2 Therefore xan overseer1 must be above reproach, ythe husband of one wife,2 zsober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, ahospitable, bable to teach,
6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may fbecome puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil.
8 Therefore it says,
f“When he ascended on high ghe led a host of captives,
and he gave gifts to men.”1
9 (hIn saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into ithe lower regions, the earth?2 10 He who descended is the one who also jascended kfar above all the heavens, that he might lfill all things.) 11 And mhe gave the napostles, the prophets, the oevangelists, the pshepherds3 and teachers,4
6 My people are destroyed vfor lack of knowledge;
wbecause you have rejected knowledge,
I reject you xfrom being a priest to me.
And since you have forgotten the law of your God,
yI also will forget your children.
7 For mthe lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people1 should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.
2 aIf you will not listen, if you will not take it to heart to give honor to my name, says the Lord of hosts, then I will send bthe curse upon you and I will curse cyour blessings. Indeed, I have already cursed them, because you do not lay it to heart.
