¹¹ So support one another. Keep building each other up as you have been doing.

¹² Brothers and sisters, we ask you to show appreciation to those who are working hard among you and those who are your leaders as they guide and instruct you in the Lord—they are priceless. ¹³ When you think about them, let it be with great love in your heart because of all the work they have done. Let peace live and reign among you.

¹⁴ Brothers and sisters, we strongly advise you to scold the rebels who devote their lives to wreaking havoc, to encourage the downcast, to help the sick and weak, and to be patient with all of them. ¹⁵ Make sure no one returns evil for evil, but always pursue what is good as it affects one another in the church but also all people.

21 After the people had suffered from a famine for three successive years, David asked the Eternal One why the famine lingered, and the answer came that the nation was guilty for not making amends for the bloodlust of King Saul, who slaughtered the people of Gibeon.