# verses

text:
 and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened; and every one s bands were loosed.


text:
 And the jailor being roused out of sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, drew his sword, and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.


text:
 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, immediately.


text:
 And he brought them up into his house, and set meat before them, and rejoiced greatly, with all his house, having believed in God.


text:
 And the jailor reported the words to Paul, {cf15i saying}, The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore come forth, and go in peace.


text:
 But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men that are Romans, and have cast us into prison; and do they now cast us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and bring us out.


text:
 And the serjeants reported these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans;


text:
 and they came and besought them; and when they had brought them out, they asked them to go away from the city.


text:
 And they went out of the prison, and entered into {cf15i the house of} Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.


text:
 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:


text:
 and Paul, as his custom was, went in unto them, and for three sabbath days reasoned with them from the scriptures,


text:
 opening and alleging, that it behoved the Christ to suffer, and to rise again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom, {cf15i said he}, I proclaim unto you, is the Christ.


text:
 And some of them were persuaded, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.


text:
 But the Jews, being moved with jealousy, took unto them certain vile fellows of the rabble, and gathering a crowd, set the city on an uproar; and assaulting the house of Jason, they sought to bring them forth to the people.


text:
 And when they found them not, they dragged Jason and certain brethren before the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;


text:
 whom Jason hath received: and these all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, {cf15i one} Jesus.


text:
 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Beroea: who when they were come thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.


text:
 Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, examining the scriptures daily, whether these things were so.


text:
 Many of them therefore believed; also of the Greek women of honourable estate, and of men, not a few.


text:
 But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was proclaimed of Paul at Beroea also, they came thither likewise, stirring up and troubling the multitudes.


text:
 And then immediately the brethren sent forth Paul to go as far as to the sea: and Silas and Timothy abode there still.


text:
 But they that conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timothy that they should come to him with all speed, they departed.


text:
 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him, as he beheld the city full of idols.


text:
 So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with them that met with him.


text:
 And certain also of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. And some said, What would this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached Jesus and the resurrection.


text:
 And they took hold of him, and brought him unto the Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new teaching is, which is spoken by thee?


text:
 For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean.


text:
 (Now all the Athenians and the strangers sojourning there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell or to hear some new thing.)


text:
 And Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus, and said, Ye men of Athens, in all things I perceive that ye are somewhat superstitious.


text:
 For as I passed along, and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. What therefore ye worship in ignorance, this set I forth unto you.


text:
 The God that made the world and all things therein, he, being Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;


text:
 neither is he served by men s hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he himself giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;


text:
 and he made of one every nation of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, having determined {cf15i their} appointed seasons, and the bounds of their habitation;


text:
 that they should seek God, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he is not far from each one of us:


text:
 for in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain even of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.


text:
 Being then the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and device of man.


text:
 The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked; but now he commandeth men that they should all everywhere repent:


text:
 inasmuch as he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.


text:
 Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked; but others said, We will hear thee concerning this yet again.


text:
 But certain men clave unto him, and believed: among whom also was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.


text:
 And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, a man of Pontus by race, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome: and he came unto them;


text:
 and because he was of the same trade, he abode with them, and they wrought; for by their trade they were tentmakers.


text:
 But when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul was constrained by the word, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.


text:
 And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook out his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood {cf15i be} upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.


text:
 And he departed thence, and went into the house of a certain man named Titus Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue.


text:
 And Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.


text:
 And the Lord said unto Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace:


text:
 for I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to harm thee: for I have much people in this city.


text:
 But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul, and brought him before the judgment seat,


text:
 But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, If indeed it were a matter of wrong or of wicked villany, O ye Jews, reason would that I should bear with you:


text:
 but if they are questions about words and names and your own law, look to it yourselves; I am not minded to be a judge of these matters.


text:
 And they all laid hold on Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. And Gallio cared for none of these things.


text:
 And Paul, having tarried after this yet many days, took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence for Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchreae: for he had a vow.


text:
 And they came to Ephesus, and he left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews.


text:
 but taking his leave of them, and saying, I will return again unto you, if God will, he set sail from Ephesus.


text:
 And having spent some time {cf15i there}, he departed, and went through the region of Galatia and Phrygia in order, stablishing all the disciples.


text:
 Now a certain Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by race, a learned man, came to Ephesus; and he was mighty in the scriptures.


text:
 This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spake and taught carefully the things concerning Jesus, knowing only the baptism of John:


text:
 and he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more carefully.


text:
 And when he was minded to pass over into Achaia, the brethren encouraged him, and wrote to the disciples to receive him: and when he was come, he helped them much which had believed through grace:


text:
 for he powerfully confuted the Jews, {cf15i and that} publicly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.


text:
 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper country came to Ephesus, and found certain disciples:


text:
 and he said unto them, Did ye receive the Holy Ghost when ye believed? And they {cf15i said} unto him, Nay, we did not so much as hear whether the Holy Ghost was {cf15i given}.


text:
 And Paul said, John baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Jesus.


text:
 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.


text:
 And he entered into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, reasoning and persuading {cf15i as to} the things concerning the kingdom of God.


text:
 But when some were hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus.


text:
 And this continued for the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.


text:
 insomuch that unto the sick were carried away from his body handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out.


text:
 But certain also of the strolling Jews, exorcists, took upon them to name over them which had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.


text:
 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and mastered both of them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.


text:
 And this became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, that dwelt at Ephesus; and fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.


text:
 And not a few of them that practised curious arts brought their books together, and burned them in the sight of all: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.


text:
 Now after these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.


text:
 And having sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while.


text:
 For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines of Diana, brought no little business unto the craftsmen;


text:
 whom he gathered together, with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this business we have our wealth.


text:
 And ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands:


text:
 and not only is there danger that this our trade come into disrepute; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana be made of no account, and that she should even be deposed from her magnificence, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.


text:
 And when they heard this, they were filled with wrath, and cried out, saying, Great {cf15i is} Diana of the Ephesians.


text:
 And the city was filled with the confusion: and they rushed with one accord into the theatre, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul s companions in travel.


text:
 And certain also of the chief officers of Asia, being his friends, sent unto him, and besought him not to adventure himself into the theatre.


text:
 Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was in confusion; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together.


text:
 And they brought Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made a defence unto the people.


text:
 But when they perceived that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great {cf15i is} Diana of the Ephesians.


text:
 And when the townclerk had quieted the multitude, he saith, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there who knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is temple keeper of the great Diana, and of the {cf15i image} which fell down from Jupiter?


text:
 For ye have brought {cf15i hither} these men, which are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of our goddess.


text:
 If therefore Demetrius, and the craftsmen that are with him, have a matter against any man, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls: let them accuse one another.


text:
 For indeed we are in danger to be accused concerning this day s riot, there being no cause {cf15i for it}: and as touching it we shall not be able to give account of this concourse.


text:
 And after the uproar was ceased, Paul having sent for the disciples and exhorted them, took leave of them, and departed for to go into Macedonia.


text:
 And when he had gone through those parts, and had given them much exhortation, he came into Greece.


text:
 And when he had spent three months {cf15i there}, and a plot was laid against him by the Jews, as he was about to set sail for Syria, he determined to return through Macedonia.


text:
 And there accompanied him as far as Asia Sopater of Beroea, {cf15i the son} of Pyrrhus; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus.


text:
 And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we tarried seven days.


text:
 And upon the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul discoursed with them, intending to depart on the morrow; and prolonged his speech until midnight.


text:
 And there sat in the window a certain young man named Eutychus, borne down with deep sleep; and as Paul discoursed yet longer, being borne down by his sleep he fell down from the third story, and was taken up dead.


text:
 And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Make ye no ado; for his life is in him.


text:
 And when he was gone up, and had broken the bread, and eaten, and had talked with them a long while, even till break of day, so he departed.


text:
 But we, going before to the ship, set sail for Assos, there intending to take in Paul: for so had he appointed, intending himself to go by land.


text:
 And sailing from thence, we came the following day over against Chios; and the next day we touched at Samos; and the day after we came to Miletus.


text:
 For Paul had determined to sail past Ephesus, that he might not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hastening, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost.


text:
 And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, after what manner I was with you all the time,


text:
 serving the Lord with all lowliness of mind, and with tears, and with trials which befell me by the plots of the Jews:


text:
 how that I shrank not from declaring unto you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly, and from house to house,


text:
 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.


text:
 And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:


text:
 save that the Holy Ghost testifieth unto me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.


text:
 But I hold not my life of any account, as dear unto myself, so that I may accomplish my course, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.


text:
 And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I went about preaching the kingdom, shall see my face no more.


text:
 Take heed unto yourselves, and to all the flock, in the which the Holy Ghost hath made you bishops, to feed the church of God, which he purchased with his own blood.


text:
 and from among your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.


text:
 Wherefore watch ye, remembering that by the space of three years I ceased not to admonish every one night and day with tears.


text:
 And now I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build {cf15i you} up, and to give {cf15i you} the inheritance among all them that are sanctified.


text:
 In all things I gave you an example, how that so labouring ye ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.


text:
 Sorrowing most of all for the word which he had spoken, that they should behold his face no more. And they brought him on his way unto the ship.


text:
 And when it came to pass that we were parted from them, and had set sail, we came with a straight course unto Cos, and the next day unto Rhodes, and from thence unto Patara:


text:
 And when we had come in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left hand, we sailed unto Syria, and landed at Tyre: for there the ship was to unlade her burden.


text:
 And having found the disciples, we tarried there seven days: and these said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not set foot in Jerusalem.


text:
 And when it came to pass that we had accomplished the days, we departed and went on our journey; and they all, with wives and children, brought us on our way, till we were out of the city: and kneeling down on the beach, we prayed,


text:
 And when we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais; and we saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day.


text:
 And on the morrow we departed, and came unto Caesarea: and entering into the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, we abode with him.


text:
 And coming to us, and taking Paul s girdle, he bound his own feet and hands, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.


text:
 And when we heard these things, both we and they of that place besought him not to go up to Jerusalem.


text:
 Then Paul answered, What do ye, weeping and breaking my heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.


text:
 And there went with us also {cf15i certain} of the disciples from Caesarea, bringing {cf15i with them} one Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we should lodge.


text:
 And when he had saluted them, he rehearsed one by one the things which God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry.


text:
 And they, when they heard it, glorified God; and they said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of them which have believed; and they are all zealous for the law:


text:
 and they have been informed concerning thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs.


text:
 these take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges for them, that they may shave their heads: and all shall know that there is no truth in the things whereof they have been informed concerning thee; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, keeping the law.


text:
 But as touching the Gentiles which have believed, we wrote, giving judgment that they should keep themselves from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what is strangled, and from fornication.


text:
 Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them went into the temple, declaring the fulfillment of the days of purification, until the offering was offered for every one of them.


text:
 And when the seven days were almost completed, the Jews from Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the multitude, and laid hands on him,


text:
 crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all men everywhere against the people, and the law, and this place: and moreover he brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath defiled this holy place.


text:
 For they had before seen with him in the city Trophimus the Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.


text:
 And all the city was moved, and the people ran together: and they laid hold on Paul, and dragged him out of the temple: and straightway the doors were shut.


text:
 And as they were seeking to kill him, tidings came up to the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in confusion.


text:
 And forthwith he took soldiers and centurions, and ran down upon them: and they, when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, left off beating Paul.


text:
 Then the chief captain came near, and laid hold on him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains; and inquired who he was, and what he had done.


text:
 And some shouted one thing, some another, among the crowd: and when he could not know the certainty for the uproar, he commanded him to be brought into the castle.


text:
 And when he came upon the stairs, so it was, that he was borne of the soldiers for the violence of the crowd;


text:
 And as Paul was about to be brought into the castle, he saith unto the chief captain, May I say something unto thee? And he said, Dost thou know Greek?


text:
 Art thou not then the Egyptian, which before these days stirred up to sedition and led out into the wilderness the four thousand men of the Assassins?


text:
 But Paul said, I am a Jew, of Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and I beseech thee, give me leave to speak unto the people.


text:
 And when he had given him leave, Paul, standing on the stairs, beckoned with the hand unto the people; and when there was made a great silence, he spake unto them in the Hebrew language, saying,


text:
 And when they heard that he spake unto them in the Hebrew language, they were the more quiet: and he saith,


text:
 I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city, at the feet of Gamaliel, instructed according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God, even as ye all are this day:


text:
 As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and journeyed to Damascus, to bring them also which were there unto Jerusalem in bonds, for to be punished.


text:
 And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and drew nigh unto Damascus, about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me.


text:
 And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.


text:
 And they that were with me beheld indeed the light, but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me.


text:
 And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do.


text:
 And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus.


text:
 And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well reported of by all the Jews that dwelt there,


text:
 came unto me, and standing by me said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And in that very hour I looked up on him.


text:
 And he said, The God of our fathers hath appointed thee to know his will, and to see the Righteous One, and to hear a voice from his mouth.


text:
 And it came to pass, that, when I had returned to Jerusalem, and while I prayed in the temple, I fell into a trance,


text:
 and saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: because they will not receive of thee testimony concerning me.


text:
 And I said, Lord, they themselves know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee:


text:
 and when the blood of Stephen thy witness was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting, and keeping the garments of them that slew him.


text:
 And they gave him audience unto this word; and they lifted up their voice, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live.


text:
 the chief captain commanded him to be brought into the castle, bidding that he should be examined by scourging, that he might know for what cause they so shouted against him.


text:
 And when they had tied him up with the thongs, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned?


text:
 And when the centurion heard it, he went to the chief captain, and told him, saying, What art thou about to do? for this man is a Roman.


text:
 And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this citizenship. And Paul said, But I am {cf15i a Roman} born.


text:
 They then which were about to examine him straightway departed from him: and the chief captain also was afraid, when he knew that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.


text:
 But on the morrow, desiring to know the certainty, wherefore he was accused of the Jews, he loosed him, and commanded the chief priests and all the council to come together, and brought Paul down, and set him before them.


text:
 And Paul, looking stedfastly on the council, said, Brethren, I have lived before God in all good conscience until this day.


text:
 Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: and sittest thou to judge me according to the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?


text:
 And Paul said, I wist not, brethren, that he was high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of a ruler of thy people.


text:
 But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Brethren, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees: touching the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.


text:
 And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and Sadducees: and the assembly was divided.


text:
 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.


text:
 And there arose a great clamour: and some of the scribes of the Pharisees part stood up, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: and what if a spirit hath spoken to him, or an angel?


text:
 And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should be torn in pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them, and bring him into the castle.


text:
 And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer: for as thou hast testified concerning me at Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.


text:
 And when it was day, the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.


text:
 And they came to the chief priests and the elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, to taste nothing until we have killed Paul.


text:
 Now therefore do ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you, as though ye would judge of his case more exactly: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to slay him.


text:
 But Paul s sister s son heard of their lying in wait, and he came and entered into the castle, and told Paul.


text:
 And Paul called unto him one of the centurions, and said, Bring this young man unto the chief captain: for he hath something to tell him.


text:
 So he took him, and brought him to the chief captain, and saith, Paul the prisoner called me unto him, and asked me to bring this young man unto thee, who hath something to say to thee.


text:
 And the chief captain took him by the hand, and going aside asked him privately, What is that thou hast to tell me?


text:
 And he said, The Jews have agreed to ask thee to bring down Paul tomorrow unto the council, as though thou wouldest inquire somewhat more exactly concerning him.


text:
 Do not thou therefore yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, which have bound themselves under a curse, neither to eat nor to drink till they have slain him: and now are they ready, looking for the promise from thee.


text:
 So the chief captain let the young man go, charging him, Tell no man that thou hast signified these things to me.


text:
 And he called unto him two of the centurions, and said, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go as far as Caesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night:


text:
 and {cf15i he bade them} provide beasts, that they might set Paul thereon, and bring him safe unto Felix the governor.


text:
 This man was seized by the Jews, and was about to be slain of them, when I came upon them with the soldiers, and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman.


text:
 whom I found to be accused about questions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds.


text:
 And when it was shewn to me that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to thee forthwith, charging his accusers also to speak against him before thee.


text:
 and they, when they came to Caesarea, and delivered the letter to the governor, presented Paul also before him.


text:
 And when he had read it, he asked of what province he was; and when he understood that he was of Cilicia,


text:
 I will hear thy cause, said he, when thine accusers also are come: and he commanded him to be kept in Herod s palace.


text:
 And after five days the high priest Ananias came down with certain elders, and {cf15i with} an orator, one Tertullus; and they informed the governor against Paul.


text:
 And when he was called, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Seeing that by thee we enjoy much peace, and that by thy providence evils are corrected for this nation,


text:
 But, that I be not further tedious unto thee, I entreat thee to hear us of thy clemency a few words.


text:
 For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of insurrections among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes:


text:
 from whom thou wilt be able, by examining him thyself, to take knowledge of all these things, whereof we accuse him.


text:
 And when the governor had beckoned unto him to speak, Paul answered, Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many years a judge unto this nation, I do cheerfully make my defence:


text:
 seeing that thou canst take knowledge, that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship at Jerusalem:


text:
 and neither in the temple did they find me disputing with any man or stirring up a crowd, nor in the synagogues, nor in the city.


text:
 But this I confess unto thee, that after the Way which they call a sect, so serve I the God of our fathers, believing all things which are according to the law, and which are written in the prophets:


text:
 having hope toward God, which these also themselves look for, that there shall be a resurrection both of the just and unjust.


text:
 amidst which they found me purified in the temple, with no crowd, nor yet with tumult: but {cf15i there were} certain Jews from Asia 


text:
 except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among them, Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question before you this day.


text:
 But Felix, having more exact knowledge concerning the Way, deferred them, saying, When Lysias the chief captain shall come down, I will determine your matter.


text:
 And he gave order to the centurion that he should be kept in charge, and should have indulgence; and not to forbid any of his friends to minister unto him.


text:
 But after certain days, Felix came with Drusilla, his wife, which was a Jewess, and sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ Jesus.


text:
 And as he reasoned of righteousness, and temperance, and the judgment to come, Felix was terrified, and answered, Go thy way for this time; and when I have a convenient season, I will call thee unto me.


text:
 He hoped withal that money would be given him of Paul: wherefore also he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him.


text:
 But when two years were fulfilled, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus; and desiring to gain favour with the Jews, Felix left Paul in bonds.


text:
 Festus therefore, having come into the province, after three days went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.


text:
 And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews informed him against Paul; and they besought him,


text:
 asking favour against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem; laying wait to kill him on the way.


text:
 Howbeit Festus answered, that Paul was kept in charge at Caesarea, and that he himself was about to depart {cf15i thither} shortly.


text:
 Let them therefore, saith he, which are of power among you, go down with me, and if there is anything amiss in the man, let them accuse him.


text:
 And when he had tarried among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down unto Caesarea; and on the morrow he sat on the judgment seat, and commanded Paul to be brought.


text:
 And when he was come, the Jews which had come down from Jerusalem stood round about him, bringing against him many and grievous charges, which they could not prove;


text:
 while Paul said in his defence, Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar, have I sinned at all.


text:
 But Festus, desiring to gain favour with the Jews, answered Paul, and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?


text:
 But Paul said, I am standing before Caesar s judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou also very well knowest.


text:
 If then I am a wrong doer, and have committed anything worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if none of those things is {cf15i true}, whereof these accuse me, no man can give me up unto them. I appeal unto Caesar.


text:
 Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Thou hast appealed unto Caesar: unto Caesar shalt thou go.


text:
 Now when certain days were passed, Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea, and saluted Festus.


text:
 And as they tarried there many days, Festus laid Paul s case before the king, saying, There is a certain man left a prisoner by Felix:


text:
 about whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed {cf15i me}, asking for sentence against him.


text:
 To whom I answered, that it is not the custom of the Romans to give up any man, before that the accused have the accusers face to face, and have had opportunity to make his defence concerning the matter laid against him.


text:
 When therefore they were come together here, I made no delay, but on the next day sat down on the judgment seat, and commanded the man to be brought.


text:
 Concerning whom, when the accusers stood up, they brought no charge of such evil things as I supposed;


text:
 but had certain questions against him of their own religion, and of one Jesus, who was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.


text:
 And I, being perplexed how to inquire concerning these things, asked whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these matters.


text:
 But when Paul had appealed to be kept for the decision of the emperor, I commanded him to be kept till I should send him to Caesar.


text:
 And Agrippa {cf15i said} unto Festus, I also could wish to hear the man myself. Tomorrow, saith he, thou shalt hear him.


text:
 So on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and they were entered into the place of hearing, with the chief captains, and the principal men of the city, at the command of Festus Paul was brought in.


text:
 And Festus saith, King Agrippa, and all men which are here present with us, ye behold this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews made suit to me, both at Jerusalem and here, crying that he ought not to live any longer.


text:
 But I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death: and as he himself appealed to the emperor I determined to send him.


text:
 Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my lord. Wherefore I have brought him forth before you, and specially before thee, king Agrippa, that, after examination had, I may have somewhat to write.


text:
 For it seemeth to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not withal to signify the charges against him.


text:
 And Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth his hand, and made his defence:


text:
 I think myself happy, king Agrippa, that I am to make my defence before thee this day touching all the things whereof I am accused by the Jews:


text:
 especially because thou art expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.


text:
 My manner of life then from my youth up, which was from the beginning among mine own nation, and at Jerusalem, know all the Jews;


text:
 having knowledge of me from the first, if they be willing to testify, how that after the straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.


text:
 And now I stand {cf15i here} to be judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers;


text:
 unto which {cf15i promise} our twelve tribes, earnestly serving {cf15i God} night and day, hope to attain. And concerning this hope I am accused by the Jews, O king!


text:
 I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.


text:
 And this I also did in Jerusalem: and I both shut up many of the saints in prisons, having received authority from the chief priests, and when they were put to death, I gave my vote against them.


text:
 And punishing them oftentimes in all the synagogues, I strove to make them blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto foreign cities.


text:
 at midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them that journeyed with me.


text:
 And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice saying unto me in the Hebrew language, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the goad.


text:
 But arise, and stand upon thy feet: for to this end have I appeared unto thee, to appoint thee a minister and a witness both of the things wherein thou hast seen me, and of the things wherein I will appear unto thee;


text:
 to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive remission of sins and an inheritance among them that are sanctified by faith in me.


text:
 but declared both to them of Damascus first, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the country of Judaea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, doing works worthy of repentance.


text:
 Having therefore obtained the help that is from God, I stand unto this day testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses did say should come;


text:
 how that the Christ must suffer, {cf15i and} how that he first by the resurrection of the dead should proclaim light both to the people and to the Gentiles.


text:
 And as he thus made his defence, Festus saith with a loud voice, Paul, thou art mad; thy much learning doth turn thee to madness.


text:
 For the king knoweth of these things, unto whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things is hidden from him; for this hath not been done in a corner.


text:
 And Agrippa {cf15i said} unto Paul, With but little persuasion thou wouldest fain make me a Christian.


text:
 And Paul {cf15i said}, I would to God, that whether with little or with much, not thou only, but also all that hear me this day, might become such as I am, except these bonds.


text:
 and when they had withdrawn, they spake one to another, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds.


text:
 And Agrippa said unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar.


text:
 And when it was determined that we should sail for Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners to a centurion named Julius, of the Augustan band.


text:
 And embarking in a ship of Adramyttium, which was about to sail unto the places on the coast of Asia, we put to sea, Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us.


text:
 And the next day we touched at Sidon: and Julius treated Paul kindly, and gave him leave to go unto his friends and refresh himself.


text:
 And putting to sea from thence, we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.


text:
 And when we had sailed across the sea which is off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, {cf15i a city} of Lycia.


text:
 And when we had sailed slowly many days, and were come with difficulty over against Cnidus, the wind not further suffering us, we sailed under the lee of Crete, over against Salmone;


text:
 and with difficulty coasting along it we came unto a certain place called Fair Havens; nigh whereunto was the city of Lasea.


text:
 And when much time was spent, and the voyage was now dangerous, because the Fast was now already gone by, Paul admonished them,


text:
 and said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that the voyage will be with injury and much loss, not only of the lading and the ship, but also of our lives.


text:
 But the centurion gave more heed to the master and to the owner of the ship, than to those things which were spoken by Paul.


text:
 And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part advised to put to sea from thence, if by any means they could reach Phoenix, and winter {cf15i there}; {cf15i which is} a haven of Crete, looking north east and south east.


text:
 And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, close in shore.


text:
 and when the ship was caught, and could not face the wind, we gave way {cf15i to it}, and were driven.


text:
 And running under the lee of a small island called Cauda, we were able, with difficulty, to secure the boat:


text:
 and when they had hoisted it up, they used helps, under girding the ship; and, fearing lest they should be cast upon the Syrtis, they lowered the gear, and so were driven.


text:
 And as we laboured exceedingly with the storm, the next day they began to throw {cf15i the freight} overboard;


text:
 And when neither sun nor stars shone upon {cf15i us} for many days, and no small tempest lay on {cf15i us}, all hope that we should be saved was now taken away.


text:
 And when they had been long without food, then Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have set sail from Crete, and have gotten this injury and loss.


text:
 And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of life among you, but {cf15i only} of the ship.


text:
 saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must stand before Caesar: and lo, God hath granted thee all them that sail with thee.


text:
 Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even so as it hath been spoken unto me.


text:
 But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven to and fro in the {cf15i sea of} Adria, about midnight the sailors surmised that they were drawing near to some country;


text:
 and they sounded, and found twenty fathoms: and after a little space, they sounded again, and found fifteen fathoms.


text:
 And fearing lest haply we should be cast ashore on rocky ground, they let go four anchors from the stern, and wished for the day.


text:
 And as the sailors were seeking to flee out of the ship, and had lowered the boat into the sea, under colour as though they would lay out anchors from the foreship,


text:
 Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.


text:
 And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take some food, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye wait and continue fasting, having taken nothing.


