25 He chose to be mistreated(A) along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.

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25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

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10 Better is one day in your courts
    than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper(A) in the house of my God
    than dwell in the tents of the wicked.

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10 For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

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Join with me in suffering,(A) like a good soldier(B) of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown(C) except by competing according to the rules. The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops.(D) Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.

Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead,(E) descended from David.(F) This is my gospel,(G) for which I am suffering(H) even to the point of being chained(I) like a criminal. But God’s word(J) is not chained. 10 Therefore I endure everything(K) for the sake of the elect,(L) that they too may obtain the salvation(M) that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.(N)

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Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.

The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.

Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.

Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:

Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.

10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

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17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,(A) the new creation(B) has come:[a] The old has gone, the new is here!(C)

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Or Christ, that person is a new creation.

17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

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Suffering for Being a Christian

12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you(A) to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice(B) inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ,(C) so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.(D) 14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ,(E) you are blessed,(F) for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. 16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.(G)

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12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.

16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

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Give her as much torment and grief
    as the glory and luxury she gave herself.(A)
In her heart she boasts,
    ‘I sit enthroned as queen.
I am not a widow;[a]
    I will never mourn.’(B)

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Footnotes

  1. Revelation 18:7 See Isaiah 47:7,8.

How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.

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In all this you greatly rejoice,(A) though now for a little while(B) you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.(C) These have come so that the proven genuineness(D) of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire(E)—may result in praise, glory and honor(F) when Jesus Christ is revealed.(G)

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Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

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21 Beware of turning to evil,(A)
    which you seem to prefer to affliction.(B)

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21 Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.

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10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God;(A) once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

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10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

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18 Surely you place them on slippery ground;(A)
    you cast them down to ruin.(B)
19 How suddenly(C) are they destroyed,
    completely swept away(D) by terrors!
20 They are like a dream(E) when one awakes;(F)
    when you arise, Lord,
    you will despise them as fantasies.(G)

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18 Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.

19 How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.

20 As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.

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that the mirth of the wicked(A) is brief,
    the joy of the godless(B) lasts but a moment.(C)

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That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?

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You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves(A) in the day of slaughter.[a](B)

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Footnotes

  1. James 5:5 Or yourselves as in a day of feasting

Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.

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20 because human anger(A) does not produce the righteousness that God desires.

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20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

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