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Wives
Genesis 2:18 Now the Lord God said, It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper meet for him.Ephesians 5:21-33 Wives, be subject (be submissive and adapt yourselves) to your own husbands as (a service) to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the Head of the church, Himself the Savior of (His) body. As the church is subject to Christ, so let wives also be subject to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word. That he might present it to himself a glorious chuch, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing: but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loves his own wife loves himself. For no man ever hater his own flesh, but nourishes and carefully protects and cherishes it, as Christ does the church. Because we are members (parts); fot this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is very great, but I speak concerning (the relation of) Christ and the church. However, let each man of you (without exception love his wife (being in a sense) his very own self, and let the wife see that she respects and reverances her husband ( that she notices hi, regards him, prefers him, venerates, and esteems him and that she defers to him, praises him, and loves and admires him exceedingly). Proverbs 31:10-30 A capable, intelligent, and virtous woman - who is he who can find her? She is far more precious than jewels and her value is far above rubies or pearls. The heart of her husband trusts in her confidently and relies on and believes in her securely, so that he has no lack of (honest) gain or need of (dishonest) spoil. She comforts, encourages, and does him only good as long as there is life within her. She seeks out wool and flax and works willingly with her hands ( to develop it). She is like the merchant ships loaded with food-stuffs; she brings her household's and assigns her maids their tasks. She considers a (new) field before she buys or accepts it (expanding prudently and not courting neglect of her presesnt duites by assuming other duties); with her savings (of time and strength) she plants fruitful vines in her vineyard. She girds herself with strength (spiritual, mental, and physical fitness for her God-given task) and makes her arms strong and firm. She tastes and sees that her gain from work (with and for God) is good; her lamp goes not out, but it burns on continually through the night (of trouble, privation, or sorrow, warning away fear, doubt, and distrust).She lays her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. She opens her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches our her filled hands to the needy (whether in body, mind, or spirit). She fears not the snow for her family, for all her household are doubly clothed in scarlet. She makes for herself coverlets, cushions, and rugs of tapestry. Her clothing is on linen, pure and fine, and of purple (such as that of which the clothing of the priests and the hallowed clothes of the temple were made). Her husband is known in the (city's) gates, when he sits among the elders of the land. She makes fine linen garments and leads others to buy then; she delivers to the merchants girdles (or sashes that free up for service) Strength and dignity are her clothing and her position is strong and secure; she rejoices over the future (that latter time to come knowing that she and her family are ready for it) She opens her mouth in skillful and Godly wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness (giving counsil and instruction) She looks well to how things go in her houseshold and the bread of idleness (gossip, discontent, and self-pity) she will not eat. Her children rise up and call her blessed (happy,fortunate, and to be envied); and her husband praises her, (saying), Many daughters have done virtuously, nobly, and well (with the strength of character that is steadfast in goodness), but you excel them all. Charm and grace are deceptive, and beauty is vain (because it is not lasting), but a woman who reverently and worshipfully fears the Lord, she shall be praised!
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Husbands
Genesis 2:24 says Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and shall become united and cleave to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. Proverbs 5:15-19 Drink waters out of your own cistern { of a pure marriage relationship}, and fresh running waters out of your own well. Should your offspring be dispersed abroad as water brooks in the streets? {Confine yourself to your own wife} let your children be for you alone, and not the children of strangers with you. Let your fountain {of human life} be blessed { with the rewards of fidelity}, and rejoice in the wife of your youth. Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant doe { tender, gentle, attractive} - Let her bosom satisfy you at all times, and always be transported with delight in her love. Proverbs 31:3 says Give not your strength to {loose} women, nor your ways to those who and that which ruin and destroy the kings. Ephesians 5:21, 23-30 Be subject to one another out of reverance for Christ (the Messiah, The Annointed One). For the husband is head of the wife as Christ is Head of the church, Himself the Savior of {His} body. As the church is subject to Christ, so let wives also be subject in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that He might sanctify and cleanse it by the washing of water with the Word, that He might present the church to Himself in glorious splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such things { that she might be holy and faultless}. Even so husbands should love their wives as {being in a sense} their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself. For no man ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and carefully protects and cherishes it, as Christ does the church, because we are members (parts) of His body. I Peter 3:7 says In the same way you married men should live considerately with {your wives}, with an intelligent recognition {of the marriage relation}, honoring the woman as {physically} the weaker, {but realizing you} are joint heirs of the grace ( God's unmerited favor) of life, in order that your prayers may not be hindered and cut off. {Otherwise you cannot pray effectively.} Joshua 24:15 says Choose this day whom you will serve. As for me and my house we will serve the Lord.
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Christians
Ephesians 4:31,32 Let all bitterness and indignation and wrath (passion, rage, bad temper) and resentment (anger, animosity) and quarreling (brawling, clamor,contention) and slander (evil-speaking, abusive or blasphemous language) be banished from you, with all malice (spite, ill will, or baseness of any kind). Become useful and helpful and kind to one another, tender hearted ( compassionate, understanding, loving hearted), forgiving one another {readily and freely}, as God in Christ forgave you. Romans 13:10 says Love does no wrong to one's neighbor {it never hurts anybody}. Therefore love meets all the requirements and is the fulfilling of the Law. Psalm 101:2 says I will behave myself wisely and give heed to the blameless way-- Oh when will you come to me? I will walk within my house in integrity and with a blameless heart. I Peter 3:8-11 Finally, all {of you} should be of one and the same mind (united in spirit), sympathizing {with one another}, loving {each other} as brethren {of one household}, compassionate and courteous (tender hearted and humble). For let him who wants to enjoy life and see good days {good--whether apparent or not} keep his tongue free from evil and his lips from guile (treachery, deceit). Let him turn away from wickedness and shun it, and let him do right. Let him search for peace (harmony; undisturbedness from fears, agitating passions, and moral conflicts) and seek it eagerly. {Do not merely desire peaceful relations with God, with your fellow men, and with yourself, but pursue, go after them!} Proverbs 10:12 Hatred stirs up contentions, but lovers covers all transgressions. I Corinthians 13 says Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious, nor boils over with jealousy, it is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily. It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God's love in us) does not insist on it's own rights or it's own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it {it pays not attention to a suffered wrong}. It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail. Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, it's hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything {without weakening}. Love never fails {never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end}. And so faith, hope, love abide {faith-conviction and belief respecting mans relation to God and divine things; hope-joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation;love-true affection for God and man, growing out of God's love for and in us}, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
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