Psalm 34^[a][b]

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

³ Elijah was afraid^[a] and ran^(A) for his life.^(B) When he came to Beersheba^(C) in Judah, he left his servant there, ⁴ while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush,^(D) sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life;^(E) I am no better than my ancestors.” ⁵ Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.^(F)

All at once an angel^(G) 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^(H) days and forty nights until he reached Horeb,^(I) the mountain of God.

³⁰ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God,^(A) with whom you were sealed^(B) for the day of redemption.^{(C) 31} Get rid of^(D) all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.^{(E) 32} Be kind and compassionate to one another,^(F) forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.^(G) 5 ¹ Follow God’s example,^(H) therefore, as dearly loved children^{(I) 2} and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us^(J) and gave himself up for us^(K) as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.^(L)

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)