¹⁵ that you may become blameless and ^[a]harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as ^(A)lights in the world,

^14 (A)“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Nor do they ^(B)light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. ¹⁶ Let your light so shine before men, ^(C)that they may see your good works and ^(D)glorify your Father in heaven.

^12 (A)having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, ^(B)they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.

⁴⁵ that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for ^(A)He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

The Gentiles Bless Zion

The Command to Love

3 Behold ^(A)what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that ^(B)we should be called children of ^[a]God! Therefore the world does not know ^[b]us, ^(C)because it did not know Him. ² Beloved, ^(D)now we are children of God; and ^(E)it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, ^(F)we shall be like Him, for ^(G)we shall see Him as He is. ^3 (H)And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

Be Steadfast

¹⁴ Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent ^(A)to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless;

¹⁴ as obedient children, not ^(A)conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; ^15 (B)but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, ¹⁶ because it is written, ^(C)“Be holy, for I am holy.”

¹⁷ And if you call on the Father, who ^(D)without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your ^[a]stay here in fear;