text:
 Wherefore I beseech you to take some food: for this is for your safety: for there shall not a hair perish from the head of any of you.


text:
 And when he had said this, and had taken bread, he gave thanks to God in the presence of all: and he brake it, and began to eat.


text:
 And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they perceived a certain bay with a beach, and they took counsel whether they could drive the ship upon it.


text:
 And casting off the anchors, they left them in the sea, at the same time loosing the bands of the rudders; and hoisting up the foresail to the wind, they made for the beach.


text:
 But lighting upon a place where two seas met, they ran the vessel aground; and the foreship struck and remained unmoveable, but the stern began to break up by the violence {cf15i of the waves}.


text:
 And the soldiers counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any {cf15i of them} should swim out, and escape.


text:
 But the centurion, desiring to save Paul, stayed them from their purpose; and commanded that they which could swim should cast themselves overboard, and get first to the land:


text:
 and the rest, some on planks, and some on {cf15i other} things from the ship. And so it came to pass, that they all escaped safe to the land.


text:
 And the barbarians shewed us no common kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us all, because of the present rain, and because of the cold.


text:
 But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, a viper came out by reason of the heat, and fastened on his hand.


text:
 And when the barbarians saw the beast hanging from his hand, they said one to another, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped from the sea, yet Justice hath not suffered to live.


text:
 But they expected that he would have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but when they were long in expectation, and beheld nothing amiss came to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.


text:
 Now in the neighbourhood of that place were lands belonging to the chief man of the island, named Publius; who received us, and entertained us three days courteously.


text:
 And it was so, that the father of Publius lay sick of fever and dysentery: unto whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laying his hands on him healed him.


text:
 who also honoured us with many honours; and when we sailed, they put on board such things as we needed.


text:
 And after three months we set sail in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the island, whose sign was The Twin Brothers.


text:
 And from thence we made a circuit, and arrived at Rhegium: and after one day a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli:


text:
 And from thence the brethren, when they heard of us, came to meet us as far as The Market of Appius, and The Three Taverns: whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage.


text:
 And when we entered into Rome, Paul was suffered to abide by himself with the soldier that guarded him.


text:
 And it came to pass, that after three days he called together those that were the chief of the Jews: and when they were come together, he said unto them, I, brethren, though I had done nothing against the people, or the customs of our fathers, yet was delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans:


text:
 who, when they had examined me, desired to set me at liberty, because there was no cause of death in me.


text:
 But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had aught to accuse my nation of.


text:
 For this cause therefore did I entreat you to see and to speak with {cf15i me}: for because of the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.


text:
 And they said unto him, We neither received letters from Judaea concerning thee, nor did any of the brethren come hither and report or speak any harm of thee.


text:
 But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, it is known to us that everywhere it is spoken against.


text:
 And when they had appointed him a day, they came to him into his lodging in great number; to whom he expounded {cf15i the matter}, testifying the kingdom of God, and persuading them concerning Jesus, both from the law of Moses and from the prophets, from morning till evening.


text:
 And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Isaiah the prophet unto your fathers,


text:
 saying, Go thou unto this people, and say, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall in no wise understand; And seeing ye shall see, and shall in no wise perceive:


text:
 Be it known therefore unto you, that this salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles: they will also hear.


text:
 preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, none forbidding him.


text:
 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called {cf15i to be} an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,


text:
 who was declared {cf15i to be} the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection of the dead; {cf15i even} Jesus Christ our Lord,


text:
 through whom we received grace and apostleship, unto obedience of faith among all the nations, for his name s sake:


text:
 To all that are in Rome, beloved of God, called {cf15i to be} saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.


text:
 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is proclaimed throughout the whole world.


text:
 For God is my witness, whom I serve in my spirit in the gospel of his Son, how unceasingly I make mention of you, always in my prayers


text:
 making request, if by any means now at length I may be prospered by the will of God to come unto you.


text:
 For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;


text:
 that is, that I with you may be comforted in you, each of us by the other s faith, both yours and mine.


text:
 And I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you (and was hindered hitherto), that I might have some fruit in you also, even as in the rest of the Gentiles.


text:
 For I am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.


text:
 For therein is revealed a righteousness of God by faith unto faith: as it is written, But the righteous shall live by faith.


text:
 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold down the truth in unrighteousness;


text:
 For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, {cf15i even} his everlasting power and divinity; that they may be without excuse:


text:
 because that, knowing God, they glorified him not as God, neither gave thanks; but became vain in their reasonings, and their senseless heart was darkened.


text:
 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God for the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds, and four footed beasts, and creeping things.


text:
 Wherefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts unto uncleanness, that their bodies should be dishonoured among themselves:


text:
 for that they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.


text:
 For this cause God gave them up unto vile passions: for their women changed the natural use into that which is against nature:


text:
 and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another, men with men working unseemliness, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was due.


text:
 And even as they refused to have God in {cf15i their} knowledge, God gave them up unto a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not fitting;


text:
 being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malignity; whisperers,


text:
 backbiters, hateful to God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,


text:
 who, knowing the ordinance of God, that they which practise such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but also consent with them that practise them.


text:
 Wherefore thou art without excuse, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest dost practise the same things.


text:
 And reckonest thou this, O man, who judgest them that practise such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?


text:
 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?


text:
 but after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up for thyself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;


text:
 but unto them that are factious, and obey not the truth, but obey unrighteousness, {cf15i shall be} wrath and indignation,


text:
 tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that worketh evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Greek;


text:
 but glory and honour and peace to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek:


text:
 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned under law shall be judged by law;


text:
 for when Gentiles which have no law do by nature the things of the law, these, having no law, are a law unto themselves;


text:
 in that they shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness therewith, and their thoughts one with another accusing or else excusing {cf15i them};


text:
 and knowest his will, and approvest the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law,


text:
 and art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them that are in darkness,


text:
 a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having in the law the form of knowledge and of the truth;


text:
 thou therefore that teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?


text:
 thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou rob temples?


text:
 For circumcision indeed profiteth, if thou be a doer of the law: but if thou be a transgressor of the law, thy circumcision is become uncircumcision.


text:
 If therefore the uncircumcision keep the ordinances of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be reckoned for circumcision?


text:
 and shall not the uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfill the law, judge thee, who with the letter and circumcision art a transgressor of the law?


text:
 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:


text:
 but he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.


text:
 For what if some were without faith? shall their want of faith make of none effect the faithfulness of God?


text:
 God forbid: yea, let God be found true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy words, And mightest prevail when thou comest into judgment.


text:
 But if our unrighteousness commendeth the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who visiteth with wrath? (I speak after the manner of men.)


text:
 But if the truth of God through my lie abounded unto his glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner?


text:
 and why not (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say), Let us do evil, that good may come? whose condemnation is just.


text:
 What then? are we in worse case than they? No, in no wise: for we before laid to the charge both of Jews and Greeks, that they are all under sin;


text:
 They have all turned aside, they are together become unprofitable; There is none that doeth good, no, not so much as one:


text:
 Their throat is an open sepulchre; With their tongues they have used deceit: The poison of asps is under their lips:


text:
 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it speaketh to them that are under the law; that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God:


text:
 because by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for through the law {cf15i cometh} the knowledge of sin.


text:
 But now apart from the law a righteousness of God hath been manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;


text:
 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ unto all them that believe; for there is no distinction;


text:
 whom God set forth {cf15i to be} a propitiation, through faith, by his blood, to shew his righteousness, because of the passing over of the sins done aforetime, in the forbearance of God;


text:
 for the shewing, {cf15i I say}, of his righteousness at this present season: that he might himself be just, and the justifier of him that hath faith in Jesus.


text:
 Where then is the glorying? It is excluded. By what manner of law? of works? Nay: but by a law of faith.


text:
 Or is God {cf15i the God} of Jews only? is he not {cf15i the God} of Gentiles also? Yea, of Gentiles also:


text:
 if so be that God is one, and he shall justify the circumcision by faith, and the uncircumcision through faith.


text:
 For what saith the scripture? And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness.


text:
 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is reckoned for righteousness.


text:
 Even as David also pronounceth blessing upon the man, unto whom God reckoneth righteousness apart from works,


text:
 Is this blessing then pronounced upon the circumcision, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say, To Abraham his faith was reckoned for righteousness.


text:
 How then was it reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision:


text:
 and he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while he was in uncircumcision: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be in uncircumcision, that righteousness might be reckoned unto them;


text:
 and the father of circumcision to them who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham which he had in uncircumcision.


text:
 For not through the law was the promise to Abraham or to his seed, that he should be heir of the world, but through the righteousness of faith.


text:
 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise is made of none effect:


text:
 For this cause {cf15i it is} of faith, that {cf15i it may be} according to grace; to the end that the promise may be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all


text:
 (as it is written, A father of many nations have I made thee) before him whom he believed, {cf15i even} God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth the things that are not, as though they were.


text:
 Who in hope believed against hope, to the end that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, So shall thy seed be.


text:
 And without being weakened in faith he considered his own body now as good as dead (he being about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah s womb:


text:
 yea, looking unto the promise of God, he wavered not through unbelief, but waxed strong through faith, giving glory to God,


text:
 but for our sake also, unto whom it shall be reckoned, who believe on him that raised Jesus our Lord from the dead,


text:
 through whom also we have had our access by faith into this grace wherein we stand; and let us rejoice in hope of the glory of God.


text:
 And not only so, but let us also rejoice in our tribulations: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;


text:
 and hope putteth not to shame; because the love of God hath been shed abroad in our hearts through the Holy Ghost which was given unto us.


text:
 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: for peradventure for the good man some one would even dare to die.


text:
 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, shall we be saved from the wrath {cf15i of God} through him.


text:
 For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, shall we be saved by his life;


text:
 and not only so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.


text:
 Therefore, as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin; and so death passed unto all men, for that all sinned: 


text:
 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the likeness of Adam s transgression, who is a figure of him that was to come.


text:
 But not as the trespass, so also {cf15i is} the free gift. For if by the trespass of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God, and the gift by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abound unto the many.


text:
 And not as through one that sinned, {cf15i so} is the gift: for the judgment {cf15i came} of one unto condemnation, but the free gift {cf15i came} of many trespasses unto justification.


text:
 For if, by the trespass of the one, death reigned through the one; much more shall they that receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, {cf15i even} Jesus Christ.


text:
 So then as through one trespass {cf15i the judgment came} unto all men to condemnation; even so through one act of righteousness {cf15i the free gift came} unto all men to justification of life.


text:
 For as through the one man s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the one shall the many be made righteous.


text:
 And the law came in beside, that the trespass might abound; but where sin abounded, grace did abound more exceedingly:


text:
 that, as sin reigned in death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.


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


text:
 For if we have become united with {cf15i him} by the likeness of his death, we shall be also {cf15i by the likeness} of his resurrection;


text:
 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with {cf15i him}, that the body of sin might be done away, that so we should no longer be in bondage to sin;


text:
 knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death no more hath dominion over him.


text:
 For the death that he died, he died unto sin once: but the life that he liveth, he liveth unto God.


text:
 neither present your members unto sin {cf15i as} instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves unto God, as alive from the dead, and your members {cf15i as} instruments of righteousness unto God.


text:
 Know ye not, that to whom ye present yourselves {cf15i as} servants unto obedience, his servants ye are whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?


text:
 But thanks be to God, that, whereas ye were servants of sin, ye became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching whereunto ye were delivered;


text:
 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye presented your members {cf15i as} servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity, even so now present your members {cf15i as} servants to righteousness unto sanctification.


text:
 What fruit then had ye at that time in the things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.


text:
 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto sanctification, and the end eternal life.


text:
 Or are ye ignorant, brethren (for I speak to men that know the law), how that the law hath dominion over a man for so long time as he liveth?


text:
 For the woman that hath a husband is bound by law to the husband while he liveth; but if the husband die, she is discharged from the law of the husband.


text:
 So then if, while the husband liveth, she be joined to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if the husband die, she is free from the law, so that she is no adulteress, though she be joined to another man.


text:
 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also were made dead to the law through the body of Christ; that ye should be joined to another, {cf15i even} to him who was raised from the dead, that we might bring forth fruit unto God.


text:
 For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were through the law, wrought in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.


text:
 But now we have been discharged from the law, having died to that wherein we were holden; so that we serve in newness of the spirit, and not in oldness of the letter.


text:
 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Howbeit, I had not known sin, except through the law: for I had not known coveting, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet:


text:
 but sin, finding occasion, wrought in me through the commandment all manner of coveting: for apart from the law sin {cf15i is} dead.


text:
 Did then that which is good become death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might be shewn to be sin, by working death to me through that which is good; that through the commandment sin might become exceeding sinful.


text:
 For that which I do I know not: for not what I would, that do I practise; but what I hate, that I do.


text:
 For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me, but to do that which is good {cf15i is} not.


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


text:
 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then I myself with the mind serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.


text:
 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and {cf15i as an offering} for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:


text:
 that the ordinance of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit.


text:
 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the spirit the things of the spirit.


text:
 because the mind of the flesh is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can it be:


text:
 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you. But if any man hath not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.


text:
 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the spirit is life because of righteousness.


text:
 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwelleth in you, he that raised up Christ Jesus from the dead shall quicken also your mortal bodies through his Spirit that dwelleth in you.


text:
 for if ye live after the flesh, ye must die; but if by the spirit ye mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.


text:
 For ye received not the spirit of bondage again unto fear; but ye received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.


text:
 and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with {cf15i him}, that we may be also glorified with {cf15i him}.


text:
 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed to us ward.


text:
 For the creation was subjected to vanity, not of its own will, but by reason of him who subjected it, in hope


text:
 that the creation itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the liberty of the glory of the children of God.


text:
 And not only so, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for {cf15i our} adoption, {cf15i to wit}, the redemption of our body.


text:
 For by hope were we saved: but hope that is seen is not hope: for who hopeth for that which he seeth?


text:
 And in like manner the Spirit also helpeth our infirmity: for we know not how to pray as we ought; but the Spirit himself maketh intercession for {cf15i us} with groanings which cannot be uttered;


text:
 and he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to {cf15i the will of} God.


text:
 And we know that to them that love God all things work together for good, {cf15i even} to them that are called according to {cf15i his} purpose.


text:
 For whom he foreknew, he also foreordained {cf15i to be} conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren:


text:
 and whom he foreordained, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.


text:
 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not also with him freely give us all things?


text:
 who is he that shall condemn? It is Christ Jesus that died, yea rather, that was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.


text:
 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?


text:
 Even as it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; We were accounted as sheep for the slaughter.


text:
 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,


text:
 nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.


text:
 For I could wish that I myself were anathema from Christ for my brethren s sake, my kinsmen according to the flesh:


text:
 who are Israelites; whose is the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service {cf15i of God}, and the promises;


text:
 whose are the fathers, and of whom is Christ as concerning the flesh, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.


text:
 But {cf15i it is} not as though the word of God hath come to nought. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:


text:
 neither, because they are Abraham s seed, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.


text:
 That is, it is not the children of the flesh that are children of God; but the children of the promise are reckoned for a seed.


text:
 for {cf15i the children} being not yet born, neither having done anything good or bad, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth,


text:
 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.


text:
 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, For this very purpose did I raise thee up, that I might shew in thee my power, and that my name might be published abroad in all the earth.


text:
 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why didst thou make me thus?


text:
 Or hath not the potter a right over the clay, from the same lump to make one part a vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?


text:
 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering vessels of wrath fitted unto destruction:


text:
 and that he might make known the riches of his glory upon vessels of mercy, which he afore prepared unto glory,


text:
 As he saith also in Hosea, I will call that my people, which was not my people; And her beloved, which was not beloved.


text:
 And it shall be, {cf15i that} in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, There shall they be called sons of the living God.


text:
 And Isaiah crieth concerning Israel, If the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, it is the remnant that shall be saved:


text:
 And, as Isaiah hath said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, We had become as Sodom, and had been made like unto Gomorrah.


text:
 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith:


text:
 Wherefore? Because {cf15i they sought it} not by faith, but as it were by works. They stumbled at the stone of stumbling;


text:
 even as it is written, Behold, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence: And he that believeth on him shall not be put to shame.


text:
 For being ignorant of God s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.


text:
 For Moses writeth that the man that doeth the righteousness which is of the law shall live thereby.


text:
 But the righteousness which is of faith saith thus, Say not in thy heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down:)


text:
 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach:


text:
 because if thou shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus {cf15i as} Lord, and shalt believe in thy heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved:


text:
 for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.


text:
 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek: for the same {cf15i Lord} is Lord of all, and is rich unto all that call upon him:


text:
 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?


text:
 and how shall they preach, except they be sent? even as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that bring glad tidings of good things!


text:
 But they did not all hearken to the glad tidings. For Isaiah saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?


text:
 But I say, Did they not hear? Yea, verily, Their sound went out into all the earth, And their words unto the ends of the world.


text:
 But I say, Did Israel not know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy with that which is no nation, With a nation void of understanding will I anger you.


text:
 And Isaiah is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I became manifest unto them that asked not of me.


text:
 But as to Israel he saith, All the day long did I spread out my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.


text:
 I say then, Did God cast off his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.


text:
 God did not cast off his people which he foreknew. Or wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elijah? how he pleadeth with God against Israel,


text:
 Lord, they have killed thy prophets, they have digged down thine altars: and I am left alone, and they seek my life.


text:
 But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have left for myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to Baal.


text:
 What then? That which Israel seeketh for, that he obtained not; but the election obtained it, and the rest were hardened:


text:
 according as it is written, God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear, unto this very day.


text:
 And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, And a stumblingblock, and a recompense unto them:


text:
 I say then, Did they stumble that they might fall? God forbid: but by their fall salvation {cf15i is come} unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.


text:
 Now if their fall is the riches of the world, and their loss the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?


text:
 But I speak to you that are Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I glorify my ministry:


text:
 if by any means I may provoke to jealousy {cf15i them that are} my flesh, and may save some of them.


text:
 For if the casting away of them {cf15i is} the reconciling of the world, what {cf15i shall} the receiving {cf15i of them be}, but life from the dead?


text:
 But if some of the branches were broken off, and thou, being a wild olive, wast grafted in among them, and didst become partaker with them of the root of the fatness of the olive tree;


text:
 glory not over the branches: but if thou gloriest, it is not thou that bearest the root, but the root thee.


text:
 Well; by their unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by thy faith. Be not highminded, but fear:


text:
 Behold then the goodness and severity of God: toward them that fell, severity; but toward thee, God s goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.


text:
 And they also, if they continue not in their unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again.


text:
 For if thou wast cut out of that which is by nature a wild olive tree, and wast grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which are the natural {cf15i branches}, be grafted into their own olive tree?


text:
 For I would not, brethren, have you ignorant of this mystery, lest ye be wise in your own conceits, that a hardening in part hath befallen Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in;


text:
 and so all Israel shall be saved: even as it is written, There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer; He shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:


text:
 As touching the gospel, they are enemies for your sake: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers sake.


text:
 even so have these also now been disobedient, that by the mercy shewn to you they also may now obtain mercy.


text:
 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past tracing out!


text:
 For of him, and through him, and unto him, are all things. To him {cf15i be} the glory for ever. Amen.


text:
 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, {cf15i which is} your reasonable service.


text:
 And be not fashioned according to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.


text:
 For I say, through the grace that was given me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but so to think as to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to each man a measure of faith.


text:
 And having gifts differing according to the grace that was given to us, whether prophecy, {cf15i let us prophesy} according to the proportion of our faith;


text:
 or he that exhorteth, to his exhorting: he that giveth, {cf15i let him do it} with liberality; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.


text:
 Be of the same mind one toward another. Set not your mind on high things, but condescend to things that are lowly. Be not wise in your own conceits.


text:
 Avenge not yourselves, beloved, but give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance belongeth unto me; I will recompense, saith the Lord.


text:
 But if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him to drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head.


text:
 Let every soul be in subjection to the higher powers: for there is no power but of God; and the {cf15i powers} that be are ordained of God.


text:
 Therefore he that resisteth the power, withstandeth the ordinance of God: and they that withstand shall receive to themselves judgment.


text:
 For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. And wouldest thou have no fear of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise from the same:


text:
 for he is a minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is a minister of God, an avenger for wrath to him that doeth evil.


text:
 Wherefore {cf15i ye} must needs be in subjection, not only because of the wrath, but also for conscience sake.


text:
 For for this cause ye pay tribute also; for they are ministers of God s service, attending continually upon this very thing.


text:
 Render to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute {cf15i is due}; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.


text:
 Owe no man anything, save to love one another: for he that loveth his neighbour hath fulfilled the law.


text:
 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not covet, and if there be any other commandment, it is summed up in this word, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.


text:
 And this, knowing the season, that now it is high time for you to awake out of sleep: for now is salvation nearer to us than when we {cf15i first} believed.


text:
 The night is far spent, and the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.


text:
 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in revelling and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and jealousy.


text:
 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to {cf15i fulfill} the lusts {cf15i thereof}.


text:
 Let not him that eateth set at nought him that eateth not; and let not him that eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.


text:
 Who art thou that judgest the servant of another? to his own lord he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be made to stand; for the Lord hath power to make him stand.


text:
 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day {cf15i alike}. Let each man be fully assured in his own mind.


text:
 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord: and he that eateth, eateth unto the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, unto the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.


text:
 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; or whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord s.


text:
 For to this end Christ died, and lived {cf15i again}, that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.


text:
 But thou, why dost thou judge thy brother? or thou again, why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God.


text:
 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, to me every knee shall bow, And every tongue shall confess to God.


text:
 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge ye this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock in his brother s way, or an occasion of falling.


text:
 I know, and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean of itself: save that to him who accounteth anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.


text:
 For if because of meat thy brother is grieved, thou walkest no longer in love. Destroy not with thy meat him for whom Christ died.


text:
 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.


text:
 So then let us follow after things which make for peace, and things whereby we may edify one another.


text:
 Overthrow not for meat s sake the work of God. All things indeed are clean; howbeit it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.


text:
 It is good not to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor {cf15i to do anything} whereby thy brother stumbleth.


text:
 The faith which thou hast, have thou to thyself before God. Happy is he that judgeth not himself in that which he approveth.


text:
 But he that doubteth is condemned if he eat, because {cf15i he eateth} not of faith; and whatsoever is not of faith is sin.


text:
 For Christ also pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell upon me.


text:
 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that through patience and through comfort of the scriptures we might have hope.


text:
 Now the God of patience and of comfort grant you to be of the same mind one with another according to Christ Jesus:


text:
 For I say that Christ hath been made a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, that he might confirm the promises {cf15i given} unto the fathers,


text:
 and that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, Therefore will I give praise unto thee among the Gentiles, And sing unto thy name.


text:
 And again, Isaiah saith, There shall be the root of Jesse, And he that ariseth to rule over the Gentiles; On him shall the Gentiles hope.


text:
 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, in the power of the Holy Ghost.


text:
 And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.


text:
 But I write the more boldly unto you in some measure, as putting you again in remembrance, because of the grace that was given me of God,


text:
 that I should be a minister of Christ Jesus unto the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be made acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.


text:
 For I will not dare to speak of any things save those which Christ wrought through me, for the obedience of the Gentiles, by word and deed,


text:
 in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Holy Ghost; so that from Jerusalem, and round about even unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ;


text:
 yea, making it my aim so to preach the gospel, not where Christ was {cf15i already} named, that I might not build upon another man s foundation;


text:
 but, as it is written, They shall see, to whom no tidings of him came, And they who have not heard shall understand.


text:
 but now, having no more any place in these regions, and having these many years a longing to come unto you,


text:
 whensoever I go unto Spain (for I hope to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first in some measure I shall have been satisfied with your company) 


text:
 For it hath been the good pleasure of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints that are at Jerusalem.


text:
 Yea, it hath been their good pleasure; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, they owe it {cf15i to them} also to minister unto them in carnal things.


text:
 When therefore I have accomplished this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will go on by you unto Spain.


text:
 Now I beseech you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;


text:
 that I may be delivered from them that are disobedient in Judaea, and {cf15i that} my ministration which {cf15i I have} for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints;


text:
 that ye receive her in the Lord, worthily of the saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever matter she may have need of you: for she herself also hath been a succourer of many, and of mine own self.


text:
 who for my life laid down their own necks; unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles:


text:
 and {cf15i salute} the church that is in their house. Salute Epaenetus my beloved, who is the firstfruits of Asia unto Christ.


text:
 Salute Andronicus and Junias, my kinsmen, and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also have been in Christ before me.


text:
 Salute Apelles the approved in Christ. Salute them which are of the {cf15i household} of Aristobulus.


text:
 Salute Herodion my kinsman. Salute them of the {cf15i household} of Narcissus, which are in the Lord.


text:
 Salute Tryphaena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord. Salute Persis the beloved, which laboured much in the Lord.


text:
 Salute Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints that are with them.


text:
 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which are causing the divisions and occasions of stumbling, contrary to the doctrine which ye learned: and turn away from them.


text:
 For they that are such serve not our Lord Christ, but their own belly; and by their smooth and fair speech they beguile the hearts of the innocent.


text:
 For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I rejoice therefore over you: but I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple unto that which is evil.


text:
 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.


text:
 Gaius my host, and of the whole church, saluteth you. Erastus the treasurer of the city saluteth you, and Quartus the brother.


text:
 Now to him that is able to stablish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which hath been kept in silence through times eternal,


text:
 but now is manifested, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, is made known unto all the nations unto obedience of faith;


text:
 Paul, called {cf15i to be} an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,


text:
 unto the church of God which is at Corinth, {cf15i even} them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called {cf15i to be} saints, with all that call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place, their {cf15i Lord} and ours:


text:
 who shall also confirm you unto the end, {cf15i that ye be} unreproveable in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.


text:
 Now I beseech you, brethren, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and {cf15i that} there be no divisions among you; but {cf15i that} ye be perfected together in the same mind and in the same judgment.


