Rev. 7:9–17

7:9 After these things I looked, and here was an enormous crowd that no one could count, made up of persons from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb dressed in long white robes, and with palm branches in their hands. 10They were shouting out in a loud voice,

“Salvation belongs to our God, who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

11And all the angels stood there in a circle around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they threw themselves down with their faces to the ground before the throne and worshiped God, 12saying,

“Amen! Praise and glory,

and wisdom and thanksgiving,

and honor and power and strength

be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!”

13Then one of the elders asked me, “These dressed in long white robes—who are they and where have they come from?” 14So I said to him, “My lord, you know the answer.” Then he said to me, “These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb! 15For this reason they are before the throne of God, and they serve him day and night in his temple, and the one seated on the throne will shelter them. 16They will never go hungry or be thirsty again, and the sun will not beat down on them, nor any burning heat, 17because the Lamb in the middle of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

Ps. 149

149:1 Praise the Lord.

Sing to the Lord a new song.

Praise him in the assembly of the godly.

2Let Israel rejoice in their Creator.

Let the people of Zion delight in their King.

3Let them praise his name with dancing.

Let them sing praises to him to the accompaniment of the tambourine and harp.

4For the Lord takes delight in his people;

he exalts the oppressed by delivering them.

5Let the godly rejoice because of their vindication.

Let them shout for joy upon their beds.

6May the praises of God be in their mouths

and a two-edged sword in their hands,

7in order to take revenge on the nations

and punish foreigners.

8The godly bind their enemies’ kings in chains

and their nobles in iron shackles,

9and execute the judgment to which their enemies have been sentenced.

All his loyal followers will be vindicated.

Praise the Lord.

1 John 3:1–3

3:1 (See what sort of love the Father has given to us: that we should be called God’s children—and indeed we are! For this reason the world does not know us: Because it did not know him. 2Dear friends, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that whenever it is revealed we will be like him because we will see him just as he is. 3And everyone who has this hope focused on him purifies himself, just as Jesus is pure).

Matt. 5:1–12

5:1 When he saw the crowds, he went up the mountain. After he sat down his disciples came to him. 2Then he began to teach them by saying:

3“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.

4Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

5Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.

7Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

8Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

9Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God.

10Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.

11Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things about you falsely on account of me. 12Rejoice and be glad because your reward is great in heaven, for they persecuted the prophets before you in the same way.