Joel 2:12-19

New International Version

Rend Your Heart

¹²“Even now,” declares the Lord,
“return^(A) to me with all your heart,^(B)
with fasting and weeping and mourning.”

¹³Rend your heart^(C)
    and not your garments.^(D)
Return^(E) to the Lord your God,
    for he is gracious and compassionate,^(F)
slow to anger and abounding in love,^(G)
    and he relents from sending calamity.^(H)
¹⁴Who knows? He may turn^(I) and relent^(J)
    and leave behind a blessing^(K)—
grain offerings and drink offerings^(L)
    for the Lord your God.

¹⁵Blow the trumpet^(M) in Zion,^(N)
    declare a holy fast,^(O)
    call a sacred assembly.^(P)
¹⁶Gather the people,
    consecrate^(Q) the assembly;
bring together the elders,^(R)
    gather the children,
    those nursing at the breast.
Let the bridegroom^(S) leave his room
    and the bride her chamber.
¹⁷Let the priests, who minister^(T) before the Lord,
    weep^(U) between the portico and the altar.^(V)
Let them say, “Spare your people, Lord.
    Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn,^(W)
    a byword^(X) among the nations.
Why should they say among the peoples,
    ‘Where is their God?^(Y)’”

The Lord’s Answer

¹⁸Then the Lord was jealous^(Z) for his land
and took pity^(AA) on his people.

¹⁹The Lord replied^[a] to them:

“I am sending you grain, new wine^(AB) and olive oil,^(AC)
enough to satisfy you fully;^(AD)
never again will I make you
an object of scorn^(AE) to the nations.

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Footnotes

Joel 2:19 Or Lord will be jealous … / and take pity … / ¹⁹The Lord will reply

2 Corinthians 5:20-6:10

New International Version

²⁰We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors,^(A) as though God were making his appeal through us.^(B) We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.^(C) ²¹God made him who had no sin^(D) to be sin^[a] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.^(E)

6 As God’s co-workers^(F) we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.^(G) ²For he says,

“In the time of my favor I heard you,
and in the day of salvation I helped you.”^[b]^(H)

I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.

Paul’s Hardships

³We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path,^(I) so that our ministry will not be discredited. ⁴Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; ⁵in beatings, imprisonments^(J) and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger;^(K) ⁶in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit^(L) and in sincere love;^(M) ⁷in truthful speech^(N) and in the power of God;^(O) with weapons of righteousness^(P) in the right hand and in the left; ⁸through glory and dishonor,^(Q) bad report^(R) and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors;^(S) ⁹known, yet regarded as unknown; dying,^(T) and yet we live on;^(U) beaten, and yet not killed; ¹⁰sorrowful, yet always rejoicing;^(V) poor, yet making many rich;^(W) having nothing,^(X) and yet possessing everything.^(Y)

Footnotes

2 Corinthians 5:21 Or be a sin offering
2 Corinthians 6:2 Isaiah 49:8

Matthew 6:1-6

New International Version

Giving to the Needy

6 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them.^(A) If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

²“So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. ³But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, ⁴so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.^(B)

Prayer^(C)

⁵“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing^(D) in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. ⁶But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father,^(E) who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

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Matthew 6:16-21

New International Version

Fasting

¹⁶“When you fast,^(A) do not look somber^(B) as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. ¹⁷But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, ¹⁸so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.^(C)

Treasures in Heaven^(D)

¹⁹“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth,^(E) where moths and vermin destroy,^(F) and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven,^(G) where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.^(H) ²¹For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.^(I)