defiance

¹Let every soul be subject to higher authorities. For there is no authority except from God and those who have been ordained by God. ²And so, whoever resists authority, resists what has been ordained by God. And those who resist are acquiring damnation for themselves. ³For leaders are not a source of fear to those who work good, but to those who work evil. And would you prefer not to be afraid of authority? Then do what is good, and you shall have praise from them. ⁴For he is a minister of God for you unto good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid. For it is not without reason that he carries a sword. For he is a minister of God; an avenger to execute wrath upon whomever does evil. ⁵For this reason, it is necessary to be subject, not solely because of wrath, but also because of conscience. ⁶Therefore, you must also offer tribute. For they are the ministers of God, serving him in this.

¹⁷Therefore, he who knows that he ought to do a good thing, and does not do it, for him it is a sin.

²⁴For I called, and you refused. I extended my hand, and there was no one who watched. ²⁵You have despised all my counsels, and you have neglected my rebukes. ²⁶Similarly, I will ridicule you at your demise, and I will mock you, when that which you feared shall overcome you. ²⁷When sudden calamity rushes upon you, and your demise advances like a tempest, when tribulation and anguish overcome you, ²⁸then they will call to me, and I will not heed, they will arise in the morning, and not find me. ²⁹For they held hatred for discipline, and they would not accept the fear of the Lord;

²⁰Children, obey your parents in all things. For this is well-pleasing to the Lord.

¹⁴Yet truly, each one is tempted by his own desires, having been enticed and drawn away.

¹Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is just. ²Honor your father and your mother. This is the first commandment with a promise: ³so that it may be well with you, and so that you may have a long life upon the earth. ⁴And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but educate them with the discipline and correction of the Lord. ⁵Servants, be obedient to your lords according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the simplicity of your heart, as to Christ. ⁶Do not serve only when seen, as if to please men, but act as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.

⁷Do not choose to wander astray. God is not to be ridiculed. ⁸For whatever a man will have sown, that also shall he reap. For whoever sows in his flesh, from the flesh he shall also reap corruption. But whoever sows in the Spirit, from the Spirit he shall reap eternal life. ⁹And so, let us not be deficient in doing good. For in due time, we shall reap without fail.

¹²instructing us to reject impiety and worldly desires, so that we may live soberly and justly and piously in this age,

¹⁵For we do not have a high priest who is unable to have compassion on our infirmities, but rather one who was tempted in all things, just as we are, yet without sin.

³For this is the love of God: that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not heavy. ⁴For all that is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that overcomes the world: our faith. ⁵Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God!

¹⁶All Scripture, having been divinely inspired, is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in justice,

²¹Be subject to one another in the fear of Christ. ²²Wives should be submissive to their husbands, as to the Lord. ²³For the husband is the head of the wife, just as Christ is the head of the Church. He is the Savior of his body. ²⁴Therefore, just as the Church is subject to Christ, so also should wives be subject to their husbands in all things. ²⁵Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the Church and handed himself over for her, ²⁶so that he might sanctify her, washing her clean by water and the Word of life,

²⁹But Peter and the Apostles responded by saying: “It is necessary to obey God, more so than men.

¹The Praise of a Canticle, of David. Whoever dwells with the assistance of the Most High will abide in the protection of the God of heaven. ²He will say to the Lord, “You are my supporter and my refuge.” My God, I will hope in him. ³For he has freed me from the snare of those who go hunting, and from the harsh word. ⁴He will overshadow you with his shoulders, and you will hope under his wings. ⁵His truth will surround you with a shield. You will not be afraid: before the terror of the night, ⁶before the arrow flying in the day, before the troubles that wander in the darkness, nor of invasion and the midday demon.

¹⁷so that the man of God may be perfect, having been trained for every good work.

¹For this reason, O man, each one of you who judges is inexcusable. For by that which you judge another, you condemn yourself. For you do the same things that you judge. ²For we know that the judgment of God is in accord with truth against those who do such things. ³But, O man, when you judge those who do such things as you yourself also do, do you think that you will escape the judgment of God? ⁴Or do you despise the riches of his goodness and patience and forbearance? Do you not know that the kindness of God is calling you to repentance? ⁵But in accord with your hard and impenitent heart, you store up wrath for yourself, unto the day of wrath and of revelation by the just judgment of God. ⁶For he will render to each one according to his works:

¹³Temptation should not take hold of you, except what is human. For God is faithful, and he will not permit you to be tempted beyond your ability. Instead, he will effect his Providence, even during temptation, so that you may be able to bear it.