Sirach 51:1-12
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Prayer of Jesus Son of Sirach[a]
51 I give you thanks, O Lord and King,
and praise you, O God my Savior.
I give thanks to your name,(A)
2 for you have been my protector and helper
and have delivered my body from destruction
and from the trap laid by a slanderous tongue,
from lips that fabricate lies.
In the face of my adversaries,
you have been my helper(B) 3 and delivered me,
in the greatness of your mercy and of your name,
from grinding teeth about to devour me,
from the hand of those seeking my life,
from the many troubles I endured,(C)
4 from choking fire on every side,
and from the midst of fire that I had not kindled,(D)
5 from the deep belly of Hades,
from an unclean tongue and lying words,(E)
6 the slander of an unrighteous tongue to the king.
My soul drew near to death,
and my life was on the brink of Hades below.(F)
7 They surrounded me on every side,
and there was no one to help me.
I looked for human assistance,
and there was none.(G)
8 Then I remembered your mercy, O Lord,
and your kindness[b] from of old,
for you rescue those who wait for you
and save them from the hand of their enemies.
9 And I sent up my prayer from the earth
and begged for rescue from death.
10 I cried out, “Lord, you are my Father;[c]
do not forsake me in the days of trouble,
when there is no help against the proud.(H)
11 I will praise your name continually
and will sing hymns of thanksgiving.”
My prayer was heard,
12 for you saved me from destruction
and rescued me in time of trouble.
For this reason I thank you and praise you,
and I bless the name of the Lord.
Heb adds:
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of praises,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
Give thanks to the guardian of Israel,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
Give thanks to him who formed all things,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
Give thanks to the redeemer of Israel,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
Give thanks to him who gathers the dispersed of Israel,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
Give thanks to him who rebuilt his city and his sanctuary,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
Give thanks to him who makes a horn to sprout for the house of David,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
Give thanks to him who has chosen the sons of Zadok to be priests,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
Give thanks to the shield of Abraham,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
Give thanks to the rock of Isaac,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
Give thanks to the mighty one of Jacob,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
Give thanks to him who has chosen Zion,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
Give thanks to the King of the kings of kings,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
He has raised up a horn for his people,
praise for all his loyal ones.
For the children of Israel, the people close to him.
Praise the Lord!(I)
Acts 28:1-15
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Paul on the Island of Malta
28 After we had reached safety, we then learned that the island was called Malta.(A) 2 The local people showed us unusual kindness. Since it had begun to rain and was cold, they kindled a fire and welcomed all of us around it.(B) 3 Paul had gathered a bundle of brushwood and was putting it on the fire when a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. 4 When the local people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “This man must be a murderer; though he has escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.”(C) 5 He, however, shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm.(D) 6 They were expecting him to swell up or drop dead, but after they had waited a long time and saw that nothing unusual had happened to him, they changed their minds and began to say that he was a god.(E)
7 Now in the vicinity of that place were lands belonging to the leading man of the island, named Publius, who received us and entertained us hospitably for three days. 8 It so happened that the father of Publius lay sick in bed with fever and dysentery. Paul visited him and cured him by praying and putting his hands on him.(F) 9 After this happened, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases also came and were cured. 10 They bestowed many honors on us, and when we were about to sail, they put on board all the provisions we needed.
Paul Arrives at Rome
11 Three months later we set sail on a ship that had wintered at the island, an Alexandrian ship with the Twin Brothers as its figurehead.(G) 12 We put in at Syracuse and stayed there for three days; 13 then we weighed anchor and came to Rhegium. After one day there a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli. 14 There we found brothers and sisters and were invited to stay with them for seven days. And so we came to Rome.(H) 15 The brothers and sisters from there, when they heard of us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. On seeing them, Paul thanked God and took courage.
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Sirach 51:13-30
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Autobiographical Poem on Wisdom
13 While I was still young, before I went on my travels,
I sought wisdom openly in my prayer.(A)
14 Before the temple I asked for her,
and I will search for her until the end.
15 From the first blossom to the ripening grape,
my heart delighted in her;
my foot walked on the straight path;
from my youth I followed her steps.(B)
16 I inclined my ear a little and received her,
and I found for myself much instruction.
17 I made progress in her;
to him who gives wisdom I will give glory.
18 For I resolved to practice wisdom,[a]
and I was zealous for the good,
and I shall never be disappointed.
19 My soul grappled with wisdom,[b]
and in my conduct I was strict.[c]
I spread out my hands to the heavens
and lamented my ignorance of her.
20 I directed my soul to her,
and in purity I found her.
With her I gained understanding from the first;
therefore I will never be forsaken.(C)
21 My heart was stirred to seek her;
therefore I have gained a prize possession.
22 The Lord gave me my tongue as a reward,
and I will praise him with it.(D)
23 Draw near to me, you who are uneducated,
and lodge in the house of instruction.(E)
24 Why do you say you are lacking in these things,[d]
and why do you endure such great thirst?
25 I opened my mouth and said,
“Acquire wisdom[e] for yourselves without money.(F)
26 “Put your neck under her[f] yoke,
and let your souls receive instruction;
it is to be found close by.”(G)
27 See with your own eyes that I have labored but little
and found for myself much serenity.
28 Hear but a little of my instruction,
and through me you will acquire silver and gold.[g](H)
29 May your soul rejoice in God’s[h] mercy,
and may you never be ashamed to praise him.
30 Do your work in good time,
and in his own time God[i] will give you your reward.(I)
Footnotes
- 51.18 Gk her
- 51.19 Gk her
- 51.19 Meaning of Gk uncertain
- 51.24 Cn Compare Heb Syr: Meaning of Gk uncertain
- 51.25 Heb: Gk lacks wisdom
- 51.26 Heb: other ancient authorities read the
- 51.28 Syr Compare Heb: Gk Get instruction with a large sum of silver, and you will gain by it much gold.
- 51.29 Gk his
- 51.30 Gk he
Acts 28:16-31
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
16 When we came into Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him.(A)
Paul and Jewish Leaders in Rome
17 Three days later he called together the local leaders of the Jews. When they had assembled, he said to them, “Brothers,[a] though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors, yet I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans.(B) 18 When they had examined me, the Romans[b] wanted to release me because there was no reason for the death penalty in my case.(C) 19 But when the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to the emperor—even though I had no charge to bring against my people.(D) 20 For this reason therefore I asked to see you and speak with you, since it is for the sake of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.”(E) 21 They replied, “We have received no letters from Judea about you, and none of the brothers coming here has reported or spoken anything evil about you.(F) 22 But we would like to hear from you what you think, for with regard to this sect we know that everywhere it is spoken against.”(G)
Paul Preaches in Rome
23 After they had set a day to meet with him, they came to him at his lodgings in great numbers. From morning until evening he explained the matter to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the law of Moses and from the prophets. 24 Some were convinced by what he had said, while others refused to believe. 25 So they disagreed with each other, and as they were leaving Paul made one further statement: “The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your ancestors through the prophet Isaiah,
26 ‘Go to this people and say,
You will indeed listen but never understand,
and you will indeed look but never perceive.
27 For this people’s heart has grown dull,
and their ears are hard of hearing,
and they have shut their eyes;
otherwise they might look with their eyes
and listen with their ears
and understand with their heart and turn—
and I would heal them.’
28 “Let it be known to you, then, that this salvation of God has been sent to the gentiles; they will listen.”[c]
30 He lived there two whole years at his own expense[d] and welcomed all who came to him, 31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.
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