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Psalm 76

1  In Judah God is known; ♦︎
   his name is great in Israel.
2  At Salem is his tabernacle, ♦︎
   and his dwelling place in Zion.
3  There broke he the flashing arrows of the bow, ♦︎
   the shield, the sword and the weapons of war.
4  In the light of splendour you appeared, ♦︎
   glorious from the eternal mountains.
5  The boastful were plundered; they have slept their sleep; ♦︎
   none of the warriors can lift their hand.
6  At your rebuke, O God of Jacob, ♦︎
   both horse and chariot fell stunned.
7  Terrible are you in majesty: ♦︎
   who can stand before your face when you are angry?
8  You caused your judgement to be heard from heaven; ♦︎
   the earth trembled and was still,
9  When God arose to judgement, ♦︎
   to save all the meek upon earth.
10  You crushed the wrath of the peoples ♦︎
   and bridled the wrathful remnant.
11  Make a vow to the Lord your God and keep it; ♦︎
   let all who are round about him bring gifts
      to him that is worthy to be feared.
12  He breaks down the spirit of princes ♦︎
   and strikes terror in the kings of the earth.

The Worship God Demands

66Thus says the Lord:
Heaven is my throne
   and the earth is my footstool;
what is the house that you would build for me,
   and what is my resting-place?
² All these things my hand has made,
   and so all these things are mine, ^*

says the Lord.
But this is the one to whom I will look,
   to the humble and contrite in spirit,
   who trembles at my word.

³ Whoever slaughters an ox is like one who kills a human being;
   whoever sacrifices a lamb, like one who breaks a dog’s neck;
whoever presents a grain-offering, like one who offers swine’s blood;^*
   whoever makes a memorial offering of frankincense, like one who blesses an idol.
These have chosen their own ways,
   and in their abominations they take delight;
⁴ I also will choose to mock^* them,
   and bring upon them what they fear;
because, when I called, no one answered,
   when I spoke, they did not listen;
but they did what was evil in my sight,
   and chose what did not please me.

The Lord Vindicates Zion

⁵ Hear the word of the Lord,
   you who tremble at his word:
Your own people who hate you
   and reject you for my name’s sake
have said, ‘Let the Lord be glorified,
   so that we may see your joy’;
   but it is they who shall be put to shame.

⁶ Listen, an uproar from the city!
   A voice from the temple!
The voice of the Lord,
   dealing retribution to his enemies!

⁷ Before she was in labour
   she gave birth;
before her pain came upon her
   she delivered a son.
⁸ Who has heard of such a thing?
   Who has seen such things?
Shall a land be born in one day?
   Shall a nation be delivered in one moment?
Yet as soon as Zion was in labour
   she delivered her children.
⁹ Shall I open the womb and not deliver?
   says the Lord;
shall I, the one who delivers, shut the womb?
   says your God.

¹⁰ Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her,
   all you who love her;
rejoice with her in joy,
   all you who mourn over her—
¹¹ that you may nurse and be satisfied
   from her consoling breast;
that you may drink deeply with delight
   from her glorious bosom.

¹² For thus says the Lord:
I will extend prosperity to her like a river,
   and the wealth of the nations like an overflowing stream;
and you shall nurse and be carried on her arm,
   and dandled on her knees.
¹³ As a mother comforts her child,
   so I will comfort you;
   you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.

Do All to the Glory of God

23 ‘All things are lawful’, but not all things are beneficial. ‘All things are lawful’, but not all things build up. ²⁴Do not seek your own advantage, but that of others. ²⁵Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience, ²⁶for ‘the earth and its fullness are the Lord’s.’ ²⁷If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. ²⁸But if someone says to you, ‘This has been offered in sacrifice’, then do not eat it, out of consideration for the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience— ²⁹I mean the other’s conscience, not your own. For why should my liberty be subject to the judgement of someone else’s conscience? ³⁰If I partake with thankfulness, why should I be denounced because of that for which I give thanks?

31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. ³²Give no offence to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, ³³just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, so that they may be saved. 11¹Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.