Job 26-36
New King James Version
Job: Man’s Frailty and God’s Majesty
26 But Job answered and said:
2 “How have you helped him who is without power?
How have you saved the arm that has no strength?
3 How have you counseled one who has no wisdom?
And how have you declared sound advice to many?
4 To whom have you uttered words?
And whose spirit came from you?
5 “The dead tremble,
Those under the waters and those inhabiting them.
6 (A)Sheol is naked before Him,
And Destruction has no covering.
7 (B)He stretches out the north over empty space;
He hangs the earth on nothing.
8 (C)He binds up the water in His thick clouds,
Yet the clouds [a]are not broken under it.
9 He covers the face of His throne,
And spreads His cloud over it.
10 (D)He drew a circular horizon on the face of the waters,
At the boundary of light and darkness.
11 The pillars of heaven tremble,
And are [b]astonished at His rebuke.
12 (E)He stirs up the sea with His power,
And by His understanding He breaks up [c]the storm.
13 (F)By His Spirit He adorned the heavens;
His hand pierced (G)the fleeing serpent.
14 Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways,
And how small a whisper we hear of Him!
But the thunder of His power who can understand?”
Job Maintains His Integrity
27 Moreover Job continued his discourse, and said:
2 “As God lives, (H)who has taken away my justice,
And the Almighty, who has made my soul bitter,
3 As long as my breath is in me,
And the breath of God in my nostrils,
4 My lips will not speak wickedness,
Nor my tongue utter deceit.
5 Far be it from me
That I should say you are right;
Till I die (I)I will not put away my integrity from me.
6 My righteousness I (J)hold fast, and will not let it go;
(K)My heart shall not [d]reproach me as long as I live.
7 “May my enemy be like the wicked,
And he who rises up against me like the unrighteous.
8 (L)For what is the hope of the hypocrite,
Though he may gain much,
If God takes away his life?
9 (M)Will God hear his cry
When trouble comes upon him?
10 (N)Will he delight himself in the Almighty?
Will he always call on God?
11 “I will teach you [e]about the hand of God;
What is with the Almighty I will not conceal.
12 Surely all of you have seen it;
Why then do you behave with complete nonsense?
13 “This(O) is the portion of a wicked man with God,
And the heritage of oppressors, received from the Almighty:
14 (P)If his children are multiplied, it is for the sword;
And his offspring shall not be satisfied with bread.
15 Those who survive him shall be buried in death,
And (Q)their[f] widows shall not weep,
16 Though he heaps up silver like dust,
And piles up clothing like clay—
17 He may pile it up, but (R)the just will wear it,
And the innocent will divide the silver.
18 He builds his house like a [g]moth,
(S)Like a [h]booth which a watchman makes.
19 The rich man will lie down,
[i]But not be gathered up;
He opens his eyes,
And he is (T)no more.
20 (U)Terrors overtake him like a flood;
A tempest steals him away in the night.
21 The east wind carries him away, and he is gone;
It sweeps him out of his place.
22 It hurls against him and does not (V)spare;
He flees desperately from its [j]power.
23 Men shall clap their hands at him,
And shall hiss him out of his place.
Job’s Discourse on Wisdom
28 “Surely there is a mine for silver,
And a place where gold is refined.
2 Iron is taken from the [k]earth,
And copper is smelted from ore.
3 Man puts an end to darkness,
And searches every recess
For ore in the darkness and the shadow of death.
4 He breaks open a shaft away from people;
In places forgotten by feet
They hang far away from men;
They swing to and fro.
5 As for the earth, from it comes bread,
But underneath it is turned up as by fire;
6 Its stones are the source of sapphires,
And it contains gold dust.
7 That path no bird knows,
Nor has the falcon’s eye seen it.
8 The [l]proud lions have not trodden it,
Nor has the fierce lion passed over it.
9 He puts his hand on the flint;
He overturns the mountains [m]at the roots.
10 He cuts out channels in the rocks,
And his eye sees every precious thing.
11 He dams up the streams from trickling;
What is hidden he brings forth to light.
12 “But(W) where can wisdom be found?
And where is the place of understanding?
13 Man does not know its (X)value,
Nor is it found in the land of the living.
14 (Y)The deep says, ‘It is not in me’;
And the sea says, ‘It is not with me.’
15 It (Z)cannot be purchased for gold,
Nor can silver be weighed for its price.
16 It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir,
In precious onyx or sapphire.
17 Neither (AA)gold nor crystal can equal it,
Nor can it be exchanged for [n]jewelry of fine gold.
18 No mention shall be made of [o]coral or quartz,
For the price of wisdom is above (AB)rubies.
19 The topaz of Ethiopia cannot equal it,
Nor can it be valued in pure (AC)gold.
20 “From(AD) where then does wisdom come?
And where is the place of understanding?
21 It is hidden from the eyes of all living,
And concealed from the birds of the [p]air.
22 (AE)Destruction[q] and Death say,
‘We have heard a report about it with our ears.’
23 God understands its way,
And He knows its place.
24 For He looks to the ends of the earth,
And (AF)sees under the whole heavens,
25 (AG)To establish a weight for the wind,
And apportion the waters by measure.
26 When He (AH)made a law for the rain,
And a path for the thunderbolt,
27 Then He saw [r]wisdom and declared it;
He prepared it, indeed, He searched it out.
28 And to man He said,
‘Behold, (AI)the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom,
And to depart from evil is understanding.’ ”
Job’s Summary Defense
29 Job further continued his discourse, and said:
2 “Oh, that I were as in months (AJ)past,
As in the days when God (AK)watched over me;
3 (AL)When His lamp shone upon my head,
And when by His light I walked through darkness;
4 Just as I was in the days of my prime,
When (AM)the friendly counsel of God was over my tent;
5 When the Almighty was yet with me,
When my children were around me;
6 When (AN)my steps were bathed with [s]cream,
And (AO)the rock poured out rivers of oil for me!
7 “When I went out to the gate by the city,
When I took my seat in the open square,
8 The young men saw me and hid,
And the aged arose and stood;
9 The princes refrained from talking,
And (AP)put their hand on their mouth;
10 The voice of nobles was hushed,
And their (AQ)tongue stuck to the roof of their mouth.
11 When the ear heard, then it blessed me,
And when the eye saw, then it approved me;
12 Because (AR)I delivered the poor who cried out,
The fatherless and the one who had no helper.
13 The blessing of a perishing man came upon me,
And I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.
14 (AS)I put on righteousness, and it clothed me;
My justice was like a robe and a turban.
15 I was (AT)eyes to the blind,
And I was feet to the lame.
16 I was a father to the poor,
And (AU)I searched out the case that I did not know.
17 I broke (AV)the fangs of the wicked,
And plucked the victim from his teeth.
18 “Then I said, (AW)‘I shall die in my nest,
And multiply my days as the sand.
19 (AX)My root is spread out (AY)to the waters,
And the dew lies all night on my branch.
20 My glory is fresh within me,
And my (AZ)bow is renewed in my hand.’
21 “Men listened to me and waited,
And kept silence for my counsel.
22 After my words they did not speak again,
And my speech settled on them as dew.
23 They waited for me as for the rain,
And they opened their mouth wide as for (BA)the spring rain.
24 If I mocked at them, they did not believe it,
And the light of my countenance they did not cast down.
25 I chose the way for them, and sat as chief;
So I dwelt as a king in the army,
As one who comforts mourners.
