The Vine and the Branches

15 “I am^(A) the true vine,^(B) and my Father is the gardener. ² He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit,^(C) while every branch that does bear fruit^(D) he prunes^[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. ³ You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.^{(E) 4} Remain in me, as I also remain in you.^(F) No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

⁵ “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit;^(G) apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.^{(H) 7} If you remain in me^(I) and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.^{(J) 8} This is to my Father’s glory,^(K) that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.^(L)

²⁶ In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit^(A) himself intercedes for us^(B) through wordless groans. ²⁷ And he who searches our hearts^(C) knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes^(D) for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

²⁸ And we know that in all things God works for the good^(E) of those who love him, who^[a] have been called^(F) according to his purpose.^{(G) 29} For those God foreknew^(H) he also predestined^(I) to be conformed to the image of his Son,^(J) that he might be the firstborn^(K) among many brothers and sisters. ³⁰ And those he predestined,^(L) he also called;^(M) those he called, he also justified;^(N) those he justified, he also glorified.^(O)

More Than Conquerors

³¹ What, then, shall we say in response to these things?^(P) If God is for us,^(Q) who can be against us?^{(R) 32} He who did not spare his own Son,^(S) but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? ³³ Who will bring any charge^(T) against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. ³⁴ Who then is the one who condemns?^(U) No one. Christ Jesus who died^(V)—more than that, who was raised to life^(W)—is at the right hand of God^(X) and is also interceding for us.^{(Y) 35} Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?^(Z) Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?^{(AA) 36} As it is written:

³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors^(AC) through him who loved us.^{(AD) 38} For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,^[c] neither the present nor the future,^(AE) nor any powers,^{(AF) 39} neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God^(AG) that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.^(AH)

²⁰ I have been crucified with Christ^(A) and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.^(B) The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God,^(C) who loved me^(D) and gave himself for me.^(E)

²⁰ Now to him who is able^(A) to do immeasurably more than all we ask^(B) or imagine, according to his power^(C) that is at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.^(D)

⁶ And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him^(A) must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

The Throne in Heaven

4 After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open^(A) in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet^(B) said, “Come up here,^(C) and I will show you what must take place after this.”^{(D) 2} At once I was in the Spirit,^(E) and there before me was a throne in heaven^(F) with someone sitting on it. ³ And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper^(G) and ruby.^(H) A rainbow^(I) that shone like an emerald^(J) encircled the throne. ⁴ Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders.^(K) They were dressed in white^(L) and had crowns of gold on their heads. ⁵ From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder.^(M) In front of the throne, seven lamps^(N) were blazing. These are the seven spirits^[a](O) of God. ⁶ Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass,^(P) clear as crystal.

In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures,^(Q) and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back.^{(R) 7} The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle.^{(S) 8} Each of the four living creatures^(T) had six wings^(U) and was covered with eyes all around,^(V) even under its wings. Day and night^(W) they never stop saying:

⁹ Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne^(Z) and who lives for ever and ever,^{(AA) 10} the twenty-four elders^(AB) fall down before him^(AC) who sits on the throne^(AD) and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:

The Scroll and the Lamb

5 Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne^(AG) a scroll with writing on both sides^(AH) and sealed^(AI) with seven seals. ² And I saw a mighty angel^(AJ) proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” ³ But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. ⁴ I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. ⁵ Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion^(AK) of the tribe of Judah,^(AL) the Root of David,^(AM) has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

⁶ Then I saw a Lamb,^(AN) looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures^(AO) and the elders.^(AP) The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes,^(AQ) which are the seven spirits^[c](AR) of God sent out into all the earth. ⁷ He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne.^{(AS) 8} And when he had taken it, the four living creatures^(AT) and the twenty-four elders^(AU) fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp^(AV) and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers^(AW) of God’s people. ⁹ And they sang a new song, saying:^(AX)

¹¹ Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand.^(BE) They encircled the throne and the living creatures^(BF) and the elders.^{(BG) 12} In a loud voice they were saying:

¹³ Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth^(BK) and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:

¹⁴ The four living creatures^(BO) said, “Amen,”^(BP) and the elders^(BQ) fell down and worshiped.^(BR)