From there we put out to sea and sailed under the lee of Cyprus because the winds were against us.

For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow toward us, so also our comfort through Christ overflows to you.

For you know yourselves how you must imitate us, because we did not behave without discipline among you,

for it is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard.”

For they disciplined us for a little while as seemed good to them, but he does so for our benefit, that we may share his holiness.

The descendants of Joseph said to Joshua, “Why have you assigned us only one tribal allotment? After all, we have many people, for until now the Lord has enabled us to increase in number.”

For he has even sent a message to us here in Babylon. He wrote and told us, “You will be there a long time. Build houses and settle down. Plant gardens and eat what they produce.”’”

If we go into the city, we’ll die of starvation, and if we stay here we’ll die! So come on, let’s defect to the Syrian camp! If they spare us, we’ll live; if they kill us – well, we were going to die anyway.”

So we fasted and prayed to our God about this, and he answered us.

For God, our God, is our defender forever! He guides us!

If we do so, won’t their livestock, their property, and all their animals become ours? So let’s consent to their demand, so they will live among us.”

For you are aware of our many rebellious deeds, and our sins testify against us; indeed, we are aware of our rebellious deeds; we know our sins all too well.

Due to the fact that the good hand of our God was on us, they brought us a skilled man, from the descendants of Mahli the son of Levi son of Israel. This man was Sherebiah, who was accompanied by his sons and brothers, 18 men,

Her leaders take bribes when they decide legal cases, her priests proclaim rulings for profit, and her prophets read omens for pay. Yet they claim to trust the Lord and say, “The Lord is among us. Disaster will not overtake us!”

She followed behind Paul and us and kept crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation.”

Make room for us in your hearts; we have wronged no one, we have ruined no one, we have exploited no one.

For he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world that we may be holy and unblemished in his sight in love.

Or do you think the scripture means nothing when it says, “The spirit that God caused to live within us has an envious yearning”?

Let us rejoice and exult and give him glory, because the wedding celebration of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.

But the men were afraid when they were brought to Joseph’s house. They said, “We are being brought in because of the money that was returned in our sacks last time. He wants to capture us, make us slaves, and take our donkeys!”