# verses

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For I am the least of the apostles, not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.


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But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me has not been in vain, but I labored even more than all of them, and not I, but the grace of God with me.


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Now if Christ is preached as raised up from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?


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And also we are found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if after all, then, the dead are not raised.


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then the end, when he hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when he has abolished all rule and all authority and power.


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For “he subjected all things under his feet.” But when it says “all things ” are subjected, it is clear that the one who subjected all things to him is not included.


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But whenever all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will be subjected to the one who subjected all things to him, in order that God may be all in all.


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Otherwise, why do they do it, those who are being baptized on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why indeed are they being baptized on behalf of them?


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If according to a human perspective I fought wild beasts at Ephesus, what benefit is it to me? If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.


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And what you sow is not the body which it will become, but you sow the bare seed, whether perhaps of wheat or of some of the rest.


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Not all flesh is the same, but there is one flesh of human beings, and another flesh of animals, and another flesh of birds, and another of fish,


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and heavenly bodies and earthly bodies. But the glory of the heavenly bodies is of one kind, and the glory of the earthly bodies is of another kind.


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There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars, for star differs from star in glory.


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Thus also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruptibility.


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It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.


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Thus also it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living soul”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit.


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As the one who is made of earth, so also are those who are made of earth, and as the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly.


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And just as we have borne the image of the one who is made of earth, we will also bear the image of the heavenly.


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But I say this, brothers, that flesh and blood is not able to inherit the kingdom of God, nor can corruption inherit incorruptibility.


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in a moment, in the blink of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.


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For it is necessary for this perishable body to put on incorruptibility, and this mortal body to put on immortality.


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But whenever this perishable body puts on incorruptibility and this mortal body puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will take place: “Death is swallowed up in victory.


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So then, my dear brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.


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Now concerning the collection for the saints: just as I gave directions about it to the churches of Galatia, so you do also.


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On the first day of the week, each one of you put aside something, saving up to whatever extent he has prospered, in order that whenever I come, at that time collections do not take place.


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And whenever I arrive, whomever you approve by letters, I will send these to take your gift to Jerusalem.


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and perhaps I will stay with you, or even spend the winter, so that you may send me on my way wherever I may go.


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For I do not want to see you now in passing, for I hope to remain some time with you, if the Lord allows it.


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But if Timothy comes, see that he is with you without cause to fear, for he is carrying out the Lord’s work, as I also am.


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Therefore do not let anyone disdain him, but send him on his way in peace in order that he may come to me, for I am expecting him with the brothers.


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Now concerning Apollos our brother, I urged him many times that he should come to you with the brothers, and he was not at all willing that he should come now, but he will come whenever he has an opportunity.


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Now I urge you, brothers—you know about the household of Stephanas, that they are the first fruits of Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the ministry for the saints—


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Now I rejoice over the arrival of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because these make up for your absence,


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The churches of the province of Asia greet you. Aquila and Prisca greet you in the Lord many times, together with the church in their house.


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Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the church of God that is in Corinth, together with all the saints who are in all Achaia.


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Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,


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who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in all affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.


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For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow to us, thus through Christ our comfort overflows also.


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But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort that is at work in the patient endurance of the same sufferings that we also suffer.


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And our hope for you is firm, because we know that as you are sharers in the sufferings, so also you will be sharers in the comfort.


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For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning our affliction that happened in the province of Asia, that we were burdened to an extraordinary degree, beyond our strength, so that we were in despair even of living.


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But we ourselves had the sentence of death in ourselves, so that we would not be putting confidence in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead,


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who delivered us from so great a risk of death, and will deliver us, in whom we have put our hope that he will also deliver us again,


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while you also join in helping on our behalf by prayer, so that thanks may be given on our behalf by many persons for this gracious gift given to us through the help of many.


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For our reason for boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you, in holiness and purity of motive from God, not in merely human wisdom, but by the grace of God.


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For we are not writing anything else to you except what you can read or also understand. But I hope that you will understand completely,


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just as you have also understood us in part, that we are your reason for boasting, just as you are also ours in the day of our Lord Jesus.


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And with this confidence, I was wanting to come to you previously, in order that you may have a second proof of my goodwill,


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and through you to go to Macedonia, and to come to you again from Macedonia, and to be sent on my way by you to Judea.


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Therefore, when I was wanting to do this, perhaps then was I making use of vacillation? Or was I deciding what I was deciding according to the flesh, in order that with me my “yes” may be “yes” and my “no” may be “no” at the same time?


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For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, the one who was proclaimed among you by us, by me and Silvanus and Timothy, did not become “yes” and “no,” but has become “yes” in him.


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For as many as are the promises of God, in him they are “yes”; therefore also through him is the “amen” to the glory of God through us.


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But I call upon God as witness against my life, that in order to spare you, I did not come again to Corinth.


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Not that we lord it over your faith, but we are fellow workers for your joy, because by faith you stand firm.


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And I wrote this very thing in order that when I came, I would not experience sorrow from those who ought to have made me glad, because I have confidence about you all, that my joy belongs to all of you.


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For out of great distress and anguish of heart I wrote to you through many tears, not so that you may be caused to be sad, but so that you may know the love that I have especially for you.


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But if anyone has caused sorrow, he has not caused me sorrow, but to some degree — in order not to say too much — to all of you.


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So then, you should rather forgive and comfort him, lest somehow this person should be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.


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Because for this reason also I wrote, in order that I could know your proven character, whether you are obedient in everything.


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Now to whomever you forgive anything, I also do; for indeed, whatever I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, it is for your sake in the presence of Christ,


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I did not experience rest in my spirit, because I did not find Titus my brother, but saying farewell to them, I departed for Macedonia.


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But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ, and who reveals the fragrance of the knowledge of him through us in every place.


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For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing,


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to those on the one hand an odor from death to death, and to those on the other hand a fragrance from life to life. And who is qualified for these things?


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For we are not like the majority who peddle the word of God, but as from pure motives—but as from God—we speak before God in Christ.


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Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we, like some, need letters of recommendation to you or from you?


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revealing that you are a letter of Christ, delivered by us, inscribed not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on stone tablets but on tablets of human hearts.


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Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God,


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who also makes us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit, for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.


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But if the ministry of death in letters carved on stone came with glory, so that the sons of Israel were not able to look intently into the face of Moses because of the glory of his face, which was transitory,


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For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, by much more will the ministry of righteousness overflow with glory.


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For indeed what had been glorified has not been glorified in this case, on account of the glory that surpasses it.


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and not as Moses used to place a veil over his face, in order that the sons of Israel would not stare at the end of what was transitory.


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But their minds were hardened. For until this very day, the same veil remains upon the reading of the old covenant, not being uncovered, because it is done away with in Christ.


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And we all, with unveiled face, reflecting the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory into glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.


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Because of this, since we have this ministry, just as we have been shown mercy, we do not lose heart,


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but we have renounced shameful hidden things, not behaving with craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but with the open proclamation of the truth commending ourselves to every person’s conscience before God.


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among whom the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, so that they would not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.


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For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your slaves for the sake of Jesus.


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For God who said, “Light will shine out of darkness,” is the one who has shined in our hearts for the enlightenment of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.


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But we have this treasure in earthenware jars, in order that the extraordinary degree of the power may be from God and not from us.


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always carrying around the death of Jesus in our body, in order that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.


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For we who are alive are continually being handed over to death because of Jesus, in order that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our mortal flesh.


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But because we have the same spirit of faith in accordance with what is written, “I believed, therefore I spoke,” we also believe, therefore we also speak,


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because we know that the one who raised Jesus will also raise us together with Jesus and present us together with you.


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For all these things are for your sake, in order that the grace that is increasing through the many may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.


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Therefore we do not lose heart, but even if our outer person is being destroyed, yet our inner person is being renewed day after day.


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For our momentary light affliction is producing in us an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure and proportion,


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because we are not looking at what is seen, but what is not seen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is not seen is eternal.


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For we know that if our earthly house, the tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made by hands, eternal in the heavens.


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For indeed we who are in this tent groan, being burdened for this reason, that we do not want to be unclothed, but to be clothed, in order that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.


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Now the one who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the down payment, the Spirit.


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Therefore, although we are always confident and know that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord—


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Therefore indeed we have as our ambition, whether at home in the body or absent from the body, to be acceptable to him.


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For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, in order that each one may receive back the things through the body according to what he has done, whether good or bad.


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Therefore, because we know the fear of the Lord, we are attempting to persuade people, but we are revealed to God, and I hope to be revealed in your consciences.


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We are not commending ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to boast about us, in order that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart.


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For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one died for all; as a result all died.


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And he died for all, in order that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the one who died for them and was raised.


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So then, from now on we know no one from a human point of view, if indeed we have known Christ from a human point of view, but now we know him this way no longer.


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Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come.


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And all these things are from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ, and who has given us the ministry of reconciliation,


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namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.


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Therefore we are ambassadors on behalf of Christ, as if God were imploring you through us. We beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.


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He made the one who did not know sin to be sin on our behalf, in order that we could become the righteousness of God in him.


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For he says, “At the acceptable time I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation!


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We are giving no one an occasion for taking offense in anything, in order that our ministry will not have fault found with it,


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but commending ourselves as servants of God in every way, in much endurance, in afflictions, in distresses, in difficulties,


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in the word of truth, in the power of God, with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and left hand,


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through glory and dishonor, through slander and good repute, regarded as deceivers and yet truthful,


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as unknown and yet known completely, as dying, and behold, we go on living, as disciplined, and yet not put to death,


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as grieving, but always rejoicing, as poor, but making many rich, as having nothing, and possessing everything.


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Do not become unevenly yoked with unbelievers, for what participation is there between righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?


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And what agreement does Christ have with Beliar? Or what share does a believer have with an unbeliever?


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And what agreement does the temple of God have with idols? For we are the temple of the living God, just as God said, “I will live in them and will walk about among them, and I will be their God and they will be my people.”


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Therefore “come out from their midst and be separate,” says the Lord, “and do not touch what is unclean, and I will welcome you,


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and I will be a father to you, and you will be sons and daughters to me,” says the all-powerful Lord.


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Therefore since we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of body and spirit, accomplishing holiness in the fear of God.


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Make room for us in your hearts. We have wronged no one, we have ruined no one, we have defrauded no one.


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I do not say this to condemn you, because I have already said that you are in our hearts, so that we die together and we live together.


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Great is my confidence toward you; great is my boasting on your behalf; I am filled with encouragement; I am overflowing with joy in all our affliction.


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For even when we arrived in Macedonia, our body had no rest, but we were afflicted in every way —quarrels outside, fears within.


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and not only by his coming, but also by the comfort with which he was comforted among you, because he reported to us your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more.


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For if indeed I grieved you by my letter, I do not regret it. Even if I did regret it (I see that that letter grieved you, even though for a short time ),


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now I rejoice, not that you were grieved, but that you were grieved to repentance. For you were grieved according to the will of God, so that you suffered loss in no way through us.


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For grief according to the will of God brings about a repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted, but worldly grief brings about death.


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For behold how much diligence this very thing, being grieved according to the will of God, has brought about in you: what defense of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! In everything you have demonstrated yourselves to be innocent in this matter.


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Consequently, even if I wrote to you, it was not because of the one who did wrong or because of the one who had been wronged, but in order that your diligence on our behalf might be revealed to you before God.


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Because of this we have been encouraged, and in addition to our encouragement, we rejoiced much more over the joy of Titus, because his spirit had been refreshed by all of you.


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For if I have boasted anything to him about you, I have not been put to shame, but as I have spoken everything to you in truth, thus also our boasting to Titus has proven to be true.


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And his affection for you is all the more when he remembers the obedience of all of you as you welcomed him with fear and trembling.


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Now we make known to you, brothers, the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia,


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that with a great ordeal of affliction, the abundance of their joy and the extreme depth of their poverty have overflowed to the wealth of their generosity.


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and not just as we had hoped, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us, by the will of God.


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So we urged Titus that, just as he had previously begun it, thus he would also complete for you this act of grace.


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But just as you excel in everything—in faith and in speaking and in knowledge and with all diligence and in the love from us that is in you—so may you excel in this grace also.


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I am not saying this as a command, but proving the genuineness of your love by means of the diligence of others.


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For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that although he was rich, for your sake he became poor, in order that you, by his poverty, may become rich.


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And I am giving an opinion in this matter, because this is profitable for you who not only began previously, a year ago, to do something, but also to want to do it.


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So now also complete the doing of it, in order that just as you have the eagerness to want to do it, thus also you may complete it from what you have.


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For if the eagerness is present according to what one has, it is acceptable not according to what one does not have.


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For this is not that for others there may be relief, and for you difficult circumstances, but as a matter of equality.


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At the present time your abundance will be for their need, in order that their abundance may also be for your need, so that there may be equality,


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just as it is written, “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.”


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because he not only welcomed our request, but being very earnest, by his own choice he went out to you.


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And we have sent at the same time with him the brother whose praise in the gospel has become known throughout all the churches.


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And not only this, but he was also chosen by the churches as our traveling companion together with this gift that is being administered by us to the glory of the Lord himself and to show our readiness to help.


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We are trying to avoid this, lest anyone should find fault with us in this abundant gift that is being administered by us.


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For we are taking into consideration what is honorable not only before the Lord, but also before people.


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And we are sending with them our brother whom we have tested many times in many things that he is diligent, but now much more diligent because of his great confidence in you.


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If there is a question concerning Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for you. If there is a question concerning our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ.


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Therefore show to them the proof of your love and our boasting about you openly before the churches.


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because I know your readiness to help, concerning which I keep on boasting to the Macedonians about you, that Achaia has been ready to help since last year, and your zeal has stirred up the majority of them.


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But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you would not prove to be empty in this case, so that you may be prepared just as I was saying,


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lest somehow if Macedonians should come with me and find you unprepared, we— not to speak of you —would be humiliated in connection with this project.


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Therefore I considered it necessary to urge the brothers that they should go on ahead to you and make arrangements in advance for your generous gift that was promised previously, so this would be prepared as a generous gift and not as grudgingly granted.


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Now the point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.


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Each one should give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or from compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.


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And God is able to cause all grace to abound to you, so that in everything at all times, because you have enough of everything, you may overflow in every good work.


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Just as it is written, “He scattered widely, he gave to the poor; his righteousness remains forever.”


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Now the one who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will provide and multiply your seed, and will cause the harvest of your righteousness to grow,


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because the service of this ministry is not only supplying the needs of the saints, but also is overflowing through many expressions of thanksgiving to God.


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Through the proven character of this service they will glorify God because of the submission of your confession to the gospel of Christ and the generosity of your participation toward them and toward everyone,


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and they are longing for you in their prayers for you, because of the surpassing grace of God to you.


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Now I, Paul, appeal to you myself by the humility and gentleness of Christ, who when I am present in person am humble among you, but when I am absent am bold toward you—


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now I ask when I am present that I will not need to be bold with the confidence with which I propose to show boldness toward some who consider us as behaving according to the flesh.


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for the weapons of our warfare are not merely human, but powerful to God for the tearing down of fortresses, tearing down arguments


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and all pride that is raised up against the knowledge of God, and taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.


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You are looking at things according to appearance. If anyone is convinced he himself is Christ’s, he should consider this concerning himself again: that just as Christ himself is, so also are we.


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For even if I boast somewhat more about our authority that the Lord gave us for building you up and not for tearing you down, I will not be put to shame,


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because it is said, “His letters are severe and powerful, but his bodily presence is weak and his speech is of no account.”


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Let such a person consider this: that what we are in word by letters when we are absent, we will also be in actions when we are present.


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For we do not dare to classify or to compare ourselves with some who commend themselves, but they themselves, when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, do not understand.


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But we will not boast beyond limits, but according to the measure of the assignment that God has assigned to us as a measure to reach even as far as you.


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For we are not overextending ourselves, as if we had not reached you, because we have reached even as far as you with the gospel of Christ,


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not boasting beyond limits in the labors of others, but having hope that as your faith is growing to be enlarged greatly by you according to our assignment,


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so that we may proclaim the gospel in the regions that lie beyond you, and not boast in the things accomplished in the area assigned to someone else.


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I wish that you would put up with me in something a little foolish —but indeed you are putting up with me.


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For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy, because I promised you in marriage to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.


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But I am afraid lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds may be led astray from the sincerity and the purity of devotion to Christ.


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For if the one who comes proclaims another Jesus whom we have not proclaimed, or you receive a different spirit which you did not receive, or a different gospel which you did not accept, you put up with it well enough !


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But even if I am unskilled in speech, yet I am not in knowledge; certainly in everything we have made this clear to you in every way.


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Or did I commit a sin by humbling myself in order that you may be exalted, because I proclaimed the gospel of God to you without payment?


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And when I was present with you and was in need, I did not burden anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my need, and in everything I kept myself from being a burden to you, and will keep myself from being a burden.


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As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be stopped in the regions of Achaia.


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But what I am doing, I will also do, in order that I may remove the opportunity of those who want an opportunity, that they may be found just as also we are in what they are boasting about.


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Therefore it is not a great thing if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.


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Again I say, do not let anyone think I am foolish. But indeed, if you do, accept me even as foolish, in order that I also may boast a little.


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What I am saying in this project of boasting, I am not saying as the Lord would say, but as in foolishness.


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For you put up with it if someone enslaves you, if someone devours you, if someone takes advantage of you, if someone is presumptious toward you, if someone strikes you in the face.


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I say this to my shame, namely, that we have been weak. But in whatever anyone dares to boast —I am speaking in foolishness—I also dare to boast.


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Are they Hebrews? I am also! Are they Israelites? I am also! Are they descendants of Abraham? I am also!


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Are they servants of Christ?—I am speaking as though I were beside myself—I am more so, with far greater labors, with far more imprisonments, with beatings to a much greater degree, in danger of death many times.


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Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I received a stoning. Three times I was shipwrecked. A day and a night I have spent in the deep water.


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I have been on journeys many times, in dangers from rivers, in dangers from robbers, in dangers from my own people, in dangers from the Gentiles, in dangers in the city, in dangers in the wilderness, in dangers at sea, in dangers because of false brothers,


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with toil and hardship, often in sleepless nights, with hunger and thirst, often going hungry, in cold and poorly clothed.


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Apart from these external things, there is the pressure on me every day of the anxiety about all the churches.


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In Damascus, the governor under King Aretas was guarding the city of the Damascenes in order to take me into custody,


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It is necessary to boast; it is not profitable, but I will proceed to visions and revelations of the Lord.


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I know a man in Christ fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or outside the body I do not know, God knows—such a man was caught up to the third heaven,


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that he was caught up to paradise and heard words not to be spoken, which it is not permitted for a person to speak.


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On behalf of such a person I will boast, but on behalf of myself I will not boast, except in my weaknesses.


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For if I want to boast, I will not be foolish, because I will be telling the truth, but I am refraining, so that no one can credit to me more than what he sees in me or hears anything from me,


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even because of the extraordinary degree of the revelations. Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan, in order that it would torment me so that I would not exalt myself.


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And he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, because the power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore rather I will boast most gladly in my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may reside in me.


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Therefore I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in calamities, in persecutions and difficulties for the sake of Christ, for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.


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I have become a fool! You compelled me, for I ought to have been commended by you, for I am in no way inferior to the preeminent apostles, even if I am nothing.


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Indeed, the signs of an apostle have been done among you with all patient endurance, both signs and wonders and deeds of power.


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For in what respect are you made worse off more than the rest of the churches, except that I myself was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!


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Behold, this third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you. For I am not seeking your possessions, but you. For children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.


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But I will spend and be expended most gladly for your lives. If I love you much more, am I to be loved less?


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I urged Titus to go, and I sent the brother with him. Titus did not take advantage of you, did he? Did we not conduct ourselves in the same spirit? Did we not walk in the same footsteps?


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Have you been thinking all this time that we are defending ourselves to you? We are speaking in Christ before God, and all these things, dear friends, are for your edification.


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For I am afraid lest somehow when I arrive, I will not find you as I want, and I may be found by you as you do not want. I am afraid lest somehow there will be strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, pride, disorder.


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I am afraid lest when I come again my God will humiliate me in your presence, and I will grieve over many of those who sinned previously and have not repented because of their impurity and sexual immorality and licentiousness that they have practiced.


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This is the third time I am coming to you. By the testimony of two or three witnesses every word will be established.


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I have already said when I was present the second time, and although I am absent now I also say in advance to those who sinned previously and to all the rest, that if I come again I will not spare anyone,


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since you are demanding proof that Christ, who is not weak toward you, but is powerful among you, is speaking in me.


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For indeed, he was crucified because of weakness, but he lives because of the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we will live together with him because of the power of God toward you.


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Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith. Examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize regarding yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you, unless you are unqualified?


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Now we pray to God that you not do wrong in any way, not that we are seen as approved, but that you do what is good, even though we are seen as though unqualified.


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Because of this, I am writing these things although I am absent, in order that when I am present I may not have to act severely according to the authority that the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down.


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Finally, brothers, rejoice, be restored, be encouraged, be in agreement, be at peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.


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Paul, an apostle not from men nor by men but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead,


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who gave himself for our sins in order to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,


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I am astonished that you are turning away so quickly from the one who called you by the grace of Christ to a different gospel,


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not that there is a different gospel, except there are some who are disturbing you and wanting to distort the gospel of Christ.


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But even if we or an angel from heaven should proclaim a gospel to you contrary to what we proclaimed to you, let him be accursed!


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As we said before, and now I say again, if anyone is proclaiming a gospel to you contrary to what you have received, let him be accursed!


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For am I now making an appeal to people or to God? Or am I seeking to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of Christ.


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For I make known to you, brothers, the gospel that has been proclaimed by me, that it is not of human origin.


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For neither did I receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.


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For you have heard about my former way of life in Judaism, that to an extraordinary degree I was persecuting the church of God, and trying to destroy it,


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and was progressing in Judaism beyond many contemporaries in my nation, because I was a far more zealous adherent of the traditions handed down by my forefathers.


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to reveal his Son in me in order that I would proclaim the gospel about him among the Gentiles, immediately I did not consult with flesh and blood,


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nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away to Arabia and I returned again to Damascus.


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Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to become acquainted with Cephas, and I stayed with him fifteen days,


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and they were only hearing, “The one formerly persecuting us is now proclaiming the faith that formerly he was attempting to destroy,”


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Now I went up there because of a revelation and laid out to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles, but in private to the influential people, lest somehow I was running, or had run, in vain.


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Now this was because of the false brothers secretly brought in, who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, in order that they might enslave us,


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to whom not even for an hour did we yield in subjection, in order that the truth of the gospel might remain continually with you.


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But from those who were influential (whatever they were, it makes no difference to me, God does not show partiality )—for those who were influential added nothing to me.


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But these, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcision, just as Peter to the circumcision


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(for the one who was at work through Peter for his apostleship to the circumcision was at work also through me for the Gentiles),


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and when James and Cephas and John—those thought to be pillars—acknowledged the grace given to me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, in order that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcision.


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For before certain people came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles, but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, because he was afraid of those who were of the circumcision,


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and the rest of the Jews also joined in this hypocrisy with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with them in their hypocrisy.


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But when I saw that they were not being straightforward with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of them all, “If you, although you are a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you try to compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?”


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but knowing that a person is not justified by the works of the law, if not by faith in Jesus Christ, and we have believed in Christ Jesus so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no human being will be justified.


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But if while seeking to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also have been found to be sinners, then is Christ an agent of sin? May it never be!


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For through the law I died to the law, in order that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ,


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and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me, and that life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.


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I do not declare invalid the grace of God, for if righteousness is through the law, then Christ died to no purpose.


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O foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as having been crucified?


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I want only to learn this from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?


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Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now trying to be made complete by the flesh?


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Therefore does the one who gives you the Spirit and who works miracles among you do so by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?


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And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, proclaimed the good news in advance to Abraham: “In you all the nations will be blessed.”


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For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse, for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all the things that are written in the book of the law to do them.”


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Now it is clear that no one is justified in the sight of God by the law, because “the one who is righteous will live by faith.”


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Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, because it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree,”


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in order that the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.


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Brothers, I am speaking according to a human perspective. Nevertheless, when the covenant of a man has been ratified, no one declares it invalid or adds additional provisions to it.


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Now to Abraham and to his descendant the promises were spoken. It does not say, “and to descendants,” as concerning many, but as concerning one, “and to your descendant,” who is Christ.


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Now I am saying this: the law, that came after four hundred and thirty years, does not revoke a covenant previously ratified by God, in order to nullify the promise.


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For if the inheritance is from the law, it is no longer from the promise, but God graciously gave it to Abraham through the promise.


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Why then the law? It was added on account of transgressions, until the descendant should come to whom it had been promised, having been ordered through angels by the hand of a mediator.


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Therefore is the law opposed to the promises of God? May it never be! For if a law had been given that was able to give life, certainly righteousness would have been from the law.


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But the scripture imprisoned all under sin, in order that the promise could be given by faith in Jesus Christ to those who believe.


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But before faith came, we were detained under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith was revealed.


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There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.


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Now I say, for as long a time as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he is master of everything,


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And because you are sons, God sent out the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba! (Father!),”


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But at that time when you did not know God, you were enslaved to the things which by nature are not gods.


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But now, because you have come to know God, or rather have come to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and miserable elemental spirits? Do you want to be enslaved to them all over again?


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I ask you, brothers, become like me, because I also have become like you. You have done me no wrong !


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And you did not despise or disdain what was a trial for you in my flesh, but you welcomed me like an angel of God, like Christ Jesus.


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So where is your blessing? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me!


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They zealously seek you, not commendably, but they want to exclude you, in order that you may seek them zealously.


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But it is good to be sought zealously in good at all times, and not only when I am present with you.


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But I could wish to be present with you now, and to change my tone because I am perplexed about you.


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But the one by the female slave was born according to human descent, and the one by the free woman through the promise,


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which things are spoken allegorically, for these women are two covenants, one from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery, who is Hagar.


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Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is a slave with her children.


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For it is written, “Rejoice, O barren woman, who does not give birth to children; burst out and shout, you who do not have birth pains, because many are the children of the desolate woman, even more than those of the one who has a husband.”


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But just as at that time the child born according to human descent persecuted the child born according to the Spirit, so also now.


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But what does the scripture say? “Drive out the female slave and her son, for the son of the female slave will never inherit with the son” of the free woman.


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For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.


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And again I testify to every man who becomes circumcised, that he is under obligation to keep the whole law.


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You are estranged from Christ, you who are attempting to be justified by the law; you have fallen from grace.


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For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but faith working through love.


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I have confidence in you in the Lord that you will think nothing different, but the one who is confusing you will pay the penalty, whoever he may be.


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Now, brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the stumbling block of the cross has been abolished.


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For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not let your freedom become an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.


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For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”


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For the flesh desires against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh, for these are in opposition to one another, so that whatever you want, you may not do these things.


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idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, factions,


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envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, things which I am telling you in advance, just as I said before, that the ones who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.


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Brothers, even if a person is caught in some trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a person in a spirit of humility, looking out for yourself, lest you also be tempted.


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But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have a reason for boasting in himself alone, and not in someone else.


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because the one who sows to his own flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit.


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So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who belong to the household of faith.


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As many as are wanting to make a good showing in the flesh, these are attempting to compel you to be circumcised, only so that they will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.


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For not even those who are circumcised observe the law themselves, but they want you to be circumcised in order that they may boast in your flesh.


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But as for me, may it never be that I boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.


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Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints who are in Ephesus and faithful in Christ Jesus:


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Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,


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just as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him in love,


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having predestined us to adoption through Jesus Christ to himself according to the good pleasure of his will,


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in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace,


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for the administration of the fullness of times, to bring together all things in Christ, the things in the heavens and the things on the earth, in him


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in whom also we were chosen, having been predestined according to the purpose of the One who works all things according to the counsel of his will,


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in whom also you, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, in whom also when you believed you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,


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who is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory.


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that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him


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(the eyes of your hearts having been enlightened), so that you may know what is the hope of his calling, what are the riches of the glory of his inheritance among the saints,


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and what is the surpassing greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his mighty strength


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which he has worked in Christ, raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavenly places,


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above all rule and authority and power and lordship and every name named, not only in this age but also in the coming one,


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in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the ruler of the authority of the air, the spirit now working in the sons of disobedience,


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among whom also we all formerly lived in the desires of our flesh, doing the will of the flesh and of the mind, and we were children of wrath by nature, as also the rest of them were.


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in order that he might show in the coming ages the surpassing riches of his grace in kindness upon us in Christ Jesus.


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For we are his creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, so that we may walk in them.


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Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, the so-called uncircumcision by the so-called circumcision in the flesh, made by hands,


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that you were at that time apart from Christ, alienated from the citizenship of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, not having hope, and without God in the world.


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But now in Christ Jesus you, the ones who once were far away, have become near by the blood of Christ.


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For he himself is our peace, who made both one and broke down the dividing wall of the partition, the enmity, in his flesh,


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invalidating the law of commandments in ordinances, in order that he might create the two in himself into one new man, thus making peace,


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And coming, he proclaimed the good news of peace to you who were far away and peace to the ones who were near,


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Consequently, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens of the saints and members of the household of God,


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(which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit):


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that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, and fellow members of the body, and fellow sharers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel,


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of which I became a servant, according to the gift of God’s grace given to me, according to the working of his power.


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To me, the least of all the saints, was given this grace: to proclaim the good news of the fathomless riches of Christ to the Gentiles,


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and to enlighten everyone as to what is the administration of the mystery hidden from the ages by God, who created all things,


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in order that the many-sided wisdom of God might be made known now to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places through the church,


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that he may grant you according to the riches of his glory to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner person,


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that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith (you having been firmly rooted and established in love),


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in order that you may be strong enough to grasp together with all the saints what is the breadth, and length, and height, and depth,


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and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, in order that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.


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Now to the one who is able to do beyond all measure more than all that we ask or think, according to the power that is at work in us,


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Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, exhort you to live in a manner worthy of the calling with which you were called:


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The one who descended himself is also the one who ascended above all the heavens, in order that he might fill all things.


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And he himself gave some as apostles and some as prophets and some as evangelists and some as pastors and teachers


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until we all reach the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to a measure of the maturity of the fullness of Christ,


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so that we may no longer be infants, tossed about by waves and carried about by every wind of teaching, by the trickery of people, by craftiness with reference to the scheming of deceit.


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But speaking the truth in love, we are to grow into him with reference to all things, who is the head, Christ,


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from whom the whole body, joined together and held together by every supporting ligament, according to the working by measure of each single part, the growth of the body makes for the building up of itself in love.


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This therefore I say and testify in the Lord, that you no longer walk as the Gentiles walk: in the futility of their mind,


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being darkened in understanding, alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart,


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who, becoming callous, gave themselves over to licentiousness, for the pursuit of all uncleanness in greediness.


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that you take off, according to your former way of life, the old man, who is being destroyed according to deceitful desires,


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and put on the new man (in accordance with God), who is created in righteousness and holiness from the truth.


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Therefore, putting aside the lie, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, because we are members of one another.


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The one who steals must steal no longer, but instead must labor, working with his own hands what is good, so that he may have something to share with the one who has need.


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No rotten word must proceed from your mouth, but only something good for the building up of the need, in order that it may give grace to those who hear,


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All bitterness, and rage, and wrath, and clamor, and abusive speech, must be removed from you, together with all wickedness.


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Become kind toward one another, compassionate, forgiving one another, just as also God in Christ has forgiven you.


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and live in love, just as also Christ loved us, and gave himself for us an offering and sacrifice to God for a fragrant smell.


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But sexual immorality, and all uncleanness, or greediness, must not even be named among you (as is fitting for saints),


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For this you know for certain, that every sexually immoral person, or unclean person, or greedy person (who is an idolater), does not have an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.


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Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience.


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for everything made visible is light. Therefore it says, Wake up, sleeper, and rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.


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speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and singing praise in your heart to the Lord,


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because the husband is the head of the wife, as also Christ is the head of the church (he himself being the Savior of the body).


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But as the church is subject to Christ, thus also wives should be subject to their husbands in everything.


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in order that he might present to himself the church glorious, not having a spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she may be holy and blameless.


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Thus also husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies. The one who loves his own wife loves himself.


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For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as also Christ does the church,


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“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”


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Only you also, each one of you, must thus love his own wife as himself, and the wife must respect her husband.


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And fathers, do not make your children angry, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.


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Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ,


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not while being watched, as people pleasers, but as slaves of Christ doing the will of God from the heart,


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because you know that each one of you, whatever good he should do, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free.


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And masters, do the same things to them, giving up threats, knowing that both their Lord and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with him.


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because our struggle is not against blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.


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Because of this, take up the full armor of God, in order that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand.


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in everything taking up the shield of faith, with which you are able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one,


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with all prayer and supplication praying at all times in the Spirit, and to this end being alert with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints,


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and for me, that a word may be given to me at the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,


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for the sake of which I am an ambassador in chains, that in them I may speak freely, as it is necessary for me to speak.


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Now, so that you also may know my circumstances, what I am doing, Tychicus, my dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will make known to you all things,


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whom I have sent to you for this very reason, that you may know our circumstances, and he may encourage your hearts.


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Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons.


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convinced of this same thing, that the one who began a good work in you will finish it until the day of Christ Jesus,


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just as it is right for me to think this about all of you, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel all of you are sharers of grace with me.


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so that you may approve what is superior, in order that you may be sincere and blameless in the day of Christ,


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having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.


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Now I want you to know, brothers, that my circumstances have happened instead for the progress of the gospel,


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and most of the brothers, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, dare even more to speak the word without fear.


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The former proclaim Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, thinking to raise up affliction in my imprisonment.


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What is the result? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in this I rejoice. But also I will rejoice,


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for I know that this will turn out to me for deliverance through your prayer and the support of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,


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according to my eager expectation and hope, that I will be put to shame in nothing, but with all boldness, even now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether through life or through death.


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But if it is to live in the flesh, this is fruitful work for me, and which I will prefer I do not know.


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But I am hard pressed between the two options, having the desire to depart and to be with Christ, for this is very much better.


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And because I am convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith,


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so that what you can be proud of may increase in Christ Jesus because of me through my return again to you.


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Only lead your lives in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent I hear your circumstances, that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one soul contending side by side for the faith of the gospel,


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and not letting yourselves be intimidated in anything by your opponents, which is a sign of destruction to them, but of your salvation, and this from God,


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because to you has been graciously granted on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer on behalf of him,


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Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion,


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complete my joy, so that you are in agreement, having the same love, united in spirit, having one purpose.


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Do nothing according to selfish ambition or according to empty conceit, but in humility considering one another better than yourselves,


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each of you not looking out for your own interests, but also each of you for the interests of others.


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but emptied himself by taking the form of a slave, by becoming in the likeness of people. And being found in appearance like a man,


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so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven and of those on earth and of those under the earth,


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Therefore my dear friends, just as you 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.


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in order that you may become blameless and innocent, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine as stars in the world,


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holding fast to the word of life, for a source of pride to me in the day of Christ, that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.


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But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and rejoice with all of you.


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But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I also may be encouraged when I know your circumstances.


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But you know his proven character, that like a child with a father he served with me for the gospel.


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But I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, but your messenger and servant of my need,


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For indeed he was sick, coming near to death, but God had mercy on him and not on him only, but also on me, so that I would not have grief upon grief.


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Therefore I am sending him with special urgency, in order that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less anxious.


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because on account of the work of Christ he came near to the point of death, risking his life in order that he might make up for your inability to serve me.


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Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is not troublesome to me, but is a safeguard for you.


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For we are the circumcision, the ones who worship by the Spirit of God and boast in Christ Jesus and do not put confidence in the flesh,


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although I could have confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else thinks to put confidence in the flesh, I can do so more:


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circumcised on the eighth day, from the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born from Hebrews, according to the law a Pharisee,


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according to zeal persecuting the church, according to the righteousness in the law being blameless.


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More than that, I even consider all things to be loss because of the surpassing greatness of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for the sake of whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and consider them dung, in order that I may gain Christ


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and may be found in him, not having my righteousness which is from the law, but which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God on the basis of faith,


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so that I may know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death,


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Not that I have already received this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on if indeed I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ.


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Brothers, I do not consider myself to have laid hold of it. But I do one thing, forgetting the things behind and straining toward the things ahead,


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Therefore as many as are perfect, let us hold this opinion, and if you think anything differently, God will reveal this also to you.


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Become fellow imitators of me, brothers, and observe those who walk in this way, just as you have us as an example.


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For many live, of whom I spoke about to you many times, but now speak about even weeping, as the enemies of the cross of Christ,


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whose end is destruction, whose God is the stomach, and whose glory is in their shame, the ones who think on earthly things.


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For our commonwealth exists in heaven, from which also we eagerly await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,


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who will transform our humble body to be conformed to his glorious body, in accordance with the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.


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So then, my beloved and greatly desired brothers, my joy and crown, thus stand firm in the Lord, dear friends.


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Yes, I ask also you, true yokefellow, help them, who struggled along with me in the gospel with both Clement and the rest of my fellow workers whose names are in the book of life.


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Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.


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And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.


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Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are right, whatever things are pure, whatever things are pleasing, whatever things are commendable, if there is any excellence of character and if anything praiseworthy, think about these things.


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And the things which you have learned and received and heard about and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.


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But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last you have renewed your concern for me, for whom also you were thinking, but you had no opportunity to express it.


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I know how both to make do with little and I know how to have an abundance. In everything and in all things I have learned the secret both to be filled and to be hungry, both to have an abundance and to go without.


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Now you also know, Philippians, that at the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving except you alone,


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But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am well supplied because I received from Epaphroditus what you had sent, a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God.


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to the saints and faithful brothers in Christ in Colossae. Grace to you and peace from God our Father.


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because of the hope reserved for you in heaven, which you have heard about beforehand in the word of truth, the gospel,


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that has come to you, just as also in all the world it is bearing fruit and increasing, just as also among you from the day you heard about and understood the grace of God in truth,


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just as you learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow slave who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf,


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Because of this also we, from the day we heard about it, did not cease praying for you, and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual insight,


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so that you may live in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good deed and increasing in the knowledge of God,


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enabled with all power, according to his glorious might, for all steadfastness and patience with joy,


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giving thanks to the Father who has qualified you for a share of the inheritance of the saints in light,


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who has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of the Son he loves,


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because all things in the heavens and on the earth were created by him, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers, all things were created through him and for him,


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and he himself is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he himself may become first in everything,


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and through him to reconcile all things to himself, by making peace through the blood of his cross, through him, whether things on earth or things in heaven.


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but now you have been reconciled by his physical body through death, to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him,


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if indeed you remain in the faith, established and steadfast and not shifted away from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.


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Now I rejoice in my sufferings on behalf of you, and I fill up in my flesh what is lacking of the afflictions of Christ, on behalf of his body which is the church,


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of which I became a minister, according to God’s stewardship which was given to me for you, to complete the word of God,


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the mystery which has been hidden from the ages and from the generations, but has now been revealed to his saints,


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to whom God wanted to make known what is the glorious wealth of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory,


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whom we proclaim, by admonishing every person and teaching every person with all wisdom, in order that we may present every person mature in Christ,


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for which purpose also I labor, striving according to his working which is at work powerfully in me.


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For I want you to know how great a struggle I have on behalf of you, and those in Laodicea, and all those who have not seen my face in person,


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so that their hearts may be encouraged, united in love and into all the wealth of the full assurance of insight into the knowledge of the mystery of God, Christ,


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for even if I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing and seeing your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.


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firmly rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding with thankfulness.


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Beware lest anyone take you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world and not according to Christ,


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in whom also you were circumcised with a circumcision not made by hands, by the removal of the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ,


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having been buried with him in baptism, in which also you were raised together with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.


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And although you were dead in the trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, he made you alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,


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having destroyed the certificate of indebtedness in ordinances against us, which was hostile to us, and removed it out of the way by nailing it to the cross.


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When he had disarmed the rulers and the authorities, he made a display of them in public, triumphing over them by it.


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Therefore do not let anyone judge you with reference to eating or drinking or participation in a feast or a new moon or a Sabbath,


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Let no one condemn you, taking pleasure in humility and the worship of angels, going into detail about the things which he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind,


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and not holding fast to the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by the ligaments and sinews, grows with the growth of God.


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If you have died with Christ to the elemental spirits of the world, why do you submit to them as if living in the world?


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which things are all meant for destruction by consuming according to human commandments and teachings,


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which things although they have, to be sure, an appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and humility and unsparing treatment of the body, do not have any value against the indulgence of the flesh.


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Therefore, if you have been raised together with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.


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Therefore put to death what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustful passion, evil desire, and greediness, which is idolatry,


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But now you also lay aside all these things: anger, rage, wickedness, slander, abusive language from your mouth.


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and have put on the new man that is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of the one who created him,


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where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave, or free, but Christ is all, and in all.


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Therefore, as the chosen of God, holy and dearly loved, put on affection, compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience,


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putting up with one another and forgiving one another. If anyone should have a complaint against anyone, just as also the Lord forgave you, thus also you do the same.


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And the peace of Christ must rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body, and be thankful.


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Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another with all wisdom, with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God,


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and everything whatever you do in word or in deed, giving thanks for all things in the name of the Lord Jesus to God the Father through him.


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Slaves, obey your human masters in everything, not while being watched, as people pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.


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because you know that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. Serve the Lord Christ.


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For the one who does wrong will receive back whatever wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.


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praying at the same time for us also, that God may open for us a door of the message, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which also I am a prisoner,


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Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how it is necessary for you to answer each one.


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Tychicus, my dear brother and faithful servant and fellow slave in the Lord, will make known to you all my circumstances,


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whom I have sent to you for this very reason, in order that you may know our circumstances and he may encourage your hearts,


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together with Onesimus, my faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you all the circumstances here.


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Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, greets you, and Mark, the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions—if he should come to you, welcome him),


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and Jesus who is called Justus. These are the only ones who are fellow workers for the kingdom of God from the circumcision, who have been a comfort to me.


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Epaphras, who is one of you, greets you, a slave of Christ always struggling on behalf of you in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God.


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For I testify to him that he is working hard on behalf of you and those in Laodicea and those in Hierapolis.


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And whenever this letter is read among you, see to it that it is read also among the Laodicean church, and that you also read the letter from Laodicea.


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And tell Archippus, “Direct your attention to the ministry that you received in the Lord, in order that you may complete it.”


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Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to you and peace.


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because we remember your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father,


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because our gospel did not come to you with word only, but also with power and with the Holy Spirit and with much certainty, just as you know what sort of people we became among you for your sake.


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And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, receiving the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit,


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for from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith toward God has gone out, so that we have no need to say anything.


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For they themselves report about us, what sort of welcome we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,


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and to await his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus, the one who delivers us from the coming wrath.


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but after we had already suffered and been mistreated in Philippi, just as you know, we had the courage in our God to speak to you the gospel of God amid much opposition.


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but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, thus we speak, not as pleasing people but God, who examines our hearts.


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For never did we come with a word of flattery, just as you know, nor with a pretext of greediness (God is witness),


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Although we could have insisted on our own importance as apostles of Christ, yet we became infants in your midst, like a nursing mother cherishes her own children.


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Longing for you in this way, we determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own souls, because you had become dear to us.


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For you remember, brothers, our labor and hardship: working by night and day in order not to be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.


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You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and righteously and blamelessly we became to you who believe,


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exhorting and consoling you and insisting that you live in a manner worthy of God, who calls you to his own kingdom and glory.


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And because of this we also give thanks to God constantly, that when you received God’s word that you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it truly is, the word of God, which also is at work in you who believe.


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For you became imitators, brothers, of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus, because you also suffered the same things at the hands of your own people, just as they themselves did also at the hands of the Jews,


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who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and who persecuted us, and who are not pleasing to God and are opposed to all people,


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hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles in order that they may be saved, so that they always fill up their sins. But wrath has come upon them to the end.


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But when we were made orphans by separation from you, brothers, for a short time (in face, not in heart), we were even more eager with great desire to see your face,


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For who is our hope or joy or crown of boasting? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at his coming?


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and we sent Timothy, our brother and fellow worker for God in the gospel of Christ, in order to strengthen and to encourage you about your faith,


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so that no one would be shaken by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are appointed for this,


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for indeed when we were with you we told you beforehand that we were about to be afflicted, just as indeed it happened, and you know.


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Because of this, I also, when I could endure it no longer, sent in order to know your faith, lest somehow the tempter tempted you and our labor should be in vain.


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But now, because Timothy has come to us from you and has brought good news to us of your faith and love, and that you always think kindly of us, desiring to see us just as also we desire to see you,


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because of this, brothers, we have been comforted because of you in all our distress and affliction through your faith,


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For what thanks can we repay to God concerning you, because of all the joy with which we rejoice because of you before our God,


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night and day praying beyond all measure that we may see your face and complete what is lacking in your faith?


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and may the Lord cause you to increase and to abound in love for one another and for all, just as also we do for you,


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so that your hearts may be established blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.


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Finally therefore, brothers, we ask you and appeal to you in the Lord Jesus that, just as you have received from us how it is necessary for you to live and to please God, just as indeed you are living, that you progress even more.


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not to transgress and to exploit his brother in the matter, because the Lord is the one who avenges concerning all these things, just as also we told you beforehand and testified solemnly.


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Therefore the one who rejects this is not rejecting man, but God, who also gives his Holy Spirit to you.


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But concerning brotherly love, I do not have need to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another,


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for indeed you are practicing it toward all the brothers in all of Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to progress even more,


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and to aspire to live a quiet life, and to attend to your own business, and to work with your hands, just as we commanded you,


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Now we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who have fallen asleep, so that you will not grieve as also the rest, who have no hope.


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For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, thus also God will bring those who have fallen asleep through Jesus together with him.


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For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who remain until the Lord’s coming, will not possibly precede those who have fallen asleep.


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For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.


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Then we who are alive, who remain, will be snatched away at the same time together with them in the clouds for a meeting with the Lord in the air, and thus we will be together with the Lord always.


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Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need of anything to be written to you,


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for you yourselves well know that the day of the Lord is coming in the same way as a thief in the night.


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Whenever they say “Peace and security,” then sudden destruction will overtake them like the birth pains of a pregnant woman, and they will not possibly escape.


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But because we are of the day, we must be sober, by putting on the breastplate of faith and love and as a helmet the hope of salvation,


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because God did not appoint us for wrath, but for the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,


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Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and rule over you in the Lord and admonish you,


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And we urge you, brothers, admonish the disorderly, console the discouraged, help the sick, be patient toward all people.


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See to it that no one pays back evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue good toward one another and toward all people.


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Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your spirit and soul and body be kept complete, blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.


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Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.


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We ought to give thanks to God always concerning you, brothers, just as it is fitting, because your faith is flourishing and the love of each one of you all toward one another is increasing


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so that we ourselves boast in you in the churches of God about your patient endurance and faith in all your persecutions and the afflictions that you are enduring,


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a proof of the righteous judgment of God, so that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, on behalf of which also you are suffering,


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and to you who are being afflicted, rest with us at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with his powerful angels,


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with burning flame giving punishment to those who do not know God and who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus,


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who will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his strength,


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whenever he should come to be glorified on that day by his saints and to be marveled at by all who believe, because our testimony was believed among you,


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for which purpose we also pray always for you, that you may be considered worthy of the calling of our God, and he might fulfill every desire for goodness and work of faith with power,


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in order that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.


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that you not be easily shaken from your composure, nor be troubled either by a spirit or by a message or by a letter alleged to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has arrived.


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Do not let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,


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who opposes and who exalts himself over every so-called god or object of worship, so that he sits down in the temple of God, proclaiming that he himself is God.


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For the mystery of lawlessness is at work already; only the one who now restrains will do so until he is out of the way,


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and then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will slay with the breath of his mouth, and wipe out by the appearance of his coming,


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whose coming is in accordance with the working of Satan, with all power and signs and lying wonders,


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and with every unrighteous deception against those who are perishing, in place of which they did not accept the love of the truth, so that they would be saved.


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But we ought to give thanks to God always concerning you, brothers dearly loved by the Lord, because God has chosen you as first fruits for salvation by the sanctification of the Spirit and faith in the truth,


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for which purpose he called you through our gospel for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.


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So then, brothers, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions which you were taught, whether by spoken word or by letter from us.


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Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal encouragement and good hope by grace,


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Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may progress and be honored, just as also it was with you,


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And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are both doing and you will do the things that we are commanding.


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Now may the Lord direct your hearts toward the love of God and toward the patient endurance of Christ.


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But we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from every brother who lives irresponsibly and not according to the tradition that they received from us.


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For you yourselves know how it is necessary to imitate us, that we did not behave irresponsibly among you,


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nor did we eat bread from anyone without paying, but with toil and labor, we were working night and day in order not to be a burden to any of you,


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not that we do not have the right, but so that we may give ourselves as an example to you, so that you may imitate us.


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For even when we were with you, we used to command this to you: that if anyone does not want to work, neither should he eat.


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Now we command and we exhort such people in the Lord Jesus Christ that, working with quietness, they eat their own bread.


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But if anyone does not obey our message through this letter, take note not to associate with him, in order that he may be put to shame.


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Now may the Lord of peace himself grant you peace through everything in every way. May the Lord be with all of you.


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The greeting is by my hand, Paul’s, which is a sign of genuineness in every letter: this is how I write.


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Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,


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to Timothy, my true child in the faith. Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.


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Just as I urged you when I traveled to Macedonia, remain in Ephesus, so that you may instruct certain people not to teach other doctrine,


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and not to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which cause useless speculations rather than God’s plan that is by faith.


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But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a faith without hypocrisy,


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wanting to be teachers of the law, although they do not understand either the things which they are saying or the things concerning which they are speaking confidently.


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knowing this, that the law is not given for a righteous person but for the lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and totally worldly, for the one who kills his father and the one who kills his mother, for murderers,


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sexually immoral people, homosexuals, kidnappers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is opposed to sound teaching,


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I give thanks to the one who strengthens me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he considered me faithful, placing me into ministry,


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although I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, but I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief,


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The saying is trustworthy and worthy of all acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.


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But because of this I was shown mercy, in order that in me foremost, Christ Jesus might demonstrate his total patience, for an example for those who are going to believe in him for eternal life.


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Now to the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, to the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.


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I am setting before you this instruction, Timothy my child, in accordance with the prophecies spoken long ago about you, in order that by them you may fight the good fight,


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having faith and a good conscience, which some, because they have rejected these, have suffered shipwreck concerning their faith,


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among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, in order that they may be taught not to blaspheme.


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Therefore, I urge first of all that petitions, prayers, requests, and thanksgiving be made on behalf of all people,


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on behalf of kings and all those who are in authority, in order that we may live a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.


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for which I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am speaking the truth, I am not lying—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.


