And Jesus saidto them, "Thereforeeveryscribewho has become a discipleof the kingdomof heavenis likea head of a household,whobringsout of his treasurethings newand old."
For Ezrahad sethis heartto studythe lawof the LORDand to practice[it], and to teach[His] statutesand ordinancesin Israel.
"I, even I, KingArtaxerxes,issuea decreeto allthe treasurerswhoare [in the provinces] beyondthe River,that whateverEzrathe priest,the scribeof the lawof the Godof heaven,may requireof you, it shall be donediligently,
ThisEzrawentup from Babylon,and he was a scribeskilledin the lawof Moses,whichthe LORDGodof Israelhad given;and the kinggrantedhim allhe requestedbecause the handof the LORDhis God[was] upon him.
The fruitof the righteousis a treeof life,And he who is wisewinssouls.
The lipsof the wisespreadknowledge,But the heartsof foolsare not so.
The wordsof a man'smouthare deepwaters;The fountainof wisdomis a bubblingbrook.
"The mandrakeshave givenforth fragrance;And overour doorsare allchoice[fruits], Both newand old,Which I have savedup for you, my beloved.
"The goodmanbringsout of [his] goodtreasurewhat is good;and the evilmanbringsout of [his] eviltreasurewhat is evil.
"Have you understoodallthese things?"They saidto Him, "Yes."
WhenJesushad finishedtheseparables,He departedfrom there.
"Therefore,behold,I am sendingyou prophetsand wise menand scribes;someof them you will killand crucify,and someof them you will scourgein your synagogues,and persecutefrom cityto city,
"Gothereforeand make disciplesof allthe nations,baptizingthem in the nameof the Fatherand the Sonand the HolySpirit,
"For thisreasonalsothe wisdomof Godsaid,I will sendto them prophetsand apostles,and [some] of them they will killand [some] they will persecute,
"A newcommandmentI giveto you, that you loveoneanother,evenas I have lovedyou, that you alsoloveone another.
as sorrowfulyetalwaysrejoicing,as pooryetmakingmanyrich,as havingnothingyetpossessingall things.
By referring to this,when you readyou canunderstandmy insightinto the mysteryof Christ,
To me, the very leastof allsaints,thisgracewas given,to preachto the Gentilesthe unfathomablerichesof Christ,
justas you learned[it] from Epaphras,our belovedfellow bond-servant,whois a faithfulservantof Christon our behalf,
Let the wordof Christrichlydwellwithinyou, with allwisdomteachingand admonishingone anotherwith psalms[and] hymns[and] spiritualsongs,singingwith thankfulnessin your heartsto God.
[and] not a new convert,sothat he will not become conceitedand fallinto the condemnationincurred by the devil.
holding fastthe faithfulwordwhich is in accordancewith the teaching,sothat he will be ablebothto exhortin sounddoctrineand to refutethosewho contradict.
