My friends, if someone is caught in any kind of wrongdoing, those of you who are spiritual should set him right; but you must do it in a gentle way. And keep an eye on yourselves, so that you will not be tempted, too.

Help carry one another's burdens, and in this way you will obey the law of Christ.

Instead, be kind and tender-hearted to one another, and forgive one another, as God has forgiven you through Christ.

Be tolerant with one another and forgive one another whenever any of you has a complaint against someone else. You must forgive one another just as the Lord has forgiven you.

Our friends, we command you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to keep away from all believers who are living a lazy life and who do not follow the instructions that we gave them.

It may be that some there will not obey the message we send you in this letter. If so, take note of them and have nothing to do with them, so that they will be ashamed.

But do not treat them as enemies; instead, warn them as believers.

Lift up your tired hands, then, and strengthen your trembling knees!

Try to be at peace with everyone, and try to live a holy life, because no one will see the Lord without it.

While we live in this earthly tent, we groan with a feeling of oppression; it is not that we want to get rid of our earthly body, but that we want to have the heavenly one put on over us, so that what is mortal will be transformed by life.

Ours is a great city, one of the most peaceful and loyal in Israel. Why are you trying to destroy it? Do you want to ruin what belongs to the LORD?"

"Never!" Joab answered. "I will never ruin or destroy your city!

He will destroy them like a blazing fire when he appears. The LORD will devour them in his anger, and fire will consume them.

Be merciful to me, O God, because I am under attack; my enemies persecute me all the time.

All day long my opponents attack me. There are so many who fight against me.

He will answer from heaven and save me; he will defeat my oppressors. God will show me his constant love and faithfulness.

then they would have swallowed us alive in their furious anger against us;

They may be alive and well when we find them, but they'll be dead when we're through with them!

Even the prophets and the priests are so drunk that they stagger. They have drunk so much wine and liquor that they stumble in confusion. The prophets are too drunk to understand the visions that God sends, and the priests are too drunk to decide the cases that are brought to them.

So when this takes place, and the mortal has been changed into the immortal, then the scripture will come true: "Death is destroyed; victory is complete!"

For the sadness that is used by God brings a change of heart that leads to salvation---and there is no regret in that! But sadness that is merely human causes death.

Being cheerful keeps you healthy. It is slow death to be gloomy all the time.

Indeed he was sick and almost died. But God had pity on him, and not only on him but on me, too, and spared me an even greater sorrow.

Our friends, we want you to know the truth about those who have died, so that you will not be sad, as are those who have no hope.