¹⁵ Then he blessed^(A) Joseph and said,

The Covenant of Circumcision

17 When Abram was ninety-nine years old,^(A) the Lord appeared to him^(B) and said, “I am God Almighty^[a];^(C) walk before me faithfully and be blameless.^(D)

Spiritual Fullness in Christ

⁶ So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord,^(A) continue to live your lives in him,

²¹ By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons,^(A) and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.

⁶ But godliness with contentment^(A) is great gain.^{(B) 7} For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.^{(C) 8} But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.^{(D) 9} Those who want to get rich^(E) fall into temptation and a trap^(F) and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. ¹⁰ For the love of money^(G) is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith^(H) and pierced themselves with many griefs.^(I)

Paul’s Change of Plans

¹² Now this is our boast: Our conscience^(A) testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity^[a](B) and godly sincerity.^(C) We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom^(D) but on God’s grace.

³¹ So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.^(A)

⁶ Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly.^(A)

Do Not Worry^(A)

²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, do not worry^(B) about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.^(C) Are you not much more valuable than they?^{(D) 27} Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life^[a]?^(E)

²⁸ “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹ Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor^(F) was dressed like one of these. ³⁰ If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?^{(G) 31} So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.^{(H) 33} But seek first his kingdom^(I) and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.^{(J) 34} Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.