11 Ruthless witnesses(A) come forward;
    they question me on things I know nothing about.
12 They repay me evil for good(B)
    and leave me like one bereaved.
13 Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth(C)
    and humbled myself with fasting.(D)
When my prayers returned to me unanswered,
14     I went about mourning(E)
    as though for my friend or brother.
I bowed my head in grief
    as though weeping for my mother.
15 But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee;(F)
    assailants gathered against me without my knowledge.
    They slandered(G) me without ceasing.
16 Like the ungodly they maliciously mocked;[a](H)
    they gnashed their teeth(I) at me.

17 How long,(J) Lord, will you look on?
    Rescue me from their ravages,
    my precious life(K) from these lions.(L)
18 I will give you thanks in the great assembly;(M)
    among the throngs(N) I will praise you.(O)
19 Do not let those gloat over me
    who are my enemies(P) without cause;
do not let those who hate me without reason(Q)
    maliciously wink the eye.(R)
20 They do not speak peaceably,
    but devise false accusations(S)
    against those who live quietly in the land.
21 They sneer(T) at me and say, “Aha! Aha!(U)
    With our own eyes we have seen it.”

22 Lord, you have seen(V) this; do not be silent.
    Do not be far(W) from me, Lord.
23 Awake,(X) and rise(Y) to my defense!
    Contend(Z) for me, my God and Lord.
24 Vindicate me in your righteousness, Lord my God;
    do not let them gloat(AA) over me.
25 Do not let them think, “Aha,(AB) just what we wanted!”
    or say, “We have swallowed him up.”(AC)

26 May all who gloat(AD) over my distress(AE)
    be put to shame(AF) and confusion;
may all who exalt themselves over me(AG)
    be clothed with shame and disgrace.
27 May those who delight in my vindication(AH)
    shout for joy(AI) and gladness;
may they always say, “The Lord be exalted,
    who delights(AJ) in the well-being of his servant.”(AK)

28 My tongue will proclaim your righteousness,(AL)
    your praises all day long.(AM)

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 35:16 Septuagint; Hebrew may mean Like an ungodly circle of mockers,

Ezekiel’s Inaugural Vision

In my thirtieth year, in the fourth month on the fifth day, while I was among the exiles(A) by the Kebar River,(B) the heavens were opened(C) and I saw visions(D) of God.

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Ezekiel’s Call to Be a Prophet

He said to me, “Son of man,[a](A) stand(B) up on your feet and I will speak to you.(C)

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Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 2:1 The Hebrew phrase ben adam means human being. The phrase son of man is retained as a form of address here and throughout Ezekiel because of its possible association with “Son of Man” in the New Testament.

23 Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests.

Peter at Cornelius’s House

The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the believers(A) from Joppa went along.(B) 24 The following day he arrived in Caesarea.(C) Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. 26 But Peter made him get up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.”(D)

27 While talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people.(E) 28 He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile.(F) But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean.(G) 29 So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?”

30 Cornelius answered: “Three days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes(H) stood before me 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. 32 Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.’ 33 So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.”

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