1. Unless the LORD builds
the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the
city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.
2. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat--
for he grants sleep to those he loves.
1. "I am the true vine,
and my Father is the gardener.
2. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch
that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.
3. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.
4. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by
itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless
you remain in me.
5. "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and
I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
6. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown
away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and
burned.
7. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish,
and it will be given you.
8. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves
to be my disciples.
16. So I say, live by the
Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.
17. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and
the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict
with each other, so that you do not do what you want.
18. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
19. The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity
and debauchery;
20. idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage,
selfish ambition, dissensions, factions
21. and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did
before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of
God.
22. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness,
23. gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
24. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature
with its passions and desires.
25. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
26. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.