Old/New Testament
Thanksgiving for Return from Captivity.
A Song of Ascents.
126 When the Lord (A)brought back [a]the captive ones of Zion,
We were (B)like those who dream.
2 Then our (C)mouth was filled with laughter
And our (D)tongue with joyful shouting;
Then they said among the nations,
“The Lord has (E)done great things for them.”
3 The Lord has done great things for us;
We are (F)glad.
4 Restore our captivity, O Lord,
As the [b](G)streams in the [c]South.
5 Those who sow in (H)tears shall reap with (I)joyful shouting.
6 He who goes to and fro weeping, carrying his bag of seed,
Shall indeed come again with a shout of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.
Prosperity Comes from the Lord.
A Song of Ascents, of Solomon.
127 Unless the Lord (J)builds the house,
They labor in vain who build it;
Unless the Lord (K)guards the city,
The watchman keeps awake in vain.
2 It is vain for you to rise up early,
To [d]retire late,
To (L)eat the bread of [e]painful labors;
For He gives to His (M)beloved (N)even in his sleep.
3 Behold, (O)children are a [f]gift of the Lord,
The (P)fruit of the womb is a reward.
4 Like arrows in the hand of a (Q)warrior,
So are the children of one’s youth.
5 How (R)blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them;
(S)They will not be ashamed
When they (T)speak with their enemies (U)in the gate.
Blessedness of the Fear of the Lord.
A Song of Ascents.
128 (V)How blessed is everyone who fears the Lord,
Who (W)walks in His ways.
2 When you shall (X)eat of the [g](Y)fruit of your hands,
You will be happy and (Z)it will be well with you.
3 Your wife shall be like a (AA)fruitful vine
[h]Within your house,
Your children like (AB)olive plants
Around your table.
4 Behold, for thus shall the man be blessed
Who fears the Lord.
19 What do I mean then? That a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or (A)that an idol is anything? 20 No, but I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they (B)sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to become sharers in demons. 21 (C)You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the table of the Lord and (D)the table of demons. 22 Or do we (E)provoke the Lord to jealousy? We are not (F)stronger than He, are we?
23 (G)All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things (H)edify. 24 Let no one (I)seek his own good, but that of his [a]neighbor. 25 (J)Eat anything that is sold in the meat market without asking questions for conscience’ sake; 26 (K)for the earth is the Lord’s, and [b]all it contains. 27 If (L)one of the unbelievers invites you and you want to go, (M)eat anything that is set before you without asking questions for conscience’ sake. 28 But (N)if anyone says to you, “This is meat sacrificed to idols,” do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for conscience’ sake; 29 I mean not your own conscience, but the other man’s; for (O)why is my freedom judged by another’s conscience? 30 If I partake with thankfulness, (P)why am I slandered concerning that for which I (Q)give thanks?
31 Whether, then, you eat or drink or (R)whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 (S)Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to (T)the church of God; 33 just as I also (U)please all men in all things, (V)not seeking my own profit but the profit of the many, (W)so that they may be saved.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.