“Woe to you, experts in the law ¹  and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You cross land and sea to make one convert, ²  and when you get one, ³  you make him twice as much a child of hell ⁴  as yourselves!

Am I now trying to gain the approval of people, ¹  or of God? Or am I trying to please people? ²  If I were still trying to please ³  people, ⁴  I would not be a slave ⁵  of Christ!

A generous woman ¹  gains honor, and ruthless men ²  seize wealth. ³ 

If ¹  this matter is heard before the governor, ²  we will satisfy him ³  and keep you out of trouble.” ⁴ 

In this way you will live ¹  a decent life before outsiders and not be in need. ² 

Also, if anyone competes as an athlete, he will not be crowned as the winner ¹  unless he competes according to the rules. ² 

For judgment is merciless for the one who has shown no mercy. But mercy triumphs over ¹  judgment.

Then he became very attached ¹  to Dinah, Jacob’s daughter. He fell in love with the young woman and spoke romantically to her. ² 

for the Lord your God goes with you to fight on your behalf against your enemies to give you victory.” ¹ 

Then we will shout for joy over your ¹  victory; we will rejoice ²  in the name of our God! May the Lord grant all your requests!

He will experience my faithfulness and loyal love, ¹  and by my name he will win victories. ² 

Do not those who devise ¹  evil go astray? But those who plan good exhibit ²  faithful covenant love. ³ 

“My, how good you have become at chasing after your lovers! ¹  Why, you could even teach prostitutes a thing or two! ² 

How long will you vacillate, ¹  you who were once like an unfaithful daughter? ²  For I, the Lord, promise ³  to bring about something new ⁴  on the earth, something as unique as a woman protecting a man!’” ⁵ 

Zedekiah will be carried off to Babylon and will remain there until I have fully dealt with him. ¹  I, the Lord, affirm it! ²  Even if you ³  continue to fight against the Babylonians, ⁴  you cannot win.’”

Then with smooth words he will defile ¹  those who have rejected ²  the covenant. But the people who are loyal to ³  their God will act valiantly. ⁴ 

However, in the future I will allure her; ¹  I will lead ²  her back into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her.

Now food will not bring us close to God. We are no worse if we do not eat and no better if we do.

not like those who do their work only when someone is watching ¹  – as people-pleasers – but as slaves of Christ doing the will of God from the heart. ² 

For we never appeared ¹  with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed – God is our witness –