Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
So that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Seek the Lord while he may be found;
call on him while he is near.
John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.
Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.
But he knows the way that I take;
when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.
My feet have closely followed his steps;
I have kept to his way without turning aside.
If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.
Who can hide in secret places
so that I cannot see them?”
declares the Lord.
“Do not I fill heaven and earth?”
declares the Lord.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
Because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
The way of the Lord is a refuge for the blameless,
but it is the ruin of those who do evil.
The precepts of the Lord are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
The Lord loves righteousness and justice;
the earth is full of his unfailing love.
You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house.
What a person desires is unfailing love;
better to be poor than a liar.
May your unfailing love be with us, Lord,
even as we put our hope in you.
I have chosen the way of faithfulness;
I have set my heart on your laws.
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”
“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.
Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.
He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.
Save me, Lord,
from lying lips
and from deceitful tongues.
Children’s children are a crown to the aged,
and parents are the pride of their children.
However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him
I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?
I instruct you in the way of wisdom
and lead you along straight paths.
Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done.
Come, let us bow down in worship,
let us kneel before the Lord our Maker
Walk with the wise and become wise,
for a companion of fools suffers harm.
The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
Blessed are all who fear the Lord,
who walk in obedience to him.
Now let the fear of the Lord be on you. Judge carefully, for with the Lord our God there is no injustice or partiality or bribery.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.
I will never forget your precepts,
for by them you have preserved my life.
For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.
I have chosen the way of faithfulness;
I have set my heart on your laws.
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious,
but fools are consumed by their own lips.
The Lord will vindicate me;
your love, Lord, endures forever—
do not abandon the works of your hands.
Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
I, even I, am he who comforts you.
Who are you that you fear mere mortals,
human beings who are but grass
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.
And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
As iron sharpens iron,
so one person sharpens another.
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.
Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children
Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.
The grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of our God endures forever.”
Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”
But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays. And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves.
Better a little with righteousness
than much gain with injustice.
Till the Spirit is poured on us from on high,
and the desert becomes a fertile field,
and the fertile field seems like a forest.
Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”
A cheerful heart is good medicine,
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
and he will establish your plans.
The Sovereign Lord is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to tread on the heights.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
all who follow his precepts have good understanding.
To him belongs eternal praise.
Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
his greatness no one can fathom.
For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.
He is the Rock, his works are perfect,
and all his ways are just.
A faithful God who does no wrong,
upright and just is he.
Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need.
But whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”
Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name;
make known among the nations what he has done.
You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
In that day you will say:
“Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name;
make known among the nations what he has done,
and proclaim that his name is exalted.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
You make known to me the path of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
For his anger lasts only a moment,
but his favor lasts a lifetime;
weeping may stay for the night,
but rejoicing comes in the morning.
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.
Because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.
And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.
Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.
I will walk about in freedom,
for I have sought out your precepts.
As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
When times are good, be happy;
but when times are bad, consider this:
God has made the one
as well as the other.
Therefore, no one can discover
anything about their future.
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.
Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God
I love the Lord, for he heard my voice;
he heard my cry for mercy.
Because he turned his ear to me,
I will call on him as long as I live.
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?
You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.
I will sing to the Lord all my life;
I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
Can a man walk on hot coals
without his feet being scorched?
His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?
Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Before a downfall the heart is haughty,
but humility comes before honor.
May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord and shun evil.
This will bring health to your body
and nourishment to your bones.
Since you are precious and honored in my sight,
and because I love you,
I will give people in exchange for you,
nations in exchange for your life.
If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?
If a man has recently married, he must not be sent to war or have any other duty laid on him. For one year he is to be free to stay at home and bring happiness to the wife he has married.
Come, let us bow down in worship,
let us kneel before the Lord our Maker
The Lord watches over the foreigner
and sustains the fatherless and the widow,
but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.
He who finds a wife finds what is good
and receives favor from the Lord.
Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
For the Lord loves the just
and will not forsake his faithful ones.
Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed;
the offspring of the wicked will perish.
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God’”.
The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed,
a stronghold in times of trouble.
But you, Lord, are a shield around me,
my glory, the One who lifts my head high.
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
To do what is right and just
is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
Whoever keeps commandments keeps their life,
but whoever shows contempt for their ways will die.
My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.
You, Lord, keep my lamp burning;
my God turns my darkness into light.
Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done.
Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
Do not forsake your friend or a friend of your family,
and do not go to your relative’s house when disaster strikes you—
better a neighbor nearby than a relative far away.
Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water.
While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
Jesus said to her, “Mary.”
She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).
Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed.
A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.
Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully.
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
Praise the Lord, my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
The rich rule over the poor,
and the borrower is slave to the lender.
For from him and through him and for him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen.
Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.
You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house.
Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
As goods increase,
so do those who consume them.
And what benefit are they to the owners
except to feast their eyes on them?
No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.
Whoever keeps commandments keeps their life,
but whoever shows contempt for their ways will die.
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before.
Blessed are you when people hate you,
when they exclude you and insult you
and reject your name as evil,
because of the Son of Man.
My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?
But I, with shouts of grateful praise,
will sacrifice to you.
What I have vowed I will make good.
I will say, ‘Salvation comes from the Lord.’”
Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.
And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.
My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.
The Lord will vindicate me;
your love, Lord, endures forever—
do not abandon the works of your hands.
The Lord your God is with you,
the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
but will rejoice over you with singing.
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God;
may your good Spirit
lead me on level ground.
When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.
Lord, you are my God;
I will exalt you and praise your name,
for in perfect faithfulness
you have done wonderful things,
things planned long ago.
Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need.
Look to the Lord and his strength;
seek his face always.
Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
For the Lord loves the just
and will not forsake his faithful ones.
Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed;
the offspring of the wicked will perish.
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
let your glory be over all the earth.
Let the wicked forsake their ways
and the unrighteous their thoughts.
Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them,
and to our God, for he will freely pardon.
The name of the Lord is a fortified tower;
the righteous run to it and are safe.
But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Trust in the Lord and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
My feet have closely followed his steps;
I have kept to his way without turning aside.
Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves.
Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up.
For who is God besides the Lord?
And who is the Rock except our God?
Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me.
But he knows the way that I take;
when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.
See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.
Do not withhold your mercy from me, Lord;
may your love and faithfulness always protect me.
Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
For the Lord is our judge,
the Lord is our lawgiver,
the Lord is our king;
it is he who will save us.
In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
Pride brings a person low,
but the lowly in spirit gain honor.
This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
The Lord makes firm the steps
of the one who delights in him.
Your statutes, Lord, stand firm;
holiness adorns your house
for endless days.
The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.
Woe to those who go to great depths
to hide their plans from the Lord,
who do their work in darkness and think,
“Who sees us? Who will know?”
How good and pleasant it is
when God’s people live together in unity!
In God, whose word I praise—
in God I trust and am not afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?
Know also that wisdom is like honey for you:
If you find it, there is a future hope for you,
and your hope will not be cut off.
Though the mountains be shaken
and the hills be removed,
yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken
nor my covenant of peace be removed,”
says the Lord, who has compassion on you.
So we say with confidence,
“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?”
But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.
I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.
Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, where they and many others taught and preached the word of the Lord.
But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.
And so I will show my greatness and my holiness, and I will make myself known in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the Lord.
And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.
I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
“Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.”
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips
and spreads slander is a fool.
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
let your glory be over all the earth.
And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household.
Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.
The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.
Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.
Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men
Hear my prayer, Lord,
listen to my cry for help;
do not be deaf to my weeping.
I dwell with you as a foreigner,
a stranger, as all my ancestors were.
We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.
I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.
Rejoice in the Lord, you who are righteous,
and praise his holy name.
One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin,
but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
“Ever since the time of your forefathers, you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty.
If you can?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes.”
And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him.
Turn my heart toward your statutes
and not toward selfish gain.
Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward.
This is what the Lord Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another.
I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service.
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
They preached the gospel in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch.
You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.
Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.
It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.
You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.
You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.
Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him.
I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.
No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day.
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.
He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law.
She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.
The angel answered, The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.
In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee.
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.
Praise the Lord, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.
Worship the Lord with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
You make known to me the path of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
I thank my God every time I remember you.
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Wait for the Lord;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the Lord.
Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
But I will restore you to health
and heal your wounds,’
declares the Lord,
‘because you are called an outcast,
Zion for whom no one cares.’
Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
and he will establish your plans.
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
The end of a matter is better than its beginning,
and patience is better than pride.
Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit,
for anger resides in the lap of fools.
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict,
but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Be still before the Lord
and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
“But now, Lord, what do I look for?
My hope is in you.
Save me from all my transgressions;
do not make me the scorn of fools.
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.
For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
But those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
They will have no fear of bad news;
their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.
Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.
In God, whose word I praise—
in God I trust and am not afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?
Many are the woes of the wicked,
but the Lord’s unfailing love
surrounds the one who trusts in him.
Those who know your name trust in you,
for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.
The Lord is my strength and my shield;
my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.
My heart leaps for joy,
and with my song I praise him.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.
Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord.
For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
But may the righteous be glad
and rejoice before God;
may they be happy and joyful.
Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,
that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.
But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.
For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
You alone are the Lord. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you.
The inhabitants of one city will go to another and say, “Let us go at once to entreat the Lord and seek the Lord Almighty. I myself am going.”
I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;
I will sing of you among the peoples.
Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, people of Israel? For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live!
From infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
The wicked put up a bold front,
but the upright give thought to their ways.
As for other matters, brothers and sisters, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you.
For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.
Do not let my heart be drawn to what is evil
so that I take part in wicked deeds
along with those who are evildoers;
do not let me eat their delicacies.
Set a guard over my mouth, Lord;
keep watch over the door of my lips.
Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
when it is in your power to act.
The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.
But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.
Help us, God our Savior,
for the glory of your name;
deliver us and forgive our sins
for your name’s sake.
He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance!
We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers.
Sin is not ended by multiplying words,
but the prudent hold their tongues.
For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God.
For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.
So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
Even to your old age and gray hairs
I am he, I am he who will sustain you.
I have made you and I will carry you;
I will sustain you and I will rescue you.
Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.
Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.
Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully.
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
But let all who take refuge in you be glad;
let them ever sing for joy.
Spread your protection over them,
that those who love your name may rejoice in you.
Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline,
and do not resent his rebuke,
because the Lord disciplines those he loves,
as a father the son he delights in.
Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot.
Blessings crown the head of the righteous,
but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.
Be exalted in your strength, Lord;
we will sing and praise your might.
But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
Fools show their annoyance at once,
but the prudent overlook an insult.
Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.
A person may think their own ways are right,
but the Lord weighs the heart.
There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.
Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
for the rights of all who are destitute.
The Lord watches over the foreigner
and sustains the fatherless and the widow,
but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.
Start children off on the way they should go,
and even when they are old they will not turn from it.
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
The integrity of the upright guides them,
but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.
Humility is the fear of the Lord;
its wages are riches and honor and life.
But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him,
on those whose hope is in his unfailing love.
“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”
What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means!
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.
Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it.
Let your eyes look straight ahead;
fix your gaze directly before you.
For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.
It is the Lord your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him.
The one who gets wisdom loves life;
the one who cherishes understanding will soon prosper.
When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
Whoever walks in integrity walks securely,
but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.
A wicked person earns deceptive wages,
but the one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.
“Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.
For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.
I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?
Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior,
who daily bears our burdens.
Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
I seek you with all my heart;
do not let me stray from your commands.
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.
Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.
Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath,
but righteousness delivers from death.
In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds
Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame.
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done.
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,
for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go,
for to you I entrust my life.
I keep my eyes always on the Lord.
With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
God sets the lonely in families,
he leads out the prisoners with singing;
but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.
You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house.
Here is a trustworthy saying:
If we died with him,
we will also live with him.
May God bless us still,
so that all the ends of the earth will fear him.
But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.”
I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.
My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart
you, God, will not despise.
You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.
God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.
In peace I will lie down and sleep,
for you alone, Lord,
make me dwell in safety.
No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.
But you, Lord, are a shield around me,
my glory, the One who lifts my head high.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Speak up and judge fairly;
defend the rights of the poor and needy.
Do not envy the violent
or choose any of their ways.
For the Lord detests the perverse
but takes the upright into his confidence.
The Lord is my strength and my shield;
my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.
My heart leaps for joy,
and with my song I praise him.
Gracious words are a honeycomb,
sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®
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Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide.