¹² Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned.^(A)

Oaths

³³ “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath,^(A) but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’^{(B) 34} But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all:^(C) either by heaven, for it is God’s throne;^{(D) 35} or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King.^{(E) 36} And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. ³⁷ All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’;^(F) anything beyond this comes from the evil one.^[a](G)

¹⁶ “Woe to you, blind guides!^(A) You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gold of the temple is bound by that oath.’^{(B) 17} You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred?^{(C) 18} You also say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gift on the altar is bound by that oath.’ ¹⁹ You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred?^{(D) 20} Therefore, anyone who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. ²¹ And anyone who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells^(E) in it. ²² And anyone who swears by heaven swears by God’s throne and by the one who sits on it.^(F)

¹⁷ Was I fickle when I intended to do this? Or do I make my plans in a worldly manner^(A) so that in the same breath I say both “Yes, yes” and “No, no”?

¹⁸ But as surely as God is faithful,^(B) our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.” ¹⁹ For the Son of God,^(C) Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me and Silas^[a](D) and Timothy^(E)—was not “Yes” and “No,” but in him it has always^(F) been “Yes.” ²⁰ For no matter how many promises^(G) God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen”^(H) is spoken by us to the glory of God.^(I)

⁸ Above all, love each other deeply,^(A) because love covers over a multitude of sins.^(B)

Taming the Tongue

3 Not many of you should become teachers,^(A) my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged^(B) more strictly.^{(C) 2} We all stumble^(D) in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say^(E) is perfect,^(F) able to keep their whole body in check.^(G)

³⁴ Anyone who is hungry^(A) should eat something at home,^(B) so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment.

And when I come^(C) I will give further directions.

² Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.