Psalm 54^[a]

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A maskil^[b] of David. When the Ziphites^(A) had gone to Saul and said, “Is not David hiding among us?”

⁹ “As I looked,

¹¹ “Then I continued to watch because of the boastful words the horn was speaking.^(I) I kept looking until the beast was slain and its body destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire.^{(J) 12} (The other beasts had been stripped of their authority, but were allowed to live for a period of time.)

¹³ “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man,^[a](K) coming^(L) with the clouds of heaven.^(M) He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. ¹⁴ He was given authority,^(N) glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him.^(O) His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom^(P) is one that will never be destroyed.^(Q)

Psalm 50

A psalm of Asaph.

³ Above all, you must understand that in the last days^(A) scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.^{(B) 4} They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised?^(C) Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.”^{(D) 5} But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word^(E) the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water.^{(F) 6} By these waters also the world of that time^(G) was deluged and destroyed.^{(H) 7} By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire,^(I) being kept for the day of judgment^(J) and destruction of the ungodly.

⁸ But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.^{(K) 9} The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise,^(L) as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient^(M) with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.^(N)

¹⁰ But the day of the Lord will come like a thief.^(O) The heavens will disappear with a roar;^(P) the elements will be destroyed by fire,^(Q) and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.^[a](R)

¹¹ Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives ¹² as you look forward^(S) to the day of God and speed its coming.^[b](T) That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.^{(U) 13} But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth,^(V) where righteousness dwells.

¹⁴ So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless^(W) and at peace with him.

The Sheep and the Goats

³¹ “When the Son of Man comes^(A) in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne.^{(B) 32} All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate^(C) the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.^{(D) 33} He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

³⁴ “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom^(E) prepared for you since the creation of the world.^{(F) 35} For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,^{(G) 36} I needed clothes and you clothed me,^(H) I was sick and you looked after me,^(I) I was in prison and you came to visit me.’^(J)

³⁷ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸ When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? ³⁹ When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

⁴⁰ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’^(K)

⁴¹ “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me,^(L) you who are cursed, into the eternal fire^(M) prepared for the devil and his angels.^{(N) 42} For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, ⁴³ I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

⁴⁴ “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

⁴⁵ “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’^(O)

⁴⁶ “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.^(P)”^(Q)