Luke 3:7-14
Contemporary English Version
7 (A) Crowds of people came out to be baptized, but John said to them, “You bunch of snakes! Who warned you to run from the coming judgment? 8 (B) Do something to show that you really have given up your sins. Don't start saying you belong to Abraham's family. God can turn these stones into children for Abraham.[a] 9 (C) An ax is ready to cut the trees down at their roots. Any tree that doesn't produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into a fire.”
10 The crowds asked John, “What should we do?”
11 John told them, “If you have two coats, give one to someone who doesn't have any. If you have food, share it with someone else.”
12 (D) When tax collectors[b] came to be baptized, they asked John, “Teacher, what should we do?”
13 John told them, “Don't make people pay more than they owe.”
14 Some soldiers asked him, “And what about us? What do we have to do?”
John told them, “Don't force people to pay money to make you leave them alone. Be satisfied with your pay.”
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- 3.8 children for Abraham: The Jewish people thought they were God's chosen people because of God's promises to their ancestor Abraham.
- 3.12 tax collectors: These were usually Jewish people who paid the Romans for the right to collect taxes. They were hated by other Jews who thought of them as traitors to their country and to their religion.
Luke 3:7-14
English Standard Version
7 He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, (A)“You brood of (B)vipers! Who warned you to flee from (C)the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruits (D)in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, (E)‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God is able from (F)these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 9 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. (G)Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”
10 And the crowds asked him, (H)“What then shall we do?” 11 And he answered them, (I)“Whoever has two tunics[a] is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.” 12 (J)Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, (K)what shall we do?” 13 And he said to them, (L)“Collect no more than you are authorized to do.” 14 Soldiers also asked him, “And we, (M)what shall we do?” And he said to them, (N)“Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your (O)wages.”
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- Luke 3:11 Greek chiton, a long garment worn under the cloak next to the skin
James 3:1-2
Contemporary English Version
The Tongue
3 My friends, we should not all try to become teachers. In fact, teachers will be judged more strictly than others. 2 (A) All of us do many wrong things. But if you can control your tongue, you are mature and able to control your whole body.
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James 3:1-2
English Standard Version
Taming the Tongue
3 (A)Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2 For (B)we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, (C)he is a perfect man, (D)able also to bridle his whole body.
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Proverbs 26:18-20
Contemporary English Version
18 It's no crazier to shoot
sharp and flaming arrows
19 than to cheat someone and say,
“I was only fooling!”
20 Where there is no fuel
a fire goes out;
where there is no gossip
arguments come to an end.
Proverbs 26:18-20
English Standard Version
18 Like a madman who throws (A)firebrands, arrows, and death
19 is the man who deceives his neighbor
and says, “I am only joking!”
20 For lack of wood the fire goes out,
and where there is no (B)whisperer, (C)quarreling ceases.
Ecclesiastes 5:1-7
Contemporary English Version
Be Careful How You Worship
5 Be careful what you do when you enter the house of God. Fools go there to offer sacrifices, because all they do is sin.[a] But it's best just to listen when you go to worship. 2 Don't talk before you think or make promises to God without thinking them through. God is in heaven, and you are on earth, so don't talk too much. 3 If you keep thinking about something, you will dream about it. If you talk too much, you will say the wrong thing.
4 (A) God doesn't like fools. So don't be slow to keep your promises to God. 5 It's better not to make a promise at all than to make one and not keep it. 6 Don't let your mouth get you in trouble! And don't say to the worship leader,[b] “I didn't mean what I said.” God can destroy everything you have worked for, so don't say something that makes God angry.
7 Respect and obey God! Daydreaming leads to a lot of senseless talk.[c]
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Ecclesiastes 5:1-7
English Standard Version
Fear God
5 [a] (A)Guard your steps when you go to (B)the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to (C)offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil. 2 [b] Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore (D)let your words be few. 3 For a dream comes with much business, and a fool's voice with (E)many words.
4 When (F)you vow a vow to God, (G)do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. (H)Pay what you vow. 5 (I)It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. 6 Let not your mouth lead you[c] into sin, and do not say before (J)the messenger[d] that it was (K)a mistake. Why should God be angry at your voice and destroy the work of your hands? 7 For when dreams increase and words grow many, there is vanity;[e] but[f] (L)God is the one you must fear.
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- Ecclesiastes 5:1 Ch 4:17 in Hebrew
- Ecclesiastes 5:2 Ch 5:1 in Hebrew
- Ecclesiastes 5:6 Hebrew your flesh
- Ecclesiastes 5:6 Or angel
- Ecclesiastes 5:7 The Hebrew term hebel can refer to a “vapor” or “mere breath”; also verse 10 (see note on 1:2)
- Ecclesiastes 5:7 Or For when dreams and vanities increase, words also grow many; but
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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
