1 Peter 1:17 You call out to God for help and he helps—he’s a good Father that way. But don’t forget, he’s also a responsible Father, and won’t let you get by with sloppy...

1:17 MSG

逐节对照

The Message - You call out to God for help and he helps—he’s a good Father that way. But don’t forget, he’s also a responsible Father, and won’t let you get by with sloppy living.
新标点和合本 - 你们既称那不偏待人、按各人行为审判人的主为父，就当存敬畏的心度你们在世寄居的日子，
和合本2010（上帝版-简体） - 既然你们称那不偏待人、按各人行为审判人的主为父，就当存敬畏的心，度你们在世寄居的日子。
和合本2010（神版-简体） - 既然你们称那不偏待人、按各人行为审判人的主为父，就当存敬畏的心，度你们在世寄居的日子。
当代译本 - 既然你们称呼那位按各人的行为公正无私地审判人的上帝为父，就应该存着敬畏的心过你们在世上寄居的日子。
圣经新译本 - 你们既称那不偏待人、按各人行为审判的主为父，就当存敬畏的心，过你们寄居的日子；
中文标准译本 - 你们既然称不偏待人、只按每个人的行为施行审判的那一位为父，就应当怀着敬畏的心，过你们寄居的日子，
现代标点和合本 - 你们既称那不偏待人、按各人行为审判人的主为父，就当存敬畏的心度你们在世寄居的日子，
和合本（拼音版） - 你们既称那不偏待人、按各人行为审判人的主为父，就当存敬畏的心，度你们在世寄居的日子，
New International Version - Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear.
New International Reader's Version - You call on a Father who judges each person’s work without favoring one over another. So live as outsiders during your time here. Live with the highest respect for God.
English Standard Version - And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile,
New Living Translation - And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time here as “temporary residents.”
Christian Standard Bible - If you appeal to the Father who judges impartially according to each one’s work, you are to conduct yourselves in reverence during your time living as strangers.
New American Standard Bible - If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth;
New King James Version - And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear;
Amplified Bible - If you address as Father, the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in [reverent] fear [of Him] and with profound respect for Him throughout the time of your stay on earth.
American Standard Version - And if ye call on him as Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to each man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning in fear:
King James Version - And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:
New English Translation - And if you address as Father the one who impartially judges according to each one’s work, live out the time of your temporary residence here in reverence.
World English Bible - If you call on him as Father, who without respect of persons judges according to each man’s work, pass the time of your living as foreigners here in reverent fear,
新標點和合本 - 你們既稱那不偏待人、按各人行為審判人的主為父，就當存敬畏的心度你們在世寄居的日子，
和合本2010（上帝版-繁體） - 既然你們稱那不偏待人、按各人行為審判人的主為父，就當存敬畏的心，度你們在世寄居的日子。
和合本2010（神版-繁體） - 既然你們稱那不偏待人、按各人行為審判人的主為父，就當存敬畏的心，度你們在世寄居的日子。
當代譯本 - 既然你們稱呼那位按各人的行為公正無私地審判人的上帝為父，就應該存著敬畏的心過你們在世上寄居的日子。
聖經新譯本 - 你們既稱那不偏待人、按各人行為審判的主為父，就當存敬畏的心，過你們寄居的日子；
呂振中譯本 - 你們既是呼求一位不以貌取人、乃按各人的行為施審判的父，就該存着敬畏的心、來度你們僑居世間的時光。
中文標準譯本 - 你們既然稱不偏待人、只按每個人的行為施行審判的那一位為父，就應當懷著敬畏的心，過你們寄居的日子，
現代標點和合本 - 你們既稱那不偏待人、按各人行為審判人的主為父，就當存敬畏的心度你們在世寄居的日子，
文理和合譯本 - 爾若籲不以貌視人、依行而鞫之父、則旅居斯世、自當儆惕、
文理委辦譯本 - 父不偏視人、必依其行為而鞫之、爾既籲父、則寄生斯世、當無日不儆惕、
施約瑟淺文理新舊約聖經 - 天主不偏視人、循人之所行而鞫之、爾既稱之為父、則寄生斯世、當無日不警懼、
吳經熊文理聖詠與新經全集 - 夫爾等所呼為父者、乃大公無私、按各人行實而施黜陟者也。是宜戰戰兢兢以度羇旅塵世之日。
Nueva Versión Internacional - Ya que invocan como Padre al que juzga con imparcialidad las obras de cada uno, vivan con temor reverente mientras sean peregrinos en este mundo.
현대인의 성경 - 각 사람이 행한 대로 공정하게 심판하시는 분을 아버지라고 부른다면 여러분은 이 세상에서 나그네 생활을 하는 동안 두려운 마음으로 살아가십시오.
Новый Русский Перевод - Если вы называете Отцом Того, Кто беспристрастно судит каждого по делам, то, будучи странниками на этой земле, проводите вашу жизнь в почтительном страхе перед Ним.
Восточный перевод - Если вы называете Отцом Того, Кто справедливо судит каждого по делам, то, будучи странниками на этой земле, проводите вашу жизнь в почтительном страхе перед Ним.
Восточный перевод, версия с «Аллахом» - Если вы называете Отцом Того, Кто справедливо судит каждого по делам, то, будучи странниками на этой земле, проводите вашу жизнь в почтительном страхе перед Ним.
Восточный перевод, версия для Таджикистана - Если вы называете Отцом Того, Кто справедливо судит каждого по делам, то, будучи странниками на этой земле, проводите вашу жизнь в почтительном страхе перед Ним.
La Bible du Semeur 2015 - Dans vos prières, vous appelez Père celui qui juge impartialement tout homme selon ses actes. Par conséquent, pendant tout le temps de votre séjour en ce monde, que la crainte de Dieu inspire votre conduite.
リビングバイブル - あなたがたが祈りをささげる天の父なる神は、人の行いをすべて、正しく公平にさばかれます。ですから天に行くその日まで、主を恐れ、慎み深く生活しなさい。
Nestle Aland 28 - καὶ εἰ πατέρα ἐπικαλεῖσθε τὸν ἀπροσωπολήμπτως κρίνοντα κατὰ τὸ ἑκάστου ἔργον, ἐν φόβῳ τὸν τῆς παροικίας ὑμῶν χρόνον ἀναστράφητε
unfoldingWord® Greek New Testament - καὶ εἰ Πατέρα ἐπικαλεῖσθε, τὸν ἀπροσωπολήμπτως κρίνοντα κατὰ τὸ ἑκάστου ἔργον, ἐν φόβῳ τὸν τῆς παροικίας ὑμῶν χρόνον ἀναστράφητε;
Nova Versão Internacional - Uma vez que vocês chamam Pai àquele que julga imparcialmente as obras de cada um, portem-se com temor durante a jornada terrena de vocês.
Hoffnung für alle - Ihr betet zu Gott als eurem Vater und wisst, dass er jeden von euch nach seinem Verhalten richten wird; er bevorzugt oder benachteiligt niemanden. Deswegen führt euer Leben in Ehrfurcht vor Gott, solange ihr als Fremde mitten unter den Menschen lebt, die nicht an Christus glauben.
Kinh Thánh Hiện Đại - Khi cầu khẩn Cha trên trời, anh chị em nên nhớ Ngài không bao giờ thiên vị. Ngài sẽ lấy công lý tuyệt đối xét xử anh chị em đúng theo hành động của mỗi người, nên hãy kính sợ Ngài suốt đời.
พระคริสตธรรมคัมภีร์ไทย ฉบับอมตธรรมร่วมสมัย - ในเมื่อท่านทูลต่อพระบิดาผู้ทรงตัดสินการกระทำของแต่ละคนโดยไม่ลำเอียง ก็จงดำเนินชีวิตด้วยความเคารพยำเกรงในฐานะที่เป็นคนแปลกหน้าในโลกนี้
พระคัมภีร์ ฉบับแปลใหม่ - ถ้าท่านร้องเรียกพระนามของพระบิดาผู้พิพากษาการกระทำของทุกคนโดยปราศจากความลำเอียง ท่านก็จงดำเนินชีวิตดั่งเป็นคนแปลกถิ่นด้วยความยำเกรง

交叉引用

2 Corinthians 7:11 - And now, isn’t it wonderful all the ways in which this distress has goaded you closer to God? You’re more alive, more concerned, more sensitive, more reverent, more human, more passionate, more responsible. Looked at from any angle, you’ve come out of this with purity of heart. And that is what I was hoping for in the first place when I wrote the letter. My primary concern was not for the one who did the wrong or even the one wronged, but for you—that you would realize and act upon the deep, deep ties between us before God. That’s what happened—and we felt just great.
Galatians 2:6 - As for those who were considered important in the church, their reputation doesn’t concern me. God isn’t impressed with mere appearances, and neither am I. And of course these leaders were able to add nothing to the message I had been preaching. It was soon evident that God had entrusted me with the same message to the non-Jews as Peter had been preaching to the Jews. Recognizing that my calling had been given by God, James, Peter, and John—the pillars of the church—shook hands with me and Barnabas, assigning us to a ministry to the non-Jews, while they continued to be responsible for reaching out to the Jews. The only additional thing they asked was that we remember the poor, and I was already eager to do that.
Zephaniah 3:9 - “In the end I will turn things around for the people. I’ll give them a language undistorted, unpolluted, Words to address God in worship and, united, to serve me with their shoulders to the wheel. They’ll come from beyond the Ethiopian rivers, they’ll come praying— All my scattered, exiled people will come home with offerings for worship. You’ll no longer have to be ashamed of all those acts of rebellion. I’ll have gotten rid of your arrogant leaders. No more pious strutting on my holy hill! I’ll leave a core of people among you who are poor in spirit— What’s left of Israel that’s really Israel. They’ll make their home in God. This core holy people will not do wrong. They won’t lie, won’t use words to flatter or seduce. Content with who they are and where they are, unanxious, they’ll live at peace.” * * *
Genesis 47:9 - Jacob answered Pharaoh, “The years of my sojourning are 130—a short and hard life and not nearly as long as my ancestors were given.” Then Jacob blessed Pharaoh and left.
Matthew 7:7 - “Don’t bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need. This isn’t a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we’re in. If your child asks for bread, do you trick him with sawdust? If he asks for fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate? As bad as you are, you wouldn’t think of such a thing. You’re at least decent to your own children. So don’t you think the God who conceived you in love will be even better?
Jeremiah 3:19 - “I planned what I’d say if you returned to me: ‘Good! I’ll bring you back into the family. I’ll give you choice land, land that the godless nations would die for.’ And I imagined that you would say, ‘Dear father!’ and would never again go off and leave me. But no luck. Like a false-hearted woman walking out on her husband, you, the whole family of Israel, have proven false to me.” God’s Decree.
Proverbs 14:16 - The wise watch their steps and avoid evil; fools are headstrong and reckless.
2 Corinthians 5:6 - That’s why we live with such good cheer. You won’t see us drooping our heads or dragging our feet! Cramped conditions here don’t get us down. They only remind us of the spacious living conditions ahead. It’s what we trust in but don’t yet see that keeps us going. Do you suppose a few ruts in the road or rocks in the path are going to stop us? When the time comes, we’ll be plenty ready to exchange exile for homecoming.
Hebrews 11:13 - Each one of these people of faith died not yet having in hand what was promised, but still believing. How did they do it? They saw it way off in the distance, waved their greeting, and accepted the fact that they were transients in this world. People who live this way make it plain that they are looking for their true home. If they were homesick for the old country, they could have gone back any time they wanted. But they were after a far better country than that—heaven country. You can see why God is so proud of them, and has a City waiting for them.
Psalms 39:12 - “Ah, God, listen to my prayer, my cry—open your ears. Don’t be callous; just look at these tears of mine. I’m a stranger here. I don’t know my way— a migrant like my whole family. Give me a break, cut me some slack before it’s too late and I’m out of here.”
Proverbs 28:14 - A tenderhearted person lives a blessed life; a hardhearted person lives a hard life.
Ephesians 6:9 - Masters, it’s the same with you. No abuse, please, and no threats. You and your servants are both under the same Master in heaven. He makes no distinction between you and them.
Hebrews 4:1 - For as long, then, as that promise of resting in him pulls us on to God’s goal for us, we need to be careful that we’re not disqualified. We received the same promises as those people in the wilderness, but the promises didn’t do them a bit of good because they didn’t receive the promises with faith. If we believe, though, we’ll experience that state of resting. But not if we don’t have faith. Remember that God said, Exasperated, I vowed, “They’ll never get where they’re going, never be able to sit down and rest.”
Ephesians 3:14 - My response is to get down on my knees before the Father, this magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth. I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength—that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you’ll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.
1 Peter 2:11 - Friends, this world is not your home, so don’t make yourselves cozy in it. Don’t indulge your ego at the expense of your soul. Live an exemplary life in your neighborhood so that your actions will refute their prejudices. Then they’ll be won over to God’s side and be there to join in the celebration when he arrives.
Hebrews 12:28 - Do you see what we’ve got? An unshakable kingdom! And do you see how thankful we must be? Not only thankful, but brimming with worship, deeply reverent before God. For God is not an indifferent bystander. He’s actively cleaning house, torching all that needs to burn, and he won’t quit until it’s all cleansed. God himself is Fire!
2 Corinthians 7:1 - With promises like this to pull us on, dear friends, let’s make a clean break with everything that defiles or distracts us, both within and without. Let’s make our entire lives fit and holy temples for the worship of God.
Acts 10:34 - Peter fairly exploded with his good news: “It’s God’s own truth, nothing could be plainer: God plays no favorites! It makes no difference who you are or where you’re from—if you want God and are ready to do as he says, the door is open. The Message he sent to the children of Israel—that through Jesus Christ everything is being put together again—well, he’s doing it everywhere, among everyone.
Philippians 2:12 - What I’m getting at, friends, is that you should simply keep on doing what you’ve done from the beginning. When I was living among you, you lived in responsive obedience. Now that I’m separated from you, keep it up. Better yet, redouble your efforts. Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is God’s energy, an energy deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure.

逐节对照

交叉引用

The Message - You call out to God for help and he helps—he’s a good Father that way. But don’t forget, he’s also a responsible Father, and won’t let you get by with sloppy living.
新标点和合本 - 你们既称那不偏待人、按各人行为审判人的主为父，就当存敬畏的心度你们在世寄居的日子，
和合本2010（上帝版-简体） - 既然你们称那不偏待人、按各人行为审判人的主为父，就当存敬畏的心，度你们在世寄居的日子。
和合本2010（神版-简体） - 既然你们称那不偏待人、按各人行为审判人的主为父，就当存敬畏的心，度你们在世寄居的日子。
当代译本 - 既然你们称呼那位按各人的行为公正无私地审判人的上帝为父，就应该存着敬畏的心过你们在世上寄居的日子。
圣经新译本 - 你们既称那不偏待人、按各人行为审判的主为父，就当存敬畏的心，过你们寄居的日子；
中文标准译本 - 你们既然称不偏待人、只按每个人的行为施行审判的那一位为父，就应当怀着敬畏的心，过你们寄居的日子，
现代标点和合本 - 你们既称那不偏待人、按各人行为审判人的主为父，就当存敬畏的心度你们在世寄居的日子，
和合本（拼音版） - 你们既称那不偏待人、按各人行为审判人的主为父，就当存敬畏的心，度你们在世寄居的日子，
New International Version - Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear.
New International Reader's Version - You call on a Father who judges each person’s work without favoring one over another. So live as outsiders during your time here. Live with the highest respect for God.
English Standard Version - And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile,
New Living Translation - And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time here as “temporary residents.”
Christian Standard Bible - If you appeal to the Father who judges impartially according to each one’s work, you are to conduct yourselves in reverence during your time living as strangers.
New American Standard Bible - If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth;
New King James Version - And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear;
Amplified Bible - If you address as Father, the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in [reverent] fear [of Him] and with profound respect for Him throughout the time of your stay on earth.
American Standard Version - And if ye call on him as Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to each man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning in fear:
King James Version - And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:
New English Translation - And if you address as Father the one who impartially judges according to each one’s work, live out the time of your temporary residence here in reverence.
World English Bible - If you call on him as Father, who without respect of persons judges according to each man’s work, pass the time of your living as foreigners here in reverent fear,
新標點和合本 - 你們既稱那不偏待人、按各人行為審判人的主為父，就當存敬畏的心度你們在世寄居的日子，
和合本2010（上帝版-繁體） - 既然你們稱那不偏待人、按各人行為審判人的主為父，就當存敬畏的心，度你們在世寄居的日子。
和合本2010（神版-繁體） - 既然你們稱那不偏待人、按各人行為審判人的主為父，就當存敬畏的心，度你們在世寄居的日子。
當代譯本 - 既然你們稱呼那位按各人的行為公正無私地審判人的上帝為父，就應該存著敬畏的心過你們在世上寄居的日子。
聖經新譯本 - 你們既稱那不偏待人、按各人行為審判的主為父，就當存敬畏的心，過你們寄居的日子；
呂振中譯本 - 你們既是呼求一位不以貌取人、乃按各人的行為施審判的父，就該存着敬畏的心、來度你們僑居世間的時光。
中文標準譯本 - 你們既然稱不偏待人、只按每個人的行為施行審判的那一位為父，就應當懷著敬畏的心，過你們寄居的日子，
現代標點和合本 - 你們既稱那不偏待人、按各人行為審判人的主為父，就當存敬畏的心度你們在世寄居的日子，
文理和合譯本 - 爾若籲不以貌視人、依行而鞫之父、則旅居斯世、自當儆惕、
文理委辦譯本 - 父不偏視人、必依其行為而鞫之、爾既籲父、則寄生斯世、當無日不儆惕、
施約瑟淺文理新舊約聖經 - 天主不偏視人、循人之所行而鞫之、爾既稱之為父、則寄生斯世、當無日不警懼、
吳經熊文理聖詠與新經全集 - 夫爾等所呼為父者、乃大公無私、按各人行實而施黜陟者也。是宜戰戰兢兢以度羇旅塵世之日。
Nueva Versión Internacional - Ya que invocan como Padre al que juzga con imparcialidad las obras de cada uno, vivan con temor reverente mientras sean peregrinos en este mundo.
현대인의 성경 - 각 사람이 행한 대로 공정하게 심판하시는 분을 아버지라고 부른다면 여러분은 이 세상에서 나그네 생활을 하는 동안 두려운 마음으로 살아가십시오.
Новый Русский Перевод - Если вы называете Отцом Того, Кто беспристрастно судит каждого по делам, то, будучи странниками на этой земле, проводите вашу жизнь в почтительном страхе перед Ним.
Восточный перевод - Если вы называете Отцом Того, Кто справедливо судит каждого по делам, то, будучи странниками на этой земле, проводите вашу жизнь в почтительном страхе перед Ним.
Восточный перевод, версия с «Аллахом» - Если вы называете Отцом Того, Кто справедливо судит каждого по делам, то, будучи странниками на этой земле, проводите вашу жизнь в почтительном страхе перед Ним.
Восточный перевод, версия для Таджикистана - Если вы называете Отцом Того, Кто справедливо судит каждого по делам, то, будучи странниками на этой земле, проводите вашу жизнь в почтительном страхе перед Ним.
La Bible du Semeur 2015 - Dans vos prières, vous appelez Père celui qui juge impartialement tout homme selon ses actes. Par conséquent, pendant tout le temps de votre séjour en ce monde, que la crainte de Dieu inspire votre conduite.
リビングバイブル - あなたがたが祈りをささげる天の父なる神は、人の行いをすべて、正しく公平にさばかれます。ですから天に行くその日まで、主を恐れ、慎み深く生活しなさい。
Nestle Aland 28 - καὶ εἰ πατέρα ἐπικαλεῖσθε τὸν ἀπροσωπολήμπτως κρίνοντα κατὰ τὸ ἑκάστου ἔργον, ἐν φόβῳ τὸν τῆς παροικίας ὑμῶν χρόνον ἀναστράφητε
unfoldingWord® Greek New Testament - καὶ εἰ Πατέρα ἐπικαλεῖσθε, τὸν ἀπροσωπολήμπτως κρίνοντα κατὰ τὸ ἑκάστου ἔργον, ἐν φόβῳ τὸν τῆς παροικίας ὑμῶν χρόνον ἀναστράφητε;
Nova Versão Internacional - Uma vez que vocês chamam Pai àquele que julga imparcialmente as obras de cada um, portem-se com temor durante a jornada terrena de vocês.
Hoffnung für alle - Ihr betet zu Gott als eurem Vater und wisst, dass er jeden von euch nach seinem Verhalten richten wird; er bevorzugt oder benachteiligt niemanden. Deswegen führt euer Leben in Ehrfurcht vor Gott, solange ihr als Fremde mitten unter den Menschen lebt, die nicht an Christus glauben.
Kinh Thánh Hiện Đại - Khi cầu khẩn Cha trên trời, anh chị em nên nhớ Ngài không bao giờ thiên vị. Ngài sẽ lấy công lý tuyệt đối xét xử anh chị em đúng theo hành động của mỗi người, nên hãy kính sợ Ngài suốt đời.
พระคริสตธรรมคัมภีร์ไทย ฉบับอมตธรรมร่วมสมัย - ในเมื่อท่านทูลต่อพระบิดาผู้ทรงตัดสินการกระทำของแต่ละคนโดยไม่ลำเอียง ก็จงดำเนินชีวิตด้วยความเคารพยำเกรงในฐานะที่เป็นคนแปลกหน้าในโลกนี้
พระคัมภีร์ ฉบับแปลใหม่ - ถ้าท่านร้องเรียกพระนามของพระบิดาผู้พิพากษาการกระทำของทุกคนโดยปราศจากความลำเอียง ท่านก็จงดำเนินชีวิตดั่งเป็นคนแปลกถิ่นด้วยความยำเกรง

2 Corinthians 7:11 - And now, isn’t it wonderful all the ways in which this distress has goaded you closer to God? You’re more alive, more concerned, more sensitive, more reverent, more human, more passionate, more responsible. Looked at from any angle, you’ve come out of this with purity of heart. And that is what I was hoping for in the first place when I wrote the letter. My primary concern was not for the one who did the wrong or even the one wronged, but for you—that you would realize and act upon the deep, deep ties between us before God. That’s what happened—and we felt just great.
Galatians 2:6 - As for those who were considered important in the church, their reputation doesn’t concern me. God isn’t impressed with mere appearances, and neither am I. And of course these leaders were able to add nothing to the message I had been preaching. It was soon evident that God had entrusted me with the same message to the non-Jews as Peter had been preaching to the Jews. Recognizing that my calling had been given by God, James, Peter, and John—the pillars of the church—shook hands with me and Barnabas, assigning us to a ministry to the non-Jews, while they continued to be responsible for reaching out to the Jews. The only additional thing they asked was that we remember the poor, and I was already eager to do that.
Zephaniah 3:9 - “In the end I will turn things around for the people. I’ll give them a language undistorted, unpolluted, Words to address God in worship and, united, to serve me with their shoulders to the wheel. They’ll come from beyond the Ethiopian rivers, they’ll come praying— All my scattered, exiled people will come home with offerings for worship. You’ll no longer have to be ashamed of all those acts of rebellion. I’ll have gotten rid of your arrogant leaders. No more pious strutting on my holy hill! I’ll leave a core of people among you who are poor in spirit— What’s left of Israel that’s really Israel. They’ll make their home in God. This core holy people will not do wrong. They won’t lie, won’t use words to flatter or seduce. Content with who they are and where they are, unanxious, they’ll live at peace.” * * *
Genesis 47:9 - Jacob answered Pharaoh, “The years of my sojourning are 130—a short and hard life and not nearly as long as my ancestors were given.” Then Jacob blessed Pharaoh and left.
Matthew 7:7 - “Don’t bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need. This isn’t a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we’re in. If your child asks for bread, do you trick him with sawdust? If he asks for fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate? As bad as you are, you wouldn’t think of such a thing. You’re at least decent to your own children. So don’t you think the God who conceived you in love will be even better?
Jeremiah 3:19 - “I planned what I’d say if you returned to me: ‘Good! I’ll bring you back into the family. I’ll give you choice land, land that the godless nations would die for.’ And I imagined that you would say, ‘Dear father!’ and would never again go off and leave me. But no luck. Like a false-hearted woman walking out on her husband, you, the whole family of Israel, have proven false to me.” God’s Decree.
Proverbs 14:16 - The wise watch their steps and avoid evil; fools are headstrong and reckless.
2 Corinthians 5:6 - That’s why we live with such good cheer. You won’t see us drooping our heads or dragging our feet! Cramped conditions here don’t get us down. They only remind us of the spacious living conditions ahead. It’s what we trust in but don’t yet see that keeps us going. Do you suppose a few ruts in the road or rocks in the path are going to stop us? When the time comes, we’ll be plenty ready to exchange exile for homecoming.
Hebrews 11:13 - Each one of these people of faith died not yet having in hand what was promised, but still believing. How did they do it? They saw it way off in the distance, waved their greeting, and accepted the fact that they were transients in this world. People who live this way make it plain that they are looking for their true home. If they were homesick for the old country, they could have gone back any time they wanted. But they were after a far better country than that—heaven country. You can see why God is so proud of them, and has a City waiting for them.
Psalms 39:12 - “Ah, God, listen to my prayer, my cry—open your ears. Don’t be callous; just look at these tears of mine. I’m a stranger here. I don’t know my way— a migrant like my whole family. Give me a break, cut me some slack before it’s too late and I’m out of here.”
Proverbs 28:14 - A tenderhearted person lives a blessed life; a hardhearted person lives a hard life.
Ephesians 6:9 - Masters, it’s the same with you. No abuse, please, and no threats. You and your servants are both under the same Master in heaven. He makes no distinction between you and them.
Hebrews 4:1 - For as long, then, as that promise of resting in him pulls us on to God’s goal for us, we need to be careful that we’re not disqualified. We received the same promises as those people in the wilderness, but the promises didn’t do them a bit of good because they didn’t receive the promises with faith. If we believe, though, we’ll experience that state of resting. But not if we don’t have faith. Remember that God said, Exasperated, I vowed, “They’ll never get where they’re going, never be able to sit down and rest.”
Ephesians 3:14 - My response is to get down on my knees before the Father, this magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth. I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength—that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you’ll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.
1 Peter 2:11 - Friends, this world is not your home, so don’t make yourselves cozy in it. Don’t indulge your ego at the expense of your soul. Live an exemplary life in your neighborhood so that your actions will refute their prejudices. Then they’ll be won over to God’s side and be there to join in the celebration when he arrives.
Hebrews 12:28 - Do you see what we’ve got? An unshakable kingdom! And do you see how thankful we must be? Not only thankful, but brimming with worship, deeply reverent before God. For God is not an indifferent bystander. He’s actively cleaning house, torching all that needs to burn, and he won’t quit until it’s all cleansed. God himself is Fire!
2 Corinthians 7:1 - With promises like this to pull us on, dear friends, let’s make a clean break with everything that defiles or distracts us, both within and without. Let’s make our entire lives fit and holy temples for the worship of God.
Acts 10:34 - Peter fairly exploded with his good news: “It’s God’s own truth, nothing could be plainer: God plays no favorites! It makes no difference who you are or where you’re from—if you want God and are ready to do as he says, the door is open. The Message he sent to the children of Israel—that through Jesus Christ everything is being put together again—well, he’s doing it everywhere, among everyone.
Philippians 2:12 - What I’m getting at, friends, is that you should simply keep on doing what you’ve done from the beginning. When I was living among you, you lived in responsive obedience. Now that I’m separated from you, keep it up. Better yet, redouble your efforts. Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is God’s energy, an energy deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure.