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Jeremiah 1; Jeremiah 2; 1 Timothy 3

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Jeremiah 1

1 These are the words of Jeremiah, Hilkiah's son, who was one of the priests from Anathoth in the land of Benjamin.
2 The LORD's word came to Jeremiah in the thirteenth year of Judah's King Josiah, Amon's son,
3 and throughout the rule of Judah's King Jehoiakim, Josiah's son, until the fifth month of the eleventh year of King Zedekiah, Josiah's son, when the people of Jerusalem were taken into exile.
4 The LORD's word came to me:
5 "Before I created you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I set you apart; I made you a prophet to the nations."
6 "Ah, LORD God," I said, "I don't know how to speak because I'm only a child."
7 The LORD responded, "Don't say, ‘I'm only a child.' Where I send you, you must go; what I tell you, you must say.
8 Don't be afraid of them, because I'm with you to rescue you," declares the LORD.
9 Then the LORD stretched out his hand, touched my mouth, and said to me, "I'm putting my words in your mouth.
10 This very day I appoint you over nations and empires, to dig up and pull down, to destroy and demolish, to build and plant."
11 The LORD asked me, "What do you see, Jeremiah?" I said, "A branch of an almond tree."
12 The LORD then said, "You are right, for I'm watching over my word until it is fulfilled."
13 The LORD asked me again, "What do you see?" I said, "A pot boiling over from the north."
14 The LORD said to me, "Trouble will erupt from the north against the people of this land."
15 I'm calling for all the tribes of great nations from the north, says the LORD, and they will set up their rulers by the entrances of Jerusalem, on its walls, and in every city of Judah.
16 I will declare my judgment against them for doing evil: for abandoning me, worshipping other gods, and trusting in the works of their hands.
17 But you must prepare for battle and be ready to utter every word I command you. Don't be frightened before them, or I will frighten you before them.
18 Today I have made you an armed city, an iron pillar, and a bronze wall against the entire land—the kings of Judah, its princes, its priests, and all its people.
19 They will attack you, but they won't defeat you, because I am with you and will rescue you, declares the LORD.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible

Jeremiah 2

1 The LORD's word came to me:
2 Go and proclaim to the people of Jerusalem, The LORD proclaims: I remember your first love, your devotion as a young bride, how you followed me in the wilderness, in an unplanted land.
3 Israel was devoted to the LORD, the early produce of the harvest. Whoever ate from it became guilty; disaster overtook them, declares the LORD.
4 Listen to the LORD's word, people of Judah, all you families of the Israelite household.
5 This is what the LORD says: What wrong did your ancestors find in me that made them wander so far? They pursued what was worthless and became worthless.
6 They didn't ask, "Where's the LORD who brought us up from the land of Egypt, who led us through the wilderness, in a land of deserts and ravines, in a land of drought and darkness, in a land of no return, where no one survives?"
7 I brought you into a land of plenty, to enjoy its gifts and goodness, but you ruined my land; you disgraced my heritage.
8 The priests didn't ask, "Where's the LORD?" Those responsible for the Instruction didn't know me; the leaders rebelled against me; the prophets spoke in the name of Baal, going after what has no value.
9 That is why I will take you to court and charge even your descendants, declares the LORD.
10 Look to the west as far as the shores of Cyprus and to the east as far as the land of Kedar. Ask anyone there: Has anything this odd ever taken place?
11 Has a nation switched gods, though they aren't really gods at all? Yet my people have exchanged their glory for what has no value.
12 Be stunned at such a thing, you heavens; shudder and quake, declares the LORD.
13 My people have committed two crimes: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water. And they have dug wells, broken wells that can't hold water.
14 Is Israel a slave, a servant by birth? If not, why then has he become prey?
15 Lions roar at him; they growl. They destroy his land and make his towns desolate until nothing is left.
16 As well, the people of Memphis and Tahpanhes lay open your scalp.
17 Haven't you brought this on yourself by abandoning the LORD your God, who has directed your paths?
18 So why take the path to Egypt to drink water from the Nile? Why travel the path to Assyria to drink water from the Euphrates?
19 Your wrongdoing will punish you. Your acts of unfaithfulness will find you out. Don't you understand how terribly bitter it is to abandon the LORD your God and not fear me? declares the LORD of heavenly forces.
20 Long ago I broke your yoke; I shattered your chains. But even then you said, "I won't serve you." On every high hill and under every lush tree, you have acted like a prostitute.
21 Yet it was I who planted you, a precious vine of fine quality; how could you turn into a wild vine and become good for nothing?
22 Even though you scrub yourself with soap or strong powder, the stain of your sin is still before me, declares the LORD God.
23 How can you say, "I'm not dirty; I haven't gone after Baals." Look what you have done in the valley; consider what you have done there. You are like a frenzied young camel, racing around,
24 a wild donkey in the wilderness, lustfully sniffing the wind. Who can restrain such passion? Those who desire her need not give up; with little effort they will find her in heat.
25 Don't run about until your feet are blistered and your throat is parched. But you say, "What's the use? I have fallen in love with foreign gods, and I must pursue them."
26 As a thief is ashamed when caught in his tracks, so the people of Israel are ashamed— their kings, officials, priests, and prophets—
27 when they say to a piece of wood, "You are my father," and to a stone, "You gave me birth." They have turned their backs to me and not their faces. Yet in their time of trouble they say, "Arise and save us!"
28 Where are the gods you have made for yourselves? Let's see if they will come through for you in your time of trouble. You have as many gods, Judah, as you have towns.
29 Why would you bring charges against me? You have all rebelled against me, declares the LORD.
30 I have disciplined your children in vain; they have rejected my correction. You have devoured your prophets like a hungry lion.
31 People of this generation, listen closely to the LORD's word: Have I been a wasteland to Israel or a land of dense darkness? Why then do my people say, "We have wandered far away; we'll come to you no longer"?
32 Does a young woman forget her jewelry or a bride her wedding dress? Yet you have forgotten me days without end!
33 So skilled are you at pursuing lovers that you instruct even the most wicked.
34 Your garments are stained with the blood of the innocent poor, even though you didn't catch them breaking and entering. Yet, despite all this,
35 you still insist, "I'm innocent; as a result he will turn his anger away from me." Because you claim not to have sinned, I will pass judgment against you.
36 You change sides so casually! But Egypt will shame you no less than Assyria.
37 From there you will go out with your hands on your heads, because the LORD has rejected those you rely on; they won't help you.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible

1 Timothy 3

1 This saying is reliable: if anyone has a goal to be a supervisor in the church, they want a good thing.
2 So the church's supervisor must be without fault. They should be faithful to their spouse, sober, modest, and honest. They should show hospitality and be skilled at teaching.
3 They shouldn't be addicted to alcohol or be a bully. Instead, they should be gentle, peaceable, and not greedy.
4 They should manage their own household well—they should see that their children are obedient with complete respect,
5 because if they don't know how to manage their own household, how can they take care of God's church?
6 They shouldn't be new believers so that they won't become proud and fall under the devil's spell.
7 They should also have a good reputation with those outside the church so that they won't be embarrassed and fall into the devil's trap.
8 In the same way, servants in the church should be dignified, not two-faced, heavy drinkers, or greedy for money.
9 They should hold on to the faith that has been revealed with a clear conscience.
10 They should also be tested and then serve if they are without fault.
11 In the same way, women who are servants in the church should be dignified and not gossip. They should be sober and faithful in everything they do.
12 Servants must be faithful to their spouse and manage their children and their own households well.
13 Those who have served well gain a good standing and considerable confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
14 I hope to come to you quickly. But I'm writing these things to you so that
15 if I'm delayed, you'll know how you should behave in God's household. It is the church of the living God and the backbone and support of the truth.
16 Without question, the mystery of godliness is great: he was revealed as a human, declared righteous by the Spirit, seen by angels, preached throughout the nations, believed in around the world, and taken up in glory.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible