Read the New Testament in 24 Weeks
8 Now, to say over, all of you be an agudah (bound together union) in your thinking, have achdus, be sympathetic, having ahavah (agape) for the Achim b’Moshiach [Tehillim 133:1], being tenderhearted men of mercy v’shiflei ruach (and lowly of spirit),
9 Not rendering ra’ah for ra’ah or lashon hora for lashon hora, but, fahkert (on the contrary), rendering a bracha (blessing), because to this tachlis (purpose) you were given your kri’ah (calling), that you may inherit a bracha (blessing).
10 HAISH HECHAFETZ CHAYYIM OHEV YAMIM LIROT TOV ("For the one wanting to love life and to see good days") NETZOR L’SHONECHA MERAH U’SFATECHA MIDABER MIRMAH ("Let him stop his tongue from speaking lashon hora and his lips from speaking remiyah [guile, fraud, deceit]."
11 “Let him turn away from resha and let him do that which is good, let him seek shalom and pursue it");
12 EINEI ADONOI EL TZADDIKIM V’AZNAV EL SHAV’ATAM ("Because the tzaddikim are before the eyes of Hashem and His ears are open to their tefillos." P’NEI ADONOI B’OSEI RAH L’HACHRIT ME’A’RETZ ZICHRAM ("But the face of the L-rd is against the ones doing evil to cut off their memory from the earth" TEHILLIM 34:13-17).
13 And who is the one harming you if you have kana’ut (zeal) for HaTov (The Good)?
14 But if indeed you should suffer tzoros because of Tzidkat Hashem, you are blessed and happy. But do not fear their pachad (terror), neither be troubled.
15 But reverence in your levavot Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach as Adoneinu, prepared always for a hitstaddekut (an apologetic defense) to everyone coming to you with a she’elah (question), ready with a word concerning the tikvah in you,
16 But with anavah (meekness) and yirat Shomayim, having a clear matzpun (conscience [3:21]), so that, when you are maligned by lashon hora, your abusers may be humiliated by your midas chasidus in Moshiach.
17 For im yirtzeh Hashem (if the L-rd wills), it is better to suffer tzoros for doing mitzvot than for doing ra’ah.
18 Because, indeed, Moshiach suffered once on behalf of chatta’im (sins), a Tzaddik (righteous one) on behalf of the chote’im (unrighteous ones, sinners), that he might bring you to Hashem he, having been in the basar [TEHILLIM 16:9-10] put to death, yet, in the Ruach Hakodesh, having been made alive [4:6]; [see Isa 53:8]
19 In which also to the ruchot (spirits) in mishmar (prison), having gone, Moshiach made the hachrazah (proclamation, kerygma)
20 To ones without mishma’at (obedience) back then when the zitzfleisch (patience) of Hashem was waiting, in the days of Noach, while the Teva (Ark) was being prepared, in which a few, that is shemoneh nefashot (eight souls), were delivered through that mabbul’s mikveh mayim;
21 And Moshiach’s tevilah in the mikveh mayim, which this mabbul prefigures, now delivers you, not by means of the removal of filth from the basar, but through the hitchaiy’vut (pledge) of a clean matzpun toward Hashem, through the Techiyas HaMoshiach Yehoshua,
22 Who is at the right hand of Hashem, having gone into Shomayim, with malachim and rashuyot (authorities) and gevurot under his feet.
4 Therefore, als (since) Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach underwent bodily yissurim (sufferings [4:13]), also you arm yourselves with the same way of thinking as Moshiach, because the one having suffered in the basar (flesh) has finished with chet (sin)
2 So as no longer to live the remaining time of the Olam Hazeh in the basar, in the ta’avot Bnei Adam (lusts of men), but in the ratzon Hashem (will of G-d).
3 For you have already spent sufficient time (time already gone by) in the Olam Hazeh participating in the ta’avot (lusts) of the Goyim, walking in darchei zimah (the ways of licentiousness), ta’avot (lusts), shichrut (drunkenness), orgiastic drinking mesibot (parties), and unlawful avodas elilim (idolatry).
4 The Goyim think it strange [4:12] that you are not running with them into the same mabbul (flood) of dissipation, and so they blaspheme and commit Chillul Hashem.
5 But they will give an account to the One being ready to take his moshav (seat) as the Shofet of HaChayyim v’HaMesim (the Living and the Dead).
6 For, indeed, this is the reason that the Besuras HaGeulah was preached to the mesim (dead ones, i.e., those who have died in the L-rd), that, though judged in the basar according to men [MJ 12:23; Yn 5:25; 1Th 4:13-18], they might live according to G-d in the spirit.
7 The Ketz (End) of all things now has drawn near. Let your thinking be one of zililut da’as (sobermindedness), therefore, and exercise kibush hayetzer (self-control), for the sake of your tefillos.
