No one is concerned about justice; ¹  no one sets forth his case truthfully. They depend on false words ²  and tell lies; they conceive of oppression ³  and give birth to sin.

Why do you force me to witness injustice? ¹  Why do you put up with wrongdoing? ²  Destruction and violence confront ³  me; conflict is present and one must endure strife. ⁴ 

For out of the heart come evil ideas, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.

Then ¹  the experts in the law ²  and the Pharisees began to think ³  to themselves, ⁴  “Who is this man ⁵  who is uttering blasphemies? ⁶  Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

With many other words he testified ¹  and exhorted them saying, “Save yourselves from this perverse ²  generation!”

But some men from the Synagogue ¹  of the Freedmen (as it was called), ²  both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, as well as some from Cilicia and the province of Asia, ³  stood up and argued with Stephen.

But Saul became more and more capable, ¹  and was causing consternation ²  among the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving ³  that Jesus ⁴  is the Christ. ⁵ 

They had ¹  a sharp disagreement, ²  so that they parted company. Barnabas took along ³  Mark and sailed away to Cyprus, ⁴ 

They did not find me arguing ¹  with anyone or stirring up a crowd ²  in the temple courts ³  or in the synagogues ⁴  or throughout the city, ⁵ 

Rather they had several points of disagreement ¹  with him about their own religion ²  and about a man named Jesus ³  who was dead, whom Paul claimed ⁴  to be alive.

They ¹  show that the work of the law is written ²  in their hearts, as their conscience bears witness and their conflicting thoughts accuse or else defend ³  them, ⁴ 

Or do you not know, brothers and sisters ¹  (for I am speaking to those who know the law), that the law is lord over a person ²  as long as he lives?

For members of Chloe’s household have made it clear to me, my brothers and sisters, ¹  that there are quarrels ²  among you.

I say this to your shame! Is there no one among you wise enough to settle disputes between fellow Christians? ¹ 

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!

What I am saying is this: The law that came four hundred thirty years later does not cancel a covenant previously ratified by God, ¹  so as to invalidate the promise.

Let nobody deceive you with empty words, for because of these things God’s wrath comes on the sons of disobedience. ¹ 

Now such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to work quietly and so provide their own food to eat. ¹ 

nor to occupy themselves with myths and interminable genealogies. ¹  Such things promote useless speculations rather than God’s redemptive plan ²  that operates by faith.

Remind people ¹  of these things and solemnly charge them ²  before the Lord ³  not to wrangle over words. This is of no benefit; it just brings ruin on those who listen. ⁴