A Petition to Be Saved from Death.

A Song. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. For the music director; according to Mahalath Leannoth. A ^[a]Maskil of Heman ^[b]the Ezrahite.

The Whole Creation Invoked to Praise the Lord.

Your Attitude toward God

5 ^[a](A)Guard your steps as you go to the house of God, and approach to listen rather than to offer the ^(B)sacrifice of fools; for they do not know that they are doing evil. ^2 [b]Do not be ^(C)quick with your mouth or ^[c]impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God. For God is in heaven and you are on the earth; therefore let your ^(D)words be few. ³ For the dream comes through much ^[d]effort, and the voice of a ^(E)fool through many words.

⁴ When you ^(F)make a vow to God, do not be late in paying it; for He takes no delight in fools. ^(G)Pay what you vow! ⁵ It is ^(H)better that you not vow, than vow and not pay. ⁶ Do not let your ^[e]speech cause ^[f]you to sin, and do not say in the presence of the messenger of God that it was a ^(I)mistake. Why should God be angry on account of your voice, and destroy the work of your hands? ⁷ For in many dreams and in many words there is futility. Rather, ^[g](J)fear God.

Intent of the Law

^15 (A)Brothers and sisters, ^(B)I speak ^[a]in terms of human relations: ^(C)even though it is only a man’s ^[b]covenant, yet when it has been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds ^[c]conditions to it. ¹⁶ Now the promises were spoken ^(D)to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as one would in referring to many, but rather as in referring to one, “^(E)And to your seed,” that is, Christ. ¹⁷ What I am saying is this: the Law, which came ^(F)430 years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise. ¹⁸ For ^(G)if the inheritance is ^[d]based on law, it is no longer ^[e]based on a promise; but ^(H)God has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise.

^19 (I)Why the Law then? It was added on account of the ^[f]violations, having been ^(J)ordered through angels ^(K)at the hand of a ^[g]mediator, until ^(L)the Seed would come to whom the promise had been made. ²⁰ Now ^(M)a mediator is not ^[h]for one party only; but God is only one. ²¹ Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? ^[i](N)Far from it! For ^(O)if a law had been given that was able to impart life, then righteousness ^[j]would indeed have been ^[k]based on law. ²² But the Scripture has ^(P)confined ^[l]everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

Jesus Walks on the Water

^22 (A)Immediately afterward He compelled the disciples to get into the boat and to go ahead of Him to the other side, while He sent the crowds away. ²³ After He had sent the crowds away, ^(B)He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone. ²⁴ But the boat was already ^[a]a long distance from the land, ^[b]battered by the waves; for the wind was ^[c](C)contrary. ²⁵ And in ^(D)the ^[d]fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea. ²⁶ When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is ^(E)a ghost!” And they cried out ^[e]in fear. ²⁷ But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “^(F)Take courage, ^[f]it is I; ^(G)do not be afraid.”

²⁸ Peter responded and said to Him, “Lord, if ^[g]it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” ²⁹ And He said, “Come!” And Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water, and came toward Jesus. ³⁰ But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and when he began to sink, he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” ³¹ Immediately Jesus reached out with His hand and took hold of him, and *said to him, “^(H)You of little faith, why did you doubt?” ³² When they got into the boat, the wind stopped. ³³ And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “You are truly ^(I)God’s Son!”

^34 (J)When they had crossed over, they came to land at ^(K)Gennesaret. ³⁵ And when the men of that place ^[h]recognized Him, they sent word into all that surrounding region and brought to Him all who were sick; ³⁶ and they pleaded with Him that they might just touch ^(L)the ^[i]border of His cloak; and all who ^(M)touched it were cured.