Psalm 58[a]

For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam.[b]

Do you rulers indeed speak justly?(A)
    Do you judge people with equity?
No, in your heart you devise injustice,(B)
    and your hands mete out violence on the earth.(C)

Even from birth the wicked go astray;
    from the womb they are wayward, spreading lies.
Their venom is like the venom of a snake,(D)
    like that of a cobra that has stopped its ears,
that will not heed(E) the tune of the charmer,(F)
    however skillful the enchanter may be.

Break the teeth in their mouths, O God;(G)
    Lord, tear out the fangs of those lions!(H)
Let them vanish like water that flows away;(I)
    when they draw the bow, let their arrows fall short.(J)
May they be like a slug that melts away as it moves along,(K)
    like a stillborn child(L) that never sees the sun.

Before your pots can feel the heat of the thorns(M)
    whether they be green or dry—the wicked will be swept away.[c](N)
10 The righteous will be glad(O) when they are avenged,(P)
    when they dip their feet in the blood of the wicked.(Q)
11 Then people will say,
    “Surely the righteous still are rewarded;(R)
    surely there is a God who judges the earth.”(S)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 58:1 In Hebrew texts 58:1-11 is numbered 58:2-12.
  2. Psalm 58:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
  3. Psalm 58:9 The meaning of the Hebrew for this verse is uncertain.

51 When all the work King Solomon had done for the temple of the Lord was finished, he brought in the things his father David had dedicated(A)—the silver and gold and the furnishings(B)—and he placed them in the treasuries of the Lord’s temple.

The Ark Brought to the Temple(C)

Then King Solomon summoned into his presence at Jerusalem the elders of Israel, all the heads of the tribes and the chiefs(D) of the Israelite families, to bring up the ark(E) of the Lord’s covenant from Zion, the City of David.(F) All the Israelites came together to King Solomon at the time of the festival(G) in the month of Ethanim, the seventh month.(H)

When all the elders of Israel had arrived, the priests(I) took up the ark, and they brought up the ark of the Lord and the tent of meeting(J) and all the sacred furnishings in it. The priests and Levites(K) carried them up, and King Solomon and the entire assembly of Israel that had gathered about him were before the ark, sacrificing(L) so many sheep and cattle that they could not be recorded or counted.

The priests then brought the ark of the Lord’s covenant(M) to its place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, the Most Holy Place,(N) and put it beneath the wings of the cherubim.(O) The cherubim spread their wings over the place of the ark and overshadowed(P) the ark and its carrying poles. These poles were so long that their ends could be seen from the Holy Place in front of the inner sanctuary, but not from outside the Holy Place; and they are still there today.(Q) There was nothing in the ark except the two stone tablets(R) that Moses had placed in it at Horeb, where the Lord made a covenant with the Israelites after they came out of Egypt.

10 When the priests withdrew from the Holy Place, the cloud(S) filled the temple of the Lord. 11 And the priests could not perform their service(T) because of the cloud, for the glory(U) of the Lord filled his temple.

12 Then Solomon said, “The Lord has said that he would dwell in a dark cloud;(V) 13 I have indeed built a magnificent temple for you, a place for you to dwell(W) forever.”

14 While the whole assembly of Israel was standing there, the king turned around and blessed(X) them. 15 Then he said:

“Praise be to the Lord,(Y) the God of Israel, who with his own hand has fulfilled what he promised with his own mouth to my father David. For he said, 16 ‘Since the day I brought my people Israel out of Egypt,(Z) I have not chosen a city in any tribe of Israel to have a temple built so that my Name(AA) might be there, but I have chosen(AB) David(AC) to rule my people Israel.’

17 “My father David had it in his heart(AD) to build a temple(AE) for the Name of the Lord, the God of Israel. 18 But the Lord said to my father David, ‘You did well to have it in your heart to build a temple for my Name. 19 Nevertheless, you(AF) are not the one to build the temple, but your son, your own flesh and blood—he is the one who will build the temple for my Name.’(AG)

20 “The Lord has kept the promise he made: I have succeeded(AH) David my father and now I sit on the throne of Israel, just as the Lord promised, and I have built(AI) the temple for the Name of the Lord, the God of Israel. 21 I have provided a place there for the ark, in which is the covenant of the Lord that he made with our ancestors when he brought them out of Egypt.”

Paul Preaches at Rome Under Guard

17 Three days later he called together the local Jewish leaders.(A) When they had assembled, Paul said to them: “My brothers,(B) although I have done nothing against our people(C) or against the customs of our ancestors,(D) I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans. 18 They examined me(E) and wanted to release me,(F) because I was not guilty of any crime deserving death.(G) 19 The Jews objected, so I was compelled to make an appeal to Caesar.(H) I certainly did not intend to bring any charge against my own people. 20 For this reason I have asked to see you and talk with you. It is because of the hope of Israel(I) that I am bound with this chain.”(J)

21 They replied, “We have not received any letters from Judea concerning you, and none of our people(K) who have come from there has reported or said anything bad about you. 22 But we want to hear what your views are, for we know that people everywhere are talking against this sect.”(L)

23 They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. He witnessed to them from morning till evening, explaining about the kingdom of God,(M) and from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets(N) he tried to persuade them about Jesus.(O) 24 Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe.(P) 25 They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your ancestors when he said(Q) through Isaiah the prophet:

26 “‘Go to this people and say,
“You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
    you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.”
27 For this people’s heart has become calloused;(R)
    they hardly hear with their ears,
    and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
    hear with their ears,
    understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.’[a](S)

28 “Therefore I want you to know that God’s salvation(T) has been sent to the Gentiles,(U) and they will listen!” [29] [b]

30 For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. 31 He proclaimed the kingdom of God(V) and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness(W) and without hindrance!

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 28:27 Isaiah 6:9,10 (see Septuagint)
  2. Acts 28:29 Some manuscripts include here After he said this, the Jews left, arguing vigorously among themselves.

Jesus Arrested(A)

43 Just as he was speaking, Judas,(B) one of the Twelve, appeared. With him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders.

44 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.” 45 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Rabbi!”(C) and kissed him. 46 The men seized Jesus and arrested him. 47 Then one of those standing near drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

48 “Am I leading a rebellion,” said Jesus, “that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? 49 Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts,(D) and you did not arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.”(E) 50 Then everyone deserted him and fled.(F)

51 A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, 52 he fled naked, leaving his garment behind.

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