If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven; ¹  if you retain anyone’s sins, they are retained.” ² 

Fast runners will find no place to hide; ¹  strong men will have no strength left; ²  warriors will not be able to save their lives.

Just as no one has power over the wind to restrain it, ¹  so no one has power over the day of his ²  death. Just as no one can be discharged during the battle, ³  so wickedness cannot rescue the wicked. ⁴ 

There is no other God like you! ¹  You ²  forgive sin and pardon ³  the rebellion of those who remain among your people. ⁴  You do not remain angry forever, ⁵  but delight in showing loyal love.

And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God, ¹  God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what should not be done. ² 

he taught me, and he said to me: “Let your heart lay hold of my words; keep my commands so that ¹  you will live.

A generous woman ¹  gains honor, and ruthless men ²  seize wealth. ³ 

After some years have passed, they ¹  will form an alliance. Then the daughter ²  of the king of the south will come to the king of the north to make an agreement, but she will not retain her power, ³  nor will he continue ⁴  in his strength. ⁵  She, together with the one who brought her, her child, ⁶  and her benefactor will all be delivered over at that time. ⁷ 

No inheritance may pass from tribe to tribe. But every one of the tribes of the Israelites must retain its inheritance.”

A person’s pride ¹  will bring him low, ²  but one who has a lowly spirit ³  will gain honor.

In this way the inheritance of the Israelites will not be transferred ¹  from tribe to tribe. But every one of the Israelites must retain the ancestral heritage.

“But who am I and who are my people, that we should be in a position to contribute this much? ¹  Indeed, everything comes from you, and we have simply given back to you what is yours. ² 

after he has sold himself he retains a right of redemption. ¹  One of his brothers may redeem him,

For he knows no satisfaction in his appetite; ¹  he does not let anything he desires ²  escape. ³ 

And let us hold unwaveringly to the hope that we confess, for the one who made the promise is trustworthy.

Then ¹  one who appeared to be a human being ²  was touching my lips. I opened my mouth and started to speak, saying to the one who was standing before me, “Sir, ³  due to the vision, anxiety has gripped me and I have no strength.

She is like ¹  a tree of life ²  to those who obtain her, ³  and everyone who grasps hold of her will be blessed. ⁴ 

You will not always be angry with me, will you? You will not be mad at me forever, will you?’ ¹  That is what you say, but you continually do all the evil that you can.” ² 

This one ¹  heaven must ²  receive until the time all things are restored, ³  which God declared ⁴  from times long ago ⁵  through his holy prophets.

Hold to the standard ¹  of sound words that you heard from me and do so with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. ²