The Creation

1 In the beginning^(A) God created the heavens and the earth.^[a](B)

² Now the earth was formless and empty,^(C) darkness covered the surface of the watery depths, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.^{(D) 3} Then God said, “Let there be light,”^(E) and there was light.

Prologue

1 In the beginning^(A) was the Word,^(B) and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.^{(C) 2} He was with God in the beginning.^{(D) 3} All things were created^(E) through him,^(F) and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. ⁴ In him was life,^[a](G) and that life was the light^(H) of men. ⁵ That light shines^(I) in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome^[b] it.^(J)

¹⁴ The Word^(A) became flesh^(B) and dwelt^[a] among us. We observed his glory,^(C) the glory as the one and only^(D) Son^[b] from the Father, full of grace and truth.

The Nature of the Son

1 Long ago God spoke^(A) to our ancestors by the prophets^(B) at different times and in different ways.^{(C) 2} In these last days,^(D) he has spoken to us by his Son. God has appointed him heir of all things^(E) and made the universe^[a](F) through him. ³ The Son is the radiance^[b] of God’s glory and the exact expression^[c] of his nature,^(G) sustaining all things by his powerful word.^(H) After making purification for sins,^[d] he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.^[e](I)

⁸ On the contrary, what does it say? The message is near you, in your mouth and in your heart.^[a](A) This is the message of faith that we proclaim: ⁹ If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,”^(B) and believe in your heart^(C) that God raised him from the dead,^(D) you will be saved. ¹⁰ One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation.

Israel’s Rejection of the Message

¹⁴ How, then, can they call on him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about him?^(A) And how can they hear without a preacher?^{(B) 15} And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful^[a] are the feet of those who bring good news.^[b](C)

Controlling the Tongue

3 Not many should become teachers, my brothers,^[a] because you know that we will receive a stricter judgment.^{(A) 2} For we all stumble in many ways.^(B) If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is mature, able also to control the whole body.^{(C) 3} Now if we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us,^(D) we direct their whole bodies. ⁴ And consider ships: Though very large and driven by fierce winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. ⁵ So too, though the tongue is a small part of the body, it boasts great things.^(E) Consider how a small fire sets ablaze a large forest. ⁶ And the tongue is a fire. The tongue, a world of unrighteousness, is placed^[b] among our members. It stains the whole body,^(F) sets the course of life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. ⁷ Every kind of animal, bird, reptile, and fish is tamed and has been tamed by humankind, ⁸ but no one can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.^{(G) 9} With the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in God’s likeness.^{(H) 10} Blessing and cursing come out of the same mouth. My brothers and sisters, these things should not be this way. ¹¹ Does a spring pour out sweet and bitter water from the same opening? ¹² Can a fig tree produce olives, my brothers and sisters, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a saltwater spring yield fresh water.