Seekthe LORD,Allyou humbleof the earthWhohave carriedout His ordinances;Seekrighteousness,seekhumility.Perhapsyou will be hiddenIn the dayof the LORD'Sanger.
He said,"While the childwas [still] alive,I fastedand wept;for I said,Whoknows,the LORDmay be graciousto me, that the childmay live.'
Seekthe LORDand His strength;SeekHis facecontinually.
For the LORDtakespleasurein His people;He will beautifythe afflictedoneswith salvation.
The afflictedwill eatand be satisfied;Those who seekHim will praisethe LORD.Let your heartliveforever!
You hidethem in the secretplaceof Your presencefrom the conspiraciesof man;You keepthem secretlyin a shelterfrom the strifeof tongues.
And in Your majestyrideon victoriously,For the causeof truthand meekness[and] righteousness;Let Your righthandteachYou awesomethings.
Be graciousto me, O God,be graciousto me, For my soultakesrefugein You; And in the shadowof Your wingsI will takerefugeUntildestructionpassesby.
When Godaroseto judgment,To saveallthe humbleof the earth.Selah.
He who dwellsin the shelterof the MostHighWill abidein the shadowof the Almighty.
you shall say,'It is a Passoversacrificeto the LORDwhopassedoverthe housesof the sonsof Israelin Egyptwhen He smotethe Egyptians,but sparedour homes.'"And the peoplebowedlowand worshiped.
The nameof the LORDis a strongtower;The righteousrunsinto it and is safe.
Learnto dogood;Seekjustice,Reprovethe ruthless,Defendthe orphan,Pleadfor the widow.
But with righteousnessHe will judgethe poor,And decidewith fairnessfor the afflictedof the earth;And He will strikethe earthwith the rodof His mouth,And with the breathof His lipsHe will slaythe wicked.
The Spiritof the LordGODis upon me, Becausethe LORDhas anointedme To bringgood newsto the afflicted;He has sentme to bindup the brokenhearted,To proclaimlibertyto captivesAnd freedomto prisoners;
"For I will certainlyrescueyou, and you will not fallby the sword;but you will haveyour [own] lifeas booty,becauseyou have trustedin Me," declaresthe LORD.'"
But you, are you seekinggreatthingsfor yourself? Do not seek[them]; for behold,I am going to bringdisasteron allflesh,'declaresthe LORD,but I will giveyour lifeto you as bootyin allthe placeswhereyou may go.'"
"You have not goneup into the breaches,nordid you buildthe wallaroundthe houseof Israelto standin the battleon the dayof the LORD.
Sowwith a view to righteousness,Reapin accordancewith kindness;Breakup your fallowground,For it is timeto seekthe LORDUntilHe comesto rainrighteousnesson you.
Though the prideof Israeltestifiesagainsthim, Yet they have not returnedto the LORDtheir God,Norhave they soughtHim, for allthis.
"Whoknows,Godmay turnand relentand withdrawHis burningangerso that we will not perish."
"Thussaysthe LORDof hosts,'The fastof the fourth,the fastof the fifth,the fastof the seventhand the fastof the tenth[months] will becomejoy,gladness,and cheerfulfeastsfor the houseof Judah;so lovetruthand peace.'
"Blessedare the gentle,for they shall inheritthe earth.
Finallythen,brethren,we requestand exhortyou in the LordJesus,that as you receivedfrom us [instruction] as to howyou oughtto walkand pleaseGod(justas you actuallydo walk),that you excelstill more.
for indeedyou do practiceit towardallthe brethrenwhoare in allMacedonia.But we urgeyou, brethren,to excelstill more,
Since you have in obedienceto the truthpurifiedyour soulsfor a sincerelove of the brethren,ferventlyloveone anotherfrom the heart,
but [let it be] the hiddenpersonof the heart,with the imperishable qualityof a gentleand quietspirit,whichis preciousin the sightof God.
but growin the graceand knowledgeof our Lordand SaviorJesusChrist.To Him [be] the glory,bothnowand to the dayof eternity.Amen.
