2 Timothy 2

New International Version

The Appeal Renewed

2 You then, my son,^(A) be strong^(B) in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. ²And the things you have heard me say^(C) in the presence of many witnesses^(D) entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. ³Join with me in suffering,^(E) like a good soldier^(F) of Christ Jesus. ⁴No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. ⁵Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown^(G) except by competing according to the rules. ⁶The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops.^(H) ⁷Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.

⁸Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead,^(I) descended from David.^(J) This is my gospel,^(K) ⁹for which I am suffering^(L) even to the point of being chained^(M) like a criminal. But God’s word^(N) is not chained. ¹⁰Therefore I endure everything^(O) for the sake of the elect,^(P) that they too may obtain the salvation^(Q) that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.^(R)

¹¹Here is a trustworthy saying:^(S)

If we died with him,
    we will also live with him;^(T)
¹²if we endure,
    we will also reign with him.^(U)
If we disown him,
    he will also disown us;^(V)
¹³if we are faithless,
    he remains faithful,^(W)
    for he cannot disown himself.

Dealing With False Teachers

¹⁴Keep reminding God’s people of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words;^(X) it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. ¹⁵Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.^(Y) ¹⁶Avoid godless chatter,^(Z) because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. ¹⁷Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus^(AA) and Philetus, ¹⁸who have departed from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place,^(AB) and they destroy the faith of some.^(AC) ¹⁹Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm,^(AD) sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,”^(AE) and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord^(AF) must turn away from wickedness.”

²⁰In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use.^(AG) ²¹Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.^(AH)

²²Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love^(AI) and peace, along with those who call on the Lord^(AJ) out of a pure heart.^(AK) ²³Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.^(AL) ²⁴And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.^(AM) ²⁵Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth,^(AN) ²⁶and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil,^(AO) who has taken them captive to do his will.

Zephaniah 1

New International Version

1 The word of the Lord that came to Zephaniah son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hezekiah, during the reign of Josiah^(A) son of Amon^(B) king of Judah:

Judgment on the Whole Earth in the Day of the Lord

²“I will sweep away everything
    from the face of the earth,”^(C)
declares the Lord.
³“I will sweep away both man and beast;^(D)
    I will sweep away the birds in the sky^(E)
    and the fish in the sea—
    and the idols that cause the wicked to stumble.”^[a]

“When I destroy all mankind
    on the face of the earth,”^(F)
declares the Lord,^(G)
⁴“I will stretch out my hand^(H) against Judah
    and against all who live in Jerusalem.
I will destroy every remnant of Baal worship in this place,^(I)
    the very names of the idolatrous priests^(J)—
⁵those who bow down on the roofs
    to worship the starry host,^(K)
those who bow down and swear by the Lord
    and who also swear by Molek,^[b]^(L)
⁶those who turn back from following^(M) the Lord
    and neither seek^(N) the Lord nor inquire^(O) of him.”

⁷Be silent^(P) before the Sovereign Lord,
for the day of the Lord^(Q) is near.
The Lord has prepared a sacrifice;^(R)
he has consecrated those he has invited.

⁸“On the day of the Lord’s sacrifice
    I will punish^(S) the officials
    and the king’s sons^(T)
and all those clad
    in foreign clothes.
⁹On that day I will punish
    all who avoid stepping on the threshold,^[c]^(U)
who fill the temple of their gods
    with violence and deceit.^(V)

¹⁰“On that day,^(W)”
    declares the Lord,
“a cry will go up from the Fish Gate,^(X)
    wailing^(Y) from the New Quarter,
    and a loud crash from the hills.
¹¹Wail,^(Z) you who live in the market district^[d];
    all your merchants will be wiped out,
    all who trade with^[e] silver will be destroyed.^(AA)
¹²At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps
    and punish those who are complacent,^(AB)
    who are like wine left on its dregs,^(AC)
who think, ‘The Lord will do nothing,^(AD)
    either good or bad.’^(AE)
¹³Their wealth will be plundered,^(AF)
    their houses demolished.
Though they build houses,
    they will not live in them;
though they plant vineyards,
    they will not drink the wine.”^(AG)

¹⁴The great day of the Lord^(AH) is near^(AI)—
    near and coming quickly.
The cry on the day of the Lord is bitter;
    the Mighty Warrior shouts his battle cry.
¹⁵That day will be a day of wrath—
    a day of distress and anguish,
        a day of trouble and ruin,
    a day of darkness^(AJ) and gloom,
        a day of clouds and blackness^(AK)—
¹⁶    a day of trumpet and battle cry^(AL)
against the fortified cities
    and against the corner towers.^(AM)

¹⁷“I will bring such distress^(AN) on all people
    that they will grope about like those who are blind,^(AO)
    because they have sinned against the Lord.
Their blood will be poured out^(AP) like dust
    and their entrails like dung.^(AQ)
¹⁸Neither their silver nor their gold
    will be able to save them
    on the day of the Lord’s wrath.”^(AR)