Cultivating Consistency in the Word

A Kid's Guide To: Doing Hard Things With God

Desperate Woman Seeks Friends by Kristen Strong

The Weight of Love: Reflections on Jesus' Death and Resurrection

The First Christmas Gift: Hope in Jesus (Bible App for Kids)

Why Suicide Is Not the Option

Spiritual Resistance: Why Progress Gets Harder When You're on the Right Path

The New Testament in 90 Days Reading Plan

Radical Relaxation: Your 5-Day Stress Release Plan

The Power of Gratitude

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 bkEST">
      <div class="chapter ch2" data-usfm="EST.2">
         <div class="label">2</div><div class="s1"><span class="heading">Esther Made Queen</span></div><div class="p"><span class="content">  </span><span class="verse v1" data-usfm="EST.2.1"><span class="label">1</span><span class="content">Later when King Xerxes&#8217; fury had subsided, he remembered Vashti and what she had done and what he had decreed about her. </span></span><span class="verse v2" data-usfm="EST.2.2"><span class="label">2</span><span class="content">Then the king&#8217;s personal attendants proposed, &#8220;Let a search be made for beautiful young virgins for the king. </span></span><span class="verse v3" data-usfm="EST.2.3"><span class="label">3</span><span class="content">Let the king appoint commissioners in every province of his realm to bring all these beautiful young women into the harem at the citadel of Susa. Let them be placed under the care of Hegai, the king&#8217;s eunuch, who is in charge of the women; and let beauty treatments be given to them. </span></span><span class="verse v4" data-usfm="EST.2.4"><span class="label">4</span><span class="content">Then let the young woman who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti.&#8221; This advice appealed to the king, and he followed it.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v4" data-usfm="EST.2.4"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v5" data-usfm="EST.2.5"><span class="label">5</span><span class="content">Now there was in the citadel of Susa a Jew of the tribe of Benjamin, named Mordecai son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, </span></span><span class="verse v6" data-usfm="EST.2.6"><span class="label">6</span><span class="content">who had been carried into exile from Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, among those taken captive with Jehoiachin</span><span class="note f"><span class="label">#</span><span class=" body"><span class="fr">2:6 </span><span class="ft">Hebrew </span><span class="fqa">Jeconiah, </span><span class="ft">a variant of </span><span class="fq">Jehoiachin</span></span></span><span class="content"> king of Judah. </span></span><span class="verse v7" data-usfm="EST.2.7"><span class="label">7</span><span class="content">Mordecai had a cousin named Hadassah, whom he had brought up because she had neither father nor mother. This young woman, who was also known as Esther, had a lovely figure and was beautiful. Mordecai had taken her as his own daughter when her father and mother died.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v7" data-usfm="EST.2.7"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v8" data-usfm="EST.2.8"><span class="label">8</span><span class="content">When the king&#8217;s order and edict had been proclaimed, many young women were brought to the citadel of Susa and put under the care of Hegai. Esther also was taken to the king&#8217;s palace and entrusted to Hegai, who had charge of the harem. </span></span><span class="verse v9" data-usfm="EST.2.9"><span class="label">9</span><span class="content">She pleased him and won his favor. Immediately he provided her with her beauty treatments and special food. He assigned to her seven female attendants selected from the king&#8217;s palace and moved her and her attendants into the best place in the harem.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v9" data-usfm="EST.2.9"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v10" data-usfm="EST.2.10"><span class="label">10</span><span class="content">Esther had not revealed her nationality and family background, because Mordecai had forbidden her to do so. </span></span><span class="verse v11" data-usfm="EST.2.11"><span class="label">11</span><span class="content">Every day he walked back and forth near the courtyard of the harem to find out how Esther was and what was happening to her.