Emulating Jesus in a Dark World

Living With Enthusiasm: A 5 Devotional by Justeina Brownlee

The Desire for Control

Christian Relationship Advice: Why Establishing a Strong Friendship Matters

Finding God’s Love in Our Wounds

Making Eye Contact With God - Discovering God's Personality

A Year in Luke/Acts

The Church - Ephesians 4

Gone Fishin' Six

Christmas Planting

The Listener’s Bible®: NIV Edition

New International Version™  (Anglicised), Audio Edition

Holy Bible, New International Version™ (Anglicised), South Asian Audio Edition

<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
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 <div class="label">3</div><div class="s1">The Fall</div><div class="p">1Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, &#8220;Did God really say, &#8216;You must not eat from any tree in the garden&#8217;?&#8221;</div><div class="p">2The woman said to the serpent, &#8220;We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3but God did say, &#8216;You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.&#8217;&#8198;&#8221;</div><div class="p">4&#8220;You will not certainly die,&#8221; the serpent said to the woman. 5&#8220;For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.&#8221;</div><div class="p">6When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.</div><div class="p">8Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9But the Lord God called to the man, &#8220;Where are you?&#8221;</div><div class="p">10He answered, &#8220;I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.&#8221;</div><div class="p">11And he said, &#8220;Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?&#8221;</div><div class="p">12The man said, &#8220;The woman you put here with me&#8212;she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.&#8221;</div><div class="p">13Then the Lord God said to the woman, &#8220;What is this you have done?&#8221;</div><div class="p">The woman said, &#8220;The serpent deceived me, and I ate.&#8221;</div><div class="p">14So the Lord God said to the serpent, &#8220;Because you have done this,</div><div class="q1">&#8220;Cursed are you above all livestock</div><div class="q2">and all wild animals!</div><div class="q1">You will crawl on your belly</div><div class="q2">and you will eat dust</div><div class="q2">all the days of your life.</div><div class="q1">15And I will put enmity</div><div class="q2">between you and the woman,</div><div class="q2">and between your offspring#3:15 Or seed and hers;</div><div class="q1">he will crush#3:15 Or strike your head,</div><div class="q2">and you will strike his heel.&#8221;</div><div class="p">16To the woman he said,</div><div class="q1">&#8220;I will make your pains in childbearing very severe;</div><div class="q2">with painful labor you will give birth to children.</div><div class="q1">Your desire will be for your husband,</div><div class="q2">and he will rule over you.&#8221;</div><div class="p">17To Adam he said, &#8220;Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, &#8216;You must not eat from it,&#8217;</div><div class="q1">&#8220;Cursed is the ground because of you;</div><div class="q2">through painful toil you will eat food from it</div><div class="q2">all the days of your life.</div><div class="q1">18It will produce thorns and thistles for you,</div><div class="q2">and you will eat the plants of the field.</div><div class="q1">19By the sweat of your brow</div><div class="q2">you will eat your food</div><div class="q1">until you return to the ground,</div><div class="q2">since from it you were taken;</div><div class="q1">for dust you are</div><div class="q2">and to dust you will return.&#8221;</div><div class="p">20Adam#3:20 Or The man named his wife Eve,#3:20 Eve probably means living. because she would become the mother of all the living.</div><div class="p">21The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. 22And the Lord God said, &#8220;The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.&#8221; 23So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. 24After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side#3:24 Or placed in front of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.</div>
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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
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 <div class="chapter ch4" data-usfm="GEN.4">
 <div class="label">4</div><div class="s1">Cain and Abel</div><div class="p">1Adam#4:1 Or The man made love to his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain.#4:1 Cain sounds like the Hebrew for brought forth or acquired. She said, &#8220;With the help of the Lord I have brought forth#4:1 Or have acquired a man.&#8221; 2Later she gave birth to his brother Abel.</div><div class="p">Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. 3In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. 4And Abel also brought an offering&#8212;fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.</div><div class="p">6Then the Lord said to Cain, &#8220;Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.&#8221;</div><div class="p">8Now Cain said to his brother Abel, &#8220;Let&#8217;s go out to the field.&#8221;#4:8 Samaritan Pentateuch, Septuagint, Vulgate and Syriac; Masoretic Text does not have &#8220;Let&#8217;s go out to the field.&#8221; While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.</div><div class="p">9Then the Lord said to Cain, &#8220;Where is your brother Abel?&#8221;</div><div class="p">&#8220;I don&#8217;t know,&#8221; he replied. &#8220;Am I my brother&#8217;s keeper?&#8221;</div><div class="p">10The Lord said, &#8220;What have you done? Listen! Your brother&#8217;s blood cries out to me from the ground. 11Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother&#8217;s blood from your hand. 12When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.