Isa.29.1

Doom, Ariel, Ariel, the city where David set camp! Let the years add up, let the festivals run their cycles,

Isa.29.1

Woe to you, Ariel, Ariel, the city where David settled! Add year to year and let your cycle of festivals go on.

Isa.29.1

"Woe to Ariel, to Ariel, the city where David dwelt! Add year to year; Let feasts come around.

Isa.29.1

"Destruction is certain for Ariel, the City of David. Year after year you offer your many sacrifices.

Isa.29.2

But I'm not letting up on Jerusalem. The moaning and groaning will continue. Jerusalem to me is an Ariel.

Isa.29.2

Yet I will besiege Ariel; she will mourn and lament, she will be to me like an altar hearth.

Isa.29.2

Yet I will distress Ariel; There shall be heaviness and sorrow, And it shall be to Me as Ariel.

Isa.29.2

Yet I will bring disaster upon you, and there will be much weeping and sorrow. For Jerusalem will become as her name Ariel means--an altar covered with blood.

Isa.29.3

Like David, I'll set up camp against you. I'll set siege, build towers, bring in siege engines, build siege ramps.

Isa.29.3

I will encamp against you all around; I will encircle you with towers and set up my siege works against you.

Isa.29.3

I will encamp against you all around, I will lay siege against you with a mound, And I will raise siegeworks against you.

Isa.29.3

I will be your enemy, surrounding Jerusalem and attacking its walls. I will build siege towers around it and will destroy it.

Isa.29.4

Driven into the ground, you'll speak, you'll mumble words from the dirt--Your voice from the ground, like the muttering of a ghost. Your speech will whisper from the dust.

Isa.29.4

Brought low, you will speak from the ground; your speech will mumble out of the dust. Your voice will come ghostlike from the earth; out of the dust your speech will whisper.

Isa.29.4

You shall be brought down, You shall speak out of the ground; Your speech shall be low, out of the dust; Your voice shall be like a medium's, out of the ground; And your speech shall whisper out of the dust.

Isa.29.4

Your voice will whisper like a ghost from the earth where you will lie buried.

Isa.29.5

But it will be your enemies who are beaten to dust, the mob of tyrants who will be blown away like chaff. Because, surprise, as if out of nowhere,

Isa.29.5

But your many enemies will become like fine dust, the ruthless hordes like blown chaff. Suddenly, in an instant,

Isa.29.5

"Moreover the multitude of your foes Shall be like fine dust, And the multitude of the terrible ones Like chaff that passes away; Yes, it shall be in an instant, suddenly.

Isa.29.5

"But suddenly, your ruthless enemies will be driven away like chaff before the wind.

Isa.29.6

a visit from GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies, With thunderclaps, earthquakes, and earsplitting noise, backed up by hurricanes, tornadoes, and lightning strikes,

Isa.29.6

the LORD Almighty will come with thunder and earthquake and great noise, with windstorm and tempest and flames of a devouring fire.

Isa.29.6

You will be punished by the LORD of hosts With thunder and earthquake and great noise, With storm and tempest And the flame of devouring fire.

Isa.29.6

In an instant, I, the LORD Almighty, will come against them with thunder and earthquake and great noise, with whirlwind and storm and consuming fire.

Isa.29.7

And the mob of enemies at war with Ariel, all who trouble and hassle and torment her, will turn out to be a bad dream, a nightmare.

Isa.29.7

Then the hordes of all the nations that fight against Ariel, that attack her and her fortress and besiege her, will be as it is with a dream, with a vision in the night-

Isa.29.7

The multitude of all the nations who fight against Ariel, Even all who fight against her and her fortress, And distress her, Shall be as a dream of a night vision.

Isa.29.7

All the nations fighting against Jerusalem will vanish like a dream! Those who are attacking her walls will vanish like a vision in the night.

Isa.29.8

Like a hungry man dreaming he's eating steak and wakes up hungry as ever, Like a thirsty woman dreaming she's drinking iced tea and wakes up thirsty as ever, So that mob of nations at war against Mount Zion will wake up and find they haven't shot an arrow, haven't killed a single soul.

Isa.29.8

as when a hungry man dreams that he is eating, but he awakens, and his hunger remains; as when a thirsty man dreams that he is drinking, but he awakens faint, with his thirst unquenched. So will it be with the hordes of all the nations that fight against Mount Zion.

Isa.29.8

It shall even be as when a hungry man dreams, And look--he eats; But he awakes, and his soul is still empty; Or as when a thirsty man dreams, And look--he drinks; But he awakes, and indeed he is faint, And his soul still craves: So the multitude of all the nations shall be, Who fight against Mount Zion."

Isa.29.8

A hungry person dreams of eating but is still hungry. A thirsty person dreams of drinking but is still faint from thirst when morning comes. In the same way, your enemies will dream of a victorious conquest over Jerusalem, but all to no avail."

Isa.29.9

Drug yourselves so you feel nothing. Blind yourselves so you see nothing. Get drunk, but not on wine. Black out, but not from whiskey.

Isa.29.9

Be stunned and amazed, blind yourselves and be sightless; be drunk, but not from wine, stagger, but not from beer.

Isa.29.9

Pause and wonder! Blind yourselves and be blind! They are drunk, but not with wine; They stagger, but not with intoxicating drink.

Isa.29.9

Are you amazed and incredulous? Do you not believe it? Then go ahead and be blind if you must. You are stupid, but not from wine! You stagger, but not from beer!

Isa.29.10

For GOD has rocked you into a deep, deep sleep, put the discerning prophets to sleep, put the farsighted seers to sleep.

Isa.29.10

The LORD has brought over you a deep sleep: He has sealed your eyes (the prophets); he has covered your heads (the seers).

Isa.29.10

For the LORD has poured out on you The spirit of deep sleep, And has closed your eyes, namely, the prophets; And He has covered your heads, namely, the seers.

Isa.29.10

For the LORD has poured out on you a spirit of deep sleep. He has closed the eyes of your prophets and visionaries.

Isa.29.11

What you've been shown here is somewhat like a letter in a sealed envelope. If you give it to someone who can read and tell her, "Read this," she'll say, "I can't. The envelope is sealed."

Isa.29.11

For you this whole vision is nothing but words sealed in a scroll. And if you give the scroll to someone who can read, and say to him, "Read this, please," he will answer, "I can't; it is sealed."

Isa.29.11

The whole vision has become to you like the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one who is literate, saying, "Read this, please." And he says, "I cannot, for it is sealed."

Isa.29.11

All these future events are a sealed book to them. When you give it to those who can read, they will say, "We can't read it because it is sealed."

Isa.29.12

And if you give it to someone who can't read and tell him, "Read this," he'll say, "I can't read." [JC]

Isa.29.12

Or if you give the scroll to someone who cannot read, and say, "Read this, please," he will answer, "I don't know how to read."

Isa.29.12

Then the book is delivered to one who is illiterate, saying, "Read this, please." And he says, "I am not literate."

Isa.29.12

When you give it to those who cannot read, they will say, "Sorry, we don't know how to read."

Isa.29.13

The Master said: "These people make a big show of saying the right thing, but their hearts aren't in it. Because they act like they're worshiping me but don't mean it,

Isa.29.13

The Lord says: "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.

Isa.29.13

Therefore the Lord said: "Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths And honor Me with their lips, But have removed their hearts far from Me, And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men,

Isa.29.13

And so the Lord says, "These people say they are mine. They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far away. And their worship of me amounts to nothing more than human laws learned by rote.

Isa.29.14

I'm going to step in and shock them awake, astonish them, stand them on their ears. The wise ones who had it all figured out will be exposed as fools. The smart people who thought they knew everything will turn out to know nothing."

Isa.29.14

Therefore once more I will astound these people with wonder upon wonder; the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish."

Isa.29.14

Therefore, behold, I will again do a marvelous work Among this people, A marvelous work and a wonder; For the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, And the understanding of their prudent men shall be hidden."

Isa.29.14

Because of this, I will do wonders among these hypocrites. I will show that human wisdom is foolish and even the most brilliant people lack understanding."

Isa.29.15

Doom to you! You pretend to have the inside track. You shut GOD out and work behind the scenes, Plotting the future as if you knew everything, acting mysterious, never showing your hand.

Isa.29.15

Woe to those who go to great depths to hide their plans from the LORD, who do their work in darkness and think, "Who sees us? Who will know?"

Isa.29.15

Woe to those who seek deep to hide their counsel far from the LORD, And their works are in the dark; They say, "Who sees us?" and, "Who knows us?"

Isa.29.15

Destruction is certain for those who try to hide their plans from the LORD, who try to keep him in the dark concerning what they do! "The LORD can't see us," you say to yourselves. "He doesn't know what is going on!"

Isa.29.16

You have everything backwards! You treat the potter as a lump of clay. Does a book say to its author, "He didn't write a word of me"? Does a meal say to the woman who cooked it, "She had nothing to do with this"?

Isa.29.16

You turn things upside down, as if the potter were thought to be like the clay! Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, "He did not make me"? Can the pot say of the potter, "He knows nothing"?

Isa.29.16

Surely you have things turned around! Shall the potter be esteemed as the clay; For shall the thing made say of him who made it, "He did not make me"? Or shall the thing formed say of him who formed it, "He has no understanding"?

Isa.29.16

How stupid can you be? He is the Potter, and he is certainly greater than you. You are only the jars he makes! Should the thing that was created say to the one who made it, "He didn't make us"? Does a jar ever say, "The potter who made me is stupid"?

Isa.29.17

And then before you know it, and without you having anything to do with it, Wasted Lebanon will be transformed into lush gardens, and Mount Carmel reforested.

Isa.29.17

In a very short time, will not Lebanon be turned into a fertile field and the fertile field seem like a forest?

Isa.29.17

Is it not yet a very little while Till Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, And the fruitful field be esteemed as a forest?

Isa.29.17

Soon--and it will not be very long--the wilderness of Lebanon will be a fertile field once again. And the fertile fields will become a lush and fertile forest.

Isa.29.18

At that time the deaf will hear word-for--word what's been written. After a lifetime in the dark, the blind will see.

Isa.29.18

In that day the deaf will hear the words of the scroll, and out of gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind will see.

Isa.29.18

In that day the deaf shall hear the words of the book, And the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness.

Isa.29.18

In that day deaf people will hear words read from a book, and blind people will see through the gloom and darkness.

Isa.29.19

The castoffs of society will be laughing and dancing in GOD, the down--and-outs shouting praise to The Holy of Israel.

Isa.29.19

Once more the humble will rejoice in the LORD; the needy will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.

Isa.29.19

The humble also shall increase their joy in the LORD, And the poor among men shall rejoice In the Holy One of Israel.

Isa.29.19

The humble will be filled with fresh joy from the LORD. Those who are poor will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.

Isa.29.20

For there'll be no more gangs on the street. Cynical scoffers will be an extinct species. Those who never missed a chance to hurt or demean will never be heard of again:

Isa.29.20

The ruthless will vanish, the mockers will disappear, and all who have an eye for evil will be cut down-

Isa.29.20

For the terrible one is brought to nothing, The scornful one is consumed, And all who watch for iniquity are cut off--

Isa.29.20

Those who intimidate and harass will be gone, and all those who plot evil will be killed.

Isa.29.21

Gone the people who corrupted the courts, gone the people who cheated the poor, gone the people who victimized the innocent.

Isa.29.21

those who with a word make a man out to be guilty, who ensnare the defender in court and with false testimony deprive the innocent of justice.

Isa.29.21

Who make a man an offender by a word, And lay a snare for him who reproves in the gate, And turn aside the just by empty words.

