Psalm 24

Of David. A psalm.

Psalm 150

Woe to the Complacent

The Lord Abhors the Pride of Israel

⁸ The Sovereign Lord has sworn by himself^(T)—the Lord God Almighty declares:

⁹ If ten^(Z) people are left in one house, they too will die. ¹⁰ And if the relative who comes to carry the bodies out of the house to burn them^[a](AA) asks anyone who might be hiding there, “Is anyone else with you?” and he says, “No,” then he will go on to say, “Hush!^(AB) We must not mention the name of the Lord.”

⁵ All this is evidence^(A) that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy^(B) of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering. ⁶ God is just:^(C) He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you^{(D) 7} and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven^(E) in blazing fire^(F) with his powerful angels.^{(G) 8} He will punish^(H) those who do not know God^(I) and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.^{(J) 9} They will be punished with everlasting destruction^(K) and shut out from the presence of the Lord^(L) and from the glory of his might^{(M) 10} on the day^(N) he comes to be glorified^(O) in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you.^(P)

¹¹ With this in mind, we constantly pray for you,^(Q) that our God may make you worthy^(R) of his calling,^(S) and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness^(T) and your every deed prompted by faith.^{(U) 12} We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you,^(V) and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.^[a]

The Birth of John the Baptist

⁵⁷ When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. ⁵⁸ Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy.

⁵⁹ On the eighth day they came to circumcise^(A) the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah, ⁶⁰ but his mother spoke up and said, “No! He is to be called John.”^(B)

⁶¹ They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who has that name.”

⁶² Then they made signs^(C) to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. ⁶³ He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.”^{(D) 64} Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak,^(E) praising God. ⁶⁵ All the neighbors were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea^(F) people were talking about all these things. ⁶⁶ Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, “What then is this child going to be?” For the Lord’s hand was with him.^(G)

Zechariah’s Song

⁶⁷ His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit^(H) and prophesied:^(I)