2 Peter 3:1-10

[1]This is now, beloved, the second letter I am writing to you; in them I am trying to arouse your sincere intention by reminding you [2]that you should remember the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets, and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken through your apostles. [3]First of all you must understand this, that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and indulging their own lusts [4]and saying, "Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since our ancestors died, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation!" [5]They deliberately ignore this fact, that by the word of God heavens existed long ago and an earth was formed out of water and by means of water, [6]through which the world of that time was deluged with water and perished. [7]But by the same word the present heavens and earth have been reserved for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the godless.

[8]But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. [9]The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. [10]But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed.

Psalm 33

[1]   Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous.  

          Praise befits the upright.  

[2]   Praise the LORD with the lyre;  

          make melody to him with the harp of ten strings.  

[3]   Sing to him a new song;  

          play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.

[4]   For the word of the LORD is upright,  

          and all his work is done in faithfulness.  

[5]   He loves righteousness and justice;  

          the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD.

[6]   By the word of the LORD the heavens were made,   

          and all their host by the breath of his mouth.  

[7]   He gathered the waters of the sea as in a bottle;  

          he put the deeps in storehouses.

[8]   Let all the earth fear the LORD;  

          let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.  

[9]   For he spoke, and it came to be;  

          he commanded, and it stood firm.

[10]  The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;  

          he frustrates the plans of the peoples.  

[11]  The counsel of the LORD stands forever,  

          the thoughts of his heart to all generations.  

[12]   Happy is the nation whose God is the LORD,  

          the people whom he has chosen as his heritage.

[13]  The LORD looks down from heaven;  

          he sees all humankind.  

[14]  From where he sits enthroned he watches  

          all the inhabitants of the earth --  

[15]  he who fashions the hearts of them all,  

          and observes all their deeds.  

[16]  A king is not saved by his great army;  

          a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.  

[17]  The war horse is a vain hope for victory,  

          and by its great might it cannot save.

[18]  Truly the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him,  

          on those who hope in his steadfast love,  

[19]  to deliver their soul from death,  

          and to keep them alive in famine.

[20]  Our soul waits for the LORD;  

          he is our help and shield.  

[21]  Our heart is glad in him,  

          because we trust in his holy name.  

[22]  Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us,  

          even as we hope in you.

Psalm 24

[1]The earth is the LORD's and all that is in it,
the world, and those who live in it;

[2]for he has founded it on the seas,
and established it on the rivers.
[3]Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD?
And who shall stand in his holy place?
[4]Those who have clean hands and pure hearts,
who do not lift up their souls to what is false,
and do not swear deceitfully.
[5]They will receive blessing from the LORD,
and vindication from the God of their salvation.
[6]Such is the company of those who seek him,
who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah
[7]Lift up your heads, O gates!
and be lifted up, O ancient doors!
that the King of glory may come in.
[8]Who is the King of glory?
The LORD, strong and mighty,
the LORD, mighty in battle.
[9]Lift up your heads, O gates!
and be lifted up, O ancient doors!
that the King of glory may come in.
[10]Who is this King of glory?
The LORD of hosts,
he is the King of glory. Selah

Matthew 20:29-34

[29]As they were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. [30]There were two blind men sitting by the roadside. When they heard that Jesus was passing by, they shouted, "Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!" [31]The crowd sternly ordered them to be quiet; but they shouted even more loudly, "Have mercy on us, Lord, Son of David!" [32]Jesus stood still and called them, saying, "What do you want me to do for you?" [33]They said to him, "Lord, let our eyes be opened." [34]Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes. Immediately they regained their sight and followed him.

Psalm 116

[1] I love the LORD, because he has heard
my voice and my supplications.
[2] Because he inclined his ear to me,
therefore I will call on him as long as I live.
[3] The snares of death encompassed me;
the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me;
I suffered distress and anguish.
[4] Then I called on the name of the LORD:
"O LORD, I pray, save my life!"

[5] Gracious is the LORD, and righteous;
our God is merciful.
[6] The LORD protects the simple;
when I was brought low, he saved me.
[7] Return, O my soul, to your rest,
for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.

[8] For you have delivered my soul from death,
my eyes from tears,
my feet from stumbling.
[9] I walk before the LORD
in the land of the living.
[10] I kept my faith, even when I said,
"I am greatly afflicted";
[11] I said in my consternation,
"Everyone is a liar."

[12] What shall I return to the LORD
for all his bounty to me?
[13] I will lift up the cup of salvation
and call on the name of the LORD,
[14] I will pay my vows to the LORD
in the presence of all his people.
[15] Precious in the sight of the LORD
is the death of his faithful ones.
[16] O LORD, I am your servant;
I am your servant, the child of your serving girl.
You have loosed my bonds.
[17] I will offer to you a thanksgiving sacrifice
and call on the name of the LORD.
[18] I will pay my vows to the LORD
in the presence of all his people,
[19] in the courts of the house of the LORD,
in your midst, O Jerusalem.
Praise the LORD!

1 Peter 2:1-10

[1]Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, and all guile, insincerity, envy, and all slander. [2]Like newborn infants, long for the pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow into salvation -- [3]if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

[4]Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God's sight, and [5]like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices

acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. [6]For it stands in scripture:  

     "See, I am laying in Zion a stone,  

          a cornerstone chosen and precious;  

     and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame."  

[7]To you then who believe, he is precious; but for those who do not believe,

     "The stone that the builders rejected  

          has become the very head of the corner,"  

[8]and  

     "A stone that makes them stumble,  

          and a rock that makes them fall."  

They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.

[9]But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. [10]Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

1 Peter 1:1-9

[1]Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, [2]who have been chosen and destined by God the Father and sanctified by the Spirit to be obedient to Jesus Christ and to be sprinkled with his blood:

May grace and peace be yours in abundance.

[3]Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, [4]and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, [5]who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. [6]In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, [7]so that the genuineness of your faith -- being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire -- may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. [8]Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, [9]for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Psalm 108:1-5

[1] My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast;
I will sing and make melody.
Awake, my soul!
[2] Awake, O harp and lyre!
I will awake the dawn.
[3] I will give thanks to you, O LORD, among the peoples,
and I will sing praises to you among the nations.
[4] For your steadfast love is higher than the heavens,
and your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.

[5] Be exalted, O God,above the heavens,
and let your glory be over all the earth.

Matthew 18:21-35

[21]Then Peter came and said to him, "Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should forgive? As many as seven times?" [22]Jesus said to him, "Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.

[23]"For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. [24]When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him; [25]and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be made. [26]So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.' [27]And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. [28]But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he said, 'Pay what you owe.' [29]Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you.' [30]But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt. [31]When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. [32]Then his lord summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me [33]Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?' [34]And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt. [35]So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart."

Matthew 18:10-14

[10]"Take care that you do not despise one of these little ones; for, I tell you, in heaven their angels continually see the face of my Father in heaven. [12]What do you think? If a shepherd has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? [13]And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. [14]So it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost.

Psalm 143:1-6

[1]   Hear my prayer, O LORD;  

          give ear to my supplications in your faithfulness;  

          answer me in your righteousness.  

[2]   Do not enter into judgment with your servant,  

          for no one living is righteous before you.

[3]   For the enemy has pursued me,  

          crushing my life to the ground,  

          making me sit in darkness like those long dead.  

[4]   Therefore my spirit faints within me;  

          my heart within me is appalled.

[5]   I remember the days of old,  

          I think about all your deeds,  

          I meditate on the works of your hands.  

[6]   I stretch out my hands to you; 

          my soul thirsts for you like a parched land                   

                                                 Selah

Psalm 65

[1]   Praise is due to you,  

          O God, in Zion;  

     and to you shall vows be performed,  

[2]        O you who answer prayer!  

     To you all flesh shall come.  

[3]   When deeds of iniquity overwhelm us,  

          you forgive our transgressions.  

[4]   Happy are those whom you choose and bring near  

          to live in your courts.  

     We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house,  

          your holy temple.

[5]   By awesome deeds you answer us with deliverance,  

          O God of our salvation;  

     you are the hope of all the ends of the earth  

          and of the farthest seas.  

[6]   By your strength you established the mountains;  

          you are girded with might.  

[7]   You silence the roaring of the seas,  

          the roaring of their waves,  

          the tumult of the peoples.  

[8]   Those who live at earth's farthest bounds are awed by your signs;  

          you make the gateways of the morning and the evening shout for joy.

[9]   You visit the earth and water it,  

          you greatly enrich it;  

     the river of God is full of water;  

          you provide the people with grain,  

          for so you have prepared it.  

[10]  You water its furrows abundantly,  

          settling its ridges,  

     softening it with showers,  

          and blessing its growth.  

[11]  You crown the year with your bounty;  

          your wagon tracks overflow with richness.  

[12]  The pastures of the wilderness overflow,  

          the hills gird themselves with joy,  

[13]  the meadows clothe themselves with flocks,  

          the valleys deck themselves with grain,  

          they shout and sing together for joy.

Psalm 146

[1]   Praise the LORD!  

     Praise the LORD, O my soul!  

[2]   I will praise the LORD as long as I live;  

          I will sing praises to my God all my life long.

[3]   Do not put your trust in princes,  

          in mortals, in whom there is no help.  

[4]   When their breath departs, they return to the earth;  

          on that very day their plans perish.

