Titus 1

English Standard Version

Greeting

1 Paul, a servant^[a] of God and ^(A)an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God's elect and ^(B)their knowledge of the truth, ^(C)which accords with godliness, ²^(D)in hope of eternal life, which God, ^(E)who never lies, ^(F)promised ^(G)before the ages began^[b] ³and ^(H)at the proper time manifested in his word^[c] ^(I)through the preaching ^(J)with which I have been entrusted ^(K)by the command of God our Savior;

⁴To Titus, ^(L)my true child in ^(M)a common faith:

^(N)Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

Qualifications for Elders

⁵^(O)This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and ^(P)appoint elders in every town as I directed you— ⁶^(Q)if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife,^[d] and his children are believers^[e] and not open to the charge of ^(R)debauchery or insubordination. ⁷For an overseer,^[f] ^(S)as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not ^(T)be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent ^(U)or greedy for gain, ⁸but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, ^(V)and disciplined. ⁹He must ^(W)hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in ^(X)sound^[g] doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.

¹⁰For there are many who are insubordinate, ^(Y)empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of ^(Z)the circumcision party.^[h] ¹¹They must be silenced, since ^(AA)they are upsetting whole families by teaching ^(AB)for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. ¹²^(AC)One of the Cretans,^[i] a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”^[j] ¹³This testimony is true. Therefore ^(AD)rebuke them ^(AE)sharply, that they ^(AF)may be sound in the faith, ¹⁴^(AG)not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and ^(AH)the commands of people ^(AI)who turn away from the truth. ¹⁵^(AJ)To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and ^(AK)unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both ^(AL)their minds and their consciences are defiled. ¹⁶^(AM)They profess to know God, but they ^(AN)deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, ^(AO)unfit for any good work.

Footnotes

Titus 1:1 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface
Titus 1:2 Greek before times eternal
Titus 1:3 Or manifested his word
Titus 1:6 Or a man of one woman
Titus 1:6 Or are faithful
Titus 1:7 Or bishop; Greek episkopos
Titus 1:9 Or healthy; also verse 13
Titus 1:10 Or especially those of the circumcision
Titus 1:12 Greek One of them
Titus 1:12 Probably from Epimenides of Crete

Titus 1

New International Version

1 Paul, a servant of God^(A) and an apostle^(B) of Jesus Christ to further the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth^(C) that leads to godliness^(D)— ²in the hope of eternal life,^(E) which God, who does not lie,^(F) promised before the beginning of time,^(G) ³and which now at his appointed season^(H) he has brought to light^(I) through the preaching entrusted to me^(J) by the command of God^(K) our Savior,^(L)

⁴To Titus,^(M) my true son^(N) in our common faith:

Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.^(O)

Appointing Elders Who Love What Is Good^(P)

⁵The reason I left you in Crete^(Q) was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint^[a] elders^(R) in every town, as I directed you. ⁶An elder must be blameless,^(S) faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe^[b] and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. ⁷Since an overseer^(T) manages God’s household,^(U) he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain.^(V) ⁸Rather, he must be hospitable,^(W) one who loves what is good,^(X) who is self-controlled,^(Y) upright, holy and disciplined. ⁹He must hold firmly^(Z) to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine^(AA) and refute those who oppose it.

Rebuking Those Who Fail to Do Good

¹⁰For there are many rebellious people, full of meaningless talk^(AB) and deception, especially those of the circumcision group.^(AC) ¹¹They must be silenced, because they are disrupting whole households^(AD) by teaching things they ought not to teach—and that for the sake of dishonest gain. ¹²One of Crete’s own prophets^(AE) has said it: “Cretans^(AF) are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons.”^[c] ¹³This saying is true. Therefore rebuke^(AG) them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith^(AH) ¹⁴and will pay no attention to Jewish myths^(AI) or to the merely human commands^(AJ) of those who reject the truth.^(AK) ¹⁵To the pure, all things are pure,^(AL) but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure.^(AM) In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted.^(AN) ¹⁶They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him.^(AO) They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.^(AP)

Footnotes

Titus 1:5 Or ordain
Titus 1:6 Or children are trustworthy
Titus 1:12 From the Cretan philosopher Epimenides

Jeremiah 49:23-50:46

English Standard Version

Judgment on Damascus

²³Concerning ^(A)Damascus:

^(B)“Hamath and ^(C)Arpad are confounded,
    for they have heard bad news;
they melt in fear,
    ^(D)they are troubled like the sea that cannot be quiet.
²⁴^(E)Damascus has become feeble, ^(F)she turned to flee,
    and panic seized her;
anguish and sorrows have taken hold of her,
    as ^(G)of a woman in labor.
²⁵How is ^(H)the famous city not forsaken,
    the city of my joy?
²⁶^(I)Therefore her young men shall fall in her squares,
    and all her soldiers shall be destroyed in that day,
declares the Lord of hosts.
²⁷And ^(J)I will kindle a fire in the wall of ^(K)Damascus,
    and it shall devour the strongholds of ^(L)Ben-hadad.”

Judgment on Kedar and Hazor

²⁸Concerning ^(M)Kedar and the kingdoms of Hazor that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon struck down.

Thus says the Lord:
^(N)“Rise up, advance against ^(O)Kedar!
    Destroy ^(P)the people of the east!
²⁹^(Q)Their tents and their flocks shall be taken,
    their ^(R)curtains and all their goods;
their camels shall be led away from them,
    and men shall cry to them: ^(S)‘Terror on every side!’
³⁰^(T)Flee, wander far away, dwell in the depths,
    O inhabitants of Hazor!
declares the Lord.
For Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon
    has made a plan against you
    and formed a purpose against you.

³¹^(U)“Rise up, advance against a nation ^(V)at ease,
    ^(W)that dwells securely,
declares the Lord,
^(X)that has no gates or bars,
    that dwells alone.
³²^(Y)Their camels shall become plunder,
    their herds of livestock a spoil.
^(Z)I will scatter to every wind
    ^(AA)those who cut the corners of their hair,
and I will bring their calamity
    from every side of them,
declares the Lord.
³³Hazor shall become ^(AB)a haunt of jackals,
    an everlasting waste;
^(AC)no man shall dwell there;
    ^(AD)no man shall sojourn in her.”

Judgment on Elam

³⁴The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning ^(AE)Elam, in the beginning of the reign of ^(AF)Zedekiah king of Judah.

³⁵Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Behold, I will break ^(AG)the bow of ^(AH)Elam, the mainstay of their might. ³⁶And I will bring upon ^(AI)Elam the four winds from the four quarters of heaven. And I will scatter them to all those winds, and there shall be no nation to which those driven out of ^(AJ)Elam shall not come. ³⁷I will ^(AK)terrify ^(AL)Elam before their enemies and before those who seek their life. I will bring disaster upon them, ^(AM)my fierce anger, declares the Lord. ^(AN)I will send the sword after them, until I have consumed them, ³⁸and I will set my throne in ^(AO)Elam and destroy their king and officials, declares the Lord.

³⁹“But in the latter days ^(AP)I will restore the fortunes of ^(AQ)Elam, declares the Lord.”

Judgment on Babylon

50 The word that the Lord spoke concerning ^(AR)Babylon, concerning the land of the Chaldeans, ^(AS)by Jeremiah the prophet:

²“Declare among the nations and proclaim,
    set up a banner and proclaim,
    conceal it not, and say:
^(AT)‘Babylon is taken,
    ^(AU)Bel is put to shame,
    Merodach is dismayed.
^(AV)Her images are put to shame,
    her idols are dismayed.’

³“For ^(AW)out of the north a nation has come up against her, ^(AX)which shall make her land a desolation, and none shall dwell in it; ^(AY)both man and beast shall flee away.

⁴^(AZ)“In those days and in that time, declares the Lord, ^(BA)the people of Israel and the people of Judah shall come together, ^(BB)weeping as they come, and they ^(BC)shall seek the Lord their God. ⁵^(BD)They shall ask the way to Zion, with faces turned toward it, ^(BE)saying, ‘Come, let us join ourselves to the Lord in an ^(BF)everlasting covenant that will never be forgotten.’

⁶^(BG)“My people have been lost sheep. ^(BH)Their shepherds have led them astray, turning them away on the mountains. From mountain to hill they have gone. They have forgotten their fold. ⁷All who found them have devoured them, ^(BI)and their enemies have said, ‘We are not guilty, for ^(BJ)they have sinned against the Lord, ^(BK)their habitation of righteousness, the Lord, ^(BL)the hope of their fathers.’

⁸^(BM)“Flee from the midst of Babylon, ^(BN)and go out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be as male goats before the flock. ⁹For behold, I am stirring up and bringing against Babylon ^(BO)a gathering of great nations, from the north country. And they shall array themselves against her. From there she shall be taken. Their arrows are like a skilled warrior who does not return empty-handed. ¹⁰^(BP)Chaldea shall be plundered; all who plunder her shall be sated, declares the Lord.