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Likewise also the women should adorn themselves in appropriate clothing, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold jewelry or pearls or expensive clothing,


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But she will be saved through the bearing of children, if she continues in faith and love and holiness with self-control.


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Therefore the overseer must be irreproachable, the husband of one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, skillful in teaching,


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(but if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?),


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But he must also have a good testimony from those outside, in order that he may not fall into disgrace and the trap of the devil.


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Deacons likewise must be dignified, not insincere, not devoted to much wine, not fond of dishonest gain,


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For those who have served well acquire a good standing for themselves, and great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.


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But if I am delayed, I am writing in order that you may know how one must conduct oneself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and mainstay of the truth.


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And most certainly, great is the mystery of godliness: Who was revealed in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was proclaimed among the Gentiles, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.


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Now the Spirit explicitly says that in the last times some will depart from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,


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who forbid marrying and insist on abstaining from foods that God created for sharing in with thankfulness by those who believe and who know the truth,


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because everything created by God is good and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thankfulness,


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By teaching these things to the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, trained in the words of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed faithfully.


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For the training of the body is somewhat profitable, but godliness is profitable for everything, because it holds promise for the present life and for the life to come.


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For to this end we labor and suffer reproach, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of believers.


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Let no one look down on your youth, but be an example for the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.


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Do not neglect the gift that is in you, that was granted to you through prophecy with the laying on of hands by the council of elders.


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Practice these things. Be diligent in these things, in order that your progress may be evident to everyone.


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Fix your attention on yourself and on your teaching. Continue in them, for by doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.


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But if any widow has children or grandchildren, they must learn to show profound respect for their own household first, and to pay back recompense to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God.


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But the widow who is one truly, and is left alone, has put her hope in God and continues in her petitions and prayers night and day.


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But if someone does not provide for his own relatives, and especially the members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.


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being well-attested by good works, if she has brought up children, if she has shown hospitality, if she has washed the feet of the saints, if she has helped those who are oppressed, if she has devoted herself to every good work.


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But refuse younger widows, for whenever their physical desires lead them away from Christ, they want to marry,


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And at the same time also, going around from house to house, they learn to be idle, and not only idle, but also gossipy and busybodies, saying the things that are not necessary.


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Therefore I want younger widows to marry, to bear children, to manage a household, to give the adversary no opportunity for reproach.


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If any believing woman has widows, she must help them, and the church must not be burdened, in order that it may help those who are truly widows.


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The elders who lead well must be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor by speaking and teaching.


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For the scripture says, “You must not muzzle an ox while it is threshing,” and “The worker is worthy of his wages.”


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I testify solemnly before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing according to partiality.


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The sins of some people are evident, preceding them to judgment, but for some also they follow after them.


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All those who are under the yoke as slaves must regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, lest the name of God and the teaching be slandered.


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And those who have believing masters must not look down on them because they are brothers, but rather they must serve, because those who benefit by their service are believers and dearly loved. Teach and encourage these things.


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If anyone teaches other doctrine and does not devote himself to the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that is in accordance with godliness,


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he is conceited, understanding nothing, but having a morbid interest concerning controversies and disputes about words, from which come envy, strife, slanders, evil suspicions,


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constant wrangling by people of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who consider godliness to be a means of gain.


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But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and a trap and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge those people into ruin and destruction.


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For the love of money is a root of all evil, by which some, because they desire it, have gone astray from the faith and have pierced themselves with many pains.


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But you, O man of God, flee from these things, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patient endurance, gentleness.


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Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.


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I command you, in the sight of God who gives life to all things and Christ Jesus who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate,


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that you observe the commandment without fault, irreproachable until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,


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which he will make known in his own time, the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of those who reign as kings and Lord of those who rule as lords,


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the one who alone possesses immortality, who lives in unapproachable light, whom no human being has seen nor is able to see, to whom be honor and eternal power. Amen.


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Command those who are rich in this present age not to be proud and not to put their hope in the uncertainty of riches, but in God, who provides us all things richly for enjoyment,


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storing up for themselves a good foundation for the future, in order that they may take hold of what is truly life.


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O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Turn away from pointless empty talk and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge,


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Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,


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I am thankful to God, whom I have served with a clear conscience as my ancestors did, when I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day,


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remembering the sincere faith in you, which lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am convinced that is in you also,


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for which reason I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is in you through the laying on of my hands.


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Therefore, do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor me his prisoner, but suffer along with me for the gospel, according to the power of God,


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who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace that was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,


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but has now been disclosed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought to light life and immortality through the gospel,


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for which reason also I suffer these things. But I am not ashamed, because I know in whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted until that day.


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Hold fast to the pattern of sound words which you heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.


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May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he refreshed me many times, and was not ashamed of my imprisonment,


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May the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord in that day! And how much he served me in Ephesus you know very well.


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and the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these things to faithful people who will be competent to teach others also.


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No one who serves as a soldier is entangled in the activities of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him.


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in connection with which I suffer misfortune to the point of imprisonment as a criminal, but the word of God is not bound.


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Because of this, I endure all things for the sake of the chosen, in order that they also may obtain salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.


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Remind people of these things, solemnly urging them before the Lord not to dispute about words. This is in no way beneficial and leads to the ruin of the hearers.


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Make every effort to present yourself approved to God, a worker having no need to be ashamed, guiding the word of truth along a straight path.


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who have deviated concerning the truth by saying the resurrection has already taken place, and they are upsetting the faith of some.


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However, the solid foundation of God stands firm, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and “Everyone who names the name of the Lord must abstain from unrighteousness.”


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Now in a great house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also wooden and earthenware ones, some of which are for honorable use, and some of which are for ordinary use.


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Therefore, if someone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.


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But flee from youthful desires, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, in company with those who call upon the Lord from a pure heart.


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And the slave of the Lord must not quarrel, but be kind toward everyone, skillful in teaching, tolerant,


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correcting those who are opposed with gentleness, seeing whether perhaps God may grant them repentance to a knowledge of the truth,


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and they will come to their senses again and escape from the trap of the devil, being held captive by him to do his will.


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for people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, arrogant, slanderers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,


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hardhearted, irreconcilable, slanderous, without self-control, savage, with no interest for what is good,


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For from these are those who slip into houses and captivate foolish women loaded down with sins, led by various kinds of desires,


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And just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these oppose the truth, people corrupted in mind, disqualified concerning the faith.


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But they will not progress to a greater extent, for their folly will be quite evident to everyone, as also the folly of those two was.


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But you have faithfully followed my teaching, way of life, purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance,


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persecutions, and sufferings that happened to me in Antioch, in Iconium, and in Lystra, what sort of persecutions I endured, and the Lord delivered me from all of them.


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But you continue in the things which you have learned and are convinced of, because you know from whom you learned them,


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and that from childhood you have known the holy writings that are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.


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All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness,


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I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom,


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preach the word, be ready in season and out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all patience and instruction.


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For there will be a time when they will not put up with sound teaching, but in accordance with their own desires, they will accumulate for themselves teachers, because they have an insatiable curiosity,


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But you, be self-controlled in all things, bear hardship patiently, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.


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Finally, the crown of righteousness is reserved for me, that the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but also to all who have loved his appearing.


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For Demas deserted me, because he loved the present age, and went to Thessalonica. Crescens went to Galatia; Titus went to Dalmatia.


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Luke alone is with me. Take along Mark and bring him with you, because he is useful to me for ministry.


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When you come, bring the cloak that I left behind in Troas with Carpus, and the scrolls, especially the parchments.


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At my first defense, no one came to my aid, but they all deserted me; may it not be counted against them.


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But the Lord helped me and strengthened me, so that through me the proclamation might be fulfilled and all the Gentiles might hear, and he rescued me from the lion’s mouth.


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The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will save me for his heavenly kingdom, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.


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Make haste to come before winter. Eubulus and Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brothers greet you.


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Paul, a slave of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of the chosen of God and the knowledge of the truth that is according to godliness,


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but at the proper time has disclosed his message in the proclamation with which I was entrusted according to the command of God our Savior,


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to Titus, my true child according to a common faith. Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.


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On account of this, I left you behind in Crete, in order that what remains may be set in order and you may appoint elders in every town, as I ordered you.


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If anyone is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children, not accused of dissipation or rebellious.


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For it is necessary for the overseer to be blameless as God’s steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not violent, not greedy for dishonest gain,


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holding fast to the faithful message according to the teaching, in order that he may be able both to exhort with sound instruction and to reprove those who speak against it.


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For there are many rebellious people, idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision,


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whom it is necessary to silence, whoever are ruining whole families by teaching things which must not be taught for the sake of dishonest gain.


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A certain one of them, one of their own prophets, has said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”


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This testimony is true, for which reason reprove them severely, in order that they may be sound in the faith,


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To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure, but both their mind and conscience are defiled.


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They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny him, because they are detestable and disobedient, and unfit for every good deed.


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Older men are to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in endurance.


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Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not slanderous, not enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good,


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to be self-controlled, pure, busy at home, good, being subject to their own husbands, in order that the word of God may not be slandered.


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concerning everything showing yourself to be an example of good deeds, in your teaching demonstrating soundness, dignity,


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a sound message beyond reproach, in order that an opponent may be put to shame, because he has nothing bad to say concerning us.


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not stealing, but demonstrating all good faith, in order that they may do credit to the teaching of God our Savior in everything.


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training us in order that, denying impiety and worldly desires, we may live self-controlled and righteously and godly in the present age,


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looking forward to the blessed hope and the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,


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who gave himself for us, in order that he might redeem us from all lawlessness and purify for himself a people for his own possession, zealous for good deeds.


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Remind them to be subject to the rulers and to the authorities, to obey, to be prepared for every good work,


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For we also were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, enslaved to various desires and pleasures, spending our lives in wickedness and envy, despicable, hating one another.


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he saved us, not by deeds of righteousness that we have done, but because of his mercy, through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit,


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so that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.


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The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist concerning these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and beneficial for people.


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But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and contentions and quarrels about the law, for they are useless and fruitless.


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When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, make haste to come to me in Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there.


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But also our people must learn to engage in good deeds for necessary needs, so that they will not be unfruitful.


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Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our dear friend and fellow worker,


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because I hear about your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints.


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I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective in the knowledge of every good thing that is in us for Christ.


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For I have great joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.


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instead I appeal to you because of love, since I am such a one as Paul, now an old man and also a prisoner of Christ Jesus.


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I am appealing to you concerning my child whom I became the father of during my imprisonment, Onesimus.


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whom I wanted to keep with me, in order that he might serve me on behalf of you during my imprisonment for the gospel.


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But apart from your consent, I wanted to do nothing, in order that your good deed might be not as according to necessity, but according to your own free will.


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For perhaps because of this, he was separated from you for a time, in order that you might have him back forever,


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no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.


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I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will pay it back, lest I mention to you that you owe me even your very self besides.


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Confident of your obedience, I am writing to you because I know that you will do even beyond what I say.


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At the same time also, prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.


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in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the world,


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who is the radiance of his glory and the representation of his essence, sustaining all things by the word of power. When he had made purification for sins through him, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,


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having become by so much better than the angels, by as much as he has inherited a more excellent name than theirs.


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For to which of the angels did he ever say, “You are my son, today I have begotten you,” and again, “I will be his father, and he will be my son ”?


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And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, “And let all the angels of God worship him.”


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And concerning the angels he says, “The one who makes his angels winds, and his servants a flame of fire,”


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but concerning the Son, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, and the scepter of righteous is the scepter of your kingdom.


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You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; because of this God, your God, has anointed you with the olive oil of joy more than your companions.


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And, “You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the works of your hands;


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and like a robe you will roll them up, and like a garment they will be changed; but you are the same, and your years will not run out.”


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But to which of the angels has he ever said, “Sit down at my right hand, until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”


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Are they not all spirits engaged in special service, sent on assignment for the sake of those who are going to inherit salvation?


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Because of this, it is all the more necessary that we pay attention to the things we have heard, lest we drift away.


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For if the word spoken through angels was binding and every transgression and act of disobedience received a just penalty,


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how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation which had its beginning when it was spoken through the Lord and was confirmed to us by those who heard,


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while God was testifying at the same time by signs and wonders and various miracles and distributions of the Holy Spirit according to his will.


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But someone testified somewhere, saying, “What is man, that you remember him, or the son of man, that you care for him?


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you subjected all things under his feet. For in subjecting all things, he left nothing that was not subject to him. But now we do not yet see all things subjected to him,


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but we see Jesus, for a short time made lower than the angels, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that apart from God he might taste death on behalf of everyone.


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For it was fitting for him for whom are all things and through whom are all things in bringing many sons to glory to perfect the originator of their salvation through sufferings.


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For both the one who sanctifies and the ones who are sanctified are all from one, for which reason he is not ashamed to call them brothers,


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saying, “I will proclaim your name to my brothers; in the midst of the assembly I will sing in praise of you.”


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Therefore, since the children share in blood and flesh, he also in like manner shared in these same things, in order that through death he could destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,


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and could set free these who through fear of death were subject to slavery throughout all their lives.


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Therefore he was obligated to be made like his brothers in all respects, in order that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in the things relating to God, in order to make atonement for the sins of the people.


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For in that which he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.


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Therefore, holy brothers, sharers in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession,


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For this one is considered worthy of greater glory than Moses, inasmuch as the one who builds it has greater honor than the house.


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And Moses was faithful in all his house as a servant, for a testimony to the things that would be spoken,


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but Christ was faithful as a son over his house, whose house we are, if we hold fast to our confidence and the hope we can be proud of.


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for forty years. Therefore I was angry with this generation, and I said, ‘They always go astray in their heart, and they do not know my ways.’


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Watch out, brothers, lest there be in some of you an evil, unbelieving heart, with the result that you fall away from the living God.


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But encourage one another day by day, as long as it is called “today,” so that none of you become hardened by the deception of sin.


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For we have become partners of Christ, if indeed we hold fast the beginning of our commitment steadfast until the end,


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For who, when they heard it, were disobedient? Surely it was not all who went out from Egypt through Moses?


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And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose dead bodies fell in the wilderness?


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Therefore let us fear, while there remains a promise of entering into his rest, that none of you appear to fall short of it.


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For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as those also did, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united with those who heard it in faith.


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For we who have believed enter into rest, just as he has said, “As I swore in my anger, ‘ They will never enter into my rest.’ ” And yet these works have been accomplished from the foundation of the world.


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For he has spoken somewhere about the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works,”


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Since therefore it remains for some to enter into it, and the ones to whom the good news was proclaimed previously did not enter because of disobedience,


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again he ordains a certain day, today, speaking by David after so long a time, just as had been said before, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.”


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For if Joshua had caused them to rest, he would not have spoken about another day after these things.


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For the one who has entered into his rest has also himself rested from his works, just as God did from his own works.


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Therefore, let us make every effort to enter into that rest, in order that no one may fall in the same pattern of disobedience.


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For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any double-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, both joints and marrow, and able to judge the reflections and thoughts of the heart.


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And no creature is hidden in the sight of him, but all things are naked and laid bare to the eyes of him to whom we must give our account.


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Therefore, because we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession.


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For we do not have a high priest who is not able to sympathize with our weaknesses, but who has been tempted in all things in the same way, without sin.


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Therefore let us approach with confidence to the throne of grace, in order that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.


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For every high priest taken from among men is appointed on behalf of people in the things relating to God, in order that he can offer both gifts and sacrifices on behalf of sins,


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being able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and led astray, since he himself also is surrounded by weakness,


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and because of it he is obligated to offer sacrifices for sins for himself also, as well as for the people.


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Thus also Christ did not glorify himself to become high priest, but the one who said to him, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you,”


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just as also in another place he says, “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek,”


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who in the days of his flesh offered up both prayers and supplications, with loud crying and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard as a result of his reverence.


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Concerning this we have much to say and it is difficult to explain, since you have become sluggish in hearing.


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For indeed, although you ought to be teachers by this time, you have need of someone to teach you again the beginning elements of the oracles of God, and you have need of milk, not solid food.


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For everyone who partakes of milk is unacquainted with the message of righteousness, because he is an infant.


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But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have trained their faculties for the distinguishing of both good and evil.


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Therefore, leaving behind the elementary message about Christ, let us move on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and faith in God,


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For it is impossible concerning those who have once been enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and become sharers of the Holy Spirit,


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and having fallen away, to renew them again to repentance, because they have crucified again for themselves the Son of God and held him up to contempt.


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For ground that drinks the rain that comes often upon it, and brings forth vegetation usable to those people for whose sake it is also cultivated, shares a blessing from God.


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But if it produces thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to a curse, whose end is for burning.


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But even if we are speaking in this way, dear friends, we are convinced of better things concerning you, and belonging to salvation.


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For God is not unjust, so as to forget your work and the love which you demonstrated for his name by having served the saints, and continuing to serve them.


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And we desire each one of you to demonstrate the same diligence for the full assurance of your hope until the end,


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in order that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who inherit the promises through faith and patience.


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For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater to swear by, he swore by himself,


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For people swear by what is greater than themselves, and the oath for confirmation is the end of all dispute for them.


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In the same way God, because he wanted to show even more to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of his resolve, guaranteed it with an oath,


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in order that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge may have powerful encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us,


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which we have like an anchor of the soul, both firm and steadfast, and entering into the inside of the curtain,


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where Jesus, the forerunner for us, entered, because he became a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.


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For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,


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to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth of everything —in the first place, his name is translated “king of righteousness,” and then also “king of Salem,” that is, “king of peace”;


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without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God—he remains a priest for all time.


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And indeed those of the sons of Levi who receive the priesthood have a commandment to collect a tenth from the people according to the law, that is, from their brothers, although they are descended from Abraham.


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But the one who did not trace his descent from them collected tithes from Abraham and blessed the one who had the promises.


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Thus if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood, for on the basis of it the people received the law, what further need is there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek and not said to be according to the order of Aaron?


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For the one about whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe from which no one has officiated at the altar.


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For it is evident that our Lord is a descendant of Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses said nothing concerning priests.


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who has become a priest not according to a law of physical requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life.


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(for the law made nothing perfect), but on the other hand there is the introduction of a better hope through which we draw near to God.


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And by as much as this was not without an oath (for these on the one hand have become priests without an oath,


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but he with an oath by the one who said to him, “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever ’ ” ),


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And indeed many have become priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office,


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Therefore also he is able to save completely those who draw near to God through him, because he always lives in order to intercede on their behalf.


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For a high priest such as this indeed is fitting for us, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and having become exalted above the heavens,


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who does not need every day like the former high priests to offer up sacrifices for his own sins and then for the sins of the people, because he did this once for all when he offered up himself.


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For the law appoints men as high priests who have weakness, but the statement of the oath, after the law, appoints a Son, who is made perfect forever.


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Now this is the main point in what has been said: we have a high priest such as this, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,


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For every high priest is appointed in order to offer both gifts and sacrifices; therefore it was necessary for this one also to have something that he offers.


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Now if he were on earth, he would not even be a priest, because there are those who offer the gifts according to the law,


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who serve a sketch and shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses was warned when he was about to complete the tabernacle, for he says, “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern which was shown to you on the mountain.”


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But now he has attained a more excellent ministry, by as much as he is also mediator of a better covenant which has been enacted upon better promises.


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For in finding fault with them he says, “Behold, days are coming, says the Lord, when I will complete a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah,


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not like the covenant which I made with their fathers on the day I took hold of them by my hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, because they did not continue in my covenant and I disregarded them, says the Lord.


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For this is the covenant that I will decree with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I am putting my laws in their minds and I will write them on their hearts, and I will be their God and they will be my people.


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And they will not teach each one his fellow citizen and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest.


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In calling it new, he has declared the former to be old. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is near to disappearing.


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For a tent was prepared, the first one, in which were the lampstand and the table and the presentation of the loaves, which is called the holy place.


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containing the golden incense altar and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which were a golden jar containing the manna and the rod of Aaron that budded and the tablets of the covenant.


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And above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat, about which it is not now possible to speak in detail.


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Now these things having been prepared in this way, the priests enter into the first tent continually as they accomplish their service,


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but only the high priest enters into the second tent once a year, not without blood, which he offers on behalf of himself and the sins of the people committed in ignorance.


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The Holy Spirit was making this clear, that the way into the holy place was not yet revealed, while the first tent was still in existence,


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which was a symbol for the present time, in which both the gifts and sacrifices which were offered were not able to perfect the worshiper with respect to the conscience,


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concerning instead only food and drink and different washings, regulations of outward things imposed until the time of setting things right.


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But Christ has arrived as a high priest of the good things to come. Through the greater and more perfect tent not made by hands, that is, not of this creation,


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and not by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood, he entered once for all into the most holy place, obtaining eternal redemption.


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For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a young cow sprinkled on those who are defiled sanctify them for the ritual purity of the flesh,


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how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works to serve the living God?


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And because of this, he is the mediator of a new covenant, in order that, because a death has taken place for the redemption of transgressions committed during the first covenant, those who are the called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.


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For where there is a will, it is a necessity for the death of the one who made the will to be established.


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For a will is in force concerning those who are dead, since it is never in force when the one who made the will is alive.


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For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves with water and scarlet wool and hyssop and sprinkled both the scroll itself and all the people,


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Indeed, nearly everything is purified with blood according to the law, and apart from the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.


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Therefore it was necessary for the sketches of the things in heaven to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves to be purified with better sacrifices than these.


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For Christ did not enter into a sanctuary made by hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf,


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and not in order that he can offer himself many times, as the high priest enters into the sanctuary year by year with blood not his own,


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since it would have been necessary for him to suffer many times from the foundation of the world, but now he has appeared once at the end of the ages for the removal of sin by the sacrifice of himself.


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thus also Christ, having been offered once in order to bear the sins of many, will appear for the second time without reference to sin to those who eagerly await him for salvation.


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For the law, possessing a shadow of the good things that are about to come, not the form of things itself, is never able year by year by means of the same sacrifices which they offer without interruption to make perfect those who draw near.


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For otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the ones who worship, having been purified once and for all, would no longer have any consciousness of sins?


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Therefore, when he came into the world, he said, “Sacrifice and offering you did not want, but a body you prepared for me;


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Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come— in the roll of the book it is written about me— to do your will, O God.’


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When he says above, “Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and offerings for sin you did not want, nor did you delight in,” which are offered according to the law,


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then he has said, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He takes away the first in order to establish the second,


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And every priest stands every day serving and offering the same sacrifices many times, which are never able to take away sins.


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But this one, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God,


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“This is the covenant that I will decree for them after those days, says the Lord: I am putting my laws on their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.”


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Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence for the entrance into the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus,


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let us approach with a true heart in the full assurance of faith, our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.


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Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for the one who promised is faithful.


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not abandoning our meeting together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging each other, and by so much more as you see the day drawing near.


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For if we keep on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,


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but a certain fearful expectation of judgment and a fury of fire that is about to consume the adversaries.


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How much worse punishment do you think the person will be considered worthy of who treats with disdain the Son of God and who considers ordinary the blood of the covenant by which he was made holy and who insults the Spirit of grace?


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For we know the one who said, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.”


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But remember the former days in which, after you were enlightened, you endured a great struggle with sufferings,


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sometimes being publicly exposed both to insults and to afflictions, and sometimes becoming sharers with those who were treated in this way.


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For you both sympathized with the prisoners and put up with the seizure of your belongings with joy because you knew that you yourselves had a better and permanent possession.


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For you have need of endurance, in order that after you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.


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But my righteous one will live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul is not well pleased with him.”


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But we are not among those who shrink back to destruction, but among those who have faith to the preservation of our souls.


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By faith we understand the worlds were created by the word of God, in order that what is seen did not come into existence from what is visible.


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By faith Abel offered to God a greater sacrifice than Cain, by which he was approved that he was righteous, because God approved him for his gifts, and through it he still speaks, although he is dead.


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By faith Enoch was taken up, so that he did not experience death, and he was not found, because God took him up. For before his removal, he had been approved as having been pleasing to God.


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Now without faith it is impossible to please him, for the one who approaches God must believe that he exists and is a rewarder of those who seek him.


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By faith Noah, having been warned about things not yet seen, out of reverence constructed an ark for the deliverance of his family, by which he pronounced sentence on the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.


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By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out to a place that he was going to receive for an inheritance, and he went out, not knowing where he was going.


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By faith he lived in the land of promise as a stranger, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the fellow heirs of the same promise.


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By faith also, with Sarah, he received the ability to procreate even past the normal age, because he regarded the one who had promised to be faithful.


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And therefore these were fathered from one man, and he being as good as dead, as the stars of heaven in number and like the innumerable sand by the shore of the sea.


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These all died in faith without receiving the promises, but seeing them from a distance and welcoming them, and admitting that they were strangers and temporary residents on the earth.


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But now they aspire to a better land, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.


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By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered Isaac, and the one who received the promises was ready to offer his one and only son,


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having reasoned that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which he received him back also as a symbol.


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By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.


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By faith Joseph, as he was dying, mentioned about the exodus of the sons of Israel and gave instructions about his bones.


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By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw the child was handsome, and they were not afraid of the edict of the king.


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choosing instead to be mistreated with the people of God rather than to experience the transitory enjoyment of sin,


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considering reproach endured for the sake of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.


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By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the anger of the king, for he persevered as if he saw the invisible one.


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By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, in order that the one who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them.


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By faith they crossed the Red Sea as if on dry land; the Egyptians, when they made the attempt, were drowned.


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By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she welcomed the spies in peace.


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And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, and Samuel and the prophets,


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who through faith conquered kingdoms, accomplished justice, obtained what was promised, shut the mouths of lions,


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extinguished the effectiveness of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong from weakness, became mighty in battle, put to flight enemy battle lines.


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Women received back their dead by resurrection. But others were tortured, not accepting release, in order that they might gain a better resurrection.


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They were stoned, they were sawed in two, they died by murder with a sword, they wandered about in sheepskins, in goatskins, impoverished, afflicted, mistreated,


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of whom the world was not worthy, wandering about on deserts and mountains and in caves and in holes in the ground.


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because God had provided something better for us, so that they would not be made perfect without us.


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Therefore, since we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, putting aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us, let us run with patient endurance the race that has been set before us,


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fixing our eyes on Jesus, the originator and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.


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For consider the one who endured such hostility by sinners against himself, so that you will not grow weary in your souls and give up.


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And have you completely forgotten the exhortation which instructs you as sons? “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, or give up when you are corrected by him.


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Endure it for discipline. God is dealing with you as sons. For what son is there whom a father does not discipline?


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But if you are without discipline, in which all legitimate sons have become participants, then you are illegitimate and not sons.


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Furthermore, we have had our earthly fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them. Will we not much rather subject ourselves to the Father of spirits and live?


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For they disciplined us for a few days according to what seemed appropriate to them, but he does so for our benefit, in order that we can have a share in his holiness.


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Now all discipline seems for the moment not to be joyful but painful, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness for those who are trained by it.


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


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Take care that no one falls short of the grace of God; that no one growing up like a root of bitterness causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;


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that no one be a sexually immoral or totally worldly person like Esau, who for one meal traded his own birthright.


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For you know that also afterwards, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, because he did not find an occasion for repentance, although he sought it with tears.


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For you have not come to something that can be touched, and to a burning fire, and to darkness, and to gloom, and to a whirlwind,


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and to the noise of a trumpet, and to the sound of words which those who heard begged that not another word be spoken to them.


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For they could not endure what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.”


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But you have come to Mount Zion, and to the city of the living God, to the heavenly Jerusalem, and to tens of thousands of angels, to the festal gathering


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and assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of righteous people made perfect,


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and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks better than Abel’s does.


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Watch out that you do not refuse the one who is speaking! For if those did not escape when they refused the one who warned them on earth, much less will we escape, if we reject the one who warns from heaven,


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whose voice shook the earth at that time, but now he has promised, saying, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also heaven.”


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Now the phrase “yet once more ” indicates the removal of what is shaken, namely, things that have been created, in order that the things that are not shaken may remain.


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Therefore, since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us be thankful, through which let us serve God acceptably, with awe and reverence.


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Do not neglect hospitality, because through this some have received angels as guests without knowing it.


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Remember the prisoners, as though you were fellow-prisoners; remember the mistreated, as though you yourselves also are being mistreated in the body.


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Marriage must be held in honor by all, and the marriage bed be undefiled, because God will judge sexually immoral people and adulterers.


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Your lifestyle must be free from the love of money, being content with what you have. For he himself has said, “I will never desert you, and I will never abandon you.”


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So then, we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?”


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Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you; considering the outcome of their way of life, imitate their faith.


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Do not be carried away by various and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods by which those who participate have not benefited.


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For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sins are burned up outside the camp.


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Therefore Jesus also suffered outside the gate, in order that he might sanctify the people by his own blood.


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Therefore through him let us offer up a sacrifice of praise continually to God, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name.


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Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account, so that they can do this with joy and not with groaning, for this would be unprofitable for you.


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Pray for us, for we are convinced that we have a good conscience, and want to conduct ourselves commendably in every way.


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Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant,


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equip you with every good thing to do his will, carrying out in us what is pleasing before him through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever. Amen.


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Now I urge you, brothers, bear with my word of exhortation, for indeed I have written to you briefly.


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Know that our brother Timothy has been released, with whom I will see you, if he comes quickly enough.


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James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes in the dispersion. Greetings!


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And let endurance have its perfect effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing.


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Now if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask for it from God, who gives to all without reservation and not reproaching, and it will be given to him.


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But let him ask for it in faith, without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven by the wind and tossed about.


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For the sun rises with its burning heat and dries up the grass, and its flower falls off, and the beauty of its appearance is lost. So also the rich person in his pursuits will wither away.


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Blessed is the person who endures testing, because when he is approved he will receive the crown of life that he has promised to those who love him.


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No one who is being tempted should say, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one.


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Then desire, after it has conceived, gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is brought to completion, gives birth to death.


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Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of change.


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By his will he gave birth to us through the message of truth, so that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.


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Understand this, my dear brothers: every person must be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger,


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Therefore, putting aside all moral uncleanness and wicked excess, welcome with humility the implanted message which is able to save your souls.


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because if anyone is a hearer of the message and not a doer, this one is like someone staring at his own face in a mirror,


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But the one who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues to do it, not being a forgetful hearer but a doer who acts, this one will be blessed in what he does.


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If anyone thinks he is religious, although he does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.


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Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.


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For if someone enters into your assembly in fine clothing with a gold ring on his finger, and a poor person in filthy clothing also enters,


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and you look favorably on the one wearing the fine clothing and you say, “Be seated here in a good place,” and to the poor person you say, “You stand or be seated there by my footstool,”


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Listen, my dear brothers! Did not God choose the poor of the world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him?


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But you have dishonored the poor! Are not the rich exploiting you and they themselves dragging you into the courts?


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However, if you carry out the royal law according to the scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.


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For the one who said “Do not commit adultery” also said “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.


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What is the benefit, my brothers, if someone says that he has faith but does not have works? That faith is not able to save him, is it?


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and one of you should say to them, “Go in peace, keep warm and eat well,” but does not give them what is necessary for the body, what is the benefit?


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But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.


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And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend.


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And likewise was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by a different route?


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Not many should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we will receive a greater judgment.


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For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect individual, able to hold in check his whole body also.


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Behold also ships: although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot wishes.


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So also the tongue is a small member of the body and boasts great things. Behold how small a fire sets ablaze how great a forest!


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And the tongue is a fire! The world of unrighteousness, the tongue, is set among our members, defiling the whole body and setting on fire the course of human existence, being set on fire by hell.


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For every species of animals and birds, of reptiles and sea creatures, is being tamed and has been tamed by the human species,


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With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.


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A fig tree is not able, my brothers, to produce olives, or a grapevine figs. Neither can a saltwater spring produce fresh water.


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Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good behavior his works, with the humility of wisdom.


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But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and tell lies against the truth.


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But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, obedient, full of mercy and good fruits, nonjudgmental, without hypocrisy,


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From where are conflicts and from where are quarrels among you? Is it not from this, from your pleasures that wage war among your members?


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You desire and do not have; you murder and are filled with envy, and are not able to obtain; you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask.


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You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, in order that you may spend it on your pleasures.


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Adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.


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Or do you think that in vain the scripture says, “The spirit which he caused to dwell in us desires jealously”?


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But he gives greater grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”


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Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded!


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Do not speak evil of one another, brothers. The one who speaks evil of a brother or judges his brother speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge of the law.


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There is one lawgiver and judge who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?


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Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will travel to such and such a city and spend a year there, and carry on business and make a profit,”


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you who do not know what will happen tomorrow, what your life will be like. For you are a smoky vapor that appears for a short time and then disappears.


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Your gold and silver have become corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you, and it will consume your flesh like fire. You have stored up treasure in the last days.


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Behold, the wages that were held back by you from the workers who reap your fields cry out, and the cries of the reapers have come to the ears of the Lord of hosts.


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You have lived self-indulgently on the earth and have lived luxuriously. You have fattened your hearts in the day of slaughter.


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Therefore be patient, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the soil, being patient concerning it until it receives the early and late rains.


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Brothers, do not complain against one another, in order that you may not be judged. Behold, the judge stands before the doors!


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Brothers, take as an example of perseverance and endurance the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.


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Behold, we consider blessed those who have endured. You have heard about the patient endurance of Job, and you saw the outcome from the Lord, that the Lord is compassionate and merciful.


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Now above all, my brothers, do not swear either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your yes be yes and your no, no, in order that you may not fall under judgment.


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Is anyone among you suffering misfortune? He should pray. Is anyone cheerful? He should sing praise.


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Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the elders of the church and they should pray over him, anointing him with olive oil in the name of the Lord.


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And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins he will be forgiven.


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Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous person accomplishes much.


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Elijah was a human being with the same nature as us, and he prayed fervently for it not to rain, and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months.


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he should know that the one who turns a sinner back from the error of his way will save that person’s soul from death, and will cover over a great number of sins.


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Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the chosen who are residing temporarily in the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,


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according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and for sprinkling with the blood of Jesus Christ. May grace and peace be multiplied to you.


