orhe who exhorts,in his exhortation;he who gives,with liberality;he who leads,with diligence;he who shows mercy,with cheerfulness.
"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."
He has givenfreelyto the poor,His righteousnessenduresforever;His hornwill be exaltedin honor.
The wickedborrowsand does not payback,But the righteousis graciousand gives.
He who is generouswill be blessed,For he givessomeof his foodto the poor.
Sowyour seedin the morningand do not be idlein the evening,for you do not knowwhethermorningorevening sowing will succeed,or whetherbothof them alikewill be good.
Whateveryour handfindsto do,do[it] with [all] your might;for thereis noactivityor planningor knowledgeor wisdomin Sheolwhereyou are going.
Nolongerwill the foolbe callednoble,Or the roguebe spokenof [as] generous.
But the noblemandevisesnobleplans;And by nobleplanshe stands.
You meethim who rejoicesin doingrighteousness,Who remembersYou in Your ways.Behold,You were angry,for we sinned,[We continued] in them a longtime;And shall we be saved?
"The Kingwill answerand sayto them, 'TrulyI sayto you, to the extentthat you didit to oneof thesebrothersof Mine,[even] the least[of them], you didit to Me.'
Then when he arrivedand witnessedthe graceof God,he rejoicedand [began] to encouragethem allwith resoluteheartto remain[true] to the Lord;
Thenthe proconsulbelievedwhen he sawwhat had happened,being amazedat the teachingof the Lord.
Afterthe readingof the Lawand the Prophetsthe synagogue officialssentto them, saying,"Brethren,ifyou have anywordof exhortationfor the people,sayit."
Judasand Silas,alsobeingprophetsthemselves,encouragedand strengthenedthe brethrenwith a lengthymessage.
When he had gone throughthosedistrictsand had giventhem muchexhortation,he cameto Greece.
"Be on guardfor yourselvesand for allthe flock,amongwhichthe HolySpirithas madeyou overseers,to shepherdthe churchof GodwhichHe purchasedwith His ownblood.
Now Joseph,a Leviteof Cyprianbirth,who was also calledBarnabasby the apostles(whichtranslatedmeansSonof Encouragement),
contributingto the needsof the saints,practicinghospitality.
For becauseof thisyou alsopaytaxes,for [rulers] are servantsof God,devoting themselvesto thisverything.
And Godhas appointedin the church,firstapostles,secondprophets,thirdteachers,thenmiracles,thengiftsof healings,helps,administrations,[various] kindsof tongues.
But one who prophesiesspeaksto menfor edificationand exhortationand consolation.
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.
But I am afraidthat, as the serpentdeceivedEveby his craftiness,your mindswill be led astrayfrom the simplicityand purity[of devotion] to Christ.
For ifthe readinessis present,it is acceptableaccordingto what [a person] has,not accordingto what he does not have.
you will be enrichedin everythingfor allliberality,whichthroughus is producingthanksgivingto God.
Becauseof the proofgiven by thisministry,they will glorifyGodfor [your] obedienceto your confessionof the gospelof Christand for the liberalityof your contributionto them and to all,
Each one[must do] justas he has purposedin his heart,not grudginglyorundercompulsion,for Godlovesa cheerfulgiver.
Slaves,be obedientto thosewho are your mastersaccordingto the flesh,with fearand trembling,in the sincerityof your heart,as to Christ;
"You shall furnishhim liberallyfrom your flockand from your threshingfloorand from your winevat;you shall giveto him as the LORDyour Godhas blessedyou.
and you shall rejoicebeforethe LORDyour God,you and your sonand your daughterand your maleand femaleservantsand the Levitewhois in your town,and the strangerand the orphanand the widowwhoare in your midst,in the placewherethe LORDyour Godchoosesto establishHis name.
Slaves,in all thingsobeythosewho are your masterson earth,not with external service,as those who [merely] please men,but with sincerityof heart,fearingthe Lord.
For our exhortationdoes not [come] from errororimpurityorby wayof deceit;
Havingsofond an affectionfor you, we were well-pleasedto impartto you not onlythe gospelof Godbut alsoour ownlives,becauseyou had becomevery dearto us.
UntilI come,give attentionto the [public] reading[of Scripture], to exhortationand teaching.
The elderswho rulewellare to be considered worthyof doublehonor,especiallythosewho work hardat preachingand teaching.
[Instruct them] to do good,to be richin goodworks,to be generousand ready to share,
not forsakingour ownassembling together,as is the habitof some,but encouraging[one another]; and allthe moreas you seethe daydrawing near.
Obeyyour leadersand submit[to them], for they keep watchoveryour soulsas those who will givean account.Let them dothiswith joyand not with grief,for thiswould be unprofitablefor you.
But I urgeyou, brethren,bearwith thiswordof exhortation,for I have writtento you briefly.
Greetallof your leadersand allthe saints.Thosefrom Italygreetyou.
Rememberthosewho ledyou, whospokethe wordof Godto you; and consideringthe resultof their conduct,imitatetheir faith.
