| So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith. | Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. |
| And whoever does not provide for relatives, and especially for family members, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. | Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. |
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| 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. | These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. |
| 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—you and your household.” |
| Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose. | I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. |
| My child, keep your father's commandment, and do not forsake your mother's teaching. | My son, keep your father’s command and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. |
| How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity! | How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! |
| Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. | So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. |
| Those who say, “I love God,” and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. | Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. |
| But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments. | But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children— with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts. |
| 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. | Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me. |
| Train children in the right way, and when old, they will not stray. | Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. |
| And, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. | Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. |
| Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. | Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. |
| Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their parents. | Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children. |
| Now if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord. | But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord. |
| A friend loves at all times, and kinsfolk are born to share adversity. | A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity. |
| For thus says the Lord to the house of Israel: Seek me and live. | This is what the Lord says to Israel: “Seek me and live.” |
| The Lord our God be with us, as he was with our ancestors; may he not leave us or abandon us. | May the Lord our God be with us as he was with our ancestors; may he never leave us nor forsake us. |
| Some friends play at friendship but a true friend sticks closer than one's nearest kin. | One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. |
| Do not forsake your friend or the friend of your parent; do not go to the house of your kindred in the day of your calamity. Better is a neighbor who is nearby than kindred who are far away. | Do not forsake your friend or a friend of your family, and do not go to your relative’s house when disaster strikes you— better a neighbor nearby than a relative far away. |
| 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, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure. |
| If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! | If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! |
| The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; he who begets a wise son will be glad in him. | The father of a righteous child has great joy; a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him. |
| My child, if your heart is wise, my heart too will be glad. | My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad indeed. |
