They brought the man who used to be blind ¹  to the Pharisees. ² 

They were only hearing, “The one who once persecuted us is now proclaiming the good news ¹  of the faith he once tried to destroy.”

He answered them, ¹  “You ²  unbelieving ³  generation! How much longer ⁴  must I be with you? How much longer must I endure ⁵  you? ⁶  Bring him to me.”

When ¹  did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or naked and clothe you?

When ¹  did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’

Watch out! Stay alert! ¹  For you do not know when the time will come.

When they found him on the other side of the lake, ¹  they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” ² 

Just as you were formerly disobedient to God, but have now received mercy due to their disobedience,

for you were at one time darkness, but now you are ¹  light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light –

You also lived your lives ¹  in this way at one time, when you used to live among them.

For we never appeared ¹  with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed – God is our witness –

who was formerly useless to you, but is now useful to you ¹  and me.

You ¹  once were not a people, but now you are God’s people. You were shown no mercy, ²  but now you have received mercy.

Jesus answered, ¹  “You ²  unbelieving ³  and perverse generation! How much longer ⁴  must I be with you? How much longer must I endure ⁵  you? ⁶  Bring him here to me.”

“Tell us, when will these things ¹  happen? And what will be the sign that all these things are about to take place?”

And I was once alive apart from the law, but with the coming of the commandment sin became alive

But now in Christ Jesus you who used to be far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. ¹ 

And you were at one time strangers and enemies in your ¹  minds ²  as expressed through ³  your evil deeds,

For in the same way the holy women who hoped in God long ago adorned themselves by being subject to their husbands,

for no prophecy was ever borne of human impulse; rather, men ¹  carried along by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.