1 Thessalonians 5:12-18

Contemporary English Version

Final Instructions and Greetings

¹²My friends, we ask you to be thoughtful of your leaders who work hard and tell you how to live for the Lord. ¹³Show them great respect and love because of their work. Try to get along with each other. ¹⁴My friends, we beg you to warn anyone who isn't living right. Encourage anyone who feels left out, help all who are weak, and be patient with everyone. ¹⁵Don't be hateful to people, just because they are hateful to you. Rather, be good to each other and to everyone else.

¹⁶Always be joyful ¹⁷and never stop praying. ¹⁸Whatever happens, keep thanking God because of Jesus Christ. This is what God wants you to do.

Read full chapter

Psalm 96

Contemporary English Version

Sing a New Song to the Lord

¹Sing a new song to the Lord!
Everyone on this earth,
sing praises to the Lord,
² sing and praise his name.

Day after day announce,
    “The Lord has saved us!”
³Tell every nation on earth,
“The Lord is wonderful
    and does marvelous things!
⁴The Lord is great and deserves
    our greatest praise!
He is the only God
    worthy of our worship.
⁵Other nations worship idols,
but the Lord created
    the heavens.
⁶Give honor and praise
    to the Lord,
whose power and beauty
    fill his holy temple.”

⁷^(A) Tell everyone of every nation,
“Praise the glorious power
    of the Lord.
⁸He is wonderful! Praise him
and bring an offering
    into his temple.
⁹Everyone on earth, now tremble
and worship the Lord,
    majestic and holy.”

¹⁰Announce to the nations,
    “The Lord is King!
The world stands firm,
    never to be shaken,
and he will judge its people
    with fairness.”

¹¹Tell the heavens and the earth
    to be glad and celebrate!
Command the ocean to roar
    with all its creatures
¹²and the fields to rejoice
    with all their crops.
Then every tree in the forest
will sing joyful songs
¹³    to the Lord.
He is coming to judge
all people on earth
    with fairness and truth.