American Standard Version of 1901
Versliste
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
The same was in the beginning with God.
All things were made through him; and without him {Or, was not anything made. That which hath been made was life in him; and the life &c.}was not anything made that hath been made.
Jehovah {Or, formed}possessed me {Or, as}in the beginning of his way, {Or, The first of}Before his works of old.
I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning,Before the earth was.
When there were no depths, I was brought forth,When there were no fountains abounding with water.
Before the mountains were settled,Before the hills was I brought forth;
While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields,Nor the {Or, sum}beginning of the dust of the world.
When he {Or, prepared}established the heavens, I was there:When he set a circle upon the face of the deep,
When he made firm the skies above,When the fountains of the deep became strong,
When he gave to the sea {Or, his decree}its bound,That the waters should not transgress his commandment,When he {Or, appointed}marked out the foundations of the earth;
Then I was by him, as a master workman;And I {Or, had delight continually}was daily his delight, {Or, Sporting}Rejoicing always before him,
{Or, Sporting}Rejoicing in his habitable earth;And my delight was with the sons of men.
For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might become rich.
who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped,
that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honoreth not the Son honoreth not the Father that sent him.
that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven and things on earth and {Or, things of the world below}things under the earth,
and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
And the earth was waste and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep: and the Spirit of God {Or, was brooding upon}moved upon the face of the waters.
Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, of the village of Mary and her sister Martha.
And it was that Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.
The sisters therefore sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.
But when Jesus heard it, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified thereby.
Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.
When therefore he heard that he was sick, he abode at that time two days in the place where he was.
Then after this he saith to the disciples, Let us go into Judæa again.
The disciples say unto him, Rabbi, the Jews were but now seeking to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?
Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If a man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.
But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because the light is not in him.
These things spake he: and after this he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus is fallen asleep; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.
The disciples therefore said unto him, Lord, if he is fallen asleep, he will {Greek: be saved.}recover.
Now Jesus had spoken of his death: but they thought that he spake of taking rest in sleep.
Then Jesus therefore said unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.
And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.
Thomas therefore, who is called {That is, Twin.}Didymus, said unto his fellow-disciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.
So when Jesus came, he found that he had been in the tomb four days already.
Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off;
and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary, to console them concerning their brother.
Martha therefore, when she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary still sat in the house.
Martha therefore said unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
And even now I know that, whatsoever thou shalt ask of God, God will give thee.
Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.
Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.
Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth on me, though he die, yet shall he live;
and whosoever liveth and believeth on me shall never die. Believest thou this?
She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I have believed that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, even he that cometh into the world.
And when she had said this, she went away, and called Mary {Or, her sister, saying secretly}her sister secretly, saying, The Teacher is here, and calleth thee.
And she, when she heard it, arose quickly, and went unto him.
(Now Jesus was not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha met him.)
The Jews then who were with her in the house, and were consoling her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up quickly and went out, followed her, supposing that she was going unto the tomb to {Greek: wail}weep there.
Mary therefore, when she came where Jesus was, and saw him, fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
When Jesus therefore saw her {Greek: wailing}weeping, and the Jews also {Greek: wailing}weeping who came with her, he {Or, was moved with indignation in the spirit}groaned in the spirit, and {Greek: troubled himself.}was troubled,
and said, Where have ye laid him? They say unto him, Lord, come and see.
Jesus wept.
The Jews therefore said, Behold how he loved him!
But some of them said, Could not this man, who opened the eyes of him that was blind, have caused that this man also should not die?
Jesus therefore again {Or, being moved with indignation in himself}groaning in himself cometh to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone lay {Or, upon}against it.
Jesus saith, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time {Greek: he stinketh.}the body decayeth; for he hath been dead four days.
Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou believedst, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou heardest me.
And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the multitude that standeth around I said it, that they may believe that thou didst send me.
And when he had thus spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
He that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with {Or, grave-bands}grave-clothes; and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
Many therefore of the Jews, who came to Mary and beheld {Many ancient authorities read the things which he did.}that which he did, believed on him.
But some of them went away to the Pharisees, and told them the things which Jesus had done.
The chief priests therefore and the Pharisees gathered a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many signs.
If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.
But a certain one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all,
nor do ye take account that it is expedient for you that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.
Now this he said not of himself: but, being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for the nation;
and not for the nation only, but that he might also gather together into one the children of God that are scattered abroad.
So from that day forth they took counsel that they might put him to death.
Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews, but departed thence into the country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim; and there he tarried with the disciples.
Now the passover of the Jews was at hand: and many went up to Jerusalem out of the country before the passover, to purify themselves.
They sought therefore for Jesus, and spake one with another, as they stood in the temple, What think ye? That he will not come to the feast?
Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given commandment, that, if any man knew where he was, he should show it, that they might take him.
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
Because Christ also {Many ancient authorities read died.}suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God; being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;
in which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison,
And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son, whom thou lovest, even Isaac, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt-offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.
Your father Abraham rejoiced {Or, that he should see}to see my day; and he saw it, and was glad.
The Jews therefore said unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?
Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was born, I am.
accounting the reproach of {Or, the Christ Compare 1 Corinthians 10:4.}Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt: for he looked unto the recompense of reward.
and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of a spiritual rock that followed them: and the rock was {Or, the Christ Compare Hebrews 11:26.}Christ.
Neither let us make trial of the {Some ancient authorities read Christ.}Lord, as some of them made trial, and perished by the serpents.
Lift up your heads, O ye gates;And be ye lifted up, ye {Or ancient,}everlasting doors:And the King of glory will come in.
Who is the King of glory?Jehovah strong and mighty,Jehovah mighty in battle.
Lift up your heads, O ye gates;Yea, lift them up, ye {Or ancient,}everlasting doors:And the King of glory will come in.
Who is this King of glory?Jehovah of hosts,He is the King of glory. [Selah
For the Chief Musician; set to {That is, Lilies}Shoshannim. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. Maschil. A Song of loves.My heart overfloweth with a goodly matter; {Or, I speak: my work is for a king}I speak the things which I have made touching the king:My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.
Thou art fairer than the children of men;Grace is poured {Or, upon}into thy lips:Therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.
Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O mighty one,Thy glory and thy majesty.
And in thy majesty ride on prosperously, {Or, In behalf of}Because of truth and meekness and righteousness:And {Or, let thy right hand teach}thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things.
Thine arrows are sharp;The peoples fall under thee;They are in the heart of the king's enemies.
{Or, Thy throne is the throne of God &c.}Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever:A sceptre of equity is the sceptre of thy kingdom.
Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated wickedness:Therefore God, thy God, hath anointed theeWith the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia;Out of ivory palaces stringed instruments have made thee glad.
Kings' daughters are among thy honorable women:At thy right hand doth stand the queen in gold of Ophir.
Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear;Forget also thine own people, and thy father's house:
So will the king desire thy beauty;For he is thy lord; and reverence thou him.
And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift;The rich among the people shall entreat thy favor.
The king's daughter {Or, in the inner part of the palace}within the palace is all glorious:Her clothing is inwrought with gold.
She shall be led unto the king {Or, upon}in broidered work:The virgins her companions that follow herShall be brought unto thee.
With gladness and rejoicing shall they be led:They shall enter into the king's palace.
Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children,Whom thou shalt make princes in all the earth.
I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations:Therefore shall the peoples give thee thanks for ever and ever.
And I saw the heaven opened; and behold, a white horse, and he that sat thereon {Some ancient authorities omit called.}called Faithful and True; and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
And his eyes are a flame of fire, and upon his head are many diadems; and he hath a name written which no one knoweth but he himself.
And he is arrayed in a garment {Some ancient authorities read dipped in.}sprinkled with blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
And the armies which are in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and pure.
And out of his mouth proceedeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the {Greek: winepress of the wine of the fierceness.}winepress of the fierceness of the wrath of God, the Almighty.
And he hath on his garment and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
For the Chief Musician; set to {That is, Lilies}Shoshannim. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. Maschil. A Song of loves.My heart overfloweth with a goodly matter; {Or, I speak: my work is for a king}I speak the things which I have made touching the king:My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.
Thou art fairer than the children of men;Grace is poured {Or, upon}into thy lips:Therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.
Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O mighty one,Thy glory and thy majesty.
And in thy majesty ride on prosperously, {Or, In behalf of}Because of truth and meekness and righteousness:And {Or, let thy right hand teach}thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things.
Thine arrows are sharp;The peoples fall under thee;They are in the heart of the king's enemies.
