Abandonment of Faith

But (A)the Spirit explicitly says that (B)in later times some will [a]fall away from the faith, paying attention to (C)deceitful spirits and (D)teachings of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars (E)seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, who (F)forbid marriage and advocate (G)abstaining from foods which (H)God has created to be (I)gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth. For (J)everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is (K)received with gratitude; for it is sanctified by means of (L)the word of God and prayer.

A Good Minister’s Discipline

In pointing out these things to (M)the brothers and sisters, you will be a good (N)servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the (O)good doctrine which you (P)have been following. But [b]stay away from (Q)worthless (R)stories that are typical of old women. Rather, [c]discipline yourself for the purpose of (S)godliness; for (T)bodily training is just slightly beneficial, but (U)godliness is beneficial for all things, since it (V)holds promise for the (W)present life and also for the life to come. (X)It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. 10 For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have set (Y)our hope on (Z)the living God, who is (AA)the Savior of all mankind, especially of believers.

11 [d](AB)Prescribe and teach these things. 12 (AC)Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, (AD)love, faith, and purity, show yourself (AE)an example [e]of those who believe. 13 (AF)Until I come, give your attention to the public [f](AG)reading, to exhortation, and teaching. 14 Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was granted to you through words of (AH)prophecy with (AI)the laying on of hands by the [g](AJ)council of elders. 15 Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all. 16 (AK)Pay close attention to yourself and to the teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will (AL)save both yourself and those who hear you.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Timothy 4:1 I.e., apostatize
  2. 1 Timothy 4:7 Or reject
  3. 1 Timothy 4:7 Or train
  4. 1 Timothy 4:11 Or Keep commanding and teaching
  5. 1 Timothy 4:12 Or to
  6. 1 Timothy 4:13 I.e., of Scripture in the church service
  7. 1 Timothy 4:14 Or board of elders

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. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.(D) 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. For everything God created is good,(I) and nothing is to be rejected(J) if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God(K) and prayer.

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) Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales;(N) rather, train yourself to be godly.(O) 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) 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.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Timothy 4:6 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family.

On Life and Conduct

23 When you sit down to dine with a ruler,
Consider carefully [a]what is before you,
And put a knife to your throat
If you are a (A)person of great appetite.
Do not (B)desire his delicacies,
For it is deceptive food.

(C)Do not weary yourself to gain wealth;
[b](D)Stop dwelling on it.
[c]When you set your eyes on it, it is gone.
For (E)wealth certainly makes itself wings
Like an eagle that flies toward the heavens.

(F)Do not eat the bread of [d]a (G)selfish person;
Or desire his delicacies;
For as he [e]thinks within himself, so he is.
He says to you, “Eat and drink!”
But (H)his heart is not with you.
You will (I)vomit up [f]the morsel you have eaten
And waste your [g]compliments.

(J)Do not speak [h]to be heard by a fool,
For he will (K)despise the wisdom of your words.

10 Do not move the ancient boundary
Or (L)go into the fields of the fatherless,
11 For their (M)Redeemer is strong;
(N)He will plead their case against you.
12 Apply your heart to discipline,
And your ears to words of knowledge.

13 (O)Do not withhold discipline from a child;
Though you strike him with the rod, he will not die.
14 You shall strike him with the rod
And (P)rescue his soul from Sheol.

15 My son, if your heart is (Q)wise,
My own heart also will be glad,
16 And my [i]innermost being will rejoice
When your lips speak (R)what is right.

17 (S)Do not let your heart envy sinners,
But live in [j]the (T)fear of the Lord [k]always.
18 Certainly there is a [l](U)future,
And your (V)hope will not be cut off.
19 Listen, my son, and (W)be wise,
And (X)direct your heart in the way.
20 Do not be with (Y)heavy drinkers of wine,
Or with (Z)gluttonous eaters of meat;
21 For the (AA)heavy drinker and the glutton will come to poverty,
And (AB)drowsiness will clothe one with rags.

22 (AC)Listen to your father, who fathered you,
And (AD)do not despise your mother when she is old.
23 (AE)Buy truth, and do not sell it,
Get wisdom, instruction, and understanding.

24 The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice,
And (AF)he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him.
25 Let your (AG)father and your mother be glad,
And let her rejoice who gave birth to you.

26 (AH)Give me your heart, my son,
And let your eyes [m](AI)delight in my ways.
27 For a prostitute is a (AJ)deep pit,
And a [n](AK)strange woman is a narrow well.
28 Certainly she (AL)lurks as a robber,
And increases the treacherous among mankind.

