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.
She will be ledto the Kingin embroideredwork;The virgins,her companionswho followher, Will be broughtto You.
RememberYour congregation,which You have purchasedof old,Which You have redeemedto be the tribeof Your inheritance;[And] thisMountZion,whereYou have dwelt.
"Your oilshave a pleasingfragrance,Your nameis [like] purifiedoil;Thereforethe maidensloveyou.
"Thereare sixtyqueensand eightyconcubines,And maidenswithoutnumber;
"Israelwas holyto the LORD,The firstof His harvest.Allwho ateof it becameguilty;Evilcameupon them," declaresthe LORD.'"
Woeto thosewho are at easein ZionAnd to those who [feel] securein the mountainof Samaria,The distinguishedmen of the foremostof nations,To whomthe houseof Israelcomes.
"For there are eunuchswhowere bornthat wayfrom their mother'swomb;and there are eunuchswhowere madeeunuchsby men;and there are [also] eunuchswhomadethemselveseunuchsfor the sakeof the kingdomof heaven.He who is ableto accept[this], let him accept[it]."
"Thenthe kingdomof heavenwill be comparableto tenvirgins,whotooktheir lampsand wentout to meetthe bridegroom.
Thena scribecameand saidto Him, "Teacher,I will followYou whereverYou go."
"My sheephearMy voice,and I knowthem, and they followMe;
"IfanyoneservesMe, he must followMe; and whereI am,thereMy servantwill be also;ifanyoneservesMe, the Fatherwill honorhim.
Petersaidto Him, "Lord,whycanI not followYou right now?I will lay downmy lifefor You."
ThenJesusagainspoketo them, saying,"I amthe Lightof the world;he who followsMe will not walkin the darkness,but will havethe Lightof life."
"Be on guardfor yourselvesand for allthe flock,amongwhichthe HolySpirithas madeyou overseers,to shepherdthe churchof GodwhichHe purchasedwith His ownblood.
NowI urgeyou, brethren(you knowthe householdof Stephanas,that they were the first fruitsof Achaia,and that they have devotedthemselvesfor ministryto the saints),
For you have been boughtwith a price:thereforeglorifyGodin your body.
But ifyou marry,you have not sinned;and ifa virginmarries,she has not sinned.Yetsuchwill havetroublein thislife,and I am trying to spareyou.
For I am jealousfor you with a godlyjealousy;for I betrothedyou to onehusband,so that to ChristI might presentyou [as] a purevirgin.
whois given as a pledgeof our inheritance,with a viewto the redemptionof [God's own] possession,to the praiseof His glory.
that He might presentto Himselfthe churchin all her glory,havingnospotorwrinkleoranysuch thing;but that she would be holyand blameless.
[men] who forbidmarriage[and advocate] abstainingfrom foodswhichGodhas createdto be gratefullysharedin by thosewho believeand knowthe truth.
to the general assemblyand churchof the firstbornwho are enrolledin heaven,and to God,the Judgeof all,and to the spiritsof [the] righteousmade perfect,
In the exercise of His willHe brought us forthby the wordof truth,sothat we would be a kindof first fruitsamong His creatures.
But you are A CHOSENRACE,A royalPRIESTHOOD,A HOLYNATION,A PEOPLEFOR [God's] OWN POSSESSION,sothat you may proclaimthe excellenciesof Him who has calledyou out of darknessinto His marvelouslight;
"Thesewill wage waragainstthe Lamb,and the Lambwill overcomethem, becauseHe is Lordof lordsand Kingof kings,and thosewhoare with Him [are the] calledand chosenand faithful."
I sawnotemplein it, for the LordGodthe Almightyand the Lambare its temple.
And the cityhasnoneedof the sunorof the moonto shineon it, for the gloryof Godhas illuminedit, and its lamp[is] the Lamb.
But you havea fewpeoplein Sardiswhohave not soiledtheir garments;and they will walkwith Me in white,for they are worthy.
And they sanga newsong,saying,"Worthyare You to takethe bookand to breakits seals;for You were slain,and purchasedfor Godwith Your blood[men] from everytribeand tongueand peopleand nation.
