God Is King over All the Earth

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of (A)the Sons of Korah.

47 (B)Clap your hands, all peoples!
    (C)Shout to God with loud songs of joy!
For the Lord, the Most High, (D)is to be feared,
    (E)a great king over all the earth.
He (F)subdued peoples under us,
    and nations under our feet.
He chose our (G)heritage for us,
    (H)the pride of Jacob whom he loves. Selah

God (I)has gone up with a shout,
    the Lord with the sound of a trumpet.
Sing praises to God, sing praises!
    Sing praises to our King, sing praises!
For God is (J)the King of all the earth;
    sing praises (K)with a psalm![a]

God (L)reigns over the nations;
    God sits on his holy throne.
(M)The princes of the peoples gather
    as the people of the God of Abraham.
For (N)the shields of the earth belong to God;
    he is highly exalted!

Zion, the City of Our God

A Song. A Psalm of (O)the Sons of Korah.

48 (P)Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised
    in (Q)the city of our God!
His (R)holy mountain, (S)beautiful in elevation,
    is (T)the joy of all the earth,
Mount Zion, in the far north,
    (U)the city of the great King.
Within her citadels God
    has made himself known as a fortress.

For behold, (V)the kings assembled;
    they came on together.
As soon as they saw it, they were astounded;
    they were in panic; they took to flight.
(W)Trembling took hold of them there,
    anguish (X)as of a woman in labor.
By (Y)the east wind you (Z)shattered
    the ships of (AA)Tarshish.
As we have heard, so have we seen
    in the city of the Lord of hosts,
in (AB)the city of our God,
    which God will (AC)establish forever. Selah

We have thought on your (AD)steadfast love, O God,
    in the midst of your temple.
10 As your (AE)name, O God,
    so your praise reaches to (AF)the ends of the earth.
Your right hand is filled with righteousness.
11     Let Mount (AG)Zion be glad!
Let (AH)the daughters of Judah rejoice
    because of your judgments!

12 Walk about Zion, go around her,
    number her towers,
13 consider well her (AI)ramparts,
    go through her citadels,
(AJ)that you may tell the next generation
14     that this is God,
our God forever and ever.
    He will (AK)guide us forever.[b]

Why Should I Fear in Times of Trouble?

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of (AL)the Sons of Korah.

49 (AM)Hear this, all peoples!
    Give ear, all inhabitants of the world,
(AN)both low and high,
    rich and poor together!
My mouth shall speak (AO)wisdom;
    the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.
I will incline my ear to (AP)a proverb;
    I will solve my (AQ)riddle to the music of the lyre.

(AR)Why should I fear in (AS)times of trouble,
    when the iniquity of those who cheat me surrounds me,
those who (AT)trust in their wealth
    and boast of the abundance of their riches?
Truly no man (AU)can ransom another,
    or (AV)give to God (AW)the price of his life,
for (AX)the ransom of their life is costly
    and can never suffice,
that he should live on forever
    and (AY)never see the pit.

10 For he sees (AZ)that even the wise die;
    (BA)the fool and the stupid alike must perish
    and (BB)leave their wealth to others.
11 Their (BC)graves are their homes forever,[c]
    their dwelling places (BD)to all generations,
    though they (BE)called lands by their own names.
12 Man in his pomp (BF)will not remain;
    (BG)he is like the beasts that perish.

13 This is the path of those who have (BH)foolish confidence;
    yet after them people approve of their boasts.[d] Selah
14 Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol;
    death shall be their shepherd,
and the upright (BI)shall rule over them in the morning.
    (BJ)Their form shall be consumed (BK)in Sheol, with no place to dwell.
15 But God will (BL)ransom my soul from the power of Sheol,
    for he will (BM)receive me. Selah

16 Be not afraid when a man becomes rich,
    when the glory of his house increases.
17 (BN)For when he dies he will (BO)carry nothing away;
    his glory will not go down after him.
18 For though, while he lives, he counts himself (BP)blessed
    —and though you get praise when you do well for yourself—
19 his soul will (BQ)go to the generation of his fathers,
    who will never again (BR)see light.
20 (BS)Man in his pomp yet without understanding is like the beasts that perish.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 47:7 Hebrew maskil
  2. Psalm 48:14 Septuagint; another reading is (compare Jerome, Syriac) He will guide us beyond death
  3. Psalm 49:11 Septuagint, Syriac, Targum; Hebrew Their inward thought was that their homes were forever
  4. Psalm 49:13 Or and of those after them who approve of their boasts

Psalm 47[a]

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.

Clap your hands,(A) all you nations;
    shout to God with cries of joy.(B)

For the Lord Most High(C) is awesome,(D)
    the great King(E) over all the earth.
He subdued(F) nations under us,
    peoples under our feet.
He chose our inheritance(G) for us,
    the pride of Jacob,(H) whom he loved.[b]

God has ascended(I) amid shouts of joy,(J)
    the Lord amid the sounding of trumpets.(K)
Sing praises(L) to God, sing praises;
    sing praises to our King, sing praises.
For God is the King of all the earth;(M)
    sing to him a psalm(N) of praise.

God reigns(O) over the nations;
    God is seated on his holy throne.(P)
The nobles of the nations assemble
    as the people of the God of Abraham,
for the kings[c] of the earth belong to God;(Q)
    he is greatly exalted.(R)

Psalm 48[d]

A song. A psalm of the Sons of Korah.

Great is the Lord,(S) and most worthy of praise,(T)
    in the city of our God,(U) his holy mountain.(V)

Beautiful(W) in its loftiness,
    the joy of the whole earth,
like the heights of Zaphon[e](X) is Mount Zion,(Y)
    the city of the Great King.(Z)
God is in her citadels;(AA)
    he has shown himself to be her fortress.(AB)

When the kings joined forces,
    when they advanced together,(AC)
they saw her and were astounded;
    they fled in terror.(AD)
Trembling seized(AE) them there,
    pain like that of a woman in labor.(AF)
You destroyed them like ships of Tarshish(AG)
    shattered by an east wind.(AH)

As we have heard,
    so we have seen
in the city of the Lord Almighty,
    in the city of our God:
God makes her secure
    forever.[f](AI)

Within your temple, O God,
    we meditate(AJ) on your unfailing love.(AK)
10 Like your name,(AL) O God,
    your praise reaches to the ends of the earth;(AM)
    your right hand is filled with righteousness.
11 Mount Zion rejoices,
    the villages of Judah are glad
    because of your judgments.(AN)

12 Walk about Zion, go around her,
    count her towers,(AO)
13 consider well her ramparts,(AP)
    view her citadels,(AQ)
that you may tell of them
    to the next generation.(AR)

14 For this God is our God for ever and ever;
    he will be our guide(AS) even to the end.

Psalm 49[g]

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.

Hear(AT) this, all you peoples;(AU)
    listen, all who live in this world,(AV)
both low and high,(AW)
    rich and poor alike:
My mouth will speak words of wisdom;(AX)
    the meditation of my heart will give you understanding.(AY)
I will turn my ear to a proverb;(AZ)
    with the harp(BA) I will expound my riddle:(BB)

Why should I fear(BC) when evil days come,
    when wicked deceivers surround me—
those who trust in their wealth(BD)
    and boast(BE) of their great riches?(BF)
No one can redeem the life of another
    or give to God a ransom for them—
the ransom(BG) for a life is costly,
    no payment is ever enough—(BH)
so that they should live on(BI) forever
    and not see decay.(BJ)
10 For all can see that the wise die,(BK)
    that the foolish and the senseless(BL) also perish,
    leaving their wealth(BM) to others.(BN)
11 Their tombs(BO) will remain their houses[h] forever,
    their dwellings for endless generations,(BP)
    though they had[i] named(BQ) lands after themselves.

12 People, despite their wealth, do not endure;(BR)
    they are like the beasts that perish.(BS)

13 This is the fate of those who trust in themselves,(BT)
    and of their followers, who approve their sayings.[j]
14 They are like sheep and are destined(BU) to die;(BV)
    death will be their shepherd
    (but the upright will prevail(BW) over them in the morning).
Their forms will decay in the grave,
    far from their princely mansions.
15 But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead;(BX)
    he will surely take me to himself.(BY)
16 Do not be overawed when others grow rich,
    when the splendor of their houses increases;
17 for they will take nothing(BZ) with them when they die,
    their splendor will not descend with them.(CA)
18 Though while they live they count themselves blessed—(CB)
    and people praise you when you prosper—
19 they will join those who have gone before them,(CC)
    who will never again see the light(CD) of life.

20 People who have wealth but lack understanding(CE)
    are like the beasts that perish.(CF)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 47:1 In Hebrew texts 47:1-9 is numbered 47:2-10.
  2. Psalm 47:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
  3. Psalm 47:9 Or shields
  4. Psalm 48:1 In Hebrew texts 48:1-14 is numbered 48:2-15.
  5. Psalm 48:2 Zaphon was the most sacred mountain of the Canaanites.
  6. Psalm 48:8 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
  7. Psalm 49:1 In Hebrew texts 49:1-20 is numbered 49:2-21.
  8. Psalm 49:11 Septuagint and Syriac; Hebrew In their thoughts their houses will remain
  9. Psalm 49:11 Or generations, / for they have
  10. Psalm 49:13 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 15.

Paul's Defense Before Agrippa

26 So (A)Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense:

“I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am going to make my defense today (B)against all the accusations of the Jews, especially because you are familiar with all the (C)customs and (D)controversies of the Jews. Therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.

(E)“My manner of life from my youth, spent from the beginning among (F)my own nation and in Jerusalem, is known by all the Jews. They have known for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that (G)according to the strictest (H)party of our (I)religion I have lived as (J)a Pharisee. And now I stand here on trial because of my hope in (K)the promise made by God to our fathers, (L)to which (M)our twelve tribes hope to (N)attain, as they earnestly worship night and day. And for this hope (O)I am accused by Jews, O king! Why is it thought (P)incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?

(Q)“I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of (R)Jesus of Nazareth. 10 (S)And I did so in Jerusalem. I not only locked up many of the saints in prison after receiving authority (T)from the chief priests, but (U)when they were put to death I cast my vote against them. 11 And (V)I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to make them (W)blaspheme, and (X)in raging fury against them I (Y)persecuted them even to foreign cities.

Paul Tells of His Conversion

12 “In this connection (Z)I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. 13 At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, that shone around me and those who journeyed with me. 14 And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me (AA)in the Hebrew language,[a] ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ 15 And I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 16 But rise and (AB)stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, (AC)to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, 17 (AD)delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—(AE)to whom I (AF)am sending you 18 (AG)to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from (AH)the power of Satan to God, that they may receive (AI)forgiveness of sins and (AJ)a place among those who are sanctified (AK)by faith in me.’

19 “Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to (AL)the heavenly vision, 20 but declared first (AM)to those in Damascus, (AN)then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also (AO)to the Gentiles, that they should (AP)repent and (AQ)turn to God, performing deeds (AR)in keeping with their repentance. 21 For this reason (AS)the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. 22 (AT)To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so (AU)I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what (AV)the prophets and Moses said would come to pass: 23 (AW)that the Christ (AX)must suffer and that, (AY)by being the first (AZ)to rise from the dead, (BA)he would proclaim (BB)light both to our people and to the Gentiles.”

24 And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, (BC)you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind.” 25 But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, (BD)most excellent Festus, but I am speaking (BE)true and (BF)rational words. 26 For (BG)the king knows about these things, and to him I speak boldly. For I am persuaded that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this has not been done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.” 28 And Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time would you persuade me to be (BH)a Christian?”[b] 29 And Paul said, “Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day (BI)might become such as I am—except for (BJ)these chains.”

30 Then the king rose, and (BK)the governor and Bernice and those who were sitting with them. 31 And when they had withdrawn, they said to one another, (BL)“This man is doing nothing to deserve death or imprisonment.” 32 And Agrippa said to Festus, (BM)“This man could have been set (BN)free if he had not appealed (BO)to Caesar.”

Footnotes

  1. Acts 26:14 Or the Hebrew dialect (probably Aramaic)
  2. Acts 26:28 Or In a short time you would persuade me to act like a Christian!

26 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.”(A)

So Paul motioned with his hand(B) and began his defense: “King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you(C) today as I make my defense against all the accusations of the Jews,(D) and especially so because you are well acquainted with all the Jewish customs(E) and controversies.(F) Therefore, I beg you to listen to me patiently.

“The Jewish people all know the way I have lived ever since I was a child,(G) from the beginning of my life in my own country, and also in Jerusalem. They have known me for a long time(H) and can testify, if they are willing, that I conformed to the strictest sect(I) of our religion, living as a Pharisee.(J) And now it is because of my hope(K) in what God has promised our ancestors(L) that I am on trial today. This is the promise our twelve tribes(M) are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night.(N) King Agrippa, it is because of this hope that these Jews are accusing me.(O) Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?(P)

“I too was convinced(Q) that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose(R) the name of Jesus of Nazareth.(S) 10 And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the Lord’s people(T) in prison,(U) and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them.(V) 11 Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished,(W) and I tried to force them to blaspheme. I was so obsessed with persecuting them that I even hunted them down in foreign cities.

12 “On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. 13 About noon, King Agrippa, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. 14 We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice(X) saying to me in Aramaic,[a](Y) ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’

15 “Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’

‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. 16 ‘Now get up and stand on your feet.(Z) I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me.(AA) 17 I will rescue you(AB) from your own people and from the Gentiles.(AC) I am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes(AD) and turn them from darkness to light,(AE) and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins(AF) and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’(AG)

19 “So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient(AH) to the vision from heaven. 20 First to those in Damascus,(AI) then to those in Jerusalem(AJ) and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles,(AK) I preached that they should repent(AL) and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds.(AM) 21 That is why some Jews seized me(AN) in the temple courts and tried to kill me.(AO) 22 But God has helped me to this very day; so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen(AP) 23 that the Messiah would suffer(AQ) and, as the first to rise from the dead,(AR) would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles.”(AS)

24 At this point Festus interrupted Paul’s defense. “You are out of your mind,(AT) Paul!” he shouted. “Your great learning(AU) is driving you insane.”

25 “I am not insane, most excellent(AV) Festus,” Paul replied. “What I am saying is true and reasonable. 26 The king is familiar with these things,(AW) and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.”

28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”(AX)

29 Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”(AY)

30 The king rose, and with him the governor and Bernice(AZ) and those sitting with them. 31 After they left the room, they began saying to one another, “This man is not doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment.”(BA)

32 Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free(BB) if he had not appealed to Caesar.”(BC)

Footnotes

  1. Acts 26:14 Or Hebrew