21 Days After City Week

Chosen and Set Apart: Walking in Your God-Given Identity

Generations

Next Steps | a 3-Day Skate Church Movement Devotional

Rise and Write: Overcoming 3 Common Obstacles Christian Writers Face

At Thy Word With Reverend Matthew Watley

Thriving at Work

52-Week Bible Reading Plan

Whole Bible in 11 Months: Chronologically Thematic

The Full Gospel

The Listener’s Bible®: NIV Edition

New International Version™  (Anglicised), Audio Edition

Holy Bible, New International Version™ (Anglicised), South Asian Audio Edition

<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bkPSA">
 <div class="chapter ch50" data-usfm="PSA.50">
 <div class="label">50</div><div class="cl">Psalm 50</div><div class="d">A psalm of Asaph.</div><div class="q1"> 1The Mighty One, God, the Lord,</div><div class="q2">speaks and summons the earth</div><div class="q2">from the rising of the sun to where it sets.</div><div class="q1"> 2From Zion, perfect in beauty,</div><div class="q2">God shines forth.</div><div class="q1"> 3Our God comes</div><div class="q2">and will not be silent;</div><div class="q1">a fire devours before him,</div><div class="q2">and around him a tempest rages.</div><div class="q1"> 4He summons the heavens above,</div><div class="q2">and the earth, that he may judge his people:</div><div class="q1"> 5&#8220;Gather to me this consecrated people,</div><div class="q2">who made a covenant with me by sacrifice.&#8221;</div><div class="q1"> 6And the heavens proclaim his righteousness,</div><div class="q2">for he is a God of justice.#50:6 With a different word division of the Hebrew; Masoretic Text for God himself is judge#50:6 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.</div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"> 7&#8220;Listen, my people, and I will speak;</div><div class="q2">I will testify against you, Israel:</div><div class="q2">I am God, your God.</div><div class="q1"> 8I bring no charges against you concerning your sacrifices</div><div class="q2">or concerning your burnt offerings, which are ever before me.</div><div class="q1"> 9I have no need of a bull from your stall</div><div class="q2">or of goats from your pens,</div><div class="q1"> 10for every animal of the forest is mine,</div><div class="q2">and the cattle on a thousand hills.</div><div class="q1"> 11I know every bird in the mountains,</div><div class="q2">and the insects in the fields are mine.</div><div class="q1"> 12If I were hungry I would not tell you,</div><div class="q2">for the world is mine, and all that is in it.</div><div class="q1"> 13Do I eat the flesh of bulls</div><div class="q2">or drink the blood of goats?</div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"> 14&#8220;Sacrifice thank offerings to God,</div><div class="q2">fulfill your vows to the Most High,</div><div class="q1"> 15and call on me in the day of trouble;</div><div class="q2">I will deliver you, and you will honor me.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 16But to the wicked person, God says:</div><div class="q1">&#8220;What right have you to recite my laws</div><div class="q2">or take my covenant on your lips?</div><div class="q1"> 17You hate my instruction</div><div class="q2">and cast my words behind you.</div><div class="q1"> 18When you see a thief, you join with him;</div><div class="q2">you throw in your lot with adulterers.</div><div class="q1"> 19You use your mouth for evil</div><div class="q2">and harness your tongue to deceit.</div><div class="q1"> 20You sit and testify against your brother</div><div class="q2">and slander your own mother&#8217;s son.</div><div class="q1"> 21When you did these things and I kept silent,</div><div class="q2">you thought I was exactly#50:21 Or thought the &#8216;I am&#8217; was like you.</div><div class="q1">But I now arraign you</div><div class="q2">and set my accusations before you.</div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"> 22&#8220;Consider this, you who forget God,</div><div class="q2">or I will tear you to pieces, with no one to rescue you:</div><div class="q1"> 23Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor me,</div><div class="q2">and to the blameless#50:23 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text; the meaning of the Masoretic Text for this phrase is uncertain. I will show my salvation.&#8221;</div>
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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bkPRO">
 <div class="chapter ch14" data-usfm="PRO.14">
 <div class="label">14</div><div class="q1"> 1The wise woman builds her house,</div><div class="q2">but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.</div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"> 2Whoever fears the Lord walks uprightly,</div><div class="q2">but those who despise him are devious in their ways.</div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"> 3A fool&#8217;s mouth lashes out with pride,</div><div class="q2">but the lips of the wise protect them.</div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"> 4Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty,</div><div class="q2">but from the strength of an ox come abundant harvests.</div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"> 5An honest witness does not deceive,</div><div class="q2">but a false witness pours out lies.</div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"> 6The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none,</div><div class="q2">but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.</div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"> 7Stay away from a fool,</div><div class="q2">for you will not find knowledge on their lips.</div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"> 8The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways,</div><div class="q2">but the folly of fools is deception.</div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"> 9Fools mock at making amends for sin,</div><div class="q2">but goodwill is found among the upright.</div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"> 10Each heart knows its own bitterness,</div><div class="q2">and no one else can share its joy.</div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"> 11The house of the wicked will be destroyed,</div><div class="q2">but the tent of the upright will flourish.</div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"> 12There is a way that appears to be right,</div><div class="q2">but in the end it leads to death.