17
A friend is devoted at all times;
A
brother is born to share adversity.
9
Two are better off than one, in that they have greater benefit from their
earnings. 10 For should they fall, one can raise the other; but woe betide him
who is alone and falls with no companion to raise him! 11 Further, when two lie
together they are warm; but how can he who is alone get warm? 12 Also, if one
attacks, two can stand up to him. A threefold cord is not readily broken! [1]
11
For this is the message you have heard from the beginning, that we should love
one another. 12 We must not be like Cain who was from the evil one and murdered
his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his
brother’s righteous. 13 Do not be astonished, brothers and sisters, that the
world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed from death to life because we
love one another. Whoever does not love abides in death. 15 All who hate a
brother or sister are murderers, and you know that murderers do not have
eternal life abiding in them. 16 We know love by this, that he laid down his
life for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. 17 How does
God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or
sister in need and yet refuses help?
18
Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action.
19 And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our
hearts before him 20 whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than
our hearts, and he knows everything. 21 Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn
us, we have boldness before God; 22 and we receive from him whatever we ask,
because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him.
23 And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 24 All who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us. [2]
12
This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. 13
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his
friends. 14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. 15 Henceforth
I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I
have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have
made known unto you. 16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained
you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should
remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it
you. 17 These things I command you, that ye love one another. [3]