Persecutions Predicted

¹⁸ “If the world hates^(A) you, understand that it hated me before it hated you. ¹⁹ If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own. However, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen^(B) you out of it, the world hates you. ²⁰ Remember the word I spoke to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’^(C) If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word,^(D) they will also keep yours. ²¹ But they will do all these things to you on account of my name,^(E) because they don’t know^(F) the one who sent me. ²² If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin.^(G) Now they have no excuse for their sin. ²³ The one who hates me also hates my Father.^{(H) 24} If I had not done the works^(I) among them that no one else has done,^(J) they would not be guilty of sin.^(K) Now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. ²⁵ But this happened so that the statement written in their law might be fulfilled:^(L) They hated me for no reason.^[a](M)

Psalm 46

God Our Refuge

For the choir director. A song of the sons of Korah. According to Alamoth.^(A)

The Day of the Lord

5 About the times and the seasons:^(A) Brothers and sisters, you do not need anything to be written to you. ² For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord^(B) will come just like a thief^(C) in the night. ³ When they say, “Peace and security,” then sudden destruction^(D) will come upon them, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. ⁴ But you, brothers and sisters, are not in the dark, for this day to surprise you like a thief.^{(E) 5} For you are all children of light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or the darkness.^{(F) 6} So then, let us not sleep, like the rest, but let us stay awake and be self-controlled. ⁷ For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. ⁸ But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled^(G) and put on the armor^(H) of faith and love, and a helmet^(I) of the hope of salvation. ⁹ For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord^(J) Jesus Christ,^{(K) 10} who died for us,^(L) so that whether we are awake or asleep,^(M) we may live together with him.^{(N) 11} Therefore encourage one another and build each other up as you are already doing.