But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.

Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

The fruit of righteousness will be peace;
the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever.

I write to you, dear children,
because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.

For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.

He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.

The LORD your God is with you,
he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
he will quiet you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing.

Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.

Jesus said to them: “Watch out that no one deceives you.”

Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.

Remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.

May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD,
even as we put our hope in you.

Above all, my brothers, do not swear — not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your “Yes” be yes, and your “No,” no, or you will be condemned.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.
Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD and shun evil.
This will bring health to your body
and nourishment to your bones.

Better a little with the fear of the LORD
than great wealth with turmoil.

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,
“Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you.”

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.