^6 (A)In those days there was no king in Israel; ^(B)everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

Behave Like a Christian

^9 (A)Let love be without hypocrisy. ^(B)Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. ^10 (C)Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, ^(D)in honor giving preference to one another; ¹¹ not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; ^12 (E)rejoicing in hope, ^(F)patient^[a] in tribulation, ^(G)continuing steadfastly in prayer; ^13 (H)distributing to the needs of the saints, ^(I)given^[b] to hospitality.

^14 (J)Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. ^15 (K)Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. ^16 (L)Be of the same mind toward one another. ^(M)Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.

^17 (N)Repay no one evil for evil. ^(O)Have^[c] regard for good things in the sight of all men. ¹⁸ If it is possible, as much as depends on you, ^(P)live peaceably with all men. ¹⁹ Beloved, ^(Q)do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ^(R)“Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. ²⁰ Therefore

²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but ^(T)overcome evil with good.

¹¹ of whom ^(A)we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become ^(B)dull of hearing.

Spiritual Immaturity

¹² For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the ^[a]oracles of God; and you have come to need ^(C)milk and not solid food. ¹³ For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is ^(D)a babe. ¹⁴ But solid food belongs to those who are ^[b]of full age, that is, those who by reason of ^[c]use have their senses exercised ^(E)to discern both good and evil.

⁸ And Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You ^(A)have chosen, a great people, ^(B)too numerous to be numbered or counted. ^9 (C)Therefore give to Your servant an ^[a]understanding heart ^(D)to judge Your people, that I may ^(E)discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”

¹⁰ The speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.

²² Abstain from every form of evil.

¹¹ Beloved, ^(A)do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. ^(B)He who does good is of God, ^[a]but he who does evil has not seen ^(C)God.

God’s Righteous Judgment

2 Therefore you are ^(A)inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, ^(B)for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. ² But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. ³ And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? ⁴ Or do you despise ^(C)the riches of His goodness, ^(D)forbearance, and ^(E)longsuffering, ^(F)not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? ⁵ But in accordance with your hardness and your ^[a]impenitent heart ^(G)you are ^[b]treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, ⁶ who ^(H)“will render to each one according to his deeds”: ⁷ eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; ⁸ but to those who are self-seeking and ^(I)do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, ⁹ tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew ^(J)first and also of the ^[c]Greek; ^10 (K)but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. ¹¹ For ^(L)there is no partiality with God.