⁸ Then Abram said to Lot, “Let there be no strife between you and me and between your herders and my herders, for we are kindred.^(A)

⁶ Instead, brothers and sisters go to court against one another, and this before the unbelievers.^(A)

⁷ In fact, to have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded?^(B)

²⁶ The next day he came to some of them as they were quarreling and tried to reconcile them, saying, ‘Men, you are brothers; why do you wrong each other?’

Psalm 133

The Blessedness of Unity

A Song of Ascents.

²⁰ Those who say, “I love God,” and hate a brother or sister are liars, for those who do not love a brother or sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.^{(A) 21} The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.

¹⁴ We know that we have passed from death to life because we love the brothers and sisters. Whoever does not love abides in death.^{(A) 15} All who hate a brother or sister are murderers, and you know that murderers do not have eternal life abiding in them.^{(B) 16} We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers and sisters.^{(C) 17} How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?^(D)

¹⁸ Little children, let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth.^{(E) 19} And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him^(F)

⁹ Whoever says, “I am in the light,” while hating a brother or sister, is still in the darkness.^{(A) 10} Whoever loves a brother or sister abides in the light, and in such a person^[a] there is no cause for stumbling. ¹¹ But whoever hates a brother or sister is in the darkness, walks in the darkness, and does not know the way to go, because the darkness has brought on blindness.^(B)

⁷ and godliness with mutual affection, and mutual affection with love.

⁸ Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins.^(A)

Suffering for Doing Right

⁸ Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble mind.^(A)