Surely people go through life as mere ghosts. ¹  Surely they accumulate worthless wealth without knowing who will eventually haul it away.” ² 

“I, I am the one who consoles you. ¹  Why are you afraid of mortal men, of mere human beings who are as short-lived as grass? ² 

The Jewish leaders ¹  replied, ²  “We are not going to stone you for a good deed ³  but for blasphemy, ⁴  because ⁵  you, a man, are claiming to be God.” ⁶ 

Let your ¹  beauty ²  not be external – the braiding of hair and wearing of gold jewelry ³  or fine clothes –

But who indeed are you – a mere human being ¹  – to talk back to God? ²  Does what is molded say to the molder, “Why have you made me like this?” ³ 

If from a human point of view I fought with wild beasts at Ephesus, ¹  what did it benefit me? If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die. ² 

For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with hands – the representation ¹  of the true sanctuary ²  – but into heaven itself, and he appears now in God’s presence for us.

For all the gods of the nations are worthless, ¹  but the Lord made the heavens. ² 

How desolate they become in a mere moment! Terrifying judgments make their demise complete! ¹ 

The Lord knows that peoples’ thoughts are morally bankrupt. ¹ 

When they were few in number, just a very few, and resident aliens within it,

Their ¹  idols are made of silver and gold – they are man-made. ² 

People ¹  are like a vapor, their days like a shadow that disappears. ² 

for all the large ships, ¹  for all the impressive ²  ships. ³ 

They are worthless, mere objects to be mocked. ¹  When the time comes to punish them, they will be destroyed.

You make us like filthy scum ¹  in the estimation ²  of the nations.

John’s baptism – was it from heaven or from people? ¹  Answer me.”

He replied, “What is impossible ¹  for mere humans ²  is possible for God.”

Do not judge according to external appearance, ¹  but judge with proper ²  judgment.”

For the kingdom of God is demonstrated not in idle talk but with power.