²⁶ Then the mother of the living child came forward, for her heart went out to her son, and she said, O my lord, give her the child; do not on any account put it to death. But the other woman said, It will not be mine or yours; let it be cut in two.

²⁰ Is Ephraim my dear son? is he the child of my delight? for whenever I say things against him, I still keep him in my memory: so my heart is troubled for him; I will certainly have mercy on him, says the Lord.

¹⁵ Will a woman give up the child at her breast, will she be without pity for the fruit of her body? yes, these may, but I will not let you go out of my memory.

³⁰ Then, after washing his face, he came out, and controlling his feelings said, Put food before us.

⁸ How may I give you up, O Ephraim? how may I be your saviour, O Israel? how may I make you like Admah? how may I do to you as I did to Zeboim? My heart is turned in me, it is soft with pity.

¹⁷ But if a man has this world's goods, and sees that his brother is in need, and keeps his heart shut against his brother, how is it possible for the love of God to be in him?

³ Without natural love, bitter haters, saying evil of others, violent and uncontrolled, hating all good,

¹ If then there is any comfort in Christ, any help given by love, any uniting of hearts in the Spirit, any loving mercies and pity,

⁸ For God is my witness, how my love goes out to you all in the loving mercies of Christ Jesus.

³¹ Without knowledge, not true to their undertakings, unkind, having no mercy:

³ My heart was burning in my breast; while I was deep in thought the fire was lighted; then I said with my tongue,