The
LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people & your father's
household & go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great
nation & I will bless you; I will make your name great, & you will be a
blessing. I will bless those who bless you, & whoever curses you I will
curse; & all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."—1
So
Abram went up from Egypt to the Negev, with his wife & everything he had, & Lot went with him. Abram had become very wealthy in livestock & in silver & gold.—2
Then
the LORD took Abram outside & said to him, "Look up into the sky & count
the stars if you can. That’s how many descendants you will have!"—3
"You
shall have no other gods before ME."—4
GOD is not a man, so HE does not lie. HE is not human, so HE does not
change HIS mind. Has HE ever spoken & failed to act? Has HE ever promised & not carried it through?—5
Be
careful to obey all the commands I am giving you today. Then you will live & multiply, & you will enter & occupy the land the LORD swore to give your
ancestors. Remember how the LORD your GOD led you through the wilderness
for these forty years, humbling you & testing you to prove your character, & to find out whether or not you would obey HIS commands.—6
So
obey the commands of the LORD your GOD by walking in HIS ways & fearing HIM. For the LORD your GOD is bringing you into a good land of flowing
streams & pools of water, with fountains & springs that gush out in the
valleys & hills. It is a land of wheat & barley; of grapevines, fig
trees, & pomegranates; of olive oil & honey. It is a land where food
is plentiful & nothing is lacking. It is a land where iron is as common as
stone, & copper is abundant in the hills. When you have eaten your
fill, be sure to praise the LORD your GOD for the good land HE has given
you. But that is the time to be careful! Beware that in your plenty you
do not forget the LORD your GOD & disobey HIS commands, regulations, & decrees that I am giving you today. For when you have become full & prosperous & have built fine homes to live in, & when your flocks & herds
have become very large & your silver & gold have multiplied along with
everything else, be careful! Do not become proud at that time & forget
the LORD your GOD, who rescued you from slavery in the land of Egypt.—7
Otherwise,
you may say in your heart, "My power & the strength of my hand made me this
wealth."—8
Remember
the LORD your GOD. HE is the ONE who gives you power to be successful, in order
to fulfill the covenant HE confirmed to your ancestors with an oath.—9
If
you fully obey the LORD your GOD & carefully follow all HIS commands I give
you today, the LORD your GOD will set you high above all the nations on
earth. All these blessings will come upon you & accompany you if you
obey the LORD your GOD: You will be blessed in the city & blessed in
the country. The fruit of your womb will be blessed, & the crops of
your land & the young of your livestock—the calves of your herds & the
lambs of your flocks. Your basket & your kneading trough will be
blessed. You will be blessed when you come in & blessed when you go
out. The LORD will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be
defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you
in seven. The LORD will send a blessing on your barns & on everything
you put your hand to. The LORD your GOD will bless you in the land HE is giving
you. The LORD will establish you as HIS holy people, as HE promised you
on oath, if you keep the commands of the LORD your GOD & walk in HIS ways. Then all the peoples on earth will see that you are called by the
name of the LORD, & they will fear you. The LORD will grant you
abundant prosperity—in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock & the crops of your ground—in the land he swore to your forefathers to give
you. The LORD will open the heavens, the storehouse of HIS bounty, to
send rain on your land in season & to bless all the work of your hands. You
will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. The LORD will make
you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the LORD
your GOD that I give you this day & carefully follow them, you will always be
at the top, never at the bottom. Do not turn aside from any of the
commands I give you today, to the right or to the left, following other gods & serving them.—10
"Be
strong & courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I
swore to their forefathers to give them. Be strong & very courageous.
Be careful to obey all the law MY servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it
to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.
Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day & night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will
be prosperous & successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong & courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your GOD will be with you wherever you go."—11
Early
the next morning, as everyone got ready to leave for the desert near Tekoa,
Jehoshaphat stood up & said, "Listen my friends, if we trust the LORD
GOD & believe what these prophets have told us, the LORD will help us, & we
will be successful."—12
Uzziah
sought GOD during the days of Zechariah, who taught him to fear GOD. And as
long as the king sought guidance from the LORD, GOD gave him success.—13
Blessed
is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way
of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the
law of the LORD, & on HIS law he meditates day & night. He is like a
tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season & whose
leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.—14
Fear
the LORD, you HIS saints, for those who fear HIM lack nothing. The lions
may grow weak & hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.—15
Let
them shout for joy & rejoice, who favor my vindication; & let them say
continually, "The LORD be magnified, Who delights in the prosperity
of HIS servant."—16
For
the LORD GOD is our sun & our shield. HE gives us grace & glory.
The LORD will withhold no good thing from those who do what is
right.—17
Praise
the LORD. Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who finds great delight
in HIS commands. HIS children will be mighty in the land; the generation
of the upright will be blessed. Wealth & riches are in HIS house, & HIS righteousness endures forever.—18
All
of you worship the LORD, so you must trust HIM to help & protect
you. The LORD will not forget to give us HIS blessing; HE will
bless all of Israel & the family of Aaron. All who worship the
LORD, no matter who they are, will receive HIS blessing. I pray
that the LORD will let your family & your descendants always grow
strong. May the LORD who created the heavens & the earth give you HIS blessing. The LORD has kept the heavens for HIMSELF, but HE has given the earth
to us humans.—19
MY child, do not forget MY teaching, but keep MY commands in your heart, for they
will prolong your life many years & bring you prosperity.—20
Lean
on, trust in, & be confident in the LORD with all your heart & mind & do
not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know,
recognize, & acknowledge HIM, & HE will direct & make straight & plain
your paths.—21
I
love those who love ME, & those who seek ME find ME. With ME are riches & honor, enduring wealth & prosperity. MY fruit is better than fine
gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver. I walk in the way of
righteousness, along the paths of justice, bestowing wealth on those who love
ME & making their treasuries full.—22
It
is the blessing of the LORD that makes rich, & HE adds no sorrow to
it.—23
Adversity
pursues sinners, but the righteous will be rewarded with prosperity. A
good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children, & the wealth
of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.—24
Respect & serve the LORD! Your reward will be wealth, a long life, & honor.—25
“If
you are willing & obedient, you will eat the best from the land; but if you
resist & rebel, you will be devoured by the sword." For the mouth
of the LORD has spoken.—26
Do
you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting GOD,
the CREATOR of the ends of the earth. HE will not grow tired or weary,
& HIS understanding no one can fathom. HE gives strength to the weary & increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired & weary, & young men stumble & fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their
strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run & not grow
weary, they will walk & not be faint.—27
This
is what the LORD says— your REDEEMER, the HOLY ONE of Israel: “I am
the LORD your GOD, who teaches you what is good for you & leads you
along the paths you should follow. Oh, that you had listened to my
commands! Then you would have had peace flowing like a gentle river & righteousness rolling over you like waves in the sea.”—28
Now
this is what the LORD ALMIGHTY says: "Give careful thought to your
ways. You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but
never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but
are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in
it."—29
Ever
since the time of your forefathers you have turned away from MY decrees & have not kept them. Return to ME, & I will return to you," says the LORD
ALMIGHTY. "But you ask, 'How are we to return?' "Will a
man rob GOD? Yet you rob ME." But you ask, 'How do we rob YOU?'
