Banchory Christian Fellowship Church

1 Samuel 2   English Standard Version     Hannah's Prayer 2 And Hannah prayed and said, “My heart exults in the Lord;     my horn is exalted in the Lord. My mouth derides my enemies,     because I rejoice in your salvation. 2 “There is none holy like the Lord:     for there is none besides you;     there is no rock like our God. 3 Talk no more so very proudly,     let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the Lord is a God of knowledge,     and by him actions are weighed. 4 The bows of the mighty are broken,     but the feeble bind on strength. 5 Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread,     but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger. The barren has borne seven,     but she who has many children is forlorn. 6 The Lord kills and brings to life;     he brings down to Sheol and raises up. 7 The Lord makes poor and makes rich;     he brings low and he exalts. 8 He raises up the poor from the dust;     he lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with princes     and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's,     and on them he has set the world. 9 “He will guard the feet of his faithful ones,     but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness,     for not by might shall a man prevail. 10 The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces;     against them he will thunder in heaven. The Lord will judge the ends of the earth;     he will give strength to his king     and exalt the horn of his anointed.” 11 Then Elkanah went home to Ramah. And the boy[a] was ministering to the Lord in the presence of Eli the priest. Eli's Worthless Sons 12 Now the sons of Eli were worthless men. They did not know the Lord. 13 The custom of the priests with the people was that when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant would come, while the meat was boiling, with a three-pronged fork in his hand, 14 and he would thrust it into the pan or kettle or cauldron or pot. All that the fork brought up the priest would take for himself. This is what they did at Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there. 15 Moreover, before the fat was burned, the priest's servant would come and say to the man who was sacrificing, “Give meat for the priest to roast, for he will not accept boiled meat from you but only raw.” 16 And if the man said to him, “Let them burn the fat first, and then take as much as you wish,” he would say, “No, you must give it now, and if not, I will take it by force.” 17 Thus the sin of the young men was very great in the sight of the Lord, for the men treated the offering of the Lord with contempt. 18 Samuel was ministering before the Lord, a boy clothed with a linen ephod. 19 And his mother used to make for him a little robe and take it to him each year when she went up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. 20 Then Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, and say, “May the Lord give you children by this woman for the petition she asked of the Lord.” So then they would return to their home. 21 Indeed the Lord visited Hannah, and she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. And the boy Samuel grew in the presence of the Lord. Eli Rebukes His Sons 22 Now Eli was very old, and he kept hearing all that his sons were doing to all Israel, and how they lay with the women who were serving at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 23 And he said to them, “Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings from all these people. 24 No, my sons; it is no good report that I hear the people of the Lord spreading abroad. 25 If someone sins against a man, God will mediate for him, but if someone sins against the Lord, who can intercede for him?” But they would not listen to the voice of their father, for it was the will of the Lord to put them to death. 26 Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the Lord and also with man. The Lord Rejects Eli's Household 27 And there came a man of God to Eli and said to him, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Did I indeed reveal myself to the house of your father when they were in Egypt subject to the house of Pharaoh? 28 Did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to go up to my altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? I gave to the house of your father all my offerings by fire from the people of Israel. 29 Why then do you scorn[b] my sacrifices and my offerings that I commanded for my dwelling, and honor your sons above me by fattening yourselves on the choicest parts of every offering of my people Israel?' 30 Therefore the Lord, the God of Israel, declares: ‘I promised that your house and the house of your father should go in and out before me forever,' but now the Lord declares: ‘Far be it from me, for those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me shall be lightly esteemed. 31 Behold, the days are coming when I will cut off your strength and the strength of your father's house, so that there will not be an old man in your house. 32 Then in distress you will look with envious eye on all the prosperity that shall be bestowed on Israel, and there shall not be an old man in your house forever. 33 The only one of you whom I shall not cut off from my altar shall be spared to weep his[c] eyes out to grieve his heart, and all the descendants[d] of your house shall die by the sword of men.[e] 34 And this that shall come upon your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, shall be the sign to you: both of them shall die on the same day. 35 And I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who shall do according to what is in my heart and in my mind. And I will build him a sure house, and he shall go in and out before my anointed forever. 36 And everyone who is left in your house shall come to implore him for a piece of silver or a loaf of bread and shall say, “Please put me in one of the priests' places, that I may eat a morsel of bread.”'” Read full chapter Footnotes 1 Samuel 2:11 Hebrew na‘ar can be rendered boy (2:11, 18, 21, 26; 3:1, 8), servant (2:13, 15), or young man (2:17), depending on the context 1 Samuel 2:29 Hebrew kick at 1 Samuel 2:33 Septuagint; Hebrew your; twice in this verse 1 Samuel 2:33 Hebrew increase 1 Samuel 2:33 Septuagint; Hebrew die as men

1 Samuel 2:1-11   English Standard Version     Hannah's Prayer 2 And Hannah prayed and said, “My heart exults in the Lord;     my horn is exalted in the Lord. My mouth derides my enemies,     because I rejoice in your salvation. 2 “There is none holy like the Lord:     for there is none besides you;     there is no rock like our God. 3 Talk no more so very proudly,     let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the Lord is a God of knowledge,     and by him actions are weighed. 4 The bows of the mighty are broken,     but the feeble bind on strength. 5 Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread,     but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger. The barren has borne seven,     but she who has many children is forlorn. 6 The Lord kills and brings to life;     he brings down to Sheol and raises up. 7 The Lord makes poor and makes rich;     he brings low and he exalts. 8 He raises up the poor from the dust;     he lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with princes     and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's,     and on them he has set the world. 9 “He will guard the feet of his faithful ones,     but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness,     for not by might shall a man prevail. 10 The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces;     against them he will thunder in heaven. The Lord will judge the ends of the earth;     he will give strength to his king     and exalt the horn of his anointed.” 11 Then Elkanah went home to Ramah. And the boy[a] was ministering to the Lord in the presence of Eli the priest. Read full chapter Footnotes 1 Samuel 2:11 Hebrew na‘ar can be rendered boy (2:11, 18, 21, 26; 3:1, 8), servant (2:13, 15), or young man (2:17), depending on the context

1 Samuel 1   English Standard Version     The Birth of Samuel 1 There was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim of the hill country of Ephraim whose name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephrathite. 2 He had two wives. The name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other, Peninnah. And Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. 3 Now this man used to go up year by year from his city to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of hosts at Shiloh, where the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests of the Lord. 4 On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters. 5 But to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the Lord had closed her womb.[a] 6 And her rival used to provoke her grievously to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb. 7 So it went on year by year. As often as she went up to the house of the Lord, she used to provoke her. Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat. 8 And Elkanah, her husband, said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? And why do you not eat? And why is your heart sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?” 9 After they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh, Hannah rose. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the Lord. 10 She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. 11 And she vowed a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.” 12 As she continued praying before the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. 13 Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman. 14 And Eli said to her, “How long will you go on being drunk? Put your wine away from you.” 15 But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord. 16 Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation.” 17 Then Eli answered, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him.” 18 And she said, “Let your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad. 19 They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord; then they went back to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her. 20 And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, “I have asked for him from the Lord.”[b] Samuel Given to the Lord 21 The man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice and to pay his vow. 22 But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “As soon as the child is weaned, I will bring him, so that he may appear in the presence of the Lord and dwell there forever.” 23 Elkanah her husband said to her, “Do what seems best to you; wait until you have weaned him; only, may the Lord establish his word.” So the woman remained and nursed her son until she weaned him. 24 And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull,[c] an ephah[d] of flour, and a skin of wine, and she brought him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh. And the child was young. 25 Then they slaughtered the bull, and they brought the child to Eli. 26 And she said, “Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the Lord. 27 For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to him. 28 Therefore I have lent him to the Lord. As long as he lives, he is lent to the Lord.” And he worshiped the Lord there. Footnotes 1 Samuel 1:5 Syriac; the meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain. Septuagint And, although he loved Hannah, he would give Hannah only one portion, because the Lord had closed her womb 1 Samuel 1:20 Samuel sounds like the Hebrew for heard of God 1 Samuel 1:24 Dead Sea Scroll, Septuagint, Syriac; Masoretic Text three bulls 1 Samuel 1:24 An ephah was about 3/5 bushel or 22 liters

Philippians 1:1-11   English Standard Version     Greeting 1 Paul and Timothy, servants[a] of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers[b] and deacons:[c] 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Thanksgiving and Prayer 3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 7 It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace,[d] both in my imprisonment and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. Read full chapter Footnotes Philippians 1:1 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface Philippians 1:1 Or bishops; Greek episkopoi Philippians 1:1 Or servants, or ministers; Greek diakonoi Philippians 1:7 Or you all have fellowship with me in grace

John 12:20-36   English Standard Version     Some Greeks Seek Jesus 20 Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. 21 So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. 23 And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. The Son of Man Must Be Lifted Up 27 “Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour'? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” 30 Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not mine. 31 Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33 He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die. 34 So the crowd answered him, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” 35 So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” The Unbelief of the People When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them. Read full chapter

Matthew 6:9-13   English Standard Version     9 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.[a] 10 Your kingdom come, your will be done,[b]     on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread,[c] 12 and forgive us our debts,     as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation,     but deliver us from evil.[d] Read full chapter Footnotes Matthew 6:9 Or Let your name be kept holy, or Let your name be treated with reverence Matthew 6:10 Or Let your kingdom come, let your will be done Matthew 6:11 Or our bread for tomorrow Matthew 6:13 Or the evil one; some manuscripts add For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen

Matthew 6:9-13   English Standard Version     9 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.[a] 10 Your kingdom come, your will be done,[b]     on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread,[c] 12 and forgive us our debts,     as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation,     but deliver us from evil.[d] Read full chapter Footnotes Matthew 6:9 Or Let your name be kept holy, or Let your name be treated with reverence Matthew 6:10 Or Let your kingdom come, let your will be done Matthew 6:11 Or our bread for tomorrow Matthew 6:13 Or the evil one; some manuscripts add For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen

Matthew 6:9-13   English Standard Version     9 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.[a] 10 Your kingdom come, your will be done,[b]     on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread,[c] 12 and forgive us our debts,     as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation,     but deliver us from evil.[d] Read full chapter Footnotes Matthew 6:9 Or Let your name be kept holy, or Let your name be treated with reverence Matthew 6:10 Or Let your kingdom come, let your will be done Matthew 6:11 Or our bread for tomorrow Matthew 6:13 Or the evil one; some manuscripts add For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen

Matthew 6:5-13   English Standard Version     The Lord's Prayer 5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.[a] 10 Your kingdom come, your will be done,[b]     on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread,[c] 12 and forgive us our debts,     as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation,     but deliver us from evil.[d] Read full chapter Footnotes Matthew 6:9 Or Let your name be kept holy, or Let your name be treated with reverence Matthew 6:10 Or Let your kingdom come, let your will be done Matthew 6:11 Or our bread for tomorrow Matthew 6:13 Or the evil one; some manuscripts add For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen

Galatians 6:11-18   English Standard Version     Final Warning and Benediction 11 See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. 12 It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. 14 But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which[a] the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. 16 And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. 17 From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. 18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen. Read full chapter Footnotes Galatians 6:14 Or through whom

Galatians 6:1-10   English Standard Version     Bear One Another's Burdens 6 Brothers,[a] if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. 5 For each will have to bear his own load. 6 Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. 7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. Read full chapter Footnotes Galatians 6:1 Or Brothers and sisters; also verse 18

Galatians 5:13-26   English Standard Version     13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. Keep in Step with the Spirit 16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy,[a] drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do[b] such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. Read full chapter Footnotes Galatians 5:21 Some manuscripts add murder Galatians 5:21 Or make a practice of doing

Galatians 5:1-12   English Standard Version     Christ Has Set Us Free 5 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. 2 Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. 3 I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. 4 You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified[a] by the law; you have fallen away from grace. 5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love. 7 You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion is not from him who calls you. 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump. 10 I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view, and the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is. 11 But if I, brothers,[b] still preach[c] circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed. 12 I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves! Read full chapter Footnotes Galatians 5:4 Or counted righteous Galatians 5:11 Or brothers and sisters; also verse 13 Galatians 5:11 Greek proclaim

Galatians 4:21-5:1   English Standard Version     Example of Hagar and Sarah 21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman. 23 But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise. 24 Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia;[a] she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. 27 For it is written, “Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear;     break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more     than those of the one who has a husband.” 28 Now you,[b] brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29 But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now. 30 But what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.” 31 So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman. Christ Has Set Us Free 5 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Footnotes Galatians 4:25 Some manuscripts For Sinai is a mountain in Arabia Galatians 4:28 Some manuscripts we

Luke 24:13-35   English Standard Version     On the Road to Emmaus 13 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles[a] from Jerusalem, 14 and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. 22 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, 23 and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” 25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. 28 So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, 29 but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” 33 And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread. Read full chapter Footnotes Luke 24:13 Greek sixty stadia; a stadion was about 607 feet or 185 meters

