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Chinese (traditional)In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. “The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!” The lips of the godly speak helpful words,
but the mouth of the wicked speaks perverse words. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. Go back to Hezekiah, the leader of my people. Tell him, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your ancestor David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will heal you, and three days from now you will get out of bed and go to the Temple of the Lord.’ The Lord keeps you from all harm
and watches over your life.
The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go,
both now and forever. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth. And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. True humility and fear of the Lord
lead to riches, honor, and long life. Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear. For the Lord your God is gracious and merciful. If you return to him, he will not continue to turn his face from you. As the deer longs for streams of water,
so I long for you, O God. He reveals deep and mysterious things
and knows what lies hidden in darkness,
though he is surrounded by light. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. For you, a thousand years are as a passing day,
as brief as a few night hours. Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. O Lord, I have come to you for protection;
don’t let me be disgraced.
Save me, for you do what is right. So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. I will be filled with joy because of you.
I will sing praises to your name, O Most High. Never! Can a mother forget her nursing child?
Can she feel no love for the child she has borne?
But even if that were possible,
I would not forget you!
See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands.
Always in my mind is a picture of Jerusalem’s walls in ruins. Dear brothers and sisters, we can’t help but thank God for you, because your faith is flourishing and your love for one another is growing. The wicked borrow and never repay,
but the godly are generous givers. Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things. But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you. Before the mountains were born,
before you gave birth to the earth and the world,
from beginning to end, you are God. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. My child, never forget the things I have taught you.
Store my commands in your heart.
If you do this, you will live many years,
and your life will be satisfying. “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. For you are my hiding place;
you protect me from trouble.
You surround me with songs of victory.Next verse!With image