¹⁶ For God had such love for the world that he gave his only Son, so that whoever has faith in him may not come to destruction but have eternal life.

³ Among whom we all at one time were living in the pleasures of our flesh, giving way to the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and the punishment of God was waiting for us even as for the rest.

⁴ But God, being full of mercy, through the great love which he had for us,

⁵ Even when we were dead through our sins, gave us life together with Christ (by grace you have salvation),

⁶ So that we came back from death with him, and are seated with him in the heavens, in Christ Jesus;

⁸ And most of all be warm in your love for one another; because in love there is forgiveness for sins without number:

²⁷ But I say to you who give ear to me, Have love for those who are against you, do good to those who have hate for you,

²⁸ Give blessing to those who give you curses, say prayers for those who are cruel to you.

²⁹ If a man gives you a blow on one side of your face, then let the other side be turned to him; from him who takes away your coat, do not keep back your robe.

²³ For all have done wrong and are far from the glory of God;

²⁴ And they may have righteousness put to their credit, freely, by his grace, through the salvation which is in Christ Jesus:

²⁵ Whom God has put forward as the sign of his mercy, through faith, by his blood, to make clear his righteousness when, in his pity, God let the sins of earlier times go without punishment;

¹⁶ In this we see what love is, because he gave his life for us; and it is right for us to give our lives for the brothers.

⁴ Love is never tired of waiting; love is kind; love has no envy; love has no high opinion of itself, love has no pride;

⁵ Love's ways are ever fair, it takes no thought for itself; it is not quickly made angry, it takes no account of evil;

⁶ It takes no pleasure in wrongdoing, but has joy in what is true;

¹⁹ We have the power of loving, because he first had love for us.

⁷ Now it is hard for anyone to give his life even for an upright man, though it might be that for a good man someone would give his life.

⁸ But God has made clear his love to us, in that, when we were still sinners, Christ gave his life for us.

⁹ Much more, if we now have righteousness by his blood, will salvation from the wrath of God come to us through him.

¹⁷ A friend is loving at all times, and becomes a brother in times of trouble.

³ From far away he saw the Lord: my love for you is an eternal love: so with mercy I have made you come with me.

⁶ It takes no pleasure in wrongdoing, but has joy in what is true;

⁷ Love has the power of undergoing all things, having faith in all things, hoping all things.

⁸ Though the prophet's word may come to an end, tongues come to nothing, and knowledge have no more value, love has no end.

²⁶ O give praise to the God of heaven: for his mercy is unchanging for ever.

⁹ And the love of God was made clear to us when he sent his only Son into the world so that we might have life through him.

⁸ But God has made clear his love to us, in that, when we were still sinners, Christ gave his life for us.

⁴ But when the mercy of God our Saviour, and his love to man was seen,

⁵ Not by works of righteousness which we did ourselves, but in the measure of his mercy, he gave us salvation, through the washing of the new birth and the giving of new life in the Holy Spirit,

⁶ Which he gave us freely through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

⁷ So that, having been given righteousness through grace, we might have a part in the heritage, the hope of eternal life.

⁴³ You have knowledge that it was said, Have love for your neighbour, and hate for him who is against you:

⁴⁴ But I say to you, Have love for those who are against you, and make prayer for those who are cruel to you;

⁴⁵ So that you may be the sons of your Father in heaven; for his sun gives light to the evil and to the good, and he sends rain on the upright man and on the sinner.

⁴⁶ For if you have love for those who have love for you, what credit is it to you? do not the tax-farmers the same?

⁴⁷ And if you say, Good day, to your brothers only, what do you do more than others? do not even the Gentiles the same?

⁴⁸ Be then complete in righteousness, even as your Father in heaven is complete.

¹⁰ And this is love, not that we had love for God, but that he had love for us, and sent his Son to be an offering for our sins.

³⁵ Who will come between us and the love of Christ? Will trouble, or pain, or cruel acts, or the need of food or of clothing, or danger, or the sword?

⁵ Your mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens, and your strong purpose is as high as the clouds.