Psalm 141

A psalm of David.

The Promise of Israel’s Return

¹⁴ The word of the Lord came to me: ¹⁵ “Son of man, the people of Jerusalem have said of your fellow exiles and all the other Israelites, ‘They are far away from the Lord; this land was given to us as our possession.’^(A)

¹⁶ “Therefore say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Although I sent them far away among the nations and scattered them among the countries, yet for a little while I have been a sanctuary^(B) for them in the countries where they have gone.’

¹⁷ “Therefore say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will gather you from the nations and bring you back from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you back the land of Israel again.’^(C)

¹⁸ “They will return to it and remove all its vile images^(D) and detestable idols.^{(E) 19} I will give them an undivided heart^(F) and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone^(G) and give them a heart of flesh.^{(H) 20} Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.^(I) They will be my people,^(J) and I will be their God.^{(K) 21} But as for those whose hearts are devoted to their vile images and detestable idols,^(L) I will bring down on their own heads what they have done, declares the Sovereign Lord.^(M)”

²² Then the cherubim, with the wheels beside them, spread their wings, and the glory^(N) of the God of Israel was above them.^{(O) 23} The glory^(P) of the Lord went up from within the city and stopped above the mountain^(Q) east of it. ²⁴ The Spirit^(R) lifted me up and brought me to the exiles in Babylonia^[a] in the vision^(S) given by the Spirit of God.

Then the vision I had seen went up from me, ²⁵ and I told the exiles everything the Lord had shown me.^(T)

²⁵ Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully^(A) to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.^{(B) 26} “In your anger do not sin”^[a]:^(C) Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, ²⁷ and do not give the devil a foothold.^{(D) 28} Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work,^(E) doing something useful with their own hands,^(F) that they may have something to share with those in need.^(G)

²⁹ Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths,^(H) but only what is helpful for building others up^(I) according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. ³⁰ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God,^(J) with whom you were sealed^(K) for the day of redemption.^{(L) 31} Get rid of^(M) all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.^{(N) 32} Be kind and compassionate to one another,^(O) forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.^(P) 5 ¹ Follow God’s example,^(Q) therefore, as dearly loved children^{(R) 2} and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us^(S) and gave himself up for us^(T) as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.^(U)