²⁰ “They will not hand you over,” Jeremiah replied. “Obey^(A) the Lord by doing what I tell you. Then it will go well^(B) with you, and your life^(C) will be spared.

¹³ Now reform^(A) your ways and your actions and obey^(B) the Lord your God. Then the Lord will relent^(C) and not bring the disaster he has pronounced against you.

²⁰ Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith^(A) in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful.^(B)”

²⁹ Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”^(A)

²² Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.^(A)

Paul’s Plea for Onesimus

⁸ Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, ⁹ yet I prefer to appeal to you^(A) on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner^(B) of Christ Jesus— ¹⁰ that I appeal to you for my son^(C) Onesimus,^[a](D) who became my son while I was in chains.^(E)

6 As God’s co-workers^(A) we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.^(B)