Month: November 2024

Daniel’s Dream of Four Beasts

7 In the first year of Belshazzar^(A) king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream, and visions^(B) passed through his mind^(C) as he was lying in bed.^(D) He wrote^(E) down the substance of his dream.

² Daniel said: “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me were the four winds of heaven^(F) churning up the great sea. ³ Four great beasts,^(G) each different from the others, came up out of the sea.

⁴ “The first was like a lion,^(H) and it had the wings of an eagle.^(I) I watched until its wings were torn off and it was lifted from the ground so that it stood on two feet like a human being, and the mind of a human was given to it.

⁵ “And there before me was a second beast, which looked like a bear. It was raised up on one of its sides, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told, ‘Get up and eat your fill of flesh!’^(J)

⁶ “After that, I looked, and there before me was another beast, one that looked like a leopard.^(K) And on its back it had four wings like those of a bird. This beast had four heads, and it was given authority to rule.

⁷ “After that, in my vision^(L) at night I looked, and there before me was a fourth beast—terrifying and frightening and very powerful. It had large iron^(M) teeth; it crushed and devoured its victims and trampled^(N) underfoot whatever was left.^(O) It was different from all the former beasts, and it had ten horns.^(P)

⁸ “While I was thinking about the horns, there before me was another horn, a little^(Q) one, which came up among them; and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. This horn had eyes like the eyes of a human being^(R) and a mouth that spoke boastfully.^(S)

⁹ “As I looked,

¹¹ “Then I continued to watch because of the boastful words the horn was speaking.^(AB) I kept looking until the beast was slain and its body destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire.^{(AC) 12} (The other beasts had been stripped of their authority, but were allowed to live for a period of time.)

¹³ “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man,^[a](AD) coming^(AE) with the clouds of heaven.^(AF) He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. ¹⁴ He was given authority,^(AG) glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him.^(AH) His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom^(AI) is one that will never be destroyed.^(AJ)

The Interpretation of the Dream

¹⁵ “I, Daniel, was troubled in spirit, and the visions that passed through my mind disturbed me.^{(AK) 16} I approached one of those standing there and asked him the meaning of all this.

“So he told me and gave me the interpretation^(AL) of these things: ¹⁷ ‘The four great beasts are four kings that will rise from the earth. ¹⁸ But the holy people^(AM) of the Most High will receive the kingdom^(AN) and will possess it forever—yes, for ever and ever.’^(AO)

¹⁹ “Then I wanted to know the meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others and most terrifying, with its iron teeth and bronze claws—the beast that crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. ²⁰ I also wanted to know about the ten horns^(AP) on its head and about the other horn that came up, before which three of them fell—the horn that looked more imposing than the others and that had eyes and a mouth that spoke boastfully.^{(AQ) 21} As I watched, this horn was waging war against the holy people and defeating them,^{(AR) 22} until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the holy people of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom.^(AS)

²³ “He gave me this explanation: ‘The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it.^{(AT) 24} The ten horns^(AU) are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings. ²⁵ He will speak against the Most High^(AV) and oppress his holy people^(AW) and try to change the set times^(AX) and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time.^[b](AY)

²⁶ “‘But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed^(AZ) forever. ²⁷ Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of all the kingdoms^(BA) under heaven will be handed over to the holy people^(BB) of the Most High.^(BC) His kingdom will be an everlasting^(BD) kingdom, and all rulers will worship^(BE) and obey him.’

²⁸ “This is the end of the matter. I, Daniel, was deeply troubled^(BF) by my thoughts,^(BG) and my face turned pale,^(BH) but I kept the matter to myself.”

The Incarnation of the Word of Life

1 That which was from the beginning,^(A) which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes,^(B) which we have looked at and our hands have touched^(C)—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. ² The life appeared;^(D) we have seen it and testify to it,^(E) and we proclaim to you the eternal life,^(F) which was with the Father and has appeared to us. ³ We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard,^(G) so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.^{(H) 4} We write this^(I) to make our^[a] joy complete.^(J)

Light and Darkness, Sin and Forgiveness

⁵ This is the message we have heard^(K) from him and declare to you: God is light;^(L) in him there is no darkness at all. ⁶ If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness,^(M) we lie and do not live out the truth.^{(N) 7} But if we walk in the light,^(O) as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all^[b] sin.^(P)

⁸ If we claim to be without sin,^(Q) we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.^{(R) 9} If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins^(S) and purify us from all unrighteousness.^{(T) 10} If we claim we have not sinned,^(U) we make him out to be a liar^(V) and his word is not in us.^(W)

ר Resh

ש Sin and Shin

ת Taw

Daniel in the Den of Lions

6 ^[a]It pleased Darius^(A) to appoint 120 satraps^(B) to rule throughout the kingdom, ² with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel.^(C) The satraps were made accountable^(D) to them so that the king might not suffer loss. ³ Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.^{(E) 4} At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges^(F) against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. ⁵ Finally these men said, “We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.”^(G)

⁶ So these administrators and satraps went as a group to the king and said: “May King Darius live forever!^{(H) 7} The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors^(I) have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or human being during the next thirty days, except to you, Your Majesty, shall be thrown into the lions’ den.^{(J) 8} Now, Your Majesty, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”^{(K) 9} So King Darius put the decree in writing.

¹⁰ Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward^(L) Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees^(M) and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.^{(N) 11} Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help.^{(O) 12} So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: “Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human being except to you, Your Majesty, would be thrown into the lions’ den?”

