, so the Son of man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth [the grave].

³⁴ »Look! I am sending you prophets, wise men, and scribes. Some of them you will torture and kill. Others you will torment and persecute from city to city. ³⁵ »You are responsible for all the righteous blood shed on earth. That includes the blood of the righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, whom you killed between the sanctuary and the altar. ³⁶ »I tell you, all these things will come upon this generation (those living at that time).

³⁸ »For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of man will also be ashamed of him, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.«

⁴¹ Jesus answered: »O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and put up with you? Bring your son to me.«

¹⁶ Others tested him demanding a sign from heaven.

⁵⁰ »The blood of all the prophets shed from the foundation of the world may be required of this generation.

¹ Thousands of people in the crowd were gathered together so much that they bumped into one another. He said to his disciples: »First of all, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

²⁵ Jesus turned to speak to the large crowd of people who were traveling with him: ²⁶ »You who come to me may not be my disciple unless you love me more than you love your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters and yourself.

¹⁸ The Jews asked him: »What sign would you show us seeing that you do these things?

⁴⁴ »You are from your father [Satan] the Devil (slanderer) (false accuser)! You want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning. He does not stand for the truth. There is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks his own lies. He is a liar and the father of the lie!

⁵¹ »You obstinate men who are uncircumcised in heart and ears. You always resist the Holy Spirit as your fathers did. ⁵² »Which of the prophets have your fathers not persecuted? They killed those who announced in advance the coming of the righteous one whom you have betrayed and murdered.

¹⁷ However, Jehovah prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

¹⁰ Jehovah spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah out upon the dry land.

² »Arise and go to the great city, Nineveh. Proclaim to it the proclamation I give you.« ³ So Jonah arose, and went to Nineveh, according to the word of Jehovah. Nineveh was a very important and large city, a three days' walk [from one side to the other]. ⁴ Jonah began to enter into the city, a day's journey walking, and he shouted: »Nineveh will be overthrown in Forty days.« ⁵ The people of Nineveh believed God and they proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. ⁶ The news reached the king of Nineveh. He left his throne, and took off his robe and covered himself with sackcloth. Then he sat in ashes. ⁷ He made proclamation and published it in Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying: »Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything; let them not eat, nor drink water. ⁸ »Let them be covered with sackcloth, both man and beast. Let them sincerely call on God! Let them turn away each one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in his hands. ⁹ »Who knows whether God will turn back and change his mind, and turn away from his fierce anger that we will not perish?« ¹⁰ God saw their works! That they turned from their evil way. God turned back from the deed that he said he would do to them. He did not do it.

⁴⁶ He said: »It is written that the Christ should suffer, and rise again from the dead the third day. ⁴⁷ »Repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

¹ The queen of Sheba heard of Solomon's fame. She traveled to Jerusalem to test him with difficult questions. ² So she came to Jerusalem with a very large caravan. The camels carried spices and very much gold and precious stones. When she approached Solomon, she talked about everything she had on her mind (heart). ³ Solomon answered all her questions. Nothing was hidden from the king that he did not explain to her. ⁴ When the queen of Sheba perceived all the Wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built, ⁵ the food of his table, the seating of his servants, the attendance of his waiters and their attire, his cupbearers, and his stairway by which he went up to the house of Jehovah, she was overwhelmed. ⁶ She said to the king: »The report I heard in my country about your acts and your wisdom was true. ⁷ »But I had no faith in what was said about you, till I came and saw for myself. Now I see that what I was told was not the half of it! Your wisdom and your wealth are much greater than they said. ⁸ »Happy are your wives, happy are your servants whose place is ever before you, hearing your words of wisdom. ⁹ »Praise Jehovah your God! He delighted in you and made you king of Israel. Jehovah’s love for Israel is long lasting, he has made you king, to be their judge in righteousness.« ¹⁰ She gave the king a hundred and twenty talents of gold, and a great store of spices and jewels. Never again was such a wealth of spices seen as that which the queen of Sheba gave King Solomon. ¹¹ Hiram's fleet that brought gold from Ophir also brought a large quantity of sandalwood and precious stones from Ophir. ¹² With the sandalwood (possibly the algum tree) the king made supports for Jehovah’s Temple and the royal palace, and lyres and harps for the singers. Never again was sandalwood like this imported into Israel, nor has any been seen there to this day. ¹³ King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba all her desire. Whatever she requested in addition to what he gave her freely from the impulse of his heart. She and her servants went back to her country.

¹ The QUEEN OF SHEBA heard about Solomon’s reputation. So she came to Jerusalem to test him with difficult questions. She arrived with a large group of servants. They had camels carrying spices, a large quantity of gold, and precious stones. When she came to Solomon, she talked with him about everything she had on her mind.

⁶ For unto us a child is born. Unto us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. He will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. ⁷ Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of Jehovah of Hosts will accomplish this.

¹⁷ »Weapons forged against you will not prevail! You will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of Jehovah and this is their vindication from me,« declares Jehovah.

¹¹ Jehovah said to me: »Treacherous Judah was more reprehensible than unfaithful Israel.

⁴² »The queen of the south will rise up in the judgment with this generation, and condemn it. She came from the ends of the earth to hear the Wisdom of Solomon. Someone greater than Solomon is here!

²² Holy Spirit descended upon him in a bodily form like a dove. A voice came out of heaven. He said: »You are my beloved Son. In you I am well pleased.«

³⁵ A voice came out of the cloud saying: »This is my Son my chosen one. Listen to him!«

²⁷ The uncircumcised person is by nature, fulfilling the law. He will judge you because you transgress the law with your written code and circumcision.

¹⁵ He is the image (likeness) (representation) of the invisible God. He is the firstborn (Greek: prototokos: childbirth, offspring) of all creation. ¹⁶ All things in the heavens and upon the earth where created through him. The things visible and invisible were created through him. Whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created through him, and for him. ¹⁷ He is before all things, and through him all things originate. ¹⁸ He is the head of the body, the congregation. He is the beginning (commencement), the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence (first place). ¹⁹ It was the good pleasure of the Father that in him all the fullness should dwell.

⁷ By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not seen as yet, moved with godly respect. He prepared an ark to save his house. By his faith he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that is according to faith.

² »Arise, go to Nineveh the great city and proclaim against her that Jehovah has seen their terrible wickedness.« ³ Jonah tried to run away from the presence of Jehovah (YHWH). He went to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. He paid the fare and boarded it to go with them to Tarshish away from the presence of Jehovah.

⁵ The people of Nineveh believed God and they proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.

⁹ However God replied to Jonah: »Do you have good reason to be angry at the plant?« He said to God: »I have good reason to be angry even unto death.«

³¹ »The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation. She will condemn them for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the Wisdom of Solomon and one greater than Solomon is here now.

