Old/New Testament
Psalm 119[a]
א (Alef)
119 How blessed are those whose actions are blameless,[b]
who obey[c] the law of the Lord.
2 How blessed are those who observe his rules,
and seek him with all their heart,
3 who, moreover, do no wrong,
but follow in his footsteps.[d]
4 You demand that your precepts
be carefully kept.[e]
5 If only I were predisposed[f]
to keep your statutes.
6 Then I would not be ashamed,
if[g] I were focused on[h] all your commands.
7 I will give you sincere thanks,[i]
when I learn your just regulations.
8 I will keep your statutes.
Do not completely abandon me.[j]
ב (Bet)
9 How can a young person[k] maintain a pure life?[l]
By guarding it according to your instructions.[m]
10 With all my heart I seek you.
Do not allow me to stray from your commands.
11 In my heart I store up[n] your words,[o]
so I might not sin against you.
12 You deserve praise,[p] O Lord.
Teach me your statutes.
13 With my lips I proclaim
all the regulations you have revealed.[q]
14 I rejoice in the lifestyle prescribed by your rules[r]
as if[s] they were riches of all kinds.[t]
15 I will meditate on[u] your precepts
and focus on[v] your behavior.[w]
16 I find delight[x] in your statutes;
I do not forget your instructions.[y]
ג (Gimel)
17 Be kind to your servant.
Then I will live[z] and keep[aa] your instructions.[ab]
18 Open[ac] my eyes so I can truly see[ad]
the marvelous things in your law.
19 I am a resident foreigner in this land.[ae]
Do not hide your commands from me.
20 I desperately long to know[af]
your regulations at all times.
21 You reprimand arrogant people.
Those who stray from your commands are doomed.[ag]
22 Spare me[ah] shame and humiliation,
for I observe your rules.
23 Though rulers plot and slander me,[ai]
your servant meditates on your statutes.
24 Yes, I find delight in your rules;
they give me guidance.[aj]
ד (Dalet)
25 I collapse in the dirt.[ak]
Revive me with your word.[al]
26 I told you about my ways[am] and you answered me.
Teach me your statutes.
27 Help me to understand what your precepts mean.[an]
Then I can meditate[ao] on your marvelous teachings.[ap]
28 I collapse[aq] from grief.
Sustain me by your word.[ar]
29 Remove me from the path of deceit.[as]
Graciously give me[at] your law.
30 I choose the path of faithfulness;
I am committed to[au] your regulations.
31 I hold fast[av] to your rules.
O Lord, do not let me be ashamed.
32 I run along the path of your commands,
for you enable me to do so.[aw]
ה (He)
33 Teach me, O Lord, the lifestyle prescribed by your statutes,[ax]
so that I might observe it continually.[ay]
34 Give me understanding so that I might observe your law,
and keep it with all my heart.[az]
35 Guide me[ba] in the path of your commands,
for I delight to walk in it.[bb]
36 Give me a desire for your rules,[bc]
rather than for wealth gained unjustly.[bd]
37 Turn my eyes away from what is worthless.[be]
Revive me with your word.[bf]
38 Confirm to your servant your promise,[bg]
which you made to the one who honors you.[bh]
39 Take away the insults that I dread.[bi]
Indeed,[bj] your regulations are good.
40 Look, I long for your precepts.
Revive me with your deliverance.[bk]
ו (Vav)
41 May I experience your loyal love,[bl] O Lord,
and your deliverance,[bm] as you promised.[bn]
42 Then I will have a reply for the one who insults me,[bo]
for I trust in your word.
43 Do not completely deprive me of a truthful testimony,[bp]
for I await your justice.
44 Then I will keep[bq] your law continually
now and for all time.[br]
45 I will be secure,[bs]
for I seek your precepts.
46 I will speak[bt] about your regulations before kings
and not be ashamed.
47 I will find delight in your commands,
which I love.
48 I will lift my hands to[bu] your commands,
which I love,
and I will meditate on your statutes.
ז (Zayin)
49 Remember your word to your servant,
for you have given me hope.
50 This[bv] is what comforts me in my trouble,
for your promise revives me.[bw]
51 Arrogant people do nothing but scoff at me.[bx]
Yet I do not turn aside from your law.
52 I remember your ancient regulations,[by]
O Lord, and console myself.[bz]
53 Rage takes hold of me because of the wicked,
those who reject your law.
54 Your statutes have been my songs[ca]
in the house where I live.[cb]
55 I remember your name during the night, O Lord,
and I will keep[cc] your law.
56 This[cd] has been my practice,
for I observe your precepts.
ח (Khet)
57 The Lord is my source of security.[ce]
I have determined[cf] to follow your instructions.[cg]
58 I seek your favor[ch] with all my heart.
Have mercy on me as you promised.[ci]
59 I consider my actions[cj]
and follow[ck] your rules.
