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²Then Azariah stood still in the fire and prayed aloud:
¹¹ For your name’s sake do not give us up for ever,
   and do not annul your covenant.
¹²   Do not withdraw your mercy from us,
for the sake of Abraham your beloved
   and for the sake of your servant Isaac
   and Israel your holy one,
¹³ to whom you promised
   to multiply their descendants like the stars of heaven
   and like the sand on the shore of the sea.
¹⁴ For we, O Lord, have become fewer than any other nation,
   and are brought low this day in all the world because of our sins.
¹⁵ In our day we have no ruler, or prophet, or leader,
   no burnt-offering, or sacrifice, or oblation, or incense,
   no place to make an offering before you and to find mercy.
¹⁶ Yet with a contrite heart and a humble spirit may we be accepted,
¹⁷   as though it were with burnt-offerings of rams and bulls,
   or with tens of thousands of fat lambs;
   such may our sacrifice be in your sight today,
   and may we unreservedly follow you,^*
   for no shame will come to those who trust in you.
¹⁸ And now with all our heart we follow you;
   we fear you and seek your presence.
¹⁹ Do not put us to shame,
   but deal with us in your patience
   and in your abundant mercy.
²⁰ Deliver us in accordance with your marvellous works,
   and bring glory to your name, O Lord.

²⁰ Daniel said:
‘Blessed be the name of God from age to age,
   for wisdom and power are his.
²¹ He changes times and seasons,
   deposes kings and sets up kings;
he gives wisdom to the wise
   and knowledge to those who have understanding.
²² He reveals deep and hidden things;
   he knows what is in the darkness,
   and light dwells with him.
²³ To you, O God of my ancestors,
   I give thanks and praise,
for you have given me wisdom and power,
   and have now revealed to me what we asked of you,
   for you have revealed to us what the king ordered.’

3  Make me to know your ways, O Lord, ♦︎
   and teach me your paths.
4  Lead me in your truth and teach me, ♦︎
   for you are the God of my salvation;
      for you have I hoped all the day long.
5  Remember, Lord, your compassion and love, ♦︎
   for they are from everlasting.
6  Remember not the sins of my youth
      or my transgressions, ♦︎
   but think on me in your goodness, O Lord,
      according to your steadfast love.
7  Gracious and upright is the Lord; ♦︎
   therefore shall he teach sinners in the way.
8  He will guide the humble in doing right ♦︎
   and teach his way to the lowly.
9  All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth ♦︎
   to those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.
10  For your name’s sake, O Lord, ♦︎
   be merciful to my sin, for it is great.

Forgiveness

21 Then Peter came and said to him, ‘Lord, if another member of the church^* sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?’ ²²Jesus said to him, ‘Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven^* times.

The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant

23 ‘For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. ²⁴When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents^* was brought to him; ²⁵and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be made. ²⁶So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, “Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.” ²⁷And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. ²⁸But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow-slaves who owed him a hundred denarii;^* and seizing him by the throat, he said, “Pay what you owe.” ²⁹Then his fellow-slave fell down and pleaded with him, “Have patience with me, and I will pay you.” ³⁰But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he should pay the debt. ³¹When his fellow-slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. ³²Then his lord summoned him and said to him, “You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. ³³Should you not have had mercy on your fellow-slave, as I had mercy on you?” ³⁴And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he should pay his entire debt. ³⁵So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister^* from your heart.’