Sunday 13 September 2009

5The Lord GOD has opened my ear.I was not rebellious.I have not turned back.6I gave my back to those who beat me,and my cheeks to those who plucked off the hair.I didn’t hide my face from shame and spitting.7For the Lord GOD will help me.Therefore I have not been confounded.Therefore I have set my face like a flint,and I know that I won’t be disappointed.8He who justifies me is near.Who will bring charges against me?Let us stand up together.Who is my adversary?Let him come near to me.9Behold, the Lord GOD will help me!Who is he who will condemn me?Behold, they will all grow old like a garment.The moths will eat them up.

1I love the Lord, because he listens to my voice,and my cries for mercy.2Because he has turned his ear to me,therefore I will call on him as long as I live.

3The cords of death surrounded me,the pains of Sheol got a hold of me.I found trouble and sorrow.4Then I called on the Lord’s name:“Lord, I beg you, deliver my soul.”

5The Lord is gracious and righteous.Yes, our God is merciful.6The Lord preserves the simple.I was brought low, and he saved me.

8For you have delivered my soul from death,my eyes from tears,and my feet from falling.9I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living.

14What good is it, my brothers,if a man says he has faith, but has no works?Can faith save him?15And if a brother or sister is nakedand in lack of daily food,16and one of you tells them, “Go in peace.Be warmed and filled;”yet you didn’t give them the things the body needs, what good is it?17Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead in itself.18Yes, a man will say, “You have faith, and I have works.”Show me your faith without works,and I will show you my faith by my works.

27Jesus went out, with his disciples,into the villages of Caesarea Philippi.On the way he asked his disciples,“Who do men say that I am?”

28They told him, “John the Baptizer,and others say Elijah,but others, one of the prophets.”

29He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

Peter answered, “You are the Christ.”

30He commanded them that they should tell no one about him.31He began to teach themthat the Son of Man must suffer many things,and be rejected by the elders,the chief priests,and the scribes, and be killed,and after three days rise again.32He spoke to them openly.Peter took him and began to rebuke him.33But he, turning around and seeing his disciples,rebuked Peter, and said,“Get behind me, Satan!For you have in mind not the things of God,but the things of men.”

34He called the multitude to himself with his disciples and said to them,“Whoever wants to come after me,let him deny himself,and take up his cross, and follow me.35For whoever wants to save his life will lose it;and whoever will lose his life for my sakeand the sake of the Good News will save it.