1 Corinthians 16:13-14

[13]Keep alert, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong. [14]Let
all that you do be done in love.

Psalm 143

[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

[7]   Answer me quickly, O LORD;  
          my spirit fails.  
     Do not hide your face from me,  
          or I shall be like those who go down to the Pit.  
[8]   Let me hear of your steadfast love in the morning,  
          for in you I put my trust.  
     Teach me the way I should go,  
          for to you I lift up my soul.

[9]   Save me, O LORD, from my enemies;  
          I have fled to you for refuge.  
[10]  Teach me to do your will,  
          for you are my God.  
     Let your good spirit lead me  
          on a level path.

[11]  For your name's sake, O LORD, preserve my life.  
          In your righteousness bring me out of trouble.  
[12]  In your steadfast love cut off my enemies,  
          and destroy all my adversaries,  
          for I am your servant.

Matthew 12:1-14

[1]At that time Jesus went through the cornfields on the sabbath; his disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat.
[2]When the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, "Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the sabbath." [3]He said to them, "Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? [4]He entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him or his companions to eat, but only for the priests. [5]Or have you not read in the law that on the sabbath the priests in the temple break the sabbath and yet are guiltless? [6]I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. [7]But if you had known what this means, 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the guiltless. [8]For the Son of Man is lord of the sabbath."

[9]He left that place and entered their synagogue; [10]a man was there with a withered hand, and they asked him, "Is it lawful to cure on the sabbath?" so that they might accuse him. [11]He said to them, "Suppose one of you has only one sheep and it falls into a pit on the sabbath; will you not lay hold of it and lift it out? [12]How much more valuable is a human being than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the sabbath." [13]Then he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and it was restored, as sound as the other. [14]But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.

Matthew 11:25-30

[25]At that time Jesus said, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; [26]yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. [27]All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

[28]"Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. [29]Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. [30]For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

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 148

[1]   Praise the Lord!   
    Praise the Lord from the heavens;   
         praise him in the heights!   
[2]   Praise him, all his angels;   
         praise him, all his host!

[3]   Praise him, sun and moon;   
         praise him, all you shining stars!   
[4]   Praise him, you highest heavens,   
         and you waters above the heavens!

[5]   Let them praise the name of the Lord,   
         for he commanded and they were created.   
[6]   He established them forever and ever;   
         he fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed.

[7]   Praise the Lord from the earth,   
         you sea monsters and all deeps,   
[8]   fire and hail, snow and frost,   
         stormy wind fulfilling his command!

[9]   Mountains and all hills,   
         fruit trees and all cedars!   
[10]  Wild animals and all cattle,   
         creeping things and flying birds!

[11]  Kings of the earth and all peoples,   
         princes and all rulers of the earth!   
[12]  Young men and women alike,   
         old and young together!

[13]  Let them praise the name of the Lord,   
         for his name alone is exalted;   
         his glory is above earth and heaven.   
[14]  He has raised up a horn for his people,   
         praise for all his faithful,   
         for the people of Israel who are close to him.   
    Praise the Lord!

Psalm 27

[1]   The LORD is my light and my salvation;  
          whom shall I fear?  
     The LORD is the stronghold of my life;  
          of whom shall I be afraid?

[2]   When evildoers assail me  
          to devour my flesh --  
     my adversaries and foes --  
          they shall stumble and fall.

[3]   Though an army encamp against me,  
          my heart shall not fear;  
     though war rise up against me,  
          yet I will be confident.

[4]   One thing I asked of the LORD,  
          that will I seek after:  
     to live in the house of the LORD  
          all the days of my life,  
     to behold the beauty of the LORD,  
          and to inquire in his temple.

[5]   For he will hide me in his shelter  
          in the day of trouble;  
     he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;  
          he will set me high on a rock.

[6]   Now my head is lifted up  
          above my enemies all around me,  
     and I will offer in his tent  
          sacrifices with shouts of joy;  
     I will sing and make melody to the LORD.

[7]   Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud,  
          be gracious to me and answer me!  
[8]   "Come," my heart says, "seek his face!"  
          Your face, LORD, do I seek.  
[9]        Do not hide your face from me.

     Do not turn your servant away in anger,  
          you who have been my help.  
     Do not cast me off, do not forsake me,  
          O God of my salvation!  
[10]   If my father and mother forsake me,  
          the LORD will take me up.

[11]  Teach me your way, O LORD,  
          and lead me on a level path  
          because of my enemies.  
[12]  Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries,  
          for false witnesses have risen against me,  
          and they are breathing out violence.

[13]  I believe that I shall see the goodness of the LORD  
          in the land of the living.  
[14]   Wait for the LORD;  
          be strong, and let your heart take courage;  
          wait for the LORD!