&#8221;</div><div class="p">13Cain said to the Lord, &#8220;My punishment is more than I can bear. 14Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.&#8221;</div><div class="p">15But the Lord said to him, &#8220;Not so#4:15 Septuagint, Vulgate and Syriac; Hebrew Very well; anyone who kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over.&#8221; Then the Lord put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him. 16So Cain went out from the Lord&#8217;s presence and lived in the land of Nod,#4:16 Nod means wandering (see verses 12 and 14). east of Eden.</div><div class="p">17Cain made love to his wife, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Enoch. Cain was then building a city, and he named it after his son Enoch. 18To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad was the father of Mehujael, and Mehujael was the father of Methushael, and Methushael was the father of Lamech.</div><div class="p">19Lamech married two women, one named Adah and the other Zillah. 20Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who live in tents and raise livestock. 21His brother&#8217;s name was Jubal; he was the father of all who play stringed instruments and pipes. 22Zillah also had a son, Tubal-Cain, who forged all kinds of tools out of#4:22 Or who instructed all who work in bronze and iron. Tubal-Cain&#8217;s sister was Naamah.</div><div class="p">23Lamech said to his wives,</div><div class="q1">&#8220;Adah and Zillah, listen to me;</div><div class="q2">wives of Lamech, hear my words.</div><div class="q1">I have killed a man for wounding me,</div><div class="q2">a young man for injuring me.</div><div class="q1">24If Cain is avenged seven times,</div><div class="q2">then Lamech seventy-seven times.&#8221;</div><div class="p">25Adam made love to his wife again, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth,#4:25 Seth probably means granted. saying, &#8220;God has granted me another child in place of Abel, since Cain killed him.&#8221; 26Seth also had a son, and he named him Enosh.</div><div class="p">At that time people began to call on#4:26 Or to proclaim the name of the Lord.</div>
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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
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 <div class="chapter ch2" data-usfm="LUK.2">
 <div class="label">2</div><div class="s1">The Birth of Jesus</div><div class="p">1In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2(This was the first census that took place while#2:2 Or This census took place before Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3And everyone went to their own town to register.</div><div class="p">4So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.</div><div class="p">8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, &#8220;Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.&#8221;</div><div class="p">13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,</div><div class="q1">14&#8220;Glory to God in the highest heaven,</div><div class="q2">and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.&#8221;</div><div class="p">15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, &#8220;Let&#8217;s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.&#8221;</div><div class="p">16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.</div><div class="p">21On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.</div><div class="s1">Jesus Presented in the Temple</div><div class="p">22When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23(as it is written in the Law of the Lord, &#8220;Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord&#8221;#2:23 Exodus 13:2,12), 24and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: &#8220;a pair of doves or two young pigeons.&#8221;#2:24 Lev. 12:8</div><div class="p">25Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord&#8217;s Messiah. 27Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:</div><div class="q1">29&#8220;Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,</div><div class="q2">you may now dismiss#2:29 Or promised, / now dismiss your servant in peace.</div><div class="q1">30For my eyes have seen your salvation,</div><div class="q2">31which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:</div><div class="q1">32a light for revelation to the Gentiles,</div><div class="q2">and the glory of your people Israel.&#8221;</div><div class="p">33The child&#8217;s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: &#8220;This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.&#8221;</div><div class="p">36There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37and then was a widow until she was eighty-four.#2:37 Or then had been a widow for eighty-four years. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.</div><div class="p">39When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. 40And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.</div><div class="s1">The Boy Jesus at the Temple</div><div class="p">41Every year Jesus&#8217; parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. 42When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. 43After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. 44Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. 46After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, &#8220;Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.&#8221;</div><div class="p">49 &#8220;Why were you searching for me?&#8221; he asked. &#8220;Didn&#8217;t you know I had to be in my Father&#8217;s house?&#8221;#2:49 Or be about my Father&#8217;s business 50But they did not understand what he was saying to them.</div><div class="p">51Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.</div>
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