from the sons of Gershom,
Joel the leader and one hundred and thirty of his brothers;
Wait on the Lord;
be strong, and may your heart be stout;
wait on the Lord.
The steps of a man are made firm by the Lord;
He delights in his way.
Though he falls, he will not be hurled down,
for the Lord supports him with His hand.
Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted in me?
Hope in God,
for I will yet thank Him
for the help of His presence.
The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me;
Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever;
do not forsake the works of Your hands.
When my spirit was overwhelmed within me,
then You knew my path.
In the way where I walk,
they have laid a snare for me.
Attend to my cry,
for I am brought very low;
deliver me from my persecutors,
for they are stronger than me.
for a just man falls seven times and rises up again,
but the wicked will fall into mischief.
and say to him, Take heed, and be quiet. Do not fear nor be fainthearted because of the two tails of these smoking firebrands, because of the fierce anger of Rezin with Aram and of the son of Remaliah,
but those who wait upon the Lord
shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings as eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,
and they shall walk and not faint.
For the Lord God will help me;
therefore, I shall not be disgraced;
therefore, I have set my face like a flint,
and I know that I shall not be ashamed.
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me. For I am meek and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.”
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, the excellency of the power being from God and not from ourselves.
We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
For this reason we do not lose heart: Even though our outward man is perishing, yet our inward man is being renewed day by day.
Our light affliction, which lasts but for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,
while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
And let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not give up.
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who are of the household of faith.
But you, brothers, do not be weary in doing good.
For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who was in every sense tempted like we are, yet without sin.
Let us then come with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and your hearts give up.
Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.