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v11" data-usfm="EST.2.11"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v12" data-usfm="EST.2.12"><span class="label">12</span><span class="content">Before a young woman&#8217;s turn came to go in to King Xerxes, she had to complete twelve months of beauty treatments prescribed for the women, six months with oil of myrrh and six with perfumes and cosmetics. </span></span><span class="verse v13" data-usfm="EST.2.13"><span class="label">13</span><span class="content">And this is how she would go to the king: Anything she wanted was given her to take with her from the harem to the king&#8217;s palace. </span></span><span class="verse v14" data-usfm="EST.2.14"><span class="label">14</span><span class="content">In the evening she would go there and in the morning return to another part of the harem to the care of Shaashgaz, the king&#8217;s eunuch who was in charge of the concubines. She would not return to the king unless he was pleased with her and summoned her by name.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v14" data-usfm="EST.2.14"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v15" data-usfm="EST.2.15"><span class="label">15</span><span class="content">When the turn came for Esther (the young woman Mordecai had adopted, the daughter of his uncle Abihail) to go to the king, she asked for nothing other than what Hegai, the king&#8217;s eunuch who was in charge of the harem, suggested. And Esther won the favor of everyone who saw her. </span></span><span class="verse v16" data-usfm="EST.2.16"><span class="label">16</span><span class="content">She was taken to King Xerxes in the royal residence in the tenth month, the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v16" data-usfm="EST.2.16"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v17" data-usfm="EST.2.17"><span class="label">17</span><span class="content">Now the king was attracted to Esther more than to any of the other women, and she won his favor and approval more than any of the other virgins. So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti. </span></span><span class="verse v18" data-usfm="EST.2.18"><span class="label">18</span><span class="content">And the king gave a great banquet, Esther&#8217;s banquet, for all his nobles and officials. He proclaimed a holiday throughout the provinces and distributed gifts with royal liberality.</span></span></div><div class="s1"><span class="heading">Mordecai Uncovers a Conspiracy</span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v18" data-usfm="EST.2.18"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v19" data-usfm="EST.2.19"><span class="label">19</span><span class="content">When the virgins were assembled a second time, Mordecai was sitting at the king&#8217;s gate. </span></span><span class="verse v20" data-usfm="EST.2.20"><span class="label">20</span><span class="content">But Esther had kept secret her family background and nationality just as Mordecai had told her to do, for she continued to follow Mordecai&#8217;s instructions as she had done when he was bringing her up.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v20" data-usfm="EST.2.20"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v21" data-usfm="EST.2.21"><span class="label">21</span><span class="content">During the time Mordecai was sitting at the king&#8217;s gate, Bigthana</span><span class="note f"><span class="label">#</span><span class=" body"><span class="fr">2:21 </span><span class="ft">Hebrew </span><span class="fqa">Bigthan, </span><span class="ft">a variant of </span><span class="fq">Bigthana</span></span></span><span class="content"> and Teresh, two of the king&#8217;s officers who guarded the doorway, became angry and conspired to assassinate King Xerxes. </span></span><span class="verse v22" data-usfm="EST.2.22"><span class="label">22</span><span class="content">But Mordecai found out about the plot and told Queen Esther, who in turn reported it to the king, giving credit to Mordecai. </span></span><span class="verse v23" data-usfm="EST.2.23"><span class="label">23</span><span class="content">And when the report was investigated and found to be true, the two officials were impaled on poles. All this was recorded in the book of the annals in the presence of the king.</span></span></div>
      </div>
   </div>
</div>

<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
   <div class="book bkSNG">
      <div class="chapter ch5" data-usfm="SNG.5">
         <div class="label">5</div><div class="sp"><span class="heading">He</span></div><div class="q1"><span class="content">  </span><span class="verse v1" data-usfm="SNG.5.1"><span class="label">1</span><span class="content">I have come into my garden, my sister, my bride;</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v1" data-usfm="SNG.5.1"><span class="content">I have gathered my myrrh with my spice.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v1" data-usfm="SNG.5.1"><span class="content">I have eaten my honeycomb and my honey;</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v1" data-usfm="SNG.5.1"><span class="content">I have drunk my wine and my milk.</span></span></div><div class="sp"><span class="heading">Friends</span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v1" data-usfm="SNG.5.1"><span class="content">Eat, friends, and drink;</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v1" data-usfm="SNG.5.1"><span class="content">drink your fill of love.</span></span></div><div class="sp"><span class="heading">She</span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v1" data-usfm="SNG.5.1"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v2" data-usfm="SNG.5.2"><span class="label">2</span><span class="content">I slept but my heart was awake.</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v2" data-usfm="SNG.5.2"><span class="content">Listen! My beloved is knocking:</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v2" data-usfm="SNG.5.2"><span class="content">&#8220;Open to me, my sister, my darling,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v2" data-usfm="SNG.5.2"><span class="content">my dove, my flawless one.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v2" data-usfm="SNG.5.2"><span class="content">My head is drenched with dew,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v2" data-usfm="SNG.5.2"><span class="content">my hair with the dampness of the night.&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v2" data-usfm="SNG.5.2"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v3" data-usfm="SNG.5.3"><span class="label">3</span><span class="content">I have taken off my robe&#8212;</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v3" data-usfm="SNG.5.3"><span class="content">must I put it on again?</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v3" data-usfm="SNG.5.3"><span class="content">I have washed my feet&#8212;</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v3" data-usfm="SNG.5.3"><span class="content">must I soil them again?</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v3" data-usfm="SNG.5.3"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v4" data-usfm="SNG.5.4"><span class="label">4</span><span class="content">My beloved thrust his hand through the latch-opening;</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v4" data-usfm="SNG.5.4"><span class="content">my heart began to pound for him.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v4" data-usfm="SNG.5.4"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v5" data-usfm="SNG.5.5"><span class="label">5</span><span class="content">I arose to open for my beloved,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v5" data-usfm="SNG.5.5"><span class="content">and my hands dripped with myrrh,</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v5" data-usfm="SNG.5.5"><span class="content">my fingers with flowing myrrh,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v5" data-usfm="SNG.5.5"><span class="content">on the handles of the bolt.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v5" data-usfm="SNG.5.5"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v6" data-usfm="SNG.5.6"><span class="label">6</span><span class="content">I opened for my beloved,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v6" data-usfm="SNG.5.6"><span class="content">but my beloved had left; he was gone.</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v6" data-usfm="SNG.5.6"><span class="content">My heart sank at his departure.</span><span class="note f"><span class="label">#</span><span class=" body"><span class="fr">5:6 </span><span class="ft">Or </span><span class="fqa">heart had gone out to him when he spoke</span></span></span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v6" data-usfm="SNG.5.6"><span class="content">I looked for him but did not find him.</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v6" data-usfm="SNG.5.6"><span class="content">I called him but he did not answer.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v6" data-usfm="SNG.5.6"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v7" data-usfm="SNG.5.7"><span class="label">7</span><span class="content">The watchmen found me</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v7" data-usfm="SNG.5.7"><span class="content">as they made their rounds in the city.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v7" data-usfm="SNG.5.7"><span class="content">They beat me, they bruised me;</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v7" data-usfm="SNG.5.7"><span class="content">they took away my cloak,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v7" data-usfm="SNG.5.7"><span class="content">those watchmen of the walls!</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v7" data-usfm="SNG.5.7"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v8" data-usfm="SNG.5.8"><span class="label">8</span><span class="content">Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you&#8212;</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v8" data-usfm="SNG.5.8"><span class="content">if you find my beloved,</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v8" data-usfm="SNG.5.8"><span class="content">what will you tell him?</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v8" data-usfm="SNG.5.8"><span class="content">Tell him I am faint with love.</span></span></div><div class="sp"><span class="heading">Friends</span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v8" data-usfm="SNG.5.8"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v9" data-usfm="SNG.5.9"><span class="label">9</span><span class="content">How is your beloved better than others,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v9" data-usfm="SNG.5.9"><span class="content">most beautiful of women?</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v9" data-usfm="SNG.5.9"><span class="content">How is your beloved better than others,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v9" data-usfm="SNG.5.9"><span class="content">that you so charge us?</span></span></div><div class="sp"><span class="heading">She</span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v9" data-usfm="SNG.5.9"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v10" data-usfm="SNG.5.10"><span class="label">10</span><span class="content">My beloved is radiant and ruddy,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v10" data-usfm="SNG.5.10"><span class="content">outstanding among ten thousand.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v10" data-usfm="SNG.5.10"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v11" data-usfm="SNG.5.11"><span class="label">11</span><span class="content">His head is purest gold;</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v11" data-usfm="SNG.5.11"><span class="content">his hair is wavy</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v11" data-usfm="SNG.5.11"><span class="content">and black as a raven.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v11" data-usfm="SNG.5.11"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v12" data-usfm="SNG.5.12"><span class="label">12</span><span class="content">His eyes are like doves</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v12" data-usfm="SNG.5.12"><span class="content">by the water streams,</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v12" data-usfm="SNG.5.12"><span class="content">washed in milk,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v12" data-usfm="SNG.5.12"><span class="content">mounted like jewels.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v12" data-usfm="SNG.5.12"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v13" data-usfm="SNG.5.13"><span class="label">13</span><span class="content">His cheeks are like beds of spice</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v13" data-usfm="SNG.5.13"><span class="content">yielding perfume.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v13" data-usfm="SNG.5.13"><span class="content">His lips are like lilies</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v13" data-usfm="SNG.5.13"><span class="content">dripping with myrrh.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v13" data-usfm="SNG.5.13"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v14" data-usfm="SNG.5.14"><span class="label">14</span><span class="content">His arms are rods of gold</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v14" data-usfm="SNG.5.14"><span class="content">set with topaz.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v14" data-usfm="SNG.5.14"><span class="content">His body is like polished ivory</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v14" data-usfm="SNG.5.14"><span class="content">decorated with lapis lazuli.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v14" data-usfm="SNG.5.14"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v15" data-usfm="SNG.5.15"><span class="label">15</span><span class="content">His legs are pillars of marble</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v15" data-usfm="SNG.5.15"><span class="content">set on bases of pure gold.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v15" data-usfm="SNG.5.15"><span class="content">His appearance is like Lebanon,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v15" data-usfm="SNG.5.15"><span class="content">choice as its cedars.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v15" data-usfm="SNG.5.15"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v16" data-usfm="SNG.5.16"><span class="label">16</span><span class="content">His mouth is sweetness itself;</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v16" data-usfm="SNG.5.16"><span class="content">he is altogether lovely.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v16" data-usfm="SNG.5.16"><span class="content">This is my beloved, this is my friend,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v16" data-usfm="SNG.5.16"><span class="content">daughters of Jerusalem.</span></span></div>
      </div>
   </div>
</div>

