A Good Soldier of Christ Jesus
1 You then, my child, nbe strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses oentrust to faithful men,1 who will be able to teach others also. 3 pShare in suffering as a good qsoldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. 5 An athlete is not rcrowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6 sIt is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. 7 Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.
8 Remember Jesus Christ, trisen from the dead, the uoffspring of David, as preached in my gospel, 9 for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. vBut the word of God is not bound! 10 Therefore I wendure everything xfor the sake of the yelect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 11 zThe saying is trustworthy, for:
aIf we have died with him, we will also live with him;
12 if we endure, we will also breign with him;
if we deny him, he also will deny us;
13 cif we are faithless, he remains faithful—
for he cannot deny himself.
Who Is like the Lord Our God?
1 Praise the Lord!
zPraise, O servants of the Lord,
praise the name of the Lord!
2 aBlessed be the name of the Lord
bfrom this time forth and forevermore!
3 cFrom the rising of the sun to its setting,
the name of the Lord is to be praised!
4 The Lord is high dabove all nations,
and ehis glory above the heavens!
5 fWho is like the Lord our God,
who is seated on high,
6 who looks far down
on the heavens and the earth?
7 gHe raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap,
8 to make them sit with princes,
with the princes of his people.
9 hHe gives the barren woman a home,
imaking her the joyous mother of children.
Praise the Lord!
Jesus Cleanses Ten Lepers
11 On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as he entered a village, he was met by ten dlepers,1 who stood at a edistance 13 and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” 14 When he saw them he said to them, f“Go and gshow yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, hpraising God with a loud voice; 16 and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. iNow he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this jforeigner?” 19 And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; kyour faith has made you well.”2
