Psalm 124-127

New International Version

Psalm 124

A song of ascents. Of David.

¹If the Lord had not been on our side—
    let Israel say^(A)—
²if the Lord had not been on our side
    when people attacked us,
³they would have swallowed us alive
    when their anger flared against us;
⁴the flood^(B) would have engulfed us,
    the torrent^(C) would have swept over us,
⁵the raging waters
    would have swept us away.

⁶Praise be to the Lord,
    who has not let us be torn by their teeth.
⁷We have escaped like a bird
    from the fowler’s snare;^(D)
the snare has been broken,^(E)
    and we have escaped.
⁸Our help is in the name^(F) of the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven^(G) and earth.

Psalm 125

A song of ascents.

¹Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion,^(H)
    which cannot be shaken^(I) but endures forever.
²As the mountains surround Jerusalem,^(J)
    so the Lord surrounds^(K) his people
    both now and forevermore.

³The scepter^(L) of the wicked will not remain^(M)
over the land allotted to the righteous,
for then the righteous might use
their hands to do evil.^(N)

⁴Lord, do good^(O) to those who are good,
to those who are upright in heart.^(P)
⁵But those who turn^(Q) to crooked ways^(R)
the Lord will banish^(S) with the evildoers.

Peace be on Israel.^(T)

Psalm 126

A song of ascents.

¹When the Lord restored^(U) the fortunes of^[a] Zion,
    we were like those who dreamed.^[b]
²Our mouths were filled with laughter,^(V)
    our tongues with songs of joy.^(W)
Then it was said among the nations,
    “The Lord has done great things^(X) for them.”
³The Lord has done great things^(Y) for us,
    and we are filled with joy.^(Z)

⁴Restore our fortunes,^[c]^(AA) Lord,
    like streams in the Negev.^(AB)
⁵Those who sow with tears^(AC)
    will reap^(AD) with songs of joy.^(AE)
⁶Those who go out weeping,^(AF)
    carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy,
    carrying sheaves with them.

Psalm 127

A song of ascents. Of Solomon.

¹Unless the Lord builds^(AG) the house,
    the builders labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches^(AH) over the city,
    the guards stand watch in vain.
²In vain you rise early
    and stay up late,
toiling for food^(AI) to eat—
    for he grants sleep^(AJ) to^[d] those he loves.^(AK)

³Children are a heritage from the Lord,
    offspring a reward^(AL) from him.
⁴Like arrows^(AM) in the hands of a warrior
    are children born in one’s youth.
⁵Blessed is the man
    whose quiver is full of them.^(AN)
They will not be put to shame
    when they contend with their opponents^(AO) in court.^(AP)

Footnotes

Psalm 126:1 Or Lord brought back the captives to
Psalm 126:1 Or those restored to health
Psalm 126:4 Or Bring back our captives
Psalm 127:2 Or eat— / for while they sleep he provides for

1 Corinthians 7:1-24

New International Version

Concerning Married Life

7 Now for the matters you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.”^(A) ²But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband. ³The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife,^(B) and likewise the wife to her husband. ⁴The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife. ⁵Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time,^(C) so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan^(D) will not tempt you^(E) because of your lack of self-control. ⁶I say this as a concession, not as a command.^(F) ⁷I wish that all of you were as I am.^(G) But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.^(H)

⁸Now to the unmarried^[a] and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do.^(I) ⁹But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry,^(J) for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

¹⁰To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband.^(K) ¹¹But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband.^(L) And a husband must not divorce his wife.

¹²To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord):^(M) If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. ¹³And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. ¹⁴For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.^(N)

¹⁵But if the unbeliever leaves, let it be so. The brother or the sister is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace.^(O) ¹⁶How do you know, wife, whether you will save^(P) your husband?^(Q) Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

Concerning Change of Status

¹⁷Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them.^(R) This is the rule I lay down in all the churches.^(S) ¹⁸Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised.^(T) ¹⁹Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing.^(U) Keeping God’s commands is what counts. ²⁰Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.^(V)

²¹Were you a slave when you were called? Don’t let it trouble you—although if you can gain your freedom, do so. ²²For the one who was a slave when called to faith in the Lord is the Lord’s freed person;^(W) similarly, the one who was free when called is Christ’s slave.^(X) ²³You were bought at a price;^(Y) do not become slaves of human beings. ²⁴Brothers and sisters, each person, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.^(Z)