Isa.27.1

At that time GOD will unsheathe his sword, his merciless, massive, mighty sword. He'll punish the serpent Leviathan as it flees, the serpent Leviathan thrashing in flight. He'll kill that old dragon that lives in the sea.

Isa.27.1

In that day, the LORD will punish with his sword, his fierce, great and powerful sword, Leviathan the gliding serpent, Leviathan the coiling serpent; he will slay the monster of the sea.

Isa.27.1

In that day the LORD with His severe sword, great and strong, Will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent, Leviathan that twisted serpent; And He will slay the reptile that is in the sea.

Isa.27.1

In that day the LORD will take his terrible, swift sword and punish Leviathan, the swiftly moving serpent, the coiling, writhing serpent, the dragon of the sea.

Isa.27.2

"At that same time, a fine vineyard will appear. There's something to sing about!

Isa.27.2

In that day- "Sing about a fruitful vineyard:

Isa.27.2

In that day sing to her, "A vineyard of red wine!

Isa.27.2

"In that day we will sing of the pleasant vineyard.

Isa.27.3

I, GOD, tend it. I keep it well-watered. I keep careful watch over it so that no one can damage it.

Isa.27.3

I, the LORD, watch over it; I water it continually. I guard it day and night so that no one may harm it.

Isa.27.3

I, the LORD, keep it, I water it every moment; Lest any hurt it, I keep it night and day.

Isa.27.3

I, the LORD, will watch over it and tend its fruitful vines. Each day I will water them; day and night I will watch to keep enemies away.

Isa.27.4

I'm not angry. I care. Even if it gives me thistles and thornbushes, I'll just pull them out and burn them up.

Isa.27.4

I am not angry. If only there were briers and thorns confronting me! I would march against them in battle; I would set them all on fire.

Isa.27.4

Fury is not in Me. Who would set briers and thorns Against Me in battle? I would go through them, I would burn them together.

Isa.27.4

My anger against Israel will be gone. If I find briers and thorns bothering her, I will burn them up.

Isa.27.5

Let that vine cling to me for safety, let it find a good and whole life with me, let it hold on for a good and whole life."

Isa.27.5

Or else let them come to me for refuge; let them make peace with me, yes, let them make peace with me."

Isa.27.5

Or let him take hold of My strength, That he may make peace with Me; And he shall make peace with Me."

Isa.27.5

These enemies will be spared only if they surrender and beg for peace and protection."

Isa.27.6

The days are coming when Jacob shall put down roots, Israel blossom and grow fresh branches, and fill the world with its fruit.

Isa.27.6

In days to come Jacob will take root, Israel will bud and blossom and fill all the world with fruit.

Isa.27.6

Those who come He shall cause to take root in Jacob; Israel shall blossom and bud, And fill the face of the world with fruit.

Isa.27.6

The time is coming when my people will take root. Israel will bud and blossom and fill the whole earth with her fruit!

Isa.27.7

Has GOD knocked them to the ground as he knocked down those who hit them? Oh, no. Were they killed as their killers were killed? Again, no.

Isa.27.7

Has the LORD struck her as he struck down those who struck her? Has she been killed as those were killed who killed her?

Isa.27.7

Has He struck Israel as He struck those who struck him? Or has He been slain according to the slaughter of those who were slain by Him?

Isa.27.7

Has the LORD punished Israel in the same way he has punished her enemies? No, for he devastated her enemies,

Isa.27.8

He was hard on them all right. The exile was a harsh sentence. He blew them away on a fierce blast of wind.

Isa.27.8

By warfare and exile you contend with her- with his fierce blast he drives her out, as on a day the east wind blows.

Isa.27.8

In measure, by sending it away, You contended with it. He removes it by His rough wind In the day of the east wind.

Isa.27.8

but he has punished Israel only a little. He has exiled her from her land as though blown away in a storm from the east.

Isa.27.9

But the good news is that through this experience Jacob's guilt was taken away. The evidence that his sin is removed will be this: He will tear down the alien altars, take them apart stone by stone, And then crush the stones into gravel and clean out all the sex-and-religion shrines.

Isa.27.9

By this, then, will Jacob's guilt be atoned for, and this will be the full fruitage of the removal of his sin: When he makes all the altar stones to be like chalk stones crushed to pieces, no Asherah poles or incense altars will be left standing.

Isa.27.9

Therefore by this the iniquity of Jacob will be covered; And this is all the fruit of taking away his sin: When he makes all the stones of the altar Like chalkstones that are beaten to dust, Wooden images and incense altars shall not stand.

Isa.27.9

The LORD did this to purge away Israel's sin. When he has finished, all the pagan altars will be crushed to dust. There won't be an Asherah pole or incense altar left standing.

Isa.27.10

For there's nothing left of that pretentious grandeur. Nobody lives there anymore. It's unlivable. But animals do just fine, browsing and bedding down.

Isa.27.10

The fortified city stands desolate, an abandoned settlement, forsaken like the desert; there the calves graze, there they lie down; they strip its branches bare.

Isa.27.10

Yet the fortified city will be desolate, The habitation forsaken and left like a wilderness; There the calf will feed, and there it will lie down And consume its branches.

Isa.27.10

Israel's fortified cities will be silent and empty, the houses abandoned, the streets covered with grass. Cattle will graze there, chewing on twigs and branches.

Isa.27.11

And it's not a bad place to get firewood. Dry twigs and dead branches are plentiful. It's the leavings of a people with no sense of God. So, the God who made them Will have nothing to do with them. He who formed them will turn his back on them.

Isa.27.11

When its twigs are dry, they are broken off and women come and make fires with them. For this is a people without understanding; so their Maker has no compassion on them, and their Creator shows them no favor.

Isa.27.11

When its boughs are withered, they will be broken off; The women come and set them on fire. For it is a people of no understanding; Therefore He who made them will not have mercy on them, And He who formed them will show them no favor.

Isa.27.11

The people are like the dead branches of a tree, broken off and used for kindling beneath the cooking pots. Israel is a foolish and stupid nation, for its people have turned away from God. Therefore, the one who made them will show them no pity or mercy.

Isa.27.12

At that time GOD will thresh from the River Euphrates to the Brook of Egypt, And you, people of Israel, will be selected grain by grain.

Isa.27.12

In that day the LORD will thresh from the flowing Euphrates to the Wadi of Egypt, and you, O Israelites, will be gathered up one by one.

Isa.27.12

And it shall come to pass in that day That the LORD will thresh, From the channel of the River to the Brook of Egypt; And you will be gathered one by one, O you children of Israel.

Isa.27.12

Yet the time will come when the LORD will gather them together one by one like handpicked grain. He will bring them to his great threshing floor--from the Euphrates River in the east to the brook of Egypt in the west.

Isa.27.13

At that same time a great trumpet will be blown, calling home the exiles from Assyria, Welcoming home the refugees from Egypt to come and worship GOD on the holy mountain, Jerusalem.

Isa.27.13

And in that day a great trumpet will sound. Those who were perishing in Assyria and those who were exiled in Egypt will come and worship the LORD on the holy mountain in Jerusalem.

Isa.27.13

So it shall be in that day: The great trumpet will be blown; They will come, who are about to perish in the land of Assyria, And they who are outcasts in the land of Egypt, And shall worship the LORD in the holy mount at Jerusalem.

Isa.27.13

In that day the great trumpet will sound. Many who were dying in exile in Assyria and Egypt will return to Jerusalem to worship the LORD on his holy mountain.

Isa.28.1

Doom to the pretentious drunks of Ephraim, shabby and washed out and seedy--Tipsy, sloppy-fat, beer-bellied parodies of a proud and handsome past.

Isa.28.1

Woe to that wreath, the pride of Ephraim's drunkards, to the fading flower, his glorious beauty, set on the head of a fertile valley- to that city, the pride of those laid low by wine!

Isa.28.1

Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, Whose glorious beauty is a fading flower Which is at the head of the verdant valleys, To those who are overcome with wine!

Isa.28.1

Destruction is certain for the city of Samaria--the pride and joy of the drunkards of Israel! It sits in a rich valley, but its glorious beauty will suddenly disappear. Destruction is certain for that city--the pride of a people brought low by wine.

Isa.28.2

Watch closely: GOD has someone picked out, someone tough and strong to flatten them. Like a hailstorm, like a hurricane, like a flash flood, one--handed he'll throw them to the ground.

