Remember Your Creator in Your Youth

12 Remember also your Creator in ^(A)the days of your youth, before ^(B)the evil days come and the years draw near of which ^(C)you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”;

²⁹ Take my yoke upon you, and ^(A)learn from me, for I am ^(B)gentle and lowly in heart, and ^(C)you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For ^(D)my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

⁵ And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?

⁷ It is for discipline that you have to endure. ^(D)God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? ⁸ If you are left without discipline, ^(E)in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. ⁹ Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to ^(F)the Father of spirits ^(G)and live? ¹⁰ For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, ^(H)that we may share his holiness. ^11 (I)For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields ^(J)the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

¹² Therefore ^(K)lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees,