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Jeremiah 31:27-32:44
English Standard Version
Jeremiah 31:27-32:44
English Standard Version
27 (A)“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when (B)I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with (C)the seed of man and the seed of beast. 28 And it shall come to pass that (D)as I have watched over them (E)to pluck up and break down, to overthrow, destroy, and bring harm, (F)so I will watch over them (G)to build and to plant, declares the Lord. 29 In those days they shall no longer say:
(H)“‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes,
and the children's teeth are set on edge.’
30 (I)But everyone shall die for his own iniquity. Each man who eats sour grapes, his teeth shall be set on edge.
The New Covenant
31 (J)“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make (K)a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, 32 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when (L)I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, (M)though I was their husband, declares the Lord. 33 (N)For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: (O)I will put my law within them, and I will write it (P)on their hearts. (Q)And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ (R)for they shall all know me, (S)from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For (T)I will forgive their iniquity, and (U)I will remember their sin no more.”
35 Thus says the Lord,
who (V)gives the sun for light by day
and (W)the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night,
who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar—
(X)the Lord of hosts is his name:
36 (Y)“If this fixed order departs
from before me, declares the Lord,
then shall the offspring of Israel cease
from being a nation before me forever.”
37 Thus says the Lord:
“If the heavens above can be measured,
and the foundations of the earth below can be explored,
(Z)then I will cast off all the offspring of Israel
for all that they have done,
declares the Lord.”
38 (AA)“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when the city shall be rebuilt for the Lord (AB)from the Tower of Hananel to (AC)the Corner Gate. 39 (AD)And the measuring line shall go out farther, straight to the hill Gareb, and shall then turn to Goah. 40 (AE)The whole valley of the dead bodies and the ashes, and all the fields as far as the (AF)brook Kidron, to the corner of (AG)the Horse Gate toward the east, (AH)shall be sacred to the Lord. (AI)It shall not be plucked up or overthrown anymore forever.”
Jeremiah Buys a Field During the Siege
32 The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord (AJ)in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, (AK)which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar. 2 At that time the army of the king of Babylon was besieging Jerusalem, and Jeremiah the prophet (AL)was shut up in (AM)the court of the guard that was in the palace of the king of Judah. 3 For Zedekiah king of Judah had imprisoned him, saying, “Why do you prophesy and say, ‘Thus says the Lord: (AN)Behold, I am giving this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall capture it; 4 (AO)Zedekiah king of Judah shall not escape out of the hand of the Chaldeans, (AP)but shall surely be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and shall speak with him face to face and see him eye to eye. 5 And (AQ)he shall take Zedekiah to Babylon, and there he shall remain until I visit him, declares the Lord. (AR)Though you fight against the Chaldeans, you shall not succeed’?”
6 Jeremiah said, “The word of the Lord came to me: 7 Behold, Hanamel the son of Shallum your uncle will come to you and say, (AS)‘Buy my field that is at (AT)Anathoth, (AU)for the right of redemption by purchase is yours.’ 8 Then Hanamel my cousin came to me in (AV)the court of the guard, in accordance with the word of the Lord, and said to me, ‘Buy my field that is at (AW)Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, for the right of possession and redemption is yours; buy it for yourself.’ Then I knew that this was the word of the Lord.
9 “And I bought the field at (AX)Anathoth from Hanamel my cousin, and (AY)weighed out the money to him, seventeen shekels of silver. 10 (AZ)I signed the deed, (BA)sealed it, (BB)got witnesses, and (BC)weighed the money on scales. 11 Then I took the sealed deed of purchase, containing the terms and conditions and the open copy. 12 And I gave the deed of purchase to (BD)Baruch the son of Neriah son of Mahseiah, in the presence of Hanamel my cousin, in the presence of (BE)the witnesses who signed the deed of purchase, and in the presence of all the Judeans who were sitting in (BF)the court of the guard. 13 I charged (BG)Baruch in their presence, saying, 14 ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Take these deeds, both this sealed deed of purchase and this open deed, and put them in an earthenware vessel, that they may last for a long time. 15 For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Houses and (BH)fields and vineyards shall again be bought in this land.’
Jeremiah Prays for Understanding
16 “After I had given the deed of purchase to (BI)Baruch the son of Neriah, I prayed to the Lord, saying: 17 ‘Ah, Lord God! It is (BJ)you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by (BK)your outstretched arm! (BL)Nothing is too hard for you. 18 (BM)You show steadfast love to thousands, (BN)but you repay the guilt of fathers (BO)to their children after them, O great and (BP)mighty God, whose name is the (BQ)Lord of hosts, 19 (BR)great in counsel and (BS)mighty in deed, (BT)whose eyes are open to all the ways of the children of man, (BU)rewarding each one according to his ways and according to the fruit of his deeds. 20 You have shown (BV)signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, and to this day in Israel and among all mankind, (BW)and have made a name for yourself, as at this day. 21 (BX)You brought your people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs and wonders, with a strong hand and (BY)outstretched arm, (BZ)and with great terror. 22 And you gave them this land, (CA)which you swore to their fathers to give them, (CB)a land flowing with milk and honey. 23 And they entered and took possession of it. (CC)But they did not obey your voice or walk in your law. They did nothing of all you commanded them to do. Therefore you have made all this disaster come upon them. 24 Behold, (CD)the siege mounds have come up to the city to take it, and (CE)because of sword and famine and pestilence (CF)the city is given into the hands of the Chaldeans who are fighting against it. What you spoke has come to pass, and behold, you see it. 25 Yet you, O Lord God, have said to me, (CG)“Buy the field for money (CH)and get witnesses”—though (CI)the city is given into the hands of the Chaldeans.’”
26 The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: 27 “Behold, I am the Lord, (CJ)the God of all flesh. (CK)Is anything too hard for me? 28 Therefore, thus says the Lord: (CL)Behold, I am giving this city into the hands of the Chaldeans and into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he shall capture it. 29 The Chaldeans who are fighting against this city (CM)shall come and set this city on fire and burn it, (CN)with the houses on whose roofs offerings have been made to Baal (CO)and drink offerings have been poured out to other gods, (CP)to provoke me to anger. 30 For the children of Israel and the children of Judah have done nothing but evil in my sight (CQ)from their youth. The children of Israel have done nothing but (CR)provoke me to anger (CS)by the work of their hands, declares the Lord. 31 This city has aroused my anger and wrath, from the day it was built to this day, (CT)so that I will remove it from my sight 32 because of all the evil of the children of Israel and the children of Judah that they did to provoke me to anger—(CU)their kings and their officials, their priests and their prophets, the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 33 (CV)They have turned to me their back and not their face. And though I have taught them (CW)persistently, they have not listened (CX)to receive instruction. 34 They set up (CY)their abominations in the house that is called by my name, to defile it. 35 They built the high places of Baal (CZ)in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, (DA)to offer up their sons and daughters to Molech, (DB)though I did not command them, nor did it enter into my mind, that they should do (DC)this abomination, (DD)to cause Judah to sin.
They Shall Be My People; I Will Be Their God
36 “Now therefore thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning this city of which you say, (DE)‘It is given into the hand of the king of Babylon by sword, by famine, and by pestilence’: 37 (DF)Behold, I will gather them from all the countries (DG)to which I drove them in (DH)my anger and my wrath and in great indignation. I will bring them back to this place, (DI)and I will make them dwell in safety. 38 (DJ)And they shall be my people, and I will be their God. 39 (DK)I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me forever, (DL)for their own good and the good of their children after them. 40 (DM)I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them. (DN)And I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me. 41 (DO)I will rejoice in doing them good, (DP)and I will plant them in this land in faithfulness, with all my heart and all my soul.
42 “For thus says the Lord: (DQ)Just as I have brought all this great disaster upon this people, so I will bring upon them all the good that I promise them. 43 (DR)Fields shall be bought in this land (DS)of which you are saying, ‘It is a desolation, without man or beast; (DT)it is given into the hand of the Chaldeans.’ 44 Fields shall be bought for money, and (DU)deeds shall be signed and (DV)sealed and (DW)witnessed, (DX)in the land of Benjamin, (DY)in the places about Jerusalem, (DZ)and in the cities of Judah, (EA)in the cities of the hill country, (EB)in the cities of the Shephelah, and in the cities of the Negeb; for (EC)I will restore their fortunes, declares the Lord.”
