but in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may instruct others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

For I delivered to you among the first things that which I also had received, that Christ died for our sins, according to the scriptures;

I had no test in my spirit on my not finding there Titus my brother: so taking my leave of them I went forth unto Macedonia.

For when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were afflicted on every side; without were fightings; within were fears.

and not by his coming only, but also by the consolation wherewith he had been comforted among you, declaring to us your fervent desire, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced the more.

And indeed though I wrote unto you, I did it not [merely] for his cause that had done the wrong, nor for his cause who had suffered the injury, but that our diligent attention for you might be more abundantly manifested to you in the presence of God.

So that we exhorted Titus, that as he had been active before, so also he would perfect in you this grace also.

According as it is written, "He that [gathered] much had no more than others, and he who [gathered] little, had no less."

For I know your readiness of mind, for which I boast of you to the Macedonians, that Achaia had made preparation a year ago; and your zeal hath stirred up very many.

only they had heard, that he who persecuted us in time past, now preaches the faith which he once laid waste.

And I went up then by revelation, and laid before them that gospel which I preach among the Heathen, but in private conference with those who were of the first importance, that haply I might not run, nor had run in vain.

Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? God forbid. For if there had been a law given which was capable of procuring life, verily righteousness would have been by the law.

For it is written that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondwoman, and the other by a free.

For it is written, "Rejoice, thou barren who bearest not, cry out and shout for joy, thou that travailest not, for more are the children of her that was desolate, than of her which had an husband."

that we should be to the praise of his glory, who first had hope in Christ.

In whom ye also [trusted] after ye had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, ye have been sealed with the holy Spirit of promise,

among whom also we all have had our conversation in time past, in the lusts of the flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, as well as the rest.

For indeed he greatly longed after you all, and was very sorry that ye had heard that he had been sick.

For sick indeed he was, nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, that I might not have sorrow upon sorrow.

Now I rejoiced greatly in the Lord, that now once more your thoughtful attention about me hath again sprung up, to which also your mind had been disposed, but ye had not found the opportunity.

For they publish concerning you what manner of entrance we had unto you, and how ye turned unto God from idols, to serve the living and true God,

But though we had suffered before, and were infamously treated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to preach unto you the gospel of God amidst a great conflict.

For this cause also, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your fidelity, lest by any means the tempter had tempted you, and our labour should be in vain.

who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before time had a beginning;

in hope of life eternal, which God, who cannot lie, hath promised before time had a being;

not for works of righteousness which we had done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the laver of regeneration, and by renovation of the Holy Spirit;

how shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation, which, commencing at the beginning to be spoken by the Lord, was confirmed unto us by those who had heard him;

For some, though they had heard, provoked him; yet not all who came out of Egypt by Moses.

But against whom was he incensed forty years? Was it not against those who had sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness?

Forasmuch therefore as it remaineth for some to enter into it, and they who first had the gospel preached to them entered not in because of unbelief;

For if Joshua had given them the rest, he would not afterwards have spoken of another day.

For God when he gave the promise to Abraham forasmuch as he had nothing greater to swear by, sware by himself,

But he who derived not his genealogy from them, received tithes from Abraham, and blessed him who had the promises;

If therefore there was perfection by the Levitical priesthood (for under that the people had the law given to them), what farther need was there that another priest should arise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?

For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no place sought for a second.

THEN also the first tabernacle had indeed regulations for the divine service, and a sanctuary furnished.

having the golden censer, and the coffer of the covenant, overlaid with gold within and without, in which were the golden urn containing the manna, and Aaron's rod which had budded, and the stone tables of the covenant;

For when every command according to the law had been spoken by Moses to all the people, taking the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, he sprinkled both the book itself and all the people,

else they would have discontinued to make the offering, because they who performed the service being once made clean, would have had no more sense of sins on their conscience.

thou hast had no delight in whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices for sin:

But remember the past days in which, after ye had been illuminated, ye endured a great conflict of sufferings;

By faith Enoch was translated, so as not to see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he was recorded to have been acceptable to God.

