Jeremiah 1; Jeremiah 2; 1 Timothy 3

Jeremiah 1

1 [These are] the words of Jeremiah, son of Hilkiah. He was one of the priests at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin.

2 The LORD spoke his word to Jeremiah when King Josiah, son of Amon, was in his thirteenth year as king of Judah.

3 The LORD also spoke when Jehoiakim, son of Josiah, was king of Judah and during the 11 years that Zedekiah, [another] son of Josiah, was king of Judah. The LORD continued to speak to Jeremiah until the people of Jerusalem were taken away into captivity in the fifth month of the year.

4 The LORD spoke his word to me,

5 "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you were born, I set you apart for my holy purpose. I appointed you to be a prophet to the nations."

6 I, Jeremiah, said, "Almighty LORD, I do not know how to speak. I am only a boy!"

7 But the LORD said to me, "Don't say that you are only a boy. You will go wherever I send you. You will say whatever I command you to say.

8 Don't be afraid of people. I am with you, and I will rescue you," declares the LORD.

9 Then the LORD stretched out his hand and touched my mouth. The LORD said to me, "Now I have put my words in your mouth.

10 Today I have put you in charge of nations and kingdoms. You will uproot and tear down. You will destroy and overthrow. You will build and plant."

11 Again the LORD spoke his word to me and asked, "Jeremiah, what do you see?" I answered, "I see a branch of an almond tree."

12 Then the LORD said to me, "Right. I am watching to make sure that my words come true."

13 Again the LORD spoke his word to me and asked, "What do you see?" I answered, "I see a boiling pot, and its top is tilted away from the north."

14 Then the LORD said to me, "Disaster will be poured out from the north on all those who live in the land.

15 I am going to call every family and kingdom from the north," declares the LORD. "They will come, and they will set up their thrones at the entrance of Jerusalem's gates. They will attack all the walls around the city and all the cities of Judah.

16 I will pass sentence on my people because of all their wickedness. They abandoned me, burned incense to other gods, and worshiped what their hands have made.

17 Brace yourself, Jeremiah! Stand up, and say to them whatever I tell you to say. Don't be terrified in their presence, or I will make you [even more] terrified in their presence.

18 Today I have made you like a fortified city, an iron pillar, and a bronze wall. You will be able to stand up to the whole land. You will be able to stand up to Judah's kings, its officials, its priests, and [all] the common people.

19 They will fight you, but they will not defeat you. I am with you, and I will rescue you," declares the LORD.

Jeremiah 2

1 The LORD spoke his word to me,

2 "Go and announce to Jerusalem, 'This is what the LORD says: I remember the unfailing loyalty of your youth, the love you had for me as a bride. I remember how you followed me into the desert, into a land that couldn't be farmed.

3 Israel was set apart for the LORD. It was the best part of the harvest. All who devoured it became guilty, and disaster struck them,'" declares the LORD.

4 Listen to the word of the LORD, descendants of Jacob, all the families in the nation of Israel.

5 This is what the LORD says: What did your ancestors find wrong with me that they went so far away from me? They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves.

6 They didn't ask, "Where is the LORD, who brought us from Egypt? He led us through the desert, through a wasteland and its pits, a land of drought and the shadow of death. No one lives there or travels there."

7 I brought them into a fertile land to eat its fruit and its produce. They came and made my land unclean. They made my property disgusting.

8 The priests didn't ask, "Where is the LORD?" Those who deal with my teachings didn't know me. The rulers rebelled against me. The prophets prophesied in the name of Baal and followed statues that couldn't help them.

9 "That is why I am bringing charges against you," declares the LORD, "and I am bringing charges against your grandchildren.

10 Go over to the coasts of Cyprus, and see. Send [someone] to Kedar, and observe closely. See if there has ever been anything like this.

11 Has any nation ever exchanged gods? (Their gods aren't really gods.) Yet, my people have exchanged their Glory for something that doesn't help them.

12 Be horrified over this, heaven. Be terribly afraid," declares the LORD.

13 "My people have done two things wrong. They have abandoned me, the fountain of life-giving water. They have also dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that can't hold water.

14 "Are the people of Israel slaves? Were they born into slavery? Why, then, have they become someone's property?

