Psalm 59-61

New International Version

Psalm 59^[a]

For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam.^[b] When Saul had sent men to watch David’s house^(A) in order to kill him.

¹Deliver me from my enemies, O God;^(B)
be my fortress against those who are attacking me.^(C)
²Deliver me from evildoers^(D)
and save me from those who are after my blood.^(E)

³See how they lie in wait for me!
    Fierce men conspire^(F) against me
    for no offense or sin of mine, Lord.
⁴I have done no wrong,^(G) yet they are ready to attack me.^(H)
    Arise to help me; look on my plight!^(I)
⁵You, Lord God Almighty,
    you who are the God of Israel,^(J)
rouse yourself^(K) to punish all the nations;^(L)
    show no mercy to wicked traitors.^[c]^(M)

⁶They return at evening,
    snarling like dogs,^(N)
    and prowl about the city.
⁷See what they spew from their mouths^(O)—
    the words from their lips are sharp as swords,^(P)
    and they think, “Who can hear us?”^(Q)
⁸But you laugh at them, Lord;^(R)
    you scoff at all those nations.^(S)

⁹You are my strength,^(T) I watch for you;
you, God, are my fortress,^(U)
¹⁰ my God on whom I can rely.

God will go before me
    and will let me gloat over those who slander me.
¹¹But do not kill them, Lord our shield,^[d]^(V)
    or my people will forget.^(W)
In your might uproot them
    and bring them down.^(X)
¹²For the sins of their mouths,^(Y)
    for the words of their lips,^(Z)
    let them be caught in their pride.^(AA)
For the curses and lies they utter,
¹³    consume them in your wrath,
    consume them till they are no more.^(AB)
Then it will be known to the ends of the earth
    that God rules over Jacob.^(AC)

¹⁴They return at evening,
    snarling like dogs,
    and prowl about the city.
¹⁵They wander about for food^(AD)
    and howl if not satisfied.
¹⁶But I will sing^(AE) of your strength,^(AF)
    in the morning^(AG) I will sing of your love;^(AH)
for you are my fortress,^(AI)
    my refuge in times of trouble.^(AJ)

¹⁷You are my strength, I sing praise to you;
you, God, are my fortress,
my God on whom I can rely.^(AK)

Psalm 60^[e]^(AL)

For the director of music. To the tune of “The Lily of the Covenant.” A miktam^[f] of David. For teaching. When he fought Aram Naharaim^[g] and Aram Zobah,^[h] and when Joab returned and struck down twelve thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.^(AM)

¹You have rejected us,^(AN) God, and burst upon us;
    you have been angry^(AO)—now restore us!^(AP)
²You have shaken the land^(AQ) and torn it open;
    mend its fractures,^(AR) for it is quaking.
³You have shown your people desperate times;^(AS)
    you have given us wine that makes us stagger.^(AT)
⁴But for those who fear you, you have raised a banner^(AU)
    to be unfurled against the bow.^[i]

⁵Save us and help us with your right hand,^(AV)
    that those you love^(AW) may be delivered.
⁶God has spoken from his sanctuary:
    “In triumph I will parcel out Shechem^(AX)
    and measure off the Valley of Sukkoth.^(AY)
⁷Gilead^(AZ) is mine, and Manasseh is mine;
    Ephraim^(BA) is my helmet,
    Judah^(BB) is my scepter.^(BC)
⁸Moab is my washbasin,
    on Edom I toss my sandal;
    over Philistia I shout in triumph.^(BD)”

⁹Who will bring me to the fortified city?
    Who will lead me to Edom?
¹⁰Is it not you, God, you who have now rejected us
    and no longer go out with our armies?^(BE)
¹¹Give us aid against the enemy,
    for human help is worthless.^(BF)
¹²With God we will gain the victory,
    and he will trample down our enemies.^(BG)

Psalm 61^[j]

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. Of David.

¹Hear my cry, O God;^(BH)
listen to my prayer.^(BI)

²From the ends of the earth I call to you,
    I call as my heart grows faint;^(BJ)
    lead me to the rock^(BK) that is higher than I.
³For you have been my refuge,^(BL)
    a strong tower against the foe.^(BM)

⁴I long to dwell^(BN) in your tent forever
and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.^[k]^(BO)
⁵For you, God, have heard my vows;^(BP)
you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.^(BQ)

⁶Increase the days of the king’s life,^(BR)
his years for many generations.^(BS)
⁷May he be enthroned in God’s presence forever;^(BT)
appoint your love and faithfulness to protect him.^(BU)

⁸Then I will ever sing in praise of your name^(BV)
and fulfill my vows day after day.^(BW)

Footnotes

Psalm 59:1 In Hebrew texts 59:1-17 is numbered 59:2-18.
Psalm 59:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
Psalm 59:5 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 13.
Psalm 59:11 Or sovereign
Psalm 60:1 In Hebrew texts 60:1-12 is numbered 60:3-14.
Psalm 60:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
Psalm 60:1 Title: That is, Arameans of Northwest Mesopotamia
Psalm 60:1 Title: That is, Arameans of central Syria
Psalm 60:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
Psalm 61:1 In Hebrew texts 61:1-8 is numbered 61:2-9.
Psalm 61:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.

Acts 28:16-31

New International Version

¹⁶When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him.^(A)

Paul Preaches at Rome Under Guard

¹⁷Three days later he called together the local Jewish leaders.^(B) When they had assembled, Paul said to them: “My brothers,^(C) although I have done nothing against our people^(D) or against the customs of our ancestors,^(E) I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans. ¹⁸They examined me^(F) and wanted to release me,^(G) because I was not guilty of any crime deserving death.^(H) ¹⁹The Jews objected, so I was compelled to make an appeal to Caesar.^(I) I certainly did not intend to bring any charge against my own people. ²⁰For this reason I have asked to see you and talk with you. It is because of the hope of Israel^(J) that I am bound with this chain.”^(K)

²¹They replied, “We have not received any letters from Judea concerning you, and none of our people^(L) who have come from there has reported or said anything bad about you. ²²But we want to hear what your views are, for we know that people everywhere are talking against this sect.”^(M)

²³They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. He witnessed to them from morning till evening, explaining about the kingdom of God,^(N) and from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets^(O) he tried to persuade them about Jesus.^(P) ²⁴Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe.^(Q) ²⁵They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your ancestors when he said^(R) through Isaiah the prophet:

²⁶“‘Go to this people and say,
“You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
    you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.”
²⁷For this people’s heart has become calloused;^(S)
    they hardly hear with their ears,
    and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
    hear with their ears,
    understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.’^[a]^(T)

²⁸“Therefore I want you to know that God’s salvation^(U) has been sent to the Gentiles,^(V) and they will listen!” ^[29]^[b]

³⁰For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. ³¹He proclaimed the kingdom of God^(W) and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness^(X) and without hindrance!

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Footnotes

Acts 28:27 Isaiah 6:9,10 (see Septuagint)
Acts 28:29 Some manuscripts include here After he said this, the Jews left, arguing vigorously among themselves.