Those who know you, Lord, will trust you; you do not abandon anyone who comes to you. My father and mother may abandon me, but the Lord will take care of me. The Lord will not abandon his people; he will not desert those who belong to him. So teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And I will be with you always, to the end of the age.”
He is a merciful God. He will not abandon you or destroy you, and he will not forget the covenant that he himself made with your ancestors. There are many enemies, but we are never without a friend; and though badly hurt at times, we are not destroyed. Leave all your worries with him, because he cares for you.
I am old now; I have lived a long time, but I have never seen good people abandoned by the Lord or their children begging for food. You need not fear any dangers at night or sudden attacks during the day or the plagues that strike in the dark or the evils that kill in daylight.
“When my people in their need look for water, when their throats are dry with thirst, then I, the Lord, will answer their prayer; I, the God of Israel, will never abandon them. So the Lord answers, “Can a woman forget her own baby and not love the child she bore? Even if a mother should forget her child, I will never forget you. Jerusalem, I can never forget you! I have written your name on the palms of my hands.
Why am I so sad? Why am I so troubled? I will put my hope in God, and once again I will praise him, my saviour and my God.
Be determined and confident. Do not be afraid of them. Your God, the Lord himself, will be with you. He will not fail you or abandon you.”
