Exodus 11

New International Version

The Plague on the Firstborn

11 Now the Lord had said to Moses, “I will bring one more plague on Pharaoh and on Egypt. After that, he will let you go^(A) from here, and when he does, he will drive you out completely.^(B) ²Tell the people that men and women alike are to ask their neighbors for articles of silver and gold.”^(C) ³(The Lord made the Egyptians favorably disposed^(D) toward the people, and Moses himself was highly regarded^(E) in Egypt by Pharaoh’s officials and by the people.)

⁴So Moses said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘About midnight^(F) I will go throughout Egypt.^(G) ⁵Every firstborn^(H) son in Egypt will die, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sits on the throne, to the firstborn son of the female slave, who is at her hand mill,^(I) and all the firstborn of the cattle as well. ⁶There will be loud wailing^(J) throughout Egypt—worse than there has ever been or ever will be again. ⁷But among the Israelites not a dog will bark at any person or animal.’ Then you will know that the Lord makes a distinction^(K) between Egypt and Israel. ⁸All these officials of yours will come to me, bowing down before me and saying, ‘Go,^(L) you and all the people who follow you!’ After that I will leave.”^(M) Then Moses, hot with anger, left Pharaoh.

⁹The Lord had said to Moses, “Pharaoh will refuse to listen^(N) to you—so that my wonders^(O) may be multiplied in Egypt.” ¹⁰Moses and Aaron performed all these wonders before Pharaoh, but the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart,^(P) and he would not let the Israelites go out of his country.

1 Thessalonians 5

New International Version

The Day of the Lord

5 Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates^(A) we do not need to write to you,^(B) ²for you know very well that the day of the Lord^(C) will come like a thief in the night.^(D) ³While people are saying, “Peace and safety,”^(E) destruction will come on them suddenly,^(F) as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.^(G)

⁴But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness^(H) so that this day should surprise you like a thief.^(I) ⁵You are all children of the light^(J) and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. ⁶So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep,^(K) but let us be awake^(L) and sober.^(M) ⁷For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.^(N) ⁸But since we belong to the day,^(O) let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate,^(P) and the hope of salvation^(Q) as a helmet.^(R) ⁹For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath^(S) but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.^(T) ¹⁰He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.^(U) ¹¹Therefore encourage one another^(V) and build each other up,^(W) just as in fact you are doing.

Final Instructions

¹²Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard^(X) among you, who care for you in the Lord^(Y) and who admonish you. ¹³Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.^(Z) ¹⁴And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle^(AA) and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak,^(AB) be patient with everyone. ¹⁵Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong,^(AC) but always strive to do what is good for each other^(AD) and for everyone else.

¹⁶Rejoice always,^(AE) ¹⁷pray continually,^(AF) ¹⁸give thanks in all circumstances;^(AG) for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

¹⁹Do not quench the Spirit.^(AH) ²⁰Do not treat prophecies^(AI) with contempt ²¹but test them all;^(AJ) hold on to what is good,^(AK) ²²reject every kind of evil.

²³May God himself, the God of peace,^(AL) sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul^(AM) and body be kept blameless^(AN) at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.^(AO) ²⁴The one who calls^(AP) you is faithful,^(AQ) and he will do it.^(AR)

²⁵Brothers and sisters, pray for us.^(AS) ²⁶Greet all God’s people with a holy kiss.^(AT) ²⁷I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers and sisters.^(AU)

²⁸The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.^(AV)

Psalm 107

New International Version

BOOK V

Psalms 107–150

Psalm 107

¹Give thanks to the Lord,^(A) for he is good;^(B)
his love endures forever.

