Psalm 31[a](A)

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

In you, Lord, I have taken refuge;(B)
    let me never be put to shame;
    deliver me in your righteousness.(C)
Turn your ear to me,(D)
    come quickly to my rescue;(E)
be my rock of refuge,(F)
    a strong fortress to save me.
Since you are my rock and my fortress,(G)
    for the sake of your name(H) lead and guide me.
Keep me free from the trap(I) that is set for me,
    for you are my refuge.(J)
Into your hands I commit my spirit;(K)
    deliver me, Lord, my faithful God.(L)

I hate those who cling to worthless idols;(M)
    as for me, I trust in the Lord.(N)
I will be glad and rejoice in your love,
    for you saw my affliction(O)
    and knew the anguish(P) of my soul.
You have not given me into the hands(Q) of the enemy
    but have set my feet in a spacious place.(R)

Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in distress;(S)
    my eyes grow weak with sorrow,(T)
    my soul and body(U) with grief.
10 My life is consumed by anguish(V)
    and my years by groaning;(W)
my strength fails(X) because of my affliction,[b](Y)
    and my bones grow weak.(Z)
11 Because of all my enemies,(AA)
    I am the utter contempt(AB) of my neighbors(AC)
and an object of dread to my closest friends—
    those who see me on the street flee from me.
12 I am forgotten as though I were dead;(AD)
    I have become like broken pottery.
13 For I hear many whispering,(AE)
    “Terror on every side!”(AF)
They conspire against me(AG)
    and plot to take my life.(AH)

14 But I trust(AI) in you, Lord;
    I say, “You are my God.”
15 My times(AJ) are in your hands;
    deliver me from the hands of my enemies,
    from those who pursue me.
16 Let your face shine(AK) on your servant;
    save me in your unfailing love.(AL)
17 Let me not be put to shame,(AM) Lord,
    for I have cried out to you;
but let the wicked be put to shame
    and be silent(AN) in the realm of the dead.
18 Let their lying lips(AO) be silenced,
    for with pride and contempt
    they speak arrogantly(AP) against the righteous.

19 How abundant are the good things(AQ)
    that you have stored up for those who fear you,
that you bestow in the sight of all,(AR)
    on those who take refuge(AS) in you.
20 In the shelter(AT) of your presence you hide(AU) them
    from all human intrigues;(AV)
you keep them safe in your dwelling
    from accusing tongues.

21 Praise be to the Lord,(AW)
    for he showed me the wonders of his love(AX)
    when I was in a city under siege.(AY)
22 In my alarm(AZ) I said,
    “I am cut off(BA) from your sight!”
Yet you heard my cry(BB) for mercy
    when I called to you for help.

23 Love the Lord, all his faithful people!(BC)
    The Lord preserves those who are true to him,(BD)
    but the proud he pays back(BE) in full.
24 Be strong and take heart,(BF)
    all you who hope in the Lord.

Psalm 32

Of David. A maskil.[c]

Blessed is the one
    whose transgressions are forgiven,
    whose sins are covered.(BG)
Blessed is the one
    whose sin the Lord does not count against them(BH)
    and in whose spirit is no deceit.(BI)

When I kept silent,(BJ)
    my bones wasted away(BK)
    through my groaning(BL) all day long.
For day and night
    your hand was heavy(BM) on me;
my strength was sapped(BN)
    as in the heat of summer.[d]

Then I acknowledged my sin to you
    and did not cover up my iniquity.(BO)
I said, “I will confess(BP)
    my transgressions(BQ) to the Lord.”
And you forgave
    the guilt of my sin.(BR)

Therefore let all the faithful pray to you
    while you may be found;(BS)
surely the rising(BT) of the mighty waters(BU)
    will not reach them.(BV)
You are my hiding place;(BW)
    you will protect me from trouble(BX)
    and surround me with songs of deliverance.(BY)

I will instruct(BZ) you and teach you(CA) in the way you should go;
    I will counsel you with my loving eye on(CB) you.
Do not be like the horse or the mule,
    which have no understanding
but must be controlled by bit and bridle(CC)
    or they will not come to you.
10 Many are the woes of the wicked,(CD)
    but the Lord’s unfailing love
    surrounds the one who trusts(CE) in him.

11 Rejoice in the Lord(CF) and be glad, you righteous;
    sing, all you who are upright in heart!

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 31:1 In Hebrew texts 31:1-24 is numbered 31:2-25.
  2. Psalm 31:10 Or guilt
  3. Psalm 32:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
  4. Psalm 32:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verses 5 and 7.

16 But when the son of Paul’s sister heard of this plot, he went into the barracks(A) and told Paul.

17 Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander; he has something to tell him.” 18 So he took him to the commander.

The centurion said, “Paul, the prisoner,(B) sent for me and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you.”

19 The commander took the young man by the hand, drew him aside and asked, “What is it you want to tell me?”

20 He said: “Some Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul before the Sanhedrin(C) tomorrow on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about him.(D) 21 Don’t give in to them, because more than forty(E) of them are waiting in ambush for him. They have taken an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him.(F) They are ready now, waiting for your consent to their request.”

22 The commander dismissed the young man with this warning: “Don’t tell anyone that you have reported this to me.”

Paul Transferred to Caesarea

23 Then he called two of his centurions and ordered them, “Get ready a detachment of two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen[a] to go to Caesarea(G) at nine tonight.(H) 24 Provide horses for Paul so that he may be taken safely to Governor Felix.”(I)

25 He wrote a letter as follows:

26 Claudius Lysias,

To His Excellency,(J) Governor Felix:

Greetings.(K)

27 This man was seized by the Jews and they were about to kill him,(L) but I came with my troops and rescued him,(M) for I had learned that he is a Roman citizen.(N) 28 I wanted to know why they were accusing him, so I brought him to their Sanhedrin.(O) 29 I found that the accusation had to do with questions about their law,(P) but there was no charge against him(Q) that deserved death or imprisonment. 30 When I was informed(R) of a plot(S) to be carried out against the man, I sent him to you at once. I also ordered his accusers(T) to present to you their case against him.

31 So the soldiers, carrying out their orders, took Paul with them during the night and brought him as far as Antipatris. 32 The next day they let the cavalry(U) go on with him, while they returned to the barracks.(V) 33 When the cavalry(W) arrived in Caesarea,(X) they delivered the letter to the governor(Y) and handed Paul over to him. 34 The governor read the letter and asked what province he was from. Learning that he was from Cilicia,(Z) 35 he said, “I will hear your case when your accusers(AA) get here.” Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard(AB) in Herod’s palace.

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 23:23 The meaning of the Greek for this word is uncertain.

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