Simon reads the Bible

Proverbs 31 NLT read aloud by Simon MacFarlane. 1 The sayings of King Lemuel contain this message, which his mother taught him. 2 O my son, O son of my womb,    O son of my vows,3 do not waste your strength on women,    on those who ruin kings. 4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, to guzzle wine.    Rulers should not crave alcohol.5 For if they drink, they may forget the law    and not give justice to the oppressed.6 Alcohol is for the dying,    and wine for those in bitter distress.7 Let them drink to forget their poverty    and remember their troubles no more. 8 Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves;    ensure justice for those being crushed.9 Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless,    and see that they get justice. 10 Who can find a virtuous and capable wife?    She is more precious than rubies.11 Her husband can trust her,    and she will greatly enrich his life.12 She brings him good, not harm,    all the days of her life. 13 She finds wool and flax    and busily spins it.14 She is like a merchant's ship,    bringing her food from afar.15 She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household    and plan the day's work for her servant girls. 16 She goes to inspect a field and buys it;    with her earnings she plants a vineyard.17 She is energetic and strong,    a hard worker.18 She makes sure her dealings are profitable;    her lamp burns late into the night. 19 Her hands are busy spinning thread,    her fingers twisting fiber.20 She extends a helping hand to the poor    and opens her arms to the needy.21 She has no fear of winter for her household,    for everyone has warm clothes. 22 She makes her own bedspreads.    She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns.23 Her husband is well known at the city gates,    where he sits with the other civic leaders.24 She makes belted linen garments    and sashes to sell to the merchants. 25 She is clothed with strength and dignity,    and she laughs without fear of the future.26 When she speaks, her words are wise,    and she gives instructions with kindness.27 She carefully watches everything in her household    and suffers nothing from laziness. 28 Her children stand and bless her.    Her husband praises her:29 “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world,    but you surpass them all!” 30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last;    but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.31 Reward her for all she has done.    Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.

Proverbs 30 NLT read aloud by Simon MacFarlane. 1 The sayings of Agur son of Jakeh contain this message. I am weary, O God;    I am weary and worn out, O God.2 I am too stupid to be human,    and I lack common sense.3 I have not mastered human wisdom,    nor do I know the Holy One. 4 Who but God goes up to heaven and comes back down?    Who holds the wind in his fists?Who wraps up the oceans in his cloak?    Who has created the whole wide world?What is his name—and his son's name?    Tell me if you know! 5 Every word of God proves true.    He is a shield to all who come to him for protection.6 Do not add to his words,    or he may rebuke you and expose you as a liar. 7 O God, I beg two favors from you;    let me have them before I die.8 First, help me never to tell a lie.    Second, give me neither poverty nor riches!    Give me just enough to satisfy my needs.9 For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?”    And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God's holy name. 10 Never slander a worker to the employer,    or the person will curse you, and you will pay for it. 11 Some people curse their father    and do not thank their mother.12 They are pure in their own eyes,    but they are filthy and unwashed.13 They look proudly around,    casting disdainful glances.14 They have teeth like swords    and fangs like knives.They devour the poor from the earth    and the needy from among humanity. 15 The leech has two suckers    that cry out, “More, more!” There are three things that are never satisfied—    no, four that never say, “Enough!”:16 the grave,    the barren womb,    the thirsty desert,    the blazing fire. 17 The eye that mocks a father    and despises a mother's instructionswill be plucked out by ravens of the valley    and eaten by vultures. 18 There are three things that amaze me—    no, four things that I don't understand:19 how an eagle glides through the sky,    how a snake slithers on a rock,    how a ship navigates the ocean,    how a man loves a woman. 20 An adulterous woman consumes a man,    then wipes her mouth and says, “What's wrong with that?” 21 There are three things that make the earth tremble—    no, four it cannot endure:22 a slave who becomes a king,    an overbearing fool who prospers,23     a bitter woman who finally gets a husband,    a servant girl who supplants her mistress. 24 There are four things on earth that are small but unusually wise:25 Ants—they aren't strong,    but they store up food all summer.26 Hyraxes—they aren't powerful,    but they make their homes among the rocks.27 Locusts—they have no king,    but they march in formation.28 Lizards—they are easy to catch,    but they are found even in kings' palaces. 29 There are three things that walk with stately stride—    no, four that strut about:30 the lion, king of animals, who won't turn aside for anything,31     the strutting rooster,    the male goat,    a king as he leads his army. 32 If you have been a fool by being proud or plotting evil,    cover your mouth in shame. 33 As the beating of cream yields butter    and striking the nose causes bleeding,    so stirring up anger causes quarrels.

Proverbs 29 NLT read aloud by Simon MacFarlane. 1 Whoever stubbornly refuses to accept criticism    will suddenly be destroyed beyond recovery. 2 When the godly are in authority, the people rejoice.    But when the wicked are in power, they groan. 3 The man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father,    but if he hangs around with prostitutes, his wealth is wasted. 4 A just king gives stability to his nation,    but one who demands bribes destroys it. 5 To flatter friends    is to lay a trap for their feet. 6 Evil people are trapped by sin,    but the righteous escape, shouting for joy. 7 The godly care about the rights of the poor;    the wicked don't care at all. 8 Mockers can get a whole town agitated,    but the wise will calm anger. 9 If a wise person takes a fool to court,    there will be ranting and ridicule but no satisfaction. 10 The bloodthirsty hate blameless people,    but the upright seek to help them. 11 Fools vent their anger,    but the wise quietly hold it back. 12 If a ruler pays attention to liars,    all his advisers will be wicked. 13 The poor and the oppressor have this in common—    the Lord gives sight to the eyes of both. 14 If a king judges the poor fairly,    his throne will last forever. 15 To discipline a child produces wisdom,    but a mother is disgraced by an undisciplined child. 16 When the wicked are in authority, sin flourishes,    but the godly will live to see their downfall. 17 Discipline your children, and they will give you peace of mind    and will make your heart glad. 18 When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild.    But whoever obeys the law is joyful. 19 Words alone will not discipline a servant;    the words may be understood, but they are not heeded. 20 There is more hope for a fool    than for someone who speaks without thinking. 21 A servant pampered from childhood    will become a rebel. 22 An angry person starts fights;    a hot-tempered person commits all kinds of sin. 23 Pride ends in humiliation,    while humility brings honor. 24 If you assist a thief, you only hurt yourself.    You are sworn to tell the truth, but you dare not testify. 25 Fearing people is a dangerous trap,    but trusting the Lord means safety. 26 Many seek the ruler's favor,    but justice comes from the Lord. 27 The righteous despise the unjust;    the wicked despise the godly.

Proverbs 27 NLT read aloud by Simon MacFarlane. 1 Don't brag about tomorrow,    since you don't know what the day will bring. 2 Let someone else praise you, not your own mouth—    a stranger, not your own lips. 3 A stone is heavy and sand is weighty,    but the resentment caused by a fool is even heavier. 4 Anger is cruel, and wrath is like a flood,    but jealousy is even more dangerous. 5 An open rebuke    is better than hidden love! 6 Wounds from a sincere friend    are better than many kisses from an enemy. 7 A person who is full refuses honey,    but even bitter food tastes sweet to the hungry. 8 A person who strays from home    is like a bird that strays from its nest. 9 The heartfelt counsel of a friend    is as sweet as perfume and incense. 10 Never abandon a friend—    either yours or your father's.When disaster strikes, you won't have to ask your brother for assistance.    It's better to go to a neighbor than to a brother who lives far away. 11 Be wise, my child, and make my heart glad.    Then I will be able to answer my critics. 12 A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions.    The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences. 13 Get security from someone who guarantees a stranger's debt.    Get a deposit if he does it for foreigners. 14 A loud and cheerful greeting early in the morning    will be taken as a curse! 15 A quarrelsome wife is as annoying    as constant dripping on a rainy day.16 Stopping her complaints is like trying to stop the wind    or trying to hold something with greased hands. 17 As iron sharpens iron,    so a friend sharpens a friend. 18 As workers who tend a fig tree are allowed to eat the fruit,    so workers who protect their employer's interests will be rewarded. 19 As a face is reflected in water,    so the heart reflects the real person. 20 Just as Death and Destruction are never satisfied,    so human desire is never satisfied. 21 Fire tests the purity of silver and gold,    but a person is tested by being praised. 22 You cannot separate fools from their foolishness,    even though you grind them like grain with mortar and pestle. 23 Know the state of your flocks,    and put your heart into caring for your herds,24 for riches don't last forever,    and the crown might not be passed to the next generation.25 After the hay is harvested and the new crop appears    and the mountain grasses are gathered in,26 your sheep will provide wool for clothing,    and your goats will provide the price of a field.27 And you will have enough goats' milk for yourself,    your family, and your servant girls.

Proverbs 28 NLT read aloud by Simon MacFarlane. 1 The wicked run away when no one is chasing them,    but the godly are as bold as lions. 2 When there is moral rot within a nation, its government topples easily.    But wise and knowledgeable leaders bring stability. 3 A poor person who oppresses the poor    is like a pounding rain that destroys the crops. 4 To reject the law is to praise the wicked;    to obey the law is to fight them. 5 Evil people don't understand justice,    but those who follow the Lord understand completely. 6 Better to be poor and honest    than to be dishonest and rich. 7 Young people who obey the law are wise;    those with wild friends bring shame to their parents. 8 Income from charging high interest rates    will end up in the pocket of someone who is kind to the poor. 9 God detests the prayers    of a person who ignores the law. 10 Those who lead good people along an evil path    will fall into their own trap,    but the honest will inherit good things. 11 Rich people may think they are wise,    but a poor person with discernment can see right through them. 12 When the godly succeed, everyone is glad.    When the wicked take charge, people go into hiding. 13 People who conceal their sins will not prosper,    but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy. 14 Blessed are those who fear to do wrong,    but the stubborn are headed for serious trouble. 15 A wicked ruler is as dangerous to the poor    as a roaring lion or an attacking bear. 16 A ruler with no understanding will oppress his people,    but one who hates corruption will have a long life. 17 A murderer's tormented conscience will drive him into the grave.    Don't protect him! 18 The blameless will be rescued from harm,    but the crooked will be suddenly destroyed. 19 A hard worker has plenty of food,    but a person who chases fantasies ends up in poverty. 20 The trustworthy person will get a rich reward,    but a person who wants quick riches will get into trouble. 21 Showing partiality is never good,    yet some will do wrong for a mere piece of bread. 22 Greedy people try to get rich quick    but don't realize they're headed for poverty. 23 In the end, people appreciate honest criticism    far more than flattery. 24 Anyone who steals from his father and mother    and says, “What's wrong with that?”    is no better than a murderer. 25 Greed causes fighting;    trusting the Lord leads to prosperity. 26 Those who trust their own insight are foolish,    but anyone who walks in wisdom is safe. 27 Whoever gives to the poor will lack nothing,    but those who close their eyes to poverty will be cursed. 28 When the wicked take charge, people go into hiding.    When the wicked meet disaster, the godly flourish.

Proverbs 26 NLT read aloud by Simon MacFarlane. 1 Honor is no more associated with fools    than snow with summer or rain with harvest. 2 Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow,    an undeserved curse will not land on its intended victim. 3 Guide a horse with a whip, a donkey with a bridle,    and a fool with a rod to his back! 4 Don't answer the foolish arguments of fools,    or you will become as foolish as they are. 5 Be sure to answer the foolish arguments of fools,    or they will become wise in their own estimation. 6 Trusting a fool to convey a message    is like cutting off one's feet or drinking poison! 7 A proverb in the mouth of a fool    is as useless as a paralyzed leg. 8 Honoring a fool    is as foolish as tying a stone to a slingshot. 9 A proverb in the mouth of a fool    is like a thorny branch brandished by a drunk. 10 An employer who hires a fool or a bystander    is like an archer who shoots at random. 11 As a dog returns to its vomit,    so a fool repeats his foolishness. 12 There is more hope for fools    than for people who think they are wise. 13 The lazy person claims, “There's a lion on the road!    Yes, I'm sure there's a lion out there!” 14 As a door swings back and forth on its hinges,    so the lazy person turns over in bed. 15 Lazy people take food in their hand    but don't even lift it to their mouth. 16 Lazy people consider themselves smarter    than seven wise counselors. 17 Interfering in someone else's argument    is as foolish as yanking a dog's ears. 18 Just as damaging    as a madman shooting a deadly weapon19 is someone who lies to a friend    and then says, “I was only joking.” 20 Fire goes out without wood,    and quarrels disappear when gossip stops. 21 A quarrelsome person starts fights    as easily as hot embers light charcoal or fire lights wood. 22 Rumors are dainty morsels    that sink deep into one's heart. 23 Smooth words may hide a wicked heart,    just as a pretty glaze covers a clay pot. 24 People may cover their hatred with pleasant words,    but they're deceiving you.25 They pretend to be kind, but don't believe them.    Their hearts are full of many evils.26 While their hatred may be concealed by trickery,    their wrongdoing will be exposed in public. 27 If you set a trap for others,    you will get caught in it yourself.If you roll a boulder down on others,    it will crush you instead. 28 A lying tongue hates its victims,    and flattering words cause ruin.

