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11 A false balance is an abomination to the Lord,
    but an accurate weight is his delight.(A)
When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
    but wisdom is with the humble.(B)
The integrity of the upright guides them,
    but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.(C)
Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,
    but righteousness delivers from death.(D)
The righteousness of the blameless keeps their ways straight,
    but the wicked fall by their own wickedness.
The righteousness of the upright saves them,
    but the treacherous are taken captive by their schemes.(E)
When the wicked die, hope perishes,
    and the expectation of strength comes to nothing.(F)
The righteous are delivered from trouble,
    and the wicked come into it instead.(G)
With their mouths the godless would destroy their neighbors,
    but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.
10 When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices,
    and when the wicked perish, there is jubilation.(H)
11 By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,
    but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.(I)
12 Whoever belittles another lacks sense,
    but an intelligent person remains silent.(J)
13 A gossip goes about telling secrets,
    but one who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a confidence.(K)
14 Where there is no guidance, a nation[a] falls,
    but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.(L)
15 To guarantee loans for a stranger brings trouble,
    but there is safety in refusing to do so.
16 A gracious woman gets honor,
    but she who hates virtue is covered with shame.[b]
The timid become destitute,[c]
    but the aggressive gain riches.(M)
17 Those who are kind reward themselves,
    but the cruel do themselves harm.
18 The wicked earn no real gain,
    but those who sow righteousness get a true reward.(N)
19 Whoever is steadfast in righteousness will live,
    but whoever pursues evil will die.
20 Crooked minds are an abomination to the Lord,
    but those of blameless ways are his delight.(O)
21 Be assured, the wicked will not go unpunished,
    but those who are righteous will escape.(P)
22 Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout
    is a beautiful woman without good sense.
23 The desire of the righteous ends only in good,
    the expectation of the wicked in wrath.
24 Some give freely yet grow all the richer;
    others withhold what is due and only suffer want.(Q)
25 A generous person will be enriched,
    and one who gives water will get water.(R)

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Footnotes

  1. 11.14 Or an army
  2. 11.16 Compare Gk Syr: Heb lacks but she . . . shame
  3. 11.16 Gk: Heb lacks The timid . . . destitute

Salutation

The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth.

Gaius Commended for His Hospitality

Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, just as it is well with your soul. For I was overjoyed when some brothers and sisters arrived and testified to your faithfulness to the truth, how you walk in the truth.(A) I have no greater joy than this, to hear that my children are walking in the truth.(B)

Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brothers and sisters, even though they are strangers to you;(C) they have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on in a manner worthy of God,(D) for they began their journey for the sake of Christ,[a] accepting no support from nonbelievers.[b](E) Therefore we ought to support such people, so that we may become coworkers with the truth.

Diotrephes and Demetrius

I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not welcome us. 10 So if I come, I will call attention to what he is doing in spreading false charges against us. And not content with those charges, he refuses to welcome the brothers and sisters and even prevents those who want to do so and expels them from the church.(F)

11 Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but imitate what is good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God.(G) 12 Everyone has testified favorably about Demetrius, and so has the truth[c] itself. We also testify for him,[d] and you know that our testimony is true.(H)

Final Greetings

13 I have much to write to you, but I would rather not write to you with pen and ink;(I) 14 instead, I hope to see you soon, and we will talk together face to face.

15 Peace to you. The friends send you their greetings. Greet the friends there, each by name.(J)

Footnotes

  1. 7 Gk for the sake of the name
  2. 7 Gk the gentiles
  3. 12 Other ancient authorities read church or church and truth
  4. 12 Gk lacks for him

10 The righteous know the needs of their animals,
    but the mercy of the wicked is cruel.(A)
11 Those who till their land will have plenty of food,
    but those who follow worthless pursuits have no sense.(B)
12 The wicked covet the proceeds of wickedness,[a]
    but the root of the righteous bears fruit.
13 The evil are ensnared by the transgression of their lips,
    but the righteous escape from trouble.(C)
14 From the fruit of the mouth one is filled with good things,
    and manual labor has its reward.(D)
15 Fools think their own way is right,
    but the wise listen to advice.(E)
16 Fools show their anger at once,
    but the prudent ignore an insult.(F)
17 Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence,
    but a false witness speaks deceitfully.(G)
18 Rash words are like sword thrusts,
    but the tongue of the wise brings healing.(H)
19 Truthful lips endure forever,
    but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.(I)
20 Deceit is in the mind of those who plan evil,
    but those who counsel peace have joy.(J)
21 No harm happens to the righteous,
    but the wicked are filled with trouble.(K)
22 Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord,
    but those who act faithfully are his delight.(L)
23 One who is clever conceals knowledge,
    but the mind of a fool[b] broadcasts folly.(M)
24 The hand of the diligent will rule,
    while the lazy will be put to forced labor.
25 Anxiety weighs down the human heart,
    but a good word cheers it up.(N)
26 The righteous are released from misfortune,[c]
    but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
27 The lazy do not roast[d] their game,
    but the diligent obtain precious wealth.[e]
28 In the path of righteousness there is life;
    in walking its path there is no death.(O)

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Footnotes

  1. 12.12 Or covet the catch of the wicked
  2. 12.23 Heb the heart of fools
  3. 12.26 Syr: Meaning of Heb uncertain
  4. 12.27 Meaning of Heb uncertain
  5. 12.27 Meaning of Heb uncertain

27 And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away,[a] for it is written,

‘I will strike the shepherd,
    and the sheep will be scattered.’(A)

28 “But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.”(B) 29 Peter said to him, “Even though all fall away,[b] I will not.”(C) 30 Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, this day, this very night, before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.”(D) 31 But he said vehemently, “Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And all of them said the same.

Jesus Prays in Gethsemane

32 They went to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 He took with him Peter and James and John and began to be distressed and agitated. 34 And he said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and keep awake.”(E) 35 And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.(F) 36 He said, “Abba,[c] Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me, yet not what I want but what you want.”(G) 37 He came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep awake one hour? 38 Keep awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial;[d] the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”(H) 39 And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. 40 And once more he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy, and they did not know what to say to him. 41 He came a third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Enough! The hour has come; the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.(I) 42 Get up, let us be going. Look, my betrayer is at hand.”

The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus

43 Immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived, and with him there was a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders. 44 Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.” 45 So when he came, he went up to him at once and said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him.(J) 46 Then they laid hands on him and arrested him. 47 But one of those who stood near drew his sword and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear. 48 Then Jesus said to them, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as though I were a rebel? 49 Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not arrest me. But let the scriptures be fulfilled.”(K) 50 All of them deserted him and fled.(L)

51 A certain young man was following him, wearing nothing but a linen cloth. They caught hold of him, 52 but he left the linen cloth and ran off naked.

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Footnotes

  1. 14.27 Or stumble
  2. 14.29 Or stumble
  3. 14.36 Aramaic for Father
  4. 14.38 Or into testing