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Deuteronomy 4:15-40
English Standard Version
Deuteronomy 4:15-40
English Standard Version
Idolatry Forbidden
15 (A)“Therefore watch yourselves very carefully. Since (B)you saw no form on the day that the Lord spoke to you at Horeb out of the midst of the fire, 16 beware (C)lest you act corruptly (D)by making a carved image for yourselves, in the form of any figure, (E)the likeness of male or female, 17 the likeness of any animal that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged bird that flies in the air, 18 the likeness of anything that creeps on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the water under the earth. 19 And beware lest you raise your eyes to heaven, and when you see (F)the sun and the moon and the stars, (G)all the host of heaven, you be drawn away and bow down to them and serve them, things that the Lord your God has allotted to all the peoples under the whole heaven. 20 But the Lord has taken you and (H)brought you out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt, (I)to be a people of his own inheritance, as you are this day. 21 Furthermore, (J)the Lord was angry with me because of you, and he swore that I should not cross the Jordan, and that I should not enter the good land that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance. 22 For I must die in this land; (K)I must not go over the Jordan. But you shall go over and take possession of (L)that good land. 23 (M)Take care, lest you forget the covenant of the Lord your God, which he made with you, and (N)make a carved image, the form of anything that the Lord your God has forbidden you. 24 For (O)the Lord your God is a consuming fire, (P)a jealous God.
25 “When you father children and children's children, and have grown old in the land, (Q)if you act corruptly by making a carved image in the form of anything, and (R)by doing what is evil in the sight of the Lord your God, so as to provoke him to anger, 26 I (S)call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that you will soon utterly perish from the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess. You will not live long in it, but will be utterly destroyed. 27 And the Lord (T)will scatter you among the peoples, (U)and you will be left few in number among the nations where the Lord will drive you. 28 And (V)there you will serve gods of wood and stone, the work of human hands, (W)that neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell. 29 (X)But from there you will seek the Lord your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul. 30 When you are in tribulation, and all these things come upon you (Y)in the latter days, you will return to the Lord your God and obey his voice. 31 For the Lord your God is (Z)a merciful God. (AA)He will not leave you or destroy you or forget the covenant with your fathers that he swore to them.
The Lord Alone Is God
32 “For (AB)ask now of the days that are past, which were before you, since the day that God created man on the earth, and ask from one end of heaven to the other, whether such a great thing as this has ever happened or was ever heard of. 33 (AC)Did any people ever hear the voice of a god speaking out of the midst of the fire, as you have heard, and still live? 34 Or has any god ever attempted to go and take a nation for himself from the midst of another nation, by trials, (AD)by signs, by wonders, and (AE)by war, (AF)by a mighty hand and (AG)an outstretched arm, and by great deeds of terror, all of which the Lord your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes? 35 To you it was shown, (AH)that you might know that the Lord is God; (AI)there is no other besides him. 36 (AJ)Out of heaven he let you hear his voice, that he might discipline you. And on earth he let you see his great fire, and (AK)you heard his words out of the midst of the fire. 37 And because (AL)he loved your fathers and chose their offspring after them[a] and brought you out of Egypt (AM)with his own presence, by his great power, 38 (AN)driving out before you nations greater and mightier than you, to bring you in, to give you their land for an inheritance, as it is this day, 39 know therefore today, and lay it to your heart, that (AO)the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; (AP)there is no other. 40 (AQ)Therefore you shall keep his statutes and his commandments, which I command you today, (AR)that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and that you may prolong your days in the land that the Lord your God is giving you for all time.”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Deuteronomy 4:37 Hebrew his offspring after him
Deuteronomy 4:15-40
New International Version
Deuteronomy 4:15-40
New International Version
Idolatry Forbidden
15 You saw no form(A) of any kind the day the Lord spoke to you at Horeb(B) out of the fire. Therefore watch yourselves very carefully,(C) 16 so that you do not become corrupt(D) and make for yourselves an idol,(E) an image of any shape, whether formed like a man or a woman, 17 or like any animal on earth or any bird that flies in the air,(F) 18 or like any creature that moves along the ground or any fish in the waters below. 19 And when you look up to the sky and see the sun,(G) the moon and the stars(H)—all the heavenly array(I)—do not be enticed(J) into bowing down to them and worshiping(K) things the Lord your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven. 20 But as for you, the Lord took you and brought you out of the iron-smelting furnace,(L) out of Egypt,(M) to be the people of his inheritance,(N) as you now are.
