For we do not proclaim ¹  ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your slaves ²  for Jesus’ sake.

Let us evaluate ¹  for ourselves what is right; ²  let us come to know among ourselves what is good.

But if we examined ourselves, we would not be judged.

But all the livestock and plunder from the cities we kept for ourselves.

Not that we are adequate ¹  in ourselves to consider anything as if it were coming from ourselves, but our adequacy ²  is from God,

If we say we do not bear the guilt of sin, ¹  we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.

Come, let’s drink deeply ¹  of lovemaking ²  until morning, let’s delight ourselves ³  with sexual intercourse. ⁴ 

We kept only the livestock and plunder from the cities for ourselves.

But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

Then they said, “Come, let’s build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens ¹  so that ²  we may make a name for ourselves. Otherwise ³  we will be scattered ⁴  across the face of the entire earth.”

Indeed we felt as if the sentence of death had been passed against us, ¹  so that we would not trust in ourselves ²  but in God who raises the dead.

Then ¹  they said, “Why do we need further testimony? We have heard it ourselves ²  from his own lips!” ³ 

who said, ¹  “Let’s take over ²  the pastures of God!”

We accept responsibility for fulfilling ¹  the commands to give ²  one third of a shekel each year for the work of the temple ³  of our God,

But we who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak, and not just please ourselves. ¹ 

Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? We don’t need letters of recommendation to you or from you as some other people do, do we? ¹ 

Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves ¹  from everything that could defile the body ²  and the spirit, and thus accomplish ³  holiness out of reverence for God. ⁴ 

I called for a fast there by the Ahava Canal, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and seek from him a safe journey ¹  for us, our children, and all our property.

Not only this, but we ourselves also, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, ¹  groan inwardly as we eagerly await our adoption, ²  the redemption of our bodies. ³ 

They ¹  went ²  to the chief priests ³  and the elders and said, “We have bound ourselves with a solemn oath ⁴  not to partake ⁵  of anything until we have killed Paul.