Grace in the Bible: God's Unmerited Favor

The LORD God made garments of animal skins for Adam and for his wife, and clothed them.

But Noah found favour in the LORD’s eyes.

and said, “My lord, if now I have found favour in your sight, please don’t go away from your servant.

Now let a little water be fetched, wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree.

I will get a piece of bread so you can refresh your heart. After that you may go your way, now that you have come to your servant.” They said, “Very well, do as you have said.”

See now, your servant has found favour in your sight, and you have magnified your loving kindness, which you have shown to me in saving my life. I can’t escape to the mountain, lest evil overtake me, and I die.

He said to him, “Behold, I have granted your request concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow the city of which you have spoken.

Abimelech said, “Behold, my land is before you. Dwell where it pleases you.”

“No, my lord, hear me. I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it. In the presence of the children of my people I give it to you. Bury your dead.”

Abraham bowed himself down before the people of the land.

“My lord, listen to me. What is a piece of land worth four hundred shekels of silver between me and you? Therefore bury your dead.”

I am not worthy of the least of all the loving kindnesses, and of all the truth, which you have shown to your servant; for with just my staff I crossed over this Jordan; and now I have become two companies.

He lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, “Who are these with you?” He said, “The children whom God has graciously given your servant.”

Jacob said, “Please, no, if I have now found favour in your sight, then receive my present at my hand, because I have seen your face, as one sees the face of God, and you were pleased with me.

Please take the gift that I brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough.” He urged him, and he took it.

Esau said, “Let me now leave with you some of the people who are with me.” He said, “Why? Let me find favour in the sight of my lord.”

Shechem said to her father and to her brothers, “Let me find favour in your eyes, and whatever you will tell me I will give.

God appeared to Jacob again, when he came from Paddan Aram, and blessed him.

But the LORD was with Joseph, and showed kindness to him, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.

Then Joseph gave a command to fill their bags with grain, and to restore each man’s money into his sack, and to give them food for the way. So it was done to them.

As one of them opened his sack to give his donkey food in the lodging place, he saw his money. Behold, it was in the mouth of his sack.

He lifted up his eyes, and saw Benjamin, his brother, his mother’s son, and said, “Is this your youngest brother, of whom you spoke to me?” He said, “God be gracious to you, my son.”

Take your father and your households, and come to me, and I will give you the good of the land of Egypt, and you will eat the fat of the land.’

Also, don’t concern yourselves about your belongings, for the good of all the land of Egypt is yours.”

even by the God of your father, who will help you, by the Almighty, who will bless you, with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lies below, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb.

The blessings of your father have prevailed above the blessings of my ancestors, above the boundaries of the ancient hills. They will be on the head of Joseph, on the crown of the head of him who is separated from his brothers.

The LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover, the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants, and in the sight of the people.

for that is his only covering, it is his garment for his skin. What would he sleep in? It will happen, when he cries to me, that I will hear, for I am gracious.

It shall be on Aaron’s forehead, and Aaron shall bear the iniquity of the holy things, which the children of Israel shall make holy in all their holy gifts; and it shall be always on his forehead, that they may be accepted before the LORD.

Moses said to the LORD, “Behold, you tell me, ‘Bring up this people;’ and you haven’t let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favour in my sight.’

Now therefore, if I have found favour in your sight, please show me your way, now, that I may know you, so that I may find favour in your sight; and consider that this nation is your people.”

For how would people know that I have found favour in your sight, I and your people? Isn’t it that you go with us, so that we are separated, I and your people, from all the people who are on the surface of the earth?”

The LORD said to Moses, “I will do this thing also that you have spoken; for you have found favour in my sight, and I know you by name.”

He said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the LORD’s name before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.”

It will happen, while my glory passes by, that I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and will cover you with my hand until I have passed by;

then I will take away my hand, and you will see my back; but my face shall not be seen.”

The LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, “The LORD! The LORD, a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness and truth,

He said, “If now I have found favour in your sight, Lord, please let the Lord go amongst us, even though this is a stiff-necked people; pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for your inheritance.”

He shall remove all its fat, like the fat of the lamb is removed from the sacrifice of peace offerings. The priest shall burn them on the altar, on the offerings of the LORD made by fire. The priest shall make atonement for him concerning his sin that he has sinned, and he will be forgiven.

and he shall bring his trespass offering to the LORD for his sin which he has sinned: a female from the flock, a lamb or a goat, for a sin offering; and the priest shall make atonement for him concerning his sin.

For the life of the flesh is in the blood. I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement by reason of the life.

If he isn’t redeemed by these means, then he shall be released in the Year of Jubilee: he and his children with him.

The LORD make his face to shine on you, and be gracious to you.

“Say to the children of Israel, ‘If any man of you or of your generations is unclean by reason of a dead body, or is on a journey far away, he shall still keep the Passover to the LORD.

The priest shall make atonement for the soul who errs when he sins unwittingly before the LORD. He shall make atonement for him; and he shall be forgiven.

The LORD said to Moses, “Make a venomous snake, and set it on a pole. It shall happen that everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.”

They said, “If we have found favour in your sight, let this land be given to your servants for a possession. Don’t bring us over the Jordan.”

Moreover your little ones, whom you said would be captured or killed, your children, who today have no knowledge of good or evil, shall go in there. I will give it to them, and they shall possess it.

and houses full of all good things which you didn’t fill, and cisterns dug out which you didn’t dig, vineyards and olive trees which you didn’t plant, and you shall eat and be full;

The LORD didn’t set his love on you nor choose you, because you were more in number than any people; for you were the fewest of all peoples;

Know therefore that the LORD your God doesn’t give you this good land to possess for your righteousness, for you are a stiff-necked people.

But Jeshurun grew fat, and kicked. You have grown fat. You have grown thick. You have become sleek. Then he abandoned God who made him, and rejected the Rock of his salvation.

This is the blessing with which Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death.

About Naphtali he said, “Naphtali, satisfied with favour, full of the LORD’s blessing, Possess the west and the south.”

The LORD said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” Therefore the name of that place was called Gilgal to this day.

I gave you a land on which you had not laboured, and cities which you didn’t build, and you live in them. You eat of vineyards and olive groves which you didn’t plant.’

Then the LORD’s angel stretched out the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the meat and the unleavened cakes; and fire went up out of the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened cakes. Then the LORD’s angel departed out of his sight.

Gideon saw that he was the LORD’s angel; and Gideon said, “Alas, Lord GOD! Because I have seen the LORD’s angel face to face!”

The LORD said to him, “Peace be to you! Don’t be afraid. You shall not die.”

God has delivered into your hand the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb! What was I able to do in comparison with you?” Then their anger was abated towards him when he had said that.

Then she fell on her face and bowed herself to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favour in your sight, that you should take knowledge of me, since I am a foreigner?”

May the LORD repay your work, and a full reward be given to you from the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.”

Then she said, “Let me find favour in your sight, my lord, because you have comforted me, and because you have spoken kindly to your servant, though I am not as one of your servants.”

When she had risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, “Let her glean even amongst the sheaves, and don’t reproach her.

Also pull out some for her from the bundles, and leave it. Let her glean, and don’t rebuke her.”

For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name’s sake, because it has pleased the LORD to make you a people for himself.

Saul sent to Jesse, saying, “Please let David stand before me, for he has found favour in my sight.”

Now therefore tell my servant David this: ‘The LORD of Armies says, “I took you from the sheep pen, from following the sheep, to be prince over my people, over Israel.

This was yet a small thing in your eyes, Lord GOD, but you have spoken also of your servant’s house for a great while to come; and this amongst men, Lord GOD!

For your word’s sake, and according to your own heart, you have worked all this greatness, to make your servant know it.

The king said, “Is there not yet any of Saul’s house, that I may show the kindness of God to him?” Ziba said to the king, “Jonathan still has a son, who is lame in his feet.”

David said to him, “Don’t be afraid, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father’s sake, and will restore to you all the land of Saul your father. You will eat bread at my table continually.”

He bowed down, and said, “What is your servant, that you should look at such a dead dog as I am?”

I gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your bosom, and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that would have been too little, I would have added to you many more such things.

David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” Nathan said to David, “The LORD also has put away your sin. You will not die.

He said, “While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who knows whether the LORD will not be gracious to me, that the child may live?’

For we must die, and are like water spilled on the ground, which can’t be gathered up again; neither does God take away life, but devises means, that he who is banished not be an outcast from him.

The king said to Zadok, “Carry God’s ark back into the city. If I find favour in the LORD’s eyes, he will bring me again, and show me both it and his habitation;

but if he says, ‘I have no delight in you,’ behold, here I am. Let him do to me as seems good to him.”

Then the king said to Ziba, “Behold, all that belongs to Mephibosheth is yours.” Ziba said, “I bow down. Let me find favour in your sight, my lord, O king.”

For your servant knows that I have sinned. Therefore behold, I have come today as the first of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.”

He has slandered your servant to my lord the king, but my lord the king is as an angel of God. Therefore do what is good in your eyes.

For all my father’s house were but dead men before my lord the king; yet you set your servant amongst those who ate at your own table. What right therefore have I yet that I should appeal any more to the king?”

You have also given me the shield of your salvation. Your gentleness has made me great.

This request pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.

God said to him, “Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked for yourself long life, nor have you asked for riches for yourself, nor have you asked for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice,

behold, I have done according to your word. Behold, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has been no one like you before you, and after you none will arise like you.

I have also given you that which you have not asked, both riches and honour, so that there will not be any amongst the kings like you for all your days.

Nevertheless for David’s sake, the LORD his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem, to set up his son after him and to establish Jerusalem;

But the LORD was gracious to them, and had compassion on them, and favoured them because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them and he didn’t cast them from his presence as yet.

and he spoke kindly to him and set his throne above the throne of the kings who were with him in Babylon,

Then David the king went in and sat before the LORD; and he said, “Who am I, LORD God, and what is my house, that you have brought me this far?

This was a small thing in your eyes, O God, but you have spoken of your servant’s house for a great while to come, and have respected me according to the standard of a man of high degree, LORD God.

What can David say yet more to you concerning the honour which is done to your servant? For you know your servant.

LORD, for your servant’s sake, and according to your own heart, you have done all this greatness, to make known all these great things.

Now it has pleased you to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever before you; for you, LORD, have blessed, and it is blessed forever.”

God sent an angel to Jerusalem to destroy it. As he was about to destroy, the LORD saw, and he relented of the disaster, and said to the destroying angel, “It is enough. Now withdraw your hand.” the LORD’s angel was standing by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

Solomon said to God, “You have shown great loving kindness to David my father, and have made me king in his place.

therefore wisdom and knowledge is granted to you. I will give you riches, wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had who have been before you, and none after you will have.”

Yet have respect for the prayer of your servant and to his supplication, LORD my God, to listen to the cry and to the prayer which your servant prays before you;

Listen to the petitions of your servant and of your people Israel, when they pray towards this place. Yes, hear from your dwelling place, even from heaven; and when you hear, forgive.

then hear from heaven, and forgive the sin of your people Israel, and bring them again to the land which you gave to them and to their fathers.

For if you turn again to the LORD, your brothers and your children will find compassion with those who led them captive, and will come again into this land, because the LORD your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you if you return to him.”

who sets his heart to seek God, the LORD, the God of his fathers, even if they aren’t clean according to the purification of the sanctuary.”

He prayed to him; and he was entreated by him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD was God.

and has extended loving kindness to me before the king and his counsellors, and before all the king’s mighty princes. I was strengthened according to the LORD my God’s hand on me, and I gathered together chief men out of Israel to go up with me.

Now for a little moment grace has been shown from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a stake in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and revive us a little in our bondage.

For we are bondservants; yet our God has not forsaken us in our bondage, but has extended loving kindness to us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to revive us, to set up the house of our God, and to repair its ruins, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.

