Slaves,be obedientto thosewho are your mastersaccordingto the flesh,with fearand trembling,in the sincerityof your heart,as to Christ;
Then the angelof the LORDsaidto her, "Returnto your mistress,and submityourself to her authority."
"Since I know,O my God,that You trythe heartand delightin uprightness,I, in the integrityof my heart,have willinglyofferedallthese[things]; so nowwith joyI have seenYour people,who are presenthere,make[their] offeringswillinglyto You.
Behold,as the eyesof servants[look] to the handof their master,As the eyesof a maidto the handof her mistress,Soour eyes[look] to the LORDour God,UntilHe is graciousto us.
Teachme Your way,O LORD;I will walkin Your truth;Unitemy heartto fearYour name.
"'A sonhonors[his] father,and a servanthis master.Then ifI am a father,whereis My honor?And ifI am a master,whereis My respect?'saysthe LORDof hoststo you, O priestswho despiseMy name.But you say,'Howhave we despisedYour name?'
"The eyeis the lampof the body;so thenifyour eyeis clear,your wholebodywill be full of light.
"No onecanservetwomasters;for eitherhe will hatethe oneand lovethe other,orhe will be devotedto oneand despisethe other.You cannotserveGodand wealth.
"For I alsoama manunderauthority,with soldiersunderme; and I sayto this one,'Go!'and he goes,and to another,'Come!'and he comes,and to my slave,'Dothis!'and he does[it]."
Day by daycontinuingwith one mindin the temple,and breakingbreadfrom house to house,they were takingtheir mealstogetherwith gladnessand sincerityof heart,
For I could wishthat I myselfwere accursed,[separated] from Christfor the sakeof my brethren,my kinsmenaccordingto the flesh,
I was with you in weaknessand in fearand in muchtrembling,
For he who was calledin the Lordwhile a slave,is the Lord'sfreedman;likewisehe who was calledwhile free,is Christ'sslave.
For our proud confidenceis this:the testimonyof our conscience,that in holinessand godlysincerity,not in fleshlywisdombut in the graceof God,we have conductedourselves in the world,and especiallytowardyou.
His affectionabounds all the moretowardyou, as he remembersthe obedienceof you all,howyou receivedhim with fearand trembling.
Wives,[be subject] to your ownhusbands,as to the Lord.
Gracebe with allthosewho loveour LordJesusChristwith incorruptible[love].
So then,my beloved,justas you have alwaysobeyed,not as in my presenceonly,but nowmuchmorein my absence,workout your salvationwith fearand trembling;
no longeras a slave,but more thana slave,a belovedbrother,especiallyto me, but how muchmoreto you, bothin the fleshand in the Lord.
"Now,therefore, fearthe LORDand serveHim in sincerityand truth;and putawaythe godswhichyour fathersservedbeyondthe Riverand in Egypt,and servethe LORD.
as they observeyour chasteand respectfulbehavior.
