long ago you created the earth, and with your own hands you made the heavens.

But you are always the same, and your life never ends.

In the beginning, when God created the universe,

In the beginning the Word already existed; the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Through him God made all things; not one thing in all creation was made without him.

"To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: "This is the message from the Amen, the faithful and true witness, who is the origin of all that God has created.

and ordered the waters of the sea to rise no further than he said. I was there when he laid the earth's foundations.

God created the heavens and stretched them out; he fashioned the earth and all that lives there; he gave life and breath to all its people. And now the LORD God says to his servant,

My hands made the earth's foundations and spread the heavens out. When I summon earth and sky, they come at once and present themselves.

Have you forgotten the LORD who made you, who stretched out the heavens and laid the earth's foundations? Why should you live in constant fear of the fury of those who oppress you, of those who are ready to destroy you? Their fury can no longer touch you.

"Sovereign LORD, you made the earth and the sky by your great power and might; nothing is too difficult for you.

This is a message about Israel from the LORD, the LORD who spread out the skies, created the earth, and gave life to man. He says,

Do not be tempted to worship and serve what you see in the sky---the sun, the moon, and the stars. The LORD your God has given these to all other peoples for them to worship.

When I look at the sky, which you have made, at the moon and the stars, which you set in their places---

what are human beings, that you think of them; mere mortals, that you care for them?

How clearly the sky reveals God's glory! How plainly it shows what he has done!

But you are our father, LORD. We are like clay, and you are like the potter. You created us,