Mark 11 Cross References - Williams

¹ When they were getting near Jerusalem, that is, were at Bethphage and Bethany in front of the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples on ahead, ² and said to them, "Go into the village in front of you, and as soon as you get into it, you will find a colt tied which has never been ridden by a man. Untie it and bring it here. ³ And if anyone asks you, 'Why are you doing that?' answer, 'The Lord needs it, and will soon send it back here.'" ⁴ So off they went and found a colt tied outside a door at a street corner. They untied it, ⁵ but some bystanders said to them, "What are you doing, untying the colt?" ⁶ And they answered as Jesus had directed them, and so they let them bring it. ⁷ They brought the colt to Jesus, and they threw their coats over it, and Jesus mounted it. ⁸ And many of the people spread their coats in the road, while others scattered layers of leaves cut from the fields. ⁹ Then those in front and those behind Him shouted: "Welcome Him! Blessed be He who comes in the name of the Lord; ¹⁰ Blessed be the coming reign of our father David! Welcome Him from on high!" ¹¹ And so He went into Jerusalem and into the temple. After He had looked everything over, as it was already late, He went out with the Twelve to Bethany. ¹² Next day, while they were walking over from Bethany, He felt hungry. ¹³ Now in the distance He saw a fig tree covered with leaves, and He went up to it to see if He might find some figs on it, but when He got to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the time for figs. ¹⁴ So He spoke to it and said, "Never again may anyone eat a fig from you!" And His disciples were listening to it. ¹⁵ Then they reached Jerusalem, and He went into the temple and began to drive out of it those who were buying and selling things in it. Then He upset the money-changers' tables and the dove-dealers' counters, ¹⁶ and would not let anybody carry a vessel through the temple. ¹⁷ And He continued teaching them and saying, "Does not the Scripture say, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations'? But you have made it a cave for robbers." ¹⁸ Then the high priests and the scribes heard of this, and they kept looking for some way to destroy Him, for they were afraid of Him, for everybody was swept off his feet at what He said. ¹⁹ So when evening came, He and His disciples used to go out of the city. ²⁰ In the morning as they were passing along, they noticed that the fig tree was withered, clear down to its roots. ²¹ And Peter remembered about it, and said to Him, "Look, Teacher! The fig tree which you cursed has withered!" ²² Then Jesus answered them, "Have faith in God! ²³ I solemnly say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Get up and throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt at all in his heart, but has faith that what he says will take place, shall have it. ²⁴ So then I tell you, whenever you pray and ask for anything, have faith that it has been granted you, and you will get it. ²⁵ And whenever you stand and pray, if you have anything against anybody, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven too may forgive you your shortcomings." ²⁶ Omitted Text. ²⁷ Then again they went into Jerusalem. And while Jesus was walking about in the temple, the high priests, scribes, and elders came up to Him ²⁸ and said to Him, "What sort of authority have you for doing as you do? Or, who gave you the authority to do as you do?" ²⁹ Jesus said to them, "Let me ask you just one question, and if you answer me, I will tell you what sort of authority I have for doing as I do. ³⁰ Was John's baptism from heaven or from men? Answer me." ³¹ Then they argued with one another in this way, "If we say, 'It was from heaven,' He will say, 'Then why did you not believe him?' ³² On the other hand, can we say, 'It was from men'?" For they were afraid of the people, because everybody thought that John was really a prophet. ³³ So they said to Jesus, "We do not know." Jesus also said to them, "Nor am I going to tell you what sort of authority I have for doing as I do."

¹ In those days John the Baptist appeared, and kept preaching in the desert of Judea, ² and saying, "Repent! For the kingdom of heaven is near." ³ This is he who was mentioned by the prophet Isaiah, when he said: "Here is a voice of one who shouts in the desert, 'Get the road ready for the Lord; Make the paths straight for him.'" ⁴ This very John had his clothing made of camel's hair, and wore a leather belt around his waist; his food was dried locusts and wild honey. ⁵ Then Jerusalem and all Judea, even the whole Jordan district, continued to go out to him

⁵ Then Jerusalem and all Judea, even the whole Jordan district, continued to go out to him ⁶ and were baptized by him in the Jordan River, as one by one they continued to confess their sins.

⁶ and were baptized by him in the Jordan River, as one by one they continued to confess their sins. ⁷ But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers, who warned you to escape from the wrath that is coming? ⁸ Produce, then, fruit that is consistent with the repentance you profess, ⁹ and do not presume to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our forefather? For I tell you, God can raise up descendants for Abraham even out of these stones. ¹⁰ Now the axe is already lying at the roots of the trees. Every tree then that fails to bear good fruit is to be cut down and thrown into the fire.

¹⁰ Now the axe is already lying at the roots of the trees. Every tree then that fails to bear good fruit is to be cut down and thrown into the fire. ¹¹ I am baptizing you in water to picture your repentance. But He that is coming after me is stronger than I am, and I am not fit to carry His shoes. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and in fire; ¹² His winnowing-fork is in His hand, and He will clean out His threshing-floor and store His wheat in His barn, but He will burn up the chaff with fire that never can be put out." ¹³ Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John to be baptized by him. ¹⁴ But John tried to prevent Him, by saying, "I have need to be baptized by you, and you come to me!" ¹⁵ But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now, for this is the fitting way for both of us to do our full duty to God." Then he yielded to Him. ¹⁶ And as soon as Jesus was baptized, He at once went up out of the water, and look! the heavens opened, and John saw the Spirit of God coming down like a dove upon Him, ¹⁷ and a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, my Beloved, in whom I am delighted!"

² After fasting forty days and forty nights, He at last felt hungry.

²³ So if, in the very act of presenting your gift at the altar, you remember that your brother has something against you,

⁵ "Also, whenever you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners, to attract the attention of people. I solemnly say to you, they already have their reward.

¹² And forgive us our debts, as we have forgiven our debtors.

¹⁴ "For if you forgive others their shortcomings your heavenly Father will forgive you, too. ¹⁵ But if you do not forgive others, your heavenly Father will not forgive your shortcomings either.