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Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,


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who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time,


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in which you rejoice greatly, although now for a short time, if necessary, you are distressed by various trials,


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so that the genuineness of your faith, more valuable than gold that is passing away, but is tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ,


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whom, although you have not seen, you love; in whom now you believe, although you do not see him, and you rejoice greatly with joy inexpressible and full of glory,


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Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace meant for you sought and made careful inquiry,


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investigating for what person or which time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he testified beforehand to the sufferings with reference to Christ and the glories after these things,


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to whom it was revealed that they were serving not themselves but you with reference to the same things which now have been announced to you through those who proclaimed the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels desire to look.


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Therefore, when you have prepared your minds for action by being self-controlled, put your hope completely in the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.


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As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former desires you used to conform to in your ignorance,


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And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves with fear during the time of your temporary residence,


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because you know that you were redeemed from your futile way of life inherited from your ancestors not with perishable things like silver or gold,


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who was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has been revealed in these last times for you


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who through him are believing in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.


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Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for sincere brotherly love, love one another fervently from the heart,


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because you have been born again, not from perishable seed but imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.


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For “all flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flower of the grass. The grass withers and the flower falls off,


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like newborn infants long for the unadulterated spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up to salvation,


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to whom you are drawing near, a living stone rejected by men but chosen and precious in the sight of God.


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And you yourselves, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.


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For it stands in scripture, “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame.”


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Therefore the honor is for you who believe, but for those who refuse to believe, “The stone that the builders rejected, this one has become the cornerstone,”


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and “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense,” who stumble because they disobey the word to which also they were consigned.


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But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s possession, so that you may proclaim the virtues of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light,


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who once were not a people, but now are the people of God, the ones who were not shown mercy, but now are shown mercy.


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Dear friends, I urge you as foreigners and temporary residents to abstain from fleshly desires which wage war against your soul,


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maintaining your good conduct among the Gentiles, so that in the things in which they slander you as evildoers, by seeing your good deeds they may glorify God on the day of visitation.


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Subject yourselves to every human authority for the sake of the Lord, whether to a king as having supreme authority,


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or to governors as those sent out by him for the punishment of those who do evil and the praise of those who do good.


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Domestic slaves, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unjust.


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For this finds favor, if because of consciousness of God someone endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.


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For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if you endure when you do good and suffer for it, this finds favor with God.


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For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his footsteps,


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who when he was reviled, did not revile in return; when suffering, he did not threaten, but entrusted himself to the one who judges justly,


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who himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we may die to sins and live to righteousness, by whose wounds you were healed.


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For you were going astray like sheep, but you have turned back now to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.


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In the same way, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some are disobedient to the word, they may be won over without a word by the conduct of their wives,


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Let your adornment not be the external kind, braiding hair and putting on gold jewelry or putting on fine clothing,


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but the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is highly valuable in the sight of God.


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For in the same way formerly the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves by being subject to their own husbands,


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like Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose children you have become when you do good and are not frightened with respect to any terror.


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Husbands, in the same way live with your wives knowledgeably, as with the weaker female vessel, showing them honor as fellow heirs also of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.


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And finally, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, showing mutual affection, compassionate, humble,


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not repaying evil for evil or insult for insult, but on the other hand blessing others, because for this reason you were called, so that you could inherit a blessing.


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For “The one who wants to love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips must not speak deceit.


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For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.


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But even if you might suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not be afraid of their intimidation or be disturbed,


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but set Christ apart as Lord in your hearts, always ready to make a defense to anyone who asks you for an accounting concerning the hope that is in you.


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But do so with courtesy and respect, having a good conscience, so that in the things in which you are slandered, the ones who malign your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame.


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For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, in order that he could bring you to God, being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit,


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who were formerly disobedient, when the patience of God waited in the days of Noah, while an ark was being constructed, in which a few—that is, eight souls—were rescued through water.


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And also, corresponding to this, baptism now saves you, not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,


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who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, with angels and authorities and powers having been subjected to him.


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Therefore, because Christ suffered in the flesh, you also equip yourselves with the same way of thinking, because the one who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,


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in order to live the remaining time in the flesh no longer for human desires, but for the will of God.


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For the time that has passed was sufficient to do what the Gentiles desire to do, having lived in licentiousness, evil desires, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties, and wanton idolatries,


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with respect to which they are surprised when you do not run with them into the same flood of dissipation, and so they revile you.


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Because for this reason also the gospel was preached to those who are dead, so that they were judged by human standards in the flesh, but they may live in the spirit by God’s standards.


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Now the end of all things draws near. Therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for your prayers.


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Just as each one has received a gift, use it for serving one another, as good stewards of the varied grace of God.


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If anyone speaks, let it be as the oracles of God; if anyone serves, let it be as by the strength that God provides, so that in all things God will be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom is the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.


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Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, when it takes place to test you, as if something strange were happening to you.


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But to the degree that you share in the sufferings of Christ, rejoice, so that also at the revelation of his glory you may rejoice and be glad.


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If you are reviled on account of the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.


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By all means do not let anyone of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler.


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For it is the time for the judgment to begin out from the household of God. But if it begins out from us first, what will be the outcome for those who are disobedient to the gospel of God?


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So then also those who suffer according to the will of God must entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing good.


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Therefore I, your fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a sharer of the glory that is going to be revealed, exhort the elders among you:


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shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not by compulsion but willingly, in accordance with God, and not greedily but eagerly,


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In the same way, younger men, be subject to the elders, and all of you clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.


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Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you at the right time,


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Be sober; be on the alert. Your adversary the devil walks around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.


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Resist him, steadfast in your faith, because you know the same kinds of sufferings are being accomplished by your community of believers in the world.


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And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered for a short time, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.


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Through Silvanus, the faithful brother (as I consider him ), I have written to you briefly to encourage you and to attest that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it.


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Simeon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained a faith equal in value to ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ.


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because his divine power has bestowed on us all things that are necessary for life and godliness, through the knowledge of the one who called us by his own glory and excellence of character,


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through which things he has bestowed on us his precious and very great promises, so that through these you may become sharers of the divine nature after escaping from the corruption that is in the world because of evil desire,


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and for this same reason, and by applying all diligence, supply with your faith excellence of character, and with excellence of character, knowledge,


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and with knowledge, self-control, and with self-control, patient endurance, and with patient endurance, godliness,


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For if these things are yours and are increasing, this does not make you useless or unproductive in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.


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For the one for whom these things are not present is blind, being nearsighted, having forgotten the cleansing of his former sins.


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Therefore, brothers, be zealous even more to make your calling and election secure, because if you do these things, you will never ever stumble.


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For in this way entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly supplied for you.


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Therefore I intend to remind you continually concerning these things, although you know them and are established in the truth that you have.


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because I know that the removal of my habitation is imminent, as indeed our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me.


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And I will also make every effort that you are able at any time, after my departure, to recall these things to mind.


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For we did not make known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ by following ingeniously concocted myths, but by being eyewitnesses of that one’s majesty.


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For he received honor and glory from God the Father when a voice such as this was brought to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”


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and we possess as more reliable the prophetic word, to which you do well if you pay attention to it as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts,


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recognizing this above all, that every prophecy of scripture does not come about from one’s own interpretation,


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for no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men carried along by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.


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But there were also false prophets among the people, as there will be false teachers among you also, who will bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, thus bringing on themselves swift destruction.


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And in greediness they will exploit you with false words, whose condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.


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For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but held them captive in Tartarus with chains of darkness and handed them over to be kept for judgment,


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and did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a proclaimer of righteousness, and seven others when he brought a flood on the world of the ungodly,


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and condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction, reducing them to ashes, having appointed them as an example for those who are going to be ungodly,


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(for that righteous man, as he lived among them day after day, was tormenting his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he was seeing and hearing),


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then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to reserve the unrighteous to be punished at the day of judgment,


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and especially those who go after the flesh in defiling lust and who despise authority. Bold and arrogant, they do not tremble in awe as they blaspheme majestic beings,


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whereas angels, who are greater in strength and power, do not bring against them a demeaning judgment.


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But these persons, like irrational animals born only with natural instincts for capture and killing, blaspheming about things they do not understand, in their destruction will also be destroyed,


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being harmed as the wages of unrighteousness. Considering reveling in the daytime a pleasure, they are stains and blemishes, carousing in their deceitful pleasures when they feast together with you,


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having eyes full of desire for an adulteress and unceasing from sin, enticing unstable persons, and having hearts trained for greediness. Accursed children!


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By leaving the straight path, they have gone astray, because they followed the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness,


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but received a rebuke for his own lawlessness: a speechless donkey, speaking with a human voice, restrained the prophet’s madness.


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These people are waterless springs and mists driven by a hurricane, for whom the gloom of darkness has been reserved.


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For by speaking high-sounding but empty words, they entice with desires of the flesh and with licentiousness those who are scarcely escaping from those who live in error,


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promising them freedom although they themselves are slaves of depravity. For to whatever someone succumbs, by this he is also enslaved.


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For if, after they have escaped from the defilements of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and they are again entangled in these things and succumb to them, the last state has become worse for them than the first.


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For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than having known it, to turn back from the holy commandment that had been delivered to them.


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The statement of the true proverb has happened to them, “A dog returns to its own vomit,” and “A sow, after washing herself, returns to wallowing in the mud.”


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Dear friends, this is already the second letter I am writing to you, in both of which I am attempting to stir up your sincere mind by a reminder,


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to remember the words proclaimed beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles,


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above all knowing this, that in the last days scoffers will come with scoffing, following according to their own desires


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and saying, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things have continued just as they have been from the beginning of creation.”


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For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that the heavens existed long ago and the earth held together out of water and through water by the word of God,


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by means of which things the world that existed at that time was destroyed by being inundated with water.


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But by the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly people.


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Now, dear friends, do not let this one thing escape your notice, that one day with the Lord is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like one day.


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The Lord is not delaying the promise, as some consider slowness, but is being patient toward you, because he does not want any to perish, but all to come to repentance.


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But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will disappear with a rushing noise, and the celestial bodies will be destroyed by being burned up, and the earth and the deeds done on it will be disclosed.


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Because all these things are being destroyed in this way, what sort of people must you be in holy behavior and godliness,


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while waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by being burned up and the celestial bodies will melt as they are consumed by heat!


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But according to his promise, we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness resides.


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Therefore, dear friends, because you are waiting for these things, make every effort to be found at peace, spotless and unblemished in him.


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And regard the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as also our dear brother Paul wrote to you, according to the wisdom that was given to him,


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as he does also in all his ﻿ letters, speaking in them about these things, in which there are some things hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable distort to their own destruction, as they also do the rest of the scriptures.


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Therefore, dear friends, because you know this beforehand, guard yourselves so that you do not lose your own safe position because you have been led away by the error of lawless persons.


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But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.


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What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and our hands have touched, concerning the word of life—


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and the life was revealed, and we have seen and testify and announce to you the eternal life which was with the Father and was revealed to us—


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what we have seen and heard, we announce to you also, in order that you also may have fellowship with us, and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.


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And this is the message which we have heard from him and announce to you, that God is light and there is no darkness in him at all.


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If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.


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But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.


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If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, so that he will forgive us our sins and will cleanse us from all unrighteousness.


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My little children, I am writing these things to you in order that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous one,


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and he is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.


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The one who says “I have come to know him,” and does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in this person.


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But whoever keeps his word, truly in this person the love of God has been perfected. By this we know that we are in him.


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Dear friends, I am not writing a new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the message which you have heard.


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Again, I am writing a new commandment to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light already is shining.


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But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness, and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.


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I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you on account of his name.


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I am writing to you, fathers, because you have known the One who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have conquered the evil one.


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I have written to you, children, because you have known the Father. I have written to you, fathers, because you have known the One who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God resides in you, and you have conquered the evil one.


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Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him,


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because everything that is in the world—the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the arrogance of material possessions—is not from the Father, but is from the world.


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And the world is passing away, and its desire, but the one who does the will of God remains forever.


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Children, it is the last hour, and just as you have heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have arisen, by which we know that it is the last hour.


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They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us. But they went out, in order that it might be shown that all of them are not of us.


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I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it, and because every lie is not of the truth.


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Who is the liar except the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This person is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son.


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Everyone who denies the Son does not have the Father either; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also.


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As for you, what you have heard from the beginning must remain in you. If what you have heard from the beginning remains in you, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father.


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And as for you, the anointing which you received from him remains in you, and you do not have need that anyone teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you reside in him.


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And now, little children, remain in him, so that whenever he is revealed we may have confidence and not be put to shame before him at his coming.


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If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness has been fathered by him.


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See what sort of love the Father has given to us: that we should be called children of God, and we are! Because of this the world does not know us: because it did not know him.


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Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that whenever he is revealed we will be like him, because we will see him just as he is.


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And you know that that one was revealed in order that he might take away sins, and in him there is no sin.


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Little children, let no one deceive you: the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as that one is righteous.


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The one who practices sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. For this reason the Son of God was revealed: in order to destroy the works of the devil.


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Everyone who is fathered by God does not practice sin, because his seed resides in him, and he is not able to sin, because he has been fathered by God.


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By this the children of God and the children of the devil are evident: everyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, namely, the one who does not love his brother.


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not as Cain, who was of the evil one and violently murdered his brother. And for what reason did he violently murder him? Because his deeds were evil and the deeds of his brother were righteous.


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We know that we have passed over from death to life because we love the brothers. The one who does not love remains in death.


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Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that every murderer does not have eternal life residing in him.


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We have come to know love by this: that he laid down his life on behalf of us, and we ought to lay down our lives on behalf of the brothers.


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But whoever has the world’s material possessions and observes his brother in need and shuts his heart against him, how does the love of God reside in him?


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and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what is pleasing in his sight.


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And this is his commandment: that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he commanded us.


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And the one who keeps his commandments resides in him, and he in him. And by this we know that he resides in us: by the Spirit whom he has given to us.


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Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to determine if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.


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By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,


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and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God, and this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world.


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You are from God, little children, and have conquered them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.


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We are from God. The one who knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of deceit.


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Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been fathered by God and knows God.


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By this the love of God is revealed in us: that God sent his one and only Son into the world in order that we may live through him.


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In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.


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No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God resides in us and his love is perfected in us.


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And we have come to know and have believed the love that God has in us. God is love, and the one who resides in love resides in God, and God resides in him.


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By this love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment, because just as that one is, so also are we in this world.


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There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear includes punishment, and the one who is afraid has not been perfected in love.


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If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar, for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen is not able to love God whom he has not seen.


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And this is the commandment we have from him: that the one who loves God should love his brother also.


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Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been fathered by God, and everyone who loves the father also loves the child fathered by him.


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For this is the love of God: that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome,


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because everyone who is fathered by God conquers the world. And this is the victory which has conquered the world: our faith.


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This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ, not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.


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If we receive the testimony of people, the testimony of God is greater, because this is the testimony of God that he has testified concerning his Son.


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(The one who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. The one who does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has testified concerning his Son.)


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The one who has the Son has the life; the one who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.


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These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, in order that you may know that you have eternal life.


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And this is the confidence that we have before him: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.


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And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked from him.


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If anyone should see his brother sinning a sin not leading to death, he should ask, and he will grant life to him, to those who sin not leading to death. ( There is a sin leading to death; I do not say that he should ask about that.


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We know that everyone who is fathered by God does not sin, but the one fathered by God, he protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.


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And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, in order that we may know the one who is true, and we are in the one who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. This one is the true God and eternal life.


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The elder, to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth—and not I alone, but also all those who know the truth—


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Grace, mercy, peace will be with us from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Son of the Father in truth and love.


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I was very glad because I found some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us.


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And now I ask you, lady (not as if I were writing a new commandment to you, but one that we have had from the beginning), that we should love one another.


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And this is love: that we walk according to his commandments. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it.


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For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess Jesus Christ coming in the flesh. This person is the deceiver and the antichrist!


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Everyone who goes too far and does not remain in the teaching of Christ does not have God. The one who remains in the teaching—this person has both the Father and the Son.


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If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house and do not speak a greeting to him,


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Although I have many things to write to you, I do not want to do so by means of paper and ink, but I hope to be with you and to speak face to face, so that your joy may be complete.


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Dear friend, I pray you may prosper concerning everything and be healthy, just as your soul prospers.


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For I rejoiced exceedingly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, just as you are walking in the truth.


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Dear friend, you act faithfully in whatever you do for the brothers, even though they are strangers.


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They have testified to your love before the church; you will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God.


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I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes, who wants to be first among them, does not acknowledge us.


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Therefore, if I come, I will call attention to the deeds he is doing, disparaging us with evil words. And not being content with these, he does not receive the brothers himself, and he hinders those wanting to do so and throws them out of the church.


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Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God.


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Demetrius has been testified to by all, even by the truth itself. And we also testify to him, and you know that our testimony is true.


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But I hope to see you right away, and to speak face to face. Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends by name.


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Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ and brother of James, to those who are called, loved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ.


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Dear friends, although I was making every effort to write to you concerning our common salvation, I considered it a necessity to write to you to encourage you to contend for the faith delivered once and for all to the saints.


