Book of Common Prayer
A Prayer for God to Guide
Of David.
25 Lord, I ·give myself [L lift my soul] to you;
2 my God, I ·trust [have confidence in] you.
Do not let me be ·disgraced [shamed];
do not let my enemies ·laugh at [triumph/exult over] me.
3 No one who ·trusts [hopes in; waits on] you will be ·disgraced [shamed],
but those who ·sin [betray; are treacherous] without excuse will be ·disgraced [shamed].
4 Lord, ·tell me [make me know] your ways.
·Show [L Teach] me ·how to live [L your paths].
5 ·Guide [Lead] me in your truth,
and teach me, my God, my ·Savior [Helper; Victor].
I ·trust [hope in; wait on] you all day long.
6 Lord, remember your ·mercy [compassion] and ·love [loyalty; covenant love]
that you have shown since long ago.
7 Do not remember the sins
and ·wrong things I did when I was young [transgressions of my youth].
But remember ·to love me [L according to your love/loyalty/covenant love] always
·because you are good [on account of your goodness], Lord.
8 The Lord is good and ·right [upright; virtuous];
he ·points [instructs] sinners to the right way.
9 He shows those who are humble how to do right,
and he teaches them his ways.
10 All the Lord’s ·ways [paths] are ·loving [loyal] and ·true [reliable]
for those who ·follow [keep; guard] the demands of his ·agreement [covenant].
11 For the sake of your ·name [reputation], Lord,
forgive my many sins.
12 ·Are there [L Who are…?] those who ·respect [fear] the Lord [Prov. 1:7]?
He will ·point [teach] them ·to the best way [L the way they should choose].
13 ·They will enjoy a good life [L Their soul will dwell/lodge in goodness],
and their ·children [L seed] will inherit the ·land [or earth].
14 The Lord ·tells his secrets to [confides in; or makes friends with] those who ·respect [fear] him;
he ·tells them about [makes known to them] his ·agreement [covenant].
15 My eyes are always ·looking to the Lord for help [L toward the Lord].
He will ·keep me [L remove my feet] from any traps.
16 Turn to me and ·have mercy on [L be gracious to] me,
because I am lonely and hurting.
17 ·My troubles have [L The distress of my heart has] ·grown larger [widened];
·free me from [bring me out of] my ·problems [anguish; distress].
18 Look at my ·suffering [affliction] and troubles,
and ·take away [forgive] all my sins.
19 Look at how many enemies I have!
See how ·much [L violently] they hate me!
20 Protect me and ·save [rescue; T deliver] me.
I ·trust [find refuge in] you, so do not let me be ·disgraced [shamed].
21 My hope is in you,
so may ·goodness [blamelessness; innocence] and ·honesty [virtue] guard me.
22 God, ·save [redeem; ransom] Israel from all their ·troubles [distress]!
Thanksgiving for Victory
For the director of music. To the tune of “The Death of the Son.” A psalm of David.
9 I will ·praise [or give thanks to] you, Lord, with all my heart.
I will ·tell [recount] all ·the miracles you have done [your wonderful deeds].
2 I will be happy and rejoice because of you;
God Most High, I will sing praises to your name.
3 My enemies turn back;
they ·are overwhelmed [L stumble] and ·die [perish] ·because of [or before] you.
4 You have ·heard [upheld; maintained] my ·complaint [just cause; or right and my cause];
you sat on your throne and judged ·by what was right [righteously].
5 You ·spoke strongly against the [rebuked; reproved] foreign nations and destroyed the wicked;
you ·wiped out [blotted out; erased] their names forever and ever.
6 The enemy is ·gone [done; a ruin] forever.
You ·destroyed [uprooted] their cities;
·no one even remembers them [L their memory perishes].
7 But the Lord ·rules [is enthroned; L sits] forever.
He ·sits on his throne to judge [L has established his throne for justice/judgment],
8 and he will judge the world ·in fairness [with righteousness];
he will decide what is fair for the ·nations [peoples; 96:10; 98:9].
9 The Lord ·defends [L is a refuge for] those who ·suffer [are oppressed/exploited];
·he defends them [L a refuge] in times of ·trouble [distress].
