22 “These words the Lord spoke to all your assembly (A)at the mountain out of the midst of the fire, the cloud, and the thick darkness, with a loud voice; and he added no more. And (B)he wrote them on two tablets of stone and gave them to me. 23 And (C)as soon as you heard the voice out of the midst of the darkness, while the mountain was burning with fire, you came near to me, all the heads of your tribes, and your elders. 24 And you said, ‘Behold, the Lord our God has shown us his glory and (D)greatness, and (E)we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire. This day we have seen God speak with man, and man (F)still live. 25 Now therefore why should we die? For this great fire will consume us. (G)If we hear the voice of the Lord our God any more, we shall die. 26 (H)For who is there of all flesh, that has heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of fire as we have, and has still lived? 27 Go near and hear all that the Lord our God will say, and (I)speak to us all that the Lord our God will speak to you, and we will hear and do it.’

28 “And the Lord heard your words, when you spoke to me. And the Lord said to me, ‘I have heard the words of this people, which they have spoken to you. (J)They are right in all that they have spoken. 29 (K)Oh that they had such a heart as this always, to fear me and to keep all my commandments, (L)that it might go well with them and with their descendants[a] forever! 30 Go and say to them, “Return to your tents.” 31 But you, stand here by me, and (M)I will tell you the whole commandment and the statutes and the rules that you shall teach them, that they may do them in the land that I am giving them to possess.’ 32 You shall be careful therefore to do as the Lord your God has commanded you. (N)You shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. 33 (O)You shall walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live, and (P)that it may go well with you, and that you may live long in the land that you shall possess.

The Greatest Commandment

“Now this is (Q)the commandment—the statutes and the rules[b]—that the Lord your God commanded me to teach you, that you may do them in the land to which you are going over, to possess it, that (R)you may fear the Lord your God, you and your son and your son's son, by keeping all his statutes and his commandments, which I command you, all the days of your life, and (S)that your days may be long. Hear therefore, O Israel, and be careful to do them, that it may go well with you, and that you may multiply greatly, (T)as the Lord, the God of your fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey.

“Hear, O Israel: (U)The Lord our God, the Lord is one.[c] You (V)shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And (W)these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. (X)You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. (Y)You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. (Z)You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

Footnotes

  1. Deuteronomy 5:29 Or sons
  2. Deuteronomy 6:1 Or just decrees; also verse 20
  3. Deuteronomy 6:4 Or The Lord our God is one Lord; or The Lord is our God, the Lord is one; or The Lord is our God, the Lord alone

22 These are the commandments the Lord proclaimed in a loud voice to your whole assembly there on the mountain from out of the fire, the cloud and the deep darkness;(A) and he added nothing more. Then he wrote them on two stone tablets(B) and gave them to me.

23 When you heard the voice out of the darkness, while the mountain was ablaze with fire, all the leaders of your tribes and your elders(C) came to me. 24 And you said, “The Lord our God has shown us(D) his glory and his majesty,(E) and we have heard his voice from the fire. Today we have seen that a person can live even if God speaks with them.(F) 25 But now, why should we die? This great fire will consume us, and we will die if we hear the voice of the Lord our God any longer.(G) 26 For what mortal has ever heard the voice of the living God speaking out of fire, as we have, and survived?(H) 27 Go near and listen to all that the Lord our God says.(I) Then tell us whatever the Lord our God tells you. We will listen and obey.”(J)

28 The Lord heard you when you spoke to me, and the Lord said to me, “I have heard what this people said to you. Everything they said was good.(K) 29 Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me(L) and keep all my commands(M) always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever!(N)

30 “Go, tell them to return to their tents. 31 But you stay here(O) with me so that I may give you all the commands, decrees and laws you are to teach them to follow in the land I am giving them to possess.”

32 So be careful to do what the Lord your God has commanded you;(P) do not turn aside to the right or to the left.(Q) 33 Walk in obedience to all that the Lord your God has commanded you,(R) so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days(S) in the land that you will possess.

