The ¹  seed sown among thorns is the person who hears the word, but worldly cares and the seductiveness of wealth ²  choke the word, ³  so it produces nothing.

He trusts in God – let God, if he wants to, deliver him now ¹  because he said, ‘I am God’s Son’!”

but ¹  worldly cares, the seductiveness of wealth, ²  and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, ³  and it produces nothing.

Your father Abraham was overjoyed ¹  to see my day, and he saw it and was glad.” ² 

I have told you these things ¹  so that my joy may be in you, and your joy may be complete.

So also you have sorrow ¹  now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you. ² 

Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive it, ¹  so that your joy may be complete.

But now I am coming to you, and I am saying these things in the world, so they may experience ¹  my joy completed ²  in themselves.

When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. ¹ 

But now, freed ¹  from sin and enslaved to God, you have your benefit ²  leading to sanctification, and the end is eternal life.

But I see a different law in my members waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that is in my members.

Therefore I am content with ¹  weaknesses, with insults, with troubles, with persecutions and difficulties ²  for the sake of Christ, for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.

He did this when he revealed ¹  to us the secret ²  of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth ³  in Christ, ⁴ 

and live ¹  in love, just as Christ also loved us ²  and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering ³  to God.

Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, ¹  so that when you see him again you can rejoice ²  and I can be free from anxiety.

Finally, my brothers and sisters, ¹  rejoice in the Lord! To write this again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you.

So then, my brothers and sisters, ¹  dear friends whom I long to see, my joy and crown, stand in the Lord in this way, my dear friends!

exhorting and encouraging you and insisting that you live in a way worthy of God who calls you to his own kingdom and his glory.

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

But my righteous one will live by faith, and if he shrinks back, I ¹  take no pleasure in him. ²