My Rock and My Fortress

Of David.

144 Blessed be the Lord, my (A)rock,
    (B)who trains my hands for war,
    and my fingers for battle;
he is my (C)steadfast love and my (D)fortress,
    my (E)stronghold and my deliverer,
my (F)shield and he in whom I take refuge,
    who (G)subdues peoples[a] under me.

O Lord, (H)what is man that you (I)regard him,
    or the son of man that you think of him?
(J)Man is like a breath;
    his days are like (K)a passing (L)shadow.

(M)Bow your heavens, O Lord, and come down!
    (N)Touch the mountains so that they smoke!
(O)Flash forth the lightning and scatter them;
    (P)send out your arrows and rout them!
(Q)Stretch out your hand from on high;
    (R)rescue me and deliver me from the many waters,
    from the hand (S)of foreigners,
whose mouths speak (T)lies
    and whose right hand is (U)a right hand of falsehood.

I will sing (V)a new song to you, O God;
    upon (W)a ten-stringed harp I will play to you,
10 who gives victory to kings,
    who (X)rescues David his servant from the cruel sword.
11 Rescue me and deliver me
    from the hand (Y)of foreigners,
whose mouths speak (Z)lies
    and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.

12 May our sons in their youth
    be like (AA)plants full grown,
our daughters like (AB)corner pillars
    cut for the structure of a palace;
13 (AC)may our granaries be full,
    (AD)providing all kinds of produce;
may our sheep bring forth thousands
    and ten thousands in our fields;
14 may our cattle be heavy with young,
    suffering no mishap or failure in bearing;[b]
may there be no (AE)cry of distress in our streets!
15 (AF)Blessed are the people to whom such blessings fall!
    (AG)Blessed are the people whose God is the Lord!

Great Is the Lord

[c] A Song of Praise. Of David.

145 (AH)I will extol you, my God and (AI)King,
    and bless your name forever and ever.
Every day I will bless you
    (AJ)and praise your name forever and ever.
(AK)Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,
    and his (AL)greatness is unsearchable.

(AM)One generation shall commend your works to another,
    and shall declare your mighty acts.
On (AN)the glorious splendor of your majesty,
    and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.
They shall speak of (AO)the might of your awesome deeds,
    and I will declare your greatness.
They shall pour forth the fame of your (AP)abundant goodness
    and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.

The Lord is (AQ)gracious and merciful,
    slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
The Lord is (AR)good to all,
    and his mercy is over all that he has made.

10 (AS)All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord,
    and all your (AT)saints shall bless you!
11 They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom
    and tell of your power,
12 to (AU)make known to the children of man your[d] (AV)mighty deeds,
    and (AW)the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
13 (AX)Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
    and your dominion endures throughout all generations.

[The Lord is faithful in all his words
    and kind in all his works.][e]
14 The Lord (AY)upholds all who are falling
    and (AZ)raises up all who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all (BA)look to you,
    and you give them their food in due season.
16 You (BB)open your hand;
    you (BC)satisfy the desire of every living thing.
17 The Lord is (BD)righteous in all his ways
    and (BE)kind in all his works.
18 The Lord is (BF)near to all who call on him,
    to all who call on him (BG)in truth.
19 He (BH)fulfills the desire of those who fear him;
    he also (BI)hears their cry and saves them.
20 The Lord (BJ)preserves all who love him,
    but all the wicked he will destroy.

21 My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord,
    and (BK)let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.

Put Not Your Trust in Princes

146 (BL)Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord, O my soul!
I will praise the Lord (BM)as long as I live;
    (BN)I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.

(BO)Put not your trust in princes,
    (BP)in a son of man, in whom there is (BQ)no salvation.
When (BR)his breath departs, he returns to the earth;
    on that very day his plans perish.

(BS)Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
    whose (BT)hope is in the Lord his God,
(BU)who made heaven and earth,
    the sea, and all that is in them,
(BV)who keeps faith forever;
    (BW)who executes justice for the oppressed,
    (BX)who gives food to the hungry.

(BY)The Lord sets the prisoners free;
    (BZ)the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
(CA)The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;
    (CB)the Lord loves the righteous.
(CC)The Lord watches over the sojourners;
    (CD)he upholds the widow and the fatherless,
    but (CE)the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.

