[4]Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.[5]It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God's love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].[6]It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.[7]Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].[8]Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end]. As for prophecy (the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose), it will be fulfilled and pass away; as for tongues, they will be destroyed and cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away [it will lose its value and be superseded by truth].

[10]But to the married people I give charge--not I but the Lord--that the wife is not to separate from her husband.[11]But if she does [separate from and divorce him], let her remain single or else be reconciled to her husband. And [I charge] the husband [also] that he should not put away or divorce his wife.[12]To the rest I declare--I, not the Lord [for Jesus did not discuss this]--that if any brother has a wife who does not believe [in Christ] and she consents to live with him, he should not leave or divorce her.[13]And if any woman has an unbelieving husband and he consents to live with her, she should not leave or divorce him..

[15]But if the unbelieving partner [actually] leaves, let him do so; in such [cases the remaining] brother or sister is not morally bound. But God has called us to peace.[16]For, wife, how can you be sure of converting and saving your husband? Husband, how can you be sure of converting and saving your wife?.

The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights (goodwill, kindness, and what is due her as his wife), and likewise the wife to her husband.

My desire is to have you free from all anxiety and distressing care. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord--how he may please the Lord;

And he is drawn in diverging directions [his interests are divided and he is distracted from his devotion to God]. And the unmarried woman or girl is concerned and anxious about the matters of the Lord, how to be wholly separated and set apart in body and spirit; but the married woman has her cares [centered] in earthly affairs--how she may please her husband.

If anyone fails to provide for his relatives, and especially for those of his own family, he has disowned the faith [by failing to accompany it with fruits] and is worse than an unbeliever [who performs his obligation in these matters].

[6]And these words which I am commanding you this day shall be [first] in your [own] minds and hearts; [then][7]You shall whet and sharpen them so as to make them penetrate, and teach and impress them diligently upon the [minds and] hearts of your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down and when you rise up..

[9]Two are better than one, because they have a good [more satisfying] reward for their labor;[10]For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up![11]Again, if two lie down together, then they have warmth; but how can one be warm alone?[12]And though a man might prevail against him who is alone, two will withstand him. A threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Ephesians 4
[1]I THEREFORE, the prisoner for the Lord, appeal to and beg you to walk (lead a life) worthy of the [divine] calling to which you have been called [with behavior that is a credit to the summons to God's service,[2]Living as becomes you] with complete lowliness of mind (humility) and meekness (unselfishness, gentleness, mildness), with patience, bearing with one another and making allowances because you love one another.[3]Be eager and strive earnestly to guard and keep the harmony and oneness of [and produced by] the Spirit in the binding power of peace.

Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible, intelligent people),

[22]Wives, be subject (be submissive and adapt yourselves) to your own husbands as [a service] to the Lord.[23]For the husband is head of the wife as Christ is the Head of the church, Himself the Savior of [His] body.[24]As the church is subject to Christ, so let wives also be subject in everything to their husbands.

[21][25]Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her,[26]So that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the Word,[27]That He might present the church to Himself in glorious splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such things [that she might be holy and faultless].[28]Even so husbands should love their wives as [being in a sense] their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself.[29]For no man ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and carefully protects and cherishes it, as Christ does the church,[30]Because we are members (parts) of His body.[31]For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. [Gen. 2:24.][32]This mystery is very great, but I speak concerning [the relation of] Christ and the church.[33]However, let each man of you [without exception] love his wife as [being in a sense] his very own self; and let the wife see that she respects and reverences her husband [that she notices him, regards him, honors him, prefers him, venerates, and esteems him; and that she defers to him, praises him, and loves and admires him exceedingly]. [I Pet. 3:2.]

Ephesians 6
[1]CHILDREN, OBEY your parents in the Lord [as His representatives], for this is just and right.[2]Honor (esteem and value as precious) your father and your mother--this is the first commandment with a promise--[Exod. 20:12.][3]That all may be well with you and that you may live long on the earth.

Fathers, do not irritate and provoke your children to anger [do not exasperate them to resentment], but rear them [tenderly] in the training and discipline and the counsel and admonition of the Lord.

[22]You shall not afflict any widow or fatherless child.[23]If you afflict them in any way and they cry at all to Me, I will surely hear their cry;

For I have known (chosen, acknowledged) him [as My own], so that he may teach and command his children and the sons of his house after him to keep the way of the Lord and to do what is just and righteous, so that the Lord may bring Abraham what He has promised him.

And all your [spiritual] children shall be disciples [taught by the Lord and obedient to His will], and great shall be the peace and undisturbed composure of your children. [John 6:45.]

For your Maker is your Husband--the Lord of hosts is His name--and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; the God of the whole earth He is called.

But be doers of the Word [obey the message], and not merely listeners to it, betraying yourselves [into deception by reasoning contrary to the Truth].

External religious worship [religion as it is expressed in outward acts] that is pure and unblemished in the sight of God the Father is this: to visit and help and care for the orphans and widows in their affliction and need, and to keep oneself unspotted and uncontaminated from the world.

If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of the giving God [Who gives] to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or faultfinding, and it will be given him.

For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.

This is My commandment: that you love one another [just] as I have loved you.

For the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I hate divorce and marital separation and him who covers his garment [his wife] with violence. Therefore keep a watch upon your spirit [that it may be controlled by My Spirit], that you deal not treacherously and faithlessly [with your marriage mate].

And he shall turn and reconcile the hearts of the [estranged] fathers to the [ungodly] children, and the hearts of the [rebellious] children to [the piety of] their fathers [a reconciliation produced by repentance of the ungodly], lest I come and smite the land with a curse and a ban of utter destruction. [Luke 1:17.]

What therefore God has united (joined together), let not man separate or divide.

