Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

⁸ Here is one thing more. You must all agree. You must care when others have trouble. You must love your Christian brothers. You must be kind. You must not be proud.

⁹ You must not do wrong things to those who do wrong things to you. You must not say wrong things to those who say wrong things to you. But ask God to bless those people. This is what you have been called to do. Then God will bless you.

¹⁰ The holy writings say,`A man who wants to live and have good days must not say wrong things. He must not say anything that is not true.

¹¹ He must turn away from anything wrong and do what is good. He must try hard to find peace, and keep on looking for it.

¹² The Lord watches over those who do good. He listens when they talk to him. But the Lord is against those who do wrong things.'

¹³ Who will do something bad to you if you want to do what is good?

¹⁴ But even if people trouble you because you do right, God will bless you. Do not be afraid of them. And do not be troubled.

¹⁵ Worship Christ as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks you about the hope you have. But be gentle and respect him.

¹⁶ Keep your hearts clean. Then when people say wrong things about you, they will be ashamed because they have talked wrongly about your good Christian life.

¹⁷ It is better to have trouble for doing right, if God allows it, than to have trouble for doing wrong.

¹⁸ For Christ died that once because of our wrong ways. He was good and he died for those who were bad. He did this to bring us to God. His body died, but his spirit had new life.