10 Those who know ·the Lord [L your name] trust ·him [L you],
because ·he [L you] will not ·leave [abandon; forsake] those who ·come to him [L seek you; Deut. 31:6, 8; Matt. 28:20; Heb. 13:5].
11 Sing praises to the Lord who ·is king on Mount [L dwells on] Zion [C the location of the Temple].
Tell ·the nations [L among the peoples] what he has done.
12 ·He remembers who the murderers are [or The one who avenges blood remembers them; C God];
he will not forget the cries of those who suffer.
13 Lord, ·have mercy on [be gracious toward] me.
See how ·my enemies [L those who hate me] ·hurt [afflict; persecute] me.
·Do not let me go through [L Lift me up from] the gates of death.
14 Then, at the gates of ·Jerusalem [the daughter of Zion; C a name of Jerusalem], I will ·praise you [L declare your praises];
I will rejoice ·because you saved me [L in your salvation].
15 The nations have ·fallen [L sunk] into the pit they ·dug [L made].
Their feet are caught in the nets they ·laid [L hid].
16 The Lord has made himself known by ·his fair decisions [L the judgments he has made];
the wicked get trapped by ·what they do [L the deeds of their palms/hands]. ·
17 Wicked people will ·go [L return] to the ·grave [or underworld; L Sheol],
and so will all ·those who [L the nations that] forget God.
18 But those who ·have troubles [are afflicted] will not always be forgotten.
The hopes of the ·poor [oppressed; exploited] will never ·die [perish].
19 Lord, rise up and don’t let people ·think they are strong [L prevail].
Judge the nations in your presence.
20 ·Teach them to fear you [or Strike them with terror; Deut. 4:34; 28:8; 34:12], Lord.
The nations must learn that they are ·only human [mere mortals]. ·
What the Lord Demands
A psalm of David.
15 Lord, who may ·enter [dwell/abide/sojourn in] your Holy Tent [C the Tabernacle]?
Who may live on your holy mountain [C Mount Zion]?
2 Only those who ·are innocent [walk innocently]
and who do ·what is right [righteousness; 1:1; Job 1:1].
Such people speak the truth from their hearts
3 and do not ·tell lies about others [slander with their tongue].
They do no ·wrong [evil] to their neighbors
and do not ·gossip [L raise a reproachful matter with their associates].
4 ·They do not respect hateful people [L The wicked are despised in their eyes]
but honor those who ·honor [L fear] the Lord.
They keep their promises to their neighbors,
even when it hurts.
5 They do not charge interest on money they lend [Ex. 22:25–27; Lev. 25:35–36; Deut. 23:19]
and do not take ·money [a bribe] to hurt innocent people [Ex. 23:8; Deut. 16:19].
Whoever does all these things will never be ·destroyed [L moved].
32 “People who are not Israelites, foreigners from other lands, will hear about your ·greatness [L great name] and ·power [L mighty hand and outstretched arm]. They will come from far away to pray ·at this Temple [L toward this house]. 33 Then hear from your home in heaven, and ·do [grant; answer] whatever they ask you. Then ·people everywhere [L all the peoples of the earth] will know ·you [L your name] and ·respect [fear; revere; acknowledge] you, just as your people Israel do. Then everyone will know that I built this ·Temple [L house] as a place to ·worship you [L bear your name].
34 “When your people go out to fight their enemies ·along some road on which [by whichever way] you send them, your people will pray to you, ·facing [toward] this city which you have chosen and the ·Temple [L house] I have built for ·you [L your name]. 35 Then hear in heaven their prayers and their ·plea [T supplication], and ·do what is right [uphold their cause; vindicate them].
