Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith—being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
1 When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, *
then were we like those who dream.
2 Then was our mouth filled with laughter *
and our tongue with songs of joy.
3 Then said they among the nations, *
‘The Lord has done great things for them.’
4 The Lord has indeed done great things for us, *
and therefore we rejoiced.
5 Restore again our fortunes, O Lord, *
as the river beds of the desert.
6 Those who sow in tears *
shall reap with songs of joy.
7 Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed, *
will come back with shouts of joy,
bearing their sheaves with them.
1 I will bless the Lord continually *
his praise shall be always in my mouth.
2 Let my soul boast of the Lord *
the humble shall hear it and rejoice.
3 O praise the Lord with me *
let us exalt his name together.
4 For I sought the Lord’s help and he answered *
and he freed me from all my fears.
5 Look towards him and be bright with joy *
your faces shall not be ashamed.
6 Here is a wretch who cried, and the Lord heard him *
and saved him from all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps round those who fear him *
and delivers them in their need.
8 O taste and see that the Lord is good *
happy the man who hides in him!
He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.