Greet Andronicus and Junia, ¹  my compatriots ²  and my fellow prisoners. They are well known ³  to the apostles, ⁴  and they were in Christ before me.

“Everything is lawful,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is lawful,” ¹  but not everything builds others up. ² 

Now because we are fellow workers, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain. ¹ 

For how ¹  were you treated worse than the other churches, except that I myself was not a burden to you? Forgive me this injustice!

The only thing I want to learn from you is this: Did you receive the Spirit by doing the works of the law ¹  or by believing what you heard? ² 

Slaves, ¹  obey your human masters ²  with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart as to Christ,

So then, my brothers and sisters, ¹  dear friends whom I long to see, my joy and crown, stand in the Lord in this way, my dear friends!

Everyone with me greets you. Greet those who love us in the faith. ¹  Grace be with you all. ² 

At the same time also, prepare a place for me to stay, for I hope that through your prayers I will be given back to you.

As it says, ¹  “Oh, that today you would listen as he speaks! ²  Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” ³ 

So since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us give thanks, and through this let us offer worship pleasing to God in devotion and awe.

you yourselves, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood and to offer ¹  spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Give a shepherd’s care to ¹  God’s flock among you, exercising oversight ²  not merely as a duty ³  but willingly under God’s direction, ⁴  not for shameful profit but eagerly.

and ¹  whatever we ask we receive from him, because ²  we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing to him.

They ¹  have testified to your love before the church. ²  You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. ³ 

And to the one who conquers ¹  and who continues in ²  my deeds until the end, I will give him authority over the nations ³  –

If a man marries a woman and she does not please him because he has found something offensive ¹  in her, then he may draw up a divorce document, give it to her, and evict her from his house.

Here are my virgin daughter and my guest’s ¹  concubine. I will send them out and you can abuse them and do to them whatever you like. ²  But don’t do such a disgraceful thing to this man!”

Eli ¹  said, “What message did he speak to you? Don’t conceal it from me. God will judge you severely ²  if you conceal from me anything that he said to you!”

So Jonathan spoke on David’s behalf ¹  to his father Saul. He said to him, “The king should not sin against his servant David, for he has not sinned against you. On the contrary, his actions have been very beneficial ²  for you.