Amshir 15, 1741

2 Corinthians 6

¹⁴Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? ¹⁵And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? ¹⁶And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people." ¹⁷Therefore "Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you." ¹⁸"I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty."

2 Corinthians 7

¹Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. ²Open your hearts to us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have cheated no one. ³I do not say this to condemn; for I have said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together. ⁴Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort. I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation. ⁵For indeed, when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were troubled on every side. Outside were conflicts, inside were fears. ⁶Nevertheless God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, ⁷and not only by his coming, but also by the consolation with which he was comforted in you, when he told us of your earnest desire, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more. ⁸For even if I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it. For I perceive that the same epistle made you sorry, though only for a while. ⁹Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. ¹⁰For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. ¹¹For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter. ¹²Therefore, although I wrote to you, I did not do it for the sake of him who had done the wrong, nor for the sake of him who suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear to you. ¹³Therefore we have been comforted in your comfort. And we rejoiced exceedingly more for the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all. ¹⁴For if in anything I have boasted to him about you, I am not ashamed. But as we spoke all things to you in truth, even so our boasting to Titus was found true. ¹⁵And his affections are greater for you as he remembers the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling you received him. ¹⁶Therefore I rejoice that I have confidence in you in everything.

¹Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, ²elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied. ³Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, ⁵who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. ⁶In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, ⁷that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, ⁸whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, ⁹receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of your souls. ¹⁰Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, ¹¹searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. ¹²To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven--things which angels desire to look into.

¹Now it came to pass, that when we had departed from them and set sail, running a straight course we came to Cos, the following day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. ²And finding a ship sailing over to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail. ³When we had sighted Cyprus, we passed it on the left, sailed to Syria, and landed at Tyre; for there the ship was to unload her cargo. ⁴And finding disciples, we stayed there seven days. They told Paul through the Spirit not to go up to Jerusalem. ⁵When we had come to the end of those days, we departed and went on our way; and they all accompanied us, with wives and children, till we were out of the city. And we knelt down on the shore and prayed. ⁶When we had taken our leave of one another, we boarded the ship, and they returned home. ⁷And when we had finished our voyage from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, greeted the brethren, and stayed with them one day. ⁸On the next day we who were Paul's companions departed and came to Caesarea, and entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. ⁹Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied. ¹⁰And as we stayed many days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. ¹¹When he had come to us, he took Paul's belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, "Thus says the Holy Spirit, "So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles."' ¹²Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem. ¹³Then Paul answered, "What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." ¹⁴So when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, "The will of the Lord be done."

¹Oh come, let us sing to the LORD! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. ²Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. ³For the LORD is the great God, And the great King above all gods. ⁴In His hand are the deep places of the earth; The heights of the hills are His also. ⁵The sea is His, for He made it; And His hands formed the dry land. ⁶Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker. ⁷For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture, And the sheep of His hand. Today, if you will hear His voice: ⁸"Do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion, As in the day of trial in the wilderness, ⁹When your fathers tested Me; They tried Me, though they saw My work. ¹⁰For forty years I was grieved with that generation, And said, "It is a people who go astray in their hearts, And they do not know My ways.' ¹¹So I swore in My wrath, "They shall not enter My rest.'|"

¹There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. ²And Jesus answered and said to them, "Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? ³I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. ⁴Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? ⁵I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish."

¹Hear a just cause, O LORD, Attend to my cry; Give ear to my prayer which is not from deceitful lips. ²Let my vindication come from Your presence; Let Your eyes look on the things that are upright. ³You have tested my heart; You have visited me in the night; You have tried me and have found nothing; I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress. ⁴Concerning the works of men, By the word of Your lips, I have kept away from the paths of the destroyer. ⁵Uphold my steps in Your paths, That my footsteps may not slip. ⁶I have called upon You, for You will hear me, O God; Incline Your ear to me, and hear my speech. ⁷Show Your marvelous lovingkindness by Your right hand, O You who save those who trust in You From those who rise up against them. ⁸Keep me as the apple of Your eye; Hide me under the shadow of Your wings, ⁹From the wicked who oppress me, From my deadly enemies who surround me. ¹⁰They have closed up their fat hearts; With their mouths they speak proudly. ¹¹They have now surrounded us in our steps; They have set their eyes, crouching down to the earth, ¹²As a lion is eager to tear his prey, And like a young lion lurking in secret places. ¹³Arise, O LORD, Confront him, cast him down; Deliver my life from the wicked with Your sword, ¹⁴With Your hand from men, O LORD, From men of the world who have their portion in this life, And whose belly You fill with Your hidden treasure. They are satisfied with children, And leave the rest of their possession for their babes. ¹⁵As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.

³Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. ⁴And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, "I repent,' you shall forgive him." ⁵And the apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith." ⁶So the Lord said, "If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, "Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,' and it would obey you.

¹Blessed are the undefiled in the way, Who walk in the law of the LORD! ²Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, Who seek Him with the whole heart! ³They also do no iniquity; They walk in His ways. ⁴You have commanded us To keep Your precepts diligently. ⁵Oh, that my ways were directed To keep Your statutes! ⁶Then I would not be ashamed, When I look into all Your commandments. ⁷I will praise You with uprightness of heart, When I learn Your righteous judgments. ⁸I will keep Your statutes; Oh, do not forsake me utterly! ⁹How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. ¹⁰With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! ¹¹Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You. ¹²Blessed are You, O LORD! Teach me Your statutes. ¹³With my lips I have declared All the judgments of Your mouth. ¹⁴I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches. ¹⁵I will meditate on Your precepts, And contemplate Your ways. ¹⁶I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word. ¹⁷Deal bountifully with Your servant, That I may live and keep Your word. ¹⁸Open my eyes, that I may see Wondrous things from Your law. ¹⁹I am a stranger in the earth; Do not hide Your commandments from me. ²⁰My soul breaks with longing For Your judgments at all times. ²¹You rebuke the proud--the cursed, Who stray from Your commandments. ²²Remove from me reproach and contempt, For I have kept Your testimonies. ²³Princes also sit and speak against me, But Your servant meditates on Your statutes. ²⁴Your testimonies also are my delight And my counselors. ²⁵My soul clings to the dust; Revive me according to Your word. ²⁶I have declared my ways, and You answered me; Teach me Your statutes. ²⁷Make me understand the way of Your precepts; So shall I meditate on Your wonderful works. ²⁸My soul melts from heaviness; Strengthen me according to Your word. ²⁹Remove from me the way of lying, And grant me Your law graciously. ³⁰I have chosen the way of truth; Your judgments I have laid before me. ³¹I cling to Your testimonies; O LORD, do not put me to shame! ³²I will run the course of Your commandments, For You shall enlarge my heart. ³³Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes, And I shall keep it to the end. ³⁴Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law; Indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart. ³⁵Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, For I delight in it. ³⁶Incline my heart to Your testimonies, And not to covetousness. ³⁷Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, And revive me in Your way. ³⁸Establish Your word to Your servant, Who is devoted to fearing You. ³⁹Turn away my reproach which I dread, For Your judgments are good. ⁴⁰Behold, I long for Your precepts; Revive me in Your righteousness. ⁴¹Let Your mercies come also to me, O LORD-- Your salvation according to Your word. ⁴²So shall I have an answer for him who reproaches me, For I trust in Your word. ⁴³And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, For I have hoped in Your ordinances. ⁴⁴So shall I keep Your law continually, Forever and ever. ⁴⁵And I will walk at liberty, For I seek Your precepts. ⁴⁶I will speak of Your testimonies also before kings, And will not be ashamed. ⁴⁷And I will delight myself in Your commandments, Which I love. ⁴⁸My hands also I will lift up to Your commandments, Which I love, And I will meditate on Your statutes. ⁴⁹Remember the word to Your servant, Upon which You have caused me to hope. ⁵⁰This is my comfort in my affliction, For Your word has given me life. ⁵¹The proud have me in great derision, Yet I do not turn aside from Your law. ⁵²I remembered Your judgments of old, O LORD, And have comforted myself. ⁵³Indignation has taken hold of me Because of the wicked, who forsake Your law. ⁵⁴Your statutes have been my songs In the house of my pilgrimage. ⁵⁵I remember Your name in the night, O LORD, And I keep Your law. ⁵⁶This has become mine, Because I kept Your precepts. ⁵⁷You are my portion, O LORD; I have said that I would keep Your words. ⁵⁸I entreated Your favor with my whole heart; Be merciful to me according to Your word. ⁵⁹I thought