Isa.29.21

Those who make the innocent guilty by their false testimony will disappear. And those who use trickery to pervert justice and tell lies to tear down the innocent will be no more.

Isa.29.22

And finally this, GOD's Message for the family of Jacob, the same GOD who redeemed Abraham: "No longer will Jacob hang his head in shame, no longer grow gaunt and pale with waiting.

Isa.29.22

Therefore this is what the LORD, who redeemed Abraham, says to the house of Jacob: "No longer will Jacob be ashamed; no longer will their faces grow pale.

Isa.29.22

Therefore thus says the LORD, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob: "Jacob shall not now be ashamed, Nor shall his face now grow pale;

Isa.29.22

That is why the LORD, who redeemed Abraham, says to the people of Israel, "My people will no longer pale with fear or be ashamed.

Isa.29.23

For he's going to see his children, my personal gift to him--lots of children. And these children will honor me by living holy lives. In holy worship they'll honor the Holy One of Jacob and stand in holy awe of the God of Israel.

Isa.29.23

When they see among them their children, the work of my hands, they will keep my name holy; they will acknowledge the holiness of the Holy One of Jacob, and will stand in awe of the God of Israel.

Isa.29.23

But when he sees his children, The work of My hands, in his midst, They will hallow My name, And hallow the Holy One of Jacob, And fear the God of Israel.

Isa.29.23

For when they see their many children and material blessings, they will recognize the holiness of the Holy One of Israel. They will stand in awe of the God of Israel.

Isa.29.24

Those who got off--track will get back on--track, and complainers and whiners learn gratitude."

Isa.29.24

Those who are wayward in spirit will gain understanding; those who complain will accept instruction."

Isa.29.24

These also who erred in spirit will come to understanding, And those who complained will learn doctrine."

Isa.29.24

Those in error will then believe the truth, and those who constantly complain will accept instruction.

Isa.30.1

"Doom, rebel children!" GOD's Decree. "You make plans, but not mine. You make deals, but not in my Spirit. You pile sin on sin, one sin on top of another,

Isa.30.1

"Woe to the obstinate children," declares the LORD, "to those who carry out plans that are not mine, forming an alliance, but not by my Spirit, heaping sin upon sin;

Isa.30.1

"Woe to the rebellious children," says the LORD, "Who take counsel, but not of Me, And who devise plans, but not of My Spirit, That they may add sin to sin;

Isa.30.1

"Destruction is certain for my rebellious children," says the LORD. "You make plans that are contrary to my will. You weave a web of plans that are not from my Spirit, thus piling up your sins.

Isa.30.2

Going off to Egypt without so much as asking me, Running off to Pharaoh for protection, expecting to hide out in Egypt.

Isa.30.2

who go down to Egypt without consulting me; who look for help to Pharaoh's protection, to Egypt's shade for refuge.

Isa.30.2

Who walk to go down to Egypt, And have not asked My advice, To strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, And to trust in the shadow of Egypt!

Isa.30.2

For without consulting me, you have gone down to Egypt to find help. You have put your trust in Pharaoh for his protection.

Isa.30.3

Well, some protection Pharaoh will be! Some hideout, Egypt!

Isa.30.3

But Pharaoh's protection will be to your shame, Egypt's shade will bring you disgrace.

Isa.30.3

Therefore the strength of Pharaoh Shall be your shame, And trust in the shadow of Egypt Shall be your humiliation.

Isa.30.3

But in trusting Pharaoh, you will be humiliated and disgraced.

Isa.30.4

They look big and important, true, with officials strategically established in Zoan in the north and Hanes in the south,

Isa.30.4

Though they have officials in Zoan and their envoys have arrived in Hanes,

Isa.30.4

For his princes were at Zoan, And his ambassadors came to Hanes.

Isa.30.4

For though his power extends to Zoan and Hanes,

Isa.30.5

but there's nothing to them. Anyone stupid enough to trust them will end up looking stupid--All show, no substance, an embarrassing farce."

