Brothers and sisters, ¹  my heart’s desire and prayer to God on behalf of my fellow Israelites ²  is for their salvation.

(for rulers cause no fear for good conduct but for bad). Do you desire not to fear authority? Do good and you will receive its commendation,

And in this way I desire to preach where Christ has not been named, so as not to build on another person’s foundation,

But if they do not have self-control, let them get married. For it is better to marry than to burn with sexual desire. ¹ 

I feel torn between the two, ¹  because I have a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far,

for the one bringing forth in you both the desire and the effort – for the sake of his good pleasure – is God.

So put to death whatever in your nature belongs to the earth: ¹  sexual immorality, impurity, shameful passion, ²  evil desire, and greed which is idolatry.

But do not accept younger widows on the list, ¹  because their passions may lead them away from Christ ²  and they will desire to marry,

So when he came into the world, he said, “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me.

Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to conduct ourselves rightly in every respect.

You desire and you do not have; you murder and envy and you cannot obtain; you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask;

The enemy said, ‘I will chase, ¹  I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my desire ²  will be satisfied on them. I will draw ³  my sword, my hand will destroy them.’ ⁴ 

You must not desire ¹  another man’s ²  wife, nor should you crave his ³  house, his field, his male and female servants, his ox, his donkey, or anything else he owns.” ⁴ 

If only it would really be their desire to fear me and obey ¹  all my commandments in the future, so that it may go well with them and their descendants forever.

Then you may spend the money however you wish for cattle, sheep, wine, beer, or whatever you desire. You and your household may eat there in the presence of the Lord your God and enjoy it.

Don’t be concerned ¹  about the donkeys that you lost three days ago, for they have been found. Whom does all Israel desire? Is it not you, and all your father’s family?” ² 

My dynasty is approved by God, ¹  for he has made a perpetual covenant with me, arranged in all its particulars and secured. He always delivers me, and brings all I desire to fruition. ² 

“Because of the violence done to the oppressed, ¹  because of the painful cries ²  of the needy, I will spring into action,” ³  says the Lord. “I will provide the safety they so desperately desire.” ⁴ 

their troubles multiply, they desire other gods. ¹  I will not pour out drink offerings of blood to their gods, ²  nor will I make vows in the name of their gods. ³ 

Lord, use your power to deliver me from these murderers, ¹  from the murderers of this world! ²  They enjoy prosperity; ³  you overwhelm them with the riches they desire. ⁴  They have many children, and leave their wealth to their offspring. ⁵