The Lord's Love for Israel

11 (A)When Israel was a child, (B)I loved him,
    and out of Egypt I (C)called (D)my son.
(E)The more they were called,
    the more they went away;
(F)they kept sacrificing to the Baals
    and burning offerings to idols.

Yet it was (G)I who taught Ephraim to walk;
    I took them up by their arms,
    but they did not know that (H)I healed them.
(I)I led them with cords of kindness,[a]
    with the bands of love,
and (J)I became to them as one who eases the yoke on their jaws,
    and (K)I bent down to them and fed them.

(L)They shall not[b] return to the land of Egypt,
    but (M)Assyria shall be their king,
    (N)because (O)they have refused to return to me.
(P)The sword shall rage against their cities,
    consume the bars of their gates,
    and devour them (Q)because of their own counsels.
My people are bent (R)on turning away from me,
    and though (S)they call out to the Most High,
    he shall not raise them up at all.

How can I give you up, O Ephraim?
    How can I hand you over, O Israel?
(T)How can I make you (U)like Admah?
    How can I treat you (V)like Zeboiim?
(W)My heart recoils within me;
    my compassion grows warm and tender.
I will not execute my burning anger;
    I will not again destroy Ephraim;
(X)for I am God and not a man,
    (Y)the Holy One in your midst,
    and I will not come in wrath.[c]

10 (Z)They shall go after the Lord;
    (AA)he will roar like a lion;
when he roars,
    his children shall come trembling (AB)from the west;
11 they shall come trembling like birds (AC)from Egypt,
    and (AD)like doves (AE)from the land of Assyria,
    and I will return them to their homes, declares the Lord.
12 [d] Ephraim (AF)has surrounded me with lies,
    and the house of Israel with deceit,
but Judah still walks with God
    and is faithful to the Holy One.
12 Ephraim feeds on the wind
    and pursues (AG)the east wind all day long;
they multiply (AH)falsehood and violence;
    (AI)they make a covenant with Assyria,
    and (AJ)oil is carried to Egypt.

The Lord's Indictment of Israel and Judah

(AK)The Lord has an indictment against Judah
    and will punish Jacob according to his ways;
    he will repay him according to his deeds.
(AL)In the womb he took his brother by the heel,
    and in his manhood he strove with God.
He strove with the angel and prevailed;
    he wept and sought his favor.
(AM)He met God[e] at Bethel,
    and there God spoke with us—
the Lord, the God of hosts,
    (AN)the Lord is his memorial name:
“So you, (AO)by the help of your God, return,
    (AP)hold fast to love and justice,
    and wait continually for your God.”

A merchant, in whose hands are (AQ)false balances,
    he loves (AR)to oppress.
Ephraim has said, “Ah, but (AS)I am rich;
    I have found wealth for myself;
in all my labors (AT)they cannot find in me iniquity or sin.”
(AU)I am the Lord your God
    from the land of Egypt;
I will again make you (AV)dwell in tents,
    as in the days of the appointed feast.

10 (AW)I spoke to the prophets;
    it was I who multiplied (AX)visions,
    and through the prophets gave parables.
11 (AY)If there is iniquity in Gilead,
    they shall surely come to nothing:
(AZ)in Gilgal they sacrifice bulls;
    (BA)their altars also are like stone heaps
    (BB)on the furrows of the field.
12 (BC)Jacob fled to the land of Aram;
    there Israel (BD)served for a wife,
    and for a wife he guarded sheep.
13 By (BE)a prophet (BF)the Lord brought Israel up from Egypt,
    and by a prophet he was guarded.
14 (BG)Ephraim has given bitter provocation;
    so his Lord (BH)will leave his bloodguilt on him
    (BI)and will repay him for his disgraceful deeds.

Footnotes

  1. Hosea 11:4 Or humaneness; Hebrew man
  2. Hosea 11:5 Or surely
  3. Hosea 11:9 Or into the city
  4. Hosea 11:12 Ch 12:1 in Hebrew
  5. Hosea 12:4 Hebrew him

Stewards of God's Grace

Since therefore (A)Christ suffered in the flesh,[a] (B)arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for (C)whoever has suffered in the flesh (D)has ceased from sin, (E)so as to live for (F)the rest of the time in the flesh (G)no longer for human passions but (H)for the will of God. For the time that is past (I)suffices (J)for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of (K)debauchery, and (L)they malign you; but they will give account to him who is ready (M)to judge the living and the dead. For this is why (N)the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.

(O)The end of all things is at hand; therefore (P)be self-controlled and sober-minded (Q)for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since (R)love covers a multitude of sins. (S)Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 (T)As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, (U)as good stewards of God's varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks (V)oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves (W)by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything (X)God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. (Y)To him belong glory and (Z)dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Suffering as a Christian

12 Beloved, do not be surprised at (AA)the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice (AB)insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad (AC)when his glory is revealed. 14 (AD)If you are insulted (AE)for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory[b] and of God rests upon you. 15 But (AF)let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or (AG)as a meddler. 16 Yet (AH)if anyone suffers as a (AI)Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God (AJ)in that name. 17 For it is time for judgment (AK)to begin at the household of God; and (AL)if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who (AM)do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And

(AN)“If the righteous is scarcely saved,
    what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”[c]

19 Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will (AO)entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

Shepherd the Flock of God

So I exhort the elders among you, (AP)as a fellow elder and (AQ)a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: (AR)shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight,[d] (AS)not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you;[e] (AT)not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not (AU)domineering over those in your charge, but (AV)being examples to the flock. And when (AW)the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the (AX)unfading (AY)crown of glory. Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. (AZ)Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for (BA)“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

(BB)Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, (BC)casting all your anxieties on him, because (BD)he cares for you. (BE)Be sober-minded; (BF)be watchful. Your (BG)adversary the devil (BH)prowls around (BI)like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. (BJ)Resist him, (BK)firm in your faith, knowing that (BL)the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10 And (BM)after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, (BN)who has called you to his (BO)eternal glory in Christ, will himself (BP)restore, (BQ)confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11 (BR)To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Final Greetings

12 By (BS)Silvanus, a faithful brother as I regard him, (BT)I have written briefly to you, exhorting and declaring that this is (BU)the true grace of God. (BV)Stand firm in it. 13 She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings, and so does (BW)Mark, my son. 14 (BX)Greet one another with the kiss of love.

(BY)Peace to all of you who are in Christ.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 4:1 Some manuscripts add for us; some for you
  2. 1 Peter 4:14 Some manuscripts insert and of power
  3. 1 Peter 4:18 Greek where will the ungodly and sinner appear?
  4. 1 Peter 5:2 Some manuscripts omit exercising oversight
  5. 1 Peter 5:2 Some manuscripts omit as God would have you

His Steadfast Love Endures Forever

136 (A)Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
    (B)for his steadfast love endures forever.
Give thanks to (C)the God of gods,
    for his steadfast love endures forever.
Give thanks to (D)the Lord of lords,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;

to him who alone (E)does great wonders,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;
to him who (F)by understanding (G)made the heavens,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;
to him who (H)spread out the earth (I)above the waters,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;
to him who (J)made the great lights,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;

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17 (A)Discipline your son, and he will give you rest;
    he will give delight to your heart.
18 Where (B)there is no prophetic vision the people (C)cast off restraint,[a]
    but blessed is he who (D)keeps the law.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 29:18 Or the people are discouraged

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