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Psalm 34-35
English Standard Version
Psalm 34-35
English Standard Version
Taste and See That the Lord Is Good
[a] Of David, when he (A)changed his behavior before (B)Abimelech, so that he drove him out, and he went away.
34 I will bless the Lord (C)at all times;
his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul (D)makes its boast in the Lord;
let the humble hear and (E)be glad.
3 Oh, (F)magnify the Lord with me,
and let us exalt his name together!
4 I (G)sought the Lord, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are (H)radiant,
and their faces shall never be ashamed.
6 (I)This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him
and (J)saved him out of all his troubles.
7 (K)The angel of the Lord (L)encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.
8 Oh, (M)taste and see that (N)the Lord is good!
(O)Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
9 Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints,
for those who fear him have no lack!
10 (P)The young lions suffer want and hunger;
but those who (Q)seek the Lord lack no good thing.
11 (R)Come, O children, listen to me;
(S)I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12 (T)What man is there who desires life
and loves many days, that he may (U)see good?
13 (V)Keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from (W)speaking deceit.
14 (X)Turn away from evil and do good;
seek peace and (Y)pursue it.
15 (Z)The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous
(AA)and his ears toward their cry.
16 (AB)The face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
to (AC)cut off the memory of them from the earth.
17 (AD)When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears
and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The Lord is near to (AE)the brokenhearted
and saves (AF)the crushed in spirit.
19 (AG)Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
(AH)but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
20 He keeps all his bones;
(AI)not one of them is broken.
21 (AJ)Affliction will slay the wicked,
and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
22 The Lord (AK)redeems the life of his servants;
none of those who take refuge in him will be (AL)condemned.
Great Is the Lord
Of David.
35 Contend, O Lord, with those who (AM)contend with me;
(AN)fight against those who fight against me!
2 Take hold of (AO)shield and buckler
and rise for my help!
3 Draw the spear and javelin[b]
against my pursuers!
Say to my soul,
“I am your salvation!”
4 (AP)Let them be (AQ)put to shame and dishonor
who seek after my life!
Let them be (AR)turned back and disappointed
who devise evil against me!
5 Let them be like (AS)chaff before the wind,
with the angel of the Lord driving them away!
6 Let their way be dark and (AT)slippery,
with the angel of the Lord pursuing them!
7 For (AU)without cause (AV)they hid their net for me;
without cause they dug (AW)a pit for my life.[c]
8 Let (AX)destruction come upon him (AY)when he does not know it!
And let the net that he hid ensnare him;
let him fall into it—to his destruction!
9 Then my soul will rejoice in the Lord,
(AZ)exulting in his salvation.
10 All my (BA)bones shall say,
“O Lord, (BB)who is like you,
delivering the poor
from him who is too strong for him,
the poor and needy from him who robs him?”
11 (BC)Malicious[d] witnesses rise up;
they ask me of things that I do not know.
12 (BD)They repay me evil for good;
my soul is bereft.[e]
13 But I, (BE)when they were sick—
I (BF)wore sackcloth;
I (BG)afflicted myself with fasting;
I prayed (BH)with head bowed[f] on my chest.
14 I went about as though I grieved for my friend or my brother;
as one who laments his mother,
I (BI)bowed down in mourning.
15 But at my stumbling they rejoiced and gathered;
they gathered together against me;
(BJ)wretches whom I did not know
tore at me without ceasing;
16 like profane mockers at a feast,[g]
they (BK)gnash at me with their teeth.
17 How long, O Lord, will you (BL)look on?
Rescue me from their destruction,
(BM)my precious life from the lions!
18 I will thank you in (BN)the great congregation;
in the mighty throng I will praise you.
19 (BO)Let not those rejoice over me
who are (BP)wrongfully my foes,
and let not those (BQ)wink the eye
who (BR)hate me (BS)without cause.
20 For they do not speak peace,
but against those who are quiet in the land
they devise words of deceit.
21 They (BT)open wide their mouths against me;
they say, (BU)“Aha, Aha!
Our eyes have seen it!”
22 (BV)You have seen, O Lord; (BW)be not silent!
O Lord, (BX)be not far from me!
23 Awake and (BY)rouse yourself for (BZ)my vindication,
for my cause, my God and my Lord!
24 (CA)Vindicate me, O Lord, my God,
according to your righteousness,
and (CB)let them not rejoice over me!
