Isaiah 41:4-14

⁴ Who has worked and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I, Yahweh, the first, and with the last, I am he.” ⁵ The islands have seen, and fear. The ends of the earth tremble. They approach, and come. ⁶ Everyone helps his neighbor. They say to their brothers, “Be strong!” ⁷ So the carpenter encourages the goldsmith. He who smoothes with the hammer encourages him who strikes the anvil, saying of the soldering, “It is good”; and he fastens it with nails, that it might not totter. ⁸ “But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham my friend, ⁹ You whom I have taken hold of from the ends of the earth, and called from its corners, and said to you, ‘You are my servant, I have chosen you and have not cast you away.’ ¹⁰ Don’t you be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you. Yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness. ¹¹ Behold, all those who are incensed against you will be disappointed and confounded. Those who strive with you will be like nothing, and shall perish. ¹² You will seek them, and won’t find them, even those who contend with you. Those who war against you will be as nothing, as a non-existent thing. ¹³ For I, Yahweh your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, ‘Don’t be afraid. I will help you.’ ¹⁴ Don’t be afraid, you worm Jacob, and you men of Israel. I will help you,” says Yahweh, “and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.

Genesis 17:1-9

¹ When Abram was ninety-nine years old, Yahweh appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty. Walk before me, and be blameless. ² I will make my covenant between me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.” ³ Abram fell on his face. God talked with him, saying, ⁴ “As for me, behold, my covenant is with you. You will be the father of a multitude of nations. ⁵ Your name will no more be called Abram, but your name will be Abraham; for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. ⁶ I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you. Kings will come out of you. ⁷ I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God to you and to your offspring after you. ⁸ I will give to you, and to your offspring after you, the land where you are traveling, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession. I will be their God.” ⁹ God said to Abraham, “As for you, you will keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations.

Proverbs 15:20-16:9

²⁰ A wise son makes a father glad, but a foolish man despises his mother. ²¹ Folly is joy to one who is void of wisdom, but a man of understanding keeps his way straight. ²² Where there is no counsel, plans fail; but in a multitude of counselors they are established. ²³ Joy comes to a man with the reply of his mouth. How good is a word at the right time! ²⁴ The path of life leads upward for the wise, to keep him from going downward to Sheol. ²⁵ Yahweh will uproot the house of the proud, but he will keep the widow’s borders intact. ²⁶ Yahweh detests the thoughts of the wicked, but the thoughts of the pure are pleasing. ²⁷ He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house, but he who hates bribes will live. ²⁸ The heart of the righteous weighs answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes out evil. ²⁹ Yahweh is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous. ³⁰ The light of the eyes rejoices the heart. Good news gives health to the bones. ³¹ The ear that listens to reproof lives, and will be at home among the wise. ³² He who refuses correction despises his own soul, but he who listens to reproof gets understanding. ³³ The fear of Yahweh teaches wisdom. Before honor is humility. ¹ The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from Yahweh. ² All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but Yahweh weighs the motives. ³ Commit your deeds to Yahweh, and your plans shall succeed. ⁴ Yahweh has made everything for its own end— yes, even the wicked for the day of evil. ⁵ Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to Yahweh: they shall certainly not be unpunished. ⁶ By mercy and truth iniquity is atoned for. By the fear of Yahweh men depart from evil. ⁷ When a man’s ways please Yahweh, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. ⁸ Better is a little with righteousness, than great revenues with injustice. ⁹ A man’s heart plans his course, but Yahweh directs his steps.