Psalm 12[a]

For the director of music. According to sheminith.[b] A psalm of David.

Help, Lord, for no one is faithful anymore;(A)
    those who are loyal have vanished from the human race.
Everyone lies(B) to their neighbor;
    they flatter with their lips
    but harbor deception in their hearts.(C)

May the Lord silence all flattering lips(D)
    and every boastful tongue—(E)
those who say,
    “By our tongues we will prevail;(F)
    our own lips will defend us—who is lord over us?”

“Because the poor are plundered(G) and the needy groan,(H)
    I will now arise,(I)” says the Lord.
    “I will protect them(J) from those who malign them.”
And the words of the Lord are flawless,(K)
    like silver purified(L) in a crucible,(M)
    like gold[c] refined seven times.

You, Lord, will keep the needy safe(N)
    and will protect us forever from the wicked,(O)
who freely strut(P) about
    when what is vile is honored by the human race.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 12:1 In Hebrew texts 12:1-8 is numbered 12:2-9.
  2. Psalm 12:1 Title: Probably a musical term
  3. Psalm 12:6 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text; Masoretic Text earth

12 There is a way that appears to be right,(A)
    but in the end it leads to death.(B)

13 Even in laughter(C) the heart may ache,
    and rejoicing may end in grief.

14 The faithless will be fully repaid for their ways,(D)
    and the good rewarded for theirs.(E)

15 The simple believe anything,
    but the prudent give thought to their steps.(F)

16 The wise fear the Lord and shun evil,(G)
    but a fool(H) is hotheaded and yet feels secure.

17 A quick-tempered person(I) does foolish things,(J)
    and the one who devises evil schemes is hated.(K)

18 The simple inherit folly,
    but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

19 Evildoers will bow down in the presence of the good,
    and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.(L)

20 The poor are shunned even by their neighbors,
    but the rich have many friends.(M)

21 It is a sin to despise one’s neighbor,(N)
    but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy.(O)

22 Do not those who plot evil go astray?(P)
    But those who plan what is good find[a] love and faithfulness.

23 All hard work brings a profit,
    but mere talk leads only to poverty.

24 The wealth of the wise is their crown,
    but the folly of fools yields folly.(Q)

25 A truthful witness saves lives,
    but a false witness is deceitful.(R)

26 Whoever fears the Lord has a secure fortress,(S)
    and for their children it will be a refuge.(T)

27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,(U)
    turning a person from the snares of death.(V)

28 A large population is a king’s glory,
    but without subjects a prince is ruined.(W)

29 Whoever is patient has great understanding,(X)
    but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.(Y)

30 A heart at peace gives life to the body,
    but envy rots the bones.(Z)

31 Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker,(AA)
    but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.(AB)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:22 Or show

Peter and John Before the Sanhedrin

The priests and the captain of the temple guard(A) and the Sadducees(B) came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.(C) They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail(D) until the next day. But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew(E) to about five thousand.

The next day the rulers,(F) the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas,(G) John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family. They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit,(H) said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people!(I) If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame(J) and are being asked how he was healed, 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,(K) whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead,(L) that this man stands before you healed. 11 Jesus is

“‘the stone you builders rejected,
    which has become the cornerstone.’[a](M)

12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”(N)

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 4:11 Psalm 118:22

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