20 Now may the God of peace—

    who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus,

the great Shepherd of the sheep,

    and ratified an eternal covenant with his blood—

21 may he equip you with all you need

    for doing his will.

May he produce in you,[a]

    through the power of Jesus Christ,

every good thing that is pleasing to him.

    All glory to him forever and ever! Amen.

1 Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth!

2 Worship the Lord with gladness.

    Come before him, singing with joy.

3 Acknowledge that the Lord is God!

    He made us, and we are his.

    We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving;

    go into his courts with praise.

    Give thanks to him and praise his name.

5 For the Lord is good.

    His unfailing love continues forever,

    and his faithfulness continues to each generation.

19 “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

22 “Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. 23 But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!

24 “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.

25 “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? 27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

28 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

12 Hatred stirs up quarrels,

    but love makes up for all offenses.

13 Wise words come from the lips of people with understanding,

    but those lacking sense will be beaten with a rod.

14 Wise people treasure knowledge,

    but the babbling of a fool invites disaster.

15 The wealth of the rich is their fortress;

    the poverty of the poor is their destruction.

16 The earnings of the godly enhance their lives,

    but evil people squander their money on sin.

17 People who accept discipline are on the pathway to life,

    but those who ignore correction will go astray.

18 Hiding hatred makes you a liar;

    slandering others makes you a fool.

19 Too much talk leads to sin.

    Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.

20 The words of the godly are like sterling silver;

    the heart of a fool is worthless.

17 When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not lead them along the main road that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest route to the Promised Land. God said, “If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” 18 So God led them in a roundabout way through the wilderness toward the Red Sea. Thus the Israelites left Egypt like an army ready for battle.[b]

19 Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for Joseph had made the sons of Israel swear to do this. He said, “God will certainly come to help you. When he does, you must take my bones with you from this place.”

20 The Israelites left Succoth and camped at Etham on the edge of the wilderness. 21 The Lord went ahead of them. He guided them during the day with a pillar of cloud, and he provided light at night with a pillar of fire. This allowed them to travel by day or by night. 22 And the Lord did not remove the pillar of cloud or pillar of fire from its place in front of the people.

44 “Our ancestors carried the Tabernacle with them through the wilderness. It was constructed according to the plan God had shown to Moses. 45 Years later, when Joshua led our ancestors in battle against the nations that God drove out of this land, the Tabernacle was taken with them into their new territory. And it stayed there until the time of King David.

46 “David found favor with God and asked for the privilege of building a permanent Temple for the God of Jacob. 47 But it was Solomon who actually built it. 48 However, the Most High doesn’t live in temples made by human hands. As the prophet says,

49 ‘Heaven is my throne,

    and the earth is my footstool.

Could you build me a temple as good as that?’

    asks the Lord.

‘Could you build me such a resting place?

50 Didn’t my hands make both heaven and earth?’

51 “You stubborn people! You are heathen[d] at heart and deaf to the truth. Must you forever resist the Holy Spirit? That’s what your ancestors did, and so do you! 52 Name one prophet your ancestors didn’t persecute! They even killed the ones who predicted the coming of the Righteous One—the Messiah whom you betrayed and murdered. 53 You deliberately disobeyed God’s law, even though you received it from the hands of angels.”

54 The Jewish leaders were infuriated by Stephen’s accusation, and they shook their fists at him in rage. 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily into heaven and saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 56 And he told them, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand!”

1 Lord, hear my prayer!

    Listen to my plea!

2 Don’t turn away from me

    in my time of distress.

Bend down to listen,

    and answer me quickly when I call to you.

3 For my days disappear like smoke,

    and my bones burn like red-hot coals.

4 My heart is sick, withered like grass,

    and I have lost my appetite.

5 Because of my groaning,

    I am reduced to skin and bones.

6 I am like an owl in the desert,

    like a little owl in a far-off wilderness.

7 I lie awake,

    lonely as a solitary bird on the roof.

8 My enemies taunt me day after day.

    They mock and curse me.

9 I eat ashes for food.

    My tears run down into my drink

10 because of your anger and wrath.

    For you have picked me up and thrown me out.

11 My life passes as swiftly as the evening shadows.

    I am withering away like grass.

12 But you, O Lord, will sit on your throne forever.

    Your fame will endure to every generation.

13 You will arise and have mercy on Jerusalem—

    and now is the time to pity her,

    now is the time you promised to help.

14 For your people love every stone in her walls

    and cherish even the dust in her streets.

15 Then the nations will tremble before the Lord.

    The kings of the earth will tremble before his glory.

16 For the Lord will rebuild Jerusalem.

    He will appear in his glory.

17 He will listen to the prayers of the destitute.

    He will not reject their pleas.

1 “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. 2 For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.

3 “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? 4 How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.

6 “Don’t waste what is holy on people who are unholy.Don’t throw your pearls to pigs! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you.

7 “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

9 “You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? 10 Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! 11 So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.

12 “Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.

13 “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way.

21 The words of the godly encourage many,

    but fools are destroyed by their lack of common sense.

22 The blessing of the Lord makes a person rich,

    and he adds no sorrow with it.

23 Doing wrong is fun for a fool,

    but living wisely brings pleasure to the sensible.

24 The fears of the wicked will be fulfilled;

    the hopes of the godly will be granted.

25 When the storms of life come, the wicked are whirled away,

    but the godly have a lasting foundation.

26 Lazy people irritate their employers,

    like vinegar to the teeth or smoke in the eyes.

27 Fear of the Lord lengthens one’s life,

    but the years of the wicked are cut short.

28 The hopes of the godly result in happiness,

    but the expectations of the wicked come to nothing.

29 The way of the Lord is a stronghold to those with integrity,

    but it destroys the wicked.

30 The godly will never be disturbed,

    but the wicked will be removed from the land.

31 The mouth of the godly person gives wise advice,

    but the tongue that deceives will be cut off.

32 The lips of the godly speak helpful words,

    but the mouth of the wicked speaks perverse words.

8 Then God told Noah and his sons, 9 “I hereby confirm my covenant with you and your descendants, 10 and with all the animals that were on the boat with you—the birds, the livestock, and all the wild animals—every living creature on earth. 11 Yes, I am confirming my covenant with you. Never again will floodwaters kill all living creatures; never again will a flood destroy the earth.”

12 Then God said, “I am giving you a sign of my covenant with you and with all living creatures, for all generations to come. 13 I have placed my rainbow in the clouds. It is the sign of my covenant with you and with all the earth. 14 When I send clouds over the earth, the rainbow will appear in the clouds, 15 and I will remember my covenant with you and with all living creatures. Never again will the floodwaters destroy all life. 16 When I see the rainbow in the clouds, I will remember the eternal covenant between God and every living creature on earth.” 17 Then God said to Noah, “Yes, this rainbow is the sign of the covenant I am confirming with all the creatures on earth.”

8 Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. 9 Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing. 10 For the Scriptures say, “If you want to enjoy life

    and see many happy days,

keep your tongue from speaking evil

    and your lips from telling lies.

11 Turn away from evil and do good.

    Search for peace, and work to maintain it.

12 The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right,

    and his ears are open to their prayers.

But the Lord turns his face

    against those who do evil.”

1 Sing a new song to the Lord,

    for he has done wonderful deeds.

His right hand has won a mighty victory;

    his holy arm has shown his saving power!

2 The Lord has announced his victory

    and has revealed his righteousness to every nation!

3 He has remembered his promise to love and be faithful to Israel.

    The ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.

4 Shout to the Lord, all the earth;

    break out in praise and sing for joy!

5 Sing your praise to the Lord with the harp,

    with the harp and melodious song,

6 with trumpets and the sound of the ram’s horn.

    Make a joyful symphony before the Lord, the King!

7 Let the sea and everything in it shout his praise!

    Let the earth and all living things join in.

8 Let the rivers clap their hands in glee!

    Let the hills sing out their songs of joy

9 before the Lord,

    for he is coming to judge the earth.

