2 Corinthians 12:14

“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!” says Yahweh.

each of you not just looking to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others.

I will give you shepherds according to my heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.

I am the vine. You are the branches. He who remains in me and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

He who increases his wealth by excessive interest gathers it for one who has pity on the poor.

Who can find a worthy woman? For her price is far above rubies.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue; those who love it will eat its fruit.

Only let your way of life be worthy of the Good News of Christ, that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your state, that you stand firm in one spirit, with one soul striving for the faith of the Good News;

Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor of Yahweh.

For to the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner he gives travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him who pleases God. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.

He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will gather the lambs in his arm, and carry them in his bosom. He will gently lead those who have their young.

Watch! Stand firm in the faith! Be courageous! Be strong!

Those who are wise will shine as the brightness of the expanse. Those who turn many to righteousness will shine as the stars forever and ever.

To the weak I became as weak, that I might gain the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some.

He died for all, that those who live should no longer live to themselves, but to him who for their sakes died and rose again.

let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

House and riches are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from Yahweh.

Let each one of us please his neighbor for that which is good, to be building him up.

If others partake of this right over you, don’t we yet more? Nevertheless we didn’t use this right, but we bear all things, that we may cause no hindrance to the Good News of Christ.

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

When I was present with you and was in need, I wasn’t a burden on anyone, for the brothers, when they came from Macedonia, supplied the measure of my need. In everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and I will continue to do so.

For God is my witness, how I long after all of you in the tender mercies of Christ Jesus.

holding up the word of life, that I may have something to boast in the day of Christ, that I didn’t run in vain nor labor in vain.

Yes, and if I am poured out on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice, and rejoice with you all.

But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother cherishes her own children.

Let our people also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they may not be unfruitful.

The man increased exceedingly, and had large flocks, female servants and male servants, and camels and donkeys.

One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin that he sins. At the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall a matter be established.

Now therefore don’t give your daughters to their sons. Don’t take their daughters to your sons, nor seek their peace or their prosperity forever; that you may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children forever.’

I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his children begging for bread.

The children of your servants will continue. Their offspring will be established before you.”

She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her. Happy is everyone who retains her.

An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning, won’t be blessed in the end.

For the shepherds have become brutish, and have not inquired of Yahweh. Therefore they have not prospered, and all their flocks have scattered.

You have profaned me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, to kill the souls who should not die, and to save the souls alive who should not live, by your lying to my people who listen to lies.’

But if he doesn’t listen, take one or two more with you, that at the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn’t listen to them.

Now after these things had ended, Paul determined in the Spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.”

For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, to the end that you may be established;

I don’t write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children.

doesn’t behave itself inappropriately, doesn’t seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil;

But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation. If we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer.

Open your hearts to us. We wronged no one. We corrupted no one. We took advantage of no one.

Or did I commit a sin in humbling myself that you might be exalted, because I preached to you God’s Good News free of charge?

He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on me.

For they all seek their own, not the things of Jesus Christ.

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and fill up on my part that which is lacking of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the assembly,

For neither were we at any time found using words of flattery, as you know, nor a cloak of covetousness (God is witness),

They profess that they know God, but by their deeds they deny him, being abominable, disobedient, and unfit for any good work.

let’s hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering; for he who promised is faithful.

By this we know love, because he laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.

“I know your works and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. You hold firmly to my name, and didn’t deny my faith in the days of Antipas my witness, my faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.

“ ‘Whoever kills any person, the murderer shall be slain based on the testimony of witnesses; but one witness shall not testify alone against any person so that he dies.

At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, he who is to die shall be put to death. At the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.

On that day, King Ahasuerus gave the house of Haman, the Jews’ enemy, to Esther the queen. Mordecai came before the king; for Esther had told what he was to her.

he may prepare it, but the just will put it on, and the innocent will divide the silver.

The priests didn’t say, ‘Where is Yahweh?’ and those who handle the law didn’t know me. The rulers also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal and followed things that do not profit.

Many shepherds have destroyed my vineyard. They have trodden my portion under foot. They have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.

He who reaps receives wages and gathers fruit to eternal life; that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together.

but taking his leave of them, he said, “I must by all means keep this coming feast in Jerusalem, but I will return again to you if God wills.” Then he set sail from Ephesus.

Now I don’t desire to have you unaware, brothers, that I often planned to come to you, and was hindered so far, that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among the rest of the Gentiles.

I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of the Good News of Christ.

Only, as the Lord has distributed to each man, as God has called each, so let him walk. So I command in all the assemblies.

But I have used none of these things, and I don’t write these things that it may be done so in my case; for I would rather die, than that anyone should make my boasting void.

What then is my reward? That when I preach the Good News, I may present the Good News of Christ without charge, so as not to abuse my authority in the Good News.

For though I was free from all, I brought myself under bondage to all, that I might gain the more.

even as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of the many, that they may be saved.

For I do not wish to see you now in passing, but I hope to stay a while with you, if the Lord permits.

In this confidence, I was determined to come first to you, that you might have a second benefit,

This is the third time I am coming to you. “At the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.”

For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Isn’t it even you, before our Lord Jesus at his coming?

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, nor turning shadow.

Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the wealth of the sinner is stored for the righteous.

For what is there in which you were made inferior to the rest of the assemblies, unless it is that I myself was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong.

I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more abundantly, am I loved the less?

But if anyone doesn’t provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever.

that I will not take a thread nor a sandal strap nor anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’

For it was little which you had before I came, and it has increased to a multitude. Yahweh has blessed you wherever I turned. Now when will I provide for my own house also?”

Here I am. Witness against me before Yahweh, and before his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Whose donkey have I taken? Whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed? Of whose hand have I taken a bribe to make me blind my eyes? I will restore it to you.”

But he said, “As Yahweh lives, before whom I stand, I will receive none.” He urged him to take it; but he refused.

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life. He who is wise wins souls.

“Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy, and tell them, even the shepherds, ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Shouldn’t the shepherds feed the sheep?

I coveted no one’s silver, gold, or clothing.

But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord is willing. And I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power.

Let no one seek his own, but each one his neighbor’s good.

But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest your coming together be for judgment. The rest I will set in order whenever I come.

But I will come to you when I have passed through Macedonia, for I am passing through Macedonia.

Therefore, my brothers, beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.

Not that I seek for the gift, but I seek for the fruit that increases to your account.

Even so, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you, not the Good News of God only, but also our own souls, because you had become very dear to us.

As you know, we exhorted, comforted, and implored every one of you, as a father does his own children,