bullies

¹⁴Bless those who are persecuting you: bless, and do not curse. ¹⁵Rejoice with those who are rejoicing. Weep with those who are weeping. ¹⁶Be of the same mind toward one another: not savoring what is exalted, but consenting in humility. Do not choose to seem wise to yourself.

¹⁷Render to no one harm for harm. Provide good things, not only in the sight of God, but also in the sight of all men. ¹⁸If it is possible, in so far as you are able, be at peace with all men. ¹⁹Do not defend yourselves, dearest ones. Instead, step aside from wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is mine. I shall give retribution, says the Lord.” ²⁰So if an enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in doing so, you will heap burning coals upon his head. ²¹Do not allow evil to prevail, instead prevail over evil by means of goodness.

²²But I say to you, that anyone who becomes angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment. But whoever will have called his brother, ‘Idiot,’ shall be liable to the council. Then, whoever will have called him, ‘Worthless,’ shall be liable to the fires of Hell.

⁴⁴But I say to you: Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. And pray for those who persecute and slander you. ⁴⁵In this way, you shall be sons of your Father, who is in heaven. He causes his sun to rise upon the good and the bad, and he causes it to rain upon the just and the unjust.

¹²For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, against the directors of this world of darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in high places.

¹⁷This I command you: that you love one another.

¹⁸Do not seek revenge, neither should you be mindful of the injury of your fellow citizens. You shall love your friend as yourself. I am the Lord.

¹²Whoever despises his friend is destitute in heart. But the prudent man will remain silent.

¹²For the Word of God is living and effective: more piercing than any two-edged sword, reaching to the division even between the soul and the spirit, even between the joints and the marrow, and so it discerns the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

⁵Whoever despises the poor rebukes his Maker. And whoever rejoices in the ruin of another will not go unpunished.

¹²Because of this, lift up your lazy hands and your lax knees, ¹³and straighten the path of your feet, so that no one, being lame, may wander astray, but instead may be healed. ¹⁴Pursue peace with everyone. Pursue sanctity, without which no one shall see God. ¹⁵Be contemplative, lest anyone lack the grace of God, lest any root of bitterness spring up and impede you, and by it, many might be defiled,

¹⁶But now you exult in your arrogance. All such exultation is wicked.

¹⁴Let all that is yours be immersed in charity.

¹¹Let all my enemies be ashamed and together be greatly troubled. May they be converted and become ashamed very quickly.

⁶Act manfully and be strengthened. Do not be afraid, and do not dread at the sight of them. For the Lord your God himself is your commander, and he will neither dismiss nor abandon you.”