These men who are trying to force you to let yourselves be circumcised want to present a good appearance externally, to save themselves from having to stand persecution for the cross of Jesus the Christ.

Why, even those who let themselves be circumcised do not observe the Law themselves! But they want you to let yourselves be circumcised so that they can boast of that physical fact about you!

And for me, let it not be -- to glory, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which to me the world hath been crucified, and I to the world;

From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.

by the reading whereof you may perceive how far I am let into the secret of Christ.

and enlighten all men upon the new order of that divine secret which God the Creator of all concealed from eternity ??10 intending to let the full sweep of the divine wisdom be disclosed now by the church to the angelic Rulers and Authorities in the heavenly sphere,

and through your faith to let Christ in his love make his home in your hearts. Your roots must be deep and your foundations strong,

Let there be but one Lord, one faith, one baptism:

But speaking the truth in love [in all things—both our speech and our lives expressing His truth], let us grow up in all things into Him [following His example] who is the Head—Christ.

Therefore, rejecting all falsehood [whether lying, defrauding, telling half-truths, spreading rumors, any such as these], speak truth each one with his neighbor, for we are all parts of one another [and we are all parts of the body of Christ].

Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

Let it then be your desire to be like God, as well-loved children;

But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;

Let there be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse [obscene or vulgar] joking, because such things are not appropriate [for believers]; but instead speak of your thankfulness [to God].

Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

For you at one time were dark, but now are light in the Lord: let your behaviour be that of children of light

trying to learn [by experience] what is pleasing to the Lord [and letting your lifestyles be examples of what is most acceptable to Him—your behavior expressing gratitude to God for your salvation].

Do not participate in the worthless and unproductive deeds of darkness, but instead expose them [by exemplifying personal integrity, moral courage, and godly character];

Therefore be very careful how you live and act. Let it not be as unwise men, but as wise.

expressing yourselves in psalms, in hymns, and spiritual songs; and let your hearts beat the time, in concerts of praises to the Lord,

Always and for everything let your thanks to God the Father be presented in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

Let wives [be subject] to their husbands as to the Lord,

Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

Let it not be in acts of eye-service as if you had but to please men, but as Christ's bondservants who are doing God's will from the heart.

Finally, my brothers, let your hearts be strengthened in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

stand firm, the belt of truth round your waist, let justice invest you like mail:

let salvation be your helmet, and the divine doctrine your spiritual sword.

I am sending him to you for this very reason, to let you know how we are and to encourage your hearts.

Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with undying and incorruptible love.

Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

And being seen in form as a man, he took the lowest place, and let himself be put to death, even the death of the cross.

receive him then in the Lord with all alacrity, and let such be the objects of your esteem:

Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

In conclusion, Brothers, wherever you find anything true or honorable, righteous or pure, lovable or praiseworthy, or if 'virtue' and 'honour' have any meaning, there let your thoughts dwell.

I know what it is even to be kept low, and I know what it is to have more than enough, - in every way, and in all things, have I been let into the secret - both to be well fed, and to be hungering, both to have more than enough, and to be coming short:

What I mean is, let nobody mislead you by specious arguments.

Be careful that you don't let anyone rob you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the elements of the world, and not after Christ.

Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:

Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,

let the things above, and not such worldly matters be the object of your thoughts.

but now renounce them all, as well as anger, animosity, malice: let calumny and obscene discourse be banish'd from your lips.

let there be no fraud among you, since you have discarded your former habits and practices, and are become new men,

As saints of God, then, holy and dearly loved, let your behaviour be marked by pity and mercy, kind feeling, a low opinion of yourselves, gentle ways, and a power of undergoing all things;

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, and let it be through Him that you give thanks to God the Father.

Whatever you are doing, let your hearts be in your work, as a thing done for the Lord and not for men.

Pray for me too, that God may give me an opening for the message, and let me tell the secret of Christ on account of which I am kept in prison

Let Christian wisdom rule your behaviour to the outside world; make the very most of your time;

Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

I have sent him with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, one of your own number, for this very purpose, to let you know how I am, and to cheer your hearts.

and with him is Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will let you know everything about the situation here [in Rome].

And when this Letter has been read among you, let it be read also in the Church of the Laodiceans, and you in turn must read the one I am sending to Laodicea.

Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

Therefore encourage one another, and let each one help to strengthen his friend, as in fact you do.

Let no one give evil for evil; but ever go after what is good, for one another and for all.

Let all things be tested; keep to what is good;

This is a proof of God's righteous judgment, His aim being to let you show yourselves worthy of His kingdom, for which you are suffering; since,

Not lightly to let your minds become unsettled, nor yet to be disturbed by any revelation, or by any message, or by any letter, purporting to come from us, to the effect that the Day of the Lord is come.

Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

For the rest, my brothers, let there be prayer for us that the word of the Lord may go forward with increasing glory, even as it does with you;

For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, If any will not work, neither let him eat.

keeping hold of faith and a good conscience. For some people have let that go and have had their faith ruined,

Now I want the men to offer prayer at any meeting of the church; and let the hands they lift to heaven be holy ??they must be free from anger and dissension.

Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.

I allow no woman to teach, or to exercise authority over a man; but let her keep quiet.

Likewise let the deacons be grave, not double tongued, not given to much wine, not fond of filthy lucre;

And let these be proved first,

And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.

Likewise let their wives be grave, not tattlers, modest, faithful in all things.

Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.

in case I am delayed, to let you know how people ought to conduct themselves in the household of God, because it is the church of the living God, the support and bulwark of the truth.

But let worldly fictions and old wives' tales alone. Train yourself for the religious life.

Let these be your orders and your teaching.

Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

Attend to these duties, let them absorb you, so that all men may note your progress.

Do not say sharp words to one who has authority in the church, but let your talk be as to a father, and to the younger men as to brothers:

Honour widows that are widows indeed. But if any widow have children or grand children, let these learn first to shew piety at home,

But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.

as for the widow, who is really such, and without any assistance, let her place all her hopes in God, and be assiduous in supplication and prayer.

Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man,

If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.

Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.

Never let any charge be brought against a presbyter, unless it is certified by two or three witnesses.

Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.

And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.

And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

Tell those who are rich in this age not to be arrogant and not to place their confidence in anything as uncertain as riches. Instead, let them place their confidence in God, who lavishly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.