Proverbs 25 NLT read aloud by Simon MacFarlane. 1 These are more proverbs of Solomon, collected by the advisers of King Hezekiah of Judah. 2 It is God's privilege to conceal things    and the king's privilege to discover them. 3 No one can comprehend the height of heaven, the depth of the earth,    or all that goes on in the king's mind! 4 Remove the impurities from silver,    and the sterling will be ready for the silversmith.5 Remove the wicked from the king's court,    and his reign will be made secure by justice. 6 Don't demand an audience with the king    or push for a place among the great.7 It's better to wait for an invitation to the head table    than to be sent away in public disgrace. Just because you've seen something,8     don't be in a hurry to go to court.For what will you do in the end    if your neighbor deals you a shameful defeat? 9 When arguing with your neighbor,    don't betray another person's secret.10 Others may accuse you of gossip,    and you will never regain your good reputation. 11 Timely advice is lovely,    like golden apples in a silver basket. 12 To one who listens, valid criticism    is like a gold earring or other gold jewelry. 13 Trustworthy messengers refresh like snow in summer.    They revive the spirit of their employer. 14 A person who promises a gift but doesn't give it    is like clouds and wind that bring no rain. 15 Patience can persuade a prince,    and soft speech can break bones. 16 Do you like honey?    Don't eat too much, or it will make you sick! 17 Don't visit your neighbors too often,    or you will wear out your welcome. 18 Telling lies about others    is as harmful as hitting them with an ax,wounding them with a sword,    or shooting them with a sharp arrow. 19 Putting confidence in an unreliable person in times of trouble    is like chewing with a broken tooth or walking on a lame foot. 20 Singing cheerful songs to a person with a heavy heart    is like taking someone's coat in cold weather    or pouring vinegar in a wound. 21 If your enemies are hungry, give them food to eat.    If they are thirsty, give them water to drink.22 You will heap burning coals of shame on their heads,    and the Lord will reward you. 23 As surely as a north wind brings rain,    so a gossiping tongue causes anger! 24 It's better to live alone in the corner of an attic    than with a quarrelsome wife in a lovely home. 25 Good news from far away    is like cold water to the thirsty. 26 If the godly give in to the wicked,    it's like polluting a fountain or muddying a spring. 27 It's not good to eat too much honey,    and it's not good to seek honors for yourself. 28 A person without self-control    is like a city with broken-down walls.

Proverbs 24 NLT read aloud by Simon MacFarlane. 1 Don't envy evil people    or desire their company.2 For their hearts plot violence,    and their words always stir up trouble. 3 A house is built by wisdom    and becomes strong through good sense.4 Through knowledge its rooms are filled    with all sorts of precious riches and valuables. 5 The wise are mightier than the strong,    and those with knowledge grow stronger and stronger.6 So don't go to war without wise guidance;    victory depends on having many advisers. 7 Wisdom is too lofty for fools.    Among leaders at the city gate, they have nothing to say. 8 A person who plans evil    will get a reputation as a troublemaker.9 The schemes of a fool are sinful;    everyone detests a mocker. 10 If you fail under pressure,    your strength is too small. 11 Rescue those who are unjustly sentenced to die;    save them as they stagger to their death.12 Don't excuse yourself by saying, “Look, we didn't know.”    For God understands all hearts, and he sees you.He who guards your soul knows you knew.    He will repay all people as their actions deserve. 13 My child, eat honey, for it is good,    and the honeycomb is sweet to the taste.14 In the same way, wisdom is sweet to your soul.    If you find it, you will have a bright future,    and your hopes will not be cut short. 15 Don't wait in ambush at the home of the godly,    and don't raid the house where the godly live.16 The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again.    But one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked. 17 Don't rejoice when your enemies fall;    don't be happy when they stumble.18 For the Lord will be displeased with you    and will turn his anger away from them. 19 Don't fret because of evildoers;    don't envy the wicked.20 For evil people have no future;    the light of the wicked will be snuffed out. 21 My child, fear the Lord and the king.Don't associate with rebels,22     for disaster will hit them suddenly.Who knows what punishment will come    from the Lord and the king? 23 Here are some further sayings of the wise: It is wrong to show favoritism when passing judgment.24 A judge who says to the wicked, “You are innocent,”    will be cursed by many people and denounced by the nations.25 But it will go well for those who convict the guilty;    rich blessings will be showered on them. 26 An honest answer    is like a kiss of friendship. 27 Do your planning and prepare your fields    before building your house. 28 Don't testify against your neighbors without cause;    don't lie about them.29 And don't say, “Now I can pay them back for what they've done to me!    I'll get even with them!” 30 I walked by the field of a lazy person,    the vineyard of one with no common sense.31 I saw that it was overgrown with nettles.    It was covered with weeds,    and its walls were broken down.32 Then, as I looked and thought about it,    I learned this lesson:33 A little extra sleep, a little more slumber,    a little folding of the hands to rest—34 then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit;    scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.

Proverbs 23 NLT read aloud by Simon MacFarlane. 1 While dining with a ruler,    pay attention to what is put before you.2 If you are a big eater,    put a knife to your throat;3 don't desire all the delicacies,    for he might be trying to trick you. 4 Don't wear yourself out trying to get rich.    Be wise enough to know when to quit.5 In the blink of an eye wealth disappears,    for it will sprout wings    and fly away like an eagle. 6 Don't eat with people who are stingy;    don't desire their delicacies.7 They are always thinking about how much it costs.    “Eat and drink,” they say, but they don't mean it.8 You will throw up what little you've eaten,    and your compliments will be wasted. 9 Don't waste your breath on fools,    for they will despise the wisest advice. 10 Don't cheat your neighbor by moving the ancient boundary markers;    don't take the land of defenseless orphans.11 For their Redeemer is strong;    he himself will bring their charges against you. 12 Commit yourself to instruction;    listen carefully to words of knowledge. 13 Don't fail to discipline your children.    The rod of punishment won't kill them.14 Physical discipline    may well save them from death. 15 My child, if your heart is wise,    my own heart will rejoice!16 Everything in me will celebrate    when you speak what is right. 17 Don't envy sinners,    but always continue to fear the Lord.18 You will be rewarded for this;    your hope will not be disappointed. 19 My child, listen and be wise:    Keep your heart on the right course.20 Do not carouse with drunkards    or feast with gluttons,21 for they are on their way to poverty,    and too much sleep clothes them in rags. 22 Listen to your father, who gave you life,    and don't despise your mother when she is old.23 Get the truth and never sell it;    also get wisdom, discipline, and good judgment.24 The father of godly children has cause for joy.    What a pleasure to have children who are wise.25 So give your father and mother joy!    May she who gave you birth be happy. 26 O my son, give me your heart.    May your eyes take delight in following my ways.27 A prostitute is a dangerous trap;    a promiscuous woman is as dangerous as falling into a narrow well.28 She hides and waits like a robber,    eager to make more men unfaithful. 29 Who has anguish? Who has sorrow?    Who is always fighting? Who is always complaining?    Who has unnecessary bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?30 It is the one who spends long hours in the taverns,    trying out new drinks.31 Don't gaze at the wine, seeing how red it is,    how it sparkles in the cup, how smoothly it goes down.32 For in the end it bites like a poisonous snake;    it stings like a viper.33 You will see hallucinations,    and you will say crazy things.34 You will stagger like a sailor tossed at sea,    clinging to a swaying mast.35 And you will say, “They hit me, but I didn't feel it.    I didn't even know it when they beat me up.When will I wake up    so I can look for another drink?”

Proverbs 22 NLT read aloud by Simon MacFarlane. 1 Choose a good reputation over great riches;    being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold. 2 The rich and poor have this in common:    The Lord made them both. 3 A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions.    The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences. 4 True humility and fear of the Lord    lead to riches, honor, and long life. 5 Corrupt people walk a thorny, treacherous road;    whoever values life will avoid it. 6 Direct your children onto the right path,    and when they are older, they will not leave it. 7 Just as the rich rule the poor,    so the borrower is servant to the lender. 8 Those who plant injustice will harvest disaster,    and their reign of terror will come to an end. 9 Blessed are those who are generous,    because they feed the poor. 10 Throw out the mocker, and fighting goes, too.    Quarrels and insults will disappear. 11 Whoever loves a pure heart and gracious speech    will have the king as a friend. 12 The Lord preserves those with knowledge,    but he ruins the plans of the treacherous. 13 The lazy person claims, “There's a lion out there!    If I go outside, I might be killed!” 14 The mouth of an immoral woman is a dangerous trap;    those who make the Lord angry will fall into it. 15 A youngster's heart is filled with foolishness,    but physical discipline will drive it far away. 16 A person who gets ahead by oppressing the poor    or by showering gifts on the rich will end in poverty. 17 Listen to the words of the wise;    apply your heart to my instruction.18 For it is good to keep these sayings in your heart    and always ready on your lips.19 I am teaching you today—yes, you—    so you will trust in the Lord.20 I have written thirty sayings for you,    filled with advice and knowledge.21 In this way, you may know the truth    and take an accurate report to those who sent you. 22 Don't rob the poor just because you can,    or exploit the needy in court.23 For the Lord is their defender.    He will ruin anyone who ruins them. 24 Don't befriend angry people    or associate with hot-tempered people,25 or you will learn to be like them    and endanger your soul. 26 Don't agree to guarantee another person's debt    or put up security for someone else.27 If you can't pay it,    even your bed will be snatched from under you. 28 Don't cheat your neighbor by moving the ancient boundary markers    set up by previous generations. 29 Do you see any truly competent workers?    They will serve kings    rather than working for ordinary people.

Proverbs 21 NLT read aloud by Simon MacFarlane. 1 The king's heart is like a stream of water directed by the Lord;    he guides it wherever he pleases. 2 People may be right in their own eyes,    but the Lord examines their heart. 3 The Lord is more pleased when we do what is right and just    than when we offer him sacrifices. 4 Haughty eyes, a proud heart,    and evil actions are all sin. 5 Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity,    but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty. 6 Wealth created by a lying tongue    is a vanishing mist and a deadly trap. 7 The violence of the wicked sweeps them away,    because they refuse to do what is just. 8 The guilty walk a crooked path;    the innocent travel a straight road. 9 It's better to live alone in the corner of an attic    than with a quarrelsome wife in a lovely home. 10 Evil people desire evil;    their neighbors get no mercy from them. 11 If you punish a mocker, the simpleminded become wise;    if you instruct the wise, they will be all the wiser. 12 The Righteous One knows what is going on in the homes of the wicked;    he will bring disaster on them. 13 Those who shut their ears to the cries of the poor    will be ignored in their own time of need. 14 A secret gift calms anger;    a bribe under the table pacifies fury. 15 Justice is a joy to the godly,    but it terrifies evildoers. 16 The person who strays from common sense    will end up in the company of the dead. 17 Those who love pleasure become poor;    those who love wine and luxury will never be rich. 18 The wicked are punished in place of the godly,    and traitors in place of the honest. 19 It's better to live alone in the desert    than with a quarrelsome, complaining wife. 20 The wise have wealth and luxury,    but fools spend whatever they get. 21 Whoever pursues righteousness and unfailing love    will find life, righteousness, and honor. 22 The wise conquer the city of the strong    and level the fortress in which they trust. 23 Watch your tongue and keep your mouth shut,    and you will stay out of trouble. 24 Mockers are proud and haughty;    they act with boundless arrogance. 25 Despite their desires, the lazy will come to ruin,    for their hands refuse to work. 26 Some people are always greedy for more,    but the godly love to give! 27 The sacrifice of an evil person is detestable,    especially when it is offered with wrong motives. 28 A false witness will be cut off,    but a credible witness will be allowed to speak. 29 The wicked bluff their way through,    but the virtuous think before they act. 30 No human wisdom or understanding or plan    can stand against the Lord. 31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle,    but the victory belongs to the Lord.

Proverbs 20 (NLT) read aloud by Simon MacFarlane. 1 Wine produces mockers; alcohol leads to brawls.    Those led astray by drink cannot be wise. 2 The king's fury is like a lion's roar;    to rouse his anger is to risk your life. 3 Avoiding a fight is a mark of honor;    only fools insist on quarreling. 4 Those too lazy to plow in the right season    will have no food at the harvest. 5 Though good advice lies deep within the heart,    a person with understanding will draw it out. 6 Many will say they are loyal friends,    but who can find one who is truly reliable? 7 The godly walk with integrity;    blessed are their children who follow them. 8 When a king sits in judgment, he weighs all the evidence,    distinguishing the bad from the good. 9 Who can say, “I have cleansed my heart;    I am pure and free from sin”? 10 False weights and unequal measures—    the Lord detests double standards of every kind. 11 Even children are known by the way they act,    whether their conduct is pure, and whether it is right. 12 Ears to hear and eyes to see—    both are gifts from the Lord. 13 If you love sleep, you will end in poverty.    Keep your eyes open, and there will be plenty to eat! 14 The buyer haggles over the price, saying, “It's worthless,”    then brags about getting a bargain! 15 Wise words are more valuable    than much gold and many rubies. 16 Get security from someone who guarantees a stranger's debt.    Get a deposit if he does it for foreigners. 17 Stolen bread tastes sweet,    but it turns to gravel in the mouth. 18 Plans succeed through good counsel;    don't go to war without wise advice. 19 A gossip goes around telling secrets,    so don't hang around with chatterers. 20 If you insult your father or mother,    your light will be snuffed out in total darkness. 21 An inheritance obtained too early in life    is not a blessing in the end. 22 Don't say, “I will get even for this wrong.”    Wait for the Lord to handle the matter. 23 The Lord detests double standards;    he is not pleased by dishonest scales. 24 The Lord directs our steps,    so why try to understand everything along the way? 25 Don't trap yourself by making a rash promise to God    and only later counting the cost. 26 A wise king scatters the wicked like wheat,    then runs his threshing wheel over them. 27 The Lord's light penetrates the human spirit,    exposing every hidden motive. 28 Unfailing love and faithfulness protect the king;    his throne is made secure through love. 29 The glory of the young is their strength;    the gray hair of experience is the splendor of the old. 30 Physical punishment cleanses away evil;    such discipline purifies the heart.

Proverbs 19 NLT read aloud by Simon MacFarlane. 1 Better to be poor and honest    than to be dishonest and a fool. 2 Enthusiasm without knowledge is no good;    haste makes mistakes. 3 People ruin their lives by their own foolishness    and then are angry at the Lord. 4 Wealth makes many “friends”;    poverty drives them all away. 5 A false witness will not go unpunished,    nor will a liar escape. 6 Many seek favors from a ruler;    everyone is the friend of a person who gives gifts! 7 The relatives of the poor despise them;    how much more will their friends avoid them!Though the poor plead with them,    their friends are gone. 8 To acquire wisdom is to love yourself;    people who cherish understanding will prosper. 9 A false witness will not go unpunished,    and a liar will be destroyed. 10 It isn't right for a fool to live in luxury    or for a slave to rule over princes! 11 Sensible people control their temper;    they earn respect by overlooking wrongs. 12 The king's anger is like a lion's roar,    but his favor is like dew on the grass. 13 A foolish child is a calamity to a father;    a quarrelsome wife is as annoying as constant dripping. 14 Fathers can give their sons an inheritance of houses and wealth,    but only the Lord can give an understanding wife. 15 Lazy people sleep soundly,    but idleness leaves them hungry. 16 Keep the commandments and keep your life;    despising them leads to death. 17 If you help the poor, you are lending to the Lord—    and he will repay you! 18 Discipline your children while there is hope.    Otherwise you will ruin their lives. 19 Hot-tempered people must pay the penalty.    If you rescue them once, you will have to do it again. 20 Get all the advice and instruction you can,    so you will be wise the rest of your life. 21 You can make many plans,    but the Lord's purpose will prevail. 22 Loyalty makes a person attractive.    It is better to be poor than dishonest. 23 Fear of the Lord leads to life,    bringing security and protection from harm. 24 Lazy people take food in their hand    but don't even lift it to their mouth. 25 If you punish a mocker, the simpleminded will learn a lesson;    if you correct the wise, they will be all the wiser. 26 Children who mistreat their father or chase away their mother    are an embarrassment and a public disgrace. 27 If you stop listening to instruction, my child,    you will turn your back on knowledge. 28 A corrupt witness makes a mockery of justice;    the mouth of the wicked gulps down evil. 29 Punishment is made for mockers,    and the backs of fools are made to be beaten.

Proverbs 18 NLT read aloud by Simon MacFarlane. 1 Unfriendly people care only about themselves;    they lash out at common sense. 2 Fools have no interest in understanding;    they only want to air their own opinions. 3 Doing wrong leads to disgrace,    and scandalous behavior brings contempt. 4 Wise words are like deep waters;    wisdom flows from the wise like a bubbling brook. 5 It is not right to acquit the guilty    or deny justice to the innocent. 6 Fools' words get them into constant quarrels;    they are asking for a beating. 7 The mouths of fools are their ruin;    they trap themselves with their lips. 8 Rumors are dainty morsels    that sink deep into one's heart. 9 A lazy person is as bad as    someone who destroys things. 10 The name of the Lord is a strong fortress;    the godly run to him and are safe. 11 The rich think of their wealth as a strong defense;    they imagine it to be a high wall of safety. 12 Haughtiness goes before destruction;    humility precedes honor. 13 Spouting off before listening to the facts    is both shameful and foolish. 14 The human spirit can endure a sick body,    but who can bear a crushed spirit? 15 Intelligent people are always ready to learn.    Their ears are open for knowledge. 16 Giving a gift can open doors;    it gives access to important people! 17 The first to speak in court sounds right—    until the cross-examination begins. 18 Flipping a coin can end arguments;    it settles disputes between powerful opponents. 19 An offended friend is harder to win back than a fortified city.    Arguments separate friends like a gate locked with bars. 20 Wise words satisfy like a good meal;    the right words bring satisfaction. 21 The tongue can bring death or life;    those who love to talk will reap the consequences. 22 The man who finds a wife finds a treasure,    and he receives favor from the Lord. 23 The poor plead for mercy;    the rich answer with insults. 24 There are “friends” who destroy each other,    but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.

Proverbs 17 NLT read aloud by Simon MacFarlane. 1 Better a dry crust eaten in peace    than a house filled with feasting—and conflict. 2 A wise servant will rule over the master's disgraceful son    and will share the inheritance of the master's children. 3 Fire tests the purity of silver and gold,    but the Lord tests the heart. 4 Wrongdoers eagerly listen to gossip;    liars pay close attention to slander. 5 Those who mock the poor insult their Maker;    those who rejoice at the misfortune of others will be punished. 6 Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged;    parents are the pride of their children. 7 Eloquent words are not fitting for a fool;    even less are lies fitting for a ruler. 8 A bribe is like a lucky charm;    whoever gives one will prosper! 9 Love prospers when a fault is forgiven,    but dwelling on it separates close friends. 10 A single rebuke does more for a person of understanding    than a hundred lashes on the back of a fool. 11 Evil people are eager for rebellion,    but they will be severely punished. 12 It is safer to meet a bear robbed of her cubs    than to confront a fool caught in foolishness. 13 If you repay good with evil,    evil will never leave your house. 14 Starting a quarrel is like opening a floodgate,    so stop before a dispute breaks out. 15 Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent—    both are detestable to the Lord. 16 It is senseless to pay to educate a fool,    since he has no heart for learning. 17 A friend is always loyal,    and a brother is born to help in time of need. 18 It's poor judgment to guarantee another person's debt    or put up security for a friend. 19 Anyone who loves to quarrel loves sin;    anyone who trusts in high walls invites disaster. 20 The crooked heart will not prosper;    the lying tongue tumbles into trouble. 21 It is painful to be the parent of a fool;    there is no joy for the father of a rebel. 22 A cheerful heart is good medicine,    but a broken spirit saps a person's strength. 23 The wicked take secret bribes    to pervert the course of justice. 24 Sensible people keep their eyes glued on wisdom,    but a fool's eyes wander to the ends of the earth. 25 Foolish children bring grief to their father    and bitterness to the one who gave them birth. 26 It is wrong to punish the godly for being good    or to flog leaders for being honest. 27 A truly wise person uses few words;    a person with understanding is even-tempered. 28 Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent;    with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent.

Proverbs 16 NLT read aloud by Simon MacFarlane. 1 We can make our own plans,    but the Lord gives the right answer. 2 People may be pure in their own eyes,    but the Lord examines their motives. 3 Commit your actions to the Lord,    and your plans will succeed. 4 The Lord has made everything for his own purposes,    even the wicked for a day of disaster. 5 The Lord detests the proud;    they will surely be punished. 6 Unfailing love and faithfulness make atonement for sin.    By fearing the Lord, people avoid evil. 7 When people's lives please the Lord,    even their enemies are at peace with them. 8 Better to have little, with godliness,    than to be rich and dishonest. 9 We can make our plans,    but the Lord determines our steps. 10 The king speaks with divine wisdom;    he must never judge unfairly. 11 The Lord demands accurate scales and balances;    he sets the standards for fairness. 12 A king detests wrongdoing,    for his rule is built on justice. 13 The king is pleased with words from righteous lips;    he loves those who speak honestly. 14 The anger of the king is a deadly threat;    the wise will try to appease it. 15 When the king smiles, there is life;    his favor refreshes like a spring rain. 16 How much better to get wisdom than gold,    and good judgment than silver! 17 The path of the virtuous leads away from evil;    whoever follows that path is safe. 18 Pride goes before destruction,    and haughtiness before a fall. 19 Better to live humbly with the poor    than to share plunder with the proud. 20 Those who listen to instruction will prosper;    those who trust the Lord will be joyful. 21 The wise are known for their understanding,    and pleasant words are persuasive. 22 Discretion is a life-giving fountain to those who possess it,    but discipline is wasted on fools. 23 From a wise mind comes wise speech;    the words of the wise are persuasive. 24 Kind words are like honey—    sweet to the soul and healthy for the body. 25 There is a path before each person that seems right,    but it ends in death. 26 It is good for workers to have an appetite;    an empty stomach drives them on. 27 Scoundrels create trouble;    their words are a destructive blaze. 28 A troublemaker plants seeds of strife;    gossip separates the best of friends. 29 Violent people mislead their companions,    leading them down a harmful path. 30 With narrowed eyes, people plot evil;    with a smirk, they plan their mischief. 31 Gray hair is a crown of glory;    it is gained by living a godly life. 32 Better to be patient than powerful;    better to have self-control than to conquer a city. 33 We may throw the dice,    but the Lord determines how they fall.

Proverbs 15 NLT read aloud by Simon MacFarlane. 1 A gentle answer deflects anger,    but harsh words make tempers flare. 2 The tongue of the wise makes knowledge appealing,    but the mouth of a fool belches out foolishness. 3 The Lord is watching everywhere,    keeping his eye on both the evil and the good. 4 Gentle words are a tree of life;    a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit. 5 Only a fool despises a parent's discipline;    whoever learns from correction is wise. 6 There is treasure in the house of the godly,    but the earnings of the wicked bring trouble. 7 The lips of the wise give good advice;    the heart of a fool has none to give. 8 The Lord detests the sacrifice of the wicked,    but he delights in the prayers of the upright. 9 The Lord detests the way of the wicked,    but he loves those who pursue godliness. 10 Whoever abandons the right path will be severely disciplined;    whoever hates correction will die. 11 Even Death and Destruction hold no secrets from the Lord.    How much more does he know the human heart! 12 Mockers hate to be corrected,    so they stay away from the wise. 13 A glad heart makes a happy face;    a broken heart crushes the spirit. 14 A wise person is hungry for knowledge,    while the fool feeds on trash. 15 For the despondent, every day brings trouble;    for the happy heart, life is a continual feast. 16 Better to have little, with fear for the Lord,    than to have great treasure and inner turmoil. 17 A bowl of vegetables with someone you love    is better than steak with someone you hate. 18 A hot-tempered person starts fights;    a cool-tempered person stops them. 19 A lazy person's way is blocked with briers,    but the path of the upright is an open highway. 20 Sensible children bring joy to their father;    foolish children despise their mother. 21 Foolishness brings joy to those with no sense;    a sensible person stays on the right path. 22 Plans go wrong for lack of advice;    many advisers bring success. 23 Everyone enjoys a fitting reply;    it is wonderful to say the right thing at the right time! 24 The path of life leads upward for the wise;    they leave the grave behind. 25 The Lord tears down the house of the proud,    but he protects the property of widows. 26 The Lord detests evil plans,    but he delights in pure words. 27 Greed brings grief to the whole family,    but those who hate bribes will live. 28 The heart of the godly thinks carefully before speaking;    the mouth of the wicked overflows with evil words. 29 The Lord is far from the wicked,    but he hears the prayers of the righteous. 30 A cheerful look brings joy to the heart;    good news makes for good health. 31 If you listen to constructive criticism,    you will be at home among the wise. 32 If you reject discipline, you only harm yourself;    but if you listen to correction, you grow in understanding. 33 Fear of the Lord teaches wisdom;    humility precedes honor.

Proverbs 14 NLT read aloud by Simon MacFarlane. 1 A wise woman builds her home,    but a foolish woman tears it down with her own hands. 2 Those who follow the right path fear the Lord;    those who take the wrong path despise him. 3 A fool's proud talk becomes a rod that beats him,    but the words of the wise keep them safe. 4 Without oxen a stable stays clean,    but you need a strong ox for a large harvest. 5 An honest witness does not lie;    a false witness breathes lies. 6 A mocker seeks wisdom and never finds it,    but knowledge comes easily to those with understanding. 7 Stay away from fools,    for you won't find knowledge on their lips. 8 The prudent understand where they are going,    but fools deceive themselves. 9 Fools make fun of guilt,    but the godly acknowledge it and seek reconciliation. 10 Each heart knows its own bitterness,    and no one else can fully share its joy. 11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed,    but the tent of the godly will flourish. 12 There is a path before each person that seems right,    but it ends in death. 13 Laughter can conceal a heavy heart,    but when the laughter ends, the grief remains. 14 Backsliders get what they deserve;    good people receive their reward. 15 Only simpletons believe everything they're told!    The prudent carefully consider their steps. 16 The wise are cautious and avoid danger;    fools plunge ahead with reckless confidence. 17 Short-tempered people do foolish things,    and schemers are hated. 18 Simpletons are clothed with foolishness,    but the prudent are crowned with knowledge. 19 Evil people will bow before good people;    the wicked will bow at the gates of the godly. 20 The poor are despised even by their neighbors,    while the rich have many “friends.” 21 It is a sin to belittle one's neighbor;    blessed are those who help the poor. 22 If you plan to do evil, you will be lost;    if you plan to do good, you will receive unfailing love and faithfulness. 23 Work brings profit,    but mere talk leads to poverty! 24 Wealth is a crown for the wise;    the effort of fools yields only foolishness. 25 A truthful witness saves lives,    but a false witness is a traitor. 26 Those who fear the Lord are secure;    he will be a refuge for their children. 27 Fear of the Lord is a life-giving fountain;    it offers escape from the snares of death. 28 A growing population is a king's glory;    a prince without subjects has nothing. 29 People with understanding control their anger;    a hot temper shows great foolishness. 30 A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body;    jealousy is like cancer in the bones. 31 Those who oppress the poor insult their Maker,    but helping the poor honors him. 32 The wicked are crushed by disaster,    but the godly have a refuge when they die. 33 Wisdom is enshrined in an understanding heart;    wisdom is not found among fools. 34 Godliness makes a nation great,    but sin is a disgrace to any people. 35 A king rejoices in wise servants    but is angry with those who disgrace him.