Isa.30.5

everyone will be put to shame because of a people useless to them, who bring neither help nor advantage, but only shame and disgrace."

Isa.30.5

They were all ashamed of a people who could not benefit them, Or be help or benefit, But a shame and also a reproach."

Isa.30.5

it will all turn out to your shame. He will not help you even one little bit."

Isa.30.6

And this note on the animals of the Negev encountered on the road to Egypt: A most dangerous, treacherous route, menaced by lions and deadly snakes. And you're going to lug all your stuff down there, your donkeys and camels loaded down with bribes, Thinking you can buy protection from that hollow farce of a nation?

Isa.30.6

An oracle concerning the animals of the Negev: Through a land of hardship and distress, of lions and lionesses, of adders and darting snakes, the envoys carry their riches on donkeys' backs, their treasures on the humps of camels, to that unprofitable nation,

Isa.30.6

The burden against the beasts of the South. Through a land of trouble and anguish, From which came the lioness and lion, The viper and fiery flying serpent, They will carry their riches on the backs of young donkeys, And their treasures on the humps of camels, To a people who shall not profit;

Isa.30.6

Look at the animals moving slowly across the terrible desert to Egypt--donkeys and camels loaded with treasure to pay for Egypt's aid. On through the wilderness they go, where lions and poisonous snakes live. All this, and Egypt will give you nothing in return.

Isa.30.7

Egypt is all show, no substance. My name for her is Toothless Dragon.

Isa.30.7

to Egypt, whose help is utterly useless. Therefore I call her Rahab the Do-Nothing.

Isa.30.7

For the Egyptians shall help in vain and to no purpose. Therefore I have called her Rahab-Hem-Shebeth.

Isa.30.7

Egypt's promises are worthless! I call her the Harmless Dragon.

Isa.30.8

So, go now and write all this down. Put it in a book So that the record will be there to instruct the coming generations,

Isa.30.8

Go now, write it on a tablet for them, inscribe it on a scroll, that for the days to come it may be an everlasting witness.

Isa.30.8

Now go, write it before them on a tablet, And note it on a scroll, That it may be for time to come, Forever and ever:

Isa.30.8

Now go and write down these words concerning Egypt. They will then stand until the end of time as a witness to Israel's unbelief.

Isa.30.9

Because this is a rebel generation, a people who lie, A people unwilling to listen to anything GOD tells them.

Isa.30.9

These are rebellious people, deceitful children, children unwilling to listen to the LORD's instruction.

Isa.30.9

That this is a rebellious people, Lying children, Children who will not hear the law of the LORD;

Isa.30.9

For these people are stubborn rebels who refuse to pay any attention to the LORD's instructions.

Isa.30.10

They tell their spiritual leaders, "Don't bother us with irrelevancies." They tell their preachers, "Don't waste our time on impracticalities. Tell us what makes us feel better.

Isa.30.10

They say to the seers, "See no more visions!" and to the prophets, "Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions.

Isa.30.10

Who say to the seers, "Do not see," And to the prophets, "Do not prophesy to us right things; Speak to us smooth things, prophesy deceits.

Isa.30.10

They tell the prophets, "Shut up! We don't want any more of your reports." They say, "Don't tell us the truth. Tell us nice things. Tell us lies.

Isa.30.11

Don't bore us with obsolete religion. That stuff means nothing to us. Quit hounding us with The Holy of Israel."

Isa.30.11

Leave this way, get off this path, and stop confronting us with the Holy One of Israel!"

Isa.30.11

Get out of the way, Turn aside from the path, Cause the Holy One of Israel To cease from before us."

Isa.30.11

Forget all this gloom. We have heard more than enough about your `Holy One of Israel.' We are tired of listening to what he has to say."

