because they will see how pure and reverent your conduct is.

The wicked draw their swords and bend their bows to kill the poor and needy, to slaughter those who do what is right;

Giving thanks is the sacrifice that honors me, and I will surely save all who obey me."

We are proud that our conscience assures us that our lives in this world, and especially our relations with you, have been ruled by God-given frankness and sincerity, by the power of God's grace and not by human wisdom.

Actually all of us were like them and lived according to our natural desires, doing whatever suited the wishes of our own bodies and minds. In our natural condition we, like everyone else, were destined to suffer God's anger.

So get rid of your old self, which made you live as you used to---the old self that was being destroyed by its deceitful desires.

Now, the important thing is that your way of life should be as the gospel of Christ requires, so that, whether or not I am able to go and see you, I will hear that you are standing firm with one common purpose and that with only one desire you are fighting together for the faith of the gospel.

Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young, but be an example for the believers in your speech, your conduct, your love, faith, and purity.

Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, "I will never leave you; I will never abandon you."

Are there any of you who are wise and understanding? You are to prove it by your good life, by your good deeds performed with humility and wisdom.

Since all these things will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people should you be? Your lives should be holy and dedicated to God,

If someone has done you wrong, do not repay him with a wrong. Try to do what everyone considers to be good.

Let us conduct ourselves properly, as people who live in the light of day---no orgies or drunkenness, no immorality or indecency, no fighting or jealousy.

Our purpose is to do what is right, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of others.

We pray to God that you will do no wrong---not in order to show that we are a success, but so that you may do what is right, even though we may seem to be failures.

In conclusion, my friends, fill your minds with those things that are good and that deserve praise: things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honorable.

In this way you will win the respect of those who are not believers, and you will not have to depend on anyone for what you need.

for kings and all others who are in authority, that we may live a quiet and peaceful life with all reverence toward God and with proper conduct.

Keep on praying for us. We are sure we have a clear conscience, because we want to do the right thing at all times.

So quarrels broke out between the men who took care of Abram's animals and those who took care of Lot's animals. (At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were still living in the land.)

Then Abram said to Lot, "We are relatives, and your men and my men shouldn't be quarreling.

so that you may be innocent and pure as God's perfect children, who live in a world of corrupt and sinful people. You must shine among them like stars lighting up the sky,

as you offer them the message of life. If you do so, I shall have reason to be proud of you on the Day of Christ, because it will show that all my effort and work have not been wasted.

In the same way you wives must submit yourselves to your husbands, so that if any of them do not believe God's word, your conduct will win them over to believe. It will not be necessary for you to say a word,

but do it with gentleness and respect. Keep your conscience clear, so that when you are insulted, those who speak evil of your good conduct as followers of Christ will become ashamed of what they say.

Happy are you if you are insulted because you are Christ's followers; this means that the glorious Spirit, the Spirit of God, is resting on you.

However, if you suffer because you are a Christian, don't be ashamed of it, but thank God that you bear Christ's name.

"Happy are you when people insult you and persecute you and tell all kinds of evil lies against you because you are my followers.

So a pupil should be satisfied to become like his teacher, and a slave like his master. If the head of the family is called Beelzebul, the members of the family will be called even worse names!

"Happy are you when people hate you, reject you, insult you, and say that you are evil, all because of the Son of Man!

We found this man to be a dangerous nuisance; he starts riots among Jews all over the world and is a leader of the party of the Nazarenes.

He also tried to defile the Temple, and we arrested him.

Nor can they give you proof of the accusations they now bring against me.

When Paul arrived, the Jews who had come from Jerusalem stood around him and started making many serious charges against him, which they were not able to prove.

In the same way your light must shine before people, so that they will see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven.

In all things you yourself must be an example of good behavior. Be sincere and serious in your teaching.

Use sound words that cannot be criticized, so that your enemies may be put to shame by not having anything bad to say about us.

Those who preach must preach God's messages; those who serve must serve with the strength that God gives them, so that in all things praise may be given to God through Jesus Christ, to whom belong glory and power forever and ever. Amen.

Giving thanks is the sacrifice that honors me, and I will surely save all who obey me."

and to enable even the Gentiles to praise God for his mercy. As the scripture says, "And so I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing praises to you."

their secret thoughts will be brought into the open, and they will bow down and worship God, confessing, "Truly God is here among you!"

"Let us praise the Lord, the God of Israel! He has come to the help of his people and has set them free.

They will completely destroy you and the people within your walls; not a single stone will they leave in its place, because you did not recognize the time when God came to save you!"

Simon has just explained how God first showed his care for the Gentiles by taking from among them a people to belong to him.