Judgment does not come from the east or from the west, from the north or from the south;

it is God who is the judge, condemning some and acquitting others.

But he rescued the needy from their misery and made their families increase like flocks.

Yes, it is God who raises the humble and gives joy to all who mourn.

But God saves the poor from death; he saves the needy from oppression.

He gives hope to the poor and silences the wicked.

All the trees in the land will know that I am the LORD. I cut down the tall trees and make small trees grow tall. I wither up the green trees and make the dry trees become green. I, the LORD, have spoken. I will do what I have said I would do."

I, the Sovereign LORD, have spoken. Take off your crown and your turban. Nothing will be the same again. Raise the poor to power! Bring down those who are ruling!

Ruin, ruin! Yes, I will make the city a ruin. But this will not happen until the one comes whom I have chosen to punish the city. To him I will give it.

He has brought down mighty kings from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away with empty hands.

Listen, my dear friends! God chose the poor people of this world to be rich in faith and to possess the kingdom which he promised to those who love him.

My throat is as dry as dust, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You have left me for dead in the dust.

Those of our people who have died will live again! Their bodies will come back to life. All those sleeping in their graves will wake up and sing for joy. As the sparkling dew refreshes the earth, so the LORD will revive those who have long been dead.

Many of those who have already died will live again: some will enjoy eternal life, and some will suffer eternal disgrace.

The wise leaders will shine with all the brightness of the sky. And those who have taught many people to do what is right will shine like the stars forever."

David saw what God was going to do in the future, and so he spoke about the resurrection of the Messiah when he said, 'He was not abandoned in the world of the dead; his body did not rot in the grave.'

He has been raised to the right side of God, his Father, and has received from him the Holy Spirit, as he had promised. What you now see and hear is his gift that he has poured out on us.

which he used when he raised Christ from death and seated him at his right side in the heavenly world.

Christ rules there above all heavenly rulers, authorities, powers, and lords; he has a title superior to all titles of authority in this world and in the next.

which was a symbol pointing to baptism, which now saves you. It is not the washing off of bodily dirt, but the promise made to God from a good conscience. It saves you through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

who has gone to heaven and is at the right side of God, ruling over all angels and heavenly authorities and powers.

He makes some people poor and others rich; he humbles some and makes others great.

He lifts the poor from the dust and raises the needy from their misery. He makes them companions of princes and puts them in places of honor. The foundations of the earth belong to the LORD; on them he has built the world.

Look at what the king of Israel is trying to kill! Look at what he is chasing! A dead dog, a flea!

"So tell my servant David that I, the LORD Almighty, say to him, 'I took you from looking after sheep in the fields and made you the ruler of my people Israel.

I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have defeated all your enemies as you advanced. I will make you as famous as the greatest leaders in the world.

Job went and sat by the garbage dump and took a piece of broken pottery to scrape his sores.

He does not let sinners live on, and he always treats the poor with justice.

He protects those who are righteous; he allows them to rule like kings and lets them be honored forever.