CRU Religion Relating to Nature

that the king said to Nathan the prophet, "See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells within curtains."

For the Chief Musician; upon an eight-stringed lyre. A Psalm of David

We will triumph in your salvation. In the name of our God, we will set up our banners. May Yahweh grant all your requests.

They are bowed down and fallen, but we rise up, and stand upright.

For evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for Yahweh shall inherit the land.

But the humble shall inherit the land, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

The righteous shall inherit the land, and live in it forever.

A Psalm. A song for the Sabbath day.

with the ten-stringed lute, with the harp, and with the melody of the lyre.

A Song of Ascents.

When Yahweh brought back those who returned to Zion, we were like those who dream.

A Song of Ascents. By Solomon.

For the upright will dwell in the land. The perfect will remain in it.

The righteous one eats to the satisfying of his soul, but the belly of the wicked goes hungry.

It is a rare thing that the king requires, and there is no other who can show it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.

but there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and he has made known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Your dream, and the visions of your head on your bed, are these:

This is the dream; and we will tell its interpretation before the king.

Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace: he spoke and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, you servants of the Most High God, come forth, and come here. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came forth out of the midst of the fire.

Also I brought you up out of the land of Egypt, and led you forty years in the wilderness, to possess the land of the Amorite.

Take away from me the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps.

Go up to the mountain, bring wood, and build the house. I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified," says Yahweh.

Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now? Isn't it in your eyes as nothing?

The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former,' says Yahweh of Armies; 'and in this place will I give peace,' says Yahweh of Armies."

Then Haggai said, "If one who is unclean by reason of a dead body touch any of these, will it be unclean?" The priests answered, "It will be unclean."

Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.

They watched him, whether he would heal him on the Sabbath day, that they might accuse him.

He said to them, "Is it lawful on the Sabbath day to do good, or to do harm? To save a life, or to kill?" But they were silent.

Jesus withdrew to the sea with his disciples, and a great multitude followed him from Galilee, from Judea,

He spoke to his disciples that a little boat should stay near him because of the crowd, so that they wouldn't press on him.

They asked him, "Why then do you baptize, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?"

John answered them, "I baptize in water, but among you stands one whom you don't know.

These things were done in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

I didn't know him, but for this reason I came baptizing in water: that he would be revealed to Israel."

Now there were six water pots of stone set there after the Jews' way of purifying, containing two or three metretes apiece.

The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,

But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his works may be revealed, that they have been done in God."

There arose therefore a questioning on the part of John's disciples with some Jews about purification.

(although Jesus himself didn't baptize, but his disciples),

For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.

Our fathers worshiped in this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship."

Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe me, the hour comes, when neither in this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, will you worship the Father.

In the meanwhile, the disciples urged him, saying, "Rabbi, eat."

So when he came into Galilee, the Galileans received him, having seen all the things that he did in Jerusalem at the feast, for they also went to the feast.

After these things, there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

Immediately, the man was made well, and took up his mat and walked. Now it was the Sabbath on that day.

Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand.

Jesus took the loaves; and having given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to those who were sitting down; likewise also of the fish as much as they desired.

When they were filled, he said to his disciples, "Gather up the broken pieces which are left over, that nothing be lost."

So they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with broken pieces from the five barley loaves, which were left over by those who had eaten.

When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea,

and they entered into the boat, and were going over the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not come to them.

When therefore they had rowed about twenty-five or thirty stadia, they saw Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing near to the boat; and they were afraid.

On the next day, the multitude that stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other boat there, except the one in which his disciples had embarked, and that Jesus hadn't entered with his disciples into the boat, but his disciples had gone away alone.

Now the feast of the Jews, the Feast of Booths, was at hand.

But when it was now the midst of the feast, Jesus went up into the temple and taught.

Moses has given you circumcision (not that it is of Moses, but of the fathers), and on the Sabbath you circumcise a boy.

If a boy receives circumcision on the Sabbath, that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me, because I made a man completely healthy on the Sabbath?

Now on the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink!

He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, from within him will flow rivers of living water."

Everyone went to his own house,

It was a Sabbath when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes.

Some therefore of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, because he doesn't keep the Sabbath." Others said, "How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?" There was division among them.

They said to him again, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?"

It was the Feast of the Dedication at Jerusalem.

Then after this he said to the disciples, "Let's go into Judea again."

Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand. Many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves.

Then six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, who had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.

Now there were certain Greeks among those that went up to worship at the feast.

Now before the feast of the Passover, Jesus, knowing that his time had come that he would depart from this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

Yet a little while, and the world will see me no more; but you will see me. Because I live, you will live also.

But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father commanded me, even so I do. Arise, let us go from here.

I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them through your name which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are.

As you sent me into the world, even so I have sent them into the world.

When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples over the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, into which he and his disciples entered.

Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples.

Simon Peter followed Jesus, as did another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and entered in with Jesus into the court of the high priest;

but Peter was standing at the door outside. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to her who kept the door, and brought in Peter.

Jesus answered him, "I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues, and in the temple, where the Jews always meet. I said nothing in secret.

They led Jesus therefore from Caiaphas into the Praetorium. It was early, and they themselves didn't enter into the Praetorium, that they might not be defiled, but might eat the Passover.

But you have a custom, that I should release someone to you at the Passover. Therefore do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?"

Now it was the Preparation Day of the Passover, at about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, "Behold, your King!"

Therefore the Jews, because it was the Preparation Day, so that the bodies wouldn't remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a special one), asked of Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.

For these things happened, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, "A bone of him will not be broken."

Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred Roman pounds.

So they took Jesus' body, and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury.

Then because of the Jews' Preparation Day (for the tomb was near at hand) they laid Jesus there.

Therefore Peter and the other disciple went out, and they went toward the tomb.

They both ran together. The other disciple outran Peter, and came to the tomb first.

For as yet they didn't know the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead.

So the disciples went away again to their own homes.

When therefore it was evening, on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were locked where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, "Peace be to you."

After eight days again his disciples were inside, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, the doors being locked, and stood in the midst, and said, "Peace be to you."

But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from the land, but about two hundred cubits away), dragging the net full of fish.

So when they got out on the land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread.

This is now the third time that Jesus was revealed to his disciples, after he had risen from the dead.

So when they had eaten their breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I have affection for you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs."

So he called them in and lodged them. On the next day Peter arose and went out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him.

On the next day they entered into Caesarea. Cornelius was waiting for them, having called together his relatives and his near friends.

When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This was during the days of unleavened bread.

But Peter continued knocking. When they had opened, they saw him, and were amazed.

Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their service, also taking with them John whose surname was Mark.

So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia. From there they sailed to Cyprus.

When they were at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. They had also John as their attendant.

When they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar Jesus,

Now Paul and his company set sail from Paphos, and came to Perga in Pamphylia. John departed from them and returned to Jerusalem.

But they, passing on from Perga, came to Antioch of Pisidia. They went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and sat down.

So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath.

But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came to Iconium.

Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who testified to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

they became aware of it, and fled to the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra, Derbe, and the surrounding region.

But as the disciples stood around him, he rose up, and entered into the city. On the next day he went out with Barnabas to Derbe.

When they had preached the Good News to that city, and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch,

They passed through Pisidia, and came to Pamphylia.

When they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia.

From there they sailed to Antioch, from where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work which they had fulfilled.

They stayed there with the disciples for a long time.

They, being sent on their way by the assembly, passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles. They caused great joy to all the brothers.

When they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the assembly and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all things that God had done with them.

men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

So, when they were sent off, they came to Antioch. Having gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter.

But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

Then the contention grew so sharp that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him, and sailed away to Cyprus,

He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the assemblies.

He came to Derbe and Lystra: and behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewess who believed; but his father was a Greek.

Paul wanted to have him go out with him, and he took and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those parts; for they all knew that his father was a Greek.

As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered the decrees to them to keep which had been ordained by the apostles and elders who were at Jerusalem.

When they had gone through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia.

When they had come opposite Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit didn't allow them.

Passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas.

When he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go out to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the Good News to them.

Setting sail therefore from Troas, we made a straight course to Samothrace, and the day following to Neapolis;

and from there to Philippi, which is a city of Macedonia, the foremost of the district, a Roman colony. We were staying some days in this city.

On the Sabbath day we went forth outside of the city by a riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down, and spoke to the women who had come together.

They went out of the prison, and entered into Lydia's house. When they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them, and departed.

Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue.

The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Beroea. When they arrived, they went into the Jewish synagogue.

Then the brothers immediately sent out Paul to go as far as to the sea, and Silas and Timothy still stayed there.

But those who escorted Paul brought him as far as Athens. Receiving a commandment to Silas and Timothy that they should come to him very quickly, they departed.

After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth.

But when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul was compelled by the Spirit, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.

He lived there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

Paul, having stayed after this many more days, took his leave of the brothers, and sailed from there for Syria, together with Priscilla and Aquila. He shaved his head in Cenchreae, for he had a vow.

He came to Ephesus, and he left them there; but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews.

but taking his leave of them, and saying, "I must by all means keep this coming feast in Jerusalem, but I will return again to you if God wills," he set sail from Ephesus.

It happened that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul, having passed through the upper country, came to Ephesus, and found certain disciples.

He entered into the synagogue, and spoke boldly for a period of three months, reasoning and persuading about the things concerning the Kingdom of God.

This continued for two years, so that all those who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.

Many of those who practiced magical arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. They counted the price of them, and found it to be fifty thousand pieces of silver.

Having sent into Macedonia two of those who served him, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while.

But these had gone ahead, and were waiting for us at Troas.

We sailed away from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and came to them at Troas in five days, where we stayed seven days.

On the first day of the week, when the disciples were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and continued his speech until midnight.

When he had gone up, and had broken bread, and eaten, and had talked with them a long while, even until break of day, he departed.

But we who went ahead to the ship set sail for Assos, intending to take Paul aboard there, for he had so arranged, intending himself to go by land.

When he met us at Assos, we took him aboard, and came to Mitylene.

Sailing from there, we came the following day opposite Chios. The next day we touched at Samos and stayed at Trogyllium, and the day after we came to Miletus.

For Paul had determined to sail past Ephesus, that he might not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hastening, if it were possible for him, to be in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost.

From Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called to himself the elders of the assembly.

sorrowing most of all because of the word which he had spoken, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him to the ship.

When it happened that we had parted from them and had set sail, we came with a straight course to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara.

Having found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, we went aboard, and set sail.

When we had come in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left hand, we sailed to Syria, and landed at Tyre, for there the ship was to unload her cargo.

Having found disciples, we stayed there seven days. These said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.

When it happened that we had accomplished the days, we departed and went on our journey. They all, with wives and children, brought us on our way until we were out of the city. Kneeling down on the beach, we prayed.

After saying goodbye to each other, we went on board the ship, and they returned home again.

When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais. We greeted the brothers, and stayed with them one day.

On the next day, we, who were Paul's companions, departed, and came to Caesarea. We entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him.

As we stayed there some days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.

After these days we took up our baggage and went up to Jerusalem.

When we had come to Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly.

Take them, and purify yourself with them, and pay their expenses for them, that they may shave their heads. Then all will know that there is no truth in the things that they have been informed about you, but that you yourself also walk keeping the law.

Then Paul took the men, and the next day, purified himself and went with them into the temple, declaring the fulfillment of the days of purification, until the offering was offered for every one of them.

Now why do you wait? Arise, be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.'

For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit; but the Pharisees confess all of these.

having hope toward God, which these also themselves look for, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.

unless it is for this one thing that I cried standing among them, 'Concerning the resurrection of the dead I am being judged before you today!'"

Embarking in a ship of Adramyttium, which was about to sail to places on the coast of Asia, we put to sea; Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us.

The next day, we touched at Sidon. Julius treated Paul kindly, and gave him permission to go to his friends and refresh himself.

Putting to sea from there, we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.

When we had sailed across the sea which is off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia.

There the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing for Italy, and he put us on board.

When we had sailed slowly many days, and had come with difficulty opposite Cnidus, the wind not allowing us further, we sailed under the lee of Crete, opposite Salmone.

With difficulty sailing along it we came to a certain place called Fair Havens, near the city of Lasea.

But we must run aground on a certain island."

While the day was coming on, Paul begged them all to take some food, saying, "This day is the fourteenth day that you wait and continue fasting, having taken nothing.

Therefore I beg you to take some food, for this is for your safety; for not a hair will perish from any of your heads."

After three months, we set sail in a ship of Alexandria which had wintered in the island, whose sign was "The Twin Brothers."

Touching at Syracuse, we stayed there three days.

From there we circled around and arrived at Rhegium. After one day, a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli,

where we found brothers, and were entreated to stay with them for seven days. So we came to Rome.

From there the brothers, when they heard of us, came to meet us as far as The Market of Appius and The Three Taverns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God, and took courage.

When we entered into Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard, but Paul was allowed to stay by himself with the soldier who guarded him.

For this people's heart has grown callous. Their ears are dull of hearing. Their eyes they have closed. Lest they should see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their heart, and would turn again, and I would heal them.'

So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

while we don't look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Therefore, we are always confident and know that while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord;

Therefore also we make it our aim, whether at home or absent, to be well pleasing to him.

Moreover, brothers, we make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the assemblies of Macedonia;

I give a judgment in this: for this is expedient for you, who were the first to start a year ago, not only to do, but also to be willing.

But now complete the doing also, that as there was the readiness to be willing, so there may be the completion also out of your ability.

Then after a period of fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus also with me.

But not even Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised.

You observe days, months, seasons, and years.

for your partnership in furtherance of the Good News from the first day until now;

so that you may approve the things that are excellent; that you may be sincere and without offense to the day of Christ;

Since then the children have shared in flesh and blood, he also himself in the same way partook of the same, that through death he might bring to nothing him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,

For the law, having a shadow of the good to come, not the very image of the things, can never with the same sacrifices year by year, which they offer continually, make perfect those who draw near.

But in those sacrifices there is a yearly reminder of sins.

For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins.

that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us. Yes, and our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son, Jesus Christ.

These are hidden rocky reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you, shepherds who without fear feed themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn leaves without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;

I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, like a trumpet