⁷ "Keep on asking, and the gift will be given you; keep on seeking, and you will find; keep on knocking, and the door will open to you. ⁸ For everyone who keeps on asking, receives, and everyone who keeps on seeking, finds, and to the one who keeps on knocking, the door will open. ⁹ What human father among you, when his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? ¹⁰ Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a snake? ¹¹ So if you, in spite of your being bad, know how to give your children what is good, how much more surely will your heavenly Father give what is good to those who keep on asking Him?

¹⁹ Any tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and burned up.

²⁸ When Jesus had closed this address, the result was that the crowds were dumbfounded at His teaching,

⁷ But as they were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: "What did you go out into the desert to gaze at? A reed that is tossed to and fro by the wind? ⁸ If not, what did you go out there to see? A man dressed in silks and satins? No, people who dress in that way are found in the palaces of kings. ⁹ If not, why did you go out there? To see a prophet?

⁹ If not, why did you go out there? To see a prophet? ¹⁰ This is the man of whom the Scripture says, "'Attention! I am sending my messenger on before you; He will prepare the road ahead of you.' ¹¹ "I solemnly say to you, of all men born of women no one greater than John the Baptist has ever appeared; and yet the one who is least important in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. ¹² And from the days of John the Baptist until the present moment the kingdom of heaven has been continuously taken by storm, and those who take it by storm are seizing it as a precious prize. ¹³ For up to the days of John all the prophets, and even the law, prophesied about it, ¹⁴ and if you are willing to accept it, John himself is the Elijah who was to come.

³³ "You must either make the tree healthy and its fruits healthy or make the tree sickly and its fruits sickly, for a tree is judged by its fruit. ³⁴ You brood of vipers! How can you, wicked as you are, say anything that is good? For the mouth talks about the things that fill the heart. ³⁵ The good man out of his good inner storehouse, brings out good things, the bad man, out of his bad one, bad things.

⁶ and when the sun was up they were scorched and dried up, because they had no root.

⁵ Although he wanted to have him killed, he was afraid of the people, for they regarded him as a prophet.

¹³ When Jesus heard it, He left there in a boat for a quiet place, to be alone. And when the crowds heard of it, they followed Him on foot from the towns.

¹³ He answered, "Every plant that my heavenly Father did not plant must be rooted up. ¹⁴ Let them alone. They are blind teachers! And if one blind man guides another, they will both fall into the ditch."

⁴ "It is a wicked and immoral age that is hankering for a spectacular sign, so no sign will be given it but the sign of Jonah." Then He left them and went away.

²⁰ He answered them, "Because you have so little faith! For I solemnly say to you, if you have the faith that is living like a grain of mustard, you can say to this mountain, 'Move over from here to yonder,' and it will move over, and nothing will be impossible for you to do."

¹⁹ "Again, I tell you, if only two of you on earth agree on what they pray for, they will get it from my Father in heaven.

²³ So the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who decided to settle up his accounts with his slaves, ²⁴ And when he began, a man was brought to him who owed him ten million dollars. ²⁵ And because he could not pay it, his master ordered him to be sold, yea, even his wife and children and all he had, and payment to be made. ²⁶ So the slave fell down at his feet and pleaded, 'Give me time, and I will pay you every cent of it.' ²⁷ And his master's heart was moved with pity, and he let the slave go free with his debt cancelled. ²⁸ "But that slave went out and found one of his fellow-slaves who owed him twenty dollars, and he caught him by the throat and began to choke him, demanding, 'Pay me what you owe me!' ²⁹ "And his fellow-slave fell down before him and pleaded, 'Give me time, and I will pay you.' ³⁰ But he refused and went out and had him put in jail until he should pay the debt. ³¹ "When his fellow-slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly troubled, and went and reported all that happened to their master. ³² Then his master called to him, and said, 'I cancelled all that huge debt of yours, because you pleaded with me to do so. ³³ Ought you not to have shown mercy to your fellow-slave, as I too had done for you?' ³⁴ And the master was enraged and turned him over to the official torturers, until he should pay the whole debt. ³⁵ This is the way my heavenly Father too will deal with you, if you do not, each one, heartily forgive your brother."

¹ When they were near Jerusalem and had come to Bethphage and the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples on ahead, ² and ordered them, "Go into the village that is ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, and a colt with her. Untie her and bring them to me.

² and ordered them, "Go into the village that is ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, and a colt with her. Untie her and bring them to me. ³ If anyone says anything to you, you will say, 'The Lord needs them,' and he at once will send them."

³ If anyone says anything to you, you will say, 'The Lord needs them,' and he at once will send them." ⁴ Now this occurred to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet:

⁴ Now this occurred to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet: ⁵ "Tell the daughter of Zion, your King is now coming to you, gentle, and riding on a donkey, yea, on the colt of a beast of burden."

⁵ "Tell the daughter of Zion, your King is now coming to you, gentle, and riding on a donkey, yea, on the colt of a beast of burden." ⁶ So the disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them.

⁶ So the disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. ⁷ They brought the donkey and the colt and laid their coats upon them, and Jesus took His seat on them.

⁷ They brought the donkey and the colt and laid their coats upon them, and Jesus took His seat on them.

⁷ They brought the donkey and the colt and laid their coats upon them, and Jesus took His seat on them. ⁸ And most of the crowd spread their coats along the road, but some were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them along the road.

⁸ And most of the crowd spread their coats along the road, but some were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them along the road. ⁹ And the crowds that went in front of Him and followed Him shouted: "Welcome the Son of David! Blessed be He who comes in the name of the Lord; Welcome Him from on high!"

⁹ And the crowds that went in front of Him and followed Him shouted: "Welcome the Son of David! Blessed be He who comes in the name of the Lord; Welcome Him from on high!" ¹⁰ When He came into Jerusalem, the whole city was trembling with excitement, and asking, "Who is He?"

¹⁰ When He came into Jerusalem, the whole city was trembling with excitement, and asking, "Who is He?" ¹¹ And the crowds kept saying, "He is the prophet Jesus of Nazareth in Galilee."

¹¹ And the crowds kept saying, "He is the prophet Jesus of Nazareth in Galilee." ¹² And Jesus went into the temple and drove out all the buyers and sellers, and turned the money-changers' tables and the dove-dealers' seats upside down,

¹² And Jesus went into the temple and drove out all the buyers and sellers, and turned the money-changers' tables and the dove-dealers' seats upside down, ¹³ and said to them, "The Scripture says, 'My house must be called a house of prayer,' but you have made it a cave for robbers."

¹³ and said to them, "The Scripture says, 'My house must be called a house of prayer,' but you have made it a cave for robbers." ¹⁴ Then blind and crippled people came to Him, and He cured them.

¹⁴ Then blind and crippled people came to Him, and He cured them. ¹⁵ But because the high priests and scribes saw the wonders that He did and the children shouting in the temple, "Welcome the Son of David," they were indignant

¹⁵ But because the high priests and scribes saw the wonders that He did and the children shouting in the temple, "Welcome the Son of David," they were indignant

¹⁵ But because the high priests and scribes saw the wonders that He did and the children shouting in the temple, "Welcome the Son of David," they were indignant ¹⁶ and asked Him, "Do you hear what they are saying?" Jesus answered them, "Yes. Did you never read this, 'Out of the mouths of little children, yea, of infants, you have perfect praise'?"

¹⁶ and asked Him, "Do you hear what they are saying?" Jesus answered them, "Yes. Did you never read this, 'Out of the mouths of little children, yea, of infants, you have perfect praise'?" ¹⁷ And He left and went out of the city to Bethany, and spent the night there.

¹⁷ And He left and went out of the city to Bethany, and spent the night there. ¹⁸ Early next morning when He returned to the city, He felt hungry. ¹⁹ As He saw a fig tree by the roadside, He came to it but found on it nothing but leaves, and said to it, "Never again shall a fig grow on you!" And the fig tree at once withered up.

¹⁹ As He saw a fig tree by the roadside, He came to it but found on it nothing but leaves, and said to it, "Never again shall a fig grow on you!" And the fig tree at once withered up. ²⁰ When the disciples saw it, they were dumbfounded, and asked, "How is it that the fig tree withered up all at once?" ²¹ And Jesus answered them, "I solemnly say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt at all, you will not only do the sort of wonder done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, 'Get up and throw yourself into the sea,' it will be done.

²¹ And Jesus answered them, "I solemnly say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt at all, you will not only do the sort of wonder done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, 'Get up and throw yourself into the sea,' it will be done. ²² And whatever you ask for in prayer, if you believe it, you will get it."

²² And whatever you ask for in prayer, if you believe it, you will get it." ²³ And when He had come into the temple, the high priests and elders of the people came up to Him while He was teaching, and asked, "What sort of authority have you for doing these things, and who gave you this authority?" ²⁴ Jesus answered them, "Let me too ask you just one question, and if you answer it, I will tell you what sort of authority I have for doing as I do.

²⁴ Jesus answered them, "Let me too ask you just one question, and if you answer it, I will tell you what sort of authority I have for doing as I do. ²⁵ Where did John's baptism come from? From heaven, or from men?" They argued it out among themselves in this way, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say to us, 'Then why did you not believe him?' ²⁶ But if we say, 'From men,' we are afraid of the people, for they all consider John a prophet." ²⁷ So they answered Jesus, "We do not know." He also answered them, "Nor am I going to tell you what sort of authority I have for doing as I do.

²⁷ So they answered Jesus, "We do not know." He also answered them, "Nor am I going to tell you what sort of authority I have for doing as I do.

³¹ Which of the two did what his father wanted?" They answered, "The second one." Jesus said to them, "I solemnly say to you, the tax-collectors and prostitutes will get into the kingdom of heaven ahead of you. ³² For John came to you walking in the way of uprightness, and yet you did not believe him. The tax-collectors and prostitutes did believe him, but you, even though you saw that, would not change your minds afterward and believe him. ³³ "Listen to another story. There was once an owner of an estate who planted a vineyard and built a fence around it, and hewed out a wine-vat in it, and built a tower, and rented it to tenant farmers, and then went abroad.

³⁸ But when the tenants saw the son, they said among themselves, 'This is his heir, come on, let us kill him, and get all that is coming to him!' ³⁹ So they took him and drove him out of the vineyard and murdered him.

⁴⁴ Who ever falls upon that stone will be broken to pieces, but whomever it falls upon will be crushed to powder." ⁴⁵ When the high priests and the Pharisees heard His stories, they knew that He was speaking about them, ⁴⁶ but although they were trying to have Him arrested, they were afraid of the people, for they considered Him a prophet.

⁴⁶ but although they were trying to have Him arrested, they were afraid of the people, for they considered Him a prophet.

⁷ to be greeted with honor in public places, and to have men call them 'Teacher.'

¹⁶ A curse on you, you blind leaders who say, 'Whoever swears by the sanctuary is not duty-bound, but whoever swears by the gold of the sanctuary is duty-bound.' ¹⁷ You blind fools! which is greater, the gold, or the sanctuary that makes the gold sacred? ¹⁸ You say, 'Whoever swears by the altar is not duty-bound, but whoever swears by the offering on the altar is duty-bound!' ¹⁹ You blind men! which is greater, the offering, or the altar that makes the offering sacred? ²⁰ So whoever swears by the altar swears by everything on it; ²¹ whoever swears by the sanctuary swears by it and by Him who dwells in it; ²² whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by Him who sits on it. ²³ "A curse on you, you hypocritical scribes and Pharisees! For you pay tithes on mint and dill and cummin, and yet leave out the more vital matters of the law, justice, love and fidelity. These latter especially you ought to have done, but ought not to have left out the former. ²⁴ You blind leaders, who are straining out the gnat but gulping down the camel! ²⁵ A curse on you, you hypocritical scribes and Pharisees, for you clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside they are full of your greed and self-indulgence. ²⁶ You blind Pharisees! You must first clean the inside of the cup and the dish, so that the outside may be clean too.

³⁹ For I tell you, you will never see me again until you say, 'Blessed be He who comes in the name of the Lord.'"

³ While He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came up to Him by themselves, and said, "Tell us when this is to take place, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age."

⁴¹ "Then He will say to those at His left, 'Be gone from me, you who are now cursed, to the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

³ Then the high priests and the elders of the people met in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, ⁴ and plotted to arrest Jesus by stratagem and put Him to death.

