Fear the Lord

¹² And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you^(A) but to fear^(B) the Lord your God, to walk^(C) in obedience to him, to love him,^(D) to serve the Lord^(E) your God with all your heart^(F) and with all your soul,^{(G) 13} and to observe the Lord’s commands^(H) and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?^(I)

¹⁴ To the Lord your God belong the heavens,^(J) even the highest heavens,^(K) the earth and everything in it.^{(L) 15} Yet the Lord set his affection on your ancestors and loved^(M) them, and he chose you,^(N) their descendants, above all the nations—as it is today.^{(O) 16} Circumcise^(P) your hearts,^(Q) therefore, and do not be stiff-necked^(R) any longer. ¹⁷ For the Lord your God is God of gods^(S) and Lord of lords,^(T) the great God, mighty and awesome,^(U) who shows no partiality^(V) and accepts no bribes.^{(W) 18} He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow,^(X) and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing.^{(Y) 19} And you are to love^(Z) those who are foreigners,^(AA) for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt.^{(AB) 20} Fear the Lord your God and serve him.^(AC) Hold fast^(AD) to him and take your oaths in his name.^{(AE) 21} He is the one you praise;^(AF) he is your God, who performed for you those great^(AG) and awesome wonders^(AH) you saw with your own eyes.

Stand Firm

¹³ But we ought always to thank God for you,^(A) brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits^[a](B) to be saved^(C) through the sanctifying work of the Spirit^(D) and through belief in the truth. ¹⁴ He called you^(E) to this through our gospel,^(F) that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

¹⁵ So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm^(G) and hold fast to the teachings^[b] we passed on to you,^(H) whether by word of mouth or by letter.

¹⁶ May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father,^(I) who loved us^(J) and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope,