"Be gladin that dayand leap[for joy], for behold,your rewardis greatin heaven.For in the samewaytheir fathersused to treatthe prophets.
Then it happened[as] the arkof the LORDcameinto the cityof Davidthat Michalthe daughterof Saullookedout of the windowand sawKingDavidleapingand dancingbeforethe LORD;and she despisedhim in her heart.
for when Jezebeldestroyedthe prophetsof the LORD,Obadiahtooka hundredprophetsand hidthem by fiftiesin a cave,and providedthem with breadand water.)
He said,"I have beenveryzealousfor the LORD,the Godof hosts;for the sonsof Israelhave forsakenYour covenant,torndownYour altarsand killedYour prophetswith the sword.And I aloneam left;and they seekmy life,to takeit away."
Then he said,"I have beenveryzealousfor the LORD,the Godof hosts;for the sonsof Israelhave forsakenYour covenant,torndownYour altarsand killedYour prophetswith the sword.And I aloneam left;and they seekmy life,to takeit away."
Then Jezebelsenta messengerto Elijah,saying,"Somay the godsdoto me and evenmore,ifI do not makeyour lifeas the lifeof oneof them by tomorrowabout this time."
Ahabsaidto Elijah,"Have you foundme, O my enemy?"And he answered,"I have found[you], becauseyou have soldyourself to doevilin the sightof the LORD.
and say,'Thussaysthe king,"Putthisman in prisonand feedhim sparinglywith breadand wateruntilI returnsafely."'"
The kingof Israelsaidto Jehoshaphat,"There is yetonemanby whom we may inquireof the LORD,but I hatehim, becausehe does not prophesygoodconcerningme, but evil.[He is] Micaiahsonof Imlah."But Jehoshaphatsaid,"Let not the kingsayso."
Then he said,"May Goddosoto me and morealso,ifthe headof Elishathe sonof Shaphatremainson him today."
but they [continually] mockedthe messengersof God,despisedHis wordsand scoffedat His prophets,untilthe wrathof the LORDaroseagainst His people,untiltherewas noremedy.
"But they becamedisobedientand rebelledagainst You, And castYour lawbehindtheir backsAnd killedYour prophetswhohad admonishedthem So that they might returnto You, And they committedgreatblasphemies.
And menwill say,"Surelythere is a rewardfor the righteous;Surelythereis a Godwho judgeson earth!"
Thenthe lamewill leaplike a deer,And the tongueof the mutewill shoutfor joy.For waterswill breakforthin the wildernessAnd streamsin the Arabah.
"In vainI have struckyour sons;They acceptednochastening.Your swordhas devouredyour prophetsLike a destroyinglion.
"For behold,the dayis coming,burninglike a furnace;and allthe arrogantand everyevildoerwill be chaff;and the daythat is comingwill setthem ablaze,"saysthe LORDof hosts,"sothat it will leavethem neitherrootnorbranch."
"Rejoiceand be glad,for your rewardin heavenis great;for in the same waythey persecutedthe prophetswho were beforeyou.
WhenElizabethheardMary'sgreeting,the babyleapedin her womb;and Elizabethwas filledwith the HolySpirit.
"For behold,whenthe soundof your greetingreachedmy ears,the babyleapedin my wombfor joy.
"But loveyour enemies,and do good,and lend,expectingnothingin return;and your rewardwill be great,and you will be sonsof the Most High;for He Himselfis kindto ungratefuland evil[men].
saidwith a loudvoice,"Standuprighton your feet."And he leapedup and [began] to walk.
With a leaphe stood uprightand [began] to walk;and he enteredthe templewith them, walkingand leapingand praisingGod.
Sothey went on their wayfrom the presenceof the Council,rejoicingthat they had been considered worthyto suffershamefor [His] name.
And not onlythis, but we alsoexultin our tribulations,knowingthat tribulationbrings aboutperseverance;
ThereforeI am well contentwith weaknesses,with insults,with distresses,with persecutions,with difficulties,for Christ'ssake;for whenI am weak,thenI amstrong.
NowI rejoicein my sufferingsfor your sake,and in my fleshI do my shareon behalfof His body,whichis the church,in fillingup whatis lackingin Christ'safflictions.
Ifwe endure,we will alsoreignwith Him; Ifwe denyHim, He alsowill denyus;
consideringthe reproachof Christgreaterrichesthan the treasuresof Egypt;for he was lookingto the reward.
And withoutfaithit is impossibleto please[Him], for he who comesto Godmustbelievethat He is and [that] He is a rewarderof thosewho seekHim.
Considerit alljoy,my brethren,whenyou encountervarioustrials,
but to the degreethat you sharethe sufferingsof Christ,keep on rejoicing,sothat alsoat the revelationof His gloryyou may rejoicewith exultation.
He who hasan ear,let him hearwhatthe Spiritsaysto the churches.To him who overcomes,to him I will give[some] of the hiddenmanna,and I will givehim a whitestone,and a newnamewrittenon the stonewhichno oneknowsbut he who receivesit.'
He who overcomes,and he who keepsMy deedsuntilthe end,TO HIM I WILL GIVEAUTHORITYOVERTHE NATIONS;
He who hasan ear,let him hearwhatthe Spiritsaysto the churches.To him who overcomes,I will grantto eatof the treeof lifewhichis in the Paradiseof God.'
"He who overcomeswill inheritthese things,and I will be his Godand he will be My son.
He who overcomes,I will makehim a pillarin the templeof My God,and he will not goout from it anymore;and I will writeon him the nameof My God,and the nameof the cityof My God,the newJerusalem,which comes downout of heavenfrom My God,and My newname.
He who overcomeswill thusbe clothedin whitegarments;and I will not erasehis namefrom the bookof life,and I will confesshis namebeforeMy Fatherand beforeHis angels.
