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Psalm 1
The Voice
Psalm 1
The Voice
Book One
Book One (Psalms 1–41) is attributed almost entirely to David; all but four of the psalms (1–2; 10; 33) are ascribed to him. In Hebrew Psalm 10 is a continuation of Psalm 9 because it was composed as an acrostic poem. Likewise, many Hebrew manuscripts combine Psalm 33 with 32. Only later are these divided into separate psalms. Psalm 1 sets the stage for the entire collection by explaining that the study of the Word of God is the foundation of a meaningful, prosperous life.
Psalm 1
1 God’s blessings follow you and await you at every turn:
when you don’t follow the advice of those who delight in wicked schemes,
When you avoid sin’s highway,
when judgment and sarcasm beckon you, but you refuse.
2 For you, the Eternal’s Word is your happiness.
It is your focus—from dusk to dawn.
3 You are like a tree,
planted by flowing, cool streams of water that never run dry.
Your fruit ripens in its time;
your leaves never fade or curl in the summer sun.
No matter what you do, you prosper.
4 For those who focus on sin, the story is different.
They are like the fallen husk of wheat, tossed by an open wind, left deserted and alone.
5 In the end, the wicked will fall in judgment;
the guilty will be separated from the innocent.
6 Their road suddenly will end in death,
yet the journey of the righteous has been charted by the Eternal.
Psalm 1
New International Version
Psalm 1
New International Version
BOOK I
Psalms 1–41
Psalm 1
1 Blessed is the one(A)
who does not walk(B) in step with the wicked(C)
or stand in the way(D) that sinners take(E)
or sit(F) in the company of mockers,(G)
2 but whose delight(H) is in the law of the Lord,(I)
and who meditates(J) on his law day and night.
3 That person is like a tree(K) planted by streams(L) of water,(M)
which yields its fruit(N) in season
and whose leaf(O) does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.(P)
Deuteronomy 7:12-26
The Voice
Deuteronomy 7:12-26
The Voice
12 If you pay attention to these judgments and keep them carefully, the Eternal your God will keep the covenant He made with your ancestors and show you His loyal love. 13 He’ll love you and bless you and increase your population. He’ll bless your children, and He’ll bless your agriculture. The land He promised your ancestors He’d give you will produce abundantly; and you’ll have grain and wine and olive oil, many cattle, and new flocks. 14 You will be blessed more than any other people. None of your men or women will be unable to have children; all of your cattle will have offspring. 15 The Eternal will keep every illness away from you. He won’t afflict you with any of those horrible diseases you saw in Egypt—He’ll put them instead on those who hate you! 16 You are to destroy all the nations the Eternal, your True God, puts in your power. Don’t show them any pity! You must not worship their gods—that behavior is a deadly trap!
17 You might say to yourselves, “Those nations are so much more powerful than we are! How can we ever displace them in the land?” 18 But don’t be afraid of them! Remember what the Eternal, your True God, did to Pharaoh and to all of Egypt. 19 You saw with your own eyes how the Eternal your God brought you out of there by testing the Egyptians with great plagues, warning them with signs and omens, and fighting against them with overwhelming power. He is your God and will do the same thing to all the nations you’re so afraid of right now. 20 The Eternal your God will even send swarms of hornets against them. Those hornets will finish off anyone who escapes from you and tries to hide from the death you bring. 21 So don’t be so terrified of these other nations—the Eternal your God is with you. He’s a great and awesome God! 22 But He will drive out these nations ahead of you only little by little. You won’t be able to finish them off all at once because if you did, the wild animals would reproduce rapidly in the empty land and that would be dangerous. 23 But the Eternal your God definitely will defeat these nations in front of you. He will throw them into a great panic until they are all destroyed. 24 He’ll put their kings in your power, so you will be able to wipe out all their names. No one under heaven will ever know they existed! Not a single person will be able to resist you; you’ll destroy them all. 25 Then you must burn up all of their carved idols in the fire. Don’t admire them because the silver and gold in them are so valuable. If you take those metals, you’ll fall into a deadly trap because He abhors these idols! 26 You must not bring these horrible things into your house. If you do, you’ll be doomed to destruction, just as they are. You should be totally horrified and disgusted by these idols—they are doomed to destruction!
Deuteronomy 7:12-26
New International Version
Deuteronomy 7:12-26
New International Version
12 If you pay attention to these laws and are careful to follow them, then the Lord your God will keep his covenant of love with you, as he swore to your ancestors.(A) 13 He will love you and bless you(B) and increase your numbers.(C) He will bless the fruit of your womb,(D) the crops of your land—your grain, new wine(E) and olive oil(F)—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks in the land he swore to your ancestors to give you.(G) 14 You will be blessed more than any other people; none of your men or women will be childless, nor will any of your livestock be without young.(H) 15 The Lord will keep you free from every disease.(I) He will not inflict on you the horrible diseases you knew in Egypt,(J) but he will inflict them on all who hate you.(K) 16 You must destroy all the peoples the Lord your God gives over to you.(L) Do not look on them with pity(M) and do not serve their gods,(N) for that will be a snare(O) to you.
17 You may say to yourselves, “These nations are stronger than we are. How can we drive them out?(P)” 18 But do not be afraid(Q) of them; remember well what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt.(R) 19 You saw with your own eyes the great trials, the signs and wonders, the mighty hand(S) and outstretched arm, with which the Lord your God brought you out. The Lord your God will do the same to all the peoples you now fear.(T) 20 Moreover, the Lord your God will send the hornet(U) among them until even the survivors who hide from you have perished. 21 Do not be terrified by them, for the Lord your God, who is among you,(V) is a great and awesome God.(W) 22 The Lord your God will drive out those nations before you, little by little.(X) You will not be allowed to eliminate them all at once, or the wild animals will multiply around you. 23 But the Lord your God will deliver them over to you, throwing them into great confusion until they are destroyed.(Y) 24 He will give their kings(Z) into your hand,(AA) and you will wipe out their names from under heaven. No one will be able to stand up against you;(AB) you will destroy them.(AC) 25 The images of their gods you are to burn(AD) in the fire. Do not covet(AE) the silver and gold on them, and do not take it for yourselves, or you will be ensnared(AF) by it, for it is detestable(AG) to the Lord your God. 26 Do not bring a detestable thing into your house or you, like it, will be set apart for destruction.(AH) Regard it as vile and utterly detest it, for it is set apart for destruction.
Colossians 4:7-17
The Voice
Colossians 4:7-17
The Voice
7-9 I am sending this letter by Tychicus and Onesimus, both dear brothers. Tychicus has been a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. He will update you on me and my[a] situation here, and he will no doubt be an encouragement to you. Onesimus is one of you; and he, too, has been faithful. You will get the whole story from them.
10 My cellmate Aristarchus sends his love, as does Mark, Barnabas’s cousin. (You’ve been sent instructions about him, so if he comes to you, welcome him.) 11 Jesus, also called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only workers in God’s kingdom here who are of the circumcision, and they are a great comfort to me.
12 Epaphras, another one of your hometown fellows and a servant of Jesus the Anointed sends his regards and wants you to know how passionately and sincerely he speaks to the Lord about you. He prays for your spiritual journey, that you will continue to mature and stand tall in the kind of confidence that comes from knowing God’s will. 13 I can testify to his zeal for you and those in Laodicea and Hierapolis.
14 Luke, the beloved doctor, says hello; and so does Demas. 15 Send my well wishes to the brothers and sisters of Laodicea, especially Nympha and the church that meets in her house. 16 After this letter has been read among you, see that it is also read to the church of Laodicea, and make sure you publicly share the letter I am sending to them. 17 Tell Archippus, “Take care that you complete the service you received in the Lord.”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 4:7-9 Some manuscripts read “so he may know about your.”
Colossians 4:7-17
New International Version
Colossians 4:7-17
New International Version
Final Greetings
7 Tychicus(A) will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant[a](B) in the Lord. 8 I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our[b] circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts.(C) 9 He is coming with Onesimus,(D) our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you.(E) They will tell you everything that is happening here.
10 My fellow prisoner Aristarchus(F) sends you his greetings, as does Mark,(G) the cousin of Barnabas.(H) (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.) 11 Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews[c] among my co-workers(I) for the kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me. 12 Epaphras,(J) who is one of you(K) and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you,(L) that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature(M) and fully assured. 13 I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea(N) and Hierapolis. 14 Our dear friend Luke,(O) the doctor, and Demas(P) send greetings. 15 Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters at Laodicea,(Q) and to Nympha and the church in her house.(R)
16 After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read(S) in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.
17 Tell Archippus:(T) “See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.”(U)
Footnotes
- Colossians 4:7 Or slave; also in verse 12
- Colossians 4:8 Some manuscripts that he may know about your
- Colossians 4:11 Greek only ones of the circumcision group
The Voice (VOICE)
The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.