21 The Lord was angry with me(O) because of you, and he solemnly swore that I would not cross the Jordan and enter the good land the Lord your God is giving you as your inheritance. 22 I will die in this land;(P) I will not cross the Jordan; but you are about to cross over and take possession of that good land.(Q) 23 Be careful not to forget the covenant(R) of the Lord your God that he made with you; do not make for yourselves an idol(S) in the form of anything the Lord your God has forbidden. 24 For the Lord your God is a consuming fire,(T) a jealous God.(U)
25 After you have had children and grandchildren and have lived in the land a long time—if you then become corrupt(V) and make any kind of idol,(W) doing evil(X) in the eyes of the Lord your God and arousing his anger, 26 I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses(Y) against you(Z) this day that you will quickly perish(AA) from the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess. You will not live there long but will certainly be destroyed. 27 The Lord will scatter(AB) you among the peoples, and only a few of you will survive(AC) among the nations to which the Lord will drive you. 28 There you will worship man-made gods(AD) of wood and stone,(AE) which cannot see or hear or eat or smell.(AF) 29 But if from there you seek(AG) the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart(AH) and with all your soul.(AI) 30 When you are in distress(AJ) and all these things have happened to you, then in later days(AK) you will return(AL) to the Lord your God and obey him. 31 For the Lord your God is a merciful(AM) God; he will not abandon(AN) or destroy(AO) you or forget(AP) the covenant with your ancestors, which he confirmed to them by oath.
The Lord Is God
32 Ask(AQ) now about the former days, long before your time, from the day God created human beings on the earth;(AR) ask from one end of the heavens to the other.(AS) Has anything so great(AT) as this ever happened, or has anything like it ever been heard of? 33 Has any other people heard the voice of God[a] speaking out of fire, as you have, and lived?(AU) 34 Has any god ever tried to take for himself one nation out of another nation,(AV) by testings,(AW) by signs(AX) and wonders,(AY) by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm,(AZ) or by great and awesome deeds,(BA) like all the things the Lord your God did for you in Egypt before your very eyes?
35 You were shown these things so that you might know that the Lord is God; besides him there is no other.(BB) 36 From heaven he made you hear his voice(BC) to discipline(BD) you. On earth he showed you his great fire, and you heard his words from out of the fire. 37 Because he loved(BE) your ancestors and chose their descendants after them, he brought you out of Egypt by his Presence and his great strength,(BF) 38 to drive out before you nations greater and stronger than you and to bring you into their land to give it to you for your inheritance,(BG) as it is today.
39 Acknowledge(BH) and take to heart this day that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other.(BI) 40 Keep(BJ) his decrees and commands,(BK) which I am giving you today, so that it may go well(BL) with you and your children after you and that you may live long(BM) in the land the Lord your God gives you for all time.
Footnotes
- Deuteronomy 4:33 Or of a god
2 Chronicles 32:20-33
English Standard Version
2 Chronicles 32:20-33
English Standard Version
The Lord Delivers Jerusalem
20 Then Hezekiah the king and Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, prayed because of this and cried to heaven. 21 And the Lord sent an angel, who cut off all the mighty warriors and commanders and officers in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with (A)shame of face to his own land. And when he came into the house of his god, some of his own sons struck him down there with the sword. 22 So the Lord saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib king of Assyria and from the hand of all his enemies, and he provided for them on every side. 23 And many (B)brought gifts to the Lord to Jerusalem and precious things to Hezekiah king of Judah, so that he was exalted in the sight of all nations from that time onward.
Hezekiah's Pride and Achievements
24 (C)In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death, and he prayed to the Lord, and he answered him and gave him a sign. 25 But Hezekiah (D)did not make return according to the benefit done to him, for (E)his heart was proud. Therefore (F)wrath came upon him and Judah and Jerusalem. 26 But Hezekiah (G)humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah.
27 And Hezekiah had very great riches and honor, and he made for himself treasuries for silver, for gold, for precious stones, for spices, for shields, and for all kinds of (H)costly vessels; 28 storehouses also for the yield of grain, wine, and oil; and stalls for all kinds of cattle, and sheepfolds. 29 He likewise provided cities for himself, and flocks and herds in abundance, for God had given him very great possessions. 30 This same Hezekiah (I)closed the upper outlet of the waters of (J)Gihon and directed them down to the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works. 31 And so in the matter of the envoys of the princes of Babylon, (K)who had been sent to him to inquire about (L)the sign that had been done in the land, God left him to himself, (M)in order to test him and to know all that was in his heart.
32 Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah and his good deeds, behold, they are written (N)in the vision of Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, (O)in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel. 33 And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the (P)upper part of the tombs of the sons of David, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honor at his death. And Manasseh his son reigned in his place.
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2 Chronicles 32:20-33
New International Version
2 Chronicles 32:20-33
New International Version
20 King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz cried out in prayer(A) to heaven about this. 21 And the Lord sent an angel,(B) who annihilated all the fighting men and the commanders and officers in the camp of the Assyrian king. So he withdrew to his own land in disgrace. And when he went into the temple of his god, some of his sons, his own flesh and blood, cut him down with the sword.(C)
22 So the Lord saved Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib king of Assyria and from the hand of all others. He took care of them[a] on every side. 23 Many brought offerings to Jerusalem for the Lord and valuable gifts(D) for Hezekiah king of Judah. From then on he was highly regarded by all the nations.
Hezekiah’s Pride, Success and Death(E)
24 In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. He prayed to the Lord, who answered him and gave him a miraculous sign.(F) 25 But Hezekiah’s heart was proud(G) and he did not respond to the kindness shown him; therefore the Lord’s wrath(H) was on him and on Judah and Jerusalem. 26 Then Hezekiah repented(I) of the pride of his heart, as did the people of Jerusalem; therefore the Lord’s wrath did not come on them during the days of Hezekiah.(J)
27 Hezekiah had very great wealth and honor,(K) and he made treasuries for his silver and gold and for his precious stones, spices, shields and all kinds of valuables. 28 He also made buildings to store the harvest of grain, new wine and olive oil; and he made stalls for various kinds of cattle, and pens for the flocks. 29 He built villages and acquired great numbers of flocks and herds, for God had given him very great riches.(L)
30 It was Hezekiah who blocked(M) the upper outlet of the Gihon(N) spring and channeled(O) the water down to the west side of the City of David. He succeeded in everything he undertook. 31 But when envoys were sent by the rulers of Babylon(P) to ask him about the miraculous sign(Q) that had occurred in the land, God left him to test(R) him and to know everything that was in his heart.
32 The other events of Hezekiah’s reign and his acts of devotion are written in the vision of the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. 33 Hezekiah rested with his ancestors and was buried on the hill where the tombs of David’s descendants are. All Judah and the people of Jerusalem honored him when he died. And Manasseh his son succeeded him as king.
Footnotes
- 2 Chronicles 32:22 Hebrew; Septuagint and Vulgate He gave them rest
Amos 2:4-16
English Standard Version
Amos 2:4-16
English Standard Version
Judgment on Judah
4 Thus says the Lord:
(A)“For three transgressions of Judah,
and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,
because (B)they have rejected the law of the Lord,
and have not kept his statutes,
but (C)their lies have led them astray,
those after which their fathers walked.
5 So (D)I will send a fire upon Judah,
and it shall devour the strongholds of Jerusalem.”
Judgment on Israel
6 Thus says the Lord:
(E)“For three transgressions of Israel,
and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,
because (F)they sell the righteous for (G)silver,
and the needy for a pair of sandals—
7 those who trample the head of the poor (H)into the dust of the earth
and (I)turn aside the way of the afflicted;
(J)a man and his father go in to the same girl,
so that my holy name is profaned;
8 they lay themselves down beside every altar
on garments (K)taken in pledge,
and in the house of their God they drink
the wine of those who have been fined.
9 “Yet (L)it was I who destroyed the Amorite before them,
(M)whose height was like the height of the cedars
and who was as strong as the oaks;
(N)I destroyed his fruit above
and his roots beneath.
10 (O)Also it was I who brought you up out of the land of Egypt
(P)and led you forty years in the wilderness,
(Q)to possess the land of the Amorite.
11 And I raised up some of your sons for prophets,
and some of your young men for (R)Nazirites.
