The Meaning of Life Through Art

Gather for Advent

BibleProject | Finding God in the Wilderness

Following Jesus at Christmas

How to Keep Your Head on Straight in a World Gone Crazy

Pressing On: Staying Faithful When Seasons Hurt

Faith in the Ordinary - a 5 Day Journey Through the Book of Colossians

The Armor of God

God's Blueprint for Excellence

Gradually Then Suddenly

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 bkPRO">
 <div class="chapter ch24" data-usfm="PRO.24">
 <div class="label">24</div><div class="s2">Saying 20</div><div class="q1"> 1Do not envy the wicked,</div><div class="q2">do not desire their company;</div><div class="q1"> 2for their hearts plot violence,</div><div class="q2">and their lips talk about making trouble.</div><div class="s2">Saying 21</div><div class="q1"> 3By wisdom a house is built,</div><div class="q2">and through understanding it is established;</div><div class="q1"> 4through knowledge its rooms are filled</div><div class="q2">with rare and beautiful treasures.</div><div class="s2">Saying 22</div><div class="q1"> 5The wise prevail through great power,</div><div class="q2">and those who have knowledge muster their strength.</div><div class="q1"> 6Surely you need guidance to wage war,</div><div class="q2">and victory is won through many advisers.</div><div class="s2">Saying 23</div><div class="q1"> 7Wisdom is too high for fools;</div><div class="q2">in the assembly at the gate they must not open their mouths.</div><div class="s2">Saying 24</div><div class="q1"> 8Whoever plots evil</div><div class="q2">will be known as a schemer.</div><div class="q1"> 9The schemes of folly are sin,</div><div class="q2">and people detest a mocker.</div><div class="s2">Saying 25</div><div class="q1"> 10If you falter in a time of trouble,</div><div class="q2">how small is your strength!</div><div class="q1"> 11Rescue those being led away to death;</div><div class="q2">hold back those staggering toward slaughter.</div><div class="q1"> 12If you say, &#8220;But we knew nothing about this,&#8221;</div><div class="q2">does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?</div><div class="q1">Does not he who guards your life know it?</div><div class="q2">Will he not repay everyone according to what they have done?</div><div class="s2">Saying 26</div><div class="q1"> 13Eat honey, my son, for it is good;</div><div class="q2">honey from the comb is sweet to your taste.</div><div class="q1"> 14Know also that wisdom is like honey for you:</div><div class="q2">If you find it, there is a future hope for you,</div><div class="q2">and your hope will not be cut off.</div><div class="s2">Saying 27</div><div class="q1"> 15Do not lurk like a thief near the house of the righteous,</div><div class="q2">do not plunder their dwelling place;</div><div class="q1"> 16for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again,</div><div class="q2">but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.</div><div class="s2">Saying 28</div><div class="q1"> 17Do not gloat when your enemy falls;</div><div class="q2">when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice,</div><div class="q1"> 18or the Lord will see and disapprove</div><div class="q2">and turn his wrath away from them.</div><div class="s2">Saying 29</div><div class="q1"> 19Do not fret because of evildoers</div><div class="q2">or be envious of the wicked,</div><div class="q1"> 20for the evildoer has no future hope,</div><div class="q2">and the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.</div><div class="s2">Saying 30</div><div class="q1"> 21Fear the Lord and the king, my son,</div><div class="q2">and do not join with rebellious officials,</div><div class="q1"> 22for those two will send sudden destruction on them,</div><div class="q2">and who knows what calamities they can bring?</div><div class="ms1">Further Sayings of the Wise</div><div class="p"> 23These also are sayings of the wise:</div><div class="q1">To show partiality in judging is not good:</div><div class="q1"> 24Whoever says to the guilty, &#8220;You are innocent,&#8221;</div><div class="q2">will be cursed by peoples and denounced by nations.</div><div class="q1"> 25But it will go well with those who convict the guilty,</div><div class="q2">and rich blessing will come on them.</div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"> 26An honest answer</div><div class="q2">is like a kiss on the lips.</div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"> 27Put your outdoor work in order</div><div class="q2">and get your fields ready;</div><div class="q2">after that, build your house.</div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"> 28Do not testify against your neighbor without cause&#8212;</div><div class="q2">would you use your lips to mislead?</div><div class="q1"> 29Do not say, &#8220;I&#8217;ll do to them as they have done to me;</div><div class="q2">I&#8217;ll pay them back for what they did.&#8221;</div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"> 30I went past the field of a sluggard,</div><div class="q2">past the vineyard of someone who has no sense;</div><div class="q1"> 31thorns had come up everywhere,</div><div class="q2">the ground was covered with weeds,</div><div class="q2">and the stone wall was in ruins.</div><div class="q1"> 32I applied my heart to what I observed</div><div class="q2">and learned a lesson from what I saw:</div><div class="q1"> 33A little sleep, a little slumber,</div><div class="q2">a little folding of the hands to rest&#8212;</div><div class="q1"> 34and poverty will come on you like a thief</div><div class="q2">and scarcity like an armed man.</div>
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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bkPSA">
 <div class="chapter ch91" data-usfm="PSA.91">
 <div class="label">91</div><div class="cl">Psalm 91</div><div class="q1"> 1Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High</div><div class="q2">will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.#91:1 Hebrew Shaddai</div><div class="q1"> 2I will say of the Lord, &#8220;He is my refuge and my fortress,</div><div class="q2">my God, in whom I trust.&#8221;</div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"> 3Surely he will save you</div><div class="q2">from the fowler&#8217;s snare</div><div class="q2">and from the deadly pestilence.</div><div class="q1"> 4He will cover you with his feathers,</div><div class="q2">and under his wings you will find refuge;</div><div class="q2">his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.</div><div class="q1"> 5You will not fear the terror of night,</div><div class="q2">nor the arrow that flies by day,</div><div class="q1"> 6nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,</div><div class="q2">nor the plague that destroys at midday.</div><div class="q1"> 7A thousand may fall at your side,</div><div class="q2">ten thousand at your right hand,</div><div class="q2">but it will not come near you.</div><div class="q1"> 8You will only observe with your eyes</div><div class="q2">and see the punishment of the wicked.</div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"> 9If you say, &#8220;The Lord is my refuge,&#8221;</div><div class="q2">and you make the Most High your dwelling,</div><div class="q1"> 10no harm will overtake you,</div><div class="q2">no disaster will come near your tent.</div><div class="q1"> 11For he will command his angels concerning you</div><div class="q2">to guard you in all your ways;</div><div class="q1"> 12they will lift you up in their hands,</div><div class="q2">so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.</div><div class="q1"> 13You will tread on the lion and the cobra;</div><div class="q2">you will trample the great lion and the serpent.</div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"> 14&#8220;Because he#91:14 That is, probably the king loves me,&#8221; says the Lord, &#8220;I will rescue him;</div><div class="q2">I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.</div><div class="q1"> 15He will call on me, and I will answer him;</div><div class="q2">I will be with him in trouble,</div><div class="q2">I will deliver him and honor him.</div><div class="q1"> 16With long life I will satisfy him</div><div class="q2">and show him my salvation.&#8221;</div>
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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bkREV">
 <div class="chapter ch2" data-usfm="REV.2">
 <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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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bk2CO">
 <div class="chapter ch13" data-usfm="2CO.13">
 <div class="label">13</div><div class="s1">Final Warnings</div><div class="p"> 1This will be my third visit to you. &#8220;Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.&#8221;#13:1 Deut. 19:15 2I already gave you a warning when I was with you the second time. I now repeat it while absent: On my return I will not spare those who sinned earlier or any of the others, 3since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. 4For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God&#8217;s power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God&#8217;s power we will live with him in our dealing with you.</div><div class="p"> 5Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you&#8212;unless, of course, you fail the test? 6And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test. 7Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong&#8212;not so that people will see that we have stood the test but so that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed. 8For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. 9We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is that you may be fully restored. 10This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority&#8212;the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.</div><div class="s1">Final Greetings</div><div class="p"> 11Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.</div><div class="p"> 12Greet one another with a holy kiss. 13All God&#8217;s people here send their greetings.</div><div class="p"> 14May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.</div>
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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bkGAL">
 <div class="chapter ch1" data-usfm="GAL.1">
 <div class="label">1</div><div class="p"> 1Paul, an apostle&#8212;sent not from men nor by a man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead&#8212; 2and all the brothers and sisters#1:2 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God&#8217;s family; also in verse 11; and in 3:15; 4:12, 28, 31; 5:11, 13; 6:1, 18. with me,</div><div class="b"></div><div class="p">To the churches in Galatia:</div><div class="b"></div><div class="p"> 3Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.</div><div class="s1">No Other Gospel</div><div class="p"> 6I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel&#8212; 7which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God&#8217;s curse! 9As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God&#8217;s curse!</div><div class="p"> 10Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.</div><div class="s1">Paul Called by God</div><div class="p"> 11I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. 12I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.</div><div class="p"> 13For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. 14I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. 15But when God, who set me apart from my mother&#8217;s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased 16to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any human being. 17I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus.</div><div class="p"> 18Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Cephas#1:18 That is, Peter and stayed with him fifteen days. 19I saw none of the other apostles&#8212;only James, the Lord&#8217;s brother. 20I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie.</div><div class="p"> 21Then I went to Syria and Cilicia. 22I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23They only heard the report: &#8220;The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.&#8221; 24And they praised God because of me.</div>