29 Who has (AM)woe? Who has sorrow?
Who has contentions? Who has complaining?
Who has wounds without cause?
Who has red eyes?
30 Those who (AN)linger long over wine,
Those who go to [o]taste (AO)mixed wine.
31 Do not look at wine when it is red,
When it [p]sparkles in the cup,
When it (AP)goes down smoothly;
32 In the end it (AQ)bites like a snake
And stings like a (AR)viper.
33 Your eyes will see strange things
And your [q]mind will (AS)say perverse things.
34 And you will be like one who lies down in the [r]middle of the sea,
Or like one who lies down on the top of a [s]mast.
35 “They (AT)struck me, but I did not become [t]ill;
They beat me, but I did not know it.
When will I awake?
I will (AU)seek [u]another drink.”

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 23:1 Or who
  2. Proverbs 23:4 Lit Refrain from your understanding of it
  3. Proverbs 23:5 Lit Will your eyes fly upon it and it is not?
  4. Proverbs 23:6 Lit an evil eye
  5. Proverbs 23:7 Lit reckons in his soul
  6. Proverbs 23:8 Lit your
  7. Proverbs 23:8 Lit pleasant words
  8. Proverbs 23:9 Lit in the ears of a
  9. Proverbs 23:16 Lit kidneys
  10. Proverbs 23:17 Or reverence for
  11. Proverbs 23:17 Lit all the day
  12. Proverbs 23:18 Lit latter end
  13. Proverbs 23:26 Another reading is observe
  14. Proverbs 23:27 Lit foreign
  15. Proverbs 23:30 Or search out
  16. Proverbs 23:31 Lit gives its eye
  17. Proverbs 23:33 Lit heart
  18. Proverbs 23:34 Lit heart
  19. Proverbs 23:34 Or lookout
  20. Proverbs 23:35 I.e., from the effect of wounds
  21. Proverbs 23:35 Lit it yet again

Saying 7

23 When you sit to dine with a ruler,
    note well what[a] is before you,
and put a knife to your throat
    if you are given to gluttony.
Do not crave his delicacies,(A)
    for that food is deceptive.

Saying 8

Do not wear yourself out to get rich;
    do not trust your own cleverness.
Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone,(B)
    for they will surely sprout wings
    and fly off to the sky like an eagle.(C)

Saying 9

Do not eat the food of a begrudging host,
    do not crave his delicacies;(D)
for he is the kind of person
    who is always thinking about the cost.[b]
“Eat and drink,” he says to you,
    but his heart is not with you.
You will vomit up the little you have eaten
    and will have wasted your compliments.

Saying 10

Do not speak to fools,
    for they will scorn your prudent words.(E)

Saying 11

10 Do not move an ancient boundary stone(F)
    or encroach on the fields of the fatherless,
11 for their Defender(G) is strong;(H)
    he will take up their case against you.(I)

Saying 12

12 Apply your heart to instruction(J)
    and your ears to words of knowledge.

Saying 13

13 Do not withhold discipline from a child;
    if you punish them with the rod, they will not die.
14 Punish them with the rod
    and save them from death.(K)

Saying 14

15 My son, if your heart is wise,
    then my heart will be glad indeed;
16 my inmost being will rejoice
    when your lips speak what is right.(L)

Saying 15

17 Do not let your heart envy(M) sinners,
    but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord.
18 There is surely a future hope for you,
    and your hope will not be cut off.(N)

Saying 16

19 Listen, my son,(O) and be wise,
    and set your heart on the right path:
20 Do not join those who drink too much wine(P)
    or gorge themselves on meat,
21 for drunkards and gluttons become poor,(Q)
    and drowsiness clothes them in rags.

Saying 17

22 Listen to your father, who gave you life,
    and do not despise your mother when she is old.(R)
23 Buy the truth and do not sell it—
    wisdom, instruction and insight as well.(S)
24 The father of a righteous child has great joy;
    a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him.(T)
25 May your father and mother rejoice;
    may she who gave you birth be joyful!(U)

Saying 18

26 My son,(V) give me your heart
    and let your eyes delight in my ways,(W)
27 for an adulterous woman is a deep pit,(X)
    and a wayward wife is a narrow well.
28 Like a bandit she lies in wait(Y)
    and multiplies the unfaithful among men.