Isa.30.12

Therefore, The Holy of Israel says this: "Because you scorn this Message, Preferring to live by injustice and shape your lives on lies,

Isa.30.12

Therefore, this is what the Holy One of Israel says: "Because you have rejected this message, relied on oppression and depended on deceit,

Isa.30.12

Therefore thus says the Holy One of Israel: "Because you despise this word, And trust in oppression and perversity, And rely on them,

Isa.30.12

This is the reply of the Holy One of Israel: "Because you despise what I tell you and trust instead in oppression and lies,

Isa.30.13

This perverse way of life will be like a towering, badly built wall That slowly, slowly tilts and shifts, and then one day, without warning, collapses--

Isa.30.13

this sin will become for you like a high wall, cracked and bulging, that collapses suddenly, in an instant.

Isa.30.13

Therefore this iniquity shall be to you Like a breach ready to fall, A bulge in a high wall, Whose breaking comes suddenly, in an instant.

Isa.30.13

calamity will come upon you suddenly. It will be like a bulging wall that bursts and falls. In an instant it will collapse and come crashing down.

Isa.30.14

Smashed to bits like a piece of pottery, smashed beyond recognition or repair, Useless, a pile of debris to be swept up and thrown in the trash."

Isa.30.14

It will break in pieces like pottery, shattered so mercilessly that among its pieces not a fragment will be found for taking coals from a hearth or scooping water out of a cistern."

Isa.30.14

And He shall break it like the breaking of the potter's vessel, Which is broken in pieces; He shall not spare. So there shall not be found among its fragments A shard to take fire from the hearth, Or to take water from the cistern."

Isa.30.14

You will be smashed like a piece of pottery--shattered so completely that there won't be a piece left that is big enough to carry coals from a fireplace or a little water from the well."

Isa.30.15

GOD, the Master, The Holy of Israel, has this solemn counsel: "Your salvation requires you to turn back to me and stop your silly efforts to save yourselves. Your strength will come from settling down in complete dependence on me--The very thing you've been unwilling to do.

Isa.30.15

This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.

Isa.30.15

For thus says the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel: "In returning and rest you shall be saved; In quietness and confidence shall be your strength." But you would not,

Isa.30.15

The Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says, "Only in returning to me and waiting for me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength. But you would have none of it.

Isa.30.16

You've said, "Nothing doing! We'll rush off on horseback!' You'll rush off, all right! Just not far enough! You've said, "We'll ride off on fast horses!' Do you think your pursuers ride old nags?

Isa.30.16

You said, 'No, we will flee on horses.' Therefore you will flee! You said, 'We will ride off on swift horses.' Therefore your pursuers will be swift!

Isa.30.16

And you said, "No, for we will flee on horses"-- Therefore you shall flee! And, "We will ride on swift horses"-- Therefore those who pursue you shall be swift!

Isa.30.16

You said, `No, we will get our help from Egypt. They will give us swift horses for riding into battle.' But the only swiftness you are going to see is the swiftness of your enemies chasing you!

Isa.30.17

Think again: A thousand of you will scatter before one attacker. Before a mere five you'll all run off. There'll be nothing left of you--a flagpole on a hill with no flag, a signpost on a roadside with the sign torn off."

Isa.30.17

A thousand will flee at the threat of one; at the threat of five you will all flee away, till you are left like a flagstaff on a mountaintop, like a banner on a hill."

Isa.30.17

One thousand shall flee at the threat of one, At the threat of five you shall flee, Till you are left as a pole on top of a mountain And as a banner on a hill.

Isa.30.17

One of them will chase a thousand of you. Five of them will make all of you flee. You will be left like a lonely flagpole on a distant mountaintop."

Isa.30.18

But GOD's not finished. He's waiting around to be gracious to you. He's gathering strength to show mercy to you. GOD takes the time to do everything right--everything. Those who wait around for him are the lucky ones.

Isa.30.18

Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!

Isa.30.18

Therefore the LORD will wait, that He may be gracious to you; And therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; Blessed are all those who wait for Him.

Isa.30.18

But the LORD still waits for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion. For the LORD is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for him to help them.

2Cor.12.11

All the signs that mark a true apostle were in evidence while I was with you through both good times and bad: signs of portent, signs of wonder, signs of power.

