Psalms 84; Psalms 85; Psalms 86; Romans 12

1 Your dwelling place is lovely, O LORD of Armies!

2 My soul longs and yearns for the LORD's courtyards. My whole body shouts for joy to the living God.

3 Even sparrows find a home, and swallows find a nest for themselves. There they hatch their young near your altars, O LORD of Armies, my king and my God.

4 Blessed are those who live in your house. They are always praising you. Selah

5 Blessed are those who find strength in you. Their hearts are on the road [that leads to you].

6 As they pass through a valley where balsam trees grow, they make it a place of springs. The early rains cover it with blessings.

7 Their strength grows as they go along until each one of them appears in front of God in Zion.

8 O LORD God, commander of armies, hear my prayer. Open your ears, O God of Jacob. Selah

9 Look at our shield, O God. Look with favor on the face of your anointed one.

10 One day in your courtyards is better than a thousand [anywhere else]. I would rather stand in the entrance to my God's house than live inside wicked people's homes.

11 The LORD God is a sun and shield. The LORD grants favor and honor. He does not hold back any blessing from those who live innocently.

12 O LORD of Armies, blessed is the person who trusts you.

1 You favored your land, O LORD. You restored the fortunes of Jacob.

2 You removed your people's guilt. You pardoned all their sins.

3 You laid aside all your fury. You turned away from your burning anger.

4 Restore us, O God, our savior. Put an end to your anger against us.

5 Will you be angry with us forever? Will you ever let go of your anger in the generations to come?

6 Won't you restore our lives again so that your people may find joy in you?

7 Show us your mercy, O LORD, by giving us your salvation.

8 I want to hear what God the LORD says, because he promises peace to his people, to his godly ones. But they must not go back to their stupidity.

9 Indeed, his salvation is near those who fear him, and [his] glory will remain in our land.

10 Mercy and truth have met. Righteousness and peace have kissed.

11 Truth sprouts from the ground, and righteousness looks down from heaven.

12 The LORD will certainly give us what is good, and our land will produce crops.

13 Righteousness will go ahead of him and make a path for his steps.

1 Turn your ear [toward me], O LORD. Answer me, because I am oppressed and needy.

2 Protect me, because I am faithful [to you]. Save your servant who trusts you. You are my God.

3 Have pity on me, O Lord, because I call out to you all day long.

4 Give me joy, O Lord, because I lift my soul to you.

5 You, O Lord, are good and forgiving, full of mercy toward everyone who calls out to you.

6 Open your ears to my prayer, O LORD. Pay attention when I plead for mercy.

7 When I am in trouble, I call out to you because you answer me.

8 No god is like you, O Lord. No one can do what you do.

9 All the nations that you have made will bow in your presence, O Lord. They will honor you.

10 Indeed, you are great, a worker of miracles. You alone are God.

11 Teach me your way, O LORD, so that I may live in your truth. Focus my heart on fearing you.

12 I will give thanks to you with all my heart, O Lord my God. I will honor you forever

13 because your mercy toward me is great. You have rescued me from the depths of hell.

14 O God, arrogant people attack me, and a mob of ruthless people seeks my life. They think nothing of you.

15 But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and merciful God. You are patient, always faithful and ready to forgive.

16 Turn toward me, and have pity on me. Give me your strength because I am your servant. Save me because I am the son of your female servant.

17 Grant me some proof of your goodness so that those who hate me may see it and be put to shame. You, O LORD, have helped me and comforted me.

1 Brothers and sisters, in view of all we have just shared about God's compassion, I encourage you to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, dedicated to God and pleasing to him. This kind of worship is appropriate for you.

2 Don't become like the people of this world. Instead, change the way you think. Then you will always be able to determine what God really wants--what is good, pleasing, and perfect.

3 Because of the kindness that God has shown me, I ask you not to think of yourselves more highly than you should. Instead, your thoughts should lead you to use good judgment based on what God has given each of you as believers.

4 Our bodies have many parts, but these parts don't all do the same thing.

5 In the same way, even though we are many individuals, Christ makes us one body and individuals who are connected to each other.

6 God in his kindness gave each of us different gifts. If your gift is speaking God's word, make sure what you say agrees with the Christian faith.

7 If your gift is serving, then devote yourself to serving. If it is teaching, devote yourself to teaching.

8 If it is encouraging others, devote yourself to giving encouragement. If it is sharing, be generous. If it is leadership, lead enthusiastically. If it is helping people in need, help them cheerfully.

9 Love sincerely. Hate evil. Hold on to what is good.

10 Be devoted to each other like a loving family. Excel in showing respect for each other.

11 Don't be lazy in showing your devotion. Use your energy to serve the Lord.

12 Be happy in your confidence, be patient in trouble, and pray continually.

13 Share what you have with God's people who are in need. Be hospitable.

14 Bless those who persecute you. Bless them, and don't curse them.

15 Be happy with those who are happy. Be sad with those who are sad.

16 Live in harmony with each other. Don't be arrogant, but be friendly to humble people. Don't think that you are smarter than you really are.

17 Don't pay people back with evil for the evil they do to you. Focus your thoughts on those things that are considered noble.

18 As much as it is possible, live in peace with everyone.

19 Don't take revenge, dear friends. Instead, let God's anger take care of it. After all, Scripture says, "I alone have the right to take revenge. I will pay back, says the Lord."

20 But, "If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink. If you do this, you will make him feel guilty and ashamed."

21 Don't let evil conquer you, but conquer evil with good.