Happy is the nation whose God is the LORD; happy are the people he has chosen for his own!

Do this because you belong to the LORD your God. From all the peoples on earth he chose you to be his own special people.

"The LORD did not love you and choose you because you outnumbered other peoples; you were the smallest nation on earth.

But the LORD's love for your ancestors was so strong that he chose you instead of any other people, and you are still his chosen people.

The LORD has made a solemn promise, and he will not abandon you, for he has decided to make you his own people.

"But you, Israel my servant, you are the people that I have chosen, the descendants of Abraham, my friend.

Even the wild animals will honor me; jackals and ostriches will praise me when I make rivers flow in the desert to give water to my chosen people.

They are the people I made for myself, and they will sing my praises!"

The LORD said, "Sing for joy, people of Jerusalem! I am coming to live among you!"

Once again Judah will be the special possession of the LORD in his sacred land, and Jerusalem will be the city he loves most of all.

But you are the chosen race, the King's priests, the holy nation, God's own people, chosen to proclaim the wonderful acts of God, who called you out of darkness into his own marvelous light.

Now, if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own people. The whole earth is mine, but you will be my chosen people,

a people dedicated to me alone, and you will serve me as priests."

but Jacob's descendants he chose for himself.

"They will be my people," says the LORD Almighty. "On the day when I act, they will be my very own. I will be merciful to them as parents are merciful to the children who serve them.

He gave himself for us, to rescue us from all wickedness and to make us a pure people who belong to him alone and are eager to do good.