Jerusalem’s Doom Is Sealed

21 The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord when (A)King Zedekiah sent to him (B)Pashhur the son of Melchiah, and (C)Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah, the priest, saying, (D)“Please inquire of the Lord for us, for [a]Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon makes war against us. Perhaps the Lord will deal with us according to all His wonderful works, that the king may go away from us.”

Then Jeremiah said to them, “Thus you shall say to Zedekiah, ‘Thus says the Lord God of Israel: “Behold, I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands, with which you fight against the king of Babylon and the [b]Chaldeans who besiege you outside the walls; and (E)I will assemble them in the midst of this city. I (F)Myself will fight against you with an (G)outstretched hand and with a strong arm, even in anger and fury and great wrath. I will strike the inhabitants of this city, both man and beast; they shall die of a great pestilence. And afterward,” says the Lord, (H)“I will deliver Zedekiah king of Judah, his servants and the people, and such as are left in this city from the pestilence and the sword and the famine, into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of those who seek their life; and he shall strike them with the edge of the sword. (I)He shall not spare them, or have pity or mercy.” ’

“Now you shall say to this people, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Behold, (J)I set before you the way of life and the way of death. He who (K)remains in this city shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence; but he who goes out and [c]defects to the Chaldeans who besiege you, he shall (L)live, and his life shall be as a prize to him. 10 For I have (M)set My face against this city for adversity and not for good,” says the Lord. (N)“It shall be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall (O)burn it with fire.” ’

Message to the House of David

11 “And concerning the house of the king of Judah, say, ‘Hear the word of the Lord, 12 O house of David! Thus says the Lord:

(P)“Execute[d] judgment (Q)in the morning;
And deliver him who is plundered
Out of the hand of the oppressor,
Lest My fury go forth like fire
And burn so that no one can quench it,
Because of the evil of your doings.

13 “Behold, (R)I am against you, O [e]inhabitant of the valley,
And rock of the plain,” says the Lord,
“Who say, (S)‘Who shall come down against us?
Or who shall enter our dwellings?’
14 But I will punish you according to the (T)fruit of your [f]doings,” says the Lord;
“I will kindle a fire in its forest,
And (U)it shall devour all things around it.” ’ ”

Prophecies Against the Kings of Judah

22 Thus says the Lord: “Go down to the house of the king of Judah, and there speak this word, and say, (V)‘Hear the word of the Lord, O king of Judah, you who sit on the throne of David, you and your servants and your people who enter these gates! Thus says the Lord: (W)“Execute[g] judgment and righteousness, and deliver the plundered out of the hand of the oppressor. Do no wrong and do no violence to the stranger, the (X)fatherless, or the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place. For if you indeed do this thing, (Y)then shall enter the gates of this house, riding on horses and in chariots, accompanied by servants and people, kings who sit on the throne of David. But if you will not [h]hear these words, (Z)I swear by Myself,” says the Lord, “that this house shall become a desolation.” ’ ”

For thus says the Lord to the house of the king of Judah:

“You are (AA)Gilead to Me,
The head of Lebanon;
Yet I surely will make you a wilderness,
Cities which are not inhabited.
I will prepare destroyers against you,
Everyone with his weapons;
They shall cut down (AB)your choice cedars
(AC)And cast them into the fire.

And many nations will pass by this city; and everyone will say to his neighbor, (AD)‘Why has the Lord done so to this great city?’ Then they will answer, (AE)‘Because they have forsaken the covenant of the Lord their God, and worshiped other gods and served them.’ ”

10 Weep not for (AF)the dead, nor bemoan him;
Weep bitterly for him (AG)who goes away,
For he shall return no more,
Nor see his native country.

Message to the Sons of Josiah

11 For thus says the Lord concerning (AH)Shallum[i] the son of Josiah, king of Judah, who reigned instead of Josiah his father, (AI)who went from this place: “He shall not return here anymore, 12 but he shall die in the place where they have led him captive, and shall see this land no more.

13 “Woe(AJ) to him who builds his house by unrighteousness
And his [j]chambers by injustice,
(AK)Who uses his neighbor’s service without wages
And gives him nothing for his work,
14 Who says, ‘I will build myself a wide house with spacious [k]chambers,
And cut out windows for it,
Paneling it with cedar
And painting it with vermilion.’

