Joy

Passages

Every passage tagged with this emotion in the Vela corpus. Search the body text, narrow by source or register, click through to a book’s profile to see how the passage sits with the rest of the work.

Page 195 of 299 · 20 per page

• From Amplified Holy Bible (2015)

  2 Look out for the b dogs [the Judaizers, the legalists], look out for the troublemakers, look out for the c false circumcision [those who claim circumcision is necessary for salvation]; 3 for we [who are born-again have been reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, set apart for His purpose and] are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory and take pride and exult in Christ Jesus and place no confidence [in what we have or who we are] in the flesh— 4 though I myself might have [some grounds for] confidence in the flesh [if I were pursuing salvation by works]. If anyone else thinks that he has reason to be confident in the flesh [that is, in his own efforts to achieve salvation], I have far more: 5 circumcised when I was eight days old, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews [an exemplary Hebrew]; as to the [observance of the] Law, a Pharisee; 6 as to my zeal [for Jewish tradition], a persecutor of the church; and as to righteousness [supposed right living] which [my fellow Jews believe] is in the Law, I proved myself blameless. 7 But whatever former things were gains to me [as I thought then], these things [once regarded as advancements in merit] I have come to consider as loss [absolutely worthless] for the sake of Christ [and the purpose which He has given my life]. 8 But more than that, I count everything as loss compared to the priceless privilege and supreme advantage of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord [and of growing more deeply and thoroughly acquainted with Him—a joy unequaled]. For His sake I have lost everything, and I consider it all garbage, so that I may gain Christ, 9 and may be found in Him [believing and relying on Him], not having any righteousness of my own derived from [my obedience to] the Law and its rituals, but [possessing] that [genuine righteousness] which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 And this, so that I may know Him [experientially, becoming more thoroughly acquainted with Him, understanding the remarkable wonders of His Person more completely] and [in that same way experience] the power of His resurrection [which overflows and is active in believers], and [that I may share] the fellowship of His sufferings, by being continually conformed [inwardly into His likeness even] to His death [dying as He did]; 11 d so that I may attain to the resurrection [that will raise me] from the dead. 12 Not that I have already obtained it [this goal of being Christlike] or have already been made perfect, but I actively press on e so that I may take hold of that [perfection] for which Christ Jesus took hold of me and made me His own.

• From Amplified Holy Bible (2015)

  There you will see Him; behold, I have told you.” 8 So the women left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell [the good news to] the disciples. 9 And as they went, suddenly, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” And they went to Him and took hold of His feet [in homage] and worshiped Him [as the Messiah]. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell My brothers to leave for Galilee, and there they will see Me [just as I promised].” 11 While they were on their way, some of the [Roman] guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. 12 And when the chief priests had gathered with the elders and had consulted together [to develop a plan of deception], they gave a sufficient sum of money [as a bribe] to the soldiers, 13 and said, “You say this, ‘His disciples came at night and stole Him while we were sleeping.’ 14 “And if the governor (Pilate) hears about it, we will calm him down and keep you out of trouble.” 15 So they took the money [they were paid for lying] and did as they were instructed; and this [fabricated] story was widely spread among the Jews, and is to the present day. The Great Commission 16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated. 17 And when they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted [that it was really He]. 18 Jesus came up and said to them, “All authority (all power of absolute rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. 19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations [help the people to learn of Me, believe in Me, and obey My words], baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always [remaining with you perpetually—regardless of circumstance, and on every occasion], even to the end of the age.” Matthew 1 a 1:1 Heb Yeshua (Joshua ), meaning The Lord is salvation . b 1:1 Gr Christos . Greek for Messiah, which means Anointed One . Throughout his gospel, which is directed primarily to Jewish believers, Matthew uses OT Scripture to emphasize the fact that Jesus is their promised Messiah. c 1:1 The shepherd boy who killed the Philistine giant Goliath, and later became king of Israel. d 1:2 Lit begot, fathered, from the Greek word gennao, meaning “to father a child” (early modern English beget ) and so throughout the genealogy whenever father occurs. e 1:2 Gr Judas; names of people in the OT are given in their OT form. f 1:5 The woman who assisted the Hebrew spies before the conquest of Jericho (Josh 2:1–21 ).

• From The Decameron (1353)

  My Lady Addlepate, who was somewhat scant of wit, was overjoyed to hear this, taking it all for gospel, and said, after a little, 'I told you, Fra Alberto, that my charms were celestial, but, so God be mine aid, it irketh me for you and I will pardon you forthright, so you may come to no more harm, provided you tell me truly that which the angel said to you after.' 'Madam,' replied Fra Alberto, 'since you pardon me, I will gladly tell it you; but I must warn you of one thing, to wit, that whatever I tell you, you must have a care not to repeat it to any one alive, an you would not mar your affairs, for that you are the luckiest lady in the world. The angel Gabriel bade me tell you that you pleased him so much that he had many a time come to pass the night with you, but that he feared to affright you. Now he sendeth to tell you by me that he hath a mind to come to you one night and abide awhile with you and (for that he is an angel and that, if he came in angel-form, you might not avail to touch him,) he purposeth, for your delectation, to come in guise of a man, wherefore he biddeth you send to tell him when you would have him come and in whose form, and he will come hither; whereof you may hold yourself blest over any other lady alive.' My Lady Conceit answered that it liked her well that the angel Gabriel loved her, seeing she loved him well nor ever failed to light a candle of a groat before him, whereas she saw him depictured, and that what time soever he chose to come to her, he should be dearly welcome and would find her all alone in her chamber, but on this condition, that he should not leave her for the Virgin Mary, whose great well-wisher it was said he was, as indeed appeareth, inasmuch as in every place where she saw him [limned], he was on his knees before her. Moreover, she said it must rest with him to come in whatsoever form he pleased, so but she was not affrighted.

