Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for God has already approved what you do. For, “Whoever would love life
and see good days
must keep their tongue from evil
and their lips from deceitful speech.
They must turn from evil and do good;
they must seek peace and pursue it.” For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. My son, if your heart is wise,
then my heart will be glad indeed. For this is what the Lord has commanded us:
“I have made you a light for the Gentiles,
that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.” I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. Fools show their annoyance at once,
but the prudent overlook an insult. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. The one who gets wisdom loves life;
the one who cherishes understanding will soon prosper. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. Do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. I cried out to him with my mouth;
his praise was on my tongue. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him and he will do this:
He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
your vindication like the noonday sun. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them. After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before. Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart. But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God;
may your good Spirit
lead me on level ground. Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Many are the plans in a person’s heart,
but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul. When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me. Be strong and take heart,
all you who hope in the Lord. Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.