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Genesis 1

¹ In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
² Now the earth was formless and empty. Darkness was on the surface of the deep. God’s Spirit was hovering over the surface of the waters.
³ God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
⁴ God saw the light, and saw that it was good. God divided the light from the darkness.
⁵ God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” There was evening and there was morning, one day.
⁶ God said, “Let there be an expanse in the middle of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.”
⁷ God made the expanse, and divided the waters which were under the expanse from the waters which were above the expanse; and it was so.
⁸ God called the expanse “sky.” There was evening and there was morning, a second day.
⁹ God said, “Let the waters under the sky be gathered together to one place, and let the dry land appear;” and it was so.
¹⁰ God called the dry land “earth,” and the gathering together of the waters he called “seas.” God saw that it was good.
¹¹ God said, “Let the earth yield grass, herbs yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit after their kind, with its seed in it, on the earth;” and it was so.
¹² The earth yielded grass, herbs yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit, with its seed in it, after their kind; and God saw that it was good.
¹³ There was evening and there was morning, a third day.
¹⁴ God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of sky to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years;
¹⁵ and let them be for lights in the expanse of sky to give light on the earth;” and it was so.
¹⁶ God made the two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He also made the stars.
¹⁷ God set them in the expanse of sky to give light to the earth,
¹⁸ and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. God saw that it was good.
¹⁹ There was evening and there was morning, a fourth day.
²⁰ God said, “Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of sky.”
²¹ God created the large sea creatures, and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarmed, after their kind, and every winged bird after its kind. God saw that it was good.
²² God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.”
²³ There was evening and there was morning, a fifth day.
²⁴ God said, “Let the earth produce living creatures after their kind, livestock, creeping things, and animals of the earth after their kind;” and it was so.
²⁵ God made the animals of the earth after their kind, and the livestock after their kind, and everything that creeps on the ground after its kind. God saw that it was good.
²⁶ God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the sky, and over the livestock, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
²⁷ God created man in his own image. In God’s image he created him; male and female he created them.
²⁸ God blessed them. God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the sky, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
²⁹ God said, “Behold, I have given you every herb yielding seed, which is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree, which bears fruit yielding seed. It will be your food.
³⁰ To every animal of the earth, and to every bird of the sky, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food;” and it was so.
³¹ God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. There was evening and there was morning, a sixth day.

John 3

¹ Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
² The same came to him by night, and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do, unless God is with him.”
³ Jesus answered him, “Most certainly, I tell you, unless one is born anew, he can’t see the Kingdom of God.”
⁴ Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?”
⁵ Jesus answered, “Most certainly I tell you, unless one is born of water and spirit, he can’t enter into the Kingdom of God!
⁶ That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
⁷ Don’t marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born anew.’
⁸ The wind blows where it wants to, and you hear its sound, but don’t know where it comes from and where it is going. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
⁹ Nicodemus answered him, “How can these things be?”
¹⁰ Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and don’t understand these things?
¹¹ Most certainly I tell you, we speak that which we know, and testify of that which we have seen, and you don’t receive our witness.
¹² If I told you earthly things and you don’t believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?
¹³ No one has ascended into heaven, but he who descended out of heaven, the Son of Man, who is in heaven.
¹⁴ As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
¹⁵ that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
¹⁶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
¹⁷ For God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him.
¹⁸ He who believes in him is not judged. He who doesn’t believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.
¹⁹ This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil.
²⁰ For everyone who does evil hates the light, and doesn’t come to the light, lest his works would be exposed.
²¹ But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his works may be revealed, that they have been done in God.”
²² After these things, Jesus came with his disciples into the land of Judea. He stayed there with them, and baptized.
²³ John also was baptizing in Enon near Salim, because there was much water there. They came, and were baptized.
²⁴ For John was not yet thrown into prison.
²⁵ There arose therefore a questioning on the part of John’s disciples with some Jews about purification.
²⁶ They came to John, and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified, behold, the same baptizes, and everyone is coming to him.”
²⁷ John answered, “A man can receive nothing, unless it has been given him from heaven.
²⁸ You yourselves testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before him.’
²⁹ He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. This, my joy, therefore is made full.
³⁰ He must increase, but I must decrease.
³¹ He who comes from above is above all. He who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all.
³² What he has seen and heard, of that he testifies; and no one receives his witness.
³³ He who has received his witness has set his seal to this, that God is true.
³⁴ For he whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for God gives the Spirit without measure.
³⁵ The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand.
³⁶ One who believes in the Son has eternal life, but one who disobeys the Son won’t see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”

Psalm 23

¹ A Psalm by David. Yahweh is my shepherd: I shall lack nothing.
² He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.
³ He restores my soul. He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
⁴ Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
⁵ You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil. My cup runs over.
⁶ Surely goodness and loving kindness shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in Yahweh’s house forever.

Romans 8

¹ There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
² For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death.
³ For what the law couldn’t do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God did, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh;
⁴ that the ordinance of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
⁵ For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.
⁶ For the mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace;
⁷ because the mind of the flesh is hostile towards God; for it is not subject to God’s law, neither indeed can it be.
⁸ Those who are in the flesh can’t please God.
⁹ But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if it is so that the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if any man doesn’t have the Spirit of Christ, he is not his.
¹⁰ If Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the spirit is alive because of righteousness.
¹¹ But if the Spirit of him who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
¹² So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
¹³ For if you live after the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
¹⁴ For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are children of God.
¹⁵ For you didn’t receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
¹⁶ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God;
¹⁷ and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if indeed we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified with him.
¹⁸ For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which will be revealed toward us.
¹⁹ For the creation waits with eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.
²⁰ For the creation was subjected to vanity, not of its own will, but because of him who subjected it, in hope
²¹ that the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of decay into the liberty of the glory of the children of God.
²² For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now.
²³ Not only so, but ourselves also, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for adoption, the redemption of our body.
²⁴ For we were saved in hope, but hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for that which he sees?
²⁵ But if we hope for that which we don’t see, we wait for it with patience.
²⁶ In the same way, the Spirit also helps our weaknesses, for we don’t know how to pray as we ought. But the Spirit himself makes intercession for us with groanings which can’t be uttered.
²⁷ He who searches the hearts knows what is on the Spirit’s mind, because he makes intercession for the saints according to God.
²⁸ We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose.
²⁹ For whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
³⁰ Whom he predestined, those he also called. Whom he called, those he also justified. Whom he justified, those he also glorified.
³¹ What then shall we say about these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
³² He who didn’t spare his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how would he not also with him freely give us all things?
³³ Who could bring a charge against God’s chosen ones? It is God who justifies.
³⁴ Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, yes rather, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.
³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Could oppression, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
³⁶ Even as it is written, “For your sake we are killed all day long. We were accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”
³⁷ No, in all these things, we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
³⁸ For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,
³⁹ nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Philippians 4

¹ Therefore, my brothers, beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand firm in the Lord, my beloved.
² I exhort Euodia, and I exhort Syntyche, to think the same way in the Lord.
³ Yes, I beg you also, true yokefellow, help these women, for they labored with me in the Good News, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.
⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always! Again I will say, “Rejoice!”
⁵ Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
⁶ In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.
⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.
⁸ Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there is any virtue, and if there is any praise, think about these things.
⁹ The things which you learned, received, heard, and saw in me: do these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
¹⁰ But I rejoice in the Lord greatly, that now at length you have revived your thought for me; in which you did indeed take thought, but you lacked opportunity.
¹¹ Not that I speak in respect to lack, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content in it.
¹² I know how to be humbled, and I know also how to abound. In everything and in all things I have learned the secret both to be filled and to be hungry, both to abound and to be in need.
¹³ I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.
¹⁴ However you did well that you shared in my affliction.
¹⁵ You yourselves also know, you Philippians, that in the beginning of the Good News, when I departed from Macedonia, no assembly shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you only.
¹⁶ For even in Thessalonica you sent once and again to my need.
¹⁷ Not that I seek for the gift, but I seek for the fruit that increases to your account.
¹⁸ But I have all things, and abound. I am filled, having received from Epaphroditus the things that came from you, a sweet-smelling fragrance, an acceptable and well-pleasing sacrifice to God.
¹⁹ My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
²⁰ Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever! Amen.
²¹ Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you.
²² All the saints greet you, especially those who are of Caesar’s household.
²³ The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Matthew 5

