²³ You were bought at a price;^(A) do not become slaves of human beings.

²⁰ you were bought at a price.^(A) Therefore honor God with your bodies.^(B)

¹⁴ who gave himself for us^(A) to redeem us from all wickedness^(B) and to purify^(C) for himself a people that are his very own,^(D) eager to do what is good.^(E)

⁴² Because the Israelites are my servants, whom I brought out of Egypt,^(A) they must not be sold as slaves.

⁹ And they sang a new song, saying:^(A)

²⁸ Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock^(A) of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers.^(B) Be shepherds of the church of God,^[a](C) which he bought^(D) with his own blood.^[b](E)

¹⁸ For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed^(A) from the empty way of life^(B) handed down to you from your ancestors, ¹⁹ but with the precious blood^(C) of Christ, a lamb^(D) without blemish or defect.^(E)

¹⁸ For Christ also suffered once^(A) for sins,^(B) the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.^(C) He was put to death in the body^(D) but made alive in the Spirit.^(E)

⁴ This matter arose because some false believers^(A) had infiltrated our ranks to spy on^(B) the freedom^(C) we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves.