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Serve the LORD with gladness and delight; Come before His presence with joyful singing.

In the [reverent] fear of the LORD there is strong confidence, And His children will [always] have a place of refuge.

The [reverent] fear of the LORD [that leads to obedience and worship] is a fountain of life, So that one may avoid the snares of death.

The people who walk in [spiritual] darkness

]Will see a great Light;

Those who live in the dark land,

The Light will shine on them.

You [O God] will increase the nation,

You will multiply their joy;

They will rejoice before You

Like the joy and jubilation of the harvest,

As men rejoice when they divide the spoil [of victory].

For You will break the yoke of Israel’s burden and the staff (goad) on their shoulders,

The rod of their oppressor, as at the [b]battle of Midian.

For every boot of the marching warrior in the battle tumult,

And [every soldier’s] garment rolled in blood, will be used for burning, fuel for the fire.

And in no way be alarmed or intimidated [in anything] by your opponents, for such [constancy and fearlessness on your part] is a [clear] sign [a proof and a seal] for them of [their impending] destruction, but [a clear sign] for you of deliverance and salvation, and that too, from God.

You are already clean because of the word which I have given you [the teachings which I have discussed with you].  

Remain in Me, and I [will remain] in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself without remaining in the vine, neither can you [bear fruit, producing evidence of your faith] unless you remain in Me.  

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations [help the people to learn of Me, believe in Me, and obey My words], baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always [remaining with you perpetually—regardless of circumstance, and on every occasion], even to the end of the age.

The person who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who [really] loves Me; and whoever [really] loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him [I will make Myself real to him].