# verses

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The law is only an ·unclear picture [shadow] of the good things coming in the future; it is not the ·real thing [reality itself; true image of them]. The people under the law offer the same sacrifices every year, but these sacrifices can never make perfect those who come near to worship God.


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If the law could make them perfect, the sacrifices would have already ·stopped [ceased; been abolished]. The worshipers would ·be made clean [have been cleansed/purified once for all; forever], and they would no longer have a ·sense of [consciousness of; feeling of guilt about] sin.


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So when ·Christ [he] came into the world, he said: “You did not ·want [desire] sacrifices and offerings, but you have ·prepared a body for me [or given me a body]. 


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You ·did not ask for [were not pleased with; took no delight in] burnt offerings and offerings to take away sins. 


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Then I said, ‘·Look [or Here I am; Behold], I have come. It is written about me in the ·book [scroll]. ·God [O God], I have come to do ·what you want [your will; ].’” 


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In this Scripture ·he first said [or cited above he said], “You did not ·want [desire] sacrifices and offerings. You ·did not ask for [were not pleased with; took no delight in] burnt offerings and offerings to take away sins [].” (These are all sacrifices that the law ·commands [requires; prescribes].)


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Then he said, “·Look [or Here I am; Behold], I have come to do ·what you want [your will; ].” God ·ends [abolishes; takes away] the ·first system of sacrifices [first] so he can ·set up [establish] the ·new system [second].


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And ·because of this [by God’s will/desire/intention], we are ·made holy [sanctified; set apart to God] through the sacrifice Christ made in his body ·once and for all time [once for all; ; , ].


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·Every day [Day after day] ·the priests [every priest] stand and do their ·religious [priestly] service, ·often [again and again] offering the same sacrifices. Those sacrifices can never take away sins.


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But after ·Christ [this one; this priest] offered one sacrifice for sins, forever, he sat down at the right ·side [hand] of God [, ; ].


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And now ·Christ [he] waits there for his enemies to be ·put under his power [made a footstool for his feet; ; ].


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With one ·sacrifice [offering] he made perfect forever those who are being ·made holy [sanctified; set apart to God].


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“This is the ·agreement [covenant; contract] I will make with them ·at that time [after those days], says the Lord. I will put my ·teachings [laws] in their hearts and write them on their minds [; ].”


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Then he says: “Their sins and ·the evil things they do [their lawless/wicked actions]— I will not remember anymore [; ].”


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Continue to Trust God So, brothers and sisters, ·we are completely free [since we have confidence…; this “since” clause continues through ] to enter the ·Most Holy Place [sanctuary; holy things; Holy of Holies] without fear ·because of [or by means of] the blood of Jesus’ death.


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We can enter through a new and living way that Jesus ·opened [or restored; renewed; or inaugurated] for us. It leads through the curtain—Christ’s ·body [flesh; like the curtain of the Most Holy Place, Christ’s body, sacrificed for us, provides access to the presence of God].


text:
let us come near to God with a ·sincere [true] heart and a ·sure [confident] faith, because we have ·been made free [had our hearts sprinkled; sacrificial blood was sprinkled on people and things to purify them] from a ·guilty [evil] conscience, and our bodies have been washed with pure water [water was used in Judaism for ritual purification].


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Let us hold ·firmly [without wavering] to the hope that we have confessed, because ·we can trust God to do what he promised [the one who promised is faithful].


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Let us think about ·each other and help each other [or how to provoke/rouse/encourage each another] to show love and do good deeds.


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You should not ·stay away from [neglect; forsake] ·the church meetings [meeting together], as some are doing [some were abandoning Christianity and returning to Judaism], but you should encourage each other [to stay faithful to Christ and to other believers], and even more so as you see the day coming [the day of the Lord, when Christ will return].


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If we ·decide to [deliberately] go on sinning after we have learned the ·truth [knowledge of the truth], there is no longer any sacrifice for sins.


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There is nothing but ·fear in waiting for the [a fearful/terrifying expectation/prospect of] judgment and the ·terrible [raging; furious] fire that will ·destroy [consume; devour] ·all those who live against God [the enemies of God; those who oppose; the adversaries].


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Anyone who ·refused to obey [rejected; disregarded] the law of Moses was put to death without mercy on the basis of the ·evidence [testimony] provided by two or three witnesses [].


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So how much worse punishment do you think is deserved by those who ·do not respect [trample on; show contempt for] the Son of God, who ·look at the blood of the agreement that made them holy as no different from others’ blood [profane/treat as unholy/common the blood of the covenant], who insult the Spirit of God’s grace?


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We know that God said, “·I will punish those who do wrong [Vengeance is mine]; I will repay them [].” And he also said, “The Lord will judge his people [; ].”


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Remember those ·days in the past [or early days of your faith] when you first ·learned the truth [were enlightened]. You ·remained strong [endured; persevered] through a hard struggle with many sufferings.


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Sometimes you were ·hurt and attacked before crowds of people [exposed to public shame/ridicule and persecution/oppression], and sometimes you shared with those who were being treated that way.


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You ·helped [had sympathy for; or suffered with] the prisoners [probably Christians imprisoned for their faith]. You even had joy when ·all that you owned [your property] was ·taken from you [seized; confiscated], because you knew you had ·something [a possession; property] better and more lasting.


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So do not ·lose [throw away] ·the courage you had in the past [or your confident trust in God; or your boldness], which has a great reward.


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You must ·hold on [persevere; endure], so you can do ·what God wants [the will of God] and receive what he has promised.


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·Those who are right with me [My righteous one] will live by faith. But if they ·turn back with fear [shrink back], ·I [My soul] will not be pleased with them [].”


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But we are not those who ·turn back [shrink back] and are ·lost [destroyed]. We are people who have faith ·and are saved [leading to the possession/ preservation of life/the soul].


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What Is Faith? Faith means ·being sure [the assurance; or the tangible reality; or the sure foundation] of the things we hope for and ·knowing that something is real even if we do not see it [the conviction/assurance/evidence about things not seen].


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Faith is the reason ·we remember [or God commended/approved] ·great people who lived in the past [the people of old; the ancients; our spiritual ancestors].


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It is by faith we understand that the ·whole world [universe; cosmos; ages] was made by God’s ·command [word; ] so what we see was ·made by something that cannot be seen [not made from/by visible things].


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It was by faith that Abel offered God a ·better [more acceptable] sacrifice than Cain []. God ·said he was pleased with [commended him for; bore testimony to] the gifts Abel offered and ·called Abel [commended him as; testified that he was] a ·good [righteous] man because of his faith. Abel died, but through his faith he is still speaking [].


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It was by faith that Enoch was taken to heaven so he would not ·die [experience/see death]. He could not be found, because God had taken him away []. Before he was taken, ·the Scripture says that he was [he was commended as] a man who truly pleased God.


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[And] Without faith no one can please God. [For; Because] Anyone who comes to God must believe that he ·is real [exists] and that he rewards those who ·truly want to find [earnestly/sincerely seek] him.


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It was by faith that Noah heard God’s warnings about things he could not yet see []. He ·obeyed God [responded with reverent fear] and built a ·large boat [ark] to save his ·family [household]. By his faith, Noah ·showed that the world was wrong [condemned/pronounced judgment against the world], and he became ·one of those who are made right with God [an heir of the righteousness that comes] through faith.


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It was by faith Abraham obeyed God’s call to go to another place ·God promised to give him [he would later receive as an inheritance; , ]. He left his own country, not knowing where he was ·to go [going].


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It was by faith that he lived like a ·foreigner [stranger; resident alien] in the ·country God promised to give him [Promised Land]. He lived in tents with Isaac and Jacob, who ·had received [were co-heirs of] that same promise from God.


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[For] Abraham was waiting for the city [the heavenly Jerusalem, symbolic of the presence of God; ; ] that has real foundations—the city ·planned and built by [whose architect/designer and builder is] God.


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·He was too old to have children, and Sarah [or Sarah was too old and] ·could not have children [was barren/sterile]. It was by faith that ·Abraham was made able to become a father, because he [or Sarah was made able to bear children, because she] ·trusted God [considered God faithful/trustworthy] to do what he had promised [].


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This man was so old he was ·almost [as good as] dead, but from ·him [one man] ·came [were fathered/begotten] as many descendants as there are stars in the sky. Like the sand on the seashore, they could not be counted [; ; ].


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All these great people died in faith. They did not ·get [receive] the things that God promised his people, but they saw them ·coming far in the future [from afar] and ·were glad [welcomed/greeted them]. They ·said [acknowledged/recognized that] they were like ·strangers [foreigners] and ·visitors [sojourners; refugees; resident aliens] on earth.


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When people say such things, they show they are looking for a ·country that will be their own [homeland].


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If they had been thinking about the country they had left, they ·could have gone back [would have had an opportunity to return].


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But [as it is; now] they were ·waiting [desiring; longing] for a better country—a heavenly one. So God is not ashamed to be called their God, because he has prepared a city for them.


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It was by faith that Abraham, when God tested him, offered his son Isaac as a sacrifice []. ·God made the promises to Abraham, but Abraham [The one who received the promises] was ready to offer his ·own [unique; one of a kind; ] son as a sacrifice.


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God had said, “·The descendants I promised you will be from Isaac [Through Isaac your offspring/seed will carry on your name; ].”


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Abraham ·believed [considered; reasoned] that God ·could [had the power to] raise the dead, and ·really [in one sense; in a manner of speaking; figuratively speaking], it was as if Abraham ·got [received] Isaac back from death.


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It was by faith that Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau ·in regard to their future [concerning things to come; ].


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It was by faith that Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each one of Joseph’s sons []. Then he ·worshiped [or bowed in reverent worship] as he leaned on the top of his ·walking stick [staff; ].


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It was by faith that Joseph, while he was dying, spoke about ·the Israelites leaving Egypt [the exodus of the children/sons of Israel] and ·gave instructions [commanded] about ·what to do with his body [his bones; ; ].


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It was by faith that Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born []. […because] They saw that Moses was a ·beautiful baby [or special child], and they were not ·afraid to disobey [intimidated by; afraid of] the king’s order.


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It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of ·the king of Egypt’s [Pharaoh’s] daughter [].


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He chose to ·suffer [be mistreated/oppressed] with God’s people instead of enjoying ·sin for a short time [the temporary/fleeting pleasures of sin].


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He thought it was better to suffer ·for [the disgrace/stigma/ humilation of] ·Christ [or the Messiah/Anointed One] than to have all the treasures of Egypt, because ·he was looking for [or his eyes were fixed on] God’s reward.


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It was by faith that Moses left Egypt and was not afraid of the king’s anger []. Moses ·continued strong [persevered; was resolute] as if he could see the ·God that no one can see [one who is invisible; ].


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It was by faith that Moses ·prepared [celebrated; kept] the Passover [] and ·spread the blood on the doors [the sprinkling of blood; ] so the ·one who brings death [destroyer] would not ·kill [touch] the firstborn sons of Israel [, , ].


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It was by faith that the people crossed the Red Sea as if it were dry land []. But when the Egyptians tried it, they were ·drowned [destroyed; swallowed].


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It was by faith that the walls of Jericho fell after the people had ·marched around [encircled] them for seven days [].


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It was by faith that Rahab, the prostitute, ·welcomed [welcomed with peace] the spies and ·was not killed [did not perish] with ·those who refused to obey God [the disobedient; or the unbelievers; ].


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·Do I need to give more examples [What more shall I say]? I do not have time to tell you about Gideon [], Barak [], Samson [], Jephthah [], David [], Samuel [], and the prophets.


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Through their faith they defeated kingdoms. They ·did what was right [practiced righteousness; or administered justice], received ·God’s promises [or what God promised], and shut the mouths of lions [].


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They ·stopped [quenched; extinguished] great fires and ·were saved [escaped; fled] from being killed with swords. ·They were weak, and yet were made strong [Their strength was turned to weakness; or They recovered from illnesses]. They were powerful in battle and ·defeated [routed; drove back] ·other [foreign] armies.


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Women received their dead relatives raised back to life [; ]. [But] Others were tortured and refused to accept ·their freedom [release; redemption] so they could ·be raised from the dead [gain/obtain a resurrection] to a better life.


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Some were ·laughed at [mocked] and ·beaten [flogged; scourged]. Others were put in chains and thrown into prison [; ; ].


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They were stoned to death [], they were ·cut [sawn] in half [Jewish tradition reported that Isaiah was martyred this way], and they were killed with swords [; ]. Some ·wore [traveled about in] the skins of sheep and goats. They were ·poor [destitute], ·abused [persecuted; oppressed], and treated badly.


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The world was not ·good enough for [worthy of] them! They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and holes in the earth.


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All these people ·are known for [were commended for; or won approval through] their faith, but none of them received what God had promised.


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God ·planned to give us [had provided] something better so that they would be made perfect, but ·only together with us [not without us].


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Follow Jesus’ Example Therefore, since we are surrounded by a great cloud of ·people whose lives tell us what faith means [witnesses], let us run the race that is before us ·and never give up [with endurance/perseverance]. ·We should [Let us] ·remove from our lives [get rid of; cast aside] anything that ·would get in the way [impedes/hinders us] and the sin that so easily ·holds us back [entangles/clings to us].


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Let us ·look only to [keep our eyes on] Jesus, the ·One who began [Pioneer/Founder of; or Leader/Prince of] our faith and who ·makes it perfect [completes it]. He ·suffered death on [endured] the cross, ·accepting the shame as if it were nothing [disregarding/despising the shame] because of the joy that ·God put before [lay ahead for] him. And now he is sitting at the right ·side [hand] of God’s throne [; ; ].


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Think about Jesus, who endured such ·hostility [opposition] from sinful people, so that you will not ·get tired [grow weary; get discouraged] and ·stop trying [give up].


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God Is like a Father You are struggling against sin, but your ·struggles [resistance; opposition] have not yet ·caused you to be killed [resulted in bloodshed/blood].


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·You have forgotten [or Have you forgotten…?] the ·encouraging words [exhortation] that ·call you his [or address you as] ·children [or sons]: “My ·child [or son], don’t ·think the Lord’s discipline is worth nothing [scorn/treat lightly/make light of the Lord’s discipline], and don’t ·stop trying [get discouraged] when he ·corrects [rebukes] you. 


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[For; Because] The Lord disciplines those he loves, and he ·punishes [chastises; severely disciplines] everyone he accepts as his child [].”


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·So hold on through your sufferings, because they are like a father’s discipline [Persevere in discipline]. God is treating you as ·children [or sons]. ·All children are [For what child/son is not…?] disciplined by their fathers.


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If you are never disciplined (and every ·child [or son] must be disciplined), you are ·not true children [illegitimate and not (true) children/sons].


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[Furthermore; Moreover] We have all had ·fathers [or parents] here on earth who disciplined us, and we respected them. So it is even more important that we accept discipline from ·the Father of our spirits [or our spiritual Father; or the Father of all spirit beings; ; ] so we will have [eternal or true spiritual] life.


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·Our fathers on earth [They] disciplined us for a short time in the way they thought was best. But God disciplines us ·to help us [for our good/benefit], so we can ·become holy as he is [share in his holiness].


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We do not enjoy being disciplined. It is painful at the time, but later, after we have ·learned from [been trained by] it, ·we have peace [it produces/bears the fruit of peace], ·because we start living in the right way [or …and righteousness].


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Be Careful How You Live ·You have become weak, so make yourselves strong again [Therefore, strengthen your drooping arms/hands and your weak/disabled knees; ].


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·Keep on the right path [Make straight/clear paths for your feet; ], so the ·weak [lame] will not ·stumble [be disabled; put out of joint] but rather be ·strengthened [healed].


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·Try to live in [Pursue] peace with all people, and ·try to live free from sin [pursue holiness/sanctification]. [For] Anyone whose life is not ·holy [sanctified] will never see the Lord.


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·Be careful [See to it; Take heed] that no one ·fails to receive [falls short of] God’s grace and ·begins to cause trouble among you [that no bitter root/plant grows up to cause trouble]. ·A person like that [Such a root/plant] can ·ruin [defile; pollute; corrupt] many of you.


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·Be careful [See to it; Take heed] that no one takes part in sexual sin or is like Esau and ·never thinks about God [is godless/profane/worldly-minded]. ·As the oldest son, Esau would have received everything from his father, but he sold all that for a single meal […who sold his own birthright for one meal; ].


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You remember that after Esau did this, he wanted to ·get [inherit] his father’s blessing, but ·his father refused [he was rejected]. Esau could find no way to ·change [or repent of] what he had done, even though he ·wanted [pleaded for; sought] the blessing so much that he cried [].


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You have not come to ·a mountain [something] that can be touched and that is burning with fire [a description of Mount Sinai when Israel received the Law; ; ]. You have not come to darkness, gloom, and ·storms [a whirlwind].


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You have not come to the noise of a trumpet [, ] or to the sound of ·a voice [words] like the one the people of Israel heard and begged not to hear another word [fearing God’s wrath, Israel asked Moses to mediate God’s message; ; ; ].


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[ For] They ·did not want to hear [could not bear/endure] the command: “If anything, even an animal, touches the mountain, it must be put to death with stones [].”


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[Indeed,] What they saw was so ·terrible [terrifying] that Moses said, “I am ·shaking [trembling] with fear [].”


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But you have come to Mount Zion [another name for Jerusalem, here meaning the spiritual city of God’s people; ; ], to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem []. You have come to ·thousands of [tens of thousands/myriads of; countless] angels ·gathered together with joy [in joyful assembly; ].


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You have come to the ·meeting [assembly; congregation; or church] of God’s firstborn [the first son in a Jewish family received special privileges and a greater share of the inheritance; all God’s people are “firstborn”] children ·whose names are written [who are registered as citizens; ; ] in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of ·all people [everything; all], and to the spirits of ·good [righteous] people who have been made perfect.


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You have come to Jesus, the ·One who brought [mediator of] the new ·agreement from God to his people [covenant; contract; ; ], and you have come to the sprinkled blood [Jesus’ blood shed on the cross; ] that ·has a better message [speaks of something better; or pleads more insistently] than the blood of Abel [murdered by his brother Cain; Abel’s “blood cried out” to God for vengeance (), but Jesus’ blood cries out with a message of forgiveness and reconciliation].


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So ·be careful and [see that you] do not refuse to listen when God speaks. If those who refused to listen to him when he warned them on earth did not escape, how much worse will it be for us if we refuse to listen to God who warns us from heaven?


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When he spoke ·before [then], his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once again I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens [, ].”


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The words “once again” clearly show us that everything that was made—things that can be shaken—will be ·destroyed [removed]. [So that] Only the things that cannot be shaken will remain.


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So let us be thankful, because we ·have [are receiving] a kingdom that cannot be shaken. [As a result; or In this way] We should worship God in a way that pleases him with ·respect [reverence; devotion] and ·fear [awe],


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·Remember [Do not forget/neglect] to ·welcome [show hospitality to] strangers, because some who have done this have welcomed angels without knowing it [; ].


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Remember those who are in prison as if you were in prison with them. Remember those who are ·suffering [mistreated] ·as if you were suffering with them [or since you are vulnerable to the same treatment; being in a/the body yourselves].


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Marriage should be honored by everyone, and ·husband and wife should keep their marriage [the marriage bed should be kept] ·pure [undefiled]. God will ·judge as guilty [judge] ·those who take part in sexual sins [the sexually immoral and adulterers].


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Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be ·satisfied [content] with what you have. [For] God has said, “I will never leave you; I will never ·abandon [forsake] you [].” 


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So we can be ·sure [confident; bold] when we say, “I will not be afraid, because the Lord is my helper. ·People can’t do anything [What can people do…?] to me [].”


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Remember your leaders who ·taught [proclaimed; spoke] God’s ·message [word] to you. ·Remember [Consider; Reflect on] ·how they lived and died [or the outcome/result of their way of life], and ·copy [imitate] their faith.


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Do not let all kinds of strange teachings ·lead you into the wrong way [take you off course; lead you astray]. ·Your hearts should be strengthened by [or Inner strength comes from] God’s grace, not by obeying rules about foods [referring to Jewish dietary laws; ; ; ; ], which ·do not help [or have never benefited] those who ·obey [observe; live by] them.


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We have a ·sacrifice [altar], but the priests who serve in the ·Holy Tent [Tabernacle] ·cannot [have no authority/right to] eat from it.


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The high priest carries the blood of animals into the ·Most Holy Place [sanctuary; holy things; Holy of Holies] where he offers this blood for sins. But the bodies of the animals are burned outside the camp [].


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So Jesus also suffered outside the ·city [gate] to ·make his people holy [sanctify the people] ·with [through] his own blood.


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So let us go to Jesus outside the camp, ·holding on as he did when we are abused [bearing the abuse/humiliation he bore].


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[For] Here on earth we do not have a city that ·lasts forever [endures], but we are ·looking for [seeking] the city that ·we will have in the future [is to come].


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So through Jesus let us ·always [continuously] offer to God our sacrifice of praise, ·coming from [which is the fruit of] lips that ·speak [profess; acknowledge] his name.


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Do not ·forget [neglect] to do good to others, and share with them, because such sacrifices please God.


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·Obey [or Have confidence in] your leaders and ·act under [or submit to] their authority. [For; Because] They are watching over you, because they ·are responsible [will give an account (to God)] for ·your souls [or you]. ·Obey them [Do this; Act this way] so that they will do this work with joy, not ·sadness [or complaint; groaning], for that would be of no ·benefit [advantage; help] to you.


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Pray for us. We are ·sure [convinced] that we have a clear conscience, ·because [or and] we always want to ·do the right thing [act honorably].


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I especially ·beg [urge; exhort] you to pray so that ·God will send me back [I may be restored] to you soon.


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·I pray that the God of peace will [or May the God of peace] ·give you [equip/prepare you with] every good thing you need so you can do ·what he wants [his will]. This God of peace raised from the dead our Lord Jesus, the Great Shepherd of the sheep [; ], ·because of [or through; by] the ·blood of his death [blood] ·that began the eternal agreement that God made with his people [of the eternal covenant/contract; ]. I pray that God will do in us what ·pleases [is acceptable to] him, through Jesus Christ, and to him be glory forever and ever. Amen.


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My brothers and sisters, I ·beg [urge; exhort] you to ·listen patiently to [bear with] this message I have written to ·encourage [exhort] you, because ·it is not very long [I have written to you briefly].


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I want you to know that our brother Timothy [; ; ; 1 and 2 Timothy] has been ·let out of prison [released]. If he arrives soon, ·we will both come [he will come with me] to see you.


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Greet all your leaders and all ·of God’s people [the saints]. Those from Italy send greetings to you.


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From James [one of Jesus’ brothers and a leader in the early church; ; ; ; ], a ·servant [slave; bond-servant] of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. To ·all of God’s people [the twelve tribes; an allusion to the twelve tribes of Israel; referring either to Jewish Christians or all believers as the new covenant people of God] ·who are scattered everywhere in the world [in the Diaspora/Dispersion; a reference to the scattering of the Jews during the Babylonian captivity, now applied to the church]: Greetings.


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Faith and Wisdom My brothers and sisters [fellow believers], when you have many kinds of ·troubles [trials; testing], ·you should be full of joy [consider it all/pure joy],


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because you know that these troubles test your faith, and this will give you ·patience [perserverance; endurance].


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[And] Let your ·patience [perserverance; endurance] ·show itself perfectly in what you do [have its full effect; finish its work]. Then you will be ·perfect and complete [mature and whole; or completely mature] and will ·have everything you need [lack nothing].


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But if any of you ·needs [lacks] wisdom, you should ask God for it []. He is generous to everyone and will give you wisdom ·without criticizing you [without finding fault; ungrudgingly; ].


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But when you ask God, you must ·believe [ask with faith] and not doubt. Anyone who doubts is like a wave in the sea, ·blown up and down [driven and tossed] by the wind.


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[For] Such doubters are ·thinking two different things at the same time [double-minded], and they ·cannot decide about anything they do [are unstable in all they do]. They should not ·think [expect] they will receive anything from the Lord.


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True Riches ·Believers [Brothers or sisters] who are ·poor [in lowly/humble circumstances] should ·take pride [boast] ·that God has made them spiritually rich [in being raised up; in their exaltation; in their high position].


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[But] Those who are ·rich [wealthy] should ·take pride [boast] ·that God has shown them that they are spiritually poor [in their humiliation; in their lowly state; ]. [Because] The rich will ·die [pass away; wither] like a ·wild flower in the grass [or flower in the field].


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[For] The sun rises with ·burning [scorching] heat and ·dries up [withers] the ·plants [or grass]. The flower falls off, and its beauty is ·gone [destroyed]. In the same way the rich will ·die [wither away] ·while they are still taking care of business [in the midst of their pursuits; in his journeys; ; ; ].


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Temptation Is Not from God ·When people are tempted and still continue strong, they should be happy [Blessed is the one who perserveres/endures trials/temptations]. After they have ·proved their faith [stood/endured/passed the test], ·God will reward them with life forever [they will receive the crown of life; alludes to the laurel crown given for a victory]. ·God [He] promised this to all those who love him.


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When people are ·tempted [undergoing a trial], they should not say, “God is tempting me.” [For] God cannot be tempted by evil, and he himself does not tempt anyone.


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But ·people are [each person is] tempted when their own evil desire ·leads [lures; drags] them away and ·traps [entices; lures] them.


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·This desire leads to sin [Then, after desire is conceived, it gives birth to sin], and then the sin ·grows [or becomes full-grown] and ·brings [gives birth to] death.


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My ·dear [beloved] brothers and sisters [fellow believers], do not be ·fooled [deceived] about this.


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Every good ·action [or act of giving] and every perfect gift ·is from God [comes from above]. These good gifts come down from the ·Creator of the sun, moon, and stars [the father of lights; referring to God’s creation of the heavenly bodies (; ; )], who does not change like their shifting shadows.


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God ·decided [chose; willed] to give us ·life [birth] through the ·word of truth [true message] so we might be ·the most important [or the first of many; a kind of firstfruits; firstfruits were the first crops to be harvested and guaranteed the coming harvest; ; ; ] of all ·the things he made [or his creatures].


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Listening and Obeying My ·dear [beloved] brothers and sisters [fellow believers], [under-stand/know this:] ·always be willing to listen and slow to speak. Do not become angry easily [be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; ],


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·because anger will not help you live the right kind of life God wants [because human anger does not produce God’s righteousness].


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So ·put out of your life [get rid of; lay aside] every ·evil thing [moral filth/defilement] and every ·kind of wrong [excessive evil]. Then in ·gentleness [humility] ·accept [welcome] God’s ·teaching [word] that is planted in your hearts, which can save ·you [your souls; referring to the whole person].


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·Do what God’s teaching says; when you only listen and do nothing, you are fooling yourselves [Be doers of the word, and not only hearers, deceiving yourselves; ; ].


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Those who hear God’s ·teaching [word] and do nothing are like people who look at ·themselves [their natural face; the face of their birth] in a mirror.


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[For] They ·see their faces [gaze at themselves] and then go away and quickly forget what they looked like.


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But ·the truly happy people are [blessed are] those who ·carefully study [look intently into; stoop down to look at] God’s perfect law that makes people free [probably refers to the law of Moses as it is fulfilled in Christ; , ], and they ·continue to study it [persevere in it]. ·They do not forget what they heard, but they obey what God’s teaching says [not being a forgetful hearer but an active doer]. Those who do this will be ·made happy [blessed].


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The True Way to Worship God People who think they are religious but ·say things they should not say [do not bridle their tongues; ; ] are just ·fooling [deceiving] themselves. Their “religion” is ·worth nothing [empty; meaningless].


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Religion that God the Father accepts as pure and ·without fault [undefiled] is this: caring for orphans and widows [, ; ; ] ·who need help [in their trouble/distress/persecution], and keeping yourself ·free from the world’s evil influence [unstained/unpolluted by the world; ].


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Love All People My dear brothers and sisters [fellow believers], as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, never ·think some people are more important than others [show favoritism/partiality; ; ].


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Suppose someone comes into your ·church meeting [gathering; assembly; the word can mean “synagogue,” but here refers to a house church gathering] wearing nice clothes and a gold ring. At the same time a poor person comes in wearing ·old, dirty [shabby; filthy] clothes.


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You ·show special attention to [take notice of; look favorably on] the one wearing nice clothes and say, “Please, sit here in this good seat.” But you say to the poor person, “Stand over there,” or, “Sit on the floor ·by my feet [or beside my footstool].”


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·What are you doing? You are making some people more important than others [Are you not discriminating among yourselves…?], and ·with evil thoughts you are deciding that one person is better [or you are judging with evil thoughts; or you are acting like judges with evil motives].


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Listen, my ·dear [beloved] brothers and sisters [fellow believers]! ·God chose [Did not God choose…?] the poor in the world [] to be rich with faith and to ·receive [be heirs of] the kingdom God promised to those who love him [].


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But you ·show no respect to [dishonor; have insulted] the poor. ·The rich are always trying to control your lives. They are the ones who take you to court [Don’t the rich exploit/oppress you and drag you into court?].


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·And they are the ones who speak against Jesus, who owns you [or Don’t they slander the noble/good name by which you were called? Don’t they blaspheme the noble/good name that was invoked over you? The “name” may be the person’s name or the name of Jesus, to whom they belong].


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This royal law [because God the king decreed it, or because it is the supreme law] is found in the Scriptures: “Love your neighbor as you love yourself [; ].” ·If you [or If you really; or If you, however,] ·obey [fulfill; carry out] this law, you are doing ·right [well].


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But if you ·treat one person as being more important than another [show favoritism/partiality; ], you are sinning. You are ·guilty of breaking God’s law [convicted by the law as lawbreakers/ transgressors].


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[For] A person who ·follows [keeps; obeys] all of God’s law but ·fails to obey even one command [stumbles/falls in one point] is guilty of breaking all the commands in that law.


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[For] The same God who said, “You must not ·be guilty of [commit] adultery [; ],” also said, “You must not murder anyone [; ].” So if you do not ·take part in [commit] adultery but you murder someone, ·you are guilty of breaking all of God’s law [you have become a breaker/transgressor of the law; ; ].


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·In everything you say and do, remember that you [So speak and so act as those who] will be judged by the law ·that makes people free [of freedom/liberty].


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·So you must show mercy to others, or God will not show mercy to you when he judges you [For judgment is without mercy to the one who does not act mercifully]. ·But the person who shows mercy can stand without fear at the judgment [But mercy triumphs over judgment].


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Faith and Good Works My brothers and sisters [fellow believers], if people ·say [claim] they have faith, but do nothing, ·their faith is worth nothing [what good/profit/gain is it?]. Can faith like that save them?


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[Suppose; If] A brother or sister in Christ ·might need clothes or food [is naked and lacks daily food].


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If you say to that person, “·God be with you [or I wish you well; Go in peace]! ·I hope you stay warm and get plenty to eat, [Be warmed and filled]” but you do not ·give what that person needs [provide for the needs of their body], ·your words are worth nothing [what good/profit/gain is that?].


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[But] Someone might say, “You have faith, but I have ·deeds [works].” ·Show me [Prove; Demonstrate] your faith without ·doing anything [works], and I will ·show you [prove; demonstrate] my faith by ·what I do [my works].


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You believe ·there is one God [or that God is one; ]. ·Good [You do well]! But the demons believe that, too, and they ·tremble with fear [shudder].


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You ·foolish [senseless; emptyheaded] person! ·Must you be shown [Do you want evidence; Can’t you see] that faith ·that does nothing [without works] is ·worth nothing [useless; barren]?


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Abraham, our ·ancestor [father; patriarch; ], was ·made right with God [justified] by what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar [].


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So you see that Abraham’s faith and ·the things he did [his works] worked together. His faith was made ·perfect [complete] by ·what he did [his works].


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This ·shows the full meaning of [fulfills] the Scripture that says: “Abraham believed God, and ·God accepted Abraham’s faith, and that faith made him right with God [it was credited/counted to him as righteousness; ].” And Abraham was called God’s friend [; ].


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So you see that people are ·made right with God [justified] by ·what they do [their works], not by faith only.


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·Another example is Rahab, the prostitute, who was ·made right with God [justified] by ·something she did [works]. She welcomed the ·spies [messengers; envoys] into her home and ·helped them escape [sent them out] by a different road [; she is named in Jesus’ genealogy (), and in as a hero of the faith].


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Just as a person’s body that does not have a spirit [the force of life that animates the body; ] is dead, so faith ·that does nothing [without works] is dead!


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Controlling the Things We Say My ·brothers and sisters [fellow believers], not many of you should become teachers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly [].


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We all ·make many mistakes [stumble in many ways]. If people ·never said anything wrong [did not stumble in speech/teaching/word], they would be perfect and able to ·control their entire selves, too [bridle their whole body also].


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When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we ·can control [guide; direct] their whole bodies.


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Also a ship is very big, and it is pushed by ·strong [fierce] winds. But a very small rudder ·controls [guides; steers] that big ship, making it go wherever the pilot wants.


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It is the same with the tongue. It is a small ·part [member] of the body, but it ·brags [boasts] about great things. A big forest fire can be started with only a little flame.


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And the tongue is like a fire. It is a whole world of ·evil [iniquity; unrighteousness] among ·the parts of our bodies [our members]. The tongue ·spreads its evil through [pollutes; stains; corrupts] the whole body. The tongue is set on fire by hell [Gehenna; a valley outside of Jerusalem where in the OT period children were sacrificed to a pagan god; later used as a burning trash heap; a metaphor for hell], and it starts a fire that influences ·all of life [the wheel of birth/life].


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[For] People can tame every ·kind [species] of wild animal, bird, reptile, and ·fish [sea creature], and they have tamed them,


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but no one can tame the tongue. It is ·wild and evil [or a restless evil; or an uncontrollable evil] and full of deadly poison.


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·We use our tongues to [With it we] ·praise [bless] our Lord and Father, but ·then [with it] we curse people, whom God made ·like himself [in his likeness; ].


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Praises and curses come from the same mouth! My ·brothers and sisters [fellow believers], this should not happen.


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Do ·good [fresh; sweet] and ·bad [stale; or salt; bitter] water flow from the same [opening of a] spring?


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My ·brothers and sisters [fellow believers], can a fig tree make olives, or can a grapevine make figs? No! ·And a well full of salty water cannot give good water [Neither can salt water make sweet].


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True Wisdom Are there those among you who are truly wise and ·understanding [insightful; discerning]? Then they should show it by ·living right [their good life/conduct/lifestyle] and ·doing good things [their deeds/works] with a ·gentleness [humility; meekness; ; ; ] that comes from wisdom.


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But if you have bitter ·jealousy [or envy] and ·are selfish [have selfish ambition] in your hearts, do not ·brag [boast; ]. Your ·bragging [boasting] is a lie ·that hides [that denies; against] the truth [or Don’t cover up the truth with bragging or lying].


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That kind of “wisdom” does not come ·from God [down from above; that is, from heaven] but ·from the world [is earthly]. It is ·not spiritual [natural; “soulish”; human life apart from God; ]; it is ·from the devil [demonic].


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Where ·jealousy [or envy] and ·selfishness [selfish ambition] are, there will be ·confusion [chaos; disorder] and every ·kind of evil [evil thing/practice].


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But the wisdom that comes from ·God [above; ] is first of all pure, then peaceful [peace-loving], gentle [patient; considerate], and ·easy to please [or willing to yield; or open to reason]. This wisdom is ·always ready to help those who are troubled and to do good for others [full of mercy and good fruits]. It is ·always fair [impartial] and ·honest [sincere; unhypocritical].


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·People who work for peace in a peaceful way plant a good crop of right living [or Peacemakers who sow with peace will harvest a crop of justice/righteousness; ].


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Give Yourselves to God Do you know where your ·fights [conflicts; wars] and ·arguments [disputes; quarrels; battles] come from? They come from ·the selfish desires [cravings] that war ·within you [in your members; probably parts of the body, but could be members of the church].


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You ·want [desire] things, but you ·do not [or cannot] have them. So you ·are ready to kill [murder] and are ·jealous [envious] of other people, but you still cannot get what you want. So you argue and ·fight [wage war]. You do not get what you want, because you do not ask God.


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Or when you ask, you do not receive because ·the reason you ask is wrong [or you ask with the wrong motives; you ask badly/wrongly]. You want things so you ·can use [spend] them for your own pleasures.


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·So, you are not loyal to God [You adulterers!; often adultery is used in a spiritual sense for betraying God; ]! ·You should know [Don’t you know…?] that ·loving [friendship with] the world is ·the same as hating [hostility/enmity toward] God. Anyone who wants to be a friend of the world becomes God’s enemy.


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Do you think the Scripture ·means nothing that says [or says for no reason], ·“The Spirit that God made to live in us wants us for himself alone”? [or “God yearns jealously for the spirit he has made to live in us”?; or “The spirit God placed within us tends to jealously desire things”?; for God’s jealousy for his people see ; ; ].


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But God gives us even more grace, as ·the Scripture [it; or he] says, “God ·is against [opposes; resists] the proud, but he gives grace to the humble [; ].”


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So ·give yourselves completely [submit] to God. ·Stand against [Resist] the devil [], and the devil will ·run [flee] from you.


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Come near to God, and God will come near to you. You sinners, ·clean sin out of your lives [cleanse/purify your hands; a metaphor for cleaning up your behavior]. ·You who are trying to follow God and the world at the same time [You double-minded ones], ·make your thinking pure [purify your hearts; a metaphor for cleaning up your interior life].


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·Be sad [Lament], ·cry [mourn], and weep! Change your laughter into ·crying [mourning] and your joy into ·sadness [gloom; sorrow].


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You Are Not the Judge Brothers and sisters [fellow believers], do not ·tell evil lies about [slander] each other []. If you ·speak against [slander] your ·fellow believers [a brother or sister] or judge them, you are judging and ·speaking against [slandering] the law [because the law commanded love]. And when you are judging the law, you are no longer a ·follower [doer] of the law. You have become a judge [sitting in judgment over the law].


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·God is the only [There is one] ·Lawmaker [Lawgiver] and Judge. He is the only One who can save and destroy []. ·So it is not right for you [So who are you…?] to judge your neighbor [].


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Let God Plan Your Life ·Some of you say [Come now, you who say], “Today or tomorrow we will go to some city. We will stay there a year, do business, and make money.”


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But you do not know what will happen tomorrow! Your life is like a ·mist [vapor; puff of smoke]. ·You can see it [It appears] for a short time, but then it ·goes away [vanishes; ].


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·So [or Instead] you should say, “If the Lord ·wants [wills; wishes], we will live and do this or that [].”


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But now you are ·proud [arrogant; probably referring to their plans for the future] and you brag [boast]. All of this bragging [boasting] is wrong [evil; wicked; ].


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[Therefore] Anyone who knows the right thing to do, but does not do it, ·is sinning [for him it is sin].


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A Warning to the Rich You rich people, ·listen [Come now; ]! Cry [Weep] and be very sad because of the ·troubles [miseries] that are coming to you.


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Your gold and silver have ·rusted [corroded], and that ·rust [corrosion] will be a ·proof that you were wrong [witness/testimony/evidence against you]. It will eat your ·bodies [flesh] like fire. You ·saved [hoarded; stored up] your treasure ·for [or in] the last days [just before judgment day, when such treasures will be useless].


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[Listen; Behold] The ·pay [wages] you ·did not give [defrauded from] the workers who mowed your fields cries out against you [; ], and the cries of the ·workers [harvesters] have ·been heard by [reached the ears of] the Lord ·All-Powerful [of Hosts/Armies; Sabaoth; God’s warrior name referring to the angelic army].


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Your life on earth was full of ·rich living [luxury] and ·pleasing yourselves with everything you wanted [pleasure; self-indulgence]. You made ·yourselves [your hearts] fat, ·like an animal ready to be killed [in/for a day of slaughter; a farm animal gorging itself, unaware it is being fattened for slaughter].


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You have ·judged guilty [condemned] and then murdered innocent people, who ·were not against [did not resist/oppose] you.


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Be Patient [Therefore] Brothers and sisters [fellow believers], be patient until the Lord comes again. [See; Behold,] A farmer patiently waits for his ·valuable [precious] ·crop [fruit] to grow from the earth and for it to receive the ·autumn and spring [early and late] rains [].


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You, too, must be patient. ·Do not give up hope [Strengthen your hearts], because ·the Lord is coming soon [the Lord’s coming draws near/is at hand].


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Brothers and sisters [fellow believers], do not ·complain [grumble] against each other or you will be judged guilty []. ·And [Look; Behold] the Judge is ·ready to come [standing at the door]!


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Brothers and sisters [fellow believers], follow the example of the prophets who spoke ·for [in the name of] the Lord. They suffered many hard things, but they ·were patient [endured].


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[Look; or Indeed] ·We say they are happy [or We consider them blessed] because they ·did not give up [endured; persevered]. You have heard about Job’s ·patience [or endurance; perseverance], and you know the Lord’s purpose for him in the end. You know the Lord is full of mercy and is ·kind [compassionate].


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Be Careful What You Say My brothers and sisters [fellow believers], above all, do not ·use an oath when you make a promise [swear; take a vow]. Don’t use the name of heaven, earth, or anything else to prove what you say. ·When you mean yes, say only yes, and when you mean no, say only no [Let your “Yes” be yes and your “No” be no; ] so you will not be ·judged guilty [condemned].


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The Power of Prayer Anyone who is ·having troubles [suffering] should pray. Anyone who is ·happy [joyful] should ·sing praises [sing psalms].


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Anyone who is sick should call the church’s elders. They should pray for and ·pour oil on the person [anoint that person with olive oil; anointing probably indicates dedicating or setting aside the person to God’s care; ] in the name of the Lord.


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And the prayer that is said with faith will ·make the sick person well [save the sick; the same Greek word is commonly used for both physical healing and spiritual salvation]; the Lord will ·heal [raise up] that person [, ]. And if the person has sinned, the sins will be forgiven.


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[Therefore,] Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so God can heal you. ·When a believing person prays, great things happen [The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective].


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Elijah was a human being just like us. He prayed [earnestly; with prayer] that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years!


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Then Elijah prayed again, and ·the rain came down from the sky [or heaven gave rain], and the land produced crops again [].


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Saving a Soul My brothers and sisters [fellow believers], if one of you ·wanders away [strays] from the truth, and someone helps that person come back,


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·remember [know] this: Anyone who brings a sinner back from the ·wrong way [error/wandering of his ways] will save that sinner’s soul from death and will ·cause many sins to be forgiven [cover a multitude of sins].


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From Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ. To God’s ·chosen [elect] people who are ·away from their homes [exiles; temporary residents; refugees; foreigners] ·and are scattered [of the Diaspora/Dispersion; an analogy to the Jewish people scattered around the known world since the Babylonian exile] all around Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia [all located in Asia Minor, present-day Turkey].


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God the Father ·planned long ago to choose you [chose you according to his foreknowledge] ·by making you his holy people, which is the Spirit’s work [or by the sanctifying/purifying work of the Spirit; or by setting you apart by means of the Spirit]. God wanted you to obey him and to be ·made clean [sprinkled] by the blood of the death of Jesus Christ. [In the OT blood from animal sacrifices was sprinkled on persons and objects to indicate purification or forgiveness of sins; .] Grace and peace be ·yours more and more [multiplied to you].


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We Have a Living Hope ·Praise be to [Blessed be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In God’s ·great [abundant] mercy he has caused us to be born ·again [anew; ] into a living hope, ·because Jesus Christ rose [or by means of the resurrection of Jesus Christ] from the dead.


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·Now we hope for [or This new birth provides us with] ·the blessings God has for his children [an inheritance]. ·These blessings [or This inheritance], which cannot be destroyed or be ·spoiled [corrupted; defiled] or lose their beauty, ·are [is] kept in heaven for you [; ].


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God’s power protects you through your faith until ·salvation is shown to you [or the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed] ·at the end of [in the last] time.


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·This makes you very happy [or Rejoice in this], even though now for a short time ·different kinds of troubles may make you sad [you have had to suffer various kinds of trials/testings].


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These ·troubles [trials; testings] come ·to prove that your faith is pure [to test and prove the authenticity of your faith; a test that proves the genuineness of a valuable metal]. This ·purity of faith [or tested and proven authenticity] is ·worth more [more precious; more valuable] than gold, which can be ·proved to be pure [tested and proven authentic] by fire [; ; ; ; ] but ·can [or will] be destroyed. But the ·purity [tested and proven authenticity] of your faith will bring you praise and glory and honor ·when Jesus Christ is shown to you [at the revelation of Jesus Christ].


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You have not seen ·Christ [him], but still you love him. You cannot see him now, but you believe in him. So you ·are filled [rejoice] with ·a joy that cannot be explained, a joy full of glory [an inexpressible and glorious joy].


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·And you are receiving [or …because you are receiving] the ·goal [outcome; purpose] of your faith—the salvation of your souls.


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The prophets [of the Old Testament] searched carefully and ·tried to learn [diligently inquired/investigated] about this salvation. They prophesied about the grace that was coming to you.


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The Spirit of Christ was in the prophets, ·telling [witnessing; testifying] in advance about the sufferings of Christ and about the glory that would follow those sufferings [, ]. The prophets ·tried to learn [inquired; investigated] about what the Spirit was showing them, ·when those things would happen, and what the world would be like at that time [about the circumstances and time; or about the person and time].


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It was ·shown [revealed to] them that their service was not for themselves but for you, when they ·told about [announced] the truths [things] you have now heard. Those who preached the ·Good News [Gospel] to you ·told you [announced] those things with the help of the Holy Spirit who was sent from heaven—things into which angels desire to look.


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A Call to Holy Living ·So [Therefore; For this reason] ·prepare your minds for service [prepare your minds for action; or, be alert; gird the loins of your mind] and ·have self-control [be disciplined]. ·All your hope should be for [Focus all your hope on] the gift of grace that will be ·yours [brought/given to you] ·when Jesus Christ is shown to you [at the revelation of Jesus Christ].


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·Now that you are [As; or Like] obedient ·children of God [children] ·do not live as you did in the past. You did not understand, so you did the evil things you wanted [do not be shaped by the desires/lusts of your former ignorance].


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But be holy in all ·you do [your behavior/conduct], just as ·God, the One [the One] who called you, is holy.


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·You pray to God and call him Father, and he [Since you address as Father the one who] judges each person’s ·work [deeds] ·equally [impartially; without prejudice]. So while you are ·here on earth [living as exiles/strangers/sojourners], you should live with ·respect [fear] for God [].


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[For] You know that in the past you were living in a ·worthless [meaningless; futile; vain; ] way, a way passed down from ·the people who lived before you [your ancestors]. But you were saved [ransomed; redeemed] from that useless life. You were ·bought [ransomed; redeemed; like a slave whose freedom was purchased by a payment], not with something that ·ruins [perishes; spoils] like silver or gold,


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but with the precious blood of Christ [], who was like ·a pure and perfect lamb [a lamb without defect or blemish; ].


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Christ was ·chosen [destined; foreknown] before ·the world was made [the foundation/creation of the world], but he was ·shown to the world [revealed] in these last times for your sake.


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Through Christ you ·believe [have faith/trust] in God, who raised Christ from the dead and gave him glory. So your faith and your hope are in God.


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Now that your obedience to the truth has purified your ·souls [or lives], you can have ·true [genuine; sincere] love for your Christian brothers and sisters. So love each other ·deeply [earnestly] ·with all your [from the] heart.


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You have been born ·again [or anew], and this new life did not come from ·something that dies [a perishable seed], but from ·something that cannot die [an imperishable seed]. You were born ·again [or anew] through ·God’s living message that continues forever [the living and abiding/enduring word of God].


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·The Scripture says [For; Therefore], “All ·people are [flesh is] like the grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the ·field [grass]. The grass ·dies [withers] and the flowers ·fall [drop off],


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but the word of the Lord ·will live [remains; abides; endures] forever [].” And this is the word that was ·preached [or proclaimed as Good News/Gospel] to you.


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Jesus Is the Living Stone So then, rid yourselves of all evil, all ·lying [deceit], hypocrisy, ·jealousy [envy], and ·evil speech [slander; all traits that destroy relationships; ; ; ].


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As newborn babies want milk, you should want the ·pure [sincere; unadulterated] and ·simple [or spiritual] ·teaching [milk; probably referring to the word of God; see ]. By it you can ·mature [grow; reach maturity] in your salvation,


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Come to the Lord Jesus, the ·“stone” that lives [a living stone; Jesus is the most important stone in the spiritual temple described in ]. ·The people of the world did not want this stone, but he was the stone God chose, and he was precious […rejected by people, but chosen and precious/valuable to God].


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You also are like living stones, so let yourselves be used to build a spiritual ·temple [house]—to be holy priests who offer spiritual sacrifices that are ·acceptable [pleasing] to God ·through [or because they are mediated by] Jesus Christ.


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The Scripture ·says [contains]: “[See; Look,] I will ·put a stone in the ground in Jerusalem [lay a stone in Zion; Zion is a poetic term for Jerusalem]. ·Everything will be built on this important and precious rock [a chosen and precious cornerstone; the stone that supports the others]. Anyone who ·trusts [believes; has faith] in him will never be ·disappointed [put to shame; ].” 


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·This stone is worth much to you who believe [or You who believe see the honor/value/preciousness of the stone; The honor is to you who believe]. But to the people who do not believe, “the stone that the builders rejected has become ·the cornerstone [head of the corner; the precise meaning is uncertain, but clearly refers to the most important stone in a building; ; compare ; ; ].” 


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·Also, he is [And] “a stone that causes people to stumble, a rock that ·makes them fall [trips them; snares them; causes them to sin; offends them; ; ].” They stumble because they do not obey ·what God says [the message/word], which is what God ·planned to happen to [destined/appointed for] them.


text:
But you are a chosen ·people [or generation; ], royal ·priests [priesthood], a holy nation, a people ·for God’s own possession [who belong to God; ]. You were chosen to ·tell about the wonderful acts of God, who [proclaim the praises/virtues of him who] called you out of darkness into his ·wonderful [marvelous] light.


text:
At one time you were not a people, but now you are God’s people. In the past you had ·never [not] received mercy, but now you have received God’s mercy [].


text:
Live for God ·Dear friends [Beloved], I ·beg [urge; exhort] you as ·foreigners [strangers; sojourners; resident aliens; ] and ·strangers in this world [exiles; temporary residents; refugees; foreigners; ; ] to ·avoid [abstain from] the ·evil things your bodies want to do [fleshly/worldly desires] that fight against your soul.


text:
Live such good lives among unbelievers [the Gentiles/pagans] that, even though they might ·say that you are doing wrong [slander you; accuse you of doing evil], they will see the good things you do and will give glory to God ·on the day when Christ comes again [when Christ comes to judge; on the day of visitation].


text:
Yield to Every Human Authority For the Lord’s sake, ·yield [submit; be subject] to ·the people who have authority in this world [or every human institution/creation; ; ]: the ·king [or emperor], who is the ·highest [supreme] authority,


text:
and the ·leaders [governors] who are ·sent [commissioned] by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right.


text:
[For; Because] It is ·God’s desire [the will of God] that by doing good you should ·stop foolish people from saying stupid things about you [silence the ignorant talk of foolish people].


text:
Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as an ·excuse [cover-up; pretext] to do evil. Live as ·servants [slaves] of God.


text:
·Show respect for [Honor] all people: Love the ·brothers and sisters of God’s family [community of believers; brotherhood], ·respect [fear] God [], honor the king [or emperor; ].


text:
Follow Christ’s Example ·Slaves [Servants; the term refers to household slaves], ·yield [submit; be subject; put the other person’s interests first] to the authority of your masters with all ·respect [fear; deference; ; ], not only those who are good and ·kind [gentle; considerate], but also those who are ·dishonest [or cruel; crooked].


text:
A person might have to suffer even when it is ·unfair [unjust], but if ·through awareness of God [or because of his God-given conscience] he endures the ·pain [grief], ·God is pleased [or this is commendable; this is favor/credit/grace].


text:
If you are beaten for ·doing wrong [sin], ·there is no reason to praise you [what credit/honor is that for you…?] for ·being patient in your punishment [enduring it]. But if you suffer for doing good, and you ·are patient [endure it], ·then God is pleased [this is commendable to God; this is favor/credit/grace from God].


text:
[For] This is what you were called to do, because Christ suffered for you ·and gave you [leaving you] an example to follow. So you should ·do as he did [follow in his footsteps].


text:
“He ·had never sinned [committed no sin], and ·he had never lied [no deceit was found in his mouth; ].”


text:
People ·insulted [abused; reviled] Christ, but he did not ·insult [abuse; revile] them in return. Christ suffered, but he did not threaten. ·He let God, the One who judges rightly, take care of him [He delivered/entrusted himself to the One who judges justly/rightly].


text:
Christ [himself] ·carried [bore] our sins in his body on the ·cross [tree; ; ] so we would ·stop living for [die to] sin and start living for ·what is right [righteousness]. And you are healed ·because of [by] his wounds.


text:
[For] You were like sheep that wandered away [], but now you have come back to the Shepherd and ·Overseer [Guardian] of your souls.


text:
Wives and Husbands In the same way [], you wives should ·yield [submit; be subject; ; ; putting the other person’s interests first] to your husbands. Then, if some husbands do not ·obey [or believe] ·God’s teaching [the word/message], they will be ·persuaded to believe [won over; gained] without anyone’s saying a word to them. They will be ·persuaded [won over; gained] by ·the way their wives live [their wives’ conduct/behavior].


text:
Your husbands will see the pure lives you live ·with your respect for God [in reverence/fear; fear in the positive sense of reverence for God; ].


text:
It is not [external things like] ·fancy [braided; elaborate] hair, gold jewelry, or fine clothes that should ·make you beautiful [be your adornment].


text:
No, your beauty should come from ·within you [your inner self; the hidden/secret person of the heart]—the beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit that will never ·be destroyed [fade; perish] and is ·very precious [very valuable; of great worth] to God [].


text:
In this same way the holy women who lived long ago and ·followed [put their hope in] God ·made themselves beautiful [adorned themselves], ·yielding [submitting; subjecting themselves] to their own husbands.


text:
Sarah obeyed Abraham, her husband, and called him her ·master [lord; ]. And you women are true children of Sarah if you always do what is ·right [good] and ·are not afraid [fear no fear/intimidation].


text:
In the same way [; ], you husbands should live with your wives in an ·understanding [considerate] way [; ], since they are ·weaker than you [the weaker sex; or the less empowered one; the weaker vessel; women are typically physically weaker, but in Greco-Roman and Jewish society, they also had less power and authority]. But ·show them respect [pay/give them honor], because ·God gives them the same blessing he gives you—[they are co-heirs of] ·the grace that gives true life [or God’s gift of life; the grace of life]. Do this so that nothing will ·stop [hinder] your prayers.


text:
Suffering for Doing Right Finally, all of you should ·be in agreement [be like-minded; live in harmony], ·understanding each other [sympathetic], ·loving each other as family [showing brotherly love], being ·kind [tender; compassionate] and humble.


text:
Do not ·do wrong to repay a wrong, and do not insult to repay an insult [repay evil for evil or insult for insult]. But repay with a blessing, because you yourselves were called [by God] to do this so that you might ·receive [inherit] a blessing [].


text:
·The Scripture says [For], “·A person must do these things [The one who wants] to ·enjoy [love] life and have many happy days. He must ·not say evil things [keep his tongue from evil], and he must ·not tell lies [keep his lips from speaking lies].


text:
He must ·stop doing [turn away from] evil and do good. He must ·look for [seek] peace and ·work for [pursue] it.


text:
·The Lord sees the good people [The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous] and ·listens to [his ears on] their prayers. But the [face of the] Lord is against those who do evil [; compare ].”


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If you are ·trying hard [eager; zealous; passionate] to do good, ·no one [who…?] can really ·hurt [harm; do evil to; mistreat] you.


text:
But even if you suffer for ·doing right [righteousness], you are blessed []. “Don’t be afraid of ·what they fear [or their threats/intimidation]; do not ·dread those things [be disturbed/intimidated; ].”


text:
But ·respect Christ as the holy Lord [sanctify Christ as Lord; ] in your hearts [that is, acknowledge his holiness and sovereignty in your life]. Always be ready to ·answer [or give a defense to] everyone who asks you to explain about the hope ·you have [that is in you],


text:
but answer in a ·gentle [humble] way and ·with respect [or with fear/reverence for God]. Keep a ·clear [good] conscience so that ·those who speak evil of [when you are accused, those slanderers of] your good ·life [behavior; conduct] in Christ will be made ashamed.


text:
It is better to suffer for doing good than for doing ·wrong [evil] if that is ·what God wants [the will of God].


text:
Christ himself suffered for sins ·once [or once for all; only his suffering has the power to redeem others]. ·He was not guilty, but he suffered for those who are guilty […the righteous for the unrighteous] to bring you to God. ·His body was killed [He was put to death in the flesh/body], but he was made alive in the ·spirit [or Spirit; at his resurrection in a glorified body].


text:
And in the ·spirit [or Spirit] he went and preached to the spirits in prison [probably either fallen angels, imprisoned by God (see ; ; ) or the spirits of the people who rejected Noah’s preaching; see ]


text:
who refused to obey God long ago in the time of Noah [], when ·God was waiting patiently [the patience of God waited] while Noah was building the ·boat [ark]. [In this ark; In it] Only a few people—eight in all—were saved ·by [or through] water.


text:
And that water ·is like [anticipates; foreshadows; symbolizes; prefigures] baptism that now saves you—not the ·washing [removal] of dirt from the body, but the ·promise [pledge; appeal; or response] made to God from a ·good [clear] conscience. And this is ·because Jesus Christ was raised from the dead [or through the resurrection of Jesus Christ].


text:
Now Jesus has gone into heaven and is at God’s right side [the place of honor] ·ruling over angels, authorities, and powers [with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him].


text:
Change Your Lives [Therefore] Since Christ suffered while he was in his ·body [flesh], ·strengthen [arm] yourselves with the same ·way of thinking Christ had [intention; attitude; resolve]. [Because] The person who has suffered in the ·body [flesh] ·is finished with sin [or has broken from the power of sin].


text:
·Strengthen [Arm] yourselves so that you will live ·here on earth [the rest of the time in the flesh] doing ·what God wants [the will of God], ·not the evil things people want [or not pursuing your own human desires].


text:
·In the past you wasted too much time [or For you have spent enough time in the past] doing what ·nonbelievers [Gentiles; pagans] enjoy. You were guilty of sexual sins, evil desires, drunkenness, wild and drunken parties, and ·hateful [lawless; detestable] idol worship.


text:
·Nonbelievers [The Gentiles/pagans] think it is ·strange [surprising] that you do not ·do the many wild and wasteful things they do [run with them into the same flood/excess of debauchery], so they ·insult you [abuse/slander you; or blaspheme].


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But they will have to ·explain [give account of] this to God, who is ready to judge the living and the dead.


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For this reason the ·Good News [Gospel] was preached to those who are now dead. Even though they were judged ·like all people [according to human beings in the flesh], the Good News was preached to them so they could live ·in the spirit as God lives [or in the Spirit as God lives; according to God in the spirit/Spirit; though Christians will die physically, because of the Good News they will live forever with God].


text:
Use God’s Gifts Wisely The ·time is near when all things will end [end of all things is near]. So ·think clearly [be serious/alert] and ·control [discipline] yourselves so you will be able to pray.


text:
Most importantly, love each other ·deeply [earnestly], because love ·will cause people to forgive each other for many sins [covers a multitude of sins; ; ].


text:
Each of you has received a gift to use to serve others. Be good ·servants [stewards; managers] of God’s various gifts of grace [; ].


text:
Anyone who speaks should speak ·words from God [or oracles from God; or as one bringing God’s message]. Anyone who serves should serve with the strength God gives so that in everything God will be ·praised [glorified] through Jesus Christ. Glory and power belong to him forever and ever []. Amen.


text:
Suffering as a Christian ·My friends [Beloved], do not be surprised at the ·terrible trouble [fiery ordeal; ; ] which now comes to test you. Do not think that something strange is happening to you.


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But ·be happy [rejoice] that you are sharing in Christ’s sufferings so that you will ·be happy and full of joy [rejoice exulting/joyously] ·when Christ comes again in glory [at the revelation of his glory].


text:
When people ·insult [ridicule] you ·because you follow Christ [for the name of Christ], you are blessed, because the glorious Spirit, the Spirit of God, ·is with [rests on] you [].


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Do not suffer for murder, theft, or any other crime, nor ·because you trouble other people [as a meddler/troublemaker].


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But if you suffer because you are a Christian, do not be ashamed. ·Praise [Glorify] God ·because you wear that name [or because you are called by his name; in that name].


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[For] It is time for judgment to begin with ·God’s family [the household of God; ]. And if that judging begins with us, what will ·happen to [be the end for] those people who do not obey the ·Good News [Gospel] of God?


text:
“If it is very hard for a ·good [righteous] person to be saved, ·the wicked person and the sinner will surely be lost! [or What will happen to the wicked person and the sinner?; ]”


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So those who suffer ·as God wants [or because God has allowed it; according to the will of God] should trust their souls to the faithful Creator as they continue to do what is ·right [good].


text:
The Flock of God ·Now [Therefore] I ·have something to say to [exhort; appeal to] the elders in your group. I also am an elder. I ·have seen [was a witness to] ·Christ’s [or the Messiah’s] sufferings [; ; ], and I will share in the glory that will be ·shown [revealed] to us. I ·beg [exhort; urge] you to


text:
·shepherd [tend] God’s flock [], ·for whom you are responsible [which is under your care]. ·Watch over [Oversee] them because you want to, not because you are forced. That is how God wants it. Do it because you are ·happy [eager] to serve, not because ·you want money [of greed].


text:
Do not ·be like a ruler over people [lord it over those; dominate those; ; ; ] ·you are responsible for [under your care; those allotted (to you)], but be good examples to ·them [the flock].


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Then when the Chief Shepherd [Christ] ·comes [appears], you will get a glorious crown that will never ·lose its beauty [fade away; crowns for athletic success made from flowers wilted quickly; ].


text:
In the same way, younger people should be willing to ·be under [submit/be subject to] ·older people [or the elders]. And all of you should ·be very humble with each other [clothe yourselves with humility toward one another]. [Because:] “God ·is against [resists; opposes] the proud, but he gives grace to the humble [].”


text:
Be humble [therefore] under God’s powerful hand so he will ·lift you up [exalt you] ·when the right time comes [in due time].


text:
·Control [Discipline] yourselves and be ·careful [alert]! The devil, your enemy, ·goes around [prowls] like a roaring lion looking for someone to ·eat [devour].


text:
·Refuse to give in to [Resist] him, by standing strong in your faith. You know that your ·Christian family [community of believers; brotherhood] all over the world is having the same kinds of suffering.


text:
And after you suffer ·for a short time [or a little], God, who gives all grace, will ·make everything right [restore you]. He will make you strong and support you and keep you from falling. He called you ·to share in his glory in Christ, a glory that will continue forever [into his eternal glory in Christ].


text:
Final Greetings I wrote this short letter ·with the help of Silas [through Silvanus; a variant of Silas; he either helped write the letter or carried it], who I know is a faithful brother in Christ. I wrote to ·encourage [exhort] you and to ·tell [testify/witness to] you that this is the true grace of God. Stand strong in that grace.


text:
·The church in Babylon [She who is in Babylon; “Babylon” is probably a veiled (and negative) name for Rome], who was chosen like you, sends you greetings. Mark, ·my son in Christ [my son; but probably a spiritual rather than a physical relationship], also greets you.


text:
·Give each other a kiss of Christian love when you meet [Greet one another with a kiss of love]. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.


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From ·Simon [Simeon; a version of Simon closer to the Hebrew name] Peter, a ·servant [slave] and apostle of Jesus Christ. To ·you [those] who have received a faith as ·valuable [precious; privileged] as ours, ·because our God and Savior Jesus Christ does what is right [or through the righteousness/justice of our God and Savior Jesus Christ].


text:
[May] Grace and peace be ·given to you more and more [lavished upon you; multiplied to you], ·because you truly know [or as you grow in your knowledge; through/in the knowledge of] God and Jesus our Lord.


text:
God Has Given Us Blessings ·Jesus has the power of God, by which he has given us [His divine power has given us] everything we need ·to live and to serve God [or to live a godly life; for life and godliness]. We have these things ·because we know [or as we better come to know; through the knowledge of] ·Jesus, who called us [the one who called us; may refer to Jesus or God the Father] by his glory and ·goodness [virtue; moral excellence].


text:
Through these he gave us the very great and precious promises. […so that] With these gifts you can ·share in [partake of; participate in] ·God’s nature [the divine nature; which enables us to live forever], ·and the world will not ruin you with its evil desires [or having escaped the world’s decay that was caused by its evil desires].


text:
·Because you have these blessings [For this very reason; the reasons stated in ], ·do your best [make every effort; strive] to ·add these things to [or increase these things in] your lives: to your faith, add ·goodness [virtue; moral excellence]; and to your ·goodness [virtue; moral excellence], add knowledge;


text:
and to your knowledge, add self-control; and to your self-control, add ·patience [or perseverance]; and to your ·patience [or perseverance], add ·service for God [devotion; piety; godliness];


text:
and to your ·service for God [devotion; piety; godliness], add ·kindness for your brothers and sisters in Christ [affection for fellow believers; brotherly love/affection; Greek: philadelphia]; and to ·this kindness [affection; brotherly love/affection], add love [Greek: agapē].


text:
If all these things are in you and are ·growing [increasing], they will ·help you to be useful and productive [keep you from being ineffective/idle and unfruitful/unproductive] in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.


text:
·But [or For] anyone who does not have these things ·cannot see clearly [is nearsighted]. He is blind [; ] ·and [or because he] has forgotten that he was made clean from his past sins.


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[Therefore] My brothers and sisters, ·try hard [make every effort; strive] to ·be certain that you really are called and chosen by God [confirm your calling and election]. [For] If you do all these things, you will never ·fall [stumble].


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·And [For in this way] you will be given a very ·great [rich; lavish] ·welcome [entrance; arrival] into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.


text:
You know these things, and you are ·very strong [established] in the truth [that has come to you; that you now have], but I will always ·help you remember [remind you of] them.


text:
I think it is right for me to ·help you remember [arouse you with a reminder] as long as I am in this ·body [tent; a metaphor for the transitory earthly body].