Galatians 3:15-22   English Standard Version     The Law and the Promise 15 To give a human example, brothers:[a] even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified. 16 Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ. 17 This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void. 18 For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise. 19 Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary. 20 Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one. 21 Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. 22 But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. Read full chapter Footnotes Galatians 3:15 Or brothers and sisters

Galatians 3:1-14   English Standard Version     By Faith, or by Works of the Law? 3 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. 2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by[a] the flesh? 4 Did you suffer[b] so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? 5 Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— 6 just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”? 7 Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify[c] the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” 9 So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. The Righteous Shall Live by Faith 10 For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” 11 Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.”[d] 12 But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.” 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— 14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit[e] through faith. Read full chapter Footnotes Galatians 3:3 Or now ending with Galatians 3:4 Or experience Galatians 3:8 Or count righteous; also verses 11, 24 Galatians 3:11 Or The one who by faith is righteous will live Galatians 3:14 Greek receive the promise of the Spirit

Galatians 2:11-21   English Standard Version     Paul Opposes Peter 11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party.[a] 13 And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?” Justified by Faith 15 We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; 16 yet we know that a person is not justified[b] by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. 17 But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! 18 For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor. 19 For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness[c] were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose. Read full chapter Footnotes Galatians 2:12 Or fearing those of the circumcision Galatians 2:16 Or counted righteous (three times in verse 16); also verse 17 Galatians 2:21 Or justification

Galatians 2:1-10   English Standard Version     Paul Accepted by the Apostles 2 Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. 2 I went up because of a revelation and set before them (though privately before those who seemed influential) the gospel that I proclaim among the Gentiles, in order to make sure I was not running or had not run in vain. 3 But even Titus, who was with me, was not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek. 4 Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in—who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery— 5 to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you. 6 And from those who seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—those, I say, who seemed influential added nothing to me. 7 On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised 8 (for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles), 9 and when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10 Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do. Read full chapter

2 Corinthians 5:11-21   English Standard Version     The Ministry of Reconciliation 11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. 12 We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. 13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. 16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.[a] The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling[b] the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Galatians 1:10-24   English Standard Version     10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant[a] of Christ. Paul Called by God 11 For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man's gospel.[b] 12 For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. 14 And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when he who had set me apart before I was born,[c] and who called me by his grace, 16 was pleased to reveal his Son to[d] me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone;[e] 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. 18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. 19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord's brother. 20 (In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!) 21 Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 And I was still unknown in person to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23 They only were hearing it said, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” 24 And they glorified God because of me. Read full chapter Footnotes Galatians 1:10 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface Galatians 1:11 Greek not according to man Galatians 1:15 Greek set me apart from my mother's womb Galatians 1:16 Greek in Galatians 1:16 Greek with flesh and blood

Galatians 1:1-9   English Standard Version     Greeting 1 Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— 2 and all the brothers[a] who are with me, To the churches of Galatia: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. No Other Gospel 6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. Read full chapter Footnotes Galatians 1:2 Or brothers and sisters. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, the plural Greek word adelphoi (translated “brothers”) may refer either to brothers or to brothers and sisters; also verse 11

Joshua 24:1-8 English Standard Version The Covenant Renewal at Shechem 24 Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem and summoned the elders, the heads, the judges, and the officers of Israel. And they presented themselves before God. 2 And Joshua said to all the people, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Long ago, your fathers lived beyond the Euphrates,[a] Terah, the father of Abraham and of Nahor; and they served other gods. 3 Then I took your father Abraham from beyond the River[b] and led him through all the land of Canaan, and made his offspring many. I gave him Isaac. 4 And to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. And I gave Esau the hill country of Seir to possess, but Jacob and his children went down to Egypt. 5 And I sent Moses and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt with what I did in the midst of it, and afterward I brought you out. 6 “‘Then I brought your fathers out of Egypt, and you came to the sea. And the Egyptians pursued your fathers with chariots and horsemen to the Red Sea. 7 And when they cried to the Lord, he put darkness between you and the Egyptians and made the sea come upon them and cover them; and your eyes saw what I did in Egypt. And you lived in the wilderness a long time. 8 Then I brought you to the land of the Amorites, who lived on the other side of the Jordan. They fought with you, and I gave them into your hand, and you took possession of their land, and I destroyed them before you. Footnotes Joshua 24:2 Hebrew the River Joshua 24:3 That is, the Euphrates; also verses 14, 15   Joshua 24:13-15 13 I gave you a land on which you had not laboured and cities that you had not built, and you dwell in them. You eat the fruit of vineyards and olive orchards that you did not plant.' Choose Whom You Will Serve 14 “Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”  

Jeremiah 31:10-34 English Standard Version 10 “Hear the word of the Lord, O nations,     and declare it in the coastlands far away; say, ‘He who scattered Israel will gather him,     and will keep him as a shepherd keeps his flock.' 11 For the Lord has ransomed Jacob     and has redeemed him from hands too strong for him. 12 They shall come and sing aloud on the height of Zion,     and they shall be radiant over the goodness of the Lord, over the grain, the wine, and the oil,     and over the young of the flock and the herd; their life shall be like a watered garden,     and they shall languish no more. 13 Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance,     and the young men and the old shall be merry. I will turn their mourning into joy;     I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow. 14 I will feast the soul of the priests with abundance,     and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, declares the Lord.” 15 Thus says the Lord: “A voice is heard in Ramah,     lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children;     she refuses to be comforted for her children,     because they are no more.” 16 Thus says the Lord: “Keep your voice from weeping,     and your eyes from tears, for there is a reward for your work, declares the Lord,     and they shall come back from the land of the enemy. 17 There is hope for your future, declares the Lord,     and your children shall come back to their own country. 18 I have heard Ephraim grieving, ‘You have disciplined me, and I was disciplined,     like an untrained calf; bring me back that I may be restored,     for you are the Lord my God. 19 For after I had turned away, I relented,     and after I was instructed, I struck my thigh; I was ashamed, and I was confounded,     because I bore the disgrace of my youth.' 20 Is Ephraim my dear son?     Is he my darling child? For as often as I speak against him,     I do remember him still. Therefore my heart[a] yearns for him;     I will surely have mercy on him, declares the Lord. 21 “Set up road markers for yourself;     make yourself guideposts; consider well the highway,     the road by which you went. Return, O virgin Israel,     return to these your cities. 22 How long will you waver,     O faithless daughter? For the Lord has created a new thing on the earth:     a woman encircles a man.” 23 Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: “Once more they shall use these words in the land of Judah and in its cities, when I restore their fortunes: “‘The Lord bless you, O habitation of righteousness,     O holy hill!' 24 And Judah and all its cities shall dwell there together, and the farmers and those who wander with their flocks. 25 For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish.” 26 At this I awoke and looked, and my sleep was pleasant to me. 27 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man and the seed of beast. 28 And it shall come to pass that as I have watched over them to pluck up and break down, to overthrow, destroy, and bring harm, so I will watch over them to build and to plant, declares the Lord. 29 In those days they shall no longer say: “‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes,     and the children's teeth are set on edge.' 30 But everyone shall die for his own iniquity. Each man who eats sour grapes, his teeth shall be set on edge. The New Covenant 31 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, 32 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord. 33 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 And no longer shall each one teach his neighbour and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,' for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” Footnotes Jeremiah 31:20 Hebrew bowels  