[5]   Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob,  

          whose hope is in the LORD their God,  

[6]   who made heaven and earth,  

          the sea, and all that is in them;  

     who keeps faith forever;  

[7]        who executes justice for the oppressed;  

          who gives food to the hungry.

     The LORD sets the prisoners free;  

[8]        the LORD opens the eyes of the blind.  

     The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down;  

          the LORD loves the righteous.  

[9]   The LORD watches over the strangers;  

          he upholds the orphan and the widow,  

          but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.

[10]  The LORD will reign forever,  

          your God, O Zion, for all generations.  

     Praise the LORD!

Psalm 57

[1]   Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me,  

          for in you my soul takes refuge;  

     in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge,  

          until the destroying storms pass by.  

[2]   I cry to God Most High,  

          to God who fulfills his purpose for me.  

[3]   He will send from heaven and save me,  

          he will put to shame those who trample on me.           Selah  

      God will send forth his steadfast love and his faithfulness.

[4]   I lie down among lions  

          that greedily devour human prey;  

     their teeth are spears and arrows,  

          their tongues sharp swords.

[5]   Be exalted, O God, above the heavens.  

          Let your glory be over all the earth.

[6]   They set a net for my steps;  

         my soul was bowed down.  

     They dug a pit in my path,  

         but they have fallen into it themselves.                       

Selah  

[7]   My heart is steadfast, O God,  

          my heart is steadfast.  

     I will sing and make melody.  

[8]        Awake, my soul!  

     Awake, O harp and lyre!  

          I will awake the dawn.  

[9]   I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples;  

          I will sing praises to you among the nations.  

[10]   For your steadfast love is as high as the heavens;  

          your faithfulness extends to the clouds.

[11]   Be exalted, O God, above the heavens.  

     Let your glory be over all the earth.

Psalm 67

[1] May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face to shine upon us,

Selah

[2] that your way may be known upon earth,
your saving power among all nations.
[3] Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you.

[4] Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for you judge the peoples with equity
and guide the nations upon earth.

Selah

[5] Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you.

[6] The earth has yielded its increase;
God, our God, has blessed us.
[7] May God continue to bless us;
let all the ends of the earth revere him.

Psalm 36:8-13

[8] You have kept count of my tossings;
put my tears in your bottle.
Are they not in your record?
[9] Then my enemies will retreat
in the day when I call.
This I know, that God is for me.
[10] In God, whose word I praise,
in the LORD, whose word I praise,
[11] in God I trust; I am not afraid.
What can a mere mortal do to me?

[12] My vows to you I must perform, O God;
I will render thank offerings to you.
[13] For you have delivered my soul from death,
and my feet from falling,
so that I may walk before God
in the light of life

Psalm 130

[1] Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD.
[2] Lord, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to the voice of my supplications!

[3] If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities,
Lord, who could stand?
[4] But there is forgiveness with you,
so that you may be revered.

[5] I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,
and in his word I hope;
[6] my soul waits for the Lord
more than those who watch for the morning,
more than those who watch for the morning.

[7] O Israel, hope in the LORD!
For with the LORD there is steadfast love,
and with him is great power to redeem.
[8] It is he who will redeem Israel
from all its iniquities.

Psalm 36

[1]   Transgression speaks to the wicked  

          deep in their hearts;  

     there is no fear of God  

          before their eyes.  

[2]   For they flatter themselves in their own eyes  

          that their iniquity cannot be found out and hated.  

[3]   The words of their mouths are mischief and deceit;  

          they have ceased to act wisely and do good.  

[4]   They plot mischief while on their beds;  

          they are set on a way that is not good;  

          they do not reject evil.

[5]   Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens,  

          your faithfulness to the clouds.   

[6]   Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,  

          your judgments are like the great deep;  

          you save humans and animals alike, O LORD.

[7]   How precious is your steadfast love, O God!  

          All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings.  

[8]   They feast on the abundance of your house,  

          and you give them drink from the river of your delights.  

[9]   For with you is the fountain of life;  

          in your light we see light.

[10]  O continue your steadfast love to those who know you,  

          and your salvation to the upright of heart!  

[11]  Do not let the foot of the arrogant tread on me,  

          or the hand of the wicked drive me away.  

[12]  There the evildoers lie prostrate;  

          they are thrust down, unable to rise.

Matthew 15:29-39

[29]After Jesus had left that place, he passed along the Sea of Galilee, and he went up the mountain, where he sat down. [30]Great crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, the maimed, the blind, the mute, and many others. They put them at his feet, and he cured them, [31]so that the crowd was amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel.