</div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"> 13Even in laughter the heart may ache,</div><div class="q2">and rejoicing may end in grief.</div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"> 14The faithless will be fully repaid for their ways,</div><div class="q2">and the good rewarded for theirs.</div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"> 15The simple believe anything,</div><div class="q2">but the prudent give thought to their steps.</div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"> 16The wise fear the Lord and shun evil,</div><div class="q2">but a fool is hotheaded and yet feels secure.</div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"> 17A quick-tempered person does foolish things,</div><div class="q2">and the one who devises evil schemes is hated.</div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"> 18The simple inherit folly,</div><div class="q2">but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.</div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"> 19Evildoers will bow down in the presence of the good,</div><div class="q2">and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.</div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"> 20The poor are shunned even by their neighbors,</div><div class="q2">but the rich have many friends.</div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"> 21It is a sin to despise one&#8217;s neighbor,</div><div class="q2">but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy.</div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"> 22Do not those who plot evil go astray?</div><div class="q2">But those who plan what is good find#14:22 Or show love and faithfulness.</div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"> 23All hard work brings a profit,</div><div class="q2">but mere talk leads only to poverty.</div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"> 24The wealth of the wise is their crown,</div><div class="q2">but the folly of fools yields folly.</div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"> 25A truthful witness saves lives,</div><div class="q2">but a false witness is deceitful.</div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"> 26Whoever fears the Lord has a secure fortress,</div><div class="q2">and for their children it will be a refuge.</div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"> 27The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,</div><div class="q2">turning a person from the snares of death.</div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"> 28A large population is a king&#8217;s glory,</div><div class="q2">but without subjects a prince is ruined.</div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"> 29Whoever is patient has great understanding,</div><div class="q2">but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.</div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"> 30A heart at peace gives life to the body,</div><div class="q2">but envy rots the bones.</div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"> 31Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker,</div><div class="q2">but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.</div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"> 32When calamity comes, the wicked are brought down,</div><div class="q2">but even in death the righteous seek refuge in God.</div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"> 33Wisdom reposes in the heart of the discerning</div><div class="q2">and even among fools she lets herself be known.#14:33 Hebrew; Septuagint and Syriac discerning / but in the heart of fools she is not known</div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"> 34Righteousness exalts a nation,</div><div class="q2">but sin condemns any people.</div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"> 35A king delights in a wise servant,</div><div class="q2">but a shameful servant arouses his fury.</div><div class="b"></div>
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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bkMAT">
 <div class="chapter ch22" data-usfm="MAT.22">
 <div class="label">22</div><div class="s1">The Parable of the Wedding Banquet</div><div class="p"> 1Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: 2&#8220;The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. 3He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come.</div><div class="p"> 4 &#8220;Then he sent some more servants and said, &#8216;Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.&#8217;</div><div class="p"> 5 &#8220;But they paid no attention and went off&#8212;one to his field, another to his business. 6The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them. 7The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.</div><div class="p"> 8 &#8220;Then he said to his servants, &#8216;The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. 9So go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.&#8217; 10So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, the bad as well as the good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.</div><div class="p"> 11 &#8220;But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. 12He asked, &#8216;How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?&#8217; The man was speechless.</div><div class="p"> 13 &#8220;Then the king told the attendants, &#8216;Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.&#8217;</div><div class="p"> 14 &#8220;For many are invited, but few are chosen.&#8221;</div><div class="s1">Paying the Imperial Tax to Caesar</div><div class="p"> 15Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. 16They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. &#8220;Teacher,&#8221; they said, &#8220;we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren&#8217;t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are. 17Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax#22:17 A special tax levied on subject peoples, not on Roman citizens to Caesar or not?&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 18But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, &#8220;You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? 19Show me the coin used for paying the tax.&#8221; They brought him a denarius, 20and he asked them, &#8220;Whose image is this? And whose inscription?&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 21&#8220;Caesar&#8217;s,&#8221; they replied.</div><div class="p">Then he said to them, &#8220;So give back to Caesar what is Caesar&#8217;s, and to God what is God&#8217;s.