1 Peter 2 Cross References - WEB

¹ Putting away therefore all wickedness, all deceit, hypocrisies, envies, and all evil speaking, ² as newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the Word, that with it you may grow, ³ if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious: ⁴ coming to him, a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God, precious. ⁵ You also, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. ⁶ Because it is contained in Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, chosen and precious: He who believes in him will not be disappointed.” ⁷ For you who believe therefore is the honor, but for those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone,” ⁸ and, “a stumbling stone and a rock of offense.” For they stumble at the word, being disobedient, to which also they were appointed. ⁹ But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. ¹⁰ In the past, you were not a people, but now are God’s people, who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. ¹¹ Beloved, I beg you as foreigners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; ¹² having good behavior among the nations, so in that of which they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they see, glorify God in the day of visitation. ¹³ Therefore subject yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether to the king, as supreme; ¹⁴ or to governors, as sent by him for vengeance on evildoers and for praise to those who do well. ¹⁵ For this is the will of God, that by well-doing you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: ¹⁶ as free, and not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as bondservants of God. ¹⁷ Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. ¹⁸ Servants, be in subjection to your masters with all respect: not only to the good and gentle, but also to the wicked. ¹⁹ For it is commendable if someone endures pain, suffering unjustly, because of conscience toward God. ²⁰ For what glory is it if, when you sin, you patiently endure beating? But if, when you do well, you patiently endure suffering, this is commendable with God. ²¹ For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving you an example, that you should follow his steps, ²² who didn’t sin, “neither was deceit found in his mouth.” ²³ When he was cursed, he didn’t curse back. When he suffered, he didn’t threaten, but committed himself to him who judges righteously. ²⁴ He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live to righteousness. You were healed by his wounds. ²⁵ For you were going astray like sheep; but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

⁸ Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, “They have creditd David with ten thousands, and they have only credited me with thousands. What can he have more but the kingdom?” ⁹ Saul watched David from that day and forward.

¹³ “But those who are godless in heart lay up anger. They don’t cry for help when he binds them.

² Blessed is the man to whom Yahweh doesn’t impute iniquity, in whose spirit there is no deceit.

¹³ Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking lies.

¹ By David. Don’t fret because of evildoers, neither be envious against those who work unrighteousness.

³ For I was envious of the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

³¹ Don’t envy the man of violence. Choose none of his ways.

³⁰ The life of the body is a heart at peace, but envy rots the bones.

¹ Don’t be envious of evil men, neither desire to be with them;

¹⁹ Don’t fret yourself because of evildoers, neither be envious of the wicked;

²⁰ In that day, men shall cast away their idols of silver and their idols of gold, which have been made for themselves to worship, to the moles and to the bats,

²² You shall defile the overlaying of your engraved images of silver, and the plating of your molten images of gold. You shall cast them away as an unclean thing. You shall tell it, “Go away!”

³¹ Cast away from you all your transgressions, in which you have transgressed; and make yourself a new heart and a new spirit: for why will you die, house of Israel? ³² For I have no pleasure in the death of him who dies,” says the Lord Yahweh. “Therefore turn yourselves, and live!

⁵ You hypocrite! First remove the beam out of your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck out of your brother’s eye.

⁷ You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying,

²⁸ Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

⁵¹ and will cut him in pieces, and appoint his portion with the hypocrites. That is where the weeping and grinding of teeth will be.

¹⁵ Shall we give, or shall we not give?” But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, “Why do you test me? Bring me a denarius, that I may see it.”

⁴² Or how can you tell your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove the speck of chaff that is in your eye,’ when you yourself don’t see the beam that is in your own eye? You hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck of chaff that is in your brother’s eye.

⁴⁴ Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like hidden graves, and the men who walk over them don’t know it.”

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

⁴⁷ Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said about him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!”

²⁹ being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, malice; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil habits, secret slanderers,

¹² The night is far gone, and the day is near. Let’s therefore throw off the deeds of darkness, and let’s put on the armor of light. ¹³ Let’s walk properly, as in the day; not in reveling and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and lustful acts, and not in strife and jealousy.

² I fed you with milk, not with meat; for you weren’t yet ready. Indeed, you aren’t ready even now, ³ for you are still fleshly. For insofar as there is jealousy, strife, and factions among you, aren’t you fleshly, and don’t you walk in the ways of men?

⁸ Therefore let’s keep the feast, not with old yeast, neither with the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

²⁰ Brothers, don’t be children in thoughts, yet in malice be babies, but in thoughts be mature.

²⁰ For I am afraid that by any means, when I come, I might find you not the way I want to, and that I might be found by you as you don’t desire, that by any means there would be strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, whisperings, proud thoughts, or riots,

²¹ envy, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these; of which I forewarn you, even as I also forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit God’s Kingdom. ²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, ²³ gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ²⁴ Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts. ²⁵ If we live by the Spirit, let’s also walk by the Spirit. ²⁶ Let’s not become conceited, provoking one another, and envying one another.

²² that you put away, as concerning your former way of life, the old man that grows corrupt after the lusts of deceit, ²³ and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, ²⁴ and put on the new man, who in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of truth. ²⁵ Therefore putting away falsehood, speak truth each one with his neighbor. For we are members of one another.

³¹ Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outcry, and slander be put away from you, with all malice.

⁵ Put to death therefore your members which are on the earth: sexual immorality, uncleanness, depraved passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. ⁶ For these things’ sake the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience. ⁷ You also once walked in those, when you lived in them; ⁸ but now you also put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and shameful speaking out of your mouth.

³ For our exhortation is not of error, nor of uncleanness, nor in deception.

¹¹ Their wives in the same way must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, and faithful in all things.

³ and that older women likewise be reverent in behavior, not slanderers nor enslaved to much wine, teachers of that which is good,

³ For we were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. ⁴ But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love toward mankind appeared, ⁵ not by works of righteousness which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,

¹ Therefore let’s also, seeing we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with perseverance the race that is set before us,

²¹ Therefore, putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive with humility the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

¹⁴ But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t boast and don’t lie against the truth.

¹⁶ For where jealousy and selfish ambition are, there is confusion and every evil deed. ¹⁷ But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

⁵ Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who lives in us yearns jealously”?

¹¹ Don’t speak against one another, brothers. He who speaks against a brother and judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law, but a judge.

⁹ Don’t grumble, brothers, against one another, so that you won’t be judged. Behold, the judge stands at the door.

¹⁸ knowing that you were redeemed, not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, from the useless way of life handed down from your fathers, ¹⁹ but with precious blood, as of a lamb without blemish or spot, the blood of Christ, ²⁰ who was foreknown indeed before the foundation of the world, but was revealed in this last age for your sake, ²¹ who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead, and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope might be in God. ²² Seeing you have purified your souls in your obedience to the truth through the Spirit in sincere brotherly affection, love one another from the heart fervently, ²³ having been born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the word of God, which lives and remains forever. ²⁴ For, “All flesh is like grass, and all of man’s glory like the flower in the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls; ²⁵ but the Lord’s word endures forever.” This is the word of Good News which was preached to you.

¹⁶ as free, and not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as bondservants of God.

