Romans1-3 NWT(2013 Edition)

1 Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus and called to be an apostle, set apart for God’s good news,+ 2 which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3 concerning his Son, who came to be from the offspring* of David+ according to the flesh, 4 but who with power was declared God’s Son+ according to the spirit of holiness by means of resurrection from the dead+—yes, Jesus Christ our Lord. 5 Through him we received undeserved kindness and an apostleship+ with a view to obedience by faith among all the nations+ respecting his name, 6 among which nations you also have been called to belong to Jesus Christ— 7 to all those who are in Rome as God’s beloved ones, called to be holy ones:

May you have undeserved kindness and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

8 First of all, I give thanks to my God through Jesus Christ concerning all of you, because your faith is talked about throughout the whole world. 9 For God, to whom I render sacred service with my spirit in connection with the good news about his Son, is my witness of how without ceasing I always mention you in my prayers,+ 10 begging that if at all possible I may now at last succeed in coming to you by God’s will. 11 For I am longing to see you, that I may impart some spiritual gift to you for you to be made firm; 12 or, rather, that we may have an interchange of encouragement+ by one another’s faith, both yours and mine.

13 But I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that many times I have intended to come to you—but I have been prevented until now—in order that I might acquire some fruitage also among you just as among the rest of the nations. 14 Both to Greeks and to foreigners,* both to wise and to senseless ones, I am a debtor; 15 so I am eager to declare the good news also to you there in Rome.+ 16 For I am not ashamed of the good news;+ it is, in fact, God’s power for salvation to everyone having faith,+ to the Jew first+ and also to the Greek.+ 17 For in it God’s righteousness is being revealed by faith and for faith,+ just as it is written: “But the righteous one will live by reason of faith.”+

18 For God’s wrath+ is being revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who are suppressing the truth+ in an unrighteous way, 19 because what may be known about God is clearly evident among them, for God made it clear to them.+ 20 For his invisible qualities are clearly seen from the world’s creation onward, because they are perceived by the things made,+ even his eternal power+ and Godship,+ so that they are inexcusable. 21 For although they knew God, they did not glorify him as God nor did they thank him, but they became empty-headed in their reasonings and their senseless hearts became darkened.+ 22 Although claiming they were wise, they became foolish 23 and turned the glory of the incorruptible God into something like the image of corruptible man and birds and four-footed creatures and reptiles.*+

24 Therefore, God, in keeping with the desires of their hearts, gave them up to uncleanness, so that their bodies might be dishonored among them. 25 They exchanged the truth of God for the lie and venerated* and rendered sacred service to the creation rather than the Creator, who is praised forever. Amen. 26 That is why God gave them over to uncontrolled sexual passion,+ for their females changed the natural use of themselves into one contrary to nature;+ 27 likewise also the males left the natural use of* the female and became violently inflamed in their lust toward one another, males with males,+ working what is obscene and receiving in themselves the full penalty,* which was due for their error.+

28 Just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God,* God gave them over to a disapproved mental state, to do the things not fitting.+ 29 And they were filled with all unrighteousness,+ wickedness, greed,*+ and badness, being full of envy,+ murder,+ strife, deceit,+ and malice,+ being whisperers,* 30 backbiters,+ haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, schemers of what is harmful,* disobedient to parents,+ 31 without understanding,+ false to agreements, having no natural affection, and merciless. 32 Although these know full well the righteous decree of God—that those practicing such things are deserving of death+—they not only keep on doing them but also approve of those practicing them.

 

2 Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are,+ if you judge; for when you judge another, you condemn yourself, because you who judge practice the same things.+ 2 Now we know that God’s judgment is in harmony with truth, against those who practice such things.

3 But do you suppose, O man, that while you judge those who practice such things and yet you do them, you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you despise the riches of his kindness+ and forbearance*+ and patience,+ because you do not know that God in his kindness is trying to lead you to repentance?+ 5 But according to your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath and of the revealing of God’s righteous judgment.+ 6 And he will pay back to each one according to his works:+ 7 everlasting life to those who are seeking glory and honor and incorruptibleness+ by endurance in work that is good; 8 however, for those who are contentious and who disobey the truth but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and anger.+ 9 There will be tribulation and distress on every person* who works what is harmful, on the Jew first and also on the Greek; 10 but glory and honor and peace for everyone who works what is good, for the Jew first+ and also for the Greek.+ 11 For there is no partiality with God.+

12 For all those who sinned without law will also perish without law;+ but all those who sinned under law will be judged by law.+ 13 For the hearers of law are not the ones righteous before God, but the doers of law will be declared righteous.+ 14 For when people of the nations, who do not have law,+ do by nature the things of the law, these people, although not having law, are a law to themselves. 15 They are the very ones who demonstrate the matter of the law to be written in their hearts, while their conscience is bearing witness with them, and by* their own thoughts they are being accused or even excused. 16 This will take place in the day when God through Christ Jesus judges the secret things of mankind,+ according to the good news I declare.

17 If, now, you are a Jew in name+ and rely on law and take pride in God, 18 and you know his will and approve of things that are excellent because you are instructed* out of the Law,+ 19 and you are convinced that you are a guide of the blind, a light for those in darkness, 20 a corrector of the unreasonable ones, a teacher of young children, and having the framework of the knowledge and of the truth in the Law— 21 do you, however, the one teaching someone else, not teach yourself?+ You, the one preaching, “Do not steal,”+ do you steal? 22 You, the one saying, “Do not commit adultery,”+ do you commit adultery? You, the one abhorring idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who take pride in law, do you dishonor God by your transgressing of the Law? 24 For “the name of God is being blasphemed among the nations because of you,” just as it is written.+

25 Circumcision+ is, in fact, of benefit only if you practice law;+ but if you are a transgressor of law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. 26 If, therefore, an uncircumcised person+ keeps the righteous requirements of the Law, his uncircumcision will be counted as circumcision, will it not?+ 27 And the physically uncircumcised person will, by carrying out the Law, judge you who are a transgressor of law despite having its written code and circumcision. 28 For he is not a Jew who is one on the outside,+ nor is circumcision something on the outside, on the flesh.+ 29 But he is a Jew who is one on the inside,+ and his circumcision is that of the heart+ by spirit and not by a written code.+ That person’s praise comes from God, not from people.+

 

3 What, then, is the advantage of the Jew, or what is the benefit of circumcision? 2 A great deal in every way. First of all, that they were entrusted with the sacred pronouncements of God.+ 3 What, then, is the case? If some lacked faith, will their lack of faith invalidate the faithfulness of God? 4 Certainly not! But let God be found true,+ even if every man be found a liar,+ just as it is written: “That you might be proved righteous in your words and might win when you are being judged.”+ 5 However, if our unrighteousness highlights God’s righteousness, what are we to say? God is not unjust when he expresses his wrath, is he? (I am speaking in human terms.) 6 By no means! How, otherwise, will God judge the world?+

7 But if by my lie the truth of God has been made more prominent to his glory, why am I also being judged as a sinner? 8 And why not say, just as some men falsely claim that we say, “Let us do bad things that good things may come”? The judgment against those men is in harmony with justice.+

9 What then? Are we in a better position? Not at all! For above we have made the charge that Jews as well as Greeks are all under sin;+ 10 just as it is written: “There is not a righteous man, not even one;+ 11 there is no one who has any insight; there is no one who searches for God. 12 All men have turned aside, all of them have become worthless; there is no one who shows kindness, not so much as one.”+ 13 “Their throat is an open grave; they have deceived with their tongues.”+ “Venom of asps is behind their lips.”+ 14 “And their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.”+ 15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood.”+ 16 “Ruin and misery are in their ways, 17 and they have not known the way of peace.”+ 18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”+

19 Now we know that all the things the Law says, it addresses to those under the Law, so that every mouth may be silenced and all the world may become accountable to God for punishment.+ 20 Therefore, no one* will be declared righteous before him by works of law,+ for by law comes the accurate knowledge of sin.+

21 But now apart from law God’s righteousness has been revealed,+ as the Law and the Prophets bear witness,+ 22 yes, God’s righteousness through the faith in Jesus Christ, for all those having faith. For there is no distinction.+ 23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,+ 24 and it is as a free gift+ that they are being declared righteous by his undeserved kindness+ through the release by the ransom paid by Christ Jesus.+ 25 God presented him as an offering for propitiation*+ through faith in his blood.+ This was to demonstrate his own righteousness, because God in his forbearance* was forgiving the sins that occurred in the past. 26 This was to demonstrate his own righteousness+ in this present season, so that he might be righteous even when declaring righteous the man who has faith in Jesus.+

27 Where, then, is the boasting? There is no place for it. Through what law? That of works?+ No indeed, but through the law of faith. 28 For we consider that a man is declared righteous by faith apart from works of law.+ 29 Or is he the God of the Jews only?+ Is he not also the God of people of the nations?+ Yes, also of people of the nations.+ 30 Since God is one,+ he will declare circumcised people righteous+ as a result of faith and uncircumcised people righteous+ by means of their faith. 31 Do we, then, abolish law by means of our faith? Not at all! On the contrary, we uphold law.+

 

 

Framing mischief by law.

Psalms94:20KJV"Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law?"

 Come on Turkey,you're better than this.

MARCH 17, 2014 | TURKEY

Turkey Refuses to Conform to European Standards in the Matter of Conscientious Objection

“Every Turk is born a soldier.” That saying is taught to schoolchildren, declared in political speeches, and drilled into men called up for military service. Military service is mandatory for all male Turkish citizens and induction is a cause for celebration. It may come as no surprise, then, that the government of Turkey refuses to recognize the fundamental right of conscientious objection to military service.

Turkey is one of the few countries in the Council of Europe that does not recognize the right to conscientious objection

Yet, as a member State of the Council of Europe, and having adopted the European Convention on Human Rights as part of its national law, Turkey has committed itself to abide by European standards. Since the decision by the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Bayatyan v. Armenia, Turkey has a formal obligation to the Council of Europe to recognize the right to conscientious objection. Because it has refused to do so, conscientious objectors in Turkey suffer the consequences.

Over the past 10 years, 55 men who are Jehovah’s Witnesses have petitioned the Turkish government to recognize their right to conscientious objection. Because their petitions have been denied, they have faced numerous prosecutions, burdensome fines, and in the case of some, years in prison. Currently, 15 young Witness men in Turkey are facing repeated prosecution for their refusal to serve in the military.

‘I Must Follow the Dictates of My Conscience’

“I do not believe that a powerful State should be able to force me to act against my Bible-trained conscience and the God-inspired words of Isaiah 2:4, [which] I believe I must obey.” That well-known verse, inscribed in stone in front of the headquarters of the United Nations in New York City, states that people opposed to war would ‘beat swords into plowshares and not learn war anymore.’ With these words Feti Demirtaş, a citizen of Turkey then 25 years old, explained why he was willing to give up his freedom and go to prison rather than serve in the military. As one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Feti believes strongly in following the dictates of his Bible-trained conscience. For that reason, Feti has been prosecuted ten times and has served in prison for more than a year and a half.

When first arrested, a sergeant ordered him to put on a military uniform but Feti refused—he chose to obey his Bible-trained conscience. The base commander then had him brought in front of 400 men and ordered Feti to put on the military uniform. Again he refused. During this first imprisonment, he was verbally abused, kicked in the head, shoulders, and legs, and slapped in the face by prison guards.

Upon his fifth arrest and imprisonment in April 2006, guards forced Feti to strip to his underwear so that he might put on the uniform. When he would not put on the uniform, guards put him in the disciplinary barracks for four days. In an effort to break his will, they handcuffed him to an iron bar of his bed at night and to an iron ledge during the day. Feti said, “I was fearful during the day and could not sleep at night due to my real and ever present fear of the type of mistreatment I might experience next. Although I was emotionally drained due to my treatment, I remained determined to live by my conscience.”