Isa.28.2

See, the Lord has one who is powerful and strong. Like a hailstorm and a destructive wind, like a driving rain and a flooding downpour, he will throw it forcefully to the ground.

Isa.28.2

Behold, the Lord has a mighty and strong one, Like a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, Like a flood of mighty waters overflowing, Who will bring them down to the earth with His hand.

Isa.28.2

For the Lord will send the mighty Assyrian army against it. Like a mighty hailstorm and a torrential rain, they will burst upon it and dash it to the ground.

Isa.28.3

Samaria, the party hat on Israel's head, will be knocked off with one blow.

Isa.28.3

That wreath, the pride of Ephraim's drunkards, will be trampled underfoot.

Isa.28.3

The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, Will be trampled underfoot;

Isa.28.3

The proud city of Samaria--the pride and joy of the drunkards of Israel--will be trampled beneath its enemies' feet.

Isa.28.4

It will disappear quicker than a piece of meat tossed to a dog.

Isa.28.4

That fading flower, his glorious beauty, set on the head of a fertile valley, will be like a fig ripe before harvest- as soon as someone sees it and takes it in his hand, he swallows it.

Isa.28.4

And the glorious beauty is a fading flower Which is at the head of the verdant valley, Like the first fruit before the summer, Which an observer sees; He eats it up while it is still in his hand.

Isa.28.4

It sits in a fertile valley, but its glorious beauty will suddenly disappear. It will be greedily snatched up, as an early fig is hungrily picked and eaten.

Isa.28.5

At that time, GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies will be the beautiful crown on the head of what's left of his people:

Isa.28.5

In that day the LORD Almighty will be a glorious crown, a beautiful wreath for the remnant of his people.

Isa.28.5

In that day the LORD of hosts will be For a crown of glory and a diadem of beauty To the remnant of His people,

Isa.28.5

Then at last the LORD Almighty will himself be Israel's crowning glory. He will be the pride and joy of the remnant of his people.

Isa.28.6

Energy and insights of justice to those who guide and decide, strength and prowess to those who guard and protect.

Isa.28.6

He will be a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment, a source of strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate.

Isa.28.6

For a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment, And for strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate.

Isa.28.6

He will give a longing for justice to their judges. He will give great courage to their warriors who stand at the gates.

Isa.28.7

These also, the priest and prophet, stagger from drink, weaving, falling-down drunks, Besotted with wine and whiskey, can't see straight, can't talk sense.

Isa.28.7

And these also stagger from wine and reel from beer: Priests and prophets stagger from beer and are befuddled with wine; they reel from beer, they stagger when seeing visions, they stumble when rendering decisions.

Isa.28.7

But they also have erred through wine, And through intoxicating drink are out of the way; The priest and the prophet have erred through intoxicating drink, They are swallowed up by wine, They are out of the way through intoxicating drink; They err in vision, they stumble in judgment.

Isa.28.7

Now, however, Israel is being led by drunks! The priests and prophets reel and stagger from beer and wine. They make stupid mistakes as they carry out their responsibilities.

Isa.28.8

Every table is covered with vomit. They live in vomit.

Isa.28.8

All the tables are covered with vomit and there is not a spot without filth.

Isa.28.8

For all tables are full of vomit and filth; No place is clean.

Isa.28.8

Their tables are covered with vomit; filth is everywhere.

Isa.28.9

"Is that so? And who do you think you are to teach us? Who are you to lord it over us? We're not babies in diapers to be talked down to by such as you--

Isa.28.9

"Who is it he is trying to teach? To whom is he explaining his message? To children weaned from their milk, to those just taken from the breast?

Isa.28.9

"Whom will he teach knowledge? And whom will he make to understand the message? Those just weaned from milk? Those just drawn from the breasts?

Isa.28.9

They say, "Who does the LORD think we are? Why does he speak to us like this? Are we little children, barely old enough to talk?

Isa.28.10

"Da, da, da, da, blah, blah, blah, blah. That's a good little girl, that's a good little boy.'"

Isa.28.10

For it is: Do and do, do and do, rule on rule, rule on rule; a little here, a little there."

Isa.28.10

For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, Line upon line, line upon line, Here a little, there a little."

Isa.28.10

He tells us everything over and over again, a line at a time, in very simple words! "

Isa.28.11

But that's exactly how you will be addressed. God will speak to this people In baby talk, one syllable at a time--

Isa.28.11

Very well then, with foreign lips and strange tongues God will speak to this people,

Isa.28.11

For with stammering lips and another tongue He will speak to this people,

Isa.28.11

Since they refuse to listen, God will speak to them through foreign oppressors who speak an unknown language!

Isa.28.12

and he'll do it through foreign oppressors. He said before, "This is the time and place to rest, to give rest to the weary. This is the place to lay down your burden." But they won't listen.

Isa.28.12

to whom he said, "This is the resting place, let the weary rest"; and, "This is the place of repose"- but they would not listen.

Isa.28.12

To whom He said, "This is the rest with which You may cause the weary to rest," And, "This is the refreshing"; Yet they would not hear.

Isa.28.12

God's people could have rest in their own land if they would only obey him, but they will not listen.

Isa.28.13

So GOD will start over with the simple basics and address them in baby talk, one syllable at a time--"Da, da, da, da, blah, blah, blah, blah. That's a good little girl, that's a good little boy." And like toddlers, they will get up and fall down, get bruised and confused and lost.

Isa.28.13

So then, the word of the LORD to them will become: Do and do, do and do, rule on rule, rule on rule; a little here, a little there- so that they will go and fall backward, be injured and snared and captured.

Isa.28.13

But the word of the LORD was to them, "Precept upon precept, precept upon precept, Line upon line, line upon line, Here a little, there a little," That they might go and fall backward, and be broken And snared and caught.

Isa.28.13

So the LORD will spell out his message for them again, repeating it over and over, a line at a time, in very simple words. Yet they will stumble over this simple, straightforward message. They will be injured, trapped, and captured.

Isa.28.14

Now listen to GOD's Message, you scoffers, you who rule this people in Jerusalem.

Isa.28.14

Therefore hear the word of the LORD, you scoffers who rule this people in Jerusalem.

Isa.28.14

Therefore hear the word of the LORD, you scornful men, Who rule this people who are in Jerusalem,

Isa.28.14

Therefore, listen to this message from the LORD, you scoffing rulers in Jerusalem.

Isa.28.15

You say, "We've taken out good life insurance. We've hedged all our bets, covered all our bases. No disaster can touch us. We've thought of everything. We're advised by the experts. We're set."

Isa.28.15

You boast, "We have entered into a covenant with death, with the grave we have made an agreement. When an overwhelming scourge sweeps by, it cannot touch us, for we have made a lie our refuge and falsehood our hiding place."

Isa.28.15

Because you have said, "We have made a covenant with death, And with Sheol we are in agreement. When the overflowing scourge passes through, It will not come to us, For we have made lies our refuge, And under falsehood we have hidden ourselves."

Isa.28.15

You boast that you have struck a bargain to avoid death and have made a deal to dodge the grave. You say, "The Assyrians can never touch us, for we have built a strong refuge made of lies and deception."

Isa.28.16

But the Master, GOD, has something to say to this: "Watch closely. I'm laying a foundation in Zion, a solid granite foundation, squared and true. And this is the meaning of the stone: A TRUSTING LIFE WON'T TOPPLE.

Isa.28.16

So this is what the Sovereign LORD says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed.

Isa.28.16

Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, A tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; Whoever believes will not act hastily.

Isa.28.16

Therefore, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: "Look! I am placing a foundation stone in Jerusalem. It is firm, a tested and precious cornerstone that is safe to build on. Whoever believes need never run away again.

Isa.28.17

I'll make justice the measuring stick and righteousness the plumb line for the building. A hailstorm will knock down the shantytown of lies, and a flash flood will wash out the rubble.

Isa.28.17

I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plumb line; hail will sweep away your refuge, the lie, and water will overflow your hiding place.

Isa.28.17

Also I will make justice the measuring line, And righteousness the plummet; The hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, And the waters will overflow the hiding place.

Isa.28.17

"I will take the measuring line of justice and the plumb line of righteousness to check the foundation wall you have built. Your refuge looks strong, but since it is made of lies, a hailstorm will knock it down. Since it is made of deception, the enemy will come like a flood to sweep it away.

Isa.28.18

"Then you'll see that your precious life insurance policy wasn't worth the paper it was written on. Your careful precautions against death were a pack of illusions and lies. When the disaster happens, you'll be crushed by it.

Isa.28.18

Your covenant with death will be annulled; your agreement with the grave will not stand. When the overwhelming scourge sweeps by, you will be beaten down by it.

Isa.28.18

Your covenant with death will be annulled, And your agreement with Sheol will not stand; When the overflowing scourge passes through, Then you will be trampled down by it.

Isa.28.18

I will cancel the bargain you made to avoid death, and I will overturn your deal to dodge the grave. When the terrible enemy floods in, you will be trampled into the ground.

Isa.28.19

Every time disaster comes, you'll be in on it--disaster in the morning, disaster at night." Every report of disaster will send you cowering in terror.

Isa.28.19

As often as it comes it will carry you away; morning after morning, by day and by night, it will sweep through." The understanding of this message will bring sheer terror.

Isa.28.19

As often as it goes out it will take you; For morning by morning it will pass over, And by day and by night; It will be a terror just to understand the report."

Isa.28.19

Again and again that flood will come, morning after morning, day and night, until you are carried away." This message will bring terror to your people.

Isa.28.20

There will be no place where you can rest, nothing to hide under.

Isa.28.20

The bed is too short to stretch out on, the blanket too narrow to wrap around you.

Isa.28.20

For the bed is too short to stretch out on, And the covering so narrow that one cannot wrap himself in it.

Isa.28.20

For you have no place of refuge--the bed you have made is too short to lie on. The blankets are too narrow to cover you.

Isa.28.21

GOD will rise to full stature, raging as he did long ago on Mount Perazim And in the valley of Gibeon against the Philistines. But this time it's against you. Hard to believe, but true. Not what you'd expect, but it's coming.

Isa.28.21

The LORD will rise up as he did at Mount Perazim, he will rouse himself as in the Valley of Gibeon- to do his work, his strange work, and perform his task, his alien task.

Isa.28.21

For the LORD will rise up as at Mount Perazim, He will be angry as in the Valley of Gibeon-- That He may do His work, His awesome work, And bring to pass His act, His unusual act.

Isa.28.21

The LORD will come suddenly and in anger, as he did against the Philistines at Mount Perazim and against the Amorites at Gibeon. He will come to do a strange, unusual thing: He will destroy his own people!

Isa.28.22

Sober up, friends, and don't scoff. Scoffing will just make it worse. I've heard the orders issued for destruction, orders from GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies--ending up in an international disaster. [JC]

Isa.28.22

Now stop your mocking, or your chains will become heavier; the Lord, the LORD Almighty, has told me of the destruction decreed against the whole land.

Isa.28.22

Now therefore, do not be mockers, Lest your bonds be made strong; For I have heard from the Lord GOD of hosts, A destruction determined even upon the whole earth.

Isa.28.22

So scoff no more, or your punishment will be even greater. For the Lord, the LORD Almighty, has plainly told me that he is determined to crush you.

Isa.28.23

Listen to me now. Give me your closest attention.

Isa.28.23

Listen and hear my voice; pay attention and hear what I say.

Isa.28.23

Give ear and hear my voice, Listen and hear my speech.

Isa.28.23

Listen to me; listen as I plead!

Isa.28.24

Do farmers plow and plow and do nothing but plow? Or harrow and harrow and do nothing but harrow?

Isa.28.24

When a farmer plows for planting, does he plow continually? Does he keep on breaking up and harrowing the soil?

Isa.28.24

Does the plowman keep plowing all day to sow? Does he keep turning his soil and breaking the clods?

Isa.28.24

Does a farmer always plow and never sow? Is he forever cultivating the soil and never planting it?

Isa.28.25

After they've prepared the ground, don't they plant? Don't they scatter dill and spread cumin, Plant wheat and barley in the fields and raspberries along the borders?

Isa.28.25

When he has leveled the surface, does he not sow caraway and scatter cummin? Does he not plant wheat in its place, barley in its plot, and spelt in its field?

Isa.28.25

When he has leveled its surface, Does he not sow the black cummin And scatter the cummin, Plant the wheat in rows, The barley in the appointed place, And the spelt in its place?

Isa.28.25

Does he not finally plant his seeds for dill, cumin, wheat, barley, and spelt, each in its own section of his land?

Isa.28.26

They know exactly what to do and when to do it. Their God is their teacher.

Isa.28.26

His God instructs him and teaches him the right way.

Isa.28.26

For He instructs him in right judgment, His God teaches him.

Isa.28.26

The farmer knows just what to do, for God has given him understanding.

Isa.28.27

And at the harvest, the delicate herbs and spices, the dill and cumin, are treated delicately.

Isa.28.27

Caraway is not threshed with a sledge, nor is a cartwheel rolled over cummin; caraway is beaten out with a rod, and cummin with a stick.

Isa.28.27

For the black cummin is not threshed with a threshing sledge, Nor is a cartwheel rolled over the cummin; But the black cummin is beaten out with a stick, And the cummin with a rod.

Isa.28.27

He doesn't thresh all his crops the same way. A heavy sledge is never used on dill; rather, it is beaten with a light stick. A threshing wheel is never rolled on cumin; instead, it is beaten softly with a flail.

Isa.28.28

On the other hand, wheat is threshed and milled, but still not endlessly. The farmer knows how to treat each kind of grain.

Isa.28.28

Grain must be ground to make bread; so one does not go on threshing it forever. Though he drives the wheels of his threshing cart over it, his horses do not grind it.

Isa.28.28

Bread flour must be ground; Therefore he does not thresh it forever, Break it with his cartwheel, Or crush it with his horsemen.

Isa.28.28

Bread grain is easily crushed, so he doesn't keep on pounding it. He threshes it under the wheels of a cart, but he doesn't pulverize it.

Isa.28.29

He's learned it all from GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies, who knows everything about when and how and where.

Isa.28.29

All this also comes from the LORD Almighty, wonderful in counsel and magnificent in wisdom.

Isa.28.29

This also comes from the LORD of hosts, Who is wonderful in counsel and excellent in guidance.

Isa.28.29

The LORD Almighty is a wonderful teacher, and he gives the farmer great wisdom.

2Cor.12.1

You've forced me to talk this way, and I do it against my better judgment. But now that we're at it, I may as well bring up the matter of visions and revelations that God gave me.

2Cor.12.1

I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord.

2Cor.12.1

It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord:

2Cor.12.1

This boasting is all so foolish, but let me go on. Let me tell about the visions and revelations I received from the Lord.

2Cor.12.2

For instance, I know a man who, fourteen years ago, was seized by Christ and swept in ecstasy to the heights of heaven. I really don't know if this took place in the body or out of it; only God knows.

2Cor.12.2

I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know--God knows.

2Cor.12.2

I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago--whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows--such a one was caught up to the third heaven.

2Cor.12.2

I was caught up into the third heaven fourteen years ago.

2Cor.12.3

I also know that this man was hijacked into paradise--again, whether in or out of the body, I don't know; God knows. There he heard the unspeakable spoken, but was forbidden to tell what he heard.

2Cor.12.3

And I know that this man--whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows--

2Cor.12.3

And I know such a man--whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows--

2Cor.12.3

Whether my body was there or just my spirit, I don't know; only God knows.

2Cor.12.4

This is the man I want to talk about. But about myself, I'm not saying another word apart from the humiliations.

2Cor.12.4

was caught up to paradise. He heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell.

2Cor.12.4

how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

2Cor.12.4

But I do know that I was caught up into paradise and heard things so astounding that they cannot be told.

2Cor.12.5

If I had a mind to brag a little, I could probably do it without looking ridiculous, and I'd still be speaking plain truth all the way. But I'll spare you. I don't want anyone imagining me as anything other than the fool you'd encounter if you saw me on the street or heard me talk.

2Cor.12.5

I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses.

2Cor.12.5

Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities.

2Cor.12.5

That experience is something worth boasting about, but I am not going to do it. I am going to boast only about my weaknesses.

2Cor.12.6

Because of the extravagance of those revelations, and so I wouldn't get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan's angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty!

2Cor.12.6

Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say.

2Cor.12.6

For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me.

2Cor.12.6

I have plenty to boast about and would be no fool in doing it, because I would be telling the truth. But I won't do it. I don't want anyone to think more highly of me than what they can actually see in my life and my message,

2Cor.12.7

At first I didn't think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that,

2Cor.12.7

To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.

2Cor.12.7

And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.

2Cor.12.7

even though I have received wonderful revelations from God. But to keep me from getting puffed up, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from getting proud.

2Cor.12.8

and then he told me, My grace is enough; it's all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness. Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ's strength moving in on my weakness.

2Cor.12.8

Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.

2Cor.12.8

Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.

2Cor.12.8

Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away.

2Cor.12.9

Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size--abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become. [JC]

2Cor.12.9

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

2Cor.12.9

And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

2Cor.12.9

Each time he said, "My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may work through me.

2Cor.12.10

Well, now I've done it! I've made a complete fool of myself by going on like this. But it's not all my fault; you put me up to it. You should have been doing this for me, sticking up for me and commending me instead of making me do it for myself. You know from personal experience that even if I'm a nobody, a nothing, I wasn't second-rate compared to those big-shot apostles you're so taken with.

2Cor.12.10

That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2Cor.12.10

Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2Cor.12.10

Since I know it is all for Christ's good, I am quite content with my weaknesses and with insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Ps.106.40

And GOD was furious--a wildfire anger; he couldn't stand even to look at his people.

Ps.106.40

Therefore the LORD was angry with his people and abhorred his inheritance.

Ps.106.40

Therefore the wrath of the LORD was kindled against His people, So that He abhorred His own inheritance.

Ps.106.40

That is why the LORD's anger burned against his people, and he abhorred his own special possession.

Ps.106.41

He turned them over to the heathen so that the people who hated them ruled them.

Ps.106.41

He handed them over to the nations, and their foes ruled over them.

Ps.106.41

And He gave them into the hand of the Gentiles, And those who hated them ruled over them.

Ps.106.41

He handed them over to pagan nations, and those who hated them ruled over them.

Ps.106.42

Their enemies made life hard for them; they were tyrannized under that rule.

Ps.106.42

Their enemies oppressed them and subjected them to their power.

Ps.106.42

Their enemies also oppressed them, And they were brought into subjection under their hand.

Ps.106.42

Their enemies crushed them and brought them under their cruel power.

Ps.106.43

Over and over God rescued them, but they never learned--until finally their sins destroyed them.

Ps.106.43

Many times he delivered them, but they were bent on rebellion and they wasted away in their sin.

Ps.106.43

Many times He delivered them; But they rebelled in their counsel, And were brought low for their iniquity.

Ps.106.43

Again and again he delivered them, but they continued to rebel against him, and they were finally destroyed by their sin.

Ps.106.44

Still, when God saw the trouble they were in and heard their cries for help,

Ps.106.44

But he took note of their distress when he heard their cry;

Ps.106.44

Nevertheless He regarded their affliction, When He heard their cry;

Ps.106.44

Even so, he pitied them in their distress and listened to their cries.

Ps.106.45

He remembered his Covenant with them, and, immense with love, took them by the hand.

Ps.106.45

for their sake he remembered his covenant and out of his great love he relented.

Ps.106.45

And for their sake He remembered His covenant, And relented according to the multitude of His mercies.

Ps.106.45

He remembered his covenant with them and relented because of his unfailing love.

Ps.106.46

He poured out his mercy on them while their captors looked on, amazed.

Ps.106.46

He caused them to be pitied by all who held them captive.

Ps.106.46

He also made them to be pitied By all those who carried them away captive.

Ps.106.46

He even caused their captors to treat them with kindness.

Ps.106.47

Save us, GOD, our God! Gather us back out of exile So we can give thanks to your holy name and join in the glory when you are praised!

Ps.106.47

Save us, O LORD our God, and gather us from the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise.

Ps.106.47

Save us, O LORD our God, And gather us from among the Gentiles, To give thanks to Your holy name, To triumph in Your praise.

Ps.106.47

O LORD our God, save us! Gather us back from among the nations, so we can thank your holy name and rejoice and praise you.

Ps.106.48

Blessed be GOD, Israel's God! Bless now, bless always! Oh! Let everyone say Amen! Hallelujah! al

Ps.106.48

Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Let all the people say, "Amen!" Praise the LORD.

Ps.106.48

Blessed be the LORD God of Israel From everlasting to everlasting! And let all the people say, "Amen!" Praise the LORD!

Ps.106.48

Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting! Let all the people say, "Amen!" Praise the LORD!