Wisdom of Solomon 11:21-12:2
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
God Is Powerful and Merciful
21 For it is always in your power to show great strength,
and who can withstand the might of your arm?(A)
22 Because the whole world before you is like a speck that tips the scales
and like a drop of morning dew that falls on the ground.(B)
23 But you are merciful to all, for you can do all things,
and you overlook people’s sins, so that they may repent.(C)
24 For you love all things that exist
and detest none of the things that you have made,
for you would not have formed anything if you had hated it.(D)
25 How would anything have endured if you had not willed it?
Or how would anything not called forth by you have been preserved?(E)
26 You spare all things, for they are yours, O Lord, you who love the living.(F)
Matthew 7:15-29
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
A Tree and Its Fruit
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.(A) 16 You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns or figs from thistles?(B) 17 In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.(C) 20 Thus you will know them by their fruits.
Concerning Self-Deception
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.(D) 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’(E) 23 Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; go away from me, you who behave lawlessly.’(F)
Hearers and Doers
24 “Everyone, then, who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.(G) 25 The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall because it had been founded on rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was its fall!”
28 Now when Jesus had finished saying these words, the crowds were astounded at his teaching,(H) 29 for he taught them as one having authority and not as their scribes.
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Wisdom of Solomon 12:12-21
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
God Is Sovereign
12 For who will say, “What have you done?”
or will resist your judgment?
Who will accuse you for the destruction of nations that you made?
Or who will come before you to plead as an advocate for the unrighteous?(A)
13 For neither is there any god besides you whose care is for all people,[a]
to whom you should prove that you have not judged unjustly,(B)
14 nor can any king or monarch confront you about those whom you have punished.
15 You are righteous, and you rule all things righteously,
deeming it alien to your power
to condemn anyone who does not deserve to be punished.(C)
16 For your strength is the source of righteousness,
and your sovereignty over all causes you to spare all.(D)
17 For you show your strength when people doubt the completeness of your power,
and you rebuke any insolence among those who know it.[b](E)
18 Although you are sovereign in strength, you judge fairly,
and with great forbearance you govern us,
for you have power to act whenever you choose.(F)
God’s Lessons for Israel
19 Through such works you have taught your people
that the righteous must be kind,
and you have filled your children with good hope,
because you give repentance for sins.(G)
20 For if you punished with such great care and indulgence[c]
the enemies of your children and those deserving of death,
granting them time and opportunity to give up their wickedness,(H)
21 with what strictness you have judged your children,[d]
to whose ancestors you gave oaths and covenants full of good promises!(I)
Revelation 5
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
The Scroll and the Lamb
5 Then I saw in the right hand of the one seated on the throne a scroll written on the inside and on the back, sealed[a] with seven seals,(A) 2 and I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it. 4 And I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”(B)
6 Then I saw between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders a Lamb standing as if it had been slaughtered, with seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.(C) 7 He went and took the scroll from the right hand of the one who was seated on the throne. 8 When he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell before the Lamb, each holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.(D) 9 They sing a new song:
“You are worthy to take the scroll
and to break its seals,
for you were slaughtered and by your blood you ransomed for God
saints from[b] every tribe and language and people and nation;(E)
10 you have made them a kingdom and priests serving[c] our God,
and they will reign[d] on earth.”(F)
11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels surrounding the throne and the living creatures and the elders; they numbered myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands,(G) 12 singing with full voice,
“Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might
and honor and glory and blessing!”
13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea and all that is in them, singing,
“To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honor and glory and might
forever and ever!”(H)
14 And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the elders fell down and worshiped.
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.