31 but those who trust in the  Lord

will renew their strength;  *

they will soar on wings like eagles;  *

they will run and not become weary,

they will walk and not faint.

18 Therefore the Lord is waiting to show you mercy,

and is rising up to show you compassion,  *

for the Lord is a just God.

All who wait patiently for him are happy.

14 Wait for the  Lord;

be strong, and let your heart be courageous.  *

Wait for the  Lord.  *

13 I am certain that I will see the Lord’s goodness

in the land of the living.  *

14 Wait for the  Lord;

be strong, and let your heart be courageous.  *

Wait for the  Lord.  *

1 The Lord is my light and my salvation —

whom should I fear?  *

The Lord is the stronghold of my life —

whom should I dread?  *

2 When evildoers came against me to devour my flesh,  *

my foes and my enemies stumbled and fell.  *

3 Though an army deploys against me,

my heart will not be afraid;

though a war breaks out against me,

I will still be confident.  *

4 I have asked one thing from the  Lord;

it is what I desire:

to dwell in the house of the  Lord

all the days of my life,  *

gazing on the beauty of the  Lord*

and seeking him in his temple.  *

5 For he will conceal me in his shelter

in the day of adversity;

he will hide me under the cover of his tent;

he will set me high on a rock.  *

6 Then my head will be high

above my enemies around me;  *

I will offer sacrifices in his tent with shouts of joy.  *

I will sing and make music to the  Lord.  *

7 Lord, hear my voice when I call;

be gracious to me and answer me.  *

8 My heart says this about you:

"Seek  * his face."

Lord, I will seek your face.  *

9 Do not hide your face from me;  *

do not turn your servant away in anger.  *

You have been my helper;  *

do not leave me or abandon me,

God of my salvation.

10 Even if my father and mother abandon me,

the Lord cares for me.  *

11 Because of my adversaries,

show me your way,  Lord,

and lead me on a level path.  *

12 Do not give me over to the will of my foes,

for false witnesses rise up against me,

breathing violence.  *

13 I am certain that I will see the Lord’s goodness

in the land of the living.  *

14 Wait for the  Lord;

be strong, and let your heart be courageous.  *

Wait for the  Lord.  *

1 I waited patiently for the  Lord,

and he turned to me and heard my cry for help.  *

2 He brought me up from a desolate  *  pit,

out of the muddy clay,  *

and set my feet on a rock,

making my steps secure.  *

3 He put a new song in my mouth,

a hymn of praise to our God.  *

Many will see and fear,

and they will trust in the  Lord.  *

4 How happy is anyone

who has put his trust in the  Lord

and has not turned to the proud

or to those who run after lies!  *

5 Lord my God, you have done many things —

your wondrous works and your plans for us;

none can compare with you.

If I were to report and speak of them,

they are more than can be told.  *

6 You do not delight in sacrifice and offering;

you open my ears to listen.  *

You do not ask for a whole burnt offering or a sin offering.  *

7 Then I said, "See, I have come;

in the scroll it is written about me.  *

8 I delight to do your will, my God,  *

and your instruction is deep within me."  *

9 I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly;

see, I do not keep my mouth closed  *  —

as you know, Lord.  *

10 I did not hide your righteousness in my heart;

I spoke about your faithfulness and salvation;

I did not conceal your constant love and truth

from the great assembly.  *

11 Lord, you do not  * withhold your compassion from me.

Your constant love and truth will always guard me.  *

12 For troubles without number have surrounded me;

my iniquities have overtaken me; I am unable to see.

They are more than the hairs of my head,

and my courage leaves me.  *

13 Lord, be pleased to rescue me;

hurry to help me, Lord.  *

14 Let those who intend to take my life

be disgraced and confounded.

Let those who wish me harm

be turned back and humiliated.  *

20 We wait for the  Lord;  *

he is our help and shield.  *

21 For our hearts rejoice in him  *

because we trust in his holy name.  *

22 May your faithful love rest on us,  Lord,

for we put our hope in you.  *

5 I wait for the Lord; I wait

and put my hope in his word.  *

6 I wait for the Lord

more than watchmen for the morning —

more than watchmen for the morning.  *

5 Rest in God alone, my soul,

for my hope comes from him.  *

34 Wait for the Lord and keep his way,

and he will exalt you to inherit the land.

You will watch when the wicked are destroyed.  *

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,  *

and do not rely on your own understanding;  *

6 in all your ways know him,

and he will make your paths straight.  *

3 And not only that,  * but we also boast in our afflictions,  * because we know that affliction produces endurance,  *4 endurance produces proven character,  * and proven character produces hope.

11 being strengthened  * with all power,  * according to his glorious  * might, so that you may have great endurance and patience, joyfully

7 Therefore, brothers and sisters, be patient until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth and is patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains.  *8 You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, because the Lord’s coming is near.  *

11 See, we count as blessed those who have endured.  * You have heard of Job’s endurance  * and have seen the outcome that the Lord brought about — the Lord is compassionate and merciful.  *

22 Since you have purified yourselves by your obedience to the truth,  * so that you show sincere brotherly love for each other,  * from a pure  * heart love one another constantly,  *,*23 because you have been born again  *  — not of perishable seed  * but of imperishable — through the living and enduring word of God.  *24 For

All flesh is like grass,

and all its glory*like a flower of the grass.

The grass withers, and the flower falls,

25 but the word of the Lord endures forever.*,*

And this word is the gospel that was proclaimed to you.

9 The Lord does not delay his promise,  * as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any  * to perish  * but all to come to repentance.  *

1 "At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins*who took their lamps*and went out to meet the groom.*2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise.*3 When the foolish took their lamps, they didn’t take oil with them; 4 but the wise ones took oil in their flasks with their lamps.5 When the groom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

6 "In the middle of the night there was a shout: ‘Here’s the groom! Come out to meet him.’

7 "Then all the virgins got up and trimmed their lamps.8 The foolish ones said to the wise ones, ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’

9 "The wise ones answered, ‘No, there won’t be enough for us and for you. Go instead to those who sell oil, and buy some for yourselves.’

10 "When they had gone to buy some, the groom arrived, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet, and the door was shut.*11 Later the rest of the virgins also came and said, ‘Master, master, open up for us! ’

12 "He replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you! ’

13 "Therefore be alert, because you don’t know either the day or the hour.*