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25 Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening.

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25 About midnight(A) Paul and Silas(B) were praying and singing hymns(C) to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.

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16 Always be joyful. 17 Never stop praying. 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

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16 Rejoice always,(A) 17 pray continually,(B) 18 give thanks in all circumstances;(C) for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

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62 I rise at midnight to thank you
    for your just regulations.

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62 At midnight(A) I rise to give you thanks
    for your righteous laws.(B)

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Faith and Endurance

Dear brothers and sisters,[a] when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.

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Footnotes

  1. 1:2 Greek brothers; also in 1:16, 19.

Trials and Temptations

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds,(A)

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Footnotes

  1. James 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 verses 16 and 19; and in 2:1, 5, 14; 3:10, 12; 4:11; 5:7, 9, 10, 12, 19.

So be truly glad.[a] There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy.

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Footnotes

  1. 1:6 Or So you are truly glad.

In all this you greatly rejoice,(A) though now for a little while(B) you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.(C) These have come so that the proven genuineness(D) of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire(E)—may result in praise, glory and honor(F) when Jesus Christ is revealed.(G) Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him(H) and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,

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Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.[a]

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

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Footnotes

  1. 4:5 Greek the Lord is near.

Final Exhortations

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!(A) Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.(B) Do not be anxious about anything,(C) but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.(D) And the peace of God,(E) which transcends all understanding,(F) will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

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We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.

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Not only so, but we[a] also glory in our sufferings,(A) because we know that suffering produces perseverance;(B)

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 5:3 Or let us

when my nights were filled with joyful songs.
    I search my soul and ponder the difference now.

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I remembered my songs in the night.
    My heart meditated and my spirit asked:

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While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue him from death. And God heard his prayers because of his deep reverence for God.

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During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions(A) with fervent cries and tears(B) to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard(C) because of his reverent submission.(D)

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15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. 17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

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15 Let the peace of Christ(A) rule in your hearts, since as members of one body(B) you were called to peace.(C) And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ(D) dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom(E) through psalms,(F) hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.(G) 17 And whatever you do,(H) whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks(I) to God the Father through him.

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10 God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right,
    for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

11 “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers.

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10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,(A)
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.(B)

11 “Blessed are you when people insult you,(C) persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.(D)

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19 singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts.

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19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit.(A) Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord,

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We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.

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We are hard pressed on every side,(A) but not crushed; perplexed,(B) but not in despair; persecuted,(C) but not abandoned;(D) struck down, but not destroyed.(E)

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