15 Young lions have roared very loudly at them. Young lions have turned the land into a wasteland. The cities have been burned down, and everyone has left.

16 People from Noph and Tahpanhes have cracked your skulls, Israel.

17 You have brought this on yourself by abandoning the LORD your God when he led you on his way.

18 You won't gain anything by going to Egypt to drink water from the Nile River. You won't gain anything by going to Assyria to drink water from the Euphrates River.

19 Your own wickedness will correct you, and your unfaithful ways will punish you. You should know and see how evil and bitter it is for you if you abandon the LORD your God and do not fear me," declares the Almighty LORD of Armies.

20 "Long ago you broke off your yoke, tore off your chains, and said that you wouldn't be a slave. You lay down and acted like a prostitute on every high hill and under every large tree.

21 I planted you like a choice grapevine from the very best seed. Now you have turned against me and have become a wild vine.

22 Even if you wash with detergent and use a lot of soap, I would still see the stains from your wickedness," declares the Almighty LORD.

23 "How can you say that you haven't dishonored yourselves and haven't followed other gods--the Baals? Look how you've behaved in the valley. Acknowledge what you've done. You are like a young camel that swiftly runs here and there.

24 You are like a wild donkey that is used to the desert, sniffing the wind while in heat. All who look for you won't get tired. They will find you during your monthly period.

25 Don't run until your feet are bare and your throats are dry. But you say that it's useless. You love foreign gods and follow them.

26 "As a thief feels ashamed when he's caught, so the nation of Israel will feel ashamed. Their kings, princes, priests, and prophets will also feel ashamed.

27 You call wood your father. You call stone your mother. You've turned your backs, not your faces, to me. But when you're in trouble, you ask me to come and rescue you.

28 Where are the gods that you made for yourselves? Let them come and rescue you when you're in trouble. You have as many gods as you have cities, Judah!

29 "Why do you complain about me? All of you have rebelled against me," declares the LORD.

30 "I have punished your children without results. They didn't respond to correction. You killed my prophets like a raging lion.

31 "Consider the word of the LORD, people of this generation. Haven't I been a desert, a land of thick darkness, for Israel? Why do my people say that they are free to wander around and no longer come to me?

32 A young woman can't forget her jewelry or a bride her veils. Yet, my people have forgotten me for countless days.

33 You carefully planned ways to look for love. You taught your ways to wicked women.

34 You have the blood from poor and innocent people on your clothes. You didn't kill them for breaking in to your home.

35 In spite of all this you say, 'I'm innocent. God will turn his anger from me, because I haven't sinned.'

36 You change your mind so easily. You will be put to shame by Egypt as you were put to shame by Assyria.

37 You will also leave this place with your hands over your head, because the LORD has rejected those you trust. You will not be helped by them."

1 Timothy 3

1 This is a statement that can be trusted: If anyone sets his heart on being a bishop, he desires something excellent.

2 A bishop must have a good reputation. He must have only one wife, be sober, use good judgment, be respectable, be hospitable, and be able to teach.

3 He must not drink excessively or be a violent person, but he must be gentle. He must not be quarrelsome or love money.

4 He must manage his own family well. His children should respectfully obey him.

5 (If a man doesn't know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?)

6 He must not be a new Christian, or he might become arrogant like the devil and be condemned.

7 People who are not Christians must speak well of him, or he might become the victim of disgraceful insults that the devil sets as traps for him.

8 Deacons must also be of good character. They must not be two-faced or addicted to alcohol. They must not use shameful ways to make money.

9 They must have clear consciences about possessing the mystery of the Christian faith.

10 First, a person must be evaluated. Then, if he has a good reputation, he may become a deacon.

11 Their wives must also be of good character. They must not be gossips, but they must control their tempers and be trustworthy in every way.

12 A deacon must have only one wife. Deacons must manage their children and their families well.

13 Those deacons who serve well gain an excellent reputation and will have confidence as a result of their faith in Christ Jesus.

14 I hope to visit you soon. However, I'm writing this to you

15 in case I'm delayed. I want you to know how people who are members of God's family must live. God's family is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.

16 The mystery that gives us our reverence for God is acknowledged to be great: He appeared in his human nature, was approved by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was announced throughout the nations, was believed in the world, and was taken to heaven in glory.