Hosea 11:1-11 English Standard Version The Lord's Love for Israel 11 When Israel was a child, I loved him,     and out of Egypt I called my son. 2 The more they were called,     the more they went away; they kept sacrificing to the Baals     and burning offerings to idols. 3 Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk;     I took them up by their arms,     but they did not know that I healed them. 4 I led them with cords of kindness,[a]     with the bands of love, and I became to them as one who eases the yoke on their jaws,     and I bent down to them and fed them. 5 They shall not[b] return to the land of Egypt,     but Assyria shall be their king,     because they have refused to return to me. 6 The sword shall rage against their cities,     consume the bars of their gates,     and devour them because of their own counsels. 7 My people are bent on turning away from me,     and though they call out to the Most High,     he shall not raise them up at all. 8 How can I give you up, O Ephraim?     How can I hand you over, O Israel? How can I make you like Admah?     How can I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart recoils within me;     my compassion grows warm and tender. 9 I will not execute my burning anger;     I will not again destroy Ephraim; for I am God and not a man,     the Holy One in your midst,     and I will not come in wrath.[c] 10 They shall go after the Lord;     he will roar like a lion; when he roars,     his children shall come trembling from the west; 11 they shall come trembling like birds from Egypt,     and like doves from the land of Assyria,     and I will return them to their homes, declares the Lord. Footnotes Hosea 11:4 Or humaneness; Hebrew man Hosea 11:5 Or surely Hosea 11:9 Or into the city  

Psalm 46 English Standard Version God Is Our Fortress 46 God is our refuge and strength,     a very present[b] help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth give way,     though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam,     though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah 4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,     the holy habitation of the Most High. 5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;     God will help her when morning dawns. 6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;     he utters his voice, the earth melts. 7 The Lord of hosts is with us;     the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah 8 Come, behold the works of the Lord,     how he has brought desolations on the earth. 9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;     he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;     he burns the chariots with fire. 10 “Be still, and know that I am God.     I will be exalted among the nations,     I will be exalted in the earth!” 11 The Lord of hosts is with us;     the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah Footnotes Psalm 46:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term Psalm 46:1 Or well proved   Micah 5:1-5 English Standard Version The Ruler to Be Born in Bethlehem 5 [a] Now muster your troops, O daughter[b] of troops;     siege is laid against us; with a rod they strike the judge of Israel     on the cheek. 2 [c] But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,     who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me     one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old,     from ancient days. 3 Therefore he shall give them up until the time     when she who is in labour has given birth; then the rest of his brothers shall return     to the people of Israel. 4 And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord,     in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great     to the ends of the earth. 5 And he shall be their peace. Footnotes Micah 5:1 Ch 4:14 in Hebrew Micah 5:1 That is, city Micah 5:2 Ch 5:1 in Hebrew  

Isaiah 7:10-17 English Standard Version The Sign of Immanuel 10 Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz: 11 “Ask a sign of the Lord your[a] God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” 12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test.” 13 And he[b] said, “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.[c] 15 He shall eat curds and honey when he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. 16 For before the boy knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land whose two kings you dread will be deserted. 17 The Lord will bring upon you and upon your people and upon your father's house such days as have not come since the day that Ephraim departed from Judah—the king of Assyria!” Footnotes Isaiah 7:11 The Hebrew for you and your is singular in verses 11, 16, 17 Isaiah 7:13 That is, Isaiah Isaiah 7:14 Immanuel means God is with us

Isaiah 49:1-13 English Standard Version The Servant of the Lord 49 Listen to me, O coastlands,     and give attention, you peoples from afar. The Lord called me from the womb,     from the body of my mother he named my name. 2 He made my mouth like a sharp sword;     in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow;     in his quiver he hid me away. 3 And he said to me, “You are my servant,     Israel, in whom I will be glorified.”[a] 4 But I said, “I have laboured in vain;     I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my right is with the Lord,     and my recompense with my God.” 5 And now the Lord says,     he who formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him;     and that Israel might be gathered to him— for I am honoured in the eyes of the Lord,     and my God has become my strength— 6 he says: “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant     to raise up the tribes of Jacob     and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations,     that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” 7 Thus says the Lord,     the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One, to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nation,     the servant of rulers: “Kings shall see and arise;     princes, and they shall prostrate themselves; because of the Lord, who is faithful,     the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.” The Restoration of Israel 8 Thus says the Lord: “In a time of favour I have answered you;     in a day of salvation I have helped you; I will keep you and give you     as a covenant to the people, to establish the land,     to apportion the desolate heritages, 9 saying to the prisoners, ‘Come out,'     to those who are in darkness, ‘Appear.' They shall feed along the ways;     on all bare heights shall be their pasture; 10 they shall not hunger or thirst,     neither scorching wind nor sun shall strike them, for he who has pity on them will lead them,     and by springs of water will guide them. 11 And I will make all my mountains a road,     and my highways shall be raised up. 12 Behold, these shall come from afar,     and behold, these from the north and from the west,[b]     and these from the land of Syene.”[c] 13 Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth;     break forth, O mountains, into singing! For the Lord has comforted his people     and will have compassion on his afflicted. Footnotes Isaiah 49:3 Or I will display my beauty Isaiah 49:12 Hebrew from the sea Isaiah 49:12 Dead Sea Scroll; Masoretic Text Sinim  

