Book of Common Prayer
The Law of the Lord Is Perfect
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.
19 (A)The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above[a] proclaims his handiwork.
2 Day to day pours out speech,
and night to night reveals knowledge.
3 There is no speech, nor are there words,
whose voice is not heard.
4 (B)Their (C)voice[b] goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.
In them he has set a tent for (D)the sun,
5 (E)which comes out like (F)a bridegroom leaving his chamber,
and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.
6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens,
and its circuit to the end of them,
and there is nothing hidden from its heat.
7 (G)The law of the Lord is perfect,[c]
(H)reviving the soul;
(I)the testimony of the Lord is (J)sure,
(K)making wise (L)the simple;
8 (M)the precepts of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is (N)pure,
(O)enlightening the eyes;
9 the fear of the Lord is clean,
enduring forever;
the rules[d] of the Lord are (P)true,
and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than (Q)gold,
even much (R)fine gold;
(S)sweeter also than honey
and drippings of (T)the honeycomb.
11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
(U)in keeping them there is great reward.
18 (A)For thus says the Lord,
who created the heavens
(he is God!),
who formed the earth and made it
(he established it;
he (B)did not create it empty,
(C)he formed it to be inhabited!):
“I am the Lord, and there is no other.
19 (D)I did not speak in secret,
in a land of darkness;
I did not say to the offspring of Jacob,
(E)‘Seek me in vain.’[a]
I the Lord speak (F)the truth;
I declare what is right.
20 (G)“Assemble yourselves and come;
draw near together,
you survivors of the nations!
(H)They have no knowledge
who (I)carry about their wooden idols,
(J)and keep on praying to a god
that cannot save.
21 (K)Declare and present your case;
let them take counsel together!
Who told this long ago?
Who declared it of old?
Was it not I, the Lord?
And there is no other god besides me,
a righteous God (L)and a Savior;
there is none besides me.
4 (A)though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 (B)circumcised on the eighth day, (C)of the people of Israel, (D)of the tribe of Benjamin, (E)a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, (F)a Pharisee; 6 (G)as to zeal, (H)a persecutor of the church; (I)as to righteousness under the law,[a] blameless. 7 But (J)whatever gain I had, (K)I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of (L)the surpassing worth of (M)knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I (N)have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having (O)a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but (P)that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 (Q)that I may know him and (R)the power of his resurrection, and (S)may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may (T)attain the resurrection from the dead.
Lamedh
89 Forever, O Lord, your (A)word
is firmly fixed in the heavens.
90 Your (B)faithfulness endures to all generations;
you have (C)established the earth, and it (D)stands fast.
91 By your (E)appointment they stand this day,
for all things are your servants.
92 If your law had not been my (F)delight,
I would have perished in my affliction.
93 I will never forget your precepts,
for by them you have (G)given me life.
94 I am yours; save me,
(H)for I have sought your precepts.
95 The wicked lie in wait to destroy me,
but I consider your testimonies.
96 I have seen a limit to all perfection,
but your commandment is exceedingly (I)broad.
Mem
97 Oh how (J)I love your law!
It is my (K)meditation all the day.
98 Your commandment makes me (L)wiser than my enemies,
for it is ever with me.
99 I have more understanding than all my teachers,
for (M)your testimonies are my meditation.
100 I understand more than (N)the aged,[a]
for I (O)keep your precepts.
101 I (P)hold back my feet from every evil way,
in order to keep your word.
102 I do not turn aside from your rules,
for you have taught me.
103 How (Q)sweet are your words to my taste,
sweeter than honey to my mouth!
104 Through your precepts I get understanding;
therefore (R)I hate every false way.
Nun
105 (S)Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path.
106 I have (T)sworn an oath and confirmed it,
to keep your (U)righteous rules.
107 I am severely (V)afflicted;
(W)give me life, O Lord, according to your word!
108 Accept (X)my freewill offerings of praise, O Lord,
and (Y)teach me your rules.
109 I hold my life (Z)in my hand continually,
but I do not (AA)forget your law.
110 The wicked have laid (AB)a snare for me,
but (AC)I do not stray from your precepts.
111 Your testimonies are (AD)my heritage forever,
for they are (AE)the joy of my heart.
112 I (AF)incline my heart to perform your statutes
forever, (AG)to the end.[b]
The Conversion of Saul
9 But Saul, (A)still (B)breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to (C)the high priest 2 and asked him for letters (D)to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to (E)the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 (F)Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting (G)me?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, (H)whom you are persecuting. 6 But (I)rise and enter the city, and you will be told (J)what you are to do.” 7 (K)The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, (L)hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, (M)he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named (N)Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, (O)“Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man (P)of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and (Q)lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, (R)how much evil he has done to (S)your (T)saints at Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from (U)the chief priests to bind all who (V)call on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for (W)he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name (X)before the Gentiles and (Y)kings and the children of Israel. 16 For (Z)I will show him how much (AA)he must suffer (AB)for the sake of my name.” 17 So (AC)Ananias departed and entered the house. And (AD)laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and (AE)be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and (AF)he regained his sight. Then (AG)he rose and was baptized; 19 and (AH)taking food, he was strengthened.
Saul Proclaims Jesus in Synagogues
For (AI)some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. 20 And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, (AJ)“He is the Son of God.” 21 And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who (AK)made havoc (AL)in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” 22 But Saul (AM)increased all the more in strength, and (AN)confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving (AO)that Jesus was the Christ.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.