Micah 4:1-5
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Peace and Security through Obedience
4 In days to come
the mountain of the Lord’s temple
shall be established as the highest of the mountains
and shall be raised up above the hills.
Peoples shall stream to it,(A)
2 and many nations shall come and say:
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the house of the God of Jacob,
that he may teach us his ways
and that we may walk in his paths.”
For out of Zion shall go forth instruction,
and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.(B)
3 He shall judge between many peoples
and shall arbitrate between strong nations far away;
they shall beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation;
neither shall they learn war any more;(C)
4 but they shall all sit under their own vines and under their own fig trees,
and no one shall make them afraid,
for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken.(D)
5 For all the peoples walk,
each in the name of its god,
but we will walk in the name of the Lord our God
forever and ever.(E)
Psalm 85:7-13
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
7 Show us your steadfast love, O Lord,
and grant us your salvation.
8 Let me hear what God the Lord will speak,
for he will speak peace to his people,
to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts.[a](A)
9 Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him,
that his glory may dwell in our land.(B)
10 Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet;
righteousness and peace will kiss each other.(C)
11 Faithfulness will spring up from the ground,
and righteousness will look down from the sky.
12 The Lord will give what is good,
and our land will yield its increase.(D)
13 Righteousness will go before him
and will make a path for his steps.(E)
Footnotes
- 85.8 Gk: Heb but let them not turn back to folly
Ephesians 2:13-18
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.(A) 14 For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us,(B) 15 abolishing the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace,(C) 16 and might reconcile both to God in one body[a] through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it.[b](D) 17 So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near, 18 for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father.(E)
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Matthew 5:43-48
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Love for Enemies
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’(A) 44 But I say to you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,(B) 45 so that you may be children of your Father in heaven, for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.(C) 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the gentiles do the same? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.(D)
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