16 I have not run away from being your shepherd;
    you know I have not desired the day of despair.
    What passes my lips(A) is open before you.

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27 For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God.(A)

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20 You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything(A) that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house.

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19 Oh, my anguish, my anguish!(A)
    I writhe in pain.(B)
Oh, the agony of my heart!
    My heart pounds(C) within me,
    I cannot keep silent.(D)
For I have heard the sound of the trumpet;(E)
    I have heard the battle cry.(F)
20 Disaster follows disaster;(G)
    the whole land lies in ruins.(H)
In an instant my tents(I) are destroyed,
    my shelter in a moment.

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Taming the Tongue

Not many of you should become teachers,(A) my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged(B) more strictly.(C)

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Listening and Doing

19 My dear brothers and sisters,(A) take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak(B) and slow to become angry,

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17 Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit.(A) On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity,(B) as those sent from God.(C)

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Paul’s Change of Plans

12 Now this is our boast: Our conscience(A) testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity[a](B) and godly sincerity.(C) We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom(D) but on God’s grace.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 1:12 Many manuscripts holiness

Paul’s Anguish Over Israel

I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying,(A) my conscience confirms(B) it through the Holy Spirit— I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself(C) were cursed(D) and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people,(E) those of my own race,(F)

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14 Amos answered Amaziah, “I was neither a prophet(A) nor the son of a prophet, but I was a shepherd, and I also took care of sycamore-fig trees.(B) 15 But the Lord took me from tending the flock(C) and said to me, ‘Go,(D) prophesy(E) to my people Israel.’(F)

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“Son of man, I have made you a watchman(A) for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me.(B) When I say to the wicked, ‘You wicked person, you will surely die,(C)’ and you do not speak out to dissuade them from their ways, that wicked person will die for[a] their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood.(D) But if you do warn the wicked person to turn from their ways and they do not do so,(E) they will die for their sin, though you yourself will be saved.(F)

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Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 33:8 Or in; also in verse 9

14 The Spirit(A) then lifted me up(B) and took me away, and I went in bitterness and in the anger of my spirit, with the strong hand of the Lord(C) on me. 15 I came to the exiles who lived at Tel Aviv near the Kebar River.(D) And there, where they were living, I sat among them for seven days(E)—deeply distressed.

Ezekiel’s Task as Watchman

16 At the end of seven days the word of the Lord came to me:(F) 17 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman(G) for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me.(H) 18 When I say to a wicked person, ‘You will surely die,(I)’ and you do not warn them or speak out to dissuade them from their evil ways in order to save their life, that wicked person will die for[a] their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood.(J) 19 But if you do warn the wicked person and they do not turn(K) from their wickedness(L) or from their evil ways, they will die(M) for their sin; but you will have saved yourself.(N)

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Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 3:18 Or in; also in verses 19 and 20

But if I say, “I will not mention his word
    or speak anymore in his name,”(A)
his word is in my heart like a fire,(B)
    a fire shut up in my bones.
I am weary of holding it in;(C)
    indeed, I cannot.

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20 Should good be repaid with evil?(A)
    Yet they have dug a pit(B) for me.
Remember that I stood(C) before you
    and spoke in their behalf(D)
    to turn your wrath away from them.

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17 “Speak this word to them:

“‘Let my eyes overflow with tears(A)
    night and day without ceasing;
for the Virgin(B) Daughter, my people,
    has suffered a grievous wound,
    a crushing blow.(C)
18 If I go into the country,
    I see those slain by the sword;
if I go into the city,
    I see the ravages of famine.(D)
Both prophet and priest
    have gone to a land they know not.(E)’”

19 Have you rejected Judah completely?(F)
    Do you despise Zion?
Why have you afflicted us
    so that we cannot be healed?(G)
We hoped for peace
    but no good has come,
for a time of healing
    but there is only terror.(H)
20 We acknowledge(I) our wickedness, Lord,
    and the guilt of our ancestors;(J)
    we have indeed sinned(K) against you.
21 For the sake of your name(L) do not despise us;
    do not dishonor your glorious throne.(M)
Remember your covenant(N) with us
    and do not break it.

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17 If you do not listen,(A)
    I will weep in secret
    because of your pride;
my eyes will weep bitterly,
    overflowing with tears,(B)
    because the Lord’s flock(C) will be taken captive.(D)

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[a]Oh, that my head were a spring of water
    and my eyes a fountain of tears!(A)
I would weep(B) day and night
    for the slain of my people.(C)

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 9:1 In Hebrew texts 9:1 is numbered 8:23, and 9:2-26 is numbered 9:1-25.

The Call of Jeremiah

The word of the Lord came to me, saying,

“Before I formed you in the womb(A) I knew[a](B) you,
    before you were born(C) I set you apart;(D)
    I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.(E)

“Alas, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know how to speak;(F) I am too young.”(G)

But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid(H) of them, for I am with you(I) and will rescue(J) you,” declares the Lord.(K)

Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched(L) my mouth and said to me, “I have put my words in your mouth.(M) 10 See, today I appoint you over nations(N) and kingdoms to uproot(O) and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.”(P)

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 1:5 Or chose

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