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Longing for the Temple Worship.

To the Chief Musician; set to a [a]Philistine lute. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.

84 How lovely are Your dwelling places,
O Lord of hosts!

My soul (my life, my inner self) longs for and greatly desires the courts of the Lord;
My heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God.

The bird has found a house,
And the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young—
Even Your altars, O Lord of hosts,
My King and my God.

Blessed and greatly favored are those who dwell in Your house and Your presence;
They will be singing Your praises all the day long. Selah.


Blessed and greatly favored is the man whose strength is in You,
In [b]whose heart are the highways to Zion.

Passing through the Valley of Weeping ([c]Baca), they make it a place of springs;
The early rain also covers it with blessings.

They go from strength to strength [increasing in victorious power];
Each of them appears before God in Zion.


O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer;
Listen, O God of Jacob! Selah.

See our shield, O God,
And look at the face of Your anointed [the king as Your representative].
10 
For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand [anywhere else];
I would rather stand [as a doorkeeper] at the threshold of the house of my God
Than to live [at ease] in the tents of wickedness.
11 
For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
The Lord bestows grace and favor and honor;
No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.
12 
O Lord of hosts,
How blessed and greatly favored is the man who trusts in You [believing in You, relying on You, and committing himself to You with confident hope and expectation].

Prayer for God’s Mercy upon the Nation.

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.

85 O Lord, You have [at last] shown favor to Your land [of Canaan];
You have restored [from Babylon] the captives of Jacob (Israel).

You have forgiven the wickedness of Your people;
You have covered all their sin. Selah.

You have withdrawn all Your wrath,
You have turned away from Your burning anger.


Restore us, O God of our salvation,
And cause Your indignation toward us to cease.

Will You be angry with us forever?
Will You prolong Your anger to all generations?

Will You not revive us and bring us to life again,
That Your people may rejoice in You?

Show us Your lovingkindness, O Lord,
And grant us Your salvation.


I will hear [with expectant hope] what God the Lord will say,
For He will speak peace to His people, to His [d]godly ones—
But let them not turn again to folly.

Surely His salvation is near to those who [reverently] fear Him [and obey Him with submissive wonder],
That glory [the manifest presence of God] may dwell in our land.
10 
Steadfast love and truth and faithfulness meet together;
Righteousness and peace kiss each other.
11 
Truth springs from the earth,
And righteousness looks down from heaven.
12 
Indeed, the Lord will give what is good,
And our land will yield its produce.
13 
Righteousness will go before Him
And will make His footsteps into a way [in which to walk].

A Psalm of Supplication and Trust.

A Prayer of David.

86 Incline Your ear, O Lord, and answer me,
For I am distressed and needy [I long for Your help].

Protect my life (soul), for I am godly and faithful;
O You my God, save Your servant, who trusts in You [believing in You and relying on You, confidently committing everything to You].

Be gracious and merciful to me, O Lord,
For to You I cry out all the day long.

Make Your servant rejoice,
For to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul [all that I am—in prayer].

For You, O Lord, are good, and ready to forgive [our sins, sending them away, completely letting them go forever and ever];
And abundant in lovingkindness and overflowing in mercy to all those who call upon You.

Hear, O Lord, my prayer;
And listen attentively to the voice of my supplications (specific requests)!

In the day of my trouble I will call upon You,
For You will answer me.

There is no one like You among the gods, O Lord,
Nor are there any works [of wonder and majesty] like Yours.

All nations whom You have made shall come and kneel down in worship before You, O Lord,
And they shall glorify Your name.
10 
For You are great and do wondrous works!
You alone are God.

11 
Teach me Your way, O Lord,
I will walk and live in Your truth;
Direct my heart to fear Your name [with awe-inspired reverence and submissive wonder].(A)
12 
I will give thanks and praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart;
And will glorify Your name forevermore.
13 
For great is Your lovingkindness and graciousness toward me;
And You have rescued my life from the depths of Sheol [from death].

14 
O God, arrogant and insolent men have risen up against me;
A band of violent men have sought my life,
And they have not set You before them.
15 
But You, O Lord, are a God [who protects and is] merciful and gracious,
Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness and truth.
16 
Turn to me, and be gracious to me;
Grant Your strength [Your might and the power to resist temptation] to Your servant,
And save the son of Your handmaid.
17 
Show me a sign of [Your] goodwill,
That those who hate me may see it and be ashamed,
Because You, O Lord, helped and comforted me.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 84:1 A technical musical term, meaning uncertain.
  2. Psalm 84:5 Lit their.
  3. Psalm 84:6 Possibly a kind of plant.
  4. Psalm 85:8 I.e. believers, those in right standing with Him.

Psalm 84[a]

For the director of music. According to gittith.[b] Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.

How lovely is your dwelling place,(A)
    Lord Almighty!
My soul yearns,(B) even faints,
    for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh cry out
    for the living God.(C)
Even the sparrow has found a home,
    and the swallow a nest for herself,
    where she may have her young—
a place near your altar,(D)
    Lord Almighty,(E) my King(F) and my God.(G)
Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
    they are ever praising you.[c]

Blessed are those whose strength(H) is in you,
    whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.(I)
As they pass through the Valley of Baka,
    they make it a place of springs;(J)
    the autumn(K) rains also cover it with pools.[d]
They go from strength to strength,(L)
    till each appears(M) before God in Zion.(N)

Hear my prayer,(O) Lord God Almighty;
    listen to me, God of Jacob.
Look on our shield,[e](P) O God;
    look with favor on your anointed one.(Q)

10 Better is one day in your courts
    than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper(R) in the house of my God
    than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
11 For the Lord God is a sun(S) and shield;(T)
    the Lord bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold(U)
    from those whose walk is blameless.

12 Lord Almighty,
    blessed(V) is the one who trusts in you.

Psalm 85[f]

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.

You, Lord, showed favor to your land;
    you restored the fortunes(W) of Jacob.
You forgave(X) the iniquity(Y) of your people
    and covered all their sins.[g]
You set aside all your wrath(Z)
    and turned from your fierce anger.(AA)

Restore(AB) us again, God our Savior,(AC)
    and put away your displeasure toward us.
Will you be angry with us forever?(AD)
    Will you prolong your anger through all generations?
Will you not revive(AE) us again,
    that your people may rejoice(AF) in you?
Show us your unfailing love,(AG) Lord,
    and grant us your salvation.(AH)

I will listen to what God the Lord says;
    he promises peace(AI) to his people, his faithful servants—
    but let them not turn to folly.(AJ)
Surely his salvation(AK) is near those who fear him,
    that his glory(AL) may dwell in our land.

10 Love and faithfulness(AM) meet together;
    righteousness(AN) and peace kiss each other.
11 Faithfulness springs forth from the earth,
    and righteousness(AO) looks down from heaven.
12 The Lord will indeed give what is good,(AP)
    and our land will yield(AQ) its harvest.
13 Righteousness goes before him
    and prepares the way for his steps.

Psalm 86

A prayer of David.

Hear me, Lord, and answer(AR) me,
    for I am poor and needy.
Guard my life, for I am faithful to you;
    save your servant who trusts in you.(AS)
You are my God; have mercy(AT) on me, Lord,
    for I call(AU) to you all day long.
Bring joy to your servant, Lord,
    for I put my trust(AV) in you.

You, Lord, are forgiving and good,
    abounding in love(AW) to all who call to you.
Hear my prayer, Lord;
    listen to my cry(AX) for mercy.
When I am in distress,(AY) I call(AZ) to you,
    because you answer(BA) me.

Among the gods(BB) there is none like you,(BC) Lord;
    no deeds can compare with yours.
All the nations you have made
    will come(BD) and worship(BE) before you, Lord;
    they will bring glory(BF) to your name.
10 For you are great(BG) and do marvelous deeds;(BH)
    you alone(BI) are God.

11 Teach me your way,(BJ) Lord,
    that I may rely on your faithfulness;(BK)
give me an undivided(BL) heart,
    that I may fear(BM) your name.
12 I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart;(BN)
    I will glorify your name forever.
13 For great is your love toward me;
    you have delivered me(BO) from the depths,
    from the realm of the dead.(BP)

14 Arrogant foes are attacking me, O God;
    ruthless people are trying to kill me—
    they have no regard for you.(BQ)
15 But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious(BR) God,
    slow to anger,(BS) abounding(BT) in love and faithfulness.(BU)
16 Turn to me(BV) and have mercy(BW) on me;
    show your strength(BX) in behalf of your servant;
save me, because I serve you
    just as my mother did.(BY)
17 Give me a sign(BZ) of your goodness,
    that my enemies may see it and be put to shame,
    for you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 84:1 In Hebrew texts 84:1-12 is numbered 84:2-13.
  2. Psalm 84:1 Title: Probably a musical term
  3. Psalm 84:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 8.
  4. Psalm 84:6 Or blessings
  5. Psalm 84:9 Or sovereign
  6. Psalm 85:1 In Hebrew texts 85:1-13 is numbered 85:2-14.
  7. Psalm 85:2 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.

