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106 Bible verses that are difficult to explain
I've found that the best way to explain something truly difficult is to have lived it firsthand. Walking the walk every day gives you the tools you need to share a message of salvation that can really reach people. There's just nothing like sharing a life-changing message that's rooted in your own experiences.
But here's the thing: it's so important to remember the role of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit has the full picture and the patience to guide us into a deeper understanding. We can't just rely on our own thinking or even other people's stories, because we might find ourselves at a loss when we try to share something we haven't truly encountered ourselves.
The Holy Spirit is ready and willing to teach us today. It's all about being open to that guidance.
For Christ also died once for our sins, the Just One on behalf of the unjust, so that he might offer us to God, having died, certainly, in the flesh, but having been enlivened by the Spirit.And in the Spirit, he preached to those who were in prison, going to those souls
But it happened that, on a certain day, when the sons of God had arrived and they stood before the Lord, Satan likewise arrived among them, and he stood in his sight.
Here is wisdom. Whoever has intelligence, let him determine the number of the beast. For it is the number of a man, and his number is six hundred and sixty-six.
And when men began to be multiplied upon the earth, and daughters were born to them,And he conceived three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.Yet the earth was corrupted before the eyes of God, and it was filled with iniquity.And when God had seen that the earth had been corrupted, (indeed, all flesh had corrupted its way upon the earth)he said to Noah: "The end of all flesh has arrived in my sight. The earth has been filled with iniquity by their presence, and I will destroy them, along with the earth.Make yourself an ark from smoothed wood. You shall make little dwelling places in the ark, and you shall smear pitch on the interior and exterior.And thus shall you make it: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits.You shall make a window in the ark, and you shall complete it within a cubit of the top. Then you shall set the door of the ark at its side. You shall make in it: a lower part, upper rooms, and a third level.Behold, I shall bring the waters of a great flood upon the earth, so as to put to death all flesh in which there is the breath of life under heaven. All things that are on the earth shall be consumed.And I shall establish my covenant with you, and you shall enter the ark, you and your sons, your wife and the wives of your sons with you.And from every living thing of all that is flesh, you shall lead pairs into the ark, so that they may survive with you: from the male sex and the female,the sons of God, seeing that the daughters of men were beautiful, took to themselves wives from all whom they chose.from birds, according to their kind, and from beasts, in their kind, and from among all animals on earth, according to their kind; pairs from each shall enter with you, so that they may be able to live.Therefore, you shall take with you from all the foods that are able to be eaten, and you shall carry these with you. And these shall be used as food, some for you, and the rest for them."And so Noah did all things just as God had instructed him.And God said: "My spirit shall not remain in man forever, because he is flesh. And so his days shall be one hundred and twenty years."Now giants were upon the earth in those days. For after the sons of God went in to the daughters of men, and they conceived, these became the powerful ones of ancient times, men of renown.
And again he said: "You are not able to see my face. For man shall not see me and live."
But among those cities which shall be given to you, you shall not permit anyone at all to live.Instead, you shall put them to death with the edge of the sword, specifically: the Hittite and the Amorite and the Canaanite, the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite, just as the Lord your God has commanded you.
he made a vow to the Lord, saying, "If you will deliver the sons of Ammon into my hands,whoever will be the first to depart from the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the sons of Ammon, the same will I offer as a holocaust to the Lord."
And the fury of the Lord was again kindled against Israel, and he stirred up David among them, saying: "Go, number Israel and Judah."
And he said to him: "I, too, am a prophet like you. And an Angel spoke to me, by the word of the Lord, saying, 'Lead him back with you to your house, so that he may eat bread, and drink water.' " And so he deceived him.
But if anyone among you is in need of wisdom, let him petition God, who gives abundantly to all without reproach, and it shall be given to him.
But the Lord, responding to Job from a whirlwind, said:I encircled it with my limits, and I positioned its bars and doors.And I said: "This far you will approach, and you will proceeded no further, and here you will break your swelling waves."Did you, after your birth, command the birth of the sun and show the sunrise its place?And did you hold the extremities of the earth, shaking them, and have you shaken the impious out of it?The seal will be restored like clay, and it will remain in place like a garment.From the impious, the light will be taken away, and the exalted arm will be broken.Have you entered the depths of the sea, and have you taken a walk in the uttermost parts of the abyss?Have the gates of death been opened to you, and have you seen the doors of darkness?Have you considered the breadth of the earth? If you know all things, reveal them to me.Which is the way that holds the light, and which is the place of darkness?Who is this that wraps sentences in unskilled words?In this way, you might lead each thing to its final place, and understand the paths of its house.So then, did you know when you were to be born? And did you know the number of your days?Have you been admitted into the storehouses of the snows, and have you gazed upon the stockpile of the brimstone,which I have prepared for the time of the enemy, for the day of the battle and the war?In what way is the light scattered, and the heat distributed, over the earth?Who gave a course to the rainstorms, and a path to the resounding thunder,so that it would rain on the earth far from man, in the wilderness where no mortal lingers,so that it would fill impassable and desolate places, and would bring forth green plants?Who is the father of rain, or who conceived the drops of dew?From whose womb did the ice proceed, and who created the frost from the air?Gird your waist like a man. I will question you, and you must answer me.The waters are hardened to become like stone, and the surface of the abyss freezes over.Will you have the strength to join together the sparkling stars of the Pleiades, or are you able to disperse the circling of Arcturus?Can you bring forth the morning star, in its time, and make the evening star rise over the sons of the earth?Do you know the order of heaven, and can you explain its rules here on the earth?Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, so that an onslaught of waters will cover you?Can you send forth lightning bolts, and will they go, and on returning, say to you: "Here we are?"Who placed discernment in the guts of man, or who gave the rooster intelligence?Who can describe the rules of the heavens, or who can put to rest the harmony of heaven?When was the dust cast to become the earth, and when were its clods fastened together?Will you seize prey for the lioness, and will you sustain the lives of her young,Where were you, when I set the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.
the sons of God, seeing that the daughters of men were beautiful, took to themselves wives from all whom they chose.
so that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give a spirit of wisdom and of revelation to you, in knowledge of him.
Do you not know, or have you not heard? The Lord is the eternal God, who has created the limits of the earth. He does not diminish, and he does not struggle. Neither is his wisdom searchable.
Do not respond to the foolish according to his folly, lest you become like him.Respond to the foolish according to his folly, lest he imagine himself to be wise.
For this reason, the passing away of man and of beasts is one, and the condition of both is equal. For as a man dies, so also do they die. All things breathe similarly, and man has nothing more than beast; for all these are subject to vanity.A time to be born, and a time to die. A time to plant, and a time to pull up what was planted.And all things continue on to one place; for from the earth they were made, and unto the earth they shall return together.Who knows if the spirit of the sons of Adam ascend upward, and if the spirit of the beasts descend downward?
I form the light and create the darkness. I make peace and create disaster. I, the Lord, do all these things.
The sons gather the wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the wives spread the grease, so as to make cakes to the queen of heaven and to offer libations to strange gods, and so as to provoke me to anger.
Therefore, I also gave them precepts that were not good, and judgments by which they shall not live.And I defiled them by their own gifts, when they offered everything that opened the womb, because of their offenses. And they shall know that I am the Lord.
Seventy weeks of years are concentrated on your people and on your holy city, so that transgression shall be finished, and sin shall reach an end, and iniquity shall be wiped away, and so that everlasting justice shall be brought in, and vision and prophecy shall be fulfilled, and the Saint of saints shall be anointed.Therefore, know and take heed: from the going forth of the word to build up Jerusalem again, until the Christ leader, there will be seven weeks of years, and sixty-two weeks of years; and the wide path will be built again, and the walls, in a time of anguish.And after sixty-two weeks of years, the Christ leader will be slain. And the people who have denied him will not be his. And the people, when their leader arrives, will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will be devastation, and, after the end of the war, the desolation will be set up.But he will confirm a covenant with many for one week of years; and for half of the week of years, victim and sacrifice will nearly cease; but there will be in the temple the abomination of desolation. And the desolation will continue even to the consummation and the end."
