But while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him. | While Peter was kept in prison, the church prayed fervently to God for him. |
O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water. | O God, you are my God, I seek you, my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. |
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In the night I search for you; in the morning I earnestly seek you. For only when you come to judge the earth will people learn what is right. | My soul yearns for you in the night, my spirit within me earnestly seeks you. For when your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness. |
So we fasted and earnestly prayed that our God would take care of us, and he heard our prayer. | So we fasted and petitioned our God for this, and he listened to our entreaty. |
Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. | Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving. |
Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. | Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. |
And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. | And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. |