A Joyful Return to Zion

A Song of Ascents.

¹⁴ I am the good shepherd; and ^(A)I know My sheep, and ^(B)am known by My own. ^15 (C)As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; ^(D)and I lay down My life for the sheep. ¹⁶ And ^(E)other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; ^(F)and there will be one flock and one shepherd.

¹⁷ “Therefore My Father ^(G)loves Me, ^(H)because I lay down My life that I may take it again. ¹⁸ No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I ^(I)have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. ^(J)This command I have received from My Father.”

¹⁹ Therefore ^(K)there was a division again among the Jews because of these sayings. ²⁰ And many of them said, ^(L)“He has a demon and is ^[a]mad. Why do you listen to Him?”

²¹ Others said, “These are not the words of one who has a demon. ^(M)Can a demon ^(N)open the eyes of the blind?”

The Loveless Church

2 “To the ^[a]angel of the church of Ephesus write,

‘These things says ^(A)He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, ^(B)who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: ^2 (C)“I know your works, your labor, your ^[b]patience, and that you cannot ^[c]bear those who are evil. And ^(D)you have tested those ^(E)who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; ³ and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have ^(F)not become weary. ⁴ Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. ⁵ Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, ^(G)or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent. ⁶ But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

^7 (H)“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give ^(I)to eat from ^(J)the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” ’