In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” The lips of the righteous know what finds favor,
but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. Go back and tell Hezekiah, the ruler of my people, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you. On the third day from now you will go up to the temple of the Lord.’ The Lord will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;
the Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth. And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Humility is the fear of the Lord;
its wages are riches and honor and life. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. For the Lord your God is gracious and compassionate. He will not turn his face from you if you return to him. As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, my God. He reveals deep and hidden things;
he knows what lies in darkness,
and light dwells with him. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love. A thousand years in your sight
are like a day that has just gone by,
or like a watch in the night. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. In you, Lord, I have taken refuge;
let me never be put to shame;
deliver me in your righteousness. So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. I will be glad and rejoice in you;
I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High. Can a mother forget the baby at her breast
and have no compassion on the child she has borne?
Though she may forget,
I will not forget you!
See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;
your walls are ever before me. We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing. The wicked borrow and do not repay,
but the righteous give generously. Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power
and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,
for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
Yours, Lord, is the kingdom;
you are exalted as head over all. But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. Before the mountains were born
or you brought forth the whole world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. My son, do not forget my teaching,
but keep my commands in your heart,
for they will prolong your life many years
and bring you peace and prosperity. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.