2 Samuel 7:1-17 English Standard Version The Lord's Covenant with David 7 Now when the king lived in his house and the Lord had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies, 2 the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent.” 3 And Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you.” 4 But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, 5 “Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord: Would you build me a house to dwell in? 6 I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent for my dwelling. 7 In all places where I have moved with all the people of Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges[a] of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”' 8 Now, therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince[b] over my people Israel. 9 And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. 10 And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly, 11 from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house. 12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body,[c] and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, 15 but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. 16 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me.[d] Your throne shall be established forever.'” 17 In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David. Footnotes 2 Samuel 7:7 Compare 1 Chronicles 17:6; Hebrew tribes 2 Samuel 7:8 Or leader 2 Samuel 7:12 Hebrew loins 2 Samuel 7:16 Septuagint; Hebrew you  

Lamentations 5 English Standard Version Restore Us to Yourself, O Lord 5 Remember, O Lord, what has befallen us;     look, and see our disgrace! 2 Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers,     our homes to foreigners. 3 We have become orphans, fatherless;     our mothers are like widows. 4 We must pay for the water we drink;     the wood we get must be bought. 5 Our pursuers are at our necks;     we are weary; we are given no rest. 6 We have given the hand to Egypt, and to Assyria,     to get bread enough. 7 Our fathers sinned, and are no more;     and we bear their iniquities. 8 Slaves rule over us;     there is none to deliver us from their hand. 9 We get our bread at the peril of our lives,     because of the sword in the wilderness. 10 Our skin is hot as an oven     with the burning heat of famine. 11 Women are raped in Zion,     young women in the towns of Judah. 12 Princes are hung up by their hands;     no respect is shown to the elders. 13 Young men are compelled to grind at the mill,     and boys stagger under loads of wood. 14 The old men have left the city gate,     the young men their music. 15 The joy of our hearts has ceased;     our dancing has been turned to mourning. 16 The crown has fallen from our head;     woe to us, for we have sinned! 17 For this our heart has become sick,     for these things our eyes have grown dim, 18 for Mount Zion which lies desolate;     jackals prowl over it. 19 But you, O Lord, reign forever;     your throne endures to all generations. 20 Why do you forget us forever,     why do you forsake us for so many days? 21 Restore us to yourself, O Lord, that we may be restored!     Renew our days as of old— 22 unless you have utterly rejected us,     and you remain exceedingly angry with us.  

Lamentations 4 English Standard Version The Holy Stones Lie Scattered 4 How the gold has grown dim,     how the pure gold is changed! The holy stones lie scattered     at the head of every street. 2 The precious sons of Zion,     worth their weight in fine gold, how they are regarded as earthen pots,     the work of a potter's hands! 3 Even jackals offer the breast;     they nurse their young; but the daughter of my people has become cruel,     like the ostriches in the wilderness. 4 The tongue of the nursing infant sticks     to the roof of its mouth for thirst; the children beg for food,     but no one gives to them. 5 Those who once feasted on delicacies     perish in the streets; those who were brought up in purple     embrace ash heaps. 6 For the chastisement[a] of the daughter of my people has been greater     than the punishment[b] of Sodom, which was overthrown in a moment,     and no hands were wrung for her.[c] 7 Her princes were purer than snow,     whiter than milk; their bodies were more ruddy than coral,     the beauty of their form[d] was like sapphire.[e] 8 Now their face is blacker than soot;     they are not recognized in the streets; their skin has shrivelled on their bones;     it has become as dry as wood. 9 Happier were the victims of the sword     than the victims of hunger, who wasted away, pierced     by lack of the fruits of the field. 10 The hands of compassionate women     have boiled their own children; they became their food     during the destruction of the daughter of my people. 11 The Lord gave full vent to his wrath;     he poured out his hot anger, and he kindled a fire in Zion     that consumed its foundations. 12 The kings of the earth did not believe,     nor any of the inhabitants of the world, that foe or enemy could enter     the gates of Jerusalem. 13 This was for the sins of her prophets     and the iniquities of her priests, who shed in the midst of her     the blood of the righteous. 14 They wandered, blind, through the streets;     they were so defiled with blood that no one was able to touch     their garments. 15 “Away! Unclean!” people cried at them.     “Away! Away! Do not touch!” So they became fugitives and wanderers;     people said among the nations,     “They shall stay with us no longer.” 16 The Lord himself[f] has scattered them;     he will regard them no more; no honour was shown to the priests,     no favour to the elders. 17 Our eyes failed, ever watching     vainly for help; in our watching we watched     for a nation which could not save. 18 They dogged our steps     so that we could not walk in our streets; our end drew near; our days were numbered,     for our end had come. 19 Our pursuers were swifter     than the eagles in the heavens; they chased us on the mountains;     they lay in wait for us in the wilderness. 20 The breath of our nostrils, the Lord's anointed,     was captured in their pits, of whom we said, “Under his shadow     we shall live among the nations.” 21 Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom,     you who dwell in the land of Uz; but to you also the cup shall pass;     you shall become drunk and strip yourself bare. 22 The punishment of your iniquity, O daughter of Zion, is accomplished;     he will keep you in exile no longer;[g] but your iniquity, O daughter of Edom, he will punish;     he will uncover your sins. Footnotes Lamentations 4:6 Or iniquity Lamentations 4:6 Or sin Lamentations 4:6 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain Lamentations 4:7 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain Lamentations 4:7 Hebrew lapis lazuli Lamentations 4:16 Hebrew The face of the Lord Lamentations 4:22 Or he will not exile you again  

Numbers 21:4-9 English Standard Version The Bronze Serpent 4 From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom. And the people became impatient on the way. 5 And the people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food.” 6 Then the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. 7 And the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you. Pray to the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. 8 And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” 9 So Moses made a bronze[a] serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live. Footnotes Numbers 21:9 Or copper  

Hebrews 3:1-6 English Standard Version Jesus Greater Than Moses 3 Therefore, holy brothers,[a] you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, 2 who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God's[b] house. 3 For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. 4 (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.) 5 Now Moses was faithful in all God's house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, 6 but Christ is faithful over God's house as a son. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.[c] Footnotes Hebrews 3:1 Or brothers and sisters; also verse 12 Hebrews 3:2 Greek his; also verses 5, 6 Hebrews 3:6 Some manuscripts insert firm to the end  