¹⁹ So the disciples did as Jesus directed them, and got the Passover supper ready.

³⁰ After singing a hymn, they left the city, and went up the Mount of Olives.

¹ The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ. ² As it is written in the prophet Isaiah: "Here I send my messenger ahead of you; He will prepare your way. ³ He is a voice of one who shouts in the desert, 'Get the road ready for the Lord; make the paths straight for Him.'" ⁴ John the Baptizer appeared in the desert and was preaching a baptism conditioned on repentance to obtain the forgiveness of sins. ⁵ And people from all over Judea and everybody in Jerusalem kept on going out to him and being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. ⁶ Now John wore clothing made of camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he used to live on dried locusts and wild honey. ⁷ He kept preaching the following message, "After me there is coming One who is stronger than I am, whose shoes I am not fit to stoop down and untie. ⁸ I have baptized you in water, but He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit." ⁹ Now in those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. ¹⁰ And just as soon as He started to come up out of the water, He saw the heavens split open and the Spirit coming down like a dove to enter Him. ¹¹ And out of the heavens came a voice, "You are my Son, my Beloved! In you I am delighted!"

²² And they were dumbfounded at His teaching, for He was teaching them like one who had authority to teach, and not like the scribes.

⁶ Then the Pharisees went out and held a consultation with the Herodians against Him, to put Him to death.

⁷ And He called the Twelve to Him and sent them out two by two, and gave them power over the foul spirits.

²⁰ for Herod stood in awe of John, because he knew that he was an upright and holy man, and so he protected him. When he heard him speak, he was very much disturbed, and yet he liked to hear him.

¹³ But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and people treated him just as they pleased, as the Scripture says about him."

²³ Jesus said to him, "If there is anything I can do! Everything is possible for him who has faith!"

¹¹ And so He went into Jerusalem and into the temple. After He had looked everything over, as it was already late, He went out with the Twelve to Bethany.

¹⁴ So He spoke to it and said, "Never again may anyone eat a fig from you!" And His disciples were listening to it.

²⁰ In the morning as they were passing along, they noticed that the fig tree was withered, clear down to its roots. ²¹ And Peter remembered about it, and said to Him, "Look, Teacher! The fig tree which you cursed has withered!"

³² On the other hand, can we say, 'It was from men'?" For they were afraid of the people, because everybody thought that John was really a prophet.

¹² Then they were trying to have Him arrested, but they were afraid of the people, for they knew that He aimed this story at them. And so they left Him and went away.

³ As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew, in a private group, were asking Him,

¹ Now the feast of the Passover and of Unleavened Bread was two days later. So the high priests and scribes kept looking for some way to arrest Him by stratagem and have Him put to death,

¹ Now the feast of the Passover and of Unleavened Bread was two days later. So the high priests and scribes kept looking for some way to arrest Him by stratagem and have Him put to death, ² for they kept saying, "It must not be at the feast, for there might be a riot."

¹³ So He sent off two of His disciples, and said to them, "Go into the city and you will meet a man carrying a pitcher of water. Follow him,

¹⁵ Then he will show you a large upstairs room, furnished and ready; get everything ready for us there."

³¹ Listen! You will become pregnant and bear a son, and you must name Him Jesus. ³² He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His forefather David, ³³ and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; His reign will have no end."

¹⁴ "Glory to God in highest heaven! And peace on earth to men who please him."

¹ In the fifteenth year of the reign of the Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was governor of Galilee, and his brother Philip was governor of the territory of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was governor of Abilene, ² in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the message of God came to John, the son of Zechariah, in the desert. ³ And he went all over the Jordan valley, preaching a baptism conditioned on repentance to obtain the forgiveness of sins, ⁴ as it is written in the sermon-book of the prophet Isaiah: "Here is a voice of one shouting in the desert, 'Get the road ready for the Lord, make the paths straight for Him. ⁵ Every ravine must be filled up, and every mountain and hill leveled down; the crooked places must become straight roads, and the rough roads must be made smooth, ⁶ And all mankind must see the salvation of God.'" ⁷ So he used to say to the crowds that continued to come out there to be baptized by him: "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to escape from the wrath that is coming? ⁸ Produce, then, fruit that is consistent with the repentance that you profess, and do not even begin to say within yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our forefather,' for I tell you, God can raise up descendants for Abraham even out of these stones. ⁹ Now the axe is already lying at the roots of the trees. Every tree, then, that fails to bear good fruit is to be cut down and thrown into the fire." ¹⁰ So the crowds were asking him this question, "What then ought we to do?" ¹¹ He answered them, "The man who has two shirts must share with him who has none, and the man who has food must do the same." ¹² Then even the tax-collectors came to be baptized, and said to him, "Teacher, what ought we to do?" ¹³ So he said to them, "Stop collecting any more than is prescribed for you." ¹⁴ Then some soldiers too were asking him, "What ought we too to do?" So he said to them, "Never extort money from anyone, never make a false accusation, and always be satisfied with your wages." ¹⁵ Now while the people were on tiptoe in their expectations, and they were all arguing in their hearts about John whether he was himself the Christ, ¹⁶ John expressly answered them all, "I am baptizing you in water only, but there is coming the One who is stronger than I am, whose shoestrings I am not fit to untie. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and in fire; ¹⁷ His winnowing-fork is in His hand, and He will clean out His threshing-floor, and store His wheat in His barn; but He will burn up the chaff with fire inextinguishable." ¹⁸ So with many and varied exhortations John continued to proclaim the good news to the people. ¹⁹ But Herod the governor, because he was repeatedly reproved by him for Herodias his brother's wife, and for all the wicked deeds that Herod had done, ²⁰ added this on top of it all, that he put John in prison.

² while He was being tempted by the devil. During that time He ate nothing, and so at the end of it He felt hungry.

²² So they all began to speak well of Him and to wonder at the gracious words that fell from His lips, and yet they continued to say, "Is He not Joseph's son?"

³⁷ Then stop criticizing others, and you will never be criticized; stop condemning others, and you will never be condemned.

