Friday 8 February 2013

1Let brotherly love continue.2Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers,for in doing so, some have entertained angels without knowing it.3Remember those who are in bonds,as bound with them,and those who are ill-treated,since you are also in the body.4Let marriage be held in honor among all,and let the bed be undefiled;but God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.

5Be free from the love of money,content with such things as you have,for he has said, “I will in no way leave you,neither will I in any way forsake you.”6So that with good courage we say,

“The Lord is my helper. I will not fear.What can man do to me?”

7Remember your leaders,men who spoke to you the word of God,and considering the results of their conduct,imitate their faith.8Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

1The Lord is my light and my salvation.Whom shall I fear?The Lord is the strength of my life.Of whom shall I be afraid?

3Though an army should encamp against me,my heart shall not fear.Though war should rise against me,even then I will be confident.

5For in the day of trouble, he will keep me secretly in his pavilion.In the secret place of his tabernacle, he will hide me.He will lift me up on a rock.

8When you said, “Seek my face,”my heart said to you, “I will seek your face, Lord.”9Don’t hide your face from me.Don’t put your servant away in anger.You have been my help.Don’t abandon me,neither forsake me, God of my salvation.

14King Herod heard this,for his name had become known,and he said, “John the Baptizer has risen from the dead,and therefore these powers are at work in him.”15But others said, “He is Elijah.”Others said, “He is a prophet,or like one of the prophets.”16But Herod, when he heard this,said, “This is John, whom I beheaded.He has risen from the dead.”17For Herod himself had sent out and arrested Johnand bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias,his brother Philip’s wife,for he had married her.18For John had said to Herod,“It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”19Herodias set herself against himand desired to kill him, but she couldn’t,20for Herod feared John,knowing that he was a righteous and holy man,and kept him safe.When he heard him,he did many things,and he heard him gladly.

21Then a convenient day camewhen Herod on his birthday made a supper for his nobles,the high officers,and the chief men of Galilee.22When the daughter of Herodias herself came in and danced,she pleased Herod and those sitting with him.The king said to the young lady,“Ask me whatever you want,and I will give it to you.”23He swore to her, “Whatever you ask of me,I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.”

24She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask?”

She said, “The head of John the Baptizer.”

25She came in immediately with haste to the king and requested,“I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptizer on a platter.”

26The king was exceedingly sorry,but for the sake of his oaths and of his dinner guests,he didn’t wish to refuse her.27Immediately the king sent out a soldier of his guardand commanded to bring John’s head;and he went and beheaded him in the prison,28and brought his head on a platter,and gave it to the young lady;and the young lady gave it to her mother.

29When his disciples heard this,they came and took up his corpse and laid it in a tomb.