Longing for God's House

841 How lovely are your dwellings,
Yahweh of Armies! 2 My soul longs, and even faints for the courts of Yahweh.
My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. 3 Yes, the sparrow has found a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young,
near your altars, Yahweh of Armies, my King, and my God. 4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house.
They are always praising you. Selah. 5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you;
who have set their hearts on a pilgrimage. 6 Passing through the valley of Weeping, they make it a place of springs.
Yes, the autumn rain covers it with blessings. 7 They go from strength to strength.
Everyone of them appears before God in Zion.

8 Yahweh, God of Armies, hear my prayer.
Listen, God of Jacob. Selah. 9 Behold, God our shield,
look at the face of your anointed. 10 For a day in your courts is better than a thousand.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God,
than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. 11 For Yahweh God is a sun and a shield.
Yahweh will give grace and glory.
He withholds no good thing from those who walk blamelessly. 12 Yahweh of Armies,
blessed is the man who trusts in you.

A Prayer for God's Mercy on Israel

851 Yahweh, you have been favorable to your land.
You have restored the fortunes of Jacob. 2 You have forgiven the iniquity of your people.
You have covered all their sin. Selah. 3 You have taken away all your wrath.
You have turned from the fierceness of your anger. 4 Turn us, God of our salvation,
and cause your indignation toward us to cease. 5 Will you be angry with us forever?
Will you draw out your anger to all generations? 6 Won’t you revive us again,
that your people may rejoice in you? 7 Show us your loving kindness, Yahweh.
Grant us your salvation.

8 I will hear what God, Yahweh, will speak,
for he will speak peace to his people, his saints;
but let them not turn again to folly. 9 Surely his salvation is near those who fear him,
that glory may dwell in our land. 10 Mercy and truth meet together.
Righteousness and peace have kissed each other. 11 Truth springs out of the earth.
Righteousness has looked down from heaven. 12 Yes, Yahweh will give that which is good.
Our land will yield its increase. 13 Righteousness goes before him,
And prepares the way for his steps.

A Prayer for God's Continued Mercy

861 Hear, Yahweh, and answer me,
for I am poor and needy. 2 Preserve my soul, for I am godly.
You, my God, save your servant who trusts in you. 3 Be merciful to me, Lord,
for I call to you all day long. 4 Bring joy to the soul of your servant,
for to you, Lord, do I lift up my soul. 5 For you, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive;
abundant in loving kindness to all those who call on you. 6 Hear, Yahweh, my prayer.
Listen to the voice of my petitions. 7 In the day of my trouble I will call on you,
for you will answer me.

8 There is no one like you among the gods, Lord,
nor any deeds like your deeds. 9 All nations you have made will come and worship before you, Lord.
They shall glorify your name. 10 For you are great, and do wondrous things.
You are God alone. 11 Teach me your way, Yahweh.
I will walk in your truth.
Make my heart undivided to fear your name. 12 I will praise you, Lord my God, with my whole heart.
I will glorify your name forevermore. 13 For your loving kindness is great toward me.
You have delivered my soul from the lowest Sheol. 14 God, the proud have risen up against me.
A company of violent men have sought after my soul,
and they don’t hold regard for you before them. 15 But you, Lord, are a merciful and gracious God,
slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness and truth. 16 Turn to me, and have mercy on me!
Give your strength to your servant.
Save the son of your handmaid. 17 Show me a sign of your goodness,
that those who hate me may see it, and be shamed,
because you, Yahweh, have helped me, and comforted me.

Exhortations for Christian Living

121 Therefore I urge you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service. 2 Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God. 3 For I say, through the grace that was given me, to every man who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think reasonably, as God has apportioned to each person a measure of faith. 4 For even as we have many members in one body, and all the members don’t have the same function, 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts differing according to the grace that was given to us, if prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of our faith; 7 or service, let us give ourselves to service; or he who teaches, to his teaching; 8 or he who exhorts, to his exhorting: he who gives, let him do it with liberality; he who rules, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. 9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil. Cling to that which is good. 10 In love of the brothers be tenderly affectionate one to another; in honor preferring one another; 11 not lagging in diligence; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope; enduring in troubles; continuing steadfastly in prayer; 13 contributing to the needs of the saints; given to hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless, and don’t curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice. Weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Don’t set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Don’t be wise in your own conceits. 17 Repay no one evil for evil. Respect what is honorable in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as it is up to you, be at peace with all men. 19 Don’t seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God’s wrath. For it is written, “Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.” [1] 20 Therefore

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him.
If he is thirsty, give him a drink;
for in doing so, you will heap coals of fire on his head.” [2] 21 Don’t be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.