Psalm 141

Protection from Sin and Sinners

A psalm of David.

Judah’s King Jotham

27 Jotham was twenty-five years old^(A) when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem.^(B) His mother’s name was Jerushah daughter of Zadok. ² He did what was right in the Lord’s sight just as his father Uzziah had done. In addition, he didn’t enter the Lord’s sanctuary,^(C) but the people still behaved corruptly.

³ Jotham built the Upper Gate of the Lord’s temple, and he built extensively on the wall of Ophel.^{(D) 4} He also built cities in the hill country of Judah and fortresses and towers in the forests.^{(E) 5} He waged war against the king of the Ammonites. He overpowered the Ammonites, and that year they gave him 7,500 pounds^[a] of silver, 60,000 bushels^[b] of wheat, and 60,000 bushels of barley. They paid him the same in the second and third years. ⁶ So Jotham strengthened his position because he did not waver in obeying^[c] the Lord his God.^(F)

⁷ As for the rest of the events^(G) of Jotham’s reign, along with all his wars and his ways, note that they are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. ⁸ He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. ⁹ Jotham rested with his ancestors and was buried in the city of David. His son Ahaz became king in his place.

The Man of Lawlessness

2 Now concerning the coming^(A) of our Lord^(B) Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him: We ask you, brothers and sisters, ² not to be easily upset or troubled, either by a prophecy^[a](C) or by a message or by a letter supposedly from us, alleging that the day of the Lord^[b](D) has come.^{(E) 3} Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way. For that day will not come unless the apostasy^[c] comes first and the man of lawlessness^[d] is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. ⁴ He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god^(F) or object of worship,^(G) so that he sits^[e] in God’s temple, proclaiming that he himself is God.

⁵ Don’t you remember that when I was still with you I used to tell you about this? ⁶ And you know what currently restrains him, so that he will be revealed in his time.^{(H) 7} For the mystery of lawlessness^(I) is already at work, but the one now restraining will do so until he is out of the way, ⁸ and then the lawless one will be revealed. The Lord Jesus will destroy him with the breath of his mouth^(J) and will bring him to nothing at the appearance of his coming. ⁹ The coming of the lawless one is based on Satan’s working, with every kind of miracle, both signs and wonders serving the lie,^{(K) 10} and with every wicked deception among those who are perishing. They perish because they did not accept the love of the truth and so be saved.^{(L) 11} For this reason God sends them a strong delusion so that they will believe the lie, ¹² so that all will be condemned^(M)—those who did not believe^(N) the truth but delighted in unrighteousness.