147 Praise ye the Lord: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.

² The Lord doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel.

³ He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.

⁴ He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names.

⁵ Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.

⁶ The Lord lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.

⁷ Sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God:

⁸ Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains.

⁹ He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry.

¹⁰ He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man.

¹¹ The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.

²⁰ He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the Lord.

36 Elihu also proceeded, and said,

² Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee that I have yet to speak on God's behalf.

³ I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.

⁴ For truly my words shall not be false: he that is perfect in knowledge is with thee.

⁵ Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom.

⁶ He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth right to the poor.

⁷ He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings are they on the throne; yea, he doth establish them for ever, and they are exalted.

⁸ And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction;

⁹ Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded.

¹⁰ He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity.

¹¹ If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.

¹² But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.

¹³ But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he bindeth them.

¹⁴ They die in youth, and their life is among the unclean.

¹⁵ He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression.

¹⁶ Even so would he have removed thee out of the strait into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and that which should be set on thy table should be full of fatness.

¹⁷ But thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold on thee.

¹⁸ Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee.

¹⁹ Will he esteem thy riches? no, not gold, nor all the forces of strength.

²⁰ Desire not the night, when people are cut off in their place.

²¹ Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.

²² Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him?

²³ Who hath enjoined him his way? or who can say, Thou hast wrought iniquity?

9 Am I am not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?

² If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.

³ Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,

⁴ Have we not power to eat and to drink?

⁵ Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?

⁶ Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?

⁷ Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?

⁸ Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?

⁹ For it is written in the law of Moses, thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?

¹⁰ Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.

¹¹ If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?

¹² If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.

¹³ Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?

¹⁴ Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.

¹⁵ But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.

¹⁶ For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!