◀ All Reading Plans / Old/New Testament / Psalm 140-142 1 Corinthians 14:1-20 (New English Translation)

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Old/New Testament

Each day includes a passage from both the Old Testament and New Testament.

Duration: 365 days

Psalm 140-142

Psalm 140^[a]

For the music director, a psalm of David.

140 O Lord, rescue me from wicked men.^[b]
Protect me from violent men,^[c]
²who plan ways to harm me.^[d]
All day long they stir up conflict.^[e]
³Their tongues wound like a serpent;^[f]
a viper’s^[g] venom is behind^[h] their lips. (Selah)
⁴O Lord, shelter me from the power^[i] of the wicked.
Protect me from violent men,
who plan to knock me over.^[j]
⁵Proud men hide a snare for me;
evil men^[k] spread a net by the path.
They set traps for me. (Selah)
⁶I say to the Lord, “You are my God.”
O Lord, pay attention to my plea for mercy.
⁷O Sovereign Lord, my strong deliverer,^[l]
you shield^[m] my head in the day of battle.
⁸O Lord, do not let the wicked have their way.^[n]
Do not allow their^[o] plan to succeed when they attack.^[p] (Selah)
⁹As for the heads of those who surround me—
may the harm done by^[q] their lips overwhelm them.
¹⁰May he rain down^[r] fiery coals upon them.
May he throw them into the fire.
From bottomless pits they will not escape.^[s]
¹¹A slanderer^[t] will not endure on^[u] the earth;
calamity will hunt down a violent man and strike him down.^[v]
¹²I know^[w] that the Lord defends the cause of the oppressed
and vindicates the poor.^[x]
¹³Certainly the godly will give thanks to your name;
the morally upright will live in your presence.

Psalm 141^[y]

A psalm of David.

141 O Lord, I cry out to you. Come quickly to me.
Pay attention to me when I cry out to you.
²May you accept my prayer like incense,
my uplifted hands like the evening offering.^[z]
³O Lord, place a guard on my mouth.
Protect the opening^[aa] of my lips.^[ab]
⁴Do not let me have evil desires,^[ac]
or participate in sinful activities
with men who behave wickedly.^[ad]
I will not eat their delicacies.^[ae]
⁵May the godly strike me in love and correct me.
May my head not refuse^[af] choice oil.^[ag]
Indeed, my prayer is a witness against their evil deeds.^[ah]
⁶They will be thrown over the side of a cliff by their judges.^[ai]
They^[aj] will listen to my words, for they are pleasant.
⁷As when one plows and breaks up the soil,^[ak]
so our bones are scattered at the mouth of Sheol.
⁸Surely I am looking to you,^[al] O Sovereign Lord.
In you I take shelter.
Do not expose me to danger.^[am]
⁹Protect me from the snare they have laid for me,
and the traps the evildoers have set.^[an]
¹⁰Let the wicked fall^[ao] into their^[ap] own nets,
while I escape.^[aq]

Psalm 142^[ar]

A well-written song^[as] by David, when he was in the cave;^[at] a prayer.

142 To the Lord I cry out;^[au]
to the Lord I plead for mercy.^[av]
²I pour out my lament before him;
I tell him about^[aw] my troubles.
³Even when my strength leaves me,^[ax]
you watch my footsteps.^[ay]
In the path where I walk
they have hidden a trap for me.
⁴Look to the right and see.
No one cares about me.^[az]
I have nowhere to run;^[ba]
no one is concerned about my life.^[bb]
⁵I cry out to you, O Lord;
I say, “You are my shelter,
my security^[bc] in the land of the living.”
⁶Listen to my cry for help,
for I am in serious trouble.^[bd]
Rescue me from those who chase me,
for they are stronger than I am.
⁷Free me^[be] from prison,
that I may give thanks to your name.
Because of me the godly will assemble,^[bf]
for you will vindicate me.^[bg]

