Therefore,prepareyour mindsfor action, keep sober[in spirit], fix your hopecompletelyon the graceto be broughtto you at the revelationof JesusChrist.
Then the handof the LORDwas on Elijah,and he girdedup his loinsand outranAhabto Jezreel.
Then he saidto Gehazi,"Girdup your loinsand takemy staffin your hand,and goyour way; ifyou meetanyman,do not salutehim, and ifanyonesalutesyou, do not answerhim; and laymy staffon the lad'sface."
"Nowgirdup your loinslike a man,And I will askyou, and you instructMe!
"Nowgirdup your loinslike a man;I will askyou, and you instructMe.
Now you shall eatit in thismanner:[with] your loinsgirded,your sandalson your feet,and your staffin your hand;and you shall eatit in haste--it is the LORD'SPassover.
Also righteousnesswill be the beltabout His loins,And faithfulnessthe beltabout His waist.
"Now, girdup your loinsand arise,and speakto them allwhichI commandyou. Do not be dismayedbeforethem, orI will dismayyou beforethem.
and to thosehe said,'You alsogointo the vineyard,and whateveris rightI will giveyou.' And [so] they went.
"Be dressed in readiness,and [keep] your lampslit.
"It will be justthe sameon the daythat the Sonof Manis revealed.
"But will he not sayto him, 'Preparesomethingfor me to eat,and [properly] clotheyourself and serveme whileI eatand drink;and afterwardyou may eatand drink'?
Let us behaveproperlyas in the day,not in carousingand drunkenness,not in sexual promiscuityand sensuality,not in strifeand jealousy.
For the anxious longingof the creationwaits eagerlyfor the revealingof the sonsof God.
sothat you are not lackingin anygift,awaiting eagerlythe revelationof our LordJesusChrist,
But nowfaith,hope,love,abidethesethree;but the greatestof theseis love.
Stand firmtherefore,HAVING GIRDEDYOUR LOINSWITH TRUTH,and HAVING PUTON THE BREASTPLATEOF RIGHTEOUSNESS,
WhenChrist,who is our life,is revealed,thenyou alsowill be revealedwith Him in glory.
and [to give] reliefto you who are afflictedand to us as well whenthe LordJesuswill be revealedfrom heavenwith His mightyangelsin flamingfire,
But you, be soberin all things,endure hardship,dothe workof an evangelist,fulfillyour ministry.
in the futurethere is laidup for me the crownof righteousness,whichthe Lord,the righteousJudge,will awardto me on that day;and not onlyto me, but alsoto allwho have lovedHis appearing.
Therefore,do not throw awayyour confidence,whichhasa greatreward.
but Christ[was faithful] as a SonoverHis house--whosehousewe are, ifwe hold fastour confidenceand the boastof our hopefirmuntilthe end.
Thishope we haveas an anchorof the soul,a [hope] bothsureand steadfastand one which enterswithinthe veil,
soChristalso,having been offeredonceto bearthe sinsof many,will appeara second timefor salvationwithout[reference to] sin,to thosewho eagerly awaitHim.
As to thissalvation,the prophetswho prophesiedof the gracethat [would come] to you madecarefulsearchesand inquiries,
but sanctifyChristas Lordin your hearts,always[being] readyto make a defenseto everyonewho asksyou to give an accountfor the hopethat is in you, yetwith gentlenessand reverence;
The endof all thingsis near;therefore,be of sound judgmentand sober[spirit] for the purpose of prayer.
ThroughSilvanus,our faithfulbrother(for soI regard[him]), I have writtento you briefly,exhortingand testifyingthat thisis the true graceof God.Stand firmin it!
Be of sober[spirit], be on the alert.Your adversary,the devil,prowls aroundlikea roaringlion,seekingsomeoneto devour.
And everyonewho hasthishope[fixed] on Him purifieshimself,justas He is pure.
