Psalms 115 Cross References - NSB

¹ Do not give glory to us, O Jehovah. Do not give glory to us. Give glory to your name because of your loving kindness and faithfulness. ² Why should other nations say: »Where is their God?« ³ Our God is in heaven. He does whatever he pleases. ⁴ Their idols are made of silver and gold. Human hands made them. ⁵ They have mouths, but they cannot speak. They have eyes, but they cannot see. ⁶ They have ears, but they cannot hear. They have noses, but they cannot smell. ⁷ They have hands, but they cannot feel. They have feet, but they cannot walk. They cannot even make a sound with their throats. ⁸ Those who make idols end up like them. So does everyone who trusts them. ⁹ O Israel, trust Jehovah. He is your helper and your shield. ¹⁰ O Descendants of Aaron, trust Jehovah. He is your helper and your shield. ¹¹ If you reverence and respect Jehovah, trust Jehovah. He is your helper and your shield. ¹² Jehovah is always thinking about us. He will bless us. He will bless the descendants of Israel. He will bless the descendants of Aaron. ¹³ He will bless those who reverence and respect Jehovah, from the least important to the most important. ¹⁴ May Jehovah continue to bless you and your children. ¹⁵ Jehovah, the maker of heaven and earth, will bless you. ¹⁶ The highest heaven belongs to Jehovah, but he has given the earth to the sons of men. ¹⁷ Those who are dead do not praise Jehovah, nor do those who go into the silence of the grave. ¹⁸ We will bless Jehovah now and forever. Praise Jehovah!

¹ In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

²⁸ God blessed them and said to them: »Be fruitful and increase in number. Fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and dominate the birds of the air. Have dominion over every living creature that moves on the ground.« ²⁹ Then God said: »I give you every plant that bears seed on the face of the entire earth. I also give you every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. ³⁰ »Also every beast of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground; everything that has the breath of life in it, I give every green plant for food.« It was so.

¹⁷ »But you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. When you eat of it you will surely die.« ¹⁸ Jehovah God said: »It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.«

¹ God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and the livestock that were with him in the ark. He sent a wind over the earth, and the waters receded.

¹ God blessed Noah and his sons. He said: »Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth. ² »All the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air will be filled with fear and dread of you. Every creature that moves along the ground and all the fish of the sea are placed under your control. ³ »Everything that lives and moves will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.

² »I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you. I will make your name great. You will be a blessing. ³ »I will bless those who bless you. I will curse whoever curses you. All the people on earth will be blessed through you.«

¹⁶ »I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth. If anyone could count the dust, your offspring could be counted.

¹⁹ He blessed him and said: »Blessed be Abram by God Most High, maker of heaven and earth.

⁷ »I will establish my covenant as a long lasting covenant between us. It will be for your descendants after you, for the generations to come. I will be your God and the God of your descendants after you.

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.« ²⁷ Then he asked: »What is your name?« And he said, »Jacob.« ²⁸ The man said: »Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel (He Struggles With God), because you have struggled with God and with men and you have won.« ²⁹ Jacob said: »Please tell me your name.« The man answered: »Why do you ask for my name?« Then he blessed Jacob there.

²⁴ God heard their groaning. He remembered his promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. ²⁵ God saw the Israelites being oppressed and was concerned about them.

⁵ ‘If you will obey me and are faithful to the terms of my covenant, then out of all the nations you will be my own special possession, for all the earth is mine.

¹ Jehovah continued: »Bring your brother Aaron and his sons Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar to you from all the Israelites. They will serve me as priests.

¹² »Do not let the Egyptians say: ‘He was planning all along to kill them in the mountains and wipe them off the face of the earth. That is why he brought them out of our land.’ Do not be so angry. Reconsider your decision to bring this disaster on your people.

⁵ Then he said to Korah and all his followers: »In the morning Jehovah will show who belongs to him, who is holy. He will have that person come near him. Only the person Jehovah chooses will be allowed to come near him.

¹¹ »‘Jehovah the God of your fathers will make you a thousand times as many as you are, and bless you, as he promised you!

¹⁵ »But if you kill all these people at the same time the nations who have heard these reports about you will say, ¹⁶ »Jehovah was not able to bring these people into the land he promised them, so he slaughtered them in the desert.

⁴⁰ He followed Jehovah’s command given through Moses. The copper-covered altar will remind Israel that no one but a descendant of Aaron may come near to burn incense to Jehovah. Everyone else will die like Korah and his followers.

⁷ »Only you and your sons may do the work of priests, everything done at the altar and under the canopy. This is my gift to you: You may serve me as priests. Anyone else who comes near the holy place to do this work must die.«

²⁸ »You will serve gods that are the work of men's hands. Made of wood and stone. They cannot see, hear, eat or smell.

⁸ »When the Most High gave nations their inheritance, when he divided the descendants of Adam, he set up borders for the tribes corresponding to the number of the sons of Israel.

²⁶ »I would have said: ‘I will cut them to pieces. I will remove the memory of them from men.’ ²⁷ »I did not want their enemies to make me angry. I did not want their opponents to misunderstand and say: We won this victory! Jehovah did not do all this!

²⁹ »You are blessed O Israel. Who is like you, a people saved by Jehovah? He is the shield of your help and the sword of your majesty! So your enemies will cringe before you and you will tread upon their high places.«

⁹ »For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear about it, and will surround us and cut our name off from the earth. What will you do for your great name?«

⁹ »He guards the feet of his holy ones. The wicked are silenced in darkness. Man will not prevail by strength.

³ Joab answered reluctantly: »Your Majesty, may Jehovah your God make the people of Israel a hundred times more numerous than they are now. May you live to see him do it. But why does Your Majesty want to do this?«

¹⁰ »Tell King Hezekiah of Judah: ‘Do not let your God in whom you trust deceive you by saying that Jerusalem will not be put under the control of the king of Assyria. ¹¹ »‘You heard what the kings of Assyria did to all countries. They totally destroyed them. Will you be rescued? ¹² »‘Did the gods of the nations that my ancestors destroyed rescue Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and the people of Eden who were in Telassar? ¹³ »‘Where is the king of Hamath? Where is the king of Arpad? And where is the king of the cities of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah?’« ¹⁴ Hezekiah read the letters from the messengers. Then he went to Jehovah’s Temple and shared them with Jehovah. ¹⁵ He prayed: »Jehovah of Hosts, God of Israel, you are enthroned above the angels. You alone are God of all the kingdoms of the earth. You made heaven and earth. ¹⁶ »Turn your ear (listen) (pay attention) to me, O Jehovah, and listen. Open your eyes, Jehovah, and see. Listen to the message Sennacherib sent to defy the living God. ¹⁷ »It is true Jehovah. The kings of Assyria have devastated nations. ¹⁸ »They threw the gods from these countries into fires because these gods are not real gods. They are only wooden and stone statues made by human hands. So the Assyrians have destroyed them.

¹⁸ »They threw the gods from these countries into fires because these gods are not real gods. They are only wooden and stone statues made by human hands. So the Assyrians have destroyed them. 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.«

²⁵ JEHOVAH IS GREAT! He should be highly praised. He should be reverenced (held in awe) (respected) more than all other gods.

⁶ You made him rule what your hands created. You have put everything under his control:

⁴ The One who dwells in heaven laughs. Jehovah scoffs at them.

⁸ Salvation belongs to Jehovah! You bless your people.

⁵ No one remembers you when he is dead. Who praises you from the grave?

¹¹ Jehovah will give power (strength) to his people. Jehovah will bless his people with peace (prosperity) (health) (safety).

⁹ What profit is there in my blood, if I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it declare your truth?

¹⁷ O Jehovah, I have called on you, so do not let me be put to shame. Let wicked people be put to shame. Let them be silent in the grave.

¹⁸ Remember, the eye of Jehovah is on those who respect him, on those who hope for his loving-kindness.

²⁰ We wait for Jehovah for he is our help and our shield. ²¹ Our heart rejoices in him, for we trust in his holy name.

²³ All who reverence Jehovah, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob honor him! Stand in awe of him, all you descendants of Israel.

⁷ Do not remember the sins of my youth or my rebellious ways. O Jehovah, remember me in keeping with your loving kindness and your goodness.