Lamentations 1 English Standard Version How Lonely Sits the City 1 How lonely sits the city     that was full of people! How like a widow has she become,     she who was great among the nations! She who was a princess among the provinces     has become a slave. 2 She weeps bitterly in the night,     with tears on her cheeks; among all her lovers     she has none to comfort her; all her friends have dealt treacherously with her;     they have become her enemies. 3 Judah has gone into exile because of affliction[a]     and hard servitude; she dwells now among the nations,     but finds no resting place; her pursuers have all overtaken her     in the midst of her distress.[b] 4 The roads to Zion mourn,     for none come to the festival; all her gates are desolate;     her priests groan; her virgins have been afflicted,[c]     and she herself suffers bitterly. 5 Her foes have become the head;     her enemies prosper, because the Lord has afflicted her     for the multitude of her transgressions; her children have gone away,     captives before the foe. 6 From the daughter of Zion     all her majesty has departed. Her princes have become like deer     that find no pasture; they fled without strength     before the pursuer. 7 Jerusalem remembers     in the days of her affliction and wandering all the precious things     that were hers from days of old. When her people fell into the hand of the foe,     and there was none to help her, her foes gloated over her;     they mocked at her downfall. 8 Jerusalem sinned grievously;     therefore she became filthy; all who honoured her despise her,     for they have seen her nakedness; she herself groans     and turns her face away. 9 Her uncleanness was in her skirts;     she took no thought of her future;[d] therefore her fall is terrible;     she has no comforter. “O Lord, behold my affliction,     for the enemy has triumphed!” 10 The enemy has stretched out his hands     over all her precious things; for she has seen the nations     enter her sanctuary, those whom you forbade     to enter your congregation. 11 All her people groan     as they search for bread; they trade their treasures for food     to revive their strength. “Look, O Lord, and see,     for I am despised.” 12 “Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by?     Look and see if there is any sorrow like my sorrow,     which was brought upon me, which the Lord inflicted     on the day of his fierce anger. 13 “From on high he sent fire;     into my bones[e] he made it descend; he spread a net for my feet;     he turned me back; he has left me stunned,     faint all the day long. 14 “My transgressions were bound[f] into a yoke;     by his hand they were fastened together; they were set upon my neck;     he caused my strength to fail; the Lord gave me into the hands     of those whom I cannot withstand. 15 “The Lord rejected     all my mighty men in my midst; he summoned an assembly against me     to crush my young men; the Lord has trodden as in a winepress     the virgin daughter of Judah. 16 “For these things I weep;     my eyes flow with tears; for a comforter is far from me,     one to revive my spirit; my children are desolate,     for the enemy has prevailed.” 17 Zion stretches out her hands,     but there is none to comfort her; the Lord has commanded against Jacob     that his neighbours should be his foes; Jerusalem has become     a filthy thing among them. 18 “The Lord is in the right,     for I have rebelled against his word; but hear, all you peoples,     and see my suffering; my young women and my young men     have gone into captivity. 19 “I called to my lovers,     but they deceived me; my priests and elders     perished in the city, while they sought food     to revive their strength. 20 “Look, O Lord, for I am in distress;     my stomach churns; my heart is wrung within me,     because I have been very rebellious. In the street the sword bereaves;     in the house it is like death. 21 “They heard[g] my groaning,     yet there is no one to comfort me. All my enemies have heard of my trouble;     they are glad that you have done it. You have brought[h] the day you announced;     now let them be as I am. 22 “Let all their evildoing come before you,     and deal with them as you have dealt with me     because of all my transgressions; for my groans are many,     and my heart is faint.” Footnotes Lamentations 1:3 Or under affliction Lamentations 1:3 Or in the narrow passes Lamentations 1:4 Septuagint, Old Latin dragged away Lamentations 1:9 Or end Lamentations 1:13 Septuagint; Hebrew bones and Lamentations 1:14 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain Lamentations 1:21 Septuagint, Syriac Hear Lamentations 1:21 Syriac Bring  

Ephesians 5:25-30 ESV 25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27so that he might present the church to himself in splendour, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. a 28In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30because we are members of his body.  Footnotes: a 27 Or holy and blameless   Revelation 19:6–9 ESV The Marriage Supper of the Lamb 6 Then I heard what seemed to be wthe voice of a great multitude, like xthe roar of many waters and ylike the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty zreigns.  7  Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for athe marriage of the Lamb has come, and bhis Bride has made herself ready;  8  cit was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is dthe righteous deeds of the saints. 9 And the angel said2 to me, “Write this: eBlessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, f“These are the true words of God.” Footnotes w Da 10:6Re 19:1 x Re 1:15 y Re 6:1Re 14:2 z Re 11:15Re 11:17Ps 97:1 a Mt 22:2Mt 25:10Lk 12:36Lk 14:8Jn 2:1Eph 5:22–32 b Re 21:2Re 21:9Is 54:5Ho 2:19Ho 2:20 c Ps 45:13–15Eze 16:10 d Ps 132:9Is 61:10 2 Greek he said e Lk 14:15Re 19:7 f Re 21:5Re 22:6    

The Mystery of Godliness 1 Timothy 3:14-16 ESV: English Standard Version The Mystery of Godliness 14 I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, 15 if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth. 16 Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: sHe5 was manifested in the flesh, vindicated6 by the Spirit,7 tseen by angels, uproclaimed among the nations, vbelieved on in the world, wtaken up in glory.   Footnotes: s Jn 1:141 Pe 1:20 5 Greek Who; some manuscripts God; others Which 6 Or justified 7 Or vindicated in spirit t Lk 2:13Lk 24:4 u Ga 2:2 v 2 Th 1:10 w Ac 1:2  

1 Peter 2:4-10 English Standard Version A Living Stone and a Holy People 4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone,     a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” 7 So the honour is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected     has become the cornerstone,”[a] 8 and “A stone of stumbling,     and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Footnotes 1 Peter 2:7 Greek the head of the corner

1 Corinthians 12:12-27 English Standard Version One Body with Many Members 12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves[a] or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. 14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts,[b] yet one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honourable we bestow the greater honour, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honour to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honoured, all rejoice together. 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. Footnotes 1 Corinthians 12:13 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface 1 Corinthians 12:20 Or members; also verse 22  

Colossians 1:9-20 English Standard Version 9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; 12 giving thanks[a] to the Father, who has qualified you[b] to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. The Pre-eminence of Christ 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by[c] him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. Footnotes Colossians 1:12 Or patience, with joy giving thanks Colossians 1:12 Some manuscripts us Colossians 1:16 That is, by means of; or in  

Jonah 1:17-2:10 English Standard Version A Great Fish Swallows Jonah 17 [a] And the Lord appointed[b] a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. Jonah's Prayer 2 Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish, 2 saying, “I called out to the Lord, out of my distress,     and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried,     and you heard my voice. 3 For you cast me into the deep,     into the heart of the seas,     and the flood surrounded me; all your breakers and your waves     passed over me. 4 Then I said, ‘I am driven away     from your sight; yet I shall again look     upon your holy temple.' 5 The waters closed in over me to take my life;     the deep surrounded me; weeds were wrapped about my head. 6 To the roots of the mountains I went down,     to the land whose bars closed upon me forever. Yet you brought up my life from the pit,     O Lord my God. 7 When my life was fainting away,     I remembered the Lord, and my prayer came to you,     into your holy temple. 8 Those who pay regard to vain idols     forsake their hope of steadfast love. 9 But I with the voice of thanksgiving     will sacrifice to you; what I have vowed I will pay.     Salvation belongs to the Lord!” 10 And the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah out upon the dry land. Footnotes Jonah 1:17 Ch 2:1 in Hebrew Jonah 1:17 Or had appointed  

Luke 9:28-36 English Standard Version The Transfiguration 28 Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. 29 And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white. 30 And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, 31 who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure,[a] which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. 32 Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they became fully awake they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. 33 And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said. 34 As he was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One;[b] listen to him!” 36 And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and told no one in those days anything of what they had seen. Footnotes Luke 9:31 Greek exodus Luke 9:35 Some manuscripts my Beloved  

Genesis 45:1-15 English Standard Version Joseph Provides for His Brothers and Family 45 Then Joseph could not control himself before all those who stood by him. He cried, “Make everyone go out from me.” So no one stayed with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. 2 And he wept aloud, so that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it. 3 And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed at his presence. 4 So Joseph said to his brothers, “Come near to me, please.” And they came near. And he said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. 5 And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. 6 For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are yet five years in which there will be neither ploughing nor harvest. 7 And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. 8 So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt. 9 Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; do not tarry. 10 You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children's children, and your flocks, your herds, and all that you have. 11 There I will provide for you, for there are yet five years of famine to come, so that you and your household, and all that you have, do not come to poverty.' 12 And now your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see, that it is my mouth that speaks to you. 13 You must tell my father of all my honour in Egypt, and of all that you have seen. Hurry and bring my father down here.” 14 Then he fell upon his brother Benjamin's neck and wept, and Benjamin wept upon his neck. 15 And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them. After that his brothers talked with him.  

1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 English Standard Version Greeting 1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace. The Thessalonians' Faith and Example 2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly[a] mentioning you in our prayers, 3 remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 4 For we know, brothers[b] loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. 6 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. 8 For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything. 9 For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. Footnotes 1 Thessalonians 1:2 Or without ceasing 1 Thessalonians 1:4 Or brothers and sisters. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, the plural Greek word adelphoi (translated “brothers”) may refer either to brothers or to brothers and sisters  

Job 2:11-3:26 English Standard Version Job's Three Friends 11 Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that had come upon him, they came each from his own place, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. They made an appointment together to come to show him sympathy and comfort him. 12 And when they saw him from a distance, they did not recognize him. And they raised their voices and wept, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads toward heaven. 13 And they sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great. Job Laments His Birth 3 After this Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth. 2 And Job said: 3 “Let the day perish on which I was born,     and the night that said,     ‘A man is conceived.' 4 Let that day be darkness!     May God above not seek it,     nor light shine upon it. 5 Let gloom and deep darkness claim it.     Let clouds dwell upon it;     let the blackness of the day terrify it. 6 That night—let thick darkness seize it!     Let it not rejoice among the days of the year;     let it not come into the number of the months. 7 Behold, let that night be barren;     let no joyful cry enter it. 8 Let those curse it who curse the day,     who are ready to rouse up Leviathan. 9 Let the stars of its dawn be dark;     let it hope for light, but have none,     nor see the eyelids of the morning, 10 because it did not shut the doors of my mother's womb,     nor hide trouble from my eyes. 11 “Why did I not die at birth,     come out from the womb and expire? 12 Why did the knees receive me?     Or why the breasts, that I should nurse? 13 For then I would have lain down and been quiet;     I would have slept; then I would have been at rest, 14 with kings and counselors of the earth     who rebuilt ruins for themselves, 15 or with princes who had gold,     who filled their houses with silver. 16 Or why was I not as a hidden stillborn child,     as infants who never see the light? 17 There the wicked cease from troubling,     and there the weary are at rest. 18 There the prisoners are at ease together;     they hear not the voice of the taskmaster. 19 The small and the great are there,     and the slave is free from his master. 20 “Why is light given to him who is in misery,     and life to the bitter in soul, 21 who long for death, but it comes not,     and dig for it more than for hidden treasures, 22 who rejoice exceedingly     and are glad when they find the grave? 23 Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden,     whom God has hedged in? 24 For my sighing comes instead of[a] my bread,     and my groanings are poured out like water. 25 For the thing that I fear comes upon me,     and what I dread befalls me. 26 I am not at ease, nor am I quiet;     I have no rest, but trouble comes.” Footnotes Job 3:24 Or like; Hebrew before  

Matthew 5:1-12 English Standard Version The Sermon on the Mount 5 Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. The Beatitudes 2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. 6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. 7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. 8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons[a] of God. 10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Footnotes Matthew 5:9 Greek huioi; see Preface  

