John the Baptist Prepares the Way^(A)

1 The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah,^[a] the Son of God,^{[b](B) 2} as it is written in Isaiah the prophet:

⁴ And so John the Baptist^(E) appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance^(F) for the forgiveness of sins.^{(G) 5} The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. ⁶ John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist,^(H) and he ate locusts^(I) and wild honey. ⁷ And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.^{(J) 8} I baptize you with^[e] water, but he will baptize you with^[f] the Holy Spirit.”^(K)

The Baptism and Testing of Jesus^(L)(M)

⁹ At that time Jesus came from Nazareth^(N) in Galilee and was baptized by John^(O) in the Jordan. ¹⁰ Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.^{(P) 11} And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son,^(Q) whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”^(R)

¹² At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, ¹³ and he was in the wilderness forty days,^(S) being tempted^[g] by Satan.^(T) He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.

Jesus Announces the Good News^(U)

¹⁴ After John^(V) was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee,^(W) proclaiming the good news of God.^{(X) 15} “The time has come,”^(Y) he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe^(Z) the good news!”^(AA)

Jesus Calls His First Disciples

¹⁶ As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ¹⁷ “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” ¹⁸ At once they left their nets and followed him.^(AB)

¹⁹ When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. ²⁰ Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.

Jesus Drives Out an Impure Spirit^(AC)

²¹ They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach.^{(AD) 22} The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.^{(AE) 23} Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out, ²⁴ “What do you want with us,^(AF) Jesus of Nazareth?^(AG) Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”^(AH)

²⁵ “Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!”^{(AI) 26} The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.^(AJ)

²⁷ The people were all so amazed^(AK) that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.” ²⁸ News about him spread quickly over the whole region^(AL) of Galilee.

Jesus Heals Many^(AM)(AN)

²⁹ As soon as they left the synagogue,^(AO) they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. ³⁰ Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her. ³¹ So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up.^(AP) The fever left her and she began to wait on them.

³² That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed.^{(AQ) 33} The whole town gathered at the door, ³⁴ and Jesus healed many who had various diseases.^(AR) He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.^(AS)

Jesus Prays in a Solitary Place^(AT)

³⁵ Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.^{(AU) 36} Simon and his companions went to look for him, ³⁷ and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”

³⁸ Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.”^{(AV) 39} So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues^(AW) and driving out demons.^(AX)

Jesus Heals a Man With Leprosy^(AY)

⁴⁰ A man with leprosy^[h] came to him and begged him on his knees,^(AZ) “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”

⁴¹ Jesus was indignant.^[i] He reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” ⁴² Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.

⁴³ Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: ⁴⁴ “See that you don’t tell this to anyone.^(BA) But go, show yourself to the priest^(BB) and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing,^(BC) as a testimony to them.” ⁴⁵ Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places.^(BD) Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.^(BE)

Saul Rescues the City of Jabesh

11 Nahash^[a](A) the Ammonite went up and besieged Jabesh Gilead.^(B) And all the men of Jabesh said to him, “Make a treaty^(C) with us, and we will be subject to you.”

² But Nahash the Ammonite replied, “I will make a treaty with you only on the condition^(D) that I gouge^(E) out the right eye of every one of you and so bring disgrace^(F) on all Israel.”

³ The elders^(G) of Jabesh said to him, “Give us seven days so we can send messengers throughout Israel; if no one comes to rescue^(H) us, we will surrender^(I) to you.”

⁴ When the messengers came to Gibeah^(J) of Saul and reported these terms to the people, they all wept^(K) aloud. ⁵ Just then Saul was returning from the fields, behind his oxen, and he asked, “What is wrong with everyone? Why are they weeping?” Then they repeated to him what the men of Jabesh had said.

⁶ When Saul heard their words, the Spirit^(L) of God came powerfully upon him, and he burned with anger. ⁷ He took a pair of oxen,^(M) cut them into pieces, and sent the pieces by messengers throughout Israel,^(N) proclaiming, “This is what will be done to the oxen of anyone^(O) who does not follow Saul and Samuel.” Then the terror of the Lord fell on the people, and they came out together as one.^{(P) 8} When Saul mustered^(Q) them at Bezek,^(R) the men of Israel numbered three hundred thousand and those of Judah thirty thousand.

⁹ They told the messengers who had come, “Say to the men of Jabesh Gilead, ‘By the time the sun is hot tomorrow, you will be rescued.’” When the messengers went and reported this to the men of Jabesh, they were elated. ¹⁰ They said to the Ammonites, “Tomorrow we will surrender^(S) to you, and you can do to us whatever you like.”

¹¹ The next day Saul separated his men into three divisions;^(T) during the last watch of the night they broke into the camp of the Ammonites^(U) and slaughtered them until the heat of the day. Those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.

Saul Confirmed as King

¹² The people then said to Samuel, “Who^(V) was it that asked, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ Turn these men over to us so that we may put them to death.”

¹³ But Saul said, “No one will be put to death today,^(W) for this day the Lord has rescued^(X) Israel.”

¹⁴ Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let us go to Gilgal^(Y) and there renew the kingship.^(Z)” ¹⁵ So all the people went to Gilgal^(AA) and made Saul king^(AB) in the presence of the Lord. There they sacrificed fellowship offerings before the Lord, and Saul and all the Israelites held a great celebration.

Samuel’s Farewell Speech

12 Samuel said to all Israel, “I have listened^(AC) to everything you said to me and have set a king^(AD) over you. ² Now you have a king as your leader.^(AE) As for me, I am old and gray, and my sons^(AF) are here with you. I have been your leader from my youth until this day. ³ Here I stand. Testify against me in the presence of the Lord and his anointed.^(AG) Whose ox have I taken? Whose donkey^(AH) have I taken? Whom have I cheated? Whom have I oppressed? From whose hand have I accepted a bribe^(AI) to make me shut my eyes? If I have done^(AJ) any of these things, I will make it right.”^(AK)

⁴ “You have not cheated or oppressed us,” they replied. “You have not taken anything from anyone’s hand.”

⁵ Samuel said to them, “The Lord is witness^(AL) against you, and also his anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything^(AM) in my hand.^(AN)”

“He is witness,” they said.

⁶ Then Samuel said to the people, “It is the Lord who appointed Moses and Aaron and brought^(AO) your ancestors up out of Egypt. ⁷ Now then, stand^(AP) here, because I am going to confront^(AQ) you with evidence before the Lord as to all the righteous acts^(AR) performed by the Lord for you and your ancestors.

⁸ “After Jacob^(AS) entered Egypt, they cried^(AT) to the Lord for help, and the Lord sent^(AU) Moses and Aaron, who brought your ancestors out of Egypt and settled them in this place.

⁹ “But they forgot^(AV) the Lord their God; so he sold them^(AW) into the hand of Sisera,^(AX) the commander of the army of Hazor,^(AY) and into the hands of the Philistines^(AZ) and the king of Moab,^(BA) who fought against them. ¹⁰ They cried^(BB) out to the Lord and said, ‘We have sinned; we have forsaken^(BC) the Lord and served the Baals and the Ashtoreths.^(BD) But now deliver us from the hands of our enemies, and we will serve you.’ ¹¹ Then the Lord sent Jerub-Baal,^[b](BE) Barak,^[c](BF) Jephthah^(BG) and Samuel,^[d](BH) and he delivered you from the hands of your enemies all around you, so that you lived in safety.

¹² “But when you saw that Nahash^(BI) king^(BJ) of the Ammonites was moving against you, you said to me, ‘No, we want a king to rule^(BK) over us’—even though the Lord your God was your king. ¹³ Now here is the king^(BL) you have chosen, the one you asked^(BM) for; see, the Lord has set a king over you. ¹⁴ If you fear^(BN) the Lord and serve and obey him and do not rebel^(BO) against his commands, and if both you and the king who reigns over you follow the Lord your God—good! ¹⁵ But if you do not obey the Lord, and if you rebel against^(BP) his commands, his hand will be against you, as it was against your ancestors.

¹⁶ “Now then, stand still^(BQ) and see^(BR) this great thing the Lord is about to do before your eyes! ¹⁷ Is it not wheat harvest^(BS) now? I will call^(BT) on the Lord to send thunder^(BU) and rain.^(BV) And you will realize what an evil^(BW) thing you did in the eyes of the Lord when you asked for a king.”

¹⁸ Then Samuel called on the Lord,^(BX) and that same day the Lord sent thunder and rain. So all the people stood in awe^(BY) of the Lord and of Samuel.

¹⁹ The people all said to Samuel, “Pray^(BZ) to the Lord your God for your servants so that we will not die,^(CA) for we have added to all our other sins the evil of asking for a king.”

²⁰ “Do not be afraid,” Samuel replied. “You have done all this evil;^(CB) yet do not turn away from the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. ²¹ Do not turn away after useless^(CC) idols.^(CD) They can do you no good, nor can they rescue you, because they are useless. ²² For the sake^(CE) of his great name^(CF) the Lord will not reject^(CG) his people, because the Lord was pleased to make^(CH) you his own. ²³ As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray^(CI) for you. And I will teach^(CJ) you the way that is good and right. ²⁴ But be sure to fear^(CK) the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart;^(CL) consider^(CM) what great^(CN) things he has done for you. ²⁵ Yet if you persist^(CO) in doing evil, both you and your king^(CP) will perish.”^(CQ)

Paul and the False Apostles

11 I hope you will put up with^(A) me in a little foolishness.^(B) Yes, please put up with me! ² I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband,^(C) to Christ, so that I might present you^(D) as a pure virgin to him. ³ But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning,^(E) your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. ⁴ For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached,^(F) or if you receive a different spirit^(G) from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel^(H) from the one you accepted, you put up with it^(I) easily enough.

⁵ I do not think I am in the least inferior to those “super-apostles.”^{[a](J) 6} I may indeed be untrained as a speaker,^(K) but I do have knowledge.^(L) We have made this perfectly clear to you in every way. ⁷ Was it a sin^(M) for me to lower myself in order to elevate you by preaching the gospel of God^(N) to you free of charge?^{(O) 8} I robbed other churches by receiving support from them^(P) so as to serve you. ⁹ And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed.^(Q) I have kept myself from being a burden to you^(R) in any way, and will continue to do so. ¹⁰ As surely as the truth of Christ is in me,^(S) nobody in the regions of Achaia^(T) will stop this boasting^(U) of mine. ¹¹ Why? Because I do not love you? God knows^(V) I do!^(W)

¹² And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about. ¹³ For such people are false apostles,^(X) deceitful^(Y) workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.^{(Z) 14} And no wonder, for Satan^(AA) himself masquerades as an angel of light. ¹⁵ It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.^(AB)

Paul Boasts About His Sufferings

¹⁶ I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool.^(AC) But if you do, then tolerate me just as you would a fool, so that I may do a little boasting. ¹⁷ In this self-confident boasting I am not talking as the Lord would,^(AD) but as a fool.^{(AE) 18} Since many are boasting in the way the world does,^(AF) I too will boast.^{(AG) 19} You gladly put up with^(AH) fools since you are so wise!^{(AI) 20} In fact, you even put up with^(AJ) anyone who enslaves you^(AK) or exploits you or takes advantage of you or puts on airs or slaps you in the face. ²¹ To my shame I admit that we were too weak^(AL) for that!

Whatever anyone else dares to boast about—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast about.^{(AM) 22} Are they Hebrews? So am I.^(AN) Are they Israelites? So am I.^(AO) Are they Abraham’s descendants? So am I.^{(AP) 23} Are they servants of Christ?^(AQ) (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder,^(AR) been in prison more frequently,^(AS) been flogged more severely,^(AT) and been exposed to death again and again.^{(AU) 24} Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes^(AV) minus one. ²⁵ Three times I was beaten with rods,^(AW) once I was pelted with stones,^(AX) three times I was shipwrecked,^(AY) I spent a night and a day in the open sea, ²⁶ I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews,^(AZ) in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city,^(BA) in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers.^{(BB) 27} I have labored and toiled^(BC) and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food;^(BD) I have been cold and naked. ²⁸ Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.^{(BE) 29} Who is weak, and I do not feel weak?^(BF) Who is led into sin,^(BG) and I do not inwardly burn?