• From The Incendiaries (2018)

  She was in Berlin with Julian, visiting his boyfriend, Sunil. I drifted into sleep with the phone hot at my face, Phoebe’s voice like a song. Will, we didn’t get back to Sunil’s place until 10:00 in the morning. It’s so bright in his living room that I can’t sleep except with a shawl tied around my head. Julian says that, even if he’s drunk, when, I can’t let him ask Sunil to quit his Berlin experiment. I broke a heel last night, dancing. Julian said I wasn’t allowed to go home. That, as his closest friend, I was obligated to stay with him. He tore his shirt, instead. He tied the cloth rags on my feet, like booties. Dancing slippers. – It was around this time that she first told me her mother had died, along with how it happened: that she, Phoebe, had been driving, unused to cars. I didn’t know how to respond. I’m so sorry, Phoebe, I said, at last. No, I just, I haven’t told people at Edwards, she said. I refuse to be the sad girl, with people whispering, but—I’ve known you awhile. I wanted to tell you. Well, I’ve told Julian. John Leal also knows, but that was my father’s doing. It’s life. Let’s talk about something else. – I did think, during this break, to look him up online. I found a couple of local-interest articles, Edwards Herald squibs. John Leal, so I learned, while he was still a student, had gotten into a late-night fistfight with a Noxhurst local, one so violent that he’d been jailed. No charges had been pressed; John Leal, released. It looked as though the college had then suspended him. Expelled, perhaps: I couldn’t find him listed with his graduating class. The more recent article featured protests he organized with local churches. He’d marshaled a pro-life group that knelt each morning in front of the local women’s clinic, Phipps. It was the largest abortion-providing clinic in New York. Jo was mentioned; Ian, too. I told Phoebe what I learned, but she didn’t sound interested. Of all the futile causes, she said. She hadn’t seen him, not since he’d invited us to his house. – During the fall term, I’d applied for a part-time Edwards research position with David Ling, a Nobel-lauded economist. It paid less than waiting tables, but it would, of course, help me with future jobs. I started working with him when I returned to Noxhurst, and I lived through a week of trying to do both before I realized I had to cut back at Michelangelo’s. The night I planned to tell Paul, he pitched a deboned tilapia fillet at a line cook’s head. Missing its target, the fish hit the wall, then slid down, trailing oil.

• From The Incendiaries (2018)

  I shook my head. Phoebe’s guesses leaped east, south, flouting logic. Istanbul, she tried. Delhi. Beirut. I said yes to Nairobi, yes to Taipei. If I had the cash, I thought, but I would. In time, if she’d wait, I’d be able to take us where she liked. We’d watch the lights of alien cities rush beneath the plane, strewn pearls we’d reach down to grab. I drove until the beach house, a clapboard one-bedroom with a potbellied stove. I carried in the bags. I tore newsprint, then I crumpled it into long ropes. I snapped kindling. Bundled logs had been left at the stove’s burned mouth. In minutes, I had the fire going. Wine bottles clanged as Phoebe lined them along the wall. I pan-fried trout; we split a cold Friuli. Pants rolled, we walked across the beach. The sea hissed, stinging exposed skin. It sucked the wet earth from beneath our feet. The next morning, we had Bellinis with toast, then we lolled on the sun porch, reading from old, salt-bloated magazines. Light spilled through closed eyelids, and I was turning into gold. On Sunday, I drove us back to Noxhurst through light rain, leaving when we finished lunch. Phoebe, it turned out, had a Jejah meeting at five. She put a bare foot up on the dashboard, touching it to the windshield. Small haloes of body heat materialized around each unpainted toe. She switched on the radio, singing along. I didn’t recognize the tune. She fell quiet. I turned down the music to let Phoebe doze. Hours passed, then she lifted her head. Hello, she said. I might have had too much wine at lunch. Poor Will, I left you alone. What time is it? She glanced around, blinking. So much traffic. It was fine until a minute ago, I said, as the radio clock flickered to 4:11. It should let up. But how long will it take before we get to Noxhurst? If this traffic doesn’t stop, we’re about an hour’s drive from town. Will, she said, voice high. I have to be at the meeting by five. No, that’s if the traffic doesn’t improve. There’s nothing to worry about, since it won’t happen. Phoebe strained in the seat, trying to look above the cars ahead of us. I wasn’t sure why I’d said what I had. She’d be on time, as I knew well enough. Maybe we should take local streets, she said. Why are you so upset? I’ll get you there. I can’t be late. I told you I’d get you there.