³ Trust Jehovah and do good things. Live in the land, and practice being faithful.

³ My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all day long: Where is your God?

¹⁰ As a shattering of my bones, my adversaries revile me, while they say to me all day long: »Where is your God?«

⁷ God will bless us. All the ends of the earth will reverence and respect him.

⁴ Sing to God, sing praises to his name: extol him who rides upon the heavens by his name, Jehovah, and rejoice before him.

²² Arise, O God! Plead your own cause. Remember how the foolish man treats you with contempt all day.

⁷ May he rule forever in your presence, O God. Protect him with your constant love and faithfulness.

⁸ Trust him at all times, you people. Pour out your hearts in his presence. God is our refuge.

⁹ Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name. Rescue us, and provide atonement for our sins for the honor of your name. ¹⁰ Why should the nations be allowed to say: Where is their God? Let us watch as the nations learn that there is punishment for shedding the blood of your servants.

¹⁰ Why should the nations be allowed to say: Where is their God? Let us watch as the nations learn that there is punishment for shedding the blood of your servants.

¹⁰ Will you perform miracles for those who are dead? Will the dead rise and give thanks to you? ¹¹ Will anyone tell about your loving kindness in the grave or about your faithfulness after they parish? ¹² Will anyone know about your miracles in that dark place or about your righteousness (mercy) in the place of destruction?

¹ ([Psalm of Ethan the Ezrahite]) I will sing of the loving kindness of Jehovah forever. With my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations. ² For I have said: »Loving-kindness will be built up forever. You will establish your faithfulness in the heavens.«

¹¹ The heavens and the earth are yours. You have founded the world and all it contains.

⁵ For all the gods of the nations are idols; but Jehovah made the heavens.

⁸ Give to Jehovah the glory due to his name. Bring an offering and come into his courts.

¹¹ For Jehovah God is a sun and shield. Jehovah will give favor and honor. He will not withhold blessing from those who walk faithfully in truth.

⁷ All those who serve graven images are put to shame. Those who boast themselves in idols and all God-like ones bow down before Him.

¹¹ For as the heavens are high above the earth, so is his mercy toward those who reverence him.

¹⁹ Jehovah has prepared his throne in the heavens. His kingdom rules over all.

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

¹⁷ I will not die; instead, I will live and proclaim the works of Jehovah. ¹⁸ Jehovah has punished me severely, but he has not let me die. ¹⁹ Open the temple gate of righteousness to me and I will go in and give thanks to Jehovah!

² Blessed is the name of Jehovah from now and forever.

² Let the people of Israel say: »His loving kindness is eternal.« ³ Let the priests of God say: »His loving kindness is eternal.«

³ Let the priests of God say: »His loving kindness is eternal.« ⁴ Let all who worship him say: »His loving kindness is eternal.«

⁴ Let all who worship him say: »His loving kindness is eternal.«

² My help comes from Jehovah, who made heaven and earth.

¹ To You I lift up my eyes, O you who are enthroned in the heavens!

⁸ »Our help is in the name of Jehovah, who made heaven and earth.«

¹ They who trust in Jehovah are like Mount Zion. It is not shaken, but remains forever.

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

⁴ This is how Jehovah will bless the person who fears him. ⁵ May Jehovah bless you from Zion so that you may see Jerusalem prosper all the days of your life.

⁷ O Israel hope in Jehovah! For with Jehovah there is loving kindness. With him is abundant redemption.

³ May Jehovah bless you from Zion, he who made heaven and earth.

⁶ Everything Jehovah desires he does in the heavens and in earth, and in the seas and all deep places.

¹⁵ The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of man's hands. ¹⁶ They have mouths, but they do not speak. They have eyes, but they do not see. ¹⁷ They have ears, but they do not hear. There is no breath in their mouths. ¹⁸ Those who make them will be like them, everyone who trusts in them.

¹⁸ Those who make them will be like them, everyone who trusts in them. ¹⁹ Bless Jehovah, O house of Israel; bless Jehovah, O house of Aaron; ²⁰ Bless Jehovah, O house of Levi. You who reverence Jehovah, bless Jehovah.

⁵ Bow down your heavens, O Jehovah, and come down. Touch the mountains that they may smoke.

² Every day I will bless you. I will praise your name forever and ever.

²¹ My mouth will speak the praise of Jehovah! All flesh will praise his holy name forever and ever.

⁵ How blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in Jehovah his God! ⁶ He made heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them. He keeps truth (faith) forever!

²³ He remembered us in our low estate. His loving kindness is everlasting.

¹¹ Jehovah is pleased with those who fear him, with those who wait with hope for his mercy.

⁴ Praise him, you highest heaven and the water above the sky.

²⁶ Respect for Jehovah builds strong confidence. Your children will have a place of refuge.

⁵ Every word of God is pure. He is a shield to those who trust him.

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.

²⁰ They will be a sign of the presence of Jehovah of Hosts in Egypt. When the people there are oppressed and call out to Jehovah for help, he will send someone to rescue them. ²¹ Jehovah will make himself known to Egypt, and the Egyptians will know Jehovah in that day. They will even worship with sacrifice and offering, and will make a vow to Jehovah and perform it.

⁶ In days to come Jacob will take root, Israel will bud and blossom and fill the entire world with fruit.

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.

¹⁹ »They have thrown their gods into the fire and destroyed them. But they were not gods! They were only wood and stone, fashioned by human hands.

¹⁸ »For the grave cannot praise you, death cannot sing your praise. Those who go down to the pit cannot hope for your faithfulness. ¹⁹ »The living, yes the living praise you, as I am doing today! Fathers tell their children about your faithfulness.

¹⁷ Those who trust in idols and call images their gods will be humiliated and disgraced.

⁹ All who make idols are nothing. The things they treasure are worthless. Those who would speak up for them are blind. They are shamefully ignorant. ¹⁰ Who shapes a god and casts a useless and good for nothing idol.

¹⁰ Who shapes a god and casts a useless and good for nothing idol. ¹¹ He and his kind will be put to shame. Craftsmen are merely men. Let them all come together and take their stand for they will be brought down to terror and infamy. ¹² The blacksmith takes a tool and works with it in the coals. He shapes an idol with hammers; he forges it with the might of his arm. He gets hungry and loses his strength. He drinks no water and grows faint. ¹³ The carpenter measures with a line and makes an outline with a red chalk marker. He roughs it out with chisels and marks it with a compass. He shapes it in the form of man in all his glory, that it may dwell in a shrine. ¹⁴ He cut down cedars, or cypress or oak. He let it grow among the trees of the forest, or planted a pine, and the rain made it grow. ¹⁵ It is man’s fuel for burning so he takes some to warm himself. He kindles a fire and bakes bread. But he also fashions a god and worships it. Yes he makes an idol and bows down to it. ¹⁶ Half of the wood they burn in the fire. Over this half they roast meat that they can eat until they are full. They also warm themselves and say: We are warm. We can see the fire! ¹⁷ But the rest of the wood they make into gods, carved statues. They bow to them and worship them. They pray to them and say: »Rescue us, because you are our gods.« 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. ¹⁹ No one stops to think. No one has enough knowledge or understanding to say: »I burned half of the wood in the fire. I also baked bread over its coals. I roasted meat and ate it. Now I am making the rest of the wood into a disgusting thing and bowing to a block of wood.« ²⁰ They eat ashes because they are deceived. Their own misguided minds lead them astray. They cannot rescue themselves or ask themselves: »Is what I hold in my right hand a false god?«

²⁰ They eat ashes because they are deceived. Their own misguided minds lead them astray. They cannot rescue themselves or ask themselves: »Is what I hold in my right hand a false god?« ²¹ Jehovah says: »Israel, remember this! Remember that you are my servant. I created you to be my servant, and I will never forget you.

¹⁴ Zion replied: »Jehovah has forsaken me and Jehovah has forgotten me!« 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. ¹⁶ I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands. Your walls are constantly before me.

¹⁹ As for an idol, a craftsman casts it, and a goldsmith overlays it with gold and fashions silver chains for it. ²⁰ A man too poor to present such an offering selects wood that will not rot. He looks for a skilled craftsman to set up an idol that will not topple.

¹ Bel bows down and Nebo stoops low. Their idols are borne by beasts of burden. The images that are carried about are burdensome. They are a burden for the weary. ² They stoop and bow down together. They are unable to rescue the burden and they go off into captivity.

⁶ »Some pour out gold from their bags and weigh out silver on the scales. They hire a goldsmith to make it into a god. They bow down and worship it. ⁷ »They lift it to their shoulders and carry it. They set it up in its place and there it stands. From that spot it cannot move. Though one cries out to it, it does not answer. It cannot save him from his troubles!

¹⁰ »I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’

¹¹ »I did it for myself and because of my name. I will not let my name be shamed (profaned). I will not give my glory to another.

⁸ The Sovereign Lord Jehovah declares: »He who gathers the exiles of Israel, I will gather still others to them besides those already gathered.«

⁴ »Look up, look around, and watch. All of your people assemble and come to you. Your sons come from far away. Your daughters are carried in their arms. ⁵ »Then you will see this and rejoice. Your heart will shake with joy. The riches of the sea will be brought to you. The wealth of the nations will come to you.

¹ This is what Jehovah says: »Heaven is my throne. Earth is my footstool. Where can you people build a house or resting place for me?

³ The people’s customs are erroneous and empty. It is wood cut from the forest. It is the work of the hands of a craftsman with a cutting tool. ⁴ »They decorate it with silver and with gold. They fasten it with nails and with hammers so that it will not tip over. ⁵ »They are like scarecrows in cucumber fields. They cannot speak. They must be carried, for they cannot walk! Do not fear them! For they can do no harm and they can do no good.«

⁵ »They are like scarecrows in cucumber fields. They cannot speak. They must be carried, for they cannot walk! Do not fear them! For they can do no harm and they can do no good.«

⁸ They are very stupid and foolish. They teach vanity to a tree. Their idol is wood!

⁶ »Many camels will cover your land, young camels from Midian and Ephah. Everyone from Sheba will come. They will bring gold and incense. They will sing the praises of Jehovah. ⁷ »All of the flocks from Kedar will gather and come to you. The rams of Nebaioth will serve you. They will be sacrificed as acceptable offerings on my altar. So I will honor my beautiful Temple. ⁸ »Who are these people that fly by like clouds and like doves to their nests? ⁹ »Surely the coastlands wait with hope for me. The ships from Tarshish are the first to bring your children from far away. They bring their silver and their gold with them to honor the name of Jehovah your God, the Holy One of Israel, because he has honored you. ¹⁰ »Foreigners will rebuild your walls, and their kings will serve you. I struck you because of my anger, but in my favor I have compassion on you. ¹¹ »Your gates will always be open. They will never be closed day or night so that people may bring you the wealth of the nations. Even their kings are led as prisoners. ¹² »Nations and kingdoms that do not serve you will be destroyed. The nations will definitely be ruined. ¹³ »Lebanon's glory will come to you: Cedar, fir, and cypress trees will come to beautify my holy place. I will honor the place where my feet rest. ¹⁴ »The sons of those who oppress you will bow in front of you. All who loathe you will bow at your feet. They will call you the city of Jehovah, Zion, the city of the Holy One of Israel. ¹⁵ »You have been abandoned and hated. No one has passed through you. But now I will make you a foundation of everlasting pride, a joy for all generations. ¹⁶ »You will drink milk from other nations and nurse at royal breasts. Then you will know that I am Jehovah, your Savior, the Mighty One of Jacob, and your Defender (Protector). ¹⁷ »I will bring gold instead of copper. I will bring silver instead of iron, copper instead of wood, and iron instead of stone. I will appoint peace as your governor and righteousness as your ruler. ¹⁸ »You will no longer hear about violence in your land or desolation and destruction within your borders. You will call your walls Salvation and your gates Praise. ¹⁹ »The sun will no longer be your light during the day. The brightness of the moon will not give you light, for Jehovah will be your everlasting light. Your God will be your glory. ²⁰ »Your sun will no longer go down, nor will your moon disappear. Jehovah will be your everlasting light, and your days of sadness will be over. ²¹ »Then all your people will be righteous and they will possess the land everlastingly. They will be the seedlings I have planted, the honored work of my hands. ²² »The smallest of them will become a thousand. The weakest of them will become a mighty nation. At the right time I, Jehovah, will make it happen quickly.«

¹⁷ Do not cause me fear and anxiety. For you are my refuge in the day of disaster. ¹⁸ Let those who persecute me be put to shame. Do not let me be put to shame. Let them be dismayed, but let me not be dismayed. Bring on them a day of disaster. Crush them with twofold destruction!

