⁵ Lot also, who went with Abram, had flocks and herds and tents. ⁶ Now ^(A)the land was not able to ^[a]support them, that they might dwell together, for their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together. ⁷ And there was ^(B)strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. ^(C)The Canaanites and the Perizzites then dwelt in the land.

⁸ So Abram said to Lot, ^(D)“Please let there be no strife between you and me, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen; for we are brethren. ^9 (E)Is not the whole land before you? Please ^(F)separate from me. ^(G)If you take the left, then I will go to the right; or, if you go to the right, then I will go to the left.”

¹⁰ And Lot lifted his eyes and saw all ^(H)the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere (before the Lord ^(I)destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah) ^(J)like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt as you go toward ^(K)Zoar. ¹¹ Then Lot chose for himself all the plain of Jordan, and Lot journeyed east. And they separated from each other.

Blessed Unity of the People of God

A Song of Ascents. Of David.

Walk in Unity

4 I, therefore, the prisoner ^[a]of the Lord, ^[b]beseech you to ^(A)walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, ² with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, ³ endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit ^(B)in the bond of peace. ^4 (C)There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; ^5 (D)one Lord, ^(E)one faith, ^(F)one baptism; ^6 (G)one God and Father of all, who is above all, and ^(H)through all, and in ^[c]you all.

Do Not Grieve the Spirit

²⁵ Therefore, putting away lying, ^(A)“Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for ^(B)we are members of one another. ^26 (C)“Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, ^27 (D)nor give ^[a]place to the devil.

Approved and Disapproved Workers

¹⁴ Remind them of these things, ^(A)charging them before the Lord not to ^[a]strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. ^15 (B)Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. ¹⁶ But shun profane and ^[b]idle babblings, for they will ^[c]increase to more ungodliness. ¹⁷ And their message will spread like cancer. ^(C)Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, ¹⁸ who have strayed concerning the truth, ^(D)saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some. ¹⁹ Nevertheless ^(E)the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord ^(F)knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of ^[d]Christ depart from iniquity.”

²⁰ But in a great house there are not only ^(G)vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. ²¹ Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, ^[e]sanctified and useful for the Master, ^(H)prepared for every good work. ^22 (I)Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. ²³ But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. ²⁴ And ^(J)a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, ^(K)able to teach, ^(L)patient, ^25 (M)in humility correcting those who are in opposition, ^(N)if God perhaps will grant them repentance, ^(O)so that they may know the truth, ²⁶ and that they may come to their senses and ^(P)escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.

Pride Promotes Strife

4 Where do ^[a]wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure ^(A)that war in your members? ² You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and ^[b]war. ^[c]Yet you do not have because you do not ask. ^3 (B)You ask and do not receive, ^(C)because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. ^4 [d]Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that ^(D)friendship with the world is enmity with God? ^(E)Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. ⁵ Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, ^(F)“The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”?

⁶ But He gives more grace. Therefore He says:

Humility Cures Worldliness

⁷ Therefore submit to God. ^(H)Resist the devil and he will flee from you. ^8 (I)Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. ^(J)Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and ^(K)purify your hearts, you double-minded. ^9 (L)Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. ^10 (M)Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

Do Not Judge a Brother

^11 (N)Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother ^(O)and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. ¹² There is one ^[e]Lawgiver, ^(P)who is able to save and to destroy. ^(Q)Who^[f] are you to judge ^[g]another?