{Or, Thy throne is the throne of God &c.}Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever:A sceptre of equity is the sceptre of thy kingdom.
Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated wickedness:Therefore God, thy God, hath anointed theeWith the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia;Out of ivory palaces stringed instruments have made thee glad.
Kings' daughters are among thy honorable women:At thy right hand doth stand the queen in gold of Ophir.
Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear;Forget also thine own people, and thy father's house:
So will the king desire thy beauty;For he is thy lord; and reverence thou him.
And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift;The rich among the people shall entreat thy favor.
The king's daughter {Or, in the inner part of the palace}within the palace is all glorious:Her clothing is inwrought with gold.
She shall be led unto the king {Or, upon}in broidered work:The virgins her companions that follow herShall be brought unto thee.
With gladness and rejoicing shall they be led:They shall enter into the king's palace.
Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children,Whom thou shalt make princes in all the earth.
I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations:Therefore shall the peoples give thee thanks for ever and ever.
Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated wickedness:Therefore God, thy God, hath anointed theeWith the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days:Thy years are throughout all generations.
Of old didst thou lay the foundation of the earth;And the heavens are the work of thy hands.
A Prayer of the afflicted, when he {Or, fainteth}is overwhelmed, and poureth out his complaint before Jehovah.Hear my prayer, O Jehovah,And let my cry come unto thee.
Hide not thy face from me in the day of my distress:Incline thine ear unto me;In the day when I call answer me speedily.
For my days consume away {Or, in smoke}like smoke,And my bones are burned {Or, as a hearth}as a firebrand.
My heart is smitten like grass, and withered;For I forget to eat my bread.
By reason of the voice of my groaningMy bones cleave to my flesh.
I am like a pelican of the wilderness;I am become as an owl of the waste places.
I watch, and am become like a sparrowThat is alone upon the house-top.
Mine enemies reproach me all the day;They that are mad against me do curse by me.
For I have eaten ashes like bread,And mingled my drink with weeping,
Because of thine indignation and thy wrath:For thou hast taken me up, and cast me away.
My days are like a shadow that {Or, is stretched out}declineth;And I am withered like grass.
But thou, O Jehovah, {Or, sittest as King}wilt abide for ever;And thy memorial name unto all generations.
Thou wilt arise, and have mercy upon Zion;For it is time to have pity upon her,Yea, the set time is come.
For thy servants take pleasure in her stones,And have pity upon her dust.
So the nations shall fear the name of Jehovah,And all the kings of the earth thy glory.
For Jehovah hath built up Zion;He hath appeared in his glory.
He hath regarded the prayer of the destitute,And hath not despised their prayer.
This shall be written for the generation to come;And a people which shall be created shall praise {Hebrew: Jah.}Jehovah.
For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary;From heaven did Jehovah behold the earth;
To hear the sighing of the prisoner;To loose {Hebrew: the children of death.}those that are appointed to death;
That men may declare the name of Jehovah in Zion,And his praise in Jerusalem;
When the peoples are gathered together,And the kingdoms, to serve Jehovah.
He {Another reading is, afflicted me with his strength.}weakened my strength in the way;He shortened my days.
I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days:Thy years are throughout all generations.
Of old didst thou lay the foundation of the earth;And the heavens are the work of thy hands.
They shall perish, but thou shalt endure;Yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment;As a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed:
But thou art the same,And thy years shall have no end.
The children of thy servants shall continue,And their seed shall be established before thee.
They shall perish, but thou shalt endure;Yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment;As a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed:
But thou art the same,And thy years shall have no end.
The children of thy servants shall continue,And their seed shall be established before thee.
And he went forward a little, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass away from me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.
They shall perish, but thou shalt endure;Yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment;As a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed:
But thou art the same,And thy years shall have no end.
The children of thy servants shall continue,And their seed shall be established before thee.
God, having of old time spoken unto the fathers in the prophets by divers portions and in divers manners,
hath at the end of these days spoken unto us in {Greek: a Son.}his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the {Greek: ages. Compare 1 Timothy 1:17}worlds;
who being the effulgence of his glory, and {Or, the impress of his substance}the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had made purification of sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
having become by so much better than the angels, as he hath inherited a more excellent name than they.
