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Psalm 43
New International Version
Psalm 43
New International Version
Psalm 43[a]
1 Vindicate me, my God,
and plead my cause(A)
against an unfaithful nation.
Rescue me(B) from those who are
deceitful and wicked.(C)
2 You are God my stronghold.
Why have you rejected(D) me?
Why must I go about mourning,(E)
oppressed by the enemy?(F)
3 Send me your light(G) and your faithful care,(H)
let them lead me;(I)
let them bring me to your holy mountain,(J)
to the place where you dwell.(K)
4 Then I will go(L) to the altar(M) of God,
to God, my joy(N) and my delight.(O)
I will praise you with the lyre,(P)
O God, my God.
5 Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.(Q)
Footnotes
- Psalm 43:1 In many Hebrew manuscripts Psalms 42 and 43 constitute one psalm.
Psalm 43
King James Version
Psalm 43
King James Version
43 Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation: O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man.
2 For thou art the God of my strength: why dost thou cast me off? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
3 O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles.
4 Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God.
5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.
Psalm 43
New King James Version
Psalm 43
New King James Version
Prayer to God in Time of Trouble
43 Vindicate (A)me, O God,
And (B)plead my cause against an ungodly nation;
Oh, deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man!
2 For You are the God of my strength;
Why do You cast me off?
(C)Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
3 (D)Oh, send out Your light and Your truth!
Let them lead me;
Let them bring me to (E)Your holy hill
And to Your [a]tabernacle.
4 Then I will go to the altar of God,
To God my exceeding joy;
And on the harp I will praise You,
O God, my God.
5 (F)Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God;
For I shall yet praise Him,
The [b]help of my countenance and my God.
Footnotes
- Psalm 43:3 dwelling places
- Psalm 43:5 Lit. salvation
Malachi 1:6-2:9
New International Version
Malachi 1:6-2:9
New International Version
Breaking Covenant Through Blemished Sacrifices
6 “A son honors his father,(A) and a slave his master.(B) If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect(C) due me?” says the Lord Almighty.(D)
“It is you priests who show contempt for my name.
“But you ask,(E) ‘How have we shown contempt for your name?’
7 “By offering defiled food(F) on my altar.
“But you ask,(G) ‘How have we defiled you?’
“By saying that the Lord’s table(H) is contemptible. 8 When you offer blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice lame or diseased animals,(I) is that not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased(J) with you? Would he accept you?” says the Lord Almighty.(K)
9 “Now plead with God to be gracious to us. With such offerings(L) from your hands, will he accept(M) you?”—says the Lord Almighty.
10 “Oh, that one of you would shut the temple doors,(N) so that you would not light useless fires on my altar! I am not pleased(O) with you,” says the Lord Almighty, “and I will accept(P) no offering(Q) from your hands. 11 My name will be great(R) among the nations,(S) from where the sun rises to where it sets.(T) In every place incense(U) and pure offerings(V) will be brought to me, because my name will be great among the nations,” says the Lord Almighty.
12 “But you profane it by saying, ‘The Lord’s table(W) is defiled,’ and, ‘Its food(X) is contemptible.’ 13 And you say, ‘What a burden!’(Y) and you sniff at it contemptuously,(Z)” says the Lord Almighty.
“When you bring injured, lame or diseased animals and offer them as sacrifices,(AA) should I accept them from your hands?”(AB) says the Lord. 14 “Cursed is the cheat who has an acceptable male in his flock and vows to give it, but then sacrifices a blemished animal(AC) to the Lord. For I am a great king,(AD)” says the Lord Almighty,(AE) “and my name is to be feared(AF) among the nations.(AG)
Additional Warning to the Priests
2 “And now, you priests, this warning is for you.(AH) 2 If you do not listen,(AI) and if you do not resolve to honor(AJ) my name,” says the Lord Almighty, “I will send a curse(AK) on you, and I will curse your blessings.(AL) Yes, I have already cursed them, because you have not resolved to honor me.
3 “Because of you I will rebuke your descendants[a]; I will smear on your faces the dung(AM) from your festival sacrifices, and you will be carried off with it.(AN) 4 And you will know that I have sent you this warning so that my covenant with Levi(AO) may continue,” says the Lord Almighty. 5 “My covenant was with him, a covenant(AP) of life and peace,(AQ) and I gave them to him; this called for reverence(AR) and he revered me and stood in awe of my name. 6 True instruction(AS) was in his mouth and nothing false was found on his lips. He walked(AT) with me in peace(AU) and uprightness,(AV) and turned many from sin.(AW)
7 “For the lips of a priest(AX) ought to preserve knowledge, because he is the messenger(AY) of the Lord Almighty and people seek instruction from his mouth.(AZ) 8 But you have turned from the way(BA) and by your teaching have caused many to stumble;(BB) you have violated the covenant(BC) with Levi,”(BD) says the Lord Almighty. 9 “So I have caused you to be despised(BE) and humiliated(BF) before all the people, because you have not followed my ways but have shown partiality(BG) in matters of the law.”(BH)
Footnotes
- Malachi 2:3 Or will blight your grain
Malachi 1:6-2:9
King James Version
Malachi 1:6-2:9
King James Version
6 A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the Lord of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?
7 Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the Lord is contemptible.
8 And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the Lord of hosts.
9 And now, I pray you, beseech God that he will be gracious unto us: this hath been by your means: will he regard your persons? saith the Lord of hosts.
10 Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for nought? neither do ye kindle fire on mine altar for nought. I have no pleasure in you, saith the Lord of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand.
11 For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the Lord of hosts.
12 But ye have profaned it, in that ye say, The table of the Lord is polluted; and the fruit thereof, even his meat, is contemptible.
13 Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the Lord of hosts; and ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering: should I accept this of your hand? saith the Lord.
14 But cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing: for I am a great King, saith the Lord of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the heathen.
2 And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you.
2 If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the Lord of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart.
3 Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts; and one shall take you away with it.
4 And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the Lord of hosts.
5 My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before my name.
6 The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity.
7 For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.
8 But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the Lord of hosts.
9 Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law.
Malachi 1:6-2:9
New King James Version
Malachi 1:6-2:9
New King James Version
Polluted Offerings
6 “A son (A)honors his father,
And a servant his master.
(B)If then I am the Father,
Where is My honor?
And if I am a Master,
Where is My reverence?
Says the Lord of hosts
To you priests who despise My name.
(C)Yet you say, ‘In what way have we despised Your name?’
7 “You offer (D)defiled food on My altar,
But say,
‘In what way have we defiled You?’
By saying,
(E)‘The table of the Lord is [a]contemptible.’
8 And (F)when you offer the blind as a sacrifice,
Is it not evil?
And when you offer the lame and sick,
Is it not evil?
Offer it then to your governor!
Would he be pleased with you?
Would he (G)accept[b] you favorably?”
Says the Lord of hosts.
9 “But now entreat God’s favor,
That He may be gracious to us.
(H)While this is being done by your hands,
Will He accept you favorably?”
Says the Lord of hosts.
10 “Who is there even among you who would shut the doors,
(I)So that you would not kindle fire on My altar in vain?
I have no pleasure in you,”
Says the Lord of hosts,
(J)“Nor will I accept an offering from your hands.
11 For (K)from the rising of the sun, even to its going down,
My name shall be great (L)among the Gentiles;
(M)In every place (N)incense shall be offered to My name,
And a pure offering;
(O)For My name shall be great among the nations,”
Says the Lord of hosts.
12 “But you profane it,
In that you say,
(P)‘The table of the [c]Lord is defiled;
And its fruit, its food, is contemptible.’
13 You also say,
‘Oh, what a (Q)weariness!’
And you sneer at it,”
Says the Lord of hosts.
“And you bring the stolen, the lame, and the sick;
Thus you bring an offering!
(R)Should I accept this from your hand?”
Says the Lord.
14 “But cursed be (S)the deceiver
Who has in his flock a male,
And takes a vow,
But sacrifices to the Lord (T)what is blemished—
For (U)I am a great King,”
Says the Lord of hosts,
“And My name is to be feared among the nations.