²⁶ Such a high priest as this was suitable for us. He is holy, harmless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and higher than the heavens.

¹⁵ »A light is not placed under a cover. To the contrary, it is placed on a table so all may see. ¹⁶ »Likewise, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

²⁷ »The things I tell you in darkness, speak in the light. Proclaim everything you hear from on top of the house.

²¹ He asked them: »Is the lamp placed under a bushel, or under a bed, and not on the stand? ²² »There is nothing hidden unless it should be made known. Nothing is made secret that should come to light.

¹⁶ »No one lights a lamp and puts a cover over it or hides it under a bed. Instead he places it on a stand that everyone entering may see the light. ¹⁷ »Nothing is hidden that will not be revealed. Nothing is secret that will not be made known and come to light.

⁹ Jesus answered: »Are there not twelve hours in the day? If a man walks in the day he does not stumble because he sees the light of this world.

⁴⁶ »I have come as a light to the world. Everyone who believes in me will not remain in darkness.

¹⁵ That way you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation. You are seen as lights in the world. ¹⁶ Hold fast to the word of life so I may rejoice in the day of Christ. That way I will not have labored in vain.

¹¹ Then they blinded the men of Sodom so they could not find the doorway.

¹⁵ Early the next morning Elisha's servant got up and went out of the house. He saw the Syrian troops with their horses and chariots surrounding the town. He went to Elisha and said: »Alas my master what shall we do?« ¹⁶ »Do not be afraid,« Elisha answered. »We have more on our side than they have on theirs.« ¹⁷ Elisha prayed: »O Jehovah, open his eyes that he may see.« Jehovah answered his prayer. Elisha's servant looked up and saw the hillside covered with horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. ¹⁸ The Syrians attacked! Elisha prayed, »O Jehovah, strike these men blind!« Jehovah answered his prayer and struck them blind. ¹⁹ Elisha said to the Syrians: »This is not the way or the town you are looking for. Follow me, and I will lead you to the man you are after.« He led them to Samaria. ²⁰ When they entered the city, Elisha prayed: »Open their eyes and let them see.« Jehovah answered his prayer. He restored their sight, and they saw that they were inside Samaria.

¹² »Therefore I gave them over to their stubborn hearts. They walked in their own counsel.

¹⁸ Open my eyes that I may observe wonderful things from your law.

²² He who hurries to be rich has an evil eye. He does not think poverty will come to him.

¹⁰ »This people’s heart has become calloused. They hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.«(Septuagint)

¹⁰ Jehovah has made you drowsy. He shut your eyes in a deep sleep you prophets and visionaries. He overwhelmed your leaders.

¹⁹ Is anyone more blind than my servant or more deaf than the messenger I send?

¹⁸ They do not know or understand anything. Their eyes are plastered shut and cannot see. Their minds are closed and therefore they cannot understand.

²¹ »‘Hear this, you stupid and senseless people! You have eyes, but you cannot see. You have ears, but you cannot hear.’«

²² »The eyes are like a lamp for the body. If your eye is clear (simple) (focused) (single minded), your whole body will be full of [spiritual] light. ²³ »But if your eye is wicked, your body will be in darkness. If that light in you is really darkness, how great a darkness it must be.

¹² »So that seeing they may see and not perceive. And hearing they may hear and not understand. Otherwise they might repent and be forgiven.«

²² coveting, wickedness, deceit, loose conduct, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness.

¹⁸ »Having eyes, do you not see? Having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember?

⁴⁶ They continued daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house. They ate their food with gladness and singleness of heart.

¹¹ »Look Jehovah’s hand is on you. You will be blind and not see the sun for a season.« Immediately there fell on him a mist and darkness. He went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.

¹⁸ »To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God. They may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

⁸ It is written, »God has given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear to this very day.« (Deuteronomy 29:4) ⁹ David says, »Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumbling block, and recompense to them. ¹⁰ »Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back always.« (Psalm 69:23)

¹² This is our pride and testimony of conscience. In holiness and Godly sincerity we behaved ourselves in the world, and more abundantly toward you. It was not by fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God.

⁴ The god of this age (world) (religious, social, political, and economic arrangement) has blinded the minds of unbelievers that the light of the good news of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not shine on them.

³ But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve in his craftiness, your minds will be lead away from the simplicity and the purity (cleanness) that is toward Christ.

¹⁷ May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give you a spirit (mental disposition) of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him.

⁵ Servants, be obedient to those who according to the flesh are your masters, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of your heart, as to Christ.

²² Servants, obey your masters according to the flesh in all things, not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but in singleness of heart, respecting God.

²⁵ There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end is the way of death!

¹² See a man wise in his own conceit? »There is more hope for a fool than for him.«

²⁰ You are doomed! You call evil good and you call good evil. You turn darkness into light and light into darkness. You make what is bitter, sweet, and what is sweet you make bitter. ²¹ You are doomed! You think you are wise. You think you are so very clever.

⁸ »How can you say you are wise and that you have Jehovah’s Laws? The scribes have used their pens to spread falsehoods. ⁹ »Wise people are put to shame, confused, and trapped. They have rejected the word of Jehovah. They do not really have any wisdom.

⁴⁸ »Have any of the rulers or the Pharisees believed in him? ⁴⁹ »This crowd does not know the law. It is contemptible«

³⁹ Jesus said: »I came into the world for this judgment that those not seeing may see and those seeing 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 replied: »If you were blind you would have no sin. But you say we see so your sin remains.«

²² Claiming to be wise, they became fools.

¹⁹ And you have confidence that you are a leader of the blind, a light to those in darkness. ²⁰ You are an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge and of truth in the law. ²¹ You then who teach another, do you teach yourself? You who preach not to steal, do you steal? ²² You who say man should not commit adultery do you commit adultery? You who abhors idols do you rob temples? ²³ You who boast in the law do you by transgression of the law dishonor God?

¹⁹ It is written: »I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.« (Isaiah 29:14) ²⁰ Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? ²¹ This is the wisdom of God that the world through its wisdom did not come to know God. God was well pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.

¹⁸ Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. ¹⁹ For the wisdom of this age is foolishness with God. It is written: »He catches the wise in their own craftiness (deception).« (Job 5:13) ²⁰ And again: »Jehovah knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain (useless) (empty).« (Psalm 94:11)

¹³ Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good conduct that his works are from meekness because of wisdom. ¹⁴ If you have bitter jealousy (envy) and greedy ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and lie against the truth. ¹⁵ This wisdom is not a wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, sensual, and devilish. ¹⁶ For where jealousy and selfishness are, there is confusion and every evil deed. ¹⁷ But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable (yielding), full of mercy and good fruits, without discord (partiality), without hypocrisy.

