"I took the burdens off your backs; I let you put down your loads of bricks.

(SEE 1:13)

Surely you know that the wicked will not possess God's Kingdom. Do not fool yourselves; people who are immoral or who worship idols or are adulterers or homosexual perverts

Some of you were like that. But you have been purified from sin; you have been dedicated to God; you have been put right with God by the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

You know that while you were still heathen, you were led astray in many ways to the worship of lifeless idols.

In the past you were spiritually dead because of your disobedience and sins.

Actually all of us were like them and lived according to our natural desires, doing whatever suited the wishes of our own bodies and minds. In our natural condition we, like everyone else, were destined to suffer God's anger.

For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, and wrong. We were slaves to passions and pleasures of all kinds. We spent our lives in malice and envy; others hated us and we hated them.

Don't abandon your helpless people to their cruel enemies; don't forget your persecuted people!

Then he led the Israelites out; they carried silver and gold, and all of them were healthy and strong.

The LORD takes pleasure in his people; he honors the humble with victory.

The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the grains of sand on the seashore; they ate and drank, and were happy.

Solomon's kingdom included all the nations from the Euphrates River to Philistia and the Egyptian border. They paid him taxes and were subject to him all his life.

"Then I passed by and saw you squirming in your own blood. You were covered with blood, but I wouldn't let you die.

"As I passed by again, I saw that the time had come for you to fall in love. I covered your naked body with my coat and promised to love you. Yes, I made a marriage covenant with you, and you became mine." This is what the Sovereign LORD says.

I dressed you in embroidered gowns and gave you shoes of the best leather, a linen headband, and a silk cloak.

I gave you a nose ring and earrings and a beautiful crown to wear.

You became famous in every nation for your perfect beauty, because I was the one who made you so lovely." This is what the Sovereign LORD says.

He wished he could fill himself with the bean pods the pigs ate, but no one gave him anything to eat.

But the father called to his servants. 'Hurry!' he said. 'Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and shoes on his feet.

He did this to dedicate the church to God by his word, after making it clean by washing it in water,

in order to present the church to himself in all its beauty---pure and faultless, without spot or wrinkle or any other imperfection.

and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the first to be raised from death and who is also the ruler of the kings of the world. He loves us, and by his sacrificial death he has freed us from our sins

and made us a kingdom of priests to serve his God and Father. To Jesus Christ be the glory and power forever and ever! Amen.