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 22When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.</div><div class="s1">Marriage at the Resurrection</div><div class="p"> 23That same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question. 24&#8220;Teacher,&#8221; they said, &#8220;Moses told us that if a man dies without having children, his brother must marry the widow and raise up offspring for him. 25Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died, and since he had no children, he left his wife to his brother. 26The same thing happened to the second and third brother, right on down to the seventh. 27Finally, the woman died. 28Now then, at the resurrection, whose wife will she be of the seven, since all of them were married to her?&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 29Jesus replied, &#8220;You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. 30At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven. 31But about the resurrection of the dead&#8212;have you not read what God said to you, 32&#8216;I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob&#8217;#22:32 Exodus 3:6? He is not the God of the dead but of the living.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 33When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at his teaching.</div><div class="s1">The Greatest Commandment</div><div class="p"> 34Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36&#8220;Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 37Jesus replied: &#8220;&#8198;&#8216;Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.&#8217;#22:37 Deut. 6:5 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: &#8216;Love your neighbor as yourself.&#8217;#22:39 Lev. 19:18 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.&#8221;</div><div class="s1">Whose Son Is the Messiah?</div><div class="p"> 41While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42&#8220;What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?&#8221;</div><div class="p">&#8220;The son of David,&#8221; they replied.</div><div class="p"> 43He said to them, &#8220;How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him &#8216;Lord&#8217;? For he says,</div><div class="q1"> 44 &#8220;&#8198;&#8216;The Lord said to my Lord:</div><div class="q2"> &#8220;Sit at my right hand</div><div class="q1"> until I put your enemies</div><div class="q2"> under your feet.&#8221;&#8198;&#8217; # 22:44 
 Psalm 110:1
 </div><div class="m"> 45 If then David calls him &#8216;Lord,&#8217; how can he be his son?&#8221; 46No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions.</div>
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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bk1CO">
 <div class="chapter ch7" data-usfm="1CO.7">
 <div class="label">7</div><div class="s1">Concerning Married Life</div><div class="p"> 1Now for the matters you wrote about: &#8220;It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.&#8221; 2But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband. 3The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife. 5Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6I say this as a concession, not as a command. 7I wish that all of you were as I am. But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.</div><div class="p"> 8Now to the unmarried#7:8 Or widowers and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do. 9But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.</div><div class="p"> 10To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. 11But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.</div><div class="p"> 12To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. 13And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. 14For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.</div><div class="p"> 15But if the unbeliever leaves, let it be so. The brother or the sister is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. 16How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?</div><div class="s1">Concerning Change of Status</div><div class="p"> 17Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. 18Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised. 19Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God&#8217;s commands is what counts. 20Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.</div><div class="p"> 21Were you a slave when you were called? Don&#8217;t let it trouble you&#8212;although if you can gain your freedom, do so. 22For the one who was a slave when called to faith in the Lord is the Lord&#8217;s freed person; similarly, the one who was free when called is Christ&#8217;s slave. 23You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of human beings. 24Brothers and sisters, each person, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.</div><div class="s1">Concerning the Unmarried</div><div class="p"> 25Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord&#8217;s mercy is trustworthy. 26Because of the present crisis, I think that it is good for a man to remain as he is. 27Are you pledged to a woman? Do not seek to be released. Are you free from such a commitment? Do not look for a wife. 28But if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.</div><div class="p"> 29What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they do not; 30those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; 31those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.</div><div class="p"> 32I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord&#8217;s affairs&#8212;how he can please the Lord. 33But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world&#8212;how he can please his wife&#8212; 34and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord&#8217;s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world&#8212;how she can please her husband. 35I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.</div><div class="p"> 36If anyone is worried that he might not be acting honorably toward the virgin he is engaged to, and if his passions are too strong#7:36 Or if she is getting beyond the usual age for marriage and he feels he ought to marry, he should do as he wants. He is not sinning. They should get married. 37But the man who has settled the matter in his own mind, who is under no compulsion but has control over his own will, and who has made up his mind not to marry the virgin&#8212;this man also does the right thing. 38So then, he who marries the virgin does right, but he who does not marry her does better.#7:36-38 Or 36 If anyone thinks he is not treating his daughter properly, and if she is getting along in years (or if her passions are too strong), and he feels she ought to marry, he should do as he wants. He is not sinning. He should let her get married. 37 But the man who has settled the matter in his own mind, who is under no compulsion but has control over his own will, and who has made up his mind to keep the virgin unmarried&#8212;this man also does the right thing. 38 So then, he who gives his virgin in marriage does right, but he who does not give her in marriage does better.</div><div class="p"> 39A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord. 40In my judgment, she is happier if she stays as she is&#8212;and I think that I too have the Spirit of God.</div>
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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bk2CH">
 <div class="chapter ch20" data-usfm="2CH.20">
 <div class="label">20</div><div class="s1">Jehoshaphat Defeats Moab and Ammon</div><div class="p"> 1After this, the Moabites and Ammonites with some of the Meunites#20:1 Some Septuagint manuscripts; Hebrew Ammonites came to wage war against Jehoshaphat.</div><div class="p"> 2Some people came and told Jehoshaphat, &#8220;A vast army is coming against you from Edom,#20:2 One Hebrew manuscript; most Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint and Vulgate Aram from the other side of the Dead Sea. It is already in Hazezon Tamar&#8221; (that is, En Gedi). 3Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. 4The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him.</div><div class="p"> 5Then Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple of the Lord in the front of the new courtyard 6and said:</div><div class="pm">&#8220;Lord, the God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you. 7Our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? 8They have lived in it and have built in it a sanctuary for your Name, saying, 9&#8216;If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.&#8217;</div><div class="pm"> 10&#8220;But now here are men from Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, whose territory you would not allow Israel to invade when they came from Egypt; so they turned away from them and did not destroy them. 11See how they are repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession you gave us as an inheritance. 12Our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 13All the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, stood there before the Lord.</div><div class="p"> 14Then the Spirit of the Lord came on Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite and descendant of Asaph, as he stood in the assembly.</div><div class="p"> 15He said: &#8220;Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: &#8216;Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God&#8217;s. 16Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. 17You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.&#8217;&#8198;&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 18Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the Lord. 19Then some Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up and praised the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.</div><div class="p"> 20Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, &#8220;Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful.&#8221; 21After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his#20:21 Or him with the splendor of holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying:</div><div class="q1">&#8220;Give thanks to the Lord,</div><div class="q2">for his love endures forever.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 22As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. 23The Ammonites and Moabites rose up against the men from Mount Seir to destroy and annihilate them. After they finished slaughtering the men from Seir, they helped to destroy one another.</div><div class="p"> 24When the men of Judah came to the place that overlooks the desert and looked toward the vast army, they saw only dead bodies lying on the ground; no one had escaped. 25So Jehoshaphat and his men went to carry off their plunder, and they found among them a great amount of equipment and clothing#20:25 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Vulgate; most Hebrew manuscripts corpses and also articles of value&#8212;more than they could take away. There was so much plunder that it took three days to collect it. 26On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Berakah, where they praised the Lord. This is why it is called the Valley of Berakah#20:26 Berakah means praise. to this day.</div><div class="p"> 27Then, led by Jehoshaphat, all the men of Judah and Jerusalem returned joyfully to Jerusalem, for the Lord had given them cause to rejoice over their enemies. 28They entered Jerusalem and went to the temple of the Lord with harps and lyres and trumpets.</div><div class="p"> 29The fear of God came on all the surrounding kingdoms when they heard how the Lord had fought against the enemies of Israel. 30And the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side.</div><div class="s1">The End of Jehoshaphat&#8217;s Reign</div><div class="p"> 31So Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he became king of Judah, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-five years. His mother&#8217;s name was Azubah daughter of Shilhi. 32He followed the ways of his father Asa and did not stray from them; he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. 33The high places, however, were not removed, and the people still had not set their hearts on the God of their ancestors.</div><div class="p"> 34The other events of Jehoshaphat&#8217;s reign, from beginning to end, are written in the annals of Jehu son of Hanani, which are recorded in the book of the kings of Israel.</div><div class="p"> 35Later, Jehoshaphat king of Judah made an alliance with Ahaziah king of Israel, whose ways were wicked. 36He agreed with him to construct a fleet of trading ships.#20:36 Hebrew of ships that could go to Tarshish After these were built at Ezion Geber, 37Eliezer son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, &#8220;Because you have made an alliance with Ahaziah, the Lord will destroy what you have made.&#8221; The ships were wrecked and were not able to set sail to trade.#20:37 Hebrew sail for Tarshish</div>