60 I keep your commands eagerly
and without delay.[cl]
61 The ropes of the wicked tighten around[cm] me,
but I do not forget your law.
62 In the middle of the night I arise[cn] to thank you
for your just regulations.
63 I am a friend to all your loyal followers,[co]
and to those who keep your precepts.
64 O Lord, your loyal love fills the earth.
Teach me your statutes!
ט (Tet)
65 You are good[cp] to your servant,
O Lord, just as you promised.[cq]
66 Teach me proper discernment[cr] and understanding.
For I consider your commands to be reliable.[cs]
67 Before I was afflicted I used to stray off,[ct]
but now I keep your instructions.[cu]
68 You are good and you do good.
Teach me your statutes.
69 Arrogant people smear my reputation with lies,[cv]
but I observe your precepts with all my heart.
70 Their hearts are calloused,[cw]
but I find delight in your law.
71 It was good for me to suffer,
so that I might learn your statutes.
72 The law you have revealed is more important to me
than thousands of pieces of gold and silver.[cx]
י (Yod)
73 Your hands made me and formed me.[cy]
Give me understanding so that I might learn[cz] your commands.
74 Your loyal followers will be glad when they see me,[da]
for I find hope in your word.
75 I know, Lord, that your regulations[db] are just.
You disciplined me because of your faithful devotion to me.[dc]
76 May your loyal love console me,
as you promised your servant.[dd]
77 May I experience your compassion,[de] so I might live.
For I find delight in your law.
78 May the arrogant be humiliated, for they have slandered me.[df]
But I meditate on your precepts.
79 May your loyal followers[dg] turn to me,
those who know your rules.
80 May I be fully committed to your statutes,[dh]
so that I might not be ashamed.
כ (Kaf)
81 I desperately long for[di] your deliverance.
I find hope in your word.
82 My eyes grow tired as I wait for your promise to be fulfilled.[dj]
I say,[dk] “When will you comfort me?”
83 For[dl] I am like a wineskin[dm] dried up in smoke.[dn]
I do not forget your statutes.
84 How long must your servant endure this?[do]
When will you judge those who pursue me?
85 The arrogant dig pits to trap me,[dp]
which violates your law.[dq]
86 All your commands are reliable.
I am pursued without reason.[dr] Help me!
87 They have almost destroyed me here on the earth,
but I do not reject your precepts.
88 Revive me with[ds] your loyal love,
that I might keep[dt] the rules you have revealed.[du]
20 Let each one remain in that situation in life[a] in which he was called. 21 Were you called as a slave?[b] Do not worry about it. But if indeed you are able to be free, make the most of the opportunity. 22 For the one who was called in the Lord as a slave is the Lord’s freedman. In the same way, the one who was called as a free person is Christ’s slave. 23 You were bought with a price. Do not become slaves of men. 24 In whatever situation someone was called, brothers and sisters,[c] let him remain in it with God.
Remaining Unmarried
25 With regard to the question about people who have never married,[d] I have no command from the Lord, but I give my opinion as one shown mercy by the Lord to be trustworthy. 26 Because of the impending crisis I think it best for you to remain as you are. 27 The one bound to a wife should not seek divorce. The one released from a wife should not seek marriage.[e] 28 But if you marry, you have not sinned. And if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face difficult circumstances,[f] and I am trying to spare you such problems.[g] 29 And I say this, brothers and sisters:[h] The time is short. So then those who have wives should be as those who have none, 30 those with tears like those not weeping, those who rejoice like those not rejoicing, those who buy like those without possessions, 31 those who use the world as though they were not using it to the full. For the present shape of this world is passing away.
32 And I want you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. 33 But a married man is concerned about the things of the world, how to please his wife, 34 and he is divided. An unmarried woman[i] or a virgin[j] is concerned about the things of the Lord, to be holy both in body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the things of the world, how to please her husband. 35 I am saying this for your benefit, not to place a limitation on you, but so that without distraction you may give notable and constant service to the Lord.
36 If anyone thinks he is acting inappropriately toward his virgin,[k] if she is past the bloom of youth[l] and it seems necessary, he should do what he wishes; he does not sin. Let them marry. 37 But the man who is firm in his commitment, and is under no necessity but has control over his will, and has decided in his own mind to keep his own virgin, does well. 38 So then, the one who marries[m] his own virgin does well, but the one who does not, does better.[n]
39 A wife is bound as long as her husband is living. But if her husband dies,[o] she is free to marry anyone she wishes (only someone in the Lord). 40 But in my opinion, she will be happier if she remains as she is—and I think that I too have the Spirit of God!
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