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10 Enter into the rock,
    and hide in the dust
from the terror of the Lord
    and from the glory of his majesty.]][a](A)
11 The haughty eyes of people shall be brought low,
    and the pride of everyone shall be humbled,
and the Lord alone will be exalted on that day.(B)
12 For the Lord of hosts has a day
    against all that is proud and lofty,
    against all that is lifted up and high;[b](C)
13 against all the cedars of Lebanon,
    lofty and lifted up;
    and against all the oaks of Bashan;(D)
14 against all the high mountains
    and against all the lofty hills;(E)
15 against every high tower
    and against every fortified wall;
16 against all the ships of Tarshish
    and against all the highly prized vessels.(F)
17 The haughtiness of people shall be humbled,
    and the pride of everyone shall be brought low,
    and the Lord alone will be exalted on that day.(G)
18 The idols shall utterly pass away.(H)
19 Enter the caves of the rocks
    and the holes of the ground,
from the terror of the Lord
    and from the glory of his majesty,
    when he rises to terrify the earth.(I)
20 On that day people will throw away
    to the moles and to the bats
their idols of silver and their idols of gold,
    which they made for themselves to worship,(J)
21 to enter the caverns of the rocks
    and the clefts in the crags,
from the terror of the Lord
    and from the glory of his majesty,
    when he rises to terrify the earth.(K)
22 [[Turn away from mortals,
    who have only breath in their nostrils,
    for of what account are they?]][c](L)

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Footnotes

  1. 2.9–10 Q ms lacks do not forgive . . . majesty
  2. 2.12 Cn Compare Gk: Heb low
  3. 2.22 Gk OL lack 2.22

10 Go into the rocks, hide(A) in the ground
    from the fearful presence of the Lord
    and the splendor of his majesty!(B)
11 The eyes of the arrogant(C) will be humbled(D)
    and human pride(E) brought low;(F)
the Lord alone will be exalted(G) in that day.(H)

12 The Lord Almighty has a day(I) in store
    for all the proud(J) and lofty,(K)
for all that is exalted(L)
    (and they will be humbled),(M)
13 for all the cedars of Lebanon,(N) tall and lofty,(O)
    and all the oaks of Bashan,(P)
14 for all the towering mountains
    and all the high hills,(Q)
15 for every lofty tower(R)
    and every fortified wall,(S)
16 for every trading ship[a](T)
    and every stately vessel.
17 The arrogance of man will be brought low(U)
    and human pride humbled;(V)
the Lord alone will be exalted in that day,(W)
18     and the idols(X) will totally disappear.(Y)

19 People will flee to caves(Z) in the rocks
    and to holes in the ground(AA)
from the fearful presence(AB) of the Lord
    and the splendor of his majesty,(AC)
    when he rises to shake the earth.(AD)
20 In that day(AE) people will throw away
    to the moles and bats(AF)
their idols of silver and idols of gold,(AG)
    which they made to worship.(AH)
21 They will flee to caverns in the rocks(AI)
    and to the overhanging crags
from the fearful presence of the Lord
    and the splendor of his majesty,(AJ)
    when he rises(AK) to shake the earth.(AL)

22 Stop trusting in mere humans,(AM)
    who have but a breath(AN) in their nostrils.
    Why hold them in esteem?(AO)

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 2:16 Hebrew every ship of Tarshish

Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anything written to you.(A) For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.(B) When they say, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them, as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and there will be no escape!(C) But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness, for that day to surprise you like a thief;(D) for you are all children of light and children of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness. So, then, let us not fall asleep as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober,(E) for those who sleep sleep at night, and those who are drunk get drunk at night.(F) But since we belong to the day, let us be sober and put on the breastplate of faith and love and for a helmet the hope of salvation.(G) For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,(H) 10 who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with him.(I) 11 Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing.

Final Exhortations, Greetings, and Benediction

12 But we appeal to you, brothers and sisters, to respect those who labor among you and have charge of you in the Lord and admonish you;(J) 13 esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. 14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, to admonish the idlers, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with all of them.(K) 15 See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to all.(L) 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast to what is good;(M) 22 abstain from every form of evil.

23 May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely, and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound[a] and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.(N) 24 The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.(O)

25 Brothers and sisters, pray for us.(P)

26 Greet all the brothers and sisters with a holy kiss. 27 I solemnly command you by the Lord that this letter be read to all the brothers and sisters.(Q)

28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.[b]

Footnotes

  1. 5.23 Or complete
  2. 5.28 Other ancient authorities add Amen

The Day of the Lord

Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates(A) we do not need to write to you,(B) for you know very well that the day of the Lord(C) will come like a thief in the night.(D) While 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)

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

Final Instructions

12 Now 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. 13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.(Z) 14 And 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. 15 Make 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.

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

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

23 May 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) 24 The one who calls(AP) you is faithful,(AQ) and he will do it.(AR)

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

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

Nicodemus Visits Jesus

Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus[a] by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with that person.”(A) Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.”[b](B) Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.(C) What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You[c] must be born from above.’[d] The wind[e] blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”(D) Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?”(E) 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?

11 “Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen, yet you[f] do not receive our testimony.(F) 12 If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.[g](G) 14 And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,(H) 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.[h](I)

16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.(J)

17 “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world but in order that the world might be saved through him.(K) 18 Those who believe in him are not condemned, but those who do not believe are condemned already because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God.(L) 19 And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil.(M) 20 For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed.(N) 21 But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.”[i](O)

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Footnotes

  1. 3.2 Gk him
  2. 3.3 Or born anew
  3. 3.7 The Greek word for you here is plural
  4. 3.7 Or born anew
  5. 3.8 The same Greek word means both wind and spirit
  6. 3.11 The Greek word for you here and in 3.12 is plural
  7. 3.13 Other ancient authorities add who is in heaven
  8. 3.15 Some interpreters hold that the quotation concludes with 3.15
  9. 3.21 Some interpreters hold that the quotation concludes with 3.15

Jesus Teaches Nicodemus

Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus(A) who was a member of the Jewish ruling council.(B) He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi,(C) we know(D) that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs(E) you are doing if God were not with him.”(F)

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.[a](G)

“How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”

Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.(H) Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit[b] gives birth to spirit.(I) You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You[c] must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”[d](J)

“How can this be?”(K) Nicodemus asked.

10 “You are Israel’s teacher,”(L) said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know,(M) and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony.(N) 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven(O) except the one who came from heaven(P)—the Son of Man.[e](Q) 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness,(R) so the Son of Man must be lifted up,[f](S) 15 that everyone who believes(T) may have eternal life in him.”[g](U)

16 For God so loved(V) the world that he gave(W) his one and only Son,(X) that whoever believes(Y) in him shall not perish but have eternal life.(Z) 17 For God did not send his Son into the world(AA) to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.(AB) 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned,(AC) but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.(AD) 19 This is the verdict: Light(AE) has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.(AF) 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.(AG) 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.

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Footnotes

  1. John 3:3 The Greek for again also means from above; also in verse 7.
  2. John 3:6 Or but spirit
  3. John 3:7 The Greek is plural.
  4. John 3:8 The Greek for Spirit is the same as that for wind.
  5. John 3:13 Some manuscripts Man, who is in heaven
  6. John 3:14 The Greek for lifted up also means exalted.
  7. John 3:15 Some interpreters end the quotation with verse 21.