She shall be brought to the King in robes of many colors; The virgins, her companions who follow her, shall be brought to You.

Because of the fragrance of your good ointments, Your name [is] ointment poured forth; Therefore the virgins love you.

There are sixty queens And eighty concubines, And virgins without number.

"Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.

Now concerning virgins: I have no commandment from the Lord; yet I give judgment as one whom the Lord in His mercy [has made] trustworthy.

I suppose therefore that this is good because of the present distress -- that [it is] good for a man to remain as he is:

But even if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Nevertheless such will have trouble in the flesh, but I would spare you.

For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present [you as] a chaste virgin to Christ.

forbidding to marry, [and commanding] to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.

"You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.

"Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them.

"for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

"These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those [who are] with Him [are] called, chosen, and faithful."

Then a certain scribe came and said to Him, "Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go."

Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, [that] someone said to Him, "Lord, I will follow You wherever You go."

Then He said to another, "Follow Me." But he said, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father."

And another also said, "Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go [and] bid them farewell who are at my house."

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."

"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.

"If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him [My] Father will honor.

Peter said to Him, "Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your sake."

And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,

Remember Your congregation, [which] You have purchased of old, The tribe of Your inheritance, [which] You have redeemed -- This Mount Zion where You have dwelt.

"Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.

who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

But you [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

Israel [was] holiness to the LORD, The firstfruits of His increase. All that devour him will offend; Disaster will come upon them," says the LORD.' "

Woe to you [who are] at ease in Zion, And trust in Mount Samaria, Notable persons in the chief nation, To whom the house of Israel comes!

I urge you, brethren -- you know the household of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and [that] they have devoted themselves to the ministry of the saints --

Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.