Psalm 84[a]

For the director of music. According to gittith.[b] Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.

How lovely is your dwelling place,(A)
    Lord Almighty!
My soul yearns,(B) even faints,
    for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh cry out
    for the living God.(C)
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,(D)
    Lord Almighty,(E) my King(F) and my God.(G)
Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
    they are ever praising you.[c]

Blessed are those whose strength(H) is in you,
    whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.(I)
As they pass through the Valley of Baka,
    they make it a place of springs;(J)
    the autumn(K) rains also cover it with pools.[d]
They go from strength to strength,(L)
    till each appears(M) before God in Zion.(N)

Hear my prayer,(O) Lord God Almighty;
    listen to me, God of Jacob.
Look on our shield,[e](P) O God;
    look with favor on your anointed one.(Q)

10 Better is one day in your courts
    than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper(R) in the house of my God
    than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
11 For the Lord God is a sun(S) and shield;(T)
    the Lord bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold(U)
    from those whose walk is blameless.

12 Lord Almighty,
    blessed(V) is the one who trusts in you.

Psalm 85[f]

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.

You, Lord, showed favor to your land;
    you restored the fortunes(W) of Jacob.
You forgave(X) the iniquity(Y) of your people
    and covered all their sins.[g]
You set aside all your wrath(Z)
    and turned from your fierce anger.(AA)

Restore(AB) us again, God our Savior,(AC)
    and put away your displeasure toward us.
Will you be angry with us forever?(AD)
    Will you prolong your anger through all generations?
Will you not revive(AE) us again,
    that your people may rejoice(AF) in you?
Show us your unfailing love,(AG) Lord,
    and grant us your salvation.(AH)

I will listen to what God the Lord says;
    he promises peace(AI) to his people, his faithful servants—
    but let them not turn to folly.(AJ)
Surely his salvation(AK) is near those who fear him,
    that his glory(AL) may dwell in our land.

10 Love and faithfulness(AM) meet together;
    righteousness(AN) and peace kiss each other.
11 Faithfulness springs forth from the earth,
    and righteousness(AO) looks down from heaven.
12 The Lord will indeed give what is good,(AP)
    and our land will yield(AQ) its harvest.
13 Righteousness goes before him
    and prepares the way for his steps.

Psalm 86

A prayer of David.

Hear me, Lord, and answer(AR) me,
    for I am poor and needy.
Guard my life, for I am faithful to you;
    save your servant who trusts in you.(AS)
You are my God; have mercy(AT) on me, Lord,
    for I call(AU) to you all day long.
Bring joy to your servant, Lord,
    for I put my trust(AV) in you.

You, Lord, are forgiving and good,
    abounding in love(AW) to all who call to you.
Hear my prayer, Lord;
    listen to my cry(AX) for mercy.
When I am in distress,(AY) I call(AZ) to you,
    because you answer(BA) me.

Among the gods(BB) there is none like you,(BC) Lord;
    no deeds can compare with yours.
All the nations you have made
    will come(BD) and worship(BE) before you, Lord;
    they will bring glory(BF) to your name.
10 For you are great(BG) and do marvelous deeds;(BH)
    you alone(BI) are God.

11 Teach me your way,(BJ) Lord,
    that I may rely on your faithfulness;(BK)
give me an undivided(BL) heart,
    that I may fear(BM) your name.
12 I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart;(BN)
    I will glorify your name forever.
13 For great is your love toward me;
    you have delivered me(BO) from the depths,
    from the realm of the dead.(BP)

14 Arrogant foes are attacking me, O God;
    ruthless people are trying to kill me—
    they have no regard for you.(BQ)
15 But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious(BR) God,
    slow to anger,(BS) abounding(BT) in love and faithfulness.(BU)
16 Turn to me(BV) and have mercy(BW) on me;
    show your strength(BX) in behalf of your servant;
save me, because I serve you
    just as my mother did.(BY)
17 Give me a sign(BZ) of your goodness,
    that my enemies may see it and be put to shame,
    for you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 84:1 In Hebrew texts 84:1-12 is numbered 84:2-13.
  2. Psalm 84:1 Title: Probably a musical term
  3. Psalm 84:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 8.
  4. Psalm 84:6 Or blessings
  5. Psalm 84:9 Or sovereign
  6. Psalm 85:1 In Hebrew texts 85:1-13 is numbered 85:2-14.
  7. Psalm 85:2 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.

Submission to Governing Authorities

13 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities,(A) for there is no authority except that which God has established.(B) The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted,(C) and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended.(D) For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.(E) Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.(F)

This is also why you pay taxes,(G) for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes;(H) if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

Love Fulfills the Law

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.(I) The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,”[a](J) and whatever other command there may be, are summed up(K) in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”[b](L) 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.(M)

The Day Is Near

11 And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come(N) for you to wake up from your slumber,(O) because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here.(P) So let us put aside the deeds of darkness(Q) and put on the armor(R) of light. 13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness,(S) not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.(T) 14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ,(U) and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.[c](V)

Footnotes

  1. Romans 13:9 Exodus 20:13-15,17; Deut. 5:17-19,21
  2. Romans 13:9 Lev. 19:18
  3. Romans 13:14 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit.

Bible Gateway Recommends