embracing

²⁵For what is there for me in heaven? And what do I wish for on earth before you? ²⁶My body has failed, and my heart: O God of my heart, and God my portion, into eternity. ²⁷For behold, those who put themselves far from you will perish. You have perished all those who fornicate away from you. ²⁸But it is good for me to adhere to God, to put my hope in the Lord God, so that I may announce all your prophecies, at the gates of the daughter of Zion.

³¹Cast all your transgressions, by which you have transgressed, away from you, and make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. And then why should you die, O house of Israel?

⁵A time to scatter stones, and a time to gather. A time to embrace, and a time to be far from embraces.

¹⁰Concerning the rest, brothers, be strengthened in the Lord, by the power of his virtue. ¹¹Be clothed in the armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the treachery of the devil. ¹²For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, against the directors of this world of darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in high places. ¹³Because of this, take up the armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand the evil day and remain perfect in all things. ¹⁴Therefore, stand firm, having been girded about your waist with truth, and having been clothed with the breastplate of justice, ¹⁵and having feet which have been shod by the preparation of the Gospel of peace.

¹⁷If anyone has chosen to do his will, then he will realize, about the doctrine, whether it is from God, or whether I am speaking from myself.

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

²²But the fruit of the Spirit is charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, forbearance,

²Consider the things that are above, not the things that are upon the earth.

⁶His left hand is under my head, and his right hand shall embrace me.

¹⁶For God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that all who believe in him may not perish, but may have eternal life.

¹Now, faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not apparent.

²My brothers, when you have fallen into various trials, consider everything a joy, ³knowing that the proving of your faith exercises patience, ⁴and patience brings a work to perfection, so that you may be perfect and whole, deficient in nothing.