Psalm 61[a]

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. Of David.

Hear my cry, O God;(A)
    listen to my prayer.(B)

From the ends of the earth I call to you,
    I call as my heart grows faint;(C)
    lead me to the rock(D) that is higher than I.
For you have been my refuge,(E)
    a strong tower against the foe.(F)

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 61:1 In Hebrew texts 61:1-8 is numbered 61:2-9.

61 Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.

From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.

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in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit(A) and in sincere love;(B) in truthful speech(C) and in the power of God;(D) with weapons of righteousness(E) in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor,(F) bad report(G) and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors;(H) known, yet regarded as unknown; dying,(I) and yet we live on;(J) beaten, and yet not killed; 10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing;(K) poor, yet making many rich;(L) having nothing,(M) and yet possessing everything.(N)

11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you.(O) 12 We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. 13 As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children(P)—open wide your hearts(Q) also.

Warning Against Idolatry

14 Do not be yoked together(R) with unbelievers.(S) For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?(T) 15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial[a]?(U) Or what does a believer(V) have in common with an unbeliever?(W) 16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols?(X) For we are the temple(Y) of the living God.(Z) As God has said:

“I will live with them
    and walk among them,
and I will be their God,
    and they will be my people.”[b](AA)

17 Therefore,

“Come out from them(AB)
    and be separate,
says the Lord.
Touch no unclean thing,
    and I will receive you.”[c](AC)

18 And,

“I will be a Father to you,
    and you will be my sons and daughters,(AD)
says the Lord Almighty.”[d](AE)

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 6:15 Greek Beliar, a variant of Belial
  2. 2 Corinthians 6:16 Lev. 26:12; Jer. 32:38; Ezek. 37:27
  3. 2 Corinthians 6:17 Isaiah 52:11; Ezek. 20:34,41
  4. 2 Corinthians 6:18 2 Samuel 7:14; 7:8

By pureness, by knowledge, by long suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,

By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;

As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;

10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

11 O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged.

12 Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels.

13 Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged.

14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.

18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

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