36 “·Everyone sins, so your people will also sin against you [When/If your people sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—…]. You will become angry with them and will ·hand them over [deliver them] to their enemies. Their enemies will capture them and take them away to a country far or near. 37 ·Your people will be sorry for their sins [If they stop and think/come to their senses…] when they are held as ·prisoners [captives] in another country. ·They will be sorry […and they repent…] and ·pray [plead; make supplication] to you in the land ·where they are held as prisoners [of their captivity], saying, ‘We have sinned. We have done ·wrong [evil] and acted wickedly.’ 38 ·They will truly turn back to you […and they return to you with all their heart and soul/being] in the land where they are captives. ·They will […and they] pray, ·facing this [toward the] land you gave their ·ancestors [fathers], this city you have chosen, and the ·Temple [L house] I have built for ·you [L your name…]. 39 Then hear their prayers and their ·plea [T supplication] from your home in heaven, and ·do what is right [uphold their cause; vindicate them]. Forgive your people who have sinned against you.
40 “Now, my God, ·look at us. Listen [L …may your eyes be open and your ears attentive] to the prayers we pray in this place.
41 Now, ·rise [ascend], Lord God, and ·come to [enter] your resting place.
Come with the ·Ark of the Agreement that shows your strength [L ark of your might/power].
Let your priests ·receive [L be clothed with] your salvation, Lord God,
and may your ·holy people [godly/faithful ones] ·be happy because of your goodness [rejoice in what is good].
42 Lord God, do not ·reject [turn away from] your ·appointed [anointed] ·one [or ones].
Remember your ·love [unfailing love; lovingkindness; loyalty] for your servant David [Ps. 132:1, 8–10].”
The Temple Is Given to the Lord
7 When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from ·the sky [heaven] and ·burned up [consumed] the burnt offering and the sacrifices. The Lord’s ·glory [splendor] filled the ·Temple [L house]. 2 The priests could not enter the ·Temple [L house] of the Lord, because the Lord’s ·glory [splendor] filled it. 3 When all the people of Israel saw the fire come down and the Lord’s ·glory [splendor] on the ·Temple [L house], they bowed down on the pavement with their faces to the ground. They worshiped and ·thanked [praised] the Lord, saying,
“He is good;
his ·love [unfailing love; lovingkindness; loyalty] ·continues [endures] forever [Ps. 136].”
4 Then King Solomon and all the people ·offered [sacrificed] sacrifices to the Lord. 5 King Solomon ·offered [sacrificed] a sacrifice of twenty-two thousand ·cattle [oxen] and one hundred twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the people ·gave [dedicated] the ·Temple [L house] to God. 6 The priests stood ·ready to do their work [in their places/positions/posts]. The Levites also stood with the instruments of the Lord’s music that King David had made for praising the Lord. The priests and Levites were ·saying [singing], “His ·love [unfailing love; lovingkindness; loyalty] ·continues [endures] forever [Ps. 136].” The priests, who stood across from the Levites, blew their trumpets, and all the Israelites were standing.
7 Solomon ·made holy [consecrated] the middle part of the courtyard, which is in front of the ·Temple [L house] of the Lord. There he ·offered [sacrificed] whole burnt offerings and the fat of the ·fellowship [peace] offerings. He ·offered [sacrificed] them in the courtyard, because the bronze altar he had made could not hold the burnt offerings [Lev. 1:1–17], ·grain [L gift; tribute] offerings [Lev. 2:1], and fat [Lev. 3:16].
Love All People
2 My dear brothers and sisters [C fellow believers], as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, never ·think some people are more important than others [show favoritism/partiality; Lev. 19:15; Deut. 10:17–18]. 2 Suppose someone comes into your ·church meeting [gathering; assembly; C the word can mean “synagogue,” but here refers to a house church gathering] wearing nice clothes and a gold ring. At the same time a poor person comes in wearing ·old, dirty [shabby; filthy] clothes. 3 You ·show special attention to [take notice of; look favorably on] the one wearing nice clothes and say, “Please, sit here in this good seat.” But you say to the poor person, “Stand over there,” or, “Sit on the floor ·by my feet [or beside my footstool].” 4 ·What are you doing? You are making some people more important than others [L Are you not discriminating among yourselves…?], and ·with evil thoughts you are deciding that one person is better [or you are judging with evil thoughts; or you are acting like judges with evil motives].
