7 then the Lord God *formed [that is, created the body of] man from the *dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being [an individual complete in body and spirit]. [1 Cor 15:45-49]

13 For You formed my innermost parts;

You knit me [together] in my mother’s womb.

14 I will give thanks and praise to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

Wonderful are Your works,

And my soul knows it very well.

15 My frame was not hidden from You,

When I was being formed in secret,

And intricately and skillfully formed [as if embroidered with many colors] in the depths of the earth.

16 Your eyes have seen my unformed substance;

And in Your book were all written

The days that were appointed for me,

When as yet there was not one of them [even taking shape].

9 For with You is the fountain of life [the fountain of life-giving water];

In Your light we see light. [John 4:10, 14]

33 I will sing to the Lord as long as I live;

I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.

6 Jesus said to him, "*I am the [only] Way [to God] and the [real] Truth and the [real] Life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

10 The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].

25 Jesus said to her, "*I am the Resurrection and the Life. Whoever believes in (adheres to, trusts in, relies on) Me [as Savior] will live even if he dies;26 and everyone who lives and believes in Me [as Savior] will never die. Do you believe this?"

35 Jesus replied to them, "*I am the Bread of Life. The one who comes to Me will never be hungry, and the one who believes in Me [as Savior] will never be thirsty [for that one will be sustained spiritually].

38 He who believes in Me [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Me], as the Scripture has said, ‘From his innermost being will flow continually rivers of living water.’ " [Is 58:11; John 4:14]

20 I have been crucified with Christ [that is, in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body I live by faith [by adhering to, relying on, and completely trusting] in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

20 I have been crucified with Christ [that is, in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body I live by faith [by adhering to, relying on, and completely trusting] in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

12 So teach us to number our days,

That we may cultivate and bring to You a heart of wisdom.

10 Hear, my son, and accept my sayings,

And the years of your life will be many.

23 Watch over your heart with all diligence,

For from it flow the springs of life.

23 Watch over your heart with all diligence,

For from it flow the springs of life.

8 He who gains wisdom and good sense loves (preserves) his own soul;

He who keeps understanding will find good and prosper.

3 The one who guards his mouth [thinking before he speaks] protects his life;

The one who opens his lips wide [and chatters without thinking] comes to ruin.

17 He who learns from instruction and correction is on the [right] path of life [and for others his example is a path toward wisdom and blessing],

But he who ignores and refuses correction goes off course [and for others his example is a path toward sin and ruin].

27 The [reverent] fear of the Lord [that leads to obedience and worship] is a fountain of life,

So that one may avoid the snares of death. [John 4:10, 14]

21 He who earnestly seeks righteousness and loyalty

Finds life, righteousness, and honor. [Prov 15:9; Matt 5:6]

15 Therefore see that you walk carefully [living life with honor, purpose, and courage; shunning those who tolerate and enable evil], not as the unwise, but as wise [sensible, intelligent, discerning people], 16 *making the very most of your time [on earth, recognizing and taking advantage of each opportunity and using it with wisdom and diligence], because the days are [filled with] evil.

4 Let me know Your ways, O Lord;

Teach me Your paths.

6 Surely goodness and mercy and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life,

And I shall dwell forever [throughout all my days] in the house and in the presence of the Lord.

26 My flesh and my heart may fail,

But God is the rock and strength of my heart and my portion forever.

7 The Lord will protect you from all evil;

He will keep your life.

8 The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in [everything that you do]

From this time forth and forever. [Deut 28:6; Prov 2:8; 3:6]

3 Yes, You are my rock and my fortress;

For Your name’s sake You will lead me and guide me.

4 One thing I have asked of the Lord, and that I will seek:

That I may dwell in the house of the Lord [in His presence] all the days of my life,

To gaze upon the beauty [the delightful loveliness and majestic grandeur] of the Lord

And to meditate in His temple. [Ps 16:11; 18:6; 65:4; Luke 2:37]

7 Be still before the Lord; wait patiently for Him and entrust yourself to Him;

Do not fret (whine, agonize) because of him who prospers in his way,

Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.

93 I will never forget Your precepts,

For by them You have revived me and given me life.