¹¹^(BQ)“Though you rejoice, though you exult,
    O plunderers of my heritage,
though you frolic like a heifer in the pasture,
    and neigh like stallions,
¹²your mother shall be utterly shamed,
    and she who bore you shall be disgraced.
Behold, she shall be the last of the nations,
    ^(BR)a wilderness, a dry land, and a desert.
¹³^(BS)Because of the wrath of the Lord she shall not be inhabited
    but shall be an utter desolation;
^(BT)everyone who passes by Babylon shall be appalled,
    ^(BU)and hiss because of all her wounds.
¹⁴^(BV)Set yourselves in array against Babylon all around,
    ^(BW)all you who bend the bow;
shoot at her, spare no arrows,
    ^(BX)for she has sinned against the Lord.
¹⁵^(BY)Raise a shout against her all around;
    she has surrendered;
her bulwarks have fallen;
    ^(BZ)her walls are thrown down.
For ^(CA)this is the vengeance of the Lord:
    take vengeance on her;
    ^(CB)do to her as she has done.
¹⁶Cut off from Babylon the sower,
    and the one who handles the sickle in time of harvest;
^(CC)because of the sword of the oppressor,
    ^(CD)every one shall turn to his own people,
    and every one shall flee to his own land.

¹⁷^(CE)“Israel is a hunted sheep ^(CF)driven away by lions. ^(CG)First the king of Assyria ^(CH)devoured him, and now at last ^(CI)Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon ^(CJ)has gnawed his bones. ¹⁸Therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, ^(CK)I am bringing punishment on the king of Babylon and his land, ^(CL)as I punished the king of Assyria. ¹⁹^(CM)I will restore Israel to his pasture, and ^(CN)he shall feed on ^(CO)Carmel and in ^(CP)Bashan, and his desire shall be satisfied on the hills of Ephraim and in ^(CQ)Gilead. ²⁰In those days and in that time, declares the Lord, ^(CR)iniquity shall be sought in Israel, and there shall be none, and sin in Judah, and none shall be found, for ^(CS)I will pardon those whom I leave as a remnant.

²¹“Go up against the land of Merathaim,^[a]
    and against the inhabitants of Pekod.^[b]
Kill, ^(CT)and devote them to destruction,^[c]
declares the Lord,
    and do all that I have commanded you.
²²^(CU)The noise of battle is in the land,
    and great destruction!
²³^(CV)How the hammer of the whole earth
    is cut down and broken!
^(CW)How Babylon ^(CX)has become
    a horror among the nations!
²⁴^(CY)I set a snare for you and you were taken, O Babylon,
    and ^(CZ)you did not know it;
you were found and caught,
    because you opposed the Lord.
²⁵The Lord has opened his armory
    and brought out ^(DA)the weapons of his wrath,
for the Lord God of hosts has a work to do
    in the land of the Chaldeans.
²⁶Come against her from every quarter;
    open her granaries;
^(DB)pile her up like heaps of grain, and devote her to destruction;
    let nothing be left of her.
²⁷Kill all ^(DC)her bulls;
    let them go down to the slaughter.
Woe to them, for their day has come,
    ^(DD)the time of their punishment.

²⁸“A voice! They ^(DE)flee and escape from the land of Babylon, ^(DF)to declare in Zion the vengeance of the Lord our God, vengeance for ^(DG)his temple.

²⁹^(DH)“Summon archers against Babylon, all those who bend the bow. ^(DI)Encamp around her; let no one escape. ^(DJ)Repay her according to her deeds; do to her according to all that she has done. For she has ^(DK)proudly defied the Lord, the Holy One of Israel. ³⁰^(DL)Therefore her young men shall fall in her squares, and all her soldiers shall be destroyed on that day, declares the Lord.

³¹“Behold, I am against you, O ^(DM)proud one,
    declares the Lord God of hosts,
^(DN)for your day has come,
    the time when I will punish you.
³²^(DO)The proud one shall stumble and fall,
    with none to raise him up,
^(DP)and I will kindle a fire in his cities,
    and it will devour all that is around him.

³³“Thus says the Lord of hosts: ^(DQ)The people of Israel are oppressed, and the people of Judah with them. All who took them captive have held them fast; ^(DR)they refuse to let them go. ³⁴^(DS)Their Redeemer is strong; ^(DT)the Lord of hosts is his name. ^(DU)He will surely plead their cause, that he may give rest to the earth, but unrest to the inhabitants of Babylon.

³⁵“A sword against the Chaldeans, declares the Lord,
    and against the inhabitants of Babylon,
    and against ^(DV)her officials and her ^(DW)wise men!
³⁶A sword against the diviners,
    that they may become fools!
A sword against her ^(DX)warriors,
    that they may be destroyed!
³⁷A sword against her horses and against her chariots,
    and against all ^(DY)the foreign troops in her midst,
    that ^(DZ)they may become women!
^(EA)A sword against all her treasures,
    that they may be plundered!
³⁸^(EB)A drought against her waters,
    that they may be dried up!
^(EC)For it is a land of images,
    and they are mad over idols.

³⁹^(ED)“Therefore wild beasts shall dwell with hyenas in Babylon,^[d] and ostriches shall dwell in her. She shall never again have people, nor be inhabited for all generations. ⁴⁰^(EE)As when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighboring cities, declares the Lord, ^(EF)so no man shall dwell there, and no son of man shall sojourn in her.

⁴¹^(EG)“Behold, a people comes from the north;
    a mighty nation and many kings
    are stirring from the farthest parts of the earth.
⁴²They lay hold of bow and spear;
    they are cruel and have no mercy.
The sound of them is like the roaring of the sea;
    they ride on horses,
arrayed as a man for battle
    against you, O daughter of Babylon!

⁴³“The king of Babylon heard the report of them,
and his hands fell helpless;
anguish seized him,
pain as of a woman in labor.

⁴⁴^(EH)“Behold, like a lion coming up from the thicket of the Jordan against a perennial pasture, I will suddenly make them run away from her, and I will appoint over her whomever I choose. For who is like me? Who will summon me? What shepherd ^(EI)can stand before me? ⁴⁵Therefore hear ^(EJ)the plan that the Lord has made against Babylon, ^(EK)and the purposes that he has formed against the land of the Chaldeans: ^(EL)Surely the little ones of their flock shall be dragged away; surely their fold shall be appalled at their fate. ⁴⁶^(EM)At the sound of the capture of Babylon the earth shall tremble, and her cry shall be heard among the nations.”

Footnotes

Jeremiah 50:21 Merathaim means double rebellion
Jeremiah 50:21 Pekod means punishment
Jeremiah 50:21 That is, set apart (devote) as an offering to the Lord (for destruction)
Jeremiah 50:39 Hebrew lacks in Babylon

Jeremiah 49:23-50:46

New International Version

A Message About Damascus

²³Concerning Damascus:^(A)

“Hamath^(B) and Arpad^(C) are dismayed,
    for they have heard bad news.
They are disheartened,
    troubled like^[a] the restless sea.^(D)
²⁴Damascus has become feeble,
    she has turned to flee
    and panic has gripped her;
anguish and pain have seized her,
    pain like that of a woman in labor.^(E)
²⁵Why has the city of renown not been abandoned,
    the town in which I delight?
²⁶Surely, her young men^(F) will fall in the streets;
    all her soldiers will be silenced^(G) in that day,”
declares the Lord Almighty.
²⁷“I will set fire^(H) to the walls of Damascus;^(I)
    it will consume^(J) the fortresses of Ben-Hadad.^(K)”

A Message About Kedar and Hazor

²⁸Concerning Kedar^(L) and the kingdoms of Hazor,^(M) which Nebuchadnezzar^(N) king of Babylon attacked:

This is what the Lord says:

“Arise, and attack Kedar
    and destroy the people of the East.^(O)
²⁹Their tents and their flocks^(P) will be taken;
    their shelters will be carried off
    with all their goods and camels.
People will shout to them,
    ‘Terror^(Q) on every side!’

³⁰“Flee quickly away!
Stay in deep caves,^(R) you who live in Hazor,^(S)”
declares the Lord.
“Nebuchadnezzar^(T) king of Babylon has plotted against you;
he has devised a plan against you.

³¹“Arise and attack a nation at ease,
    which lives in confidence,”
declares the Lord,
“a nation that has neither gates nor bars;^(U)
    its people live far from danger.
³²Their camels^(V) will become plunder,
    and their large herds^(W) will be spoils of war.
I will scatter to the winds^(X) those who are in distant places^[b]^(Y)
    and will bring disaster on them from every side,”
declares the Lord.
³³“Hazor^(Z) will become a haunt of jackals,^(AA)
    a desolate^(AB) place forever.
No one will live there;
    no people will dwell^(AC) in it.”

A Message About Elam

³⁴This is the word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning Elam,^(AD) early in the reign of Zedekiah^(AE) king of Judah:

³⁵This is what the Lord Almighty says:

“See, I will break the bow^(AF) of Elam,
    the mainstay of their might.
³⁶I will bring against Elam the four winds^(AG)
    from the four quarters of heaven;^(AH)
I will scatter them to the four winds,
    and there will not be a nation
    where Elam’s exiles do not go.
³⁷I will shatter Elam before their foes,
    before those who want to kill them;
I will bring disaster on them,
    even my fierce anger,”^(AI)
declares the Lord.
“I will pursue them with the sword^(AJ)
    until I have made an end of them.
³⁸I will set my throne in Elam
    and destroy her king and officials,”
declares the Lord.

³⁹“Yet I will restore^(AK) the fortunes of Elam
in days to come,”
declares the Lord.

A Message About Babylon^(AL)

50 This is the word the Lord spoke through Jeremiah the prophet concerning Babylon^(AM) and the land of the Babylonians^[c]:

²“Announce and proclaim^(AN) among the nations,
    lift up a banner^(AO) and proclaim it;
    keep nothing back, but say,
‘Babylon will be captured;^(AP)
    Bel^(AQ) will be put to shame,^(AR)
    Marduk^(AS) filled with terror.
Her images will be put to shame
    and her idols^(AT) filled with terror.’
³A nation from the north^(AU) will attack her
    and lay waste her land.
No one will live^(AV) in it;
    both people and animals^(AW) will flee away.

⁴“In those days, at that time,”
    declares the Lord,
“the people of Israel and the people of Judah together^(AX)
    will go in tears^(AY) to seek^(AZ) the Lord their God.
⁵They will ask the way^(BA) to Zion
    and turn their faces toward it.
They will come^(BB) and bind themselves to the Lord
    in an everlasting covenant^(BC)
    that will not be forgotten.

⁶“My people have been lost sheep;^(BD)
    their shepherds^(BE) have led them astray^(BF)
    and caused them to roam on the mountains.
They wandered over mountain and hill^(BG)
    and forgot their own resting place.^(BH)
⁷Whoever found them devoured^(BI) them;
    their enemies said, ‘We are not guilty,^(BJ)
for they sinned against the Lord, their verdant pasture,
    the Lord, the hope^(BK) of their ancestors.’

⁸“Flee^(BL) out of Babylon;^(BM)
    leave the land of the Babylonians,
    and be like the goats that lead the flock.
⁹For I will stir^(BN) up and bring against Babylon
    an alliance of great nations^(BO) from the land of the north.^(BP)
They will take up their positions against her,
    and from the north she will be captured.^(BQ)
Their arrows^(BR) will be like skilled warriors
    who do not return empty-handed.
¹⁰So Babylonia^[d] will be plundered;^(BS)
    all who plunder her will have their fill,”
declares the Lord.

¹¹“Because you rejoice and are glad,
    you who pillage my inheritance,^(BT)
because you frolic like a heifer^(BU) threshing grain
    and neigh like stallions,
¹²your mother will be greatly ashamed;
    she who gave you birth will be disgraced.^(BV)
She will be the least of the nations—
    a wilderness, a dry land, a desert.^(BW)
¹³Because of the Lord’s anger she will not be inhabited
    but will be completely desolate.^(BX)
All who pass Babylon will be appalled;^(BY)
    they will scoff^(BZ) because of all her wounds.^(CA)

¹⁴“Take up your positions around Babylon,
    all you who draw the bow.^(CB)
Shoot at her! Spare no arrows,^(CC)
    for she has sinned against the Lord.
¹⁵Shout^(CD) against her on every side!
    She surrenders, her towers fall,
    her walls^(CE) are torn down.
Since this is the vengeance^(CF) of the Lord,
    take vengeance on her;
    do to her^(CG) as she has done to others.^(CH)
¹⁶Cut off from Babylon the sower,
    and the reaper with his sickle at harvest.
Because of the sword^(CI) of the oppressor
    let everyone return to their own people,^(CJ)
    let everyone flee to their own land.^(CK)

¹⁷“Israel is a scattered flock^(CL)
    that lions^(CM) have chased away.
The first to devour^(CN) them
    was the king^(CO) of Assyria;
the last to crush their bones^(CP)
    was Nebuchadnezzar^(CQ) king^(CR) of Babylon.”

¹⁸Therefore this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says:

“I will punish the king of Babylon and his land
    as I punished the king^(CS) of Assyria.^(CT)
¹⁹But I will bring^(CU) Israel back to their own pasture,
    and they will graze on Carmel and Bashan;
their appetite will be satisfied^(CV)
    on the hills^(CW) of Ephraim and Gilead.^(CX)
²⁰In those days, at that time,”
    declares the Lord,
“search will be made for Israel’s guilt,
    but there will be none,^(CY)
and for the sins^(CZ) of Judah,
    but none will be found,
    for I will forgive^(DA) the remnant^(DB) I spare.

²¹“Attack the land of Merathaim
    and those who live in Pekod.^(DC)
Pursue, kill and completely destroy^[e] them,”
declares the Lord.
    “Do everything I have commanded you.
²²The noise^(DD) of battle is in the land,
    the noise of great destruction!
²³How broken and shattered
    is the hammer^(DE) of the whole earth!^(DF)
How desolate^(DG) is Babylon
    among the nations!
²⁴I set a trap^(DH) for you, Babylon,
    and you were caught before you knew it;
you were found and captured^(DI)
    because you opposed^(DJ) the Lord.
²⁵The Lord has opened his arsenal
    and brought out the weapons^(DK) of his wrath,
for the Sovereign Lord Almighty has work to do
    in the land of the Babylonians.^(DL)
²⁶Come against her from afar.^(DM)
    Break open her granaries;
    pile her up like heaps of grain.^(DN)
Completely destroy^(DO) her
    and leave her no remnant.
²⁷Kill all her young bulls;^(DP)
    let them go down to the slaughter!^(DQ)
Woe to them! For their day^(DR) has come,
    the time^(DS) for them to be punished.
²⁸Listen to the fugitives^(DT) and refugees from Babylon
    declaring in Zion^(DU)
how the Lord our God has taken vengeance,^(DV)
    vengeance for his temple.^(DW)

²⁹“Summon archers against Babylon,
    all those who draw the bow.^(DX)
Encamp all around her;
    let no one escape.^(DY)
Repay^(DZ) her for her deeds;^(EA)
    do to her as she has done.
For she has defied^(EB) the Lord,
    the Holy One^(EC) of Israel.
³⁰Therefore, her young men^(ED) will fall in the streets;
    all her soldiers will be silenced in that day,”
declares the Lord.
³¹“See, I am against^(EE) you, you arrogant one,”
    declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty,
“for your day^(EF) has come,
    the time for you to be punished.
³²The arrogant^(EG) one will stumble and fall^(EH)
    and no one will help her up;^(EI)
I will kindle a fire^(EJ) in her towns
    that will consume all who are around her.”

³³This is what the Lord Almighty says:

“The people of Israel are oppressed,^(EK)
    and the people of Judah as well.
All their captors hold them fast,
    refusing to let them go.^(EL)
³⁴Yet their Redeemer^(EM) is strong;
    the Lord Almighty^(EN) is his name.
He will vigorously defend their cause^(EO)
    so that he may bring rest^(EP) to their land,
    but unrest to those who live in Babylon.

³⁵“A sword^(EQ) against the Babylonians!”^(ER)
    declares the Lord—
“against those who live in Babylon
    and against her officials and wise^(ES) men!
³⁶A sword against her false prophets!
    They will become fools.
A sword against her warriors!^(ET)
    They will be filled with terror.^(EU)
³⁷A sword against her horses and chariots^(EV)
    and all the foreigners in her ranks!
    They will become weaklings.^(EW)
A sword against her treasures!^(EX)
    They will be plundered.
³⁸A drought on^[f] her waters!^(EY)
    They will dry^(EZ) up.
For it is a land of idols,^(FA)
    idols that will go mad with terror.

³⁹“So desert creatures^(FB) and hyenas will live there,
    and there the owl will dwell.
It will never again be inhabited
    or lived in from generation to generation.^(FC)
⁴⁰As I overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah^(FD)
    along with their neighboring towns,”
declares the Lord,
“so no one will live there;
    no people will dwell in it.^(FE)

⁴¹“Look! An army is coming from the north;^(FF)
    a great nation and many kings
    are being stirred^(FG) up from the ends of the earth.^(FH)
⁴²They are armed with bows^(FI) and spears;
    they are cruel^(FJ) and without mercy.^(FK)
They sound like the roaring sea^(FL)
    as they ride on their horses;
they come like men in battle formation
    to attack you, Daughter Babylon.^(FM)
⁴³The king of Babylon has heard reports about them,
    and his hands hang limp.^(FN)
Anguish has gripped him,
    pain like that of a woman in labor.^(FO)
⁴⁴Like a lion coming up from Jordan’s thickets^(FP)
    to a rich pastureland,
I will chase Babylon from its land in an instant.
    Who is the chosen^(FQ) one I will appoint for this?
Who is like me and who can challenge me?^(FR)
    And what shepherd can stand against me?”