²² who didn’t sin, “neither was deceit found in his mouth.”

¹⁰ For, “He who would love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.

² that you no longer should live the rest of your time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.

⁴ They think it is strange that you don’t run with them into the same excess of riot, blaspheming.

⁵ In their mouth was found no lie, for they are blameless.

⁵ Isn’t my house so with God? Yet he has made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure, for it is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he doesn’t make it grow.

⁹ Yet the righteous will hold to his way. He who has clean hands will grow stronger and stronger.

⁷ Yahweh’s law is perfect, restoring the soul. Yahweh’s covenant is sure, making wise the simple. ⁸ Yahweh’s precepts are right, rejoicing the heart. Yahweh’s commandment is pure, enlightening the eyes. ⁹ The fear of Yahweh is clean, enduring forever. Yahweh’s ordinances are true, and righteous altogether. ¹⁰ They are more to be desired than gold, yes, than much fine gold, sweeter also than honey and the extract of the honeycomb.

¹⁸ But the path of the righteous is like the dawning light that shines more and more until the perfect day.

³ Let’s acknowledge Yahweh. Let’s press on to know Yahweh. As surely as the sun rises, Yahweh will appear. He will come to us like the rain, like the spring rain that waters the earth.”

⁵ I will be like the dew to Israel. He will blossom like the lily, and send down his roots like Lebanon.

⁷ Men will dwell in his shade. They will revive like the grain, and blossom like the vine. Their fragrance will be like the wine of Lebanon.

² But to you who fear my name shall the sun of righteousness arise with healing in its wings. You will go out, and leap like calves of the stall.

³ and said, “Most certainly I tell you, unless you turn, and become as little children, you will in no way enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.

¹⁵ Most certainly I tell you, whoever will not receive God’s Kingdom like a little child, he will in no way enter into it.”

⁴ We were buried therefore with him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life.

¹ Brothers, I couldn’t speak to you as to spiritual, but as to fleshly, as to babies in Christ. ² I fed you with milk, not with meat; for you weren’t yet ready. Indeed, you aren’t ready even now,

²¹ in whom the whole building, fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord;

¹⁵ but speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him who is the head, Christ,

³ We are bound to always give thanks to God for you, brothers, even as it is appropriate, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of each and every one of you toward one another abounds,

¹² For although by this time you should be teachers, you again need to have someone teach you the rudiments of the first principles of the revelations of God. You have come to need milk, and not solid food. ¹³ For everyone who lives on milk is not experienced in the word of righteousness, for he is a baby.

²³ having been born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the word of God, which lives and remains forever.

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

¹⁰ Those who know your name will put their trust in you, for you, Yahweh, have not forsaken those who seek you.

⁸ Who is the King of glory? Yahweh strong and mighty, Yahweh mighty in battle.

⁸ Oh taste and see that Yahweh is good. Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.

⁵ My soul shall be satisfied as with the richest food. My mouth shall praise you with joyful lips,

³ As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, his fruit was sweet to my taste.

¹⁷ For how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty! Grain will make the young men flourish, and new wine the virgins.

⁵ and tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, ⁶ and then fell away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance; seeing they crucify the Son of God for themselves again, and put him to open shame.

²² The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. ²³ This is Yahweh’s doing. It is marvelous in our eyes.

¹⁴ He will be a sanctuary, but for both houses of Israel, he will be a stumbling stone and a rock that makes them fall. For the people of Jerusalem, he will be a trap and a snare. ¹⁵ Many will stumble over it, fall, be broken, be snared, and be captured.”

¹⁶ Therefore the Lord Yahweh says, “Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone of a sure foundation. He who believes shall not act hastily.

¹ “Behold, my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights: I have put my Spirit on him. He will bring justice to the nations.

³ Turn your ear, and come to me. Hear, and your soul will live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

²² Return, you backsliding children, and I will heal your backsliding. “Behold, we have come to you; for you are Yahweh our God.

³⁴ You saw until a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image on its feet that were of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces.

⁴⁵ Because you saw that a stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God has made known to the king what will happen hereafter. The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure.”

⁹ For, behold, the stone that I have set before Joshua; on one stone are seven eyes: behold, I will engrave its engraving,’ says Yahweh of Armies, ‘and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.

⁷ Who are you, great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you are a plain; and he will bring out the capstone with shouts of ‘Grace, grace, to it!’”

²⁸ “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest.

¹⁸ “Behold, my servant whom I have chosen; my beloved in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my Spirit on him. He will proclaim justice to the nations.

⁴² Jesus said to them, “Did you never read in the Scriptures, ‘The stone which the builders rejected was made the head of the corner. This was from the Lord. It is marvelous in our eyes?’

¹⁰ Haven’t you even read this Scripture: ‘The stone which the builders rejected was made the head of the corner. ¹¹ This was from the Lord. It is marvelous in our eyes’?”

¹⁷ But he looked at them and said, “Then what is this that is written, ‘The stone which the builders rejected was made the chief cornerstone?’ ¹⁸ Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but it will crush whomever it falls on to dust.”

²⁶ For as the Father has life in himself, even so he gave to the Son also to have life in himself.

⁴⁰ Yet you will not come to me, that you may have life.

³⁷ All those whom the Father gives me will come to me. He who comes to me I will in no way throw out.

⁵⁷ As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father; so he who feeds on me, he will also live because of me.

²⁵ Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will still live, even if he dies. ²⁶ Whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

⁶ Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.

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

¹¹ He is ‘the stone which was regarded as worthless by you, the builders, which has become the head of the corner.’ ¹² There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that is given among men, by which we must be saved!”

¹⁰ For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we will be saved by his life.

⁴ When Christ, our life, is revealed, then you will also be revealed with him in glory.

⁷ that the proof of your faith, which is more precious than gold that perishes even though it is tested by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ—

¹⁹ but with precious blood, as of a lamb without blemish or spot, the blood of Christ,

⁷ For you who believe therefore is the honor, but for those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone,”

¹ Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained a like precious faith with us in the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:

⁴ by which he has granted to us his precious and exceedingly great promises; that through these you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world by lust.

¹⁴ Offer to God the sacrifice of thanksgiving. Pay your vows to the Most High.

²³ Whoever offers the sacrifice of thanksgiving glorifies me, and prepares his way so that I will show God’s salvation to him.”

² Let my prayer be set before you like incense; the lifting up of my hands like the evening sacrifice.

⁶ But you will be called Yahweh’s priests. Men will call you the servants of our God. You will eat the wealth of the nations. You will boast in their glory.

²¹ Of them I will also select priests and Levites,” says Yahweh.

² Take words with you, and return to Yahweh. Tell him, “Forgive all our sins, and accept that which is good: so we offer our lips like bulls.

¹¹ For from the rising of the sun even to its going down, my name is great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering: for my name is great among the nations,” says Yahweh of Armies.

²² You worship that which you don’t know. We worship that which we know; for salvation is from the Jews. ²³ But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such to be his worshipers. ²⁴ God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

¹ Therefore I urge you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service.

