being mean

³²And be kind and merciful to one another, forgiving one another, just as God has forgiven you in Christ.

¹A mild response shatters anger. But a harsh word stirs up fury.

¹³Support one another, and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive one another. For just as the Lord has forgiven you, so also must you do.

¹³For false apostles, such as these deceitful workers, are presenting themselves as if they were Apostles of Christ. ¹⁴And no wonder, for even Satan presents himself as if he were an Angel of light. ¹⁵Therefore, it is no great thing if his ministers present themselves as if they were ministers of justice, for their end shall be according to their works.

¹Therefore, set aside all malice and all deceitfulness, as well as falseness and envy and every detraction. ²Like newborn infants, desire the milk of reasonableness without guile, so that by this you may increase unto salvation, ³if it is true that you have tasted that the Lord is sweet. ⁴And approaching him as if he were a living stone, rejected by men, certainly, but elect and honored by God, ⁵be also yourselves like living stones, built upon him, a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, so as to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. ⁶Because of this, Scripture asserts: “Behold, I am setting in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious. And whoever will have believed in him will not be confounded.”

¹⁷Let everything whatsoever that you do, whether in word or in deed, be done all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

⁶Be anxious about nothing. But in all things, with prayer and supplication, with acts of thanksgiving, let your petitions be made known to God.

²⁰Whoever keeps step with the wise shall be wise. A friend of the foolish will become like them.

¹A Psalm of David himself. Do not choose to imitate the malicious; neither should you envy those who work iniquity. ²For they will quickly wither away like dry grass, and in like manner to kitchen herbs, they will soon droop.

²³For all have sinned and all are in need of the glory of God.

⁸So those who are in the flesh are not able to please God.

⁷Do not seem wise to yourself. Fear God, and withdraw from evil. ⁸Certainly, it shall be health to your navel, and refreshment to your bones.

⁴A peaceful tongue is a tree of life. But that which is immoderate will crush the spirit.

⁹And so, let us not be deficient in doing good. For in due time, we shall reap without fail. ¹⁰Therefore, while we have time, we should do good works toward everyone, and most of all toward those who are of the household of the faith.

¹³For if you live according to the flesh, you will die. But if, by the Spirit, you mortify the deeds of the flesh, you shall live.