¹⁶ Therefore confess your sins^(A) to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.^(B) The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.^(C)

¹⁷ Elijah was a human being, even as we are.^(D) He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years.^{(E) 18} Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.^(F)

¹⁹ My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth^(G) and someone should bring that person back,^{(H) 20} remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save^(I) them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.^(J)

Psalm 32

Of David. A maskil.^[a]

⁵ People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. ⁶ Confessing their sins, they were baptized^(A) by him in the Jordan River.

Dealing With Sin in the Church

¹⁵ “If your brother or sister^[a] sins,^[b] go and point out their fault,^(A) just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. ¹⁶ But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’^{[c](B) 17} If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church;^(C) and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.^(D)

¹⁸ Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed what they had done.

¹⁷ pray continually,^(A)

¹⁶ Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save^(A) both yourself and your hearers.