Day 66 of 365

¹Let as many as are bondservants under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, that the name of God and the doctrine not be blasphemed.

²Those who have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brothers, but rather let them serve them, because those who partake of the benefit are believing and beloved. Teach and exhort these things.

³If anyone teaches a different doctrine, and does not consent to sound words, the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness,

⁴he is conceited, knowing nothing, but obsessed with arguments, disputes, and word battles, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions,

⁵constant friction of people of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain.

⁶But godliness with contentment is great gain.

⁷For we brought nothing into the world, so neither can we carry anything out.

⁸But having food and clothing, we will be content with that.

⁹But those who are determined to be rich fall into a temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful lusts, such as drown men in ruin and destruction.

¹⁰For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some have been led astray from the faith in their greed, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

¹¹But you, man of God, flee these things, and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and gentleness.

¹²Fight the good fight of faith. Lay hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you confessed the good confession in the sight of many witnesses.

¹³I command you before God, who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate testified the good confession,

¹⁴that you keep the commandment without spot, blameless, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ;

¹⁵which in its own times he will show, who is the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;

¹⁶who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light; whom no man has seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and eternal power. Amen.

¹⁷Charge those who are rich in this present world that they not be haughty, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy;

¹⁸that they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute, willing to communicate;

¹⁹laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold of that which is truly life.

²⁰Timothy, guard that which is committed to you, turning away from the empty chatter and oppositions of the knowledge which is falsely so called;

²¹which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with you.

¹Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, according to the promise of the life which is in Christ Jesus,

²to Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

³I thank God, whom I serve as my forefathers did, with a pure conscience. How unceasing is my memory of you in my petitions, night and day

⁴longing to see you, remembering your tears, that I may be filled with joy;

⁵having been reminded of the unfeigned faith that is in you; which lived first in your grandmother Lois, and your mother Eunice, and, I am persuaded, in you also.

⁶For this cause, I remind you that you should stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

⁷For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.

⁸Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner; but endure hardship for the Good News according to the power of God,

⁹who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before times eternal,

¹⁰but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light through the Good News.

¹¹For this, I was appointed as a proclaimer, an apostle, and a teacher.

¹²For this cause I also suffer these things. Yet I am not ashamed, for I know him whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to guard that which I have committed to him against that day.

¹³Hold the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

¹⁴That good thing which was committed to you, guard through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.

¹⁵This you know, that all who are in Asia turned away from me; of whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes.

¹⁶May the Lord grant mercy to the house of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain,

¹⁷but when he was in Rome, he sought me diligently, and found me

¹⁸(the Lord grant to him to find the Lord's mercy in that day); and in how many things he served at Ephesus, you know very well.

¹You therefore, my child, be strengthened in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

²The things which you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit the same to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.

³You therefore must share in hardship, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

⁴No soldier on duty entangles himself in the affairs of life, that he may please him who enrolled him as a soldier.

⁵Also, if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he has competed by the rules.

⁶The farmers who labor must be the first to get a share of the crops.

⁷Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in all things.

⁸Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, of the seed of David, according to my Good News,

⁹in which I suffer hardship to the point of chains as a criminal. But God's word is not chained.

¹⁰Therefore I endure all things for the chosen ones' sake, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

¹¹This saying is faithful: "For if we died with him, we will also live with him.

¹²If we endure, we will also reign with him. If we deny him, he also will deny us.

¹³If we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself."

¹⁴Remind them of these things, charging them in the presence of God, that they do not argue about words, to no profit, to the subverting of those who hear.

¹⁵Give diligence to present yourself approved by God, a workman who does not need to be ashamed, properly handling the Word of Truth.

¹⁶But shun empty chatter, for they will proceed further in ungodliness,

¹⁷and their word will consume like gangrene, of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;

¹⁸men who have erred concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past, and overthrowing the faith of some.

¹⁹However God's firm foundation stands, having this seal, "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Let every one who names the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness."

²⁰Now in a large house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of clay. Some are for honor, and some for dishonor.

