Acts 21:18-26

New International Version

¹⁸The next day Paul and the rest of us went to see James,^(A) and all the elders^(B) were present. ¹⁹Paul greeted them and reported in detail what God had done among the Gentiles^(C) through his ministry.^(D)

²⁰When they heard this, they praised God. Then they said to Paul: “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them are zealous^(E) for the law.^(F) ²¹They have been informed that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to turn away from Moses,^(G) telling them not to circumcise their children^(H) or live according to our customs.^(I) ²²What shall we do? They will certainly hear that you have come, ²³so do what we tell you. There are four men with us who have made a vow.^(J) ²⁴Take these men, join in their purification rites^(K) and pay their expenses, so that they can have their heads shaved.^(L) Then everyone will know there is no truth in these reports about you, but that you yourself are living in obedience to the law. ²⁵As for the Gentile believers, we have written to them our decision that they should abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality.”^(M)

²⁶The next day Paul took the men and purified himself along with them. Then he went to the temple to give notice of the date when the days of purification would end and the offering would be made for each of them.^(N)

Read full chapter

Psalm 40-41

New International Version

Psalm 40^[a]^(A)

For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.

¹I waited patiently^(B) for the Lord;
    he turned to me and heard my cry.^(C)
²He lifted me out of the slimy pit,^(D)
    out of the mud^(E) and mire;^(F)
he set my feet^(G) on a rock^(H)
    and gave me a firm place to stand.
³He put a new song^(I) in my mouth,
    a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear the Lord^(J)
    and put their trust^(K) in him.

⁴Blessed is the one^(L)
    who trusts in the Lord,^(M)
who does not look to the proud,^(N)
    to those who turn aside to false gods.^[b]^(O)
⁵Many, Lord my God,
    are the wonders^(P) you have done,
    the things you planned for us.
None can compare^(Q) with you;
    were I to speak and tell of your deeds,
    they would be too many^(R) to declare.

⁶Sacrifice and offering you did not desire—^(S)
    but my ears you have opened^[c]—^(T)
    burnt offerings^(U) and sin offerings^[d] you did not require.
⁷Then I said, “Here I am, I have come—
    it is written about me in the scroll.^[e]^(V)
⁸I desire to do your will,^(W) my God;^(X)
    your law is within my heart.”^(Y)

⁹I proclaim your saving acts^(Z) in the great assembly;^(AA)
    I do not seal my lips, Lord,
    as you know.^(AB)
¹⁰I do not hide your righteousness in my heart;
    I speak of your faithfulness^(AC) and your saving help.
I do not conceal your love and your faithfulness
    from the great assembly.^(AD)

¹¹Do not withhold your mercy^(AE) from me, Lord;
    may your love^(AF) and faithfulness^(AG) always protect^(AH) me.
¹²For troubles^(AI) without number surround me;
    my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see.^(AJ)
They are more than the hairs of my head,^(AK)
    and my heart fails^(AL) within me.
¹³Be pleased to save me, Lord;
    come quickly, Lord, to help me.^(AM)

¹⁴May all who want to take my life^(AN)
    be put to shame and confusion;^(AO)
may all who desire my ruin^(AP)
    be turned back in disgrace.
¹⁵May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!”^(AQ)
    be appalled at their own shame.
¹⁶But may all who seek you^(AR)
    rejoice and be glad^(AS) in you;
may those who long for your saving help always say,
    “The Lord is great!”^(AT)

¹⁷But as for me, I am poor and needy;^(AU)
may the Lord think^(AV) of me.
You are my help^(AW) and my deliverer;^(AX)
you are my God, do not delay.^(AY)

Psalm 41^[f]

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

¹Blessed^(AZ) are those who have regard for the weak;^(BA)
    the Lord delivers them in times of trouble.^(BB)
²The Lord protects^(BC) and preserves them—^(BD)
    they are counted among the blessed in the land—^(BE)
    he does not give them over to the desire of their foes.^(BF)
³The Lord sustains them on their sickbed^(BG)
    and restores them from their bed of illness.^(BH)

⁴I said, “Have mercy^(BI) on me, Lord;
    heal^(BJ) me, for I have sinned^(BK) against you.”
⁵My enemies say of me in malice,
    “When will he die and his name perish?^(BL)”
⁶When one of them comes to see me,
    he speaks falsely,^(BM) while his heart gathers slander;^(BN)
    then he goes out and spreads^(BO) it around.

⁷All my enemies whisper together^(BP) against me;
    they imagine the worst for me, saying,
⁸“A vile disease has afflicted him;
    he will never get up^(BQ) from the place where he lies.”
⁹Even my close friend,^(BR)
    someone I trusted,
one who shared my bread,
    has turned^[g] against me.^(BS)

¹⁰But may you have mercy^(BT) on me, Lord;
    raise me up,^(BU) that I may repay^(BV) them.
¹¹I know that you are pleased with me,^(BW)
    for my enemy does not triumph over me.^(BX)
¹²Because of my integrity^(BY) you uphold me^(BZ)
    and set me in your presence forever.^(CA)

¹³Praise^(CB) be to the Lord, the God of Israel,^(CC)
from everlasting to everlasting.
Amen and Amen.^(CD)

Footnotes

Psalm 40:1 In Hebrew texts 40:1-17 is numbered 40:2-18.
Psalm 40:4 Or to lies
Psalm 40:6 Hebrew; some Septuagint manuscripts but a body you have prepared for me
Psalm 40:6 Or purification offerings
Psalm 40:7 Or come / with the scroll written for me
Psalm 41:1 In Hebrew texts 41:1-13 is numbered 41:2-14.
Psalm 41:9 Hebrew has lifted up his heel