Judges 7:2 God said to Gideon, “You have too large an army with you. I can’t turn Midian over to them like this—they’ll take all the credit, saying, ‘I did it all mysel...

7:2 MSG

逐節對照

The Message - God said to Gideon, “You have too large an army with you. I can’t turn Midian over to them like this—they’ll take all the credit, saying, ‘I did it all myself,’ and forget about me. Make a public announcement: ‘Anyone afraid, anyone who has any qualms at all, may leave Mount Gilead now and go home.’” Twenty-two companies headed for home. Ten companies were left.
新标点和合本 - 耶和华对基甸说：“跟随你的人过多，我不能将米甸人交在他们手中，免得以色列人向我夸大，说：‘是我们自己的手救了我们。’
和合本2010（上帝版-简体） - 耶和华对基甸说：“跟随你的人太多，我不能把米甸交在他们手中，免得以色列向我自夸，说：‘是我自己的手救了我。’
和合本2010（神版-简体） - 耶和华对基甸说：“跟随你的人太多，我不能把米甸交在他们手中，免得以色列向我自夸，说：‘是我自己的手救了我。’
当代译本 - 耶和华对基甸说：“你的人太多了，我不能把米甸人交在你们手中，免得以色列人以为是靠自己的力量救了自己。
圣经新译本 - 耶和华对基甸说：“与你在一起的人太多，我不能把米甸人交在你们手中，免得以色列人向我自夸：‘是我们自己的手救了我们。’
中文标准译本 - 耶和华对基甸说：“跟随你的人太多了，我不能把米甸人交在他们手中，免得以色列人向我自夸说：‘是我们自己的手拯救了我们。’
现代标点和合本 - 耶和华对基甸说：“跟随你的人过多，我不能将米甸人交在他们手中，免得以色列人向我夸大，说：‘是我们自己的手救了我们。’
和合本（拼音版） - 耶和华对基甸说：“跟随你的人过多，我不能将米甸人交在他们手中，免得以色列人向我夸大，说：‘是我们自己的手救了我们。’
New International Version - The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian into their hands, or Israel would boast against me, ‘My own strength has saved me.’
New International Reader's Version - The Lord said to Gideon, “I want to hand Midian over to you. But you have too many men for me to do that. Then Israel might brag, ‘My own strength has saved me.’
English Standard Version - The Lord said to Gideon, “The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel boast over me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’
New Living Translation - The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many warriors with you. If I let all of you fight the Midianites, the Israelites will boast to me that they saved themselves by their own strength.
Christian Standard Bible - The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many troops for me to hand the Midianites over to them, or else Israel might elevate themselves over me and say, ‘I saved myself.’
New American Standard Bible - And the Lord said to Gideon, “The people who are with you are too many for Me to hand Midian over to them, otherwise Israel would become boastful, saying, ‘My own power has saved me.’
New King James Version - And the Lord said to Gideon, “The people who are with you are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel claim glory for itself against Me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’
Amplified Bible - Then the Lord said to Gideon, “There are too many people with you for Me to hand over Midian to them, otherwise Israel will boast [about themselves] against Me, saying, ‘My own power has rescued me.’
American Standard Version - And Jehovah said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.
King James Version - And the Lord said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.
New English Translation - The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many men for me to hand Midian over to you. Israel might brag, ‘Our own strength has delivered us.’
World English Bible - Yahweh said to Gideon, “The people who are with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel brag against me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’
新標點和合本 - 耶和華對基甸說：「跟隨你的人過多，我不能將米甸人交在他們手中，免得以色列人向我誇大，說：『是我們自己的手救了我們。』
和合本2010（上帝版-繁體） - 耶和華對基甸說：「跟隨你的人太多，我不能把米甸交在他們手中，免得以色列向我自誇，說：『是我自己的手救了我。』
和合本2010（神版-繁體） - 耶和華對基甸說：「跟隨你的人太多，我不能把米甸交在他們手中，免得以色列向我自誇，說：『是我自己的手救了我。』
當代譯本 - 耶和華對基甸說：「你的人太多了，我不能把米甸人交在你們手中，免得以色列人以為是靠自己的力量救了自己。
聖經新譯本 - 耶和華對基甸說：“與你在一起的人太多，我不能把米甸人交在你們手中，免得以色列人向我自誇：‘是我們自己的手救了我們。’
呂振中譯本 - 永恆主對基甸說：『跟從你的眾民太多、過於我要把米甸人交在他們手中的，免得以色列人向我炫耀自己說：「是我自己的手拯救了我的。」
中文標準譯本 - 耶和華對基甸說：「跟隨你的人太多了，我不能把米甸人交在他們手中，免得以色列人向我自誇說：『是我們自己的手拯救了我們。』
現代標點和合本 - 耶和華對基甸說：「跟隨你的人過多，我不能將米甸人交在他們手中，免得以色列人向我誇大，說：『是我們自己的手救了我們。』
文理和合譯本 - 耶和華諭基甸曰、從爾者過眾、我不以米甸人付於其手、免以色列人向我自詡曰、我手自救、
文理委辦譯本 - 耶和華諭其田曰、從爾者過眾、如我以米田人付於其手、恐以色列族必自誇詡、違逆乎我、謂己有能、是以得救。
施約瑟淺文理新舊約聖經 - 主諭基甸曰、從爾之民過眾、我不欲以米甸人付於其手、恐以色列人向我自誇曰、我得救援、乃藉己力、乃藉己力原文作是我手救我
Nueva Versión Internacional - El Señor le dijo a Gedeón: «Tienes demasiada gente para que yo entregue a Madián en sus manos. A fin de que Israel no vaya a jactarse contra mí y diga que su propia fortaleza lo ha librado,
현대인의 성경 - 여호와께서 기드온에게 말씀하셨다. “너와 함께 있는 백성이 너무 많아서 내가 미디안 사람들을 너희 손에 넘겨 주지 않겠다. 그들이 만일 전쟁에 이기면 자기들 힘으로 이긴 줄 알고 교만할 것이다.
Новый Русский Перевод - Господь сказал Гедеону: – Воинов с тобой слишком много. Я не стану отдавать мадианитян в их руки. Чтобы Израиль не мог гордиться предо Мной, будто его спасла его собственная сила,
Восточный перевод - Вечный сказал Гедеону: – Воинов с тобой слишком много. Я не стану отдавать мадианитян в их руки. Чтобы Исраил не мог гордиться предо Мной, что его спасла его собственная сила,
Восточный перевод, версия с «Аллахом» - Вечный сказал Гедеону: – Воинов с тобой слишком много. Я не стану отдавать мадианитян в их руки. Чтобы Исраил не мог гордиться предо Мной, что его спасла его собственная сила,
Восточный перевод, версия для Таджикистана - Вечный сказал Гедеону: – Воинов с тобой слишком много. Я не стану отдавать мадианитян в их руки. Чтобы Исроил не мог гордиться предо Мной, что его спасла его собственная сила,
La Bible du Semeur 2015 - L’Eternel dit à Gédéon : Ton armée est trop nombreuse pour que je te donne la victoire sur les Madianites. Sinon les Israélites s’en vanteraient à mes dépens, en pensant que c’est par leurs propres forces qu’ils se sont délivrés.
リビングバイブル - その時、主はギデオンにこのように告げました。「兵が多すぎる。このままでミデヤンと戦わせるわけにはいかない。イスラエルの民が自力で勝ったつもりになって、わたしに対して誇ってしまうかもしれないからだ。
Nova Versão Internacional - E o Senhor disse a Gideão: “Você tem gente demais, para eu entregar Midiã nas suas mãos. A fim de que Israel não se orgulhe contra mim, dizendo que a sua própria força o libertou,
Hoffnung für alle - Der Herr sprach zu Gideon: »Du hast zu viele Soldaten! Diesem großen Heer will ich nicht den Sieg über die Midianiter schenken! Sonst werden die Israeliten mir gegenüber prahlen: ›Wir haben uns aus eigener Kraft befreit!‹
Kinh Thánh Hiện Đại - Chúa Hằng Hữu phán bảo Ghi-đê-ôn: “Quân ngươi đông quá! Ta không cho họ thắng Ma-đi-an đâu, kẻo họ tự phụ, cho rằng: ‘Chính tự sức họ đã cứu họ.’