25 "Therefore I tell you, stop being worried or anxious (perpetually uneasy, distracted) about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, as to what you will wear. Is life not more than food, and the body more than clothing? [Luke 12:22-31] 26 Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow [seed] nor reap [the harvest] nor gather [the crops] into barns, and yet your heavenly Father keeps feeding them. Are you not worth much more than they?27 And who of you by worrying can add one *hour to [the length of] his life? [Ps 39:5-7]

36 For what does it benefit a man to gain the whole world [with all its pleasures], and forfeit his soul?

34 Jesus called the crowd together with His disciples, and said to them, "If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and *take up his cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me]. 35 For whoever wishes to save his life [in this world] will [eventually] lose it [through death], but whoever loses his life [in this world] for My sake and the gospel’s will save it [from the consequences of sin and separation from God]. [Matt 10:39; Luke 17:33; John 12:25] 36 For what does it benefit a man to gain the whole world [with all its pleasures], and forfeit his soul?37 For what will a man give in exchange for his soul and eternal life [in God’s kingdom]? 38 For whoever is ashamed [here and now] of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels."

15 Then He said to them, "Watch out and guard yourselves against every form of greed; for not even when one has an overflowing abundance does his life consist of nor is it derived from his possessions."

3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true [supreme and sovereign] God, and [in the same manner know] Jesus [as the] Christ whom You have sent.

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God [that is, His remarkable, overwhelming gift of grace to believers] is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

2 And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be *transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].

7 for we walk by faith, not by sight [living our lives in a manner consistent with our confident belief in God’s promises]—

14 Continually pursue peace with everyone, and the sanctification without which no one will [ever] see the Lord.

11 and to make it your ambition to live quietly and peacefully, and to mind your own affairs and work with your hands, just as we directed you, 12 so that you will behave properly toward outsiders [exhibiting good character, personal integrity, and moral courage worthy of the respect of the outside world], and be dependent on no one and in need of nothing [be self-supporting].

23 Whatever you do [whatever your task may be], work from the soul [that is, put in your very best effort], as [something done] for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing [with all certainty] that it is from the Lord [not from men] that you will receive the inheritance which is your [greatest] reward. It is the Lord Christ whom you [actually] serve.

12 Blessed [happy, spiritually prosperous, favored by God] is the man who is steadfast under trial and perseveres when tempted; for when he has passed the test and been approved, he will receive the [victor’s] crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

13 Who among you is wise and intelligent? Let him by his good conduct show his [good] deeds with the gentleness and humility of true wisdom.

10 For,

"The one who wants to enjoy life and see good days [good—whether apparent or not],

Must keep his tongue free from evil and his lips from speaking guile (treachery, deceit).

11 "He must turn away from wickedness and do what is right.

He must search for peace [with God, with self, with others] and pursue it eagerly [actively—not merely desiring it].

6 Let everything that has breath and every breath of life praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!)

1 There is a season (a time appointed) for everything and a time for every delight and event or purpose under heaven—

16 in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk [that is, to live each and every day] in His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments (precepts), so that you will live and multiply, and that the Lord your God will bless you in the land which you are entering to possess.

12 "Honor (respect, obey, care for) your father and your mother, so that your days may be prolonged in the land the Lord your God gives you.

10 The days of our life are *seventy years—

Or even, if because of strength, eighty years;

Yet their pride [in additional years] is only labor and sorrow,

For it is soon gone and we fly away.

4 "Lord, let me know my [life’s] end

And [to appreciate] the extent of my days;

Let me know how frail I am [how transient is my stay here].

5 "Behold, You have made my days as [short as] hand widths,

And my lifetime is as nothing in Your sight.

Surely every man at his best is a mere breath [a wisp of smoke, a vapor that vanishes]! [Eccl 1:2] Selah.

6 "Surely every man walks around like a shadow [in a charade];

Surely they make an uproar for nothing;

Each one builds up riches, not knowing who will receive them. [Eccl 2:18, 19; 1 Cor 7:31; James 4:14]

12 Who is the man who desires life

And loves many days, that he may see good?

13 Keep your tongue from evil

And your lips from speaking deceit.

14 Turn away from evil and do good;

Seek peace and pursue it.

31 The silver-haired head is a crown of splendor and glory;

It is found in the way of righteousness. [Prov 20:29]

19 As in water face reflects face,

So the heart of man reflects man.