Elisha Purifies the Deadly Stew
38 And Elisha came again to Gilgal when there was a famine in the land. And as the sons of the prophets were sitting before him, he said to his servant, “Set on the large pot, and boil stew for the sons of the prophets.” 39 One of them went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine and gathered from it his lap full of wild gourds, and came and cut them up into the pot of stew, not knowing what they were. 40 And they poured out some for the men to eat. But while they were eating of the stew, they cried out, “O man of God, there is death in the pot!” And they could not eat it. 41 He said, “Then bring flour.” And he ethrew it into the pot and said, “Pour some out for the men, that they may eat.” And there was no harm in the pot.
42 A man came from Baal-shalishah, fbringing the man of God bread of the firstfruits, gtwenty loaves of barley and fresh ears of grain in his sack. And Elisha said, “Give to the men, that they may eat.” 43 But his servant said, h“How can I set this before a hundred men?” So he repeated, “Give them to the men, that they may eat, for thus says the Lord, ‘They shall eat and have some left.’” 44 So he set it before them. And they ate and had some left, according to the word of the Lord.
Naaman Healed of Leprosy
1 iNaaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and in high favor, because by him the Lord had given victory to Syria. He was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper.1 2 Now the Syrians on one of their jraids had carried off a little girl from the land of Israel, and she worked in the service of Naaman’s wife. 3 She said to her mistress, “Would that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.” 4 So Naaman went in and told his lord, “Thus and so spoke the girl from the land of Israel.” 5 And the king of Syria said, “Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.”
So he went, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels2 of gold, and ten kchanges of clothing. 6 And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, which read, “When this letter reaches you, know that I have sent to you Naaman my servant, that you may cure him of his leprosy.” 7 And when the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, l“Am I God, mto kill and to make alive, that this man sends word to me to cure a man of his leprosy? Only consider, and nsee how he is seeking a quarrel with me.”
8 But when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent to the king, saying, “Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come now to me, that he may know that othere is a prophet in Israel.”
Children and Parents
1 nChildren, oobey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 p“Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), 3 “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” 4 qFathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but rbring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
Bondservants and Masters
5 sBondservants,1 tobey your earthly masters2 with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, uas you would Christ, 6 not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, 7 rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, 8 knowing that whatever good anyone does, this vhe will receive back from the Lord, wwhether he is a bondservant or is free. 9 Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is xboth their Master3 and yours is in heaven, and that there is yno partiality with him.
The Whole Armor of God
10 Finally, zbe strong in the Lord and in the astrength of his might. 11 bPut on the cwhole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the drulers, against the authorities, against the ecosmic powers over this present fdarkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the gheavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the hevil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the ibelt of truth, and having put on the jbreastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as kshoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the lshield of faith, with which you can mextinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the nhelmet of salvation, and the osword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 ppraying qat all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, rkeep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and salso for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth tboldly to proclaim the umystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an vambassador win chains, that I may declare it boldly, xas I ought to speak.
Final Greetings
21 ySo that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, zTychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything. 22 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may aencourage your hearts.
23 Peace be to the brothers,4 and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.
