Psalm 140
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Psalm 140
Prayer for Deliverance from Enemies
To the leader. A Psalm of David.
1 Deliver me, O Lord, from evildoers;
protect me from those who are violent,(A)
2 who plan evil things in their minds
and stir up wars continually.(B)
3 They make their tongue sharp as a snake’s,
and under their lips is the venom of vipers. Selah(C)
4 Guard me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked;
protect me from the violent
who have planned my downfall.(D)
5 The arrogant have hidden a trap for me,
and with cords they have spread a net,[a]
along the road they have set snares for me. Selah(E)
6 I say to the Lord, “You are my God;
give ear, O Lord, to the voice of my supplications.”(F)
7 O Lord, my Lord, my strong deliverer,
you have covered my head in the day of battle.(G)
8 Do not grant, O Lord, the desires of the wicked;
do not further their evil plot.[b] Selah(H)
9 Those who surround me lift up their heads;[c]
let the mischief of their lips overwhelm them!(I)
10 Let burning coals fall on them!
Let them be flung into pits, no more to rise!(J)
11 Do not let the slanderer be established in the land;
let evil speedily hunt down the violent!(K)
Psalm 142
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Psalm 142
Prayer for Deliverance from Persecutors
A Maskil of David. When he was in the cave. A Prayer.
1 With my voice I cry to the Lord;
with my voice I make supplication to the Lord.(A)
2 I pour out my complaint before him;
I tell my trouble before him.(B)
3 When my spirit is faint,
you know my way.
In the path where I walk,
they have hidden a trap for me.(C)
4 Look on my right hand and see:
there is no one who takes notice of me;
no refuge remains to me;
no one cares for me.(D)
5 I cry to you, O Lord;
I say, “You are my refuge,
my portion in the land of the living.”(E)
6 Listen to my cry,
for I am brought very low.
Acts 24:24-25:12
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Paul Held in Custody
24 Some days later when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him speak concerning faith in Christ Jesus. 25 And as he discussed justice, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became frightened and said, “Go away for the present; when I have an opportunity, I will send for you.”(A) 26 At the same time he hoped that money would be given him by Paul, and for that reason he used to send for him very often and converse with him.
27 After two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, and since he wanted to grant the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.(B)
Paul Appeals to the Emperor
25 Three days after Festus had arrived in the province, he went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem, 2 where the chief priests and the leaders of the Jews gave him a report against Paul. They appealed to him(C) 3 and requested, as a favor to them against Paul,[a] to have him transferred to Jerusalem. They were, in fact, planning an ambush to kill him along the way.(D) 4 Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea and that he himself intended to go there shortly.(E) 5 “So,” he said, “let those of you who have the authority come down with me, and if there is anything wrong about the man, let them accuse him.”
6 After he had stayed among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea; the next day he took his seat on the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought. 7 When he arrived, the Jews who had gone down from Jerusalem surrounded him, bringing many serious charges against him, which they could not prove.(F) 8 Paul said in his defense, “I have in no way committed an offense against the law of the Jews or against the temple or against the emperor.”(G) 9 But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, asked Paul, “Do you wish to go up to Jerusalem and be tried there before me on these charges?”(H) 10 Paul said, “I am standing before the emperor’s tribunal; this is where I should be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you very well know. 11 Now if I am in the wrong and have committed something for which I deserve to die, I am not trying to escape death, but if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one can turn me over to them. I appeal to the emperor.”(I) 12 Then Festus, after he had conferred with his council, replied, “You have appealed to the emperor; to the emperor you will go.”
Footnotes
- 25.3 Gk him
Mark 12:35-44
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
The Question about David’s Son
35 While Jesus was teaching in the temple, he said, “How can the scribes say that the Messiah[a] is the son of David?(A) 36 David himself, by the Holy Spirit, declared,
‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
until I put your enemies under your feet.” ’(B)
37 “David himself calls him Lord, so how can he be his son?” And the large crowd was listening to him with delight.(C)
Jesus Denounces the Scribes
38 As he taught, he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces(D) 39 and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets! 40 They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”
The Widow’s Offering
41 He sat down opposite the treasury and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums.(E) 42 A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. 43 Then he called his disciples and said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury.(F) 44 For all of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 12.35 Or the Christ
Psalm 141
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Psalm 141
Prayer for Preservation from Evil
A Psalm of David.
1 I call upon you, O Lord; come quickly to me;
give ear to my voice when I call to you.(A)
2 Let my prayer be counted as incense before you
and the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice.(B)
3 Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord;
keep watch over the door of my lips.
4 Do not turn my heart to any evil,
to busy myself with wicked deeds
in company with those who work iniquity;
do not let me eat of their delicacies.(C)
5 Let the righteous strike me;
let the faithful correct me.
Never let the oil of the wicked anoint my head,[a]
for my prayer is continually[b] against their wicked deeds.(D)
6 When they are given over to those who shall condemn them,
then they shall learn that my words were pleasant.
7 Like a rock that one breaks apart and shatters on the land,
so shall their bones be strewn at the mouth of Sheol.[c](E)
Psalm 143
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Psalm 143
Prayer for Deliverance from Enemies
A Psalm of David.
1 Hear my prayer, O Lord;
give ear to my supplications in your faithfulness;
answer me in your righteousness.(A)
2 Do not enter into judgment with your servant,
for no one living is righteous before you.(B)
3 For the enemy has pursued me,
crushing my life to the ground,
making me sit in darkness like those long dead.
4 Therefore my spirit faints within me;
my heart within me is appalled.(C)
5 I remember the days of old;
I think about all your deeds;
I meditate on the works of your hands.(D)
6 I stretch out my hands to you;
my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Selah(E)
7 Answer me quickly, O Lord;
my spirit fails.
Do not hide your face from me,
or I shall be like those who go down to the Pit.(F)
8 Let me hear of your steadfast love in the morning,
for in you I put my trust.
Teach me the way I should go,
for to you I lift up my soul.(G)
9 Save me, O Lord, from my enemies;
I have fled to you for refuge.[a](H)
10 Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God.
Let your good spirit lead me
on a level path.(I)
11 For your name’s sake, O Lord, preserve my life.
In your righteousness bring me out of trouble.(J)
12 In your steadfast love cut off my enemies,
and destroy all my adversaries,
for I am your servant.(K)
Footnotes
- 143.9 Heb ms Gk: MT to you I have hidden
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.