25 Let them not say in their hearts,
(CC)“Aha, our heart's desire!”
Let them not say, (CD)“We have swallowed him up.”
26 Let them be (CE)put to shame and disappointed altogether
who rejoice at my calamity!
Let them be (CF)clothed with shame and dishonor
who (CG)magnify themselves against me!
27 Let those who delight in my righteousness
shout for joy and be glad
(CH)and say evermore,
(CI)“Great is the Lord,
who (CJ)delights in the welfare of his servant!”
28 Then my (CK)tongue shall tell of your righteousness
and of your praise all the day long.
Footnotes
- Psalm 34:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, each verse beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet
- Psalm 35:3 Or and close the way
- Psalm 35:7 The word pit is transposed from the preceding line; Hebrew For without cause they hid the pit of their net for me; without cause they dug for my life
- Psalm 35:11 Or Violent
- Psalm 35:12 Hebrew it is bereavement to my soul
- Psalm 35:13 Or my prayer shall turn back
- Psalm 35:16 The meaning of the Hebrew phrase is uncertain
Psalm 34-35
New International Version
Psalm 34-35
New International Version
Psalm 34[a][b]
Of David. When he pretended to be insane(A) before Abimelek, who drove him away, and he left.
1 I will extol the Lord at all times;(B)
his praise will always be on my lips.
2 I will glory(C) in the Lord;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.(D)
3 Glorify the Lord(E) with me;
let us exalt(F) his name together.
4 I sought the Lord,(G) and he answered me;
he delivered(H) me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant;(I)
their faces are never covered with shame.(J)
6 This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.(K)
7 The angel of the Lord(L) encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers(M) them.
8 Taste and see that the Lord is good;(N)
blessed is the one who takes refuge(O) in him.
9 Fear the Lord,(P) you his holy people,
for those who fear him lack nothing.(Q)
10 The lions may grow weak and hungry,
but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.(R)
11 Come, my children, listen(S) to me;
I will teach you(T) the fear of the Lord.(U)
12 Whoever of you loves life(V)
and desires to see many good days,
13 keep your tongue(W) from evil
and your lips from telling lies.(X)
14 Turn from evil and do good;(Y)
seek peace(Z) and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the Lord(AA) are on the righteous,(AB)
and his ears are attentive(AC) to their cry;
16 but the face of the Lord is against(AD) those who do evil,(AE)
to blot out their name(AF) from the earth.
17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears(AG) them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
18 The Lord is close(AH) to the brokenhearted(AI)
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
19 The righteous person may have many troubles,(AJ)
but the Lord delivers him from them all;(AK)
20 he protects all his bones,
not one of them will be broken.(AL)
21 Evil will slay the wicked;(AM)
the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
22 The Lord will rescue(AN) his servants;
no one who takes refuge(AO) in him will be condemned.
Psalm 35
Of David.
1 Contend,(AP) Lord, with those who contend with me;
fight(AQ) against those who fight against me.
2 Take up shield(AR) and armor;
arise(AS) and come to my aid.(AT)
3 Brandish spear(AU) and javelin[c](AV)
against those who pursue me.
Say to me,
“I am your salvation.(AW)”
4 May those who seek my life(AX)
be disgraced(AY) and put to shame;(AZ)
may those who plot my ruin
be turned back(BA) in dismay.
5 May they be like chaff(BB) before the wind,
with the angel of the Lord(BC) driving them away;
6 may their path be dark and slippery,
with the angel of the Lord pursuing them.
7 Since they hid their net(BD) for me without cause(BE)
and without cause dug a pit(BF) for me,
8 may ruin overtake them by surprise—(BG)
may the net they hid entangle them,
may they fall into the pit,(BH) to their ruin.
9 Then my soul will rejoice(BI) in the Lord
and delight in his salvation.(BJ)
10 My whole being will exclaim,
“Who is like you,(BK) Lord?
You rescue the poor from those too strong(BL) for them,
the poor and needy(BM) from those who rob them.”
11 Ruthless witnesses(BN) come forward;
they question me on things I know nothing about.
12 They repay me evil for good(BO)
and leave me like one bereaved.
13 Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth(BP)
and humbled myself with fasting.(BQ)
When my prayers returned to me unanswered,
14 I went about mourning(BR)
as though for my friend or brother.
I bowed my head in grief
as though weeping for my mother.
15 But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee;(BS)
assailants gathered against me without my knowledge.
They slandered(BT) me without ceasing.
16 Like the ungodly they maliciously mocked;[d](BU)
they gnashed their teeth(BV) at me.
17 How long,(BW) Lord, will you look on?
Rescue me from their ravages,
my precious life(BX) from these lions.(BY)
18 I will give you thanks in the great assembly;(BZ)
among the throngs(CA) I will praise you.(CB)
19 Do not let those gloat over me
who are my enemies(CC) without cause;
do not let those who hate me without reason(CD)
maliciously wink the eye.(CE)
20 They do not speak peaceably,
but devise false accusations(CF)
against those who live quietly in the land.
21 They sneer(CG) at me and say, “Aha! Aha!(CH)
With our own eyes we have seen it.”
22 Lord, you have seen(CI) this; do not be silent.
Do not be far(CJ) from me, Lord.
23 Awake,(CK) and rise(CL) to my defense!
Contend(CM) for me, my God and Lord.
24 Vindicate me in your righteousness, Lord my God;
do not let them gloat(CN) over me.
25 Do not let them think, “Aha,(CO) just what we wanted!”
or say, “We have swallowed him up.”(CP)
26 May all who gloat(CQ) over my distress(CR)
be put to shame(CS) and confusion;
may all who exalt themselves over me(CT)
be clothed with shame and disgrace.
27 May those who delight in my vindication(CU)
shout for joy(CV) and gladness;
may they always say, “The Lord be exalted,
who delights(CW) in the well-being of his servant.”(CX)
Footnotes
- Psalm 34:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, the verses of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
- Psalm 34:1 In Hebrew texts 34:1-22 is numbered 34:2-23.
- Psalm 35:3 Or and block the way
- Psalm 35:16 Septuagint; Hebrew may mean Like an ungodly circle of mockers,
Acts 22
English Standard Version
Acts 22
English Standard Version
22 (A)“Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you.”
2 And when they heard that he was addressing them in (B)the Hebrew language,[a] they became even more quiet. And he said:
3 (C)“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated (D)at the feet of (E)Gamaliel[b] (F)according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, (G)being zealous for God (H)as all of you are this day. 4 (I)I persecuted (J)this Way (K)to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women, 5 as (L)the high priest and (M)the whole council of elders can bear me witness. From them I received letters to (N)the brothers, and I journeyed toward Damascus to take those also who were there and bring them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished.
6 (O)“As I was on my way and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone around me. 7 And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ 8 And I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said to me, ‘I am (P)Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’ 9 (Q)Now those who were with me saw the light but did not understand[c] the voice of the one who was speaking to me. 10 And I said, (R)‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do.’ 11 And since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and came into Damascus.
12 “And (S)one Ananias, a devout man (T)according to the law, (U)well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, 13 (V)came to me, and standing by me said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And (W)at that very hour I received my sight and saw him. 14 And he said, (X)‘The God of our fathers (Y)appointed you to know his will, (Z)to see (AA)the Righteous One and (AB)to hear a voice from his mouth; 15 for (AC)you will be a witness for him to everyone of what (AD)you have seen and heard. 16 And now why do you wait? (AE)Rise and be baptized and (AF)wash away your sins, (AG)calling on his name.’
17 (AH)“When I had returned to Jerusalem and (AI)was praying in the temple, I fell into (AJ)a trance 18 and saw him saying to me, (AK)‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’ 19 And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves know that in one synagogue after another (AL)I imprisoned and (AM)beat those who believed in you. 20 And when the blood of Stephen (AN)your witness was being shed, (AO)I myself was standing by and (AP)approving and (AQ)watching over the garments of those who killed him.’ 21 And he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you (AR)far away to the Gentiles.’”
Paul and the Roman Tribune
22 Up to this word they listened to him. Then they raised their voices and said, (AS)“Away with such a fellow from the earth! For (AT)he should not be allowed to live.” 23 And as they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air, 24 the tribune ordered him to be brought into (AU)the barracks, saying that he should be (AV)examined by flogging, to find out why they were shouting against him like this. 25 But when they had stretched him out for the whips,[d] Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, “Is it lawful for you to flog (AW)a man who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned?” 26 When the centurion heard this, he went to the tribune and said to him, “What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman citizen.” 27 So the tribune came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” And he said, “Yes.” 28 The tribune answered, “I bought this citizenship for a large sum.” Paul said, “But I am a citizen by birth.” 29 So those who were about (AX)to examine him withdrew from him immediately, and the tribune also (AY)was afraid, (AZ)for he realized that Paul was a Roman citizen and that (BA)he had bound him.