Jeremiah 31:27-32:44
New International Version
Jeremiah 31:27-32:44
New International Version
27 “The days are coming,”(A) declares the Lord, “when I will plant(B) the kingdoms of Israel and Judah with the offspring of people and of animals. 28 Just as I watched(C) over them to uproot(D) and tear down, and to overthrow, destroy and bring disaster,(E) so I will watch over them to build and to plant,”(F) declares the Lord. 29 “In those days people will no longer say,
30 Instead, everyone will die for their own sin;(I) whoever eats sour grapes—their own teeth will be set on edge.
31 “The days are coming,” declares the Lord,
“when I will make a new covenant(J)
with the people of Israel
and with the people of Judah.
32 It will not be like the covenant(K)
I made with their ancestors(L)
when I took them by the hand
to lead them out of Egypt,(M)
because they broke my covenant,
though I was a husband(N) to[a] them,[b]”
declares the Lord.
33 “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel
after that time,” declares the Lord.
“I will put my law in their minds(O)
and write it on their hearts.(P)
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.(Q)
34 No longer will they teach(R) their neighbor,
or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’
because they will all know(S) me,
from the least of them to the greatest,”
declares the Lord.
“For I will forgive(T) their wickedness
and will remember their sins(U) no more.”
35 This is what the Lord says,
he who appoints(V) the sun
to shine by day,
who decrees the moon and stars
to shine by night,(W)
who stirs up the sea(X)
so that its waves roar(Y)—
the Lord Almighty is his name:(Z)
36 “Only if these decrees(AA) vanish from my sight,”
declares the Lord,
“will Israel(AB) ever cease
being a nation before me.”
37 This is what the Lord says:
“Only if the heavens above can be measured(AC)
and the foundations of the earth below be searched out
will I reject(AD) all the descendants of Israel
because of all they have done,”
declares the Lord.
38 “The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when this city will be rebuilt(AE) for me from the Tower of Hananel(AF) to the Corner Gate.(AG) 39 The measuring line(AH) will stretch from there straight to the hill of Gareb and then turn to Goah. 40 The whole valley(AI) where dead bodies(AJ) and ashes are thrown, and all the terraces out to the Kidron Valley(AK) on the east as far as the corner of the Horse Gate,(AL) will be holy(AM) to the Lord. The city will never again be uprooted or demolished.”
Jeremiah Buys a Field
32 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord in the tenth(AN) year of Zedekiah king of Judah, which was the eighteenth(AO) year of Nebuchadnezzar. 2 The army of the king of Babylon was then besieging(AP) Jerusalem, and Jeremiah the prophet was confined(AQ) in the courtyard of the guard(AR) in the royal palace of Judah.
3 Now Zedekiah king of Judah had imprisoned him there, saying, “Why do you prophesy(AS) as you do? You say, ‘This is what the Lord says: I am about to give this city into the hands of the king of Babylon, and he will capture(AT) it. 4 Zedekiah(AU) king of Judah will not escape(AV) the Babylonians[c](AW) but will certainly be given into the hands of the king of Babylon, and will speak with him face to face and see him with his own eyes. 5 He will take(AX) Zedekiah to Babylon, where he will remain until I deal with him,(AY) declares the Lord. If you fight against the Babylonians, you will not succeed.’”(AZ)
6 Jeremiah said, “The word of the Lord came to me: 7 Hanamel son of Shallum your uncle is going to come to you and say, ‘Buy my field at Anathoth,(BA) because as nearest relative it is your right and duty(BB) to buy it.’
8 “Then, just as the Lord had said, my cousin Hanamel came to me in the courtyard of the guard and said, ‘Buy my field(BC) at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin. Since it is your right to redeem it and possess it, buy it for yourself.’
“I knew that this was the word of the Lord; 9 so I bought the field(BD) at Anathoth from my cousin Hanamel and weighed out for him seventeen shekels[d] of silver.(BE) 10 I signed and sealed the deed,(BF) had it witnessed,(BG) and weighed out the silver on the scales. 11 I took the deed of purchase—the sealed copy containing the terms and conditions, as well as the unsealed copy— 12 and I gave this deed to Baruch(BH) son of Neriah,(BI) the son of Mahseiah, in the presence of my cousin Hanamel and of the witnesses who had signed the deed and of all the Jews sitting in the courtyard of the guard.
13 “In their presence I gave Baruch these instructions: 14 ‘This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Take these documents, both the sealed(BJ) and unsealed copies of the deed of purchase, and put them in a clay jar so they will last a long time. 15 For this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Houses, fields and vineyards will again be bought in this land.’(BK)
16 “After I had given the deed of purchase to Baruch(BL) son of Neriah, I prayed to the Lord:
17 “Ah, Sovereign Lord,(BM) you have made the heavens and the earth(BN) by your great power and outstretched arm.(BO) Nothing is too hard(BP) for you. 18 You show love(BQ) to thousands but bring the punishment for the parents’ sins into the laps(BR) of their children(BS) after them. Great and mighty God,(BT) whose name is the Lord Almighty,(BU) 19 great are your purposes and mighty are your deeds.(BV) Your eyes are open to the ways of all mankind;(BW) you reward each person according to their conduct and as their deeds deserve.(BX) 20 You performed signs and wonders(BY) in Egypt(BZ) and have continued them to this day, in Israel and among all mankind, and have gained the renown(CA) that is still yours. 21 You brought your people Israel out of Egypt with signs and wonders, by a mighty hand(CB) and an outstretched arm(CC) and with great terror.(CD) 22 You gave them this land you had sworn to give their ancestors, a land flowing with milk and honey.(CE) 23 They came in and took possession(CF) of it, but they did not obey you or follow your law;(CG) they did not do what you commanded them to do. So you brought all this disaster(CH) on them.
24 “See how the siege ramps(CI) are built up to take the city. Because of the sword, famine and plague,(CJ) the city will be given into the hands of the Babylonians who are attacking it. What you said(CK) has happened,(CL) as you now see. 25 And though the city will be given into the hands of the Babylonians, you, Sovereign Lord, say to me, ‘Buy the field(CM) with silver and have the transaction witnessed.(CN)’”
26 Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: 27 “I am the Lord, the God of all mankind.(CO) Is anything too hard for me?(CP) 28 Therefore this is what the Lord says: I am about to give this city into the hands of the Babylonians and to Nebuchadnezzar(CQ) king of Babylon, who will capture it.(CR) 29 The Babylonians who are attacking this city will come in and set it on fire; they will burn it down,(CS) along with the houses(CT) where the people aroused my anger by burning incense on the roofs to Baal and by pouring out drink offerings(CU) to other gods.(CV)
30 “The people of Israel and Judah have done nothing but evil in my sight from their youth;(CW) indeed, the people of Israel have done nothing but arouse my anger(CX) with what their hands have made,(CY) declares the Lord. 31 From the day it was built until now, this city(CZ) has so aroused my anger and wrath that I must remove(DA) it from my sight. 32 The people of Israel and Judah have provoked(DB) me by all the evil(DC) they have done—they, their kings and officials,(DD) their priests and prophets, the people of Judah and those living in Jerusalem. 33 They turned their backs(DE) to me and not their faces; though I taught(DF) them again and again, they would not listen or respond to discipline.(DG) 34 They set up their vile images(DH) in the house that bears my Name(DI) and defiled(DJ) it. 35 They built high places for Baal in the Valley of Ben Hinnom(DK) to sacrifice their sons and daughters to Molek,(DL) though I never commanded—nor did it enter my mind(DM)—that they should do such a detestable(DN) thing and so make Judah sin.(DO)
36 “You are saying about this city, ‘By the sword, famine and plague(DP) it will be given into the hands of the king of Babylon’; but this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: 37 I will surely gather(DQ) them from all the lands where I banish them in my furious anger(DR) and great wrath; I will bring them back to this place and let them live in safety.(DS) 38 They will be my people,(DT) and I will be their God. 39 I will give them singleness(DU) of heart and action, so that they will always fear(DV) me and that all will then go well for them and for their children after them. 40 I will make an everlasting covenant(DW) with them: I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire(DX) them to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me.(DY) 41 I will rejoice(DZ) in doing them good(EA) and will assuredly plant(EB) them in this land with all my heart and soul.(EC)
42 “This is what the Lord says: As I have brought all this great calamity(ED) on this people, so I will give them all the prosperity I have promised(EE) them. 43 Once more fields will be bought(EF) in this land of which you say, ‘It is a desolate(EG) waste, without people or animals, for it has been given into the hands of the Babylonians.’ 44 Fields will be bought for silver, and deeds(EH) will be signed, sealed and witnessed(EI) in the territory of Benjamin, in the villages around Jerusalem, in the towns of Judah and in the towns of the hill country, of the western foothills and of the Negev,(EJ) because I will restore(EK) their fortunes,[e] declares the Lord.”
Footnotes
- Jeremiah 31:32 Hebrew; Septuagint and Syriac / and I turned away from
- Jeremiah 31:32 Or was their master
- Jeremiah 32:4 Or Chaldeans; also in verses 5, 24, 25, 28, 29 and 43
- Jeremiah 32:9 That is, about 7 ounces or about 200 grams
- Jeremiah 32:44 Or will bring them back from captivity
1 Timothy 3
English Standard Version
1 Timothy 3
English Standard Version
Qualifications for Overseers
3 The saying is (A)trustworthy: If anyone aspires to (B)the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Therefore (C)an overseer[a] must be above reproach, (D)the husband of one wife,[b] (E)sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, (F)hospitable, (G)able to teach, 3 not a drunkard, not violent but (H)gentle, not quarrelsome, (I)not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity (J)keeping his children submissive, 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for (K)God's church? 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may (L)become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by (M)outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into (N)a snare of the devil.
Qualifications for Deacons
8 (O)Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued,[c] (P)not addicted to much wine, (Q)not greedy for dishonest gain. 9 They must (R)hold the mystery of the faith with (S)a clear conscience. 10 And (T)let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. 11 (U)Their wives likewise[d] must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, (V)faithful in all things. 12 Let deacons each be (W)the husband of one wife, (X)managing their children and their own households well. 13 For (Y)those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
The Mystery of Godliness
14 I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, 15 if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth. 16 Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness:
(Z)He[e] was manifested in the flesh,
vindicated[f] by the Spirit,[g]
(AA)seen by angels,
(AB)proclaimed among the nations,
(AC)believed on in the world,
(AD)taken up in glory.
Footnotes
- 1 Timothy 3:2 Or bishop; Greek episkopos; a similar term occurs in verse 1
- 1 Timothy 3:2 Or a man of one woman; also verse 12
- 1 Timothy 3:8 Or devious in speech
- 1 Timothy 3:11 Or Wives likewise, or Women likewise
- 1 Timothy 3:16 Greek Who; some manuscripts God; others Which
- 1 Timothy 3:16 Or justified
- 1 Timothy 3:16 Or vindicated in spirit
1 Timothy 3
New International Version
1 Timothy 3
New International Version
Qualifications for Overseers and Deacons
3 Here is a trustworthy saying:(A) Whoever aspires to be an overseer(B) desires a noble task. 2 Now the overseer is to be above reproach,(C) faithful to his wife,(D) temperate,(E) self-controlled, respectable, hospitable,(F) able to teach,(G) 3 not given to drunkenness,(H) not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome,(I) not a lover of money.(J) 4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full[a] respect.(K) 5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?)(L) 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited(M) and fall under the same judgment(N) as the devil. 7 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders,(O) so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.(P)
8 In the same way, deacons[b](Q) are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine,(R) and not pursuing dishonest gain. 9 They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience.(S) 10 They must first be tested;(T) and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.
11 In the same way, the women[c] are to be worthy of respect, not malicious talkers(U) but temperate(V) and trustworthy in everything.
12 A deacon must be faithful to his wife(W) and must manage his children and his household well.(X) 13 Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.
Reasons for Paul’s Instructions
14 Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, 15 if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church(Y) of the living God,(Z) the pillar and foundation of the truth. 16 Beyond all question, the mystery(AA) from which true godliness(AB) springs is great:
Footnotes
- 1 Timothy 3:4 Or him with proper
- 1 Timothy 3:8 The word deacons refers here to Christians designated to serve with the overseers/elders of the church in a variety of ways; similarly in verse 12; and in Romans 16:1 and Phil. 1:1.
- 1 Timothy 3:11 Possibly deacons’ wives or women who are deacons
- 1 Timothy 3:16 Or vindicated in spirit
Psalm 88
English Standard Version
Psalm 88
English Standard Version
I Cry Out Day and Night Before You
A Song. A Psalm of (A)the Sons of Korah. To the choirmaster: according to (B)Mahalath Leannoth. A Maskil[a] of (C)Heman the Ezrahite.
88 O Lord, (D)God of my salvation,
I (E)cry out day and night before you.
2 Let my prayer come before you;
(F)incline your ear to my cry!
3 For my soul is full of troubles,
and (G)my life draws near to (H)Sheol.
4 I am counted among those who (I)go down to the pit;
I am a man who has no strength,
5 like one set loose among the dead,
like the slain that lie in the grave,
like those whom (J)you remember no more,
for they are (K)cut off from your hand.
6 You have put me in (L)the depths of the pit,
in the (M)regions dark and (N)deep.
7 Your wrath (O)lies heavy upon me,
and you overwhelm me with (P)all your waves. Selah
8 You have caused (Q)my companions to shun me;
you have made me (R)a horror[b] to them.
I am (S)shut in so that I cannot escape;
9 (T)my eye grows dim through sorrow.
Every day I call upon you, O Lord;
I (U)spread out my hands to you.
10 Do you work wonders for the dead?
(V)Do the departed rise up to praise you? Selah
11 Is your steadfast love declared in the grave,
or your faithfulness in Abaddon?
12 Are your (W)wonders known in (X)the darkness,
or your righteousness in the land of (Y)forgetfulness?
13 But I, O Lord, cry (Z)to you;
(AA)in the morning my prayer comes before you.
14 O Lord, why (AB)do you cast my soul away?
Why (AC)do you hide your face from me?
15 Afflicted and close to death from my youth up,
I suffer your terrors; I am helpless.[c]
16 Your wrath has swept over me;
your (AD)dreadful assaults destroy me.
17 They (AE)surround me like a flood (AF)all day long;
they (AG)close in on me together.
18 You have caused (AH)my beloved and my friend to shun me;
my companions have become darkness.[d]
Footnotes
- Psalm 88:1 Probably musical or liturgical terms
- Psalm 88:8 Or an abomination
- Psalm 88:15 The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain
- Psalm 88:18 Or darkness has become my only companion
Psalm 88
New International Version
Psalm 88
New International Version
Psalm 88[a]
A song. A psalm of the Sons of Korah. For the director of music. According to mahalath leannoth.[b] A maskil[c] of Heman the Ezrahite.
1 Lord, you are the God who saves me;(A)
day and night I cry out(B) to you.
2 May my prayer come before you;
turn your ear to my cry.
3 I am overwhelmed with troubles(C)
and my life draws near to death.(D)
4 I am counted among those who go down to the pit;(E)
I am like one without strength.(F)
5 I am set apart with the dead,
like the slain who lie in the grave,
whom you remember no more,
who are cut off(G) from your care.
6 You have put me in the lowest pit,
in the darkest depths.(H)
7 Your wrath(I) lies heavily on me;
you have overwhelmed me with all your waves.[d](J)
8 You have taken from me my closest friends(K)
and have made me repulsive to them.
I am confined(L) and cannot escape;(M)
9 my eyes(N) are dim with grief.
I call(O) to you, Lord, every day;
I spread out my hands(P) to you.
10 Do you show your wonders to the dead?
Do their spirits rise up and praise you?(Q)
11 Is your love declared in the grave,
your faithfulness(R) in Destruction[e]?
12 Are your wonders known in the place of darkness,
or your righteous deeds in the land of oblivion?
13 But I cry to you for help,(S) Lord;
in the morning(T) my prayer comes before you.(U)
14 Why, Lord, do you reject(V) me
and hide your face(W) from me?
15 From my youth(X) I have suffered(Y) and been close to death;
I have borne your terrors(Z) and am in despair.(AA)
16 Your wrath(AB) has swept over me;
your terrors(AC) have destroyed me.
17 All day long they surround me like a flood;(AD)
they have completely engulfed me.
18 You have taken from me friend(AE) and neighbor—
darkness is my closest friend.
Footnotes
- Psalm 88:1 In Hebrew texts 88:1-18 is numbered 88:2-19.
- Psalm 88:1 Title: Possibly a tune, “The Suffering of Affliction”
- Psalm 88:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
- Psalm 88:7 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 10.
- Psalm 88:11 Hebrew Abaddon
Proverbs 25:20-22
English Standard Version
Proverbs 25:20-22
English Standard Version
20 Whoever (A)sings songs to a heavy heart
is like one who takes off a garment on a cold day,
and like vinegar on soda.
21 (B)If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat,
and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink,
22 for you will heap (C)burning coals on his head,
and the Lord will reward you.
Proverbs 25:20-22
New International Version
Proverbs 25:20-22
New International Version
20 Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day,
or like vinegar poured on a wound,
is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.