Old/New Testament
Psalm 84
Longing for God’s House
For the choir director: on the Gittith.(A) A psalm of the sons of Korah.
1 How lovely is your dwelling place,
Lord of Armies.(B)
2 I long and yearn
for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and flesh cry out for[a] the living God.(C)
3 Even a sparrow finds a home,
and a swallow, a nest for herself
where she places her young—
near your altars, Lord of Armies,
my King and my God.(D)
4 How happy are those who reside in your house,
who praise you continually.(E)Selah
5 Happy are the people whose strength is in you,
whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.(F)
6 As they pass through the Valley of Baca,[b]
they make it a source of spring water;
even the autumn rain will cover it with blessings.[c](G)
7 They go from strength to strength;
each appears before God in Zion.(H)
8 Lord God of Armies, hear my prayer;
listen, God of Jacob.(I)Selah
9 Consider our shield,[d] God;(J)
look on the face of your anointed one.(K)
10 Better a day in your courts
than a thousand anywhere else.
I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God
than live in the tents of wicked people.(L)
11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield.(M)
The Lord grants favor and honor;
he does not withhold the good
from those who live with integrity.(N)
12 Happy is the person who trusts in you,
Lord of Armies!(O)
Psalm 85
Restoration of Favor
For the choir director. A psalm of the sons of Korah.
1 Lord, you showed favor to your land;(P)
you restored the fortunes of Jacob.[e](Q)
2 You forgave your people’s guilt;
you covered all their sin.(R)Selah
3 You withdrew all your fury;
you turned from your burning anger.(S)
4 Return to us, God of our salvation,
and abandon your displeasure with us.(T)
5 Will you be angry with us forever?
Will you prolong your anger for all generations?(U)
6 Will you not revive us again
so that your people may rejoice in you?(V)
7 Show us your faithful love, Lord,
and give us your salvation.(W)
8 I will listen to what God will say;
surely the Lord will declare peace
to his people, his faithful ones,
and not let them go back to foolish ways.(X)
9 His salvation is very near those who fear him,
so that glory may dwell in our land.(Y)
10 Faithful love and truth will join together;
righteousness and peace will embrace.(Z)
11 Truth will spring up from the earth,
and righteousness will look down from heaven.(AA)
12 Also, the Lord will provide what is good,
and our land will yield its crops.(AB)
13 Righteousness will go before him
to prepare the way for his steps.(AC)
Psalm 86
Lament and Petition
A prayer of David.
1 Listen, Lord, and answer me,
for I am poor and needy.(AD)
2 Protect my life, for I am faithful.(AE)
You are my God; save your servant who trusts in you.(AF)
3 Be gracious to me, Lord,
for I call to you all day long.(AG)
4 Bring joy to your servant’s life,
because I appeal to you, Lord.(AH)
5 For you, Lord, are kind and ready to forgive,(AI)
abounding in faithful love to all who call on you.(AJ)
6 Lord, hear my prayer;
listen to my cries for mercy.(AK)
7 I call on you in the day of my distress,
for you will answer me.(AL)
8 Lord, there is no one like you among the gods,
and there are no works like yours.(AM)
9 All the nations you have made
will come and bow down before you, Lord,
and will honor your name.(AN)
10 For you are great and perform wonders;
you alone are God.(AO)
11 Teach me your way, Lord,
and I will live by your truth.
Give me an undivided mind to fear your name.(AP)
12 I will praise you with all my heart, Lord my God,
and will honor your name forever.(AQ)
13 For your faithful love for me is great,
and you rescue my life from the depths of Sheol.(AR)
14 God, arrogant people have attacked me;
a gang of ruthless men intends to kill me.
They do not let you guide them.[f](AS)
15 But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,
slow to anger and abounding in faithful love and truth.(AT)
16 Turn to me and be gracious to me.
Give your strength to your servant;
save the son of your female servant.(AU)
17 Show me a sign of your goodness;
my enemies will see and be put to shame
because you, Lord, have helped and comforted me.(AV)
A Living Sacrifice
12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you(A) to present your bodies as a living sacrifice,(B) holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship.[a] 2 Do not be conformed(C) to this age,(D) but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,(E) so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will(F) of God.
Many Gifts but One Body
3 For by the grace(G) given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think.(H) Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith(I) to each one. 4 Now as we have many parts in one body,(J) and all the parts do not have the same function, 5 in the same way we who are many(K) are one body in Christ(L) and individually members of one another. 6 According to the grace given to us, we have different gifts:(M) If prophecy,(N) use it according to the proportion of one’s[b] faith; 7 if service,(O) use it in service; if teaching,(P) in teaching; 8 if exhorting,(Q) in exhortation; giving, with generosity;(R) leading,(S) with diligence; showing mercy, with cheerfulness.(T)
Christian Ethics
9 Let love be without hypocrisy.(U) Detest evil;(V) cling to what is good. 10 Love one another deeply as brothers and sisters.(W) Take the lead in honoring one another.(X) 11 Do not lack diligence in zeal; be fervent in the Spirit;[c](Y) serve the Lord.(Z) 12 Rejoice in hope;(AA) be patient in affliction;(AB) be persistent in prayer.(AC) 13 Share with the saints in their needs;(AD) pursue hospitality.(AE) 14 Bless those who persecute you;(AF) bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice;(AG) weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another.(AH) Do not be proud;(AI) instead, associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own estimation.(AJ) 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil.(AK) Give careful thought to do what is honorable(AL) in everyone’s eyes. 18 If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.(AM) 19 Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for God’s wrath, because it is written, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay,[d](AN) says the Lord. 20 But
If your enemy is hungry, feed him.(AO)
If he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
For in so doing
you will be heaping fiery coals on his head.[e](AP)
21 Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.
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