Paul Before the Council
30 But on the next day, (BB)desiring to know the real reason why he was being accused by the Jews, he unbound him and commanded the chief priests and all the council to meet, and he brought Paul down and set him before them.
Footnotes
- Acts 22:2 Or the Hebrew dialect (probably Aramaic)
- Acts 22:3 Or city at the feet of Gamaliel, educated
- Acts 22:9 Or hear with understanding
- Acts 22:25 Or when they had tied him up with leather strips
Acts 22
New International Version
Acts 22
New International Version
22 1 “Brothers and fathers,(A) listen now to my defense.”
2 When they heard him speak to them in Aramaic,(B) they became very quiet.
Then Paul said: 3 “I am a Jew,(C) born in Tarsus(D) of Cilicia,(E) but brought up in this city. I studied under(F) Gamaliel(G) and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors.(H) I was just as zealous(I) for God as any of you are today. 4 I persecuted(J) the followers of this Way(K) to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison,(L) 5 as the high priest and all the Council(M) can themselves testify. I even obtained letters from them to their associates(N) in Damascus,(O) and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished.
6 “About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me.(P) 7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?’
8 “‘Who are you, Lord?’ I asked.
“ ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth,(Q) whom you are persecuting,’ he replied. 9 My companions saw the light,(R) but they did not understand the voice(S) of him who was speaking to me.
10 “‘What shall I do, Lord?’ I asked.
“ ‘Get up,’ the Lord said, ‘and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do.’(T) 11 My companions led me by the hand into Damascus, because the brilliance of the light had blinded me.(U)
12 “A man named Ananias came to see me.(V) He was a devout observer of the law and highly respected by all the Jews living there.(W) 13 He stood beside me and said, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight!’ And at that very moment I was able to see him.
14 “Then he said: ‘The God of our ancestors(X) has chosen you to know his will and to see(Y) the Righteous One(Z) and to hear words from his mouth. 15 You will be his witness(AA) to all people of what you have seen(AB) and heard. 16 And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized(AC) and wash your sins away,(AD) calling on his name.’(AE)
17 “When I returned to Jerusalem(AF) and was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance(AG) 18 and saw the Lord speaking to me. ‘Quick!’ he said. ‘Leave Jerusalem immediately, because the people here will not accept your testimony about me.’
19 “‘Lord,’ I replied, ‘these people know that I went from one synagogue to another to imprison(AH) and beat(AI) those who believe in you. 20 And when the blood of your martyr[a] Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.’(AJ)
21 “Then the Lord said to me, ‘Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’ ”(AK)
Paul the Roman Citizen
22 The crowd listened to Paul until he said this. Then they raised their voices and shouted, “Rid the earth of him!(AL) He’s not fit to live!”(AM)
23 As they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks(AN) and flinging dust into the air,(AO) 24 the commander ordered that Paul be taken into the barracks.(AP) He directed(AQ) that he be flogged and interrogated in order to find out why the people were shouting at him like this. 25 As they stretched him out to flog him, Paul said to the centurion standing there, “Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen who hasn’t even been found guilty?”(AR)
26 When the centurion heard this, he went to the commander and reported it. “What are you going to do?” he asked. “This man is a Roman citizen.”
27 The commander went to Paul and asked, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?”
“Yes, I am,” he answered.
28 Then the commander said, “I had to pay a lot of money for my citizenship.”
“But I was born a citizen,” Paul replied.
29 Those who were about to interrogate him(AS) withdrew immediately. The commander himself was alarmed when he realized that he had put Paul, a Roman citizen,(AT) in chains.(AU)
Paul Before the Sanhedrin
30 The commander wanted to find out exactly why Paul was being accused by the Jews.(AV) So the next day he released him(AW) and ordered the chief priests and all the members of the Sanhedrin(AX) to assemble. Then he brought Paul and had him stand before them.
Footnotes
- Acts 22:20 Or witness
English Standard Version (ESV) 
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New International Version (NIV) 
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