¹⁶ that I should be a servant of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, serving as a priest of the Good News of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be made acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

⁹ For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s farming, God’s building.

¹⁶ Don’t you know that you are a temple of God, and that God’s Spirit lives in you?

¹⁹ Or don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,

¹⁶ What agreement does a temple of God have with idols? For you are a temple of the living God. Even as God said, “I will dwell in them and walk in them. I will be their God and they will be my people.”

²⁰ being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone; ²¹ in whom the whole building, fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord; ²² in whom you also are built together for a habitation of God in the Spirit.

¹¹ being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

¹⁷ Yes, and if I am poured out on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice, and rejoice with you all.

¹⁸ But I have all things and abound. I am filled, having received from Epaphroditus the things that came from you, a sweet-smelling fragrance, an acceptable and well-pleasing sacrifice to God.

¹⁷ Whatever you do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father, through him.

¹⁵ but if I wait long, that you may know how men ought to behave themselves in God’s house, which is the assembly of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

⁶ but Christ is faithful as a Son over his house. We are his house, if we hold fast our confidence and the glorying of our hope firm to the end.

¹⁵ Through him, then, let’s offer up a sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of lips which proclaim allegiance to his name. ¹⁶ But don’t forget to be doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

⁹ But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

¹¹ If anyone speaks, let it be as it were the very words of God. If anyone serves, let it be as of the strength which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

⁶ and he made us to be a Kingdom, priests to his God and Father—to him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

¹² He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will go out from there no more. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God, and my own new name.

¹⁰ and made us kings and priests to our God, and we will reign on the earth.”

⁶ Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over these, the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with him one thousand years.

¹⁴ Let them be disappointed and confounded together who seek after my soul to destroy it. Let them be turned backward and brought to dishonor who delight in my hurt.

¹⁹ Then you spoke in vision to your saints, and said, “I have given strength to the warrior. I have exalted a young man from the people.

¹¹ Behold, all those who are incensed against you will be disappointed and confounded. Those who strive with you will be like nothing, and shall perish.

¹⁶ They will be disappointed, yes, confounded, all of them. Those who are makers of idols will go into confusion together. ¹⁷ Israel will be saved by Yahweh with an everlasting salvation. You will not be disappointed nor confounded to ages everlasting.

⁷ For the Lord Yahweh will help me. Therefore I have not been confounded. Therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I won’t be disappointed.

⁴ “Don’t be afraid, for you will not be ashamed. Don’t be confounded, for you will not be disappointed. For you will forget the shame of your youth. You will remember the reproach of your widowhood no more.

²¹ But I will tell you that which is inscribed in the writing of truth. There is no one who holds with me against these, but Michael your prince.

⁴ From him will come the cornerstone, from him the nail, from him the battle bow, from him every ruler together.

¹⁰ Haven’t you even read this Scripture: ‘The stone which the builders rejected was made the head of the corner.

³⁵ The people stood watching. The rulers with them also scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others. Let him save himself, if this is the Christ of God, his chosen one!”

³⁸ He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, from within him will flow rivers of living water.”

¹⁶ “Brothers, it was necessary that this Scripture should be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who was guide to those who took Jesus.

³² Why? Because they didn’t seek it by faith, but as it were by works of the law. They stumbled over the stumbling stone; ³³ even as it is written, “Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and a rock of offense; and no one who believes in him will be disappointed.”

¹¹ For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in him will not be disappointed.”

⁴ even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and without defect before him in love,

²⁰ being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone;

¹⁶ Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness,

⁴ coming to him, a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God, precious.

²⁰ knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of private interpretation.

¹⁶ as also in all of his letters, speaking in them of these things. In those, there are some things that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unsettled twist, as they also do to the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.

⁹ How is your beloved better than another beloved, you fairest among women? How is your beloved better than another beloved, that you do so adjure us? ¹⁰ My beloved is white and ruddy. The best among ten thousand. ¹¹ His head is like the purest gold. His hair is bushy, black as a raven. ¹² His eyes are like doves beside the water brooks, washed with milk, mounted like jewels. ¹³ His cheeks are like a bed of spices with towers of perfumes. His lips are like lilies, dropping liquid myrrh. ¹⁴ His hands are like rings of gold set with beryl. His body is like ivory work overlaid with sapphires. ¹⁵ His legs are like pillars of marble set on sockets of fine gold. His appearance is like Lebanon, excellent as the cedars. ¹⁶ His mouth is sweetness; yes, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, daughters of Jerusalem.

⁵ In that day, Yahweh of Armies will become a crown of glory and a diadem of beauty to the residue of his people,

⁷ and I will shake all nations. The precious things of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory, says Yahweh of Armies.

⁴⁴ “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in the field, which a man found, and hid. In his joy, he goes and sells all that he has, and buys that field. ⁴⁵ “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who is a merchant seeking fine pearls, ⁴⁶ who having found one pearl of great price, he went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

³² a light for revelation to the nations, and the glory of your people Israel.”

¹⁷ But he looked at them and said, “Then what is this that is written, ‘The stone which the builders rejected was made the chief cornerstone?’

⁴² They said to the woman, “Now we believe, not because of your speaking; for we have heard for ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.”

⁶⁸ Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life. ⁶⁹ We have come to believe and know that you are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

¹⁹ “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision,

²¹ But about Israel he says, “All day long I stretched out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”

³¹ that I may be delivered from those who are disobedient in Judea, and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints,

¹⁶ to the one a stench from death to death, to the other a sweet aroma from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?

⁷ However, I consider those things that were gain to me as a loss for Christ. ⁸ Yes most certainly, and I count all things to be a loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord, for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and count them nothing but refuse, that I may gain Christ ⁹ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own, that which is of the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith, ¹⁰ that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, becoming conformed to his death,

¹⁰ and in him you are made full, who is the head of all principality and power.

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

¹¹ Let’s therefore give diligence to enter into that rest, lest anyone fall after the same example of disobedience.

³¹ By faith, Rahab the prostitute didn’t perish with those who were disobedient, having received the spies in peace.

⁸ whom, not having known, you love. In him, though now you don’t see him, yet believing, you rejoice greatly with joy that is unspeakable and full of glory,

⁸ and, “a stumbling stone and a rock of offense.” For they stumble at the word, being disobedient, to which also they were appointed.

¹⁶ but indeed for this cause I have made you stand: to show you my power, and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth,

¹⁴ He will be a sanctuary, but for both houses of Israel, he will be a stumbling stone and a rock that makes them fall. For the people of Jerusalem, he will be a trap and a snare.

¹⁴ He will say, “Build up, build up, prepare the way! Remove the stumbling-block out of the way of my people.”

³⁴ and Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary, his mother, “Behold, this child is set for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which is spoken against.

²² What if God, willing to show his wrath and to make his power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction,

²³ but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews, and foolishness to Greeks,

⁹ For God didn’t appoint us to wrath, but to the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

³ In covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words: whose sentence now from of old doesn’t linger, and their destruction will not slumber.

⁴ For there are certain men who crept in secretly, even those who were long ago written about for this condemnation: ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into indecency, and denying our only Master, God, and Lord, Jesus Christ.

