Israel’s Obstinacy

48 (A)Hear this, house of Jacob, who are named Israel
And who came from the (B)waters of Judah,
Who (C)swear by the name of the Lord
And invoke the God of Israel,
But not in truth nor in (D)righteousness.
For they name themselves after the (E)holy city,
And (F)lean on the God of Israel;
The Lord of armies is His name.
I (G)declared the former things long ago,
And they went out of My mouth, and I proclaimed them.
(H)Suddenly I acted, and they (I)came to pass.
Because I know that you are [a](J)obstinate,
And your (K)neck is an iron tendon
And your (L)forehead bronze,
Therefore I declared them to you long ago,
Before [b]they took place I proclaimed them to you,
So that you would not say, ‘My (M)idol has done them,
And my carved image and my cast metal image have commanded them.’
You have heard; look at all this.
And you, will you not declare it?
I proclaim to you (N)new things from this time,
Hidden things which you have not known.
They are created now and not long ago;
And before today you have not heard them,
So that you will not say, ‘Behold, I knew them.’
You have not (O)heard, you have not known.
Even from long ago your ear has not been open,
Because I knew that you would deal very treacherously;
And you have been called a [c](P)rebel from [d]birth.
(Q)For the sake of My name I (R)delay My wrath,
And for My praise I restrain it for you,
In order not to cut you off.
10 Behold, I have refined you, but (S)not as silver;
I have tested you in the (T)furnace of affliction.
11 (U)For My own sake, for My own sake, I will act;
For how can My name be profaned?
And I will not give My (V)glory to another.

Rescue Promised

12 “Listen to Me, Jacob, Israel [e]whom I called;
(W)I am He, (X)I am the first, I am also the last.
13 Assuredly My hand (Y)founded the earth,
And My right hand spread out the heavens;
When I (Z)call to them, they stand together.
14 (AA)Assemble, all of you, and listen!
(AB)Who among them has declared these things?
The Lord loves him; he will (AC)carry out His good pleasure against (AD)Babylon,
And His arm will be against the Chaldeans.
15 I, yes I, have spoken; indeed I have (AE)called him,
I have brought him, and He will make his ways successful.
16 (AF)Come near to Me, listen to this:
From the beginning I have (AG)not spoken in secret,
(AH)From the time it took place, I was there.
And now (AI)the Lord [f]God has sent Me, and His Spirit.”

17 This is what the Lord says, He who is your (AJ)Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:

“I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to benefit,
Who (AK)leads you in the way you should go.
18 If only you had (AL)paid attention to My commandments!
Then your [g](AM)well-being would have been like a river,
And your (AN)righteousness like the waves of the sea.
19 Your [h](AO)descendants would have been like the sand,
And [i]your offspring like its grains;
(AP)Their name would never be eliminated or destroyed from My presence.”

20 (AQ)Go out from Babylon! Flee from the Chaldeans!
Declare with the sound of (AR)joyful shouting, proclaim this,
(AS)Send it out to the end of the earth;
Say, “(AT)The Lord has redeemed His servant Jacob.”
21 They did not (AU)thirst when He led them through the deserts.
He (AV)made the water flow out of the rock for them;
He split the rock and (AW)the water gushed out.
22 (AX)There is no peace for the wicked,” says the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 48:4 Or harsh
  2. Isaiah 48:5 Lit it
  3. Isaiah 48:8 Or transgressor
  4. Isaiah 48:8 Lit the belly
  5. Isaiah 48:12 Lit My called one
  6. Isaiah 48:16 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord
  7. Isaiah 48:18 Or peace
  8. Isaiah 48:19 Lit seed
  9. Isaiah 48:19 Lit the offspring of your inward parts

Self-denial in behalf of Others

15 Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of (A)those without strength, and not just please ourselves. Each of us is to (B)please his neighbor [a]for his good, to his (C)edification. For even (D)Christ did not please Himself, but as it is written: “(E)The taunts of those who taunt You have fallen on Me.” For (F)whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Now may the (G)God [b]who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you (H)to be of the same mind with one another, according to Christ Jesus, so that with one purpose and one [c]voice you may glorify (I)the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, [d](J)accept one another, just as Christ also accepted [e]us, for the glory of God. For I say that Christ has become a servant to (K)the circumcision in behalf of the truth of God, to confirm (L)the promises given to the fathers, and for (M)the Gentiles to (N)glorify God for His mercy; as it is written:

(O)Therefore I will [f]give praise to You among the Gentiles,
And I will sing praises to Your name.”

