not addicted to wineorpugnacious,but gentle,peaceable,free from the love of money.
Soare the waysof everyonewho gainsby violence;It takesaway the lifeof its possessors.
He who profitsillicitlytroubleshis own house,But he who hatesbribeswill live.
The endof a matteris betterthanits beginning;Patienceof spiritis betterthanhaughtinessof spirit.
Woeto the proudcrownof the drunkardsof Ephraim,And to the fadingflowerof its gloriousbeauty,Whichis at the headof the fertilevalleyOf those who are overcomewith wine!
And thesealsoreelwith wineand staggerfrom strongdrink:The priestand the prophetreelwith strongdrink,They are confusedby wine,they staggerfrom strongdrink;They reelwhile having visions,They totter[when rendering] judgment.
"For from the leastof them even to the greatestof them, Everyoneis greedyfor gain,And from the propheteven to the priestEveryonedealsfalsely.
"ThereforeI will givetheir wivesto others,Their fieldsto newowners;Becausefrom the leasteven to the greatestEveryoneis greedyfor gain;From the propheteven to the priestEveryonepracticesdeceit.
"Norshall anyof the priestsdrinkwinewhen they enterthe innercourt.
"Do not drinkwineor strongdrink,neither you noryour sonswith you, when you comeinto the tentof meeting,so that you will not die--it is a perpetualstatutethroughout your generations--
"Ifa manwalkingafter windand falsehoodHad toldlies[and said], 'I will speakout to you concerning wineand liquor,'He would be spokesmanto thispeople.
Her leaderspronouncejudgmentfor a bribe,Her priestsinstructfor a priceAnd her prophetsdivinefor money.Yet they leanon the LORDsaying,"Is not the LORDin our midst?Calamitywill not comeupon us."
Thussaysthe LORDconcerningthe prophetswho leadmy peopleastray;When they have [something] to bitewith their teeth,They cry,"Peace,"But againsthim whoputsnothingin their mouthsThey declareholywar.
"Ohthat there were one among you who would shutthe gates,that you might not uselesslykindle[fire on] My altar!I am not pleasedwith you," saysthe LORDof hosts,"norwill I acceptan offeringfrom you.
And He saidto them, "It is written,MY HOUSESHALL BE CALLEDA HOUSEOF PRAYER;but you are makingit a ROBBERS'DEN."
"I have covetedno one'ssilverorgoldorclothes.
For such menare slaves,not of our LordChristbut of their ownappetites;and by their smoothand flattering speechthey deceivethe heartsof the unsuspecting.
And do not get drunkwith wine,for that is dissipation,but be filledwith the Spirit,
We urgeyou, brethren,admonishthe unruly,encouragethe fainthearted,helpthe weak,be patientwith everyone.
Deaconslikewise[must be] men of dignity,not double-tongued,oraddictedto muchwineorfond of sordid gain,
For menwill be lovers of self,lovers of money,boastful,arrogant,revilers,disobedientto parents,ungrateful,unholy,
whomustbe silencedbecausethey are upsettingwholefamilies,teachingthingsthey shouldnot [teach] for the sakeof sordidgain.
For the overseermustbe above reproachas God'ssteward,not self-willed,not quick-tempered,not addicted to wine,not pugnacious,not fond of sordid gain,
Older womenlikewiseare to be reverentin their behavior,not malicious gossipsnorenslavedto muchwine,teaching what is good,
to malignno one,to be peaceable,gentle,showingeveryconsiderationfor allmen.
[Make sure that] your characteris free from the love of money,being contentwith what you have;for He Himselfhas said,"I WILL NEVERDESERTYOU, NORWILL I EVERFORSAKEYOU,"
Whatis the sourceof quarrelsand conflictsamongyou? Is not the sourceyour pleasuresthat wage warin your members?
shepherdthe flockof Godamongyou, exercising oversightnot under compulsion,but voluntarily,accordingto [the will of] God;and not for sordid gain,but with eagerness;
and in [their] greedthey will exploityou with false words;their judgmentfrom long agois not idle,and their destructionis not asleep.
Woeto them! For they have gonethe wayof Cain,and for paythey have rushed headlonginto the errorof Balaam,and perishedin the rebellionof Korah.
I, John,your brotherand fellow partakerin the tribulationand kingdomand perseverance[which are] in Jesus,was on the islandcalledPatmosbecauseof the wordof Godand the testimonyof Jesus.
His sons,however, did not walkin his ways,but turnedasideafterdishonestgainand tookbribesand pervertedjustice.