Corrupt Priests
2 “And now, O (V)priests, this commandment is for you.
2 (W)If you will not hear,
And if you will not take it to heart,
To give glory to My name,”
Says the Lord of hosts,
“I will send a curse upon you,
And I will curse your blessings.
Yes, I have cursed them (X)already,
Because you do not take it to heart.
3 “Behold, I will rebuke your descendants
And spread (Y)refuse on your faces,
The refuse of your solemn feasts;
And one will (Z)take you away [d]with it.
4 Then you shall know that I have sent this commandment to you,
That My covenant with Levi may continue,”
Says the Lord of hosts.
5 “My(AA) covenant was with him, one of life and peace,
And I gave them to him (AB)that he might fear Me;
So he feared Me
And was reverent before My name.
6 (AC)The[e] law of truth was in his mouth,
And [f]injustice was not found on his lips.
He walked with Me in peace and equity,
And (AD)turned many away from iniquity.
7 “For(AE) the lips of a priest should keep knowledge,
And people should seek the law from his mouth;
(AF)For he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.
8 But you have departed from the way;
You (AG)have caused many to stumble at the law.
(AH)You have corrupted the covenant of Levi,”
Says the Lord of hosts.
9 “Therefore (AI)I also have made you contemptible and base
Before all the people,
Because you have not kept My ways
But have shown (AJ)partiality in the law.”
Footnotes
- Malachi 1:7 Or to be despised
- Malachi 1:8 Lit. lift up your face
- Malachi 1:12 So with Bg.; MT Lord
- Malachi 2:3 Lit. to it
- Malachi 2:6 Or True instruction
- Malachi 2:6 Or unrighteousness
Matthew 23:13-28
New International Version
Matthew 23:13-28
New International Version
Seven Woes on the Teachers of the Law and the Pharisees
13 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!(A) You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.(B) [14] [a]
15 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert,(C) and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell(D) as you are.
16 “Woe to you, blind guides!(E) You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gold of the temple is bound by that oath.’(F) 17 You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred?(G) 18 You also say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gift on the altar is bound by that oath.’ 19 You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred?(H) 20 Therefore, anyone who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. 21 And anyone who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells(I) in it. 22 And anyone who swears by heaven swears by God’s throne and by the one who sits on it.(J)
23 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth(K) of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness.(L) You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. 24 You blind guides!(M) You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.
25 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish,(N) but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.(O) 26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.
27 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs,(P) which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. 28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.
Footnotes
- Matthew 23:14 Some manuscripts include here words similar to Mark 12:40 and Luke 20:47.
Matthew 23:13-28
King James Version
Matthew 23:13-28
King James Version
13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.
16 Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!
17 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?
18 And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty.
19 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?
20 Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon.
21 And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein.
22 And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon.
23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
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Matthew 23:13-28
New King James Version
Matthew 23:13-28
New King James Version
13 “But (A)woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. 14 [a]Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! (B)For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.
15 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of [b]hell as yourselves.
16 “Woe to you, (C)blind guides, who say, (D)‘Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obliged to perform it.’ 17 Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gold (E)or the temple that [c]sanctifies the gold? 18 And, ‘Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obliged to perform it.’ 19 Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gift (F)or the altar that sanctifies the gift? 20 Therefore he who [d]swears by the altar, swears by it and by all things on it. 21 He who swears by the temple, swears by it and by (G)Him who [e]dwells in it. 22 And he who swears by heaven, swears by (H)the throne of God and by Him who sits on it.
23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! (I)For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and (J)have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. 24 Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!
25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! (K)For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and [f]self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.
27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! (L)For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. 28 Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Matthew 23:14 NU omits v. 14.
- Matthew 23:15 Gr. Gehenna
- Matthew 23:17 NU sanctified
- Matthew 23:20 Swears an oath
- Matthew 23:21 M dwelt
- Matthew 23:25 M unrighteousness
New International Version (NIV) 
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New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.