text:
 For it hath been signified unto me concerning you, my brethren, by them {cf15i which are of the household} of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.


text:
 Now this I mean, that each one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.


text:
 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not in wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made void.


text:
 For the word of the cross is to them that are perishing foolishness; but unto us which are being saved it is the power of God.


text:
 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And the prudence of the prudent will I reject.


text:
 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?


text:
 For seeing that in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom knew not God, it was God s good pleasure through the foolishness of the preaching to save them that believe.


text:
 but unto them that are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.


text:
 For behold your calling, brethren, how that not many wise after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, {cf15i are called}:


text:
 but God chose the foolish things of the world, that he might put to shame them that are wise; and God chose the weak things of the world, that he might put to shame the things that are strong;


text:
 and the base things of the world, and the things that are despised, did God choose, {cf15i yea} and the things that are not, that he might bring to nought the things that are:


text:
 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who was made unto us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption:


text:
 And I, brethren, when I came unto you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the mystery of God.


text:
 And my speech and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:


text:
 Howbeit we speak wisdom among the perfect: yet a wisdom not of this world, nor of the rulers of this world, which are coming to nought:


text:
 but we speak God s wisdom in a mystery, {cf15i even} the {cf15i wisdom} that hath been hidden, which God foreordained before the worlds unto our glory:


text:
 which none of the rulers of this world knoweth: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory:


text:
 but as it is written, Things which eye saw not, and ear heard not, And {cf15i which} entered not into the heart of man, Whatsoever things God prepared for them that love him.


text:
 But unto us God revealed {cf15i them} through the Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.


text:
 For who among men knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of the man, which is in him? even so the things of God none knoweth, save the Spirit of God.


text:
 But we received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us by God.


text:
 Which things also we speak, not in words which man s wisdom teacheth, but which the Spirit teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.


text:
 Now the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him; and he cannot know them, because they are spiritually judged.


text:
 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he should instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.


text:
 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, as unto babes in Christ.


text:
 I fed you with milk, not with meat; for ye were not yet able {cf15i to bear it}: nay, not even now are ye able;


text:
 for ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you jealousy and strife, are ye not carnal, and walk after the manner of men?


text:
 What then is Apollos? and what is Paul? Ministers through whom ye believed; and each as the Lord gave to him.


text:
 So then neither is he that planteth anything, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.


text:
 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: but each shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.


text:
 According to the grace of God which was given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder I laid a foundation; and another buildeth thereon. But let each man take heed how he buildeth thereon.


text:
 each man s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it is revealed in fire; and the fire itself shall prove each man s work of what sort it is.


text:
 If any man s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as through fire.


text:
 If any man destroyeth the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which {cf15i temple} ye are.


text:
 Let no man deceive himself. If any man thinketh that he is wise among you in this world, let him become a fool, that he may become wise.


text:
 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He that taketh the wise in their craftiness:


text:
 whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;


text:
 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.


text:
 For I know nothing against myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.


text:
 Wherefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and make manifest the counsels of the hearts; and then shall each man have his praise from God.


text:
 Now these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes; that in us ye might learn not {cf15i to go} beyond the things which are written; that no one of you be puffed up for the one against the other.


text:
 For who maketh thee to differ? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? but if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?


text:
 Already are ye filled, already ye are become rich, ye have reigned without us: yea and I would that ye did reign, that we also might reign with you.


text:
 For, I think, God hath set forth us the apostles last of all, as men doomed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.


text:
 We are fools for Christ s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye have glory, but we have dishonour.


text:
 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling place;


text:
 being defamed, we entreat: we are made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things, even until now.


text:
 For though ye should have ten thousand tutors in Christ, yet {cf15i have ye} not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I begat you through the gospel.


text:
 For this cause have I sent unto you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, who shall put you in remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, even as I teach everywhere in every church.


text:
 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will; and I will know, not the word of them which are puffed up, but the power.


text:
 It is actually reported that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not even among the Gentiles, that one {cf15i of you} hath his father s wife.


text:
 And ye are puffed up, and did not rather mourn, that he that had done this deed might be taken away from among you.


text:
 For I verily, being absent in body but present in spirit, have already, as though I were present, judged him that hath so wrought this thing,


text:
 in the name of our Lord Jesus, ye being gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus,


text:
 to deliver such a one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.


text:
 Purge out the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, even as ye are unleavened. For our passover also hath been sacrificed, {cf15i even} Christ:


text:
 wherefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.


text:
 not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous and extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world:


text:
 but now I write unto you not to keep company, if any man that is named a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such a one no, not to eat.


text:
 Dare any of you, having a matter against his neighbour, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints?


text:
 Or know ye not that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world is judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?


text:
 If then ye have to judge things pertaining to this life, do ye set them to judge who are of no account in the church?


text:
 I say {cf15i this} to move you to shame. Is it so, that there cannot be {cf15i found} among you one wise man, who shall be able to decide between his brethren,


text:
 Nay, already it is altogether a defect in you, that ye have lawsuits one with another. Why not rather take wrong? why not rather be defrauded?


text:
 Or know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with men,


text:
 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.


text:
 And such were some of you: but ye were washed, but ye were sanctified, but ye were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God.


text:
 All things are lawful for me; but not all things are expedient. All things are lawful for me; but I will not be brought under the power of any.


text:
 Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall bring to nought both it and them. But the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body:


text:
 Know ye not that your bodies are members of Christ? shall I then take away the members of Christ, and make them members of a harlot? God forbid.


text:
 Or know ye not that he that is joined to a harlot is one body? for, The twain, saith he, shall become one flesh.


text:
 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.


text:
 Or know ye not that your body is a temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have from God? and ye are not your own;


text:
 But, because of fornications, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.


text:
 The wife hath not power over her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power over his own body, but the wife.


text:
 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be by consent for a season, that ye may give yourselves unto prayer, and may be together again, that Satan tempt you not because of your incontinency.


text:
 Yet I would that all men were even as I myself. Howbeit each man hath his own gift from God, one after this manner, and another after that.


text:
 But unto the married I give charge, {cf15i yea} not I, but the Lord, That the wife depart not from her husband


text:
 (but and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband); and that the husband leave not his wife.


text:
 But to the rest say I, not the Lord: If any brother hath an unbelieving wife, and she is content to dwell with him, let him not leave her.


text:
 And the woman which hath an unbelieving husband, and he is content to dwell with her, let her not leave her husband.


text:
 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the brother: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.


text:
 Yet if the unbelieving departeth, let him depart: the brother or the sister is not under bondage in such {cf15i cases}: but God hath called us in peace.


text:
 For how knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O husband, whether thou shalt save thy wife?


text:
 Only, as the Lord hath distributed to each man, as God hath called each, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all the churches.


text:
 Was any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Hath any been called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.


text:
 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing; but the keeping of the commandments of God.


text:
 Wast thou called being a bondservant? care not for it: but if thou canst become free, use {cf15i it} rather.


text:
 For he that was called in the Lord, being a bondservant, is the Lord s freedman: likewise he that was called, being free, is Christ s bondservant.


text:
 Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: but I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.


text:
 I think therefore that this is good by reason of the present distress, {cf15i namely}, that it is good for a man to be as he is.


text:
 But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Yet such shall have tribulation in the flesh: and I would spare you.


text:
 But this I say, brethren, the time is shortened, that henceforth both those that have wives may be as though they had none;


text:
 and those that weep, as though they wept not; and those that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and those that buy, as though they possessed not;


text:
 But I would have you to be free from cares. He that is unmarried is careful for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord:


text:
 And there is a difference also between the wife and the virgin. She that is unmarried is careful for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married is careful for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.


text:
 And this I say for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is seemly, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.


text:
 But if any man thinketh that he behaveth himself unseemly toward his virgin {cf15i daughter}, if she be past the flower of her age, and if need so requireth, let him do what he will; he sinneth not; let them marry.


text:
 But he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power as touching his own will, and hath determined this in his own heart, to keep his own virgin {cf15i daughter}, shall do well.


text:
 So then both he that giveth his own virgin {cf15i daughter} in marriage doeth well; and he that giveth her not in marriage shall do better.


text:
 A wife is bound for so long time as her husband liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is free to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.


text:
 But she is happier if she abide as she is, after my judgment: and I think that I also have the Spirit of God.


text:
 Now concerning things sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but love edifieth.


text:
 Concerning therefore the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that no idol is {cf15i anything} in the world, and that there is no God but one.


text:
 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or on earth; as there are gods many, and lords many;


text:
 yet to us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we unto him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we through him.


text:
 Howbeit in all men there is not that knowledge: but some, being used until now to the idol, eat as {cf15i of} a thing sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.


text:
 But meat will not commend us to God: neither, if we eat not, are we the worse; nor, if we eat, are we the better.


text:
 For if a man see thee which hast knowledge sitting at meat in an idol s temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be emboldened to eat things sacrificed to idols?


text:
 And thus, sinning against the brethren, and wounding their conscience when it is weak, ye sin against Christ.


text:
 Wherefore, if meat maketh my brother to stumble, I will eat no flesh for evermore, that I make not my brother to stumble.


text:
 Am I not free? am I not an apostle? have I not seen Jesus our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?


text:
 If to others I am not an apostle, yet at least I am to you; for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.


text:
 Have we no right to lead about a wife that is a believer, even as the rest of the apostles, and the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?


text:
 What soldier ever serveth at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?


text:
 For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn. Is it for the oxen that God careth,


text:
 or saith he it altogether for our sake? Yea, for our sake it was written: because he that ploweth ought to plow in hope, and he that thresheth, {cf15i to thresh} in hope of partaking.


text:
 If others partake of {cf15i this} right over you, do not we yet more? Nevertheless we did not use this right; but we bear all things, that we may cause no hindrance to the gospel of Christ.


text:
 Know ye not that they which minister about sacred things eat {cf15i of} the things of the temple, {cf15i and} they which wait upon the altar have their portion with the altar?


text:
 But I have used none of these things: and I write not these things that it may be so done in my case: for {cf15i it were} good for me rather to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.


text:
 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of; for necessity is laid upon me; for woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel.


text:
 For if I do this of mine own will, I have a reward: but if not of mine own will, I have a stewardship intrusted to me.


text:
 What then is my reward? That, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel without charge, so as not to use to the full my right in the gospel.


text:
 For though I was free from all {cf15i men}, I brought myself under bondage to all, that I might gain the more.


text:
 And to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, not being myself under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;


text:
 to them that are without law, as without law, not being without law to God, but under law to Christ, that I might gain them that are without law.


text:
 To the weak I became weak, that I might gain the weak: I am become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some.


text:
 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? Even so run, that ye may attain.


text:
 And every man that striveth in the games is temperate in all things. Now they {cf15i do it} to receive a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.


text:
 but I buffet my body, and bring it into bondage: lest by any means, after that I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected.


text:
 For I would not, brethren, have you ignorant, how that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;


text:
 and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of a spiritual rock that followed them: and the rock was Christ.


text:
 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.


text:
 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.


text:
 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.


text:
 Now these things happened unto them by way of example; and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come.


text:
 There hath no temptation taken you but such as man can bear: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation make also the way of escape, that ye may be able to endure it.


text:
 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a communion of the body of Christ?


text:
 But {cf15i I say}, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have communion with devils.


text:
 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot partake of the table of the Lord, and of the table of devils.


text:
 All things are lawful; but all things are not expedient. All things are lawful; but all things edify not.


text:
 If one of them that believe not biddeth you {cf15i to a feast}, and ye are disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.


text:
 But if any man say unto you, This hath been offered in sacrifice, eat not, for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake:


text:
 conscience, I say, not thine own, but the other s; for why is my liberty judged by another conscience?


text:
 even as I also please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the {cf15i profit} of the many, that they may be saved.


text:
 Now I praise you that ye remember me in all things, and hold fast the traditions, even as I delivered them to you.


text:
 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.


text:
 But every woman praying or prophesying with her head unveiled dishonoureth her head: for it is one and the same thing as if she were shaven.


text:
 For if a woman is not veiled, let her also be shorn: but if it is a shame to a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be veiled.


text:
 For a man indeed ought not to have his head veiled, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.


text:
 for this cause ought the woman to have {cf15i a sign of} authority on her head, because of the angels.


text:
 But in giving you this charge, I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better but for the worse.


text:
 For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that divisions exist among you; and I partly believe it.


text:
 For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.


text:
 for in your eating each one taketh before {cf15i other} his own supper; and one is hungry, and another is drunken.


text:
 What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and put them to shame that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.


text:
 For I received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, how that the Lord Jesus in the night in which he was betrayed took bread;


text:
 and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, This is my body, which is for you: this do in remembrance of me.


text:
 In like manner also the cup, after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood: this do, as oft as ye drink {cf15i it}, in remembrance of me.


text:
 Wherefore whosoever shall eat the bread or drink the cup of the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord.


text:
 For he that eateth and drinketh, eateth and drinketh judgment unto himself, if he discern not the body.


text:
 If any man is hungry, let him eat at home; that your coming together be not unto judgment. And the rest will I set in order whensoever I come.


text:
 Ye know that when ye were Gentiles {cf15i ye were} led away unto those dumb idols, howsoever ye might be led.


text:
 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking in the Spirit of God saith, Jesus is anathema; and no man can say, Jesus is Lord, but in the Holy Spirit.


text:
 For to one is given through the Spirit the word of wisdom; and to another the word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit:


text:
 and to another workings of miracles; and to another prophecy; and to another discernings of spirits: to another {cf15i divers} kinds of tongues; and to another the interpretation of tongues:


text:
 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ.


text:
 For in one Spirit were we all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all made to drink of one Spirit.


text:
 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; it is not therefore not of the body.


text:
 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; it is not therefore not of the body.


text:
 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?


text:
 And the eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of thee: or again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.


text:
 and those {cf15i parts} of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely {cf15i parts} have more abundant comeliness;


text:
 whereas our comely {cf15i parts} have no need: but God tempered the body together, giving more abundant honour to that {cf15i part} which lacked;


text:
 that there should be no schism in the body; but {cf15i that} the members should have the same care one for another.


text:
 And whether one member suffereth, all the members suffer with it; or {cf15i one} member is honoured, all the members rejoice with it.


text:
 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, {cf15i divers} kinds of tongues.


text:
 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal.


text:
 And if I have {cf15i the gift of} prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.


text:
 And if I bestow all my goods to feed {cf15i the poor}, and if I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profiteth me nothing.


text:
 Love suffereth long, {cf15i and} is kind; love envieth not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,


text:
 Love never faileth: but whether {cf15i there be} prophecies, they shall be done away; whether {cf15i there be} tongues, they shall cease; whether {cf15i there be} knowledge, it shall be done away.


text:
 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child: now that I am become a man, I have put away childish things.


text:
 For now we see in a mirror, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I have been known.


text:
 For he that speaketh in a tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God; for no man understandeth; but in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.


text:
 Now I would have you all speak with tongues, but rather that ye should prophesy: and greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.


text:
 But now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, unless I speak to you either by way of revelation, or of knowledge, or of prophesying, or of teaching?


text:
 Even things without life, giving a voice, whether pipe or harp, if they give not a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?


text:
 So also ye, unless ye utter by the tongue speech easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye will be speaking into the air.


text:
 There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and no {cf15i kind} is without signification.


text:
 If then I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be to him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh will be a barbarian unto me.


text:
 So also ye, since ye are zealous of spiritual {cf15i gifts}, seek that ye may abound unto the edifying of the church.


text:
 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.


text:
 Else if thou bless with the spirit, how shall he that filleth the place of the unlearned say the Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he knoweth not what thou sayest?


text:
 howbeit in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that I might instruct others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.


text:
 In the law it is written, By men of strange tongues and by the lips of strangers will I speak unto this people; and not even thus will they hear me, saith the Lord.


text:
 Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to the unbelieving: but prophesying {cf15i is for a sign}, not to the unbelieving, but to them that believe.


text:
 If therefore the whole church be assembled together, and all speak with tongues, and there come in men unlearned or unbelieving, will they not say that ye are mad?


text:
 But if all prophesy, and there come in one unbelieving or unlearned, he is reproved by all, he is judged by all;


text:
 the secrets of his heart are made manifest; and so he will fall down on his face and worship God, declaring that God is among you indeed.


text:
 What is it then, brethren? When ye come together, each one hath a psalm, hath a teaching, hath a revelation, hath a tongue, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.


text:
 If any man speaketh in a tongue, {cf15i let it be} by two, or at the most three, and {cf15i that} in turn; and let one interpret:


text:
 but if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.


text:
 Let the women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but let them be in subjection, as also saith the law.


text:
 And if they would learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home: for it is shameful for a woman to speak in the church.


text:
 If any man thinketh himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him take knowledge of the things which I write unto you, that they are the commandment of the Lord.


text:
 Now I make known unto you brethren, the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye received, wherein also ye stand,


text:
 by which also ye are saved; {cf15i I make known, I say}, in what words I preached it unto you, if ye hold it fast, except ye believed in vain.


text:
 For I delivered unto you first of all that which also I received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;


text:
 then he appeared to above five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain until now, but some are fallen asleep;


text:
 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.


text:
 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not found vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.


text:
 Now if Christ is preached that he hath been raised from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?


text:
 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we witnessed of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead are not raised.


text:
 Then {cf15i cometh} the end, when he shall deliver up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have abolished all rule and all authority and power.


text:
 For, He put all things in subjection under his feet. But when he saith, All things are put in subjection, it is evident that he is excepted who did subject all things unto him.


text:
 And when all things have been subjected unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subjected to him that did subject all things unto him, that God may be all in all.


text:
 Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why then are they baptized for them?


text:
 If after the manner of men I fought with beasts at Ephesus, what doth it profit me? If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.


text:
 Awake up righteously, and sin not; for some have no knowledge of God: I speak {cf15i this} to move you to shame.


text:
 and that which thou sowest, thou sowest not the body that shall be, but a bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other kind;


text:
 All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one {cf15i flesh} of men, and another flesh of beasts, and another flesh of birds, and another of fishes.


text:
 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the {cf15i glory} of the terrestrial is another.


text:
 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differeth from another star in glory.


text:
 it is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual {cf15i body}.


text:
 So also it is written, The first man Adam became a living soul. The last Adam {cf15i became} a life giving spirit.


text:
 Howbeit that is not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; then that which is spiritual.


text:
 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.


text:
 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.


text:
 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.


text:
 But when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.


text:
 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not vain in the Lord.


text:
 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I gave order to the churches of Galatia, so also do ye.


text:
 Upon the first day of the week let each one of you lay by him in store, as he may prosper, that no collections be made when I come.


text:
 And when I arrive, whomsoever ye shall approve by letters, them will I send to carry your bounty unto Jerusalem:


text:
 But I will come unto you, when I shall have passed through Macedonia; for I do pass through Macedonia;


text:
 but with you it may be that I shall abide, or even winter, that ye may set me forward on my journey whithersoever I go.


text:
 For I do not wish to see you now by the way; for I hope to tarry a while with you, if the Lord permit.


text:
 Now if Timothy come, see that he be with you without fear; for he worketh the work of the Lord, as I also do:


text:
 let no man therefore despise him. But set him forward on his journey in peace, that he may come unto me: for I expect him with the brethren.


text:
 But as touching Apollos the brother, I besought him much to come unto you with the brethren: and it was not at all {cf15i his} will to come now; but he will come when he shall have opportunity.


text:
 Now I beseech you, brethren (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have set themselves to minister unto the saints),


text:
 And I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus: for that which was lacking on your part they supplied.


text:
 The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Prisca salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.


text:
 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in the whole of Achaia:


text:
 Blessed {cf15i be} the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort;


text:
 who comforteth us in all our affliction, that we may be able to comfort them that are in any affliction, through the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.


text:
 But whether we be afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or whether we be comforted, it is for your comfort, which worketh in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer:


text:
 and our hope for you is stedfast; knowing that, as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so also are ye of the comfort.


text:
 For we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning our affliction which befell {cf15i us} in Asia, that we were weighed down exceedingly, beyond our power, insomuch that we despaired even of life:


text:
 yea, we ourselves have had the answer of death within ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:


text:
 who delivered us out of so great a death, and will deliver: on whom we have set our hope that he will also still deliver us;


text:
 ye also helping together on our behalf by your supplication; that, for the gift bestowed upon us by means of many, thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf.


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


text:
 For we write none other things unto you, than what ye read or even acknowledge, and I hope ye will acknowledge unto the end:


text:
 as also ye did acknowledge us in part, that we are your glorying, even as ye also are ours, in the day of our Lord Jesus.


text:
 and by you to pass into Macedonia, and again from Macedonia to come unto you, and of you to be set forward on my journey unto Judaea.


text:
 When I therefore was thus minded, did I shew fickleness? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be the yea yea and the nay nay?


text:
 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, {cf15i even} by me and Silvanus and Timothy, was not yea and nay, but in him is yea.


text:
 For how many soever be the promises of God, in him is the yea: wherefore also through him is the Amen, unto the glory of God through us.


text:
 And I wrote this very thing, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is {cf15i the joy} of you all.


text:
 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be made sorry, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.


text:
 But if any hath caused sorrow, he hath caused sorrow, not to me, but in part (that I press not too heavily) to you all.


text:
 so that contrariwise ye should rather forgive him and comfort him, lest by any means such a one should be swallowed up with his overmuch sorrow.


text:
 For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye are obedient in all things.


text:
 But to whom ye forgive anything, I {cf15i forgive} also: for what I also have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, for your sakes {cf15i have I forgiven it} in the person of Christ;


text:
 I had no relief for my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went forth into Macedonia.


text:
 But thanks be unto God, which always leadeth us in triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest through us the savour of his knowledge in every place.


text:
 For we are a sweet savour of Christ unto God, in them that are being saved, and in them that are perishing;


text:
 to the one a savour from death unto death; to the other a savour from life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?


text:
 For we are not as the many, corrupting the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God, speak we in Christ.


text:
 Are we beginning again to commend ourselves? or need we, as do some, epistles of commendation to you or from you?


text:
 being made manifest that ye are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in tables {cf15i that are} hearts of flesh.


text:
 not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to account anything as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God;


text:
 who also made us sufficient as ministers of a new covenant; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.


text:
 But if the ministration of death, written, {cf15i and} engraven on stones, came with glory, so that the children of Israel could not look stedfastly upon the face of Moses for the glory of his face; which {cf15i glory} was passing away:


text:
 For if the ministration of condemnation is glory, much rather doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.


text:
 For verily that which hath been made glorious hath not been made glorious in this respect, by reason of the glory that surpasseth.


text:
 For if that which passeth away {cf15i was} with glory, much more that which remaineth {cf15i is} in glory.


text:
 and {cf15i are} not as Moses, {cf15i who} put a veil upon his face, that the children of Israel should not look stedfastly on the end of that which was passing away:


text:
 but their minds were hardened: for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remaineth unlifted; which {cf15i veil} is done away in Christ.


text:
 But we all, with unveiled face reflecting as a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit.


text:
 but we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by the manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man s conscience in the sight of God.


text:
 in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn {cf15i upon them}.


text:
 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus sake.


text:
 Seeing it is God, that said, Light shall shine out of darkness, who shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.


text:
 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God, and not from ourselves;


text:
 always bearing about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our body.


text:
 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus sake, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh.


text:
 But having the same spirit of faith, according to that which is written, I believed, and therefore did I speak; we also believe, and therefore also we speak;


text:
 knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also with Jesus, and shall present us with you.


text:
 For all things {cf15i are} for your sakes, that the grace, being multiplied through the many, may cause the thanksgiving to abound unto the glory of God.


text:
 Wherefore we faint not; but though our outward man is decaying, yet our inward man is renewed day by day.


text:
 For our light affliction, which is for the moment, worketh for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory;


text:
 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.


text:
 For we know that if the earthly house of our tabernacle be dissolved, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal, in the heavens.


text:
 For indeed we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened; not for that we would be unclothed, but that we would be clothed upon, that what is mortal may be swallowed up of life.


text:
 Being therefore always of good courage, and knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord


text:
 we are of good courage, I say, and are willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be at home with the Lord.


text:
 For we must all be made manifest before the judgment seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things {cf15i done} in the body, according to what he hath done, whether {cf15i it be} good or bad.


text:
 Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest unto God; and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences.


text:
 We are not again commending ourselves unto you, but {cf15i speak} as giving you occasion of glorying on our behalf, that ye may have wherewith to answer them that glory in appearance, and not in heart.


text:
 For whether we are beside ourselves, it is unto God; or whether we are of sober mind, it is unto you.


text:
 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that one died for all, therefore all died;


text:
 and he died for all, that they which live should no longer live unto themselves, but unto him who for their sakes died and rose again.


text:
 Wherefore we henceforth know no man after the flesh: even though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now we know {cf15i him so} no more.


text:
 Wherefore if any man is in Christ, {cf15i he is} a new creature: the old things are passed away; behold, they are become new.


text:
 But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and gave unto us the ministry of reconciliation;


text:
 to wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not reckoning unto them their trespasses, and having committed unto us the word of reconciliation.


text:
 We are ambassadors therefore on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beseech {cf15i you} on behalf of Christ, be ye reconciled to God.


text:
 Him who knew no sin he made {cf15i to be} sin on our behalf; that we might become the righteousness of God in him.


text:
 (for he saith, At an acceptable time I hearkened unto thee, And in a day of salvation did I succour thee: behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation):


text:
 but in everything commending ourselves, as ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,


text:
 in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,


text:
 as unknown, and {cf15i yet} well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;


text:
 as sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and {cf15i yet} possessing all things.


text:
 Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers: for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? or what communion hath light with darkness?


text:
 And what agreement hath a temple of God with idols? for we are a temple of the living God; even as God said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.


text:
 Wherefore Come ye out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, And touch no unclean thing; And I will receive you,


text:
 Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.


text:
 I say it not to condemn {cf15i you}: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die together and live together.