10 (CF)The Lord will reign forever,
    your God, O Zion, to all generations.
(CG)Praise the Lord!

He Heals the Brokenhearted

147 (CH)Praise the Lord!
For (CI)it is good to sing praises to our God;
    for (CJ)it is pleasant,[f] and (CK)a song of praise is fitting.
The Lord (CL)builds up Jerusalem;
    he (CM)gathers the outcasts of Israel.
He heals (CN)the brokenhearted
    and (CO)binds up their wounds.
He (CP)determines the number of the stars;
    he (CQ)gives to all of them their names.
(CR)Great is our Lord, and (CS)abundant in power;
    (CT)his understanding is beyond measure.
The Lord (CU)lifts up the humble;[g]
    he casts the wicked to the ground.

(CV)Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;
    make melody to our God on (CW)the lyre!
He covers the heavens with clouds;
    he prepares (CX)rain for the earth;
    he makes (CY)grass grow on the hills.
He (CZ)gives to the beasts their food,
    and to (DA)the young ravens that cry.
10 His delight is not in (DB)the strength of the horse,
    nor his pleasure in the legs of a man,
11 but the Lord (DC)takes pleasure in those who fear him,
    in those who (DD)hope in his steadfast love.

12 Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem!
    Praise your God, O Zion!
13 For he strengthens (DE)the bars of your gates;
    he blesses your children within you.
14 He (DF)makes peace in your borders;
    he (DG)fills you with the (DH)finest of the wheat.
15 He (DI)sends out his command to the earth;
    his word runs swiftly.
16 He gives (DJ)snow like wool;
    he scatters (DK)frost like ashes.
17 He hurls down his crystals of (DL)ice like crumbs;
    who can stand before his (DM)cold?
18 He (DN)sends out his word, and melts them;
    he makes his wind blow and the waters flow.
19 He declares his word to Jacob,
    his (DO)statutes and rules[h] to Israel.
20 He (DP)has not dealt thus with any other nation;
    they do not know his rules.[i]
(DQ)Praise the Lord!

Praise the Name of the Lord

148 (DR)Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord (DS)from the heavens;
    praise him (DT)in the heights!
Praise him, all his angels;
    praise him, all his (DU)hosts!

Praise him, sun and moon,
    praise him, all you shining stars!
Praise him, you (DV)highest heavens,
    and you (DW)waters above the heavens!

(DX)Let them praise the name of the Lord!
    For (DY)he commanded and they were created.
And he (DZ)established them forever and ever;
    he gave (EA)a decree, and it shall not (EB)pass away.[j]

Praise the Lord (EC)from the earth,
    you (ED)great sea creatures and all deeps,
(EE)fire and hail, (EF)snow and mist,
    (EG)stormy wind (EH)fulfilling his word!

(EI)Mountains and all hills,
    (EJ)fruit trees and all (EK)cedars!
10 (EL)Beasts and all livestock,
    creeping things and (EM)flying birds!

11 Kings of the earth and (EN)all peoples,
    princes and all rulers of the earth!
12 Young men and maidens together,
    old men and children!

13 (EO)Let them praise the name of the Lord,
    for (EP)his name alone is exalted;
    (EQ)his majesty is above earth and heaven.
14 He has (ER)raised up a horn for his people,
    (ES)praise for all his saints,
    for the people of Israel who are (ET)near to him.
(EU)Praise the Lord!

Notas al pie

  1. Psalm 144:2 Many Hebrew manuscripts, Dead Sea Scroll, Jerome, Syriac, Aquila; most Hebrew manuscripts subdues my people
  2. Psalm 144:14 Hebrew with no breaking in or going out
  3. Psalm 145:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, each verse beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet
  4. Psalm 145:12 Hebrew his; also next line
  5. Psalm 145:13 These two lines are supplied by one Hebrew manuscript, Septuagint, Syriac (compare Dead Sea Scroll)
  6. Psalm 147:1 Or for he is beautiful
  7. Psalm 147:6 Or afflicted
  8. Psalm 147:19 Or and just decrees
  9. Psalm 147:20 Or his just decrees
  10. Psalm 148:6 Or it shall not be transgressed

Psalm 144

Of David.

Praise be to the Lord my Rock,(A)
    who trains my hands for war,
    my fingers for battle.
He is my loving God and my fortress,(B)
    my stronghold(C) and my deliverer,
my shield,(D) in whom I take refuge,
    who subdues peoples[a](E) under me.

Lord, what are human beings(F) that you care for them,
    mere mortals that you think of them?
They are like a breath;(G)
    their days are like a fleeting shadow.(H)

Part your heavens,(I) Lord, and come down;(J)
    touch the mountains, so that they smoke.(K)
Send forth lightning(L) and scatter(M) the enemy;
    shoot your arrows(N) and rout them.
Reach down your hand from on high;(O)
    deliver me and rescue me(P)
from the mighty waters,(Q)
    from the hands of foreigners(R)
whose mouths are full of lies,(S)
    whose right hands(T) are deceitful.(U)

I will sing a new song(V) to you, my God;
    on the ten-stringed lyre(W) I will make music to you,
10 to the One who gives victory to kings,(X)
    who delivers his servant David.(Y)

From the deadly sword(Z) 11 deliver me;
    rescue me(AA) from the hands of foreigners(AB)
whose mouths are full of lies,(AC)
    whose right hands are deceitful.(AD)

12 Then our sons in their youth
    will be like well-nurtured plants,(AE)
and our daughters will be like pillars(AF)
    carved to adorn a palace.
13 Our barns will be filled(AG)
    with every kind of provision.
Our sheep will increase by thousands,
    by tens of thousands in our fields;
14     our oxen(AH) will draw heavy loads.[b]
There will be no breaching of walls,(AI)
    no going into captivity,
    no cry of distress in our streets.(AJ)
15 Blessed is the people(AK) of whom this is true;
    blessed is the people whose God is the Lord.

Psalm 145[c]

A psalm of praise. Of David.

I will exalt you,(AL) my God the King;(AM)
    I will praise your name(AN) for ever and ever.
Every day I will praise(AO) you
    and extol your name(AP) for ever and ever.

Great(AQ) is the Lord and most worthy of praise;(AR)
    his greatness no one can fathom.(AS)
One generation(AT) commends your works to another;
    they tell(AU) of your mighty acts.(AV)
They speak of the glorious splendor(AW) of your majesty—
    and I will meditate on your wonderful works.[d](AX)
They tell(AY) of the power of your awesome works—(AZ)
    and I will proclaim(BA) your great deeds.(BB)
They celebrate your abundant goodness(BC)
    and joyfully sing(BD) of your righteousness.(BE)

The Lord is gracious and compassionate,(BF)
    slow to anger and rich in love.(BG)

The Lord is good(BH) to all;
    he has compassion(BI) on all he has made.
10 All your works praise you,(BJ) Lord;
    your faithful people extol(BK) you.(BL)
11 They tell of the glory of your kingdom(BM)
    and speak of your might,(BN)
12 so that all people may know of your mighty acts(BO)
    and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.(BP)
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,(BQ)
    and your dominion endures through all generations.

The Lord is trustworthy(BR) in all he promises(BS)
    and faithful in all he does.[e]
14 The Lord upholds(BT) all who fall
    and lifts up all(BU) who are bowed down.(BV)
15 The eyes of all look to you,
    and you give them their food(BW) at the proper time.
16 You open your hand
    and satisfy the desires(BX) of every living thing.

17 The Lord is righteous(BY) in all his ways
    and faithful in all he does.(BZ)
18 The Lord is near(CA) to all who call on him,(CB)
    to all who call on him in truth.
19 He fulfills the desires(CC) of those who fear him;(CD)
    he hears their cry(CE) and saves them.(CF)
20 The Lord watches over(CG) all who love him,(CH)
    but all the wicked he will destroy.(CI)

21 My mouth will speak(CJ) in praise of the Lord.
    Let every creature(CK) praise his holy name(CL)
    for ever and ever.

Psalm 146

Praise the Lord.[f]

Praise the Lord,(CM) my soul.

I will praise the Lord all my life;(CN)
    I will sing praise(CO) to my God as long as I live.(CP)
Do not put your trust in princes,(CQ)
    in human beings,(CR) who cannot save.
When their spirit departs, they return to the ground;(CS)
    on that very day their plans come to nothing.(CT)
Blessed are those(CU) whose help(CV) is the God of Jacob,
    whose hope is in the Lord their God.

