purpose of man

¹³Let us all listen together to the end of the discourse. Fear God, and observe his commandments. This is everything for man.

³¹Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever else you may do, do everything for the glory of God.

²⁶And he said: “Let us make Man to our image and likeness. And let him rule over the fish of the sea, and the flying creatures of the air, and the wild beasts, and the entire earth, and every animal that moves on the earth.”

¹And so, I beg you, brothers, by the mercy of God, that you offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, with the subservience of your mind.

²¹There are many intentions in the heart of a man. But the will of the Lord shall stand firm.

²¹This is the people whom I have formed for myself. They will speak my praise.

⁸I will reveal to you, O man, what is good, and what the Lord requires from you, and how to act with judgment, and to love mercy, and to walk carefully with your God.

¹¹When anyone speaks, it should be like words of God. When anyone ministers, it should be from the virtue that God provides, so that in all things God may be honored through Jesus Christ. To him is glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

⁶Let every spirit praise the Lord. Alleluia.

²⁸And God blessed them, and he said, “Increase and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and the flying creatures of the air, and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.”

⁷And each one who calls upon my name, I have created for my glory. I have formed him, and I have made him.

⁸The Lord will provide retribution on my behalf. O Lord, your mercy is forever. Do not disdain the works of your hands.

¹¹For the grace of God our Savior has appeared to all men, ¹²instructing us to reject impiety and worldly desires, so that we may live soberly and justly and piously in this age, ¹³looking forward to the blessed hope and the advent of the glory of the great God and of our Savior Jesus Christ. ¹⁴He gave himself for our sake, so that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and might cleanse for himself an acceptable people, pursuers of good works.

²⁴God is Spirit. And so, those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”

¹A Canticle in steps. Blessed are all those who fear the Lord, who walk in his ways. ²For you will eat by the labors of your hands. Blessed are you, and it will be well with you. ³Your wife is like an abundant vine on the sides of your house. Your sons are like young olive trees surrounding your table. ⁴Behold, so will the man be blessed who fears the Lord. ⁵May the Lord bless you from Zion, and may you see the good things of Jerusalem, all the days of your life. ⁶And may you see the sons of your sons. Peace be upon Israel.

⁹And while those living creatures were giving glory and honor and blessings to the One sitting upon the throne, who lives forever and ever, ¹⁰the twenty-four elders fell prostrate before the One sitting upon the throne, and they adored him who lives forever and ever, and they cast their crowns before the throne, saying: ¹¹“You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you have created all things, and they became and were created because of your will.”

¹¹In him, we too are called to our portion, having been predestined in accord with the plan of the One who accomplishes all things by the counsel of his will. ¹²So may we be, to the praise of his glory, we who have hoped beforehand in Christ.

²⁸And we know that, for those who love God, all things work together unto good, for those who, in accordance with his purpose, are called to be saints.

¹⁸For I know that what is good does not live within me, that is, within my flesh. For the willingness to do good lies close to me, but the carrying out of that good, I cannot reach.

¹¹so also will my word be, which will go forth from my mouth. It will not return to me empty, but it will accomplish whatever I will, and it will prosper in the tasks for which I sent it.