1 Corinthians 15:50-58

New International Version

⁵⁰I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood^(A) cannot inherit the kingdom of God,^(B) nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.^(C) ⁵¹Listen, I tell you a mystery:^(D) We will not all sleep,^(E) but we will all be changed^(F)— ⁵²in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound,^(G) the dead^(H) will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. ⁵³For the perishable^(I) must clothe itself with the imperishable,^(J) and the mortal with immortality. ⁵⁴When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”^[a]^(K)

⁵⁵“Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?”^[b]^(L)

⁵⁶The sting of death is sin,^(M) and the power of sin is the law.^(N) ⁵⁷But thanks be to God!^(O) He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.^(P)

⁵⁸Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord,^(Q) because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.^(R)

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Footnotes

1 Corinthians 15:54 Isaiah 25:8
1 Corinthians 15:55 Hosea 13:14

1 Corinthians 16

New International Version

The Collection for the Lord’s People

16 Now about the collection^(A) for the Lord’s people:^(B) Do what I told the Galatian^(C) churches to do. ²On the first day of every week,^(D) each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.^(E) ³Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve^(F) and send them with your gift to Jerusalem. ⁴If it seems advisable for me to go also, they will accompany me.

Personal Requests

⁵After I go through Macedonia, I will come to you^(G)—for I will be going through Macedonia.^(H) ⁶Perhaps I will stay with you for a while, or even spend the winter, so that you can help me on my journey,^(I) wherever I go. ⁷For I do not want to see you now and make only a passing visit; I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits.^(J) ⁸But I will stay on at Ephesus^(K) until Pentecost,^(L) ⁹because a great door for effective work has opened to me,^(M) and there are many who oppose me.

¹⁰When Timothy^(N) comes, see to it that he has nothing to fear while he is with you, for he is carrying on the work of the Lord,^(O) just as I am. ¹¹No one, then, should treat him with contempt.^(P) Send him on his way^(Q) in peace^(R) so that he may return to me. I am expecting him along with the brothers.

¹²Now about our brother Apollos:^(S) I strongly urged him to go to you with the brothers. He was quite unwilling to go now, but he will go when he has the opportunity.

¹³Be on your guard; stand firm^(T) in the faith; be courageous; be strong.^(U) ¹⁴Do everything in love.^(V)

¹⁵You know that the household of Stephanas^(W) were the first converts^(X) in Achaia,^(Y) and they have devoted themselves to the service^(Z) of the Lord’s people.^(AA) I urge you, brothers and sisters, ¹⁶to submit^(AB) to such people and to everyone who joins in the work and labors at it. ¹⁷I was glad when Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus arrived, because they have supplied what was lacking from you.^(AC) ¹⁸For they refreshed^(AD) my spirit and yours also. Such men deserve recognition.^(AE)

Final Greetings

¹⁹The churches in the province of Asia^(AF) send you greetings. Aquila and Priscilla^[a]^(AG) greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house.^(AH) ²⁰All the brothers and sisters here send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss.^(AI)

²¹I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand.^(AJ)

²²If anyone does not love the Lord,^(AK) let that person be cursed!^(AL) Come, Lord^[b]!^(AM)

²³The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.^(AN)

²⁴My love to all of you in Christ Jesus. Amen.^[c]

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Footnotes

1 Corinthians 16:19 Greek Prisca, a variant of Priscilla
1 Corinthians 16:22 The Greek for Come, Lord reproduces an Aramaic expression (Marana tha) used by early Christians.
1 Corinthians 16:24 Some manuscripts do not have Amen.

Proverbs 4

New International Version

Get Wisdom at Any Cost

4 Listen, my sons,^(A) to a father’s instruction;^(B)
    pay attention and gain understanding.^(C)
²I give you sound learning,
    so do not forsake my teaching.
³For I too was a son to my father,
    still tender, and cherished by my mother.
⁴Then he taught me, and he said to me,
    “Take hold^(D) of my words with all your heart;
    keep my commands, and you will live.^(E)
⁵Get wisdom,^(F) get understanding;
    do not forget my words or turn away from them.
⁶Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;^(G)
    love her, and she will watch over you.^(H)
⁷The beginning of wisdom is this: Get^[a] wisdom.
    Though it cost all^(I) you have,^[b] get understanding.^(J)
⁸Cherish her, and she will exalt you;
    embrace her, and she will honor you.^(K)
⁹She will give you a garland to grace your head
    and present you with a glorious crown.^(L)”

¹⁰Listen, my son,^(M) accept what I say,
    and the years of your life will be many.^(N)
¹¹I instruct^(O) you in the way of wisdom
    and lead you along straight paths.^(P)
¹²When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
    when you run, you will not stumble.^(Q)
¹³Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
    guard it well, for it is your life.^(R)
¹⁴Do not set foot on the path of the wicked
    or walk in the way of evildoers.^(S)
¹⁵Avoid it, do not travel on it;
    turn from it and go on your way.
¹⁶For they cannot rest until they do evil;^(T)
    they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble.
¹⁷They eat the bread of wickedness
    and drink the wine of violence.^(U)

¹⁸The path of the righteous^(V) is like the morning sun,^(W)
shining ever brighter till the full light of day.^(X)
¹⁹But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;^(Y)
they do not know what makes them stumble.^(Z)

²⁰My son,^(AA) pay attention to what I say;
    turn your ear to my words.^(AB)
²¹Do not let them out of your sight,^(AC)
    keep them within your heart;
²²for they are life to those who find them
    and health to one’s whole body.^(AD)
²³Above all else, guard^(AE) your heart,
    for everything you do flows from it.^(AF)
²⁴Keep your mouth free of perversity;
    keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
²⁵Let your eyes^(AG) look straight ahead;
    fix your gaze directly before you.
²⁶Give careful thought to the^[c] paths for your feet^(AH)
    and be steadfast in all your ways.
²⁷Do not turn to the right or the left;^(AI)
    keep your foot from evil.