[32]Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, "I have compassion for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat; and I do not want to send them away hungry, for they might faint on the way." [33]The disciples said to him, "Where are we to get enough bread in the desert to feed so great a crowd?" [34]Jesus asked them, "How many loaves have you?" They said, "Seven, and a few small fish." [35]Then ordering the crowd to sit down on the ground, [36]he took the seven loaves and the fish; and after giving thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. [37]And all of them ate and were filled; and they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. [38]Those who had eaten were four thousand men, besides women and children. [39]After sending away the crowds, he got into the boat and went to the region of Magadan.

Psalm 19

[1] The heavens are telling the glory of God;
and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
[2] Day to day pours forth speech,
and night to night declares knowledge.
[3] There is no speech, nor are there words;
their voice is not heard;
[4] yet their voice goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.

In the heavens he has set a tent for the sun,
[5] which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy,
and like a strong man runs its course with joy.
[6] Its rising is from the end of the heavens,
and its circuit to the end of them;
and nothing is hidden from its heat.

[7] The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the decrees of the LORD are sure,
making wise the simple;
[8] the precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the LORD is clear,
enlightening the eyes;
[9] the fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever;
the ordinances of the LORD are true
and righteous altogether.
[10] More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey,
and drippings of the honeycomb.

[11] Moreover by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
[12] But who can detect their errors?
Clear me from hidden faults.
[13] Keep back your servant also from the insolent;
do not let them have dominion over me.
Then I shall be blameless,
and innocent of great transgression.

[14] Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable to you,
O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

Psalm 97:1-5

[1]   The LORD is king! Let the earth rejoice;  

          let the many coastlands be glad!  

[2]   Clouds and thick darkness are all around him;  

          righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.  

[3]   Fire goes before him,  

          and consumes his adversaries on every side.  

[4]   His lightnings light up the world;  

          the earth sees and trembles.  

[5]   The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,  

          before the Lord of all the earth.

Psalm 89:1-18

[1]   I will sing of your steadfast love, O LORD, forever;  

          with my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations.

[2]   I declare that your steadfast love is established forever;  

          your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens.

[3]   You said, "I have made a covenant with my chosen one,  

          I have sworn to my servant David:  

[4]   'I will establish your descendants forever,  

          and build your throne for all generations.'"                  

Selah

[5]   Let the heavens praise your wonders, O LORD,  

          your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones.  

[6]   For who in the skies can be compared to the LORD?  

          Who among the heavenly beings is like the LORD,  

[7]   a God feared in the council of the holy ones,  

          great and awesome above all that are around him?  

[8]   O LORD God of hosts,  

          who is as mighty as you, O LORD?  

          Your faithfulness surrounds you.  

[9]   You rule the raging of the sea;  

          when its waves rise, you still them.  

[10]  You crushed Rahab like a carcass;  

          you scattered your enemies with your mighty arm.  

[11]  The heavens are yours, the earth also is yours;  

          the world and all that is in it -- you have founded them.  

[12]  The north and the south -- you created them;  

          Tabor and Hermon joyously praise your name.  

[13]  You have a mighty arm;  

          strong is your hand, high your right hand.  

[14]  Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;  

          steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.  

[15]  Happy are the people who know the festal shout,  

          who walk, O LORD, in the light of your countenance;  

[16]  they exult in your name all day long,  

          and extol your righteousness.  

[17]  For you are the glory of their strength;  

          by your favor our horn is exalted.  

[18]  For our shield belongs to the LORD,  

          our king to the Holy One of Israel.

Psalm 42

[1]   As a deer longs for flowing streams,  

          so my soul longs for you, O God.  

[2]   My soul thirsts for God,  

          for the living God.  

     When shall I come and behold  

          the face of God?  

[3]   My tears have been my food  

          day and night,  

     while people say to me continually,  

          "Where is your God?"

[4]   These things I remember,  

          as I pour out my soul:  

     how I went with the throng,  

          and led them in procession to the house of God,  

     with glad shouts and songs of thanksgiving,  

          a multitude keeping festival.  

[5]   Why are you cast down, O my soul,  

          and why are you disquieted within me?  

     Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,  

          my help [6]and my God.

     My soul is cast down within me;  

          therefore I remember you  

     from the land of Jordan and of Hermon,  

          from Mount Mizar.  

[7]   Deep calls to deep  

          at the thunder of your cataracts;  

     all your waves and your billows  

          have gone over me.  

[8]   By day the LORD commands his steadfast love,  

          and at night his song is with me,  

          a prayer to the God of my life.

[9]   I say to God, my rock,  

          "Why have you forgotten me?  

     Why must I walk about mournfully  

          because the enemy oppresses me?"  

[10]  As with a deadly wound in my body,  

          my adversaries taunt me,  

     while they say to me continually,  

          "Where is your God?"

[11]  Why are you cast down, O my soul,  

          and why are you disquieted within me?  

     Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,  

          my help and my God.