partying

¹⁹Now the works of the flesh are manifest; they are: fornication, lust, homosexuality, self-indulgence, ²⁰the serving of idols, drug use, hostility, contentiousness, jealousy, wrath, quarrels, dissensions, divisions, ²¹envy, murder, inebriation, carousing, and similar things. About these things, I continue to preach to you, as I have preached to you: that those who act in this way shall not obtain the kingdom of God.

¹⁰For am I now persuading men, or God? Or, am I seeking to please men? If I still were pleasing men, then I would not be a servant of Christ.

¹³Let us walk honestly, as in the daylight, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in promiscuity and sexual immorality, not in contention and envy. ¹⁴Instead, be clothed with the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in its desires.

¹Since Christ has suffered in the flesh, you also should be armed with the same intention. For he who suffers in the flesh desists from sin, ²so that now he may live, for the remainder of his time in the flesh, not by the desires of men, but by the will of God. ³For the time that has passed is sufficient to have fulfilled the will of the Gentiles, those who have walked in luxuries, lusts, intoxication, feasting, drinking, and the illicit worship of idols. ⁴About this, they wonder why you do not rush with them into the same confusion of indulgences, blaspheming. ⁵But they must render an account to him who is prepared to judge the living and the dead. ⁶For because of this, the Gospel was also preached to the dead, so that they might be judged, certainly, just like men in the flesh, yet also, so that they might live according to God, in the Spirit.

²And do not choose to be conformed to this age, but instead choose to be reformed in the newness of your mind, so that you may demonstrate what is the will of God: what is good, and what is well-pleasing, and what is perfect.

¹⁵And so, brothers, see to it that you walk cautiously, not like the foolish, ¹⁶but like the wise: atoning for this age, because this is an evil time. ¹⁷For this reason, do not choose to be imprudent. Instead, understand what is the will of God. ¹⁸And do not choose to be inebriated by wine, for this is self-indulgence. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, ¹⁹speaking among yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual canticles, singing and reciting psalms to the Lord in your hearts, ²⁰giving thanks always for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to God the Father.

²²So then, flee from the desires of your youth, yet truly, pursue justice, faith, hope, charity, and peace, along with those who call upon the Lord from a pure heart.

²³Do not continue to drink only water, but make use of a little wine, for the sake of your stomach and your frequent infirmities.

¹I said in my heart: “I will go forth and overflow with delights, and I will enjoy good things.” And I saw that this, too, is emptiness. ²Laughter, I considered an error. And to rejoicing, I said: “Why are you being deceived, to no purpose?” ³I decided in my heart to withdraw my flesh from wine, so that I might bring my mind to wisdom, and turn away from foolishness, until I see what is useful for the sons of men, and what they ought to do under the sun, during the number of the days of their life. ⁴I magnified my works. I built houses for myself, and I planted vineyards. ⁵I made gardens and orchards. And I planted them with trees of every kind. ⁶And I dug out fishponds of water, so that I might irrigate the forest of growing trees.

⁷Jesus said to them, “Fill the water jars with water.” And they filled them to the very top. ⁸And Jesus said to them, “Now draw from it, and carry it to the chief steward of the feast.” And they took it to him. ⁹Then, when the chief steward had tasted the water made into wine, since he did not know where it was from, for only the servants who had drawn the water knew, the chief steward called the groom, ¹⁰and he said to him: “Every man offers the good wine first, and then, when they have become inebriated, he offers what is worse. But you have kept the good wine until now.” ¹¹This was the beginning of the signs that Jesus accomplished in Cana of Galilee, and it manifested his glory, and his disciples believed in him.