⁵ Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice, and keep my covenant, then you shall be my own possession from among all peoples; for all the earth is mine; ⁶ and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”

²⁰ But Yahweh has taken you, and brought you out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt, to be to him a people of inheritance, as it is today.

⁶ For you are a holy people to Yahweh your God. Yahweh your God has chosen you to be a people for his own possession, above all peoples who are on the face of the earth.

¹⁵ Only Yahweh had a delight in your fathers to love them, and he chose their offspring after them, even you above all peoples, as it is today.

² For you are a holy people to Yahweh your God, and Yahweh has chosen you to be a people for his own possession, above all peoples who are on the face of the earth.

¹⁸ Yahweh has declared today that you are a people for his own possession, as he has promised you, and that you should keep all his commandments. ¹⁹ He will make you high above all nations that he has made, in praise, in name, and in honor; and that you may be a holy people to Yahweh your God, as he has spoken.

³⁰ Posterity shall serve him. Future generations shall be told about the Lord.

¹² Blessed is the nation whose God is Yahweh, the people whom he has chosen for his own inheritance.

¹⁵ If I had said, “I will speak thus”; behold, I would have betrayed the generation of your children.

⁵ that I may see the prosperity of your chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of your nation, that I may glory with your inheritance.

² The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. The light has shined on those who lived in the land of the shadow of death.

² Open the gates, that the righteous nation may enter: the one which keeps faith.

⁸ “But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham my friend,

¹⁶ I will bring the blind by a way that they don’t know. I will lead them in paths that they don’t know. I will make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight. I will do these things, and I will not forsake them.

²⁰ The animals of the field, the jackals and the ostriches, shall honor me, because I give water in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen, ²¹ the people which I formed for myself, that they might declare my praise.

¹ Yet listen now, Jacob my servant, and Israel, whom I have chosen.

¹ “Arise, shine; for your light has come, and Yahweh’s glory has risen on you. ² For, behold, darkness will cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but Yahweh will arise on you, and his glory shall be seen on you. ³ Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.

¹⁶ the people who sat in darkness saw a great light, to those who sat in the region and shadow of death, to them light has dawned.”

¹⁶ Even so, let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

⁷⁹ to shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death; to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

¹⁹ For their sakes I sanctify myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth.

²⁸ Take heed, therefore, to yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the assembly of the Lord and God which he purchased with his own blood.

¹⁸ to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive remission of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

²⁸ Agrippa said to Paul, “With a little persuasion are you trying to make me a Christian?”

²⁴ us, whom he also called, not from the Jews only, but also from the Gentiles?

¹⁷ If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is holy, which you are.

⁶ to the praise of the glory of his grace, by which he freely gave us favor in the Beloved,

¹⁴ who is a pledge of our inheritance, to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of his glory.

²¹ to him be the glory in the assembly and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

⁸ For you were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord. Walk as children of light, ⁹ for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth, ¹⁰ proving what is well pleasing to the Lord. ¹¹ Have no fellowship with the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather even reprove them.

¹⁵ that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without defect in the middle of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you are seen as lights in the world, ¹⁶ holding up the word of life, that I may have something to boast in the day of Christ, that I didn’t run in vain nor labor in vain.

¹⁴ I press on toward the goal for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

¹³ who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the Kingdom of the Son of his love,

⁴ But you, brothers, aren’t in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief. ⁵ You are all children of light and children of the day. We don’t belong to the night, nor to darkness, ⁶ so then let’s not sleep, as the rest do, but let’s watch and be sober. ⁷ For those who sleep, sleep in the night; and those who are drunk are drunk in the night. ⁸ But since we belong to the day, let’s be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.

⁹ who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before times eternal,

¹⁴ who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify for himself a people for his own possession, zealous for good works.

² according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, that you may obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with his blood: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.

⁵ You also, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

⁹ He said, “Call his name Lo-Ammi; for you are not my people, and I will not be yours. ¹⁰ Yet the number of the children of Israel will be as the sand of the sea, which can’t be measured or counted; and it will come to pass that, in the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’

²³ I will sow her to me in the earth; and I will have mercy on her who had not obtained mercy; and I will tell those who were not my people, ‘You are my people;’ and they will say, ‘My God!’”

²⁵ As he says also in Hosea, “I will call them ‘my people,’ which were not my people; and her ‘beloved,’ who was not beloved.” ²⁶ “It will be that in the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ there they will be called ‘children of the living God.’”

¹⁹ But I ask, didn’t Israel know? First Moses says, “I will provoke you to jealousy with that which is no nation. I will make you angry with a nation void of understanding.”

⁶ And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work. ⁷ What then? That which Israel seeks for, that he didn’t obtain, but the chosen ones obtained it, and the rest were hardened.

³⁰ For as you in time past were disobedient to God, but now have obtained mercy by their disobedience,

²⁵ Now concerning virgins, I have no commandment from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who has obtained mercy from the Lord to be trustworthy.

¹³ although I used to be a blasphemer, a persecutor, and insolent. However, I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

¹⁶ Let’s therefore draw near with boldness to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace for help in time of need.

⁴ “I am a stranger and a foreigner living with you. Give me a possession of a burying-place with you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.”

⁹ Jacob said to Pharaoh, “The years of my pilgrimage are one hundred thirty years. The days of the years of my life have been few and evil. They have not attained to the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage.”

²³ “‘The land shall not be sold in perpetuity, for the land is mine; for you are strangers and live as foreigners with me.

¹⁵ For we are strangers before you, and foreigners, as all our fathers were. Our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is no remaining.

¹² “Hear my prayer, Yahweh, and give ear to my cry. Don’t be silent at my tears. For I am a stranger with you, a foreigner, as all my fathers were.

¹⁹ I am a stranger on the earth. Don’t hide your commandments from me.

⁵⁴ Your statutes have been my songs in the house where I live.

³⁴ “So be careful, or your hearts will be loaded down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day will come on you suddenly.

²⁰ but that we write to them that they abstain from the pollution of idols, from sexual immorality, from what is strangled, and from blood.

²⁹ that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality, from which if you keep yourselves, it will be well with you. Farewell.”

²³ but I see a different law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity under the law of sin which is in my members.

¹³ For if you live after the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

¹³ Let’s walk properly, as in the day; not in reveling and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and lustful acts, and not in strife and jealousy. ¹⁴ But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, for its lusts.

²⁰ We are therefore ambassadors on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

¹ Working together, we entreat also that you do not receive the grace of God in vain,

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

¹⁶ But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you won’t fulfill the lust of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, that you may not do the things that you desire. ¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. ¹⁹ Now the deeds of the flesh are obvious, which are: adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, divisions, heresies, ²¹ envy, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these; of which I forewarn you, even as I also forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit God’s Kingdom.

²⁴ Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts.

