Therefore do not be partakers with them, ¹ 

I encourage you, then, be imitators of me.

You were bought with a price. Do not become slaves of men.

Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.

Therefore, be ¹  imitators of God as dearly loved children

Brothers and sisters, ¹  do not be children in your thinking. Instead, be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.

Be merciful, ¹  just as your Father is merciful.

Do not give offense to Jews or Greeks or to the church of God,

For this reason do not be foolish, but be wise ¹  by understanding ²  what the Lord’s will is.

But be sure you live out the message and do not merely listen to it and so deceive yourselves.

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, ¹  because you know that we will be judged more strictly. ² 

Therefore you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. ¹ 

You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” ¹ 

Do not become partners ¹  with those who do not believe, for what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship does light have with darkness?

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

Instead, ¹  be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you. ² 

Be imitators of me, ¹  brothers and sisters, ²  and watch carefully those who are living this way, just as you have us as an example.

“I ¹  am sending you out like sheep surrounded by wolves, ²  so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty but associate with the lowly. ¹  Do not be conceited. ² 

So do not be idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” ¹