⁴⁵Therefore, hear what the Lord has planned against Babylon,
    what he has purposed^(FS) against the land of the Babylonians:^(FT)
The young of the flock will be dragged away;
    their pasture will be appalled at their fate.
⁴⁶At the sound of Babylon’s capture the earth will tremble;^(FU)
    its cry^(FV) will resound among the nations.

Footnotes

Jeremiah 49:23 Hebrew on or by
Jeremiah 49:32 Or who clip the hair by their foreheads
Jeremiah 50:1 Or Chaldeans; also in verses 8, 25, 35 and 45
Jeremiah 50:10 Or Chaldea
Jeremiah 50:21 The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them; also in verse 26.
Jeremiah 50:38 Or A sword against

Psalm 97-98

English Standard Version

The Lord Reigns

97 ^(A)The Lord reigns, ^(B)let the earth rejoice;
    let the many ^(C)coastlands be glad!
²^(D)Clouds and thick darkness are all around him;
    ^(E)righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
³^(F)Fire goes before him
    and burns up his adversaries all around.
⁴His ^(G)lightnings light up the world;
    the earth sees and ^(H)trembles.
⁵The mountains ^(I)melt like ^(J)wax before the Lord,
    before ^(K)the Lord of all the earth.

⁶^(L)The heavens proclaim his righteousness,
    and all ^(M)the peoples see his glory.
⁷All worshipers of images are ^(N)put to shame,
    who make their boast in ^(O)worthless idols;
    ^(P)worship him, all you gods!

⁸Zion hears and ^(Q)is glad,
    and the daughters of Judah rejoice,
    because of your judgments, O Lord.
⁹For you, O Lord, are ^(R)most high over all the earth;
    you are exalted far above ^(S)all gods.

¹⁰O you who love the Lord, ^(T)hate evil!
    He ^(U)preserves the lives of his ^(V)saints;
    he ^(W)delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
¹¹^(X)Light ^(Y)is sown^[a] for the righteous,
    and joy for the upright in heart.
¹²^(Z)Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous,
    and ^(AA)give thanks to his holy name!

Make a Joyful Noise to the Lord

A Psalm.

98 Oh sing to the Lord ^(AB)a new song,
    for he has done ^(AC)marvelous things!
His ^(AD)right hand and his holy arm
    have worked salvation for him.
²The Lord has ^(AE)made known his salvation;
    he has ^(AF)revealed his righteousness in ^(AG)the sight of the nations.
³He has ^(AH)remembered his ^(AI)steadfast love and faithfulness
    to the house of Israel.
All ^(AJ)the ends of the earth have seen
    ^(AK)the salvation of our God.

⁴^(AL)Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth;
    ^(AM)break forth into joyous song and sing praises!
⁵Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre,
    with the lyre and the ^(AN)sound of melody!
⁶With ^(AO)trumpets and the sound of ^(AP)the horn
    ^(AQ)make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord!

⁷^(AR)Let the sea roar, and ^(AS)all that fills it;
    ^(AT)the world and those who dwell in it!
⁸Let the rivers ^(AU)clap their hands;
    let ^(AV)the hills sing for joy together
⁹before the Lord, for he comes
    to ^(AW)judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness,
    and the peoples with equity.

Footnotes

Psalm 97:11 Most Hebrew manuscripts; one Hebrew manuscript, Septuagint, Syriac, Jerome Light dawns

Psalm 97-98

New International Version

Psalm 97

¹The Lord reigns,^(A) let the earth be glad;^(B)
    let the distant shores^(C) rejoice.
²Clouds^(D) and thick darkness^(E) surround him;
    righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.^(F)
³Fire^(G) goes before^(H) him
    and consumes^(I) his foes on every side.
⁴His lightning^(J) lights up the world;
    the earth^(K) sees and trembles.^(L)
⁵The mountains melt^(M) like wax^(N) before the Lord,
    before the Lord of all the earth.^(O)
⁶The heavens proclaim his righteousness,^(P)
    and all peoples see his glory.^(Q)

⁷All who worship images^(R) are put to shame,^(S)
those who boast in idols^(T)—
worship him,^(U) all you gods!^(V)

⁸Zion hears and rejoices
    and the villages of Judah are glad^(W)
    because of your judgments,^(X) Lord.
⁹For you, Lord, are the Most High^(Y) over all the earth;^(Z)
    you are exalted^(AA) far above all gods.
¹⁰Let those who love the Lord hate evil,^(AB)
    for he guards^(AC) the lives of his faithful ones^(AD)
    and delivers^(AE) them from the hand of the wicked.^(AF)
¹¹Light shines^[a]^(AG) on the righteous^(AH)
    and joy on the upright in heart.^(AI)
¹²Rejoice in the Lord,^(AJ) you who are righteous,
    and praise his holy name.^(AK)

Psalm 98

A psalm.

¹Sing to the Lord^(AL) a new song,^(AM)
    for he has done marvelous things;^(AN)
his right hand^(AO) and his holy arm^(AP)
    have worked salvation^(AQ) for him.
²The Lord has made his salvation known^(AR)
    and revealed his righteousness^(AS) to the nations.^(AT)
³He has remembered^(AU) his love
    and his faithfulness to Israel;
all the ends of the earth^(AV) have seen
    the salvation of our God.^(AW)

⁴Shout for joy^(AX) to the Lord, all the earth,
    burst into jubilant song with music;
⁵make music to the Lord with the harp,^(AY)
    with the harp and the sound of singing,^(AZ)
⁶with trumpets^(BA) and the blast of the ram’s horn^(BB)—
    shout for joy^(BC) before the Lord, the King.^(BD)

⁷Let the sea^(BE) resound, and everything in it,
    the world, and all who live in it.^(BF)
⁸Let the rivers clap their hands,^(BG)
    let the mountains^(BH) sing together for joy;
⁹let them sing before the Lord,
    for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
    and the peoples with equity.^(BI)

Footnotes

Psalm 97:11 One Hebrew manuscript and ancient versions (see also 112:4); most Hebrew manuscripts Light is sown

Proverbs 26:13-16

English Standard Version

¹³^(A)The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road!
    There is a lion in the streets!”
¹⁴As a door turns on its hinges,
    so does a sluggard on his bed.
¹⁵^(B)The sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
    it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth.
¹⁶The sluggard is ^(C)wiser in his own eyes
    ^(D)than seven men who can answer sensibly.

Read full chapter

Proverbs 26:13-16

New International Version

¹³A sluggard says,^(A) “There’s a lion in the road,
    a fierce lion roaming the streets!”^(B)
¹⁴As a door turns on its hinges,
    so a sluggard turns on his bed.^(C)
¹⁵A sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
    he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.^(D)
¹⁶A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes
    than seven people who answer discreetly.

Read full chapter

English Standard Version (ESV)

New International Version (NIV)

Titus 1 English Standard Version

Greeting

Qualifications for Elders

Footnotes

Cross references

Titus 1 New International Version

Appointing Elders Who Love What Is Good(P)

Rebuking Those Who Fail to Do Good

Footnotes

Cross references

Jeremiah 49:23-50:46 English Standard Version

Judgment on Damascus

Judgment on Kedar and Hazor

Judgment on Elam

Judgment on Babylon

Footnotes

Cross references

Jeremiah 49:23-50:46 New International Version

A Message About Damascus

A Message About Kedar and Hazor

A Message About Elam

A Message About Babylon(AL)

Footnotes

Cross references

Psalm 97-98 English Standard Version

The Lord Reigns

Make a Joyful Noise to the Lord

A Psalm.

Footnotes

Cross references

Psalm 97-98 New International Version

Psalm 97

Psalm 98

A psalm.

Footnotes

Cross references

Proverbs 26:13-16 English Standard Version

Cross references

Proverbs 26:13-16 New International Version

Cross references

More on the NIV

Titus 1

English Standard Version

Titus 1

New International Version

Appointing Elders Who Love What Is Good^(P)

Jeremiah 49:23-50:46

English Standard Version

Jeremiah 49:23-50:46

New International Version

A Message About Babylon^(AL)

Psalm 97-98

English Standard Version

Psalm 97-98

New International Version

Proverbs 26:13-16

English Standard Version

Proverbs 26:13-16

New International Version