And if your right eye causes you to sin, root it out and cast it away from you. For it is better for you that one of your members perish, than that your whole body be cast into Hell."Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it away from you. For it is better for you that one of your members perish, than that your whole body go into Hell.
Do not think that I came to send peace upon the earth. I came, not to send peace, but the sword.
For this reason, I say to you: Every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven men, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven.And anyone who will have spoken a word against the Son of man shall be forgiven. But whoever will have spoken against the Holy Spirit shall not be forgiven, neither in this age, nor in the future age.
And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying: "Eli, Eli, lamma sabacthani?" that is, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?"
Whoever will have believed and been baptized will be saved. Yet truly, whoever will not have believed will be condemned.
"If anyone comes to me, and does not hate his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brothers, and sisters, and yes, even his own life, he is not able to be my disciple.
Therefore, the Jews debated among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?"
And they cast lots concerning them, and the lot fell upon Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven Apostles.
What is next? What Israel was seeking, he has not obtained. But the elect have obtained it. And truly, these others have been blinded,just as it was written: "God has given them a spirit of reluctance: eyes that do not perceive, and ears that do not hear, even until this very day."
And so, whoever eats this bread, or drinks from the cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be liable of the body and blood of the Lord.But let a man examine himself, and, in this way, let him eat from that bread, and drink from that cup.For whoever eats and drinks unworthily, eats and drinks a sentence against himself, not discerning it to be the body of the Lord.So I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ. But the head of woman is man. Yet truly, the head of Christ is God.As a result, many are weak and sick among you, and many have fallen asleep.
Otherwise, what will those who are being baptized for the dead do, if the dead do not rise again at all? Why then are they being baptized for them?
And lest the greatness of the revelations should extol me, there was given to me a prodding in my flesh: an angel of Satan, who struck me repeatedly.Because of this, three times I petitioned the Lord that it might be taken away from me.And he said to me: "My grace is sufficient for you. For virtue is perfected in weakness." And so, willingly shall I glory in my weaknesses, so that the virtue of Christ may live within me.
just as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, so that we would be holy and immaculate in his sight, in charity.
For this has been given to you on behalf of Christ, not only so that you may believe in him, but even so that you may suffer with him,
For in him was created everything in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominations, or principalities, or powers. All things were created through him and in him.And he is before all, and in him all things continue.
For it is impossible for those who were once illuminated, and have even tasted of the heavenly gift, and have become sharers in the Holy Spirit,who, despite having tasted the good Word of God and the virtues of the future age, have yet fallen away,to be renewed again to penance, since they are crucifying again in themselves the Son of God and are still maintaining pretenses.
For if we sin willingly, after receiving knowledge of the truth, there is no sacrifice remaining for sins,but instead, a certain terrible expectation of judgment, and the rage of a fire that shall consume its adversaries.
Anyone who realizes that his brother has sinned, with a sin that is not unto death, let him pray, and life shall be given to him who has sinned not unto death. There is a sin which is unto death. I am not saying that anyone should ask on behalf of that sin.
Whoever prevails, so shall he be clothed in white vestments. And I will not delete his name from the Book of Life. And I will confess his name in the presence of my Father and in the presence of his Angels.
And I saw a great white throne, and One sitting upon it, from whose sight earth and heaven fled, and no place was found for them.And I saw the dead, great and small, standing in view of the throne. And books were opened. And another Book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged by those things that had been written in the books, according to their works.And the sea gave up the dead who were in it. And death and Hell gave up their dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.And Hell and death were cast into the pool of fire. This is the second death.And whoever was not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the pool of fire.
an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a hand for a hand, a foot for a foot,a scrape for a scrape, a wound for a wound, a bruise for a bruise.
If two men have a conflict between themselves, and one begins to do violence to the other, and if the other's wife, wanting to rescue her husband from the hand of the stronger one, extends her hand and grasps him by his private parts,then you shall cut off her hand. Neither shall you weep over her with any mercy.
And she said, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" And awaking from sleep, he said in his mind, "I will break away and shake myself free, just as I did before." For he did not know that the Lord had withdrawn from him.
Now therefore, go and strike Amalek, and demolish all that is his. You shall not spare him, and you shall not covet anything out of the things that are his. Instead, kill from man even to woman, and little ones as well as infants, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.' "
And as they continued on, they were conversing while walking. And behold, a fiery chariot with fiery horses divided the two. And Elijah ascended by a whirlwind into heaven.Then Elisha saw it, and he cried out: "My father, my father! The chariot of Israel with its driver!" And he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own garments, and he tore them into two parts.
and he said, "Naked I departed from my mother's womb, and naked I shall return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away. Just as it pleased the Lord, so has it been done. Blessed be the name of the Lord."
I know that the Lord will accomplish justice for the needy and vindication for the poor.So then, truly, the just will confess your name, and the upright will dwell with your countenance.
Truly, he has taken away our weaknesses, and he himself has carried our sorrows. And we thought of him as if he were a leper, or as if he had been struck by God and humiliated.But he himself was wounded because of our iniquities. He was bruised because of our wickedness. The discipline of our peace was upon him. And by his wounds, we are healed.
For I know the thoughts that I think over you, says the Lord: thoughts of peace and not of affliction, so that I may give you patience and an end.
The hand of the Lord was set upon me, and he led me away in the Spirit of the Lord, and he released me in the midst of a plain which was full of bones.And I prophesied, just as he had instructed me. And spirit entered into them, and they lived. And they stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army.And he said to me: "Son of man: All these bones are the house of Israel. They say: 'Our bones are dried out, and our hope has perished, and we have been cut off.'Because of this, prophesy, and you shall say to them: Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will open your tombs, and I will lead you away from your sepulchers, O my people. And I will lead you into the land of Israel.And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I will have opened your sepulchers, and when I will have led you away from your tombs, O my people.And I will place my Spirit within you, and you shall live. And I will cause you to rest upon your own soil. And you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken and acted, says the Lord God."
Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate, and broad is the way, which leads to perdition, and many there are who enter through it.How narrow is the gate, and how straight is the way, which leads to life, and few there are who find it!
But when the Son of man will have arrived in his majesty, and all the Angels with him, then he will sit upon the seat of his majesty.And all the nations shall be gathered together before him. And he shall separate them from one another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.And he shall station the sheep, indeed, on his right, but the goats on his left.Then the King shall say to those who will be on his right: 'Come, you blessed of my Father. Possess the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.For I was hungry, and you gave me to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me to drink; I was a stranger, and you took me in;naked, and you covered me; sick, and you visited me; I was in prison, and you came to me.'Then the just will answer him, saying: 'Lord, when have we see you hungry, and fed you; thirsty, and given you drink?And when have we seen you a stranger, and taken you in? Or naked, and covered you?Or when did we see you sick, or in prison, and visit to you?'Yet truly, the prudent ones brought the oil, in their containers, with the lamps.And in response, the King shall say to them, 'Amen I say to you, whenever you did this for one of these, the least of my brothers, you did it for me.'Then he shall also say, to those who will be on his left: 'Depart from me, you accursed ones, into the eternal fire, which was prepared for the devil and his angels.For I was hungry, and you did not give me to eat; I was thirsty, and you did not give me to drink;I was a stranger and you did not take me in; naked, and you did not cover me; sick and in prison, and you did not visit me.'Then they will also answer him, saying: 'Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister to you?'Then he shall respond to them by saying: 'Amen I say to you, whenever you did not do it to one of these least, neither did you do it to me.'And these shall go into eternal punishment, but the just shall go into eternal life."
