Persecution Will Come

16 (A)“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be (B)wise as serpents and (C)innocent as doves. 17 Beware of men, for (D)they will deliver you over to courts and flog you (E)in their synagogues, 18 (F)and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, (G)to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. 19 (H)When (I)they deliver you over, (J)do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for (K)what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. 20 (L)For it is not you who speak, but (M)the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21 (N)Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, 22 (O)and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. (P)But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 23 When they (Q)persecute you in one town, (R)flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel (S)before the Son of Man comes.

24 (T)“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant[a] above his master. 25 It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. (U)If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign[b] those of his household.

Have No Fear

26 “So have no fear of them, (V)for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on (W)the housetops. 28 And (X)do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him (Y)who can destroy both soul and body in hell.[c] 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?[d] And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 But (Z)even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear not, therefore; (AA)you are of more value than many sparrows. 32 (AB)So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, 33 but (AC)whoever denies me before men, (AD)I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 10:24 Or bondservant; also verse 25
  2. Matthew 10:25 Greek lacks will they malign
  3. Matthew 10:28 Greek Gehenna
  4. Matthew 10:29 Greek assarion, Roman copper coin (Latin quadrans) worth about 1/16 of a denarius (which was a day's wage for a laborer)

The Lord Is My Shepherd

A Psalm of David.

23 The Lord is my (A)shepherd; I shall not (B)want.
    He makes me lie down in green (C)pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.[a]
    He (D)restores my soul.
He (E)leads me in (F)paths of righteousness[b]
    for his (G)name's sake.

Even though I (H)walk through the valley of (I)the shadow of death,[c]
    I will (J)fear no evil,
for (K)you are with me;
    your (L)rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.

You (M)prepare a table before me
    in (N)the presence of my enemies;
you (O)anoint my head with oil;
    my (P)cup overflows.
Surely[d] goodness and mercy[e] shall follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I shall (Q)dwell[f] in the house of the Lord
    (R)forever.[g]

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 23:2 Hebrew beside waters of rest
  2. Psalm 23:3 Or in right paths
  3. Psalm 23:4 Or the valley of deep darkness
  4. Psalm 23:6 Or Only
  5. Psalm 23:6 Or steadfast love
  6. Psalm 23:6 Or shall return to dwell
  7. Psalm 23:6 Hebrew for length of days

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