PSALM 117

1Praise the Lord, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples. 2For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord.

PSALM 119

כ Kaph

81My soul faints with longing for your salvation, but I have put my hope in your word. 82My eyes fail, looking for your promise; I say, “When will you comfort me?” 83Though I am like a wineskin in the smoke, I do not forget your decrees. 84How long must your servant wait? When will you punish my persecutors? 85The arrogant dig pits to trap me, contrary to your law. 86All your commands are trustworthy; help me, for I am being persecuted without cause. 87They almost wiped me from the earth, but I have not forsaken your precepts. 88In your unfailing love preserve my life, that I may obey the statutes of your mouth.

ל Lamedh

89Your word, Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens. 90Your faithfulness continues through all generations; you established the earth, and it endures. 91Your laws endure to this day, for all things serve you. 92If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. 93I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have preserved my life. 94Save me, for I am yours; I have sought out your precepts. 95The wicked are waiting to destroy me, but I will ponder your statutes. 96To all perfection I see a limit, but your commands are boundless.

מ Mem

97Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. 98Your commands are always with me and make me wiser than my enemies. 99I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes. 100I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey your precepts. 101I have kept my feet from every evil path so that I might obey your word. 102I have not departed from your laws, for you yourself have taught me. 103How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! 104I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path.

נ Nun

105Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. 106I have taken an oath and confirmed it, that I will follow your righteous laws. 107I have suffered much; preserve my life, Lord, according to your word. 108Accept, Lord, the willing praise of my mouth, and teach me your laws. 109Though I constantly take my life in my hands, I will not forget your law. 110The wicked have set a snare for me, but I have not strayed from your precepts. 111Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart. 112My heart is set on keeping your decrees to the very end.

ס Samekh

113I hate double-minded people, but I love your law. 114You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word. 115Away from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commands of my God! 116Sustain me, my God, according to your promise, and I will live; do not let my hopes be dashed. 117Uphold me, and I will be delivered; I will always have regard for your decrees. 118You reject all who stray from your decrees, for their delusions come to nothing. 119All the wicked of the earth you discard like dross; therefore I love your statutes. 120My flesh trembles in fear of you; I stand in awe of your laws.

Ayin

121I have done what is righteous and just; do not leave me to my oppressors. 122Ensure your servant’s well-being; do not let the arrogant oppress me. 123My eyes fail, looking for your salvation, looking for your righteous promise. 124Deal with your servant according to your love and teach me your decrees. 125I am your servant; give me discernment that I may understand your statutes. 126It is time for you to act, Lord; your law is being broken. 127Because I love your commands more than gold, more than pure gold, 128and because I consider all your precepts right, I hate every wrong path.

פ Pe

129Your statutes are wonderful; therefore I obey them. 130The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. 131I open my mouth and pant, longing for your commands. 132Turn to me and have mercy on me, as you always do to those who love your name. 133Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me. 134Redeem me from human oppression, that I may obey your precepts. 135Make your face shine on your servant and teach me your decrees. 136Streams of tears flow from my eyes, for your law is not obeyed.

צ Tsadhe

137You are righteous, Lord, and your laws are right. 138The statutes you have laid down are righteous; they are fully trustworthy. 139My zeal wears me out, for my enemies ignore your words. 140Your promises have been thoroughly tested, and your servant loves them. 141Though I am lowly and despised, I do not forget your precepts. 142Your righteousness is everlasting and your law is true. 143Trouble and distress have come upon me, but your commands give me delight. 144Your statutes are always righteous; give me understanding that I may live.

ק Qoph

145I call with all my heart; answer me, Lord, and I will obey your decrees. 146I call out to you; save me and I will keep your statutes. 147I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word. 148My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises. 149Hear my voice in accordance with your love; preserve my life, Lord, according to your laws. 150Those who devise wicked schemes are near, but they are far from your law. 151Yet you are near, Lord, and all your commands are true. 152Long ago I learned from your statutes that you established them to last forever.

ר Resh

153Look on my suffering and deliver me, for I have not forgotten your law. 154Defend my cause and redeem me; preserve my life according to your promise. 155Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek out your decrees. 156Your compassion, Lord, is great; preserve my life according to your laws. 157Many are the foes who persecute me, but I have not turned from your statutes. 158I look on the faithless with loathing, for they do not obey your word. 159See how I love your precepts; preserve my life, Lord, in accordance with your love.160All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal. ש Sin and Shin 161Rulers persecute me without cause, but my heart trembles at your word. 162I rejoice in your promise like one who finds great spoil. 163I hate and detest falsehood but I love your law. 164Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous laws. 165Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble. 166I wait for your salvation, Lord, and I follow your commands. 167I obey your statutes, for I love them greatly. 168I obey your precepts and your statutes, for all my ways are known to you.

ת Taw

169May my cry come before you, Lord; give me understanding according to your word. 170May my supplication come before you; deliver me according to your promise. 171May my lips overflow with praise, for you teach me your decrees. 172May my tongue sing of your word, for all your commands are righteous. 173May your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts. 174I long for your salvation, Lord, and your law gives me delight. 175Let me live that I may praise you, and may your laws sustain me. 176I have strayed like a lost sheep. Seek your servant, for I have not forgotten your commands.

2 JOHN 1

1The elder,

To the lady chosen by God and to her children, whom I love in the truth—and not I only, but also all who know the truth— 2because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever:

3Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love.

4It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us. 5And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. 6And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.

7I say this because many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. 9Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them. 11Anyone who welcomes them shares in their wicked work.

12I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.

13The children of your sister, who is chosen by God, send their greetings.

3 JOHN 1

1The elder,

To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth.

2Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. 3It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it. 4I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

5Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters, even though they are strangers to you. 6They have told the church about your love. Please send them on their way in a manner that honors God. 7It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. 8We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth.

9I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us. 10So when I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, spreading malicious nonsense about us. Not satisfied with that, he even refuses to welcome other believers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church.

11Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God. 12Demetrius is well spoken of by everyone—and even by the truth itself. We also speak well of him, and you know that our testimony is true.

13I have much to write you, but I do not want to do so with pen and ink. 14I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.

15Peace to you. The friends here send their greetings. Greet the friends there by name.