45 “This is what the Lord says to his anointed,(A)
    to Cyrus,(B) whose right hand I take hold(C) of
to subdue nations(D) before him
    and to strip kings of their armor,
to open doors before him
    so that gates will not be shut:

Read full chapter

For the sake of Jacob my servant,(A)
    of Israel my chosen,
I summon you by name
    and bestow on you a title of honor,
    though you do not acknowledge(B) me.
I am the Lord, and there is no other;(C)
    apart from me there is no God.(D)
I will strengthen you,(E)
    though you have not acknowledged me,
so that from the rising of the sun
    to the place of its setting(F)
people may know(G) there is none besides me.(H)
    I am the Lord, and there is no other.

Read full chapter

Declare his glory(A) among the nations,
    his marvelous deeds(B) among all peoples.

Read full chapter

For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;(A)
    he is to be feared(B) above all gods.(C)
For all the gods of the nations are idols,(D)
    but the Lord made the heavens.(E)

Read full chapter

Ascribe to the Lord,(A) all you families of nations,(B)
    ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
    bring an offering(C) and come into his courts.(D)

Read full chapter

Worship the Lord(A) in the splendor of his[a] holiness;(B)
    tremble(C) before him, all the earth.(D)
10 Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.(E)
    The world is firmly established,(F) it cannot be moved;(G)
    he will judge(H) the peoples with equity.(I)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 96:9 Or Lord with the splendor of

Paul, Silas[a](A) and Timothy,(B)

To the church of the Thessalonians(C) in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

Grace and peace to you.(D)

Thanksgiving for the Thessalonians’ Faith

We always thank God for all of you(E) and continually mention you in our prayers.(F) We remember before our God and Father(G) your work produced by faith,(H) your labor prompted by love,(I) and your endurance inspired by hope(J) in our Lord Jesus Christ.

For we know, brothers and sisters[b] loved by God,(K) that he has chosen you, because our gospel(L) came to you not simply with words but also with power,(M) with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know(N) how we lived among you for your sake.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 1 Thessalonians 1:1 Greek Silvanus, a variant of Silas
  2. 1 Thessalonians 1:4 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in 2:1, 9, 14, 17; 3:7; 4:1, 10, 13; 5:1, 4, 12, 14, 25, 27.

15 so that you may become blameless(A) and pure, “children of God(B) without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”[a](C) Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Philippians 2:15 Deut. 32:5

Paying the Imperial Tax to Caesar(A)

15 Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. 16 They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians.(B) “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are. 17 Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax[a](C) to Caesar or not?”

18 But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? 19 Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, 20 and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”

21 “Caesar’s,” they replied.

Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s,(D) and to God what is God’s.”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 22:17 A special tax levied on subject peoples, not on Roman citizens

Bible Gateway Recommends