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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bkGAL">
 <div class="chapter ch2" data-usfm="GAL.2">
 <div class="label">2</div><div class="s1">Paul Accepted by the Apostles</div><div class="p"> 1Then after fourteen years, I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also. 2I went in response to a revelation and, meeting privately with those esteemed as leaders, I presented to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. I wanted to be sure I was not running and had not been running my race in vain. 3Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek. 4This matter arose because some false believers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. 5We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you.</div><div class="p"> 6As for those who were held in high esteem&#8212;whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism&#8212;they added nothing to my message. 7On the contrary, they recognized that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the uncircumcised,#2:7 That is, Gentiles just as Peter had been to the circumcised.#2:7 That is, Jews; also in verses 8 and 9 8For God, who was at work in Peter as an apostle to the circumcised, was also at work in me as an apostle to the Gentiles. 9James, Cephas#2:9 That is, Peter; also in verses 11 and 14 and John, those esteemed as pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised. 10All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I had been eager to do all along.</div><div class="s1">Paul Opposes Cephas</div><div class="p"> 11When Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. 13The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.</div><div class="p"> 14When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, &#8220;You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?</div><div class="p"> 15&#8220;We who are Jews by birth and not sinful Gentiles 16know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in#2:16 Or but through the faithfulness of&#8230; justified on the basis of the faithfulness of Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.</div><div class="p"> 17&#8220;But if, in seeking to be justified in Christ, we Jews find ourselves also among the sinners, doesn&#8217;t that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not! 18If I rebuild what I destroyed, then I really would be a lawbreaker.</div><div class="p"> 19&#8220;For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. 20I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!&#8221;#2:21 Some interpreters end the quotation after verse 14.</div>
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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bkGAL">
 <div class="chapter ch3" data-usfm="GAL.3">
 <div class="label">3</div><div class="s1">Faith or Works of the Law</div><div class="p"> 1You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. 2I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? 3Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?#3:3 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit. 4Have you experienced#3:4 Or suffered so much in vain&#8212;if it really was in vain? 5So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard? 6So also Abraham &#8220;believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.&#8221;#3:6 Gen. 15:6</div><div class="p"> 7Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham. 8Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: &#8220;All nations will be blessed through you.&#8221;#3:8 Gen. 12:3; 18:18; 22:18 9So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.</div><div class="p"> 10For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: &#8220;Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.&#8221;#3:10 Deut. 27:26 11Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because &#8220;the righteous will live by faith.&#8221;#3:11 Hab. 2:4 12The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, it says, &#8220;The person who does these things will live by them.&#8221;#3:12 Lev. 18:5 13Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: &#8220;Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.&#8221;#3:13 Deut. 21:23 14He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.</div><div class="s1">The Law and the Promise</div><div class="p"> 15Brothers and sisters, let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case. 16The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say &#8220;and to seeds,&#8221; meaning many people, but &#8220;and to your seed,&#8221;#3:16 Gen. 12:7; 13:15; 24:7 meaning one person, who is Christ. 17What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise. 18For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on the promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise.</div><div class="p"> 19Why, then, was the law given at all? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was given through angels and entrusted to a mediator. 20A mediator, however, implies more than one party; but God is one.</div><div class="p"> 21Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. 22But Scripture has locked up everything under the control of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.</div><div class="s1">Children of God</div><div class="p"> 23Before the coming of this faith,#3:22,23 Or through the faithfulness of Jesus&#8230; 23 Before faith came we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. 24So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. 25Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.</div><div class="p"> 26So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham&#8217;s seed, and heirs according to the promise.</div>
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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bkGAL">
 <div class="chapter ch4" data-usfm="GAL.4">
