First Timothy, page 1
The Second Letter of Paul to Timothy
1 1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus, 2 to Timothy, my beloved son: grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 3 I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience the way my forefathers did, as I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day. 4 As I recall your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. 5 For I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois, and your mother Eunice, and I am sure is in you as well. 6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power and love and self- discipline. 8 So do not be ashamed to testify of our Lord or of me his prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, 9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and the grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, 10 but has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 11 For this gospel I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher. 12 For this reason I also suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day. 13 Follow the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 14 Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure that has been entrusted to you. 15 You are aware of the fact that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes. 16 May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains; 17 but when he was in Rome, he eagerly searched for me and found meó18 may the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that Dayóand you know very well all the service he rendered at Ephesus. 2 1 You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 3 Share in hardship as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier in active service gets entangled in civilian affairs, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him as a soldier. 5 Also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules. 6 The hard-working farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops. 7 Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything. 8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descended from David according to my gospel, 9 for which I am suffering even to the point of wearing chains like a criminal. But the word of God is not chained. 10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. 11 Here is a trustworthy saying: if we died with him, we will also live with him; 12 if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; 13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself. 14 Remind them of these things, and charge them in the presence of God to avoid disputing about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 16 Avoid godless chatter, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, 17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have gone astray from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and upset the faith of some. 19 Nevertheless, God's firm foundation stands, having this seal: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Everyone who names the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness." 20 In a large house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and earthenware, and some for noble use, some for ignoble. 21 If anyone cleanses himself from what is ignoble, he will be a vessel for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. 22 Now flee from youthful lusts, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 23 Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know that they produce quarrels. 24 And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome, but he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, patient when wronged, 25 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God will grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will. 3 1 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of stress. 2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding a form of godliness but denying its power. Avoid such people. 6 For among them are those who make their way into households and capture weak women, weighed down with sins and swayed by various impulses, 7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected in regard to the faith. 9 But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men. 10 You, however, know all about my teaching, my conduct, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, 11 persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, yet the Lord rescued me from them all. 12 Indeed all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, knowing from whom you learned it, 15 and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 4 1 I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and exhort, with great patience and instruction. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, 4 and will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. 6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 In the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved his appearing. 9 Do your best to come to me soon; 10 for Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me in my ministry. 12 But Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. 13 When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and the books, especially the parchments. 14 Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him for his deeds. 15 Be on guard against him yourself, for he strongly opposed our message. 16 At my first defense no one came to my support, but all deserted me; may it not be counted against them. 17 But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was rescued from the lion's mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory for ever and ever. Amen. 19 Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. 20 Erastus remained at Corinth, but Trophimus I left sick at Miletus. 21 Do your best to come before winter. Eubulus greets you, and so do Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brethren. 22 The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.
Second Timothy, page 1
The Letter of Paul to Titus
1 1 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of God's elect and the knowledge of the truth which leads to godliness, 2 in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago, 3 and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior, 4 to Titus, my true child in a common faith: grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior. 5 For this reason I left you in Crete, that you might straighten out what was left unfinished, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you, 6 namely, if any man is blameless, the husband of one wife, and his children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild or rebellious. 7 For the overseer must be blameless as God's steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not violent, not fond of sordid gain, 8 but hospitable, a lover of what is good, master of himself, upright, holy, and self-controlled; 9 he must hold firm to the sure word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to refute those who contradict it. 10 For there are many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision.11 They must be silenced, because they are upsetting whole families by teaching things they ought not to teach for the sake of sordid gain. 12 One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, "Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons." 13 This testimony is true. Therefore, rebuke them sharply, so that they may be sound in the faith 14 and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the commands of men who reject the truth. 15 To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are corrupted and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their minds and consciences are corrupted. 16 They profess to know God, but they deny him by their deeds; they are detestable and disobedient, unfit for any good deed. 2 1 But as for you, teach what befits sound doctrine. 2 The older men are to be temperate, serious, sensible, sound in faith, in love, and in endurance. 3 The older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not to be slanderers or slaves to much wine, but they are to teach what is good, 4 so they can train the young women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored. 6 Likewise urge the young men to be sensible. 7 Show yourself in all respects an example of good deeds, and in your teaching show integrity, seriousness, 8 and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us. 9 Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to be well- pleasing, not to talk back to them, 10 and not to steal, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in everything they will adorn the doctrine of God our Savior. 11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live sober, upright, and godly lives in this present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, zealous for good deeds. 15 Speak these things; exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you. 3 1 Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, 2 to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable and gentle, and to show true humility toward all men. 3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by men and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but because of his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal in the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that we might be justified by his grace and become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8 This is a trustworthy saying; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God may be careful to devote themselves to good deeds. These things are excellent and profitable for men. 9 But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and strife and quarrels about the Law, for they are unprofitable and useless. 10 Warn a man who is factious once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him, 11 knowing that such a man is perverted and sinful; he is self-condemned. 12 When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. 13 Do your best to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; see that they lack nothing. 14 Our people must also learn to devote themselves to good deeds, so that they may help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful. 15 All who are with me send you greetings. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all.
Titus, page 1
The Letter of Paul to Philemon
1 1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon our beloved brother and fellow worker, 2 and to Apphia our sister, and to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house: 3 grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, 5 because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and all the saints, 6 and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing that is ours in Christ. 7 For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you. 8 Therefore, though I am bold enough in Christ to order you to do what is proper, 9 yet for love's sake I rather appeal to youósince I am such a person as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesusó10 I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become in my imprisonment. 11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is useful both to you and to me. 12 I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart. 13 I would have been glad to keep him with me, so that he might serve me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel; 14 but without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your goodness would not be, in effect, by compulsion but of your own free will. 15 Perhaps this is the reason he was separated from you for a while, that you might have him back for ever, 16 no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, as a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. 17 So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. 18 If he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. 19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand, I will pay it backónot to mention that you owe me even your own self. 20 Yes, brother, let me have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. 21 Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. 22 At the same time, prepare a guest room for me, for I hope through your prayers to be granted to you. 23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings, 24 and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers. 25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Philemon, page 1
The Letter to the Hebrews
1 1 In the past God spoke to our fathers by the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the world. 3 He is the radiance of his glory and the exact representation of his being, and upholds all things by the word of his power. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. 5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, "You are my son, today I have begotten you"? And again, "I will be a father to him and he shall be a son to me"? 6 And again, when God brings the first-born into the world, he says, "Let all God's angels worship him." 7 Of the angels he says, "Who makes his angels winds, and his servants flames of fire." 8 But of the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, is for ever and ever, and the righteous scepter is the scepter of your kingdom. 9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your companions." 10 And, "You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands; 11 they will perish, but you remain; they will all grow old like a garment, 12 you will roll them up like a mantle; and like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end." 13 But to which of the angels has he ever said, "Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies a stool for your feet"? 14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to serve for the sake of those who will inherit salvation? 2 1 Therefore we must pay more careful attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. 2 For if the message spoken by angels was valid, and every transgression and disobedience received a just punishment, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was confirmed to us by those who heard him, 4 while God also bore witness, by signs and wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his own will. 5 For it is not to angels that he subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. 6 But there is a place where someone has testified, "What is man that you are mindful of him, or the son of man that you care for him? 7 You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor, 8 and put everything in subjection under his feet." Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing that is not subject to him. As it is, we do not yet see everything subject to him. 9 But we see Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the angels, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. 10 For it was fitting that he, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering. 11 For both he who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12 saying, "I will declare your name to my brethren, in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise." 13 And again, "I will put my trust in him." And again, "Here am I, and the children God has given me." 14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same nature, that through death he might destroy him who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. 16 For surely it is not with angels that he is concerned, but with the descendants of Abraham. 17 Therefore he had to be made like his brethren in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make atonement for the sins of the people. 18 For because he himself has suffered, being tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted. 3 1 Therefore, holy brethren, who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession. 2 He was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God's house. 3 Yet Jesus has been counted worthy of as much more glory than Moses as the builder of a house has more honor than the house. 4 For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God. 5 Now Moses was faithful in all God's house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, 6 but Christ is faithful as a son over God's house. And we are his house, if we hold fast to our confidence and the hope of which we boast. 7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: "Today, if you will hear his voice, 8 do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness, 9 where your fathers put me to the test and saw my works for forty years. 10 Therefore I was angry with that generation, and said, 'They always go astray in their hearts; and they have not known my ways.' 11 As I swore in my wrath, 'They shall never enter my rest.'" 12 Take care, brethren, lest there be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "Today," so that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have come to share in Christ if we hold our first confidence firm to the end, 15 while it is said, "Today, if you will hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion." 16 Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? 17 And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did he swear that they would never enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? 19 So we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief. 4 1 Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest remains, let us fear lest any one of you be judged to have come short of it. 2 For we also have had the good news preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith. 3 For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said, "As I swore in my wrath, 'They shall never enter my rest,'" although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: "And God rested on the seventh day from all his works." 5 And again in this place he said, "They shall never enter my rest." 6 Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly had the good news preached to them failed to enter because of disobedience, 7 God again set a certain day, "Today," saying through David after so long a time just as has been said before, "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts." 8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later of another day. 9 So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. 11 Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same example of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from his sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of him with whom we have to do. 14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. 5 1 For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He can deal gently with those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is beset with weakness. 3 Because of this he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people. 