Psalm 102:1-17

New International Version

Psalm 102^[a]

A prayer of an afflicted person who has grown weak and pours out a lament before the Lord.

¹Hear my prayer,^(A) Lord;
    let my cry for help^(B) come to you.
²Do not hide your face^(C) from me
    when I am in distress.
Turn your ear^(D) to me;
    when I call, answer me quickly.

³For my days vanish like smoke;^(E)
    my bones^(F) burn like glowing embers.
⁴My heart is blighted and withered like grass;^(G)
    I forget to eat my food.^(H)
⁵In my distress I groan aloud^(I)
    and am reduced to skin and bones.
⁶I am like a desert owl,^(J)
    like an owl among the ruins.
⁷I lie awake;^(K) I have become
    like a bird alone^(L) on a roof.
⁸All day long my enemies^(M) taunt me;^(N)
    those who rail against me use my name as a curse.^(O)
⁹For I eat ashes^(P) as my food
    and mingle my drink with tears^(Q)
¹⁰because of your great wrath,^(R)
    for you have taken me up and thrown me aside.
¹¹My days are like the evening shadow;^(S)
    I wither^(T) away like grass.

¹²But you, Lord, sit enthroned forever;^(U)
    your renown endures^(V) through all generations.^(W)
¹³You will arise^(X) and have compassion^(Y) on Zion,
    for it is time^(Z) to show favor^(AA) to her;
    the appointed time^(AB) has come.
¹⁴For her stones are dear to your servants;
    her very dust moves them to pity.
¹⁵The nations will fear^(AC) the name of the Lord,
    all the kings^(AD) of the earth will revere your glory.
¹⁶For the Lord will rebuild Zion^(AE)
    and appear in his glory.^(AF)
¹⁷He will respond to the prayer^(AG) of the destitute;
    he will not despise their plea.

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Footnotes

Psalm 102:1 In Hebrew texts 102:1-28 is numbered 102:2-29.

Proverbs 3:5-12

New International Version

⁵Trust in the Lord^(A) with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
⁶in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths^(B) straight.^[a]^(C)

⁷Do not be wise in your own eyes;^(D)
fear the Lord^(E) and shun evil.^(F)
⁸This will bring health to your body^(G)
and nourishment to your bones.^(H)

⁹Honor the Lord with your wealth,
with the firstfruits^(I) of all your crops;
¹⁰then your barns will be filled^(J) to overflowing,
and your vats will brim over with new wine.^(K)

¹¹My son,^(L) do not despise the Lord’s discipline,^(M)
and do not resent his rebuke,
¹²because the Lord disciplines those he loves,^(N)
as a father the son he delights in.^[b]^(O)

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Footnotes

Proverbs 3:6 Or will direct your paths
Proverbs 3:12 Hebrew; Septuagint loves, / and he chastens everyone he accepts as his child

Acts 7:44-56

New International Version

⁴⁴“Our ancestors had the tabernacle of the covenant law^(A) with them in the wilderness. It had been made as God directed Moses, according to the pattern he had seen.^(B) ⁴⁵After receiving the tabernacle, our ancestors under Joshua brought it with them when they took the land from the nations God drove out before them.^(C) It remained in the land until the time of David,^(D) ⁴⁶who enjoyed God’s favor and asked that he might provide a dwelling place for the God of Jacob.^[a]^(E) ⁴⁷But it was Solomon who built a house for him.^(F)

⁴⁸“However, the Most High^(G) does not live in houses made by human hands.^(H) As the prophet says:

⁴⁹“‘Heaven is my throne,
and the earth is my footstool.^(I)
What kind of house will you build for me?
says the Lord.
Or where will my resting place be?
⁵⁰Has not my hand made all these things?’^[b]^(J)

⁵¹“You stiff-necked people!^(K) Your hearts^(L) and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! ⁵²Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute?^(M) They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him^(N)— ⁵³you who have received the law that was given through angels^(O) but have not obeyed it.”

The Stoning of Stephen

⁵⁴When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious^(P) and gnashed their teeth at him. ⁵⁵But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit,^(Q) looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.^(R) ⁵⁶“Look,” he said, “I see heaven open^(S) and the Son of Man^(T) standing at the right hand of God.”