Then ¹  he took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven he gave thanks ²  and broke them. He gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd.

Let the word of Christ ¹  dwell in you richly, teaching and exhorting one another with all wisdom, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, all with grace ²  in your hearts to God.

to give you thanks, ¹  and to tell about all your amazing deeds. ² 

to the one who used wisdom to make the heavens, for his loyal love endures,

to the one who made the great lights, for his loyal love endures,

to the one who struck down great kings, for his loyal love endures,

There is a generation ¹  who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers. ² 

Simeon ¹  took him in his arms and blessed God, saying, ² 

Then I will go ¹  to the altar of God, to the God who gives me ecstatic joy, ²  so that I express my thanks to you, ³  O God, my God, with a harp.

I will express my thanks to you with a stringed instrument, praising ¹  your faithfulness, O my God! I will sing praises to you accompanied by a harp, O Holy One of Israel! ² 

The wild animals of the desert honor me, the jackals and ostriches, because I put water in the desert and streams in the wilderness, to quench the thirst of my chosen people,

Even if you offer me burnt and grain offerings, ¹  I will not be satisfied; I will not look with favor on your peace offerings of fattened calves. ² 

“If ¹  you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners ²  love those who love them. ³ 

And ¹  if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even ²  sinners ³  do the same.

And if you lend to those from whom you hope to be repaid, ¹  what credit is that to you? Even sinners ²  lend to sinners, so that they may be repaid in full. ³ 

When ¹  he had taken his place at the table ²  with them, he took the bread, blessed and broke it, ³  and gave it to them.

When the Gentiles heard this, they began to rejoice ¹  and praise ²  the word of the Lord, and all who had been appointed for eternal life ³  believed.

because the service of this ministry is not only providing for ¹  the needs of the saints but is also overflowing with many thanks to God.

rooted ¹  and built up in him and firm ²  in your ³  faith just as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

saying, “Amen! Praise and glory, and wisdom and thanksgiving, and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!”