Now the earth was formless and empty. Darkness was on the surface of the deep. God’s Spirit was hovering over the surface of the waters.

God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.

God saw the light, and saw that it was good. God divided the light from the darkness.

God called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night." There was evening and there was morning, one day.

God called the expanse "sky." There was evening and there was morning, a second day.

God called the dry land "earth," and the gathering together of the waters he called "seas." God saw that it was good.

The earth yielded grass, herbs yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit, with its seed in it, after their kind; and God saw that it was good.

There was evening and there was morning, a third day.

God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of sky to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years;

and let them be for lights in the expanse of sky to give light on the earth"; and it was so.

God made the two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He also made the stars.

God set them in the expanse of sky to give light to the earth,

and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. God saw that it was good.

There was evening and there was morning, a fourth day.

God created the large sea creatures, and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarmed, after their kind, and every winged bird after its kind. God saw that it was good.

There was evening and there was morning, a fifth day.

God made the animals of the earth after their kind, and the livestock after their kind, and everything that creeps on the ground after its kind. God saw that it was good.

God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. There was evening and there was morning, a sixth day.

On the seventh day God finished his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.

God blessed the seventh day, and made it holy, because he rested in it from all his work which he had created and made.

There was also born a son to Seth, and he named him Enosh. Then men began to call on Yahweh’s name.

Whoever sheds man’s blood, his blood will be shed by man, for God made man in his own image.

Yahweh came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men built.

Yahweh said, "Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is what they begin to do. Now nothing will be withheld from them, which they intend to do.

Come, let’s go down, and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech."

So Yahweh scattered them abroad from there on the surface of all the earth. They stopped building the city.

Therefore its name was called Babel, because there Yahweh confused the language of all the earth. From there, Yahweh scattered them abroad on the surface of all the earth.

Now Yahweh said to Abram, "Get out of your country, and from your relatives, and from your father’s house, to the land that I will show you.

Moreover you shall provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God: men of truth, hating unjust gain; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.

You shall not do so to Yahweh your God: for every abomination to Yahweh, which he hates, have they done to their gods; for even their sons and their daughters do they burn in the fire to their gods.

Blessed is the man who doesn’t walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers;

but his delight is in Yahweh’s^a law. On his law he meditates day and night.

Therefore the wicked shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

For Yahweh knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked shall perish.

He who sits in the heavens will laugh. The Lord^b will have them in derision.

Then he will speak to them in his anger, and terrify them in his wrath:

"Yet I have set my King on my holy hill of Zion."

Now therefore be wise, you kings. Be instructed, you judges of the earth.

Serve Yahweh with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

Give sincere homage to the Son ^c, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath will soon be kindled. Blessed are all those who take refuge in him.

^a Answer me when I call, God of my righteousness. Give me relief from my distress. Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.

You sons of men, how long shall my glory be turned into dishonor?
Will you love vanity, and seek after falsehood?

Selah.

But know that Yahweh has set apart for himself him who is godly:
Yahweh will hear when I call to him.

Stand in awe, and don’t sin.
Search your own heart on your bed, and be still.

Selah.

Offer the sacrifices of righteousness.
Put your trust in Yahweh.

Many say, "Who will show us any good?"
Yahweh, let the light of your face shine on us.

You have put gladness in my heart,
more than when their grain and their new wine are increased.

In peace I will both lay myself down and sleep,
for you, Yahweh alone, make me live in safety.

The arrogant shall not stand in your sight. You hate all workers of iniquity.

^a Yahweh, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth, who has set your glory above the heavens!

From the lips of babes and infants you have established strength, because of your adversaries, that you might silence the enemy and the avenger.

When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have ordained;

For you have made him a little lower than God ^b, and crowned him with glory and honor.

Yahweh, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Yahweh examines the righteous, but the wicked and him who loves violence his soul hates.

For he flatters himself in his own eyes, too much to detect and hate his sin.

Don’t fret because of evildoers, neither be envious against those who work unrighteousness.

he will make your righteousness go forth as the light, and your justice as the noon day sun.

Cease from anger, and forsake wrath. Don’t fret, it leads only to evildoing.

The Lord will laugh at him, for he sees that his day is coming.

The wicked borrow, and don’t pay back, but the righteous give generously.

A man’s goings are established by Yahweh. He delights in his way.

You have loved righteousness, and hated wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows.

^a Why do you boast of mischief, mighty man?
God’s loving kindness endures continually.

You love evil more than good,
lying rather than speaking the truth.

Selah.

God will likewise destroy you forever.
He will take you up,
and pluck you out of your tent,
and root you out of the land of the living.

Selah.

The righteous also will see it, and fear,
and laugh at him, saying,

But as for me, I am like a green olive tree in God’s house. I trust in God’s loving kindness forever and ever.

I will give you thanks forever,
because you have done it.
I will hope in your name, for it is good,
in the presence of your saints.

Do you indeed speak righteousness, silent ones? Do you judge blamelessly, you sons of men?

Break their teeth, God, in their mouth. Break out the great teeth of the young lions, Yahweh.

Let them be like a snail which melts and passes away, like the stillborn child, who has not seen the sun.

The righteous shall rejoice when he sees the vengeance. He shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked;

so that men shall say, "Most certainly there is a reward for the righteous. Most certainly there is a God who judges the earth."

^a I will sing of loving kindness and justice. To you, Yahweh, I will sing praises.

Yahweh, remember David and all his affliction,

My son, pay attention to my wisdom. Turn your ear to my understanding:

A wise son listens to his father‘s instruction, but a scoffer doesn’t listen to rebuke.

Every wise woman builds her house, but the foolish one tears it down with her own hands.

Better is a little with righteousness, than great revenues with injustice.

Children’s children are the crown of old men; the glory of children are their parents.

He who covers an offense promotes love; but he who repeats a matter separates best friends.

He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination to Yahweh.

A friend loves at all times; and a brother is born for adversity.

Also to punish the righteous is not good, nor to flog officials for their integrity.

The plans of the diligent surely lead to profit; and everyone who is hasty surely rushes to poverty.

A good name is more desirable than great riches, and loving favor is better than silver and gold.

Don’t be envious of evil men; neither desire to be with them:

Through wisdom a house is built; by understanding it is established;

by knowledge the rooms are filled with all rare and beautiful treasure.

for a righteous man falls seven times, and rises up again; but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.

but it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and a rich blessing will come on them.

An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.

It is the glory of God to conceal a thing, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.

When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; but when the wicked rule, the people groan.

Whoever loves wisdom brings joy to his father; but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.

The king by justice makes the land stable, but he who takes bribes tears it down.

Mockers stir up a city, but wise men turn away anger.

A fool vents all of his anger, but a wise man brings himself under control.

"Surely I am the most ignorant man, and don’t have a man’s understanding.

"Many women do noble things, but you excel them all."

In that day, Yahweh’s branch will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the beauty and glory of the survivors of Israel.

It will happen, that he who is left in Zion, and he who remains in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even everyone who is written among the living in Jerusalem;

when the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from its midst, by the spirit of justice, and by the spirit of burning.

Yahweh will create over the whole habitation of Mount Zion, and over her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night; for over all the glory will be a canopy.

There will be a pavilion for a shade in the daytime from the heat, and for a refuge and for a shelter from storm and from rain.

‘Behold, the days are coming when all that is in your house, and that which your fathers have stored up until this day, will be carried to Babylon. Nothing will be left,’ says Yahweh.

Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, "Yahweh’s word which you have spoken is good." He said moreover, "For there will be peace and truth in my days."

Why, when I came, was there no man? when I called, was there none to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it can’t redeem? or have I no power to deliver? Behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish stink, because there is no water, and die for thirst.

I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering."

The Lord Yahweh has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with words him who is weary: he wakens morning by morning, he wakens my ear to hear as those who are taught.

The Lord Yahweh has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away backward.

For the Lord Yahweh will help me; therefore I have not been confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be disappointed.

He is near who justifies me; who will bring charges against me? Let us stand up together: who is my adversary? Let him come near to me.

Behold, the Lord Yahweh will help me; who is he who shall condemn me? Behold, they all shall wax old as a garment, the moth shall eat them up.

Who is among you who fears Yahweh, who obeys the voice of his servant? He who walks in darkness, and has no light, let him trust in the name of Yahweh, and rely on his God.

Behold, all you who kindle a fire, who adorn yourselves with torches around yourselves; walk in the flame of your fire, and among the brands that you have kindled. You shall have this of my hand; you shall lie down in sorrow.