Genesis 24 English Standard Version Isaac and Rebekah 24 Now Abraham was old, well advanced in years. And the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things. 2 And Abraham said to his servant, the oldest of his household, who had charge of all that he had, “Put your hand under my thigh, 3 that I may make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and God of the earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell, 4 but will go to my country and to my kindred, and take a wife for my son Isaac.” 5 The servant said to him, “Perhaps the woman may not be willing to follow me to this land. Must I then take your son back to the land from which you came?” 6 Abraham said to him, “See to it that you do not take my son back there. 7 The Lord, the God of heaven, who took me from my father's house and from the land of my kindred, and who spoke to me and swore to me, ‘To your offspring I will give this land,' he will send his angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there. 8 But if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be free from this oath of mine; only you must not take my son back there.” 9 So the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master and swore to him concerning this matter. 10 Then the servant took ten of his master's camels and departed, taking all sorts of choice gifts from his master; and he arose and went to Mesopotamia[a] to the city of Nahor. 11 And he made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water at the time of evening, the time when women go out to draw water. 12 And he said, “O Lord, God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today and show steadfast love to my master Abraham. 13 Behold, I am standing by the spring of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. 14 Let the young woman to whom I shall say, ‘Please let down your jar that I may drink,' and who shall say, ‘Drink, and I will water your camels'—let her be the one whom you have appointed for your servant Isaac. By this[b] I shall know that you have shown steadfast love to my master.” 15 Before he had finished speaking, behold, Rebekah, who was born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, came out with her water jar on her shoulder. 16 The young woman was very attractive in appearance, a maiden[c] whom no man had known. She went down to the spring and filled her jar and came up. 17 Then the servant ran to meet her and said, “Please give me a little water to drink from your jar.” 18 She said, “Drink, my lord.” And she quickly let down her jar upon her hand and gave him a drink. 19 When she had finished giving him a drink, she said, “I will draw water for your camels also, until they have finished drinking.” 20 So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough and ran again to the well to draw water, and she drew for all his camels. 21 The man gazed at her in silence to learn whether the Lord had prospered his journey or not. 22 When the camels had finished drinking, the man took a gold ring weighing a half shekel,[d] and two bracelets for her arms weighing ten gold shekels, 23 and said, “Please tell me whose daughter you are. Is there room in your father's house for us to spend the night?” 24 She said to him, “I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor.” 25 She added, “We have plenty of both straw and fodder, and room to spend the night.” 26 The man bowed his head and worshiped the Lord 27 and said, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken his steadfast love and his faithfulness toward my master. As for me, the Lord has led me in the way to the house of my master's kinsmen.” 28 Then the young woman ran and told her mother's household about these things. 29 Rebekah had a brother whose name was Laban. Laban ran out toward the man, to the spring. 30 As soon as he saw the ring and the bracelets on his sister's arms, and heard the words of Rebekah his sister, “Thus the man spoke to me,” he went to the man. And behold, he was standing by the camels at the spring. 31 He said, “Come in, O blessed of the Lord. Why do you stand outside? For I have prepared the house and a place for the camels.” 32 So the man came to the house and unharnessed the camels, and gave straw and fodder to the camels, and there was water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him. 33 Then food was set before him to eat. But he said, “I will not eat until I have said what I have to say.” He said, “Speak on.” 34 So he said, “I am Abraham's servant. 35 The Lord has greatly blessed my master, and he has become great. He has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male servants and female servants, camels and donkeys. 36 And Sarah my master's wife bore a son to my master when she was old, and to him he has given all that he has. 37 My master made me swear, saying, ‘You shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell, 38 but you shall go to my father's house and to my clan and take a wife for my son.' 39 I said to my master, ‘Perhaps the woman will not follow me.' 40 But he said to me, ‘The Lord, before whom I have walked, will send his angel with you and prosper your way. You shall take a wife for my son from my clan and from my father's house. 41 Then you will be free from my oath, when you come to my clan. And if they will not give her to you, you will be free from my oath.' 42 “I came today to the spring and said, ‘O Lord, the God of my master Abraham, if now you are prospering the way that I go, 43 behold, I am standing by the spring of water. Let the virgin who comes out to draw water, to whom I shall say, “Please give me a little water from your jar to drink,” 44 and who will say to me, “Drink, and I will draw for your camels also,” let her be the woman whom the Lord has appointed for my master's son.' 45 “Before I had finished speaking in my heart, behold, Rebekah came out with her water jar on her shoulder, and she went down to the spring and drew water. I said to her, ‘Please let me drink.' 46 She quickly let down her jar from her shoulder and said, ‘Drink, and I will give your camels drink also.' So I drank, and she gave the camels drink also. 47 Then I asked her, ‘Whose daughter are you?' She said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bore to him.' So I put the ring on her nose and the bracelets on her arms. 48 Then I bowed my head and worshiped the Lord and blessed the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me by the right way[e] to take the daughter of my master's kinsman for his son. 49 Now then, if you are going to show steadfast love and faithfulness to my master, tell me; and if not, tell me, that I may turn to the right hand or to the left.” 50 Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, “The thing has come from the Lord; we cannot speak to you bad or good. 51 Behold, Rebekah is before you; take her and go, and let her be the wife of your master's son, as the Lord has spoken.” 52 When Abraham's servant heard their words, he bowed himself to the earth before the Lord. 53 And the servant brought out jewelry of silver and of gold, and garments, and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave to her brother and to her mother costly ornaments. 54 And he and the men who were with him ate and drank, and they spent the night there. When they arose in the morning, he said, “Send me away to my master.” 55 Her brother and her mother said, “Let the young woman remain with us a while, at least ten days; after that she may go.” 56 But he said to them, “Do not delay me, since the Lord has prospered my way. Send me away that I may go to my master.” 57 They said, “Let us call the young woman and ask her.” 58 And they called Rebekah and said to her, “Will you go with this man?” She said, “I will go.” 59 So they sent away Rebekah their sister and her nurse, and Abraham's servant and his men. 60 And they blessed Rebekah and said to her, “Our sister, may you become     thousands of ten thousands, and may your offspring possess     the gate of those who hate him!”[f] 61 Then Rebekah and her young women arose and rode on the camels and followed the man. Thus the servant took Rebekah and went his way. 62 Now Isaac had returned from Beer-lahai-roi and was dwelling in the Negeb. 63 And Isaac went out to meditate in the field toward evening. And he lifted up his eyes and saw, and behold, there were camels coming. 64 And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she dismounted from the camel 65 and said to the servant, “Who is that man, walking in the field to meet us?” The servant said, “It is my master.” So she took her veil and covered herself. 66 And the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done. 67 Then Isaac brought her into the tent of Sarah his mother and took Rebekah, and she became his wife, and he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother's death. Footnotes Genesis 24:10 Hebrew Aram-naharaim Genesis 24:14 Or By her Genesis 24:16 Or a woman of marriageable age Genesis 24:22 A shekel was about 2/5 ounce or 11 grams Genesis 24:48 Or faithfully Genesis 24:60 Or hate them  

John 17:20-26 English Standard Version 20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. 24 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. 26 I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”  

John 17:6-19 English Standard Version 6 “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7 Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. 8 For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. 9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.[a] 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them[b] in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself,[c] that they also may be sanctified[d] in truth. Footnotes John 17:15 Or from evil John 17:17 Greek Set them apart (for holy service to God) John 17:19 Or I sanctify myself; or I set myself apart (for holy service to God) John 17:19 Greek may be set apart (for holy service to God)  

John 17:1-5 English Standard Version The High Priestly Prayer 17 When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, 2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.  

Colossians 4:2-6 English Standard Version Further Instructions 2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. 3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— 4 that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. 5 Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. 6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.  

Genesis 9:8-17 English Standard Version 8 Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, 9 “Behold, I establish my covenant with you and your offspring after you, 10 and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the livestock, and every beast of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark; it is for every beast of the earth. 11 I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.” 12 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: 13 I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16 When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” 17 God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.”