He is the Maker of heaven(CW) and earth,
    the sea, and everything in them—
    he remains faithful(CX) forever.
He upholds(CY) the cause of the oppressed(CZ)
    and gives food to the hungry.(DA)
The Lord sets prisoners free,(DB)
    the Lord gives sight(DC) to the blind,(DD)
the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down,(DE)
    the Lord loves the righteous.(DF)
The Lord watches over the foreigner(DG)
    and sustains the fatherless(DH) and the widow,(DI)
    but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.

10 The Lord reigns(DJ) forever,
    your God, O Zion, for all generations.

Praise the Lord.

Psalm 147

Praise the Lord.[g]

How good it is to sing praises to our God,
    how pleasant(DK) and fitting to praise him!(DL)

The Lord builds up Jerusalem;(DM)
    he gathers the exiles(DN) of Israel.
He heals the brokenhearted(DO)
    and binds up their wounds.(DP)
He determines the number of the stars(DQ)
    and calls them each by name.
Great is our Lord(DR) and mighty in power;(DS)
    his understanding has no limit.(DT)
The Lord sustains the humble(DU)
    but casts the wicked(DV) to the ground.

Sing to the Lord(DW) with grateful praise;(DX)
    make music(DY) to our God on the harp.(DZ)

He covers the sky with clouds;(EA)
    he supplies the earth with rain(EB)
    and makes grass grow(EC) on the hills.
He provides food(ED) for the cattle
    and for the young ravens(EE) when they call.

10 His pleasure is not in the strength(EF) of the horse,(EG)
    nor his delight in the legs of the warrior;
11 the Lord delights(EH) in those who fear him,(EI)
    who put their hope(EJ) in his unfailing love.(EK)

12 Extol the Lord, Jerusalem;(EL)
    praise your God, Zion.

13 He strengthens the bars of your gates(EM)
    and blesses your people(EN) within you.
14 He grants peace(EO) to your borders
    and satisfies you(EP) with the finest of wheat.(EQ)

15 He sends his command(ER) to the earth;
    his word runs(ES) swiftly.
16 He spreads the snow(ET) like wool
    and scatters the frost(EU) like ashes.
17 He hurls down his hail(EV) like pebbles.
    Who can withstand his icy blast?
18 He sends his word(EW) and melts them;
    he stirs up his breezes,(EX) and the waters flow.

19 He has revealed his word(EY) to Jacob,(EZ)
    his laws and decrees(FA) to Israel.
20 He has done this for no other nation;(FB)
    they do not know(FC) his laws.[h]

Praise the Lord.(FD)

Psalm 148

Praise the Lord.[i](FE)

Praise the Lord from the heavens;(FF)
    praise him in the heights above.
Praise him, all his angels;(FG)
    praise him, all his heavenly hosts.(FH)
Praise him, sun(FI) and moon;
    praise him, all you shining stars.
Praise him, you highest heavens(FJ)
    and you waters above the skies.(FK)

Let them praise the name(FL) of the Lord,
    for at his command(FM) they were created,
and he established them for ever and ever—
    he issued a decree(FN) that will never pass away.

Praise the Lord(FO) from the earth,
    you great sea creatures(FP) and all ocean depths,(FQ)
lightning and hail,(FR) snow and clouds,
    stormy winds that do his bidding,(FS)
you mountains and all hills,(FT)
    fruit trees and all cedars,
10 wild animals(FU) and all cattle,
    small creatures and flying birds,
11 kings(FV) of the earth and all nations,
    you princes and all rulers on earth,
12 young men and women,
    old men and children.

13 Let them praise the name of the Lord,(FW)
    for his name alone is exalted;
    his splendor(FX) is above the earth and the heavens.(FY)
14 And he has raised up for his people a horn,[j](FZ)
    the praise(GA) of all his faithful servants,(GB)
    of Israel, the people close to his heart.(GC)

Praise the Lord.

