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Psalm 94

God the Avenger of the Righteous

O Lord, you God of vengeance,
    you God of vengeance, shine forth!(A)
Rise up, O judge of the earth;
    give to the proud what they deserve!(B)
O Lord, how long shall the wicked,
    how long shall the wicked exult?(C)

They pour out their arrogant words;
    all the evildoers boast.(D)
They crush your people, O Lord,
    and afflict your heritage.
They kill the widow and the stranger;
    they murder the orphan,
and they say, “The Lord does not see;
    the God of Jacob does not perceive.”(E)

Understand, O dullest of the people;
    fools, when will you be wise?(F)
He who planted the ear, does he not hear?
He who formed the eye, does he not see?(G)
10 He who disciplines the nations,
he who teaches knowledge to humankind,
    does he not chastise?(H)
11 The Lord knows our thoughts,[a]
    that they are but an empty breath.(I)

12 Happy are those whom you discipline, O Lord,
    and whom you teach out of your law,(J)
13 giving them respite from days of trouble,
    until a pit is dug for the wicked.
14 For the Lord will not forsake his people;
    he will not abandon his heritage;(K)
15 for justice will return to the righteous,
    and all the upright in heart will follow it.

16 Who rises up for me against the wicked?
    Who stands up for me against evildoers?(L)
17 If the Lord had not been my help,
    my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence.(M)
18 When I thought, “My foot is slipping,”
    your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up.(N)
19 When the cares of my heart are many,
    your consolations cheer my soul.(O)
20 Can wicked rulers be allied with you,
    those who contrive mischief by statute?(P)
21 They band together against the life of the righteous
    and condemn the innocent to death.(Q)
22 But the Lord has become my stronghold
    and my God the rock of my refuge.(R)
23 He will repay them for their iniquity
    and wipe them out for their wickedness;
    the Lord our God will wipe them out.(S)

Psalm 95

A Call to Worship and Obedience

O come, let us sing to the Lord;
    let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!(T)
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
    let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!(U)
For the Lord is a great God
    and a great King above all gods.(V)
In his hand are the depths of the earth;
    the heights of the mountains are his also.
The sea is his, for he made it,
    and the dry land, which his hands have formed.(W)

O come, let us worship and bow down;
    let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!(X)
For he is our God,
    and we are the people of his pasture
    and the sheep of his hand.

O that today you would listen to his voice!(Y)
    Do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah,
    as on the day at Massah in the wilderness,(Z)
when your ancestors tested me
    and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work.(AA)
10 For forty years I loathed that generation
    and said, “They are a people whose hearts go astray,
    and they do not regard my ways.”(AB)
11 Therefore in my anger I swore,
    “They shall not enter my rest.”(AC)

Psalm 96

Praise to God Who Comes in Judgment

O sing to the Lord a new song;
    sing to the Lord, all the earth.(AD)
Sing to the Lord; bless his name;
    tell of his salvation from day to day.(AE)
Declare his glory among the nations,
    his marvelous works among all the peoples.(AF)
For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised;
    he is to be revered above all gods.(AG)
For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
    but the Lord made the heavens.(AH)
Honor and majesty are before him;
    strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.(AI)

Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples,
    ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.(AJ)
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
    bring an offering, and come into his courts.(AK)
Worship the Lord in holy splendor;
    tremble before him, all the earth.(AL)

10 Say among the nations, “The Lord is king!
    The world is firmly established; it shall never be moved.
    He will judge the peoples with equity.”(AM)
11 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
    let the sea roar and all that fills it;(AN)
12     let the field exult and everything in it.
Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy
13     before the Lord, for he is coming,
    for he is coming to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness
    and the peoples with his truth.(AO)

Footnotes

  1. 94.11 Heb the thoughts of humankind

Psalm 94

The Lord is a God who avenges.(A)
    O God who avenges, shine forth.(B)
Rise up,(C) Judge(D) of the earth;
    pay back(E) to the proud what they deserve.
How long, Lord, will the wicked,
    how long will the wicked be jubilant?(F)

They pour out arrogant(G) words;
    all the evildoers are full of boasting.(H)
They crush your people,(I) Lord;
    they oppress your inheritance.(J)
They slay the widow(K) and the foreigner;
    they murder the fatherless.(L)
They say, “The Lord does not see;(M)
    the God of Jacob(N) takes no notice.”