¹ I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to walk worthily of the calling with which you were called,

⁹ But those who are determined to be rich fall into a temptation, a snare, and many foolish and harmful lusts, such as drown men in ruin and destruction. ¹⁰ For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some have been led astray from the faith in their greed, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

²² Flee from youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

⁹ yet for love’s sake I rather beg, being such a one as Paul, the aged, but also a prisoner of Jesus Christ. ¹⁰ I beg you for my child, whom I have become the father of in my chains, Onesimus,

¹³ These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and embraced them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

¹ Where do wars and fightings among you come from? Don’t they come from your pleasures that war in your members?

¹ Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the chosen ones who are living as foreigners in the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

¹⁷ If you call on him as Father, who without respect of persons judges according to each man’s work, pass the time of your living as foreigners here in reverent fear,

¹⁵ Don’t love the world or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the Father’s love isn’t in him. ¹⁶ For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, isn’t the Father’s, but is the world’s. ¹⁷ The world is passing away with its lusts, but he who does God’s will remains forever.

⁷ There was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. The Canaanites and the Perizzites lived in the land at that time. ⁸ Abram said to Lot, “Please, let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen; for we are relatives.

¹⁴ The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, to kill those who are upright on the path.

³ What will you do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which will come from afar? To whom will you flee for help? Where will you leave your wealth?

¹¹ “Blessed are you when people reproach you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

⁸ But when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such authority to men.

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

⁶⁸ “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people;

²² Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude and mock you, and throw out your name as evil, for the Son of Man’s sake.

⁴⁴ and will dash you and your children within you to the ground. They will not leave in you one stone on another, because you didn’t know the time of your visitation.”

¹⁴ Simeon has reported how God first visited the nations to take out of them a people for his name.

⁵ For we have found this man to be a plague, an instigator of insurrections among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. ⁶ He even tried to profane the temple, and we arrested him.

¹³ Nor can they prove to you the things of which they now accuse me.

⁷ When he had come, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing against him many and grievous charges which they could not prove,

¹⁷ Repay no one evil for evil. Respect what is honorable in the sight of all men.

¹³ Let’s walk properly, as in the day; not in reveling and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and lustful acts, and not in strife and jealousy.

⁹ and that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Therefore I will give praise to you among the Gentiles and sing to your name.”

²⁵ And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed. So he will fall down on his face and worship God, declaring that God is among you indeed.

¹² For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and sincerity of God, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God we behaved ourselves in the world, and more abundantly toward you.

²¹ Having regard for honorable things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

⁷ Now I pray to God that you do no evil; not that we may appear approved, but that you may do that which is honorable, though we are as reprobate.

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

²² that you put away, as concerning your former way of life, the old man that grows corrupt after the lusts of deceit,

²⁷ Only let your way of life be worthy of the Good News of Christ, that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your state, that you stand firm in one spirit, with one soul striving for the faith of the Good News;

⁸ Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report: if there is any virtue and if there is any praise, think about these things.

¹² that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and may have need of nothing.

² for kings and all who are in high places, that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and reverence.

¹² Let no man despise your youth; but be an example to those who believe, in word, in your way of life, in love, in spirit, in faith, and in purity.

⁷ In all things be showing yourself an example of good works. In your teaching, be showing integrity, seriousness, incorruptibility, ⁸ and soundness of speech that can’t be condemned, that he who opposes you may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say about us.

⁵ Be free from the love of money, content with such things as you have, for he has said, “I will in no way leave you, neither will I in any way forsake you.”

¹⁸ Pray for us, for we are persuaded that we have a good conscience, desiring to live honorably in all things.

¹³ Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good conduct that his deeds are done in gentleness of wisdom.

¹ In the same way, wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; so that, even if any don’t obey the Word, they may be won by the behavior of their wives without a word, ² seeing your pure behavior in fear.

¹⁶ having a good conscience. Thus, while you are spoken against as evildoers, they may be disappointed who curse your good way of life in Christ.

¹⁴ If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed; because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. On their part he is blasphemed, but on your part he is glorified. ¹⁵ For let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evil doer, or a meddler in other men’s matters. ¹⁶ But if one of you suffers for being a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in this matter.

¹¹ Therefore since all these things will be destroyed like this, what kind of people ought you to be in holy living and godliness,

¹¹ An evil man seeks only rebellion; therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.

²¹ My son, fear Yahweh and the king. Don’t join those who are rebellious;

⁷ Seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to Yahweh for it; for in its peace you will have peace.”

²¹ They said to him, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Give therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

¹⁷ Jesus answered them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” They marveled greatly at him.

²⁵ He said to them, “Then give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

¹ Let every soul be in subjection to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those who exist are ordained by God. ² Therefore he who resists the authority withstands the ordinance of God; and those who withstand will receive to themselves judgment. ³ For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. Do you desire to have no fear of the authority? Do that which is good, and you will have praise from the authority, ⁴ for he is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do that which is evil, be afraid, for he doesn’t bear the sword in vain; for he is a servant of God, an avenger for wrath to him who does evil. ⁵ Therefore you need to be in subjection, not only because of the wrath, but also for conscience’ sake. ⁶ For this reason you also pay taxes, for they are servants of God’s service, continually doing this very thing. ⁷ Therefore give everyone what you owe: if you owe taxes, pay taxes; if customs, then customs; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

²¹ subjecting yourselves to one another in the fear of Christ.

¹ I exhort therefore, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and givings of thanks be made for all men: ² for kings and all who are in high places, that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and reverence.

¹ Remind them to be in subjection to rulers and to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work,

¹⁰ but chiefly those who walk after the flesh in the lust of defilement and despise authority. Daring, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries;

⁸ Yet in the same way, these also in their dreaming defile the flesh, despise authority, and slander celestial beings. ⁹ But Michael, the archangel, when contending with the devil and arguing about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him an abusive condemnation, but said, “May the Lord rebuke you!” ¹⁰ But these speak evil of whatever things they don’t know. They are destroyed in these things that they understand naturally, like the creatures without reason.

³ For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. Do you desire to have no fear of the authority? Do that which is good, and you will have praise from the authority, ⁴ for he is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do that which is evil, be afraid, for he doesn’t bear the sword in vain; for he is a servant of God, an avenger for wrath to him who does evil.

⁶ Is this the way you repay Yahweh, foolish and unwise people? Isn’t he your father who has bought you? He has made you and established you.

¹⁰ But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?” In all this Job didn’t sin with his lips.

¹⁶ So the poor has hope, and injustice shuts her mouth.

⁵ The arrogant will not stand in your sight. You hate all workers of iniquity.

⁴² The upright will see it, and be glad. All the wicked will shut their mouths.

⁶ Leave your simple ways, and live. Walk in the way of understanding.”

²² “For my people are foolish. They don’t know me. They are foolish children, and they have no understanding. They are skillful in doing evil, but they don’t know how to do good.”

²⁶ Everyone who hears these words of mine, and doesn’t do them will be like a foolish man, who built his house on the sand.

² Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.

²¹ Because knowing God, they didn’t glorify him as God, and didn’t give thanks, but became vain in their reasoning, and their senseless heart was darkened.

¹ Foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you not to obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was openly portrayed among you as crucified?

⁶ not in the way of service only when eyes are on you, as men pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, ⁷ with good will doing service as to the Lord, and not to men,

³ For this is the will of God: your sanctification, that you abstain from sexual immorality,

¹⁸ In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus toward you.