text:
 Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying on your behalf: I am filled with comfort, I overflow with joy in all our affliction.


text:
 For even when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no relief, but {cf15i we were} afflicted on every side; without {cf15i were} fightings, within {cf15i were} fears.


text:
 and not by his coming only, but also by the comfort wherewith he was comforted in you, while he told us your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me; so that I rejoiced yet more.


text:
 For though I made you sorry with my epistle, I do not regret it, though I did regret; for I see that that epistle made you sorry, though but for a season.


text:
 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye were made sorry unto repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly sort, that ye might suffer loss by us in nothing.


text:
 For godly sorrow worketh repentance unto salvation, {cf15i a repentance} which bringeth no regret: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.


text:
 For behold, this selfsame thing, that ye were made sorry after a godly sort, what earnest care it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what longing, yea, what zeal, yea, what avenging! In everything ye approved yourselves to be pure in the matter.


text:
 So although I wrote unto you, {cf15i I wrote} not for his cause that did the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered the wrong, but that your earnest care for us might be made manifest unto you in the sight of God.


text:
 Therefore we have been comforted: and in our comfort we joyed the more exceedingly for the joy of Titus, because his spirit hath been refreshed by you all.


text:
 For if in anything I have gloried to him on your behalf, I was not put to shame; but as we spake all things to you in truth, so our glorying also, which I made before Titus, was found to be truth.


text:
 And his inward affection is more abundantly toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him.


text:
 Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God which hath been given in the churches of Macedonia;


text:
 how that in much proof of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.


text:
 For according to their power, I bear witness, yea and beyond their power, {cf15i they gave} of their own accord,


text:
 beseeching us with much entreaty in regard of this grace and the fellowship in the ministering to the saints:


text:
 and {cf15i this}, not as we had hoped, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us by the will of God.


text:
 Insomuch that we exhorted Titus, that as he had made a beginning before, so he would also complete in you this grace also.


text:
 But as ye abound in everything, {cf15i in} faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and {cf15i in} all earnestness, and {cf15i in} your love to us, {cf15i see} that ye abound in this grace also.


text:
 I speak not by way of commandment, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity also of your love.


text:
 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might become rich.


text:
 And herein I give {cf15i my} judgment: for this is expedient for you, who were the first to make a beginning a year ago, not only to do, but also to will.


text:
 But now complete the doing also; that as {cf15i there was} the readiness to will, so {cf15i there may be} the completion also out of your ability.


text:
 For if the readiness is there, {cf15i it is} acceptable according as {cf15i a man} hath, not according as {cf15i he} hath not.


text:
 but by equality; your abundance {cf15i being a supply} at this present time for their want, that their abundance also may become {cf15i a supply} for your want; that there may be equality:


text:
 as it is written, He that {cf15i gathered} much had nothing over; and he that {cf15i gathered} little had no lack.


text:
 For indeed he accepted our exhortation; but being himself very earnest, he went forth unto you of his own accord.


text:
 And we have sent together with him the brother whose praise in the gospel {cf15i is spread} through all the churches;


text:
 and not only so, but who was also appointed by the churches to travel with us in {cf15i the matter of} this grace, which is ministered by us to the glory of the Lord, and {cf15i to shew} our readiness:


text:
 Avoiding this, that any man should blame us in {cf15i the matter of} this bounty which is ministered by us:


text:
 for we take thought for things honourable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.


text:
 And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have many times proved earnest in many things, but now much more earnest, by reason of the great confidence which {cf15i he hath} in you.


text:
 Whether {cf15i any inquire} about Titus, {cf15i he is} my partner and {cf15i my} fellow worker to you ward; or our brethren, {cf15i they are} the messengers of the churches, {cf15i they are} the glory of Christ.


text:
 Shew ye therefore unto them in the face of the churches the proof of your love, and of our glorying on your behalf.


text:
 for I know your readiness, of which I glory on your behalf to them of Macedonia, that Achaia hath been prepared for a year past; and your zeal hath stirred up very many of them.


text:
 But I have sent the brethren, that our glorying on your behalf may not be made void in this respect; that, even as I said, ye may be prepared:


text:
 lest by any means, if there come with me any of Macedonia, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be put to shame in this confidence.


text:
 I thought it necessary therefore to entreat the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your aforepromised bounty, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not of extortion.


text:
 But this {cf15i I say}, He that soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he that soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.


text:
 {cf15i Let} each man {cf15i do} according as he hath purposed in his heart; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.


text:
 And God is able to make all grace abound unto you; that ye, having always all sufficiency in everything, may abound unto every good work:


text:
 as it is written, He hath scattered abroad, he hath given to the poor; His righteousness abideth for ever.


text:
 And he that supplieth seed to the sower and bread for food, shall supply and multiply your seed for sowing, and increase the fruits of your righteousness:


text:
 For the ministration of this service not only filleth up the measure of the wants of the saints, but aboundeth also through many thanksgivings unto God;


text:
 seeing that through the proving {cf15i of you} by this ministration they glorify God for the obedience of your confession unto the gospel of Christ, and for the liberality of {cf15i your} contribution unto them and unto all;


text:
 while they themselves also, with supplication on your behalf, long after you by reason of the exceeding grace of God in you.


text:
 Now I Paul myself entreat you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I who in your presence am lowly among you, but being absent am of good courage toward you:


text:
 yea, I beseech you, that I may not when present shew courage with the confidence wherewith I count to be bold against some, which count of us as if we walked according to the flesh.


text:
 (for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the casting down of strong holds);


text:
 casting down imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ;


text:
 Ye look at the things that are before your face. If any man trusteth in himself that he is Christ s, let him consider this again with himself, that, even as he is Christ s, so also are we.


text:
 For though I should glory somewhat abundantly concerning our authority (which the Lord gave for building you up, and not for casting you down), I shall not be put to shame:


text:
 For, His letters, they say, are weighty and strong; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account.


text:
 Let such a one reckon this, that, what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such {cf15i are we} also in deed when we are present.


text:
 For we are not bold to number or compare ourselves with certain of them that commend themselves: but they themselves, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are without understanding.


text:
 But we will not glory beyond {cf15i our} measure, but according to the measure of the province which God apportioned to us as a measure, to reach even unto you.


text:
 For we stretch not ourselves overmuch, as though we reached not unto you: for we came even as far as unto you in the gospel of Christ:


text:
 not glorying beyond {cf15i our} measure, {cf15i that is}, in other men s labours; but having hope that, as your faith groweth, we shall be magnified in you according to our province unto {cf15i further} abundance,


text:
 so as to preach the gospel even unto the parts beyond you, {cf15i and} not to glory in another s province in regard of things ready to our hand.


text:
 For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy: for I espoused you to one husband, that I might present you {cf15i as} a pure virgin to Christ.


text:
 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve in his craftiness, your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity and the purity that is toward Christ.


text:
 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or {cf15i if} ye receive a different spirit, which ye did not receive, or a different gospel, which ye did not accept, ye do well to bear with {cf15i him}.


text:
 But though {cf15i I be} rude in speech, yet {cf15i am I} not in knowledge; nay, in everything we have made {cf15i it} manifest among all men to you ward.


text:
 Or did I commit a sin in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I preached to you the gospel of God for nought?


text:
 and when I was present with you and was in want, I was not a burden on any man; for the brethren, when they came from Macedonia, supplied the measure of my want; and in everything I kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and {cf15i so} will I keep {cf15i myself}.


text:
 But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire an occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.


text:
 It is no great thing therefore if his ministers also fashion themselves as ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.


text:
 I say again, Let no man think me foolish; but if {cf15i ye do}, yet as foolish receive me, that I also may glory a little.


text:
 That which I speak, I speak not after the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of glorying.


text:
 For ye bear with a man, if he bringeth you into bondage, if he devoureth you, if he taketh you {cf15i captive}, if he exalteth himself, if he smiteth you on the face.


text:
 I speak by way of disparagement, as though we had been weak. Yet whereinsoever any is bold (I speak in foolishness), I am bold also.


text:
 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as one beside himself) I more; in labours more abundantly, in prisons more abundantly, in stripes above measure, in deaths oft.


text:
 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day have I been in the deep;


text:
 {cf15i in} journeyings often, {cf15i in} perils of rivers, {cf15i in} perils of robbers, {cf15i in} perils from {cf15i my} countrymen, {cf15i in} perils from the Gentiles, {cf15i in} perils in the city, {cf15i in} perils in the wilderness, {cf15i in} perils in the sea, {cf15i in} perils among false brethren;


text:
 {cf15i in} labour and travail, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.


text:
 Beside those things that are without, there is that which presseth upon me daily, anxiety for all the churches.


text:
 In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king guarded the city of the Damascenes, in order to take me:


text:
 I must needs glory, though it is not expedient; but I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.


text:
 I know a man in Christ, fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I know not; or whether out of the body, I know not; God knoweth), such a one caught up even to the third heaven.


text:
 how that he was caught up into Paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.


text:
 On behalf of such a one will I glory: but on mine own behalf I will not glory, save in {cf15i my} weaknesses.


text:
 For if I should desire to glory, I shall not be foolish; for I shall speak the truth: but I forbear, lest any man should account of me above that which he seeth me {cf15i to be}, or heareth from me.


text:
 And by reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations wherefore, that I should not be exalted overmuch, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, that I should not be exalted overmuch.


text:
 And he hath said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for {cf15i my} power is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.


text:
 Wherefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.


text:
 I am become foolish: ye compelled me; for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing was I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I am nothing.


text:
 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, by signs and wonders and mighty works.


text:
 For what is there wherein ye were made inferior to the rest of the churches, except {cf15i it be} that I myself was not a burden to you? forgive me this wrong.


text:
 Behold, this is the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be a burden to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.


text:
 And I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more abundantly, am I loved the less?


text:
 I exhorted Titus, and I sent the brother with him. Did Titus take any advantage of you? walked we not by the same Spirit? {cf15i walked we} not in the same steps?


text:
 Ye think all this time that we are excusing ourselves unto you. In the sight of God speak we in Christ. But all things, beloved, {cf15i are} for your edifying.


text:
 For I fear, lest by any means, when I come, I should find you not such as I would, and should myself be found of you such as ye would not; lest by any means {cf15i there should be} strife, jealousy, wraths, factions, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults;


text:
 lest, when I come again, my God should humble me before you, and I should mourn for many of them that have sinned heretofore, and repented not of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they committed.


text:
 This is the third time I am coming to you. At the mouth of two witnesses or three shall every word be established.


text:
 I have said beforehand, and I do say beforehand, as when I was present the second time, so now, being absent, to them that have sinned heretofore, and to all the rest, that, if I come again, I will not spare;


text:
 seeing that ye seek a proof of Christ that speaketh in me; who to you ward is not weak, but is powerful in you:


text:
 for he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth through the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him through the power of God toward you.


text:
 Try your own selves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Or know ye not as to your own selves, that Jesus Christ is in you? unless indeed ye be reprobate.


text:
 Now we pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we may appear approved, but that ye may do that which is honourable, though we be as reprobate.


text:
 For this cause I write these things while absent, that I may not when present deal sharply, according to the authority which the Lord gave me for building up, and not for casting down.


text:
 Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfected; be comforted; be of the same mind; live in peace: and the God of love and peace shall be with you.


text:
 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all.


text:
 Paul, an apostle (not from men, neither through man, but through Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead),


text:
 who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us out of this present evil world, according to the will of our God and Father:


text:
 I marvel that ye are so quickly removing from him that called you in the grace of Christ unto a different gospel;


text:
 which is not another {cf15i gospel}: only there are some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.


text:
 But though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach unto you any gospel other than that which we preached unto you, let him be anathema.


text:
 As we have said before, so say I now again, If any man preacheth unto you any gospel other than that which ye received, let him be anathema.


text:
 For am I now persuading men, or God? or am I seeking to please men? if I were still pleasing men, I should not be a servant of Christ.


text:
 For I make known to you, brethren, as touching the gospel which was preached by me, that it is not after man.


text:
 For neither did I receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but {cf15i it came to me} through revelation of Jesus Christ.


text:
 For ye have heard of my manner of life in time past in the Jews religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and made havock of it:


text:
 and I advanced in the Jews religion beyond many of mine own age among my countrymen, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.


text:
 But when it was the good pleasure of God, who separated me, {cf15i even} from my mother s womb, and called me through his grace,


text:
 to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the Gentiles; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:


text:
 neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me: but I went away into Arabia; and again I returned unto Damascus.


text:
 but they only heard say, He that once persecuted us now preacheth the faith of which he once made havock;


text:
 Then after the space of fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus also with me.


text:
 And I went up by revelation; and I laid before them the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately before them who were of repute, lest by any means I should be running, or had run, in vain.


text:
 and that because of the false brethren privily brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:


text:
 to whom we gave place in the way of subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.


text:
 But from those who were reputed to be somewhat (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth not man s person) they, I say, who were of repute imparted nothing to me:


text:
 but contrariwise, when they saw that I had been intrusted with the gospel of the uncircumcision, even as Peter with {cf15i the gospel} of the circumcision


text:
 (for he that wrought for Peter unto the apostleship of the circumcision wrought for me also unto the Gentiles);


text:
 and when they perceived the grace that was given unto me, James and Cephas and John, they who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship, that we should go unto the Gentiles, and they unto the circumcision;


text:
 only {cf15i they would} that we should remember the poor; which very thing I was also zealous to do.


text:
 For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they came, he drew back and separated himself, fearing them that were of the circumcision.


text:
 And the rest of the Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that even Barnabas was carried away with their dissimulation.


text:
 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Cephas before {cf15i them} all, If thou, being a Jew, livest as do the Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, how compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?


text:
 yet knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, save through faith in Jesus Christ, even we believed on Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law: because by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.


text:
 But if, while we sought to be justified in Christ, we ourselves also were found sinners, is Christ a minister of sin? God forbid.


text:
 I have been crucified with Christ; yet I live; {cf15i and yet} no longer I, but Christ liveth in me: and that {cf15i life} which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, {cf15i the faith} which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me.


text:
 I do not make void the grace of God: for if righteousness is through the law, then Christ died for nought.


text:
 O foolish Galatians, who did bewitch you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was openly set forth crucified?


text:
 This only would I learn from you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?


text:
 He therefore that supplieth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, {cf15i doeth he it} by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?


text:
 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand unto Abraham, {cf15i saying}, In thee shall all the nations be blessed.


text:
 For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one which continueth not in all things that are written in the book of the law, to do them.


text:
 Now that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, is evident: for, The righteous shall live by faith;


text:
 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:


text:
 that upon the Gentiles might come the blessing of Abraham in Christ Jesus; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.


text:
 Brethren, I speak after the manner of men: Though it be but a man s covenant, yet when it hath been confirmed, no one maketh it void, or addeth thereto.


text:
 Now to Abraham were the promises spoken, and to his seed. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.


text:
 Now this I say; A covenant confirmed beforehand by God, the law, which came four hundred and thirty years after, doth not disannul, so as to make the promise of none effect.


text:
 For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no more of promise: but God hath granted it to Abraham by promise.


text:
 What then is the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise hath been made; {cf15i and it was} ordained through angels by the hand of a mediator.


text:
 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could make alive, verily righteousness would have been of the law.


text:
 Howbeit the scripture hath shut up all things under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.


text:
 But before faith came, we were kept in ward under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.


text:
 So that the law hath been our tutor {cf15i to bring us} unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.


text:
 There can be neither Jew nor Greek, there can be neither bond nor free, there can be no male and female: for ye all are one {cf15i man} in Christ Jesus.


text:
 But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he differeth nothing from a bondservant, though he is lord of all;


text:
 but when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,


text:
 And because ye are sons, God sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father.


text:
 but now that ye have come to know God, or rather to be known of God, how turn ye back again to the weak and beggarly rudiments, whereunto ye desire to be in bondage over again?


text:
 I beseech you, brethren, be as I {cf15i am}, for I {cf15i am} as ye {cf15i are}. Ye did me no wrong:


text:
 but ye know that because of an infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you the first time:


text:
 and that which was a temptation to you in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but ye received me as an angel of God, {cf15i even} as Christ Jesus.


text:
 Where then is that gratulation of yourselves? for I bear you witness, that, if possible, ye would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me.


text:
 But it is good to be zealously sought in a good matter at all times, and not only when I am present with you.


text:
 yea, I could wish to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I am perplexed about you.


text:
 Howbeit the {cf15i son} by the handmaid is born after the flesh; but the {cf15i son} by the freewoman {cf15i is born} through promise.


text:
 Which things contain an allegory: for these {cf15i women} are two covenants; one from mount Sinai, bearing children unto bondage, which is Hagar.


text:
 Now this Hagar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to the Jerusalem that now is: for she is in bondage with her children.


text:
 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; Break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: For more are the children of the desolate than of her which hath the husband.


text:
 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him {cf15i that was born} after the Spirit, even so it is now.


text:
 Howbeit what saith the scripture? Cast out the handmaid and her son: for the son of the handmaid shall not inherit with the son of the freewoman.


text:
 With freedom did Christ set us free: stand fast therefore, and be not entangled again in a yoke of bondage.


text:
 Yea, I testify again to every man that receiveth circumcision, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.


text:
 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith working through love.


text:
 I have confidence to you ward in the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.


text:
 But I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? then hath the stumblingblock of the cross been done away.


text:
 For ye, brethren, were called for freedom; only {cf15i use} not your freedom for an occasion to the flesh, but through love be servants one to another.


text:
 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, {cf15i even} in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.


text:
 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are contrary the one to the other; that ye may not do the things that ye would.


text:
 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are {cf15i these}, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,


text:
 envyings, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I forewarn you, even as I did forewarn you, that they which practise such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.


text:
 And they that are of Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with the passions and the lusts thereof.


text:
 Brethren, even if a man be overtaken in any trespass, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of meekness; looking to thyself, lest thou also be tempted.


text:
 But let each man prove his own work, and then shall he have his glorying in regard of himself alone, and not of his neighbour.


text:
 For he that soweth unto his own flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth unto the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap eternal life.


text:
 So then, as we have opportunity, let us work that which is good toward all men, and especially toward them that are of the household of the faith.


text:
 As many as desire to make a fair show in the flesh, they compel you to be circumcised; only that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.


text:
 For not even they who receive circumcision do themselves keep the law; but they desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.


text:
 But far be it from me to glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world hath been crucified unto me, and I unto the world.


text:
 And as many as shall walk by this rule, peace {cf15i be} upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.


text:
 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and the faithful in Christ Jesus:


text:
 Blessed {cf15i be} the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly {cf15i places} in Christ:


text:
 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blemish before him in love:


text:
 having foreordained us unto adoption as sons through Jesus Christ unto himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,


text:
 in whom we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,


text:
 having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he purposed in him


text:
 unto a dispensation of the fulness of the times, to sum up all things in Christ, the things in the heavens, and the things upon the earth; in him, {cf15i I say},


text:
 in whom also we were made a heritage, having been foreordained according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his will;


text:
 in whom ye also, having heard the word of the truth, the gospel of your salvation, in whom, having also believed, ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,


text:
 which is an earnest of our inheritance, unto the redemption of {cf15i God s} own possession, unto the praise of his glory.


text:
 For this cause I also, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which is among you, and which {cf15i ye shew} toward all the saints,


text:
 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him;


text:
 having the eyes of your heart enlightened, that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,


text:
 and what the exceeding greatness of his power to us ward who believe, according to that working of the strength of his might


text:
 which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and made him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly {cf15i places},


text:
 far above all rule, and authority, and power, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:


text:
 and he put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the church,


text:
 wherein aforetime ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that now worketh in the sons of disobedience;


text:
 among whom we also all once lived in the lusts of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest: 


text:
 even when we were dead through our trespasses, quickened us together with Christ (by grace have ye been saved),


text:
 and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly {cf15i places}, in Christ Jesus:


text:
 that in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus:


text:
 for by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: {cf15i it is} the gift of God:


text:
 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God afore prepared that we should walk in them.


text:
 Wherefore remember, that aforetime ye, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called Circumcision, in the flesh, made by hands;


text:
 that ye were at that time separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world.


text:
 having abolished in his flesh the enmity, {cf15i even} the law of commandments {cf15i contained} in ordinances; that he might create in himself of the twain one new man, {cf15i so} making peace;


text:
 and might reconcile them both in one body unto God through the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:


text:
 So then ye are no more strangers and sojourners, but ye are fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God,


text:
 being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief corner stone;


text:
 if so be that ye have heard of the dispensation of that grace of God which was given me to you ward;


text:
 which in other generations was not made known unto the sons of men, as it hath now been revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit;


text:
 {cf15i to wit}, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel,


text:
 whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of that grace of God which was given me according to the working of his power.


text:
 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, was this grace given, to preach unto the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;


text:
 and to make all men see what is the dispensation of the mystery which from all ages hath been hid in God who created all things;


text:
 to the intent that now unto the principalities and the powers in the heavenly {cf15i places} might be made known through the church the manifold wisdom of God,


text:
 that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that ye may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inward man;


text:
 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; to the end that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,


text:
 may be strong to apprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,


text:
 and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, that ye may be filled unto all the fulness of God.


text:
 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,


text:
 unto him {cf15i be} the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus unto all generations for ever and ever. Amen.


text:
 I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beseech you to walk worthily of the calling wherewith ye were called,


text:
 {cf15i There is} one body, and one Spirit, even as also ye were called in one hope of your calling;


text:
 He that descended is the same also that ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)


text:
 And he gave some {cf15i to be} apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;


text:
 for the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of ministering, unto the building up of the body of Christ:


text:
 till we all attain unto the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a fullgrown man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:


text:
 that we may be no longer children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error;


text:
 but speaking truth in love, may grow up in all things into him, which is the head, {cf15i even} Christ;


text:
 from whom all the body fitly framed and knit together through that which every joint supplieth, according to the working in {cf15i due} measure of each several part, maketh the increase of the body unto the building up of itself in love.


text:
 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye no longer walk as the Gentiles also walk, in the vanity of their mind,


text:
 being darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their heart;


text:
 who being past feeling gave themselves up to lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.


text:
 that ye put away, as concerning your former manner of life, the old man, which waxeth corrupt after the lusts of deceit;


text:
 Wherefore, putting away falsehood, speak ye truth each one with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.


text:
 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing that is good, that he may have whereof to give to him that hath need.


text:
 Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but such as is good for edifying as the need may be, that it may give grace to them that hear.


text:
 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and railing, be put away from you, with all malice:


text:
 and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, even as God also in Christ forgave you.


text:
 and walk in love, even as Christ also loved you, and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for an odour of a sweet smell.


text:
 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as becometh saints;


text:
 nor filthiness, nor foolish talking, or jesting, which are not befitting: but rather giving of thanks.


text:
 For this ye know of a surety, that no fornicator, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, which is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.


text:
 Let no man deceive you with empty words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience.


text:
 But all things when they are reproved are made manifest by the light: for everything that is made manifest is light.


text:
 Wherefore {cf15i he} saith, Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall shine upon thee.


text:
 speaking one to another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;


text:
 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, {cf15i being} himself the saviour of the body.


text:
 But as the church is subject to Christ, so {cf15i let} the wives also {cf15i be} to their husbands in everything.


text:
 that he might present the church to himself a glorious {cf15i church}, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.


text:
 Even so ought husbands also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his own wife loveth himself:


text:
 for no man ever hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as Christ also the church;


text:
 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the twain shall become one flesh.


text:
 Nevertheless do ye also severally love each one his own wife even as himself; and {cf15i let} the wife {cf15i see} that she fear her husband.


text:
 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but nurture them in the chastening and admonition of the Lord.


text:
 Servants, be obedient unto them that according to the flesh are your masters, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;


text:
 not in the way of eyeservice, as men pleasers; but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;


text:
 knowing that whatsoever good thing each one doeth, the same shall he receive again from the Lord, whether {cf15i he be} bond or free.


text:
 And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, and forbear threatening: knowing that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no respect of persons with him.


text:
 For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual {cf15i hosts} of wickedness in the heavenly {cf15i places}.


text:
 Wherefore take up the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand.


text:
 Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,


text:
 withal taking up the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil {cf15i one}.


text:
 with all prayer and supplication praying at all seasons in the Spirit, and watching thereunto in all perseverance and supplication for all the saints,


text:
 And on my behalf, that utterance may be given unto me in opening my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,


text:
 But that ye also may know my affairs, how I do, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things:


text:
 whom I have sent unto you for this very purpose, that ye may know our state, and that he may comfort your hearts.


text:
 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:


text:
 being confident of this very thing, that he which began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ:


text:
 even as it is right for me to be thus minded on behalf of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as, both in my bonds and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers with me of grace.


text:
 so that ye may approve the things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and void of offence unto the day of Christ;


text:
 being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are through Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.


text:
 Now I would have you know, brethren, that the things {cf15i which happened} unto me have fallen out rather unto the progress of the gospel;


text:
 so that my bonds became manifest in Christ throughout the whole praetorian guard, and to all the rest;


text:
 and that most of the brethren in the Lord, being confident through my bonds, are more abundantly bold to speak the word of God without fear.


text:
 but the other proclaim Christ of faction, not sincerely, thinking to raise up affliction for me in my bonds.


text:
 What then? only that in every way, whether in pretence or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and therein I rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.


text:
 For I know that this shall turn to my salvation, through your supplication and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,


text:
 according to my earnest expectation and hope, that in nothing shall I be put to shame, but {cf15i that} with all boldness, as always, {cf15i so} now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether by life, or by death.


text:
 But if to live in the flesh, {cf15i if} this is the fruit of my work, then what I shall choose I wot not.


text:
 But I am in a strait betwixt the two, having the desire to depart and be with Christ; for it is very far better:


text:
 And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide, yea, and abide with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith;


text:
 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ: that, whether I come and see you or be absent, I may hear of your state, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one soul striving for the faith of the gospel;


text:
 and in nothing affrighted by the adversaries: which is for them an evident token of perdition, but of your salvation, and that from God;


text:
 because to you it hath been granted in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer in his behalf:


text:
 If there is therefore any comfort in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tender mercies and compassions,


text:
 fulfill ye my joy, that ye be of the same mind, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind;


text:
 {cf15i doing} nothing through faction or through vainglory, but in lowliness of mind each counting other better than himself;


text:
 and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient {cf15i even} unto death, yea, the death of the cross.


text:
 that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of {cf15i things} in heaven and {cf15i things} on earth and {cf15i things} under the earth,


text:
 So then, my beloved, even as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;


text:
 that ye may be blameless and harmless, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom ye are seen as lights in the world,


text:
 holding forth the word of life; that I may have whereof to glory in the day of Christ, that I did not run in vain neither labour in vain.


text:
 Yea, and if I am offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all:


text:
 But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state.


text:
 But ye know the proof of him, that, as a child {cf15i serveth} a father, {cf15i so} he served with me in furtherance of the gospel.


text:
 But I counted it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need;


text:
 for indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, that I might not have sorrow upon sorrow.


text:
 I have sent him therefore the more diligently, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful.


text:
 because for the work of Christ he came nigh unto death, hazarding his life to supply that which was lacking in your service toward me.


text:
 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not irksome, but for you it is safe.


text:
 for we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God, and glory in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh:


text:
 though I myself might have confidence even in the flesh: if any other man thinketh to have confidence in the flesh, I yet more:


text:
 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;


text:
 as touching zeal, persecuting the church; as touching the righteousness which is in the law, found blameless.


text:
 Yea verily, and I count all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may gain Christ,


text:
 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of mine own, {cf15i even} that which is of the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:


text:
 that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, becoming conformed unto his death;


text:
 Not that I have already obtained, or am already made perfect: but I press on, if so be that I may apprehend that for which also I was apprehended by Christ Jesus.


text:
 Brethren, I count not myself yet to have apprehended: but one thing {cf15i I do}, forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before,


text:
 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in anything ye are otherwise minded, even this shall God reveal unto you:


text:
 Brethren, be ye imitators together of me, and mark them which so walk even as ye have us for an ensample.


text:
 For many walk, of whom I told you often, and now tell you even weeping, {cf15i that they are} the enemies of the cross of Christ:


text:
 whose end is perdition, whose god is the belly, and {cf15i whose} glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.


text:
 who shall fashion anew the body of our humiliation, {cf15i that it may be} conformed to the body of his glory, according to the working whereby he is able even to subject all things unto himself.


text:
 Wherefore, my brethren beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my beloved.


text:
 Yea, I beseech thee also, true yokefellow, help these women, for they laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.


text:
 In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.


text:
 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.


text:
 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honourable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.


text:
 The things which ye both learned and received and heard and saw in me, these things do: and the God of peace shall be with you.


text:
 But I rejoice in the Lord greatly, that now at length ye have revived your thought for me; wherein ye did indeed take thought, but ye lacked opportunity.


text:
 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therein to be content.


text:
 I know how to be abased, and I know also how to abound: in everything and in all things have I learned the secret both to be filled and to be hungry, both to abound and to be in want.


text:
 And ye yourselves also know, ye Philippians, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church had fellowship with me in the matter of giving and receiving, but ye only;


text:
 But I have all things, and abound: I am filled, having received from Epaphroditus the things {cf15i that came} from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God.


text:
 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ {cf15i which are} at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.


text:
 because of the hope which is laid up for you in the heavens, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel,


text:
 which is come unto you; even as it is also in all the world bearing fruit and increasing, as {cf15i it doth} in you also, since the day ye heard and knew the grace of God in truth;


text:
 even as ye learned of Epaphras our beloved fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf,


text:
 For this cause we also, since the day we heard {cf15i it}, do not cease to pray and make request for you, that ye may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,


text:
 to walk worthily of the Lord unto all pleasing, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;


text:
 strengthened with all power, according to the might of his glory, unto all patience and longsuffering with joy;


text:
 giving thanks unto the Father, who made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light;


text:
 who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love;


text:
 for in him were all things created, in the heavens and upon the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created through him, and unto him;


text:
 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.


text:
 and through him to reconcile all things unto himself, having made peace through the blood of his cross; through him, {cf15i I say}, whether things upon the earth, or things in the heavens.


text:
 And you, being in time past alienated and enemies in your mind in your evil works, yet now hath he reconciled


text:
 in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without blemish and unreproveable before him:


text:
 if so be that ye continue in the faith, grounded and stedfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel which ye heard, which was preached in all creation under heaven; whereof I Paul was made a minister.


text:
 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and fill up on my part that which is lacking of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body s sake, which is the church;


text:
 whereof I was made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which was given me to you ward, to fulfill the word of God,


text:
 {cf15i even} the mystery which hath been hid from all ages and generations: but now hath it been manifested to his saints,


text:
 to whom God was pleased to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:


text:
 whom we proclaim, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ;


text:
 For I would have you know how greatly I strive for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;


text:
 that their hearts may be comforted, they being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, that they may know the mystery of God, {cf15i even} Christ,


text:
 For though I am absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.


text:
 rooted and builded up in him, and stablished in your faith, even as ye were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.


text:
 Take heed lest there shall be any one that maketh spoil of you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ:


text:
 in whom ye were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ;


text:
 having been buried with him in baptism, wherein ye were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.


text:
 And you, being dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, you, {cf15i I say}, did he quicken together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses;


text:
 having blotted out the bond written in ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us: and he hath taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross;


text:
 having put off from himself the principalities and the powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.


text:
 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a feast day or a new moon or a sabbath day:


text:
 Let no man rob you of your prize by a voluntary humility and worshipping of the angels, dwelling in the things which he hath seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,


text:
 and not holding fast the Head, from whom all the body, being supplied and knit together through the joints and bands, increaseth with the increase of God.


text:
 If ye died with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, do ye subject yourselves to ordinances,


text:
 Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and severity to the body; {cf15i but are} not of any value against the indulgence of the flesh.


text:
 If then ye were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God.


text:
 When Christ, {cf15i who is} our life, shall be manifested, then shall ye also with him be manifested in glory.


text:
 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, the which is idolatry;


text:
 But now put ye also away all these; anger, wrath, malice, railing, shameful speaking out of your mouth:


text:
 and have put on the new man, which is being renewed unto knowledge after the image of him that created him:


text:
 where there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondman, freeman: but Christ is all, and in all.


text:
 Put on therefore, as God s elect, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;


text:
 forbearing one another, and forgiving each other, if any man have a complaint against any; even as the Lord forgave you, so also do ye:


text:
 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to the which also ye were called in one body; and be ye thankful.


text:
 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another with psalms {cf15i and} hymns {cf15i and} spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts unto God.


text:
 And whatsoever ye do, in word or in deed, {cf15i do} all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.


text:
 Servants, obey in all things them that are your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as men pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing the Lord:


text:
 knowing that from the Lord ye shall receive the recompense of the inheritance: ye serve the Lord Christ.


text:
 For he that doeth wrong shall receive again for the wrong that he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.


text:
 Masters, render unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.


text:
 withal praying for us also, that God may open unto us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds;


text:
 Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer each one.


text:
 All my affairs shall Tychicus make known unto you, the beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord:


text:
 whom I have sent unto you for this very purpose, that ye may know our estate, and that he may comfort your hearts;


text:
 together with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things that {cf15i are done} here.


text:
 Aristarchus my fellow prisoner saluteth you, and Mark, the cousin of Barnabas (touching whom ye received commandments; if he come unto you, receive him),


text:
 and Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision: these only {cf15i are my} fellow workers unto the kingdom of God, men that have been a comfort unto me.


text:
 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, saluteth you, always striving for you in his prayers, that ye may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God.


text:
 For I bear him witness, that he hath much labour for you, and for them in Laodicea, and for them in Hierapolis.


text:
 And when this epistle hath been read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye also read the epistle from Laodicea.


text:
 And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfill it.


text:
 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timothy, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.


text:
 remembering without ceasing your work of faith and labour of love and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father;


text:
 how that our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and {cf15i in} much assurance; even as ye know what manner of men we shewed ourselves toward you for your sake.


text:
 And ye became imitators of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost;


text:
 For from you hath sounded forth the word of the Lord, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith to God ward is gone forth; so that we need not to speak anything.


text:
 For they themselves report concerning us what manner of entering in we had unto you; and how ye turned unto God from idols, to serve a living and true God,


text:
 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, {cf15i even} Jesus, which delivereth us from the wrath to come.


text:
 but having suffered before, and been shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we waxed bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God in much conflict.


text:
 but even as we have been approved of God to be intrusted with the gospel, so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God which proveth our hearts.


text:
 For neither at any time were we found using words of flattery, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness, God is witness;


text:
 nor seeking glory of men, neither from you, nor from others, when we might have been burdensome, as apostles of Christ.


text:
 even so, being affectionately desirous of you, we were well pleased to impart unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were become very dear to us.


text:
 For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: working night and day, that we might not burden any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.


text:
 Ye are witnesses, and God {cf15i also}, how holily and righteously and unblameably we behaved ourselves toward you that believe:


text:
 as ye know how we {cf15i dealt with} each one of you, as a father with his own children, exhorting you, and encouraging {cf15i you}, and testifying,


text:
 And for this cause we also thank God without ceasing, that, when ye received from us the word of the message, {cf15i even the word} of God, ye accepted {cf15i it} not {cf15i as} the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which also worketh in you that believe.


text:
 For ye, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judaea in Christ Jesus: for ye also suffered the same things of your own countrymen, even as they did of the Jews;


text:
 who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drave out us, and please not God, and are contrary to all men;


text:
 forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved; to fill up their sins alway: but the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.


text:
 But we, brethren, being bereaved of you for a short season, in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more exceedingly to see your face with great desire:


text:
 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of glorying? Are not even ye, before our Lord Jesus at his coming?


text:
 and sent Timothy, our brother and God s minister in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort {cf15i you} concerning your faith;


text:
 For verily, when we were with you, we told you beforehand that we are to suffer affliction; even as it came to pass, and ye know.


text:
 For this cause I also, when I could no longer forbear, sent that I might know your faith, lest by any means the tempter had tempted you, and our labour should be in vain.


text:
 But when Timothy came even now unto us from you, and brought us glad tidings of your faith and love, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, longing to see us, even as we also {cf15i to see} you;


text:
 for this cause, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our distress and affliction through your faith:


text:
 For what thanksgiving can we render again unto God for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God;


text:
 night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face, and may perfect that which is lacking in your faith?


text:
 and the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we also {cf15i do} toward you;


text:
 to the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.


text:
 Finally then, brethren, we beseech and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that, as ye received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, even as ye do walk, that ye abound more and more.


text:
 that no man transgress, and wrong his brother in the matter: because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as also we forewarned you and testified.


text:
 But concerning love of the brethren ye have no need that one write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another;


text:
 for indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia. But we exhort you, brethren, that ye abound more and more;


text:
 and that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your hands, even as we charged you;


text:
 But we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning them that fall asleep; that ye sorrow not, even as the rest, which have no hope.


text:
 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also that are fallen asleep in Jesus will God bring with him.


text:
 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we that are alive, that are left unto the coming of the Lord, shall in no wise precede them that are fallen asleep.


text:
 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven, with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:


text:
 then we that are alive, that are left, shall together with them be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.


text:
 But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that aught be written unto you.


text:
 When they are saying, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall in no wise escape.


text:
 But let us, since we are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.


text:
 For God appointed us not unto wrath, but unto the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,


text:
 But we beseech you, brethren, to know them that labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;


text:
 And we exhort you, brethren, admonish the disorderly, encourage the fainthearted, support the weak, be longsuffering toward all.


text:
 See that none render unto any one evil for evil; but alway follow after that which is good, one toward another, and toward all.


text:
 And the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved entire, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.


text:
 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timothy, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ;


text:
 We are bound to give thanks to God alway for you, brethren, even as it is meet, for that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the love of each one of you all toward one another aboundeth;


text:
 so that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions which ye endure;


text:
 {cf15i which is} a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God; to the end that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:


text:
 and to you that are afflicted rest with us, at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with the angels of his power


text:
 in flaming fire, rendering vengeance to them that know not God, and to them that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus:


text:
 who shall suffer punishment, {cf15i even} eternal destruction from the face of the Lord and from the glory of his might,


text:
 when he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at in all them that believed (because our testimony unto you was believed) in that day.


text:
 To which end we also pray always for you, that our God may count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire of goodness and {cf15i every} work of faith, with power;


text:
 that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.


text:
 Now we beseech you, brethren, touching the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together unto him;


text:
 to the end that ye be not quickly shaken from your mind, nor yet be troubled, either by spirit, or by word, or by epistle as from us, as that the day of the Lord is {cf15i now} present;


text:
 let no man beguile you in any wise: for {cf15i it will not be}, except the falling away come first, and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition,


text:
 he that opposeth and exalteth himself against all that is called God or that is worshipped; so that he sitteth in the temple of God, setting himself forth as God.


text:
 For the mystery of lawlessness doth already work: only {cf15i there is} one that restraineth now, until he be taken out of the way.


text:
 And then shall be revealed the lawless one, whom the Lord Jesus shall slay with the breath of his mouth, and bring to nought by the manifestation of his coming;


text:
 {cf15i even he}, whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,


text:
 and with all deceit of unrighteousness for them that are perishing; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.


text:
 But we are bound to give thanks to God alway for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, for that God chose you from the beginning unto salvation in sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:


text:
 whereunto he called you through our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.


text:
 So then, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye were taught, whether by word, or by epistle of ours.


text:
 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father which loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace,


text:
 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run and be glorified, even as also {cf15i it is} with you;


text:
 And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command.


text:
 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which they received of us.


text:
 neither did we eat bread for nought at any man s hand, but in labour and travail, working night and day, that we might not burden any of you:


text:
 not because we have not the right, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you, that ye should imitate us.


text:
 Now them that are such we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.


text:
 And if any man obeyeth not our word by this epistle, note that man, that ye have no company with him, to the end that he may be ashamed.


text:
 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the commandment of God our Saviour, and Christ Jesus our hope;


text:
 unto Timothy, my true child in faith: Grace, mercy, peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.


text:
 As I exhorted thee to tarry at Ephesus, when I was going into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge certain men not to teach a different doctrine,


text:
 neither to give heed to fables and endless genealogies, the which minister questionings, rather than a dispensation of God which is in faith; {cf15i so do I now}.


text:
 desiring to be teachers of the law, though they understand neither what they say, nor whereof they confidently affirm.


text:
 as knowing this, that law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and unruly, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,


text:
 for fornicators, for abusers of themselves with men, for menstealers, for liars, for false swearers, and if there be any other thing contrary to the sound doctrine;


text:
 I thank him that enabled me, {cf15i even} Christ Jesus our Lord, for that he counted me faithful, appointing me to {cf15i his} service;


text:
 though I was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: howbeit I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief;


text:
 Faithful is the saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief:


text:
 howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me as chief might Jesus Christ shew forth all his longsuffering, for an ensample of them which should hereafter believe on him unto eternal life.


text:
 Now unto the King eternal, incorruptible, invisible, the only God, {cf15i be} honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.


text:
 This charge I commit unto thee, my child Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that by them thou mayest war the good warfare;


text:
 holding faith and a good conscience; which some having thrust from them made shipwreck concerning the faith:


text:
 of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I delivered unto Satan, that they might be taught not to blaspheme.


text:
 I exhort therefore, first of all, that supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings, be made for all men;


text:
 for kings and all that are in high place; that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and gravity.


text:
 whereunto I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I speak the truth, I lie not), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.


text:
 I desire therefore that the men pray in every place, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and disputing.


text:
 In like manner, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefastness and sobriety; not with braided hair, and gold or pearls or costly raiment;


text:
 but she shall be saved through the childbearing, if they continue in faith and love and sanctification with sobriety.


text:
 The bishop therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, soberminded, orderly, given to hospitality, apt to teach;


text:
 Moreover he must have good testimony from them that are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.


text:
 Deacons in like manner {cf15i must be} grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;


text:
 For they that have served well as deacons gain to themselves a good standing, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.


text:
 but if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how men ought to behave themselves in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.


text:
 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness; He who was manifested in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen of angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, received up in glory.


text:
 But the Spirit saith expressly, that in later times some shall fall away from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils,


text:
 forbidding to marry, {cf15i and commanding} to abstain from meats, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by them that believe and know the truth.


text:
 For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, if it be received with thanksgiving:


text:
 If thou put the brethren in mind of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished in the words of the faith, and of the good doctrine which thou hast followed {cf15i until now}:


text:
 for bodily exercise is profitable for a little; but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life which now is, and of that which is to come.


text:
 For to this end we labour and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of them that believe.


text:
 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an ensample to them that believe, in word, in manner of life, in love, in faith, in purity.


text:
 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.


text:
 Be diligent in these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy progress may be manifest unto all.


text:
 Take heed to thyself, and to thy teaching. Continue in these things; for in doing this thou shalt save both thyself and them that hear thee.


text:
 But if any widow hath children or grandchildren, let them learn first to shew piety towards their own family, and to requite their parents: for this is acceptable in the sight of God.


text:
 Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, hath her hope set on God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.


text:
 But if any provideth not for his own, and specially his own household, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever.


text:
 Let none be enrolled as a widow under threescore years old, {cf15i having been} the wife of one man,


text:
 well reported of for good works; if she hath brought up children, if she hath used hospitality to strangers, if she hath washed the saints feet, if she hath relieved the afflicted, if she hath diligently followed every good work.


text:
 And withal they learn also {cf15i to be} idle, going about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.


text:
 I desire therefore that the younger {cf15i widows} marry, bear children, rule the household, give none occasion to the adversary for reviling:


text:
 If any woman that believeth hath widows, let her relieve them, and let not the church be burdened; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.


text:
 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially those who labour in the word and in teaching.


text:
 For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his hire.


text:
 I charge {cf15i thee} in the sight of God, and Christ Jesus, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing by partiality.


text:
 Be no longer a drinker of water, but use a little wine for thy stomach s sake and thine often infirmities.


text:
 In like manner also there are good works that are evident; and such as are otherwise cannot be hid.


text:
 Let as many as are servants under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and the doctrine be not blasphemed.


text:
 And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but let them serve them the rather, because they that partake of the benefit are believing and beloved. These things teach and exhort.


text:
 If any man teacheth a different doctrine, and consenteth not to sound words, {cf15i even} the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;


text:
 he is puffed up, knowing nothing, but doting about questionings and disputes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,


text:
 wranglings of men corrupted in mind and bereft of the truth, supposing that godliness is a way of gain.


text:
 But they that desire to be rich fall into a temptation and a snare and many foolish and hurtful lusts, such as drown men in destruction and perdition.


text:
 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil: which some reaching after have been led astray from the faith, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.


text:
 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.


text:
 Fight the good fight of the faith, lay hold on the life eternal, whereunto thou wast called, and didst confess the good confession in the sight of many witnesses.


text:
 I charge thee in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and of Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed the good confession;


text:
 that thou keep the commandment, without spot, without reproach, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:


text:
 which in its own times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;


text:
 who only hath immortality, dwelling in light unapproachable; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom {cf15i be} honour and power eternal. Amen.


text:
 Charge them that are rich in this present world, that they be not highminded, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;


text:
 that they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute, willing to communicate;


text:
 laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on the life which is {cf15i life} indeed.


text:
 O Timothy, guard that which is committed unto {cf15i thee}, turning away from the profane babblings and oppositions of the knowledge which is falsely so called;


text:
 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of the life which is in Christ Jesus,


text:
 I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers in a pure conscience, how unceasing is my remembrance of thee in my supplications, night and day


text:
 having been reminded of the unfeigned faith that is in thee; which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and, I am persuaded, in thee also.


text:
 For the which cause I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee through the laying on of my hands.


text:
 Be not ashamed therefore of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but suffer hardship with the gospel according to the power of God;


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


text:
 but hath now been manifested by the appearing of our Saviour Christ Jesus, who abolished death, and brought life and incorruption to light through the gospel,


text:
 For the which cause I suffer also these things: yet I am not ashamed; for I know him whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to guard that which I have committed unto him against that day.


text:
 Hold the pattern of sound words which thou hast heard from me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.


text:
 That good thing which was committed unto {cf15i thee} guard through the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.


text:
 This thou knowest, that all that are in Asia turned away from me; of whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes.


text:
 The Lord grant mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus: for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain;


text:
 (the Lord grant unto him to find mercy of the Lord in that day); and in how many things he ministered at Ephesus, thou knowest very well.


text:
 And the things which thou hast heard from me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.


text:
 No soldier on service entangleth himself in the affairs of {cf15i this} life; that he may please him who enrolled him as a soldier.


text:
 Therefore I endure all things for the elect s sake, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.


text:
 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging {cf15i them} in the sight of the Lord, that they strive not about words, to no profit, to the subverting of them that hear.


text:
 Give diligence to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, handling aright the word of truth.


text:
 men who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already, and overthrow the faith of some.


text:
 Howbeit the firm foundation of God standeth, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his: and, Let every one that nameth the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness.


text:
 Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some unto honour, and some unto dishonour.


text:
 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, meet for the master s use, prepared unto every good work.


text:
 But flee youthful lusts, and follow after righteousness, faith, love, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.


text:
 in meekness correcting them that oppose themselves; if peradventure God may give them repentance unto the knowledge of the truth,


text:
 and they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by the Lord s servant unto the will of God.


text:
 For men shall be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, railers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,


text:
 without natural affection, implacable, slanderers, without self control, fierce, no lovers of good,


text:
 For of these are they that creep into houses, and take captive silly women laden with sins, led away by divers lusts,


text:
 And like as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also withstand the truth; men corrupted in mind, reprobate concerning the faith.


text:
 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be evident unto all men, as theirs also came to be.


text:
 persecutions, sufferings; what things befell me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: and out of them all the Lord delivered me.


text:
 But abide thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;


text:
 and that from a babe thou hast known the sacred writings which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.


text:
 Every scripture inspired of God {cf15i is} also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness:


text:
 I charge {cf15i thee} in the sight of God, and of Christ Jesus, who shall judge the quick and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom;


text:
 preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.


text:
 For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts;


text:
 But be thou sober in all things, suffer hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill thy ministry.


text:
 henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give to me at that day: and not only to me, but also to all them that have loved his appearing.


text:
 for Demas forsook me, having loved this present world, and went to Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.


text:
 The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, bring when thou comest, and the books, especially the parchments.


text:
 But the Lord stood by me, and strengthened me; that through me the message might be fully proclaimed, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.


text:
 The Lord will deliver me from every evil work, and will save me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom {cf15i be} the glory for ever and ever. Amen.


text:
 Do thy diligence to come before winter. Eubulus saluteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren.


text:
 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God s elect, and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness,


text:
 but in his own seasons manifested his word in the message, wherewith I was intrusted according to the commandment of God our Saviour;


text:
 to Titus, my true child after a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Saviour.


text:
 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that were wanting, and appoint elders in every city, as I gave thee charge;


text:
 if any man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having children that believe, who are not accused of riot or unruly.


text:
 For the bishop must be blameless, as God s steward; not selfwilled, not soon angry, no brawler, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre;


text:
 holding to the faithful word which is according to the teaching, that he may be able both to exhort in the sound doctrine, and to convict the gainsayers.


text:
 whose mouths must be stopped; men who overthrow whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre s sake.


text:
 One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, Cretans are alway liars, evil beasts, idle gluttons.


text:
 To the pure all things are pure: but to them that are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but both their mind and their conscience are defiled.


text:
 They profess that they know God; but by their works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.


text:
 that aged women likewise be reverent in demeanour, not slanderers nor enslaved to much wine, teachers of that which is good;


text:
 {cf15i to be} soberminded, chaste, workers at home, kind, being in subjection to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed:


text:
 in all things shewing thyself an ensample of good works; in thy doctrine {cf15i shewing} uncorruptness, gravity,


text:
 sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of us.


text:
 {cf15i Exhort} servants to be in subjection to their own masters, {cf15i and} to be well pleasing {cf15i to them} in all things; not gainsaying;


text:
 not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.


text:
 instructing us, to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly and righteously and godly in this present world;


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


text:
 Put them in mind to be in subjection to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready unto every good work,


text:
 For we also were aforetime foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.


text:
 not by works {cf15i done} in righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost,


text:
 Faithful is the saying, and concerning these things I will that thou affirm confidently, to the end that they which have believed God may be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men:


text:
 but shun foolish questionings, and genealogies, and strifes, and fightings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.


text:
 When I shall send Artemas unto thee, or Tychicus, give diligence to come unto me to Nicopolis: for there I have determined to winter.


text:
 Set forward Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently, that nothing be wanting unto them.


text:
 And let our {cf15i people} also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.


text:
 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon our beloved and fellow worker,


text:
 hearing of thy love, and of the faith which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all the saints;


text:
 that the fellowship of thy faith may become effectual, in the knowledge of every good thing which is in you, unto Christ.


text:
 For I had much joy and comfort in thy love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through thee, brother.


text:
 yet for love s sake I rather beseech, being such a one as Paul the aged, and now a prisoner also of Christ Jesus:


text:
 whom I would fain have kept with me, that in thy behalf he might minister unto me in the bonds of the gospel:


text:
 but without thy mind I would do nothing; that thy goodness should not be as of necessity, but of free will.


text:
 For perhaps he was therefore parted {cf15i from thee} for a season, that thou shouldest have him for ever;


text:
 no longer as a servant, but more than a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much rather to thee, both in the flesh and in the Lord.


text:
 I Paul write it with mine own hand, I will repay it: that I say not unto thee how that thou owest to me even thine own self besides.


text:
 Having confidence in thine obedience I write unto thee, knowing that thou wilt do even beyond what I say.


text:
 But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I hope that through your prayers I shall be granted unto you.


text:
 God, having of old time spoken unto the fathers in the prophets by divers portions and in divers manners,


text:
 hath at the end of these days spoken unto us in {cf15i his} Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds;


text:
 who being the effulgence of his glory, and the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had made purification of sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;


text:
 having become by so much better than the angels, as he hath inherited a more excellent name than they.


text:
 For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, This day have I begotten thee? and again, I will be to him a Father, And he shall be to me a Son?


text:
 And when he again bringeth in the firstborn into the world he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.


text:
 but of the Son {cf15i he saith}, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever; And the sceptre of uprightness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.


text:
 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; Therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee With the oil of gladness above thy fellows.


text:
 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the works of thy hands:


text:
 And as a mantle shalt thou roll them up, As a garment, and they shall be changed: But thou art the same, And thy years shall not fail.


text:
 But of which of the angels hath he said at any time, Sit thou on my right hand, Till I make thine enemies the footstool of thy feet?


text:
 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to do service for the sake of them that shall inherit salvation?


text:
 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things that were heard, lest haply we drift away {cf15i from them}.


text:
 For if the word spoken through angels proved stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward;


text:
 how shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation? which having at the first been spoken through the Lord, was confirmed unto us by them that heard;


text:
 God also bearing witness with them, both by signs and wonders, and by manifold powers, and by gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will.


text:
 But one hath somewhere testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? Or the son of man, that thou visitest him?


text:
 Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; Thou crownedst him with glory and honour, And didst set him over the works of thy hands:


text:
 Thou didst put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he subjected all things unto him, he left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we see not yet all things subjected to him.


text:
 But we behold him who hath been made a little lower than the angels, {cf15i even} Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honour, that by the grace of God he should taste death for every {cf15i man}.


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


text:
 For both he that sanctifieth and they that are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,


text:
 saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, In the midst of the congregation will I sing thy praise.


text:
 And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold, I and the children which God hath given me.


text:
 Since then the children are sharers in flesh and blood, he also himself in like manner partook of the same; that through death he might bring to nought him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;


text:
 Wherefore it behoved him in all things to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.


text:
 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, {cf15i even} Jesus;


text:
 For he hath been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, by so much as he that built the house hath more honour than the house.


text:
 And Moses indeed was faithful in all his house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were afterward to be spoken;


text:
 but Christ as a son, over his house; whose house are we, if we hold fast our boldness and the glorying of our hope firm unto the end.


text:
 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, Like as in the day of the temptation in the wilderness,


text:
 Wherefore I was displeased with this generation, And said, They do alway err in their heart: But they did not know my ways;


text:
 Take heed, brethren, lest haply there shall be in any one of you an evil heart of unbelief, in falling away from the living God:


text:
 but exhort one another day by day, so long as it is called Today; lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin:


text:
 for we are become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our confidence firm unto the end:


text:
 And with whom was he displeased forty years? was it not with them that sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?


text:
 Let us fear therefore, lest haply, a promise being left of entering into his rest, any one of you should seem to have come short of it.


text:
 For indeed we have had good tidings preached unto us, even as also they: but the word of hearing did not profit them, because they were not united by faith with them that heard.


text:
 For we which have believed do enter into that rest; even as he hath said, As I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.


text:
 For he hath said somewhere of the seventh {cf15i day} on this wise, And God rested on the seventh day from all his works;


text:
 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some should enter thereinto, and they to whom the good tidings were before preached failed to enter in because of disobedience,


text:
 he again defineth a certain day, saying in David, after so long a time, Today, as it hath been before said, Today if ye shall hear his voice, Harden not your hearts.


text:
 Let us therefore give diligence to enter into that rest, that no man fall after the same example of disobedience.


text:
 For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart.


text:
 And there is no creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and laid open before the eyes of him with whom we have to do.


text:
 Having then a great high priest, who hath passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.


text:
 For we have not a high priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but one that hath been in all points tempted like as {cf15i we are, yet} without sin.


text:
 Let us therefore draw near with boldness unto the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may find grace to help {cf15i us} in time of need.


text:
 For every high priest, being taken from among men, is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:


text:
 who can bear gently with the ignorant and erring, for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity;


text:
 So Christ also glorified not himself to be made a high priest, but he that spake unto him, Thou art my Son, This day have I begotten thee:


text:
 as he saith also in another {cf15i place}, Thou art a priest for ever After the order of Melchizedek.


text:
 Who in the days of his flesh, having offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and having been heard for his godly fear,


text:
 and having been made perfect, he became unto all them that obey him the author of eternal salvation;


text:
 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard of interpretation, seeing ye are become dull of hearing.


text:
 For when by reason of the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need again that some one teach you the rudiments of the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of solid food.


text:
 For every one that partaketh of milk is without experience of the word of righteousness; for he is a babe.


text:
 But solid food is for fullgrown men, {cf15i even} those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil.


text:
 Wherefore let us cease to speak of the first principles of Christ, and press on unto perfection; not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,


text:
 of the teaching of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.


text:
 For as touching those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,


text:
 and {cf15i then} fell away, it is impossible to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.


text:
 For the land which hath drunk the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them for whose sake it is also tilled, receiveth blessing from God:


text:
 but if it beareth thorns and thistles, it is rejected and nigh unto a curse; whose end is to be burned.


text:
 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak:


text:
 for God is not unrighteous to forget your work and the love which ye shewed toward his name, in that ye ministered unto the saints, and still do minister.


text:
 And we desire that each one of you may shew the same diligence unto the fulness of hope even to the end:


text:
 that ye be not sluggish, but imitators of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.


text:
 Wherein God, being minded to shew more abundantly unto the heirs of the promise the immutability of his counsel, interposed with an oath:


text:
 that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have a strong encouragement, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us;


text:
 which we have as an anchor of the soul, {cf15i a hope} both sure and stedfast and entering into that which is within the veil;


text:
 whither as a forerunner Jesus entered for us, having become a high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.


text:
 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him,


text:
 to whom also Abraham divided a tenth part of all (being first, by interpretation, King of righteousness, and then also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;


text:
 without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like unto the Son of God), abideth a priest continually.


text:
 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth out of the chief spoils.


text:
 And they indeed of the sons of Levi that receive the priest s office have commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though these have come out of the loins of Abraham:


text:
 but he whose genealogy is not counted from them hath taken tithes of Abraham, and hath blessed him that hath the promises.


text:
 Now if there was perfection through the Levitical priesthood (for under it hath the people received the law), what further need {cf15i was there} that another priest should arise after the order of Melchizedek, and not be reckoned after the order of Aaron?


text:
 For he of whom these things are said belongeth to another tribe, from which no man hath given attendance at the altar.


text:
 For it is evident that our Lord hath sprung out of Judah; as to which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priests.


text:
 And {cf15i what we say} is yet more abundantly evident, if after the likeness of Melchizedek there ariseth another priest,


text:
 who hath been made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life:


text:
 For there is a disannulling of a foregoing commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness


text:
 (for the law made nothing perfect), and a bringing in thereupon of a better hope, through which we draw nigh unto God.


text:
 (for they indeed have been made priests without an oath; but he with an oath by him that saith of him, The Lord sware and will not repent himself, Thou art a priest for ever);


text:
 And they indeed have been made priests many in number, because that by death they are hindered from continuing:


text:
 Wherefore also he is able to save to the uttermost them that draw near unto God through him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.


text:
 For such a high priest became us, holy, guileless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;


text:
 who needeth not daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for his own sins, and then for the {cf15i sins} of the people: for this he did once for all, when he offered up himself.


text:
 For the law appointeth men high priests, having infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was after the law, {cf15i appointeth} a Son, perfected for evermore.


text:
 Now in the things which we are saying the chief point {cf15i is this}: We have such a high priest, who sat down on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens,


text:
 For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is necessary that this {cf15i high priest} also have somewhat to offer.


text:
 Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, seeing there are those who offer the gifts according to the law;


text:
 who serve {cf15i that which is} a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, even as Moses is warned {cf15i of God} when he is about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern that was shewed thee in the mount.


text:
 But now hath he obtained a ministry the more excellent, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which hath been enacted upon better promises.


text:
 For if that first {cf15i covenant} had been faultless, then would no place have been sought for a second.


text:
 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, That I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah;


text:
 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers In the day that I took them by the hand to lead them forth out of the land of Egypt; For they continued not in my covenant, And I regarded them not, saith the Lord.


text:
 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel After those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, And on their heart also will I write them: And I will be to them a God, And they shall be to me a people:


text:
 And they shall not teach every man his fellow citizen, And every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: For all shall know me, From the least to the greatest of them.


text:
 In that he saith, A new {cf15i covenant}, he hath made the first old. But that which is becoming old and waxeth aged is nigh unto vanishing away.


text:
 Now even the first {cf15i covenant} had ordinances of divine service, and its sanctuary, {cf15i a sanctuary} of this world.


text:
 For there was a tabernacle prepared, the first, wherein {cf15i were} the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the Holy place.


text:
 having a golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein {cf15i was} a golden pot holding the manna, and Aaron s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;


text:
 and above it cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat; of which things we cannot now speak severally.


text:
 Now these things having been thus prepared, the priests go in continually into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the services;


text:
 but into the second the high priest alone, once in the year, not without blood, which he offereth for himself, and for the errors of the people:


text:
 the Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holy place hath not yet been made manifest, while as the first tabernacle is yet standing;


text:
 which {cf15i is} a parable for the time {cf15i now} present; according to which are offered both gifts and sacrifices that cannot, as touching the conscience, make the worshipper perfect,


text:
 {cf15i being} only (with meats and drinks and divers washings) carnal ordinances, imposed until a time of reformation.


text:
 But Christ having come a high priest of the good things to come, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation,


text:
 nor yet through the blood of goats and calves, but through his own blood, entered in once for all into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption.


text:
 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling them that have been defiled, sanctify unto the cleanness of the flesh:


text:
 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish unto God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?


text:
 And for this cause he is the mediator of a new covenant, that a death having taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first covenant, they that have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.


text:
 For a testament is of force where there hath been death: for doth it ever avail while he that made it liveth?


text:
 For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses unto all the people according to the law, he took the blood of the calves and the goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself, and all the people,


text:
 Moreover the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry he sprinkled in like manner with the blood.


text:
 And according to the law, I may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and apart from shedding of blood there is no remission.


text:
 It was necessary therefore that the copies of the things in the heavens should be cleansed with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.


text:
 For Christ entered not into a holy place made with hands, like in pattern to the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear before the face of God for us:


text:
 nor yet that he should offer himself often; as the high priest entereth into the holy place year by year with blood not his own;


text:
 else must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once at the end of the ages hath he been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.


text:
 so Christ also, having been once offered to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time, apart from sin, to them that wait for him, unto salvation.


text:
 For the law having a shadow of the good {cf15i things} to come, not the very image of the things, they can never with the same sacrifices year by year, which they offer continually, make perfect them that draw nigh.


text:
 Else would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshippers, having been once cleansed, would have had no more conscience of sins?


text:
 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, But a body didst thou prepare for me;


text:
 Saying above, Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and {cf15i sacrifices} for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein (the which are offered according to the law),


text:
 then hath he said, Lo, I am come to do thy will. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.


text:
 By which will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.


text:
 And every priest indeed standeth day by day ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, the which can never take away sins:


text:
 This is the covenant that I will make with them After those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws on their heart, And upon their mind also will I write them; {cf15i then saith he},


text:
 by the way which he dedicated for us, a new and living way, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;


text:
 let us draw near with a true heart in fulness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our body washed with pure water:


text:
 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting {cf15i one another}; and so much the more, as ye see the day drawing nigh.


text:
 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more a sacrifice for sins,


text:
 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a fierceness of fire which shall devour the adversaries.


text:
 A man that hath set at nought Moses law dieth without compassion on {cf15i the word of} two or three witnesses:


text:
 of how much sorer punishment, think ye, shall he be judged worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?


text:
 For we know him that said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.


text:
 But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were enlightened, ye endured a great conflict of sufferings;


text:
 partly, being made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, becoming partakers with them that were so used.


text:
 For ye both had compassion on them that were in bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your possessions, knowing that ye yourselves have a better possession and an abiding one.


text:
 But we are not of them that shrink back unto perdition; but of them that have faith unto the saving of the soul.


text:
 By faith we understand that the worlds have been framed by the word of God, so that what is seen hath not been made out of things which do appear.


text:
 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had witness borne to him that he was righteous, God bearing witness in respect of his gifts: and through it he being dead yet speaketh.


text:
 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and he was not found, because God translated him: for before his translation he hath had witness borne to him that he had been well pleasing unto God:


text:
 And without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing {cf15i unto him}: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and {cf15i that} he is a rewarder of them that seek after him.


text:
 By faith Noah, being warned {cf15i of God} concerning things not seen as yet, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; through which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.


text:
 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out unto a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.


text:
 By faith he became a sojourner in the land of promise, as in a {cf15i land} not his own, dwelling in tents, with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:


text:
 By faith even Sarah herself received power to conceive seed when she was past age, since she counted him faithful who had promised:


text:
 wherefore also there sprang of one, and him as good as dead, {cf15i so many} as the stars of heaven in multitude, and as the sand, which is by the sea shore, innumerable.


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


text:
 And if indeed they had been mindful of that {cf15i country} from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return.


text:
 But now they desire a better {cf15i country}, that is, a heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.


text:
 By faith Abraham, being tried, offered up Isaac: yea, he that had gladly received the promises was offering up his only begotten {cf15i son};


text:
 accounting that God {cf15i is} able to raise up, even from the dead; from whence he did also in a parable receive him back.


text:
 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, {cf15i leaning} upon the top of his staff.


text:
 By faith Joseph, when his end was nigh, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.


text:
 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months by his parents, because they saw he was a goodly child; and they were not afraid of the king s commandment.


text:
 choosing rather to be evil entreated with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;


text:
 accounting the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt: for he looked unto the recompense of reward.


text:
 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.


text:
 By faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of the blood, that the destroyer of the firstborn should not touch them.


text:
 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were swallowed up.


text:
 By faith Rahab the harlot perished not with them that were disobedient, having received the spies with peace.


text:
 And what shall I more say? for the time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah; of David and Samuel and the prophets:


text:
 who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,


text:
 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, waxed mighty in war, turned to flight armies of aliens.


text:
 Women received their dead by a resurrection: and others were tortured, not accepting their deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:


text:
 they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, they were tempted, they were slain with the sword: they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, evil entreated


text:
 (of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves, and the holes of the earth.


text:
 God having provided some better thing concerning us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.


text:
 Therefore let us also, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,


text:
 looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of {cf15i our} faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising shame, and hath sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.


text:
 For consider him that hath endured such gainsaying of sinners against themselves, that ye wax not weary, fainting in your souls.


text:
 and ye have forgotten the exhortation, which reasoneth with you as with sons, My son, regard not lightly the chastening of the Lord, Nor faint when thou art reproved of him;


text:
 It is for chastening that ye endure; God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is there whom {cf15i his} father chasteneth not?


text:
 But if ye are without chastening, whereof all have been made partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.


text:
 Furthermore, we had the fathers of our flesh to chasten us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?


text:
 For they verily for a few days chastened {cf15i us} as seemed good to them; but he for {cf15i our} profit, that {cf15i we} may be partakers of his holiness.


text:
 All chastening seemeth for the present to be not joyous, but grievous: yet afterward it yieldeth peaceable fruit unto them that have been exercised thereby, {cf15i even the fruit} of righteousness.


text:
 and make straight paths for your feet, that that which is lame be not turned out of the way, but rather be healed.


text:
 looking carefully lest {cf15i there be} any man that falleth short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble {cf15i you}, and thereby the many be defiled;


text:
 lest {cf15i there be} any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one mess of meat sold his own birthright.


text:
 For ye know that even when he afterward desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected (for he found no place of repentance), though he sought it diligently with tears.


text:
 For ye are not come unto {cf15i a mount} that might be touched, and that burned with fire, and unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,


text:
 and the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which {cf15i voice} they that heard entreated that no word more should be spoken unto them:


text:
 for they could not endure that which was enjoined, If even a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned;


text:
 but ye are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable hosts of angels,


text:
 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,


text:
 and to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better than {cf15i that of} Abel.


text:
 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not, when they refused him that warned {cf15i them} on earth, much more {cf15i shall not} we {cf15i escape}, who turn away from him that {cf15i warneth} from heaven:


text:
 whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more will I make to tremble not the earth only, but also the heaven.


text:
 And this {cf15i word}, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that have been made, that those things which are not shaken may remain.


text:
 Wherefore, receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us have grace, whereby we may offer service well pleasing to God with reverence and awe:


text:
 Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; them that are evil entreated, as being yourselves also in the body.


text:
 {cf15i Let} marriage {cf15i be} had in honour among all, and {cf15i let} the bed {cf15i be} undefiled: for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.


text:
 Be ye free from the love of money; content with such things as ye have: for himself hath said, I will in no wise fail thee, neither will I in any wise forsake thee.


text:
 So that with good courage we say, The Lord is my helper; I will not fear: What shall man do unto me?


text:
 Remember them that had the rule over you, which spake unto you the word of God; and considering the issue of their life, imitate their faith.


text:
 Be not carried away by divers and strange teachings: for it is good that the heart be stablished by grace; not by meats, wherein they that occupied themselves were not profited.


text:
 For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest {cf15i as an offering} for sin, are burned without the camp.


text:
 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people through his own blood, suffered without the gate.


text:
 Through him then let us offer up a sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of lips which make confession to his name.


text:
 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit {cf15i to them}: for they watch in behalf of your souls, as they that shall give account; that they may do this with joy, and not with grief: for this {cf15i were} unprofitable for you.


text:
 Pray for us: for we are persuaded that we have a good conscience, desiring to live honestly in all things.


text:
 And I exhort {cf15i you} the more exceedingly to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.


text:
 Now the God of peace, who brought again from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep with the blood of the eternal covenant, {cf15i even} our Lord Jesus,


text:
 make you perfect in every good thing to do his will, working in us that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom {cf15i be} the glory for ever and ever. Amen.


text:
 But I exhort you, brethren, bear with the word of exhortation: for I have written unto you in few words.


text:
 Know ye that our brother Timothy hath been set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you.


text:
 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are of the Dispersion, greeting.


text:
 And let patience have {cf15i its} perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, lacking in nothing.


text:
 But if any of you lacketh wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.


text:
 But let him ask in faith, nothing doubting: for he that doubteth is like the surge of the sea driven by the wind and tossed.


text:
 For the sun ariseth with the scorching wind, and withereth the grass; and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his goings.


text:
 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he hath been approved, he shall receive the crown of life, which {cf15i the Lord} promised to them that love him.


text:
 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempteth no man:


text:
 Then the lust, when it hath conceived, beareth sin: and the sin, when it is fullgrown, bringeth forth death.


text:
 Every good gift and every perfect boon is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, neither shadow that is cast by turning.


text:
 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.


text:
 Ye know {cf15i this}, my beloved brethren. But let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:


text:
 Wherefore putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.


text:
 For if any one is a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a mirror:


text:
 But he that looketh into the perfect law, the {cf15i law} of liberty, and {cf15i so} continueth, being not a hearer that forgetteth, but a doer that worketh, this man shall be blessed in his doing.


text:
 If any man thinketh himself to be religious, while he bridleth not his tongue but deceiveth his heart, this man s religion is vain.


text:
 Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, {cf15i and} to keep himself unspotted from the world.


text:
 My brethren, hold not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, {cf15i the Lord} of glory, with respect of persons.


text:
 For if there come into your synagogue a man with a gold ring, in fine clothing, and there come in also a poor man in vile clothing;


text:
 and ye have regard to him that weareth the fine clothing, and say, Sit thou here in a good place; and ye say to the poor man, Stand thou there, or sit under my footstool;


text:
 Hearken, my beloved brethren; did not God choose them that are poor as to the world {cf15i to be} rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he promised to them that love him?


text:
 But ye have dishonoured the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you, and themselves drag you before the judgment seats?


text:
 Howbeit if ye fulfill the royal law, according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:


text:
 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one {cf15i point}, he is become guilty of all.


text:
 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou dost not commit adultery, but killest, thou art become a transgressor of the law.


text:
 For judgment {cf15i is} without mercy to him that hath shewed no mercy: mercy glorieth against judgment.


text:
 What doth it profit, my brethren, if a man say he hath faith, but have not works? can that faith save him?


text:
 and one of you say unto them, Go in peace, be ye warmed and filled; and yet ye give them not the things needful to the body; what doth it profit?


text:
 Yea, a man will say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith apart from {cf15i thy} works, and I by my works will shew thee {cf15i my} faith.


text:
 and the scripture was fulfilled which saith, And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness; and he was called the friend of God.


text:
 And in like manner was not also Rahab the harlot justified by works, in that she received the messengers, and sent them out another way?


text:
 For in many things we all stumble. If any stumbleth not in word, the same is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also.


text:
 Now if we put the horses bridles into their mouths, that they may obey us, we turn about their whole body also.


text:
 Behold, the ships also, though they are so great, and are driven by rough winds, are yet turned about by a very small rudder, whither the impulse of the steersman willeth.


text:
 So the tongue also is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how much wood is kindled by how small a fire!


text:
 And the tongue is a fire: the world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the wheel of nature, and is set on fire by hell.


text:
 For every kind of beasts and birds, of creeping things and things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed by mankind:


text:
 but the tongue can no man tame; {cf15i it is} a restless evil, {cf15i it is} full of deadly poison.


text:
 Therewith bless we the Lord and Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the likeness of God:


text:
 out of the same mouth cometh forth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.


text:
 Can a fig tree, my brethren, yield olives, or a vine figs? neither {cf15i can} salt water yield sweet.


text:
 Who is wise and understanding among you? let him shew by his good life his works in meekness of wisdom.


text:
 This wisdom is not {cf15i a wisdom} that cometh down from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.


text:
 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without variance, without hypocrisy.


text:
 Whence {cf15i come} wars and whence {cf15i come} fightings among you? {cf15i come they} not hence, {cf15i even} of your pleasures that war in your members?


text:
 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and covet, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war; ye have not, because ye ask not.


text:
 Ye adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore would be a friend of the world maketh himself an enemy of God.


text:
 Or think ye that the scripture speaketh in vain? Doth the spirit which he made to dwell in us long unto envying?


text:
 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore {cf15i the scripture} saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble.


text:
 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye doubleminded.


text:
 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.


text:
 Speak not one against another, brethren. He that speaketh against a brother, or judgeth his brother, speaketh against the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judgest the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.


text:
 One {cf15i only} is the lawgiver and judge, {cf15i even} he who is able to save and to destroy: but who art thou that judgest thy neighbour?


text:
 Go to now, ye that say, Today or tomorrow we will go into this city, and spend a year there, and trade, and get gain:


text:
 whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. What is your life? For ye are a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.


text:
 Your gold and your silver are rusted; and their rust shall be for a testimony against you, and shall eat your flesh as fire. Ye have laid up your treasure in the last days.


text:
 Behold, the hire of the labourers who mowed your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth out: and the cries of them that reaped have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.


text:
 Ye have lived delicately on the earth, and taken your pleasure; ye have nourished your hearts in a day of slaughter.


text:
 Be patient therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient over it, until it receive the early and latter rain.


text:
 Murmur not, brethren, one against another, that ye be not judged: behold, the judge standeth before the doors.


text:
 Take, brethren, for an example of suffering and of patience, the prophets who spake in the name of the Lord.


text:
 Behold, we call them blessed which endured: ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord, how that the Lord is full of pity, and merciful.


text:
 But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by the heaven, nor by the earth, nor by any other oath: but let your yea be yea, and your nay, nay; that ye fall not under judgment.


text:
 Is any among you sick? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:


text:
 and the prayer of faith shall save him that is sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, it shall be forgiven him.


text:
 Confess therefore your sins one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The supplication of a righteous man availeth much in its working.


text:
 Elijah was a man of like passions with us, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain; and it rained not on the earth for three years and six months.


text:
 let him know, that he which converteth a sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall cover a multitude of sins.


text:
 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the elect who are sojourners of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,


text:
 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.


text:
 Blessed {cf15i be} the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy begat us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,


text:
 unto an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,


text:
 who by the power of God are guarded through faith unto a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.


text:
 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, ye have been put to grief in manifold temptations,


text:
 that the proof of your faith, {cf15i being} more precious than gold that perisheth though it is proved by fire, might be found unto praise and glory and honour at the revelation of Jesus Christ:


text:
 whom not having seen ye love; on whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice greatly with joy unspeakable and full of glory:


text:
 Concerning which salvation the prophets sought and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that {cf15i should come} unto you:


text:
 searching what {cf15i time} or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did point unto, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glories that should follow them.


text:
 To whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto you, did they minister these things, which now have been announced unto you through them that preached the gospel unto you by the Holy Ghost sent forth from heaven; which things angels desire to look into.


text:
 Wherefore girding up the loins of your mind, be sober and set your hope perfectly on the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;


text:
 as children of obedience, not fashioning yourselves according to your former lusts in {cf15i the time of} your ignorance:


text:
 And if ye call on him as Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to each man s work, pass the time of your sojourning in fear:


text:
 knowing that ye were redeemed, not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, from your vain manner of life handed down from your fathers;


text:
 but with precious blood, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot, {cf15i even the blood} of Christ:


text:
 who was foreknown indeed before the foundation of the world, but was manifested at the end of the times for your sake,


text:
 who through him are believers in God, which raised him from the dead, and gave him glory; so that your faith and hope might be in God.


text:
 Seeing ye have purified your souls in your obedience to the truth unto unfeigned love of the brethren, love one another from the heart fervently:


text:
 having been begotten again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the word of God, which liveth and abideth.


text:
 For, All flesh is as grass, And all the glory thereof as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower falleth:


text:
 But the word of the Lord abideth for ever. And this is the word of good tidings which was preached unto you.


