For I am jealousfor you with a godlyjealousy;for I betrothedyou to onehusband,so that to ChristI might presentyou [as] a purevirgin.
"For your husbandis your Maker,Whose nameis the LORDof hosts;And your Redeemeris the HolyOneof Israel,Who is calledthe Godof allthe earth.
"And they shall not marrya widowor a divorcedwoman but shall takevirginsfrom the offspringof the houseof Israel,or a widowwhois the widowof a priest.
"He who hasthe brideis the bridegroom;but the friendof the bridegroom,who standsand hearshim, rejoicesgreatlybecauseof the bridegroom'svoice.Sothisjoyof minehas been made full.
Therefore,my brethren,you alsowere made to dieto the Lawthroughthe bodyof Christ,sothat you might be joinedto another,to Him who was raisedfrom the dead,in orderthat we might bear fruitfor God.
For ifyou were to havecountlesstutorsin Christ,yet[you would] not [have] manyfathers,for in ChristJesusI became your fatherthroughthe gospel.
knowingthat He who raisedthe LordJesuswill raiseus alsowith Jesusand will presentus with you.
I fearfor you, that perhapsI have laboredoveryou in vain.
For Godis my witness,howI longfor you allwith the affectionof ChristJesus.
We proclaimHim, admonishingeverymanand teachingeverymanwith allwisdom,sothat we may presenteverymancompletein Christ.
justas you knowhowwe [were] exhortingand encouragingand imploringeachoneof you as a father[would] his ownchildren,
Theseare the ones who have not been defiledwith women,for they have kept themselveschaste.These[are] the ones who followthe LambwhereverHe goes.Thesehave been purchasedfrom amongmenas first fruitsto Godand to the Lamb.
