All Scripture is
given by inspiration of God and is profitable. . . 2 Timothy 3:16
The Bible is the inspired
Word of Almighty God. Among other things, the Word of God is profitable
for comforting the afflicted and those who are suffering.
The following collection
of Scriptures has been compiled for those who wish to minister
to the sick or the dying. The words will minister encouragement
and comfort as well as challenge the suffering one to look to
Christ.
Some will be particularly
encouraging to those who have a saving relationship with the Lord.
When ministering to a person who does not know Christ, look for
passages that communicate the gospel. Be careful not to extend
false hope to the lost by encouraging them of salvation apart
from Christ.
Psalm 5
1 Give ear
to my words, O LORD, consider my sighing. 2 Listen to my
cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. 3 In
the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my
requests before you and wait in expectation . . .
7 But I, by
your great mercy, will come into your house; in reverence will
I bow down toward your holy temple. 8 Lead me, O LORD,
in your righteousness because of my enemies-- make straight your
way before me . . .
11 But let
all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy.
Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name
may rejoice in you. 12 For surely, O LORD, you bless the
righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.
Psalm 8
1 O LORD, our
Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set
your glory above the heavens. 2 From the lips of children
and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger.
3 When I consider
your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place, 4 what is man that you are
mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?
5 You made
him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with
glory and honor. 6 You made him ruler over the works of
your hands; you put everything under his feet: 7 all flocks
and herds, and the beasts of the field, 8 the birds of
the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the
seas.
9 O LORD, our
Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
Psalm 13
1 How long,
O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your
face from me? 2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy
triumph over me?
3 Look on me
and answer, O LORD my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep
in death; 4 my enemy will say, "I have overcome him," and
my foes will rejoice when I fall.
5 But I trust
in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.
6 I will sing to the LORD, for he has been good to me.
Psalm 16
1 Keep me safe,
O God, for in you I take refuge.
2 I said to
the LORD, "You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing."
3 As for the saints who are in the land, they are the glorious
ones in whom is all my delight. 4 The sorrows of those
will increase who run after other gods . . .
5 LORD, you
have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure.
6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
surely I have a delightful inheritance.
7 I will praise
the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me.
8 I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my
right hand, I will not be shaken.
9 Therefore
my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest
secure, 10 because you will not abandon me to the grave,
nor will you let your Holy One see decay. 11 You have made
known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your
presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
Psalm 23
1 The LORD
is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. 2 He makes me lie
down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3
he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley
of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with
me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare
a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my
head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and
love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell
in the house of the LORD forever.
Psalm 29
1 Ascribe to
the LORD, O mighty ones, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the
LORD in the splendor of his holiness.
3 The voice
of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the
LORD thunders over the mighty waters. 4 The voice of the
LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is majestic.
5 The voice
of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars
of Lebanon . . . 7 The voice of the LORD strikes with flashes
of lightning. 8 The voice of the LORD shakes the desert
. . .
9 The voice
of the LORD twists the oaks and strips the forests bare. And in
his temple all cry, "Glory!" 10 The LORD sits enthroned
over the flood; the LORD is enthroned as King forever. 11 The
LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people
with peace.
Psalm 33
1 Sing joyfully
to the LORD, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise
him. 2 Praise the LORD with the harp; make music to him
on the ten-stringed lyre. 3 Sing to him a new song; play
skillfully, and shout for joy.
4 For the word
of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.
5 The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full
of his unfailing love.
6 By the word
of the LORD were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath
of his mouth. 7 He gathers the waters of the sea into jars
; he puts the deep into storehouses. 8 Let all the earth
fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere him.
9 For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood
firm. 10 The LORD foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts
the purposes of the peoples. 11 But the plans of the LORD
stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.
12 Blessed
is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his
inheritance. 13 From heaven the LORD looks down and sees
all mankind; 14 from his dwelling place he watches all
who live on earth-- 15 he who forms the hearts of all,
who considers everything they do. 16 No king is saved by
the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength.
17 A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its
great strength it cannot save. 18 But the eyes of the LORD
are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing
love, 19 to deliver them from death and keep them alive
in famine.
20 We wait
in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. 21 In
him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. 22 May
your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope
in you.
Psalm 36
5 Your love,
O LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.
6 Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice
like the great deep. O LORD, you preserve both man and beast.
7 How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low
among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings. 8 They
feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from
your river of delights. 9 For with you is the fountain
of life; in your light we see light.
10 Continue
your love to those who know you, your righteousness to the upright
in heart. 11 May the foot of the proud not come against
me, nor the hand of the wicked drive me away. 12 See how
the evildoers lie fallen-- thrown down, not able to rise!
Psalm 37
3 Trust in
the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
4 Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires
of your heart.
5 Commit your
way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: 6 He
will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice
of your cause like the noonday sun.
7 Be still
before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men
succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes
. . .
10 A little
while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them,
they will not be found. 11 But the meek will inherit the
land and enjoy great peace . . .
16 Better the
little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked;
17 for the power of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD
upholds the righteous. 18 The days of the blameless are
known to the LORD, and their inheritance will endure forever.
19 In times of disaster they will not wither; in days of famine
they will enjoy plenty . . .
23 If the LORD
delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm; 24 though
he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his
hand.
25 I was young
and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken
or their children begging bread. 26 They are always generous
and lend freely; their children will be blessed . . .
28 For the
LORD loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. They
will be protected forever . . . 29 the righteous will inherit
the land and dwell in it forever.
30 The mouth
of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks what
is just. 31 The law of his God is in his heart; his feet
do not slip . . .
39 The salvation
of the righteous comes from the LORD; he is their stronghold in
time of trouble. 40 The LORD helps them and delivers them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they
take refuge in him.
Psalm 39
4 "Show me,
O LORD, my life's end and the number of my days; let me know how
fleeting is my life. 5 You have made my days a mere handbreadth;
the span of my years is as nothing before you. Each man's life
is but a breath. Selah 6 Man is a mere phantom as he goes
to and fro: He bustles about, but only in vain; he heaps up wealth,
not knowing who will get it.
7 "But now,
Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you. 8 Save me
from all my transgressions; do not make me the scorn of fools.
9 I was silent; I would not open my mouth, for you are the
one who has done this. 10 Remove your scourge from me;
I am overcome by the blow of your hand. 11 You rebuke and
discipline men for their sin; you consume their wealth like a
moth-- each man is but a breath. Selah
12 "Hear my
prayer, O LORD, listen to my cry for help; be not deaf to my weeping.
For I dwell with you as an alien, a stranger, as all my fathers
were. 13 Look away from me, that I may rejoice again before
I depart and am no more."
Psalm 40
1 I waited
patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. 2
He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.
3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.
4 Blessed is
the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not look to the
proud, to those who turn aside to false gods. 5 Many, O
LORD my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned
for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of
them, they would be too many to declare.
6 Sacrifice
and offering you did not desire, but my ears you have pierced
; burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require. 7
Then I said, "Here I am, I have come-- it is written about
me in the scroll. 8 I desire to do your will, O my God;
your law is within my heart."
9 I proclaim
righteousness in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips, as
you know, O LORD. 10 I do not hide your righteousness in
my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and salvation. I do not
conceal your love and your truth from the great assembly.
11 Do not withhold
your mercy from me, O LORD; may your love and your truth always
protect me. 12 For troubles without number surround me;
my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see. They are more than
the hairs of my head, and my heart fails within me.
13 Be pleased,
O LORD, to save me; O LORD, come quickly to help me. 14 May
all who seek to take my life be put to shame and confusion; may
all who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace. 15 May
those who say to me, "Aha! Aha!" be appalled at their own shame.
16 But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may
those who love your salvation always say, "The LORD be exalted!"
17 Yet I am
poor and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my help and
my deliverer; O my God, do not delay.
Psalm 49
1 Hear this,
all you peoples; listen, all who live in this world, 2 both
low and high, rich and poor alike: 3 My mouth will speak
words of wisdom; the utterance from my heart will give understanding.
4 I will turn my ear to a proverb; with the harp I will expound
my riddle:
5 Why should
I fear when evil days come, when wicked deceivers surround me--
6 those who trust in their wealth and boast of their great
riches? 7 No man can redeem the life of another or give
to God a ransom for him-- 8 the ransom for a life is costly,
no payment is ever enough-- 9 that he should live on forever
and not see decay.
10 For all
can see that wise men die; the foolish and the senseless alike
perish and leave their wealth to others. 11 Their tombs
will remain their houses forever, their dwellings for endless
generations, though they had named lands after themselves.
12 But man,
despite his riches, does not endure; he is like the beasts that
perish.
13 This is
the fate of those who trust in themselves, and of their followers,
who approve their sayings. Selah 14 Like sheep they are
destined for the grave, and death will feed on them. The upright
will rule over them in the morning; their forms will decay in
the grave, far from their princely mansions. 15 But God
will redeem my life from the grave; he will surely take me to
himself. Selah
Psalm 61
1 Hear my cry,
O God; listen to my prayer.
2 From the
ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint;
lead me to the rock that is higher than I. 3 For you have
been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe.
4 I long to
dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your
wings. Selah 5 For you have heard my vows, O God; you have
given me the heritage of those who fear your name.
6 Increase
the days of the king's life, his years for many generations.
7 May he be enthroned in God's presence forever; appoint your
love and faithfulness to protect him.
8 Then will
I ever sing praise to your name and fulfill my vows day after
day.
Psalm 62
1 My soul finds
rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. 2 He alone
is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be
shaken . . .
5 Find rest,
O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. 6 He alone
is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be
shaken. 7 My salvation and my honor depend on God ; he
is my mighty rock, my refuge. 8 Trust in him at all times,
O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.
Selah
9 Lowborn
men are but a breath, the highborn are but a lie; if weighed on
a balance, they are nothing; together they are only a breath.
10 Do not trust in extortion or take pride in stolen goods;
though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them.
11 One thing
God has spoken, two things have I heard: that you, O God, are
strong, 12 and that you, O Lord, are loving. Surely you
will reward each person according to what he has done.
Psalm 65
1 Praise awaits
you, O God, in Zion; to you our vows will be fulfilled. 2 O
you who hear prayer, to you all men will come. 3 When we
were overwhelmed by sins, you forgave our transgressions. 4
Blessed are those you choose and bring near to live in your
courts! We are filled with the good things of your house, of your
holy temple.
5 You answer
us with awesome deeds of righteousness, O God our Savior, the
hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas,
6 who formed the mountains by your power, having armed yourself
with strength, 7 who stilled the roaring of the seas, the
roaring of their waves, and the turmoil of the nations. 8 Those
living far away fear your wonders; where morning dawns and evening
fades you call forth songs of joy.
9 You care
for the land and water it; you enrich it abundantly. The streams
of God are filled with water to provide the people with grain,
for so you have ordained it. 10 You drench its furrows
and level its ridges; you soften it with showers and bless its
crops. 11 You crown the year with your bounty, and your
carts overflow with abundance. 12 The grasslands of the
desert overflow; the hills are clothed with gladness. 13 The
meadows are covered with flocks and the valleys are mantled with
grain; they shout for joy and sing.
Psalm 66
1 Shout with
joy to God, all the earth! 2 Sing the glory of his name;
make his praise glorious! 3 Say to God, "How awesome are
your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies cringe before
you. 4 All the earth bows down to you; they sing praise
to you, they sing praise to your name." Selah
5 Come and
see what God has done, how awesome his works in man's behalf!
6 He turned the sea into dry land, they passed through the
waters on foot-- come, let us rejoice in him. 7 He rules
forever by his power, his eyes watch the nations-- let not the
rebellious rise up against him. Selah
8 Praise our
God, O peoples, let the sound of his praise be heard; 9 he
has preserved our lives and kept our feet from slipping. 10
For you, O God, tested us; you refined us like silver.
11 You brought us into prison and laid burdens on our backs.
12 You let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and
water, but you brought us to a place of abundance.
13 I will
come to your temple with burnt offerings and fulfill my vows to
you-- 14 vows my lips promised and my mouth spoke when
I was in trouble . . . Selah
16 Come and
listen, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done
for me. 17 I cried out to him with my mouth; his praise
was on my tongue. 18 If I had cherished sin in my heart,
the Lord would not have listened; 19 but God has surely
listened and heard my voice in prayer. 20 Praise be to
God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from
me!
Psalms 67
1 May God be
gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us, Selah
2 that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among
all nations.
3 May the
peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you.
4 May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the
peoples justly and guide the nations of the earth. Selah 5
May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise
you.
6 Then the
land will yield its harvest, and God, our God, will bless us.
7 God will bless us, and all the ends of the earth will fear
him.
Psalm 68
1 May God arise,
may his enemies be scattered; may his foes flee before him.
2 As smoke is blown away by the wind, may you blow them away;
as wax melts before the fire, may the wicked perish before God.
3 But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may
they be happy and joyful.
4 Sing to God,
sing praise to his name, extol him who rides on the clouds --
his name is the LORD-- and rejoice before him. 5 A father
to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.
6 God sets the lonely in families, he leads forth the prisoners
with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.
7 When you
went out before your people, O God, when you marched through the
wasteland, Selah 8 the earth shook, the heavens poured
down rain, before God, the One of Sinai, before God, the God of
Israel. 9 You gave abundant showers, O God; you refreshed
your weary inheritance. 10 Your people settled in it, and
from your bounty, O God, you provided for the poor . . .
19 Praise
be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.
Selah 20 Our God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign
LORD comes escape from death . . .
28 Summon your
power, O God ; show us your strength, O God, as you have done
before . . .32 Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth, sing
praise to the Lord, Selah 33 to him who rides the ancient
skies above, who thunders with mighty voice. 34 Proclaim
the power of God, whose majesty is over Israel, whose power is
in the skies. 35 You are awesome, O God, in your sanctuary;
the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Praise
be to God!
Psalm 70
1 Hasten, O
God, to save me; O LORD, come quickly to help me. 2 May
those who seek my life be put to shame and confusion; may all
who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace. 3 May those
who say to me, "Aha! Aha!" turn back because of their shame.
4 But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may
those who love your salvation always say, "Let God be exalted!"
5 Yet I am
poor and needy; come quickly to me, O God. You are my help and
my deliverer; O LORD, do not delay.
