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17The Lord created human beings out of earth,
   and makes them return to it again.
² He gave them a fixed number of days,
   but granted them authority over everything on the earth.^*
3 He endowed them with strength like his own,^*
   and made them in his own image.
⁴ He put the fear of them^* in all living beings,
   and gave them dominion over beasts and birds.^*
6 Discretion and tongue and eyes,
   ears and a mind for thinking he gave them.
⁷ He filled them with knowledge and understanding,
   and showed them good and evil.
⁸ He put the fear of him into^* their hearts
   to show them the majesty of his works.^*
10 And they will praise his holy name,
¹¹ He bestowed knowledge upon them,
   and allotted to them the law of life.^*
12 He established with them an eternal covenant,
   and revealed to them his decrees.
¹³ Their eyes saw his glorious majesty,
   and their ears heard the glory of his voice.
¹⁴ He said to them, ‘Beware of all evil.’
   And he gave commandment to each of them concerning a neighbour.
¹⁵ Their ways are always known to him;
   they will not be hid from his eyes.^*

Psalm 103

Thanksgiving for God’s Goodness

Of David.
¹ Bless the Lord, O my soul,
   and all that is within me,
   bless his holy name.
² Bless the Lord, O my soul,
   and do not forget all his benefits—
³ who forgives all your iniquity,
   who heals all your diseases,
⁴ who redeems your life from the Pit,
   who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
⁵ who satisfies you with good as long as you live^*
   so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

⁶ The Lord works vindication
   and justice for all who are oppressed.
⁷ He made known his ways to Moses,
   his acts to the people of Israel.
⁸ The Lord is merciful and gracious,
   slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
⁹ He will not always accuse,
   nor will he keep his anger for ever.
¹⁰ He does not deal with us according to our sins,
   nor repay us according to our iniquities.
¹¹ For as the heavens are high above the earth,
   so great is his steadfast love towards those who fear him;
¹² as far as the east is from the west,
   so far he removes our transgressions from us.
¹³ As a father has compassion for his children,
   so the Lord has compassion for those who fear him.
¹⁴ For he knows how we were made;
   he remembers that we are dust.

¹⁵ As for mortals, their days are like grass;
   they flourish like a flower of the field;
¹⁶ for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
   and its place knows it no more.
¹⁷ But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting
   on those who fear him,
   and his righteousness to children’s children,
¹⁸ to those who keep his covenant
   and remember to do his commandments.

¹⁹ The Lord has established his throne in the heavens,
   and his kingdom rules over all.
²⁰ Bless the Lord, O you his angels,
   you mighty ones who do his bidding,
   obedient to his spoken word.
²¹ Bless the Lord, all his hosts,
   his ministers that do his will.
²² Bless the Lord, all his works,
   in all places of his dominion.
Bless the Lord, O my soul.

Jesus Blesses Little Children

13 People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. ¹⁴But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, ‘Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. ¹⁵Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.’ ¹⁶And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them.