Psalms  119:130  

The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.

Ramnath Gunupudi

10 “Yet the Israelites will be like the sand on the seashore, which cannot be measured or counted. In the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ they will be called ‘children of the living God.’ 
11 The people of Judah and the people of Israel will come together; they will appoint one leader and will come up out of the land, for great will be the day of Jezreel.[c] 
 
2:1-13 
1 “Then you will say to your brothers, ‘You are my people,’ and you will say to your sisters, ‘He has shown mercy to you.’”[a] 
2 “Argue with your mother.[b] Argue with her because she is no longer my wife, and I am no longer her husband! Tell her to stop being like a prostitute. Tell her to take away her lovers[c] from between her breasts. 
3 If she refuses to stop her adultery, I will strip her naked and leave her like the day she was born. I will take away her people, and she will be like an empty, dry desert. I will kill her with thirst. 
4 I will have no pity on her children because they are the children of prostitution. 
5 Their mother has acted like a prostitute. She should be ashamed of what she did. She said, ‘I will go to my lovers,[d] who give me food and water, wool and linen, wine and olive oil.’ 
6 “So I, the Lord, will block Israel’s road with thorns, and I will build a wall. Then she will not be able to find her path. 
7 She will run after her lovers, but she will not be able to catch up with them. She will look for her lovers, but she will not be able to find them. Then she will say, ‘I will go back to my husband. Life was better for me when I was with him. Life was better then than it is now.’ 
8 “Israel didn’t know that I, the Lord, was the one who gave her grain, wine, and oil. I kept giving her more and more silver and gold, but she used this silver and gold to make statues of Baal. 
9 So I will return and take back my grain at the time it is ready to be harvested. I will take back my wine at the time the grapes are ready. I will take back my wool and linen. I gave those things to her so that she could cover her naked body. 
10 Now I will strip her. She will be naked, so all her lovers can see her. No one will be able to save her from my power.[e] 
11 I will take away all her fun. I will stop her festivals, her New Moon celebrations, and her days of rest. I will stop all her special feasts. 
12 I will destroy her vines and fig trees. She said, ‘My lovers gave these things to me.’ But I will change her gardens—they will become like a wild forest. Wild animals will come and eat from those plants. 
13 “Israel served false gods,[f] so I will punish her. She burned incense to those false gods. She dressed up—she put on her jewelry and nose ring. Then she went to her lovers and forgot me.” This is what the Lord has said.

10 “Yet the Israelites will be like the sand on the seashore, which cannot be measured or counted. In the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ they will be called ‘children of the living God.’ 
11 The people of Judah and the people of Israel will come together; they will appoint one leader and will come up out of the land, for great will be the day of Jezreel.[c]

2:1-13
1 “Then you will say to your brothers, ‘You are my people,’ and you will say to your sisters, ‘He has shown mercy to you.’”[a]
2 “Argue with your mother.[b] Argue with her because she is no longer my wife, and I am no longer her husband! Tell her to stop being like a prostitute. Tell her to take away her lovers[c] from between her breasts. 
3 If she refuses to stop her adultery, I will strip her naked and leave her like the day she was born. I will take away her people, and she will be like an empty, dry desert. I will kill her with thirst. 
4 I will have no pity on her children because they are th

Hosea 1:10-11,2:1-13 - Israel punished & restored

Victory for the Jews 
1 On the 13th day of the twelfth month (Adar), the people were supposed to obey the king’s command. This was the day the enemies of the Jews hoped to defeat them, but now things had changed. The Jews were stronger than their enemies who hated them. 
2 The Jews met together in their cities in all the provinces of King Xerxes so that they would be strong enough to attack the people who wanted to destroy them. No one was strong enough to stand against them. They were afraid of the Jews. 
3 And all the officials of the provinces, the satraps, the governors, and the king’s administrators helped the Jews. All the leaders helped them because they were afraid of Mordecai. 
4 Mordecai had become a very important man in the king’s palace. Everyone in the provinces knew his name and knew how important he was. And Mordecai became more and more powerful. 
5 The Jews defeated all their enemies. They used swords to kill and destroy them. They did what they wanted to the people who hated them. 
6 They killed and destroyed 500 men in the capital city of Susa. 
7 They also killed these men: Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha, 
8 Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha, 
9 Parmashta, Arisai, Aridai, and Vaizatha. 
10 These men were the ten sons of Haman. Haman son of Hammedatha was the enemy of the Jews. The Jews killed all the men, but they didn’t take anything that belonged to them. 
11 That day the king heard how many men had been killed in the capital city of Susa. 
12 So the king said to Queen Esther, “The Jews have killed 500 men in Susa, including Haman’s ten sons. Now, what do you want done in the other provinces of the king? Tell me, and I will have it done. Ask, and I will do it.” 
13 Esther said, “If it pleases the king, please let the Jews in Susa do the same thing again tomorrow. Also, hang the bodies of Haman’s ten sons on posts.” 
14 So the king gave the command that it should be done. So the law was given in Susa, and they hanged Haman’s ten sons. 
15 The Jews in Susa met together on the 14th day of the month of Adar. They killed 300 men in Susa, but they didn’t take the things that belonged to them. 
16 At the same time, the Jews living in the other provinces also met together. They met together so that they would be strong enough to protect themselves. And so they got rid of their enemies. They killed 75,000 of their enemies. But the Jews didn’t take anything that belonged to them. 
17 This happened on the 13th day of the month Adar. On the 14th day the Jews rested and made that day a happy day of feasting.

