John 13:31-38
[31]
When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and
God is glorified in him. [32] If God is glorified in him, God will also
glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once. [33] Little children,
yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said
to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot
come.’ [34] A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another:
just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. [35] By this
all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for
one another.”
[36]
Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered
him, “Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow
afterward.” [37] Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now?
I will lay down my life for you.” [38] Jesus answered, “Will you lay
down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not
crow till you have denied me three times.
Jude 1:17-25
[17]
But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our
Lord Jesus Christ. [18] They said to you, “In the last time there will
be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” [19] It is these who
cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. [20] But you,
beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in
the Holy Spirit, [21] keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for
the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. [22] And
have mercy on those who doubt; [23] save others by snatching them out of
the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment
stained by the flesh.
[24]
Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you
blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, [25] to the
only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty,
dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.
Job 22
[1] Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said:
[2] “Can a man be profitable to God?
Surely he who is wise is profitable to himself.
[3] Is it any pleasure to the Almighty if you are in the right,
or is it gain to him if you make your ways blameless?
[4] Is it for your fear of him that he reproves you
and enters into judgment with you?
[5] Is not your evil abundant?
There is no end to your iniquities.
[6] For you have exacted pledges of your brothers for nothing
and stripped the naked of their clothing.
[7] You have given no water to the weary to drink,
and you have withheld bread from the hungry.
[8] The man with power possessed the land,
and the favored man lived in it.
[9] You have sent widows away empty,
and the arms of the fatherless were crushed.
[10] Therefore snares are all around you,
and sudden terror overwhelms you,
[11] or darkness, so that you cannot see,
and a flood of water covers you.
[12] “Is not God high in the heavens?
See the highest stars, how lofty they are!
[13] But you say, ‘What does God know?
Can he judge through the deep darkness?
[14] Thick clouds veil him, so that he does not see,
and he walks on the vault of heaven.’
[15] Will you keep to the old way
that wicked men have trod?
[16] They were snatched away before their time;
their foundation was washed away.
[17] They said to God, ‘Depart from us,’
and ‘What can the Almighty do to us?’
[18] Yet he filled their houses with good things—
but the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
[19] The righteous see it and are glad;
the innocent one mocks at them,
[20] saying, ‘Surely our adversaries are cut off,
and what they left the fire has consumed.’
[21] “Agree with God, and be at peace;
thereby good will come to you.
[22] Receive instruction from his mouth,
and lay up his words in your heart.
[23] If you return to the Almighty you will be built up;
if you remove injustice far from your tents,
[24] if you lay gold in the dust,
and gold of Ophir among the stones of the torrent-bed,
[25] then the Almighty will be your gold
and your precious silver.
[26] For then you will delight yourself in the Almighty
and lift up your face to God.
[27] You will make your prayer to him, and he will hear you,
and you will pay your vows.
[28] You will decide on a matter, and it will be established for you,
and light will shine on your ways.
[29] For when they are humbled you say, ‘It is because of pride’;
but he saves the lowly.
[30] He delivers even the one who is not innocent,
who will be delivered through the cleanness of your hands.”
Daniel 10
[1]
In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a word was revealed to
Daniel, who was named Belteshazzar. And the word was true, and it was a
great conflict. And he understood the word and had understanding of the
vision.
[2]
In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three weeks. [3] I ate no
delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at
all, for the full three weeks. [4] On the twenty-fourth day of the
first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river (that is,
the Tigris) [5] I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, a man
clothed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist.
[6] His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning,
his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of
burnished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a
multitude. [7] And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were
with me did not see the vision, but a great trembling fell upon them,
and they fled to hide themselves. [8] So I was left alone and saw this
great vision, and no strength was left in me. My radiant appearance was
fearfully changed, and I retained no strength. [9] Then I heard the
sound of his words, and as I heard the sound of his words, I fell on my
face in deep sleep with my face to the ground.
[10]
And behold, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and
knees. [11] And he said to me, “O Daniel, man greatly loved, understand
the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for now I have been
sent to you.” And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up
trembling. [12] Then he said to me, “Fear not, Daniel, for from the
first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself
before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of
your words. [13] The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me
twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me,
for I was left there with the kings of Persia, [14] and came to make
you understand what is to happen to your people in the latter days. For
the vision is for days yet to come.”
[15]
When he had spoken to me according to these words, I turned my face
toward the ground and was mute. [16] And behold, one in the likeness of
the children of man touched my lips. Then I opened my mouth and spoke. I
said to him who stood before me, “O my lord, by reason of the vision
pains have come upon me, and I retain no strength. [17] How can my
lord’s servant talk with my lord? For now no strength remains in me, and
no breath is left in me.”
[18]
Again one having the appearance of a man touched me and strengthened
me. [19] And he said, “O man greatly loved, fear not, peace be with you;
be strong and of good courage.” And as he spoke to me, I was
strengthened and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened
me.” [20] Then he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? But now I
will return to fight against the prince of Persia; and when I go out,
behold, the prince of Greece will come. [21] But I will tell you what is
inscribed in the book of truth: there is none who contends by my side
against these except Michael, your prince.
Daniel 11
[1] “And as for me, in the first year of Darius the Mede, I stood up to confirm and strengthen him.
[2]
“And now I will show you the truth. Behold, three more kings shall
arise in Persia, and a fourth shall be far richer than all of them. And
when he has become strong through his riches, he shall stir up all
against the kingdom of Greece. [3] Then a mighty king shall arise, who
shall rule with great dominion and do as he wills. [4] And as soon as he
has arisen, his kingdom shall be broken and divided toward the four
winds of heaven, but not to his posterity, nor according to the
authority with which he ruled, for his kingdom shall be plucked up and
go to others besides these.
[5]
“Then the king of the south shall be strong, but one of his princes
shall be stronger than he and shall rule, and his authority shall be a
great authority. [6] After some years they shall make an alliance, and
the daughter of the king of the south shall come to the king of the
north to make an agreement. But she shall not retain the strength of her
arm, and he and his arm shall not endure, but she shall be given up,
and her attendants, he who fathered her, and he who supported her in
those times.
[7]
“And from a branch from her roots one shall arise in his place. He
shall come against the army and enter the fortress of the king of the
north, and he shall deal with them and shall prevail. [8] He shall also
carry off to Egypt their gods with their metal images and their precious
vessels of silver and gold, and for some years he shall refrain from
attacking the king of the north. [9] Then the latter shall come into the
realm of the king of the south but shall return to his own land.
[10]
“His sons shall wage war and assemble a multitude of great forces,
which shall keep coming and overflow and pass through, and again shall
carry the war as far as his fortress. [11] Then the king of the south,
moved with rage, shall come out and fight against the king of the north.
And he shall raise a great multitude, but it shall be given into his
hand. [12] And when the multitude is taken away, his heart shall be
exalted, and he shall cast down tens of thousands, but he shall not
prevail. [13] For the king of the north shall again raise a multitude,
greater than the first. And after some years he shall come on with a
great army and abundant supplies.
[14]
“In those times many shall rise against the king of the south, and the
violent among your own people shall lift themselves up in order to
fulfill the vision, but they shall fail. [15] Then the king of the north
shall come and throw up siegeworks and take a well-fortified city. And
the forces of the south shall not stand, or even his best troops, for
there shall be no strength to stand. [16] But he who comes against him
shall do as he wills, and none shall stand before him. And he shall
stand in the glorious land, with destruction in his hand. [17] He shall
set his face to come with the strength of his whole kingdom, and he
shall bring terms of an agreement and perform them. He shall give him
the daughter of women to destroy the kingdom, but it shall not stand or
be to his advantage. [18] Afterward he shall turn his face to the
coastlands and shall capture many of them, but a commander shall put an
end to his insolence. Indeed, he shall turn his insolence back upon him.
[19] Then he shall turn his face back toward the fortresses of his own
land, but he shall stumble and fall, and shall not be found.
[20]
“Then shall arise in his place one who shall send an exactor of tribute
for the glory of the kingdom. But within a few days he shall be broken,
neither in anger nor in battle. [21] In his place shall arise a
contemptible person to whom royal majesty has not been given. He shall
come in without warning and obtain the kingdom by flatteries. [22]
Armies shall be utterly swept away before him and broken, even the
prince of the covenant. [23] And from the time that an alliance is made
with him he shall act deceitfully, and he shall become strong with a
small people. [24] Without warning he shall come into the richest parts
of the province, and he shall do what neither his fathers nor his
fathers’ fathers have done, scattering among them plunder, spoil, and
goods. He shall devise plans against strongholds, but only for a time.
[25] And he shall stir up his power and his heart against the king of
the south with a great army. And the king of the south shall wage war
with an exceedingly great and mighty army, but he shall not stand, for
plots shall be devised against him. [26] Even those who eat his food
shall break him. His army shall be swept away, and many shall fall down
slain. [27] And as for the two kings, their hearts shall be bent on
doing evil. They shall speak lies at the same table, but to no avail,
for the end is yet to be at the time appointed. [28] And he shall return
to his land with great wealth, but his heart shall be set against the
holy covenant. And he shall work his will and return to his own land.
[29]
“At the time appointed he shall return and come into the south, but it
shall not be this time as it was before. [30] For ships of Kittim shall
come against him, and he shall be afraid and withdraw, and shall turn
back and be enraged and take action against the holy covenant. He shall
turn back and pay attention to those who forsake the holy covenant. [31]
Forces from him shall appear and profane the temple and fortress, and
shall take away the regular burnt offering. And they shall set up the
abomination that makes desolate. [32] He shall seduce with flattery
those who violate the covenant, but the people who know their God shall
stand firm and take action. [33] And the wise among the people shall
make many understand, though for some days they shall stumble by sword
and flame, by captivity and plunder. [34] When they stumble, they shall
receive a little help. And many shall join themselves to them with
flattery, [35] and some of the wise shall stumble, so that they may be
refined, purified, and made white, until the time of the end, for it
still awaits the appointed time.
[36]
“And the king shall do as he wills. He shall exalt himself and magnify
himself above every god, and shall speak astonishing things against the
God of gods. He shall prosper till the indignation is accomplished; for
what is decreed shall be done. [37] He shall pay no attention to the
gods of his fathers, or to the one beloved by women. He shall not pay
attention to any other god, for he shall magnify himself above all. [38]
He shall honor the god of fortresses instead of these. A god whom his
fathers did not know he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious
stones and costly gifts. [39] He shall deal with the strongest
fortresses with the help of a foreign god. Those who acknowledge him he
shall load with honor. He shall make them rulers over many and shall
divide the land for a price.
[40]
“At the time of the end, the king of the south shall attack him, but
the king of the north shall rush upon him like a whirlwind, with
chariots and horsemen, and with many ships. And he shall come into
countries and shall overflow and pass through. [41] He shall come into
the glorious land. And tens of thousands shall fall, but these shall be
delivered out of his hand: Edom and Moab and the main part of the
Ammonites. [42] He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and
the land of Egypt shall not escape. [43] He shall become ruler of the
treasures of gold and of silver, and all the precious things of Egypt,
and the Libyans and the Cushites shall follow in his train. [44] But
news from the east and the north shall alarm him, and he shall go out
with great fury to destroy and devote many to destruction. [45] And he
shall pitch his palatial tents between the sea and the glorious holy
mountain. Yet he shall come to his end, with none to help him.
Daniel 12
[1]
“At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of
your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has
been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your
people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in
the book. [2] And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth
shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting
contempt. [3] And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of
the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars
forever and ever. [4] But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the
book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and
knowledge shall increase.”
[5]
Then I, Daniel, looked, and behold, two others stood, one on this bank
of the stream and one on that bank of the stream. [6] And someone said
to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream,
“How long shall it be till the end of these wonders?” [7] And I heard
the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream; he
raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven and swore by him
who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time,
and that when the shattering of the power of the holy people comes to an
end all these things would be finished. [8] I heard, but I did not
understand. Then I said, “O my lord, what shall be the outcome of these
things?” [9] He said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up
and sealed until the time of the end. [10] Many shall purify themselves
and make themselves white and be refined, but the wicked shall act
wickedly. And none of the wicked shall understand, but those who are
wise shall understand. [11] And from the time that the regular burnt
offering is taken away and the abomination that makes desolate is set
up, there shall be 1,290 days. [12] Blessed is he who waits and arrives
at the 1,335 days. [13] But go your way till the end. And you shall rest
and shall stand in your allotted place at the end of the days.”
