Do Not Worry^(A)

²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, do not worry^(B) about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.^(C) Are you not much more valuable than they?^{(D) 27} Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life^[a]?^(E)

²⁸ “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹ Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor^(F) was dressed like one of these. ³⁰ If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?^{(G) 31} So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.^{(H) 33} But seek first his kingdom^(I) and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.^{(J) 34} Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Do Not Worry^(A)

²² Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. ²³ For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. ²⁴ Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them.^(B) And how much more valuable you are than birds! ²⁵ Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life^[a]? ²⁶ Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

²⁷ “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor^(C) was dressed like one of these. ²⁸ If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith!^{(D) 29} And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. ³⁰ For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father^(E) knows that you need them.^{(F) 31} But seek his kingdom,^(G) and these things will be given to you as well.^(H)

³² “Do not be afraid,^(I) little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.^{(J) 33} Sell your possessions and give to the poor.^(K) Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven^(L) that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.^{(M) 34} For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.^(N)

Doing Good to All

6 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit^(A) should restore^(B) that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. ² Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.^{(C) 3} If anyone thinks they are something^(D) when they are not, they deceive themselves.^{(E) 4} Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone,^(F) without comparing themselves to someone else,^{(G) 5} for each one should carry their own load.^{(H) 6} Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.^(I)

⁷ Do not be deceived:^(J) God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.^{(K) 8} Whoever sows to please their flesh,^(L) from the flesh will reap destruction;^(M) whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.^{(N) 9} Let us not become weary in doing good,^(O) for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.^{(P) 10} Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good^(Q) to all people, especially to those who belong to the family^(R) of believers.

⁹ Now about your love for one another^(A) we do not need to write to you,^(B) for you yourselves have been taught by God^(C) to love each other.^{(D) 10} And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia.^(E) Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more,^{(F) 11} and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands,^(G) just as we told you, ¹² so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders^(H) and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

¹⁷ The elders^(A) who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor,^(B) especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. ¹⁸ For Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,”^[a](C) and “The worker deserves his wages.”^{[b](D) 19} Do not entertain an accusation against an elder^(E) unless it is brought by two or three witnesses.^{(F) 20} But those elders who are sinning you are to reprove^(G) before everyone, so that the others may take warning.^{(H) 21} I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus^(I) and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism.

²² Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands,^(J) and do not share in the sins of others.^(K) Keep yourself pure.^(L)

²³ Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine^(M) because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.

²⁴ The sins of some are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. ²⁵ In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden forever.