Love the Lord Your God

These are the commands, decrees and laws the Lord your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, so that you, your children and their children after them may fear(T) the Lord your God as long as you live(U) by keeping all his decrees and commands(V) that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life.(W) Hear, Israel, and be careful to obey(X) so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly(Y) in a land flowing with milk and honey,(Z) just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, promised(AA) you.

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.[a](AB) Love(AC) the Lord your God with all your heart(AD) and with all your soul and with all your strength.(AE) These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.(AF) Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.(AG) Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.(AH) Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.(AI)

Footnotes

  1. Deuteronomy 6:4 Or The Lord our God is one Lord; or The Lord is our God, the Lord is one; or The Lord is our God, the Lord alone

Huldah Prophesies Disaster

22 So Hilkiah and those whom the king had sent[a] went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tokhath, son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe (now she lived in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter) and spoke to her to that effect. 23 And she said to them, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: ‘Tell the man who sent you to me, 24 Thus says the Lord, Behold, I will bring disaster upon this place and upon its inhabitants, all the curses that are written in the book that was read before the king of Judah. 25 Because they have forsaken me and (A)have made offerings to other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands, therefore (B)my wrath will be poured out on this place and will not be quenched. 26 But to the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, thus shall you say to him, Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Regarding the words that you have heard, 27 because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before God when you heard his words against this place and its inhabitants, and you have humbled yourself before me and have torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you, declares the Lord. 28 Behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace, and your eyes shall not see all the disaster that I will bring upon this place and its inhabitants.’” And they brought back word to the king.

29 (C)Then the king sent and gathered together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. 30 And the king went up to the house of the Lord, with all the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and the priests and the Levites, all the people both great and small. And he read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant that had been found in the house of the Lord. 31 And the king (D)stood in his place (E)and made a covenant before the Lord, to walk after the Lord and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes, with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant that were written in this book. 32 Then he made all who were present in Jerusalem and in Benjamin join in it. And the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers. 33 And Josiah took away (F)all the abominations from all the territory that belonged to the people of Israel and made all who were present in Israel serve the Lord their God. All his days they did not turn away from following the Lord, the God of their fathers.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 34:22 Syriac, Vulgate; Hebrew lacks had sent

22 Hilkiah and those the king had sent with him[a] went to speak to the prophet(A) Huldah, who was the wife of Shallum son of Tokhath,[b] the son of Hasrah,[c] keeper of the wardrobe. She lived in Jerusalem, in the New Quarter.

23 She said to them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Tell the man who sent you to me, 24 ‘This is what the Lord says: I am going to bring disaster(B) on this place and its people(C)—all the curses(D) written in the book that has been read in the presence of the king of Judah. 25 Because they have forsaken me(E) and burned incense to other gods and aroused my anger by all that their hands have made,[d] my anger will be poured out on this place and will not be quenched.’ 26 Tell the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says concerning the words you heard: 27 Because your heart was responsive(F) and you humbled(G) yourself before God when you heard what he spoke against this place and its people, and because you humbled yourself before me and tore your robes and wept in my presence, I have heard you, declares the Lord. 28 Now I will gather you to your ancestors,(H) and you will be buried in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster I am going to bring on this place and on those who live here.’”(I)

So they took her answer back to the king.

29 Then the king called together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. 30 He went up to the temple of the Lord(J) with the people of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the priests and the Levites—all the people from the least to the greatest. He read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant, which had been found in the temple of the Lord. 31 The king stood by his pillar(K) and renewed the covenant(L) in the presence of the Lord—to follow(M) the Lord and keep his commands, statutes and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, and to obey the words of the covenant written in this book.

32 Then he had everyone in Jerusalem and Benjamin pledge themselves to it; the people of Jerusalem did this in accordance with the covenant of God, the God of their ancestors.