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 <div class="label">21</div><div class="p"> 1Then Jehoshaphat rested with his ancestors and was buried with them in the City of David. And Jehoram his son succeeded him as king. 2Jehoram&#8217;s brothers, the sons of Jehoshaphat, were Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariahu, Michael and Shephatiah. All these were sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel.#21:2 That is, Judah, as frequently in 2 Chronicles 3Their father had given them many gifts of silver and gold and articles of value, as well as fortified cities in Judah, but he had given the kingdom to Jehoram because he was his firstborn son.</div><div class="s1">Jehoram King of Judah</div><div class="p"> 4When Jehoram established himself firmly over his father&#8217;s kingdom, he put all his brothers to the sword along with some of the officials of Israel. 5Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years. 6He followed the ways of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done, for he married a daughter of Ahab. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord. 7Nevertheless, because of the covenant the Lord had made with David, the Lord was not willing to destroy the house of David. He had promised to maintain a lamp for him and his descendants forever.</div><div class="p"> 8In the time of Jehoram, Edom rebelled against Judah and set up its own king. 9So Jehoram went there with his officers and all his chariots. The Edomites surrounded him and his chariot commanders, but he rose up and broke through by night. 10To this day Edom has been in rebellion against Judah.</div><div class="p">Libnah revolted at the same time, because Jehoram had forsaken the Lord, the God of his ancestors. 11He had also built high places on the hills of Judah and had caused the people of Jerusalem to prostitute themselves and had led Judah astray.</div><div class="p"> 12Jehoram received a letter from Elijah the prophet, which said:</div><div class="pmo">&#8220;This is what the Lord, the God of your father David, says: &#8216;You have not followed the ways of your father Jehoshaphat or of Asa king of Judah. 13But you have followed the ways of the kings of Israel, and you have led Judah and the people of Jerusalem to prostitute themselves, just as the house of Ahab did. You have also murdered your own brothers, members of your own family, men who were better than you. 14So now the Lord is about to strike your people, your sons, your wives and everything that is yours, with a heavy blow. 15You yourself will be very ill with a lingering disease of the bowels, until the disease causes your bowels to come out.&#8217;&#8198;&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 16The Lord aroused against Jehoram the hostility of the Philistines and of the Arabs who lived near the Cushites. 17They attacked Judah, invaded it and carried off all the goods found in the king&#8217;s palace, together with his sons and wives. Not a son was left to him except Ahaziah,#21:17 Hebrew Jehoahaz, a variant of Ahaziah the youngest.</div><div class="p"> 18After all this, the Lord afflicted Jehoram with an incurable disease of the bowels. 19In the course of time, at the end of the second year, his bowels came out because of the disease, and he died in great pain. His people made no funeral fire in his honor, as they had for his predecessors.</div><div class="p"> 20Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years. He passed away, to no one&#8217;s regret, and was buried in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.</div>
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 <div class="label">2</div><div class="s1">To the Church in Ephesus</div><div class="m"> 1 &#8220;To the angel # 2:1 Or messenger ; also in verses 8, 12 and 18 of the church in Ephesus write:</div><div class="b"></div><div class="pi1"> These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. 2I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. 3You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.</div><div class="pi1"> 4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. 5Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. 6But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.</div><div class="pi1"> 7 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.</div><div class="s1">To the Church in Smyrna</div><div class="m"> 8 &#8220;To the angel of the church in Smyrna write:</div><div class="b"></div><div class="pi1"> These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. 9I know your afflictions and your poverty&#8212;yet you are rich! I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor&#8217;s crown.</div><div class="pi1"> 11 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death.</div><div class="s1">To the Church in Pergamum</div><div class="m"> 12 &#8220;To the angel of the church in Pergamum write:</div><div class="b"></div><div class="pi1"> These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. 13I know where you live&#8212;where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, not even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city&#8212;where Satan lives.</div><div class="pi1"> 14 Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality. 15Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.</div><div class="pi1"> 17 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.</div><div class="s1">To the Church in Thyatira</div><div class="m"> 18 &#8220;To the angel of the church in Thyatira write:</div><div class="b"></div><div class="pi1"> These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. 19I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.</div><div class="pi1"> 20 Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. 21I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. 22So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. 23I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.</div><div class="pi1"> 24 Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan&#8217;s so-called deep secrets, &#8216;I will not impose any other burden on you, 25except to hold on to what you have until I come.&#8217;</div><div class="pi1"> 26 To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations&#8212; 27that one &#8216;will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery&#8217;#2:27 Psalm 2:9&#8212;just as I have received authority from my Father. 28I will also give that one the morning star. 29Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.</div>
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