Now on the topic of brotherly love ¹  you have no need for anyone to write you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another.

And indeed you are practicing it toward all the brothers and sisters ¹  in all of Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more, ² 

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with you all.

For this I was appointed a preacher and apostle – I am telling the truth; ¹  I am not lying – and a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

But if someone does not provide for his own, ¹  especially his own family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

No one in military service gets entangled in matters of everyday life; otherwise he will not please ¹  the one who recruited him.

At my first defense no one appeared in my support; instead they all deserted me – may they not be held accountable for it.

The reason I left you in Crete was to set in order the remaining matters and to appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.

And no creature is hidden from God, ¹  but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account.

For every high priest is taken from among the people ¹  and appointed ²  to represent them before God, ³  to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.

This was a symbol for the time then present, when gifts and sacrifices were offered that could not perfect the conscience of the worshiper.

For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a young cow sprinkled on those who are defiled consecrated them and provided ritual purity, ¹ 

For we know the one who said, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay,” ¹  and again, “The Lord will judge his people.” ² 

So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, and ¹  I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” ² 

Let your ¹  beauty ²  not be external – the braiding of hair and wearing of gold jewelry ³  or fine clothes –

But if you suffer as a Christian, ¹  do not be ashamed, but glorify ²  God that you bear such a name. ³ 

And regard the patience of our Lord as salvation, ¹  just as also our dear brother Paul ²  wrote to you, ³  according to the wisdom given to him,

To Sarah he said, “Look, I have given a thousand pieces of silver ¹  to your ‘brother.’ ²  This is compensation for you so that you will stand vindicated before all who are with you.” ³ 

My integrity will testify for me ¹  later on. ²  When you come to verify that I’ve taken only the wages we agreed on, ³  if I have in my possession any goat that is not speckled or spotted or any sheep that is not dark-colored, it will be considered stolen.” ⁴ 

The man ¹  replied, “Who made you a ruler ²  and a judge over us? Are you planning ³  to kill me like you killed that ⁴  Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid, thinking, ⁵  “Surely what I did ⁶  has become known.”