Simple Trust in the Lord

A Song of Ascents. Of David.

131 Lord, my heart is not [a]haughty,
Nor my eyes [b]lofty.
(A)Neither do I [c]concern myself with great matters,
Nor with things too [d]profound for me.

Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul,
(B)Like a weaned child with his mother;
Like a weaned child is my soul within me.

(C)O Israel, hope in the Lord
From this time forth and forever.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 131:1 Proud
  2. Psalm 131:1 Arrogant
  3. Psalm 131:1 Lit. walk in
  4. Psalm 131:1 difficult

Psalm 131

A song of ascents. Of David.

My heart is not proud,(A) Lord,
    my eyes are not haughty;(B)
I do not concern myself with great matters(C)
    or things too wonderful for me.(D)
But I have calmed and quieted myself,(E)
    I am like a weaned child with its mother;
    like a weaned child I am content.(F)

Israel, put your hope(G) in the Lord
    both now and forevermore.(H)

The Eternal Dwelling of God in Zion

A Song of Ascents.

132 Lord, remember David
And all his afflictions;
How he swore to the Lord,
(A)And vowed to (B)the Mighty One of Jacob:
“Surely I will not go into the chamber of my house,
Or go up to the comfort of my bed;
I will (C)not give sleep to my eyes
Or slumber to my eyelids,
Until I (D)find a place for the Lord,
A dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob.”

Behold, we heard of it (E)in Ephrathah;
(F)We found it (G)in the fields of [a]the woods.
Let us go into His tabernacle;
(H)Let us worship at His footstool.
(I)Arise, O Lord, to Your resting place,
You and (J)the ark of Your strength.
Let Your priests (K)be clothed with righteousness,
And let Your saints shout for joy.

10 For Your servant David’s sake,
Do not turn away the face of Your [b]Anointed.

11 (L)The Lord has sworn in truth to David;
He will not turn from it:
“I will set upon your throne (M)the [c]fruit of your body.
12 If your sons will keep My covenant
And My testimony which I shall teach them,
Their sons also shall sit upon your throne forevermore.”

13 (N)For the Lord has chosen Zion;
He has desired it for His [d]dwelling place:
14 “This(O) is My resting place forever;
Here I will dwell, for I have desired it.
15 (P)I will abundantly bless her [e]provision;
I will satisfy her poor with bread.
16 (Q)I will also clothe her priests with salvation,
(R)And her saints shall shout aloud for joy.
17 (S)There I will make the [f]horn of David grow;
(T)I will prepare a lamp for My [g]Anointed.
18 His enemies I will (U)clothe with shame,
But upon Himself His crown shall flourish.”

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 132:6 Heb. Jaar, lit. Woods
  2. Psalm 132:10 Commissioned One, Heb. Messiah
  3. Psalm 132:11 offspring
  4. Psalm 132:13 home
  5. Psalm 132:15 supply of food
  6. Psalm 132:17 Government
  7. Psalm 132:17 Heb. Messiah

Psalm 132(A)

A song of ascents.

Lord, remember David
    and all his self-denial.(B)

He swore an oath to the Lord,
    he made a vow to the Mighty One of Jacob:(C)
“I will not enter my house(D)
    or go to my bed,
I will allow no sleep to my eyes
    or slumber to my eyelids,
till I find a place(E) for the Lord,
    a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.”

We heard it in Ephrathah,(F)
    we came upon it in the fields of Jaar:[a](G)
“Let us go to his dwelling place,(H)
    let us worship at his footstool,(I) saying,
‘Arise, Lord,(J) and come to your resting place,
    you and the ark of your might.
May your priests be clothed with your righteousness;(K)
    may your faithful people(L) sing for joy.’”

10 For the sake of your servant David,
    do not reject your anointed one.

11 The Lord swore an oath to David,(M)
    a sure oath he will not revoke:
“One of your own descendants(N)
    I will place on your throne.
12 If your sons keep my covenant(O)
    and the statutes I teach them,
then their sons will sit
    on your throne(P) for ever and ever.”