พระคริสตธรรมคัมภีร์ไทย ฉบับอมตธรรมร่วมสมัย - องค์พระผู้เป็นเจ้าตรัสกับกิเดโอนว่า “เจ้ามีกำลังพลมากเกินไป เราจะไม่ให้เจ้าชนะชาวมีเดียนด้วยคนมากมายขนาดนี้ เพื่อชาวอิสราเอลจะได้ไม่อวดอ้างกับเราว่าพวกเขากอบกู้ตนเองโดยอาศัยกำลังของพวกเขา
พระคัมภีร์ ฉบับแปลใหม่ - พระผู้เป็นเจ้ากล่าวกับกิเดโอนว่า “จำนวนคนที่อยู่กับเจ้ามีมากเกินไปที่จะให้เรามอบชาวมีเดียนไว้ในมือของพวกเขา เพราะคาดว่าอิสราเอลจะคุยโตทับเราว่า ‘มือของเราเองที่ช่วยพวกเรา’

交叉引用

Zechariah 12:7 - “I, God, will begin by restoring the common households of Judah so that the glory of David’s family and the leaders in Jerusalem won’t overshadow the ordinary people in Judah. On the Big Day, I’ll look after everyone who lives in Jerusalem so that the lowliest, weakest person will be as glorious as David and the family of David itself will be godlike, like the Angel of God leading the people.
Isaiah 2:11 - People with a big head are headed for a fall, pretentious egos brought down a peg. It’s God alone at front-and-center on the Day we’re talking about, The Day that God-of-the-Angel-Armies is matched against all big-talking rivals, against all swaggering big names; Against all giant sequoias hugely towering, and against the expansive chestnut; Against Kilimanjaro and Annapurna, against the ranges of Alps and Andes; Against every soaring skyscraper, against all proud obelisks and statues; Against ocean-going luxury liners, against elegant three-masted schooners. The swelled big heads will be punctured bladders, the pretentious egos brought down to earth, Leaving God alone at front-and-center on the Day we’re talking about.
Romans 3:27 - So where does that leave our proud Jewish insider claims and counterclaims? Canceled? Yes, canceled. What we’ve learned is this: God does not respond to what we do; we respond to what God does. We’ve finally figured it out. Our lives get in step with God and all others by letting him set the pace, not by proudly or anxiously trying to run the parade.
1 Samuel 14:6 - Jonathan said to his armor bearer, “Come on now, let’s go across to these uncircumcised pagans. Maybe God will work for us. There’s no rule that says God can only deliver by using a big army. No one can stop God from saving when he sets his mind to it.”
Jeremiah 9:23 - God’s Message: “Don’t let the wise brag of their wisdom. Don’t let heroes brag of their exploits. Don’t let the rich brag of their riches. If you brag, brag of this and this only: That you understand and know me. I’m God, and I act in loyal love. I do what’s right and set things right and fair, and delight in those who do the same things. These are my trademarks.” God’s Decree. * * *
Isaiah 10:13 - “‘I’ve done all this by myself. I know more than anyone. I’ve wiped out the boundaries of whole countries. I’ve walked in and taken anything I wanted. I charged in like a bull and toppled their kings from their thrones. I reached out my hand and took all that they treasured as easily as a boy taking a bird’s eggs from a nest. Like a farmer gathering eggs from the henhouse, I gathered the world in my basket, And no one so much as fluttered a wing or squawked or even chirped.’”
2 Corinthians 4:7 - If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That’s to prevent anyone from confusing God’s incomparable power with us. As it is, there’s not much chance of that. You know for yourselves that we’re not much to look at. We’ve been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we’re not demoralized; we’re not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do; we’ve been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn’t left our side; we’ve been thrown down, but we haven’t broken. What they did to Jesus, they do to us—trial and torture, mockery and murder; what Jesus did among them, he does in us—he lives! Our lives are at constant risk for Jesus’ sake, which makes Jesus’ life all the more evident in us. While we’re going through the worst, you’re getting in on the best!
Deuteronomy 8:17 - If you start thinking to yourselves, “I did all this. And all by myself. I’m rich. It’s all mine!”—well, think again. Remember that God, your God, gave you the strength to produce all this wealth so as to confirm the covenant that he promised to your ancestors—as it is today.

