The Lord’s Grace to Paul

¹² I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength,^(A) that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service.^{(B) 13} Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor^(C) and a violent man, I was shown mercy^(D) because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.^{(E) 14} The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly,^(F) along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.^(G)

BOOK I

Psalms 1–41

Psalm 1

³⁹ Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads^{(A) 40} and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days,^(B) save yourself!^(C) Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!”^{(D) 41} In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. ⁴² “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel!^(E) Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe^(F) in him. ⁴³ He trusts in God. Let God rescue him^(G) now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”

²⁹ Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads^(A) and saying, “So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days,^{(B) 30} come down from the cross and save yourself!”

²³ When they hurled their insults at him,^(C) he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats.^(D) Instead, he entrusted himself^(E) to him who judges justly.^{(F) 24} “He himself bore our sins”^(G) in his body on the cross,^(H) so that we might die to sins^(I) and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”^(J)

³ Above all, you must understand that in the last days^(A) scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.^{(B) 4} They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised?^(C) Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.”^{(D) 5} But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word^(E) the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water.^(F)