8 Above all else, have fervent ahavah among yourselves, for AHAVAH KOL PEYSHA’IM T’CHASSEH ("love covers all wrongs” MISHLE 10:12).
9 Practice hachnosas orchim (hospitality) with one another without kevetching,
10 Each one according as he received a mattanah (gift), as k’lei kodesh ministering to one another, mefakkechim tovim (good stewards, supervisors) of the varied Chen v’Chesed Hashem.
11 If anyone speaks, let it be as though it were the oracles of Hashem; if anyone ministers, let it be as by the chozek (strength) which Hashem supplies, that in all things Hashem may be glorified through Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach Yehoshua. Lo HaKavod V’HaOz L’Olemei Olamim. Omein (To whom be the glory and the power into the ages of the ages. Omein.)
12 Chaverim, do not be surprised at the masah (trial) of eish (fire) among you coming for you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you.
13 But in so far as you share in the yissurim (sufferings) of Moshiach, in the Chevlei HaMoshiach, be glad that also in the Hisgalus (Revelation, Apocalypse) of his Kavod, you may have simcha and sasson.
14 If you are reproached for the Shem HaMoshiach, ashrei (happy, blessed) are you, because the Ruach of Kavod and of Hashem [YESHAYAH 11:2] rests upon you.
15 Let not any of you suffer as a rotzeach (murderer) or a ganav (thief) or an oseh ra’ah (an evil doer) or as one who is mitarev (meddlesome).
16 But if any one of you suffers as a ma’amin b’Moshiach (believer in Moshiach), let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify Hashem by this Name.
17 Because the time has come to begin the Mishpat from the Beis Hashem; and if the Mishpat begins with us, what will be the toitzaa (outcome) of the ones without mishma’at (obedience) to the Besuras HaGeulah of Hashem?
18 And if indeed the Tzaddik is saved with difficulty, where will appear the man without chasidus [in Moshiach], the choteh and the rashah [see quoted MISHLE 11:31]?
19 Therefore, the ones undergoing sevalot (sufferings, yissurim) according to the ratzon Hashem, let them commit their nefashot to a trustworthy Yotzer (Creator) while they continue to do ma’asim tovim.
5 Therefore, I give this word of chozek to the Zekenim (Elders [see SHEMOT 12:21]) among you I, as a fellow Zaken (Elder) and as an Eidus (Witness) of the sevalot (sufferings) of Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, and also as a partaker of the Kavod about to be unveiled:
2 Exercise the avodas hakodesh ministry of Ro’eh (Shepherd) on behalf of the Eder Hashem (Flock of G-d [YIRMEYAH 13:17]) among you, serving as Mashgichim Ruchaniyim (Spiritual Overseers), not unwillingly, for the sake of dishonest gelt, but willingly, eagerly, in conformity with Hashem,
3 Not as domineering the ones assigned by Hashem to your oversight, but being a mofet (example) for the tzon (flock).
4 After the Sar HaRo’im (Chief of Shepherds) has been manifested [1:20], you will receive the unfading Ateret HaKavod (Crown of Glory).
5 Likewise, bochrim (young men), be submissive to the Zekenim (Elders) and clothe yourselves in the kaftan of anavah (humility) toward one another, because IM LALETZIM HU YALITZ V’LA’ANAYIM YITEN CHEN ("Indeed Hashem scorns the scorners, but gives grace to the humble” MISHLE 3:34).
6 Therefore, be humbled under the mighty hand of Hashem, that you may be exalted in due time.
7 HASHLECH AL ADONOI Y’HAVECHA V’HU Y’CHALKELECHA ("Cast your care on Hashem and He will sustain you" TEHILLIM 55:23), because Hashem cares and is concerned about you.
8 Be shomer in zililut da’as (sober-mindedness). Your adversary Hasatan [Samma’el], prowls around like a roaring arye (lion), seeking whom to swallow.
9 Oppose him, firm in emunah, knowing that in the Olam Hazeh, the same Chevlei [Moshiach] are to be laid upon HaAchim b’Moshiach.
10 Now the Elohei Kol Chen v’Chesed (the G-d of all Grace), the one having bestowed upon you the kri’ah (calling) into His eternal kavod in Moshiach Yehoshua, after you have suffered tzoros for a little while, will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen and establish you.
11 Lo HaKavod V’HaOz L’Olemei Olamim. Omein.
12 To you, through Sila HaAch HaNe’eman (the Faithful Brother in Moshiach), as such I regard him, I have written you briefly, a dvar chizzuk, encouraging you and giving edut (testimony) that this is the true Chen v’Chesed Hashem in which you stand.
13 Drishat Shalom to you from your coequal Nivcharah (Chosen One), she in Babel. Drishat Shalom also from Markos, beni.
14 Greet one another with a neshikat ahavah (kiss of agape). Drishat Shalom to all of you, the ones in Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach.
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