being a man

¹³Be vigilant. Stand with faith. Act manfully and be strengthened. ¹⁴Let all that is yours be immersed in charity.

¹Blessed is the man who has not followed the counsel of the impious, and has not remained in the way of sinners, and has not sat in the chair of pestilence. ²But his will is with the law of the Lord, and he will meditate on his law, day and night. ³And he will be like a tree that has been planted beside running waters, which will provide its fruit in its time, and its leaf will not fall away, and all things whatsoever that he does will prosper. ⁴Not so the impious, not so. For they are like the dust that the wind casts along the face of the earth. ⁵Therefore, the impious will not prevail again in judgment, nor sinners in the council of the just. ⁶For the Lord knows the way of the just. And the path of the impious will pass away.

⁷In all things, present yourself as an example of good works: in doctrine, with integrity, with seriousness,

¹¹When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I understood like a child, I thought like a child. But when I became a man, I put aside the things of a child.

⁹Behold, I am instructing you. Be strengthened, and be steadfast. Do not dread, and do not fear. For the Lord your God is with you in all things, wherever you may go.”

¹⁷Iron sharpens iron, and a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.

⁹By what does an adolescent correct his way? By keeping to your words. ¹⁰With my whole heart, I have sought you. Do not let me be driven away from your commandments. ¹¹I have hidden your eloquence in my heart, so that I may not sin against you. ¹²Blessed are you, O Lord. Teach me your justifications. ¹³With my lips, I have pronounced all the judgments of your mouth. ¹⁴I have been delighted in the way of your testimonies, as if in all riches.

⁸But if anyone has no concern for his own, and especially for those of his own household, he has denied the faith, and he is worse than an unbeliever.

¹¹But you, O man of God, flee from these things, and truly pursue justice, piety, faith, charity, patience, meekness.

⁸I will reveal to you, O man, what is good, and what the Lord requires from you, and how to act with judgment, and to love mercy, and to walk carefully with your God.

¹³Be vigilant. Stand with faith. Act manfully and be strengthened.

²³The steps of a man will be directed by the Lord, and he will choose his way.

²²Wives should be submissive to their husbands, as to the Lord. ²³For the husband is the head of the wife, just as Christ is the head of the Church. He is the Savior of his body. ²⁴Therefore, just as the Church is subject to Christ, so also should wives be subject to their husbands in all things. ²⁵Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the Church and handed himself over for her,

¹Alleluia. Of the return of Haggai and Zachariah. Blessed is the man who fears the Lord. He will prefer his commandments exceedingly. ²His offspring will be powerful on the earth. The generation of the upright will be blessed. ³Glory and wealth will be in his house, and his justice shall remain from age to age. ⁴For the upright, a light has risen up in the darkness. He is merciful and compassionate and just. ⁵Pleasing is the man who shows mercy and lends. He will order his words with judgment. ⁶For he will not be disturbed in eternity.

¹²Let no one despise your youth, but be an example among the faithful in word, in behavior, in charity, in faith, in chastity.