The Lord Appears to Solomon

(A)As soon as Solomon had finished building the house of the Lord (B)and the king's house and (C)all that Solomon desired to build, (D)the Lord appeared to Solomon a second time, as he had appeared to him at Gibeon. And the Lord said to him, “I have heard your prayer and your plea, which you have made before me. I have consecrated this house that you have built, (E)by putting my name there forever. (F)My eyes and my heart will be there for all time. And as for you, if you will (G)walk before me, (H)as David your father walked, with integrity of heart and uprightness, doing according to all that I have commanded you, and keeping my statutes and my rules, (I)then I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised David your father, saying, ‘You shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’ (J)But if you turn aside from following me, you or your children, and do not keep my commandments and my statutes that I have set before you, but go and serve other gods and worship them, (K)then I will cut off Israel from the land that I have given them, (L)and the house that I have consecrated for my name I will cast out of my sight, (M)and Israel will become a proverb and a byword among all peoples. And this house will become a heap of ruins.[a] Everyone passing by it will be astonished and will hiss, and they will say, (N)‘Why has the Lord done thus to this land and to this house?’ Then they will say, ‘Because (O)they abandoned the Lord their God who brought their fathers out of the land of Egypt and laid hold on other gods and worshiped them and served them. Therefore the Lord has brought all this disaster on them.’”

Solomon's Other Acts

10 (P)At the end of (Q)twenty years, in which Solomon had built the two houses, the house of the Lord and the king's house, 11 and Hiram king of Tyre had supplied Solomon with cedar and cypress timber and gold, as much as he desired, King Solomon gave to Hiram twenty cities in the land of Galilee. 12 But when Hiram came from Tyre to see the cities that Solomon had given him, they did not please him. 13 Therefore he said, “What kind of cities are these that you have given me, my brother?” So they are called the land of (R)Cabul to this day. 14 Hiram had sent to the king 120 talents[b] of gold.

15 And this is the account of (S)the forced labor that King Solomon drafted to build the house of the Lord and his own house and (T)the Millo and the wall of Jerusalem and (U)Hazor and (V)Megiddo and Gezer 16 (Pharaoh king of Egypt had gone up and captured Gezer and burned it with fire, and had killed (W)the Canaanites who lived in the city, and had given it as dowry to (X)his daughter, Solomon's wife; 17 so Solomon rebuilt Gezer) and (Y)Lower Beth-horon 18 and Baalath and Tamar in the wilderness, in the land of Judah,[c] 19 and all the store cities that Solomon had, and (Z)the cities for his chariots, and the cities for (AA)his horsemen, and whatever Solomon (AB)desired to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion. 20 All the people who were left of the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, who were not of the people of Israel— 21 (AC)their descendants who were left after them in the land, (AD)whom the people of Israel were unable to devote to destruction[d](AE)these Solomon drafted to be (AF)slaves, and so they are to this day. 22 But (AG)of the people of Israel Solomon made no slaves. They were the soldiers, they were his officials, his commanders, his captains, his chariot commanders and his horsemen.

23 These were the chief officers who were over Solomon's work: (AH)550 (AI)who had charge of the people who carried on the work.

24 But (AJ)Pharaoh's daughter went up from the city of David to (AK)her own house that Solomon had built for her. (AL)Then he built (AM)the Millo.

25 Three times a year Solomon used to offer up burnt offerings and peace offerings on the altar that he built to the Lord, making offerings with it[e] before the Lord. So he finished the house.

26 King Solomon built a fleet of ships at (AN)Ezion-geber, which is near Eloth on the shore of the Red Sea, in the land of Edom. 27 And Hiram sent (AO)with the fleet his servants, seamen who were familiar with the sea, together with the servants of Solomon. 28 And they went to (AP)Ophir and brought from there gold, 420 talents, and they brought it to King Solomon.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 9:8 Syriac, Old Latin; Hebrew will become high
  2. 1 Kings 9:14 A talent was about 75 pounds or 34 kilograms
  3. 1 Kings 9:18 Hebrew lacks of Judah
  4. 1 Kings 9:21 That is, set apart (devote) as an offering to the Lord (for destruction)
  5. 1 Kings 9:25 Septuagint lacks with it

The Lord Appears to Solomon(A)

When Solomon had finished(B) building the temple of the Lord and the royal palace, and had achieved all he had desired to do, the Lord appeared(C) to him a second time, as he had appeared to him at Gibeon. The Lord said to him:

“I have heard(D) the prayer and plea you have made before me; I have consecrated this temple, which you have built, by putting my Name(E) there forever. My eyes(F) and my heart will always be there.

“As for you, if you walk before me faithfully with integrity of heart(G) and uprightness, as David(H) your father did, and do all I command and observe my decrees and laws,(I) I will establish(J) your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised David your father when I said, ‘You shall never fail(K) to have a successor on the throne of Israel.’

“But if you[a] or your descendants turn away(L) from me and do not observe the commands and decrees I have given you[b] and go off to serve other gods(M) and worship them, then I will cut off Israel from the land(N) I have given them and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name.(O) Israel will then become a byword(P) and an object of ridicule(Q) among all peoples. This temple will become a heap of rubble. All[c] who pass by will be appalled(R) and will scoff and say, ‘Why has the Lord done such a thing to this land and to this temple?’(S) People will answer,(T) ‘Because they have forsaken(U) the Lord their God, who brought their ancestors out of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them—that is why the Lord brought all this disaster(V) on them.’”

Solomon’s Other Activities(W)

10 At the end of twenty years, during which Solomon built these two buildings—the temple of the Lord and the royal palace— 11 King Solomon gave twenty towns in Galilee to Hiram king of Tyre, because Hiram had supplied him with all the cedar and juniper and gold(X) he wanted. 12 But when Hiram went from Tyre to see the towns that Solomon had given him, he was not pleased with them. 13 “What kind of towns are these you have given me, my brother?” he asked. And he called them the Land of Kabul,[d](Y) a name they have to this day. 14 Now Hiram had sent to the king 120 talents[e] of gold.(Z)

15 Here is the account of the forced labor King Solomon conscripted(AA) to build the Lord’s temple, his own palace, the terraces,[f](AB) the wall of Jerusalem, and Hazor,(AC) Megiddo and Gezer.(AD) 16 (Pharaoh king of Egypt had attacked and captured Gezer. He had set it on fire. He killed its Canaanite inhabitants and then gave it as a wedding gift to his daughter,(AE) Solomon’s wife. 17 And Solomon rebuilt Gezer.) He built up Lower Beth Horon,(AF) 18 Baalath,(AG) and Tadmor[g] in the desert, within his land, 19 as well as all his store cities(AH) and the towns for his chariots(AI) and for his horses[h]—whatever he desired to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon and throughout all the territory he ruled.

20 There were still people left from the Amorites, Hittites,(AJ) Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites(AK) (these peoples were not Israelites). 21 Solomon conscripted the descendants(AL) of all these peoples remaining in the land—whom the Israelites could not exterminate[i](AM)—to serve as slave labor,(AN) as it is to this day. 22 But Solomon did not make slaves(AO) of any of the Israelites; they were his fighting men, his government officials, his officers, his captains, and the commanders of his chariots and charioteers. 23 They were also the chief officials(AP) in charge of Solomon’s projects—550 officials supervising those who did the work.

24 After Pharaoh’s daughter(AQ) had come up from the City of David to the palace Solomon had built for her, he constructed the terraces.(AR)

25 Three(AS) times a year Solomon sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings on the altar he had built for the Lord, burning incense before the Lord along with them, and so fulfilled the temple obligations.

26 King Solomon also built ships(AT) at Ezion Geber,(AU) which is near Elath(AV) in Edom, on the shore of the Red Sea.[j] 27 And Hiram sent his men—sailors(AW) who knew the sea—to serve in the fleet with Solomon’s men. 28 They sailed to Ophir(AX) and brought back 420 talents[k] of gold,(AY) which they delivered to King Solomon.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 9:6 The Hebrew is plural.
  2. 1 Kings 9:6 The Hebrew is plural.
  3. 1 Kings 9:8 See some Septuagint manuscripts, Old Latin, Syriac, Arabic and Targum; Hebrew And though this temple is now imposing, all
  4. 1 Kings 9:13 Kabul sounds like the Hebrew for good-for-nothing.
  5. 1 Kings 9:14 That is, about 4 1/2 tons or about 4 metric tons
  6. 1 Kings 9:15 Or the Millo; also in verse 24
  7. 1 Kings 9:18 The Hebrew may also be read Tamar.
  8. 1 Kings 9:19 Or charioteers
  9. 1 Kings 9:21 The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them.
  10. 1 Kings 9:26 Or the Sea of Reeds
  11. 1 Kings 9:28 That is, about 16 tons or about 14 metric tons

Solomon's Accomplishments

(A)At the end of twenty years, in which Solomon had built the house of the Lord and his own house, Solomon rebuilt the cities that Hiram had given to him, and settled the people of Israel in them.

And Solomon went to Hamath-zobah and took it. He built Tadmor in the wilderness and all the store cities that he built in Hamath. He also built (B)Upper Beth-horon and Lower Beth-horon, (C)fortified cities (D)with walls, gates, and bars, and Baalath, and all the store cities that Solomon had and all the cities for his chariots and the cities for his horsemen, and whatever Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion. (E)All the people who were left of the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, who were not of Israel, from their descendants who were left after them in the land, whom the people of Israel had not destroyed—these Solomon drafted (F)as forced labor, and so they are to this day. But of the people of Israel Solomon made no slaves for his work; they were soldiers, and his officers, the commanders of his chariots, and his horsemen. 10 And these were the chief officers of King Solomon, 250, who exercised authority over the people.

11 (G)Solomon brought Pharaoh's daughter up from the city of David to the house that he had built for her, for he said, “My wife shall not live in the house of David king of Israel, for the places to which the ark of the Lord has come are holy.”

12 Then Solomon offered up burnt offerings to the Lord on the altar of the Lord (H)that he had built before the vestibule, 13 (I)as the duty of each day required, offering (J)according to the commandment of Moses for the Sabbaths, the new moons, and the (K)three annual feasts—the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Booths. 14 According to the ruling of David his father, he appointed (L)the divisions of the priests for their service, (M)and the Levites for their offices of praise and (N)ministry before the priests (O)as the duty of each day required, and (P)the gatekeepers in their divisions at each gate, for so David (Q)the man of God had commanded. 15 And they did not turn aside from what the king had commanded the priests and Levites concerning any matter and concerning the treasuries.

16 Thus was accomplished all the work of Solomon from[a] the day the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid until it was finished. So the house of the Lord was completed.

17 Then Solomon went to (R)Ezion-geber and (S)Eloth on the shore of the sea, in the land of Edom. 18 And Hiram sent to him by the hand of his servants ships and servants familiar with the sea, and they went to Ophir together with the servants of Solomon and brought from there (T)450 talents[b] of gold and brought it to King Solomon.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 8:16 Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate; Hebrew to
  2. 2 Chronicles 8:18 A talent was about 75 pounds or 34 kilograms

Solomon’s Other Activities(A)

At the end of twenty years, during which Solomon built the temple of the Lord and his own palace,(B) Solomon rebuilt the villages that Hiram[a] had given him, and settled Israelites in them. Solomon then went to Hamath Zobah and captured it. He also built up Tadmor in the desert and all the store cities he had built in Hamath.(C) He rebuilt Upper Beth Horon(D) and Lower Beth Horon as fortified cities, with walls and with gates and bars, as well as Baalath(E) and all his store cities, and all the cities for his chariots and for his horses[b]—whatever he desired to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon and throughout all the territory he ruled.

There were still people left from the Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites(F) (these people were not Israelites). Solomon conscripted(G) the descendants of all these people remaining in the land—whom the Israelites had not destroyed—to serve as slave labor, as it is to this day. But Solomon did not make slaves of the Israelites for his work; they were his fighting men, commanders of his captains, and commanders of his chariots and charioteers. 10 They were also King Solomon’s chief officials—two hundred and fifty officials supervising the men.

11 Solomon brought Pharaoh’s daughter(H) up from the City of David to the palace he had built for her, for he said, “My wife must not live in the palace of David king of Israel, because the places the ark of the Lord has entered are holy.”

12 On the altar(I) of the Lord that he had built in front of the portico, Solomon sacrificed burnt offerings to the Lord, 13 according to the daily requirement(J) for offerings commanded by Moses for the Sabbaths,(K) the New Moons(L) and the three(M) annual festivals—the Festival of Unleavened Bread,(N) the Festival of Weeks(O) and the Festival of Tabernacles.(P) 14 In keeping with the ordinance of his father David, he appointed the divisions(Q) of the priests for their duties, and the Levites(R) to lead the praise and to assist the priests according to each day’s requirement. He also appointed the gatekeepers(S) by divisions for the various gates, because this was what David the man of God(T) had ordered.(U) 15 They did not deviate from the king’s commands to the priests or to the Levites in any matter, including that of the treasuries.

16 All Solomon’s work was carried out, from the day the foundation of the temple of the Lord was laid until its completion. So the temple of the Lord was finished.

17 Then Solomon went to Ezion Geber and Elath on the coast of Edom. 18 And Hiram sent him ships commanded by his own men, sailors who knew the sea. These, with Solomon’s men, sailed to Ophir and brought back four hundred and fifty talents[c] of gold,(V) which they delivered to King Solomon.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 8:2 Hebrew Huram, a variant of Hiram; also in verse 18
  2. 2 Chronicles 8:6 Or charioteers
  3. 2 Chronicles 8:18 That is, about 17 tons or about 15 metric tons

Come, Bless the Lord

A Song of (A)Ascents.

134 Come, bless the Lord, all you (B)servants of the Lord,
    who (C)stand (D)by night in the house of the Lord!
(E)Lift up your hands to (F)the holy place
    and bless the Lord!

May the Lord (G)bless you (H)from Zion,
    he who (I)made heaven and earth!

Psalm 134

A song of ascents.

Praise the Lord, all you servants(A) of the Lord
    who minister(B) by night(C) in the house of the Lord.
Lift up your hands(D) in the sanctuary(E)
    and praise the Lord.(F)

May the Lord bless you from Zion,(G)
    he who is the Maker of heaven(H) and earth.

Put Not Your Trust in Princes

146 (A)Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord, O my soul!
I will praise the Lord (B)as long as I live;
    (C)I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.

(D)Put not your trust in princes,
    (E)in a son of man, in whom there is (F)no salvation.
When (G)his breath departs, he returns to the earth;
    on that very day his plans perish.

(H)Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
    whose (I)hope is in the Lord his God,
(J)who made heaven and earth,
    the sea, and all that is in them,
(K)who keeps faith forever;
    (L)who executes justice for the oppressed,
    (M)who gives food to the hungry.

(N)The Lord sets the prisoners free;
    (O)the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
(P)The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;
    (Q)the Lord loves the righteous.
(R)The Lord watches over the sojourners;
    (S)he upholds the widow and the fatherless,
    but (T)the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.

10 (U)The Lord will reign forever,
    your God, O Zion, to all generations.
(V)Praise the Lord!

He Heals the Brokenhearted

147 (W)Praise the Lord!
For (X)it is good to sing praises to our God;
    for (Y)it is pleasant,[a] and (Z)a song of praise is fitting.
The Lord (AA)builds up Jerusalem;
    he (AB)gathers the outcasts of Israel.
He heals (AC)the brokenhearted
    and (AD)binds up their wounds.
He (AE)determines the number of the stars;
    he (AF)gives to all of them their names.
(AG)Great is our Lord, and (AH)abundant in power;
    (AI)his understanding is beyond measure.
The Lord (AJ)lifts up the humble;[b]
    he casts the wicked to the ground.

(AK)Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;
    make melody to our God on (AL)the lyre!
He covers the heavens with clouds;
    he prepares (AM)rain for the earth;
    he makes (AN)grass grow on the hills.
He (AO)gives to the beasts their food,
    and to (AP)the young ravens that cry.
10 His delight is not in (AQ)the strength of the horse,
    nor his pleasure in the legs of a man,
11 but the Lord (AR)takes pleasure in those who fear him,
    in those who (AS)hope in his steadfast love.

12 Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem!
    Praise your God, O Zion!
13 For he strengthens (AT)the bars of your gates;
    he blesses your children within you.
14 He (AU)makes peace in your borders;
    he (AV)fills you with the (AW)finest of the wheat.
15 He (AX)sends out his command to the earth;
    his word runs swiftly.
16 He gives (AY)snow like wool;
    he scatters (AZ)frost like ashes.
17 He hurls down his crystals of (BA)ice like crumbs;
    who can stand before his (BB)cold?
18 He (BC)sends out his word, and melts them;
    he makes his wind blow and the waters flow.
19 He declares his word to Jacob,
    his (BD)statutes and rules[c] to Israel.
20 He (BE)has not dealt thus with any other nation;
    they do not know his rules.[d]
(BF)Praise the Lord!

Praise the Name of the Lord

148 (BG)Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord (BH)from the heavens;
    praise him (BI)in the heights!
Praise him, all his angels;
    praise him, all his (BJ)hosts!

Praise him, sun and moon,
    praise him, all you shining stars!
Praise him, you (BK)highest heavens,
    and you (BL)waters above the heavens!

(BM)Let them praise the name of the Lord!
    For (BN)he commanded and they were created.
And he (BO)established them forever and ever;
    he gave (BP)a decree, and it shall not (BQ)pass away.[e]

Praise the Lord (BR)from the earth,
    you (BS)great sea creatures and all deeps,
(BT)fire and hail, (BU)snow and mist,
    (BV)stormy wind (BW)fulfilling his word!

(BX)Mountains and all hills,
    (BY)fruit trees and all (BZ)cedars!
10 (CA)Beasts and all livestock,
    creeping things and (CB)flying birds!

11 Kings of the earth and (CC)all peoples,
    princes and all rulers of the earth!
12 Young men and maidens together,
    old men and children!

13 (CD)Let them praise the name of the Lord,
    for (CE)his name alone is exalted;
    (CF)his majesty is above earth and heaven.
14 He has (CG)raised up a horn for his people,
    (CH)praise for all his saints,
    for the people of Israel who are (CI)near to him.
(CJ)Praise the Lord!

Sing to the Lord a New Song

149 (CK)Praise the Lord!
Sing to the Lord (CL)a new song,
    his praise in (CM)the assembly of the godly!
Let Israel (CN)be glad in (CO)his Maker;
    let the children of Zion rejoice in their (CP)King!
Let them praise his name with (CQ)dancing,
    making melody to him with (CR)tambourine and (CS)lyre!
For the Lord (CT)takes pleasure in his people;
    he (CU)adorns the humble with salvation.
Let the godly exult in glory;
    let them (CV)sing for joy on their (CW)beds.
Let (CX)the high praises of God be in their throats
    and (CY)two-edged swords in their hands,
to execute vengeance on the nations
    and punishments on the peoples,
to bind their kings with (CZ)chains
    and their nobles with fetters of iron,
to execute on them the judgment (DA)written!
    (DB)This is honor for all his godly ones.
(DC)Praise the Lord!

Let Everything Praise the Lord

150 (DD)Praise the Lord!
Praise God in his (DE)sanctuary;
    praise him in (DF)his mighty heavens![f]
Praise him for his (DG)mighty deeds;
    praise him according to his excellent (DH)greatness!

Praise him with (DI)trumpet sound;
    praise him with (DJ)lute and (DK)harp!
Praise him with (DL)tambourine and (DM)dance;
    praise him with (DN)strings and (DO)pipe!
Praise him with sounding (DP)cymbals;
    praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
Let (DQ)everything that has breath praise the Lord!
(DR)Praise the Lord!

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 147:1 Or for he is beautiful
  2. Psalm 147:6 Or afflicted
  3. Psalm 147:19 Or and just decrees
  4. Psalm 147:20 Or his just decrees
  5. Psalm 148:6 Or it shall not be transgressed
  6. Psalm 150:1 Hebrew expanse (compare Genesis 1:6–8)

Psalm 146

Praise the Lord.[a]

Praise the Lord,(A) my soul.

I will praise the Lord all my life;(B)
    I will sing praise(C) to my God as long as I live.(D)
Do not put your trust in princes,(E)
    in human beings,(F) who cannot save.
When their spirit departs, they return to the ground;(G)
    on that very day their plans come to nothing.(H)
Blessed are those(I) whose help(J) is the God of Jacob,
    whose hope is in the Lord their God.

He is the Maker of heaven(K) and earth,
    the sea, and everything in them—
    he remains faithful(L) forever.
He upholds(M) the cause of the oppressed(N)
    and gives food to the hungry.(O)
The Lord sets prisoners free,(P)
    the Lord gives sight(Q) to the blind,(R)
the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down,(S)
    the Lord loves the righteous.(T)
The Lord watches over the foreigner(U)
    and sustains the fatherless(V) and the widow,(W)
    but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.

10 The Lord reigns(X) forever,
    your God, O Zion, for all generations.

Praise the Lord.

Psalm 147

Praise the Lord.[b]

How good it is to sing praises to our God,
    how pleasant(Y) and fitting to praise him!(Z)

The Lord builds up Jerusalem;(AA)
    he gathers the exiles(AB) of Israel.
He heals the brokenhearted(AC)
    and binds up their wounds.(AD)
He determines the number of the stars(AE)
    and calls them each by name.
Great is our Lord(AF) and mighty in power;(AG)
    his understanding has no limit.(AH)
The Lord sustains the humble(AI)
    but casts the wicked(AJ) to the ground.

Sing to the Lord(AK) with grateful praise;(AL)
    make music(AM) to our God on the harp.(AN)

He covers the sky with clouds;(AO)
    he supplies the earth with rain(AP)
    and makes grass grow(AQ) on the hills.
He provides food(AR) for the cattle
    and for the young ravens(AS) when they call.

10 His pleasure is not in the strength(AT) of the horse,(AU)
    nor his delight in the legs of the warrior;
11 the Lord delights(AV) in those who fear him,(AW)
    who put their hope(AX) in his unfailing love.(AY)

12 Extol the Lord, Jerusalem;(AZ)
    praise your God, Zion.

13 He strengthens the bars of your gates(BA)
    and blesses your people(BB) within you.
14 He grants peace(BC) to your borders
    and satisfies you(BD) with the finest of wheat.(BE)

15 He sends his command(BF) to the earth;
    his word runs(BG) swiftly.
16 He spreads the snow(BH) like wool
    and scatters the frost(BI) like ashes.
17 He hurls down his hail(BJ) like pebbles.
    Who can withstand his icy blast?
18 He sends his word(BK) and melts them;
    he stirs up his breezes,(BL) and the waters flow.

19 He has revealed his word(BM) to Jacob,(BN)
    his laws and decrees(BO) to Israel.
20 He has done this for no other nation;(BP)
    they do not know(BQ) his laws.[c]

Praise the Lord.(BR)

Psalm 148

Praise the Lord.[d](BS)

Praise the Lord from the heavens;(BT)
    praise him in the heights above.
Praise him, all his angels;(BU)
    praise him, all his heavenly hosts.(BV)
Praise him, sun(BW) and moon;
    praise him, all you shining stars.
Praise him, you highest heavens(BX)
    and you waters above the skies.(BY)

Let them praise the name(BZ) of the Lord,
    for at his command(CA) they were created,
and he established them for ever and ever—
    he issued a decree(CB) that will never pass away.

Praise the Lord(CC) from the earth,
    you great sea creatures(CD) and all ocean depths,(CE)
lightning and hail,(CF) snow and clouds,
    stormy winds that do his bidding,(CG)
you mountains and all hills,(CH)
    fruit trees and all cedars,
10 wild animals(CI) and all cattle,
    small creatures and flying birds,
11 kings(CJ) of the earth and all nations,
    you princes and all rulers on earth,
12 young men and women,
    old men and children.

13 Let them praise the name of the Lord,(CK)
    for his name alone is exalted;
    his splendor(CL) is above the earth and the heavens.(CM)
14 And he has raised up for his people a horn,[e](CN)
    the praise(CO) of all his faithful servants,(CP)
    of Israel, the people close to his heart.(CQ)

Praise the Lord.

Psalm 149

Praise the Lord.[f](CR)

Sing to the Lord a new song,(CS)
    his praise in the assembly(CT) of his faithful people.

Let Israel rejoice(CU) in their Maker;(CV)
    let the people of Zion be glad in their King.(CW)
Let them praise his name with dancing(CX)
    and make music to him with timbrel and harp.(CY)
For the Lord takes delight(CZ) in his people;
    he crowns the humble with victory.(DA)
Let his faithful people rejoice(DB) in this honor
    and sing for joy on their beds.(DC)

May the praise of God be in their mouths(DD)
    and a double-edged(DE) sword in their hands,(DF)
to inflict vengeance(DG) on the nations
    and punishment(DH) on the peoples,
to bind their kings with fetters,(DI)
    their nobles with shackles of iron,(DJ)
to carry out the sentence written against them—(DK)
    this is the glory of all his faithful people.(DL)

Praise the Lord.

Psalm 150

Praise the Lord.[g](DM)

Praise God in his sanctuary;(DN)
    praise him in his mighty heavens.(DO)
Praise him for his acts of power;(DP)
    praise him for his surpassing greatness.(DQ)
Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,(DR)
    praise him with the harp and lyre,(DS)
praise him with timbrel and dancing,(DT)
    praise him with the strings(DU) and pipe,(DV)
praise him with the clash of cymbals,(DW)
    praise him with resounding cymbals.

Let everything(DX) that has breath praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 146:1 Hebrew Hallelu Yah; also in verse 10
  2. Psalm 147:1 Hebrew Hallelu Yah; also in verse 20
  3. Psalm 147:20 Masoretic Text; Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint nation; / he has not made his laws known to them
  4. Psalm 148:1 Hebrew Hallelu Yah; also in verse 14
  5. Psalm 148:14 Horn here symbolizes strength.
  6. Psalm 149:1 Hebrew Hallelu Yah; also in verse 9
  7. Psalm 150:1 Hebrew Hallelu Yah; also in verse 6

Encouragement to Give Generously

We want you to know, brothers,[a] about the grace of God that has been (A)given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and (B)their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave (C)according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly (D)for the favor[b] of taking part in (E)the relief of the saints— and this, not as we expected, but they (F)gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. Accordingly, (G)we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you (H)this act of grace. But as (I)you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you[c](J)see that you excel in this act of grace also.

(K)I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that (L)though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. 10 And in this matter (M)I give my judgment: (N)this benefits you, who (O)a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. 11 So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have. 12 For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable (P)according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. 13 For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness 14 your abundance at the present time should supply (Q)their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. 15 As it is written, (R)“Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.”

Commendation of Titus

16 But (S)thanks be to God, (T)who put into the heart of Titus the same earnest care I have for you. 17 For (U)he not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest he is going[d] to you of his own accord. 18 With him we are sending[e] (V)the brother who is famous among (W)all the churches for his preaching of the gospel. 19 And not only that, but he has been (X)appointed by the churches to travel with us as we carry out this act of (Y)grace that is being ministered by us, (Z)for the glory of the Lord himself and to show our good will. 20 We take this course so that no one should blame us about this generous gift that is being administered by us, 21 for (AA)we aim at what is honorable (AB)not only in the Lord's sight but also in the sight of man. 22 And with them we are sending our brother whom we have often tested and found earnest in many matters, but who is now more earnest than ever because of his great confidence in you. 23 As for Titus, he is (AC)my partner and fellow worker for your benefit. And as for our brothers, they are messengers[f] of the churches, the glory of Christ. 24 So give proof before the churches of your love and of (AD)our boasting about you to these men.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 8:1 Or brothers and sisters
  2. 2 Corinthians 8:4 The Greek word charis can mean favor or grace or thanks, depending on the context
  3. 2 Corinthians 8:7 Some manuscripts in your love for us
  4. 2 Corinthians 8:17 Or he went
  5. 2 Corinthians 8:18 Or we sent; also verse 22
  6. 2 Corinthians 8:23 Greek apostles

The Collection for the Lord’s People

And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian(A) churches. In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.(B) For I testify that they gave as much as they were able,(C) and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing(D) in this service(E) to the Lord’s people.(F) And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. So we urged(G) Titus,(H) just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion(I) this act of grace on your part. But since you excel in everything(J)—in faith, in speech, in knowledge,(K) in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you[a]—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

I am not commanding you,(L) but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. For you know the grace(M) of our Lord Jesus Christ,(N) that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor,(O) so that you through his poverty might become rich.(P)

10 And here is my judgment(Q) about what is best for you in this matter. Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so.(R) 11 Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness(S) to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. 12 For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has,(T) not according to what one does not have.

13 Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. 14 At the present time your plenty will supply what they need,(U) so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality, 15 as it is written: “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.”[b](V)

Titus Sent to Receive the Collection

16 Thanks be to God,(W) who put into the heart(X) of Titus(Y) the same concern I have for you. 17 For Titus not only welcomed our appeal, but he is coming to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative.(Z) 18 And we are sending along with him the brother(AA) who is praised by all the churches(AB) for his service to the gospel.(AC) 19 What is more, he was chosen by the churches to accompany us(AD) as we carry the offering, which we administer in order to honor the Lord himself and to show our eagerness to help.(AE) 20 We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift. 21 For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man.(AF)

22 In addition, we are sending with them our brother who has often proved to us in many ways that he is zealous, and now even more so because of his great confidence in you. 23 As for Titus,(AG) he is my partner(AH) and co-worker(AI) among you; as for our brothers,(AJ) they are representatives of the churches and an honor to Christ. 24 Therefore show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our pride in you,(AK) so that the churches can see it.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 8:7 Some manuscripts and in your love for us
  2. 2 Corinthians 8:15 Exodus 16:18