Bible Browser

81  My soul is pining for your salvation; ♦︎
   I have hoped in your word.
82  My eyes fail with watching for your word, ♦︎
   while I say, ‘O when will you comfort me?’
83  I have become like a wineskin in the smoke, ♦︎
   yet I do not forget your statutes.
84  How many are the days of your servant? ♦︎
   When will you bring judgement on those who persecute me?
85  The proud have dug pits for me ♦︎
   in defiance of your law.
86  All your commandments are true; ♦︎
   help me, for they persecute me with falsehood.
87  They had almost made an end of me on earth, ♦︎
   but I have not forsaken your commandments.
88  Give me life according to your loving-kindness; ♦︎
   so shall I keep the testimonies of your mouth.
89  O Lord, your word is everlasting; ♦︎
   it ever stands firm in the heavens.
90  Your faithfulness also remains from one generation to another; ♦︎
   you have established the earth and it abides.
91  So also your judgements stand firm this day, ♦︎
   for all things are your servants.
92  If your law had not been my delight, ♦︎
   I should have perished in my trouble.
93  I will never forget your commandments, ♦︎
   for by them you have given me life.
94  I am yours, O save me! ♦︎
   For I have sought your commandments.
95  The wicked have waited for me to destroy me, ♦︎
   but I will meditate on your testimonies.
96  I have seen an end of all perfection, ♦︎
   but your commandment knows no bounds.

Wisdom’s Feast

9Wisdom has built her house,
   she has hewn her seven pillars.
² She has slaughtered her animals, she has mixed her wine,
   she has also set her table.
³ She has sent out her servant-girls, she calls
   from the highest places in the town,
⁴ ‘You that are simple, turn in here!’
   To those without sense she says,
⁵ ‘Come, eat of my bread
   and drink of the wine I have mixed.
⁶ Lay aside immaturity,^* and live,
   and walk in the way of insight.’

General Maxims

⁷ Whoever corrects a scoffer wins abuse;
   whoever rebukes the wicked gets hurt.
⁸ A scoffer who is rebuked will only hate you;
   the wise, when rebuked, will love you.
⁹ Give instruction^* to the wise, and they will become wiser still;
   teach the righteous and they will gain in learning.
¹⁰ The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
   and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
¹¹ For by me your days will be multiplied,
   and years will be added to your life.
¹² If you are wise, you are wise for yourself;
   if you scoff, you alone will bear it.

THE FIRST LETTER OF PAUL TO

Timothy

Salutation

1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Saviour and of Christ Jesus our hope,

2 To Timothy, my loyal child in the faith:

Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Warning against False Teachers

3 I urge you, as I did when I was on my way to Macedonia, to remain in Ephesus so that you may instruct certain people not to teach any different doctrine, ⁴and not to occupy themselves with myths and endless genealogies that promote speculations rather than the divine training^* that is known by faith. ⁵But the aim of such instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and sincere faith. ⁶Some people have deviated from these and turned to meaningless talk, ⁷desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make assertions.

8 Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it legitimately. ⁹This means understanding that the law is laid down not for the innocent but for the lawless and disobedient, for the godless and sinful, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their father or mother, for murderers, ¹⁰fornicators, sodomites, slave-traders, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to the sound teaching ¹¹that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.

Gratitude for Mercy

12 I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because he judged me faithful and appointed me to his service, ¹³even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a man of violence. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, ¹⁴and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. ¹⁵The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the foremost. ¹⁶But for that very reason I received mercy, so that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display the utmost patience, making me an example to those who would come to believe in him for eternal life. ¹⁷To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory for ever and ever.^* Amen.