Proverbs 13 NLT read aloud by Simon MacFarlane. 1 A wise child accepts a parent's discipline;    a mocker refuses to listen to correction. 2 Wise words will win you a good meal,    but treacherous people have an appetite for violence. 3 Those who control their tongue will have a long life;    opening your mouth can ruin everything. 4 Lazy people want much but get little,    but those who work hard will prosper. 5 The godly hate lies;    the wicked cause shame and disgrace. 6 Godliness guards the path of the blameless,    but the evil are misled by sin. 7 Some who are poor pretend to be rich;    others who are rich pretend to be poor. 8 The rich can pay a ransom for their lives,    but the poor won't even get threatened. 9 The life of the godly is full of light and joy,    but the light of the wicked will be snuffed out. 10 Pride leads to conflict;    those who take advice are wise. 11 Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears;    wealth from hard work grows over time. 12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,    but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life. 13 People who despise advice are asking for trouble;    those who respect a command will succeed. 14 The instruction of the wise is like a life-giving fountain;    those who accept it avoid the snares of death. 15 A person with good sense is respected;    a treacherous person is headed for destruction. 16 Wise people think before they act;    fools don't—and even brag about their foolishness. 17 An unreliable messenger stumbles into trouble,    but a reliable messenger brings healing. 18 If you ignore criticism, you will end in poverty and disgrace;    if you accept correction, you will be honored. 19 It is pleasant to see dreams come true,    but fools refuse to turn from evil to attain them. 20 Walk with the wise and become wise;    associate with fools and get in trouble. 21 Trouble chases sinners,    while blessings reward the righteous. 22 Good people leave an inheritance to their grandchildren,    but the sinner's wealth passes to the godly. 23 A poor person's farm may produce much food,    but injustice sweeps it all away. 24 Those who spare the rod of discipline hate their children.    Those who love their children care enough to discipline them. 25 The godly eat to their hearts' content,    but the belly of the wicked goes hungry.

Proverbs 12 NLT read aloud by Simon MacFarlane. 1 To learn, you must love discipline;    it is stupid to hate correction. 2 The Lord approves of those who are good,    but he condemns those who plan wickedness. 3 Wickedness never brings stability,    but the godly have deep roots. 4 A worthy wife is a crown for her husband,    but a disgraceful woman is like cancer in his bones. 5 The plans of the godly are just;    the advice of the wicked is treacherous. 6 The words of the wicked are like a murderous ambush,    but the words of the godly save lives. 7 The wicked die and disappear,    but the family of the godly stands firm. 8 A sensible person wins admiration,    but a warped mind is despised. 9 Better to be an ordinary person with a servant    than to be self-important but have no food. 10 The godly care for their animals,    but the wicked are always cruel. 11 A hard worker has plenty of food,    but a person who chases fantasies has no sense. 12 Thieves are jealous of each other's loot,    but the godly are well rooted and bear their own fruit. 13 The wicked are trapped by their own words,    but the godly escape such trouble. 14 Wise words bring many benefits,    and hard work brings rewards. 15 Fools think their own way is right,    but the wise listen to others. 16 A fool is quick-tempered,    but a wise person stays calm when insulted. 17 An honest witness tells the truth;    a false witness tells lies. 18 Some people make cutting remarks,    but the words of the wise bring healing. 19 Truthful words stand the test of time,    but lies are soon exposed. 20 Deceit fills hearts that are plotting evil;    joy fills hearts that are planning peace! 21 No harm comes to the godly,    but the wicked have their fill of trouble. 22 The Lord detests lying lips,    but he delights in those who tell the truth. 23 The wise don't make a show of their knowledge,    but fools broadcast their foolishness. 24 Work hard and become a leader;    be lazy and become a slave. 25 Worry weighs a person down;    an encouraging word cheers a person up. 26 The godly give good advice to their friends;    the wicked lead them astray. 27 Lazy people don't even cook the game they catch,    but the diligent make use of everything they find. 28 The way of the godly leads to life;    that path does not lead to death.

Proverbs 11 NLT read aloud by Simon MacFarlane. 1 The Lord detests the use of dishonest scales,    but he delights in accurate weights. 2 Pride leads to disgrace,    but with humility comes wisdom. 3 Honesty guides good people;    dishonesty destroys treacherous people. 4 Riches won't help on the day of judgment,    but right living can save you from death. 5 The godly are directed by honesty;    the wicked fall beneath their load of sin. 6 The godliness of good people rescues them;    the ambition of treacherous people traps them. 7 When the wicked die, their hopes die with them,    for they rely on their own feeble strength. 8 The godly are rescued from trouble,    and it falls on the wicked instead. 9 With their words, the godless destroy their friends,    but knowledge will rescue the righteous. 10 The whole city celebrates when the godly succeed;    they shout for joy when the wicked die. 11 Upright citizens are good for a city and make it prosper,    but the talk of the wicked tears it apart. 12 It is foolish to belittle one's neighbor;    a sensible person keeps quiet. 13 A gossip goes around telling secrets,    but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence. 14 Without wise leadership, a nation falls;    there is safety in having many advisers. 15 There's danger in putting up security for a stranger's debt;    it's safer not to guarantee another person's debt. 16 A gracious woman gains respect,    but ruthless men gain only wealth. 17 Your kindness will reward you,    but your cruelty will destroy you. 18 Evil people get rich for the moment,    but the reward of the godly will last. 19 Godly people find life;    evil people find death. 20 The Lord detests people with crooked hearts,    but he delights in those with integrity. 21 Evil people will surely be punished,    but the children of the godly will go free. 22 A beautiful woman who lacks discretion    is like a gold ring in a pig's snout. 23 The godly can look forward to a reward,    while the wicked can expect only judgment. 24 Give freely and become more wealthy;    be stingy and lose everything. 25 The generous will prosper;    those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. 26 People curse those who hoard their grain,    but they bless the one who sells in time of need. 27 If you search for good, you will find favor;    but if you search for evil, it will find you! 28 Trust in your money and down you go!    But the godly flourish like leaves in spring. 29 Those who bring trouble on their families inherit the wind.    The fool will be a servant to the wise. 30 The seeds of good deeds become a tree of life;    a wise person wins friends. 31 If the righteous are rewarded here on earth,    what will happen to wicked sinners?

Proverbs 10 NLT read aloud by Simon MacFarlane. 1 The proverbs of Solomon: A wise child brings joy to a father;    a foolish child brings grief to a mother. 2 Tainted wealth has no lasting value,    but right living can save your life. 3 The Lord will not let the godly go hungry,    but he refuses to satisfy the craving of the wicked. 4 Lazy people are soon poor;    hard workers get rich. 5 A wise youth harvests in the summer,    but one who sleeps during harvest is a disgrace. 6 The godly are showered with blessings;    the words of the wicked conceal violent intentions. 7 We have happy memories of the godly,    but the name of a wicked person rots away. 8 The wise are glad to be instructed,    but babbling fools fall flat on their faces. 9 People with integrity walk safely,    but those who follow crooked paths will be exposed. 10 People who wink at wrong cause trouble,    but a bold reproof promotes peace. 11 The words of the godly are a life-giving fountain;    the words of the wicked conceal violent intentions. 12 Hatred stirs up quarrels,    but love makes up for all offenses. 13 Wise words come from the lips of people with understanding,    but those lacking sense will be beaten with a rod. 14 Wise people treasure knowledge,    but the babbling of a fool invites disaster. 15 The wealth of the rich is their fortress;    the poverty of the poor is their destruction. 16 The earnings of the godly enhance their lives,    but evil people squander their money on sin. 17 People who accept discipline are on the pathway to life,    but those who ignore correction will go astray. 18 Hiding hatred makes you a liar;    slandering others makes you a fool. 19 Too much talk leads to sin.    Be sensible and keep your mouth shut. 20 The words of the godly are like sterling silver;    the heart of a fool is worthless. 21 The words of the godly encourage many,    but fools are destroyed by their lack of common sense. 22 The blessing of the Lord makes a person rich,    and he adds no sorrow with it. 23 Doing wrong is fun for a fool,    but living wisely brings pleasure to the sensible. 24 The fears of the wicked will be fulfilled;    the hopes of the godly will be granted. 25 When the storms of life come, the wicked are whirled away,    but the godly have a lasting foundation. 26 Lazy people irritate their employers,    like vinegar to the teeth or smoke in the eyes. 27 Fear of the Lord lengthens one's life,    but the years of the wicked are cut short. 28 The hopes of the godly result in happiness,    but the expectations of the wicked come to nothing. 29 The way of the Lord is a stronghold to those with integrity,    but it destroys the wicked. 30 The godly will never be disturbed,    but the wicked will be removed from the land. 31 The mouth of the godly person gives wise advice,    but the tongue that deceives will be cut off. 32 The lips of the godly speak helpful words,    but the mouth of the wicked speaks perverse words.

Proverbs 9 (NLT) read aloud by Simon MacFarlane. 1 Wisdom has built her house;    she has carved its seven columns.2 She has prepared a great banquet,    mixed the wines, and set the table.3 She has sent her servants to invite everyone to come.    She calls out from the heights overlooking the city.4 “Come in with me,” she urges the simple.    To those who lack good judgment, she says,5 “Come, eat my food,    and drink the wine I have mixed.6 Leave your simple ways behind, and begin to live;    learn to use good judgment.” 7 Anyone who rebukes a mocker will get an insult in return.    Anyone who corrects the wicked will get hurt.8 So don't bother correcting mockers;    they will only hate you.But correct the wise,    and they will love you.9 Instruct the wise,    and they will be even wiser.Teach the righteous,    and they will learn even more. 10 Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom.    Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment. 11 Wisdom will multiply your days    and add years to your life.12 If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit.    If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer. 13 The woman named Folly is brash.    She is ignorant and doesn't know it.14 She sits in her doorway    on the heights overlooking the city.15 She calls out to men going by    who are minding their own business.16 “Come in with me,” she urges the simple.    To those who lack good judgment, she says,17 “Stolen water is refreshing;    food eaten in secret tastes the best!”18 But little do they know that the dead are there.    Her guests are in the depths of the grave.

Proverbs 8 NLT read aloud by Simon MacFarlane. 1 Listen as Wisdom calls out!    Hear as understanding raises her voice!2 On the hilltop along the road,    she takes her stand at the crossroads.3 By the gates at the entrance to the town,    on the road leading in, she cries aloud,4 “I call to you, to all of you!    I raise my voice to all people.5 You simple people, use good judgment.    You foolish people, show some understanding.6 Listen to me! For I have important things to tell you.    Everything I say is right,7 for I speak the truth    and detest every kind of deception.8 My advice is wholesome.    There is nothing devious or crooked in it.9 My words are plain to anyone with understanding,    clear to those with knowledge.10 Choose my instruction rather than silver,    and knowledge rather than pure gold.11 For wisdom is far more valuable than rubies.    Nothing you desire can compare with it. 12 “I, Wisdom, live together with good judgment.    I know where to discover knowledge and discernment.13 All who fear the Lord will hate evil.    Therefore, I hate pride and arrogance,    corruption and perverse speech.14 Common sense and success belong to me.    Insight and strength are mine.15 Because of me, kings reign,    and rulers make just decrees.16 Rulers lead with my help,    and nobles make righteous judgments. 17 “I love all who love me.    Those who search will surely find me.18 I have riches and honor,    as well as enduring wealth and justice.19 My gifts are better than gold, even the purest gold,    my wages better than sterling silver!20 I walk in righteousness,    in paths of justice.21 Those who love me inherit wealth.    I will fill their treasuries. 22 “The Lord formed me from the beginning,    before he created anything else.23 I was appointed in ages past,    at the very first, before the earth began.24 I was born before the oceans were created,    before the springs bubbled forth their waters.25 Before the mountains were formed,    before the hills, I was born—26 before he had made the earth and fields    and the first handfuls of soil.27 I was there when he established the heavens,    when he drew the horizon on the oceans.28 I was there when he set the clouds above,    when he established springs deep in the earth.29 I was there when he set the limits of the seas,    so they would not spread beyond their boundaries.And when he marked off the earth's foundations,30     I was the architect at his side.I was his constant delight,    rejoicing always in his presence.31 And how happy I was with the world he created;    how I rejoiced with the human family! 32 “And so, my children, listen to me,    for all who follow my ways are joyful.33 Listen to my instruction and be wise.    Don't ignore it.34 Joyful are those who listen to me,    watching for me daily at my gates,    waiting for me outside my home!35 For whoever finds me finds life    and receives favor from the Lord.36 But those who miss me injure themselves.    All who hate me love death.”