[3]And Pharisees came to Him and put Him to the test by asking, Is it lawful and right to dismiss and repudiate and divorce one's wife for any and every cause?[4]He replied, Have you never read that He Who made them from the beginning made them male and female,[5]And said, For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be united firmly (joined inseparably) to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh? [Gen. 1:27; 2:24.][6]So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder (separate).

For if you forgive people their trespasses [their reckless and willful sins, leaving them, letting them go, and giving up resentment], your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

[9]And this I pray: that your love may abound yet more and more and extend to its fullest development in knowledge and all keen insight [that your love may display itself in greater depth of acquaintance and more comprehensive discernment],[10]So that you may surely learn to sense what is vital, and approve and prize what is excellent and of real value [recognizing the highest and the best, and distinguishing the moral differences], and that you may be untainted and pure and unerring and blameless [so that with hearts sincere and certain and unsullied, you may approach] the day of Christ [not stumbling nor causing others to stumble].[11]May you abound in and be filled with the fruits of righteousness (of right standing with God and right doing) which come through Jesus Christ (the Anointed One), to the honor and praise of God [that His glory may be both manifested and recognized].

A virtuous and worthy wife [earnest and strong in character] is a crowning joy to her husband, but she who makes him ashamed is as rottenness in his bones. [Prov. 31:23; I Cor. 11:7.]

A good man leaves an inheritance [of moral stability and goodness] to his children's children, and the wealth of the sinner [finds its way eventually] into the hands of the righteous, for whom it was laid up.

He who spares his rod [of discipline] hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines diligently and punishes him early. [Prov. 19:18; 22:15; 23:13; 29:15, 17.]

A gentle tongue [with its healing power] is a tree of life, but willful contrariness in it breaks down the spirit.

Discipline your son while there is hope, but do not [indulge your angry resentments by undue chastisements and] set yourself to his ruin.

Train up a child in the way he should go [and in keeping with his individual gift or bent], and when he is old he will not depart from it. [Eph. 6:4; II Tim. 3:15.]

[10]A capable, intelligent, and virtuous woman--who is he who can find her? She is far more precious than jewels and her value is far above rubies or pearls. [Prov. 12:4; 18:22; 19:14.][11]The heart of her husband trusts in her confidently and relies on and believes in her securely, so that he has no lack of [honest] gain or need of [dishonest] spoil.[12]She comforts, encourages, and does him only good as long as there is life within her.[13]She seeks out wool and flax and works with willing hands [to develop it].[14]She is like the merchant ships loaded with foodstuffs; she brings her household's food from a far [country].[15]She rises while it is yet night and gets [spiritual] food for her household and assigns her maids their tasks. [Job 23:12.][16]She considers a [new] field before she buys or accepts it [expanding prudently and not courting neglect of her present duties by assuming other duties]; with her savings [of time and strength] she plants fruitful vines in her vineyard. [S. of Sol. 8:12.][17]She girds herself with strength [spiritual, mental, and physical fitness for her God-given task] and makes her arms strong and firm.[18]She tastes and sees that her gain from work [with and for God] is good; her lamp goes not out, but it burns on continually through the night [of trouble, privation, or sorrow, warning away fear, doubt, and distrust].[19]She lays her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.[20]She opens her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her filled hands to the needy [whether in body, mind, or spirit].[21]She fears not the snow for her family, for all her household are doubly clothed in scarlet. [Josh. 2:18, 19; Heb. 9:19-22.][22]She makes for herself coverlets, cushions, and rugs of tapestry. Her clothing is of linen, pure and fine, and of purple [such as that of which the clothing of the priests and the hallowed cloths of the temple were made]. [Isa. 61:10; I Tim. 2:9; Rev. 3:5; 19:8, 14.][23]Her husband is known in the [city's] gates, when he sits among the elders of the land. [Prov. 12:4.][24]She makes fine linen garments and leads others to buy them; she delivers to the merchants girdles [or sashes that free one up for service].[25]Strength and dignity are her clothing and her position is strong and secure; she rejoices over the future [the latter day or time to come, knowing that she and her family are in readiness for it]![26]She opens her mouth in skillful and godly Wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness [giving counsel and instruction].[27]She looks well to how things go in her household, and the bread of idleness (gossip, discontent, and self-pity) she will not eat. [I Tim. 5:14; Tit. 2:5.][28]Her children rise up and call her blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied); and her husband boasts of and praises her, [saying],[29]Many daughters have done virtuously, nobly, and well [with the strength of character that is steadfast in goodness], but you excel them all.[30]Charm and grace are deceptive, and beauty is vain [because it is not lasting], but a woman who reverently and worshipfully fears the Lord, she shall be praised![31]Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates [of the city]! [Phil. 4:8.]

Drink waters out of your own cistern [of a pure marriage relationship], and fresh running waters out of your own well.

[18]Let your fountain [of human life] be blessed [with the rewards of fidelity], and rejoice in the wife of your youth.[19]Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant doe [tender, gentle, attractive]--let her bosom satisfy you at all times, and always be transported with delight in her love.

[3]Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. [Deut. 28:4.][4]As arrows are in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth.[5]Happy, blessed, and fortunate is the man whose quiver is filled with them! They will not be put to shame when they speak with their adversaries [in gatherings] at the [city's] gate.

Psalms 133
BEHOLD, HOW good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

The Lord protects and preserves the strangers and temporary residents, He upholds the fatherless and the widow and sets them upright, but the way of the wicked He makes crooked (turns upside down and brings to ruin).

For He has strengthened and made hard the bars of your gates, and He has blessed your children within you.

Love one another with brotherly affection [as members of one family], giving precedence and showing honor to one another.