For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate {to be} conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. {again: or, from above}

Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Blessed {be} the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, {abundant: Gr. much}

But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, {being} the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. {redeemed: Gr. bought}

But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. {trusted: or, hoped}

Israel {was} holiness unto the LORD, {and} the firstfruits of his increase: all that devour him shall offend; evil shall come upon them, saith the LORD.

And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, {I say}, whether {they be} things in earth, or things in heaven. {having...: or, making}

To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, {written: or, enrolled}

Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. {is born: or, has been born}

For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet {have ye} not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.

(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, {even} God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. {before him: or, like unto him}

Woe to them {that are} at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, {which are} named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came! {are at...: or, are secure} {chief: or, firstfruits}

Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest: {sheaf: or, handful: Heb. omer}

For this {is} the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: {put: Gr. give} {in: or, upon}

So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper {in the thing} whereto I sent it.

Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

For the word of God {is} quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and {is} a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, {they} are spirit, and {they} are life.

So then faith {cometh} by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, {written: or, enrolled}

Blessed {be} the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, {abundant: Gr. much}

These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, {being} the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. {redeemed: Gr. bought}

My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,

So then {it is} not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

And what {is} the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, {his mighty power: Gr. the might of his power}

For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received {it} not {as} the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

Israel {was} holiness unto the LORD, {and} the firstfruits of his increase: all that devour him shall offend; evil shall come upon them, saith the LORD.

If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him. {ye know that every: or, know ye etc.} {is born: Gr. has been born}

The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, {saying}, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. {of...: Heb. from afar} {with lovingkindness...: have I extended lovingkindness unto thee}

For if the firstfruit {be} holy, the lump {is} also {holy}: and if the root {be} holy, so {are} the branches.

That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. {trusted: or, hoped}

Thou shalt not delay {to offer} the first of thy ripe fruits, and of thy liquors: the firstborn of thy sons shalt thou give unto me. {the first...: Heb. thy fulness} {liquors: Heb. tear}

And the first of all the firstfruits of all {things}, and every oblation of all, of every {sort} of your oblations, shall be the priest's: ye shall also give unto the priest the first of your dough, that he may cause the blessing to rest in thine house. {And the first: or, And the chief}

By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

Woe to them {that are} at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, {which are} named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came! {are at...: or, are secure} {chief: or, firstfruits}

And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel {is} my son, {even} my firstborn:

And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments.

The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked {one};

Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept {me from} the paths of the destroyer.

That thou shalt take of the first of all the fruit of the earth, which thou shalt bring of thy land that the LORD thy God giveth thee, and shalt put {it} in a basket, and shalt go unto the place which the LORD thy God shall choose to place his name there.

This {is} my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.

In whom ye also {trusted}, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest: {sheaf: or, handful: Heb. omer}

Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. {is born: Gr. has been born}

Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?

For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet {have ye} not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.

And as soon as the commandment came abroad, the children of Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits of corn, wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the field; and the tithe of all {things} brought they in abundantly. {came...: Heb. brake forth} {honey: or, dates}

Ye shall offer up a cake of the first of your dough {for} an heave offering: as {ye do} the heave offering of the threshingfloor, so shall ye heave it.

For all the firstborn of the children of Israel {are} mine, {both} man and beast: on the day that I smote every firstborn in the land of Egypt I sanctified them for myself.

Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals: they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; {they are} the firstfruits unto the LORD.

And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will.

Also in the day of the firstfruits, when ye bring a new meat offering unto the LORD, after your weeks {be out}, ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work:

That he no longer should live the rest of {his} time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

Likewise {greet} the church that is in their house. Salute my wellbeloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.

We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. {is born: Gr. has been born}

The first of the firstfruits of thy land thou shalt bring unto the house of the LORD thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk.