²⁴ But if you are careful to obey me, declares the Lord, and bring no load through the gates of this city on the Sabbath, but keep the Sabbath day holy^(A) by not doing any work on it,

²¹ This is what the Lord says: Be careful not to carry a load on the Sabbath^(A) day or bring it through the gates of Jerusalem. ²² Do not bring a load out of your houses or do any work on the Sabbath, but keep the Sabbath day holy, as I commanded your ancestors.^(B)

¹³ So if you faithfully obey^(A) the commands I am giving you today—to love^(B) the Lord your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul^(C)—

⁵ For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;^{(A) 6} and to knowledge, self-control;^(B) and to self-control, perseverance;^(C) and to perseverance, godliness;^{(D) 7} and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.^{(E) 8} For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive^(F) in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.^{(G) 9} But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind,^(H) forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.^(I)

¹⁰ Therefore, my brothers and sisters,^[a] make every effort to confirm your calling^(J) and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble,^(K)

²⁶ He said, “If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep^(A) all his decrees,^(B) I will not bring on you any of the diseases^(C) I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals^(D) you.”

¹⁵ Those who are far away will come and help to build the temple of the Lord,^(A) and you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you.^(B) This will happen if you diligently obey^(C) the Lord your God.”