13 For the Lord has chosen Zion,(Q)
    he has desired it for his dwelling,(R) saying,
14 “This is my resting place for ever and ever;(S)
    here I will sit enthroned,(T) for I have desired it.
15 I will bless her with abundant provisions;
    her poor I will satisfy with food.(U)
16 I will clothe her priests(V) with salvation,
    and her faithful people will ever sing for joy.(W)

17 “Here I will make a horn[b] grow(X) for David
    and set up a lamp(Y) for my anointed one.(Z)
18 I will clothe his enemies with shame,(AA)
    but his head will be adorned with a radiant crown.”(AB)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 132:6 Or heard of it in Ephrathah, / we found it in the fields of Jearim. (See 1 Chron. 13:5,6) (And no quotation marks around verses 7-9)
  2. Psalm 132:17 Horn here symbolizes strong one, that is, king.

Blessed Unity of the People of God

A Song of Ascents. Of David.

133 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For (A)brethren to dwell together in unity!

It is like the precious oil upon the head,
Running down on the beard,
The beard of Aaron,
Running down on the edge of his garments.
It is like the dew of (B)Hermon,
Descending upon the mountains of Zion;
For (C)there the Lord commanded the blessing—
Life forevermore.

Psalm 133

A song of ascents. Of David.

How good and pleasant it is
    when God’s people live together(A) in unity!(B)

It is like precious oil poured on the head,(C)
    running down on the beard,
running down on Aaron’s beard,
    down on the collar of his robe.
It is as if the dew(D) of Hermon(E)
    were falling on Mount Zion.(F)
For there the Lord bestows his blessing,(G)
    even life forevermore.(H)

14 Now Boaz said to her at mealtime, “Come here, and eat of the bread, and dip your piece of bread in the vinegar.” So she sat beside the reapers, and he passed parched grain to her; and she ate and (A)was satisfied, and kept some back. 15 And when she rose up to [a]glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, “Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not [b]reproach her. 16 Also let grain from the bundles fall purposely for her; leave it that she may glean, and do not rebuke her.”

17 So she gleaned in the field until evening, and beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of (B)barley. 18 Then she took it up and went into the city, and her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned. So she brought out and gave to her (C)what she had kept back after she had been satisfied.

19 And her mother-in-law said to her, “Where have you gleaned today? And where did you work? Blessed be the one who (D)took notice of you.”

So she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked, and said, “The man’s name with whom I worked today is Boaz.”

20 Then Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, (E)“Blessed be he of the Lord, who (F)has not forsaken His kindness to the living and the dead!” And Naomi said to her, “This man is a relation of ours, (G)one of [c]our close relatives.”

21 Ruth the Moabitess said, “He also said to me, ‘You shall stay close by my young men until they have finished all my harvest.’ ”

22 And Naomi said to Ruth her daughter-in-law, “It is good, my daughter, that you go out with his young women, and that people do not [d]meet you in any other field.” 23 So she stayed close by the young women of Boaz, to glean until the end of barley harvest and wheat harvest; and she dwelt with her mother-in-law.

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Footnotes

  1. Ruth 2:15 Gather after the reapers
  2. Ruth 2:15 rebuke
  3. Ruth 2:20 our redeemers, Heb. goalenu
  4. Ruth 2:22 encounter

14 At mealtime Boaz said to her, “Come over here. Have some bread(A) and dip it in the wine vinegar.”

When she sat down with the harvesters,(B) he offered her some roasted grain.(C) She ate all she wanted and had some left over.(D) 15 As she got up to glean, Boaz gave orders to his men, “Let her gather among the sheaves(E) and don’t reprimand her. 16 Even pull out some stalks for her from the bundles and leave them for her to pick up, and don’t rebuke(F) her.”

17 So Ruth gleaned in the field until evening. Then she threshed(G) the barley she had gathered, and it amounted to about an ephah.[a](H) 18 She carried it back to town, and her mother-in-law saw how much she had gathered. Ruth also brought out and gave her what she had left over(I) after she had eaten enough.

19 Her mother-in-law asked her, “Where did you glean today? Where did you work? Blessed be the man who took notice of you!(J)

Then Ruth told her mother-in-law about the one at whose place she had been working. “The name of the man I worked with today is Boaz,” she said.

20 “The Lord bless him!(K)” Naomi said to her daughter-in-law.(L) “He has not stopped showing his kindness(M) to the living and the dead.” She added, “That man is our close relative;(N) he is one of our guardian-redeemers.[b](O)

21 Then Ruth the Moabite(P) said, “He even said to me, ‘Stay with my workers until they finish harvesting all my grain.’”

22 Naomi said to Ruth her daughter-in-law, “It will be good for you, my daughter, to go with the women who work for him, because in someone else’s field you might be harmed.”

23 So Ruth stayed close to the women of Boaz to glean until the barley(Q) and wheat harvests(R) were finished. And she lived with her mother-in-law.

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Footnotes

  1. Ruth 2:17 That is, probably about 30 pounds or about 13 kilograms
  2. Ruth 2:20 The Hebrew word for guardian-redeemer is a legal term for one who has the obligation to redeem a relative in serious difficulty (see Lev. 25:25-55).

Christ’s Epistle(A)

Do (B)we begin again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as some others, (C)epistles of commendation to you or letters of commendation from you? (D)You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; clearly you are an epistle of Christ, (E)ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not (F)on tablets of stone but (G)on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.

The Spirit, Not the Letter

And we have such trust through Christ toward God. (H)Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but (I)our sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient as (J)ministers of (K)the new covenant, not (L)of the letter but of the [a]Spirit; for (M)the letter kills, (N)but the Spirit gives life.

Glory of the New Covenant

But if (O)the ministry of death, (P)written and engraved on stones, was glorious, (Q)so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, how will (R)the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry (S)of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. 10 For even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels. 11 For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious.

12 Therefore, since we have such hope, (T)we use great boldness of speech— 13 unlike Moses, (U)who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at (V)the end of what was passing away. 14 But (W)their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. 15 But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. 16 Nevertheless (X)when one turns to the Lord, (Y)the veil is taken away. 17 Now (Z)the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is (AA)liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding (AB)as in a mirror (AC)the glory of the Lord, (AD)are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as [b]by the Spirit of the Lord.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 3:6 Or spirit
  2. 2 Corinthians 3:18 Or from the Lord, the Spirit

Are we beginning to commend ourselves(A) again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation(B) to you or from you? You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone.(C) You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God,(D) not on tablets of stone(E) but on tablets of human hearts.(F)

Such confidence(G) we have through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves(H) to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.(I) He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant(J)—not of the letter(K) but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.(L)

The Greater Glory of the New Covenant

Now if the ministry that brought death,(M) which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory,(N) transitory though it was, will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? If the ministry that brought condemnation(O) was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness!(P) 10 For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. 11 And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!

12 Therefore, since we have such a hope,(Q) we are very bold.(R) 13 We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face(S) to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away. 14 But their minds were made dull,(T) for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant(U) is read.(V) It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. 15 Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord,(W) the veil is taken away.(X) 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit,(Y) and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.(Z) 18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate[a](AA) the Lord’s glory,(AB) are being transformed into his image(AC) with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 3:18 Or reflect

The Beatitudes(A)

And seeing the multitudes, (B)He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. Then He opened His mouth and (C)taught them, saying:

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Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount

Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them.

The Beatitudes(A)

He said:

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Adultery in the Heart

27 “You have heard that it was said [a]to those of old, (A)‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that whoever (B)looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 (C)If your right eye causes you to [b]sin, (D)pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to [c]sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.

Marriage Is Sacred and Binding(E)

31 “Furthermore it has been said, (F)‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I say to you that (G)whoever divorces his wife for any reason except [d]sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.

Jesus Forbids Oaths

33 “Again you have heard that (H)it was said to those of [e]old, (I)‘You shall not swear falsely, but (J)shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ 34 But I say to you, (K)do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is (L)God’s throne; 35 nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of (M)the great King. 36 Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 (N)But let [f]your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 5:27 NU, M omit to those of old
  2. Matthew 5:29 Lit. stumble or offend
  3. Matthew 5:30 Lit. stumble or offend
  4. Matthew 5:32 Or fornication
  5. Matthew 5:33 ancient times
  6. Matthew 5:37 Lit. your word be yes yes

Adultery

27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’[a](A) 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.(B) 29 If your right eye causes you to stumble,(C) gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to stumble,(D) cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

Divorce

31 “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’[b](E) 32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.(F)

Oaths

33 “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath,(G) but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’(H) 34 But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all:(I) either by heaven, for it is God’s throne;(J) 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King.(K) 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37 All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’;(L) anything beyond this comes from the evil one.[c](M)

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 5:27 Exodus 20:14
  2. Matthew 5:31 Deut. 24:1
  3. Matthew 5:37 Or from evil