1 Timothy 4

Timothy’s Ministry in the Later Times
4:1 Now the Spirit explicitly says that in the later times some will desert the faith and occupy themselves with deceiving spirits and demonic teachings, 4:2 influenced by the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared. 4:3 They will prohibit marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4:4 For every creation of God is good and no food is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving. 4:5 For it is sanctified by God’s word and by prayer.

4:6 By pointing out such things to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, having nourished yourself on the words of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. 4:7 But reject those myths fit only for the godless and gullible, and train yourself for godliness. 4:8 For “physical exercise has some value, but godliness is valuable in every way. It holds promise for the present life and for the life to come.” 4:9 This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance. 4:10 In fact this is why we work hard and struggle, because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of believers.

4:11 Command and teach these things. 4:12 Let no one look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in your speech, conduct, love, faithfulness, and purity. 4:13 Until I come, give attention to the public reading of scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. 4:14 Do not neglect the spiritual gift you have, given to you and confirmed by prophetic words when the elders laid hands on you.

4:15 Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that everyone will see your progress. 4:16 Be conscientious about how you live and what you teach. Persevere in this, because by doing so you will save both yourself and those who listen to you.

Job 19

Job’s Reply to Bildad
19:1 Then Job answered:

19:2 “How long will you torment me
and crush me with your words?

19:3 These ten times you have been reproaching me;
you are not ashamed to attack me!

19:4 But even if it were true that I have erred,
my error remains solely my concern!

19:5 If indeed you would exalt yourselves above me
and plead my disgrace against me,

19:6 know then that God has wronged me
and encircled me with his net.

Job’s Abandonment and Affliction
19:7 “If I cry out, ‘Violence!’
I receive no answer;
I cry for help,
but there is no justice.

19:8 He has blocked my way so I cannot pass,
and has set darkness over my paths.

19:9 He has stripped me of my honor
and has taken the crown off my head.

19:10 He tears me down on every side until I perish;
he uproots my hope like one uproots a tree.

19:11 Thus his anger burns against me,
and he considers me among his enemies.

19:12 His troops advance together;
they throw up a siege ramp against me,
and they camp around my tent.

Job’s Forsaken State
19:13 “He has put my relatives far from me;
my acquaintances only turn away from me.

19:14 My kinsmen have failed me;
my friends have forgotten me.

19:15 My guests and my servant girls
consider me a stranger;
I am a foreigner in their eyes.

19:16 I summon my servant, but he does not respond,
even though I implore him with my own mouth.

19:17 My breath is repulsive to my wife;
I am loathsome to my brothers.

19:18 Even youngsters have scorned me;
when I get up, they scoff at me.

19:19 All my closest friends detest me;
and those whom I love have turned against me.

19:20 My bones stick to my skin and my flesh;
I have escaped alive with only the skin of my teeth.

19:21 Have pity on me, my friends, have pity on me,
for the hand of God has struck me.

19:22 Why do you pursue me like God does?
Will you never be satiated with my flesh?

Job’s Assurance of Vindication
19:23 “O that my words were written down,
O that they were written on a scroll,

19:24 that with an iron chisel and with lead
they were engraved in a rock forever!

19:25 As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives,
and that as the last
he will stand upon the earth.

19:26 And after my skin has been destroyed,
yet in my flesh I will see God,

19:27 whom I will see for myself,
and whom my own eyes will behold,
and not another.
My heart grows faint within me.

19:28 If you say, ‘How we will pursue him,
since the root of the trouble is found in him!’

19:29 Fear the sword yourselves,
for wrath brings the punishment by the sword,
so that you may know
that there is judgment.”

Scripture quoted from The NET Bible®, New English Translation, Copyright (c) 1996 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C., reprinted with permission from Bible.org. For further study, see articles on Bible.org and the NETBible study environment at NETBible.org.

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