Zephaniah 2:3; Zephaniah 2:12-13; Psalms 146:6-10; 1 Corinthians 1:26-31; Matthew 5:1-12

Zephaniah 2:3

3 Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, who do his commands; seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you may be hidden on the day of the wrath of the LORD.

Zephaniah 2:12-13

12 You also, O Ethiopians, shall be slain by my sword.

13 And he will stretch out his hand against the north, and destroy Assyria; and he will make Nin'eveh a desolation, a dry waste like the desert.

Psalms 146:6-10

6 who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps faith for ever;

7 who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets the prisoners free;

8 the LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous.

9 The LORD watches over the sojourners, he upholds the widow and the fatherless; but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.

10 The LORD will reign for ever, thy God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the LORD!

1 Corinthians 1:26-31

26 For consider your call, brethren; not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth;

27 but God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong,

28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are,

29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.

30 He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom, our righteousness and sanctification and redemption;

31 therefore, as it is written, "Let him who boasts, boast of the Lord."

Matthew 5:1-12

1 Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down his disciples came to him.

2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:

3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

5 "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

6 "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

7 "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

8 "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

9 "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

10 "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 "Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.

12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you.