Dedicated Service

12 [a]Therefore I urge you, [b]brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies [dedicating all of yourselves, set apart] as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational (logical, intelligent) act of worship. And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be [c]transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].

For by the grace [of God] given to me I say to everyone of you not to think more highly of himself [and of his importance and ability] than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has apportioned to each a degree of faith [and a purpose designed for service]. For just as in one [physical] body we have many parts, and these parts do not all have the same function or special use, so we, who are many, are [nevertheless just] one body in Christ, and individually [we are] parts one of another [mutually dependent on each other]. Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to use them accordingly: if [someone has the gift of] prophecy, [let him speak a new message from God to His people] in proportion to the faith possessed; if service, in the act of serving; or he who teaches, in the act of teaching; or he who encourages, in the act of encouragement; he who gives, with generosity; he who leads, [d]with diligence; he who shows mercy [in caring for others], with cheerfulness.

Love is to be sincere and active [the real thing—without guile and hypocrisy]. Hate what is evil [detest all ungodliness, do not tolerate wickedness]; hold on tightly to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another with [authentic] brotherly affection [as members of one family], give preference to one another in honor; 11 never lagging behind in diligence; aglow in the Spirit, enthusiastically serving the Lord; 12 constantly rejoicing in hope [because of our confidence in Christ], steadfast and patient in distress, devoted to prayer [continually seeking wisdom, guidance, and strength], 13 contributing to the needs of God’s people, pursuing [the practice of] hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you [who cause you harm or hardship]; bless and do not curse [them].(A) 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice [sharing others’ joy], and weep with those who weep [sharing others’ grief]. 16 Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty [conceited, self-important, exclusive], but associate with humble people [those with a realistic self-view]. Do not overestimate yourself.(B) 17 Never repay anyone evil for evil. Take thought for what is right and gracious and proper in the sight of everyone.(C) 18 If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave the way open for God’s wrath [and His judicial righteousness]; for it is written [in Scripture], “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.(D) 20 But if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for by doing this you will heap [e]burning coals on his head.”(E) 21 Do not be overcome and conquered by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Footnotes

  1. Romans 12:1 Paul now begins outlining for the believer the practical application of the theological truths taught in chs 1-11.
  2. Romans 12:1 Lit brethren.
  3. Romans 12:2 From the Greek word meaning “metamorphosis.” Refers to the process that leads to an outward, permanent change.
  4. Romans 12:8 Or without ulterior motives.
  5. Romans 12:20 This may refer to an ancient Egyptian custom in which a penitent person carried a bowl of burning embers on his head to show his shame and guilt. By analogy, being kind to an enemy may lead him to shame and repentance.

A Living Sacrifice

12 Therefore, I urge you,(A) brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice,(B) holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform(C) to the pattern of this world,(D) but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.(E) Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is(F)—his good, pleasing(G) and perfect will.

Humble Service in the Body of Christ

For by the grace given me(H) I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function,(I) so in Christ we, though many, form one body,(J) and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts,(K) according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying,(L) then prophesy in accordance with your[a] faith;(M) if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach;(N) if it is to encourage, then give encouragement;(O) if it is giving, then give generously;(P) if it is to lead,[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Love in Action

Love must be sincere.(Q) Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.(R) 10 Be devoted to one another in love.(S) Honor one another above yourselves.(T) 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor,(U) serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope,(V) patient in affliction,(W) faithful in prayer.(X) 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need.(Y) Practice hospitality.(Z)

14 Bless those who persecute you;(AA) bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.(AB) 16 Live in harmony with one another.(AC) Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.[c] Do not be conceited.(AD)

17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil.(AE) Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.(AF) 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.(AG) 19 Do not take revenge,(AH) my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”[d](AI) says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
    if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”[e](AJ)

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Footnotes

  1. Romans 12:6 Or the
  2. Romans 12:8 Or to provide for others
  3. Romans 12:16 Or willing to do menial work
  4. Romans 12:19 Deut. 32:35
  5. Romans 12:20 Prov. 25:21,22