text:
 Putting away therefore all wickedness, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,


text:
 as newborn babes, long for the spiritual milk which is without guile, that ye may grow thereby unto salvation;


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


text:
 Because it is contained in scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: And he that believeth on him shall not be put to shame.


text:
 For you therefore which believe is the preciousness: but for such as disbelieve, The stone which the builders rejected, The same was made the head of the corner;


text:
 and, A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence; for they stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.


text:
 But ye are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for {cf15i God s} own possession, that ye may shew forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:


text:
 which in time past were no people, but now are the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.


text:
 Beloved, I beseech you as sojourners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;


text:
 having your behaviour seemly among the Gentiles; that, wherein they speak against you as evil doers, they may by your good works, which they behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.


text:
 For so is the will of God, that by well doing ye should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:


text:
 Servants, {cf15i be} in subjection to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.


text:
 For what glory is it, if, when ye sin, and are buffeted {cf15i for it}, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer {cf15i for it}, ye shall take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.


text:
 For hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that ye should follow his steps:


text:
 who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, threatened not; but committed {cf15i himself} to him that judgeth righteously:


text:
 who his own self bare our sins in his body upon the tree, that we, having died unto sins, might live unto righteousness; by whose stripes ye were healed.


text:
 For ye were going astray like sheep; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.


text:
 In like manner, ye wives, {cf15i be} in subjection to your own husbands; that, even if any obey not the word, they may without the word be gained by the behaviour of their wives;


text:
 Whose {cf15i adorning} let it not be the outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing jewels of gold, or of putting on apparel;


text:
 but {cf15i let it be} the hidden man of the heart, in the incorruptible {cf15i apparel} of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.


text:
 For after this manner aforetime the holy women also, who hoped in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection to their own husbands:


text:
 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose children ye now are, if ye do well, and are not put in fear by any terror.


text:
 Ye husbands, in like manner, dwell with {cf15i your wives} according to knowledge, giving honour unto the woman, as unto the weaker vessel, as being also joint heirs of the grace of life; to the end that your prayers be not hindered.


text:
 Finally, {cf15i be} ye all likeminded, compassionate, loving as brethren, tenderhearted, humbleminded:


text:
 not rendering evil for evil, or reviling for reviling; but contrariwise blessing; for hereunto were ye called, that ye should inherit a blessing.


text:
 For, He that would love life, And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips that they speak no guile:


text:
 For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, And his ears unto their supplication: But the face of the Lord is upon them that do evil.


text:
 But and if ye should suffer for righteousness sake, blessed {cf15i are ye}: and fear not their fear, neither be troubled;


text:
 but sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord: {cf15i being} ready always to give answer to every man that asketh you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, yet with meekness and fear:


text:
 having a good conscience; that, wherein ye are spoken against, they may be put to shame who revile your good manner of life in Christ.


text:
 For it is better, if the will of God should so will, that ye suffer for well doing than for evil doing.


text:
 Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God; being put to death in the flesh, but quickened in the spirit;


text:
 which aforetime were disobedient, when the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water:


text:
 which also after a true likeness doth now save you, {cf15i even} baptism, not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the interrogation of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ;


text:
 who is on the right hand of God, having gone into heaven; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.


text:
 Forasmuch then as Christ suffered in the flesh, arm ye yourselves also with the same mind; for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;


text:
 that ye no longer should live the rest of your time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.


text:
 For the time past may suffice to have wrought the desire of the Gentiles, and to have walked in lasciviousness, lusts, winebibbings, revellings, carousings, and abominable idolatries:


text:
 wherein they think it strange that ye run not with {cf15i them} into the same excess of riot, speaking evil of {cf15i you}:


text:
 For unto this end was the gospel preached even to the dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.


text:
 above all things being fervent in your love among yourselves; for love covereth a multitude of sins:


text:
 according as each hath received a gift, ministering it among yourselves, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God;


text:
 if any man speaketh, {cf15i speaking} as it were oracles of God; if any man ministereth, {cf15i ministering} as of the strength which God supplieth: that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, whose is the glory and the dominion for ever and ever. Amen.


text:
 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial among you, which cometh upon you to prove you, as though a strange thing happened unto you:


text:
 but insomuch as ye are partakers of Christ s sufferings, rejoice; that at the revelation of his glory also ye may rejoice with exceeding joy.


text:
 If ye are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed {cf15i are ye}; because the {cf15i Spirit} of glory and the Spirit of God resteth upon you.


text:
 For let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evil doer, or as a meddler in other men s matters:


text:
 but if {cf15i a man suffer} as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in this name.


text:
 For the time {cf15i is come} for judgment to begin at the house of God: and if {cf15i it begin} first at us, what {cf15i shall be} the end of them that obey not the gospel of God?


text:
 Wherefore let them also that suffer according to the will of God commit their souls in well doing unto a faithful Creator.


text:
 The elders therefore among you I exhort, who am a fellow elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, who am also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:


text:
 Tend the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight, not of constraint, but willingly, according unto God; nor yet for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;


text:
 neither as lording it over the charge allotted to you, but making yourselves ensamples to the flock.


text:
 And when the chief Shepherd shall be manifested, ye shall receive the crown of glory that fadeth not away.


text:
 Likewise, ye younger, be subject unto the elder. Yea, all of you gird yourselves with humility, to serve one another: for God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble.


text:
 Be sober, be watchful: your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:


text:
 whom withstand stedfast in your faith, knowing that the same sufferings are accomplished in your brethren who are in the world.


text:
 And the God of all grace, who called you unto his eternal glory in Christ, after that ye have suffered a little while, shall himself perfect, stablish, strengthen you.


text:
 By Silvanus, our faithful brother, as I account {cf15i him}, I have written unto you briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God: stand ye fast therein.


text:
 She that is in Babylon, elect together with {cf15i you}, saluteth you; and {cf15i so doth} Mark my son.


text:
 Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained a like precious faith with us in the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ:


text:
 seeing that his divine power hath granted unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that called us by his own glory and virtue;


text:
 whereby he hath granted unto us his precious and exceeding great promises; that through these ye may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world by lust.


text:
 Yea, and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence, in your faith supply virtue; and in {cf15i your} virtue knowledge;


text:
 and in {cf15i your} knowledge temperance; and in {cf15i your} temperance patience; and in {cf15i your} patience godliness;


text:
 For if these things are yours and abound, they make you to be not idle nor unfruitful unto the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.


text:
 For he that lacketh these things is blind, seeing only what is near, having forgotten the cleansing from his old sins.


text:
 Wherefore, brethren, give the more diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never stumble:


text:
 for thus shall be richly supplied unto you the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.


text:
 Wherefore I shall be ready always to put you in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and are established in the truth which is with {cf15i you}.


text:
 And I think it right, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;


text:
 knowing that the putting off of my tabernacle cometh swiftly, even as our Lord Jesus Christ signified unto me.


text:
 Yea, I will give diligence that at every time ye may be able after my decease to call these things to remembrance.


text:
 For we did not follow cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.


text:
 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased:


text:
 and this voice we {cf15i ourselves} heard come out of heaven, when we were with him in the holy mount.


text:
 And we have the word of prophecy {cf15i made} more sure; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:


text:
 For no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but men spake from God, being moved by the Holy Ghost.


text:
 But there arose false prophets also among the people, as among you also there shall be false teachers, who shall privily bring in destructive heresies, denying even the Master that bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.


text:
 And many shall follow their lascivious doings; by reason of whom the way of the truth shall be evil spoken of.


text:
 And in covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose sentence now from of old lingereth not, and their destruction slumbereth not.


text:
 For if God spared not angels when they sinned, but cast them down to hell, and committed them to pits of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;


text:
 and spared not the ancient world, but preserved Noah with seven others, a preacher of righteousness, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly;


text:
 and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, having made them an example unto those that should live ungodly;


text:
 (for that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed {cf15i his} righteous soul from day to day with {cf15i their} lawless deeds):


text:
 the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment unto the day of judgment;


text:
 but chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of defilement, and despise dominion. Daring, selfwilled, they tremble not to rail at dignities:


text:
 whereas angels, though greater in might and power, bring not a railing judgment against them before the Lord.


text:
 But these, as creatures without reason, born mere animals to be taken and destroyed, railing in matters whereof they are ignorant, shall in their destroying surely be destroyed,


text:
 suffering wrong as the hire of wrong doing; {cf15i men} that count it pleasure to revel in the day time, spots and blemishes, revelling in their love feasts while they feast with you;


text:
 having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; enticing unstedfast souls; having a heart exercised in covetousness; children of cursing;


text:
 forsaking the right way, they went astray, having followed the way of Balaam the {cf15i son} of Beor, who loved the hire of wrong doing;


text:
 but he was rebuked for his own transgression: a dumb ass spake with man s voice and stayed the madness of the prophet.


text:
 These are springs without water, and mists driven by a storm; for whom the blackness of darkness hath been reserved.


text:
 For, uttering great swelling {cf15i words} of vanity, they entice in the lusts of the flesh, by lasciviousness, those who are just escaping from them that live in error;


text:
 promising them liberty, while they themselves are bondservants of corruption; for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he also brought into bondage.


text:
 For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein and overcome, the last state is become worse with them than the first.


text:
 For it were better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after knowing it, to turn back from the holy commandment delivered unto them.


text:
 It has happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog turning to his own vomit again, and the sow that had washed to wallowing in the mire.


text:
 This is now, beloved, the second epistle that I write unto you; and in both of them I stir up your sincere mind by putting you in remembrance;


text:
 that ye should remember the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and the commandment of the Lord and Saviour through your apostles:


text:
 knowing this first, that in the last days mockers shall come with mockery, walking after their own lusts,


text:
 and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for, from the day that the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.


text:
 For this they wilfully forget, that there were heavens from of old, and an earth compacted out of water and amidst water, by the word of God;


text:
 but the heavens that now are, and the earth, by the same word have been stored up for fire, being reserved against the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.


text:
 But forget not this one thing, beloved, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.


text:
 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some count slackness; but is longsuffering to you ward, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.


text:
 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall be dissolved with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are therein shall be burned up.


text:
 Seeing that these things are thus all to be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in {cf15i all} holy living and godliness,


text:
 looking for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God, by reason of which the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?


text:
 But, according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.


text:
 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for these things, give diligence that ye may be found in peace, without spot and blameless in his sight.


text:
 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given to him, wrote unto you;


text:
 as also in all {cf15i his} epistles, speaking in them of these things; wherein are some things hard to be understood, which the ignorant and unstedfast wrest, as {cf15i they do} also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.


text:
 Ye therefore, beloved, knowing {cf15i these things} beforehand, beware lest, being carried away with the error of the wicked, ye fall from your own stedfastness.


text:
 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him {cf15i be} the glory both now and for ever. Amen.


text:
 That which was from the beginning, that which we have heard, that which we have seen with our eyes, that which we beheld, and our hands handled, concerning the Word of life


text:
 (and the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare unto you the life, the eternal {cf15i life}, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us);


text:
 that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you also, that ye also may have fellowship with us: yea, and our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ:


text:
 And this is the message which we have heard from him, and announce unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.


text:
 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in the darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:


text:
 but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanseth us from all sin.


text:
 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.


text:
 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye may not sin. And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:


text:
 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him:


text:
 but whoso keepeth his word, in him verily hath the love of God been perfected. Hereby know we that we are in him:


text:
 Beloved, no new commandment write I unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning: the old commandment is the word which ye heard.


text:
 Again, a new commandment write I unto you, which thing is true in him and in you; because the darkness is passing away, and the true light already shineth.


text:
 But he that hateth his brother is in the darkness, and walketh in the darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because the darkness hath blinded his eyes.


text:
 I write unto you, {cf15i my} little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name s sake.


text:
 I write unto you, fathers, because ye know him which is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the evil one. I have written unto you, little children, because ye know the Father.


text:
 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye know him which is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the evil one.


text:
 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.


text:
 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the vainglory of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.


text:
 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.


text:
 Little children, it is the last hour: and as ye heard that antichrist cometh, even now have there arisen many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last hour.


text:
 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us: but {cf15i they went out}, that they might be made manifest how that they all are not of us.


text:
 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and because no lie is of the truth.


text:
 Who is the liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, {cf15i even} he that denieth the Father and the Son.


text:
 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: he that confesseth the Son hath the Father also.


text:
 As for you, let that abide in you which ye heard from the beginning. If that which ye heard from the beginning abide in you, ye also shall abide in the Son, and in the Father.


text:
 And as for you, the anointing which ye received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any one teach you; but as his anointing teacheth you concerning all things, and is true, and is no lie, and even as it taught you, ye abide in him.


text:
 And now, {cf15i my} little children, abide in him; that, if he shall be manifested, we may have boldness, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.


text:
 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one also that doeth righteousness is begotten of him.


text:
 Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God: and {cf15i such} we are. For this cause the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.


text:
 Beloved, now are we children of God, and it is not yet made manifest what we shall be. We know that, if he shall be manifested, we shall be like him; for we shall see him even as he is.


text:
 {cf15i My} little children, let no man lead you astray: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous:


text:
 he that doeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. To this end was the Son of God manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.


text:
 Whosoever is begotten of God doeth no sin, because his seed abideth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is begotten of God.


text:
 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.


text:
 not as Cain was of the evil one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his works were evil, and his brother s righteous.


text:
 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not abideth in death.


text:
 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.


text:
 Hereby know we love, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.


text:
 But whoso hath the world s goods, and beholdeth his brother in need, and shutteth up his compassion from him, how doth the love of God abide in him?


text:
 {cf15i My} little children, let us not love in word, neither with the tongue; but in deed and truth.


text:
 and whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do the things that are pleasing in his sight.


text:
 And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, even as he gave us commandment.


text:
 And he that keepeth his commandments abideth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he gave us.


text:
 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits, whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.


text:
 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: every spirit which confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:


text:
 and every spirit which confesseth not Jesus is not of God: and this is the {cf15i spirit} of the antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it cometh; and now it is in the world already.


text:
 Ye are of God, {cf15i my} little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world.


text:
 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he who is not of God heareth us not. By this we know the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.


text:
 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is begotten of God, and knoweth God.


text:
 Herein was the love of God manifested in us, that God hath sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.


text:
 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son {cf15i to be} the propitiation for our sins.


text:
 No man hath beheld God at any time: if we love one another, God abideth in us, and his love is perfected in us:


text:
 And we have beheld and bear witness that the Father hath sent the Son {cf15i to be} the Saviour of the world.


text:
 And we know and have believed the love which God hath in us. God is love; and he that abideth in love abideth in God, and God abideth in him.


text:
 Herein is love made perfect with us, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as he is, even so are we in this world.


text:
 There is no fear in love: but perfect love casteth out fear, because fear hath punishment; and he that feareth is not made perfect in love.


text:
 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, cannot love God whom he hath not seen.


text:
 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is begotten of God: and whosoever loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.


text:
 For whatsoever is begotten of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that hath overcome the world, {cf15i even} our faith.


text:
 This is he that came by water and blood, {cf15i even} Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood.


text:
 For there are three who bear witness, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and the three agree in one.


text:
 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for the witness of God is this, that he hath borne witness concerning his Son.


text:
 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in him: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he hath not believed in the witness that God hath borne concerning his Son.


text:
 These things have I written unto you, that ye may know that ye have eternal life, {cf15i even} unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God.


text:
 And this is the boldness which we have toward him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us:


text:
 and if we know that he heareth us whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions which we have asked of him.


text:
 If any man see his brother sinning a sin not unto death, he shall ask, and {cf15i God} will give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: not concerning this do I say that he should make request.


text:
 We know that whosoever is begotten of God sinneth not; but he that was begotten of God keepeth him, and the evil one toucheth him not.


text:
 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, {cf15i even} in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.


text:
 The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth; and not I only, but also all they that know the truth;


text:
 Grace, mercy, peace shall be with us, from God the Father, and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.


text:
 I rejoice greatly that I have found {cf15i certain} of thy children walking in truth, even as we received commandment from the Father.


text:
 And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote to thee a new commandment, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.


text:
 And this is love, that we should walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, even as ye heard from the beginning, that ye should walk in it.


text:
 For many deceivers are gone forth into the world, {cf15i even} they that confess not that Jesus Christ cometh in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist.


text:
 Look to yourselves, that ye lose not the things which we have wrought, but that ye receive a full reward.


text:
 Whosoever goeth onward and abideth not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God: he that abideth in the teaching, the same hath both the Father and the Son.


text:
 If any one cometh unto you, and bringeth not this teaching, receive him not into {cf15i your} house, and give him no greeting:


text:
 Having many things to write unto you, I would not {cf15i write them} with paper and ink: but I hope to come unto you, and to speak face to face, that your joy may be fulfilled.


text:
 Beloved, I pray that in all things thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.


text:
 For I rejoiced greatly, when brethren came and bare witness unto thy truth, even as thou walkest in truth.


text:
 Beloved, thou doest a faithful work in whatsoever thou doest toward them that are brethren and strangers withal;


text:
 who bare witness to thy love before the church: whom thou wilt do well to set forward on their journey worthily of God:


text:
 I wrote somewhat unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.


text:
 Therefore, if I come, I will bring to remembrance his works which he doeth, prating against us with wicked words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and them that would he forbiddeth, and casteth {cf15i them} out of the church.


text:
 Beloved, imitate not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: he that doeth evil hath not seen God.


text:
 Demetrius hath the witness of all {cf15i men}, and of the truth itself: yea, we also bear witness; and thou knowest that our witness is true.


text:
 I had many things to write unto thee, but I am unwilling to write {cf15i them} to thee with ink and pen:


text:
 but I hope shortly to see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace {cf15i be} unto thee. The friends salute thee. Salute the friends by name.


text:
 Judas, a servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are called, beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ:


text:
 Beloved, while I was giving all diligence to write unto you of our common salvation, I was constrained to write unto you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered unto the saints.


text:
 For there are certain men crept in privily, {cf15i even} they who were of old set forth unto this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.


text:
 Now I desire to put you in remembrance, though ye know all things once for all, how that the Lord, having saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.


text:
 And angels which kept not their own principality, but left their proper habitation, he hath kept in everlasting bonds under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.


text:
 Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them, having in like manner with these given themselves over to fornication, and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the punishment of eternal fire.


text:
 Yet in like manner these also in their dreamings defile the flesh, and set at nought dominion, and rail at dignities.


text:
 But Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing judgment, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.


text:
 But these rail at whatsoever things they know not: and what they understand naturally, like the creatures without reason, in these things are they destroyed.


text:
 Woe unto them! for they went in the way of Cain, and ran riotously in the error of Balaam for hire, and perished in the gainsaying of Korah.


text:
 These are they who are hidden rocks in your love feasts when they feast with you, shepherds that without fear feed themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;


text:
 Wild waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the blackness of darkness hath been reserved for ever.


text:
 And to these also Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, Behold, the Lord came with ten thousands of his holy ones,


text:
 to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their works of ungodliness which they have ungodly wrought, and of all the hard things which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.


text:
 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their lusts (and their mouth speaketh great swelling {cf15i words}), shewing respect of persons for the sake of advantage.


text:
 But ye, beloved, remember ye the words which have been spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;


text:
 how that they said to you, In the last time there shall be mockers, walking after their own ungodly lusts.


text:
 keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.


text:
 and some save, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.


text:
 Now unto him that is able to guard you from stumbling, and to set you before the presence of his glory without blemish in exceeding joy,


text:
 to the only God our Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord, {cf15i be} glory, majesty, dominion and power, before all time, and now, and for evermore. Amen.


text:
 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to shew unto his servants, {cf15i even} the things which must shortly come to pass: and he sent and signified {cf15i it} by his angel unto his servant John;


text:
 who bare witness of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, {cf15i even} of all things that he saw.


text:
 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of the prophecy, and keep the things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.


text:
 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from him which is and which was and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;


text:
 and from Jesus Christ, {cf15i who is} the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loveth us, and loosed us from our sins by his blood;


text:
 and he made us {cf15i to be} a kingdom, {cf15i to be} priests unto his God and Father; to him {cf15i be} the glory and the dominion for ever and ever. Amen.


text:
 Behold, he cometh with the clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they which pierced him; and all the tribes of the earth shall mourn over him. Even so, Amen.


text:
 I am the Alpha and the Omega, saith the Lord God, which is and which was and which is to come, the Almighty.


text:
 I John, your brother and partaker with you in the tribulation and kingdom and patience {cf15i which are} in Jesus, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.


text:
 saying, What thou seest, write in a book, and send {cf15i it} to the seven churches; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamum, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.


text:
 And I turned to see the voice which spake with me. And having turned I saw seven golden candlesticks;


text:
 and in the midst of the candlesticks one like unto a son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about at the breasts with a golden girdle.


text:
 And his head and his hair were white as white wool, {cf15i white} as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;


text:
 and his feet like unto burnished brass, as if it had been refined in a furnace; and his voice as the voice of many waters.


text:
 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth proceeded a sharp two edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.


text:
 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as one dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying, Fear not; I am the first and the last,


text:
 and the Living one; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive for evermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.


text:
 Write therefore the things which thou sawest, and the things which are, and the things which shall come to pass hereafter;


text:
 the mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks are seven churches.


text:
 To the angel of the church in Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, he that walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks:


text:
 I know thy works, and thy toil and patience, and that thou canst not bear evil men, and didst try them which call themselves apostles, and they are not, and didst find them false;


text:
 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I come to thee, and will move thy candlestick out of its place, except thou repent.


text:
 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. To him that overcometh, to him will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God.


text:
 And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and lived {cf15i again}:


text:
 I know thy tribulation, and thy poverty (but thou art rich), and the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and they are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.


text:
 Fear not the things which thou art about to suffer: behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life.


text:
 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.


text:
 And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write; These things saith he that hath the sharp two edged sword:


text:
 I know where thou dwellest, {cf15i even} where Satan s throne is: and thou holdest fast my name, and didst not deny my faith, even in the days of Antipas my witness, my faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwelleth.


text:
 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there some that hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit fornication.


text:
 Repent therefore; or else I come to thee quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of my mouth.


text:
 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. To him that overcometh, to him will I give of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and upon the stone a new name written, which no one knoweth but he that receiveth it.


text:
 And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like a flame of fire, and his feet are like unto burnished brass:


text:
 I know thy works, and thy love and faith and ministry and patience, and that thy last works are more than the first.


text:
 But I have {cf15i this} against thee, that thou sufferest the woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess; and she teacheth and seduceth my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed to idols.


text:
 Behold, I do cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of her works.


text:
 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto each one of you according to your works.


text:
 But to you I say, to the rest that are in Thyatira, as many as have not this teaching, which know not the deep things of Satan, as they say; I cast upon you none other burden.


text:
 And he that overcometh, and he that keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give authority over the nations:


text:
 and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of the potter are broken to shivers; as I also have received of my Father:


text:
 And to the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars: I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and thou art dead.


text:
 Be thou watchful, and stablish the things that remain, which were ready to die: for I have found no works of thine fulfilled before my God.


text:
 Remember therefore how thou hast received and didst hear; and keep {cf15i it}, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.


text:
 But thou hast a few names in Sardis which did not defile their garments: and they shall walk with me in white; for they are worthy.


text:
 He that overcometh shall thus be arrayed in white garments; and I will in no wise blot his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.


text:
 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and none shall shut, and that shutteth, and none openeth:


text:
 I know thy works (behold, I have set before thee a door opened, which none can shut), that thou hast a little power, and didst keep my word, and didst not deny my name.


text:
 Behold, I give of the synagogue of Satan, of them which say they are Jews, and they are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.


text:
 Because thou didst keep the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of trial, that {cf15i hour} which is to come upon the whole world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.


text:
 He that overcometh, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go out thence no more: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God, and mine own new name.


text:
 And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God:


text:
 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and have gotten riches, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art the wretched one and miserable and poor and blind and naked:


text:
 I counsel thee to buy of me gold refined by fire, that thou mayest become rich; and white garments, that thou mayest clothe thyself, and {cf15i that} the shame of thy nakedness be not made manifest; and eyesalve to anoint thine eyes, that thou mayest see.


text:
 Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.


text:
 He that overcometh, I will give to him to sit down with me in my throne, as I also overcame, and sat down with my Father in his throne.


text:
 After these things I saw, and behold, a door opened in heaven, and the first voice which I heard, {cf15i a voice} as of a trumpet speaking with me, one saying, Come up hither, and I will shew thee the things which must come to pass hereafter.


text:
 Straightway I was in the Spirit: and behold, there was a throne set in heaven, and one sitting upon the throne;


text:
 and he that sat {cf15i was} to look upon like a jasper stone and a sardius: and {cf15i there was} a rainbow round about the throne, like an emerald to look upon.


text:
 And round about the throne {cf15i were} four and twenty thrones: and upon the thrones {cf15i I saw} four and twenty elders sitting, arrayed in white garments; and on their heads crowns of gold.


text:
 And out of the throne proceed lightnings and voices and thunders. And {cf15i there were} seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God;


text:
 and before the throne, as it were a glassy sea like unto crystal; and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, four living creatures full of eyes before and behind.


text:
 And the first creature {cf15i was} like a lion, and the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face as of a man, and the fourth creature {cf15i was} like a flying eagle.


text:
 And the four living creatures, having each one of them six wings, are full of eyes round about and within: and they have no rest day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, {cf15i is} the Lord God, the Almighty, which was and which is and which is to come.


text:
 And when the living creatures shall give glory and honour and thanks to him that sitteth on the throne, to him that liveth for ever and ever,


text:
 the four and twenty elders shall fall down before him that sitteth on the throne, and shall worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and shall cast their crowns before the throne, saying,


text:
 Worthy art thou, our Lord and our God, to receive the glory and the honour and the power: for thou didst create all things, and because of thy will they were, and were created.


text:
 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the back, close sealed with seven seals.


text:
 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a great voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?


