"Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth;     break forth, O mountains, into singing! For the Lord has comforted his people     and will have compassion on his afflicted. But Zion said, 'The Lord has forsaken me;     my Lord has forgotten me.' Can a woman forget her nursing child,     that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget,     yet I will not forget you. Behold, I have . . .

"For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles" (1 Corinthians 15:3–7, ESV). "But . . .

"You keep him in perfect peace     whose mind is stayed on you,     because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever,     for the Lord God is an everlasting rock" (Isaiah 26:3–4, ESV). "… he has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'So we can confidently say, 'The Lord is my helper;     I will not fear; what can man do to me?'" (Hebrews 13:5–6, ESV). "'Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also . . .

"You have led in your steadfast love the people whom you have redeemed;     you have guided them by your strength to your holy abode" (Exodus 15:13, ESV). "… I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments" (Exodus 20:5–6, ESV). "Now before the Feast of the Passover, when . . .

"Unless the Lord builds the house,     those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city,     the watchman stays awake in vain" (Psalm 127:1, ESV). "Commit your work to the Lord,     and your plans will be established" (Proverbs 16:3, ESV). "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31, ESV). "But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open . . .

"Shout for joy in the Lord, O you righteous!     Praise befits the upright. Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre;     make melody to him with the harp of ten strings! Sing to him a new song;     play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts. For the word of the Lord is upright,     and all his work is done in faithfulness. He loves righteousness and justice;     the earth is full of the . . .

"Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,     for his steadfast love endures forever! Let the redeemed of the Lord say so,     whom he has redeemed from trouble and gathered in from the lands,     from the east and from the west,     from the north and from the south" (Psalm 107:1–3, ESV). "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,     for his steadfast love endures forever" (Psalm 136:1, ESV). "Rejoice . . .

"My son, do not lose sight of these—     keep sound wisdom and discretion, and they will be life for your soul     and adornment for your neck. Then you will walk on your way securely,     and your foot will not stumble. If you lie down, you will not be afraid;     when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Do not be afraid of sudden terror     or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes, for the Lord will . . .