And so I will show my greatness and my holiness, and I will make myself known in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the Lord. Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper,
but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing
without revealing his plan
to his servants the prophets. Fools find no pleasure in understanding
but delight in airing their own opinions. Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these. Whoever pursues righteousness and love
finds life, prosperity and honor. Wealth and honor come from you;
you are the ruler of all things.
In your hands are strength and power
to exalt and give strength to all. I, even I, am he who comforts you.
Who are you that you fear mere mortals,
human beings who are but grass. Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
for the rights of all who are destitute. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. For his anger lasts only a moment,
but his favor lasts a lifetime;
weeping may stay for the night,
but rejoicing comes in the morning. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God. The rich rule over the poor,
and the borrower is slave to the lender. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. The Lord will vindicate me;
your love, Lord, endures forever—
do not abandon the works of your hands. He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak. “Even now,” declares the Lord,
“return to me with all your heart,
with fasting and weeping and mourning.” My son, keep your father’s command
and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.” Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers,
and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord. His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ Place me like a seal over your heart,
like a seal on your arm;
for love is as strong as death,
its jealousy unyielding as the grave.
It burns like blazing fire,
like a mighty flame. By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,
their starry host by the breath of his mouth. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.