Book of Common Prayer

Be Patient and Endure Hardship Until The Lord Comes

⁷ Therefore be patient, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. Behold— the farmer waits-for the precious fruit of the land, being-patient with it until it receives the early and late rain. ⁸ You also be-patient. Establish your hearts, because the coming of the Lord has drawn-near. ⁹ Do not be groaning against one another, brothers, in order that you may not be judged. Behold— the Judge stands in front of the doors. ¹⁰ Take as an example of suffering-hardship and patience, brothers, the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. ¹¹ Behold— we consider-blessed the ones having endured! You heard of the endurance of Job, and you saw the outcome from the Lord: that the Lord is large-hearted^[a] and compassionate.

Above All, Be True To Your Word. Be Praying And Singing-Praise

¹² And above all, my brothers, do not be swearing^[b]— neither by heaven nor by earth nor by any other oath. But let your yes be yes and your no be no, in order that you may not fall under judgment.

Pray And Don’t Lose Heart: God Will Avenge His People

18 And He was speaking a parable to them with-regard-to^[a] it being necessary that they always be praying and not losing-heart, ² saying, “There was in a certain city a certain judge not fearing God and not having-regard-for^[b] the person. ³ And there was a widow in that city. And she was coming to him, saying, ‘Avenge^[c] me from my adversary’. ⁴ And he was not willing for a time. But after these things, he said within himself, ‘Even though I do not fear God nor have regard for the person, ⁵ yet because of this widow’s causing me trouble, I will avenge her— in order that she, while continually^[d] coming, may not be wearing me out’”. ⁶ And the Lord said, “Listen-to what the unrighteous judge is saying^[e]. ⁷ And shall not God execute vengeance^[f] for His chosen ones— the ones crying-out to Him by day and by night and He is being patient^[g] with them? ⁸ I say to you that He will execute vengeance for them quickly. However, the Son of Man having come, will He find faith^[h] on the earth?”