(A)The thoughts of the righteous are just;
    the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.

Read full chapter

The plans of the righteous are just,
    but the advice of the wicked is deceitful.

Read full chapter

let the wicked forsake his way,
    and the unrighteous man his thoughts;
let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him,
    and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

Read full chapter

Let the wicked forsake(A) their ways
    and the unrighteous their thoughts.(B)
Let them turn(C) to the Lord, and he will have mercy(D) on them,
    and to our God, for he will freely pardon.(E)

Read full chapter

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart!
    (A)Try me and know my thoughts![a]

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 139:23 Or cares

23 Search me,(A) God, and know my heart;(B)
    test me and know my anxious thoughts.

Read full chapter

14 O Jerusalem, (A)wash your heart from evil,
    that you may be saved.
How long shall your wicked thoughts
    lodge within you?

Read full chapter

14 Jerusalem, wash(A) the evil from your heart and be saved.(B)
    How long(C) will you harbor wicked thoughts?

Read full chapter

But we have renounced (A)disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice[a] cunning or (B)to tamper with God's word, but (C)by the open statement of the truth (D)we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 4:2 Greek to walk in

Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways;(A) we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God.(B) On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience(C) in the sight of God.

Read full chapter

Therefore (A)do not pronounce judgment before the time, (B)before the Lord comes, (C)who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. (D)Then each one will receive his commendation from God.

Read full chapter

Therefore judge nothing(A) before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes.(B) He will bring to light(C) what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.(D)

Read full chapter

(A)and plotted together in order to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him.

Read full chapter

and they schemed to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him.(A)

Read full chapter

Herod Kills the Children

16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men.

Read full chapter

16 When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.

Read full chapter

When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where (A)the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:

(B)“‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
    are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
    who will (C)shepherd my people Israel.’”

Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.”

Read full chapter

When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. “In Bethlehem(A) in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

“‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
    are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
    who will shepherd my people Israel.’[a](B)

Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 2:6 Micah 5:2,4

(A)The devising[a] of folly is sin,
    and (B)the scoffer is an abomination to mankind.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 24:9 Or scheming

The schemes of folly are sin,
    and people detest a mocker.

Read full chapter

23 The desire of the righteous ends only in good,
    (A)the expectation of the wicked in wrath.

Read full chapter

23 The desire of the righteous ends only in good,
    but the hope of the wicked only in wrath.

Read full chapter

Deliver Me, O Lord, from Evil Men

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

140 (A)Deliver me, O Lord, from evil men;
    preserve me from (B)violent men,
who plan evil things in their heart
    and (C)stir up wars continually.
They make (D)their tongue sharp as (E)a serpent's,
    and (F)under their lips is the (G)venom of asps. Selah

Read full chapter

Psalm 140[a]

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

Rescue me,(A) Lord, from evildoers;
    protect me from the violent,(B)
who devise evil plans(C) in their hearts
    and stir up war(D) every day.
They make their tongues as sharp as(E) a serpent’s;
    the poison of vipers(F) is on their lips.[b]

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 140:1 In Hebrew texts 140:1-13 is numbered 140:2-14.
  2. Psalm 140:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verses 5 and 8.

15 I will (A)meditate on your precepts
    and fix my eyes on your (B)ways.

Read full chapter

15 I meditate on your precepts(A)
    and consider your ways.

Read full chapter