about my ways, And turned my feet to Your testimonies. ⁶⁰I made haste, and did not delay To keep Your commandments. ⁶¹The cords of the wicked have bound me, But I have not forgotten Your law. ⁶²At midnight I will rise to give thanks to You, Because of Your righteous judgments. ⁶³I am a companion of all who fear You, And of those who keep Your precepts. ⁶⁴The earth, O LORD, is full of Your mercy; Teach me Your statutes. ⁶⁵You have dealt well with Your servant, O LORD, according to Your word. ⁶⁶Teach me good judgment and knowledge, For I believe Your commandments. ⁶⁷Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Your word. ⁶⁸You are good, and do good; Teach me Your statutes. ⁶⁹The proud have forged a lie against me, But I will keep Your precepts with my whole heart. ⁷⁰Their heart is as fat as grease, But I delight in Your law. ⁷¹It is good for me that I have been afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes. ⁷²The law of Your mouth is better to me Than thousands of coins of gold and silver. ⁷³Your hands have made me and fashioned me; Give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments. ⁷⁴Those who fear You will be glad when they see me, Because I have hoped in Your word. ⁷⁵I know, O LORD, that Your judgments are right, And that in faithfulness You have afflicted me. ⁷⁶Let, I pray, Your merciful kindness be for my comfort, According to Your word to Your servant. ⁷⁷Let Your tender mercies come to me, that I may live; For Your law is my delight. ⁷⁸Let the proud be ashamed, For they treated me wrongfully with falsehood; But I will meditate on Your precepts. ⁷⁹Let those who fear You turn to me, Those who know Your testimonies. ⁸⁰Let my heart be blameless regarding Your statutes, That I may not be ashamed. ⁸¹My soul faints for Your salvation, But I hope in Your word. ⁸²My eyes fail from searching Your word, Saying, "When will You comfort me?" ⁸³For I have become like a wineskin in smoke, Yet I do not forget Your statutes. ⁸⁴How many are the days of Your servant? When will You execute judgment on those who persecute me? ⁸⁵The proud have dug pits for me, Which is not according to Your law. ⁸⁶All Your commandments are faithful; They persecute me wrongfully; Help me! ⁸⁷They almost made an end of me on earth, But I did not forsake Your precepts. ⁸⁸Revive me according to Your lovingkindness, So that I may keep the testimony of Your mouth. ⁸⁹Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven. ⁹⁰Your faithfulness endures to all generations; You established the earth, and it abides. ⁹¹They continue this day according to Your ordinances, For all are Your servants. ⁹²Unless Your law had been my delight, I would then have perished in my affliction. ⁹³I will never forget Your precepts, For by them You have given me life. ⁹⁴I am Yours, save me; For I have sought Your precepts. ⁹⁵The wicked wait for me to destroy me, But I will consider Your testimonies. ⁹⁶I have seen the consummation of all perfection, But Your commandment is exceedingly broad. ⁹⁷Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. ⁹⁸You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies; For they are ever with me. ⁹⁹I have more understanding than all my teachers, For Your testimonies are my meditation. ¹⁰⁰I understand more than the ancients, Because I keep Your precepts. ¹⁰¹I have restrained my feet from every evil way, That I may keep Your word. ¹⁰²I have not departed from Your judgments, For You Yourself have taught me. ¹⁰³How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth! ¹⁰⁴Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way. ¹⁰⁵Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. ¹⁰⁶I have sworn and confirmed That I will keep Your righteous judgments. ¹⁰⁷I am afflicted very much; Revive me, O LORD, according to Your word. ¹⁰⁸Accept, I pray, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, And teach me Your judgments. ¹⁰⁹My life is continually in my hand, Yet I do not forget Your law. ¹¹⁰The wicked have laid a snare for me, Yet I have not strayed from Your precepts. ¹¹¹Your testimonies I have taken as a heritage forever, For they are the rejoicing of my heart. ¹¹²I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes Forever, to the very end. ¹¹³I hate the double-minded, But I love Your law. ¹¹⁴You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your word. ¹¹⁵Depart from me, you evildoers, For I will keep the commandments of my God! ¹¹⁶Uphold me according to Your word, that I may live; And do not let me be ashamed of my hope. ¹¹⁷Hold me up, and