And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. The Lord makes firm the steps
of the one who delights in him. But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. Better is one day in your courts
than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of the wicked. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” I will praise you with an upright heart
as I learn your righteous laws. For we live by faith, not by sight. ‘Return to me,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’ says the Lord Almighty. The Lord has done it this very day;
let us rejoice today and be glad. So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? I will hasten and not delay
to obey your commands. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? I love the Lord, for he heard my voice;
he heard my cry for mercy.
Because he turned his ear to me,
I will call on him as long as I live. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Blessed are you when people hate you,
when they exclude you and insult you
and reject your name as evil,
because of the Son of Man. For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Better a little with righteousness
than much gain with injustice. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
all who follow his precepts have good understanding.
To him belongs eternal praise. Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. Who is he, this King of glory?
The Lord Almighty—
he is the King of glory.