The LORD's Dominion and Power

971 The Lord reigns; let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad! 2 Clouds and thick darkness are round about him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. 3 Fire goes before him, and burns up his adversaries round about. 4 His lightnings lighten the world; the earth sees and trembles. 5 The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth. 6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness; and all the peoples behold his glory. 7 All worshipers of images are put to shame, who make their boast in worthless idols; all gods bow down before him.

8 Zion hears and is glad, and the daughters of Judah rejoice, because of thy judgments, O God. 9 For thou, O Lord, art most high over all the earth; thou art exalted far above all gods. 10 The Lord loves those who hate evil; he preserves the lives of his saints; he delivers them from the hand of the wicked. 11 Light dawns for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart. 12 Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name!

Praise for God's Righteousness

981 A Psalm. O sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have gotten him victory. 2 The Lord has made known his victory, he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations. 3 He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.

4 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises! 5 Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody! 6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord! 7 Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who dwell in it! 8 Let the floods clap their hands; let the hills sing for joy together 9 before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.

The LORD's Faithfulness to Israel

991 The Lord reigns; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake! 2 The Lord is great in Zion; he is exalted over all the peoples. 3 Let them praise thy great and terrible name! Holy is he! 4 Mighty King, lover of justice, thou hast established equity; thou hast executed justice and righteousness in Jacob. 5 Extol the Lord our God; worship at his footstool! Holy is he!

6 Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel also was among those who called on his name. They cried to the Lord, and he answered them. 7 He spoke to them in the pillar of cloud; they kept his testimonies, and the statutes that he gave them. 8 O Lord our God, thou didst answer them; thou wast a forgiving God to them, but an avenger of their wrongdoings. 9 Extol the Lord our God, and worship at his holy mountain; for the Lord our God is holy!

Personal Greetings

161 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deaconess of the church at Cen'chre-ae, 2 that you may receive her in the Lord as befits the saints, and help her in whatever she may require from you, for she has been a helper of many and of myself as well. 3 Greet Prisca and Aq'uila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 4 who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I but also all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks; 5 greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epae'netus, who was the first convert in Asia for Christ. 6 Greet Mary, who has worked hard among you. 7 Greet Androni'cus and Ju'nias, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners; they are men of note among the apostles, and they were in Christ before me. 8 Greet Amplia'tus, my beloved in the Lord. 9 Greet Urba'nus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys. 10 Greet Apel'les, who is approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the family of Aristobu'lus. 11 Greet my kinsman Hero'dion. Greet those in the Lord who belong to the family of Narcis'sus. 12 Greet those workers in the Lord, Tryphae'na and Trypho'sa. Greet the beloved Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord. 13 Greet Rufus, eminent in the Lord, also his mother and mine. 14 Greet Asyn'critus, Phlegon, Hermes, Pat'robas, Hermas, and the brethren who are with them. 15 Greet Philol'ogus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olym'pas, and all the saints who are with them. 16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.

17 I appeal to you, brethren, to take note of those who create dissensions and difficulties, in opposition to the doctrine which you have been taught; avoid them. 18 For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by fair and flattering words they deceive the hearts of the simple-minded. 19 For while your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, I would have you wise as to what is good and guileless as to what is evil; 20 then the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

21 Timothy, my fellow worker, greets you; so do Lucius and Jason and Sosip'ater, my kinsmen. 22 I Tertius, the writer of this letter, greet you in the Lord. 23 Ga'ius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Eras'tus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus, greet you. 24 * [No text]

Concluding Doxology

25 Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which was kept secret for long ages 26 but is now disclosed and through the prophetic writings is made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith-- 27 to the only wise God be glory for evermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.