Old/New Testament

15 We who are strong must help those who are not strong. We must not do what pleases us.

² But each of us must please his neighbour. He must do what is good for him and what will help him do better.

³ Christ did not please himself. But the holy writings say, `I took upon myself the wrong things that people said against you.'

⁴ Everything that is in the holy writings was written to teach us. They give hope and strength when we have troubles. The holy writings comfort our hearts.

⁵ God gives people power to take their troubles and he comforts their hearts. I ask him to help you to think the same way as Christ did.

⁶ Then, together you will praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁷ So, accept one another, as Christ has accepted you. Then people will know that God is great.

⁸ What I say is this. Christ came to serve the Jews. He did this to prove that what God said was true. He proved that God kept his promises to the fathers.

⁹ He did this so that people who are not Jews would praise God because he is kind. The holy writings say, `So I will praise you among the people who are not Jews. I will sing songs to your name.'

¹⁰ The holy writings also say, `People who are not Jews, be glad with those who are God's people.'

¹¹ And they also say, `People who are not Jews, praise the Lord. All peoples should praise him.'

¹² Also, Isaiah says, `Someone from Jesse's family will come. He will come to rule the people who are not Jews. People who are not Jews will have hope in him.'

¹³ God gives hope. May he make you very happy. May he give you peace because you believe. Then the power of the Holy Spirit will give you much hope.