Martha and Mary

³⁸ Now as they went on their way, Jesus^[a] entered a village. And a woman named ^(A)Martha ^(B)welcomed him into her house. ³⁹ And she had a sister called ^(C)Mary, who ^(D)sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. ⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” ⁴¹ But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are ^(E)anxious and troubled about many things, ⁴² but one thing is necessary.^[b] Mary has chosen ^(F)the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

The Lord's Prayer

11 Now Jesus^[c] was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, ^(G)as John taught his disciples.” ² And he said to them, ^(H)“When you pray, say:

⁵ And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, ⁶ for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; ⁷ and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? ⁸ I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything ^(Q)because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence^[e] he will rise and give him whatever he needs. ⁹ And I tell you, ^(R)ask, and ^(S)it will be given to you; ^(T)seek, and you will find; ^(U)knock, and it will be opened to you. ¹⁰ For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. ¹¹ What father among you, if his son asks for^[f] a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; ¹² or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? ¹³ If you then, ^(V)who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father ^(W)give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Jesus and Beelzebul

^14 (X)Now he was casting out a demon that was mute. When the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke, and the people marveled. ¹⁵ But some of them said, “He casts out demons ^(Y)by Beelzebul, the prince of demons,” ¹⁶ while others, ^(Z)to test him, kept seeking from him a sign from heaven. ^17 (AA)But he, ^(AB)knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. ¹⁸ And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. ¹⁹ And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, ^(AC)by whom do ^(AD)your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. ²⁰ But if it is by ^(AE)the finger of God that I cast out demons, then ^(AF)the kingdom of God has come upon you. ²¹ When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; ^22 (AG)but when one stronger than he attacks him and ^(AH)overcomes him, he takes away his ^(AI)armor in which he trusted and ^(AJ)divides his spoil. ^23 (AK)Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

Return of an Unclean Spirit

^24 (AL)“When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through ^(AM)waterless places seeking rest, and finding none it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ ²⁵ And when it comes, it finds the house swept and put in order. ²⁶ Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And ^(AN)the last state of that person is worse than the first.”

True Blessedness

²⁷ As he said these things, ^(AO)a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, ^(AP)“Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!” ²⁸ But he said, ^(AQ)“Blessed rather are those ^(AR)who hear the word of God and ^(AS)keep it!”

¹⁵ And let ^(A)the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called ^(B)in one body. And ^(C)be thankful. ¹⁶ Let ^(D)the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, ^(E)singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, ^(F)with thankfulness in your hearts to God. ¹⁷ And ^(G)whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, ^(H)giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Rules for Christian Households

^18 (I)Wives, submit to your husbands, as ^(J)is fitting in the Lord. ¹⁹ Husbands, love your wives, and ^(K)do not be harsh with them. ²⁰ Children, obey your parents ^(L)in everything, for this pleases the Lord. ²¹ Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. ²² Bondservants, obey ^(M)in everything those who are your earthly masters,^[a] not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. ^23 (N)Whatever you do, work heartily, ^(O)as for the Lord and not for men, ²⁴ knowing that from the Lord ^(P)you will receive the inheritance as your reward. ^(Q)You are serving the Lord Christ. ²⁵ For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.

4 Masters, treat your bondservants^[b] justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

Further Instructions

^2 (R)Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it ^(S)with thanksgiving. ³ At the same time, pray also for us, that God may ^(T)open to us a door for the word, ^(U)to declare the mystery of Christ, ^(V)on account of which I am in prison— ⁴ that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.

^5 (W)Walk in wisdom toward ^(X)outsiders, making the best use of the time. ⁶ Let your speech always ^(Y)be gracious, ^(Z)seasoned with salt, ^(AA)so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

Final Greetings

⁷ Tychicus will tell you ^(AB)all about my activities. He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant^[c] in the Lord. ⁸ I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts, ⁹ and with him ^(AC)Onesimus, our faithful and ^(AD)beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you of everything that has taken place here.

^10 (AE)Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark ^(AF)the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions—^(AG)if he comes to you, welcome him), ¹¹ and Jesus who is called ^(AH)Justus. ^(AI)These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and ^(AJ)they have been a comfort to me. ^12 (AK)Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always ^(AL)struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand ^(AM)mature and fully assured in all the will of God. ¹³ For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis. ^14 (AN)Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does ^(AO)Demas. ¹⁵ Give my greetings to the brothers^[d] at Laodicea, and to Nympha and ^(AP)the church in her house. ¹⁶ And when ^(AQ)this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea. ¹⁷ And say to ^(AR)Archippus, “See that you fulfill ^(AS)the ministry that you have received in the Lord.”

¹⁸ I, Paul, ^(AT)write this greeting with my own hand. ^(AU)Remember ^(AV)my chains. ^(AW)Grace be with you.