Bible in 90 Days
Wisdom from Above
13 Who among you is wise and understanding? (A)Let him show by his (B)good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter (C)jealousy and [a]selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against (D)the truth. 15 This wisdom is not that which comes down (E)from above, but is (F)earthly, [b](G)natural, (H)demonic. 16 For where (I)jealousy and [c]selfish ambition exist, [d]there is disorder and every evil thing. 17 But the wisdom (J)from above is first (K)pure, then (L)peaceable, (M)gentle, [e]reasonable, (N)full of mercy and good fruits, (O)unwavering, without (P)hypocrisy. 18 And the [f](Q)seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace [g]by those who make peace.
Things to Avoid
4 [h]What is the source of quarrels and (R)conflicts among you? [i]Is not the source your pleasures that wage (S)war in your members? 2 You lust and do not have; so you (T)commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and (U)do not receive, because you ask [j]with wrong motives, so that you may spend it [k]on your pleasures. 4 You (V)adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with (W)the world is (X)hostility toward God? (Y)Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think that the Scripture (Z)speaks to no purpose: “[l]He [m]jealously desires (AA)the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us”? 6 But (AB)He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “(AC)God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 7 (AD)Submit therefore to God. (AE)Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 (AF)Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. (AG)Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and (AH)purify your hearts, you (AI)double-minded. 9 (AJ)Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 (AK)Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.
11 (AL)Do not speak against one another, (AM)brethren. He who speaks against a brother or (AN)judges his brother, speaks against (AO)the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not (AP)a doer of the law but a judge of it. 12 There is only one (AQ)Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is (AR)able to save and to destroy; but (AS)who are you who judge your neighbor?
13 (AT)Come now, you who say, “(AU)Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.” 14 [n]Yet you do not know [o]what your life will be like tomorrow. (AV)You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. 15 [p]Instead, you ought to say, “(AW)If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.” 16 But as it is, you boast in your [q]arrogance; (AX)all such boasting is evil. 17 Therefore, (AY)to one who knows the [r]right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.
Misuse of Riches
5 (AZ)Come now, (BA)you rich, (BB)weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you. 2 (BC)Your riches have rotted and your garments have become moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and your silver have rusted; and their rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire. It is (BD)in the last days that you have stored up your treasure! 4 Behold, (BE)the pay of the laborers who mowed your fields, and which has been withheld by you, cries out against you; and (BF)the outcry of those who did the harvesting has reached the ears of (BG)the Lord of [s]Sabaoth. 5 You have (BH)lived luxuriously on the earth and led a life of wanton pleasure; you have [t]fattened your hearts in (BI)a day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and [u](BJ)put to death (BK)the righteous man; he does not resist you.
Exhortation
7 Therefore be patient, (BL)brethren, (BM)until the coming of the Lord. (BN)The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until [v]it gets (BO)the early and late rains. 8 (BP)You too be patient; (BQ)strengthen your hearts, for (BR)the coming of the Lord is (BS)near. 9 (BT)Do not [w]complain, (BU)brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, (BV)the Judge is standing [x](BW)right at the [y]door. 10 As an example, (BX)brethren, of suffering and patience, take (BY)the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 We count those (BZ)blessed who endured. You have heard of (CA)the [z]endurance of Job and have seen (CB)the [aa]outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that (CC)the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.
12 But above all, (CD)my brethren, (CE)do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but [ab]your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you may not fall under judgment.
13 Is anyone among you (CF)suffering? (CG)Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to (CH)sing praises. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for (CI)the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, [ac](CJ)anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; 15 and the (CK)prayer [ad]offered in faith will [ae](CL)restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will (CM)raise him up, and if he has committed sins, [af]they will be forgiven him. 16 Therefore, (CN)confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be (CO)healed. (CP)The effective [ag]prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. 17 Elijah was (CQ)a man with a nature like ours, and (CR)he prayed [ah]earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for (CS)three years and six months. 18 Then he (CT)prayed again, and (CU)the [ai]sky [aj]poured rain and the earth produced its fruit.
19 My brethren, (CV)if any among you strays from (CW)the truth and one turns him back, 20 let him know that [ak]he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will (CX)save his soul from death and will (CY)cover a multitude of sins.
A Living Hope, and a Sure Salvation
1 (CZ)Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who reside as (DA)aliens, (DB)scattered throughout (DC)Pontus, (DD)Galatia, (DE)Cappadocia, (DF)Asia, and (DG)Bithynia, (DH)who are chosen 2 according to the (DI)foreknowledge of God the Father, (DJ)by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, [al]to (DK)obey Jesus Christ and be (DL)sprinkled with His blood: (DM)May grace and peace [am]be yours in the fullest measure.