²⁶ If not, then what did you go out there to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and one who is far more than a prophet. ²⁷ This is the man of whom the Scripture says: "'Attention! I send my messenger on before you. He will prepare the road ahead of you.' ²⁸ "I tell you, of all men born of women there is not one greater than John; and yet the one who is of least importance in the kingdom of God is greater than he. ²⁹ And all the people, even the tax-collectors, when they heard him, vindicated the righteous requirements of God by submitting to John's baptism,

²¹ At that very moment, by the power of the Holy Spirit, He exulted and said, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for concealing these matters from wise and learned men, and for revealing them to little children. Yes, Father, I thank you that your good pleasure made it so. ²² All things have been entrusted to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is but the Father, and who the Father is but the Son, and anyone to whom the Son chooses to make Him known."

³¹ Now a priest happened to be going that way, but when he saw him, he went by on the other side of the road.

⁹ So I tell you, keep on asking, and the gift will be given you; keep on seeking, and you will find; keep on knocking, and the door will open to you. ¹⁰ For everyone who keeps on asking, receives; and the one who keeps on seeking, finds; and to the one who keeps on knocking, the door will open. ¹¹ Now is there a father among you who, if his son asks him for a fish, will give him a snake instead? ¹² Or, if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? ¹³ So if you, in spite of your being bad, know how to give your children what is good, how much more surely will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who continue to ask Him?"

⁶ Are not sparrows sold five for two cents? And yet not one of them is forgotten by God! ⁷ Yes, the very hairs on your heads have all been counted by God! Stop being afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

⁶ Then He told them this story: "A man had a fig tree planted by his vineyard, and he kept going and looking for figs on it, but did not find any. ⁷ So he said to the vine-dresser, 'Look here! for three years I have been coming to look for figs on this fig tree, and have not found any. Cut it down. Why waste the ground with it?' ⁸ But he answered, 'Leave it, sir, just one more year, till I dig around it and manure it. ⁹ If it bears figs in the future, well; but if not, you will have to cut it down.'"

⁶ Then the Lord said to them, "If you had faith that grows like a mustard seed, you might have been saying to this mulberry tree, 'Pull yourself up by the roots and plant yourself in the sea,' and it would have obeyed you!

¹ Now He told them the following story to show how necessary it is for people always to pray and never to give up: ² "Once there was in a city a judge who had no reverence for God nor respect for men. ³ And in that city there was a widow who continued to come to him and say, 'Give me justice and protection from my opponent.' ⁴ And he would not for a time, but afterward he said to himself, Though I have no reverence for God nor respect for men, ⁵ yet because this widow continues to bother me, I will give her justice and protection, so that she may not finally wear me out by her continual coming." ⁶ Then the Lord added, "Listen to what the unrighteous judge says! ⁷ And will not God give justice and protection to His chosen people who continue to cry to Him day and night, since He is so patient with them? ⁸ I tell you, He will give them justice and protection, and that without delay. But when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?"

¹¹ The Pharisee stood and said this self-centered prayer, 'O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of men, robbers, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax-collector.

²⁹ When He approached Bethphage and Bethany by the hill called the Mount of Olives, He sent on two of His disciples, and ³⁰ said, "Go on to the village in front of you, in which, just as you enter, you will find a colt tied, which no man has ever yet ridden. Untie it and bring it here to me.

³⁰ said, "Go on to the village in front of you, in which, just as you enter, you will find a colt tied, which no man has ever yet ridden. Untie it and bring it here to me. ³¹ And if anyone asks you why you are untying it, you are to answer, 'The Lord needs it.'"

³¹ And if anyone asks you why you are untying it, you are to answer, 'The Lord needs it.'" ³² So off the two messengers went and found it just as He had told them.

³² So off the two messengers went and found it just as He had told them. ³³ And while they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, "Why are you untying the colt?"

³³ And while they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, "Why are you untying the colt?" ³⁴ And they answered, "The Lord needs it."

³⁴ And they answered, "The Lord needs it." ³⁵ So they brought it to Jesus.

³⁵ So they brought it to Jesus. ³⁶ Then they threw their coats upon it and mounted Jesus upon it. As He was going on, the people continued to spread their coats under Him on the road.

³⁶ Then they threw their coats upon it and mounted Jesus upon it. As He was going on, the people continued to spread their coats under Him on the road. ³⁷ Just as He was approaching the city, going down the Mount of Olives, the whole throng of the disciples began to praise God exultantly and loudly for all the wonder-works that they had seen,

³⁷ Just as He was approaching the city, going down the Mount of Olives, the whole throng of the disciples began to praise God exultantly and loudly for all the wonder-works that they had seen, ³⁸ and said: "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord; peace in heaven and praise on high!"

³⁸ and said: "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord; peace in heaven and praise on high!" ³⁹ Then some Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, "Teacher, reprove your disciples." ⁴⁰ But He answered, "I tell you, if they keep silent, the stones will cry out!" ⁴¹ As He approached it, just as soon as He saw the city, He burst into tears over it, ⁴² and said: "If today you yourself had only known the conditions of peace! But now they are hidden from you. ⁴³ For a time is coming upon you when your enemies will throw up earthworks around you and surround you and hem you in on all sides, ⁴⁴ and they will throw you and your children within you to the ground, and they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know when God visited you." ⁴⁵ Then He went into the temple and began to drive out those who were selling things in it,

⁴⁵ Then He went into the temple and began to drive out those who were selling things in it, ⁴⁶ and He said to them, "The Scripture says, 'And my house shall be a house of prayer,' but you have made it a cave for robbers."

⁴⁶ and He said to them, "The Scripture says, 'And my house shall be a house of prayer,' but you have made it a cave for robbers." ⁴⁷ So He was teaching daily in the temple, and the high priests and the scribes and the leading men of the people were trying to destroy Him,

⁴⁷ So He was teaching daily in the temple, and the high priests and the scribes and the leading men of the people were trying to destroy Him,

¹ One day while He was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the good news, the high priests and the scribes, together with the elders, took a stand against Him, ² and said to Him, "Tell us what sort of authority you have for doing as you do, or who is it that gave you such authority?" ³ Then He answered them, "I will ask you a question too. Tell me, ⁴ was John's baptism from heaven or from men?" ⁵ And they argued with one another, and said, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say, 'Why did you not believe him?' ⁶ But if we say, 'From men,' all the people will stone us to death, for they are convinced that John was a prophet." ⁷ So they answered and said that they did not know where it was from. ⁸ Then Jesus said to them, "Nor am I going to tell you what sort of authority I have for doing as I do."

