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Psalm 26-28
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Psalm 26-28
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Psalm 26
Plea for Justice and Declaration of Righteousness
Of David.
1 Vindicate me, O Lord,
for I have walked in my integrity,
and I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.(A)
2 Prove me, O Lord, and try me;
test my heart and mind.(B)
3 For your steadfast love is before my eyes,
and I walk in faithfulness to you.[a](C)
4 I do not sit with the worthless,
nor do I consort with hypocrites;(D)
5 I hate the company of evildoers
and will not sit with the wicked.(E)
6 I wash my hands in innocence
and go around your altar, O Lord,(F)
7 singing aloud a song of thanksgiving
and telling all your wondrous deeds.(G)
8 O Lord, I love the house in which you dwell
and the place where your glory abides.(H)
9 Do not sweep me away with sinners
nor my life with the bloodthirsty,(I)
10 those in whose hands are evil devices
and whose right hands are full of bribes.(J)
11 But as for me, I walk in my integrity;
redeem me and be gracious to me.(K)
12 My foot stands on level ground;
in the great congregation I will bless the Lord.(L)
Psalm 27
Triumphant Song of Confidence
Of David.
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold[b] of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?(M)
2 When evildoers assail me
to devour my flesh—
my adversaries and foes—
they shall stumble and fall.(N)
3 Though an army encamp against me,
my heart shall not fear;
though war rise up against me,
yet I will be confident.(O)
4 One thing I asked of the Lord;
this I seek:
to live in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to behold the beauty of the Lord,
and to inquire in his temple.(P)
5 For he will hide me in his shelter
in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
he will set me high on a rock.(Q)
6 Now my head is lifted up
above my enemies all around me,
and I will offer in his tent
sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the Lord.(R)
7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud;
be gracious to me and answer me!(S)
8 “Come,” my heart says, “seek his face!”
Your face, Lord, do I seek.(T)
9 Do not hide your face from me.
Do not turn your servant away in anger,
you who have been my help.
Do not cast me off; do not forsake me,
O God of my salvation!(U)
10 If my father and mother forsake me,
the Lord will take me up.(V)
11 Teach me your way, O Lord,
and lead me on a level path
because of my enemies.(W)
12 Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries,
for false witnesses have risen against me,
and they are breathing out violence.(X)
13 I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living.(Y)
14 Wait for the Lord;
be strong, and let your heart take courage;
wait for the Lord!(Z)
Psalm 28
Prayer for Help and Thanksgiving for It
Of David.
1 To you, O Lord, I call;
my rock, do not refuse to hear me,
for if you are silent to me,
I shall be like those who go down to the Pit.(AA)
2 Hear the voice of my supplication,
as I cry to you for help,
as I lift up my hands
toward your most holy sanctuary.[c](AB)
3 Do not drag me away with the wicked,
with those who are workers of evil,
who speak peace with their neighbors
while mischief is in their hearts.(AC)
4 Repay them according to their work
and according to the evil of their deeds;
repay them according to the work of their hands;
render them their due reward.(AD)
5 Because they do not regard the works of the Lord
or the work of his hands,
he will break them down and build them up no more.(AE)
6 Blessed be the Lord,
for he has heard the sound of my pleadings.(AF)
7 The Lord is my strength and my shield;
in him my heart trusts;
so I am helped, and my heart exults,
and with my song I give thanks to him.(AG)
Psalm 26-28
New International Version
Psalm 26-28
New International Version
Psalm 26
Of David.
1 Vindicate me,(A) Lord,
for I have led a blameless life;(B)
I have trusted(C) in the Lord
and have not faltered.(D)
2 Test me,(E) Lord, and try me,
examine my heart and my mind;(F)
3 for I have always been mindful of your unfailing love(G)
and have lived(H) in reliance on your faithfulness.(I)
4 I do not sit(J) with the deceitful,
nor do I associate with hypocrites.(K)
5 I abhor(L) the assembly of evildoers
and refuse to sit with the wicked.
6 I wash my hands in innocence,(M)
and go about your altar, Lord,
7 proclaiming aloud your praise(N)
and telling of all your wonderful deeds.(O)
8 Lord, I love(P) the house where you live,
the place where your glory dwells.(Q)
9 Do not take away my soul along with sinners,
my life with those who are bloodthirsty,(R)
10 in whose hands are wicked schemes,(S)
whose right hands are full of bribes.(T)
11 I lead a blameless life;
deliver me(U) and be merciful to me.
Psalm 27
Of David.
1 The Lord is my light(X) and my salvation(Y)—
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold(Z) of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?(AA)
2 When the wicked advance against me
to devour[a] me,
it is my enemies and my foes
who will stumble and fall.(AB)
3 Though an army besiege me,
my heart will not fear;(AC)
though war break out against me,
even then I will be confident.(AD)
4 One thing(AE) I ask from the Lord,
this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,(AF)
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
and to seek him in his temple.
5 For in the day of trouble(AG)
he will keep me safe(AH) in his dwelling;
he will hide me(AI) in the shelter of his sacred tent
and set me high upon a rock.(AJ)
6 Then my head will be exalted(AK)
above the enemies who surround me;(AL)
at his sacred tent I will sacrifice(AM) with shouts of joy;(AN)
I will sing(AO) and make music(AP) to the Lord.
7 Hear my voice(AQ) when I call, Lord;
be merciful to me and answer me.(AR)
8 My heart says of you, “Seek his face!(AS)”
Your face, Lord, I will seek.
9 Do not hide your face(AT) from me,
do not turn your servant away in anger;(AU)
you have been my helper.(AV)
Do not reject me or forsake(AW) me,
God my Savior.(AX)
10 Though my father and mother forsake me,
the Lord will receive me.
11 Teach me your way,(AY) Lord;
lead me in a straight path(AZ)
because of my oppressors.(BA)
12 Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
for false witnesses(BB) rise up against me,
spouting malicious accusations.
13 I remain confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the Lord(BC)
in the land of the living.(BD)
14 Wait(BE) for the Lord;
be strong(BF) and take heart
and wait for the Lord.
Psalm 28
Of David.
1 To you, Lord, I call;
you are my Rock,
do not turn a deaf ear(BG) to me.
For if you remain silent,(BH)
I will be like those who go down to the pit.(BI)
2 Hear my cry for mercy(BJ)
as I call to you for help,
as I lift up my hands(BK)
toward your Most Holy Place.(BL)
3 Do not drag me away with the wicked,
with those who do evil,
who speak cordially with their neighbors
but harbor malice in their hearts.(BM)
4 Repay them for their deeds
and for their evil work;
repay them for what their hands have done(BN)
and bring back on them what they deserve.(BO)
5 Because they have no regard for the deeds of the Lord
and what his hands have done,(BP)
he will tear them down
and never build them up again.
Footnotes
- Psalm 27:2 Or slander
Acts 22
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Acts 22
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
22 “Brothers[a] and fathers, listen to the defense that I now make before you.”(A)
2 When they heard him addressing them in Hebrew,[b] they became even more quiet. Then he said:(B)
3 “I am a Jew born in Tarsus in Cilicia but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, educated strictly according to our ancestral law, being zealous for God, just as all of you are today.(C) 4 I persecuted this Way up to the point of death by binding both men and women and putting them in prison,(D) 5 as the high priest and the whole council of elders can testify about me. From them I also received letters to the brothers in Damascus, and I went there in order to bind those who were there and to bring them back to Jerusalem for punishment.(E)
Paul Tells of His Conversion
6 “While I was on my way and approaching Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone about me.(F) 7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ 8 I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ Then he said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth[c] whom you are persecuting.’ 9 Now those who were with me saw the light but did not hear the voice of the one who was speaking to me.(G) 10 I asked, ‘What am I to do, Lord?’ The Lord said to me, ‘Get up and go to Damascus; there you will be told everything that has been assigned to you to do.’(H) 11 Since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, those who were with me took my hand and led me to Damascus.(I)
12 “A certain Ananias, who was a devout man according to the law and well spoken of by all the Jews living there,(J) 13 came to me, and standing beside me, he said, ‘Brother Saul, regain your sight!’ In that very hour I regained my sight and saw him. 14 Then he said, ‘The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will, to see the Righteous One, and to hear his own voice,(K) 15 for you will be his witness to all the world of what you have seen and heard.(L) 16 And now why do you delay? Get up, be baptized, and have your sins washed away, calling on his name.’(M)
Paul Sent to the Gentiles
17 “After I had returned to Jerusalem and while I was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance(N) 18 and saw Jesus[d] saying to me, ‘Hurry 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 every synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you.(O) 20 And while the blood of your witness Stephen was shed, I myself was standing by, approving and keeping the coats of those who killed him.’(P) 21 Then he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the gentiles.’ ”(Q)
Paul and the Roman Tribune
22 Up to this point they listened to him, but then they shouted, “Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live.” 23 And while they were shouting, throwing off their cloaks, and tossing dust into the air,(R) 24 the tribune directed that he was to be brought into the barracks and ordered him to be examined by flogging, to find out the reason for this outcry against him. 25 But when they had tied him up with straps,[e] Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, “Is it legal for you to flog a Roman person who is uncondemned?”(S) 26 When the centurion heard that, he went to the tribune and said to him, “What are you about to do? This man is a Roman.” 27 The tribune came and asked Paul,[f] “Tell me, are you a Roman?” And he said, “Yes.” 28 The tribune answered, “It cost me a large sum of money to get my citizenship.” Paul said, “But I was born a Roman.” 29 Immediately those who were about to examine him drew back from him, and the tribune also was afraid, for he realized that Paul was a Roman and that he had bound him.
Paul before the Council
30 Since he wanted to find out what Paul[g] was being accused of by the Jews, the next day he released him and ordered the chief priests and the entire council to meet. He brought Paul down and had him stand before them.(T)
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
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