Oh, that you would burst from the heavens
and come down!
How the mountains would quake in your presence!
For since the world began,
no ear has heard
and no eye has seen a God like you,
who works for those who wait for him!
…Oh LORD,
you are our Father.
We are the clay,
and you are the potter.
We all are formed by your hand.
The high and lofty one who lives in eternity,
the Holy One, says this:
“I live in the high and holy place
with those whose spirits are contrite and humble.
I restore the crushed spirit of the humble
and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts.
This is what the LORD says:
“Be just and fair to all.
do what is right and good,
for I am coming soon to rescue you
and to display my righteousness among you.
Blessed are all those
who are careful to do this…”
“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,”
says the LORD.
“And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.
For just as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so my ways are higher than your ways
and my thoughts higher than your thoughts”
“At that time Michael,
the archangel who stands guard over your nation,
will arise.
Then there will be a time of anguish greater
than any since nations first came into existence.
But at that time every one of your people
whose name is written in the book will be rescued.
Many of those whose bodies lie dead and buried will rise up,
some to everlasting life
and some to shame and everlasting disgrace.
Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky,
and those who lead many to righteousness
will shine like the stars forever.
But you, Daniel, keep this prophecy a secret;
seal up the book until the time of the end,
when many will rush here and there,
and knowledge will increase.”
All of us must die eventually.
Our lives are like water spilled out on the ground,
which cannot be gathered up again.
But God does not just sweep life away;
instead, he devises ways to bring us back
when we have been separated from him.
…we urge you to warn those who are lazy.
Encourage those who are timid.
Take tender care of those who are weak.
Be patient with everyone.
See that no one pays back evil for evil,
but always try to do good to each other and to all people.
But let us who live in the light be clearheaded,
protected by the armor of faith and love,
and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation.
For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ,
not to pour out his anger on us.
Christ died for us so that,
whether we are dead or alive when he returns,
we can live with him forever.
So encourage each other and build each other up…
