Doing Helpful Things
1 Remind your people to obey the rulers and authorities and not to be rebellious. They must always be ready to do something helpful 2 and not say cruel things or argue. They should be gentle and kind to everyone. 3 We used to be stupid, disobedient, and foolish, as well as slaves of all sorts of desires and pleasures. We were evil and jealous. Everyone hated us, and we hated everyone.
4 God our Savior showed us
how good and kind he is.
5 He saved us because
of his mercy,
and not because
of any good things
we have done.
God washed us by the power
of the Holy Spirit.
He gave us new birth
and a fresh beginning.
6 God sent Jesus Christ
our Savior
to give us his Spirit.
7 Jesus treated us much better
than we deserve.
He made us acceptable to God
and gave us the hope
of eternal life.
8 This message is certainly true.
These teachings are useful and helpful for everyone. I want you to insist that the people follow them, so that all who have faith in God will be sure to do good deeds. 9 But don't have anything to do with stupid arguments about ancestors. And stay away from disagreements and quarrels about the Law of Moses. Such arguments are useless and senseless.
10 Warn troublemakers once or twice. Then don't have anything else to do with them. 11 You know their minds are twisted, and their own sins show how guilty they are.
Personal Instructions and Greetings
12 I plan to send Artemas or Tychicus to you. After he arrives, please try your best to meet me at Nicopolis. I have decided to spend the winter there.
13 When Zenas the lawyer and Apollos get ready to leave, help them as much as you can, so they won't have need of anything.
14 Our people should learn to spend their time doing something useful and worthwhile.
15 Greetings to you from everyone here. Greet all of our friends who share in our faith.
I pray that the Lord will be kind to all of you!
III.
1 Pamūdynoj jūs, lai jī augstōkai varai byutu padeveigi, paklauseigi un gotovi uz ikvīnu lobu dorbu, 2 ka nivīna nasaimōtu, nabyutu streideigi, bet gon pīkōpeigi un pret visim ļaudim laipni. 3 Agrōk gon arī mes poši bejom nasaprateigi, napaklauseigi, grymom moldūs, bejom padūti dažaidu īgrybu un kōreibu vērdzeibai, dzeivōjom ļaunprōteibā un skaudeibā, poši bejom īneistami un cyts cytu īneidom. 4 Bet kad pasarōdeja myusu Pesteitōja Dīva labsirdeiba un cylvāku mīlesteiba, 5 Jys myusus atpērka na myusu taisneibas dorbu dēļ, kurus padarejom, bet gon sovas žālsirdeibas dēļ: caur atdzimšonas mozgōšonu, — caur atjaunōšonu Svātajā Gorā, 6 kuru caur myusu Pesteitōju Jezus Kristus bogōteigi uz mums izlēja. 7 Tai mes caur Jō žēlesteibu attaisnōti asom klivuši myužeigōs dzeives mantinīki, kai mes cerējom.
8 Šytys vōrds ir patīseigs un es grybu, lai tu par šytom lītom pōrlīcynojūši runōtu, un lai tī, kas ir īticējuši Dīvam, canstūs pēc lobim dorbim. Tys ir labi un cylvākim lītdereigi. 9 Bet nu muļkeigim kildu vaicōjumim, nu ciļts vaicōjumim, streidim un reivēšonōs par lykumu tu izasorgoj, jo tī ir nalīteigi un navajadzeigi.
10 Nu cylvāka heretika, kuru tu reizi vai ūtrreizi esi pōrsorgōjis, izasorgoj, 11 zynōdams, ka taids ir pavysam samaitōts un caur sovim grākim jys pats sevi nūtīsoj.
Nūslāgums.
12 Kai tik es Artemu vai Tychiku pi tevis aizsyuteišu, steidzīs atīt pi manis uz Nikopoli. Tur es dūmoju palikt par zīmu. 13 Lykuma zynōtōju Zenonu un Apollo ceļōjumam apgōdoj labi, lai jim nikō natryuktu. 14 Arī myusejī lai mōcōs caur lobim dorbim ryupētīs par tū, kas ir napīcīšams, ka jī napalyktu bez auglim.
15 Tevi sveicynoj visi, kas ir pi manis. Sveicynoj tūs, kuri ticeibā myusus mīļoj.
(Dīva) žēlesteiba lai ir ar jums visim! (Amen).