15 “Shall you reign because you enclose yourself in cedar?
Did not your father eat and drink,
And do justice and righteousness?
Then (AL)it was well with him.
16 He [l]judged the cause of the poor and needy;
Then it was well.
Was not this knowing Me?” says the Lord.
17 “Yet(AM) your eyes and your heart are for nothing but your covetousness,
For shedding innocent blood,
And practicing oppression and violence.”

18 Therefore thus says the Lord concerning Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah:

(AN)“They shall not lament for him,
Saying, (AO)‘Alas, my brother!’ or ‘Alas, my sister!’
They shall not lament for him,
Saying, ‘Alas, master!’ or ‘Alas, his glory!’
19 (AP)He shall be buried with the burial of a donkey,
Dragged and cast out beyond the gates of Jerusalem.

20 “Go up to Lebanon, and cry out,
And lift up your voice in Bashan;
Cry from Abarim,
For all your lovers are destroyed.
21 I spoke to you in your prosperity,
But you said, ‘I will not hear.’
(AQ)This has been your manner from your youth,
That you did not obey My voice.
22 The wind shall eat up all (AR)your [m]rulers,
And your lovers shall go into captivity;
Surely then you will be ashamed and humiliated
For all your wickedness.
23 O inhabitant of Lebanon,
Making your nest in the cedars,
How gracious will you be when pangs come upon you,
Like (AS)the pain of a woman in [n]labor?

Message to Coniah

24 As I live,” says the Lord, (AT)“though [o]Coniah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, (AU)were the [p]signet on My right hand, yet I would pluck you off; 25 (AV)and I will give you into the hand of those who seek your life, and into the hand of those whose face you fear—the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and the hand of the [q]Chaldeans. 26 (AW)So I will cast you out, and your mother who bore you, into another country where you were not born; and there you shall die. 27 But to the land to which they desire to return, there they shall not return.

28 “Is this man [r]Coniah a despised, broken idol—
(AX)A vessel in which is no pleasure?
Why are they cast out, he and his descendants,
And cast into a land which they do not know?
29 (AY)O earth, earth, earth,
Hear the word of the Lord!
30 Thus says the Lord:
‘Write this man down as (AZ)childless,
A man who shall not prosper in his days;
For (BA)none of his descendants shall prosper,
Sitting on the throne of David,
And ruling anymore in Judah.’ ”

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 21:2 Heb. Nebuchadrezzar, and so elsewhere in the book
  2. Jeremiah 21:4 Or Babylonians, and so elsewhere in the book
  3. Jeremiah 21:9 Lit. falls away to
  4. Jeremiah 21:12 Dispense justice
  5. Jeremiah 21:13 dweller
  6. Jeremiah 21:14 deeds
  7. Jeremiah 22:3 Dispense justice
  8. Jeremiah 22:5 Obey
  9. Jeremiah 22:11 Or Jehoahaz
  10. Jeremiah 22:13 Lit. roof chambers, upper chambers
  11. Jeremiah 22:14 Lit. roof chambers, upper chambers
  12. Jeremiah 22:16 Defended
  13. Jeremiah 22:22 Lit. shepherds
  14. Jeremiah 22:23 childbirth
  15. Jeremiah 22:24 Or Jeconiah or Jehoiachin
  16. Jeremiah 22:24 signet ring
  17. Jeremiah 22:25 Or Babylonians
  18. Jeremiah 22:28 See note at v. 24

God Rejects Zedekiah’s Request

21 The word came to Jeremiah from the Lord when King Zedekiah(A) sent to him Pashhur(B) son of Malkijah and the priest Zephaniah(C) son of Maaseiah. They said: “Inquire(D) now of the Lord for us because Nebuchadnezzar[a](E) king of Babylon(F) is attacking us. Perhaps the Lord will perform wonders(G) for us as in times past so that he will withdraw from us.”

But Jeremiah answered them, “Tell Zedekiah, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I am about to turn(H) against you the weapons of war that are in your hands, which you are using to fight the king of Babylon and the Babylonians[b] who are outside the wall besieging(I) you. And I will gather them inside this city. I myself will fight(J) against you with an outstretched hand(K) and a mighty arm(L) in furious anger and in great wrath. I will strike(M) down those who live in this city—both man and beast—and they will die of a terrible plague.(N) After that, declares the Lord, I will give Zedekiah(O) king of Judah, his officials and the people in this city who survive the plague,(P) sword and famine, into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon(Q) and to their enemies(R) who want to kill them.(S) He will put them to the sword;(T) he will show them no mercy or pity or compassion.’(U)

“Furthermore, tell the people, ‘This is what the Lord says: See, I am setting before you the way of life(V) and the way of death. Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine or plague.(W) But whoever goes out and surrenders(X) to the Babylonians who are besieging you will live; they will escape with their lives.(Y) 10 I have determined to do this city harm(Z) and not good, declares the Lord. It will be given into the hands(AA) of the king of Babylon, and he will destroy it with fire.’(AB)

11 “Moreover, say to the royal house(AC) of Judah, ‘Hear the word of the Lord. 12 This is what the Lord says to you, house of David:

“‘Administer justice(AD) every morning;
    rescue from the hand of the oppressor(AE)
    the one who has been robbed,
or my wrath will break out and burn like fire(AF)
    because of the evil(AG) you have done—
    burn with no one to quench(AH) it.
13 I am against(AI) you, Jerusalem,
    you who live above this valley(AJ)
    on the rocky plateau, declares the Lord
you who say, “Who can come against us?
    Who can enter our refuge?”(AK)
14 I will punish you as your deeds(AL) deserve,
    declares the Lord.
I will kindle a fire(AM) in your forests(AN)
    that will consume everything around you.’”

Judgment Against Wicked Kings

22 This is what the Lord says: “Go down to the palace of the king(AO) of Judah and proclaim this message there: ‘Hear(AP) the word of the Lord to you, king of Judah, you who sit on David’s throne(AQ)—you, your officials and your people who come through these gates.(AR) This is what the Lord says: Do what is just(AS) and right. Rescue from the hand of the oppressor(AT) the one who has been robbed. Do no wrong or violence to the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow,(AU) and do not shed innocent blood(AV) in this place. For if you are careful to carry out these commands, then kings(AW) who sit on David’s throne will come through the gates of this palace, riding in chariots and on horses, accompanied by their officials and their people. But if you do not obey(AX) these commands, declares the Lord, I swear(AY) by myself that this palace will become a ruin.’”

For this is what the Lord says about the palace of the king of Judah:

“Though you are like Gilead(AZ) to me,
    like the summit of Lebanon,(BA)
I will surely make you like a wasteland,(BB)
    like towns not inhabited.
I will send destroyers(BC) against you,
    each man with his weapons,
and they will cut(BD) up your fine cedar beams
    and throw them into the fire.(BE)

“People from many nations will pass by this city and will ask one another, ‘Why has the Lord done such a thing to this great city?’(BF) And the answer will be: ‘Because they have forsaken the covenant of the Lord their God and have worshiped and served other gods.(BG)’”

10 Do not weep for the dead(BH) king or mourn(BI) his loss;
    rather, weep bitterly for him who is exiled,
because he will never return(BJ)
    nor see his native land again.

11 For this is what the Lord says about Shallum[c](BK) son of Josiah, who succeeded his father as king of Judah but has gone from this place: “He will never return. 12 He will die(BL) in the place where they have led him captive; he will not see this land again.”

13 “Woe(BM) to him who builds(BN) his palace by unrighteousness,
    his upper rooms by injustice,
making his own people work for nothing,
    not paying(BO) them for their labor.
14 He says, ‘I will build myself a great palace(BP)
    with spacious upper rooms.’
So he makes large windows in it,
    panels it with cedar(BQ)
    and decorates it in red.(BR)

15 “Does it make you a king
    to have more and more cedar?
Did not your father have food and drink?
    He did what was right and just,(BS)
    so all went well(BT) with him.
16 He defended the cause of the poor and needy,(BU)
    and so all went well.
Is that not what it means to know(BV) me?”
    declares the Lord.
17 “But your eyes and your heart
    are set only on dishonest gain,(BW)
on shedding innocent blood(BX)
    and on oppression and extortion.”(BY)

18 Therefore this is what the Lord says about Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah:

“They will not mourn(BZ) for him:
    ‘Alas, my brother! Alas, my sister!’
They will not mourn for him:
    ‘Alas, my master! Alas, his splendor!’
19 He will have the burial(CA) of a donkey—
    dragged away and thrown(CB)
    outside the gates of Jerusalem.”

