³⁶ What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?

²⁵ What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?

³ and you present to the Lord food offerings from the herd or the flock,^(A) as an aroma pleasing to the Lord^(B)—whether burnt offerings^(C) or sacrifices, for special vows or freewill offerings^(D) or festival offerings^(E)—

A Living Sacrifice

12 Therefore, I urge you,^(A) brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice,^(B) holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

³¹ so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now^[a] receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you.

² he said to Nathan^(A) the prophet, “Here I am, living in a house^(B) of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent.”^(C)

God’s Promise to David^(A)

17 After David was settled in his palace, he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of the covenant of the Lord is under a tent.^(B)”