Wisdom 7:22b–8:1
8and I placed her before kingdoms and thrones, and I considered riches nothing in comparison with her.
Psalm 118
89O Lord, your word remains firm in heaven, for all eternity. 90Your truth is from generation to generation. You have founded the earth, and it remains firm. 91By your ordinance, the day perseveres. For all things are in service to you. 92If your law had not been my meditation, then perhaps I would have perished in my humiliation. 93I will not forget your justifications, for eternity. For by them, you have enlivened me. 94I am yours. Accomplish my salvation. For I have inquired into your justifications. 95The sinners have waited for me, in order to destroy me. I have understood your testimonies. 96I have seen the end of the consummation of all things. Your commandment is exceedingly broad. 97How have I loved your law, O Lord? It is my meditation all day long. 98By your commandment, you have made me able to see far, beyond my enemies. For it is with me for eternity. 99I have understood beyond all my teachers. For your testimonies are my meditation. 100I have understood beyond the elders. For I have searched your commandments. 101I have prohibited my feet from every evil way, so that I may keep your words. 102I have not declined from your judgments, because you have stationed a law for me. 103How sweet is your eloquence to my palate, more so than honey to my mouth! 104I obtained understanding by your commandments. Because of this, I have hated every way of iniquity. 105Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my paths. 106I have sworn it, and so I am determined to keep the judgments of your justice. 107I have been altogether humbled, Lord. Revive me according to your word. 108Make the willing offerings of my mouth well pleasing, Lord, and teach me your judgments. 109My soul is always in my hands, and I have not forgotten your law. 110Sinners have set a snare for me, yet I have not strayed from your commandments. 111I have acquired your testimonies as an inheritance unto eternity, because they are the exultation of my heart. 112I have inclined my heart to do your justifications for eternity, as a recompense. 113I have hated the iniquitous, and I have loved your law. 114You are my helper and my supporter. And in your word, I have greatly hoped. 115Turn away from me, you malignant ones. And I will examine the commandments of my God. 116Uphold me according to your eloquence, and I will live. And let me not be confounded in my expectation. 117Help me, and I will be saved. And I will meditate always on your justifications. 118You have despised all those who fell away from your judgments. For their intention is unjust. 119I have considered all the sinners of the earth to be transgressors. Therefore, I have loved your testimonies. 120Pierce my flesh with your fear, for I am afraid of your judgments. 121I have accomplished judgment and justice. Do not hand me over to those who slander me. 122Uphold your servant in what is good. And do not allow the arrogant to slander me. 123My eyes have failed in your salvation and in the eloquence of your justice. 124Deal with your servant according to your mercy, and teach me your justifications. 125I am your servant. Give me understanding, so that I may know your testimonies. 126It is time to act, O Lord. They have dissipated your law. 127Therefore, I have loved your commandments beyond gold and topaz. 128Because of this, I was directed toward all your commandments. I held hatred for every iniquitous way. 129Your testimonies are wonderful. Therefore, my soul has been examined by them. 130The declaration of your words illuminates, and it gives understanding to little ones. 131I opened my mouth and drew breath, for I desired your commandments. 132Gaze upon me and be merciful to me, according to the judgment of those who love your name. 133Direct my steps according to your eloquence, and let no injustice rule over me. 134Redeem me from the slanders of men, so that I may keep your commandments. 135Make your face shine upon your servant, and teach me your justifications. 136My eyes have gushed like springs of water, because they have not kept your law. 137You are just, O Lord, and your judgment is right. 138You have commanded justice: your testimonies and your truth even more so. 139My zeal has caused me to pine away, because my enemies have forgotten your words. 140Your eloquence has been greatly enflamed, and your servant has loved it. 141I am young and treated with contempt. But I have not forgotten your justifications. 142Your justice is justice for all eternity, and your law is truth. 143Tribulation and anguish have found me. Your commandments are my meditation. 144Your testimonies are fairness unto eternity. Give me understanding, and I will live. 145I cried out with my whole heart. Heed me, O Lord. I will ask for your justifications. 146I cried out to you. Save me, so that I may keep your commandments. 147I arrived first in maturity, and so I cried out. For in your words, I have hoped beyond hope. 148My eyes preceded the dawn for you, so that I might meditate on your eloquence. 149Hear my voice according to your mercy, O Lord. And revive me according to your judgment. 150Those who persecute me have drawn near to iniquity, but they have been brought far from your law. 151You are near, O Lord, and all your ways are truth. 152I have known from the beginning about your testimonies. For you founded them in eternity. 153See my humiliation and rescue me, for I have not forgotten your law. 154Judge my judgment and redeem me. Revive me because of your eloquence. 155Salvation is far from sinners, because they have not inquired about your justifications. 156Many are your mercies, O Lord. Enliven me according to your judgment. 157Many are those who persecute me and who trouble me. I have not turned away from your testimonies. 158I saw the prevaricators, and I pine away. For they have not kept your word. 159O Lord, see how I have loved your commandments. Revive me in your mercy. 160The beginning of your words is truth. All the judgments of your justice are for eternity. 161The leaders have persecuted me without cause. And my heart has been awed by your words. 162I will rejoice over your eloquence, like one who has found many spoils. 163I have held hatred for iniquity, and I have abhorred it. Yet I have loved your law. 164Seven times a day, I uttered praise to you about the judgments of your justice. 165Those who love your law have great peace, and there is no scandal for them. 166I have waited for your salvation, O Lord. And I have loved your commandments. 167My soul has kept to your testimonies and has loved them exceedingly. 168I have served your commandments and your testimonies. For all my ways are before your sight. 169O Lord, let my supplication draw near in your sight. Grant understanding to me according to your eloquence. 170Let my petition enter before you. Rescue me according to your word. 171A hymn will burst forth from my lips, when you will teach me your justifications. 172My tongue will pronounce your eloquence. For all your commandments are fairness. 173Let it be your hand that saves me. For I have chosen your commandments. 174O Lord, I have longed for your salvation, and your law is my meditation. 175My soul will live and will praise you, and your judgments will assist me.
Luke 17:20-25
20Then he was questioned by the Pharisees: “When does the kingdom of God arrive?” And in response, he said to them: “The kingdom of God arrives unobserved. 21And so, they will not say, ‘Behold, it is here,’ or ‘Behold, it is there.’ For behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” 22And he said to his disciples: “The time will come when you will desire to see one day of the Son of man, and you will not see it. 23And they will say to you, ‘Behold, he is here,’ and ‘Behold, he is there.’ Do not choose to go out, and do not follow them. 24For just as lightning flashes from under heaven and shines to whatever is under heaven, so also will the Son of man be in his day. 25But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.