For I could wishthat I myselfwere accursed,[separated] from Christfor the sakeof my brethren,my kinsmenaccordingto the flesh,
Labansaidto him, "Surelyyou are my boneand my flesh."And he stayedwith him a month.
The kingwas deeplymovedand wentup to the chamberoverthe gateand wept.And thushe saidas he walked,"O my sonAbsalom,my son,my sonAbsalom!WouldI had diedinsteadof you, O Absalom,my son,my son!"
"For howcanI endureto seethe calamitywhichwill befallmy people,and howcanI endureto seethe destructionof my kindred?"
"But now,ifYou will, forgivetheir sin--and ifnot, pleaseblotme out from Your bookwhichYou have written!"
"Brethren,sonsof Abraham'sfamily,and thoseamongyou who fearGod,to us the messageof thissalvationhas been sent.
as alsothe high priestand allthe Council of the elderscan testify.From them I alsoreceivedlettersto the brethren,and startedoff for Damascusin order to bringeventhosewho were thereto Jerusalemas prisonersto be punished.
They saidto him, "We have neitherreceivedlettersfrom Judeaconcerningyou, norhave anyof the brethrencome hereand reportedorspokenanythingbadaboutyou.
concerningHis Son,who was bornof a descendantof Davidaccordingto the flesh,
I saythen,Godhas not rejectedHis people,has He? May it neverbe! For I tooaman Israelite,a descendantof Abraham,of the tribeof Benjamin.
ifsomehowI might move to jealousymy fellow countrymenand savesomeof them.
GreetHerodion,my kinsman.Greetthoseof the [household] of Narcissus,who are in the Lord.
Timothymy fellow workergreetsyou, and [so] [do] Luciusand Jasonand Sosipater,my kinsmen.
GreetAndronicusand Junias,my kinsmenand my fellow prisoners,whoare outstandingamongthe apostles,whoalsowere in Christbeforeme.
that I have greatsorrowand unceasinggriefin my heart.
ThereforeI make knownto you that noonespeakingby the Spiritof Godsays,"Jesusis accursed";and no onecansay,"Jesusis Lord,"exceptby the HolySpirit.
Ifanyonedoes not lovethe Lord,he is to be accursed.Maranatha.
I will most gladlyspendand be expendedfor your souls.IfI loveyou more,am I to be lovedless?
But evenifwe, oran angelfrom heaven,should preachto you a gospelcontraryto whatwe have preachedto you, he is to be accursed!
As we have said before,soI sayagainnow,ifany manis preaching to you a gospelcontraryto whatyou received,he is to be accursed!
For as manyas are of the worksof the Laware undera curse;for it is written,"CURSEDIS EVERYONEWHODOES NOT ABIDEBY ALL THINGSWRITTENIN THE BOOKOF THE LAW,TO PERFORMTHEM."
Christredeemedus from the curseof the Law,having becomea cursefor us-- for it is written,"CURSEDIS EVERYONEWHO HANGSON A TREE"--
Slaves,be obedientto thosewho are your mastersaccordingto the flesh,with fearand trembling,in the sincerityof your heart,as to Christ;
his corpseshall not hangall nighton the tree,but you shall surelyburyhim on the sameday(for he who is hangedis accursedof God),so that you do not defileyour landwhichthe LORDyour Godgivesyou as an inheritance.
Now the menof Israelwere hard-pressedon that day,for Saulhad putthe peopleunderoath,saying,"Cursedbe the manwhoeatsfoodbeforeevening,and untilI have avengedmyself on my enemies."So noneof the peopletastedfood.
Saulsaid,"May Goddothis[to me] and morealso,for you shall surelydie,Jonathan."
