justas you knowhowwe [were] exhortingand encouragingand imploringeachoneof you as a father[would] his ownchildren,
Then Davidsaidto his sonSolomon,"Be strongand courageous,and act;do not fearnorbe dismayed,for the LORDGod,my God,is with you. He will not failyou norforsakeyou untilallthe workfor the serviceof the houseof the LORDis finished.
"As for you, my sonSolomon,knowthe Godof your father,and serveHim with a wholeheartand a willingmind;for the LORDsearchesallhearts,and understandseveryintentof the thoughts.Ifyou seekHim, He will let you findHim; but ifyou forsakeHim, He will rejectyou forever.
Come,you children,listento me; I will teachyou the fearof the LORD.
My son,ifsinnersenticeyou, Do not consent.
My son,do not walkin the waywith them. Keepyour feetfrom their path,
My son,ifyou will receivemy wordsAnd treasuremy commandmentswithinyou,
My son,do not forgetmy teaching,But let your heartkeepmy commandments;
My son,ifyou have becomesuretyfor your neighbor,Have givena pledgefor a stranger,
My son,keepmy wordsAnd treasuremy commandmentswithinyou.
Nowtherefore, [my] sons,listento me, And payattentionto the wordsof my mouth.
and have him standbeforeEleazarthe priestand beforeallthe congregation,and commissionhim in their sight.
for I havefivebrothers--in orderthat he may warnthem, sothat they will not alsocometo thisplaceof torment.'
When he had gone throughthosedistrictsand had giventhem muchexhortation,he cameto Greece.
SothisI say,and affirmtogetherwith the Lord,that you walkno longerjustas the Gentilesalsowalk,in the futilityof their mind,
But chargeJoshuaand encouragehim and strengthenhim, for he shall goacrossat the headof thispeople,and he will givethem as an inheritancethe landwhichyou will see.'
Then the LORDsaidto Moses,"Behold,the timefor you to dieis near;callJoshua,and presentyourselves at the tentof meeting,that I may commissionhim." So Mosesand Joshuawentand presentedthemselves at the tentof meeting.
But we provedto be gentleamongyou, as a nursing[mother] tenderly caresfor her ownchildren.
Finallythen,brethren,we requestand exhortyou in the LordJesus,that as you receivedfrom us [instruction] as to howyou oughtto walkand pleaseGod(justas you actuallydo walk),that you excelstill more.
[and] that noman transgressand defraudhis brotherin the matterbecausethe Lordis [the] avengerin allthese things,justas we alsotold you beforeand solemnly warned[you].
Thereforeencourageone anotherand buildup oneanother,justas you alsoare doing.
We urgeyou, brethren,admonishthe unruly,encouragethe fainthearted,helpthe weak,be patientwith everyone.
Do you not rememberthat while I was stillwith you, I was tellingyou these things?
Nowsuch personswe commandand exhortin the LordJesusChristto workin quiet fashionand eattheir ownbread.
I solemnly chargeyou in the presenceof Godand of ChristJesusand of [His] chosenangels,to maintainthese[principles] withoutbias,doingnothingin a [spirit of] partiality.
Prescribethese thingsas well,sothat they may be above reproach.
I chargeyou in the presenceof God,who gives lifeto all things,and of ChristJesus,who testifiedthe goodconfessionbeforePontiusPilate,
Instructthosewho are richin thispresentworldnot to be conceitedorto fix their hopeon the uncertaintyof riches,but on God,who richlysuppliesus with all thingsto enjoy.
Thosewho havebelieversas their mastersmust not be disrespectfulto them becausethey are brethren,but must servethem all the more,becausethosewho partakeof the benefitare believersand beloved.Teachand preachthese[principles].
These thingsspeakand exhortand reprovewith allauthority.Let no onedisregardyou.
Likewiseurgethe young mento be sensible;
[Urge] bondslavesto be subjectto their ownmastersin everything,to be well-pleasing,not argumentative,
But I urgeyou, brethren,bearwith thiswordof exhortation,for I have writtento you briefly.
I havenogreaterjoythan this,to hearof my childrenwalkingin the truth.
