⁹ So I continued, “What you are doing is not right. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach^(A) of our Gentile enemies?

³⁶ Do not take interest^(A) or any profit from them, but fear your God,^(B) so that they may continue to live among you.

¹² Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds^(A) and glorify God^(B) on the day he visits us.

¹⁴ But because by doing this you have shown utter contempt for^[a] the Lord,^(A) the son born to you will die.”

⁵ to be self-controlled^(A) and pure, to be busy at home,^(B) to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands,^(C) so that no one will malign the word of God.^(D)

¹⁴ So I counsel younger widows to marry,^(A) to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander.^(B)

²⁴ As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”^[a](A)

³¹ Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria^(A) enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.^(B)

²⁰ And wherever they went among the nations they profaned^(A) my holy name, for it was said of them, ‘These are the Lord’s people, and yet they had to leave his land.’^(B)

Further Sayings of the Wise

²³ These also are sayings of the wise:^(A)