But I am hard-pressedfrom both[directions], havingthe desireto departand be with Christ,for [that] is very muchbetter;
Then Davidsaidto Gad,"I am in greatdistress.Let us nowfallinto the handof the LORDfor His merciesare great,but do not let me fallinto the handof man."
As for me, I shall beholdYour facein righteousness;I will be satisfiedwith Your likenesswhen I awake.
But Godwill redeemmy soulfrom the powerof Sheol,For He will receiveme. Selah.
"But I havea baptismto undergo,and howdistressedI am untilit is accomplished!
And He saidto him, "TrulyI sayto you, todayyou shall be with Me in Paradise."
But the manfrom whomthe demonshad goneout was beggingHim that he might accompanyHim; but He sent him away,saying,
"IfanyoneservesMe, he must followMe; and whereI am,thereMy servantwill be also;ifanyoneservesMe, the Fatherwill honorhim.
Nowbeforethe Feastof the Passover,Jesusknowingthat His hourhad comethat He would departout of thisworldto the Father,having lovedHis ownwhowere in the world,He lovedthem to the end.
"IfI goand preparea placefor you, I will comeagainand receiveyou to Myself,that whereI am,[there] you may be also.
"Father,I desirethat they also,whomYou have givenMe, be with Me whereI am,sothat they may seeMy glorywhichYou have givenMe, for You lovedMe beforethe foundationof the world.
They went on stoningStephenas he calledon [the Lord] and said,"LordJesus,receivemy spirit!"
we are of good courage,I say, and preferratherto be absentfrom the bodyand to be at homewith the Lord.
You are not restrainedby us, but you are restrainedin your own affections.
yetto remainon in the fleshis more necessaryfor your sake.
For you yourselvesknow,brethren,that our comingto you was not in vain,
For thisreasonwe alsoconstantlythankGodthat when you receivedthe wordof Godwhichyou heardfrom us, you accepted[it] not [as] the wordof men,but [for] whatit reallyis, the wordof God,whichalsoperforms its workin you who believe.
Thenwe who are aliveand remainwill be caughtup togetherwith them in the cloudsto meetthe Lordin the air,and sowe shall alwaysbe with the Lord.
For I am alreadybeing poured out as a drink offering,and the timeof my departurehas come.
And I hearda voicefrom heaven,saying,"Write,Blessedare the deadwho diein the Lordfrom nowon!'" "Yes,"saysthe Spirit,"sothat they may restfrom their labors,for their deedsfollowwith them."