text:
 And no one in the heaven, or on the earth, or under the earth, was able to open the book, or to look thereon.


text:
 and one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion that is of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath overcome, to open the book and the seven seals thereof.


text:
 And I saw in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, having seven horns, and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent forth into all the earth.


text:
 And when he had taken the book, the four living creatures and the four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having each one a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.


text:
 And they sing a new song, saying, Worthy art thou to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and didst purchase unto God with thy blood {cf15i men} of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation,


text:
 And I saw, and I heard a voice of many angels round about the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;


text:
 saying with a great voice, Worthy is the Lamb that hath been slain to receive the power, and riches, and wisdom, and might, and honour, and glory, and blessing.


text:
 And every created thing which is in the heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and on the sea, and all things that are in them, heard I saying, Unto him that sitteth on the throne, and unto the Lamb, {cf15i be} the blessing, and the honour, and the glory, and the dominion, for ever and ever.


text:
 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, Come.


text:
 And I saw, and behold, a white horse, and he that sat thereon had a bow; and there was given unto him a crown: and he came forth conquering, and to conquer.


text:
 And another {cf15i horse} came forth, a red horse: and to him that sat thereon it was given to take peace from the earth, and that they should slay one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.


text:
 And when he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, Come. And I saw, and behold, a black horse; and he that sat thereon had a balance in his hand.


text:
 And I heard as it were a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, A measure of wheat for a penny and three measures of barley for a penny; and the oil and the wine hurt thou not.


text:
 And I saw, and behold, a pale horse: and he that sat upon him, his name was Death; and Hades followed with him. And there was given unto them authority over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with famine, and with death, and by the wild beasts of the earth.


text:
 And when he opened the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of them that had been slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:


text:
 and they cried with a great voice, saying, How long, O Master, the holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?


text:
 And there was given them to each one a white robe; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little time, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, which should be killed even as they were, should be fulfilled.


text:
 And I saw when he opened the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the whole moon became as blood;


text:
 and the stars of the heaven fell unto the earth, as a fig tree casteth her unripe figs, when she is shaken of a great wind.


text:
 And the heaven was removed as a scroll when it is rolled up; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.


text:
 And the kings of the earth, and the princes, and the chief captains, and the rich, and the strong, and every bondman and freeman, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains;


text:
 and they say to the mountains and to the rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:


text:
 After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that no wind should blow on the earth, or on the sea, or upon any tree.


text:
 And I saw another angel ascend from the sunrising, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a great voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,


text:
 saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we shall have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.


text:
 And I heard the number of them which were sealed, a hundred and forty and four thousand, sealed out of every tribe of the children of Israel.


text:
 Of the tribe of Judah {cf15i were} sealed twelve thousand: Of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand: Of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand:


text:
 Of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand: Of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand: Of the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand:


text:
 Of the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand: Of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand: Of the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand:


text:
 Of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand: Of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand: Of the tribe of Benjamin {cf15i were} sealed twelve thousand.


text:
 After these things I saw, and behold, a great multitude, which no man could number, out of every nation and of {cf15i all} tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, arrayed in white robes, and palms in their hands;


text:
 and they cry with a great voice, saying, Salvation unto our God which sitteth on the throne, and unto the Lamb.


text:
 And all the angels were standing round about the throne, and {cf15i about} the elders and the four living creatures; and they fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,


text:
 saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, {cf15i be} unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.


text:
 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, These which are arrayed in the white robes, who are they, and whence came they?


text:
 And I say unto him, My lord, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which come out of the great tribulation, and they washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.


text:
 Therefore are they before the throne of God; and they serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall spread his tabernacle over them.


text:
 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun strike upon them, nor any heat:


text:
 for the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall be their shepherd, and shall guide them unto fountains of waters of life: and God shall wipe away every tear from their eyes.


text:
 And when he opened the seventh seal, there followed a silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.


text:
 And another angel came and stood over the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should add it unto the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.


text:
 And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel s hand.


text:
 And the angel taketh the censer; and he filled it with the fire of the altar, and cast it upon the earth: and there followed thunders, and voices, and lightnings, and an earthquake.


text:
 And the first sounded, and there followed hail and fire, mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of the earth was burnt up, and the third part of the trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.


text:
 And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood;


text:
 and there died the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, {cf15i even} they that had life; and the third part of the ships was destroyed.


text:
 And the third angel sounded, and there fell from heaven a great star, burning as a torch, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of the waters;


text:
 and the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.


text:
 And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; that the third part of them should be darkened, and the day should not shine for the third part of it, and the night in like manner.


text:
 And I saw, and I heard an eagle, flying in mid heaven, saying with a great voice, Woe, woe, woe, for them that dwell on the earth, by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, who are yet to sound.


text:
 And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star from heaven fallen unto the earth: and there was given to him the key of the pit of the abyss.


text:
 And he opened the pit of the abyss; and there went up a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.


text:
 And out of the smoke came forth locusts upon the earth; and power was given them, as the scorpions of the earth have power.


text:
 And it was said unto them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree, but only such men as have not the seal of God on their foreheads.


text:
 And it was given them that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when it striketh a man.


text:
 And in those days men shall seek death, and shall in no wise find it; and they shall desire to die, and death fleeth from them.


text:
 And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared for war; and upon their heads as it were crowns like unto gold, and their faces were as men s faces.


text:
 And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots, of many horses rushing to war.


text:
 And they have tails like unto scorpions, and stings; and in their tails is their power to hurt men five months.


text:
 They have over them as king the angel of the abyss: his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in the Greek {cf15i tongue} he hath the name Apollyon.


text:
 And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the horns of the golden altar which is before God,


text:
 one saying to the sixth angel, which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound at the great river Euphrates.


text:
 And the four angels were loosed, which had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, that they should kill the third part of men.


text:
 And the number of the armies of the horsemen was twice ten thousand times ten thousand: I heard the number of them.


text:
 And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates {cf15i as} of fire and of hyacinth and of brimstone: and the heads of the horses are as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths proceedeth fire and smoke and brimstone.


text:
 By these three plagues was the third part of men killed, by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone, which proceeded out of their mouths.


text:
 For the power of the horses is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails are like unto serpents, and have heads; and with them they do hurt.


text:
 And the rest of mankind, which were not killed with these plagues, repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and the idols of gold, and of silver, and of brass, and of stone, and of wood; which can neither see, nor hear, nor walk:


text:
 and they repented not of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.


text:
 And I saw another strong angel coming down out of heaven, arrayed with a cloud; and the rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire;


text:
 and he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left upon the earth;


text:
 and he cried with a great voice, as a lion roareth: and when he cried, the seven thunders uttered their voices.


text:
 And when the seven thunders uttered {cf15i their voices}, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying, Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.


text:
 And the angel which I saw standing upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his right hand to heaven,


text:
 and sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created the heaven and the things that are therein, and the earth and the things that are therein, and the sea and the things that are therein, that there shall be time no longer:


text:
 but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then is finished the mystery of God, according to the good tidings which he declared to his servants the prophets.


text:
 And the voice which I heard from heaven, {cf15i I heard it} again speaking with me, and saying, Go, take the book which is open in the hand of the angel that standeth upon the sea and upon the earth.


text:
 And I went unto the angel, saying unto him that he should give me the little book. And he saith unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but in thy mouth it shall be sweet as honey.


text:
 And I took the little book out of the angel s hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and when I had eaten it, my belly was made bitter.


text:
 And they say unto me, Thou must prophesy again over many peoples and nations and tongues and kings.


text:
 And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and one said, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.


text:
 And the court which is without the temple leave without, and measure it not; for it hath been given unto the nations: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.


text:
 And I will give unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.


text:
 And if any man desireth to hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man shall desire to hurt them, in this manner must he be killed.


text:
 These have the power to shut the heaven, that it rain not during the days of their prophecy: and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood, and to smite the earth with every plague, as often as they shall desire.


text:
 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that cometh up out of the abyss shall make war with them, and overcome them, and kill them.


text:
 And their dead bodies {cf15i lie} in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified.


text:
 And from among the peoples and tribes and tongues and nations do {cf15i men} look upon their dead bodies three days and a half, and suffer not their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb.


text:
 And they that dwell on the earth rejoice over them, and make merry; and they shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwell on the earth.


text:
 And after the three days and a half the breath of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which beheld them.


text:
 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they went up into heaven in the cloud; and their enemies beheld them.


text:
 And in that hour there was a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell; and there were killed in the earthquake seven thousand persons: and the rest were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.


text:
 And the seventh angel sounded; and there followed great voices in heaven, and they said, The kingdom of the world is become {cf15i the kingdom} of our Lord, and of his Christ: and he shall reign for ever and ever.


text:
 And the four and twenty elders, which sit before God on their thrones, fell upon their faces and worshipped God,


text:
 saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God, the Almighty, which art and which wast; because thou hast taken thy great power, and didst reign.


text:
 And the nations were wroth, and thy wrath came, and the time of the dead to be judged, and {cf15i the time} to give their reward to thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and to them that fear thy name, the small and the great; and to destroy them that destroy the earth.


text:
 And there was opened the temple of God that is in heaven; and there was seen in his temple the ark of his covenant; and there followed lightnings, and voices, and thunders, and an earthquake, and great hail.


text:
 And a great sign was seen in heaven; a woman arrayed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars;


text:
 And there was seen another sign in heaven; and behold, a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his heads seven diadems.


text:
 And his tail draweth the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was about to be delivered, that when she was delivered he might devour her child.


text:
 And she was delivered of a son, a man child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and unto his throne.


text:
 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that there they may nourish her a thousand two hundred and threescore days.


text:
 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels {cf15i going forth} to war with the dragon; and the dragon warred and his angels;


text:
 And the great dragon was cast down, the old serpent, he that is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world; he was cast down to the earth, and his angels were cast down with him.


text:
 And I heard a great voice in heaven, saying, Now is come the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accuseth them before our God day and night.


text:
 And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb, and because of the word of their testimony; and they loved not their life even unto death.


text:
 Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe for the earth and for the sea: because the devil is gone down unto you, having great wrath, knowing that he hath but a short time.


text:
 And when the dragon saw that he was cast down to the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man {cf15i child}.


text:
 And there were given to the woman the two wings of the great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness unto her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.


text:
 And the serpent cast out of his mouth after the woman water as a river, that he might cause her to be carried away by the stream.


text:
 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the river which the dragon cast out of his mouth.


text:
 And the dragon waxed wroth with the woman, and went away to make war with the rest of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and hold the testimony of Jesus:


text:
 and he stood upon the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns ten diadems, and upon his heads names of blasphemy.


text:
 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as {cf15i the feet} of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his throne, and great authority.


text:
 And {cf15i I saw} one of his heads as though it had been smitten unto death; and his death stroke was healed: and the whole earth wondered after the beast;


text:
 and they worshipped the dragon, because he gave his authority unto the beast; and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? and who is able to war with him?


text:
 and there was given to him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and there was given to him authority to continue forty and two months.


text:
 And he opened his mouth for blasphemies against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, {cf15i even} them that dwell in the heaven.


text:
 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and there was given to him authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation.


text:
 And all that dwell on the earth shall worship him, {cf15i every one} whose name hath not been written in the book of life of the Lamb that hath been slain from the foundation of the world.


text:
 If any man {cf15i is} for captivity, into captivity he goeth: if any man shall kill with the sword, with the sword must he be killed. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.


text:
 And I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like unto a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.


text:
 And he exerciseth all the authority of the first beast in his sight. And he maketh the earth and them that dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose death stroke was healed.


text:
 And he doeth great signs, that he should even make fire to come down out of heaven upon the earth in the sight of men.


text:
 And he deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by reason of the signs which it was given him to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, who hath the stroke of the sword, and lived.


text:
 And it was given {cf15i unto him} to give breath to it, {cf15i even} to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as should not worship the image of the beast should be killed.


text:
 And he causeth all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free and the bond, that there be given them a mark on their right hand, or upon their forehead;


text:
 and that no man should be able to buy or to sell, save he that hath the mark, {cf15i even} the name of the beast or the number of his name.


text:
 Here is wisdom. He that hath understanding, let him count the number of the beast; for it is the number of a man: and his number is Six hundred and sixty and six.


text:
 And I saw, and behold, the Lamb standing on the mount Zion, and with him a hundred and forty and four thousand, having his name, and the name of his Father, written on their foreheads.


text:
 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and the voice which I heard {cf15i was} as {cf15i the voice} of harpers harping with their harps:


text:
 and they sing as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four living creatures and the elders: and no man could learn the song save the hundred and forty and four thousand, {cf15i even} they that had been purchased out of the earth.


text:
 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These {cf15i are} they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were purchased from among men, {cf15i to be} the firstfruits unto God and unto the Lamb.


text:
 And I saw another angel flying in mid heaven, having an eternal gospel to proclaim unto them that dwell on the earth, and unto every nation and tribe and tongue and people;


text:
 and he saith with a great voice, Fear God, and give him glory; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made the heaven and the earth and sea and fountains of waters.


text:
 And another, a second angel, followed, saying, Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, which hath made all the nations to drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.


text:
 And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a great voice, If any man worshippeth the beast and his image, and receiveth a mark on his forehead, or upon his hand,


text:
 he also shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is prepared unmixed in the cup of his anger; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:


text:
 and the smoke of their torment goeth up for ever and ever; and they have no rest day and night, they that worship the beast and his image, and whoso receiveth the mark of his name.


text:
 Here is the patience of the saints, they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.


text:
 And I heard a voice from heaven saying, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; for their works follow with them.


text:
 And I saw, and behold, a white cloud; and on the cloud {cf15i I saw} one sitting like unto a son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.


text:
 And another angel came out from the temple, crying with a great voice to him that sat on the cloud, Send forth thy sickle, and reap: for the hour to reap is come; for the harvest of the earth is over ripe.


text:
 And another angel came out from the altar, he that hath power over fire; and he called with a great voice to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Send forth thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.


text:
 And the angel cast his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vintage of the earth, and cast it into the winepress, the great {cf15i winepress}, of the wrath of God.


text:
 And the winepress was trodden without the city, and there came out blood from the winepress, even unto the bridles of the horses, as far as a thousand and six hundred furlongs.


text:
 And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels having seven plagues, {cf15i which are} the last, for in them is finished the wrath of God.


text:
 And I saw as it were a glassy sea mingled with fire; and them that come victorious from the beast, and from his image, and from the number of his name, standing by the glassy sea, having harps of God.


text:
 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvelous are thy works, O Lord God, the Almighty; righteous and true are thy ways, thou King of the ages.


text:
 Who shall not fear, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy; for all the nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy righteous acts have been made manifest.


text:
 And after these things I saw, and the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:


text:
 and there came out from the temple the seven angels that had the seven plagues, arrayed with {cf15i precious} stone, pure {cf15i and} bright, and girt about their breasts with golden girdles.


text:
 And one of the four living creatures gave unto the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.


text:
 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and none was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels should be finished.


text:
 And I heard a great voice out of the temple, saying to the seven angels, Go ye, and pour out the seven bowls of the wrath of God into the earth.


text:
 And the first went, and poured out his bowl into the earth; and it became a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and which worshipped his image.


text:
 And the second poured out his bowl into the sea; and it became blood as of a dead man; and every living soul died, {cf15i even} the things that were in the sea.


text:
 And the third poured out his bowl into the rivers and the fountains of the waters; and it became blood.


text:
 And I heard the angel of the waters saying, Righteous art thou, which art and which wast, thou Holy One, because thou didst thus judge:


text:
 for they poured out the blood of saints and prophets, and blood hast thou given them to drink: they are worthy.


text:
 And men were scorched with great heat: and they blasphemed the name of the God which hath the power over these plagues; and they repented not to give him glory.


text:
 And the fifth poured out his bowl upon the throne of the beast; and his kingdom was darkened; and they gnawed their tongues for pain,


text:
 and they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores; and they repented not of their works.


text:
 And the sixth poured out his bowl upon the great river, the {cf15i river} Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way might be made ready for the kings that {cf15i come} from the sunrising.


text:
 And I saw {cf15i coming} out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits, as it were frogs:


text:
 for they are spirits of devils, working signs; which go forth unto the kings of the whole world, to gather them together unto the war of the great day of God, the Almighty.


text:
 (Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.)


text:
 And the seventh poured out his bowl upon the air; and there came forth a great voice out of the temple, from the throne, saying, It is done:


text:
 and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunders; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since there were men upon the earth, so great an earthquake, so mighty.


text:
 And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and Babylon the great was remembered in the sight of God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.


text:
 And great hail, {cf15i every stone} about the weight of a talent, cometh down out of heaven upon men: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof is exceeding great.


text:
 And there came one of the seven angels that had the seven bowls, and spake with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the judgment of the great harlot that sitteth upon many waters;


text:
 with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and they that dwell in the earth were made drunken with the wine of her fornication.


text:
 And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness: and I saw a woman sitting upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.


text:
 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and decked with gold and precious stone and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations, even the unclean things of her fornication,


text:
 and upon her forehead a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF THE HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.


text:
 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I wondered with a great wonder.


text:
 And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou wonder? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and the ten horns.


text:
 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and is about to come up out of the abyss, and to go into perdition. And they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, {cf15i they} whose name hath not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast, how that he was, and is not, and shall come.


text:
 Here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth:


text:
 and they are seven kings; the five are fallen, the one is, the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a little while.


text:
 And the beast that was, and is not, is himself also an eighth, and is of the seven; and he goeth into perdition.


text:
 And the ten horns that thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but they receive authority as kings, with the beast, for one hour.


text:
 These shall war against the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them, for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings; and they {cf15i also shall overcome} that are with him, called and chosen and faithful.


text:
 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the harlot sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.


text:
 And the ten horns which thou sawest, and the beast, these shall hate the harlot, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and shall burn her utterly with fire.


text:
 For God did put in their hearts to do his mind, and to come to one mind, and to give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God should be accomplished.


text:
 After these things I saw another angel coming down out of heaven, having great authority; and the earth was lightened with his glory.


text:
 And he cried with a mighty voice, saying, Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, and is become a habitation of devils, and a hold of every unclean spirit, and a hold of every unclean and hateful bird.


text:
 For by the wine of the wrath of her fornication all the nations are fallen; and the kings of the earth committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth waxed rich by the power of her wantonness.


text:
 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come forth, my people, out of her, that ye have no fellowship with her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues:


text:
 Render unto her even as she rendered, and double {cf15i unto her} the double according to her works: in the cup which she mingled, mingle unto her double.


text:
 How much soever she glorified herself, and waxed wanton, so much give her of torment and mourning: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall in no wise see mourning.


text:
 Therefore in one day shall her plagues come, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire; for strong is the Lord God which judged her.


text:
 And the kings of the earth, who committed fornication and lived wantonly with her, shall weep and wail over her, when they look upon the smoke of her burning,


text:
 standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.


text:
 And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn over her, for no man buyeth their merchandise any more;


text:
 merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stone, and pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet; and all thyine wood, and every vessel of ivory, and every vessel made of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble;


text:
 and cinnamon, and spice, and incense, and ointment, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and cattle, and sheep; and {cf15i merchandise} of horses and chariots and slaves; and souls of men.


text:
 And the fruits which thy soul lusted after are gone from thee, and all things that were dainty and sumptuous are perished from thee, and {cf15i men} shall find them no more at all.


text:
 The merchants of these things, who were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and mourning;


text:
 saying, Woe, woe, the great city, she that was arrayed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, and decked with gold and precious stone and pearl!


text:
 for in one hour so great riches is made desolate. And every shipmaster, and every one that saileth any whither, and mariners, and as many as gain their living by sea, stood afar off,


text:
 and cried out as they looked upon the smoke of her burning, saying, What {cf15i city} is like the great city?


text:
 And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and mourning, saying, Woe, woe, the great city, wherein were made rich all that had their ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.


text:
 Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye saints, and ye apostles, and ye prophets; for God hath judged your judgment on her.


text:
 And a strong angel took up a stone as it were a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with a mighty fall shall Babylon, the great city, be cast down, and shall be found no more at all.


text:
 And the voice of harpers and minstrels and flute players and trumpeters shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft, shall be found any more at all in thee; and the voice of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee;


text:
 and the light of a lamp shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the princes of the earth; for with thy sorcery were all the nations deceived.


text:
 And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all that have been slain upon the earth.


text:
 After these things I heard as it were a great voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, Hallelujah; Salvation, and glory, and power, belong to our God:


text:
 for true and righteous are his judgments; for he hath judged the great harlot, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and he hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.


text:
 And the four and twenty elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshipped God that sitteth on the throne, saying, Amen; Hallelujah.


text:
 And a voice came forth from the throne, saying, Give praise to our God, all ye his servants, ye that fear him, the small and the great.


text:
 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunders, saying, Hallelujah: for the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigneth.


text:
 Let us rejoice and be exceeding glad, and let us give the glory unto him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.


text:
 And it was given unto her that she should array herself in fine linen, bright {cf15i and} pure: for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.


text:
 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are bidden to the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are true words of God.


text:
 And I fell down before his feet to worship him. And he saith unto me, See thou do it not: I am a fellow servant with thee and with thy brethren that hold the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.


text:
 And I saw the heaven opened; and behold, a white horse, and he that sat thereon, called Faithful and True; and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.


text:
 And his eyes {cf15i are} a flame of fire, and upon his head {cf15i are} many diadems; and he hath a name written, which no one knoweth but he himself.


text:
 And he {cf15i is} arrayed in a garment sprinkled with blood: and his name is called The Word of God.


text:
 And the armies which are in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white {cf15i and} pure.


text:
 And out of his mouth proceedeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness of the wrath of Almighty God.


text:
 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in mid heaven, Come {cf15i and} be gathered together unto the great supper of God;


text:
 that ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses and of them that sit thereon, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, and small and great.


text:
 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat upon the horse, and against his army.


text:
 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought the signs in his sight, wherewith he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image: they twain were cast alive into the lake of fire that burneth with brimstone:


text:
 and the rest were killed with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, {cf15i even the sword} which came forth out of his mouth: and all the birds were filled with their flesh.


text:
 And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand.


text:
 And he laid hold on the dragon, the old serpent, which is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years,


text:
 and cast him into the abyss, and shut {cf15i it}, and sealed {cf15i it} over him, that he should deceive the nations no more, until the thousand years should be finished: after this he must be loosed for a little time.


text:
 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and {cf15i I saw} the souls of them that had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, and for the word of God, and such as worshipped not the beast, neither his image, and received not the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand; and they lived, and reigned with Christ a thousand years.


text:
 The rest of the dead lived not until the thousand years should be finished. This is the first resurrection.


text:
 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: over these the second death hath no power; but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.


text:
 and shall come forth to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to the war: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.


text:
 And they went up over the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down out of heaven, and devoured them.


text:
 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where are also the beast and the false prophet; and they shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.


text:
 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat upon it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.


text:
 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne; and books were opened: and another book was opened, which is {cf15i the book} of life: and the dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works.


text:
 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.


text:
 And death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death, {cf15i even} the lake of fire.


text:
 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth are passed away; and the sea is no more.


text:
 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.


text:
 And I heard a great voice out of the throne saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he shall dwell with them, and they shall be his peoples, and God himself shall be with them, {cf15i and be} their God:


text:
 and he shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more; neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more: the first things are passed away.


text:
 And he that sitteth on the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he saith, Write: for these words are faithful and true.


text:
 And he said unto me, They are come to pass. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.


text:
 But for the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, their part {cf15i shall be} in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death.


text:
 And there came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls, who were laden with the seven last plagues; and he spake with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the wife of the Lamb.


text:
 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and shewed me the holy city Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,


text:
 having the glory of God: her light was like unto a stone most precious, as it were a jasper stone, clear as crystal:


text:
 having a wall great and high; having twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and names written thereon, which are {cf15i the names} of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:


text:
 on the east were three gates; and on the north three gates; and on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.


text:
 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.


text:
 And he that spake with me had for a measure a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.


text:
 And the city lieth foursquare, and the length thereof is as great as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs: the length and the breadth and the height thereof are equal.


text:
 And he measured the wall thereof, a hundred and forty and four cubits, {cf15i according to} the measure of a man, that is, of an angel.


text:
 The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald;


text:
 the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprase; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst.


text:
 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the several gates was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.


text:
 And the city hath no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine upon it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the lamp thereof {cf15i is} the Lamb.


text:
 And the nations shall walk amidst the light thereof: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory into it.


text:
 and there shall in no wise enter into it anything unclean, or he that maketh an abomination and a lie: but only they which are written in the Lamb s book of life.


text:
 And he shewed me a river of water of life, bright as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb,


text:
 in the midst of the street thereof. And on this side of the river and on that was the tree of life, bearing twelve {cf15i manner of} fruits, yielding its fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.


text:
 And there shall be no curse any more: and the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be therein: and his servants shall do him service;


text:
 And there shall be night no more; and they need no light of lamp, neither light of sun; for the Lord God shall give them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.


text:
 And he said unto me, These words are faithful and true: and the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly come to pass.


text:
 And I John am he that heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.


text:
 And he saith unto me, See thou do it not: I am a fellow servant with thee and with thy brethren the prophets, and with them which keep the words of this book: worship God.


text:
 He that is unrighteous, let him do unrighteousness still: and he that is filthy, let him be made filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him do righteousness still: and he that is holy, let him be made holy still.


text:
 Blessed are they that wash their robes, that they may have the right {cf15i to come} to the tree of life, and may enter in by the gates into the city.


text:
 Without are the dogs, and the sorcerers, and the fornicators, and the murderers, and the idolaters, and every one that loveth and maketh a lie.


text:
 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things for the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright, the morning star.


text:
 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And he that heareth, let him say, Come. And he that is athirst, let him come: he that will, let him take the water of life freely.


text:
 I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto them, God shall add unto him the plagues which are written in this book:


text:
 and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are written in this book.


