Correcting False Teaching

Paul, (A)an apostle of (B)Christ Jesus (C)according to the commandment of (D)God our Savior, and of (E)Christ Jesus, who is our (F)hope,

To (G)Timothy, (H)my true [a]son in the faith: (I)Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and (J)Christ Jesus our Lord.

Just as I urged you [b]upon my departure for (K)Macedonia, to remain on at (L)Ephesus so that you would instruct certain people not to (M)teach strange doctrines, nor to [c]pay attention to (N)myths and endless (O)genealogies, which give rise to useless (P)speculation rather than (Q)advance [d]the plan of God, which is by faith, so I urge you now. But the goal of our [e](R)instruction is love (S)from a pure heart, from a (T)good conscience, and from a sincere (U)faith. Some people have strayed from these things and have turned aside to (V)fruitless discussion, (W)wanting to be (X)teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions.

But we know that (Y)the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully, realizing the fact that (Z)law is not made for a righteous person but for those who are lawless and (AA)rebellious, for the (AB)ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and (AC)worldly, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 10 for the [f](AD)sexually immoral, (AE)homosexuals, [g](AF)slave traders, (AG)liars, (AH)perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to (AI)sound teaching, 11 according to (AJ)the glorious gospel of (AK)the blessed God, with which I have been (AL)entrusted.

Paul’s Testimony

12 I thank (AM)Christ Jesus our Lord, who has (AN)strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, (AO)putting me into service, 13 even though I was previously a blasphemer and a (AP)persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was (AQ)shown mercy because (AR)I acted ignorantly in unbelief; 14 and the (AS)grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the (AT)faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. 15 (AU)It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that (AV)Christ Jesus came into the world to (AW)save sinners, among whom (AX)I am foremost. 16 Yet for this reason I (AY)found mercy, so that in me as the foremost sinner Jesus Christ might (AZ)demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those [h]who would believe in Him for eternal life. 17 Now to the (BA)King [i]eternal, (BB)immortal, (BC)invisible, the (BD)only God, (BE)be honor and glory [j]forever and ever. Amen.

18 This (BF)command I entrust to you, Timothy, (BG)my [k]son, in accordance with the (BH)prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you (BI)fight the good fight, 19 keeping (BJ)faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to [l](BK)their faith. 20 [m]Among these are (BL)Hymenaeus and (BM)Alexander, whom I have (BN)handed over to Satan, so that they will be (BO)taught not to blaspheme.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Timothy 1:2 Or child
  2. 1 Timothy 1:3 Lit while going to
  3. 1 Timothy 1:4 Or occupy themselves with
  4. 1 Timothy 1:4 I.e., prob. the plan of salvation
  5. 1 Timothy 1:5 Lit commandment
  6. 1 Timothy 1:10 Or fornicators
  7. 1 Timothy 1:10 Or kidnappers
  8. 1 Timothy 1:16 Or destined to
  9. 1 Timothy 1:17 Lit of the ages
  10. 1 Timothy 1:17 Lit to the ages of the ages
  11. 1 Timothy 1:18 Or child
  12. 1 Timothy 1:19 Or the
  13. 1 Timothy 1:20 Lit Of

On Life and Conduct

20 (A)Wine is a mocker, (B)intoxicating drink a brawler,
And whoever [a]is intoxicated by it is not wise.
The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion;
One who provokes him to anger [b](C)forfeits his own life.
(D)Avoiding strife is an honor for a person,
But any fool will [c]quarrel.
The [d](E)lazy one does not plow after the autumn,
So he [e]begs during the harvest and has nothing.
A plan in the heart of a person is like deep water,
But a person of understanding draws it out.
Many a person (F)proclaims his own loyalty,
But who can find a (G)trustworthy person?
A righteous person who (H)walks in his integrity—
(I)How blessed are his sons after him.
(J)A king who sits on the throne of justice
[f]Disperses all evil with his eyes.
(K)Who can say, “I have cleansed my heart,
I am pure from my sin”?
10 [g](L)Differing weights and differing measures,
Both of them are abominable to the Lord.
11 It is by his deeds that a boy [h](M)distinguishes himself,
If his conduct is pure and right.
12 The hearing (N)ear and the seeing eye,
The Lord has made both of them.
13 (O)Do not love sleep, or you will become poor;
Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with [i]food.
14 “Bad, bad,” says the buyer,
But when he goes his way, then he boasts.
15 There is gold, and an abundance of [j]jewels;
But lips of knowledge are a more precious thing.
16 Take his garment when he becomes guarantor for a stranger;
And for foreigners, seize a pledge from him.
17 (P)Bread obtained by a lie is sweet to a person,
But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.
18 Prepare (Q)plans by consultation,
And (R)make war by wise guidance.
19 One who (S)goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets;
Therefore do not associate with [k](T)a gossip.
20 He who (U)curses his father or his mother,
His (V)lamp will go out in time of darkness.
21 An inheritance gained in a hurry at the beginning
Will not be blessed in the end.
22 (W)Do not say, “I will repay evil”;
(X)Wait for the Lord, and He will save you.
23 [l](Y)Differing weights are an abomination to the Lord,
And a [m](Z)false scale is not good.
24 (AA)A man’s steps are ordained by the Lord;
How then can a person understand his way?
25 It is a trap for a person to say carelessly, “It is holy!”
And (AB)after the vows to make inquiry.
26 A (AC)wise king scatters the wicked,
And [n]drives a (AD)threshing wheel over them.
27 The [o](AE)spirit of a person is the lamp of the Lord,
Searching all the [p]innermost parts of his being.
28 [q]Loyalty and (AF)truth watch over the king,
And he upholds his throne by [r]loyalty.
29 The glory of young men is their strength,
And the [s](AG)honor of old men is their gray hair.
30 (AH)Bruising wounds clean away evil,
And blows cleanse the [t]innermost parts.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 20:1 Lit errs
  2. Proverbs 20:2 Lit sins against
  3. Proverbs 20:3 Lit burst out
  4. Proverbs 20:4 Lit idle
  5. Proverbs 20:4 Lit asks
  6. Proverbs 20:8 Or Sifts
  7. Proverbs 20:10 Lit A stone and a stone, an ephah and an ephah
  8. Proverbs 20:11 Or makes himself known
  9. Proverbs 20:13 Lit bread
  10. Proverbs 20:15 Or corals
  11. Proverbs 20:19 Lit one who opens his lips
  12. Proverbs 20:23 Lit A stone and a stone
  13. Proverbs 20:23 Lit balance of deceit
  14. Proverbs 20:26 Lit turns
  15. Proverbs 20:27 Lit breath
  16. Proverbs 20:27 Lit chambers of the body
  17. Proverbs 20:28 I.e., covenant loyalty
  18. Proverbs 20:28 I.e., covenant loyalty
  19. Proverbs 20:29 Or splendor
  20. Proverbs 20:30 Lit chambers of the body

Salvation Reaches to the Ends of the Earth

49 Listen to Me, you (A)islands,
And pay attention, you peoples from afar.
(B)The Lord called Me from the womb;
From the [a]body of My mother He named Me.
He has made My (C)mouth like a sharp sword,
In the (D)shadow of His hand He has concealed Me;
And He has also made Me a sharpened (E)arrow,
He has hidden Me in His quiver.
He said to Me, “(F)You are My Servant, Israel,
(G)In whom I will show My glory.”
But I said, “I have (H)labored in vain,
I have spent My strength for nothing and futility;
Nevertheless, the justice due to Me is with the Lord,
And My (I)reward is with My God.”

And now says (J)the Lord, who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant,
To bring Jacob back to Him, so that (K)Israel might be gathered to Him
(For I am (L)honored in the sight of the Lord,
And My God is My (M)strength),
He says, “It is too [b]small a thing that You should be My Servant
To raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the (N)protected ones of Israel;
I will also make You a (O)light [c]of the nations
So that My salvation may [d]reach to the (P)end of the earth.”
This is what the Lord, the (Q)Redeemer of Israel and its Holy One,
Says to the [e](R)despised One,
To the One abhorred by the nation,
To the Servant of rulers:
(S)Kings will see and arise,
Princes will also (T)bow down,
Because of the Lord who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel who has chosen You.”

This is what the Lord says:
“At a (U)favorable time I answered You,
And on a day of salvation I helped You;
And I will (V)watch over You and (W)make You a covenant of the people,
To [f](X)restore the land, to give as inheritances the deserted hereditary lands;
Saying to those who are (Y)bound, ‘[g]Go free,’
To those who are in darkness, ‘Show yourselves.’
They will feed along the roads,
And their pasture will be on all (Z)bare heights.
10 They will (AA)not hunger or thirst,
Nor will the scorching (AB)heat or sun strike them down;
For (AC)He who has compassion on them will (AD)lead them,
And He will guide them to (AE)springs of water.
11 I will make all (AF)My mountains a road,
And My (AG)highways will be raised up.
12 Behold, these will come (AH)from afar;
And behold, these will come from the (AI)north and from the west,
And these from the land of Aswan.”
13 (AJ)Shout for joy, you heavens! And rejoice, you earth!
Break forth into joyful shouting, mountains!
For the (AK)Lord has comforted His people
And will (AL)have compassion on His afflicted.

Promise to Zion

14 But Zion said, “The Lord has abandoned me,
And the Lord has forgotten me.”
15 “Can a woman forget her nursing child
And have no compassion on the son of her womb?
Even these may forget, but (AM)I will not forget you.
16 Behold, I have (AN)inscribed you on the palms of My hands;
Your (AO)walls are continually before Me.
17 Your [h]builders hurry;
Your (AP)destroyers and devastators
Will leave you.
18 (AQ)Raise your eyes and look around;
(AR)All of them gather together, (AS)they come to you.
(AT)As I live,” declares the Lord,
“You will certainly (AU)put them all on as [i]jewelry and bind them on as a bride.
19 For (AV)your ruins and deserted places and your destroyed land—
Now you will certainly be (AW)too cramped for the inhabitants,
And those who (AX)swallowed you will be far away.
20 The (AY)children [j]you lost will yet say in your ears,
‘The place is too cramped for me;
Make room for me that I may live here.’
21 Then you will (AZ)say in your heart,
‘Who has fathered these for me,
Since I have been bereaved of my children
And (BA)cannot conceive, and I am an (BB)exile, and a wanderer?
And who has raised these?
Behold, I was (BC)left alone;
[k](BD)Where are these from?’”

22 This is what the Lord [l]God says:

“Behold, I will lift up My hand to the nations
And set up My (BE)flag to the peoples;
And they will (BF)bring your sons [m]in their arms,
And your daughters will be carried on their shoulders.
23 (BG)Kings will be your guardians,
And their princesses your nurses.
They will (BH)bow down to you with their faces to the ground
And (BI)lick the dust from your feet;
And you will (BJ)know that I am the Lord;
Those who hopefully (BK)wait for Me will (BL)not be put to shame.

24 (BM)Can the prey be taken from a mighty man,
Or the captives of [n]a tyrant be rescued?”

25 Indeed, this is what the Lord says:

“Even the (BN)captives of the mighty man will be taken away,
And the prey of a tyrant will be rescued;
For I will contend with the one who contends with you,
And I will (BO)save your sons.
26 I will feed your (BP)oppressors with their (BQ)own flesh,
And they will become drunk with their own blood as with sweet wine;
And [o](BR)humanity will know that I, the Lord, am your (BS)Savior
And your (BT)Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.”

God Helps His Servant

50 This is what the Lord says:

“Where is the (BU)certificate of divorce
By which I have (BV)sent your mother away?
Or to whom of My creditors did I (BW)sell you?
Behold, you were sold for your (BX)wrongdoings,
And for your (BY)wrongful acts your mother (BZ)was sent away.
Why was there (CA)no one when I came?
When I called, why was there no one to answer?
Is My (CB)hand so short that it cannot redeem?
Or do I have no power to rescue?
Behold, I (CC)dry up the sea with My rebuke,
I (CD)turn rivers into a wilderness;
Their fish stink for lack of water,
And die of thirst.
I (CE)clothe the heavens with blackness,
And make sackcloth their covering.”

The Lord [p]God has given Me the tongue of (CF)disciples,
So that I may know how to (CG)sustain the weary one with a word.
He awakens Me (CH)morning by morning,
He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple.
The Lord God has (CI)opened My ear,
And I was (CJ)not disobedient,
Nor did I turn back.
I (CK)gave My back to those who strike Me,
And My cheeks to those who pull out My beard;
I did not hide My face from insults and spitting.
For the Lord God (CL)helps Me,
Therefore, I am (CM)not disgraced;
Therefore, I have made My face like (CN)flint,
And I know that I will not be ashamed.
He who (CO)vindicates Me is near;
Who will contend with Me?
Let us (CP)stand up to each other.
Who has a case against Me?
Let him approach Me.
Behold, (CQ)the Lord God helps Me;
(CR)Who is he who condemns Me?
Behold, (CS)they will all wear out like a garment;
A moth will eat them.
10 Who is among you who fears the Lord,
Who obeys the voice of His (CT)servant,
Who (CU)walks in darkness and has no light?
Let him (CV)trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God.
11 Behold, all you who (CW)kindle a fire,
Who encircle yourselves with flaming arrows,
Walk in the light of your fire
And among the flaming arrows you have set ablaze.
This you will have from My hand:
You will (CX)lie down in torment.

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 49:1 Lit inward parts
  2. Isaiah 49:6 Lit light
  3. Isaiah 49:6 Or to
  4. Isaiah 49:6 Lit be
  5. Isaiah 49:7 Lit despised of soul
  6. Isaiah 49:8 Lit establish
  7. Isaiah 49:9 Lit Go out
  8. Isaiah 49:17 Ancient versions and DSS; MT sons
  9. Isaiah 49:18 Lit an ornament
  10. Isaiah 49:20 Lit of your bereavement
  11. Isaiah 49:21 Lit These, where are they?
  12. Isaiah 49:22 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord
  13. Isaiah 49:22 Lit on the chest
  14. Isaiah 49:24 Ancient versions and DSS; MT the righteous, cf. v 25
  15. Isaiah 49:26 Lit all flesh
  16. Isaiah 50:4 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord, and so throughout the ch

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