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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 bkEZR">
      <div class="chapter ch1" data-usfm="EZR.1">
         <div class="label">1</div><div class="s1"><span class="heading">Cyrus Helps the Exiles to Return</span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v1" data-usfm="EZR.1.1"><span class="label">1</span><span class="content">In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the </span><span class="nd"><span class="content">Lord</span></span><span class="content"> spoken by Jeremiah, the </span><span class="nd"><span class="content">Lord</span></span><span class="content"> moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and also to put it in writing:</span></span></div><div class="pmo"><span class="verse v1" data-usfm="EZR.1.1"></span><span class="verse v2" data-usfm="EZR.1.2"><span class="label">2</span><span class="content">&#8220;This is what Cyrus king of Persia says:</span></span></div><div class="b"><span class="verse v2" data-usfm="EZR.1.2"></span></div><div class="pm"><span class="verse v2" data-usfm="EZR.1.2"><span class="content">&#8220;&#8198;&#8216;The </span><span class="nd"><span class="content">Lord</span></span><span class="content">, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. </span></span><span class="verse v3" data-usfm="EZR.1.3"><span class="label">3</span><span class="content">Any of his people among you may go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the temple of the </span><span class="nd"><span class="content">Lord</span></span><span class="content">, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem, and may their God be with them. </span></span><span class="verse v4" data-usfm="EZR.1.4"><span class="label">4</span><span class="content">And in any locality where survivors may now be living, the people are to provide them with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with freewill offerings for the temple of God in Jerusalem.&#8217;&#8198;&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v4" data-usfm="EZR.1.4"></span><span class="verse v5" data-usfm="EZR.1.5"><span class="label">5</span><span class="content">Then the family heads of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and Levites&#8212;everyone whose heart God had moved&#8212;prepared to go up and build the house of the </span><span class="nd"><span class="content">Lord</span></span><span class="content"> in Jerusalem. </span></span><span class="verse v6" data-usfm="EZR.1.6"><span class="label">6</span><span class="content">All their neighbors assisted them with articles of silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with valuable gifts, in addition to all the freewill offerings.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v6" data-usfm="EZR.1.6"></span><span class="verse v7" data-usfm="EZR.1.7"><span class="label">7</span><span class="content">Moreover, King Cyrus brought out the articles belonging to the temple of the </span><span class="nd"><span class="content">Lord</span></span><span class="content">, which Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem and had placed in the temple of his god.</span><span class="note f"><span class="label">#</span><span class="body"><span class="fr">1:7 </span><span class="ft">Or </span><span class="fqa">gods</span></span></span><span class="content"> </span></span><span class="verse v8" data-usfm="EZR.1.8"><span class="label">8</span><span class="content">Cyrus king of Persia had them brought by Mithredath the treasurer, who counted them out to Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v8" data-usfm="EZR.1.8"></span><span class="verse v9" data-usfm="EZR.1.9"><span class="label">9</span><span class="content">This was the inventory:</span></span></div><div class="b"><span class="verse v9" data-usfm="EZR.1.9"></span></div><table class="table"><tr class="row"><td class="cell"><span class="verse v9" data-usfm="EZR.1.9"><span class="content">gold dishes</span></span></td><td class="cell"><span class="verse v9" data-usfm="EZR.1.9"><span class="content">30</span></span></td></tr><tr class="row"><td class="cell"><span class="verse v9" data-usfm="EZR.1.9"><span class="content">silver dishes</span></span></td><td class="cell"><span class="verse v9" data-usfm="EZR.1.9"><span class="content">1,000</span></span></td></tr><tr class="row"><td class="cell"><span class="verse v9" data-usfm="EZR.1.9"><span class="content">silver pans</span><span class="note f"><span class="label">#</span><span class="body"><span class="fr">1:9 </span><span class="ft">The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.</span></span></span></span></td><td class="cell"><span class="verse v9" data-usfm="EZR.1.9"><span class="content">29</span></span></td></tr><tr class="row"><td class="cell"><span class="verse v9" data-usfm="EZR.1.9"></span><span class="verse v10" data-usfm="EZR.1.10"><span class="label">10</span><span class="content">gold bowls</span></span></td><td class="cell"><span class="verse v10" data-usfm="EZR.1.10"><span class="content">30</span></span></td></tr><tr class="row"><td class="cell"><span class="verse v10" data-usfm="EZR.1.10"><span class="content">matching silver bowls</span></span></td><td class="cell"><span class="verse v10" data-usfm="EZR.1.10"><span class="content">410</span></span></td></tr><tr class="row"><td class="cell"><span class="verse v10" data-usfm="EZR.1.10"><span class="content">other articles</span></span></td><td class="cell"><span class="verse v10" data-usfm="EZR.1.10"><span class="content">1,000</span></span></td></tr></table><div class="b"><span class="verse v10" data-usfm="EZR.1.10"></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v10" data-usfm="EZR.1.10"></span><span class="verse v11" data-usfm="EZR.1.11"><span class="label">11</span><span class="content">In all, there were 5,400 articles of gold and of silver. Sheshbazzar brought all these along with the exiles when they came up from Babylon to Jerusalem.</span></span></div>
      </div>
   </div>
</div>

New International Version

<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
   <div class="book bkEZR">
      <div class="chapter ch2" data-usfm="EZR.2.1+EZR.2.2+EZR.2.3+EZR.2.4+EZR.2.5+EZR.2.6+EZR.2.7+EZR.2.8+EZR.2.9+EZR.2.10+EZR.2.11+EZR.2.12+EZR.2.13+EZR.2.14+EZR.2.15+EZR.2.16+EZR.2.17+EZR.2.18+EZR.2.19+EZR.2.20+EZR.2.21+EZR.2.22+EZR.2.23+EZR.2.24+EZR.2.25+EZR.2.26+EZR.2.27+EZR.2.28+EZR.2.29+EZR.2.30+EZR.2.31+EZR.2.32+EZR.2.33+EZR.2.34+EZR.2.35+EZR.2.36+EZR.2.37+EZR.2.38+EZR.2.39">
         <div class="p"><span class="verse v1" data-usfm="EZR.2.1"><span class="label">1</span><span class="content">Now these are the people of the province who came up from the captivity of the exiles, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had taken captive to Babylon (they returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to their own town, </span></span><span class="verse v2" data-usfm="EZR.2.2"><span class="label">2</span><span class="content">in company with Zerubbabel, Joshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum and Baanah):</span></span></div><div class="b"><span class="verse v2" data-usfm="EZR.2.2"></span></div><div class="mi"><span class="verse v2" data-usfm="EZR.2.2"><span class="content">The list of the men of the people of Israel:</span></span></div><div class="b"><span class="verse v2" data-usfm="EZR.2.2"></span></div><div class="b"><span class="verse v20" data-usfm="EZR.2.20"></span></div><div class="b"><span class="verse v35" data-usfm="EZR.2.35"></span></div><div class="mi"><span class="verse v35" data-usfm="EZR.2.35"></span><span class="verse v36" data-usfm="EZR.2.36"><span class="label">36</span><span class="content">The priests:</span></span></div><div class="b"><span class="verse v36" data-usfm="EZR.2.36"></span></div><div class="b"><span class="verse v39" data-usfm="EZR.2.39"></span></div><div class="mi"><span class="verse v39" data-usfm="EZR.2.39"></span></div>
      </div>
   </div>
</div>

<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
   <div class="book bkHAB">
      <div class="chapter ch3" data-usfm="HAB.3">
         <div class="label">3</div><div class="s1"><span class="heading">Habakkuk&#8217;s Prayer</span></div><div class="d"><span class="verse v1" data-usfm="HAB.3.1"><span class="label">1</span><span class="content">A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet. On </span><span class="tl"><span class="content">shigionoth</span></span><span class="content">.</span><span class="note f"><span class="label">#</span><span class="body"><span class="fr">3:1 </span><span class="ft">Probably a literary or musical term</span></span></span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v1" data-usfm="HAB.3.1"></span><span class="verse v2" data-usfm="HAB.3.2"><span class="label">2</span><span class="content"> </span><span class="nd"><span class="content">Lord</span></span><span class="content">, I have heard of your fame;</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v2" data-usfm="HAB.3.2"><span class="content">I stand in awe of your deeds, </span><span class="nd"><span class="content">Lord</span></span><span class="content">.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v2" data-usfm="HAB.3.2"><span class="content">Repeat them in our day,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v2" data-usfm="HAB.3.2"><span class="content">in our time make them known;</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v2" data-usfm="HAB.3.2"><span class="content">in wrath remember mercy.</span></span></div><div class="b"><span class="verse v2" data-usfm="HAB.3.2"></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v2" data-usfm="HAB.3.2"></span><span class="verse v3" data-usfm="HAB.3.3"><span class="label">3</span><span class="content">God came from Teman,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v3" data-usfm="HAB.3.3"><span class="content">the Holy One from Mount Paran.</span><span class="note f"><span class="label">#</span><span class="body"><span class="fr">3:3 </span><span class="ft">The Hebrew has </span><span class="fqa">Selah </span><span class="ft">(a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the middle of verse 9 and at the end of verse 13.</span></span></span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v3" data-usfm="HAB.3.3"><span class="content">His glory covered the heavens</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v3" data-usfm="HAB.3.3"><span class="content">and his praise filled the earth.