business partnerships

¹⁴Do not choose to bear the yoke with unbelievers. For how can justice be a participant with iniquity? Or how can the fellowship of light be a participant with darkness? ¹⁵And how can Christ join together with Belial? Or what part do the faithful have with the unfaithful? ¹⁶And what consensus does the temple of God have with idols? For you are the temple of the living God, just as God says: “I will dwell with them, and I will walk among them. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. ¹⁷Because of this, you must depart from their midst and be separate, says the Lord. And do not touch what is unclean. ¹⁸Then I will accept you. And I will be a Father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.”

¹⁴Do not choose to bear the yoke with unbelievers. For how can justice be a participant with iniquity? Or how can the fellowship of light be a participant with darkness?

¹⁹Therefore, whoever will have loosened one of the least of these commandments, and have taught men so, shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever will have done and taught these, such a one shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. ²⁰For I say to you, that unless your justice has surpassed that of the scribes and the Pharisees you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. ²¹You have heard that it was said to the ancients: ‘You shall not murder; whoever will have murdered shall be liable to judgment.’ 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. ²³Therefore, if you offer your gift at the altar, and there you remember that your brother has something against you, ²⁴leave your gift there, before the altar, and go first to be reconciled to your brother, and then you may approach and offer your gift.

¹⁵He will be afflicted with evil, who provides a guarantee for an outsider. But whoever is wary of traps shall be secure.

¹My son, if you have taken a pledge on behalf of your friend, then you have bound your hand to an outsider, ²then you are ensnared by the words of your own mouth, and taken captive by your own words. ³Therefore, my son, do what I say, and free yourself, for you have fallen into the hand of your neighbor. Run, hurry, awaken your friend. ⁴Do not grant sleep to your eyes, nor let your eyelids slumber. ⁵Rescue yourself like a gazelle from the hand, and like a bird from the hand of the fowler.

⁴Then, when he had ceased speaking, he said to Simon, “Lead us into deep water, and release your nets for a catch.” ⁵And in response, Simon said to him: “Teacher, working throughout the night, we caught nothing. But on your word, I will release the net.” ⁶And when they had done this, they enclosed such a copious multitude of fish that their net was rupturing. ⁷And they signaled to their associates, who were in the other boat, so that they would come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they were nearly submerged.

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.

⁹For we are God’s assistants. You are God’s cultivation; you are God’s construction.

¹⁷Iron sharpens iron, and a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.

²³Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as for the Lord, and not for men.

¹⁹Therefore, too, let those who suffer according to the will of God commend their souls by good deeds to the faithful Creator.

³Will two walk together, unless they have agreed to do so?