Bearing Others’ Burdens

15 We ^(A)then who are strong ought to bear with the ^[a]scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. ^2 (B)Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to ^[b]edification. ^3 (C)For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, ^(D)“The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.” ⁴ For ^(E)whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the ^[c]patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. ^5 (F)Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, ⁶ that you may ^(G)with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Glorify God Together

⁷ Therefore ^(H)receive one another, just ^(I)as Christ also received ^[d]us, to the glory of God. ⁸ Now I say that ^(J)Jesus Christ has become a ^[e]servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, ^(K)to confirm the promises made to the fathers, ⁹ and ^(L)that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, as it is written:

¹⁰ And again he says:

¹¹ And again:

¹² And again, Isaiah says:

¹³ Now may the God of hope fill you with all ^(Q)joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

From Jerusalem to Illyricum

¹⁴ Now ^(R)I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, ^(S)filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish ^[f]one another. ¹⁵ Nevertheless, brethren, I have written more boldly to you on some points, as reminding you, ^(T)because of the grace given to me by God, ¹⁶ that ^(U)I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the ^(V)offering ^[g]of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. ¹⁷ Therefore I have reason to glory in Christ Jesus ^(W)in the things which pertain to God. ¹⁸ For I will not dare to speak of any of those things ^(X)which Christ has not accomplished through me, in word and deed, ^(Y)to make the Gentiles obedient— ^19 (Z)in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. ²⁰ And so I have made it my aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, ^(AA)lest I should build on another man’s foundation, ²¹ but as it is written:

Plan to Visit Rome

²² For this reason ^(AC)I also have been much hindered from coming to you. ²³ But now no longer having a place in these parts, and ^(AD)having a great desire these many years to come to you, ²⁴ whenever I journey to Spain, ^[h]I shall come to you. For I hope to see you on my journey, ^(AE)and to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may ^(AF)enjoy your company for a while. ²⁵ But now ^(AG)I am going to Jerusalem to ^[i]minister to the saints. ²⁶ For ^(AH)it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem. ²⁷ It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. For ^(AI)if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, ^(AJ)their duty is also to minister to them in material things. ²⁸ Therefore, when I have performed this and have sealed to them ^(AK)this fruit, I shall go by way of you to Spain. ^29 (AL)But I know that when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing ^[j]of the gospel of Christ.

³⁰ Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and ^(AM)through the love of the Spirit, ^(AN)that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me, ^31 (AO)that I may be delivered from those in Judea who ^[k]do not believe, and that ^(AP)my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, ^32 (AQ)that I may come to you with joy ^(AR)by the will of God, and may ^(AS)be refreshed together with you. ³³ Now ^(AT)the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

Heaven Exults over Babylon

19 After these things ^(A)I ^[a]heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, “Alleluia! ^(B)Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to ^[b]the Lord our God! ² For ^(C)true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He ^(D)has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her.” ³ Again they said, “Alleluia! ^(E)Her smoke rises up forever and ever!” ⁴ And ^(F)the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sat on the throne, saying, ^(G)“Amen! Alleluia!” ⁵ Then a voice came from the throne, saying, ^(H)“Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, ^(I)both^[c] small and great!”

^6 (J)And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For ^(K)the^[d] Lord God Omnipotent reigns! ⁷ Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for ^(L)the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” ⁸ And ^(M)to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, ^(N)for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

⁹ Then he said to me, “Write: ^(O)‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ ” And he said to me, ^(P)“These are the true sayings of God.” ¹⁰ And ^(Q)I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, ^(R)“See that you do not do that! I am your ^(S)fellow servant, and of your brethren ^(T)who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the ^(U)testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

Christ on a White Horse

^11 (V)Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, ^(W)a white horse. And He who sat on him was called ^(X)Faithful and True, and ^(Y)in righteousness He judges and makes war. ^12 (Z)His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. ^(AA)He ^[e]had a name written that no one knew except Himself. ^13 (AB)He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called ^(AC)The Word of God. ^14 (AD)And the armies in heaven, ^(AE)clothed in ^[f]fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. ¹⁵ Now ^(AF)out of His mouth goes a ^[g]sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And ^(AG)He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. ^(AH)He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. ¹⁶ And ^(AI)He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:

^(AJ)KING OF KINGS AND
LORD OF LORDS.

The Beast and His Armies Defeated

¹⁷ Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, ^(AK)“Come and gather together for the ^[h]supper of the great God, ^18 (AL)that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, ^[i]free and slave, both small and great.”

^19 (AM)And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. ^20 (AN)Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and ^(AO)those who worshiped his image. ^(AP)These two were cast alive into the lake of fire ^(AQ)burning with brimstone. ²¹ And the rest ^(AR)were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. ^(AS)And all the birds ^(AT)were filled with their flesh.

Concluding Moral Directions

13 Let ^(A)brotherly love continue. ^2 (B)Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing ^(C)some have unwittingly entertained angels. ^3 (D)Remember the prisoners as if chained with them—those who are mistreated—since you yourselves are in the body also.

^4 (E)Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; ^(F)but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.

⁵ Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ^(G)“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” ⁶ So we may boldly say:

Concluding Religious Directions

⁷ Remember those who ^[a]rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct. ⁸ Jesus Christ is ^(I)the same yesterday, today, and forever. ⁹ Do not be carried ^[b]about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them.

¹⁰ We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. ¹¹ For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp. ¹² Therefore Jesus also, that He might ^[c]sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. ¹³ Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing ^(J)His reproach. ¹⁴ For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come. ^15 (K)Therefore by Him let us continually offer ^(L)the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, ^(M)the fruit of our lips, ^[d]giving thanks to His name. ^16 (N)But do not forget to do good and to share, for ^(O)with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

^17 (P)Obey those who ^[e]rule over you, and be submissive, for ^(Q)they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.

Prayer Requested

^18 (R)Pray for us; for we are confident that we have ^(S)a good conscience, in all things desiring to live honorably. ¹⁹ But I especially urge you to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.

Benediction, Final Exhortation, Farewell

²⁰ Now may ^(T)the God of peace ^(U)who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, ^(V)that great Shepherd of the sheep, ^(W)through the blood of the everlasting covenant, ²¹ make you ^[f]complete in every good work to do His will, ^(X)working in ^[g]you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

²² And I appeal to you, brethren, bear with the word of exhortation, for I have written to you in few words. ²³ Know that our brother Timothy has been set free, with whom I shall see you if he comes shortly.

²⁴ Greet all those who ^[h]rule over you, and all the saints. Those from Italy greet you.

²⁵ Grace be with you all. Amen.