Be still(A) before the Lord
    and wait patiently(B) for him;
do not fret(C) when people succeed in their ways,(D)
    when they carry out their wicked schemes.(E)

Refrain from anger(F) and turn from wrath;
    do not fret(G)—it leads only to evil.
For those who are evil will be destroyed,(H)
    but those who hope(I) in the Lord will inherit the land.(J)

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12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
    but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.(A)

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18 There is surely a future hope for you,
    and your hope will not be cut off.(A)

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14 Know also that wisdom is like honey for you:
    If you find it, there is a future hope for you,
    and your hope will not be cut off.(A)

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This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried(A) into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: “Build(B) houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease.(C) Also, seek(D) the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray(E) to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” Yes, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let the prophets(F) and diviners among you deceive(G) you. Do not listen to the dreams(H) you encourage them to have.(I) They are prophesying lies(J) to you in my name. I have not sent(K) them,” declares the Lord.

10 This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years(L) are completed for Babylon, I will come to you(M) and fulfill my good promise(N) to bring you back(O) to this place. 11 For I know the plans(P) I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper(Q) you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.(R) 12 Then you will call(S) on me and come and pray(T) to me, and I will listen(U) to you. 13 You will seek(V) me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.(W) 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back(X) from captivity.[a] I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”(Y)

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 29:14 Or will restore your fortunes

through whom we have gained access(A) by faith into this grace in which we now stand.(B) And we[a] boast in the hope(C) of the glory of God. Not only so, but we[b] also glory in our sufferings,(D) because we know that suffering produces perseverance;(E) perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope(F) does not put us to shame, because God’s love(G) has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit,(H) who has been given to us.

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 5:2 Or let us
  2. Romans 5:3 Or let us

Life Through the Spirit

Therefore, there is now no condemnation(A) for those who are in Christ Jesus,(B) because through Christ Jesus(C) the law of the Spirit who gives life(D) has set you[a] free(E) from the law of sin(F) and death. For what the law was powerless(G) to do because it was weakened by the flesh,[b](H) God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh(I) to be a sin offering.[c](J) And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement(K) of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.(L)

Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires;(M) but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.(N) The mind governed by the flesh is death,(O) but the mind governed by the Spirit is life(P) and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God;(Q) it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh(R) cannot please God.

You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh(S) but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you.(T) And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ,(U) they do not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you,(V) then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life[d] because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead(W) is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies(X) because of[e] his Spirit who lives in you.

12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it.(Y) 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die;(Z) but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body,(AA) you will live.(AB)

14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God(AC) are the children of God.(AD) 15 The Spirit(AE) you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again;(AF) rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.[f] And by him we cry, “Abba,[g] Father.”(AG) 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit(AH) that we are God’s children.(AI) 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs(AJ)—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings(AK) in order that we may also share in his glory.(AL)

Present Suffering and Future Glory

18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.(AM) 19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God(AN) to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it,(AO) in hope 21 that[h] the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay(AP) and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.(AQ)

22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning(AR) as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit,(AS) groan(AT) inwardly as we wait eagerly(AU) for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.(AV) 24 For in this hope we were saved.(AW) But hope that is seen is no hope at all.(AX) Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.(AY)

26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit(AZ) himself intercedes for us(BA) through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts(BB) knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes(BC) for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good(BD) of those who love him, who[i] have been called(BE) according to his purpose.(BF) 29 For those God foreknew(BG) he also predestined(BH) to be conformed to the image of his Son,(BI) that he might be the firstborn(BJ) among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined,(BK) he also called;(BL) those he called, he also justified;(BM) those he justified, he also glorified.(BN)

More Than Conquerors

31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things?(BO) If God is for us,(BP) who can be against us?(BQ) 32 He who did not spare his own Son,(BR) but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge(BS) against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns?(BT) No one. Christ Jesus who died(BU)—more than that, who was raised to life(BV)—is at the right hand of God(BW) and is also interceding for us.(BX) 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?(BY) Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?(BZ) 36 As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long;
    we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”[j](CA)

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors(CB) through him who loved us.(CC) 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[k] neither the present nor the future,(CD) nor any powers,(CE) 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God(CF) that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.(CG)

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 8:2 The Greek is singular; some manuscripts me
  2. Romans 8:3 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit; also in verses 4-13.
  3. Romans 8:3 Or flesh, for sin
  4. Romans 8:10 Or you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive
  5. Romans 8:11 Some manuscripts bodies through
  6. Romans 8:15 The Greek word for adoption to sonship is a term referring to the full legal standing of an adopted male heir in Roman culture; also in verse 23.
  7. Romans 8:15 Aramaic for father
  8. Romans 8:21 Or subjected it in hope. 21 For
  9. Romans 8:28 Or that all things work together for good to those who love God, who; or that in all things God works together with those who love him to bring about what is good—with those who
  10. Romans 8:36 Psalm 44:22
  11. Romans 8:38 Or nor heavenly rulers

11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor,(A) serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope,(B) patient in affliction,(C) faithful in prayer.(D) 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need.(E) Practice hospitality.(F)

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For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us,(A) so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.

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13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace(A) as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.(B)

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Let us not become weary in doing good,(A) for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.(B) 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good(C) to all people, especially to those who belong to the family(D) of believers.

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It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.(A)

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies,(B) they will cease; where there are tongues,(C) they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part(D) and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes,(E) what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood(F) behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror;(G) then we shall see face to face.(H) Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.(I)

13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.(J) But the greatest of these is love.(K)

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Listening and Doing

19 My dear brothers and sisters,(A) take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak(B) and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger(C) does not produce the righteousness that God desires.

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