Psalm 37:7-20

New International Version

⁷Be still^(A) before the Lord
and wait patiently^(B) for him;
do not fret^(C) when people succeed in their ways,^(D)
when they carry out their wicked schemes.^(E)

⁸Refrain from anger^(F) and turn from wrath;
do not fret^(G)—it leads only to evil.
⁹For those who are evil will be destroyed,^(H)
but those who hope^(I) in the Lord will inherit the land.^(J)

¹⁰A little while, and the wicked will be no more;^(K)
though you look for them, they will not be found.
¹¹But the meek will inherit the land^(L)
and enjoy peace and prosperity.^(M)

¹²The wicked plot^(N) against the righteous
and gnash their teeth^(O) at them;
¹³but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
for he knows their day is coming.^(P)

¹⁴The wicked draw the sword^(Q)
    and bend the bow^(R)
to bring down the poor and needy,^(S)
    to slay those whose ways are upright.
¹⁵But their swords will pierce their own hearts,^(T)
    and their bows will be broken.^(U)

¹⁶Better the little that the righteous have
than the wealth^(V) of many wicked;
¹⁷for the power of the wicked will be broken,^(W)
but the Lord upholds^(X) the righteous.

¹⁸The blameless spend their days under the Lord’s care,^(Y)
and their inheritance will endure forever.^(Z)
¹⁹In times of disaster they will not wither;
in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.

²⁰But the wicked will perish:^(AA)
Though the Lord’s enemies are like the flowers of the field,
they will be consumed, they will go up in smoke.^(AB)

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Mark 4:35-41

New International Version

Jesus Calms the Storm^(A)

³⁵That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” ³⁶Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat.^(B) There were also other boats with him. ³⁷A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. ³⁸Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”

³⁹He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

⁴⁰He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”^(C)

⁴¹They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

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James 1:16-23

New International Version

¹⁶Don’t be deceived,^(A) my dear brothers and sisters.^(B) ¹⁷Every good and perfect gift is from above,^(C) coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights,^(D) who does not change^(E) like shifting shadows. ¹⁸He chose to give us birth^(F) through the word of truth,^(G) that we might be a kind of firstfruits^(H) of all he created.

Listening and Doing

¹⁹My dear brothers and sisters,^(I) take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak^(J) and slow to become angry, ²⁰because human anger^(K) does not produce the righteousness that God desires. ²¹Therefore, get rid of^(L) all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you,^(M) which can save you.

²²Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.^(N) ²³Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror

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