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For certain men have slipped in stealthily, who were designated long ago for this condemnation, ungodly ones, who change the grace of our God into licentiousness and who deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ.


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Now I want to remind you, although you know everything once and for all, that Jesus, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, the second time destroyed those who did not believe.


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And the angels who did not keep to their own domain but deserted their proper dwelling place, he has kept in eternal bonds under deep gloom for the judgment of the great day,


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as Sodom and Gomorrah and the towns around them indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire in the same way as these, are exhibited as an example by undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.


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Despite that, in the same way also these men, because of their dreams, defile the flesh and reject authority and blaspheme majestic beings.


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But Michael the archangel, when he argued with the devil, disputing concerning the body of Moses, did not dare to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”


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But these persons blaspheme all that they do not understand, and all that they understand by instinct like the irrational animals, by these things they are being destroyed.


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Woe to them! For they have traveled in the way of Cain, and have given themselves up to the error of Balaam for gain, and have perished in the rebellion of Korah.


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These are the ones feasting together without reverence, hidden reefs at your love feasts, caring for themselves, waterless clouds carried away by winds, late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, uprooted,


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wild waves of the sea foaming up their own shameful deeds, wandering stars, for whom the deep gloom of darkness has been reserved for eternity.


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And Enoch, the seventh from Adam, also prophesied about these people, saying, “Behold, the Lord came with tens of thousands of his holy ones


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to execute judgment against all, and to convict all the ungodly concerning all their ungodly deeds that they have committed in an ungodly way, and concerning all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.


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These people are grumblers, discontented, proceeding according to their desires, and their mouths speaking pompous words, showing partiality to gain an advantage.


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But you, dear friends, remember the words proclaimed beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ,


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for they said to you, “In the end time there will be scoffers following according to their own ungodly desires.”


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But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith, by praying in the Holy Spirit,


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keep yourselves in the love of God, looking forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.


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and save others by snatching them from the fire, and have mercy on others with fear, hating even the tunic stained by the flesh.


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Now to the one who is able to protect you from stumbling and make you to stand before his glory blameless with exultation,


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to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority before all time and now and for all eternity. Amen.


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The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his slaves the things which must take place in a short time, and communicated it by sending it through his angel to his slave John,


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Blessed is the one who reads aloud and blessed are those who hear the words of the prophecy and observe the things written in it, because the time is near!


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John, to the seven churches in Asia: grace to you and peace from the one who is and the one who was and the one who is coming, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne,


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and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To the one who loves us and released us from our sins by his blood


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and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father—to him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.


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Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even every one who pierced him, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over him. Yes, amen.


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 I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God, the one who is and the one who was and the one who is coming, the All-Powerful.


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I, John, your brother and co-sharer in the affliction and kingdom and steadfastness in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony about Jesus.


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 saying, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.”


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And I turned to see the voice which was speaking with me, and when I turned, I saw seven gold lampstands,


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and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching to the feet and girded around his chest with a golden belt,


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and his feet were like fine bronze when it has been fired in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of many waters,


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and he had in his right hand seven stars, and a sharp double-edged sword coming out of his mouth, and his face was like the sun shining in its strength.


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 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet like a dead person, and he placed his right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid! I am the first and the last,


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 and the one who lives, and I was dead, and behold, I am living forever and ever, and I hold the keys of death and of Hades.


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 Therefore, write the things which you saw, and the things which are, and the things which are about to take place after these things.


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 As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in my right hand and the seven gold lampstands—the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.


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 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: “This is what the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand says, the one who walks in the midst of the seven gold lampstands:


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 ‘I know your works, and your labor and patient endurance, and that you are not able to tolerate evil, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles and are not, and you found them to be false.


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 And you have patient endurance, and have endured many things because of my name, and have not become weary.


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 Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent and do the works you did at first. But if you do not, I am coming to you, and I will remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.


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 The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers, I will grant to him to eat from the tree of life which is in the paradise of God.’


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 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: “This is what the first and the last says, who was dead and came to life:


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 ‘I know your affliction and poverty (but you are rich), and the slander of those who call themselves Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.


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 Do not be afraid of the things which you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison so that you may be tested, and you will experience affliction ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.


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 The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will never be harmed by the second death.’


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 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: “This is what the one who has the sharp double-edged sword says:


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 ‘I know where you live, where the throne of Satan is. And you hold fast to my name and did not deny your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan lives.


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 But I have a few things against you: that you have there those who hold fast to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat food sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality.


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 Therefore repent! But if you do not, I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war with them with the sword from my mouth.


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 The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers, I will give to him some of the hidden manna, and I will give to him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written, that no one knows except the one who receives it.’


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 “And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: “This is what the Son of God says, the one who has his eyes like a fiery flame and his feet like fine bronze:


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 ‘I know your works, and your love, and faith, and service, and patient endurance—and your last works are greater than the first.


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 But I have against you that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, the one who calls herself a prophetess, and teaches and deceives my slaves to commit sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols.


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 And I have given her time in order to repent, and she did not want to repent from her sexual immorality.


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 Behold, I am throwing her into a sickbed and those who committed adultery with her into great affliction, unless they repent from her deeds.


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 And I will kill her children with deadly disease, and all the churches will know that I am the one who searches minds and hearts, and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds.


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 But I say to you, to the rest who are in Thyatira, all those who do not hold this teaching, who have not known the deep things of Satan, as they say, I do not put upon you any other burden.


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 And the one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, I will give him authority over the nations,


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 “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: “This is what the one who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars says: ‘I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, and you are dead.


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 Be on the alert and strengthen the remaining things that are about to die, for I have not found your works completed before my God.


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 Therefore remember how you have received and heard, and observe it, and repent. If therefore you are not on the alert, I will come like a thief, and you will never know at what hour I will come against you.


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 But you have a few people in Sardis who have not defiled their clothing, and they will walk with me in white, because they are worthy.


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 The one who conquers in this way will be dressed in white clothing, and I will never erase his name from the book of life, and I will declare his name before my Father and before his angels.


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 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: “This is what the holy one, the true one, the one who has the key of David, the one who opens and no one can shut, and who shuts and no one can open, says:


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 ‘I know your works (behold, I have put before you an opened door that no one is able to shut ) that you have a little strength, and have kept my word, and did not deny my name.


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 Behold, I am causing those of the synagogue of Satan, the ones who call themselves Jews and are not, but are lying—behold, I will make them come and kneel down before your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you.


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 Because you have kept the word of my patient endurance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing that is about to come upon the whole inhabited world, to put to the test those who live on the earth.


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 The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will never go outside again, and I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from my God, and my new name.


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 “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: “This is what the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the originator of God’s creation, says:


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 Because you are saying, “I am rich, and have become rich, and I have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and pitiable and poor and blind and naked,


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 I advise you to buy from me gold refined by fire, in order that you may become rich, and white clothing, in order that you may be clothed and the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed, and eye salve to smear on your eyes, in order that you may see.


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 Behold, I stand at the door and knock! If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, indeed I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with me.


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 The one who conquers, I will grant to him to sit down with me on my throne, as I also have conquered and have sat down with my Father on his throne.


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After these things I looked, and behold, an open door in heaven, and the former voice that I had heard like a trumpet speaking with me was saying, “Come up here and I will show you the things which must take place after these things.”


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Immediately I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one was seated on the throne.


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And the one seated was similar in appearance to jasper and carnelian stone, and a rainbow was around the throne similar in appearance to emerald.


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And around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders dressed in white clothing, and on their heads were gold crowns.


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And from the throne came out lightnings and sounds and thunders, and seven torches of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God.


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And before the throne was something like a sea of glass, like crystal, and in the midst of the throne and around the throne were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back.


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And the first living creature was similar to a lion, and the second living creature was similar to an ox, and the third living creature had a face like a man’s, and the fourth living creature was similar to an eagle flying.


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And the four living creatures, each one of them, had six wings apiece, full of eyes around and inside, and they do not have rest day and night, saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God All-Powerful, the one who was and the one who is and the one who is coming!”


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And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to the one who is seated on the throne, the one who lives forever and ever,


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the twenty-four elders fall down before the one who is seated on the throne and worship the one who lives forever and ever, and put down their crowns before the throne, saying,


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“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, because you have created all things, and because of your will they existed and were created.”


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And I saw in the right hand of the one who is seated on the throne a scroll, written inside and on the back, sealed up with seven seals.


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And I saw a powerful angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to break its seals?”


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And one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! Behold, the lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.


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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 slaughtered, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent into all the earth.


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And when he took the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one of whom had a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.


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And they were singing a new song, saying, “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slaughtered, and bought people for God by your blood from every tribe and language and people and nation,


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And I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and of the living creatures and of the elders, and their number was ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands times thousands,


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saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”


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And I heard every creature that is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and in the sea and everything in them saying, “To the one who is seated on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power forever and ever.”


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And I watched when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying like the sound of thunder, “Come!”


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And I looked, and behold, a white horse, and the one seated on it had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and in order that he might conquer.


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And another horse came out, fiery red, and it was granted to the one seated on it to take peace from the earth, and that they would slaughter one another, and a large sword was given to him.


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And when he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a black horse, and the one seated on it had a balance scale in his hand.


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And I heard something like a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not damage the olive oil and the wine!”


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And I looked, and behold, a pale green horse, and the one seated on it was named Death, and Hades followed after him. And authority was granted to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill by the sword and by famine and by pestilence and by the wild beasts of the earth.


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And when he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slaughtered because of the word of God and because of the testimony which they had,


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and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “ How long, holy and true Lord, will you not judge and avenge our blood from those who live on the earth?”


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And to each one of them a white robe was given, and it was said to them that they should rest yet a short time, until the number of their fellow slaves and their brothers who were about to be killed as they had been were completed also.


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And I watched when he opened the sixth seal, and a great earthquake took place, and the sun became black like sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became like blood,


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and the stars of heaven fell to the earth like a fig tree throws down its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind.


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And the sky was split apart like a scroll that is rolled up, and every mountain and island were moved from their place.


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And the kings of the earth, and the most important people, and the military leaders, and the rich, and the powerful, and every slave and free person hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains,


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And they said to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb,


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After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, so that no wind could blow on the earth or on the sea or on any tree.


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And I saw another angel ascending from the east, holding the seal of the living God, and he cried out with a loud voice to the four angels who were given permission to damage the earth and the sea,


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saying, “Do not damage the earth or the sea or the trees until we have sealed the slaves of our God on their foreheads.”


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And I heard the number of the ones who were sealed, one hundred forty-four thousand sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel:


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from the tribe of Judah, twelve thousand sealed, from the tribe of Reuben, twelve thousand, from the tribe of Gad, twelve thousand,


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from the tribe of Asher, twelve thousand, from the tribe of Naphtali, twelve thousand, from the tribe of Manasseh, twelve thousand,


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from the tribe of Simeon, twelve thousand, from the tribe of Levi, twelve thousand, from the tribe of Issachar, twelve thousand,


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from the tribe of Zebulun, twelve thousand, from the tribe of Joseph, twelve thousand, from the tribe of Benjamin, twelve thousand were sealed.


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After these things I looked, and behold, a great crowd that no one was able to number, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, dressed in white robes and with palm branches in their hands.


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And they were crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!”


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And all the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,


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saying, “Amen! Praise and glory, and wisdom and thanksgiving, and honor and power and strength be to our God forever and ever. Amen!”


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And one of the elders answered, saying to me, “These who are dressed in the white robes—who are they, and from where have they come?”


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And I said to him, “My lord, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation, and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.


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Because of this, they are before the throne of God, and they serve him day and night in his temple, and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them.


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They will not be hungry any longer or be thirsty any longer, nor will the sun ever beat down on them, nor any heat,


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because the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and will lead them to springs of living waters, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”


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And another angel who had a golden censer came and stood at the altar, and a large amount of incense was given to him, in order that he could offer the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar that is before the throne.


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And the smoke of the incense went up before God with the prayers of the saints from the hand of the angel.


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And the angel took the censer and filled it with the fire from the altar and threw it to the earth, and there were thunders and sounds and lightnings and an earthquake.


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And the first blew the trumpet, and there was hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was thrown to the earth, and a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.


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And the second angel blew the trumpet, and something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood,


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and a third of the creatures in the sea—the ones which had life—died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.


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And the third angel blew the trumpet, and a great star burning like a torch fell from heaven, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water.


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And the name of the star was called Wormwood, and a third of the waters became wormwood, and many people died from the waters because they were made bitter.


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And the fourth angel blew the trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, and a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them were darkened, and the day did not shine with respect to a third of it, and the night likewise.


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And I looked, and I heard one eagle flying directly overhead, saying with a loud voice, “Woe, woe, woe to those who live on the earth, from the remaining sounds of the trumpets of the three angels who are about to blow the trumpet!”


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And the fifth angel blew the trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from heaven to the earth, and the key of the shaft of the abyss was given to him.


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And he opened the shaft of the abyss, and smoke went up from the shaft like smoke from a great furnace, and the sun and the air were darkened by the smoke from the shaft.


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And out of the smoke locusts came to the earth, and power was given to them like the scorpions of the earth have power.


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And it was told to them that they should not damage the grass of the earth or any green plant or any tree, except those people who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.


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And it was granted to them that they should not kill them, but that they would be tormented five months, and their torment is like the torment of a scorpion when it stings a person.


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And in those days people will seek death and will never find it, and they will long to die, and death will flee from them.


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And the appearance of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle, and on their heads were something like crowns similar in appearance to gold, and their faces were like men’s faces,


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and they had breastplates like iron breastplates, and the sound of their wings was like the sound of many horse-drawn chariots running into battle.


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And they have tails similar in appearance to scorpions, and stings, and their power to injure people for five months is in their tails.


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They have as king over them the angel of the abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek he has the name Apollyon.


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And the sixth angel blew the trumpet, and I heard one voice from the horns of the golden altar that is before God


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saying to the sixth angel, the one who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who have been bound at the great river Euphrates!”


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And the four angels who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year were released, in order that they should kill a third of humanity.


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And in this way I saw the horses in the vision, and those seated on them, who had fiery red and hyacinth-colored and sulphurous yellow breastplates, and the heads of the horses were like the heads of lions, and out of their mouths came fire and smoke and sulphur.


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By these three plagues a third of humanity was killed—by the fire and the smoke and the sulphur that came out of their mouths.


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For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails, for their tails are similar in appearance to snakes, having heads, and with them they cause injury.


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And the rest of humanity who were not killed by these plagues did not repent of the works of their hands, in order not to worship the demons and the gold and silver and bronze and stone and wooden idols, which are able neither to see nor to hear nor to walk,


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and they did not repent of their murders or of their magic spells or of their sexual immorality or of their thefts.


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And I saw another powerful angel descending from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, and a rainbow over his head, and his face was like the sun, and his feet were like pillars of fire,


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and holding in his hand a little scroll that was opened. And he put his right foot on the sea and his left on the land.


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And he cried out with a loud voice like a lion roars, and when he cried out, the seven thunders sounded their own voices.


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And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write, and I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Seal up the things which the seven thunders spoke, and do not write them!”


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and swore by the one who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things in it, and the earth and the things in it, and the sea and the things in it, “There will be no more delay!


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But in the days of the sound of the seventh angel, whenever he is about to blow the trumpet, then the mystery of God is completed, as he announced to his own slaves the prophets.”


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And the voice that I had heard from heaven was speaking with me again and saying, “Go, take the opened scroll in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.”


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And I went to the angel and told him to give me the little scroll, and he said to me, “Take and eat it up, and it will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey.”


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And I took the little scroll from the hand of the angel and ate it up, and it was sweet as honey in my mouth, and when I had eaten it, my stomach was made bitter.


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And they said to me, “It is necessary for you to prophesy again about many peoples and nations and languages and kings.”


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And a measuring rod similar in appearance to a staff was given to me, saying, “Get up and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship in it.


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And leave out the courtyard outside of the temple, and do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles, and they will trample the holy city for forty two months.


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And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for one thousand two hundred sixty days, dressed in sackcloth.”


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And if anyone wants to harm them, fire comes out of their mouth and consumes their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, in this way he must be killed.


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These have the authority to shut the sky, so that it does not rain during the days of their prophecy. And they have authority over the waters, to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with every plague as often as they wish.


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And when they have completed their testimony, the beast that comes up from the abyss will make war with them and will conquer them and will kill them.


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And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which is called symbolically Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified.


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And those from peoples and tribes and languages and nations will see their dead bodies three and a half days, and they will not allow their dead bodies to be placed in a tomb.


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And those who live on the earth will rejoice over them, and will celebrate and will send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who live on the earth.


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And after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God entered into them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them.


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And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here,” and they went up into heaven in a cloud, and their enemies watched them.


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And at that hour a great earthquake took place, and a tenth of the city collapsed, and seven thousand people were killed by the earthquake, and the rest became terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.


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And the seventh angel blew the trumpet, and there was a loud voice in heaven saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign forever and ever.”


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And the twenty-four elders who are seated on their thrones before God fell down on their faces and worshiped God,


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saying, “We give thanks to you, Lord God All-Powerful, the one who is and the one who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign.


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And the nations were angry, and your wrath has come, and the time for the dead to be judged, and to give their reward to your slaves the prophets and to the saints and to the ones who fear your name, the small and the great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth.”


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And the temple of God in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant appeared in his temple, and there were lightnings and sounds and thunders and an earthquake and large hail.


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And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun and with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars,


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and who was pregnant and was crying out because she was having birth pains, and was in torment to give birth.


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And another sign appeared in heaven, and behold, a great fiery red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven royal headbands.


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And his tail swept away a third of the stars from heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, in order that whenever she gave birth to her child he could devour it.


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And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is going to shepherd all the nations with an iron rod, and her child was snatched away to God and to his throne.


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And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she had a place prepared there by God, so that they could feed her there for one thousand two hundred sixty days.


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And there was war in heaven; Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back.


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And the great dragon was thrown down, the ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world. He was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.


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And I heard a loud voice in heaven saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, because the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, the one who accuses them before our God day and night.


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And they conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives until death.


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Because of this, rejoice, you heavens, and those who live in them! Woe to the earth and to the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great anger, because he knows that he has little time!”


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And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child.


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And the two wings of a great eagle were given to the woman, in order that she could fly into the wilderness, to her place where she is fed there for a time, and times, and half a time, from the presence of the serpent.


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And from his mouth the serpent spouted water like a river after the woman, in order that he could make her swept away by a river.


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And the earth came to the aid of the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the river that the dragon had spouted out of his mouth.


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And the dragon was angry at the woman, and went away to fight against the rest of her children, those who keep the commandments of God and who hold to the testimony about Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea.


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And I saw coming up out of the sea a beast that had ten horns and seven heads, and on its horns ten royal headbands, and on its heads a blasphemous name.


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And the beast that I saw was similar to a leopard, and its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like the mouth of a lion, and the dragon gave it his power and his throne and great authority.


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And one of its heads appeared as though slaughtered to death, and its fatal wound had been healed. And the whole earth was astonished and followed after the beast.


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And they worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who is able to make war with him?


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And a mouth was given to him speaking great things and blasphemies, and authority to act was given to him for forty-two months.


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And he opened his mouth for blasphemies toward God, to blaspheme his name and his dwelling, those who live in heaven.


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And it was given to him to make war with the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given to him over every tribe and people and language and nation.


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And all those who live on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name is not written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slaughtered.


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If anyone is going into captivity, into captivity he goes. If anyone is to be killed by the sword, by the sword he is to be killed. Here is the patient endurance and the faith of the saints.


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And I saw another beast coming up from the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb, and he was speaking like a dragon.


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And he exercises all the authority of the first beast on behalf of him, and he causes the earth and those who live in it to worship the first beast whose fatal wound had been healed.


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And he performs great signs, so that he even causes fire from heaven to come down to the earth before people.


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And he deceives those who live on the earth because of the signs that it has been granted to him to perform on behalf of the beast, telling those who live on the earth to make an image to the beast who has the wound of the sword and yet lived.


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And it was given to him to put breath into the image of the beast, in order that the image of the beast both spoke and caused that all those, unless they worshiped the image of the beast, should be killed.


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And he causes all people, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free and the slave, that they give them a mark on their right hand or on their forehead,


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and that no one was able to buy or to sell except the one who had the mark—the name of the beast or the number of his name.


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Here is wisdom: the one who has understanding, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is man’s number, and his number is six hundred sixty-six.


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And I looked, and behold, the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him one hundred forty-four thousand who had his name and the name of his Father written on their foreheads.


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And I heard a sound from heaven like the sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder, and the sound that I heard was like harpists playing on their harps.


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And they were singing something like a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders, and no one was able to learn the song except the one hundred forty-four thousand who had been bought from the earth.


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These are those who have not been defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These were bought from humanity as first fruits to God and to the Lamb,


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And I saw another angel flying directly overhead, having an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who reside on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and language and people,


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saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship the one who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and the springs of water!”


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And another second angel followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, who caused all the nations to drink from the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality.”


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And another third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand,


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he himself also will drink of the wine of the anger of God that has been mixed full strength in the cup of his wrath, and will be tortured with fire and sulphur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.


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And the smoke of their torture went up forever and ever, and those who worshiped the beast and his image did not have rest day and night, along with anyone who received the mark of his name.


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Here is the patient endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and the faith in Jesus.


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And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!’ ” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “in order that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow after them.”


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And I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud was seated one like a son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.


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And another angel came out of the temple, crying out with a loud voice to the one seated on the cloud, “Send out your sickle and reap, because the hour to reap has come, because the harvest of the earth is ripe!”


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And another angel who had authority over the fire went out from the altar, and he called out with a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle, saying, “Send out your sharp sickle and harvest the clusters of grapes from the vine of the earth, because its grapes are at their prime!”


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And the angel swung his sickle into the earth and harvested the vine of the earth, and threw the grapes into the great winepress of the wrath of God.


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And the winepress was stomped outside the city, and blood went out from the winepress up to the bridles of the horses, about one thousand six hundred stadia.


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And I saw another great and marvelous sign in heaven: seven angels having seven plagues that are the last ones, because with them the wrath of God is completed.


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And I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had conquered the beast and his image and the number of his name were standing by the glassy sea, holding harps from God.


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And they were singing the song of Moses, the slave of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: “Great and marvelous are your works, Lord God All-Powerful; righteous and true are your ways, King of the ages!


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Who would never fear, Lord, and glorify your name? For only you are holy, because all the nations will come and worship before you, because your righteous deeds have been revealed.”


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and the seven angels who had the seven plagues came out from the temple, dressed in clean, bright linen garments, and girded with golden belts around their chests.


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And one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever,


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and the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one was able to enter into the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.


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And I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.”


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And the first went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and there was an evil and painful sore on the people who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his image.


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And the second poured out his bowl on the sea, and it became blood, like that of a dead person, and every living thing that was in the sea died.


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And I heard the angel of the waters saying, “You are righteous, the one who is and the one who was, the Holy One, because you have judged these things,


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because they have poured out the blood of the saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink; they are deserving!”


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And the fourth poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was granted to it to burn up people with fire.


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And people were burned up by the great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has the authority over these plagues, and they did not repent to give him glory.


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And the fifth poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became darkened, and they began chewing their tongues because of the pain.


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And they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pain and because of their sores, and they did not repent of their deeds.


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And the sixth poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, in order that the way would be prepared for the kings from the east.


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And I saw 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 like frogs.


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For they are the spirits of demons performing signs that go out to the kings of the whole inhabited world, to gather them for the battle of the great day of God the All-Powerful.


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 (Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who is on the alert and who keeps his clothing, so that he does not walk around naked and they see his shamefulness!)


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And the seventh poured out his bowl on the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple, from the throne, saying, “It is done!”


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And there were lightnings and sounds and thunders, and there was a great earthquake, as has not happened from the time humanity has been on the earth—so great in this way was the earthquake.


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And the great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And Babylon the great was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of his furious wrath.


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And large hailstones, weighing about a hundred pounds, came down from the sky upon people, and the people blasphemed God because of the plague of hail, because the plague of it was very great.


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And one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke with me, saying, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who is seated on many waters,


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with whom the kings of the earth committed sexual immorality, and those who live on the earth became drunk with the wine of her sexual immorality.”


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And he carried me away into the wilderness in the Spirit, and I saw a woman seated on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns.


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And the woman was dressed in purple and scarlet and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, holding a golden cup in her hand full of detestable things and the unclean things of her sexual immorality.


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And on her forehead a name was written, a mystery: “Babylon the great, the mother of prostitutes and of the detestable things of the earth.”


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And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the witnesses to Jesus. And I was greatly astonished when I saw her.


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And the angel said to me, “Why are you astonished? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that has the seven heads and the ten horns that carries her.


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The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is going to come up from the abyss, and he is going to destruction. And those who live on the earth, whose names are not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, will be astonished when they see the beast that was, and is not, and will be present.


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Here is the mind that has wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits and they are seven kings.


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Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and whenever he comes it is necessary for him to remain a short time.


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And the beast that was, and is not, is also himself an eighth, and is of the seven, and he is going to destruction.


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And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings, who have not yet received a kingdom, but they will receive authority as kings for one hour with the beast.


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These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, because he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”


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And he said to me, “The waters that you saw, where the prostitute is seated, are peoples and crowds and nations and languages.


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And the ten horns that you saw and the beast, these will hate the prostitute and will make her desolate and naked, and they will eat her flesh and will burn her up with fire.


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For God put into their hearts to carry out his purpose and to make a unanimous decision and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled.


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After these things I saw another angel descending from heaven, who had great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his splendor.


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And he cried out with a powerful voice, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, and it has become a dwelling place of demons and a haunt of every unclean spirit and a haunt of every unclean bird and a haunt of every unclean and detested animal.


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For all the nations have drunk from the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich from the power of her sensuality.”


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And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out from her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins, and so that you will not receive her plagues,


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Pay back to her as she herself also paid out, and pay back double according to her deeds; in the cup that she mixed, mix double for her.


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As much as she glorified herself and lived in luxury, give to her so much torment and mourning, because in her heart she said, ‘I sit as a queen, and am not a widow, and I will never see mourning!’


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Because of this her plagues will come in one day— death and mourning and famine— and she will be burned up with fire, because the Lord God who passes judgment on her is powerful!”


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And the kings of the earth will weep and mourn over her, those who committed sexual immorality and lived sensually with her, when they see the smoke of her burning,


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standing far off because of the fear of her torment, saying, “Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon the powerful city, because in one hour your judgment has come!”


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cargo of gold and silver and precious stones and pearls and fine linen and purple cloth and silk and scarlet cloth and all kinds of scented wood and all kinds of ivory goods and all kinds of goods of precious wood and bronze and iron and marble


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and cinnamon and amomum and incense and ointment and frankincense and wine and olive oil and fine wheat flour and wheat and domesticated animals and sheep and horses and carriages and slaves and human lives.


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“And the fruit your soul desires has departed from you, and all the luxury and the splendor has perished from you, and they will never find them any more.”


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The merchants of these things, who became rich from them, will stand far off, weeping and mourning because of the fear of her torment,


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saying, “Woe, woe, the great city, dressed in fine linen and purple cloth and scarlet cloth, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls,


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because in one hour such great wealth has been laid waste!” And every shipmaster and every seafarer and sailors and all those who labor on the sea stood far off


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And they threw dust on their heads and were crying out, weeping and mourning, saying, “Woe, woe, the great city, in which all those who had ships on the sea became rich from her prosperity, because in one hour she has been laid waste!”


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Rejoice over her, heaven and the saints and the apostles and the prophets, because God has pronounced your judgment on her!”


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And one powerful angel picked up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, “In this way Babylon the great city will be thrown down with violence, and will never be found again!


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And the sound of harpists and musicians and flute players and trumpeters will never be heard in you again! And every craftsman of every trade will never be found in you again! And the sound of a mill will never be heard in you again!


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And the light of a lamp will never shine in you again! And the sound of a bridegroom and bride will never be heard in you again! For your merchants were the most important people of the earth, because with your sorcery they deceived all the nations.


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And in her was found the blood of prophets and saints and all those who had been slaughtered on the earth.


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After these things I heard something like the loud sound of a great crowd in heaven saying, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,


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because his judgments are true and righteous, because he has passed judgment on the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her sexual immorality, and has avenged the blood of his slaves shed by her hand!”


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And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who is seated on the throne, saying, “Amen! Hallelujah!”


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And a voice came out from the throne, saying, “Praise our God all his slaves, and those who fear him, the small and the great!”


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And I heard something like the sound of a great crowd and something like the sound of many waters and something like the sound of powerful thunder, saying, “Hallelujah! For the Lord God, the All-Powerful, reigns!


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Let us rejoice and be glad and give him the glory, because the wedding celebration of the Lamb has come, and his bride has prepared herself.


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And it has been granted to her that she be dressed in bright, clean fine linen (for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints).


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And he said to me, “Write: Blessed are those who are invited to the banquet of the wedding celebration of the Lamb!” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”


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And I fell down before his feet to worship him, and he said to me, “ Do not do that! I am a fellow slave of you and of your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”


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And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and the one seated on it was called “Faithful” and “True,” and with justice he judges and makes war.


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Now his eyes were a flame of fire, and on his head were many royal headbands having a name written that no one except he himself knows.


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And the armies that are in heaven, dressed in clean, white fine linen, were following him on white horses.


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And out of his mouth came a sharp sword, so that with it he could strike the nations. And he will shepherd them with an iron rod, and he stomps the winepress of the wine of the furious wrath of God, the All-Powerful.


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And I saw one angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly directly overhead, “Come! Assemble for the great banquet of God,


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in order that you may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of military tribunes, and the flesh of the powerful, and the flesh of horses and those seated on them, and the flesh of all people, both free and slave, and small and great!”


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And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies assembled to make war with the one who is seated on the horse and with his army.


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And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs before him, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who had worshiped his image. The two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulphur.


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And the rest were killed by the sword of the one who is seated on the horse—the sword that comes out of his mouth—and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.


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And I saw an angel descending from heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand.


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And he seized the dragon—the ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan—and bound him for a thousand years,


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and threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it above him, in order that he could not deceive the nations again until the thousand years are completed. After these things it is necessary for him to be released for a short time.


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And I saw thrones, and they sat down on them, and authority to judge was granted to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of the testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God, and who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and did not receive the mark on their forehead and on their hand, and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.


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(The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed.) This is the first resurrection.


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Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection. Over this person the second death has no authority, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him a thousand years.


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and he will go out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to assemble them for battle, whose number is like the sand of the sea.


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And they went up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the fortified camp of the saints and the beloved city, and fire came down from heaven and consumed them.


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And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulphur, where the beast and the false prophet also are, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.


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And I saw a great white throne and the one who was seated on it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled, and a place was not found for them.


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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 the book of life, and the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to their deeds.


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And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and each one was judged according to their deeds.


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And I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea did not exist any longer.


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And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband.


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And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling of God is with humanity, and he will take up residence with them, and they will be his people and God himself will be with them.


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And he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death will not exist any longer, and mourning or wailing or pain will not exist any longer. The former things have passed away.”


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And the one seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new!” And he said, “Write, because these words are faithful and true.”


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And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the one who is thirsty I will give water from the spring of the water of life freely.


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But as for the cowards and unbelievers and detestable persons and murderers and sexually immoral people and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their share is in the lake that burns with fire and sulphur, which is the second death.


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And one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and spoke with me, saying, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”


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And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and lofty mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,


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that has the glory of God. Its radiance is like a precious stone, something like a jasper stone, shining like crystal.


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It has a great and high wall that has twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written on the gates which are of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel—


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on the east, three gates, and on the north, three gates, and on the south, three gates, and on the west, three gates.


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And the wall of the city has twelve foundations, and on them are twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.


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And the one who spoke with me was holding a golden measuring rod in order that he could measure the city and its gates and its wall.


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And the city is laid out as a square, and its length is the same as its width. And he measured the city with the measuring rod at twelve thousand stadia; the length and the width and the height of it are equal.


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And he measured its wall, one hundred forty-four cubits according to human measure, which is the angel’s.


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And the material of its wall is jasper, and the city is pure gold, similar in appearance to pure glass.


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The foundations of the wall of the city are adorned with every kind of precious stone: the first foundation jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald,


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the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst.


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And the twelve gates are twelve pearls, each one of the gates was from a single pearl. And the street of the city is pure gold, like transparent glass.


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And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon, that they shine on it, for the glory of God illuminates it, and its lamp is the Lamb.


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And every unclean thing and one who practices detestable things and falsehood will never enter into it, except those who are written in the book of life of the Lamb.


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And he showed me the river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming out from the throne of God and of the Lamb


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in the middle of its street, and on both sides of the river is the tree of life, producing twelve fruits—yielding its fruit according to every month—and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.


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And there will not be any curse any longer, and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his slaves will serve him,


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And night will not exist any longer, and they will not have need of the light of a lamp and the light of the sun, because the Lord God will give light to them, and they will reign forever and ever.


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And he said to me, “These words are faithful and true, and the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his slaves the things which must take place in a short time.”


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 “And behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”


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And I, John, am the one who heard and who saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed these things to me.


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And he said to me, “ Do not do that! I am your fellow slave, and of your brothers the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God!”


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The one who does evil, let him do evil still, and the defiled, let him be defiled still, and the righteous, let him practice righteousness still, and the holy, let him be holy still.”


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 “Behold, I am coming quickly, and my reward is with me, to repay each one according to what his deeds are!


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Blessed are the ones who wash their robes, so that their authority will be over the tree of life and they may enter into the city through the gates.


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Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the sexually immoral people and the murderers and the idolaters and everyone who loves and who practices falsehood.


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 “I, Jesus, sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”


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And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And the one who hears, let him say, “Come!” And the one who is thirsty, let him come. The one who wants, let him take the water of life freely.


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I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues written in this book.


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And if anyone takes away from the words of this book of prophecy, God will take away his share of the tree of life and from the holy city that are written in this book.


