Praise to the Creator and Protector.

33 (A)Sing for joy in the Lord, you righteous ones;
Praise is (B)becoming to the upright.
Give thanks to the Lord with the (C)lyre;
Sing praises to Him with a (D)harp of ten strings.
Sing to Him a (E)new song;
Play skillfully with (F)a shout of joy.
For the word of the Lord (G)is right,
And all His work is done (H)in faithfulness.
He (I)loves righteousness and justice;
The (J)earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.

By the (K)word of the Lord the heavens were made,
And (L)by the breath of His mouth (M)all their [a]lights.
He gathers the (N)waters of the sea together [b]as a heap;
He puts the depths in storehouses.
Let (O)all the earth fear the Lord;
Let all the inhabitants of the world (P)stand in awe of Him.
For (Q)He spoke, and it was done;
He commanded, and it [c]stood firm.
10 The Lord (R)nullifies the plan of nations;
He frustrates the plans of peoples.
11 The (S)plan of the Lord stands forever,
The (T)plans of His heart from generation to generation.
12 Blessed is the (U)nation whose God is the Lord,
The people He has (V)chosen for His own inheritance.

13 The Lord (W)looks from heaven;
He (X)sees all the sons of mankind;
14 From (Y)His dwelling place He looks out
On all the inhabitants of the earth,
15 He who (Z)fashions [d]the hearts of them all,
He who (AA)understands all their works.
16 (AB)The king is not saved by a mighty army;
A warrior is not rescued by great strength.
17 A (AC)horse is a false hope for victory;
Nor does it rescue anyone by its great strength.

18 Behold, (AD)the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him,
On those who (AE)wait for His faithfulness,
19 To (AF)rescue their soul from death
And to keep them alive (AG)in famine.
20 Our soul (AH)waits for the Lord;
He is our (AI)help and our shield.
21 For our (AJ)heart rejoices in Him,
Because we trust in His holy name.
22 Let Your favor, Lord, be upon us,
Just as we have waited for You.

The Lord, a Provider and the One Who Rescues Me.

A Psalm of David, when he pretended to be insane before [e]Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed.

34 I will (AK)bless the Lord at all times;
His (AL)praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul will (AM)make its boast in the Lord;
The (AN)humble will hear it and rejoice.
(AO)Exalt the Lord with me,
And let’s (AP)exalt His name together.

I (AQ)sought the Lord and He answered me,
And (AR)rescued me from all my fears.
They (AS)looked to Him and were radiant,
And their faces will (AT)never be ashamed.
This wretched man cried out, and (AU)the Lord heard him,
And saved him out of all his troubles.
The (AV)angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him,
And rescues them.

(AW)Taste and see that the Lord is good;
How (AX)blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!
Fear the Lord, you (AY)His saints;
For to those who fear Him there is (AZ)no lack of anything.
10 The young lions do without and suffer hunger;
But they who seek the Lord will (BA)not lack any good thing.
11 (BB)Come, you children, listen to me;
(BC)I will teach you (BD)the fear of the Lord.
12 (BE)Who is the person who desires life
And loves length of days, that he may (BF)see good?
13 Keep (BG)your tongue from evil
And your lips from speaking (BH)deceit.
14 (BI)Turn from evil and do good;
Seek peace and (BJ)pursue it.

15 The (BK)eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous,
And His ears are toward their cry for help.
16 The (BL)face of the Lord is against evildoers,
To (BM)eliminate the memory of them from the earth.
17 The righteous (BN)cry out, and the Lord hears
And rescues them from all their troubles.
18 The Lord (BO)is near to the (BP)brokenhearted
And saves those who are [f](BQ)crushed in spirit.

19 (BR)The (BS)afflictions of the righteous are many,
But the Lord (BT)rescues him from them all.
20 He protects all his bones,
(BU)Not one of them is broken.
21 (BV)Evil will bring death to the wicked,
And those who hate the righteous will suffer for their guilt.
22 The Lord (BW)redeems the souls of His servants,
And none of those who (BX)take refuge in Him will suffer for their guilt.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 33:6 Lit host; i.e., sun, stars, etc.
  2. Psalm 33:7 Some ancient versions in a water skin; i.e., container
  3. Psalm 33:9 Or stood forth
  4. Psalm 33:15 Or their heart together
  5. Psalm 34 Title Possibly a title of King Achish of Gath, see 1 Sam 21:10-15
  6. Psalm 34:18 Or contrite

Psalm 33

Sing joyfully(A) to the Lord, you righteous;
    it is fitting(B) for the upright(C) to praise him.
Praise the Lord with the harp;(D)
    make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre.(E)
Sing to him a new song;(F)
    play skillfully, and shout for joy.(G)

For the word of the Lord is right(H) and true;(I)
    he is faithful(J) in all he does.
The Lord loves righteousness and justice;(K)
    the earth is full of his unfailing love.(L)

By the word(M) of the Lord the heavens were made,(N)
    their starry host(O) by the breath of his mouth.
He gathers the waters(P) of the sea into jars[a];(Q)
    he puts the deep into storehouses.
Let all the earth fear the Lord;(R)
    let all the people of the world(S) revere him.(T)
For he spoke, and it came to be;
    he commanded,(U) and it stood firm.

10 The Lord foils(V) the plans(W) of the nations;(X)
    he thwarts the purposes of the peoples.
11 But the plans of the Lord stand firm(Y) forever,
    the purposes(Z) of his heart through all generations.

12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,(AA)
    the people he chose(AB) for his inheritance.(AC)
13 From heaven the Lord looks down(AD)
    and sees all mankind;(AE)
14 from his dwelling place(AF) he watches
    all who live on earth—
15 he who forms(AG) the hearts of all,
    who considers everything they do.(AH)

16 No king is saved by the size of his army;(AI)
    no warrior escapes by his great strength.
17 A horse(AJ) is a vain hope for deliverance;
    despite all its great strength it cannot save.
18 But the eyes(AK) of the Lord are on those who fear him,
    on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,(AL)
19 to deliver them from death(AM)
    and keep them alive in famine.(AN)

20 We wait(AO) in hope for the Lord;
    he is our help and our shield.
21 In him our hearts rejoice,(AP)
    for we trust in his holy name.(AQ)
22 May your unfailing love(AR) be with us, Lord,
    even as we put our hope in you.

Psalm 34[b][c]

Of David. When he pretended to be insane(AS) before Abimelek, who drove him away, and he left.

I will extol the Lord at all times;(AT)
    his praise will always be on my lips.
I will glory(AU) in the Lord;
    let the afflicted hear and rejoice.(AV)
Glorify the Lord(AW) with me;
    let us exalt(AX) his name together.

I sought the Lord,(AY) and he answered me;
    he delivered(AZ) me from all my fears.
Those who look to him are radiant;(BA)
    their faces are never covered with shame.(BB)
This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;
    he saved him out of all his troubles.(BC)
The angel of the Lord(BD) encamps around those who fear him,
    and he delivers(BE) them.

Taste and see that the Lord is good;(BF)
    blessed is the one who takes refuge(BG) in him.
Fear the Lord,(BH) you his holy people,
    for those who fear him lack nothing.(BI)
10 The lions may grow weak and hungry,
    but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.(BJ)
11 Come, my children, listen(BK) to me;
    I will teach you(BL) the fear of the Lord.(BM)
12 Whoever of you loves life(BN)
    and desires to see many good days,
13 keep your tongue(BO) from evil
    and your lips from telling lies.(BP)
14 Turn from evil and do good;(BQ)
    seek peace(BR) and pursue it.

15 The eyes of the Lord(BS) are on the righteous,(BT)
    and his ears are attentive(BU) to their cry;
16 but the face of the Lord is against(BV) those who do evil,(BW)
    to blot out their name(BX) from the earth.

17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears(BY) them;
    he delivers them from all their troubles.
18 The Lord is close(BZ) to the brokenhearted(CA)
    and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

19 The righteous person may have many troubles,(CB)
    but the Lord delivers him from them all;(CC)
20 he protects all his bones,
    not one of them will be broken.(CD)

21 Evil will slay the wicked;(CE)
    the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
22 The Lord will rescue(CF) his servants;
    no one who takes refuge(CG) in him will be condemned.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 33:7 Or sea as into a heap
  2. Psalm 34:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, the verses of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
  3. Psalm 34:1 In Hebrew texts 34:1-22 is numbered 34:2-23.

Paul before Felix

24 Now after (A)five days the high priest (B)Ananias came down with some elders and an attorney named Tertullus, and they [a]brought charges against Paul to (C)the governor. After [b]Paul had been summoned, Tertullus began accusing him, saying to the governor,

“Since we have attained great peace through you, and since reforms are being carried out for this nation by your foresight, we acknowledge this in every way and everywhere, (D)most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness. But, that I may not [c]weary you further, I beg you [d]to grant us a brief hearing, by your kindness. For we have found this man a public menace and one who stirs up dissensions among all the Jews throughout [e]the world, and a ringleader of the (E)sect of the Nazarenes. And he even tried to (F)desecrate the temple, so indeed we arrested him.[f] By interrogating him yourself concerning all these matters, you will be able to ascertain the things of which we are accusing him.” (G)The Jews also joined in the attack, asserting that these things were so.

10 And when (H)the governor had nodded for him to speak, Paul responded:

“Knowing that for many years you have been a judge to this nation, I cheerfully make my defense, 11 since you can take note of the fact that no more than (I)twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. 12 (J)And neither in the temple did they find me carrying on a discussion with anyone or (K)causing [g]a riot, nor in the synagogues, nor in the city itself. 13 (L)Nor can they prove to you the things of which they now accuse me. 14 But I confess this to you, that in accordance with [h](M)the Way, which they call a (N)sect, I do serve (O)the God of our fathers, (P)believing everything that is in accordance with the Law and is written in the Prophets; 15 having a hope in God, which (Q)these men cherish themselves, that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. 16 In view of this (R)I also do my best to maintain a blameless conscience both before God and before other people, always. 17 Now (S)after several years I (T)came to bring charitable gifts to my nation and to present offerings, 18 in which they found me occupied in the temple, having been (U)purified, without any (V)crowd or uproar. But there were some (W)Jews from [i]Asia— 19 who ought to have been present before you and to have been (X)bringing charges, if they should have anything against me. 20 Or else have these men themselves declare what violation they discovered when I stood before (Y)the [j]Council, 21 other than in regard to this one declaration which (Z)I shouted while standing among them, ‘For the resurrection of the dead I am on trial before you today!’”

22 But Felix, [k]having quite accurate knowledge about [l](AA)the Way, adjourned them, saying, “When Lysias the commander comes down, I will decide your case.” 23 He gave orders to the centurion for [m]Paul to be (AB)kept in custody and yet (AC)have some freedom, and not to prevent any of (AD)his friends from providing for his needs.

24 Now some days later Felix arrived with Drusilla his [n]wife, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about (AE)faith in Christ Jesus. 25 But as he was discussing (AF)righteousness, (AG)self-control, and (AH)the judgment to come, Felix became frightened and responded, “Go away for now, and when I have an opportunity, I will summon you.” 26 At the same time he was also hoping that (AI)money would be given to him by Paul; therefore he also used to send for him quite often and talk with him. 27 But after two years had passed, Felix [o]was succeeded by Porcius (AJ)Festus; and Felix, (AK)wanting to do the Jews a favor, left Paul (AL)imprisoned.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 24:1 Or presented their evidence or case
  2. Acts 24:2 Lit he
  3. Acts 24:4 Or impose on
  4. Acts 24:4 Lit to hear...briefly
  5. Acts 24:5 Lit the inhabited earth
  6. Acts 24:6 Late mss add as the remainder of v 6: We wanted to judge him according to our own Law. v 7: But Lysias the commander came along and took him out of our hands with much violence, and the first part of v 8: ordering his accusers to come before you.
  7. Acts 24:12 Lit an attack of a mob
  8. Acts 24:14 See John 14:6
  9. Acts 24:18 I.e., west coast province of Asia Minor
  10. Acts 24:20 Or Sanhedrin
  11. Acts 24:22 Lit knowing more accurately
  12. Acts 24:22 See John 14:6
  13. Acts 24:23 Lit him
  14. Acts 24:24 Lit own wife
  15. Acts 24:27 Lit received as a successor, Porcius Festus

Paul’s Trial Before Felix

24 Five days later the high priest Ananias(A) went down to Caesarea with some of the elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, and they brought their charges(B) against Paul before the governor.(C) When Paul was called in, Tertullus presented his case before Felix: “We have enjoyed a long period of peace under you, and your foresight has brought about reforms in this nation. Everywhere and in every way, most excellent(D) Felix, we acknowledge this with profound gratitude. But in order not to weary you further, I would request that you be kind enough to hear us briefly.

“We have found this man to be a troublemaker, stirring up riots(E) among the Jews(F) all over the world. He is a ringleader of the Nazarene(G) sect(H) and even tried to desecrate the temple;(I) so we seized him. [7] [a] By examining him yourself you will be able to learn the truth about all these charges we are bringing against him.”

The other Jews joined in the accusation,(J) asserting that these things were true.

10 When the governor(K) motioned for him to speak, Paul replied: “I know that for a number of years you have been a judge over this nation; so I gladly make my defense. 11 You can easily verify that no more than twelve days(L) ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. 12 My accusers did not find me arguing with anyone at the temple,(M) or stirring up a crowd(N) in the synagogues or anywhere else in the city. 13 And they cannot prove to you the charges they are now making against me.(O) 14 However, I admit that I worship the God of our ancestors(P) as a follower of the Way,(Q) which they call a sect.(R) I believe everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets,(S) 15 and I have the same hope in God as these men themselves have, that there will be a resurrection(T) of both the righteous and the wicked.(U) 16 So I strive always to keep my conscience clear(V) before God and man.

17 “After an absence of several years, I came to Jerusalem to bring my people gifts for the poor(W) and to present offerings. 18 I was ceremonially clean(X) when they found me in the temple courts doing this. There was no crowd with me, nor was I involved in any disturbance.(Y) 19 But there are some Jews from the province of Asia,(Z) who ought to be here before you and bring charges if they have anything against me.(AA) 20 Or these who are here should state what crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin— 21 unless it was this one thing I shouted as I stood in their presence: ‘It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.’”(AB)

22 Then Felix, who was well acquainted with the Way,(AC) adjourned the proceedings. “When Lysias the commander comes,” he said, “I will decide your case.” 23 He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard(AD) but to give him some freedom(AE) and permit his friends to take care of his needs.(AF)

24 Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus.(AG) 25 As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control(AH) and the judgment(AI) to come, Felix was afraid(AJ) and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.” 26 At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him.

27 When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus,(AK) but because Felix wanted to grant a favor to the Jews,(AL) he left Paul in prison.(AM)

Footnotes

  1. Acts 24:7 Some manuscripts include here him, and we would have judged him in accordance with our law. But the commander Lysias came and took him from us with much violence, ordering his accusers to come before you.