God ·decided [chose; willed] to give us ·life [birth] through the ·word of truth [true message] so we might be ·the most important [or the first of many; ^La kind of firstfruits; ^Cfirstfruits were the first crops to be harvested and guaranteed the coming harvest; Ex. 34:22; 2 Thess. 2:13; Rev. 14:4] of all ·the things he made [or his creatures].

So ·put out of your life [get rid of; lay aside] every ·evil thing [moral filth/defilement] and every ·kind of wrong [excessive evil]. Then in ·gentleness [humility] ·accept [welcome] God’s ·teaching [word] that is planted in your hearts, which can save ·you [^Lyour souls; ^Creferring to the whole person].

·Do what God’s teaching says; when you only listen and do nothing, you are fooling yourselves [^LBe doers of the word, and not only hearers, deceiving yourselves; Luke 11:28; Rom. 2:13].

Those who hear God’s ·teaching [word] and do nothing are like people who look at ·themselves [their natural face; ^Lthe face of their birth] in a mirror.

If you say to that person, “·God be with you [or I wish you well; ^LGo in peace]! ·I hope you stay warm and get plenty to eat, [^TBe warmed and filled]” but you do not ·give what that person needs [provide for the needs of their body], ·your words are worth nothing [^Lwhat good/profit/gain is that?].