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v3" data-usfm="HAB.3.3"></span><span class="verse v4" data-usfm="HAB.3.4"><span class="label">4</span><span class="content">His splendor was like the sunrise;</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v4" data-usfm="HAB.3.4"><span class="content">rays flashed from his hand,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v4" data-usfm="HAB.3.4"><span class="content">where his power was hidden.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v4" data-usfm="HAB.3.4"></span><span class="verse v5" data-usfm="HAB.3.5"><span class="label">5</span><span class="content">Plague went before him;</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v5" data-usfm="HAB.3.5"><span class="content">pestilence followed his steps.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v5" data-usfm="HAB.3.5"></span><span class="verse v6" data-usfm="HAB.3.6"><span class="label">6</span><span class="content">He stood, and shook the earth;</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v6" data-usfm="HAB.3.6"><span class="content">he looked, and made the nations tremble.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v6" data-usfm="HAB.3.6"><span class="content">The ancient mountains crumbled</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v6" data-usfm="HAB.3.6"><span class="content">and the age-old hills collapsed&#8212;</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v6" data-usfm="HAB.3.6"><span class="content">but he marches on forever.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v6" data-usfm="HAB.3.6"></span><span class="verse v7" data-usfm="HAB.3.7"><span class="label">7</span><span class="content">I saw the tents of Cushan in distress,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v7" data-usfm="HAB.3.7"><span class="content">the dwellings of Midian in anguish.</span></span></div><div class="b"><span class="verse v7" data-usfm="HAB.3.7"></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v7" data-usfm="HAB.3.7"></span><span class="verse v8" data-usfm="HAB.3.8"><span class="label">8</span><span class="content">Were you angry with the rivers, </span><span class="nd"><span class="content">Lord</span></span><span class="content">?</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v8" data-usfm="HAB.3.8"><span class="content">Was your wrath against the streams?</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v8" data-usfm="HAB.3.8"><span class="content">Did you rage against the sea</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v8" data-usfm="HAB.3.8"><span class="content">when you rode your horses</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v8" data-usfm="HAB.3.8"><span class="content">and your chariots to victory?</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v8" data-usfm="HAB.3.8"></span><span class="verse v9" data-usfm="HAB.3.9"><span class="label">9</span><span class="content">You uncovered your bow,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v9" data-usfm="HAB.3.9"><span class="content">you called for many arrows.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v9" data-usfm="HAB.3.9"><span class="content">You split the earth with rivers;</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v9" data-usfm="HAB.3.9"></span><span class="verse v10" data-usfm="HAB.3.10"><span class="label">10</span><span class="content">the mountains saw you and writhed.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v10" data-usfm="HAB.3.10"><span class="content">Torrents of water swept by;</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v10" data-usfm="HAB.3.10"><span class="content">the deep roared</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v10" data-usfm="HAB.3.10"><span class="content">and lifted its waves on high.</span></span></div><div class="b"><span class="verse v10" data-usfm="HAB.3.10"></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v10" data-usfm="HAB.3.10"></span><span class="verse v11" data-usfm="HAB.3.11"><span class="label">11</span><span class="content">Sun and moon stood still in the heavens</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v11" data-usfm="HAB.3.11"><span class="content">at the glint of your flying arrows,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v11" data-usfm="HAB.3.11"><span class="content">at the lightning of your flashing spear.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v11" data-usfm="HAB.3.11"></span><span class="verse v12" data-usfm="HAB.3.12"><span class="label">12</span><span class="content">In wrath you strode through the earth</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v12" data-usfm="HAB.3.12"><span class="content">and in anger you threshed the nations.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v12" data-usfm="HAB.3.12"></span><span class="verse v13" data-usfm="HAB.3.13"><span class="label">13</span><span class="content">You came out to deliver your people,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v13" data-usfm="HAB.3.13"><span class="content">to save your anointed one.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v13" data-usfm="HAB.3.13"><span class="content">You crushed the leader of the land of wickedness,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v13" data-usfm="HAB.3.13"><span class="content">you stripped him from head to foot.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v13" data-usfm="HAB.3.13"></span><span class="verse v14" data-usfm="HAB.3.14"><span class="label">14</span><span class="content">With his own spear you pierced his head</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v14" data-usfm="HAB.3.14"><span class="content">when his warriors stormed out to scatter us,</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v14" data-usfm="HAB.3.14"><span class="content">gloating as though about to devour</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v14" data-usfm="HAB.3.14"><span class="content">the wretched who were in hiding.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v14" data-usfm="HAB.3.14"></span><span class="verse v15" data-usfm="HAB.3.15"><span class="label">15</span><span class="content">You trampled the sea with your horses,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v15" data-usfm="HAB.3.15"><span class="content">churning the great waters.</span></span></div><div class="b"><span class="verse v15" data-usfm="HAB.3.15"></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v15" data-usfm="HAB.3.15"></span><span class="verse v16" data-usfm="HAB.3.16"><span class="label">16</span><span class="content">I heard and my heart pounded,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v16" data-usfm="HAB.3.16"><span class="content">my lips quivered at the sound;</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v16" data-usfm="HAB.3.16"><span class="content">decay crept into my bones,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v16" data-usfm="HAB.3.16"><span class="content">and my legs trembled.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v16" data-usfm="HAB.3.16"><span class="content">Yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v16" data-usfm="HAB.3.16"><span class="content">to come on the nation invading us.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v16" data-usfm="HAB.3.16"></span><span class="verse v17" data-usfm="HAB.3.17"><span class="label">17</span><span class="content">Though the fig tree does not bud</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v17" data-usfm="HAB.3.17"><span class="content">and there are no grapes on the vines,</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v17" data-usfm="HAB.3.17"><span class="content">though the olive crop fails</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v17" data-usfm="HAB.3.17"><span class="content">and the fields produce no food,</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v17" data-usfm="HAB.3.17"><span class="content">though there are no sheep in the pen</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v17" data-usfm="HAB.3.17"><span class="content">and no cattle in the stalls,</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v17" data-usfm="HAB.3.17"></span><span class="verse v18" data-usfm="HAB.3.18"><span class="label">18</span><span class="content">yet I will rejoice in the </span><span class="nd"><span class="content">Lord</span></span><span class="content">,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v18" data-usfm="HAB.3.18"><span class="content">I will be joyful in God my Savior.</span></span></div><div class="b"><span class="verse v18" data-usfm="HAB.3.18"></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v18" data-usfm="HAB.3.18"></span><span class="verse v19" data-usfm="HAB.3.19"><span class="label">19</span><span class="content">The Sovereign </span><span class="nd"><span class="content">Lord</span></span><span class="content"> is my strength;</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v19" data-usfm="HAB.3.19"><span class="content">he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v19" data-usfm="HAB.3.19"><span class="content">he enables me to tread on the heights.</span></span></div><div class="b"><span class="verse v19" data-usfm="HAB.3.19"></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v19" data-usfm="HAB.3.19"><span class="content">For the director of music. On my stringed instruments.</span></span></div>
      </div>
   </div>
</div>

<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
   <div class="book bkACT">
      <div class="chapter ch7" data-usfm="ACT.7.1+ACT.7.2+ACT.7.3+ACT.7.4+ACT.7.5+ACT.7.6+ACT.7.7+ACT.7.8+ACT.7.9+ACT.7.10+ACT.7.11+ACT.7.12+ACT.7.13+ACT.7.14+ACT.7.15+ACT.7.16+ACT.7.17+ACT.7.18+ACT.7.19+ACT.7.20+ACT.7.21+ACT.7.22+ACT.7.23+ACT.7.24+ACT.7.25+ACT.7.26+ACT.7.27+ACT.7.28+ACT.7.29">
         <div class="p"><span class="verse v1" data-usfm="ACT.7.1"><span class="label">1</span><span class="content">Then the high priest asked Stephen, &#8220;Are these charges true?&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v1" data-usfm="ACT.7.1"></span><span class="verse v2" data-usfm="ACT.7.2"><span class="label">2</span><span class="content">To this he replied: &#8220;Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Harran. </span></span><span class="verse v3" data-usfm="ACT.7.3"><span class="label">3</span><span class="content">&#8216;Leave your country and your people,&#8217; God said, &#8216;and go to the land I will show you.&#8217;</span><span class="note f"><span class="label">#</span><span class="body"><span class="fr">7:3 </span><span class="ft"><span class="ref" usfm="GEN.12.1">Gen. 12:1</span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v3" data-usfm="ACT.7.3"></span><span class="verse v4" data-usfm="ACT.7.4"><span class="label">4</span><span class="content">&#8220;So he left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Harran. After the death of his father, God sent him to this land where you are now living. </span></span><span class="verse v5" data-usfm="ACT.7.5"><span class="label">5</span><span class="content">He gave him no inheritance here, not even enough ground to set his foot on. But God promised him that he and his descendants after him would possess the land, even though at that time Abraham had no child. </span></span><span class="verse v6" data-usfm="ACT.7.6"><span class="label">6</span><span class="content">God spoke to him in this way: &#8216;For four hundred years your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated. </span></span><span class="verse v7" data-usfm="ACT.7.7"><span class="label">7</span><span class="content">But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves,&#8217; God said, &#8216;and afterward they will come out of that country and worship me in this place.&#8217;</span><span class="note f"><span class="label">#</span><span class="body"><span class="fr">7:7 </span><span class="ft"><span class="ref" usfm="GEN.15.13">Gen. 15:13</span>,<span class="ref" usfm="GEN.15.14">14</span></span></span></span><span class="content"> </span></span><span class="verse v8" data-usfm="ACT.7.8"><span class="label">8</span><span class="content">Then he gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision. And Abraham became the father of Isaac and circumcised him eight days after his birth. Later Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob became the father of the twelve patriarchs.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v8" data-usfm="ACT.7.8"></span><span class="verse v9" data-usfm="ACT.7.9"><span class="label">9</span><span class="content">&#8220;Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him </span></span><span class="verse v10" data-usfm="ACT.7.10"><span class="label">10</span><span class="content">and rescued him from all his troubles. He gave Joseph wisdom and enabled him to gain the goodwill of Pharaoh king of Egypt. So Pharaoh made him ruler over Egypt and all his palace.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v10" data-usfm="ACT.7.10"></span><span class="verse v11" data-usfm="ACT.7.11"><span class="label">11</span><span class="content">&#8220;Then a famine struck all Egypt and Canaan, bringing great suffering, and our ancestors could not find food. </span></span><span class="verse v12" data-usfm="ACT.7.12"><span class="label">12</span><span class="content">When Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our forefathers on their first visit. </span></span><span class="verse v13" data-usfm="ACT.7.13"><span class="label">13</span><span class="content">On their second visit, Joseph told his brothers who he was, and Pharaoh learned about Joseph&#8217;s family. </span></span><span class="verse v14" data-usfm="ACT.7.14"><span class="label">14</span><span class="content">After this, Joseph sent for his father Jacob and his whole family, seventy-five in all. </span></span><span class="verse v15" data-usfm="ACT.7.15"><span class="label">15</span><span class="content">Then Jacob went down to Egypt, where he and our ancestors died. </span></span><span class="verse v16" data-usfm="ACT.7.16"><span class="label">16</span><span class="content">Their bodies were brought back to Shechem and placed in the tomb that Abraham had bought from the sons of Hamor at Shechem for a certain sum of money.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v16" data-usfm="ACT.7.16"></span><span class="verse v17" data-usfm="ACT.7.17"><span class="label">17</span><span class="content">&#8220;As the time drew near for God to fulfill his promise to Abraham, the number of our people in Egypt had greatly increased. </span></span><span class="verse v18" data-usfm="ACT.7.18"><span class="label">18</span><span class="content">Then &#8216;a new king, to whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power in Egypt.&#8217;</span><span class="note f"><span class="label">#</span><span class="body"><span class="fr">7:18 </span><span class="ft"><span class="ref" usfm="EXO.1.8">Exodus 1:8</span></span></span></span><span class="content"> </span></span><span class="verse v19" data-usfm="ACT.7.19"><span class="label">19</span><span class="content">He dealt treacherously with our people and oppressed our ancestors by forcing them to throw out their newborn babies so that they would die.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v19" data-usfm="ACT.7.19"></span><span class="verse v20" data-usfm="ACT.7.20"><span class="label">20</span><span class="content">&#8220;At that time Moses was born, and he was no ordinary child.