⁶ But ^(A)godliness ^(B)with contentment is great gain, ⁷ for ^(C)we brought nothing into the world, and^[a] we cannot take anything out of the world. ⁸ But ^(D)if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. ⁹ But ^(E)those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, ^(F)into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that ^(G)plunge people into ruin and destruction. ¹⁰ For the love of money is a root of ^(H)all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

Fight the Good Fight of Faith

¹¹ But as for you, ^(I)O man of God, ^(J)flee these things. ^(K)Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. ^12 (L)Fight the good fight of the faith. ^(M)Take hold of the eternal life ^(N)to which you were called and about which you made ^(O)the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. ^13 (P)I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, ^(Q)who in his testimony before^[b] Pontius Pilate made ^(R)the good confession, ¹⁴ to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until ^(S)the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁵ which he will display ^(T)at the proper time—he who is ^(U)the blessed and only Sovereign, ^(V)the King of kings and Lord of lords, ^16 (W)who alone has immortality, ^(X)who dwells in ^(Y)unapproachable light, ^(Z)whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

¹⁷ As for the rich in ^(AA)this present age, charge them ^(AB)not to be haughty, nor ^(AC)to set their hopes on ^(AD)the uncertainty of riches, but on God, ^(AE)who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. ¹⁸ They are to do good, ^(AF)to be rich in good works, to be generous and ^(AG)ready to share, ¹⁹ thus ^(AH)storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may ^(AI)take hold of ^(AJ)that which is truly life.

²⁰ O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. ^(AK)Avoid the ^(AL)irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,” ²¹ for by professing it some have swerved from the faith.

^(AM)Grace be with you.^[c]

The Parable of the Weeds Explained

³⁶ Then he left the crowds and went into ^(A)the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, ^(B)“Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” ³⁷ He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. ³⁸ The field is the world, and the good seed is ^(C)the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are ^(D)the sons of the evil one, ³⁹ and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. ^(E)The harvest is ^(F)the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. ⁴⁰ Just as the weeds ^(G)are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at ^(H)the end of the age. ^41 (I)The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all ^(J)causes of sin and ^(K)all law-breakers, ^42 (L)and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place ^(M)there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. ⁴³ Then ^(N)the righteous will shine like the sun ^(O)in the kingdom of their Father. ^(P)He who has ears, let him hear.