\id JAS - Plain English Version \h James \toc3 James \toc3 James \toc2 James \toc1 The Letter from James \mt1 The letter that James wrote \mt2 (The book in the Holy Bible called \k James\k*) \imt1 About this letter \ip James wrote this letter about 2,000 years ago, about 20 years after Jesus went back to heaven, and now it is in the Holy Bible. \ip James was one of Jesus’s brothers, and after Jesus went back to heaven, James became a leader in the church in Jerusalem (see Mark 6:2-3; Acts 12:17; 15:13; 21:18; 1 Corinthians 15:7; Galatians 1:19; 2:9, 12-13). \ip James wrote this letter to the Christians in other churches to tell them how to be good Christians and live properly for Jesus. \ip These messages are very important for us today, just like they were for the Christians at that time. \cl Chapter \c 1 \p \v 1 \w I|strong="G2532"\w* \w am|strong="G2532"\w* \w James|strong="G2385"\w*. \w I|strong="G2532"\w* work \w for|strong="G1722"\w* \w God|strong="G2316"\w* \w and|strong="G2532"\w* \w for|strong="G1722"\w* \w our|strong="G2316"\w* leader \w Jesus|strong="G2424"\w* \w Christ|strong="G5547"\w*. \w I|strong="G2532"\w* \w am|strong="G2532"\w* writing \w this|strong="G3588"\w* letter \w to|strong="G2532"\w* \w all|strong="G2532"\w* \w God|strong="G2316"\w*’\w s|strong="G2962"\w* \w people|strong="G3588"\w* \w that|strong="G3588"\w* \w live|strong="G2532"\w* \w in|strong="G1722"\w* lots \w of|strong="G2316"\w* places everywhere \w in|strong="G1722"\w* \w the|strong="G1722"\w* world. \w I|strong="G2532"\w* \w hope|strong="G2532"\w* \w you|strong="G1722"\w* \w are|strong="G3588"\w* \w all|strong="G2532"\w* \w good|strong="G3588"\w* \w and|strong="G2532"\w* happy.\x * \xo 1:1 \xt Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3; Acts 15:13; Galatians 1:19\x* \s1 If you get trouble \p \v 2 Listen, \w my|strong="G3956"\w* Christian friends, \w you|strong="G3752"\w* \w might|strong="G3956"\w* get \w a|strong="G3752"\w* lot \w of|strong="G3956"\w* trouble sometimes. \w You|strong="G3752"\w* \w might|strong="G3956"\w* get different \w sorts|strong="G4164"\w* \w of|strong="G3956"\w* trouble. \w But|strong="G1473"\w* don’t get upset \w about|strong="G3956"\w* \w it|strong="G2233"\w*. \w No|strong="G3956"\w*, \w you|strong="G3752"\w* can \w be|strong="G3956"\w* happy \w about|strong="G3956"\w* \w it|strong="G2233"\w*, \v 3 \w because|strong="G3754"\w* \w it|strong="G3754"\w* \w will|strong="G3748"\w* make \w you|strong="G5210"\w* strong \w for|strong="G3754"\w* \w God|strong="G3588"\w*. \w You|strong="G5210"\w* \w see|strong="G1097"\w*, \w if|strong="G3748"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w* get trouble, \w and|strong="G4102"\w* \w if|strong="G3748"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w* keep \w on|strong="G4102"\w* trusting \w God|strong="G3588"\w*, \w then|strong="G3754"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w* \w will|strong="G3748"\w* become really strong \w for|strong="G3754"\w* \w God|strong="G3588"\w*, \w and|strong="G4102"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w* \w will|strong="G3748"\w* stay strong, \w even|strong="G3754"\w* \w if|strong="G3748"\w* more trouble comes. \v 4 \w Then|strong="G2532"\w*, \w after|strong="G1161"\w* \w you|strong="G1722"\w* learn \w to|strong="G2443"\w* \w do|strong="G2532"\w* \w that|strong="G2443"\w* properly, \w you|strong="G1722"\w* \w will|strong="G1510"\w* \w be|strong="G1510"\w* really \w strong|strong="G2532"\w*. \w You|strong="G1722"\w* \w will|strong="G1510"\w* \w not|strong="G3367"\w* miss \w out|strong="G2532"\w* \w on|strong="G1722"\w* \w any|strong="G3367"\w* \w of|strong="G2532"\w* \w those|strong="G3588"\w* \w things|strong="G3588"\w* \w that|strong="G2443"\w* \w make|strong="G2532"\w* \w you|strong="G1722"\w* \w a|strong="G2192"\w* \w good|strong="G3588"\w* Christian. \s1 Ask God to help you do the right thing \p \v 5 \w So|strong="G2532"\w* \w if|strong="G1487"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w* want \w to|strong="G2532"\w* properly understand \w what|strong="G3588"\w* \w is|strong="G3588"\w* \w the|strong="G2532"\w* right \w thing|strong="G5100"\w* \w to|strong="G2532"\w* \w do|strong="G2532"\w*, \w and|strong="G2532"\w* \w if|strong="G1487"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w* want \w to|strong="G2532"\w* learn \w how|strong="G1161"\w* \w to|strong="G2532"\w* \w be|strong="G2532"\w* \w strong|strong="G2532"\w* \w when|strong="G1161"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w* \w get|strong="G2532"\w* trouble, \w just|strong="G2532"\w* ask \w God|strong="G2316"\w* \w to|strong="G2532"\w* help \w you|strong="G5210"\w*. \w He|strong="G2532"\w* \w will|strong="G2316"\w* \w not|strong="G3361"\w* \w be|strong="G2532"\w* angry \w with|strong="G3844"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w*. \w He|strong="G2532"\w* \w is|strong="G3588"\w* happy \w when|strong="G1161"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w* ask \w him|strong="G3588"\w* \w for|strong="G1161"\w* help like \w that|strong="G3588"\w*, \w and|strong="G2532"\w* \w he|strong="G2532"\w* \w will|strong="G2316"\w* help \w you|strong="G5210"\w* \w and|strong="G2532"\w* \w make|strong="G1325"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w* \w think|strong="G5100"\w* properly. \w He|strong="G2532"\w* \w will|strong="G2316"\w* \w make|strong="G1325"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w* \w think|strong="G5100"\w* \w the|strong="G2532"\w* right \w way|strong="G3956"\w* \w so|strong="G2532"\w* \w that|strong="G3588"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w* \w will|strong="G2316"\w* \w do|strong="G2532"\w* \w the|strong="G2532"\w* right \w thing|strong="G5100"\w*. \v 6 \w But|strong="G1161"\w* whenever \w you|strong="G1722"\w* ask \w him|strong="G3588"\w*, \w you|strong="G1722"\w* \w have|strong="G2532"\w* \w to|strong="G2532"\w* \w believe|strong="G4102"\w* \w that|strong="G3588"\w* \w he|strong="G2532"\w* \w will|strong="G2532"\w* answer \w you|strong="G1722"\w*. Don’\w t|strong="G3588"\w* think, “Maybe \w he|strong="G2532"\w* \w will|strong="G2532"\w* \w not|strong="G3367"\w* listen \w to|strong="G2532"\w* me.” \w No|strong="G3367"\w*, don’\w t|strong="G3588"\w* think \w like|strong="G1503"\w* \w that|strong="G3588"\w*. Anybody \w that|strong="G3588"\w* thinks \w like|strong="G1503"\w* \w that|strong="G3588"\w* \w can|strong="G1063"\w*’\w t|strong="G3588"\w* stay \w strong|strong="G2532"\w*. \w They|strong="G2532"\w* \w are|strong="G3588"\w* \w like|strong="G1503"\w* \w a|strong="G2532"\w* bit \w of|strong="G2532"\w* dry grass. \w The|strong="G1722"\w* \w wind|strong="G4494"\w* \w just|strong="G2532"\w* blows \w it|strong="G2532"\w* around \w and|strong="G2532"\w* \w it|strong="G2532"\w* goes anywhere. \v 7-8 If you are like that, it is like you are thinking 2 ways at the same time, and you will not be sure about anything. If you are like that, you can’t think that God will help you at all. \s1 Poor people and rich people \p \v 9 \w If|strong="G1161"\w* Christians haven’\w t|strong="G3588"\w* got much money, \w or|strong="G1161"\w* \w if|strong="G1161"\w* \w people|strong="G3588"\w* don’\w t|strong="G3588"\w* think \w they|strong="G1161"\w* \w are|strong="G3588"\w* important, \w they|strong="G1161"\w* can \w be|strong="G3588"\w* happy, \w because|strong="G1722"\w* \w God|strong="G3588"\w* thinks \w they|strong="G1161"\w* \w are|strong="G3588"\w* important. \v 10 \w But|strong="G1161"\w* \w the|strong="G1722"\w* Christians \w that|strong="G3754"\w* \w are|strong="G3588"\w* \w rich|strong="G4145"\w* can \w be|strong="G3588"\w* happy \w too|strong="G5613"\w*, \w because|strong="G3754"\w* \w they|strong="G1161"\w* \w know|strong="G1722"\w* \w that|strong="G3754"\w* \w they|strong="G1161"\w* \w are|strong="G3588"\w* not important. \w They|strong="G1161"\w* \w know|strong="G1722"\w* \w that|strong="G3754"\w* \w they|strong="G1161"\w* need \w God|strong="G3588"\w*, \w and|strong="G1161"\w* \w that|strong="G3754"\w* \w he|strong="G1161"\w* \w will|strong="G3748"\w* save \w them|strong="G3588"\w*. \w You|strong="G3754"\w* see, money can’\w t|strong="G3588"\w* make \w people|strong="G4145"\w* happy, \w and|strong="G1161"\w* \w it|strong="G3754"\w* can’\w t|strong="G3588"\w* stop \w people|strong="G4145"\w* \w from|strong="G3588"\w* dying. \w People|strong="G4145"\w* \w are|strong="G3588"\w* \w like|strong="G5613"\w* flowers \w that|strong="G3754"\w* grow \w in|strong="G1722"\w* \w the|strong="G1722"\w* bush. \v 11 \w At|strong="G1722"\w* \w first|strong="G3588"\w* \w they|strong="G2532"\w* look \w good|strong="G3588"\w*, \w but|strong="G2532"\w* later \w the|strong="G1722"\w* \w sun|strong="G2246"\w* gets \w hot|strong="G2742"\w* \w and|strong="G2532"\w* \w those|strong="G3588"\w* little flowers die, \w and|strong="G2532"\w* \w they|strong="G2532"\w* don’\w t|strong="G3588"\w* look \w good|strong="G3588"\w* \w any|strong="G1722"\w* \w more|strong="G2532"\w*. \w That|strong="G3588"\w* \w is|strong="G3588"\w* \w a|strong="G2532"\w* picture \w of|strong="G2532"\w* \w people|strong="G4145"\w*. \w Rich|strong="G4145"\w* \w people|strong="G4145"\w* \w might|strong="G2532"\w* keep \w working|strong="G2532"\w* \w to|strong="G2532"\w* \w get|strong="G2532"\w* \w more|strong="G2532"\w* money, \w but|strong="G2532"\w* \w they|strong="G2532"\w* \w will|strong="G2532"\w* still die, \w and|strong="G2532"\w* \w then|strong="G2532"\w* \w they|strong="G2532"\w* \w will|strong="G2532"\w* \w not|strong="G2532"\w* \w have|strong="G2532"\w* \w that|strong="G3588"\w* money \w any|strong="G1722"\w* \w more|strong="G2532"\w*.\x * \xo 1:11 \xt Isaiah 40:6-7 \x* \s1 Keep on believing \p \v 12 \w If|strong="G3748"\w* \w God|strong="G1861"\w* lets \w people|strong="G3588"\w* test \w you|strong="G3739"\w*, \w to|strong="G1096"\w* see \w if|strong="G3748"\w* \w you|strong="G3739"\w* trust \w him|strong="G3588"\w* properly, don’\w t|strong="G3588"\w* \w give|strong="G1096"\w* \w up|strong="G2222"\w* trusting \w him|strong="G3588"\w*. \w After|strong="G2983"\w* \w God|strong="G1861"\w* sees \w that|strong="G3754"\w* \w you|strong="G3739"\w* keep \w on|strong="G1096"\w* trusting \w him|strong="G3588"\w*, \w he|strong="G3739"\w* \w will|strong="G3739"\w* \w give|strong="G1096"\w* \w you|strong="G3739"\w* new \w life|strong="G2222"\w*, \w so|strong="G1096"\w* \w that|strong="G3754"\w* \w you|strong="G3739"\w* \w will|strong="G3739"\w* live \w with|strong="G3588"\w* \w him|strong="G3588"\w* \w for|strong="G3754"\w* ever. \w He|strong="G3739"\w* \w promised|strong="G1861"\w* \w to|strong="G1096"\w* \w do|strong="G1096"\w* \w that|strong="G3754"\w* \w for|strong="G3754"\w* everybody \w that|strong="G3754"\w* loves \w him|strong="G3588"\w*. \s1 What makes us do wrong things? \p \v 13 Whenever \w you|strong="G3754"\w* feel \w like|strong="G3985"\w* \w you|strong="G3754"\w* want \w to|strong="G3004"\w* \w do|strong="G3004"\w* \w something|strong="G1510"\w* \w that|strong="G3754"\w* \w is|strong="G1510"\w* \w wrong|strong="G2556"\w*, don’\w t|strong="G3588"\w* blame \w God|strong="G2316"\w* \w and|strong="G1161"\w* \w say|strong="G3004"\w* \w that|strong="G3754"\w* \w he|strong="G1161"\w* \w is|strong="G1510"\w* pushing \w you|strong="G3754"\w* \w to|strong="G3004"\w* \w do|strong="G3004"\w* \w something|strong="G1510"\w* \w wrong|strong="G2556"\w*. \w No|strong="G3762"\w* \w way|strong="G3367"\w*. \w God|strong="G2316"\w* \w never|strong="G3762"\w* pushes anybody \w to|strong="G3004"\w* \w do|strong="G3004"\w* \w wrong|strong="G2556"\w* \w things|strong="G3588"\w*, \w and|strong="G1161"\w* \w nobody|strong="G3762"\w* \w can|strong="G3004"\w* trick \w God|strong="G2316"\w* \w to|strong="G3004"\w* make \w him|strong="G3588"\w* \w do|strong="G3004"\w* \w something|strong="G1510"\w* \w wrong|strong="G2556"\w*. \v 14-15 We do it to ourselves. Whenever we think about things we want for ourselves, and we don’t think about things God wants us to do, we just trick ourselves. Then we go ahead and do wrong things. You know, if we keep on doing those bad things, we will die. \s1 God is good to us \p \v 16 Don’t \w let|strong="G4105"\w* anybody trick \w you|strong="G3361"\w*, \w my|strong="G1473"\w* Christian friends. \v 17 \w Everything|strong="G3956"\w* \w that|strong="G3739"\w* \w is|strong="G1510"\w* really \w good|strong="G3956"\w* \w comes|strong="G2597"\w* \w from|strong="G3844"\w* \w God|strong="G2532"\w* \w in|strong="G2532"\w* heaven. \w He|strong="G2532"\w* \w made|strong="G3756"\w* \w the|strong="G2532"\w* sun, \w and|strong="G2532"\w* \w the|strong="G2532"\w* moon, \w and|strong="G2532"\w* \w the|strong="G2532"\w* stars, \w up|strong="G2532"\w* \w there|strong="G2532"\w* \w in|strong="G2532"\w* \w the|strong="G2532"\w* sky \w that|strong="G3739"\w* \w give|strong="G3844"\w* us \w light|strong="G5457"\w*. \w You|strong="G3739"\w* know, \w they|strong="G2532"\w* move around, \w and|strong="G2532"\w* \w they|strong="G2532"\w* \w make|strong="G2532"\w* shadows \w that|strong="G3739"\w* move \w and|strong="G2532"\w* change around. \w But|strong="G2532"\w* \w God|strong="G2532"\w* \w does|strong="G1510"\w* \w not|strong="G3756"\w* change, like \w those|strong="G3588"\w* \w things|strong="G3956"\w*. \w He|strong="G2532"\w* \w never|strong="G3756"\w* changes \w at|strong="G3844"\w* \w all|strong="G3956"\w*, \w not|strong="G3756"\w* \w even|strong="G2532"\w* \w a|strong="G2532"\w* little bit. \w He|strong="G2532"\w* \w always|strong="G3956"\w* gives us \w good|strong="G3956"\w* \w things|strong="G3956"\w*.\x * \xo 1:17 \xt 1 Samuel 15:29\x* \p \v 18 \w He|strong="G3588"\w* \w wanted|strong="G1014"\w* \w us|strong="G1519"\w* \w to|strong="G1519"\w* \w be|strong="G1510"\w* \w in|strong="G1519"\w* \w his|strong="G1519"\w* own family, \w so|strong="G1519"\w* \w he|strong="G3588"\w* sent \w his|strong="G1519"\w* \w true|strong="G3588"\w* \w word|strong="G3056"\w* \w to|strong="G1519"\w* \w us|strong="G1519"\w*. \w And|strong="G3056"\w* \w when|strong="G1510"\w* \w we|strong="G2249"\w* \w believed|strong="G3588"\w* \w that|strong="G3588"\w* \w word|strong="G3056"\w* \w it|strong="G1510"\w* \w was|strong="G1510"\w* \w like|strong="G1014"\w* \w we|strong="G2249"\w* \w were|strong="G1510"\w* born \w all|strong="G3588"\w* \w over|strong="G1519"\w* \w again|strong="G1519"\w*. \w That|strong="G3588"\w*’s how \w he|strong="G3588"\w* \w made|strong="G1519"\w* \w us|strong="G1519"\w* \w his|strong="G1519"\w* really special \w people|strong="G1510"\w*. \s1 Listen to God and do everything he says \p \v 19 \w Listen|strong="G1492"\w*, \w my|strong="G3956"\w* Christian friends, \w you|strong="G1510"\w* \w have|strong="G1473"\w* \w to|strong="G1519"\w* \w be|strong="G1510"\w* ready \w to|strong="G1519"\w* \w listen|strong="G1492"\w* \w to|strong="G1519"\w* \w other|strong="G1161"\w* \w people|strong="G3956"\w*, \w and|strong="G1161"\w* \w you|strong="G1510"\w* \w have|strong="G1473"\w* \w to|strong="G1519"\w* stop \w and|strong="G1161"\w* think \w before|strong="G1519"\w* \w you|strong="G1510"\w* \w say|strong="G2980"\w* \w anything|strong="G3956"\w* yourself. Stop \w and|strong="G1161"\w* think \w before|strong="G1519"\w* \w you|strong="G1510"\w* get angry. \v 20 If you are angry, you \w can|strong="G1063"\w*’t \w do|strong="G2038"\w* \w the|strong="G1063"\w* \w good|strong="G3756"\w* things \w that|strong="G2316"\w* \w God|strong="G2316"\w* wants you \w to|strong="G3756"\w* \w do|strong="G2038"\w*. \v 21 \w So|strong="G2532"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w* \w have|strong="G2532"\w* \w to|strong="G2532"\w* stop doing \w all|strong="G3956"\w* \w those|strong="G3588"\w* \w things|strong="G3956"\w* \w that|strong="G3588"\w* \w are|strong="G3588"\w* dirty \w and|strong="G2532"\w* wrong. \w You|strong="G5210"\w* \w have|strong="G2532"\w* \w to|strong="G2532"\w* listen properly \w to|strong="G2532"\w* \w the|strong="G1722"\w* \w word|strong="G3056"\w* \w from|strong="G2532"\w* \w God|strong="G2532"\w*, \w that|strong="G3588"\w* \w he|strong="G2532"\w* \w put|strong="G2532"\w* right \w inside|strong="G1722"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w*, \w and|strong="G2532"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w* \w have|strong="G2532"\w* \w to|strong="G2532"\w* \w do|strong="G2532"\w* \w what|strong="G3588"\w* \w it|strong="G2532"\w* \w says|strong="G3056"\w*. Don’\w t|strong="G3588"\w* think \w that|strong="G3588"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w* \w are|strong="G3588"\w* \w so|strong="G2532"\w* \w good|strong="G3956"\w* \w that|strong="G3588"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w* don’\w t|strong="G3588"\w* need \w God|strong="G2532"\w*’s \w word|strong="G3056"\w*. \w No|strong="G2532"\w*. \w You|strong="G5210"\w* \w have|strong="G2532"\w* \w to|strong="G2532"\w* \w do|strong="G2532"\w* \w what|strong="G3588"\w* \w it|strong="G2532"\w* \w says|strong="G3056"\w*, \w then|strong="G2532"\w* \w that|strong="G3588"\w* \w word|strong="G3056"\w* \w will|strong="G2532"\w* \w save|strong="G4982"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w*. \p \v 22 \w And|strong="G2532"\w* don’t \w just|strong="G2532"\w* listen \w to|strong="G2532"\w* \w that|strong="G2532"\w* \w word|strong="G3056"\w* \w from|strong="G2532"\w* \w God|strong="G2532"\w*, \w but|strong="G1161"\w* \w you|strong="G1438"\w* \w have|strong="G2532"\w* \w to|strong="G2532"\w* \w do|strong="G1096"\w* everything \w it|strong="G2532"\w* \w says|strong="G3056"\w* \w too|strong="G2532"\w*. \w If|strong="G2532"\w* \w you|strong="G1438"\w* don’t \w do|strong="G1096"\w* \w the|strong="G2532"\w* \w things|strong="G3056"\w* \w it|strong="G2532"\w* \w says|strong="G3056"\w*, \w you|strong="G1438"\w* \w will|strong="G2532"\w* \w just|strong="G2532"\w* trick \w yourself|strong="G1438"\w*. \v 23-24 Don’t be like a man that looks at his face in a mirror, but then he just walks away, and he forgets about it. He doesn’t do anything to make himself look any better. Well, if you hear God’s word, but you don’t do the things it says, you are just like that man, because you forget that word, and you don’t do anything to make yourself any better.\fig A man looking at his face in a mirror|src="James 1.tif" size="col" ref="1:23-24" \fig* \v 25 Don’\w t|strong="G3588"\w* \w be|strong="G1096"\w* like \w that|strong="G3588"\w*. \w You|strong="G1722"\w* \w have|strong="G2532"\w* \w to|strong="G1519"\w* listen \w to|strong="G1519"\w* \w God|strong="G2532"\w*’s \w word|strong="G3588"\w* \w and|strong="G2532"\w* keep \w on|strong="G1722"\w* thinking \w about|strong="G1722"\w* \w it|strong="G2532"\w*. Don’\w t|strong="G3588"\w* forget \w it|strong="G2532"\w*, \w but|strong="G1161"\w* \w do|strong="G1096"\w* everything \w it|strong="G2532"\w* says. \w That|strong="G3588"\w* \w word|strong="G3588"\w* \w will|strong="G1510"\w* \w make|strong="G1519"\w* \w you|strong="G1722"\w* \w free|strong="G1722"\w*, \w so|strong="G2532"\w* \w that|strong="G3588"\w* \w you|strong="G1722"\w* \w will|strong="G1510"\w* \w do|strong="G1096"\w* everything \w God|strong="G2532"\w* wants. \w And|strong="G2532"\w* \w God|strong="G2532"\w* \w will|strong="G1510"\w* \w make|strong="G1519"\w* \w you|strong="G1722"\w* really \w happy|strong="G3107"\w* whenever \w you|strong="G1722"\w* \w do|strong="G1096"\w* \w the|strong="G1722"\w* \w things|strong="G3778"\w* \w he|strong="G2532"\w* wants \w you|strong="G1722"\w* \w to|strong="G1519"\w* \w do|strong="G1096"\w*. \p \v 26 \w You|strong="G1487"\w* \w might|strong="G3778"\w* go \w to|strong="G5100"\w* church \w and|strong="G1100"\w* \w think|strong="G1380"\w* \w you|strong="G1487"\w* \w are|strong="G1510"\w* really \w good|strong="G1380"\w*, \w but|strong="G1487"\w* \w if|strong="G1487"\w* \w you|strong="G1487"\w* can’\w t|strong="G3588"\w* \w stop|strong="G3361"\w* yourself \w from|strong="G3588"\w* saying bad \w things|strong="G3778"\w*, \w you|strong="G1487"\w* \w are|strong="G1510"\w* really \w just|strong="G3588"\w* tricking yourself, \w and|strong="G1100"\w* \w going|strong="G3778"\w* \w to|strong="G5100"\w* church \w for|strong="G3778"\w* \w nothing|strong="G3361"\w*. \v 27 \w And|strong="G2532"\w* \w God|strong="G2316"\w* \w also|strong="G2532"\w* wants \w you|strong="G1722"\w* \w to|strong="G2532"\w* look \w after|strong="G2532"\w* \w people|strong="G1510"\w* \w that|strong="G3588"\w* need help. \w He|strong="G2532"\w* wants \w you|strong="G1722"\w* \w to|strong="G2532"\w* look \w after|strong="G2532"\w* \w people|strong="G1510"\w* \w that|strong="G3588"\w* haven’\w t|strong="G3588"\w* \w got|strong="G1980"\w* \w any|strong="G1722"\w* money \w to|strong="G2532"\w* buy food, like kids \w that|strong="G3588"\w* haven’\w t|strong="G3588"\w* \w got|strong="G1980"\w* \w a|strong="G2532"\w* mother \w or|strong="G2532"\w* \w a|strong="G2532"\w* \w father|strong="G3962"\w*, \w or|strong="G2532"\w* women \w whose|strong="G3588"\w* husbands \w have|strong="G2532"\w* \w died|strong="G3588"\w*. \w If|strong="G2532"\w* \w you|strong="G1722"\w* \w do|strong="G2532"\w* \w that|strong="G3588"\w* \w sort|strong="G2316"\w* \w of|strong="G2316"\w* \w thing|strong="G3778"\w*, \w God|strong="G2316"\w* \w will|strong="G2316"\w* \w be|strong="G1510"\w* happy \w with|strong="G1722"\w* \w you|strong="G1722"\w*. \w But|strong="G2532"\w* \w God|strong="G2316"\w* \w will|strong="G2316"\w* \w not|strong="G1510"\w* \w be|strong="G1510"\w* happy \w with|strong="G1722"\w* \w you|strong="G1722"\w* \w if|strong="G2532"\w* \w you|strong="G1722"\w* \w just|strong="G2532"\w* look \w after|strong="G2532"\w* \w yourself|strong="G1438"\w*, like \w the|strong="G1722"\w* \w people|strong="G1510"\w* \w that|strong="G3588"\w* \w belong|strong="G1510"\w* \w to|strong="G2532"\w* \w this|strong="G3778"\w* \w world|strong="G2889"\w* \w do|strong="G2532"\w*. \c 2 \s1 Be good to all sorts of people \p \v 1 Listen, \w my|strong="G1722"\w* Christian friends, \w you|strong="G1722"\w* \w know|strong="G1722"\w* \w that|strong="G3588"\w* \w our|strong="G2424"\w* leader \w Jesus|strong="G2424"\w* \w Christ|strong="G5547"\w* \w is|strong="G3588"\w* really great, \w and|strong="G1391"\w* \w you|strong="G1722"\w* \w believe|strong="G4102"\w* \w in|strong="G1722"\w* \w him|strong="G3588"\w*. \w So|strong="G3361"\w* \w you|strong="G1722"\w* \w have|strong="G2192"\w* \w to|strong="G1722"\w* \w be|strong="G3361"\w* \w good|strong="G3588"\w* \w to|strong="G1722"\w* everybody. \w You|strong="G1722"\w* \w have|strong="G2192"\w* \w to|strong="G1722"\w* treat everybody \w