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The Majesty of God

18He who lives for ever created the whole universe;
²   the Lord alone is just.^*
4 To none has he given power to proclaim his works;
   and who can search out his mighty deeds?
⁵ Who can measure his majestic power?
   And who can fully recount his mercies?
⁶ It is not possible to diminish or increase them,
   nor is it possible to fathom the wonders of the Lord.
⁷ When human beings have finished, they are just beginning,
   and when they stop, they are still perplexed.
⁸ What are human beings, and of what use are they?
   What is good in them, and what is evil?
⁹ The number of days in their life is great if they reach one hundred years.^*
10 Like a drop of water from the sea and a grain of sand,
   so are a few years among the days of eternity.
¹¹ That is why the Lord is patient with them
   and pours out his mercy upon them.
¹² He sees and recognizes that their end is miserable;
   therefore he grants them forgiveness all the more.
¹³ The compassion of human beings is for their neighbours,
   but the compassion of the Lord is for every living thing.
He rebukes and trains and teaches them,
   and turns them back, as a shepherd his flock.
¹⁴ He has compassion on those who accept his discipline
   and who are eager for his precepts.

23  Yet I am always with you; ♦︎
   you hold me by my right hand.
24  You will guide me with your counsel ♦︎
   and afterwards receive me with glory.
25  Whom have I in heaven but you? ♦︎
   And there is nothing upon earth that I desire
      in comparison with you.
26  Though my flesh and my heart fail me, ♦︎
   God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever.
27  Truly, those who forsake you will perish; ♦︎
   you will put to silence the faithless who betray you.
28  But it is good for me to draw near to God; ♦︎
   in the Lord God have I made my refuge,
      that I may tell of all your works.

Exaltation through Abasement

5 Now God^* did not subject the coming world, about which we are speaking, to angels. ⁶But someone has testified somewhere,
‘What are human beings that you are mindful of them,^*
   or mortals, that you care for them?^*
7 You have made them for a little while lower^* than the angels;
   you have crowned them with glory and honour,^*
8   subjecting all things under their feet.’
Now in subjecting all things to them, God^* left nothing outside their control. As it is, we do not yet see everything in subjection to them, ⁹but we do see Jesus, who for a little while was made lower^* than the angels, now crowned with glory and honour because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God^* he might taste death for everyone.

10 It was fitting that God,^* for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings. ¹¹For the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father.^* For this reason Jesus^* is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters,^{* 12}saying,
‘I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters,^*
   in the midst of the congregation I will praise you.’
¹³And again,
‘I will put my trust in him.’
And again,
‘Here am I and the children whom God has given me.’

14 Since, therefore, the children share flesh and blood, he himself likewise shared the same things, so that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, ¹⁵and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death. ¹⁶For it is clear that he did not come to help angels, but the descendants of Abraham. ¹⁷Therefore he had to become like his brothers and sisters^* in every respect, so that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people. ¹⁸Because he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.

Jesus Visits Martha and Mary

38 Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. ³⁹She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying. ⁴⁰But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.’ ⁴¹But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; ⁴²there is need of only one thing.^* Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.’