Be strong and take heart,
all you who hope in the Lord. May the Lord our God be with us as he was with our ancestors; may he never leave us nor forsake us. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? A cheerful heart is good medicine,
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age. The Lord has done it this very day;
let us rejoice today and be glad. Sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything. Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you. A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for a time of adversity. Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. Wait for the Lord;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the Lord. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.” The soothing tongue is a tree of life,
but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit. For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. As for God, his way is perfect:
The Lord’s word is flawless;
he shields all who take refuge in him. Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation. The integrity of the upright guides them,
but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity. On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.” 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. I keep my eyes always on the Lord.
With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Wealth and honor come from you;
you are the ruler of all things.
In your hands are strength and power
to exalt and give strength to all. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer. The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Who is he, this King of glory?
The Lord Almighty—
he is the King of glory.