¹⁰ While we were remaining there for some time, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.

¹¹ And coming to [see] us, he took Paul’s belt and with it bound his own feet and hands and said, Thus says the Holy Spirit: The Jews at Jerusalem shall bind like this the man who owns this belt, and they shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles (heathen).

¹² When we heard this, both we and the residents of that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem.

¹³ Then Paul replied, What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart like this? For I hold myself in readiness not only to be arrested and bound and imprisoned at Jerusalem, but also [even] to die for the name of the Lord Jesus.

¹⁴ And when he would not yield to [our] persuading, we stopped [urging and imploring him], saying, The Lord’s will be done!

¹⁵ After these days we packed our baggage and went up to Jerusalem.

¹⁶ And some of the disciples from Caesarea came with us, conducting us to the house of Mnason, a man from Cyprus, one of the disciples of long standing, with whom we were to lodge.

¹⁷ When we arrived in Jerusalem, the brethren received and welcomed us gladly.

Psalm 38

A Psalm of David; to bring to remembrance and make memorial.

¹ O Lord, rebuke me not in Your wrath, neither chasten me in Your hot displeasure.

² For Your arrows have sunk into me and stick fast, and Your hand has come down upon me and pressed me sorely.

³ There is no soundness in my flesh because of Your indignation; neither is there any health or rest in my bones because of my sin.

⁴ For my iniquities have gone over my head [like waves of a flood]; as a heavy burden they weigh too much for me.

⁵ My wounds are loathsome and corrupt because of my foolishness.

⁶ I am bent and bowed down greatly; I go about mourning all the day long.

⁷ For my loins are filled with burning; and there is no soundness in my flesh.

⁸ I am faint and sorely bruised [deadly cold and quite worn out]; I groan by reason of the disquiet and moaning of my heart.

⁹ Lord, all my desire is before You; and my sighing is not hidden from You.

¹⁰ My heart throbs, my strength fails me; as for the light of my eyes, it also is gone from me.

¹¹ My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my plague; and my neighbors and my near ones stand afar off.^(A)

¹² They also that seek and demand my life lay snares for me, and they that seek and require my hurt speak crafty and mischievous things; they meditate treachery and deceit all the day long.

¹³ But I, like a deaf man, hear not; and I am like a dumb man who opens not his mouth.

¹⁴ Yes, I have become like a man who hears not, in whose mouth are no arguments or replies.

¹⁵ For in You, O Lord, do I hope; You will answer, O Lord my God.

¹⁶ For I pray, Let them not rejoice over me, who when my foot slips boast against me.

¹⁷ For I am ready to halt and fall; my pain and sorrow are continually before me.

¹⁸ For I do confess my guilt and iniquity; I am filled with sorrow for my sin.^(B)

¹⁹ But my enemies are vigorous and strong, and those who hate me wrongfully are multiplied.

²⁰ They also that render evil for good are adversaries to me, because I follow the thing that is good.

²¹ Forsake me not, O Lord; O my God, be not far from me.

²² Make haste to help me, O Lord, my Salvation.

Psalm 39

To the Chief Musician; for Jeduthun [founder of an official musical family]. A Psalm of David.

¹ I said, I will take heed and guard my ways, that I may sin not with my tongue; I will muzzle my mouth as with a bridle while the wicked are before me.

² I was dumb with silence, I held my peace without profit and had no comfort away from good, while my distress was renewed.

³ My heart was hot within me. While I was musing, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue:

⁴ Lord, make me to know my end and [to appreciate] the measure of my days—what it is; let me know and realize how frail I am [how transient is my stay here].

⁵ Behold, You have made my days as [short as] handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing in Your sight. Truly every man at his best is merely a breath! Selah [pause, and think calmly of that]!

⁶ Surely every man walks to and fro—like a shadow in a pantomime; surely for futility and emptiness he is in turmoil; each one heaps up riches, not knowing who will gather them.^(C)

⁷ And now, Lord, what do I wait for and expect? My hope and expectation are in You.

⁸ Deliver me from all my transgressions; make me not the scorn and reproach of the [self-confident] fool!

⁹ I am dumb, I open not my mouth, for it is You Who has done it.

¹⁰ Remove Your stroke away from me; I am consumed by the conflict and the blow of Your hand.

¹¹ When with rebukes You correct and chasten man for sin, You waste his beauty like a moth and what is dear to him consumes away; surely every man is a mere breath. Selah [pause, and think calmly of that]!

¹² Hear my prayer, O Lord, and give ear to my cry; hold not Your peace at my tears! For I am Your passing guest, a temporary resident, as all my fathers were.

¹³ O look away from me and spare me, that I may recover cheerfulness and encouraging strength and know gladness before I go and am no more!