20 “Go up to Lebanon and cry out,(CC)
    let your voice be heard in Bashan,(CD)
cry out from Abarim,(CE)
    for all your allies(CF) are crushed.
21 I warned you when you felt secure,(CG)
    but you said, ‘I will not listen!’
This has been your way from your youth;(CH)
    you have not obeyed(CI) me.
22 The wind(CJ) will drive all your shepherds(CK) away,
    and your allies(CL) will go into exile.
Then you will be ashamed and disgraced(CM)
    because of all your wickedness.
23 You who live in ‘Lebanon,[d](CN)
    who are nestled in cedar buildings,
how you will groan when pangs come upon you,
    pain(CO) like that of a woman in labor!

24 “As surely as I live,” declares the Lord, “even if you, Jehoiachin[e](CP) son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, were a signet ring(CQ) on my right hand, I would still pull you off. 25 I will deliver(CR) you into the hands of those who want to kill you, those you fear—Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and the Babylonians.[f] 26 I will hurl(CS) you and the mother(CT) who gave you birth into another country, where neither of you was born, and there you both will die. 27 You will never come back to the land you long to return(CU) to.”

28 Is this man Jehoiachin(CV) a despised, broken pot,(CW)
    an object no one wants?
Why will he and his children be hurled(CX) out,
    cast into a land(CY) they do not know?
29 O land,(CZ) land, land,
    hear the word of the Lord!
30 This is what the Lord says:
“Record this man as if childless,(DA)
    a man who will not prosper(DB) in his lifetime,
for none of his offspring(DC) will prosper,
    none will sit on the throne(DD) of David
    or rule anymore in Judah.”

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 21:2 Hebrew Nebuchadrezzar, of which Nebuchadnezzar is a variant; here and often in Jeremiah and Ezekiel
  2. Jeremiah 21:4 Or Chaldeans; also in verse 9
  3. Jeremiah 22:11 Also called Jehoahaz
  4. Jeremiah 22:23 That is, the palace in Jerusalem (see 1 Kings 7:2)
  5. Jeremiah 22:24 Hebrew Koniah, a variant of Jehoiachin; also in verse 28
  6. Jeremiah 22:25 Or Chaldeans

Judah Overrun by Enemies

24 In (A)his days Nebuchadnezzar king of (B)Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his vassal for three years. Then he turned and rebelled against him. (C)And the Lord sent against him raiding [a]bands of Chaldeans, bands of Syrians, bands of Moabites, and bands of the people of Ammon; He sent them against Judah to destroy it, (D)according to the word of the Lord which He had spoken by His servants the prophets. Surely at the commandment of the Lord this came upon Judah, to remove them from His sight (E)because of the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he had done, (F)and also because of the innocent blood that he had shed; for he had filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, which the Lord would not pardon.

Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? (G)So Jehoiakim rested with his fathers. Then Jehoiachin his son reigned in his place.

And (H)the king of Egypt did not come out of his land anymore, for (I)the king of Babylon had taken all that belonged to the king of Egypt from the Brook of Egypt to the River Euphrates.

The Reign and Captivity of Jehoiachin(J)

(K)Jehoiachin[b] was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. His mother’s name was Nehushta the daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father had done.

10 (L)At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against Jerusalem, and the city [c]was besieged. 11 And Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came against the city, as his servants were besieging it. 12 (M)Then Jehoiachin king of Judah, his mother, his servants, his princes, and his officers went out to the king of Babylon; and the king of Babylon, (N)in the eighth year of his reign, took him prisoner.

The Captivity of Jerusalem

13 (O)And he carried out from there all the treasures of the house of the Lord and the treasures of the king’s house, and he (P)cut in pieces all the articles of gold which Solomon king of Israel had made in the temple of the Lord, (Q)as the Lord had said. 14 Also (R)he carried into captivity all Jerusalem: all the captains and all the mighty men of valor, (S)ten thousand captives, and (T)all the craftsmen and smiths. None remained except (U)the poorest people of the land. 15 And (V)he carried Jehoiachin captive to Babylon. The king’s mother, the king’s wives, his officers, and the mighty of the land he carried into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon. 16 (W)All the valiant men, seven thousand, and craftsmen and smiths, one thousand, all who were strong and fit for war, these the king of Babylon brought captive to Babylon.

Zedekiah Reigns in Judah(X)

17 Then (Y)the king of Babylon made Mattaniah, (Z)Jehoiachin’s[d] uncle, king in his place, and (AA)changed his name to Zedekiah.

18 (AB)Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was (AC)Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. 19 (AD)He also did evil in the sight of the Lord, according to all that Jehoiakim had done. 20 For because of the anger of the Lord this happened in Jerusalem and Judah, that He finally cast them out from His presence. (AE)Then Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 24:2 troops
  2. 2 Kings 24:8 Jeconiah, 1 Chr. 3:16; Jer. 24:1; or Coniah, Jer. 22:24, 28
  3. 2 Kings 24:10 Lit. came into siege
  4. 2 Kings 24:17 Lit. his

24 During Jehoiakim’s reign, Nebuchadnezzar(A) king of Babylon invaded(B) the land, and Jehoiakim became his vassal for three years. But then he turned against Nebuchadnezzar and rebelled.(C) The Lord sent Babylonian,[a](D) Aramean,(E) Moabite and Ammonite raiders(F) against him to destroy(G) Judah, in accordance with the word of the Lord proclaimed by his servants the prophets.(H) Surely these things happened to Judah according to the Lord’s command,(I) in order to remove them from his presence(J) because of the sins of Manasseh(K) and all he had done, including the shedding of innocent blood.(L) For he had filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, and the Lord was not willing to forgive.(M)

As for the other events of Jehoiakim’s reign,(N) and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? Jehoiakim rested(O) with his ancestors. And Jehoiachin(P) his son succeeded him as king.

The king of Egypt(Q) did not march out from his own country again, because the king of Babylon(R) had taken all his territory, from the Wadi of Egypt to the Euphrates River.

Jehoiachin King of Judah(S)

Jehoiachin(T) was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. His mother’s name was Nehushta(U) daughter of Elnathan; she was from Jerusalem. He did evil(V) in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father had done.

10 At that time the officers of Nebuchadnezzar(W) king of Babylon advanced on Jerusalem and laid siege to it, 11 and Nebuchadnezzar himself came up to the city while his officers were besieging it. 12 Jehoiachin king of Judah, his mother, his attendants, his nobles and his officials all surrendered(X) to him.

In the eighth year of the reign of the king of Babylon, he took Jehoiachin prisoner. 13 As the Lord had declared,(Y) Nebuchadnezzar removed the treasures(Z) from the temple of the Lord and from the royal palace, and cut up the gold articles(AA) that Solomon(AB) king of Israel had made for the temple of the Lord. 14 He carried all Jerusalem into exile:(AC) all the officers and fighting men,(AD) and all the skilled workers and artisans—a total of ten thousand. Only the poorest(AE) people of the land were left.

15 Nebuchadnezzar took Jehoiachin(AF) captive to Babylon. He also took from Jerusalem to Babylon the king’s mother,(AG) his wives, his officials and the prominent people(AH) of the land. 16 The king of Babylon also deported to Babylon the entire force of seven thousand fighting men, strong and fit for war, and a thousand skilled workers and artisans.(AI) 17 He made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin’s uncle, king in his place and changed his name to Zedekiah.(AJ)

Zedekiah King of Judah(AK)

18 Zedekiah(AL) was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. His mother’s name was Hamutal(AM) daughter of Jeremiah; she was from Libnah. 19 He did evil(AN) in the eyes of the Lord, just as Jehoiakim had done. 20 It was because of the Lord’s anger that all this happened to Jerusalem and Judah, and in the end he thrust(AO) them from his presence.(AP)

The Fall of Jerusalem(AQ)(AR)(AS)

Now Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 24:2 Or Chaldean

Qualities of a Sound Church

But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine: that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience; the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things— that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, (A)homemakers, good, (B)obedient to their own husbands, (C)that the word of God may not be blasphemed.

Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober-minded, in all things showing yourself to be (D)a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, (E)incorruptibility,[a] sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of [b]you.

Exhort (F)bondservants to be obedient to their own masters, to be well pleasing in all things, not answering back, 10 not [c]pilfering, but showing all good [d]fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.

Trained by Saving Grace

11 For (G)the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 (H)looking for the blessed (I)hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 (J)who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed (K)and purify for Himself (L)His own special people, zealous for good works.

15 Speak these things, (M)exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.

Footnotes

  1. Titus 2:7 NU omits incorruptibility
  2. Titus 2:8 NU, M us
  3. Titus 2:10 thieving
  4. Titus 2:10 honesty

Doing Good for the Sake of the Gospel

You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine.(A) Teach the older men(B) to be temperate,(C) worthy of respect, self-controlled,(D) and sound in faith,(E) in love and in endurance.

Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers(F) or addicted to much wine,(G) but to teach what is good. Then they can urge the younger women(H) to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled(I) and pure, to be busy at home,(J) to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands,(K) so that no one will malign the word of God.(L)

Similarly, encourage the young men(M) to be self-controlled.(N) In everything set them an example(O) by doing what is good.(P) In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.(Q)

Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything,(R) to try to please them, not to talk back to them, 10 and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior(S) attractive.(T)

11 For the grace(U) of God has appeared(V) that offers salvation to all people.(W) 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions,(X) and to live self-controlled,(Y) upright and godly lives(Z) in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing(AA) of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,(AB) 14 who gave himself for us(AC) to redeem us from all wickedness(AD) and to purify(AE) for himself a people that are his very own,(AF) eager to do what is good.(AG)

15 These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.

The Blessed State of the Righteous

112 Praise[a] the Lord!

Blessed is the man who fears the Lord,
Who (A)delights greatly in His commandments.

(B)His descendants will be mighty on earth;
The generation of the upright will be blessed.
(C)Wealth and riches will be in his house,
And his righteousness [b]endures forever.
(D)Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness;
He is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.
(E)A good man deals graciously and lends;
He will guide his affairs (F)with discretion.
Surely he will never be shaken;
(G)The righteous will be in everlasting remembrance.
(H)He will not be afraid of evil tidings;
His heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.
His (I)heart is established;
(J)He will not be afraid,
Until he (K)sees his desire upon his enemies.

He has dispersed abroad,
He has given to the poor;
His righteousness endures forever;
His [c]horn will be exalted with honor.
10 The wicked will see it and be grieved;
He will gnash his teeth and melt away;
The desire of the wicked shall perish.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 112:1 Heb. Hallelujah
  2. Psalm 112:3 stands
  3. Psalm 112:9 Strength

Psalm 112[a]

Praise the Lord.[b](A)

Blessed are those(B) who fear the Lord,(C)
    who find great delight(D) in his commands.

Their children(E) will be mighty in the land;
    the generation of the upright will be blessed.
Wealth and riches(F) are in their houses,
    and their righteousness endures(G) forever.
Even in darkness light dawns(H) for the upright,
    for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous.(I)
Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely,(J)
    who conduct their affairs with justice.

Surely the righteous will never be shaken;(K)
    they will be remembered(L) forever.
They will have no fear of bad news;
    their hearts are steadfast,(M) trusting in the Lord.(N)
Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear;(O)
    in the end they will look in triumph on their foes.(P)
They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor,(Q)
    their righteousness endures(R) forever;
    their horn[c] will be lifted(S) high in honor.

10 The wicked will see(T) and be vexed,
    they will gnash their teeth(U) and waste away;(V)
    the longings of the wicked will come to nothing.(W)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 112:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, the lines of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
  2. Psalm 112:1 Hebrew Hallelu Yah
  3. Psalm 112:9 Horn here symbolizes dignity.