Isaiah 65:17-25

New International Version

New Heavens and a New Earth

¹⁷“See, I will create
    new heavens and a new earth.^(A)
The former things will not be remembered,^(B)
    nor will they come to mind.
¹⁸But be glad and rejoice^(C) forever
    in what I will create,
for I will create Jerusalem^(D) to be a delight
    and its people a joy.
¹⁹I will rejoice^(E) over Jerusalem
    and take delight^(F) in my people;
the sound of weeping and of crying^(G)
    will be heard in it no more.

²⁰“Never again will there be in it
    an infant^(H) who lives but a few days,
    or an old man who does not live out his years;^(I)
the one who dies at a hundred
    will be thought a mere child;
the one who fails to reach^[a] a hundred
    will be considered accursed.
²¹They will build houses^(J) and dwell in them;
    they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit.^(K)
²²No longer will they build houses and others live in them,^(L)
    or plant and others eat.
For as the days of a tree,^(M)
    so will be the days^(N) of my people;
my chosen^(O) ones will long enjoy
    the work of their hands.
²³They will not labor in vain,^(P)
    nor will they bear children doomed to misfortune;^(Q)
for they will be a people blessed^(R) by the Lord,
    they and their descendants^(S) with them.
²⁴Before they call^(T) I will answer;^(U)
    while they are still speaking^(V) I will hear.
²⁵The wolf and the lamb^(W) will feed together,
    and the lion will eat straw like the ox,^(X)
    and dust will be the serpent’s^(Y) food.
They will neither harm nor destroy
    on all my holy mountain,”^(Z)
says the Lord.

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Footnotes

Isaiah 65:20 Or the sinner who reaches

Psalm 98

New International Version

Psalm 98

A psalm.

¹Sing to the Lord^(A) a new song,^(B)
    for he has done marvelous things;^(C)
his right hand^(D) and his holy arm^(E)
    have worked salvation^(F) for him.
²The Lord has made his salvation known^(G)
    and revealed his righteousness^(H) to the nations.^(I)
³He has remembered^(J) his love
    and his faithfulness to Israel;
all the ends of the earth^(K) have seen
    the salvation of our God.^(L)

⁴Shout for joy^(M) to the Lord, all the earth,
    burst into jubilant song with music;
⁵make music to the Lord with the harp,^(N)
    with the harp and the sound of singing,^(O)
⁶with trumpets^(P) and the blast of the ram’s horn^(Q)—
    shout for joy^(R) before the Lord, the King.^(S)

⁷Let the sea^(T) resound, and everything in it,
    the world, and all who live in it.^(U)
⁸Let the rivers clap their hands,^(V)
    let the mountains^(W) sing together for joy;
⁹let them sing before the Lord,
    for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
    and the peoples with equity.^(X)

2 Thessalonians 3:6-13

New International Version

Warning Against Idleness

⁶In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ,^(A) we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from^(B) every believer who is idle and disruptive^(C) and does not live according to the teaching^[a] you received from us.^(D) ⁷For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example.^(E) We were not idle when we were with you, ⁸nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked^(F) night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. ⁹We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help,^(G) but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate.^(H) ¹⁰For even when we were with you,^(I) we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work^(J) shall not eat.”

¹¹We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies.^(K) ¹²Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ^(L) to settle down and earn the food they eat.^(M) ¹³And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good.^(N)

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Footnotes

2 Thessalonians 3:6 Or tradition

Luke 21:5-19

New International Version

The Destruction of the Temple and Signs of the End Times^(A)^(B)

⁵Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, ⁶“As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another;^(C) every one of them will be thrown down.”

⁷“Teacher,” they asked, “when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?”

⁸He replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them.^(D) ⁹When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.”

¹⁰Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.^(E) ¹¹There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.^(F)

¹²“But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. ¹³And so you will bear testimony to me.^(G) ¹⁴But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves.^(H) ¹⁵For I will give you^(I) words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. ¹⁶You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends,^(J) and they will put some of you to death. ¹⁷Everyone will hate you because of me.^(K) ¹⁸But not a hair of your head will perish.^(L) ¹⁹Stand firm, and you will win life.^(M)