Victory for the Jews
1 On the 13th day of the twelfth month (Adar), the people were supposed to obey the king’s command. This was the day the enemies of the Jews hoped to defeat them, but now things had changed. The Jews were stronger than their enemies who hated them. 
2 The Jews met together in their cities in all the provinces of King Xerxes so that they would be strong enough to attack the people who wanted to destroy them. No one was strong enough to stand against them. They were afraid of the Jews. 
3 And all the officials of the provinces, the satraps, the governors, and the king’s administrators helped the Jews. All the leaders helped them because they were afraid of Mordecai. 
4 Mordecai had become a very important man in the king’s palace. Everyone in the provinces knew his name and knew how important he was. And Mordecai became more and more powerful.
5 The Jews defeated all their enemies. They used swords to kill and destroy them. They did what they wanted to the people who

Esther 9:1-17 - Victory for the JEWS

ERV 
Jesus Will Die in Jerusalem 
31 Just then some Pharisees came to Jesus and said, “Go away from here and hide. Herod wants to kill you!” 
32 Jesus said to them, “Go tell that fox,[b] ‘Today and tomorrow I am forcing demons out of people and finishing my work of healing. Then, the next day, the work will be finished.’ 
33 After that I must go, because all prophets should die in Jerusalem. 
34 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem! You kill the prophets. You stone to death the people God has sent to you. How many times I wanted to help your people. I wanted to gather them together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings. But you did not let me. 
35 Now your home will be left completely empty. I tell you, you will not see me again until that time when you will say, ‘Welcome! God bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord.’[c]” 
 
NIV 
Jesus’ Sorrow for Jerusalem 
31 At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, “Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod wants to kill you.” 
32 He replied, “Go tell that fox, ‘I will keep on driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.’ 
33 In any case, I must press on today and tomorrow and the next day—for surely no prophet can die outside Jerusalem! 
34 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. 
35 Look, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’[b]”

ERV
Jesus Will Die in Jerusalem
31 Just then some Pharisees came to Jesus and said, “Go away from here and hide. Herod wants to kill you!”
32 Jesus said to them, “Go tell that fox,[b] ‘Today and tomorrow I am forcing demons out of people and finishing my work of healing. Then, the next day, the work will be finished.’ 
33 After that I must go, because all prophets should die in Jerusalem.
34 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem! You kill the prophets. You stone to death the people God has sent to you. How many times I wanted to help your people. I wanted to gather them together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings. But you did not let me. 
35 Now your home will be left completely empty. I tell you, you will not see me again until that time when you will say, ‘Welcome! God bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord.’[c]”

NIV
Jesus’ Sorrow for Jerusalem
31 At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, “Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod wants to kill you.”
32 He rep

Jesus Will Die in Jerusalem - Luke 13:31-35

ERV 
Jesus Teaches About Sexual Sin 
27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You must not commit adultery.’[a] 
28 But I tell you that if a man looks at a woman and wants to sin sexually with her, he has already committed that sin with her in his mind. 
29 If your right eye makes you sin, take it out and throw it away. It is better to lose one part of your body than to have your whole body thrown into hell. 
30 If your right hand makes you sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell. 
 
Matthew 6:22-23 
22 “The only source of light for the body is the eye. If you look at people and want to help them, you will be full of light. 
23 But if you look at people in a selfish way, you will be full of darkness. And if the only light you have is really darkness, you have the worst kind of darkness.c 
 
NIV 
Adultery 
27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’[a] 
28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 
29 If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 
30 And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell. 
 
Matthew 6:22-23 
22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy,[a] your whole body will be full of light. 
23 But if your eyes are unhealthy,[b] your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

ERV
Jesus Teaches About Sexual Sin
27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You must not commit adultery.’[a] 
28 But I tell you that if a man looks at a woman and wants to sin sexually with her, he has already committed that sin with her in his mind. 
29 If your right eye makes you sin, take it out and throw it away. It is better to lose one part of your body than to have your whole body thrown into hell. 
30 If your right hand makes you sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

Matthew 6:22-23
22 “The only source of light for the body is the eye. If you look at people and want to help them, you will be full of light. 
23 But if you look at people in a selfish way, you will be full of darkness. And if the only light you have is really darkness, you have the worst kind of darkness.c

NIV
Adultery
27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’[a] 
28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at

Jesus Teaches About Sexual Sin - Matthew 5:27-30 & 6:22-23

NIV 
12 Before a young woman’s turn came to go in to King Xerxes, she had to complete twelve months of beauty treatments prescribed for the women, six months with oil of myrrh and six with perfumes and cosmetics. 
13 And this is how she would go to the king: Anything she wanted was given her to take with her from the harem to the king’s palace. 
14 In the evening she would go there and in the morning return to another part of the harem to the care of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch who was in charge of the concubines. She would not return to the king unless he was pleased with her and summoned her by name. 
15 When the turn came for Esther (the young woman Mordecai had adopted, the daughter of his uncle Abihail) to go to the king, she asked for nothing other than what Hegai, the king’s eunuch who was in charge of the harem, suggested. And Esther won the favor of everyone who saw her. 
16 She was taken to King Xerxes in the royal residence in the tenth month, the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign. 
17 Now the king was attracted to Esther more than to any of the other women, and she won his favor and approval more than any of the other virgins. So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti. 
18 And the king gave a great banquet, Esther’s banquet, for all his nobles and officials. He proclaimed a holiday throughout the provinces and distributed gifts with royal liberality. 
 
