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Psalm 143

Prayer for Deliverance from Enemies

A Psalm of David.

Hear my prayer, O Lord;
    give ear to my supplications in your faithfulness;
    answer me in your righteousness.(A)
Do not enter into judgment with your servant,
    for no one living is righteous before you.(B)

For the enemy has pursued me,
    crushing my life to the ground,
    making me sit in darkness like those long dead.
Therefore my spirit faints within me;
    my heart within me is appalled.(C)

I remember the days of old;
    I think about all your deeds;
    I meditate on the works of your hands.(D)
I stretch out my hands to you;
    my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Selah(E)

Answer me quickly, O Lord;
    my spirit fails.
Do not hide your face from me,
    or I shall be like those who go down to the Pit.(F)
Let me hear of your steadfast love in the morning,
    for in you I put my trust.
Teach me the way I should go,
    for to you I lift up my soul.(G)

Save me, O Lord, from my enemies;
    I have fled to you for refuge.[a](H)
10 Teach me to do your will,
    for you are my God.
Let your good spirit lead me
    on a level path.(I)

11 For your name’s sake, O Lord, preserve my life.
    In your righteousness bring me out of trouble.(J)
12 In your steadfast love cut off my enemies,
    and destroy all my adversaries,
    for I am your servant.(K)

Psalm 144

Prayer for National Deliverance and Security

Of David.

Blessed be the Lord, my rock,
    who trains my hands for war and my fingers for battle,(L)
my rock[b] and my fortress,
    my stronghold and my deliverer,
my shield, in whom I take refuge,
    who subdues the peoples[c] under me.(M)

O Lord, what are humans that you regard them,
    or mortals that you think of them?(N)
They are like a breath;
    their days are like a passing shadow.(O)

Bow your heavens, O Lord, and come down;
    touch the mountains so that they smoke.(P)
Make the lightning flash and scatter them;
    send out your arrows and rout them.(Q)
Stretch out your hand from on high;
    set me free and rescue me from the mighty waters,
    from the hand of foreigners,(R)
whose mouths speak lies
    and whose right hands are false.(S)

I will sing a new song to you, O God;
    upon a ten-stringed harp I will play to you,(T)
10 the one who gives victory to kings,
    who rescues his servant David.(U)
11 Rescue me from the cruel sword,
    and deliver me from the hand of aliens,
whose mouths speak lies,
    and whose right hands are false.(V)

12 May our sons in their youth
    be like plants full grown,
our daughters like corner pillars,
    cut for the building of a palace.(W)
13 May our barns be filled
    with produce of every kind;
may our sheep increase by thousands,
    by tens of thousands in our fields,
14     and may our cattle be heavy with young.
May there be no breach in the walls,[d] no exile,
    and no cry of distress in our streets.

15 Happy are the people to whom such blessings fall;
    happy are the people whose God is the Lord.(X)

Psalm 145

The Greatness and the Goodness of God

Praise. Of David.

I will extol you, my God and King,
    and bless your name forever and ever.
Every day I will bless you
    and praise your name forever and ever.(Y)
Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised;
    his greatness is unsearchable.(Z)

One generation shall extol your works to another
    and shall declare your mighty acts.(AA)
They will recount the glorious[e] splendor of your majesty,
    and on your wondrous works I will meditate.(AB)
They will proclaim the might of your awesome deeds,
    and I will declare your greatness.(AC)
They shall celebrate the fame of your abundant goodness
    and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.(AD)

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

10 All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord,
    and all your faithful shall bless you.(AG)
11 They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom
    and tell of your power,
12 to make known to all people your[f] mighty deeds
    and the glorious splendor of your[g] kingdom.
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
    and your dominion endures throughout all generations.

The Lord is faithful in all his words
    and gracious in all his deeds.[h](AH)
14 The Lord upholds all who are falling
    and raises up all who are bowed down.(AI)
15 The eyes of all look to you,
    and you give them their food in due season.(AJ)
16 You open your hand,
    satisfying the desire of every living thing.
17 The Lord is just in all his ways
    and kind in all his doings.
18 The Lord is near to all who call on him,
    to all who call on him in truth.(AK)
19 He fulfills the desire of all who fear him;
    he also hears their cry and saves them.(AL)
20 The Lord watches over all who love him,
    but all the wicked he will destroy.(AM)

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

Footnotes

  1. 143.9 Heb ms Gk: MT to you I have hidden
  2. 144.2 Cn: Heb my steadfast love
  3. 144.2 Q ms Heb mss Syr Aquila Jerome: MT my people
  4. 144.14 Heb lacks in the walls
  5. 145.5 Q ms Gk Vg: MT On the glorious
  6. 145.12 Gk Jerome Syr: Heb his
  7. 145.12 Heb his
  8. 145.13 Q ms Gk Syr: MT lacks The Lord . . . his deeds

Psalm 143

A psalm of David.

Lord, hear my prayer,(A)
    listen to my cry for mercy;(B)
in your faithfulness(C) and righteousness(D)
    come to my relief.
Do not bring your servant into judgment,
    for no one living is righteous(E) before you.
The enemy pursues me,
    he crushes me to the ground;
he makes me dwell in the darkness(F)
    like those long dead.(G)
So my spirit grows faint within me;
    my heart within me is dismayed.(H)
I remember(I) the days of long ago;
    I meditate(J) on all your works
    and consider what your hands have done.
I spread out my hands(K) to you;
    I thirst for you like a parched land.[a]

Answer me quickly,(L) Lord;
    my spirit fails.(M)
Do not hide your face(N) from me
    or I will be like those who go down to the pit.
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,(O)
    for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way(P) I should go,
    for to you I entrust my life.(Q)
Rescue me(R) from my enemies,(S) Lord,
    for I hide myself in you.
10 Teach me(T) to do your will,
    for you are my God;(U)
may your good Spirit
    lead(V) me on level ground.(W)

11 For your name’s sake,(X) Lord, preserve my life;(Y)
    in your righteousness,(Z) bring me out of trouble.
12 In your unfailing love, silence my enemies;(AA)
    destroy all my foes,(AB)
    for I am your servant.(AC)

Psalm 144

Of David.

Praise be to the Lord my Rock,(AD)
    who trains my hands for war,
    my fingers for battle.
He is my loving God and my fortress,(AE)
    my stronghold(AF) and my deliverer,
my shield,(AG) in whom I take refuge,
    who subdues peoples[b](AH) under me.

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

Part your heavens,(AL) Lord, and come down;(AM)
    touch the mountains, so that they smoke.(AN)
Send forth lightning(AO) and scatter(AP) the enemy;
    shoot your arrows(AQ) and rout them.
Reach down your hand from on high;(AR)
    deliver me and rescue me(AS)
from the mighty waters,(AT)
    from the hands of foreigners(AU)
whose mouths are full of lies,(AV)
    whose right hands(AW) are deceitful.(AX)

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

From the deadly sword(BC) 11 deliver me;
    rescue me(BD) from the hands of foreigners(BE)
whose mouths are full of lies,(BF)
    whose right hands are deceitful.(BG)

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

Psalm 145[d]

A psalm of praise. Of David.

I will exalt you,(BO) my God the King;(BP)
    I will praise your name(BQ) for ever and ever.
Every day I will praise(BR) you
    and extol your name(BS) for ever and ever.

Great(BT) is the Lord and most worthy of praise;(BU)
    his greatness no one can fathom.(BV)
One generation(BW) commends your works to another;
    they tell(BX) of your mighty acts.(BY)
They speak of the glorious splendor(BZ) of your majesty—
    and I will meditate on your wonderful works.[e](CA)
They tell(CB) of the power of your awesome works—(CC)
    and I will proclaim(CD) your great deeds.(CE)
They celebrate your abundant goodness(CF)
    and joyfully sing(CG) of your righteousness.(CH)

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

The Lord is good(CK) to all;
    he has compassion(CL) on all he has made.
10 All your works praise you,(CM) Lord;
    your faithful people extol(CN) you.(CO)
11 They tell of the glory of your kingdom(CP)
    and speak of your might,(CQ)
12 so that all people may know of your mighty acts(CR)
    and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.(CS)
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,(CT)
    and your dominion endures through all generations.

The Lord is trustworthy(CU) in all he promises(CV)
    and faithful in all he does.[f]
14 The Lord upholds(CW) all who fall
    and lifts up all(CX) who are bowed down.(CY)
15 The eyes of all look to you,
    and you give them their food(CZ) at the proper time.
16 You open your hand
    and satisfy the desires(DA) of every living thing.

17 The Lord is righteous(DB) in all his ways
    and faithful in all he does.(DC)
18 The Lord is near(DD) to all who call on him,(DE)
    to all who call on him in truth.
19 He fulfills the desires(DF) of those who fear him;(DG)
    he hears their cry(DH) and saves them.(DI)
20 The Lord watches over(DJ) all who love him,(DK)
    but all the wicked he will destroy.(DL)

21 My mouth will speak(DM) in praise of the Lord.
    Let every creature(DN) praise his holy name(DO)
    for ever and ever.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 143:6 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
  2. 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
  3. Psalm 144:14 Or our chieftains will be firmly established
  4. 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.
  5. 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
  6. 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.

21 In the law it is written,

“By people of strange tongues
    and by the lips of foreigners
I will speak to this people,
    yet even then they will not listen to me,”

says the Lord.(A) 22 Tongues, then, are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is not for unbelievers but for believers. 23 If, therefore, the entire church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your mind?(B) 24 But if all prophesy, an unbeliever or outsider who enters is reproved by all and called to account by all. 25 After the secrets of the unbeliever’s heart are disclosed, that person will bow down before God and worship, declaring, “God is really among you.”

Orderly Worship

26 What should be done then, my brothers and sisters? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.(C) 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three and each in turn, and let one interpret. 28 But if there is no one to interpret, let them be silent in church and speak to themselves and to God. 29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. 30 If someone sitting receives a revelation, let the first person be silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged 32 (and the spirits of prophets are subject to the prophets, 33 for God is a God not of disorder but of peace), as in all the churches of the saints.

34 Women should be silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak but should be subordinate, as the law also says.(D) 35 If there is something they want to learn, let them ask their husbands at home.[a] For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.[b] 36 Or did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only ones it has reached?

37 Anyone who claims to be a prophet or spiritual must acknowledge that what I am writing to you is a command[c] of the Lord.(E) 38 Anyone who does not recognize this is not to be recognized. 39 So, my brothers and sisters, strive to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues,(F) 40 but all things should be done decently and in order.

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Footnotes

  1. 14.35 Gk in a household
  2. 14.35 Other ancient authorities put 14.34–35 after 14.40
  3. 14.37 Other ancient authorities lack a command

21 In the Law(A) it is written:

“With other tongues
    and through the lips of foreigners
I will speak to this people,
    but even then they will not listen to me,(B)
says the Lord.”[a]

22 Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy,(C) however, is not for unbelievers but for believers. 23 So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and inquirers or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind?(D) 24 But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all, 25 as the secrets(E) of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!”(F)

Good Order in Worship

26 What then shall we say, brothers and sisters?(G) When you come together, each of you(H) has a hymn,(I) or a word of instruction,(J) a revelation, a tongue(K) or an interpretation.(L) Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.(M) 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. 28 If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God.

29 Two or three prophets(N) should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.(O) 30 And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. 31 For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. 32 The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets.(P) 33 For God is not a God of disorder(Q) but of peace(R)—as in all the congregations(S) of the Lord’s people.(T)

34 Women[b] should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak,(U) but must be in submission,(V) as the law(W) says. 35 If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.[c]

36 Or did the word of God(X) originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached? 37 If anyone thinks they are a prophet(Y) or otherwise gifted by the Spirit,(Z) let them acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command.(AA) 38 But if anyone ignores this, they will themselves be ignored.[d]

39 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager(AB) to prophesy,(AC) and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40 But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly(AD) way.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 14:21 Isaiah 28:11,12
  2. 1 Corinthians 14:34 Or peace. As in all the congregations of the Lord’s people, 34 women
  3. 1 Corinthians 14:35 In a few manuscripts these verses come after verse 40.
  4. 1 Corinthians 14:38 Some manuscripts But anyone who is ignorant of this will be ignorant