Listen,my belovedbrethren:did not Godchoosethe poorof thisworld[to be] richin faithand heirsof the kingdomwhichHe promisedto thosewho loveHim?
Micaiahsaid,"Ifyou indeedreturnsafelythe LORDhas not spokenby me." And he said,"Listen,allyou people."
"Therefore,listento me, you menof understanding.Farbe it from Godto do wickedness,And from the Almightyto do wrong.
Whoshowsnopartialityto princesNorregardsthe richabovethe poor,For they allare the workof His hands?
"It is changedlike clay[under] the seal;And they standforthlikea garment.
but showinglovingkindnessto thousands,to those who loveMe and keepMy commandments.
Thereis one who pretendsto be rich,but hasnothing;[Another] pretendsto be poor,but has greatwealth.
Nowtherefore, [my] sons,listento me, And payattentionto the wordsof my mouth.
"Nowtherefore, [O] sons,listento me, For blessedare they who keepmy ways.
"Howthen will one answerthe messengersof the nation?That the LORDhas foundedZion,And the afflictedof His peoplewill seekrefugein it."
The afflictedalso will increasetheir gladnessin the LORD,And the needyof mankindwill rejoicein the HolyOneof Israel.
"But I will leaveamongyou A humbleand lowlypeople,And they will takerefugein the nameof the LORD.
So it was brokenon that day,and thusthe afflictedof the flockwho were watchingme realizedthat it was the wordof the LORD.
So I pasturedthe flock[doomed] to slaughter,hencethe afflictedof the flock.And I tookfor myself twostaffs:the oneI calledFavorand the otherI calledUnion;so I pasturedthe flock.
[the] BLINDRECEIVE SIGHTand [the] lamewalk,[the] lepersare cleansedand [the] deafhear,[the] deadare raisedup, and [the] POORHAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHEDTO THEM.
"Thenthe Kingwill sayto thoseon His right,'Come,you who are blessedof My Father,inheritthe kingdompreparedfor you from the foundationof the world.
"Blessedare the poorin spirit,for theirsis the kingdomof heaven.
After He calledthe crowdto Him again,He [began] sayingto them, "Listento Me, allof you, and understand:
"Sois the man who stores up treasurefor himself,and is not richtowardGod."
"Do not be afraid,littleflock,for your Fatherhas chosen gladlyto giveyou the kingdom.
"Nowthe poor mandiedand was carried awayby the angelsto Abraham'sbosom;and the rich manalsodiedand was buried.
"But Abrahamsaid,'Child,rememberthat duringyour lifeyou receivedyour good things,and likewiseLazarusbad things;but nowhe is being comfortedhere,and you are in agony.
and justas My FatherhasgrantedMe a kingdom,I grantyou
And turningHis gazetowardHis disciples,He [began] to say,"Blessed[are] you [who are] poor,for yoursis the kingdomof God.
"Nooneof the rulersorPhariseeshas believedin Him, has he?
And he said,"Hearme, brethrenand fathers!The Godof gloryappearedto our fatherAbrahamwhen he was in Mesopotamia,beforehe livedin Haran,
and ifchildren,heirsalso,heirsof Godand fellow heirswith Christ,if indeedwe sufferwith [Him] sothat we may alsobe glorifiedwith [Him].
but justas it is written,"THINGS WHICHEYEHAS NOT SEENAND EARHAS NOT HEARD,AND [which] HAVE NOT ENTEREDTHE HEARTOF MAN,ALLTHAT GODHAS PREPAREDFOR THOSEWHO LOVEHIM."
For all things[are] for your sakes,sothat the gracewhich is spreadingto moreand more people may causethe giving of thanksto aboundto the gloryof God.
as sorrowfulyetalwaysrejoicing,as pooryetmakingmanyrich,as havingnothingyetpossessingall things.
For you knowthe graceof our LordJesusChrist,that though He was rich,yet for your sakeHe becamepoor,sothat you through His povertymight become rich.
[I pray that] the eyesof your heartmay be enlightened,sothat you will knowwhatis the hopeof His calling,whatare the richesof the gloryof His inheritancein the saints,
To me, the very leastof allsaints,thisgracewas given,to preachto the Gentilesthe unfathomablerichesof Christ,
sothat you would walkin a manner worthyof the Godwho callsyou into His ownkingdomand glory.
[This is] a plain indicationof God'srighteousjudgmentsothat you will be considered worthyof the kingdomof God,for whichindeedyou are suffering.
[Instruct them] to do good,to be richin goodworks,to be generousand ready to share,
The Lordwill rescueme from everyevildeed,and will bring me safelyto His heavenlykingdom;to Him [be] the gloryforeverand ever.Amen.
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.
consideringthe reproachof Christgreaterrichesthan the treasuresof Egypt;for he was lookingto the reward.
Blessedis a manwhoperseveresunder trial;for once he has beenapproved,he will receivethe crownof lifewhich[the Lord] has promisedto thosewho loveHim.
Do not be deceived,my belovedbrethren.
[This] you know,my belovedbrethren.But everyonemust be quickto hear,slowto speak[and] slowto anger;
But the brotherof humblecircumstances is to gloryin his high position;
to [obtain] an inheritance[which is] imperishableand undefiledand will not fade away,reservedin heavenfor you,
for in this waythe entranceinto the eternalkingdomof our Lordand SaviorJesusChristwill be abundantlysuppliedto you.
I knowyour tribulationand your poverty(but you are rich),and the blasphemyby thosewho saythey are Jewsand are not, but are a synagogueof Satan.
"He who overcomeswill inheritthese things,and I will be his Godand he will be My son.
I adviseyou to buyfrom Me goldrefinedby firesothat you may become rich,and whitegarmentssothat you may clotheyourself, and [that] the shameof your nakednesswill not be revealed;and eye salveto anointyour eyessothat you may see.
Now when they toldJotham,he wentand stoodon the topof MountGerizim,and liftedhis voiceand calledout. Thus he saidto them, "Listento me, O menof Shechem,that Godmay listento you.
"Thereforethe LORDGodof Israeldeclares,I did indeedsaythat your houseand the houseof your fathershould walkbeforeMe forever;but nowthe LORDdeclares,'Farbe it from Me-- for those who honorMe I will honor,and those who despiseMe will be lightlyesteemed.
"He raisesthe poorfrom the dust,He liftsthe needyfrom the ashheapTo make them sitwith nobles,And inherita seatof honor;For the pillarsof the earthare the LORD'S,And He setthe worldon them.