Is it not indeed so, O people of Israel?”
declares the Lord.
12 “But you made the Nazirites (S)drink wine,
and commanded the prophets,
saying, (T)‘You shall not prophesy.’
13 “Behold, I will press you down in your place,
as a cart full of sheaves presses down.
14 (U)Flight shall perish from the swift,
(V)and the strong shall not retain his strength,
(W)nor shall the mighty save his life;
15 he who handles the bow shall not stand,
and he who is (X)swift of foot shall not save himself,
(Y)nor shall he who rides the horse save his life;
16 and he who is stout of heart among the mighty
shall flee away naked in that day,”
declares the Lord.
Amos 2:4-16
New International Version
Amos 2:4-16
New International Version
4 This is what the Lord says:
“For three sins of Judah,(A)
even for four, I will not relent.
Because they have rejected the law(B) of the Lord
and have not kept his decrees,(C)
because they have been led astray(D) by false gods,[a](E)
the gods[b] their ancestors followed,(F)
5 I will send fire(G) on Judah
that will consume the fortresses(H) of Jerusalem.(I)”
Judgment on Israel
6 This is what the Lord says:
“For three sins of Israel,
even for four, I will not relent.(J)
They sell the innocent for silver,
and the needy for a pair of sandals.(K)
7 They trample on the heads of the poor
as on the dust of the ground
and deny justice to the oppressed.
Father and son use the same girl
and so profane my holy name.(L)
8 They lie down beside every altar
on garments taken in pledge.(M)
In the house of their god
they drink wine(N) taken as fines.(O)
9 “Yet I destroyed the Amorites(P) before them,
though they were tall(Q) as the cedars
and strong as the oaks.(R)
I destroyed their fruit above
and their roots(S) below.
10 I brought you up out of Egypt(T)
and led(U) you forty years in the wilderness(V)
to give you the land of the Amorites.(W)
11 “I also raised up prophets(X) from among your children
and Nazirites(Y) from among your youths.
Is this not true, people of Israel?”
declares the Lord.
12 “But you made the Nazirites drink wine
and commanded the prophets not to prophesy.(Z)
13 “Now then, I will crush you
as a cart crushes when loaded with grain.(AA)
14 The swift will not escape,(AB)
the strong(AC) will not muster their strength,
and the warrior will not save his life.(AD)
15 The archer(AE) will not stand his ground,
the fleet-footed soldier will not get away,
and the horseman(AF) will not save his life.(AG)
16 Even the bravest warriors(AH)
will flee naked on that day,”
declares the Lord.
Proverbs 20:9-17
English Standard Version
Proverbs 20:9-17
English Standard Version
9 (A)Who can say, “I have made my heart pure;
I am clean from my sin”?
10 (B)Unequal[a] weights and unequal measures
are both alike an abomination to the Lord.
11 Even a child (C)makes himself known by his acts,
by whether his conduct is pure and upright.[b]
12 (D)The hearing ear and the seeing eye,
(E)the Lord has made them both.
13 (F)Love not sleep, lest you (G)come to poverty;
open your eyes, and you will have (H)plenty of bread.
14 “Bad, bad,” says the buyer,
but when he goes away, then he boasts.
15 There is gold and abundance of (I)costly stones,
(J)but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
16 (K)Take a man's garment when he has put up security for a stranger,
and (L)hold it in pledge when he puts up security for foreigners.[c]
17 (M)Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man,
but afterward his mouth will be full of (N)gravel.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 20:10 Or Two kinds of; also verse 23
- Proverbs 20:11 Or Even a child can dissemble in his actions, though his conduct seems pure and upright
- Proverbs 20:16 Or for an adulteress (compare 27:13)
Proverbs 20:9-17
New International Version
Proverbs 20:9-17
New International Version
10 Differing weights and differing measures—
the Lord detests them both.(C)
11 Even small children are known by their actions,
so is their conduct really pure(D) and upright?
12 Ears that hear and eyes that see—
the Lord has made them both.(E)
13 Do not love sleep or you will grow poor;(F)
stay awake and you will have food to spare.
14 “It’s no good, it’s no good!” says the buyer—
then goes off and boasts about the purchase.
15 Gold there is, and rubies in abundance,
but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel.
John 8:21-30
English Standard Version
John 8:21-30
English Standard Version
21 So he said to them again, (A)“I am going away, and (B)you will seek me, and (C)you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.” 22 So the Jews said, (D)“Will he kill himself, since he says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?” 23 He said to them, (E)“You are from below; I am from above. (F)You are of this world; (G)I am not of this world. 24 I told you that you (H)would die in your sins, for (I)unless you believe that (J)I am he you will die in your sins.” 25 So they said to him, (K)“Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning. 26 I have much to say about you and much to judge, but (L)he who sent me is true, and I declare (M)to the world (N)what I have heard from him.” 27 They did not understand that (O)he had been speaking to them about the Father. 28 So Jesus said to them, “When you have (P)lifted up the Son of Man, (Q)then you will know that (R)I am he, and that (S)I do nothing on my own authority, but (T)speak just as the Father taught me. 29 And (U)he who sent me is with me. (V)He has not left me alone, for (W)I always do the things that are pleasing to him.” 30 As he was saying these things, (X)many believed in him.
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John 8:21-30
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John 8:21-30
New International Version
Dispute Over Who Jesus Is
21 Once more Jesus said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die(A) in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come.”(B)
22 This made the Jews ask, “Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, ‘Where I go, you cannot come’?”
23 But he continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.(C) 24 I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he,(D) you will indeed die in your sins.”
25 “Who are you?” they asked.
“Just what I have been telling you from the beginning,” Jesus replied. 26 “I have much to say in judgment of you. But he who sent me is trustworthy,(E) and what I have heard from him I tell the world.”(F)
27 They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father. 28 So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up[a] the Son of Man,(G) then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me.(H) 29 The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone,(I) for I always do what pleases him.”(J) 30 Even as he spoke, many believed in him.(K)
Footnotes
- John 8:28 The Greek for lifted up also means exalted.
1 Timothy 5:1-16
English Standard Version
1 Timothy 5:1-16
English Standard Version
Instructions for the Church
5 (A)Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, (B)younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity.
3 Honor widows (C)who are truly widows. 4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn (D)to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for (E)this is pleasing in the sight of God. 5 She (F)who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and (G)continues in supplications and prayers night and day, 6 but (H)she who is self-indulgent is (I)dead even while she lives. 7 (J)Command these things as well, so that they may be without reproach. 8 But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for (K)members of his household, he has (L)denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
9 Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age, having been (M)the wife of one husband,[a] 10 and having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has (N)shown hospitality, (O)has washed the feet of the saints, has (P)cared for the afflicted, and has (Q)devoted herself to every good work. 11 But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when (R)their passions draw them away from Christ, they desire to marry 12 and so incur condemnation for having abandoned their former faith. 13 Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also (S)gossips and (T)busybodies, saying what they should not. 14 So I would have (U)younger widows marry, bear children, (V)manage their households, and (W)give the adversary no occasion for slander. 15 (X)For some have already strayed after Satan. 16 If any believing woman has relatives who are widows, let her care for them. Let the church not be burdened, so that it may care for those (Y)who are truly widows.
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- 1 Timothy 5:9 Or a woman of one man
1 Timothy 5:1-16
New International Version
1 Timothy 5:1-16
New International Version
Widows, Elders and Slaves
5 Do not rebuke an older man(A) harshly,(B) but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men(C) as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.
3 Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need.(D) 4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents,(E) for this is pleasing to God.(F) 5 The widow who is really in need(G) and left all alone puts her hope in God(H) and continues night and day to pray(I) and to ask God for help. 6 But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives.(J) 7 Give the people these instructions,(K) so that no one may be open to blame. 8 Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied(L) the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
9 No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband, 10 and is well known for her good deeds,(M) such as bringing up children, showing hospitality,(N) washing the feet(O) of the Lord’s people, helping those in trouble(P) and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds.
11 As for younger widows, do not put them on such a list. For when their sensual desires overcome their dedication to Christ, they want to marry. 12 Thus they bring judgment on themselves, because they have broken their first pledge. 13 Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also busybodies(Q) who talk nonsense,(R) saying things they ought not to. 14 So I counsel younger widows to marry,(S) to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander.(T) 15 Some have in fact already turned away to follow Satan.(U)
16 If any woman who is a believer has widows in her care, she should continue to help them and not let the church be burdened with them, so that the church can help those widows who are really in need.(V)
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