¹¹ Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, ^(A)to be content: ^12 (B)I know how to ^[a]be abased, and I know how to ^[b]abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. ¹³ I can do all things ^(C)through ^[c]Christ who strengthens me.

⁶ Now godliness with ^(A)contentment is great gain. ⁷ For we brought nothing into this world, ^[a]and it is ^(B)certain we can carry nothing out. ⁸ And having food and clothing, with these we shall be ^(C)content. ⁹ But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. ¹⁰ For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

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

The Parable of the Rich Fool

¹³ Then one from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”

¹⁴ But He said to him, ^(A)“Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?” ¹⁵ And He said to them, ^(B)“Take heed and beware of ^[a]covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”

Do Not Worry^(A)

²² Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, ^(B)do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. ²³ Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. ²⁴ Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and ^(C)God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds? ²⁵ And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? ²⁶ If you then are not able to do the least, why ^[a]are you anxious for the rest? ²⁷ Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even ^(D)Solomon in all his glory was not ^[b]arrayed like one of these. ²⁸ If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of ^(E)little faith?

²⁹ “And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. ³⁰ For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father ^(F)knows that you need these things. ^31 (G)But seek ^[c]the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.

³² “Do not fear, little flock, for ^(H)it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. ^33 (I)Sell what you have and give ^(J)alms; ^(K)provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. ³⁴ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

The Lukewarm Church

¹⁴ “And to the ^[a]angel of the church ^[b]of the Laodiceans write,

^(A)‘These things says the Amen, ^(B)the Faithful and True Witness, ^(C)the Beginning of the creation of God: ^15 (D)“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. ¹⁶ So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither ^[c]cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. ¹⁷ Because you say, ^(E)‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— ¹⁸ I counsel you ^(F)to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and ^(G)white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. ^19 (H)As many as I love, I rebuke and ^(I)chasten.^[d] Therefore be ^[e]zealous and repent. ²⁰ Behold, ^(J)I stand at the door and knock. ^(K)If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, ^(L)I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. ²¹ To him who overcomes ^(M)I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

The History of Creation^(A)

1 In the ^(B)beginning ^(C)God created the heavens and the earth. ² The earth was ^(D)without form, and void; and darkness ^[a]was on the face of the deep. ^(E)And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

^3 (F)Then God said, ^(G)“Let there be ^(H)light”; and there was light.

The Eternal Word^(A)

1 In the beginning ^(B)was the Word, and the ^(C)Word was ^(D)with God, and the Word was ^(E)God. ^2 (F)He was in the beginning with God. ^3 (G)All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. ^4 (H)In Him was life, and ^(I)the life was the light of men. ⁵ And ^(J)the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not ^[a]comprehend it.

^16 (A)For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten ^(B)Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.