Monday 27 August 2029

1Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,to the assembly of the Thessalonians in God the Fatherand the Lord Jesus Christ:Grace to you and peace from God our Fatherand the Lord Jesus Christ.

2We always give thanks to God for all of you,mentioning you in our prayers,3remembering without ceasing your work of faith and labor of loveand perseverance of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ,before our God and Father.4We know, brothers loved by God, that you are chosen,5and that our Good News came to you not in word only,but also in power,and in the Holy Spirit and with much assurance.You know what kind of men we showed ourselves to be among you for your sake.· · · verses 6–7 are not read8For from you the word of the Lord has been declared,not only in Macedonia and Achaia,but also in every place your faith toward God has gone out,so that we need not say anything.9For they themselves report concerning us what kind of a reception we had from you,and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God,10and to wait for his Son from heaven,whom he raised from the dead:Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come.

1Praise the Lord!Sing to the Lord a new song,his praise in the assembly of the saints.2Let Israel rejoice in him who made them.Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.

3Let them praise his name in the dance!Let them sing praises to him with tambourine and harp!4For the Lord takes pleasure in his people.He crowns the humble with salvation.

5Let the saints rejoice in honor.Let them sing for joy on their beds.6May the high praises of God be in their mouths,and a two-edged sword in their hand,9to execute on them the written judgment.All his saints have this honor.Praise the Lord!

13“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!For you devour widows’ houses,and as a pretense you make long prayers.Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.15Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!For you travel around by seaand land to make one proselyte;and when he becomes one,you make him twice as much a son of Gehenna as yourselves.

16“Woe to you, you blind guides,who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing;but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obligated.’17You blind fools!For which is greater,the gold or the temple that sanctifies the gold?18And, ‘Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing;but whoever swears by the giftthat is on it, he is obligated.’19You blind fools!For which is greater,the gift, or the altar that sanctifies the gift?20He therefore who swears by the altar,swears by it and by everything on it.21He who swears by the temple,swears by it and by him who has been living in it.22He who swears by heaven,swears by the throne of God and by him who sits on it.