¹⁹ Then the scribes and the high priests tried to arrest Him at that very hour, but they were afraid of the people, for they knew that He meant this story for them.

³⁷ Now during the days He continued to teach in the temple, but He would go out and spend the nights on the hill called the Mount of Olives;

³⁷ Now during the days He continued to teach in the temple, but He would go out and spend the nights on the hill called the Mount of Olives; ³⁸ while all the people would rise early in the mornings and come to listen to Him in the temple.

² So the high priests and the scribes continued to seek how they might put Him to death, for they were afraid of the people.

⁶⁶ As soon as day came, the elders of the people, the high priests, and the scribes assembled, and brought Him back before their council, and said, ⁶⁷ "Tell us, if you are the Christ." But He said to them, "If I tell you, you will not believe me, ⁶⁸ and if I ask you a question, you will not answer me. ⁶⁹ But from today the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God."

⁶ There appeared a man named John, sent from God. ⁷ He came for the purpose of testifying, to testify to the light, so that everyone through him might come to believe. ⁸ He was not the light; he came to testify to the light.

¹⁵ John testified to Him and cried out, for this was the one who said, "The One who is coming after me has been put before me, because He existed before me."

¹⁵ John testified to Him and cried out, for this was the one who said, "The One who is coming after me has been put before me, because He existed before me." ¹⁶ For from His bounty we have all received spiritual blessing after spiritual blessing. ¹⁷ For while the law was given through Moses, spiritual blessing and truth have come through Jesus Christ. ¹⁸ No one has ever seen God; the only son, Deity Himself, who lies upon His Father's breast, has made him known. ¹⁹ Now this is the testimony which John gave when the Jews sent priests and Levites to him from Jerusalem, to ask him, "Who are you?" ²⁰ He frankly admitted, and did not try at all to deny it; yes, he frankly admitted, "I am not the Christ." ²¹ So they asked him again, "What are you then? Elijah?" And he answered, "Of course, I am not." "Are you the prophet?" He answered, "No." ²² Then they said to him, "Who are you? Tell us, so that we can have an answer to give to those who sent us. What have you to say for yourself?" ²³ He said, "I am a voice of one shouting in the desert, 'Make the road straight for the Lord,' as the prophet Isaiah said." ²⁴ Now the messengers belonged to the party of the Pharisees; ²⁵ so they asked him, "Why are you baptizing then, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?" ²⁶ John answered them, "I am baptizing only in water. There is standing among you One with whom you are not acquainted. ²⁷ He is to become my successor, because He has been put before me, and I am not fit to untie His shoestrings." ²⁸ This took place at Bethany on the farther side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing. ²⁹ The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and he said, "Look! He is the Lamb of God who is to take away the world's sin.

²⁹ The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and he said, "Look! He is the Lamb of God who is to take away the world's sin. ³⁰ This is the One about whom I said, 'After me there is coming a man who has already been put before me, because He existed before me.' ³¹ I did not know Him myself, but I came baptizing in water, that He might be made known to Israel." ³² Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit coming down from heaven like a dove, and it remained on Him. ³³ I did not know Him myself, but the very One who sent me to baptize in water said to me, 'The One on whom you see the Spirit coming down and remaining, is the One who is to baptize in the Holy Spirit.' ³⁴ I did see it; and my testimony is that He is the Son of God."

³⁴ I did see it; and my testimony is that He is the Son of God." ³⁵ Again the next day John was standing with two of his disciples, ³⁶ and as he saw Jesus passing by he said, "Look! He is the Lamb of God!"

³⁶ and as he saw Jesus passing by he said, "Look! He is the Lamb of God!"

⁵ His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever He tells you."

¹³ Now the Jewish Passover was approaching; so Jesus went up to Jerusalem. ¹⁴ And in the temple court He found the dealers in cattle, sheep, and pigeons; the money-changers, too, seated at their tables. ¹⁵ So He made a lash out of cords, and drove them all, together with the sheep and cattle, out of the temple court, scattered the money-changers' coins and upset their tables. ¹⁶ Then He said to the pigeon-dealers, "Take these things out of here! Stop using my Father's house as a market place!"

¹⁶ Then He said to the pigeon-dealers, "Take these things out of here! Stop using my Father's house as a market place!" ¹⁷ His disciples recalled that the Scriptures say, "My zeal for your house will consume me!"

¹⁰ Jesus answered him, "Are you a teacher of Israel and do not know this?

²⁵ Then a discussion came up between John's disciples and a Jew about purification. ²⁶ And they went to John and said to him, "Teacher, the man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan, to whom you bore testimony yourself, is baptizing people and everybody is going to Him." ²⁷ John answered, "A man cannot get anything, unless it is given to him from heaven. ²⁸ You can bear testimony to me yourselves that I said, 'I am not the Christ, but I have been sent as His announcer.' ²⁹ It is the bridegroom who has the bride, but the bridegroom's friend, who stands outside and listens to him, is very happy to hear the bridegroom's voice. So this happiness of mine is running over. ³⁰ He must grow greater and greater, but I less and less." ³¹ He who comes from above is far above all others. He who springs from earth belongs to the earth and speaks of earth. He who comes from heaven is far above all others. ³² He continues to bear testimony to what He has actually seen and heard, and yet no one accepts His testimony. ³³ Whoever does accept His testimony has certified with a seal that God is true. ³⁴ For He whom God has sent continues to speak the words of God, for God continues to give Him the Spirit without measure. ³⁵ The Father loves His Son and has put everything in His hands. ³⁶ Whoever trusts in the Son possesses eternal life, but whoever refuses to trust in the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God continues to remain on him.

⁶ and Jacob's spring was there. So Jesus, tired from His journey, was sitting by the spring just as He was. It was about noon. ⁷ A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink."

³¹ Meanwhile the disciples were asking Him, and saying, "Teacher, eat something." ³² But He said to them, "I have food to eat of which you do not know." ³³ So the disciples began to say to one another, "Nobody has brought Him anything to eat, has he?"

⁴⁶ The officers answered, "No man ever talked as He does!"

¹ But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.

¹ But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. ² Early the next morning, He had come into the temple again, and all the people were gathering around Him. Having sat down, He began to teach them.

²⁷ He answered them, "I have already told you and you would not listen to me. Why do you want to hear it again? You do not want to become His disciples, do you?"

²³ and Jesus was walking in Solomon's portico.

⁴¹ And many people came to Him and kept on saying, "John did not perform any wonder-works, but everything he ever said about this man was true."

⁵³ So from that day they plotted to kill Jesus. ⁵⁴ It was for this reason that Jesus no more appeared in public among the Jews, but He left that part of the country and went to the district near the desert, to a town called Ephraim, and stayed there with His disciples. ⁵⁵ Now the Jewish Passover was approaching, and many people from the country went up to Jerusalem, to purify themselves before the Passover. ⁵⁶ So they kept looking for Jesus and saying to one another, as they stood in the temple, "What do you think? Do you think He will not come to the feast at all?" ⁵⁷ Now the high priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone should learn where He was, he should let it be known so that they might arrest Him.

¹² The next day the vast crowd that had come to the feast, on hearing that Jesus was coming into Jerusalem, ¹³ took palm branches and went out to meet Him, and kept on shouting: "Blessings on Him! Blessed be He who comes in the name of the Lord; Blessings on the King of Israel!"

¹³ took palm branches and went out to meet Him, and kept on shouting: "Blessings on Him! Blessed be He who comes in the name of the Lord; Blessings on the King of Israel!" ¹⁴ Then Jesus found a young donkey and mounted it, doing as the Scripture says:

¹⁴ Then Jesus found a young donkey and mounted it, doing as the Scripture says: ¹⁵ "Cease from fearing, Daughter of Zion; See, your King is coming mounted on an ass's colt!"

¹⁵ "Cease from fearing, Daughter of Zion; See, your King is coming mounted on an ass's colt!" ¹⁶ His disciples at the time did not understand this, but after Jesus was glorified, they remembered that this had been written about Him and that they had fulfilled it in His case.

¹⁶ His disciples at the time did not understand this, but after Jesus was glorified, they remembered that this had been written about Him and that they had fulfilled it in His case. ¹⁷ The crowd that had been with Him when He called Lazarus out of the grave and raised him from the dead, kept on talking about it. ¹⁸ This is why the crowd went out to meet Him, because they had heard that He had performed this wonder-work. ¹⁹ So the Pharisees said to one another, "You see, you cannot help it at all; the whole world has gone off after Him!"

³⁶ While you have the light believe in the light, that you may become sons of light." On saying this Jesus went away and hid Himself.

¹ "Stop letting your hearts be troubled; keep on believing in God, and also in me.

¹³ And anything you ask for as bearers of my name I will do for you, so that the Father may be glorified through the Son.

⁶ If anyone does not remain in union with me, he is thrown away as a mere branch and is dried up; then it is picked up and thrown into the fire and burned up. ⁷ If you remain in union with me and my words remain in you, you may ask whatever you please and you shall have it.

²³ At that time you will ask me no more questions. I most solemnly say to you, the Father will give you, as bearers of my name, whatever you ask Him for. ²⁴ Up to this time you have not asked for anything as bearers of my name, but now you must keep on asking, and you will receive, that your cup of joy may be full to the brim. ²⁵ "I have told you these things in allegories, but a time is coming when I shall not do so any longer, but will plainly tell you about the Father. ²⁶ At that time you will ask, as bearers of my name, and I do not say that I will ask the Father for you, ²⁷ for the Father tenderly loves you Himself, because you now tenderly love me and now believe that I have come from the Father.

²⁰ Jesus answered him, "I have spoken publicly to the world; I have always taught in the synagogues and in the temple where all the Jews are in the habit of meeting, and I have not spoken anything in secret.

¹⁵ But they shouted, "Kill Him! Kill Him! Crucify Him!" Pilate said to them, "Must I crucify your king?" The high priests answered, "We have no king but the emperor!"

²⁸ After this, as Jesus knew that everything was now finished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, He said, "I am thirsty."

¹² Then they returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, which is near Jerusalem, only half a mile away.

²⁴ And they prayed, saying, "Lord, you who know the hearts of all, show us which one of these two men you have chosen

⁵ On the next day the leading members of the council, the elders, and the scribes, ⁶ met in Jerusalem, including Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and all that were members of the high priest's family. ⁷ They had the men stand before them and repeatedly inquired of them, "By what sort of power and authority have you done this?" ⁸ Then Peter, because he was filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Leaders and elders of the people,

²⁷ "For in this city they actually met against your holy Servant Jesus, whom you had consecrated -- Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the heathen and the peoples of Israel, ²⁸ to do all that your hand and will had predetermined to take place.

²⁶ Then the military commander went with his attendants and brought them back, but without any violence, for they were afraid of being pelted with stones by the people.

²⁷ But the man who was harming his brother pushed him aside, saying, 'Who made you our ruler and referee? ²⁸ Do you want to kill me as you did the Egyptian yesterday?'

³⁸ This is the one who in the congregation in the desert went between the angel, who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and our forefathers, who also received, to be handed down to you, utterances that still live. ³⁹ But our forefathers would not listen to him, but pushed him aside, and in their hearts they hankered after Egypt;

⁵¹ "You people, stubborn in will, heathenish in hearts and ears, you are always resisting the Holy Spirit, as your forefathers did, too.

³⁶ He has sent His message to the descendants of Israel, by telling them the good news of peace through Jesus Christ. He is Lord of all.

²⁵ nor is He served by human hands as though He were in need of anything, for He Himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.

²⁵ But as he continued to talk about uprightness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became alarmed, and said, "For the present you may go, but when I find a good opportunity, I will send for you."