3 (DN)Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who (DO)according to His great mercy (DP)has caused us to be born again to (DQ)a living hope through the (DR)resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to obtain an (DS)inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and (DT)will not fade away, (DU)reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are (DV)protected by the power of God (DW)through faith for (DX)a salvation ready (DY)to be revealed in the last time. 6 (DZ)In this you greatly rejoice, even though now (EA)for a little while, (EB)if necessary, you have been distressed by (EC)various [an]trials, 7 so that the [ao](ED)proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which [ap]is perishable, (EE)even though tested by fire, (EF)may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at (EG)the revelation of Jesus Christ; 8 and (EH)though you have not seen Him, you (EI)love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and [aq]full of glory, 9 obtaining as (EJ)the outcome of your faith the salvation of [ar]your souls.
10 (EK)As to this salvation, the prophets who (EL)prophesied of the (EM)grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, 11 [as]seeking to know what person or time (EN)the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He (EO)predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories [at]to follow. 12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who (EP)preached the gospel to you by (EQ)the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which (ER)angels long to [au]look.
13 Therefore, [av](ES)prepare your minds for action, [aw](ET)keep sober in spirit, fix your (EU)hope completely on the (EV)grace [ax]to be brought to you at (EW)the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As [ay](EX)obedient children, do not [az](EY)be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your (EZ)ignorance, 15 but [ba](FA)like the Holy One who called you, [bb](FB)be holy yourselves also (FC)in all your behavior; 16 because it is written, “(FD)You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
17 If you (FE)address as Father the One who (FF)impartially (FG)judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves (FH)in fear during the time of your (FI)stay on earth; 18 knowing that you were not [bc](FJ)redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your (FK)futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, 19 but with precious (FL)blood, as of a (FM)lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. 20 For He was (FN)foreknown before (FO)the foundation of the world, but has (FP)appeared [bd]in these last times (FQ)for the sake of you 21 who through Him are (FR)believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and (FS)gave Him glory, so that your faith and (FT)hope are in God.
22 Since you have (FU)in obedience to the truth (FV)purified your souls for a [be](FW)sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from [bf]the heart, 23 for you have been (FX)born again (FY)not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring (FZ)word of God. 24 For,
“(GA)All flesh is like grass,
And all its glory like the flower of grass.
The grass withers,
And the flower falls off,
25 (GB)But the word of the Lord endures forever.”
And this is (GC)the word which was [bg]preached to you.
As Newborn Babes
2 Therefore, (GD)putting aside all [bh]malice and all deceit and [bi]hypocrisy and [bj]envy and all [bk](GE)slander, 2 (GF)like newborn babies, long for the [bl](GG)pure [bm]milk of the word, so that by it you may (GH)grow [bn]in respect to salvation, 3 if you have (GI)tasted [bo](GJ)the kindness of the Lord.
As Living Stones
4 And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been (GK)rejected by men, but is [bp]choice and precious in the sight of God, 5 (GL)you also, as living stones, [bq]are being built up as a (GM)spiritual house for a holy (GN)priesthood, to (GO)offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For this is contained in [br]Scripture:
“(GP)Behold, I lay in Zion a choice stone, a (GQ)precious corner stone,
And he who believes in [bs]Him will not be [bt]disappointed.”
7 (GR)This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve,
8 and,
“(GU)A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense”;
(GV)for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, (GW)and to this doom they were also appointed.
9 But you are (GX)a chosen race, a royal (GY)priesthood, a (GZ)holy nation, (HA)a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you (HB)out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 (HC)for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
11 (HD)Beloved, (HE)I urge you as (HF)aliens and strangers to abstain from (HG)fleshly lusts which wage (HH)war against the soul. 12 (HI)Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they (HJ)slander you as evildoers, they may [bu]because of your good deeds, as they observe them, (HK)glorify God (HL)in the day of [bv]visitation.
Honor Authority
13 (HM)Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, 14 or to governors as sent [bw]by him (HN)for the punishment of evildoers and the (HO)praise of those who do right. 15 For [bx](HP)such is the will of God that by doing right you may (HQ)silence the ignorance of foolish men. 16 Act as (HR)free men, and [by]do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as (HS)bondslaves of God. 17 (HT)Honor all people, (HU)love the brotherhood, (HV)fear God, (HW)honor the [bz]king.
18 (HX)Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and (HY)gentle, but also to those who are [ca]unreasonable. 19 For this finds [cb]favor, if for the sake of (HZ)conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if (IA)when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds [cc]favor with God.
Christ Is Our Example
21 For (IB)you have been called for this purpose, (IC)since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you (ID)an example for you to follow in His steps, 22 who (IE)committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; 23 [cd]and while being (IF)reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; 24 and He Himself [ce](IG)bore our sins in His body on the [cf](IH)cross, so that we (II)might die to [cg]sin and live to righteousness; for (IJ)by His [ch]wounds you were (IK)healed. 25 For you were (IL)continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the (IM)Shepherd and [ci]Guardian of your souls.
Godly Living
3 (IN)In the same way, you wives, (IO)be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be (IP)won without a word by the behavior of their wives, 2 as they observe your chaste and [cj]respectful behavior. 3 (IQ)Your adornment must not be merely external—braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; 4 but let it be (IR)the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God. 5 For in this way in former times the holy women also, (IS)who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being submissive to their own husbands; 6 just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, (IT)calling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right [ck](IU)without being frightened by any fear.
7 (IV)You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with [cl](IW)someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.
8 [cm]To sum up, (IX)all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, (IY)brotherly, (IZ)kindhearted, and (JA)humble in spirit; 9 (JB)not returning evil for evil or (JC)insult for insult, but [cn]giving a (JD)blessing instead; for (JE)you were called for the very purpose that you might (JF)inherit a blessing. 10 For,
“(JG)The one who desires life, to love and see good days,
Must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.
11 “(JH)He must turn away from evil and do good;
He must seek peace and pursue it.
12 “(JI)For the eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous,
And His ears attend to their prayer,
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
13 (JJ)Who is [co]there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should (JK)suffer for the sake of righteousness, (JL)you [cp]are blessed. (JM)And do not fear their [cq]intimidation, and do not be troubled, 15 but [cr]sanctify (JN)Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready (JO)to make a [cs]defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the (JP)hope that is in you, yet (JQ)with gentleness and [ct](JR)reverence; 16 [cu]and keep a (JS)good conscience so that in the thing in which (JT)you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame. 17 For (JU)it is better, (JV)if [cv]God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong. 18 For (JW)Christ also died for sins (JX)once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might (JY)bring us to God, having been put to death (JZ)in the flesh, but made alive (KA)in the [cw]spirit; 19 in [cx]which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison, 20 who once were disobedient, when the (KB)patience of God (KC)kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of (KD)the ark, in which a few, that is, (KE)eight (KF)persons, were brought safely through the [cy]water. 21 (KG)Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—(KH)not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God [cz]for a (KI)good conscience—through (KJ)the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 (KK)who is at the right hand of God, (KL)having gone into heaven, (KM)after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.
Keep Fervent in Your Love
4 Therefore, since (KN)Christ has [da]suffered in the flesh, (KO)arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because (KP)he who has [db]suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 (KQ)so as to live (KR)the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the (KS)will of God. 3 For (KT)the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, [dc](KU)having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and [dd]abominable idolatries. 4 In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excesses of (KV)dissipation, and they (KW)malign you; 5 but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge (KX)the living and the dead. 6 For (KY)the gospel has for this purpose been [de]preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as men, they may live in the spirit according to the will of God.
7 (KZ)The end of all things [df]is near; therefore, (LA)be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of [dg]prayer. 8 Above all, (LB)keep fervent in your love for one another, because (LC)love covers a multitude of sins. 9 (LD)Be hospitable to one another without (LE)complaint. 10 (LF)As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good (LG)stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 (LH)Whoever speaks, is to do so [dh]as one who is speaking the (LI)utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving [di](LJ)by the strength which God supplies; so that (LK)in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, (LL)to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Share the Sufferings of Christ
12 (LM)Beloved, do not be surprised at the (LN)fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; 13 but to the degree that you (LO)share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the (LP)revelation of His glory (LQ)you may rejoice with exultation. 14 If you are reviled [dj](LR)for the name of Christ, (LS)you are blessed, (LT)because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 Make sure that (LU)none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a [dk](LV)troublesome meddler; 16 but if anyone suffers as a (LW)Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to (LX)glorify God in this name. 17 For it is time for judgment (LY)to begin [dl]with (LZ)the household of God; and if it (MA)begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those (MB)who do not obey the (MC)gospel of God? 18 (MD)And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, [dm]what will become of the (ME)godless man and the sinner? 19 Therefore, those also who suffer according to (MF)the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.
Serve God Willingly
5 (MG)Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your (MH)fellow elder and (MI)witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a (MJ)partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, 2 shepherd (MK)the flock of God among you, exercising oversight (ML)not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and (MM)not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; 3 nor yet as (MN)lording it over [dn]those allotted to your charge, but [do]proving to be (MO)examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief (MP)Shepherd appears, you will receive the (MQ)unfading [dp](MR)crown of glory. 5 (MS)You younger men, likewise, (MT)be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with (MU)humility toward one another, for (MV)God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.
6 Therefore (MW)humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, 7 casting all your (MX)anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. 8 (MY)Be of sober spirit, (MZ)be on the alert. Your adversary, (NA)the devil, prowls around like a roaring (NB)lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 [dq](NC)But resist him, (ND)firm in your faith, knowing that (NE)the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your [dr]brethren who are in the world. 10 After you have suffered (NF)for a little while, the (NG)God of all grace, who (NH)called you to His (NI)eternal glory in Christ, will Himself (NJ)perfect, (NK)confirm, strengthen and establish you. 11 (NL)To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.
12 Through (NM)Silvanus, our faithful brother [ds](for so I regard him), (NN)I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is (NO)the true grace of God. (NP)Stand firm in it! 13 She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings, and so does my son, (NQ)Mark. 14 (NR)Greet one another with a kiss of love.
(NS)Peace be to you all who are in Christ.
Growth in Christian Virtue
1 [dt]Simon Peter, a (NT)bond-servant and (NU)apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who have received (NV)a faith of the same [du]kind as ours, [dv]by (NW)the righteousness of (NX)our God and Savior, Jesus Christ: 2 (NY)Grace and peace be multiplied to you in (NZ)the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; 3 seeing that His (OA)divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true (OB)knowledge of Him who (OC)called us [dw]by His own glory and [dx]excellence. 4 [dy]For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent (OD)promises, so that by them you may become (OE)partakers of the divine nature, having (OF)escaped the (OG)corruption that is in (OH)the world by lust. 5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith (OI)supply (OJ)moral [dz]excellence, and in your moral excellence, (OK)knowledge, 6 and in your knowledge, (OL)self-control, and in your self-control, (OM)perseverance, and in your perseverance, (ON)godliness, 7 and in your godliness, (OO)brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor (OP)unfruitful in the true (OQ)knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these qualities is (OR)blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his (OS)purification from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His (OT)calling and (OU)choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never (OV)stumble; 11 for in this way the entrance into (OW)the eternal kingdom of our (OX)Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be (OY)abundantly (OZ)supplied to you.
12 Therefore, (PA)I will always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them, and have been established in (PB)the truth which is present with you. 13 I consider it (PC)right, as long as I am in (PD)this earthly dwelling, to (PE)stir you up by way of reminder, 14 knowing that (PF)the laying aside of my earthly dwelling is imminent, (PG)as also our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. 15 And I will also be diligent that at any time after my (PH)departure you will be able to call these things to mind.
Eyewitnesses
16 For we did not follow cleverly devised (PI)tales when we made known to you the (PJ)power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were (PK)eyewitnesses of His majesty. 17 For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an [ea](PL)utterance as this was [eb]made to Him by the (PM)Majestic Glory, “This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased”— 18 and we ourselves heard this [ec]utterance made from heaven when we were with Him on the (PN)holy mountain.
19 [ed]So we have (PO)the prophetic word made more (PP)sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to (PQ)a lamp shining in a dark place, until the (PR)day dawns and the (PS)morning star arises (PT)in your hearts. 20 But (PU)know this first of all, that (PV)no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, 21 for (PW)no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men (PX)moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
The Rise of False Prophets
2 But (PY)false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be (PZ)false teachers (QA)among you, who will (QB)secretly introduce (QC)destructive heresies, even (QD)denying the (QE)Master who (QF)bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. 2 Many will follow their (QG)sensuality, and because of them (QH)the way of the truth will be (QI)maligned; 3 and in their (QJ)greed they will (QK)exploit you with (QL)false words; (QM)their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.