</span><span class="note f"><span class="label">#</span><span class="body"><span class="fr">7:20 </span><span class="ft">Or </span><span class="fqa">was fair in the sight of God</span></span></span><span class="content"> For three months he was cared for by his family. </span></span><span class="verse v21" data-usfm="ACT.7.21"><span class="label">21</span><span class="content">When he was placed outside, Pharaoh&#8217;s daughter took him and brought him up as her own son. </span></span><span class="verse v22" data-usfm="ACT.7.22"><span class="label">22</span><span class="content">Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v22" data-usfm="ACT.7.22"></span><span class="verse v23" data-usfm="ACT.7.23"><span class="label">23</span><span class="content">&#8220;When Moses was forty years old, he decided to visit his own people, the Israelites. </span></span><span class="verse v24" data-usfm="ACT.7.24"><span class="label">24</span><span class="content">He saw one of them being mistreated by an Egyptian, so he went to his defense and avenged him by killing the Egyptian. </span></span><span class="verse v25" data-usfm="ACT.7.25"><span class="label">25</span><span class="content">Moses thought that his own people would realize that God was using him to rescue them, but they did not. </span></span><span class="verse v26" data-usfm="ACT.7.26"><span class="label">26</span><span class="content">The next day Moses came upon two Israelites who were fighting. He tried to reconcile them by saying, &#8216;Men, you are brothers; why do you want to hurt each other?&#8217;</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v26" data-usfm="ACT.7.26"></span><span class="verse v27" data-usfm="ACT.7.27"><span class="label">27</span><span class="content">&#8220;But the man who was mistreating the other pushed Moses aside and said, &#8216;Who made you ruler and judge over us? </span></span><span class="verse v28" data-usfm="ACT.7.28"><span class="label">28</span><span class="content">Are you thinking of killing me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?&#8217;</span><span class="note f"><span class="label">#</span><span class="body"><span class="fr">7:28 </span><span class="ft"><span class="ref" usfm="EXO.2.14">Exodus 2:14</span></span></span></span><span class="content"> </span></span><span class="verse v29" data-usfm="ACT.7.29"><span class="label">29</span><span class="content">When Moses heard this, he fled to Midian, where he settled as a foreigner and had two sons.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v29" data-usfm="ACT.7.29"></span></div>
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         <div class="label">3</div><div class="s1"><span class="heading">Taming the Tongue</span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v1" data-usfm="JAS.3.1"><span class="label">1</span><span class="content">Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. </span></span><span class="verse v2" data-usfm="JAS.3.2"><span class="label">2</span><span class="content">We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v2" data-usfm="JAS.3.2"></span><span class="verse v3" data-usfm="JAS.3.3"><span class="label">3</span><span class="content">When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. </span></span><span class="verse v4" data-usfm="JAS.3.4"><span class="label">4</span><span class="content">Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. </span></span><span class="verse v5" data-usfm="JAS.3.5"><span class="label">5</span><span class="content">Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. </span></span><span class="verse v6" data-usfm="JAS.3.6"><span class="label">6</span><span class="content">The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one&#8217;s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v6" data-usfm="JAS.3.6"></span><span class="verse v7" data-usfm="JAS.3.7"><span class="label">7</span><span class="content">All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, </span></span><span class="verse v8" data-usfm="JAS.3.8"><span class="label">8</span><span class="content">but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v8" data-usfm="JAS.3.8"></span><span class="verse v9" data-usfm="JAS.3.9"><span class="label">9</span><span class="content">With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God&#8217;s likeness. </span></span><span class="verse v10" data-usfm="JAS.3.10"><span class="label">10</span><span class="content">Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. </span></span><span class="verse v11" data-usfm="JAS.3.11"><span class="label">11</span><span class="content">Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? </span></span><span class="verse v12" data-usfm="JAS.3.12"><span class="label">12</span><span class="content">My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.</span></span></div><div class="s1"><span class="heading">Two Kinds of Wisdom</span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v12" data-usfm="JAS.3.12"></span><span class="verse v13" data-usfm="JAS.3.13"><span class="label">13</span><span class="content">Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. </span></span><span class="verse v14" data-usfm="JAS.3.14"><span class="label">14</span><span class="content">But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. </span></span><span class="verse v15" data-usfm="JAS.3.15"><span class="label">15</span><span class="content">Such &#8220;wisdom&#8221; does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. </span></span><span class="verse v16" data-usfm="JAS.3.16"><span class="label">16</span><span class="content">For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v16" data-usfm="JAS.3.16"></span><span class="verse v17" data-usfm="JAS.3.17"><span class="label">17</span><span class="content">But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. </span></span><span class="verse v18" data-usfm="JAS.3.18"><span class="label">18</span><span class="content">Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.</span></span></div>
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