Take notice, you senseless ones(O) among the people;
    you fools, when will you become wise?
Does he who fashioned the ear not hear?
    Does he who formed the eye not see?(P)
10 Does he who disciplines(Q) nations not punish?
    Does he who teaches(R) mankind lack knowledge?
11 The Lord knows all human plans;(S)
    he knows that they are futile.(T)

12 Blessed is the one you discipline,(U) Lord,
    the one you teach(V) from your law;
13 you grant them relief from days of trouble,(W)
    till a pit(X) is dug for the wicked.
14 For the Lord will not reject his people;(Y)
    he will never forsake his inheritance.
15 Judgment will again be founded on righteousness,(Z)
    and all the upright in heart(AA) will follow it.

16 Who will rise up(AB) for me against the wicked?
    Who will take a stand for me against evildoers?(AC)
17 Unless the Lord had given me help,(AD)
    I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death.(AE)
18 When I said, “My foot is slipping,(AF)
    your unfailing love, Lord, supported me.
19 When anxiety(AG) was great within me,
    your consolation(AH) brought me joy.

20 Can a corrupt throne(AI) be allied with you—
    a throne that brings on misery by its decrees?(AJ)
21 The wicked band together(AK) against the righteous
    and condemn the innocent(AL) to death.(AM)
22 But the Lord has become my fortress,
    and my God the rock(AN) in whom I take refuge.(AO)
23 He will repay(AP) them for their sins
    and destroy(AQ) them for their wickedness;
    the Lord our God will destroy them.

Psalm 95

Come,(AR) let us sing for joy(AS) to the Lord;
    let us shout aloud(AT) to the Rock(AU) of our salvation.
Let us come before him(AV) with thanksgiving(AW)
    and extol him with music(AX) and song.

For the Lord is the great God,(AY)
    the great King(AZ) above all gods.(BA)
In his hand are the depths of the earth,(BB)
    and the mountain peaks belong to him.
The sea is his, for he made it,
    and his hands formed the dry land.(BC)

Come, let us bow down(BD) in worship,(BE)
    let us kneel(BF) before the Lord our Maker;(BG)
for he is our God
    and we are the people of his pasture,(BH)
    the flock under his care.

Today, if only you would hear his voice,
“Do not harden your hearts(BI) as you did at Meribah,[a](BJ)
    as you did that day at Massah[b] in the wilderness,(BK)
where your ancestors tested(BL) me;
    they tried me, though they had seen what I did.
10 For forty years(BM) I was angry with that generation;
    I said, ‘They are a people whose hearts go astray,(BN)
    and they have not known my ways.’(BO)
11 So I declared on oath(BP) in my anger,
    ‘They shall never enter my rest.’”(BQ)

Psalm 96(BR)

Sing to the Lord(BS) a new song;(BT)
    sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Sing to the Lord, praise his name;(BU)
    proclaim his salvation(BV) day after day.
Declare his glory(BW) among the nations,
    his marvelous deeds(BX) among all peoples.

For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;(BY)
    he is to be feared(BZ) above all gods.(CA)
For all the gods of the nations are idols,(CB)
    but the Lord made the heavens.(CC)
Splendor and majesty(CD) are before him;
    strength and glory(CE) are in his sanctuary.

Ascribe to the Lord,(CF) all you families of nations,(CG)
    ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
    bring an offering(CH) and come into his courts.(CI)
Worship the Lord(CJ) in the splendor of his[c] holiness;(CK)
    tremble(CL) before him, all the earth.(CM)
10 Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.(CN)
    The world is firmly established,(CO) it cannot be moved;(CP)
    he will judge(CQ) the peoples with equity.(CR)

11 Let the heavens rejoice,(CS) let the earth be glad;(CT)
    let the sea resound, and all that is in it.
12 Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them;
    let all the trees of the forest(CU) sing for joy.(CV)
13 Let all creation rejoice before the Lord, for he comes,
    he comes to judge(CW) the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness(CX)
    and the peoples in his faithfulness.(CY)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 95:8 Meribah means quarreling.
  2. Psalm 95:8 Massah means testing.
  3. Psalm 96:9 Or Lord with the splendor of

Paul’s Reason for Writing So Boldly

14 I myself feel confident about you, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to instruct one another.(A) 15 Nevertheless, on some points I have written to you rather boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God(B) 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.(C) 17 In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to boast of my work for God. 18 For I will not be so bold as to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to win obedience from the gentiles, by word and deed, 19 by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit,[a] so that from Jerusalem and as far around as Illyricum I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.(D) 20 Thus I make it my ambition to proclaim the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, so that I do not build on someone else’s foundation,(E) 21 but as it is written,

“Those who have never been told of him shall see,
    and those who have never heard of him shall understand.”(F)

Paul’s Plan to Visit Rome

22 This is the reason that I have so often been hindered from coming to you. 23 But now, with no further place for me in these regions, I desire, as I have for many years, to come to you(G) 24 when I go to Spain. For I do hope to see you on my journey and to be sent on by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a little while. 25 At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem in a ministry to the saints,(H) 26 for Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to share their resources with the poor among the saints at Jerusalem.(I) 27 They were pleased to do this, and indeed they owe it to them, for if the gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material things.(J) 28 So, when I have completed this and have delivered to them what has been collected,[b] I will set out by way of you to Spain, 29 and I know that when I come to you I will come in the fullness of the blessing[c] of Christ.

30 I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in earnest prayer to God on my behalf,(K) 31 that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea and that my ministry[d] to Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, 32 so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company.(L) 33 The God of peace be with all of you.[e] Amen.(M)

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Footnotes

  1. 15.19 Other ancient authorities read the Spirit of God or the Holy Spirit
  2. 15.28 Gk have sealed to them this fruit
  3. 15.29 Other ancient authorities add of the gospel
  4. 15.31 Other ancient authorities read my bringing of a gift
  5. 15.33 One ancient authority adds 16.25–27 here

Paul the Minister to the Gentiles

14 I myself am convinced, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness,(A) filled with knowledge(B) and competent to instruct one another. 15 Yet I have written you quite boldly on some points to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me(C) 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles.(D) He gave me the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God,(E) so that the Gentiles might become an offering(F) acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

17 Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus(G) in my service to God.(H) 18 I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles(I) to obey God(J) by what I have said and done— 19 by the power of signs and wonders,(K) through the power of the Spirit of God.(L) So from Jerusalem(M) all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.(N) 20 It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel(O) where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation.(P) 21 Rather, as it is written:

“Those who were not told about him will see,
    and those who have not heard will understand.”[a](Q)

22 This is why I have often been hindered from coming to you.(R)

Paul’s Plan to Visit Rome

23 But now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions, and since I have been longing for many years to visit you,(S) 24 I plan to do so when I go to Spain.(T) I hope to see you while passing through and to have you assist(U) me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a while. 25 Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem(V) in the service(W) of the Lord’s people(X) there. 26 For Macedonia(Y) and Achaia(Z) were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the Lord’s people in Jerusalem.(AA) 27 They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews’ spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings.(AB) 28 So after I have completed this task and have made sure that they have received this contribution, I will go to Spain(AC) and visit you on the way. 29 I know that when I come to you,(AD) I will come in the full measure of the blessing of Christ.

30 I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit,(AE) to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me.(AF) 31 Pray that I may be kept safe(AG) from the unbelievers in Judea and that the contribution(AH) I take to Jerusalem may be favorably received by the Lord’s people(AI) there, 32 so that I may come to you(AJ) with joy, by God’s will,(AK) and in your company be refreshed.(AL) 33 The God of peace(AM) be with you all. Amen.

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 15:21 Isaiah 52:15 (see Septuagint)