For unto which of the angels said he at any time, {Psalm 2:7}Thou art my Son,This day have I begotten thee?and again, {2 Samuel 7:14}I will be to him a Father,And he shall be to me a Son?
{Or, And again, when he bringeth in}And when he again {Or, shall have brought in}bringeth in the firstborn into {Greek: the inhabited earth.}the world he saith, {Deuteronomy 32:43 Septuagint Version; compare Psalm 97:7}And let all the angels of God worship him.
And of the angels he saith, {Psalm 104:4}Who maketh his angels winds,And his ministers a flame of fire:
but of the Son he saith, {Psalm 14:6 f} { Or, Thy throne is God for &c.}Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever;And the sceptre of uprightness is the sceptre of {The two oldest Greek manuscripts read his.}thy kingdom.
Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity;Therefore God, thy God, hath anointed theeWith the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
And, {Psalm 102:25 ff.}Thou, Lord, in the beginning didst lay the foundation of the earth,And the heavens are the works of thy hands:
They shall perish; but thou continuest:And they all shall wax old as doth a garment;
And as a mantle shalt thou roll them up,As a garment, and they shall be changed:But thou art the same,And thy years shall not fail.
But of which of the angels hath he said at any time, {Psalm 110:1}Sit thou on my right hand,Till I make thine enemies the footstool of thy feet?
Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to do service for the sake of them that shall inherit salvation?
And, {Psalm 102:25 ff.}Thou, Lord, in the beginning didst lay the foundation of the earth,And the heavens are the works of thy hands:
They shall perish; but thou continuest:And they all shall wax old as doth a garment;
And as a mantle shalt thou roll them up,As a garment, and they shall be changed:But thou art the same,And thy years shall not fail.
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: behold, {Or, the}a {Or, maiden}virgin {Or, is with child, and beareth}shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name {That is, God is with us.}Immanuel.
{Isaiah 7:14}Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son,And they shall call his name {Greek: Emmanuel.}Immanuel;which is, being interpreted, God with us.
For {Or, every boot of the booted warrior}all the armor of the armed man in the tumult, and the garments rolled in blood, shall be for burning, for fuel of fire.
I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering.
The Lord Jehovah hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away backward.
Behold, the days come, saith Jehovah, that I will raise unto David a righteous {Or, Shoot Or, Bud}Branch, and he shall reign as king and {Or, prosper}deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.
In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely; and this is his name whereby he shall be called: {Or, Jehovah is our righteousness}Jehovah our righteousness.
And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone; and upon the likeness of the throne was a likeness as the appearance of a man upon it above.
I beheld till thrones were {Or, cast down}placed, and one that was ancient of days did sit: his raiment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames, and the wheels thereof burning fire.
Now shalt thou gather thyself in troops, O daughter of troops: he hath laid siege against us; they shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek.
Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith Jehovah of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered; and I will turn my hand upon the little ones.
who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation;
for in him were all things created, in the heavens and upon the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created through him, and unto him;
and he is before all things, and in him all things {That is, hold together.}consist.
if we are faithless, he abideth faithful; for he cannot deny himself.
for in him were all things created, in the heavens and upon the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created through him, and unto him;
and through him to reconcile all things {Or, into him}unto {Or, him}himself, having made peace through the blood of his cross; through him, I say, whether things upon the earth, or things in the heavens.
And you, being in time past alienated and enemies in your mind in your evil works,
yet now {Some ancient authorities read ye have been reconciled.}hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without blemish and unreproveable before him:
God, having of old time spoken unto the fathers in the prophets by divers portions and in divers manners,
hath at the end of these days spoken unto us in {Greek: a Son.}his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the {Greek: ages. Compare 1 Timothy 1:17}worlds;
who being the effulgence of his glory, and {Or, the impress of his substance}the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had made purification of sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
having become by so much better than the angels, as he hath inherited a more excellent name than they.
For unto which of the angels said he at any time, {Psalm 2:7}Thou art my Son,This day have I begotten thee?and again, {2 Samuel 7:14}I will be to him a Father,And he shall be to me a Son?
{Or, And again, when he bringeth in}And when he again {Or, shall have brought in}bringeth in the firstborn into {Greek: the inhabited earth.}the world he saith, {Deuteronomy 32:43 Septuagint Version; compare Psalm 97:7}And let all the angels of God worship him.
And of the angels he saith, {Psalm 104:4}Who maketh his angels winds,And his ministers a flame of fire:
but of the Son he saith, {Psalm 14:6 f} { Or, Thy throne is God for &c.}Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever;And the sceptre of uprightness is the sceptre of {The two oldest Greek manuscripts read his.}thy kingdom.
Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity;Therefore God, thy God, hath anointed theeWith the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
And, {Psalm 102:25 ff.}Thou, Lord, in the beginning didst lay the foundation of the earth,And the heavens are the works of thy hands:
They shall perish; but thou continuest:And they all shall wax old as doth a garment;
And as a mantle shalt thou roll them up,As a garment, and they shall be changed:But thou art the same,And thy years shall not fail.
But of which of the angels hath he said at any time, {Psalm 110:1}Sit thou on my right hand,Till I make thine enemies the footstool of thy feet?
Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to do service for the sake of them that shall inherit salvation?
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy {Greek: the brother.}our brother,
{Or, to those that are at Colossae, holy and faithful brethren in Christ}to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ that are at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.
We give thanks to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,
having heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have toward all the saints,
because of the hope which is laid up for you in the heavens, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the {Greek: good tidings: and so elsewhere; see marginal note on Matthew 4:23.}gospel,
which is come unto you; even as it is also in all the world bearing fruit and increasing, as it doth in you also, since the day ye heard and knew the grace of God in truth;
even as ye learned of Epaphras our beloved fellow-servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on {Many ancient authorities read your.}our behalf,
who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.
For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray and make request for you, that ye may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
to walk worthily of the Lord {Or, unto all pleasing, in every good work, bearing fruit and increasing &c.}unto all pleasing, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing {Or, by}in the knowledge of God;
{Greek: made powerful.}strengthened {Or, in}with all power, according to the might of his glory, unto all {Or, stedfastness}patience and longsuffering with joy;
giving thanks unto the Father, who made {Some ancient authorities read you.}us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light;
who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love;
in whom we have our redemption, the forgiveness of our sins:
who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation;
for in him were all things created, in the heavens and upon the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created through him, and unto him;
and he is before all things, and in him all things {That is, hold together.}consist.
And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; {Or, that among all he might have &c.}that in all things he might have the preeminence.
{Or, For the whole fullness of God was pleased to dwell in him}For it was the good pleasure of the Father that in him should all the fulness dwell;
and through him to reconcile all things {Or, into him}unto {Or, him}himself, having made peace through the blood of his cross; through him, I say, whether things upon the earth, or things in the heavens.
And you, being in time past alienated and enemies in your mind in your evil works,
yet now {Some ancient authorities read ye have been reconciled.}hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without blemish and unreproveable before him:
if so be that ye continue in the faith, grounded and stedfast, and not moved away from the hope of the {Greek: good tidings: and so elsewhere; see marginal note on Matthew 4:23.}gospel which ye heard, which was preached in all creation under heaven; whereof I Paul was made a minister.
Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and fill up on my part that which is lacking of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church;
whereof I was made a minister, according to the {Or, stewardship See 1 Corinthians 9:17}dispensation of God which was given me to you-ward, to fulfil the word of God,
even the mystery which hath been hid for {Or, from all the ages &c. Greek: from the ages and from the generations.}ages and generations: but now hath it been manifested to his saints,
to whom God was pleased to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
whom we proclaim, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ;
whereunto I labor also, striving according to his working, which worketh in me {Or, in power}mightily.
who being the effulgence of his glory, and {Or, the impress of his substance}the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had made purification of sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
Ye blind: for which is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?
And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness; {The word God, in place of He who, rests on no sufficient ancient evidence. Some ancient authorities read which.}He who was manifested in the flesh,Justified in the spirit,Seen of angels,Preached among the {Or, Gentiles}nations,Believed on in the world,Received up in glory.
but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
(and the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare unto you the life, the eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us);
And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
My little children, guard yourselves from idols.
whose are the fathers, and of whom is Christ as concerning the {Or, flesh; he who is over all, God, be blessed for ever.}flesh, who is over all, God blessed {Greek: unto the ages.}for ever. Amen.
And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as one dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying, Fear not; I am the first and the last,
and the Living one; and I {Greek: became.}was dead, and behold, I am alive {Greek: unto the ages of the ages.}for evermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.