competition

³Let nothing be done by contention, nor in vain glory. Instead, in humility, let each of you esteem others to be better than himself. ⁴Let each of you not consider anything to be your own, but rather to belong to others.

²⁴Do you not know that, of those who run in a race, all of them, certainly, are runners, but only one achieves the prize. Similarly, you must run, so that you may achieve.

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

⁵Then, too, whoever strives in a competition is not crowned, unless he has competed lawfully.

⁴So let each one prove his own work. And in this way, he shall have glory in himself only, and not in another.

¹³Everything is possible in him who has strengthened me.

³⁷For no word will be impossible with God.”

³Let nothing be done by contention, nor in vain glory. Instead, in humility, let each of you esteem others to be better than himself.

³¹Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever else you may do, do everything for the glory of God.

¹⁵And he said to them: “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the sight of men. But God knows your hearts. For what is lifted up by men is an abomination in the sight of God.

³³Therefore, seek first the kingdom of God and his justice, and all these things shall be added to you as well.

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.

⁹And so, let us not be deficient in doing good. For in due time, we shall reap without fail.

¹³No one has a greater love than this: that he lay down his life for his friends.

²⁵And one who competes in a contest abstains from all things. And they do this, of course, so that they may achieve a corruptible crown. But we do this, so that we may achieve what is incorruptible.

⁶But he gives a greater grace. Therefore he says: “God resists the arrogant, but he gives grace to the humble.”

⁴Again, I was contemplating all the labors of men. And I took notice that their endeavors are open to the envy of their neighbor. And so, in this, too, there is emptiness and superfluous anxiety.

¹²For we would not dare to interpose or compare ourselves with certain ones who commend themselves. But we measure ourselves by ourselves, and we compare ourselves with ourselves.

³⁰But many of those who are first shall be last, and the last shall be first.”

¹⁴In God, we will act virtuously, and he will bring our enemies to nothing.

²⁶Let us not become desirous of empty glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

²²For how can a man benefit from all his labor and affliction of spirit, by which he has been tormented under the sun? ²³All his days have been filled with sorrows and hardships; neither does he rest his mind, even in the night. And is this not emptiness? ²⁴Is it not better to eat and drink, and to show his soul the good things of his labors? And this is from the hand of God. ²⁵So who will feast and overflow with delights as much as I have? ²⁶God has given, to the man who is good in his sight, wisdom, and knowledge, and rejoicing. But to the sinner, he has given affliction and needless worrying, so as to add, and to gather, and to deliver, to him who has pleased God. But this, too, is emptiness and a hollow worrying of the mind.