²¹If anyone therefore purges himself from these, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, and suitable for the master's use, prepared for every good work.

²²Flee from youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

²³But refuse foolish and ignorant questionings, knowing that they generate strife.

²⁴The Lord's servant must not quarrel, but be gentle towards all, able to teach, patient,

²⁵in gentleness correcting those who oppose him: perhaps God may give them repentance leading to a full knowledge of the truth,

²⁶and they may recover themselves out of the devil's snare, having been taken captive by him to his will.

¹Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth!

²Sing to the glory of his name! Offer glory and praise!

³Tell God, "How awesome are your deeds! Through the greatness of your power, your enemies submit themselves to you.

⁴All the earth will worship you, and will sing to you; they will sing to your name." Selah.

⁵Come, and see God's deeds- awesome work on behalf of the children of men.

⁶He turned the sea into dry land. They went through the river on foot. There, we rejoiced in him.

⁷He rules by his might forever. His eyes watch the nations. Do not let the rebellious rise up against him. Selah.

⁸Praise our God, you peoples! Make the sound of his praise heard,

⁹who preserves our life among the living, and doesn't allow our feet to be moved.

¹⁰For you, God, have tested us. You have refined us, as silver is refined.

¹¹You brought us into prison. You laid a burden on our backs.

¹²You allowed men to ride over our heads. We went through fire and through water, but you brought us to the place of abundance.

¹³I will come into your temple with burnt offerings. I will pay my vows to you,

¹⁴which my lips promised, and my mouth spoke, when I was in distress.

¹⁵I will offer to you burnt offerings of fat animals, with the offering of rams, I will offer bulls with goats. Selah.

¹⁶Come, and hear, all you who fear God. I will declare what he has done for my soul.

¹⁷I cried to him with my mouth. He was extolled with my tongue.

¹⁸If I cherished sin in my heart, the Lord wouldn't have listened.

¹⁹But most certainly, God has listened. He has heard the voice of my prayer.

²⁰Blessed be God, who has not turned away my prayer, nor his loving kindness from me.

¹Listen, sons, to a father's instruction. Pay attention and know understanding;

²for I give you sound learning. Do not forsake my law.

³For I was a son to my father, tender and an only child in the sight of my mother.

⁴He taught me, and said to me: "Let your heart retain my words. Keep my commandments, and live.

⁵Get wisdom. Get understanding. Do not forget, neither swerve from the words of my mouth.

⁶Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you. Love her, and she will keep you.

⁷Wisdom is supreme. Get wisdom. Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding.

⁸Esteem her, and she will exalt you. She will bring you to honor, when you embrace her.

⁹She will give to your head a garland of grace. She will deliver a crown of splendor to you."

¹⁰Listen, my son, and receive my sayings. The years of your life will be many.

¹¹I have taught you in the way of wisdom. I have led you in straight paths.

¹²When you go, your steps will not be hampered. When you run, you will not stumble.

¹³Take firm hold of instruction. Do not let her go. Keep her, for she is your life.

¹⁴Do not enter into the path of the wicked. Do not walk in the way of evil men.

¹⁵Avoid it, and do not pass by it. Turn from it, and pass on.

¹⁶For they do not sleep, unless they do evil. Their sleep is taken away, unless they make someone fall.

¹⁷For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.

¹⁸But the path of the righteous is like the dawning light, that shines more and more until the perfect day.

¹⁹The way of the wicked is like darkness. They do not know what they stumble over.

²⁰My son, attend to my words. Turn your ear to my sayings.

²¹Let them not depart from your eyes. Keep them in the midst of your heart.

²²For they are life to those who find them, and health to their whole body.

²³Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it is the wellspring of life.

²⁴Put away from yourself a perverse mouth. Put corrupt lips far from you.

²⁵Let your eyes look straight ahead. Fix your gaze directly before you.

²⁶Make the path of your feet level. Let all of your ways be established.

²⁷Do not turn to the right hand nor to the left. Remove your foot from evil.