²Let the redeemed^(C) of the Lord tell their story—
those he redeemed from the hand of the foe,
³those he gathered^(D) from the lands,
from east and west, from north and south.^[a]

⁴Some wandered in desert^(E) wastelands,
    finding no way to a city^(F) where they could settle.
⁵They were hungry^(G) and thirsty,^(H)
    and their lives ebbed away.
⁶Then they cried out^(I) to the Lord in their trouble,
    and he delivered them from their distress.
⁷He led them by a straight way^(J)
    to a city^(K) where they could settle.
⁸Let them give thanks^(L) to the Lord for his unfailing love^(M)
    and his wonderful deeds^(N) for mankind,
⁹for he satisfies^(O) the thirsty
    and fills the hungry with good things.^(P)

¹⁰Some sat in darkness,^(Q) in utter darkness,
    prisoners suffering^(R) in iron chains,^(S)
¹¹because they rebelled^(T) against God’s commands
    and despised^(U) the plans^(V) of the Most High.
¹²So he subjected them to bitter labor;
    they stumbled, and there was no one to help.^(W)
¹³Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
    and he saved them^(X) from their distress.
¹⁴He brought them out of darkness,^(Y) the utter darkness,^(Z)
    and broke away their chains.^(AA)
¹⁵Let them give thanks^(AB) to the Lord for his unfailing love^(AC)
    and his wonderful deeds^(AD) for mankind,
¹⁶for he breaks down gates of bronze
    and cuts through bars of iron.

¹⁷Some became fools^(AE) through their rebellious ways^(AF)
    and suffered affliction^(AG) because of their iniquities.
¹⁸They loathed all food^(AH)
    and drew near the gates of death.^(AI)
¹⁹Then they cried^(AJ) to the Lord in their trouble,
    and he saved them^(AK) from their distress.
²⁰He sent out his word^(AL) and healed them;^(AM)
    he rescued^(AN) them from the grave.^(AO)
²¹Let them give thanks^(AP) to the Lord for his unfailing love^(AQ)
    and his wonderful deeds^(AR) for mankind.
²²Let them sacrifice thank offerings^(AS)
    and tell of his works^(AT) with songs of joy.^(AU)

²³Some went out on the sea^(AV) in ships;^(AW)
    they were merchants on the mighty waters.
²⁴They saw the works of the Lord,^(AX)
    his wonderful deeds in the deep.
²⁵For he spoke^(AY) and stirred up a tempest^(AZ)
    that lifted high the waves.^(BA)
²⁶They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths;
    in their peril^(BB) their courage melted^(BC) away.
²⁷They reeled^(BD) and staggered like drunkards;
    they were at their wits’ end.
²⁸Then they cried^(BE) out to the Lord in their trouble,
    and he brought them out of their distress.^(BF)
²⁹He stilled the storm^(BG) to a whisper;
    the waves^(BH) of the sea^[b] were hushed.^(BI)
³⁰They were glad when it grew calm,
    and he guided them^(BJ) to their desired haven.
³¹Let them give thanks^(BK) to the Lord for his unfailing love^(BL)
    and his wonderful deeds^(BM) for mankind.
³²Let them exalt^(BN) him in the assembly^(BO) of the people
    and praise him in the council of the elders.

³³He turned rivers into a desert,^(BP)
    flowing springs^(BQ) into thirsty ground,
³⁴and fruitful land into a salt waste,^(BR)
    because of the wickedness of those who lived there.
³⁵He turned the desert into pools of water^(BS)
    and the parched ground into flowing springs;^(BT)
³⁶there he brought the hungry to live,
    and they founded a city where they could settle.
³⁷They sowed fields and planted vineyards^(BU)
    that yielded a fruitful harvest;
³⁸he blessed them, and their numbers greatly increased,^(BV)
    and he did not let their herds diminish.^(BW)

³⁹Then their numbers decreased,^(BX) and they were humbled^(BY)
    by oppression, calamity and sorrow;
⁴⁰he who pours contempt on nobles^(BZ)
    made them wander in a trackless waste.^(CA)
⁴¹But he lifted the needy^(CB) out of their affliction
    and increased their families like flocks.^(CC)
⁴²The upright see and rejoice,^(CD)
    but all the wicked shut their mouths.^(CE)