From the descendants of Gershom: Joel the leader and 130 of his relatives.
Rely on the Lord!
Be strong and confident!
The Lord grants success to the one
whose behavior he finds commendable.
Even if he trips, he will not fall headlong,
for the Lord holds his hand.
Why are you depressed, O my soul?
Why are you upset?
Wait for God!
For I will again give thanks
to my God for his saving intervention.
The Lord avenges me.
O Lord, your loyal love endures.
Do not abandon those whom you have made!
Even when my strength leaves me,
you watch my footsteps.
In the path where I walk
they have hidden a trap for me.
Listen to my cry for help,
for I am in serious trouble!
Rescue me from those who chase me,
for they are stronger than I am.
Although a righteous person may fall seven times, he gets up again,
but the wicked will be brought down by calamity.
Tell him, ‘Make sure you stay calm! Don’t be afraid! Don’t be intimidated by these two stubs of smoking logs, or by the raging anger of Rezin, Syria, and the son of Remaliah.
But those who wait for the Lord’s help find renewed strength;
they rise up as if they had eagles’ wings,
they run without growing weary,
they walk without getting tired.
But the sovereign Lord helps me,
so I am not humiliated.
For that reason I am steadfastly resolved;
I know I will not be put to shame.
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke on you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy to bear, and my load is not hard to carry.”
So then, dear brothers and sisters, be firm. Do not be moved! Always be outstanding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that the extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.
We are experiencing trouble on every side, but are not crushed; we are perplexed, but not driven to despair;
Therefore we do not despair, but even if our physical body is wearing away, our inner person is being renewed day by day.
For our momentary, light suffering is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison
because we are not looking at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen. For what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.
So we must not grow weary in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not give up.
So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who belong to the family of faith.
But you, brothers and sisters, do not grow weary in doing what is right.
For we do not have a high priest incapable of sympathizing with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way just as we are, yet without sin.
Therefore let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace whenever we need help.
Think of him who endured such opposition against himself by sinners, so that you may not grow weary in your souls and give up.
Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and make your hearts pure, you double-minded.