Do not turn to the right or the left;
keep your foot from evil. This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty. But godliness with contentment is great gain. All your words are true;
all your righteous laws are eternal. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 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. 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.” But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. Restore us, Lord God Almighty;
make your face shine on us,
that we may be saved. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Who is wise? Let them realize these things.
Who is discerning? Let them understand.
The ways of the Lord are right;
the righteous walk in them,
but the rebellious stumble in them. I will hasten and not delay
to obey your commands. 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? Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?”
For it is not wise to ask such questions. How good and pleasant it is
when God’s people live together in unity! So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. “Now then,” said Joshua, “throw away the foreign gods that are among you and yield your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel.” A perverse person stirs up conflict,
and a gossip separates close friends. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord;
he brought me into a spacious place. Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners. Do not wear yourself out to get rich;
do not trust your own cleverness. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? 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. I will sing to the Lord all my life;
I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Look to the Lord and his strength;
seek his face always. Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.Next verse!With image