It is not we who have closed our hearts to you; it is you who have closed your hearts to us.

Then Joseph left suddenly, because his heart was full of tender feelings for his brother. He was about to break down, so he went to his room and cried.

The real mother, her heart full of love for her son, said to the king, "Please, Your Majesty, don't kill the child! Give it to her!" But the other woman said, "Don't give it to either of us; go on and cut it in two."

My lover put his hand to the door, and I was thrilled that he was near.

God is my witness that I tell the truth when I say that my deep feeling for you all comes from the heart of Christ Jesus himself.

You are the people of God; he loved you and chose you for his own. So then, you must clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

If we are rich and see others in need, yet close our hearts against them, how can we claim that we love God?

I wrote you that letter because I wanted to find out how well you had stood the test and whether you are always ready to obey my instructions.

we pull down every proud obstacle that is raised against the knowledge of God; we take every thought captive and make it obey Christ.

And after you have proved your complete loyalty, we will be ready to punish any act of disloyalty.

So then, dear friends, as you always obeyed me when I was with you, it is even more important that you obey me now while I am away from you. Keep on working with fear and trembling to complete your salvation,

It may be that some there will not obey the message we send you in this letter. If so, take note of them and have nothing to do with them, so that they will be ashamed.

For the sadness that is used by God brings a change of heart that leads to salvation---and there is no regret in that! But sadness that is merely human causes death.

See what God did with this sadness of yours: how earnest it has made you, how eager to prove your innocence! Such indignation, such alarm, such feelings, such devotion, such readiness to punish wrongdoing! You have shown yourselves to be without fault in the whole matter.

I sat there grieving until the time for the evening sacrifice to be offered, and people began to gather around me---all those who were frightened because of what the God of Israel had said about the sins of those who had returned from exile.

Within the three days, on the twentieth day of the ninth month, all the men living in the territory of Judah and Benjamin came to Jerusalem and assembled in the Temple square. It was raining hard, and because of the weather and the importance of the meeting everyone was trembling.

When I think of what has happened to me, I am stunned, and I tremble and shake.

Serve the LORD with fear; tremble

Because of you I am afraid; I am filled with fear because of your judgments.

I myself created the whole universe! I am pleased with those who are humble and repentant, who fear me and obey me.

In the past, when the tribe of Ephraim spoke, the other tribes of Israel were afraid; they looked up to Ephraim. But the people sinned by worshiping Baal, and for this they will die.

The jailer called for a light, rushed in, and fell trembling at the feet of Paul and Silas.

Slaves, obey your human masters with fear and trembling; and do it with a sincere heart, as though you were serving Christ.

So then, dear friends, as you always obeyed me when I was with you, it is even more important that you obey me now while I am away from you. Keep on working with fear and trembling to complete your salvation,