Add parallel Print Page Options

16 “The servant who received the five bags of silver began to invest the money and earned five more.

Read full chapter

16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more.

Read full chapter

Caring for the Lord’s Workers

Dear friend, you are being faithful to God when you care for the traveling teachers who pass through, even though they are strangers to you. They have told the church here of your loving friendship. Please continue providing for such teachers in a manner that pleases God. For they are traveling for the Lord,[a] and they accept nothing from people who are not believers.[b] So we ourselves should support them so that we can be their partners as they teach the truth.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 7a Greek They went out on behalf of the Name.
  2. 7b Greek from Gentiles.

Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters,[a](A) even though they are strangers to you.(B) They have told the church about your love. Please send them on their way(C) in a manner that honors(D) God. It was for the sake of the Name(E) that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans.(F) We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 3 John 1:5 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family.

And I am praying that you will put into action the generosity that comes from your faith as you understand and experience all the good things we have in Christ. Your love has given me much joy and comfort, my brother, for your kindness has often refreshed the hearts of God’s people.

Read full chapter

I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. Your love has given me great joy and encouragement,(A) because you, brother, have refreshed(B) the hearts of the Lord’s people.

Read full chapter

But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you.

As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.

Read full chapter

But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship,(A) do the work of an evangelist,(B) discharge all the duties of your ministry.

For I am already being poured out like a drink offering,(C) and the time for my departure is near.(D) I have fought the good fight,(E) I have finished the race,(F) I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me(G) the crown of righteousness,(H) which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day(I)—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.(J)

Read full chapter

And hardworking farmers should be the first to enjoy the fruit of their labor.

Read full chapter

The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops.(A)

Read full chapter

17 Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. 18 Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others.

Read full chapter

17 Command those who are rich(A) in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth,(B) which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God,(C) who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.(D) 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds,(E) and to be generous and willing to share.(F)

Read full chapter

16 Yet preaching the Good News is not something I can boast about. I am compelled by God to do it. How terrible for me if I didn’t preach the Good News!

17 If I were doing this on my own initiative, I would deserve payment. But I have no choice, for God has given me this sacred trust. 18 What then is my pay? It is the opportunity to preach the Good News without charging anyone. That’s why I never demand my rights when I preach the Good News.

19 Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ. 20 When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law. 21 When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law,[a] I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ.

22 When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. 23 I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 9:21 Greek those without the law.

16 For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach.(A) Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward;(B) if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me.(C) 18 What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge,(D) and so not make full use of my rights(E) as a preacher of the gospel.

Paul’s Use of His Freedom

19 Though I am free(F) and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone,(G) to win as many as possible.(H) 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews.(I) To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law),(J) so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law(K) (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law),(L) so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak.(M) I have become all things to all people(N) so that by all possible means I might save some.(O) 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

Read full chapter

18 Yet I dare not boast about anything except what Christ has done through me, bringing the Gentiles to God by my message and by the way I worked among them. 19 They were convinced by the power of miraculous signs and wonders and by the power of God’s Spirit.[a] In this way, I have fully presented the Good News of Christ from Jerusalem all the way to Illyricum.[b]

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 15:19a Other manuscripts read the Spirit; still others read the Holy Spirit.
  2. 15:19b Illyricum was a region northeast of Italy.

18 I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles(A) to obey God(B) by what I have said and done— 19 by the power of signs and wonders,(C) through the power of the Spirit of God.(D) So from Jerusalem(E) all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.(F)

Read full chapter

36 This is not a reference to David, for after David had done the will of God in his own generation, he died and was buried with his ancestors, and his body decayed.

Read full chapter

36 “Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep;(A) he was buried with his ancestors(B) and his body decayed.

Read full chapter

Your eyes will shine,
    and your heart will thrill with joy,
for merchants from around the world will come to you.
    They will bring you the wealth of many lands.
Vast caravans of camels will converge on you,
    the camels of Midian and Ephah.
The people of Sheba will bring gold and frankincense
    and will come worshiping the Lord.
The flocks of Kedar will be given to you,
    and the rams of Nebaioth will be brought for my altars.
I will accept their offerings,
    and I will make my Temple glorious.

“And what do I see flying like clouds to Israel,
    like doves to their nests?
They are ships from the ends of the earth,
    from lands that trust in me,
    led by the great ships of Tarshish.
They are bringing the people of Israel home from far away,
    carrying their silver and gold.
They will honor the Lord your God,
    the Holy One of Israel,
    for he has filled you with splendor.

10 “Foreigners will come to rebuild your towns,
    and their kings will serve you.
For though I have destroyed you in my anger,
    I will now have mercy on you through my grace.
11 Your gates will stay open day and night
    to receive the wealth of many lands.
The kings of the world will be led as captives
    in a victory procession.
12 For the nations that refuse to serve you
    will be destroyed.

13 “The glory of Lebanon will be yours—
    the forests of cypress, fir, and pine—
to beautify my sanctuary.
    My Temple will be glorious!
14 The descendants of your tormentors
    will come and bow before you.
Those who despised you
    will kiss your feet.
They will call you the City of the Lord,
    and Zion of the Holy One of Israel.

15 “Though you were once despised and hated,
    with no one traveling through you,
I will make you beautiful forever,
    a joy to all generations.
16 Powerful kings and mighty nations
    will satisfy your every need,
as though you were a child
    nursing at the breast of a queen.
You will know at last that I, the Lord,
    am your Savior and your Redeemer,
    the Mighty One of Israel.[a]

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 60:16 Hebrew of Jacob. See note on 14:1.

