Qualifications for Overseers and Deacons

Here is a trustworthy saying:(A) Whoever aspires to be an overseer(B) desires a noble task. Now the overseer is to be above reproach,(C) faithful to his wife,(D) temperate,(E) self-controlled, respectable, hospitable,(F) able to teach,(G) not given to drunkenness,(H) not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome,(I) not a lover of money.(J) He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full[a] respect.(K) (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?)(L) He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited(M) and fall under the same judgment(N) as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders,(O) so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.(P)

In the same way, deacons[b](Q) are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine,(R) and not pursuing dishonest gain. They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience.(S) 10 They must first be tested;(T) and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.

11 In the same way, the women[c] are to be worthy of respect, not malicious talkers(U) but temperate(V) and trustworthy in everything.

12 A deacon must be faithful to his wife(W) and must manage his children and his household well.(X) 13 Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.

Reasons for Paul’s Instructions

14 Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, 15 if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church(Y) of the living God,(Z) the pillar and foundation of the truth. 16 Beyond all question, the mystery(AA) from which true godliness(AB) springs is great:

He appeared in the flesh,(AC)
    was vindicated by the Spirit,[d]
was seen by angels,
    was preached among the nations,(AD)
was believed on in the world,
    was taken up in glory.(AE)

Footnotes

  1. 1 Timothy 3:4 Or him with proper
  2. 1 Timothy 3:8 The word deacons refers here to Christians designated to serve with the overseers/elders of the church in a variety of ways; similarly in verse 12; and in Romans 16:1 and Phil. 1:1.
  3. 1 Timothy 3:11 Possibly deacons’ wives or women who are deacons
  4. 1 Timothy 3:16 Or vindicated in spirit

Psalm 144

Of David.

Praise be to the Lord my Rock,(A)
    who trains my hands for war,
    my fingers for battle.
He is my loving God and my fortress,(B)
    my stronghold(C) and my deliverer,
my shield,(D) in whom I take refuge,
    who subdues peoples[a](E) under me.

Lord, what are human beings(F) that you care for them,
    mere mortals that you think of them?
They are like a breath;(G)
    their days are like a fleeting shadow.(H)

Part your heavens,(I) Lord, and come down;(J)
    touch the mountains, so that they smoke.(K)
Send forth lightning(L) and scatter(M) the enemy;
    shoot your arrows(N) and rout them.
Reach down your hand from on high;(O)
    deliver me and rescue me(P)
from the mighty waters,(Q)
    from the hands of foreigners(R)
whose mouths are full of lies,(S)
    whose right hands(T) are deceitful.(U)

I will sing a new song(V) to you, my God;
    on the ten-stringed lyre(W) I will make music to you,
10 to the One who gives victory to kings,(X)
    who delivers his servant David.(Y)

From the deadly sword(Z) 11 deliver me;
    rescue me(AA) from the hands of foreigners(AB)
whose mouths are full of lies,(AC)
    whose right hands are deceitful.(AD)

12 Then our sons in their youth
    will be like well-nurtured plants,(AE)
and our daughters will be like pillars(AF)
    carved to adorn a palace.
13 Our barns will be filled(AG)
    with every kind of provision.
Our sheep will increase by thousands,
    by tens of thousands in our fields;
14     our oxen(AH) will draw heavy loads.[b]
There will be no breaching of walls,(AI)
    no going into captivity,
    no cry of distress in our streets.(AJ)
15 Blessed is the people(AK) of whom this is true;
    blessed is the people whose God is the Lord.

Psalm 145[c]

A psalm of praise. Of David.

I will exalt you,(AL) my God the King;(AM)
    I will praise your name(AN) for ever and ever.
Every day I will praise(AO) you
    and extol your name(AP) for ever and ever.

Great(AQ) is the Lord and most worthy of praise;(AR)
    his greatness no one can fathom.(AS)
One generation(AT) commends your works to another;
    they tell(AU) of your mighty acts.(AV)
They speak of the glorious splendor(AW) of your majesty—
    and I will meditate on your wonderful works.[d](AX)
They tell(AY) of the power of your awesome works—(AZ)
    and I will proclaim(BA) your great deeds.(BB)
They celebrate your abundant goodness(BC)
    and joyfully sing(BD) of your righteousness.(BE)

The Lord is gracious and compassionate,(BF)
    slow to anger and rich in love.(BG)

The Lord is good(BH) to all;
    he has compassion(BI) on all he has made.
10 All your works praise you,(BJ) Lord;
    your faithful people extol(BK) you.(BL)
11 They tell of the glory of your kingdom(BM)
    and speak of your might,(BN)
12 so that all people may know of your mighty acts(BO)
    and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.(BP)
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,(BQ)
    and your dominion endures through all generations.

The Lord is trustworthy(BR) in all he promises(BS)
    and faithful in all he does.[e]
14 The Lord upholds(BT) all who fall
    and lifts up all(BU) who are bowed down.(BV)
15 The eyes of all look to you,
    and you give them their food(BW) at the proper time.
16 You open your hand
    and satisfy the desires(BX) of every living thing.

17 The Lord is righteous(BY) in all his ways
    and faithful in all he does.(BZ)
18 The Lord is near(CA) to all who call on him,(CB)
    to all who call on him in truth.
19 He fulfills the desires(CC) of those who fear him;(CD)
    he hears their cry(CE) and saves them.(CF)
20 The Lord watches over(CG) all who love him,(CH)
    but all the wicked he will destroy.(CI)

21 My mouth will speak(CJ) in praise of the Lord.
    Let every creature(CK) praise his holy name(CL)
    for ever and ever.

Psalm 146

Praise the Lord.[f]

Praise the Lord,(CM) my soul.

I will praise the Lord all my life;(CN)
    I will sing praise(CO) to my God as long as I live.(CP)
Do not put your trust in princes,(CQ)
    in human beings,(CR) who cannot save.
When their spirit departs, they return to the ground;(CS)
    on that very day their plans come to nothing.(CT)
Blessed are those(CU) whose help(CV) is the God of Jacob,
    whose hope is in the Lord their God.

He is the Maker of heaven(CW) and earth,
    the sea, and everything in them—
    he remains faithful(CX) forever.
He upholds(CY) the cause of the oppressed(CZ)
    and gives food to the hungry.(DA)
The Lord sets prisoners free,(DB)
    the Lord gives sight(DC) to the blind,(DD)
the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down,(DE)
    the Lord loves the righteous.(DF)
The Lord watches over the foreigner(DG)
    and sustains the fatherless(DH) and the widow,(DI)
    but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.

10 The Lord reigns(DJ) forever,
    your God, O Zion, for all generations.

Praise the Lord.

Psalm 147

Praise the Lord.[g]

How good it is to sing praises to our God,
    how pleasant(DK) and fitting to praise him!(DL)

The Lord builds up Jerusalem;(DM)
    he gathers the exiles(DN) of Israel.
He heals the brokenhearted(DO)
    and binds up their wounds.(DP)
He determines the number of the stars(DQ)
    and calls them each by name.
Great is our Lord(DR) and mighty in power;(DS)
    his understanding has no limit.(DT)
The Lord sustains the humble(DU)
    but casts the wicked(DV) to the ground.

Sing to the Lord(DW) with grateful praise;(DX)
    make music(DY) to our God on the harp.(DZ)

He covers the sky with clouds;(EA)
    he supplies the earth with rain(EB)
    and makes grass grow(EC) on the hills.
He provides food(ED) for the cattle
    and for the young ravens(EE) when they call.

10 His pleasure is not in the strength(EF) of the horse,(EG)
    nor his delight in the legs of the warrior;
11 the Lord delights(EH) in those who fear him,(EI)
    who put their hope(EJ) in his unfailing love.(EK)

12 Extol the Lord, Jerusalem;(EL)
    praise your God, Zion.

13 He strengthens the bars of your gates(EM)
    and blesses your people(EN) within you.
14 He grants peace(EO) to your borders
    and satisfies you(EP) with the finest of wheat.(EQ)

15 He sends his command(ER) to the earth;
    his word runs(ES) swiftly.
16 He spreads the snow(ET) like wool
    and scatters the frost(EU) like ashes.
17 He hurls down his hail(EV) like pebbles.
    Who can withstand his icy blast?
18 He sends his word(EW) and melts them;
    he stirs up his breezes,(EX) and the waters flow.

19 He has revealed his word(EY) to Jacob,(EZ)
    his laws and decrees(FA) to Israel.
20 He has done this for no other nation;(FB)
    they do not know(FC) his laws.[h]

Praise the Lord.(FD)

Psalm 148

Praise the Lord.[i](FE)

Praise the Lord from the heavens;(FF)
    praise him in the heights above.
Praise him, all his angels;(FG)
    praise him, all his heavenly hosts.(FH)
Praise him, sun(FI) and moon;
    praise him, all you shining stars.
Praise him, you highest heavens(FJ)
    and you waters above the skies.(FK)

Let them praise the name(FL) of the Lord,
    for at his command(FM) they were created,
and he established them for ever and ever—
    he issued a decree(FN) that will never pass away.

Praise the Lord(FO) from the earth,
    you great sea creatures(FP) and all ocean depths,(FQ)
lightning and hail,(FR) snow and clouds,
    stormy winds that do his bidding,(FS)
you mountains and all hills,(FT)
    fruit trees and all cedars,
10 wild animals(FU) and all cattle,
    small creatures and flying birds,
11 kings(FV) of the earth and all nations,
    you princes and all rulers on earth,
12 young men and women,
    old men and children.

13 Let them praise the name of the Lord,(FW)
    for his name alone is exalted;
    his splendor(FX) is above the earth and the heavens.(FY)
14 And he has raised up for his people a horn,[j](FZ)
    the praise(GA) of all his faithful servants,(GB)
    of Israel, the people close to his heart.(GC)

Praise the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 144:2 Many manuscripts of the Masoretic Text, Dead Sea Scrolls, Aquila, Jerome and Syriac; most manuscripts of the Masoretic Text subdues my people
  2. Psalm 144:14 Or our chieftains will be firmly established
  3. Psalm 145:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, the verses of which (including verse 13b) begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
  4. Psalm 145:5 Dead Sea Scrolls and Syriac (see also Septuagint); Masoretic Text On the glorious splendor of your majesty / and on your wonderful works I will meditate
  5. Psalm 145:13 One manuscript of the Masoretic Text, Dead Sea Scrolls and Syriac (see also Septuagint); most manuscripts of the Masoretic Text do not have the last two lines of verse 13.
  6. Psalm 146:1 Hebrew Hallelu Yah; also in verse 10
  7. Psalm 147:1 Hebrew Hallelu Yah; also in verse 20
  8. Psalm 147:20 Masoretic Text; Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint nation; / he has not made his laws known to them
  9. Psalm 148:1 Hebrew Hallelu Yah; also in verse 14
  10. Psalm 148:14 Horn here symbolizes strength.

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