Psalm 46^[a]

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to alamoth.^[b] A song.

The Ten Commandments^(A)

20 And God spoke^(B) all these words:^(C)

¹⁸ When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet^(AE) and saw the mountain in smoke,^(AF) they trembled with fear.^(AG) They stayed at a distance ¹⁹ and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak^(AH) to us or we will die.”^(AI)

²⁰ Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid.^(AJ) God has come to test^(AK) you, so that the fear^(AL) of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.”^(AM)

²¹ The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness^(AN) where God was.

Paul’s Labor for the Church

²⁴ Now I rejoice^(A) in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions,^(B) for the sake of his body, which is the church.^{(C) 25} I have become its servant^(D) by the commission God gave me^(E) to present to you the word of God^(F) in its fullness— ²⁶ the mystery^(G) that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. ²⁷ To them God has chosen to make known^(H) among the Gentiles the glorious riches^(I) of this mystery, which is Christ in you,^(J) the hope of glory.

²⁸ He is the one we proclaim, admonishing^(K) and teaching everyone with all wisdom,^(L) so that we may present everyone fully mature^(M) in Christ. ²⁹ To this end I strenuously^(N) contend^(O) with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.^(P)

2 I want you to know how hard I am contending^(Q) for you and for those at Laodicea,^(R) and for all who have not met me personally. ² My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart^(S) and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery^(T) of God, namely, Christ, ³ in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.^{(U) 4} I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.^{(V) 5} For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit^(W) and delight to see how disciplined^(X) you are and how firm^(Y) your faith in Christ^(Z) is.

Spiritual Fullness in Christ

⁶ So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord,^(AA) continue to live your lives in him, ⁷ rooted^(AB) and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught,^(AC) and overflowing with thankfulness.

Jesus Is Tested in the Wilderness^(A)

4 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted^[a](B) by the devil.^{(C) 2} After fasting forty days and forty nights,^(D) he was hungry. ³ The tempter^(E) came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God,^(F) tell these stones to become bread.”

⁴ Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’^[b]”^(G)

⁵ Then the devil took him to the holy city^(H) and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. ⁶ “If you are the Son of God,”^(I) he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:

⁷ Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’^[d]”^(K)

⁸ Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. ⁹ “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

¹⁰ Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan!^(L) For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’^[e]”^(M)

¹¹ Then the devil left him,^(N) and angels came and attended him.^(O)