Psalm 71
1 In you, O
LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame. 2
Rescue me and deliver me in your righteousness; turn your
ear to me and save me. 3 Be my rock of refuge, to which
I can always go; give the command to save me, for you are my rock
and my fortress. 4 Deliver me, O my God, from the hand
of the wicked, from the grasp of evil and cruel men.
5 For you have
been my hope, O Sovereign LORD, my confidence since my youth.
6 From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from
my mother's womb. I will ever praise you. 7 I have become
like a portent to many, but you are my strong refuge. 8 My
mouth is filled with your praise, declaring your splendor all
day long.
9 Do not cast
me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone.
10 For my enemies speak against me; those who wait to kill
me conspire together. 11 They say, "God has forsaken him;
pursue him and seize him, for no one will rescue him." 12 Be
not far from me, O God; come quickly, O my God, to help me.
13 May my accusers perish in shame; may those who want to
harm me be covered with scorn and disgrace.
14 But as for
me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more.
15 My mouth will tell of your righteousness, of your salvation
all day long, though I know not its measure. 16 I will
come and proclaim your mighty acts, O Sovereign LORD; I will proclaim
your righteousness, yours alone.
17 Since my
youth, O God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your
marvelous deeds. 18 Even when I am old and gray, do not
forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation,
your might to all who are to come.
19 Your righteousness
reaches to the skies, O God, you who have done great things. Who,
O God, is like you? 20 Though you have made me see troubles,
many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths
of the earth you will again bring me up. 21 You will increase
my honor and comfort me once again.
22 I will praise
you with the harp for your faithfulness, O my God; I will sing
praise to you with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel. 23 My
lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you-- I, whom you
have redeemed. 24 My tongue will tell of your righteous
acts all day long, for those who wanted to harm me have been put
to shame and confusion.
Psalm 73
A psalm of Asaph.
21 When my
heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, 22 I was senseless
and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you.
23 Yet I am
always with you; you hold me by my right hand. 24 You guide
me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I
desire besides you. 26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
27 Those who
are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful
to you. 28 But as for me, it is good to be near God. I
have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your
deeds.
Psalm 77
1 I cried out
to God for help; I cried out to God to hear me. 2 When
I was in distress, I sought the Lord; at night I stretched out
untiring hands and my soul refused to be comforted.
3 I remembered
you, O God, and I groaned; I mused, and my spirit grew faint.
Selah 4 You kept my eyes from closing; I was too troubled
to speak. 5 I thought about the former days, the years
of long ago; 6 I remembered my songs in the night. My heart
mused and my spirit inquired:
7 "Will the
Lord reject forever? Will he never show his favor again? 8
Has his unfailing love vanished forever? Has his promise failed
for all time? 9 Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has he
in anger withheld his compassion?" Selah
10 Then I
thought, "To this I will appeal: the years of the right hand of
the Most High." 11 I will remember the deeds of the LORD;
yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. 12 I will
meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds.
13 Your ways,
O God, are holy. What god is so great as our God? 14 You
are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among
the peoples. 15 With your mighty arm you redeemed your
people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. Selah
16 The waters
saw you, O God, the waters saw you and writhed; the very depths
were convulsed. 17 The clouds poured down water, the skies
resounded with thunder; your arrows flashed back and forth.
18 Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind, your lightning
lit up the world; the earth trembled and quaked. 19 Your
path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters,
though your footprints were not seen.
20 You led
your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
Psalm 84
1 How lovely
is your dwelling place, O LORD Almighty! 2 My soul yearns,
even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh
cry out for the living God.
3 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, O LORD
Almighty, my King and my God. 4 Blessed are those who dwell
in your house; they are ever praising you. Selah 5 Blessed
are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts
on pilgrimage . . .
8 Hear my prayer,
O LORD God Almighty; listen to me, O God of Jacob. Selah 9
Look upon our shield, O God; look with favor on your anointed
one.
10 Better
is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather
be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents
of the wicked. 11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield;
the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold
from those whose walk is blameless.
12 O LORD Almighty,
blessed is the man who trusts in you.
Psalm 86
1 Hear, O LORD,
and answer me, for I am poor and needy. 2 Guard my life,
for I am devoted to you. You are my God; save your servant who
trusts in you. 3 Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I call to
you all day long. 4 Bring joy to your servant, for to you,
O Lord, I lift up my soul.
5 You are forgiving
and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you.
6 Hear my prayer, O LORD; listen to my cry for mercy. 7
In the day of my trouble I will call to you, for you will
answer me.
8 Among the
gods there is none like you, O Lord; no deeds can compare with
yours. 9 All the nations you have made will come and worship
before you, O Lord; they will bring glory to your name. 10
For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God.
11 Teach me
your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided
heart, that I may fear your name. 12 I will praise you,
O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever.
13 For great is your love toward me; you have delivered me
from the depths of the grave . . .
17 Give me
a sign of your goodness, that my enemies may see it and be put
to shame, for you, O LORD, have helped me and comforted me.
Psalm 91
1 He who dwells
in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the
Almighty. 2 I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and
my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."
3 Surely he
will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings
you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and
rampart. 5 You will not fear the terror of night, nor the
arrow that flies by day, 6 nor the pestilence that stalks
in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. 7
A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right
hand, but it will not come near you. 8 You will only observe
with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.
9 If you make
the Most High your dwelling-- even the LORD, who is my refuge--
10 then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near
your tent. 11 For he will command his angels concerning
you to guard you in all your ways; 12 they will lift you
up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against
a stone. 13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
14 "Because
he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him; I will protect
him, for he acknowledges my name. 15 He will call upon
me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will
deliver him and honor him. 16 With long life will I satisfy
him and show him my salvation."
Psalm 95
1 Come, let
us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of
our salvation. 2 Let us come before him with thanksgiving
and extol him with music and song.
3 For the LORD
is the great God, the great King above all gods. 4 In his
hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong
to him. 5 The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands
formed the dry land.
6 Come, let
us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker;
7 for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture,
the flock under his care.
Psalm 97
1 The LORD
reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice.
2 Clouds and thick darkness surround him; righteousness and
justice are the foundation of his throne. 3 Fire goes before
him and consumes his foes on every side. 4 His lightning
lights up the world; the earth sees and trembles. 5 The
mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all
the earth. 6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and
all the peoples see his glory.
7 All who worship
images are put to shame, those who boast in idols-- worship him,
all you gods! . . . 9 For you, O LORD, are the Most High
over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods.
10 Let those
who love the LORD hate evil, for he guards the lives of his faithful
ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked. 11 Light
is shed upon the righteous and joy on the upright in heart.
12 Rejoice in the LORD, you who are righteous, and praise
his holy name.
Psalm 98
1 Sing to the
LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand
and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. 2 The LORD
has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to
the nations. 3 He has remembered his love and his faithfulness
to the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the
salvation of our God.
4 Shout for
joy to the LORD, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with
music; 5 make music to the LORD with the harp, with the
harp and the sound of singing, 6 with trumpets and the
blast of the ram's horn-- shout for joy before the LORD, the King.
7 Let the
sea resound, and everything in it, the world, and all who live
in it. 8 Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains
sing together for joy; 9 let them sing before the LORD,
for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness
and the peoples with equity.
Psalm 100
1 Shout for
joy to the LORD, all the earth. 2 Worship the LORD with
gladness; come before him with joyful songs. 3 Know that
the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his ; we are
his people, the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his
gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks
to him and praise his name. 5 For the LORD is good and
his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all
generations.
Psalms 103
[Especially for
one who doesn't know Christ]
1 Praise the
LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2 Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits--
3 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love
and compassion, 5 who satisfies your desires with good
things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
6 The LORD
works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.
7 He made
known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel:
8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding
in love. 9 He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor
his anger forever; 10 he does not treat us as our sins
deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. 11 For
as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love
for those who fear him; 12 as far as the east is from the
west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. 13
As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has
compassion on those who fear him; 14 for he knows how we
are formed, he remembers that we are dust. 15 As for man,
his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field;
16 the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers
it no more. 17 But from everlasting to everlasting the
Lord's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness
with their children's children-- 18 with those who keep
his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.
19 The LORD
has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over
all.
20 Praise
the LORD, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding,
who obey his word. 21 Praise the LORD, all his heavenly
hosts, you his servants who do his will. 22 Praise the
LORD, all his works everywhere in his dominion. Praise the LORD,
O my soul.
Psalm 104
1 Praise the
LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, you are very great; you are clothed
with splendor and majesty. 2 He wraps himself in light
as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent
3 and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters.
He makes the clouds his chariot and rides on the wings of the
wind. 4 He makes winds his messengers, flames of fire his
servants.
5 He set the
earth on its foundations; it can never be moved. 6 You
covered it with the deep as with a garment; the waters stood above
the mountains. 7 But at your rebuke the waters fled, at
the sound of your thunder they took to flight; 8 they flowed
over the mountains, they went down into the valleys, to the place
you assigned for them. 9 You set a boundary they cannot
cross; never again will they cover the earth.
10 He makes
springs pour water into the ravines; it flows between the mountains.
11 They give water to all the beasts of the field; the wild
donkeys quench their thirst. 12 The birds of the air nest
by the waters; they sing among the branches. 13 He waters
the mountains from his upper chambers; the earth is satisfied
by the fruit of his work.
14 He makes
grass grow for the cattle, and plants for man to cultivate-- bringing
forth food from the earth: 15 wine that gladdens the heart
of man, oil to make his face shine, and bread that sustains his
heart. 16 The trees of the LORD are well watered, the cedars
of Lebanon that he planted. 17 There the birds make their
nests; the stork has its home in the pine trees. 18 The
high mountains belong to the wild goats; the crags are a refuge
for the coneys.
19 The moon
marks off the seasons, and the sun knows when to go down. 20
You bring darkness, it becomes night, and all the beasts of
the forest prowl. 21 The lions roar for their prey and
seek their food from God. 22 The sun rises, and they steal
away; they return and lie down in their dens. 23 Then man
goes out to his work, to his labor until evening.
24 How many
are your works, O LORD! In wisdom you made them all; the earth
is full of your creatures . . .
27 These all
look to you to give them their food at the proper time. 28
When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open
your hand, they are satisfied with good things. 29 When
you hide your face, they are terrified; when you take away their
breath, they die and return to the dust. 30 When you send
your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the earth.
31 May the
glory of the LORD endure forever; may the LORD rejoice in his
works-- 32 he who looks at the earth, and it trembles,
who touches the mountains, and they smoke.
33 I will
sing to the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as
long as I live. 34 May my meditation be pleasing to him,
as I rejoice in the LORD. 35 But may sinners vanish from
the earth and the wicked be no more.
Praise the LORD, O
my soul. Praise the LORD.
Psalm 108
1 My heart
is steadfast, O God; I will sing and make music with all my soul.
2 Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn. 3 I
will praise you, O LORD, among the nations; I
will sing of you among
the peoples. 4 For great is your love, higher than the
heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. 5 Be exalted,
O God, above the heavens, and let your glory be over all the earth
. . .
12 Give us
aid against the enemy, for the help of man is worthless. 13
With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down
our enemies.
Psalm 111
1 Praise the
LORD! I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, In the
assembly of the upright and in the congregation.
2 The works
of the LORD are great, Studied by all who have pleasure
in them. 3 His work is honorable and glorious, And
His righteousness endures forever. 4 He has made His wonderful
works to be remembered; The LORD is gracious and full of
compassion. 5 He has given food to those who fear Him;
He will ever be mindful of His covenant. 6 He has declared
to His people the power of His works, In giving them the heritage
of the nations.
7 The works
of His hands are verity and justice; All His precepts are
sure. 8 They stand fast forever and ever, And are
done in truth and uprightness. 9 He has sent redemption
to His people; He has commanded His covenant forever: Holy and
awesome is His name.
10 The fear
of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding
have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures
forever.
Psalm 113
1 Praise the
LORD. Praise, O servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD.
2 Let the name of the LORD be praised, both now and forevermore.
3 From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the
name of the LORD is to be praised.
4 The LORD
is exalted over all the nations, his glory above the heavens.
5 Who is like the LORD our God, the One who sits enthroned
on high, 6 who stoops down to look on the heavens and the
earth?
7 He raises
the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap;
8 he seats them with princes, with the princes of their people.
9 He settles the barren woman in her home as a happy mother
of children. Praise the LORD.
Psalm 121
1 I lift up
my eyes to the hills-- where does my help come from? 2 My
help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
3 He will not
let your foot slip-- he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber
nor sleep.
5 The LORD
watches over you-- the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD
will keep you from all harm-- he will watch over your life;
8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now
and forevermore.
Psalms 130
1 Out of the
depths I have cried to You, O LORD; 2 Lord, hear my voice!
Let Your ears be attentive To the voice of my supplications.
3 If You, LORD,
should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? 4 But
there is forgiveness with You, That You may be feared.
5 I wait for
the LORD, my soul waits, And in His word I do hope. 6 My
soul waits for the Lord More than those who watch for the
morning; Yes, more than those who watch for the morning.
7 O Israel,
hope in the LORD; For with the LORD there is mercy, And
with Him is abundant redemption. 8 And He shall
redeem Israel From all his iniquities.
Psalm 135 for non-believer
1 Praise the
LORD. Praise the name of the LORD; praise him, you servants of
the LORD, 2 you who minister in the house of the LORD,
in the courts of the house of our God.
3 Praise the
LORD, for the LORD is good; sing praise to his name, for that
is pleasant. 4 For the LORD has chosen Jacob to be his
own, Israel to be his treasured possession. 5 I know that
the LORD is great, that our Lord is greater than all gods.
6 The LORD does whatever pleases him, in the heavens and on
the earth, in the seas and all their depths. 7 He makes
clouds rise from the ends of the earth; he sends lightning with
the rain and brings out the wind from his storehouses . . .
13 Your name,
O LORD, endures forever, your renown, O LORD, through all generations.
14 For the LORD will vindicate his people and have compassion
on his servants. 15 The idols of the nations are silver
and gold, made by the hands of men. 16 They have mouths,
but cannot speak, eyes, but they cannot see; 17 they have
ears, but cannot hear, nor is there breath in their mouths.
18 Those who make them will be like them, and so will all
who trust in them . . .
20 Praise the
LORD; you who fear him, praise the LORD . . . Praise the
LORD!
Psalm 136
1 Give thanks
to the LORD, for he is good. 2 Give thanks to the God of
gods. 3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords. 4 to him
who alone does great wonders. 5 Who by his understanding
made the heavens. 6 Who spread out the earth upon the waters.
7 Who made the great lights, 8 the sun to govern the
day, 9 the moon and stars to govern the night. His love
endures forever.
10 To him
who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, 11 and brought
Israel out from among them 12 with a mighty hand and outstretched
arm. 13 To him who divided the Red Sea asunder 14 and
brought Israel through the midst of it, 15 but swept Pharaoh
and his army into the Red Sea. 16 To him who led his people
through the desert 17 who struck down great kings, 18
and killed mighty kings . . . 21 and gave their land
as an inheritance, 22 an inheritance to his servant Israel;
His love endures forever.
23 To the
One who remembered us in our low estate 24 and freed us
from our enemies, 25 and who gives food to every creature.
His love endures forever.
26 Give thanks
to the God of heaven. His love endures forever.
Psalm 143
1 O LORD, hear
my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy; in your faithfulness and
righteousness come to my relief. 2 Do not bring your servant
into judgment, for no one living is righteous before you.
3 The enemy
pursues me, he crushes me to the ground; he makes me dwell in
darkness like those long dead. 4 So my spirit grows faint
within me; my heart within me is dismayed.
5 I remember
the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider
what your hands have done. 6 I spread out my hands to you;
my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Selah
7 Answer me
quickly, O LORD; my spirit fails. Do not hide your face from me
or I will be like those who go down to the pit. 8 Let the
morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my
trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up
my soul. 9 Rescue me from my enemies, O LORD, for I hide
myself in you. 10 Teach me to do your will, for you are
my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.
11 For your
name's sake, O LORD, preserve my life; in your righteousness,
bring me out of trouble. 12 In your unfailing love, silence
my enemies; destroy all my foes, for I am your servant.
Psalms 146
1 Praise the
LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul! 2 While I live I will
praise the LORD; I will sing praises to my God while I have my
being.
3 Do not put
your trust in princes, Nor in a son of man, in whom there
is no help. 4 His spirit departs, he returns to his
earth; In that very day his plans perish.
5 Happy is
he who has the God of Jacob for his help, Whose hope
is in the LORD his God, 6 Who made heaven and earth,
The sea, and all that is in them; Who keeps truth forever,
7 Who executes justice for the oppressed, Who gives food to
the hungry. The LORD gives freedom to the prisoners.
8 The LORD
opens the eyes of the blind; The LORD raises those who
are bowed down; The LORD loves the righteous. 9 The LORD
watches over the strangers; He relieves the fatherless and widow;
But the way of the wicked He turns upside down.
10 The LORD
shall reign forever; Your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise
the LORD!
John 1:1-3
1 In the beginning
was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things
were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was
made.
John 1:11-14
1 He came to
His own, and His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many
as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children
of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born,
not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of
man, but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt
among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten
of the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 3:3-21
3 Jesus answered
and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is
born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." 4 Nicodemus
said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter
a second time into his mother's womb and be born?"
5 Jesus answered,
"Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and
the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 "That
which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of
the Spirit is spirit. 7 "Do not marvel that I said to you,
'You must be born again.' 8 "The wind blows where it wishes,
and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from
and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit."
9 Nicodemus
answered and said to Him, "How can these things be?"
10 Jesus answered
and said to him, "Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know
these things? 11 "Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak
what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive
Our witness. 12 "If I have told you earthly things and
you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly
things? 13 "No one has ascended to heaven but He who came
down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.
14 "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness,
even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 "that whoever
believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
16 "For God
so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever
believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17
"For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the
world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 "He
who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe
is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name
of the only begotten Son of God.
19 "And this
is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and
men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were
evil. 20 "For everyone practicing evil hates the light
and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.
21 "But he who does the truth comes to the light, that
his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God."
John 10:9-11
9 "I am the
door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in
and out and find pasture. 10 "The thief does not come except
to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may
have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
11 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life
for the sheep.
John 10:14-15
14 "I am the
good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My
own. 15 "As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father;
and I lay down My life for the sheep.
John 10:17-18
17 "Therefore
My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take
it again. 18 "No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down
of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take
it again. This command I have received from My Father."
John 10:27-30
27 "My sheep
hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 "And
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither
shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 "My Father,
who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one
is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. 30 "I
and My Father are one."
John 11:25-27
25 Jesus said
to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in
Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 "And whoever lives
and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?" 27
She said to Him, "Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ,
the Son of God, who is to come into the world."
John 14:1-3
1 "Let not
your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.
2 "In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were
not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place
for you. 3 "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I
will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there
you may be also.
