Psalm 140-142

New International Version

Psalm 140^[a]

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

¹Rescue me,^(A) Lord, from evildoers;
    protect me from the violent,^(B)
²who devise evil plans^(C) in their hearts
    and stir up war^(D) every day.
³They make their tongues as sharp as^(E) a serpent’s;
    the poison of vipers^(F) is on their lips.^[b]

⁴Keep me safe,^(G) Lord, from the hands of the wicked;^(H)
    protect me from the violent,
    who devise ways to trip my feet.
⁵The arrogant have hidden a snare^(I) for me;
    they have spread out the cords of their net^(J)
    and have set traps^(K) for me along my path.

⁶I say to the Lord, “You are my God.”^(L)
    Hear, Lord, my cry for mercy.^(M)
⁷Sovereign Lord,^(N) my strong deliverer,
    you shield my head in the day of battle.
⁸Do not grant the wicked^(O) their desires, Lord;
    do not let their plans succeed.

⁹Those who surround me proudly rear their heads;
    may the mischief of their lips engulf them.^(P)
¹⁰May burning coals fall on them;
    may they be thrown into the fire,^(Q)
    into miry pits, never to rise.
¹¹May slanderers not be established in the land;
    may disaster hunt down the violent.^(R)

¹²I know that the Lord secures justice for the poor^(S)
and upholds the cause^(T) of the needy.^(U)
¹³Surely the righteous will praise your name,^(V)
and the upright will live^(W) in your presence.^(X)

Psalm 141

A psalm of David.

¹I call to you, Lord, come quickly^(Y) to me;
hear me^(Z) when I call to you.
²May my prayer be set before you like incense;^(AA)
may the lifting up of my hands^(AB) be like the evening sacrifice.^(AC)

³Set a guard over my mouth,^(AD) Lord;
    keep watch over the door of my lips.^(AE)
⁴Do not let my heart^(AF) be drawn to what is evil
    so that I take part in wicked deeds^(AG)
along with those who are evildoers;
    do not let me eat their delicacies.^(AH)

⁵Let a righteous man strike me—that is a kindness;
let him rebuke me^(AI)—that is oil on my head.^(AJ)
My head will not refuse it,
for my prayer will still be against the deeds of evildoers.

⁶Their rulers will be thrown down from the cliffs,^(AK)
and the wicked will learn that my words were well spoken.
⁷They will say, “As one plows^(AL) and breaks up the earth,^(AM)
so our bones have been scattered at the mouth^(AN) of the grave.”

⁸But my eyes are fixed^(AO) on you, Sovereign Lord;
    in you I take refuge^(AP)—do not give me over to death.
⁹Keep me safe^(AQ) from the traps set by evildoers,^(AR)
    from the snares^(AS) they have laid for me.
¹⁰Let the wicked fall^(AT) into their own nets,
    while I pass by in safety.^(AU)

Psalm 142^[c]

A maskil^[d] of David. When he was in the cave.^(AV) A prayer.

¹I cry aloud^(AW) to the Lord;
I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy.^(AX)
²I pour out before him my complaint;^(AY)
before him I tell my trouble.^(AZ)

³When my spirit grows faint^(BA) within me,
    it is you who watch over my way.
In the path where I walk
    people have hidden a snare for me.
⁴Look and see, there is no one at my right hand;
    no one is concerned for me.
I have no refuge;^(BB)
    no one cares^(BC) for my life.

⁵I cry to you, Lord;
I say, “You are my refuge,^(BD)
my portion^(BE) in the land of the living.”^(BF)

⁶Listen to my cry,^(BG)
    for I am in desperate need;^(BH)
rescue me^(BI) from those who pursue me,
    for they are too strong^(BJ) for me.
⁷Set me free from my prison,^(BK)
    that I may praise your name.^(BL)
Then the righteous will gather about me
    because of your goodness to me.^(BM)

Footnotes

Psalm 140:1 In Hebrew texts 140:1-13 is numbered 140:2-14.
Psalm 140:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verses 5 and 8.
Psalm 142:1 In Hebrew texts 142:1-7 is numbered 142:2-8.
Psalm 142:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term

1 Corinthians 14:1-20

New International Version

Intelligibility in Worship

14 Follow the way of love^(A) and eagerly desire^(B) gifts of the Spirit,^(C) especially prophecy.^(D) ²For anyone who speaks in a tongue^[a]^(E) does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them;^(F) they utter mysteries^(G) by the Spirit. ³But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening,^(H) encouraging^(I) and comfort. ⁴Anyone who speaks in a tongue^(J) edifies^(K) themselves, but the one who prophesies^(L) edifies the church. ⁵I would like every one of you to speak in tongues,^[b] but I would rather have you prophesy.^(M) The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues,^[c] unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified.^(N)

⁶Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation^(O) or knowledge^(P) or prophecy or word of instruction?^(Q) ⁷Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the pipe or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? ⁸Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?^(R) ⁹So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. ¹⁰Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. ¹¹If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker is a foreigner to me.^(S) ¹²So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit,^(T) try to excel in those that build up^(U) the church.

¹³For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say.^(V) ¹⁴For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays,^(W) but my mind is unfruitful. ¹⁵So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit,^(X) but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing^(Y) with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding. ¹⁶Otherwise when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an inquirer,^[d] say “Amen”^(Z) to your thanksgiving,^(AA) since they do not know what you are saying? ¹⁷You are giving thanks well enough, but no one else is edified.^(AB)

¹⁸I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. ¹⁹But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.^(AC)

²⁰Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children.^(AD) In regard to evil be infants,^(AE) but in your thinking be adults.

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Footnotes

1 Corinthians 14:2 Or in another language; also in verses 4, 13, 14, 19, 26 and 27
1 Corinthians 14:5 Or in other languages; also in verses 6, 18, 22, 23 and 39
1 Corinthians 14:5 Or in other languages; also in verses 6, 18, 22, 23 and 39
1 Corinthians 14:16 The Greek word for inquirer is a technical term for someone not fully initiated into a religion; also in verses 23 and 24.