But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.” | But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” |
Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. | And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. |
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Train children in the right way, and when old, they will not stray. | Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it. |
Can a woman forget her nursing child, or show no compassion for the child of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me. | Never! Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for the child she has borne? But even if that were possible, I would not forget you! See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands. Always in my mind is a picture of Jerusalem’s walls in ruins. |
Now, discipline always seems painful rather than pleasant at the time, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. | No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way. |
Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their parents. | Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged; parents are the pride of their children. |
And, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. | Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord. |
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. | Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. |
I have no greater joy than this, to hear that my children are walking in the truth. | I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children are following the truth. |
Little children, keep yourselves from idols. | Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts. |
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. | God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God. |
They answered, “Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” | They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.” |
For in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. | For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. |
A fool despises a parent's instruction, but the one who heeds admonition is prudent. | Only a fool despises a parent’s discipline; whoever learns from correction is wise. |
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. | For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. |
See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. | See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him. |
And whoever does not provide for relatives, and especially for family members, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. | But those who won’t care for their relatives, especially those in their own household, have denied the true faith. Such people are worse than unbelievers. |
If only they had such a mind as this, to fear me and to keep all my commandments always, so that it might go well with them and with their children forever! | Oh, that they would always have hearts like this, that they might fear me and obey all my commands! If they did, they and their descendants would prosper forever. |
But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God. | But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. |
It is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God. | For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. |
Keep his statutes and his commandments, which I am commanding you today for your own well-being and that of your descendants after you, so that you may long remain in the land that the Lord your God is giving you for all time. | If you obey all the decrees and commands I am giving you today, all will be well with you and your children. I am giving you these instructions so you will enjoy a long life in the land the Lord your God is giving you for all time. |
For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God. | For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. |
Beloved, we are God's children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure. | Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure. |
For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, “Abba! Father!” | So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” |
For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light. | For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! |