Sunday, November 16, 2025

⁵Sing praises to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and the voice of melody. ⁶With trumpets and sound of the ram’s horn, make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD. ⁷Let the sea roar with its fullness; the world, and those who dwell therein. ⁸Let the rivers clap their hands. Let the mountains sing for joy together. ⁹Let them sing before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.

⁷For you know how you ought to imitate us. For we didn’t behave ourselves rebelliously among you, ⁸neither did we eat bread from anyone’s hand without paying for it, but in labor and travail worked night and day, that we might not burden any of you. ⁹This was not because we don’t have the right, but to make ourselves an example to you, that you should imitate us. ¹⁰For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: “If anyone is not willing to work, don’t let him eat.” ¹¹For we hear of some who walk among you in rebellion, who don’t work at all, but are busybodies. ¹²Now those who are that way, we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ, that they work with quietness and eat their own bread.

⁵As some were talking about the temple and how it was decorated with beautiful stones and gifts, he said, ⁶“As for these things which you see, the days will come in which there will not be left here one stone on another that will not be thrown down.” ⁷They asked him, “Teacher, so when will these things be? What is the sign that these things are about to happen?” ⁸He said, “Watch out that you don’t get led astray, for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he ,’ and, ‘The time is at hand.’ Therefore don’t follow them. ⁹When you hear of wars and disturbances, don’t be terrified, for these things must happen first, but the end won’t come immediately.” ¹⁰Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. ¹¹There will be great earthquakes, famines, and plagues in various places. There will be terrors and great signs from heaven. ¹²But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you up to synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for my name’s sake. ¹³It will turn out as a testimony for you. ¹⁴Settle it therefore in your hearts not to meditate beforehand how to answer, ¹⁵for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to withstand or to contradict. ¹⁶You will be handed over even by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends. They will cause some of you to be put to death. ¹⁷You will be hated by all men for my name’s sake. ¹⁸And not a hair of your head will perish. ¹⁹“By your endurance you will win your lives.