13 (A)As a father pities his children,
So the Lord pities those who fear Him.

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13 As a father has compassion(A) on his children,
    so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;

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11 (A)If a son asks for [a]bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 11:11 NU omits bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for

11 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for[a] a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 11:11 Some manuscripts for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for

And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons:

(A)“My son, do not despise the [a]chastening of the Lord,
Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;
For (B)whom the Lord loves He chastens,
And scourges every son whom He receives.”

(C)If[b] you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what (D)son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, (E)of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to (F)the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, (G)that we may be partakers of His holiness. 11 Now no [c]chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields (H)the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

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Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 12:5 discipline
  2. Hebrews 12:7 NU, M It is for discipline that you endure; God
  3. Hebrews 12:11 discipline

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

“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
    and do not lose heart(A) when he rebukes you,
because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,(B)
    and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”[a](C)

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children.(D) For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline(E)—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. 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.

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Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 12:6 Prov. 3:11,12 (see Septuagint)

20 Is Ephraim My dear son?
Is he a pleasant child?
For though I spoke against him,
I earnestly remember him still;
(A)Therefore My [a]heart yearns for him;
(B)I will surely have mercy on him, says the Lord.

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 31:20 Lit. inward parts

20 Is not Ephraim my dear son,
    the child(A) in whom I delight?
Though I often speak against him,
    I still remember(B) him.
Therefore my heart yearns for him;
    I have great compassion(C) for him,”
declares the Lord.

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17 But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting
On those who fear Him,
And His righteousness to children’s children,

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17 But from everlasting to everlasting
    the Lord’s love is with those who fear him,
    and his righteousness with their children’s children(A)

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21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven (A)and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

22 “But the father said to his servants, [a]‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 15:22 NU Quickly bring

21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.(A) I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe(B) and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger(C) and sandals on his feet.

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12 For whom the Lord loves He corrects,
(A)Just as a father the son in whom he delights.

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12 because the Lord disciplines those he loves,(A)
    as a father the son he delights in.[a](B)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 3:12 Hebrew; Septuagint loves, / and he chastens everyone he accepts as his child

(A)They shall come with weeping,
And with supplications I will lead them.
I will cause them to walk (B)by the rivers of waters,
In a straight way in which they shall not stumble;
For I am a Father to Israel,
And Ephraim is My (C)firstborn.

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They will come with weeping;(A)
    they will pray as I bring them back.
I will lead(B) them beside streams of water(C)
    on a level(D) path where they will not stumble,
because I am Israel’s father,(E)
    and Ephraim is my firstborn son.

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But to you who (A)fear My name
The (B)Sun of Righteousness shall arise
With healing in His wings;
And you shall go out
And grow fat like stall-fed calves.

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But for you who revere my name,(A) the sun of righteousness(B) will rise with healing(C) in its rays. And you will go out and frolic(D) like well-fed calves.

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A Book of Remembrance

16 Then those (A)who feared the Lord (B)spoke to one another,
And the Lord listened and heard them;
So (C)a book of remembrance was written before Him
For those who fear the Lord
And who [a]meditate on His name.

17 “They(D) shall be Mine,” says the Lord of hosts,
“On the day that I make them My (E)jewels.[b]
And (F)I will spare them
As a man spares his own son who serves him.”

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Footnotes

  1. Malachi 3:16 Or esteem
  2. Malachi 3:17 Lit. special treasure

The Faithful Remnant

16 Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard.(A) A scroll(B) of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared(C) the Lord and honored his name.

17 “On the day when I act,” says the Lord Almighty, “they will be my(D) treasured possession.(E) I will spare(F) them, just as a father has compassion and spares his son(G) who serves him.

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11 The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him,
In those who hope in His mercy.

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11 the Lord delights(A) in those who fear him,(B)
    who put their hope(C) in his unfailing love.(D)

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A Prayer of Penitence

15 (A)Look down from heaven,
And see (B)from Your habitation, holy and glorious.
Where are Your zeal and Your strength,
The yearning (C)of Your heart and Your mercies toward me?
Are they restrained?
16 (D)Doubtless You are our Father,
Though Abraham (E)was ignorant of us,
And Israel does not acknowledge us.
You, O Lord, are our Father;
Our Redeemer from Everlasting is Your name.

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15 Look down from heaven(A) and see,
    from your lofty throne,(B) holy and glorious.
Where are your zeal(C) and your might?
    Your tenderness and compassion(D) are withheld(E) from us.
16 But you are our Father,(F)
    though Abraham does not know us
    or Israel acknowledge(G) us;
you, Lord, are our Father,
    our Redeemer(H) from of old is your name.

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32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

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32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.(A)

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