who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets ¹  and persecuted us severely. ²  They are displeasing to God and are opposed to all people,

For how can we thank God enough for you, ¹  for all the joy we feel ²  because of you before our God?

In fact this is why ¹  we work hard and struggle, ²  because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, ³  especially of believers.

Command those who are rich in this world’s goods ¹  not to be haughty or to set their hope on riches, which are uncertain, ²  but on God who richly provides us with all things for our enjoyment.

So he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

Now without faith it is impossible to please him, for the one who approaches God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, acknowledging his name.

And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Now Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness,” ¹  and he was called God’s friend. ² 

you yourselves, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood and to offer ¹  spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

For what credit is it if you sin and are mistreated and endure it? But if you do good and suffer and so endure, this finds favor with God. ¹ 

¹ Because Christ also suffered ²  once for sins, the just for the unjust, ³  to bring you to God, by being put to death in the flesh but ⁴  by being made alive in the spirit. ⁵ 

If anyone ¹  confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God resides ²  in him and he in God.

and has appointed ¹  us as a kingdom, ²  as priests ³  serving his God and Father – to him be the glory and the power for ever and ever! ⁴  Amen.

They were shouting out in a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God, ¹  to the one seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

Then ¹  the twenty-four elders who are seated on their thrones before God threw themselves down with their faces to the ground ²  and worshiped God

The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures threw themselves to the ground ¹  and worshiped God, who was seated on the throne, saying: “Amen! Hallelujah!”

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate ¹  the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise ²  the other. You cannot serve God and money. ³ 

No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate ¹  the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise ²  the other. You cannot serve God and money.” ³ 

For this reason the Jewish leaders ¹  were trying even harder to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was also calling God his own Father, thus making himself equal with God.

Then they summoned ¹  the man who used to be blind ²  a second time and said to him, “Promise before God to tell the truth. ³  We know that this man ⁴  is a sinner.”