The high and lofty one who lives in eternity,
the Holy One, says this:
“I live in the high and holy place
with those whose spirits are contrite and humble.
I restore the crushed spirit of the humble
and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts.”
“But those who still reject me are like the restless sea,
which is never still
but continually churns up mud and dirt.
There is no peace for the wicked,”
says my God.
Some went off to sea in ships,
plying the trade routes of the world.
They, too, observed the LORD’s power in action,
his impressive works on the deepest seas.
He spoke, and the winds rose,
stirring up the waves.
Their ships were tossed to the heavens
and plunged again to the depths;
the sailors cringed in terror.
They reeled and staggered like drunkards
and were at their wits’ end.
“LORD, help!” they cried in their trouble,
and he saved them from their distress.
He calmed the storm to a whisper
and stilled the waves.
What a blessing was that stillness
as he brought them safely into harbor!
Let all that I am praise the LORD.
O LORD my God, how great you are!
You are robed with honor and majesty.
You are dressed in a robe of light.
You stretch out the starry curtain of the heavens;
you lay out the rafters of your home in the rain clouds.
You make the clouds your chariot;
you ride upon the wings of the wind.
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God,
the Almighty—
the one who always was, who is,
and who is still to come.”
“You are worthy, O Lord our God,
to receive glory and honor and power.
For you created all things,
and they exist because you created what you pleased.”
“…I will comfort those who mourn,
bringing words of praise to their lips.
May they have abundant peace,
both near and far,”
says the LORD, who heals them.
The rain and snow come down from the heavens
and stay on the ground to water the earth.
They cause the grain to grow,
producing seed for the farmer
and bread for the hungry.
It is the same with my word.
I send it out, and it always produces fruit.
It will accomplish all I want it to,
and it will prosper everywhere I send it.
…the Scriptures say,
‘You must not speak evil of any of your rulers.’
(colonnade walk to Jordan River baptismal site)
But my life is worth nothing to me
unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me
by the Lord Jesus—
the work of telling others the Good News
about the wonderful grace of God.
Your unfailing love will last forever.
Your faithfulness is an enduring as the heavens.
All heaven will praise your great wonders, LORD;
myriads of angels will praise you for your faithfulness.
For who in all of heaven can compare with the LORD?…
O LORD God of Heaven’s Armies!
Where is there anyone as mighty as you, O LORD?
You are entirely faithful.
You rule the oceans.
You subdue their storm-tossed waves.
The heavens are yours, and the earth is yours;
everything in the world is yours—you created it all.
You created north and south…
Happy are those who hear the joyful call to worship,
for they will walk in the light of your presence, LORD.
Psalm 89:2; 5-6; 8-9; 11-12; 15