10 Again he says,

(P)Rejoice, you Gentiles, with His people.”

11 And again,

(Q)Praise the Lord all you Gentiles,
And let all the peoples praise Him.”

12 Again Isaiah says,

(R)There shall come (S)the root of Jesse,
And He who arises to rule over the Gentiles,
(T)In Him will the Gentiles hope.”

13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all (U)joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope (V)by the power of the Holy Spirit.

14 And concerning you, my brothers and sisters, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of (W)goodness, filled with (X)all knowledge and able also to admonish one another. 15 But I have written very boldly to you on some points so as to remind you again, because of (Y)the grace that was given to me [g]from God, 16 to be (Z)a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ministering as a priest the (AA)gospel of God, so that my (AB)offering of the Gentiles may become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 17 Therefore in Christ Jesus I have found (AC)reason for boasting in (AD)things pertaining to God. 18 (AE)For I will not presume to speak of anything [h]except what (AF)Christ has accomplished through me, [i]resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed, 19 in the power of [j](AG)signs and wonders, (AH)in the power of the Spirit; so that (AI)from Jerusalem and all around as (AJ)far as Illyricum I have [k]fully preached the gospel of Christ. 20 And in this way I aspired to (AK)preach the gospel, not where Christ was already known by name, (AL)so that I would not build on another person’s foundation; 21 but just as it is written:

(AM)They who have not been told about Him will see,
And they who have not heard will understand.”

22 For this reason (AN)I have often been prevented from coming to you; 23 but now, with no further place for me in these regions, and since I (AO)have had for many years a longing to come to you 24 whenever I (AP)go to Spain—for I hope to see you in passing, and to be (AQ)helped on my way there by you, when I have first (AR)enjoyed your company [l]for a while— 25 but now, (AS)I am going to Jerusalem, (AT)serving the [m]saints. 26 For (AU)Macedonia and (AV)Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the [n]saints in Jerusalem. 27 For they were pleased to do so, and they are indebted to them. For (AW)if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they are indebted to do them a service also in material things. 28 Therefore, when I have finished this, and (AX)have [o]put my seal on this fruit of theirs, I will (AY)go on by way of you to Spain. 29 I know that when (AZ)I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.

30 Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by (BA)the love of the Spirit, to (BB)strive together with me in your prayers to God for me, 31 that I may be (BC)rescued from those who are disobedient in Judea, and that my (BD)service for Jerusalem may prove acceptable to the [p](BE)saints; 32 so that (BF)I may come to you in joy by (BG)the will of God and relax in your company. 33 Now (BH)the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

Greetings and Love Expressed

16 I (BI)recommend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a [q]servant of the church which is at (BJ)Cenchrea, that you (BK)receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the [r](BL)saints, and that you help her in whatever matter she may have need of you; for she herself has also been a helper of many, [s]and of myself as well.

Greet (BM)Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers (BN)in (BO)Christ Jesus, who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only do I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles; also greet (BP)the church that is in their house. Greet Epaenetus, my beloved, who is the (BQ)first convert to Christ from [t](BR)Asia. Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you. Greet Andronicus and [u]Junia, my (BS)kinsfolk and my (BT)fellow prisoners, who are outstanding in the view of the apostles, who also [v]were (BU)in Christ before me. Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord. Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker (BV)in Christ, and Stachys my beloved. 10 Greet Apelles, the approved (BW)in Christ. Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus. 11 Greet Herodion, my (BX)kinsman. Greet those of the household of Narcissus, who are in the Lord. 12 Greet Tryphaena and Tryphosa, workers in the Lord. Greet Persis the beloved, who has worked hard in the Lord. 13 Greet (BY)Rufus, a choice man in the Lord, also his mother and mine. 14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers and sisters with them. 15 Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all (BZ)the [w]saints who are with them. 16 (CA)Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.

