Psalm 113

Praise the Lord.[a](A)

Praise the Lord, you his servants;(B)
    praise the name of the Lord.
Let the name of the Lord be praised,(C)
    both now and forevermore.(D)
From the rising of the sun(E) to the place where it sets,
    the name of the Lord is to be praised.

The Lord is exalted(F) over all the nations,
    his glory above the heavens.(G)
Who is like the Lord our God,(H)
    the One who sits enthroned(I) on high,(J)
who stoops down to look(K)
    on the heavens and the earth?

He raises the poor(L) from the dust
    and lifts the needy(M) from the ash heap;
he seats them(N) with princes,
    with the princes of his people.
He settles the childless(O) woman in her home
    as a happy mother of children.

Praise the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 113:1 Hebrew Hallelu Yah; also in verse 9

11 He had the camels kneel down near the well(A) outside the town; it was toward evening, the time the women go out to draw water.(B)

12 Then he prayed, “Lord, God of my master Abraham,(C) make me successful(D) today, and show kindness(E) to my master Abraham. 13 See, I am standing beside this spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water.(F) 14 May it be that when I say to a young woman, ‘Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink,(G) and I’ll water your camels too’(H)—let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac.(I) By this I will know(J) that you have shown kindness to my master.”

15 Before he had finished praying,(K) Rebekah(L) came out with her jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel(M) son of Milkah,(N) who was the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor.(O) 16 The woman was very beautiful,(P) a virgin;(Q) no man had ever slept with her. She went down to the spring, filled her jar and came up again.

17 The servant hurried to meet her and said, “Please give me a little water from your jar.”(R)

18 “Drink,(S) my lord,” she said, and quickly lowered the jar to her hands and gave him a drink.

19 After she had given him a drink, she said, “I’ll draw water for your camels(T) too,(U) until they have had enough to drink.” 20 So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough, ran back to the well to draw more water, and drew enough for all his camels.(V) 21 Without saying a word, the man watched her closely to learn whether or not the Lord had made his journey successful.(W)

22 When the camels had finished drinking, the man took out a gold nose ring(X) weighing a beka[a] and two gold bracelets(Y) weighing ten shekels.[b] 23 Then he asked, “Whose daughter are you?(Z) Please tell me, is there room in your father’s house for us to spend the night?(AA)

24 She answered him, “I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son that Milkah bore to Nahor.(AB) 25 And she added, “We have plenty of straw and fodder,(AC) as well as room for you to spend the night.”

26 Then the man bowed down and worshiped the Lord,(AD) 27 saying, “Praise be to the Lord,(AE) the God of my master Abraham,(AF) who has not abandoned his kindness and faithfulness(AG) to my master. As for me, the Lord has led me on the journey(AH) to the house of my master’s relatives.”(AI)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 24:22 That is, about 1/5 ounce or about 5.7 grams
  2. Genesis 24:22 That is, about 4 ounces or about 115 grams

No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband, 10 and is well known for her good deeds,(A) such as bringing up children, showing hospitality,(B) washing the feet(C) of the Lord’s people, helping those in trouble(D) and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds.

11 As for younger widows, do not put them on such a list. For when their sensual desires overcome their dedication to Christ, they want to marry. 12 Thus they bring judgment on themselves, because they have broken their first pledge. 13 Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also busybodies(E) who talk nonsense,(F) saying things they ought not to. 14 So I counsel younger widows to marry,(G) to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander.(H) 15 Some have in fact already turned away to follow Satan.(I)

16 If any woman who is a believer has widows in her care, she should continue to help them and not let the church be burdened with them, so that the church can help those widows who are really in need.(J)

Read full chapter

Bible Gateway Recommends