Footnotes

Psalm 140:1 sn Psalm 140. The psalmist asks God to deliver him from his deadly enemies, calls judgment down upon them, and affirms his confidence in God’s justice.
Psalm 140:1 tn Heb “from a wicked man.” The Hebrew uses the singular in a representative or collective sense (note the plural verbs in v. 2).
Psalm 140:1 tn Heb “a man of violent acts.” The Hebrew uses the singular in a representative or collective sense (note the plural verbs in v. 2).
Psalm 140:2 tn Heb “they devise wicked [plans] in [their] mind.”
Psalm 140:2 tc Heb “they attack [for] war.” Some revocalize the verb (which is a Qal imperfect from גּוּר, gur, “to attack”) as יְגָרוּ (y^egaru), a Piel imperfect from גָרָה (garah, “stir up strife”). This is followed in the present translation.
Psalm 140:3 tn Heb “they sharpen their tongue like a serpent.” Ps 64:3 reads, “they sharpen their tongues like sword.” Perhaps Ps 140:3 uses a mixed metaphor, the point being that “they sharpen their tongues [like a sword],” as it were, so that when they speak, their words wound like a serpent’s bite. Another option is that the language refers to the pointed or forked nature of a serpent’s tongue, which is viewed metaphorically as “sharpened.”
Psalm 140:3 tn The Hebrew term is used only here in the OT.
Psalm 140:3 tn Heb “under.”
Psalm 140:4 tn Heb “hands.”
Psalm 140:4 tn Heb “to push down my steps.”
Psalm 140:5 tn Heb “and ropes,” but many prefer to revocalize the noun as a participle (חֹבְלִים, khov^elim) from the verb חָבַל (khaval, “act corruptly”).
Psalm 140:7 tn Heb “the strength of my deliverance.”
Psalm 140:7 tn Heb “cover.”
Psalm 140:8 tn Heb “do not grant the desires of the wicked.”
Psalm 140:8 tn Heb “his.” The singular is used in a representative sense (see v. 1).
Psalm 140:8 tn Heb “his plot do not promote, they rise up.” The translation understands the final verb as being an unmarked temporal clause. Another option is to revocalize the verb as a Hiphil and take the verb with the next verse, “those who surround me lift up [their] head,” which could refer to their proud attitude as they anticipate victory (see Ps 27:6).
Psalm 140:9 tn Heb “harm of their lips.” The genitive here indicates the source or agent of the harm.
Psalm 140:10 tn The verb form in the Kethib (consonantal Hebrew text) appears to be a Hiphil imperfect from the root מוּט (mut, “to sway”), but the Hiphil occurs only here and in Ps 55:3, where it is preferable to read יַמְטִירוּ (yamtiru, “they rain down”). In Ps 140:10 the form יַמְטֵר (yamter, “let him rain down”) should probably be read.
Psalm 140:10 tn Heb “into bottomless pits, they will not arise.” The translation assumes that the preposition ב (bet) has the nuance “from” here. Another option is to connect the line with what precedes, take the final clause as an asyndetic relative clause, and translate, “into bottomless pits [from which] they cannot arise.” The Hebrew noun מַהֲמֹרָה (mahamorah, “bottomless pit”) occurs only here in the OT.
Psalm 140:11 tn Heb “a man of a tongue.”
Psalm 140:11 tn Heb “be established in.”
Psalm 140:11 tn Heb “for blows.” The Hebrew noun מַדְחֵפֹה (madkhefoh, “blow”) occurs only here in the OT.
Psalm 140:12 tc The translation follows the Qere and many medieval Hebrew mss in reading a first person verb form here. The Kethib reads the second person.
Psalm 140:12 tn Heb “and the just cause of the poor.”
Psalm 141:1 sn Psalm 141. The psalmist asks God to protect him from sin and from sinful men.
Psalm 141:2 tn Heb “may my prayer be established [like] incense before you, the uplifting of my hands [like] an evening offering.”
Psalm 141:3 tn Heb “door.” The Hebrew word occurs only here in the OT.
Psalm 141:3 sn My mouth…my lips. The psalmist asks God to protect him from speaking inappropriately or sinfully.
Psalm 141:4 tn Heb “do not turn my heart toward an evil thing.”
Psalm 141:4 tn Heb “to act sinfully in practices in wickedness with men, doers of evil.”
Psalm 141:4 sn Their delicacies. This probably refers to the enjoyment that a sinful lifestyle appears to offer.
Psalm 141:5 tn The form יָנִי (yani) appears to be derived from the verbal root נוּא (nuʾ). Another option is to emend the form to יְנָא (y^enaʾ), a Piel from נָאָה (naʾah), and translate “may choice oil not adorn my head” (see L. C. Allen, Psalms 101-150 [WBC], 271). In this case, choice oil, like delicacies in v. 4, symbolize the pleasures of sin.
Psalm 141:5 sn May my head not refuse choice oil. The psalmist compares the constructive criticism of the godly (see the previous line) to having refreshing olive oil poured over one’s head.
Psalm 141:5 tc Heb “for still, and my prayer [is] against their evil deeds.” The syntax of the Hebrew text is difficult; the sequence -כִּי־עוֹד וּ (ki ʿod u-, “for still and”) occurs only here. The translation assumes an emendation to כִּי עֵד תְּפִלָּתִי (ki ʿed t^efillati, “indeed a witness [is] my prayer”). The psalmist’s lament about the evil actions of sinful men (see v. 4) testifies against the wicked in the divine court.
Psalm 141:6 tn Heb “they are thrown down by the hands of a cliff, their judges.” The syntax of the Hebrew text is difficult and the meaning uncertain. The perfect verbal form is understood as rhetorical; the psalmist describes the anticipated downfall of the wicked as if it had already occurred. “Their judges” could be taken as the subject of the verb, but this makes little, if any, sense. The translation assumes the judges are the agents and that the wicked, mentioned earlier in the psalm, are the subjects of the verb.
Psalm 141:6 tn It is unclear how this statement relates to the preceding sentence. Perhaps the judges are the referent of the pronominal subject (“they”) of the verb “will listen,” and “my words” are the referent of the pronominal subject (“they”) of the phrase “are pleasant.” The psalmist may be affirming here his confidence that he will be vindicated when he presents his case before the judges, while the wicked will be punished.
Psalm 141:7 tn Heb “like splitting and breaking open in the earth.” The meaning of the statement and the point of the comparison are not entirely clear. Perhaps the psalmist is suggesting that he and other godly individuals are as good as dead; their bones are scattered about like dirt that is dug up and tossed aside.
Psalm 141:8 tn Heb “my eyes [are] toward you.”
Psalm 141:8 tn Heb “do not lay bare my life.” Only here is the Piel form of the verb collocated with the term נֶפֶשׁ (nefesh, “life”). In Isa 53:12 the Lord’s servant “lays bare (the Hiphil form of the verb is used) his life to death.”
Psalm 141:9 tn Heb “and the traps of the doers of evil.”
Psalm 141:10 tn The prefixed verbal form is understood as a jussive of prayer. Another option is to translate, “the wicked will fall.”
Psalm 141:10 tn Heb “his.”
Psalm 141:10 tn Heb “at the same [that] I, until I pass by.” Another option is to take יַחַד (yakhad) with the preceding line, “let the wicked fall together into their own nets.”
Psalm 142:1 sn Psalm 142. The psalmist laments his persecuted state and asks the Lord to deliver him from his enemies.
Psalm 142:1 tn The meaning of the Hebrew term מַשְׂכִּיל (maskil) is uncertain. The word is derived from a verb meaning “to be prudent; to be wise.” Various options are: “a contemplative song,” “a song imparting moral wisdom,” or “a skillful [i.e., well-written] song.” The term occurs in the superscriptions of Pss 32, 42, 44, 45, 52-55, 74, 78, 88, 89, and 142, as well as in Ps 47:7.
Psalm 142:1 sn According to the superscription, David wrote this psalm while in “the cave.” This probably refers to either the incident recorded in 1 Sam 22:1 or to the one recorded in 1 Sam 24:3. See the superscription of Ps 57.
Psalm 142:1 tn Heb “[with] my voice to the Lord I cry out.”
Psalm 142:1 tn Heb “[with] my voice to the Lord I plead for mercy.”
Psalm 142:2 tn Heb “my trouble before him I declare.”
Psalm 142:3 tn Heb “my spirit grows faint.”
Psalm 142:3 tn Heb “you know my path.”
Psalm 142:4 tn Heb “there is no one who recognizes me.”
Psalm 142:4 tn Heb “ a place of refuge perishes from me.”
Psalm 142:4 tn Heb “there is no one who seeks for the sake of my life.”
Psalm 142:5 tn Heb “my portion.” The psalmist compares the Lord to landed property, which was foundational to economic stability in ancient Israel.
Psalm 142:6 tn Heb “for I am very low.”
Psalm 142:7 tn Heb “bring out my life.”
Psalm 142:7 tn Or “gather around.”
Psalm 142:7 tn The Hebrew idiom גָּמַל עַל (gamal ʿal) means “to repay,” here in a positive sense.

1 Corinthians 14:1-20

Prophecy and Tongues

14 Pursue love and be eager for the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. ²For the one speaking in a tongue does not speak to people but to God, for no one understands; he is speaking mysteries by the Spirit.^[a] ³But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening,^[b] encouragement, and consolation. ⁴The one who speaks in a tongue builds himself up,^[c] but the one who prophesies builds up the church. ⁵I wish you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets so that the church may be strengthened.

⁶Now, brothers and sisters,^[d] if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I help you unless I speak to you with a revelation or with knowledge or prophecy or teaching? ⁷It is similar for lifeless things that make a sound, like a flute or harp. Unless they make a distinction in the notes, how can what is played on the flute or harp be understood? ⁸If, for example, the trumpet makes an unclear sound, who will get ready for battle? ⁹It is the same for you. If you do not speak clearly with your tongue, how will anyone know what is being said? For you will be speaking into the air. ¹⁰There are probably many kinds of languages in the world, and none is without meaning. ¹¹If then I do not know the meaning of a language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me. ¹²It is the same with you. Since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit,^[e] seek to abound in order to strengthen the church.

¹³So then, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret. ¹⁴If^[f] I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unproductive. ¹⁵What should I do?^[g] I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind. I will sing praises with my spirit, but I will also sing praises with my mind. ¹⁶Otherwise, if you are praising God with your spirit, how can someone without the gift^[h] say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying? ¹⁷For you are certainly giving thanks well, but the other person is not strengthened. ¹⁸I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you, ¹⁹but in the church I want to speak five words with my mind to instruct others, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.

²⁰Brothers and sisters,^[i] do not be children in your thinking. Instead, be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.

New English Translation (NET)

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Old/New Testament

Psalm 140[a]

For the music director, a psalm of David.

Psalm 141[y]

A psalm of David.

Psalm 142[ar]

A well-written song[as] by David, when he was in the cave;[at] a prayer.

Footnotes

Prophecy and Tongues

Footnotes

Psalm 140^[a]

Psalm 141^[y]

Psalm 142^[ar]

A well-written song^[as] by David, when he was in the cave;^[at] a prayer.