17 Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and [x]hindrances (CB)contrary to the teaching which you learned, and (CC)turn away from them. 18 For such people are (CD)slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of (CE)their own [y]appetites; and by their (CF)smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting. 19 For the report of your obedience (CG)has reached everyone; therefore I am rejoicing over you, but (CH)I want you to be wise in what is good, and innocent in what is evil. 20 (CI)The God of peace will soon crush (CJ)Satan under your feet.

(CK)The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

21 (CL)Timothy, my fellow worker, greets you, and so do (CM)Lucius, (CN)Jason, and (CO)Sosipater, my (CP)kinsmen.

22 I, Tertius, who have (CQ)written this letter, greet you in the Lord.

23 (CR)Gaius, host to me and to the whole church, greets you. (CS)Erastus, the city treasurer, greets you, and Quartus, the brother.[z]

25 (CT)Now to Him who is able to establish you (CU)according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of (CV)the mystery which has been kept secret for (CW)long ages past, 26 but now has been disclosed, and through (CX)the Scriptures of the prophets, in accordance with the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to (CY)obedience of faith; 27 to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, (CZ)be the glory forever. Amen.

Footnotes

  1. Romans 15:2 Lit for what is good to edification
  2. Romans 15:5 Lit of perseverance
  3. Romans 15:6 Lit mouth
  4. Romans 15:7 I.e., accept into fellowship
  5. Romans 15:7 One early ms you
  6. Romans 15:9 Or confess
  7. Romans 15:15 One early ms by God
  8. Romans 15:18 Lit which Christ has not accomplished
  9. Romans 15:18 Lit to the obedience
  10. Romans 15:19 Or confirming miracles
  11. Romans 15:19 Lit fulfilled
  12. Romans 15:24 Lit in part
  13. Romans 15:25 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
  14. Romans 15:26 See note v 25
  15. Romans 15:28 Lit sealed to them this fruit
  16. Romans 15:31 See note v 25
  17. Romans 16:1 Or deaconess
  18. Romans 16:2 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
  19. Romans 16:2 Lit and of me, myself
  20. Romans 16:5 I.e., west coast province of Asia Minor
  21. Romans 16:7 Or possibly Junias (masc)
  22. Romans 16:7 Lit have become
  23. Romans 16:15 See note 1 v 2
  24. Romans 16:17 Lit occasions of stumbling
  25. Romans 16:18 Lit belly
  26. Romans 16:23 Late mss add as v 24: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Prayer for God’s Mercy upon the Nation.

For the music director. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.

85 Lord, You showed (A)favor to Your land;
You (B)restored the fortunes of Jacob.
You (C)forgave the guilt of Your people;
You (D)covered all their sin. Selah
You (E)withdrew all Your fury;
You (F)turned away from Your burning anger.

(G)Restore us, God of our salvation,
And (H)cause Your indignation toward us to cease.
Will (I)You be angry with us forever?
Will You prolong Your anger to [a]all generations?
Will You not [b](J)revive us again,
So that Your people may (K)rejoice in You?
Show us Your mercy, Lord,
And (L)grant us Your salvation.

[c]I will hear what God the Lord will say;
For He will (M)speak peace to His people, to His godly ones;
And may they not (N)turn back to [d]foolishness.
Certainly (O)His salvation is near to those who [e]fear Him,
That (P)glory may dwell in our land.
10 (Q)Graciousness and [f]truth have met together;
(R)Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
11 [g]Truth (S)sprouts from the earth,
And righteousness looks down from heaven.
12 Indeed, (T)the Lord will give what is good,
And our (U)land will yield its produce.
13 (V)Righteousness will go before Him
And will make His footsteps into a way.

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 85:5 Lit generation and generation
  2. Psalm 85:6 Or bring to life
  3. Psalm 85:8 Or Let me hear
  4. Psalm 85:8 I.e., foolish self-confidence
  5. Psalm 85:9 Or revere
  6. Psalm 85:10 Or faithfulness
  7. Psalm 85:11 Or Faithfulness

There is one who (A)pretends to be rich but has nothing;
Another pretends to be (B)poor, but has great wealth.
The ransom of a person’s life is his wealth,
But the poor hears no rebuke.

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