1 Timothy 5:1-22; Jeremiah 1; Jeremiah 2; Psalms 119:145-176

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1 Timothy 5:1-22

1 Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers,
2 older women as mothers, and with all propriety, the younger women as sisters.
3 Support widows who are genuinely widows.
4 But if any widow has children or grandchildren, they should learn to practice their religion toward their own family first and to repay their parents, for this pleases God.
5 The real widow, left all alone, has put her hope in God and continues night and day in her petitions and prayers;
6 however, she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives.
7 Command this, so that they won't be blamed.
8 Now if anyone does not provide for his own relatives, and especially for his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
9 No widow should be placed on the official support list unless she is at least 60 years old, has been the wife of one husband,
10 and is well known for good works-that is, if she has brought up children, shown hospitality, washed the saints' feet, helped the afflicted, and devoted herself to every good work.
11 But refuse to enroll younger widows; for when they are drawn away from Christ by desire, they want to marry,
12 and will therefore receive condemnation because they have renounced their original pledge.
13 At the same time, they also learn to be idle, going from house to house; they are not only idle, but are also gossips and busybodies, saying things they shouldn't say.
14 Therefore, I want younger women to marry, have children, manage their households, and give the adversary no opportunity to accuse us.
15 For some have already turned away to follow Satan.
16 If any believing woman has widows, she should help them, and the church should not be burdened, so that it can help those who are genuinely widows.
17 The elders who are good leaders should be considered worthy of an ample honorarium, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.
18 For the Scripture says: You must not muzzle an ox that is threshing grain, and, The laborer is worthy of his wages.
19 Don't accept an accusation against an elder unless it is supported by two or three witnesses.
20 Publicly rebuke those who sin, so that the rest will also be afraid.
21 I solemnly charge you, before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing out of favoritism.
22 Don't be too quick to lay hands on anyone, and don't share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.
Holman Christian Standard Bible ® Copyright © 2003, 2002, 2000, 1999 by Holman Bible Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.

Jeremiah 1

1 The words of Jeremiah, the son of Hilkiah, one of the priests living in Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin.
2 The word of the Lord came to him in the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah son of Amon, king of Judah.
3 It also came throughout the days of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the fifth month of the eleventh year of Zedekiah son of Josiah, king of Judah, when the people of Jerusalem went into exile.
4 The word of the Lord came to me:
5 I chose you before I formed you in the womb; I set you apart before you were born. I appointed you a prophet to the nations.
6 But I protested, "Oh no, Lord God ! Look, I don't know how to speak since I am [only] a youth."
7 Then the Lord said to me: Do not say: I am [only] a youth, for you will go to everyone I send you to and speak whatever I tell you.
8 Do not be afraid of anyone, for I will be with you to deliver you. [This is] the Lord's declaration.
9 Then the Lord reached out His hand, touched my mouth, and told me: Look, I have filled your mouth with My words.
10 See, today I have set you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and demolish, to build and plant.
11 Then the word of the Lord came to me, asking, "What do you see, Jeremiah?" I replied, "I see a branch of an almond tree."
12 The Lord said to me, "You have seen correctly, for I watch over My word to accomplish it."
13 Again the word of the Lord came to me inquiring, "What do you see?" And I replied, "I see a boiling pot, its mouth tilted from the north [to the south]."
14 Then the Lord said to me, "Disaster will be poured out from the north on all who live in the land.
15 Indeed, I am about to summon all the clans and kingdoms of the north." [This is]*The bracketed text has been added for clarity. the Lord's declaration. They will come, and each [king] will set up his throne at the entrance to Jerusalem's gates. They will attack all her surrounding walls and all the other cities of Judah.
16 "I will pronounce My judgments against them for all the evil they did when they abandoned Me to burn incense to other gods and to worship the works of their own hands.
17 "Now, get ready. Stand up and tell them everything that I command you. Do not be intimidated by them or I will cause you to cower before them.
18 Today, I am the One who has made you a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls against the whole land-against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the population.
19 They will fight against you but never prevail over you, since I am with you to rescue you." [This is]*The bracketed text has been added for clarity. the Lord's declaration.
Holman Christian Standard Bible ® Copyright © 2003, 2002, 2000, 1999 by Holman Bible Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.