“After all that has come on us for our evil deeds and for our great guilt, since you, our God, have punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and have given us such a remnant,

and refused to obey. They weren’t mindful of your wonders that you did amongst them, but hardened their neck, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage. But you are a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness, and didn’t forsake them.

“Nevertheless in your manifold mercies you didn’t make a full end of them, nor forsake them; for you are a gracious and merciful God.

When the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, she obtained favour in his sight; and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther came near and touched the top of the sceptre.

Then the king asked her, “What would you like, queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given you even to the half of the kingdom.”

The king said to Esther at the banquet of wine, “What is your petition? It shall be granted you. What is your request? Even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed.”

If I have found favour in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I will prepare for them, and I will do tomorrow as the king has said.”

The king said again to Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, “What is your petition, queen Esther? It shall be granted you. What is your request? Even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed.”

Then the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre. So Esther arose, and stood before the king.

She said, “If it pleases the king, and if I have found favour in his sight, and the thing seems right to the king, and I am pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews who are in all the king’s provinces.

that he would show you the secrets of wisdom! For true wisdom has two sides. Know therefore that God exacts of you less than your iniquity deserves.

Are the consolations of God too small for you, even the word that is gentle towards you?

then God is gracious to him, and says, ‘Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom.’

He prays to God, and he is favourable to him, so that he sees his face with joy. He restores to man his righteousness.

“Behold, God does all these things, twice, yes three times, with a man,

But as for me, in the abundance of your loving kindness I will come into your house. I will bow towards your holy temple in reverence of you.

You have also given me the shield of your salvation. Your right hand sustains me. Your gentleness has made me great.

For you meet him with the blessings of goodness. You set a crown of fine gold on his head.

For your name’s sake, LORD, pardon my iniquity, for it is great.

For his anger is but for a moment. His favour is for a lifetime. Weeping may stay for the night, but joy comes in the morning.

By David. A contemplative psalm. Blessed is he whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is covered.

Blessed is the man to whom the LORD doesn’t impute iniquity, in whose spirit there is no deceit.

The wicked borrow, and don’t pay back, but the righteous give generously.

All day long he deals graciously, and lends. His offspring is blessed.

You are the most excellent of the sons of men. Grace has anointed your lips, therefore God has blessed you forever.

He will send from heaven, and save me, he rebukes the one who is pursuing me. Selah. God will send out his loving kindness and his truth.

For your great loving kindness reaches to the heavens, and your truth to the skies.

Because your loving kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise you.

Sins overwhelmed me, but you atoned for our transgressions.

For the Chief Musician. With stringed instruments. A Psalm. A song. May God be merciful to us, bless us, and cause his face to shine on us. Selah.

Answer me, LORD, for your loving kindness is good. According to the multitude of your tender mercies, turn to me.

Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he, in anger, withheld his compassion?” Selah.

But he, being merciful, forgave iniquity, and didn’t destroy them. Yes, many times he turned his anger away, and didn’t stir up all his wrath.

Turn us again, God. Cause your face to shine, and we will be saved.

Turn us again, God of Armies. Cause your face to shine, and we will be saved.

For the LORD God is a sun and a shield. The LORD will give grace and glory. He withholds no good thing from those who walk blamelessly.

You have forgiven the iniquity of your people. You have covered all their sin. Selah.

But you, Lord, are a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness and truth.

The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness.

He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor repaid us for our iniquities.

As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

But deal with me, GOD the Lord, for your name’s sake, because your loving kindness is good, deliver me;

He has caused his wonderful works to be remembered. The LORD is gracious and merciful.

Light dawns in the darkness for the upright, gracious, merciful, and righteous.

It is well with the man who deals graciously and lends. He will maintain his cause in judgement.

Not to us, LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for your loving kindness, and for your truth’s sake.

The LORD is gracious and righteous. Yes, our God is merciful.

Precious in the LORD’s sight is the death of his saints.

Keep me from the way of deceit. Grant me your law graciously!

I sought your favour with my whole heart. Be merciful to me according to your word.

TETH You have treated your servant well, according to your word, LORD.

You are good, and do good. Teach me your statutes.

Great are your tender mercies, LORD. Revive me according to your ordinances.

But there is forgiveness with you, therefore you are feared.

and has delivered us from our adversaries, for his loving kindness endures forever;

who gives food to every creature, for his loving kindness endures forever.

Oh give thanks to the God of heaven, for his loving kindness endures forever.

Don’t enter into judgement with your servant, for in your sight no man living is righteous.

LORD, what is man, that you care for him? Or the son of man, that you think of him?

The LORD is gracious, merciful, slow to anger, and of great loving kindness.

The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and gracious in all his works.

He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds.

For the LORD takes pleasure in his people. He crowns the humble with salvation.

So you will find favour, and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

so they will be life to your soul, and grace for your neck.

Surely he mocks the mockers, but he gives grace to the humble.

Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favour of the LORD.

The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but a fool is swallowed by his own lips.

Unless the LORD of Armies had left to us a very small remnant, we would have been as Sodom. We would have been like Gomorrah.

“Come now, and let’s reason together,” says the LORD: “Though your sins are as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar.

He touched my mouth with it, and said, “Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away, and your sin forgiven.”

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.

For the people will dwell in Zion at Jerusalem. You will weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you at the voice of your cry. When he hears you, he will answer you.

LORD, be gracious to us. We have waited for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble.

“Go, and tell Hezekiah, ‘The LORD, the God of David your father, says, “I have heard your prayer. I have seen your tears. Behold, I will add fifteen years to your life.

“Speak comfortably to Jerusalem, and call out to her that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received of the LORD’s hand double for all her sins.”

You have not brought me any of your sheep for burnt offerings, neither have you honoured me with your sacrifices. I have not burdened you with offerings, nor wearied you with frankincense.

I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake; and I will not remember your sins.

For Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel my chosen, I have called you by your name. I have given you a title, though you have not known me.

I am the LORD, and there is no one else. Besides me, there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not known me,

Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver. I have chosen you in the furnace of affliction.

Indeed, he says, “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel. I will also give you as a light to the nations, that you may be my salvation to the end of the earth.”

