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Distress of the Siege Described

A Prayer for Mercy

Give Heed

2 ^[a]For this reason [that is, because of God’s final revelation in His Son Jesus and because of Jesus’ superiority to the angels] we must pay much closer attention than ever to the things that we have heard, so that we do not [in any way] drift away from truth. ² For if the message given ^[b]through angels [the Law given to Moses] was authentic and unalterable, and every violation and disobedient act received an appropriate penalty, ³ how will we escape [the penalty] if we ignore such a great salvation [the gospel, the new covenant]? For it was spoken at first by the Lord, and it was confirmed to us and proved authentic by those who personally heard [Him speak], ⁴ [and besides this evidence] God also testifying with them [confirming the message of salvation], both by signs and wonders and by various miracles [carried out by Jesus and the apostles] and by [granting to believers the] gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.

Earth Subject to Man

⁵ It was not to angels that God subjected the [inhabited] world of the future [when Christ reigns], about which we are speaking. ⁶ But one has [solemnly] testified somewhere [in Scripture], saying,

Now in putting all things in subjection to man, He left nothing outside his control. But at present we do not yet see all things subjected to him.^(A)

Jesus Briefly Humbled

⁹ But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while [by taking on the limitations of humanity], crowned with glory and honor because of His suffering of death, so that by the grace of God [extended to sinners] He might experience death for [the sins of] everyone.

¹⁰ For it was fitting for God [that is, an act worthy of His divine nature] that He, for whose sake are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the ^[d]author and founder of their salvation perfect through suffering [bringing to maturity the human experience necessary for Him to be perfectly equipped for His office as High Priest]. ¹¹ Both Jesus who sanctifies and those who are sanctified [that is, spiritually transformed, made holy, and set apart for God’s purpose] are all from one Father; for this reason He is not ashamed to call them ^[e]brothers and sisters, ¹² saying,

¹³ And again [^[f]He says],

And again,

¹⁴ Therefore, since [these His] children share in flesh and blood [the physical nature of mankind], He Himself in a similar manner also shared in the same [physical nature, but without sin], so that through [experiencing] death He might make powerless (ineffective, impotent) him who had the power of death—that is, the devil— ¹⁵ and [that He] might free all those who through [the haunting] fear of death were held in slavery throughout their lives. ¹⁶ For, as we all know, He (Christ) does not take hold of [the fallen] angels [to give them a helping hand], but He does take hold of [the fallen] descendants of Abraham [extending to them His hand of deliverance].^{(D) 17} Therefore, it was essential that He had to be made like His brothers (mankind) in every respect, so that He might [by experience] become a merciful and faithful High Priest in things related to God, to make atonement (propitiation) for the people’s sins [thereby wiping away the sin, satisfying divine justice, and providing a way of reconciliation between God and mankind]. ¹⁸ Because He Himself [in His humanity] has suffered in being tempted, He is able to help and provide immediate assistance to those who are being tempted and exposed to suffering.

Praise for the Lord’s Mercies.

A Psalm of David.

Jeremiah Shares Israel’s Affliction

Hope of Relief in God’s Mercy

God’s Final Word in His Son

1 God, having spoken to the fathers long ago in [the voices and writings of] the prophets in many separate revelations [each of which set forth a portion of the truth], and in many ways, ² has in these last days spoken [with finality] to us in [the person of One who is by His character and nature] His Son [namely Jesus], whom He appointed heir and lawful owner of all things, through whom also He created the universe [that is, the universe as a space-time-matter continuum]. ³ The Son is the radiance and only expression of the glory of [our awesome] God [reflecting God’s ^[a]Shekinah glory, the Light-being, the brilliant light of the divine], and the exact representation and perfect imprint of His [Father’s] essence, and upholding and maintaining and propelling all things [the entire physical and spiritual universe] by His powerful word [carrying the universe along to its predetermined goal]. When He [Himself and no other] had [by offering Himself on the cross as a sacrifice for sin] accomplished purification from sins and established our freedom from guilt, He sat down [revealing His completed work] at the right hand of the Majesty on high [revealing His Divine authority], ⁴ having become as much superior to angels, since He has inherited a more excellent and glorious ^[b]name than they [that is, Son—the name above all names].

⁵ For to which of the angels did the Father ever say,

And again [did He ever say to the angels],

^6 [c]And when He again brings the firstborn [highest-ranking Son] into the world, He says,

⁷ And concerning the angels He says,

⁸ But about the Son [the Father says to Him],

¹⁰ And,

¹³ But to which of the angels has the Father ever said,

¹⁴ Are not all the angels ministering spirits sent out [by God] to serve (accompany, protect) those who will inherit salvation? [Of course they are!]

Prayer of an Afflicted Man for Mercy on Himself and on Zion.

A Prayer of the afflicted; when he is overwhelmed and pours out his complaint to God.

The Sorrows of Zion

God’s Anger over Israel

Salutation

¹ Paul, a prisoner [for the sake] of Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed), and our brother Timothy,

To Philemon our dearly beloved friend and fellow worker, ² and to [your wife] Apphia our sister, and to ^[a]Archippus our fellow soldier [in ministry], and to the ^[b]church that meets in your ^[c]house: ³ Grace to you and peace [inner calm and spiritual well-being] from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Philemon’s Love and Faith

⁴ I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers, ⁵ because I hear of your love and of your faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the ^[d]saints (God’s people). ⁶ I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective and powerful because of your accurate knowledge of every good thing which is ours in Christ. ⁷ For I have had great joy and comfort and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints (God’s people) have been refreshed through you, my brother.

⁸ Therefore [on the basis of these facts], though I have enough confidence in Christ to order you to do what is appropriate, ⁹ yet for love’s sake I prefer to appeal to you—since I am such a person as Paul, an old man, and now also a prisoner [for the sake] of Christ Jesus—

A Plea for Onesimus to be Freed

¹⁰ I appeal to you for my [own spiritual] child Onesimus, whom I have fathered [in the faith] while a captive in these chains. ¹¹ Once he was useless to you, but now he is indeed ^[e]useful to you as well as to me. ¹² I have sent him back to you in person, that is, like sending my very heart. ¹³ I would have chosen to keep him with me, so that he might minister to me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel; ¹⁴ but I did not want to do anything without first getting your consent, so that your goodness would not be, in effect, by compulsion but of your own free will. ¹⁵ Perhaps it was for this reason that he was separated from you for a while, so that you would have him back forever, ¹⁶ no longer as a slave, but [as someone] more than a slave, as a brother [in Christ], especially dear to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh [as a servant] and in the Lord [as a fellow believer].^(A)

¹⁷ So if you consider me a partner, welcome and accept him as you would me. ¹⁸ But if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge that to my account; ¹⁹ I, Paul, write this with my ^[f]own hand, I will repay it in full (not to mention to you that you ^[g]owe to me even your own self as well). ²⁰ Yes, brother, let me have some benefit and joy from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.

²¹ I write to you [perfectly] confident of your obedient compliance, ^[h]since I know that you will do even more than I ask.

²² At the same time also prepare a guest room for me [in expectation of a visit], for I hope that through your prayers I will be [granted the gracious privilege of] coming to you [at Colossae].

²³ Greetings to you from Epaphras, my fellow prisoner here in [the cause of] Christ Jesus, ²⁴ and from Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.

²⁵ The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

The Psalmist’s Profession of Uprightness.

A Psalm of David.

⁵⁸ Thus says the Lord of hosts,

⁵⁹ The message which Jeremiah the prophet commanded Seraiah the son of Neriah, the grandson of Mahseiah, when he went with Zedekiah the king of Judah to Babylon in the fourth year of his reign. Now this Seraiah was chief chamberlain or quartermaster [and brother of Baruch]. ⁶⁰ So Jeremiah wrote in a single scroll all the disaster which would come on Babylon, [that is] all these words which have been written concerning Babylon. ⁶¹ Then Jeremiah said to Seraiah, “When you come to Babylon, see to it that you read all these words aloud, ⁶² and say, ‘You, O Lord, have promised concerning this place to cut it off and destroy it, so that there shall be nothing living in it, neither man nor animal, but it will be perpetually desolate.’ ⁶³ And as soon as you finish reading this scroll, you shall tie a stone to it and throw it into the middle of the Euphrates. ⁶⁴ Then say, ‘In the same way Babylon will sink down and not rise because of the disaster that I will bring on her; and the Babylonians will become [hopelessly] exhausted.’” Thus the words of Jeremiah are completed.^(B)