2Cor.12.11

I have made a fool of myself, but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the "super-apostles," even though I am nothing.

2Cor.12.11

I have become a fool in boasting; you have compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you; for in nothing was I behind the most eminent apostles, though I am nothing.

2Cor.12.11

You have made me act like a fool--boasting like this. You ought to be writing commendations for me, for I am not at all inferior to these "super apostles," even though I am nothing at all.

2Cor.12.12

Did you get less of me or of God than any of the other churches? The only thing you got less of was less responsibility for my upkeep. Well, I'm sorry. Forgive me for depriving you.

2Cor.12.12

The things that mark an apostle--signs, wonders and miracles--were done among you with great perseverance.

2Cor.12.12

Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds.

2Cor.12.12

When I was with you, I certainly gave you every proof that I am truly an apostle, sent to you by God himself. For I patiently did many signs and wonders and miracles among you.

2Cor.12.13

Everything is in readiness now for this, my third visit to you. But don't worry about it; you won't have to put yourselves out. I'll be no more of a bother to you this time than on the other visits. I have no interest in what you have--only in you. Children shouldn't have to look out for their parents; parents look out for the children.

2Cor.12.13

How were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was never a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!

2Cor.12.13

For what is it in which you were inferior to other churches, except that I myself was not burdensome to you? Forgive me this wrong!

2Cor.12.13

The only thing I didn't do, which I do in the other churches, was to become a burden to you. Please forgive me for this wrong!

2Cor.12.14

I'd be most happy to empty my pockets, even mortgage my life, for your good. So how does it happen that the more I love you, the less I'm loved?

2Cor.12.14

Now I am ready to visit you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.

2Cor.12.14

Now for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be burdensome to you; for I do not seek yours, but you. For the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.

2Cor.12.14

Now I am coming to you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you. I don't want what you have; I want you. And anyway, little children don't pay for their parents' food. It's the other way around; parents supply food for their children.

2Cor.12.15

And why is it that I keep coming across these whiffs of gossip about how my self-support was a front behind which I worked an elaborate scam? Where's the evidence?

2Cor.12.15

So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well. If I love you more, will you love me less?

2Cor.12.15

And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved.

2Cor.12.15

I will gladly spend myself and all I have for your spiritual good, even though it seems that the more I love you, the less you love me.

2Cor.12.16

Did I cheat or trick you through anyone I sent?

2Cor.12.16

Be that as it may, I have not been a burden to you. Yet, crafty fellow that I am, I caught you by trickery!

2Cor.12.16

But be that as it may, I did not burden you. Nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you by cunning!

2Cor.12.16

Some of you admit I was not a burden to you. But they still think I was sneaky and took advantage of you by trickery.

2Cor.12.17

I asked Titus to visit, and sent some brothers along. Did they swindle you out of anything? And haven't we always been just as aboveboard, just as honest?

2Cor.12.17

Did I exploit you through any of the men I sent you?

2Cor.12.17

Did I take advantage of you by any of those whom I sent to you?

2Cor.12.17

But how? Did any of the men I sent to you take advantage of you?

2Cor.12.18

I hope you don't think that all along we've been making our defense before you, the jury. You're not the jury; God is the jury--God revealed in Christ--and we make our case before him. And we've gone to all the trouble of supporting ourselves so that we won't be in the way or get in the way of your growing up.

2Cor.12.18

I urged Titus to go to you and I sent our brother with him. Titus did not exploit you, did he? Did we not act in the same spirit and follow the same course?

2Cor.12.18

I urged Titus, and sent our brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not walk in the same spirit? Did we not walk in the same steps?

2Cor.12.18

When I urged Titus to visit you and sent our other brother with him, did Titus take advantage of you? No, of course not! For we both have the same Spirit and walk in each other's steps, doing things the same way.

2Cor.12.19

I do admit that I have fears that when I come you'll disappoint me and I'll disappoint you, and in frustration with each other everything will fall to pieces--quarrels, jealousy, flaring tempers, taking sides, angry words, vicious rumors, swelled heads, and general bedlam.