 <div class="label">4</div><div class="p"> 1What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. 2The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. 3So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces#4:3 Or under the basic principles of the world. 4But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.#4:5 The Greek word for adoption to sonship is a legal term referring to the full legal standing of an adopted male heir in Roman culture. 6Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, &#8220;Abba,#4:6 Aramaic for Father Father.&#8221; 7So you are no longer a slave, but God&#8217;s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.</div><div class="s1">Paul&#8217;s Concern for the Galatians</div><div class="p"> 8Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. 9But now that you know God&#8212;or rather are known by God&#8212;how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces#4:9 Or principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? 10You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! 11I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.</div><div class="p"> 12I plead with you, brothers and sisters, become like me, for I became like you. You did me no wrong. 13As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you, 14and even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself. 15Where, then, is your blessing of me now? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. 16Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?</div><div class="p"> 17Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may have zeal for them. 18It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always, not just when I am with you. 19My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, 20how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!</div><div class="s1">Hagar and Sarah</div><div class="p"> 21Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of what the law says? 22For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. 23His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a divine promise.</div><div class="p"> 24These things are being taken figuratively: The women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar. 25Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. 26But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother. 27For it is written:</div><div class="q1">&#8220;Be glad, barren woman,</div><div class="q2">you who never bore a child;</div><div class="q1">shout for joy and cry aloud,</div><div class="q2">you who were never in labor;</div><div class="q1">because more are the children of the desolate woman</div><div class="q2">than of her who has a husband.&#8221;#4:27 Isaiah 54:1</div><div class="p"> 28Now you, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29At that time the son born according to the flesh persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now. 30But what does Scripture say? &#8220;Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman&#8217;s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman&#8217;s son.&#8221;#4:30 Gen. 21:10 31Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.</div>
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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bkGAL">
 <div class="chapter ch5" data-usfm="GAL.5">
 <div class="label">5</div><div class="s1">Freedom in Christ</div><div class="p"> 1It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.</div><div class="p"> 2Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. 3Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. 4You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 5For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope. 6For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.</div><div class="p"> 7You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth? 8That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. 9&#8220;A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.&#8221; 10I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion, whoever that may be, will have to pay the penalty. 11Brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished. 12As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!</div><div class="s1">Life by the Spirit</div><div class="p"> 13You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh#5:13 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit; also in verses 16, 17, 19 and 24; and in 6:8.; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: &#8220;Love your neighbor as yourself.&#8221;#5:14 Lev. 19:18 15If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.</div><div class="p"> 16So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever#5:17 Or you do not do what you want. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.</div><div class="p"> 19The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.</div><div class="p"> 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.</div>
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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bkGAL">
 <div class="chapter ch6" data-usfm="GAL.6">
 <div class="label">6</div><div class="s1">Doing Good to All</div><div class="p"> 1Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2Carry each other&#8217;s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. 4Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, 5for each one should carry their own load. 6Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.</div><div class="p"> 7Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.</div><div class="s1">Not Circumcision but the New Creation</div><div class="p"> 11See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand!</div><div class="p"> 12Those who want to impress people by means of the flesh are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13Not even those who are circumcised keep the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your circumcision in the flesh. 14May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which#6:14 Or whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation. 16Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule&#8212;to#6:16 Or rule and to the Israel of God.</div><div class="p"> 17From now on, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.</div><div class="p"> 18The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.</div>
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