Finally,brethren,whateveris true,whateveris honorable,whateveris right,whateveris pure,whateveris lovely,whateveris of good repute,ifthere is anyexcellenceand ifanythingworthy of praise,dwellon these things.
"For I have chosenhim, sothat he may commandhis childrenand his householdafterhim to keepthe wayof the LORDby doingrighteousnessand justice,sothat the LORDmay bringupon AbrahamwhatHe has spokenabouthim."
"Sauland Jonathan,belovedand pleasantin their life,And in their deaththey were not parted;They were swifterthaneagles,They were strongerthanlions.
"The Godof Israelsaid,The Rockof Israelspoketo me, 'He who rulesover menrighteously,Who rulesin the fearof God,
Howlongwill you judgeunjustlyAnd showpartialityto the wicked?Selah.
A false balanceis an abominationto the LORD,But a justweightis His delight.
An excellentwifeis the crownof her husband,But she who shames[him] is like rottennessin his bones.
A justbalanceand scalesbelong to the LORD;Allthe weightsof the bagare His concern.
A righteousmanwho walksin his integrity--How blessedare his sonsafterhim.
An excellentwife,whocan find?For her worthis farabovejewels.
"Manydaughtershave donenobly,But you excelthem all."
Giveher the productof her hands,And let her workspraiseher in the gates.
"His mouthis [full of] sweetness.And he is whollydesirable.Thisis my belovedand thisis my friend,O daughtersof Jerusalem."
The wayof the righteousis smooth;O UprightOne,makethe pathof the righteouslevel.
And they senttheir disciplesto Him, along with the Herodians,saying,"Teacher,we knowthat You are truthfuland teachthe wayof Godin truth,and deferto no one;for You are not partialto any.
for Herodwas afraidof John,knowingthat he was a righteousand holyman,and he kept him safe.And when he heardhim, he was veryperplexed;but he used to enjoylisteningto him.
And He saidto them, "You are thosewho justifyyourselvesin the sightof men,but Godknowsyour hearts;for that which is highly esteemedamongmenis detestablein the sightof God.
And there was a manin Jerusalemwhosenamewas Simeon;and thismanwas righteousand devout,lookingfor the consolationof Israel;and the HolySpiritwas upon him.
And a mannamedJoseph,who was a member of the Council,a goodand righteousman
"He who speaksfrom himselfseekshis ownglory;but He who is seekingthe gloryof the One who sentHim, He is true,and there is nounrighteousnessin Him.
They said,"Cornelius,a centurion,a righteousand God-fearingmanwell spokenof by the entirenationof the Jews,was [divinely] directedby a holyangelto sendfor you [to come] to his houseand heara messagefrom you."
"A certainAnanias,a manwho was devoutby the standardof the Law,[and] well spokenof by allthe Jewswho livedthere,
"Therefore,brethren,selectfrom amongyou sevenmenof good reputation,fullof the Spiritand of wisdom,whomwe may put in chargeof thistask.
Let us behaveproperlyas in the day,not in carousingand drunkenness,not in sexual promiscuityand sensuality,not in strifeand jealousy.
For rulersare not a cause of fearfor goodbehavior,but for evil.Do you wantto havenofearof authority?Dowhat is goodand you will havepraisefrom the same;
For he who in this[way] servesChristis acceptableto Godand approvedby men.
But he is a Jewwhois one inwardly;and circumcisionis that which is of the heart,by the Spirit,not by the letter;and his praiseis not from men,but from God.
Thereforedo not go on passing judgmentbeforethe time,[but wait] untilthe Lordcomeswhowill bothbring to lightthe things hiddenin the darknessand disclosethe motivesof [men's] hearts;and theneach man'spraisewill cometo him from God.