• From Amplified Holy Bible (2015)

  24 ‘For I tell you, not one of those who were invited [and declined] will taste my dinner.’ ” Discipleship Tested 25 Now large crowds were going along with Jesus; and He turned and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to Me, and does not c hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life [in the sense of indifference to or relative disregard for them in comparison with his attitude toward God]—he cannot be My disciple. 27 “Whoever does not carry his own cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow after Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me] cannot be My disciple. 28 “For which one of you, when he wants to build a watchtower [for his guards], does not first sit down and calculate the cost, to see if he has enough to finish it? 29 “Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is unable to finish [the building], all who see it will begin to ridicule him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish!’ 31 “Or what king, when he sets out to meet another king in battle, will not first sit down and consider whether he is strong enough with ten thousand men to encounter the one who is coming against him with twenty thousand? 32 “Or else [if he feels he is not powerful enough], while the other [king] is still a far distance away, he sends an envoy and asks for terms of peace. 33 “So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not [carefully consider the cost and then for My sake] d give up all his own possessions. 34 “Therefore, salt is good; but if salt has become tasteless, with what will it be seasoned? 35 “It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown away. He who has ears to hear, let him hear and heed My words.” Luke 15 The Lost Sheep 1 N OW ALL the tax collectors and sinners [including non-observant Jews] were coming near Jesus to listen to Him. 2 Both the Pharisees and the scribes began muttering and complaining, saying, “This man accepts and welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 3 So He told them this parable: 4 “What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one which is lost, [searching] until he finds it? [Matt 18:12–14 ] 5 “And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

• From The Incendiaries (2018)

  Spires and belfries spun up from stone citadels. Frisbees soared. Bronze statues gazed forward, frozen in heroes’ poses. Sunlit paths crossed the green, lines in a giant palm, holding students who lazed on the grass. It was a lost garden, but I’d been allowed in. I still hadn’t known, though I soon would, how little I’d belong. I approached the dining hall. I’d been up since six, while she was in bed, idling. Lions in a cage. Had she petted them, and did she wake to find the tawny fur glinting on her skin? She might have rubbed the fur around as she slept. The coarse hairs strewn in Phoebe’s sheets, bijou rays of gold. But my step felt light. If I could be anyone, I’d ask to be the Will rushing to see more, again, of Phoebe. In the distance, an advertisement painted on the side of a brick building showed a young girl, lips pursed as if to send a wish. The suck and howl of a siren pierced the cold, and the fall wind smelled of reasons to live. 7. WILL She picked me up to drive to John Leal’s house. Paired taillights swept ahead of us, the red lamps slewing here, there. Turning off the road, she hurtled uphill, and stopped. Phoebe and I walked up the flagstone path to a white, tall house. She held my hand, swinging it, the way children do. Piled leaves blew about, alive again. She touched the bell button. I lifted Phoebe’s hand; I kissed bitten nails that shine, in hindsight, like quartz, spoils I pulled down from the moon. – The door flung open. Strangers appeared, drawing us into the heat, the light. The rich perfume of cooked flesh filled the front hall. Saliva flooded my mouth. They asked if we’d mind removing our shoes. Light-headed, I used the excuse to crouch. I took in a breath as I unknotted the tight laces. I hadn’t eaten since morning, when I had a stolen Gala apple. With the bus behind schedule, I’d arrived at Michelangelo’s too late for the staff lunch. Phoebe and I were led down a hall, into the living room. Flat blue cushions had been placed in a half-circle in front of the lit fireplace. There was no furniture. Invited to sit, I followed Phoebe’s lead: I took a cushion, the one closest to hers. It slipped as I sat, the glossed fabric smooth. Is John Leal here? Phoebe asked. I’d love to tell him hello. He’s in the kitchen, they said. He’ll join us in a minute. Before long, the conversation split in two. Phoebe chatted with a girl whose name I hadn’t caught, then with a person called Ian. He left the room, coming back with full porcelain teacups. Mulled wine, he said. Meanwhile, I jolted through pleasantries with Philip Hecht, also an Edwards student.

• From Amplified Holy Bible (2015)

  17 This was done on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, and on the fourteenth day they rested and made it a day of feasting and rejoicing. 18 But the Jews who were in Susa assembled on the thirteenth and on the fourteenth of the same month, and on the fifteenth day they rested and made it a day of feasting and rejoicing. 19 Therefore the Jews of the villages, who live in the rural [unwalled] towns, make the fourteenth day of the month of Adar a holiday for rejoicing and feasting and sending choice portions of food to one another. The Feast of Purim Instituted 20 Now Mordecai recorded these events, and he sent letters to all the Jews who lived in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, both near and far, 21 obliging them to celebrate the fourteenth day of the month of Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same month, annually, 22 because on those days the Jews rid themselves of their enemies, and as the month which was turned for them from grief to joy and from mourning into a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and rejoicing and sending choice portions of food to one another and gifts to the poor. 23 So the Jews undertook what they had started to do, and what Mordecai had written to them. 24 For Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to destroy them and had cast Pur, that is, the lot, [to find the right time] to disturb and destroy them. 25 But when it came before the king, he commanded in writing that Haman’s wicked scheme which he had devised against the Jews was to return on his own head, and that he and his sons should [endure what he planned for the Jews and] be hanged on the gallows. 26 Therefore they called these days Purim after the name Pur (lot). And because of all the instructions in this letter, and what they had faced in this regard and what had happened to them, 27 the Jews established and made it a custom for themselves and for their descendants and for all who joined them, so that they would not fail to celebrate these two days as it was written and at the appointed time annually. 28 So these days were to be remembered and celebrated throughout every generation, every family, every province and every city; and these days of Purim were not to cease from among the Jews, nor their memory fade from their descendants. 29 Then Queen Esther, the daughter of Abihail, with Mordecai the Jew, wrote with full power and authority to confirm this second letter about Purim.

• From Amplified Holy Bible (2015)

  26 “He will pray to God, and He shall be favorable to him, So that he looks at His face with joy; For God restores to man His righteousness [that is, his right standing with God—with its joys]. 27 “He sings out to other men, ‘I have sinned and perverted that which was right, And it was not proper for me! 28 ‘God has redeemed my life from going to the pit [of destruction], And my life shall see the light.’ ” 29 [Elihu comments,] “Behold, God does all these things c twice, yes, three times, with a man, 30 To bring his life back from the pit [of destruction], That he may be enlightened with the light of the living. 31 “Pay attention, Job, listen to me; Keep silent, and I will speak. 32 “If you have anything to say, answer me; Speak, for I desire to justify you. 33 “If not [and you have nothing to say], listen to me; Keep silent, and I will teach you wisdom.” Job 34 Elihu Vindicates God’s Justice 1 E LIHU CONTINUED his discourse and said, 2 “Hear my words, you wise men, And listen to me, you who have [so much] knowledge. 3 “For the ear puts words to the test As the palate tastes food. 4 “Let us choose for ourselves that which is right; Let us know among ourselves what is good. 5 “For Job has said, ‘I am righteous [and innocent], But God has taken away my right; [Job 33:9 ] 6 Although I am right, I am accounted a liar. My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’ 7 “What man is like Job, Who drinks up derision like water, 8 Who goes in company with those who do evil And walks with wicked men? 9 “For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing When he takes delight and is pleased with God and obeys Him.’ 10 “Therefore hear me, you men of understanding. Far be it from God that He would do wickedness, And from the Almighty to do wrong. 11 “For God pays a man according to his work, And He will make every man find [appropriate] compensation according to his way. 12 “Surely God will not act wickedly, Nor will the Almighty pervert justice. 13 “Who put God in charge over the earth? And who has laid on Him the whole world? 14 “If God should determine to do so, If He should gather to Himself [that is, withdraw from man] His [life-giving] spirit and His breath, 15 All flesh would perish together, And man would return to dust. [Ps 104:29 ; Eccl 12:7 ] 16 “If you now have understanding, hear this; Listen to the sound of my words. 17 “Shall one who hates justice [and is an enemy of right] govern? And will you condemn Him who is just and mighty?

• From Amplified Holy Bible (2015)

  6 People will speak of the power of Your awesome acts, And [with gratitude and submissive wonder] I will tell of Your greatness. 7 They will overflow [like a fountain] when they speak of Your great and abundant goodness And will sing joyfully of Your righteousness. 8 The LORD is gracious and full of compassion, Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness. 9 The LORD is good to all, And His tender mercies are over all His works [the entirety of things created]. 10 All Your works shall give thanks to You and praise You, O LORD , And Your godly ones will bless You. 11 They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom And talk of Your power, 12 To make known to the sons of men Your mighty acts And the glorious majesty of Your kingdom. 13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And Your dominion endures throughout all generations. [Dan 7:14 , 27 ] 14 The LORD upholds all those [of His own] who fall And raises up all those who are bowed down. 15 The eyes of all look to You [in hopeful expectation], And You give them their food in due time. 16 You open Your hand And satisfy the desire of every living thing. 17 The LORD is [unwaveringly] righteous in all His ways And gracious and kind in all His works. 18 The LORD is near to all who call on Him, To all who call on Him in truth (without guile). 19 He will fulfill the desire of those who fear and worship Him [with awe-inspired reverence and obedience]; He also will hear their cry and will save them. 20 The LORD keeps all who love Him, But all the wicked He will destroy. 21 My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD , And all flesh will bless and gratefully praise His holy name forever and ever. Psalm 146 The LORD an Abundant Helper. 1 P RAISE THE LORD ! (Hallelujah!) Praise the LORD , O my soul! 2 While I live I will praise the LORD ; I will sing praises to my God as long as I live. 3 Do not trust in princes, In mortal man, in whom there is no salvation (help). 4 When his spirit leaves him, he returns to the earth; In that very day his thoughts and plans perish. [1 Cor 2:6 ] 5 How blessed and graciously favored is he whose help is the God of Jacob (Israel), Whose hope is in the LORD his God, [Gen 32:30 ] 6 Who made heaven and earth, The sea, and all that is in them, Who keeps truth and is faithful forever, [Gen 1:3 ] 7 Who executes justice for the oppressed, Who gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets free the prisoners. 8 The LORD opens the eyes of the blind; The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; The LORD loves the a righteous [the upright in heart].

• From Amplified Holy Bible (2015)

  9 And this I pray, that your love may abound more and more [displaying itself in greater depth] in real knowledge and in practical insight, 10 so that you may learn to recognize and treasure what is excellent [identifying the best, and distinguishing moral differences], and that you may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ [actually living lives that lead others away from sin]; 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God [so that His glory may be both revealed and recognized]. The Gospel Is Preached 12 Now I want you to know, a believers, that what has happened to me [this imprisonment that was meant to stop me] has actually served to advance [the spread of] the good news [regarding salvation]. 13 My imprisonment in [the cause of] Christ has become common knowledge throughout the whole b praetorian (imperial) guard and to everyone else. 14 Because of my chains [seeing that I am doing well and that God is accomplishing great things], most of the c brothers have renewed confidence in the Lord, and have far more courage to speak the word of God [concerning salvation] without fear [of the consequences, seeing that God can work His good in all circumstances]. 15 Some, it is true, are [actually] preaching Christ out of envy and rivalry [toward me—for no better reason than a competitive spirit or misguided ambition], but others out of goodwill and a loyal spirit [toward me]. 16 The latter [preach Christ] out of love, because they know that I have been put here [by God on purpose] for the defense of the gospel; 17 but the former preach Christ [insincerely] out of selfish ambition [just self-promotion], thinking that they are causing me distress in my imprisonment. 18 What then [does it matter]? So long as in every way, whether in pretense [for self-promotion] or in all honesty [to spread the truth], Christ is being preached; and in this I rejoice. Y es, and I will rejoice [later as well], 19 for I know [with confidence] that this will turn out for my deliverance and spiritual well-being, through your prayers and the [superabundant] supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ [which upholds me]. 20 It is my own eager expectation and hope, that [looking toward the future] I will not disgrace myself nor be ashamed in anything, but that with courage and the utmost freedom of speech, even now as always, Christ will be magnified and exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. To Live Is Christ 21 For to me, to live is Christ [He is my source of joy, my reason to live] and to die is gain [for I will be with Him in eternity].

• From Amplified Holy Bible (2015)

  9 Also Bakbukiah and Unni, their brothers, stood opposite them in their divisions of service. 10 Now Jeshua became the father of Joiakim, Joiakim of Eliashib, Eliashib of Joiada, 11 and Joiada became the father of Jonathan, and Jonathan of Jaddua. 12 And in the days of Joiakim, the priests, the heads of fathers’ households were: of Seraiah, Meraiah; of Jeremiah, Hananiah; 13 of Ezra, Meshullam; of Amariah, Jehohanan; 14 of b Malluchi, Jonathan; of Shebaniah, Joseph; 15 of Harim, Adna; of Meraioth, Helkai; 16 of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam; 17 of Abijah, Zichri; of Miniamin and of Moadiah, Piltai; 18 of Bilgah, Shammua; of Shemaiah, Jehonathan; 19 of Joiarib, Mattenai; of Jedaiah, Uzzi; 20 of Sallai, Kallai; of Amok, Eber; 21 of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; of Jedaiah, Nethanel. The Chief Levites 22 As for the Levites in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan, and Jaddua, the heads of fathers’ households were registered; so were the priests, during the reign of Darius the Persian. 23 The sons of Levi, heads of fathers’ households , were recorded in the Book of the Chronicles until the days of Johanan the son of Eliashib. 24 The heads of the Levites were Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, and their brothers opposite them, to praise and to give thanks, as commanded by David the man of God, [one] division [singing] in response to [the men in the opposite] division. 25 Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, and Akkub were gatekeepers keeping watch at the storehouses of the gates. 26 These men served in the days of Joiakim the son of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor and Ezra the priest and scribe. Dedication of the Wall 27 Now at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought out the Levites from all their places in order to bring them to Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication with gladness, with hymns of thanksgiving, and with songs to the accompaniment of cymbals, harps, and lyres. 28 So the sons of the singers gathered together from the district around Jerusalem, and from the villages of the Netophathites, 29 from Beth-gilgal and from the fields of Geba and Azmaveth, for the singers had built villages for themselves around Jerusalem. 30 The priests and the Levites purified themselves; they also purified the people, the gates, and the wall. Procedures for the Temple 31 Then I had the leaders of Judah come up on the wall, and I appointed two large thanksgiving choirs, the first one proceeding to the right on top of the wall toward the Refuse Gate.

• From Amplified Holy Bible (2015)

  [Matt 25:41 ; 1 Cor 15:26 ] 15 And if e anyone’s name was not found f written in the Book of Life, he was hurled into the lake of fire. Revelation 21 The New Heaven and Earth 1 T HEN I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away (vanished), and there is no longer any a sea. [Is 65:17 ; 66:22 ] 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, arrayed like a bride adorned for her husband; [John 14:2 , 3 ; Gal 4:26 ; Heb 11:10 ] 3 and then I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “See! The tabernacle of God is among men, and He will live among them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them b [ as their God,] [Lev 26:11 , 12 ; Ezek 37:27 ; John 1:14 ; 1 Cor 3:16 , 17 ] 4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be death; there will no longer be sorrow and anguish, or crying, or pain; for the c former order of things has passed away.” [Is 25:8 ; 35:10 ] 5 And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true [they are accurate, incorruptible, and trustworthy].” [Is 43:19 ] 6 And He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the one who thirsts I will give [water] from the fountain of the water of life without cost. [Is 55:1 ] 7 “d He who overcomes [the world by adhering faithfully to Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior] will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son. [2 Sam 7:14 ; 1 John 5:5 ] 8 “But as for the cowards and unbelieving and abominable [who are devoid of character and personal integrity and practice or tolerate immorality], and murderers, and sorcerers [with intoxicating drugs], and idolaters and occultists [who practice and teach false religions], and all the liars [who knowingly deceive and twist truth], their part will be in the lake that blazes with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” The New Jerusalem 9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven final plagues came and spoke with me, saying, “Come here, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a vast and lofty mountain, and showed me the holy (sanctified) city of Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, [Ezek 40:2 ] 11 having God’s glory [filled with His radiant light].

• From Amplified Holy Bible (2015)

  5 Bilhah conceived and gave birth to a son for Jacob. 6 Then Rachel said, “God has judged and vindicated me, and has heard my plea and has given me a son [through my maid].” So she named him Dan (He judged). 7 Bilhah, Rachel’s maid, conceived again and gave birth to a second son for Jacob. 8 So Rachel said, “With mighty wrestlings [in prayer to God] I have struggled with my sister and have prevailed.” So she named him Naphtali (my wrestlings). 9 When Leah saw that she had stopped bearing [children], she took Zilpah her maid and gave her to Jacob as a [c secondary] wife. 10 Zilpah, Leah’s maid, gave birth to a son for Jacob. 11 Then Leah said, “How fortunate!” So she named him Gad (good fortune). 12 Zilpah, Leah’s maid, gave birth to a second son for Jacob. 13 Then Leah said, “I am happy! For women will call me happy.” So she named him Asher (happy). 14 Now at the time of wheat harvest Reuben [the eldest child] went and found some d mandrakes in the field, and brought them to his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, “Please give me some of your son’s mandrakes.” 15 But Leah answered, “Is it a small thing that you have taken my husband? Would you take away my son’s mandrakes also?” So Rachel said, “Jacob shall sleep with you tonight in exchange for your son’s mandrakes.” 16 When Jacob came in from the field in the evening, Leah went out to meet him and said, “You must sleep with me [tonight], for I have in fact hired you with my son’s mandrakes.” So he slept with her that night. 17 God listened and answered [the prayer of] Leah, and she conceived and gave birth to a fifth son for Jacob. 18 Then Leah said, “God has given me my reward because I have given my maid to my husband.” So she named him e Issachar. 19 Leah conceived again and gave birth to a sixth son for Jacob. 20 Then Leah said, “God has endowed me with a good [marriage] gift [for my husband]; now he will live with me [regarding me with honor as his wife], because I have given birth to six sons.” So she named him f Zebulun. 21 Afterward she gave birth to a daughter and named her Dinah. 22 Then God remembered [the prayers of] Rachel, and God thought of her and opened her womb [so that she would conceive]. 23 So she conceived and gave birth to a son; and she said, “God has taken away my disgrace and humiliation.” 24 She named him Joseph (may He add) and said, “May the LORD add to me another son.” Jacob Prospers 25 Now when Rachel had given birth to Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, “Send me away, that I may go back to my own place and to my own country.

• From The Decameron (1353)

  If the former stories had saddened the hearts of the lovesome ladies, this last one of Dioneo's made them laugh heartily, especially when he spoke of the prefect casting his grapnel aboard the maid, that they were able thus to recover themselves of the melancholy caused by the others. But the king, seeing that the sun began to grow yellow and that the term of his seignory was come, with very courteous speech excused himself to the fair ladies for that which he had done, to wit, that he had caused discourse of so sorrowful a matter as that of lovers' infelicity; which done, he rose to his feet and taking from his head the laurel wreath, whilst the ladies waited to see on whom he should bestow it, set it daintily on Fiammetta's fair head, saying, "I make over this crown to thee, as to her who will, better than any other, know how with to-morrow's pleasance to console these ladies our companions of to-day's woefulness." Fiammetta, whose locks were curled and long and golden and fell over her white and delicate shoulders and whose soft-rounded face was all resplendent with white lilies and vermeil roses commingled, with two eyes in her head as they were those of a peregrine falcon and a dainty little mouth, the lips whereof seemed twin rubies, answered, smiling, "And I, Filostrato, I take it willingly, and that thou mayst be the better cognizant of that which thou hast done, I presently will and command that each prepare to discourse to-morrow of THAT WHICH HATH HAPPILY BETIDED LOVERS AFTER SUNDRY CRUEL AND MISFORTUNATE ADVENTURES." Her proposition[260] was pleasing unto all and she, after summoning the seneschal and taking counsel with him of things needful, arising from session, blithely dismissed all the company until supper-time. Accordingly, they all proceeded, according to their various appetites, to take their several pleasures, some wandering about the garden, whose beauties were not such as might lightly tire, and other some betaking themselves towards the mills which wrought therewithout, whilst the rest fared some hither and some thither, until the hour of supper, which being come, they all foregathered, as of their wont, anigh the fair fountain and there supped with exceeding pleasance and well served. Presently, arising thence, they addressed themselves, as of their wont, to dancing and singing, and Filomena leading off the dance, the queen said, "Filostrato, I purpose not to depart from the usance of those who have foregone me in the sovranty, but, like as they have done, so I intend that a song be sung at my commandment; and as I am assured that thy songs are even such as are thy stories, it is our pleasure that, so no more days than this be troubled with thine ill fortunes, thou sing such one thereof as most pleaseth thee." Filostrato replied that he would well and forthright proceeded to sing on this wise: [Footnote 260: _i.e._ the theme proposed by her.]

• From The Christian Tradition: A History of the Development of Doctrine, Vol. 4: Reformation of Church and Dogma (1300-1700) (1984)

  Christians, declared Justin THE FAITH OF THE CHURCH CATHOLIC 154 Just.D/W.46.7 (Goodspeed 144) Or.Cant.pr. (GCS 33:70) Ign.Eph. 16-17 (Bihlmeyer 87) See pp. 205-6 below See pp. 129-30 above Tert.57?£c/.30.7 (CCSL 1:253) Tett.Marc. 1.24.7 (CCSL 1:468) Min.Fel.C^.38.4 (CSEL 2:54) Cypr.Ep.10.3 (CSEL 3:492) in response to Trypho, were able to rejoice in death be cause they expected to be raised free of corruption, change, and death. The love spoken of in the Song of Solomon, said Origen in his commentary, "alone pos sesses immortality," and therefore it alone could make believers immortal. The fire unquenchable threatened everlasting death, wrote Ignatius to the Ephesians, but Christ had breathed incorruption upon the church. This definition of the meaning of salvation, which reached its consummate expression in the theology of Athanasius, was the common property of catholic Christianity. Frequently it was bound up with the continuing though flagging hope for the speedy return of Christ. The ex pressions of that hope, however, were also frequently tied to the assurance that the substance of the infinite bliss of heaven was already the possession of the church on earth. Tertullian's recourse to such assurance is par ticularly significant in view of his importance for the de velopment of eschatological doctrine. His graphic de scription of the great spectacle on the day of judgment, when poets, philosophers, and rulers would receive their long-delayed recompense, concluded with the observation that by faith believers could have the joy of this spectacle even now. He taunted Marcion for teaching a deliverance that was imperfect because it lay exclusively in the future. In language and thought closely related to Tertullian's, Minucius Felix boasted that Christians "both rise again in bliss and are already living in contemplation of the future." And Tertullian's disciple Cyprian assured his readers of salvation from death here and hereafter be cause the Savior, "who once conquered death for us, is continually conquering it in us." An important element of this salvation from death was salvation from sin. A proof text for the definition of the relation between salvation from death and salvation from sin was the healing of the paralytic in Matthew 9:2-9, as interpreted by the Greek fathers. According to Irenaeus, this passage meant that the only Son of God had come from God for the salvation of man. Through his Son, he against whom man had sinned came to grant the forgive ness of sins. Because disease was one of the consequences of sin, it was appropriate that the bringer of "salvation [o-(orr//ota}" be the bringer of "health [o-wnypia]," and against the Gnostics Irenaeus insisted that the bringer of The Church and the Means of Grace 155 Iten.Haer.5.17.5 (Harvey 2:371) Mark 2:7 Clem. Paed. 1.2.6.1 (C^CS 12:93) Clem.Pr^/. 1.8.4 (GCS 12:9) Or.Orat.27.13 (CrCS 3:371-72) Or.CW.r.3.28 (GCS 2:226) salvation from sin and the bringer of salvation from dis ease had to be the same.

• From Amplified Holy Bible (2015)

  [Gen 19:34 ] 16 “Do not regard your maidservant as a wicked and worthless woman, for I have spoken until now out of my great concern and [bitter] provocation.” 17 Then Eli answered and said, “Go in peace; and may the God of Israel grant your petition that you have asked of Him.” 18 Hannah said, “Let your maidservant find grace and favor in your sight.” So the woman went on her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad . Samuel Is Born to Hannah 19 The family got up early the next morning, worshiped before the LORD , and returned to their home in Ramah. Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the LORD remembered her [prayer]. 20 It came about in due time, after Hannah had conceived, that she gave birth to a son; she named him i Samuel, saying , “Because I have asked for him from the LORD .” 21 Then the man Elkanah and all his household went up to offer to the LORD the j yearly sacrifice and pay his vow. 22 But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “I will not go up until the child is k weaned; and then I will bring him, so that he may appear before the LORD and remain there as long as he lives.” 23 Elkanah her husband said to her, “Do what seems best to you. Wait until you have weaned him; only may the LORD establish and confirm His word.” So the woman remained [behind] and nursed her son until she weaned him. 24 Now when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a l leather bottle of wine [to pour over the burnt offering for a sweet fragrance], and she brought Samuel to the LORD ’s house in Shiloh, although the child was young. 25 Then they slaughtered the bull, and brought the child to Eli. 26 Hannah said, “Oh, my lord! As [surely as] your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood beside you here, praying to the LORD . 27 “For this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me my request which I asked of Him. 28 “Therefore I have also dedicated him to the LORD ; as long as he lives he is dedicated to the LORD .” And they worshiped the LORD there. 1 Samuel 2 Hannah’s Song of Thanksgiving 1 H annah prayed and said, “My heart rejoices and triumphs in the LORD ; My horn (strength) is lifted up in the LORD , My mouth has opened wide [to speak boldly] against my enemies, Because I rejoice in Your salvation. 2 “There is no one holy like the LORD , There is no one besides You, There is no Rock like our God.

• From Amplified Holy Bible (2015)

  21 The Israelites who were present in Jerusalem celebrated the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days with great joy. The Levites and priests praised the LORD day after day, singing to the LORD with loud instruments. 22 Hezekiah spoke b encouragingly to all the Levites who showed good understanding in the things of the LORD . So the people ate for the appointed seven days, sacrificing peace offerings and giving thanks to the LORD God of their fathers. 23 Then the whole assembly decided to celebrate [the feast] for another seven days; and they celebrated it another seven days with joy. 24 For Hezekiah king of Judah gave to the assembly 1,000 bulls and 7,000 sheep, and the officials gave the assembly 1,000 bulls and 10,000 sheep. And a large number of priests consecrated themselves [for service]. 25 All the assembly of Judah rejoiced, with the priests and the Levites and all the assembly that came from Israel, both the sojourners (resident aliens, foreigners) who came from the land of Israel and those living in Judah. 26 So there was great joy in Jerusalem, because there had been nothing like this in Jerusalem since the time of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel. 27 Then the priests and Levites stood and blessed the people; and their voice was heard and their prayer came up to His holy dwelling place, to heaven. 2 Chronicles 31 Idols Are Destroyed 1 N OW WHEN all of this was finished, all Israel who were present went out to the cities of Judah, and smashed the [pagan] pillars (obelisks, memorial stones) in pieces, cut down the Asherim (wooden symbols of a female deity), and tore down the high places and the altars [of idolatry] throughout all Judah and Benjamin, as well as in Ephraim and Manasseh, until they had destroyed them all. Then all the sons (descendants) of Israel returned to their own cities, each to his own property. 2 And Hezekiah appointed the divisions of the priests, and the Levites by their divisions, each in accordance with his service, both the priests and Levites, for burnt offerings and for peace offerings, to minister and to give thanks and to praise in the gates of the camp of the LORD . Reforms Continued 3 Hezekiah also appointed the king’s [personal] portion of his goods: for the morning and evening burnt offerings, and the burnt offerings for the Sabbaths and for the New Moons and for the appointed feasts, as it is written in the Law of the LORD . 4 He also told (ordered) the people living in Jerusalem to give the portion that was due to the priests and Levites, so that they might [be free to] devote themselves to the Law of the LORD .

• From Amplified Holy Bible (2015)

  34 Then he brought them into his house and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, since he had believed in God with his entire family [accepting with joy what had been made known to them about the Christ]. 35 Now when day came, the chief magistrates sent their officers, saying, “Release those men.” 36 And the jailer repeated the words to Paul, saying, “The chief magistrates have sent word to release you; so come out now and go in peace.” 37 But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us in public without a trial, men who are Romans, and have thrown us into prison; and now they are sending us out secretly? No! Let them come here themselves and bring us out!” 38 The officers reported this message to the chief magistrates, and g when they heard that the prisoners were Romans, they were frightened; 39 so they came [to the prison] and appealed to them [with apologies], and when they brought them out, they kept begging them to leave the city. 40 So they left the prison and went to Lydia’s house; and when they had seen the brothers and sisters, they encouraged and comforted them, and left. Acts 17 Paul at Thessalonica 1 N OW AFTER Paul and Silas had traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. 2 And Paul entered the synagogue, as was his a custom, and for three Sabbaths he engaged in discussion and friendly debate with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and pointing out [scriptural evidence] that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I am proclaiming to you, is the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed).” 4 And some of them were persuaded to believe and joined Paul and Silas, along with a large number of the God-fearing Greeks and many of the leading women. 5 But the [unbelieving] Jews became jealous, and taking along some thugs from [the lowlifes in] the market place, they formed a mob and set the city in an uproar; and then attacking Jason’s house tried to bring Paul and Silas out to the people. 6 But when they failed to find them, they dragged Jason and some brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here too; 7 and Jason has welcomed them [into his house and protected them]! And they all are saying things contrary to the decrees of Caesar, [actually] claiming that there is another king, Jesus.” 8 They stirred up the crowd and the city authorities who heard these things. 9 And when they had taken security (bail) from Jason and the others, they let them go. Paul at Berea 10 The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea; and when they arrived, they entered the Jewish synagogue.

• From The Ice Storm (1994)

  He giggled wretchedly at his floppy divining rod.—Then I’ll bring out the heavy chemistry. —Okay, but don’t be long about it. If you’re gonna take your pleasures in there we want to know about it. We want to participate. Paul caught his breath. Ran water through his hair. Took a deep breath. Back in the library. Star Trek with American Beauty soundtrack. —What took so long? Libbets asked. —Checking out the medicine cabinet, Paul said. Your parents have some excellent shit in there. —What didst thou find? Davenport said. —Wait a sec, guys, Libbets said anxiously. You aren’t going to take prescription drugs from my parents’ bathroom without permission? —Never a thought in our minds, babe, Davenport said, holding in his lungs the last of another joint, so that his voice was husky and forced. But do you mean to suggest that you have never taken advantage of that most convenient supply? What are you, un-American? —Lots of stuff, Paul said. Diverse items. Tranquilizers and sleeping pills. He fell lengthways upon the couch. —Elixirs, Davenport said, that have a promising effect, very promising, when combined in small dosage levels with alcoholic beverages. —Let me go look, Libbets said. I’ll go look. Once she had gone, Davenport’s demeanor changed. It was the strangest thing. Suddenly, he was friendly again. Suddenly. They were old friends after all. Davenport knew how Paul got encased in himself. They were old friends and they had been through a few things, but they could still have a good laugh about masturbation or at somebody else’s expense. That Davenport’s headband was stupid, that his beard was a little on the simian side—Paul could overlook this stuff. He could still like him. So they talked about Thanksgiving. And since Davenport was adopted, as were his brothers and sisters, the notion of a collegial family get-together had its dark, obverse side. Davenport’s younger sister actually aspired, he claimed, to a life of prostitution. She liked to hang around the bars in Times Square. And his younger brother was racked by psychosomatic illnesses. Lately, he had been hospitalized with phantom kidney pain. Which of these children could one day run the Davenport venture-capital organization? Which would entertain at their Sea Island summer home? Francis Chamberlain Davenport IV, the likely choice, wanted to be a Jungian psychoanalyst. —What’s to be thankful for at Thanksgiving? Davenport asked. Indian corn in plastic wrap for sale next to Velveeta? Butterball turkey with built-in thermometer? Rod McKuen? Helen Reddy doing “Delta Dawn”? Are you getting this all down, Charles? They laughed. They sang. Half a line of “Delta Dawn.” And of “Billy, Don’t Be a Hero.” —Okay, okay. Libbets turned up again. There’s plenty there.