Job’s Wealth Now Poverty
30 “But now they mock at me, men [t]younger than I,
Whose fathers I disdained to put with the dogs of my flock.
2 Indeed, what profit is the strength of their hands to me?
Their vigor has perished.
3 They are gaunt from want and famine,
Fleeing late to the wilderness, desolate and waste,
4 Who pluck [u]mallow by the bushes,
And broom tree roots for their food.
5 They were driven out from among men,
They shouted at them as at a thief.
6 They had to live in the clefts of the [v]valleys,
In [w]caves of the earth and the rocks.
7 Among the bushes they brayed,
Under the nettles they nestled.
8 They were sons of fools,
Yes, sons of vile men;
They were scourged from the land.
9 “And(BB) now I am their taunting song;
Yes, I am their byword.
10 They abhor me, they keep far from me;
They do not hesitate (BC)to spit in my face.
11 Because (BD)He has loosed [x]my bowstring and afflicted me,
They have cast off restraint before me.
12 At my right hand the rabble arises;
They push away my feet,
And (BE)they raise against me their ways of destruction.
13 They break up my path,
They promote my calamity;
They have no helper.
14 They come as broad breakers;
Under the ruinous storm they roll along.
15 Terrors are turned upon me;
They pursue my honor as the wind,
And my prosperity has passed like a cloud.
16 “And(BF) now my soul is (BG)poured out because of my plight;
The days of affliction take hold of me.
17 My bones are pierced in me at night,
And my gnawing pains take no rest.
18 By great force my garment is disfigured;
It binds me about as the collar of my coat.
19 He has cast me into the mire,
And I have become like dust and ashes.
20 “I (BH)cry out to You, but You do not answer me;
I stand up, and You regard me.
21 But You have become cruel to me;
With the strength of Your hand You (BI)oppose me.
22 You lift me up to the wind and cause me to ride on it;
You spoil my success.
23 For I know that You will bring me to death,
And to the house (BJ)appointed for all living.
24 “Surely He would not stretch out His hand against a heap of ruins,
If they cry out when He destroys it.
25 (BK)Have I not wept for him who was in trouble?
Has not my soul grieved for the poor?
26 (BL)But when I looked for good, evil came to me;
And when I waited for light, then came darkness.
27 [y]My heart is in turmoil and cannot rest;
Days of affliction confront me.
28 (BM)I go about mourning, but not in the sun;
I stand up in the assembly and cry out for help.
29 (BN)I am a brother of jackals,
And a companion of ostriches.
30 (BO)My skin grows black and falls from me;
(BP)My bones burn with fever.
31 My harp is turned to mourning,
And my flute to the voice of those who weep.
Job Defends His Righteousness
31 “I have made a covenant with my eyes;
Why then should I [z]look upon a (BQ)young woman?
2 For what is the (BR)allotment of God from above,
And the inheritance of the Almighty from on high?
3 Is it not destruction for the wicked,
And disaster for the workers of iniquity?
4 (BS)Does He not see my ways,
And count all my steps?
5 “If I have walked with falsehood,
Or if my foot has hastened to deceit,
6 [aa]Let me be weighed on honest scales,
That God may know my (BT)integrity.
7 If my step has turned from the way,
Or (BU)my heart walked after my eyes,
Or if any spot adheres to my hands,
8 Then (BV)let me sow, and another eat;
Yes, let my harvest be [ab]rooted out.
9 “If my heart has been enticed by a woman,
Or if I have lurked at my neighbor’s door,
10 Then let my wife grind for (BW)another,
And let others bow down over her.
11 For that would be wickedness;
Yes, (BX)it would be iniquity deserving of judgment.
12 For that would be a fire that consumes to destruction,
And would root out all my increase.
13 “If I have (BY)despised the cause of my male or female servant
When they complained against me,
14 What then shall I do when (BZ)God rises up?
When He punishes, how shall I answer Him?
15 (CA)Did not He who made me in the womb make them?
Did not the same One fashion us in the womb?
16 “If I have kept the poor from their desire,
Or caused the eyes of the widow to (CB)fail,
17 Or eaten my morsel by myself,
So that the fatherless could not eat of it
18 (But from my youth I reared him as a father,
And from my mother’s womb I guided [ac]the widow);
19 If I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing,
Or any poor man without covering;
20 If his [ad]heart has not (CC)blessed me,
And if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep;
21 If I have raised my hand (CD)against the fatherless,
When I saw I had help in the gate;
22 Then let my arm fall from my shoulder,
Let my arm be torn from the socket.
23 For (CE)destruction from God is a terror to me,
And because of His magnificence I cannot endure.
24 “If(CF) I have made gold my hope,
Or said to fine gold, ‘You are my confidence’;
25 (CG)If I have rejoiced because my wealth was great,
And because my hand had gained much;
26 (CH)If I have observed the [ae]sun when it shines,
Or the moon moving in brightness,
27 So that my heart has been secretly enticed,
And my mouth has kissed my hand;
28 This also would be an iniquity deserving of judgment,
For I would have denied God who is above.
29 “If(CI) I have rejoiced at the destruction of him who hated me,
Or lifted myself up when evil found him
30 (CJ)(Indeed I have not allowed my mouth to sin
By asking for a curse on his [af]soul);
31 If the men of my tent have not said,
‘Who is there that has not been satisfied with his meat?’
32 (CK)(But no sojourner had to lodge in the street,
For I have opened my doors to the [ag]traveler);
33 If I have covered my transgressions (CL)as[ah] Adam,
By hiding my iniquity in my bosom,
34 Because I feared the great (CM)multitude,
And dreaded the contempt of families,
So that I kept silence
And did not go out of the door—
35 (CN)Oh, that I had one to hear me!
Here is my mark.
Oh, (CO)that the Almighty would answer me,
That my [ai]Prosecutor had written a book!
36 Surely I would carry it on my shoulder,
And bind it on me like a crown;
37 I would declare to Him the number of my steps;
Like a prince I would approach Him.
38 “If my land cries out against me,
And its furrows weep together;
39 If (CP)I have eaten its [aj]fruit without money,
Or (CQ)caused its owners to lose their lives;
40 Then let (CR)thistles grow instead of wheat,
And weeds instead of barley.”
The words of Job are ended.
Elihu Contradicts Job’s Friends
32 So these three men ceased answering Job, because he was (CS)righteous in his own eyes. 2 Then the wrath of Elihu, the son of Barachel the (CT)Buzite, of the family of Ram, was aroused against Job; his wrath was aroused because he (CU)justified himself rather than God. 3 Also against his three friends his wrath was aroused, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.
4 Now because they were years older than he, Elihu had waited [ak]to speak to Job. 5 When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, his wrath was aroused.
6 So Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, answered and said:
“I am (CV)young in years, and you are very old;
Therefore I was afraid,
And dared not declare my opinion to you.
7 I said, [al]‘Age should speak,
And multitude of years should teach wisdom.’
8 But there is a spirit in man,
And (CW)the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding.
9 (CX)Great[am] men are not always wise,
Nor do the aged always understand justice.
10 “Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me,
I also will declare my opinion.’
11 Indeed I waited for your words,
I listened to your reasonings, while you searched out what to say.
12 I paid close attention to you;
And surely not one of you convinced Job,
Or answered his words—
13 (CY)Lest you say,
‘We have found wisdom’;
God will vanquish him, not man.