The European Court of Human Rights Weighs in on Conscientious Objection

In 2007 Feti Demirtaş submitted his case to the ECHR, arguing that the Turkish government violated his rights when sentencing him to prison as a conscientious objector. On January 17, 2012, the ECHR issued a judgment in his favor, confirming that Feti had been subjected to inhuman and degrading treatment, causing severe pain and suffering. Further, the Court confirmed that the right of conscientious objection based on deeply held religious beliefs is a right protected by the European Convention on Human Rights. *

Following the Court’s clear expression on the issue of conscientious objection, Feti expected that Turkish authorities would put an end to the ongoing prosecutions against him. In fact, the Turkish government paid him 20,000 euros in damages, costs, and expenses as ordered by the ECHR. However, just four months after the ECHR judgment in Feti Demirtaş v. Turkey, Turkey’s Military Court again sentenced him to prison for two and a half months for refusing military service. Feti filed an appeal that is currently pending with the Military Court.

The UN Human Rights Committee Also Supports the Right to Conscientious Objection

Turkey has also disregarded recent directives from the UN Human Rights Committee. In 2008 two Witnesses, Cenk Atasoy and Arda Sarkut, filed complaints with that UN body, alleging that Turkish authorities violated their rights by subjecting them to repeated prosecution for their refusal to perform military service. In its Views adopted on March 29, 2012, the UN Human Rights Committee stated that the men’s “refusal to be drafted for compulsory military service derives from their religious beliefs” and their “subsequent prosecution and sentences amount to an infringement of their freedom of conscience, in breach of article 18, paragraph 1, of the [International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights].”

How have Turkish authorities responded to these clear directives? They still expect these two conscientious objectors to report for military call-up every four months * or face prosecution and burdensome fines.

Jehovah’s Witnesses in Turkey are determined to live by the Biblical command to love their fellowman. At the time of call-up for military service by Turkish authorities, each individual Witness must personally decide how he will respond. Feti Demirtaş and other Witnesses have determined for themselves that bearing arms is a violation of the Bible’s command and their conscience.

These young men look to their government to honor its legal commitments. The ECHR and the UN Human Rights Committee expect that Turkey will comply with the judgments and findings of their bodies, leading the authorities in Turkey to recognize the right of conscientious objection to military service. Until it does so, Turkey stands outside the Council of Europe in honoring this fundamental human right.

Iron and clay II

The first casualty/collateral damage IV

So now you know III.

Revelation19-22 NWT(2013 Edition)

19 After this I heard what seemed to be a loud voice of a great crowd in heaven. They said: “Praise Jah!*+ The salvation and the glory and the power belong to our God,² because his judgments are true and righteous.+ For he has executed judgment on the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her sexual immorality,* and he has avenged the blood of his slaves that is on her hands.”*+³ And right away for the second time they said: “Praise Jah!*+ And the smoke from her goes on ascending forever and ever.”+⁴ And the 24 elders+ and the four living creatures+ fell down and worshipped God who sits on the throne and said: “Amen! Praise Jah!”*+⁵ Also, a voice came from the throne and said: “Be praising our God, all you his slaves,+ who fear him, the small ones and the great.”+⁶ And I heard what sounded like a voice of a great crowd and like the sound of many waters and like the sound of heavy thunders. They said: “Praise Jah,*+ because Jehovah* our God, the Almighty,+ has begun to rule as king!+⁷ Let us rejoice and be overjoyed and give him glory, because the marriage of the Lamb has arrived and his wife has prepared herself.⁸ Yes, it has been granted to her to be clothed with bright, clean, fine linen—for the fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the holy ones.”+⁹ And he tells me, “Write: Happy are those invited to the evening meal of the Lamb’s marriage.”+ Also, he tells me: “These are the true sayings of God.”¹⁰ At that I fell down before his feet to worship him. But he tells me: “Be careful! Do not do that!+ I am only a fellow slave of you and of your brothers who have the work of witnessing concerning Jesus.+ Worship God!+ For the witness concerning Jesus is what inspires prophecy.”+¹¹ I saw heaven opened, and look! a white horse.+ And the one seated on it is called Faithful+ and True,+ and he judges and carries on war in righteousness.+¹² His eyes are a fiery flame,+ and on his head are many diadems.* He has a name written that no one knows but he himself,¹³ and he is clothed with an outer garment stained* with blood, and he is called by the name The Word+ of God.¹⁴ Also, the armies in heaven were following him on white horses, and they were clothed in white, clean, fine linen.¹⁵ And out of his mouth protrudes a sharp, long sword+ with which to strike the nations, and he will shepherd them with a rod of iron.+ Moreover, he treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.+¹⁶ On his outer garment, yes, on his thigh, he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.+¹⁷ I saw also an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice and said to all the birds that fly in midheaven:* “Come here, be gathered together to the great evening meal of God,+¹⁸ so that you may eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of military commanders and the flesh of strong men+ and the flesh of horses and of those seated on them,+ and the flesh of all, of freemen as well as of slaves and of small ones and great.”¹⁹ And I saw the wild beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to wage war against the one seated on the horse and against his army.+²⁰ And the wild beast was caught, and along with it the false prophet+ that performed in front of it the signs with which he misled those who received the mark of the wild beast+ and those who worship its image.+ While still alive, they both were hurled into the fiery lake that burns with sulfur.+²¹ But the rest were killed off with the long sword that proceeded out of the mouth of the one seated on the horse.+ And all the birds were filled with their flesh.+