A certain man was wealthy, and he was clothed in purple and in fine linen. And he feasted splendidly every day.And he called him and said to him: 'What is this that I hear about you? Give an account of your stewardship. For you can no longer be my steward.'And there was a certain beggar, named Lazarus, who lay at his gate, covered with sores,wanting to be filled with the crumbs which were falling from the wealthy man's table. But no one gave it to him. And even the dogs came and licked his sores.Then it happened that the beggar died, and he was carried by the Angels into the bosom of Abraham. Now the wealthy man also died, and he was entombed in Hell.Then lifting up his eyes, while he was in torments, he saw Abraham far away, and Lazarus in his bosom.And crying out, he said: 'Father Abraham, take pity on me and send Lazarus, so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water to refresh my tongue. For I am tortured in this fire.'And Abraham said to him: 'Son, recall that you received good things in your life, and in comparison, Lazarus received bad things. But now he is consoled, and truly you are tormented.And besides all this, between us and you a great chaos has been established, so that those who might want to cross from here to you are not able, nor can someone cross from there to here.'And he said: 'Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers,so that he may testify to them, lest they also come into this place of torments.'And Abraham said to him: 'They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.'And the steward said within himself: 'What shall I do? For my lord is taking the stewardship away from me. I am not strong enough to dig. I am too ashamed to beg.So he said: 'No, father Abraham. But if someone were to go to them from the dead, they would repent.'But he said to him: 'If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they believe even if someone has resurrected from the dead.' "
In my Father's house, there are many dwelling places. If there were not, I would have told you. For I go to prepare a place for you.In that day, you shall know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.Whoever holds to my commandments and keeps them: it is he who loves me. And whoever loves me shall be loved by my Father. And I will love him, and I will manifest myself to him."Judas, not the Iscariot, said to him: "Lord, how does it happen that you will manifest yourself to us and not to the world?"Jesus responded and said to him: "If anyone loves me, he shall keep my word. And my Father will love him, and we will come to him, and we will make our dwelling place with him.Whoever does not love me, does not keep my words. And the word that you have heard is not of me, but it is of the Father who sent me.These things I have spoken to you, while abiding with you.But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will suggest to you everything whatsoever that I have said to you.Peace I leave for you; my Peace I give to you. Not in the way that the world gives, do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, and let it not fear.You have heard that I said to you: I am going away, and I am returning to you. If you loved me, certainly you would be gladdened, because I am going to the Father. For the Father is greater than I.And now I have told you this, before it happens, so that, when it will happen, you may believe.And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will return again, and then I will take you to myself, so that where I am, you also may be.
And when the days of Pentecost were completed, they were all together in the same place.Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya which are around Cyrene, and new arrivals of the Romans,likewise Jews and new converts, Cretans and Arabs: we have heard them speaking in our own languages the mighty deeds of God."And they were all astonished, and they wondered, saying to one another: "But what does this mean?"But others mockingly said, "These men are full of new wine."But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and he spoke to them: "Men of Judea, and all those who are staying in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and incline your ears to my words.For these men are not inebriated, as you suppose, for it is the third hour of the day.But this is what was spoken of by the prophet Joel:'And this shall be: in the last days, says the Lord, I will pour out, from my Spirit, upon all flesh. And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy. And your youths shall see visions, and your elders shall dream dreams.And certainly, upon my men and women servants in those days, I will pour out from my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.And I will bestow wonders in heaven above, and signs on earth below: blood and fire and the vapor of smoke.And suddenly, there came a sound from heaven, like that of a wind approaching violently, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.The sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, before the great and manifest day of the Lord arrives.And this shall be: whoever shall invoke the name of the Lord will be saved.'Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus the Nazarene is a man confirmed by God among you through the miracles and wonders and signs that God accomplished through him in your midst, just as you also know.This man, under the definitive plan and foreknowledge of God, was delivered by the hands of the unjust, afflicted, and put to death.And he whom God has raised up has broken the sorrows of Hell, for certainly it was impossible for him to be held by it.For David said about him: 'I foresaw the Lord always in my sight, for he is at my right hand, so that I may not be moved.Because of this, my heart has rejoiced, and my tongue has exulted. Moreover, my flesh shall also rest in hope.For you will not abandon my soul to Hell, nor will you allow your Holy One to see corruption.You have made known to me the ways of life. You will completely fill me with happiness by your presence.'Noble brothers, permit me to speak freely to you about the Patriarch David: for he passed away and was buried, and his sepulcher is with us, even to this very day.And there appeared to them separate tongues, as if of fire, which settled upon each one of them.Therefore, he was a prophet, for he knew that God had sworn an oath to him about the fruit of his loins, about the One who would sit upon his throne.Foreseeing this, he was speaking about the Resurrection of the Christ. For he was neither left behind in Hell, nor did his flesh see corruption.This Jesus, God raised up again, and of this we are all witnesses.Therefore, being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the Promise of the Holy Spirit, he poured this out, just as you now see and hear.For David did not ascend into heaven. But he himself said: 'The Lord said to my Lord: Sit at my right hand,until I make your enemies your footstool.'Therefore, may the entire house of Israel know most certainly that God has made this same Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."Now when they had heard these things, they were contrite in heart, and they said to Peter and to the other Apostles: "What should we do, noble brothers?"Yet truly, Peter said to them: "Do penance; and be baptized, each one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of your sins. And you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.For the Promise is for you and for your sons, and for all who are far away: for whomever the Lord our God will have called."And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. And they began to speak in various languages, just as the Holy Spirit bestowed eloquence to them.
And we know that, for those who love God, all things work together unto good, for those who, in accordance with his purpose, are called to be saints.
If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer its loss, but he himself will still be saved, but only as through fire.
For it is necessary for us to be manifested before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive the proper things of the body, according to his behavior, whether it was good or evil.
For by grace, you have been saved through faith. And this is not of yourselves, for it is a gift of God.And this is not of works, so that no one may glory.
For many persons, about whom I have often told you (and now tell you, weeping,) are walking as enemies of the cross of Christ.Their end is destruction; their god is their belly; and their glory is in their shame: for they are immersed in earthly things.
Yet she will be saved by bearing children, if she has continued in faith and love, and in sanctification accompanied by self-restraint.
But without faith, it is impossible to please God. For whoever approaches God must believe that he exists, and that he rewards those who seek him.
No one should say, when he is tempted, that he was tempted by God. For God does not entice toward evils, and he himself tempts no one.Yet truly, each one is tempted by his own desires, having been enticed and drawn away.
in accord with the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, with the obedience and the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: May grace and peace be multiplied for you.
And we can be sure that we have known him by this: if we observe his commandments.Whoever claims that he knows him, and yet does not keep his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
There shall not enter into it anything defiled, nor anything causing an abomination, nor anything false, but only those who have been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb.
If you behave well, will you not receive? But if you behave badly, will not sin at once be present at the door? And so its desire will be within you, and you will be dominated by it."
Do not be willing to worship any strange god. The jealous Lord is his name. God is a rival.
If any man has slept with a male in place of sexual intercourse with a female, both have committed a nefarious act, they shall die a death. So let their blood be upon them.
But whatever has died of itself, you shall not eat from it. Give it to the sojourner, who is within your gates, so that he may eat, or sell it to him. For you are the holy people of the Lord your God. You shall not boil a young goat in the milk of his mother.
And so, thus says the Lord: 'Behold, I will raise up over you an evil from your own house. And I will take your wives away before your eyes, and I will give them to your neighbor. And he will sleep with your wives in the sight of this sun.For you acted secretly. But I will do this word in the sight of all of Israel, and in the sight of the sun.' "And David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the Lord." And Nathan said to David: "The Lord has also taken away your sin. You shall not die.Yet truly, because you have given occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, because of this word, the son who was born to you: dying he shall die."
Lord, O Lord, the strength of my salvation: you have overshadowed my head in the day of war.
Have confidence in the Lord with all your heart, and do not depend upon your own prudence.In all your ways, consider him, and he himself will direct your steps.
Because of this, with much wisdom there is also much anger. And whoever adds knowledge, also adds hardship.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways, says the Lord.For just as the heavens are exalted above the earth, so also are my ways exalted above your ways, and my thoughts above your thoughts.