4 For (QN)if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and (QO)committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment; 5 and did not spare (QP)the ancient world, but preserved (QQ)Noah, a [ee]preacher of righteousness, with seven others, when He brought a (QR)flood upon the world of the ungodly; 6 and if He (QS)condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction by reducing them to ashes, having made them an (QT)example to those who would (QU)live ungodly lives thereafter; 7 and if He (QV)rescued righteous Lot, oppressed by the (QW)sensual conduct of (QX)unprincipled men 8 (for by what he saw and heard that (QY)righteous man, while living among them, felt his righteous soul tormented day after day by their lawless deeds), 9 (QZ)then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from [ef]temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the (RA)day of judgment, 10 and especially those who [eg](RB)indulge the flesh in its corrupt desires and (RC)despise authority.
Daring, (RD)self-willed, they do not tremble when they (RE)revile angelic [eh]majesties, 11 (RF)whereas angels who are greater in might and power do not bring a reviling judgment against them before the Lord. 12 But (RG)these, like unreasoning animals, (RH)born as creatures of instinct to be captured and killed, reviling where they have no knowledge, will in [ei]the destruction of those creatures also be destroyed, 13 suffering wrong as (RI)the wages of doing wrong. They count it a pleasure to (RJ)revel in the (RK)daytime. They are stains and blemishes, (RL)reveling in their [ej]deceptions, as they (RM)carouse with you, 14 having eyes full of adultery that never cease from sin, (RN)enticing (RO)unstable souls, having a heart trained in (RP)greed, (RQ)accursed children; 15 forsaking (RR)the right way, they have gone astray, having followed (RS)the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved (RT)the wages of unrighteousness; 16 but he received a rebuke for his own transgression, (RU)for a mute donkey, speaking with a voice of a man, restrained the madness of the prophet.
17 These are (RV)springs without water and mists driven by a storm, (RW)for whom the [ek]black darkness has been reserved. 18 For speaking out (RX)arrogant words of (RY)vanity they (RZ)entice by fleshly desires, by (SA)sensuality, those who barely (SB)escape from the ones who live in error, 19 promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for (SC)by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved. 20 For if, after they have (SD)escaped the defilements of the world by (SE)the knowledge of the (SF)Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again (SG)entangled in them and are overcome, (SH)the last state has become worse for them than the first. 21 (SI)For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from (SJ)the holy commandment (SK)handed on to them. 22 [el]It has happened to them according to the true proverb, “(SL)A dog returns to its own vomit,” and, “A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire.”
Purpose of This Letter
3 This is now, (SM)beloved, the second letter I am writing to you in which I am (SN)stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, 2 that you should (SO)remember the words spoken beforehand by (SP)the holy prophets and (SQ)the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles.
The Coming Day of the Lord
3 (SR)Know this first of all, that (SS)in the last days (ST)mockers will come with their mocking, (SU)following after their own lusts, 4 and saying, “(SV)Where is the promise of His (SW)coming? For ever since the fathers (SX)fell asleep, all continues just as it was (SY)from the beginning of creation.” 5 For [em]when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that (SZ)by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was (TA)formed out of water and by water, 6 through which (TB)the world at that time was (TC)destroyed, being flooded with water. 7 But by His word (TD)the present heavens and earth are being reserved for (TE)fire, kept for (TF)the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
8 But do not let this one fact escape your notice, (TG)beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and (TH)a thousand years like one day. 9 (TI)The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but (TJ)is patient toward you, (TK)not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
A New Heaven and Earth
10 But (TL)the day of the Lord (TM)will come like a thief, in which (TN)the heavens (TO)will pass away with a roar and the (TP)elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and (TQ)the earth and [en]its works will be [eo]burned up.
11 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 (TR)looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which (TS)the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the (TT)elements will melt with intense heat! 13 But according to His (TU)promise we are looking for (TV)new heavens and a new earth, (TW)in which righteousness dwells.
14 (TX)Therefore, (TY)beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be (TZ)found by Him in peace, (UA)spotless and blameless, 15 and regard the (UB)patience of our Lord as salvation; just as also (UC)our beloved brother Paul, (UD)according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, 16 as also in all his letters, speaking in them of (UE)these things, (UF)in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and (UG)unstable distort, as they do also (UH)the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. 17 You therefore, (UI)beloved, knowing this beforehand, (UJ)be on your guard so that you are not carried away by (UK)the error of (UL)unprincipled men and (UM)fall from your own steadfastness, 18 but grow in the grace and (UN)knowledge of our (UO)Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (UP)To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
Introduction, The Incarnate Word
1 What was (UQ)from the beginning, what we have (UR)heard, what we have (US)seen with our eyes, what we (UT)have looked at and (UU)touched with our hands, concerning the (UV)Word of Life— 2 and (UW)the life was manifested, and we have (UX)seen and (UY)testify and proclaim to you (UZ)the eternal life, which was (VA)with the Father and was (VB)manifested to us— 3 what we have (VC)seen and (VD)heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our (VE)fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 (VF)These things we write, so that our (VG)joy may be made complete.
God Is Light
5 (VH)This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that (VI)God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. 6 (VJ)If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we (VK)lie and (VL)do not practice the truth; 7 but if we (VM)walk in the Light as (VN)He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and (VO)the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 (VP)If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the (VQ)truth is not in us. 9 (VR)If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and (VS)to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 (VT)If we say that we have not sinned, we (VU)make Him a liar and (VV)His word is not in us.
Christ Is Our Advocate
2 (VW)My little children, I am (VX)writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, (VY)we have an [ep](VZ)Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; 2 and He Himself is (WA)the [eq]propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also (WB)for those of the whole world.
3 (WC)By this we know that we have come to (WD)know Him, if we (WE)keep His commandments. 4 The one who says, “(WF)I have come to (WG)know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a (WH)liar, and (WI)the truth is not in him; 5 but whoever (WJ)keeps His word, in him the (WK)love of God has truly been perfected. (WL)By this we know that we are in Him: 6 the one who says he (WM)abides in Him (WN)ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.
7 (WO)Beloved, I am (WP)not writing a new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had (WQ)from the beginning; the old commandment is the word which you have heard. 8 [er]On the other hand, I am writing (WR)a new commandment to you, which is true in Him and in you, because (WS)the darkness is passing away and (WT)the true Light is already shining. 9 The one who says he is in the Light and yet (WU)hates his (WV)brother is in the darkness until now. 10 (WW)The one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him. 11 But the one who (WX)hates his brother is in the darkness and (WY)walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has (WZ)blinded his eyes.
12 I am writing to you, (XA)little children, because (XB)your sins have been forgiven you for His name’s sake. 13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him (XC)who has been from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because (XD)you have overcome (XE)the evil one. I have written to you, children, because (XF)you know the Father. 14 I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him (XG)who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are (XH)strong, and the (XI)word of God abides in you, and (XJ)you have overcome the evil one.
Do Not Love the World
15 Do not love (XK)the world nor the things in the world. (XL)If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, (XM)the lust of the flesh and (XN)the lust of the eyes and (XO)the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17 (XP)The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who (XQ)does the will of God lives forever.
18 Children, (XR)it is the last hour; and just as you heard that (XS)antichrist is coming, (XT)even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour. 19 (XU)They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, (XV)so that [es]it would be shown that they all are not of us. 20 [et]But you have an (XW)anointing from (XX)the Holy One, and (XY)you all know. 21 I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but (XZ)because you do know it, and [eu]because no lie is (YA)of the truth. 22 Who is the liar but (YB)the one who denies that Jesus is the [ev]Christ? This is (YC)the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son. 23 (YD)Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also. 24 As for you, let that abide in you which you heard (YE)from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also (YF)will abide in the Son and in the Father.
The Promise Is Eternal Life
25 (YG)This is the promise which He Himself [ew]made to us: eternal life.
26 These things I have written to you concerning those who are trying to (YH)deceive you. 27 As for you, the (YI)anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing (YJ)teaches you about all things, and is (YK)true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, [ex]you abide in Him.
28 Now, (YL)little children, abide in Him, so that when He (YM)appears, we may have (YN)confidence and (YO)not [ey]shrink away from Him in shame [ez]at His (YP)coming. 29 If you know that (YQ)He is righteous, you know that everyone also who practices righteousness (YR)is [fa]born of Him.
Children of God Love One Another
3 See [fb](YS)how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called (YT)children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because (YU)it did not know Him. 2 (YV)Beloved, now we are (YW)children of God, and (YX)it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He (YY)appears, we will be (YZ)like Him, because we will (ZA)see Him just as He is. 3 And everyone who has this (ZB)hope fixed on Him (ZC)purifies himself, just as He is pure.
4 Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and (ZD)sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that He (ZE)appeared in order to (ZF)take away sins; and (ZG)in Him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in Him (ZH)sins; no one who sins has seen Him or [fc](ZI)knows Him. 7 (ZJ)Little children, make sure no one (ZK)deceives you; (ZL)the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; 8 the one who practices sin is (ZM)of the devil; for the devil [fd]has sinned from the beginning. (ZN)The Son of God (ZO)appeared for this purpose, (ZP)to destroy the works of the devil. 9 No one who is [fe](ZQ)born of God (ZR)practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is [ff]born of God. 10 By this the (ZS)children of God and the (ZT)children of the devil are obvious: [fg]anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who (ZU)does not love his (ZV)brother.
11 (ZW)For this is the message (ZX)which you have heard from the beginning, (ZY)that we should love one another; 12 not as (ZZ)Cain, who was of (AAA)the evil one and slew his brother. And for what reason did he slay him? Because (AAB)his deeds were evil, and his brother’s were righteous.
13 Do not be surprised, brethren, if (AAC)the world hates you. 14 We know that we have (AAD)passed out of death into life, (AAE)because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death. 15 Everyone who (AAF)hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that (AAG)no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. 16 We know love by this, that (AAH)He laid down His life for us; and (AAI)we ought to lay down our lives for the (AAJ)brethren. 17 But (AAK)whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and (AAL)closes his [fh]heart [fi]against him, (AAM)how does the love of God abide in him? 18 (AAN)Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and (AAO)truth. 19 We will know by this that we are (AAP)of the truth, and will [fj]assure our heart before Him 20 [fk]in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things. 21 (AAQ)Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have (AAR)confidence [fl]before God; 22 and (AAS)whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we (AAT)keep His commandments and do (AAU)the things that are pleasing in His sight.
23 This is His commandment, that we [fm](AAV)believe in (AAW)the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as (AAX)He [fn]commanded us. 24 The one who (AAY)keeps His commandments (AAZ)abides in Him, and He in him. (ABA)We know by this that (ABB)He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.
Testing the Spirits
4 (ABC)Beloved, do not believe every (ABD)spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because (ABE)many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: (ABF)every spirit that (ABG)confesses that (ABH)Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; 3 and every spirit that (ABI)does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the (ABJ)antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and (ABK)now it is already in the world. 4 You are from God, (ABL)little children, and (ABM)have overcome them; because (ABN)greater is He who is in you than (ABO)he who is in the world. 5 (ABP)They are from the world; therefore they speak as from the world, and the world listens to them. 6 (ABQ)We are from God; (ABR)he who knows God listens to us; (ABS)he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know (ABT)the spirit of truth and (ABU)the spirit of error.
God Is Love
7 (ABV)Beloved, let us (ABW)love one another, for love is from God; and (ABX)everyone who loves is [fo](ABY)born of God and (ABZ)knows God. 8 The one who does not love does not know God, for (ACA)God is love. 9 By this the love of God was manifested [fp](ACB)in us, that (ACC)God has sent His [fq]only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, (ACD)not that we loved God, but that (ACE)He loved us and sent His Son to be (ACF)the propitiation for our sins. 11 (ACG)Beloved, if God so loved us, (ACH)we also ought to love one another. 12 (ACI)No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His (ACJ)love is perfected in us. 13 (ACK)By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. 14 We have seen and (ACL)testify that the Father has (ACM)sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.
15 (ACN)Whoever confesses that (ACO)Jesus is the Son of God, God (ACP)abides in him, and he in God. 16 (ACQ)We have come to know and have believed the love which God has [fr](ACR)for us. (ACS)God is love, and the one who (ACT)abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17 By this, (ACU)love is perfected with us, so that we may have (ACV)confidence in (ACW)the day of judgment; because (ACX)as He is, so also are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but (ACY)perfect love casts out fear, because fear [fs]involves punishment, and the one who fears is not (ACZ)perfected in love. 19 (ADA)We love, because He first loved us. 20 (ADB)If someone says, “I love God,” and (ADC)hates his brother, he is a (ADD)liar; for (ADE)the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, (ADF)cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And (ADG)this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God (ADH)should love his brother also.
Overcoming the World
5 (ADI)Whoever believes that Jesus is the [ft]Christ is [fu](ADJ)born of God, and whoever loves the [fv]Father (ADK)loves the child [fw]born of Him. 2 (ADL)By this we know that (ADM)we love the children of God, when we love God and [fx]observe His commandments. 3 For (ADN)this is the love of God, that we (ADO)keep His commandments; and (ADP)His commandments are not burdensome. 4 For whatever is [fy](ADQ)born of God (ADR)overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
5 Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who (ADS)believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 6 This is the One who came (ADT)by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not [fz]with the water only, but [ga]with the water and [gb]with the blood. It is (ADU)the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7 For there are (ADV)three that testify: 8 [gc]the Spirit and the water and the blood; and the three are [gd]in agreement. 9 (ADW)If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater; for the testimony of God is this, that (ADX)He has testified concerning His Son. 10 The one who believes in the Son of God (ADY)has the testimony in himself; the one who does not believe God has (ADZ)made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning His Son. 11 And the testimony is this, that God has given us (AEA)eternal life, and (AEB)this life is in His Son. 12 (AEC)He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.
This Is Written That You May Know
13 (AED)These things I have written to you who (AEE)believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have (AEF)eternal life. 14 This is (AEG)the confidence which we have [ge]before Him, that, (AEH)if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, (AEI)we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.
16 If anyone sees his brother [gf]committing a sin not leading to death, (AEJ)he shall ask and [gg]God will for him give life to those who commit sin not leading to death. (AEK)There is a sin leading to death; (AEL)I do not say that he should make request for this. 17 (AEM)All unrighteousness is sin, and (AEN)there is a sin not leading to death.
18 (AEO)We know that (AEP)no one who is [gh]born of God sins; but He who was [gi]born of God (AEQ)keeps him, and (AER)the evil one does not (AES)touch him. 19 (AET)We know that (AEU)we are of God, and that (AEV)the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. 20 And (AEW)we know that (AEX)the Son of God has come, and has (AEY)given us understanding so that we may know (AEZ)Him who is true; and we (AFA)are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. (AFB)This is the true God and (AFC)eternal life.
21 (AFD)Little children, guard yourselves from (AFE)idols.
Walk According to His Commandments
1 (AFF)The elder to the (AFG)chosen (AFH)lady and her children, whom I (AFI)love in truth; and not only I, but also all who (AFJ)know the truth, 2 for (AFK)the sake of the truth which abides (AFL)in us and will be (AFM)with us forever: 3 (AFN)Grace, mercy and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
4 (AFO)I was very glad to find some of your children walking in truth, just as we have received commandment to do from the Father. 5 Now I ask you, lady, (AFP)not as though I were writing to you a new commandment, but the one which we have had (AFQ)from the beginning, that we (AFR)love one another. 6 And (AFS)this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, (AFT)just as you have heard (AFU)from the beginning, that you should walk in it.
7 For (AFV)many deceivers have (AFW)gone out into the world, those who (AFX)do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is (AFY)the deceiver and the (AFZ)antichrist. 8 (AGA)Watch yourselves, (AGB)that you do not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward. 9 [gj]Anyone who [gk]goes too far and (AGC)does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, (AGD)do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; 11 for the one who gives him a greeting (AGE)participates in his evil deeds.
12 (AGF)Though I have many things to write to you, I do not want to do so with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak face to face, so that [gl]your (AGG)joy may be made full.
13 The children of your (AGH)chosen sister greet you.
You Walk in the Truth
1 (AGI)The elder to the beloved (AGJ)Gaius, whom I (AGK)love in truth.
2 Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. 3 For I (AGL)was very glad when (AGM)brethren came and testified to your truth, that is, how you (AGN)are walking in truth. 4 I have no greater joy than [gm]this, to hear of (AGO)my children (AGP)walking in the truth.
5 Beloved, you are acting faithfully in whatever you accomplish for the (AGQ)brethren, and [gn]especially when they are (AGR)strangers; 6 and they have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to (AGS)send them on their way in a manner (AGT)worthy of God. 7 For they went out for the sake of (AGU)the Name, (AGV)accepting nothing from the Gentiles. 8 Therefore we ought to [go]support such men, so that we may [gp]be fellow workers [gq]with the truth.
9 I wrote something to the church; but Diotrephes, who loves to (AGW)be first among them, does not accept [gr]what we say. 10 For this reason, (AGX)if I come, I will call attention to his deeds which he does, unjustly accusing us with wicked words; and not satisfied with this, he himself does not (AGY)receive the (AGZ)brethren, either, and he forbids those who desire to do so and (AHA)puts them out of the church.
11 Beloved, (AHB)do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. (AHC)The one who does good is of God; (AHD)the one who does evil has not seen God. 12 Demetrius (AHE)has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself; and we add our testimony, and (AHF)you know that our testimony is true.
13 (AHG)I had many things to write to you, but I am not willing to write them to you with pen and ink; 14 but I hope to see you shortly, and we will speak face to face.
15 (AHH)Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends (AHI)by name.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.