dads and sons

⁴And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but educate them with the discipline and correction of the Lord.

²¹Fathers, do not provoke your children to indignation, lest they lose heart.

¹¹My son, do not discard the discipline of the Lord, and do not fall away when you are corrected by him. ¹²For whomever the Lord loves, he corrects, and just as a father does with a son, he wins him over.

⁶The proverb is: A youth is close to his way; even when he is old, he will not withdraw from it.

⁶And he will turn the heart of the fathers to the sons, and the heart of the sons to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with anathema.

¹¹And he said: “A certain man had two sons. ¹²And the younger of them said to the father, ‘Father, give me the portion of your estate which would go to me.’ And he divided the estate between them. ¹³And after not many days, the younger son, gathering it all together, set out on a long journey to a distant region. And there, he dissipated his substance, living in luxury. ¹⁴And after he had consumed it all, a great famine occurred in that region, and he began to be in need. ¹⁵And he went and attached himself to one of the citizens of that region. And he sent him to his farm, in order to feed the swine. ¹⁶And he wanted to fill his belly with the scraps that the swine ate. But no one would give it to him.

¹¹And you know the manner, with each one of you, like a father with his sons, ¹²in which we were pleading with you and consoling you, bearing witness, so that you would walk in a manner worthy of God, who has called you into his kingdom and glory.

¹²Honor your father and your mother, so that you may have a long life upon the land, which the Lord your God will give to you.

⁷Persevere in discipline. God presents you to himself as sons. But what son is there, whom his father does not correct? ⁸But if you are without that discipline in which all have become sharers, then you are of adultery, and you are not sons. ⁹Then, too, we have certainly had the fathers of our flesh as instructors, and we reverenced them. Should we not obey the Father of spirits all the more, and so live? ¹⁰And indeed, for a few days and according to their own wishes, they instructed us. But he does so to our benefit, so that we may receive his sanctification. ¹¹Now every discipline, in the present time, does not seem a gladness, of course, but a grief. But afterwards, it will repay a most peaceful fruit of justice to those who become trained in it.

⁶Sons of sons are the crown of old age. And the glory of sons is their fathers.

³³And so the king, being greatly saddened, ascended to the upper room of the gate, and he wept. And as he went, he was speaking in this manner: “My son Absalom! Absalom my son! Who can grant to me that I may die on your behalf? Absalom, my son! My son, Absalom!”

²⁴The father of the just exults in gladness; he who has conceived the wise will rejoice in him.

¹⁵But if it seems evil to you that you would serve the Lord, a choice is given to you. Choose today what pleases you, and whom you ought to serve above all else, either the gods that your fathers served in Mesopotamia, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you live: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

⁴⁸And upon seeing him, they wondered. And his mother said to him: “Son, why have you acted this way toward us? Behold, your father and I were seeking you in sorrow.” ⁴⁹And he said to them: “How is it that you were seeking me? For did you not know that it is necessary for me to be in these things which are of my Father?” ⁵⁰And they did not understand the word that he spoke to them. ⁵¹And he descended with them and went to Nazareth. And he was subordinate to them. And his mother kept all these words in her heart. ⁵²And Jesus advanced in wisdom, and in age, and in grace, with God and men.

²⁰And rising up, he went to his father. But while he was still at a distance, his father saw him, and he was moved with compassion, and running to him, he fell upon his neck and kissed him. ²¹And the son said to him: ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. Now I am not worthy to be called your son.’ ²²But the father said to his servants: ‘Quickly! Bring out the best robe, and clothe him with it. And put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet. ²³And bring the fatted calf here, and kill it. And let us eat and hold a feast. ²⁴For this son of mine was dead, and has revived; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to feast.

¹¹So then, who among you, if he asks his father for bread, he would give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, he would give him a serpent, instead of a fish? ¹²Or if he will ask for an egg, he would offer to him a scorpion? ¹³Therefore, if you, being evil, know how to give good things to your sons, how much more will your Father give, from heaven, a spirit of goodness to those who ask him?”

⁴I have no greater grace than this, when I hear that my sons are walking in the truth.