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I know I must soon ·leave this body [put off my tent; die; ; , ], as our Lord Jesus Christ ·has shown [made clear to] me [].


text:
I will ·try my best [make every effort; strive] so that you may be able [always] to remember these things even after ·I am gone [my departure; Peter’s death].


text:
We Saw Christ’s Glory [For] When we ·told [made known to] you about the ·powerful coming [or power and coming] of our Lord Jesus Christ, we were not ·telling [following; repeating] ·just clever stories that someone invented [or cleverly-concocted myths]. But we ·saw the greatness of Jesus with our own eyes [were eyewitness of his majesty].


text:
[For] ·Jesus heard the voice of God, the Greatest Glory [When that voice came to him from the Majestic Glory], when he received honor and glory from God the Father. The voice said, “This is my Son, whom I love, and I am very pleased with him [a reference to the Transfiguration; ; ; ].”


text:
·This makes us more sure about the message the prophets gave [or And we also have a reliable message from the prophets; And we have the prophetic word confirmed; probably referring to the Old Testament]. ·It is good for you [You do well] to follow closely what they said as you would follow a ·light [lamp] shining in a dark place, until the day ·begins [dawns] and the morning star rises in your hearts [; ; the planet Venus as seen before sunrise, here symbolizing Christ].


text:
·Most [First] of all, you must understand this: No prophecy in the Scriptures ·ever comes from the prophet’s own interpretation [or is a matter of one’s own interpretation].


text:
No prophecy ever came from ·what a person wanted to say [human will/intention], but people ·led [carried; moved] by the Holy Spirit spoke words from God. [True prophecy originates with God, not with the prophet.]


text:
False Teachers There used to be false prophets among God’s people [; ; ] just as you will have some false teachers ·in your group [among you; ]. They will secretly ·teach [bring in; introduce] ·things that are wrong—teachings that will cause people to be lost [destructive heresies/opinions/factions]. They will even ·refuse to accept [deny] the Master [Jesus] who bought ·their freedom [them; as a master purchases a slave; ; ]. So they will bring quick ·ruin [destruction] on themselves.


text:
Many will follow their ·evil [depraved; debauched; licentious] ways and ·say evil things about [malign; slander] the way of truth.


text:
·Those false teachers only want your money, so [In their greed] they will ·use [exploit] you ·by telling you lies [with deceptive/false words]. Their judgment spoken against them long ago is ·still coming [not idle], and their ruin ·is certain [does not sleep].


text:
[For if] When angels sinned, God did not ·let them go free without punishment [spare them]. [But] He sent them to ·hell [Tartarus; a Greek term for the underworld] and put them in caves of darkness where they are being held for judgment [; ].


text:
And God ·punished the world long ago [did not spare the ancient world] when he brought a flood to the world that was full of ·people who were against him [the ungodly]. But God ·saved [protected; kept] Noah, ·who preached about being right with God [a preacher of righteousness; Jewish tradition described Noah preaching repentance], and seven other people with him [his wife plus his three sons and their wives; ].


text:
And God also ·destroyed [condemned] the evil cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them until they were ashes [; ]. He made those cities an example ·of what will happen to [or for future generations of] ·those who are against God [the ungodly; ].


text:
But he saved Lot from those cities. Lot, a ·good [righteous] man, was ·troubled [distressed; or oppressed] because of the ·filthy lives [depraved behavior] of ·evil [lawless] people.


text:
(Lot was a ·good [righteous] man, but because he lived with evil people ·every day [day after day], his ·good heart [righteous soul] was ·hurt [tormented] by the ·evil things [lawless deeds] he saw and heard.)


text:
So the Lord knows how to save ·those who serve him [the godly] ·when troubles come [from trial/testing/temptation]. He will hold ·evil people [the wicked/unrighteous] ·and punish them, while waiting for the judgment day [or while they wait for their punishment on judgment day].


text:
That punishment is especially for those who ·live by doing the evil things their sinful selves want [go after the flesh with defiling passion/lust] and who ·hate [despise] authority []. These false teachers are bold and ·do anything they want [arrogant; self-willed]. They ·are not afraid [do not tremble] to ·speak against [slander; blaspheme] ·the angels [the glorious ones; probably angelic beings; unclear whether referring to good or evil angels; ].


text:
But even the angels, who are much stronger and more powerful ·than false teachers [or than the evil angels; unclear whether referring to false teachers or to “the glorious ones” (seen as evil angels) of ], do not ·accuse them with insults [bring a slanderous charge against them] before the Lord [see ].


text:
But these people ·speak against [slander; blaspheme] things they do not understand. They are like ·animals that act without thinking [irrational animals], animals [of simple instinct] born to be caught and killed. And, ·like animals, these false teachers will be destroyed [or like the evil angels, these false teachers will be destroyed; in their destruction they will be destroyed; ].


text:
·They have caused many people to suffer, so they themselves will suffer. That is their pay for what they have done […suffering harm as the wage of unrighteousness; a wordplay based on the similarity of the Greek words translated “suffering harm” and “unrighteousness”]. They take pleasure in ·openly doing evil [doing evil/carousing in the daylight], so they are like dirty spots and ·stains [blemishes] among you. They delight in deceiving you while ·eating meals [or feasting] with you [perhaps an allusion to the fellowship meal, or “love feast,” celebrated with the Lord’s Supper; ].


text:
·Every time they look at a woman they want her [They have eyes full of adultery], and ·their desire for sin is never satisfied [or they never stop sinning]. They ·lead weak people into the trap of sin [ensnare/entice/lure unstable people/souls], and they have ·taught [exercised; trained] their hearts to be greedy. ·God will punish them [Accursed children; under God’s curse]!


text:
These false teachers ·left [abandoned] the ·right [or straight] road and ·lost their way [wandered away; went astray], following the way Balaam went. Balaam, the son of ·Beor [or Bosor], loved ·being paid for doing wrong [the wages of unrighteousness; ; ; ].


text:
But a donkey, which cannot talk, ·told Balaam he was sinning [rebuked his wrongdoing]. It spoke with a ·man’s [human] voice and stopped the prophet’s ·crazy thinking [madness; ; ].


text:
Those false teachers are like ·springs [or wells] without water and ·clouds [or mists] blown by a ·storm [whirlwind; squall; ]. A place in the ·blackest [deepest; gloomy] darkness has been kept for them [].


text:
They ·brag with [speak with bombastic, boastful] words that ·mean nothing [are empty]. By their ·evil [fleshly] desires they ·lead people into the trap of sin—[entice] people who ·are just beginning to escape [or have barely escaped] from others who live in error.


text:
They promise them freedom [perhaps from the law or from fear of judgment], but they themselves are not free. They are slaves of ·things that will be destroyed [corruption; depravity]. For people are slaves of anything that ·controls [masters; overpowers; defeats] them [this last sentence may be a common proverb].


text:
They ·were made free [escaped] from the ·evil [depravity; defilement] in the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. But if they ·return to [get entangled again with] evil things and those things ·control [master; overpower; defeat] them, then ·it is worse for them than it was before [their last/final state is worse than the first; ; ].


text:
·Yes, [For] it would be better for them to have never known the ·right way [or the way of righteousness] than to know it and to turn away from the holy ·teaching [commandment; law] that was ·given [passed on; handed down] to them.


text:
What they did is like this true ·saying [proverb; parable]: “A dog ·goes back to what it has thrown up [returns to its vomit; ],” and, “After a pig is washed, it goes back and rolls in the mud.”


text:
Jesus Will Come Again ·My friends [Beloved], this is [now] the second letter I have written you [the first is probably 1 Peter] to ·help your honest minds remember [awaken/arouse your sincere understanding/intentions with a reminder].


text:
I want you to ·think about [remember; recall] the words the holy prophets spoke in the past, and remember the command our Lord and Savior gave us through your apostles [].


text:
It is most important for you to understand what will happen in the last days. ·People [Scoffers] will ·laugh at [scoff at; ridicule] you. They will ·live doing the evil things they want to do [indulge their own desires/lusts; ].


text:
[And] They will say, “·Jesus promised to come again. Where is he [Where is his promised coming]? [For] Our ·fathers [ancestors] have ·died [fallen asleep], but ·the world [all things] continues the way it has been since ·it was made [it began with creation].”


text:
But they ·do not want to remember [willfully forget/ignore] what happened long ago. By the word of God heaven ·was made [came to be; ; ; ; ], and the earth was made from water [; ] and with water [, ; ; ; ].


text:
·Then [Through these; either the water and the word of God, or the heavens and earth which poured forth their water; ] the world was flooded and destroyed ·with water [being deluged with water; ].


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And that same word of God is ·keeping [reserving; holding in store] heaven and earth that we now have in order to be destroyed by fire [; ; ; ]. They are being kept for the judgment day and the destruction of ·all who are against God [the ungodly/impious people].


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But do not forget [ignore; miss] this one thing, ·dear friends [beloved]: To the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like one day [our perception of time is not the same as God’s; ].


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The Lord is not ·slow [or late] in doing what he promised—the way some people understand ·slowness [lateness; ]. But God is being patient with you []. He does not want anyone to ·be lost [perish], but he wants all people to ·change their hearts and lives [come to repentance].


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But the day of the Lord will come like a thief [with surprise and danger]. The ·skies [heavens] will ·disappear [pass away; ; ; ; ; ] with a loud noise. ·Everything in them [The elements; either everything in the cosmos or specifically the heavenly bodies] will be ·destroyed [or dissolved] by ·fire [heat; burning], and the earth and ·everything in it [or all the deeds done on it] will be exposed.


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In that way everything will be ·destroyed [or dissolved]. So what kind of people should you be? You should live holy lives and ·serve God [be godly/pious],


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as you wait for and ·look forward to [strive for; or hurry; hasten] the coming of the day of God. When that day comes, the ·skies [or heavens] will be ·destroyed [or dissolved] with fire, and ·everything in them [the elements; ] will melt with ·heat [fire; burning].


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But God made a promise to us [; ], and we are waiting for a new heaven and a new earth where ·goodness [righteousness] ·lives [makes its home].


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[Therefore] ·Dear friends [Beloved], ·since [or while] you are waiting for this to happen, ·do your best [make every effort; strive] to be [found] without ·sin [spot] and without ·fault [blemish; the characteristics of the false teachers in ]. ·Try [Make every effort; Strive] to be at peace with God.


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·Remember [Consider; Bear in mind] that ·we are saved because our Lord is patient [our Lord’s patience is our salvation; his delay in coming allows more to be saved]. Our ·dear [beloved] brother Paul told you the same thing when he wrote to you with the wisdom that God gave him.


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He writes about ·this [these things] in all his letters. Some things in Paul’s letters are hard to understand, and people who are ·ignorant [untaught] and ·weak in faith [unstable] ·explain these things falsely [twist/distort them]. They also ·falsely explain [twist; distort] the other Scriptures, ·but they are destroying themselves by doing this [or which will lead to their destruction].


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[Therefore] ·Dear friends [Beloved], since you already ·know [are forewarned] about this, be ·careful [on guard]. Do not let those ·evil [lawless; unprincipled] people lead you away ·by the wrong they do [or by their deception; or into error]. Be ·careful [on guard] so you will not fall from your own ·strong faith [stability; firm position].


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But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Glory be to him now and ·forever [to the day of eternity]! ·Amen [So be it].


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We ·write [announce/proclaim to] you now about what ·has always existed [was from the beginning; ; ], which we have heard, [which] we have seen with our own eyes, [which] we have looked at, and we have touched with our hands. We ·write [announce/proclaim] to you about the ·Word that gives life [Word of life; associating the logos or “word” with Jesus suggests he is God’s communication with humanity; ; ; ].


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·He who gives life [The life] ·was shown [appeared; was revealed] to us. We saw him and can ·give proof about [testify/witness to] it. And now we ·announce [proclaim; declare] to you ·that he has life that continues forever [the eternal life]. He was with ·God the Father [the Father] and ·was shown [appeared; was revealed] to us.


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We ·announce [proclaim; declare] to you what we have seen and heard, ·because we want you also to have [so that you also may have] fellowship with us. Our fellowship is with ·God the Father [the Father] and with his Son, Jesus Christ.


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We write this to you so ·we may be full of joy [our joy may be complete/perfect/come to full expression].


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God Forgives Our Sins Here is the message we have heard from ·Christ [him] and now ·announce [proclaim; declare] to you: God is light [referring to God’s truth and goodness], and in him there is no darkness [referring to falsehood and evil] at all.


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So if we say we have fellowship with God, but we ·continue living [are walking] in darkness, we are liars and do not ·follow [perform; practice; act according to] the truth [; ].


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But if we ·live [walk] in the light, as ·God [he] is in the light, we ·can share [have] fellowship with each other. Then the blood of Jesus, God’s Son, cleanses us from every sin.


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If we say we ·have no sin [or have no sin nature; or are not guilty of sinning], we are ·fooling [deceiving] ourselves, and the truth is not in us.


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But if we confess our sins, he will forgive our sins, because ·we can trust God to do what is right [he is faithful and righteous/just; ]. He will ·cleanse [purify] us from all ·the wrongs we have done [unrighteousness].


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If we ·say [claim] we have not sinned, we make God a liar, and ·we do not accept God’s teaching [his word is not in us].


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Jesus Is Our Helper My ·dear children [little children; a term of endearment], I write ·this letter [these things] to you so you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have a ·helper [counselor; advocate; ] in the presence of the Father—Jesus Christ, ·the One who does what is right [or the Righteous One].


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He ·died in our place to take away [is the atoning sacrifice/propitiation for] our sins [his death pays the penalty and removes God’s anger from us; ; ; ], and not only our sins but the sins of ·all people [the whole world].


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Anyone who says, “I know ·God [him],” but does not ·obey [keep] ·God’s [his] commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person.


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But if someone ·obeys [keeps] ·God’s teaching [his word], then in that person ·God’s love [or love for God] has ·truly reached its goal [been fulfilled/perfected/completed]. This is how we can be sure we are ·living in God [in him]:


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The Command to Love Others ·My dear friends [Beloved], I am not writing a new command to you but an old command you have had from the beginning [; ]. It is the ·teaching [word] you have already heard.


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But also I am writing a new command to you, ·and you can see its truth in Jesus [which is true in him] and in you, ·because [or that] the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining.


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Anyone who ·says [claims; as do the false teachers; see ], “I am in the light,” [following God’s goodness and truthfulness] but hates a brother or sister [fellow Christian], is still in the darkness.


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Whoever loves a brother or sister ·lives [abides; remains] in the light and ·will not cause anyone to stumble in his faith [or he will not stumble in his faith; there is no cause of stumbling in him; the “stumbling” may be either by apostasy or sin; ; ; ; ].


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But whoever hates a brother or sister is in darkness, ·lives [walks] in darkness, and does not know where to go, because the darkness has ·made that person blind [blinded his eyes].


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I write to you, dear children [], because your sins are forgiven ·through Christ [on account of his name; the name represents the person].


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I write to you, fathers [probably senior members of the congregation], ·because [or that] you know the One who existed from the beginning [Christ; ]. I write to you, young people, ·because [or that] you have ·defeated [conquered; overcome] the Evil One.


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I ·write [or have written] to you, children, ·because [or that] you ·know [have come to know] the Father. I ·write [or have written] to you, fathers, ·because [or that] you ·know [have come to know] the One who existed from the beginning []. I ·write [or have written] to you, young people, ·because [or that] you are strong; the ·teaching [word] of God ·lives [abides; remains] in you, and you have ·defeated [conquered; overcome] the Evil One.


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Do not love the world or the things ·in [associated with] the world. If you love the world, the love ·of [or for] the Father is not in you [].


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[For] ·These are the ways of [All that is in/associated with] the world: ·wanting to please our sinful selves [the desire/lust of the flesh], ·wanting the sinful things we see [the desire/lust of the eyes], and ·being too proud of what we have [the pride of life/possessions]. None of these come from the Father, but all of them come from the world.


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The world and ·everything that people want in it [its desire/lust] are passing away [], but the person who does ·what God wants [the will of God] ·lives [abides; remains] forever.


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Reject the Enemies of Christ My dear children [], ·these are the last days [it is the last hour; suggesting urgency, though not claiming the end was near]. [Just as] You have heard that the ·enemy of Christ [antichrist] is coming, and now many ·enemies of Christ [antichrists; false teachers; ; ] are already here. This is how we know that ·these are the last days [it is the last hour].


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·These enemies of Christ were in our fellowship, but they left us [They went out from us; probably to form a rival fellowship]. They never really belonged to us [But they were not of us]; [For] if they had been a part of us, they would have ·stayed [remained; abided] with us. But they left, ·and this shows [or so that it would be shown] that none of them really belonged to us.


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You have the ·gift [anointing; probably the Holy Spirit and/or the spiritual gift of the Word of God applied to their hearts; ; ; ; ; ] that the Holy One gave you [from the Holy One; a reference to God the Father () or more likely Jesus Christ (; )], so you all ·know the truth [or have knowledge; know].


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I do not write to you because you do not know the truth but because you do know the truth. And you know that no lie comes from the truth.


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Who is the liar? It is the person who ·does not accept [denies; repudiates] Jesus as the ·Christ [Messiah; Anointed One]. This is the ·enemy of Christ [antichrist]: the person who ·does not accept [denies; repudiates] the Father and ·his [the] Son.


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Whoever ·does not accept [denies; repudiates] the Son does not have the Father. But whoever ·confesses [acknowledges; accepts] the Son has the Father, too.


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[As for you] Be sure you ·continue to follow [abide/remain in] ·the teaching [what] you heard from the beginning [when they first became Christians; ; ; ; ; , ]. If you ·continue to follow [abide/remain in] what you heard from the beginning, you will [also; indeed] ·stay [abide; remain] in the Son and in the Father.


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And this is ·what the Son [the promise which he himself] promised to us—·life forever [eternal life; ; ].


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I ·am writing [or have written] ·this letter [these things] about those people who are ·trying to lead you the wrong way [deceiving you; leading you astray].


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[As for you] ·Christ gave you a special gift that is still in you [The anointing that you received from him abides/remains in you; ], so you do not need ·any other teacher [anyone to teach you; ]. [But just as] His ·gift [anointing] teaches you about everything, and it is true, not false. So ·continue to live in Christ, as his gift taught you [just as he taught you, abide/remain in him].


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·Yes [Now], my dear children [], ·live [abide; remain] in him so that when ·Christ comes back [he appears/is revealed], we can be ·without fear [confident] and not be ashamed [of him] ·in his presence [at his coming].


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·Since [If] you know that ·Christ [he] is righteous, you know that all who ·do right [practice righteousness] ·are God’s children [have been born of/begotten by him].


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We Are God’s Children ·The Father has loved us so much [See what sort of love the Father has given us…!] that we are called children of God. ·And we really are his children [And we are!]. The reason ·the people in the world do [the world does] not know us is that they have not known him.


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·Dear friends [Beloved], now we are children of God, and ·we have not yet been shown [it has not yet been revealed] what we will be in the future. But we know that when ·Christ comes again [he/it is revealed], we will be like him, because we will see him as he really is.


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·The person [Everyone] who ·sins [commits sin] ·breaks God’s law [commits lawlessness/iniquity; referring to the false teachers; ]. Yes, sin is ·living against God’s law [lawlessness; iniquity].


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You know that ·Christ came [he has appeared/was revealed] to take away sins and that there is no sin in ·Christ [him].


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So anyone who ·lives [abides; remains] in ·Christ [him] does not ·go on sinning [or sin; the Christian ideal, an implicit call to avoid sin]. Anyone who ·goes on sinning [or sins] has ·never really understood Christ and has never known him [neither seen him nor known him].


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Dear children [], do not let anyone ·lead you the wrong way [deceive you]. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as ·Christ [he] is righteous.


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Anyone who ·continues to sin [or sins] belongs to the devil [], because the devil has been sinning since the beginning. The Son of God ·came [was revealed; appeared] for this purpose: to destroy the devil’s work [; ; ; ; ; ].


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·Those [All] who are ·God’s children [born of/begotten by God; ] do not ·continue sinning [or sin], because ·the new life from God [or God’s message; or God’s Spirit; his seed/sperm] ·remains [abides] in them. They are not able to ·go on sinning [or sin], because they ·have become children of God [are born of/begotten by God].


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·So we can see [In this way it is apparent/revealed/evident] who God’s children are and who the devil’s children are: Those who do not ·do what is right [practice righteousness] are not ·God’s children [from/of God], and those who do not love their brothers and sisters are not ·God’s children [from/of God].


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We Must Love Each Other This is the ·teaching [message] you have heard from the beginning: We must love each other [as Jesus himself taught: ; ].


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Do not be like Cain who belonged to the Evil One and ·killed [murdered] his brother [; ]. And why did he ·kill [murder] him? Because the things Cain did were evil, and the things his brother did were ·good [righteous; just].


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Brothers and sisters [fellow believers], do not ·be surprised [be amazed; wonder] ·when [or that; or if] ·the people of the world hate [the world hates] you.


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We know we have ·left death and have come into life [passed/crossed from death to life; ] because we love ·each other [the brothers and sisters]. Whoever does not love ·is still dead [abides/remains/continues in death].


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Everyone who hates a brother or sister [fellow believer] is a murderer [because they have killed that person in their heart; ], and you know that no murderers have eternal life [abiding; remaining] in them.


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This is how we know what real love is: ·Jesus [he] ·gave [laid down] his life for us []. So we should ·give [lay down] our lives for our brothers and sisters [fellow believers; ].


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Suppose someone has ·enough to live [the world’s possessions/goods] and sees a brother or sister [fellow believer] in need, but ·does not help [closes off his heart/compassion from him]. ·Then God’s love is not living in that person [How does God’s love abide/remain in him?].


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My children [], we should love people not only ·with words and talk [in word and tongue], but ·by our actions and true caring [or by showing true love through our actions; in deed and truth].


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·This is the way [By this] we ·know [will know; perhaps in a future moment of crisis] that we belong to the ·way of truth [truth]. ·When [or If] our hearts [our conscience] ·make us feel guilty [condemn/convict us], ·we can still have peace before God [our hearts can be reassured before him]. God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything [].


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·My dear friends [Beloved], if our hearts do not ·make us feel guilty [condemn/convict us], we ·can come without fear into God’s presence [have boldness/confidence before God].


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And ·God gives us [we receive from him] what we ask for because we obey ·God’s [his] commands and do what pleases him [; ].


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This is ·what God commands [his command]: that we believe in [the name of] his Son, Jesus Christ, and that we love each other, just as he commanded.


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The people who ·obey [keep] God’s commands ·live [abide; remain] in God, and God ·lives [abides; remains] in them. We know that God ·lives [abides; remains] in us ·because of [by; from] the Spirit God gave us.


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Warning Against False Teachers ·My dear friends [Beloved], many false prophets [; ; ] have gone out into the world. So do not ·believe [trust] every spirit, but test the spirits to see if they are from God [the false teachers evidently claimed that their teaching was from the Spirit; ; ; ].


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This is how you can ·know [recognize] God’s Spirit: Every spirit [a teacher/prophet claiming inspiration from the Spirit] who ·confesses [acknowledges] that Jesus Christ came ·to earth as a human [in the flesh] is from God.


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And every spirit who ·refuses to say this about Jesus [does not confess/acknowledge Jesus] is not from God []. It is the spirit of the ·enemy of Christ [antichrist; , ], which you have heard is coming, and now he is already in the world.


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·My dear children [], you ·belong to [are from] God and have ·defeated [conquered; overcome] them [the antichrists/false teachers]; because ·God’s Spirit, who is in you, is greater than the devil, who is in the world [that which is in you is greater than that which is in the world].


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And they ·belong to [are from] the world, so what they say is from the world, and the world ·listens to [hears; obeys] them.


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But we ·belong to [are from] God, and those who know God ·listen to [hear; obey] us. But those who are not from God do not ·listen to [hear; obey] us. That is how we ·know [recognize] the Spirit that is true and the spirit that ·is false [deceives; errs].


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Love Comes from God ·Dear friends [Beloved], ·we should [let us] love each other, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has ·become God’s child [been begotten/fathered by God] and knows God.


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This is how God ·showed [revealed] his love to us: He sent his one and only Son into the world so that we could have life through him.


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This is what real love is: It is not our love for God; it is God’s love for us. He sent his Son ·to die in our place to take away our sins [as the atoning sacrifice/propitiation for our sins; see ].


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·Dear friends [Beloved], if God loved us ·that much [or in this way; ] we also should love each other.


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No one has ever seen God [God the Father; ], but if we love each other, God ·lives [remains; abides] ·in [or among] us, and his love ·is made perfect [is made complete; comes to full expression] in us.


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[By this] We know that we ·live [abide; remain] in God and he ·lives [abides; remains] in us, because he gave us [of; from; ] his Spirit [we share in his Spirit].


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We have seen and can ·testify [witness; proclaim] that the Father sent his Son ·to be [or as] the Savior of the world.


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Whoever ·confesses [acknowledges] that Jesus is the Son of God has God ·living [abiding; remaining] inside, and that person ·lives [abides; remains] in God.


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And so we ·know [have come to know] the love that God has for us, and we ·trust [believe; rely on] that love. God is love. Those who ·live [abide; remain] in love ·live [abide; remain] in God, and God ·lives [abides; remains] in them.


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This is how love ·is made perfect [is made complete; comes to full expression] ·in [or among] us: that we can ·be without fear [have boldness; have confidence; ; ; ] on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him [probably referring to Christ, our example of love].


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·Where God’s love is, there is no fear [There is no fear in love], because ·God’s perfect love drives out fear [perfect love casts out fear]. It is punishment that makes a person fear, so love is not made ·perfect [complete] in the person who fears [fear of punishment, not an appropriate fear of God; compare ; ; ].


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If people say, “I love God,” but hate their brothers or sisters [fellow believers], they are liars. [For] Those who do not love their brothers and sisters [fellow believers], whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have never seen.


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And ·God gave us this command [we have this command from him]: Those who love God must also love their brothers and sisters [fellow believers; ].


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Faith in the Son of God Everyone who believes that Jesus is the ·Christ [Messiah] is ·God’s child [born of/begotten by God], and whoever loves the Father also loves the ·Father’s children [one born of/begotten by him].


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·This is how [By/In this] we know we love God’s children: when we love God and ·obey [perform; carry out] his commands.


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·Loving God means [For this is the love of God:] ·obeying [keeping] his commands. And God’s commands are not ·too hard [burdensome] for us [],


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because everyone who is ·a child of [born of; begotten of] God ·conquers [defeats; overcomes] the world. And this is the ·victory [conquest] that ·conquers [defeats; overcomes] the world—our faith.


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·So the one who conquers the world is [or Who is it that conquers/defeats/overcomes the world but…?] the person who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.


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Jesus Christ is the One who came by water [likely a reference to Jesus’ baptism] and blood [a reference to his death]. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And the Spirit ·says that this is true [is the one who testifies/bears witness; ; ], because the Spirit is the truth.


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·We believe people when they say something is true. But what God says is more important [If we accept the witness/testimony of people, the witness/testimony of God is better], ·and he has told us the truth about his own Son [because this is the witness/testimony God has given about his Son].


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Anyone who believes in the Son of God ·has the truth that God told us [or has the internal testimony of the Holy Spirit; or has the testimony of the eyewitnesses (see ); has the witness/testimony in himself]. Anyone who does not believe makes God a liar [], because that person does not believe ·what God told us [the witness/testimony that God witnessed/testified to] about his Son.


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This is ·what God told us [the witness/testimony]: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.


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We Have Eternal Life Now ·I write this letter [I have written these things] to you who believe in the [name of the] Son of God so you will know you have eternal life.


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And this is the ·boldness [confidence] we have ·in God’s presence [before God; ]: that if we ask God for anything ·that agrees with what he wants [according to his will], he hears us.


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[And] If we know he hears us ·every time we ask him [in whatever we ask], we know we have what we ask from him [; ].


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If anyone sees a brother or sister [fellow believer] sinning (sin that does not lead to ·eternal death [death]), that person should ·pray [ask; intercede], and God will give the sinner life. I am talking about people whose sin does not lead to ·eternal death [death]. There is ·sin [or a sin] that leads to [eternal] death [probably referring to the false teachers, their rejection of the Spirit’s work having put them beyond repentance; compare ]. I do not mean that a person should ·pray [ask; intercede] about that sin.


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·Doing wrong is always sin [All unrighteousness is sin], but there is sin that does not lead to ·eternal death [death].


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We know that those who ·are God’s children [are born of/begotten by God] do not ·continue to sin [sin; , ]. The ·Son of God [the one born of/begotten by God; Jesus] ·keeps them safe [protects them], and the Evil One [the Devil] cannot ·touch [harm] them.


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We know that we ·belong to God [or are children of God; are of God], but the Evil One controls the whole world.


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We also know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we can know the True One. And ·our lives [we] are in the True One and in his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the true God and the eternal life.


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So, dear children [], ·keep yourselves away [guard yourselves] from ·false gods [idols; either literal idols or false ideas about God].


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Do Not Help False Teachers From the ·Elder [or old man; Greek: presbyteros, referring to advanced age, a church office, or both; ; ; ; see ]. To the ·chosen [elect] lady [most likely a metaphor for a church] and her children [the members of that church]: I love all of you in the truth [the truth about the Gospel of Jesus Christ], and all those who know the truth love you.


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Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ, will be with us in truth and love.


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I ·was very happy [rejoiced greatly] to learn that some of your children are ·following the way of [living by; walking in] truth [living as the Gospel requires], as the Father commanded us.


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And now, dear lady, this is not a new command [I am writing] but is the same command we have had from the beginning. I ask you that we all love each other.


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And ·love means [this is love:] ·living the way God commanded us to live [walking according to his commands]. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is this: ·Live a life of love [You must walk in it; that is, in love; ].


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[For] Many ·false teachers [deceivers] ·are in [have gone out into] the world now [, ] who do not confess that Jesus Christ came to earth ·as a human [in the flesh]. Anyone who does not confess this is ·a false teacher [the deceiver] and ·an enemy of Christ [the antichrist; one who radically opposes Christ; , ; ].


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·Be careful [Watch] yourselves that you do not lose everything you have worked for, but that you receive your full reward.


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Anyone who ·goes beyond [runs ahead of] Christ’s teaching and does not ·continue to follow only his teaching [abide/remain in it] does not have God. But whoever ·continues to follow [abides/remains in] ·the teaching of Christ [the teaching] has both the Father and the Son.


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If someone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not ·greet [welcome] that person or ·accept [receive] them into your house.


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I have many things to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to ·come to [visit] you and talk face to face so ·we can be full of joy [our joy can be complete].


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Help Christians Who Teach Truth From the Elder [or old man; Greek: presbyteros, referring to advanced age, a church office, or both; ; ; see ]. To ·my dear friend [the beloved] Gaius [an otherwise unknown Christian leader], whom I love in the truth [the truth about the Gospel of Jesus Christ]:


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·My dear friend [Beloved], I pray that you are ·doing well [prospering] in ·every way [all respects] and that your health is good, just as ·your soul is doing fine [it is well with your soul; your soul is prospering].


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[For] I was very happy when some brothers and sisters came and ·told me [testified] about the truth in your life and how you are ·following [walking in] the way of truth [].


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Nothing gives me greater joy than to hear that my children [members of the church under his spiritual care] are ·following the way of truth [walking in the truth].


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·My dear friend [Beloved], ·it is good that [you are living out your faith when] you help the brothers and sisters, even those ·you do not know [who are strangers].


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They ·told [testified before] the church about your love. ·Please help them [You will do well] to continue their trip [as missionaries] in a way worthy of God.


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[For] They ·started out in service to Christ [departed for the sake of the name], and they have been accepting ·nothing [no support] from nonbelievers [Gentiles; pagans].


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So we should ·help [show hospitality to; support] such people; when we do, we ·share in their work [become coworkers] for the truth.


text:
I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be ·their leader [first], will not ·listen to us [receive us; or accept our authority].


text:
So if I come, I will ·talk about [call to mind; bring attention to] what Diotrephes [nothing further is known about this man] is doing, about how he ·lies and says evil things about us [slanders us with evil/malicious words]. But ·more than [not satisfied with] that, he refuses to ·accept [welcome; receive] the other brothers and sisters; he even ·stops [prevents] those who do want to ·accept [welcome; receive] them and ·puts them out of [expels them from] the church.


text:
·My dear friend [Beloved], do not ·follow [imitate] what is ·bad [evil]; ·follow [imitate] what is good [; ; ; ; ; ; ]. The one who does good ·belongs to [is from] God. But the one who does evil has never ·known [seen] God.


text:
Everyone ·says [witnesses/testifies to] good things about Demetrius [likely the bearer of the letter to Gaius; otherwise unknown], and the truth agrees with what they say. We also ·speak [witness; testify] well of him, and you know ·what we say [our witness/testimony] is true.


text:
From Jude [; ], a ·servant [slave; bondservant] of Jesus ·Christ [the Messiah] and a brother of James [the half-brother of Jesus; ]. To all who have been ·called [chosen] by God. God the Father loves you, and you have been kept safe ·in [or for; or by] Jesus Christ:


text:
God Will Punish Sinners ·Dear friends [Loved ones; Beloved], I ·wanted very much [or was making every effort; or was just about] to write you about ·the salvation we all share [our common salvation]. But I felt the need to write you about something else: I want to ·encourage [exhort; urge; appeal to] you to ·fight hard for [earnestly contend for; defend] the faith [the authentic gospel message] that was ·given [handed down to; entrusted to] the ·holy people of God [saints] once and for all time.


text:
[For] Some people have ·secretly entered [sneaked in; infiltrated; wormed their way into] your group []. Long ago ·the prophets wrote about these people who will be judged guilty [their condemnation was written about/predetermined]. They are ·against God [ungodly] and have ·changed [perverted; distorted] the grace of our God [with its freedom from legalistic rules] into ·a reason for sexual sin [debauchery; licentiousness; immorality]. They also ·refuse to accept [deny; have turned against] our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.


text:
I want to remind you of some things you already know ·well [fully]: Remember that the Lord ·saved [rescued; delivered] his people by bringing them out of the land of Egypt. But later he destroyed all those who ·did not believe [were unfaithful].


text:
And remember the angels who did not keep their ·place of power [position of authority; own domain/rule] but left their proper ·home [dwelling place]. The Lord has kept these angels in ·darkness [gloom; the nether world or underworld; the place of the dead], bound with everlasting chains, to be judged on the great day [the final day of judgment; ].


text:
Also remember the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah [destroyed by God for their evil; ; ] and the other towns around them. In the same way they were full of sexual sin and people who ·desired sexual relations that God does not allow [pursued sexual perversion; departed after different flesh]. They suffer the punishment of eternal fire, as an ·example [warning] for all to see.


text:
It is the same with these people [the false teachers; ]. They are guided by dreams ·and make themselves filthy with sin [and live immoral lives/pollute their bodies; or to defile the flesh]. They ·reject [despise] ·God’s authority [authority] and ·speak against [insult; slander; blaspheme] ·the angels [celestial beings; glorious ones; ].


text:
Not even the archangel Michael [a leader among God’s angels; , ; ; ], when he ·argued [contended] with the devil ·about who would have [about] the body of Moses, dared to ·judge the devil guilty [bring a slanderous/blasphemous judgment]. Instead, he said, “The Lord ·punish [rebuke] you [probably a story told in the Testament of Moses, a Jewish writing of the early first century ad].”


text:
But these people ·speak against [slander; blaspheme] things they do not understand []. And what they do know, ·by feeling [instinctively], like ·dumb [unreasoning; irrational] animals, are the very things that destroy them.


text:
·It will be terrible for them [Woe to them!]. They have followed the way of Cain [who murdered his brother Abel; ], and ·for money [because of greed; for wages] they have ·given themselves [poured themselves out] to doing the ·wrong [error] that Balaam did [; ]. ·They have rebelled against God as Korah did, and like Korah, they surely will be destroyed [In the rebellion of Korah, they were destroyed; ].


text:
They are like ·dirty spots [blemishes; or dangerous hidden reefs/rocks] in your ·special Christian meals you share [fellowship meals; love feasts]. They eat with you and have no ·fear [qualms; or shame], ·caring only for themselves [or shepherds feeding themselves]. They are clouds without ·rain [water], which the wind blows around []. They are autumn trees without fruit that are ·pulled out of the ground [uprooted]. So they are twice dead [because they are both barren and uprooted; or perhaps a reference to both the physical and spiritual death of the false teachers].


text:
They are like wild waves of the sea, ·tossing up their own shameful actions like foam [foaming up their own shame]. They are like ·stars that wander in the sky [perhaps a reference to planets, whose variable positions, unlike those of the stars, provide mariners no guidance]. A place in the ·blackest darkness [gloom of darkness; ] has been kept for them forever [].


text:
Enoch, the seventh descendant from Adam [counting Adam first; ], ·said [prophesied] about these people: “·Look [Behold], the Lord is coming with many thousands of his ·holy angels [holy ones] to


text:
judge every person. He is coming to ·punish [convict] ·all [every person/soul] who are against God for all ·the evil they have done against him [their ungodly deeds committed in an ungodly manner]. And he will punish the ·sinners who are against God [ungodly sinners] for all the ·evil [harsh/defiant words; insults] they have said against him.” [Jude appears to be quoting here from the nonbiblical Jewish book of 1 Enoch (1:9), although he may be drawing generally from Jewish tradition.]


text:
These people ·complain and blame others [are grumblers and fault-finders], ·doing the evil things they want to do [pursuing their own desires/lusts]. ·They brag about themselves [Their mouths speak boastful words], and they ·flatter [impress; astound] others ·to get what they want [to gain an advantage; for the sake of gain].


text:
A Warning and Things to Do [But you] ·Dear friends [Beloved], remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ ·said before [predicted; prophesied; foretold; ].


text:
[For] They said to you, “In the ·last times [end time] there will be ·people who laugh about God [scoffers; mockers], ·following [pursuing] their own ·evil [ungodly] ·desires [passions; lusts; ].”


text:
These are the people who ·divide you [cause divisions], people ·whose thoughts are only of this world [who are worldly; or who live by natural instincts/desires], who do not have the Spirit [living within them and guiding them].


text:
But [you] ·dear friends [beloved], ·use your most holy faith to build yourselves up [or build yourselves up on the foundation of your most holy faith; the whole body of true Christian doctrine and practice], praying ·in [in dependence on; or as directed by; or according to the will of] the Holy Spirit.


text:
Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ ·to give you [that leads to] ·life forever [eternal life].


text:
·Take others out of the fire, and save them [Save/Rescue others by snatching them from the fire; fire represents judgment]. Show mercy mixed with fear to others [fear inspired by God’s righteous judgment against sin], hating even their clothes which are ·dirty from sin [stained by the sinful nature/flesh].


text:
Praise God ·God is strong and can [Now to the one who is able to] ·help you not to fall [keep/guard you from falling/stumbling]. ·He can bring you […and to present you] before his ·glory [glorious presence] ·without any wrong in you [faultless; blameless; spotless] and ·can give you great joy [with gladness/jubilation/rejoicing].


text:
To the only God, ·the One who saves us [our Savior], be glory, ·greatness [majesty], ·power [might], and authority through Jesus Christ our Lord for all ·time past [the ages], now, and forever. Amen.


text:
John Tells About This Book This is the revelation ·of Jesus Christ [about Jesus Christ; or given by Jesus Christ; the author could be intentionally ambiguous], which God gave to him, to show his servants what must ·soon [quickly] happen. And Jesus sent his angel to ·show it [make it known] to his servant John,


text:
who has ·told [witnessed; testified to] everything he has seen. It is the word of God; it is the ·message [witness; testimony] from Jesus Christ.


text:
·Blessed [Happy] is the one who reads the words of ·God’s message [the prophecy], and ·blessed [happy] are the people who hear this message and ·do [keep; obey] what is written in it [the context envisioned is a leader reading to a congregation]. ·The time is near when all of this will happen [For the time is near].


text:
Jesus’ Message to the Churches From John. To the seven churches in Asia [the Roman province of Asia, today part of western Turkey]: Grace and peace to you from the One who is and [the One who] was and [the One who] is coming [these three descriptions function like titles for God; ], and from ·the seven spirits [referring either to angels or to the “sevenfold Spirit”—the Holy Spirit portrayed in his perfection (the number seven indicating completeness)] before his throne,


text:
and from Jesus Christ. Jesus is ·the faithful witness [or the faithful one, the witness], the ·first among those raised from [firstborn of/from among] the dead. He is the ruler of the kings of the earth. ·He is the One [To him] who loves us, who made us free from our sins ·with the blood of his death [by his blood].


text:
He made us to be a ·kingdom of priests [or kingdom and priests; or kingdom, that is, priests; ] who serve ·God his Father [his God and Father]. To ·Jesus Christ [him] be glory and ·power [dominion] forever and ever! Amen.


text:
Look [Behold], Jesus is coming with the clouds [], and ·everyone [every eye] will see him, even those who ·stabbed [pierced] him [a reference to the crucifixion; ]. And all ·peoples [people groups; tribes] of the earth will ·cry loudly [wail; mourn] because of him. ·Yes, this will happen [So it shall be; Yes]! Amen.


text:
The Lord God says, “I am the Alpha and the Omega [the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet; ; ]. I am the One who is and [the One who] was and [the One who] is coming [see ]. I am the ·Almighty [All-powerful].”


text:
I, John, ·am your brother. All of us share [your brother and partner] ·with Jesus [or in Jesus; referring to salvation as joining oneself to Christ] in ·suffering [persecution], in the kingdom, and in ·patience to continue [perseverance]. I was on the island of Patmos [a small island in the Aegean Sea near Asia Minor, present-day Turkey], because ·I had preached [of] the word of God and the ·message [witness; testimony] about Jesus.


text:
On the Lord’s day [probably a reference to the first day of the week, Sunday, when Christians met for worship] I was in the ·Spirit [or spirit; a state of deep spiritual communion with God], and I heard a loud voice behind me that sounded like a trumpet [trumpet blasts often precede a divine appearance or speech; , ].


text:
The voice said, “Write what you see in a ·book [scroll] and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea [locations in western Asia Minor, present-day Turkey].”


text:
and someone among the lampstands who was “like a Son of Man [referring to Jesus; the title he most often used to refer to himself; ].” He was dressed in a long robe and had a gold ·band [sash] around his chest [the clothes of a dignitary; ].


text:
His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow [], and his eyes were like ·flames of [blazing] fire [].


text:
His feet were like bronze ·that glows hot [refined; fired] in a furnace [], and his voice was like the noise of ·flooding water [rushing water; many waters; ].


text:
He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp double-edged sword came out of his mouth. ·He [His face] looked like the sun shining ·at its brightest time [or with full power/force; in its strength].


text:
When I saw him, I fell down at his feet like a dead man. He put his right hand on me and said, “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last.


text:
I am the One who lives; I was dead, but ·look [behold], I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys to death and ·to the place of the dead [Hades].


text:
So write the things you ·see [or have seen], ·what is now [what is] and what will happen ·later [after these things].


text:
Here is the ·secret [mystery] of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the ·angels [or messengers; these may be guardian angels, human leaders, or the personified “spirit” of each church] of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.


text:
To the Church in Ephesus “Write this to the ·angel [or messenger; see ] of the church in Ephesus [an important city in western Asia Minor]: “The One who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands [the resurrected Jesus; , ] says ·this [these things]:


text:
I know ·what you do [your works], ·how you work hard [your toil] and ·never give up [your perseverence/endurance]. I know you do not put up with ·the false teachings of evil people [evildoers; or evil]. You have tested those who say they are apostles but really are not, and you found they are ·liars [or false].


text:
You have ·patience [perseverance; endurance] and have ·suffered troubles [endured much] for my name and have not ·given up [grown weary].


text:
“But I have this against you: You have ·left [abandoned] ·the love you had in the beginning [or your first love].


text:
So ·remember [consider] ·where you were before you fell [how far you have fallen]. ·Change your hearts [Repent] and do ·what [the works] you did at first. If you do not ·change [repent], I will come to you and will take away your lampstand from its place.


text:
But ·there is something you do that is right [this you have]: You hate what the Nicolaitans do [we know little about this heresy, which possibly entailed false worship and immorality], as much as I.


text:
“Every person who has ears should ·listen to [hear; obey] what the Spirit says to the churches. To those who ·win the victory [overcome; conquer] I will give the right to eat the fruit from the ·tree of life, which is in the ·garden [or paradise] of God [; ].


text:
To the Church in Smyrna “Write this to the ·angel [or messenger; see ] of the church in Smyrna [a major city in western Asia Minor, identified with present-day Izmir, Turkey]: “The One who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again [the resurrected Jesus; ], says ·this [these things]:


text:
I know your ·troubles [persecution; affliction] and that you are poor, but really you are rich! I know the ·bad things [slander; blasphemy] some people say about you. They say they are Jews, but they are not true Jews. They are a synagogue ·that belongs to [of] Satan.


text:
Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will ·suffer [be persecuted/afflicted] for ten days [perhaps a symbolic number meaning a significant and definite time]. But be faithful, even if you have to die, and I will give you the ·crown [a wreath worn to indicate high status or as a reward] of life.


text:
“Everyone who has ears should ·listen to [hear; obey] what the Spirit says to the churches. Those who ·win the victory [overcome; conquer] will not be hurt by the second death [the spiritual death after physical death; , ; ].


text:
To the Church in Pergamum “Write this to the ·angel [messenger; see ] of the church in Pergamum [a rich city in western Asia Minor]: “The One who has the sharp, double-edged sword [the resurrected Jesus; ] says this [these things]:


text:
I know where you live. It is where Satan has his throne [a reference to false worship; Pergamum was a center of emperor worship]. But you ·are true to me [hold fast to my name]. You did not ·refuse to tell about [deny] your faith in me even during the time of Antipas, my faithful witness who was killed ·in your city [among you; we know nothing further about Antipas], where Satan lives.


text:
“But I have a few things against you: You have some there who follow the teaching of Balaam. He taught Balak how to ·cause the people of Israel to sin [put a stumbling block before the children of Israel] by eating food offered to idols and by taking part in sexual sins [; ; ; ; ].


text:
So ·change your hearts and lives [repent]. If you do not, I will come to you quickly and ·fight [make war] against them with the sword that comes out of my mouth [the judgment he enacts by merely speaking; ].


text:
“Everyone who has ears should ·listen to [hear; obey] what the Spirit says to the churches. “I will give some of the hidden manna [perhaps alluding to a Jewish tradition that the manna placed in the ark is hidden until the messianic age; ultimately referring to the spiritual life Christ provides; ] to everyone who ·wins the victory [overcomes; conquers]. I will also give to each one who ·wins the victory [overcomes; conquers] a white stone with a new name written on it [an unknown cultural image, which, along with the manna, points to salvation in Christ]. No one knows this new name except the one who receives it [the name could be God’s or Christ’s, but more likely refers to a new name given to the people of God].


