Daily Bible Verses

Do Not Worry

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life)  28…

Heavenly father
give us grace to seek after peace, and turn from bitterness and being ruled by physical appetites.

¹⁴ Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man will see the Lord, 
¹⁵ looking carefully lest there be any man who falls short of the grace of God,
lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and many be defiled by it, 
¹⁶ …

¹ God, you have rejected us. You have broken us down.
   You have been angry.  Restore us, again.
² You have made the land tremble.  You have torn it.
   Mend its fractures,  for it quakes.
³ You have shown your people hard things.
    You have made us drink the wine that makes us stagger.
⁴ You…

Heavenly father
give us grace to witness to those who have eyes but don’t see you, to those who have ears, but don’t hear you.
so that they and we may know, believe and understand you 

⁸ Bring out the blind people who have eyes,
    and the deaf who have ears.
⁹ Let all the nations be gathered together,
    and let the peoples be assembled.…

Heavenly father
give us grace so to understand the forgiving love of Jesus that we may know what to ask in this name so that our joy may be full

²³ “In that day you will ask me no questions.
Most certainly I tell you, whatever you may ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. 
²⁴ Until now, you have asked nothing in my name.
Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be made full. …

Heavenly Father
give us grace when faced with sorrow to be nourished by thankfulness

¹⁶ They travelled from Bethel. [House of God]
There was still some distance to come to Ephrath [Fruitful],
and Rachel travailed. She had hard labour. 
¹⁷ When she was in hard labour, the midwife said to her, “Don’t be afraid, for now you will have another son.”

¹⁸ As her soul was departing…

³ And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling-place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ⁴ “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death” or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’

⁵ He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’…

Heavenly father
give us grace to learn from our mistakes, and accept correction so that our lives may blossom with the peaceful fruit of righteousness

⁵ You have forgotten the exhortation which reasons with you as with children,
“My son, don’t take lightly the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when you are reproved by him;
   ⁶for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines, and chastises every son whom he receives.”
^7…

As Baptised Christian Disciples we resolve, by God’s grace this year:
* to die to the sins that separate us from the love of God our Father 
* to live as those who are forgiven & as those who forgive, because Jesus is our Saviour
* to be immersed in the Holy Spirit so that we live generously, because Jesus is our Lord
* to live prayerfully, bearing witness to others, frequently reading the bible

^{Joshua 24:15} Choose for…

Heavenly father
give us grace to know that we are created in your image and precious to you, even when we put ourselves far away from you.

⁴ Since you have been precious and honoured in my sight,
    and I have loved you,
    therefore I will give people in your place,
    and nations instead of your life.
⁵ Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
 …

Heavenly father
give us grace in times of weeping and lamenting to experience the everlasting joy of the resurrection

¹⁷ Some of his disciples therefore said to one another,
“What is this that he says to us, ‘A little while, and you won’t see me, and again a little while, and you will see me;’ 
and, ‘Because I go to the Father’?” 
¹⁸ They said therefore, “What is this that he says, ‘A little…

Heavenly Father
give us grace to dwell with you today, particularly in our struggles, so that we may be blessed

⁹ God appeared to Jacob again, when he came from Paddan Aram, and blessed him. 
¹⁰ God said to him, “Your name is Jacob. Your name shall not be Jacob any more, but your name will be Israel (Wrestles-with-God). 
He named him Israel. 
^11…

⁹ The true light that enlightens everyone was coming into the world.
¹⁰ He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world didn’t recognize him. 
¹¹ He came to his own, and those who were his own didn’t receive him. 
¹² But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God’s children, to those who believe in his name: 
¹³ who were born not of blood…

Heavenly father
give us grace to lay aside our sins and look to Jesus today

¹ Therefore let’s also, seeing we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,
lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us,
and let’s run with perseverance the race that is set before us, 
² looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith,
who for the joy that was set before him endured the…

Happy Christmas

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 
² The same was in the beginning with God. 
³ All things were made through him. Without him, nothing was made that has been made. 
⁴ In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 
⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness hasn’t overcome it. 