2Cor.12.19

Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? We have been speaking in the sight of God as those in Christ; and everything we do, dear friends, is for your strengthening.

2Cor.12.19

Again, do you think that we excuse ourselves to you? We speak before God in Christ. But we do all things, beloved, for your edification.

2Cor.12.19

Perhaps you think we are saying all this just to defend ourselves. That isn't it at all. We tell you this as Christ's servants, and we know that God is listening. Everything we do, dear friends, is for your benefit.

2Cor.12.20

I don't look forward to a second humiliation by God among you, compounded by hot tears over that crowd that keeps sinning over and over in the same old ways, who refuse to turn away from the pigsty of evil, sexual disorder, and indecency in which they wallow.

2Cor.12.20

For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder.

2Cor.12.20

For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish, and that I shall be found by you such as you do not wish; lest there be contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbitings, whisperings, conceits, tumults;

2Cor.12.20

For I am afraid that when I come to visit you I won't like what I find, and then you won't like my response. I am afraid that I will find quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfishness, backstabbing, gossip, conceit, and disorderly behavior.

2Cor.12.21

I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged.

2Cor.12.21

I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged.

2Cor.12.21

lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and I shall mourn for many who have sinned before and have not repented of the uncleanness, fornication, and lewdness which they have practiced.

2Cor.12.21

Yes, I am afraid that when I come, God will humble me again because of you. And I will have to grieve because many of you who sinned earlier have not repented of your impurity, sexual immorality, and eagerness for lustful pleasure.

Ps.107.1

Oh, thank GOD-he's so good! His love never runs out.

Ps.107.1

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

Ps.107.1

Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.

Ps.107.1

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.

Ps.107.2

All of you set free by GOD, tell the world! Tell how he freed you from oppression,

Ps.107.2

Let the redeemed of the LORD say this- those he redeemed from the hand of the foe,

Ps.107.2

Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy,

Ps.107.2

Has the LORD redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others he has saved you from your enemies.

Ps.107.3

Then rounded you up from all over the place, from the four winds, from the seven seas.

Ps.107.3

those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south.

Ps.107.3

And gathered out of the lands, From the east and from the west, From the north and from the south.

Ps.107.3

For he has gathered the exiles from many lands, from east and west, from north and south.

Ps.107.4

Some of you wandered for years in the desert, looking but not finding a good place to live,

Ps.107.4

Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no way to a city where they could settle.

Ps.107.4

They wandered in the wilderness in a desolate way; They found no city to dwell in.

Ps.107.4

Some wandered in the desert, lost and homeless.

Ps.107.5

Half-starved and parched with thirst, staggering and stumbling, on the brink of exhaustion.

Ps.107.5

They were hungry and thirsty, and their lives ebbed away.

Ps.107.5

Hungry and thirsty, Their soul fainted in them.

Ps.107.5

Hungry and thirsty, they nearly died.

Ps.107.6

Then, in your desperate condition, you called out to GOD. He got you out in the nick of time;

Ps.107.6

Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.

Ps.107.6

Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, And He delivered them out of their distresses.

Ps.107.6

"LORD, help!" they cried in their trouble, and he rescued them from their distress.

Ps.107.7

He put your feet on a wonderful road that took you straight to a good place to live.

Ps.107.7

He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle.

Ps.107.7

And He led them forth by the right way, That they might go to a city for a dwelling place.

Ps.107.7

He led them straight to safety, to a city where they could live.

Ps.107.8

So thank GOD for his marvelous love, for his miracle mercy to the children he loves.

Ps.107.8

Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men,

Ps.107.8

Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men!

Ps.107.8

Let them praise the LORD for his great love and for all his wonderful deeds to them.

Ps.107.9

He poured great draughts of water down parched throats; the starved and hungry got plenty to eat.

Ps.107.9

for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.

Ps.107.9

For He satisfies the longing soul, And fills the hungry soul with goodness.

Ps.107.9

For he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.