14When Arioch, the commander of the kings guard, had gone out to put to death the wise men of Babylon, Daniel spoke to him with wisdom and tact.15He asked the kings officer, Why did the king issue such a harsh decree? Arioch then explained the matter to Daniel.16At this, Daniel went in to the king and asked for time, so that he might interpret the dream for him.

17Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.18He urged them to plead for mercyfrom the God of heavenconcerning this mystery,so that he and his friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.19During the night the mysterywas revealed to Daniel in a vision.Then Daniel praised the God of heaven20and said:

Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever;wisdom and powerare his.21He changes times and seasons;he deposeskings and raises up others.He gives wisdomto the wiseand knowledge to the discerning.22He reveals deep and hidden things;he knows what lies in darkness,and lightdwells with him.23I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors:You have given me wisdomand power,you have made known to me what we asked of you,you have made known to us the dream of the king.

Watch at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBlUZgEpWPc

1In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakimking of Judah, Nebuchadnezzarking of Babyloncame to Jerusalem and besieged it.2And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carriedoff to the temple of his god in Babylonia[a]and put in the treasure house of his god.

3Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the kings service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility4young men without any physical defect, handsome,showing aptitude for every kind of learning,well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the kings palace. He was to teach them the languageand literature of the Babylonians.[b]5The king assigned them a daily amount of food and winefrom the kings table.They were to be trained for three years,and after that they were to enter the kings service.

6Among those who were chosen were some from Judah: Daniel,Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.7The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar;to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.

8But Daniel resolved not to defilehimself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.9Now God had caused the official to show favorand compassionto Daniel,10but the official told Daniel, I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your[c]food and drink.Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.

11Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah,12Please testyour servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink.13Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.14So he agreed to this and testedthem for ten days.

15At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food.16So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.

17To these four young men God gave knowledge and understandingof all kinds of literature and learning.And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.

18At the end of the timeset by the king to bring them into his service, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar.19The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the kings service.20In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magiciansand enchanters in his whole kingdom.

21And Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus.Watch at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqLADFyDGNg

11Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb12and saw two angels in white,seated where Jesus body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.

13They asked her, Woman, why are you crying?

They have taken my Lord away, she said, and I dont know where they have put him.14At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there,but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

15He asked her,Woman, why are you crying?Who is it you are looking for?

Thinking he was the gardener, she said, Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.

16Jesus said to her,Mary.

She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic,Rabboni!(which means Teacher).

17Jesus said,Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothersand tell them, I am ascending to my Fatherand your Father, to my God and your God.

18Mary Magdalenewent to the discipleswith the news: I have seen the Lord! And she told them that he had said these things to her.

Jesus Appears to His Disciples

19On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders,Jesus came and stood among them and said,Peacebe with you!20After he said this, he showed them his hands and side.The disciples were overjoyedwhen they saw the Lord.

21Again Jesus said,Peace be with you!As the Father has sent me,I am sending you.22And with that he breathed on them and said,Receive the Holy Spirit.23If you forgive anyones sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.

Jesus Appears to Thomas

24Now Thomas(also known as Didymus[a]), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came.25So the other disciples told him, We have seen the Lord!

But he said to them, Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side,I will not believe.

26A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said,Peacebe with you!27Then he said to Thomas,Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.

28Thomas said to him, My Lord and my God!

29Then Jesus told him,Because you have seen me, you have believed;blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.

The Purpose of Johns Gospel

30Jesus performed many other signsin the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book.31But these are written that you may believe[b]that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God,and that by believing you may have life in his name.Watch at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3DsJLz9uwg

28After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.29As he approached Bethphage and Bethanyat the hill called the Mount of Olives,he sent two of his disciples, saying to them,30Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here.31If anyone asks you, Why are you untying it? say, The Lord needs it.

32Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them.33As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, Why are you untying the colt?

34They replied, The Lord needs it.

35They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it.36As he went along, people spread their cloakson the road.

37When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives,the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:

38Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord![a]

Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!

39Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, Teacher, rebuke your disciples!

40I tell you,he replied,if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.

41As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it42and said,If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peacebut now it is hidden from your eyes.43The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side.44They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls.They will not leave one stone on another,because you did not recognize the time of Gods comingto you.Watch at: https://youtu.be/g-FU_Bwqwdk

31When the Son of Man comesin his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne.32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separatethe people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

34Then the King will say to those on his right, Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdomprepared for you since the creation of the world.35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,36I needed clothes and you clothed me,I was sick and you looked after me,I was in prison and you came to visit me.

37Then the righteous will answer him, Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?

40The King will reply, Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.Watch at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VcvwE9sll4

Thanks for Their Gifts

10I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me.Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.11I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be contentwhatever the circumstances.12I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry,whether living in plenty or in want.13I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

14Yet it was good of you to sharein my troubles.15Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early daysof your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia,not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only;16for even when I was in Thessalonica,you sent me aid more than once when I was in need.17Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account.18I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditusthe gifts you sent. They are a fragrantoffering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.19And my God will meet all your needsaccording to the riches of his gloryin Christ Jesus.

20To our God and Fatherbe glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Greetings

21Greet all Gods people in Christ Jesus. The brothers and sisters who are with mesend greetings.22All Gods peoplehere send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesars household.

23The grace of the Lord Jesus Christbe with your spirit.Amen.[a]Watch at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ch0-YUDyEAg&t=1093s

1 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!

2 I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, 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. 9 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.Watch at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rISkSrYBwLo

12Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal,but I press on to take holdof that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.13Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behindand straining toward what is ahead,14I press ontoward the goal to win the prizefor which God has calledme heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Following Pauls Example

15All of us, then, who are matureshould take such a view of things.And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.16Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

17Join together in following my example,brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.18For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears,many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.19Their destinyis destruction, their god is their stomach,and their glory is in their shame.Their mind is set on earthly things.20But our citizenshipis in heaven.And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,21who, by the powerthat enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodiesso that they will be like his glorious body.Watch at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swTJqU1IQXs

3Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again,and it is a safeguard for you.2Watch out for those dogs,those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh.3For it is we who are the circumcision,we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus,and who put no confidence in the flesh4though I myself have reasons for such confidence.

If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more:5circumcisedon the eighth day, of the people of Israel,of the tribe of Benjamin,a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee;6as for zeal,persecuting the church;as for righteousness based on the law,faultless.

7But whatever were gains to me I now consider lossfor the sake of Christ.8What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowingChrist Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law,but that which is through faith in[a]Christthe righteousnessthat comes from God on the basis of faith.10I want to knowChristyes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings,becoming like him in his death,11and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrectionfrom the dead.Watch at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMOy4g2AgZw

19I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothyto you soon,that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you.20I have no one else like him,who will show genuine concern for your welfare.21For everyone looks out for their own interests,not those of Jesus Christ.22But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his fatherhe has served with me in the work of the gospel.23I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me.24And I am confidentin the Lord that I myself will come soon.

25But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, co-workerand fellow soldier,who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs.26For he longs for all of youand is distressed because you heard he was ill.27Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow.28Therefore I am all the more eager to send him,so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety.29So then, welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him,30because he almost died for the work of Christ. He risked his life to make up for the help you yourselves could not give me.Watch at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqEkPrL0ENA