²⁶ Judah recognized them and said, “She is more righteous than I,^(A) since I wouldn’t give her to my son Shelah.^(B)” And he did not sleep with her again.

¹⁷ “You are more righteous than I,”^(A) he said. “You have treated me well,^(B) but I have treated you badly.^(C)

² As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires,^(A) but rather for the will of God. ³ For you have spent enough time in the past^(B) doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry.^(C)

¹¹ For the grace^(A) of God has appeared^(B) that offers salvation to all people.^{(C) 12} It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions,^(D) and to live self-controlled,^(E) upright and godly lives^(F) in this present age,

⁹ At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there.

¹² The night is nearly over; the day is almost here.^(A) So let us put aside the deeds of darkness^(B) and put on the armor^(C) of light.

¹⁹ Now we know that whatever the law says,^(A) it says to those who are under the law,^(B) so that every mouth may be silenced^(C) and the whole world held accountable to God.^(D)

⁸ Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.^(A)