But we provedto be gentleamongyou, as a nursing[mother] tenderly caresfor her ownchildren.
Like a shepherdHe will tendHis flock,In His armHe will gatherthe lambsAnd carry[them] in His bosom;He will gently leadthe nursing[ewes].
"Kingswill be your guardians,And their princessesyour nurses.They will bowdownto you with their facesto the earthAnd lickthe dustof your feet;And [you] will knowthat I am the LORD;Those whohopefullywaitfor Me will not be putto shame.
"As onewhomhis mothercomforts,soI will comfortyou; And you will be comfortedin Jerusalem."
"Was it I who conceivedallthispeople?Was it I who broughtthem forth,that You should sayto me, 'Carrythem in your bosomas a nursecarriesa nursinginfant,to the landwhichYou sworeto their fathers'?
"For a periodof aboutforty yearsHe putup with them in the wilderness.
I was with you in weaknessand in fearand in muchtrembling,
To the weakI becameweak,that I might winthe weak;I have becomeallthings to all men,sothat I may by all meanssavesome.
NowI, Paul,myselfurgeyou by the meeknessand gentlenessof Christ--I whoam meekwhen face to facewith you, but boldtowardyou when absent!
For indeedHe was crucifiedbecauseof weakness,yetHe livesbecauseof the powerof God.For we alsoare weakin Him, yetwe will livewith Him becauseof the powerof God[directed] towardyou.
My children,with whomI amagainin laboruntilChristis formedin you--
justas you knowhowwe [were] exhortingand encouragingand imploringeachoneof you as a father[would] his ownchildren,
But the wisdomfrom aboveis firstpure,thenpeaceable,gentle,reasonable,fullof mercyand goodfruits,unwavering,without hypocrisy.
