Walking on the Water

⁴⁵ Immediately^(A) he made his disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, to Bethsaida,^(B) while he dismissed the crowd. ⁴⁶ After he said good-bye to them, he went away to the mountain^(C) to pray.^{(D) 47} Well into the night, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and he was alone on the land. ⁴⁸ He saw them straining^(E) at the oars,^[a] because the wind was against them. Very early in the morning^[b] he came toward them walking on the sea and wanted to pass by them. ⁴⁹ When they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost^(F) and cried out, ⁵⁰ because they all saw him and were terrified.^(G) Immediately he spoke with them and said, “Have courage!^(H) It is I.^(I) Don’t be afraid.”^{(J) 51} Then he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. They were completely astounded, ⁵² because they had not understood about the loaves. Instead, their hearts were hardened.^(K)

Miraculous Healings

⁵³ When they had crossed over, they came to shore at Gennesaret^(L) and anchored there.

⁵⁴ As they got out of the boat, people immediately recognized him. ⁵⁵ They hurried throughout that region and began to carry the sick^(M) on mats to wherever they heard he was. ⁵⁶ Wherever he went, into villages, towns, or the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged him that they might touch just the end^(N) of his robe.^(O) And everyone who touched it was healed.

Psalm 85

Restoration of Favor

For the choir director. A psalm of the sons of Korah.

The Woman and the Scarlet Beast

17 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls^(A) came and spoke with me: “Come, I will show you the judgment of the notorious prostitute^[a](B) who is seated on many^[b] waters.^{(C) 2} The kings of the earth^(D) committed sexual immorality with her, and those who live on the earth became drunk on the wine of her sexual immorality.”^{(E) 3} Then he carried me away in the Spirit^[c](F) to a wilderness.

I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered^[d] with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns.^{(G) 4} The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, adorned with gold, jewels, and pearls.^(H) She had a golden cup in her hand filled with everything detestable^(I) and with the impurities of her^[e] prostitution. ⁵ On her forehead was written a name, a mystery:^(J) Babylon the Great, the Mother of Prostitutes and of the Detestable Things of the Earth. ⁶ Then I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the witnesses to Jesus.^(K) When I saw her, I was greatly astonished.

The Meaning of the Woman and of the Beast

⁷ Then the angel said to me, “Why are you astonished? I will explain to you the mystery of the woman and of the beast, with the seven heads and the ten horns, that carries her. ⁸ The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to come up from the abyss^(L) and go to destruction.^(M) Those who live on the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world^(N) will be astonished when they see the beast that was, and is not, and is to come.^{(O) 9} This calls for a mind that has wisdom.^[f](P)

“The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated. They are also seven kings: ¹⁰ Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he comes, he must remain for only a little while. ¹¹ The beast that was and is not, is itself an eighth king, but it belongs to the seven and is going to destruction. ¹² The ten horns you saw are ten kings^(Q) who have not yet received a kingdom, but they will receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour.^{(R) 13} These have one purpose, and they give their power and authority to the beast. ¹⁴ These will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will conquer them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings.^(S) Those with him are called, chosen, and faithful.”^(T)

¹⁵ He also said to me, “The waters you saw,^(U) where the prostitute was seated, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages.^{(V) 16} The ten horns you saw, and the beast, will hate the prostitute.^(W) They will make her desolate and naked, devour her flesh, and burn her up with fire.^{(X) 17} For God has put it into their hearts to carry out his plan by having one purpose^(Y) and to give their kingdom^[g] to the beast until the words of God are fulfilled.^{(Z) 18} And the woman you saw is the great city that has royal power over the kings of the earth.”