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Psalm 7

Plea for Help against Persecutors

A Shiggaion of David, which he sang to the Lord concerning Cush, a Benjaminite.

O Lord my God, in you I take refuge;
    save me from all my pursuers, and deliver me,(A)
or like a lion they will tear me apart;
    they will drag me away, with no one to rescue.(B)

O Lord my God, if I have done this,
    if there is wrong in my hands,(C)
if I have repaid my ally with harm
    or plundered my foe without cause,(D)
then let the enemy pursue and overtake me,
    trample my life to the ground,
    and lay my soul in the dust. Selah

Rise up, O Lord, in your anger;
    lift yourself up against the fury of my enemies;
    awake, O my God;[a] you have appointed a judgment.(E)
Let the assembly of the peoples be gathered around you,
    and over it take your seat[b] on high.(F)
The Lord judges the peoples;
    judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness
    and according to the integrity that is in me.(G)

O let the evil of the wicked come to an end,
    but establish the righteous,
you who test the minds and hearts,
    O righteous God.(H)
10 God is my shield,
    who saves the upright in heart.(I)
11 God is a righteous judge
    and a God who has indignation every day.(J)

12 If one does not repent, God[c] will whet his sword;
    he has bent and strung his bow;(K)
13 he has prepared his deadly weapons,
    making his arrows fiery shafts.(L)
14 See how they conceive evil
    and are pregnant with mischief
    and bring forth lies.(M)
15 They make a pit, digging it out,
    and fall into the hole that they have made.(N)
16 Their mischief returns upon their own heads,
    and on their own heads their violence descends.(O)

17 I will give to the Lord the thanks due to his righteousness
    and sing praise to the name of the Lord, the Most High.(P)

Psalm 8

Divine Majesty and Human Dignity

To the leader: according to The Gittith. A Psalm of David.

O Lord, our Sovereign,
    how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory above the heavens.(Q)
    Out of the mouths of babes and infants
you have founded a bulwark because of your foes,
    to silence the enemy and the avenger.(R)

When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
    the moon and the stars that you have established;(S)
what are humans that you are mindful of them,
    mortals[d] that you care for them?(T)

Yet you have made them a little lower than God[e]
    and crowned them with glory and honor.(U)
You have given them dominion over the works of your hands;
    you have put all things under their feet,(V)
all sheep and oxen,
    and also the beasts of the field,
the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea,
    whatever passes along the paths of the seas.

O Lord, our Sovereign,
    how majestic is your name in all the earth!(W)

Psalm 9

God’s Power and Justice

To the leader: according to Muth-labben. A Psalm of David.

[f]I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart;
    I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.(X)
I will be glad and exult in you;
    I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.(Y)

When my enemies turned back,
    they stumbled and perished before you.(Z)
For you have maintained my just cause;
    you have sat on the throne giving righteous judgment.(AA)

You have rebuked the nations; you have destroyed the wicked;
    you have blotted out their name forever and ever.(AB)
The enemies have vanished in everlasting ruins;
    their cities you have rooted out;
    the very memory of them has perished.(AC)

But the Lord sits enthroned forever;
    he has established his throne for judgment.(AD)
He judges the world with righteousness;
    he judges the peoples with equity.(AE)

The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed,
    a stronghold in times of trouble.(AF)
10 And those who know your name put their trust in you,
    for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.(AG)

11 Sing praises to the Lord, who dwells in Zion.
    Declare his deeds among the peoples.(AH)
12 For he who avenges blood is mindful of them;
    he does not forget the cry of the afflicted.(AI)

13 Be gracious to me, O Lord.
    See what I suffer from those who hate me;
    you are the one who lifts me up from the gates of death,(AJ)
14 so that I may recount all your praises
    and, in the gates of daughter Zion,
    rejoice in your deliverance.(AK)

15 The nations have sunk in the pit that they made;
    in the net that they hid has their own foot been caught.(AL)
16 The Lord has made himself known; he has executed judgment;
    the wicked are snared in the work of their own hands. Higgaion. Selah(AM)

17 The wicked shall depart to Sheol,
    all the nations that forget God.(AN)

18 For the needy shall not always be forgotten,
    nor the hope of the poor perish forever.(AO)

19 Rise up, O Lord! Do not let mortals prevail;
    let the nations be judged before you.(AP)
20 Put them in fear, O Lord;
    let the nations know that they are only human. Selah(AQ)

Footnotes

  1. 7.6 Or awake for me
  2. 7.7 Cn: Heb return
  3. 7.12 Heb he
  4. 8.4 Heb son of man
  5. 8.5 Or than the divine beings or angels
  6. 9.1 Psalms 9–10 were originally one psalm, as in the Greek and Latin traditions. In Hebrew, Psalms 9–10 formed an acrostic.

Psalm 7[a]

A shiggaion[b](A) of David, which he sang to the Lord concerning Cush, a Benjamite.

Lord my God, I take refuge(B) in you;
    save and deliver me(C) from all who pursue me,(D)
or they will tear me apart like a lion(E)
    and rip me to pieces with no one to rescue(F) me.

Lord my God, if I have done this
    and there is guilt on my hands(G)
if I have repaid my ally with evil
    or without cause(H) have robbed my foe—
then let my enemy pursue and overtake(I) me;
    let him trample my life to the ground(J)
    and make me sleep in the dust.[c](K)

Arise,(L) Lord, in your anger;
    rise up against the rage of my enemies.(M)
    Awake,(N) my God; decree justice.
Let the assembled peoples gather around you,
    while you sit enthroned over them on high.(O)
    Let the Lord judge(P) the peoples.
Vindicate me, Lord, according to my righteousness,(Q)
    according to my integrity,(R) O Most High.(S)
Bring to an end the violence of the wicked
    and make the righteous secure—(T)
you, the righteous God(U)
    who probes minds and hearts.(V)

10 My shield[d](W) is God Most High,
    who saves the upright in heart.(X)
11 God is a righteous judge,(Y)
    a God who displays his wrath(Z) every day.
12 If he does not relent,(AA)
    he[e] will sharpen his sword;(AB)
    he will bend and string his bow.(AC)
13 He has prepared his deadly weapons;
    he makes ready his flaming arrows.(AD)

14 Whoever is pregnant with evil
    conceives trouble and gives birth(AE) to disillusionment.
15 Whoever digs a hole and scoops it out
    falls into the pit(AF) they have made.(AG)
16 The trouble they cause recoils on them;
    their violence comes down on their own heads.

17 I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness;(AH)
    I will sing the praises(AI) of the name of the Lord Most High.(AJ)

Psalm 8[f]

For the director of music. According to gittith.[g] A psalm of David.

Lord, our Lord,
    how majestic is your name(AK) in all the earth!

You have set your glory(AL)
    in the heavens.(AM)
Through the praise of children and infants
    you have established a stronghold(AN) against your enemies,
    to silence the foe(AO) and the avenger.
When I consider your heavens,(AP)
    the work of your fingers,(AQ)
the moon and the stars,(AR)
    which you have set in place,
what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
    human beings that you care for them?[h](AS)

You have made them[i] a little lower than the angels[j](AT)
    and crowned them[k] with glory and honor.(AU)
You made them rulers(AV) over the works of your hands;(AW)
    you put everything under their[l] feet:(AX)
all flocks and herds,(AY)
    and the animals of the wild,(AZ)
the birds in the sky,
    and the fish in the sea,(BA)
    all that swim the paths of the seas.

Lord, our Lord,
    how majestic is your name in all the earth!(BB)

Psalm 9[m][n]

For the director of music. To the tune of “The Death of the Son.” A psalm of David.

I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart;(BC)
    I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.(BD)
I will be glad and rejoice(BE) in you;
    I will sing the praises(BF) of your name,(BG) O Most High.

My enemies turn back;
    they stumble and perish before you.
For you have upheld my right(BH) and my cause,(BI)
    sitting enthroned(BJ) as the righteous judge.(BK)
You have rebuked the nations(BL) and destroyed the wicked;
    you have blotted out their name(BM) for ever and ever.
Endless ruin has overtaken my enemies,
    you have uprooted their cities;(BN)
    even the memory of them(BO) has perished.

The Lord reigns forever;(BP)
    he has established his throne(BQ) for judgment.
He rules the world in righteousness(BR)
    and judges the peoples with equity.(BS)
The Lord is a refuge(BT) for the oppressed,(BU)
    a stronghold in times of trouble.(BV)
10 Those who know your name(BW) trust in you,
    for you, Lord, have never forsaken(BX) those who seek you.(BY)

11 Sing the praises(BZ) of the Lord, enthroned in Zion;(CA)
    proclaim among the nations(CB) what he has done.(CC)
12 For he who avenges blood(CD) remembers;
    he does not ignore the cries of the afflicted.(CE)

13 Lord, see how my enemies(CF) persecute me!
    Have mercy(CG) and lift me up from the gates of death,(CH)
14 that I may declare your praises(CI)
    in the gates of Daughter Zion,(CJ)
    and there rejoice in your salvation.(CK)

15 The nations have fallen into the pit they have dug;(CL)
    their feet are caught in the net they have hidden.(CM)
16 The Lord is known by his acts of justice;
    the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands.[o](CN)
17 The wicked go down to the realm of the dead,(CO)
    all the nations that forget God.(CP)
18 But God will never forget the needy;
    the hope(CQ) of the afflicted(CR) will never perish.

19 Arise,(CS) Lord, do not let mortals triumph;(CT)
    let the nations be judged(CU) in your presence.
20 Strike them with terror,(CV) Lord;
    let the nations know they are only mortal.(CW)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 7:1 In Hebrew texts 7:1-17 is numbered 7:2-18.
  2. Psalm 7:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
  3. Psalm 7:5 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
  4. Psalm 7:10 Or sovereign
  5. Psalm 7:12 Or If anyone does not repent, / God
  6. Psalm 8:1 In Hebrew texts 8:1-9 is numbered 8:2-10.
  7. Psalm 8:1 Title: Probably a musical term
  8. Psalm 8:4 Or what is a human being that you are mindful of him, / a son of man that you care for him?
  9. Psalm 8:5 Or him
  10. Psalm 8:5 Or than God
  11. Psalm 8:5 Or him
  12. Psalm 8:6 Or made him ruler . . . ; / . . . his
  13. Psalm 9:1 Psalms 9 and 10 may originally have been a single acrostic poem in which alternating lines began with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet. In the Septuagint they constitute one psalm.
  14. Psalm 9:1 In Hebrew texts 9:1-20 is numbered 9:2-21.
  15. Psalm 9:16 The Hebrew has Higgaion and Selah (words of uncertain meaning) here; Selah occurs also at the end of verse 20.

Paul in Corinth

18 After this Paul[a] left Athens and went to Corinth.(A) There he found a Jew named Aquila from Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul[b] went to see them,(B) and, because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them, and they worked together—by trade they were tentmakers.(C) Every Sabbath he would argue in the synagogue and would try to convince Jews and Greeks.(D)

When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with proclaiming the word,[c] testifying to the Jews that the Messiah[d] was Jesus.(E) When they opposed and reviled him, in protest he shook the dust from his clothes[e] and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the gentiles.”(F) Then he left the synagogue[f] and went to the house of a man named Titius[g] Justus, a worshiper of God; his house was next door to the synagogue.(G) Crispus, the official of the synagogue, became a believer in the Lord, together with all his household, and many of the Corinthians who heard Paul became believers and were baptized.(H) One night the Lord said to Paul in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but speak and do not be silent,(I) 10 for I am with you, and no one will lay a hand on you to harm you, for there are many in this city who are my people.”(J) 11 He stayed there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

12 But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him before the tribunal. 13 They said, “This man is persuading people to worship God in ways that are contrary to the law.” 14 Just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of crime or serious villainy, I would be justified in accepting the complaint of you Jews,(K) 15 but since it is a matter of questions about words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves; I do not wish to be a judge of these matters.” 16 And he dismissed them from the tribunal. 17 Then all of them[h] seized Sosthenes, the official of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the tribunal. But Gallio paid no attention to any of these things.(L)

Paul’s Return to Antioch

18 After staying there for a considerable time, Paul said farewell to the brothers and sisters and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. At Cenchreae he had his hair cut, for he was under a vow.(M) 19 When they reached Ephesus, he left them there, but first he himself went into the synagogue and had a discussion with the Jews. 20 When they asked him to stay longer, he declined, 21 but on taking leave of them he said, “I[i] will return to you, if God wills.” Then he set sail from Ephesus.(N)

22 When he had landed at Caesarea, he went up to Jerusalem[j] and greeted the church and then went down to Antioch.(O) 23 After spending some time there he departed and went from place to place through the region of Galatia[k] and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.(P)

Ministry of Apollos

24 Now there came to Ephesus a Jew named Apollos from Alexandria. He was an eloquent man, well-versed in the scriptures.(Q) 25 He had been instructed in the Way of the Lord, and he spoke with burning enthusiasm and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John.(R) 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him they took him aside and explained the Way of God to him more accurately. 27 And when he wished to cross over to Achaia, the brothers and sisters encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. On his arrival he greatly helped those who through grace had become believers,(S) 28 for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the scriptures that the Messiah[l] is Jesus.(T)

Footnotes

  1. 18.1 Gk he
  2. 18.2 Gk He
  3. 18.5 Gk with the word
  4. 18.5 Or the Christ
  5. 18.6 Gk reviled him, he shook out his clothes
  6. 18.7 Gk left there
  7. 18.7 Other ancient authorities read Titus
  8. 18.17 Other ancient authorities read all the Greeks
  9. 18.21 Other ancient authorities read I must at all costs keep the approaching festival in Jerusalem, but I
  10. 18.22 Gk went up
  11. 18.23 Gk the Galatian region
  12. 18.28 Or the Christ

In Corinth

18 After this, Paul left Athens(A) and went to Corinth.(B) There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla,(C) because Claudius(D) had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them.(E) Every Sabbath(F) he reasoned in the synagogue,(G) trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.

When Silas(H) and Timothy(I) came from Macedonia,(J) Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah.(K) But when they opposed Paul and became abusive,(L) he shook out his clothes in protest(M) and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads!(N) I am innocent of it.(O) From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”(P)

Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God.(Q) Crispus,(R) the synagogue leader,(S) and his entire household(T) believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard Paul believed and were baptized.

One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision:(U) “Do not be afraid;(V) keep on speaking, do not be silent. 10 For I am with you,(W) and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” 11 So Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.(X)

12 While Gallio was proconsul(Y) of Achaia,(Z) the Jews of Corinth made a united attack on Paul and brought him to the place of judgment. 13 “This man,” they charged, “is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law.”

14 Just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to them, “If you Jews were making a complaint about some misdemeanor or serious crime, it would be reasonable for me to listen to you. 15 But since it involves questions about words and names and your own law(AA)—settle the matter yourselves. I will not be a judge of such things.” 16 So he drove them off. 17 Then the crowd there turned on Sosthenes(AB) the synagogue leader(AC) and beat him in front of the proconsul; and Gallio showed no concern whatever.

Priscilla, Aquila and Apollos

18 Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sisters(AD) and sailed for Syria,(AE) accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila.(AF) Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at Cenchreae(AG) because of a vow he had taken.(AH) 19 They arrived at Ephesus,(AI) where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. 20 When they asked him to spend more time with them, he declined. 21 But as he left, he promised, “I will come back if it is God’s will.”(AJ) Then he set sail from Ephesus. 22 When he landed at Caesarea,(AK) he went up to Jerusalem and greeted the church and then went down to Antioch.(AL)

23 After spending some time in Antioch, Paul set out from there and traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia(AM) and Phrygia,(AN) strengthening all the disciples.(AO)

24 Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos,(AP) a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus.(AQ) He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor[a](AR) and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John.(AS) 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila(AT) heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.

27 When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia,(AU) the brothers and sisters(AV) encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. When he arrived, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. 28 For he vigorously refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate, proving from the Scriptures(AW) that Jesus was the Messiah.(AX)

Footnotes

  1. Acts 18:25 Or with fervor in the Spirit