Isaiah 55:10-13

New International Version

¹⁰As the rain^(A) and the snow
    come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
    without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,^(B)
    so that it yields seed^(C) for the sower and bread for the eater,^(D)
¹¹so is my word^(E) that goes out from my mouth:
    It will not return to me empty,^(F)
but will accomplish what I desire
    and achieve the purpose^(G) for which I sent it.
¹²You will go out in joy^(H)
    and be led forth in peace;^(I)
the mountains and hills
    will burst into song^(J) before you,
and all the trees^(K) of the field
    will clap their hands.^(L)
¹³Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper,
    and instead of briers^(M) the myrtle^(N) will grow.
This will be for the Lord’s renown,^(O)
    for an everlasting sign,
    that will endure forever.”

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Psalm 65:9-13

New International Version

⁹You care for the land and water it;^(A)
    you enrich it abundantly.^(B)
The streams of God are filled with water
    to provide the people with grain,^(C)
    for so you have ordained it.^[a]
¹⁰You drench its furrows and level its ridges;
    you soften it with showers^(D) and bless its crops.
¹¹You crown the year with your bounty,^(E)
    and your carts overflow with abundance.^(F)
¹²The grasslands of the wilderness overflow;^(G)
    the hills are clothed with gladness.^(H)
¹³The meadows are covered with flocks^(I)
    and the valleys are mantled with grain;^(J)
    they shout for joy and sing.^(K)

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Footnotes

Psalm 65:9 Or for that is how you prepare the land

Romans 8:1-11

New International Version

Life Through the Spirit

8 Therefore, there is now no condemnation^(A) for those who are in Christ Jesus,^(B) ²because through Christ Jesus^(C) the law of the Spirit who gives life^(D) has set you^[a] free^(E) from the law of sin^(F) and death. ³For what the law was powerless^(G) to do because it was weakened by the flesh,^[b]^(H) God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh^(I) to be a sin offering.^[c]^(J) And so he condemned sin in the flesh, ⁴in order that the righteous requirement^(K) of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.^(L)

⁵Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires;^(M) but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.^(N) ⁶The mind governed by the flesh is death,^(O) but the mind governed by the Spirit is life^(P) and peace. ⁷The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God;^(Q) it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. ⁸Those who are in the realm of the flesh^(R) cannot please God.

⁹You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh^(S) but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you.^(T) And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ,^(U) they do not belong to Christ. ¹⁰But if Christ is in you,^(V) then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life^[d] because of righteousness. ¹¹And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead^(W) is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies^(X) because of^[e] his Spirit who lives in you.

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Footnotes

Romans 8:2 The Greek is singular; some manuscripts me
Romans 8:3 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit; also in verses 4-13.
Romans 8:3 Or flesh, for sin
Romans 8:10 Or you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive
Romans 8:11 Some manuscripts bodies through

Matthew 13:24-30

New International Version

The Parable of the Weeds

²⁴Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like^(A) a man who sowed good seed in his field. ²⁵But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. ²⁶When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.

²⁷“The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’

²⁸“‘An enemy did this,’ he replied.

“The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’

²⁹“‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. ³⁰Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’”^(B)

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Matthew 13:36-43

New International Version

The Parable of the Weeds Explained

³⁶Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable^(A) of the weeds in the field.”

³⁷He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man.^(B) ³⁸The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one,^(C) ³⁹and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest^(D) is the end of the age,^(E) and the harvesters are angels.^(F)

⁴⁰“As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. ⁴¹The Son of Man^(G) will send out his angels,^(H) and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. ⁴²They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.^(I) ⁴³Then the righteous will shine like the sun^(J) in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.^(K)