the|strong="G1722"\w* same \w way|strong="G1722"\w*. \v 2 Suppose \w one|strong="G1722"\w* \w man|strong="G4434"\w* \w comes|strong="G1525"\w* \w to|strong="G1519"\w* \w your|strong="G1437"\w* meeting wearing really pretty \w clothes|strong="G2066"\w* \w and|strong="G2532"\w* \w gold|strong="G5554"\w* rings \w on|strong="G1722"\w* \w his|strong="G1519"\w* fingers, \w and|strong="G2532"\w* \w another|strong="G1161"\w* \w poor|strong="G4434"\w* \w man|strong="G4434"\w* \w comes|strong="G1525"\w* wearing \w old|strong="G2532"\w* rubbish \w clothes|strong="G2066"\w*. \v 3-4 Maybe you look at the man with pretty clothes and think to yourself, “He has got a lot of money.” So you are good to him, and you say to him, “Here is a really good seat for you.” But you are hard on the poor man, and you say to him, “You can stand over there,” or you say, “You can sit on the ground.” If you are like that, you make yourself like a bad judge, and that is wrong. Don’t think that way about people. You have to be good to everybody, people that have money, and people that don’t have money. \p \v 5 Listen \w to|strong="G2532"\w* \w me|strong="G1473"\w*, \w my|strong="G1722"\w* \w good|strong="G3588"\w* Christian friends. \w God|strong="G2316"\w* picks \w out|strong="G2532"\w* \w poor|strong="G4434"\w* \w people|strong="G4145"\w*, \w and|strong="G2532"\w* \w he|strong="G2532"\w* helps \w them|strong="G3588"\w* \w to|strong="G2532"\w* trust \w him|strong="G3588"\w* properly. \w He|strong="G2532"\w* promises \w to|strong="G2532"\w* \w give|strong="G1473"\w* \w them|strong="G3588"\w* \w a|strong="G2532"\w* \w good|strong="G3588"\w* \w place|strong="G1722"\w* \w in|strong="G1722"\w* \w his|strong="G1722"\w* family. \w He|strong="G2532"\w* promises \w that|strong="G3739"\w* \w to|strong="G2532"\w* everybody \w that|strong="G3739"\w* loves \w him|strong="G3588"\w*. \w In|strong="G1722"\w* \w the|strong="G1722"\w* end \w those|strong="G3588"\w* \w poor|strong="G4434"\w* \w people|strong="G4145"\w* \w will|strong="G2316"\w* \w be|strong="G2532"\w* really \w rich|strong="G4145"\w*. \v 6 \w So|strong="G2532"\w*, \w if|strong="G2532"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w* rubbish \w poor|strong="G4434"\w* \w people|strong="G4145"\w*, \w you|strong="G5210"\w* \w are|strong="G3588"\w* wrong. Think \w about|strong="G1519"\w* \w this|strong="G3588"\w*. \w Who|strong="G3588"\w* \w is|strong="G3588"\w* hard \w on|strong="G1519"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w*? \w What|strong="G3588"\w* \w people|strong="G4145"\w* \w take|strong="G2532"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w* \w to|strong="G1519"\w* \w court|strong="G2922"\w*? \w Do|strong="G2532"\w* \w poor|strong="G4434"\w* \w people|strong="G4145"\w* \w do|strong="G2532"\w* \w that|strong="G3588"\w*, \w or|strong="G2532"\w* \w rich|strong="G4145"\w* \w people|strong="G4145"\w*? \w Rich|strong="G4145"\w* \w people|strong="G4145"\w* \w do|strong="G2532"\w* \w it|strong="G2532"\w*. \v 7 \w And|strong="G3588"\w* \w they|strong="G3588"\w* talk \w against|strong="G1909"\w* \w Jesus|strong="G3756"\w* Christ. \w You|strong="G5210"\w* \w belong|strong="G1941"\w* \w to|strong="G1909"\w* \w Jesus|strong="G3756"\w* Christ, \w but|strong="G3588"\w* \w they|strong="G3588"\w* rubbish \w him|strong="G3588"\w*. \p \v 8 \w You|strong="G4771"\w* know, \w there|strong="G1487"\w* \w is|strong="G3588"\w* \w a|strong="G5613"\w* really important \w law|strong="G3551"\w* \w in|strong="G2596"\w* \w God|strong="G3588"\w*’s \w book|strong="G3588"\w*. \w It|strong="G1487"\w* says, \q1 “Love \w other|strong="G3588"\w* \w people|strong="G3588"\w*, \w just|strong="G5613"\w* \w like|strong="G5613"\w* \w you|strong="G4771"\w* love \w yourself|strong="G4572"\w*.” \m \w If|strong="G1487"\w* \w you|strong="G4771"\w* \w do|strong="G4160"\w* \w that|strong="G3588"\w*, \w you|strong="G4771"\w* \w are|strong="G3588"\w* \w doing|strong="G4160"\w* \w the|strong="G2596"\w* \w right|strong="G2573"\w* thing.\x * \xo 2:8 \xt Leviticus 19:18\x* \v 9 \w But|strong="G1161"\w* \w if|strong="G1487"\w* \w you|strong="G1487"\w* \w are|strong="G3588"\w* \w good|strong="G3588"\w* \w to|strong="G1161"\w* \w some|strong="G3588"\w* \w people|strong="G3588"\w* \w but|strong="G1161"\w* hard \w on|strong="G1161"\w* \w other|strong="G1161"\w* \w people|strong="G3588"\w*, \w you|strong="G1487"\w* \w are|strong="G3588"\w* \w doing|strong="G2038"\w* \w the|strong="G1161"\w* \w wrong|strong="G1651"\w* thing. \w You|strong="G1487"\w* \w are|strong="G3588"\w* \w not|strong="G1487"\w* following \w that|strong="G3588"\w* \w law|strong="G3551"\w*. \v 10 \w Now|strong="G1161"\w* think \w about|strong="G1722"\w* \w God|strong="G3588"\w*’s \w laws|strong="G3551"\w*. \w If|strong="G3748"\w* \w you|strong="G1722"\w* don’\w t|strong="G3588"\w* \w follow|strong="G1161"\w* \w all|strong="G3956"\w* \w of|strong="G3551"\w* \w God|strong="G3588"\w*’s \w laws|strong="G3551"\w*, \w you|strong="G1722"\w* \w are|strong="G3588"\w* \w guilty|strong="G1777"\w*. Suppose \w one|strong="G1520"\w* \w man|strong="G3956"\w* \w does|strong="G5083"\w* \w everything|strong="G3956"\w* \w in|strong="G1722"\w* \w those|strong="G3588"\w* \w laws|strong="G3551"\w* except \w that|strong="G3588"\w* \w he|strong="G1161"\w* breaks \w one|strong="G1520"\w* \w law|strong="G3551"\w*, \w that|strong="G3588"\w* \w man|strong="G3956"\w* \w is|strong="G3588"\w* \w guilty|strong="G1777"\w*. Suppose \w another|strong="G1520"\w* \w man|strong="G3956"\w* breaks \w all|strong="G3956"\w* \w those|strong="G3588"\w* \w laws|strong="G3551"\w*, \w he|strong="G1161"\w* \w is|strong="G3588"\w* \w guilty|strong="G1777"\w* too. \w They|strong="G1161"\w* \w are|strong="G3588"\w* \w both|strong="G1161"\w* \w guilty|strong="G1777"\w*. \v 11 \w It|strong="G2532"\w* \w is|strong="G3588"\w* like \w this|strong="G3588"\w*. \w One|strong="G3588"\w* \w of|strong="G2532"\w* \w God|strong="G2532"\w*’s \w laws|strong="G3551"\w* \w is|strong="G3588"\w*, \q1 “Don’\w t|strong="G3588"\w* sleep \w with|strong="G2532"\w* anyone \w that|strong="G3588"\w* \w is|strong="G3588"\w* \w not|strong="G3756"\w* \w your|strong="G2532"\w* wife \w or|strong="G2532"\w* \w your|strong="G2532"\w* husband, \w as|strong="G1161"\w* \w if|strong="G1487"\w* \w you|strong="G1487"\w* \w are|strong="G3588"\w* \w married|strong="G1096"\w* \w to|strong="G2532"\w* \w them|strong="G3588"\w*.” \m \w And|strong="G2532"\w* \w another|strong="G3588"\w* \w law|strong="G3551"\w* \w is|strong="G3588"\w*, \q1 “Don’\w t|strong="G3588"\w* \w kill|strong="G5407"\w* anybody.” \m \w Suppose|strong="G1487"\w* \w you|strong="G1487"\w* didn’\w t|strong="G3588"\w* sleep \w with|strong="G2532"\w* \w the|strong="G2532"\w* wrong person, \w but|strong="G1161"\w* \w you|strong="G1487"\w* \w did|strong="G2532"\w* \w kill|strong="G5407"\w* somebody, \w you|strong="G1487"\w* \w are|strong="G3588"\w* \w guilty|strong="G1096"\w* anyway, \w because|strong="G1063"\w* \w you|strong="G1487"\w* didn’\w t|strong="G3588"\w* \w follow|strong="G1161"\w* \w all|strong="G2532"\w* \w of|strong="G2532"\w* \w God|strong="G2532"\w*’s \w laws|strong="G3551"\w*.\x * \xo 2:11 \xt Exodus 20:13-14; Deuteronomy 5:17-18\x* \p \v 12 \w God|strong="G2532"\w* \w will|strong="G3195"\w* \w judge|strong="G2919"\w* \w us|strong="G4160"\w*, \w and|strong="G2532"\w* \w he|strong="G2532"\w* \w will|strong="G3195"\w* use \w the|strong="G2532"\w* \w law|strong="G3551"\w* \w that|strong="G2532"\w* tells \w us|strong="G4160"\w* \w to|strong="G2532"\w* love other \w people|strong="G2919"\w*. \w So|strong="G3779"\w* \w before|strong="G2532"\w* \w you|strong="G3779"\w* \w say|strong="G2980"\w* anything, \w and|strong="G2532"\w* \w before|strong="G2532"\w* \w you|strong="G3779"\w* \w do|strong="G4160"\w* anything, \w you|strong="G3779"\w* \w have|strong="G2532"\w* \w to|strong="G2532"\w* \w think|strong="G2919"\w* \w about|strong="G5613"\w* \w that|strong="G2532"\w* \w law|strong="G3551"\w* \w from|strong="G2532"\w* \w God|strong="G2532"\w*. \w That|strong="G2532"\w* \w is|strong="G2532"\w* \w the|strong="G2532"\w* \w law|strong="G3551"\w* \w that|strong="G2532"\w* \w makes|strong="G4160"\w* \w us|strong="G4160"\w* free \w so|strong="G3779"\w* \w that|strong="G2532"\w* \w we|strong="G2532"\w* \w can|strong="G4160"\w* \w do|strong="G4160"\w* whatever \w is|strong="G2532"\w* \w right|strong="G3779"\w*. \v 13 Later \w on|strong="G4160"\w*, \w God|strong="G3361"\w* \w will|strong="G4160"\w* judge \w you|strong="G4160"\w*. \w And|strong="G4160"\w* if \w you|strong="G4160"\w* don’\w t|strong="G3588"\w* feel sorry \w for|strong="G1063"\w* \w other|strong="G3588"\w* \w people|strong="G3588"\w* now, \w then|strong="G1063"\w* \w God|strong="G3361"\w* \w will|strong="G4160"\w* \w not|strong="G3361"\w* feel sorry \w for|strong="G1063"\w* \w you|strong="G4160"\w*. \w But|strong="G3361"\w* if \w you|strong="G4160"\w* feel sorry \w for|strong="G1063"\w* \w them|strong="G3588"\w* now, \w and|strong="G4160"\w* if \w you|strong="G4160"\w* \w are|strong="G3588"\w* \w good|strong="G3588"\w* \w to|strong="G3361"\w* \w them|strong="G3588"\w*, \w God|strong="G3361"\w* \w will|strong="G4160"\w* feel sorry \w for|strong="G1063"\w* \w you|strong="G4160"\w* later \w on|strong="G4160"\w*, \w when|strong="G4160"\w* \w he|strong="G3588"\w* judges \w you|strong="G4160"\w*, \w and|strong="G4160"\w* \w he|strong="G3588"\w* \w will|strong="G4160"\w* \w be|strong="G3361"\w* \w good|strong="G3588"\w* \w to|strong="G3361"\w* \w you|strong="G4160"\w*. \w You|strong="G4160"\w* see, \w people|strong="G3588"\w* \w that|strong="G3588"\w* \w are|strong="G3588"\w* sorry \w for|strong="G1063"\w* \w other|strong="G3588"\w* \w people|strong="G3588"\w* don’\w t|strong="G3588"\w* \w have|strong="G4160"\w* \w to|strong="G3361"\w* worry \w about|strong="G3588"\w* \w God|strong="G3361"\w* judging \w them|strong="G3588"\w*. \s1 Believe in Jesus and do the right things too \p \v 14 \w My|strong="G1473"\w* Christian friends, \w it|strong="G1161"\w* \w is|strong="G3588"\w* \w no|strong="G3361"\w* \w good|strong="G3786"\w* \w for|strong="G1161"\w* \w you|strong="G1437"\w* \w to|strong="G3004"\w* \w say|strong="G3004"\w* \w that|strong="G3588"\w* \w you|strong="G1437"\w* \w believe|strong="G4102"\w* \w in|strong="G4102"\w* \w Jesus|strong="G3004"\w* Christ \w if|strong="G1437"\w* \w you|strong="G1437"\w* don’\w t|strong="G3588"\w* \w do|strong="G5101"\w* \w the|strong="G1161"\w* \w things|strong="G3588"\w* \w that|strong="G3588"\w* \w he|strong="G1161"\w* wants \w you|strong="G1437"\w* \w to|strong="G3004"\w* \w do|strong="G5101"\w*. \w If|strong="G1437"\w* \w you|strong="G1437"\w* reckon \w you|strong="G1437"\w* \w believe|strong="G4102"\w*, \w but|strong="G1161"\w* \w you|strong="G1437"\w* don’\w t|strong="G3588"\w* \w do|strong="G5101"\w* \w the|strong="G1161"\w* \w things|strong="G3588"\w* \w he|strong="G1161"\w* wants, \w you|strong="G1437"\w* \w can|strong="G1410"\w*’\w t|strong="G3588"\w* \w think|strong="G5100"\w* \w that|strong="G3588"\w* \w God|strong="G3004"\w* \w will|strong="G5101"\w* \w save|strong="G4982"\w* \w you|strong="G1437"\w*. \v 15 \w If|strong="G1437"\w* \w there|strong="G2532"\w* \w is|strong="G3588"\w* \w another|strong="G3588"\w* Christian \w that|strong="G3588"\w* \w is|strong="G3588"\w* hungry \w and|strong="G2532"\w* needs \w food|strong="G5160"\w*, \w and|strong="G2532"\w* \w is|strong="G3588"\w* cold \w and|strong="G2532"\w* needs \w some|strong="G3588"\w* clothes, \v 16 \w you|strong="G5210"\w* \w can|strong="G3004"\w*’\w t|strong="G3588"\w* \w just|strong="G2532"\w* talk \w to|strong="G2532"\w* \w them|strong="G3588"\w* \w and|strong="G2532"\w* \w not|strong="G3361"\w* \w give|strong="G1325"\w* \w them|strong="G3588"\w* \w anything|strong="G5100"\w*. \w You|strong="G5210"\w* \w can|strong="G3004"\w*’\w t|strong="G3588"\w* \w just|strong="G2532"\w* \w say|strong="G3004"\w*, “Don’\w t|strong="G3588"\w* worry. \w I|strong="G2532"\w* \w hope|strong="G2532"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w* \w get|strong="G5217"\w* \w something|strong="G5100"\w* \w to|strong="G2532"\w* eat, \w and|strong="G2532"\w* \w I|strong="G2532"\w* \w hope|strong="G2532"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w* \w get|strong="G5217"\w* \w some|strong="G5100"\w* clothes \w to|strong="G2532"\w* wear.” \w You|strong="G5210"\w* see, \w if|strong="G2532"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w* don’\w t|strong="G3588"\w* \w do|strong="G5101"\w* \w anything|strong="G5100"\w* \w to|strong="G2532"\w* help \w them|strong="G3588"\w*, \w you|strong="G5210"\w* don’\w t|strong="G3588"\w* \w do|strong="G5101"\w* \w any|strong="G5100"\w* \w good|strong="G3786"\w* \w at|strong="G1722"\w* \w all|strong="G2532"\w*. \v 17 \w So|strong="G3779"\w* \w if|strong="G1437"\w* \w you|strong="G1437"\w* reckon \w that|strong="G3588"\w* \w you|strong="G1437"\w* \w believe|strong="G4102"\w* \w in|strong="G2596"\w* \w Jesus|strong="G1510"\w* Christ, \w but|strong="G2532"\w* \w you|strong="G1437"\w* don’\w t|strong="G3588"\w* \w do|strong="G2532"\w* \w the|strong="G2532"\w* \w good|strong="G3588"\w* \w things|strong="G3588"\w* \w that|strong="G3588"\w* \w he|strong="G2532"\w* wants \w you|strong="G1437"\w* \w to|strong="G2532"\w* \w do|strong="G2532"\w*, \w I|strong="G2532"\w* reckon \w your|strong="G1437"\w* talk isn’\w t|strong="G3588"\w* \w true|strong="G3588"\w*. \w It|strong="G2532"\w* \w is|strong="G1510"\w* useless. \w It|strong="G2532"\w* \w will|strong="G1510"\w* \w get|strong="G2192"\w* \w you|strong="G1437"\w* no-where. \p \v 18 Maybe \w you|strong="G4771"\w* reckon, “\w Some|strong="G5100"\w* \w people|strong="G5100"\w* \w can|strong="G3004"\w* \w believe|strong="G4102"\w* \w in|strong="G4102"\w* \w Jesus|strong="G3004"\w*, \w and|strong="G4102"\w* \w other|strong="G5100"\w* \w people|strong="G5100"\w* \w can|strong="G3004"\w* \w do|strong="G2192"\w* \w the|strong="G1537"\w* \w good|strong="G3588"\w* \w things|strong="G3588"\w* \w that|strong="G3588"\w* \w Jesus|strong="G3004"\w* \w says|strong="G3004"\w* \w to|strong="G3004"\w* \w do|strong="G2192"\w*.” \w I|strong="G1473"\w* answer \w you|strong="G4771"\w* like \w this|strong="G3588"\w*, “If \w you|strong="G4771"\w* don’\w t|strong="G3588"\w* \w do|strong="G2192"\w* \w the|strong="G1537"\w* \w things|strong="G3588"\w* \w that|strong="G3588"\w* \w Jesus|strong="G3004"\w* \w says|strong="G3004"\w*, \w you|strong="G4771"\w* \w can|strong="G3004"\w*’\w t|strong="G3588"\w* \w show|strong="G1166"\w* \w me|strong="G1473"\w* \w that|strong="G3588"\w* \w you|strong="G4771"\w* \w believe|strong="G4102"\w* \w in|strong="G4102"\w* \w him|strong="G3588"\w*. \w But|strong="G3588"\w* whenever \w I|strong="G1473"\w* \w do|strong="G2192"\w* \w the|strong="G1537"\w* \w good|strong="G3588"\w* \w things|strong="G3588"\w* \w he|strong="G3588"\w* tells \w me|strong="G1473"\w* \w to|strong="G3004"\w* \w do|strong="G2192"\w*, \w I|strong="G1473"\w* \w show|strong="G1166"\w* \w you|strong="G4771"\w* \w that|strong="G3588"\w* \w I|strong="G1473"\w* \w do|strong="G2192"\w* \w believe|strong="G4102"\w* \w in|strong="G4102"\w* \w him|strong="G3588"\w*.” \v 19 \w You|strong="G4771"\w* \w believe|strong="G4100"\w* \w that|strong="G3754"\w* \w there|strong="G2532"\w* \w is|strong="G1510"\w* \w only|strong="G2532"\w* \w one|strong="G1520"\w* \w God|strong="G2316"\w*. \w That|strong="G3754"\w*’s \w good|strong="G2573"\w*, \w but|strong="G2532"\w* \w even|strong="G2532"\w* \w the|strong="G2532"\w* bad spirits \w believe|strong="G4100"\w* \w that|strong="G3754"\w*. \w They|strong="G2532"\w* \w believe|strong="G4100"\w* \w that|strong="G3754"\w* \w there|strong="G2532"\w* \w is|strong="G1510"\w* \w only|strong="G2532"\w* \w one|strong="G1520"\w* \w God|strong="G2316"\w*, \w and|strong="G2532"\w* \w if|strong="G2532"\w* \w they|strong="G2532"\w* think \w about|strong="G3588"\w* \w him|strong="G3588"\w*, \w they|strong="G2532"\w* \w get|strong="G2532"\w* really frightened \w of|strong="G2316"\w* \w him|strong="G3588"\w*. \w They|strong="G2532"\w* \w get|strong="G2532"\w* \w so|strong="G2532"\w* frightened \w that|strong="G3754"\w* \w they|strong="G2532"\w* shake. \p \v 20-23 If you don’t do the things that Jesus says, it is no good to say that you believe in him. If you don’t know much, and if you want to argue with me, just think about the story of Abraham, our grand-father that lived a long time ago. God told Abraham to give him his son Isaac. To do that, Abraham had to kill Isaac, and burn his body on a table made of stones. Abraham believed that somehow God would make it end up all right, so he started to do that hard thing that God said. He was going to kill Isaac. But just then, God told him to stop. You see, God says this in his book, \q1 “Abraham believed what God said, so God was really happy with him, and told him, ‘You believe me, so now I’m saying you are properly good, like you never did anything wrong.’”\x * \xo 2:20-23 \xt Genesis 15:6; 2 Chronicles 20:7; Isaiah 41:8\x* \m And that is how it happened. \fig Abraham was going to kill his son to give him to God, but God told him to stop|src="LB00291b.tif" size="col" ref="2:20-23" \fig* \p In another place it says that Abraham not only believed God, but he also did that hard thing God told him to do, so Abraham was a friend of God. \v 24 \w We|strong="G3754"\w* can learn \w from|strong="G1537"\w* \w that|strong="G3754"\w* story \w about|strong="G3754"\w* Abraham. \w If|strong="G2532"\w* people \w believe|strong="G4102"\w* \w God|strong="G2532"\w* \w so|strong="G2532"\w* much \w that|strong="G3754"\w* \w they|strong="G2532"\w* \w do|strong="G2532"\w* \w whatever|strong="G3748"\w* \w he|strong="G2532"\w* says, like Abraham \w did|strong="G2532"\w*, \w then|strong="G2532"\w* \w God|strong="G2532"\w* \w will|strong="G2532"\w* \w say|strong="G2532"\w* \w they|strong="G2532"\w* \w are|strong="G2532"\w* \w all|strong="G2532"\w* \w right|strong="G3756"\w*. \w But|strong="G2532"\w* \w he|strong="G2532"\w* \w will|strong="G2532"\w* \w not|strong="G3756"\w* \w say|strong="G2532"\w* \w that|strong="G3754"\w* \w to|strong="G2532"\w* people \w that|strong="G3754"\w* don’t \w do|strong="G2532"\w* \w what|strong="G2532"\w* \w he|strong="G2532"\w* says, \w even|strong="G2532"\w* \w if|strong="G2532"\w* \w they|strong="G2532"\w* reckon \w they|strong="G2532"\w* \w believe|strong="G4102"\w* \w in|strong="G2532"\w* \w God|strong="G2532"\w*. \p \v 25 \w And|strong="G2532"\w* think \w about|strong="G3588"\w* \w that|strong="G3588"\w* story \w about|strong="G3588"\w* \w Rahab|strong="G4460"\w*. \w She|strong="G2532"\w* \w was|strong="G3588"\w* \w a|strong="G2532"\w* bad woman \w that|strong="G3588"\w* used \w to|strong="G2532"\w* sleep \w with|strong="G1537"\w* \w any|strong="G3756"\w* \w man|strong="G2087"\w* \w that|strong="G3588"\w* paid \w her|strong="G3588"\w* money, \w like|strong="G3668"\w* \w he|strong="G2532"\w* \w was|strong="G3588"\w* \w her|strong="G3588"\w* husband. \w But|strong="G1161"\w* \w one|strong="G3588"\w* \w day|strong="G3588"\w*, Israel’s enemies \w were|strong="G3588"\w* \w looking|strong="G2532"\w* \w for|strong="G1161"\w* 2 \w men|strong="G3588"\w* \w from|strong="G1537"\w* Israel, \w and|strong="G2532"\w* \w those|strong="G3588"\w* 2 \w men|strong="G3588"\w* asked \w Rahab|strong="G4460"\w* \w to|strong="G2532"\w* help \w them|strong="G3588"\w*. \w So|strong="G2532"\w* \w she|strong="G2532"\w* hid \w them|strong="G3588"\w* \w in|strong="G2532"\w* \w her|strong="G3588"\w* house \w until|strong="G2532"\w* \w their|strong="G2532"\w* enemies \w went|strong="G2532"\w* past, \w and|strong="G2532"\w* \w then|strong="G2532"\w* \w she|strong="G2532"\w* told \w them|strong="G3588"\w* \w which|strong="G3588"\w* \w way|strong="G3598"\w* \w to|strong="G2532"\w* run \w to|strong="G2532"\w* \w get|strong="G2532"\w* \w away|strong="G1544"\w*. \w She|strong="G2532"\w* helped \w those|strong="G3588"\w* 2 \w men|strong="G3588"\w*, \w so|strong="G2532"\w* \w God|strong="G2532"\w* \w was|strong="G3588"\w* happy \w with|strong="G1537"\w* \w her|strong="G3588"\w*. Later \w on|strong="G1537"\w*, \w a|strong="G2532"\w* lot \w of|strong="G1537"\w* Israel soldiers attacked \w that|strong="G3588"\w* \w town|strong="G2532"\w*, \w but|strong="G1161"\w* \w God|strong="G2532"\w* saved \w Rahab|strong="G4460"\w*, \w and|strong="G2532"\w* \w they|strong="G2532"\w* didn’\w t|strong="G3588"\w* kill \w her|strong="G3588"\w*.\x * \xo 2:25 \xt Joshua 2:1-21; Hebrews 11:31\x* \p \v 26 \w It|strong="G2532"\w* \w is|strong="G1510"\w* \w like|strong="G5618"\w* \w this|strong="G3588"\w*. \w If|strong="G2532"\w* \w a|strong="G2532"\w* person’s \w body|strong="G4983"\w* doesn’\w t|strong="G3588"\w* breathe, \w it|strong="G2532"\w* \w is|strong="G1510"\w* \w no|strong="G2532"\w* \w good|strong="G3588"\w*. \w That|strong="G3588"\w* person \w is|strong="G1510"\w* \w dead|strong="G3498"\w*. \w In|strong="G2532"\w* \w the|strong="G2532"\w* \w same|strong="G3779"\w* \w way|strong="G3779"\w*, \w if|strong="G2532"\w* \w you|strong="G1510"\w* \w say|strong="G2532"\w* \w you|strong="G1510"\w* \w believe|strong="G4102"\w* \w in|strong="G2532"\w* \w Jesus|strong="G1510"\w*, \w but|strong="G2532"\w* \w you|strong="G1510"\w* don’\w t|strong="G3588"\w* \w do|strong="G2532"\w* \w the|strong="G2532"\w* \w things|strong="G3588"\w* \w God|strong="G2532"\w* wants \w you|strong="G1510"\w* \w to|strong="G2532"\w* \w do|strong="G2532"\w*, \w you|strong="G1510"\w* \w are|strong="G1510"\w* \w no|strong="G2532"\w* \w good|strong="G3588"\w* \w as|strong="G5618"\w* \w a|strong="G2532"\w* Christian. \w It|strong="G2532"\w* \w is|strong="G1510"\w* \w like|strong="G5618"\w* \w you|strong="G1510"\w* \w are|strong="G1510"\w* \w dead|strong="G3498"\w*. \c 3 \s1 Teachers need to be careful and teach properly \p \v 1-2 My Christian friends, don’t all of you try to be teachers of God’s word. Only the right people can do that. You see, God will judge us all, and if you teach people something that is wrong, God might punish you a lot. It is like this, all of us make mistakes, and we get trouble from those mistakes. But if we teach people, and if we make a mistake so that we teach them something that is wrong, we will get really big trouble from that. It is hard for us to control our tongues so that we say everything properly. If you can control your tongue, you are properly good, and you can control all of your body. \p \v 3 Think \w about|strong="G1519"\w* \w the|strong="G2532"\w* \w people|strong="G3588"\w* \w that|strong="G3588"\w* ride \w horses|strong="G2462"\w*. \w They|strong="G2532"\w* \w put|strong="G3982"\w* \w a|strong="G2532"\w* little bit \w of|strong="G2532"\w* iron \w in|strong="G1519"\w* \w the|strong="G2532"\w* \w horse|strong="G2462"\w*’s \w mouth|strong="G4750"\w*, \w and|strong="G2532"\w* \w they|strong="G2532"\w* tie ropes \w to|strong="G1519"\w* \w it|strong="G2532"\w*, \w then|strong="G2532"\w* \w they|strong="G2532"\w* \w use|strong="G3588"\w* \w that|strong="G3588"\w* bit \w of|strong="G2532"\w* iron \w to|strong="G1519"\w* turn \w the|strong="G2532"\w* \w whole|strong="G3650"\w* \w horse|strong="G2462"\w* \w around|strong="G3650"\w*, \w and|strong="G2532"\w* \w they|strong="G2532"\w* steer \w it|strong="G2532"\w* wherever \w they|strong="G2532"\w* want \w it|strong="G2532"\w* \w to|strong="G1519"\w* \w go|strong="G1519"\w*.