Proverbs 7 NLT read aloud by Simon MacFarlane. 1 Follow my advice, my son;    always treasure my commands.2 Obey my commands and live!    Guard my instructions as you guard your own eyes.3 Tie them on your fingers as a reminder.    Write them deep within your heart. 4 Love wisdom like a sister;    make insight a beloved member of your family.5 Let them protect you from an affair with an immoral woman,    from listening to the flattery of a promiscuous woman. 6 While I was at the window of my house,    looking through the curtain,7 I saw some naive young men,    and one in particular who lacked common sense.8 He was crossing the street near the house of an immoral woman,    strolling down the path by her house.9 It was at twilight, in the evening,    as deep darkness fell.10 The woman approached him,    seductively dressed and sly of heart.11 She was the brash, rebellious type,    never content to stay at home.12 She is often in the streets and markets,    soliciting at every corner.13 She threw her arms around him and kissed him,    and with a brazen look she said,14 “I've just made my peace offerings    and fulfilled my vows.15 You're the one I was looking for!    I came out to find you, and here you are!16 My bed is spread with beautiful blankets,    with colored sheets of Egyptian linen.17 I've perfumed my bed    with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.18 Come, let's drink our fill of love until morning.    Let's enjoy each other's caresses,19 for my husband is not home.    He's away on a long trip.20 He has taken a wallet full of money with him    and won't return until later this month.” 21 So she seduced him with her pretty speech    and enticed him with her flattery.22 He followed her at once,    like an ox going to the slaughter.He was like a stag caught in a trap,23     awaiting the arrow that would pierce its heart.He was like a bird flying into a snare,    little knowing it would cost him his life. 24 So listen to me, my sons,    and pay attention to my words.25 Don't let your hearts stray away toward her.    Don't wander down her wayward path.26 For she has been the ruin of many;    many men have been her victims.27 Her house is the road to the grave.    Her bedroom is the den of death.

Proverbs 6 NLT read aloud by Simon MacFarlane. 1 My child, if you have put up security for a friend's debt    or agreed to guarantee the debt of a stranger—2 if you have trapped yourself by your agreement    and are caught by what you said—3 follow my advice and save yourself,    for you have placed yourself at your friend's mercy.Now swallow your pride;    go and beg to have your name erased.4 Don't put it off; do it now!    Don't rest until you do.5 Save yourself like a gazelle escaping from a hunter,    like a bird fleeing from a net. 6 Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones.    Learn from their ways and become wise!7 Though they have no prince    or governor or ruler to make them work,8 they labor hard all summer,    gathering food for the winter.9 But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep?    When will you wake up?10 A little extra sleep, a little more slumber,    a little folding of the hands to rest—11 then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit;    scarcity will attack you like an armed robber. 12 What are worthless and wicked people like?    They are constant liars,13 signaling their deceit with a wink of the eye,    a nudge of the foot, or the wiggle of fingers.14 Their perverted hearts plot evil,    and they constantly stir up trouble.15 But they will be destroyed suddenly,    broken in an instant beyond all hope of healing. 16 There are six things the Lord hates—    no, seven things he detests:17 haughty eyes,    a lying tongue,    hands that kill the innocent,18 a heart that plots evil,    feet that race to do wrong,19 a false witness who pours out lies,    a person who sows discord in a family. 20 My son, obey your father's commands,    and don't neglect your mother's instruction.21 Keep their words always in your heart.    Tie them around your neck.22 When you walk, their counsel will lead you.    When you sleep, they will protect you.    When you wake up, they will advise you.23 For their command is a lamp    and their instruction a light;their corrective discipline    is the way to life.24 It will keep you from the immoral woman,    from the smooth tongue of a promiscuous woman.25 Don't lust for her beauty.    Don't let her coy glances seduce you.26 For a prostitute will bring you to poverty,    but sleeping with another man's wife will cost you your life.27 Can a man scoop a flame into his lap    and not have his clothes catch on fire?28 Can he walk on hot coals    and not blister his feet?29 So it is with the man who sleeps with another man's wife.    He who embraces her will not go unpunished. 30 Excuses might be found for a thief    who steals because he is starving.31 But if he is caught, he must pay back seven times what he stole,    even if he has to sell everything in his house.32 But the man who commits adultery is an utter fool,    for he destroys himself.33 He will be wounded and disgraced.    His shame will never be erased.34 For the woman's jealous husband will be furious,    and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge.35 He will accept no compensation,    nor be satisfied with a payoff of any size.

Proverbs 5 NLT read aloud by Simon MacFarlane. 1 My son, pay attention to my wisdom;    listen carefully to my wise counsel.2 Then you will show discernment,    and your lips will express what you've learned.3 For the lips of an immoral woman are as sweet as honey,    and her mouth is smoother than oil.4 But in the end she is as bitter as poison,    as dangerous as a double-edged sword.5 Her feet go down to death;    her steps lead straight to the grave.6 For she cares nothing about the path to life.    She staggers down a crooked trail and doesn't realize it. 7 So now, my sons, listen to me.    Never stray from what I am about to say:8 Stay away from her!    Don't go near the door of her house!9 If you do, you will lose your honor    and will lose to merciless people all you have achieved.10 Strangers will consume your wealth,    and someone else will enjoy the fruit of your labor.11 In the end you will groan in anguish    when disease consumes your body.12 You will say, “How I hated discipline!    If only I had not ignored all the warnings!13 Oh, why didn't I listen to my teachers?    Why didn't I pay attention to my instructors?14 I have come to the brink of utter ruin,    and now I must face public disgrace.” 15 Drink water from your own well—    share your love only with your wife.16 Why spill the water of your springs in the streets,    having sex with just anyone?17 You should reserve it for yourselves.    Never share it with strangers. 18 Let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you.    Rejoice in the wife of your youth.19 She is a loving deer, a graceful doe.    Let her breasts satisfy you always.    May you always be captivated by her love.20 Why be captivated, my son, by an immoral woman,    or fondle the breasts of a promiscuous woman? 21 For the Lord sees clearly what a man does,    examining every path he takes.22 An evil man is held captive by his own sins;    they are ropes that catch and hold him.23 He will die for lack of self-control;    he will be lost because of his great foolishness.

Proverbs 4 NLT read aloud by Simon MacFarlane. 1 My children, listen when your father corrects you.    Pay attention and learn good judgment,2 for I am giving you good guidance.    Don't turn away from my instructions.3 For I, too, was once my father's son,    tenderly loved as my mother's only child. 4 My father taught me,“Take my words to heart.    Follow my commands, and you will live.5 Get wisdom; develop good judgment.    Don't forget my words or turn away from them.6 Don't turn your back on wisdom, for she will protect you.    Love her, and she will guard you.7 Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do!    And whatever else you do, develop good judgment.8 If you prize wisdom, she will make you great.    Embrace her, and she will honor you.9 She will place a lovely wreath on your head;    she will present you with a beautiful crown.” 10 My child, listen to me and do as I say,    and you will have a long, good life.11 I will teach you wisdom's ways    and lead you in straight paths.12 When you walk, you won't be held back;    when you run, you won't stumble.13 Take hold of my instructions; don't let them go.    Guard them, for they are the key to life. 14 Don't do as the wicked do,    and don't follow the path of evildoers.15 Don't even think about it; don't go that way.    Turn away and keep moving.16 For evil people can't sleep until they've done their evil deed for the day.    They can't rest until they've caused someone to stumble.17 They eat the food of wickedness    and drink the wine of violence! 18 The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn,    which shines ever brighter until the full light of day.19 But the way of the wicked is like total darkness.    They have no idea what they are stumbling over. 20 My child, pay attention to what I say.    Listen carefully to my words.21 Don't lose sight of them.    Let them penetrate deep into your heart,22 for they bring life to those who find them,    and healing to their whole body. 23 Guard your heart above all else,    for it determines the course of your life. 24 Avoid all perverse talk;    stay away from corrupt speech. 25 Look straight ahead,    and fix your eyes on what lies before you.26 Mark out a straight path for your feet;    stay on the safe path.27 Don't get sidetracked;    keep your feet from following evil.

Proverbs 3 NLT read aloud by Simon MacFarlane. 1 My child, never forget the things I have taught you.    Store my commands in your heart.2 If you do this, you will live many years,    and your life will be satisfying.3 Never let loyalty and kindness leave you!    Tie them around your neck as a reminder.    Write them deep within your heart.4 Then you will find favor with both God and people,    and you will earn a good reputation. 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart;    do not depend on your own understanding.6 Seek his will in all you do,    and he will show you which path to take. 7 Don't be impressed with your own wisdom.    Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil.8 Then you will have healing for your body    and strength for your bones. 9 Honor the Lord with your wealth    and with the best part of everything you produce.10 Then he will fill your barns with grain,    and your vats will overflow with good wine. 11 My child, don't reject the Lord's discipline,    and don't be upset when he corrects you.12 For the Lord corrects those he loves,    just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights. 13 Joyful is the person who finds wisdom,    the one who gains understanding.14 For wisdom is more profitable than silver,    and her wages are better than gold.15 Wisdom is more precious than rubies;    nothing you desire can compare with her.16 She offers you long life in her right hand,    and riches and honor in her left.17 She will guide you down delightful paths;    all her ways are satisfying.18 Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her;    happy are those who hold her tightly. 19 By wisdom the Lord founded the earth;    by understanding he created the heavens.20 By his knowledge the deep fountains of the earth burst forth,    and the dew settles beneath the night sky. 21 My child, don't lose sight of common sense and discernment.    Hang on to them,22 for they will refresh your soul.    They are like jewels on a necklace.23 They keep you safe on your way,    and your feet will not stumble.24 You can go to bed without fear;    you will lie down and sleep soundly.25 You need not be afraid of sudden disaster    or the destruction that comes upon the wicked,26 for the Lord is your security.    He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap. 27 Do not withhold good from those who deserve it    when it's in your power to help them.28 If you can help your neighbor now, don't say,    “Come back tomorrow, and then I'll help you.” 29 Don't plot harm against your neighbor,    for those who live nearby trust you.30 Don't pick a fight without reason,    when no one has done you harm. 31 Don't envy violent people    or copy their ways.32 Such wicked people are detestable to the Lord,    but he offers his friendship to the godly. 33 The Lord curses the house of the wicked,    but he blesses the home of the upright. 34 The Lord mocks the mockers    but is gracious to the humble. 35 The wise inherit honor,    but fools are put to shame!

Proverbs 2 NLT read aloud by Simon MacFarlane. 1 My child, listen to what I say,    and treasure my commands.2 Tune your ears to wisdom,    and concentrate on understanding.3 Cry out for insight,    and ask for understanding.4 Search for them as you would for silver;    seek them like hidden treasures.5 Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord,    and you will gain knowledge of God.6 For the Lord grants wisdom!    From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.7 He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest.    He is a shield to those who walk with integrity.8 He guards the paths of the just    and protects those who are faithful to him. 9 Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair,    and you will find the right way to go.10 For wisdom will enter your heart,    and knowledge will fill you with joy.11 Wise choices will watch over you.    Understanding will keep you safe. 12 Wisdom will save you from evil people,    from those whose words are twisted.13 These men turn from the right way    to walk down dark paths.14 They take pleasure in doing wrong,    and they enjoy the twisted ways of evil.15 Their actions are crooked,    and their ways are wrong. 16 Wisdom will save you from the immoral woman,    from the seductive words of the promiscuous woman.17 She has abandoned her husband    and ignores the covenant she made before God.18 Entering her house leads to death;    it is the road to the grave.19 The man who visits her is doomed.    He will never reach the paths of life. 20 So follow the steps of the good,    and stay on the paths of the righteous.21 For only the godly will live in the land,    and those with integrity will remain in it.22 But the wicked will be removed from the land,    and the treacherous will be uprooted.

Proverbs 1 (NLT) read aloud by Simon MacFarlane. 1 These are the proverbs of Solomon, David's son, king of Israel. 2 Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline,    to help them understand the insights of the wise.3 Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives,    to help them do what is right, just, and fair.4 These proverbs will give insight to the simple,    knowledge and discernment to the young. 5 Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser.    Let those with understanding receive guidance6 by exploring the meaning in these proverbs and parables,    the words of the wise and their riddles. 7 Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge,    but fools despise wisdom and discipline. 8 My child, listen when your father corrects you.    Don't neglect your mother's instruction.9 What you learn from them will crown you with grace    and be a chain of honor around your neck. 10 My child, if sinners entice you,    turn your back on them!11 They may say, “Come and join us.    Let's hide and kill someone!    Just for fun, let's ambush the innocent!12 Let's swallow them alive, like the grave;    let's swallow them whole, like those who go down to the pit of death.13 Think of the great things we'll get!    We'll fill our houses with all the stuff we take.14 Come, throw in your lot with us;    we'll all share the loot.” 15 My child, don't go along with them!    Stay far away from their paths.16 They rush to commit evil deeds.    They hurry to commit murder.17 If a bird sees a trap being set,    it knows to stay away.18 But these people set an ambush for themselves;    they are trying to get themselves killed.19 Such is the fate of all who are greedy for money;    it robs them of life. 20 Wisdom shouts in the streets.    She cries out in the public square.21 She calls to the crowds along the main street,    to those gathered in front of the city gate:22 “How long, you simpletons,    will you insist on being simpleminded?How long will you mockers relish your mocking?    How long will you fools hate knowledge?23 Come and listen to my counsel.I'll share my heart with you    and make you wise. 24 “I called you so often, but you wouldn't come.    I reached out to you, but you paid no attention.25 You ignored my advice    and rejected the correction I offered.26 So I will laugh when you are in trouble!    I will mock you when disaster overtakes you—27 when calamity overtakes you like a storm,    when disaster engulfs you like a cyclone,    and anguish and distress overwhelm you. 28 “When they cry for help, I will not answer.    Though they anxiously search for me, they will not find me.29 For they hated knowledge    and chose not to fear the Lord.30 They rejected my advice    and paid no attention when I corrected them.31 Therefore, they must eat the bitter fruit of living their own way,    choking on their own schemes.32 For simpletons turn away from me—to death.    Fools are destroyed by their own complacency.33 But all who listen to me will live in peace,    untroubled by fear of harm.

