Psalm 12

New International Version

Psalm 12^[a]

For the director of music. According to sheminith.^[b] A psalm of David.

¹Help, Lord, for no one is faithful anymore;^(A)
    those who are loyal have vanished from the human race.
²Everyone lies^(B) to their neighbor;
    they flatter with their lips
    but harbor deception in their hearts.^(C)

³May the Lord silence all flattering lips^(D)
    and every boastful tongue—^(E)
⁴those who say,
    “By our tongues we will prevail;^(F)
    our own lips will defend us—who is lord over us?”

⁵“Because the poor are plundered^(G) and the needy groan,^(H)
    I will now arise,^(I)” says the Lord.
    “I will protect them^(J) from those who malign them.”
⁶And the words of the Lord are flawless,^(K)
    like silver purified^(L) in a crucible,^(M)
    like gold^[c] refined seven times.

⁷You, Lord, will keep the needy safe^(N)
and will protect us forever from the wicked,^(O)
⁸who freely strut^(P) about
when what is vile is honored by the human race.

Footnotes

Psalm 12:1 In Hebrew texts 12:1-8 is numbered 12:2-9.
Psalm 12:1 Title: Probably a musical term
Psalm 12:6 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text; Masoretic Text earth

Proverbs 17:1-5

New International Version

17 Better a dry crust with peace and quiet
than a house full of feasting, with strife.^(A)

²A prudent servant will rule over a disgraceful son
and will share the inheritance as one of the family.

³The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,^(B)
but the Lord tests the heart.^(C)

⁴A wicked person listens to deceitful lips;
a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.

⁵Whoever mocks the poor^(D) shows contempt for their Maker;^(E)
whoever gloats over disaster^(F) will not go unpunished.^(G)

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1 Corinthians 9:19-23

New International Version

Paul’s Use of His Freedom

¹⁹Though I am free^(A) and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone,^(B) to win as many as possible.^(C) ²⁰To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews.^(D) To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law),^(E) so as to win those under the law. ²¹To those not having the law I became like one not having the law^(F) (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law),^(G) so as to win those not having the law. ²²To the weak I became weak, to win the weak.^(H) I have become all things to all people^(I) so that by all possible means I might save some.^(J) ²³I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.