John 14:6
6 Jesus said
to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to
the Father except through Me.
Romans 5:1-8
1 Therefore,
having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through
our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access
by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope
of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we
also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces
perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character,
hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love
of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who
was given to us.
6 For when
we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the
ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die;
yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while
we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 8:1
1 There is therefore
now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not
walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
Romans 8:14-18
14 For as many
as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15
For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear,
but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba,
Father." 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit
that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs;
heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer
with Him, that we may also be glorified together. 18
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are
not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be
revealed in us.
Romans 8:28
28 And we know
that all things work together for good to those who love God,
to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:31-35
31 What then
shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can
be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son,
but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also
freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge
against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who
is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore
is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also
makes intercession for us.
35 Who shall
separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation,
or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril,
or sword?
Romans 8:37-39
37 Yet in all
these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved
us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life,
nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor
things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other
created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God
which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
2 Corinthians 1:3-5
3 Blessed be
the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of
mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all
our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are
in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted
by God. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us,
so our consolation also abounds through Christ.
Galatians 2:20
20 "I have
been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ
lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh
I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself
for me.
Ephesians 2:1-10
1 And you He
made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in
which you once walked according to the course of this world, according
to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works
in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once
conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the
desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children
of wrath, just as the others.
4 But God,
who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He
loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made
us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
6 and raised us up together, and made us sit
together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that
in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His
grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace
you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves;
it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone
should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in
Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that
we should walk in them.
Philippians 4:4-8
4 Rejoice in
the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your
gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 6
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication,
with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7
and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will
guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
8 Finally,
brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble,
whatever things are just, whatever things are pure,
whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of
good report, if there is any virtue and if there is
anything praiseworthy; meditate on these things.
Philippians 4:13
13 I can do
all things through Christ who strengthens me.
1 Thessalonians
5:16-18
16 Rejoice
always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything
give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Titus 3:3-8
3 For we ourselves
were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various
lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating
one another. 4 But when the kindness and the love of God
our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness
which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through
the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6
whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our
Savior, 7 that having been justified by His grace we should
become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
8 This is a
faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly,
that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain
good works. These things are good and profitable to men.
Hebrews 12:1-4
1 Therefore
we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares
us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set
before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher
of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured
the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right
hand of the throne of God.
3 For consider
Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest
you become weary and discouraged in your souls. 4 You have
not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.
James 1:2-8
2 My brethren,
count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing
that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But
let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect
and complete, lacking nothing.
5 If any of
you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally
and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But
let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like
a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For
let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the
Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his
ways.
1 Peter 5:6-11
6 Therefore
humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt
you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for
He cares for you. 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your
adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom
he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing
that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in
the world. 10 But may the God of all grace, who called
us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered
a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. 11
To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever.
Amen.
1 John 1:8-9
8 If we say
that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not
in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just
to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Jude 24-25
24 Now to Him
who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you
faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding
joy, 25 To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory
and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.
Revelation 21-22
1 Then I saw
a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first
earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2
I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven
from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
3 And I heard
a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God
is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people,
and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 He
will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death
or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has
passed away."
5 He who was
seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then
he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and
true." 6 He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and
the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I
will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of
life. 7 He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will
be his God and he will be my son. 8 But the cowardly, the
unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those
who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars--their place
will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second
death."
9 One of the
seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues
came and said to me, "Come, I will show you the bride, the wife
of the Lamb." 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to
a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem,
coming down out of heaven from God. 11 It shone with the
glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious
jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. 12 It had a great,
high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates.
On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel.
13 There were three gates on the east, three on the north,
three on the south and three on the west. 14 The wall of
the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of
the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 15 The angel who talked
with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city, its gates
and its walls. 16 The city was laid out like a square,
as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and
found it to be 12,000 stadia in length, and as wide and high as
it is long. 17 He measured its wall and it was 144 cubits
thick, by man's measurement, which the angel was using. 18
The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure
as glass. 19 The foundations of the city walls were decorated
with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper,
the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald,
20 the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh
chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase,
the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. 21 The
twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl.
The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent
glass.
22 I did not
see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the
Lamb are its temple. 23 The city does not need the sun
or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light,
and the Lamb is its lamp. 24 The nations will walk by its
light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into
it. 25 On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there
will be no night there. 26 The glory and honor of the nations
will be brought into it. 27 Nothing impure will ever enter
it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but
only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.
22:1 Then the
angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal,
flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the
middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river
stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding
its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the
healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be any curse.
The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his
servants will serve him. 4 They will see his face, and
his name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will be no
more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light
of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will
reign for ever and ever.
6 The angel
said to me, "These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the
God of the spirits of the prophets, sent his angel to show his
servants the things that must soon take place." 7 "Behold,
I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy
in this book."
