Psalms 26

A psalm of David.
 ¹  Declare me innocent, O LORD,
  for I have acted with integrity;
  I have trusted in the LORD without wavering.
 ²  Put me on trial, LORD, and cross-examine me.
  Test my motives and my heart.
 ³  For I am always aware of your unfailing love,
  and I have lived according to your truth.
 ⁴  I do not spend time with liars
  or go along with hypocrites.
 ⁵  I hate the gatherings of those who do evil,
  and I refuse to join in with the wicked.
 ⁶  I wash my hands to declare my innocence.
  I come to your altar, O LORD,
 ⁷  singing a song of thanksgiving
  and telling of all your wonders.
 ⁸  I love your sanctuary, LORD,
  the place where your glorious presence dwells.

 ⁹  Don't let me suffer the fate of sinners.
  Don't condemn me along with murderers.
 ¹⁰  Their hands are dirty with evil schemes,
  and they constantly take bribes.
 ¹¹  But I am not like that; I live with integrity.
  So redeem me and show me mercy.
 ¹²  Now I stand on solid ground,
  and I will publicly praise the LORD.

Psalms 27

A psalm of David.
 ¹  "The LORD is my light and my salvation - so why should I be afraid? The LORD is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?"  ²  When evil people come to devour me,
  when my enemies and foes attack me,
  they will stumble and fall.
 ³  Though a mighty army surrounds me,
  my heart will not be afraid.
Even if I am attacked,
  I will remain confident.

 ⁴  The one thing I ask of the LORD - the thing I seek most - is to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, delighting in the LORD's perfections and meditating in his Temple.  ⁵  For he will conceal me there when troubles come;
  he will hide me in his sanctuary.
  He will place me out of reach on a high rock.
 ⁶  Then I will hold my head high
  above my enemies who surround me.
At his sanctuary I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy,
  singing and praising the LORD with music.

 ⁷  Hear me as I pray, O LORD.
  Be merciful and answer me!
 ⁸  My heart has heard you say, "Come and talk with me." And my heart responds, "LORD, I am coming."  ⁹  Do not turn your back on me.
  Do not reject your servant in anger.
  You have always been my helper.
Don't leave me now; don't abandon me,
  O God of my salvation!
 ¹⁰  Even if my father and mother abandon me,
  the LORD will hold me close.

 ¹¹  Teach me how to live, O LORD.
  Lead me along the right path,
  for my enemies are waiting for me.
 ¹²  Do not let me fall into their hands.
  For they accuse me of things I've never done;
  with every breath they threaten me with violence.
 ¹³  Yet I am confident I will see the LORD's goodness
  while I am here in the land of the living.

 ¹⁴  Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous.Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.

Psalms 28

A psalm of David.
 ¹  I pray to you, O LORD, my rock.
  Do not turn a deaf ear to me.
For if you are silent,
  I might as well give up and die.
 ²  Listen to my prayer for mercy
  as I cry out to you for help,
  as I lift my hands toward your holy sanctuary.

 ³  Do not drag me away with the wicked—
  with those who do evil—
those who speak friendly words to their neighbors
  while planning evil in their hearts.
 ⁴  Give them the punishment they so richly deserve!
  Measure it out in proportion to their wickedness.
Pay them back for all their evil deeds!
  Give them a taste of what they have done to others.
 ⁵  They care nothing for what the LORD has done
  or for what his hands have made.
So he will tear them down,
  and they will never be rebuilt!

 ⁶  Praise the LORD!
  For he has heard my cry for mercy.
 ⁷  The LORD is my strength and shield.
  I trust him with all my heart.
He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.
  I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.

 ⁸  The LORD gives his people strength.
  He is a safe fortress for his anointed king.
 ⁹  Save your people!
  Bless Israel, your special possession. [9] 
Lead them like a shepherd,
  and carry them in your arms forever.

<<  28:9 Hebrew Bless your inheritance.

Acts 22

 ¹  "Brothers and esteemed fathers," Paul said, "listen to me as I offer my defense."  ²  When they heard him speaking in their own language, [2]  the silence was even greater.
   ³  Then Paul said, "I am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, and I was brought up and educated here in Jerusalem under Gamaliel. As his student, I was carefully trained in our Jewish laws and customs. I became very zealous to honor God in everything I did, just like all of you today.  ⁴  And I persecuted the followers of the Way, hounding some to death, arresting both men and women and throwing them in prison.  ⁵  The high priest and the whole council of elders can testify that this is so. For I received letters from them to our Jewish brothers in Damascus, authorizing me to bring the Christians from there to Jerusalem, in chains, to be punished.
   ⁶  "As I was on the road, approaching Damascus about noon, a very bright light from heaven suddenly shone down around me.  ⁷  I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, `Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?'
   <sup>8</sup>  "`Who are you, lord?' I asked.
  "And the voice replied, `I am Jesus the Nazarene, [8]  the one you are persecuting.'  <sup>9</sup>  The people with me saw the light but didn't understand the voice speaking to me.
   <sup>10</sup>  "I asked, `What should I do, Lord?'
  "And the Lord told me, `Get up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told everything you are to do.'
   <sup>11</sup>  "I was blinded by the intense light and had to be led by the hand to Damascus by my companions.  <sup>12</sup>  A man named Ananias lived there. He was a godly man, deeply devoted to the law, and well regarded by all the Jews of Damascus.  <sup>13</sup>  He came and stood beside me and said, `Brother Saul, regain your sight.' And that very moment I could see him!
   ¹⁴  "Then he told me, `The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and hear him speak.  <sup>15</sup>  For you are to be his witness, telling everyone what you have seen and heard.  <sup>16</sup>  'What are you waiting for? Get up and be baptized. Have your sins washed away by calling on the name of the Lord.'    <sup>17</sup>  "After I returned to Jerusalem, I was praying in the Temple and fell into a trance.  <sup>18</sup>  I saw a vision of Jesus [18]  saying to me, `Hurry! Leave Jerusalem, for the people here won't accept your testimony about me.'
   ¹⁹  "`But Lord,' I argued, `they certainly know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you.  ²⁰  And I was in complete agreement when your witness Stephen was killed. I stood by and kept the coats they took off when they stoned him.'
   ²¹  "But the Lord said to me, `Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles!'"
   ²²  The crowd listened until Paul said that word. Then they all began to shout, "Away with such a fellow! He isn't fit to live!"  ²³  They yelled, threw off their coats, and tossed handfuls of dust into the air.

Paul Reveals His Roman Citizenship
 ²⁴  The commander brought Paul inside and ordered him lashed with whips to make him confess his crime. He wanted to find out why the crowd had become so furious.  ²⁵  When they tied Paul down to lash him, Paul said to the officer [25]  standing there, "Is it legal for you to whip a Roman citizen who hasn't even been tried?"
   ²⁶  When the officer heard this, he went to the commander and asked, "What are you doing? This man is a Roman citizen!"
   ²⁷  So the commander went over and asked Paul, "Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?"
  "Yes, I certainly am," Paul replied.
   ²⁸  "I am, too," the commander muttered, "and it cost me plenty!"
  Paul answered, "But I am a citizen by birth!"
   ²⁹  The soldiers who were about to interrogate Paul quickly withdrew when they heard he was a Roman citizen, and the commander was frightened because he had ordered him bound and whipped.

Paul before the High Council
 ³⁰  The next day the commander ordered the leading priests into session with the Jewish high council. [30]  He wanted to find out what the trouble was all about, so he released Paul to have him stand before them.

<<  22:2 Greek in Aramaic, or in Hebrew.
<<  22:8 Or Jesus of Nazareth.
<<  22:18 Greek him.
<<  22:25 Greek the centurion; also in 22:26.
<<  22:30 Greek Sanhedrin.