11 A person’s wisdom yields patience;(A)
    it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.

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12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves(A) with compassion, kindness, humility,(B) gentleness and patience.(C) 13 Bear with each other(D) and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.(E)

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32 Better a patient person than a warrior,
    one with self-control than one who takes a city.

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29 Whoever is patient has great understanding,(A)
    but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.(B)

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Listening and Doing

19 My dear brothers and sisters,(A) take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak(B) and slow to become angry,

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18 A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict,(A)
    but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.(B)

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16 Fools(A) show their annoyance at once,(B)
    but the prudent overlook an insult.(C)

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32 Be kind and compassionate to one another,(A) forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.(B) Follow God’s example,(C) therefore, as dearly loved children(D)

18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.(A) 19 Do not take revenge,(B) my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”[a](C) says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
    if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”[b](D)

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 12:19 Deut. 32:35
  2. Romans 12:20 Prov. 25:21,22

The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant

21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me?(A) Up to seven times?”(B)

22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.[a](C)

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 18:22 Or seventy times seven

44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,(A) 45 that you may be children(B) of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.(C)

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It is to one’s honor to avoid strife,
    but every fool(A) is quick to quarrel.(B)

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21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;
    if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.

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14 Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam;
    so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.(A)

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Joseph Reassures His Brothers

15 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph holds a grudge(A) against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?”(B) 16 So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Your father left these instructions(C) before he died: 17 ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins(D) and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’(E) Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.(F)” When their message came to him, Joseph wept.(G)

18 His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him.(H) “We are your slaves,”(I) they said.

19 But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God?(J) 20 You intended to harm me,(K) but God intended(L) it for good(M) to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.(N) 21 So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.(O)” And he reassured them and spoke kindly(P) to them.

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