For the LORD says, “You were sold for nothing; and you will be redeemed without money.”

In overflowing wrath I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting loving kindness I will have mercy on you,” says the LORD your Redeemer.

“Hey! Come, everyone who thirsts, to the waters! Come, he who has no money, buy, and eat! Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

I will give them in my house and within my walls a memorial and a name better than of sons and of daughters. I will give them an everlasting name that will not be cut off.

“I am enquired of by those who didn’t ask. I am found by those who didn’t seek me. I said, ‘See me, see me,’ to a nation that was not called by my name.

I have spread out my hands all day to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good, after their own thoughts;

It will happen that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.

For my hand has made all these things, and so all these things came to be,” says the LORD: “but I will look to this man, even to he who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at my word.

Therefore I will cast you out of this land into the land that you have not known, neither you nor your fathers. There you will serve other gods day and night, for I will show you no favour.’

The LORD says, “The people who survive the sword found favour in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest.”

The LORD appeared of old to me, saying, “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love. Therefore I have drawn you with loving kindness.

I will cleanse them from all their iniquity by which they have sinned against me. I will pardon all their iniquities by which they have sinned against me and by which they have transgressed against me.

In those days, and in that time,” says the LORD, “the iniquity of Israel will be sought for, and there will be none, also the sins of Judah, and they won’t be found; for I will pardon them whom I leave as a remnant.

In the thirty-seventh year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, in the twenty-fifth day of the month, Evilmerodach king of Babylon, in the first year of his reign, lifted up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah, and released him from prison.

He spoke kindly to him, and set his throne above the throne of the kings who were with him in Babylon,

and changed his prison garments. Jehoiachin ate bread before him continually all the days of his life.

It is because of The LORD’s loving kindnesses that we are not consumed, because his mercies don’t fail.

They are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness.

“‘“Yet I will leave a remnant, in that you will have some that escape the sword amongst the nations, when you are scattered through the countries.

I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them. I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them a heart of flesh,

“‘“When I passed by you, and saw you wallowing in your blood, I said to you, ‘Though you are in your blood, live!’ Yes, I said to you, ‘Though you are in your blood, live!’

I caused you to multiply as that which grows in the field, and you increased and grew great, and you attained to excellent beauty. Your breasts were formed, and your hair grew; yet you were naked and bare.

“‘“Now when I passed by you, and looked at you, behold, your time was the time of love; and I spread my garment over you and covered your nakedness. Yes, I pledged myself to you and entered into a covenant with you,” says the Lord GOD, “and you became mine.

“‘“Then I washed you with water. Yes, I thoroughly washed away your blood from you, and I anointed you with oil.

I clothed you also with embroidered work and put leather sandals on you. I dressed you with fine linen and covered you with silk.

I decked you with ornaments, put bracelets on your hands, and put a chain on your neck.

I put a ring on your nose, earrings in your ears, and a beautiful crown on your head.

Thus you were decked with gold and silver. Your clothing was of fine linen, silk, and embroidered work. You ate fine flour, honey, and oil. You were exceedingly beautiful, and you prospered to royal estate.

Your renown went out amongst the nations for your beauty; for it was perfect, through my majesty which I had put on you,” says the Lord GOD.

Nevertheless I will remember my covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you.

that you may remember, and be confounded, and never open your mouth any more because of your shame, when I have forgiven you all that you have done,” says the Lord GOD.’”

Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked?” says the Lord GOD, “and not rather that he should return from his way, and live?

For I have no pleasure in the death of him who dies,” says the Lord GOD. “Therefore turn yourselves, and live!

But I worked for my name’s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I brought them out.

Nevertheless my eye spared them, and I didn’t destroy them. I didn’t make a full end of them in the wilderness.

Nevertheless I withdrew my hand and worked for my name’s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I brought them out.

You will know that I am the LORD, when I have dealt with you for my name’s sake, not according to your evil ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, you house of Israel,” says the Lord GOD.’”

I will reverse the captivity of Egypt, and will cause them to return into the land of Pathros, into the land of their birth. There they will be a lowly kingdom.

Tell them, ‘“As I live,” says the Lord GOD, “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why will you die, house of Israel?”’

“Therefore tell the house of Israel, ‘The Lord GOD says: “I don’t do this for your sake, house of Israel, but for my holy name, which you have profaned amongst the nations where you went.

I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.

I will also give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit within you. I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.

I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes. You will keep my ordinances and do them.

I don’t do this for your sake,” says the Lord GOD. “Let it be known to you. Be ashamed and confounded for your ways, house of Israel.”

“Therefore the Lord GOD says: ‘Now I will reverse the captivity of Jacob and have mercy on the whole house of Israel. I will be jealous for my holy name.

I won’t hide my face from them any more, for I have poured out my Spirit on the house of Israel,’ says the Lord GOD.”

Now God made Daniel find kindness and compassion in the sight of the prince of the eunuchs.

My God, turn your ear and hear. Open your eyes and see our desolations, and the city which is called by your name; for we do not present our petitions before you for our righteousness, but for your great mercies’ sake.

I will not execute the fierceness of my anger. I will not return to destroy Ephraim, for I am God, and not man—the Holy One amongst you. I will not come in wrath.

Tear your heart and not your garments, and turn to the LORD, your God; for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness, and relents from sending calamity.

“It will happen afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; and your sons and your daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams. Your young men will see visions.

And also on the servants and on the handmaids in those days, I will pour out my Spirit.

It will happen that whoever will call on the LORD’s name shall be saved; for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be those who escape, as the LORD has said, and amongst the remnant, those whom the LORD calls.

Hate evil, love good, and establish justice in the courts. It may be that the LORD, the God of Armies, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.”

He prayed to the LORD, and said, “Please, LORD, wasn’t this what I said when I was still in my own country? Therefore I hurried to flee to Tarshish, for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness, and you relent of doing harm.

Who is a God like you, who pardons iniquity, and passes over the disobedience of the remnant of his heritage? He doesn’t retain his anger forever, because he delights in loving kindness.

He will again have compassion on us. He will tread our iniquities under foot. You will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.

You will give truth to Jacob, and mercy to Abraham, as you have sworn to our fathers from the days of old.

Therefore tell them, the LORD of Armies says: ‘Return to me,’ says the LORD of Armies, ‘and I will return to you,’ says the LORD of Armies.

The LORD said to Satan, “The LORD rebuke you, Satan! Yes, the LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Isn’t this a burning stick plucked out of the fire?”

He answered and spoke to those who stood before him, saying, “Take the filthy garments off him.” To him he said, “Behold, I have caused your iniquity to pass from you, and I will clothe you with rich clothing.”

I said, “Let them set a clean turban on his head.” So they set a clean turban on his head, and clothed him; and the LORD’s angel was standing by.

For, behold, the stone that I have set before Joshua: on one stone are seven eyes; behold, I will engrave its inscription,’ says the LORD of Armies, ‘and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.

Who are you, great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you are a plain; and he will bring out the capstone with shouts of ‘Grace, grace, to it!’”

I will pour on David’s house and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the spirit of grace and of supplication. They will look to me whom they have pierced; and they shall mourn for him as one mourns for his only son, and will grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for his firstborn.

“In that day there will be a fountain opened to David’s house and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness.

“Now, please entreat the favour of God, that he may be gracious to us. With this, will he accept any of you?” says the LORD of Armies.

Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, and cast out demons. Freely you received, so freely give.

the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.

Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men.

Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age, or in that which is to come.

He answered them, “To you it is given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but it is not given to them.

Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand, took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”

Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.

If he finds it, most certainly I tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which have not gone astray.

Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

Jesus said to him, “I don’t tell you until seven times, but, until seventy times seven.

The lord of that servant, being moved with compassion, released him and forgave him the debt.

Shouldn’t you also have had mercy on your fellow servant, even as I had mercy on you?’

“When those who were hired at about the eleventh hour came, they each received a denarius.

When the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise each received a denarius.

Take that which is yours, and go your way. It is my desire to give to this last just as much as to you.

Isn’t it lawful for me to do what I want to with what I own? Or is your eye evil, because I am good?’

So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few are chosen.”

even as the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Go therefore to the intersections of the highways, and as many as you may find, invite to the wedding feast.’

Those servants went out into the highways and gathered together as many as they found, both bad and good. The wedding was filled with guests.

For many are called, but few chosen.”

I baptised you in water, but he will baptise you in the Holy Spirit.”

Immediately coming up from the water, he saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.

When he had said this, immediately the leprosy departed from him and he was made clean.

“Most certainly I tell you, all sins of the descendants of man will be forgiven, including their blasphemies with which they may blaspheme;

He didn’t allow him, but said to him, “Go to your house, to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you and how he had mercy on you.”

He took the five loaves and the two fish; and looking up to heaven, he blessed and broke the loaves, and he gave to his disciples to set before them, and he divided the two fish amongst them all.

They all ate and were filled.

Immediately his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was released, and he spoke clearly.

For the Son of Man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Unless the Lord had shortened the days, no flesh would have been saved; but for the sake of the chosen ones, whom he picked out, he shortened the days.

The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God. I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.

“Thus has the Lord done to me in the days in which he looked at me, to take away my reproach amongst men.”

Now in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,

Having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, you highly favoured one! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you amongst women!”

The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God.

The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore also the holy one who is born from you will be called the Son of God.

Why am I so favoured, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

for he has looked at the humble state of his servant. For behold, from now on, all generations will call me blessed.

because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the dawn from on high will visit us,

The child was growing, and was becoming strong in spirit, being filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.

All flesh will see God’s salvation.’”

John answered them all, “I indeed baptise you with water, but he comes who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to loosen. He will baptise you in the Holy Spirit and fire.

and the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily form like a dove on him; and a voice came out of the sky, saying “You are my beloved Son. In you I am well pleased.”

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the broken hearted, to proclaim release to the captives, recovering of sight to the blind, to deliver those who are crushed,

and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”

All testified about him and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth; and they said, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?”

Elijah was sent to none of them, except to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow.

There were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed, except Naaman, the Syrian.”

Seeing their faith, he said to him, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.”

I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

He who was dead sat up and began to speak. Then he gave him to his mother.

Fear took hold of all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen amongst us!” and, “God has visited his people!”

In that hour he cured many of diseases and plagues and evil spirits; and to many who were blind he gave sight.

Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John the things which you have seen and heard: that the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.

He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out;

While he was still coming, the demon threw him down and convulsed him violently. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father.

For even as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so the Son of Man will also be to this generation.

Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but those who blaspheme against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.

“Don’t be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom.

He answered, ‘Lord, leave it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilise it.

When Jesus saw her, he called her and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your infirmity.”

He sent out his servant at supper time to tell those who were invited, ‘Come, for everything is ready now.’

“That servant came, and told his lord these things. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor, maimed, blind, and lame.’

“The servant said, ‘Lord, it is done as you commanded, and there is still room.’

“The lord said to the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.

Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming close to him to hear him.

The Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, “This man welcomes sinners, and eats with them.”

“But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.

Even so you also, when you have done all the things that are commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy servants. We have done our duty.’”

I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost.”

and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God’s children, to those who believe in his name:

who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

The Word became flesh and lived amongst us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the only born Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.

From his fullness we all received grace upon grace.

For the law was given through Moses. Grace and truth were realised through Jesus Christ.

For he whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for God gives the Spirit without measure.

Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”

Jesus said to her, “I am he, the one who speaks to you.”

For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom he desires.

But the testimony which I receive is not from man. However, I say these things that you may be saved.

All those whom the Father gives me will come to me. He who comes to me I will in no way throw out.

No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him; and I will raise him up in the last day.

He said, “For this cause I have said to you that no one can come to me, unless it is given to him by my Father.”

Now on the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink!

But he said this about the Spirit, which those believing in him were to receive. For the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus wasn’t yet glorified.

Jesus, standing up, saw her and said, “Woman, where are your accusers? Did no one condemn you?”

She said, “No one, Lord.” Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way. From now on, sin no more.”

Jesus answered, “This man didn’t sin, nor did his parents, but that the works of God might be revealed in him.

Jesus answered, “This voice hasn’t come for my sake, but for your sakes.

If anyone listens to my sayings and doesn’t believe, I don’t judge him. For I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.

Jesus said to him, “Someone who has bathed only needs to have his feet washed, but is completely clean. You are clean, but not all of you.”

You are already pruned clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.

You didn’t choose me, but I chose you and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatever you will ask of the Father in my name, he may give it to you.

If you were of the world, the world would love its own. But because you are not of the world, since I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

even as you gave him authority over all flesh, so he will give eternal life to all whom you have given him.

When he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit!

Then Jesus came and took the bread, gave it to them, and the fish likewise.

‘It will be in the last days, says God, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh. Your sons and your daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions. Your old men will dream dreams.

Yes, and on my servants and on my handmaidens in those days, I will pour out my Spirit, and they will prophesy.

“Now, brothers, I know that you did this in ignorance, as did also your rulers.

if we are examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed,

may it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, this man stands here before you whole in him.

There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that is given amongst men, by which we must be saved!”

Seeing the man who was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.

saying, “What shall we do to these men? Because indeed a notable miracle has been done through them, as can be plainly seen by all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we can’t deny it.

With great power, the apostles gave their testimony of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. Great grace was on them all.

We are his witnesses of these things; and so also is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

who found favour in the sight of God, and asked to find a habitation for the God of Jacob.

Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!

But the Lord said to him, “Go your way, for he is my chosen vessel to bear my name before the nations and kings, and the children of Israel.

All who heard him were amazed, and said, “Isn’t this he who in Jerusalem made havoc of those who called on this name? And he had come here intending to bring them bound before the chief priests!”

While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all those who heard the word.

They of the circumcision who believed were amazed, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was also poured out on the Gentiles.

Now the apostles and the brothers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.

who will speak to you words by which you will be saved, you and all your house.’

As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them, even as on us at the beginning.

I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John indeed baptised in water, but you will be baptised in the Holy Spirit.’

If then God gave to them the same gift as us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I, that I could withstand God?”

When they heard these things, they held their peace and glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life!”

The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.

who, when he had come, and had seen the grace of God, was glad. He exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they should remain near to the Lord.

For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith, and many people were added to the Lord.

Be it known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man is proclaimed to you remission of sins;

and by him everyone who believes is justified from all things, from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.

Now when the synagogue broke up, many of the Jews and of the devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas; who, speaking to them, urged them to continue in the grace of God.

Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who testified to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

From there they sailed to Antioch, from where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work which they had fulfilled.

But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they are.”

but Paul chose Silas and went out, being commended by the brothers to the grace of God.

A certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, one who worshipped God, heard us. The Lord opened her heart to listen to the things which were spoken by Paul.

When she and her household were baptised, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay.” So she persuaded us.

They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked. But now he commands that all people everywhere should repent,

When he had determined to pass over into Achaia, the brothers encouraged him; and wrote to the disciples to receive him. When he had come, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace;

But these things don’t count; nor do I hold my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to fully testify to the Good News of the grace of God.

Now, brothers, I entrust you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build up and to give you the inheritance amongst all those who are sanctified.

“As I made my journey and came close to Damascus, about noon suddenly a great light shone around me from the sky.

I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ He said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you persecute.’

“Be it known therefore to you that the salvation of God is sent to the nations, and they will listen.”

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the Good News of God,

through whom we received grace and apostleship for obedience of faith amongst all the nations for his name’s sake;

to all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Or do you despise the riches of his goodness, forbearance, and patience, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?

being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not towards God.

Now to him who works, the reward is not counted as grace, but as something owed.

But to him who doesn’t work, but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.

Even as David also pronounces blessing on the man to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:

For this cause it is of faith, that it may be according to grace, to the end that the promise may be sure to all the offspring, not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all.

through whom we also have our access by faith into this grace in which we stand. We rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

But God commends his own love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we will be saved from God’s wrath through him.

For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we will be saved by his life.

But the free gift isn’t like the trespass. For if by the trespass of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many.

The gift is not as through one who sinned; for the judgement came by one to condemnation, but the free gift followed many trespasses to justification.

For if by the trespass of the one, death reigned through the one; so much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, Jesus Christ.

So then as through one trespass, all men were condemned; even so through one act of righteousness, all men were justified to life.

The law came in that the trespass might abound; but where sin abounded, grace abounded more exceedingly,

that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

For sin will not have dominion over you, for you are not under law, but under grace.

What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be!

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Therefore, my brothers, you also were made dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you would be joined to another, to him who was raised from the dead, that we might produce fruit to God.

But now we have been discharged from the law, having died to that in which we were held; so that we serve in newness of the spirit, and not in oldness of the letter.

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death.

For what the law couldn’t do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God did, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh,

But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if it is so that the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if any man doesn’t have the Spirit of Christ, he is not his.

For you didn’t receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”

The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God;

For whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn amongst many brothers.

Whom he predestined, those he also called. Whom he called, those he also justified. Whom he justified, those he also glorified.

He who didn’t spare his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how would he not also with him freely give us all things?

Who could bring a charge against God’s chosen ones? It is God who justifies.

Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, yes rather, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.

That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as heirs.

For being not yet born, neither having done anything good or bad, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him who calls,

Even as it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”

For he said to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”

So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who has mercy.

So then, he has mercy on whom he desires, and he hardens whom he desires.

and that he might make known the riches of his glory on vessels of mercy, which he prepared beforehand for glory—

us, whom he also called, not from the Jews only, but also from the Gentiles?

What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, who didn’t follow after righteousness, attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith;

Isaiah is very bold and says, “I was found by those who didn’t seek me. I was revealed to those who didn’t ask for me.”

Even so too at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.

What then? That which Israel seeks for, that he didn’t obtain, but the chosen ones obtained it, and the rest were hardened.