⁸ and soundness of speech that can’t be condemned, that he who opposes you may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say about us.

¹² having good behavior among the nations, so in that of which they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they see, glorify God in the day of visitation.

¹⁷ For it is better, if it is God’s will, that you suffer for doing well than for doing evil.

¹² But these, as unreasoning creatures, born natural animals to be taken and destroyed, speaking evil in matters about which they are ignorant, will in their destroying surely be destroyed,

¹⁰ But these speak evil of whatever things they don’t know. They are destroyed in these things that they understand naturally, like the creatures without reason.

¹³ “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and as a pretense you make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.

³² You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” ³³ They answered him, “We are Abraham’s offspring, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How do you say, ‘You will be made free’?” ³⁴ Jesus answered them, “Most certainly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is the bondservant of sin. ³⁵ A bondservant doesn’t live in the house forever. A son remains forever. ³⁶ If therefore the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.

²² If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have had sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin.

¹⁸ Being made free from sin, you became bondservants of righteousness.

²² But now, being made free from sin and having become servants of God, you have your fruit of sanctification and the result of eternal life.

²² For he who was called in the Lord being a bondservant is the Lord’s free man. Likewise he who was called being free is Christ’s bondservant.

¹ Stand firm therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and don’t be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

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

⁶ not in the way of service only when eyes are on you, as men pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,

²⁴ knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.

⁵ For neither were we at any time found using words of flattery, as you know, nor a cloak of covetousness (God is witness),

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

¹² So speak and so do, as men who are to be judged by a law of freedom.

¹⁹ promising them liberty, while they themselves are bondservants of corruption; for a man is brought into bondage by whoever overcomes him.

¹¹ Abraham said, “Because I thought, ‘Surely the fear of God is not in this place. They will kill me for my wife’s sake.’

¹² He said, “Don’t lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him. For now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.”

¹⁸ Joseph said to them the third day, “Do this, and live, for I fear God.

¹² “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which Yahweh your God gives you.

³² “‘You shall rise up before the gray head and honor the face of the elderly; and you shall fear your God. I am Yahweh.

³⁰ Then he said, “I have sinned; yet please honor me now before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and come back with me, that I may worship Yahweh your God.”

²⁰ Then David said to all the assembly, “Now bless Yahweh your God!” All the assembly blessed Yahweh, the God of their fathers, and bowed down their heads and prostrated themselves before Yahweh and the king.

¹⁰ The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom. All those who do his work have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!

⁷ The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge; but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.

¹⁷ Don’t let your heart envy sinners, but rather fear Yahweh all day long.

² I say, “Keep the king’s command!” because of the oath to God.

¹⁴ Then I cut apart my other staff, even Union, that I might break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.

³⁵ By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

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

⁷ Therefore give everyone what you owe: if you owe taxes, pay taxes; if customs, then customs; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

³ doing nothing through rivalry or through conceit, but in humility, each counting others better than himself;

¹ Let as many as are bondservants under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, that the name of God and the doctrine not be blasphemed.

¹ Let brotherly love continue.

²² Seeing you have purified your souls in your obedience to the truth through the Spirit in sincere brotherly affection, love one another from the heart fervently,

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

⁴ A perverse heart will be far from me. I will have nothing to do with evil.

³² For the perverse is an abomination to Yahweh, but his friendship is with the upright.

¹³ The fear of Yahweh is to hate evil. I hate pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverse mouth.

³² The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked is perverse.

²⁰ Those who are perverse in heart are an abomination to Yahweh, but those whose ways are blameless are his delight.

¹ Now I Paul, myself, entreat you by the humility and gentleness of Christ, I who in your presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you.

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith,

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

²² Servants, obey in all things those who are your masters according to the flesh, not just when they are looking, as men pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing God. ²³ And whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord, and not for men, ²⁴ knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. ²⁵ But he who does wrong will receive again for the wrong that he has done, and there is no partiality.

¹ Let as many as are bondservants under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, that the name of God and the doctrine not be blasphemed. ² Those who have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brothers, but rather let them serve them, because those who partake of the benefit are believing and beloved. Teach and exhort these things. ³ If anyone teaches a different doctrine, and doesn’t consent to sound words, the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness,

⁹ Exhort servants to be in subjection to their own masters and to be well-pleasing in all things, not contradicting, ¹⁰ not stealing, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God, our Savior, in all things.

² to speak evil of no one, not to be contentious, to be gentle, showing all humility toward all men.

¹⁷ But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

²⁷ “Behold, I know your thoughts, the plans with which you would wrong me.

¹⁹ Don’t let those who are my enemies wrongfully rejoice over me; neither let those who hate me without a cause wink their eyes.

¹⁹ But my enemies are vigorous and many. Those who hate me without reason are numerous.

⁴ Those who hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head. Those who want to cut me off, being my enemies wrongfully, are mighty. I have to restore what I didn’t take away.

⁸⁶ All of your commandments are faithful. They persecute me wrongfully. Help me!

¹⁰ Blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. ¹¹ “Blessed are you when people reproach you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake. ¹² Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

³² If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.

²¹ But they will do all these things to you for my name’s sake, because they don’t know him who sent me.

²³ who, when he had come, and had seen the grace of God, was glad. He exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they should remain near to the Lord.

⁵ Therefore you need to be in subjection, not only because of the wrath, but also for conscience’ sake.

¹⁰ But by the grace of God I am what I am. His grace which was given to me was not futile, but I worked more than all of them; yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

¹ Moreover, brothers, we make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the assemblies of Macedonia,

¹² For this cause I also suffer these things. Yet I am not ashamed, for I know him whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to guard that which I have committed to him against that day.

²⁰ For what glory is it if, when you sin, you patiently endure beating? But if, when you do well, you patiently endure suffering, this is commendable with God.

¹⁴ But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “Don’t fear what they fear, neither be troubled.” ¹⁵ But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts. Always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, with humility and fear, ¹⁶ having a good conscience. Thus, while you are spoken against as evildoers, they may be disappointed who curse your good way of life in Christ. ¹⁷ For it is better, if it is God’s will, that you suffer for doing well than for doing evil.

⁴⁷ If you only greet your friends, what more do you do than others? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same?

⁶⁷ Then they spat in his face and beat him with their fists, and some slapped him,

⁶⁵ Some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to beat him with fists, and to tell him, “Prophesy!” The officers struck him with the palms of their hands.

¹ Therefore I urge you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service. ² Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God.

¹¹ Even to this present hour we hunger, thirst, are naked, are beaten, and have no certain dwelling place.

¹⁰ proving what is well pleasing to the Lord.

¹⁹ For it is commendable if someone endures pain, suffering unjustly, because of conscience toward God.

¹⁴ But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “Don’t fear what they fear, neither be troubled.”

¹³ Righteousness goes before him, And prepares the way for his steps.

³⁸ He who doesn’t take his cross and follow after me, isn’t worthy of me.

²⁹ Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you will find rest for your souls.

²⁴ Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

³⁴ He called the multitude to himself with his disciples, and said to them, “Whoever wants to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. ³⁵ For whoever wants to save his life will lose it; and whoever will lose his life for my sake and the sake of the Good News will save it.

²³ He said to all, “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. ²⁴ For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever will lose his life for my sake, will save it. ²⁵ For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits his own self?

²⁶ “If anyone comes to me, and doesn’t disregard his own father, mother, wife, children, brothers, and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he can’t be my disciple. ²⁷ Whoever doesn’t bear his own cross, and come after me, can’t be my disciple.

²⁶ Didn’t the Christ have to suffer these things and to enter into his glory?”

¹⁵ For I have given you an example, that you should also do as I have done to you.

³³ I have told you these things, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have trouble; but cheer up! I have overcome the world.”

¹⁶ For I will show him how many things he must suffer for my name’s sake.”

²² strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that through many afflictions we must enter into God’s Kingdom.

³ explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.”

²⁹ For whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

¹ Be imitators of me, even as I also am of Christ.

² Walk in love, even as Christ also loved us and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling fragrance.

⁵ Have this in your mind, which was also in Christ Jesus,

³ that no one would be moved by these afflictions. For you know that we are appointed to this task.

² For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

¹² Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

¹⁰ For it became him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many children to glory, to make the author of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

²⁰ who was foreknown indeed before the foundation of the world, but was revealed in this last age for your sake,

²⁴ He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live to righteousness. You were healed by his wounds.

⁹ not rendering evil for evil, or insult for insult; but instead blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.

¹⁸ Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God, being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the Spirit,

¹ Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind; for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,

⁶ he who says he remains in him ought himself also to walk just like he walked.

¹⁶ By this we know love, because he laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.

¹¹ They overcame him because of the Lamb’s blood, and because of the word of their testimony. They didn’t love their life, even to death.

⁹ They made his grave with the wicked, and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.

⁴ saying, “I have sinned in that I betrayed innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? You see to it.”

¹⁹ While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of him.”

²³ But the governor said, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they cried out exceedingly, saying, “Let him be crucified!” ²⁴ So when Pilate saw that nothing was being gained, but rather that a disturbance was starting, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this righteous person. You see to it.”

⁴¹ And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.”

⁴⁷ When the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, “Certainly this was a righteous man.”

⁴⁶ Which of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me?

²¹ For him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

¹⁵ For we don’t have a high priest who can’t be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but one who has been in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin.

²⁶ For such a high priest was fitting for us: holy, guiltless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; ²⁷ who doesn’t need, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices daily, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. For he did this once for all, when he offered up himself.

²⁸ so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, without sin, to those who are eagerly waiting for him for salvation.

¹ My little children, I write these things to you so that you may not sin. If anyone sins, we have a Counselor with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous.

⁵ You know that he was revealed to take away our sins, and no sin is in him.

²⁵ May it be far from you to do things like that, to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be like the wicked. May that be far from you. Shouldn’t the Judge of all the earth do right?”

¹¹ God is a righteous judge, yes, a God who has indignation every day.

¹⁴ But you do see trouble and grief. You consider it to take it into your hand. You help the victim and the fatherless.

⁵ Into your hand I commend my spirit. You redeem me, Yahweh, God of truth.

⁵ Commit your way to Yahweh. Trust also in him, and he will do this:

¹² They also who seek after my life lay snares. Those who seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and meditate deceits all day long. ¹³ But I, as a deaf man, don’t hear. I am as a mute man who doesn’t open his mouth. ¹⁴ Yes, I am as a man who doesn’t hear, in whose mouth are no reproofs.

¹³ before Yahweh; for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, the peoples with his truth.

⁷ He was oppressed, yet when he was afflicted he didn’t open his mouth. As a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and as a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he didn’t open his mouth.

³⁹ Those who passed by blasphemed him, wagging their heads, ⁴⁰ and saying, “You who destroy the temple, and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross!” ⁴¹ Likewise the chief priests also mocking, with the scribes, the Pharisees, and the elders, said, ⁴² “He saved others, but he can’t save himself. If he is the King of Israel, let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. ⁴³ He trusts in God. Let God deliver him now, if he wants him; for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” ⁴⁴ The robbers also who were crucified with him cast on him the same reproach.

⁶⁰ The high priest stood up in the middle, and asked Jesus, “Have you no answer? What is it which these testify against you?” ⁶¹ But he stayed quiet, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?”

²⁹ Those who passed by blasphemed him, wagging their heads, and saying, “Ha! You who destroy the temple, and build it in three days, ³⁰ save yourself, and come down from the cross!” ³¹ Likewise, also the chief priests mocking among themselves with the scribes said, “He saved others. He can’t save himself. ³² Let the Christ, the King of Israel, now come down from the cross, that we may see and believe him.” Those who were crucified with him also insulted him.

⁶⁴ Having blindfolded him, they struck him on the face and asked him, “Prophesy! Who is the one who struck you?” ⁶⁵ They spoke many other things against him, insulting him.

⁹ He questioned him with many words, but he gave no answers.

³⁴ Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” Dividing his garments among them, they cast lots. ³⁵ The people stood watching. The rulers with them also scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others. Let him save himself, if this is the Christ of God, his chosen one!” ³⁶ The soldiers also mocked him, coming to him and offering him vinegar, ³⁷ and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” ³⁸ An inscription was also written over him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew: “THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.” ³⁹ One of the criminals who was hanged insulted him, saying, “If you are the Christ, save yourself and us!”

⁴⁶ Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” Having said this, he breathed his last.

⁴⁸ Then the Jews answered him, “Don’t we say well that you are a Samaritan, and have a demon?” ⁴⁹ Jesus answered, “I don’t have a demon, but I honor my Father and you dishonor me.

⁹ He entered into the Praetorium again, and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. ¹⁰ Pilate therefore said to him, “Aren’t you speaking to me? Don’t you know that I have power to release you and have power to crucify you?” ¹¹ Jesus answered, “You would have no power at all against me, unless it were given to you from above. Therefore he who delivered me to you has greater sin.”

²⁹ Now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your word with all boldness,

⁵⁹ They stoned Stephen as he called out, saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!”

³² Now the passage of the Scripture which he was reading was this, “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter. As a lamb before his shearer is silent, so he doesn’t open his mouth. ³³ In his humiliation, his judgment was taken away. Who will declare His generation? For his life is taken from the earth.” ³⁴ The eunuch answered Philip, “Who is the prophet talking about? About himself, or about someone else?” ³⁵ Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture, preached to him about Jesus.

¹ But Saul, still breathing threats and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest

³¹ because he has appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he has ordained; of which he has given assurance to all men, in that he has raised him from the dead.”

⁵ But according to your hardness and unrepentant heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath, revelation, and of the righteous judgment of God;

⁹ You masters, do the same things to them, and give up threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with him.

⁵ This is an obvious sign of the righteous judgment of God, to the end that you may be counted worthy of God’s Kingdom, for which you also suffer.

⁸ From now on, the crown of righteousness is stored up for me, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that day; and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved his appearing.