text:
To the Church in Thyatira “Write this to the ·angel [messenger; see ] of the church in ·Thyatira [a small city in western Asia Minor]: “The Son of God, who has eyes that blaze like fire [] and feet like shining bronze [; the resurrected Jesus], says ·this [these things]:


text:
I know ·what you do [your works]. I know about your love, your faith, your service, and your ·patience [endurance; perseverance]. I know that ·you are doing more now than you did at first [your last works are greater than the first].


text:
“But I have this against you: You ·let that woman Jezebel spread false teachings [tolerate the woman Jezebel; probably the leader of the Nicolaitans, here given the name of the notorious Baal-worshiping queen; ; ; ]. She ·says she is [calls herself] a prophetess, but ·by her teaching she leads [teaches and misleads/deceives] my ·people [servants] to take part in sexual sins and to eat food that is offered to idols.


text:
I have given her time to ·change her heart and turn away from her sin [repent of her sexual immorality], but she does not want to ·change [repent].


text:
·So [Look!] I will throw her on ·a bed of suffering [or a sickbed; the bed used for sexual sin is now a bed of suffering]. And all those who take part in adultery with her will suffer greatly if they do not ·turn away from the wrongs she does [repent of her works/deeds].


text:
I will also kill her ·followers [children]. Then all the churches will know I am the One who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you for ·what you have done [your works/deeds].


text:
“But ·others [the rest] of you in Thyatira have not followed her teaching and have not learned what some call Satan’s deep secrets. I say to you that I will not put any other ·load [burden] on you.


text:
“I will give ·power [authority] over the nations to everyone who ·wins the victory [overcomes; conquers] and ·continues to be obedient to me [or keeps working for me; keeps/obeys my works] until the end.


text:
‘·You [he; the one who overcomes] will ·rule over [shepherd] them with an iron ·rod [or scepter], ·as when pottery is broken into pieces [or and will break them into pieces like pottery; ].’


text:
This is the same ·power [authority] I received from my Father. I will also give him the morning star [usually the planet Venus as seen before sunrise, but here symbolically Christ at his return; ; ; ].


text:
To the Church in Sardis “Write this to the ·angel [messenger; see ] of the church in ·Sardis [the capital of the Roman province of Lydia in western Asia Minor]: “The One [the resurrected Jesus] who has the ·seven spirits [referring either to angels or to the “sevenfold Spirit”—the Holy Spirit portrayed in his perfection; ] and the seven stars [] says ·this [these things]: I know ·what you do [your works]. ·People say [You have a name/reputation] that you are alive, but really you are dead.


text:
Wake up! Strengthen what you have left ·before it dies completely [or which is about to die]. I have found that ·what you are doing is less than what my God wants [your works are incompleted/unfulfilled before my God].


text:
So ·do not forget [remember] what you have received and heard. Obey it, and ·change your hearts and lives [repent]. ·So you must wake up, or [But if you do not wake up,] I will come like a thief, and you will not know ·when [at what hour] I will come ·to [upon; against] you.


text:
But you have a ·few [few people; few names] there in Sardis who have kept their clothes ·unstained [unsoiled; undefiled], so they will walk with me ·and will wear white clothes [in white], because they are worthy.


text:
Those who ·win the victory [overcome; conquer] will be dressed in white clothes like them. And I will ·not [never; an emphatic negation] erase [wipe out; blot out] their names from the ·book [scroll] of life [; ; ], but I will ·say they belong to me [confess their names] before my Father and before his angels.


text:
To the Church in Philadelphia “Write this to the ·angel [messenger; see ] of the church in ·Philadelphia [a city in the Roman province of Lydia in western Asia Minor]: “This is what the One who is holy and true, who holds the key of David [the resurrected Jesus; holding the key of David signifies access to the king; ], says. When he opens a door, no one can close it. And when he closes it, no one can open it [Jesus controls access to God].


text:
I know ·what you do [your works]. I have put an open door before you, which no one can close. I know you have little ·strength [power], but you have ·obeyed my teaching [kept my word] and ·were not afraid to speak [have not denied] my name.


text:
Those in the synagogue ·that belongs to Satan [of Satan] say they are Jews, but they are not true Jews; they are liars. I will make them come before you and bow at your feet, and they will ·know [acknowledge; learn] that I have loved you.


text:
You have ·obeyed my teaching [kept my word] about ·not giving up your faith [endurance; perseverance]. So I will keep you from the ·time [hour] of ·trouble [trial; testing] that ·will come [or is about to come] to the whole world to test those who live on earth.


text:
“I am coming ·soon [quickly]. ·Continue strong in your faith [Hold on to what you have] so no one will take away your crown [wreath indicating honor or victory; ].


text:
I will make those who ·win the victory [overcome; conquer] pillars in the temple of my God [an image of stability and security close to the glory of God], and they will never have to leave it [frequent earthquakes often forced Philadelphians to live outdoors]. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, that comes down out of heaven from my God [the believers’ eternal dwelling place; see ]. I will also write on them my new name.


text:
To the Church in Laodicea “Write this to the ·angel [or messenger; see ] of the church in Laodicea [a city in Phrygia, a mountainous province of western Asia]: “The Amen [Hebrew for “so be it”; here referring to Jesus], the faithful and true witness, ·the ruler of all God has made [; ; the resurrected Jesus], says this [these things]:


text:
I know ·what you do [your works], that you are not hot or cold. I wish that you were hot or cold [both positive images, alluding to cold refreshing mountain streams and healing hot springs near Laodicea]!


text:
[For] You say, ‘I am rich, and I have become wealthy and do not need anything.’ But you do not know that you are really ·miserable [wretched], pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.


text:
I advise you to buy from me gold ·made pure in [refined by] fire so you can be truly rich. Buy from me white clothes [indicating purity] so you can be clothed and so you can cover your shameful nakedness. Buy from me ·medicine [salve; ointment] to put on your eyes so you can truly see.


text:
“I ·correct [rebuke] and ·punish [discipline] those whom I love. So be ·eager to do right [zealous; earnest], and ·change your hearts and lives [repent].


text:
·Here I am [Look; Behold]! I stand at the door and knock. If ·you [anyone] hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and eat with you, and you will eat with me.


text:
“Those who ·win the victory [overcome; conquer] will sit with me on my throne in the same way that I ·won the victory [overcame; conquered; over death, by his resurrection] and sat down with my Father on his throne.


text:
John Sees Heaven After the vision of these things I looked, and [look; behold] there before me was an open door in heaven. And the ·same [first] voice that spoke to me before, that sounded like a trumpet [], said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after this.”


text:
Immediately I was in the ·Spirit [or spirit; a state of deep spiritual communion with God; ], and [look; behold] before me was a throne in heaven, and someone was sitting on it.


text:
The One who sat on the throne looked like precious stones, like jasper and carnelian [a symbol of great beauty, purity and value]. All around the throne was a ·rainbow [or halo] ·the color of [or that looked like] an emerald.


text:
Around the throne there were twenty-four other thrones with twenty-four elders sitting on them [probably angelic leaders]. They were dressed in white and had golden crowns [wreaths symbolizing honor or victory; see ] on their heads.


text:
Lightning flashes and ·noises and thunder [or the rumbling of thunder; phenomena associated with God’s appearance at Mount Sinai; ] came from the throne. Before the throne seven lamps were burning, which are the seven spirits [either angels or the “sevenfold Spirit”—the Holy Spirit portrayed in his perfection; ] of God.


text:
Also before the throne there was something that looked like a sea of glass, clear like crystal. In the center and around the throne were four living creatures ·with eyes all over them [full of eyes], in front and in back.


text:
The first living creature was like a lion. The second was like an ·ox [or calf]. The third had a face like a man. The fourth was like a flying eagle [; angelic beings identified with the most powerful example of various species].


text:
Each of these four living creatures had six wings and was ·covered all over with eyes [full of eyes], inside and out. Day and night they never ·stop [rest from] saying: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God ·Almighty [All-powerful]. He was, he is, and he is coming [, ].”


text:
[Whenever] These living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to the One who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever.


text:
Then the twenty-four elders bow down before the One who sits on the throne, and they worship him who lives forever and ever. They ·put their crowns down [cast/lay their crowns; ] before the throne and say:


text:
“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and ·power [strength], because you made all things. Everything existed and was made, ·because you wanted it [by your will].”


text:
Then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the One sitting on the throne. The scroll had writing on both sides and was ·kept closed [sealed] with seven seals [a wax stamp that sealed a document shut].


text:
And I saw a ·powerful [mighty] angel ·calling [proclaiming] in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?”


text:
But there was no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth who could open the scroll or look inside it.


text:
But one of the elders said to me, “Do not cry! [Look; Behold] The Lion from the tribe of Judah [a messianic title; ], ·David’s descendant [the root of David; a messianic title applied to Christ; ], has ·won the victory [overcome; conquered] so that he is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”


text:
Then I saw a Lamb [Jesus] standing ·in the center of the throne and in the middle of the four living creatures and the elders [or between the throne and the living creatures and among the elders]. The Lamb looked as if he had been ·killed [slaughtered; slain]. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God [either angels or the “sevenfold Spirit”; see ] that were sent into all the world.


text:
When he took the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders [] ·bowed down [fell] before the Lamb. Each one of them had a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s holy people [].


text:
And they all sang a new song [; ; ] to the Lamb: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were ·killed [slaughtered; slain], and with ·the blood of your death [your blood] you ·bought [ransomed; purchased; redeemed] people for God from every tribe, language, people, and nation.


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You made them to be a kingdom ·of priests [or and priests; ] for our God, and they will ·rule [reign; other manuscripts have “they reign” (present tense)] on the earth.”


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Then I looked, and I heard the voices of many angels around the throne, and the four living creatures, and the elders. There were ·thousands and thousands [myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands; a myriad can mean either ten thousand or many thousands; here means “countless”] of angels,


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saying in a loud voice: “The Lamb who was ·killed [slaughtered; slain] is worthy to receive power, wealth, wisdom, and strength, honor, glory, and ·praise [or blessing]!”


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Then I heard all creatures in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea saying: “To the One who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be ·praise [or blessing] and honor and glory and power forever and ever.”


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The four living creatures said, “Amen [Hebrew for “so be it”],” and the elders ·bowed down [fell] and worshiped.


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Then I watched while the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals []. I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, “·Come [or Go; Christ, the Lamb, calls forth the four riders who bring bloody judgment on the world]!”


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I looked, and ·there before me was [look; behold] a white horse. The rider on the horse held a bow [signifying war], and he was given a crown [indicating victory; see ], and he rode out, ·determined to win the victory [conquering and in order to conquer].


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Then another horse came out, a ·red [fiery/bright red; possibly signifying blood] one. Its rider was given ·power [permission] to take away peace from the earth and to make people ·kill [slaughter] each other, and he was given a ·big [great] sword [signifying civil war].


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When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “·Come [or Go]!” I looked, and ·there before me was [look; behold] a black horse [indicating mourning brought on by the rider], and its rider held a pair of scales in his hand [for use in commerce; ; ].


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Then I heard something that sounded like a voice coming from the middle of the four living creatures. The voice said, “A quart of wheat for a ·day’s pay [denarius; a Roman coin equal to a day’s wage], and three quarts of barley for a ·day’s pay [denarius; inflated prices caused by famine], and do not damage the olive oil and wine [indicates only partial destruction; vines and olive trees endured drought better than wheat and barley]!”


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When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “·Come [or Go; ]!”


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I looked, and ·there before me was [look; behold] a ·pale [or pale green] horse. Its rider was named death, and Hades [the realm of the dead, also known as Sheol] was following close behind him. They were given ·power [authority] over a fourth of the earth to kill people by ·war [the sword], by ·starvation [famine], by ·disease [pestilence; plague], and by the wild animals of the earth.


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When the Lamb opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar [probably the bronze altar where sacrifices were offered] the souls of those who had been ·killed [slaughtered; slain] because ·they were faithful to [of] the word of God and to the ·message [witness; testimony] they had ·received [or given; or maintained].


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These souls ·shouted [cried out] in a loud voice, “Holy and true ·Lord [Master], how long until you judge the people of the earth and ·punish them for killing us [avenge our blood]?”


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Then each one of them was given a white robe [signifying high status and purity] and was told to ·wait [or rest] a short time longer. There were still some of their fellow servants and ·brothers and sisters in the service of Christ [their brothers; the Greek term may include men and women] who ·must be [were soon to be] killed as they were. They had to wait until all of this was ·finished [fulfilled; completed].


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Then I watched while the Lamb opened the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake. The sun became black like ·rough black cloth [sackcloth made of goat hair; clothing used in mourning], and the whole moon became red like blood [signifying destruction; apocalyptic literature often describes nature falling apart at the end time; ].


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And the stars in the sky fell to the earth like ·figs [or unripe figs] falling from a fig tree when ·the wind blows [shaken by a strong wind/gale].


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The sky ·disappeared [vanished] as a scroll when it is rolled up [], and every mountain and island was moved from its place.


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Then the kings of the earth, the ·rulers [princes; nobles; magnates], the generals, the rich people, the powerful people, ·the slaves, and the free people [and everyone, both slave and free; people of every status and economic level] hid themselves in caves and in the rocks on the mountains.


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They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us. Hide us from the face of the One who sits on the throne and from the ·anger [wrath] of the Lamb!


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[Because] The great day for their ·anger [wrath] has come [the final judgment], and who can stand against it [a rhetorical question]?”


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The 144,000 People of Israel After ·the vision of these things [this] I saw four angels standing at the four corners [from every direction] of the earth. The angels were ·holding [restraining] the four winds [; ; ] of the earth to keep them from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree.


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Then I saw another angel coming up from the ·east [rising of the sun] who had the seal [] of the living God. And he ·called out [cried out; shouted] in a loud voice to the four angels to whom God had given power to ·harm [damage] the earth and the sea.


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He said to them, “Do not ·harm [damage] the land or the sea or the trees until we ·mark with a sign [place a seal upon] the foreheads [to spare them from harm; ] of the ·people who serve [the slaves/servants of] our God.”


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Then I heard how many people were ·marked with the sign [sealed]. There were one hundred forty-four thousand [the square of 12 multiplied by 1000; a symbolic number indicating completeness] from every tribe of the ·people [children; sons] of Israel.


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From the tribe of Judah twelve thousand were ·marked with the sign [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 [one of the two sons of Joseph; he replaces Dan in the list, perhaps because the tribe of Dan fell into idolatry; ] 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 [in OT lists Manasseh and Ephraim are named instead of their father Joseph; here Joseph replaces Ephraim, perhaps because of Ephraim’s bad reputation], and from the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand were ·marked with the sign [sealed].


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The Great Crowd Worships God After ·the vision of these things [these things] I looked, and ·there was a great number of people [behold a great crowd/multitude], so many that no one could count them. They were from every nation, tribe, people, and language of the earth. They were all standing before the throne and before the Lamb, wearing white robes [signifying high status and purity] and holding palm branches [used to celebrate a festive occasion, specifically a victory] in their hands.


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They were ·shouting [crying out] in a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”


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[And] All the angels were standing around the throne and the elders [] and the four living creatures. They all ·bowed [fell] down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,


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saying, “Amen [Hebrew for “so be it”]! ·Praise [Blessing], glory, wisdom, thanks, honor, power, and ·strength [might] belong to our God forever and ever. Amen!”


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Then one of the elders asked me, “Who are these people dressed in white robes? Where did they come from?”


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I answered, “You know, ·sir [or my lord].” And the elder said to me, “These are the people who have come out of the great ·distress [persecution; tribulation]. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb [having believed in Jesus, their sins are forgiven through Christ’s death and resurrection].


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Because of this, they are before the throne of God. They worship him day and night in his temple. And the One who sits on the throne will ·be present with [dwell with; or shelter; spread his tent over] them.


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Those people will never be hungry again, and they will never be thirsty again. The sun will not ·hurt [strike; beat on; ] them, and no [scorching] heat will burn them,


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because the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd [; ]. He will ·lead [guide] them to springs of ·water that give life [living water; the water of life; ]. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes [; ].”


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The Seventh Seal When the Lamb opened the seventh seal [the final and climactic seal; ], there was silence in heaven for about half an hour [a dramatic pause induced by awe].


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And I saw the seven angels who stand before God and to whom were given seven trumpets [trumpets often announce God’s appearance, accompanied by judgment and victory; ].


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Another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a golden ·pan for incense [censer; incense burner]. He was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all ·God’s holy people [the saints; ]. The angel put this offering on the golden altar before the throne.


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The smoke from the incense went up from the angel’s hand ·to [in the presence of] God with the prayers of ·God’s people [the saints].


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Then the angel filled the ·incense pan [censer; incense burner] with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth, and there ·were thunder and loud noises [was rumbling thunder], flashes of lightning, and an earthquake [].


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The first angel blew his trumpet, and hail and fire mixed with blood were ·poured [thrown; hurled] down on the earth [similar to the seventh plague against Egypt; ; ]. And a third of the earth [was burned up], and a third of the trees [was burned up], and all the green grass were burned up.


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The Seven Angels and Trumpets Then the second angel blew his trumpet, and something that looked like a ·big [great] mountain, burning with fire, was thrown into the sea [perhaps referring to a volcano or a flaming meteorite; ]. And a third of the sea became blood [echoes the first plague against Egypt; ],


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Then the third angel blew his trumpet, and a ·large [great] star, burning like a torch, fell from ·the sky [or heaven; perhaps a meteorite]. It fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water.


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[And] The name of the star is Wormwood [a plant with a greenish, bitter oil; a symbol of bitter sorrow; ; ; ]. And a third of all the water became ·bitter [wormwood; again an allusion to the first Egyptian plague], and many people died from ·drinking the water [the water] that ·was [became; was made] bitter.


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Then the fourth angel blew his trumpet, and a third of the sun, and a third of the moon, and a third of the stars were struck. So a third of them became dark, and a third of the day was ·without light [kept from shining], and also the night [echoing the ninth Egyptian plague; ].


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While I watched, I heard an ·eagle [or vulture] that was flying ·high in the air [in mid-heaven] cry out in a loud voice, “·Trouble! Trouble! Trouble [ Woe! Woe! Woe; reminiscent of OT funeral laments, signifying their doom; ] for those who live on the earth because of the remaining ·sounds [blasts] of the trumpets that the other three angels are about to blow!”


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Then the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star fall from ·the sky [or heaven] to the earth. The star was given the key to the ·deep hole [shaft] ·that leads to the bottomless pit [of the Abyss; the place of the dead and/or a prison for fallen angels; ; ].


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Then ·it [or he] opened up the ·hole that leads to the bottomless pit [shaft of the Abyss], and smoke came up from the ·hole [shaft] like smoke from a ·big [great; giant] furnace. Then the sun and ·sky [air] became dark because of the smoke from the ·hole [shaft].


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Then locusts came down to the earth out of the smoke [similar to the eighth Egyptian plague; ; see also ], and they were given the power ·to sting like [like the power of] scorpions [of the earth].


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They were told not to ·harm [damage] the grass on the earth or any ·plant [greenery] or tree. They could ·harm [damage] only the people who did not have the ·sign [seal] of God on their foreheads [].


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These locusts were not ·given the power [permitted] to kill anyone, but to ·cause pain to [torture; torment] the people for five months [perhaps referring to the limited life span of a locust]. And ·the pain they felt was like the pain a scorpion gives [their torture/torment was like the torture/torment of a scorpion] when it stings someone.


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During those days people will ·look for a way to die [seek death], but they will not find it. They will ·want [long; desire] to die, but death will ·run away [flee] from them.


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The locusts looked like horses ·prepared [equipped; trained] for battle []. On their heads they wore what looked like crowns of gold [indicating their victory; ], and their faces looked like human faces.


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Their chests looked like iron breastplates, and the sound of their wings was like the noise of many horses and chariots ·hurrying [charging; running] into battle [].


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The locusts had tails with stingers like scorpions, and in their tails was their ·power [authority] to ·hurt [damage; harm] people for five months.


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The locusts had a king who was the ·angel [or messenger] of the ·bottomless pit [Abyss; ]. His name in the Hebrew language is Abaddon and in the Greek language is Apollyon [both mean “Destroyer”; perhaps a reference to Satan].


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Then the sixth angel blew his trumpet, and I heard a voice coming from the horns [some ancient manuscripts specify that there are four horns; protrusions on the four corners of the altar symbolizing God’s strength] on the golden altar [the incense altar; ] that is before God.


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The voice said to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “·Free [Release] the four angels who are ·tied [bound] at the great river Euphrates [].”


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And they ·let loose [released] the four angels who had been ·kept ready [prepared] for this hour and day and month and year so they could kill a third of ·all people on the earth [humanity; mankind].


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The horses and their riders I saw in the vision looked like this: They had breastplates that were fiery red, dark blue [hyacinth-colored], and yellow like sulfur [brimstone]. The heads of the horses looked like heads of lions, with fire, smoke, and sulfur coming out of their mouths.


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A third of ·all the people on earth [humanity; mankind] were killed by these three ·terrible disasters [plagues] coming out of the horses’ mouths: the fire, the smoke, and the sulfur.


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The horses’ ·power [authority] was in their mouths and in their tails; their tails were like snakes with heads [; ], and with them they ·hurt [damaged; injured; wounded] people.


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The ·other [rest of the] people who were not killed by these ·terrible disasters [plagues] still did not ·change their hearts and turn away from what they had made with their own hands [repent from the works of their hands]. They did not stop worshiping demons and idols made of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood—things that cannot see or hear or walk [; ; ].


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These people did not ·change their hearts and turn away from [repent of] murder or ·evil magic [sorcery], from their ·sexual sins [fornication] or stealing.


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The Angel and the Small Scroll Then I saw another ·powerful [mighty; strong] ·angel [messenger; ] coming down from heaven ·dressed [wrapped; robed] in a cloud with a ·rainbow [or halo] over his head. His face was like the sun, and his ·legs [or feet] were like pillars of fire.


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The angel was holding a small scroll open in his hand. He put his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land.


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Then he ·shouted [cried out] loudly like the roaring of a lion [; ]. And when he ·shouted [cried out], the voices of seven thunders [] spoke.


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When the seven thunders spoke, I ·started [was about] to write. But I heard a voice from heaven say, “·Keep hidden [Seal up; ] what the seven thunders said, and do not write them down.”


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Then the angel I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven [as when taking an oath; ; ],


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and he ·made a promise [swore an oath] ·by the power of the One [by the One] who lives forever and ever []. He is the One who ·made [created] the ·skies [or heavens] and all that is in them, the earth and all that is in it, and the sea and all that is in it []. The angel ·promised [swore an oath], “There will be no ·more waiting [delay; time]!


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[But] In the days when the seventh angel is ready to blow his trumpet, God’s ·secret [mystery; hidden plan] will be ·finished [completed]. This ·secret [mystery; hidden plan] is ·the Good News God told [or just as he announced] to his servants, the prophets [; ].”


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Then I heard the same voice from heaven again, saying to me: “Go and take the open scroll that is in the hand of the angel that is standing on the sea and on the land.”


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So I went to the angel and told him to give me the small scroll. And he said to me, “Take the scroll and eat it [a symbol of internalizing the word]. It will be ·sour [bitter] in your stomach [because it is a message of judgment], but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey [because it is God’s word and because it brings salvation and vindication to his people; ; ; ].”


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So I took the small scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it. In my mouth it tasted sweet as honey, but after I ate it, it was ·sour [bitter] in my stomach.


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Then I was told, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages, and kings [he must share the word he just received].”


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The Two Witnesses I was given a ·measuring stick [a reed or cane used for measuring] like a ·rod [staff; walking stick], and I was told, ·Go [Get up] and measure the temple of God and the altar, ·and count [or including] the people worshiping there [probably to show God’s control and protection of his people; , ].


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But do not measure the ·yard [courtyard] outside the temple. Leave it ·alone [out], because it has been given to ·those who are not God’s people [the Gentiles; the nations]. And they will trample on the holy city [Jerusalem] for forty-two months [a period of oppression—either literal or symbolic—equal to three and a half years; see ; , ].


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And I will ·give power to [or appoint; give to] my two witnesses to prophesy for one thousand two hundred sixty days [42 months reckoned as 30 days each], ·and they will be dressed in rough cloth to show their sadness [dressed in sackcloth; mourning clothes].”


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These two witnesses are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth [reminiscent of Zerubbabel and Joshua whom God used to build the second temple in spite of opposition; ].


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And if anyone ·tries [wants] to ·hurt [harm; damage] them, fire comes from their mouths and ·kills [consumes; devours] their enemies []. And if anyone ·tries [wants] to ·hurt [harm; damage] them in whatever way, in that same way that person ·will [or must] die.


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These witnesses have the ·power [authority] to ·stop the sky [close the heavens] from raining during the time they are prophesying []. And they have ·power [authority] to make the waters become blood [; ; ], and they have ·power [authority] to send every kind of ·trouble [plague] to the earth as many times as they want.


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When the two witnesses have finished ·telling their message [giving their witness/testimony], the beast [probably the Antichrist; ; ; ] that comes up from the ·bottomless pit [Abyss; ] will fight a war against them. He will ·defeat [conquer] them and kill them.


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The ·bodies [corpses] of the two witnesses will lie in the ·street [public square; to be left unburied as a sign of disdain] of the great city where the Lord was ·killed [crucified; Jerusalem, perhaps here symbolic of the world’s opposition to God]. ·This city is named Sodom and Egypt, which has a spiritual meaning […which is figuratively/symbolically/spiritually called Sodom and Egypt; Jerusalem is symbolically named after places judged by God for wickedness (Sodom) and for oppressing God’s people (Egypt); ; ].


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Those from every race of people, tribe, language, and nation will look at the bodies of the two witnesses for three and one-half days, and they will ·refuse to bury them [not let them be placed in a tomb].


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People who live on the earth will rejoice and ·be happy [celebrate] because these two are dead. They will send each other gifts, because these two prophets brought much ·suffering [torment] to those who live on the earth.


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But after [the] three and one-half days, ·God put the breath of life into the two prophets again [a breath/spirit of life from God entered them; ]. They stood on their feet, and everyone who saw them became very afraid.


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Then the two prophets heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Come up here!” And they went up into heaven in a cloud as their enemies watched.


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In the same hour there was a ·great [violent] earthquake, and a tenth of the city ·was destroyed [collapsed; fell]. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and those who did not die were very afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven [; ].


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The second ·trouble [woe] is finished. ·Pay attention [Look; Behold]: The third ·trouble [woe] is coming ·soon [quickly; ].


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The Seventh Trumpet Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet. And there were loud voices in heaven, saying: “·The power to rule the world now belongs to [or The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of] our Lord and his Christ [Greek for Messiah or Anointed One], and he will ·rule [reign] forever and ever [; , ; ].”


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Then the twenty-four elders [], who sit on their thrones before God, ·bowed down [fell] on their faces and worshiped God.


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They said: “We give thanks to you, Lord God ·Almighty [All-powerful], [the One] who is and [the One] who was [in contrast with , ; , this lacks the future reference, “who is coming,” because here God has commenced his future reign], because you have ·used [or taken; or received] your great power and have begun to rule!


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The ·people of the world [nations; Gentiles] were angry [], but your ·anger [wrath] has come. The time has come to judge the dead [], and to reward your servants the prophets and your ·holy people [saints], ·all who respect you [those who fear your name], small and great. The time has come to destroy those who destroy the earth!”


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Then God’s temple in heaven was opened. The ·Ark that holds the agreement God gave to his people [Ark of his Covenant] could be seen in his temple. Then there were flashes of lightning, ·noises, thunder [rumbling thunder], an earthquake, and a great hailstorm [typical accompaniments to the arrival of God; ].


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The Woman and the Dragon And then a great ·wonder [sign; portent; symbolic descriptions of heavenly/spiritual realities] appeared in heaven: A woman was clothed with the sun, and the moon was under her feet [indicating authority or victory; ], and a crown [a reward of victory] of twelve stars was on her head [representing the twelve tribes of Israel; the woman is a symbol of the persecuted people of God].


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She was ·pregnant [in the womb] and cried out with [labor] pain, because she was about to give birth [to the Messiah].


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Then another ·wonder [sign; portent; ] appeared in heaven: There was a giant red dragon with seven heads [reminiscent of the many-headed Leviathan representing evil and chaos, here representing Satan; ; ; ] and seven ·crowns [diadems; royal crowns] on each head. He [or It; the Greek masculine pronoun can refer to a person or thing] also had ten horns [symbols of strength and power; , , ].


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His tail swept a third of the stars out of ·the sky [or heaven] and ·threw [cast; hurled; ] them down to the earth [representing an early victory against God’s people; ]. He stood in front of the woman who was ready to give birth so he could ·eat [devour] her ·baby [child; Jesus the Messiah] as soon as it was born.


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Then the woman gave birth to ·a son [a son, a male child,] who will ·rule [or shepherd] all the nations with an iron ·rod [sceptre; ; ]. And her child was ·taken up [or snatched away; probably a symbolic reference to the resurrection, where Satan’s victory was thwarted] to God and to his throne.


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The woman ·ran away [fled] into the ·desert [wilderness] to a place God prepared for her where she would ·be taken care of [nourished; fed] for one thousand two hundred sixty days [equal to three and one-half years; see ].


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Then there was a war in heaven. Michael [an archangel and protector of God’s people; , ; ; ] and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back.


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The ·giant [great] dragon was ·thrown down [cast; hurled] out of heaven. (He is that ·old snake [ancient serpent] called the devil or Satan [, ], who ·tricks [deceives; leads astray] the whole world.) The dragon with his angels was ·thrown down [cast; hurled] to the earth.


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Then I heard a loud voice in heaven saying: “The salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the ·authority [power] of his ·Christ [Messiah; Anointed One] have now come []. [For] The accuser [the name Satan means “Accuser” in Hebrew; ; ; ] of our brothers and sisters, who accused them day and night before our God, has been ·thrown [cast; hurled] down.


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And our brothers and sisters ·defeated [conquered] him by the blood of the ·Lamb’s death [Lamb; by means of Christ’s sacrificial death] and by the ·message they preached [word of their witness/testimony]. [And] They did not love their lives so much that they ·were afraid of [avoided] death.


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So rejoice, you heavens and all who live there! But ·it will be terrible for [woe to] the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you! He is filled with ·anger [wrath], because he knows he ·does not have much time [has little time].”


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When the dragon saw he had been ·thrown [cast; hurled] down to the earth, he ·hunted for [pursued; or persecuted] the woman who had given birth to the ·son [boy; male].


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But the woman was given the two wings of a great ·eagle [or vulture; ; ; ] so she could fly to the place prepared for her in the ·desert [wilderness]. There she would be ·taken care of [nourished; fed] for ·three and one-half years [a time, times, and half a time; , ; ; ; ], away from the ·snake [serpent; God will spiritually nourish his people though they are persecuted].


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Then the ·snake [serpent] ·poured [spewed; threw] water out of its mouth like a river ·toward [after] the woman so the flood would ·carry [sweep] her away [overwhelming water signifies overwhelming trouble; ; ].


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But the earth ·helped [rescued] the woman by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that ·came [spewed; was thrown] from the mouth of the dragon.


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Then the dragon was ·very angry [furious; full of wrath] at the woman, and he went off to make war against ·all her other children [the rest of her seed/offspring]—those who obey God’s commands and who ·have the message Jesus taught [or hold fast to their testimony about Jesus].


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And the dragon stood on the ·seashore [sand of the sea; some commentators and translations take this verse as the introduction to the episode in ].


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The Two Beasts Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea [the sea was a symbol of chaos in the ancient world; ]. It [or He] had ten horns [symbols of power and strength] and seven heads [], and there was a ·crown [diadem; royal crown; indicating a king of evil] on each horn. A ·name against God [blasphemous name; some manuscripts read the plural “names”] was written on each head.


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This beast looked like a leopard, with feet like a bear’s feet and a mouth like a lion’s mouth. And the dragon gave the beast all of his ·power [authority] and his throne and great authority.


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One of the heads of the beast looked as if it ·had been killed by a wound [had a fatal/mortal wound; was slain to death; an evil imitation of the Lamb that was slain; ], but this ·death wound [fatal/mortal wound; wound of its death] was healed [a false imitation of the resurrection]. Then the whole world was amazed and followed the beast.


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People worshiped the dragon because he had given his ·power [authority] to the beast. And they also worshiped the beast, asking, “Who is like the beast []? Who can make war against ·it [or him]?”


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The beast was ·allowed [given a mouth] to say ·proud words [great things; , , ] and ·words against God [blasphemies; ], and it was allowed to ·use [exercise] its ·power [authority] for forty-two months [].


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It ·used [opened] its mouth ·to speak [blaspheme] against God, against God’s name, against ·the place where God lives [his dwelling/tabernacle], and against all those who ·live [dwell] in heaven.


text:
It was given ·power [authority] to make war against ·God’s holy people [the saints] and to ·defeat [conquer] them. It was given ·power [authority] over every tribe, people, language, and nation [].


text:
And all who live on earth will worship ·the beast [it; or him]—all the people since the ·beginning [foundation] of the world whose names are not written in the Lamb’s book [scroll] of life [; ; ]. ·The Lamb is the One who was killed [or The Lamb who was killed/slaughtered before the creation/foundation of the earth]. [Some commentators link the phrase “since the beginning/foundation of the world” with “all who live on the earth”; others link it with “written in the Lamb’s book of life”; and still others with “the Lamb who was slain.”]


text:
If you are to be ·a prisoner [taken into captivity], then you will ·be a prisoner [go into captivity]. If you are to be killed with the sword, then you will be killed with the sword [; ]. This means that ·God’s holy people [the saints] must have ·patience [perseverance; endurance] and faith.


text:
Then I saw another beast ·coming up [rising] out of the earth []. It [or He] had two horns like a ·lamb [or ram; ], but it spoke like a dragon [acting like a prophetic spokesperson for the dragon (see ); along with the dragon and the first beast, this second beast forms an evil trinity].


text:
This beast ·stands before the first beast and uses the same power the first beast has [or uses all the authority of the first beast on its behalf]. By this ·power [authority] it makes ·everyone living on earth [the earth and its inhabitants] worship the first beast, who had the ·death wound [fatal/mortal wound; wound of its death] that was healed.


text:
And the second beast ·does great miracles [performs great signs] so that it even makes fire come down from heaven to earth [; , ] ·while people are watching [before people].


text:
It ·fools [deceives; tricks] those who live on earth by the ·miracles [signs; these are counterfeit miracles] it has been given the power to do. It does these ·miracles [signs] ·to serve the first beast [before/in the presence of the first beast]. The second beast orders [tells] people to make an ·idol [image] to honor the first beast, the one that ·was wounded by the deadly [has the wound of the] sword but ·sprang to life again [lives].


text:
The second beast was ·given power [or allowed] to give ·life [breath; a spirit] to the idol of the first one so that the idol could speak. And the second beast was ·given power [allowed] to ·command [cause; make] all who will not worship the ·image [idol] of the beast to be killed.


text:
The second beast also ·forced [caused; made] all people, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to have a ·mark [brand; stamp; to show allegiance to the first beast] on their right hand or on their forehead [compare ; ].


text:
[So that] No one could buy or sell without this mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name [Greek and Hebrew letters had a numerical equivalent, and so could represent names—a practice known as gematria].


text:
This ·takes [calls for; is] wisdom []. Let the one who has understanding ·find the meaning of [calculate; figure out] the number [of the beast], which is the number of a ·person [or man]. Its number is 666 [a symbolic number signifying imperfection and sin; some speculate it represents the name of a Roman emperor, perhaps Nero or Domitian].


text:
The Song of the Saved Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb standing on Mount Zion [a mountain near Jerusalem where the temple was located, representing the presence of God]. With him were one hundred forty-four thousand people [] who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads [].


text:
And I heard a sound from heaven like the noise of ·flooding water [rushing water; many waters; ] and like the ·sound [peal] of loud thunder []. The sound I heard was like ·people [harpists] playing harps.


text:
And they sang a new song [a song celebrating divine deliverance; ; ; ; ; ; ; ] before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders []. No one could learn the new song except the one hundred forty-four thousand [] who had been ·bought [redeemed] from the earth.


text:
These are the ones who did not ·do sinful things [defile themselves] with women, because they ·kept themselves pure [are virgins]. They follow the Lamb every place he goes. ·These one hundred forty-four thousand [They] were ·bought [redeemed] from ·among the people of the earth [humanity; mankind] as ·people to be offered [firstfruits; the earliest part of the harvest was offered to God] to God and the Lamb.


text:
·They were not guilty of telling lies [No lie was found in their mouth]; they are ·without fault [blameless].


text:
The Three Angels Then I saw another angel flying ·high in the air [in mid-heaven; ]. He had the eternal ·Good News [Gospel] to preach to those who ·live [dwell] on earth—to every nation, tribe, language, and people.


text:
He ·preached [spoke] in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him ·praise [glory], because the ·time has come for God to judge all people [hour of his judgment has come]. So worship God who made the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the springs of water.”


text:
Then the second angel followed the first angel and said, “·Ruined, ruined [Fallen, fallen] is ·the great city of Babylon [Babylon the Great; the capital of the empire that destroyed Jerusalem in 586 bc, a symbol for the evil world system opposing God; ; ; ]! She made all the nations drink the wine of the ·anger [or passion; the Greek word thymos can mean either anger or passion; see for a possible play on words] of her ·adultery [or sexual immorality].”


text:
Then a third angel followed the first two angels, saying in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast and his ·idol [image] and ·gets [receives; takes] the beast’s ·mark [brand; stamp] on the forehead or on the hand,


text:
that one also will drink the wine of God’s anger [perhaps a play on words with ; Babylon’s “passion” will bring on God’s “wrath”], which is prepared ·with all its strength [undiluted; unmixed; wine was often mixed with water] in the cup of his anger [God’s judgment is often portrayed in the OT as a “cup” of wine poured out; ]. And that person will be ·put in pain [tortured; tormented] with ·burning sulfur [fire and sulfur] before the holy angels and the Lamb.


text:
And the smoke from their ·burning pain [torture; torment] will rise forever and ever. There will be no rest, day or night, for those who worship the beast and his ·idol [image] or who get the ·mark [brand; stamp] of his name.”


text:
This means ·God’s holy people [the saints] must ·be patient [persevere; endure]. They must ·obey [keep] God’s commands and ·keep their faith in [remain faithful to] Jesus.


text:
Then I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: ·Blessed [or Happy] are the dead who die from now on in the Lord.” The Spirit says, “Yes, they will rest from their hard work, ·and the reward of all they have done stays with them [for their deeds will follow them].”


text:
The Earth Is Harvested Then I looked, and there before me was a white cloud, and sitting on the white cloud was One who looked like a ·Son of Man [or human being; a designation Jesus applied to himself; ]. He had a gold crown on his head and a sharp sickle [a curved blade used to harvest grain] in his hand.


text:
Then another angel came out of the temple and called out in a loud voice to the One who was sitting on the cloud, “Take your sickle and ·harvest [reap] from the earth, because the time to ·harvest [reap] has come, ·and [because] the ·fruit [harvest] of the earth is ripe.”


text:
So the One who was sitting on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was ·harvested [reaped].


text:
And then another angel, who has ·power [authority; charge] over the fire, came from the altar. This angel called to the angel with the sharp sickle, saying, “Take your sharp sickle and gather the bunches [clusters] of grapes from the earth’s vine, because its grapes are ripe.”


text:
Then the angel swung his sickle over the earth. He gathered the earth’s grapes and threw them into the great winepress of God’s ·anger [wrath; , ; ].


text:
They were trampled in the winepress outside the city, and blood flowed out of the winepress as high as horses’ bridles for a distance of about ·one hundred eighty miles [one thousand six hundred stadia].


text:
The Last Troubles Then I saw another ·wonder [sign; miracle; portent] in heaven that was great and amazing. There were seven angels bringing seven ·disasters [plagues]. These are the last ·disasters [plagues], because ·after [or in] them, God’s ·anger [wrath] is ·finished [completed; ended].


text:
I saw what looked like a sea of glass [; ] mixed with fire [; ]. All of those who had ·won the victory over [conquered] the beast and his ·idol [image] and over the number of his name [] were standing by the sea of glass. They had harps ·that God had given them [of/from God].


text:
They sang the song of Moses [; ], the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb: “·You do great and wonderful things [Great and marvelous/amazing are your works; ], Lord God ·Almighty [All-powerful]. ·Everything the Lord does is [Your ways are] ·right [just] and true [], King of the nations. 


text:
·Everyone will respect you [Who will not fear you…?], Lord [], and ·will honor you [honor/glorify your name]. [Because; For] Only you are holy. All the nations will come and worship [before] you [], because the right things you have done are now made known [].”


text:
After ·this [these things] I saw that the temple (the ·Tent [Tabernacle] of the ·Agreement [Testimony; Covenant Law]) in heaven was opened.


text:
And the seven angels bringing the seven ·disasters [plagues] came out of the temple. They were dressed in ·clean [pure], ·shining [bright] linen and wore golden ·bands [sashes] tied around their chests [garments worn by priests].


text:
Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls filled with the ·anger [wrath] of God, who lives forever and ever.


text:
The temple was filled with smoke [smoke often symbolizes the presence of God; ] from the glory and the power of God, and no one could enter the temple until the seven ·disasters [plagues] of the seven angels were ·finished [completed; ended; accomplished their purpose].


text:
The Bowls of God’s Anger Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour out the seven bowls of God’s ·anger [wrath] on the earth.”


text:
The first angel left and poured out his bowl on the land. Then ·ugly [foul] and painful sores [reminiscent of the sixth Egyptian plague; ; ] came upon all those who had the ·mark [brand] of the beast and who worshiped his ·idol [image].


text:
The second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it became blood like that of a ·dead man [corpse; reminiscent of the first Egyptian plague; ; see also ], and every living thing in the sea died.


text:
The third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and the springs of water, and they became blood [also similar to the first Egyptian plague].


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Then I heard the angel of the waters saying: “[O] Holy One, you are the One who is and who was. You are ·right [just] ·to decide to punish [or because you judged] these ·evil people [things]. 


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[Because] They have poured out the blood of your ·holy people [saints] and your prophets. So now you have given them blood to drink as they deserve [].” 


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And I heard ·a voice coming from the altar [the altar] saying: “Yes, Lord God ·Almighty [All-powerful], ·the way you punish evil people is [your judgments are] ·right [true] and ·fair [just; righteous].”


text:
The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and ·he [or it; either the sun or the angel] was given ·power [authority] to ·burn [scorch] the people with fire.


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They were ·burned [scorched] by the great heat, and they ·cursed [blasphemed] the name of God, who had ·control [authority; power] over these ·disasters [plagues]. But the people ·refused to change their hearts and lives [did not repent] and give ·glory [honor] to God.


text:
The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and darkness covered its kingdom [; reminiscent of the ninth Egyptian plague; ]. People ·gnawed [bit] their tongues because of the ·pain [agony].


text:
They also cursed the God of heaven because of their pain and the sores they had, but they refused to ·change their hearts and turn away [repent] from ·the evil things they did [their deeds].


text:
The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates so that the water in the river was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the east to come [reminiscent of the splitting of the Red Sea and the Jordan; ; ].


text:
Then I saw three ·evil [unclean] spirits that looked like frogs [reminiscent of the second Egyptian plague; ] coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.


