speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music ¹  in ²  your hearts to the Lord,

so that he ¹  may present the church to himself as glorious – not having a stain or wrinkle, or any such blemish, but holy and blameless. ² 

Fathers, ¹  do not provoke your children to anger, ²  but raise them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

I want you to know, brothers and sisters, ¹  that my situation has actually turned out to advance the gospel: ² 

He humbled himself, by becoming obedient to the point of death – even death on a cross!

For we are the circumcision, ¹  the ones who worship by the Spirit of God, ²  exult in Christ Jesus, and do not rely on human credentials ³ 

¹  although we could have imposed our weight as apostles of Christ; instead we became ²  little children ³  among you. Like a nursing mother caring for her own children,

For we hear that some among you are living an undisciplined life, ¹  not doing their own work but meddling in the work of others. ² 

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.

But you, as a person dedicated to God, ¹  keep away from all that. ²  Instead pursue righteousness, godliness, faithfulness, love, endurance, and gentleness.

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

Instead he must be hospitable, devoted to what is good, sensible, upright, devout, and self-controlled.

Older women likewise are to exhibit behavior fitting for those who are holy, not slandering, not slaves to excessive drinking, but teaching what is good.

Instead someone testified somewhere: “What is man that you think of him ¹  or the son of man that you care for him?

But exhort one another each day, as long as it is called “Today,” that none of you may become hardened by sin’s deception.

so that you may not be sluggish, ¹  but imitators of those who through faith and perseverance inherit the promises.

for the law made nothing perfect. On the other hand a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.

and he entered once for all into the most holy place not by the blood of goats and calves but by his own blood, and so he himself secured ¹  eternal redemption.

So when he came into the world, he said, “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me.

But as it is, ¹  they aspire to a better land, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.