Psalm 51:3-12

New International Version

³For I know my transgressions,
    and my sin is always before me.^(A)
⁴Against you, you only, have I sinned^(B)
    and done what is evil in your sight;^(C)
so you are right in your verdict
    and justified when you judge.^(D)
⁵Surely I was sinful^(E) at birth,^(F)
    sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
⁶Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;
    you taught me wisdom^(G) in that secret place.^(H)

⁷Cleanse^(I) me with hyssop,^(J) and I will be clean;
    wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.^(K)
⁸Let me hear joy and gladness;^(L)
    let the bones^(M) you have crushed rejoice.
⁹Hide your face from my sins^(N)
    and blot out^(O) all my iniquity.

¹⁰Create in me a pure heart,^(P) O God,
    and renew a steadfast spirit within me.^(Q)
¹¹Do not cast me^(R) from your presence^(S)
    or take your Holy Spirit^(T) from me.
¹²Restore to me the joy of your salvation^(U)
    and grant me a willing spirit,^(V) to sustain me.^(W)

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Ephesians 2:1-10

New International Version

Made Alive in Christ

2 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,^(A) ²in which you used to live^(B) when you followed the ways of this world^(C) and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air,^(D) the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.^(E) ³All of us also lived among them at one time,^(F) gratifying the cravings of our flesh^[a]^(G) and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. ⁴But because of his great love for us,^(H) God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions^(I)—it is by grace you have been saved.^(J) ⁶And God raised us up with Christ^(K) and seated us with him^(L) in the heavenly realms^(M) in Christ Jesus, ⁷in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace,^(N) expressed in his kindness^(O) to us in Christ Jesus. ⁸For it is by grace^(P) you have been saved,^(Q) through faith^(R)—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹not by works,^(S) so that no one can boast.^(T) ¹⁰For we are God’s handiwork,^(U) created^(V) in Christ Jesus to do good works,^(W) which God prepared in advance for us to do.

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Footnotes

Ephesians 2:3 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.

Matthew 21:7-11

New International Version

⁷They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. ⁸A very large crowd spread their cloaks^(A) on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. ⁹The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,

“Hosanna^[a] to the Son of David!”^(B)

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”^[b]^(C)

“Hosanna^[c] in the highest heaven!”^(D)

¹⁰When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”

¹¹The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet^(E) from Nazareth in Galilee.”

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Footnotes

Matthew 21:9 A Hebrew expression meaning “Save!” which became an exclamation of praise; also in verse 15
Matthew 21:9 Psalm 118:25,26
Matthew 21:9 A Hebrew expression meaning “Save!” which became an exclamation of praise; also in verse 15

Mark 15:1-15

New International Version

Jesus Before Pilate^(A)

15 Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law^(B) and the whole Sanhedrin,^(C) made their plans. So they bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate.^(D)

²“Are you the king of the Jews?”^(E) asked Pilate.

“You have said so,” Jesus replied.

³The chief priests accused him of many things. ⁴So again Pilate asked him, “Aren’t you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of.”

⁵But Jesus still made no reply,^(F) and Pilate was amazed.

⁶Now it was the custom at the festival to release a prisoner whom the people requested. ⁷A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising. ⁸The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did.

⁹“Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?”^(G) asked Pilate, ¹⁰knowing it was out of self-interest that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. ¹¹But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas^(H) instead.

¹²“What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?” Pilate asked them.

¹³“Crucify him!” they shouted.

¹⁴“Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.

But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”

¹⁵Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged,^(I) and handed him over to be crucified.

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