Colossians 1:24-2:19
New King James Version
Sacrificial Service for Christ
24 (A)I now rejoice in my sufferings (B)for you, and fill up in my flesh (C)what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for (D)the sake of His body, which is the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to (E)the [a]stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, 26 (F)the [b]mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, (G)but now has been revealed to His saints. 27 (H)To them God willed to make known what are (I)the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: [c]which is (J)Christ in you, (K)the hope of glory. 28 Him we preach, (L)warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, (M)that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. 29 To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me (N)mightily.
Not Philosophy but Christ
2 For I want you to know what a great (O)conflict[d] I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, [e]both of the Father and of Christ, 3 (P)in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
4 Now this I say (Q)lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words. 5 For (R)though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing [f]to see (S)your good order and the (T)steadfastness of your faith in Christ.
6 (U)As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 (V)rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding [g]in it with thanksgiving.
8 Beware lest anyone [h]cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to (W)the tradition of men, according to the (X)basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For (Y)in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead [i]bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the (Z)head of all [j]principality and power.
Not Legalism but Christ
11 In Him you were also (AA)circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by (AB)putting off the body [k]of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 (AC)buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through (AD)faith in the working of God, (AE)who raised Him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 (AF)having wiped out the [l]handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 (AG)Having disarmed (AH)principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.
16 So let no one (AI)judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a [m]festival or a new moon or sabbaths, 17 (AJ)which are a shadow of things to come, but the [n]substance is of Christ. 18 Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has [o]not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 and not holding fast to (AK)the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, (AL)grows with the increase that is from God.
Footnotes
- Colossians 1:25 dispensation or administration
- Colossians 1:26 secret or hidden truth
- Colossians 1:27 M who
- Colossians 2:1 struggle
- Colossians 2:2 NU omits both of the Father and
- Colossians 2:5 Lit. and seeing
- Colossians 2:7 NU omits in it
- Colossians 2:8 Lit. plunder you or take you captive
- Colossians 2:9 in bodily form
- Colossians 2:10 rule and authority
- Colossians 2:11 NU omits of the sins
- Colossians 2:14 certificate of debt with its
- Colossians 2:16 feast day
- Colossians 2:17 Lit. body
- Colossians 2:18 NU omits not
Ezekiel 27-28
New King James Version
Lamentation for Tyre
27 The word of the Lord came again to me, saying, 2 “Now, son of man, (A)take up a lamentation for Tyre, 3 and say to Tyre, (B)‘You who [a]are situated at the entrance of the sea, (C)merchant of the peoples on many coastlands, thus says the Lord God:
“O Tyre, you have said,
(D)‘I am perfect in beauty.’
4 Your borders are in the midst of the seas.
Your builders have perfected your beauty.
5 They [b]made all your planks of fir trees from (E)Senir;
They took a cedar from Lebanon to make you a mast.
6 Of (F)oaks from Bashan they made your oars;
The company of Ashurites have inlaid your planks
With ivory from (G)the coasts of [c]Cyprus.
7 Fine embroidered linen from Egypt was what you spread for your sail;
Blue and purple from the coasts of Elishah was what covered you.
8 “Inhabitants of Sidon and Arvad were your oarsmen;
Your wise men, O Tyre, were in you;
They became your pilots.
9 Elders of (H)Gebal and its wise men
Were in you to caulk your seams;
All the ships of the sea
And their oarsmen were in you
To market your merchandise.
10 “Those from Persia, [d]Lydia, and [e]Libya
Were in your army as men of war;
They hung shield and helmet in you;
They gave splendor to you.
11 Men of Arvad with your army were on your walls all around,
And the men of Gammad were in your towers;
They hung their shields on your walls all around;
They made (I)your beauty perfect.
12 (J)“Tarshish was your merchant because of your many luxury goods. They gave you silver, iron, tin, and lead for your goods. 13 (K)Javan, Tubal, and Meshech were your traders. They bartered (L)human lives and vessels of bronze for your merchandise. 14 Those from the house of (M)Togarmah traded for your wares with horses, steeds, and mules. 15 The men of (N)Dedan were your traders; many isles were the market of your hand. They brought you ivory tusks and ebony as payment. 16 Syria was your merchant because of the abundance of goods you made. They gave you for your wares emeralds, purple, embroidery, fine linen, corals, and rubies. 17 Judah and the land of Israel were your traders. They traded for your merchandise wheat of (O)Minnith, millet, honey, oil, and (P)balm. 18 Damascus was your merchant because of the abundance of goods you made, because of your many luxury items, with the wine of Helbon and with white wool. 19 Dan and Javan paid for your wares, [f]traversing back and forth. Wrought iron, cassia, and cane were among your merchandise. 20 (Q)Dedan was your merchant in saddlecloths for riding. 21 Arabia and all the princes of (R)Kedar were your regular merchants. They traded with you in lambs, rams, and goats. 22 The merchants of (S)Sheba and Raamah were your merchants. They traded for your wares the choicest spices, all kinds of precious stones, and gold. 23 (T)Haran, Canneh, Eden, the merchants of (U)Sheba, Assyria, and Chilmad were your merchants. 24 These were your merchants in choice items—in purple clothes, in embroidered garments, in chests of multicolored apparel, in sturdy woven cords, which were in your marketplace.
