Month: October 2018

The Fall of Jerusalem to Babylon

39 In the ninth year of King Zedekiah of Judah, in the tenth month, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon advanced against Jerusalem with his entire army and laid siege to it.^{(A) 2} In the fourth month of Zedekiah’s eleventh year, on the ninth day of the month, the city was broken into.^{(B) 3} All the officials of the king of Babylon entered and sat at the Middle Gate: Nergal-sharezer, Samgar, Nebusarsechim^[a] the chief of staff, Nergal-sharezer the chief soothsayer, and all the rest of the officials of Babylon’s king.^(C)

⁴ When King Zedekiah of Judah and all the fighting men saw them, they fled. They left the city at night by way of the king’s garden^(D) through the city gate between the two walls. They left along the route to the Arabah.^{(E) 5} However, the Chaldean army pursued them and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho. They arrested him and brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar, Babylon’s king, at Riblah in the land of Hamath. The king passed sentence on him there.^(F)

⁶ At Riblah the king of Babylon slaughtered Zedekiah’s sons before his eyes, and he also slaughtered all Judah’s nobles. ⁷ Then he blinded Zedekiah and put him in bronze chains to take him to Babylon.^{(G) 8} The Chaldeans next burned down the king’s palace and the people’s houses and tore down the walls of Jerusalem.^{(H) 9} Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guards,^(I) deported the rest of the people to Babylon—those who had remained in the city and those deserters who had defected to him along with the rest of the people who remained. ¹⁰ However, Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guards, left in the land of Judah some of the poor people who owned nothing, and he gave them vineyards and fields at that time.^(J)

Jeremiah Freed by Nebuchadnezzar

¹¹ Speaking through Nebuzaradan, captain of the guards, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon gave orders concerning Jeremiah: ¹² “Take him and look after him. Don’t do him any harm, but do for him whatever he says.” ¹³ Nebuzaradan, captain of the guards, Nebushazban the chief of staff, Nergal-sharezer the chief soothsayer, and all the captains of Babylon’s king ¹⁴ had Jeremiah brought from the guard’s courtyard^(K) and turned him over to Gedaliah^(L) son of Ahikam,^(M) son of Shaphan, to take him home. So he settled among his own people.

¹⁵ Now the word of the Lord had come to Jeremiah when he was confined in the guard’s courtyard:^{(N) 16} “Go tell Ebed-melech the Cushite,^(O) ‘This is what the Lord of Armies, the God of Israel, says: I am about to fulfill my words for disaster and not for good against this city. They will take place before your eyes on that day. ¹⁷ But I will rescue you on that day—this is the Lord’s declaration—and you will not be handed over to the men you dread. ¹⁸ Indeed, I will certainly deliver you so that you do not fall by the sword. Because you have trusted in me, you will retain your life like the spoils of war.^(P) This is the Lord’s declaration.’”

Jeremiah Stays in Judah

40 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord after Nebuzaradan, captain of the guards, released him at Ramah.^(Q) When he found him, he was bound in chains with all the exiles of Jerusalem and Judah who were being exiled to Babylon. ² The captain of the guards took Jeremiah and said to him, “The Lord your God decreed this disaster on this place,^{(R) 3} and the Lord has fulfilled it. He has done just what he decreed. Because you people have sinned against the Lord^(S) and have not obeyed him, this thing has happened. ⁴ Now pay attention: Today I am setting you free from the chains that were on your hands.^(T) If it pleases you to come with me to Babylon, come, and I will take care of you. But if it seems wrong to you to come with me to Babylon, go no farther.^[b] Look—the whole land is in front of you.^(U) Wherever it seems good and right for you to go, go there.” ⁵ When Jeremiah had not yet turned to go, Nebuzaradan said to him,^[c] “Return^[d] to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has appointed over the cities of Judah, and stay with him among the people or go wherever it seems right for you to go.” So the captain of the guards gave him a ration^(V) and a gift^(W) and released him. ⁶ Jeremiah therefore went to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah,^(X) and he stayed with him among the people who remained in the land.

Gedaliah Advises Peace

⁷ All the commanders of the armies that were in the countryside—they and their men—heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam over the land. He had been put in charge of the men, women, and children from among the poorest of the land, who had not been deported to Babylon. ⁸ So they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah. The commanders included Ishmael^(Y) son of Nethaniah, Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth, the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah son of the Maacathite—they and their men.

⁹ Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, swore an oath to them and their men, assuring them, “Don’t be afraid to serve the Chaldeans. Live in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will go well for you.^{(Z) 10} As for me, I am going to live in Mizpah to represent you^[e] before the Chaldeans^(AA) who come to us. As for you, gather wine, summer fruit, and oil, place them in your storage jars, and live in the cities you have captured.”

¹¹ When all the Judeans in Moab^(AB) and among the Ammonites and in^(AC) Edom and in all the other lands^(AD) also heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant in Judah and had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, over them, ¹² they all returned from all the places where they had been banished^(AE) and came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah at Mizpah, and harvested a great amount of wine and summer fruit.

¹³ Meanwhile, Johanan son of Kareah and all the commanders of the armies in the countryside came to Gedaliah at Mizpah ¹⁴ and warned him, “Don’t you realize that Baalis, king of the Ammonites, has sent Ishmael son of Nethaniah^(AF) to kill you?” But Gedaliah son of Ahikam would not believe them. ¹⁵ Then Johanan son of Kareah suggested to Gedaliah in private at Mizpah, “Let me go kill Ishmael son of Nethaniah. No one will know it. Why should he kill you and allow all of Judah that has gathered around you to scatter and the remnant of Judah to perish?” ^(AG)

¹⁶ But Gedaliah son of Ahikam responded to Johanan son of Kareah, “Don’t do that! What you’re saying about Ishmael is a lie.”

Gedaliah Assassinated by Ishmael

41 In the seventh month, Ishmael son of Nethaniah, son of Elishama, of the royal family and one of the king’s chief officers, came with ten men to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah. They ate a meal together there in Mizpah, ² but then Ishmael son of Nethaniah and the ten men who were with him got up and struck down Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, with the sword; he killed the one the king of Babylon had appointed in the land.^{(AH) 3} Ishmael also struck down all the Judeans who were with Gedaliah at Mizpah, as well as the Chaldean soldiers who were there.^(AI)

⁴ On the day after he had killed Gedaliah, when no one knew yet, ⁵ eighty men came from Shechem, Shiloh,^(AJ) and Samaria^(AK) who had shaved their beards,^(AL) torn their clothes, and gashed themselves, and^(AM) who were carrying grain and incense offerings to bring to the temple of the Lord.^{(AN) 6} Ishmael son of Nethaniah came out of Mizpah to meet them, weeping as he came. When he encountered them, he said, “Come to Gedaliah son of Ahikam!” ⁷ But when they came into the city, Ishmael son of Nethaniah and the men with him slaughtered them and threw them into^[f] a cistern.

⁸ However, there were ten men among them who said to Ishmael, “Don’t kill us, for we have hidden treasure in the field—wheat, barley, oil, and honey!” So he stopped and did not kill them along with their companions. ⁹ Now the cistern where Ishmael had thrown all the corpses of the men he had struck down was a large one^[g] that King Asa had made in the encounter with King Baasha of Israel.^(AO) Ishmael son of Nethaniah filled it with the slain.

¹⁰ Then Ishmael took captive all the rest of the people of Mizpah including the daughters of the king—all those who remained in Mizpah over whom Nebuzaradan, captain of the guards, had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam. Ishmael son of Nethaniah took them captive and set off to cross over to the Ammonites.^(AP)

The Captives Rescued by Johanan

¹¹ When Johanan son of Kareah and all the commanders of the armies^(AQ) with him heard of all the evil that Ishmael son of Nethaniah had done, ¹² they took all their men and went to fight with Ishmael son of Nethaniah. They found him by the great pool in Gibeon.^{(AR) 13} When all the people held by Ishmael saw Johanan son of Kareah and all the commanders of the army with him, they rejoiced. ¹⁴ All the people whom Ishmael had taken captive from Mizpah turned around and rejoined Johanan son of Kareah. ¹⁵ But Ishmael son of Nethaniah escaped from Johanan with eight men and went to the Ammonites. ¹⁶ Johanan son of Kareah and all the commanders of the armies with him then took from Mizpah all the remnant of the people whom he had recovered from Ishmael son of Nethaniah after Ishmael had killed Gedaliah son of Ahikam—men, soldiers, women, children, and court officials whom he brought back from Gibeon. ¹⁷ They left, stopping in Geruth Chimham,^(AS) which is near Bethlehem, in order to make their way into Egypt, ¹⁸ away from the Chaldeans. For they feared them because Ishmael son of Nethaniah had struck down Gedaliah son of Ahikam, whom the king of Babylon had appointed over the land.^(AT)

Greeting

1 Paul,^(A) an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will,^(B) for the sake of the promise of life^(C) in Christ Jesus:

² To Timothy, my dearly loved son.

Grace, mercy, and peace^(D) from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Thanksgiving

³ I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience^(E) as my ancestors did, when I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day.^{(F) 4} Remembering your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy. ⁵ I recall your sincere faith^(G) that first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice^(H) and now, I am convinced, is in you also.

⁶ Therefore, I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is in you through the laying on of my hands.^{(I) 7} For God has not given us a spirit of fear,^(J) but one of power,^[a](K) love,^(L) and sound judgment.

Not Ashamed of the Gospel

⁸ So don’t be ashamed^(M) of the testimony about our Lord,^(N) or of me his prisoner.^(O) Instead, share in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power^(P) of God. ⁹ He has saved us and called us with a holy calling,^(Q) not according to our works,^(R) but according to his own purpose^(S) and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began. ¹⁰ This has now been made evident through the appearing^(T) of our Savior Christ Jesus, who has abolished death^(U) and has brought life^(V) and immortality to light through the gospel. ¹¹ For this gospel I was appointed^(W) a herald, apostle, and teacher,^{[b] 12} and that is why I suffer^(X) these things. But I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to guard what has been entrusted to me^[c](Y) until that day.^(Z)

Be Loyal to the Faith

¹³ Hold on to the pattern of sound teaching^(AA) that you have heard from me,^(AB) in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. ¹⁴ Guard the good deposit through the Holy Spirit who lives in us. ¹⁵ You know that all those in the province of Asia^(AC) have deserted me,^(AD) including Phygelus and Hermogenes. ¹⁶ May the Lord grant mercy^(AE) to the household of Onesiphorus,^(AF) because he often refreshed me^(AG) and was not ashamed of my chains.^{(AH) 17} On the contrary, when he was in Rome,^(AI) he diligently searched for me and found me. ¹⁸ May the Lord grant that he obtain mercy^(AJ) from him on that day. You know very well how much he ministered at Ephesus.^(AK)

BOOK IV

(Psalms 90—106)

Psalm 90

Eternal God and Mortal Man

A prayer of Moses, the man of God.

Psalm 91

The Protection of the Most High

Jerusalem’s Last Days

37 Zedekiah son of Josiah^(A) reigned as king in the land of Judah^(B) in place of Coniah^[a](C) son of Jehoiakim, for King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon made him king. ² He and his officers and the people of the land did not obey the words of the Lord^(D) that he spoke through the prophet Jeremiah.

³ Nevertheless, King Zedekiah sent Jehucal^(E) son of Shelemiah and Zephaniah^(F) son of Maaseiah, the priest, to the prophet Jeremiah, requesting, “Please pray to the Lord our God for us!” ⁴ Jeremiah was going about his daily tasks^[b] among the people, for he had not yet been put into the prison.^{(G) 5} Pharaoh’s army had left Egypt,^(H) and when the Chaldeans, who were besieging Jerusalem, heard the report, they withdrew from Jerusalem.

