Psalm 87

The Joy of Living in Zion

Of the Korahites. A Psalm. A Song.

⁹ “Thus says the Lord of hosts: Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another;^{(A) 10} do not oppress the widow, the orphan, the alien, or the poor; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another.^(B)

²³ When he came and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast devotion,^{(A) 24} for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were brought to the Lord.^(B)

¹¹ “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.^{(A) 12} The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.^{(B) 13} The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. ¹⁴ I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and my own know me, ¹⁵ just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. ¹⁶ I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.^{(C) 17} For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. ¹⁸ No one takes^[a] it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.”

Psalm 48

The Glory and Strength of Zion

A Song. A Psalm of the Korahites.