Psalm 55
Christian Standard Bible
Psalm 55
Betrayal by a Friend
For the choir director: with stringed instruments. A Maskil of David.
1 God, listen to my prayer
and do not hide from my plea for help.(A)
2 Pay attention to me and answer me.(B)
I am restless and in turmoil with my complaint,(C)
3 because of the enemy’s words,[a]
because of the pressure[b] of the wicked.
For they bring down disaster on me
and harass me in anger.(D)
4 My heart shudders within me;(E)
terrors of death sweep over me.
5 Fear and trembling grip me;
horror has overwhelmed me.(F)
6 I said, “If only I had wings like a dove!
I would fly away and find rest.(G)
7 How far away I would flee;
I would stay in the wilderness.(H)Selah
8 I would hurry to my shelter
from the raging wind and the storm.”(I)
9 Lord, confuse[c] and confound their speech,[d](J)
for I see violence and strife in the city;
10 day and night they make the rounds on its walls.
Crime and trouble are within it;(K)
11 destruction is inside it;
oppression and deceit never leave its marketplace.(L)
12 Now it is not an enemy who insults me—
otherwise I could bear it;
it is not a foe who rises up against me—
otherwise I could hide from him.
13 But it is you, a man who is my peer,
my companion and good friend!(M)
14 We used to have close fellowship;
we walked with the crowd into the house of God.(N)
15 Let death take them by surprise;(O)
let them go down to Sheol alive,
because evil is in their homes and within them.(P)
16 But I call to God,
and the Lord will save me.(Q)
17 I complain and groan morning, noon, and night,(R)
and he hears my voice.(S)
18 Though many are against me,
he will redeem me from my battle unharmed.(T)
19 God, the one enthroned from long ago,(U)
will hear and will humiliate themSelah
because they do not change
and do not fear God.(V)
20 My friend(W) acts violently
against those at peace with him;(X)
he violates his covenant.(Y)
21 His buttery words are smooth,
but war is in his heart.
His words are softer than oil,
but they are drawn swords.(Z)
22 Cast your burden on the Lord,
and he will sustain you;(AA)
he will never allow the righteous to be shaken.(AB)
Proverbs 31:1-3
Christian Standard Bible
The Words of Lemuel
2 What should I say, my son?
What, son of my womb?(B)
What, son of my vows?
3 Don’t spend your energy(C) on women
or your efforts on those who destroy kings.(D)
Footnotes
- 31:1 Or of Lemuel, king of Massa, or of King Lemuel, a burden
Nehemiah 8
Christian Standard Bible
8 all the people gathered together(A) at the square in front of the Water Gate.(B) They asked the scribe Ezra(C) to bring the book of the law of Moses(D) that the Lord had given Israel. 2 On the first day of the seventh month,(E) the priest Ezra(F) brought the law(G) before the assembly of men, women, and all who could listen with understanding. 3 While he was facing the square in front of the Water Gate,(H) he read out of it from daybreak until noon before the men, the women, and those who could understand. All the people listened attentively[a] to the book of the law.(I) 4 The scribe Ezra stood on a high wooden platform(J) made for this purpose. Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah stood beside him on his right; to his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hash-baddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam. 5 Ezra opened the book in full view of all the people, since he was elevated above everyone. As he opened it, all the people stood up. 6 Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and with their hands uplifted(K) all the people said, “Amen, Amen!” (L) Then they knelt low and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.(M)
7 Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah,(N) who were Levites,[b](O) explained the law(P) to the people as they stood in their places. 8 They read out of the book of the law of God, translating and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was read. 9 Nehemiah the governor,(Q) Ezra the priest and scribe,(R) and the Levites who were instructing the people said to all of them, “This day(S) is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep.”(T) For all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the law. 10 Then he said to them, “Go and eat what is rich, drink what is sweet, and send portions to those who have nothing prepared,(U) since today(V) is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, because the joy of the Lord is your strength.”[c](W) 11 And the Levites quieted all the people, saying, “Be still,(X) since today(Y) is holy. Don’t grieve.” 12 Then all the people began to eat and drink, send portions, and have a great celebration,(Z) because they had understood the words that were explained to them.
Festival of Shelters Observed
13 On the second day, the family heads of all the people, along with the priests and Levites,(AA) assembled before the scribe Ezra(AB) to study the words of the law. 14 They found written in the law how the Lord had commanded through Moses that the Israelites should dwell in shelters during the festival of the seventh month.(AC) 15 So they proclaimed and spread this news throughout their towns and in Jerusalem, saying, “Go out to the hill country and bring back branches of olive, wild olive, myrtle, palm, and other leafy trees to make shelters, just as it is written.”(AD) 16 The people went out, brought back branches, and made shelters for themselves on each of their rooftops(AE) and courtyards, the court of the house of God, the square by the Water Gate,(AF) and the square by the Ephraim Gate.(AG) 17 The whole community that had returned from exile(AH) made shelters and lived in them. The Israelites had not celebrated like this from the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day.(AI) And there was tremendous joy.(AJ) 18 Ezra[d] read out of the book of the law of God(AK) every day, from the first day to the last. The Israelites celebrated the festival for seven days, and on the eighth day there was a solemn assembly, according to the ordinance.(AL)
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