I ask then, did they stumble that they might fall? May it never be! But by their fall salvation has come to the Gentiles, to provoke them to jealousy.

Now if their fall is the riches of the world, and their loss the riches of the Gentiles, how much more their fullness!

But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in amongst them and became partaker with them of the root and of the richness of the olive tree,

don’t boast over the branches. But if you boast, remember that it is not you who support the root, but the root supports you.

You will say then, “Branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in.”

See then the goodness and severity of God. Towards those who fell, severity; but towards you, goodness, if you continue in his goodness; otherwise you also will be cut off.

They also, if they don’t continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.

For if you were cut out of that which is by nature a wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree, how much more will these, which are the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?

Concerning the Good News, they are enemies for your sake. But concerning the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sake.

For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

For as you in time past were disobedient to God, but now have obtained mercy by their disobedience,

even so these also have now been disobedient, that by the mercy shown to you they may also obtain mercy.

For God has bound all to disobedience, that he might have mercy on all.

“Or who has first given to him, and it will be repaid to him again?”

For I say through the grace that was given me, to everyone who is amongst you, not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think; but to think reasonably, as God has apportioned to each person a measure of faith.

having gifts differing according to the grace that was given to us: if prophecy, let’s prophesy according to the proportion of our faith;

But I write the more boldly to you in part as reminding you, because of the grace that was given to me by God,

For I will not dare to speak of any things except those which Christ worked through me for the obedience of the Gentiles, by word and deed,

in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of God’s Spirit; so that from Jerusalem and around as far as to Illyricum, I have fully preached the Good News of Christ;

But, as it is written, “They will see, to whom no news of him came. They who haven’t heard will understand.”

And the God of peace will quickly crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all! Amen.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I always thank my God concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus,

For seeing that in the wisdom of God, the world through its wisdom didn’t know God, it was God’s good pleasure through the foolishness of the preaching to save those who believe.

But to us, God revealed them through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.

But we received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is from God, that we might know the things that were freely given to us by God.

Who then is Apollos, and who is Paul, but servants through whom you believed, and each as the Lord gave to him?

So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.

According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another builds on it. But let each man be careful how he builds on it.

If any man’s work is burnt, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, but as through fire.

For who makes you different? And what do you have that you didn’t receive? But if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?

For though you have ten thousand tutors in Christ, you don’t have many fathers. For in Christ Jesus, I became your father through the Good News.

Some of you were such, but you were washed. You were sanctified. You were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and in the Spirit of our God.

Or don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,

for you were bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

But this I say by way of concession, not of commandment.

to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law towards God, but under law towards Christ), that I might win those who are without law.

and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of a spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ.

and to another workings of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of languages, and to another the interpretation of languages.

But the one and the same Spirit produces all of these, distributing to each one separately as he desires.

For in one Spirit we were all baptised into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all given to drink into one Spirit.

and last of all, as to the child born at the wrong time, he appeared to me also.

For I am the least of the apostles, who is not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the assembly of God.

But by the grace of God I am what I am. His grace which was given to me was not futile, but I worked more than all of them; yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

When I arrive, I will send whoever you approve with letters to carry your gracious gift to Jerusalem.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that in holiness and sincerity of God, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we behaved ourselves in the world, and more abundantly towards you.

being revealed that you are a letter of Christ, served by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tablets of stone, but in tablets that are hearts of flesh.

not that we are sufficient of ourselves to account anything as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God,

who also made us sufficient as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

won’t service of the Spirit be with much more glory?

For if the service of condemnation has glory, the service of righteousness exceeds much more in glory.

Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

But we all, with unveiled face seeing the glory of the Lord as in a mirror, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord, the Spirit.

seeing it is God who said, “Light will shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

But we have this treasure in clay vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God and not from ourselves.

So then death works in us, but life in you.

For all things are for your sakes, that the grace, being multiplied through the many, may cause the thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new.

But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ, and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation;

namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not reckoning to them their trespasses, and having committed to us the word of reconciliation.

We are therefore ambassadors on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

For him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Working together, we entreat also that you do not receive the grace of God in vain.

For he says, “At an acceptable time I listened to you. In a day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is the acceptable time. Behold, now is the day of salvation.

in pureness, in knowledge, in perseverance, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in sincere love,

Therefore “‘Come out from amongst them, and be separate,’ says the Lord. ‘Touch no unclean thing. I will receive you.

I will be to you a Father. You will be to me sons and daughters,’ says the Lord Almighty.”

Moreover, brothers, we make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the assemblies of Macedonia,

begging us with much entreaty to receive this grace and the fellowship in the service to the saints.

This was not as we had expected, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us through the will of God.

So we urged Titus, that as he had made a beginning before, so he would also complete in you this grace.

But as you abound in everything—in faith, utterance, knowledge, all earnestness, and in your love to us—see that you also abound in this grace.

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might become rich.

For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what you have, not according to what you don’t have.

Not only so, but he was also appointed by the assemblies to travel with us in this grace, which is served by us to the glory of the Lord himself, and to show our readiness.

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that you, always having all sufficiency in everything, may abound to every good work.

while they themselves also, with supplication on your behalf, yearn for you by reason of the exceeding grace of God in you.

Now thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift!

Or did I commit a sin in humbling myself that you might be exalted, because I preached to you God’s Good News free of charge?

He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on me.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s love, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.

Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ,

who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us out of this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father—

I marvel that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ to a different “good news”,

But when it was the good pleasure of God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through his grace,

But not even Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised.

and when they perceived the grace that was given to me, James and Cephas and John, those who were reputed to be pillars, gave to Barnabas and me the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcision.

I don’t reject the grace of God. For if righteousness is through the law, then Christ died for nothing!”

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us. For it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree,”

that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Now I say this: A covenant confirmed beforehand by God in Christ, the law, which came four hundred and thirty years after, does not annul, so as to make the promise of no effect.

For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no more of promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by promise.

Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could make alive, most certainly righteousness would have been of the law.

But the Scripture imprisoned all things under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

That which was a temptation to you in my flesh, you didn’t despise nor reject; but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.

Behold, I, Paul, tell you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will profit you nothing.

You are alienated from Christ, you who desire to be justified by the law. You have fallen away from grace.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

having predestined us for adoption as children through Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his desire,

to the praise of the glory of his grace, by which he freely gave us favour in the Beloved.

In him we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace

which he made to abound towards us in all wisdom and prudence,

You were made alive when you were dead in transgressions and sins,

But God, being rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us,

even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—

that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness towards us in Christ Jesus;

for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,

not of works, that no one would boast.

if it is so that you have heard of the administration of that grace of God which was given me towards you,

that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of his promise in Christ Jesus through the Good News,

of which I was made a servant according to the gift of that grace of God which was given me according to the working of his power.

To me, the very least of all saints, was this grace given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,

that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that you may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner person,

But to each one of us, the grace was given according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but only what is good for building others up as the need may be, that it may give grace to those who hear.

And be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you.

Therefore he says, “Awake, you who sleep, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love. Amen.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is even right for me to think this way on behalf of all of you, because I have you in my heart, because both in my bonds and in the defence and confirmation of the Good News, you all are partakers with me of grace.

Because it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in him, but also to suffer on his behalf,

who, existing in the form of God, didn’t consider equality with God a thing to be grasped,

but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

to the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

which has come to you, even as it is in all the world and is bearing fruit and growing, as it does in you also, since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth,

For all the fullness was pleased to dwell in him,

to whom God was pleased to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery amongst the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the sins of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ,

having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.

You were dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh. He made you alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,

wiping out the handwriting in ordinances which was against us. He has taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross.

Let no one therefore judge you in eating or drinking, or with respect to a feast day or a new moon or a Sabbath day,

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to the Lord.

Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. Amen.

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the assembly of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

For God didn’t appoint us to wrath, but to the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

But we are bound to always give thanks to God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief in the truth,

Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace,

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

to Timothy, my true child in faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

The grace of our Lord abounded exceedingly with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

Without controversy, the mystery of godliness is great: God was revealed in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen by angels, preached amongst the nations, believed on in the world, and received up in glory.

Don’t neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the elders.

which some profess, and thus have wandered from the faith. Grace be with you. Amen.

to Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

For this cause, I remind you that you should stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before times eternal,

You therefore, my child, be strengthened in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

The Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.

to Titus, my true child according to a common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men,

instructing us to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we would live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age;

But when the kindness of God our Saviour and his love towards mankind appeared,

not by works of righteousness which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,

whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

that being justified by his grace, we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

All who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

But I was willing to do nothing without your consent, that your goodness would not be as of necessity, but of free will.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders, by various works of power, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to his own will?

But one has somewhere testified, saying, “What is man, that you think of him? Or the son of man, that you care for him?

But we see him who has been made a little lower than the angels, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honour, that by the grace of God he should taste of death for everyone.

Let’s therefore draw near with boldness to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace for help in time of need.

For concerning those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit,

For God is not unrighteous, so as to forget your work and the labour of love which you showed towards his name, in that you served the saints, and still do serve them.

By so much, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.

For such a high priest was fitting for us: holy, guiltless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

who doesn’t need, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices daily, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. For he did this once for all, when he offered up himself.

But now he has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as he is also the mediator of a better covenant, which on better promises has been given as law.

For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness. I will remember their sins and lawless deeds no more.”

For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.

“I will remember their sins and their iniquities no more.”

Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.

let’s draw near with a true heart in fullness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and having our body washed with pure water,

For if we sin wilfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more a sacrifice for sins,

How much worse punishment do you think he will be judged worthy of who has trodden under foot the Son of God, and has counted the blood of the covenant with which he was sanctified an unholy thing, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?

God having provided some better thing concerning us, so that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

looking carefully lest there be any man who falls short of the grace of God, lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you and many be defiled by it,

Therefore, receiving a Kingdom that can’t be shaken, let’s have grace, through which we serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe,

Don’t be carried away by various and strange teachings, for it is good that the heart be established by grace, not by foods, through which those who were so occupied were not benefitted.

Grace be with you all. Amen.

Of his own will he gave birth to us by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

Therefore, putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive with humility the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he will exalt you.

according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, that you may obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with his blood: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.

Concerning this salvation, the prophets sought and searched diligently. They prophesied of the grace that would come to you,

To them it was revealed that they served not themselves, but you, in these things, which now have been announced to you through those who preached the Good News to you by the Holy Spirit sent out from heaven; which things angels desire to look into.

Therefore prepare your minds for action. Be sober, and set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ—

if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.

In the past, you were not a people, but now are God’s people, who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

You husbands, in the same way, live with your wives according to knowledge, giving honour to the woman as to the weaker vessel, as also being joint heirs of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.

This is a symbol of baptism, which now saves you—not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience towards God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

As each has received a gift, employ it in serving one another, as good managers of the grace of God in its various forms.

Likewise, you younger ones, be subject to the elder. Yes, all of you clothe yourselves with humility and subject yourselves to one another; for “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

But may the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a little while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.

Through Silvanus, our faithful brother, as I consider him, I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God in which you stand.

Grace to you and peace be multiplied in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

(and the life was revealed, and we have seen, and testify, and declare to you the life, the eternal life, which was with the Father, and was revealed to us);

You have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all have knowledge.

We love him, because he first loved us.

The testimony is this: that God gave to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

For there are certain men who crept in secretly, even those who were long ago written about for this condemnation: ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into indecency, and denying our only Master, God, and Lord, Jesus Christ.

John, to the seven assemblies that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from God, who is and who was and who is to come; and from the seven Spirits who are before his throne;

I told him, “My lord, you know.” He said to me, “These are those who came out of the great suffering. They washed their robes and made them white in the Lamb’s blood.

I saw an angel flying in mid heaven, having an eternal Good News to proclaim to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language, and people.

He said to me, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give freely to him who is thirsty from the spring of the water of life.

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” He who hears, let him say, “Come!” He who is thirsty, let him come. He who desires, let him take the water of life freely.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with all the saints. Amen.