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[For] These evil spirits are the spirits of demons, ·which have power to do miracles [that perform signs]. They go out to the kings of the whole world to gather them together for the battle on the great day of God ·Almighty [All-powerful].


text:
“Listen [Look; Behold]! I will come as a thief comes [that is, without warning]! ·Blessed [Happy] are those who stay ·awake [alert] and keep their clothes on [a metaphor for staying faithful and pure] so that they will not walk around naked and have people see their shame.”


text:
Then ·the evil spirits [they] gathered the kings together to the place that is called Armageddon in the Hebrew language [meaning “Mountain of Megiddo,” a strategic pass in northern Israel].


text:
The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air. Then a loud voice came out of the temple from the throne, saying, “It ·is finished [is done; has come to pass]!”


text:
Then there were flashes of lightning, ·noises, thunder [rumbling thunder], and a ·big [great] earthquake [; ]—the ·worst [greatest; most violent] earthquake that has ever happened since people have been on earth.


text:
The great city split into three parts, and the cities of the nations ·were destroyed [fell; collapsed]. And God remembered ·the sins of Babylon [Babylon] the Great, so he gave that city the cup filled with the wine of ·his terrible anger [the anger/fury of his wrath; ].


text:
Giant hailstones, each weighing about ·a hundred pounds [a talent], fell from the sky upon people [reminiscent of the seventh Egyptian plague; ; ]. People ·cursed [blasphemed] God for the ·disaster [plague] of the hail, because this ·disaster [plague] was so terrible.


text:
The Woman on the Animal Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke to me. He said, “Come, and I will show you the ·punishment [judgment] that will be given to the great ·prostitute [whore], the one sitting [or ruling] over many waters [referring to the Euphrates River and its many waterways (), or symbolically to the cosmic forces of evil].


text:
The kings of the earth ·sinned sexually [prostituted themselves; committed fornication] with her, and the people of the earth became drunk from the wine of her ·sexual sin [prostitution; fornication; ].”


text:
Then the angel carried me away ·by the Spirit [or in the spirit] to the ·desert [wilderness]. There I saw a woman sitting on a ·red [scarlet] beast. It was covered with ·names against God written on it [blasphemous names], and it had seven heads and ten horns.


text:
The woman was dressed in purple and ·red [scarlet] and was ·shining [glittering; adorned] with the gold, precious jewels, and pearls she was wearing. She had a golden cup in her hand, a cup filled with ·evil [abominable; detestable] things and the uncleanness of her ·sexual sin [prostitution; fornication].


text:
On her forehead a ·title [name] was written that was ·secret [a mystery]. This is what was written: the great babylon mother of ·prostitutes [whores] and of the ·evil [abominable; detestable] things of the earth


text:
Then I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of ·God’s holy people [the saints] and with the blood of ·those who were killed because of their faith in [witnesses to; or martyrs for] Jesus. When I saw the woman, I was ·very amazed [greatly astonished; amazed with great amazement].


text:
Then the angel said to me, “Why are you amazed [astonished]? I will tell you the ·secret [mystery] of this woman and the beast ·she rides [that carries her]—the one with seven heads and ten horns.


text:
The beast you saw ·was once alive but is not alive now [was, and is not; , , ]. But soon it will come up out of the ·bottomless pit [Abyss; ] and go away to ·be destroyed [its destruction]. There are people who live on earth whose names have not been written in the ·book [scroll] of life [] since the ·beginning [foundation; creation] of the world. They will be amazed when they see the beast, because he was ·once alive, is not alive now, but will come again [was, is not, but is to come; imitating the divine title of the Lamb (; ) and God (, ; )].


text:
“You need a wise mind to understand this. The seven heads on the beast are seven ·mountains [or hills; Rome was built on seven hills] where the woman sits.


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·And they are seven kings. Five of the kings have ·already been destroyed [fallen], one of the kings ·lives now [is], and another has not yet come. When he comes, he must stay a short time.


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The beast that ·was once alive [was], but ·is not alive now [is not], is also an eighth king. He belongs to the first seven kings, and he ·will go away to be destroyed [is heading to destruction].


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“The ten horns [, ] you saw are ten kings who have not yet ·begun to rule [received a kingdom], but they will receive ·power [authority] to rule with the beast for one hour [a short time].


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All ten of these kings have ·the same [one] ·purpose [intention], and they will give their power and authority to the beast.


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They will make war against the Lamb [Jesus], but the Lamb will ·defeat [conquer; be victorious over] them, because he is Lord of lords and King of kings. ·He will defeat them with his called, chosen, and faithful followers [or Those with him are called, chosen and faithful].”


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Then the angel said to me, “The waters that you saw, where the ·prostitute [whore] sits, are peoples, ·races [multitudes; crowds], nations, and languages.


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The ten horns and the beast you saw will hate the ·prostitute [whore]. They will ·take everything she has [make her desolate] and leave her naked. They will eat her body and burn her with fire [].


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[For] God ·made the ten horns want [put it into their hearts] to carry out his ·purpose [intention] by agreeing to give the beast their ·power to rule [kingdom], until ·what God has said comes about [the word of God has been fulfilled/completed].


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The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth.” [Whether symbolized by Rome, Babylon, Sodom or apostate Jerusalem, this city is ultimately the human world system ruled by Satan standing in opposition to the city of God, the new Jerusalem.]


text:
Babylon Is Destroyed After ·the vision of these things [these things], I saw another angel coming down from heaven. This angel had great ·power [authority], and his ·glory [splendor] ·made the earth bright [illumined the earth].


text:
He ·shouted [cried out] in a ·powerful [mighty; strong] voice: “·Ruined, ruined [Fallen, fallen] is ·the great city of Babylon [Babylon the great]! She has become a ·home [haunt; dwelling place] for demons and a ·prison [or haunt] for every ·evil [unclean] spirit, and a ·prison [or haunt] for every unclean bird and unclean beast. 


text:
She has ·been ruined [fallen], because all the ·peoples [nations] of the earth have ·drunk [some manuscripts read “have fallen from”] the wine of the ·desire [passion] of her ·sexual sin [promiscuity; fornication; ; ]. She has been ruined also because the kings of the earth have ·sinned sexually [fornicated] with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown rich from the ·great wealth [power] of her ·luxury [sensuality].”


text:
Then I heard another voice from heaven saying: “Come out of that city, my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive ·the disasters that will come to her [her plagues; , ]. 


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[Because] Her sins have ·piled up [heaped; reached] as high as ·the sky [heaven], and God has ·not forgotten [remembered] ·the wrongs she has done [her crimes; her sins]. 


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·Give [Pay back] that city the same as she ·gave to [paid] others. Pay her back ·twice as much as [double what] she did. ·Prepare wine for her that is twice as strong as the wine she prepared for others [In the cup she mixed, mix double for her; ]. 


text:
She gave herself much glory and ·rich living [sensual luxury]. Give her that much ·suffering [torment; torture] and ·sadness [grief; mourning]. She says ·to herself [in her heart], ‘I am a queen sitting on my throne. I am not a widow; I will never ·be sad [know grief; mourn].’ 


text:
So these ·disasters [plagues] will come to her in one day: death, and ·crying [sadness; grief; mourning], and ·great hunger [famine], and she will be ·destroyed [consumed; burned up] by fire, because the Lord God who judges her is ·powerful [strong].”


text:
The kings of the earth who ·sinned sexually [fornicated] with her and ·shared her wealth [lived in luxury/sensuality with her] will see the smoke from her burning. Then they will ·cry [weep] and ·be sad [mourn] because of her death.


text:
They will be afraid of her ·suffering [torment; torture] and stand far away and say: “·Terrible! How terrible for you [Woe, woe; ], great city, ·powerful [strong; mighty] city of Babylon, because your ·punishment [judgment; doom] has come ·in one hour [suddenly]!”


text:
And the merchants of the earth will ·cry [weep] and be sad about her, because now there is no one to buy their cargoes—


text:
cargoes of gold, silver, ·jewels [precious stones], pearls, fine linen, purple cloth, silk, ·red [scarlet] cloth; all kinds of citron wood and all kinds of things made from ivory, expensive wood, bronze, iron, and marble;


text:
[and cargoes of] cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, olive oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle, sheep, horses, carriages [wagons], ·slaves, and human lives [bodies and human souls].


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The merchants will say [implied by the context], “Babylon, the ·good things [fruit] you ·wanted [desired; longed for] are gone from you. All your ·rich [expensive; luxurious] and ·fancy [glamorous; shining] things have disappeared. You will never ·have [find] them again.”


text:
The merchants [of these things] who became rich ·from selling to her [from her] will be afraid of her ·suffering [torment; torture] and will stand far away. They will ·cry [weep] and ·be sad [mourn]


text:
and say: “·Terrible! How terrible [Woe, woe; ] for the great city! She was dressed in fine linen, purple and ·red [scarlet] cloth, and she was ·shining [glittering; adorned] with gold, precious jewels, and pearls []!


text:
All these riches have been ·destroyed [made desolate] in one hour [suddenly or in a short time]!” Every sea captain, every passenger, the sailors, and all those who ·earn their living from [trade; work on] the sea stood far away from Babylon.


text:
As they saw the smoke from her burning, they cried out loudly, “·There was never a city [What city was…?] like this great city!”


text:
And they threw dust on their heads [a ritual of mourning] and cried out, weeping and ·being sad [mourning]. They said: “·Terrible! How terrible [Woe, woe] for the great city! [In which] All the people who had ships on the sea became rich because of her wealth! But she has been ·destroyed [made desolate] in one hour [suddenly or in a short time]!


text:
·Be happy [rejoice] ·because of this [over her], heaven! ·Be happy [Rejoice], ·God’s holy people [saints] and apostles and prophets! [For] God has ·punished [judged] her ·because of what she did to you [or on your behalf; or for the judgment/punishment she imposed on you].”


text:
Then a ·powerful [strong; mighty] angel picked up a large stone, like ·one used for grinding grain [a millstone], and threw it into the sea []. He said: “In the same way, the great city of Babylon will be thrown down [with violence], and it will never be found again.


text:
The ·music [sound] of ·people playing harps [harpists] and ·other instruments [musicians; singers], ·flutes [flutists], and ·trumpets [trumpeters], will never be heard in you again. No ·workman [craftsman] doing any ·job [trade] will ever be found in you again. The sound of ·grinding grain [the millstone] will never be heard in you again.


text:
The light of a lamp will never shine in you again, and the voices of a bridegroom and bride will never be heard in you again. [For; Because] Your merchants were the world’s great people, and all the nations were ·tricked [deceived; led astray] by your ·magic [sorcery].


text:
·You are guilty of the death of the prophets and God’s holy people [In you was found the blood of the prophets and the saints] and all who have been ·killed [slaughtered; slain] on earth.”


text:
People in Heaven Praise God After ·this vision and announcement [these things] I heard ·what sounded like a great many people [the loud voice/sound of a great crowd] in heaven saying: “·Hallelujah! [From the Hebrew meaning “Praise the Lord/Yahweh!] Salvation, ·glory [honor], and power belong to our God,


text:
because his judgments are true and ·right [just]. He has ·punished [judged] the [great] ·prostitute [whore] who ·made the earth evil [corrupted the earth] with her ·sexual sin [fornication]. He has ·paid her back for [avenged] the ·death [blood] of his servants [which she shed; by her hand].”


text:
Again they said: “Hallelujah [see ]! She is burning [implied by the context], and her smoke will rise forever and ever.”


text:
Then the twenty-four elders [] and the four living creatures ·bowed [fell] down and worshiped God, who sits on the throne. They said: “Amen [meaning, “So be it!”], Hallelujah [see ]!”


text:
Then a voice came from the throne, saying: “Praise our God, all ·you who serve him [his servants/slaves] and all you who ·honor [fear; ] him, both small and great!”


text:
Then I heard ·what sounded like a great many people [the voice/sound of a great crowd], like the noise of ·flooding water [many waters], and like the noise of loud thunder. The people were saying: “Hallelujah []! [For] Our Lord God, the ·Almighty [All-powerful], ·rules [reigns]. 


text:
Let us rejoice and ·be happy [exult] and give ·God [him] ·glory [honor], because the ·wedding [marriage] of the Lamb has come, and the Lamb’s bride has made herself ready. 


text:
Fine linen, bright and ·clean [pure], was given to her to wear.” (The fine linen ·means [is; stands for] the ·good things done by God’s holy people [righteousness/righteous deeds of the saints/holy ones].)


text:
And the angel said to me, “Write this: ·Blessed [Happy] are those who have been invited to the wedding ·meal [supper; banquet] of the Lamb!” And the angel said [to me], “These are the true words of God.”


text:
Then I ·bowed down [fell] at the angel’s feet to worship him, but he said to me, “·Do not worship me [Don’t do that!; See, not]! I am a ·servant like you [fellow servant with you] and your brothers and sisters who have the ·message [witness; testimony] of Jesus. Worship God, because the ·message [witness; testimony] ·about [or from] Jesus ·is the spirit that gives all prophecy [or is the essence of true prophecy; or is Spirit-inspired prophecy; is the spirit/Spirit of prophecy].”


text:
The Rider on the White Horse Then I saw heaven opened, and there before me was a white horse. The rider [Jesus] on the horse is called Faithful and True, and ·he is right when [with justice/righteousness] he judges and makes war [; ].


text:
His eyes are like ·burning [blazing; flames of] fire [], and on his head are many ·crowns [diadems; royal crowns; contrast ; ]. He has a name written on him, which no one but himself knows.


text:
He is dressed in a ·robe [garment] dipped in blood [indicating judgment; ], and his name is the Word of God [].


text:
The armies of heaven, dressed in fine linen, white and ·clean [pure], were following him on white horses.


text:
Out of the rider’s mouth comes a sharp sword [] that he will use to ·defeat [strike down] the nations [], and he will ·rule [or shepherd] them with a ·rod [staff; scepter] of iron []. He will ·crush out [tread; stomp] the wine in the winepress of the ·terrible anger [furious wrath] of God the ·Almighty [All-powerful; ; ].


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Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he called with a loud voice to all the birds flying in ·the sky [mid-heaven]: “Come and gather together for the great ·feast [supper; banquet] of God


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so that you can eat the ·bodies [flesh] of kings, ·generals [captains; officers], mighty people, horses and their riders, and the bodies of all people—free, slave, small, and great [; ].”


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Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth. Their armies were gathered together to make war against the rider on the horse [Jesus] and his army.


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But the beast was captured and with him the false prophet who ·did the miracles [performed signs] ·for the beast [on his behalf; in his presence]. The false prophet had used these ·miracles [signs] to ·trick [deceive; lead astray] those who had the ·mark [brand; stamp] of the beast and worshiped his ·idol [image]. ·The false prophet and the beast [The two] were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.


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And ·their armies [the rest] were killed with the sword that came out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds ·ate the bodies until they were full [were gorged/filled up with their flesh].


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The Thousand Years I saw an angel coming down from heaven. He had the key to the ·bottomless pit [Abyss; ] and a ·large [great] chain in his hand.


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The angel ·grabbed [seized] the dragon, that ·old snake [ancient serpent] who is the devil and Satan [; ], and ·tied him up [bound him; ] for a thousand years.


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Then he threw him into the ·bottomless pit [Abyss], ·closed [or locked] it, and ·locked it [sealed it; or placed a seal on it] over him. The angel did this so he could not ·trick [deceive; lead astray] the ·people of the earth [nations] anymore until the thousand years were ·ended [finished; completed]. After ·a thousand years [these things] he must be set free for a short time.


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Then I saw some thrones and people sitting on them who had been given the power to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been ·killed [beheaded] because ·they were faithful to the message [of their testimony/witness] of Jesus and [because of] the ·message from [word of] God. They had not worshiped the beast or his ·idol [image], and they had not received the ·mark [brand; stamp] of the beast on their foreheads or on their hands. They came back to life and ·ruled [reigned] with Christ for a thousand years.


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(The others that were dead did not live again until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first ·raising of the dead [resurrection].


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·Blessed [Happy] and holy are those who ·share [have a part] in this first ·raising of the dead [resurrection]. The second death [being cast in the lake of fire] has no ·power [authority] over them. They will be priests for God and for Christ and will ·rule [reign] with him for a thousand years.


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Then he will go out to ·trick [deceive; lead astray] the nations in ·all [the four corners of] the earth—Gog and Magog—to gather them for battle []. ·There are so many people [In number] they will be like ·sand on the seashore [or the sand of the sea].


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And ·Satan’s army [they] marched across [the breadth of; or the broad plain of] the earth and ·gathered around [surrounded] the camp of ·God’s people [the saints] and the city God loves. But fire came down from heaven and ·burned them up [consumed/devoured them; ; ; , ].


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And ·Satan [the Devil], who ·tricked them [deceived them; led them astray], was thrown into the lake of ·burning sulfur [fire and sulfur] with the beast and the false prophet. There they will be ·punished [tormented; tortured] day and night forever and ever.


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People of the World Are Judged Then I saw a great white throne and the One who was sitting on it. Earth and ·sky [heaven] ·ran away [fled] from ·him [his presence/face] and ·disappeared [no place was found for them].


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And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne. Then ·books [scrolls] were opened, and [another book/scroll, which is] the ·book [scroll] of life was opened [; ]. The dead were judged by what they had done, which was ·written [recorded] in the ·books [scrolls].


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The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades [the realm of the dead, also known as Sheol; ] gave up the dead who were in them. Each person was judged by what he had done.


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And anyone whose name was not found written in the book [scroll] of life was thrown into the lake of fire.


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The New Jerusalem Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth [; ; ]. [For] The first heaven and the first earth had ·disappeared [passed away], and there was no sea anymore [the sea represents chaos and evil, so its absence indicates peace and security].


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And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem [the believers’ eternal dwelling place; ], coming down out of heaven from God. It was prepared like a bride ·dressed [adorned] for her husband [, ].


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And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “[Look; Behold] Now God’s ·presence [dwelling; tabernacle] is with people, and he will ·live [dwell; tabernacle; ] with them, and they will be his people [; ; ]. God himself will be with them and will be their God.


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He will wipe away every tear from their eyes [; ], and there will be no more death [; ], ·sadness [mourning], crying, or pain, because ·all the old ways [the old order; the first things] are gone.”


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The One who was sitting on the throne [Jesus] said, “Look! I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this, because these words are ·true and can be trusted [faithful/reliable and true].”


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The One on the throne said to me, “It is ·finished [done; accomplished]. I am the Alpha and the Omega [the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet; ], the Beginning and the End. I will give ·free water [freely] from the spring of the water of life to anyone who is thirsty [; ].


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Those who ·win the victory [conquer] will ·receive [inherit] ·this [these things; God’s promise], and I will be their God, and they will be my children [; ].


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But cowards, those ·who refuse to believe [without faith], who do ·evil [vile; detestable] things, who kill, who sin sexually, who do ·evil magic [sorcery], who worship idols, and who tell lies—all these will have ·a place [their part] in the lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death [].”


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Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last ·troubles [plagues] came to me, saying, “·Come with me [Come], and I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb [the church; ].”


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And the angel carried me away ·by the Spirit [or in the spirit] to a very large and high mountain. He showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.


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It ·was shining with [possessed; had] the glory of God and was ·bright [radiant; brilliant] like a ·very expensive jewel [precious stone], like a jasper, clear as crystal.


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The city had a great high wall with twelve gates with twelve angels at the gates, and on each gate was written the name of one of the twelve tribes of Israel.


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There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south, and three on the west [].


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The walls of the city were built on twelve foundation stones, and on the stones were written the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.


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The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod made of gold to measure the city, its gates, and its wall.


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The city ·was built in a square [lies foursquare], and its length was equal to its width. The angel measured the city with the rod. The city was ·1,500 miles long, 1,500 miles wide, and 1,500 miles high [1,200 stadia—its length and width and height are equal; the unit of measure called a stadium was approximately 600 feet].


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The angel also measured the wall. It was ·216 feet [144 cubits] ·high [or thick; the Greek is ambiguous], by human measurements, which the angel was using.


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The foundation stones of the city walls were ·decorated [ornamented] with every kind of ·jewel [precious stone; ; ]. The first foundation was jasper, the second was sapphire, the third was ·chalcedony [agate], the fourth was emerald,


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the fifth was ·onyx [sardonyx], the sixth was carnelian, the seventh was ·chrysolite [yellow quartz], the eighth was beryl, the ninth was topaz, the tenth was ·chrysoprase [turquoise], the eleventh was jacinth, and the twelfth was amethyst [the specific identity of some of these jewels is uncertain].


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The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate having been made from a single pearl. And the ·street [main street; square] of the city was made of pure gold as clear as glass.


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I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God ·Almighty [All-powerful] and the Lamb are the city’s temple [a temple representing the presence of God is not needed because God’s presence is throughout the city].


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The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, because the glory of God ·is its [gives it] light, and the Lamb is the city’s lamp [].


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By its light the ·people of the world [nations] will walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it [].


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Nothing ·unclean [impure; profane; common] and no one who does ·shameful [detestable; abominable] things or tells lies will ever go into it. Only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s ·book [scroll] of life [] will enter the city.


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Then the angel showed me the river of the ·water of life [or living water]. It was ·shining [bright; clear] like crystal and was flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb


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down the middle of the ·street [main street; square] of the city [; ]. The tree of life was on each side of the river [; heaven is like Eden, only better]. It produces ·fruit twelve times a year, once each month [or twelve kinds of fruit, producing fruit each month]. The leaves of the tree are for the healing of all the nations.


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·Nothing that God judges guilty will be in that city [Nothing accursed will be there; or There will no longer be any curse; ; ]. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and God’s servants will ·worship [serve] him.


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They will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads [denoting ownership; ; ; contrast ; ].


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There will never be night again. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, because the Lord God will give them light. And they will ·rule as kings [reign] forever and ever.


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The angel said to me, “These words ·can be trusted and are [are faithful and] true.” The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets [the spirit that inspires the prophets; ], sent his angel to show his servants the things that must happen ·soon [quickly].


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“·Listen [Look; Behold]! I am coming ·soon [quickly]! ·Blessed [Happy] is the one who obeys the words of prophecy in this ·book [scroll].”


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I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. When I heard and saw them, I ·bowed [fell] down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed these things to me.


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But the angel said to me, “·Do not worship me [Don’t do that!; See, not]! I am a ·servant like you [fellow servant with you], your brothers the prophets, and all those who ·obey [keep] the words in this ·book [scroll]. Worship God!”


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Then the angel told me, “Do not ·keep secret [seal; contrast ] the words of prophecy in this ·book [scroll], because the time is near for all this to happen.


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Let whoever is doing ·evil [wrong; harm] continue to do evil [wrong; harm; ]. Let whoever is ·unclean [vile; impure; filthy] continue to be ·unclean [vile; impure; filthy]. Let whoever is ·doing right [righteous; just] continue to do ·right [righteousness; justice]. Let whoever is holy continue to be holy.”


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“·Listen [Look; Behold]! I am coming ·soon [quickly]! ·I will bring my reward with me [and my reward is with me; ], and I will repay ·each one of you [each person] for what you have done.


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“·Blessed [Happy] are those who wash their robes [an image of spiritual cleansing] so that they will receive the ·right [power; authority] to eat the fruit from the tree of life and may ·go through [enter] the gates into the city.


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Outside the city are the ·evil people [dogs], those who do ·evil magic [sorcery], who ·sin sexually [fornicate], who murder, who worship idols, and who love lies and tell lies.


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“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to ·tell you [testify/witness to] these things for the churches. I am the ·descendant from the family of David [root and descendant/offspring of David; a messianic title applied to Jesus; ; ], and I am the bright morning star [; ; a messianic title].”


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The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” Let the one who hears this say, “Come!” Let whoever is thirsty come; whoever wishes may ·have [take; receive] the water of life ·as a free gift [freely].


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I ·warn [testify to] everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this ·book [scroll]: If anyone adds anything to these words, God will add to that person the ·disasters [plagues] written about in this ·book [scroll].


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And if anyone takes away from the words of this ·book [scroll] of prophecy, God will take away that one’s ·share [part] of the tree of life and of the holy city, which are written about in this ·book [scroll; ; ].


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·Jesus, the One who says these things are true, [The One who witnesses to these things] says, “Yes, I am coming ·soon [quickly].” ·Amen [Hebrew for “so be it”]. Come, Lord Jesus!


