BOOK III

Psalms 73–89

Psalm 73

A psalm of Asaph.

[The earliest manuscripts and some other ancient witnesses do not have verses 9–20.]

⁹ When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene,^(A) out of whom he had driven seven demons. ¹⁰ She went and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping. ¹¹ When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it.^(B)

¹² Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country.^{(C) 13} These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either.

¹⁴ Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.^(D)

¹⁵ He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.^{(E) 16} Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.^{(F) 17} And these signs^(G) will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons;^(H) they will speak in new tongues;^{(I) 18} they will pick up snakes^(J) with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on^(K) sick people, and they will get well.”

¹⁹ After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven^(L) and he sat at the right hand of God.^{(M) 20} Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs^(N) that accompanied it.

Final Warnings

13 This will be my third visit to you.^(A) “Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.”^{[a](B) 2} I already gave you a warning when I was with you the second time. I now repeat it while absent:^(C) On my return I will not spare^(D) those who sinned earlier^(E) or any of the others, ³ since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me.^(F) He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. ⁴ For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness,^(G) yet he lives by God’s power.^(H) Likewise, we are weak^(I) in him, yet by God’s power we will live with him^(J) in our dealing with you.

⁵ Examine yourselves^(K) to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.^(L) Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you^(M)—unless, of course, you fail the test? ⁶ And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test. ⁷ Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong—not so that people will see that we have stood the test but so that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed. ⁸ For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. ⁹ We are glad whenever we are weak^(N) but you are strong;^(O) and our prayer is that you may be fully restored.^(P)