All Souls

1But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God,

and no torment will touch them.

2In the eyes of the foolish they seemed to have died.

Their departure was considered a disaster,

3and their travel away from us ruin,

but they are in peace.

4For even if in the sight of men they are punished,

their hope is full of immortality.

5Having borne a little chastening, they will receive great good;

because God tested them, and found them worthy of himself.

6He tested them like gold in the furnace,

and he accepted them as a whole burnt offering.

7In the time of their visitation they will shine.

They will run back and forth like sparks among stubble.

8They will judge nations and have dominion over peoples.

The Lord will reign over them forever.

9Those who trust him will understand truth.

The faithful will live with him in love,

because grace and mercy are with his chosen ones.

1The LORD is my shepherd;

I shall lack nothing.

2He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters.

3He restores my soul.

He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

4Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil, for you are with me.

Your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.

5You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil.

My cup runs over.

6Surely goodness and loving kindness shall follow me all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the LORD’s house forever.

5and hope doesn’t disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 6For while we were yet weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7For one will hardly die for a righteous man. Yet perhaps for a good person someone would even dare to die. 8But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we will be saved from God’s wrath through him. 10For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we will be saved by his life. 11Not only so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

37All those whom the Father gives me will come to me. He who comes to me I will in no way throw out. 38For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me. 39This is the will of my Father who sent me, that of all he has given to me I should lose nothing, but should raise him up at the last day. 40This is the will of the one who sent me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”