To answer before listening—that is folly and shame. … My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because our anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.

The righteous give without sparing. … For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you.

Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife. … Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the head, that is, Christ. … Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. … (Love) always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity … Love never fails.

Ro 15:5; Pr 18:13, Ja 1:19-20; Pr 21:26, Co 1:9, Pr 17:1; Ep 4:15; Pi 2:14-15, 1C0 13:4-5, 1Co 13:7; Co 3:13-14, 1Co 13:8

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