⁹ For he who lacks these qualities is blind, seeing only what is near, having forgotten the cleansing from his old sins.

¹⁸ For, uttering arrogant words of vanity, they entice in the desires (lusts) of the flesh, by sensuality (lasciviousness), those who are just escaping from the ones who live in error.

¹⁷ »'You say, «I am rich and have become wealthy and have need of nothing." You do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.

⁹⁷ O How I love your law! It is my meditation all day long. ⁹⁸ Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever mine. ⁹⁹ I have more insight than all my teachers, for your laws are my meditation. ¹⁰⁰ I understand more than the aged, since I have observed your precepts. ¹⁰¹ I have restrained my feet from every evil way, that I may keep your word. ¹⁰² I have not turned aside from your ordinances just as you have instructed me. ¹⁰³ How sweet are your words to my taste! Sweeter than honey to my mouth! ¹⁰⁴ I get understanding from your precepts. Therefore I hate every false way. ¹⁰⁵ Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

⁵ A wise man will hear and will increase learning. A man of understanding will procure wise counsel.

¹ My son, take my words to heart and treasure my commandments within you. ² Pay close attention to wisdom, and let your [mind and] heart (inner being) reach for discernment. ³ Call out for insight. Lift up your voice for understanding. ⁴ Search for wisdom as if it were silver. Hunt for it as if it were hidden treasure! ⁵ If you do these things you will have respect for Jehovah and you will find the true knowledge of God! ⁶ Jehovah gives wisdom. From his mouth come knowledge and understanding. ⁷ He stores up insightful (sound) (substantial) wisdom for the upright. He is a shield for those who walk in integrity. ⁸ He guards those on paths of justice. He watches over the way of his godly ones. ⁹ You will understand righteousness and justice. You will have equity and every good course in life. ¹⁰ Wisdom enters your heart. Knowledge gives you pleasure. ¹¹ Discretion will protect you. Understanding will watch over you.

¹⁸ The path of the righteous is like the shining light of dawn that shines brighter and brighter until the more perfect day. ¹⁹ The way of the wicked is like darkness. They do not know what makes them stumble.

²³ For the commandment is a lamp. The law is light. Reproofs for instruction are the way of life.

²⁷ The breath of man is the candle of Jehovah, searching all the inward parts of him.

²⁰ They should go to the teachings and to the written instructions. If people do not speak these words, it is because there is no light (truth) in them.

¹⁶ »I will lead my blind people by roads they have never traveled. I will turn their darkness into light and make rough country smooth before them. I will keep my promises without fail.«

³ »Let us get to know Jehovah! Let us press on (run after) (follow) to get to know him. As surely as the sun rises he will appear. He will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.«

¹¹ He responded: »You are allowed to know the divine secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but it is not for others to know. (The Greek word for »you« is plural and is applied to the disciples as a group.) ¹² »He who has shall receive more to the point of abundance. He who does not have, it shall be taken away including that which he has.

⁵² And he said to them: »Every scribe (journalist) (writer) who has been made a disciple to the kingdom of heaven is like a man that is a householder, who brings out of his treasure things new and old.«

²⁴ Then he said: »Be careful what you listen to. That which is portioned out by you might be portioned to you and more. ²⁵ »He who has, to him it will be given. He who has not, from him will be taken even that which he has.«

⁶ God said: Light will shine out of darkness. He shined in our hearts. He gave the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face (presence) ((person) of Jesus Christ.

¹⁴ We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error.

¹⁶ Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you with all wisdom. Teach and admonish one another with psalms, praises to God, and spiritual songs. Sing with gratitude in your hearts to God.

¹⁵ From childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to make you wise to salvation through faith that is in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶ God inspired all Scripture! It is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness. (Greek: theopneustos: God-breathed) ¹⁷ Thus the man of God may be completely equipped for every good work.

¹⁴ But solid food belongs to mature people. It belongs to those who by reason of use have their senses trained to know the difference between good and evil.

²⁵ But he who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and so continues, being not a hearer who forgets but a doer who works, this man will be blessed in what he does.

¹⁸ Grow in the unmerited favor and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

³⁶ One of the Pharisees asked him to dine with him. He went to the Pharisee’s house and sat down to eat.

¹ Shortly after that he went into the house of one of the rulers of the Pharisees. They were there to eat on the Sabbath. They watched him.

¹⁹ For, though I am free from all persons, yet I have made myself a servant to all, that I might gain more. ²⁰ To the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews. To those under the Law, as under the Law, that I might gain those under the Law. ²¹ To those without Law I became like those without Law that I might gain them. I am not without law to God, but under the law to (toward) (of) Christ. ²² To the weak I became as the weak, that I might gain the weak. I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. ²³ And this I do for the sake of the good news that I might be a partaker of it with others.

² They questioned him: »Why do your disciples go against the teaching of the fathers? They eat food with unwashed hands.« ³ His answer to them was in the form of a question: »Why do you go against the word of God in favor of your tradition?

² They saw that some of his disciples ate their bread with unwashed defiled hands. ³ (For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not eat until they wash their hands. They practice the tradition of the elders.) ⁴ When they come from the marketplace they wash themselves before they eat. They follow many other rules. They wash their cups, and brass pots, and other vessels. ⁵ The Pharisees and the scribes asked: »Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders. Instead they eat their bread with defiled hands?«

²⁵ There was a controversy between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purification.

⁵ Jehovah saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become. Every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time.

² He did what Jehovah considered right, but he did not do it wholeheartedly.

²⁰ This is what Hezekiah did throughout Judah. He did what was good and right and true to Jehovah his God. ²¹ Hezekiah incorporated Moses’ teachings and commands into worship and dedicated his life to serving God. Whatever he did for the worship in God’s Temple, he did wholeheartedly, and he succeeded.

¹³ They opened their mouths to attack me like ferocious, roaring lions.

²⁵ When he speaks kind words do not believe him. There are seven abominations in his heart.

¹² There is a generation pure in their own eyes, and yet not washed from their filthiness.

¹⁴ »O Jerusalem, wash the evil from your heart so that you may be saved. How long will your wicked thoughts lodge within you?

²⁵ ‘»There is a conspiracy of her prophets in her midst like a roaring lion tearing the prey. They have devoured lives. They have taken treasure and precious things. They have made many widows in the midst of her.

²⁷ ‘»Her princes within her are like wolves tearing the prey, by shedding blood and destroying lives in order to get dishonest gain.

³ Her princes (rulers) within her are roaring lions. Her judges are evening wolves. They leave nothing till the morning.

¹⁵ »Watch out for the false prophets. They are disguised as sheep. But in their hearts they are vicious wolves.

³³ »Either make the tree good, and its fruit good, or make the tree corrupt, and its fruit corrupt. The fruit a tree produces provides its reputation. ³⁴ »You offspring of vipers. How can you who are evil speak good things? Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. ³⁵ »The good man performs good things out of his good treasure. The evil man performs evil things out of his evil treasure.

¹⁹ »Evil thoughts come from the heart! Thoughts about murder, adultery, fornication, theft, lying, and slander come from the heart!

²⁵ »Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You cleanse the outside of the cup and of the platter, yet the inside is full of extortion and excess. ²⁶ »You are blind. Clean the inside of the cup and platter first. Then clean the outside.

¹³ When the Lord saw her he had sympathy for her. »Do not cry,« he said.

¹⁵ Jesus said: »You make yourselves look righteous to other people. God knows your hearts. The things considered of great value by people are worth nothing in God’s sight.

⁶ He did not say this because he cared for the poor. He was a thief. He had the moneybox and took away what was put in it.

² The devil influenced the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son. So he betrayed him during the meal.

³ Peter said: »Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back part of the money from the land sale?

²¹ »You have no part or share in this matter for your heart is not right in the sight of God. ²² »Repent of this wickedness, and pray to God, that the thought in your heart may be forgiven you. ²³ »For I perceive that you are full of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.«

¹⁴ I advanced as a Jew beyond many of my own age among my countrymen. I was more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.

⁵ having a form of godliness, but denying its power. Stay away from people like this!

¹⁵ To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure. Both their mind and their conscience are defiled.

⁸ Draw close to God, and he will draw close to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded (uncertain) (doubter) (skeptic).

²⁶ Then God said: »Let us make man in our image, in our likeness. Let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth and over all the creatures that move along the ground.«

⁷ Jehovah God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. The man became a living being.

²² Immediately, they bowed with their faces touching the ground and said: »O God, you are the God who gives the breath of life to everyone! If one man sins, will you be angry with the entire congregation?«

¹ ([Psalm of David]) The fool says in his heart: »There is no God (Jehovah) (Psalm 10:4).« They are corrupt. They do disgusting things. No one does good things.

¹⁵ He who fashions all their hearts observes and understands all their works.

⁴ I said to the boastful: »Do not boast!« I said to the wicked: »Do not lift up the horn (brag about your power)!« ⁵ Do not lift up your horn on high. Do not speak with insolent pride.

⁸ Pay attention, you stupid (senseless) people! When will you become wise, you fools? ⁹ God created ears. Do you think he cannot hear? He formed eyes. Do you think he cannot see?

²² »How long, you simple (stupid) (foolish) ones, will you love simplicity (foolishness) (stupidity)? The scoffers delight in scoffing. Fools hate knowledge!

⁵ »O you simple ones, understand wisdom and, you fools, be of an understanding heart.

¹ The prophetic utterance of the word of Jehovah concerning Israel. Jehovah declared: »Who stretches forth the heavens? Who lays the foundation of the earth? Who forms the spirit of man within him?

¹⁷ »You fools! You blind men! Which is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctified the gold?

²⁶ »You are blind. Clean the inside of the cup and platter first. Then clean the outside.

²⁰ »But God said to him: ‘You fool this night you will give up your life. Then who will have all these things you accumulated?’

²⁵ He said to them: »You are foolish men. You are slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!

³⁶ You fool, that which you sow is not alive unless it first dies.

⁹ Furthermore, we have had fathers of our flesh that corrected us, and we gave them respect. Shall we not much more be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?

⁸ »Be generous to these poor people. Freely lend them as much as they need. Never be hardhearted and stingy with them. ⁹ »When the seventh year, the year when payments on debts are canceled, is near, you might be stingy toward poor Israelites and give them nothing. Be careful not to think these worthless thoughts. The poor will complain to Jehovah about you, and you will be condemned for your sin. ¹⁰ »Give the poor what they need, because then Jehovah will make you successful in everything you do.

¹⁶ »Indeed, this will turn out for my deliverance, for no godless man would dare come before him! ¹⁷ »Listen carefully to my words. Let your ears take in (Pay attention to) what I say. ¹⁸ »Now that I have prepared my case, I know I will be vindicated. ¹⁹ »Can anyone bring charges against me? If so, I will be silent and die. ²⁰ »Only grant me these two things, O God, and then I will not hide from you:

¹ ([Psalm of David]) Blessed (happy) is the one who has concern for helpless people. Jehovah will rescue (save) him in times of trouble.

⁹ He gives freely to poor. His righteousness continues forever. His head is raised in honor.

³¹ He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker. He who honors his Maker has mercy for the poor.

¹⁷ When you help the poor (needy) (lowly) (depressed) you lend to Jehovah. He will pay you back.

¹ Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days. ² Give a portion to seven, and even to eight. You do not know what calamity will be upon the earth.

⁷ »Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into the house? When you see the naked, should you cover him and not hide yourself from your own flesh? ⁸ »Your light will break out like the dawn. Your recovery will speedily spring forth. Your righteousness will go before you and the glory of Jehovah will be your rear guard. ⁹ »‘Then you will call, and Jehovah will answer! You will cry and he will say: ‘Here I am.’ If you remove the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger and speaking wickedness, ¹⁰ and if you give yourself to the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then your light will rise in darkness and your gloom will be like midday. ¹¹ Jehovah will continually guide you. He will satisfy your desire in scorched places and give strength to your bones. You will be like a watered garden and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.

²⁷ »Let my counsel be acceptable to you O King. Stop your sins by being righteous and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. May there be a lengthening of your prosperity.«

⁴² »Give to those who ask. Lend to those who borrow.

¹ »Be careful! Do not display your righteousness (good works) before men to be noticed by them. If you do, you will have no reward with your heavenly Father. ² »Do not loudly announce it when you give to the poor. The hypocrites do this in the houses of worship and on the streets. They do this to be praised by men. Believe me, they have already been paid in full. ³ »When you give gifts, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. ⁴ »Your giving will be in secret and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

³⁴ »The King will say to those on his right hand: ‘Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. ³⁵ »‘I was hungry and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger and you took me in. ³⁶ »‘I was naked and you clothed me. I was sick and you visited me. I was in prison and you came to me.’ ³⁷ »The righteous will answer him: ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? ³⁸ »‘When did we see you as a stranger and take you in, or naked and dress you? ³⁹ »‘When did we see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ ⁴⁰ »The King will answer: ‘To the extent that you did it to one of the least of my brothers, you did it to me.’

¹¹ »The poor are always with you, but I am not always with you.

³³ »Sell your possessions and give to charity. Make yourselves purses that do not get old, a treasure in heaven where moth and rest cannot corrupt and thieves cannot steal.

¹² Jesus said to his host: »When you give a lunch or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or your rich neighbors. They will invite you back, and in this way you will be paid for what you did. ¹³ »When you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. ¹⁴ »You will be blessed because they are not able to pay you back. God will repay you on the day the good people rise from death.«

⁹ Jesus continued: »I tell you, make friends for yourselves with worldly wealth. That way when it gives out, you will be welcomed in the eternal home.

²² When Jesus heard it he said to him, »You lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me.«

⁸ Zacchaeus stood before Jesus and said: »Lord, I now give half of all my possessions to the poor. If I have defrauded any one I will give back four times the amount taken.«

³⁶ A disciple named Tabitha was at Joppa. Her name, when translated means Dorcas. This woman did many good works and gave gifts of mercy. ³⁷ She was sick, and died. They washed her body and laid her in an upper chamber. ³⁸ Since Lydda was near Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him requesting that he come to them quickly. ³⁹ Peter went to them right a way. When he arrived they brought him into the upper chamber. All the widows stood by him weeping and showing the coats and garments that Dorcas made while she was with them.

¹⁵ The voice spoke to him again the second time: »You stop calling defiled that which God has cleansed.«

³¹ »He said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer is heard and your gifts of mercy are noticed in the sight of God. ³² ‘»Send to Joppa, and call Simon, whose surname is Peter. He lives in the house of the tanner named Simon by the sea. When he comes he will speak with you.’

²⁹ The disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brothers in Judea.

¹⁷ »Now after many years I came to bring offerings and gifts of mercy to my nation.

¹⁴ I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean in itself. If someone thinks something is unclean it is unclean to him. ¹⁵ If because of your food your brother is grieved, you do not walk in love. Do not allow what you eat to destroy the one for whom Christ died. ¹⁶ Do not let the good you do be spoken of as evil. ¹⁷ For the kingdom of God is not food and drink; but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. ¹⁸ For he that serves Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of by men.

⁷ But as you have plenty of everything, in faith, and speech, and knowledge, and in all earnestness, and in your love for us, see that you have plenty of this undeserved kindness also. ⁸ I speak not by way of commandment, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity also of your love. ⁹ For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might become rich.

¹² For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a man has, not according to what he does not have.

⁶ He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly. He who sows bountifully will reap bountifully. ⁷ Let each man do according as he has purposed in his heart: not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸ God is able to make all grace abound toward you. You have plenty of everything you need and should abound in every good work. ⁹ As it is written: He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor. His righteousness abides forever. ¹⁰ The one who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing, and increase the fruits of your righteousness. ¹¹ You will be made rich in everything. And you can be generous on every occasion. This will cause thanksgiving to God through us. ¹² This service not only takes care of the needs of the holy ones, but also abounds with many expressions of thanksgiving to God. ¹³ The proof of this ministry is that they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the good news of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men. ¹⁴ They pray for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you. ¹⁵ Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

²⁸ He that steals must steal no more. Let him labor, working with his hands the thing that is good, that he may have something to give to someone in need.

⁴ For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, if it is received with thanksgiving. ⁵ This is because it is sanctified through the word of God and prayer.

¹⁰ For God is not unrighteous (unjust) to forget your work and the love you showed for his name. You ministered to the holy ones and continue to minister.

¹⁶ Do not forget (neglect) to do good and to communicate (fellowship) (share), for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

²⁷ Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to care for the fatherless persons and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself without spot from the world.

¹⁴ What good is it, my brothers, if a man says he has faith but he does not have works? Can that faith save him? ¹⁵ If a brother or sister is without clothes and in lack of daily food, ¹⁶ and one of you says to them: »Go in peace, be warmed and filled;« and yet you do not give them food and clothing, what good is it?

¹⁶ By this we know love, because he (Jesus) gave his life for us. We ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. ¹⁷ Whoever has this world's goods and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his compassion from him, how does the love of God dwell in him?

³⁰ »‘One-tenth of what comes from the land, whether grain or fruit, is holy and belongs to Jehovah. ³¹ »‘If you buy back any part of it, you must add one-fifth more to it. ³² »‘Every tenth head of cattle or sheep that you counted is holy and belongs to Jehovah. ³³ »‘You must not look to see if it is good or bad or exchange it. If you do exchange it, both the first animal and its substitute will be holy. They may not be bought back.’«

¹² »Now, O Israel, what does Jehovah your God require from you? You are to respect Jehovah your God. Walk in all his ways and love him! Serve Jehovah your God with all your heart and with all your being. ¹³ »Obey Jehovah’s commandments and his statutes I am commanding you today for your good!

²² Samuel said: »What is more pleasing to Jehovah, burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Obeying is better than sacrifice. To pay attention is better than the fat of rams.

⁵ As soon as the order was given, the people of Israel brought gifts of their finest grain, wine, olive oil, honey, and other farm produce, and they also brought the tithes of everything they had. ⁶ All the people who lived in the cities of Judah brought tithes of their cattle and sheep. They also brought large quantities of gifts they dedicated to Jehovah their God. ⁷ The gifts started arriving in the third month. They continued to pile up for the next four months. ⁸ King Hezekiah and his officials saw how much had been given. They praised Jehovah and praised his people Israel. ⁹ The king spoke to the priests and the Levites about these gifts, ¹⁰ and Azariah the High Priest, a descendant of Zadok, said to him: Since the people started bringing their gifts to the temple, there has been enough to eat and a large surplus besides. We have all this because Jehovah has blessed his people.

³⁷ That we would take the first of our rough meal, and our lifted offerings, and the fruit of every sort of tree, and wine and oil, to the priests, to the rooms of the house of our God. The tenth of the produce of our land to the Levites for the Levites, take a tenth in all the towns of our ploughed land.

³ To practice righteousness and justice is more acceptable to Jehovah than sacrifice.

¹⁸ It is good that you should take hold of this and also from this not withdraw your hand, for he who respects God will come forth from them all.

¹⁰ Listen to the word of Jehovah (YHWH), you rulers of Sodom! Pay attention to the Law of our God, you people of Gomorrah! ¹¹ Jehovah says: »What do your many animal sacrifices mean to me? I have had enough of your burnt offerings of rams and enough fat from your fattened calves. I am not pleased with the blood of bulls, lambs, or male goats. ¹² »Who requires you to trample on my courtyards when you appear in my presence? ¹³ »Do not bring any more worthless grain offerings. Your incense is disgusting to me! So are your New Moon Festivals, your days of worship, and the assemblies you call. I cannot endure your evil assemblies! ¹⁴ »I hate your New Moon Festivals and your appointed festivals. They are a burden to me. I am tired of putting up with them. ¹⁵ »When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide my eyes from you. Even though you offer many prayers, I will not listen because your hands are full of blood. ¹⁶ »Wash yourselves! Become clean! Get your evil deeds out of my sight. Stop doing evil. ¹⁷ »Learn to do good (well) (right). Seek justice. Correct oppressors. Defend orphans. Plead the case of widows.«

² »They seek me day by day. They delight to know my ways like a nation that has done righteousness and has not forsaken the ordinance of their God. They ask me for justice and delight. They are pleased that God is near. ³ »‘Why have we fasted and you do not see? Why have we humbled ourselves and you do not notice? Behold, on the day of your fast you find desire, and mistreat all your workers.’ ⁴ »You fast for contention and strife and to strike with a wicked fist. You do not fast today to make your voice heard on high. ⁵ »Is it a fast like this which I choose, a day for a man to humble himself? Is it for bowing one's head like a reed (rush) and for spreading out sackcloth and ashes as a bed? Will you call this a fast, even an acceptable day to Jehovah? ⁶ »Is this not the fast I choose to loosen the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free and break every yoke?

² »Stand at the gate of Jehovah’s house and proclaim there this word: ‘Hear the word of Jehovah, all you of Judah who enter by these gates to worship Jehovah! ³ »‘Thus says Jehovah of Hosts, the God of Israel: »Amend (make right) your ways and your deeds, and I will let you dwell in this place. ⁴ »‘»Do not trust in deceptive words. They say: ‘This is the Temple of Jehovah, the Temple of Jehovah, and the Temple of Jehovah. ⁵ »‘»For if you truly amend your ways and your deeds, if you truly practice justice between a man and his neighbor, ⁶ if you do not oppress the alien, the orphan, or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place, nor walk after other gods to your own ruin, ⁷ then I will let you dwell in this place, in the land I gave to your fathers from generation to generation and for a very long time.«’« ⁸ »You are trusting in deceptive words that are of no value to you. ⁹ »Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, offer sacrifices to Baal and walk after other gods that you have not known? ¹⁰ »Then come and stand before me in this house. It is called by my name. You say, ‘We are safe to do all these abominations.’

²¹ Thus says Jehovah of Hosts, the God of Israel: »Add your burnt offerings to your sacrifices and eat flesh. ²² »For I did not speak to your fathers, or command them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings and sacrifices.

⁸ He told you, O lowly man, what is good and what Jehovah requires of you. You should display justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God!

⁶ Jehovah of Hosts declares to the priests: »Children honor their parents and servants honor their masters. I am your father. Why do you not honor me? I am your master. Why do you not respect me? You despise me, and yet you ask: How have we despised you?«

¹⁷ »You have made Jehovah weary with your words. You ask: ‘How have we wearied him?’ You say: ‘Every one that does evil is good in Jehovah’s sight.’ You also say: ‘He delights in them.’ Then you ask: ‘where is the God of justice?«’

⁸ »I ask you: ‘will you rob and defraud God? Of course not, yet you are robbing and defrauding me!’ ‘How have we robbed and defrauded?’ You ask. ‘In the matter of tithes and offerings.’

¹³ »Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You close the kingdom of heaven to people. You do not invite others to enter nor do you enter.

²³ »Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have left undone the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy and faith. You should do both and leave nothing undone.

²⁷ »Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs that appear beautiful on the outside. They are full of dead men’s bones and uncleanness on the inside.

¹² »I fast twice per week. I give tithes of all that I get.

⁴² »I know that the love of God is not in you.

¹¹ For the grace (divine influence) of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all men, ¹² instructing us, to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly and righteously and godly in this present age (world) (period of time).

²⁰ If a man says, I love God, yet he hates his brother, he is a liar! He who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.

¹⁸ Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

⁶ »They love the place of honor at banquets and the prominent seats in the synagogues. ⁷ »They require recognition in public places and insist on being called Rabbi by men.

³⁸ He said: »Beware of the scribes, who desire to walk in long robes, and to have greetings in the marketplaces. ³⁹ »They demand the front seats in the synagogues and prominent places at feasts.

⁷ He spoke an illustration to the invited guests. He noticed they chose from the most important seats. So he said to them: ⁸ »When you are invited to a marriage feast do not take the place of honor. Someone more distinguished than you may be invited. ⁹ »Your host would tell you, give this person your place. Then you would be embarrassed and have to take the place of least honor. ¹⁰ »When you are invited, take the place of least honor. Then, when your host comes, he will tell you, friend, move to a more honorable place. And the other guests will see how you are honored. ¹¹ »Those who exalt themselves will be humbled. And people who humble themselves will be exalted.«

⁴⁶ »Beware of the scribes for they walk around in long robes. They love greetings in the marketplaces. They sit in the chief seats in the synagogues and the head tables at feasts.

¹⁰ Be devoted to one another with brotherly love, in honor preferring one another.

³ Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others more important than you.

² A man wearing a gold ring and fine clothes and a poor man in shabby clothes comes into your synagogue. ³ You pay special attention to the one wearing the fine clothes, and say: »Sit here in a good place.« Then you say to the poor man: »Stand there,« or »Sit under my footstool.« ⁴ Do not make distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts.

⁹ I wrote something to the congregation. But Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, did not receive us.

¹⁶ »‘Whoever is outdoors and touches someone who was killed or has died naturally or anyone who touches a human bone or a grave will be unclean for seven days.

⁹ There is nothing truthful in what they say! Their inward part is destruction. Their throat is an open grave. They flatter with their tongue.

⁸ Prophets are God’s watchmen over Ephraim. Yet, traps are set on every prophet’s path and people are hostile in the Temple of their God.

²⁷ »Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs that appear beautiful on the outside. They are full of dead men’s bones and uncleanness on the inside. ²⁸ »You appear righteous to men. However, inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

³ Paul said to him: »God will strike you, white washed wall! Do you sit judging me according to the Law, and against law command me to be struck?«

⁸ Ahab answered: »There is one more, Micaiah son of Imlah. But I hate him because he never prophesies anything good for me, always something bad.« »The king should not say such things!« Jehoshaphat replied.

¹⁰ »To whom can I speak and give warning that they may hear? Their ears are closed and they cannot listen. Behold, the word of Jehovah has become a reproach to them. They have no delight in it.

⁸ Each time I speak, I cry aloud. I proclaim violence and destruction! For me the word of Jehovah has resulted in reproach and derision all day long.

¹⁰ Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying: »Amos has conspired against you in the midst of the house of Israel. The land is not able to bear all his words.« ¹¹ Amos said: »Jeroboam will die by the sword. Israel will surely be led away captive (in exile) out of his land.« ¹² Amaziah said to Amos: »Go, run away, you seer. Go into the land of Judah. Eat bread and prophesy there. ¹³ »Do not prophesy any more at Bethel for it is the king's sanctuary, and it is a royal house.«

³⁵ One of them, a lawyer, tested him by asking a question.

⁴⁶ Jesus said: »Woe to you lawyers also! For you load men with burdens that are difficult to bear. And you will not even touch the burdens with one of your fingers.

⁵² »Woe to you lawyers, for you took away the key of knowledge. You did not enter in yourselves and you hindered those entering.«

⁷ »The world has no reason to hate you. But it hates me because I testify that its works are evil.

⁴⁸ »Have any of the rulers or the Pharisees believed in him?

⁴⁰ Those of the Pharisees who were with him heard these things, and said to him: »Are we also blind?«

¹ How horrible it will be for those who enact unjust laws and who decree oppressive regulations.

⁶ »Is this not the fast I choose to loosen the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free and break every yoke?

² »The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat,« he said. ³ »Obey everything they teach you, but do not follow their example. They say one thing and do something else. ⁴ »They chain heavy burdens on your shoulders. Yet they are unwilling to lift even a finger to carry these same burdens.

⁴⁵ One of the lawyers said to him: »Teacher, you also insult us by saying this.«

¹³ For not even those who receive circumcision obey the Law. They desire to have you circumcised, that they may boast in your flesh.

²⁹ »Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You build the tombs for the prophets and decorate the tombs of the righteous. ³⁰ »You claim that you would not have been involved with your fathers when they spilled the blood of the prophets. ³¹ »You witness against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. ³² »Fill up the (guilt) measure of your fathers. ³³ »You serpents! You offspring of vipers! How will you escape from being destroyed in the ever-burning fires of the Valley of Hinnom? (Greek: Gehenna, the trash fires in the valley just outside of Jerusalem)

⁵¹ »You obstinate men who are uncircumcised in heart and ears. You always resist the Holy Spirit as your fathers did.

¹⁵ They killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out. They did not please God and are contrary to all men.

²² Joshua replied: »You are your own witnesses to the fact that you have chosen to serve Jehovah.« They said: »We are witnesses!«

¹⁶ They mocked God’s messengers. They despised his words, and made fun of his prophets until Jehovah became angry with his people. He could no longer heal them.

⁸ They will be destroyed by their own words, and everyone who sees them will tremble with fear.

¹⁹ ‘»Yet you say: »Why should the son not bear the punishment for the father's iniquity?« When the son has practiced justice and righteousness and has observed all my statutes and done them, he shall surely live.

³⁵ »The workmen attacked his servants, striking one with a stone and killing the other. ³⁶ »He sent other servants more in number than the first. They did the same to them. ³⁷ »Finally he sent his son to them, saying, ‘Certainly they will respect my son.’ ³⁸ »When the workmen saw the son, they said, ‘Let us put him to death and take his heritage, for someday he will own this property.’

³¹ »You witness against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets.

³⁵ Women received their dead by a resurrection, and others were tortured, not accepting their deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection: ³⁶ And others had trial of cruel mocking and scourging and bonds and imprisonment. ³⁷ They were stoned, they were sawed in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword; they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented. ³⁸ The world was not worthy of them! They wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

¹⁰ Brothers, accept the example of suffering and patience by the prophets who spoke in the name of God.

² To know wisdom and instruction. To discern and understand words. ³ To receive instruction with wisdom, justice, judgment and integrity. ⁴ To give wisdom and refinement to the simple. To the young man knowledge and discretion. ⁵ A wise man will hear and will increase learning. A man of understanding will procure wise counsel. ⁶ This will help him understand a proverb and the interpretation as well as the words of the wise and their riddles.

¹ Does wisdom cry out? Does understanding direct her voice? ² She takes her stand on top of high places and in the street intersections. ³ She cries out at the gates, at the entrance by the doors: ⁴ »I call to you men. My voice is to the sons of man. ⁵ »O you simple ones, understand wisdom and, you fools, be of an understanding heart. ⁶ »Listen for I speak of excellent things. The truth comes from my lips. ⁷ »My mouth will speak truth! Wickedness is an abomination to my lips. ⁸ »All my speech is righteous. Nothing crooked or perverse comes from my mouth. ⁹ »They are all straight talk to him who understands. It is proper to those who find knowledge. ¹⁰ »Receive my instruction and not silver. Take knowledge rather than choice gold. ¹¹ »For wisdom is better than pearls. Nothing desirable compares to it. ¹² »Wisdom dwells with discretion and it finds knowledge and sound judgment.

¹ Wisdom built her house. She carved her seven pillars. ² She prepared her food and mixed her wine. She furnished her table. ³ She sent her maidens. She cried on the highest places of the city,

⁶ »The rest violently attacked his servants and put them to death.

¹⁶ »Parent, brothers and sisters and friends will turn you over and cause you to be put to death. ¹⁷ »Men will hate you because of my name.

⁴⁷ »Repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

² »They will throw you out of the synagogues. Yes, the hour comes that whoever kills you will think that he offered service to God.

⁸ »You will receive power, when the Holy Spirit comes on you and you will be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.«

⁵⁷ Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord.

³ Saul ravaged the congregation. He entered every house and dragged off men and women and put them in prison.

¹ Saul was still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord. He went to the high priest. ² He asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, that if he found any there who belonged to The Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

¹ At that time Herod the king mistreated those of the congregation. ² He killed James the brother of John with a sword.

⁴ »I persecuted the people who followed this Way to the point of death. I arrested men and women and threw them into prison. ⁵ »The High Priest and the whole Council can prove that I am telling the truth. I received letters from them written to fellow Jews in Damascus, so I went there to arrest these people and bring them back in chains to Jerusalem to be punished.

²⁰ ‘»When your witness Stephen was put to death, I was there, approving of his murder and taking care of the coats of his murderers.’«

¹⁰ »That I did in Jerusalem. I locked up many of the holy ones in prison. I received authority from the chief priests and gave the command to put them to death. ¹¹ »I punished them in every synagogue and tried to force them to recant their beliefs. I was exceedingly mad against them. I persecuted them even in strange cities.

²⁴ To those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, it is Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

³⁰ It is because of him you are united with Christ Jesus, who became wisdom to us from God, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.

²⁴ Of the Jews five times I received forty stripes less one. ²⁵ Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, I suffered shipwreck three times, a night and a day I have spent in the deep.

¹¹ He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, shepherds and teachers.

³ In him is concealed all the hidden treasures of God’s wisdom and knowledge.

⁵ »I will require your lifeblood as an accounting. I will demand an accounting from every animal. I will demand an accounting from each man for the life of his fellow man. ⁶ »Whoever sheds the blood of man will have his blood shed by man. For man was made in the image of God.

⁵ »Do not worship them or serve them. I, Jehovah your God, am a God demanding exclusive devotion. (I do not tolerate rivals.) I will not share your affection with any other god. I punish children for their parents’ sins to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me.

³³ »If you did this, you would defile the land where you are living. Murder defiles the land, and except by the death of the murderer there is no way to perform the ritual of purification for the land where someone has been murdered.

⁴ and especially because of all the innocent people he killed. Jehovah would not forgive Manasseh for that.

¹² God remembers those who suffer. He does not forget their cry, and he punishes those who wrong them.

²¹ Behold! Jehovah is coming out of his dwelling to punish the people of the earth for their sins. The earth will disclose (reveal) the bloodshed upon her. She will conceal her slain no longer.

²⁹ ‘Cut off your hair and cast it away. Take up a cry of sorrow and grief on the bare heights. Jehovah has rejected and forsaken the generation of his wrath.’

⁵⁶ A destroyer will attack Babylon, its soldiers will be captured, and their bows and arrows will be broken. I Jehovah am a God who punishes evil. I will certainly punish them.

²⁰ »Rejoice over her, you heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets, for God pronounced judgment for you against her.« ²¹ A mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and hurled it into the sea. He said: »With violence the great city Babylon will be thrown down, and it will not be found any longer. ²² »The sound of harp players, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, will not be heard anymore in you. No craftsman will be found in you. The sound of a millstone will not be heard in you anymore. ²³ »There will no longer be the light of a candle in you. The voice of the bridegroom and of the bride will be heard no more at all in you. Your merchants were the great men of the earth; for by your spiritistic practice all nations were deceived. ²⁴ »The blood of prophets, and of holy ones, and of all who were slain upon the earth was found in her.«

⁸ While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. ⁹ Jehovah asked Cain: »Where is your brother Abel?« »I do not know,« he replied. »Am I my brother’s keeper?« ¹⁰ Jehovah said: »What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood (life) cries out to me from the ground. ¹¹ »Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.

²⁸ »You will say to them: ‘This is the nation that did not obey the voice of Jehovah their God or accept correction. Truth has perished and truth has been removed from their mouth.

¹ The word of Jehovah (YHWH) came to Zechariah the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo, the prophet. It was in the eighth month, in the second year of Darius the king:

³⁵ »You are responsible for all the righteous blood shed on earth. That includes the blood of the righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, whom you killed between the sanctuary and the altar.

⁴ By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain. Through this he was commended as righteous. God testified about his gifts. Thus through faith he still speaks even though he is dead.

²⁴ You have come to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks in a better way than the blood of Abel.

¹² We should not be like Cain who was of the evil one, and killed his brother. Why did he murder him? It was because his works were evil, and his brother's were righteous.

⁷ »The priests should teach the true knowledge of God. They are the messengers of Jehovah of Hosts. Therefore the people should learn (my will) the law from them.

⁴⁵ One of the lawyers said to him: »Teacher, you also insult us by saying this.« ⁴⁶ Jesus said: »Woe to you lawyers also! For you load men with burdens that are difficult to bear. And you will not even touch the burdens with one of your fingers.

³⁹ Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, »Teacher, rebuke your disciples.« ⁴⁰ He answered: »I tell you if these remain quiet the stones will cry out!«

⁴⁷ The Pharisees therefore answered them: »Are you also deceived? ⁴⁸ »Have any of the rulers or the Pharisees believed in him? ⁴⁹ »This crowd does not know the law. It is contemptible« ⁵⁰ Nicodemus spoke to them. (He is the Pharisee who earlier went to Jesus.) ⁵¹ »Does our law convict a man without first hearing from him to find out what he has done?« ⁵² They replied: »Are you also from Galilee? Search, and see that no prophet comes out of Galilee.«

²⁴ So they called the man that was blind a second time, and said to him: »Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner.« ²⁵ He answered: »I do not know if he is a sinner. One thing I know, I was blind and now I see.« ²⁶ They asked: »What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes? ²⁷ He answered them: »I told you before and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Would you also become his disciples?« ²⁸ Then they spoke abusively to him: »You are his disciple! We are disciples of Moses.« ²⁹ We know that God spoke to Moses. As for this man we do not know where he is from. ³⁰ The man answered: »This certainly is a marvel that you do not know where he is from and yet he opened my eyes.« ³¹ »We know that God does not listen to sinners. If any man respects God and does his will, God listens to him. ³² »Since the world began no one ever heard of a man opening the eyes of someone born blind. ³³ »If this man were not from God, he could do nothing. ³⁴ They answered: »You were born in sin and you teach us?« Then they threw him out.

¹⁷ »We must warn these men not to speak about it in order to stop this from spreading further among the people.« ¹⁸ They called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.

⁴⁰ They agreed with him and called the apostles. They beat them and commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus. Then they let them go.

¹² Many bulls have surrounded me. Strong bulls from Bashan have encircled me. ¹³ They opened their mouths to attack me like ferocious, roaring lions.

¹² The Arameans from the east and the Philistines from the west have devoured Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger has not turned away. His hand (power) is still stretched out (extended).

¹⁸ Then they said: »Come and let us devise plans against Jeremiah. Surely the law is not going to be lost to the priest, nor counsel to the wise man, nor the divine word to the prophet! Come on and let us strike him with our tongue, and let us pay no attention to any of his words.«

¹⁰ For I have heard the whispering of many: »Terror on every side! Denounce him; yes, let us denounce him!« All my trusted friends are watching for my fall. They say: »Perhaps he will be deceived, so that we may prevail against him and take our revenge on him.«

²⁰ They watched him and sent out spies, who pretended to be righteous. The spies listened for something in his speech to deliver him up to the authority of the governor.

²⁷ Some Sadducees came to him. They believe there is no resurrection.

⁵ Love does not act indecently. It is not selfish. It is not provoked and does not take into account a wrong suffered.

³² The wicked spies upon the righteous and seeks to kill him. ³³ Jehovah will not leave him in his hand or let him be condemned when he is judged.

⁵ All day long they distort my words. All their thoughts are against me for evil. ⁶ They attack, they lurk, and they watch my steps. They have waited for my life.

¹⁵ The Pharisees took counsel how they might trap him in his talk.

¹⁸ Jesus perceived their wickedness. He said: »Why do you test me, you hypocrites?

² They watched to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath day. Then they might have something against him.

¹³ Pharisees and Herodians went to him that they might catch him in talk.