14 Now he has not [an]directed his words against me;
So I will not answer him with your words.
15 “They are dismayed and answer no more;
Words escape them.
16 And I have waited, because they did not speak,
Because they stood still and answered no more.
17 I also will answer my part,
I too will declare my opinion.
18 For I am full of words;
The spirit within me compels me.
19 Indeed my [ao]belly is like wine that has no [ap]vent;
It is ready to burst like new wineskins.
20 I will speak, that I may find relief;
I must open my lips and answer.
21 Let me not, I pray, show partiality to anyone;
Nor let me flatter any man.
22 For I do not know how to flatter,
Else my Maker would soon take me (CZ)away.
Elihu Contradicts Job
33 “But please, Job, hear my speech,
And listen to all my words.
2 Now, I open my mouth;
My tongue speaks in my mouth.
3 My words come from my upright heart;
My lips utter pure knowledge.
4 (DA)The Spirit of God has made me,
And the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
5 If you can answer me,
Set your words in order before me;
Take your stand.
6 (DB)Truly I am [aq]as your spokesman before God;
I also have been formed out of clay.
7 (DC)Surely no fear of me will terrify you,
Nor will my hand be heavy on you.
8 “Surely you have spoken [ar]in my hearing,
And I have heard the sound of your words, saying,
9 ‘I(DD) am pure, without transgression;
I am innocent, and there is no iniquity in me.
10 Yet He finds occasions against me,
(DE)He counts me as His enemy;
11 (DF)He puts my feet in the stocks,
He watches all my paths.’
12 “Look, in this you are not righteous.
I will answer you,
For God is greater than man.
13 Why do you (DG)contend with Him?
For He does not give an accounting of any of His words.
14 (DH)For God may speak in one way, or in another,
Yet man does not perceive it.
15 (DI)In a dream, in a vision of the night,
When deep sleep falls upon men,
While slumbering on their beds,
16 (DJ)Then He opens the ears of men,
And seals their instruction.
17 In order to turn man from his deed,
And conceal pride from man,
18 He keeps back his soul from the Pit,
And his life from [as]perishing by the sword.
19 “Man is also chastened with pain on his (DK)bed,
And with strong pain in many of his bones,
20 (DL)So that his life abhors (DM)bread,
And his soul [at]succulent food.
21 His flesh wastes away from sight,
And his bones stick out which once were not seen.
22 Yes, his soul draws near the Pit,
And his life to the executioners.
23 “If there is a messenger for him,
A mediator, one among a thousand,
To show man His uprightness,
24 Then He is gracious to him, and says,
‘Deliver him from going down to the Pit;
I have found [au]a ransom’;
25 His flesh shall be young like a child’s,
He shall return to the days of his youth.
26 He shall pray to God, and He will delight in him,
He shall see His face with joy,
For He restores to man His righteousness.
27 Then he looks at men and (DN)says,
‘I have sinned, and perverted what was right,
And it (DO)did not profit me.’
28 He will (DP)redeem [av]his soul from going down to the Pit,
And his life shall see the light.
29 “Behold, God works all these things,
Twice, in fact, three times with a man,
30 (DQ)To bring back his soul from the Pit,
That he may be enlightened with the light of life.
31 “Give ear, Job, listen to me;
Hold your peace, and I will speak.
32 If you have anything to say, answer me;
Speak, for I desire to justify you.
33 If not, (DR)listen to me;
[aw]Hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom.”
Elihu Proclaims God’s Justice
34 Elihu further answered and said:
2 “Hear my words, you wise men;
Give ear to me, you who have knowledge.
3 (DS)For the ear tests words
As the palate tastes food.
4 Let us choose justice for ourselves;
Let us know among ourselves what is good.
5 “For Job has said, (DT)‘I am righteous,
But (DU)God has taken away my justice;
6 (DV)Should I lie concerning my right?
My [ax]wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’
7 What man is like Job,
(DW)Who drinks [ay]scorn like water,
8 Who goes in company with the workers of iniquity,
And walks with wicked men?
9 For (DX)he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing
That he should delight in God.’
10 “Therefore listen to me, you [az]men of understanding:
(DY)Far be it from God to do wickedness,
And from the Almighty to commit iniquity.
11 (DZ)For He repays man according to his work,
And makes man to find a reward according to his way.
12 Surely God will never do wickedly,
Nor will the Almighty (EA)pervert justice.
13 Who gave Him charge over the earth?
Or who appointed Him over the whole world?
14 If He should set His heart on it,
If He should (EB)gather to Himself His Spirit and His breath,
15 (EC)All flesh would perish together,
And man would return to dust.
16 “If you have understanding, hear this;
Listen to the sound of my words:
17 (ED)Should one who hates justice govern?
Will you (EE)condemn Him who is most just?
18 (EF)Is it fitting to say to a king, ‘You are worthless,’
And to nobles, ‘You are wicked’?
19 Yet He (EG)is not partial to princes,
Nor does He regard the rich more than the poor;
For (EH)they are all the work of His hands.
20 In a moment they die, (EI)in the middle of the night;
The people are shaken and pass away;
The mighty are taken away without a hand.
21 “For(EJ) His eyes are on the ways of man,
And He sees all his steps.
22 (EK)There is no darkness nor shadow of death
Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
23 For He need not further consider a man,
That he should go before God in judgment.
24 (EL)He breaks in pieces mighty men without inquiry,
And sets others in their place.
25 Therefore He knows their works;
He overthrows them in the night,
And they are crushed.
26 He strikes them as wicked men
In the open sight of others,
27 Because they (EM)turned back from Him,
And (EN)would not consider any of His ways,
28 So that they (EO)caused the cry of the poor to come to Him;
For He (EP)hears the cry of the afflicted.
29 When He gives quietness, who then can make trouble?
And when He hides His face, who then can see Him,
Whether it is against a nation or a man alone?—
30 That the hypocrite should not reign,
Lest the people be ensnared.
31 “For has anyone said to God,
‘I have borne chastening;
I will offend no more;
32 Teach me what I do not see;
If I have done iniquity, I will do no more’?
33 Should He repay it according to your terms,
Just because you disavow it?
You must choose, and not I;
Therefore speak what you know.
34 “Men of understanding say to me,
Wise men who listen to me:
35 ‘Job(EQ) speaks without knowledge,
His words are without wisdom.’
36 Oh, that Job were tried to the utmost,
Because his answers are like those of wicked men!
37 For he adds (ER)rebellion to his sin;
He claps his hands among us,
And multiplies his words against God.”
Elihu Condemns Self-Righteousness
35 Moreover Elihu answered and said:
2 “Do you think this is right?
Do you say,
‘My righteousness is more than God’s’?
3 For (ES)you say,
‘What advantage will it be to You?
What profit shall I have, more than if I had sinned?’
4 “I will answer you,
And (ET)your companions with you.
5 (EU)Look to the heavens and see;
And behold the clouds—
They are higher than you.
6 If you sin, what do you accomplish (EV)against Him?
Or, if your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to Him?
7 (EW)If you are righteous, what do you give Him?
Or what does He receive from your hand?
8 Your wickedness affects a man such as you,
And your righteousness a son of man.
9 “Because(EX) of the multitude of oppressions they cry out;
They cry out for help because of the arm of the mighty.
10 But no one says, (EY)‘Where is God my Maker,
(EZ)Who gives songs in the night,
11 Who (FA)teaches us more than the beasts of the earth,
And makes us wiser than the birds of heaven?’
12 (FB)There they cry out, but He does not answer,
Because of the pride of evil men.
13 (FC)Surely God will not listen to empty talk,
Nor will the Almighty regard it.
14 (FD)Although you say you do not see Him,
Yet justice is before Him, and (FE)you must wait for Him.
15 And now, because He has not (FF)punished in His anger,
Nor taken much notice of folly,
16 (FG)Therefore Job opens his mouth in vain;
He multiplies words without knowledge.”
Elihu Proclaims God’s Goodness
36 Elihu also proceeded and said:
2 “Bear with me a little, and I will show you
That there are yet words to speak on God’s behalf.
3 I will fetch my knowledge from afar;
I will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
4 For truly my words are not false;
One who is perfect in knowledge is with you.
5 “Behold, God is mighty, but despises no one;
(FH)He is mighty in strength [ba]of understanding.
6 He does not preserve the life of the wicked,
But gives justice to the (FI)oppressed.
7 (FJ)He does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous;
But (FK)they are on the throne with kings,
For He has seated them forever,
And they are exalted.
8 And (FL)if they are bound in [bb]fetters,
Held in the cords of affliction,
9 Then He tells them their work and their transgressions—
That they have acted [bc]defiantly.
10 (FM)He also opens their ear to [bd]instruction,
And commands that they turn from iniquity.
11 If they obey and serve Him,
They shall (FN)spend their days in prosperity,
And their years in pleasures.
12 But if they do not obey,
They shall perish by the sword,
And they shall die [be]without (FO)knowledge.
13 “But the hypocrites in heart (FP)store up wrath;
They do not cry for help when He binds them.
14 (FQ)They[bf] die in youth,
And their life ends among the [bg]perverted persons.
15 He delivers the poor in their affliction,
And opens their ears in oppression.
16 “Indeed He would have brought you out of dire distress,
(FR)Into a broad place where there is no restraint;
And (FS)what is set on your table would be full of (FT)richness.
17 But you are filled with the judgment due the (FU)wicked;
Judgment and justice take hold of you.
18 Because there is wrath, beware lest He take you away with one blow;
For (FV)a large ransom would not help you avoid it.
19 (FW)Will your riches,
Or all the mighty forces,
Keep you from distress?
20 Do not desire the night,
When people are cut off in their place.
21 Take heed, (FX)do not turn to iniquity,
For (FY)you have chosen this rather than affliction.
22 “Behold, God is exalted by His power;
Who teaches like Him?
23 (FZ)Who has assigned Him His way,
Or who has said, ‘You have done (GA)wrong’?
Elihu Proclaims God’s Majesty
24 “Remember to (GB)magnify His work,
Of which men have sung.
25 Everyone has seen it;
Man looks on it from afar.
26 “Behold, God is great, and we (GC)do not know Him;
(GD)Nor can the number of His years be discovered.
27 For He (GE)draws up drops of water,
Which distill as rain from the mist,
28 (GF)Which the clouds drop down
And pour abundantly on man.
29 Indeed, can anyone understand the spreading of clouds,
The thunder from His canopy?
30 Look, He (GG)scatters His light upon it,
And covers the depths of the sea.
31 For (GH)by these He judges the peoples;
He (GI)gives food in abundance.
32 (GJ)He covers His hands with lightning,
And commands it to [bh]strike.
33 (GK)His thunder declares it,
The cattle also, concerning [bi]the rising storm.
Footnotes
- Job 26:8 do not break
- Job 26:11 amazed
- Job 26:12 Heb. rahab
- Job 27:6 reprove
- Job 27:11 Or by
- Job 27:15 Lit. his
- Job 27:18 So with MT, Vg.; LXX, Syr. spider (cf. 8:14); Tg. decay
- Job 27:18 Temporary shelter
- Job 27:19 So with MT, Tg.; LXX, Syr. But shall not add (i.e., do it again); Vg. But take away nothing
- Job 27:22 Lit. hand
- Job 28:2 Lit. dust
- Job 28:8 Lit. sons of pride, figurative of the great lions
- Job 28:9 At the base
- Job 28:17 vessels
- Job 28:18 Heb. ramoth
- Job 28:21 heaven
- Job 28:22 Heb. Abaddon
- Job 28:27 Lit. it
- Job 29:6 So with ancient vss. and a few Heb. mss. (cf. Job 20:17); MT wrath
- Job 30:1 Lit. of fewer days
- Job 30:4 A plant of the salty marshes
- Job 30:6 wadis
- Job 30:6 Lit. holes
- Job 30:11 So with MT, Syr., Tg.; LXX, Vg. His
- Job 30:27 I seethe inside
- Job 31:1 look intently or gaze
- Job 31:6 Lit. Let Him weigh me
- Job 31:8 uprooted
- Job 31:18 Lit. her
- Job 31:20 Lit. loins
- Job 31:26 Lit. light
- Job 31:30 Or life
- Job 31:32 So with LXX, Syr., Tg., Vg.; MT road
- Job 31:33 Or as men do
- Job 31:35 Lit. Accuser
- Job 31:39 Lit. strength
- Job 32:4 Vg. till Job had spoken
- Job 32:7 Lit. Days, i.e., years
- Job 32:9 Or Men of many years
- Job 32:14 ordered
- Job 32:19 bosom
- Job 32:19 opening
- Job 33:6 Lit. as your mouth
- Job 33:8 Lit. in my ears
- Job 33:18 Lit. passing
- Job 33:20 desirable
- Job 33:24 an atonement
- Job 33:28 Kt. my
- Job 33:33 Keep silent
- Job 34:6 Lit. arrow
- Job 34:7 derision
- Job 34:10 men of heart
- Job 36:5 of heart
- Job 36:8 chains
- Job 36:9 proudly
- Job 36:10 discipline
- Job 36:12 MT as one without knowledge
- Job 36:14 Lit. Their soul dies
- Job 36:14 Heb. qedeshim, those practicing sodomy or prostitution in religious rituals
- Job 36:32 strike the mark
- Job 36:33 Lit. what is rising
Psalm 120
New King James Version
Plea for Relief from Bitter Foes
A Song of Ascents.
120 In (A)my distress I cried to the Lord,
And He heard me.
2 Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips
And from a deceitful tongue.
3 What shall be given to you,
Or what shall be done to you,
You false tongue?
4 Sharp arrows of the [a]warrior,
With coals of the broom tree!
5 Woe is me, that I dwell in (B)Meshech,
(C)That I dwell among the tents of Kedar!
6 My soul has dwelt too long
With one who hates peace.
7 I am for peace;
But when I speak, they are for war.
Footnotes
- Psalm 120:4 mighty one
Mark 15-16
New King James Version
Jesus Faces Pilate(A)
15 Immediately, (B)in the morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council; and they bound Jesus, led Him away, and (C)delivered Him to Pilate. 2 (D)Then Pilate asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”
He answered and said to him, “It is as you say.”
3 And the chief priests accused Him of many things, but He (E)answered nothing. 4 (F)Then Pilate asked Him again, saying, “Do You answer nothing? See how many things [a]they testify against You!” 5 (G)But Jesus still answered nothing, so that Pilate marveled.
Taking the Place of Barabbas(H)
6 Now (I)at the feast he was accustomed to releasing one prisoner to them, whomever they requested. 7 And there was one named Barabbas, who was chained with his fellow rebels; they had committed murder in the rebellion. 8 Then the multitude, [b]crying aloud, began to ask him to do just as he had always done for them. 9 But Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” 10 For he knew that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy.
11 But (J)the chief priests stirred up the crowd, so that he should rather release Barabbas to them. 12 Pilate answered and said to them again, “What then do you want me to do with Him whom you call the (K)King of the Jews?”
13 So they cried out again, “Crucify Him!”
14 Then Pilate said to them, “Why, (L)what evil has He done?”
But they cried out all the more, “Crucify Him!”
15 (M)So Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd, released Barabbas to them; and he delivered Jesus, after he had scourged Him, to be (N)crucified.
The Soldiers Mock Jesus(O)
16 (P)Then the soldiers led Him away into the hall called [c]Praetorium, and they called together the whole garrison. 17 And they clothed Him with purple; and they twisted a crown of thorns, put it on His head, 18 and began to salute Him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 19 Then they (Q)struck Him on the head with a reed and spat on Him; and bowing the knee, they worshiped Him. 20 And when they had (R)mocked Him, they took the purple off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him out to crucify Him.
The King on a Cross(S)
21 (T)Then they compelled a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, the father of Alexander and Rufus, as he was coming out of the country and passing by, to bear His cross. 22 (U)And they brought Him to the place Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a Skull. 23 (V)Then they gave Him wine mingled with myrrh to drink, but He did not take it. 24 And when they crucified Him, (W)they divided His garments, casting lots for them to determine what every man should take.
25 Now (X)it was the third hour, and they crucified Him. 26 And (Y)the inscription of His [d]accusation was written above:
THE KING OF THE JEWS.
27 (Z)With Him they also crucified two robbers, one on His right and the other on His left. 28 [e]So the Scripture was fulfilled which says, (AA)“And He was numbered with the transgressors.”
29 And (AB)those who passed by blasphemed Him, (AC)wagging their heads and saying, “Aha! (AD)You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, 30 save Yourself, and come down from the cross!”
31 Likewise the chief priests also, (AE)mocking among themselves with the scribes, said, “He saved (AF)others; Himself He cannot save. 32 Let the Christ, the King of Israel, descend now from the cross, that we may see and [f]believe.”
Even (AG)those who were crucified with Him reviled Him.
Jesus Dies on the Cross(AH)
33 Now (AI)when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is translated, (AJ)“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
35 Some of those who stood by, when they heard that, said, “Look, He is calling for Elijah!” 36 Then (AK)someone ran and filled a sponge full of sour wine, put it on a reed, and (AL)offered it to Him to drink, saying, “Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to take Him down.”
37 (AM)And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last.
38 Then (AN)the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 39 So (AO)when the centurion, who stood opposite Him, saw that [g]He cried out like this and breathed His last, he said, “Truly this Man was the Son of God!”
40 (AP)There were also women looking on (AQ)from afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the Less and of Joses, and Salome, 41 who also (AR)followed Him and ministered to Him when He was in Galilee, and many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem.
Jesus Buried in Joseph’s Tomb(AS)
42 (AT)Now when evening had come, because it was the Preparation Day, that is, the day before the Sabbath, 43 Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent council member, who (AU)was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, coming and taking courage, went in to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 44 Pilate marveled that He was already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him if He had been dead for some time. 45 So when he found out from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph. 46 (AV)Then he bought fine linen, took Him down, and wrapped Him in the linen. And he laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock, and rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. 47 And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses observed where He was laid.
He Is Risen(AW)
16 Now (AX)when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome (AY)bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him. 2 (AZ)Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. 3 And they said among themselves, “Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?” 4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away—for it was very large. 5 (BA)And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed.
6 (BB)But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. 7 But go, tell His disciples—and Peter—that He is going [h]before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, (BC)as He said to you.”
8 So they went out [i]quickly and fled from the tomb, for they trembled and were amazed. (BD)And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
Mary Magdalene Sees the Risen Lord(BE)
9 [j]Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, (BF)out of whom He had cast seven demons. 10 (BG)She went and told those who had been with Him, as they mourned and wept. 11 (BH)And when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe.
Jesus Appears to Two Disciples(BI)
12 After that, He appeared in another form (BJ)to two of them as they walked and went into the country. 13 And they went and told it to the rest, but they did not believe them either.
The Great Commission(BK)
14 (BL)Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. 15 (BM)And He said to them, “Go into all the world (BN)and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 (BO)He who believes and is baptized will be saved; (BP)but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these (BQ)signs will follow those who [k]believe: (BR)In My name they will cast out demons; (BS)they will speak with new tongues; 18 (BT)they[l] will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; (BU)they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
Christ Ascends to God’s Right Hand(BV)
19 So then, (BW)after the Lord had spoken to them, He was (BX)received up into heaven, and (BY)sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them (BZ)and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.
Footnotes
- Mark 15:4 NU of which they accuse You
- Mark 15:8 NU going up
- Mark 15:16 The governor’s headquarters
- Mark 15:26 crime
- Mark 15:28 NU omits v. 28.
- Mark 15:32 M believe Him
- Mark 15:39 NU He thus breathed His last
- Mark 16:7 ahead of
- Mark 16:8 NU, M omit quickly
- Mark 16:9 Vv. 9–20 are bracketed in NU as not in the original text. They are lacking in Codex Sinaiticus and Codex Vaticanus, although nearly all other mss. of Mark contain them.
- Mark 16:17 have believed
- Mark 16:18 NU and in their hands they will
1 Corinthians 1-8
New King James Version
Greeting
1 Paul, (A)called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ (B)through the will of God, and (C)Sosthenes our brother,
2 To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who (D)are [a]sanctified in Christ Jesus, (E)called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ (F)our Lord, (G)both theirs and ours:
3 (H)Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Spiritual Gifts at Corinth
4 (I)I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, 5 that you were enriched in everything by Him (J)in all [b]utterance and all knowledge, 6 even as (K)the testimony of Christ was confirmed [c]in you, 7 so that you come short in no gift, eagerly (L)waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 (M)who will also confirm you to the end, (N)that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 (O)God is faithful, by whom you were called into (P)the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Sectarianism Is Sin
10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, (Q)that you all [d]speak the same thing, and that there be no [e]divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are [f]contentions among you. 12 Now I say this, that (R)each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of (S)Apollos,” or “I am of (T)Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.” 13 (U)Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
14 I thank God that I baptized (V)none of you except (W)Crispus and (X)Gaius, 15 lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name. 16 Yes, I also baptized the household of (Y)Stephanas. Besides, I do not know whether I baptized any other. 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, (Z)not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.
Christ the Power and Wisdom of God(AA)
18 For the [g]message of the cross is (AB)foolishness to (AC)those who are perishing, but to us (AD)who are being saved it is the (AE)power of God. 19 For it is written:
(AF)“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.”
20 (AG)Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the [h]disputer of this age? (AH)Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For since, in the (AI)wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22 For (AJ)Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, (AK)to the Jews a [i]stumbling block and to the [j]Greeks (AL)foolishness, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ (AM)the power of God and (AN)the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
Glory Only in the Lord
26 For [k]you see your calling, brethren, (AO)that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many [l]noble, are called. 27 But (AP)God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28 and the [m]base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory in His presence. 30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and (AQ)righteousness and sanctification and redemption— 31 that, as it is written, (AR)“He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”
Christ Crucified
2 And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the [n]testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know anything among you (AS)except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 3 (AT)I was with you (AU)in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching (AV)were not with persuasive words of [o]human wisdom, (AW)but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the (AX)power of God.
Spiritual Wisdom
6 However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God [p]ordained before the ages for our glory, 8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for (AY)had they known, they would not have (AZ)crucified the Lord of glory.
9 But as it is written:
(BA)“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
10 But (BB)God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the (BC)spirit of the man which is in him? (BD)Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but (BE)the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the [q]Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 (BF)But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. 16 For (BG)“who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” (BH)But we have the mind of Christ.
Sectarianism Is Carnal
3 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to (BI)babes in Christ. 2 I fed you with (BJ)milk and not with solid food; (BK)for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; 3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and [r]behaving like mere men? 4 For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal?
Watering, Working, Warning
5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but (BL)ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? 6 (BM)I planted, (BN)Apollos watered, (BO)but God gave the increase. 7 So then (BP)neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one, (BQ)and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.
9 For (BR)we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are (BS)God’s building. 10 (BT)According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid (BU)the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. 11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than (BV)that which is laid, (BW)which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day (BX)will declare it, because (BY)it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
16 (BZ)Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If anyone [s]defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.
Avoid Worldly Wisdom
18 (CA)Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, (CB)“He catches the wise in their own craftiness”; 20 and again, (CC)“The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.” 21 Therefore let no one boast in men. For (CD)all things are yours: 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come—all are yours. 23 And (CE)you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.
Stewards of the Mysteries of God
4 Let a man so consider us, as (CF)servants of Christ (CG)and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful. 3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human [t]court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. 4 For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord. 5 (CH)Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to (CI)light the hidden things of darkness and (CJ)reveal the [u]counsels of the hearts. (CK)Then each one’s praise will come from God.
Fools for Christ’s Sake
6 Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be [v]puffed up on behalf of one against the other. 7 For who [w]makes you differ from another? And (CL)what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?
8 You are already full! (CM)You are already rich! You have reigned as kings without us—and indeed I could wish you did reign, that we also might reign with you! 9 For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a (CN)spectacle [x]to the world, both to angels and to men. 10 We are (CO)fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ! (CP)We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored! 11 To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless. 12 (CQ)And we labor, working with our own hands. (CR)Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; 13 being defamed, we [y]entreat. (CS)We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now.
Paul’s Paternal Care
14 I do not write these things to shame you, but (CT)as my beloved children I warn you. 15 For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for (CU)in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. 16 Therefore I urge you, (CV)imitate me. 17 For this reason I have sent (CW)Timothy to you, (CX)who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will (CY)remind you of my ways in Christ, as I (CZ)teach everywhere (DA)in every church.
18 (DB)Now some are [z]puffed up, as though I were not coming to you. 19 (DC)But I will come to you shortly, (DD)if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power. 20 For (DE)the kingdom of God is not in word but in (DF)power. 21 What do you want? (DG)Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?
Immorality Defiles the Church
5 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even [aa]named among the Gentiles—that a man has his father’s (DH)wife! 2 (DI)And you are [ab]puffed up, and have not rather (DJ)mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you. 3 (DK)For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed. 4 In the (DL)name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, (DM)with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 (DN)deliver such a one to (DO)Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord [ac]Jesus.
6 (DP)Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that (DQ)a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Therefore [ad]purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed (DR)Christ, our (DS)Passover, was sacrificed [ae]for us. 8 Therefore (DT)let us keep the feast, (DU)not with old leaven, nor (DV)with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
Immorality Must Be Judged
9 I wrote to you in my epistle (DW)not to [af]keep company with sexually immoral people. 10 Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go (DX)out of the world. 11 But now I have written to you not to keep company (DY)with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—(DZ)not even to eat with such a person.
12 For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? 13 But those who are outside God judges. Therefore (EA)“put away from yourselves the evil person.”
Do Not Sue the Brethren
6 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the (EB)saints? 2 Do you not know that (EC)the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3 Do you not know that we shall (ED)judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? 4 If then you have [ag]judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge? 5 I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren? 6 But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers!
7 Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. (EE)Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated? 8 No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren! 9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. (EF)Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor [ah]homosexuals, nor [ai]sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were (EG)some of you. (EH)But you were washed, but you were [aj]sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.
Glorify God in Body and Spirit
12 (EI)All things are lawful for me, but all things are not [ak]helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of [al]any. 13 (EJ)Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods, but God will destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for (EK)sexual immorality but (EL)for the Lord, (EM)and the Lord for the body. 14 And (EN)God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up (EO)by His power.
15 Do you not know that (EP)your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not! 16 Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For (EQ)“the two,” He says, “shall become one flesh.” 17 (ER)But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.
18 (ES)Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins (ET)against his own body. 19 Or (EU)do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, (EV)and you are not your own? 20 For (EW)you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body [am]and in your spirit, which are God’s.
Principles of Marriage
7 Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me:
(EX)It is good for a man not to touch a woman. 2 Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. 3 (EY)Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. 4 The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 5 (EZ)Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that (FA)Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6 But I say this as a concession, (FB)not as a commandment. 7 For (FC)I wish that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that.
8 But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: (FD)It is good for them if they remain even as I am; 9 but (FE)if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
Keep Your Marriage Vows
10 Now to the married I command, yet not I but the (FF)Lord: (FG)A wife is not to depart from her husband. 11 But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife.
12 But to the rest I, not the Lord, say: If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her. 13 And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him. 14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise (FH)your children would be unclean, but now they are holy. 15 But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us (FI)to peace. 16 For how do you know, O wife, whether you will (FJ)save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?
Live as You Are Called
17 But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And (FK)so I [an]ordain in all the churches. 18 Was anyone called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? (FL)Let him not be circumcised. 19 (FM)Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but (FN)keeping the commandments of God is what matters. 20 Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called. 21 Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it. 22 For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is (FO)the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is (FP)Christ’s slave. 23 (FQ)You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. 24 Brethren, let each one remain with (FR)God in that state in which he was called.
To the Unmarried and Widows
25 Now concerning virgins: (FS)I have no commandment from the Lord; yet I give judgment as one (FT)whom the Lord in His mercy has made (FU)trustworthy. 26 I suppose therefore that this is good because of the present distress—(FV)that it is good for a man to remain as he is: 27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be loosed. Are you loosed from a wife? Do not seek a wife. 28 But even if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Nevertheless such will have trouble in the flesh, but I would spare you.
29 But (FW)this I say, brethren, the time is short, so that from now on even those who have wives should be as though they had none, 30 those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess, 31 and those who use this world as not (FX)misusing it. For (FY)the form of this world is passing away.
32 But I want you to be without [ao]care. (FZ)He who is unmarried [ap]cares for the things of the Lord—how he may please the Lord. 33 But he who is married cares about the things of the world—how he may please his wife. 34 There is a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman (GA)cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world—how she may please her husband. 35 And this I say for your own profit, not that I may put a leash on you, but for what is proper, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction.
36 But if any man thinks he is behaving improperly toward his [aq]virgin, if she is past the flower of youth, and thus it must be, let him do what he wishes. He does not sin; let them marry. 37 Nevertheless he who stands steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but has power over his own will, and has so determined in his heart that he will keep his [ar]virgin, does well. 38 (GB)So then he who gives [as]her in marriage does well, but he who does not give her in marriage does better.
