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Chinese (traditional)He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress where I will never be shaken. No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. No, this is the kind of fasting I want:
Free those who are wrongly imprisoned;
lighten the burden of those who work for you.
Let the oppressed go free,
and remove the chains that bind people. Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth. You haven’t done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy. I will shout for joy and sing your praises,
for you have ransomed me. But most of all, my brothers and sisters, never take an oath, by heaven or earth or anything else. Just say a simple yes or no, so that you will not sin and be condemned. Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous. Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life. I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance;
therefore, I will hope in him!” He replied, “What is impossible for people is possible with God.” Joyful are those who obey his laws
and search for him with all their hearts. Do not add to or subtract from these commands I am giving you. Just obey the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you. And I know it is important to love him with all my heart and all my understanding and all my strength, and to love my neighbor as myself. This is more important than to offer all of the burnt offerings and sacrifices required in the law. To acquire wisdom is to love yourself;
people who cherish understanding will prosper. “Don’t tear your clothing in your grief,
but tear your hearts instead.”
Return to the Lord your God,
for he is merciful and compassionate,
slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
He is eager to relent and not punish. “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!” Search for the Lord and for his strength;
continually seek him. Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest.
He is a shield to those who walk with integrity. So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit. I wait quietly before God,
for my victory comes from him. Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Anything beyond this is from the evil one. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
His faithful love endures forever. He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession. But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. Some nations boast of their chariots and horses,
but we boast in the name of the Lord our God. He is the one all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name. So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.Next verse!With image