逐節對照

交叉引用

The Message - God said to Gideon, “You have too large an army with you. I can’t turn Midian over to them like this—they’ll take all the credit, saying, ‘I did it all myself,’ and forget about me. Make a public announcement: ‘Anyone afraid, anyone who has any qualms at all, may leave Mount Gilead now and go home.’” Twenty-two companies headed for home. Ten companies were left.
新标点和合本 - 耶和华对基甸说：“跟随你的人过多，我不能将米甸人交在他们手中，免得以色列人向我夸大，说：‘是我们自己的手救了我们。’
和合本2010（上帝版-简体） - 耶和华对基甸说：“跟随你的人太多，我不能把米甸交在他们手中，免得以色列向我自夸，说：‘是我自己的手救了我。’
和合本2010（神版-简体） - 耶和华对基甸说：“跟随你的人太多，我不能把米甸交在他们手中，免得以色列向我自夸，说：‘是我自己的手救了我。’
当代译本 - 耶和华对基甸说：“你的人太多了，我不能把米甸人交在你们手中，免得以色列人以为是靠自己的力量救了自己。
圣经新译本 - 耶和华对基甸说：“与你在一起的人太多，我不能把米甸人交在你们手中，免得以色列人向我自夸：‘是我们自己的手救了我们。’
中文标准译本 - 耶和华对基甸说：“跟随你的人太多了，我不能把米甸人交在他们手中，免得以色列人向我自夸说：‘是我们自己的手拯救了我们。’
现代标点和合本 - 耶和华对基甸说：“跟随你的人过多，我不能将米甸人交在他们手中，免得以色列人向我夸大，说：‘是我们自己的手救了我们。’
和合本（拼音版） - 耶和华对基甸说：“跟随你的人过多，我不能将米甸人交在他们手中，免得以色列人向我夸大，说：‘是我们自己的手救了我们。’
New International Version - The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian into their hands, or Israel would boast against me, ‘My own strength has saved me.’
New International Reader's Version - The Lord said to Gideon, “I want to hand Midian over to you. But you have too many men for me to do that. Then Israel might brag, ‘My own strength has saved me.’
English Standard Version - The Lord said to Gideon, “The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel boast over me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’
New Living Translation - The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many warriors with you. If I let all of you fight the Midianites, the Israelites will boast to me that they saved themselves by their own strength.
Christian Standard Bible - The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many troops for me to hand the Midianites over to them, or else Israel might elevate themselves over me and say, ‘I saved myself.’
New American Standard Bible - And the Lord said to Gideon, “The people who are with you are too many for Me to hand Midian over to them, otherwise Israel would become boastful, saying, ‘My own power has saved me.’
New King James Version - And the Lord said to Gideon, “The people who are with you are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel claim glory for itself against Me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’
Amplified Bible - Then the Lord said to Gideon, “There are too many people with you for Me to hand over Midian to them, otherwise Israel will boast [about themselves] against Me, saying, ‘My own power has rescued me.’
American Standard Version - And Jehovah said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.
King James Version - And the Lord said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.
New English Translation - The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many men for me to hand Midian over to you. Israel might brag, ‘Our own strength has delivered us.’
World English Bible - Yahweh said to Gideon, “The people who are with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel brag against me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’
新標點和合本 - 耶和華對基甸說：「跟隨你的人過多，我不能將米甸人交在他們手中，免得以色列人向我誇大，說：『是我們自己的手救了我們。』
和合本2010（上帝版-繁體） - 耶和華對基甸說：「跟隨你的人太多，我不能把米甸交在他們手中，免得以色列向我自誇，說：『是我自己的手救了我。』
和合本2010（神版-繁體） - 耶和華對基甸說：「跟隨你的人太多，我不能把米甸交在他們手中，免得以色列向我自誇，說：『是我自己的手救了我。』
當代譯本 - 耶和華對基甸說：「你的人太多了，我不能把米甸人交在你們手中，免得以色列人以為是靠自己的力量救了自己。
聖經新譯本 - 耶和華對基甸說：“與你在一起的人太多，我不能把米甸人交在你們手中，免得以色列人向我自誇：‘是我們自己的手救了我們。’
呂振中譯本 - 永恆主對基甸說：『跟從你的眾民太多、過於我要把米甸人交在他們手中的，免得以色列人向我炫耀自己說：「是我自己的手拯救了我的。」
中文標準譯本 - 耶和華對基甸說：「跟隨你的人太多了，我不能把米甸人交在他們手中，免得以色列人向我自誇說：『是我們自己的手拯救了我們。』
現代標點和合本 - 耶和華對基甸說：「跟隨你的人過多，我不能將米甸人交在他們手中，免得以色列人向我誇大，說：『是我們自己的手救了我們。』
文理和合譯本 - 耶和華諭基甸曰、從爾者過眾、我不以米甸人付於其手、免以色列人向我自詡曰、我手自救、
文理委辦譯本 - 耶和華諭其田曰、從爾者過眾、如我以米田人付於其手、恐以色列族必自誇詡、違逆乎我、謂己有能、是以得救。
施約瑟淺文理新舊約聖經 - 主諭基甸曰、從爾之民過眾、我不欲以米甸人付於其手、恐以色列人向我自誇曰、我得救援、乃藉己力、乃藉己力原文作是我手救我
Nueva Versión Internacional - El Señor le dijo a Gedeón: «Tienes demasiada gente para que yo entregue a Madián en sus manos. A fin de que Israel no vaya a jactarse contra mí y diga que su propia fortaleza lo ha librado,
현대인의 성경 - 여호와께서 기드온에게 말씀하셨다. “너와 함께 있는 백성이 너무 많아서 내가 미디안 사람들을 너희 손에 넘겨 주지 않겠다. 그들이 만일 전쟁에 이기면 자기들 힘으로 이긴 줄 알고 교만할 것이다.
Новый Русский Перевод - Господь сказал Гедеону: – Воинов с тобой слишком много. Я не стану отдавать мадианитян в их руки. Чтобы Израиль не мог гордиться предо Мной, будто его спасла его собственная сила,
Восточный перевод - Вечный сказал Гедеону: – Воинов с тобой слишком много. Я не стану отдавать мадианитян в их руки. Чтобы Исраил не мог гордиться предо Мной, что его спасла его собственная сила,
Восточный перевод, версия с «Аллахом» - Вечный сказал Гедеону: – Воинов с тобой слишком много. Я не стану отдавать мадианитян в их руки. Чтобы Исраил не мог гордиться предо Мной, что его спасла его собственная сила,
Восточный перевод, версия для Таджикистана - Вечный сказал Гедеону: – Воинов с тобой слишком много. Я не стану отдавать мадианитян в их руки. Чтобы Исроил не мог гордиться предо Мной, что его спасла его собственная сила,
La Bible du Semeur 2015 - L’Eternel dit à Gédéon : Ton armée est trop nombreuse pour que je te donne la victoire sur les Madianites. Sinon les Israélites s’en vanteraient à mes dépens, en pensant que c’est par leurs propres forces qu’ils se sont délivrés.
リビングバイブル - その時、主はギデオンにこのように告げました。「兵が多すぎる。このままでミデヤンと戦わせるわけにはいかない。イスラエルの民が自力で勝ったつもりになって、わたしに対して誇ってしまうかもしれないからだ。
Nova Versão Internacional - E o Senhor disse a Gideão: “Você tem gente demais, para eu entregar Midiã nas suas mãos. A fim de que Israel não se orgulhe contra mim, dizendo que a sua própria força o libertou,
Hoffnung für alle - Der Herr sprach zu Gideon: »Du hast zu viele Soldaten! Diesem großen Heer will ich nicht den Sieg über die Midianiter schenken! Sonst werden die Israeliten mir gegenüber prahlen: ›Wir haben uns aus eigener Kraft befreit!‹
Kinh Thánh Hiện Đại - Chúa Hằng Hữu phán bảo Ghi-đê-ôn: “Quân ngươi đông quá! Ta không cho họ thắng Ma-đi-an đâu, kẻo họ tự phụ, cho rằng: ‘Chính tự sức họ đã cứu họ.’
พระคริสตธรรมคัมภีร์ไทย ฉบับอมตธรรมร่วมสมัย - องค์พระผู้เป็นเจ้าตรัสกับกิเดโอนว่า “เจ้ามีกำลังพลมากเกินไป เราจะไม่ให้เจ้าชนะชาวมีเดียนด้วยคนมากมายขนาดนี้ เพื่อชาวอิสราเอลจะได้ไม่อวดอ้างกับเราว่าพวกเขากอบกู้ตนเองโดยอาศัยกำลังของพวกเขา
พระคัมภีร์ ฉบับแปลใหม่ - พระผู้เป็นเจ้ากล่าวกับกิเดโอนว่า “จำนวนคนที่อยู่กับเจ้ามีมากเกินไปที่จะให้เรามอบชาวมีเดียนไว้ในมือของพวกเขา เพราะคาดว่าอิสราเอลจะคุยโตทับเราว่า ‘มือของเราเองที่ช่วยพวกเรา’

Zechariah 12:7 - “I, God, will begin by restoring the common households of Judah so that the glory of David’s family and the leaders in Jerusalem won’t overshadow the ordinary people in Judah. On the Big Day, I’ll look after everyone who lives in Jerusalem so that the lowliest, weakest person will be as glorious as David and the family of David itself will be godlike, like the Angel of God leading the people.
Isaiah 2:11 - People with a big head are headed for a fall, pretentious egos brought down a peg. It’s God alone at front-and-center on the Day we’re talking about, The Day that God-of-the-Angel-Armies is matched against all big-talking rivals, against all swaggering big names; Against all giant sequoias hugely towering, and against the expansive chestnut; Against Kilimanjaro and Annapurna, against the ranges of Alps and Andes; Against every soaring skyscraper, against all proud obelisks and statues; Against ocean-going luxury liners, against elegant three-masted schooners. The swelled big heads will be punctured bladders, the pretentious egos brought down to earth, Leaving God alone at front-and-center on the Day we’re talking about.
Romans 3:27 - So where does that leave our proud Jewish insider claims and counterclaims? Canceled? Yes, canceled. What we’ve learned is this: God does not respond to what we do; we respond to what God does. We’ve finally figured it out. Our lives get in step with God and all others by letting him set the pace, not by proudly or anxiously trying to run the parade.
1 Samuel 14:6 - Jonathan said to his armor bearer, “Come on now, let’s go across to these uncircumcised pagans. Maybe God will work for us. There’s no rule that says God can only deliver by using a big army. No one can stop God from saving when he sets his mind to it.”
Jeremiah 9:23 - God’s Message: “Don’t let the wise brag of their wisdom. Don’t let heroes brag of their exploits. Don’t let the rich brag of their riches. If you brag, brag of this and this only: That you understand and know me. I’m God, and I act in loyal love. I do what’s right and set things right and fair, and delight in those who do the same things. These are my trademarks.” God’s Decree. * * *
Isaiah 10:13 - “‘I’ve done all this by myself. I know more than anyone. I’ve wiped out the boundaries of whole countries. I’ve walked in and taken anything I wanted. I charged in like a bull and toppled their kings from their thrones. I reached out my hand and took all that they treasured as easily as a boy taking a bird’s eggs from a nest. Like a farmer gathering eggs from the henhouse, I gathered the world in my basket, And no one so much as fluttered a wing or squawked or even chirped.’”
2 Corinthians 4:7 - If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That’s to prevent anyone from confusing God’s incomparable power with us. As it is, there’s not much chance of that. You know for yourselves that we’re not much to look at. We’ve been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we’re not demoralized; we’re not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do; we’ve been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn’t left our side; we’ve been thrown down, but we haven’t broken. What they did to Jesus, they do to us—trial and torture, mockery and murder; what Jesus did among them, he does in us—he lives! Our lives are at constant risk for Jesus’ sake, which makes Jesus’ life all the more evident in us. While we’re going through the worst, you’re getting in on the best!
Deuteronomy 8:17 - If you start thinking to yourselves, “I did all this. And all by myself. I’m rich. It’s all mine!”—well, think again. Remember that God, your God, gave you the strength to produce all this wealth so as to confirm the covenant that he promised to your ancestors—as it is today.