Psalm 34^[a][b]

Of David. When he pretended to be insane^(A) before Abimelek, who drove him away, and he left.

⁴ while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush,^(A) sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life;^(B) I am no better than my ancestors.” ⁵ Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.^(C)

All at once an angel^(D) touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” ⁶ He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.

⁷ The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” ⁸ So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty^(E) days and forty nights until he reached Horeb,^(F) the mountain of God.

²⁵ Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully^(A) to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.^{(B) 26} “In your anger do not sin”^[a]:^(C) Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, ²⁷ and do not give the devil a foothold.^{(D) 28} Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work,^(E) doing something useful with their own hands,^(F) that they may have something to share with those in need.^(G)

²⁹ Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths,^(H) but only what is helpful for building others up^(I) according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. ³⁰ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God,^(J) with whom you were sealed^(K) for the day of redemption.^{(L) 31} Get rid of^(M) all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.^{(N) 32} Be kind and compassionate to one another,^(O) forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.^(P) 5 ¹ Follow God’s example,^(Q) therefore, as dearly loved children^{(R) 2} and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us^(S) and gave himself up for us^(T) as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.^(U)

³⁵ Then Jesus declared, “I am^(A) the bread of life.^(B) Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes^(C) in me will never be thirsty.^(D)

⁴¹ At this the Jews there began to grumble about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” ⁴² They said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph,^(A) whose father and mother we know?^(B) How can he now say, ‘I came down from heaven’?”^(C)

⁴³ “Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus answered. ⁴⁴ “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them,^(D) and I will raise them up at the last day. ⁴⁵ It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’^[a](E) Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from him comes to me. ⁴⁶ No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God;^(F) only he has seen the Father. ⁴⁷ Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life.^{(G) 48} I am the bread of life.^{(H) 49} Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died.^{(I) 50} But here is the bread that comes down from heaven,^(J) which anyone may eat and not die. ⁵¹ I am the living bread^(K) that came down from heaven.^(L) Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”^(M)