¹ Seeing the multitudes, he went up onto the mountain. When he had sat down, his disciples came to him.
² He opened his mouth and taught them, saying,
³ “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
⁴ Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
⁵ Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.
⁶ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.
⁷ Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.
¹⁰ Blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
¹¹ “Blessed are you when people reproach you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
¹² Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
¹³ “You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has lost its flavor, with what will it be salted? It is then good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under the feet of men.
¹⁴ You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill can’t be hidden.
¹⁵ Neither do you light a lamp, and put it under a measuring basket, but on a stand; and it shines to all who are in the house.
¹⁶ Even so, let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
¹⁷ “Don’t think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I didn’t come to destroy, but to fulfill.
¹⁸ For most certainly, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not even one smallest letter or one tiny pen stroke shall in any way pass away from the law, until all things are accomplished.
¹⁹ Whoever, therefore, shall break one of these least commandments, and teach others to do so, shall be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven; but whoever shall do and teach them shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.
²⁰ For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, there is no way you will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.
²¹ “You have heard that it was said to the ancient ones, ‘You shall not murder;’ and ‘Whoever shall murder shall be in danger of the judgment.’
²² But I tell you, that everyone who is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment; and whoever shall say to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council; and whoever shall say, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of the fire of Gehenna.
²³ “If therefore you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has anything against you,
²⁴ leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
²⁵ Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are with him in the way; lest perhaps the prosecutor deliver you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and you be cast into prison.
²⁶ Most certainly I tell you, you shall by no means get out of there, until you have paid the last penny.
²⁷ “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery;’
²⁸ but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.
²⁹ If your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna.
³⁰ If your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off, and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna.
³¹ “It was also said, ‘Whoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorce,’
³² but I tell you that whoever puts away his wife, except for the cause of sexual immorality, makes her an adulteress; and whoever marries her when she is put away commits adultery.
³³ “Again you have heard that it was said to them of old time, ‘You shall not make false vows, but shall perform to the Lord your vows,’
³⁴ but I tell you, don’t swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God;
³⁵ nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
³⁶ Neither shall you swear by your head, for you can’t make one hair white or black.
³⁷ But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’ be ‘No.’ Whatever is more than these is of the evil one.
³⁸ “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’
³⁹ But I tell you, don’t resist him who is evil; but whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also.
⁴⁰ If anyone sues you to take away your coat, let him have your cloak also.
⁴¹ Whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.
⁴² Give to him who asks you, and don’t turn away him who desires to borrow from you.
⁴³ “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.’
⁴⁴ But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you,
⁴⁵ that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust.
⁴⁶ For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same?
⁴⁷ If you only greet your friends, what more do you do than others? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same?
⁴⁸ Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Proverbs 3

¹ My son, don’t forget my teaching; but let your heart keep my commandments:
² for length of days, and years of life, and peace, will they add to you.
³ Don’t let kindness and truth forsake you. Bind them around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart.
⁴ So you will find favor, and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
⁵ Trust in Yahweh with all your heart, and don’t lean on your own understanding.
⁶ In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
⁷ Don’t be wise in your own eyes. Fear Yahweh, and depart from evil.
⁸ It will be health to your body, and nourishment to your bones.
⁹ Honor Yahweh with your substance, with the first fruits of all your increase:
¹⁰ so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.
¹¹ My son, don’t despise Yahweh’s discipline, neither be weary of his reproof:
¹² for whom Yahweh loves, he reproves; even as a father reproves the son in whom he delights.
¹³ Happy is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gets understanding.
¹⁴ For her good profit is better than getting silver, and her return is better than fine gold.
¹⁵ She is more precious than rubies. None of the things you can desire are to be compared to her.
¹⁶ Length of days is in her right hand. In her left hand are riches and honor.
¹⁷ Her ways are ways of pleasantness. All her paths are peace.
¹⁸ She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her. Happy is everyone who retains her.
¹⁹ By wisdom Yahweh founded the earth. By understanding, he established the heavens.
²⁰ By his knowledge, the depths were broken up, and the skies drop down the dew.
²¹ My son, let them not depart from your eyes. Keep sound wisdom and discretion:
²² so they will be life to your soul, and grace for your neck.
²³ Then you shall walk in your way securely. Your foot won’t stumble.
²⁴ When you lie down, you will not be afraid. Yes, you will lie down, and your sleep will be sweet.
²⁵ Don’t be afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes:
²⁶ for Yahweh will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being taken.
²⁷ Don’t withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do it.
²⁸ Don’t say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again; tomorrow I will give it to you,” when you have it by you.
²⁹ Don’t devise evil against your neighbor, since he dwells securely by you.
³⁰ Don’t strive with a man without cause, if he has done you no harm.
³¹ Don’t envy the man of violence. Choose none of his ways.
³² For the perverse is an abomination to Yahweh, but his friendship is with the upright.
³³ Yahweh’s curse is in the house of the wicked, but he blesses the habitation of the righteous.
³⁴ Surely he mocks the mockers, but he gives grace to the humble.
³⁵ The wise will inherit glory, but shame will be the promotion of fools.

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