Who has believed our message? To whom has the arm of Yahweh been revealed?

For he grew up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground. He has no good looks or majesty. When we see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

For Zion’s sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until her righteousness go forth as brightness, and her salvation as a lamp that burns.

The nations shall see your righteousness, and all kings your glory, and you shall be called by a new name, which the mouth of Yahweh shall name.

You shall also be a crown of beauty in the hand of Yahweh, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.

You shall no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall your land any more be termed Desolate: but you shall be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for Yahweh delights in you, and your land shall be married.

For as a young man marries a virgin, so your sons shall marry you; and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so your God will rejoice over you.

I have set watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem; they shall never hold their peace day nor night: you who call on Yahweh, take no rest,

and give him no rest, until he establishes, and until he makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth.

Yahweh has sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his strength, "Surely I will no more give your grain to be food for your enemies; and foreigners shall not drink your new wine, for which you have labored:

but those who have garnered it shall eat it, and praise Yahweh; and those who have gathered it shall drink it in the courts of my sanctuary."

Go through, go through the gates;
prepare the way for the people;
build up, build up the highway;
clear it of stones;
lift up a signal over the peoples.

Behold, Yahweh has proclaimed to the end of the earth, "Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your salvation comes. Behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.’"

They shall call them The holy people, The redeemed of Yahweh: and you shall be called Sought out, A city not forsaken.

He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”
I answered, “Lord Yahweh, you know.“

Thus says the Lord Yahweh to these bones: “Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live.”

I will lay sinews on you, and will bring up flesh on you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am Yahweh.

"Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!"

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they and some others came to the tomb, bringing the spices which they had prepared.

As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth.

Now before the feast of the Passover, Jesus, knowing that his time had come that he would depart from this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This was during the days of unleavened bread.

When he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of four soldiers each to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover.

Peter therefore was kept in the prison, but constant prayer was made by the assembly to God for him.

The same night when Herod was about to bring him out, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains. Guards in front of the door kept the prison.

And behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side, and woke him up, saying, "Stand up quickly!" His chains fell off from his hands.

The angel said to him, "Get dressed and put on your sandals." He did so. He said to him, "Put on your cloak, and follow me."

And he went out and followed him. He didn’t know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he saw a vision.

When they were past the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened to them by itself. They went out, and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.

When Peter had come to himself, he said, "Now I truly know that the Lord has sent out his angel and delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from everything the Jewish people were expecting."

They said to her, "You are crazy!" But she insisted that it was so. They said, "It is his angel."

But Peter continued knocking. When they had opened, they saw him, and were amazed.

But he, beckoning to them with his hand to be silent, declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. He said, "Tell these things to James, and to the brothers." Then he departed, and went to another place.

Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers about what had become of Peter.

Now Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. They came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus, the king’s personal aide, their friend, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king’s country for food.

Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he didn’t give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and died.

But the word of God grew and multiplied.

For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. Do you desire to have no fear of the authority? Do that which is good, and you will have praise from the same,

for he is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do that which is evil, be afraid, for he doesn’t bear the sword in vain; for he is a servant of God, an avenger for wrath to him who does evil.

Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.

For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not give false testimony,"^[a] "You shall not covet," ^[b] and whatever other commandments there are, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." ^[c]

Love doesn’t harm a neighbor. Love therefore is the fulfillment of the law.

Do this, knowing the time, that it is already time for you to awaken out of sleep, for salvation is now nearer to us than when we first believed.

The night is far gone, and the day is near. Let’s therefore throw off the works of darkness, and let’s put on the armor of light.

Let us walk properly, as in the day; not in reveling and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and lustful acts, and not in strife and jealousy.

For there are certain men who crept in secretly, even those who were long ago written about for this condemnation: ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into indecency, and denying our only Master, God, and Lord, Jesus Christ.

The seventh angel sounded, and great voices in heaven followed, saying, "The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ. He will reign forever and ever!"

I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who overcame the beast, his image, ^a and the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God.

I heard a loud voice out of the temple, saying to the seven angels, "Go and pour out the seven bowls of the wrath of God on the earth!"

After these things, I saw another angel coming down out of the sky, having great authority. The earth was illuminated with his glory.