4 And no one takes the honor upon himself, but he is called by God, just as Aaron was. 5 So also Christ did not exalt himself to become a high priest, but it was he who said to him, "You are my son, today I have begotten you"; 6 as he says also in another place, "You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek." 7 In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his godly fear. 8 Although he was a Son, he learned obedience from what he suffered; 9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, 10 being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek. 11 About this we have much to say which is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of God's word. You need milk, not solid food; 13 for every one who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their sense trained by practice to distinguish good from evil. 6 1 Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 2 with instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do, if God permits. 4 For it is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put him to an open shame. 7 For land which drinks the rain that often falls upon it, and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. 8 But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed; its end is to be burned. 9 Even though we speak like this, beloved, we are confident of better things in your case, things that accompany salvation. 10 For God is not so unjust as to forget your work and the love which you have shown for his sake in serving the saints, as you still do. 11 And we desire each one of you to show the same diligence in realizing the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. 13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, 14 saying, "I will surely bless you and multiply you." 15 And so Abraham, having patiently endured, obtained the promise. 16 Men swear by one greater than themselves, and in all their disputes the oath is final for confirmation. 17 So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he interposed with an oath, 18 so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us. 19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus has entered as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. 7 1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him. 2 And to him Abraham gave a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. 3 Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, he remains a priest continually. 4 See how great he was! Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the spoils. 5 And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take a tenth from the people, that is, from their brethren, though these also are descended from Abraham. 6 But this man whose genealogy is not derived from them received a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7 And without dispute the lesser person is blessed by the greater. 8 In this case tithes are received by mortal men, but in that case by one of whom it is witnessed that he lives on. 9 One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, 10 for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him. 11 Now if perfection could have been through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the Law), what further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not one designated according to the order of Aaron? 12 For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must also be a change of the law. 13 For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. 15 This becomes even more evident if another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, 16 who has become a priest not on the basis of a law of carnal requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is declared of him, "You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek." 18 On the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness 19 (for the law made nothing perfect); and on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God. 20 And it was not without an oath. 21 Those who formerly became priests took their office without an oath, but he became a priest with an oath through the One who said to him, "The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, 'You are a priest forever.'" 22 Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant. 23 The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office; 24 but he holds his priesthood forever, because he continues for ever. 25 Therefore he is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. 26 For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, blameless, unstained, separated from sinners, exalted above the heavens. 27 He does not need, like those high priests, to offer up daily sacrifices, first for his own sins and then for the sins of the people, because he did this once for all when he offered up himself. 28 For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever. 8 1 Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, 2 a minister in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle which is set up by the Lord, not by man. 3 For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices; and so it is necessary for this priest also to have something to offer. 4 Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law. 5 They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly sanctuary; for when Moses was about to erect the tabernacle, he was instructed by God, saying, "See that you make everything according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain." 6 But as it is, he has obtained a ministry which is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. 7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no place sought for a second. 8 For he finds fault with them when he says: "The days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah; 9 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; for they did not continue in my covenant, and so I paid no heed to them, says the Lord. 10 This is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and I will write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 11 And they shall not teach every one his fellow or every one his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' for all shall know me, from the least of them to the greatest. 12 For I will be merciful to their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more." 13 When he said, "A new covenant," he has made the first obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away. 9 1 Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly sanctuary. 2 For there was a tabernacle prepared, the first one, in which were the lampstand and the table and the sacred bread; this is called the holy place. 3 Behind the second curtain was a tabernacle called the Holy of Holies, 4 having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, which contained a golden jar holding the manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; 5 and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. But of these things we cannot now speak in detail. 6 These preparations having thus been made, the priests go continually into the outer tabernacle, performing their ritual duties. 7 But into the second only the high priest goes, and he but once a year, and not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance. 8 The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the holy place had not yet been disclosed as long as the outer tabernacle was still standing. 9 This is symbolic for the present time. According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, 10 since they relate only to food and drink and various washings ñ regulations for the flesh imposed until the time of reformation. 11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, he entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation. 12 He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves, but he entered the holy place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15 For this reason he is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the transgressions committed under the first covenant. 16 For where a will is, there must of necessity be the death of the one who made it. 17 For a will is in force only when somebody has died, since it never takes effect while the one who made it is living. 18 This is why even the first covenant was not ratified without blood. 19 For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20 saying, "This is the blood of the covenant which God has commanded you." 21 And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and all the vessels used in worship. 22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. 23 It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us. 25 Nor was it that he should offer himself again and again, as the high priest enters the holy place year by year with blood not his own. 26 For then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But now, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And just as it is appointed for men to die once, and after that comes judgment, 28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to bear sin but to bring salvation to those who are eagerly waiting for him. 10 1 For since the law has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices which are continually offered year after year, make perfect those who draw near. 2 Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered? If the worshipers had once been cleansed, they would no longer have any consciousness of sins. 3 But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year after year. 4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5 Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: "Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; 6 in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. 7 Then I said, 'Behold, I have come to do your will, O God,' as it is written of me in the roll of the book." 8 When he said above, "You did not desire, nor did you take pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings" (these are offered according to the law), 9 then he said, "Behold, I have come to do your will." He takes away the first in order to establish the second. 10 And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And every priest stands daily at his service, offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when he had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until his enemies be made a stool for his feet. 14 For by one offering he has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. 15 And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, 16 "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them," 17 then he adds, "Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more." 18 Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin. 19 Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which he opened for us through the curtain, that is, his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful; 24 and let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the Day drawing near. 26 For if we sin deliberately after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire which will consume the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has rejected the law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much severer punishment do you think a man will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as an unclean thing the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay." And again, "The Lord will judge his people." 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. 32 But remember the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a great struggle with sufferings, 33 sometimes being publicly exposed to insult and persecution; and at other times standing side by side with those who were so treated. 34 For you had compassion on the prisoners, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. 35 Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. 37 "For yet in a very little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay. 38 But my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him." 39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and keep their souls. 11 1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the men of old received divine approval. 3 By faith we understand that the world was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible. 4 By faith Abel offered God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his gifts. And through faith he still speaks, even though he is dead. 5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death; and he was not found, because God had taken him. For before he was taken he was attested as having pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, for anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. 7 By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in godly fear prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which comes by faith. 8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place which he was to receive as an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he lived in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise; 10 for he was looking forward to the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11 By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, because she considered him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore. 13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and greeted them from a distance, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For people who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. 15 And if they had been thinking of that country from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. 17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was ready to offer up his only son, 18 of whom it was said, "Through Isaac shall your descendants be called." 19 He considered that God was able to raise men even from the dead; from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back. 20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future. 21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshipped as he leaned on the top of his staff. 22 By faith Joseph, when he was at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites, and gave orders concerning his bones. 23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king's edict. 24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 25 choosing rather to share ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He considered abuse suffered for the Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the anger of the king; for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch them. 29 By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned. 30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. 31 By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had welcomed the spies. 32 And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of justice, received promises, shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, whose weakness was turned to strength, who became mighty in war, and put foreign armies to flight. 35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. 36 And others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated ñ 38 of whom the world was not worthy ñ wandering in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. 39 And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 because God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect. 12 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary and lose heart. 4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you forgotten the exhortation which addresses you as sons? ñ "My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor lose courage when you are rebuked by him. 6 For those whom the Lord loves he disciplines, and he scourges every son whom he receives." 7 It is for discipline that you endure. God is treating you as sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Besides this, we have had fathers of our flesh to discipline us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant; but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. 12 Therefore lift your feeble hands and strengthen your weak knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed. 14 Strive for peace with all men, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness spring up and cause trouble, and by it many become defiled; 16 that no one be immoral or godless like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal. 17 For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears. 18 For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind, 19 and the blast of a trumpet, and the sound of a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further word be spoken to them. 20 For they could not endure the order that was given, "If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned." 21 The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, "I am trembling with fear." 22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the joyful assembly 23 and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks better than the blood of Abel. 25 See to it that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less shall we escape, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? 26 Then his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, "Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also heaven." 27 This phrase, "Yet once more," indicates the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, in order that what cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and offer to God acceptable worship with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire. 13 1 Let brotherly love continue. 2 Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. 3 Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves are also in the body. 4 Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled; for God will judge the immoral and adulterous. 5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said, "I will never leave you, nor will I forsake you." 6 So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" 7 Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God; consider the outcome of their life, and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. 9 Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, through which those who were so occupied were not benefited. 10 We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. 11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest as an offering for sin, are burned outside the camp. 12 And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to sanctify the people through his own blood. 13 Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. 14 For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city which is to come. 15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. 16 Do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. 17 Obey your leaders and submit to them; for they are keeping watch over your souls, as men who will have to give account. Let them do this with joy, and not with grief, for that would be of no advantage to you. 18 Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to live honorably in all things. 19 I urge you all the more to do this so that I may be restored to you the sooner. 20 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 equip you with every good thing to do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 22 I urge you, brethren, bear with my word of exhortation, for I have written to you briefly. 23 You should know that our brother Timothy has been released, with whom I will see you if he comes soon. 24 Greet all your leaders and all the saints. Those who come from Italy send you greetings. 25 Grace be with you all.
Hebrews, page 2
The Letter of James
1 1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: greetings. 2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But he must ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, 8 being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. 9 But the brother of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position; 10 and the rich man is to glory in his humiliation, because like the flower of the grass he will pass away. 11 For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls and its beauty is destroyed. So will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits. 12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, for when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and he himself does not tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is full-grown, it brings forth death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. 18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures. 19 This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger, 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and rank growth of wickedness, in humility receive the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he looks at himself and goes away, and immediately forgets what he was like. 25 But one who looks intently into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but a doer that acts, this man will be blessed in what he does. 26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. 2 1 My brethren, show no favoritism as you hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ. 2 For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in shabby clothes, 3 and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes and say, "Have a seat here in a good place," and you say to the poor man, "You stand there," or, "Sit by my feet," 4 have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brethren: has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you? Is it not they who drag you into court? 7 Is it not they who blaspheme the honorable name by which you have been called? 8 If you really fulfill the royal law, according to the scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing well. 9 But if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point has become guilty of all of it. 11 For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," said also, "Do not murder." If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For judgment will be without mercy to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment. 14 What good is it, my brethren, if a man says he has faith but has no works? Can such faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? 17 So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. 18 But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believeóand shudder. 20 But are you willing to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? 22 You see that faith was working with his works, and faith was completed by works, 23 and the scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness", and he was called the friend of God. 24 You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 In the same way was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works, when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. 3 1 Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2 For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well. 3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses that they may obey us, we guide their whole bodies. 4 Look at the ships also; though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of evil among the members of the body. The tongue corrupts our whole person, sets the whole course of our life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. 7 For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race. 8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brethren, this ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce fresh. 13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good life let him show his deeds in the humility of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15 This wisdom is not such as comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every evil practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, without uncertainty or hypocrisy. 18 And the harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. 4 1 What causes quarrels and fights among you? Is it not your passions that are at war in your members? 2 You desire and do not have; so you kill. And you covet and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. 4 You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think that the Scripture says without reason: "He jealously desires the Spirit which he has made to dwell in us"? 6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be miserable and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. 11 Do not speak against one another, brethren. He who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge of it. 12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But youówho are you to judge your neighbor? 13 Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit." 14 Yet you do not know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that." 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. 17 Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin. 5 1 Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. 2 Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth- eaten. 3 Your gold and silver have rusted, and their rust will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days. 4 Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out against you; and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. 5 You have lived on the earth in luxury and in pleasure; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and put to death the righteous man; he does not resist you. 7 Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient over it, until it receives the early and late rains. 8 You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. 9 Do not grumble, brethren, against one another, that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. 10 As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 Behold, we call those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is full of compassion and mercy. 12 But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath, but let your yes be yes and your no be no, that you may not fall under condemnation. 13 Is anyone among you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. 14 Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; 15 and the prayer offered in faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. 18 Then he prayed again, and the heavens gave rain and the earth produced its fruit. 19 My brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, 20 let him know that whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
James, page 1
The First Letter of Peter
1 1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the chosen exiles in the Dispersion, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, 2 who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling with his blood: may grace and peace be yours in abundance. 3 Blessed be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has caused us to be born again into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, kept in heaven for you, 5 who are protected by God's power through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have to suffer various trials, 7 so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 as you obtain the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 10 As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you inquired and searched carefully, 11 seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow. 12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heavenóthings into which angels long to look. 13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action, be sober in spirit, set your hope fully on the grace to be given you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct; 16 because it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy." 17 If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your exile on earth. 18 You know that you were redeemed from the futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 20 He was destined before the foundation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21 Through him you have confidence in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. 22 Since you have purified your souls by obedience to the truth for a sincere love of the brethren, love one another earnestly from the heart. 23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 24 For, "All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, 25 but the word of the Lord stands forever." And this is the word which was preached to you. 2 1 Therefore, put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2 Like newborn babes, long for the pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 for you have tasted the kindness of the Lord. 4 As you come to him, the living Stoneó rejected by men but chosen and precious in the sight of Godó5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in scripture: "Behold, I lay in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and he who believes in him will not be put to shame." 7 To you therefore who believe, this is precious, but for those who do not believe, "The very stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone," 8 and, "A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall;" they stumble because they disobey the wordóas they were desstined to do. 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 11 Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against your soul. 12 Maintain good conduct among the Gentiles, so that in case they speak against you as wrongdoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. 13 Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right. 15 For it is God's will that by doing right you should silence the ignorance of foolish men. 16 Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a covering for evil; live as servants of God. 17 Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king. 18 Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are overbearing. 19 For a man is approved if, mindful of God, he bears up under pain while suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is it, if when you do wrong and are beaten for it you patiently endure? But if when you do right and suffer for it you patiently endure, you have favor with God. 21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 22 "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth;" 23 when he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he uttered no threats, but he trusted himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls. 3 1 You wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without a word by the behavior of their wives, 2 when they see your chaste and respectful behavior. 3 Your adornment must not be merely outwardóbraiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on fine clothing; 4 but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in God's sight. 5 For in this way in former times the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, and were submissive to their own husbands; 6 just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children if you do what is right and are not frightened by any fear. 7 Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with honor as the weaker partner, since you are joint heirs of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered. 8 Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble in spirit. 9 Do not return evil for evil or insult for insult, but give a blessing instead; for to this you were called, that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For, "He who would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit. 11 He must turn away from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are open to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil." 13 Who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. Do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, 15 but in your hearts reverence Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and respect; 16 and keep a clear conscience, so that, when you are abused, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing right, if that should be God's will, than for doing wrong. 18 For Christ also died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit; 19 in which also he went and preached to the spirits in prison, 20 who formerly did not obey, when the patience of God waited in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water. 21 And corresponding to that, baptism now saves youónot the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscienceóthrough the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels and authorities and powers subject to him. 4 1 Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human lusts, but for the will of God. 3 For you have spent enough time in the past doing what the Gentiles like to do, living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and lawless idolatry. 4 In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they abuse you; 5 but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this reason the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as men, they might live in the spirit according to the will of God. 7 The end of all things is near; therefore be clear minded and sober for your prayers. 8 Above all, hold unfailing your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of God's varied grace. 11 Whoever speaks is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belongs the glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal which comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may also be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or a wrongdoer, or a troublesome meddler; 16 yet if one suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but under that name let him glorify God. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And "if it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the godless man and the sinner?" 19 Therefore, let those who suffer according to God's will do right and entrust their souls to a faithful Creator. 5 1 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ and a partaker in the glory that is to be revealed, 2 shepherd the flock of God that is under your care, serving as overseersónot under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; 3 not as lording it over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 5 Likewise you that are younger men be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." 6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. 8 Be sober, be alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren throughout the world. 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, establish, and strengthen you. 11 To him be the dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 12 With the help of Silvanus, a faithful brother as I regard him, I have written to you briefly, exhorting you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it. 13 She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark. 14 Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.