25 “The (V)ships of Tarshish were carriers of your merchandise.
You were filled and very glorious (W)in the midst of the seas.
26 Your oarsmen brought you into many waters,
But (X)the east wind broke you in the midst of the seas.
27 “Your (Y)riches, wares, and merchandise,
Your mariners and pilots,
Your caulkers and merchandisers,
All your men of war who are in you,
And the entire company which is in your midst,
Will fall into the midst of the seas on the day of your ruin.
28 The (Z)common-land[g] will shake at the sound of the cry of your pilots.
29 “All (AA)who handle the oar,
The mariners,
All the pilots of the sea
Will come down from their ships and stand on the [h]shore.
30 They will make their voice heard because of you;
They will cry bitterly and (AB)cast dust on their heads;
They (AC)will roll about in ashes;
31 They will (AD)shave themselves completely bald because of you,
Gird themselves with sackcloth,
And weep for you
With bitterness of heart and bitter wailing.
32 In their wailing for you
They will (AE)take up a lamentation,
And lament for you:
(AF)‘What city is like Tyre,
Destroyed in the midst of the sea?
33 ‘When(AG) your wares went out by sea,
You satisfied many people;
You enriched the kings of the earth
With your many luxury goods and your merchandise.
34 But (AH)you are broken by the seas in the depths of the waters;
(AI)Your merchandise and the entire company will fall in your midst.
35 (AJ)All the inhabitants of the isles will be astonished at you;
Their kings will be greatly afraid,
And their countenance will be troubled.
36 The merchants among the peoples (AK)will hiss at you;
(AL)You will become a horror, and be no (AM)more forever.’ ” ’ ”
Proclamation Against the King of Tyre
28 The word of the Lord came to me again, saying, 2 “Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre, ‘Thus says the Lord God:
“Because your heart is (AN)lifted[i] up,
And (AO)you say, ‘I am a god,
I sit in the seat of gods,
(AP)In the midst of the seas,’
(AQ)Yet you are a man, and not a god,
Though you set your heart as the heart of a god
3 (Behold, (AR)you are wiser than Daniel!
There is no secret that can be hidden from you!
4 With your wisdom and your understanding
You have gained (AS)riches for yourself,
And gathered gold and silver into your treasuries;
5 (AT)By your great wisdom in trade you have increased your riches,
And your heart is lifted up because of your riches),”
6 ‘Therefore thus says the Lord God:
“Because you have set your heart as the heart of a god,
7 Behold, therefore, I will bring (AU)strangers against you,
(AV)The most terrible of the nations;
And they shall draw their swords against the beauty of your wisdom,
And defile your splendor.
8 They shall throw you down into the (AW)Pit,
And you shall die the death of the slain
In the midst of the seas.
9 “Will you still (AX)say before him who slays you,
‘I am a god’?
But you shall be a man, and not a god,
In the hand of him who slays you.
10 You shall die the death of (AY)the uncircumcised
By the hand of aliens;
For I have spoken,” says the Lord God.’ ”
Lamentation for the King of Tyre
11 Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 12 “Son of man, (AZ)take up a lamentation for the king of Tyre, and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord God:
(BA)“You were the seal of perfection,
Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.
13 You were in (BB)Eden, the garden of God;
Every precious stone was your covering:
The sardius, topaz, and diamond,
Beryl, onyx, and jasper,
Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold.
The workmanship of (BC)your timbrels and pipes
Was prepared for you on the day you were created.
14 “You were the anointed (BD)cherub who covers;
I established you;
You were on (BE)the holy mountain of God;
You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones.
15 You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created,
Till (BF)iniquity was found in you.
16 “By the abundance of your trading
You became filled with violence within,
And you sinned;
Therefore I cast you as a profane thing
Out of the mountain of God;
And I destroyed you, (BG)O covering cherub,
From the midst of the fiery stones.
17 “Your (BH)heart was [j]lifted up because of your beauty;
You corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor;
I cast you to the ground,
I laid you before kings,
That they might gaze at you.
18 “You defiled your sanctuaries
By the multitude of your iniquities,
By the iniquity of your trading;
Therefore I brought fire from your midst;
It devoured you,
And I turned you to ashes upon the earth
In the sight of all who saw you.
19 All who knew you among the peoples are astonished at you;
(BI)You have become a horror,
And shall be no (BJ)more forever.” ’ ”
Proclamation Against Sidon
20 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 21 “Son of man, (BK)set your face (BL)toward Sidon, and prophesy against her, 22 and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God:
(BM)“Behold, I am against you, O Sidon;
I will be glorified in your midst;
And (BN)they shall know that I am the Lord,
When I execute judgments in her and am (BO)hallowed in her.
23 (BP)For I will send pestilence upon her,
And blood in her streets;
The wounded shall be judged in her midst
By the sword against her on every side;
Then they shall know that I am the Lord.
24 “And there shall no longer be a pricking brier or (BQ)a painful thorn for the house of Israel from among all who are around them, who (BR)despise them. Then they shall know that I am the Lord God.”
Israel’s Future Blessing
25 ‘Thus says the Lord God: “When I have (BS)gathered the house of Israel from the peoples among whom they are scattered, and am (BT)hallowed in them in the sight of the Gentiles, then they will dwell in their own land which I gave to My servant Jacob. 26 And they will (BU)dwell [k]safely there, (BV)build houses, and (BW)plant vineyards; yes, they will dwell securely, when I execute judgments on all those around them who despise them. Then they shall know that I am the Lord their God.” ’ ”
Footnotes
- Ezekiel 27:3 Lit. sit or dwell
- Ezekiel 27:5 built
- Ezekiel 27:6 Heb. Kittim, western lands, especially Cyprus
- Ezekiel 27:10 Heb. Lud
- Ezekiel 27:10 Heb. Put
- Ezekiel 27:19 LXX, Syr. from Uzal
- Ezekiel 27:28 open lands or pasturelands
- Ezekiel 27:29 Lit. land
- Ezekiel 28:2 Proud
- Ezekiel 28:17 Proud
- Ezekiel 28:26 securely
Isaiah 54
New King James Version
A Perpetual Covenant of Peace
54 “Sing, O (A)barren,
You who have not borne!
Break forth into singing, and cry aloud,
You who have not labored with child!
For more are the children of the desolate
Than the children of the married woman,” says the Lord.
2 “Enlarge(B) the place of your tent,
And let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings;
Do not spare;
Lengthen your cords,
And strengthen your stakes.
3 For you shall expand to the right and to the left,
And your descendants will (C)inherit the nations,
And make the desolate cities inhabited.
4 “Do(D) not fear, for you will not be ashamed;
Neither be disgraced, for you will not be put to shame;
For you will forget the shame of your youth,
And will not remember the reproach of your widowhood anymore.
5 (E)For your Maker is your husband,
The Lord of hosts is His name;
And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel;
He is called (F)the God of the whole earth.
6 For the Lord (G)has called you
Like a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit,
Like a youthful wife when you were refused,”
Says your God.
7 “For(H) a mere moment I have forsaken you,
But with great mercies (I)I will gather you.
8 With a little wrath I hid My face from you for a moment;
(J)But with everlasting kindness I will have mercy on you,”
Says the Lord, your Redeemer.
9 “For this is like the waters of (K)Noah to Me;
For as I have sworn
That the waters of Noah would no longer cover the earth,
So have I sworn
That I would not be angry with (L)you, nor rebuke you.
10 For (M)the mountains shall depart
And the hills be removed,
(N)But My kindness shall not depart from you,
Nor shall My covenant of peace be removed,”
Says the Lord, who has mercy on you.
11 “O you afflicted one,
Tossed with tempest, and not comforted,
Behold, I will lay your stones with (O)colorful gems,
And lay your foundations with sapphires.
12 I will make your pinnacles of rubies,
Your gates of crystal,
And all your walls of precious stones.
13 All your children shall be (P)taught by the Lord,
And (Q)great shall be the peace of your children.
14 In righteousness you shall be established;
You shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear;
And from terror, for it shall not come near you.
15 Indeed they shall surely assemble, but not because of Me.
Whoever assembles against you shall (R)fall for your sake.
16 “Behold, I have created the blacksmith
Who blows the coals in the fire,
Who brings forth an [a]instrument for his work;
And I have created the [b]spoiler to destroy.
17 No weapon formed against you shall (S)prosper,
And every tongue which rises against you in judgment
You shall condemn.
This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,
(T)And their righteousness is from Me,”
Says the Lord.
Footnotes
- Isaiah 54:16 Or weapon
- Isaiah 54:16 destroyer
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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