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Exodus 19:16-21:21
English Standard Version
Exodus 19:16-21:21
English Standard Version
16 On the morning of the (A)third day there were (B)thunders and lightnings and (C)a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud (D)trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp (E)trembled. 17 Then (F)Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they took their stand at the foot of the mountain. 18 Now (G)Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because the Lord had descended on it in fire. The smoke of it went up like the smoke of a kiln, and (H)the whole mountain trembled greatly. 19 And as the (I)sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and (J)God answered him in thunder. 20 The Lord came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. And the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.
21 And the Lord said to Moses, “Go down and warn the people, lest they break through to the Lord (K)to look and many of them perish. 22 Also let the priests who come near to the Lord (L)consecrate themselves, lest the Lord (M)break out against them.” 23 And Moses said to the Lord, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai, for you yourself warned us, saying, (N)‘Set limits around the mountain and consecrate it.’” 24 And the Lord said to him, “Go down, and come up bringing Aaron with you. But do not let the priests and the people (O)break through to come up to the Lord, lest he break out against them.” 25 So Moses went down to the people and told them.
The Ten Commandments
20 (P)And (Q)God spoke all these words, saying,
2 (R)“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
3 (S)“You shall have no other gods before[a] me.
4 (T)“You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 (U)You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am (V)a jealous God, (W)visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing steadfast love to thousands[b] of those who love me and keep my commandments.
7 (X)“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.
8 (Y)“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 (Z)Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, 10 but the (AA)seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the (AB)sojourner who is within your gates. 11 For (AC)in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
12 (AD)“Honor your father and your mother, (AE)that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.
13 (AF)“You shall not murder.[c]
14 (AG)“You shall not commit adultery.
15 (AH)“You shall not steal.
16 (AI)“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
17 (AJ)“You shall not covet (AK)your neighbor's house; (AL)you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's.”
18 Now when all the people saw (AM)the thunder and the flashes of lightning and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking, the people were afraid[d] and trembled, and they stood far off 19 and said to Moses, (AN)“You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, lest we die.” 20 (AO)Moses said to the people, “Do not fear, for God has come to (AP)test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin.” 21 The people stood far off, while Moses drew near to the (AQ)thick darkness where God was.
Laws About Altars
22 And the Lord said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the people of Israel: ‘You have seen for yourselves that I have (AR)talked with you from heaven. 23 (AS)You shall not make gods of silver to be with me, nor shall you make for yourselves gods of gold. 24 An altar of earth you shall make for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your oxen. (AT)In every place where I cause my name to be remembered I will come to you and (AU)bless you. 25 (AV)If you make me an altar of stone, (AW)you shall not build it of hewn stones, for if you wield your tool on it you profane it. 26 And you shall not go up by steps to my altar, that your nakedness be not exposed on it.’
Laws About Slaves
21 “Now these are the (AX)rules that you shall set before them. 2 (AY)When you buy a Hebrew slave,[e] he shall serve six years, and in the seventh he shall go out free, for nothing. 3 If he comes in single, he shall go out single; if he comes in married, then his wife shall go out with him. 4 If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall be her master's, and he shall go out alone. 5 But (AZ)if the slave plainly says, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free,’ 6 then his master shall bring him to (BA)God, and he shall bring him to the door or the doorpost. And his master shall bore his ear through with an awl, and he shall be his slave forever.
7 “When a man (BB)sells his daughter as a slave, she shall not go out as the male slaves do. 8 If she does not please her master, who has designated her[f] for himself, then he shall let her be redeemed. He shall have no right to sell her to a foreign people, since he has broken faith with her. 9 If he designates her for his son, he shall deal with her as with a daughter. 10 If he takes another wife to himself, he shall not diminish her food, her clothing, or (BC)her marital rights. 11 And if he does not do these three things for her, she shall go out for nothing, without payment of money.
12 (BD)“Whoever strikes a man so that he dies shall be put to death. 13 (BE)But if he did not lie in wait for him, but God let him fall into his hand, then (BF)I will appoint for you a place to which he may flee. 14 But if a man willfully attacks another to kill him by cunning, (BG)you shall take him from my altar, that he may die.
15 “Whoever strikes his father or his mother shall be put to death.
16 (BH)“Whoever steals a man and sells him, and anyone found (BI)in possession of him, shall be put to death.
17 (BJ)“Whoever curses[g] his father or his mother shall be put to death.
18 “When men quarrel and one strikes the other with a stone or with his fist and the man does not die but takes to his bed, 19 then if the man rises again and walks outdoors with his staff, he who struck him shall be clear; only he shall pay for the loss of his time, and shall have him thoroughly healed.
20 “When a man strikes his slave, male or female, with a rod and the slave dies under his hand, he shall be avenged. 21 But if the slave survives a day or two, he is not to be avenged, for the (BK)slave is his money.
Footnotes
- Exodus 20:3 Or besides
- Exodus 20:6 Or to the thousandth generation
- Exodus 20:13 The Hebrew word also covers causing human death through carelessness or negligence
- Exodus 20:18 Samaritan, Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate; Masoretic Text the people saw
- Exodus 21:2 Or servant; the Hebrew term ‘ebed designates a range of social and economic roles; also verses 5, 6, 7, 20, 21, 26, 27, 32 (see Preface)
- Exodus 21:8 Or so that he has not designated her
- Exodus 21:17 Or dishonors; Septuagint reviles
Exodus 19:16-21:21
New International Version
Exodus 19:16-21:21
New International Version
16 On the morning of the third day there was thunder(A) and lightning, with a thick cloud(B) over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast.(C) Everyone in the camp trembled.(D) 17 Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.(E) 18 Mount Sinai was covered with smoke,(F) because the Lord descended on it in fire.(G) The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace,(H) and the whole mountain[a] trembled(I) violently. 19 As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and the voice(J) of God answered(K) him.[b]
20 The Lord descended to the top of Mount Sinai(L) and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up 21 and the Lord said to him, “Go down and warn the people so they do not force their way through to see(M) the Lord and many of them perish.(N) 22 Even the priests, who approach(O) the Lord, must consecrate(P) themselves, or the Lord will break out against them.”(Q)
23 Moses said to the Lord, “The people cannot come up Mount Sinai,(R) because you yourself warned us, ‘Put limits(S) around the mountain and set it apart as holy.’”
24 The Lord replied, “Go down and bring Aaron(T) up with you. But the priests and the people must not force their way through to come up to the Lord, or he will break out against them.”(U)
25 So Moses went down to the people and told them.
The Ten Commandments(V)
20 And God spoke(W) all these words:(X)
2 “I am the Lord your God,(Y) who brought you out(Z) of Egypt,(AA) out of the land of slavery.(AB)
3 “You shall have no other gods before[c] me.(AC)
4 “You shall not make for yourself an image(AD) in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship(AE) them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God,(AF) punishing the children for the sin of the parents(AG) to the third and fourth generation(AH) of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand(AI) generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
7 “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.(AJ)
8 “Remember the Sabbath(AK) day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work,(AL) 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath(AM) to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth,(AN) the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested(AO) on the seventh day.(AP) Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
12 “Honor your father and your mother,(AQ) so that you may live long(AR) in the land(AS) the Lord your God is giving you.
13 “You shall not murder.(AT)
14 “You shall not commit adultery.(AU)
15 “You shall not steal.(AV)
16 “You shall not give false testimony(AW) against your neighbor.(AX)
17 “You shall not covet(AY) your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
18 When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet(AZ) and saw the mountain in smoke,(BA) they trembled with fear.(BB) They stayed at a distance 19 and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak(BC) to us or we will die.”(BD)
20 Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid.(BE) God has come to test(BF) you, so that the fear(BG) of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.”(BH)
21 The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness(BI) where God was.
Idols and Altars
22 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites this: ‘You have seen for yourselves that I have spoken to you from heaven:(BJ) 23 Do not make any gods to be alongside me;(BK) do not make for yourselves gods of silver or gods of gold.(BL)
24 “‘Make an altar(BM) of earth for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings(BN) and fellowship offerings, your sheep and goats and your cattle. Wherever I cause my name(BO) to be honored, I will come to you and bless(BP) you. 25 If you make an altar of stones for me, do not build it with dressed stones, for you will defile it if you use a tool(BQ) on it. 26 And do not go up to my altar on steps, or your private parts(BR) may be exposed.’
21 “These are the laws(BS) you are to set before them:
Hebrew Servants(BT)(BU)
2 “If you buy a Hebrew servant,(BV) he is to serve you for six years. But in the seventh year, he shall go free,(BW) without paying anything. 3 If he comes alone, he is to go free alone; but if he has a wife when he comes, she is to go with him. 4 If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the woman and her children shall belong to her master, and only the man shall go free.
5 “But if the servant declares, ‘I love my master and my wife and children and do not want to go free,’(BX) 6 then his master must take him before the judges.[d](BY) He shall take him to the door or the doorpost and pierce(BZ) his ear with an awl. Then he will be his servant for life.(CA)
7 “If a man sells his daughter as a servant, she is not to go free as male servants do. 8 If she does not please the master who has selected her for himself,[e] he must let her be redeemed. He has no right to sell her to foreigners, because he has broken faith with her. 9 If he selects her for his son, he must grant her the rights of a daughter. 10 If he marries another woman, he must not deprive the first one of her food, clothing and marital rights.(CB) 11 If he does not provide her with these three things, she is to go free, without any payment of money.
Personal Injuries
12 “Anyone who strikes a person with a fatal blow is to be put to death.(CC) 13 However, if it is not done intentionally, but God lets it happen, they are to flee to a place(CD) I will designate. 14 But if anyone schemes and kills someone deliberately,(CE) that person is to be taken from my altar and put to death.(CF)
15 “Anyone who attacks[f] their father or mother is to be put to death.
16 “Anyone who kidnaps someone is to be put to death,(CG) whether the victim has been sold(CH) or is still in the kidnapper’s possession.
17 “Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.(CI)
18 “If people quarrel and one person hits another with a stone or with their fist[g] and the victim does not die but is confined to bed, 19 the one who struck the blow will not be held liable if the other can get up and walk around outside with a staff; however, the guilty party must pay the injured person for any loss of time and see that the victim is completely healed.
20 “Anyone who beats their male or female slave with a rod must be punished if the slave dies as a direct result, 21 but they are not to be punished if the slave recovers after a day or two, since the slave is their property.(CJ)
Footnotes
- Exodus 19:18 Most Hebrew manuscripts; a few Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint and all the people
- Exodus 19:19 Or and God answered him with thunder
- Exodus 20:3 Or besides
- Exodus 21:6 Or before God
- Exodus 21:8 Or master so that he does not choose her
- Exodus 21:15 Or kills
- Exodus 21:18 Or with a tool
Matthew 23:13-39
English Standard Version
Matthew 23:13-39
English Standard Version
13 “But woe (A)to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you (B)shut the kingdom of heaven in people's faces. For you (C)neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in.[a] 15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single (D)proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a (E)child of (F)hell[b] as yourselves.
16 “Woe to (G)you, (H)blind guides, who say, (I)‘If anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’ 17 You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or (J)the temple that has made the gold sacred? 18 And you say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by (K)the gift that is on the altar, he is bound by his oath.’ 19 You blind men! For which is greater, the gift or (L)the altar that makes the gift sacred? 20 So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. 21 And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and by (M)him who dwells in it. 22 And whoever swears by (N)heaven swears by (O)the throne of God and by (P)him who sits upon it.
23 (Q)“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For (R)you tithe mint and dill and (S)cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: (T)justice and mercy and faithfulness. (U)These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. 24 You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing (V)a camel!
25 (W)“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For (X)you clean the outside of (Y)the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of (Z)greed and self-indulgence. 26 You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of (AA)the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean.
27 (AB)“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like (AC)whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and (AD)all uncleanness. 28 So you also (AE)outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of (AF)hypocrisy and lawlessness.
29 (AG)“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous, 30 saying, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ 31 Thus you witness against yourselves that you are (AH)sons of those who murdered the prophets. 32 (AI)Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers. 33 You serpents, (AJ)you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to (AK)hell? 34 (AL)Therefore (AM)I send you (AN)prophets and wise men and (AO)scribes, (AP)some of whom you will kill and crucify, and (AQ)some you will (AR)flog in your synagogues and (AS)persecute from town to town, 35 so that on you may come all (AT)the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous (AU)Abel to the blood of (AV)Zechariah the son of Barachiah,[c] whom you murdered between (AW)the sanctuary and (AX)the altar. 36 Truly, I say to you, (AY)all these things will come upon this generation.
Lament over Jerusalem
37 (AZ)“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that (BA)kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have (BB)gathered (BC)your children together (BD)as a hen gathers her brood (BE)under her wings, and (BF)you were not willing! 38 See, (BG)your house is left to you desolate. 39 For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, (BH)‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Matthew 23:13 Some manuscripts add here (or after verse 12) verse 14: Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows' houses and for a pretense you make long prayers; therefore you will receive the greater condemnation
- Matthew 23:15 Greek Gehenna; also verse 33
- Matthew 23:35 Some manuscripts omit the son of Barachiah
Matthew 23:13-39
New International Version
Matthew 23:13-39
New International Version
Seven Woes on the Teachers of the Law and the Pharisees
13 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!(A) You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.(B) [14] [a]
15 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert,(C) and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell(D) as you are.
16 “Woe to you, blind guides!(E) You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gold of the temple is bound by that oath.’(F) 17 You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred?(G) 18 You also say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gift on the altar is bound by that oath.’ 19 You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred?(H) 20 Therefore, anyone who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. 21 And anyone who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells(I) in it. 22 And anyone who swears by heaven swears by God’s throne and by the one who sits on it.(J)
23 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth(K) of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness.(L) You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. 24 You blind guides!(M) You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.
25 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish,(N) but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.(O) 26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.
27 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs,(P) which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. 28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.
29 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets(Q) and decorate the graves of the righteous. 30 And you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ 31 So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets.(R) 32 Go ahead, then, and complete(S) what your ancestors started!(T)
33 “You snakes! You brood of vipers!(U) How will you escape being condemned to hell?(V) 34 Therefore I am sending you prophets and sages and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify;(W) others you will flog in your synagogues(X) and pursue from town to town.(Y) 35 And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel(Z) to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah,(AA) whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.(AB) 36 Truly I tell you, all this will come on this generation.(AC)
37 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you,(AD) how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings,(AE) and you were not willing. 38 Look, your house is left to you desolate.(AF) 39 For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’[b]”(AG)
Footnotes
- Matthew 23:14 Some manuscripts include here words similar to Mark 12:40 and Luke 20:47.
- Matthew 23:39 Psalm 118:26
Psalm 28
English Standard Version
Psalm 28
English Standard Version
The Lord Is My Strength and My Shield
Of David.
28 To you, O Lord, I call;
(A)my rock, be not deaf to me,
lest, if you (B)be silent to me,
I become like those who (C)go down to the pit.
2 (D)Hear the voice of my pleas for mercy,
when I cry to you for help,
when I (E)lift up my hands
(F)toward your most holy sanctuary.[a]
3 Do not (G)drag me off with the wicked,
with the workers of evil,
(H)who speak peace with their neighbors
while evil is in their hearts.
4 (I)Give to them according to their work
and according to the evil of their deeds;
give to them according to the work of their hands;
(J)render them their due reward.
5 Because they (K)do not regard the works of the Lord
or the work of his hands,
he will tear them down and build them up no more.
6 Blessed be the Lord!
For he has (L)heard the voice of my pleas for mercy.
7 The Lord is my strength and (M)my shield;
in him my heart (N)trusts, and I am helped;
my heart exults,
and with my (O)song I give thanks to him.
8 The Lord is the strength of his people;[b]
he is (P)the saving refuge of his anointed.
9 Oh, save your people and bless (Q)your heritage!
(R)Be their shepherd and (S)carry them forever.
Footnotes
- Psalm 28:2 Hebrew your innermost sanctuary
- Psalm 28:8 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts is their strength
Psalm 28
New International Version
Psalm 28
New International Version
Psalm 28
Of David.
1 To you, Lord, I call;
you are my Rock,
do not turn a deaf ear(A) to me.
For if you remain silent,(B)
I will be like those who go down to the pit.(C)
2 Hear my cry for mercy(D)
as I call to you for help,
as I lift up my hands(E)
toward your Most Holy Place.(F)
3 Do not drag me away with the wicked,
with those who do evil,
who speak cordially with their neighbors
but harbor malice in their hearts.(G)
4 Repay them for their deeds
and for their evil work;
repay them for what their hands have done(H)
and bring back on them what they deserve.(I)
5 Because they have no regard for the deeds of the Lord
and what his hands have done,(J)
he will tear them down
and never build them up again.
Proverbs 7:1-5
English Standard Version
Proverbs 7:1-5
English Standard Version
Warning Against the Adulteress
7 (A)My son, keep my words
and (B)treasure up my commandments with you;
2 (C)keep my commandments and live;
keep my teaching as (D)the apple of your eye;
3 (E)bind them on your fingers;
(F)write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”
and call insight your intimate friend,
5 to keep you from (G)the forbidden[a] woman,
from (H)the adulteress[b] with her smooth words.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 7:5 Hebrew strange
- Proverbs 7:5 Hebrew the foreign woman
Proverbs 7:1-5
New International Version
Proverbs 7:1-5
New International Version
Warning Against the Adulterous Woman
7 My son,(A) keep my words
and store up my commands within you.
2 Keep my commands and you will live;(B)
guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.
3 Bind them on your fingers;
write them on the tablet of your heart.(C)
4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”
and to insight, “You are my relative.”
5 They will keep you from the adulterous woman,
from the wayward woman with her seductive words.(D)
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.