If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
If it be possible (i:e., If others will let you), as much as lieth in you, [ to (G3588 ) ex (G1537 ) humoon (G5216 ), 'on your part,' or, 'so far as dependeth on you,'] live peaceably, [ eireeneuontes (G1514 ), or 'keep peace'] with all men. The impossibility of this in some cases is hinted at, to keep up the hearts of those who, having done their utmost unsuccessfully to live in peace, might be tempted to think the failure was necessarily owing to themselves. But how emphatically expressed is the injunction to let nothing on our part prevent it! Would that Christians were guiltless in this respect! The next precept is evidently suggested by this one. Peace is broken, in spite of all that the Christian has done to preserve it, and wrong will be inflicted on him, which he will find it hard to bear. What then?