Saying 19

29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow?
    Who has strife? Who has complaints?
    Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?
30 Those who linger over wine,(Z)
    who go to sample bowls of mixed wine.
31 Do not gaze at wine when it is red,
    when it sparkles in the cup,
    when it goes down smoothly!
32 In the end it bites like a snake
    and poisons like a viper.
33 Your eyes will see strange sights,
    and your mind will imagine confusing things.
34 You will be like one sleeping on the high seas,
    lying on top of the rigging.
35 “They hit me,” you will say, “but I’m not hurt!
    They beat me, but I don’t feel it!
When will I wake up
    so I can find another drink?”(AA)

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 23:1 Or who
  2. Proverbs 23:7 Or for as he thinks within himself, / so he is; or for as he puts on a feast, / so he is

The Free Offer of Mercy

55 [a]You there! Everyone who (A)thirsts, come to the waters;
And you who have (B)no [b]money come, buy and eat.
Come, buy (C)wine and milk
(D)Without money and without cost.
Why do you [c]spend money for what is (E)not bread,
And your wages for what does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to Me, and (F)eat what is good,
And (G)delight yourself in abundance.
(H)Incline your ear and come to Me.
Listen, that [d]you may (I)live;
And I will make (J)an everlasting covenant with you,
According to the (K)faithful mercies [e]shown to David.
Behold, I have made (L)him a witness to the peoples,
A (M)leader and commander for the peoples.
Behold, you will call a (N)nation you do not know,
And a nation which does not know you will (O)run to you,
Because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel;
For He has (P)glorified you.”

(Q)Seek the Lord while He may be found;
(R)Call upon Him while He is near.
(S)Let the wicked abandon his way,
And the unrighteous person his (T)thoughts;
And let him (U)return to the Lord,
And He will have (V)compassion on him,
And to our God,
For He will (W)abundantly pardon.
“For My thoughts are not (X)your thoughts,
Nor are (Y)your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.
“For (Z)as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways
And My thoughts than your thoughts.
10 For as the (AA)rain and the snow come down from heaven,
And do not return there without watering the earth
And making it produce and sprout,
And providing (AB)seed to the sower and bread to the eater;
11 So will My (AC)word be which goes out of My mouth;
It will (AD)not return to Me empty,
Without (AE)accomplishing what I desire,
And without succeeding in the purpose for which I sent it.
12 For you will go out with (AF)joy
And be led in (AG)peace;
The (AH)mountains and the hills will break into shouts of joy before you,
And all the (AI)trees of the field will clap their hands.
13 Instead of the (AJ)thorn bush, the (AK)juniper will come up,
And instead of the (AL)stinging nettle, the myrtle will come up;
And [f]it will be a [g](AM)memorial to the Lord,
An everlasting (AN)sign which (AO)will not be eliminated.”

Rewards for Obedience to God

56 This is what the Lord says:
(AP)Guard justice and do righteousness,
For My (AQ)salvation is about to come
And My righteousness to be revealed.
(AR)Blessed is a man who does this,
And a son of man who (AS)takes hold of it;
Who (AT)keeps from profaning the Sabbath,
And keeps his hand from doing any evil.”
Let not the (AU)foreigner who has joined himself to the Lord say,
“The Lord will certainly separate me from His people.”
Nor let the (AV)eunuch say, “Behold, I am a dry tree.”
For this is what the Lord says:
“To the eunuchs who (AW)keep My Sabbaths,
And choose what pleases Me,
And (AX)hold firmly to My covenant,
To them I will give in My (AY)house and within My (AZ)walls a memorial,
And a name better than that of sons and daughters;
I will give [h]them an everlasting (BA)name which (BB)will not be eliminated.

“Also the (BC)foreigners who join themselves to the Lord,
To attend to His service and to love the name of the Lord,
To be His servants, every one who (BD)keeps the Sabbath so as not to profane it,
And holds firmly to My covenant;
Even (BE)those I will bring to My (BF)holy mountain,
And (BG)make them joyful in My house of prayer.
Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be acceptable on (BH)My altar;
For (BI)My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples.”
The Lord [i]God, who (BJ)gathers the dispersed of Israel, declares,
“I will yet gather (BK)others to [j]them, to those already gathered.”

All you [k](BL)wild animals,
All you animals in the forest,
Come to eat.
10 His (BM)watchmen are (BN)blind,
All of them know nothing.
All of them are mute dogs unable to bark,
Dreamers lying down, who love to slumber;
11 And the dogs are [l](BO)greedy, they [m]are never satisfied.
And they are shepherds who have (BP)no understanding;
They have all (BQ)turned to their own way,
Each one to his unjust gain, [n]without exception.
12 “Come,” they say, “[o]let’s get (BR)wine, and let’s drink heavily of intoxicating drink;
And (BS)tomorrow will be like today, only more so.”

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 55:1 Lit Hoy
  2. Isaiah 55:1 Lit silver
  3. Isaiah 55:2 Lit weigh out silver
  4. Isaiah 55:3 Lit your soul
  5. Isaiah 55:3 Lit of David
  6. Isaiah 55:13 I.e., the transformation of the desert
  7. Isaiah 55:13 Lit name
  8. Isaiah 56:5 As in DSS; MT him
  9. Isaiah 56:8 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord
  10. Isaiah 56:8 Lit him
  11. Isaiah 56:9 Lit animals of the field
  12. Isaiah 56:11 Lit strong of soul/appetite
  13. Isaiah 56:11 Lit do not know satisfaction
  14. Isaiah 56:11 Lit from his end
  15. Isaiah 56:12 As in DSS and some ancient versions; MT I will

Invitation to the Thirsty

55 “Come, all you who are thirsty,(A)
    come to the waters;(B)
and you who have no money,
    come, buy(C) and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk(D)
    without money and without cost.(E)
Why spend money on what is not bread,
    and your labor on what does not satisfy?(F)
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,(G)
    and you will delight in the richest(H) of fare.
Give ear and come to me;
    listen,(I) that you may live.(J)
I will make an everlasting covenant(K) with you,
    my faithful love(L) promised to David.(M)
See, I have made him a witness(N) to the peoples,
    a ruler and commander(O) of the peoples.
Surely you will summon nations(P) you know not,
    and nations you do not know will come running to you,(Q)
because of the Lord your God,
    the Holy One(R) of Israel,
    for he has endowed you with splendor.”(S)

Seek(T) the Lord while he may be found;(U)
    call(V) on him while he is near.
Let the wicked forsake(W) their ways
    and the unrighteous their thoughts.(X)
Let them turn(Y) to the Lord, and he will have mercy(Z) on them,
    and to our God, for he will freely pardon.(AA)

“For my thoughts(AB) are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,”(AC)
declares the Lord.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,(AD)
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.(AE)
10 As the rain(AF) and the snow
    come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
    without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,(AG)
    so that it yields seed(AH) for the sower and bread for the eater,(AI)
11 so is my word(AJ) that goes out from my mouth:
    It will not return to me empty,(AK)
but will accomplish what I desire
    and achieve the purpose(AL) for which I sent it.
12 You will go out in joy(AM)
    and be led forth in peace;(AN)
the mountains and hills
    will burst into song(AO) before you,
and all the trees(AP) of the field
    will clap their hands.(AQ)
13 Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper,
    and instead of briers(AR) the myrtle(AS) will grow.
This will be for the Lord’s renown,(AT)
    for an everlasting sign,
    that will endure forever.”

Salvation for Others

56 This is what the Lord says:

“Maintain justice(AU)
    and do what is right,(AV)
for my salvation(AW) is close at hand
    and my righteousness(AX) will soon be revealed.
Blessed(AY) is the one who does this—
    the person who holds it fast,
who keeps the Sabbath(AZ) without desecrating it,
    and keeps their hands from doing any evil.”

Let no foreigner(BA) who is bound to the Lord say,
    “The Lord will surely exclude me from his people.”(BB)
And let no eunuch(BC) complain,
    “I am only a dry tree.”

For this is what the Lord says:

“To the eunuchs(BD) who keep my Sabbaths,
    who choose what pleases me
    and hold fast to my covenant(BE)
to them I will give within my temple and its walls(BF)
    a memorial(BG) and a name
    better than sons and daughters;
I will give them an everlasting name(BH)
    that will endure forever.(BI)
And foreigners(BJ) who bind themselves to the Lord
    to minister(BK) to him,
to love the name(BL) of the Lord,
    and to be his servants,
all who keep the Sabbath(BM) without desecrating it
    and who hold fast to my covenant—
these I will bring to my holy mountain(BN)
    and give them joy in my house of prayer.
Their burnt offerings and sacrifices(BO)
    will be accepted on my altar;
for my house will be called
    a house of prayer for all nations.(BP)(BQ)
The Sovereign Lord declares—
    he who gathers the exiles of Israel:
“I will gather(BR) still others to them
    besides those already gathered.”

God’s Accusation Against the Wicked

Come, all you beasts of the field,(BS)
    come and devour, all you beasts of the forest!
10 Israel’s watchmen(BT) are blind,
    they all lack knowledge;(BU)
they are all mute dogs,
    they cannot bark;
they lie around and dream,
    they love to sleep.(BV)
11 They are dogs with mighty appetites;
    they never have enough.
They are shepherds(BW) who lack understanding;(BX)
    they all turn to their own way,(BY)
    they seek their own gain.(BZ)
12 “Come,” each one cries, “let me get wine!(CA)
    Let us drink our fill of beer!
And tomorrow will be like today,
    or even far better.”(CB)