Psalm 118

Psalm 145^[a]

A psalm of praise. Of David.

³ Then Moses went up to God,^(A) and the Lord called^(B) to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: ⁴ ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt,^(C) and how I carried you on eagles’ wings^(D) and brought you to myself.^{(E) 5} Now if you obey me fully^(F) and keep my covenant,^(G) then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession.^(H) Although the whole earth^(I) is mine, ⁶ you^[a] will be for me a kingdom of priests^(J) and a holy nation.’^(K) These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”

⁷ So Moses went back and summoned the elders^(L) of the people and set before them all the words the Lord had commanded him to speak.^{(M) 8} The people all responded together, “We will do everything the Lord has said.”^(N) So Moses brought their answer back to the Lord.

⁹ The Lord said to Moses, “I am going to come to you in a dense cloud,^(O) so that the people will hear me speaking^(P) with you and will always put their trust^(Q) in you.” Then Moses told the Lord what the people had said.

¹⁰ And the Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate^(R) them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes^{(S) 11} and be ready by the third day,^(T) because on that day the Lord will come down^(U) on Mount Sinai^(V) in the sight of all the people. ¹² Put limits^(W) for the people around the mountain and tell them, ‘Be careful that you do not approach the mountain or touch the foot of it. Whoever touches the mountain is to be put to death. ¹³ They are to be stoned^(X) or shot with arrows; not a hand is to be laid on them. No person or animal shall be permitted to live.’ Only when the ram’s horn^(Y) sounds a long blast may they approach the mountain.”^(Z)

¹⁴ After Moses had gone down the mountain to the people, he consecrated them, and they washed their clothes.^{(AA) 15} Then he said to the people, “Prepare yourselves for the third day. Abstain^(AB) from sexual relations.”

¹⁶ On the morning of the third day there was thunder^(AC) and lightning, with a thick cloud^(AD) over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast.^(AE) Everyone in the camp trembled.^{(AF) 17} Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.^{(AG) 18} Mount Sinai was covered with smoke,^(AH) because the Lord descended on it in fire.^(AI) The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace,^(AJ) and the whole mountain^[b] trembled^(AK) violently. ¹⁹ As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and the voice^(AL) of God answered^(AM) him.^[c]

²⁰ The Lord descended to the top of Mount Sinai^(AN) and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up

The Armor of God

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord^(A) and in his mighty power.^{(B) 11} Put on the full armor of God,^(C) so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,^(D) but against the rulers, against the authorities,^(E) against the powers^(F) of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.^{(G) 13} Therefore put on the full armor of God,^(H) so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist,^(I) with the breastplate of righteousness in place,^{(J) 15} and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.^{(K) 16} In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith,^(L) with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.^{(M) 17} Take the helmet of salvation^(N) and the sword of the Spirit,^(O) which is the word of God.^(P)

¹⁸ And pray in the Spirit^(Q) on all occasions^(R) with all kinds of prayers and requests.^(S) With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying^(T) for all the Lord’s people. ¹⁹ Pray also for me,^(U) that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly^(V) make known the mystery^(W) of the gospel, ²⁰ for which I am an ambassador^(X) in chains.^(Y) Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

Final Greetings

²¹ Tychicus,^(Z) the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing. ²² I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are,^(AA) and that he may encourage you.^(AB)

²³ Peace^(AC) to the brothers and sisters,^[a] and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴ Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.^[b]

The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost

2 When the day of Pentecost^(A) came, they were all together^(B) in one place. ² Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.^{(C) 3} They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. ⁴ All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit^(D) and began to speak in other tongues^[a](E) as the Spirit enabled them.

⁵ Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing^(F) Jews from every nation under heaven. ⁶ When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. ⁷ Utterly amazed,^(G) they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans?^{(H) 8} Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? ⁹ Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia,^(I) Pontus^(J) and Asia,^{[b](K) 10} Phrygia^(L) and Pamphylia,^(M) Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene;^(N) visitors from Rome ¹¹ (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” ¹² Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”

¹³ Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”^(O)

Peter Addresses the Crowd

¹⁴ Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. ¹⁵ These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning!^{(P) 16} No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

¹⁹ “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet.^{(A) 20} Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain,^(B) but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.”^(C)

²¹ “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming^(D) when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.^{(E) 22} You Samaritans worship what you do not know;^(F) we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews.^{(G) 23} Yet a time is coming and has now come^(H) when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit^(I) and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. ²⁴ God is spirit,^(J) and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

²⁵ The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ)^(K) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”

²⁶ Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.”^(L)