Wisdom of Solomon 3
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
The Destiny of the Righteous
3 But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God,
and no torment will ever touch them.
2 In the eyes of the foolish they seemed to have died,
and their departure was thought to be a disaster(A)
3 and their going from us to be their destruction,
but they are at peace.
4 For though in the sight of others they were punished,
their hope is full of immortality.(B)
5 Having been disciplined a little, they will receive great good,
because God tested them and found them worthy of himself;(C)
6 like gold in the furnace he tried them,
and like a sacrificial burnt offering he accepted them.(D)
7 In the time of their visitation they will shine forth
and will run like sparks through the stubble.(E)
8 They will govern nations and rule over peoples,
and the Lord will reign over them forever.(F)
9 Those who trust in him will understand truth,
and the faithful will abide with him in love,
because grace and mercy are upon his holy ones,
and he watches over his elect.[a](G)
The Destiny of the Ungodly
10 But the ungodly will be punished as their reasoning deserves,
those who disregarded the righteous[b]
and rebelled against the Lord,(H)
11 for those who despise wisdom and instruction are miserable.
Their hope is vain, their labors are unprofitable,
and their works are useless.
12 Their wives are foolish and their children evil;(I)
their offspring are accursed.
On Childlessness
13 For blessed is the barren woman who is undefiled,
who has not entered into a sinful union;
she will have fruit when God examines souls.(J)
14 Blessed also is the eunuch whose hands have done no lawless deed
and who has not devised wicked things against the Lord,
for special favor will be shown him for his faithfulness
and a place of great delight in the temple of the Lord.(K)
15 For the fruit of good labors is renowned,
and the root of understanding does not fail.(L)
16 But children of adulterers will not come to maturity,
and the offspring of an unlawful union will perish.(M)
17 Even if they live long they will be held of no account,
and finally their old age will be without honor.
18 If they die young, they will have no hope
and no consolation on the day of judgment.
19 For the end of an unrighteous generation is grievous.
Matthew 5:17-48
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
The Law and the Prophets
17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.(A) 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter,[a] not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished.(B) 19 Therefore, whoever breaks[b] one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.(C) 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Concerning Anger
21 “You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not murder,’ and ‘whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.’(D) 22 But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister,[c] you will be liable to judgment, and if you insult[d] a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council, and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be liable to the hell[e] of fire.(E) 23 So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you,(F) 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court[f] with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison.(G) 26 Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.
Concerning Adultery
27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’(H) 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.(I) 29 If your right eye causes you to sin,[g] tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.[h](J) 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin,[i] cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to go into hell.[j]
Concerning Divorce
31 “It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’(K) 32 But I say to you that anyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
Concerning Oaths
33 “Again, you have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.’(L) 34 But I say to you: Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God,(M) 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 Let your word be ‘Yes, Yes’ or ‘No, No’; anything more than this comes from the evil one.[k]
Concerning Retaliation
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’(N) 39 But I say to you: Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also,(O) 40 and if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, give your coat as well, 41 and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. 42 Give to the one who asks of you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.(P)
Love for Enemies
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’(Q) 44 But I say to you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,(R) 45 so that you may be children of your Father in heaven, for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.(S) 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the gentiles do the same? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.(T)
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Wisdom of Solomon 4:7-20
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
7 But the righteous, even if they die early, will be at rest.
8 For old age is not honored for length of time
or measured by number of years,
9 but understanding is gray hair for anyone,
and a blameless life is ripe old age.
10 There was one who pleased God and was loved by him
and while living among sinners was taken up.(A)
11 He was caught up so that evil might not change his understanding
or guile deceive his soul.(B)
12 For the fascination of wickedness obscures what is good,
and roving desire perverts the innocent mind.(C)
13 Being perfected in a short time, he fulfilled long years,(D)
14 for his soul was pleasing to the Lord;
therefore he hastened him from the midst of wickedness.(E)
Yet the peoples saw and did not understand
or take such a thing to heart,
15 that God’s grace and mercy are with his elect
and that he watches over his holy ones.(F)
The Triumph of the Righteous
16 The righteous who have died will condemn the ungodly who are living,
and youth that is quickly perfected[a] will condemn the prolonged old age of the unrighteous.(G)
17 For they will see the end of the wise
and will not understand what the Lord purposed for them
and for what he kept them safe.(H)
18 The unrighteous[b] will see and will have contempt for them,
but the Lord will laugh them to scorn.
19 After this they will become dishonored corpses
and an outrage among the dead forever,
because he will dash them speechless to the ground
and shake them from the foundations;
they will be left utterly dry and barren,
and they will suffer anguish,
and the memory of them will perish.(I)
The Final Judgment
20 They will come with dread when their sins are reckoned up,
and their lawless deeds will convict them to their face.(J)
Revelation 2:1-17
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
The Message to Ephesus
2 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands:
2 “I know your works, your toil and your endurance. I know that you cannot tolerate evildoers; you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not and have found them to be false.(A) 3 I also know that you are enduring and bearing up for the sake of my name and that you have not grown weary.(B) 4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. 5 Remember, then, from where you have fallen; repent and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. 6 Yet this is to your credit: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. To everyone who conquers, I will give permission to eat from the tree of life that is in the paradise of God.(C)
The Message to Smyrna
8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of the First and the Last, who was dead and came to life:(D)
9 “I know your affliction and your poverty, even though you are rich. I know the slander on the part of those who say that they are Jews and are not but are a synagogue of Satan.(E) 10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Beware, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison so that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have affliction. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.(F) 11 Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. Whoever conquers will not be harmed by the second death.(G)
The Message to Pergamum
12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword:(H)
13 “I know where you are living, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you are holding fast to my name, and you did not deny your faith in me[a] even in the days of Antipas my witness, my faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan lives. 14 But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the people of Israel, so that they would eat food sacrificed to idols and engage in sexual immorality.[b](I) 15 So you also have some who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Repent, then. If not, I will come to you soon and wage war against them with the sword of my mouth.(J) 17 Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. To everyone who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give a white stone, and on the white stone is written a new name that no one knows except the one who receives it.(K)
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