Romans 16 NLT read aloud by Simon MacFarlane. 1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a deacon in the church in Cenchrea. 2 Welcome her in the Lord as one who is worthy of honor among God's people. Help her in whatever she needs, for she has been helpful to many, and especially to me. 3 Give my greetings to Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in the ministry of Christ Jesus. 4 In fact, they once risked their lives for me. I am thankful to them, and so are all the Gentile churches. 5 Also give my greetings to the church that meets in their home. Greet my dear friend Epenetus. He was the first person from the province of Asia to become a follower of Christ. 6 Give my greetings to Mary, who has worked so hard for your benefit. 7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow Jews, who were in prison with me. They are highly respected among the apostles and became followers of Christ before I did. 8 Greet Ampliatus, my dear friend in the Lord. 9 Greet Urbanus, our co-worker in Christ, and my dear friend Stachys. 10 Greet Apelles, a good man whom Christ approves. And give my greetings to the believers from the household of Aristobulus. 11 Greet Herodion, my fellow Jew. Greet the Lord's people from the household of Narcissus. 12 Give my greetings to Tryphena and Tryphosa, the Lord's workers, and to dear Persis, who has worked so hard for the Lord. 13 Greet Rufus, whom the Lord picked out to be his very own; and also his dear mother, who has been a mother to me. 14 Give my greetings to Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers and sisters who meet with them. 15 Give my greetings to Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and to Olympas and all the believers who meet with them. 16 Greet each other with a sacred kiss. All the churches of Christ send you their greetings. 17 And now I make one more appeal, my dear brothers and sisters. Watch out for people who cause divisions and upset people's faith by teaching things contrary to what you have been taught. Stay away from them. 18 Such people are not serving Christ our Lord; they are serving their own personal interests. By smooth talk and glowing words they deceive innocent people. 19 But everyone knows that you are obedient to the Lord. This makes me very happy. I want you to be wise in doing right and to stay innocent of any wrong. 20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. 21 Timothy, my fellow worker, sends you his greetings, as do Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my fellow Jews. 22 I, Tertius, the one writing this letter for Paul, send my greetings, too, as one of the Lord's followers. 23 Gaius says hello to you. He is my host and also serves as host to the whole church. Erastus, the city treasurer, sends you his greetings, and so does our brother Quartus. 25 Now all glory to God, who is able to make you strong, just as my Good News says. This message about Jesus Christ has revealed his plan for you Gentiles, a plan kept secret from the beginning of time. 26 But now as the prophets foretold and as the eternal God has commanded, this message is made known to all Gentiles everywhere, so that they too might believe and obey him. 27 All glory to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, forever. Amen.

Romans 15 NLT read aloud by Simon MacFarlane. 1 We who are strong must be considerate of those who are sensitive about things like this. We must not just please ourselves. 2 We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord. 3 For even Christ didn't live to please himself. As the Scriptures say, “The insults of those who insult you, O God, have fallen on me.” 4 Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God's promises to be fulfilled. 5 May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. 6 Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory. 8 Remember that Christ came as a servant to the Jews to show that God is true to the promises he made to their ancestors. 9 He also came so that the Gentiles might give glory to God for his mercies to them. That is what the psalmist meant when he wrote: “For this, I will praise you among the Gentiles;    I will sing praises to your name.” 10 And in another place it is written, “Rejoice with his people,    you Gentiles.” 11 And yet again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles.    Praise him, all you people of the earth.” 12 And in another place Isaiah said, “The heir to David's throne will come,    and he will rule over the Gentiles.They will place their hope on him.” 13 I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. 14 I am fully convinced, my dear brothers and sisters, that you are full of goodness. You know these things so well you can teach each other all about them. 15 Even so, I have been bold enough to write about some of these points, knowing that all you need is this reminder. For by God's grace, 16 I am a special messenger from Christ Jesus to you Gentiles. I bring you the Good News so that I might present you as an acceptable offering to God, made holy by the Holy Spirit. 17 So I have reason to be enthusiastic about all Christ Jesus has done through me in my service to God. 18 Yet I dare not boast about anything except what Christ has done through me, bringing the Gentiles to God by my message and by the way I worked among them. 19 They were convinced by the power of miraculous signs and wonders and by the power of God's Spirit. In this way, I have fully presented the Good News of Christ from Jerusalem all the way to Illyricum. 20 My ambition has always been to preach the Good News where the name of Christ has never been heard, rather than where a church has already been started by someone else. 21 I have been following the plan spoken of in the Scriptures, where it says, “Those who have never been told about him will see,    and those who have never heard of him will understand.” 22 In fact, my visit to you has been delayed so long because I have been preaching in these places. 23 But now I have finished my work in these regions, and after all these long years of waiting, I am eager to visit you. 24 I am planning to go to Spain, and when I do, I will stop off in Rome. And after I have enjoyed your fellowship for a little while, you can provide for my journey. 25 But before I come, I must go to Jerusalem to take a gift to the believers there. 26 For you see, the believers in Macedonia and Achaia have eagerly taken up an offering for the poor among the believers in Jerusalem. 27 They were glad to do this because they feel they owe a real debt to them. Since the Gentiles received the spiritual blessings of the Good News from the believers in Jerusalem, they feel the least they can do in return is to help them financially. 28 As soon as I have delivered this money and [...]

Romans 14 NLT read aloud by Simon MacFarlane. 1 Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don't argue with them about what they think is right or wrong. 2 For instance, one person believes it's all right to eat anything. But another believer with a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables. 3 Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who don't. And those who don't eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them. 4 Who are you to condemn someone else's servants? Their own master will judge whether they stand or fall. And with the Lord's help, they will stand and receive his approval. 5 In the same way, some think one day is more holy than another day, while others think every day is alike. You should each be fully convinced that whichever day you choose is acceptable. 6 Those who worship the Lord on a special day do it to honor him. Those who eat any kind of food do so to honor the Lord, since they give thanks to God before eating. And those who refuse to eat certain foods also want to please the Lord and give thanks to God. 7 For we don't live for ourselves or die for ourselves. 8 If we live, it's to honor the Lord. And if we die, it's to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. 9 Christ died and rose again for this very purpose—to be Lord both of the living and of the dead. 10 So why do you condemn another believer? Why do you look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. 11 For the Scriptures say, “‘As surely as I live,' says the Lord,‘every knee will bend to me,    and every tongue will declare allegiance to God.'” 12 Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God. 13 So let's stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall. 14 I know and am convinced on the authority of the Lord Jesus that no food, in and of itself, is wrong to eat. But if someone believes it is wrong, then for that person it is wrong. 15 And if another believer is distressed by what you eat, you are not acting in love if you eat it. Don't let your eating ruin someone for whom Christ died. 16 Then you will not be criticized for doing something you believe is good. 17 For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too. 19 So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up. 20 Don't tear apart the work of God over what you eat. Remember, all foods are acceptable, but it is wrong to eat something if it makes another person stumble. 21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else if it might cause another believer to stumble. 22 You may believe there's nothing wrong with what you are doing, but keep it between yourself and God. Blessed are those who don't feel guilty for doing something they have decided is right. 23 But if you have doubts about whether or not you should eat something, you are sinning if you go ahead and do it. For you are not following your convictions. If you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning.

Romans 13 NLT read aloud by Simon MacFarlane. 1 Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. 2 So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. 3 For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you. 4 The authorities are God's servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God's servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong. 5 So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience. 6 Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do. 7 Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority. 8 Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God's law. 9 For the commandments say, “You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.” These—and other such commandments—are summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God's law. 11 This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. 13 Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don't participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. 14 Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don't let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.

Romans 12 NLT read aloud by Simon MacFarlane. 1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 2 Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. 3 Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don't think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. 4 Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, 5 so it is with Christ's body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. 6 In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. 7 If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. 8 If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. 9 Don't just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. 10 Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. 11 Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. 12 Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. 13 When God's people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you. Don't curse them; pray that God will bless them. 15 Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with each other. Don't be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don't think you know it all! 17 Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. 18 Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. 19 Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge;    I will pay them back,”    says the Lord. 20 Instead, “If your enemies are hungry, feed them.    If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.In doing this, you will heap    burning coals of shame on their heads.” 21 Don't let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.

Romans 11 NLT read aloud by Simon MacFarlane. 1 I ask, then, has God rejected his own people, the nation of Israel? Of course not! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham and a member of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 No, God has not rejected his own people, whom he chose from the very beginning. Do you realize what the Scriptures say about this? Elijah the prophet complained to God about the people of Israel and said, 3 “Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.” 4 And do you remember God's reply? He said, “No, I have 7,000 others who have never bowed down to Baal!” 5 It is the same today, for a few of the people of Israel have remained faithful because of God's grace—his undeserved kindness in choosing them. 6 And since it is through God's kindness, then it is not by their good works. For in that case, God's grace would not be what it really is—free and undeserved. 7 So this is the situation: Most of the people of Israel have not found the favor of God they are looking for so earnestly. A few have—the ones God has chosen—but the hearts of the rest were hardened. 8 As the Scriptures say, “God has put them into a deep sleep.To this day he has shut their eyes so they do not see,    and closed their ears so they do not hear.” 9 Likewise, David said, “Let their bountiful table become a snare,    a trap that makes them think all is well.Let their blessings cause them to stumble,    and let them get what they deserve.10 Let their eyes go blind so they cannot see,    and let their backs be bent forever.” 11 Did God's people stumble and fall beyond recovery? Of course not! They were disobedient, so God made salvation available to the Gentiles. But he wanted his own people to become jealous and claim it for themselves. 12 Now if the Gentiles were enriched because the people of Israel turned down God's offer of salvation, think how much greater a blessing the world will share when they finally accept it. 13 I am saying all this especially for you Gentiles. God has appointed me as the apostle to the Gentiles. I stress this, 14 for I want somehow to make the people of Israel jealous of what you Gentiles have, so I might save some of them. 15 For since their rejection meant that God offered salvation to the rest of the world, their acceptance will be even more wonderful. It will be life for those who were dead! 16 And since Abraham and the other patriarchs were holy, their descendants will also be holy—just as the entire batch of dough is holy because the portion given as an offering is holy. For if the roots of the tree are holy, the branches will be, too. 17 But some of these branches from Abraham's tree—some of the people of Israel—have been broken off. And you Gentiles, who were branches from a wild olive tree, have been grafted in. So now you also receive the blessing God has promised Abraham and his children, sharing in the rich nourishment from the root of God's special olive tree. 18 But you must not brag about being grafted in to replace the branches that were broken off. You are just a branch, not the root. 19 “Well,” you may say, “those branches were broken off to make room for me.” 20 Yes, but remember—those branches were broken off because they didn't believe in Christ, and you are there because you do believe. So don't think highly of yourself, but fear what could happen. 21 For if God did not spare the original branches, he won't spare you either. 22 Notice how God is both kind and severe. He is severe toward those who disobeyed, but kind to you if you continue to trust in his kindness. But if you stop trusting, you also will be cut off. 23 And if the people of Israel turn from their unbelief, they will be grafted in again, for God has the power to graft them back into the tree. 24 You, by nature, were a branch cut from a wild olive tree. So if God was willing to do something contrary to nature by grafting you into [...]

Romans 10 NLT read aloud by Simon MacFarlane. 1 Dear brothers and sisters, the longing of my heart and my prayer to God is for the people of Israel to be saved. 2 I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal. 3 For they don't understand God's way of making people right with himself. Refusing to accept God's way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law. 4 For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God. 5 For Moses writes that the law's way of making a person right with God requires obedience to all of its commands. 6 But faith's way of getting right with God says, “Don't say in your heart, ‘Who will go up to heaven?' (to bring Christ down to earth). 7 And don't say, ‘Who will go down to the place of the dead?' (to bring Christ back to life again).” 8 In fact, it says, “The message is very close at hand;    it is on your lips and in your heart.” And that message is the very message about faith that we preach: 9 If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. 11 As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” 12 Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. 13 For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? 15 And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!” 16 But not everyone welcomes the Good News, for Isaiah the prophet said, “Lord, who has believed our message?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ. 18 But I ask, have the people of Israel actually heard the message? Yes, they have: “The message has gone throughout the earth,    and the words to all the world.” 19 But I ask, did the people of Israel really understand? Yes, they did, for even in the time of Moses, God said, “I will rouse your jealousy through people who are not even a nation.    I will provoke your anger through the foolish Gentiles.” 20 And later Isaiah spoke boldly for God, saying, “I was found by people who were not looking for me.    I showed myself to those who were not asking for me.” 21 But regarding Israel, God said, “All day long I opened my arms to them,    but they were disobedient and rebellious.”

Romans 9 NLT read aloud by Simon MacFarlane. 1 With Christ as my witness, I speak with utter truthfulness. My conscience and the Holy Spirit confirm it. 2 My heart is filled with bitter sorrow and unending grief 3 for my people, my Jewish brothers and sisters. I would be willing to be forever cursed—cut off from Christ!—if that would save them. 4 They are the people of Israel, chosen to be God's adopted children. God revealed his glory to them. He made covenants with them and gave them his law. He gave them the privilege of worshiping him and receiving his wonderful promises. 5 Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are their ancestors, and Christ himself was an Israelite as far as his human nature is concerned. And he is God, the one who rules over everything and is worthy of eternal praise! Amen. 6 Well then, has God failed to fulfill his promise to Israel? No, for not all who are born into the nation of Israel are truly members of God's people! 7 Being descendants of Abraham doesn't make them truly Abraham's children. For the Scriptures say, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted,” though Abraham had other children, too. 8 This means that Abraham's physical descendants are not necessarily children of God. Only the children of the promise are considered to be Abraham's children. 9 For God had promised, “I will return about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” 10 This son was our ancestor Isaac. When he married Rebekah, she gave birth to twins. 11 But before they were born, before they had done anything good or bad, she received a message from God. (This message shows that God chooses people according to his own purposes; 12 he calls people, but not according to their good or bad works.) She was told, “Your older son will serve your younger son.” 13 In the words of the Scriptures, “I loved Jacob, but I rejected Esau.” 14 Are we saying, then, that God was unfair? Of course not! 15 For God said to Moses, “I will show mercy to anyone I choose,    and I will show compassion to anyone I choose.” 16 So it is God who decides to show mercy. We can neither choose it nor work for it. 17 For the Scriptures say that God told Pharaoh, “I have appointed you for the very purpose of displaying my power in you and to spread my fame throughout the earth.” 18 So you see, God chooses to show mercy to some, and he chooses to harden the hearts of others so they refuse to listen. 19 Well then, you might say, “Why does God blame people for not responding? Haven't they simply done what he makes them do?” 20 No, don't say that. Who are you, a mere human being, to argue with God? Should the thing that was created say to the one who created it, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 When a potter makes jars out of clay, doesn't he have a right to use the same lump of clay to make one jar for decoration and another to throw garbage into? 22 In the same way, even though God has the right to show his anger and his power, he is very patient with those on whom his anger falls, who are destined for destruction. 23 He does this to make the riches of his glory shine even brighter on those to whom he shows mercy, who were prepared in advance for glory. 24 And we are among those whom he selected, both from the Jews and from the Gentiles. 25 Concerning the Gentiles, God says in the prophecy of Hosea, “Those who were not my people,    I will now call my people.And I will love those    whom I did not love before.” 26 And, “Then, at the place where they were told,    ‘You are not my people,'there they will be called    ‘children of the living God.'” 27 And concerning Israel, Isaiah the prophet cried out, “Though the people of Israel are as numerous as the sand of the seashore,    only a remnant will be saved.28 For the Lord will carry out his sentence upon the earth    quickly and with finality.” 29 And Isaiah said the same thing in another place:

Romans 8 NLT read aloud by Simon MacFarlane. 1 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 2 And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. 3 The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin's control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. 4 He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit. 5 Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. 6 So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. 7 For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God's laws, and it never will. 8 That's why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God. 9 But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.) 10 And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God. 11 The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you. 12 Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. 13 For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. 15 So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God's Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” 16 For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God's children. 17 And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God's glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering. 18 Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. 19 For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. 20 Against its will, all creation was subjected to God's curse. But with eager hope, 21 the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God's children in glorious freedom from death and decay. 22 For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us. 24 We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don't need to hope for it. 25 But if we look forward to something we don't yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.) 26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don't know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. 27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own will. [...]

Romans 7 NLT read aloud by Simon MacFarlane. 1 Now, dear brothers and sisters—you who are familiar with the law—don't you know that the law applies only while a person is living? 2 For example, when a woman marries, the law binds her to her husband as long as he is alive. But if he dies, the laws of marriage no longer apply to her. 3 So while her husband is alive, she would be committing adultery if she married another man. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law and does not commit adultery when she remarries. 4 So, my dear brothers and sisters, this is the point: You died to the power of the law when you died with Christ. And now you are united with the one who was raised from the dead. As a result, we can produce a harvest of good deeds for God. 5 When we were controlled by our old nature, sinful desires were at work within us, and the law aroused these evil desires that produced a harvest of sinful deeds, resulting in death. 6 But now we have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power. Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit. 7 Well then, am I suggesting that the law of God is sinful? Of course not! In fact, it was the law that showed me my sin. I would never have known that coveting is wrong if the law had not said, “You must not covet.” 8 But sin used this command to arouse all kinds of covetous desires within me! If there were no law, sin would not have that power. 9 At one time I lived without understanding the law. But when I learned the command not to covet, for instance, the power of sin came to life, 10 and I died. So I discovered that the law's commands, which were supposed to bring life, brought spiritual death instead. 11 Sin took advantage of those commands and deceived me; it used the commands to kill me. 12 But still, the law itself is holy, and its commands are holy and right and good. 13 But how can that be? Did the law, which is good, cause my death? Of course not! Sin used what was good to bring about my condemnation to death. So we can see how terrible sin really is. It uses God's good commands for its own evil purposes. 14 So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. 15 I don't really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don't do it. Instead, I do what I hate. 16 But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. 17 So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. 18 And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can't. 19 I want to do what is good, but I don't. I don't want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. 20 But if I do what I don't want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. 21 I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. 22 I love God's law with all my heart. 23 But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. 24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? 25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God's law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.

Romans 6 NLT read aloud by Simon MacFarlane. 1 Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? 2 Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? 3 Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? 4 For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. 5 Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. 6 We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. 7 For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. 8 And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him. 9 We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him. 10 When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. 11 So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus. 12 Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. 13 Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. 14 Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God's grace. 15 Well then, since God's grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not! 16 Don't you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living. 17 Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we have given you. 18 Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living. 19 Because of the weakness of your human nature, I am using the illustration of slavery to help you understand all this. Previously, you let yourselves be slaves to impurity and lawlessness, which led ever deeper into sin. Now you must give yourselves to be slaves to righteous living so that you will become holy. 20 When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the obligation to do right. 21 And what was the result? You are now ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom. 22 But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 5 NLT read aloud by Simon MacFarlane. 1 Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. 2 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory. 3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. 6 When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. 7 Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. 8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. 9 And since we have been made right in God's sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God's condemnation. 10 For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. 11 So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God. 12 When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam's sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. 13 Yes, people sinned even before the law was given. But it was not counted as sin because there was not yet any law to break. 14 Still, everyone died—from the time of Adam to the time of Moses—even those who did not disobey an explicit commandment of God, as Adam did. Now Adam is a symbol, a representation of Christ, who was yet to come. 15 But there is a great difference between Adam's sin and God's gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God's wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ. 16 And the result of God's gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man's sin. For Adam's sin led to condemnation, but God's free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins. 17 For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God's wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ. 18 Yes, Adam's one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ's one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. 19 Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous. 20 God's law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God's wonderful grace became more abundant. 21 So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God's wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 4 NLT read aloud by Simon MacFarlane. 1 Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation. What did he discover about being made right with God? 2 If his good deeds had made him acceptable to God, he would have had something to boast about. But that was not God's way. 3 For the Scriptures tell us, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” 4 When people work, their wages are not a gift, but something they have earned. 5 But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners. 6 David also spoke of this when he described the happiness of those who are declared righteous without working for it: 7 “Oh, what joy for those    whose disobedience is forgiven,    whose sins are put out of sight.8 Yes, what joy for those    whose record the Lord has cleared of sin.” 9 Now, is this blessing only for the Jews, or is it also for uncircumcised Gentiles? Well, we have been saying that Abraham was counted as righteous by God because of his faith. 10 But how did this happen? Was he counted as righteous only after he was circumcised, or was it before he was circumcised? Clearly, God accepted Abraham before he was circumcised! 11 Circumcision was a sign that Abraham already had faith and that God had already accepted him and declared him to be righteous—even before he was circumcised. So Abraham is the spiritual father of those who have faith but have not been circumcised. They are counted as righteous because of their faith. 12 And Abraham is also the spiritual father of those who have been circumcised, but only if they have the same kind of faith Abraham had before he was circumcised. 13 Clearly, God's promise to give the whole earth to Abraham and his descendants was based not on his obedience to God's law, but on a right relationship with God that comes by faith. 14 If God's promise is only for those who obey the law, then faith is not necessary and the promise is pointless. 15 For the law always brings punishment on those who try to obey it. (The only way to avoid breaking the law is to have no law to break!) 16 So the promise is received by faith. It is given as a free gift. And we are all certain to receive it, whether or not we live according to the law of Moses, if we have faith like Abraham's. For Abraham is the father of all who believe. 17 That is what the Scriptures mean when God told him, “I have made you the father of many nations.” This happened because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing. 18 Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That's how many descendants you will have!” 19 And Abraham's faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah's womb. 20 Abraham never wavered in believing God's promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. 21 He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. 22 And because of Abraham's faith, God counted him as righteous. 23 And when God counted him as righteous, it wasn't just for Abraham's benefit. It was recorded 24 for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God.

Romans 3 NLT read aloud by Simon MacFarlane. 1 Then what's the advantage of being a Jew? Is there any value in the ceremony of circumcision? 2 Yes, there are great benefits! First of all, the Jews were entrusted with the whole revelation of God. 3 True, some of them were unfaithful; but just because they were unfaithful, does that mean God will be unfaithful? 4 Of course not! Even if everyone else is a liar, God is true. As the Scriptures say about him, “You will be proved right in what you say,    and you will win your case in court.” 5 “But,” some might say, “our sinfulness serves a good purpose, for it helps people see how righteous God is. Isn't it unfair, then, for him to punish us?” (This is merely a human point of view.) 6 Of course not! If God were not entirely fair, how would he be qualified to judge the world? 7 “But,” someone might still argue, “how can God condemn me as a sinner if my dishonesty highlights his truthfulness and brings him more glory?” 8 And some people even slander us by claiming that we say, “The more we sin, the better it is!” Those who say such things deserve to be condemned. 9 Well then, should we conclude that we Jews are better than others? No, not at all, for we have already shown that all people, whether Jews or Gentiles, are under the power of sin. 10 As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous—    not even one.11 No one is truly wise;    no one is seeking God.12 All have turned away;    all have become useless.No one does good,    not a single one.”13 “Their talk is foul, like the stench from an open grave.    Their tongues are filled with lies.”“Snake venom drips from their lips.”14     “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”15 “They rush to commit murder.16     Destruction and misery always follow them.17 They don't know where to find peace.”18     “They have no fear of God at all.” 19 Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God. 20 For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are. 21 But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. 22 We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. 23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard. 24 Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. 25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, 26 for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus. 27 Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith. 28 So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law. 29 After all, is God the God of the Jews only? Isn't he also the God of the Gentiles? Of course he is. 30 There is only one God, and he makes people right with himself only by faith, whether they are Jews or Gentiles. 31 Well then, if we emphasize faith, does this mean that we can forget about the law? Of course not! In fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law.

Romans 2 NLT read aloud by Simon MacFarlane. 1 You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things. 2 And we know that God, in his justice, will punish anyone who does such things. 3 Since you judge others for doing these things, why do you think you can avoid God's judgment when you do the same things? 4 Don't you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can't you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin? 5 But because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin, you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. For a day of anger is coming, when God's righteous judgment will be revealed. 6 He will judge everyone according to what they have done. 7 He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers. 8 But he will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and instead live lives of wickedness. 9 There will be trouble and calamity for everyone who keeps on doing what is evil—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. 10 But there will be glory and honor and peace from God for all who do good—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. 11 For God does not show favoritism. 12 When the Gentiles sin, they will be destroyed, even though they never had God's written law. And the Jews, who do have God's law, will be judged by that law when they fail to obey it. 13 For merely listening to the law doesn't make us right with God. It is obeying the law that makes us right in his sight. 14 Even Gentiles, who do not have God's written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it. 15 They demonstrate that God's law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right. 16 And this is the message I proclaim—that the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone's secret life. 17 You who call yourselves Jews are relying on God's law, and you boast about your special relationship with him. 18 You know what he wants; you know what is right because you have been taught his law. 19 You are convinced that you are a guide for the blind and a light for people who are lost in darkness. 20 You think you can instruct the ignorant and teach children the ways of God. For you are certain that God's law gives you complete knowledge and truth. 21 Well then, if you teach others, why don't you teach yourself? You tell others not to steal, but do you steal? 22 You say it is wrong to commit adultery, but do you commit adultery? You condemn idolatry, but do you use items stolen from pagan temples? 23 You are so proud of knowing the law, but you dishonor God by breaking it. 24 No wonder the Scriptures say, “The Gentiles blaspheme the name of God because of you.” 25 The Jewish ceremony of circumcision has value only if you obey God's law. But if you don't obey God's law, you are no better off than an uncircumcised Gentile. 26 And if the Gentiles obey God's law, won't God declare them to be his own people? 27 In fact, uncircumcised Gentiles who keep God's law will condemn you Jews who are circumcised and possess God's law but don't obey it. 28 For you are not a true Jew just because you were born of Jewish parents or because you have gone through the ceremony of circumcision. 29 No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by the Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people.

