A Worker Approved by God
14 Remind them of these things, and dcharge them before God1 not to equarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. 15 Do your best to fpresent yourself to God as one approved,2 a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the gword of truth. 16 But havoid iirreverent babble, for it will lead people into jmore and more ungodliness, 17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are kHymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have lswerved from the truth, msaying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some. 19 But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: n“The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who onames the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”
20 Now in a great phouse there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, qsome for honorable use, some for dishonorable. 21 Therefore, rif anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable,3 he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, sready for every good work.
22 So tflee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, ulove, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 23 Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant vcontroversies; you know that they breed quarrels. 24 And the Lord’s servant4 must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 wcorrecting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the xsnare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.
He Will Not Forsake His Saints
1 Of David.
1 xFret not yourself because of evildoers;
be not yenvious of wrongdoers!
2 For they will soon fade zlike the grass
and wither like the green herb.
3 aTrust in the Lord, and bdo good;
dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.2
4 cDelight yourself in the Lord,
and he will dgive you the desires of your heart.
5 eCommit your way to the Lord;
trust in him, and he will act.
6 He will bring forth your righteousness fas the light,
and your justice as the gnoonday.
7 hBe still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;
fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,
over the man who carries out evil devices!
Unworthy Servants
7 “Will any one of you who has a servant1 plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and recline at table’? 8 Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, and dress properly,2 and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink’? 9 Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? 10 So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants;3 we have only done what was our duty.’”
