Psalm 46

God Our Refuge

For the choir director. A song of the sons of Korah. According to Alamoth.^(A)

⁵¹ Listen, I am telling you a mystery: We will not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed, ⁵² in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.^(A) For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. ⁵³ For this corruptible body must be clothed^(B) with incorruptibility,^(C) and this mortal body must be clothed with immortality. ⁵⁴ When this corruptible body is clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal body is clothed with immortality, then the saying that is written will take place:

⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin^(G) is the law.^{(H) 57} But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory^(I) through our Lord Jesus Christ!

The Comfort of Christ’s Coming

¹³ We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, concerning those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who have no hope.^{(A) 14} For if we believe that Jesus died and rose^(B) again,^(C) in the same way, through Jesus,^(D) God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. ¹⁵ For we say this to you by a word from the Lord:^(E) We who are still alive at the Lord’s coming^(F) will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.^{(G) 16} For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout,^[a](H) with the archangel’s^(I) voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ^(J) will rise first. ¹⁷ Then^(K) we who are still alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds^(L) to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. ¹⁸ Therefore encourage^[b] one another with these words.

The Source of Life

22 Then he showed me the river^[a] of the water of life,^(A) clear as crystal,^(B) flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb^{(C) 2} down the middle of the city’s main street. The tree of life was on each side of the river, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit every month.^(D) The leaves of the tree are for healing the nations,^{(E) 3} and there will no longer be any curse.^(F) The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will worship him. ⁴ They will see his face,^(G) and his name will be on their foreheads.^{(H) 5} Night will be no more;^(I) people will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, because the Lord God will give them light,^(J) and they will reign forever and ever.

The Time Is Near

⁶ Then he said to me, “These words are faithful^[b] and true.^(K) The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets,^[c] has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place.”^(L)

⁷ “Look, I am coming soon!^(M) Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”^(N)

⁸ I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. When I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had shown them to me. ⁹ But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you, your brothers the prophets, and those who keep the words of this book. Worship God!” ^(O)

¹⁰ Then he said to me, “Don’t seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, because the time is near.^{(P) 11} Let the unrighteous go on in unrighteousness; let the filthy still be filthy; let the righteous go on in righteousness; let the holy still be holy.”^(Q)

¹² “Look, I am coming soon, and my reward is with me^(R) to repay each person according to his work.^{(S) 13} I am the Alpha and the Omega, ^(T) the first and the last,^(U) the beginning and the end.^(V)

¹⁴ “Blessed ^(W) are those who wash their robes,^[d] so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates. ¹⁵ Outside are the dogs, ^(X) the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.^(Y)

¹⁶ “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to attest these things to you for the churches. I am the Root^(Z) and descendant of David,^(AA) the bright morning star.”^(AB)

¹⁷ Both the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” Let anyone who hears, say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come. Let the one who desires take the water of life freely.^(AC)

¹⁸ I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book. ¹⁹ And if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share of the tree of life and the holy city, which are written about in this book.^(AD)

²⁰ He who testifies about these things^(AE) says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”

Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!^(AF)

²¹ The grace of the Lord Jesus^[e] be with everyone.^[f] Amen.^[g]