<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
   <div class="book bkSNG">
      <div class="chapter ch6" data-usfm="SNG.6">
         <div class="label">6</div><div class="sp"><span class="heading">Friends</span></div><div class="q1"><span class="content">  </span><span class="verse v1" data-usfm="SNG.6.1"><span class="label">1</span><span class="content">Where has your beloved gone,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v1" data-usfm="SNG.6.1"><span class="content">most beautiful of women?</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v1" data-usfm="SNG.6.1"><span class="content">Which way did your beloved turn,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v1" data-usfm="SNG.6.1"><span class="content">that we may look for him with you?</span></span></div><div class="sp"><span class="heading">She</span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v1" data-usfm="SNG.6.1"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v2" data-usfm="SNG.6.2"><span class="label">2</span><span class="content">My beloved has gone down to his garden,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v2" data-usfm="SNG.6.2"><span class="content">to the beds of spices,</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v2" data-usfm="SNG.6.2"><span class="content">to browse in the gardens</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v2" data-usfm="SNG.6.2"><span class="content">and to gather lilies.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v2" data-usfm="SNG.6.2"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v3" data-usfm="SNG.6.3"><span class="label">3</span><span class="content">I am my beloved&#8217;s and my beloved is mine;</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v3" data-usfm="SNG.6.3"><span class="content">he browses among the lilies.</span></span></div><div class="sp"><span class="heading">He</span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v3" data-usfm="SNG.6.3"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v4" data-usfm="SNG.6.4"><span class="label">4</span><span class="content">You are as beautiful as Tirzah, my darling,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v4" data-usfm="SNG.6.4"><span class="content">as lovely as Jerusalem,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v4" data-usfm="SNG.6.4"><span class="content">as majestic as troops with banners.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v4" data-usfm="SNG.6.4"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v5" data-usfm="SNG.6.5"><span class="label">5</span><span class="content">Turn your eyes from me;</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v5" data-usfm="SNG.6.5"><span class="content">they overwhelm me.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v5" data-usfm="SNG.6.5"><span class="content">Your hair is like a flock of goats</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v5" data-usfm="SNG.6.5"><span class="content">descending from Gilead.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v5" data-usfm="SNG.6.5"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v6" data-usfm="SNG.6.6"><span class="label">6</span><span class="content">Your teeth are like a flock of sheep</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v6" data-usfm="SNG.6.6"><span class="content">coming up from the washing.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v6" data-usfm="SNG.6.6"><span class="content">Each has its twin,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v6" data-usfm="SNG.6.6"><span class="content">not one of them is missing.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v6" data-usfm="SNG.6.6"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v7" data-usfm="SNG.6.7"><span class="label">7</span><span class="content">Your temples behind your veil</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v7" data-usfm="SNG.6.7"><span class="content">are like the halves of a pomegranate.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v7" data-usfm="SNG.6.7"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v8" data-usfm="SNG.6.8"><span class="label">8</span><span class="content">Sixty queens there may be,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v8" data-usfm="SNG.6.8"><span class="content">and eighty concubines,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v8" data-usfm="SNG.6.8"><span class="content">and virgins beyond number;</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v8" data-usfm="SNG.6.8"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v9" data-usfm="SNG.6.9"><span class="label">9</span><span class="content">but my dove, my perfect one, is unique,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v9" data-usfm="SNG.6.9"><span class="content">the only daughter of her mother,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v9" data-usfm="SNG.6.9"><span class="content">the favorite of the one who bore her.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v9" data-usfm="SNG.6.9"><span class="content">The young women saw her and called her blessed;</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v9" data-usfm="SNG.6.9"><span class="content">the queens and concubines praised her.</span></span></div><div class="sp"><span class="heading">Friends</span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v9" data-usfm="SNG.6.9"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v10" data-usfm="SNG.6.10"><span class="label">10</span><span class="content">Who is this that appears like the dawn,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v10" data-usfm="SNG.6.10"><span class="content">fair as the moon, bright as the sun,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v10" data-usfm="SNG.6.10"><span class="content">majestic as the stars in procession?</span></span></div><div class="sp"><span class="heading">He</span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v10" data-usfm="SNG.6.10"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v11" data-usfm="SNG.6.11"><span class="label">11</span><span class="content">I went down to the grove of nut trees</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v11" data-usfm="SNG.6.11"><span class="content">to look at the new growth in the valley,</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v11" data-usfm="SNG.6.11"><span class="content">to see if the vines had budded</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v11" data-usfm="SNG.6.11"><span class="content">or the pomegranates were in bloom.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v11" data-usfm="SNG.6.11"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v12" data-usfm="SNG.6.12"><span class="label">12</span><span class="content">Before I realized it,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v12" data-usfm="SNG.6.12"><span class="content">my desire set me among the royal chariots of my people.</span><span class="note f"><span class="label">#</span><span class=" body"><span class="fr">6:12 </span><span class="ft">Or </span><span class="fqa">among the chariots of Amminadab</span><span class="ft">; or </span><span class="fqa">among the chariots of the people of the prince</span></span></span></span></div><div class="sp"><span class="heading">Friends</span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v12" data-usfm="SNG.6.12"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v13" data-usfm="SNG.6.13"><span class="label">13</span><span class="content">Come back, come back, O Shulammite;</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v13" data-usfm="SNG.6.13"><span class="content">come back, come back, that we may gaze on you!</span></span></div><div class="sp"><span class="heading">He</span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v13" data-usfm="SNG.6.13"><span class="content">Why would you gaze on the Shulammite</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v13" data-usfm="SNG.6.13"><span class="content">as on the dance of Mahanaim?</span><span class="note f"><span class="label">#</span><span class=" body"><span class="fr">6:13 </span><span class="ft">In Hebrew texts this verse (6:13) is numbered 7:1.</span></span></span></span></div><div class="b"></div>
      </div>
   </div>
</div>

