Historical Records From Adam to Abraham

To Noah’s Sons

1 Adam,^(A) Seth, Enosh, ² Kenan,^(B) Mahalalel,^(C) Jared,^{(D) 3} Enoch,^(E) Methuselah,^(F) Lamech,^(G) Noah.^(H)

The Japhethites^(K)

The Hamites^(L)

The Semites^(M)

The Family of Abraham

Descendants of Hagar^(O)

Descendants of Keturah^(P)

Descendants of Sarah^(S)

Esau’s Sons

The People of Seir in Edom^(AA)

The Rulers of Edom^(AC)

Israel’s Sons^(AE)

2 These were the sons of Israel:

Judah^(AF)

To Hezron’s Sons

From Ram Son of Hezron

Caleb Son of Hezron

Jerahmeel Son of Hezron

The Clans of Caleb

The Rekabites

35 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord during the reign of Jehoiakim^(A) son of Josiah king of Judah: ² “Go to the Rekabite^(B) family and invite them to come to one of the side rooms^(C) of the house of the Lord and give them wine to drink.”

³ So I went to get Jaazaniah son of Jeremiah, the son of Habazziniah, and his brothers and all his sons—the whole family of the Rekabites. ⁴ I brought them into the house of the Lord, into the room of the sons of Hanan son of Igdaliah the man of God.^(D) It was next to the room of the officials, which was over that of Maaseiah son of Shallum^(E) the doorkeeper.^{(F) 5} Then I set bowls full of wine and some cups before the Rekabites and said to them, “Drink some wine.”

⁶ But they replied, “We do not drink wine, because our forefather Jehonadab^[a](G) son of Rekab gave us this command: ‘Neither you nor your descendants must ever drink wine.^{(H) 7} Also you must never build houses, sow seed or plant vineyards; you must never have any of these things, but must always live in tents.^(I) Then you will live a long time in the land^(J) where you are nomads.’ ⁸ We have obeyed everything our forefather^(K) Jehonadab son of Rekab commanded us. Neither we nor our wives nor our sons and daughters have ever drunk wine ⁹ or built houses to live in or had vineyards, fields or crops.^{(L) 10} We have lived in tents and have fully obeyed everything our forefather Jehonadab commanded us. ¹¹ But when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon invaded^(M) this land, we said, ‘Come, we must go to Jerusalem^(N) to escape the Babylonian^[b] and Aramean armies.’ So we have remained in Jerusalem.”

¹² Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying: ¹³ “This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Go and tell^(O) the people of Judah and those living in Jerusalem, ‘Will you not learn a lesson^(P) and obey my words?’ declares the Lord. ¹⁴ ‘Jehonadab son of Rekab ordered his descendants not to drink wine and this command has been kept. To this day they do not drink wine, because they obey their forefather’s command.^(Q) But I have spoken to you again and again,^(R) yet you have not obeyed^(S) me. ¹⁵ Again and again I sent all my servants the prophets^(T) to you. They said, “Each of you must turn^(U) from your wicked ways and reform^(V) your actions; do not follow other gods^(W) to serve them. Then you will live in the land^(X) I have given to you and your ancestors.” But you have not paid attention or listened^(Y) to me. ¹⁶ The descendants of Jehonadab son of Rekab have carried out the command their forefather^(Z) gave them, but these people have not obeyed me.’

¹⁷ “Therefore this is what the Lord God Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘Listen! I am going to bring on Judah and on everyone living in Jerusalem every disaster^(AA) I pronounced against them. I spoke to them, but they did not listen;^(AB) I called to them, but they did not answer.’”^(AC)

¹⁸ Then Jeremiah said to the family of the Rekabites, “This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘You have obeyed the command of your forefather^(AD) Jehonadab and have followed all his instructions and have done everything he ordered.’ ¹⁹ Therefore this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘Jehonadab son of Rekab will never fail^(AE) to have a descendant to serve^(AF) me.’”

Jehoiakim Burns Jeremiah’s Scroll

36 In the fourth year of Jehoiakim^(AG) son of Josiah king of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from the Lord: ² “Take a scroll^(AH) and write on it all the words^(AI) I have spoken to you concerning Israel, Judah and all the other nations from the time I began speaking to you in the reign of Josiah^(AJ) till now. ³ Perhaps^(AK) when the people of Judah hear^(AL) about every disaster I plan to inflict on them, they will each turn^(AM) from their wicked ways; then I will forgive^(AN) their wickedness and their sin.”

⁴ So Jeremiah called Baruch^(AO) son of Neriah,^(AP) and while Jeremiah dictated^(AQ) all the words the Lord had spoken to him, Baruch wrote them on the scroll.^{(AR) 5} Then Jeremiah told Baruch, “I am restricted; I am not allowed to go to the Lord’s temple. ⁶ So you go to the house of the Lord on a day of fasting^(AS) and read to the people from the scroll the words of the Lord that you wrote as I dictated.^(AT) Read them to all the people of Judah^(AU) who come in from their towns. ⁷ Perhaps they will bring their petition^(AV) before the Lord and will each turn^(AW) from their wicked ways, for the anger^(AX) and wrath pronounced against this people by the Lord are great.”

⁸ Baruch son of Neriah did everything Jeremiah the prophet told him to do; at the Lord’s temple he read the words of the Lord from the scroll. ⁹ In the ninth month^(AY) of the fifth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, a time of fasting^(AZ) before the Lord was proclaimed for all the people in Jerusalem and those who had come from the towns of Judah. ¹⁰ From the room of Gemariah^(BA) son of Shaphan^(BB) the secretary,^(BC) which was in the upper courtyard at the entrance of the New Gate^(BD) of the temple, Baruch read to all the people at the Lord’s temple the words of Jeremiah from the scroll.

¹¹ When Micaiah son of Gemariah, the son of Shaphan, heard all the words of the Lord from the scroll, ¹² he went down to the secretary’s^(BE) room in the royal palace, where all the officials were sitting: Elishama the secretary, Delaiah son of Shemaiah, Elnathan^(BF) son of Akbor, Gemariah son of Shaphan, Zedekiah son of Hananiah, and all the other officials.^{(BG) 13} After Micaiah told them everything he had heard Baruch read to the people from the scroll, ¹⁴ all the officials sent Jehudi^(BH) son of Nethaniah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Cushi, to say to Baruch, “Bring the scroll^(BI) from which you have read to the people and come.” So Baruch son of Neriah went to them with the scroll in his hand. ¹⁵ They said to him, “Sit down, please, and read it to us.”

So Baruch read it to them. ¹⁶ When they heard all these words, they looked at each other in fear^(BJ) and said to Baruch, “We must report all these words to the king.” ¹⁷ Then they asked Baruch, “Tell us, how did you come to write^(BK) all this? Did Jeremiah dictate it?”

¹⁸ “Yes,” Baruch replied, “he dictated^(BL) all these words to me, and I wrote them in ink on the scroll.”

¹⁹ Then the officials^(BM) said to Baruch, “You and Jeremiah, go and hide.^(BN) Don’t let anyone know where you are.”

²⁰ After they put the scroll in the room of Elishama the secretary, they went to the king in the courtyard and reported everything to him. ²¹ The king sent Jehudi^(BO) to get the scroll, and Jehudi brought it from the room of Elishama the secretary and read it to the king^(BP) and all the officials standing beside him. ²² It was the ninth month and the king was sitting in the winter apartment,^(BQ) with a fire burning in the firepot in front of him. ²³ Whenever Jehudi had read three or four columns of the scroll,^(BR) the king cut them off with a scribe’s knife and threw them into the firepot, until the entire scroll was burned in the fire.^{(BS) 24} The king and all his attendants who heard all these words showed no fear,^(BT) nor did they tear their clothes.^{(BU) 25} Even though Elnathan, Delaiah^(BV) and Gemariah^(BW) urged the king not to burn the scroll, he would not listen to them. ²⁶ Instead, the king commanded Jerahmeel, a son of the king, Seraiah son of Azriel and Shelemiah son of Abdeel to arrest^(BX) Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet. But the Lord had hidden^(BY) them.

²⁷ After the king burned the scroll containing the words that Baruch had written at Jeremiah’s dictation,^(BZ) the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: ²⁸ “Take another scroll^(CA) and write on it all the words that were on the first scroll, which Jehoiakim king of Judah burned up. ²⁹ Also tell Jehoiakim king of Judah, ‘This is what the Lord says: You burned that scroll and said, “Why did you write on it that the king of Babylon would certainly come and destroy this land and wipe from it^(CB) both man and beast?”^{(CC) 30} Therefore this is what the Lord says about Jehoiakim^(CD) king of Judah: He will have no one to sit on the throne of David; his body will be thrown out^(CE) and exposed^(CF) to the heat by day and the frost by night.^{(CG) 31} I will punish him and his children^(CH) and his attendants for their wickedness; I will bring on them and those living in Jerusalem and the people of Judah every disaster^(CI) I pronounced against them, because they have not listened.^(CJ)’”

³² So Jeremiah took another scroll and gave it to the scribe Baruch son of Neriah, and as Jeremiah dictated,^(CK) Baruch wrote^(CL) on it all the words of the scroll that Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned^(CM) in the fire. And many similar words were added to them.

Unity and Maturity in the Body of Christ

4 As a prisoner^(A) for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy^(B) of the calling^(C) you have received. ² Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another^(D) in love.^{(E) 3} Make every effort to keep the unity^(F) of the Spirit through the bond of peace.^{(G) 4} There is one body^(H) and one Spirit,^(I) just as you were called to one hope when you were called^(J); ⁵ one Lord,^(K) one faith, one baptism; ⁶ one God and Father of all,^(L) who is over all and through all and in all.^(M)

⁷ But to each one of us^(N) grace^(O) has been given^(P) as Christ apportioned it. ⁸ This is why it^[a] says:

⁹ (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions^[c]? ¹⁰ He who descended is the very one who ascended^(S) higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)^{(T) 11} So Christ himself gave^(U) the apostles,^(V) the prophets,^(W) the evangelists,^(X) the pastors and teachers,^{(Y) 12} to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ^(Z) may be built up^{(AA) 13} until we all reach unity^(AB) in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God^(AC) and become mature,^(AD) attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.^(AE)

¹⁴ Then we will no longer be infants,^(AF) tossed back and forth by the waves,^(AG) and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.^{(AH) 15} Instead, speaking the truth in love,^(AI) we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head,^(AJ) that is, Christ. ¹⁶ From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows^(AK) and builds itself up^(AL) in love,^(AM) as each part does its work.

Instructions for Christian Living

¹⁷ So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer^(AN) live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.^{(AO) 18} They are darkened in their understanding^(AP) and separated from the life of God^(AQ) because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.^{(AR) 19} Having lost all sensitivity,^(AS) they have given themselves over^(AT) to sensuality^(AU) so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.

²⁰ That, however, is not the way of life you learned ²¹ when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. ²² You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off^(AV) your old self,^(AW) which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;^{(AX) 23} to be made new in the attitude of your minds;^{(AY) 24} and to put on^(AZ) the new self,^(BA) created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.^(BB)

²⁵ Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully^(BC) to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.^{(BD) 26} “In your anger do not sin”^[d]:^(BE) Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, ²⁷ and do not give the devil a foothold.^{(BF) 28} Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work,^(BG) doing something useful with their own hands,^(BH) that they may have something to share with those in need.^(BI)

²⁹ Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths,^(BJ) but only what is helpful for building others up^(BK) according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. ³⁰ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God,^(BL) with whom you were sealed^(BM) for the day of redemption.^{(BN) 31} Get rid of^(BO) all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.^{(BP) 32} Be kind and compassionate to one another,^(BQ) forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.^(BR) 5 ¹ Follow God’s example,^(BS) therefore, as dearly loved children^{(BT) 2} and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us^(BU) and gave himself up for us^(BV) as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.^(BW)

³ But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality,^(BX) or of any kind of impurity, or of greed,^(BY) because these are improper for God’s holy people. ⁴ Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk^(BZ) or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.^{(CA) 5} For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater^(CB)—has any inheritance^(CC) in the kingdom of Christ and of God.^{[e](CD) 6} Let no one deceive you^(CE) with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath^(CF) comes on those who are disobedient.^{(CG) 7} Therefore do not be partners with them.

⁸ For you were once^(CH) darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light^{(CI) 9} (for the fruit^(CJ) of the light consists in all goodness,^(CK) righteousness and truth) ¹⁰ and find out what pleases the Lord.^{(CL) 11} Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness,^(CM) but rather expose them. ¹² It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. ¹³ But everything exposed by the light^(CN) becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. ¹⁴ This is why it is said:

¹⁵ Be very careful, then, how you live^(CR)—not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶ making the most of every opportunity,^(CS) because the days are evil.^{(CT) 17} Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.^{(CU) 18} Do not get drunk on wine,^(CV) which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,^{(CW) 19} speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit.^(CX) Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, ²⁰ always giving thanks^(CY) to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Instructions for Christian Households^(CZ)

²¹ Submit to one another^(DA) out of reverence for Christ.

²² Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands^(DB) as you do to the Lord.^{(DC) 23} For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church,^(DD) his body, of which he is the Savior. ²⁴ Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands^(DE) in everything.

²⁵ Husbands, love your wives,^(DF) just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her^{(DG) 26} to make her holy,^(DH) cleansing^[f] her by the washing^(DI) with water through the word, ²⁷ and to present her to himself^(DJ) as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.^{(DK) 28} In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives^(DL) as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. ²⁹ After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— ³⁰ for we are members of his body.^{(DM) 31} “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”^{[g](DN) 32} This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. ³³ However, each one of you also must love his wife^(DO) as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.