"Just throw him into this well in the wilderness, but don't hurt him." He said this, planning to save him from them and send him back to his father.

and said to one another, "Yes, now we are suffering the consequences of what we did to our brother; we saw the great trouble he was in when he begged for help, but we would not listen. That is why we are in this trouble now."

Reuben said, "I told you not to harm the boy, but you wouldn't listen. And now we are being paid back for his death."

How wonderful it is, how pleasant, for God's people to live together in harmony!

It is like the dew on Mount Hermon, falling on the hills of Zion. That is where the LORD has promised his blessing--- life that never ends.

And now I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

If you have love for one another, then everyone will know that you are my disciples."

Get rid of all bitterness, passion, and anger. No more shouting or insults, no more hateful feelings of any sort.

Instead, be kind and tender-hearted to one another, and forgive one another, as God has forgiven you through Christ.

I urge you, then, to make me completely happy by having the same thoughts, sharing the same love, and being one in soul and mind.

And look out for one another's interests, not just for your own.

You are the people of God; he loved you and chose you for his own. So then, you must clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

Be tolerant with one another and forgive one another whenever any of you has a complaint against someone else. You must forgive one another just as the Lord has forgiven you.

Treat them with the greatest respect and love because of the work they do. Be at peace among yourselves.