| Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. | Anyone who wants to serve me must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me. |
| But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. | But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. |
| Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me. | Never! Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for the child she has borne? But even if that were possible, I would not forget you! See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands. Always in my mind is a picture of Jerusalem’s walls in ruins. |
| From the Lord comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people. | Victory comes from you, O Lord. May you bless your people. |
| Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. | Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began! |
| Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you, Lord, are good. | Remember, O Lord, your compassion and unfailing love, which you have shown from long ages past. Do not remember the rebellious sins of my youth. Remember me in the light of your unfailing love, for you are merciful, O Lord. |
| Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. | You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate. |
| My mouth is filled with your praise, declaring your splendor all day long. | That is why I can never stop praising you; I declare your glory all day long. |
| If you love me, keep my commands. | If you love me, obey my commandments. |
| But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. | But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life. |
| Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity. | “Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish. |
| It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it was your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, for you loved them. | They did not conquer the land with their swords; it was not their own strong arm that gave them victory. It was your right hand and strong arm and the blinding light from your face that helped them, for you loved them. |
| Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. | Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. |
| Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. | In those days when you pray, I will listen. |
| Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. | Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. |
| Worship the Lord your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you. | You must serve only the Lord your God. If you do, I will bless you with food and water, and I will protect you from illness. |
| Not to us, Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness. | Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name goes all the glory for your unfailing love and faithfulness. |
| The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? | The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me? |
| Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops. | Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce. |
| I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have preserved my life. | I will never forget your commandments, for by them you give me life. |
| For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. | For your unfailing love is as high as the heavens. Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. |
| As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. | For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. |
| My son, keep your father’s command and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. | My son, obey your father’s commands, and don’t neglect your mother’s instruction. |
| I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?’ | I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ |
| All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal. | The very essence of your words is truth; all your just regulations will stand forever. |
Bible verse of the day
The grass withers and the flowers fall,but the word of our God endures forever.