Notas al pie

  1. Psalm 144:2 Many manuscripts of the Masoretic Text, Dead Sea Scrolls, Aquila, Jerome and Syriac; most manuscripts of the Masoretic Text subdues my people
  2. Psalm 144:14 Or our chieftains will be firmly established
  3. Psalm 145:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, the verses of which (including verse 13b) begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
  4. Psalm 145:5 Dead Sea Scrolls and Syriac (see also Septuagint); Masoretic Text On the glorious splendor of your majesty / and on your wonderful works I will meditate
  5. Psalm 145:13 One manuscript of the Masoretic Text, Dead Sea Scrolls and Syriac (see also Septuagint); most manuscripts of the Masoretic Text do not have the last two lines of verse 13.
  6. Psalm 146:1 Hebrew Hallelu Yah; also in verse 10
  7. Psalm 147:1 Hebrew Hallelu Yah; also in verse 20
  8. Psalm 147:20 Masoretic Text; Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint nation; / he has not made his laws known to them
  9. Psalm 148:1 Hebrew Hallelu Yah; also in verse 14
  10. Psalm 148:14 Horn here symbolizes strength.

Qualifications for Overseers

The saying is (A)trustworthy: If anyone aspires to (B)the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore (C)an overseer[a] must be above reproach, (D)the husband of one wife,[b] (E)sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, (F)hospitable, (G)able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but (H)gentle, not quarrelsome, (I)not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity (J)keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for (K)God's church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may (L)become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by (M)outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into (N)a snare of the devil.

Qualifications for Deacons

(O)Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued,[c] (P)not addicted to much wine, (Q)not greedy for dishonest gain. They must (R)hold the mystery of the faith with (S)a clear conscience. 10 And (T)let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. 11 (U)Their wives likewise[d] must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, (V)faithful in all things. 12 Let deacons each be (W)the husband of one wife, (X)managing their children and their own households well. 13 For (Y)those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

The Mystery of Godliness

14 I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, 15 if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth. 16 Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness:

(Z)He[e] was manifested in the flesh,
    vindicated[f] by the Spirit,[g]
        (AA)seen by angels,
(AB)proclaimed among the nations,
    (AC)believed on in the world,
        (AD)taken up in glory.

Notas al pie

  1. 1 Timothy 3:2 Or bishop; Greek episkopos; a similar term occurs in verse 1
  2. 1 Timothy 3:2 Or a man of one woman; also verse 12
  3. 1 Timothy 3:8 Or devious in speech
  4. 1 Timothy 3:11 Or Wives likewise, or Women likewise
  5. 1 Timothy 3:16 Greek Who; some manuscripts God; others Which
  6. 1 Timothy 3:16 Or justified
  7. 1 Timothy 3:16 Or vindicated in spirit

Qualifications for Overseers and Deacons

Here is a trustworthy saying:(A) Whoever aspires to be an overseer(B) desires a noble task. Now the overseer is to be above reproach,(C) faithful to his wife,(D) temperate,(E) self-controlled, respectable, hospitable,(F) able to teach,(G) not given to drunkenness,(H) not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome,(I) not a lover of money.(J) He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full[a] respect.(K) (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?)(L) He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited(M) and fall under the same judgment(N) as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders,(O) so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.(P)

In the same way, deacons[b](Q) are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine,(R) and not pursuing dishonest gain. They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience.(S) 10 They must first be tested;(T) and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.

11 In the same way, the women[c] are to be worthy of respect, not malicious talkers(U) but temperate(V) and trustworthy in everything.

12 A deacon must be faithful to his wife(W) and must manage his children and his household well.(X) 13 Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.

Reasons for Paul’s Instructions

14 Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, 15 if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church(Y) of the living God,(Z) the pillar and foundation of the truth. 16 Beyond all question, the mystery(AA) from which true godliness(AB) springs is great:

He appeared in the flesh,(AC)
    was vindicated by the Spirit,[d]
was seen by angels,
    was preached among the nations,(AD)
was believed on in the world,
    was taken up in glory.(AE)

Notas al pie

  1. 1 Timothy 3:4 Or him with proper
  2. 1 Timothy 3:8 The word deacons refers here to Christians designated to serve with the overseers/elders of the church in a variety of ways; similarly in verse 12; and in Romans 16:1 and Phil. 1:1.
  3. 1 Timothy 3:11 Possibly deacons’ wives or women who are deacons
  4. 1 Timothy 3:16 Or vindicated in spirit