I shall be safe, And I shall observe Your statutes continually. ¹¹⁸You reject all those who stray from Your statutes, For their deceit is falsehood. ¹¹⁹You put away all the wicked of the earth like dross; Therefore I love Your testimonies. ¹²⁰My flesh trembles for fear of You, And I am afraid of Your judgments. ¹²¹I have done justice and righteousness; Do not leave me to my oppressors. ¹²²Be surety for Your servant for good; Do not let the proud oppress me. ¹²³My eyes fail from seeking Your salvation And Your righteous word. ¹²⁴Deal with Your servant according to Your mercy, And teach me Your statutes. ¹²⁵I am Your servant; Give me understanding, That I may know Your testimonies. ¹²⁶It is time for You to act, O LORD, For they have regarded Your law as void. ¹²⁷Therefore I love Your commandments More than gold, yes, than fine gold! ¹²⁸Therefore all Your precepts concerning all things I consider to be right; I hate every false way. ¹²⁹Your testimonies are wonderful; Therefore my soul keeps them. ¹³⁰The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple. ¹³¹I opened my mouth and panted, For I longed for Your commandments. ¹³²Look upon me and be merciful to me, As Your custom is toward those who love Your name. ¹³³Direct my steps by Your word, And let no iniquity have dominion over me. ¹³⁴Redeem me from the oppression of man, That I may keep Your precepts. ¹³⁵Make Your face shine upon Your servant, And teach me Your statutes. ¹³⁶Rivers of water run down from my eyes, Because men do not keep Your law. ¹³⁷Righteous are You, O LORD, And upright are Your judgments. ¹³⁸Your testimonies, which You have commanded, Are righteous and very faithful. ¹³⁹My zeal has consumed me, Because my enemies have forgotten Your words. ¹⁴⁰Your word is very pure; Therefore Your servant loves it. ¹⁴¹I am small and despised, Yet I do not forget Your precepts. ¹⁴²Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, And Your law is truth. ¹⁴³Trouble and anguish have overtaken me, Yet Your commandments are my delights. ¹⁴⁴The righteousness of Your testimonies is everlasting; Give me understanding, and I shall live. ¹⁴⁵I cry out with my whole heart; Hear me, O LORD! I will keep Your statutes. ¹⁴⁶I cry out to You; Save me, and I will keep Your testimonies. ¹⁴⁷I rise before the dawning of the morning, And cry for help; I hope in Your word. ¹⁴⁸My eyes are awake through the night watches, That I may meditate on Your word. ¹⁴⁹Hear my voice according to Your lovingkindness; O LORD, revive me according to Your justice. ¹⁵⁰They draw near who follow after wickedness; They are far from Your law. ¹⁵¹You are near, O LORD, And all Your commandments are truth. ¹⁵²Concerning Your testimonies, I have known of old that You have founded them forever. ¹⁵³Consider my affliction and deliver me, For I do not forget Your law. ¹⁵⁴Plead my cause and redeem me; Revive me according to Your word. ¹⁵⁵Salvation is far from the wicked, For they do not seek Your statutes. ¹⁵⁶Great are Your tender mercies, O LORD; Revive me according to Your judgments. ¹⁵⁷Many are my persecutors and my enemies, Yet I do not turn from Your testimonies. ¹⁵⁸I see the treacherous, and am disgusted, Because they do not keep Your word. ¹⁵⁹Consider how I love Your precepts; Revive me, O LORD, according to Your lovingkindness. ¹⁶⁰The entirety of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever. ¹⁶¹Princes persecute me without a cause, But my heart stands in awe of Your word. ¹⁶²I rejoice at Your word As one who finds great treasure. ¹⁶³I hate and abhor lying, But I love Your law. ¹⁶⁴Seven times a day I praise You, Because of Your righteous judgments. ¹⁶⁵Great peace have those who love Your law, And nothing causes them to stumble. ¹⁶⁶LORD, I hope for Your salvation, And I do Your commandments. ¹⁶⁷My soul keeps Your testimonies, And I love them exceedingly. ¹⁶⁸I keep Your precepts and Your testimonies, For all my ways are before You. ¹⁶⁹Let my cry come before You, O LORD; Give me understanding according to Your word. ¹⁷⁰Let my supplication come before You; Deliver me according to Your word. ¹⁷¹My lips shall utter praise, For You teach me Your statutes. ¹⁷²My tongue shall speak of Your word, For all Your commandments are righteousness. ¹⁷³Let Your hand become my help, For I have chosen Your precepts. ¹⁷⁴I long for Your salvation, O LORD, And Your law is my delight. ¹⁷⁵Let my soul live, and it shall praise You; And let Your judgments help me. ¹⁷⁶I have gone astray like a lost sheep; Seek Your servant, For I do not forget Your commandments.