Psalm 1-3

New International Version

BOOK I

Psalms 1–41

Psalm 1

¹Blessed is the one^(A)
    who does not walk^(B) in step with the wicked^(C)
or stand in the way^(D) that sinners take^(E)
    or sit^(F) in the company of mockers,^(G)
²but whose delight^(H) is in the law of the Lord,^(I)
    and who meditates^(J) on his law day and night.
³That person is like a tree^(K) planted by streams^(L) of water,^(M)
    which yields its fruit^(N) in season
and whose leaf^(O) does not wither—
    whatever they do prospers.^(P)

⁴Not so the wicked!
    They are like chaff^(Q)
    that the wind blows away.
⁵Therefore the wicked will not stand^(R) in the judgment,^(S)
    nor sinners in the assembly^(T) of the righteous.

⁶For the Lord watches over^(U) the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.^(V)

Psalm 2

¹Why do the nations conspire^[a]
    and the peoples plot^(W) in vain?
²The kings^(X) of the earth rise up
    and the rulers band together
    against the Lord and against his anointed,^(Y) saying,
³“Let us break their chains^(Z)
    and throw off their shackles.”^(AA)

⁴The One enthroned^(AB) in heaven laughs;^(AC)
    the Lord scoffs at them.
⁵He rebukes them in his anger^(AD)
    and terrifies them in his wrath,^(AE) saying,
⁶“I have installed my king^(AF)
    on Zion,^(AG) my holy mountain.^(AH)”

⁷I will proclaim the Lord’s decree:

He said to me, “You are my son;^(AI)
    today I have become your father.^(AJ)
⁸Ask me,
    and I will make the nations^(AK) your inheritance,^(AL)
    the ends of the earth^(AM) your possession.
⁹You will break them with a rod of iron^[b];^(AN)
    you will dash them to pieces^(AO) like pottery.^(AP)”

¹⁰Therefore, you kings, be wise;^(AQ)
    be warned, you rulers^(AR) of the earth.
¹¹Serve the Lord with fear^(AS)
    and celebrate his rule^(AT) with trembling.^(AU)
¹²Kiss his son,^(AV) or he will be angry
    and your way will lead to your destruction,
for his wrath^(AW) can flare up in a moment.
    Blessed^(AX) are all who take refuge^(AY) in him.

Psalm 3^[c]

A psalm of David. When he fled from his son Absalom.^(AZ)

¹Lord, how many are my foes!
How many rise up against me!
²Many are saying of me,
“God will not deliver him.^(BA)”^[d]

³But you, Lord, are a shield^(BB) around me,
my glory, the One who lifts my head high.^(BC)
⁴I call out to the Lord,^(BD)
and he answers me from his holy mountain.^(BE)

⁵I lie down and sleep;^(BF)
I wake again,^(BG) because the Lord sustains me.
⁶I will not fear^(BH) though tens of thousands
assail me on every side.^(BI)

⁷Arise,^(BJ) Lord!
Deliver me,^(BK) my God!
Strike^(BL) all my enemies on the jaw;
break the teeth^(BM) of the wicked.

⁸From the Lord comes deliverance.^(BN)
May your blessing^(BO) be on your people.

Footnotes

Psalm 2:1 Hebrew; Septuagint rage
Psalm 2:9 Or will rule them with an iron scepter (see Septuagint and Syriac)
Psalm 3:1 In Hebrew texts 3:1-8 is numbered 3:2-9.
Psalm 3:2 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verses 4 and 8.

Acts 9:1-21

New International Version

Saul’s Conversion^(A)

9 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples.^(B) He went to the high priest ²and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus,^(C) so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way,^(D) whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. ³As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.^(E) ⁴He fell to the ground and heard a voice^(F) say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

⁵“Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.

“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. ⁶“Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”^(G)

⁷The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound^(H) but did not see anyone.^(I) ⁸Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing.^(J) So they led him by the hand into Damascus. ⁹For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.

¹⁰In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision,^(K) “Ananias!”

“Yes, Lord,” he answered.

¹¹The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus^(L) named Saul, for he is praying. ¹²In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on^(M) him to restore his sight.”

¹³“Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people^(N) in Jerusalem.^(O) ¹⁴And he has come here with authority from the chief priests^(P) to arrest all who call on your name.”^(Q)

¹⁵But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument^(R) to proclaim my name to the Gentiles^(S) and their kings^(T) and to the people of Israel. ¹⁶I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”^(U)

¹⁷Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on^(V) Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”^(W) ¹⁸Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized,^(X) ¹⁹and after taking some food, he regained his strength.

Saul in Damascus and Jerusalem

Saul spent several days with the disciples^(Y) in Damascus.^(Z) ²⁰At once he began to preach in the synagogues^(AA) that Jesus is the Son of God.^(AB) ²¹All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name?^(AC) And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?”^(AD)