Ezek. 9

9:1 Then he shouted in my ears, “Approach, you who are to visit destruction on the city, each with his destructive weapon in his hand!” 2Next I noticed six men coming from the direction of the upper gate that faces north, each with his war club in his hand. Among them was a man dressed in linen with a writing kit at his side. They came and stood beside the bronze altar.

3Then the glory of the God of Israel went up from the cherub where it had rested to the threshold of the temple. He called to the man dressed in linen who had the writing kit at his side. 4The Lord said to him, “Go through the city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of the people who moan and groan over all the abominations practiced in it.”

5While I listened, he said to the others, “Go through the city after him and strike people down; do not let your eye pity nor spare anyone! 6Old men, young men, young women, little children, and women—wipe them out! But do not touch anyone who has the mark. Begin at my sanctuary!” So they began with the elders who were at the front of the temple.

7He said to them, “Defile the temple and fill the courtyards with corpses. Go!” So they went out and struck people down throughout the city. 8While they were striking them down, I was left alone, and I threw myself face down and cried out, “Ah, Sovereign Lord! Will you destroy the entire remnant of Israel when you pour out your fury on Jerusalem?”

9He said to me, “The sin of the house of Israel and Judah is extremely great; the land is full of murder, and the city is full of corruption, for they say, ‘The Lord has abandoned the land, and the Lord does not see!’ 10But as for me, my eye will not pity them nor will I spare them; I hereby repay them for what they have done.”

11Next I noticed the man dressed in linen with the writing kit at his side bringing back word: “I have done just as you commanded me.”

Ps. 71

71:1 In you, O Lord, I have taken shelter.

Never let me be humiliated.

2Vindicate me by rescuing me.

Listen to me. Deliver me.

3Be my protector and refuge,

a stronghold where I can be safe.

For you are my high ridge and my stronghold.

4My God, rescue me from the power of the wicked,

from the hand of the cruel oppressor.

5For you are my hope;

O Sovereign Lord, I have trusted in you since I was young.

6I have leaned on you since birth;

you pulled me from my mother’s womb.

I praise you continually.

7Many are appalled when they see me,

but you are my secure shelter.

8I praise you constantly

and speak of your splendor all day long.

9Do not reject me in my old age.

When my strength fails, do not abandon me.

10For my enemies talk about me;

those waiting for a chance to kill me plot my demise.

11They say, “God has abandoned him.

Run and seize him, for there is no one who will rescue him.”

12O God, do not remain far away from me.

My God, hurry and help me.

13May my accusers be humiliated and defeated.

May those who want to harm me be covered with scorn and disgrace.

14As for me, I will wait continually,

and will continue to praise you.

15I will tell about your justice,

and all day long proclaim your salvation,

though I cannot fathom its full extent.

16I will come and tell about the mighty acts of the Sovereign Lord.

I will proclaim your justice—yours alone.

17O God, you have taught me since I was young,

and I am still declaring your amazing deeds.

18Even when I am old and gray,

O God, do not abandon me,

until I tell the next generation about your strength

and those coming after me about your power.

19Your justice, O God, extends to the skies above;

you have done great things.

O God, who can compare to you?

20Though you have allowed me to experience much trouble and distress,

revive me once again.

Bring me up once again from the depths of the earth.

21Raise me to a position of great honor.

Turn and comfort me.

22I will express my thanks to you with a stringed instrument,

praising your faithfulness, O my God.

I will sing praises to you accompanied by a harp,

O Holy One of Israel.

23My lips will shout for joy. Yes, I will sing your praises.

I will praise you when you rescue me.

24All day long my tongue will also tell about your justice,

for those who want to harm me will be embarrassed and ashamed.

1 Tim. 5:1–16

5:1 Do not address an older man harshly but appeal to him as a father. Speak to younger men as brothers, 2older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters—with complete purity.

3Honor widows who are truly in need. 4But if a widow has children or grandchildren, they should first learn to fulfill their duty toward their own household and so repay their parents what is owed them. For this is what pleases God. 5But the widow who is truly in need, and completely on her own, has set her hope on God and continues in her pleas and prayers night and day. 6But the one who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives. 7Reinforce these commands, so that they will be beyond reproach. 8But if someone does not provide for his own, especially his own family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

9No widow should be put on the list unless she is at least sixty years old, was the wife of one husband, 10and has a reputation for good works: as one who has raised children, practiced hospitality, washed the feet of the saints, helped those in distress—as one who has exhibited all kinds of good works. 11But do not accept younger widows on the list, because their passions may lead them away from Christ and they will desire to marry, 12and so incur judgment for breaking their former pledge. 13And besides that, going around from house to house they learn to be lazy, and they are not only lazy, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things they should not. 14So I want younger women to marry, raise children, and manage a household, in order to give the adversary no opportunity to vilify us. 15For some have already wandered away to follow Satan. 16If a believing woman has widows in her family, let her help them. The church should not be burdened so that it may help the widows who are truly in need.