The Fall of Jerusalem

52 Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Hamutal the daughter of ^[b]Jeremiah of Libnah.^{(C) 2} He did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord like all that Jehoiakim had done. ³ For all this came about in Jerusalem and Judah because of the anger of the Lord, and [in the end] He cast them from His presence. And Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon. ⁴ Now it came about in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, on the tenth day, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he and all his army, against Jerusalem; and they camped against it and built moveable towers and siege mounds all around it.^{(D) 5} So the city was besieged until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah.^{(E) 6} In the fourth month, on the ninth day of the month, the famine was so severe in the city that there was no food for the people of the land. ⁷ Then the city was broken into, and all the soldiers fled. They left the city at night [as Ezekiel prophesied] passing through the gate between the two walls by the king’s garden, though the Chaldeans were all around the city. They fled by way of the Arabah (the Jordan Valley).^{(F) 8} But the army of the Chaldeans pursued the king and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho; and his entire army was scattered from him. ⁹ Then they seized the king and brought him to the king of Babylon at Riblah in the [Syrian] land of Hamath [on the northern border of Israel], where he pronounced sentence on him. ¹⁰ The king of Babylon killed the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes; he also killed all the princes of Judah at Riblah. ¹¹ Then the king of Babylon blinded Zedekiah, bound him with bronze shackles and took him to Babylon and there he put him in prison ^[c][in a mill] until the day of his death.^(G)

¹² Now in the fifth month, on the tenth day, which was the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, Nebuzaradan captain of the guard, who served the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem. ¹³ He burned down the house of the Lord and the king’s palace and all the houses of Jerusalem; every great house or important structure he set on fire. ¹⁴ So all the army of the Chaldeans who were with the captain of the guard broke down all the walls around Jerusalem. ¹⁵ Then Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard took away into exile some of the poorest of the people, those who were left in the city [at the time it was captured], along with those who deserted to join the king of Babylon [during the siege] and the rest of the artisans. ¹⁶ But Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left some of the poorest of the land to be vinedressers and farmers.

¹⁷ Now the Chaldeans broke into pieces the pillars of bronze which belonged to the house of the Lord, and the bronze pedestals [which supported the ten basins] and the [enormous] bronze Sea, which were in the house of the Lord, and carried all the bronze to Babylon. ¹⁸ They also took away the pots [for carrying away ashes] and the shovels and the snuffers and the bowls and the spoons and all the bronze articles used in the temple service. ¹⁹ The captain of the guard also took away the [small] bowls and the firepans and the basins and the pots and the lampstands and the incense cups and the bowls for the drink offerings—whatever was made of fine gold and whatever was made of fine silver. ²⁰ The two pillars, the one [enormous] Sea (basin), and ^[d]the twelve bronze bulls under the Sea, and the stands, which King Solomon had made for the house of the Lord—the bronze of all these things was beyond weighing. ²¹ Concerning the pillars, the height of each pillar was eighteen cubits (twenty-seven feet), and a line [an ornamental molding] of twelve cubits (eighteen feet) went around its circumference; it was four fingers thick, and [the pillar was] hollow. ²² A capital of bronze was on [top of] it. The height of each capital was five cubits (seven and one-half feet), with a lattice-work and pomegranates around it, all of bronze. The second pillar also, with its pomegranates, was similar to these. ²³ There were ninety-six pomegranates on the sides; and a hundred pomegranates were on the lattice-work all around.

²⁴ Then the captain of the guard took [as prisoners] Seraiah the chief priest and Zephaniah the second priest and the three doorkeepers. ²⁵ He also took out of the city one official who was overseer of the soldiers, and seven of the king’s advisers who were found in the city, and the scribe of the commander of the army who mustered the people of the land, and sixty men who were still in the city. ²⁶ Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard took them and brought them to the king of Babylon at Riblah. ²⁷ Then the king of Babylon struck them down and put them to death at Riblah in the land of Hamath. So Judah was led away into exile from its own land.

