Abraham answered and said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes. Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking. Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?” And he said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.”
“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”—“Pray for those who persecute you.”
“I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours…. I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word.”—Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth.
So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.—“What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?”
Surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.—The world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.—Those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.—Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
16 Therefore, yconfess your sins to one another and pray for one another, zthat you may be healed. aThe prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.1
[1] 5:16
27 Abraham answered and said, o“Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes.
28 Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking. Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?” And he said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.”
34 And Jesus said, “Father, rforgive them, sfor they know not what they do.”1 And they cast lots tto divide his garments.
[1] 23:34
9 I am praying for them. jI am not praying for the world but for those kwhom you have given me, for lthey are yours.
16 Therefore, yconfess your sins to one another and pray for one another, zthat you may be healed. aThe prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.1
[1] 5:16
17 Elijah was a man bwith a nature like ours, and che prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for dthree years and six months it did not rain on the earth.
36 fFor what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?
8 jThe grass withers, the flower fades,
17 And zthe world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
w“In a favorable time I listened to you,
and in a day of salvation I have helped you.”
Behold, xnow is the yfavorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
31 and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For dthe present form of this world is passing away.
24 And zlet us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,