33 Josiah removed all the detestable(N) idols from all the territory belonging to the Israelites, and he had all who were present in Israel serve the Lord their God. As long as he lived, they did not fail to follow the Lord, the God of their ancestors.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 34:22 One Hebrew manuscript, Vulgate and Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts do not have had sent with him.
  2. 2 Chronicles 34:22 Also called Tikvah
  3. 2 Chronicles 34:22 Also called Harhas
  4. 2 Chronicles 34:25 Or by everything they have done

Seek the Lord and Live

Hear this word that I (A)take up over you in lamentation, O house of Israel:

“Fallen, no more to rise,
    is (B)the virgin Israel;
forsaken on her land,
    with none to raise her up.”

For thus says the Lord God:

“The city that went out a thousand
    shall have a hundred left,
and that which went out a hundred
    shall have ten left
    to the house of Israel.”

For thus says the Lord to the house of Israel:

(C)“Seek me and live;
    but do not seek (D)Bethel,
and do not enter into (E)Gilgal
    or cross over to (F)Beersheba;
for (G)Gilgal shall surely go into exile,
    and (H)Bethel shall come to nothing.”

(I)Seek the Lord and live,
    (J)lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph,
    and it devour, with none to quench it for (K)Bethel,
O (L)you who turn justice to wormwood[a]
    and cast down righteousness to the earth!

He who made the (M)Pleiades and Orion,
    and turns deep darkness into the morning
    and (N)darkens the day into night,
who (O)calls for the waters of the sea
    (P)and pours them out on the surface of the earth,
(Q)the Lord is his name;
(R)who makes destruction flash forth against the strong,
    so that destruction comes upon the fortress.

10 (S)They hate him who reproves (T)in the gate,
    and they (U)abhor him who speaks the truth.
11 Therefore because you (V)trample on[b] the poor
    and you exact taxes of grain from him,
(W)you have built houses of hewn stone,
    but you shall not dwell in them;
(X)you have planted pleasant vineyards,
    but you shall not drink their wine.
12 For I know how many are your transgressions
    and how great are your sins—
you who afflict the righteous, who (Y)take a bribe,
    and (Z)turn aside the needy (AA)in the gate.
13 Therefore he who is prudent will (AB)keep silent in such a time,
    (AC)for it is an evil time.

14 (AD)Seek good, and not evil,
    that you may live;
and so the Lord, (AE)the God of hosts, will be with you,
    as you have said.
15 (AF)Hate evil, and love good,
    and establish justice (AG)in the gate;
(AH)it may be that the Lord, the God of hosts,
    will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.

16 Therefore thus says the Lord, (AI)the God of hosts, the Lord:

“In all the squares (AJ)there shall be wailing,
    and in all the streets they shall say, ‘Alas! Alas!’
They shall call the farmers to mourning
    and (AK)to wailing those who are skilled in lamentation,
17 and in all vineyards there shall be wailing,
    for (AL)I will pass through your midst,”
says the Lord.

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Footnotes

  1. Amos 5:7 Or to bitter fruit
  2. Amos 5:11 Or you tax

A Lament and Call to Repentance

Hear this word, Israel, this lament(A) I take up concerning you:

“Fallen is Virgin(B) Israel,
    never to rise again,
deserted in her own land,
    with no one to lift her up.(C)

This is what the Sovereign Lord says to Israel:

“Your city that marches out a thousand strong
    will have only a hundred left;
your town that marches out a hundred strong
    will have only ten left.(D)

This is what the Lord says to Israel:

“Seek(E) me and live;(F)
    do not seek Bethel,
do not go to Gilgal,(G)
    do not journey to Beersheba.(H)
For Gilgal will surely go into exile,
    and Bethel will be reduced to nothing.[a](I)
Seek(J) the Lord and live,(K)
    or he will sweep through the tribes of Joseph like a fire;(L)
it will devour them,
    and Bethel(M) will have no one to quench it.(N)

There are those who turn justice into bitterness(O)
    and cast righteousness(P) to the ground.(Q)

He who made the Pleiades and Orion,(R)
    who turns midnight into dawn(S)
    and darkens day into night,(T)
who calls for the waters of the sea
    and pours them out over the face of the land—
    the Lord is his name.(U)
With a blinding flash he destroys the stronghold
    and brings the fortified city to ruin.(V)

10 There are those who hate the one who upholds justice in court(W)
    and detest the one who tells the truth.(X)

11 You levy a straw tax on the poor(Y)
    and impose a tax on their grain.
Therefore, though you have built stone mansions,(Z)
    you will not live in them;(AA)
though you have planted lush vineyards,
    you will not drink their wine.(AB)
12 For I know how many are your offenses
    and how great your sins.(AC)

There are those who oppress the innocent and take bribes(AD)
    and deprive the poor(AE) of justice in the courts.(AF)
13 Therefore the prudent keep quiet(AG) in such times,
    for the times are evil.(AH)

14 Seek good, not evil,
    that you may live.(AI)
Then the Lord God Almighty will be with you,
    just as you say he is.
15 Hate evil,(AJ) love good;(AK)
    maintain justice in the courts.(AL)
Perhaps(AM) the Lord God Almighty will have mercy(AN)
    on the remnant(AO) of Joseph.

16 Therefore this is what the Lord, the Lord God Almighty, says:

“There will be wailing(AP) in all the streets(AQ)
    and cries of anguish in every public square.
The farmers(AR) will be summoned to weep
    and the mourners to wail.
17 There will be wailing(AS) in all the vineyards,
    for I will pass through(AT) your midst,”
says the Lord.(AU)

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Footnotes

  1. Amos 5:5 Hebrew aven, a reference to Beth Aven (a derogatory name for Bethel); see Hosea 4:15.

14 (A)A gift in secret averts anger,
    and a concealed bribe,[a] strong wrath.
15 When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous
    (B)but terror to evildoers.
16 One who wanders from the way of good sense
    (C)will rest in the assembly of the dead.
17 Whoever loves pleasure will be a poor man;
    he who loves wine and oil will not be rich.
18 (D)The wicked is a (E)ransom for the righteous,
    and the traitor for the upright.
19 It is (F)better to live in a desert land
    than with a quarrelsome and fretful woman.
20 (G)Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man's dwelling,
    but a foolish man (H)devours it.
21 Whoever (I)pursues righteousness and kindness
    will find (J)life, righteousness, and honor.
22 (K)A wise man scales the city of the mighty
    and brings down the stronghold in which they trust.
23 (L)Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue
    (M)keeps himself out of (N)trouble.
24 (O)“Scoffer” is the name of the arrogant, haughty man
    who acts with arrogant pride.
25 The desire of (P)the sluggard kills him,
    for his hands refuse to labor.
26 All day long he craves and craves,
    but the righteous (Q)gives and does not hold back.
27 (R)The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination;
    how much more (S)when he brings it with evil intent.
28 (T)A false witness will perish,
    but the word of a man who hears will endure.
29 A wicked man puts on a bold face,
    but the upright (U)gives thought to[b] his ways.
30 (V)No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel
    can avail against the Lord.
31 (W)The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
    but (X)the victory belongs to the Lord.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 21:14 Hebrew a bribe in the bosom
  2. Proverbs 21:29 Or establishes

14 A gift given in secret soothes anger,
    and a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies great wrath.(A)

