⁷ From the time I brought your ancestors up from Egypt until today, I warned them again and again,^(A) saying, “Obey me.” ⁸ But they did not listen or pay attention;^(B) instead, they followed the stubbornness of their evil hearts.^(C) So I brought on them all the curses^(D) of the covenant I had commanded them to follow but that they did not keep.^(E)’”

6 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.^{(A) 2} “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— ³ “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”^[a](B)

⁴ Fathers,^[b] do not exasperate your children;^(C) instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.^(D)

⁵ And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,

⁷ Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children.^(D) For what children are not disciplined by their father? ⁸ If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline^(E)—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. ⁹ Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits^(F) and live!^{(G) 10} They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness.^{(H) 11} No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace^(I) for those who have been trained by it.