²⁸ This is the number of people whom Nebuchadnezzar took captive and exiled: in the seventh year, 3,023 Jews; ²⁹ in the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar, [he took captive] 832 persons from Jerusalem; ³⁰ in the twenty-third year of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuzaradan the captain of the [Babylonian] guard took captive 745 Jewish people; there were 4,600 persons in all.

³¹ Now it came about in the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin [also called Coniah and Jeconiah] king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-fifth of the month, Evil-merodach king of Babylon, in the first year of his reign, ^[e]showed favor to Jehoiachin king of Judah and brought him out of prison.^{(H) 32} He spoke kindly to him and gave him a throne above the thrones of the kings who were [captives] with him in Babylon. ³³ Jehoiachin changed his prison clothes, and he dined regularly at the king’s table all the days of his life. ³⁴ And his allowance, a regular allowance was given to him by the king of Babylon, a daily portion [according to his needs] until the day of his death, ^[f]all the days of his life.

Godly Living

3 Remind people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready and willing to do good, ² to slander or abuse no one, to be kind and conciliatory and gentle, showing unqualified consideration and courtesy toward everyone. ³ For we too once were foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various sinful desires and pleasures, spending and wasting our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. ⁴ But when the goodness and kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared [in human form as the Man, Jesus Christ], ⁵ He saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we have done, but because of His own compassion and mercy, by the cleansing of the new birth (spiritual transformation, regeneration) and renewing by the Holy Spirit, ⁶ whom He poured out richly upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior, ⁷ so that we would be justified [made free of the guilt of sin] by His [compassionate, undeserved] grace, and that we would be [acknowledged as acceptable to Him and] made heirs of eternal life [actually experiencing it] according to our hope (His guarantee). ⁸ This is a faithful and trustworthy saying; and concerning these things I want you to speak with great confidence, so that those who have believed God [that is, those who have trusted in, relied on, and accepted Christ Jesus as Savior,] will be careful to participate in doing good and honorable things. These things are excellent [in themselves] and profitable for the people. ⁹ But avoid foolish and ill-informed and stupid controversies and genealogies and dissensions and quarrels about the Law, for they are unprofitable and useless. ¹⁰ After a first and second warning reject a divisive man [who promotes heresy and causes dissension—ban him from your fellowship and have nothing more to do with him], ¹¹ well aware that such a person is twisted and is sinning; he is convicted and self-condemned [and is gratified by causing confusion among believers].

Personal Concerns

¹² When I send Artemas or [perhaps] Tychicus to you, make every effort to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. ¹³ Do your best to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; see that they are supplied and lack nothing. ¹⁴ Our people must learn to do good deeds to meet necessary demands [whatever the occasion may require], so that they will not be unproductive.

¹⁵ All who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in the faith.

Grace be with all of you.

All Men Exhorted to Praise God.

A Psalm of Thanksgiving.

Babylon Judged for Sins against Israel

51 Thus says the Lord:

²⁴ “And I will [completely] repay Babylon and all the people of Chaldea for all the evil that they have done in Zion—before your very eyes [I will do it],” says the Lord.

³³ For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel:

³⁶ Therefore thus says the Lord,

Duties of the Older and Younger

2 But as for you, teach the things which are in agreement with sound doctrine [which produces men and women of good character whose lifestyle identifies them as true Christians]. ² Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in steadfastness [Christlike in character].

³ Older women similarly are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor addicted to much wine, teaching what is right and good, ⁴ so that they may encourage the young women to tenderly love their husbands and their children, ⁵ to be sensible, pure, makers of a home [where God is honored], good-natured, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.

⁶ In a similar way urge the young men to be sensible and self-controlled and to behave wisely [taking life seriously]. ⁷ And in all things show yourself to be an example of good works, with purity in doctrine [having the strictest regard for integrity and truth], dignified, ⁸ sound and beyond reproach in instruction, so that the opponent [of the faith] will be shamed, having nothing bad to say about us.

⁹ Urge bond-servants to be subject to their own masters in everything, to be pleasing and not talk back, ¹⁰ not stealing [things, regardless of value], but proving themselves trustworthy, so that in every respect they will adorn and do credit to the teaching of God our Savior.

¹¹ For the [remarkable, undeserved] grace of God that ^[a]brings salvation has appeared to all men. ¹² It teaches us to reject ungodliness and worldly (immoral) desires, and to live sensible, upright, and godly lives [lives with a purpose that reflect spiritual maturity] in this present age, ¹³ awaiting and confidently expecting the [fulfillment of our] blessed hope and the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, ¹⁴ who [willingly] gave Himself [to be crucified] on our behalf to redeem us and purchase our freedom from all wickedness, and to purify for Himself a chosen and very special people to be His own possession, who are enthusiastic for doing what is good.^(A)

¹⁵ Tell them these things. Encourage and rebuke with full authority. Let no one disregard or despise you [conduct yourself and your teaching so as to command respect].

Praise to the Lord for His Fidelity to Israel.

Judgment on Damascus

²³ Concerning ^(A)Damascus:

Judgment on Kedar and Hazor

²⁸ Concerning ^(M)Kedar and the kingdoms of Hazor that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon struck down.

Judgment on Elam

³⁴ The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning ^(AE)Elam, in the beginning of the reign of ^(AF)Zedekiah king of Judah.

³⁵ Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Behold, I will break ^(AG)the bow of ^(AH)Elam, the mainstay of their might. ³⁶ And I will bring upon ^(AI)Elam the four winds from the four quarters of heaven. And I will scatter them to all those winds, and there shall be no nation to which those driven out of ^(AJ)Elam shall not come. ³⁷ I will ^(AK)terrify ^(AL)Elam before their enemies and before those who seek their life. I will bring disaster upon them, ^(AM)my fierce anger, declares the Lord. ^(AN)I will send the sword after them, until I have consumed them, ³⁸ and I will set my throne in ^(AO)Elam and destroy their king and officials, declares the Lord.

³⁹ “But in the latter days ^(AP)I will restore the fortunes of ^(AQ)Elam, declares the Lord.”

Judgment on Babylon

50 The word that the Lord spoke concerning ^(AR)Babylon, concerning the land of the Chaldeans, ^(AS)by Jeremiah the prophet:

³ “For ^(AW)out of the north a nation has come up against her, ^(AX)which shall make her land a desolation, and none shall dwell in it; ^(AY)both man and beast shall flee away.

^4 (AZ)“In those days and in that time, declares the Lord, ^(BA)the people of Israel and the people of Judah shall come together, ^(BB)weeping as they come, and they ^(BC)shall seek the Lord their God. ^5 (BD)They shall ask the way to Zion, with faces turned toward it, ^(BE)saying, ‘Come, let us join ourselves to the Lord in an ^(BF)everlasting covenant that will never be forgotten.’

^6 (BG)“My people have been lost sheep. ^(BH)Their shepherds have led them astray, turning them away on the mountains. From mountain to hill they have gone. They have forgotten their fold. ⁷ All who found them have devoured them, ^(BI)and their enemies have said, ‘We are not guilty, for ^(BJ)they have sinned against the Lord, ^(BK)their habitation of righteousness, the Lord, ^(BL)the hope of their fathers.’

^8 (BM)“Flee from the midst of Babylon, ^(BN)and go out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be as male goats before the flock. ⁹ For behold, I am stirring up and bringing against Babylon ^(BO)a gathering of great nations, from the north country. And they shall array themselves against her. From there she shall be taken. Their arrows are like a skilled warrior who does not return empty-handed. ^10 (BP)Chaldea shall be plundered; all who plunder her shall be sated, declares the Lord.

^17 (CE)“Israel is a hunted sheep ^(CF)driven away by lions. ^(CG)First the king of Assyria ^(CH)devoured him, and now at last ^(CI)Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon ^(CJ)has gnawed his bones. ¹⁸ Therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, ^(CK)I am bringing punishment on the king of Babylon and his land, ^(CL)as I punished the king of Assyria. ^19 (CM)I will restore Israel to his pasture, and ^(CN)he shall feed on ^(CO)Carmel and in ^(CP)Bashan, and his desire shall be satisfied on the hills of Ephraim and in ^(CQ)Gilead. ²⁰ In those days and in that time, declares the Lord, ^(CR)iniquity shall be sought in Israel, and there shall be none, and sin in Judah, and none shall be found, for ^(CS)I will pardon those whom I leave as a remnant.

