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Psalm 33

Blessed Is the Nation Whose God Is the Lord

Introductory Praise

Shout joyfully to the Lord, you righteous.
The praise of the upright is beautiful.
Thank the Lord with a lyre.
Make music for him with the ten-stringed harp.
Sing to him a new song.
Play skillfully and shout praises.
Yes, the word of the Lord is right,
and everything he does is trustworthy.
He loves righteousness and justice.
The mercy of the Lord fills the earth.

God’s Love in Creation

By the word of the Lord the heavens were made.
By the breath of his mouth he made the whole army of stars.[a]
He gathers the water of the sea into a heap.
He puts the depths into storehouses.
Let all the earth fear the Lord.
Let all the inhabitants of the world revere him.
For he said, “Let it be,” and it was!
He gave a command, and there it stood.

God’s Rule of History

10 The Lord wrecks the plan of the nations.
He hinders the intentions of the peoples.
11 The plan of the Lord stands forever.
The intentions of his heart stand through all generations.
12 How blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,
the people he chose to be his possession.

13 From heaven the Lord observes.
He sees all the children of Adam.
14 From his throne room he looks at all the inhabitants of earth.
15 He alone is the one who shapes all their hearts.
He understands all their deeds.
16 No king is saved by the great size of his army.
No hero is rescued by his great strength.
17 You cannot rely on a horse to save you.
Its great strength will not deliver you.
18 Look, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him,
on those who wait for his mercy.
19 He will deliver their souls from death.
He keeps them alive in famine.

Concluding Prayer

20 Our souls wait for the Lord.
He is our help and our shield.
21 Yes, in him our heart rejoices,
because we trust in his holy name.
22 May your mercy, O Lord, be on us,
    even as we wait confidently for you.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 33:6 And/or army of angels

Living Stones

As you come to him, the Living Stone, rejected by men but chosen by God and precious, you also, like living stones, are being built as a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, in order to bring spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it says in Scripture:

See, I lay a stone in Zion,
a chosen and precious cornerstone,
and the one who believes in him will certainly not be put to shame.[a]

Therefore, for you who believe, this is an honor. But for those who do not believe:

The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,[b]

and,

a stone over which they stumble
and a rock over which they fall.[c]

Because they continue to disobey the word, they stumble over it. And that is the consequence appointed for them.

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, the people who are God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 At one time you were not a people, but now you are the people of God. At one time you were not shown mercy, but now you have been shown mercy.

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No Greater Love—in Peace

14 “Do not let your heart be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions.[a] If it were not so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you.[b] And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to be with me, so that you may also be where I am. You know where I am going, and you know the way.”

“Lord, we don’t know where you are going,” Thomas replied, “so how can we know the way?”

Jesus said to him, “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father, except through me. If you know me, you would also know my Father.[c] From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

“Lord,” said Philip, “show us the Father, and that is enough for us.”

“Have I been with you so long,” Jesus answered, “and you still do not know me, Philip? The one who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I am telling you I am not speaking on my own, but the Father who remains in me is doing his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father is in me. Or else believe[d] because of the works themselves.

12 “Amen, Amen, I tell you: The one who believes in me will do the works that I am doing. And he will do even greater works than these, because I am going to the Father.

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Footnotes

  1. John 14:2 Or dwelling places, referring to permanent residences
  2. John 14:2 Some witnesses to the text read If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going away to prepare a place for you?
  3. John 14:7 Some witnesses to the text read If you have known me, you will also know my Father.
  4. John 14:11 Some witnesses to the text add me.