The king answered, “The decree stands—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”^(P)

¹³ Then they said to the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah,^(Q) pays no attention^(R) to you, Your Majesty, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day.” ¹⁴ When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed;^(S) he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him.

¹⁵ Then the men went as a group to King Darius and said to him, “Remember, Your Majesty, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed.”^(T)

¹⁶ So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den.^(U) The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue^(V) you!”

¹⁷ A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed^(W) it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed. ¹⁸ Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating^(X) and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep.^(Y)

¹⁹ At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. ²⁰ When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?”^(Z)

²¹ Daniel answered, “May the king live forever!^{(AA) 22} My God sent his angel,^(AB) and he shut the mouths of the lions.^(AC) They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight.^(AD) Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.”

²³ The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound^(AE) was found on him, because he had trusted^(AF) in his God.

²⁴ At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’ den,^(AG) along with their wives and children.^(AH) And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.^(AI)

²⁵ Then King Darius wrote to all the nations and peoples of every language^(AJ) in all the earth:

²⁸ So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus^[b](AT) the Persian.^(AU)

The Day of the Lord

3 Dear friends,^(A) this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders^(B) to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. ² I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets^(C) and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.^(D)

³ Above all, you must understand that in the last days^(E) scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.^{(F) 4} They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised?^(G) Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.”^{(H) 5} But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word^(I) the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water.^{(J) 6} By these waters also the world of that time^(K) was deluged and destroyed.^{(L) 7} By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire,^(M) being kept for the day of judgment^(N) and destruction of the ungodly.

⁸ But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.^{(O) 9} The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise,^(P) as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient^(Q) with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.^(R)

¹⁰ But the day of the Lord will come like a thief.^(S) The heavens will disappear with a roar;^(T) the elements will be destroyed by fire,^(U) and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.^[a](V)

¹¹ Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives ¹² as you look forward^(W) to the day of God and speed its coming.^[b](X) That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.^{(Y) 13} But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth,^(Z) where righteousness dwells.

¹⁴ So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless^(AA) and at peace with him. ¹⁵ Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience^(AB) means salvation,^(AC) just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.^{(AD) 16} He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable^(AE) people distort,^(AF) as they do the other Scriptures,^(AG) to their own destruction.

¹⁷ Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard^(AH) so that you may not be carried away by the error^(AI) of the lawless^(AJ) and fall from your secure position.^{(AK) 18} But grow in the grace^(AL) and knowledge^(AM) of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.^(AN) To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.^(AO)

פ Pe

צ Tsadhe

ק Qoph

5 ^1-2 A few decades later, the king, Belshazzar, held a state banquet and invited a thousand of his officials.

As he was tasting the wine, he ordered servants to bring in the gold and silver vessels his predecessor Nebuchadnezzar had stolen from the temple in Jerusalem many years earlier. He wanted his officials to join him, his wives, and his concubines in drinking a royal toast from them. ³ A little later his servants returned carrying in the gold^[a] vessels that had been taken from the temple, the house of the one True God in Jerusalem. The king, his officials, his wives, and his concubines began to drink from them. ⁴ As they drank the wine, they offered praise to their idols crafted in gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.

⁵ Suddenly the fingers of a hand—a human hand—appeared and began to write on the plaster of one of the palace walls lit by a nearby lampstand. The king stood transfixed, watching the hand as it wrote. ⁶ Then his face changed. He grew pale and began to feel sick. His thoughts frightened him: what was this strange vision? His legs felt weak and wobbly. His knees knocked together. ⁷ The king cried out to his servants, ordering them to bring in the enchanters, the Chaldean wise men, and the diviners.

⁸ All the king’s purported wise men came forward to examine the wall, but no one could read the writing or tell the king what it meant. ⁹ When it became clear that none of his sages could help him, King Belshazzar became even more frightened. His face grew even paler, and his officials were dumbfounded.

¹⁰ Belshazzar’s mother, the queen, overheard some of the discussions between the king and his noble guests, so she entered the banquet hall.

^13-14 With no other options, Belshazzar gave the order, and Daniel was brought before him.

²⁹ True to his word, Belshazzar gave the order and Daniel was clothed in purple, a gold chain was placed around his neck, and the king proclaimed that he ascend in rank and privilege to be the third-highest-ranking ruler in the kingdom.

³⁰ That very night, under the cloak of darkness, Belshazzar, the Chaldean king of Babylonia, was killed. ³¹ Then Darius the Mede, in his 62nd year, gained control of the kingdom.

2 Just as false prophets rose up in the past among God’s people, false teachers will rise up in the future among you. They will slip in with their destructive opinions, denying the very Master who bought their freedom and dooming themselves to destruction swiftly, ² but not before they attract others by their unbridled and immoral behavior. Because of them and their ways, others will criticize and condemn the path of truth we walk as seedy and disreputable. ³ These false teachers will follow their greed and exploit you with their fabrications, but be assured that their judgment was pronounced long ago and their destruction does not sleep.

⁴ For God did not spare the heavenly beings who sinned, but He cast them into the dark pits^[a] of hell^[b] to be kept until the time of judgment; ⁵ and He did not spare the ancient world, but He sent a flood swirling over the ungodly (although He did save Noah, God’s herald for what is right, with seven other members of his family); ⁶ and God condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, reducing them to ash as a lesson of what He will do with the ungodly in the days to come ^7-8 (although again He did rescue Lot, a person who did what was right in God’s eyes and who was distressed by the immorality and the lawlessness of the society around him. Day after day, the sights and sounds of their lawlessness were like daggers into that good man’s soul). ⁹ If all this happened in the past, it shows clearly the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from their trials and how to hold the wicked in punishment until the day of judgment.

¹⁰ And above all, it shows He will punish those who let the desires of their bodies rule them and who have no respect for authority. People like this are so bold and willful that they aren’t even afraid of offending heavenly beings, ¹¹ although the heavenly messengers—in spite of the fact that they have greater strength and power—make no such accusations against these people before the Lord. ¹² These people who speak ill of what they do not understand are no different from animals—without sense, operating only on their instincts, born to be captured and killed—and they will be destroyed just like those animals, ¹³ receiving the penalty for their evil acts. They waste their days in parties and carousing. As they feast with you, these stains and blemishes on your community are feasting on their deceptions.^{[c] 14} Their eyes are always looking for their next adulterous conquests; their appetites for sin cannot be satisfied. They seduce the unwary soul, and greed is the only lesson they have learned by heart. God’s curse lies upon them. ¹⁵ They have veered off the right road and gotten lost, following in the steps of Balaam, the son of Beor, the false prophet. Balaam loved the reward he could get by doing evil, ¹⁶ but he was rebuked for crossing the line into sin; his own speechless donkey scolded him in a human voice, an amazing miracle that reined in the prophet’s insanity.^[d]

¹⁷ These people I’m talking about are nothing but dried-up springs, mists driven by fierce winds; the deepest darkness has been set aside for them. ¹⁸ They speak in loud voices empty and arrogant. They exploit the desires of the flesh, take advantage of sensual natures, to entangle people who have just escaped from those who live by deception. ¹⁹ They claim to offer them freedom, but they themselves are enslaved by corruption because whatever a person gives in to soon becomes his master. ²⁰ Those who have been pulled out of the cesspool of worldly desires through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus, the Anointed One, yet have found themselves mired in it again are worse off than they were before. ²¹ They would have been better off never knowing the way of righteousness than to have known it and then abandoned the sacred commandment they had previously received and dived back into the muck! ²² In their cases, the words from Proverbs hold true: “The dog goes back to his own vomit,”^[e] and as the Greeks say, “The sow is washed to wallow in the mud.”

Samekh

Ayin

Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream of a Tree

1 Simon Peter, a servant^(A) and apostle of Jesus Christ,^(B)

To those who through the righteousness^(C) of our God and Savior Jesus Christ^(D) have received a faith as precious as ours:

² Grace and peace be yours in abundance^(E) through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.^(F)

Confirming One’s Calling and Election

³ His divine power^(G) has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him^(H) who called us^(I) by his own glory and goodness. ⁴ Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises,^(J) so that through them you may participate in the divine nature,^(K) having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.^(L)

⁵ For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;^{(M) 6} and to knowledge, self-control;^(N) and to self-control, perseverance;^(O) and to perseverance, godliness;^{(P) 7} and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.^{(Q) 8} For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive^(R) in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.^{(S) 9} But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind,^(T) forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.^(U)

¹⁰ Therefore, my brothers and sisters,^[a] make every effort to confirm your calling^(V) and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble,^{(W) 11} and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom^(X) of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.^(Y)

Prophecy of Scripture

¹² So I will always remind you of these things,^(Z) even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth^(AA) you now have. ¹³ I think it is right to refresh your memory^(AB) as long as I live in the tent of this body,^{(AC) 14} because I know that I will soon put it aside,^(AD) as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me.^{(AE) 15} And I will make every effort to see that after my departure^(AF) you will always be able to remember these things.

¹⁶ For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power,^(AG) but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.^{(AH) 17} He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”^{[b](AI) 18} We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.^(AJ)

¹⁹ We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable,^(AK) and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light^(AL) shining in a dark place, until the day dawns^(AM) and the morning star^(AN) rises in your hearts.^{(AO) 20} Above all, you must understand^(AP) that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. ²¹ For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God^(AQ) as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.^(AR)

מ Mem

נ Nun

Daniel Interprets the Dream

²⁴ Then Daniel went to Arioch,^(A) whom the king had appointed to execute the wise men of Babylon, and said to him, “Do not execute the wise men of Babylon. Take me to the king, and I will interpret his dream for him.”

²⁵ Arioch took Daniel to the king at once and said, “I have found a man among the exiles^(B) from Judah^(C) who can tell the king what his dream means.”

²⁶ The king asked Daniel (also called Belteshazzar),^(D) “Are you able to tell me what I saw in my dream and interpret it?”

²⁷ Daniel replied, “No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about,^{(E) 28} but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries.^(F) He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come.^(G) Your dream and the visions that passed through your mind^(H) as you were lying in bed^(I) are these:^(J)

²⁹ “As Your Majesty was lying there, your mind turned to things to come, and the revealer of mysteries showed you what is going to happen.^{(K) 30} As for me, this mystery has been revealed^(L) to me, not because I have greater wisdom than anyone else alive, but so that Your Majesty may know the interpretation and that you may understand what went through your mind.

³¹ “Your Majesty looked, and there before you stood a large statue—an enormous, dazzling statue,^(M) awesome^(N) in appearance. ³² The head of the statue was made of pure gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, ³³ its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of baked clay. ³⁴ While you were watching, a rock was cut out, but not by human hands.^(O) It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed^(P) them.^{(Q) 35} Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were all broken to pieces and became like chaff on a threshing floor in the summer. The wind swept them away^(R) without leaving a trace. But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain^(S) and filled the whole earth.^(T)

³⁶ “This was the dream, and now we will interpret it to the king.^{(U) 37} Your Majesty, you are the king of kings.^(V) The God of heaven has given you dominion^(W) and power and might and glory; ³⁸ in your hands he has placed all mankind and the beasts of the field and the birds in the sky. Wherever they live, he has made you ruler over them all.^(X) You are that head of gold.

³⁹ “After you, another kingdom will arise, inferior to yours. Next, a third kingdom, one of bronze, will rule over the whole earth.^{(Y) 40} Finally, there will be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron—for iron breaks and smashes everything—and as iron breaks things to pieces, so it will crush and break all the others.^{(Z) 41} Just as you saw that the feet and toes were partly of baked clay and partly of iron, so this will be a divided kingdom; yet it will have some of the strength of iron in it, even as you saw iron mixed with clay. ⁴² As the toes were partly iron and partly clay, so this kingdom will be partly strong and partly brittle. ⁴³ And just as you saw the iron mixed with baked clay, so the people will be a mixture and will not remain united, any more than iron mixes with clay.

⁴⁴ “In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush^(AA) all those kingdoms^(AB) and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever.^{(AC) 45} This is the meaning of the vision of the rock^(AD) cut out of a mountain, but not by human hands^(AE)—a rock that broke the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold to pieces.

“The great God has shown the king what will take place in the future.^(AF) The dream is true^(AG) and its interpretation is trustworthy.”

⁴⁶ Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell prostrate^(AH) before Daniel and paid him honor and ordered that an offering^(AI) and incense be presented to him. ⁴⁷ The king said to Daniel, “Surely your God is the God of gods^(AJ) and the Lord of kings^(AK) and a revealer of mysteries,^(AL) for you were able to reveal this mystery.^(AM)”

⁴⁸ Then the king placed Daniel in a high^(AN) position and lavished many gifts on him. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and placed him in charge of all its wise men.^{(AO) 49} Moreover, at Daniel’s request the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego administrators over the province of Babylon,^(AP) while Daniel himself remained at the royal court.^(AQ)

The Image of Gold and the Blazing Furnace

3 King Nebuchadnezzar made an image^(AR) of gold, sixty cubits high and six cubits wide,^[a] and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. ² He then summoned the satraps,^(AS) prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials^(AT) to come to the dedication of the image he had set up. ³ So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials assembled for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before it.

⁴ Then the herald loudly proclaimed, “Nations and peoples of every language,^(AU) this is what you are commanded to do: ⁵ As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp,^(AV) pipe and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image^(AW) of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.^{(AX) 6} Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.”^(AY)

⁷ Therefore, as soon as they heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp and all kinds of music, all the nations and peoples of every language fell down and worshiped the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.^(AZ)

⁸ At this time some astrologers^[b](BA) came forward and denounced the Jews. ⁹ They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “May the king live forever!^{(BB) 10} Your Majesty has issued a decree^(BC) that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the image of gold,^{(BD) 11} and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a blazing furnace. ¹² But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego^(BE)—who pay no attention^(BF) to you, Your Majesty. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up.”^(BG)

¹³ Furious^(BH) with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, ¹⁴ and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods^(BI) or worship the image^(BJ) of gold I have set up? ¹⁵ Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god^(BK) will be able to rescue^(BL) you from my hand?”

¹⁶ Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego^(BM) replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. ¹⁷ If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver^(BN) us from it, and he will deliver^(BO) us^[c] from Your Majesty’s hand. ¹⁸ But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.^(BP)”

¹⁹ Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven^(BQ) times hotter than usual ²⁰ and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego^(BR) and throw them into the blazing furnace. ²¹ So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. ²² The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego,^{(BS) 23} and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.

²⁴ Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?”

They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.”

²⁵ He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”

²⁶ Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God,^(BT) come out! Come here!”

So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, ²⁷ and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers^(BU) crowded around them.^(BV) They saw that the fire^(BW) had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.

²⁸ Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel^(BX) and rescued^(BY) his servants! They trusted^(BZ) in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.^{(CA) 29} Therefore I decree^(CB) that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble,^(CC) for no other god can save^(CD) in this way.”

³⁰ Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.^(CE)

⁷ The end of all things is near.^(A) Therefore be alert and of sober mind^(B) so that you may pray. ⁸ Above all, love each other deeply,^(C) because love covers over a multitude of sins.^{(D) 9} Offer hospitality^(E) to one another without grumbling.^{(F) 10} Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others,^(G) as faithful^(H) stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. ¹¹ If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God.^(I) If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides,^(J) so that in all things God may be praised^(K) through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.^(L)

Suffering for Being a Christian

¹² Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you^(M) to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. ¹³ But rejoice^(N) inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ,^(O) so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.^{(P) 14} If you are insulted because of the name of Christ,^(Q) you are blessed,^(R) for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. ¹⁵ If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. ¹⁶ However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.^{(S) 17} For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household;^(T) and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?^{(U) 18} And,

¹⁹ So then, those who suffer according to God’s will^(W) should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

To the Elders and the Flock

5 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder^(X) and a witness^(Y) of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed:^{(Z) 2} Be shepherds of God’s flock^(AA) that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be;^(AB) not pursuing dishonest gain,^(AC) but eager to serve; ³ not lording it over^(AD) those entrusted to you, but being examples^(AE) to the flock. ⁴ And when the Chief Shepherd^(AF) appears, you will receive the crown of glory^(AG) that will never fade away.^(AH)

⁵ In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves^(AI) to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility^(AJ) toward one another, because,

⁶ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.^{(AL) 7} Cast all your anxiety on him^(AM) because he cares for you.^(AN)

⁸ Be alert and of sober mind.^(AO) Your enemy the devil prowls around^(AP) like a roaring lion^(AQ) looking for someone to devour. ⁹ Resist him,^(AR) standing firm in the faith,^(AS) because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.^(AT)

¹⁰ And the God of all grace, who called you^(AU) to his eternal glory^(AV) in Christ, after you have suffered a little while,^(AW) will himself restore you and make you strong,^(AX) firm and steadfast. ¹¹ To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.^(AY)

Final Greetings

¹² With the help of Silas,^[c](AZ) whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly,^(BA) encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it.^(BB)

¹³ She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark.^{(BC) 14} Greet one another with a kiss of love.^(BD)

Peace^(BE) to all of you who are in Christ.

כ Kaph

ל Lamedh

Daniel’s Training in Babylon

1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim^(A) king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar^(B) king of Babylon^(C) came to Jerusalem and besieged it.^{(D) 2} And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried^(E) off to the temple of his god in Babylonia^[a] and put in the treasure house of his god.^(F)

³ Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king’s service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility^(G)— ⁴ young men without any physical defect, handsome,^(H) showing aptitude for every kind of learning,^(I) well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language^(J) and literature of the Babylonians.^{[b] 5} The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine^(K) from the king’s table.^(L) They were to be trained for three years,^(M) and after that they were to enter the king’s service.^(N)

⁶ Among those who were chosen were some from Judah: Daniel,^(O) Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.^{(P) 7} The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar;^(Q) to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.^(R)

⁸ But Daniel resolved not to defile^(S) himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. ⁹ Now God had caused the official to show favor^(T) and compassion^(U) to Daniel, ¹⁰ but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your^[c] food and drink.^(V) Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.”

¹¹ Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, ¹² “Please test^(W) your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. ¹³ Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.”^{(X) 14} So he agreed to this and tested^(Y) them for ten days.

¹⁵ At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food.^{(Z) 16} So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.^(AA)

¹⁷ To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding^(AB) of all kinds of literature and learning.^(AC) And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.^(AD)

¹⁸ At the end of the time^(AE) set by the king to bring them into his service, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. ¹⁹ The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service.^{(AF) 20} In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians^(AG) and enchanters in his whole kingdom.^(AH)

²¹ And Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus.^(AI)

Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream

2 In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams;^(AJ) his mind was troubled^(AK) and he could not sleep.^{(AL) 2} So the king summoned the magicians,^(AM) enchanters, sorcerers^(AN) and astrologers^[d](AO) to tell him what he had dreamed.^(AP) When they came in and stood before the king, ³ he said to them, “I have had a dream that troubles^(AQ) me and I want to know what it means.^[e]”

⁴ Then the astrologers answered the king,^[f](AR) “May the king live forever!^(AS) Tell your servants the dream, and we will interpret it.”

⁵ The king replied to the astrologers, “This is what I have firmly decided:^(AT) If you do not tell me what my dream was and interpret it, I will have you cut into pieces^(AU) and your houses turned into piles of rubble.^{(AV) 6} But if you tell me the dream and explain it, you will receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor.^(AW) So tell me the dream and interpret it for me.”

⁷ Once more they replied, “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will interpret it.”

⁸ Then the king answered, “I am certain that you are trying to gain time, because you realize that this is what I have firmly decided: ⁹ If you do not tell me the dream, there is only one penalty^(AX) for you. You have conspired to tell me misleading and wicked things, hoping the situation will change. So then, tell me the dream, and I will know that you can interpret it for me.”^(AY)

¹⁰ The astrologers^(AZ) answered the king, “There is no one on earth who can do what the king asks! No king, however great and mighty, has ever asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or astrologer.^{(BA) 11} What the king asks is too difficult. No one can reveal it to the king except the gods,^(BB) and they do not live among humans.”

¹² This made the king so angry and furious^(BC) that he ordered the execution^(BD) of all the wise men of Babylon. ¹³ So the decree was issued to put the wise men to death, and men were sent to look for Daniel and his friends to put them to death.^(BE)

¹⁴ When Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard, had gone out to put to death the wise men of Babylon, Daniel spoke to him with wisdom and tact. ¹⁵ He asked the king’s officer, “Why did the king issue such a harsh decree?” Arioch then explained the matter to Daniel. ¹⁶ At this, Daniel went in to the king and asked for time, so that he might interpret the dream for him.

¹⁷ Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.^{(BF) 18} He urged them to plead for mercy^(BG) from the God of heaven^(BH) concerning this mystery,^(BI) so that he and his friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. ¹⁹ During the night the mystery^(BJ) was revealed to Daniel in a vision.^(BK) Then Daniel praised the God of heaven^{(BL) 20} and said:

Suffering for Doing Good

⁸ Finally, all of you, be like-minded,^(A) be sympathetic, love one another,^(B) be compassionate and humble.^{(C) 9} Do not repay evil with evil^(D) or insult with insult.^(E) On the contrary, repay evil with blessing,^(F) because to this^(G) you were called^(H) so that you may inherit a blessing.^{(I) 10} For,

¹³ Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?^{(K) 14} But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed.^(L) “Do not fear their threats^[b]; do not be frightened.”^{[c](M) 15} But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer^(N) to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope^(O) that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, ¹⁶ keeping a clear conscience,^(P) so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.^{(Q) 17} For it is better, if it is God’s will,^(R) to suffer for doing good^(S) than for doing evil. ¹⁸ For Christ also suffered once^(T) for sins,^(U) the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.^(V) He was put to death in the body^(W) but made alive in the Spirit.^{(X) 19} After being made alive,^[d] he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits^(Y)— ²⁰ to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently^(Z) in the days of Noah while the ark was being built.^(AA) In it only a few people, eight in all,^(AB) were saved^(AC) through water, ²¹ and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you^(AD) also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience^(AE) toward God.^[e] It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,^{(AF) 22} who has gone into heaven^(AG) and is at God’s right hand^(AH)—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.^(AI)

Living for God

4 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body,^(AJ) arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin.^{(AK) 2} As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires,^(AL) but rather for the will of God. ³ For you have spent enough time in the past^(AM) doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry.^{(AN) 4} They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you.^{(AO) 5} But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.^{(AP) 6} For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead,^(AQ) so that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.

ט Teth

י Yodh

The River From the Temple

47 The man brought me back to the entrance to the temple, and I saw water^(A) coming out from under the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was coming down from under the south side of the temple, south of the altar.^{(B) 2} He then brought me out through the north gate^(C) and led me around the outside to the outer gate facing east, and the water was trickling from the south side.

³ As the man went eastward with a measuring line^(D) in his hand, he measured off a thousand cubits^[a] and then led me through water that was ankle-deep. ⁴ He measured off another thousand cubits and led me through water that was knee-deep. He measured off another thousand and led me through water that was up to the waist. ⁵ He measured off another thousand, but now it was a river^(E) that I could not cross, because the water had risen and was deep enough to swim in—a river that no one could cross.^{(F) 6} He asked me, “Son of man, do you see this?”

Then he led me back to the bank of the river. ⁷ When I arrived there, I saw a great number of trees on each side of the river.^{(G) 8} He said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah,^[b](H) where it enters the Dead Sea. When it empties into the sea, the salty water there becomes fresh.^{(I) 9} Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live.^{(J) 10} Fishermen^(K) will stand along the shore; from En Gedi^(L) to En Eglaim there will be places for spreading nets.^(M) The fish will be of many kinds^(N)—like the fish of the Mediterranean Sea.^{(O) 11} But the swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they will be left for salt.^{(P) 12} Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river.^(Q) Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit^(R) fail. Every month they will bear fruit, because the water from the sanctuary^(S) flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing.^(T)”

The Boundaries of the Land

¹³ This is what the Sovereign Lord says: “These are the boundaries^(U) of the land that you will divide among the twelve tribes of Israel as their inheritance, with two portions for Joseph.^{(V) 14} You are to divide it equally among them. Because I swore with uplifted hand to give it to your ancestors, this land will become your inheritance.^(W)

¹⁵ “This is to be the boundary of the land:^(X)

²¹ “You are to distribute this land among yourselves according to the tribes of Israel. ²² You are to allot it as an inheritance^(AJ) for yourselves and for the foreigners^(AK) residing among you and who have children. You are to consider them as native-born Israelites; along with you they are to be allotted an inheritance among the tribes of Israel.^{(AL) 23} In whatever tribe a foreigner resides, there you are to give them their inheritance,” declares the Sovereign Lord.^(AM)

The Division of the Land

48 “These are the tribes, listed by name: At the northern frontier, Dan^(AN) will have one portion; it will follow the Hethlon road^(AO) to Lebo Hamath;^(AP) Hazar Enan and the northern border of Damascus next to Hamath will be part of its border from the east side to the west side.

² “Asher^(AQ) will have one portion; it will border the territory of Dan from east to west.

³ “Naphtali^(AR) will have one portion; it will border the territory of Asher from east to west.

⁴ “Manasseh^(AS) will have one portion; it will border the territory of Naphtali from east to west.

⁵ “Ephraim^(AT) will have one portion; it will border the territory of Manasseh^(AU) from east to west.^(AV)

⁶ “Reuben^(AW) will have one portion; it will border the territory of Ephraim from east to west.

⁷ “Judah^(AX) will have one portion; it will border the territory of Reuben from east to west.

⁸ “Bordering the territory of Judah from east to west will be the portion you are to present as a special gift. It will be 25,000 cubits^[f] wide, and its length from east to west will equal one of the tribal portions; the sanctuary will be in the center of it.^(AY)

⁹ “The special portion you are to offer to the Lord will be 25,000 cubits long and 10,000 cubits^[g] wide.^{(AZ) 10} This will be the sacred portion for the priests. It will be 25,000 cubits long on the north side, 10,000 cubits wide on the west side, 10,000 cubits wide on the east side and 25,000 cubits long on the south side. In the center of it will be the sanctuary of the Lord.^{(BA) 11} This will be for the consecrated priests, the Zadokites,^(BB) who were faithful in serving me^(BC) and did not go astray as the Levites did when the Israelites went astray.^{(BD) 12} It will be a special gift to them from the sacred portion of the land, a most holy portion, bordering the territory of the Levites.

¹³ “Alongside the territory of the priests, the Levites will have an allotment 25,000 cubits long and 10,000 cubits wide. Its total length will be 25,000 cubits and its width 10,000 cubits.^{(BE) 14} They must not sell or exchange any of it. This is the best of the land and must not pass into other hands, because it is holy to the Lord.^(BF)

¹⁵ “The remaining area, 5,000 cubits^[h] wide and 25,000 cubits long, will be for the common use of the city, for houses and for pastureland. The city will be in the center of it ¹⁶ and will have these measurements: the north side 4,500 cubits,^[i] the south side 4,500 cubits, the east side 4,500 cubits, and the west side 4,500 cubits.^{(BG) 17} The pastureland for the city will be 250 cubits^[j] on the north, 250 cubits on the south, 250 cubits on the east, and 250 cubits on the west. ¹⁸ What remains of the area, bordering on the sacred portion and running the length of it, will be 10,000 cubits on the east side and 10,000 cubits on the west side. Its produce will supply food for the workers of the city.^{(BH) 19} The workers from the city who farm it will come from all the tribes of Israel. ²⁰ The entire portion will be a square, 25,000 cubits on each side. As a special gift you will set aside the sacred portion, along with the property of the city.

²¹ “What remains on both sides of the area formed by the sacred portion and the property of the city will belong to the prince. It will extend eastward from the 25,000 cubits of the sacred portion to the eastern border, and westward from the 25,000 cubits to the western border. Both these areas running the length of the tribal portions will belong to the prince, and the sacred portion with the temple sanctuary will be in the center of them.^{(BI) 22} So the property of the Levites and the property of the city will lie in the center of the area that belongs to the prince. The area belonging to the prince will lie between the border of Judah and the border of Benjamin.

²³ “As for the rest of the tribes: Benjamin^(BJ) will have one portion; it will extend from the east side to the west side.

²⁴ “Simeon^(BK) will have one portion; it will border the territory of Benjamin from east to west.

²⁵ “Issachar^(BL) will have one portion; it will border the territory of Simeon from east to west.

²⁶ “Zebulun^(BM) will have one portion; it will border the territory of Issachar from east to west.

²⁷ “Gad^(BN) will have one portion; it will border the territory of Zebulun from east to west.

²⁸ “The southern boundary of Gad will run south from Tamar^(BO) to the waters of Meribah Kadesh, then along the Wadi of Egypt to the Mediterranean Sea.^(BP)

²⁹ “This is the land you are to allot as an inheritance to the tribes of Israel, and these will be their portions,” declares the Sovereign Lord.^(BQ)

The Gates of the New City

³⁰ “These will be the exits of the city: Beginning on the north side, which is 4,500 cubits long, ³¹ the gates of the city will be named after the tribes of Israel. The three gates on the north side will be the gate of Reuben, the gate of Judah and the gate of Levi.

³² “On the east side, which is 4,500 cubits long, will be three gates: the gate of Joseph, the gate of Benjamin and the gate of Dan.

³³ “On the south side, which measures 4,500 cubits, will be three gates: the gate of Simeon, the gate of Issachar and the gate of Zebulun.

³⁴ “On the west side, which is 4,500 cubits long, will be three gates: the gate of Gad, the gate of Asher and the gate of Naphtali.^(BR)

³⁵ “The distance all around will be 18,000 cubits.^[k]

“And the name of the city from that time on will be:

Living Godly Lives in a Pagan Society

¹¹ Dear friends,^(A) I urge you, as foreigners and exiles,^(B) to abstain from sinful desires,^(C) which wage war against your soul.^{(D) 12} Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds^(E) and glorify God^(F) on the day he visits us.

¹³ Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority:^(G) whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, ¹⁴ or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong^(H) and to commend those who do right.^{(I) 15} For it is God’s will^(J) that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.^{(K) 16} Live as free people,^(L) but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil;^(M) live as God’s slaves.^{(N) 17} Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers,^(O) fear God, honor the emperor.^(P)

¹⁸ Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters,^(Q) not only to those who are good and considerate,^(R) but also to those who are harsh. ¹⁹ For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God.^{(S) 20} But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.^{(T) 21} To this^(U) you were called,^(V) because Christ suffered for you,^(W) leaving you an example,^(X) that you should follow in his steps.

²³ When they hurled their insults at him,^(AA) he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats.^(AB) Instead, he entrusted himself^(AC) to him who judges justly.^{(AD) 24} “He himself bore our sins”^(AE) in his body on the cross,^(AF) so that we might die to sins^(AG) and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”^{(AH) 25} For “you were like sheep going astray,”^[b](AI) but now you have returned to the Shepherd^(AJ) and Overseer of your souls.^(AK)

3 Wives, in the same way submit yourselves^(AL) to your own husbands^(AM) so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over^(AN) without words by the behavior of their wives, ² when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. ³ Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes.^{(AO) 4} Rather, it should be that of your inner self,^(AP) the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.^{(AQ) 5} For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God^(AR) used to adorn themselves.^(AS) They submitted themselves to their own husbands, ⁶ like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord.^(AT) You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.

⁷ Husbands,^(AU) in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

ז Zayin

ח Heth

Special Offerings and Celebrations

¹³ “You must give this tax to the prince: one bushel of wheat or barley for every 60^[a] you harvest, ¹⁴ one percent of your olive oil,^{[b] 15} and one sheep or goat for every 200 in your flocks in Israel. These will be the grain offerings, burnt offerings, and peace offerings that will make atonement for the people who bring them, says the Sovereign Lord. ¹⁶ All the people of Israel must join in bringing these offerings to the prince. ¹⁷ The prince will be required to provide offerings that are given at the religious festivals, the new moon celebrations, the Sabbath days, and all other similar occasions. He will provide the sin offerings, burnt offerings, grain offerings, liquid offerings, and peace offerings to purify the people of Israel, making them right with the Lord.^[c]

¹⁸ “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: In early spring, on the first day of each new year,^[d] sacrifice a young bull with no defects to purify the Temple. ¹⁹ The priest will take blood from this sin offering and put it on the doorposts of the Temple, the four corners of the upper ledge of the altar, and the gateposts at the entrance to the inner courtyard. ²⁰ Do this also on the seventh day of the new year for anyone who has sinned through error or ignorance. In this way, you will purify^[e] the Temple.

²¹ “On the fourteenth day of the first month,^[f] you must celebrate the Passover. This festival will last for seven days. The bread you eat during that time must be made without yeast. ²² On the day of Passover the prince will provide a young bull as a sin offering for himself and the people of Israel. ²³ On each of the seven days of the feast he will prepare a burnt offering to the Lord, consisting of seven young bulls and seven rams without defects. A male goat will also be given each day for a sin offering. ²⁴ The prince will provide a basket of flour as a grain offering and a gallon of olive oil^[g] with each young bull and ram.

²⁵ “During the seven days of the Festival of Shelters, which occurs every year in early autumn,^[h] the prince will provide these same sacrifices for the sin offering, the burnt offering, and the grain offering, along with the required olive oil.

46 “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: The east gateway of the inner courtyard will be closed during the six workdays each week, but it will be open on Sabbath days and the days of new moon celebrations. ² The prince will enter the entry room of the gateway from the outside. Then he will stand by the gatepost while the priest offers his burnt offering and peace offering. He will bow down in worship inside the gateway passage and then go back out the way he came. The gateway will not be closed until evening. ³ The common people will bow down and worship the Lord in front of this gateway on Sabbath days and the days of new moon celebrations.

⁴ “Each Sabbath day the prince will present to the Lord a burnt offering of six lambs and one ram, all with no defects. ⁵ He will present a grain offering of a basket of choice flour to go with the ram and whatever amount of flour he chooses to go with each lamb, and he is to offer one gallon of olive oil^[i] for each basket of flour. ⁶ At the new moon celebrations, he will bring one young bull, six lambs, and one ram, all with no defects. ⁷ With the young bull he must bring a basket of choice flour for a grain offering. With the ram he must bring another basket of flour. And with each lamb he is to bring whatever amount of flour he chooses to give. With each basket of flour he must offer one gallon of olive oil.

⁸ “The prince must enter the gateway through the entry room, and he must leave the same way. ⁹ But when the people come in through the north gateway to worship the Lord during the religious festivals, they must leave by the south gateway. And those who entered through the south gateway must leave by the north gateway. They must never leave by the same gateway they came in, but must always use the opposite gateway. ¹⁰ The prince will enter and leave with the people on these occasions.

¹¹ “So at the special feasts and sacred festivals, the grain offering will be a basket of choice flour with each young bull, another basket of flour with each ram, and as much flour as the worshiper chooses to give with each lamb. Give one gallon of olive oil with each basket of flour. ¹² When the prince offers a voluntary burnt offering or peace offering to the Lord, the east gateway to the inner courtyard will be opened for him, and he will offer his sacrifices as he does on Sabbath days. Then he will leave, and the gateway will be shut behind him.

¹³ “Each morning you must sacrifice a one-year-old lamb with no defects as a burnt offering to the Lord. ¹⁴ With the lamb, a grain offering must also be given to the Lord—about three quarts of flour with a third of a gallon of olive oil^[j] to moisten the choice flour. This will be a permanent law for you. ¹⁵ The lamb, the grain offering, and the olive oil must be given as a daily sacrifice every morning without fail.

¹⁶ “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: If the prince gives a gift of land to one of his sons as his inheritance, it will belong to him and his descendants forever. ¹⁷ But if the prince gives a gift of land from his inheritance to one of his servants, the servant may keep it only until the Year of Jubilee, which comes every fiftieth year.^[k] At that time the land will return to the prince. But when the prince gives gifts to his sons, those gifts will be permanent. ¹⁸ And the prince may never take anyone’s property by force. If he gives property to his sons, it must be from his own land, for I do not want any of my people unjustly evicted from their property.”

The Temple Kitchens

¹⁹ In my vision, the man brought me through the entrance beside the gateway and led me to the sacred rooms assigned to the priests, which faced toward the north. He showed me a place at the extreme west end of these rooms. ²⁰ He explained, “This is where the priests will cook the meat from the guilt offerings and sin offerings and bake the flour from the grain offerings into bread. They will do it here to avoid carrying the sacrifices through the outer courtyard and endangering the people by transmitting holiness to them.”

²¹ Then he brought me back to the outer courtyard and led me to each of its four corners. In each corner I saw an enclosure. ²² Each of these enclosures was 70 feet long and 52 1⁄2 feet wide,^[l] surrounded by walls. ²³ Along the inside of these walls was a ledge of stone with fireplaces under the ledge all the way around. ²⁴ The man said to me, “These are the kitchens to be used by the Temple assistants to boil the sacrifices offered by the people.”

A Call to Holy Living

¹³ So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. ¹⁴ So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. ¹⁵ But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. ¹⁶ For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”^[a]

¹⁷ And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time here as “temporary residents.” ¹⁸ For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. ¹⁹ It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. ²⁰ God chose him as your ransom long before the world began, but now in these last days he has been revealed for your sake.

²¹ Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And you have placed your faith and hope in God because he raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory.

²² You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters.^[b] Love each other deeply with all your heart.^[c]

²³ For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God. ²⁴ As the Scriptures say,

And that word is the Good News that was preached to you.

2 So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech. ² Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, ³ now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.

Living Stones for God’s House

⁴ You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor.

⁵ And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests.^[e] Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God. ⁶ As the Scriptures say,

⁷ Yes, you who trust him recognize the honor God has given him.^[h] But for those who reject him,

⁸ And,

They stumble because they do not obey God’s word, and so they meet the fate that was planned for them.

⁹ But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests,^[k] a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.