⁶ The word of the Lord came to the prophet Jeremiah: ⁷ “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: This is what you will say to Judah’s king,^(I) who is sending you to inquire of me: ‘Watch: Pharaoh’s army, which has come out to help you,^(J) is going to return to its own land of Egypt. ⁸ The Chaldeans will then return and fight against this city. They will capture it and burn it.^{(K) 9} This is what the Lord says: Don’t deceive yourselves by saying, “The Chaldeans will leave us for good,” for they will not leave. ¹⁰ Indeed, if you were to strike down the entire Chaldean army that is fighting with you,^(L) and there remained among them only the badly wounded^[c] men, each in his tent, they would get up and burn this city.’”

Jeremiah’s Imprisonment

¹¹ When the Chaldean army withdrew from Jerusalem because of Pharaoh’s army, ¹² Jeremiah started to leave Jerusalem to go to the land of Benjamin to claim his portion there^(M) among the people. ¹³ But when he was at the Benjamin Gate,^(N) an officer of the guard was there, whose name was Irijah son of Shelemiah, son of Hananiah, and he apprehended the prophet Jeremiah, saying, “You are defecting to the Chaldeans.”

¹⁴ “That’s a lie,” Jeremiah replied. “I am not defecting to the Chaldeans!” Irijah would not listen to him but apprehended Jeremiah and took him to the officials. ¹⁵ The officials were angry at Jeremiah and beat him and placed him in jail in the house of Jonathan^(O) the scribe, for it had been made into a prison. ¹⁶ So Jeremiah went into a cell in the dungeon^(P) and stayed there many days.

Jeremiah Summoned by Zedekiah

¹⁷ King Zedekiah later sent for him and received him, and in his house privately asked him, “Is there a word from the Lord?” ^(Q)

“There is,” Jeremiah responded. He continued, “You will be handed over to the king of Babylon.”^{(R) 18} Then Jeremiah said to King Zedekiah, “How have I sinned against you or your servants or these people that you have put me in prison? ¹⁹ Where are your prophets who prophesied to you, claiming, ‘The king of Babylon will not come against you and this land’?^{(S) 20} So now please listen, my lord the king. May my petition come before you.^(T) Don’t send me back to the house of Jonathan the scribe, or I will die there.”

²¹ So King Zedekiah gave orders, and Jeremiah was placed in the guard’s courtyard.^(U) He was given a loaf of bread each day from the bakers’ street until all the bread was gone from the city. So Jeremiah remained in the guard’s courtyard.

Jeremiah Thrown into a Cistern

38 Now Shephatiah son of Mattan, Gedaliah son of Pashhur, Jucal^[d] son of Shelemiah,^(V) and Pashhur son of Malchijah heard the words Jeremiah was speaking to all the people: ² “This is what the Lord says: ‘Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine, and plague,^(W) but whoever surrenders to the Chaldeans will live.^(X) He will retain his life like the spoils of war and will live.’^{(Y) 3} This is what the Lord says: ‘This city will most certainly be handed over to the king of Babylon’s army,^(Z) and he will capture it.’”

⁴ The officials then said to the king, “This man ought to die, because he is weakening the morale^[e] of the warriors who remain in this city and of all the people by speaking to them in this way. This man is not pursuing the welfare of this people, but their harm.”^(AA)

⁵ King Zedekiah said, “Here he is; he’s in your hands since the king can’t do anything against you.” ⁶ So they took Jeremiah and dropped him into the cistern of Malchiah the king’s son, which was in the guard’s courtyard, lowering Jeremiah with ropes. There was no water in the cistern, only mud, and Jeremiah sank in the mud.^(AB)

⁷ But Ebed-melech, a Cushite court official in the king’s palace, heard Jeremiah had been put into the cistern. While the king was sitting at the Benjamin Gate,^{(AC) 8} Ebed-melech went from the king’s palace and spoke to the king: ⁹ “My lord the king, these men have been evil in all they have done to the prophet Jeremiah. They have dropped him into the cistern where he will die from hunger, because there is no more bread in the city.”^(AD)

¹⁰ So the king commanded Ebed-melech, the Cushite, “Take from here thirty men under your authority^[f] and pull the prophet Jeremiah up from the cistern before he dies.”

¹¹ So Ebed-melech took the men under his authority^[g] and went to the king’s palace to a place below the storehouse.^[h] From there he took old rags and worn-out clothes and lowered them by ropes to Jeremiah in the cistern. ¹² Ebed-melech the Cushite called down to Jeremiah, “Place these old rags and clothes between your armpits and the ropes.” Jeremiah did this. ¹³ They pulled him up with the ropes and lifted him out of the cistern, but he remained in the guard’s courtyard.

Zedekiah’s Final Meeting with Jeremiah

¹⁴ King Zedekiah sent for the prophet Jeremiah and received him at the third entrance of the Lord’s temple. The king said to Jeremiah, “I am going to ask you something; don’t hide anything from me.”

¹⁵ Jeremiah replied to Zedekiah, “If I tell you, you will kill me, won’t you? Besides, if I give you advice, you won’t listen to me anyway.”

¹⁶ King Zedekiah swore to Jeremiah in private,^(AE) “As the Lord lives, who has given us this life,^(AF) I will not kill you or hand you over to these men who intend to take your life.”

¹⁷ Jeremiah therefore said to Zedekiah, “This is what the Lord, the God of Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘If indeed you surrender to the officials of the king of Babylon,^(AG) then you will live, this city will not be burned, and you and your household will survive. ¹⁸ But if you do not surrender to the officials of the king of Babylon, then this city will be handed over to the Chaldeans.^(AH) They will burn it, and you yourself will not escape from them.’”

¹⁹ But King Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, “I am worried about the Judeans who have defected to the Chaldeans. They may hand me over to the Judeans to abuse me.”^(AI)

²⁰ “They will not hand you over,” Jeremiah replied. “Obey the Lord in what I am telling you, so it may go well for you and you can live. ²¹ But if you refuse to surrender, this is the verdict^[i] that the Lord has shown me: ²² ‘All the women^[j] who remain in the palace of Judah’s king will be brought out to the officials of the king of Babylon and will say to you,^[k]

²³ All your wives and children will be brought out to the Chaldeans.^(AJ) You yourself will not escape from them, for you will be seized by the king of Babylon and this city will burn.’”

²⁴ Then Zedekiah warned Jeremiah, “Don’t let anyone know about this conversation^[n] or you will die. ²⁵ The officials may hear that I have spoken with you^(AK) and come and demand of you, ‘Tell us what you said to the king; don’t hide anything from us and we won’t kill you. Also, what did the king say to you?’ ²⁶ If they do, tell them, ‘I was bringing before the king my petition that he not return me to the house of Jonathan to die there.’”^{(AL) 27} All the officials did come to Jeremiah, and they questioned him. He reported the exact words to them the king had commanded, and they quit speaking with him because the conversation^[o] had not been overheard. ²⁸ Jeremiah remained in the guard’s courtyard until the day Jerusalem was captured, and he was there when it happened.^[p]

Honoring Masters

6 All who are under the yoke as slaves should regard their own masters^[a] as worthy of all respect, so that God’s name^(A) and his teaching will not be blasphemed. ² Let those who have believing masters not be disrespectful to them because they are brothers, but serve them even better, since those who benefit from their service are believers and dearly loved.^[b](B)

False Doctrine and Human Greed

Teach and encourage these things. ³ If anyone teaches false doctrine and does not agree with the sound teaching of our Lord^(C) Jesus Christ and with the teaching that promotes godliness,^{(D) 4} he is conceited and understands nothing, but has an unhealthy interest in disputes and arguments over words.^(E) From these come envy,^(F) quarreling,^(G) slander,^(H) evil suspicions, ⁵ and constant disagreement among people whose minds are depraved and deprived of the truth, who imagine that godliness is a way to material gain.^{[c](I) 6} But godliness with contentment is great gain.^{(J) 7} For we brought nothing into the world, and^[d] we can take nothing out.^{(K) 8} If we have food and clothing,^[e] we will be content with these. ⁹ But those who want to be rich fall into temptation, a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge people into ruin and destruction. ¹⁰ For the love of money is a root^[f] of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith^(L) and pierced themselves with many griefs.

Fight the Good Fight

¹¹ But you, man of God, flee from these things, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love,^(M) endurance,^(N) and gentleness. ¹² Fight the good fight^(O) of the faith. Take hold of eternal life^(P) to which you were called and about which you have made a good confession in the presence of many witnesses. ¹³ In the presence of God, who gives life to all,^(Q) and of Christ Jesus, who gave a good confession before Pontius Pilate,^(R) I charge you ¹⁴ to keep this command without fault or failure until the appearing^(S) of our Lord^(T) Jesus Christ. ¹⁵ God will bring this about in his own time.^(U) He is the blessed and only^(V) Sovereign, the King of kings,^(W) and the Lord of lords,^{(X) 16} who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light,^(Y) whom no one has seen or can see,^(Z) to him be honor and eternal power.^(AA) Amen.^(AB)

Instructions to the Rich

¹⁷ Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be arrogant^(AC) or to set their hope on the uncertainty of wealth, but on God,^[g] who richly provides us with all things^(AD) to enjoy. ¹⁸ Instruct them to do what is good, to be rich in good works,^(AE) to be generous and willing to share,^{(AF) 19} storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the coming age,^(AG) so that they may take hold of what is truly life.

Guard the Heritage

²⁰ Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you,^(AH) avoiding^(AI) irreverent and empty speech and contradictions from what is falsely called knowledge.^{(AJ) 21} By professing it, some^(AK) people have departed from the faith.^(AL)

Grace be with you all.

The Rekabites

35 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord during the reign of Jehoiakim^(A) son of Josiah king of Judah: ² “Go to the Rekabite^(B) family and invite them to come to one of the side rooms^(C) of the house of the Lord and give them wine to drink.”

³ So I went to get Jaazaniah son of Jeremiah, the son of Habazziniah, and his brothers and all his sons—the whole family of the Rekabites. ⁴ I brought them into the house of the Lord, into the room of the sons of Hanan son of Igdaliah the man of God.^(D) It was next to the room of the officials, which was over that of Maaseiah son of Shallum^(E) the doorkeeper.^{(F) 5} Then I set bowls full of wine and some cups before the Rekabites and said to them, “Drink some wine.”

⁶ But they replied, “We do not drink wine, because our forefather Jehonadab^[a](G) son of Rekab gave us this command: ‘Neither you nor your descendants must ever drink wine.^{(H) 7} Also you must never build houses, sow seed or plant vineyards; you must never have any of these things, but must always live in tents.^(I) Then you will live a long time in the land^(J) where you are nomads.’ ⁸ We have obeyed everything our forefather^(K) Jehonadab son of Rekab commanded us. Neither we nor our wives nor our sons and daughters have ever drunk wine ⁹ or built houses to live in or had vineyards, fields or crops.^{(L) 10} We have lived in tents and have fully obeyed everything our forefather Jehonadab commanded us. ¹¹ But when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon invaded^(M) this land, we said, ‘Come, we must go to Jerusalem^(N) to escape the Babylonian^[b] and Aramean armies.’ So we have remained in Jerusalem.”

¹² Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying: ¹³ “This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Go and tell^(O) the people of Judah and those living in Jerusalem, ‘Will you not learn a lesson^(P) and obey my words?’ declares the Lord. ¹⁴ ‘Jehonadab son of Rekab ordered his descendants not to drink wine and this command has been kept. To this day they do not drink wine, because they obey their forefather’s command.^(Q) But I have spoken to you again and again,^(R) yet you have not obeyed^(S) me. ¹⁵ Again and again I sent all my servants the prophets^(T) to you. They said, “Each of you must turn^(U) from your wicked ways and reform^(V) your actions; do not follow other gods^(W) to serve them. Then you will live in the land^(X) I have given to you and your ancestors.” But you have not paid attention or listened^(Y) to me. ¹⁶ The descendants of Jehonadab son of Rekab have carried out the command their forefather^(Z) gave them, but these people have not obeyed me.’

