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17  O do good to your servant that I may live, ♦︎
   and so shall I keep your word.
18  Open my eyes, that I may see ♦︎
   the wonders of your law.
19  I am a stranger upon earth; ♦︎
   hide not your commandments from me.
20  My soul is consumed at all times ♦︎
   with fervent longing for your judgements.
21  You have rebuked the arrogant; ♦︎
   cursed are those who stray from your commandments.
22  Turn from me shame and rebuke, ♦︎
   for I have kept your testimonies.
23  Rulers also sit and speak against me, ♦︎
   but your servant meditates on your statutes.
24  For your testimonies are my delight; ♦︎
   they are my faithful counsellors.
25  My soul cleaves to the dust; ♦︎
   O give me life according to your word.
26  I have acknowledged my ways and you have answered me; ♦︎
   O teach me your statutes.
27  Make me understand the way of your commandments, ♦︎
   and so shall I meditate on your wondrous works.
28  My soul melts away in tears of sorrow; ♦︎
   raise me up according to your word.
29  Take from me the way of falsehood; ♦︎
   be gracious to me through your law.
30  I have chosen the way of truth ♦︎
   and your judgements have I laid before me.
31  I hold fast to your testimonies; ♦︎
   O Lord, let me not be put to shame.
32  I will run the way of your commandments, ♦︎
   when you have set my heart at liberty.

Locusts, Fire, and a Plumb-Line

7This is what the Lord God showed me: he was forming locusts at the time the latter growth began to sprout (it was the latter growth after the king’s mowings). ²When they had finished eating the grass of the land, I said,
‘O Lord God, forgive, I beg you!
   How can Jacob stand?
   He is so small!’
³ The Lord relented concerning this;
   ‘It shall not be,’ said the Lord.

4 This is what the Lord God showed me: the Lord God was calling for a shower of fire,^* and it devoured the great deep and was eating up the land. ⁵Then I said,
‘O Lord God, cease, I beg you!
   How can Jacob stand?
   He is so small!’
⁶ The Lord relented concerning this;
   ‘This also shall not be,’ said the Lord God.

²⁷To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. ²⁸It is he whom we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone in all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ. ²⁹For this I toil and struggle with all the energy that he powerfully inspires within me.

2For I want you to know how much I am struggling for you, and for those in Laodicea, and for all who have not seen me face to face. ²I want their hearts to be encouraged and united in love, so that they may have all the riches of assured understanding and have the knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ himself,^{* 3}in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. ⁴I am saying this so that no one may deceive you with plausible arguments. ⁵For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, and I rejoice to see your morale and the firmness of your faith in Christ.

Fullness of Life in Christ

6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives^* in him, ⁷rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.