Psalms 1

BOOK ONE (Psalms 1–41)
 ¹  Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers.  ²  But they delight in the law of the LORD,
  meditating on it day and night.
 ³  They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.  ⁴  But not the wicked!
  They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind.
 ⁵  They will be condemned at the time of judgment.
  Sinners will have no place among the godly.
 ⁶  For the LORD watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.

Psalms 2

 ¹  Why are the nations so angry? Why do they waste their time with futile plans?  ²  The kings of the earth prepare for battle;
  the rulers plot together
against the LORD
  and against his anointed one.
 ³  "Let us break their chains," they cry,
  "and free ourselves from slavery to God."

 ⁴  But the one who rules in heaven laughs.
  The Lord scoffs at them.
 ⁵  Then in anger he rebukes them,
  terrifying them with his fierce fury.
 ⁶  For the Lord declares, "I have placed my chosen king on the throne
  in Jerusalem, [6]  on my holy mountain."

 ⁷  The king proclaims the LORD's decree:
"The LORD said to me, `You are my son. [7] 
  Today I have become your Father. [7] 
 ⁸  Only ask, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance,
  the whole earth as your possession.
 ⁹  You will break [9]  them with an iron rod
  and smash them like clay pots.'"

 ¹⁰  Now then, you kings, act wisely!
  Be warned, you rulers of the earth!
 ¹¹  Serve the LORD with reverent fear,
  and rejoice with trembling.
 ¹²  Submit to God's royal son, [12]  or he will become angry,
  and you will be destroyed in the midst of all your activities—
for his anger flares up in an instant.
  But what joy for all who take refuge in him!

Psalms 3

A psalm of David, regarding the time David fled from his son Absalom.
 ¹  O LORD, I have so many enemies;
  so many are against me.
 ²  So many are saying,
  "God will never rescue him!"    Interlude [2] 

 ³  But you, O LORD, are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who holds my head high.  ⁴  I cried out to the LORD,
  and he answered me from his holy mountain.    Interlude

 ⁵  I lay down and slept,
  yet I woke up in safety,
  for the LORD was watching over me.
 ⁶  I am not afraid of ten thousand enemies
  who surround me on every side.

 ⁷  Arise, O LORD!
  Rescue me, my God!
Slap all my enemies in the face!
  Shatter the teeth of the wicked!
 ⁸  Victory comes from you, O LORD.
  May you bless your people.    Interlude

<<  2:6 Hebrew on Zion.
<<  2:7a Or Son; also in 2:12. 2:7b Or Today I reveal you as my son.
<<  2:9 Greek version reads rule. Compare Rev 2:27.
<<  2:12 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
<<  3:2 Hebrew Selah. The meaning of this word is uncertain, though it is probably a musical or literary term. It is rendered Interlude throughout the Psalms.

Acts 17 : 1-15

Paul Preaches in Thessalonica
 ¹  Paul and Silas then traveled through the towns of Amphipolis and Apollonia and came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue.  ²  As was Paul's custom, he went to the synagogue service, and for three Sabbaths in a row he used the Scriptures to reason with the people.  ³  He explained the prophecies and proved that the Messiah must suffer and rise from the dead. He said, "This Jesus I'm telling you about is the Messiah."  ⁴  Some of the Jews who listened were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with many God-fearing Greek men and quite a few prominent women. [4] 
   ⁵  But some of the Jews were jealous, so they gathered some troublemakers from the marketplace to form a mob and start a riot. They attacked the home of Jason, searching for Paul and Silas so they could drag them out to the crowd. [5]   ⁶  Not finding them there, they dragged out Jason and some of the other believers [6]  instead and took them before the city council. "Paul and Silas have caused trouble all over the world," they shouted, "and now they are here disturbing our city, too.  ⁷  And Jason has welcomed them into his home. They are all guilty of treason against Caesar, for they profess allegiance to another king, named Jesus."
   ⁸  The people of the city, as well as the city council, were thrown into turmoil by these reports.  ⁹  So the officials forced Jason and the other believers to post bond, and then they released them.

Paul and Silas in Berea
 ¹⁰  That very night the believers sent Paul and Silas to Berea. When they arrived there, they went to the Jewish synagogue.  ¹¹  And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul's message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth.  ¹²  As a result, many Jews believed, as did many of the prominent Greek women and men.
   ¹³  But when some Jews in Thessalonica learned that Paul was preaching the word of God in Berea, they went there and stirred up trouble.  ¹⁴  The believers acted at once, sending Paul on to the coast, while Silas and Timothy remained behind.  ¹⁵  Those escorting Paul went with him all the way to Athens; then they returned to Berea with instructions for Silas and Timothy to hurry and join him.

<<  17:4 Some manuscripts read quite a few of the wives of the leading men.
<<  17:5 Or the city council.
<<  17:6 Greek brothers; also in 17:10, 14.