2 Corinthians 13:7 - Galatians 1:24

New International Version

⁷Now 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. ⁸For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. ⁹We are glad whenever we are weak^(A) but you are strong;^(B) and our prayer is that you may be fully restored.^(C) ¹⁰This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh^(D) in my use of authority—the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.^(E)

Final Greetings

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

¹²Greet one another with a holy kiss.^(J) ¹³All God’s people here send their greetings.^(K)

¹⁴May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,^(L) and the love of God,^(M) and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit^(N) be with you all.

1 Paul, an apostle^(O)—sent not from men nor by a man,^(P) but by Jesus Christ^(Q) and God the Father,^(R) who raised him from the dead^(S)— ²and all the brothers and sisters^[a] with me,^(T)

To the churches in Galatia:^(U)

³Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,^(V) ⁴who gave himself for our sins^(W) to rescue us from the present evil age,^(X) according to the will of our God and Father,^(Y) ⁵to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.^(Z)

No Other Gospel

⁶I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called^(AA) you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel^(AB)— ⁷which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion^(AC) and are trying to pervert^(AD) the gospel of Christ. ⁸But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you,^(AE) let them be under God’s curse!^(AF) ⁹As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted,^(AG) let them be under God’s curse!

¹⁰Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people?^(AH) If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Paul Called by God

¹¹I want you to know, brothers and sisters,^(AI) that the gospel I preached^(AJ) is not of human origin. ¹²I did not receive it from any man,^(AK) nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation^(AL) from Jesus Christ.^(AM)

¹³For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism,^(AN) how intensely I persecuted the church of God^(AO) and tried to destroy it.^(AP) ¹⁴I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous^(AQ) for the traditions of my fathers.^(AR) ¹⁵But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb^(AS) and called me^(AT) by his grace, was pleased ¹⁶to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles,^(AU) my immediate response was not to consult any human being.^(AV) ¹⁷I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus.^(AW)

¹⁸Then after three years,^(AX) I went up to Jerusalem^(AY) to get acquainted with Cephas^[b] and stayed with him fifteen days. ¹⁹I saw none of the other apostles—only James,^(AZ) the Lord’s brother. ²⁰I assure you before God^(BA) that what I am writing you is no lie.^(BB)

²¹Then I went to Syria^(BC) and Cilicia.^(BD) ²²I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea^(BE) that are in Christ.^(BF) ²³They only heard the report: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith^(BG) he once tried to destroy.”^(BH) ²⁴And they praised God^(BI) because of me.

Footnotes

Galatians 1:2 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in verse 11; and in 3:15; 4:12, 28, 31; 5:11, 13; 6:1, 18.
Galatians 1:18 That is, Peter

Psalm 141

New International Version

Psalm 141

A psalm of David.

¹I call to you, Lord, come quickly^(A) to me;
hear me^(B) when I call to you.
²May my prayer be set before you like incense;^(C)
may the lifting up of my hands^(D) be like the evening sacrifice.^(E)

³Set a guard over my mouth,^(F) Lord;
    keep watch over the door of my lips.^(G)
⁴Do not let my heart^(H) be drawn to what is evil
    so that I take part in wicked deeds^(I)
along with those who are evildoers;
    do not let me eat their delicacies.^(J)

⁵Let a righteous man strike me—that is a kindness;
let him rebuke me^(K)—that is oil on my head.^(L)
My head will not refuse it,
for my prayer will still be against the deeds of evildoers.

⁶Their rulers will be thrown down from the cliffs,^(M)
and the wicked will learn that my words were well spoken.
⁷They will say, “As one plows^(N) and breaks up the earth,^(O)
so our bones have been scattered at the mouth^(P) of the grave.”

⁸But my eyes are fixed^(Q) on you, Sovereign Lord;
    in you I take refuge^(R)—do not give me over to death.
⁹Keep me safe^(S) from the traps set by evildoers,^(T)
    from the snares^(U) they have laid for me.
¹⁰Let the wicked fall^(V) into their own nets,
    while I pass by in safety.^(W)