<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"><span class="heading">Paul&#8217;s Trial Before Felix</span></div><div class="p"><span class="content">  </span><span class="verse v1" data-usfm="ACT.24.1"><span class="label">1</span><span class="content">Five 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. </span></span><span class="verse v2" data-usfm="ACT.24.2"><span class="label">2</span><span class="content">When 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. </span></span><span class="verse v3" data-usfm="ACT.24.3"><span class="label">3</span><span class="content">Everywhere and in every way, most excellent Felix, we acknowledge this with profound gratitude. </span></span><span class="verse v4" data-usfm="ACT.24.4"><span class="label">4</span><span class="content">But in order not to weary you further, I would request that you be kind enough to hear us briefly.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v4" data-usfm="ACT.24.4"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v5" data-usfm="ACT.24.5"><span class="label">5</span><span class="content">&#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 </span></span><span class="verse v6" data-usfm="ACT.24.6"><span class="label">6</span><span class="content">and even tried to desecrate the temple; so we seized him. </span></span><span class="verse v7" data-usfm="ACT.24.7"><span class="label">[7]</span><span class="note f"><span class="label">#</span><span class=" body"><span class="fr">24:6-7 </span><span class="ft">Some manuscripts include here </span><span class="fqa">him, and we would have judged him in accordance with our law. </span><span class="fv">7 </span><span class="fqa">But the commander Lysias came and took him from us with much violence, </span><span class="fv">8 </span><span class="fqa">ordering his accusers to come before you.</span></span></span><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v8" data-usfm="ACT.24.8"><span class="label">8</span><span class="content">By examining him yourself you will be able to learn the truth about all these charges we are bringing against him.&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v8" data-usfm="ACT.24.8"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v9" data-usfm="ACT.24.9"><span class="label">9</span><span class="content">The other Jews joined in the accusation, asserting that these things were true.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v9" data-usfm="ACT.24.9"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v10" data-usfm="ACT.24.10"><span class="label">10</span><span class="content">When 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. </span></span><span class="verse v11" data-usfm="ACT.24.11"><span class="label">11</span><span class="content">You can easily verify that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. </span></span><span class="verse v12" data-usfm="ACT.24.12"><span class="label">12</span><span class="content">My 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. </span></span><span class="verse v13" data-usfm="ACT.24.13"><span class="label">13</span><span class="content">And they cannot prove to you the charges they are now making against me. </span></span><span class="verse v14" data-usfm="ACT.24.14"><span class="label">14</span><span class="content">However, 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, </span></span><span class="verse v15" data-usfm="ACT.24.15"><span class="label">15</span><span class="content">and 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. </span></span><span class="verse v16" data-usfm="ACT.24.16"><span class="label">16</span><span class="content">So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v16" data-usfm="ACT.24.16"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v17" data-usfm="ACT.24.17"><span class="label">17</span><span class="content">&#8220;After an absence of several years, I came to Jerusalem to bring my people gifts for the poor and to present offerings. </span></span><span class="verse v18" data-usfm="ACT.24.18"><span class="label">18</span><span class="content">I 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. </span></span><span class="verse v19" data-usfm="ACT.24.19"><span class="label">19</span><span class="content">But 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. </span></span><span class="verse v20" data-usfm="ACT.24.20"><span class="label">20</span><span class="content">Or these who are here should state what crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin&#8212; </span></span><span class="verse v21" data-usfm="ACT.24.21"><span class="label">21</span><span class="content">unless 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;</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v21" data-usfm="ACT.24.21"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v22" data-usfm="ACT.24.22"><span class="label">22</span><span class="content">Then 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; </span></span><span class="verse v23" data-usfm="ACT.24.23"><span class="label">23</span><span class="content">He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard but to give him some freedom and permit his friends to take care of his needs.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v23" data-usfm="ACT.24.23"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v24" data-usfm="ACT.24.24"><span class="label">24</span><span class="content">Several 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. </span></span><span class="verse v25" data-usfm="ACT.24.25"><span class="label">25</span><span class="content">As 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; </span></span><span class="verse v26" data-usfm="ACT.24.26"><span class="label">26</span><span class="content">At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v26" data-usfm="ACT.24.26"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v27" data-usfm="ACT.24.27"><span class="label">27</span><span class="content">When 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.</span></span></div>
      </div>
   </div>
</div>

