17 As iron sharpens iron,
    so one person sharpens another.

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24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,(A)

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Perfume(A) and incense bring joy to the heart,
    and the pleasantness of a friend
    springs from their heartfelt advice.

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Think how you have instructed many,(A)
    how you have strengthened feeble hands.(B)
Your words have supported those who stumbled;(C)
    you have strengthened faltering knees.(D)

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16 And Saul’s son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength(A) in God.

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Join with me in suffering,(A) like a good soldier(B) of Christ Jesus.

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Strengthen the feeble hands,
    steady the knees(A) that give way;
say(B) to those with fearful hearts,(C)
    “Be strong, do not fear;(D)
your God will come,(E)
    he will come with vengeance;(F)
with divine retribution
    he will come to save(G) you.”

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Suffering for Being a Christian

12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you(A) to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice(B) inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ,(C) so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.(D)

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11 Joab said, “If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you are to come to my rescue; but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come to rescue you. 12 Be strong,(A) and let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God. The Lord will do what is good in his sight.”(B)

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Trials and Temptations

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds,(A)

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Footnotes

  1. James 1:2 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in verses 16 and 19; and in 2:1, 5, 14; 3:10, 12; 4:11; 5:7, 9, 10, 12, 19.

So do not be ashamed(A) of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner.(B) Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel,(C) by the power of God.

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for which I am suffering(A) even to the point of being chained(B) like a criminal. But God’s word(C) is not chained. 10 Therefore I endure everything(D) for the sake of the elect,(E) that they too may obtain the salvation(F) that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.(G)

11 Here is a trustworthy saying:(H)

If we died with him,
    we will also live with him;(I)
12 if we endure,
    we will also reign with him.(J)
If we disown him,
    he will also disown us;(K)
13 if we are faithless,
    he remains faithful,(L)
    for he cannot disown himself.

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12 That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame,(A) because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard(B) what I have entrusted to him until that day.(C)

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so that no one would be unsettled by these trials.(A) For you know quite well that we are destined for them.(B)

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They told the messengers who had come, “Say to the men of Jabesh Gilead, ‘By the time the sun is hot tomorrow, you will be rescued.’” When the messengers went and reported this to the men of Jabesh, they were elated. 10 They said to the Ammonites, “Tomorrow we will surrender(A) to you, and you can do to us whatever you like.”

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18 Whoever rebels against your word and does not obey(A) it, whatever you may command them, will be put to death. Only be strong and courageous!(B)

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20 So all Israel went down to the Philistines to have their plow points, mattocks, axes and sickles[a] sharpened. 21 The price was two-thirds of a shekel[b] for sharpening plow points and mattocks, and a third of a shekel[c] for sharpening forks and axes and for repointing goads.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 13:20 Septuagint; Hebrew plow points
  2. 1 Samuel 13:21 That is, about 1/4 ounce or about 8 grams
  3. 1 Samuel 13:21 That is, about 1/8 ounce or about 4 grams

24 They said to Joshua, “The Lord has surely given the whole land into our hands;(A) all the people are melting in fear(B) because of us.”

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