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.

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.

That is why the Lord says, “Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning.

Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.

No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

So my word that comes from my mouth will not return to me empty, but it will accomplish what I please and will prosper in what I send it to do.

For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

Therefore we do not give up. Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day.