Therefore, behold, I send you prophets, wise [men], and scribes: some of them you will kill and you will crucify, and [some] of them you will flog in your synagogues and you will persecute from city to city,

this Ezra came up out of Babylon; and he was a skilled scribe in the Law of Moses, which the Lord God of Israel had given. And the king granted him [leave], for the hand of the Lord his God was upon him in all things which he sought.

For Ezra had determined in his heart to seek the law, and to do and teach the ordinances and judgments in Israel.

and from me, whatever seems [good] to you to give. I, King Artaxerxes have made a decree for all the treasuries that are in the [country] beyond the river, that whatever Ezra the priest and scribe of the God of heaven may require of you, let it be done diligently,

Therefore the wisdom of God also said, 'I will send to them prophets and apostles, and [some] of them they will kill and persecute,'

And we have such trust through Christ toward God.

who also has made us efficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of [the] letter but of [the] Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit makes alive.

just as also you learned from Epaphras, our beloved fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ for you,

not a new convert, lest being puffed up [with pride] he fall into [the same] condemnation as the devil.

but if I am delayed, [I write] so that you may know how it is necessary to conduct oneself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and bulwark of the truth.

And confessedly, great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among [the] Gentiles, believed on in the world, [and] was received up in glory.

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,

that the man of God may be proficient, having been thoroughly equipped for every good work.

holding fast to the faithful word as he was taught, that he may be able to exhort by sound doctrine, and to convince those who oppose it.

Likewise exhort the young men to be sensible,

in all respects showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, dignity, incorruptibility,

A good man out of his good treasure brings forth good things, and an evil man out of his evil treasure brings forth evil things.

The tongue of the just is choice silver, but the heart of the ungodly shall fail.

The lips of the righteous know sublime [truths], but the foolish die in want.

Out of the fruit of righteousness grows a tree of life, but the souls of transgressors are cut off before their time.

The lips of the wise are bound by discretion, but the hearts of the foolish are not safe.

[He who is] skillful in business finds good, but he that trusts in God is most blessed.

Understanding is a fountain of life to its possessors, but the instruction of fools is evil.

Good words are [like] honeycombs, and the sweetness thereof is a healing of the soul.

A word in the heart of a man is a deep water, and a river and fountain of life spring forth.

Incline your ear to the words of wise men; hear also my word, and apply your heart,

that you may know that they are good, and if you take them to heart, they shall also gladden you on your lips;

And because the Preacher was wise above [others, so it was] that he taught men excellent knowledge, and the ear will trace out the parables.

The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails firmly fastened, which have been given from one shepherd by agreement.

For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus' sake.

But we have this treasure in clay vessels, so that the extraordinary character of the power may be of God and not of us;

as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

with reference to which, when you read, you can understand my insight in the mystery of Christ,

To me, the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

The mandrakes have given a smell, and at our doors are all kinds of choice fruits, new and old. O my kinsman, I have kept [them] for you.

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

Brothers, I am not writing a new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning.

Again, a new commandment I am writing to you, which [thing] is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light already shines.