Then you will look and be radiant,(A)
    your heart will throb and swell with joy;(B)
the wealth(C) on the seas will be brought to you,
    to you the riches of the nations will come.
Herds of camels(D) will cover your land,
    young camels of Midian(E) and Ephah.(F)
And all from Sheba(G) will come,
    bearing gold and incense(H)
    and proclaiming the praise(I) of the Lord.
All Kedar’s(J) flocks will be gathered to you,
    the rams of Nebaioth will serve you;
they will be accepted as offerings(K) on my altar,(L)
    and I will adorn my glorious temple.(M)

“Who are these(N) that fly along like clouds,(O)
    like doves to their nests?
Surely the islands(P) look to me;
    in the lead are the ships of Tarshish,[a](Q)
bringing(R) your children from afar,
    with their silver and gold,(S)
to the honor(T) of the Lord your God,
    the Holy One(U) of Israel,
    for he has endowed you with splendor.(V)

10 “Foreigners(W) will rebuild your walls,
    and their kings(X) will serve you.
Though in anger I struck you,
    in favor(Y) I will show you compassion.(Z)
11 Your gates(AA) will always stand open,
    they will never be shut, day or night,
so that people may bring you the wealth of the nations(AB)
    their kings(AC) led in triumphal procession.
12 For the nation or kingdom that will not serve(AD) you will perish;
    it will be utterly ruined.(AE)

13 “The glory of Lebanon(AF) will come to you,
    the juniper, the fir and the cypress together,(AG)
to adorn my sanctuary;(AH)
    and I will glorify the place for my feet.(AI)
14 The children of your oppressors(AJ) will come bowing before you;
    all who despise you will bow down(AK) at your feet
and will call you the City(AL) of the Lord,
    Zion(AM) of the Holy One(AN) of Israel.

15 “Although you have been forsaken(AO) and hated,
    with no one traveling(AP) through,
I will make you the everlasting pride(AQ)
    and the joy(AR) of all generations.
16 You will drink the milk of nations
    and be nursed(AS) at royal breasts.
Then you will know(AT) that I, the Lord, am your Savior,(AU)
    your Redeemer,(AV) the Mighty One of Jacob.(AW)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 60:9 Or the trading ships

18 But in the end her profits will be given to the Lord. Her wealth will not be hoarded but will provide good food and fine clothing for the Lord’s priests.

Read full chapter

18 Yet her profit and her earnings will be set apart for the Lord;(A) they will not be stored up or hoarded. Her profits will go to those who live before the Lord,(B) for abundant food and fine clothes.(C)

Read full chapter

14 For the entire twelve years that I was governor of Judah—from the twentieth year to the thirty-second year of the reign of King Artaxerxes[a]—neither I nor my officials drew on our official food allowance. 15 The former governors, in contrast, had laid heavy burdens on the people, demanding a daily ration of food and wine, besides forty pieces[b] of silver. Even their assistants took advantage of the people. But because I feared God, I did not act that way.

16 I also devoted myself to working on the wall and refused to acquire any land. And I required all my servants to spend time working on the wall. 17 I asked for nothing, even though I regularly fed 150 Jewish officials at my table, besides all the visitors from other lands! 18 The provisions I paid for each day included one ox, six choice sheep or goats, and a large number of poultry. And every ten days we needed a large supply of all kinds of wine. Yet I refused to claim the governor’s food allowance because the people already carried a heavy burden.

19 Remember, O my God, all that I have done for these people, and bless me for it.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 5:14 That is, 445–433 B.c.
  2. 5:15 Hebrew 40 shekels [1 pound or 456 grams].

14 Moreover, from the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes,(A) when I was appointed to be their governor(B) in the land of Judah, until his thirty-second year—twelve years—neither I nor my brothers ate the food allotted to the governor. 15 But the earlier governors—those preceding me—placed a heavy burden on the people and took forty shekels[a] of silver from them in addition to food and wine. Their assistants also lorded it over the people. But out of reverence for God(C) I did not act like that. 16 Instead,(D) I devoted myself to the work on this wall. All my men were assembled there for the work; we[b] did not acquire any land.

17 Furthermore, a hundred and fifty Jews and officials ate at my table, as well as those who came to us from the surrounding nations. 18 Each day one ox, six choice sheep and some poultry(E) were prepared for me, and every ten days an abundant supply of wine of all kinds. In spite of all this, I never demanded the food allotted to the governor, because the demands were heavy on these people.

19 Remember(F) me with favor, my God, for all I have done for these people.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Nehemiah 5:15 That is, about 1 pound or about 460 grams
  2. Nehemiah 5:16 Most Hebrew manuscripts; some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Vulgate and Syriac I

15 Manasseh also removed the foreign gods and the idol from the Lord’s Temple. He tore down all the altars he had built on the hill where the Temple stood and all the altars that were in Jerusalem, and he dumped them outside the city. 16 Then he restored the altar of the Lord and sacrificed peace offerings and thanksgiving offerings on it. He also encouraged the people of Judah to worship the Lord, the God of Israel.

Read full chapter

15 He got rid of the foreign gods and removed(A) the image from the temple of the Lord, as well as all the altars he had built on the temple hill and in Jerusalem; and he threw them out of the city. 16 Then he restored the altar of the Lord and sacrificed fellowship offerings and thank offerings(B) on it, and told Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel.

Read full chapter