He will judge the world with justice,

    and the nations with fairness.

15 “Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. 16 You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. 18 A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. 19 So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. 20 Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.

21 “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. 22 On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ 23 But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’

24 “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. 25 Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. 26 But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. 27 When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”

28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 for he taught with real authority—quite unlike their teachers of religious law.

1 The Lord detests the use of dishonest scales,

    but he delights in accurate weights.

2 Pride leads to disgrace,

    but with humility comes wisdom.

3 Honesty guides good people;

    dishonesty destroys treacherous people.

4 Riches won’t help on the day of judgment,

    but right living can save you from death.

5 The godly are directed by honesty;

    the wicked fall beneath their load of sin.

6 The godliness of good people rescues them;

    the ambition of treacherous people traps them.

7 When the wicked die, their hopes die with them,

    for they rely on their own feeble strength.

8 The godly are rescued from trouble,

    and it falls on the wicked instead.

9 With their words, the godless destroy their friends,

    but knowledge will rescue the righteous.

10 The whole city celebrates when the godly succeed;

    they shout for joy when the wicked die.

11 Upright citizens are good for a city and make it prosper,

    but the talk of the wicked tears it apart.

1 After the ordination ceremony, on the eighth day, Moses called together Aaron and his sons and the elders of Israel. 2 He said to Aaron, “Take a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering, both without defects, and present them to the Lord. 3 Then tell the Israelites, ‘Take a male goat for a sin offering, and take a calf and a lamb, both a year old and without defects, for a burnt offering. 4 Also take a bull and a ram for a peace offering and flour moistened with olive oil for a grain offering. Present all these offerings to the Lord because the Lord will appear to you today.’”

5 So the people presented all these things at the entrance of the Tabernacle, just as Moses had commanded. Then the whole community came forward and stood before the Lord. 6 And Moses said, “This is what the Lord has commanded you to do so that the glory of the Lord may appear to you.”

7 Then Moses said to Aaron, “Come to the altar and sacrifice your sin offering and your burnt offering to purify yourself and the people. Then present the offerings of the people to purify them, making them right with the Lord, just as he has commanded.”

8 So Aaron went to the altar and slaughtered the calf as a sin offering for himself. 9 His sons brought him the blood, and he dipped his finger in it and put it on the horns of the altar. He poured out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar. 10 Then he burned on the altar the fat, the kidneys, and the long lobe of the liver from the sin offering, just as the Lord had commanded Moses. 11 The meat and the hide, however, he burned outside the camp.

7 The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers. 8 Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay.

10 God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. 11 Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.

1 The Lord is king!

    Let the nations tremble!

He sits on his throne between the cherubim.

    Let the whole earth quake!

2 The Lord sits in majesty in Jerusalem,

    exalted above all the nations.

3 Let them praise your great and awesome name.

    Your name is holy!

4 Mighty King, lover of justice,

    you have established fairness.

You have acted with justice

    and righteousness throughout Israel.

5 Exalt the Lord our God!

    Bow low before his feet, for he is holy!

6 Moses and Aaron were among his priests;

    Samuel also called on his name.

They cried to the Lord for help,

    and he answered them.

7 He spoke to Israel from the pillar of cloud,

    and they followed the laws and decrees he gave them.

8 O Lord our God, you answered them.

    You were a forgiving God to them,

    but you punished them when they went wrong.

9 Exalt the Lord our God,

    and worship at his holy mountain in Jerusalem,

    for the Lord our God is holy!

1 Large crowds followed Jesus as he came down the mountainside. 2 Suddenly, a man with leprosy approached him and knelt before him. “Lord,” the man said, “if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.”

3 Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” And instantly the leprosy disappeared. 4 Then Jesus said to him, “Don’t tell anyone about this. Instead, go to the priest and let him examine you. Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy. This will be a public testimony that you have been cleansed.”

5 When Jesus returned to Capernaum, a Roman officer came and pleaded with him, 6 “Lord, my young servant lies in bed, paralyzed and in terrible pain.”

7 Jesus said, “I will come and heal him.”

8 But the officer said, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. 9 I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it.”

10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to those who were following him, he said, “I tell you the truth, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel! 11 And I tell you this, that many Gentiles will come from all over the world—from east and west—and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven. 12 But many Israelites—those for whom the Kingdom was prepared—will be thrown into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

13 Then Jesus said to the Roman officer, “Go back home. Because you believed, it has happened.” And the young servant was healed that same hour.

14 When Jesus arrived at Peter’s house, Peter’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with a high fever. 15 But when Jesus touched her hand, the fever left her. Then she got up and prepared a meal for him.

16 That evening many demon-possessed people were brought to Jesus. He cast out the evil spirits with a simple command, and he healed all the sick. 17 This fulfilled the word of the Lord through the prophet Isaiah, who said,

“He took our sicknesses and removed our diseases.”

12 It is foolish to belittle one’s neighbor;

    a sensible person keeps quiet.

13 A gossip goes around telling secrets,

    but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence.

14 Without wise leadership, a nation falls;

    there is safety in having many advisers.

15 There’s danger in putting up security for a stranger’s debt;

    it’s safer not to guarantee another person’s debt.

16 A gracious woman gains respect,

    but ruthless men gain only wealth.

17 Your kindness will reward you,

    but your cruelty will destroy you.

18 Evil people get rich for the moment,

    but the reward of the godly will last.

19 Godly people find life;

    evil people find death.

20 The Lord detests people with crooked hearts,

    but he delights in those with integrity.

21 Evil people will surely be punished,

    but the children of the godly will go free.

22 A beautiful woman who lacks discretion

    is like a gold ring in a pig’s snout.

23 The godly can look forward to a reward,

    while the wicked can expect only judgment.

24 Give freely and become more wealthy;

    be stingy and lose everything.

25 The generous will prosper;

    those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.

26 People curse those who hoard their grain,

    but they bless the one who sells in time of need.

27 If you search for good, you will find favor;

    but if you search for evil, it will find you!

28 Trust in your money and down you go!

    But the godly flourish like leaves in spring.

29 Those who bring trouble on their families inherit the wind.

    The fool will be a servant to the wise.

30 The seeds of good deeds become a tree of life;

    a wise person wins friends.

31 If the righteous are rewarded here on earth,

    what will happen to wicked sinners?

18 Then the Lord will pity his people

    and jealously guard the honor of his land.

19 The Lord will reply,

“Look! I am sending you grain and new wine and olive oil,

    enough to satisfy your needs.

You will no longer be an object of mockery

    among the surrounding nations.

20 I will drive away these armies from the north.

    I will send them into the parched wastelands.

Those in the front will be driven into the Dead Sea,

    and those at the rear into the Mediterranean.

The stench of their rotting bodies will rise over the land.”

Surely the Lord has done great things!

21 Don’t be afraid, O land.

Be glad now and rejoice,

    for the Lord has done great things.

22 Don’t be afraid, you animals of the field,

    for the wilderness pastures will soon be green.

The trees will again be filled with fruit;

    fig trees and grapevines will be loaded down once more.

23 Rejoice, you people of Jerusalem!

    Rejoice in the Lord your God!

For the rain he sends demonstrates his faithfulness.

    Once more the autumn rains will come,

    as well as the rains of spring.

24 The threshing floors will again be piled high with grain,

    and the presses will overflow with new wine and olive oil.

25 The Lord says, “I will give you back what you lost

    to the swarming locusts, the hopping locusts,

the stripping locusts, and the cutting locusts.

    It was I who sent this great destroying army against you.

26 Once again you will have all the food you want,

    and you will praise the Lord your God,

who does these miracles for you.

    Never again will my people be disgraced.

27 Then you will know that I am among my people Israel,

    that I am the Lord your God, and there is no other.

    Never again will my people be disgraced.

28 “Then, after doing all those things,

    I will pour out my Spirit upon all people.

Your sons and daughters will prophesy.

    Your old men will dream dreams,

    and your young men will see visions.

29 In those days I will pour out my Spirit

    even on servants—men and women alike.