Let the giving of thanks be your sacrifice to God, and give the Almighty all that you promised.

Call to me when trouble comes; I will save you, and you will praise me."

"Praise him, you servants of the LORD! Honor him, you descendants of Jacob! Worship him, you people of Israel!

So I will triumph over my enemies around me. With shouts of joy I will offer sacrifices in his Temple; I will sing, I will praise the LORD.

All the nations that you have created will come and bow down to you; they will praise your greatness.

I will praise you with all my heart, O Lord my God; I will proclaim your greatness forever.

So then, my friends, because of God's great mercy to us I appeal to you: Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service and pleasing to him. This is the true worship that you should offer.

so that all of you together may praise with one voice the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

and to enable even the Gentiles to praise God for his mercy. As the scripture says, "And so I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing praises to you."

And so they praised God because of me.

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.

Those who are pure in act and in thought, who do not worship idols or make false promises.

The LORD will bless them and save them; God will declare them innocent.

The LORD is the friend of those who obey him and he affirms his covenant with them.

Surely he is ready to save those who honor him, and his saving presence will remain in our land.

Whoever is willing to do what God wants will know whether what I teach comes from God or whether I speak on my own authority.

So Jesus said to those who believed in him, "If you obey my teaching, you are really my disciples;

you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

He was a religious man; he and his whole family worshiped God. He also did much to help the Jewish poor people and was constantly praying to God.

He stared at the angel in fear and said, "What is it, sir?" The angel answered, "God is pleased with your prayers and works of charity, and is ready to answer you.

He will speak words to you by which you and all your family will be saved.'

"My fellow Israelites, descendants of Abraham, and all Gentiles here who worship God: it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent!

As for those who follow this rule in their lives, may peace and mercy be with them---with them and with all of God's people!

Now, the important thing is that your way of life should be as the gospel of Christ requires, so that, whether or not I am able to go and see you, I will hear that you are standing firm with one common purpose and that with only one desire you are fighting together for the faith of the gospel.

Are there any of you who are wise and understanding? You are to prove it by your good life, by your good deeds performed with humility and wisdom.

Instead, be holy in all that you do, just as God who called you is holy.

I will reward them with long life; I will save them."

God is my savior; I will trust him and not be afraid. The LORD gives me power and strength; he is my savior.

But Israel is saved by the LORD, and her victory lasts forever; her people will never be disgraced.' "

The LORD said to me, "I have a greater task for you, my servant. Not only will you restore to greatness the people of Israel who have survived, but I will also make you a light to the nations--- so that all the world may be saved."

I will come quickly and save them; the time of my victory is near. I myself will rule over the nations. Distant lands wait for me to come; they wait with hope for me to save them.

Look up at the heavens; look at the earth! The heavens will disappear like smoke; the earth will wear out like old clothing, and all its people will die like flies. But the deliverance I bring will last forever; my victory will be final.

With my own eyes I have seen your salvation,