5 Listen, my ·dear [L beloved] brothers and sisters [C fellow believers]! ·God chose [L Did not God choose…?] the poor in the world [1 Cor. 1:26–29] to be rich with faith and to ·receive [L be heirs of] the kingdom God promised to those who love him [Luke 6:20]. 6 But you ·show no respect to [dishonor; have insulted] the poor. ·The rich are always trying to control your lives. They are the ones who take you to court [L Don’t the rich exploit/oppress you and drag you into court?]. 7 ·And they are the ones who speak against Jesus, who owns you [or Don’t they slander the noble/good name by which you were called? L Don’t they blaspheme the noble/good name that was invoked over you? C The “name” may be the person’s name or the name of Jesus, to whom they belong].
8 This royal law [C because God the king decreed it, or because it is the supreme law] is found in the Scriptures: “Love your neighbor as you love yourself [Lev. 19:18; Matt. 22:37–40].” ·If you [or If you really; or If you, however,] ·obey [fulfill; carry out] this law, you are doing ·right [well]. 9 But if you ·treat one person as being more important than another [show favoritism/partiality; 2:1], you are sinning. You are ·guilty of breaking God’s law [L convicted by the law as lawbreakers/ transgressors]. 10 [L For] A person who ·follows [keeps; obeys] all of God’s law but ·fails to obey even one command [L stumbles/falls in one point] is guilty of breaking all the commands in that law. 11 [L For] The same God who said, “You must not ·be guilty of [commit] adultery [Ex. 20:14; Deut. 5:18],” also said, “You must not murder anyone [Ex. 20:13; Deut. 5:17].” So if you do not ·take part in [commit] adultery but you murder someone, ·you are guilty of breaking all of God’s law [L you have become a breaker/transgressor of the law; Matt. 5:18–19; Gal. 5:3]. 12 ·In everything you say and do, remember that you [L So speak and so act as those who] will be judged by the law ·that makes people free [L of freedom/liberty]. 13 ·So you must show mercy to others, or God will not show mercy to you when he judges you [L For judgment is without mercy to the one who does not act mercifully]. ·But the person who shows mercy can stand without fear at the judgment [L But mercy triumphs over judgment].
Jesus Before the Leaders(A)
53 The people who arrested Jesus led him to the house of the high priest, where all the ·leading [T chief] priests, the elders, and the ·teachers of the law [scribes] were gathered. 54 Peter followed far behind and entered the courtyard of the high priest’s house. There he sat with the guards, warming himself by the fire.
55 The ·leading [T chief] priests and the whole ·Jewish council [Sanhedrin; C the highest Jewish court] tried to find ·something that Jesus had done wrong [evidence/testimony against him] so they could ·kill [execute] him. But the council could find no proof of anything. 56 Many people came and ·told false things [gave false testimony] about him, but all said different things—none of them agreed.
57 Then some people stood up and ·lied [gave false testimony] about Jesus, saying, 58 “We heard this man say, ‘I will destroy this Temple that people made. And three days later, I will build another Temple not made by people.’” 59 But even ·the things these people said [their testimony] did not agree.
60 Then the high priest stood before them and asked Jesus, “Aren’t you going to answer? ·Don’t you have something to say about their [or What are these] ·charges [testimony] against you?” 61 But Jesus ·said nothing [was silent; Is. 53:7]; he did not answer.
The high priest asked Jesus another question: “Are you the ·Christ [Messiah], the Son of ·the blessed God [L the blessed (one)]?”
62 Jesus answered, “I am. And ·in the future you will see [L you will see] the Son of Man sitting at the right ·side [L hand; see 12:36] of God, the Powerful One, and coming on clouds ·in the sky [of heaven; Ps. 110:1; Dan. 7:13–14].”
63 When the high priest heard this, he tore his clothes [C a sign of sorrow or outrage] and said, “Why do we need more witnesses? 64 You all heard ·him say these things against God [the blasphemy]. What ·do you think [is your verdict]?”
They all said that Jesus was guilty and ·should [deserved to] die. 65 Some of the people there began to spit at Jesus. They blindfolded him and beat him with their fists and said, “·Prophesy! [Prove you are a prophet!]” Then the guards led Jesus away and beat him.
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