For ifI preachthe gospel,I have nothingto boastof, for I am undercompulsion;for woeis me ifI do not preach the gospel.
I amunder obligationbothto Greeksand to barbarians,bothto the wiseand to the foolish.
Sayto Archippus,"Take heedto the ministrywhichyou have receivedin the Lord,that you may fulfillit."
But if I say,"I will not rememberHim Or speakanymorein His name,"Then in my heartit becomeslike a burningfireShutup in my bones;And I am wearyof holding[it] in, And I cannotendure[it].
But Jesussaidto him, "No one,after puttinghis handto the plowand lookingback,is fitfor the kingdomof God."
for we cannotstopspeakingabout whatwe have seenand heard."
A lionhas roared!Whowill not fear?The LordGODhas spoken!Whocan but prophesy?
Thereforein ChristJesusI havefound reason for boastingin things pertainingto God.
But the Lordsaidto him, "Go,for he is a choseninstrumentof Mine,to bearMy namebeforethe Gentilesand kingsand the sonsof Israel;
but getup and enterthe city,and it will be toldyou whatyou mustdo."
For ifAbrahamwas justifiedby works,he hassomething to boast about,but not beforeGod.
"But the LORDtookme from followingthe flockand the LORDsaidto me, 'Goprophesyto My peopleIsrael.'
Then I said,"Woeis me, for I am ruined!BecauseI am a manof uncleanlips,And I liveamonga peopleof uncleanlips;For my eyeshave seenthe King,the LORDof hosts."
O LORD,You have deceivedme and I was deceived;You have overcomeme and prevailed.I have becomea laughingstockalldaylong; Everyonemocksme.
"Now, girdup your loinsand arise,and speakto them allwhichI commandyou. Do not be dismayedbeforethem, orI will dismayyou beforethem.
"Moreover,as for me, farbe it from me that I should sinagainst the LORDby ceasingto prayfor you; but I will instructyou in the goodand rightway.
For ifyou were to havecountlesstutorsin Christ,yet[you would] not [have] manyfathers,for in ChristJesusI became your fatherthroughthe gospel.
Ifotherssharethe rightover you, do we not more?Nevertheless,we did not usethisright,but we endureall thingssothat we will causenohindranceto the gospelof Christ.
Soalsothe Lorddirectedthosewho proclaimthe gospelto get their livingfrom the gospel.
Nowwhen I cameto Troasfor the gospelof Christand when a doorwas openedfor me in the Lord,
"Immediatelythe one who had receivedthe fivetalentswentand tradedwith them, and gainedfivemoretalents.