Nowwe prayto Godthat you donowrong;not that we ourselvesmay appearapproved,but that you may dowhat is right,eventhoughwe may appearunapproved.
by gloryand dishonor,by evil reportand good report;[regarded] as deceiversand yet true;
We have sent alongwith him the brotherwhosefamein [the things of] the gospel[has spread] throughallthe churches;
for we have regardfor what is honorable,not onlyin the sightof the Lord,but alsoin the sightof men.
But the fruitof the Spiritis love,joy,peace,patience,kindness,goodness,faithfulness,
Therefore,laying asidefalsehood,SPEAKTRUTHEACH ONE[of you] WITH HIS NEIGHBOR,for we are membersof one another.
(for the fruitof the Light[consists] in allgoodnessand righteousnessand truth),
Stand firmtherefore,HAVING GIRDEDYOUR LOINSWITH TRUTH,and HAVING PUTON THE BREASTPLATEOF RIGHTEOUSNESS,
"Justice,[and only] justice,you shall pursue,that you may liveand possessthe landwhichthe LORDyour Godis givingyou.
Finally,my brethren,rejoicein the Lord.To writethe same things[again] is notroubleto me, and it is a safeguardfor you.
Conduct yourselveswith wisdomtowardoutsiders,making the mostof the opportunity.
sothat you will behaveproperlytowardoutsidersand not be in anyneed.
for kingsand allwho are in authority,sothat we may leada tranquiland quietlifein allgodlinessand dignity.
Women[must] likewise[be] dignified,not malicious gossips,but temperate,faithfulin all things.
[He must be] one who manageshis ownhouseholdwell,keepinghis childrenundercontrolwith alldignity
Let no onelook downon your youthfulness,but [rather] in speech,conduct,love,faith[and] purity,showyourself an exampleof thosewho believe.
having a reputationfor goodworks;[and] ifshe has brought up children,ifshe has shown hospitality to strangers,ifshe has washedthe saints'feet,ifshe has assistedthose in distress,[and] ifshe has devoted herselfto everygoodwork.
the older womenas mothers,[and] the youngerwomenas sisters,in allpurity.
but hospitable,loving what is good,sensible,just,devout,self-controlled,
whogaveHimselffor us to redeemus from everylawless deed,and to purifyfor Himselfa peoplefor His ownpossession,zealousfor gooddeeds.
Older menare to be temperate,dignified,sensible,soundin faith,in love,in perseverance.
in all thingsshowyourselfto be an exampleof gooddeeds,[with] purityin doctrine,dignified,
Our peoplemust alsolearnto engagein gooddeedsto meet pressingneeds,sothat they will not be unfruitful.
For by it the men of oldgained approval.
Prayfor us, for we are surethat we havea goodconscience,desiringto conductourselves honorablyin all things.
Pureand undefiledreligionin the sightof [our] Godand Fatheris this:to visitorphansand widowsin their distress,[and] to keeponeselfunstainedby the world.
But the wisdomfrom aboveis firstpure,thenpeaceable,gentle,reasonable,fullof mercyand goodfruits,unwavering,without hypocrisy.
Since you have in obedienceto the truthpurifiedyour soulsfor a sincerelove of the brethren,ferventlyloveone anotherfrom the heart,
Keepyour behaviorexcellentamongthe Gentiles,sothat in the thing in whichthey slanderyou as evildoers,they may becauseof your gooddeeds,as they observe[them], glorifyGodin the dayof visitation.
Aboveall,keepferventin your lovefor one another,becauselovecoversa multitudeof sins.
Thisis now,beloved,the secondletterI am writingto you in whichI am stirringup your sinceremindby wayof reminder,
Little children,let us not lovewith wordorwith tongue,but in deedand truth.
And everyonewho hasthishope[fixed] on Him purifieshimself,justas He is pure.
Beloved,do not believeeveryspirit,but testthe spiritsto see whetherthey are from God,becausemanyfalse prophetshave goneout into the world.
"Now,my daughter,do not fear.I will dofor you whateveryou ask,for allmy peoplein the cityknowthat you are a womanof excellence.