39 (GC)A wife is bound by law as long as her husband lives; but if her husband dies, she is at liberty to be married to whom she wishes, (GD)only in the Lord. 40 But she is happier if she remains as she is, (GE)according to my judgment—and (GF)I think I also have the Spirit of God.
Be Sensitive to Conscience
8 Now (GG)concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have (GH)knowledge. (GI)Knowledge [at]puffs up, but love [au]edifies. 2 And (GJ)if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. 3 But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him.
4 Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that (GK)an idol is nothing in the world, (GL)and that there is no other God but one. 5 For even if there are (GM)so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), 6 yet (GN)for us there is one God, the Father, (GO)of whom are all things, and we for Him; and (GP)one Lord Jesus Christ, (GQ)through whom are all things, and (GR)through whom we live.
7 However, there is not in everyone that knowledge; for some, (GS)with consciousness of the idol, until now eat it as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is (GT)defiled. 8 But (GU)food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse.
9 But (GV)beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become (GW)a [av]stumbling block to those who are weak. 10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will not (GX)the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols? 11 And (GY)because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? 12 But (GZ)when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, (HA)if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.
Footnotes
- 1 Corinthians 1:2 set apart
- 1 Corinthians 1:5 speech
- 1 Corinthians 1:6 Or among
- 1 Corinthians 1:10 Have a uniform testimony
- 1 Corinthians 1:10 schisms or dissensions
- 1 Corinthians 1:11 quarrels
- 1 Corinthians 1:18 Lit. word
- 1 Corinthians 1:20 debater
- 1 Corinthians 1:23 Gr. skandalon, offense
- 1 Corinthians 1:23 NU Gentiles
- 1 Corinthians 1:26 consider
- 1 Corinthians 1:26 well-born
- 1 Corinthians 1:28 insignificant or lowly
- 1 Corinthians 2:1 NU mystery
- 1 Corinthians 2:4 NU omits human
- 1 Corinthians 2:7 predetermined
- 1 Corinthians 2:13 NU omits Holy
- 1 Corinthians 3:3 Lit. walking according to man
- 1 Corinthians 3:17 destroys
- 1 Corinthians 4:3 Lit. day
- 1 Corinthians 4:5 motives
- 1 Corinthians 4:6 arrogant
- 1 Corinthians 4:7 distinguishes you
- 1 Corinthians 4:9 Lit. theater
- 1 Corinthians 4:13 exhort, encourage
- 1 Corinthians 4:18 arrogant
- 1 Corinthians 5:1 NU omits named
- 1 Corinthians 5:2 arrogant
- 1 Corinthians 5:5 NU omits Jesus
- 1 Corinthians 5:7 clean out
- 1 Corinthians 5:7 NU omits for us
- 1 Corinthians 5:9 associate
- 1 Corinthians 6:4 courts
- 1 Corinthians 6:9 catamites, those submitting to homosexuals
- 1 Corinthians 6:9 male homosexuals
- 1 Corinthians 6:11 set apart
- 1 Corinthians 6:12 profitable
- 1 Corinthians 6:12 Or anything
- 1 Corinthians 6:20 NU omits the rest of v. 20.
- 1 Corinthians 7:17 direct
- 1 Corinthians 7:32 concern
- 1 Corinthians 7:32 is concerned about
- 1 Corinthians 7:36 Or virgin daughter
- 1 Corinthians 7:37 Or virgin daughter
- 1 Corinthians 7:38 NU his own virgin
- 1 Corinthians 8:1 makes arrogant
- 1 Corinthians 8:1 builds up
- 1 Corinthians 8:9 cause of offense
Galatians 1-6
New King James Version
Greeting
1 Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but (A)through Jesus Christ and God the Father (B)who raised Him from the dead), 2 and all the brethren who are with me,
To the churches of Galatia:
3 Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, 4 (C)who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us (D)from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Only One Gospel
6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon (E)from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 (F)which is not another; but there are some (G)who trouble you and want to (H)pervert[a] the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if (I)we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be [b]accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you (J)than what you have received, let him be accursed.
10 For (K)do I now (L)persuade men, or God? Or (M)do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.
Call to Apostleship(N)
11 (O)But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12 For (P)I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came (Q)through the revelation of Jesus Christ.
13 For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how (R)I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and (S)tried to destroy it. 14 And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, (T)being more exceedingly zealous (U)for the traditions of my fathers.
15 But when it pleased God, (V)who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, 16 (W)to reveal His Son in me, that (X)I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with (Y)flesh and blood, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.
Contacts at Jerusalem(Z)
18 Then after three years (AA)I went up to Jerusalem to see [c]Peter, and remained with him fifteen days. 19 But (AB)I saw none of the other apostles except (AC)James, the Lord’s brother. 20 (Now concerning the things which I write to you, indeed, before God, I do not lie.)
21 (AD)Afterward I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 And I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea which (AE)were in Christ. 23 But they were (AF)hearing only, “He who formerly (AG)persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy.” 24 And they (AH)glorified God in me.
Defending the Gospel(AI)
2 Then after fourteen years (AJ)I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and also took Titus with me. 2 And I went up [d]by revelation, and communicated to them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but (AK)privately to those who were of reputation, lest by any means (AL)I might run, or had run, in vain. 3 Yet not even Titus who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. 4 And this occurred because of (AM)false brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out our (AN)liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, (AO)that they might bring us into bondage), 5 to whom we did not yield submission even for an hour, that (AP)the truth of the gospel might continue with you.
6 But from those (AQ)who seemed to be something—whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; (AR)God [e]shows personal favoritism to no man—for those who seemed to be something (AS)added nothing to me. 7 But on the contrary, (AT)when they saw that the gospel for the uncircumcised (AU)had been committed to me, as the gospel for the circumcised was to Peter 8 (for He who worked effectively in Peter for the apostleship to the (AV)circumcised (AW)also (AX)worked effectively in me toward the Gentiles), 9 and when James, [f]Cephas, and John, who seemed to be (AY)pillars, perceived (AZ)the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, (BA)that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10 They desired only that we should remember the poor, (BB)the very thing which I also was eager to do.
No Return to the Law
11 (BC)Now when [g]Peter had come to Antioch, I [h]withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; 12 for before certain men came from James, (BD)he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing [i]those who were of the circumcision. 13 And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.
14 But when I saw that they were not straightforward about (BE)the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter (BF)before them all, (BG)“If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, [j]why do you compel Gentiles to live as [k]Jews? 15 (BH)We who are Jews by nature, and not (BI)sinners of the Gentiles, 16 (BJ)knowing that a man is not [l]justified by the works of the law but (BK)by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not (BL)by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.
17 “But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found (BM)sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not! 18 For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. 19 For I (BN)through the law (BO)died to the law that I might (BP)live to God. 20 I have been (BQ)crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh (BR)I live by faith in the Son of God, (BS)who loved me and gave Himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God; for (BT)if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died [m]in vain.”
Justification by Faith(BU)
3 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you [n]that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed [o]among you as crucified? 2 This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, (BV)or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are you so foolish? (BW)Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by (BX)the flesh? 4 (BY)Have you suffered so [p]many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?
5 Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?— 6 just as Abraham (BZ)“believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” 7 Therefore know that only (CA)those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. 8 And (CB)the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, (CC)“In you all the nations shall be blessed.” 9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.
The Law Brings a Curse
10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, (CD)“Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” 11 But that no one is [q]justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for (CE)“the just shall live by faith.” 12 Yet (CF)the law is not of faith, but (CG)“the man who does them shall live by them.”
13 (CH)Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, (CI)“Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), 14 (CJ)that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the (CK)Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive (CL)the promise of the Spirit through faith.
The Changeless Promise(CM)
15 Brethren, I speak in the manner of men: (CN)Though it is only a man’s covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it. 16 Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of (CO)one, (CP)“And to your Seed,” who is (CQ)Christ. 17 And this I say, that the law, (CR)which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God [r]in Christ, (CS)that it should make the promise of no effect. 18 For if (CT)the inheritance is of the law, (CU)it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
Purpose of the Law
19 What purpose then does the law serve? (CV)It was added because of transgressions, till the (CW)Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was (CX)appointed through angels by the hand (CY)of a mediator. 20 Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, (CZ)but God is one.
21 Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. 22 But the Scripture has confined (DA)all under sin, (DB)that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, [s]kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. 24 Therefore (DC)the law was our [t]tutor to bring us to Christ, (DD)that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.
Sons and Heirs
26 For you (DE)are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For (DF)as many of you as were baptized into Christ (DG)have put on Christ. 28 (DH)There is neither Jew nor Greek, (DI)there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all (DJ)one in Christ Jesus. 29 And (DK)if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s (DL)seed, and (DM)heirs according to the promise.
Sons and Heirs Through Christ
4 Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all, 2 but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father. 3 Even so we, when we were children, (DN)were in bondage under the elements of the world. 4 But (DO)when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, (DP)born[u] (DQ)of a woman, (DR)born under the law, 5 (DS)to redeem those who were under the law, (DT)that we might receive the adoption as sons.
6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth (DU)the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, [v]“Abba, Father!” 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, (DV)and if a son, then an heir [w]of God [x]through Christ.
Fears for the Church
8 But then, indeed, (DW)when you did not know God, (DX)you served those which by nature are not gods. 9 But now (DY)after you have known God, or rather are known by God, (DZ)how is it that you turn again to (EA)the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? 10 (EB)You observe days and months and seasons and years. 11 I am afraid for you, (EC)lest I have labored for you in vain.
12 Brethren, I urge you to become like me, for I became like you. (ED)You have not injured me at all. 13 You know that (EE)because of physical infirmity I preached the gospel to you at the first. 14 And my trial which was in my flesh you did not despise or reject, but you received me (EF)as an [y]angel of God, (EG)even as Christ Jesus. 15 [z]What then was the blessing you enjoyed? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me. 16 Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?
17 They (EH)zealously court you, but for no good; yes, they want to exclude you, that you may be zealous for them. 18 But it is good to be zealous in a good thing always, and not only when I am present with you. 19 (EI)My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you, 20 I would like to be present with you now and to change my tone; for I have doubts about you.
Two Covenants(EJ)
21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons: (EK)the one by a bondwoman, (EL)the other by a freewoman. 23 But he who was of the bondwoman (EM)was born according to the flesh, (EN)and he of the freewoman through promise, 24 which things are symbolic. For these are [aa]the two covenants: the one from Mount (EO)Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar— 25 for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children— 26 but the (EP)Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all. 27 For it is written:
(EQ)“Rejoice, O barren,
You who do not bear!
Break forth and shout,
You who are not in labor!
For the desolate has many more children
Than she who has a husband.”
28 Now (ER)we, brethren, as Isaac was, are (ES)children of promise. 29 But, as (ET)he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, (EU)even so it is now. 30 Nevertheless what does (EV)the Scripture say? (EW)“Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for (EX)the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.” 31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free.
Christian Liberty
5 (EY)Stand[ab] fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a (EZ)yoke of bondage. 2 Indeed I, Paul, say to you that (FA)if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. 3 And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised (FB)that he is [ac]a debtor to keep the whole law. 4 (FC)You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; (FD)you have fallen from grace. 5 For we through the Spirit eagerly (FE)wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6 For (FF)in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but (FG)faith working through love.
Love Fulfills the Law
7 You (FH)ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you. 9 (FI)A little leaven leavens the whole lump. 10 I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is.
11 And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, (FJ)why do I still suffer persecution? Then (FK)the offense of the cross has ceased. 12 (FL)I could wish that those (FM)who trouble you would even [ad]cut themselves off!
13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only (FN)do not use liberty as an (FO)opportunity for the flesh, but (FP)through love serve one another. 14 For (FQ)all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: (FR)“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!
Walking in the Spirit
16 I say then: (FS)Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For (FT)the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, (FU)so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But (FV)if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19 Now (FW)the works of the flesh are evident, which are: [ae]adultery, [af]fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, [ag]murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that (FX)those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But (FY)the fruit of the Spirit is (FZ)love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, (GA)goodness, (GB)faithfulness, 23 [ah]gentleness, self-control. (GC)Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s (GD)have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 (GE)If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 (GF)Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
Bear and Share Burdens
6 Brethren, if a man is [ai]overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of (GG)gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. 2 (GH)Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill (GI)the law of Christ. 3 For (GJ)if anyone thinks himself to be something, when (GK)he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But (GL)let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and (GM)not in another. 5 For (GN)each one shall bear his own load.
Be Generous and Do Good
6 (GO)Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.
7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for (GP)whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap (GQ)everlasting life. 9 And (GR)let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap (GS)if we do not lose heart. 10 (GT)Therefore, as we have opportunity, (GU)let us do good to all, (GV)especially to those who are of the household of faith.
Glory Only in the Cross
11 See with what large letters I have written to you with my own hand! 12 As many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh, these would compel you to be circumcised, (GW)only that they may not suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. 13 For not even those who are circumcised keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. 14 But God forbid that I should boast except in the (GX)cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by [aj]whom the world has been crucified to me, and (GY)I to the world. 15 For (GZ)in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.
Blessing and a Plea
16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.
17 From now on let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.
18 Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
Footnotes
- Galatians 1:7 distort
- Galatians 1:8 Gr. anathema
- Galatians 1:18 NU Cephas
- Galatians 2:2 because of
- Galatians 2:6 Lit. does not receive the face of a man
- Galatians 2:9 Peter
- Galatians 2:11 NU Cephas
- Galatians 2:11 opposed
- Galatians 2:12 Jewish Christians
- Galatians 2:14 NU how can you
- Galatians 2:14 Some interpreters stop the quotation here.
- Galatians 2:16 declared righteous
- Galatians 2:21 for nothing
- Galatians 3:1 NU omits that you should not obey the truth
- Galatians 3:1 NU omits among you
- Galatians 3:4 Or great
- Galatians 3:11 declared righteous
- Galatians 3:17 NU omits in Christ
- Galatians 3:23 Lit. confined
- Galatians 3:24 In a household, the guardian responsible for the care and discipline of the children
- Galatians 4:4 Or made
- Galatians 4:6 Lit., in Aram., Father
- Galatians 4:7 NU through God
- Galatians 4:7 NU omits through Christ
- Galatians 4:14 Or messenger
- Galatians 4:15 NU Where
- Galatians 4:24 NU, M omit the
- Galatians 5:1 NU For freedom Christ has made us free; stand fast therefore, and
- Galatians 5:3 obligated
- Galatians 5:12 mutilate themselves
- Galatians 5:19 NU omits adultery
- Galatians 5:19 sexual immorality
- Galatians 5:21 NU omits murders
- Galatians 5:23 meekness
- Galatians 6:1 caught
- Galatians 6:14 Or which, the cross
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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