Psalms 84; Psalms 85; Psalms 86; Romans 12

1 LORD who rules over all, how lovely is the place where you live!

2 I long to be in the courtyards of the LORD's temple. I deeply long to be there. My whole being cries out for the living God.

3 LORD who rules over all, even the sparrow has found a home near your altar. My King and my God, the swallow also has a nest there, where she may have her young.

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

5 Blessed are those whose strength comes from you. They have decided to travel to your temple.

6 As they pass through the dry Valley of Baca, they make it a place where water flows. The rain in the fall covers it with pools.

7 Those people get stronger as they go along, until each of them appears in Zion, where God lives.

8 LORD God who rules over all, hear my prayer. God of the people of Jacob, listen to me. "Selah"

9 God, look with favor on your anointed king. You appointed him to be like a shield that keeps us safe.

10 A single day in your courtyards is better than a thousand anywhere else. I would rather guard the door of the house of my God than live in the tents of sinful people.

11 The LORD God is like the sun that gives us light. He is like a shield that keeps us safe. The LORD blesses us with favor and honor. He doesn't hold back anything good from those whose lives are without blame.

12 LORD who rules over all, blessed is everyone who trusts in you.

1 Lord, you showed favor to your land. You blessed the people of Jacob with great success again.

2 You forgave the evil things your people did. You took away all of their sins. "Selah"

3 You stopped being angry with them. You turned your burning anger away from them.

4 God our Savior, make us new again. Stop being unhappy with us.

5 Will you be angry with us forever? Will you be angry for all time to come?

6 Won't you give us new life again? Then we'll be joyful because of what you have done.

7 Lord, show us your faithful love. Save us.

8 I will listen to what God the LORD will say. He promises peace to his faithful people. But they must not return to their foolish ways.

9 I know he's ready to save those who have respect for him. Then his glory can be seen in our land.

10 God's truth and faithful love join together. His peace and holiness kiss each other.

11 His truth springs up from the earth. His holiness looks down from heaven.

12 The LORD will certainly give what is good. Our land will produce its crops.

13 God's holiness leads the way in front of him. It prepares the way for his coming.

1 Lord, hear me and answer me. I am poor and needy.

2 Keep my life safe. I am faithful to you. You are my God. Save me. I trust in you.

3 Lord, show me your favor. I call out to you all day long.

4 Bring joy to me. Lord, I worship you.

5 Lord, you are good. You are forgiving. You are full of love for all who call out to you.

6 Lord, hear my prayer. Listen to my cry for your favor.

7 When I'm in trouble, I will call out to you. And you will answer me.

8 Lord, there's no one like you among the gods. No one can do what you do.

9 Lord, all of the nations you have made will come and worship you. They will bring glory to you.

10 You are great. You do wonderful things. You alone are God.

11 Lord, teach me how you want me to live. Then I will follow your truth. Give me a heart that doesn't want anything more than to worship you.

12 Lord my God, I will praise you with all my heart. I will bring glory to you forever.

13 Great is your love for me. You have kept me from going down into the grave.

14 God, proud people are attacking me. A gang of mean people is trying to kill me. They don't care about you.

15 But Lord, you are a God who is tender and kind. You are gracious. You are slow to get angry. You are faithful and full of love.

16 Turn to me and show me your favor. Give me strength and save me.

17 Prove your goodness to me. Then my enemies will see it and be put to shame. Lord, you have helped me and given me comfort.

1 Brothers and sisters, God has shown you his mercy. So I am asking you to offer up your bodies to him while you are still alive. Your bodies are a holy sacrifice that is pleasing to God. When you offer your bodies to God, you are worshiping him.

2 Don't live any longer the way this world lives. Let your way of thinking be completely changed. Then you will be able to test what God wants for you. And you will agree that what he wants is right. His plan is good and pleasing and perfect.

3 God's grace has been given to me. So here is what I say to every one of you. Don't think of yourself more highly than you should. Be reasonable when you think about yourself. Keep in mind the amount of faith God has given you.

4 Each of us has one body with many parts. And the parts do not all have the same purpose.

5 So also we are many persons. But in Christ we are one body. And each part of the body belongs to all the other parts.

6 We all have gifts. They differ in keeping with the grace that God has given each of us. Do you have the gift of prophecy? Then use it in keeping with the faith you have.

7 Is it your gift to serve? Then serve. Is it teaching? Then teach.

8 Is it telling others how they should live? Then tell them. Is it giving to those who are in need? Then give freely. Is it being a leader? Then work hard at it. Is it showing mercy? Then do it cheerfully.

9 Love must be honest and true. Hate what is evil. Hold on to what is good.

10 Love each other deeply. Honor others more than yourselves.

11 Never let the fire in your heart go out. Keep it alive. Serve the Lord.

12 When you hope, be joyful. When you suffer, be patient. When you pray, be faithful.

13 Share with God's people who are in need. Welcome others into your homes.

14 Bless those who hurt you. Bless them, and do not call down curses on them.

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

16 Agree with each other. Don't be proud. Be willing to be a friend of people who aren't considered important. Don't think that you are better than others.

17 Don't pay back evil with evil. Be careful to do what everyone thinks is right.

18 If possible, live in peace with everyone. Do that as much as you can.

19 My friends, don't try to get even. Leave room for God to show his anger. It is written, "I am the One who judges people. I will pay them back,"(Deuteronomy 32:35) says the Lord.

20 Do just the opposite. Scripture says, "If your enemies are hungry, give them food to eat. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. By doing those things, you will pile up burning coals on their heads." (Proverbs 25:21,22)

21 Don't let evil overcome you. Overcome evil by doing good.