"I will show compassion to Jerusalem, to all who live in her ruins. Though her land is a desert, I will make it a garden, like the garden I planted in Eden. Joy and gladness will be there, and songs of praise and thanks to me.

And yet, I am the God who forgives your sins, and I do this because of who I am. I will not hold your sins against you.

"I am the high and holy God, who lives forever. I live in a high and holy place, but I also live with people who are humble and repentant, so that I can restore their confidence and hope.

I was angry with them because of their sin and greed, and so I punished them and abandoned them. But they were stubborn and kept on going their own way.

I will comfort you in Jerusalem, as a mother comforts her child.

"When I go, you will not be left all alone; I will come back to you.

The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and make you remember all that I have told you.

"Peace is what I leave with you; it is my own peace that I give you. I do not give it as the world does. Do not be worried and upset; do not be afraid.

And so it was that the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had a time of peace. Through the help of the Holy Spirit it was strengthened and grew in numbers, as it lived in reverence for the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the merciful Father, the God from whom all help comes!

Just as we have a share in Christ's many sufferings, so also through Christ we share in God's great help.

Even after we arrived in Macedonia, we did not have any rest. There were troubles everywhere, quarrels with others, fears in our hearts.

But God, who encourages the downhearted, encouraged us with the coming of Titus.

"Listen to me, you that know what is right, who have my teaching fixed in your hearts. Do not be afraid when people taunt and insult you;

they will vanish like moth-eaten clothing! But the deliverance I bring will last forever; my victory will endure for all time."

Put no more confidence in mortals. What are they worth?

The LORD is with me, I will not be afraid; what can anyone do to me?

When they die, they return to the dust; on that day all their plans come to an end.

Everybody wants the good will of the ruler, but only from the LORD can you get justice.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered, "Your Majesty, we will not try to defend ourselves.

But even if he doesn't, Your Majesty may be sure that we will not worship your god, and we will not bow down to the gold statue that you have set up."

Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather be afraid of God, who can destroy both body and soul in hell.

"I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot afterward do anything worse.

I will show you whom to fear: fear God, who, after killing, has the authority to throw into hell. Believe me, he is the one you must fear!

A voice cries out, "Proclaim a message!" "What message shall I proclaim?" I ask. "Proclaim that all human beings are like grass; they last no longer than wild flowers.

You carry us away like a flood; we last no longer than a dream. We are like weeds that sprout in the morning,

that grow and burst into bloom, then dry up and die in the evening.

the wicked may grow like weeds, those who do wrong may prosper; yet they will be totally destroyed,

As for us, our life is like grass. We grow and flourish like a wild flower;

then the wind blows on it, and it is gone--- no one sees it again.

and the rich Christians must be glad when God brings them down. For the rich will pass away like the flower of a wild plant.

The sun rises with its blazing heat and burns the plant; its flower falls off, and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way the rich will be destroyed while they go about their business.

As the scripture says, "All human beings are like grass, and all their glory is like wild flowers. The grass withers, and the flowers fall,