²⁸ “A voice! They ^(DE)flee and escape from the land of Babylon, ^(DF)to declare in Zion the vengeance of the Lord our God, vengeance for ^(DG)his temple.

^29 (DH)“Summon archers against Babylon, all those who bend the bow. ^(DI)Encamp around her; let no one escape. ^(DJ)Repay her according to her deeds; do to her according to all that she has done. For she has ^(DK)proudly defied the Lord, the Holy One of Israel. ^30 (DL)Therefore her young men shall fall in her squares, and all her soldiers shall be destroyed on that day, declares the Lord.

³³ “Thus says the Lord of hosts: ^(DQ)The people of Israel are oppressed, and the people of Judah with them. All who took them captive have held them fast; ^(DR)they refuse to let them go. ^34 (DS)Their Redeemer is strong; ^(DT)the Lord of hosts is his name. ^(DU)He will surely plead their cause, that he may give rest to the earth, but unrest to the inhabitants of Babylon.

^39 (ED)“Therefore wild beasts shall dwell with hyenas in Babylon,^[d] and ostriches shall dwell in her. She shall never again have people, nor be inhabited for all generations. ^40 (EE)As when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighboring cities, declares the Lord, ^(EF)so no man shall dwell there, and no son of man shall sojourn in her.

^44 (EH)“Behold, like a lion coming up from the thicket of the Jordan against a perennial pasture, I will suddenly make them run away from her, and I will appoint over her whomever I choose. For who is like me? Who will summon me? What shepherd ^(EI)can stand before me? ⁴⁵ Therefore hear ^(EJ)the plan that the Lord has made against Babylon, ^(EK)and the purposes that he has formed against the land of the Chaldeans: ^(EL)Surely the little ones of their flock shall be dragged away; surely their fold shall be appalled at their fate. ^46 (EM)At the sound of the capture of Babylon the earth shall tremble, and her cry shall be heard among the nations.”

Greeting

1 Paul, a servant^[a] of God and ^(A)an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God's elect and ^(B)their knowledge of the truth, ^(C)which accords with godliness, ^2 (D)in hope of eternal life, which God, ^(E)who never lies, ^(F)promised ^(G)before the ages began^{[b] 3} and ^(H)at the proper time manifested in his word^{[c] (I)}through the preaching ^(J)with which I have been entrusted ^(K)by the command of God our Savior;

⁴ To Titus, ^(L)my true child in ^(M)a common faith:

^(N)Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

Qualifications for Elders

^5 (O)This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and ^(P)appoint elders in every town as I directed you— ^6 (Q)if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife,^[d] and his children are believers^[e] and not open to the charge of ^(R)debauchery or insubordination. ⁷ For an overseer,^{[f] (S)}as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not ^(T)be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent ^(U)or greedy for gain, ⁸ but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, ^(V)and disciplined. ⁹ He must ^(W)hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in ^(X)sound^[g] doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.

¹⁰ For there are many who are insubordinate, ^(Y)empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of ^(Z)the circumcision party.^{[h] 11} They must be silenced, since ^(AA)they are upsetting whole families by teaching ^(AB)for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. ^12 (AC)One of the Cretans,^[i] a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”^{[j] 13} This testimony is true. Therefore ^(AD)rebuke them ^(AE)sharply, that they ^(AF)may be sound in the faith, ^14 (AG)not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and ^(AH)the commands of people ^(AI)who turn away from the truth. ^15 (AJ)To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and ^(AK)unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both ^(AL)their minds and their consciences are defiled. ^16 (AM)They profess to know God, but they ^(AN)deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, ^(AO)unfit for any good work.

The Lord Reigns

Make a Joyful Noise to the Lord

A Psalm.

Judgment on Moab

48 ^(A)Concerning Moab.

Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel:

^10 (R)“Cursed is he who does ^(S)the work of the Lord with slackness, and cursed is he who keeps back his sword from bloodshed.

¹² “Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I shall send to him pourers who will pour him, and empty his vessels and break his^[c] jars in pieces. ¹³ Then ^(U)Moab shall be ashamed of Chemosh, as ^(V)the house of Israel was ashamed of ^(W)Bethel, their confidence.

²¹ “Judgment has come upon ^(AL)the tableland, upon Holon, and ^(AM)Jahzah, and Mephaath, ²² and ^(AN)Dibon, and ^(AO)Nebo, and Beth-diblathaim, ²³ and ^(AP)Kiriathaim, and Beth-gamul, and ^(AQ)Beth-meon, ²⁴ and ^(AR)Kerioth, and ^(AS)Bozrah, and all the cities of the land of Moab, far and near. ^25 (AT)The horn of Moab is cut off, and ^(AU)his arm is broken, declares the Lord.

^26 (AV)“Make him drunk, ^(AW)because he magnified himself against the Lord, so that Moab shall ^(AX)wallow in his vomit, ^(AY)and he too shall be held in derision. ^27 (AZ)Was not Israel a derision to you? ^(BA)Was he found among thieves, that whenever you spoke of him ^(BB)you wagged your head?

^34 (BO)“From the outcry at Heshbon even to Elealeh, as far as Jahaz they utter their voice, from Zoar to ^(BP)Horonaim and Eglath-shelishiyah. For the waters of Nimrim also have become desolate. ³⁵ And I will bring to an end in Moab, declares the Lord, him who offers sacrifice in ^(BQ)the high place and makes offerings to his god. ³⁶ Therefore my heart moans for Moab like a flute, and my heart moans like a flute for the men of ^(BR)Kir-hareseth. ^(BS)Therefore the riches they gained have perished.

^37 (BT)“For every head is shaved and every beard cut off. ^(BU)On all the hands are gashes, and ^(BV)around the waist is sackcloth. ³⁸ On all the housetops of Moab and in the squares there is nothing but lamentation, for I have broken Moab like ^(BW)a vessel for which no one cares, declares the Lord. ³⁹ How it is broken! How they wail! ^(BX)How Moab has turned his back in shame! So Moab ^(BY)has become a derision and a horror to all that are around him.”

Judgment on Ammon

49 ^(CN)Concerning the Ammonites.

Thus says the Lord:

⁶ “But ^(DB)afterward I will restore the fortunes of the Ammonites, declares the Lord.”

Judgment on Edom

⁷ Concerning ^(DC)Edom.

Thus says the Lord of hosts:

¹² For thus says the Lord: ^(DS)“If those who did not deserve to drink the cup must drink it, ^(DT)will you go unpunished? You shall not go unpunished, but you must drink. ^13 (DU)For I have sworn by myself, declares the Lord, that ^(DV)Bozrah shall become ^(DW)a horror, a taunt, a waste, and a curse, and all her cities shall be perpetual wastes.”

^17 (EA)“Edom shall become a horror. ^(EB)Everyone who passes by it will be horrified ^(EC)and will hiss because of all its disasters. ^18 (ED)As when Sodom and Gomorrah and their ^(EE)neighboring cities were overthrown, says the Lord, ^(EF)no man shall dwell there, ^(EG)no man shall sojourn in her. ^19 (EH)Behold, ^(EI)like a lion coming up from ^(EJ)the jungle of the Jordan against a perennial pasture, I will suddenly make him^[g] run away from her. And I will appoint over her whomever I choose. ^(EK)For who is like me? ^(EL)Who will summon me? ^(EM)What shepherd can stand before me? ²⁰ Therefore hear the plan that the Lord has made against ^(EN)Edom and the purposes that he has formed against the inhabitants of ^(EO)Teman: ^(EP)Even the little ones of the flock shall be dragged away. Surely their fold shall be appalled at their fate. ²¹ At the sound of their fall ^(EQ)the earth shall tremble; the sound of their cry shall be heard at the Red Sea. ²² Behold, ^(ER)one shall mount up and fly swiftly like an eagle and spread his wings against ^(ES)Bozrah, and the heart of the warriors of Edom shall be in that day like the heart ^(ET)of a woman in her birth pains.”