¹⁷ “Therefore this is what the Lord God Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘Listen! I am going to bring on Judah and on everyone living in Jerusalem every disaster^(AA) I pronounced against them. I spoke to them, but they did not listen;^(AB) I called to them, but they did not answer.’”^(AC)

¹⁸ Then Jeremiah said to the family of the Rekabites, “This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘You have obeyed the command of your forefather^(AD) Jehonadab and have followed all his instructions and have done everything he ordered.’ ¹⁹ Therefore this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘Jehonadab son of Rekab will never fail^(AE) to have a descendant to serve^(AF) me.’”

Jehoiakim Burns Jeremiah’s Scroll

36 In the fourth year of Jehoiakim^(AG) son of Josiah king of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from the Lord: ² “Take a scroll^(AH) and write on it all the words^(AI) I have spoken to you concerning Israel, Judah and all the other nations from the time I began speaking to you in the reign of Josiah^(AJ) till now. ³ Perhaps^(AK) when the people of Judah hear^(AL) about every disaster I plan to inflict on them, they will each turn^(AM) from their wicked ways; then I will forgive^(AN) their wickedness and their sin.”

⁴ So Jeremiah called Baruch^(AO) son of Neriah,^(AP) and while Jeremiah dictated^(AQ) all the words the Lord had spoken to him, Baruch wrote them on the scroll.^{(AR) 5} Then Jeremiah told Baruch, “I am restricted; I am not allowed to go to the Lord’s temple. ⁶ So you go to the house of the Lord on a day of fasting^(AS) and read to the people from the scroll the words of the Lord that you wrote as I dictated.^(AT) Read them to all the people of Judah^(AU) who come in from their towns. ⁷ Perhaps they will bring their petition^(AV) before the Lord and will each turn^(AW) from their wicked ways, for the anger^(AX) and wrath pronounced against this people by the Lord are great.”

⁸ Baruch son of Neriah did everything Jeremiah the prophet told him to do; at the Lord’s temple he read the words of the Lord from the scroll. ⁹ In the ninth month^(AY) of the fifth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, a time of fasting^(AZ) before the Lord was proclaimed for all the people in Jerusalem and those who had come from the towns of Judah. ¹⁰ From the room of Gemariah^(BA) son of Shaphan^(BB) the secretary,^(BC) which was in the upper courtyard at the entrance of the New Gate^(BD) of the temple, Baruch read to all the people at the Lord’s temple the words of Jeremiah from the scroll.

¹¹ When Micaiah son of Gemariah, the son of Shaphan, heard all the words of the Lord from the scroll, ¹² he went down to the secretary’s^(BE) room in the royal palace, where all the officials were sitting: Elishama the secretary, Delaiah son of Shemaiah, Elnathan^(BF) son of Akbor, Gemariah son of Shaphan, Zedekiah son of Hananiah, and all the other officials.^{(BG) 13} After Micaiah told them everything he had heard Baruch read to the people from the scroll, ¹⁴ all the officials sent Jehudi^(BH) son of Nethaniah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Cushi, to say to Baruch, “Bring the scroll^(BI) from which you have read to the people and come.” So Baruch son of Neriah went to them with the scroll in his hand. ¹⁵ They said to him, “Sit down, please, and read it to us.”

So Baruch read it to them. ¹⁶ When they heard all these words, they looked at each other in fear^(BJ) and said to Baruch, “We must report all these words to the king.” ¹⁷ Then they asked Baruch, “Tell us, how did you come to write^(BK) all this? Did Jeremiah dictate it?”

¹⁸ “Yes,” Baruch replied, “he dictated^(BL) all these words to me, and I wrote them in ink on the scroll.”

¹⁹ Then the officials^(BM) said to Baruch, “You and Jeremiah, go and hide.^(BN) Don’t let anyone know where you are.”

²⁰ After they put the scroll in the room of Elishama the secretary, they went to the king in the courtyard and reported everything to him. ²¹ The king sent Jehudi^(BO) to get the scroll, and Jehudi brought it from the room of Elishama the secretary and read it to the king^(BP) and all the officials standing beside him. ²² It was the ninth month and the king was sitting in the winter apartment,^(BQ) with a fire burning in the firepot in front of him. ²³ Whenever Jehudi had read three or four columns of the scroll,^(BR) the king cut them off with a scribe’s knife and threw them into the firepot, until the entire scroll was burned in the fire.^{(BS) 24} The king and all his attendants who heard all these words showed no fear,^(BT) nor did they tear their clothes.^{(BU) 25} Even though Elnathan, Delaiah^(BV) and Gemariah^(BW) urged the king not to burn the scroll, he would not listen to them. ²⁶ Instead, the king commanded Jerahmeel, a son of the king, Seraiah son of Azriel and Shelemiah son of Abdeel to arrest^(BX) Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet. But the Lord had hidden^(BY) them.

²⁷ After the king burned the scroll containing the words that Baruch had written at Jeremiah’s dictation,^(BZ) the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: ²⁸ “Take another scroll^(CA) and write on it all the words that were on the first scroll, which Jehoiakim king of Judah burned up. ²⁹ Also tell Jehoiakim king of Judah, ‘This is what the Lord says: You burned that scroll and said, “Why did you write on it that the king of Babylon would certainly come and destroy this land and wipe from it^(CB) both man and beast?”^{(CC) 30} Therefore this is what the Lord says about Jehoiakim^(CD) king of Judah: He will have no one to sit on the throne of David; his body will be thrown out^(CE) and exposed^(CF) to the heat by day and the frost by night.^{(CG) 31} I will punish him and his children^(CH) and his attendants for their wickedness; I will bring on them and those living in Jerusalem and the people of Judah every disaster^(CI) I pronounced against them, because they have not listened.^(CJ)’”

³² So Jeremiah took another scroll and gave it to the scribe Baruch son of Neriah, and as Jeremiah dictated,^(CK) Baruch wrote^(CL) on it all the words of the scroll that Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned^(CM) in the fire. And many similar words were added to them.

Widows, Elders and Slaves

5 Do not rebuke an older man^(A) harshly,^(B) but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men^(C) as brothers, ² older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.

³ Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need.^{(D) 4} But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents,^(E) for this is pleasing to God.^{(F) 5} The widow who is really in need^(G) and left all alone puts her hope in God^(H) and continues night and day to pray^(I) and to ask God for help. ⁶ But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives.^{(J) 7} Give the people these instructions,^(K) so that no one may be open to blame. ⁸ Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied^(L) the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

⁹ No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband, ¹⁰ and is well known for her good deeds,^(M) such as bringing up children, showing hospitality,^(N) washing the feet^(O) of the Lord’s people, helping those in trouble^(P) and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds.

¹¹ As for younger widows, do not put them on such a list. For when their sensual desires overcome their dedication to Christ, they want to marry. ¹² Thus they bring judgment on themselves, because they have broken their first pledge. ¹³ Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also busybodies^(Q) who talk nonsense,^(R) saying things they ought not to. ¹⁴ So I counsel younger widows to marry,^(S) to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander.^{(T) 15} Some have in fact already turned away to follow Satan.^(U)

¹⁶ If any woman who is a believer has widows in her care, she should continue to help them and not let the church be burdened with them, so that the church can help those widows who are really in need.^(V)

¹⁷ The elders^(W) who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor,^(X) especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. ¹⁸ For Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,”^[a](Y) and “The worker deserves his wages.”^{[b](Z) 19} Do not entertain an accusation against an elder^(AA) unless it is brought by two or three witnesses.^{(AB) 20} But those elders who are sinning you are to reprove^(AC) before everyone, so that the others may take warning.^{(AD) 21} I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus^(AE) and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism.

²² Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands,^(AF) and do not share in the sins of others.^(AG) Keep yourself pure.^(AH)

²³ Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine^(AI) because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.

²⁴ The sins of some are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. ²⁵ In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden forever.

Promise of Restoration

33 While Jeremiah was still confined^(A) in the courtyard^(B) of the guard, the word of the Lord came to him a second time:^{(C) 2} “This is what the Lord says, he who made the earth,^(D) the Lord who formed it and established it—the Lord is his name:^{(E) 3} ‘Call^(F) to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable^(G) things you do not know.’ ⁴ For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says about the houses in this city and the royal palaces of Judah that have been torn down to be used against the siege^(H) ramps^(I) and the sword ⁵ in the fight with the Babylonians^[a]: ‘They will be filled with the dead bodies of the people I will slay in my anger and wrath.^(J) I will hide my face^(K) from this city because of all its wickedness.

⁶ “‘Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal^(L) my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace^(M) and security. ⁷ I will bring Judah^(N) and Israel back from captivity^[b](O) and will rebuild^(P) them as they were before.^{(Q) 8} I will cleanse^(R) them from all the sin they have committed against me and will forgive^(S) all their sins of rebellion against me. ⁹ Then this city will bring me renown,^(T) joy, praise^(U) and honor^(V) before all nations on earth that hear of all the good things I do for it; and they will be in awe and will tremble^(W) at the abundant prosperity and peace I provide for it.’

¹⁰ “This is what the Lord says: ‘You say about this place, “It is a desolate waste, without people or animals.”^(X) Yet in the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem that are deserted,^(Y) inhabited by neither people nor animals, there will be heard once more ¹¹ the sounds of joy and gladness,^(Z) the voices of bride and bridegroom, and the voices of those who bring thank offerings^(AA) to the house of the Lord, saying,

For I will restore the fortunes^(AD) of the land as they were before,^(AE)’ says the Lord.

¹² “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘In this place, desolate^(AF) and without people or animals^(AG)—in all its towns there will again be pastures for shepherds to rest their flocks.^{(AH) 13} In the towns of the hill^(AI) country, of the western foothills and of the Negev,^(AJ) in the territory of Benjamin, in the villages around Jerusalem and in the towns of Judah, flocks will again pass under the hand^(AK) of the one who counts them,’ says the Lord.

¹⁴ “‘The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will fulfill the good promise^(AL) I made to the people of Israel and Judah.

¹⁷ For this is what the Lord says: ‘David will never fail^(AT) to have a man to sit on the throne of Israel, ¹⁸ nor will the Levitical^(AU) priests^(AV) ever fail to have a man to stand before me continually to offer burnt offerings, to burn grain offerings and to present sacrifices.^(AW)’”

¹⁹ The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: ²⁰ “This is what the Lord says: ‘If you can break my covenant with the day^(AX) and my covenant with the night, so that day and night no longer come at their appointed time,^{(AY) 21} then my covenant^(AZ) with David my servant—and my covenant with the Levites^(BA) who are priests ministering before me—can be broken and David will no longer have a descendant to reign on his throne.^{(BB) 22} I will make the descendants of David my servant and the Levites who minister before me as countless^(BC) as the stars in the sky and as measureless as the sand on the seashore.’”

²³ The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: ²⁴ “Have you not noticed that these people are saying, ‘The Lord has rejected the two kingdoms^[d](BD) he chose’? So they despise^(BE) my people and no longer regard them as a nation.^{(BF) 25} This is what the Lord says: ‘If I have not made my covenant with day and night^(BG) and established the laws^(BH) of heaven and earth,^{(BI) 26} then I will reject^(BJ) the descendants of Jacob^(BK) and David my servant and will not choose one of his sons to rule over the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. For I will restore their fortunes^[e](BL) and have compassion^(BM) on them.’”

Warning to Zedekiah

34 While Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and all his army and all the kingdoms and peoples^(BN) in the empire he ruled were fighting against Jerusalem^(BO) and all its surrounding towns, this word came to Jeremiah from the Lord: ² “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Go to Zedekiah^(BP) king of Judah and tell him, ‘This is what the Lord says: I am about to give this city into the hands of the king of Babylon, and he will burn it down.^{(BQ) 3} You will not escape from his grasp but will surely be captured and given into his hands.^(BR) You will see the king of Babylon with your own eyes, and he will speak with you face to face. And you will go to Babylon.

⁴ “‘Yet hear the Lord’s promise to you, Zedekiah king of Judah. This is what the Lord says concerning you: You will not die by the sword;^{(BS) 5} you will die peacefully. As people made a funeral fire^(BT) in honor of your predecessors, the kings who ruled before you, so they will make a fire in your honor and lament, “Alas,^(BU) master!” I myself make this promise, declares the Lord.’”

⁶ Then Jeremiah the prophet told all this to Zedekiah king of Judah, in Jerusalem, ⁷ while the army of the king of Babylon was fighting against Jerusalem and the other cities of Judah that were still holding out—Lachish^(BV) and Azekah.^(BW) These were the only fortified cities left in Judah.

Freedom for Slaves

⁸ The word came to Jeremiah from the Lord after King Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people^(BX) in Jerusalem to proclaim freedom^(BY) for the slaves. ⁹ Everyone was to free their Hebrew slaves, both male and female; no one was to hold a fellow Hebrew in bondage.^{(BZ) 10} So all the officials and people who entered into this covenant agreed that they would free their male and female slaves and no longer hold them in bondage. They agreed, and set them free. ¹¹ But afterward they changed their minds^(CA) and took back the slaves they had freed and enslaved them again.

¹² Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: ¹³ “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I made a covenant with your ancestors^(CB) when I brought them out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.^(CC) I said, ¹⁴ ‘Every seventh year each of you must free any fellow Hebrews who have sold themselves to you. After they have served you six years, you must let them go free.’^[f](CD) Your ancestors, however, did not listen to me or pay attention^(CE) to me. ¹⁵ Recently you repented and did what is right in my sight: Each of you proclaimed freedom to your own people.^(CF) You even made a covenant before me in the house that bears my Name.^{(CG) 16} But now you have turned around^(CH) and profaned^(CI) my name; each of you has taken back the male and female slaves you had set free to go where they wished. You have forced them to become your slaves again.

¹⁷ “Therefore this is what the Lord says: You have not obeyed me; you have not proclaimed freedom to your own people. So I now proclaim ‘freedom’ for you,^(CJ) declares the Lord—‘freedom’ to fall by the sword, plague^(CK) and famine.^(CL) I will make you abhorrent to all the kingdoms of the earth.^{(CM) 18} Those who have violated my covenant^(CN) and have not fulfilled the terms of the covenant they made before me, I will treat like the calf they cut in two and then walked between its pieces.^{(CO) 19} The leaders of Judah and Jerusalem, the court officials,^(CP) the priests and all the people of the land who walked between the pieces of the calf, ²⁰ I will deliver^(CQ) into the hands of their enemies who want to kill them.^(CR) Their dead bodies will become food for the birds and the wild animals.^(CS)

²¹ “I will deliver Zedekiah^(CT) king of Judah and his officials^(CU) into the hands of their enemies^(CV) who want to kill them, to the army of the king of Babylon,^(CW) which has withdrawn^(CX) from you. ²² I am going to give the order, declares the Lord, and I will bring them back to this city. They will fight against it, take^(CY) it and burn^(CZ) it down. And I will lay waste^(DA) the towns of Judah so no one can live there.”

4 The Spirit^(A) clearly says that in later times^(B) some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits^(C) and things taught by demons. ² Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.^{(D) 3} They forbid people to marry^(E) and order them to abstain from certain foods,^(F) which God created^(G) to be received with thanksgiving^(H) by those who believe and who know the truth. ⁴ For everything God created is good,^(I) and nothing is to be rejected^(J) if it is received with thanksgiving, ⁵ because it is consecrated by the word of God^(K) and prayer.

⁶ If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters,^[a] you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith^(L) and of the good teaching that you have followed.^{(M) 7} Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales;^(N) rather, train yourself to be godly.^{(O) 8} For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things,^(P) holding promise for both the present life^(Q) and the life to come.^{(R) 9} This is a trustworthy saying^(S) that deserves full acceptance. ¹⁰ That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God,^(T) who is the Savior of all people,^(U) and especially of those who believe.

¹¹ Command and teach these things.^{(V) 12} Don’t let anyone look down on you^(W) because you are young, but set an example^(X) for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith^(Y) and in purity. ¹³ Until I come,^(Z) devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture,^(AA) to preaching and to teaching. ¹⁴ Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy^(AB) when the body of elders^(AC) laid their hands on you.^(AD)

¹⁵ Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. ¹⁶ Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save^(AE) both yourself and your hearers.

Psalm 89^[a]

A maskil^[b] of Ethan the Ezrahite.

²⁷ “The days are coming,”^(A) declares the Lord, “when I will plant^(B) the kingdoms of Israel and Judah with the offspring of people and of animals. ²⁸ Just as I watched^(C) over them to uproot^(D) and tear down, and to overthrow, destroy and bring disaster,^(E) so I will watch over them to build and to plant,”^(F) declares the Lord. ²⁹ “In those days people will no longer say,

³⁰ Instead, everyone will die for their own sin;^(I) whoever eats sour grapes—their own teeth will be set on edge.

³⁵ This is what the Lord says,

³⁷ This is what the Lord says:

³⁸ “The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when this city will be rebuilt^(AE) for me from the Tower of Hananel^(AF) to the Corner Gate.^{(AG) 39} The measuring line^(AH) will stretch from there straight to the hill of Gareb and then turn to Goah. ⁴⁰ The whole valley^(AI) where dead bodies^(AJ) and ashes are thrown, and all the terraces out to the Kidron Valley^(AK) on the east as far as the corner of the Horse Gate,^(AL) will be holy^(AM) to the Lord. The city will never again be uprooted or demolished.”

Jeremiah Buys a Field

32 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord in the tenth^(AN) year of Zedekiah king of Judah, which was the eighteenth^(AO) year of Nebuchadnezzar. ² The army of the king of Babylon was then besieging^(AP) Jerusalem, and Jeremiah the prophet was confined^(AQ) in the courtyard of the guard^(AR) in the royal palace of Judah.

³ Now Zedekiah king of Judah had imprisoned him there, saying, “Why do you prophesy^(AS) as you do? You say, ‘This is what the Lord says: I am about to give this city into the hands of the king of Babylon, and he will capture^(AT) it. ⁴ Zedekiah^(AU) king of Judah will not escape^(AV) the Babylonians^[c](AW) but will certainly be given into the hands of the king of Babylon, and will speak with him face to face and see him with his own eyes. ⁵ He will take^(AX) Zedekiah to Babylon, where he will remain until I deal with him,^(AY) declares the Lord. If you fight against the Babylonians, you will not succeed.’”^(AZ)

⁶ Jeremiah said, “The word of the Lord came to me: ⁷ Hanamel son of Shallum your uncle is going to come to you and say, ‘Buy my field at Anathoth,^(BA) because as nearest relative it is your right and duty^(BB) to buy it.’

⁸ “Then, just as the Lord had said, my cousin Hanamel came to me in the courtyard of the guard and said, ‘Buy my field^(BC) at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin. Since it is your right to redeem it and possess it, buy it for yourself.’

“I knew that this was the word of the Lord; ⁹ so I bought the field^(BD) at Anathoth from my cousin Hanamel and weighed out for him seventeen shekels^[d] of silver.^{(BE) 10} I signed and sealed the deed,^(BF) had it witnessed,^(BG) and weighed out the silver on the scales. ¹¹ I took the deed of purchase—the sealed copy containing the terms and conditions, as well as the unsealed copy— ¹² and I gave this deed to Baruch^(BH) son of Neriah,^(BI) the son of Mahseiah, in the presence of my cousin Hanamel and of the witnesses who had signed the deed and of all the Jews sitting in the courtyard of the guard.

¹³ “In their presence I gave Baruch these instructions: ¹⁴ ‘This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Take these documents, both the sealed^(BJ) and unsealed copies of the deed of purchase, and put them in a clay jar so they will last a long time. ¹⁵ For this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Houses, fields and vineyards will again be bought in this land.’^(BK)

¹⁶ “After I had given the deed of purchase to Baruch^(BL) son of Neriah, I prayed to the Lord:

²⁶ Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: ²⁷ “I am the Lord, the God of all mankind.^(CO) Is anything too hard for me?^{(CP) 28} Therefore this is what the Lord says: I am about to give this city into the hands of the Babylonians and to Nebuchadnezzar^(CQ) king of Babylon, who will capture it.^{(CR) 29} The Babylonians who are attacking this city will come in and set it on fire; they will burn it down,^(CS) along with the houses^(CT) where the people aroused my anger by burning incense on the roofs to Baal and by pouring out drink offerings^(CU) to other gods.^(CV)

³⁰ “The people of Israel and Judah have done nothing but evil in my sight from their youth;^(CW) indeed, the people of Israel have done nothing but arouse my anger^(CX) with what their hands have made,^(CY) declares the Lord. ³¹ From the day it was built until now, this city^(CZ) has so aroused my anger and wrath that I must remove^(DA) it from my sight. ³² The people of Israel and Judah have provoked^(DB) me by all the evil^(DC) they have done—they, their kings and officials,^(DD) their priests and prophets, the people of Judah and those living in Jerusalem. ³³ They turned their backs^(DE) to me and not their faces; though I taught^(DF) them again and again, they would not listen or respond to discipline.^{(DG) 34} They set up their vile images^(DH) in the house that bears my Name^(DI) and defiled^(DJ) it. ³⁵ They built high places for Baal in the Valley of Ben Hinnom^(DK) to sacrifice their sons and daughters to Molek,^(DL) though I never commanded—nor did it enter my mind^(DM)—that they should do such a detestable^(DN) thing and so make Judah sin.^(DO)

³⁶ “You are saying about this city, ‘By the sword, famine and plague^(DP) it will be given into the hands of the king of Babylon’; but this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ³⁷ I will surely gather^(DQ) them from all the lands where I banish them in my furious anger^(DR) and great wrath; I will bring them back to this place and let them live in safety.^{(DS) 38} They will be my people,^(DT) and I will be their God. ³⁹ I will give them singleness^(DU) of heart and action, so that they will always fear^(DV) me and that all will then go well for them and for their children after them. ⁴⁰ I will make an everlasting covenant^(DW) with them: I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire^(DX) them to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me.^{(DY) 41} I will rejoice^(DZ) in doing them good^(EA) and will assuredly plant^(EB) them in this land with all my heart and soul.^(EC)

⁴² “This is what the Lord says: As I have brought all this great calamity^(ED) on this people, so I will give them all the prosperity I have promised^(EE) them. ⁴³ Once more fields will be bought^(EF) in this land of which you say, ‘It is a desolate^(EG) waste, without people or animals, for it has been given into the hands of the Babylonians.’ ⁴⁴ Fields will be bought for silver, and deeds^(EH) will be signed, sealed and witnessed^(EI) in the territory of Benjamin, in the villages around Jerusalem, in the towns of Judah and in the towns of the hill country, of the western foothills and of the Negev,^(EJ) because I will restore^(EK) their fortunes,^[e] declares the Lord.”

Qualifications for Overseers and Deacons

3 Here is a trustworthy saying:^(A) Whoever aspires to be an overseer^(B) desires a noble task. ² Now the overseer is to be above reproach,^(C) faithful to his wife,^(D) temperate,^(E) self-controlled, respectable, hospitable,^(F) able to teach,^{(G) 3} not given to drunkenness,^(H) not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome,^(I) not a lover of money.^{(J) 4} He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full^[a] respect.^{(K) 5} (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?)^{(L) 6} He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited^(M) and fall under the same judgment^(N) as the devil. ⁷ He must also have a good reputation with outsiders,^(O) so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.^(P)

⁸ In the same way, deacons^[b](Q) are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine,^(R) and not pursuing dishonest gain. ⁹ They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience.^{(S) 10} They must first be tested;^(T) and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.

¹¹ In the same way, the women^[c] are to be worthy of respect, not malicious talkers^(U) but temperate^(V) and trustworthy in everything.

¹² A deacon must be faithful to his wife^(W) and must manage his children and his household well.^{(X) 13} Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.

Reasons for Paul’s Instructions

¹⁴ Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, ¹⁵ if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church^(Y) of the living God,^(Z) the pillar and foundation of the truth. ¹⁶ Beyond all question, the mystery^(AA) from which true godliness^(AB) springs is great:

Psalm 88^[a]

A song. A psalm of the Sons of Korah. For the director of music. According to mahalath leannoth.^[b] A maskil^[c] of Heman the Ezrahite.