…

Heavenly father
give us grace in times of trouble to know that we are yours and that we are not alone

But now Yahweh who created you, Jacob,
    and he who formed you, Israel, says:
“Don’t be afraid, for I have redeemed you.
    I have called you by your name.
    You are mine.
² When you pass through the waters, I will be with you,…

Heavenly father
give us grace to live in the truth today

¹² “I still have many things to tell you, but you can’t bear them now.
¹³ However when he, the Spirit of truth, has come, he will guide you into all truth,
for he will not speak from himself; but whatever he hears, he will speak.
He will declare to you things that are coming. 
¹⁴ He will glorify me, for he will take from…

Heavenly Father
give us grace to be obedient to what you call us to do, and put nothing in your way 

35 God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel, and live there.
Make there an altar to God, who appeared to you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother.”

² Then Jacob said to his household, and to all who were with him,
“Put away the foreign gods that are among you,
purify yourselves, …

5 Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ; ² through whom we also have our access by faith into this grace in which we stand. We rejoice in hope of the glory of God. ³ Not only this, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces perseverance; ⁴ and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope: ⁵ and hope doesn’t…

Heavenly father
give us grace to find strength in our weakness today, to work out righteousness and obtain resurrection into your kingdom. 

³⁰ By faith, the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been encircled for seven days.
³¹ By faith, Rahab the prostitute didn’t perish with those who were disobedient, having received the spies in peace.

³² What more shall I say?
For the time would fail me if I told of…

¹⁰ God will let me look at my enemies in triumph.
¹¹ Don’t kill them, or my people may forget.
    Scatter them by your power, and bring them down, Lord our shield.
¹² For the sin of their mouth, and the words of their lips,
    let them be caught in their pride,
    for the curses and lies which they utter.
¹³ Consume them in wrath.
 …

Heavenly father give us grace  to see and hear uncomfortable truths

18 “Hear, you deaf, and look, you blind, that you may see.
19 Who is blind, but my servant? Who is as blind as he who is at peace,
20 You see many things, but don’t observe.     His ears are open, but he doesn’t listen.
21 It pleased Yahweh, for his righteousness’ sake, to magnify the law and make it honourable.
22 But this is a…

Heavenly father
give us all grace to be open to the Holy Spirit, our Counsellor, so that we may have conviction about sin, righteous and judgement arising from our saviour Jesus. 

⁵ But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 
⁶ But because I have told you these things, sorrow has filled your heart. 
⁷ Nevertheless I tell you the truth: It
is to your advantage…

Heavenly Father
give us grace not to repay evil for evil (like Simeon and Levi), but to be peacemakers (like Jesus)

²⁴ All who went out of the gate of his city listened to Hamor, and to Shechem his son;
and every male was circumcised, all who went out of the gate of his city. 
²⁵ On the third day, when they were sore, two of Jacob’s sons, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brothers,
each took his sword, came upon the unsuspecting city, and…

Made Alive in Christ

2 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.…

Heavenly father
give us grace to be unafraid of people, to avoid the pleasures of sin and to seek first the kingdom of heaven today

²³ By faith, Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents,
because they saw that he was a beautiful child, and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment.

²⁴ By faith, Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 
^…

For the Chief Musician. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.”
A poem by David, when Saul sent, and they watched the house to kill him.

¹ Deliver me from my enemies, my God.
    ² Deliver me from the workers of iniquity.
 ³ For, behold, they lie in wait for my soul.
   ⁴ I have done no wrong, yet they are ready to attack me.
Rise up,…

Heavenly father
give us grace to open our eyes and see your ways

¹³ Yahweh will go out like a mighty man.
    He will raise a war cry.
    He will triumph over his enemies.
¹⁴ “I have been silent a long time.
    Now I will cry out like a travailing woman. 
¹⁵ I will destroy mountains and hills,
    and will dry up the pools.
¹⁶ I will…

Heavenly father
give us grace to receive your Spirit of truth today
give us discernment to know what truth needs speaking, whatever the consequences

^15:26 “When the Counsellor has come, whom I will send to you from the Father,
the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will testify about me. 
²⁷ You will also testify, because you have been with me from the beginning.

^16…

Heavenly Father
give us grace to speak peace to others today without deceit
give us wisdom to discern the difference between truth and deceit in others. 

¹¹ Shechem said to her father and to her brothers, “Let me find favour in your eyes, and whatever you will tell me I will give. 
¹² Ask me a great amount for a dowry, and I will give whatever you ask of me, but give me the young lady as a wife.”

¹³ The…

¹³ Now who will harm you if you become imitators of that which is good? 
¹⁴ But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed.
“Don’t fear what they fear, neither be troubled.”
¹⁵ But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts.
Always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason concerning the hope that is in you,
with humility and fear, ¹⁶ having a good conscience.…

Heavenly father
give us grace to live as those who believe in the resurrection of the dead

¹⁷ By faith, Abraham, being tested, offered up Isaac.
Yes, he who had gladly received the promises was offering up his one and only son, 
¹⁸ to whom it was said, “Your offspring will be accounted as from Isaac,” 
¹⁹ concluding that God is able to raise up even from the dead.
Figuratively speaking, he…

¹ Do you indeed speak righteousness, silent ones?
    Do you judge blamelessly, you sons of men?
² No, in your heart you plot injustice.
    You measure out the violence of your hands in the earth.
³ The wicked go astray from the womb.
    They are wayward as soon as they are born, speaking lies.
⁶ Break their teeth, God, in their mouth
^…

Heavenly father
give us grace to let our lives be the song of the presence of the living God, rather than a whimper to hollow alternatives.

⁸ “I am Yahweh.
    That is my name.
    I will not give my glory to another,
    nor my praise to engraved images.
⁹ Behold, the former things have happened
    and I declare…

Heavenly father
give us grace to endure the pain of suffering when we have done what is right. 

²⁰ Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his lord.’
If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.
If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 
²¹ But they will do all these things to you for my name’s sake, because they don’t know him who sent me. 
^22 …

Heavenly Father
fill us with your grace, even after we have done what is wrong (like Shechem) 
fill us with your grace when others have done wrong (like Jacob and Hamor)

34 Dinah, the daughter of Leah, went out to see the daughters of the land. 
² Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, the prince of the land, saw her. He took her, lay with her, and humbled her. 
³ His soul joined to Dinah, and he loved the…

7“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be…

Heavenly father
give us grace to live as strangers and pilgrims on earth, desiring a better country

¹¹ By faith, even Sarah herself received power to conceive,
and she bore a child when she was past age, since she counted him faithful who had promised. 
¹² Therefore as many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as innumerable as the sand which is by the sea shore,
were fathered by one man, and him as good as dead.

…

⁷ My heart is steadfast, God.
    My heart is steadfast.
    I will sing, yes, I will sing praises.
⁸ Wake up, my glory! Wake up, lute and harp!
    I will wake up the dawn.
⁹ I will give thanks to you, Lord, among the peoples.
    I will sing praises to you among the nations.
¹⁰ For your great loving kindness…

Heavenly father
give us grace to be faithful in being a blessing to others, bringing light and freedom

⁵ God Yahweh,
    he who created the heavens and stretched them out,
    he who spread out the earth and that which comes out of it,
    he who gives breath to its people and spirit to those who walk in it, says:
⁶ “I, Yahweh, have called you in righteousness.
…

Heavenly father
give us grace to be obedient to your command to love all others, particularly when there is pressure not to. 

¹⁷ “I command these things to you, that you may love one another. 
¹⁸ If the world hates you, you know that it has hated me before it hated you. 
¹⁹ If you were of the world, the world would love its own.
But because you are not of the world, since I chose…

Heavenly Father
give us grace to act graciously to others (as Jacob did), and faithfully to you (which Jacob didn’t) 

8 Esau said, “What do you mean by all this company which I met?”
Jacob said, “To find favour in the sight of my lord.”
9 Esau said, “I have enough, my brother; let that which you have be yours.”
10 Jacob said, “Please, no, if I have now found favour in your sight,
then…

²³ Nevertheless, I am continually with you.
    You have held my right hand.
²⁴ You will guide me with your counsel,
    and afterward receive me to glory.
²⁵ Whom do I have in heaven?
    There is no one on earth whom I desire besides you.
²⁶ My flesh and my heart fails,
    but God is the strength of my heart and my…

Heavenly father
give us grace to seek heavenly goals today 

⁸ By faith, Abraham, when he was called,
obeyed to go out to the place which he was to receive for an inheritance.
He went out, not knowing where he went. 
⁹ By faith, he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a land not his own,
dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise. 
…

³ God will send out his loving kindness and his truth.
⁴ My soul is among lions.
    I lie among those who are set on fire,
    even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows,
    and their tongue a sharp sword.
⁵ Be exalted, God, above the heavens!
    Let your glory be above all the earth!

^6 …

Heavenly father
give us grace to be gentle today with others particularly when we feel strongly about the rights and wrongs of situations.

42 “Behold, my servant, whom I uphold,
    my chosen, in whom my soul delights:
    I have put my Spirit on him.
    He will bring justice to the nations.
² He will not shout,
    nor raise his voice,
  …

Heavenly father give us grace to love one another in such a way that is life giving to those we love

¹² “This is my commandment, that you love one another, even as I have loved you. 
¹³ Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 
¹⁴ You are my friends, if you do whatever I command you. 
¹⁵ No longer do I call you servants…

Heavenly Father
give us grace to be courageous and humble in difficult situations today, like Jacob
give us grace to so focus on loving relationships that we are forgiving

1 Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau was coming, and with him four hundred men.
He divided the children between Leah, Rachel, and the two servants. 
2 He put the servants and their children in front, Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph at the rear.…

2 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

4 As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into…

Heavenly father
give us grace to live on godly fear and obedience

⁷ By faith, Noah, being warned about things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, 
prepared a ship for the saving of his house,
through which he condemned the world, (his saving of his household showed the stupidity of those who did not follow his example) 
and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

…

¹ Be merciful to me, God, be merciful to me,
    for my soul takes refuge in you.
Yes, in the shadow of your wings, I will take refuge,
    until disaster has passed.
² I cry out to God Most High,
to God who accomplishes my requests for me.
³ He will send from heaven, and save me,
    he rebukes the one who is pursuing me. 

Heavenly Father
give us grace to see the worthlessness of what we put in place of you today 

²⁵ “I have raised up one from the north [Cyrus], one who calls on my name,
    and he shall come on rulers [the Babylonians] as the potter treads clay.
²⁹ Behold, all of their deeds are vanity and nothing.
    Their molten images are wind and confusion.

Heavenly father
give us grace to bear much fruit today, particularly in our love, obedience and joy

⁷ If you remain in me, and my words remain in you, you will ask whatever you desire, and it will be done for you.
⁸ “In this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; and so you will be my disciples. 
⁹ Even as the Father has loved me, I also have loved you. Remain in my love.…

Heavenly Father
give us grace to dare to be alone with you, and the grace to have an honest struggle with you. 

22 He rose up that night, and took his two wives and eleven sons and 23 sent them over the Jabbok stream.
24 Jacob was left alone, and wrestled with a man there until the breaking of the day. 
25 When he saw that he didn’t prevail against him,
the man touched the hollow of his thigh,
and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was…

4 Surely he has borne our sickness
    and carried our suffering;
yet we considered him plagued,
    struck by God, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions.
    He was crushed for our iniquities.
The punishment that brought our peace was on him;
    and by his wounds we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray.
    …

Heavenly father
give us grace to be so assured within ourselves about what we hope for and what is unseen that we live in a way that is pleasing to you 

⁴ By faith, Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain,
through which he had testimony given to him that he was righteous,
God testifying with respect to his gifts; and through it he, being dead, still speaks.

⁵ By faith, Enoch was taken away, so…

⁸ You count my wanderings.
    You put my tears into your container.
    Aren’t they in your book?
⁹ Then my enemies shall turn back in the day that I call.
    I know this: that God is for me.
¹⁰ In God, I will praise his word.
    In Yahweh, I will praise his word.
¹¹ I have put my trust…

Heavenly Father
give us grace to see the limitations of all those things that we might be tempted to put in place of you
give us grace to hear your voice and understand the nature of things (“what they are”)  

^{[Talking about whatever we put in place of God, Yahweh says]
21} Produce your cause,” says Yahweh.
    “Bring out your strong reasons!” says the King of Jacob.
²² “Let them announce and declare to…

Heavenly father give us grace to remain in you and bear fruit today

¹ “I am the true vine, and my Father is the farmer. 
² Every branch in me that doesn’t bear fruit, he takes away.
Every branch that bears fruit, he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 
³ You are already pruned clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 
⁴ Remain in me, and I in you.
As the…

Heavenly Father
give us grace to be creative in our use of resources in the pursuit of peace

13 Jacob stayed there that night, and took from that which he had with him a present for Esau, his brother: 
14 two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams, 
15 thirty milk camels and their colts, forty cows, ten bulls, twenty female donkeys and ten foals. 
16 He delivered them into the hands of his…

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain.

Heavenly father
give us grace to give attention today to what we hope for and to what is unseen
 

¹ Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, that which is persuasive of things not seen. 
² For in this, the elders obtained testimony. 
³ By faith, we understand that the universe has been framed by the word of God,
so that what is seen has not been made out of things which are visible.

¹ Be merciful to me, God, for ² my enemies want to swallow me up all day long,
    for they are many who fight proudly against me.
³ When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.
    ⁴ In God, I praise his word. In God, I put my trust.
   I will not be afraid.  What can flesh do to me?
⁵ All day long they twist…

Heavenly Father
give us grace to open our eyes and minds to see and understand your work in the world

¹⁷ The poor and needy seek water, and there is none.
    Their tongue fails for thirst.
I, Yahweh, will answer them.
    I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.
¹⁸ I will open rivers on the bare heights,
    and will make the wilderness a pool of water.
^20…

Heavenly father
give us grace to remain untroubled and pure in the face of the prince of this world

27 Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, I give to you.
Don’t let your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful. 
28 You heard how I told you, ‘I go away, and I come to you.’
If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I said ‘I am going to my Father;’
for the Father is…

Heavenly Father
give us grace, when faced with what we fear, to lift up our eyes and voice to you.

¹ Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. 
² When he saw them, Jacob said, “This is God’s army.” ^]

³ Jacob sent messengers in front of him to Esau, his brother,
⁴ He commanded them, saying, “This is what you shall tell my lord, Esau:
‘This is what your…

Heavenly father
give us grace to continue to live by faith today, paying attention to the things of the soul and the things of eternity 

³² But remember the former days, in which, after you were enlightened, you endured a great struggle with sufferings; 
³³ partly, being exposed to both reproaches and oppressions;
and partly, becoming partakers with those who were treated so. 
…

[looking at those who turn from God]
¹⁹ They never change
    and don’t fear God.

[looking at a particular individual who turns from God]
²⁰ He raises his hands against his friends.
    He has violated his covenant.
²¹ His mouth was smooth as butter,
    but his heart was war.
His…

Heavenly Father
give us grace to turn to you both before and after we face difficult situations 

¹⁴ Don’t be afraid, you worm Jacob,
    and you men of Israel.
    I will help you,” says Yahweh.
    “Your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.
¹⁵ Behold, I have made you into a new sharp threshing instrument with teeth.
  …

Heavenly father
pour out your Holy Spirit on us today so that we may be taught by you and have the grace to keep and obey your words 

22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him,
“Lord, what has happened that you are about to reveal yourself to us, and not to the world?”
23 Jesus answered him, “If a man loves me, he will keep my word.
My Father will love him, and we will come to him, and make our…

Heavenly Father
give us grace to resolve conflicts today,  
and when it is time to go separate ways, give us grace to do so with love and blessings

³⁶ Jacob was angry, and argued with Laban. “What is my sin, that you have hotly pursued me? 
³⁷ Now that you have felt around in all my stuff, what have you found of all your household stuff?
Set it here before my relatives and your relatives, that they may…

21 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God…

Heavenly father
give us grace to flee from sin today, and live in the covenant of grace and forgiveness 

²⁶ For if we sin wilfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more a sacrifice for sins, 
²⁷ but a certain fearful expectation of judgement, and a fierceness of fire which will devour the adversaries. 
^28…

¹⁶ As for me, I will call on God.
    Yahweh will save me.
¹⁷ Evening, morning, and at noon, I will cry out in distress.
    He will hear my voice.
¹⁸ He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me,
    although there are many who oppose me.
¹⁹ God, who is…

Heavenly Father
give us grace to hold your hand, to take strength from you and to serve you today

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…