^16 (A)Rejoice always, ^17 (B)pray without ceasing, ^18 (C)give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

⁸ for ^(A)at one time you were ^(B)darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. ^(C)Walk as children of light ⁹ (for ^(D)the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), ¹⁰ and ^(E)try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. ^11 (F)Take no part in the ^(G)unfruitful ^(H)works of darkness, but instead ^(I)expose them. ¹² For ^(J)it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. ¹³ But when ^(K)anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, ¹⁴ for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,

^15 (O)Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, ^16 (P)making the best use of the time, because ^(Q)the days are evil. ¹⁷ Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what ^(R)the will of the Lord is. ¹⁸ And ^(S)do not get drunk with wine, for that is ^(T)debauchery, but ^(U)be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹ addressing one another in ^(V)psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, ^20 (W)giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father ^(X)in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, ^21 (Y)submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Keep in Step with the Spirit

¹⁶ But I say, ^(A)walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify ^(B)the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷ For ^(C)the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, ^(D)to keep you from doing the things you want to do. ¹⁸ But if you are ^(E)led by the Spirit, ^(F)you are not under the law. ¹⁹ Now ^(G)the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, ^(H)divisions, ²¹ envy,^[a] drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that ^(I)those who do^[b] such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. ²² But ^(J)the fruit of the Spirit is ^(K)love, joy, peace, patience, ^(L)kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ^23 (M)gentleness, ^(N)self-control; ^(O)against such things there is no law. ²⁴ And those who belong to Christ Jesus ^(P)have crucified the flesh with its ^(Q)passions and desires.

²⁵ If we live by the Spirit, ^(R)let us also keep in step with the Spirit. ^26 (S)Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.