joking

¹⁸Just as he is guilty who let loose the arrows and the lances unto death, ¹⁹so also is the man who harms his friend by deceitfulness. And when he has been apprehended, he says, “I did it jokingly.”

⁴nor any indecent, or foolish, or abusive talk, for this is without purpose; but instead, give thanks.

³⁶But I say to you, that for every idle word which men will have spoken, they shall render an account in the day of judgment.

²⁹Let no evil words proceed from your mouth, but only what is good, toward the edification of faith, so as to bestow grace upon those who listen.

¹Therefore, as most beloved sons, be imitators of God. ²And walk in love, just as Christ also loved us and delivered himself for us, as an oblation and a sacrifice to God, with a fragrance of sweetness. ³But let not any kind of fornication, or impurity, or rapacity so much as be named among you, just as is worthy of the saints, ⁴nor any indecent, or foolish, or abusive talk, for this is without purpose; but instead, give thanks. ⁵For know and understand this: no one who is a fornicator, or lustful, or rapacious (for these are a kind of service to idols) holds an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. ⁶Let no one seduce you with empty words. For because of these things, the wrath of God was sent upon the sons of unbelief.

³³Do not be led astray. Evil communication corrupts good morals.

¹²And because iniquity has abounded, the charity of many will grow cold.

²²A joyful soul makes a lifetime flourish. A gloomy spirit dries out the bones.

²³The foolish work wickedness as if in jest. But wisdom is prudence to a man.

⁷Do not choose to wander astray. God is not to be ridiculed.

²⁰If anyone says that he loves God, but hates his brother, then he is a liar. For he who does not love his brother, whom he does see, in what way can he love God, whom he does not see?

¹²But before all things, my brothers, do not choose to swear, neither by heaven, nor by the earth, nor in any other oath. But let your word ‘Yes’ be yes, and your word ‘No’ be no, so that you may not fall under judgment.

¹⁵Be solicitous in the task of presenting yourself before God as a proven and unashamed worker who has handled the Word of Truth correctly.

⁸But now you must set aside all these things: anger, indignation, malice, blasphemy, and indecent speech from your mouth. ⁹Do not lie to one another. Strip yourselves of the old man, with his deeds,

⁴⁵A good man, from the good storehouse of his heart, offers what is good. And an evil man, from the evil storehouse, offers what is evil. For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.