Old/New Testament
39 At the same time, Merodach-Baladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babel, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah. For he had heard that he had been sick and had recovered.
2 And Hezekiah was glad for them, and showed them the house of the treasures, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armor, and all that was found in his treasures. There was nothing in his house, nor in all his kingdom, that Hezekiah did not show them.
3 Then came Isaiah the Prophet to King Hezekiah, and said to him, “What did these men say? And from where have they come to you?” And Hezekiah said, “They have come to me from a far country, from Babel.”
4 Then he said, “What have they seen in your house?” And Hezekiah answered, “They have seen all that is in my house. There is nothing among my treasures that I have not shown them.”
5 And Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the Word of the LORD of Hosts,
6 ‘Behold, the days come that all that is in your house, and which your fathers have laid up in store until this day, shall be carried to Babel. Nothing shall be left,’ says the LORD.
7 ‘And your sons who shall proceed out of you, which you shall beget, they shall take away. And they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babel.’”
8 Then said Hezekiah to Isaiah, “The Word of the LORD which you have spoken is good.” And he said, “For there is peace and truth in my days.”
40 “Comfort! Comfort My people,” says your God.
2 “Speak comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry to her, so that her warfare is accomplished, and that her iniquity is pardoned. For she has received double from the LORD’s Hand for all her sins.”
3 A voice cries in the wilderness, “Prepare the way of the LORD! Make straight a path for our God in the desert!
4 “Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill shall be made low. And the crooked shall be straight and the rough places level.
5 “And the Glory of the LORD shall be revealed. And all flesh shall see it together. For the Mouth of the LORD has spoken it.”
6 A voice said, “Cry!” And he said, “What shall I cry? All flesh is grass and all its beauty as the flowers of the field.
7 “The grass withers, the flower fades, because the Spirit of the LORD blows upon it. Surely, the people are grass.
8 “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our God shall stand forever.”
9 O Zion, that brings good tidings, get yourself up into the high mountain. O Jerusalem, that brings good tidings, lift up your voice with strength! Lift it up! Do not be afraid! Say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!”
10 Behold, the LORD God will come with power. And His Arm shall rule for Him. Behold, His reward is with Him, and His work before Him.
11 He shall feed His flock like a shepherd. He shall gather the lambs with His Arm and carry them in His Bosom and shall guide those with young.
12 Who has measured the waters in his fist, and counted heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the Earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains on a scale, and the hills in a balance?
13 Who has instructed the Spirit of the LORD, or was His counselor, or taught Him?
14 Of whom took He counsel, and who instructed Him and taught Him in the way of judgment, or taught Him knowledge, and showed to Him the way of understanding?
15 Behold, the nations are as a drop in a bucket, and are counted as the dust of the balance. Behold, He takes away the isles as a little dust.
16 And Lebanon is not sufficient for fire, nor its beasts sufficient for a Burnt Offering.
17 All nations are as nothing before Him. And they are counted to Him less than nothing and vanity.
18 To whom, then, will you liken God? Or what likeness will you set up for Him?
19 The workman melts an image, or the goldsmith beats it out in gold, or the silversmith in silver plates.
20 Do not the poor choose a tree that will not rot for an oblation? He also seeks a cunning workman to prepare an image that shall not be shaken.
21 Know you nothing? Have you not heard it? Has it not been told to you from the beginning? Have you not understood it from the foundation of the Earth?
22 He sits upon the circle of the Earth, and its inhabitants are as grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens as a curtain, and spreads them out as a tent in which to dwell.
23 He brings the princes to nothing, makes the judges of the Earth as vanity,
24 as though they were not planted, as though they were not sown, as though their stock took no root in the Earth. For He but blew upon them and they withered. And the whirlwind will take them away as stubble.
25 “To whom now will you liken Me, that I should be like?” says the Holy One.
26 Lift up your eyes on high and behold who has created these things, and brings out their armies by number, and calls them all by names. By the greatness of His power and mighty strength nothing fails.
27 Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the LORD. And my judgment is passed over by my God?”
28 Do you not know? Have you not heard that the everlasting God, the LORD, has created the ends of the Earth? He neither faints nor is weary. There is no searching of His understanding.
29 He gives strength to him who faints. And to him who has no strength, he increases power.
30 Even the youth shall faint and be weary. And the young men shall stumble and fall.
31 But those who wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength. They shall ascend with wings, as the eagles. They shall run and not be weary. And they shall walk and not faint.
4 Masters, do to your servants that which is just and equal, knowing that you also have a master in Heaven.
2 Be steadfast in prayer, watching with thanksgiving;
3 praying also for us that God may open a door of utterance to us to speak the mystery of Christ (because of which I am also in bonds);
4 that I should make it clear as it behooves me to speak.
5 Walk wisely toward those who are outside, rescuing lost time.
6 Let your speech always be gracious, having been seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer each one.
7 Tychicus, our beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord, shall make known to you my whole state.
8 I have sent him to you for the same purpose, so that he might know your state and might comfort your hearts
9 with Onesimus, a faithful and a beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known to you all things here.
10 Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, salutes you; and Marcus, Barnabas’ cousin (concerning whom you received the commandment: ‘If he comes to you, receive him.’);
11 and Jesus, who is called Justus. These are my only fellow workers for the Kingdom of God who are of the circumcision. They have been a comfort to me.
12 Epaphras, the servant of Christ (who is one of you) greets you and always contends for you in prayers - that you may stand perfect and full in all the will of God.
13 For I bear witness of him, that he has a great zeal for you and for those of Laodicea and those of Hierapolis.
14 Luke, the beloved physician, greets you; and Demas.
15 Greet the brothers who are of Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house.
16 And when this letter is read among you, have it read in the church of the Laodiceans also, and that you likewise read the letter written from Laodicea.
17 And say to Archippus, ‘Pay attention to the ministry that you have received in the Lord, so that you may fulfill it.’
18 This greeting is by the hand of me, Paul. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. Amen.
(written from Rome to the Colossians, and sent by Tychicus and Onesimus.)
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