Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble. Whoever keeps commandments keeps their life,
but whoever shows contempt for their ways will die. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone. In you, Lord, I have taken refuge;
let me never be put to shame;
deliver me in your righteousness. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise. Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper,
but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these. In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. Hear my prayer, Lord,
listen to my cry for help;
do not be deaf to my weeping.
I dwell with you as a foreigner,
a stranger, as all my ancestors were. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death. 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. I will praise you with an upright heart
as I learn your righteous laws. A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. The lions may grow weak and hungry,
but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. God sets the lonely in families,
he leads out the prisoners with singing;
but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land. For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life,
but whoever ignores correction leads others astray. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace. Before a word is on my tongue
you, Lord, know it completely. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 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? Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.