Psalm 72

The Reign of the Righteous King.

A Psalm of Solomon.

Give the king Your judgments, O God,
And Your righteousness to the king’s son.
2
May he judge Your people with righteousness
And Your afflicted with justice.
3
Let the mountains bring peace to the people,
And the hills, in righteousness.
4
May he vindicate the afflicted of the people,
Save the children of the needy
And crush the oppressor.

5
Let them fear You while the sun endures,
And as long as the moon, throughout all generations.
6
May he come down like rain upon the mown grass,
Like showers that water the earth.
7
In his days may the righteous flourish,
And abundance of peace till the moon is no more.

8
May he also rule from sea to sea
And from the River to the ends of the earth.
9
Let the nomads of the desert bow before him,
And his enemies lick the dust.
10
Let the kings of Tarshish and of the islands bring presents;
The kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts.
11
And let all kings bow down before him,
All nations serve him.

12
For he will deliver the needy when he cries for help,
The afflicted also, and him who has no helper.
13
He will have compassion on the poor and needy,
And the lives of the needy he will save.
14
He will rescue their life from oppression and violence,
And their blood will be precious in his sight;
15
So may he live, and may the gold of Sheba be given to him;
And let them pray for him continually;
Let them bless him all day long.

16
May there be abundance of grain in the earth on top of the mountains;
Its fruit will wave like the cedars of Lebanon;
And may those from the city flourish like vegetation of the earth.
17
May his name endure forever;
May his name increase as long as the sun shines;
And let men bless themselves by him;
Let all nations call him blessed.

18
Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel,
Who alone works wonders.
19
And blessed be His glorious name forever;
And may the whole earth be filled with His glory.
Amen, and Amen.

20
The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.

1 Thessalonians 5

The Day of the Lord

Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you.
2 For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. 3 While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; 5 for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; 6 so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober. 7 For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night. 8 But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. 9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.

Christian Conduct

12 But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction,
13 and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another. 14 We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people. 16 Rejoice always; 17 pray without ceasing; 18 in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 19 Do not quench the Spirit; 20 do not despise prophetic utterances. 21 But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; 22 abstain from every form of evil. 23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass. 25 Brethren, pray for us. 26 Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss. 27 I adjure you by the Lord to have this letter read to all the brethren. 28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.