Sunday, June 1, 2008

Blessing

Everyone Should Praise God

Psalm 67

FOR THE DIRECTOR OF MUSIC. WITH STRINGED INSTRUMENTS. A
PSALM. A SONG.

1God, have mercy on us and bless us

and show us your kindness

Selah

2so the world will learn your ways,

and all nations will learn that you can save.

3God, the people should praise you;

all people should praise you.

4The nations should be glad and sing

because you judge people fairly.

You guide all the nations on earth.

Selah

5God, the people should praise you;

all people should praise you.

6The land has given its crops.

God, our God, blesses us.

7God blesses us

so people all over the earth will fear him.

Title: The Holy Bible, New Century Version

A Prayer for the King

Psalm 72

OF SOLOMON.

1God, give the king your good judgment

and the king’s son your goodness.

2Help him judge your people fairly

and decide what is right for the poor.

3Let there be peace on the mountains

and goodness on the hills for the people.

4Help him be fair to the poor

and save the needy

and punish those who hurt them.

5May they respect you as long as the sun shines

and as long as the moon glows.

6Let him be like rain on the grass,

like showers that water the earth.

7Let goodness be plentiful while he lives.

Let peace continue as long as there is a moon.

8Let his kingdom go from sea to sea,

and from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth.

9Let the people of the desert bow down to him,

and make his enemies lick the dust.

10Let the kings of Tarshish and the faraway lands

bring him gifts.

Let the kings of Sheba and Seba

bring their presents to him.

11Let all kings bow down to him

and all nations serve him.

12He will help the poor when they cry out

and will save the needy when no one else will help.

13He will be kind to the weak and poor,

and he will save their lives.

14He will save them from cruel people who try to hurt them,

because their lives are precious to him.

15Long live the king!

Let him receive gold from Sheba.

Let people always pray for him

and bless him all day long.

16Let the fields grow plenty of grain

and the hills be covered with crops.

Let the land be as fertile as Lebanon,

and let the cities grow like the grass in a field.

17Let the king be famous forever;

let him be remembered as long as the sun shines.

Let the nations be blessed because of him,

and may they all bless him.

18Praise the LORD God, the God of Israel,

who alone does such miracles.

19Praise his glorious name forever.

Let his glory fill the whole world.

Amen and amen.

20This ends the prayers of David son of Jesse.

Title: The Holy Bible, New Century Version

Wishing to Be in the Temple

Psalm 84

FOR THE DIRECTOR OF MUSIC. ON THE GITTITH. A PSALM OF THE
SONS OF KORAH.

1LORD All-Powerful,

how lovely is your Temple!

2I want more than anything

to be in the courtyards of the LORD’S Temple.

My whole being wants

to be with the living God.

3The sparrows have found a home,

and the swallows have nests.

They raise their young near your altars,

LORD All-Powerful, my King and my God.

4Happy are the people who live at your Temple;

they are always praising you.

Selah

5Happy are those whose strength comes from you,

who want to travel to Jerusalem.

6As they pass through the Valley of Baca,

they make it like a spring.

The autumn rains fill it with pools of water.

7The people get stronger as they go,

and everyone meets with God in Jerusalem.

8LORD God All-Powerful, hear my prayer;

God of Jacob, listen to me.

Selah

9God, look at our shield;

be kind to your appointed king.

10One day in the courtyards of your Temple is better

than a thousand days anywhere else.

I would rather be a doorkeeper in the Temple of my God

than live in the homes of the wicked.

11The LORD God is like a sun and shield;

the LORD gives us kindness and honor.

He does not hold back anything good

from those whose lives are innocent.

12LORD All-Powerful,

happy are the people who trust you!

Title: The Holy Bible, New Century Version

The Happy Home

Psalm 128

A SONG FOR GOING UP TO WORSHIP.

1Happy are those who respect the LORD

and obey him.

2You will enjoy what you work for,

and you will be blessed with good things.

3Your wife will give you many children,

like a vine that produces much fruit.

Your children will bring you much good,

like olive branches that produce many olives.

4This is how the man who respects the LORD

will be blessed.

5May the LORD bless you from Mount Zion;

may you enjoy the good things of Jerusalem all your life.

6May you see your grandchildren.

Let there be peace in Israel.

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