Our peoplemust alsolearnto engagein gooddeedsto meet pressingneeds,sothat they will not be unfruitful.
To grantthose who mourn[in] Zion,Givingthem a garlandinsteadof ashes,The oilof gladnessinsteadof mourning,The mantleof praiseinsteadof a spiritof fainting.So they will be calledoaksof righteousness,The plantingof the LORD,that He may be glorified.
Seeinga lonefigtreeby the road,He cameto it and foundnothingon it exceptleavesonly;and He saidto it, "Nolongershall there everbe [any] fruitfrom you." And at oncethe fig treewithered.
"Everytreethat does not beargoodfruitis cut downand throwninto the fire.
"You did not chooseMe but I choseyou, and appointedyou that you would goand bearfruit,and [that] your fruitwould remain,sothat whateveryou askof the Fatherin My nameHe may giveto you.
"My Fatheris glorifiedby this,that you bearmuchfruit,and [so] proveto be My disciples.
and becausehe was of the same trade,he stayedwith them and they were working,for by tradethey were tent-makers.
"In everythingI showedyou that by working hardin this manneryou musthelpthe weakand rememberthe wordsof the LordJesus,that He Himselfsaid,'It is moreblessedto givethanto receive.'"
contributingto the needsof the saints,practicinghospitality.
Therefore,when I have finishedthis,and have put my sealon thisfruitof theirs,I will goon by wayof you to Spain.
He who stealsmust stealno longer;but ratherhe must labor,performingwith his ownhandswhat is good,sothat he will have[something] to sharewith onewho hasneed.
having been filledwith the fruitof righteousnesswhich [comes] throughJesusChrist,to the gloryand praiseof God.
for evenin Thessalonicayou sent[a gift] morethanoncefor my needs.
Not that I seekthe giftitself, but I seekfor the profitwhich increasesto your account.
so that you will walkin a manner worthyof the Lord,to please[Him] in allrespects,bearing fruitin everygoodworkand increasingin the knowledgeof God;
For you recall,brethren,our laborand hardship,[how] workingnightand daysoas not to be a burdento anyof you, we proclaimedto you the gospelof God.
nordid we eatanyone'sbreadwithout payingfor it, but with laborand hardshipwe [kept] workingnightand daysothat we would not be a burdento anyof you;
sound[in] speechwhich is beyond reproach,sothat the opponentwill be put to shame,havingnothingbadto sayaboutus.
Thisis a trustworthystatement;and concerningthese thingsI wantyou to speak confidently,sothat thosewho have believedGodwill be carefulto engagein gooddeeds.These thingsare goodand profitablefor men.
For if these[qualities] are yoursand are increasing,they renderyou neitheruselessnorunfruitfulin the true knowledgeof our LordJesusChrist.
