1 Timothy 3-4

English Standard Version

Qualifications for Overseers

3 The saying is ^(A)trustworthy: If anyone aspires to ^(B)the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. ²Therefore ^(C)an overseer^[a] must be above reproach, ^(D)the husband of one wife,^[b] ^(E)sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, ^(F)hospitable, ^(G)able to teach, ³not a drunkard, not violent but ^(H)gentle, not quarrelsome, ^(I)not a lover of money. ⁴He must manage his own household well, with all dignity ^(J)keeping his children submissive, ⁵for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for ^(K)God's church? ⁶He must not be a recent convert, or he may ^(L)become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. ⁷Moreover, he must be well thought of by ^(M)outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into ^(N)a snare of the devil.

Qualifications for Deacons

⁸^(O)Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued,^[c] ^(P)not addicted to much wine, ^(Q)not greedy for dishonest gain. ⁹They must ^(R)hold the mystery of the faith with ^(S)a clear conscience. ¹⁰And ^(T)let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. ¹¹^(U)Their wives likewise^[d] must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, ^(V)faithful in all things. ¹²Let deacons each be ^(W)the husband of one wife, ^(X)managing their children and their own households well. ¹³For ^(Y)those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

The Mystery of Godliness

¹⁴I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, ¹⁵if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth. ¹⁶Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness:

^(Z)He^[e] was manifested in the flesh,
    vindicated^[f] by the Spirit,^[g]
        ^(AA)seen by angels,
^(AB)proclaimed among the nations,
    ^(AC)believed on in the world,
        ^(AD)taken up in glory.

Some Will Depart from the Faith

4 Now ^(AE)the Spirit expressly says that ^(AF)in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to ^(AG)deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, ²through the insincerity of ^(AH)liars whose consciences are seared, ³^(AI)who forbid marriage and ^(AJ)require abstinence from foods ^(AK)that God created ^(AL)to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. ⁴For ^(AM)everything created by God is good, and ^(AN)nothing is to be rejected if it is ^(AO)received with thanksgiving, ⁵for it is made holy ^(AP)by the word of God and prayer.

A Good Servant of Christ Jesus

⁶^(AQ)If you put these things before the brothers,^[h] you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have ^(AR)followed. ⁷Have nothing to do with irreverent, ^(AS)silly myths. Rather ^(AT)train yourself for godliness; ⁸for while ^(AU)bodily training is of some value, godliness ^(AV)is of value in every way, as ^(AW)it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. ⁹The saying is ^(AX)trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. ¹⁰For to this end we toil and strive,^[i] because we have our hope set on the living God, ^(AY)who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.

¹¹Command and teach ^(AZ)these things. ¹²^(BA)Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers ^(BB)an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. ¹³Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. ¹⁴^(BC)Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you ^(BD)by prophecy when the council of elders ^(BE)laid their hands on you. ¹⁵Practice these things, immerse yourself in them,^[j] so that ^(BF)all may see your progress. ¹⁶^(BG)Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save ^(BH)both yourself and ^(BI)your hearers.

Footnotes

1 Timothy 3:2 Or bishop; Greek episkopos; a similar term occurs in verse 1
1 Timothy 3:2 Or a man of one woman; also verse 12
1 Timothy 3:8 Or devious in speech
1 Timothy 3:11 Or Wives likewise, or Women likewise
1 Timothy 3:16 Greek Who; some manuscripts God; others Which
1 Timothy 3:16 Or justified
1 Timothy 3:16 Or vindicated in spirit
1 Timothy 4:6 Or brothers and sisters. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, the plural Greek word adelphoi (translated “brothers”) may refer either to brothers or to brothers and sisters
1 Timothy 4:10 Some manuscripts and suffer reproach
1 Timothy 4:15 Greek be in them

Proverbs 3

English Standard Version

Trust in the Lord with All Your Heart

3 ^(A)My son, do not forget my teaching,
^(B)but let your heart keep my commandments,
²for ^(C)length of days and years of life
and ^(D)peace they will add to you.

³Let not ^(E)steadfast love and ^(F)faithfulness forsake you;
    ^(G)bind them around your neck;
    ^(H)write them on the tablet of your heart.
⁴So you will ^(I)find favor and ^(J)good success^[a]
    in the sight of God and man.

⁵^(K)Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
    and ^(L)do not lean on your own understanding.
⁶In all your ways ^(M)acknowledge him,
    and he ^(N)will make straight your paths.
⁷^(O)Be not wise in your own eyes;
    ^(P)fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
⁸It will be ^(Q)healing to your flesh^[b]
    and ^(R)refreshment^[c] to your bones.

⁹Honor the Lord with your wealth
and with ^(S)the firstfruits of all your produce;
¹⁰then your ^(T)barns will be filled with plenty,
and your vats will be bursting with wine.

¹¹^(U)My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline
or be weary of his reproof,
¹²for the Lord reproves him whom he loves,
as ^(V)a father the son in whom he delights.

Blessed Is the One Who Finds Wisdom

¹³^(W)Blessed is the one who finds wisdom,
    and the one who gets understanding,
¹⁴^(X)for the gain from her is better than gain from silver
    and her profit better than ^(Y)gold.
¹⁵She is more precious than ^(Z)jewels,
    and ^(AA)nothing you desire can compare with her.
¹⁶^(AB)Long life is in her right hand;
    in her left hand are ^(AC)riches and honor.
¹⁷Her ^(AD)ways are ways of pleasantness,
    and all her paths are peace.
¹⁸She is ^(AE)a tree of life to those who ^(AF)lay hold of her;
    those who hold her fast are called blessed.

¹⁹^(AG)The Lord by wisdom founded the earth;
by understanding ^(AH)he established the heavens;
²⁰by his knowledge ^(AI)the deeps broke open,
and ^(AJ)the clouds drop down the dew.

²¹My son, ^(AK)do not lose sight of these—
    keep sound wisdom and discretion,
²²and they will be ^(AL)life for your soul
    and ^(AM)adornment for your neck.
²³^(AN)Then you will walk on your way securely,
    ^(AO)and your foot will not stumble.
²⁴^(AP)If you lie down, you will not be afraid;
    when you lie down, ^(AQ)your sleep will be sweet.
²⁵^(AR)Do not be afraid of sudden terror
    or of ^(AS)the ruin^[d] of the wicked, when it comes,
²⁶for the Lord will be your confidence
    and will ^(AT)keep your foot from being caught.
²⁷^(AU)Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,^[e]
    when it is in your power to do it.

²⁸^(AV)Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again,
    tomorrow I will give it”—when you have it with you.
²⁹^(AW)Do not plan evil against your neighbor,
    who ^(AX)dwells trustingly beside you.
³⁰^(AY)Do not contend with a man for no reason,
    when he has done you no harm.
³¹^(AZ)Do not envy ^(BA)a man of violence
    and do not choose any of his ways,
³²for ^(BB)the devious person is an abomination to the Lord,
    but the upright are ^(BC)in his confidence.
³³^(BD)The Lord's curse is on the house of the wicked,
    but he ^(BE)blesses the dwelling of the righteous.
³⁴Toward the ^(BF)scorners he ^(BG)is scornful,
    ^(BH)but to the humble he gives favor.^[f]
³⁵The wise will inherit honor,
    but fools get^[g] disgrace.