Don’t let any foul language come out of your mouths. Say only what will help build others up and meet their needs. Then what you say will help those who are listening.
Since we’re surrounded by such a huge cloud of witnesses, let’s throw off everything that weighs us down and any sin that gets in our way. Let’s keep on running the race on the course in front of us.
I’m afraid that when I come I won’t find you as I want you to be, and you won’t find me as you want me to be. I’m afraid that there will be arguing, jealousy, fits of anger, selfish ambition, insults, gossip, arrogance, and disorder.
You’re still following your own wrong desires. If you’re jealous and you’re arguing, aren’t those desires in charge? Aren’t you acting like ordinary human beings?
But I tell you that anyone who loses their temper with a brother or sister will answer for it in court. Anyone who speaks scornfully to a brother or sister will face the council of elders. And anyone who dismisses someone as worthless will be in danger of the fire in hell.
Let’s act properly, like people living in the daytime. Don’t go to wild parties and don’t get drunk. Don’t do anything immoral or indecent. Don’t get into fights or be jealous of anyone.
In the very same way, these ungodly people act on their dreams and make their own bodies impure. They reject authority and say insulting things about heavenly beings.
I used to say insulting things about Jesus. I tried to hurt his followers, and I even used violence against them. But God had mercy on me because I did those things without knowing any better. I wasn’t a believer.
They were burned by the blazing heat, and they spoke curses against the name of God, who had power over these plagues. But they refused to turn away from their sins and admit that God was right.
They’re like wild waves of the sea—their shame rises up like foam. They’re like stars that don’t stay in place. God has reserved very great darkness for them forever.