The Narrow Door

22 (A)He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and (B)journeying toward Jerusalem. 23 And someone said to him, “Lord, (C)will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them, 24 (D)“Strive (E)to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 (F)When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, (G)‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, (H)‘I do not know where you come from.’ 26 Then you will begin to say, (I)‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ 27 But he will say, ‘I tell you, (J)I do not know where you come from. (K)Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’ 28 (L)In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see (M)Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but (N)you yourselves cast out. 29 And (O)people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and (P)recline at table in the kingdom of God. 30 And behold, (Q)some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”

Lament over Jerusalem

31 At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from (R)here, for (S)Herod wants to kill you.” 32 And he said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day (T)I finish my course. 33 Nevertheless, (U)I (V)must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following, for it cannot be that (W)a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem.’ 34 (X)O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that (Y)kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! (Z)How often would I have (AA)gathered (AB)your children together (AC)as a hen gathers her brood (AD)under her wings, and (AE)you were not willing! 35 Behold, (AF)your house is forsaken. And I tell you, you will not see me until you say, (AG)‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’”

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The Narrow Door

22 Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem.(A) 23 Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?”

He said to them, 24 “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door,(B) because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. 25 Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’

“But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’(C)

26 “Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’

27 “But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’(D)

28 “There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth,(E) when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out. 29 People will come from east and west(F) and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. 30 Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last.”(G)

Jesus’ Sorrow for Jerusalem(H)(I)

31 At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, “Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod(J) wants to kill you.”

32 He replied, “Go tell that fox, ‘I will keep on driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.’(K) 33 In any case, I must press on today and tomorrow and the next day—for surely no prophet(L) can die outside Jerusalem!

34 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings,(M) and you were not willing. 35 Look, your house is left to you desolate.(N) I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’[a](O)

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 13:35 Psalm 118:26

Trust in the Lord with All Your Heart

(A)My son, do not forget my teaching,
    (B)but let your heart keep my commandments,
for (C)length of days and years of life
    and (D)peace they will add to you.

Let not (E)steadfast love and (F)faithfulness forsake you;
    (G)bind them around your neck;
    (H)write them on the tablet of your heart.
So you will (I)find favor and (J)good success[a]
    in the sight of God and man.

(K)Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
    and (L)do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways (M)acknowledge him,
    and he (N)will make straight your paths.
(O)Be not wise in your own eyes;
    (P)fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
It will be (Q)healing to your flesh[b]
    and (R)refreshment[c] to your bones.

Honor the Lord with your wealth
    and with (S)the firstfruits of all your produce;
10 then your (T)barns will be filled with plenty,
    and your vats will be bursting with wine.

11 (U)My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline
    or be weary of his reproof,
12 for the Lord reproves him whom he loves,
    as (V)a father the son in whom he delights.

Blessed Is the One Who Finds Wisdom

13 (W)Blessed is the one who finds wisdom,
    and the one who gets understanding,
14 (X)for the gain from her is better than gain from silver
    and her profit better than (Y)gold.
15 She is more precious than (Z)jewels,
    and (AA)nothing you desire can compare with her.
16 (AB)Long life is in her right hand;
    in her left hand are (AC)riches and honor.
17 Her (AD)ways are ways of pleasantness,
    and all her paths are peace.
18 She is (AE)a tree of life to those who (AF)lay hold of her;
    those who hold her fast are called blessed.

19 (AG)The Lord by wisdom founded the earth;
    by understanding (AH)he established the heavens;
20 by his knowledge (AI)the deeps broke open,
    and (AJ)the clouds drop down the dew.

21 My son, (AK)do not lose sight of these—
    keep sound wisdom and discretion,
22 and they will be (AL)life for your soul
    and (AM)adornment for your neck.
23 (AN)Then you will walk on your way securely,
    (AO)and your foot will not stumble.
24 (AP)If you lie down, you will not be afraid;
    when you lie down, (AQ)your sleep will be sweet.
25 (AR)Do not be afraid of sudden terror
    or of (AS)the ruin[d] of the wicked, when it comes,
26 for the Lord will be your confidence
    and will (AT)keep your foot from being caught.
27 (AU)Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,[e]
    when it is in your power to do it.

28 (AV)Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again,
    tomorrow I will give it”—when you have it with you.
29 (AW)Do not plan evil against your neighbor,
    who (AX)dwells trustingly beside you.
30 (AY)Do not contend with a man for no reason,
    when he has done you no harm.
31 (AZ)Do not envy (BA)a man of violence
    and do not choose any of his ways,
32 for (BB)the devious person is an abomination to the Lord,
    but the upright are (BC)in his confidence.
33 (BD)The Lord's curse is on the house of the wicked,
    but he (BE)blesses the dwelling of the righteous.
34 Toward the (BF)scorners he (BG)is scornful,
    (BH)but to the humble he gives favor.[f]
35 The wise will inherit honor,
    but fools get[g] disgrace.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 3:4 Or repute
  2. Proverbs 3:8 Hebrew navel
  3. Proverbs 3:8 Or medicine
  4. Proverbs 3:25 Hebrew storm
  5. Proverbs 3:27 Hebrew Do not withhold good from its owners
  6. Proverbs 3:34 Or grace
  7. Proverbs 3:35 The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain

Wisdom Bestows Well-Being

My son,(A) do not forget my teaching,(B)
    but keep my commands in your heart,
for they will prolong your life many years(C)
    and bring you peace and prosperity.(D)

Let love and faithfulness(E) never leave you;
    bind them around your neck,
    write them on the tablet of your heart.(F)
Then you will win favor and a good name
    in the sight of God and man.(G)

Trust in the Lord(H) with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths(I) straight.[a](J)

Do not be wise in your own eyes;(K)
    fear the Lord(L) and shun evil.(M)
This will bring health to your body(N)
    and nourishment to your bones.(O)

Honor the Lord with your wealth,
    with the firstfruits(P) of all your crops;
10 then your barns will be filled(Q) to overflowing,
    and your vats will brim over with new wine.(R)

11 My son,(S) do not despise the Lord’s discipline,(T)
    and do not resent his rebuke,
12 because the Lord disciplines those he loves,(U)
    as a father the son he delights in.[b](V)

13 Blessed are those who find wisdom,
    those who gain understanding,
14 for she is more profitable than silver
    and yields better returns than gold.(W)
15 She is more precious than rubies;(X)
    nothing you desire can compare with her.(Y)
16 Long life is in her right hand;(Z)
    in her left hand are riches and honor.(AA)
17 Her ways are pleasant ways,
    and all her paths are peace.(AB)
18 She is a tree of life(AC) to those who take hold of her;
    those who hold her fast will be blessed.(AD)

19 By wisdom(AE) the Lord laid the earth’s foundations,(AF)
    by understanding he set the heavens(AG) in place;
20 by his knowledge the watery depths were divided,
    and the clouds let drop the dew.

21 My son,(AH) do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight,(AI)
    preserve sound judgment and discretion;
22 they will be life for you,(AJ)
    an ornament to grace your neck.(AK)
23 Then you will go on your way in safety,(AL)
    and your foot will not stumble.(AM)
24 When you lie down,(AN) you will not be afraid;(AO)
    when you lie down, your sleep(AP) will be sweet.
25 Have no fear of sudden disaster
    or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
26 for the Lord will be at your side(AQ)
    and will keep your foot(AR) from being snared.(AS)

27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
    when it is in your power to act.
28 Do not say to your neighbor,
    “Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”—
    when you already have it with you.(AT)
29 Do not plot harm against your neighbor,
    who lives trustfully near you.(AU)
30 Do not accuse anyone for no reason—
    when they have done you no harm.

31 Do not envy(AV) the violent
    or choose any of their ways.

32 For the Lord detests the perverse(AW)
    but takes the upright into his confidence.(AX)
33 The Lord’s curse(AY) is on the house of the wicked,(AZ)
    but he blesses the home of the righteous.(BA)
34 He mocks(BB) proud mockers(BC)
    but shows favor to the humble(BD) and oppressed.
35 The wise inherit honor,
    but fools get only shame.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 3:6 Or will direct your paths
  2. Proverbs 3:12 Hebrew; Septuagint loves, / and he chastens everyone he accepts as his child