ק QOPH

145 I cry out with my whole heart;
Hear me, O Lord!
I will keep Your statutes.
146 I cry out to You;
Save me, and I will keep Your testimonies.
147 (A)I rise before the dawning of the morning,
And cry for help;
I hope in Your word.
148 (B)My eyes are awake through the night watches,
That I may meditate on Your word.
149 Hear my voice according to Your lovingkindness;
O Lord, revive me according to Your justice.
150 They draw near who follow after wickedness;
They are far from Your law.
151 You are (C)near, O Lord,
And all Your commandments are truth.
152 Concerning Your testimonies,
I have known of old that You have founded them (D)forever.

ר RESH

153 (E)Consider my affliction and deliver me,
For I do not forget Your law.
154 (F)Plead my cause and redeem me;
Revive me according to Your word.
155 Salvation is far from the wicked,
For they do not seek Your statutes.
156 [a]Great are Your tender mercies, O Lord;
Revive me according to Your judgments.
157 Many are my persecutors and my enemies,
Yet I do not (G)turn from Your testimonies.
158 I see the treacherous, and (H)am disgusted,
Because they do not keep Your word.
159 Consider how I love Your precepts;
Revive me, O Lord, according to Your lovingkindness.
160 The entirety of Your word is truth,
And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.

ש SHIN

161 (I)Princes persecute me without a cause,
But my heart stands in awe of Your word.
162 I rejoice at Your word
As one who finds great treasure.
163 I hate and abhor lying,
But I love Your law.
164 Seven times a day I praise You,
Because of Your righteous judgments.
165 (J)Great peace have those who love Your law,
And [b]nothing causes them to stumble.
166 (K)Lord, I hope for Your salvation,
And I do Your commandments.
167 My soul keeps Your testimonies,
And I love them exceedingly.
168 I keep Your precepts and Your testimonies,
(L)For all my ways are before You.

ת TAU

169 Let my cry come before You, O Lord;
(M)Give me understanding according to Your word.
170 Let my [c]supplication come before You;
Deliver me according to Your word.
171 (N)My lips shall utter praise,
For You teach me Your statutes.
172 My tongue shall speak of Your word,
For all Your commandments are righteousness.
173 Let Your hand become my help,
For (O)I have chosen Your precepts.
174 (P)I long for Your salvation, O Lord,
And (Q)Your law is my delight.
175 Let my soul live, and it shall praise You;
And let Your judgments help me.
176 (R)I have gone astray like a lost sheep;
Seek Your servant,
For I do not forget Your commandments.

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 119:156 Or Many
  2. Psalm 119:165 Lit. they have no stumbling block
  3. Psalm 119:170 Prayer of supplication

ק Qoph

145 I call with all my heart;(A) answer me, Lord,
    and I will obey your decrees.(B)
146 I call out to you; save me(C)
    and I will keep your statutes.
147 I rise before dawn(D) and cry for help;
    I have put my hope in your word.
148 My eyes stay open through the watches of the night,(E)
    that I may meditate on your promises.
149 Hear my voice(F) in accordance with your love;(G)
    preserve my life,(H) Lord, according to your laws.
150 Those who devise wicked schemes(I) are near,
    but they are far from your law.
151 Yet you are near,(J) Lord,
    and all your commands are true.(K)
152 Long ago I learned from your statutes(L)
    that you established them to last forever.(M)

ר Resh

153 Look on my suffering(N) and deliver me,(O)
    for I have not forgotten(P) your law.
154 Defend my cause(Q) and redeem me;(R)
    preserve my life(S) according to your promise.(T)
155 Salvation is far from the wicked,
    for they do not seek out(U) your decrees.
156 Your compassion, Lord, is great;(V)
    preserve my life(W) according to your laws.(X)
157 Many are the foes who persecute me,(Y)
    but I have not turned(Z) from your statutes.
158 I look on the faithless with loathing,(AA)
    for they do not obey your word.(AB)
159 See how I love your precepts;
    preserve my life,(AC) Lord, in accordance with your love.
160 All your words are true;
    all your righteous laws are eternal.(AD)

ש Sin and Shin

161 Rulers persecute me(AE) without cause,
    but my heart trembles(AF) at your word.
162 I rejoice(AG) in your promise
    like one who finds great spoil.(AH)
163 I hate and detest(AI) falsehood
    but I love your law.(AJ)
164 Seven times a day I praise you
    for your righteous laws.(AK)
165 Great peace(AL) have those who love your law,
    and nothing can make them stumble.(AM)
166 I wait for your salvation,(AN) Lord,
    and I follow your commands.
167 I obey your statutes,
    for I love them(AO) greatly.
168 I obey your precepts(AP) and your statutes,(AQ)
    for all my ways are known(AR) to you.

ת Taw

169 May my cry come(AS) before you, Lord;
    give me understanding(AT) according to your word.(AU)
170 May my supplication come(AV) before you;
    deliver me(AW) according to your promise.(AX)
171 May my lips overflow with praise,(AY)
    for you teach me(AZ) your decrees.
172 May my tongue sing(BA) of your word,
    for all your commands are righteous.(BB)
173 May your hand be ready to help(BC) me,
    for I have chosen(BD) your precepts.
174 I long for your salvation,(BE) Lord,
    and your law gives me delight.(BF)
175 Let me live(BG) that I may praise you,
    and may your laws sustain me.
176 I have strayed like a lost sheep.(BH)
    Seek your servant,
    for I have not forgotten(BI) your commands.

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145 I cried with my whole heart; hear me, O Lord: I will keep thy statutes.

146 I cried unto thee; save me, and I shall keep thy testimonies.

147 I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy word.

148 Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word.

149 Hear my voice according unto thy lovingkindness: O Lord, quicken me according to thy judgment.

150 They draw nigh that follow after mischief: they are far from thy law.

151 Thou art near, O Lord; and all thy commandments are truth.

152 Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou hast founded them for ever.

153 Consider mine affliction, and deliver me: for I do not forget thy law.

154 Plead my cause, and deliver me: quicken me according to thy word.

155 Salvation is far from the wicked: for they seek not thy statutes.

156 Great are thy tender mercies, O Lord: quicken me according to thy judgments.

157 Many are my persecutors and mine enemies; yet do I not decline from thy testimonies.

158 I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved; because they kept not thy word.

159 Consider how I love thy precepts: quicken me, O Lord, according to thy lovingkindness.

160 Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.

161 Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of thy word.

162 I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil.

163 I hate and abhor lying: but thy law do I love.

164 Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments.

165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.

166 Lord, I have hoped for thy salvation, and done thy commandments.

167 My soul hath kept thy testimonies; and I love them exceedingly.

168 I have kept thy precepts and thy testimonies: for all my ways are before thee.

169 Let my cry come near before thee, O Lord: give me understanding according to thy word.

170 Let my supplication come before thee: deliver me according to thy word.

171 My lips shall utter praise, when thou hast taught me thy statutes.

172 My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness.

173 Let thine hand help me; for I have chosen thy precepts.

174 I have longed for thy salvation, O Lord; and thy law is my delight.

175 Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee; and let thy judgments help me.

176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments.

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Ruth Meets Boaz

There was a (A)relative of Naomi’s husband, a man of great wealth, of the family of (B)Elimelech. His name was (C)Boaz. So Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, “Please let me go to the (D)field, and glean heads of grain after him in whose sight I may find favor.”

And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.”

Then she left, and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers. And she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech.

Now behold, Boaz came from (E)Bethlehem, and said to the reapers, (F)“The Lord be with you!”

And they answered him, “The Lord bless you!”

Then Boaz said to his servant who was in charge of the reapers, “Whose young woman is this?”

So the servant who was in charge of the reapers answered and said, “It is the young Moabite woman (G)who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab. And she said, ‘Please let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves.’ So she came and has continued from morning until now, though she rested a little in the house.”

Then Boaz said to Ruth, “You will listen, my daughter, will you not? Do not go to glean in another field, nor go from here, but stay close by my young women. Let your eyes be on the field which they reap, and go after them. Have I not commanded the young men not to touch you? And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink from what the young men have drawn.”

10 So she (H)fell on her face, bowed down to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found (I)favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?”

11 And Boaz answered and said to her, “It has been fully reported to me, (J)all that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, and how you have left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and have come to a people whom you did not know before. 12 (K)The Lord repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the Lord God of Israel, (L)under whose wings you have come for refuge.”

13 Then she said, (M)“Let me find favor in your sight, my lord; for you have comforted me, and have spoken [a]kindly to your maidservant, (N)though I am not like one of your maidservants.”

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Footnotes

  1. Ruth 2:13 Lit. to the heart of

Ruth Meets Boaz in the Grain Field

Now Naomi had a relative(A) on her husband’s side, a man of standing(B) from the clan of Elimelek,(C) whose name was Boaz.(D)

And Ruth the Moabite(E) said to Naomi, “Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain(F) behind anyone in whose eyes I find favor.(G)

Naomi said to her, “Go ahead, my daughter.” So she went out, entered a field and began to glean behind the harvesters.(H) As it turned out, she was working in a field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelek.(I)

Just then Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and greeted the harvesters, “The Lord be with you!(J)

“The Lord bless you!(K)” they answered.

Boaz asked the overseer of his harvesters, “Who does that young woman belong to?”

The overseer replied, “She is the Moabite(L) who came back from Moab with Naomi. She said, ‘Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves(M) behind the harvesters.’ She came into the field and has remained here from morning till now, except for a short rest(N) in the shelter.”

So Boaz said to Ruth, “My daughter, listen to me. Don’t go and glean in another field and don’t go away from here. Stay here with the women who work for me. Watch the field where the men are harvesting, and follow along after the women. I have told the men not to lay a hand on you. And whenever you are thirsty, go and get a drink from the water jars the men have filled.”

10 At this, she bowed down with her face to the ground.(O) She asked him, “Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you notice me(P)—a foreigner?(Q)

11 Boaz replied, “I’ve been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law(R) since the death of your husband(S)—how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know(T) before.(U) 12 May the Lord repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the Lord,(V) the God of Israel,(W) under whose wings(X) you have come to take refuge.(Y)

13 “May I continue to find favor in your eyes,(Z) my lord,” she said. “You have put me at ease by speaking kindly to your servant—though I do not have the standing of one of your servants.”

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And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz.

And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter.

And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech.

And, behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said unto the reapers, The Lord be with you. And they answered him, The Lord bless thee.

Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this?

And the servant that was set over the reapers answered and said, It is the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab:

And she said, I pray you, let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves: so she came, and hath continued even from the morning until now, that she tarried a little in the house.

Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens:

Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them: have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? and when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn.

10 Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger?

11 And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore.

12 The Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.

13 Then she said, Let me find favour in thy sight, my lord; for that thou hast comforted me, and for that thou hast spoken friendly unto thine handmaid, though I be not like unto one of thine handmaidens.

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23 Moreover (A)I call God as witness against my soul, (B)that to spare you I came no more to Corinth. 24 Not (C)that we [a]have dominion over your faith, but are fellow workers for your joy; for (D)by faith you stand.

Paul Urges Forgiveness

But I determined this within myself, (E)that I would not come again to you in sorrow. For if I make you (F)sorrowful, then who is he who makes me glad but the one who is made sorrowful by me?

Forgive the Offender

And I wrote this very thing to you, lest, when I came, (G)I should have sorrow over those from whom I ought to have joy, (H)having confidence in you all that my joy is the joy of you all. For out of much [b]affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you, with many tears, (I)not that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have so abundantly for you.

But (J)if anyone has caused grief, he has not (K)grieved me, but all of you to some extent—not to be too severe. This punishment which was inflicted (L)by the majority is sufficient for such a man, (M)so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow. Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him. For to this end I also wrote, that I might put you to the test, whether you are (N)obedient in all things. 10 Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For [c]if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, 11 lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.

Triumph in Christ

12 Furthermore, (O)when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and (P)a [d]door was opened to me by the Lord, 13 (Q)I had no rest in my spirit, because I did not find Titus my brother; but taking my leave of them, I departed for Macedonia.

14 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us [e]diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. 15 For we are to God the fragrance of Christ (R)among those who are being saved and (S)among those who are perishing. 16 (T)To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And (U)who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not, as [f]so many, (V)peddling[g] the word of God; but as (W)of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 1:24 rule
  2. 2 Corinthians 2:4 tribulation
  3. 2 Corinthians 2:10 NU indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, I did it for your sakes
  4. 2 Corinthians 2:12 Opportunity
  5. 2 Corinthians 2:14 manifests
  6. 2 Corinthians 2:17 M the rest
  7. 2 Corinthians 2:17 adulterating for gain

23 I call God as my witness(A)—and I stake my life on it—that it was in order to spare you(B) that I did not return to Corinth. 24 Not that we lord it over(C) your faith, but we work with you for your joy, because it is by faith you stand firm.(D) So I made up my mind that I would not make another painful visit to you.(E) For if I grieve you,(F) who is left to make me glad but you whom I have grieved? I wrote as I did,(G) so that when I came I would not be distressed(H) by those who should have made me rejoice. I had confidence(I) in all of you, that you would all share my joy. For I wrote you(J) out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you.

Forgiveness for the Offender

If anyone has caused grief,(K) he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you to some extent—not to put it too severely. The punishment(L) inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient. Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him,(M) so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him. Another reason I wrote you(N) was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything.(O) 10 Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, 11 in order that Satan(P) might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.(Q)

Ministers of the New Covenant

12 Now when I went to Troas(R) to preach the gospel of Christ(S) and found that the Lord had opened a door(T) for me, 13 I still had no peace of mind,(U) because I did not find my brother Titus(V) there. So I said goodbye to them and went on to Macedonia.(W)

14 But thanks be to God,(X) who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma(Y) of the knowledge(Z) of him everywhere. 15 For we are to God the pleasing aroma(AA) of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.(AB) 16 To the one we are an aroma that brings death;(AC) to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task?(AD) 17 Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit.(AE) On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity,(AF) as those sent from God.(AG)

23 Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth.

24 Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.

But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness.

For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me?

And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.

For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.

But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all.

Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.

So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.

Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.

For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.

10 To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ;

11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

12 Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord,

13 I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia.

14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.

15 For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:

16 To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?

17 For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.

Murder Begins in the Heart(A)

21 “You have heard that it was said to those [a]of old, (B)‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that (C)whoever is angry with his brother [b]without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, (D)‘Raca!’[c] shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, [d]‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of [e]hell fire. 23 Therefore (E)if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 (F)leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 (G)Agree with your adversary quickly, (H)while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. 26 Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 5:21 in ancient times
  2. Matthew 5:22 NU omits without a cause
  3. Matthew 5:22 Lit., in Aram., Empty head
  4. Matthew 5:22 Gr. More
  5. Matthew 5:22 Gr. Gehenna

Murder(A)

21 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder,[a](B) and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry(C) with a brother or sister[b][c] will be subject to judgment.(D) Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’[d] is answerable to the court.(E) And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.(F)

23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.

25 “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. 26 Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 5:21 Exodus 20:13
  2. Matthew 5:22 The Greek word for brother or sister (adelphos) refers here to a fellow disciple, whether man or woman; also in verse 23.
  3. Matthew 5:22 Some manuscripts brother or sister without cause
  4. Matthew 5:22 An Aramaic term of contempt

21 Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:

22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;

24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.

26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.

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