Redeemed: Ruth’s Story of Restoration

Noah: A Covenant With Humanity

The New Loneliness: Nurturing Connection When You Feel Isolated

3-Day Bible Plan: How to Truly Love Thy Neighbor in Today’s World

Building Living Bridges

Lent: The Journey of Letting Go

Consider It All Joy

The Uniqueness of Jesus

Quiet Time Moments for Women

A People Set Apart

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">
 <div class="book bkPSA">
 <div class="chapter ch24" data-usfm="PSA.24">
 <div class="label">24</div><div class="cl">Psalm 24</div><div class="d">Of David. A psalm.</div><div class="q1">1The earth is the Lord&#8217;s, and everything in it,</div><div class="q2">the world, and all who live in it;</div><div class="q1">2for he founded it on the seas</div><div class="q2">and established it on the waters.</div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1">3Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord?</div><div class="q2">Who may stand in his holy place?</div><div class="q1">4The one who has clean hands and a pure heart,</div><div class="q2">who does not trust in an idol</div><div class="q2">or swear by a false god.#24:4 Or swear falsely</div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1">5They will receive blessing from the Lord</div><div class="q2">and vindication from God their Savior.</div><div class="q1">6Such is the generation of those who seek him,</div><div class="q2">who seek your face, God of Jacob.#24:6 Two Hebrew manuscripts and Syriac (see also Septuagint); most Hebrew manuscripts face, Jacob#24:6 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 10.</div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1">7Lift up your heads, you gates;</div><div class="q2">be lifted up, you ancient doors,</div><div class="q2">that the King of glory may come in.</div><div class="q1">8Who is this King of glory?</div><div class="q2">The Lord strong and mighty,</div><div class="q2">the Lord mighty in battle.</div><div class="q1">9Lift up your heads, you gates;</div><div class="q2">lift them up, you ancient doors,</div><div class="q2">that the King of glory may come in.</div><div class="q1">10Who is he, this King of glory?</div><div class="q2">The Lord Almighty&#8212;</div><div class="q2">he is the King of glory.</div>
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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bkPRO">
 <div class="chapter ch24" data-usfm="PRO.24">
 <div class="label">24</div><div class="s2">Saying 20</div><div class="q1">1Do not envy the wicked,</div><div class="q2">do not desire their company;</div><div class="q1">2for their hearts plot violence,</div><div class="q2">and their lips talk about making trouble.</div><div class="s2">Saying 21</div><div class="q1">3By wisdom a house is built,</div><div class="q2">and through understanding it is established;</div><div class="q1">4through knowledge its rooms are filled</div><div class="q2">with rare and beautiful treasures.</div><div class="s2">Saying 22</div><div class="q1">5The wise prevail through great power,</div><div class="q2">and those who have knowledge muster their strength.</div><div class="q1">6Surely you need guidance to wage war,</div><div class="q2">and victory is won through many advisers.</div><div class="s2">Saying 23</div><div class="q1">7Wisdom is too high for fools;</div><div class="q2">in the assembly at the gate they must not open their mouths.</div><div class="s2">Saying 24</div><div class="q1">8Whoever plots evil</div><div class="q2">will be known as a schemer.</div><div class="q1">9The schemes of folly are sin,</div><div class="q2">and people detest a mocker.</div><div class="s2">Saying 25</div><div class="q1">10If you falter in a time of trouble,</div><div class="q2">how small is your strength!</div><div class="q1">11Rescue those being led away to death;</div><div class="q2">hold back those staggering toward slaughter.</div><div class="q1">12If you say, &#8220;But we knew nothing about this,&#8221;</div><div class="q2">does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?</div><div class="q1">Does not he who guards your life know it?</div><div class="q2">Will he not repay everyone according to what they have done?</div><div class="s2">Saying 26</div><div class="q1">13Eat honey, my son, for it is good;</div><div class="q2">honey from the comb is sweet to your taste.</div><div class="q1">14Know also that wisdom is like honey for you:</div><div class="q2">If you find it, there is a future hope for you,</div><div class="q2">and your hope will not be cut off.</div><div class="s2">Saying 27</div><div class="q1">15Do not lurk like a thief near the house of the righteous,</div><div class="q2">do not plunder their dwelling place;</div><div class="q1">16for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again,</div><div class="q2">but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.</div><div class="s2">Saying 28</div><div class="q1">17Do not gloat when your enemy falls;</div><div class="q2">when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice,</div><div class="q1">18or the Lord will see and disapprove</div><div class="q2">and turn his wrath away from them.</div><div class="s2">Saying 29</div><div class="q1">19Do not fret because of evildoers</div><div class="q2">or be envious of the wicked,</div><div class="q1">20for the evildoer has no future hope,</div><div class="q2">and the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.</div><div class="s2">Saying 30</div><div class="q1">21Fear the Lord and the king, my son,</div><div class="q2">and do not join with rebellious officials,</div><div class="q1">22for those two will send sudden destruction on them,</div><div class="q2">and who knows what calamities they can bring?</div><div class="ms1">Further Sayings of the Wise</div><div class="p">23These also are sayings of the wise:</div><div class="q1">To show partiality in judging is not good:</div><div class="q1">24Whoever says to the guilty, &#8220;You are innocent,&#8221;</div><div class="q2">will be cursed by peoples and denounced by nations.</div><div class="q1">25But it will go well with those who convict the guilty,</div><div class="q2">and rich blessing will come on them.</div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1">26An honest answer</div><div class="q2">is like a kiss on the lips.</div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1">27Put your outdoor work in order</div><div class="q2">and get your fields ready;</div><div class="q2">after that, build your house.</div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1">28Do not testify against your neighbor without cause&#8212;</div><div class="q2">would you use your lips to mislead?</div><div class="q1">29Do not say, &#8220;I&#8217;ll do to them as they have done to me;</div><div class="q2">I&#8217;ll pay them back for what they did.&#8221;</div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1">30I went past the field of a sluggard,</div><div class="q2">past the vineyard of someone who has no sense;</div><div class="q1">31thorns had come up everywhere,</div><div class="q2">the ground was covered with weeds,</div><div class="q2">and the stone wall was in ruins.</div><div class="q1">32I applied my heart to what I observed</div><div class="q2">and learned a lesson from what I saw:</div><div class="q1">33A little sleep, a little slumber,</div><div class="q2">a little folding of the hands to rest&#8212;</div><div class="q1">34and poverty will come on you like a thief</div><div class="q2">and scarcity like an armed man.</div>
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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bkMAT">
 <div class="chapter ch24" data-usfm="MAT.24">
 <div class="label">24</div><div class="s1">The Destruction of the Temple and Signs of the End Times</div><div class="p">1Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. 2&#8220;Do you see all these things?&#8221; he asked. &#8220;Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.&#8221;</div><div class="p">3As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. &#8220;Tell us,&#8221; they said, &#8220;when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?&#8221;</div><div class="p">4Jesus answered: &#8220;Watch out that no one deceives you. 5For many will come in my name, claiming, &#8216;I am the Messiah,&#8217; and will deceive many. 6You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8All these are the beginning of birth pains.</div><div class="p">9 &#8220;Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.</div><div class="p">15 &#8220;So when you see standing in the holy place &#8216;the abomination that causes desolation,&#8217; #24:15 Daniel 9:27; 11:31; 12:11 spoken of through the prophet Daniel&#8212;let the reader understand&#8212; 16then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17Let no one on the housetop go down to take anything out of the house. 18Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. 19How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! 20Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. 21For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now&#8212;and never to be equaled again.</div><div class="p">22 &#8220;If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. 23At that time if anyone says to you, &#8216;Look, here is the Messiah!&#8217; or, &#8216;There he is!&#8217; do not believe it. 24For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25See, I have told you ahead of time.</div><div class="p">26 &#8220;So if anyone tells you, &#8216;There he is, out in the wilderness,&#8217; do not go out; or, &#8216;Here he is, in the inner rooms,&#8217; do not believe it. 27For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.</div><div class="p">29 &#8220;Immediately after the distress of those days</div><div class="q1">&#8220;&#8198;&#8216;the sun will be darkened,</div><div class="q2">and the moon will not give its light;</div><div class="q1">the stars will fall from the sky,</div><div class="q2">and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.&#8217; #24:29 Isaiah 13:10; 34:4</div><div class="p">30 &#8220;Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth #24:30 Or the tribes of the land will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.#24:30 See Daniel 7:13-14. 31And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.</div><div class="p">32 &#8220;Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 33Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it#24:33 Or he is near, right at the door. 34Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 35Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.</div><div class="s1">The Day and Hour Unknown</div><div class="p">36 &#8220;But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, #24:36 Some manuscripts do not have nor the Son. but only the Father. 37As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.</div><div class="p">42 &#8220;Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.</div><div class="p">45 &#8220;Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. 47Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 48But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, &#8216;My master is staying away a long time,&#8217; 49and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. 50The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. 51He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.</div>
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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bkACT">
 <div class="chapter ch24" data-usfm="ACT.24">
 <div class="label">24</div><div class="s1">Paul&#8217;s Trial Before Felix</div><div class="p">1Five days later the high priest Ananias went down to Caesarea with some of the elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, and they brought their charges against Paul before the governor. 2When Paul was called in, Tertullus presented his case before Felix: &#8220;We have enjoyed a long period of peace under you, and your foresight has brought about reforms in this nation. 3Everywhere and in every way, most excellent Felix, we acknowledge this with profound gratitude. 4But in order not to weary you further, I would request that you be kind enough to hear us briefly.</div><div class="p">5&#8220;We have found this man to be a troublemaker, stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the Nazarene sect 6and even tried to desecrate the temple; so we seized him. [7]#24:6-7 Some manuscripts include here him, and we would have judged him in accordance with our law. 7 But the commander Lysias came and took him from us with much violence, 8 ordering his accusers to come before you. 8By examining him yourself you will be able to learn the truth about all these charges we are bringing against him.&#8221;</div><div class="p">9The other Jews joined in the accusation, asserting that these things were true.</div><div class="p">10When the governor motioned for him to speak, Paul replied: &#8220;I know that for a number of years you have been a judge over this nation; so I gladly make my defense. 11You can easily verify that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. 12My accusers did not find me arguing with anyone at the temple, or stirring up a crowd in the synagogues or anywhere else in the city. 13And they cannot prove to you the charges they are now making against me. 14However, I admit that I worship the God of our ancestors as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets, 15and I have the same hope in God as these men themselves have, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. 16So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.</div><div class="p">17&#8220;After an absence of several years, I came to Jerusalem to bring my people gifts for the poor and to present offerings. 18I was ceremonially clean when they found me in the temple courts doing this. There was no crowd with me, nor was I involved in any disturbance. 19But there are some Jews from the province of Asia, who ought to be here before you and bring charges if they have anything against me. 20Or these who are here should state what crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin&#8212; 21unless it was this one thing I shouted as I stood in their presence: &#8216;It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.&#8217;&#8198;&#8221;</div><div class="p">22Then Felix, who was well acquainted with the Way, adjourned the proceedings. &#8220;When Lysias the commander comes,&#8221; he said, &#8220;I will decide your case.&#8221; 23He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard but to give him some freedom and permit his friends to take care of his needs.</div><div class="p">24Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. 25As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, &#8220;That&#8217;s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.&#8221; 26At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him.</div><div class="p">27When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, but because Felix wanted to grant a favor to the Jews, he left Paul in prison.</div>
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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bkREV">
 <div class="chapter ch2" data-usfm="REV.2">
 <div class="label">2</div><div class="s1">To the Church in Ephesus</div><div class="m">1 &#8220;To the angel #2:1 Or messenger ; also in verses 8, 12 and 18 of the church in Ephesus write:</div><div class="b"></div><div class="pi1">These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. 2I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. 3You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.</div><div class="pi1">4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. 5Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. 6But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.</div><div class="pi1">7 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.</div><div class="s1">To the Church in Smyrna</div><div class="m">8 &#8220;To the angel of the church in Smyrna write:</div><div class="b"></div><div class="pi1">These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. 9I know your afflictions and your poverty&#8212;yet you are rich! I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor&#8217;s crown.</div><div class="pi1">11 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death.</div><div class="s1">To the Church in Pergamum</div><div class="m">12 &#8220;To the angel of the church in Pergamum write:</div><div class="b"></div><div class="pi1">These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. 13I know where you live&#8212;where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, not even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city&#8212;where Satan lives.</div><div class="pi1">14 Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality. 15Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.</div><div class="pi1">17 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.</div><div class="s1">To the Church in Thyatira</div><div class="m">18 &#8220;To the angel of the church in Thyatira write:</div><div class="b"></div><div class="pi1">These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. 19I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.</div><div class="pi1">20 Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. 21I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. 22So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. 23I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.</div><div class="pi1">24 Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan&#8217;s so-called deep secrets, &#8216;I will not impose any other burden on you, 25except to hold on to what you have until I come.&#8217;</div><div class="pi1">26 To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations&#8212; 27that one &#8216;will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery&#8217;#2:27 Psalm 2:9&#8212;just as I have received authority from my Father. 28I will also give that one the morning star. 29Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.</div>
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