15 When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous
    but terror to evildoers.(B)

16 Whoever strays from the path of prudence
    comes to rest in the company of the dead.(C)

17 Whoever loves pleasure will become poor;
    whoever loves wine and olive oil will never be rich.(D)

18 The wicked become a ransom(E) for the righteous,
    and the unfaithful for the upright.

19 Better to live in a desert
    than with a quarrelsome and nagging wife.(F)

20 The wise store up choice food and olive oil,
    but fools gulp theirs down.

21 Whoever pursues righteousness and love
    finds life, prosperity[a](G) and honor.(H)

22 One who is wise can go up against the city of the mighty(I)
    and pull down the stronghold in which they trust.

23 Those who guard their mouths(J) and their tongues
    keep themselves from calamity.(K)

24 The proud and arrogant person(L)—“Mocker” is his name—
    behaves with insolent fury.

25 The craving of a sluggard will be the death of him,(M)
    because his hands refuse to work.
26 All day long he craves for more,
    but the righteous(N) give without sparing.(O)

27 The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable(P)
    how much more so when brought with evil intent!(Q)

28 A false witness(R) will perish,(S)
    but a careful listener will testify successfully.

29 The wicked put up a bold front,
    but the upright give thought to their ways.(T)

30 There is no wisdom,(U) no insight, no plan
    that can succeed against the Lord.(V)

31 The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
    but victory rests with the Lord.(W)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 21:21 Or righteousness

49 Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon, but (A)I honor my Father, and you dishonor me. 50 Yet (B)I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it, and he is the judge. 51 Truly, truly, (C)I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never (D)see death.” 52 The Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon! (E)Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet (F)you say, ‘If anyone keeps my word, he will never (G)taste death.’ 53 (H)Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?” 54 Jesus answered, (I)“If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. (J)It is my Father who glorifies me, (K)of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’[a] 55 But (L)you have not known him. (M)I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be (N)a liar (O)like you, but I do know him and I keep his word. 56 (P)Your father Abraham (Q)rejoiced (R)that he would see my day. (S)He saw it and was glad.” 57 So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?”[b] 58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, (T)I am.” 59 So (U)they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.

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Footnotes

  1. John 8:54 Some manuscripts your God
  2. John 8:57 Some manuscripts has Abraham seen you?

49 “I am not possessed by a demon,” said Jesus, “but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. 50 I am not seeking glory for myself;(A) but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. 51 Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death.”(B)

52 At this they exclaimed, “Now we know that you are demon-possessed!(C) Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that whoever obeys your word will never taste death. 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham?(D) He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?”

54 Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself,(E) my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me.(F) 55 Though you do not know him,(G) I know him.(H) If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and obey his word.(I) 56 Your father Abraham(J) rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it(K) and was glad.”

57 “You are not yet fifty years old,” they said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!”

58 “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born,(L) I am!”(M) 59 At this, they picked up stones to stone him,(N) but Jesus hid himself,(O) slipping away from the temple grounds.

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Greeting

Paul, (A)an apostle of Christ Jesus (B)by the will of God according to (C)the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus,

To Timothy, (D)my beloved child:

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

Guard the Deposit Entrusted to You

(F)I thank God (G)whom I serve, as did my ancestors, (H)with a clear conscience, as I remember you (I)constantly in my prayers night and day. (J)As I remember your tears, (K)I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of (L)your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and (M)your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. For this reason I remind you (N)to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us (O)a spirit not of fear but (P)of power and love and self-control.

Therefore (Q)do not be ashamed of (R)the testimony about our Lord, nor of (S)me his prisoner, but (T)share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, (U)who saved us and (V)called us to[a] a holy calling, (W)not because of our works but because of (X)his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus (Y)before the ages began,[b]

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Timothy 1:9 Or with
  2. 2 Timothy 1:9 Greek before times eternal

Paul, an apostle(A) of Christ Jesus by the will of God,(B) in keeping with the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus,(C)

To Timothy,(D) my dear son:(E)

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

Thanksgiving

I thank God,(G) whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience,(H) as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers.(I) Recalling your tears,(J) I long to see you,(K) so that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith,(L) which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice(M) and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.

Appeal for Loyalty to Paul and the Gospel

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.(N) For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid,(O) but gives us power,(P) love and self-discipline. So do not be ashamed(Q) of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner.(R) Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel,(S) by the power of God. He has saved(T) us and called(U) us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done(V) but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,

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