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¹¹ I will praise your name continually,
   and will sing hymns of thanksgiving.’
My prayer was heard,
¹²   for you saved me from destruction
   and rescued me in time of trouble.
For this reason I thank you and praise you,
   and I bless the name of the Lord.

Hebrew adds:

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
   for his mercy endures for ever;

Give thanks to the God of praises,
   for his mercy endures for ever;

Give thanks to the guardian of Israel,
   for his mercy endures for ever;

Give thanks to him who formed all things,
   for his mercy endures for ever;

Give thanks to the redeemer of Israel,
   for his mercy endures for ever;

Give thanks to him who gathers the dispersed of Israel,
   for his mercy endures for ever;

Give thanks to him who rebuilt his city and his sanctuary,
   for his mercy endures for ever;

Give thanks to him who makes a horn to sprout for the house of David,
   for his mercy endures for ever;

Give thanks to him who has chosen the sons of Zadok to be priests,
   for his mercy endures for ever;

Give thanks to the shield of Abraham,
   for his mercy endures for ever;

Give thanks to the rock of Isaac,
   for his mercy endures for ever;

Give thanks to the mighty one of Jacob,
   for his mercy endures for ever;

Give thanks to him who has chosen Zion,
   for his mercy endures for ever;

Give thanks to the King of the kings of kings,
   for his mercy endures for ever;

He has raised up a horn for his people,
   praise for all his loyal ones.

For the children of Israel, the people close to him.
   Praise the Lord!

Autobiographical Poem on Wisdom

¹³ While I was still young, before I went on my travels,
   I sought wisdom openly in my prayer.
¹⁴ Before the temple I asked for her,
   and I will search for her until the end.

¹⁵ From the first blossom to the ripening grape
   my heart delighted in her;
my foot walked on the straight path;
   from my youth I followed her steps.

¹⁶ I inclined my ear a little and received her,
   and I found for myself much instruction.
¹⁷ I made progress in her;
   to him who gives wisdom I will give glory.

¹⁸ For I resolved to live according to wisdom,^*
   and I was zealous for the good,
   and I shall never be disappointed.
¹⁹ My soul grappled with wisdom,^*
   and in my conduct I was strict;^*

I spread out my hands to the heavens,
   and lamented my ignorance of her.
²⁰ I directed my soul to her,
   and in purity I found her.

With her I gained understanding from the first;
   therefore I will never be forsaken.
²¹ My heart was stirred to seek her;
   therefore I have gained a prize possession.
²² The Lord gave me my tongue as a reward,
   and I will praise him with it.

The Prayer of Faith

13 Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise. ¹⁴Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. ¹⁵The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. ¹⁶Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. ¹⁷Elijah was a human being like us, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. ¹⁸Then he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain and the earth yielded its harvest.

19 My brothers and sisters,^* if anyone among you wanders from the truth and is brought back by another, ²⁰you should know that whoever brings back a sinner from wandering will save the sinner’s^* soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

7  The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; ♦︎
   the testimony of the Lord is sure
      and gives wisdom to the simple.
8  The statutes of the Lord are right and rejoice the heart; ♦︎
   the commandment of the Lord is pure
      and gives light to the eyes.
9  The fear of the Lord is clean and endures for ever; ♦︎
   the judgements of the Lord are true
      and righteous altogether.
10  More to be desired are they than gold,
      more than much fine gold, ♦︎
   sweeter also than honey,
      dripping from the honeycomb.
11  By them also is your servant taught ♦︎
   and in keeping them there is great reward.
12  Who can tell how often they offend? ♦︎
   O cleanse me from my secret faults!
13  Keep your servant also from presumptuous sins
      lest they get dominion over me; ♦︎
   so shall I be undefiled,
      and innocent of great offence.
14  Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
      be acceptable in your sight, ♦︎
   O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.

Psalm 141

Prayer for Preservation from Evil

A Psalm of David.
¹ I call upon you, O Lord; come quickly to me;
   give ear to my voice when I call to you.
² Let my prayer be counted as incense before you,
   and the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice.

³ Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord;
   keep watch over the door of my lips.
⁴ Do not turn my heart to any evil,
   to busy myself with wicked deeds
in company with those who work iniquity;
   do not let me eat of their delicacies.

Jesus’ Authority Is Questioned

27 Again they came to Jerusalem. As he was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to him ²⁸and said, ‘By what authority are you doing these things? Who gave you this authority to do them?’ ²⁹Jesus said to them, ‘I will ask you one question; answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. ³⁰Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin? Answer me.’ ³¹They argued with one another, ‘If we say, “From heaven”, he will say, “Why then did you not believe him?” ³²But shall we say, “Of human origin”?’—they were afraid of the crowd, for all regarded John as truly a prophet. ³³So they answered Jesus, ‘We do not know.’ And Jesus said to them, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.’