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Ecclesiastes 4
New International Version
Ecclesiastes 4
New International Version
Oppression, Toil, Friendlessness
4 Again I looked and saw all the oppression(A) that was taking place under the sun:
I saw the tears of the oppressed—
and they have no comforter;
power was on the side of their oppressors—
and they have no comforter.(B)
2 And I declared that the dead,(C)
who had already died,
are happier than the living,
who are still alive.(D)
3 But better than both
is the one who has never been born,(E)
who has not seen the evil
that is done under the sun.(F)
4 And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.(G)
5 Fools fold their hands(H)
and ruin themselves.
6 Better one handful with tranquillity
than two handfuls with toil(I)
and chasing after the wind.
7 Again I saw something meaningless under the sun:
8 There was a man all alone;
he had neither son nor brother.
There was no end to his toil,
yet his eyes were not content(J) with his wealth.
“For whom am I toiling,” he asked,
“and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?”
This too is meaningless—
a miserable business!
9 Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their labor:
10 If either of them falls down,
one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
and has no one to help them up.
11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
12 Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
Advancement Is Meaningless
13 Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to heed a warning. 14 The youth may have come from prison to the kingship, or he may have been born in poverty within his kingdom. 15 I saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed the youth, the king’s successor. 16 There was no end to all the people who were before them. But those who came later were not pleased with the successor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
Romans 3
New International Version
Romans 3
New International Version
God’s Faithfulness
3 What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision? 2 Much in every way!(A) First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God.(B)
3 What if some were unfaithful?(C) Will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness?(D) 4 Not at all! Let God be true,(E) and every human being a liar.(F) As it is written:
5 But if our unrighteousness brings out God’s righteousness more clearly,(H) what shall we say? That God is unjust in bringing his wrath on us? (I am using a human argument.)(I) 6 Certainly not! If that were so, how could God judge the world?(J) 7 Someone might argue, “If my falsehood enhances God’s truthfulness and so increases his glory,(K) why am I still condemned as a sinner?”(L) 8 Why not say—as some slanderously claim that we say—“Let us do evil that good may result”?(M) Their condemnation is just!
No One Is Righteous
9 What shall we conclude then? Do we have any advantage?(N) Not at all! For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin.(O) 10 As it is written:
“There is no one righteous, not even one;
11 there is no one who understands;
there is no one who seeks God.
12 All have turned away,
they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good,
not even one.”[b](P)
13 “Their throats are open graves;
their tongues practice deceit.”[c](Q)
“The poison of vipers is on their lips.”[d](R)
14 “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”[e](S)
15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16 ruin and misery mark their ways,
17 and the way of peace they do not know.”[f](T)
18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”[g](U)
19 Now we know that whatever the law says,(V) it says to those who are under the law,(W) so that every mouth may be silenced(X) and the whole world held accountable to God.(Y) 20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law;(Z) rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.(AA)
Righteousness Through Faith
21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God(AB) has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.(AC) 22 This righteousness(AD) is given through faith(AE) in[h] Jesus Christ(AF) to all who believe.(AG) There is no difference between Jew and Gentile,(AH) 23 for all have sinned(AI) and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified(AJ) freely by his grace(AK) through the redemption(AL) that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement,[i](AM) through the shedding of his blood(AN)—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished(AO)— 26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
27 Where, then, is boasting?(AP) It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith. 28 For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.(AQ) 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too,(AR) 30 since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith.(AS) 31 Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.
Footnotes
- Romans 3:4 Psalm 51:4
- Romans 3:12 Psalms 14:1-3; 53:1-3; Eccles. 7:20
- Romans 3:13 Psalm 5:9
- Romans 3:13 Psalm 140:3
- Romans 3:14 Psalm 10:7 (see Septuagint)
- Romans 3:17 Isaiah 59:7,8
- Romans 3:18 Psalm 36:1
- Romans 3:22 Or through the faithfulness of
- Romans 3:25 The Greek for sacrifice of atonement refers to the atonement cover on the ark of the covenant (see Lev. 16:15,16).
Psalm 119:60-119
New International Version
Psalm 119:60-119
New International Version
60 I will hasten and not delay
to obey your commands.(A)
61 Though the wicked bind me with ropes,
I will not forget(B) your law.
62 At midnight(C) I rise to give you thanks
for your righteous laws.(D)
63 I am a friend to all who fear you,(E)
to all who follow your precepts.(F)
64 The earth is filled with your love,(G) Lord;
teach me your decrees.(H)
ט Teth
65 Do good(I) to your servant
according to your word,(J) Lord.
66 Teach me knowledge(K) and good judgment,
for I trust your commands.
67 Before I was afflicted(L) I went astray,(M)
but now I obey your word.(N)
68 You are good,(O) and what you do is good;
teach me your decrees.(P)
69 Though the arrogant have smeared me with lies,(Q)
I keep your precepts with all my heart.
70 Their hearts are callous(R) and unfeeling,
but I delight in your law.
71 It was good for me to be afflicted(S)
so that I might learn your decrees.
72 The law from your mouth is more precious to me
than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.(T)
י Yodh
73 Your hands made me(U) and formed me;
give me understanding to learn your commands.
74 May those who fear you rejoice(V) when they see me,
for I have put my hope in your word.(W)
75 I know, Lord, that your laws are righteous,(X)
and that in faithfulness(Y) you have afflicted me.
76 May your unfailing love(Z) be my comfort,
according to your promise(AA) to your servant.
77 Let your compassion(AB) come to me that I may live,
for your law is my delight.(AC)
78 May the arrogant(AD) be put to shame for wronging me without cause;(AE)
but I will meditate on your precepts.
79 May those who fear you turn to me,
those who understand your statutes.(AF)
80 May I wholeheartedly follow(AG) your decrees,(AH)
that I may not be put to shame.(AI)
כ Kaph
81 My soul faints(AJ) with longing for your salvation,(AK)
but I have put my hope(AL) in your word.
82 My eyes fail,(AM) looking for your promise;(AN)
I say, “When will you comfort me?”
83 Though I am like a wineskin in the smoke,
I do not forget(AO) your decrees.
84 How long(AP) must your servant wait?
When will you punish my persecutors?(AQ)
85 The arrogant(AR) dig pits(AS) to trap me,
contrary to your law.
86 All your commands are trustworthy;(AT)
help me,(AU) for I am being persecuted(AV) without cause.(AW)
87 They almost wiped me from the earth,
but I have not forsaken(AX) your precepts.
88 In your unfailing love(AY) preserve my life,(AZ)
that I may obey the statutes(BA) of your mouth.
ל Lamedh
89 Your word, Lord, is eternal;(BB)
it stands firm in the heavens.
90 Your faithfulness(BC) continues through all generations;(BD)
you established the earth, and it endures.(BE)
91 Your laws endure(BF) to this day,
for all things serve you.(BG)
92 If your law had not been my delight,(BH)
I would have perished in my affliction.(BI)
93 I will never forget(BJ) your precepts,
for by them you have preserved my life.(BK)
94 Save me,(BL) for I am yours;
I have sought out your precepts.(BM)
95 The wicked are waiting to destroy me,(BN)
but I will ponder your statutes.(BO)
96 To all perfection I see a limit,
but your commands are boundless.(BP)
מ Mem
97 Oh, how I love your law!(BQ)
I meditate(BR) on it all day long.
98 Your commands are always with me
and make me wiser(BS) than my enemies.
99 I have more insight than all my teachers,
for I meditate on your statutes.(BT)
100 I have more understanding than the elders,
for I obey your precepts.(BU)
101 I have kept my feet(BV) from every evil path
so that I might obey your word.(BW)
102 I have not departed from your laws,(BX)
for you yourself have taught(BY) me.
103 How sweet are your words to my taste,
sweeter than honey(BZ) to my mouth!(CA)
104 I gain understanding(CB) from your precepts;
therefore I hate every wrong path.(CC)
נ Nun
105 Your word is a lamp(CD) for my feet,
a light(CE) on my path.
106 I have taken an oath(CF) and confirmed it,
that I will follow your righteous laws.(CG)
107 I have suffered much;
preserve my life,(CH) Lord, according to your word.
108 Accept, Lord, the willing praise of my mouth,(CI)
and teach me your laws.(CJ)
109 Though I constantly take my life in my hands,(CK)
I will not forget(CL) your law.
110 The wicked have set a snare(CM) for me,
but I have not strayed(CN) from your precepts.
111 Your statutes are my heritage forever;
they are the joy of my heart.(CO)
112 My heart is set(CP) on keeping your decrees
to the very end.[a](CQ)
ס Samekh
113 I hate double-minded people,(CR)
but I love your law.(CS)
114 You are my refuge and my shield;(CT)
I have put my hope(CU) in your word.
115 Away from me,(CV) you evildoers,
that I may keep the commands of my God!
116 Sustain me,(CW) my God, according to your promise,(CX) and I will live;
do not let my hopes be dashed.(CY)
117 Uphold me,(CZ) and I will be delivered;(DA)
I will always have regard for your decrees.(DB)
118 You reject all who stray(DC) from your decrees,
for their delusions come to nothing.
119 All the wicked of the earth you discard like dross;(DD)
therefore I love your statutes.(DE)
Footnotes
- Psalm 119:112 Or decrees / for their enduring reward
New International Version (NIV) 
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