New International Version

<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
   <div class="book bk1JN">
      <div class="chapter ch5" data-usfm="1JN.5.1+1JN.5.2+1JN.5.3+1JN.5.4+1JN.5.5+1JN.5.6+1JN.5.7+1JN.5.8+1JN.5.9+1JN.5.10+1JN.5.11+1JN.5.12">
         <div class="p"><span class="verse v1" data-usfm="1JN.5.1"><span class="label">1</span><span class="content">Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. </span></span><span class="verse v2" data-usfm="1JN.5.2"><span class="label">2</span><span class="content">This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. </span></span><span class="verse v3" data-usfm="1JN.5.3"><span class="label">3</span><span class="content">In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, </span></span><span class="verse v4" data-usfm="1JN.5.4"><span class="label">4</span><span class="content">for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. </span></span><span class="verse v5" data-usfm="1JN.5.5"><span class="label">5</span><span class="content">Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v5" data-usfm="1JN.5.5"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v6" data-usfm="1JN.5.6"><span class="label">6</span><span class="content">This is the one who came by water and blood&#8212;Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. </span></span><span class="verse v7" data-usfm="1JN.5.7"><span class="label">7</span><span class="content">For there are three that testify: </span></span><span class="verse v8" data-usfm="1JN.5.8"><span class="label">8</span><span class="content">the</span><span class="note f"><span class="label">#</span><span class=" body"><span class="fr">5:7,8 </span><span class="ft">Late manuscripts of the Vulgate </span><span class="fqa">testify in heaven: the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one. </span><span class="fv">8 </span><span class="fqa">And there are three that testify on earth: the </span><span class="ft">(not found in any Greek manuscript before the fourteenth century)</span></span></span><span class="content"> Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. </span></span><span class="verse v9" data-usfm="1JN.5.9"><span class="label">9</span><span class="content">We accept human testimony, but God&#8217;s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. </span></span><span class="verse v10" data-usfm="1JN.5.10"><span class="label">10</span><span class="content">Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. </span></span><span class="verse v11" data-usfm="1JN.5.11"><span class="label">11</span><span class="content">And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. </span></span><span class="verse v12" data-usfm="1JN.5.12"><span class="label">12</span><span class="content">Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.</span></span></div>
      </div>
   </div>
</div>

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