also to submit to people like this, and to everyone who cooperates in the work and labors hard.

Therefore I thought it necessary to urge these brothers to go to you in advance and to arrange ahead of time the generous contribution ¹  you had promised, so this may be ready as a generous gift ²  and not as something you feel forced to do. ³ 

She saddled the donkey and told her servant, “Lead on. ¹  Do not stop unless I say so.” ² 

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

But Ruth replied, “Stop urging me to abandon you! ¹  For wherever you go, I will go. Wherever you live, I will live. Your people will become my people, and your God will become my God.

“This is why ¹  my troubled thoughts bring me back ²  – because of my feelings ³  within me.

They destroy ¹  my path; they succeed in destroying me ²  without anyone assisting ³  them.

And in the same way you also should be glad and rejoice together with me.

Therefore I exhort you, brothers and sisters, ¹  by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice – alive, holy, and pleasing to God ²  – which is your reasonable service.

I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:

I was stone silent; ¹  I held back the urge to speak. ²  My frustration grew; ³ 

Older men are to be temperate, dignified, self-controlled, ¹  sound in faith, in love, and in endurance. ² 

Slaves ¹  are to be subject to their own masters in everything, ²  to do what is wanted and not talk back,

So communicate these things with the sort of exhortation or rebuke ¹  that carries full authority. ²  Don’t let anyone look down ³  on you.

For this reason I tell you, whatever you pray and ask for, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

When he went out from there, the experts in the law ¹  and the Pharisees began to oppose him bitterly, ²  and to ask him hostile questions ³  about many things,

Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His plea ¹  through us. We plead with you ²  on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God!”

Thus ¹  we urged ²  Titus that, just as he had previously begun this work, ³  so also he should complete this act of kindness ⁴  for you.

I beg you, brothers and sisters, ¹  become like me, because I have become like you. You have done me no wrong!

Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, ¹  to acknowledge those who labor among you and preside over you in the Lord and admonish you,