The tree that you saw was lofty and strong; its height reached toward heaven, and it could be seen throughout the whole world.
My people have become silent because they had no knowledge. Since you have rejected knowledge, I will drive you away; you do not perform the duties of the priesthood for me, and you have forgotten the law of your God, and so I will forget your sons.
but held hatred for Esau? And I have set his mountains in solitude, and his inheritance with the serpents of the desert.
He proposed another parable to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.But while the men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds amid the wheat, and then went away.And when the plants had grown, and had produced fruit, then the weeds also appeared.So the servants of the Father of the family, approaching, said to him: 'Lord, did you not sow good seed in your field? Then how is it that it has weeds?'And he said to them, 'A man who is an enemy has done this.' So the servants said to him, 'Is it your will that we should go and gather them up?'And he said: 'No, lest perhaps in gathering the weeds, you might also root out the wheat together with it.And he spoke many things to them in parables, saying: "Behold, a sower went out to sow seed.Permit both to grow until the harvest, and at the time of the harvest, I will say to the reapers: Gather first the weeds, and bind them into bundles to burn, but the wheat gather into my storehouse.' "
And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than for the wealthy to enter into the kingdom of heaven."
And Jesus, gazing at them, said: "With men it is impossible; but not with God. For with God all things are possible."
Give, and it will be given to you: a good measure, pressed down and shaken together and overflowing, they will place upon your lap. Certainly, the same measure that you use to measure out, will be used to measure back to you again."
I am not able to do anything of myself. As I hear, so do I judge. And my judgment is just. For I do not seek my own will, but the will of him who sent me.
Therefore, it is not based on those who choose, nor on those who excel, but on God who takes pity.
But the animal nature of man does not perceive these things that are of the Spirit of God. For it is foolishness to him, and he is not able to understand it, because it must be examined spiritually.
But if our Gospel is in some way hidden, it is hidden to those who are perishing.As for them, the god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, would not shine in them.
For the flesh desires against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh. And since these are against one another, you may not do whatever you want.
And so, have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead, refute them.
Therefore, clothe yourselves like the elect of God: holy and beloved, with hearts of mercy, kindness, humility, modesty, and patience.Support one another, and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive one another. For just as the Lord has forgiven you, so also must you do.And above all these things have charity, which is the bond of perfection.
For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from fornication,that each one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honor,not in passions of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God,
All Scripture, having been divinely inspired, is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in justice,so that the man of God may be perfect, having been trained for every good work.
He gave himself for our sake, so that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and might cleanse for himself an acceptable people, pursuers of good works.
Furthermore, since we also have so great a cloud of witnesses over us, let us set aside every burden and sin which may surround us, and advance, through patience, to the struggle offered to us.And indeed, for a few days and according to their own wishes, they instructed us. But he does so to our benefit, so that we may receive his sanctification.Now every discipline, in the present time, does not seem a gladness, of course, but a grief. But afterwards, it will repay a most peaceful fruit of justice to those who become trained in it.Because of this, lift up your lazy hands and your lax knees,and straighten the path of your feet, so that no one, being lame, may wander astray, but instead may be healed.Pursue peace with everyone. Pursue sanctity, without which no one shall see God.Be contemplative, lest anyone lack the grace of God, lest any root of bitterness spring up and impede you, and by it, many might be defiled,lest any fornicator or worldly person be like Esau, who, for the sake of one meal, sold his birthright.For you know that afterwards, when he desired to inherit the benediction, he was rejected. For he found no place for repentance, even though he had sought it with tears.But you have not drawn near to a tangible mountain, or a burning fire, or a whirlwind, or a mist, or a storm,or the sound of a trumpet, or a voice of words. Those who had experienced these things excused themselves, lest the Word be spoken to them.Let us gaze upon Jesus, as the Author and the completion of our faith, who, having joy laid out before him, endured the cross, disregarding the shame, and who now sits at the right hand of the throne of God.