Old/New Testament
140 1 David complaineth of the cruelty, falsehood and injuries of his enemies. 8 Against the which he prayeth unto the Lord, and assureth himself of his help and succor. 12 Wherefore he provoketh the just to praise the Lord, and to assure themselves of his tuition.
To him that excelleth. A Psalm of David.
1 Deliver me, O Lord, from the evil man: preserve me from the [a]cruel man:
2 Which imagine evil things in their [b]heart, and make war continually.
3 They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent: [c]adders’ poison is under their lips. Selah.
4 Keep [d]me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the cruel man, which purposeth to cause my steps to slide.
5 The proud have laid a snare for me, and spread a net with cords in my pathway, and set gins for me. Selah.
6 Therefore I said unto the Lord, Thou art my God: hear, O Lord, the voice of my prayers.
7 O Lord God the strength of my salvation, thou [e]hast covered my head in the day of battle.
8 Let not the wicked have his desire, O Lord; [f]perform not his wicked thought, lest they be proud. Selah.
9 As for [g]the chief of them that compass me about, let the mischief of their own lips come upon them.
10 Let coals fall upon them: let [h]him cast them into the fire, and into the deep pits that they rise not.
11 For the backbiter shall not be established upon the earth, evil shall [i]hunt the cruel man to destruction.
12 I know that the Lord will avenge the afflicted, and judge the poor.
13 Surely the righteous shall praise thy Name, and the just shall [j]dwell in thy presence.
141 1 David being grievously persecuted under Saul, only fleeth unto God to have succor. 3 Desiring him to bridle his affections, that he may patiently abide till God take vengeance of his enemies.
A Psalm of David.
1 O Lord, I [k]call upon thee: haste thee unto me: hear my voice, when I cry unto thee.
2 Let my prayer be directed in thy sight as incense, and the [l]lifting up of mine hands as an evening sacrifice.
3 Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth, and keep the [m]door of my lips.
4 Incline not mine heart to evil, that I should commit wicked works with them that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their [n]delicates.
5 Let the righteous smite me: for that is a benefit: and let [o]him reprove me, and it shall be a precious oil that shall not break mine head: for within a while I shall even [p]pray in their miseries.
6 When their judges shall be cast down in stony places, they shall [q]hear my words, for they are sweet.
7 Our bones lie scattered at the [r]grave’s mouth, as he that heweth wood or diggeth in the earth.
8 But mine eyes look unto thee, O Lord God: in thee is my trust: leave not my soul destitute.
9 Keep me from the snare, which they have laid for me, and from the gins of the workers of iniquity.
10 Let the wicked fall into [s]his nets [t]together, while I escape.
142 The Prophet neither astonied with fear, nor carried away with anger, nor forced by desperation, would kill Saul: but with a quiet mind directed his earnest prayer to God, who did preserve him.
A Psalm of David, to give instruction, and a prayer when he was in the cave.
1 I cried unto the Lord with my voice: with my voice I [u]prayed unto the Lord.
2 I poured out my meditation before him, and declared mine affection in his presence.
3 Though my spirit [v]was in perplexity in me, yet thou knewest my path: in the way wherein I walked, have they privily laid a snare for me.
4 I looked upon my right hand, and beheld, but there was none that would know me: all refuge failed me, and [w]none cared for my soul.
5 Then cried I unto thee, O Lord, and said, Thou art mine [x]hope, and my portion in the land of the living.
6 Hearken unto my cry, for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me.
7 Bring my soul out of [y]prison, that I may praise thy Name: then shall the righteous [z]come about me, when thou art beneficial unto me.
14 1 He commendeth the gifts of prophecying: 7 and by a similitude taken of musical instruments, 12 he teacheth the true use of interpreting the Scriptures: 17 he taketh away the abuse: 34 And forbiddeth women to speak in the Congregation.
1 Follow [a]after love, and covet spiritual gifts, and rather that ye may [b]prophesy.
2 [c]For he that speaketh a strange [d]tongue, speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man heareth him: howbeit in the [e]spirit he speaketh secret things.
3 But he that prophesieth, speaketh unto men to [f]edifying, and to exhortation, and to comfort.
4 He that speaketh strange language, edifieth himself: but he that prophesieth, edifieth the [g]Church.
5 I would that ye all spake strange languages, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth, than he that speaketh diverse tongues, except he expound it, that the Church may receive edification.
6 And now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking diverse tongues, what shall I profit you, except I speak to you, either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?
7 [h]Moreover things without life which give a sound, whether it be a pipe or an harp, except they make a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?
8 And also if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to battle?
9 So likewise you, by the tongue, except ye utter words that have [i]signification, how shall it be understood what is spoken? for ye shall speak in the air.
10 [j]There are so many kinds of voices (as it cometh to pass) in the world, and none of them is dumb.
11 Except I know then the power of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a Barbarian, and he that [k]speaketh, shall be a Barbarian unto me.
12 [l]Even so, forasmuch as ye covet spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel unto the edifying of the Church.
13 Wherefore, let him that speaketh a strange tongue, [m]pray that he may interpret.
14 [n]For [o]if I pray in a strange tongue, my [p]spirit prayeth: but mine understanding is [q]without fruit.
15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, but I will pray with the [r]understanding also: I will sing with the spirit: but I will sing with the understanding also.
16 [s]Else, when thou blessest with the [t]spirit, how shall he that [u]occupieth the room of the unlearned, say [v]Amen, at thy giving of thanks, seeing he knowest not what thou sayest?
17 For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.
18 [w]I thank my God, I speak languages more than ye all.
19 Yet had I rather in the Church to speak [x]five words with mine understanding, that I might also instruct others, than ten thousand words in a strange tongue.
20 [y]Brethren, be not (A)children in understanding, but as concerning maliciousness be children, but in understanding be of a ripe age.
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