All things were created by him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. In him was life, and the life was the light of mankind. And the light shines on in the darkness, but the darkness has not mastered it.
The Lord promotes equity and justice;
the Lord’s faithfulness extends throughout the earth.
By the Lord’s decree the heavens were made;
by a mere word from his mouth all the stars in the sky were created.
Let the whole earth fear the Lord!
Let all who live in the world stand in awe of him!
For he spoke, and it came into existence,
he issued the decree, and it stood firm.
The Lord frustrates the decisions of the nations;
he nullifies the plans of the peoples.
The Lord’s decisions stand forever;
his plans abide throughout the ages.