The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free. Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. However, as it is written:
“What no eye has seen,
what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived”—
the things God has prepared for those who love him. Houses and wealth are inherited from parents,
but a prudent wife is from the Lord. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. 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. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one whose walk is blameless,
who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from their heart;
whose tongue utters no slander,
who does no wrong to a neighbor,
and casts no slur on others. For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. You are to be holy to me because I, the Lord, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own. I will walk about in freedom,
for I have sought out your precepts. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him. The Lord is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid? For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. As for God, his way is perfect:
The Lord’s word is flawless;
he shields all who take refuge in him. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age. My salvation and my honor depend on God;
he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. ‘Never again will they hunger;
never again will they thirst.
The sun will not beat down on them,’
nor any scorching heat.
For the Lamb at the center of the throne
will be their shepherd;
‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’
‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’ I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;
I will sing of you among the peoples. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears are attentive to their cry. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.Next verse!With image