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159 Controversial Bible Verses
If you ever find yourself needing wisdom, know that you can ask God, and He will generously give it to you, no questions asked. It's easy to get caught up in arguments, you know? Life's full of people with different viewpoints. But understand this: God doesn't want you getting into fights or constantly arguing with those around you.
He wants you to be humble and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal His will to you. Steer clear of arguments and heated discussions. Even if you don't fully grasp God's word right now, you can always ask the Father for wisdom, and He'll lovingly illuminate your understanding.
He'll guide you toward truth, and His peace—that peace that surpasses all understanding—will surround you. Right here, right now, open your heart to Jesus. Don't rely on your own understanding. Remember, it's not your job to convert or convince others. That's the Holy Spirit's work.
And Elohim created the man in His image, in the image of Elohim He created him – male and female He created them.
And יהוה Elohim said, “It is not good for the man to be alone, I am going to make a helper for him, as his counterpart.”
And they called to Lot and said to him, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, and let us ‘know’ them.”
“But if there is injury, then you shall give life for life,eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,burn for burn, wound for wound, lash for lash.
Do not go forth to strive in haste, For what would you do in the end, When your neighbour has put you to shame?Plead your case with your neighbour himself, And do not disclose the secret of another;
‘And a man who lies with a male as he lies with a woman: both of them have done an abomination, they shall certainly be put to death, their blood is upon them.
And when the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eating with the tax collectors and sinners, they said to His taught ones, “Why does He eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”
and the Pharisees said to Him, “Look, why do they do what is not right on the Sabbath?”And He said to them, “Have you never read what Dawiḏ did when he had need and was hungry, he and those with him?
“And now, kill every male among the little ones. And every woman who has known a man by lying with a man you shall kill.“But keep alive for yourselves all the female children who have not known a man by lying with a man.
The Pharisees, therefore, said to Him, “You bear witness about Yourself, Your witness is not true.”
Only, of the cities of these peoples which יהוה your Elohim gives you as an inheritance, you do not keep alive any that breathe,”but you shall certainly put them under the ban: the Ḥittite and the Amorite and the Kena‛anite and the Perizzite and the Ḥiwwite and the Yeḇusite, as יהוה your Elohim has commanded you,
So when Sha’ul and Barnaḇa had no small dissension and dispute with them, they arranged for Sha’ul and Barnaḇa and certain others of them to go up to Yerushalayim, to the emissaries and elders, about this question.
And when Kĕpha went up to Yerushalayim, those of the circumcision were contending with him,
“A woman does not wear that which pertains to a man, nor does a man put on a woman’s garment, for whoever does this is an abomination to יהוה your Elohim.
When any man takes a wife, and shall go in to her, and shall hate her,”and shall make abusive charges against her and bring an evil name on her and say, ‘I took this woman, and when I came to her I did not find her a maiden,’then the father and mother of the young woman shall take and bring out the proof of the girl’s maidenhood to the elders of the city at the gate.“And the girl’s father shall say to the elders, ‘I gave my daughter to this man as wife, and he hates her.“And see, he has made abusive charges against her, saying, I did not find your daughter a maiden,” and yet these are the proofs of my daughter’s maidenhood.’ And they shall spread the garment before the elders of the city.“And the elders of that city shall take that man and punish him,and fine him one hundred pieces of silver and give them to the father of the young woman, because he has brought an evil name on a maiden of Yisra’ĕl. And she is to be his wife, he is not allowed to put her away all his days.“And if your brother is not near you, or if you do not know him, then you shall bring it to your own house, and it shall be with you until your brother seeks it, then you shall return it to him.But if the matter is true, that the girl was not found a maiden,”then they shall bring out the girl to the door of her father’s house, and the men of her city shall stone her to death with stones, because she has done wickedness in Yisra’ĕl, to whore in her father’s house. Thus you shall purge the evil from your midst.
“He who is wounded by crushing of testicles or whose penis is cut off, shall not enter into the community of יהוה.
“When men fight with one another, a man and his brother, and the wife of one shall draw near to rescue her husband from the hand of the one striking him, and shall put out her hand and take hold of him by the genitals,then you shall cut off her hand – your eye does not pardon.
Now go, and you shall strike Amalĕq and put under the ban all that he has, and you shall not spare them, and put to death from man to woman, from infant to nursing child, from ox to sheep, from camel to donkey.’ ”
“Thus said יהוה, ‘See, I am raising up evil against you, from your own house, and shall take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbour, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun.For you did it in secret, but I shall do this deed before all Yisra’ĕl, and before the sun.’ ”And Dawiḏ said to Nathan, “I have sinned against יהוה.” And Nathan said to Dawiḏ, “Also, יהוה has put away your sin, you shall not die.“However, because by this deed you have greatly scorned יהוה, the child also who is born to you shall certainly die.”
Do not withhold discipline from a child; If you strike him with a rod, he does not die.Strike him with a rod And deliver his being from She’ol.
For every matter there is an appointed time, even a time for every pursuit under the heavens:I have seen the task Elohim has given to the sons of men to be humbled by it.He has made it all, beautiful in its time. Even the ages He has put in their hearts, except that no one finds out the work that Elohim does from beginning to end.I know that there is no good for them but to rejoice, and to do good in their lives,and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is a gift of Elohim.I know that whatever Elohim does is forever. There is no adding to it, and there is no taking from it. Elohim does it, that men should fear before Him.Whatever is has already been, and what shall be has been before. But Elohim seeks out what has been pursued.Then again I saw under the sun: In the place of right-ruling, wrongness was there. And in the place of righteousness, wrongness was there.I said in my heart, “Elohim judges the righteous and the wrong, for there is a time for every matter and for every work.”I said in my heart, “Concerning the matter of the sons of men, Elohim selects them, so as to see that they themselves are beasts.”For the event of the sons of men is also the event of beasts – one event befalls them: as one dies, so dies the other. Indeed, they all have one breath – man has no advantage over beasts. For all is futile.A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to uproot;All are going to one place – all came from the dust, and all return to dust.Who knows the spirit of the sons of men, which goes upward, and the spirit of the beast, which goes down to the earth?So I saw that man could do no better but to rejoice in his own works, for that is his portion. For who would bring him to see what shall be after him?a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away;a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to be silent, and a time to speak;a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for battle, and a time for peace.
forming light and creating darkness, making peace and creating evil. I, יהוה, do all these.’
“And I shall make them to eat the flesh of their sons and the flesh of their daughters, and eat one another’s flesh in the siege and in the distress with which their enemies and those who seek their lives distress them.” ’
“And I also gave them up to laws that were not good, and right-rulings by which they would not live.“And I defiled them by their own gifts, as they passed all their first-born through the fire, so that I might stun them, so that they know that I am יהוה.” ’
Then Neḇuḵaḏnetstsar was filled with wrath, and the expression on his face changed toward Shaḏraḵ, Mĕyshaḵ, and Aḇĕḏ-Neḡo. He responded and gave orders that they heat the furnace seven times more than it was usual to heat it.And Sovereign Neḇuḵaḏnetstsar sent word to gather together the viceroys, the nobles, and the governors, the counsellors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Sovereign Neḇuḵaḏnetstsar had set up.And he commanded some of the strongest men of his army to bind Shaḏraḵ, Mĕyshaḵ, and Aḇĕḏ-Neḡo, and throw them into the burning furnace of fire.So these men were bound in their coats, their trousers, and their turbans, and their other garments, and were thrown into the midst of the burning furnace of fire.Thereupon, because the sovereign’s order was urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shaḏraḵ, Mĕyshaḵ, and Aḇĕḏ-Neḡo.And these three men, Shaḏraḵ, Mĕyshaḵ, and Aḇĕḏ-Neḡo, fell down bound into the midst of the burning furnace of fire.Then Sovereign Neḇuḵaḏnetstsar was amazed, and stood up in haste and spoke and said to his counsellors, “Did we not throw three men bound into the midst of the fire?” They answered and said to the sovereign, “Certainly, O sovereign.”He answered and said, “Look! I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire. And they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of Elahin.”Then Neḇuḵaḏnetstsar went near the mouth of the burning furnace of fire. He spoke and said, “Shaḏraḵ, Mĕyshaḵ, and Aḇĕḏ-Neḡo, servants of the Most High Elah, come out, and come here.” Then Shaḏraḵ, Mĕyshaḵ, and Aḇĕḏ-Neḡo came from the midst of the fire.And the viceroys, the nobles, and the governors, and the sovereign’s counsellors gathered together, seeing these men on whose bodies the fire had no power, and the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments changed, nor did the smell of fire come on them.Neḇuḵaḏnetstsar responded and said, “Blessed be the Elah of Shaḏraḵ, Mĕyshaḵ, and Aḇĕḏ-Neḡo, who sent His Messenger and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and changed the sovereign’s order, and gave up their bodies, that they should not serve nor do obeisance to any elah except their own Elah!“Therefore I make a decree that whoever of any people, nation, or language who speaks any wrong against the Elah of Shaḏraḵ, Mĕyshaḵ, and Aḇĕḏ-Neḡo, his limbs shall be taken, and his house made a dunghill, because there is no other Elah who is able to deliver like this.”Then the viceroys, the nobles, and the governors, the counsellors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered together for the dedication of the image that Sovereign Neḇuḵaḏnetstsar had set up. And they stood before the image that Neḇuḵaḏnetstsar had set up.Then the sovereign promoted Shaḏraḵ, Mĕyshaḵ, and Aḇĕḏ-Neḡo in the province of Baḇel.
If a shophar is blown in a city, do the people not tremble? If there is calamity in a city, shall not יהוה have done it?
but I have hated Ěsaw, and have laid waste his mountains and his inheritance for the jackals of the wilderness.”
Do not think that I came to destroy the Torah or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to complete.For truly, I say to you, till the heaven and the earth pass away, one yod or one tittle shall by no means pass from the Torah till all be done.“Whoever, then, breaks one of the least of these commands, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the reign of the heavens; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the reign of the heavens.
“Do not judge, lest you be judged.“Or if he asks for a fish, shall he give him a snake?“If you then, being wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father who is in the heavens give what is good to those who ask Him!“Therefore, whatever you wish men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Torah and the Prophets.“Enter in through the narrow gate! Because the gate is wide – and the way is broad – that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter in through it.“Because the gate is narrow and the way is hard pressed which leads to life, and there are few who find it.“But beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are savage wolves.“By their fruits you shall know them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles?“So every good tree yields good fruit, but a rotten tree yields wicked fruit.“A good tree is unable to yield wicked fruit, and a rotten tree to yield good fruit.“Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.“For with what judgment you judge, you shall be judged. And with the same measure you use, it shall be measured to you.“So then, by their fruits you shall know them –“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Master, Master,’ shall enter into the reign of the heavens, but he who is doing the desire of My Father in the heavens.“Many shall say to Me in that day, ‘Master, Master, have we not prophesied in Your Name, and cast out demons in Your Name, and done many mighty works in Your Name?’“And then I shall declare to them, ‘I never knew you, depart from Me, you who work lawlessness!’“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine, and does them, shall be like a wise man who built his house on the rock,“and the rain came down, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.“And everyone who hears these words of Mine, and does not do them, shall be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand,and the rain came down, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and they beat on that house, and it fell, and great was its fall.”And it came to be, when יהושע had ended these words, that the people were astonished at His teaching,for He was teaching them as one possessing authority, and not as the scribes.“And why do you look at the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the plank in your own eye?“Or how is it that you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the splinter out of your eye,’ and see, a plank is in your own eye?“Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you shall see clearly to remove the splinter out of your brother’s eye.
And He answering, said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Yisra’ĕl.”
“And I say to you, whoever puts away his wife, except on the ground of whoring, and marries another, commits adultery. And whoever marries her who has been put away commits adultery.”
“And do not call anyone on earth your father, for One is your Father, He who is in the heavens.
Therefore, go and make taught ones of all the nations, immersing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Set-apart Spirit,And see, there was a great earthquake, for a messenger of יהוה came down out of heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it.teaching them to guard all that I have commanded you. And see, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” Amĕn.
“However, from the beginning of the creation, Elohim ‘made them male and female.’‘For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife,and the two shall become one flesh,’ so that they are no longer two, but one flesh.“Therefore what Elohim has joined together, let man not separate.”
The Torah and the prophets are until Yoḥanan. Since then the reign of Elohim is being announced, and everyone is doing violence upon it.And it is easier for the heaven and the earth to pass away than for one tittle of the Torah to fall.
He who believes in the Son possesses everlasting life, but he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of Elohim remains on him.
יהושע therefore said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Aḏam and drink His blood, you possess no life in yourselves.
יהושע said to him, “I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Mattithyahu. And he was numbered with the eleven emissaries.
And Kĕpha said to them, “Repent, and let each one of you be immersed in the Name of יהושע Messiah for the forgiveness of sins. And you shall receive the gift of the Set-apart Spirit.
