Psalm 134

Call to Evening Worship

A song of ascents.

¹⁷ By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac.^(A) He received the promises and yet he was offering his one and only son, ¹⁸ the one to whom it had been said, Your offspring^[a] will be traced through Isaac.^{[b](B) 19} He considered God to be able even to raise someone from the dead;^(C) therefore, he received him back, figuratively speaking.^[c]

²⁰ By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau^(D) concerning things to come. ²¹ By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and he worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.^{[d](E) 22} By faith Joseph, as he was nearing the end of his life, mentioned^[e] the exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions concerning his bones.^(F)

²³ By faith Moses, after he was born, was hidden by his parents for three months, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they didn’t fear the king’s edict.^{(G) 24} By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter ²⁵ and chose to suffer with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasure of sin.^{(H) 26} For he considered reproach for the sake of Christ to be greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, since he was looking ahead to the reward.^(I)

²⁷ By faith he left Egypt behind, not being afraid of the king’s anger, for Moses persevered as one who sees him who is invisible.^{(J) 28} By faith he instituted the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn might not touch the Israelites. ²⁹ By faith they crossed the Red Sea as though they were on dry land. When the Egyptians attempted to do this, they were drowned.^(K)

³⁰ By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after being marched around by the Israelites for seven days. ³¹ By faith Rahab the prostitute welcomed the spies in peace and didn’t perish with those who disobeyed.^(L)

³² And what more can I say? Time is too short for me to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah,^(M) David, Samuel, and the prophets,^{(N) 33} who by faith conquered kingdoms,^(O) administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions,^{(P) 34} quenched the raging of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, gained strength in weakness, became mighty in battle, and put foreign armies to flight.^{(Q) 35} Women received their dead, raised to life again. Other people were tortured, not accepting release, so that they might gain a better resurrection. ³⁶ Others experienced mockings and scourgings, as well as bonds and imprisonment.^{(R) 37} They were stoned,^[f](S) they were sawed in two, they died by the sword, they wandered about in sheepskins, in goatskins,^(T) destitute, afflicted, and mistreated. ³⁸ The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and on mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground.

³⁹ All these were approved through their faith, but they did not receive what was promised, ⁴⁰ since God had provided something better for us, so that they would not be made perfect without us.^(U)

The Call to Endurance

12 Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses^(V) surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance^(W) the race that lies before us, ² keeping our eyes on Jesus,^[g] the pioneer and perfecter^[h] of our faith. For the joy that lay before him,^[i] he endured the cross, despising the shame,^(X) and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

¹⁵ For my part I have used none of these rights, nor have I written these things that they may be applied in my case. For it would be better for me to die than for anyone to deprive me of my boast! ¹⁶ For if I preach the gospel, I have no reason to boast, because I am compelled to preach^[a]—and woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! ¹⁷ For if I do this willingly, I have a reward, but if unwillingly, I am entrusted^(A) with a commission. ¹⁸ What then is my reward? To preach the gospel and offer it free of charge and not make full use of my rights in the gospel.^(B)

¹⁹ Although I am free from all and not anyone’s slave, I have made myself a slave to everyone, in order to win^(C) more people. ²⁰ To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win Jews; to those under the law, like one under the law—though I myself am not under the law^[b]—to win those under the law.^{(D) 21} To those who are without the law,^(E) like one without the law—though I am not without God’s law but under the law of Christ—to win those without the law. ²² To the weak I became weak, in order to win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that I may by every possible means save some.^{(F) 23} Now I do all this because of the gospel, so that I may share in the blessings.

²⁴ Don’t you know that the runners in a stadium all race,^(G) but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way to win the prize.^{(H) 25} Now everyone who competes exercises self-control^(I) in everything. They do it to receive a perishable crown,^(J) but we an imperishable crown. ²⁶ So I do not run like one who runs aimlessly or box like one beating the air. ²⁷ Instead, I discipline my body and bring it under strict control, so that after preaching to others, I myself will not be disqualified.^(K)