Disobedience and Defeat^(A)

⁶ After Joshua had dismissed the Israelites, they went to take possession of the land, each to their own inheritance. ⁷ The people served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him and who had seen all the great things the Lord had done for Israel.^(B)

⁸ Joshua son of Nun,^(C) the servant of the Lord, died at the age of a hundred and ten. ⁹ And they buried him in the land of his inheritance, at Timnath Heres^[a](D) in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash.

¹⁰ After that whole generation had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation grew up who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel.^{(E) 11} Then the Israelites did evil^(F) in the eyes of the Lord^(G) and served the Baals.^{(H) 12} They forsook the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of Egypt. They followed and worshiped various gods^(I) of the peoples around them.^(J) They aroused^(K) the Lord’s anger^{(L) 13} because they forsook^(M) him and served Baal and the Ashtoreths.^{(N) 14} In his anger^(O) against Israel the Lord gave them into the hands^(P) of raiders who plundered^(Q) them. He sold them^(R) into the hands of their enemies all around, whom they were no longer able to resist.^{(S) 15} Whenever Israel went out to fight, the hand of the Lord was against them^(T) to defeat them, just as he had sworn to them. They were in great distress.^(U)

¹⁶ Then the Lord raised up judges,^[b](V) who saved^(W) them out of the hands of these raiders. ¹⁷ Yet they would not listen to their judges but prostituted^(X) themselves to other gods^(Y) and worshiped them.^(Z) They quickly turned^(AA) from the ways of their ancestors, who had been obedient to the Lord’s commands.^{(AB) 18} Whenever the Lord raised up a judge for them, he was with the judge and saved^(AC) them out of the hands of their enemies as long as the judge lived; for the Lord relented^(AD) because of their groaning^(AE) under those who oppressed and afflicted^(AF) them. ¹⁹ But when the judge died, the people returned to ways even more corrupt^(AG) than those of their ancestors,^(AH) following other gods and serving and worshiping them.^(AI) They refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn^(AJ) ways.

²⁰ Therefore the Lord was very angry^(AK) with Israel and said, “Because this nation has violated the covenant^(AL) I ordained for their ancestors and has not listened to me, ²¹ I will no longer drive out^(AM) before them any of the nations Joshua left when he died. ²² I will use them to test^(AN) Israel and see whether they will keep the way of the Lord and walk in it as their ancestors did.” ²³ The Lord had allowed those nations to remain; he did not drive them out at once by giving them into the hands of Joshua.^(AO)

Psalm 16

A miktam^[a] of David.

Doing Good to All

6 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit^(A) should restore^(B) that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. ² Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.^{(C) 3} If anyone thinks they are something^(D) when they are not, they deceive themselves.^{(E) 4} Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone,^(F) without comparing themselves to someone else,^{(G) 5} for each one should carry their own load.^{(H) 6} Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.^(I)

⁷ Do not be deceived:^(J) God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.^{(K) 8} Whoever sows to please their flesh,^(L) from the flesh will reap destruction;^(M) whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.^{(N) 9} Let us not become weary in doing good,^(O) for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.^{(P) 10} Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good^(Q) to all people, especially to those who belong to the family^(R) of believers.

Dealing With Sin in the Church

¹⁵ “If your brother or sister^[a] sins,^[b] go and point out their fault,^(A) just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. ¹⁶ But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’^{[c](B) 17} If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church;^(C) and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.^(D)

¹⁸ “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be^[d] bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be^[e] loosed in heaven.^(E)

¹⁹ “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them^(F) by my Father in heaven. ²⁰ For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”^(G)