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Psalm 87

1  His foundation is on the holy mountains. ♦︎
   The Lord loves the gates of Zion
      more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
2  Glorious things are spoken of you, ♦︎
   Zion, city of our God.
3  I record Egypt and Babylon as those who know me; ♦︎
   behold Philistia, Tyre and Ethiopia:
      in Zion were they born.
4  And of Zion it shall be said, ‘Each one was born in her, ♦︎
   and the Most High himself has established her.’
5  The Lord will record as he writes up the peoples, ♦︎
   ‘This one also was born there.’
6  And as they dance they shall sing, ♦︎
   ‘All my fresh springs are in you.’

Judgement in the Valley of Jehoshaphat

⁹ Proclaim this among the nations:
Prepare war,^*
   stir up the warriors.
Let all the soldiers draw near,
   let them come up.
¹⁰ Beat your ploughshares into swords,
   and your pruning-hooks into spears;
   let the weakling say, ‘I am a warrior.’

¹¹ Come quickly,^*
   all you nations all around,
   gather yourselves there.
Bring down your warriors, O Lord.
¹² Let the nations rouse themselves,
   and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat;
for there I will sit to judge
   all the neighbouring nations.

¹³ Put in the sickle,
   for the harvest is ripe.
Go in, tread,
   for the wine press is full.
The vats overflow,
   for their wickedness is great.

¹⁴ Multitudes, multitudes,
   in the valley of decision!
For the day of the Lord is near
   in the valley of decision.
¹⁵ The sun and the moon are darkened,
   and the stars withdraw their shining.

¹⁶ The Lord roars from Zion,
   and utters his voice from Jerusalem,
   and the heavens and the earth shake.
But the Lord is a refuge for his people,
   a stronghold for the people of Israel.

Tending the Flock of God

5Now as an elder myself and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory to be revealed, I exhort the elders among you ²to tend the flock of God that is in your charge, exercising the oversight,^* not under compulsion but willingly, as God would have you do it^*—not for sordid gain but eagerly. ³Do not lord it over those in your charge, but be examples to the flock. ⁴And when the chief shepherd appears, you will win the crown of glory that never fades away. ⁵In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders.^* And all of you must clothe yourselves with humility in your dealings with one another, for
‘God opposes the proud,
   but gives grace to the humble.’

6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. ⁷Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. ⁸Discipline yourselves; keep alert.^* Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. ⁹Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and sisters^* throughout the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering. ¹⁰And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you. ¹¹To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.