\fig People use a little bit of iron in a horse’s mouth to turn the horse|src="LB00035b.tif" size="col" ref="3:3" \fig* \v 4 \w And|strong="G2532"\w* \w think|strong="G2400"\w* \w about|strong="G3588"\w* \w ships|strong="G4143"\w*. \w They|strong="G2532"\w* \w are|strong="G1510"\w* \w like|strong="G1014"\w* \w that|strong="G3588"\w* \w too|strong="G2532"\w*. \w A|strong="G2532"\w* \w ship|strong="G4143"\w* \w is|strong="G1510"\w* \w very|strong="G2532"\w* big, \w but|strong="G2532"\w* \w its|strong="G5259"\w* driver can \w use|strong="G3588"\w* \w the|strong="G2532"\w* \w little|strong="G1646"\w* \w rudder|strong="G4079"\w* \w at|strong="G3588"\w* \w the|strong="G2532"\w* back \w to|strong="G2532"\w* steer \w it|strong="G2532"\w* around. \w Even|strong="G2532"\w* \w if|strong="G2532"\w* \w strong|strong="G2532"\w* winds \w want|strong="G1014"\w* \w to|strong="G2532"\w* blow \w it|strong="G2532"\w* \w one|strong="G3588"\w* way, \w that|strong="G3588"\w* driver can steer \w it|strong="G2532"\w* \w another|strong="G3588"\w* way using \w that|strong="G3588"\w* \w little|strong="G1646"\w* \w rudder|strong="G4079"\w*.\fig People can steer a big ship with a little rudder|src="Rudder.tif" size="col" ref="3:4" \fig* \v 5 \w Well|strong="G2532"\w*, \w those|strong="G3588"\w* \w are|strong="G1510"\w* pictures \w of|strong="G2532"\w* \w our|strong="G2532"\w* \w tongues|strong="G1100"\w*. \w Our|strong="G2532"\w* \w tongues|strong="G1100"\w* \w are|strong="G1510"\w* \w only|strong="G2532"\w* \w little|strong="G3398"\w*, \w like|strong="G3779"\w* \w that|strong="G3588"\w* bit \w of|strong="G2532"\w* iron \w and|strong="G2532"\w* \w that|strong="G3588"\w* \w little|strong="G3398"\w* rudder. Yes, \w our|strong="G2532"\w* \w tongues|strong="G1100"\w* \w are|strong="G1510"\w* \w little|strong="G3398"\w*, \w but|strong="G2532"\w* \w if|strong="G2532"\w* \w we|strong="G2532"\w* \w use|strong="G3588"\w* \w them|strong="G3588"\w* \w to|strong="G2532"\w* talk \w up|strong="G2532"\w* \w big|strong="G3173"\w* \w and|strong="G2532"\w* tell \w people|strong="G1510"\w* \w that|strong="G3588"\w* \w we|strong="G2532"\w* \w are|strong="G1510"\w* really \w good|strong="G3588"\w*, \w they|strong="G2532"\w* \w will|strong="G1510"\w* \w do|strong="G2532"\w* \w a|strong="G2532"\w* lot \w of|strong="G2532"\w* damage. \p \w Think|strong="G2400"\w* \w about|strong="G3588"\w* \w fire|strong="G4442"\w*. \w A|strong="G2532"\w* \w very|strong="G2532"\w* \w little|strong="G3398"\w* spark can start \w a|strong="G2532"\w* \w fire|strong="G4442"\w*, \w and|strong="G2532"\w* \w then|strong="G2532"\w* \w it|strong="G2532"\w* can burn \w up|strong="G2532"\w* \w a|strong="G2532"\w* lot \w of|strong="G2532"\w* bush. \v 6 \w In|strong="G1722"\w* \w the|strong="G1722"\w* \w same|strong="G2532"\w* \w way|strong="G1722"\w* each \w of|strong="G5259"\w* \w us|strong="G2249"\w* \w has|strong="G2889"\w* \w a|strong="G2532"\w* little \w tongue|strong="G1100"\w*, \w and|strong="G2532"\w* \w it|strong="G2532"\w* \w is|strong="G3588"\w* \w like|strong="G1100"\w* \w a|strong="G2532"\w* little spark \w of|strong="G5259"\w* \w fire|strong="G4442"\w* \w inside|strong="G1722"\w* \w us|strong="G2249"\w*. \w It|strong="G2532"\w* can \w say|strong="G2532"\w* really bad \w things|strong="G3588"\w*, \w and|strong="G2532"\w* tell lies, \w and|strong="G2532"\w* \w then|strong="G2532"\w* \w that|strong="G3588"\w* can \w make|strong="G2532"\w* \w the|strong="G1722"\w* rest \w of|strong="G5259"\w* \w our|strong="G2532"\w* \w bodies|strong="G4983"\w* bad. \w Our|strong="G2532"\w* \w tongues|strong="G1100"\w* can \w make|strong="G2532"\w* everything \w in|strong="G1722"\w* \w our|strong="G2532"\w* lives \w go|strong="G2532"\w* wrong, \w like|strong="G1100"\w* \w a|strong="G2532"\w* spark \w of|strong="G5259"\w* \w fire|strong="G4442"\w* can \w make|strong="G2532"\w* \w a|strong="G2532"\w* big bush \w fire|strong="G4442"\w*. \w The|strong="G1722"\w* devil, \w the|strong="G1722"\w* boss \w over|strong="G1722"\w* \w the|strong="G1722"\w* bad \w spirits|strong="G2889"\w* \w from|strong="G2532"\w* \w hell|strong="G1067"\w*, \w he|strong="G2532"\w* \w makes|strong="G2525"\w* \w us|strong="G2249"\w* \w say|strong="G2532"\w* \w those|strong="G3588"\w* bad \w things|strong="G3588"\w*. \w It|strong="G2532"\w* \w is|strong="G3588"\w* \w like|strong="G1100"\w* \w he|strong="G2532"\w* uses \w our|strong="G2532"\w* \w tongues|strong="G1100"\w* \w to|strong="G2532"\w* start \w that|strong="G3588"\w* \w fire|strong="G4442"\w*, \w and|strong="G2532"\w* \w it|strong="G2532"\w* grows \w like|strong="G1100"\w* \w a|strong="G2532"\w* bush \w fire|strong="G4442"\w*, \w and|strong="G2532"\w* \w it|strong="G2532"\w* gets \w us|strong="G2249"\w* \w into|strong="G1722"\w* \w a|strong="G2532"\w* lot \w of|strong="G5259"\w* trouble. \v 7 \w People|strong="G3956"\w* \w can|strong="G1063"\w* control \w all|strong="G3956"\w* sorts \w of|strong="G2532"\w* \w wild|strong="G2342"\w* animals, \w and|strong="G2532"\w* \w birds|strong="G4071"\w*, \w and|strong="G2532"\w* snakes, \w and|strong="G2532"\w* fish. \w They|strong="G2532"\w* \w can|strong="G1063"\w* \w make|strong="G2532"\w* \w them|strong="G3588"\w* quiet \w and|strong="G2532"\w* train \w them|strong="G3588"\w* \w to|strong="G2532"\w* \w do|strong="G2532"\w* \w whatever|strong="G3956"\w* \w their|strong="G2532"\w* boss wants \w them|strong="G3588"\w* \w to|strong="G2532"\w* \w do|strong="G2532"\w*. \v 8 \w But|strong="G1161"\w* \w nobody|strong="G3762"\w* \w can|strong="G1410"\w* control \w their|strong="G3588"\w* own \w tongue|strong="G1100"\w* properly. \w It|strong="G1161"\w* \w is|strong="G3588"\w* always saying \w bad|strong="G2556"\w* \w things|strong="G3588"\w* \w and|strong="G1161"\w* hurting \w people|strong="G3588"\w*, \w like|strong="G1100"\w* \w it|strong="G1161"\w* \w has|strong="G3762"\w* \w poison|strong="G2447"\w* \w in|strong="G1161"\w* \w it|strong="G1161"\w*, \w just|strong="G3588"\w* \w like|strong="G1100"\w* \w a|strong="G1161"\w* cheeky snake. \p \v 9 Sometimes \w we|strong="G2532"\w* \w use|strong="G3588"\w* \w our|strong="G2316"\w* tongue \w to|strong="G2532"\w* tell \w God|strong="G2316"\w* \w that|strong="G3588"\w* \w he|strong="G2532"\w* \w is|strong="G3588"\w* \w our|strong="G2316"\w* \w good|strong="G3588"\w* \w father|strong="G3962"\w*, \w and|strong="G2532"\w* sometimes \w we|strong="G2532"\w* \w use|strong="G3588"\w* \w it|strong="G2532"\w* \w to|strong="G2532"\w* swear \w at|strong="G1722"\w* \w people|strong="G3588"\w*. \w But|strong="G2532"\w* remember, \w God|strong="G2316"\w* \w made|strong="G1096"\w* \w people|strong="G3588"\w* \w to|strong="G2532"\w* \w be|strong="G1096"\w* \w like|strong="G2596"\w* himself.\x * \xo 3:9 \xt Genesis 1:26\x* \v 10 \w Both|strong="G2532"\w* \w good|strong="G3588"\w* \w things|strong="G3778"\w* \w and|strong="G2532"\w* bad \w things|strong="G3778"\w* \w come|strong="G1096"\w* \w out|strong="G1831"\w* \w of|strong="G1537"\w* \w our|strong="G2532"\w* \w mouths|strong="G4750"\w*. \w But|strong="G2532"\w*, \w my|strong="G1473"\w* Christian friends, \w that|strong="G3588"\w*’s \w not|strong="G3756"\w* \w right|strong="G3779"\w*. \v 11-12 Do you ever find fresh water and salt water coming from the same water-hole? No, it is never like that. And you never find 2 sorts of fruit on one tree. So our mouths shouldn’t say 2 sorts of things. We shouldn’t say good things and bad things with the same mouth. \s1 Think God’s way, not the devil’s way \p \v 13 \w Do|strong="G5101"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w* reckon \w that|strong="G3588"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w* can think properly, \w and|strong="G2532"\w* \w do|strong="G5101"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w* reckon \w that|strong="G3588"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w* \w know|strong="G1722"\w* \w if|strong="G2532"\w* \w something|strong="G5101"\w* \w is|strong="G3588"\w* \w right|strong="G2570"\w* \w or|strong="G2532"\w* wrong? \w If|strong="G2532"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w* \w do|strong="G5101"\w*, \w you|strong="G5210"\w* \w have|strong="G2532"\w* \w to|strong="G2532"\w* \w show|strong="G1166"\w* everybody \w that|strong="G3588"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w* think properly \w by|strong="G1722"\w* quietly \w doing|strong="G2041"\w* \w good|strong="G2570"\w* \w things|strong="G3588"\w* \w for|strong="G1722"\w* \w other|strong="G1722"\w* \w people|strong="G3588"\w*. \w If|strong="G2532"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w* \w do|strong="G5101"\w* \w those|strong="G3588"\w* \w good|strong="G2570"\w* \w things|strong="G3588"\w*, \w and|strong="G2532"\w* \w if|strong="G2532"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w* don’\w t|strong="G3588"\w* tell anybody \w about|strong="G1722"\w* \w it|strong="G2532"\w*, \w you|strong="G5210"\w* \w are|strong="G3588"\w* thinking properly. \v 14-15 But if you only think about things that are good for yourself, and if you are jealous of other people, and if you hate other people, you are not thinking God’s way. That’s the devil’s way. He is the boss over the bad spirits. You can’t hide the way you think by telling lies about it, and by saying that you are really good. \v 16 \w You|strong="G3956"\w* see, sometimes \w people|strong="G3956"\w* \w get|strong="G2532"\w* jealous \w of|strong="G2532"\w* each other, \w and|strong="G2532"\w* sometimes \w they|strong="G2532"\w* \w only|strong="G2532"\w* \w do|strong="G2532"\w* \w things|strong="G3956"\w* \w to|strong="G2532"\w* \w make|strong="G2532"\w* themselves happy, \w and|strong="G2532"\w* \w they|strong="G2532"\w* don’t think \w about|strong="G3956"\w* \w anyone|strong="G3956"\w* \w else|strong="G2532"\w*. \w Whenever|strong="G3699"\w* \w that|strong="G3956"\w* happens, \w those|strong="G3956"\w* \w people|strong="G3956"\w* start fighting each other, \w and|strong="G2532"\w* \w they|strong="G2532"\w* \w get|strong="G2532"\w* into \w all|strong="G3956"\w* sorts \w of|strong="G2532"\w* trouble. \p \v 17 \w But|strong="G1161"\w* whenever \w we|strong="G2532"\w* think \w God|strong="G2532"\w*’s way, \w we|strong="G2532"\w* \w are|strong="G1510"\w* like \w this|strong="G3588"\w*, \li1 – We keep away from doing anything bad. \li1 – We want to make other people happy, and we want to help them to be friends with each other. \li1 – We are easy on other people, not hard. \li1 – We listen to people and let them get a fair go. \li1 – We feel sorry for people that have problems, and we do everything we can to help them. \li1 – We are fair to everybody. We don’t treat some people good and other people like they are rubbish. \li1 – We don’t pretend that we are better than we really are. \p \v 18 Whenever somebody teaches \w people|strong="G3588"\w* \w to|strong="G1722"\w* live \w the|strong="G1722"\w* \w right|strong="G1343"\w* \w way|strong="G1722"\w*, like \w that|strong="G3588"\w*, \w those|strong="G3588"\w* \w other|strong="G1161"\w* \w people|strong="G3588"\w* stop fighting each \w other|strong="G1161"\w*, \w and|strong="G1161"\w* \w they|strong="G1161"\w* start \w to|strong="G1722"\w* \w be|strong="G3588"\w* \w good|strong="G3588"\w* \w to|strong="G1722"\w* each \w other|strong="G1161"\w*. \c 4 \s1 Let God be your boss, not the devil \p \v 1 Why \w do|strong="G2532"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w* always \w fight|strong="G4754"\w* \w and|strong="G2532"\w* argue \w with|strong="G1722"\w* each \w other|strong="G3756"\w*? \w I|strong="G2532"\w*’ll tell \w you|strong="G5210"\w* why. \w It|strong="G2532"\w* \w is|strong="G3588"\w* \w because|strong="G1537"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w* \w only|strong="G3756"\w* think \w about|strong="G1722"\w* \w things|strong="G3588"\w* \w that|strong="G3588"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w* want \w for|strong="G1722"\w* \w yourself|strong="G4771"\w*, \w to|strong="G2532"\w* \w make|strong="G2532"\w* \w yourself|strong="G4771"\w* happy, \w and|strong="G2532"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w* don’\w t|strong="G3588"\w* care \w about|strong="G1722"\w* anyone \w else|strong="G2532"\w*. \w So|strong="G2532"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w* \w fight|strong="G4754"\w* everyone \w else|strong="G2532"\w* \w to|strong="G2532"\w* \w get|strong="G2532"\w* \w the|strong="G1722"\w* \w things|strong="G3588"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w* want. \v 2 \w You|strong="G5210"\w* \w think|strong="G2192"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w* really want something \w a|strong="G2192"\w* lot, \w and|strong="G2532"\w* \w if|strong="G2532"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w* \w can|strong="G1410"\w*’\w t|strong="G3588"\w* \w get|strong="G2192"\w* \w it|strong="G2532"\w*, \w you|strong="G5210"\w* \w argue|strong="G3164"\w* \w and|strong="G2532"\w* \w fight|strong="G3164"\w* \w for|strong="G1223"\w* \w it|strong="G2532"\w*. \w You|strong="G5210"\w* try \w to|strong="G2532"\w* work \w out|strong="G2532"\w* ways \w to|strong="G2532"\w* trick \w people|strong="G3588"\w*, \w or|strong="G2532"\w* maybe \w even|strong="G2532"\w* \w kill|strong="G5407"\w* \w people|strong="G3588"\w*, \w just|strong="G2532"\w* \w to|strong="G2532"\w* \w get|strong="G2192"\w* something \w you|strong="G5210"\w* want. \w But|strong="G2532"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w* don’\w t|strong="G3588"\w* ask \w God|strong="G2532"\w* \w for|strong="G1223"\w* \w it|strong="G2532"\w*, \w and|strong="G2532"\w* \w that|strong="G3588"\w*’\w s|strong="G2192"\w* \w why|strong="G1223"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w* don’\w t|strong="G3588"\w* \w get|strong="G2192"\w* \w it|strong="G2532"\w*. \v 3 \w And|strong="G2532"\w* \w even|strong="G2532"\w* \w if|strong="G2532"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w* \w do|strong="G2532"\w* ask \w God|strong="G2532"\w* \w for|strong="G1722"\w* something, \w he|strong="G2532"\w* doesn’\w t|strong="G3588"\w* listen \w to|strong="G2443"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w*. \w He|strong="G2532"\w* knows \w that|strong="G2443"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w* \w are|strong="G3588"\w* \w just|strong="G2532"\w* thinking \w about|strong="G1722"\w* \w yourself|strong="G4771"\w*. \w He|strong="G2532"\w* knows \w you|strong="G5210"\w* \w just|strong="G2532"\w* want \w to|strong="G2443"\w* \w make|strong="G2532"\w* \w yourself|strong="G4771"\w* happy, \w and|strong="G2532"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w* don’\w t|strong="G3588"\w* care \w about|strong="G1722"\w* anybody \w else|strong="G2532"\w*, \w so|strong="G2443"\w* \w he|strong="G2532"\w* doesn’\w t|strong="G3588"\w* give \w you|strong="G5210"\w* \w that|strong="G2443"\w* thing \w you|strong="G5210"\w* want. \p \v 4 \w If|strong="G1437"\w* \w you|strong="G3739"\w* \w are|strong="G1510"\w* \w like|strong="G1014"\w* \w that|strong="G3754"\w*, \w it|strong="G3754"\w* shows \w that|strong="G3754"\w* \w you|strong="G3739"\w* left \w God|strong="G2316"\w*. \w You|strong="G3739"\w* stopped following \w him|strong="G3588"\w* \w and|strong="G2316"\w* joined \w the|strong="G3588"\w* \w other|strong="G3739"\w* \w people|strong="G1492"\w* \w in|strong="G2316"\w* \w the|strong="G3588"\w* \w world|strong="G2889"\w* \w that|strong="G3754"\w* hate \w God|strong="G2316"\w*. \w They|strong="G3588"\w* \w are|strong="G1510"\w* \w God|strong="G2316"\w*’s \w enemies|strong="G2190"\w*. \w So|strong="G3767"\w* \w if|strong="G1437"\w* \w you|strong="G3739"\w* join up \w with|strong="G2316"\w* \w people|strong="G1492"\w* \w like|strong="G1014"\w* \w that|strong="G3754"\w*, \w you|strong="G3739"\w* \w make|strong="G3756"\w* yourself \w God|strong="G2316"\w*’s \w enemy|strong="G2190"\w*. \w You|strong="G3739"\w* ran away \w from|strong="G3588"\w* \w God|strong="G2316"\w*. \w You|strong="G3739"\w* \w are|strong="G1510"\w* \w just|strong="G3588"\w* \w like|strong="G1014"\w* \w a|strong="G1510"\w* woman \w that|strong="G3754"\w* leaves \w her|strong="G1437"\w* husband \w and|strong="G2316"\w* runs away \w with|strong="G2316"\w* \w another|strong="G3739"\w* \w man|strong="G2316"\w*. \p \v 5 \w God|strong="G3004"\w* \w says|strong="G3004"\w* something important \w about|strong="G1722"\w* \w this|strong="G3588"\w* \w in|strong="G1722"\w* \w his|strong="G1722"\w* \w book|strong="G3588"\w*. \w He|strong="G3739"\w* \w says|strong="G3004"\w* \w that|strong="G3754"\w* \w he|strong="G3739"\w* put \w his|strong="G1722"\w* \w Holy|strong="G4151"\w* \w Spirit|strong="G4151"\w* \w in|strong="G1722"\w* \w us|strong="G3004"\w*, \w and|strong="G4151"\w* \w he|strong="G3739"\w* \w says|strong="G3004"\w* \w that|strong="G3754"\w* \w if|strong="G3748"\w* \w we|strong="G2249"\w* leave \w him|strong="G3588"\w* \w and|strong="G4151"\w* follow \w some|strong="G3739"\w* \w other|strong="G3739"\w* \w way|strong="G1722"\w*, \w his|strong="G1722"\w* \w spirit|strong="G4151"\w* gets really upset. \v 6 \w And|strong="G1161"\w* remember \w that|strong="G3588"\w* \w God|strong="G2316"\w* \w is|strong="G3588"\w* really \w good|strong="G3588"\w* \w to|strong="G3004"\w* \w us|strong="G1325"\w*. \w His|strong="G1325"\w* \w book|strong="G3588"\w* \w says|strong="G3004"\w* \w this|strong="G3588"\w* \w too|strong="G3173"\w*, \q1 “\w God|strong="G2316"\w* \w is|strong="G3588"\w* against \w people|strong="G3588"\w* \w that|strong="G3588"\w* think \w they|strong="G1161"\w* \w are|strong="G3588"\w* \w great|strong="G3173"\w*, \q1 \w but|strong="G1161"\w* \w he|strong="G1161"\w* \w is|strong="G3588"\w* \w good|strong="G3588"\w* \w to|strong="G3004"\w* \w people|strong="G3588"\w* \w that|strong="G3588"\w* know \w they|strong="G1161"\w* \w are|strong="G3588"\w* not \w great|strong="G3173"\w*.”\x * \xo 4:6 \xt Proverbs 3:34 \x* \m \v 7 \w So|strong="G3767"\w* listen \w to|strong="G2532"\w* \w God|strong="G2316"\w*, \w and|strong="G2532"\w* \w follow|strong="G1161"\w* \w him|strong="G3588"\w*, \w and|strong="G2532"\w* \w do|strong="G2532"\w* \w what|strong="G3588"\w* \w he|strong="G2532"\w* says. Fight back against \w the|strong="G2532"\w* \w devil|strong="G1228"\w*, \w the|strong="G2532"\w* boss over \w the|strong="G2532"\w* bad spirits. Whenever \w he|strong="G2532"\w* tries \w to|strong="G2532"\w* \w get|strong="G2532"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w* \w to|strong="G2532"\w* \w go|strong="G2532"\w* wrong, \w just|strong="G2532"\w* tell \w him|strong="G3588"\w* \w to|strong="G2532"\w* \w be|strong="G2532"\w* quiet, \w and|strong="G2532"\w* don’\w t|strong="G3588"\w* listen \w to|strong="G2532"\w* \w him|strong="G3588"\w*. \w Then|strong="G3767"\w* \w he|strong="G2532"\w* \w will|strong="G2316"\w* leave \w you|strong="G5210"\w*, \w and|strong="G2532"\w* \w he|strong="G2532"\w* \w will|strong="G2316"\w* run \w away|strong="G5343"\w* \w from|strong="G2532"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w*. \v 8 \w But|strong="G2532"\w* \w when|strong="G2532"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w* trust \w God|strong="G2316"\w*, \w you|strong="G5210"\w* \w go|strong="G2532"\w* \w close|strong="G1448"\w* \w to|strong="G2532"\w* \w him|strong="G3588"\w*, \w and|strong="G2532"\w* \w when|strong="G2532"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w* \w do|strong="G2532"\w* \w that|strong="G3588"\w*, \w he|strong="G2532"\w* \w will|strong="G2316"\w* \w come|strong="G2532"\w* \w close|strong="G1448"\w* \w to|strong="G2532"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w*, \w and|strong="G2532"\w* \w he|strong="G2532"\w* \w will|strong="G2316"\w* \w help|strong="G5495"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w*. \w So|strong="G2532"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w* \w have|strong="G2532"\w* \w to|strong="G2532"\w* stop doing bad \w things|strong="G3588"\w*. Don’\w t|strong="G3588"\w* \w even|strong="G2532"\w* think \w about|strong="G3588"\w* doing bad \w things|strong="G3588"\w*. Don’\w t|strong="G3588"\w* think \w that|strong="G3588"\w* maybe \w you|strong="G5210"\w* \w will|strong="G2316"\w* \w go|strong="G2532"\w* \w the|strong="G2532"\w* right way, \w or|strong="G2532"\w* maybe \w the|strong="G2532"\w* wrong way. \w No|strong="G2532"\w*, forget \w the|strong="G2532"\w* wrong way, \w and|strong="G2532"\w* \w just|strong="G2532"\w* \w go|strong="G2532"\w* \w the|strong="G2532"\w* right way. \v 9 Stop laughing \w about|strong="G1519"\w* \w the|strong="G2532"\w* bad \w things|strong="G3588"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w* \w did|strong="G2532"\w*. Cry \w about|strong="G1519"\w* \w them|strong="G3588"\w* instead. \w You|strong="G5210"\w* \w went|strong="G2532"\w* wrong, \w so|strong="G2532"\w* \w be|strong="G2532"\w* sad, \w not|strong="G2532"\w* happy. \v 10 Tell \w God|strong="G2532"\w* \w that|strong="G2532"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w* \w are|strong="G2532"\w* sorry. Tell \w him|strong="G2532"\w* \w that|strong="G2532"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w* know \w that|strong="G2532"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w* \w are|strong="G2532"\w* weak, \w and|strong="G2532"\w* \w that|strong="G2532"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w* \w are|strong="G2532"\w* \w not|strong="G2532"\w* important. \w If|strong="G2532"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w* \w do|strong="G2532"\w* \w that|strong="G2532"\w*, \w he|strong="G2532"\w* \w will|strong="G2532"\w* tell \w you|strong="G5210"\w* \w that|strong="G2532"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w* \w are|strong="G2532"\w* important, \w and|strong="G2532"\w* \w he|strong="G2532"\w* \w will|strong="G2532"\w* \w make|strong="G2532"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w* \w strong|strong="G2532"\w*. \s1 Don’t make yourself the judge of other people \p \v 11 \w My|strong="G2532"\w* Christian friends, don’\w t|strong="G3588"\w* \w say|strong="G2532"\w* bad \w things|strong="G3588"\w* \w about|strong="G3588"\w* each \w other|strong="G1161"\w* \w or|strong="G2228"\w* rubbish each \w other|strong="G1161"\w*. \w If|strong="G1487"\w* \w you|strong="G1487"\w* rubbish \w other|strong="G1161"\w* \w people|strong="G2919"\w*, \w it|strong="G2532"\w* \w is|strong="G1510"\w* like \w you|strong="G1487"\w* reckon \w you|strong="G1487"\w* \w are|strong="G1510"\w* \w their|strong="G2532"\w* \w judge|strong="G2919"\w*. \w But|strong="G1161"\w* \w God|strong="G2532"\w*’s \w law|strong="G3551"\w* says \w that|strong="G3588"\w* \w you|strong="G1487"\w* \w have|strong="G2532"\w* \w to|strong="G2532"\w* love \w other|strong="G1161"\w* \w people|strong="G2919"\w*, \w so|strong="G2532"\w* \w if|strong="G1487"\w* \w you|strong="G1487"\w* rubbish \w them|strong="G3588"\w*, \w you|strong="G1487"\w* \w are|strong="G1510"\w* really saying \w that|strong="G3588"\w* \w you|strong="G1487"\w* \w think|strong="G2919"\w* \w God|strong="G2532"\w*’s \w law|strong="G3551"\w* \w is|strong="G1510"\w* wrong. \w But|strong="G1161"\w* \w you|strong="G1487"\w* \w are|strong="G1510"\w* \w not|strong="G3756"\w* \w a|strong="G2532"\w* \w judge|strong="G2919"\w*, \w so|strong="G2532"\w* \w you|strong="G1487"\w* can’\w t|strong="G3588"\w* \w say|strong="G2532"\w* \w that|strong="G3588"\w* \w God|strong="G2532"\w*’s \w law|strong="G3551"\w* \w is|strong="G1510"\w* wrong. \w Your|strong="G2532"\w* job \w is|strong="G1510"\w* \w to|strong="G2532"\w* \w do|strong="G2919"\w* \w whatever|strong="G1487"\w* \w God|strong="G2532"\w*’s \w law|strong="G3551"\w* says. \v 12 \w God|strong="G2532"\w* \w made|strong="G4982"\w* \w his|strong="G2532"\w* \w law|strong="G2919"\w*, \w and|strong="G2532"\w* \w he|strong="G2532"\w* \w is|strong="G1510"\w* \w the|strong="G2532"\w* \w only|strong="G2532"\w* \w judge|strong="G2919"\w*. \w He|strong="G2532"\w* \w is|strong="G1510"\w* \w the|strong="G2532"\w* \w only|strong="G2532"\w* \w one|strong="G1520"\w* \w that|strong="G3588"\w* \w can|strong="G1410"\w* blame anybody. \w He|strong="G2532"\w* \w can|strong="G1410"\w* \w save|strong="G4982"\w* somebody, \w or|strong="G2532"\w* \w he|strong="G2532"\w* \w can|strong="G1410"\w* kill somebody. \w But|strong="G1161"\w* \w you|strong="G4771"\w* \w can|strong="G1410"\w*’\w t|strong="G3588"\w* \w do|strong="G5101"\w* \w that|strong="G3588"\w*. \w You|strong="G4771"\w* \w are|strong="G1510"\w* \w not|strong="G1510"\w* \w God|strong="G2532"\w*, \w so|strong="G2532"\w* \w you|strong="G4771"\w* \w can|strong="G1410"\w*’\w t|strong="G3588"\w* \w make|strong="G2532"\w* \w yourself|strong="G4771"\w* \w a|strong="G2532"\w* \w judge|strong="G2919"\w* \w and|strong="G2532"\w* rubbish \w other|strong="G1520"\w* \w people|strong="G2919"\w*. \s1 Don’t talk up big about something you want to do \p \v 13 Listen. \w Some|strong="G3588"\w* \w of|strong="G2532"\w* \w you|strong="G3004"\w* talk like \w this|strong="G3588"\w*, \w you|strong="G3004"\w* \w say|strong="G3004"\w*, “Tomorrow \w we|strong="G2532"\w* \w will|strong="G2532"\w* \w go|strong="G4198"\w* \w to|strong="G1519"\w* \w that|strong="G3588"\w* \w town|strong="G4172"\w* \w over|strong="G1519"\w* \w there|strong="G1563"\w*, \w and|strong="G2532"\w* \w we|strong="G2532"\w* \w will|strong="G2532"\w* buy \w things|strong="G3588"\w* \w for|strong="G1519"\w* \w a|strong="G2532"\w* little bit \w of|strong="G2532"\w* money, \w and|strong="G2532"\w* \w then|strong="G2532"\w* \w we|strong="G2532"\w* \w will|strong="G2532"\w* \w sell|strong="G1710"\w* \w them|strong="G3588"\w* \w for|strong="G1519"\w* \w a|strong="G2532"\w* lot \w of|strong="G2532"\w* money. \w We|strong="G2532"\w* \w will|strong="G2532"\w* \w keep|strong="G4160"\w* \w on|strong="G1519"\w* \w doing|strong="G4160"\w* \w that|strong="G3588"\w* \w for|strong="G1519"\w* \w a|strong="G2532"\w* \w year|strong="G1763"\w*. \w That|strong="G3588"\w*’s how \w we|strong="G2532"\w* \w will|strong="G2532"\w* \w get|strong="G2532"\w* plenty \w of|strong="G2532"\w* money \w to|strong="G1519"\w* \w keep|strong="G4160"\w* \w for|strong="G1519"\w* ourselves.” \v 14 \w You|strong="G5210"\w* talk \w like|strong="G4314"\w* \w that|strong="G3588"\w*. \w You|strong="G5210"\w* \w say|strong="G2532"\w*, “Tomorrow,” \w but|strong="G2532"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w* don’\w t|strong="G3588"\w* \w know|strong="G1987"\w* \w what|strong="G4169"\w* \w will|strong="G1510"\w* \w happen|strong="G1510"\w* tomorrow. \w Will|strong="G1510"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w* still \w be|strong="G1510"\w* \w alive|strong="G2222"\w* tomorrow? \w You|strong="G5210"\w* \w know|strong="G1987"\w*, \w your|strong="G2532"\w* \w life|strong="G2222"\w* \w is|strong="G1510"\w* \w like|strong="G4314"\w* \w a|strong="G2532"\w* puff \w of|strong="G2532"\w* smoke, \w it|strong="G2532"\w* doesn’\w t|strong="G3588"\w* last \w long|strong="G3641"\w*. \w You|strong="G5210"\w* \w are|strong="G1510"\w* \w alive|strong="G2222"\w* today, \w but|strong="G2532"\w* maybe tomorrow \w you|strong="G5210"\w* \w will|strong="G1510"\w* die.\x * \xo 4:14 \xt Proverbs 27:1\x* \p \v 15-16 So don’t talk up big about something you will do tomorrow, but instead you have to talk like this, “If God wants us to, we will keep on living, and we will go and do that thing.” It is wrong to forget God and talk up big about something before you do it. \p \v 17 \w You|strong="G1510"\w* \w see|strong="G1492"\w*, \w if|strong="G2532"\w* \w you|strong="G1510"\w* \w know|strong="G1492"\w* \w the|strong="G2532"\w* \w right|strong="G2570"\w* \w thing|strong="G2570"\w* \w to|strong="G2532"\w* \w do|strong="G4160"\w*, \w but|strong="G2532"\w* \w you|strong="G1510"\w* don’t \w do|strong="G4160"\w* \w it|strong="G2532"\w*, \w it|strong="G2532"\w* \w is|strong="G1510"\w* \w just|strong="G2532"\w* \w the|strong="G2532"\w* \w same|strong="G2532"\w* \w for|strong="G2532"\w* \w you|strong="G1510"\w* \w as|strong="G2532"\w* \w if|strong="G2532"\w* \w you|strong="G1510"\w* \w did|strong="G4160"\w* \w something|strong="G1510"\w* wrong. \c 5 \s1 God will punish people that cheat to make themselves rich \p \v 1 \w Now|strong="G3568"\w* \w I|strong="G3568"\w*’m talking \w to|strong="G1909"\w* \w rich|strong="G4145"\w* \w people|strong="G4145"\w* \w that|strong="G3588"\w* cheated \w people|strong="G4145"\w* \w to|strong="G1909"\w* get money \w for|strong="G1909"\w* themselves. \w You|strong="G5210"\w* mob listen \w to|strong="G1909"\w* \w me|strong="G1909"\w*. \w You|strong="G5210"\w* \w are|strong="G3588"\w* going \w to|strong="G1909"\w* get big trouble, \w so|strong="G3568"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w* can start \w to|strong="G1909"\w* cry right \w now|strong="G3568"\w*, \w and|strong="G2799"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w* can \w be|strong="G3588"\w* really sad. \v 2-3 All your money and clothes, and those things you got for yourself, they will all become useless. They will rot away. Or they will rust away. Or white ants will eat them. God will see that rusty rotten mess, and he will say that you are too greedy, and he will punish you with big trouble. It will be like a fire burning up your body. You thought you could keep all that stuff for a long time, but you will not have it for very long.\x * \xo 5:2-3 \xt Matthew 6:19\x* \v 4 \w You|strong="G5210"\w* cheated \w to|strong="G1519"\w* \w get|strong="G2532"\w* \w that|strong="G3588"\w* money. \w You|strong="G5210"\w* got \w men|strong="G3588"\w* \w to|strong="G1519"\w* work \w on|strong="G1519"\w* \w your|strong="G2962"\w* farm, \w and|strong="G2532"\w* \w they|strong="G2532"\w* \w cut|strong="G2532"\w* down \w the|strong="G2532"\w* food crop \w that|strong="G3588"\w* grew \w there|strong="G2532"\w*, \w and|strong="G2532"\w* \w they|strong="G2532"\w* \w brought|strong="G1519"\w* \w all|strong="G2532"\w* \w that|strong="G3588"\w* food \w to|strong="G1519"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w*. \w But|strong="G2532"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w* didn’\w t|strong="G3588"\w* \w pay|strong="G3408"\w* \w them|strong="G3588"\w* \w for|strong="G1519"\w* \w that|strong="G3588"\w* work. \w You|strong="G5210"\w* \w sent|strong="G2532"\w* \w them|strong="G3588"\w* away \w with|strong="G2532"\w* \w no|strong="G2532"\w* \w pay|strong="G3408"\w*. \w Then|strong="G2532"\w* \w they|strong="G2532"\w* \w cried|strong="G2896"\w* \w about|strong="G1519"\w* \w it|strong="G2532"\w*, \w and|strong="G2532"\w* \w our|strong="G2532"\w* \w God|strong="G2532"\w* heard \w them|strong="G3588"\w*. \w He|strong="G2532"\w* \w is|strong="G3588"\w* \w very|strong="G2532"\w* \w strong|strong="G2532"\w*, \w and|strong="G2532"\w* \w he|strong="G2532"\w* can \w see|strong="G3708"\w* \w that|strong="G3588"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w* cheated \w them|strong="G3588"\w*. \w God|strong="G2532"\w* can \w see|strong="G3708"\w* \w their|strong="G2532"\w* money. \w It|strong="G2532"\w* \w is|strong="G3588"\w* still \w in|strong="G1519"\w* \w your|strong="G2962"\w* pocket. \w So|strong="G2532"\w* \w God|strong="G2532"\w* \w will|strong="G2532"\w* \w make|strong="G1519"\w* big trouble \w for|strong="G1519"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w*.\x * \xo 5:4 \xt Deuteronomy 24:14-15\x* \p \v 5-6 While you lived here on this earth, you killed good people that couldn’t fight back. You lied and said they were guilty, and then you killed them. While you were doing that, you got everything you wanted, and you had plenty to eat. You are fat now, but look out. God will kill you. Think about a farmer and his cow. He feeds that cow a lot of grass and makes it fat, then he kills it to get some meat. Well, that is a picture of you. You are fat now, but God will kill you. \s1 Christians, don’t give up \p \v 7-8 Now I’m talking to you Christian people. You have to wait for our leader, Jesus, to come back, so don’t give up. Think about farmers. They plant their food crops, and then they just wait for the rain to come and make the plants grow, so that in the end, the farmers will get lots of food from those plants. Well, you have to wait, just like they do. Don’t give up. Our leader, Jesus, will come back soon. \p \v 9 \w My|strong="G3708"\w* Christian friends, don’\w t|strong="G3588"\w* \w complain|strong="G4727"\w* \w about|strong="G2596"\w* \w each|strong="G2596"\w* \w other|strong="G2443"\w*, \w or|strong="G3361"\w* \w God|strong="G3361"\w* \w will|strong="G2476"\w* \w judge|strong="G2919"\w* \w you|strong="G3708"\w* \w and|strong="G2476"\w* say \w that|strong="G2443"\w* \w you|strong="G3708"\w* \w are|strong="G3588"\w* wrong. \w He|strong="G3588"\w* \w is|strong="G3588"\w* \w the|strong="G2596"\w* big \w judge|strong="G2919"\w*, \w and|strong="G2476"\w* \w he|strong="G3588"\w* \w is|strong="G3588"\w* coming \w soon|strong="G3361"\w*. \w He|strong="G3588"\w* \w is|strong="G3588"\w* nearly \w here|strong="G2400"\w* already. \p \v 10 \w My|strong="G1722"\w* Christian friends, remember \w the|strong="G1722"\w* stories \w from|strong="G2532"\w* \w a|strong="G2532"\w* long \w time|strong="G3739"\w* ago. Think \w about|strong="G1722"\w* \w the|strong="G1722"\w* \w people|strong="G3588"\w* \w that|strong="G3739"\w* \w told|strong="G2980"\w* \w God|strong="G2532"\w*’\w s|strong="G2962"\w* messages \w to|strong="G2532"\w* \w people|strong="G3588"\w*. \w They|strong="G2532"\w* \w kept|strong="G3739"\w* \w going|strong="G2532"\w*, \w even|strong="G2532"\w* \w if|strong="G2532"\w* \w people|strong="G3588"\w* didn’\w t|strong="G3588"\w* believe \w them|strong="G3588"\w*, \w and|strong="G2532"\w* \w if|strong="G2532"\w* \w people|strong="G3588"\w* \w gave|strong="G2532"\w* \w them|strong="G3588"\w* \w a|strong="G2532"\w* lot \w of|strong="G2532"\w* trouble. \v 11 \w They|strong="G2532"\w* didn’\w t|strong="G3588"\w* give \w up|strong="G2532"\w*, \w so|strong="G2532"\w* \w now|strong="G2532"\w* \w we|strong="G3754"\w* respect \w them|strong="G3588"\w*, \w and|strong="G2532"\w* \w we|strong="G3754"\w* \w say|strong="G2532"\w* \w they|strong="G2532"\w* \w were|strong="G1510"\w* \w good|strong="G3588"\w* \w people|strong="G1510"\w*. \w Remember|strong="G2400"\w* \w the|strong="G2532"\w* story \w about|strong="G3588"\w* \w Job|strong="G2492"\w*. \w He|strong="G2532"\w* \w was|strong="G1510"\w* \w a|strong="G2532"\w* \w good|strong="G3588"\w* man, \w but|strong="G2532"\w* \w he|strong="G2532"\w* got \w a|strong="G2532"\w* lot \w of|strong="G2532"\w* trouble. \w But|strong="G2532"\w* \w he|strong="G2532"\w* \w kept|strong="G2532"\w* \w on|strong="G2962"\w* following \w God|strong="G2532"\w*, \w and|strong="G2532"\w* \w in|strong="G2532"\w* \w the|strong="G2532"\w* \w end|strong="G5056"\w*, \w God|strong="G2532"\w* made everything \w good|strong="G3588"\w* \w for|strong="G3754"\w* \w him|strong="G3588"\w*. \w So|strong="G2532"\w* \w we|strong="G3754"\w* know \w that|strong="G3754"\w* \w God|strong="G2532"\w* always feels sorry \w for|strong="G3754"\w* \w his|strong="G3708"\w* \w people|strong="G1510"\w* \w when|strong="G2532"\w* \w they|strong="G2532"\w* \w get|strong="G2532"\w* trouble, \w and|strong="G2532"\w* \w he|strong="G2532"\w* \w will|strong="G1510"\w* \w be|strong="G1510"\w* \w very|strong="G2532"\w* \w good|strong="G3588"\w* \w to|strong="G2532"\w* \w them|strong="G3588"\w*.\x * \xo 5:11 \xt Job 1:21-22; 2:10; Psalm 103:8\x* \p \v 12 \w And|strong="G2532"\w* \w there|strong="G2532"\w* \w is|strong="G1510"\w* \w another|strong="G5100"\w* \w thing|strong="G5100"\w* \w that|strong="G2443"\w* \w I|strong="G1473"\w* want \w to|strong="G2443"\w* \w say|strong="G2532"\w*, \w my|strong="G3956"\w* friends, \w and|strong="G2532"\w* \w it|strong="G2532"\w* \w is|strong="G1510"\w* \w very|strong="G2532"\w* important. Whenever \w you|strong="G5210"\w* promise \w something|strong="G5100"\w*, don’\w t|strong="G3588"\w* \w say|strong="G2532"\w*, “\w God|strong="G2532"\w* \w is|strong="G1510"\w* \w the|strong="G2532"\w* boss \w over|strong="G5259"\w* \w heaven|strong="G3772"\w* \w and|strong="G2532"\w* \w earth|strong="G1093"\w*, \w and|strong="G2532"\w* \w if|strong="G2532"\w* \w I|strong="G1473"\w* don’\w t|strong="G3588"\w* \w do|strong="G2532"\w* \w what|strong="G3588"\w* \w I|strong="G1473"\w* promise, \w he|strong="G2532"\w* \w will|strong="G1510"\w* punish \w me|strong="G1473"\w*.” Don’\w t|strong="G3588"\w* \w say|strong="G2532"\w* \w anything|strong="G5100"\w* \w like|strong="G2443"\w* \w that|strong="G2443"\w*. \w You|strong="G5210"\w* see, \w if|strong="G2532"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w* \w say|strong="G2532"\w* \w that|strong="G2443"\w*, \w and|strong="G2532"\w* \w then|strong="G2532"\w* don’\w t|strong="G3588"\w* \w do|strong="G2532"\w* \w what|strong="G3588"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w* promised, \w then|strong="G2532"\w* \w God|strong="G2532"\w* \w will|strong="G1510"\w* \w say|strong="G2532"\w* \w that|strong="G2443"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w* \w are|strong="G1510"\w* guilty. \w So|strong="G2443"\w* \w just|strong="G2532"\w* tell \w the|strong="G2532"\w* \w true|strong="G3588"\w* story. \w Say|strong="G2532"\w* \em yes\em* \w when|strong="G1161"\w* \w that|strong="G2443"\w* \w is|strong="G1510"\w* \w true|strong="G3588"\w*, \w or|strong="G2532"\w* \em no\em* \w when|strong="G1161"\w* \w that|strong="G2443"\w* \w is|strong="G1510"\w* \w true|strong="G3588"\w*, \w and|strong="G2532"\w* don’\w t|strong="G3588"\w* \w say|strong="G2532"\w* \w anything|strong="G5100"\w* \w more|strong="G2532"\w*.\x * \xo 5:12 \xt Matthew 5:34-37\x* \s1 This is how to pray \p \v 13 \w Have|strong="G5210"\w* \w any|strong="G5100"\w* \w of|strong="G5100"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w* got \w trouble|strong="G2553"\w*? \w You|strong="G5210"\w* \w have|strong="G5210"\w* \w to|strong="G1722"\w* \w keep|strong="G2114"\w* \w on|strong="G1722"\w* \w praying|strong="G4336"\w* \w about|strong="G1722"\w* \w it|strong="G5100"\w*. Or \w are|strong="G1722"\w* \w any|strong="G5100"\w* \w of|strong="G5100"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w* happy? \w You|strong="G5210"\w* can \w sing|strong="G5567"\w* \w to|strong="G1722"\w* God \w to|strong="G1722"\w* say \em thank you\em* \w to|strong="G1722"\w* \w him|strong="G1722"\w* \w and|strong="G4336"\w* \w to|strong="G1722"\w* tell everybody \w that|strong="G1722"\w* God \w is|strong="G5100"\w* really good. \v 14 \w Are|strong="G3588"\w* \w any|strong="G5100"\w* \w of|strong="G2532"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w* sick? \w You|strong="G5210"\w* \w have|strong="G2532"\w* \w to|strong="G2532"\w* ask \w the|strong="G1722"\w* leaders \w of|strong="G2532"\w* \w the|strong="G1722"\w* \w church|strong="G1577"\w* \w to|strong="G2532"\w* \w come|strong="G2532"\w* \w to|strong="G2532"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w* \w and|strong="G2532"\w* \w pray|strong="G4336"\w* \w for|strong="G1909"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w*. \w They|strong="G2532"\w* can ask \w for|strong="G1909"\w* \w Jesus|strong="G2532"\w*’\w s|strong="G2962"\w* power \w to|strong="G2532"\w* \w make|strong="G4336"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w* better, \w and|strong="G2532"\w* \w they|strong="G2532"\w* can \w put|strong="G2532"\w* \w some|strong="G5100"\w* \w olive|strong="G1637"\w* \w oil|strong="G1637"\w* \w on|strong="G1909"\w* \w you|strong="G5210"\w* \w while|strong="G1722"\w* \w they|strong="G2532"\w* \w pray|strong="G4336"\w*.\x * \xo 5:14 \xt Mark 6:13\x* \v 15 Whenever somebody prays \w and|strong="G2532"\w* really trusts \w God|strong="G2532"\w* \w to|strong="G2532"\w* \w make|strong="G4160"\w* \w a|strong="G2532"\w* \w sick|strong="G2577"\w* person better, \w God|strong="G2532"\w* \w will|strong="G1510"\w* \w do|strong="G4160"\w* \w what|strong="G3588"\w* \w they|strong="G2532"\w* \w are|strong="G1510"\w* asking \w him|strong="G3588"\w* \w to|strong="G2532"\w* \w do|strong="G4160"\w*. \w Jesus|strong="G1510"\w*, \w our|strong="G2532"\w* leader, \w will|strong="G1510"\w* \w make|strong="G4160"\w* \w that|strong="G3588"\w* \w sick|strong="G2577"\w* person \w good|strong="G3588"\w* \w again|strong="G1453"\w*. \w And|strong="G2532"\w* \w if|strong="G2579"\w* \w they|strong="G2532"\w* \w got|strong="G1453"\w* \w sick|strong="G2577"\w* \w because|strong="G2532"\w* \w they|strong="G2532"\w* \w did|strong="G4160"\w* \w something|strong="G1510"\w* wrong, \w God|strong="G2532"\w* \w will|strong="G1510"\w* \w not|strong="G1510"\w* punish \w them|strong="G3588"\w* \w any|strong="G4160"\w* \w more|strong="G2532"\w* \w for|strong="G2532"\w* \w doing|strong="G4160"\w* \w that|strong="G3588"\w* bad thing. \p \v 16 \w So|strong="G3767"\w* whenever \w you|strong="G2532"\w* \w go|strong="G2532"\w* wrong \w and|strong="G2532"\w* \w do|strong="G2532"\w* bad \w things|strong="G3588"\w*, don’\w t|strong="G3588"\w* try \w to|strong="G2532"\w* \w say|strong="G2532"\w* \w that|strong="G3588"\w* \w you|strong="G2532"\w* \w are|strong="G3588"\w* still \w good|strong="G2480"\w*. \w No|strong="G2532"\w*. Tell each \w other|strong="G4183"\w* \w the|strong="G2532"\w* \w true|strong="G3588"\w* story \w about|strong="G5228"\w* \w the|strong="G2532"\w* bad \w things|strong="G3588"\w* \w that|strong="G3588"\w* \w you|strong="G2532"\w* \w did|strong="G2532"\w*. \w Then|strong="G3767"\w* \w you|strong="G2532"\w* \w can|strong="G2480"\w* \w pray|strong="G2172"\w* \w for|strong="G5228"\w* each \w other|strong="G4183"\w*, \w so|strong="G3767"\w* \w that|strong="G3588"\w* \w God|strong="G2532"\w* \w can|strong="G2480"\w* \w make|strong="G2532"\w* \w you|strong="G2532"\w* \w good|strong="G2480"\w* \w again|strong="G2532"\w*. Whenever \w a|strong="G2532"\w* \w good|strong="G2480"\w* \w person|strong="G1342"\w* prays \w to|strong="G2532"\w* \w God|strong="G2532"\w* \w about|strong="G5228"\w* \w something|strong="G4183"\w*, \w then|strong="G3767"\w* \w God|strong="G2532"\w* uses \w his|strong="G2532"\w* power \w and|strong="G2532"\w* does whatever \w that|strong="G3588"\w* \w good|strong="G2480"\w* \w person|strong="G1342"\w* asks \w for|strong="G5228"\w*. \v 17 Think \w about|strong="G1909"\w* \w the|strong="G2532"\w* story \w about|strong="G1909"\w* \w Elijah|strong="G2243"\w*. \w He|strong="G2532"\w* \w was|strong="G1510"\w* \w just|strong="G2532"\w* \w a|strong="G2532"\w* person, \w like|strong="G3663"\w* \w us|strong="G2249"\w*, \w but|strong="G2532"\w* \w he|strong="G2532"\w* \w prayed|strong="G4336"\w* \w and|strong="G2532"\w* asked \w God|strong="G2532"\w* \w to|strong="G2532"\w* \w stop|strong="G3361"\w* \w the|strong="G2532"\w* \w rain|strong="G1026"\w*, \w and|strong="G2532"\w* \w God|strong="G2532"\w* \w did|strong="G2532"\w* \w that|strong="G3588"\w*. \w It|strong="G2532"\w* didn’\w t|strong="G3588"\w* \w rain|strong="G1026"\w* \w at|strong="G1909"\w* \w all|strong="G2532"\w* \w for|strong="G1909"\w* \w the|strong="G2532"\w* next 3½ \w years|strong="G1763"\w*.\x * \xo 5:17 \xt 1 Kings 17:1; 18:1\x* \v 18 \w Then|strong="G2532"\w* Elijah asked \w God|strong="G1325"\w* \w to|strong="G2532"\w* send \w rain|strong="G5205"\w* \w again|strong="G3825"\w*, \w and|strong="G2532"\w* \w God|strong="G1325"\w* \w did|strong="G2532"\w* \w that|strong="G3588"\w*. \w A|strong="G2532"\w* lot \w of|strong="G2532"\w* \w rain|strong="G5205"\w* \w came|strong="G2532"\w* down, \w and|strong="G2532"\w* \w then|strong="G2532"\w* \w the|strong="G2532"\w* food plants started \w to|strong="G2532"\w* grow \w again|strong="G3825"\w*.\x * \xo 5:18 \xt 1 Kings 18:42-45\x* \p \v 19-20 Listen, my Christian friends, suppose a Christian starts to forget about God’s true words, and that person goes the wrong way. And suppose somebody else talks to them and gets them to come back to the right way. Then God will go easy on the person that went the wrong way. He will not punish them for all the bad things they did, and he will not finish them up for ever. You see, the person that gets them to come back does a lot of good. So that is the sort of thing you have to do.\x * \xo 5:19-20 \xt Proverbs 10:12; 1 Peter 4:8\x* \b \p \sig From James\sig*