For if ¹  these things are really yours ²  and are continually increasing, ³  they will keep you from becoming ⁴  ineffective and unproductive in your pursuit of ⁵  knowing our Lord Jesus Christ more intimately. ⁶ 

But ¹  concerning the one who lacks such things ²  – he is blind. That is to say, he is ³  nearsighted, since he has forgotten about the cleansing of his past sins.

The foundation was made of large valuable stones, measuring either 15 feet or 12 feet. ¹ 

And we have different gifts ¹  according to the grace given to us. If the gift is prophecy, that individual must use it in proportion to his faith.

each builder’s ¹  work will be plainly seen, for the Day ²  will make it clear, because it will be revealed by fire. And the fire ³  will test what kind of work each has done.

(The gold of that land is pure; ¹  pearls ²  and lapis lazuli ³  are also there).

Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit.

and the priest will establish its conversion value, ¹  whether good or bad. According to the assessed conversion value of the priest, thus it will be.

We will seize ¹  all kinds ²  of precious wealth; we will fill our houses with plunder. ³ 

I am not saying this as a command, but I am testing the genuineness of your love by comparison with the eagerness of others. ¹ 

Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather ¹  expose them. ² 

But all things being exposed by the light are made evident.

For since the creation of the world his invisible attributes – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, because they are understood through what has been made. So people ¹  are without excuse.

“‘If a man consecrates his house as holy to the Lord, the priest will establish its conversion value, whether good or bad. Just as the priest establishes its conversion value, thus it will stand. ¹ 

butter from the herd and milk from the flock, along with the fat of lambs, rams and goats of Bashan, along with the best of the kernels of wheat; and from the juice of grapes you drank wine.

He said to them, “Now what have I accomplished compared to you? Even Ephraim’s leftover grapes ¹  are better quality than Abiezer’s harvest! ² 

By royal order ¹  they supplied large valuable stones in order to build the temple’s foundation with chiseled stone.

All of these were built with the best ¹  stones, chiseled to the right size ²  and cut with a saw on all sides, ³  from the foundation to the edge of the roof ⁴  and from the outside to the great courtyard.

I planted you in the land like a special vine of the very best stock. Why in the world have you turned into something like a wild vine that produces rotten, foul-smelling grapes? ¹ 

The Lord said to me, ¹  “I have made you like a metal assayer to test my people like ore. ²  You are to observe them and evaluate how they behave.” ³