³⁰ If I must boast, I will boast^(BH) of the things that show my weakness.^{(BI) 31} The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever,^(BJ) knows^(BK) that I am not lying. ³² In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me.^{(BL) 33} But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands.^(BM)

Paul’s Vision and His Thorn

12 I must go on boasting.^(BN) Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations^(BO) from the Lord. ² I know a man in Christ^(BP) who fourteen years ago was caught up^(BQ) to the third heaven.^(BR) Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows.^{(BS) 3} And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— ⁴ was caught up^(BT) to paradise^(BU) and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell. ⁵ I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses.^{(BV) 6} Even if I should choose to boast,^(BW) I would not be a fool,^(BX) because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, ⁷ or because of these surpassingly great revelations.^(BY) Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh,^(BZ) a messenger of Satan,^(CA) to torment me. ⁸ Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.^{(CB) 9} But he said to me, “My grace^(CC) is sufficient for you, for my power^(CD) is made perfect in weakness.^(CE)”^(CF) Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ¹⁰ That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight^(CG) in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships,^(CH) in persecutions,^(CI) in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.^(CJ)

Paul’s Concern for the Corinthians

¹¹ I have made a fool of myself,^(CK) but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the “super-apostles,”^[b](CL) even though I am nothing.^{(CM) 12} I persevered in demonstrating among you the marks of a true apostle, including signs, wonders and miracles.^{(CN) 13} How were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was never a burden to you?^(CO) Forgive me this wrong!^(CP)

¹⁴ Now I am ready to visit you for the third time,^(CQ) and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents,^(CR) but parents for their children.^{(CS) 15} So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well.^(CT) If I love you more,^(CU) will you love me less? ¹⁶ Be that as it may, I have not been a burden to you.^(CV) Yet, crafty fellow that I am, I caught you by trickery! ¹⁷ Did I exploit you through any of the men I sent to you? ¹⁸ I urged^(CW) Titus^(CX) to go to you and I sent our brother^(CY) with him. Titus did not exploit you, did he? Did we not walk in the same footsteps by the same Spirit?

¹⁹ Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? We have been speaking in the sight of God^(CZ) as those in Christ; and everything we do, dear friends,^(DA) is for your strengthening.^{(DB) 20} For I am afraid that when I come^(DC) I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be.^(DD) I fear that there may be discord,^(DE) jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition,^(DF) slander,^(DG) gossip,^(DH) arrogance^(DI) and disorder.^{(DJ) 21} I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved^(DK) over many who have sinned earlier^(DL) and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery^(DM) in which they have indulged.

Final Warnings

13 This will be my third visit to you.^(DN) “Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.”^{[c](DO) 2} I already gave you a warning when I was with you the second time. I now repeat it while absent:^(DP) On my return I will not spare^(DQ) those who sinned earlier^(DR) or any of the others, ³ since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me.^(DS) He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. ⁴ For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness,^(DT) yet he lives by God’s power.^(DU) Likewise, we are weak^(DV) in him, yet by God’s power we will live with him^(DW) in our dealing with you.

⁵ Examine yourselves^(DX) to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.^(DY) Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you^(DZ)—unless, of course, you fail the test? ⁶ And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test. ⁷ Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong—not so that people will see that we have stood the test but so that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed. ⁸ For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. ⁹ We are glad whenever we are weak^(EA) but you are strong;^(EB) and our prayer is that you may be fully restored.^{(EC) 10} This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh^(ED) in my use of authority—the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.^(EE)

Final Greetings

¹¹ Finally, brothers and sisters,^(EF) rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace.^(EG) And the God of love^(EH) and peace^(EI) will be with you.

¹² Greet one another with a holy kiss.^{(EJ) 13} All God’s people here send their greetings.^(EK)

¹⁴ May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,^(EL) and the love of God,^(EM) and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit^(EN) be with you all.

Psalm 11

For the director of music. Of David.

Psalm 111^[a]