Book of Common Prayer
For You Have Come To The City of God, The Heavenly Jerusalem
18 For you have not come-to a mountain being touched[a], and a fire having been burning, and darkness and gloom and a storm, 19 and a blast of a trumpet, and a sound of words— of which, the ones having heard begged that a word not be added to them. 20 For they were not bearing the thing being commanded: “If even a wild-animal should touch the mountain, it shall be stoned” [Ex 19:12-13]. 21 And so fearful was the thing appearing[b], Moses said “I am terrified and trembling”. 22 But you have come to Mount Zion; and the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem; and the myriads of angels, a festive-gathering[c]; 23 and the church[d] of the firstborn ones having been registered[e] in the heavens; and the Judge, God of all; and the spirits of righteous ones having been perfected; 24 and the mediator of the new covenant, Jesus; and the blood of sprinkling speaking better than Abel.
Do Not Refuse The One Warning From Heaven, But Worship Him With Gratitude
25 Be watching-out that you not refuse[f] the One speaking. For if those did not escape, having refused the One warning on earth, much more we will not escape: the ones turning-away-from the One warning from the heavens— 26 Whose voice shook the earth at that time, but now He has promised, saying [in Hag 2:6] “I will shake once more not only the earth, but also the heaven”. 27 And the phrase “once more” indicates the removal of the things being shaken— as of things having been made— so that the things not being shaken may continue. 28 Therefore while receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us have gratitude, through which we may worship[g] God pleasingly[h], with reverence and awe. 29 For indeed our God is a consuming fire.
Jesus Goes To Judea. John The Baptist Declares Himself The Friend of The Bridegroom
22 After these things Jesus and His disciples went into the Judean land, and there He was spending-time with them and baptizing. 23 Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there were many waters[a] there. And they were coming and being baptized. 24 For John had not yet been thrown into prison. 25 Then a debate[b] arose from the disciples of John with a Jew about purification. 26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, concerning Whom you have testified, look— this One is baptizing, and all are going to Him!” 27 John responded and said “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it has been given to him from heaven. 28 You yourselves are testifying concerning me that I said that ‘I am not the Christ’, but that ‘I am one having been sent-forth ahead of that One’. 29 The one having the bride is the bridegroom. And the friend of the bridegroom, the one standing there and hearing him, rejoices with joy[c] because of the voice of the bridegroom. So this[d], my joy, has been made-full. 30 It-is-necessary for that One to grow, and for me to diminish.
Disciples' Literal New Testament: Serving Modern Disciples by More Fully Reflecting the Writing Style of the Ancient Disciples, Copyright © 2011 Michael J. Magill. All Rights Reserved. Published by Reyma Publishing