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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bkGEN">
 <div class="chapter ch18" data-usfm="GEN.18">
 <div class="label">18</div><div class="s1">The Three Visitors</div><div class="p"> 1The Lord appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. 2Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.</div><div class="p"> 3He said, &#8220;If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord,#18:3 Or eyes, Lord do not pass your servant by. 4Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree. 5Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way&#8212;now that you have come to your servant.&#8221;</div><div class="p">&#8220;Very well,&#8221; they answered, &#8220;do as you say.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 6So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. &#8220;Quick,&#8221; he said, &#8220;get three seahs#18:6 That is, probably about 36 pounds or about 16 kilograms of the finest flour and knead it and bake some bread.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 7Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it. 8He then brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them. While they ate, he stood near them under a tree.</div><div class="p"> 9&#8220;Where is your wife Sarah?&#8221; they asked him.</div><div class="p">&#8220;There, in the tent,&#8221; he said.</div><div class="p"> 10Then one of them said, &#8220;I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.&#8221;</div><div class="p">Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him. 11Abraham and Sarah were already very old, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. 12So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, &#8220;After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 13Then the Lord said to Abraham, &#8220;Why did Sarah laugh and say, &#8216;Will I really have a child, now that I am old?&#8217; 14Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 15Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, &#8220;I did not laugh.&#8221;</div><div class="p">But he said, &#8220;Yes, you did laugh.&#8221;</div><div class="s1">Abraham Pleads for Sodom</div><div class="p"> 16When the men got up to leave, they looked down toward Sodom, and Abraham walked along with them to see them on their way. 17Then the Lord said, &#8220;Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? 18Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him.#18:18 Or will use his name in blessings (see 48:20) 19For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 20Then the Lord said, &#8220;The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous 21that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 22The men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the Lord.#18:22 Masoretic Text; an ancient Hebrew scribal tradition but the Lord remained standing before Abraham 23Then Abraham approached him and said: &#8220;Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 24What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare#18:24 Or forgive; also in verse 26 the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it? 25Far be it from you to do such a thing&#8212;to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 26The Lord said, &#8220;If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 27Then Abraham spoke up again: &#8220;Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, though I am nothing but dust and ashes, 28what if the number of the righteous is five less than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five people?&#8221;</div><div class="p">&#8220;If I find forty-five there,&#8221; he said, &#8220;I will not destroy it.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 29Once again he spoke to him, &#8220;What if only forty are found there?&#8221;</div><div class="p">He said, &#8220;For the sake of forty, I will not do it.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 30Then he said, &#8220;May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak. What if only thirty can be found there?&#8221;</div><div class="p">He answered, &#8220;I will not do it if I find thirty there.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 31Abraham said, &#8220;Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, what if only twenty can be found there?&#8221;</div><div class="p">He said, &#8220;For the sake of twenty, I will not destroy it.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 32Then he said, &#8220;May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten can be found there?&#8221;</div><div class="p">He answered, &#8220;For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 33When the Lord had finished speaking with Abraham, he left, and Abraham returned home.</div>
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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bkGEN">
 <div class="chapter ch19" data-usfm="GEN.19">
 <div class="label">19</div><div class="s1">Sodom and Gomorrah Destroyed</div><div class="p"> 1The two angels arrived at Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gateway of the city. When he saw them, he got up to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground. 2&#8220;My lords,&#8221; he said, &#8220;please turn aside to your servant&#8217;s house. You can wash your feet and spend the night and then go on your way early in the morning.&#8221;</div><div class="p">&#8220;No,&#8221; they answered, &#8220;we will spend the night in the square.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 3But he insisted so strongly that they did go with him and entered his house. He prepared a meal for them, baking bread without yeast, and they ate. 4Before they had gone to bed, all the men from every part of the city of Sodom&#8212;both young and old&#8212;surrounded the house. 5They called to Lot, &#8220;Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 6Lot went outside to meet them and shut the door behind him 7and said, &#8220;No, my friends. Don&#8217;t do this wicked thing. 8Look, I have two daughters who have never slept with a man. Let me bring them out to you, and you can do what you like with them. But don&#8217;t do anything to these men, for they have come under the protection of my roof.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 9&#8220;Get out of our way,&#8221; they replied. &#8220;This fellow came here as a foreigner, and now he wants to play the judge! We&#8217;ll treat you worse than them.&#8221; They kept bringing pressure on Lot and moved forward to break down the door.</div><div class="p"> 10But the men inside reached out and pulled Lot back into the house and shut the door. 11Then they struck the men who were at the door of the house, young and old, with blindness so that they could not find the door.</div><div class="p"> 12The two men said to Lot, &#8220;Do you have anyone else here&#8212;sons-in-law, sons or daughters, or anyone else in the city who belongs to you? Get them out of here, 13because we are going to destroy this place. The outcry to the Lord against its people is so great that he has sent us to destroy it.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 14So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who were pledged to marry#19:14 Or were married to his daughters. He said, &#8220;Hurry and get out of this place, because the Lord is about to destroy the city!&#8221; But his sons-in-law thought he was joking.</div><div class="p"> 15With the coming of dawn, the angels urged Lot, saying, &#8220;Hurry! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away when the city is punished.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 16When he hesitated, the men grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and of his two daughters and led them safely out of the city, for the Lord was merciful to them. 17As soon as they had brought them out, one of them said, &#8220;Flee for your lives! Don&#8217;t look back, and don&#8217;t stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 18But Lot said to them, &#8220;No, my lords,#19:18 Or No, Lord; or No, my lord please! 19Your#19:19 The Hebrew is singular. servant has found favor in your#19:19 The Hebrew is singular. eyes, and you#19:19 The Hebrew is singular. have shown great kindness to me in sparing my life. But I can&#8217;t flee to the mountains; this disaster will overtake me, and I&#8217;ll die. 20Look, here is a town near enough to run to, and it is small. Let me flee to it&#8212;it is very small, isn&#8217;t it? Then my life will be spared.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 21He said to him, &#8220;Very well, I will grant this request too; I will not overthrow the town you speak of. 22But flee there quickly, because I cannot do anything until you reach it.&#8221; (That is why the town was called Zoar.#19:22 Zoar means small.)</div><div class="p"> 23By the time Lot reached Zoar, the sun had risen over the land. 24Then the Lord rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah&#8212;from the Lord out of the heavens. 25Thus he overthrew those cities and the entire plain, destroying all those living in the cities&#8212;and also the vegetation in the land. 26But Lot&#8217;s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.</div><div class="p"> 27Early the next morning Abraham got up and returned to the place where he had stood before the Lord. 28He looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah, toward all the land of the plain, and he saw dense smoke rising from the land, like smoke from a furnace.</div><div class="p"> 29So when God destroyed the cities of the plain, he remembered Abraham, and he brought Lot out of the catastrophe that overthrew the cities where Lot had lived.</div><div class="s1">Lot and His Daughters</div><div class="p"> 30Lot and his two daughters left Zoar and settled in the mountains, for he was afraid to stay in Zoar. He and his two daughters lived in a cave. 31One day the older daughter said to the younger, &#8220;Our father is old, and there is no man around here to give us children&#8212;as is the custom all over the earth. 32Let&#8217;s get our father to drink wine and then sleep with him and preserve our family line through our father.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 33That night they got their father to drink wine, and the older daughter went in and slept with him. He was not aware of it when she lay down or when she got up.</div><div class="p"> 34The next day the older daughter said to the younger, &#8220;Last night I slept with my father. Let&#8217;s get him to drink wine again tonight, and you go in and sleep with him so we can preserve our family line through our father.&#8221; 35So they got their father to drink wine that night also, and the younger daughter went in and slept with him. Again he was not aware of it when she lay down or when she got up.</div><div class="p"> 36So both of Lot&#8217;s daughters became pregnant by their father. 37The older daughter had a son, and she named him Moab#19:37 Moab sounds like the Hebrew for from father.; he is the father of the Moabites of today. 38The younger daughter also had a son, and she named him Ben-Ammi#19:38 Ben-Ammi means son of my father&#8217;s people.; he is the father of the Ammonites#19:38 Hebrew Bene-Ammon of today.</div>
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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bkPSA">
 <div class="chapter ch61" data-usfm="PSA.61">
 <div class="label">61</div><div class="cl">Psalm 61#In Hebrew texts 61:1-8 is numbered 61:2-9.</div><div class="d">For the director of music. With stringed instruments. Of David.</div><div class="q1"> 1Hear my cry, O God;</div><div class="q2">listen to my prayer.</div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"> 2From the ends of the earth I call to you,</div><div class="q2">I call as my heart grows faint;</div><div class="q2">lead me to the rock that is higher than I.</div><div class="q1"> 3For you have been my refuge,</div><div class="q2">a strong tower against the foe.</div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"> 4I long to dwell in your tent forever</div><div class="q2">and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.#61:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.</div><div class="q1"> 5For you, God, have heard my vows;</div><div class="q2">you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.</div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"> 6Increase the days of the king&#8217;s life,</div><div class="q2">his years for many generations.</div><div class="q1"> 7May he be enthroned in God&#8217;s presence forever;</div><div class="q2">appoint your love and faithfulness to protect him.</div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"> 8Then I will ever sing in praise of your name</div><div class="q2">and fulfill my vows day after day.</div>
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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bkACT">
 <div class="chapter ch6" data-usfm="ACT.6">
 <div class="label">6</div><div class="s1">The Choosing of the Seven</div><div class="p"> 1In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews#6:1 That is, Jews who had adopted the Greek language and culture among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 2So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, &#8220;It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 5This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. 6They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.</div><div class="p"> 7So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.</div><div class="s1">Stephen Seized</div><div class="p"> 8Now Stephen, a man full of God&#8217;s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. 9Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)&#8212;Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia&#8212;who began to argue with Stephen. 10But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke.</div><div class="p"> 11Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, &#8220;We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 12So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin. 13They produced false witnesses, who testified, &#8220;This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. 14For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 15All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.</div>
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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bkMAT">
 <div class="chapter ch1" data-usfm="MAT.1">
 <div class="label">1</div><div class="s1">The Genealogy of Jesus the Messiah</div><div class="p"> 1This is the genealogy#1:1 Or is an account of the origin of Jesus the Messiah#1:1 Or Jesus Christ. Messiah (Hebrew) and Christ (Greek) both mean Anointed One; also in verse 18. the son of David, the son of Abraham:</div><div class="b"></div><div class="li1"> 2Abraham was the father of Isaac,</div><div class="li2">Isaac the father of Jacob,</div><div class="li2">Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,</div><div class="li2"> 3Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar,</div><div class="li2">Perez the father of Hezron,</div><div class="li2">Hezron the father of Ram,</div><div class="li2"> 4Ram the father of Amminadab,</div><div class="li2">Amminadab the father of Nahshon,</div><div class="li2">Nahshon the father of Salmon,</div><div class="li2"> 5Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab,</div><div class="li2">Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth,</div><div class="li2">Obed the father of Jesse,</div><div class="li2"> 6and Jesse the father of King David.</div><div class="b"></div><div class="li1">David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah&#8217;s wife,</div><div class="li2"> 7Solomon the father of Rehoboam,</div><div class="li2">Rehoboam the father of Abijah,</div><div class="li2">Abijah the father of Asa,</div><div class="li2"> 8Asa the father of Jehoshaphat,</div><div class="li2">Jehoshaphat the father of Jehoram,</div><div class="li2">Jehoram the father of Uzziah,</div><div class="li2"> 9Uzziah the father of Jotham,</div><div class="li2">Jotham the father of Ahaz,</div><div class="li2">Ahaz the father of Hezekiah,</div><div class="li2"> 10Hezekiah the father of Manasseh,</div><div class="li2">Manasseh the father of Amon,</div><div class="li2">Amon the father of Josiah,</div><div class="li2"> 11and Josiah the father of Jeconiah#1:11 That is, Jehoiachin; also in verse 12 and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon.</div><div class="b"></div><div class="li1"> 12After the exile to Babylon:</div><div class="li2">Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel,</div><div class="li2">Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,</div><div class="li2"> 13Zerubbabel the father of Abihud,</div><div class="li2">Abihud the father of Eliakim,</div><div class="li2">Eliakim the father of Azor,</div><div class="li2"> 14Azor the father of Zadok,</div><div class="li2">Zadok the father of Akim,</div><div class="li2">Akim the father of Elihud,</div><div class="li2"> 15Elihud the father of Eleazar,</div><div class="li2">Eleazar the father of Matthan,</div><div class="li2">Matthan the father of Jacob,</div><div class="li2"> 16and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah.</div><div class="b"></div><div class="p"> 17Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah.</div><div class="s1">Joseph Accepts Jesus as His Son</div><div class="p"> 18This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about#1:18 Or The origin of Jesus the Messiah was like this: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet#1:19 Or was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.</div><div class="p"> 20But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, &#8220;Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,#1:21 Jesus is the Greek form of Joshua, which means the Lord saves. because he will save his people from their sins.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 22All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23&#8220;The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel&#8221;#1:23 Isaiah 7:14 (which means &#8220;God with us&#8221;).</div><div class="p"> 24When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.</div>
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