Death and life are in the power ¹  of the tongue, ²  and those who love its use ³  will eat its fruit.

Discipline your child, for ¹  there is hope, but do not set your heart ²  on causing his death. ³ 

The sluggard plunges ¹  his hand in the dish; he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth. ² 

The one who keeps the law ¹  is a discerning child, ²  but a companion of gluttons brings shame ³  to his parents. ⁴ 

They consume their alcohol, then engage in cult prostitution; they dearly love their shameful behavior.

For this reason God gave them over to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged the natural sexual relations for unnatural ones, ¹ 

I wrote you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people.

I wish that you would be patient with me in a little foolishness, but indeed you are being patient with me!

But avoid profane chatter, ¹  because those occupied with it will stray further and further into ungodliness, ² 

Above all, understand this: ¹  In the last days blatant scoffers ²  will come, being propelled by their own evil urges ³ 

For they said to you, “In the end time there will come ¹  scoffers, propelled by their own ungodly desires.” ² 

What ¹  did you go out to see? A man dressed in fancy ²  clothes? ³  Look, those who wear fancy clothes and live in luxury ⁴  are in kings’ courts! ⁵ 

These people are grumblers and ¹  fault-finders who go ²  wherever their desires lead them, ³  and they give bombastic speeches, ⁴  enchanting folks ⁵  for their own gain. ⁶ 

Does it make you any more of a king that you outstrip everyone else in ¹  building with cedar? Just think about your father. He was content that he had food and drink. ²  He did what was just and right. ³  So things went well with him.

“But be on your guard ¹  so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day close down upon you suddenly like a trap. ² 

He ordered the centurion ¹  to guard Paul, ²  but to let him have some freedom, ³  and not to prevent any of his friends ⁴  from meeting his needs. ⁵ 

In no way did I mean the immoral people of this world, or the greedy and swindlers and idolaters, since you would then have to go out of the world.

Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived! The sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, passive homosexual partners, ¹  practicing homosexuals, ² 

I am afraid that ¹  when I come again, my God may humiliate me before you, and I will grieve for ²  many of those who previously sinned and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and licentiousness that they have practiced.

But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who calls himself a Christian ¹  who is sexually immoral, or greedy, or an idolater, or verbally abusive, ²  or a drunkard, or a swindler. Do not even eat with such a person.