| They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. | All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers. |
| I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God. | Also that the women should dress themselves modestly and decently in suitable clothing, not with their hair braided, or with gold, pearls, or expensive clothes, but with good works, as is proper for women who profess reverence for God. |
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| Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God. | Let no one deceive you in any way; for that day will not come unless the rebellion comes first and the lawless one is revealed, the one destined for destruction. He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, declaring himself to be God. |
| The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.” | But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.” |
| They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen. Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error. Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. | Because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. For this reason God gave them up to degrading passions. Their women exchanged natural intercourse for unnatural, and in the same way also the men, giving up natural intercourse with women, were consumed with passion for one another. Men committed shameless acts with men and received in their own persons the due penalty for their error. And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind and to things that should not be done. |
| But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. | But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed. |
| Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin. | Then I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not hide my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah |
| For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. | Because no prophecy ever came by human will, but men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. |
| Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. | Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. |
| Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish. | Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will also fast as you do. After that I will go to the king, though it is against the law; and if I perish, I perish. |
| Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. | Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. |
| Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. | Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. |
| Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. | Some take pride in chariots, and some in horses, but our pride is in the name of the Lord our God. |
| It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans. | It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to put confidence in mortals. |
| I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. | I delight in the way of your decrees as much as in all riches. |
| Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. | Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. |
| Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. | Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. |
| The Lord is righteous in all his ways and faithful in all he does. | The Lord is just in all his ways, and kind in all his doings. |
| Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. | Trust in the Lord, and do good; so you will live in the land, and enjoy security. |
| And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. | So we have known and believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. |
| For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. | For as all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ. |
| Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. | Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. |
| This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. | By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. |
| You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. | You then, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. |
| If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. | God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God. |