And if indeed they had fixed their minds on that from whence they had gone forth, they might have had opportunity to go back to it again.

By faith Abraham, when tried, offered up Isaac; and he who had received the promise, presented in sacrifice his only begotten son,

unto whom it had been said, "That by Isaac shall there be a seed bearing thy name:"

reasoning that God was able to raise him up again, even from the dead; from whence also figuratively he had received him.

and others had trials of mockeries and whippings, yea and farther of chains and imprisonment:

If then we have had the fathers of our flesh for correctors, and reverenced them; shall we not much more be under subjection to the Father of spirits, and live?

who in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God; who had not obtained mercy, but are now the objects of mercy.

Uttering pompous discourses of inanity, ensnaring by the lusts of the flesh, by lascivious impurities, those who had truly escaped from such as live in a course of delusion.

For it had been better for them never to have been acquainted with the way of righteousness, than, after knowing it, to have turned aside from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

Brethren, I write not a new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning: the old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.

They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they departed, that they might be made manifest that they are not all of us:

And now I beseech thee, lady, not as writing to thee a new commandment, but that which we have had from the beginning, that we should love one another.

I had many things to write; but I would not write to thee with ink and pen:

And around the throne were twenty-four thrones; and upon these thrones I saw twenty-four presbyters seated, clothed in white robes; and they had on their heads golden crowns.

And the first living being was like a lion, and the second living being was like a calf, and the third living being had a face as a man, and the fourth living being was like an eagle with wings expanded.

And the four living beings had each for himself six wings encircling him, and within they were full of eyes; and they never cease day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was, and who is, and who is coming.

And when he had taken the book, the four living beings and the four and twenty presbyters prostrated themselves before the lamb, having each harps, and vases of gold, full of perfumes smoaking, which are the prayers of the saints.

And when he opened the third seal, I heard the third living being say, Come and see. And I saw, and lo! a black horse; and he that sat upon it had a pair of scales in his hand.

And when he opened the fifth seal I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they maintained.

And the fourth angel sounded, and a third part of the sun was smitten, and a third part of the moon, and a third part of the stars; so that a third part of them was darkened, and the day had no light during a third part of it, and the night likewise.

And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were like the teeth of lions.

And they had breastplates, as breastplates of iron: and the sound of their wings was as the rumbling of chariots of many horses rushing to battle.

And they had tails like scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and they had power to hurt men five months.

And they had over them a king, the angel of the abyss [of hell], whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek he is called Appollyon.

and cried with a loud voice, as a lion roareth: and when he had cried, the seven thunders uttered their voices.

And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, Seal up the things, which the seven thunders have spoken, and write them not down.

And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth as honey sweet; yet when I had eaten it, my belly was made bitter.

And when the dragon saw that he was cast out into the earth, he persecuted the woman which had brought forth the male child.

And they worshipped the dragon who had given authority to the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like to the beast? who is able to wage war with him?

And I saw another beast rising up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb, though he spake as the dragon.

and deceiveth the inhabitants of the earth by the signs, which he is enabled to perform before the beast, saying to the dwellers upon the earth, that they should make an image for the beast who had the stroke of the sword, and survived.

And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire; and those who had obtained the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name standing upon the sea of glass, holding the harps of God.

And the first angel went, and poured out his vase upon the earth; and there came an ulcer malignant and painful upon the men that had the brand of the beast, and upon those who worshipped his image.

And the men were scorched with a fierce heat, and they blasphemed the name of God, who had power over these plagues: and they repented not, to give him glory.

AND one of the seven angels who had the seven vases, came to me, and talked with me, saying to me, Come hither, I will shew thee the judgment of the great harlot, who sitteth upon many waters:

And I saw thrones, and persons were seated upon them, and authority to judge was given to them: and I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, and for the word of God, and who had not worshipped the beast, nor his image, and had not received the brand in their foreheads, and upon their right hand; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

and she had a great wall and lofty, having twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names inscribed on them, which are those of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel.

And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon to shine upon it: for the glory of God illuminates it, and the Lamb is the lamp thereof.

And I John saw and heard these things. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who shewed me these things.