Joy

The prayer of David. Hear, O Lord, my justice: attend to my supplication. Give ear unto my prayer, which proceedeth not from deceitful lips.

Let my judgment come forth from thy countenance: let thy eyes behold the things that are equitable.

Thou hast proved my heart, and visited it by night, thou hast tried me by fire: and iniquity hath not been found in me.

That my mouth may not speak the works of men: for the sake of the words of thy lips, I have kept hard ways.

Perfect thou my goings in thy paths: that my footsteps be not moved.

I have cried to thee, for thou, O God, hast heard me: O incline thy ear unto me, and hear my words.

Shew forth thy wonderful mercies; thou who savest them that trust in thee.

From them that resist thy right hand keep me, as the apple of thy eye. Protect me under the shadow of thy wings.

From the face of the wicked who have afflicted me. My enemies have surrounded my soul:

They have shut up their fat: their mouth hath spoken proudly.

They have cast me forth, and now they have surrounded me: they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth.

They have taken me, as a lion prepared for the prey; and as a young lion dwelling in secret places.

Arise, O Lord, disappoint him and supplant him; deliver my soul from the wicked one; thy sword

From the enemies of thy hand. O Lord, divide them from the few of the earth in their life: their belly is filled from thy hidden stores. They are full of children: and they have left to their little ones the rest of their substance.

But as for me, I will appear before thy sight in justice: I shall be satisfied when thy glory shall appear.

A psalm for David himself. The Lord hath reigned, let the people be angry: he that sitteth on the cherubims: let the earth be moved.

The Lord is great in Sion, and high above all people.

Let them give praise to thy great name: for it is terrible and holy:

And the king's honour loveth judgment. Thou hast prepared directions: thou hast done judgment and justice in Jacob.

Exalt ye the Lord our God, and adore his footstool, for it is holy.

Moses and Aaron among his priests: and Samuel among them that call upon his name. They called upon the Lord, and he heard them:

He spoke to them in the pillar of the cloud. They kept his testimonies, and the commandment which he gave them.

Thou didst hear them, O Lord our God: thou wast a merciful God to them, and taking vengeance on all their inventions.

Exalt ye the Lord our God, and adore at his holy mountain: for the Lord our God is holy.

As the Father hath loved me, I also have loved you. Abide in my love.

If you keep my commandments, you shall abide in my love: as I also have kept my Father's commandments and do abide in his love.

These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and your joy may be filled.

This is my commandment, that you love one another, as I have loved you.

Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing: that you may abound in hope and in the power of the Holy Ghost.

And I myself also, my brethren, am assured of you that you also are full of love, replenished with all knowledge, so that you are able to admonish one another.

But I have written to you, brethren, more boldly in some sort, as it were putting you in mind, because of the grace which is given me from God,

That I should be the minister of Christ Jesus among the Gentiles: sanctifying the gospel of God, that the oblation of the Gentiles may be made acceptable and sanctified in the Holy Ghost.

I have therefore glory in Christ Jesus towards God.

For I dare not to speak of any of those things which Christ worketh not by me, for the obedience of the Gentiles, by word and deed,

By the virtue of signs and wonders, in the power of the Holy Ghost, so that from Jerusalem round about, as far as unto Illyricum, I have replenished the gospel of Christ.

And I have so preached this gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man a foundation.

But as it is written: They to whom he was not spoken of shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand.

For which cause also, I was hindered very much from coming to you and have been kept away till now.

But now, having no more place in these countries and having a great desire these many years past to come unto you,

When I shall begin to take my journey into Spain, I hope that, as I pass, I shall see you and be brought on my way thither by you: if first, in part, I shall have enjoyed you.

But now I shall go to Jerusalem, to minister unto the saints.

For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a contribution for the poor of the saints that are in Jerusalem.

For it hath pleased them: and they are their debtors. For, if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, they ought also in carnal things to minister to them.

When therefore I shall have accomplished this and consigned to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain.

And I know that when I come to you I shall come in the abundance of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, through our Lord Jesus Christ and by the charity of the Holy Ghost, that you help me in your prayers for me to God,

That I may be delivered from the unbelievers that are in Judea and that the oblation of my service may be acceptable in Jerusalem to the saints.

That I may come to you with joy, by the will of God, and may be refreshed with you.

Now the God of peace be with, you all. Amen.