“And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, having ordained beforehand the times and the boundaries of their dwelling,to seek the Master, if at least they would reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.
For the wrath of Elohim is revealed from heaven against all wickedness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,because that which is known of Elohim is manifest among them, for Elohim has manifested it to them.which He promised before through His prophets in the Set-apart Scriptures,For since the creation of the world His invisible qualities have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, both His everlasting power and Mightiness, for them to be without excuse,because, although they knew Elohim, they did not esteem Him as Elohim, nor gave thanks, but became vain in their reasonings, and their undiscerning heart was darkened.Claiming to be wise, they became fools,and changed the esteem of the incorruptible Elohim into the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds and of four-footed beasts and of reptiles.Therefore Elohim gave them up to uncleanness in the lust of their hearts, to disrespect their bodies among themselves,who changed the truth of Elohim into the falsehood, and worshipped and served what was created rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amĕn.Because of this Elohim gave them over to degrading passions. For even their women exchanged natural relations for what is against nature,and likewise, the men also, having left natural relations with woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing indecency, and receiving back the reward which was due for their straying.And even as they did not think it worthwhile to possess the knowledge of Elohim, Elohim gave them over to a worthless mind, to do what is improper,having been filled with all unrighteousness, whoring, wickedness, greed, evil; filled with envy, murder, fighting, deceit, evil habits; whisperers,concerning His Son, who came of the seed of Dawiḏ according to the flesh,slanderers, haters of Elohim, insolent, proud, boasters, devisers of evils, disobedient to parents,without discernment, covenant breakers, unloving, unforgiving, ruthless;who, though they know the righteousness of Elohim, that those who practise such deserve death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practise them.
What, then, shall we say? Is the Torah sin? Let it not be! However, I did not know sin except through the Torah. For also the covetousness I knew not if the Torah had not said, “You shall not covet.”But sin, having taken the occasion through the command, did work in me all sorts of covetousness. For apart from Torah sin is dead.
And if by favour, it is no longer of works, otherwise favour is no longer favour. And if it is of works, it is no longer favour, otherwise work is no longer work.
Beloved, do not revenge yourselves, but give place to the wrath, for it has been written, “Vengeance is Mine, I shall repay,” says יהוה.
deliver such a one to Satan for destruction of the flesh, in order that his spirit be saved in the day of the Master יהושע.
And every woman praying or prophesying with her head uncovered brings shame to her head, for that is one and the same as if her head were shaved.For if a woman is not covered, let her also be shorn. But if it is a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaved, let her be covered.
Let your women be silent in the assemblies, for they are not allowed to speak, but let them subject themselves, as the Torah also says.And if they wish to learn whatever, let them ask their own husbands at home, for it is improper for women to speak in an assembly.
There is not Yehuḏi nor Greek, there is not slave nor free, there is not male and female, for you are all one in Messiah יהושע.
Wives, subject yourselves to your own husbands, as to the Master.Because the husband is head of the wife, as also the Messiah is head of the assembly, and He is Saviour of the body.But as the assembly is subject to Messiah, so also let the wives be to their own husbands in every respect.
So that, my beloved, as you always obeyed – not only in my presence, but now much rather in my absence – work out your own deliverance with fear and trembling,
Servants, obey your masters according to the flesh in all respects, not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing Elohim.And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Master and not to men,knowing that from the Master you shall receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Master, Messiah, you serve.
For this is the desire of Elohim: your set-apartness! – that you should abstain from whoring,that each one of you should know how to possess his own vessel in set-apartness and respect,not in passion of lust, like the nations who do not know Elohim,
No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent ailments.
For there shall be a time when they shall not bear sound teaching, but according to their own desires, they shall heap up for themselves teachers tickling the ear,and they shall indeed turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to myths.
For there are many unruly men, senseless talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision,whose mouths have to be stopped, who upset entire households, teaching what they should not teach, for the sake of filthy gain.One of them, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”This witness is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, in order for them to be sound in the belief,not paying attention to Yehuḏi fables, and commands of men who turn from the truth.
For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Set-apart Spirit,and have tasted the good Word of Elohim and the powers of the age to come,and fall away, to renew them again to repentance – having impaled for themselves the Son of Elohim again, and put Him to open shame.
For if we sin purposely after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a slaughter offering for sins,but some fearsome anticipation of judgment, and a fierce fire which is about to consume the opponents.
My brothers, what use is it for anyone to say he has belief but does not have works? This belief is unable to save him.And if a brother or sister is naked and in need of daily food,but one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” but you do not give them the bodily needs, what use is it?So also belief, if it does not have works, is in itself dead.But someone might say, “You have belief, and I have works.” Show me your belief without your works, and I shall show you my belief by my works.You believe that Elohim is one. You do well. The demons also believe – and shudder!For if there should come into your meeting place a man with gold rings, in a splendid robe, and there should also come in a poor one dressed in rags,But do you wish to know, O foolish man, that the belief without the works is dead?Was not Aḇraham our father declared right by works when he offered Yitsḥaq his son on the slaughter-place?Do you see that the belief was working with his works, and by the works the belief was perfected?And the Scripture was filled which says, “Aḇraham believed Elohim, and it was reckoned to him for righteousness.” And He called him, “he who loves Elohim.”You see, then, that a man is declared right by works, and not by belief alone.In the same way, was not Raḥaḇ the whore also declared right by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?For as the body without the spirit is dead, so also the belief is dead without the works.
In the same way, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that if any are disobedient to the Word, they, without a word, might be won by the behaviour of their wives,For “He who wishes to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit,let him turn away from evil and do good, let him seek peace and pursue it.“Because the eyes of יהוה are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayers, but the face of יהוה is against those who do evil.”And who is the one doing evil to you, if you become imitators of the good?But even if you suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not fear their threats, neither be troubled.”But set apart יהוה Elohim in your hearts, and always be ready to give an answer to everyone asking you a reason concerning the expectation that is in you, with meekness and fear,having a good conscience, so that when they speak against you as doers of evil, those who falsely accuse your good behaviour in Messiah, shall be ashamed.For it is better, if it is the desire of Elohim, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.Because even Messiah once suffered for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to Elohim, having been put to death indeed in flesh but made alive in the Spirit,in which also He went and proclaimed unto the spirits in prison,having seen your blameless behaviour in fear.
Because it is time for judgment to begin from the House of Elohim. And if firstly from us, what is the end of those who do not obey the Good News of Elohim?
