Psalm 101

Of David. A psalm.

⁹ In King Hezekiah’s fourth year,^(A) which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Shalmaneser king of Assyria marched against Samaria and laid siege to it. ¹⁰ At the end of three years the Assyrians took it. So Samaria was captured in Hezekiah’s sixth year, which was the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel. ¹¹ The king^(B) of Assyria deported Israel to Assyria and settled them in Halah, in Gozan on the Habor River and in towns of the Medes.^{(C) 12} This happened because they had not obeyed the Lord their God, but had violated his covenant^(D)—all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded.^(E) They neither listened to the commands^(F) nor carried them out.

¹³ In the fourteenth year^(G) of King Hezekiah’s reign, Sennacherib king of Assyria attacked all the fortified cities of Judah^(H) and captured them. ¹⁴ So Hezekiah king of Judah sent this message to the king of Assyria at Lachish:^(I) “I have done wrong.^(J) Withdraw from me, and I will pay whatever you demand of me.” The king of Assyria exacted from Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents^[a] of silver and thirty talents^[b] of gold. ¹⁵ So Hezekiah gave^(K) him all the silver that was found in the temple of the Lord and in the treasuries of the royal palace.

¹⁶ At this time Hezekiah king of Judah stripped off the gold with which he had covered the doors^(L) and doorposts of the temple of the Lord, and gave it to the king of Assyria.

Sennacherib Threatens Jerusalem^(M)(N)

¹⁷ The king of Assyria sent his supreme commander,^(O) his chief officer and his field commander with a large army, from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. They came up to Jerusalem and stopped at the aqueduct of the Upper Pool,^(P) on the road to the Washerman’s Field. ¹⁸ They called for the king; and Eliakim^(Q) son of Hilkiah the palace administrator, Shebna^(R) the secretary, and Joah son of Asaph the recorder went out to them.

⁶ If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters,^[a] you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith^(A) and of the good teaching that you have followed.^{(B) 7} Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales;^(C) rather, train yourself to be godly.^{(D) 8} For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things,^(E) holding promise for both the present life^(F) and the life to come.^{(G) 9} This is a trustworthy saying^(H) that deserves full acceptance. ¹⁰ That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God,^(I) who is the Savior of all people,^(J) and especially of those who believe.

¹¹ Command and teach these things.^{(K) 12} Don’t let anyone look down on you^(L) because you are young, but set an example^(M) for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith^(N) and in purity. ¹³ Until I come,^(O) devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture,^(P) to preaching and to teaching. ¹⁴ Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy^(Q) when the body of elders^(R) laid their hands on you.^(S)

¹⁵ Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. ¹⁶ Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save^(T) both yourself and your hearers.