sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors, through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord : we are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first-fruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order : Christ the first-fruits ; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule, and all authority, and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened except it die : and that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain ; it may chance of wheat or of some other grain : but God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption : it is sown in dishonour, it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power : it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory ? The sting of death is sin ;] and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ. For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. God came from Teman, and the Holy One from mount Paran. And his brightness was as the light; The perpetual hills did bow: His ways are everlasting. Was the Lord displeased against the rivers ? Thy bow was made quite naked, Thou didst cleave the earth with rivers. The deep uttered his voice, And lifted up his hands on high. Thou woundedst the head out of the house of the wicked, They came out as a whirlwind to scatter me: Through the heap of great waters. Rotteuness entered into my bones, When he cometh up unto the people, Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, Sharon, The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them ; And the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. Even God with a recompense ; He will come and save you. And streams in the desert. And it shall be called, The way of holiness; The wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. No lion shall be there, It shall not be found there; And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, They shall obtain joy and gladness, COMFORT ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. For she hath received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins. Lord, Make straight in the desert a high-way for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be mage low: And the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain : And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, And all flesh shall see it together : The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? The grass withereth, the flower fadeth : Surely the people is grass. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth : But the word of our God shall stand for ever. for him : He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: And shall gently lead those that are with young. And meted out heaven with the span, Who hath directed the spirit of the Lord, Or being his counsellor hath taught him? And taught him in the path of judgment, Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, |