When you please the LORD, you can make your enemies into friends.

We know that in all things God works for good with those who love him, those whom he has called according to his purpose.

For rulers are not to be feared by those who do good, but by those who do evil. Would you like to be unafraid of those in authority? Then do what is good, and they will praise you,

Those who pay back evil for good are against me because I try to do right.

The LORD hates the ways of evil people, but loves those who do what is right.

It is love, then, that you should strive for. Set your hearts on spiritual gifts, especially the gift of proclaiming God's message.

Since you are God's dear children, you must try to be like him.

See that no one pays back wrong for wrong, but at all times make it your aim to do good to one another and to all people.

and have a reputation for good deeds: a woman who brought up her children well, received strangers in her home, performed humble duties for other Christians, helped people in trouble, and devoted herself to doing good.

My dear friend, do not imitate what is bad, but imitate what is good. Whoever does good belongs to God; whoever does what is bad has not seen God.