20 And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven with the key of the abyss+ and a great chain in his hand.² He seized the dragon,+ the original serpent,+ who is the Devil+ and Satan,+ and bound him for 1,000 years.³ And he hurled him into the abyss+ and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not mislead the nations anymore until the 1,000 years were ended. After this he must be released for a little while.+⁴ And I saw thrones, and those who sat on them were given authority to judge. Yes, I saw the souls* of those executed* for the witness they gave about Jesus and for speaking about God, and those who had not worshipped the wild beast or its image and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand.+ And they came to life and ruled as kings with the Christ+ for 1,000 years.⁵ (The rest of the dead+ did not come to life until the 1,000 years were ended.) This is the first resurrection.+⁶ Happy and holy is anyone having part in the first resurrection;+ over these the second death+ has no authority,+ but they will be priests+ of God and of the Christ, and they will rule as kings with him for the 1,000 years.+⁷ Now as soon as the 1,000 years have ended, Satan will be released from his prison,⁸ and he will go out to mislead those nations in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Ma′gog, to gather them together for the war. The number of these is as the sand of the sea.⁹ And they advanced over the whole earth and encircled the camp of the holy ones and the beloved city. But fire came down out of heaven and consumed them.+¹⁰ And the Devil who was misleading them was hurled into the lake of fire and sulfur, where both the wild beast+ and the false prophet already were;+ and they will be tormented* day and night forever and ever.¹¹ And I saw a great white throne and the One seated on it.+ From before him the earth and the heaven fled away,+ and no place was found for them.¹² And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and scrolls were opened. But another scroll was opened; it is the scroll of life.+ The dead were judged out of those things written in the scrolls according to their deeds.+¹³ And the sea gave up the dead in it, and death and the Grave* gave up the dead in them, and they were judged individually according to their deeds.+¹⁴ And death and the Grave* were hurled into the lake of fire.+ This means the second death,+ the lake of fire.+¹⁵ Furthermore, whoever was not found written in the book of life+ was hurled into the lake of fire.+


21 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth;+ for the former heaven and the former earth had passed away,+ and the sea+ is no more.² I also saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God+ and prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.+³ With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: “Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his people. And God himself will be with them.+⁴ And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes,+ and death will be no more,+ neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore.+ The former things have passed away.”⁵ And the One seated on the throne+ said: “Look! I am making all things new.”+ Also he says: “Write, for these words are faithful* and true.”⁶ And he said to me: “They have come to pass! I am the Al′pha and the O·me′ga,* the beginning and the end.+ To anyone thirsting I will give from the spring* of the water of life free.*+⁷ Anyone conquering will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be my son.⁸ But as for the cowards and those without faith+ and those who are disgusting in their filth and murderers+ and the sexually immoral*+ and those practicing spiritism and idolaters and all the liars,+ their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur.+ This means the second death.”+⁹ One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls that were full of the seven last plagues+ came and said to me: “Come, and I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.”+¹⁰ So he carried me away in the power of the spirit to a great and lofty mountain, and he showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God+¹¹ and having the glory of God.+ Its radiance was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone shining crystal clear.+¹² It had a great and lofty wall and had 12 gates with 12 angels at the gates, and on the gates were inscribed the names of the 12 tribes of the sons of Israel.¹³ On the east were three gates, and on the north three gates, and on the south three gates, and on the west three gates.+¹⁴ The wall of the city also had 12 foundation stones, and on them were the 12 names of the 12 apostles+ of the Lamb.¹⁵ Now the one who was speaking with me was holding a golden reed as a measure in order to measure the city and its gates and its wall.+¹⁶ And the city is laid out as a square, and its length is as great as its width. And he measured the city with the reed, 12,000 stadia;* its length and width and height are equal.¹⁷ He also measured its wall, 144 cubits* according to a man’s measure, at the same time an angel’s measure.¹⁸ Now the wall was made of jasper,+ and the city was pure gold like clear glass.¹⁹ The foundations of the city wall were adorned with every sort of precious stone: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chal·ce′do·ny, the fourth emerald,²⁰ the fifth sar·don′yx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrys′o·lite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrys′o·prase, the eleventh hyacinth, the twelfth amethyst.²¹ Also, the 12 gates were 12 pearls; each one of the gates was made of one pearl. And the main street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.²² I did not see a temple in it, for Jehovah* God the Almighty+ is its temple, also the Lamb is.²³ And the city has no need of the sun nor of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God illuminated it,+ and its lamp was the Lamb.+²⁴ And the nations will walk by means of its light,+ and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it.²⁵ Its gates will not be closed at all by day, for night will not exist there.+²⁶ And they will bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it.+²⁷ But anything defiled and anyone who does what is disgusting and deceitful will in no way enter into it;+ only those written in the Lamb’s scroll of life will enter.+


22 And he showed me a river of water of life,+ clear as crystal, flowing out from the throne of God and of the Lamb+² down the middle of its main street. On both sides of the river were trees of life producing 12 crops of fruit, yielding their fruit each month. And the leaves of the trees were for the healing of the nations.+³ And there will no longer be any curse. But the throne of God and of the Lamb+ will be in the city, and his slaves will offer him sacred service;⁴ and they will see his face,+ and his name will be on their foreheads.+⁵ Also, night will be no more,+ and they have no need of lamplight or sunlight, for Jehovah* God will shed light upon them,+ and they will rule as kings forever and ever.+⁶ He said to me: “These words are faithful* and true;+ yes, Jehovah,* the God who inspired the prophets,+ has sent his angel to show his slaves the things that must shortly take place.⁷ Look! I am coming quickly.+ Happy is anyone observing the words of the prophecy of this scroll.”+⁸ Well I, John, was the one hearing and seeing these things. When I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing me these things.⁹ But he tells me: “Be careful! Do not do that! I am only a fellow slave of you and of your brothers the prophets and of those observing the words of this scroll. Worship God.”+¹⁰ He also tells me: “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this scroll, for the appointed time is near.¹¹ Let the one who is unrighteous continue in unrighteousness, and let the filthy one continue in his filth; but let the righteous one continue in righteousness, and let the holy one continue in holiness.¹² “‘Look! I am coming quickly, and the reward I give is with me, to repay each one according to his work.+¹³ I am the Al′pha and the O·me′ga,*+ the first and the last, the beginning and the end.¹⁴ Happy are those who wash their robes,+ so that they may have authority to go to the trees of life+ and that they may gain entrance into the city through its gates.+¹⁵ Outside are the dogs* and those who practice spiritism and those who are sexually immoral* and the murderers and the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices lying.’+¹⁶ “‘I, Jesus, sent my angel to bear witness to you about these things for the congregations. I am the root and the offspring of David+ and the bright morning star.’”+¹⁷ And the spirit and the bride+ keep on saying, “Come!” and let anyone hearing say, “Come!” and let anyone thirsting come;+ let anyone who wishes take life’s water free.+¹⁸ “I am bearing witness to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone makes an addition to these things,+ God will add to him the plagues that are written in this scroll;+¹⁹ and if anyone takes anything away from the words of the scroll of this prophecy, God will take his portion away from the trees of life+ and out of the holy city,+ things that are written about in this scroll.²⁰ “The one who bears witness of these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming quickly.’”+“Amen! Come, Lord Jesus.”²¹ May the undeserved kindness of the Lord Jesus be with the holy ones.