Romans 1 NLT read aloud by Simon MacFarlane. 1 This letter is from Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, chosen by God to be an apostle and sent out to preach his Good News. 2 God promised this Good News long ago through his prophets in the holy Scriptures. 3 The Good News is about his Son. In his earthly life he was born into King David's family line, 4 and he was shown to be the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord. 5 Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority as apostles to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey him, bringing glory to his name. 6 And you are included among those Gentiles who have been called to belong to Jesus Christ. 7 I am writing to all of you in Rome who are loved by God and are called to be his own holy people. May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. 8 Let me say first that I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith in him is being talked about all over the world. 9 God knows how often I pray for you. Day and night I bring you and your needs in prayer to God, whom I serve with all my heart by spreading the Good News about his Son. 10 One of the things I always pray for is the opportunity, God willing, to come at last to see you. 11 For I long to visit you so I can bring you some spiritual gift that will help you grow strong in the Lord. 12 When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours. 13 I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, that I planned many times to visit you, but I was prevented until now. I want to work among you and see spiritual fruit, just as I have seen among other Gentiles. 14 For I have a great sense of obligation to people in both the civilized world and the rest of the world, to the educated and uneducated alike. 15 So I am eager to come to you in Rome, too, to preach the Good News. 16 For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. 17 This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.” 18 But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. 19 They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. 20 For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. 21 Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn't worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. 22 Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. 23 And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles. 24 So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other's bodies. 25 They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen. 26 That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other. 27 And the men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men, and as a result of this sin, they suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved. 28 Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and[...]

Acts 28 NLT read aloud by Simon MacFarlane. 1 Once we were safe on shore, we learned that we were on the island of Malta. 2 The people of the island were very kind to us. It was cold and rainy, so they built a fire on the shore to welcome us. 3 As Paul gathered an armful of sticks and was laying them on the fire, a poisonous snake, driven out by the heat, bit him on the hand. 4 The people of the island saw it hanging from his hand and said to each other, “A murderer, no doubt! Though he escaped the sea, justice will not permit him to live.” 5 But Paul shook off the snake into the fire and was unharmed. 6 The people waited for him to swell up or suddenly drop dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw that he wasn't harmed, they changed their minds and decided he was a god. 7 Near the shore where we landed was an estate belonging to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us and treated us kindly for three days. 8 As it happened, Publius's father was ill with fever and dysentery. Paul went in and prayed for him, and laying his hands on him, he healed him. 9 Then all the other sick people on the island came and were healed. 10 As a result we were showered with honors, and when the time came to sail, people supplied us with everything we would need for the trip. 11 It was three months after the shipwreck that we set sail on another ship that had wintered at the island—an Alexandrian ship with the twin gods as its figurehead. 12 Our first stop was Syracuse, where we stayed three days. 13 From there we sailed across to Rhegium. A day later a south wind began blowing, so the following day we sailed up the coast to Puteoli. 14 There we found some believers, who invited us to spend a week with them. And so we came to Rome. 15 The brothers and sisters in Rome had heard we were coming, and they came to meet us at the Forum on the Appian Way. Others joined us at The Three Taverns. When Paul saw them, he was encouraged and thanked God. 16 When we arrived in Rome, Paul was permitted to have his own private lodging, though he was guarded by a soldier. 17 Three days after Paul's arrival, he called together the local Jewish leaders. He said to them, “Brothers, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Roman government, even though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors. 18 The Romans tried me and wanted to release me, because they found no cause for the death sentence. 19 But when the Jewish leaders protested the decision, I felt it necessary to appeal to Caesar, even though I had no desire to press charges against my own people. 20 I asked you to come here today so we could get acquainted and so I could explain to you that I am bound with this chain because I believe that the hope of Israel—the Messiah—has already come.” 21 They replied, “We have had no letters from Judea or reports against you from anyone who has come here. 22 But we want to hear what you believe, for the only thing we know about this movement is that it is denounced everywhere.” 23 So a time was set, and on that day a large number of people came to Paul's lodging. He explained and testified about the Kingdom of God and tried to persuade them about Jesus from the Scriptures. Using the law of Moses and the books of the prophets, he spoke to them from morning until evening. 24 Some were persuaded by the things he said, but others did not believe. 25 And after they had argued back and forth among themselves, they left with this final word from Paul: “The Holy Spirit was right when he said to your ancestors through Isaiah the prophet, 26 ‘Go and say to this people:When you hear what I say,    you will not understand.When you see what I do,    you will not comprehend.27 For the hearts of these people are hardened,    and their ears cannot hear,    and they have closed their eyes—so their eyes cannot see,    and their ears cannot hear,    and their hearts cannot understand,and they cannot turn to me[...]

Acts 27 NLT read aloud by Simon MacFarlane. 1 When the time came, we set sail for Italy. Paul and several other prisoners were placed in the custody of a Roman officer named Julius, a captain of the Imperial Regiment. 2 Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, was also with us. We left on a ship whose home port was Adramyttium on the northwest coast of the province of Asia; it was scheduled to make several stops at ports along the coast of the province. 3 The next day when we docked at Sidon, Julius was very kind to Paul and let him go ashore to visit with friends so they could provide for his needs. 4 Putting out to sea from there, we encountered strong headwinds that made it difficult to keep the ship on course, so we sailed north of Cyprus between the island and the mainland. 5 Keeping to the open sea, we passed along the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, landing at Myra, in the province of Lycia. 6 There the commanding officer found an Egyptian ship from Alexandria that was bound for Italy, and he put us on board. 7 We had several days of slow sailing, and after great difficulty we finally neared Cnidus. But the wind was against us, so we sailed across to Crete and along the sheltered coast of the island, past the cape of Salmone. 8 We struggled along the coast with great difficulty and finally arrived at Fair Havens, near the town of Lasea. 9 We had lost a lot of time. The weather was becoming dangerous for sea travel because it was so late in the fall, and Paul spoke to the ship's officers about it. 10 “Men,” he said, “I believe there is trouble ahead if we go on—shipwreck, loss of cargo, and danger to our lives as well.” 11 But the officer in charge of the prisoners listened more to the ship's captain and the owner than to Paul. 12 And since Fair Havens was an exposed harbor—a poor place to spend the winter—most of the crew wanted to go on to Phoenix, farther up the coast of Crete, and spend the winter there. Phoenix was a good harbor with only a southwest and northwest exposure. 13 When a light wind began blowing from the south, the sailors thought they could make it. So they pulled up anchor and sailed close to the shore of Crete. 14 But the weather changed abruptly, and a wind of typhoon strength (called a “northeaster”) burst across the island and blew us out to sea. 15 The sailors couldn't turn the ship into the wind, so they gave up and let it run before the gale. 16 We sailed along the sheltered side of a small island named Cauda, where with great difficulty we hoisted aboard the lifeboat being towed behind us. 17 Then the sailors bound ropes around the hull of the ship to strengthen it. They were afraid of being driven across to the sandbars of Syrtis off the African coast, so they lowered the sea anchor to slow the ship and were driven before the wind. 18 The next day, as gale-force winds continued to batter the ship, the crew began throwing the cargo overboard. 19 The following day they even took some of the ship's gear and threw it overboard. 20 The terrible storm raged for many days, blotting out the sun and the stars, until at last all hope was gone. 21 No one had eaten for a long time. Finally, Paul called the crew together and said, “Men, you should have listened to me in the first place and not left Crete. You would have avoided all this damage and loss. 22 But take courage! None of you will lose your lives, even though the ship will go down. 23 For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me, 24 and he said, ‘Don't be afraid, Paul, for you will surely stand trial before Caesar! What's more, God in his goodness has granted safety to everyone sailing with you.' 25 So take courage! For I believe God. It will be just as he said. 26 But we will be shipwrecked on an island.” 27 About midnight on the fourteenth night of the storm, as we were being driven across the Sea of Adria, the sailors sensed land was near. 28 They dropped a weighted line and found that the [...]

Acts 26 NLT read aloud by Simon MacFarlane. 1 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You may speak in your defense.” So Paul, gesturing with his hand, started his defense: 2 “I am fortunate, King Agrippa, that you are the one hearing my defense today against all these accusations made by the Jewish leaders, 3 for I know you are an expert on all Jewish customs and controversies. Now please listen to me patiently! 4 “As the Jewish leaders are well aware, I was given a thorough Jewish training from my earliest childhood among my own people and in Jerusalem. 5 If they would admit it, they know that I have been a member of the Pharisees, the strictest sect of our religion. 6 Now I am on trial because of my hope in the fulfillment of God's promise made to our ancestors. 7 In fact, that is why the twelve tribes of Israel zealously worship God night and day, and they share the same hope I have. Yet, Your Majesty, they accuse me for having this hope! 8 Why does it seem incredible to any of you that God can raise the dead? 9 “I used to believe that I ought to do everything I could to oppose the very name of Jesus the Nazarene. 10 Indeed, I did just that in Jerusalem. Authorized by the leading priests, I caused many believers there to be sent to prison. And I cast my vote against them when they were condemned to death. 11 Many times I had them punished in the synagogues to get them to curse Jesus. I was so violently opposed to them that I even chased them down in foreign cities. 12 “One day I was on such a mission to Damascus, armed with the authority and commission of the leading priests. 13 About noon, Your Majesty, as I was on the road, a light from heaven brighter than the sun shone down on me and my companions. 14 We all fell down, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is useless for you to fight against my will.' 15 “‘Who are you, lord?' I asked. “And the Lord replied, ‘I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting. 16 Now get to your feet! For I have appeared to you to appoint you as my servant and witness. Tell people that you have seen me, and tell them what I will show you in the future. 17 And I will rescue you from both your own people and the Gentiles. Yes, I am sending you to the Gentiles 18 to open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God's people, who are set apart by faith in me.' 19 “And so, King Agrippa, I obeyed that vision from heaven. 20 I preached first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that all must repent of their sins and turn to God—and prove they have changed by the good things they do. 21 Some Jews arrested me in the Temple for preaching this, and they tried to kill me. 22 But God has protected me right up to this present time so I can testify to everyone, from the least to the greatest. I teach nothing except what the prophets and Moses said would happen— 23 that the Messiah would suffer and be the first to rise from the dead, and in this way announce God's light to Jews and Gentiles alike.” 24 Suddenly, Festus shouted, “Paul, you are insane. Too much study has made you crazy!” 25 But Paul replied, “I am not insane, Most Excellent Festus. What I am saying is the sober truth. 26 And King Agrippa knows about these things. I speak boldly, for I am sure these events are all familiar to him, for they were not done in a corner! 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do—” 28 Agrippa interrupted him. “Do you think you can persuade me to become a Christian so quickly?” 29 Paul replied, “Whether quickly or not, I pray to God that both you and everyone here in this audience might become the same as I am, except for these chains.” 30 Then the king, the governor, Bernice, and all the others stood and left. 31 As they went out, they talked it over and agreed, “This man hasn't done [...]

Acts 25 NLT read aloud by Simon MacFarlane. 1 Three days after Festus arrived in Caesarea to take over his new responsibilities, he left for Jerusalem, 2 where the leading priests and other Jewish leaders met with him and made their accusations against Paul. 3 They asked Festus as a favor to transfer Paul to Jerusalem (planning to ambush and kill him on the way). 4 But Festus replied that Paul was at Caesarea and he himself would be returning there soon. 5 So he said, “Those of you in authority can return with me. If Paul has done anything wrong, you can make your accusations.” 6 About eight or ten days later Festus returned to Caesarea, and on the following day he took his seat in court and ordered that Paul be brought in. 7 When Paul arrived, the Jewish leaders from Jerusalem gathered around and made many serious accusations they couldn't prove. 8 Paul denied the charges. “I am not guilty of any crime against the Jewish laws or the Temple or the Roman government,” he said. 9 Then Festus, wanting to please the Jews, asked him, “Are you willing to go to Jerusalem and stand trial before me there?” 10 But Paul replied, “No! This is the official Roman court, so I ought to be tried right here. You know very well I am not guilty of harming the Jews. 11 If I have done something worthy of death, I don't refuse to die. But if I am innocent, no one has a right to turn me over to these men to kill me. I appeal to Caesar!” 12 Festus conferred with his advisers and then replied, “Very well! You have appealed to Caesar, and to Caesar you will go!” 13 A few days later King Agrippa arrived with his sister, Bernice, to pay their respects to Festus. 14 During their stay of several days, Festus discussed Paul's case with the king. “There is a prisoner here,” he told him, “whose case was left for me by Felix. 15 When I was in Jerusalem, the leading priests and Jewish elders pressed charges against him and asked me to condemn him. 16 I pointed out to them that Roman law does not convict people without a trial. They must be given an opportunity to confront their accusers and defend themselves. 17 “When his accusers came here for the trial, I didn't delay. I called the case the very next day and ordered Paul brought in. 18 But the accusations made against him weren't any of the crimes I expected. 19 Instead, it was something about their religion and a dead man named Jesus, who Paul insists is alive. 20 I was at a loss to know how to investigate these things, so I asked him whether he would be willing to stand trial on these charges in Jerusalem. 21 But Paul appealed to have his case decided by the emperor. So I ordered that he be held in custody until I could arrange to send him to Caesar.” 22 “I'd like to hear the man myself,” Agrippa said. And Festus replied, “You will—tomorrow!” 23 So the next day Agrippa and Bernice arrived at the auditorium with great pomp, accompanied by military officers and prominent men of the city. Festus ordered that Paul be brought in. 24 Then Festus said, “King Agrippa and all who are here, this is the man whose death is demanded by all the Jews, both here and in Jerusalem. 25 But in my opinion he has done nothing deserving death. However, since he appealed his case to the emperor, I have decided to send him to Rome. 26 “But what shall I write the emperor? For there is no clear charge against him. So I have brought him before all of you, and especially you, King Agrippa, so that after we examine him, I might have something to write. 27 For it makes no sense to send a prisoner to the emperor without specifying the charges against him!”