¹⁵ but ^[a]speaking the truth ^(A)in love, ^[b]we are to ^(B)grow up in all aspects into Him who is the ^(C)head, that is, Christ,

²⁹ Let no ^[a](A)unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but if there is any good word for ^(B)edification ^[b]according to the need of the moment, say that, so that it will give grace to those who hear.

^31 (A)All bitterness, wrath, anger, ^[a]clamor, and slander must be ^(B)removed from you, along with all ^(C)malice.

⁴ and there must be no ^(A)filthiness ^[a]or foolish talk, or vulgar joking, which ^(B)are not fitting, but rather ^(C)giving of thanks. ⁵ For this you know with certainty, that ^(D)no sexually immoral or ^[b]impure or greedy person, which ^[c]amounts to an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom ^(E)of Christ and God.

^6 (F)See that no one deceives you with empty words, for because of these things ^(G)the wrath of God comes upon ^(H)the ^[d]sons of disobedience. ⁷ Therefore do not become ^(I)partners with them; ⁸ for ^(J)you were once ^(K)darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as ^(L)children of light ⁹ (for ^(M)the fruit of the light consists in all ^(N)goodness, righteousness, and truth), ^10 [e](O)as you try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.

^5 (A)Therefore, ^[a]treat ^(B)the parts of your earthly body as dead to ^(C)sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which ^[b]amounts to idolatry. ⁶ For it is because of these things that ^(D)the wrath of God is coming ^[c]upon the ^[d]sons of disobedience, ⁷ and ^(E)in them you also once walked, when you were living ^[e]in them. ⁸ But now you also, ^(F)rid yourselves of all of them: ^(G)anger, wrath, malice, slander, and ^(H)obscene speech from your mouth.

²² But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be answerable to ^(A)the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘^[a]You good-for-nothing,’ shall be answerable to ^[b](B)the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the ^[c](C)fiery hell.

¹² “In everything, ^(A)therefore, ^[a]treat people the same way you want ^[b]them to treat you, for ^(B)this is the Law and the Prophets.

⁹ Or ^(A)do you not know that the unrighteous will not ^(B)inherit the kingdom of God? ^(C)Do not be deceived; ^(D)neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor ^[a]homosexuals, ¹⁰ nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor those habitually drunk, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will ^(E)inherit the kingdom of God.

The Excellence of Love

13 If I speak with the ^(A)tongues of mankind and of ^(B)angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a ^(C)clanging cymbal.