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The Marvels of Nature

¹³ By his command he sends the driving snow
   and speeds the lightnings of his judgement.
¹⁴ Therefore the storehouses are opened,
   and the clouds fly out like birds.
¹⁵ In his majesty he gives the clouds their strength,
   and the hailstones are broken in pieces.
^17a The voice of his thunder rebukes the earth;
¹⁶   when he appears, the mountains shake.
At his will the south wind blows;
^17b   so do the storm from the north and the whirlwind.
He scatters the snow like birds flying down,
   and its descent is like locusts alighting.
¹⁸ The eye is dazzled by the beauty of its whiteness,
   and the mind is amazed as it falls.
¹⁹ He pours frost over the earth like salt,
   and icicles form like pointed thorns.
²⁰ The cold north wind blows,
   and ice freezes on the water;
it settles on every pool of water,
   and the water puts it on like a breastplate.
²¹ He consumes the mountains and burns up the wilderness,
   and withers the tender grass like fire.
²² A mist quickly heals all things;
   the falling dew gives refreshment from the heat.

²³ By his plan he stilled the deep
   and planted islands in it.
²⁴ Those who sail the sea tell of its dangers,
   and we marvel at what we hear.
²⁵ In it are strange and marvellous creatures,
   all kinds of living things, and huge sea-monsters.
²⁶ Because of him each of his messengers succeeds,
   and by his word all things hold together.

²⁷ We could say more but could never say enough;
   let the final word be: ‘He is the all.’
²⁸ Where can we find the strength to praise him?
   For he is greater than all his works.
²⁹ Awesome is the Lord and very great,
   and marvellous is his power.
³⁰ Glorify the Lord and exalt him as much as you can,
   for he surpasses even that.
When you exalt him, summon all your strength,
   and do not grow weary, for you cannot praise him enough.
³¹ Who has seen him and can describe him?
   Or who can extol him as he is?
³² Many things greater than these lie hidden,
   for I^* have seen but few of his works.
³³ For the Lord has made all things,
   and to the godly he has given wisdom.

Psalm 91

1  Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High ♦︎
   and abides under the shadow of the Almighty,
2  Shall say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my stronghold, ♦︎
   my God, in whom I put my trust.’
3  For he shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler ♦︎
   and from the deadly pestilence.
4  He shall cover you with his wings
      and you shall be safe under his feathers; ♦︎
   his faithfulness shall be your shield and buckler.
5  You shall not be afraid of any terror by night, ♦︎
   nor of the arrow that flies by day;
6  Of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, ♦︎
   nor of the sickness that destroys at noonday.
7  Though a thousand fall at your side
      and ten thousand at your right hand, ♦︎
   yet it shall not come near you.
8  Your eyes have only to behold ♦︎
   to see the reward of the wicked.
9  Because you have made the Lord your refuge ♦︎
   and the Most High your stronghold,
10  There shall no evil happen to you, ♦︎
   neither shall any plague come near your tent.
11  For he shall give his angels charge over you, ♦︎
   to keep you in all your ways.
12  They shall bear you in their hands, ♦︎
   lest you dash your foot against a stone.

The Example of Jesus

12Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely,^* and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, ²looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of^* the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.

3 Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners,^* so that you may not grow weary or lose heart. ⁴In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. ⁵And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as children—
‘My child, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
   or lose heart when you are punished by him;
⁶ for the Lord disciplines those whom he loves,
   and chastises every child whom he accepts.’
⁷Endure trials for the sake of discipline. God is treating you as children; for what child is there whom a parent does not discipline? ⁸If you do not have that discipline in which all children share, then you are illegitimate and not his children. ⁹Moreover, we had human parents to discipline us, and we respected them. Should we not be even more willing to be subject to the Father of spirits and live? ¹⁰For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share his holiness. ¹¹Now, discipline always seems painful rather than pleasant at the time, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

12 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, ¹³and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed.

Warnings against Rejecting God’s Grace

14 Pursue peace with everyone, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. ¹⁵See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble, and through it many become defiled. ¹⁶See to it that no one becomes like Esau, an immoral and godless person, who sold his birthright for a single meal. ¹⁷You know that later, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent,^* even though he sought the blessing^* with tears.

32 ‘Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. ³³Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. ³⁴For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Watchful Slaves

35 ‘Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; ³⁶be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. ³⁷Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. ³⁸If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.

39 ‘But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he^* would not have let his house be broken into. ⁴⁰You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.’