Psalm 29

A psalm of David.

Ascribe to the Lord,(A) you heavenly beings,(B)
    ascribe to the Lord glory(C) and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
    worship the Lord in the splendor of his[a] holiness.(D)

The voice(E) of the Lord is over the waters;
    the God of glory(F) thunders,(G)
    the Lord thunders over the mighty waters.(H)
The voice of the Lord is powerful;(I)
    the voice of the Lord is majestic.
The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;
    the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.(J)
He makes Lebanon leap(K) like a calf,
    Sirion[b](L) like a young wild ox.(M)
The voice of the Lord strikes
    with flashes of lightning.(N)
The voice of the Lord shakes the desert;
    the Lord shakes the Desert of Kadesh.(O)
The voice of the Lord twists the oaks[c](P)
    and strips the forests bare.
And in his temple all cry, “Glory!”(Q)

10 The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;(R)
    the Lord is enthroned as King forever.(S)
11 The Lord gives strength to his people;(T)
    the Lord blesses his people with peace.(U)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 29:2 Or Lord with the splendor of
  2. Psalm 29:6 That is, Mount Hermon
  3. Psalm 29:9 Or Lord makes the deer give birth

29 Give unto the Lord, O ye mighty, give unto the Lord glory and strength.

Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.

The voice of the Lord is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the Lord is upon many waters.

The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.

The voice of the Lord breaketh the cedars; yea, the Lord breaketh the cedars of Lebanon.

He maketh them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn.

The voice of the Lord divideth the flames of fire.

The voice of the Lord shaketh the wilderness; the Lord shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh.

The voice of the Lord maketh the hinds to calve, and discovereth the forests: and in his temple doth every one speak of his glory.

10 The Lord sitteth upon the flood; yea, the Lord sitteth King for ever.

11 The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace.

So Samuel said to all the Israelites, “If you are returning(A) to the Lord with all your hearts, then rid(B) yourselves of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths(C) and commit(D) yourselves to the Lord and serve him only,(E) and he will deliver(F) you out of the hand of the Philistines.” So the Israelites put away their Baals and Ashtoreths, and served the Lord only.

Then Samuel(G) said, “Assemble all Israel at Mizpah,(H) and I will intercede(I) with the Lord for you.” When they had assembled at Mizpah,(J) they drew water and poured(K) it out before the Lord. On that day they fasted and there they confessed, “We have sinned against the Lord.” Now Samuel was serving as leader[a](L) of Israel at Mizpah.

When the Philistines heard that Israel had assembled at Mizpah, the rulers of the Philistines came up to attack them. When the Israelites heard of it, they were afraid(M) because of the Philistines. They said to Samuel, “Do not stop crying(N) out to the Lord our God for us, that he may rescue us from the hand of the Philistines.” Then Samuel(O) took a suckling lamb and sacrificed it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. He cried out to the Lord on Israel’s behalf, and the Lord answered him.(P)

10 While Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to engage Israel in battle. But that day the Lord thundered(Q) with loud thunder against the Philistines and threw them into such a panic(R) that they were routed before the Israelites. 11 The men of Israel rushed out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, slaughtering them along the way to a point below Beth Kar.

12 Then Samuel took a stone(S) and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer,[b](T) saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.”

13 So the Philistines were subdued(U) and they stopped invading Israel’s territory. Throughout Samuel’s lifetime, the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines. 14 The towns from Ekron(V) to Gath that the Philistines had captured from Israel were restored to Israel, and Israel delivered the neighboring territory from the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.(W)

15 Samuel(X) continued as Israel’s leader(Y) all(Z) the days of his life. 16 From year to year he went on a circuit from Bethel(AA) to Gilgal(AB) to Mizpah, judging(AC) Israel in all those places. 17 But he always went back to Ramah,(AD) where his home was, and there he also held court(AE) for Israel. And he built an altar(AF) there to the Lord.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 7:6 Traditionally judge; also in verse 15
  2. 1 Samuel 7:12 Ebenezer means stone of help.

And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the Lord with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the Lord, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.

Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the Lord only.

And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the Lord.

And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before the Lord, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the Lord. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh.

And when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together to Mizpeh, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines.

And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to cry unto the Lord our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines.

And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a burnt offering wholly unto the Lord: and Samuel cried unto the Lord for Israel; and the Lord heard him.

10 And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: but the Lord thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were smitten before Israel.

11 And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, until they came under Bethcar.

12 Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.

13 So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Israel: and the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.

14 And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even unto Gath; and the coasts thereof did Israel deliver out of the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.

15 And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.

16 And he went from year to year in circuit to Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places.

17 And his return was to Ramah; for there was his house; and there he judged Israel; and there he built an altar unto the Lord.

Read full chapter

19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength.

Saul in Damascus and Jerusalem

Saul spent several days with the disciples(A) in Damascus.(B) 20 At once he began to preach in the synagogues(C) that Jesus is the Son of God.(D) 21 All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name?(E) And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?”(F) 22 Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.(G)

23 After many days had gone by, there was a conspiracy among the Jews to kill him,(H) 24 but Saul learned of their plan.(I) Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him. 25 But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall.(J)

26 When he came to Jerusalem,(K) he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas(L) took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him,(M) and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.(N) 28 So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews,[a](O) but they tried to kill him.(P) 30 When the believers(Q) learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea(R) and sent him off to Tarsus.(S)

31 Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria(T) enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.(U)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Acts 9:29 That is, Jews who had adopted the Greek language and culture

19 And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.

20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.

21 But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?

22 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.

23 And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:

24 But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.

25 Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.

26 And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.

27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.

28 And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.

29 And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.

30 Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.

31 Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.

Read full chapter