Jeremiah 2

1 The word of the Lord came to me:
2 "Go and announce directly to Jerusalem that this is what the Lord says: I remember the loyalty of your youth, your love as a bride- how you followed Me in the wilderness, in a land not sown.
3 Israel was holy to the Lord, the firstfruits of His harvest. All who ate of it found themselves guilty; disaster came on them." [This is] the Lord's declaration.
4 Hear the word of the Lord, house of Jacob and all families of the house of Israel.
5 Here is what the Lord says: What fault did your fathers find in Me that they went so far from Me, followed worthless idols, and became worthless themselves?
6 They stopped asking: Where is the Lord who brought us from the land of Egypt, who led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and ravines, through a land of drought and darkness, a land no one traveled through and where no one lived?
7 I brought you to a fertile land to eat its fruit and bounty, but after you entered, you defiled My land; you made My inheritance detestable.
8 The priests quit asking: Where is the Lord? The experts in the law no longer knew Me, and the rulers rebelled against Me. The prophets prophesied by Baal and followed useless idols.
9 Therefore, I will bring a case against you again. [This is]*The bracketed text has been added for clarity. the Lord's declaration. I will bring a case against your children's children.
10 Cross over to Cyprusand take a look. Send [someone] to Kedar and consider carefully; see if there has ever been anything like this:
11 Has a nation [ever] exchanged its gods? (but they were not gods!) Yet My people have exchanged their Glory for useless idols.
12 Be horrified at this, heavens; be shocked and utterly appalled. [This is] the Lord's declaration.
13 For My people have committed a double evil: They have abandoned Me, the fountain of living water, and dug cisterns for themselves, cracked cisterns that cannot hold water.
14 Is Israel a slave? Was he born into slavery? Why else has he become a prey?
15 The young lions have roared at him; they have roared loudly. They have laid waste his land. His cities are in ruins, without inhabitants.
16 The men of Memphis and Tahpanhes have also broken your skull.
17 Have you not brought this on yourself by abandoning the Lord your God while He was leading you along the way?
18 Now what will you gain by traveling along the way to Egypt to drink the waters of the Nile? What will you gain by traveling along the way to Assyria to drink the waters of the Euphrates?
19 Your own evil will discipline you; your own apostasies will reprimand you. Think it over and see how evil and bitter it is for you to abandon the Lord your God and to have no fear of Me. [This is]*The bracketed text has been added for clarity. the declaration of the Lord God of Hosts.
20 For long ago I broke your yoke; I tore off your fetters. You insisted: I will not serve! On every high hill and under every leafy tree you lie down [like] a prostitute.
21 I planted you, a choice vine from the very best seed. How then could you turn into a degenerate, foreign vine?
22 Even if you wash with lye and use a great amount of soap, the stain of your guilt is still in front of Me. [This is]*The bracketed text has been added for clarity. the Lord God 's declaration.
23 How can you protest: I am not defiled; I have not followed the Baals? Look at your behavior in the valley; acknowledge what you have done. [You are] a swift young camel twisting and turning on her way,
24 a wild donkey at home in the wilderness. She sniffs the wind in the heat of her desire. Who can control her passion? All who look for her will not become tired; they will find her in her mating season.
25 Keep your feet from going bare and your throat from thirst. But you say: It's hopeless; I love strangers, and I will continue to follow them.
26 Like the shame of a thief when he is caught, so the house of Israel has been put to shame. They, their kings, their officials, their priests, and their prophets
27 say to a tree: You are my father, and to a stone: You gave birth to me. For they have turned their back to Me and not their face, but in their time of disaster they beg: Rise up and save us!
28 But where are your gods you made for yourself? Let them rise up and save you in your time of disaster if they can, for your gods are as numerous as your cities, Judah.
29 Why do you bring a case against Me? All of you have rebelled against Me. [This is]*The bracketed text has been added for clarity. the Lord's declaration.
30 I have struck down your children in vain; they would not accept discipline. Your own sword has devoured your prophets like a ravaging lion.
31 [Evil] generation, pay attention to the word of the Lord! Have I been a wilderness to Israel or a land of dense darkness? Why do My people claim: We will go where we want; we will no longer come to You?
32 Can a young woman forget her jewelry or a bride her wedding sash? Yet My people have forgotten Me for countless days.
33 How skillfully you pursue love; you also teach evil women your ways.
34 Moreover, your skirts are stained with the blood of the innocent poor. You did not catch them breaking and entering. But in spite of all these things
35 you claim: I am innocent. His anger is sure to turn away from me. But I will certainly judge you because you have said: I have not sinned.
36 How unstable you are, constantly changing your way! You will be put to shame by Egypt just as you were put to shame by Assyria.
37 Moreover, you will be led out from here with your hands on your head since the Lord has rejected those you trust; you will not succeed even with their help.
Holman Christian Standard Bible ® Copyright © 2003, 2002, 2000, 1999 by Holman Bible Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.

Psalms 119:145-176

145 I call with all my heart; answer me, Lord. I will obey Your statutes.
146 I call to You; save me, and I will keep Your decrees.
147 I rise before dawn and cry out for help; I put my hope in Your word.
148 I am awake through each watch of the night to meditate on Your promise.
149 In keeping with Your faithful love, hear my voice. Lord, give me life, in keeping with Your justice.
150 Those who pursue evil plans come near; they are far from Your instruction.
151 You are near, Lord, and all Your commands are true.
152 Long ago I learned from Your decrees that You have established them forever.
153 Consider my affliction and rescue me, for I have not forgotten Your instruction.
154 Defend my cause, and redeem me; give me life, as You promised.
155 Salvation is far from the wicked because they do not seek Your statutes.
156 Your compassions are many, Lord; give me life, according to Your judgments.
157 My persecutors and foes are many. I have not turned from Your decrees.
158 I have seen the disloyal and feel disgust because they do not keep Your word.
159 Consider how I love Your precepts; Lord, give me life, according to Your faithful love.
160 The entirety of Your word is truth, and all Your righteous judgments endure forever.
161 Princes have persecuted me without cause, but my heart fears [only] Your word.
162 I rejoice over Your promise like one who finds vast treasure.
163 I hate and abhor falsehood, [but] I love Your instruction.
164 I praise You seven times a day for Your righteous judgments.
165 Abundant peace belongs to those who love Your instruction; nothing makes them stumble.
166 Lord, I hope for Your salvation and carry out Your commands.
167 I obey Your decrees and love them greatly.
168 I obey Your precepts and decrees, for all my ways are before You.
169 Let my cry reach You, Lord; give me understanding according to Your word.
170 Let my plea reach You; rescue me according to Your promise.
171 My lips pour out praise, for You teach me Your statutes.
172 My tongue sings about Your promise, for all Your commandments are righteous.
173 May Your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen Your precepts.
174 I long for Your salvation, Lord, and Your instruction is my delight.
175 Let me live, and I will praise You; may Your judgments help me.
176 I wander like a lost sheep; seek Your servant, for I do not forget Your commands.
Holman Christian Standard Bible ® Copyright © 2003, 2002, 2000, 1999 by Holman Bible Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.