Psalms 87; Psalms 88; Romans 13

Psalms 87

1 God's foundation is set on the holy mountains.

2 The LORD loves Zion's gates more than all of Jacob's houses combined.

3 Glorious things are said about you, the city of God! Selah

4 I count Rahab and Babel among those who know me; also Philistia and Tyre, along with Cush— each of these was born there.

5 And of Zion it is said: "Each person was born in it, but the one who will establish it is the Most High."

6 The LORD makes a record as he registers the peoples: "Each one was born there." Selah

7 And while they dance, people sing: "The source of my life comes from you."

Psalms 88

1 LORD, God of my salvation, by day I cry out, even at night, before you—

2 let my prayer reach you! Turn your ear to my outcry

3 because my whole being is filled with distress; my life is at the very brink of hell.

4 I am considered as one of those plummeting into the pit. I am like those who are beyond help,

5 drifting among the dead, lying in the grave, like dead bodies— those you don't remember anymore, those who are cut off from your power.

6 You placed me down in the deepest pit, in places dark and deep.

7 Your anger smothers me; you subdue me with it, wave after wave. Selah

8 You've made my friends distant. You've made me disgusting to them. I can't escape. I'm trapped!

9 My eyes are tired of looking at my suffering. I've been calling out to you every day, LORD— I've had my hands outstretched to you!

10 Do you work wonders for the dead? Do ghosts rise up and give you thanks? Selah

11 Is your faithful love proclaimed in the grave, your faithfulness in the underworld?

12 Are your wonders known in the land of darkness, your righteousness in the land of oblivion?

13 But I cry out to you, LORD! My prayer meets youfirst thing in the morning!

14 Why do you reject my very being, LORD? Why do you hide your face from me?

15 Since I was young I've been afflicted, I've been dying. I've endured your terrors. I'm lifeless.

16 Your fiery anger has overwhelmed me; your terrors have destroyed me.

17 They surround me all day long like water; they engulf me completely.

18 You've made my loved ones and companions distant. My only friend is darkness.

Romans 13

1 Every person should place themselves under the authority of the government. There isn't any authority unless it comes from God, and the authorities that are there have been put in place by God.

2 So anyone who opposes the authority is standing against what God has established. People who take this kind of stand will get punished.

3 The authorities don't frighten people who are doing the right thing. Rather, they frighten people who are doing wrong. Would you rather not be afraid of authority? Do what's right, and you will receive its approval.

4 It is God's servant given for your benefit. But if you do what's wrong, be afraid because it doesn't have weapons to enforce the law for nothing. It is God's servant put in place to carry out his punishment on those who do what is wrong.

5 That is why it is necessary to place yourself under the government's authority, not only to avoid God's punishment but also for the sake of your conscience.

6 You should also pay taxes for the same reason, because the authorities are God's assistants, concerned with this very thing.

7 So pay everyone what you owe them. Pay the taxes you owe, pay the duties you are charged, give respect to those you should respect, and honor those you should honor.

8 Don't be in debt to anyone, except for the obligation to love each other. Whoever loves another person has fulfilled the Law.

9 The commandments, Don't commit adultery, don't murder, don't steal, don't desire what others have, and any other commandments, are all summed up in one word: You must love your neighbor as yourself.

10 Love doesn't do anything wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is what fulfills the Law.

11 As you do all this, you know what time it is. The hour has already come for you to wake up from your sleep. Now our salvation is nearer than when we first had faith.

12 The night is almost over, and the day is near. So let's get rid of the actions that belong to the darkness and put on the weapons of light.

13 Let's behave appropriately as people who live in the day, not in partying and getting drunk, not in sleeping around and obscene behavior, not in fighting and obsession.

14 Instead, dress yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ, and don't plan to indulge your selfish desires.