5 ¹ Follow God’s example,^(A) therefore, as dearly loved children^(B)

¹¹ Dear friends,^(A) since God so loved us,^(B) we also ought to love one another.^(C)

¹⁵ But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;^{(A) 16} for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”^[a](B)

⁴⁸ Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.^(A)

³² Be kind and compassionate to one another,^(A) forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.^(B)

³⁵ But love your enemies, do good to them,^(A) and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children^(B) of the Most High,^(C) because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. ³⁶ Be merciful,^(D) just as your Father^(E) is merciful.

¹² Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves^(A) with compassion, kindness, humility,^(B) gentleness and patience.^(C)

⁴⁵ I am the Lord, who brought you up out of Egypt^(A) to be your God;^(B) therefore be holy, because I am holy.^(C)

3 See what great love^(A) the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!^(B) And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.^{(C) 2} Dear friends,^(D) now we are children of God,^(E) and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears,^[a](F) we shall be like him,^(G) for we shall see him as he is.^(H)