Woe to the Complacent

Woe to you(A) who are complacent(B) in Zion,
    and to you who feel secure(C) on Mount Samaria,(D)
you notable men of the foremost nation,
    to whom the people of Israel come!(E)
Go to Kalneh(F) and look at it;
    go from there to great Hamath,(G)
    and then go down to Gath(H) in Philistia.
Are they better off than(I) your two kingdoms?
    Is their land larger than yours?
You put off the day of disaster
    and bring near a reign of terror.(J)
You lie on beds adorned with ivory
    and lounge on your couches.(K)
You dine on choice lambs
    and fattened calves.(L)
You strum away on your harps(M) like David
    and improvise on musical instruments.(N)
You drink wine(O) by the bowlful
    and use the finest lotions,
    but you do not grieve(P) over the ruin of Joseph.(Q)
Therefore you will be among the first to go into exile;(R)
    your feasting and lounging will end.(S)

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“Enlarge the place of your tent,(A)
    stretch your tent curtains wide,
    do not hold back;
lengthen your cords,
    strengthen your stakes.(B)

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Confirming One’s Calling and Election

His divine power(A) has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him(B) who called us(C) by his own glory and goodness.

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Whoever has ears, let them hear(A) what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious,(B) I will give the right to eat from the tree of life,(C) which is in the paradise(D) of God.

To the Church in Smyrna

“To the angel of the church in Smyrna(E) write:

These are the words of him who is the First and the Last,(F) who died and came to life again.(G) I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich!(H) I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not,(I) but are a synagogue of Satan.(J) 10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you,(K) and you will suffer persecution for ten days.(L) Be faithful,(M) even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.(N)

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