Do not love the world nor that which is in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.Because all that is in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – is not of the Father but is of the world.And the world passes away, and the lust of it, but the one doing the desire of Elohim remains forever.
Everyone having been born of Elohim does not sin, because His seed stays in him, and he is powerless to sin, because he has been born of Elohim.
If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin, not unto death, he shall ask, and He shall give him life for those not sinning unto death. There is a sin unto death. I do not say that he should pray about that.All unrighteousness is sin, and there is a sin not unto death.
“And I gave her time to repent of her whoring, and she did not repent.“See, I am throwing her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great affliction, unless they repent of their works.“And I shall slay her children with death. And all the assemblies shall know that I am the One searching the kidneys and hearts. And I shall give to each one of you according to your works.
“So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am going to vomit you out of My mouth.
To the woman He said, “I greatly increase your sorrow and your conception – bring forth children in pain. And your desire is for your husband, and he does rule over you.”
and the pig, though it has a split hoof, completely divided, yet does not chew the cud, it is unclean to you.‘Their flesh you do not eat, and their carcasses you do not touch. They are unclean to you.
‘However, whatever a man lays under ban for יהוה of all that he has, man and beast, or the field of his possession, is not sold or redeemed. Whatever is laid under ban is most set-apart to יהוה.‘No one under the ban, under the ban among men, is ransomed, but shall certainly be put to death.
And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying,“Speak to the children of Yisra’ĕl, and say to them, ‘When any man’s wife turns aside and has committed a trespass against him,and a man has intercourse with her, and it is hidden from the eyes of her husband, and it is concealed that she has defiled herself, and there was no witness against her, nor was she caught,and a spirit of jealousy comes upon him and he becomes jealous of his wife who has defiled herself, or a spirit of jealousy comes upon him and he becomes jealous of his wife although she has not defiled herself,then the man shall bring his wife to the priest. And he shall bring the offering for her, one-tenth of an ĕphah of barley flour. He is not to pour oil on it or put frankincense on it, because it is a grain offering of jealousy, an offering for remembering, for bringing crookedness to remembrance.And the priest shall bring her near, and shall make her stand before יהוה.And the priest shall take set-apart water in an earthen vessel, and take some of the dust that is on the floor of the Dwelling Place and put it into the water.And the priest shall make the woman stand before יהוה, and shall uncover the woman’s head, and put the offering for remembering in her hands, which is the grain offering of jealousy, while the priest holds in his hand the bitter water that brings a curse.“And the priest shall make her swear, and say to the woman, If no man has lain with you, and if you have not turned aside to uncleanness under your husband’s authority, be free from this bitter water that brings a curse.“Command the children of Yisra’ĕl to send out of the camp every leper, and everyone who has a discharge, and whoever becomes defiled for a being.But if you have turned aside under your husband’s authority, and if you have defiled yourself and some man other than your husband has lain with you” –then the priest shall make the woman swear with the oath of the curse, and he shall say to the woman – “יהוה make you a curse and an oath among your people, when יהוה makes your thigh waste away and your belly swell,and this water that causes the curse shall go into your inward parts, and make your belly swell and your thigh waste away.” And the woman shall say, “Amĕn, amĕn.”And the priest shall write these curses in a book, and shall wipe them off into the bitter water,and shall make the woman drink the bitter water that brings the curse, and the water that brings the curse shall enter her to become bitter.And the priest shall take the grain offering of jealousy from the woman’s hand, and shall wave the offering before יהוה, and bring it to the slaughter-place.And the priest shall take a hand filled with the offering, as its remembrance offering, and burn it on the slaughter-place, and afterward make the woman drink the water.And when he has made her drink the water, then it shall be, if she has defiled herself and has committed a trespass against her husband, that the water that brings the curse shall enter her and become bitter, and her belly shall swell, and her thigh shall waste away, and the woman shall become a curse among her people.But if the woman has not defiled herself, and is clean, then she shall be clear and shall conceive children.This is the Torah of jealousy, when a wife turns aside under her husband’s authority and defiles herself,“Send out both male and female, send them outside the camp, so that they do not defile their camps in the midst of which I dwell.”or when a spirit of jealousy comes upon a man, and he becomes jealous of his wife. Then he shall make the woman stand before יהוה, and the priest shall do to her all this Torah.And the man shall be clear from crookedness, but the woman bear her crookedness.’ ”
“When brothers dwell together, and one of them has died, and has no son, the widow of the dead man shall not become a stranger’s outside. Her husband’s brother does go in to her, and shall take her as his wife, and perform the duty of a husband’s brother to her.“And it shall be that the first-born son which she bears does rise up for the name of his dead brother, so that his name is not blotted out of Yisra’ĕl.
They were making their hearts glad, and see, men of the city, sons of Beliya‛al, surrounded the house, beating on the door. And they spoke to the master of the house, the old man, saying, “Bring out the man who came to your house, so that we know him!”But the man, the master of the house, went out to them and said to them, “No, my brothers! I beg you, do no evil! Since this man has come into my house, do not do this folly.“Look, here is my maiden daughter and the man’s concubine. Let me bring them out now, and humble them, and do with them what is good in your eyes, but do not do such a foolish matter to this man!”But the men would not listen to him. So the man took hold of his concubine and brought her out to them. And they knew her and rolled themselves on her all night until morning, and let her go when the day began to break.And as morning appeared the woman came back and fell down at the door of the man’s house where her master was, till it was light.And her master rose up in the morning, and opened the doors of the house and went out to go his way, and saw his concubine, fallen at the door of the house with her hands on the threshold.And he said to her, “Rise up and let us go.” But there was no answer. Then he took her on the donkey, and the man rose and went to his place,and came into his house and took a knife, then took hold of his concubine, and cut her up limb by limb into twelve pieces, and sent her throughout all the borders of Yisra’ĕl.And her husband arose and went after her, to speak to her heart and bring her back, having his servant and a couple of donkeys with him. And she brought him into her father’s house. And the father of the young woman saw him, and he was glad to meet him.And it came to be that all who saw it said, “There has never been, and there has not been seen the like of this, from the day that the children of Yisra’ĕl came up from the land of Mitsrayim until this day. Set your heart on it, take counsel, and speak up!”
“Thus said יהוה of hosts, ‘I shall punish Amalĕq for what he did to Yisra’ĕl, how he set himself against him on the way when he came up from Mitsrayim.And Sha’ul said to Shemu’ĕl, “I did obey the voice of יהוה, and I went on the way on which יהוה sent me, and brought back Aḡaḡ sovereign of Amalĕq, and I put Amalĕq under the ban.“But the people took of the spoil, of the sheep and cattle, the best of that which should have been put under the ban, to slaughter to יהוה your Elohim in Gilgal.”Then Shemu’ĕl said, “Does יהוה delight in ascending offerings and slaughterings, as in obeying the voice of יהוה? Look, to obey is better than a slaughtering, to heed is better than the fat of rams.“For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and stubbornness is as wickedness and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of יהוה, He also does reject you as sovereign.”And Sha’ul said to Shemu’ĕl, “I have sinned, for I have transgressed the mouth of יהוה and your words, because I feared the people and listened to their voice.“And now, please pardon my sin, and return with me, and let me bow myself to יהוה.”But Shemu’ĕl said to Sha’ul, “I do not return with you, for you have rejected the word of יהוה, and יהוה does reject you from being sovereign over Yisra’ĕl.”And as Shemu’ĕl turned around to go away, Sha’ul took hold of the edge of his robe, and it tore.And Shemu’ĕl said to him, “יהוה has torn the reign of Yisra’ĕl from you today, and has given it to a neighbour of yours, better than you.“Moreover, the Eminence of Yisra’ĕl does not lie nor relent. For He is not a man, that He should relent.”Now go, and you shall strike Amalĕq and put under the ban all that he has, and you shall not spare them, and put to death from man to woman, from infant to nursing child, from ox to sheep, from camel to donkey.’ ”
Aḥaḇ then sent for all the children of Yisra’ĕl, and gathered the prophets on Mount Karmel.And Ěliyahu came to all the people, and said, “How long would you keep hopping between two opinions? If יהוה is Elohim, follow Him; and if Ba‛al, follow him.” But the people answered him not a word.And Ěliyahu said to the people, “I alone am left a prophet of יהוה, but the prophets of Ba‛al are four hundred and fifty men.“Now let them give us two bulls. And let them choose one bull for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, but set no fire. And I, I prepare the other bull, and shall lay it on the wood, but set no fire.“And you shall call on the name of your mighty one, and I, I call on the Name of יהוה. And the Elohim who answers by fire, He is Elohim.” So all the people answered and said, “The word is good.”And Ěliyahu said to the prophets of Ba‛al, “Choose one bull for yourselves and prepare it first, for you are many. And call on the name of your mighty one, but set no fire.”So they took the bull which was given them, and prepared it, and called on the name of Ba‛al from morning even until noon, saying, “O Ba‛al, answer us!” But there was no voice and no one answered. And they leaped about the slaughter-place which they had made.And it came to be at noon, that Ěliyahu taunted them and said, “Cry aloud, for he is a mighty one; he is meditating, or he is busy, or he is on a journey, or it could be that he is asleep and has to be awakened!”And they cried aloud, and cut themselves, according to their ruling, with knives and spears, until the blood gushed out on them.And it came to be when midday was past, that they prophesied until the time of bringing the evening offering. But there was no voice and no one answered, and no one paying attention.And Aḥaḇ had called Oḇaḏyahu, who was over his house. Now Oḇaḏyahu feared יהוה exceedingly.Then Ěliyahu said to all the people, “Come closer to me.” And all the people came closer to him. And he repaired the slaughter-place of יהוה that was broken down.And Ěliyahu took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Ya‛aqoḇ, to whom the word of יהוה had come, saying, “Yisra’ĕl is your name.”And with the stones he built a slaughter-place in the Name of יהוה. And he made a trench around the slaughter-place large enough to hold two seahs of seed.And he arranged the wood, and cut the bull in pieces, and laid it on the wood, and said, “Fill four jars with water, and pour it on the ascending offering and on the wood.”Then he said, “Do it a second time,” and they did it a second time. And he said, “Do it a third time,” and they did it a third time.And the water flowed around the slaughter-place, and he filled the trench with water too.And it came to be, at the time of bringing the evening offering, that Ěliyahu the prophet came near and said, “יהוה Elohim of Aḇraham, Yitsḥaq, and Yisra’ĕl, let it be known today: You are Elohim in Yisra’ĕl, and I Your servant, have done all these matters by Your word.“Answer me, O יהוה, answer me, and let this people know that You are יהוה Elohim, and You shall turn their hearts back to You again.”Then the fire of יהוה fell and consumed the ascending offering, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench.And all the people saw, and fell on their faces, and said, “יהוה, He is the Elohim! יהוה, He is the Elohim!”And it came to be, while Izeḇel cut down the prophets of יהוה, that Oḇaḏyahu had taken one hundred prophets and hidden them, fifty to a cave, and had fed them with bread and water.And Ěliyahu said to them, “Seize the prophets of Ba‛al! Do not let one of them escape!” So they seized them, and Ěliyahu brought them down to the wadi Qishon and slew them there.
And he went up from there to Bĕyth Ěl. And as he was going up the way, some youths came from the city and mocked him, and said to him, “Go up, baldhead! Go up, baldhead!”And he turned around and looked at them, and pronounced a curse on them in the Name of יהוה. And two female bears came out of the forest and tore to pieces forty-two of the youths.
and whoever would not seek יהוה Elohim of Yisra’ĕl would be put to death, from small to great, from man to woman.And they swore to יהוה with a loud voice, with shouting and with trumpets and with shopharot.And all Yehuḏah rejoiced concerning the oath, for they had sworn with all their heart and sought Him with all their being. And He was found by them, and יהוה gave them rest all around.
Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, And not be written with the righteous.
O יהוה, do I not hate them, who hate You? And do I not loathe those who rise up against You?With a complete hatred I hate them; They have become my enemies.
These six matters יהוה hates, And seven are an abomination to Him:A proud look, A lying tongue, And hands shedding innocent blood,A heart devising wicked schemes, Feet quick to run to evil,A false witness breathing out lies, And one who causes strife among brothers.
A good name is better than precious oil, and the day of death than the day of one’s birth.Do not say, “Why were the former days better than these?” For it is not wise of you to have asked about this.Wisdom is good with an inheritance, and an advantage to those who see the sun.For wisdom protects as silver protects, but the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to those who have it.See the work of Elohim: For who is able to make straight what He has made crooked?Be glad in the day of prosperity, but in the evil day take note that Elohim has also appointed the one as well as the other, so that man should not uncover whatever shall be after him.I have seen it all in my days of futility: There is a righteous one perishing in his righteousness, and there is a wrong one living long in his evil.Do not be overrighteous, neither be overwise – why destroy yourself?Do not be wrong overmuch, and do not be a fool – why die before your time?It is good that you should take hold of this, and also not withhold your hand from the other. For he who fears Elohim comes forth with all of them.Wisdom makes the wise strong, more than ten rulers that are in the city.It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for that is the end of all men. And the living take it to heart.For there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and does not sin.Also do not take to heart all the words they speak, lest you hear your servant cursing you.For you know in your heart that many times you have cursed others.All this I have proved by wisdom. I said, “I am wise,” but it was far from me.That which is, is far off and exceedingly deep – who does find it?I have turned round, even my heart, to know and to search, and to seek out wisdom and a conclusion, to know the wrongness of folly, even of foolishness and madness.And I found more bitter than death, the woman whose heart is snares and nets, whose hands are shackles. He who pleases Elohim escapes from her, but the sinner is captured by her.“See, this I have found,” says Qoheleth, “Counting one by one, to find a conclusion,which my being still seeks but have not found: I have found one man among a thousand, but a woman among all these I have not found.Truly, this only I have found: that Elohim made man straight, but they have sought out many devices.”Sorrow is better than laughter, for by the sadness of the face the heart becomes better.The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of rejoicing.
“Woe to those making unrighteous inscriptions, and writers who have prescribed toil,As my hand has found the reigns of the idols, whose carved images excelled those of Yerushalayim and Shomeron,as I have done to Shomeron and her idols, do I not do also to Yerushalayim and her idols?’“And it shall be, when יהוה has performed all His work on Mount Tsiyon and on Yerushalayim, that I shall punish the fruit of the greatness of the heart of the sovereign of Ashshur, and the boasting of his haughty looks.“For he has said, ‘By the power of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom, for I have been clever. And I remove the boundaries of the people, and have robbed their treasuries. And I put down the inhabitants like a strong one.And my hand finds the riches of the people like a nest. And I have gathered all the earth like forsaken eggs are gathered. And there was no one who moved his wing, nor opened his mouth with even a peep.’ ”Would the axe boast itself over him who chops with it, or the saw exalt itself over him who saws with it? As a rod waving those who lift it up! As a staff lifting up that which is not wood!Therefore the Master, יהוה of hosts, sends leanness among his fat ones. And under his esteem he kindles a burning like the burning of a fire.And the Light of Yisra’ĕl shall be for a fire, and his Set-apart One for a flame. And it shall burn and devour his weeds and his thornbushes in one day,and consume the esteem of his forest and of his fertile field, both life and flesh. And they shall be as when a sick man wastes away,and the remaining trees of his forest shall be so few in number that a child records them.to keep the needy back from right-ruling, and to take what is right from the poor of My people, that widows become their prey, and orphans their plunder.
And יהוה says, “Because this people has drawn near with its mouth, and with its lips they have esteemed Me, and it has kept its heart far from Me, and their fear of Me has become a command of men that is taught!
But יהוה was pleased to crush Him, He laid sickness on Him, that when He made Himself an offering for guilt, He would see a seed, He would prolong His days and the pleasure of יהוה prosper in His hand.
Does a Kushite change his skin and a leopard its spots? You who are taught to do evil are also unable to do good!
“Have I any pleasure in the death of the wrong?” declares the Master יהוה. “Is it not that he should turn from his ways, and live?
“I have hated, I have despised your festivals, and I am not pleased with your assemblies.“Though you offer Me ascending offerings and your grain offerings, I do not accept them, nor do I look on your fattened peace offerings.“Take away from Me the noise of your songs, for I do not hear the sound of your stringed instruments.
“And I shall draw near to you for right-ruling. And I shall be a swift witness against the practisers of witchcraft, and against adulterers, and against them that swear to falsehood, and against those who oppress the wage earner in his wages and widows and the fatherless, and those who turn away a sojourner and do not fear Me,” said יהוה of hosts.
“But I say to you that everyone looking at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal,“Thus, when you do a kind deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do, in the congregations and in the streets, to be praised by men. Truly, I say to you, they have their reward.but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.For where your treasure is, there your heart shall be also.
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Master, Master,’ shall enter into the reign of the heavens, but he who is doing the desire of My Father in the heavens.“Many shall say to Me in that day, ‘Master, Master, have we not prophesied in Your Name, and cast out demons in Your Name, and done many mighty works in Your Name?’“And then I shall declare to them, ‘I never knew you, depart from Me, you who work lawlessness!’
“But whoever shall deny Me before men, him I shall also deny before My Father who is in the heavens.
“Do you think that I came to give peace on earth? I say to you, no, but rather division.“For from now on five in one house shall be divided, three against two, and two against three –father shall be divided against son, and son against father, mother against daughter, and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, anddaughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.
“You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you wish to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has not stood in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks the lie, he speaks of his own, for he is a liar and the father of it.
And there is no deliverance in anyone else, for there is no other Name under the heaven given among men by which we need to be saved.
What, then, shall we say? Shall we continue in sin, to let favour increase?For in that He died, He died to sin once for all; but in that He lives, He lives to Elohim.So you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to Elohim in Messiah יהושע our Master.Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, to obey it in its desires,neither present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to Elohim as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to Elohim.For sin shall not rule over you, for you are not under the law but under favour.What then? Shall we sin because we are not under Torah but under favour? Let it not be!Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves servants for obedience, you are servants of the one whom you obey, whether of sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness?But thanks to Elohim that you were servants of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of teaching to which you were entrusted.And having been set free from sin, you became servants of righteousness.I speak as a man, because of the weakness of your flesh. For even as you did present your members as servants of uncleanness, and of lawlessness resulting in lawlessness, so now present your members as servants of righteousness resulting in set-apartness.Let it not be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?
For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor messengers nor principalities nor powers, neither the present nor the future,nor height nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of Elohim which is in Messiah יהושע our Master.
each one’s work shall be revealed, for the day shall show it up, because it is revealed by fire. And the fire shall prove the work of each one, what sort it is.
so that he who thinks he stands, let him take heed lest he fall.No trial has overtaken you except such as is common to man, and Elohim is trustworthy, who shall not allow you to be tried beyond what you are able, but with the trial shall also make the way of escape, enabling you to bear it.
And the works of the flesh are well-known, which are these: adultery, whoring, uncleanness, indecency,See, I, Sha’ul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Messiah shall be of no use to you.idolatry, drug sorcery, hatred, quarrels, jealousies, fits of rage, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions,envy, murders, drunkenness, wild parties, and the like – of which I forewarn you, even as I also said before, that those who practise such as these shall not inherit the reign of Elohim.
But whoring and all uncleanness, or greed of gain, let it not even be named among you, as is proper among set-apart ones –Because we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones.“For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”This secret is great, but I speak concerning Messiah and the assembly.However, you too, everyone, let each one love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she fears her husband.neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather thanksgiving.For this you know, that no one who whores, nor unclean one, nor one greedy of gain, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the reign of Messiah and Elohim.
For many – of whom I have often told you, and now say to you even weeping – walk as enemies of the stake of Messiah.Their end is destruction, their mighty one is their stomach, and their esteem is in their shame – they mind the earthly.
If, then, you died with Messiah from the elementary matters of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to dogmas:“Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle” –which are all to perish with use – according to the commands and teachings of men?These indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed worship, humiliation and harsh treatment of the body – of no value at all, only for satisfaction of the flesh.
For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then suddenly destruction comes upon them, as labour pains upon a pregnant woman, and they shall not escape.But you, brothers, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.For you are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.
But the Spirit distinctly says that in latter times some shall fall away from the belief, paying attention to misleading spirits, and teachings of demons,It is for this that we labour and struggle, because we trust in the living Elohim, who is the Saviour of all men, particularly of those who believe.Command and teach these matters.Let no one look down on your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in behaviour, in love, in spirit, in belief, in cleanliness.Until I come, give attention to reading of Scripture, to encouragement, to teaching.Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the elderhood.Practise these matters, be in them, so that your progress might be plain to all.Pay attention to yourself and to the teaching. Continue in them, for in doing this you shall save both yourself and those who hear you.speaking lies in hypocrisy, having been branded on their own conscience,
But know this, that in the last days hard times shall come.But you did closely follow my teaching, the way of life, the purpose, the belief, the patience, the love, the endurance,the persecutions, the sufferings, which came to me at Antioch, at Ikonion, and at Lustra – what persecutions I bore. Yet out of them all the Master delivered me.And indeed, all those wishing to live reverently in Messiah יהושע, shall be persecuted.But evil men and impostors shall go on to the worse, leading astray and being led astray.But you, stay in what you have learned and trusted, having known from whom you have learned,and that from a babe you have known the Set-apart Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for deliverance through belief in Messiah יהושע.All Scripture is breathed out by Elohim and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for setting straight, for instruction in righteousness,that the man of Elohim might be fitted, equipped for every good work.For men shall be lovers of self, lovers of silver, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, thankless, wrong-doers,unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, haters of good,betrayers, reckless, puffed up, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of Elohim,having a form of reverence but denying its power. And turn away from these!
They profess to know Elohim, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unfit for any good work.
lest there be anyone who whores, or profane one, like Ěsaw, who for a single meal sold his birthright.For you know that afterward, when he wished to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it with tears.
And become doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.Because if anyone is a hearer of the Word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror,for he looks at himself, and goes away, and immediately forgets what he was like.But he that looked into the perfect Torah, that of freedom, and continues in it, not becoming a hearer that forgets, but a doer of work, this one shall be blessed in his doing of the Torah.
Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, knowing that we shall receive greater judgment.Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brothers, this should not be so.Does the fountain send forth the sweet and the bitter from the same opening?My brothers, is a fig tree able to bear olives, or a grapevine figs? So neither is a fountain able to make salt and sweet water.Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good behaviour his works in meekness of wisdom.But if you have bitter jealousy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast against and lie against the truth.This is not the wisdom coming down from above, but it is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.For where jealousy and self-seeking are, there is confusion and every foul deed.But the wisdom from above is first clean, then peaceable, gentle, ready to obey, filled with compassion and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.For we all stumble in many matters. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the entire body.
in which they are surprised that you do not run with them in the same flood of loose behaviour, blaspheming,
Beloved ones, do not believe every spirit, but prove the spirits, whether they are of Elohim, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
I call upon you, therefore, brothers, through the compassion of Elohim, to present your bodies a living offering – set-apart, well-pleasing to Elohim – your reasonable worship.In brotherly love, tenderly loving towards one another, in appreciation, giving preference to each other;not idle in duty, ardent in spirit, serving the Master;rejoicing in the expectancy, enduring under pressure, continuing steadfastly in prayer;imparting to the needs of the set-apart ones, pursuing kindness towards strangers.Bless those who persecute you – bless and do not curse.Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not be proud in mind, but go along with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.Repay no one evil for evil. Respect what is right in the sight of all men.If possible, on your part, be at peace with all men.Beloved, do not revenge yourselves, but give place to the wrath, for it has been written, “Vengeance is Mine, I shall repay,” says יהוה.And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you prove what is that good and well-pleasing and perfect desire of Elohim.
Do not be led astray: Elohim is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he shall also reap.Because he who sows to his own flesh shall reap corruption from the flesh, but he who sows to the Spirit shall reap everlasting life from the Spirit.
So this I say, and witness in the Master, that you should no longer walk as the nations walk, in the futility of their mind,having been darkened in their understanding, having been estranged from the life of Elohim, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart,who, having become callous, have given themselves up to indecency, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
Only, behave yourselves worthily of the Good News of Messiah, in order that whether I come and see you or am absent, I hear about you, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one being, striving together for the belief of the Good News,
If, then, you were raised with Messiah, seek the matters which are above, where Messiah is, seated at the right hand of Elohim.and have put on the new one who is renewed in knowledge according to the likeness of Him who created him,where there is not Greek and Yehuḏi, circumcised and uncircumcised, foreigner, Scythian, slave, free, but Messiah is all, and in all.Therefore, as chosen ones of Elohim, set-apart and beloved, put on compassion, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, patience,bearing with one another, and forgiving each other if anyone has a complaint against another, indeed, as Messiah forgave you so also should you.But above all these put on love, which is a bond of the perfection.And let the peace of Elohim rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one Body, and be filled with thanks.Let the Word of Messiah dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing with pleasure in your hearts to the Master in psalms and songs of praise and spiritual songs.And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the Name of the Master יהושע, giving thanks to Elohim the Father through Him.Wives, subject yourselves to your own husbands, as is proper in the Master.Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them.Mind the matters above, not those on the earth.
Little children, it is the last hour. And as you have heard that the anti-messiah is coming, even now many anti-messiahs have come. This is how we know that it is the last hour.They went out from us, but they were not of us, for if they had been of us, they would have stayed with us – but in order that it might be made manifest that none of them were of us.
“And take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down by gluttony, and drunkenness, and worries of this life, and that day come on you suddenly.“For it shall come as a snare on all those dwelling on the face of all the earth.Watch then at all times, and pray that you be counted worthy to escape all this about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Aḏam.”
