Psalms 119 : 89-176

Lamedh
 ⁸⁹  Your eternal word, O LORD,
  stands firm in heaven.
 ⁹⁰  Your faithfulness extends to every generation,
  as enduring as the earth you created.
 ⁹¹  Your regulations remain true to this day,
  for everything serves your plans.
 ⁹²  If your instructions hadn't sustained me with joy,
  I would have died in my misery.
 ⁹³  I will never forget your commandments,
  for by them you give me life.
 ⁹⁴  I am yours; rescue me!
  For I have worked hard at obeying your commandments.
 ⁹⁵  Though the wicked hide along the way to kill me,
  I will quietly keep my mind on your laws.
 ⁹⁶  Even perfection has its limits,
  but your commands have no limit.
Mem
 ⁹⁷  Oh, how I love your instructions!
  I think about them all day long.
 ⁹⁸  Your commands make me wiser than my enemies,
  for they are my constant guide.
 ⁹⁹  Yes, I have more insight than my teachers,
  for I am always thinking of your laws.
 ¹⁰⁰  I am even wiser than my elders,
  for I have kept your commandments.
 ¹⁰¹  I have refused to walk on any evil path,
  so that I may remain obedient to your word.
 ¹⁰²  I haven't turned away from your regulations,
  for you have taught me well.
 ¹⁰³  How sweet your words taste to me;
  they are sweeter than honey.
 ¹⁰⁴  Your commandments give me understanding;
  no wonder I hate every false way of life.
Nun
 ¹⁰⁵  Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.  ¹⁰⁶  I've promised it once, and I'll promise it again: I will obey your righteous regulations.  ¹⁰⁷  I have suffered much, O LORD;
  restore my life again as you promised.
 ¹⁰⁸  LORD, accept my offering of praise,
  and teach me your regulations.
 ¹⁰⁹  My life constantly hangs in the balance,
  but I will not stop obeying your instructions.
 ¹¹⁰  The wicked have set their traps for me,
  but I will not turn from your commandments.
 ¹¹¹  Your laws are my treasure;
  they are my heart's delight.
 ¹¹²  I am determined to keep your decrees
  to the very end.
Samekh
 ¹¹³  I hate those with divided loyalties,
  but I love your instructions.
 ¹¹⁴  You are my refuge and my shield;
  your word is my source of hope.
 ¹¹⁵  Get out of my life, you evil-minded people,
  for I intend to obey the commands of my God.
 ¹¹⁶  LORD, sustain me as you promised, that I may live!
  Do not let my hope be crushed.
 ¹¹⁷  Sustain me, and I will be rescued;
  then I will meditate continually on your decrees.
 ¹¹⁸  But you have rejected all who stray from your decrees.
  They are only fooling themselves.
 ¹¹⁹  You skim off the wicked of the earth like scum;
  no wonder I love to obey your laws!
 ¹²⁰  I tremble in fear of you;
  I stand in awe of your regulations.
Ayin
 ¹²¹  Don't leave me to the mercy of my enemies,
  for I have done what is just and right.
 ¹²²  Please guarantee a blessing for me.
  Don't let the arrogant oppress me!
 ¹²³  My eyes strain to see your rescue,
  to see the truth of your promise fulfilled.
 ¹²⁴  I am your servant; deal with me in unfailing love,
  and teach me your decrees.
 ¹²⁵  Give discernment to me, your servant;
  then I will understand your laws.
 ¹²⁶  LORD, it is time for you to act,
  for these evil people have violated your instructions.
 ¹²⁷  Truly, I love your commands
  more than gold, even the finest gold.
 ¹²⁸  Each of your commandments is right.
  That is why I hate every false way.
Pe
 ¹²⁹  Your laws are wonderful.
  No wonder I obey them!
 ¹³⁰  The teaching of your word gives light,
  so even the simple can understand.
 ¹³¹  I pant with expectation,
  longing for your commands.
 ¹³²  Come and show me your mercy,
  as you do for all who love your name.
 ¹³³  Guide my steps by your word,
  so I will not be overcome by evil.
 ¹³⁴  Ransom me from the oppression of evil people;
  then I can obey your commandments.
 ¹³⁵  Look upon me with love;
  teach me your decrees.
 ¹³⁶  Rivers of tears gush from my eyes
  because people disobey your instructions.
Tsadhe
 ¹³⁷  O LORD, you are righteous,
  and your regulations are fair.
 ¹³⁸  Your laws are perfect
  and completely trustworthy.
 ¹³⁹  I am overwhelmed with indignation,
  for my enemies have disregarded your words.
 ¹⁴⁰  Your promises have been thoroughly tested;
  that is why I love them so much.
 ¹⁴¹  I am insignificant and despised,
  but I don't forget your commandments.
 ¹⁴²  Your justice is eternal,
  and your instructions are perfectly true.
 ¹⁴³  As pressure and stress bear down on me,
  I find joy in your commands.
 ¹⁴⁴  Your laws are always right;
  help me to understand them so I may live.
Qoph
 ¹⁴⁵  I pray with all my heart; answer me, LORD!
  I will obey your decrees.
 ¹⁴⁶  I cry out to you; rescue me,
  that I may obey your laws.
 ¹⁴⁷  I rise early, before the sun is up;
  I cry out for help and put my hope in your words.
 ¹⁴⁸  I stay awake through the night,
  thinking about your promise.
 ¹⁴⁹  In your faithful love, O LORD, hear my cry;
  let me be revived by following your regulations.
 ¹⁵⁰  Lawless people are coming to attack me;
  they live far from your instructions.
 ¹⁵¹  But you are near, O LORD,
  and all your commands are true.
 ¹⁵²  I have known from my earliest days
  that your laws will last forever.
Resh
 ¹⁵³  Look upon my suffering and rescue me,
  for I have not forgotten your instructions.
 ¹⁵⁴  Argue my case; take my side!
  Protect my life as you promised.
 ¹⁵⁵  The wicked are far from rescue,
  for they do not bother with your decrees.
 ¹⁵⁶  LORD, how great is your mercy;
  let me be revived by following your regulations.
 ¹⁵⁷  Many persecute and trouble me,
  yet I have not swerved from your laws.
 ¹⁵⁸  Seeing these traitors makes me sick at heart,
  because they care nothing for your word.
 ¹⁵⁹  See how I love your commandments, LORD.
  Give back my life because of your unfailing love.
 ¹⁶⁰  The very essence of your words is truth;
  all your just regulations will stand forever.
Shin
 ¹⁶¹  Powerful people harass me without cause,
  but my heart trembles only at your word.
 ¹⁶²  I rejoice in your word
  like one who discovers a great treasure.
 ¹⁶³  I hate and abhor all falsehood,
  but I love your instructions.
 ¹⁶⁴  I will praise you seven times a day
  because all your regulations are just.
 ¹⁶⁵  Those who love your instructions have great peace
  and do not stumble.
 ¹⁶⁶  I long for your rescue, LORD,
  so I have obeyed your commands.
 ¹⁶⁷  I have obeyed your laws,
  for I love them very much.
 ¹⁶⁸  Yes, I obey your commandments and laws
  because you know everything I do.
Taw
 ¹⁶⁹  O LORD, listen to my cry;
  give me the discerning mind you promised.
 ¹⁷⁰  Listen to my prayer;
  rescue me as you promised.
 ¹⁷¹  Let praise flow from my lips,
  for you have taught me your decrees.
 ¹⁷²  Let my tongue sing about your word,
  for all your commands are right.
 ¹⁷³  Give me a helping hand,
  for I have chosen to follow your commandments.
 ¹⁷⁴  O LORD, I have longed for your rescue,
  and your instructions are my delight.
 ¹⁷⁵  Let me live so I can praise you,
  and may your regulations help me.
 ¹⁷⁶  I have wandered away like a lost sheep;
  come and find me,
  for I have not forgotten your commands.

1 Corinthians 8

Food Sacrificed to Idols
 ¹  Now regarding your question about food that has been offered to idols. Yes, we know that "we all have knowledge" about this issue. But while knowledge makes us feel important, it is love that strengthens the church.  ²  Anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn't really know very much.  ³  But the person who loves God is the one whom God recognizes. [3] 
   ⁴  So, what about eating meat that has been offered to idols? Well, we all know that an idol is not really a god and that there is only one God.  ⁵  There may be so-called gods both in heaven and on earth, and some people actually worship many gods and many lords.  ⁶  But we know that there is only one God, the Father, who created everything, and we live for him. And there is only one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom God made everything and through whom we have been given life.    ⁷  However, not all believers know this. Some are accustomed to thinking of idols as being real, so when they eat food that has been offered to idols, they think of it as the worship of real gods, and their weak consciences are violated.  ⁸  It's true that we can't win God's approval by what we eat. We don't lose anything if we don't eat it, and we don't gain anything if we do.
   ⁹  But you must be careful so that your freedom does not cause others with a weaker conscience to stumble.  ¹⁰  For if others see you—with your "superior knowledge"—eating in the temple of an idol, won't they be encouraged to violate their conscience by eating food that has been offered to an idol?  ¹¹  So because of your superior knowledge, a weak believer [11]  for whom Christ died will be destroyed.  ¹²  And when you sin against other believers [12]  by encouraging them to do something they believe is wrong, you are sinning against Christ.  ¹³  So if what I eat causes another believer to sin, I will never eat meat again as long as I live - for I don't want to cause another believer to stumble.

<<  8:3 Some manuscripts read the person who loves has full knowledge.
<<  8:11 Greek brother; also in 8:13.
<<  8:12 Greek brothers.