Blessed is he
whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered. Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. Yet the Lord will command his lovingkindness in the day time,
and in the night his song shall be with me,
and my prayer unto the God of my life. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. With my whole heart have I sought thee:
O let me not wander from thy commandments. And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain:
but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High
shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress:
my God; in him will I trust. Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven. Why art thou cast down, O my soul?
and why art thou disquieted within me?
hope thou in God:
for I shall yet praise him,
who is the health of my countenance, and my God. Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished:
but he that gathereth by labour shall increase. And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. I sought the Lord, and he heard me,
and delivered me from all my fears. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end. He healeth the broken in heart,
and bindeth up their wounds. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving. Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. Teach me to do thy will;
for thou art my God:
thy spirit is good;
lead me into the land of uprightness.