For this is God’s will: that you become holy, that you keep away from sexual immorality,

to aspire to lead a quiet life, to attend to your own business, and to work with your hands, as we commanded you.

At the same time also, prepare a place for me to stay, for I hope that through your prayers I will be given back to you.

“Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, in the day of testing in the wilderness.

“There your fathers tested me and tried me, and they saw my works for forty years.

See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has an evil, unbelieving heart that forsakes the living God.

Therefore we must be wary that, while the promise of entering his rest remains open, none of you may seem to have come short of it.

But in your case, dear friends, even though we speak like this, we are convinced of better things relating to salvation.

But we passionately want each of you to demonstrate the same eagerness for the fulfillment of your hope until the end,

and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but be healed.

Greetings to all your leaders and all the saints. Those from Italy send you greetings.

For if someone comes into your assembly wearing a gold ring and fine clothing, and a poor person enters in filthy clothes,

But you have dishonored the poor! Are not the rich oppressing you and dragging you into the courts?

you ask and do not receive because you ask wrongly, so you can spend it on your passions.

Grieve, mourn, and weep. Turn your laughter into mourning and your joy into despair.

Come now, you rich! Weep and cry aloud over the miseries that are coming on you.

You have lived indulgently and luxuriously on the earth. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.

You also be patient and strengthen your hearts, for the Lord’s return is near.

You know that from your empty way of life inherited from your ancestors you were ransomed – not by perishable things like silver or gold,

You have purified your souls by obeying the truth in order to show sincere mutual love. So love one another earnestly from a pure heart.