³ For consider him who has endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, that you don’t grow weary, fainting in your souls.

¹⁹ Therefore let them also who suffer according to the will of God in doing good entrust their souls to him, as to a faithful Creator.

¹¹ I saw the heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it is called Faithful and True. In righteousness he judges and makes war.

³⁸ It shall be on Aaron’s forehead, and Aaron shall bear the iniquity of the holy things, which the children of Israel shall make holy in all their holy gifts; and it shall be always on his forehead, that they may be accepted before Yahweh.

²² The goat shall carry all their iniquities on himself to a solitary land, and he shall release the goat in the wilderness.

⁹ “‘They shall therefore follow my commandment, lest they bear sin for it and die in it, if they profane it. I am Yahweh who sanctifies them.

²² Henceforth the children of Israel shall not come near the Tent of Meeting, lest they bear sin, and die.

²² If a man has committed a sin worthy of death, and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, ²³ his body shall not remain all night on the tree, but you shall surely bury him the same day; for he who is hanged is accursed of God. Don’t defile your land which Yahweh your God gives you for an inheritance.

⁴ For my iniquities have gone over my head. As a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me.

³ He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds.

⁴ Surely he has borne our sickness and carried our suffering; yet we considered him plagued, struck by God, and afflicted. ⁵ But he was pierced for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities. The punishment that brought our peace was on him; and by his wounds we are healed. ⁶ All we like sheep have gone astray. Everyone has turned to his own way; and Yahweh has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

¹¹ After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light and be satisfied. My righteous servant will justify many by the knowledge of himself; and he will bear their iniquities.

²⁰ For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, there is no way you will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.

¹⁷ that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying, “He took our infirmities, and bore our diseases.”

²⁶ Then he released to them Barabbas, but Jesus he flogged and delivered to be crucified.

¹⁵ Pilate, wishing to please the multitude, released Barabbas to them, and handed over Jesus, when he had flogged him, to be crucified.

⁷⁴ to grant to us that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, should serve him without fear, ⁷⁵ in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life.

¹⁸ “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the broken hearted, to proclaim release to the captives, recovering of sight to the blind, to deliver those who are crushed,

²⁹ The next day, he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

¹ So Pilate then took Jesus, and flogged him.

³⁰ The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you killed, hanging him on a tree.

³⁵ but in every nation he who fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him.

³⁹ We are witnesses of everything he did both in the country of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they also killed, hanging him on a tree.

²⁹ When they had fulfilled all things that were written about him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a tomb.

² May it never be! We who died to sin, how could we live in it any longer?

⁷ For he who has died has been freed from sin.

¹¹ Thus consider yourselves also to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

¹³ Also, do not present your members to sin as instruments of unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.

¹⁶ Don’t you know that when you present yourselves as servants and obey someone, you are the servants of whomever you obey; whether of sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness?

⁶ But now we have been discharged from the law, having died to that in which we were held; so that we serve in newness of the spirit, and not in oldness of the letter.

¹⁷ Therefore “‘Come out from among them, and be separate,’ says the Lord. ‘Touch no unclean thing. I will receive you.

¹³ Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us. For it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree,”

⁹ for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth,

²⁰ If you died with Christ from the elements of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to ordinances,

³ For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

²⁶ For such a high priest was fitting for us: holy, guiltless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

¹³ and make straight paths for your feet, so what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.

¹⁶ Confess your offenses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The insistent prayer of a righteous person is powerfully effective.

¹ Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind; for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, ² that you no longer should live the rest of your time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.

²⁹ If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.

⁷ Little children, let no one lead you astray. He who does righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.

² in the middle of its street. On this side of the river and on that was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruits, yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

¹ A Psalm by David. Yahweh is my shepherd: I shall lack nothing. ² He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. ³ He restores my soul. He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

¹ For the Chief Musician. To the tune of “The Lilies of the Covenant.” A Psalm by Asaph. Hear us, Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock, you who sit above the cherubim, shine out.

¹⁷⁶ I have gone astray like a lost sheep. Seek your servant, for I don’t forget your commandments.

⁷ Tell me, you whom my soul loves, where you graze your flock, where you rest them at noon; for why should I be as one who is veiled beside the flocks of your companions? ⁸ If you don’t know, most beautiful among women, follow the tracks of the sheep. Graze your young goats beside the shepherds’ tents.

¹¹ He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will gather the lambs in his arm, and carry them in his bosom. He will gently lead those who have their young.

⁶ All we like sheep have gone astray. Everyone has turned to his own way; and Yahweh has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

² Therefore Yahweh, the God of Israel, says against the shepherds who feed my people: “You have scattered my flock, driven them away, and have not visited them. Behold, I will visit on you the evil of your doings,” says Yahweh.

⁶ My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and on every high hill. Yes, my sheep were scattered on all the surface of the earth. There was no one who searched or sought.”

¹¹ “‘For the Lord Yahweh says: “Behold, I myself, even I, will search for my sheep, and will seek them out. ¹² As a shepherd seeks out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered abroad, so I will seek out my sheep. I will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. ¹³ I will bring them out from the peoples, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land. I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the watercourses, and in all the inhabited places of the country. ¹⁴ I will feed them with good pasture; and their fold will be on the mountains of the height of Israel. There they will lie down in a good fold. They will feed on fat pasture on the mountains of Israel. ¹⁵ I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will cause them to lie down,” says the Lord Yahweh. ¹⁶ “I will seek that which was lost, and will bring back that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick; but I will destroy the fat and the strong. I will feed them in justice.”’

²³ I will set up one shepherd over them, and he will feed them, even my servant David. He will feed them, and he will be their shepherd. ²⁴ I, Yahweh, will be their God, and my servant David prince among them. I, Yahweh, have spoken it.

²⁴ “‘“My servant David will be king over them. They all will have one shepherd. They will also walk in my ordinances, and observe my statutes, and do them.

⁷ “Awake, sword, against my shepherd, and against the man who is close to me,” says Yahweh of Armies. “Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered; and I will turn my hand against the little ones.

³⁶ But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and scattered, like sheep without a shepherd.

¹² “What do you think? If a man has one hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine, go to the mountains, and seek that which has gone astray?

⁴ “Which of you men, if you had one hundred sheep, and lost one of them, wouldn’t leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one that was lost, until he found it? ⁵ When he has found it, he carries it on his shoulders, rejoicing. ⁶ When he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’

¹¹ I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. ¹² He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who doesn’t own the sheep, sees the wolf coming, leaves the sheep, and flees. The wolf snatches the sheep, and scatters them. ¹³ The hired hand flees because he is a hired hand, and doesn’t care for the sheep. ¹⁴ I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and I’m known by my own; ¹⁵ even as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. I lay down my life for the sheep. ¹⁶ I have other sheep, which are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will hear my voice. They will become one flock with one shepherd.

¹ Therefore, holy brothers, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession: Jesus,

²⁰ Now may the God of peace, who brought again from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep with the blood of an eternal covenant, our Lord Jesus,

⁴ When the chief Shepherd is revealed, you will receive the crown of glory that doesn’t fade away.