My throat is as dry as dust, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You have left me for dead in the dust.

"When my people in their need look for water, when their throats are dry with thirst, then I, the LORD, will answer their prayer; I, the God of Israel, will never abandon them.

They let their babies die of hunger and thirst; children are begging for food that no one will give them.

I will paralyze your tongue so that you won't be able to warn these rebellious people.

One day spent in your Temple is better than a thousand anywhere else; I would rather stand at the gate of the house of my God than live in the homes of the wicked.

Instead, be concerned above everything else with the Kingdom of God and with what he requires of you, and he will provide you with all these other things.

But I reckon my own life to be worth nothing to me; I only want to complete my mission and finish the work that the Lord Jesus gave me to do, which is to declare the Good News about the grace of God.

My deep desire and hope is that I shall never fail in my duty, but that at all times, and especially right now, I shall be full of courage, so that with my whole being I shall bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die.

So, in all our trouble and suffering we have been encouraged about you, friends. It was your faith that encouraged us,

Now we can give thanks to our God for you. We thank him for the joy we have in his presence because of you.