¹⁹ »The people who live there will sing songs of praise. The sound of laughter will be heard from there. I will make them numerous, and their number will not decrease. I will bring them honor, and they will not be considered unimportant.

³⁸ »They will be my people, and I will be their God. ³⁹ »I will give them the same attitude and the same purpose so that they will respect and reverence me as long as they live. This will be for their good and for the good of their children.

²² »‘I will increase the descendants of my servant David and the Levites who serve me in the same way as the stars of heaven that cannot be counted and the sand on the seashore that cannot be measured.’«

⁵ »I used my great strength and my powerful arm to make the earth along with the people and the animals on it. I give it to anyone I please. ⁶ »Now I have handed all these countries over to my servant King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. I have even made wild animals serve him.

⁶⁶ You will go after them in anger and annihilate them from under the heavens of Jehovah.

¹⁴ ‘»»I acted so that my name would not be dishonored among the nations who had watched me bring the Israelites out of Egypt.

²² »So tell the people of Israel, ‘the Lord Jehovah says: »I am about to do something, people of Israel. I will not do this for your sake but for the sake of my holy name, which you have dishonored among the nations wherever you have gone.«’

³² »‘I want you to know that I am not doing this for your sake,’ proclaims the Lord Jehovah. ‘Be ashamed and disgraced because of your ways, people of Israel.’

²⁰ Daniel said: »Praise be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and might are his.

³⁵ All the inhabitants of the earth are considered as nothing. He does according to his will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of earth. None can stop him, or say to him: ‘What do you do?’

¹⁰ »Yet the number of the children of Israel will be like the grains of the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured or numbered. It will be said: You are the sons of the living God in the place where it was said you are not my people!

⁶ »Samaria's calf-shaped idol was made in Israel. Skilled workers made it. It is not God. It will be smashed to pieces!

¹⁷ »Let the priests and the ministers of Jehovah weep between the Temple porch and the altar! Let them say: Spare your people, O Jehovah, and do not give reproach to your heritage. That the nations should rule over them and say among the peoples, ‘where is their God?«’

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.«

⁸ »They that regard lying vanities forsake their own mercy.

²⁰ You will give truth to Jacob, and show loving-kindness (unchanging love) to Abraham. For you have sworn this to our fathers from the days of old.

¹⁸ »What is an idol worth after the carver is done? It is merely a false god. Why trust a speechless image made by human hands from wood or metal?

¹⁸ »What is an idol worth after the carver is done? It is merely a false god. Why trust a speechless image made by human hands from wood or metal? ¹⁹ »Woe to anyone who says to an idol of wood or stone get up! You can learn nothing from idols covered with silver or gold? They cannot breathe or talk.

¹⁹ »Woe to anyone who says to an idol of wood or stone get up! You can learn nothing from idols covered with silver or gold? They cannot breathe or talk. ²⁰ »Jehovah is in his Holy Temple. Let all the earth be silent before him.«

²⁰ Jehovah of Hosts said: »It will yet come to pass, peoples, and the inhabitants of many cities will come. ²¹ »The inhabitants of one city will go to another, saying, ‘Let us go speedily to entreat the favor of Jehovah, and to seek Jehovah of Hosts; I will go also. ²² »Yes, many peoples and strong nations will come to seek Jehovah of Hosts in Jerusalem, and to request the favor of Jehovah.« ²³ Jehovah of hosts said: »In those days it will come to pass, that ten men out of all the languages of the nations, will take hold of the skirt of the one who is a Jew, saying, We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.«

⁸ »I will whistle for them, and gather them. I have redeemed them and they will increase the same as they have increased.

¹⁶ Those who respected Jehovah spoke to one another, and Jehovah listened to what they had to say. In his presence a memorial record was written down in a book listing those who reverence Jehovah and respect (esteem) (regard) his name. ¹⁷ »They will be my people,« said Jehovah of Hosts. »On the day when I act, they will be mine (my special treasure) (my jewels). I will show them compassion just as parents show compassion to the children who serve them.

² »The sun of righteousness with it’s healing will shine on you who respect my name and obey me. You will be free and paw the ground like fat calves.«

⁹ »‘Our Father in heaven, holy is your name. (Exodus 6:3) (Psalm 83:18) (Isaiah 42:8; 54:5; 63:16; 64:8)

⁵⁰ »His mercy is to all generations for all who respect him.

¹⁷ The law came through Moses. Loving-kindness and truth came through Jesus Christ.

² »In my Father’s house are many dwelling places. If it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

³⁹ »The promise is to you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as Jehovah our God calls.« (Micah 4:5) (Deuteronomy 6:4)

²⁵ »You are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant that God made with our fathers. He said to Abraham: ‘All the families of the earth will be blessed in your seed.’ ²⁶ »God raised up his servant and sent him to you first. He sent him to bless you and to turn every one of you from your wicked ways.«

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.

³⁵ »In every nation he accepts every person who respects him and does what is right.

¹⁵ They said: »Sirs, why do you do these things? We are only men like you. We bring you good news. You should turn from these worthless things to the living God. He is the God who made heaven and earth, the sea and all things.

²⁶ »You see and hear that Paul, in Ephesus and throughout all Asia, has persuaded and turned away many people. He says that man-made gods are no gods at all.

³⁵ The city recorder quieted the crowd. He said: »You men of Ephesus, what man is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple-keeper of the great Artemis, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter?

²² »Having obtained help from God, I continue to this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those that the prophets and Moses said should come.

²⁶ »Men and brothers, children of Abraham, and you of the nations who respect God, the message of salvation is sent to you.

¹⁹ You say to me: »Why does he yet find fault? Who resists his purpose (will)?«

⁸ Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcised for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers. ⁹ That the nations might glorify God for his mercy as it is written: »For this cause I will confess you to the people of the nations, and sing to your name.«

¹⁹ What do I mean? That the idol is anything, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is anything? ²⁰ But I say, that the things that the nations sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God. I do not want you to have fellowship with demons.

¹⁴ This way the blessing of Abraham might come upon the nations through Christ Jesus and we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

²⁹ If you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, heirs according to promise.

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places through Christ.

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places through Christ. ⁴ He chose us through him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blemish before him in love.

⁶ This is to the praise of the glory of his kindness, with which he freely honored us, the loved ones.

¹¹ We were assigned as heirs predetermined according to his purpose. He works all things according to his direction and will. ¹² We who were first to hope in Christ should serve to the praise of his glory.

¹¹ There is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondman, freeman; but Christ is all and in all.

⁹ Do not repay evil for evil, or insult for insult. Do just the opposite. For you were called to inherit a blessing.

¹⁰ The twenty-four elders fall down before the one seated on the throne. They worship him who lives forever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: ¹¹ »You are worthy, Jehovah our God, to receive glory and honor and power: for you have created all things, and because of your will they are and were created.«

¹³ I heard every creature in heaven and on earth. I also heard those under the earth, in the sea, and all that are in them. They said: »Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be to him who sits upon the throne, and to the Lamb forever and ever.«

⁴ I heard the number of those who were sealed. There were sealed a hundred and forty-four thousand from all the tribes of the children of Israel.

⁹ After this I saw a great crowd that no man could number. It was from all nations, and tribes, and people, and tongues. It stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes. They had palm branches in their hands.

¹⁸ »The nations were angry. Your wrath (indignation) has come! It is time to judge the dead, to reward your servants the prophets, the holy ones, and those who reverence your name the small and the great. Time to destroy (exterminate) (eradicate) those who destroy the earth.«

⁷ He spoke in a loud voice: »Respect God, and give him glory! The hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.«

⁵ Then a voice came from the throne. It said: »Praise our God, all you his servants, and you who reverence him, both small and great.«

¹² I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God. The books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged according to the things written in the books, according to their works.