¹⁸ For God's anger from heaven is being uncovered against all the impiety and wickedness of the men who in their wickedness are suppressing the truth; ¹⁹ because what can be known of God is clear to their inner moral sense; for in this way God Himself has shown it to them. ²⁰ Forever since the creation of the world, His invisible characteristics -- His eternal power and divine nature -- have been made intelligible and clearly visible by His works. So they are without excuse, ²¹ because, although they once knew God, they did not honor Him as God, or give Him thanks, but became silly in their senseless speculations, and so their insensible hearts have been shrouded in darkness. ²² Though claiming to be wise, they made fools of themselves,

²⁸ And so, as they did not approve of fully recognizing God any longer, God gave them up to minds that He did not approve, to practices that were improper;

¹⁸ Abraham, building on hope in spite of hopeless circumstances, had faith, and so he actually became the father of many nations, just as it had been told him, "So numberless shall your descendants be." ¹⁹ Because he never weakened in faith, he calmly contemplated his own vital powers as worn out (for he was about one hundred years old) and the inability of Sarah to bear a child, ²⁰ and yet he never staggered in doubt at the promise of God but grew powerful in faith, because he gave the glory to God ²¹ in full assurance that He was able to do what He had promised. ²² Therefore, his faith was credited to him as right standing with God. ²³ It was not for his sake alone that it was written, "It was credited to him"; ²⁴ it was for our sakes too, for it is going to be credited to us who put our faith in God who raised from the dead our Lord Jesus, ²⁵ who was given up to death because of our shortcomings and was raised again to give us right standing with God.

² If I should have the gift of prophecy, And know all secret truths, and knowledge in its every form, and have such perfect faith that I could move mountains, but have no love, I am nothing.

²² A curse upon anyone who does not love the Lord! Our Lord is coming.

¹⁵ Indeed, to this very day, whenever Moses is read, a veil hangs over their hearts,

³ If the meaning of the good news I preach is covered up at all, it is so only in the case of those who are on the way to destruction. ⁴ In their case, the god of this world has blinded the eyes of the unbelievers, to keep the glorious light of the good news of Christ, who is the likeness of God, from dawning upon them.

⁹ For by experience you know the unmerited favor shown by our Lord Jesus Christ; that although He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, in order that by His poverty you might become rich.

³² You must practice being kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has graciously forgiven you.

¹² for you were buried with Him in baptism and raised to life with Him through your faith in the power of God who raised Him from the dead.

¹³ forbearing one another and freely forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; just as the Lord has freely forgiven you, so must you also do.

¹⁰ and with a completely wicked deception for men who are on the way to destruction, because they refused to love the truth so as to be saved. ¹¹ This is why God sends them a misleading influence till they actually believe what is false, ¹² so that all who have refused to believe the truth but have chosen unrighteousness instead might be condemned.

¹ Paul, a slave of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to stimulate faith in God's chosen people and to lead them on to a full knowledge of religious truth,

⁷ You made Him inferior to angels for a little while, yet you have crowned Him with glory and honor, you have set Him over the works of your hands, ⁸ You have put all things under His feet!" Now when He gave Him authority over everything, He did not leave a single thing that was not put under His authority. But as yet we do not see everything actually under His authority, ⁹ but we do see Jesus, who was made inferior to the angels for a little while, crowned with glory and honor because He suffered death, so that by God's favor He might experience death for every human being.

¹⁷ Therefore He had to be made like His brothers, so that He could be a sympathetic High Priest, as well as a faithful one, in things relating to God, in order to atone for the people's sins.

⁸ But if it continues to yield thorns and thistles, it is considered worthless and in danger of being cursed, and its final fate is burning.

⁸ By faith Abraham, on being called, obeyed in starting off for a country which he was to receive as his own, and he did it in spite of the fact that he did not know where he was going.

¹⁷ By faith Abraham, when he was put to the test, offered Isaac as a sacrifice; that is, he who had received the promise was starting to offer as a sacrifice his only son, ¹⁸ of whom it had been said, "Through Isaac your offspring must be traced." ¹⁹ For he considered the fact that God was able to raise people from the dead; and so from the dead, in a figure, he did receive him back.

⁵ But if any one of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask God who generously gives to everyone and never reproaches one with its lack, and it will be given to him. ⁶ But he must ask in faith, without a doubt, for the man who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is whirled and swayed by the wind.

¹³ For merciless judgment will be the portion of the merciless man; yet mercy will triumph over judgment.

¹⁵ and the prayer that is offered in faith will save the sick man; the Lord will raise him to health, and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. ¹⁶ So practice confessing your sins to one another, and praying for one another, that you may be cured. An upright man's prayer, when it keeps at work, is very powerful. ¹⁷ Elijah was a man with feelings just like ours, and yet he earnestly prayed for it not to rain, and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. ¹⁸ Then again he prayed, and the heavens yielded rain and the earth produced its crops.

²⁰ For if, after men have escaped the corrupting ways of the world through a full knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they again become entangled in them and are conquered by them, then their last condition is worse than their former one.

²² and we obtain from Him whatever we ask for, because we practice obedience to His commands and do what pleases Him.

¹⁴ And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask for anything that is in accordance with His will, He will listen to us. ¹⁵ And if we know that He listens to us in whatever we ask Him for, we know that we get from Him the things that we have asked Him for.

¹² They are blots on your love feasts while they feast with you, daringly caring for no one but themselves; rainless clouds swept along by winds; leafless trees that bear no fruit, doubly dead, uprooted;

⁴ They are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. ⁵ If anyone wants to injure them, fire comes out of their mouths and consumes their enemies; if anyone wants to injure them, he must himself be killed in that way. ⁶ They have the power to shut up the sky, so that no rain will fall upon the earth as long as they prophesy, and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood, and to smite the earth with any plague as often as they please. ⁷ Then, when they have finished testifying, the wild beast that is coming up out of the abyss will make war on them and conquer them and kill them, ⁸ and their lifeless bodies will lie on the streets of the great city that is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord also was crucified. ⁹ For three days and a half men of all peoples, tribes, languages, and nations will look upon their lifeless bodies, and will not let them be buried. ¹⁰ The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and celebrate with feasts and the sending of gifts to one another, because these two prophets had tormented the inhabitants of the earth.

¹¹ Let the person who is doing evil do evil still; let the filthy person be filthy still; let the upright person still do right; let the consecrated person still be consecrated.