“And 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 wicked.This one came to יהושע by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from Elohim, for no one is able to do these signs You do if Elohim is not with him.”For everyone who is practising evil matters hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.But the one doing the truth comes to the light, so that his works are clearly seen, that they have been wrought in Elohim.
If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.“If you were of the world, the world would love its own. But because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, for that reason the world hates you.
but wrath and displeasure to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness;affliction and distress on every human being working what is evil, of the Yehuḏi first, and also of the Greek;
Do you not know that those who run in a race indeed all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way as to obtain it.And everyone who competes controls himself in every way. Now they do it to receive a corruptible crown, but we for an incorruptible crown.Therefore I run accordingly, not with uncertainty. Thus I fight, not as one who beats the air.But I treat my body severely and make it my slave, lest having proclaimed to others, I myself might be rejected.
But I am afraid, lest, as the serpent deceived Ḥawwah by his trickery, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Messiah.If I have to boast, I shall boast of matters that show up my weakness.The Elohim and Father of our Master יהושע Messiah, who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying.In Dammeseq the governor, under Aretas the sovereign, was guarding the city of the Dammasqiyim, wishing to seize me,but through a window I was let down in a basket by the wall, and escaped from his hands.For, indeed, if he who is coming proclaims another יהושע, whom we have not proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different Good News which you have not accepted, you put up with it well enough!
I marvel that you are so readily turning away from Him who called you in the favour of Messiah, to a different ‘Good News,’which is not another, only there are some who are troubling you and wishing to pervert the Good News of Messiah.However, even if we, or a messenger out of heaven, bring a ‘Good News’ to you beside what we announced to you, let him be accursed.As we have said before, and now I say again, if anyone brings a ‘Good News’ to you beside what you have received, let him be accursed.
Look out for dogs, look out for the evil workers, look out for the mutilation!For our citizenship is in the heavens, from which we also eagerly wait for the Saviour, the Master יהושע Messiah,who shall change our lowly body, to be conformed to His esteemed body, according to the working by which He is able even to bring all under His control.For we are the circumcision, who are serving Elohim in the Spirit, and boasting in Messiah יהושע, and do not trust in the flesh,
And you, who once were estranged and enemies in the mind by wicked works, but now He has completely restored to favourin the body of His flesh through death, to present you set-apart, and blameless, and unreprovable before Him,if indeed you continue in the belief, founded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the expectation of the Good News which you heard, which was proclaimed to every creature under the heaven, of which I, Sha’ul, became a servant,
Look out, brothers, lest there be in any of you a wicked heart of unbelief in falling away from the living Elohim,but encourage one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened by the deceivableness of sin.
Blessed is the man who does endure trial, for when he has been proved, he shall receive the crown of life which the Master has promised to those who love Him.
But even if you suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not fear their threats, neither be troubled.”But set apart יהוה Elohim in your hearts, and always be ready to give an answer to everyone asking you a reason concerning the expectation that is in you, with meekness and fear,
Be sober, watch, because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.Resist him, firm in the belief, knowing that the same hardships are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.
“So remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the first works, or else I shall come to you speedily and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.
“And to the messenger of the assembly in Sardis write, ‘He who has the seven Spirits of Elohim and the seven stars, says this, “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.“Because you have guarded My Word of endurance, I also shall guard you from the hour of trial which shall come upon all the world, to try those who dwell on the earth.“See, I am coming speedily! Hold what you have that no one take your crown.“He who overcomes, I shall make him a supporting post in the Dwelling Place of My Elohim, and he shall by no means go out. And I shall write on him the Name of My Elohim and the name of the city of My Elohim, the renewed Yerushalayim, which comes down out of the heaven from My Elohim, and My renewed Name.“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.” ’“And to the messenger of the assembly in Laodikeia write, ‘The Amĕn, the Trustworthy and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of Elohim, says this:“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I would that you were cold or hot.“So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am going to vomit you out of My mouth.“Because you say, ‘Rich I am, and I am made rich, and need none at all,’ and do not know that you are wretched, and pitiable, and poor, and blind, and naked.“I advise you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, so that you become rich; and white garments, so that you become dressed, so that the shame of your nakedness might not be shown; and anoint your eyes with ointment, so that you see.“As many as I love, I reprove and discipline. So be ardent and repent.“Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete before Elohim.“See, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I shall come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.“To him who overcomes I shall give to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.” ’ ”“Remember, then, how you have received, and heard. And watch and repent. If, then, you do not wake up, I shall come upon you as a thief, and you shall not know at all what hour I come upon you.
For I witness to everyone hearing the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to them, Elohim shall add to him the plagues that are written in this book,and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, Elohim shall take away his part from the Book of Life, and out of the set-apart city, which are written in this Book.
And יהוה saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
“Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man his blood is shed, for in the image of Elohim has He made man.
watching over loving-commitment for thousands, forgiving crookedness and transgression and sin, but by no means leaving unpunished, visiting the crookedness of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children to the third and the fourth generation.”
You heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth,’but I say to you, do not resist the wicked. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.Blessed are those who mourn, because they shall be comforted.“And he who wishes to sue you and take away your inner garment, let him have your outer garment as well.And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.“Give to him who asks of you, and from him who wishes to borrow from you, do not turn away.
Let every being be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from Elohim, and the authorities that exist are appointed by Elohim.Love does no evil to a neighbour. Therefore, love is completion of the Torah.And do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for us to wake up from sleep, for now our deliverance is nearer than when we did believe.The night is far advanced, the day has come near. So let us put off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.Let us walk becomingly, as in the day, not in wild parties and drunkenness, not in living together and indecencies, not in fighting and envy,but put on the Master יהושע Messiah, and make no provision for the lusts of the flesh.So he who opposes the authority withstands the institution of Elohim, and those who withstand shall bring judgment on themselves.For those ruling are an object of fear, not to good works, but to evil. Do you wish to be not afraid of the authority? Do the good, and you shall have praise from it,for it is a servant of Elohim to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid, for it does not bear the sword in vain. For it is a servant of Elohim, a revenger to execute wrath on him who practises evil.Therefore, it is necessary to be subject, not only because of wrath but also because of the conscience.
“He who has believed and has been immersed, shall be saved, but he who has not believed shall be condemned.
If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, and wife, and children, and brothers, and sisters, and his own life too, he is unable to be My taught one.
“Do not think that I have come to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword,for I have come to bring division, a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law –and a man’s enemies are those of his own household.
“Because the gate is narrow and the way is hard pressed which leads to life, and there are few who find it.