THE afflicted...shall increase their gladness in the LORD, And the needy of mankind shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel -- Unless you are converted and become like children, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven --The imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.-- Love does not brag and is not arrogant.

      Pursue... gentleness.--Take my yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart --He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, and like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, so He did not open His mouth.--Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously

BY glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report --All all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.--The stumbling block of the cross.

      Am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.

      If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. By no means let any of you suffer as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; but if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not feel ashamed, but in that name let him glorify God.

      To you it has been granted for Christ's sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake -- One died for all, therefore all died and He died for all, that they who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf -- If we endure, we shall also reign with Him

DO you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power.-- Do not fear, for I am with you. Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you. Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand..--Thou hast been a defense for the helpless, a defense for the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat. For the breath of the ruthless Is like a rain storm against a wall.

      The testing of your faith produces endurance.
And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. --Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.

THE wicked are like the tossing sea, for it cannot be quiet, and its waters toss up refuse and mud.

      Come to me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.--Rest in the LORD.-- The one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His.

      Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace -- We are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him, who is the head, even Christ

      In his shade I took great delight and sat down, and his fruit was sweet to my taste. He has brought me to his banquet hall, and his banner over me is love.
 

THE fear of the LORD is to hate evil.--Abhor that which is evil.--Abstain from all form of evil.--See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled

      If I regard wickedness in my heart, The Lord will not hear

      Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough? Clean out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed. Let us therefore celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth -- Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
      Let everyone who names the name of the Lord abstain from wickedness --We...have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners --He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin.

I am afraid, lest as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds should be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.
     Be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil --Take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS,  and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one & take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.--In order that no advantage be taken of us by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his schemes.

TAKE care, and be calm, have no fear and do not be fainthearted --"Cease striving and know that I am God --Did I not say to you, if you believe, you will see the glory of God? --The pride of man will be humbled, And the loftiness of men will be abased, And the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.
      Mary... was listening to the Lord's word seated at His feet...Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her--In repentance and rest you shall be saved, in quietness and trust is your strength.--Meditate in your heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah
      Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him. Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.
      He will not fear evil tidings. His heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD. His heart is upheld
      He who believes in it will not be disturbed.

THOU shall remember all the way which the LORD your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.
      Then I passed by you and saw you, and behold, you were at the time for love...I also swore to you and entered into a covenant with you so that you became Mine," declares the Lord GOD.--Whom the Lord loves He disciplines.
      Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing; so that also at the revelation of His glory, you may rejoice with exultation.--For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

HE is also the head of the body, the church.--The head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of Him who fills all in all.-- We are members of His body
      A body thou hast prepared Me.--Thine eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Thy book they were all written, the days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them.
      Thine they were, and thou gavest them me.--He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world -- Whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son
      We are to grow up in all aspects into Him, who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by that which every joint supplies according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

 
HOW precious is Thy lovingkindness, O God! And the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Thy wings. They drink their fill of the abundance of Thy house and Thou dost give them to drink of the river of Thy delights. For with Thee is the fountain of life
     Thus says the Lord GOD, Behold, My servants shall eat, but you shall be hungry. Behold, My servants shall drink, but you shall be thirsty -- But whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life. -- This He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive
      Ho, every one that thirsts, come to the waters.--The Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let the one who hears say, Come. And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.

WHO is like the LORD our God, Who is enthroned on high, Who humbles Himself to behold the things that are in heaven and in the earth?--To Thee, O LORD, I lift up my soul.--I stretch out my hands to Thee. My soul longs for Thee, as a parched land. Answer me quickly, O LORD, my spirit fails. Do not hide Thy face from me, lest I become like those who go down to the pit. Let me hear Thy lovingkindness in the morning for I trust in Thee; Teach me the way in which I should walk for to Thee I lift up my soul.

      Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips will praise thee. So I will bless Thee as long as I live. I will lift up my hands in Thy name --Make glad the soul of Thy servant, for to Thee, O Lord, I lift up my soul. For Thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon Thee.
      Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do

IT is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. The night is almost gone, and the day is at hand. Let us therefore lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
      Learn a parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender, and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near even so you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door --Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words shall not pass away.
      I wait for the LORD, my soul does wait, and in His word do I hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than the watchmen for the morning; Indeed, more than the watchmen for the morning.
      He who testifies to these things says, Yes, I am coming quickly. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
      Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour.

THE hope which is laid up for you in heaven.--If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied. --"Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.-- Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple-- No man may be disturbed by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we have been destined for this.
      Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.--The God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.--Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead .--Though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory--Through Whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand and we exult in hope of the glory of God.

 
I KNOW the plans that I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for calamity --My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.

      How precious...are Thy thoughts unto me, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.--How great are Thy works, O LORD! Thy thoughts are very deep --Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders which Thou hast done, and Thy thoughts toward us
      Not many mighty, not many noble, are called.--Did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom --Having nothing, yet possessing all things.--The unfathomable riches of Christ.

THE LORD is a God of knowledge, and with Him actions are weighed.--That which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God --God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.--Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh shall from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit shall from the Spirit reap eternal life.
What will a man be profited, if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?--Whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.
Behold, Thou dost desire truth in the innermost being --Thou hast tried my heart; Thou hast visited me by night; Thou hast tested me and dost find nothing

Da. 5.27.1Sa 2.3.--Lk. 16.15.--1Sa. 16.7.--Ga. 6.7, 8. Mt. 16.26.--Phil. 3.7. Ps. 51.6.--Ps. 17.3.
 

EXCEPT a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit --If the first piece of dough be holy, the lump is also; and if the root be holy, the branches are too --Now is Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep --If we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection --The Lord Jesus Christ...will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.
      The firstborn from the dead.--If the Spirit of Him Who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who indwells you.
      I am the resurrection, and the life: he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies,
 

THOU sayest, I am rich, and have become wealthy and have need of nothing, and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire, that you may become rich, and white garments, that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; be zealous therefore, and repent.
      Blessed are those which do hunger and thirst for righteousness: for they shall be satisfied.--The afflicted and needy are seeking water but there is none and their tongue is parched with thirst I, the LORD, will answer them Myself, as the God of Israel I will not forsake them--I the LORD, am your God.. open your mouth wide and I will fill it.
     Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and delight yourself in abundance.--I am the bread of life: he who comes to Me shall not hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.

 
WHEN I should say, My foot has slipped, Thy lovingkindness, O LORD, will hold me up.
      Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail
      A righteous man falls seven times, and rises again --When he falls, he shall not be hurled headlong; because the LORD is the One who holds his hand.
      Do not rejoice over me, O my enemy. Though I fall I will rise. Though I dwell in darkness, the LORD is a light for me -- From six troubles He will deliver you. Even in seven evil will not touch you.
      If anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous --Hence, also, He is able to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.


 

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you.--Good and upright is the LORD. Therefore He instructs sinners in the way. He leads the humble in justice, and He teaches the humble His way. All the paths of the LORD are lovingkindness and truth To those who keep His covenant and His testimonies.
      That they may all be one; even as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be in Us; that the world may believe that Thou didst send Me.
      I... entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.

WHEN I am weak, then am I strong.--My God is my strength.--He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me --Let him rely on My protection
      Cast your burden upon the LORD, and He will sustain you.--His arms were agile, from the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob
      I will not let you go unless you bless me
     "You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted --Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me Fight against those who fight against me. Take hold of buckler and shield, and rise up for my help.

THOU shall not follow a multitude in doing evil. You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. What fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols?-- Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. And the world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God abides forever.

      You formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.--You did not learn Christ in this way...as truth is in Jesus,
 

By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground --We we used to give you this order: if anyone will not work, neither let him eat --Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands

      Whatever your hand finds to do, verily, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are going --Night is coming, when no man can work.

      Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary --Always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.

      There remains therefore a Sabbath rest for the people of God --Who have borne the burden and the scorching heat of the day -- Here is rest, give rest to the weary and here is repose.
 

I the LORD, am your healer.
    O LORD, Thou hast searched me and known me. Thou dost know when I sit down and when I rise up. Thou dost understand my thought from afar. Thou dost scrutinize my path and my lying down, and art intimately acquainted with all my ways. --Thou hast placed our iniquities before Thee, Our secret sins in the light of Thy presence. --All things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.
      Come now, and let us reason together says the LORD,  Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool. --Let him be gracious to him, and say, 'Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom --He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities. The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed --He hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted.--Your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your affliction

THE LORD answer you in the day of trouble! May the name of the God of Jacob set you securely on high! And support you from Zion! We will sing for joy over your victory, And in the name of our God we will set up our banners. Some boast in chariots, and some in horses but we will boast in the name of the LORD, our God. They have bowed down and fallen but we have risen and stood upright.
      When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard against him. --No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it.
      If God is for us, who is against us?
      The LORD is for me; I will not fear; What can man do to me? God Whom we serve is able to deliver...and He will deliver us
 

MY soul longed and even yearned for the courts of the LORD; My heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God --O God, Thou art my God; I shall seek Thee earnestly; My soul thirsts for Thee, my flesh yearns for Thee, In a dry and weary land where there is no water. Thus I have beheld Thee in the sanctuary
      Ho. Every one who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk Without money and without cost.--The Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let the one who hears say, Come. And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.--Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.
--My blood is true drink.
      Eat, friends; Drink and imbibe deeply, O lovers.

THAT which is imperishable.--for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and abiding word of God.--He who believes in Me shall live even if he dies --They are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection --The incorruptible God.
      If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. And if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who indwells you --It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body
      Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another --Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear.

BLESSED be God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort;
4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God --Just as a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him. For He Himself knows our frame. He is mindful that we are but dust.--As one whom his mother comforts, so will I comfort you.--Casting all your anxiety upon him; for he cares for you.
      Thou, O Lord, art a God merciful and gracious, Slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness and truth.
      Another Helper... the Spirit of truth --The Spirit helps our weakness
      He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there shall no longer be any death; there shall no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away

HE received honor and glory from God the Father...This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased--See how great a love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God
      Be imitators of God, as beloved children --If children heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ
      He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature --Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
      Jesus the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame --These things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy made full in themselves -As the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.

WHAT then? shall we sin, because we are not under law, but under grace? May it never be! --My brethren, you... were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, that we might bear fruit for God -- Not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ--The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
      The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death --Whosoever commits sin is the slave of sin --If...the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.
      It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.

NO man, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
      He who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him --Let him ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man expect that he will receive anything from the Lord -- All things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they shall be granted you.
      We are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;
but speaking the truth in love.. grow up in all aspects into Him, who is the head, even Christ
      Abide in me.--Be ye steadfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.

THE LORD knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the wicked will perish --The LORD will show who is His, and who is holy -- Your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
      Search me, O God, and know my heart. Try me and know my anxious thoughts and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way --There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear.
      Lord, all my desire is before Thee and my sighing is not hidden from Thee --When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, Thou didst know my path --He Who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God
      The firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, The Lord knows those who are His and, Let everyone who names the name of the Lord abstain from wickedness

NO man may be disturbed by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we have been destined for this. For indeed when we were with you, we kept telling you in advance that we were going to suffer affliction --In Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world
      I will be satisfied with Thy likeness when I awake --The night is almost gone, the day is at hand.--He is as the light of the morning when the sun rises, a morning without clouds, when the tender grass springs out of the earth, through sunshine after rain.
      He will swallow up death for all time, and the Lord GOD will wipe tears away from all faces --There shall be no longer be any death; there shall no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.--We who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.

THE sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise.--He heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds --For thus says the high and exalted One Who lives forever, Whose name is Holy, I dwell on a high and holy place, and also with the contrite and lowly of spirit in order to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite. For I will not contend forever, neither will I always be angry for the spirit would grow faint before Me, and the breath of those whom I have made.
      I will seek the lost, bring back the scattered, bind up the broken, and strengthen the sick .--Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed. --Behold, your God will come and He will save you.

 

WHEN the headwaiter tasted the water which had become wine, and did not know where it came from
he called the bridegroom and said to him, Every man serves the good wine first, and when men have drunk freely, then that which is poorer; you have kept the good wine until now.
      For the ear tests words, as the palate tastes food.--I believed, therefore I spoke--I know Whom I have believed.--In His shade I took great delight and sat down, and His fruit was sweet to my taste.
      The kindness of God.--He Who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?
      As newborn babes long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.
      Let all who take refuge in Thee be glad. Let them ever sing for joy

THEN He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures --It has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted --I praise Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that Thou didst hide these things from the wise and intelligent and didst reveal them to babes. Yes, Father, for thus it was well-pleasing in Thy sight --We have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things freely given to us by God --How precious also are Thy thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand -- Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO BECAME HIS COUNSELOR? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.

IF you knew the gift of God and Who it is who says to you, Give Me a drink, you would have asked Him and He would have given you living water --If any man is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink...this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive
      Test Me now in this, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open for you the windows of heaven, and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows --If you... being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him? --Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find.
      Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, Abba! Father! --You have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!

I WILL proclaim the name of the LORD before you and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious --Let him be gracious to him, and say, Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom --Being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus Whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God --Grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.
      By grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God --Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord -- To each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift --As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God --He gives a greater grace.
      Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen

AS the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds His people from this time forth and forever.
      To Thee I lift up my eyes, O Thou who art enthroned in the heavens!
Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress; so our eyes look to the LORD our God, until He shall be gracious to us.
--For Thou hast been my help, And in the shadow of Thy wings I sing for joy.
      O our God, wilt Thou not judge them? For we are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on Thee. --My eyes are continually toward the LORD, for He will pluck my feet out of the net.--Our help is in the name of the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.
 

WHO finds me finds life, and obtains favor from the LORD.
      Thus says the LORD, "Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might... but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD --The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.
      Whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for Whom I have suffered the loss of all things and count them but rubbish in order that I may gain Christ --In Whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge --Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; power is mine.
      Christ Jesus...became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption
      He who is wise wins souls.

YOU know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich --Of His fulness we have all received, and grace upon grace --My God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.--God is able to make all grace abound to you, that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed
      Did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?--Not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong
      We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing greatness of the power may be of God and not from ourselves
 

The wrath of man shall praise Thee. With a remnant of wrath Thou shalt gird Thyself. --You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good
      All things belong to you... the world or life or death or things present or things to come; all things belong to you and you belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God --All things are for your sakes, that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory
      Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

I WILL ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not behold Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you, and will be in you --He shall not speak of himself. He will not speak on His own initiative...He will disclose to you what is to come. He shall glorify Me for He shall take of Mine and shall disclose it to you
      The love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

      The one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?
      Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption --The Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words

AS an apple tree among the trees of the forest, so is my beloved among the young men. In his shade I took great delight and sat down, and his fruit was sweet to my taste --For who in the skies is comparable to the LORD? Who among the sons of the mighty is like the LORD

      My beloved is dazzling and ruddy, outstanding among ten thousand --One pearl of great value--The ruler of the kings of the earth.

      His head is like gold, pure gold; His locks are like clusters of dates, And black as a raven --The head over all things.--He is... head of the body, the church

      His cheeks are like a bed of balsam, Banks of sweet-scented herbs --He could not escape notice. -- His lips are lilies, dripping with liquid myrrh.-- Never did a man speak the way this man speaks. -- His appearance is like Lebanon, choice as the cedars.--Make thy face to shine upon Thy servant.--Lift up the light of Thy countenance upon us, O LORD!
 

NOW My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, 'Father, save Me from this hour'? But for this purpose I came to this hour. -- I  have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.--He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross --In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety. Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered.
      Do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels?--Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and rise again from the dead the third day and that repentance for forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
 

BELOVED,do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you.--It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.
      The LORD your God is testing you to find out if you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul
      The LORD will not abandon His people on account of His great name, because the LORD has been pleased to make you a people for Himself--Can a woman forget her nursing child, and have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, but I will not forget you.--How blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, Whose hope is in the LORD his God
      Shall not God bring about justice for His elect, who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? I tell you that He will bring about justice for them speedily.

IF we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.--But as it is, they desire a better country, that is a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them -An inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you
      All things belong to you... the world or life or death or things present or things to come; all things belong to you --Eye has not seen and ear has not heard and which have not entered the heart of man all that God has prepared for those that love Him. For to us God revealed them through the Spirit
      Watch yourselves, that you might not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward.--Let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us
 

LORD, I love the habitation of Thy house, and the place where Thy glory dwells -- A day in Thy courts is better than a thousand outside. I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God, than dwell in the tents of wickedness --Blessed is the one whom Thou dost choose, and bring near to Thee, to dwell in Thy courts. We will be satisfied with the goodness of Thy house, Thy holy temple
      The LORD is good good to those who wait for Him, to the person who seeks Him --Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you, and therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the LORD is a God of justice. How blessed are all those who long for Him.
      Since therefore, brethren, we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh... let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

THE Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth --Thou art fairer than the sons of men. Grace is poured upon Thy lips --All were speaking well of Him, and wondering at the gracious words which were falling from His lips
      Yyou have tasted the kindness of the Lord --The one who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself--We speak that which we know, and bear witness of that which we have seen
      O taste and see that the LORD is good. How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! --In his shade I took great delight and sat down, And his fruit was sweet to my taste.
      He has said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness--To each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift .--As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

NOW for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ --We also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope
      It is good that he waits silently for the salvation of the LORD --You have for yourselves a better possession and an abiding one. Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. For yet in a very little while, He Who is coming will come and will not delay --Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, Who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.

Do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men's hearts; and then each man's praise will come to him from God.--not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son....He gave Him authority to execute judgment --The Son of God...has eyes like a flame of fire
      They say, How does God know? And is there knowledge with the Most High?--These things  you have done, and I kept silence; You thought that I was just like you; I will reprove you, and state the case in order before your eyes --There is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.
      Lord, all my desire is before Thee; And my sighing is not hidden from Thee --Examine me O LORD, and try me. Test my mind and my heart.
 

HIM who judges righteously --We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad --Each one of us shall give account of himself to God --The soul who sins will die
      Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, And against the man, My Associate, declares the LORD of hosts. Strike the Shepherd --The LORD has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him.--Lovingkindness and truth have met together. Righteousness and peace have kissed each other -- Mercy triumphs over judgment. --The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
      A righteous God and a Savior; There is none except Me --Just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus -- Being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus

THANKS be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
      Since then the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil and might deliver those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.
      Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin, once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.
      Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus
      In all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.

EVERY one who is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD. Assuredly, he will not be unpunished.
      O LORD, Thou art our Father, we are the clay, and Thou our potter; and all of us are the work of Thy hand. Do not be angry beyond measure, O LORD, neither remember iniquity forever. Behold, look now, all of us are Thy people --I was chastised, like an untrained calf. Bring me back that I may be restored, for Thou art the LORD my God. For after I turned back, I repented; and after I was instructed, I smote on my thigh. I was ashamed, and also humiliated, because I bore the reproach of my youth --It is good for a man that he should bear the yoke in his youth.
      Affliction does not come from the dust, neither does trouble sprout from the ground. For man is born for trouble, as sparks fly upward.

WHEN the tempter came to Him, he said, If You be the Son of God...Jesus said, It is written, . . . it is written...it is written...Then the devil left Him.
      He said, I cannot return with you...For a command came to me by the word of the LORD, You shall eat no bread, nor drink water there...he said to him, "I also am a prophet like you, and an angel spoke to me by the word of the LORD, saying, Bring him back with you to your house, that he may eat bread and drink water.' But he lied to him. So he went back with him...the man of God...disobeyed the command of the LORD; therefore the LORD has given him to the lion, which has torn him and killed him, according to the word of the LORD-- Even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed --Thy word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against Thee.

O LORD our God, other masters besides Thee have ruled us; but through Thee alone we confess Thy name -- We have become like those over whom Thou hast never ruled, like those who were not called by Thy name.
      All the peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the LORD and they shall be afraid of you --The LORD will not abandon His people on account of His great name, because the LORD has been pleased to make you a people for Himself
      O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, listen and take action! For Thine own sake, O my God, do not delay, because Thy city and Thy people are called by Thy name --Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Thy name; and deliver us, and forgive our sins, for Thy name's sake. Why should the nations say, Where is their God? --The name of the LORD is a strong tower. The righteous runs into it and is safe -- Those who know Thy name will put their trust in Thee -- May the name of the God of Jacob set you securely on high!

His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.--He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good and gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness --Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words; Their voice is not heard.
      When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers, The moon and the stars, which Thou hast ordained; What is man, that Thou dost take thought of him? And the son of man, that Thou dost care for him?
      There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead --Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.

THE love of Christ, which surpasses knowledge --"Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends -- You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.--Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another --Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you --Bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you --For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many --Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps
      You also ought to wash one another's feet. For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. --We ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

THE LORD gives wisdom, from His mouth come knowledge and understanding --I will give you utterance and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute.
      Wait for the LORD. Be strong, and let your heart take courage. Yes, wait for the LORD.
--My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness
      Beloved in God the Father --He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren
      Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?" declares the LORD --The fulness of Him who fills all in all.
      I, even I, am the LORD; And there is no savior besides Me --This One is indeed the Savior of the world.
      Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

HE knows our frame.--He doth not afflict willingly or grieve the sons of men.      The firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, The Lord knows those who are His, and, Let everyone who names the name of the Lord abstain from wickedness. Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor. Therefore, if a man cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.
      He will sit as a smelter and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the LORD offerings in righteousness --I will bring the third part through the fire, refine them as silver is refined, and test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, and I will answer them. I will say, They are My people, and they will say, The LORD is my God.

MOSES said unto the LORD, I pray Thee, if I have found favor in Thy sight, let me know Thy ways, that I may know Thee, so that I may find favor in Thy sight. Consider too, that this nation is Thy people.
And He said, My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest.--He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the sons of Israel.
      He leads the humble in justice, And He teaches the humble His way. Who is the man who fears the LORD? He will instruct him in the way he should choose. --Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
      Thou wilt make known to me the path of life; In Thy presence is fulness of joy. In Thy right hand there are pleasures forever --I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you .--The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, That shines brighter and brighter until the full day.