12
for the mother of the seven young men bore up under the rackings of each one of her children.
13
Observe how complex is a mother's love for her children, which draws everything toward an emotion felt in her inmost parts.
14
Even unreasoning animals, like mankind, have a sympathy and parental love for their offspring.
15
For example, among birds, the ones that are tame protect their young by building on the housetops,
16
and the others, by building in precipitous chasms and in holes and tops of trees, hatch the nestlings and ward off the intruder.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.