Mordecai Uncovers a Conspiracy 
 
19 When the virgins were assembled a second time, Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate. 
20 But Esther had kept secret her family background and nationality just as Mordecai had told her to do, for she continued to follow Mordecai’s instructions as she had done when he was bringing her up. 
21 During the time Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate, Bigthana b and Teresh, two of the king’s officers who guarded the doorway, became angry and conspired to assassinate King Xerxes. 
22 But Mordecai found out about the plot and told Queen Esther, who in turn reported it to the king, giving credit to Mordecai. 
23 And when the report was investigated and found to be true, the two officials were impaled on poles. All this was recorded in the book of the annals in the presence of the king.

NIV
12 Before a young woman’s turn came to go in to King Xerxes, she had to complete twelve months of beauty treatments prescribed for the women, six months with oil of myrrh and six with perfumes and cosmetics. 
13 And this is how she would go to the king: Anything she wanted was given her to take with her from the harem to the king’s palace. 
14 In the evening she would go there and in the morning return to another part of the harem to the care of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch who was in charge of the concubines. She would not return to the king unless he was pleased with her and summoned her by name.
15 When the turn came for Esther (the young woman Mordecai had adopted, the daughter of his uncle Abihail) to go to the king, she asked for nothing other than what Hegai, the king’s eunuch who was in charge of the harem, suggested. And Esther won the favor of everyone who saw her. 
16 She was taken to King Xerxes in the royal residence in the tenth month, the month of Tebeth, in the seve

Esther 2:12-23 - Mordecai Learns About an Evil Plan

NIV 
1 Later when King Xerxes’ fury had subsided, he remembered Vashti and what she had done and what he had decreed about her. 
2 Then the king’s personal attendants proposed, “Let a search be made for beautiful young virgins for the king. 
3 Let the king appoint commissioners in every province of his realm to bring all these beautiful young women into the harem at the citadel of Susa. Let them be placed under the care of Hegai, the king’s eunuch, who is in charge of the women; and let beauty treatments be given to them. 
4 Then let the young woman who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti.” This advice appealed to the king, and he followed it. 
5 Now there was in the citadel of Susa a Jew of the tribe of Benjamin, named Mordecai son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, 
6 who had been carried into exile from Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, among those taken captive with Jehoiachin[a] king of Judah. 
7 Mordecai had a cousin named Hadassah, whom he had brought up because she had neither father nor mother. This young woman, who was also known as Esther, had a lovely figure and was beautiful. Mordecai had taken her as his own daughter when her father and mother died. 
8 When the king’s order and edict had been proclaimed, many young women were brought to the citadel of Susa and put under the care of Hegai. Esther also was taken to the king’s palace and entrusted to Hegai, who had charge of the harem. 
9 She pleased him and won his favor. Immediately he provided her with her beauty treatments and special food. He assigned to her seven female attendants selected from the king’s palace and moved her and her attendants into the best place in the harem. 
10 Esther had not revealed her nationality and family background, because Mordecai had forbidden her to do so. 
11 Every day he walked back and forth near the courtyard of the harem to find out how Esther was and what was happening to her.

NIV
1 Later when King Xerxes’ fury had subsided, he remembered Vashti and what she had done and what he had decreed about her. 
2 Then the king’s personal attendants proposed, “Let a search be made for beautiful young virgins for the king. 
3 Let the king appoint commissioners in every province of his realm to bring all these beautiful young women into the harem at the citadel of Susa. Let them be placed under the care of Hegai, the king’s eunuch, who is in charge of the women; and let beauty treatments be given to them. 
4 Then let the young woman who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti.” This advice appealed to the king, and he followed it.
5 Now there was in the citadel of Susa a Jew of the tribe of Benjamin, named Mordecai son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, 
6 who had been carried into exile from Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, among those taken captive with Jehoiachin[a] king of Judah. 
7 Mordecai had a cousin named Hadassah, whom he had brought 

Esther 2:1-11 - Esther made Queen

1 You can go to God Most High to hide. 
You can go to God All-Powerful for protection. 
2 I say to the LORD, “You are my place of safety, my fortress. 
My God, I trust in you.” 
3 God will save you from hidden dangers 
and from deadly diseases. 
4 You can go to him for protection. 
He will cover you like a bird spreading its wings over its babies. 
You can trust him to surround and protect you like a shield. 
5 You will have nothing to fear at night 
and no need to be afraid of enemy arrows during the day. 
6 You will have no fear of diseases that come in the dark 
or terrible suffering that comes at noon. 
7 A thousand people may fall dead at your side 
or ten thousand right beside you, 
but nothing bad will happen to you! 
8 All you will have to do is watch, 
and you will see that the wicked are punished. 
9 You trust in the LORD for protection. 
You have made God Most High your place of safety. 
10 So nothing bad will happen to you. 
No diseases will come near your home.

1 You can go to God Most High to hide.
You can go to God All-Powerful for protection.
2 I say to the LORD, “You are my place of safety, my fortress.
My God, I trust in you.”
3 God will save you from hidden dangers
and from deadly diseases.
4 You can go to him for protection.
He will cover you like a bird spreading its wings over its babies.
You can trust him to surround and protect you like a shield.
5 You will have nothing to fear at night
and no need to be afraid of enemy arrows during the day.
6 You will have no fear of diseases that come in the dark
or terrible suffering that comes at noon.
7 A thousand people may fall dead at your side
or ten thousand right beside you,
but nothing bad will happen to you!
8 All you will have to do is watch,
and you will see that the wicked are punished.
9 You trust in the LORD for protection.
You have made God Most High your place of safety.
10 So nothing bad will happen to you.
No diseases will come near your home.

Psalms 91 :1-10

ERV 
Jesus Walks on Water 
(Mk. 6:45–52; Jn. 6:16–21) 
22 Then Jesus made the followers get into the boat. He told them to go to the other side of the lake. He said he would come later. He stayed there to tell everyone they could go home. 
23 After Jesus said goodbye to the people, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. It was late, and he was there alone. 
24 By this time the boat was already a long way from shore. Since the wind was blowing against it, the boat was having trouble because of the waves. 
25 Between three and six o’clock in the morning, Jesus’ followers were still in the boat. Jesus came to them. He was walking on the water. 
26 When they saw him walking on the water, it scared them. “It’s a ghost!” they said, screaming in fear. 
27 But Jesus quickly spoke to them. He said, “Don’t worry! It’s me! Don’t be afraid.” 
28 Peter said, “Lord, if that is really you, tell me to come to you on the water.” 
29 Jesus said, “Come, Peter.” 
Then Peter left the boat and walked on the water to Jesus. 
30 But while Peter was walking on the water, he saw the wind and the waves. He was afraid and began sinking into the water. He shouted, “Lord, save me!” 
31 Then Jesus caught Peter with his hand. He said, “Your faith is small. Why did you doubt?” 
32 After Peter and Jesus were in the boat, the wind stopped. 
33 Then the followers in the boat worshiped Jesus and said, “You really are the Son of God.”

ERV
Jesus Walks on Water
(Mk. 6:45–52; Jn. 6:16–21)
22 Then Jesus made the followers get into the boat. He told them to go to the other side of the lake. He said he would come later. He stayed there to tell everyone they could go home. 
23 After Jesus said goodbye to the people, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. It was late, and he was there alone. 
24 By this time the boat was already a long way from shore. Since the wind was blowing against it, the boat was having trouble because of the waves.
25 Between three and six o’clock in the morning, Jesus’ followers were still in the boat. Jesus came to them. He was walking on the water. 
26 When they saw him walking on the water, it scared them. “It’s a ghost!” they said, screaming in fear.
27 But Jesus quickly spoke to them. He said, “Don’t worry! It’s me! Don’t be afraid.”
28 Peter said, “Lord, if that is really you, tell me to come to you on the water.”
29 Jesus said, “Come, Peter.”
Then Peter left the boat and walked on the 

Jesus Walks on Water - Matthew 14:22-33 & Mark 6:45-51

NIV 
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 
26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 
27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life e ? 
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 
29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 
30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 
31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 
32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 
34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. 
 
ERV 
Put God’s Kingdom First 
25 “So I tell you, don’t worry about the things you need to live—what you will eat, drink, or wear. Life is more important than food, and the body is more important than what you put on it. 
26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant, harvest, or save food in barns, but your heavenly Father feeds them. Don’t you know you are worth much more than they are? 
27 You cannot add any time to your life by worrying about it. 
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? Look at the wildflowers in the field. See how they grow. They don’t work or make clothes for themselves. 
29 But I tell you that even Solomon, the great and rich king, was not dressed as beautifully as one of these flowers. 
30 If God makes what grows in the field so beautiful, what do you think he will do for you? It’s just grass—one day it’s alive, and the next day someone throws it into a fire. But God cares enough to make it beautiful. Surely he will do much more for you. Your faith is so small! 
31 “Don’t worry and say, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ 
32 That’s what those people who don’t know God are always thinking about. Don’t worry, because your Father in heaven knows that you need all these things. 
33 What you should want most is God’s kingdom and doing what he wants you to do. Then he will give you all these other things you need. 
34 So don’t worry about tomorrow. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Tomorrow will have its own worries.

NIV
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 
26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 
27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life e ?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 
29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 
30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 
31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 
32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 
33 But seek 

Do Not Worry - Matthew 6:25-34

ERV 
True Wealth 
1 Jesus said to his followers, “Once there was a rich man. He hired a manager to take care of his business. Later, he learned that his manager was cheating him. 
2 So he called the manager in and said to him, ‘I have heard bad things about you. Give me a report of what you have done with my money. You can’t be my manager anymore.’ 
3 “So, the manager thought to himself, ‘What will I do? My master is taking my job away from me. I am not strong enough to dig ditches. I am too proud to beg. 
4 I know what I will do! I will do something to make friends, so that when I lose my job, they will welcome me into their homes.’ 
5 “So the manager called in each person who owed the master some money. He asked the first one, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ 
6 He answered, ‘I owe him 100 jars[a] of olive oil.’ The manager said to him, ‘Here is your bill. Hurry! Sit down and make the bill less. Write 50 jars.’ 
7 “Then the manager asked another one, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ He answered, ‘I owe him 100 measures[b] of wheat.’ Then the manager said to him, ‘Here is your bill; you can make it less. Write 80 measures.’ 
8 “Later, the master told the dishonest manager that he had done a smart thing. Yes, worldly people are smarter in their business with each other than spiritual people are. 
9 “I tell you, use the worldly things you have now to make ‘friends’ for later. Then, when those things are gone, you will be welcomed into a home that lasts forever. 
10 Whoever can be trusted with small things can also be trusted with big things. Whoever is dishonest in little things will be dishonest in big things too. 
11 If you cannot be trusted with worldly riches, you will not be trusted with the true riches. 
12 And if you cannot be trusted with the things that belong to someone else, you will not be given anything of your own. 
13 “You cannot serve two masters at the same time. You will hate one master and love the other. Or you will be loyal to one and not care about the other. You cannot serve God and Money[c] at the same time.” 
 
NIV 
The Parable of the Shrewd Manager 
1 Jesus told his disciples: “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. 
2 So he called him in and asked him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.’ 
3 “The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I’m not strong enough to dig, and I’m ashamed to beg— 
4 I know what I’ll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.’ 
5 “So he called in each one of his master’s debtors. He asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ 
6 “‘Nine hundred gallons[a] of olive oil,’ he replied. 
“The manager told him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred and fifty.’ 
7 “Then he asked the second, ‘And how much do you owe?’ 
“‘A thousand bushels[b] of wheat,’ he replied. 
“He told him, ‘Take your bill and make it eight hundred.’ 
8 “The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. 
9 I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. 
10 “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 
11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? 
12 And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own? 
13 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

ERV
True Wealth
1 Jesus said to his followers, “Once there was a rich man. He hired a manager to take care of his business. Later, he learned that his manager was cheating him. 
2 So he called the manager in and said to him, ‘I have heard bad things about you. Give me a report of what you have done with my money. You can’t be my manager anymore.’
3 “So, the manager thought to himself, ‘What will I do? My master is taking my job away from me. I am not strong enough to dig ditches. I am too proud to beg. 
4 I know what I will do! I will do something to make friends, so that when I lose my job, they will welcome me into their homes.’
5 “So the manager called in each person who owed the master some money. He asked the first one, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ 
6 He answered, ‘I owe him 100 jars[a] of olive oil.’ The manager said to him, ‘Here is your bill. Hurry! Sit down and make the bill less. Write 50 jars.’
7 “Then the manager asked another one, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ He an

True Wealth - Luke 16:1-13

ERV 
22 You were taught to leave your old self. This means that you must stop living the evil way you lived before. That old self gets worse and worse, because people are fooled by the evil they want to do. 
23 You must be made new in your hearts and in your thinking. 
24 Be that new person who was made to be like God, truly good and pleasing to him. 
25 So you must stop telling lies. “You must always speak the truth to each other,”[b] because we all belong to each other in the same body. 
26 “When you are angry, don’t let that anger make you sin,”[c] and don’t stay angry all day. 
27 Don’t give the devil a way to defeat you. 
28 Whoever has been stealing must stop it and start working. They must use their hands for doing something good. Then they will have something to share with those who are poor. 
29 When you talk, don’t say anything bad. But say the good things that people need—whatever will help them grow stronger. Then what you say will be a blessing to those who hear you. 
30 And don’t make the Holy Spirit sad. God gave you his Spirit as proof that you belong to him and that he will keep you safe until the day he makes you free. 
31 Never be bitter, angry, or mad. Never shout angrily or say things to hurt others. Never do anything evil. 
32 Be kind and loving to each other. Forgive each other the same as God forgave you through Christ. 
 
NIV 
22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 
23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 
24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. 
25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 
26 “In your anger do not sin”[d]: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 
27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 
28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need. 
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 
31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 
32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

ERV 22 You were taught to leave your old self. This means that you must stop living the evil way you lived before. That old self ...

Unity &amp; Maturity in the Body of Christ - Ephesians  4:22-32

ERV 
The Danger of Emptiness 
(Mt. 12:43–45) 
24 “When an evil spirit comes out of someone, it travels through dry places, looking for a place to rest. But it finds no place to rest. So it says, ‘I will go back to the home I left.’ 
25 When it comes back, it finds that home all neat and clean. 
26 Then the evil spirit goes out and brings back seven other spirits more evil than itself. They all go and live there, and that person has even more trouble than before.” 
 
NIV 
24 “When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ 
25 When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. 
26 Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first.” 
 
KJV 
24 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. 
25 And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. 
26 Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.

ERV
The Danger of Emptiness
(Mt. 12:43–45)
24 “When an evil spirit comes out of someone, it travels through dry places, looking for a place to rest. But it finds no place to rest. So it says, ‘I will go back to the home I left.’ 
25 When it comes back, it finds that home all neat and clean. 
26 Then the evil spirit goes out and brings back seven other spirits more evil than itself. They all go and live there, and that person has even more trouble than before.”

NIV
24 “When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ 
25 When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. 
26 Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first.”

KJV
24 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I 

Danger of Emptiness - Luke 11:24-26

NIV 
7:1 After the wall had been rebuilt and I had set the doors in place, the gatekeepers, the musicians and the Levites were appointed. 
2 I put in charge of Jerusalem my brother Hanani, along with Hananiah the commander of the citadel, because he was a man of integrity and feared God more than most people do. 
3 I said to them, “The gates of Jerusalem are not to be opened until the sun is hot. While the gatekeepers are still on duty, have them shut the doors and bar them. Also appoint residents of Jerusalem as guards, some at their posts and some near their own houses.” 
 
12:27-47 
27 At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, the Levites were sought out from where they lived and were brought to Jerusalem to celebrate joyfully the dedication with songs of thanksgiving and with the music of cymbals, harps and lyres. 
28 The musicians also were brought together from the region around Jerusalem—from the villages of the Netophathites, 
29 from Beth Gilgal, and from the area of Geba and Azmaveth, for the musicians had built villages for themselves around Jerusalem. 
30 When the priests and Levites had purified themselves ceremonially, they purified the people, the gates and the wall. 
31 I had the leaders of Judah go up on top of[e] the wall. I also assigned two large choirs to give thanks. One was to proceed on top of[f] the wall to the right, toward the Dung Gate. 
32 Hoshaiah and half the leaders of Judah followed them, 
33 along with Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam, 
34 Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, Jeremiah, 
35 as well as some priests with trumpets, and also Zechariah son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micaiah, the son of Zakkur, the son of Asaph, 
36 and his associates—Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah and Hanani—with musical instruments prescribed by David the man of God. Ezra the teacher of the Law led the procession. 
37 At the Fountain Gate they continued directly up the steps of the City of David on the ascent to the wall and passed above the site of David’s palace to the Water Gate on the east. 
38 The second choir proceeded in the opposite direction. I followed them on top of[g] the wall, together with half the people—past the Tower of the Ovens to the Broad Wall, 
39 over the Gate of Ephraim, the Jeshanah[h] Gate, the Fish Gate, the Tower of Hananel and the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Sheep Gate. At the Gate of the Guard they stopped. 
40 The two choirs that gave thanks then took their places in the house of God; so did I, together with half the officials, 
41 as well as the priests—Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah and Hananiah with their trumpets— 
42 and also Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malkijah, Elam and Ezer. The choirs sang under the direction of Jezrahiah. 
43 And on that day they offered great sacrifices, rejoicing because God had given them great joy. The women and children also rejoiced. The sound of rejoicing in Jerusalem could be heard far away. 
44 At that time men were appointed to be in charge of the storerooms for the contributions, firstfruits and tithes. From the fields around the towns they were to bring into the storerooms the portions required by the Law for the priests and the Levites, for Judah was pleased with the ministering priests and Levites. 
45 They performed the service of their God and the service of purification, as did also the musicians and gatekeepers, according to the commands of David and his son Solomon. 
46 For long ago, in the days of David and Asaph, there had been directors for the musicians and for the songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. 
47 So in the days of Zerubbabel and of Nehemiah, all Israel contributed the daily portions for the musicians and the gatekeepers. They also set aside the portion for the other Levites, and the Levites set aside the portion for the descendants of Aaron.

NIV 7:1 After the wall had been rebuilt and I had set the doors in place, the gatekeepers, the musicians and the Levites were ...

Nehemiah 7:1-3 &amp; 12:27-47 -List of Captives Who Returned

Jesus’ Power Is From God 
(Mt. 12:22–30; Mk. 3:20–27) 
14 One time Jesus was sending a demon out of a man who could not talk. When the demon came out, the man was able to speak. The crowds were amazed. 
15 But some of the people said, “He uses the power of Satana to force demons out of people. Satan is the ruler of demons.” 
16 Some others there wanted to test Jesus. They asked him to do a miracle as a sign from God. 
17 But he knew what they were thinking. So he said to them, “Every kingdom that fights against itself will be destroyed. And a family that fights against itself will break apart. 
18 So if Satan is fighting against himself, how will his kingdom survive? You say that I use the power of Satan to force out demons. 
19 But if I use Satan’s power to force out demons, then what power do your people use when they force out demons? So your own people will prove that you are wrong. 
20 But I use the power of God to force out demons. This shows that God’s kingdom has now come to you. 
21 “When a strong man with many weapons guards his own house, the things in his house are safe. 
22 But suppose a stronger man comes and defeats him. The stronger man will take away the weapons that the first man trusted to keep his house safe. Then the stronger man will do what he wants with the other man’s things. 
23 “Whoever is not with me is against me. And anyone who does not work with me is working against me.

Jesus’ Power Is From God
(Mt. 12:22–30; Mk. 3:20–27)
14 One time Jesus was sending a demon out of a man who could not talk. When the demon came out, the man was able to speak. The crowds were amazed. 
15 But some of the people said, “He uses the power of Satana to force demons out of people. Satan is the ruler of demons.”
16 Some others there wanted to test Jesus. They asked him to do a miracle as a sign from God. 
17 But he knew what they were thinking. So he said to them, “Every kingdom that fights against itself will be destroyed. And a family that fights against itself will break apart. 
18 So if Satan is fighting against himself, how will his kingdom survive? You say that I use the power of Satan to force out demons. 
19 But if I use Satan’s power to force out demons, then what power do your people use when they force out demons? So your own people will prove that you are wrong. 
20 But I use the power of God to force out demons. This shows that God’s kingdom has now come to you.


Jesus’ Power Is From God- Luke 11:14-23

Jesus Talks About Freedom From Sin 
31 So Jesus said to the Jews who believed in him, “If you continue to accept and obey my teaching, you are really my followers. 
32 You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” 
33 They answered, “We are Abraham’s descendants. And we have never been slaves. So why do you say that we will be free?” 
34 Jesus said, “The truth is, everyone who sins is a slave—a slave to sin. 
35 A slave does not stay with a family forever. But a son belongs to the family forever. 
36 So if the Son makes you free, you are really free. 
37 I know you are Abraham’s descendants. But you want to kill me, because you don’t want to accept my teaching. 
38 I am telling you what my Father has shown me. But you do what your father has told you.” 
39 They said, “Our father is Abraham.” 
Jesus said, “If you were really Abraham’s descendants, you would do what Abraham did. 
40 I am someone who has told you the truth I heard from God. But you are trying to kill me. Abraham did nothing like that.

Jesus Talks About Freedom From Sin
31 So Jesus said to the Jews who believed in him, “If you continue to accept and obey my teaching, you are really my followers. 
32 You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”
33 They answered, “We are Abraham’s descendants. And we have never been slaves. So why do you say that we will be free?”
34 Jesus said, “The truth is, everyone who sins is a slave—a slave to sin. 
35 A slave does not stay with a family forever. But a son belongs to the family forever. 
36 So if the Son makes you free, you are really free. 
37 I know you are Abraham’s descendants. But you want to kill me, because you don’t want to accept my teaching. 
38 I am telling you what my Father has shown me. But you do what your father has told you.”
39 They said, “Our father is Abraham.”
Jesus said, “If you were really Abraham’s descendants, you would do what Abraham did. 
40 I am someone who has told you the truth I heard from God. But you are trying to kill me. Abraham 

Jesus Talks About Freedom From Sin - John 8:31-40

ERV 
Ask God for What You Need 
5-6 Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose one of you went to your friend’s house very late at night and said to him, ‘A friend of mine has come into town to visit me. But I have nothing for him to eat. Please give me three loaves of bread.’ 
7 Your friend inside the house answers, ‘Go away! Don’t bother me! The door is already locked. My children and I are in bed. I cannot get up and give you the bread now.’ 
8 I tell you, maybe friendship is not enough to make him get up to give you the bread. But he will surely get up to give you what you need if you continue to ask. 
9 So I tell you, continue to ask, and God will give to you. Continue to search, and you will find. Continue to knock, and the door will open for you. 
10 Yes, whoever continues to ask will receive. Whoever continues to look will find. And whoever continues to knock will have the door opened for them. 
11 Do any of you have a son? What would you do if your son asked you for a fish? Would any father give him a snake? 
12 Or, if he asked for an egg, would you give him a scorpion? Of course not! 
13 Even you who are bad know how to give good things to your children. So surely your heavenly Father knows how to give the Holy Spirit to the people who ask him.” 
 
NIV 
5 Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 
6 a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ 
7 And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ 
8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity[e] he will surely get up and give you as much as you need. 
9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 
10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 
11 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for[f] a fish, will give him a snake instead? 
12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 
13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

ERV
Ask God for What You Need
5-6 Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose one of you went to your friend’s house very late at night and said to him, ‘A friend of mine has come into town to visit me. But I have nothing for him to eat. Please give me three loaves of bread.’ 
7 Your friend inside the house answers, ‘Go away! Don’t bother me! The door is already locked. My children and I are in bed. I cannot get up and give you the bread now.’ 
8 I tell you, maybe friendship is not enough to make him get up to give you the bread. But he will surely get up to give you what you need if you continue to ask. 
9 So I tell you, continue to ask, and God will give to you. Continue to search, and you will find. Continue to knock, and the door will open for you. 
10 Yes, whoever continues to ask will receive. Whoever continues to look will find. And whoever continues to knock will have the door opened for them. 
11 Do any of you have a son? What would you do if your son asked you for a fish? Would any fat

Ask God for What You Need - Luke 11:5-13

Opposition to the Rebuilding 
1 When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews, 
2 and in the presence of his associates and the army of Samaria, he said, “What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble—burned as they are?” 
3 Tobiah the Ammonite, who was at his side, said, “What they are building—even a fox climbing up on it would break down their wall of stones!” 
4 Hear us, our God, for we are despised. Turn their insults back on their own heads. Give them over as plunder in a land of captivity. 
5 Do not cover up their guilt or blot out their sins from your sight, for they have thrown insults in the face of[b] the builders. 
6 So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart. 
7 But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the people of Ashdod heard that the repairs to Jerusalem’s walls had gone ahead and that the gaps were being closed, they were very angry. 
8 They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it. 
9 But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat. 
10 Meanwhile, the people in Judah said, “The strength of the laborers is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall.” 
11 Also our enemies said, “Before they know it or see us, we will be right there among them and will kill them and put an end to the work.”

Opposition to the Rebuilding
1 When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews, 
2 and in the presence of his associates and the army of Samaria, he said, “What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble—burned as they are?”
3 Tobiah the Ammonite, who was at his side, said, “What they are building—even a fox climbing up on it would break down their wall of stones!”
4 Hear us, our God, for we are despised. Turn their insults back on their own heads. Give them over as plunder in a land of captivity. 
5 Do not cover up their guilt or blot out their sins from your sight, for they have thrown insults in the face of[b] the builders.
6 So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart.
7 But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Amm

Nehemiah 4:1-11 - Opposition to the ReBuilding

Ezekiel Biography - Introduction 
1-3 I am the priest, Ezekiel son of Buzi. I was in exile by the Kebar Canal in Babylonia when the skies opened up, and I saw visions of God. This was on the fifth day of the fourth month of the thirtieth year.a (This was the fifth year of King Jehoiachin’s exile. The word of the LORD came to Ezekiel. The power of the LORD came over him at that place.) 
 
