Those who guard the city are shouting, shouting together for joy. They can see with their own eyes the return of the LORD to Zion.

He says, "All the leaders, who are supposed to warn my people, are blind! They know nothing. They are like watch dogs that don't bark---they only lie around and dream. How they love to sleep!

Following the rules laid down by his father David, he organized the daily work of the priests and of the Levites who assisted the priests in singing hymns and in doing their work. He also organized the Temple guards in sections for performing their daily duties at each gate, in accordance with the commands of David, the man of God.

The sentries patrolling the city saw me. I asked them, "Have you found my lover?"

The sentries patrolling the city found me; they struck me and bruised me; the guards at the city wall tore off my cape.

Then the LORD appointed sentries to listen for the trumpet's warning. But they said, "We will not listen."

"Mortal man," he said, "I am making you a lookout for the nation of Israel. You will pass on to them the warnings I give you.

If you do warn an evil man and he doesn't stop sinning, he will die, still a sinner, but your life will be spared.

If you do warn a good man not to sin and he listens to you and doesn't sin, he will stay alive, and your life will also be spared."

"Mortal man," he said, "tell your people what happens when I bring war to a land. The people of that country choose one of their number to be a lookout.

If someone hears it but pays no attention and the enemy comes and kills him, then he is to blame for his own death.

If, however, the lookout sees the enemy coming and does not sound the alarm, the enemy will come and kill those sinners, but I will hold the lookout responsible for their death.

If I announce that an evil person is going to die but you do not warn him to change his ways so that he can save his life, then he will die, still a sinner, and I will hold you responsible for his death.

In the church God has put all in place: in the first place apostles, in the second place prophets, and in the third place teachers; then those who perform miracles, followed by those who are given the power to heal or to help others or to direct them or to speak in strange tongues.

It was he who "gave gifts to people"; he appointed some to be apostles, others to be prophets, others to be evangelists, others to be pastors and teachers.

He did this to prepare all God's people for the work of Christian service, in order to build up the body of Christ.

Obey your leaders and follow their orders. They watch over your souls without resting, since they must give to God an account of their service. If you obey them, they will do their work gladly; if not, they will do it with sadness, and that would be of no help to you.

I will speak out to encourage Jerusalem; I will not be silent until she is saved, And her victory shines like a torch in the night.

Come, praise the LORD, all his servants, all who serve in his Temple at night.

Raise your hands in prayer in the Temple, and praise the LORD!

Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal. Surrounding the throne on each of its sides, were four living creatures covered with eyes in front and behind.

Each one of the four living creatures had six wings, and they were covered with eyes, inside and out. Day and night they never stop singing: "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was, who is, and who is to come."

"Let us go to court; bring your accusation! Present your case to prove you are in the right!

Remember that you promised to make everything go well for me and to give me more descendants than anyone could count, as many as the grains of sand along the seashore."

So now, LORD, I pray, show us your power and do what you promised when you said,

And now, LORD, according to the greatness of your unchanging love, forgive, I pray, the sin of these people, just as you have forgiven them ever since they left Egypt."

Remember your people, whom you chose for yourself long ago, whom you brought out of slavery to be your own tribe. Remember Mount Zion, where once you lived.

But remember, O LORD, that your enemies laugh at you, that they are godless and despise you.

He stared at the angel in fear and said, "What is it, sir?" The angel answered, "God is pleased with your prayers and works of charity, and is ready to answer you.

and said: 'Cornelius! God has heard your prayer and has taken notice of your works of charity.

The man said, "Let me go; daylight is coming." "I won't, unless you bless me," Jacob answered.

A Canaanite woman who lived in that region came to him. "Son of David!" she cried out. "Have mercy on me, sir! My daughter has a demon and is in a terrible condition."

Then Jesus replied, "I have been sent only to the lost sheep of the people of Israel."

Jesus answered, "It isn't right to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs."

And Jesus said to his disciples, "Suppose one of you should go to a friend's house at midnight and say, 'Friend, let me borrow three loaves of bread.

And suppose your friend should answer from inside, 'Don't bother me! The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.'

And so I say to you: Ask, and you will receive; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.

Would any of you who are fathers give your son a snake when he asks for fish?

As bad as you are, you know how to give good things to your children. How much more, then, will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to teach them that they should always pray and never become discouraged.

And there was a widow in that same town who kept coming to him and pleading for her rights, saying, 'Help me against my opponent!'

yet because of all the trouble this widow is giving me, I will see to it that she gets her rights. If I don't, she will keep on coming and finally wear me out!' "

Now, will God not judge in favor of his own people who cry to him day and night for help? Will he be slow to help them?

pray at all times,

They shouted in a loud voice, "Almighty Lord, holy and true! How long will it be until you judge the people on earth and punish them for killing us?"