"In tithes & offerings. You are under a curse—the whole
nation of you—because you are robbing ME. Bring the whole tithe into the
storehouse, that there may be food in MY house. Test ME in this," says the
LORD ALMIGHTY, "& see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven & pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.—30
Blessed are the
meek, for they shall inherit the earth.—31
Don't
worry & ask yourselves, "Will we have anything to eat? Will we have
anything to drink? Will we have any clothes to wear?" Only people
who don't know GOD are always worrying about such things. Your FATHER in heaven
knows that you need all of these. But more than anything else, put GOD's
work first & do what HE wants. Then the other things will be yours as
well.—32
Ask & it will be given to you; seek & you will find; knock & the door will be
opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; & to him
who knocks, the door will be opened. "Which of you, if his son asks
for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him
a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts
to your children, how much more will your FATHER in heaven give good gifts to
those who ask HIM!—33
JESUS looked at them intently & said, "Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not
with GOD. Everything is possible with GOD."—34
JESUS told him: "You can be sure that anyone who gives up home or brothers or
sisters or mother or father or children or land for ME & for the good news
will be rewarded. In this world they will be given a hundred times as many
houses & brothers & sisters & mothers & children & pieces of land,
though they will also be mistreated. And in the world to come, they will have
eternal life."—35
Give, & you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken
together to make room for more, running over, & poured into your lap. The
amount you give will determine the amount you get back.—36
JESUS said to the people who believed in HIM, "You are truly MY disciples if you
remain faithful to MY teachings. And you will know the truth, & the
truth will set you free."—37
I
tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in ME will do what I have been doing.
He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the FATHER.
And I will do whatever you ask in MY name, so that the SON may bring
glory to the FATHER. You may ask ME for anything in MY name, & I will
do it. If you love ME, you will obey what I command.—38
Peter
then said: "Now I am certain that GOD treats all people alike. GOD is
pleased with everyone who worships HIM & does right, no matter what nation
they come from."—39
Therefore,
the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace & may be guaranteed to
all Abraham's offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those
who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. As it is
written: "I have made you a father of many nations." He is our
father in the sight of GOD, in whom he believed—the GOD who gives life to the dead & calls things that are not as though they were.—40
Yet
he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of GOD, but was
strengthened in his faith & gave glory to GOD, being fully persuaded that GOD had power to do what HE had promised.—41
The
SPIRIT HIMSELF testifies with our spirit that we are GOD's children. Now
if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of GOD & co-heirs with CHRIST, if
indeed we share in hHIS sufferings in order that we may also share in HIS glory.—42
And
we know that all things work together for good to those who love GOD, to those
who are called according to HIS purpose.—43
What
then shall we say to these things? If GOD is for us, who is against us?
HE who did not spare HIS own SON, but delivered HIM over for us all, how will
HE not also with HIM freely give us all things?—44
Yet
in all these things we are more than conquerors through HIM who loved us.—45
Consequently,
faith comes from hearing the message, & the message is heard through the WORD of CHRIST.—46
Therefore,
I urge you, brothers, in view of GOD's mercy, to offer your bodies as living
sacrifices, holy & pleasing to GOD—this is your spiritual act of worship.
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be
transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test & approve what GOD's will is—HIS good, pleasing & perfect will.—47
GOD,
who has called you into fellowship with HIS SON JESUS CHRIST our LORD, is
faithful.—48
You
surely know that your body is a temple where the HOLY SPIRIT lives. The SPIRIT is in you & is a gift from GOD. You are no longer your own. GOD paid a
great price for you. So use your body to honor GOD.—49
Do
you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize?
Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games
goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we
do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like
a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I
beat my body & make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I
myself will not be disqualified for the prize.—50
Since
you excel in so many ways—in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge,
your enthusiasm, & your love from us—I want you to excel also in this
gracious act of giving. I am not commanding you to do this. But I am
testing how genuine your love is by comparing it with the eagerness of the
other churches. You know the generous grace of our LORD JESUS CHRIST.
Though HE was rich, yet for your sakes HE became poor, so that by HIS poverty HE could make you rich. Here is my advice: It would be good for you to
finish what you started a year ago. Last year you were the first who wanted to
give, & you were the first to begin doing it. Now you should finish
what you started. Let the eagerness you showed in the beginning be matched now
by your giving. Give in proportion to what you have. Whatever you give is
acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not
what you don’t have. Of course, I don’t mean your giving should make life
easy for others & hard for yourselves. I only mean that there should be some
equality. Right now you have plenty & can help those who are in need.
Later, they will have plenty & can share with you when you need it. In this
way, things will be equal. As the SCRIPTURES say, "Those who
gathered a lot had nothing left over, & those who gathered only a little
had enough."—51
But
this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, & he
who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each
one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity;
for GOD loves a cheerful giver. And GOD is able to make all
grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may
have an abundance for every good work.—52
For
GOD is the ONE who provides seed for the farmer & then bread to eat. In the
same way, HE will provide & increase your resources & then produce a great
harvest of generosity in you. Yes, you will be enriched in every way so
that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need
them, they will thank GOD.—53
Consider
Abraham: "He believed GOD, & it was credited to him as
righteousness." Understand, then, that those who believe are
children of Abraham. The SCRIPTURE foresaw that GOD would justify the
Gentiles by faith, & announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: "All
nations will be blessed through you." So those who have faith are
blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.—54
And
now that you belong to CHRIST, you are the true children of Abraham. You are
his heirs, & GOD’s promise to Abraham belongs to you.—55
Now
that we are HIS children, GOD has sent the SPIRIT of HIS SON into our hearts.
And HIS SPIRIT tells us that GOD is our FATHER. You are no longer slaves.
You are GOD's children, & you will be given what HE has promised.—56
Anyone
who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his
instructor. Do not be deceived: GOD cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he
sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will
reap destruction; the one who sows to please the SPIRIT, from the SPIRIT will
reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the
proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we
have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong
to the family of believers.—57
All
praise to GOD, the FATHER of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, who has blessed us with
every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with
CHRIST.—58
Now glory be to GOD who by HIS mighty power that is at work within us, is able to carry out HIS purpose & do super-abundantly far over & above all that we dare ask or think, infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams.—59
You
must have the same attitude that CHRIST JESUS had. Though HE was
GOD, HE did not think of equality with GOD as something to cling
to. Instead, HE gave up HIS divine privileges; HE took the humble
position of a slave & was born as a human being. When HE appeared
in human form, HE humbled HIMSELF in obedience to GOD & died a
criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, GOD elevated HIM to the place of
highest honor & gave HIM the name above all other names, that at the
name of JESUS every knee should bow, in heaven & on earth & under the
earth, & every tongue confess that JESUS CHRIST is LORD, to the glory of
GOD the FATHER.—60
Do
everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless & pure, children of GOD without fault in a crooked & depraved generation, in
which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life—in
order that I may boast on the day of CHRIST that I did not run or labor for
nothing.—61
Rejoice
in the LORD always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be
evident to all. The LORD is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but
in everything, by prayer & petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests
to GOD. And the peace of GOD, which transcends all understanding, will
guard your hearts & your minds in CHRIST JESUS. Finally, brothers,
whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or
praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or
received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the GOD of
peace will be with you.—62
And
my GOD will supply all your needs according to HIS riches in glory in CHRIST JESUS.—63
And
now, just as you accepted CHRIST JESUS as your LORD, you must continue to follow HIM. Let your roots grow down into HIM, & let your lives be built on HIM. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, & you
will overflow with thankfulness. Don’t let anyone capture you with empty
philosophies & high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking & from
the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from CHRIST. For in
CHRIST lives all the fullness of GOD in a human body. So you also are
complete through your union with CHRIST, who is the head over every ruler & authority.—64
Let
the peace of CHRIST rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were
called to peace. And be thankful. Let the WORD of CHRIST dwell in you
richly as you teach & admonish one another with all wisdom, & as you sing
psalms, hymns & spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to GOD.
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of
the LORD JESUS, giving thanks to GOD the FATHER through HIM.—65
But
you, man of GOD, flee from all this, & pursue righteousness, godliness,
faith, love, endurance & gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith.
Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good
confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the sight of GOD, who
gives life to everything, & of CHRIST JESUS, who while testifying before
Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep this command
without spot or blame until the appearing of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, which GOD will bring about in HIS own time—GOD, the blessed & only RULER, the KING of kings & LORD of lords, who alone is immortal & who lives in unapproachable
light, whom no one has seen or can see. To HIM be honor & might forever.
Amen. Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant
nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope
in GOD, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command
them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, & to be generous & willing to
share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm
foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is
truly life.—66
For
GOD has not given us a spirit of fear & timidity, but of power, love, & self-discipline.—67
Now
faith is being sure of what we hope for & certain of what we do not see.—68
And
without faith it is impossible to please GOD, because anyone who comes to HIM must believe that HE exists & that HE rewards those who earnestly seek HIM.—69
Is
any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing
songs of praise. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the
church to pray over him & anoint him with oil in the name of the LORD.
And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the LORD will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore
confess your sins to each other & pray for each other so that you may be
healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful & effective. Elijah
was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, & it did
not rain on the land for three & a half years. Again he prayed, & the
heavens gave rain, & the earth produced its crops.—70
How
great is the love the FATHER has lavished on us, that we should be called
children of GOD! And that is what we are! The reason the world does
not know us is that it did not know HIM. Dear friends, now we are
children of GOD, & what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know
that when HE appears, we shall be like HIM, for we shall see HIM as HE is.
Everyone who has this hope in HIM purifies himself, just as HE is
pure.—71
Behold,
I am coming soon! MY reward is with ME, & I will give to everyone
according to what he has done. I am the ALPHA & the OMEGA, the FIRST & the LAST, the BEGINNING & the END.—72
1)
Genesis 12:1-3 NIV
2) " 13:1-2 NIV
3) " 15:5 NLT
4)
Exodus 20:3 NAS
5)
Numbers 23:19 NLT
6)
Deuteronomy 8:1-2 NLT
7) " 8:6-14 NLT
8) " 8:17 NAS
9) " 8:18 NLT
10) " 28:1-14 NIV
11)
Joshua 1:6-9 NIV
12)
2 Chronicles 20:20 CEV
13)
2 " 26:5 NLT
14)
Psalm 1:1-3 NIV
15) " 34:9-10 NIV
16) " 35:27 NAS
17) " 84:11 NLT
18) " 112:1-3 NIV
19) " 115:11-16 CEV
20)
Proverbs 3:1-2 NIV
21) " 3:5-6 AB
22) " 8:17-21 NIV
23) " 10:22 NAS
24) " 13:21-22 NAS
25) " 22:4 CEV
26)
Isaiah 1:19-20 NIV
27) " 40:28-31 NIV
28) " 48:17-18 NLT
29)
Haggai 1:5-6 NIV
30)
Malachi 3:7-10 NIV
31)
Matthew 5:5 NKJV
32) " 6:31-33 CEV
33) " 7:7-11 NIV
34)
Mark
10:27 NLT
35) " 10:29-30 CEV
36)
Luke
6:38
NLT
37)
John
8:31-32 NLT
38) " 14:12-15 NIV
39)
Acts
10:34-35 CEV
40)
Romans 4:16-17 NIV
41) " 4:20-21 NIV
42) " 8:16-17 NIV
43) " 8:28 NKJV
44) " 8:31-32 NAS
45) " 8:37 NKJV
46) " 10:17
NIV
47) " 12:1-2
NIV
48)
1 Corinthians 1:9 NIV
49)
1 " 6:19-20 CEV
50)
1 " 9:24-27 NIV
51)
2 Corinthians 8:7-15 NLT
52)
2 " 9:6-8
NKJV
53)
2 " 9:10-11 NLT
54)
Galatians 3:6-9
NIV
55) " 3:29 NLT
56) " 4:6-7
CEV
57) " 6:6-10
NIV
58)
Ephesians 1:3 NLT
59) " 3:20 AB
60)
Philippians 2:5-11
NLT
61) " 2:14-16 NIV
62) " 4:4-9
NIV
63) " 4:19 NAS
64)
Colossians 2:6-10
NLT
65) " 3:15-17 NIV
66)
1
Timothy 6:11-19 NIV
67)
2
Timothy 1:7 NLT
68)
Hebrews 11:1 NIV
69) " 11:6 NIV
70)
James 5:13-18 NIV
71)
1
John 3:1-3 NIV
72)
Revelation 22:12-13 NIV
AB—Amplified
Bible
CEV—Contemporary
English
Version
NAS—New
American
Standard
NIV—New
International Version
NKJV—New
King James Version
NLT—New
Living Translation
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