96 To all perfection I see a limit,
    but your commands are boundless.(A)

Read full chapter

35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.(A)

Read full chapter

11 Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done
    and what I had toiled to achieve,
everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind;(A)
    nothing was gained under the sun.(B)

Read full chapter

18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.(A)

Read full chapter

14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual,(A) sold(B) as a slave to sin.(C)

Read full chapter

37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[a](A) 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b](B) 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”(C)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 22:37 Deut. 6:5
  2. Matthew 22:39 Lev. 19:18

“Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher.[a](A)
    “Everything is meaningless!(B)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 12:8 Or the leader of the assembly; also in verses 9 and 10

“Meaningless! Meaningless!”
    says the Teacher.
“Utterly meaningless!
    Everything is meaningless.”(A)

What do people gain from all their labors
    at which they toil under the sun?(B)

Read full chapter

You have made my days(A) a mere handbreadth;
    the span of my years is as nothing before you.
Everyone is but a breath,(B)
    even those who seem secure.[a]

“Surely everyone goes around(C) like a mere phantom;(D)
    in vain they rush about,(E) heaping up wealth(F)
    without knowing whose it will finally be.(G)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 39:5 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 11.

23 When Ahithophel saw that his advice(A) had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his hometown. He put his house in order(B) and then hanged himself. So he died and was buried in his father’s tomb.

Read full chapter

Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and run me through,(A) or these uncircumcised(B) fellows will come and run me through and abuse me.”

But his armor-bearer was terrified and would not do it; so Saul took his own sword and fell on it. When the armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he too fell on his sword and died with him.

Read full chapter

49 Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.

50 So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling(A) and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.

51 David ran and stood over him. He took hold of the Philistine’s sword and drew it from the sheath. After he killed him, he cut(B) off his head with the sword.(C)

When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran.

Read full chapter

Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose(A) a man and have him come down to me.

Read full chapter

Kish had a son named Saul, as handsome(A) a young man as could be found(B) anywhere in Israel, and he was a head taller(C) than anyone else.

Read full chapter

12 For the word of God(A) is alive(B) and active.(C) Sharper than any double-edged sword,(D) it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.(E) 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight.(F) Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Read full chapter

The Law and Sin

What shall we say, then?(A) Is the law sinful? Certainly not!(B) Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law.(C) For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.”[a](D) But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment,(E) produced in me every kind of coveting. For apart from the law, sin was dead.(F) Once I was alive apart from the law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died. 10 I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life(G) actually brought death. 11 For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment,(H) deceived me,(I) and through the commandment put me to death. 12 So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good.(J)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Romans 7:7 Exodus 20:17; Deut. 5:21

29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.[a] 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’[b](A) 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[c](B) There is no commandment greater than these.”

32 “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him.(C) 33 To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”(D)

34 When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”(E) And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.(F)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Mark 12:29 Or The Lord our God is one Lord
  2. Mark 12:30 Deut. 6:4,5
  3. Mark 12:31 Lev. 19:18

28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.(A)

Read full chapter

20 Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous,(A)
    no one who does what is right and never sins.(B)

Read full chapter

The law of the Lord(A) is perfect,(B)
    refreshing the soul.(C)
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,(D)
    making wise the simple.(E)
The precepts of the Lord are right,(F)
    giving joy(G) to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant,
    giving light to the eyes.(H)

Read full chapter

17 They took Absalom, threw him into a big pit in the forest and piled up(A) a large heap of rocks(B) over him. Meanwhile, all the Israelites fled to their homes.

Read full chapter

14 Joab(A) said, “I’m not going to wait like this for you.” So he took three javelins in his hand and plunged them into Absalom’s heart while Absalom was still alive in the oak tree.

Read full chapter

23 Now in those days the advice(A) Ahithophel gave was like that of one who inquires of God. That was how both David(B) and Absalom regarded all of Ahithophel’s advice.

Read full chapter

25 In all Israel there was not a man so highly praised for his handsome appearance as Absalom. From the top of his head to the sole of his foot there was no blemish in him.

Read full chapter

Bible Gateway Recommends