Ezekiel’s Inaugural Vision 
1 In my thirtieth year, in the fourth month on the fifth day, while I was among the exiles by the Kebar River, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God. 
2 On the fifth of the month—it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin— 
3 the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, by the Kebar River in the land of the Babylonians.[a] There the hand of the Lord was on him.

Ezekiel Biography - Introduction
1-3 I am the priest, Ezekiel son of Buzi. I was in exile by the Kebar Canal in Babylonia when the skies opened up, and I saw visions of God. This was on the fifth day of the fourth month of the thirtieth year.a (This was the fifth year of King Jehoiachin’s exile. The word of the LORD came to Ezekiel. The power of the LORD came over him at that place.)

Ezekiel’s Inaugural Vision
1 In my thirtieth year, in the fourth month on the fifth day, while I was among the exiles by the Kebar River, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God.
2 On the fifth of the month—it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin— 
3 the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, by the Kebar River in the land of the Babylonians.[a] There the hand of the Lord was on him.

Ezekiel 1:1-3 -  Ezekiel Biography - Introduction

Jesus Warns About the Future 
(Mk. 13:1–31; Lk. 21:5–33) 
1 Jesus left the Temple area and was walking away. But his followers came to him to show him the Temple’s buildings. 
2 He asked them, “Are you looking at these buildings? The fact is, they will be destroyed. Every stone will be thrown down to the ground. Not one stone will be left on another.” 
3 Later, Jesus was sitting at a place on the Mount of Olives. The followers came to be alone with him. They said, “Tell us when these things will happen. And what will happen to prepare us for your coming and the end of time?” 
4 Jesus answered, “Be careful! Don’t let anyone fool you. 
5 Many people will come and use my name. They will say, ‘I am the Messiah.’ And they will fool many people. 
6 You will hear about wars that are being fought. And you will hear stories about other wars beginning. But don’t be afraid. These things must happen before the end comes. 
7 Nations will fight against other nations. Kingdoms will fight against other kingdoms. There will be times when there is no food for people to eat. And there will be earthquakes in different places. 
8 These things are only the beginning of troubles, like the first pains of a woman giving birth. 
9 “Then you will be arrested and handed over to be punished and killed. People all over the world will hate you because you believe in me. 
10 During that time many believers will lose their faith. They will turn against each other and hate each other. 
11 Many false prophets will come and cause many people to believe things that are wrong. 
12 There will be so much more evil in the world that the love of most believers will grow cold. 
13 But the one who remains faithful to the end will be saved. 
14 And the Good News I have shared about God’s kingdom will be told throughout the world. It will be spread to every nation. Then the end will come.

Jesus Warns About the Future
(Mk. 13:1–31; Lk. 21:5–33)
1 Jesus left the Temple area and was walking away. But his followers came to him to show him the Temple’s buildings. 
2 He asked them, “Are you looking at these buildings? The fact is, they will be destroyed. Every stone will be thrown down to the ground. Not one stone will be left on another.”
3 Later, Jesus was sitting at a place on the Mount of Olives. The followers came to be alone with him. They said, “Tell us when these things will happen. And what will happen to prepare us for your coming and the end of time?”
4 Jesus answered, “Be careful! Don’t let anyone fool you. 
5 Many people will come and use my name. They will say, ‘I am the Messiah.’ And they will fool many people. 
6 You will hear about wars that are being fought. And you will hear stories about other wars beginning. But don’t be afraid. These things must happen before the end comes. 
7 Nations will fight against other nations. Kingdoms will fight against other ki

Jesus Warns About Future - Matthew 24:1-14

NIV 
Samaritan Opposition 
51 As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. 
52 And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; 
53 but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. 
54 When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them b ?” 
55 But Jesus turned and rebuked them. 56 Then he and his disciples went to another village. 
 
ERV 
A Samaritan Town 
51 The time was coming near when Jesus would leave and go back to heaven. He decided to go to Jerusalem. 52 He sent some men ahead of him. They went into a town in Samaria to make everything ready for him. 
53 But the people there would not welcome Jesus because he was going toward Jerusalem. 
54 James and John, the followers of Jesus, saw this. They said, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven and destroy those people?”b 
55 But Jesus turned and criticized them for saying this.c 
56 Then he and his followers went to another town.

NIV 
Samaritan Opposition
51 As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. 
52 And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; 
53 but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. 
54 When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them b ?” 
55 But Jesus turned and rebuked them. 56 Then he and his disciples went to another village.

ERV 
A Samaritan Town
51 The time was coming near when Jesus would leave and go back to heaven. He decided to go to Jerusalem. 52 He sent some men ahead of him. They went into a town in Samaria to make everything ready for him. 
53 But the people there would not welcome Jesus because he was going toward Jerusalem. 
54 James and John, the followers of Jesus, saw this. They said, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven and destroy those people?”b
55

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