Psalm 112

New International Version

Psalm 112^[a]

¹Praise the Lord.^[b]^(A)

Blessed are those^(B) who fear the Lord,^(C)
who find great delight^(D) in his commands.

²Their children^(E) will be mighty in the land;
    the generation of the upright will be blessed.
³Wealth and riches^(F) are in their houses,
    and their righteousness endures^(G) forever.
⁴Even in darkness light dawns^(H) for the upright,
    for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous.^(I)
⁵Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely,^(J)
    who conduct their affairs with justice.

⁶Surely the righteous will never be shaken;^(K)
    they will be remembered^(L) forever.
⁷They will have no fear of bad news;
    their hearts are steadfast,^(M) trusting in the Lord.^(N)
⁸Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear;^(O)
    in the end they will look in triumph on their foes.^(P)
⁹They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor,^(Q)
    their righteousness endures^(R) forever;
    their horn^[c] will be lifted^(S) high in honor.

¹⁰The wicked will see^(T) and be vexed,
they will gnash their teeth^(U) and waste away;^(V)
the longings of the wicked will come to nothing.^(W)

Footnotes

Psalm 112:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, the lines of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
Psalm 112:1 Hebrew Hallelu Yah
Psalm 112:9 Horn here symbolizes dignity.

Isaiah 58:5-9

New International Version

⁵Is this the kind of fast^(A) I have chosen,
    only a day for people to humble^(B) themselves?
Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed^(C)
    and for lying in sackcloth and ashes?^(D)
Is that what you call a fast,
    a day acceptable to the Lord?

⁶“Is not this the kind of fasting^(E) I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice^(F)
    and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed^(G) free
    and break every yoke?^(H)
⁷Is it not to share your food with the hungry^(I)
    and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter^(J)—
when you see the naked, to clothe^(K) them,
    and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?^(L)
⁸Then your light will break forth like the dawn,^(M)
    and your healing^(N) will quickly appear;
then your righteousness^[a]^(O) will go before you,
    and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.^(P)
⁹Then you will call,^(Q) and the Lord will answer;^(R)
    you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.

“If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
with the pointing finger^(S) and malicious talk,^(T)

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Footnotes

Isaiah 58:8 Or your righteous One

Matthew 5:13-20

New International Version

Salt and Light

¹³“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.^(A)

¹⁴“You are the light of the world.^(B) A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.^(C) ¹⁶In the same way, let your light shine before others,^(D) that they may see your good deeds^(E) and glorify^(F) your Father in heaven.

The Fulfillment of the Law

¹⁷“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.^(G) ¹⁸For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.^(H) ¹⁹Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands^(I) and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. ²⁰For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.^(J)