Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.

Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.

So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.

But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’"

Don’t envy sinners, but always continue to fear the Lord.

And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.

so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.

May our sons flourish in their youth like well-nurtured plants. May our daughters be like graceful pillars, carved to beautify a palace.

a The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.

12 Don’t let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honor him in your youth before you grow old and say, “Life is not pleasant anymore.”

Listen to your father, who gave you life, and don’t despise your mother when she is old. Get the truth and never sell it; also get wisdom, discipline, and good judgment.

Only a fool despises a parent’s discipline; whoever learns from correction is wise.

6 Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.”

O my son, give me your heart. May your eyes take delight in following my ways.

So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.

But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

“So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.

We can say with confidence and a clear conscience that we have lived with a God-given holiness and sincerity in all our dealings. We have depended on God’s grace, not on our own human wisdom. That is how we have conducted ourselves before the world, and especially toward you.

Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.

But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.

And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."

People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy.