⁴ These are those who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are those who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These were redeemed by Jesus from among men, the first fruits to God and to the Lamb.

⁴ Nevertheless you have a few names in Sardis that did not defile their garments. They will walk with me in white, for they are worthy.

¹⁸ Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

² For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy. For I married you to one husband, that I might present you as a pure virgin to Christ.

²⁷ My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

²⁶ If anyone serves me, let him follow me. Where I am, there will my servant also be. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

⁹ They sang a new song, saying, "You are worthy to take the book, And to open its seals: For you were killed, And bought us for God with your blood, Out of every tribe, language, people, and nation,

¹⁴ These will war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings. They also will overcome who are with him, called and chosen and faithful."

¹⁵ Therefore they are before the throne of God, they serve him day and night in his temple. He who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them.

¹⁶ They will never be hungry, neither thirsty any more; neither will the sun beat on them, nor any heat;

¹⁷ for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne shepherds them, and leads them to springs of waters of life. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

¹² Again, therefore, Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life."

¹ "Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went out to meet the bridegroom.

⁹ But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that you may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:

³ forbidding marriage and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.

¹⁴ who is a pledge of our inheritance, to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of his glory.

¹⁵ Now I beg you, brothers (you know the house of Stephanas, that it is the first fruits of Achaia, and that they have set themselves to minister to the saints),

²⁸ But if you marry, you have not sinned. If a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Yet such will have oppression in the flesh, and I want to spare you.

¹⁴ She shall be led to the king in embroidered work. The virgins, her companions who follow her, shall be brought to you.

² Remember your congregation, which you purchased of old, Which you have redeemed to be the tribe of your inheritance; Mount Zion, in which you have lived.

³ Your oils have a pleasing fragrance. Your name is oil poured forth, Therefore the virgins love you.

⁸ There are sixty queens, eighty concubines, And virgins without number.

³ Israel [was] holiness to Yahweh, the first fruits of his increase: all who devour him shall be held guilty; evil shall come on them, says Yahweh.

¹ Woe to those who are at ease in Zion, And to those who are secure on the mountain of Samaria, The notable men of the chief of the nations, To whom the house of Israel come!

¹⁹ A scribe came, and said to him, "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go."

⁵⁷ As they went on the way, a certain man said to him, "I want to follow you wherever you go, Lord."

⁵⁸ Jesus said to him, "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."

⁵⁹ He said to another, "Follow me!" But he said, "Lord, allow me first to go and bury my father."

⁶⁰ But Jesus said to him, "Leave the dead to bury their own dead, but you go and announce the Kingdom of God."

⁶¹ Another also said, "I want to follow you, Lord, but first allow me to bid farewell to those who are at my house."

⁶² But Jesus said to him, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of God."

²⁸ Take heed, therefore, to yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the assembly of the Lord and{TR, NU omit "the Lord and"} God which he purchased with his own blood.

²⁰ for you were bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.

²⁵ Now concerning virgins, I have no commandment from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who has obtained mercy from the Lord to be trustworthy.

²⁶ I think that it is good therefore, because of the distress that is on us, that it is good for a man to be as he is.

³⁷ Peter said to him, "Lord, why can't I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you."