G.o.d is our refuge and strength, An ever-present help in trouble.

So we fear not, though the earth trembles, And mountains tumble into the heart of the sea; Though its waters roar and foam, Though mountains quake at its uproar.

The Lord of hosts is with us, The G.o.d of Jacob is our refuge.

As the brooks refresh the city of G.o.d, So the Most High makes holy his abiding-place; G.o.d is in her midst, she cannot be moved, G.o.d will help her at the turn of the morn.

Nations were in tumult, kingdoms fell, He uttered his voice, the earth melted.

The Lord of hosts is with us, The G.o.d of Jacob is our refuge.

Come, see the mighty works of the Lord, Who makes wars cease to the end of the earth He snaps the bow, and breaks the spear, And burns up the chariots with fire.

"Be still, and know that I am G.o.d, Exalted over the nations, exalted on earth."

The Lord of hosts is with us, The G.o.d of Jacob is our refuge.

THE JOY OF WORSHIPPING G.o.d

Oh come, let us sing to the Lord, Let us shout to the Rock who saves us, Let us come before him with thanksgiving, Let us sing to him joyful songs; For the Lord is indeed a great G.o.d, A great King above all G.o.ds, In whose hand are the depths of the earth, The heights of the mountains are his, The sea is his, for he made it, And his hands prepared the dry land.

Oh come, let us worship and bow down, Let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker; For he is the Lord our G.o.d, And we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth, Serve the Lord with gladness, Come into his presence with singing, Know that the Lord is G.o.d, He has made us and we are his, His people, the flock that he tends.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving, His courts with songs of rejoicing, Give thanks to him, praise his name, He is good, his kindness eternal, And his faithfulness unto all generations.

WHAT G.o.d ASKS OF THOSE WHO WORSHIP HIM

O Lord, who may be a guest in thy tent?

Who may dwell on thy holy hill?

He who lives blamelessly and does right, And speaks the truth in his heart, Who utters no slander with his tongue, Who does no wrong to his friend, Who makes no charge against his neighbor; In whose sight the vile are despised, But he honors those who revere the Lord.

He keeps his oath at all costs, His money he puts not out to usury, And cannot be bribed to injure the innocent.

He who does this can never be moved.

A CALL TO PRAISE G.o.d

Oh, sing to the Lord a new song; Sing to the Lord, all the earth, Sing to the Lord, praise his name, Proclaim his salvation each day; Tell his glory among the heathen, His wonders among all peoples.

G.o.d is great, and worthy of praise, Above all G.o.ds should he be revered, For all the G.o.ds of the peoples are idols, But it is the Lord who made the heavens.

Honor and majesty are in his presence, Strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

Give to the Lord, you tribes of the nations, Give to the Lord glory and strength.

Give to the Lord the glory that is due him; Bring an offering, and enter his courts.

Oh, worship the Lord in holy attire, Tremble before him, all the earth.

Say to the nations, "The Lord reigns, And he will rule the peoples justly."

Let the heavens be glad, and the earth rejoice, Let the sea roar and all of its inhabitants, Let the fields exult, and all that is in them, Let the trees of the forest sing with joy Before the Lord, for he has come, For he has come to rule the earth; He will rule the world with justice, He will rule the nations with faithfulness.

THE UNITED SONG OF PRAISE

Praise the Lord from the heavens, Praise him on the heights.

Praise him, all his angels, Praise him, all his host!

Praise him, sun and moon, Praise him, all stars of light!

Praise him, heavens of heavens, And waters above the heavens!

Let them praise the name of the Lord, For at his command they were made; He fixed them forever and ever, Set a bound they must not pa.s.s.

Praise the Lord from the earth, Sea-monsters and all deeps!

Fire, hail, snow, and vapor, Storm wind, fulfilling his word!

Mountains and all hills, Fruit-trees and all cedars!

Wild beasts and all cattle, Creeping things and winged birds!

Kings of earth and all peoples, All rulers and judges of earth, Young men and maidens too, Old men and children together!

Let them praise the name of the Lord, For his name alone is exalted.

Over heaven and earth is his majesty, He has strengthened the might of his people; He is praised by all who are faithful, By the Israelites, who are near him.

Praise G.o.d in his holy place, Praise him for his mighty firmament, Praise him for his deeds of power, Praise him for his infinite greatness.

Praise him with the blast of the horn, Praise him with lyre and harp, Praise him with timbrel and dance, Praise him with strings and pipe, Praise him with clanging cymbals, Praise him with clashing cymbals.

Let all that breathes praise the Lord!

MAN'S PLACE IN G.o.d'S WORLD

O Lord, our G.o.d, how glorious Is thy name in all the earth!

Thou hast spread thy splendor over the heavens; At the cry of babes and infants Thou hast set up a bulwark, because of thine enemies, To silence the foe and avenger.

When I see thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, The moon and stars which thou hast made; What is man that thou art mindful of him; Or the son of man that thou visitest him?

Yet thou hast made him little less than divine, And hast crowned him with glory and honor, Making him lord of creation, So that all things are subject to him.

The sheep and the oxen, all of them, Yes, and the beasts of the field, The birds of the air and the fish, That dart through the paths of the sea.

O Lord, our G.o.d, how glorious Is thy name in all the earth!

THE REWARD OF DOING RIGHT

Happy is the man Who follows not the counsel of the wicked, Nor takes his stand with sinners, Nor sits among the scoffers, But delights in the law of the Lord, And day and night meditates on it.

For he is like a tree planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in due season, Whose leaf never withers, And all that he does prospers.

Not so the wicked!