desiring to be teachers of the Law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they strongly assert.

not a new convert, that he not be puffed up with pride and fall into the same condemnation as the devil.

There are those who pretend to be rich, yet have nothing; and those who act poor, yet have great riches.

A man boasting himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.

Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously used sorcery in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great,

You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not upright before God.

For I see that you are in bitter wickedness and bound by unrighteousness.

Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own opinion.

Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become foolish that he may become wise.

Now concerning sacrifices to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.

And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know.

For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

Let no one condemn you, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, being puffed up without cause by his fleshly mind,

who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is honored, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, declaring of himself that he is God.

traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,

But these, like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption,

For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through wantonness, the ones who have actually escaped from those living in error.

But these speak evil of things they do not know; and whatever they understand naturally, like animals without reason, in these things they corrupt themselves.

These are murmurers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts; and their mouths speak great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage.

Because you say, I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing; and do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked;

nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith.

But avoid foolish and unlearned questionings, knowing that they generate strife.

Behold, you fast for strife and contention, and to strike with the fist of wickedness; you shall not fast as you do today, to make your voice heard on high.

Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they appointed Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them to go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, concerning this question.

but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness; anger and wrath,

Let us walk decently, as in the day, not in carousings and drunkenness, not in cohabitation and licentiousness, not in strife and envy.

Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful thoughts.

for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like men?

But if anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, nor the churches of God.

For first of all, I hear that when you come together as a church there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it.

For you endure if someone brings you into bondage, if someone devours you, if someone takes from you, if someone exalts himself, if someone strikes you on the face.

But if you bite and devour one another, take heed that you are not consumed by one another.

idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,

envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from good will:

Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or self-glory, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others as surpassing himself.

Do all things without murmuring and disputing,

But avoid foolish questionings, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the Law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;

What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Is faith able to save him?

and one of you says to them, Depart in peace, be warmed and filled, but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?

But someone will say, You have faith, and I have works. Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith from my works.

Where do wars and fightings come from among you? Do they not come from your lusts that war in your members?

You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask.

Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, The Spirit who dwells in us yearns to envy?

But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking,

as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the Word, that you may grow thereby,