¹⁸ And you will again see the distinction between the righteous^(A) and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.^(B)

⁴⁶ “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.^(A)”^(B)

²⁵ Far be it from you to do such a thing^(A)—to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous^(B) and the wicked alike.^(C) Far be it from you! Will not the Judge^(D) of all the earth do right?”^(E)

¹⁵ But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites,^(A) in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household,^(B) we will serve the Lord.”^(C)

¹⁴ “You have said, ‘It is futile^(A) to serve^(B) God. What do we gain by carrying out his requirements^(C) and going about like mourners^(D) before the Lord Almighty? ¹⁵ But now we call the arrogant^(E) blessed. Certainly evildoers^(F) prosper,^(G) and even when they put God to the test, they get away with it.’”

¹⁵ But after I uproot them, I will again have compassion^(A) and will bring^(B) each of them back to their own inheritance and their own country.

²³ Last night an angel^(A) of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve^(B) stood beside me^(C)

⁵ All this is evidence^(A) that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy^(B) of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering. ⁶ God is just:^(C) He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you^{(D) 7} and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven^(E) in blazing fire^(F) with his powerful angels.^{(G) 8} He will punish^(H) those who do not know God^(I) and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.^{(J) 9} They will be punished with everlasting destruction^(K) and shut out from the presence of the Lord^(L) and from the glory of his might^{(M) 10} on the day^(N) he comes to be glorified^(O) in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you.^(P)