Friday 16 November 2012

6“Isn’t this the fast that I have chosen:to release the bonds of wickedness,to undo the straps of the yoke,to let the oppressed go free,and that you break every yoke?7Isn’t it to distribute your bread to the hungry,and that you bring the poor who are cast out to your house?When you see the naked,that you cover him;and that you not hide yourself from your own flesh?8Then your light will break out as the morning,and your healing will appear quickly;then your righteousness shall go before you,and the Lord’s glory will be your rear guard.9Then you will call, and the Lord will answer.You will cry for help, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’“If you take away from among you the yoke,finger pointing,and speaking wickedly;10and if you pour out your soul to the hungry,and satisfy the afflicted soul,then your light will rise in darkness,and your obscurity will be as the noonday;11and the Lord will guide you continually,satisfy your soul in dry places,and make your bones strong.You will be like a watered garden,and like a spring of waterwhose waters don’t fail.

1Praise the Lord!Blessed is the man who fears the Lord,who delights greatly in his commandments.2His offspring will be mighty in the land.The generation of the upright will be blessed.

3Wealth and riches are in his house.His righteousness endures forever.4Light dawns in the darkness for the upright,gracious, merciful, and righteous.

5It is well with the man who deals graciously and lends.He will maintain his cause in judgment.6For he will never be shaken.The righteous will be remembered forever.7He will not be afraid of evil news.

7His heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.8His heart is established.He will not be afraid in the end when he sees his adversaries.

9He has dispersed, he has given to the poor.His righteousness endures forever.His horn will be exalted with honor.

9Even as the Father has loved me, I also have loved you.Remain in my love.10If you keep my commandments,you will remain in my love,even as I have kept my Father’s commandmentsand remain in his love.11I have spoken these things to you,that my joy may remain in you,and that your joy may be made full.

12“This is my commandment,that you love one another,even as I have loved you.13Greater love has no one than this,that someone lay down his life for his friends.14You are my friends if you do whatever I command you.15No longer do I call you servants,for the servant doesn’t know what his lord does.But I have called you friends,for everything that I heard from my Father,I have made known to you.16You didn’t choose me,but I chose you and appointed you,that you should go and bear fruit,and that your fruit should remain;that whatever you will ask of the Father in my name,he may give it to you.

17“I command these things to you,that you may love one another.