[4] “And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. [5] But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him! [6] “Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God. [7] But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. [8] “Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God. [9] But he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God. [10] “And anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven. [11] “Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say. [12] For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.” [13] Then one from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” [14] But He said to him, “Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?” [15] And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” [16] Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. [17] And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ [18] So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. [19] And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” ’ [20] But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ [21] “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” [22] Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. [23] Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. [24] Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds? [25] And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? [26] If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest? [27] Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. [28] If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith? [29] “And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. [30] For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. [31] But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you. [32] “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. [33] Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. [34] For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
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